What in the World is a Church to Do?

In this day of cookie-cutter churches, it seems that when one church does something that results in numerical increase, many other churches line up behind and emulate them. The primary idea seems to be the old Tony Robbins mot "Find someone who is successful, do what they do, the way they do it, and you too will be successful." BTW that probably is not a completely accurate quote, but you get the gist. The problem with this approach when used by churches is that they copy the technique, the program, or the marketing approach while giving little thought to their scriptural assignment. That assignment is found in Matthew 28:18-20. Having discovered the assignment, the real question is how do we accomplish it? Jesus gave us help, both as individuals and as churches in Matthew 25:31-46, commonly called the parable of the sheep and the goats. The defining factors that determined who was welcomed into the kingdom and who was not were these;
  • Feed the hungry
  • Give water to the thirsty
  • Take in the stranger
  • Clothe the un-clothed
  • Look after the sick
  • Visit those in prison
These are things every church can do without a slick advertising campaign, impressive building or high-powered communicator. Simply put it mean that a church does what it can, where they are with what they have to meet needs.

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