Comments on: Are we married to the mission or the methods?

By: Donny G

Donny G — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:37:41 +0000

To a large extent the accusation is true, the church has built up its walls and now prefers to hunker in the bunker of their congregational meeting houses, only letting in those who meet a strict criteria in dress, speech, and economic compatibility. Follow our rules and you can join our exclusive club, and we will teach you how to successfully market Jesus. And the world looks on with disgust and contempt for those who are of this ilk. Unfortunately that is what this world thinks of when they think of Christians. It is up to us to change that perception. We have to break out of the “American-ized” mentality of churh and Gospel Presentation and get back to living the message in a radical sense as Jesus taught His disciples. We are so caught up in our “rights” and comfort and affluence that we no longer affect the culture… the culture affects us.
That is a broad stroke of the brush I know but fairly accurate on the whole. Yet there always has been and always will be a remnant until Jesus’ return. Until then we are to be busy about the Father’s work until He does return (not just biding time until we are “raptured” out of here). That was the whole point of the stewards, five talents, or one talent it is to be used not hidden away in some vault waiting for the master to return so we can show him how well we have kept what he has given us but how through using what he has given us how it has increased.
So let’s live as if we really believe what we say we believe. If your behaviour does not mirror your beliefs then you do not believe what you say you believe and you are a hypocrite. The type the world sees through and labels “Typical Christian.”
Just a thought.

By: What’s Our Calling? « How did I get here?

What’s Our Calling? « How did I get here? — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:07:10 +0000

[...] our own wrong message to the world about Jesus Christ!? I recently read a blog post by Tony Morgan, Are We Married to the Mission or the Methods? How often are we getting caught up in all the hoopla surrounding the great and lavish church [...]

By: Joel Schneider

Joel Schneider — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:01:02 +0000

This article has really made me think over the last couple weeks. I’ve realized it isn’t just the way the church runs, its also the way I’ve run.
I’m more focused on task like reading my bible than I am on the vision, the goal, what I am trying to reach.
I need to focus more on what the vision for my life (the mission) and let the methods (reading my bible, praying) fall in place to accomplish it.

By: Are We Married to the Mission or the Methods? « Jon Lloyd | Life Music Ministry

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:07:44 +0000

[...] We Married to the Mission or the Methods? By Jon Some great thought’s from Tony. It sure got me [...]

By: Peter P

Peter P — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:24:36 +0000

We watch ‘Fireproof’ while the rest of the world watches pornography

We love our neighbor while the rest of the world loves themselves.

We worship God while the rest of the world worships pop stars and athletes.

We live for Christ while the rest of the world lives for money.

I totally get what you’re saying and yes, too many of us too often become focused on the method – and are unwilling to change it.

The danger I see though is that some people get so focused on abandoning tradition and becoming ‘contemporary’ that they lose focus on what’s good and right and holy.

It is easy to try so hard to be relevant that you actually lose focus on the mission and become married to the method all over again.

By: Rick Dugan

Rick Dugan — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:04:22 +0000

Hi Tony …. Yeah, what they hear is definitely more important than what we say. As someone who teaches a church of about 20 nationalities every Sunday morning, it’s something I have to be very careful about.

I just have a knee-jerk reaction to the attention that repackaging our churches receives among church leadership. I’m speaking in generalities, obviously, but it seems we have serious spiritual issues that no amount of repackaging will fix. If God actually showed up in our church communities and if lives were being transformed, then I think the hungry, thirsty, and broken would listen.

That said, we need to understand our cultures and how the gospel speaks to them.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:48:26 +0000

great post with great thoughts. it’s important to know where “the rest of the world” is for your ministry. in my small town, facebook hasn’t replaced bulletins and text messages haven’t replaced direct mail. hoping that day comes quickly, but it’s not quite here yet.

By: tony

tony — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:26:12 +0000

rick, this post isn’t about being more relevant. it’s about people hearing the Gospel message. we’re using a language that our culture doesn’t speak. it’s not different than trying to preach the Gospel in english in india. people won’t respond, because they don’t understand. same thing is happening today in the u.s.

we want people to hear the message, but we want them to hear it on our terms. that’s pretty arrogant of us don’t you think?

By: Rick Dugan

Rick Dugan — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:32:08 +0000

I wish following Jesus was as simple as becoming more relevant.

By: paul merrill

paul merrill — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:09 +0000

I agree – but SOME people in the Church are doing it right.

Your post makes it seem like the whole entire church is irrelevant to its culture. Not true. And what did Jesus do when he was on the earth? He was radically relevant but not afraid of offending anyone.