Over the next several weeks, my weekly message will have to do with aspects of Epiphany's mission, specifically about how it is that we truly bring to reality the mission to which God has called us - to reach out, raise up, and change the world through the light of the living Christ.
Mike Breen, in his book Building a Discipling Culture, says this:
IF YOU MAKE DISCIPLES, YOU ALWAYS GET THE CHURCH.
BUT IF YOU MAKE A CHURCH, YOU RARELY GET DISCIPLES.
Much of our energy at Epiphany has been around the issue of formation, that is, what it means for us to be sacredly formed into persons who think like, love like, and act like Jesus. You would think that being a part of the church would automatically bring about such an outcome, but it doesn't. In my view, there are only a very small percentage of congregations who actually are forming persons into disciples. Most congregations do what churches have done for years, even centuries - worship, fellowship, Bible study, and maybe even some hands-on outreach. A few disciples might be birthed from this, but the data say it is unlikely. As each year marches on in the 21st century, church membership is falling. We are living in an increasingly non-Christian culture. Today, 65% of the "builder generation" participate in a church. 35% of the boomers. 15% of Gen Xers, and 4% of Gen Y. The oldest of the Gen Y folks turned 32 this year.
This should be startling. To be clear, Jesus never commanded us to "go make churches." Jesus never gave a mandate on church buildings, church budgets, the type of music the choir sings, or how many "communing, confirmed and contributing members" we have, a data point important to the ELCA and asked of us each year when we file our annual congregational report to the synod. Jesus only asks us to "make disciples."
Let me ask a question here. When you look at the people gathered for worship at Epiphany and sitting in our pews, do our lives look like the people we read about in the New Testament? Or are we good at just getting people together for worship, dinner on Wednesdays, a small group gathering, and maybe a few other things? Personally I think we have been experiencing a missional transformation where there is some evidence that more than just a few Epiphany-ites are more and more resembling the faith-filled followers of Jesus we see in the New Testament. But I'll let you decide.
Someone once asked this question, "If you were put on trial today and accused of being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" What about you?
There is a movement in both Europe and North America where disciples of Jesus are being formed. Their passion for Jesus creates passionate churches. Their passionate churches have traction with those in the culture who want nothing to do with church. These churches are new starts, congregations celebrating 100-year anniversaries, Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, and non-denominationals. What they have in common is that disciples of Jesus have reached a critical mass or tipping point that sets them apart from the masses of dying, self-serving, business-as-usual churches.
When we speak about formation and invite persons into formation, it is not just another activity. It is a call to the life to which Jesus calls us. As one astute pastor recently said, there is no Plan B.
God loves you and I do too!
Pastor Rick
pastorrick@epiphanysuwanee.org
