Beyond Evangelism
Acts 14:19-23
Thayer Salisbury
There is a difference between sowing seed and gardening;
there is a difference between reciting facts and teaching;
and there is a difference between evangelizing and planting
churches. We are often too individualistic in our evangelism.
We convert individuals and fail to form them together into
functional, biblical churches. There are many things involved
in the task of planting churches; Acts 14:19 - 23 seems to
underline three that are all too often underemphasized.
Realistic expectations
Converts must be given realistic expectations. The apostle
told them that through many tribulations we must enter the
kingdom of God (22). We have a tendency to emphasize the benefits
of Christianity in a manner that is unrealistic, and may tend
to leave people essentially unconverted. This may come in
the form of therapeutic preaching that presents Christ as
a problem solver. Or it could also be in the form of hellfire
and brimstone preaching that emphasizes that Christ will save
us. Both are true. Christ does solve problems and save us,
but if either is isolated from the message of the Lordship
of Christ, we have left ourselves on the throne of our lives.
Consequently our problems will not be solved and we will
not be saved. There is hardness and a complexity in apostolic
preaching that we seem to have mislaid some time ago. Despite
the urgent desire to convert many, the apostles presented
the Christian faith realistically and therefore in all its
paradoxical complexity. Verse 22 is an example of this, but
only one of many that could be pointed out in the New Testament.
We have not struggled as we ought with the paradox of Jesus
saying, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"
(Matt 11:30); and his also saying, "If anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily
and follow me" (Lk 9:23).
The television generations do not deal well with complex
issues like these. There is no way of dealing with an issue
like this in a sound bite. It requires careful thought and
examination. Sermons might have to be longer, they certainly
will have to be more thoughtful, if they are to honestly present
all sides of these matters and leave the listeners with realistic
expectations. But we must return to such honesty or we will
not see the long-term results the early missionaries experienced.
Prepared for leadership
Converts must be prepared for leadership. The apostles were
quick to develop leadership within the young congregations.
We see in Acts 14 that Barnabas and Paul were quick to appoint
elders in each congregation (22). We recall that in Acts 6
the apostles appointed deacons in the church at Jerusalem
fairly quickly after that church was established.
Modern evangelists have not been quick to develop leaders.
We see that on the mission fields of the world. Forty-two
years after the church first entered Swaziland, there are
still no elders. In Canada and the States I see many congregations
either without elders or with poorly qualified ones.As a result
of this lack of leadership, many new converts have their faith
destroyed. We ought to realize that Satan is no more opposed
to conversions than a wolf i3 opposed to the birth of lambs.
The wolf’s ideal world is not a world where all sheep have
been destroyed, but a world where the sheep have incompetent
shepherds.
Nearly every church problem is related in some way to a problem
of leadership. Either the problem would not have come up at
all, or it would not have been so serious, if there had been
better leadership in place, and if the congregation had a
willingness to be shepherded.
We need men willing to learn to be biblical, Christian leaders
AND we need members willing to follow. Some who could be preparing
for leadership are too busy with other concerns. Many members
are unwilling submit to leaders and work cooperatively. Some
preachers seem to have no realistic plan for developing leadership.
Most of them wish that it would develop, but they are not
taking an active role in making it come about. Paul took steps
to make sure that the churches he planted had elders. We ought
to be doing the same.
Commended to the Lord
Lastly, converts must be commended to the Lord. The church
will never, on its own, develop the leaders it needs. The
church will never, on its own, learn to follow its leaders
and submit as it ought to submit. The evangelist or missionary
that waits until everything is just right before moving on,
will wait forever.
Ultimately, the matter comes down to entrusting the congregation
and the leaders to the Lord. The same verse that tells us
that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders goes on to say, "they
committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed"
(23). We dare not rush unqualified people into positions they
are not authorized to hold. But if we wait for perfection
we will wait in vain. We must have enough faith to trust the
Lord.
Conclusion
We must move beyond individual evangelism to church planting.
It is not just a matter of converting people. Biblically speaking,
Christians were always formed into functional bodies, and
it was always expected that every Christian would be active
in the church. The progress of the church is dependent on
regaining that expectation of constructive activity. There
is a difference between a once a week pew warmer and a Christian.
Christians have realistic expectations; they know that this
Christianity business is not about fun but about "entering
the kingdom through many tribulations." Christians have a
desire to lead others to Christ and to be led themselves into
a deeper, fuller relationship with him. So they move toward
leadership in their congregations. Christians know that while
they cannot accomplish any of this themselves, they can rely
on the Lord.
- Toledo, OH
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