Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Whither The Church?
Justin Taylor posted some back-and-forth over a post by Tony Payne. Payne's thesis:
First of all, I think it extremely doubtful that we any longer live in an age where "throne and altar" intertwine. Statistically, church attendance is a vast minority of our populace. But even under such circumstances, I would challenge the idea that a church service is the best opportunity to present the gospel. The truly transformative gospel of Jesus Christ is not merely taught - it is mentored, even apprenticed. That requires more than simple proclamation. Apprenticeships are noted by the doing, not the teaching.
Which brings me to the third criticism. In a church that is doing this, it is the members of the church doing the apprenticing - not the clergy. Thus they are witnessing the the gospel in action every day becasue they are God's agent of it. A point which answers the second criticism as well. It is happening all the time around you.
The church's job is not to make new Christians - the church's job is to make good, devoted Christians. It is their job to make new Christians and bring them to church so it can do it's job. If we are not making Christians that go out and do that job then we need to reexamine what we are doing, not try and do it for them.
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...Even if we acknowledge that there will be ‘gospel’ things happening all over the place in church, it is also important to say that evangelism is not the purpose of Christian assemblies. It is certainly not their focus. In the New Testament, churches are characteristically the fruit of evangelism, not its agent. Evangelism usually takes place outside the assembly—in the marketplace, the synagogue, the prison, and in daily gospel conversation.Offered in the contra:
Since the era when ‘throne and altar’ became intertwined, evangelism in church has been ‘a propos’. Here's why:Now, anyone that follows this blog routinely knows that I am going to agree with Payne here completely, and maybe even take things a step farther. I just want to offer a few specific response to the contra arguments presented.
1. For those ministering in broad, comprehensive churches in which the spiritual status and allegiance of attenders is doubtful, you will have to preach the gospel for conversion Sunday by Sunday or miss your best opportunity
[...]
2. For those determined to follow the counsel set out, please indicate where, and in what other venues you are preaching the gospel with a view to the conversion of your hearers if by your own admission, you will not belabor this in your Sunday services.
[...]
3. Perfectly orthodox churches need to hear the gospel preached and to witness its power in transforming the curious and unbelieving.
First of all, I think it extremely doubtful that we any longer live in an age where "throne and altar" intertwine. Statistically, church attendance is a vast minority of our populace. But even under such circumstances, I would challenge the idea that a church service is the best opportunity to present the gospel. The truly transformative gospel of Jesus Christ is not merely taught - it is mentored, even apprenticed. That requires more than simple proclamation. Apprenticeships are noted by the doing, not the teaching.
Which brings me to the third criticism. In a church that is doing this, it is the members of the church doing the apprenticing - not the clergy. Thus they are witnessing the the gospel in action every day becasue they are God's agent of it. A point which answers the second criticism as well. It is happening all the time around you.
The church's job is not to make new Christians - the church's job is to make good, devoted Christians. It is their job to make new Christians and bring them to church so it can do it's job. If we are not making Christians that go out and do that job then we need to reexamine what we are doing, not try and do it for them.
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