It’s interesting and heartbreaking to watch the trends with COVID in recent weeks. It’s such a mysterious and devastating illness. I have friends who have tested positive and never exhibited any symptoms. I’ve had friends who have been laid out for days or weeks because of the illness. I’ve had a few friends die because of COVID. Earlier this week, I lost my father-in-law to COVID. I believe the next several weeks will be difficult for many of us. In the past two weeks, it is almost a daily occurrence to learn of another brother or sister who either is seriously ill with this dreadful disease or has succumbed to the illness.
Of course, with numbers on the rise, local governments are issuing new directives to hinder the spread of the disease. While churches or houses of worship are typically exempt from such guidelines (although not in every state) there are lots of questions about religious freedom and what’s the proper balance between exercising our rights and protecting the vulnerable in our midst. As always, there is fair amount of foolishness on display out on social media exploring these questions.
I was on a zoom call with a group of pastors recently (something that’s become almost a daily part of my life – one of the blessings of this hard time we’re walking though). One of our younger pastors (thanks Jordan) brought a great question for the rest of us to consider: What business are we in?
There are lots of examples from history of companies or industries which no longer exist partly because they didn’t have clarity about the business they where in. Think about the horse-drawn buggy makers of long ago. Most of them got stuck thinking they were in the horse-drawn buggy making business instead of the people moving business. They no longer exist today. Kodak would be another example. They confused film with photos and faded fast in the digital age.
What kind of business is your church in? Now before I get stacks of hate mail about the fact that the church is not a business (I know that), don’t miss the point here. What kind of business is your church in? Is it the people gathering business? Is it the offering collecting business? Is it the worship service/experience business? Is it the facility management business? Is it the Bible classes business?
Perhaps an even better question is what kind of business should your church be in? I think Jesus was very clear that He expected that His followers would be about the disciple making business. We’re supposed to make disciples of Jesus. That’s our business. We haven’t been very good at that lately and I wonder if some of the problem is that we’ve forgotten what business we’re in?
I believe that our gracious Lord is giving us a gift in this tremendously hard season. I believe He’s helping to bring clarity as to what business we’re really in. The people gathering business isn’t going so well these days. The worship service/experience business is facing real challenges right now and in the days ahead. Most of what we’ve been accustomed to doing is being disrupted and changed, perhaps even permanently? I’m not worried about that because we’re in the disciple making business. Making disciples is a different business than gathering folks or producing worship events. Do disciples gather? Yes. Do disciples worship? Yes. Do gatherings or worship services make disciples? I think we need to take a long hard look at the fruit we’ve been producing with our sincere efforts: maybe not as well as what we thought.
In the weeks ahead, for many of us, I think it will be hard to flourish in the people gathering business. In the weeks ahead, for many of us, I think it will be difficult or even reckless to insist on our right to maintain our worship service business. We’ve got a world that’s watching us and some of our neighbors and fellow citizens are misunderstanding our devotion and faithfulness as selfishness and carelessness. But there is good news! Right now, amid these terribly hard times, and in the days to come as we face even more difficult days, I think that opportunities to make disciples are all around us. People are desperate for hope. We have the amazing opportunity to help them discover the hope that we have in Jesus!
We’re at a critical point in history. Those who remember that we’re in the disciple making business are going to be just fine. Even better than that, they’re going to get to be a part of what Jesus is doing to build His church and advance His kingdom. Then, there are the others who may not be in business this time next year. Let’s get clear on what our business is all about.
Personal note: I just want to take a moment to thank so many of you who have reached out over the past couple of weeks with the death of my father-in-law, Aaron Kaukonen (His wife Jan had served as the secretary in the Great Lakes Conference office for a number of years). Your prayers, encouraging emails and calls have been such an encouragement to me. Thank you for your kindness and for supporting my family as we walk through this difficult time. Brenda and I are grateful for our CGGC family.
Christ’s Peace,
Lance
CGGC eNews—Vol. 14, No. 50