Why Worry About Mission? Part 2

This is the second post of a devotional I shared at our Generosity event.

I want to tell you stories of three men. 

 

In 2010, I was the chairperson of the strategic planning committee of my church.  I asked them (after some other work we did) to share what they thought a five year goal should be for the church.  One man’s answer: to still exist.

I think very highly of this man.  He is a good person, a loyal member of the church who contributes greatly to its ministry – in many ways.  I think his view of church is shaped by not only the outside culture and his way of doing business, but also by the culture of our churches. I think we sometimes operate out of fear and scarcity, and I truly believe we will not be a successful church – in God’s eyes – when we do that.  “Please come to our church and bring your checkbook.”  “Please come to our church so that we won’t die.” 

 

Where does our mission fit into that?

 

The second man is Henri Nouwen.  If you haven’t read something written by Henri Nouwen, go find anything, and read it.  I think you won’t be sorry.  You might want to start with Henri Nouwen's book, "The Spirituality of Fundraising.” In that book, he writes:

 

Fund-raising is precisely the opposite of begging. When we seek to raise funds, we are not saying, "Please, could you help us out because lately it's been hard." Rather, we are declaring, "We have a vision that is amazing and exciting.  We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you - your energy, your prayers, and your money - in this work to which God has called us."

 

He also wrote, “Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.”  Maybe that’s why Jesus told the Disciples to “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt.” Maybe this gave them the opportunity to invite others into Christ’s mission.

 

The story of the third man is from a devotional that one of our Trustees provided at a committee meeting. She had been visiting family in another state and went to church there.  She met a man at the church who had become involved in mission work.  He said, “I don’t have time to play at being church.” 

 

I think that’s true of all of us – we don’t have time to play at being a church.  It’s time to be church.

 

Getting back to Luke 9.  What happened next?  The next bit of scripture in the 9^th chapter of Luke is where Jesus asks this question: “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?”

 

We have resources we haven’t even noticed yet. We have been equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been given a mission by Christ to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick.”  Will we tell others who Christ is? Will our churches reach out and heal people, proclaim peace and justice, and love a hurting world? Will we use the gifts we have been given wisely as competent stewards? Will we invite other people into God’s ministry?

 

Or will we just hope to exist in five years?

 

Please pray with me…

 

God of abounding love and grace, we offer thanksgiving for each other and for the church you created.  Forgive us when we fail, and free us for joyful obedience.  Shape us into faithful stewards of your gifts so that when you send us out into your world, we can use the power you have provided to fulfill your mission.  In your son’s name, Amen.