:: By Gordon Boughton
Introduction
Can we multiply renewal, disciples, and leaders without any change at all?
Not very likely! If churches, and the Diocese as a whole don’t make any changes whatsoever, the Gospel will start to go backwards (if not already doing so), fewer people will come to be made new in Christ, there will be fewer congregations, fewer people will grow to Christian maturity, and as trained leaders die out, there will be fewer replacements. What a bleak outlook!
If there is going to be any change, what should remain unchanged? What should be changed? On the one hand the essential Gospel cannot be changed, but on the other hand there will be some non-essentials that should be changed and reformed if the Mission of Christ is to go ahead with any momentum. Three possible ways: do what you are doing, but do it much better. Stop doing things which obviously don’t grow people in Christ. Do new things which might enhance Christ’s mission. We might do any combination of these three.
No doubt, we will be praying like St Francis: “Lord help me to change the things I can’t accept, to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference.”
James 1:5,6 reminds us that God will guide us, as we sincerely want to obey Him. Already God has provided His Word, and His Spirit, and His people. God has also provided us with wisdom gleaned over the decades, even centuries and millennia, tools of observation, reflection, research, and results communicated in common sense language.
For example The Diocesan Mission Statement with its 4 Strategies or Policies is one of many helpful tool to guide our vision and action.
Today we consider policy 4 of the Diocesan Mission may give us some guidelines
To reform the life of the Diocese
(including its culture, ordinances, customs,
use of resources, and deployment of ministry)
to encourage and enable the fulfilment
of the fundamental aim
ie, to multiply congregations.
Do you remember what the Mission statement and the first three policies?
Let me review them quickly!
1. Multiplying Renewal through Prayer,
2. Multiplying Disciples and Congregations,
3. Multiplying Well-trained Leaders
Back to policy 4
Talk about change and reform! In the last few months St Marks and AABC S have undergone more change than most churches in the Diocese. Such change has been pragmatic and dependant of the good will of both churches, enabling the survival of the former and the continuing growth of the latter. Such change is compatible with the Mission policies.
Nevertheless, all have had to make some adjustments and for some this has been more difficult than others.
A major point of this sermon is that good change or reform is a normal part of the Christian life – whether for individuals, fellowships or churches.
For example, becoming a genuine born again Christian involves radical change repentance from sin/self to trusting Christ and obeying Him.(2 Cor 5:17)
Being a Christian is a lifetime process of change – being conformed to the image of Christ.
Similarly becoming a church and being the church Christ wants us to be, also involves inevitable change as we apply a growing understanding of the Scriptures – and our context to the present situation.
This has always been the case for God’s people whether in the OT or the NT or since then.
Last week we looked at Jethro’s advice to Moses in ~ 1300BC and Paul’s advice to Timothy in ~ 60AD. Reforms and changes followed those admonitions.
Today we look at two more cases: Josiah’s reforms in 7th century BC. And the appointment of deacons under Peter’s leadership in the early church, about 35AD
2 Kings 22:1-13
Note. It was the written Word of God, rediscovered, read, (22:8), and rightly interpreted (22:14-20), that motivated Josiah and his officers to multiply reform.
Chapter 23 outlines the extensive reforms of Josiah against idolatry, and immorality. He had the Word of God read publicly, called for public covenant renewal and re-instituted the Passover.
Sadly, the reforms were short lived. Within a generation, Gods’ judgment against resurgent idolatry, immorality and injustice resulted in the Babylonian Captivity. Each generation needs to be evangelised. No less today, we need a virile Biblical Christianity that inspires each new generation to devotion to Christ
Acts 6:1-7
The passage begins with the problem of Cross cultural favouritism in the “meals on wheels” to ministry to the widows. The Greek-speaking Mediterranean Jewish Christians and the Aramaic speaking Palestinian Jewish Christians had their different synagogues/home meetings for linguistic and cultural reasons. The fact of the problem was not disputed, but Peter acted swiftly to make sure it never happened again. He canvassed the widest possible consensus. The Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and eventually got a unanimous vote – the support of the “whole multitude”. He restated the Twelve’s key ministry of Word and prayer. Note the criteria for choosing helpers was (not unlike Jethro’s in Ex 18, nor Paul’s in 2 Tim 2:2) “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and Wisdom” ie outstanding in Christ-likeness and practical Godliness.
Down through the history of the church, there have been many challenges and problems. Not all changes and reforms were along Biblical lines. Far from it! Pagan influence produced Mariolatry, and other idolatries, institutional authority (Pope, Patriarch, tradition) rather than the Bible, salvation by works rather than by Christ alone through grace and faith.
It is easy to see why we needed a Reformation in the 16th Century, and various evangelical revivals in subsequent centuries ever since. Some say there was a little one in Sydney in the late 1940’s and early1950’s, even before the Billy Graham Crusade in 1959. Will there be another revival in Sydney in the 21st century? Are we not praying for such an outpouring of God’s Spirit?
In the closing decade of the 20th century, some observers of churches in USA felt that there was a ground swell of significant changes building up for the 21st century. Good changes. Carl F George called his book on it “The Coming Church Revolution”. On the whole the changes were helpful, designed to cope with fulfilling Christ’s mission on the one hand and adapting to the contemporary break down of family life and other problems, on the other – particularly in western society.
From Leith Anderson’s preface to Carl F Georges book, I have developed a ten point criteria which helped me (and I think helps others) to form a vision of the kind of church God wants us to be in the 21st Century. It is probably not much different from the church God wanted in the first century, and always wanted, but maybe it is still necessary spell it out. It is so easy to depart from revealed truth.
What kind of Church Does God want?
One that will address the problems and opportunities of the Present?
A church where:
1. Jesus Christ is Lord,
2. The Bible is the final authority,
3. The Holy Spirit empowers,
4. Prayer is pervasive,
5. Care is normative,
6. Evangelism is relational,
7. Leaders, fellowships and churches are multiplied,
8. Lay Ministry is being done in teamwork with the Clergy,
9. Truth is lived out in everyday life,
10. All is done to the glory of God the Father.
Each point is in slogan form and needs detailed elaboration which I will give at another time. Generally speaking,
Points 1-4 seem obvious, but sadly, not all churches will interpret these along Reformed Evangelical lines.
Points 5-8 are criteria which have often been lacking in otherwise sound Biblical churches but can thrive in churches of unsound theology or heretical sects like Mormons and JWs
Points 9 and 10 are obvious but need stating and putting intro practice
Conclusion: In the Christian life, we are thrust into change and reform. On the one hand, there are thee positive changes towards Christ likeness which we should not avoid. But, on the other, all kinds of changes, which are part and parcel of living in 2005 AD, have to be assessed and addressed in a Biblical way.
While some are not entirely happy with current changes at St Mark’s, most people definitely are. We have become a living example of the Policy 4. There has been significant restructure of two churches into one – in order to help both churches together be renewed, make more disciples and incorporate them into fellowships, congregations, and churches led by well trained leaders, teachers and pastors.
We should be thankful to God for this renewed fellowship and keep willing to continue what has begun.
Keep giving us feedback on the changes we have already decided on. Make suggestions to us on how you think we could do better in building up existing members and reaching out to make new disciples.
Finally, let us encourage one another to guard the integrity of the Gospel of Christ and, keeping His mission in focus, reach out to the spiritually lost in the district of Malabar, the city of Sydney, the country of Australia, and the nations of the world.