Anonymous asked...
We aren’t trying to change anything. We simply desire to plant the gospel in communities and live it out by loving and serving people in those communities. Giving our lives in service to them because Jesus gave his life in service to us.
What is Missional? What are Missional Communities?
- Jeff Vanderstelt
When retaining people becomes our goal, we inadvertently communicate that our purpose is to grow the church rather than glorify God. We become more interested in building the church rather than advancing the kingdom. We lift up the church rather than the name of Jesus.
As well, when fellowship, care, or belonging becomes the focus of our communities, we elevate people and their needs over the kingdom. In doing so, we create people who begin to believe the purpose of the church is to meet their needs. In essence, we create consumers.
Jesus tells us that we know a tree by its fruit and that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. If we produce disciples who are navel-gazers or are obsessed with the growth of the church at the expense of the gospel, then the tree is bad. Trying harder won’t make it produce fruit. We need a healthy tree. Every time we elevate the fruit of ministry above the purpose to glorify God, we turn the fruit into an idol. The fruit becomes our focus and we settle for less than Christ glorified. As C. S. Lewis has said, “We are far too easily pleased.” Lewis was observing our propensity to settle for sin and its false promises.
House, Brad (2011-09-06). Community (p. 90). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition.
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View from house church tonight! @loveis_notlost #Mission #Community (Taken with instagram)
Submitting to the Lord isn’t always easy, but he is the only one worthy to submit to and follow.
