Perhaps you have witnessed the phenomenon. A new pastor comes to a church and people flock to him. Worship attendance soars. Everywhere people seem to be talking about what a wonderful person the new pastor is. The outlook for the church is rosy.
Then, for some unexpected reason, the pastor leaves, and to the surprise of most, the crowds leave with him. Frequently the church ends up with participation below the level before the popular pastor’s arrival. “What happened?” everyone asks.
Some want to blame the pastor. “He built a personal following but not the church,” they charge. Perhaps. It is undeniable that some pastors almost unconsciously promote themselves. They tie parishioners to themselves rather than to the Lord or to the Lord’s church.
Some want to blame the evil age in which we live. “Belong and then believe,” they scoff. “The church is made up of believers, not belongers.” Their point is certainly true. The church is composed of those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Having one’s name listed as a church member is useless unless one has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
But the problem may not be with the pastor or the evil age as much as with the message proclaimed by a church.
This is not a reference to the saving grace of God made known in Jesus Christ but to what hearers are asked to do in response to that message.
Sometimes the message is simply to come and be a part of an event. Come and experience the excitement of hundreds of people enthusiastically doing the same thing. Come and experience the beat of captivating music.
Come and listen to a dynamic, entertaining speaker.
The response a church may seek is attendance. And in so doing, a church may turn well-intentioned individuals into “camp followers” who go from place to place where they leave with emotional highs that resemble a rock concert or a celebration after a winning football game.
Another church may seek membership. Its message is that in response to what God offers through Jesus Christ, one must become a church member. This message is about new member orientation and support — personal support and support with the pocketbook. It is about responsibility. Every member must do his or her part to keep the church functioning smoothly.
This message often causes people to equate spirituality with participation. If one is present every time the church doors open, then one must be a superspiritual person. Unfortunately, oftentimes, the results are people’s commitments to Christ end up being similar to their commitments to a service club or social organization.
All of my preaching life, I have asked people to “accept Jesus” in response to proclaiming the gospel. When critics charge that response is an intellectual game whereby people agree to a doctrinal dogma, it is uncomfortable. When these critics point out that more than 90 percent of Americans “believe” in God but less than half that number participates in church on a weekly basis, it is obvious that I and others have not done a good job in explaining what is meant by “accepting Jesus.” Intellectual assent is not what “accepting Jesus” means.
In his book “Preach and Heal: A Biblical Model for Missions,” Charles Fielding points out that the commission Jesus gave the Church was to make “disciples.” It was not to gather a large crowd. It was not to have a group high. It was not to build an organization or win an intellectual argument.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go, therefore, and make disciples.” Acts 14:21 references Paul and Barnabas preaching in Derbe, where they “made many disciples.” These disciples not only believed Jesus is the Son of God but through faith, they also entered into a personal relationship with Him.
In turn, these disciples enabled the church to reach more and more people with the gospel. Their knowledge was limited and their training almost nonexistent, but because they had a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus, they helped turn the world upside down for Christ.
Today in places Alabama Baptists call “international missions fields,” this kind of transformation continues.
Nonbelievers are transformed into disciples of Jesus by believing in Him and making Him Lord of their life. Family networks are changed, geographical areas are impacted and church-planting movements blossom because new believers are invited to be a “disciple” of Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with large gatherings of Christians. Certainly smaller does not mean better. There is nothing wrong with emotion in praise and worship. There is nothing wrong with ministry through the church. It is such service that perpetuates the church and its teachings to future generations. There is nothing wrong with asking people to accept Jesus. That is the starting point of Christian faith.
To all of these must be added the commission of Jesus to “make disciples.” A disciple’s loyalty is not to a pastor, not to a building, not to an organization, not even to a denomination. A disciple’s loyalty is always to Christ, and that will change everything whether one lives in Alabama or a distant land.
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