Mission that has Ceased or Stalled
If God isn't working in our lives, it shouldn't be any surprise that we're not working for His good pleasure.
Several weeks ago, I was invited to speak on a panel where we discussed how the mission of churches (i.e. sharing the good news) had ceased or stalled. I was asked what I thought were some of the reasons why churches no longer share the gospel with others (which is a vital mission from our Lord). Of course, there can be a myriad of reasons why churches are no longer engaged in evangelism. These reasons could include a fear of engaging in evangelism and a lack of training on how to do it well. But I speculated that the primary reason is much deeper. I believe that the lack of mission in a church is actually a symptom of a deeper problem. And that deeper problem is a lack of spirituality. Lots of people in churches today lack a closeness to Christ that would motivate and empower them to share the good news with others.
Who tells other people about Jesus? It's the one who has a close and vibrant relationship with Christ. If a person isn't flourishing in their relationship with Jesus, it's no surprise that they have little desire to tell others about Him. It's great that we can train people for evangelism and help them overcome their fears. But if people lack a robust relationship with Christ, training can only go so far. In the end, people need to be close to Jesus. And that will provide them with both the motivation and power to go and share the gospel with others.
Paul wrote these words in his letter to the Philippians: "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13 ESV). One of God's good pleasures is that all people on earth will come to know and follow Him. As believers in Jesus, we are called to work for that end. But look at who actually provides both the motivation and the power to do it. God is the one who provides these. It is God who works in us "to will and to work for his good pleasure." So, we need to give God space to do that motivating and empowering work in our lives. That's where prayer, Scripture, worship, and contemplation come in. When we engage in these spiritual practices, we give God space to work in our lives and to shape us for His Kingdom purposes. If God isn't working in our lives, it shouldn't be any surprise that we're not working for His good pleasure.
If mission has stalled in your church, perhaps it's a symptom of a deeper problem. Check to see what the spiritual condition of people is like. If people have a healthy and strong relationship with Christ, they will naturally want to share Jesus with others.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
