Epiphany 1 - Wednesday

Text: John 1:35-42 (see below)

Continuing our conversation on leadership in the Church.

I don’t get it. Why is evangelism so difficult for leaders in the church these days? It seems as if many leaders in the Church are embarrassed to actually invite someone to enter into a relationship with Jesus. Is it because leaders are ashamed of the product we are presenting to the world? Is it because too many of our church leaders have never had a relationship with the living God? Are we mortified by what we sometimes see happening in our congregations? Were our leaders not trained properly in seminary for the proclamation of the Gospel? What gives?

I also find it humorous how much money the institutional church spends on advertising and marketing campaigns these days. We try to come up with catchy slogans and slick phrases believing that this will entice the average person to walk boldly through our front doors and into the sanctuary. One domination leads with: “God Accepts All People – So Do We. No Matter Whom You Are Or Where You Are On Life’s Journey – Welcome Here.”  That is simply too long for me to remember, yet have to repeat!

My own denomination, the Episcopal Church, is currently using the following on billboards:

·         Welcome….regardless

·         God Loves You, No Exceptions

·         If You Are Looking For A Sign From God, Here It Is

·         Love God. Love Your Neighbor, Change the World.

While I admire the fourth slogan (it is more of a mission statement than evangelism), the other three statements seem absolutely hollow to me: Welcome to what? God Loves You (duh?). And I simply do not understand, “If you are looking for a sign from God….” Is anybody running numbers on how many persons have joined a church due to these marvelous campaigns?

You know what I admire most about Jesus and his style of leadership, he kept it amazingly simple. In the first chapter of the Fourth Gospel, two of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to leave their master and follow Jesus.  When they finally catch up to Jesus and ask him where he was staying, Jesus did not pull out some glossy advertising campaign or polished slogan. He did not quiz these two fellows on the doctrine of the Incarnation. What did he do? Jesus said simply, “Come and See.” Those two disciples of John followed Jesus that day, the text is even clear as to what time it actually was, and their lives were forever transformed by that encounter with the living God.

“Come and See.” Say it with me….. “Come and See.”

Is that so difficult to declare to someone who is seeking for a better life? Is that so hard to articulate to a person who desires to be included? Is that so problematical to say to someone who is hurting emotionally, spiritually or physically? Are we ashamed of the Gospel that we do not want to offer such a gracious and simple invitation? What is our fear?

An important thing to remember is simply this: You and I will NEVER convert anyone into following Jesus. That is not our job. The conversion of souls is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit. If you do not believe me, read the Book of Acts which is found in the New Testament. Our job as disciples, as leaders of the Church, is to “throw seeds” – invitations to all persons to come and see.

“Come and See.” The Church of Jesus Christ has so much to offer seekers of the truth, folks who are hurting, and persons who feel as if they are on the margins of society. What I love about my church is the opportunity to meet God day in and day out in the mystery of the sacraments, in the prayers of the people, in the proclamation of the Word made Flesh, and in the compassionate embrace of fellow Christians who believe and support me in times when I cannot believe or support myself.  Wow…. There is nothing like the Church of Jesus Christ.

Following in the example of my Master, let me invite you to experience what I have come to know about a power greater than myself which can heal and make whole all of my being. Are you interested?

Come and See….

Love One Another - Brian

Drawing all Humanity to Christ

C.S. Lewis

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.

Source: Mere Christianity

John 1:35-42

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).