If this race has made me question anything, it’s how most American churches operate. After spending time in a closed country this month, I have one burning question on my heart: How did we get so far off base in America?
I don’t want to spend time telling you the things I’ve learned, or telling you what you should believe. What I do want to do is make you to question what YOU believe, and what the church means to you. So below I have 7 questions you should ask yourself about your local church.
1) What does the community say about your church?
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35
“He must also have a good relationship with outsiders” – 1 Timothy 3:7 [Paul speaking about church leaders]
So how do people in the community view your church leader? And your church.
Our host in Thailand spent time at Antioch (a church in Texas), and she told me something that has stuck with me. She said that for about the first year or so, whenever she would minister to people on the street and ask if she could pray for them, they all asked the same thing: “Are you with that Antioch church?” When she asked how they knew that, they all responded with, “Because that church always has people out here praying for us.” And to that I say AMEN.
2) Is your church sharing the full story with you?
“The Spirit himself testifies that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:16-17
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
Every story, every situation has two sides to it: truth and grace. And every story needs the fullness of truth and grace in order for it to be as Christ intended it to be. Because He was full of truth AND grace. (John 1:14)
So here is YOUR story. (Okay, now I’m getting a little preachy… oops.) Truth says you are a sinner. Truth says you are unworthy of the sacrifice Christ made for you. Grace says you are co-heirs with Jesus, the son of God! (Can I get a Hallelujah?!) Grace says you are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).
Does your church share all truth, and no grace? Do they share all grace and no truth? Or are they sharing the full story?
3) What is the purpose of your church?
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” – Matthew 10:8
“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” – James 2:15
I honestly don’t even know how to approach this question without getting on my soapbox… So let’s keep this short.
When Jesus sent His disciples out, he told them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Do you think His purpose for His disciples has changed since He spoke those words?
4) Does your church recognize and invite the Holy Spirit in?
“It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12
So let’s get this straight: Jesus left us to go to the Father. He left and the Holy Spirit came in His place – which could only happen if He returned to the Father. So He returned to the Father, we got the Holy Spirit, and because of that we have the power to do greater miracles than Jesus.
Does your church recognize the power of the Holy Spirit, or are they constantly waiting for the return of Christ to come “fix things” on earth? Jesus said we would be lucky to have the Holy Spirit, because we could do even greater things on earth than Jesus was able to do. Don’t get me wrong, we need the return of Christ. But does that mean our world can’t be changed unless Jesus is back on this earth, or do you fully believe that the Holy Spirit IS Christ, IS the Father, and LIVES in you?
In other words, does your church believe that through the Holy Spirit you can change the world?
5) Does your church depend on the building?
“God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body” – Ephesians 1:22-23
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you [anyone who is a believer] is a part of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27
Here’s what I want you to take away from these verses: the church is a group of people, NOT a building. Through my travels I have seen many different church buildings. I have also seen churches without buildings. So ask yourself: If your church building fell to the ground, burned to ashes, was taken by the government… What would happen to your church? Honestly. Would you still meet? Would you still be united?
6) Is your church worth risking jail time over?
“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” – John 15:20
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” – Hebrews 10:25
This week I stood in a service with some powerhouse pastors of Laos. Pastors who risk their lives each and every day in order to openly preach the gospel of God. This week my team and I also snuck out of a church service at the end in order to avoid arrest. (Sorry Mom and Dad!) And yet, it was so worth it.
So ask yourself. If your church – the act of gathering with groups of believers – put you at risk of being arrested, would you still gather? I’m not asking if JESUS is worth getting arrested over, I’m not asking if your faith is worth it. I’m asking about gathering with the members of your church. Worth it, or not?
7) Would Jesus be proud of your church?
Now this one is between you and the Lord. So ask Him. If the answer is yes, then Amen to that. If the answer is no… then I have one more question for you.
What are you going to do about it?
