DESPITE LIVING UNDER THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS THE DISCIPLES ARE NOW HUDDLED TOGETHER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN UTTER CONFUSION.
WHY? JESUS HAD DIED ON THE CROSS AND THEN BURIED, BUT REPORTS STARTED TO SURFACE THAT JESUS HAD BEEN SEEN ALIVE OUTSIDE THE TOMB.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE HOSTILITY THAT PUT JESUS ON THE CROSS WAS THE SAME HOSTILITY THAT REDUCED THESE DISCIPLES INTO A BAND OF COWARDS. FEARING THAT THEY WOULD MEET THE SAME FATE THEY LOCKED THEMSELVES AWAY IN THE HORROR OF SILENCE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD HEARD FROM THE WOMEN WHO WERE EYE-WITNESSES TO THE RISEN CHRIST, THE DISCIPLES STILL REMAINED STUBBORNLY UNCONVINCED BECAUSE THE STORIES CANNOT BE CONFIRMED AS REALLY HAPPENING. AFTER ALL, THE WITNESSES WERE “ONLY” WOMEN!
SO, IN A VERY CONVINCING MANNER JESUS APPEARS BEFORE THEM TO SET THE FACTS STRAIGHT ONCE AND FOR ALL. HERE JESUS OFFERS THE STIFFEST REBUKE HE HAS EVER RENDERED TO HIS DISCIPLES FOR THEIR STUBBORN DISBELIEF.
ALTHOUGH MARK DOES NOT RECORD THE EXACT WORDS JESUS SAID TO THEM, WE KNOW IT IS A REBUKE THAT IS PARTICULARLY SEVERE.
THE GREEK WORD USED HERE FOR “REBUKE” DOES NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE GOSPELS. THE WORDS JESUS USES HERE LITERALLY MEAN “WITHOUT FAITH,” “STUBBORN REFUSAL TO BELIEVE” AND “STUPIDITY.”
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THIS AWKWARD EVENT IS THAT WE CAN PUT OURSELVES IN THEIR SHOES AND LEARN THAT LIBERATION CAN ALSO COME WHEN SIMILAR FAILURE COMES IN OUR OWN FAITHFULNESS TO CHRIST.
GOD BRINGS FAITH OUT OF JUST SUCH WEAKNESS AND FAILURE. JESUS DID NOT NEED TO COME ONCE AGAIN AND CHOOSE A NEW TEAM OF “BETTER” DISCIPLES.
HE CAME TO SHOW THEM THE ERRORS OF THEIR WAYS, OFFER THEM FORGIVENESS AND A WAY TO TRY AGAIN. HE GAVE THEM THE CHANCE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND STEP OUT IN FAITH TO PREACH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
SO BE ENCOURAGED: JESUS COMES TO US WHEN WE LACK FAITH AND NEED STRENGTH TO STAND IN LIGHT OF PERSECUTION.
BE ENCOURAGED: HE WILL GIVE US COMFORT WHEN THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE ANSWERS TO WHY THE HORRIFIC TRAGEDY HAPPENED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON.
BE ENCOURAGED: EVEN WHEN WE COWARDLY LOCK OURSELVES INSIDE THE WALLS OF OUR CHURCHES AND CAN’T GET OUT JESUS WILL STILL COME AND OFFER US THE KEY TO SET US FREE.
BE ENCOURAGED: WHEN WE FEEL WE ARE STANDING ALONE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION CHRIST STANDS WITH US TO ACCOMPLISH THE WILL OF THE FATHER.
BE ENCOURAGED, BUT DON’T FORGET THAT JESUS OFFERS ONLY THE KEY. HE DIDN’T BUST DOWN THE DOOR AND DRAG THE DISCIPLES OUT OF THE HOUSE. HE JUST OFFERED A KEY. WE MUST ACCEPT THAT KEY AND, LIKE THE DISCIPLES, UNLOCK THE DOOR AND COME OUT.
HOWEVER IMPERFECT OUR FAITH MAY BE OR WHEN DOUBTS ARISE ABOUT OUR CALLING AND ABILITIES AND HOWEVER MANY TIMES WE REMAIN SILENT WHEN WE SHOULD BE TESTIFYING TO THE GOSPEL, WE CAN ALWAYS RETURN TO THE LORD FOR FORGIVENESS AND STRENGTH TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOORS OF MINISTRY TO TRY AGAIN.
NONE OF US CAN GET SO FAR AWAY FROM JESUS THAT WE CANNOT BE TOUCHED BY GOD’S HEALING PRESENCE. GOD’S HEALING CAN STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH, CLEAR UP OUR DOUBTS AND WALK US THROUGH THE DOORWAY SO WE CAN OBEY HIS COMMAND TO “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO THE WHOLE CREATION.”
WE NEED TO PROCLAIM THIS SAME MESSAGE TO OUR CHURCHES TODAY. FOR INSTANCE, JUST THINK HOW MANY DOORS AN AVERAGE CHURCH BUILDING HAS FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER INTO AND EXIT OUT OF!
WHAT IS SO SAD IS TO THINK HOW MANY OF THOSE DOORS REMAIN LOCKED, UNUSED AND FORGOTTEN. WHAT IS EVEN MORE TRAGIC IS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN THE DOORS THAT ARE USED EACH SUNDAY.
IF FEWER PEOPLE ARE COMING IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS, SIDE DOORS OR BASEMENT DOORS DON’T YOU THINK IT’S TIME THAT WE CUT OUT SOME NEW DOORS?
I DOUBT THAT WOULD WORK BECAUSE FINDING WAYS TO LITERALLY CUT OUT NEW DOORS IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS JUST UNLOCKING AND USING THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE.
WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE ALL THE ALTERNATIVES, NOT JUST THE MOST LIKELY SOLUTION. WE DON’T NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT’S WORKING BUT INSTEAD FIND OUT WHAT WORKS BEST.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND AN AVERAGE PERSON, ALBERT EINSTEIN EXPLAINED THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON FACED WITH THE PROBLEM OF FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK WOULD STOP WHEN HE OR SHE LOCATED A NEEDLE. BUT EINSTEIN SAID HE WOULD TEAR THROUGH THE ENTIRE HAYSTACK LOOKING FOR ALL POSSIBLE NEEDLES.
THIS IS WHY THE CHURCH NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY HAVE ENOUGH DOORS, AND WHETHER THE ONES THEY HAVE ARE ADEQUATELY DOING THE JOB OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO FREELY COME IN.
CLEARLY, A LOOK AT THE AMERICAN CHURCH IN THE PAST THREE DECADES INDICATES THAT MOST ARE NOT COMING IN THE FRONT DOOR, BUT ARE LEAVING THE CHURCH UNNOTICED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR.
YET, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, CHURCHES THAT ARE SEEING GROWTH TAKE PLACE ARE SEEING IT BECAUCE MOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RETURNING TO CHURCH, OR GOING FOR THE FIRST TIME, THROUGH THE SIDE DOORS.
IN OTHER WORDS, NONCONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO WORSHIP AND MINISTRY LIKE SATURDAY EVENING SERVICES, PRAISE AND WORSHIP, DRAMA, AND ACCOUNTABILITY GROUPS ARE DRAWING THESE PEOPLE.
THAT’S WHY WE ASKED THE QUESTION “DO WE NEED TO CUT OUT A FEW NEW DOORS IN OUR CHURCH?” WHAT DOOR CAN WE CUT OUT IN THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO WELCOME THOSE WHO DON’T WANT TO COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR?
THE IDEA OF NONCONVENTIONAL ENTRY IS NOT NEW. LUKE 5:17-26 TELL US OF THE FRIENDS OF A PARALYTIC WHO DROPPED THEIR HELPLESS FRIEND BY TEARING OPEN A NEW DOOR IN THE ROOF JUST TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS!
MATTHEW TELLS US THAT WHEN JESUS IS GATHERED WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN GALILEE, AFTER THE RESURRECTION, THEY WORSHIPPED HIM - BUT SOME STILL HAD SOME DOUBTS.
THEN JESUS SAYS TO THEM IN MATTHEW 28:19-20, "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU"
THE ELEVEN ARE COMMISSIONED TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF "ALL NATIONS," TO GIVE PEOPLE OF EVERY RACE AND CULTURE AND NATIONALITY ACCESS TO THE SON OF GOD, THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN "ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH."
THIS COMMAND WAS NOT JUST FOR THE DISCIPLES. IT ALSO APPLIES TO US TODAY. WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING “ALL NATIONS” ACCESS IT IS GOING TO TAKE CREATIVITY, AND IT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF DOORS IN OUR CHURCH BUILDING.
SO THE QUESTION REMAINS: WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY TO GIVE PEOPLE EASIER ACCESS TO THE CHURCH? THE TIME HAS COME FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE OUR CHURCH NOT “POLITICALLY CORRECT” BUT “DOORWAY CORRECT.”
WE BECOME “DOORWAY CORRECT” BY TAKING OUR SPIRITUAL SLEDGE HAMMERS AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS OF THE CHURCH SO THAT PEOPLE WON’T BE HINDERED FROM COMING INTO THE CHURCH.
THINK ABOUT IT:
* WITH THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY WE MAY NEED TO CUT A NEW DOOR FOR SINGLE PARENTS.
* WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON THE RISE WE MAY HAVE TO CUT A DOOR THAT HELPS VICTIMS OF ABUSE, OR CHILDREN THAT ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE AS SILENT VICTIMS.
* WE CAN CUT A NEW DOOR BY USING MEDIA IN WORSHIP FOR A CULTURE WHICH IS IMAGE AND ICON, NOT TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS. LEARN NEW WAYS TO WORSHIP AND SING.
* WE CAN CUT A NEW DOOR BY FINDING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE ALL THE HIDDEN RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUPS ARE THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING SERVED BY A CHURCH.
NO PART OF OUR LIVES OR CHURCH SHOULD BE CLOSED TO THOSE AROUND US WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY SEEKING AFTER GOD.
WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY OF OUR DOORS JAMMED SHUT DUE TO STALE AND BORING TRADITIONS, REDUNDANT SCHEDULES OR PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO BUDGE BECAUSE ‘WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE.”
NO PART OF OUR MESSAGE SHOULD KEEP ANYONE FROM ENTERING INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. NO PART OF THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH SHOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF ANYONE BEING BAPTIZED AND JOINING THE CHURCH.
OUR MISSION SHOULD BE UNLOCKED DOORS THAT OFFER THE EASIEST ACCESS TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO DESIRES TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.
BUT, LET US BE CAREFUL! IN THE PROCESS OF KEEPING THE DOORS OPEN AND BUILDING NEW DOORS, THE CHURCH HAS TO MAINTAIN HER INTEGRITY.
THE CHURCH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF BUSTING DOWN HER WALLS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS THE WORD “DOOR.”
THE CHURCH IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO GIVE PEOPLE ANYTHING THEY WANT JUST SO THEY WILL CHOOSE US OVER SOME OTHER CHURCH.
THE WORD OF GOD STANDS “AS IS” AND IS PREACHED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISING OF THE TRUTH. THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP REMAIN EXTREME AND EXPENSIVE, NOT CHEAP AND EASY.
STANDING UPON THOSE PRINCIPLES AND KEEPING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR BELIEFS, WE CAN DO A GREAT DEAL OF THINGS THAT WILL OPEN OUR DOORS TO THE PEOPLE AROUND US WHO ARE SO IN NEED OF THE GOSPEL AND SO DESPERATE FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS, HEALING AND LOVE.
CUTTING NEW DOORS IS SOMETIMES NOT AS IMPORTANT AS UNLOCKING AND USING THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE. AS PEOPLE OF GOD, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOMETHING FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN PADLOCKS AND DEADBOLTS.
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR A HURTING WORLD. THIS IS OURS TO SHARE FREELY WITH ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
THIS IS OUR “DOORWAY TO EVANGELISM.” JESUS HAS UNLOCKED IT SO WILL WE OPEN IT AND WALK THROUGH?
LET OUR CHURCH’S FOCUS, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, BE DISCIPLESHIP, NOT DEAD-BOLTING THE CHURCH DOORS AFTER THE SUNDAY SERVICES ARE OVER!
MARK 16:15, “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.”
