A core question every congregation in Christ needs to ask and answer is this: "What are we trying to do?" The question can be asked in a number of ways: "What is our reason for existing?" "What is our purpose?" "What is our objective?" "Where are we going?" "What is our goal?" "What do we want to accomplish?"
No matter how the question is asked, the basic concept in the congregation's answer and in the leadership's answer must be the same. If a congregation and its leadership are in basic disagreement concerning the objective of the group, many forms of disaster can and likely will happen. The end result is a tearing apart instead of a working together. A congregation can answer the question of what it is trying to do in a number of ways. In the congregation's answer is seen its vision for its future. That vision must be God's vision.
Answer # 1: "There is no reason for existing." We just "are." We do no expect to enhance God's purposes by our existence. We do not expect to diminish God's purposes by being here. Just to say there is a congregation in this place is enough for us. We did not know there was "a reason" for Christians to exist or for congregations to exist. "A vision for existing" must be unbiblical because we have never considered that concept.
Answer # 2: "We are dedicated to maintaining a presence as the church." Is "maintaining a presence" all? How is that presence maintained--by having a building or a building and a preacher? Are there no dreams or goals for this group of Christians beyond "maintaining a presence"? Is "maintaining a presence" a biblical reason for a congregation existing? Is that the congregation's concept and measure of success--just "keeping the doors open" in a geographical place? For how long? How will people who are not Christian know Christians exist in this place?
Answer # 3: "We exist to provide us and the people in our area 'hell insurance for judgment.'" Is that God's purpose for the existence of a congregation? Does a congregation exist to promote human objectives? Do Christians define their purpose only in negative or defensive terms that are self-centered instead of God-centered? Is God's purpose to be defined in what we do not want to happen, or in what God did in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Do we exist as a group in a place to teach people how to keep one foot in ungodly rebellion and one foot in godly compliance? Is it enough to do "the essentials" in order to escape divine condemnation? Is Christianity nothing more than an impersonal association to avoid God's retribution?
Answer # 4: "We exist to impress our brotherhood." We want other Christians to be impressed with our facilities, our size, our dedication, our programs, and "who we are." Is "what we do and who we are" about us and our reputation or about God and His reputation? Do we help people to enhance our reputation or to enhance God's reputation? Do we show compassion to people because we respect God or because we wish to further ourselves? How do Jesus' statements in Matthew 5:16 and 6:1 apply to us? Or the statement in 1 Peter 2:12? Or Paul's statement in Romans 12:21? Do we do godly things to honor God or ourselves?
Answer # 5: "We exist to defend doctrinal viewpoints." Compassion is secondary to doctrinal positions, as is mercy, grace, or anything else that might be regarded as tolerance for what we declare to be error. The foundation question is not, "How do you live as one who honors God?" but, "Where do you stand on doctrinal issues?" Consistency with doctrine instead of consistency with Jesus' life is the foundation of faithfulness. We were created in Christ Jesus to defend doctrines more than to exhibit a godly lifestyle. Is that the emphasis in Ephesians 4:17-32, or Colossians 3:1-11, or Romans 12?
Answer # 6: "We exist to engage in successful evangelism." The objective is to baptize. Our concern is not the existence of the group in 25 years or the next generation. While we surely hope the initial people who were baptized will perpetuate the church in their area, whether they do or not is not our responsibility. We baptize, then we go somewhere else and baptize. The spiritual stabilization of believers is not a part of our definition of evangelism; therefore we feel no obligation to spiritually stabilize an area. Our mission is to go baptize. If we cannot report recent baptisms, we are not fulfilling our mission.
The following is offered for your thought and consideration. In the gospel of Matthew, a common emphasis Jesus used regarding his God-given mission was centered in the coming of the kingdom. By the writer's count (NAS), Matthew used "kingdom of heaven" 32 times, "kingdom" 6 times, "kingdom of God" 5 times, "his kingdom" 2 times, "kingdom of the Father" 2 times, and "your kingdom" 1 time. Mark used "kingdom of God" 14 times, "kingdom" 2 times, and "kingdom of David" 1 time. Luke used "kingdom of God" 31 times, "kingdom" 7 times, "your kingdom" 2 times, "his kingdom" 1 time, and "my kingdom" 1 time. John used "kingdom of God" 2 times, "kingdom" 1 time, and "my kingdom" 1 time. The greater majority of the usages are by Jesus in reference to his mission.
Much discussion can focus on the different phrasing in the usage of "kingdom" (kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God, kingdom, my/yours/his/the Father's kingdom). The basic concept is the anticipated coming of a promised kingdom. Jesus associated that coming with repentance and presents it as gospel (good news) to those who will receive his presentation. The emphasis is not on a geographical territory, but on a people.
The concept (to us) is best understood in the concept of the restoration of God's rule in people. That rule was destroyed when people allowed evil to become a powerful part of creation. When the people of the first century, through faith in Jesus being God's promised Christ, accepted Jesus as the Christ, they committed to being God's new creation (see Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:1-11; Romans 12:1, 2). Christian vision is the vision (commitment) to encourage God's rule to be universal in people's lives, beginning by allowing God to rule us so that we are devoted to God's values and purposes.
Perhaps the biblical vision is God's rule in people's lives that begins by allowing God to rule us.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 11