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| An Apostolic Approach |
| Written by Ralph Howe |
| Wednesday, 26 November 2008 17:22 |
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John Wimber, who took over the leadership of Vineyard when it was a very young and a somewhat unorganized group of seven churches, once said that as leaders we need to major on the majors. Often I think we are majoring on the minors !
This might be hard to receive - but heard me out first and then try the idea on for size. Give it a day or two and then, if you are still uncomfortable, give me some feedback at my new weblog (address can be found on the Network’s website). I believe that church leaders and Christians alike are majoring on the minors in the church world today. We gather to hear special speakers - one wonders what happened to hearing the voice of God. We go to conferences to be refreshed and revived - and yet the book of Acts states that refreshing is found by spending time “in the presence of the Lord”. We chase “signs and wonders” when Jesus said it is “an evil and adulterous generation that seeks a sign”. We follow after the newest anointing, wanting to hear speakers who are really anointed. Jesus is the Anointed One! We are awestruck when ‘light bubbles’ or ‘glory clouds’ and ‘angels’ appear at services - lest we forget that even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light … and should we not be satisfied with the presence of the Lord which is life to us who believe. Why do we need all these other manifestations and signs? What is it we are looking for and can’t find? What need is being filled by these things that should be filled through our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus? We seem to be chasing after the “current thing”, the “next thing”, the “most anointed thing”, the “biggest and the best thing”, the “most supernatural thing”, the “newest thing”, the “historical thing” (Azusa Street Anointing), or whatever. This list could be endless. And, of course, the question needs to be asked - so let me ask it - have any of these activities furthered the Kingdom in Canada? Do we have more Born Again and Spirit-filled believers than five or ten years ago? Are there more Born Again Christians in Canada now (as a percentage of the total population) then there were ten years ago? Are more Born Again Christians obeying The Great Commission and winning the lost and discipling them into mature and productive, reproducing believers? Are we more loving today as a result of all these activities? Afterall, Jesus stated that men will come to know we are His disciples and come to know Him as Lord and Saviour as they see our love. So maybe, just maybe, all these things we busy ourselves with are really simply “majoring on the minors”. To major on the majors we would need to put The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) front and center and then ask - before watching that program, buying that book, going to that conference, being impression with the speaker - if this ‘thing’ is going to help us win the lost and disciple them into strong, mature, reproducing believers who are then out there on the front lines with us helping to expand the Kingdom and grow a strong church. And, this is not just a passing though for me. The Holy Spirit said that “the church would be built upon the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20) and I’m afraid we are trying to build on so many other ‘minor’ things that really are not helping us to fulfill the one thing the Lord left us to do - win the world for Him. They may be entertaining and educational; they certainly consume time and money; but, are they rescuing the lost from Hell and helping to expand the Kingdom around the planet so that we will be found faithful when He returns? There’s the major question we all need to answer honestly from our hearts - as we chat with Jesus about all of this. |