Change the Battle Plan

The Christian Chronicle recently reported the numbers of members and adherents of the Church of Christ have declined. Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing while expecting different results. Maybe we need to consider something different.

What is the Gospel? The word comes from a word meaning “good tidings” and later “story concerning God.” In the New Testament the word is always used to mean the good tidings which Jesus and the apostles announced. It was not until A.D. 150 that the word was applied to the writings concerning the message of Jesus. (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, Merrill C. Tenney).

That being correct preaching about the message of Jesus is not preaching "The Gospel."

We use the term “Gospel Preacher” to refer to a preacher who preaches to a congregation of people believing themselves to be Christian and saved. Those men are not preaching the gospel; those in their audience have already heard the good tidings and believed it. Now they need to be instructed to observe all the things that Jesus commanded the apostles, i.e. Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 as well as other records. They need to be strengthened, edified, built up, and encouraged.

What if instead of preaching to the saved “about” the message of Jesus these preachers go out and preach “the message” to the unsaved and let the elders, deacons, teachers, etc instruct the saved? That might result in the saved building each other up and encouraging each other to “do” something.

What if those preachers, with the support of the congregation paying them, would hold public events where the good tidings Jesus and the apostles announced would be announced? The current building could be used for those events but at times other than when the saved are meeting to edify each other and to encourage each other to love and good works.

We have to remember the advice that comes from the flight attendants: “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” There is nothing unscriptural for Christians to take time for themselves: to edify each other: to encourage each other without the unsaved being the primary focus.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We are losing the war it is time we change our battle plan.