The Mission of the Church (Part 1): Looking In!

Stewardship Season is a great time for us to reflect on the mission and purpose of the Church.  It stands to reason that we only will give (whether that be time or money) to what we believe is really making a difference in the world.  Is the purpose and mission of the Church, then, worth the investment?  The next two articles will focus on this the mission of the Church both inside and out.  Thanks for reading and I hope that this stirs some creative thoughts and questions in your mind, as well.

In the Gospel of Thomas (that ancient Christian Gospel discovered in the late 1940’s- not included in the New Testament, but read by many early Christians) there is an intriguing saying that goes like this:  The Kingdom of God is inside of you and outside of you.  I think this line accurately describes the work of the Church today.  We are called to live and build the Kingdom of God inside and outside of our walls-for God is working in both places.  If we miss on either, we miss a key part of our mission. 

Looking in!  There is a trend today to see real ministry as happening outside the walls of the church.   It is out there in the world that lives are changed and exciting mission/service projects happen and therefore any focus on the church itself is seen as something of a selfish endeavor, focusing on institutional maintenance rather than outreach.  I think this is why people are more motivated to give for mission projects than to operating budgets.  While I am sympathetic to such notions, it underestimates the power of the Church.  Let me explain.

The local church is a vehicle for changing lives.  I think of the children raised in Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday School Classes, or the teens who find Christian community in youth group.  Their lives are forever shaped by those experiences.  It is also the operating budget that will facilitate classes, groups, and schools.  How many people have felt closer to the presence of God through a beautiful piece of music, a heart-felt prayer, an engaging worship service or a word preached in love?  How many strangers have experienced the embracing love of God through clean, up to date, and inviting facilities?   How many relationships have deepened through small group ministries or short-term classes?  The work that happens in the walls of the church is indeed Kingdom work.

Therefore when we talk of raising funds for budgets, staffing, program expenses, and maintenance it is kingdom building…at least if we are living out our mission faithfully.  We must remember this or else giving to projects and missions outside the church (rather than budgets and maintenance inside the church) will always seem more appealing and more important.  Yet, if we are serious about Kingdom building, then we must see it as something that happens inside the church, as well. 

To be clear, looking in is not simply about institutional maintenance or pride or gluttony (may it never be about these things).  Nor does it diminish our call to serve outside the walls of the local church (more on this in next week’s blog).  However, when we have clean, up to date facilities, or well-ordered and supported programs and classes, it is not so that we can have nice things for ourselves, but rather so that we can better do the work of Jesus Christ and grow his Kingdom.   May God give us wisdom, as we discern the mission of the church, to look inside and outside the walls – for the Kingdom of God will be in both places, if only we have the eyes to see.

You are the hands and feet of Christ!

Brett