Are We Winning the Argument, or Winning Souls?

"If they're not coming to us, we go to them," Doug Pollock said Sunday morning. Author of God Space, Naturally Creating Room for Spiritual Conversations, Doug spoke in our services this week, reminding us of some strategic principles of sharing our faith.

We've traditionally had a fortress mentality, huddled safely in our comfy church building, Doug pointed out. It's been "us vs. them." We hope to win the argument, convince people to cry uncle, give in and become a Christian. But nobody likes to feel as if they're being conquered. God's example is to lovingly woo us.

To do this, we have to learn how to play the whole field. Doug referred to a football field. We have to meet people wherever they are in their spiritual understanding and build relationships with them. We can't be concerned only about how many touchdowns we score. Someone has to also make the first down, someone has to make the sustained drives.

Few people will live out this challenge on their own. The quarterback gets all the attention, but he needs the people around him to be able to accomplish his mission. We need to live and do life together.

St. Patrick won Ireland for Christ by planting small groups of Christians all around that ancient, godless country. Because they cared for one another while living out scriptural principles, the barbarians noticed their better quality of life. The only way we're going to re-engage a post-Christian culture is to do it in community. If you think you don't know how, cry out to God for wisdom. James 1:5.

Let's take a missions trip together. It isn't necessary to cross a body of salt water in order to reach the mission field. When we exit the church building on Sunday morning, we enter the mission field as we walk out the door. Leave church on Sunday and be the church Monday through Saturday.

(Listen to Doug Pollock's complete message.)

Doug will teach a seminar on April 9, here at Faith Church, 9 am-2:30 pm, on how to start the conversation and have meaningful dialogue about spiritual matters. $10 includes lunch. Free childcare provided, by reservation. Register online.

And...

Have you seen my copy of And, the Gathered and Scattered Church by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay?

It is the one with page after page of highlighted passages, stars in the margins and turned down pages.

Pastor Steve recently assigned staff leadership, as well as the elder board and elder council (made up of former elders) to read And, because the book deals with the value of both the gathered church (think Sunday morning services) and the scattered church (us modeling Jesus Monday through Saturday).

I loved what this book had to say about how the gathered and scattered church are supposed to work together, energizing one another, to make more and better disciples.

Let me share some of my favorite, thought-provoking quotes:

• The last forty years of Sunday services, biblical sermons, safe childcare, affinity-based small groups, and programs to fit any need are not producing the strain of Christians that have significantly changed the culture. (pg. 162)

• Spiritual formation (is) becoming like Jesus instead of just knowing about Jesus. (pg. 94)

• Engaging culture isn’t as much about doing evangelism as it is incarnating the presence of Christ in every relationship we form. (pg. 58)

• The only thing he’s (Jesus) is going to ask you about your performance…will be based on a simple measurement: Did you do all that you could, with all that I gave you, to make people like me?” (pg. 76)

• The (Sunday morning) gathering…should be a place to call people into a bigger story of giving their life away. (pg. 185)

And, the Gathered and Scattered Church challenged Kevin and me in ways that few books have. I would highly encourage you to read this book and join the conversation.

Blessings,
Sharon