I sat up in bed. The sunlight came streaming through the louvres. An early morning quiz popped into my mind. Why are lots of people not attracted to Jesus? Why can't they imagine him becoming/being their boss, helper, God, champion/saviour?
My number one answer is because of the image that well-intentioned Christians have presented to them. Perhaps they've been handed a tract with a picture of a pathetic-looking man, head bowed down, with a few scratches around his chest and a caption "Christ Died For You".
Added to that they've heard stories about Jesus doing incredible things like giving sight to blind people, making paralyzed people walk, making the deaf and dumb hear and speak, walking on water, curing leprosy and bringing dead folks back to life. But looking in on what is supposed to be his church there is no evidence that he is alive and operating among his followers with the same power to heal instantaneously, resurrect, deliver from oppression, or do the same or more that he did while he lived here on earth.
Women today are plagued with all kinds of problems like endometriosis, fibroids, hormonal imbalances that could put them in a position like the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20.
There are so many others oppressed by mental illnesses. Stress levels are at an all-time high and people are looking for help. They are not satisfied with "I will pray for you" with no guarantee of healing. Jesus demonstrated his power to show that he was who he said he was--the Son of God--healer, helper, God, champion, saviour, boss. Christians have been given the mandate to go into the world and use Jesus' authority to heal all kinds of sicknesses and to do miraculous things that would confirm the reality of the gospel. Not only can people be forgiven of all their sins but also be healed of all kinds of diseases or demonic oppression.
I read the prayer offered up by Christians in the book of Acts Chapter 4, especially in verses 29 and 30. What happened next is what normal Christianity should be like.
Right now we are seeing an increasing discontent among Christians who go to buildings referred to as churches where a form of godliness is displayed but the power to work miracles that prove that Jesus is the head is sadly lacking. Church programs and formalities have been substituted for relationships and sinners are pursued only for membership and conformity in many cases. But there is renewed hope for the disenchanted.
The simple church model is explained in Matthew 18:20. This is a great starting point. In a small group even where as few as two persons are gathered together as Christ's followers he promises to be there among them. This is the simplest expression of Church. This is a community of God's people relating together as an intimate group, loving and caring for one another in ways not practiced in a timed service in a building where clock watching and superficial friendliness reigns.
Since leaving the traditional church to work in simple church planting through friendship evangelism I have come across a most valuable reading resource. An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale shows how God has always used--and is still using--ordinary believers like you and me to carry out his work in simple ways throughout the world. I recommend that each person get a copy for him/herself and one to give away. Believe me, you will not want to put it down once you get started.
I also found Andrew R. Hardy's dissertation "The Lamad Book of Mission And Evangelism To Secular Un-churched 21st Century People" to be a very powerful piece of writing. Chapter 2, beginning on page 13 deals with the relationship of the larger "churches" to the un-churched and he is so accurate in his description. Here's the link to his paper if you are interested:
http://www.cluonline.com/freebooks/Reaching%20The%20Unchurched.pdf
The question now is, are you ready to begin the great commission the way it was intended? Again I stress, reading An Army of Ordinary People will open your eyes to Christianity the way the author of our faith intended. See Pages 64 to 69.
Please share your experiences as Jesus shows up in the middle of your group to confirm his power and authority.
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