One of the problems we have as a church in this culture is we repudiate the need for results.
We regurgitate in our pulpits this empty rhetoric that says, "Just be faithful and leave the results up to God."
Now, technically this is true. But it engenders a very rotten attitude, I think, that allows churches to dry up and die, to reach almost no one every year and then to excuse their sorriness with- "All that matters is that we are faithful."
But I contend that God expects results- not JUST personal faithfulness.
I contend that churches that could grow but do not grow will face God's frightful frown at the bema.
I contend that we are to be results oriented. We are not just to preach the truth and let the chips fall where they may but rather we are to preach the truth in such a way that the chips, if AT ALL possible, will fall in great favor toward the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
This does not mean that that soul who dedicated his life to winning people to Christ and never got a soul will have no reward. God will indeed reward his faithfulness.
But it does mean that we are most CERTAINLY to plan and prepare and push for RESULTS.
Our churches SHOULD be growing with very few exceptions. Many of the ones that CAN'T grow should be shut down and join up with other churches that do grow.
But our commission is not just to be faithful- but to ACTUALLY baptize the nations.
If we are not aggressively pressing toward those results- we are committing what may be the worst sin we could commit as Christians.
We regurgitate in our pulpits this empty rhetoric that says, "Just be faithful and leave the results up to God."
Now, technically this is true. But it engenders a very rotten attitude, I think, that allows churches to dry up and die, to reach almost no one every year and then to excuse their sorriness with- "All that matters is that we are faithful."
But I contend that God expects results- not JUST personal faithfulness.
I contend that churches that could grow but do not grow will face God's frightful frown at the bema.
I contend that we are to be results oriented. We are not just to preach the truth and let the chips fall where they may but rather we are to preach the truth in such a way that the chips, if AT ALL possible, will fall in great favor toward the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
This does not mean that that soul who dedicated his life to winning people to Christ and never got a soul will have no reward. God will indeed reward his faithfulness.
But it does mean that we are most CERTAINLY to plan and prepare and push for RESULTS.
Our churches SHOULD be growing with very few exceptions. Many of the ones that CAN'T grow should be shut down and join up with other churches that do grow.
But our commission is not just to be faithful- but to ACTUALLY baptize the nations.
If we are not aggressively pressing toward those results- we are committing what may be the worst sin we could commit as Christians.