I was listening to a Q &A session by RZIM ministries where a young guy came up on the microphone with this question, “Why is the Church not impacting the society as it was in the days of the early church?” I was anticipating for the answer. The answer pointed to the direction of church being affluent, financially rich and comfortable in its state. The Church is increasingly on the decline in the wealthiest so-called Christian nations. The situation looks bleak. Even the Western Christians are uncertain of its Churches in the near future.
As I was conversing with a Pakistani pastor, heasked me this, “What would be the most important duty of Christians according to Jesus specifically pointing out from the book of Matthew? He stated it would be the Great Commission. I agreed.
The Church exists to worship God, secondly to look after the well-being of the Church and thirdly, to evangelise. All these three ought to be in balance. But 90% of the Church resources are invested in two first categories and evangelism to outside world is scantily done. “There will be worship in heaven but not evangelism,” says Pastor J. John. The Church is called for evangelism and to spread the fame of Jesus Christ. The Church seems to havemoved away from this main crux of existing as a Church. The pouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 were to empower the disciples to be witnessesin Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. It was not for the Church to enjoy the benefits of salvation in Jerusalem. But they were given the task of proclaiming the glorious gospel to outside of their circles. Christians became complacent in Jerusalem, so Acts 8:1 is a place where God finally broke loose the persecution against the Church in Jerusalem and except the apostles, all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
If the Church takes Jesus’ teaching to heart, evangelism would be on the top list of Church agenda. If the Churches could take more responsibility in caring for the sick, the lost, the orphans and the rejected, there would be less corruption and hostility within Christendom. Denominational clashes will be a non-issue once the church focuses on saving the lost instead of focusing on the 99 which are already comfortable enough to reach celestial gate. The church apathy towards evangelism shows that it is not praying and caring enough. The responsibility of souls is shouldered upon the church to proclaim the saving message of the gospel of Christ. If the Churches today takes off its religious mask and starts involving in evangelistic mission, then there would be less people in hospitals, orphanage homes, old age homes, rehabilitation centres, prisons, and the like.
Worship is central and the Church needs to be built until the body of Christ attain its maturity. Yet the motor of the Church is to run into the world and rescue the lost. In simple words, the motor of the Church is mission. Addressing the Church for mission and evangelism will release the Church from its stagnancy and decay. Narcissist Christians can never accomplish the task of God’s command. Jesus greatest command points vertical yet horizontal at the same. The point of worshipping in Church is the fuel for igniting the passion in reaching out to the world for the lost sons and daughters of God.
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter,” says Charles Spurgeon. He sustained, “If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervour at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.” It is also not so much in sending a missionary outside of our boundaries; it is to step out of our Church premises and touching the sick and needy with Christ love.
Vebu Khamo
Seoul Christian University, Korea
