Church
Leaders: What Are We Building?
by Martin Schmaltz
Recently
I viewed a video of legendary basketball coach John Wooden describing his
definition of success. In essence, his goal was not to build a winning
basketball team: his goal was to build people. By help each individual come
closer to realizing their full potential, they would be a success and the
by-product would be a winning team.
My
mind naturally went to Christianity and church. I asked my self a question: "Do
we seek to build successful churches or to build people?" Jesus' ministry was
not to build an organization or edifice, but to see people's lives transformed.
His message was not an escapist doctrine of get saved and go to heaven, but he
boldly proclaimed the kingdom of heaven is here! It is near you! You are not
far from the kingdom of heaven! Jesus message was the good news of the Kingdom!
Before His ascension,
Jesus gave us his commissioning:
"Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matt 28:19-20 NKJV.
Notice
what He did not say: go and save the lost or go and build a church. He said we
were to make disciples. How is this accomplished? By using His authority,
baptizing and then TEACHING them to observe the things he command us.
Discipleship is a developmental process of the believer!
So, two more questions came to mind:
1 - Is our goal discipleship or salvation?
2 - How many of our programs are truly designed to CHANGE people?
Now
I know most sincere leaders will say both of course! So, if this is the case,
why is one the biggest problem of the church today retention? I have heard of
wonderful evangelistic events that have resulted in many being born again: yet
a short time later, these people cannot be found. To me, this is a problem. (A
side note, I believe there is a problem with our intentions and presentation of
the good news, but that is for a future Apostolic Note.)
As
a pastor, I tried many different ideas (can you say "programs") of
discipleship. I even compiled material and wrote a 3 level, yearlong
discipleship program: Discipleship Development, Discipleship Maturity,
Discipleship Ministry and taught this to the entire church my last year of
pastoring. Yet I came to see the weakness of it in the last few months. Let me
explain.
Too much of discipleship
today is the teaching of facts.
Coach
Wooden's philosophy was not to make his players experts of the mechanics of
basketball: dribbling, passing, or jump shots. His goal was, to help them
express their greatest potential as an individual. This being accomplished,
basketball success would naturally follow as an outgrowth of who the players
were.
Jesus'
ministry was the same. Matthew 4:23 tells us:
"Jesus traveled throughout
Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about
the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease."
The
intention of Jesus ministry is expressed in the meaning of the word "teaching,"
it means: "to know or teach, it includes the aim of shaping of the will of the
pupil." Jesus' intent was not to impart religious facts; it was his desire to
see a change in the will of the student. Obviously, a transformation of the
will results in a different lifestyle.
So
the weakness of my discipleship program: I was teaching a lot of good
information, but there was not a method or structure to bring about a
transformation. Something was missing.
Back
to coach Wooden. In his development process, he was just as concerned with the
player off the courts as on them. He stressed their classes and grades and
conduct. In short, he was involved in their everyday life! So an addition
weakness of my program: there was good info, but it was not followed up with
practical involvement in the daily lives of the people.
I
think this is common in the church. Unfortunately, we stress involvement at
church on Sundays, maybe a mid week. Usually, there is limited involvement
outside of the sanctioned activities of the church. Most church programs are
not designed for true discipleship. Their focus is disseminating information,
fellowship or alternative activities (some youth ministry). Very little real
transformation happens in these settings.
As
new believers, my wife and I were truly discipled by another young couple in
the church. We spent hours together outside of service: having dinner, going
shopping, taking trips or just hanging out. It was during these times, the principles
of living for God were talked about BUT many were caught. I was taught how to
live for God by example.
So, a possible answer:
* Minister and train
saints to emphasize transformation, not just about heaven or hell. It is about
becoming like Jesus.
* Structure the local
assembly with multiple opportunities for practical application of the word to
everyday life.
* Seek out mature
leadership and train them to be elders or shepherds. Assign them to work with
individuals.
* Create share groups;
people with like interests. Get them spending time together; it does not even
have to have a "spiritual" focus.
* Pray for a spiritual
transformation of the mind of the local assembly
It
may be slow, but when you start with a core and they develop and grow, winning
new people, eventually the mindset will change and you will come to a tipping
point and there will be a cultural shift to the local assembly.
till
next time-
by Martin Schmaltz