Douglas Young

Bovina Bulletin Board

Well, this is the final bullet point from a great bulletin board found at the Bovina Church of Christ. This last bullet point is a frustrating one. It is a virtual microcosm of congregational struggles across the land. It might reflect the degree to which the modern church has slipped its moorings from God’s original intent, and as a result impeded the church’s effectiveness in the world.

I’ve both seen and heard of church’s that have struggled to help even it’s own members because it was believed that a meeting needed to be called before responding. How unfortunate it is that churches have hobbled themselves to this degree! I’m not against meetings. Believe me, they are quite expedient. But matters as pressing as the mission of God can’t, and shouldn’t, always wait for the last Sunday evening of the month.

I suppose the New Testament church had some kind of “business” meetings. It seems logical. The New Testament, though, is relatively, if not completely, silent about them. In Acts 15 a gathering of Christians from various congregations and areas was conducted at Jerusalem to hash out matters pertaining to Jewish Christian and Gentile Christian relations and implications of Gentile acceptance of Jesus as Lord. But the issues they tackled were of a more doctrinal nature, and not so much about how one church carried out the mission of God. In fact, it is relatively clear that this “conference” actually transcended common church autonomy.

What compounds the frustration is that often, not always but often nonetheless, calling a meeting doesn’t guarantee things get done. One reason congregational business meetings are so poorly attended is because so little seemingly is accomplished by them. Church business meetings, across the board, don’t have the reputations they do because they are adored. In my almost ten years of local work, in churches both with and without elders, church business meetings are the subject of jokes, cynicism, and a ton of sarcasm. The almost universal consensus opinion about them should speak loudly and clearly to us.

My utmost prayer from having considered these bullet points is that we’ll quit making excuses for why things don’t get done in our churches. After all, excuses are all those bullet points are. God is ready to use us, but will we answer His call?

Bovina Bulletin Board

Are you kidding me? How much money does it cost to share the gospel with someone? It takes no money. Zero. Zilch. Not a dime. Gimmicks cost cash; conversation is free. Of course, it takes being relational to sustain a conversation with anyone. Hmmmm. Could this be part of the problem?

The 1^st Century church didn’t thrive because it had unlimited resources. Had they possessed such, the Jerusalem benevolent effort would not have reached out as far or lasted as long as it did. Paul was collecting funds for the needy of Jerusalem late into his ministry. The kingdom advanced naturally, not because there was an unending supply of monetary resources. Resources, actually, were scarce.

Churches grow because God is at work in them.  Churches came together collectively to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). God is intimately engaged in this process. It’s a joint venture project wherein he helps us “ to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12).

In our culture, though, resources seem to be essential for churches to survive. I think resources are more integral to the edification process than to evangelism. Still, it’s functional relationships within the body that causes it to grow “with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). Resources only facilitate the relationships, giving us avenues and opportunities in particular environments. Nevertheless, resources aren’t necessarily essential for such.

At the core is how we believe growth is derived. I began this series with the premise that God is the one who gives the increase, not us (1 Corinthians 3:6). Growth cannot be forced. That we haven’t learned this yet is disturbing. That “resources” even come up goes to show that commercialism and consumerism overly affects our thinking.

Last week I wrote about the Bovina church’s bulletin board. If you remember, there was a devilish creature lecturing a set of bullet points on how to ensure a church doesn’t grow. The devil’s first bullet point was: “It’s not my job.”

First, let’s remember that church growth is a result, not a pursuit. God provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6), not us. He simply uses us to facilitate it. So, in a sense, it’s true: “It’s not my job.” Moreover, a “job” is probably not the best way to view one’s service to God to begin with.

Our commission is towards discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20). We accomplish this by living like Jesus, our Master Teacher, and teaching others to do the same. Discipleship is a heavenly mentoring program. Such was how Jesus’ approach, and such is our great calling. We sow the seed of the Living Word, water it, but God is the one responsible for the growth.

This being said, every disciple is called to a radical discipleship. No one is exempt. Disciples, by nature, make other disciples. Not all have the same gifts, but each of us are called to live out the Way of Jesus and teach others to do the same. To claim a disciple’s identity, yet not embrace the commission, is to deny the identity. It shows no love for Christ or for genuine disciples, yet love is the litmus test for discipleship (John 13:35).

Genuine discipleship produces natural growth, God derived growth; it doesn’t force it. Jesus adds to his church, not us (Acts 2:47). Our calling isn’t to grow the church, it’s to be the church. When the church is the church, the body grows and develops, naturally, by design (Ephesians 4:1-16). No, your job isn’t to grow the church, but your calling is to be loving channels through whom God works to expand his kingdom on the earth!