In Luke 10, Jesus sets out clear, step-by-step instructions for the 70 disciples to obey in reaching out to "every town and place where He was about to go." If Jesus himself trained, taught, and instructed his disciples in the way He knew would work, why 2000 years later, do we think we can improve upon His methods?
Jesus instructed his disciples, "PRAY to the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into His harvest..." (10:2)
We have improved upon this instruction by, 1) substituting 'praying to the Lord of the Harvest' for TALKING about the need for praying, 2) forget about praying, what needs to be done is massive recruitment--get out there and do what has to be done to get people involved, mobilize the masses into training seminars at the largest convention centers in town and invite in the biggest names that will draw the crowds.
Jesus instructed his disciples, "GO, I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves..." (10:3)
We have improved upon Jesus' words by substituting His command to go for something much more convenient for us: COME! Come to our church...meeting...revival...youth group...evangelistic crusade...ladies brunch...sports event...spiritual emphasis...Bible study...etc.
Going out to where the lost are and entering their world is always a lot messier than sitting around hoping and praying they will somehow come to us and whatever event we have planned for them. While I can give a couple of hours for an event at church, I certainly don't have the same couple of hours to go out of my way to seek out those in need. I might be seen associating myself with non-desirables in places not known as appropriate Christian hang-outs.
Jesus instructed his disciples, "DON'T CARRY a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals..." (10:4)
Since we have never really understood exactly what Jesus was trying to say with this obscure command, we have simply ignored it and done just the opposite. We believe it is not possible to do the Lord's work unless we have a large money bag, and having all the necessary implements in our traveling bag for the journey (cars, land, building, salaries, literature, support packages, furnishings, sounds system, musical instruments, laptop, PowerPoint, video projector, etc.) And certainly let's not forget the importance of the having the latest fashion in sandals and attire and other necessary personal implements for the task. After all, we want to make a good impression on those we are trying to reach!
Jesus instructed his disciples, "DON'T GREET ANYONE along the road..." (10:4)
Jesus obviously didn't understand the importance of greetings in our present day cultures. How is one ever to gain access into "their world" unless we spend a lot of time greeting and building relationships? So, once again we seek to improve (ignore) another outdated command of our Lord and actually spend enormous chunks of time and plan whole evangelistic strategies that never get beyond anything other than "greeting" and nurturing a few relationships. We do ladies teas, let's meet the neighbors, go to ball games together, find someone to drink coffee with, etc. While all these may be good activities, the problem is that we seldom move beyond the "greeting stage" to the remaining instructions of Christ as given in Luke 10:1-9. Jesus knows how easily we are distracted, so He warns us upfront to not greet anyone, or do anything else that will distract us from the important mission we are on.
Jesus instructed his disciples, "SAY 'PEACE to this household' and if a son of peace is there your peace will rest on him..." (10:5)
'Say peace to this household'? What is that all about? The best way to win a community, town, or city is to get out there in vast numbers and knock on as many doors as possible. When they open the door, invite them to your church, and maybe even preach the Gospel and let them know this might be the very last chance they will ever have for salvation. If they refuse, leave them a Gospel tract, and a bunch of literature from your church and be sure to pray for them before leaving.
Jesus instructed his disciples, "REMAIN IN THE SAME HOUSE, eating and drinking what they offer..." (10:7)
Remain in the same house? Just that one house? You've got to be kidding! The more houses you visit, the more contacts you will have, the greater the number of positive results. You wouldn't want to dare risk everything on just one household. There is a high chance things will not work out and then you will be left with nothing. Plus, what's the big deal with wasting time by eating and drinking with people? Does eating and drinking accomplish anything of eternal value? Don't think so...
Jesus instructed his disciples, "EAT THE THINGS set before you..." (10:8)
It's like Jesus foreknew we would have trouble with understanding the importance of the eating/drinking part, so He said it TWICE to make sure we would get it. But the fact is we have yet to grasp the importance of eating and drinking with people BEFORE trying to proclaim the 'Good News" to them. What's important is getting down to business and sharing the Gospel with lost folks. We eat and drink with our fellow Christians, not with pagans!
Jesus instructed his disciples, "HEAL THE SICK who are there..." (10:9)
Well this one is easy to ignore because we all know that only the Pentecostals and the Charismatics are the ones into the healing stuff. We certainly can side-step this sticky one. We wouldn't want to actually involve ourselves in any controversial issues like healing the sick (might lose our jobs over it!) After all, most of us are cessationists and no longer believe these extraordinary gifts of the Spirit are valid today. We have the Bible and that's all we need. So, basically we are off the hook on this one. Next...
Jesus instructed his disciples, "TELL THEM, 'The kingdom of God has come near you..." (10:9)
Well FINALLY Jesus gets around to telling us to do what really matters--the 'main thing'-- which is declaring, preaching, teaching the Gospel message of the Kingdom to these lost people. Let's just cut to the chase and skip all the other stuff. It is time to get down to the important business of witnessing and sharing the Gospel. We are free to skip over the parts of Jesus instructions we don't like or understand. Wasn't his main thrust obviously this last point? We will certainly try to obey this part, but the rest is up for debate and interpretation--in other words, not much of importance in all those instructions preceding this final one.
Is it any wonder that after 2000 years we still haven't finished the task given us by Christ? We think we have a better way of doing things. We have the new, improved version, and yet continuously scratch our heads and wonder why things aren't working out the way they are supposed to?
4 comments:
Great points Guy. Your comment on Luke 10:3 that says "Go" and not "Come" is excellent. In far too many churches the sharing of the Gospel has been transformed into merely asking people to come to church or to some event and then letting the pastor or someone else preach the Gospel. Jesus said "I came to SEEK and save the lost." - we need to GO out and seek the lost, and we can't expect them to COME to us. A very small percentage of lost people will ever come to a church or a special event in a church. They are lost, and they have no interest in church or even in Godly things, so we must go out to them in love, like Jesus did. We're here to help churches in Brazil to do this, and we see many churches here that have only a small group of people who regularly share the Gospel with others in the course of their everyday life. But the regular members have the potential to reach far more people for Jesus by sharing the Gospel in their daily lives than they will through the church services or special events. And like you said, reaching people for Jesus is the main thing (and then making disciples).
Kevin,
You are exactly right. The same observations holds true here in Ecuador as well. As someone posted on my Facebook note where this is also printed, this would seem to be THE MASTER'S PLAN. I agree. But why don't we use it?
Guy
"this would seem to be THE MASTER'S PLAN. I agree. But why don't we use it?"
Hmmm? Maybe they don't know the master?
Or, maybe they don't know the masters voice?
Maybe they've been listening to man way to much?
Deuteronomy 4:36
Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice,
that he might instruct thee:
Or, just maybe, it's God,
keeping them out of the way.
Be blessed...
Amos,
Interesting perspective you suggest as to why we don't use the Master's Plan:
Maybe they don't know the master?
Maybe they don't know the masters voice?
Maybe they've been listening to man way to much?
Or just maybe, it's God,
keeping them out of the way.
If I were taking a multiple choice test and this was one of the questions, I'd have to pick your #3 above as the main reason.
Thanks for your input.
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