Transforming the world

We live in an interesting time for the church.  The American church is under attack from many quarters today.  These attacks come from some within the liberal media, some come from communities who use zoning ordinances to limit what churches can do, some come from organizations that oppose Christian teaching and values, and some of the attacks come from within Christianity as we often seem more interested in tearing one another down than trying to lift others up.  Perhaps worse than the attacks is the fact that the Christian church today is largely ignored by many people, especially the younger generations.  There are a number of books out now like They Like Jesus But Not the Church, and some of what we read in these books are unfortunately true.

Despite the opposition the church is facing, there is no organization existing today that has a greater opportunity to shape the future of this nation and the world.  Everything people have trusted has failed in recent years.  Our economy continues to tank, technology has proven that it can't stop oil spills, the most powerful nation in the world is caught up in two wars with no end in sight, large corporations have failed due to mismanagement and greed, and our elected leaders are powerless to solve any of the problems they currently face.  People today are searching for something or someone who can step in and make a difference in their lives.

The church has much to offer to our hurting society, but only if we begin to send out a clear message regarding the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that if He would be lifted up He would draw all people to Him.  It is not enough to lift up our churches or denominations; we must be lifting up the person of Christ.  We must find ways to point to Him as the answer to the problems facing mankind and the problems facing each individual.  In an age where all the old answers no longer satisfy, His message is the only one that can change the face of the world.  But, in order to proclaim that message it will be necessary for changes to occur in many of our churches.

Here is where smaller, bivocational churches can have an advantage.  The smaller the organization the easier it is for change to occur.  I compare it to a boat.  When I owned a bassboat a few years ago I could turn it around in a very short distance.  In contrast, an aircraft carrier must travel for miles before turning around.  Just because change can happen quicker in a small church this doesn't mean that it will be easy, but it must happen if we want our churches to be relevant to the culture in which we live today.  We must begin answering the questions people are currently asking if we want to make a difference in their lives, and if we can make a difference in the lives of individuals we can transform the world.

By now someone is wondering what changes I'm talking about.  The answer to that would be different in every church, but I would encourage you to find the answer by answering this questions: What exists in this church that serves as a barrier to people experiencing Jesus Christ in a meaningful way in their lives?  When you find the answer begin tearing down those walls and find ways to build bridges into your community.  It is then you will begin touching the lives of the hurting and confused people around you.