Tag Archives: gospel

Nov 10 2009

The Invitation


It is a tradition in traditional churches of Christ, and perhaps others, to announce the number of the “invitation song” before the preacher begins his sermon. It is a practice as ingrained as the Lords’s Supper. What is almost as certain is that no one will accept the “invitation“.

How is it in your church. Do you have an invitation each service? What is it like? Is it necessary? These are odd questions huh?

Why have an invitation just for the sake of having an invitation just because that is the way we do it?  The preacher can preach on any subject, and with no personal application, and then tack on a statement like “If you are not a Christian or if you have just gotten off course this is your time to respond”. I want to ask “Respond to what?”

Sunday morning worship is not a good time for evangelism. Unless the good seed has been sown at some other time of the week there is not likely going to be a great harvest of new converts on Sunday. It seems to me the invitation is an opportunity to respond to the Bible lesson just completed. At a minimum it is primarily that. My experience is that many sermons have no challenge to life change. A twenty-minute devotional is not bad but does not require an invitation in my view.

Unless the preacher actually preaches the gospel (good news about Jesus and what he has accomplished for sinners) it is very odd indeed to ask people to respond to an offer that has not been presented. Lost people do not learn the good news by osmosis, they have to hear it or read it to know it. Don’t claim to be a “gospel preacher” unless you frequently preach the gospel!

Invitation as family time. Many of us at White’s Ferry Road church refer to our congregation as our “forever family“. And, indeed they are. When the invitation is given at WFR it is unlike most other churches I have ever experienced. People come forward to openly confess sin and ask forgiveness, they come to ask for prayer about some health issue (and often to be anointed and prayed for be the elders), they come to solicit prayer for marriage troubles, job loss, wayward children, etc. And, of course, some to come to make their decision to follow Jesus public and we baptize them and welcome them into our forever family with a loud applause and cheers.

What is interesting about the invitation time at WFR is that no one ever comes alone. Usually they are accompanied by close friends who got to know that person in a small group or a shared ministry experience. Or if it is someone new to our church those sitting on the pew beside them will go forward with them when they respond. This family time is a cherished event, often taking 20 or 30 minutes and no one seems to mind. It is safe place where people know in advance they will be loved and not judged, forgiven and not expelled. It is a wonderful illustration of a church with no pretenses of sinless perfection, but rather is real, authentic followers of Jesus, loving each other and together moving toward Christ likeness.

What is it like at your church? Is it something you look forward to? Or is it something you dread? One thing is sure. If the leadership of your church is not transparent about their own lives the invitation will likely be just a formal part of the service each week with few ever responding. Good leaders lead by example and not one leader in any church is perfectly righteous. It is good for everyone to just admit it and stop pretending it isn’t true.

Now for the invitation….your comments are welcome and encouraged.

Royce

Oct 19 2009

Religion vs. Christianity


This post is focused on religion and religious people. Before going further I think it is important to say that most of what I will write here is in the immediate context of Evangelical Christianity. If you think I’m way off base along the way, remember the context of the post.

You would expect that during the time of a man’s life when he is keenly aware of his mortality,  his religious posture would be the strongest of his life. Not so with yours truly. I am less religious than I was many years ago. At least that is the case the way I think of and define religion.

Religion = Human desire to have favor with God, both now and at the end, expressed by rites, rituals, routine church related activities, and ethical and moral boundaries in daily living.

The opposite deserves a definition too.

Christianity = What God has accomplished through Christ for undeserving sinners.

Its a given that both of these definitions are very brief, and not complete by any measure but they are mine and I believe they are fair representations of two polar opposites.

Now my earlier statement “I am less religious than I was many years ago” might make a bit more sense. This idea is true precisely because of my understanding of what it means to be a Christian today vs. about 30 years ago.

In the past few years I have heard from many sources that young people (teens and young adults into their 30’s) are becoming more and more turned off by “organized religion“, or “church” in the traditional understanding. I get it! And, I largely agree. They can see a phony a mile away! Today’s young people will no longer accept people who live double lives as legitimate. I think I know why, at least in part.

In the not so distant past, pre-internet, people largely had only one source for religious teaching, the local church their family attended. Even for those who did not attend church what was heard at the corner market, in the work place, or in public school, was likely sourced in the local pulpit or Sunday school class room. The community had its morality shaped by the local churches its people attended. Most of that dynamic was very good. With the advent of the internet and the accompanying knowledge explosion that ensued came at least two generations of younger folks who get their information from many sources.

People (not only younger people) learned that there were people out there who were just as devoted to Jesus Christ as they but expressed their devotion differently than how they or their parents or grand parents did. Preachers shed the J C Penny suits and hand saw blade ties for polo shirts and casual slacks. The community of faith started finally to do tangible things to help the homeless, addicted, and otherwise downtrodden. In many churches worship included more upbeat singing, “worship music”, and more personal expression in worship.

I think most young people today will not believe you are a true disciple of Jesus just because you are outwardly moral and attend church faithfully. Unless they see you serving, living somewhat sacrificially 7 days a week they are not favorably impressed. I tend to agree.

Here is the bottom line. There is nothing wrong with ritual, rites, and church activity. But, what is your motive? If your motive is to try to get God to like you more, or to attempt to tilt the scales of divine justice your way, you are wasting your life. The Bible says the “Truth will set you free..”. Jesus has already fully accomplished all that ever needed to be done for you and me to be saved. We either receive the gift offered by the gospel or we continue to work feverishly to strike a “deal” with God about our eternal destiny. If that describes you I have bad news. You are in no position to barter with God.

My salvation is complete. My task is to “work out my salvation” now with reverent awe before God and a watching world. At age 64 I am no longer willing to just go through the motions just to appease those who value tradition. I want to be charitable and kind but I am not wearing a suit, even when I die I hope. I love going to worship with the saints each week and meeting other times as well to be encouraged and built up. None of these activities however are done to impress God. He knows me completely and is NOT impressed. But He loves me with a steadfast love that is quite enough for me.

The greatest obstacle to God’s redemptive plan is not the people down at the corner bar or the crowds at the casino, it is the religious crowd. It was true in Bible times and it is true today. Our modern day Pharisees are up to the same schemes to divide and destroy. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought they were the only ones doing God’s will. Not much has changed has it? The human condition is common to all ages.

It would be very stupid to have a car in your driveway with plush leather seats, a built in GPS, a top of the line sound system, and the most expensive wheels and tires and NO engine. It would be all show and no go! So, I ask myself what is under the hood of my spiritual life? I don’t want it to be style over substance. I am forsaking the trappings of religion on purpose in pursuit of authentic Christian discipleship.

Royce

Oct 12 2009

The future of Progressive churches of Christ?


Over at Oneinjesus.info, Jay Guin’s blog, there is an ongoing discussion about a post he wrote concerning the future of progressive churches of Christ and ideas about how to have discussions about it. You can read the post and following comments here. I didn’t want to hijack Jay’s comments with a long reply so, this post. My thoughts on the subject….

The first thing that comes to my mind is that it would be a mistake to only continue to think in terms of “church of Christ” boundaries. If the mission of churches is to make Christ known, we begin with heavy limitations on what can be accomplished if Restoration Movement doctrine and history are the boundaries we plan to work in.

Secondly, just looking at what has already happened with “progressive” churches tells us what is possible for the future. Perhaps the most progressive of churches of Christ are Oak Hills in San Antonio. This great church, led for many years by Max Lucado, is reaching thousands for Christ. They have I think five mission churches that they planted and support. The largest coC congregation is Richland Hills Church of Christ on the north side of Ft Worth. Here you can see what drives them and has driven them to where they are today by reading their mission statement. I doubt that any Christian would disagree. About nine years ago a church of Christ preacher named Toby Slough had a vision of a church that would reach thousands for Christ in the DFW metroplex. He resigned his pulpit job and with a few friends who caught his vision they began Crosstimbers Church with the first meetings at a dude ranch. You can read about them on their “about us” section of their website. They now have three locations and are reaching thousands with the saving message of the good news about Jesus. These are only three of scores of churches with Restoration Movement roots that have decided to make the gospel more important than anything else, even their heritage.

Francis Chan is a Calvinist who planted the Cornerstone Church in Southern California. They have also planted three other churches and a Christian school. They are touching their communities in tangible ways and leading people to Christ and discipleship. If you go to their website and click on “Communities” tab and then on “Purpose” you will see the heart of who they are. Matt Chandler, a Reformed Baptist, leads the Highland Village Church in North Texas. Every Sunday thousands gather to hear solid Bible teaching and to experience spirited worship at three locations. Lives are being transformed by the hundreds by the saving message of Jesus.

I could go on and on naming Southern Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Bible Churches, Assembly of God, Christian, community Churches and the list is endless. I have pointed out a few churches that I have some personal knowledge of. These churches are as diverse as the listings of churches in the Yellow Pages in a large city. They represent a wide variety of views on theology and doctrine, and they also represent a variety of mission models. However, the thing that is common to them all is that they make much of Jesus. They keep first things first!

Any church where the pure truth about what God has accomplished in Jesus for sinners is not in competition with tradition, worship style, or some other hobby horse, is likely to grow as helpless and broken people find new life in Christ. Sadly, in far too many churches of Christ announcing the number of the invitation song in advance is just as important as what the preacher says from the word of God. Paul said the gospel is of first importance! The name “church of Christ” might be important but if it is as important to you as the gospel you are wrong. The response to the gospel and good works are very, very important but not as important as the gospel.

I promise you this. If your church’s history, a cappella singing, doing the Lord’s Supper a certain way, or anything else competes for first place on your list of priorities you are in trouble. Every church that faithfully keeps Jesus at the center of their teaching, worship, and work will reach those for whom Christ died. Those who don’t keep Him at the center will go through the motions each week and eventually die. Many are dead already and just don’t know it.

There is nothing sinful about having doctrinal distinctions. That is why there are so many different kinds of churches. It is sinful to allow those less important distinctives to put a damper on the saving message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and what that means to sinners and saints alike. Those churches, no matter the brand, who do not keep Christ at the center will become less and less irrelevant and a minor irritation for those who do.

I sincerely wish that all of us who name Jesus as Lord would share the attitude of Paul the Apostle who rejoiced when Christ was preached without regard to the man or the motive. The fact that Christ is being made known should make joy rise in our hearts.

Sep 28 2009

The Lord’s Supper – Proclaimation


This is the second post in the series “The Lord’s Supper”. The last post made the point that one of the primary reasons for the eating and drinking of the Lord’s Supper is to focus us on Christ’s sacrifice for us, and especially to remember his body. “This is my body….” and “This is the blood….” are to be rememberd and appreciated by believers. Communion, if done properly, will accomplish that goal. Not only are we to remember him and his sacrifice of himself but when we share in communion we proclaim his death.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

It is very important that we continually proclaim the good news to each other. I think some Christians believe that as we mature we move on from the gospel to deeper things. I have news for you, the gospel is the deepest thing! We must be gospel centered people to be the people God uses.

Paul’s letter to the Romans was a letter primarily to believers. In fact he gives thanks that their faith is known throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:8) And yet immediately before his statement about the gospel being the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) he wrote these words.

“…I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” (Romans 1:15)

Christianity is the gospel! It is the historical facts of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and their present and future implications upon which we stand and have staked our eternal destiny.

Never, never, never, should we stop preaching and teaching the gospel to each other and one of the ways we do that is by eating the bread and drinking from the cup as we remember the Lord’s body and shed blood for sinners.

In most of our churches on a given Sunday there will likely be those present who have not yet become Christians. We should be aware of that fact and make sure that when we participate in the Lord’s Supper that we are reverent and sincere knowing that we are by these acts proclaiming the Lord’s great sacrifice for sinners to a watching world.

We are to keep proclaiming the gospel facts until He returns. The emphasis is never on the “how” or even on the “when” but wholly upon the “what” and the “who” of the good news.

We remember and we proclaim as together we eat and drink together.

for Jesus,
Royce