The trouble is I am not sure many churches have an end
product in mind. I do not think many
local churches have a goal in mind of a person who joins their
congregation. If I would ask I am sure
the answer would revolve around, attend worship regularly, give, and
volunteer. These are not necessarily bad
intentions but they are not defined.
Farr’s comment has stuck in my head after reading it and I have been
wrestling to come up with what the end product of my congregation would look
like.
This past week we accepted into membership a woman who
has never been a member of a church. She
grew up catholic but now in her retirement she has decided to become a member
of our church. What is the end product
or vision for her as our newest member of our congregation? As I chewed on this cud I attempted to think
what our end product looks like.
The answer is easy a Disciple of Jesus Christ…but how
lived out….how do you communicate that in real and tangible ways to a
congregation…there lies my sticky wicket!
Our mission has been given to us by Jesus Christ at the
end of Matthew’s gospel, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.” (CEB) This is what
we are to be doing but how does a person come into a community of faith and
live this out. What does a true disciple
look like? This would be our end
product.
The words echoed in my head from this last Sunday, “As a
member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries
by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?”
(UMH p.38) Our end product as United
Methodists is living out these five areas of discipleship. A true disciple is one who prays, is involved
and present at worship, gives generously of their gifts, both money and
talents, serves as God’s love in this world and tells others why.
What would happen to a congregation if everything they
did had one of these components in mind?
If every event, worship service, meal, fellowship, small group, mission
project, all that this end product in mind, how would this change the
congregation?
If someone lived out all five aspects of their membership
vows their life and the life of the congregation would be drastically different. I bet everyone who knew this person would
call them a true Disciple, including God.
Dream of a church where every individual worked to live these vows out consistently
and with a cheerful heart.
To get there would we have to reorganize what we did as a
congregation? Rethink what we deem as important? Renovation would have to take place!
Am I onto something here?
Is this a valid end product? When
I think of what Jesus called his disciples to do, I find echoes of it here in
our membership vows. Do they miss
anything? I would love to know your
insights.
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