Author: Ken Lytle
Most people claim to be Christian. You hear in the news, “We are a Christian nation.” Yet we see very little Christianity being displayed in the world around. The Bible has a lot to say about what it means to be a Christian…
“Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. – Matthew 25:34-36
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. – James 1:27
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have love, I am nothing. And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing. Love has patience, is kind; love is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up; does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
If we truly allow Jesus into our hearts, we will experience a life transformation that would cause us to be sacrificial and bold in the mission to seek and to save the lost. Jesus is no longer walking the earth…
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
Jesus is no longer walking the earth, but we are. We are to be the hands, feet, mouth, and heart of Jesus in a hurting and broken world.
When it comes to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, we need to think outside the traditional box and discover new ways to connect with the lost. Yes, we still need to conduct evangelistic (reaping) meetings, but had better make sure we follow Christ’s method alone in reaching people if we want to have true success.
The first step in successful evangelism is to discover effective ways to mingle with people.
- Open our churches for AA, NA, and other types of support meetings… making sure our church members are there to offer fellowship and support
- Find senior citizens, single mothers, and disabled people in the community who need a home makeover and do it on a Sunday… painting, yard work, and car tune-up (if they have one)
- Have church leaders attend city meetings on a regular basis in an effort to get to know city leaders and when the time is right, offer to help the community when possible
- Conduct health fairs in city parks and community centers
- Etc. etc. etc………..
Once we have successfully mingled with our communities as a church who desires their good, having shown sympathy, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence, we can then conduct evangelistic meetings to reap a harvest for the eternal kingdom.
This is the method Christ has given us for these last days. It worked for Him when he was here and it will work for us if we “lovingly” work the method. There is no reason for a majority of our churches to be spiritually dead and lukewarm. If we are studying Jesus, knowing Jesus, following Jesus, and being Jesus in the world (but not of the world), people will see the Light and will respond in such a way that our churches will grow spiritually and physically.
Remember, we will not be able to effectively minister to those seeking Jesus if we are stuck in traditionalism or cheap grace. We need a healthy balance of new and old. We need to make sure our theology is rock solid, but our methodology is changing with the times.
What will you do today?
Frank Peacham
November 27, 2013
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. … In her ongoing discernment, the Church can also come to see that certain customs not directly connected to the heart of the Gospel, even some which have deep historical roots, are no longer properly understood and appreciated. Some of these customs may be beautiful, but they no longer serve as means of communicating the Gospel. We should not be afraid to re-examine them. At the same time, the Church has rules or precepts which may have been quite effective in their time, but no longer have the same usefulness for directing and shaping people’s lives.” Pope Francis, Nov 26, 2013
Ken Lytle
November 27, 2013
I don’t see how that is a good resource to be pulling from. The Catholic Church is far from the truth in so many ways. If the Adventist Church is going to be healthy and growing, it will need to boldly stand up and speak up for God’s truths. Jesus said, “Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus clearly taught and lived what it meant to be a real Christian. We must do the same… uphold truth in love.
Frank Peacham
November 27, 2013
Ken, without reservation the RC church has atrocious history of intolerance and bigotry. Their doctrines are tradition based and human centered. Yet, I think a wise person will learn from others. Pope Frances here expresses grand ideals for church ministry that our church leaders, as you have written, need to advocate. This is the example Jesus has given given, he ministered to “the bruised, hurting and dirty.”