Relevance Is A Tool. Not A Goal. - Continued
Published: July 07, 2008
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5. If your approach makes you the hero and not Jesus.
It seems that many ministries are driven by personalities. It is not a good thing that the number one reason someone stays at a church is because they like the pastor. It is inevitable that personalities will drive some ministries, because people will obviously come to listen to this person. Seek for ways to promote others and their unique gifts. When you do so you emphasize the astounding body of Christ and the phenomenal power that comes when that body is truly connected and functioning. This brings glory to Jesus and not you.
6. If "personal evangelism" is an oxymoron at your church.
Simply put, disciples share their faith. If our goal is to make disciples, we don't just hope to have plenty of seats filled on a given weekend at our church. Instead, we hope to see people respond and be moved by the Gospel. This is evident in their personal devotion toward sharing the Good News with others. Train your people to share their own stories of encountering Jesus.
7. If "invest and invite" never leads to evangelize.
Many church structures emphasize to their members to simply "invest and invite." This is a great strategy toward getting their friends, families, and neighbors in the door. But if this is the means to an end, you might be placing too much emphasis on relevance and not enough on the Gospel. Once we have invested and invited, we need to share the Good News with them. If you are really developing disciples you are training your people in the full set of discipling skills.
8. If attendance is a greater value than conversion.
Everyone wants to know numbers. Deep down, many pastors equate attendance with success. It definitely does make sense in some ways, but the fastest growing religion in the world is a works-based falsehood. Face it, Donald Trump or Madonna can draw a crowd. Don't be fooled into believing your ability to fill seats is effecting redemption in others. Numbers can help us only if we have already defined our win on the response to the Gospel.
9. If the cross gets less focus than the church.
Typically, we don't talk about the cross enough. The cross should be central to the vision and direction of our churches. Without the cross, none of us would even be where we are today - and without the cross our churches will never be where they need to be. We must lead people to depend on the cross and not our programs and systems. Help your church learn that the path to redemption in their own lives and circumstances can lead straight to the cross. It does not have to go through a relevant church first.
10. If not offending seekers is more important than telling the Gospel.
The Gospel is offensive. When it comes down to it, eventually we're going to have to pull the trigger and we may end up being the stench of death to someone. But, if the risk we take is so that they can hear the truth, we must move forward regardless of the relational cost. Don't try to sand down the cross and make it smooth and lightweight. Be "seeker comprehensible" and quit trying to be driven by seekers.
The sad truth is that some churches sacrifice their God given message on the altar of relevance, and the Gospel is what is seen as irrelevant. We need to recapture a genuine faith in and love for the Gospel and a desire to let it do its thing in our congregation. We can use relevance as a tool to connect with people, but even the best tool can't do its work if there is not a clear goal. As my wife reminds me, there is no point in having that beautiful yellow miter saw if it is not building something (like that new swing set she wants built).
Let's be relevant - but let's make sure that relevance is a tool and not the goal. Relevance is a tool that helps people to understand the eternal truths of Christ - that's relevant in this and every age.
Ed Stetzer is Director and Missiologist in Residence at Lifeway Research. His most recent books are Comeback Churches and 11 Innovations in the Local Church.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Stetzer. All rights reserved.
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Relevance Is A Tool. Not A Goal.
Published: July 07, 2008
Ed Stetzer provides 10 ways you can tell if being 'relevant' is more important to you than the Gospel.
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