Why do YOU do what you do?

November 6, 2008

How we do church, is not as important as why. If we don't have a good foundation of "why" we do what we do, then "how", doesn't really matter. If we concern ourselves with the "Why", then how we do church, (or any spiritual thing for that matter) will naturally follow. Understanding why, is infinitely more important than understanding how. Our orthodoxy is much more important than any man-made concept of orthopraxy. What we hold dear about the “why” will always be reflected in what we do.

We do not attract that which we want, but that which we are. In other words, everything we do flows out of what we think. Everything flows out of our theology of "Why". The size of a church, its ministry and growth (or lack of) is the direct result of what we think. The question then must be answered. What do we "THINK" about God, and His mission to the world? And how does our belief about God's mission effect our co-mission?  Are we on the same mission? Why did Jesus do what he did? The main issue for churches to discuss is not "How" but “why”.

Churches often spend more time bantering over, and fighting about "HOW" to do missional work and little time discovering "WHY" we are to do what we do. Just consider how much energy the churches spend on arguing over endless methodologies and you will discover the truth in that statement.

More churches today fight over foolish things like, changes of worship style, services, color of carpet, and color of paint on the wall. Many seem to worship their methods and traditions more than Christ Himself. When a church says that no change is needed, in effect, what they are saying is “What is, and has been, is all that God wants to and can accomplish through this church”. And yet, the harvest is still ripe!

The fact is, God blesses every form, kind, style and method of church. He even uses opposing denominations. God uses Baptists, Wesleyans, Arminians, Calvinists, house church movements, attractional churches, purpose driven and etc... Yet many of them openly contradict one another. Many of the founders of theses movements openly, and strongly opposed one another. Still today, we debate over the endless minutiae and forget the main thing. Yet, we cannot deny that God has, and is still using these very different groups in powerful ways all across the world.

How is it that God can pour out his power, inexhaustible resources, and send His Holy Spirit on people groups who seem to stand in such sharp contrast to one another? How is it that God can bless those who seem so opposed to one another?

The Answer: God seems infinitely more concerned about why the church exists than splitting theological or methodological hairs. It seems to me that we are more concerned than God with how-to-do-church.

Ask yourself this: Why do you do what you do?

Sunday worship, board meetings, money, outreach and the like must all have a "So that..." attached to them. The church exists “so that”... sinners might be saved, …the Father might be glorified, …the Body might be built up, …people might be discipled and trained to work in the harvest.

Without a proper "so that..." we simply have a place where the righteous meet the righteous, where our emotional well-being is served, where our bank account is well padded, where our church is safe from outsiders.

So, what is your "So that…"? As you look at your life and the life of your church regardless of denomination, method or style, "why" should be infinitely more important than "how".

Posted 11/6/2008 in Stephen Gray

2 Comments - Add Comment

Comments:

     Great article Steve; The pastor and deacons have been looking at our purpose statement for the church and impressing it upon the congregation. Your article speaks to it so well. Thank you.

     When we begin to decide how our church should be, there is no other place to look than in the word. Paul was sent to establish churchs and his main focus was breaking bread and raising money for the poor. A simple order rather than many different ways is the order of the day. It is outside the church, our everyday activities, our prayer life, the giving and loving of others that is important, not having church in so many ways. We really go to church to renew our spirits. How about letting Jesus put the purpose in your life and church?