What a
different and strange religion Christianity would be, if Jesus had directed us
to build stronghold churches and then just wait for people to show up.
Yet in many ways, I believe this is what a lot of churches in the West
are doing much of the time. The old adage from a famous baseball movie
rings in my head: "If you build it, they will come." But are
parishioners actually coming?
It's
fascinating when we look back at the life and times of our Lord and Savior.
For much of his life, God's son had a mobile ministry. We recall
that before Jesus was even born, his parents were called back to Bethlehem to
the place of Joseph's ancestry in order to fulfill an order for the Roman
census. Each family had to return to their place of origin to be counted.
Although the Biblical text glosses over how difficult this must have
been, some manuscript scholars have theorized it was close to a ninety-mile
trip. Mary was very pregnant, and this was before trains and automobiles.
The trip was difficult I'm sure, and the landscape was often dangerous.
After Jesus
got older and formally began his ministry, Biblical texts give an account of
him traveling all over Galilee and going to churches and homes to preach.
Matthew 4:23 says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching
in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and sickness among the people."
Once again,
we have this notion that in order to get the word out ... Jesus had to move
around and take the initiative. He didn't wait for the people already in
the synagogue or out on the streets to come to him; instead he went on a kind
of sanctified tour. It is also worth mentioning that he preached with
such authority that it completely baffled the Jewish ruling party. The
Pharisees couldn't wrap their heads around how someone who hadn't studied with
them could end up knowing so much about God. Almost as if he had an
inside scoop (which of course he did)!
Finally, you
will notice also that Jesus' disciples and followers had the same challenge.
The book of Acts records the followers of Christ moving from place to
place. The Gospel accounts record that occasionally Jesus and his
followers would become so overwhelmed from the work of ministry that they had
to escape and get away to a 'quiet place' where the Lord could pray and
meditate.
The apostle
Paul famously traveled around and began defending Christianity as well.
He stood before kings and procurators, always willing to testify and lend
credence to God's incarnate son. Sometimes this would even land him in
prison, and once in a shipwreck!
We are accustomed
to hearing about the Great Commission. Indeed, it is more or less the
mission of the modern church. Matthew 28:19-20 recounts this narrative
quite well. It says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
We would have an entirely different religion if the Great Commission commanded us to "build it, and then just wait for them to come." This would be a faith of waiting and watching. Instead, what we are called to do is be proactive in our approach. Yes it is wonderful when people come to us, but think back to your own life for a moment. More often than not, didn't someone have to come after you first? Be that person who invites others to Sunday morning service.
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