October, 2004 

Why Are We Doing This?

The school custodian graciously opens the doors to the “worship center” (which in reality is the old school library). Soon folks start arriving to lay out what seems like miles of cables for all the electronic equipment. Then tables and chairs need to be moved, banners and signs hung, welcome center, resource materials, bibles and worship folders all properly placed and refreshments prepared and set out. But wait there there’s more! The nursery needs to be set up, sound and video equipment tested, thermostats set and the altar prepared. Oh, and who could forget the golf cart!? Shall I go on? “Please, pastor. No!”

And that’s just some of the Sunday morning “externals.” What about the Bible study, the prayer, the planning and the preparation that has gone on before? What about the advertising and invitations, the sharing and caring? There is just so much that we as God’s Church are busy doing! And it gets to be a bit much at times, doesn’t it? And because of our size, no one escapes. Everyone does something, and many people wear multiple hats. (Thank you by the way!) But why? Why are we doing this? Just to ‘get’ enough people to buy land and build a building? I hope not.

So why then? What drives us to endure the challenges and frustrations of being part of a mission congregation? … That one little word: “mission” says it all. Each one of us has been called by God and given a mission. We are to “go and make disciples,” baptizing and teaching them. We do not exist to create a flurry of “ecclesiastical activity.” Rather, the primary goal of the church is to reach the lost and bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We aren’t to get all tangled up in details and commotion. Instead, we are to say with the apostle Paul, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2) Really, it’s very simple. That’s why we are doing this. May God bless us as we Bring Christ to Our Neighbors!