This is a topic I've been mulling for the past couple weeks. It was sparked by an offhanded remark a friend made a couple Sundays ago. We were discussing how churches should be run. After prayerful consideration over the past three weeks or so, I've come to the conclusion that pursuing the method is not a waste of time, but very close to it. We should spend the vast majority of our time focusing on the message.
When I say "the message" here I'm referring to the Gospel of Christ, both the message of salvaation and the pursuit of God and godliness following salvation. When I say "the method" here, I'm referring to the style or philosophy used to run a church and it's ministries.
This is my paraphrase of our conversation. I said, "I do agree with the point about focusing on the message. The method is not nearly so important as our message itself." My friend responded, "That's true until our method gets in the way of our message." That statement struck with discord with me, but I couldn't have told you why at the the time. However, on the drive home, I pinned it down as I told my wife, "I suppose stating that 'the method can get in the way of the message' is one way to put this, but the really key thing is that the method is so often pursued without regard to the message itself."
Here's my point. I'm a Calvinist. I believe that God is absolutely sovereign and that man has free will. I'm not a fatalist that believes God determines what is and what isn't. Yet, as Paul made clear in Romans 9:19
and following, God is the great potter. He is the one that designed each of us and some He designed for "noble purposes and some for common use." As such, the delivery of the message will be received well or poorly based upon the workings of the Holy Spirit, not based upon the method of our delivery.
Certainly, we have influence in the way we are used as Christians (as I said, I believe in freedom of will). Yet, that implies that we live a life dedicated to Christ and holiness as outlined by the whole teaching of God found in the Bible. That does not mean that anything more than following the precepts of the Bible is required.
Discerning relevant ways of delivery is a good thing, but you must first be intimately acquainted with the message itself. If you focus on the method of delivery rather than the details of the message, then you will be ill equipped to adapt when faced with a change in parameters. Culture can change quickly in a short-time or you may be confronted by someone from a different culture or sub-culture than your methods were designed. At which point, you may be emphasizing the completely wrong aspects of the message to best reach that person.
Now, the good thing is that even under these circumstances, we still learn that God is sovereign and that the message can reach someone dispite a complete failure in delivery. Therefore, using the wrong method won't hurt, but only if that method includes a firm basis in the message. Too often, I think, Christians fail to deliver the message entirely because they are too focused on how to deliver it.
That's only covering the first side of the coin, though. The other aspect to consider is how to grow baby Christian's into maturity so that they can lead the church of the next generation into the same position and so forth until Christ's return. I believe that the importance of the message still trumps whatever cultural baggage we bring in to how we run our church.
I don't care if members of your church dress up or dress casual or even grungy. I don't care if your church sings hymns, rock songs, or raps. I don't care if your church prays aloud as a group, performs liturgical prayers, or prayers in utter silence. I don't care if you meet on Sunday, Saturday, Wednesday, or every other day.
I care if you're sharing the Scriptures. I care if you're exploring the truth and earnestly seeking God's wisdom. I care if you're using discernment to expel any false teacher who would cause divisions. I care if you're earnestly asking God to conform you to his will and daily taking up your cross to die to self and serve those around you.
All that is to say, use whatever method you have to to make sure you are being equipped for the purposes of sharing the Gospel with those who need to hear it and for the purpose of encouraging and equipping believers who have accepted it. Focus on the Bible and the message God has delivered through it.
Ultimately, let us not get lost in searching for the best way to run a church and simply get about the business of doing it.
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