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Church was to prepare us to "go out". So, why does today's church focus so much on bringing in and keeping in?
Church was to prepare us to "go out". So, why does today's church focus so much on bringing in and keeping in?
There is the part, of helping one another to grow in Jesus and our relationship with Him. So, we do need to share with each other so we can build one another up and learn how to love the way Jesus wants. And as we become a love-healthy group, now we can send out ones who are proven and ready.Maybe He only wants those who are willing to fight for a relationship with Him.
There is the part, of helping one another to grow in Jesus and our relationship with Him. So, we do need to share with each other so we can build one another up and learn how to love the way Jesus wants. And as we become a love-healthy group, now we can send out ones who are proven and ready.
Before the disciples went out, they first spent time with Jesus, for preparation . . . also for getting closer to Him, and I would say so they could feed on His example of how He is and how He loves.
He chose them, "that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out", we have in Mark 3:14.
Also, in Acts we can see how ones proven were sent.
Is this relevant to what you mean by your question, please? And, of course, what do you think?
Possibly relevant to your question is that there can be groups who just keep whoever they get. Maybe, when they discover someone who is more outspoken and idealistic, they don't like this so they pay for the person to go on missions so they don't have to deal with the person.
But a scriptural church will prepare people, having "examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3) to help prepare younger Christians. And we run our cup over to bless other churches with our most special and blessed people.
Maybe it has to do with status, power and greed.Church was to prepare us to "go out". So, why does today's church focus so much on bringing in and keeping in?
Possibly, you mean this >I don't agree that is what is going on in today's church.
Jesus Christ's church is doing this. But there are plenty of people in churches who do not. It may not show publicly on TV or in more publicized church politics, but the humble ones can be feeding their example, on a personal basis which does not show publicly, but the ones who know these "examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3) are benefiting from them.But a scriptural church will prepare people, having "examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3) to help prepare younger Christians. And we run our cup over to bless other churches with our most special and blessed people.
It's the same process. The church reaches out to people in hopes of bringing them into the faith.
It depends mainly on what phraseology you want to use.
Do you mean that you see a lack of evangelism and missionary efforts?I hear you, but that isn't what I see happening....
So certainly it goes on in some churches and not in others.I don't agree that is what is going on in today's church.
Church was to prepare us to "go out". So, why does today's church focus so much on bringing in and keeping in?
The underground church in China has been estimated to be 100,000,000 by now.So I take the point to be that many church communities become insulator and focused on defending doctrine. They have few to none, who go out and preach the gospel to the poor, heal the sick, cast out demons, care for the infirm, etc. Even those who should be teaching by now don't seem to know basic doctrine. Having been in evangelical churches in the US for the last 44 years, across 6 churches I would agree that my experience is that few of those were even interested in going out 10,20, even 30 years into their walk with Christ. They knew little scripture, knew little doctrine, didn't participate in small groups, didn't pray for other people, didn't do outreach in their communities, didn't even know the four spiritual laws presentation. And that was evangelicals, who brag about their superiority in those areas as compared to other Christian denominations.
Further, though I worked 70-hours a week in my job, I found time to serve in ministry my entire Christian life. But when recruiting people to join me I found 1 in 10 were willing. They had too much time commitment in their 40-hr work weeks to help.
But on a positive note in China we have an underground church that is thriving. It is home-based and is estimated to be 40,000,000+ in size, making it the largest Christian church population in history.
When you leave the building you go forth to do what?Not everyone is an evangelist, not everyone is a missionary, not everyone is a pastor, or a teacher. Just as not everyone is a lawyer, or a doctor, or a baker.
Not everyone is "sent out". That has never been the case in the long history of Christianity.
-CryptoLutheran
Thanks, this is an interesting topic.Church was to prepare us to "go out". So, why does today's church focus so much on bringing in and keeping in?
When you leave the building you go forth to do what?