The "outreach" approach to evangelism and inviting people to church has become a fast-growing phenomenon in recent years. In light of that fact it has also come under heavy criticism with such accusations as “they are compromising the Great Commission to please people" or, "they water down the message just so they can grow large church’s", etc. It has also been said that becoming outreach oriented will cause the church to ignore the Bible, address only "safe" subjects, and use "gimmicks" to draw a crowd.
Not too long ago a survey of churches representing a wide variety of denominations was taken by the Barna Research Group. The church members were asked what they felt the purpose of the Church was. 89% responded that the Church was there to meet their own needs. 11% responded that the purpose of the Church was to win people to Jesus. The pastors were asked the same questions and in complete contrast 91% responded that the main purpose of the church was to win people to Jesus with only 9% responding that it was to meet members needs. It’s no wonder that churches aren’t growing and pastors are constantly changing churches.
Fulfilling The Great Commission
The primary reason many churches take an “outreach” approach to ministry is to win the lost by presenting biblical truths in terms people can understand, in ways that are culturally relevant, not in traditional "Christianeze." Conducting ministry in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the spiritual seeker is to present biblical truth through various means of communication that is interesting, stimulating, credible, and compelling. We no longer speak in Shakespearean English because our culture has changed. If it had not been for Gutenberg, the Bible may have remained for only the “religious” and not for the common people as well. Some of the early revivalists attached Christian lyrics to the cultural music played in the local bars to help attract the lost.
The emphasis of the "Great Commission" is to go and “MAKE DISCIPLES". That means leaving the ninety-nine and going after the one lost sheep. That is the fundamental purpose of the Church. The church is not to be a long-term convalescent care nursing home but a training camp for spiritual warriors who want to win the world for Jesus. We are to reach “out” to the world for Jesus by becoming “fishers of men” not “keepers of the aquarium.” You can’t clean the fish until you catch them. The Holy Spirit first speaks to the fish and tells them its time to eat. In order to attract the fish you need a lure that will grab their attention. However, even with a great lure, you can’t catch the fish with a bare hook, you need bait that the fish likes and is attracted to. The bait is what the church has to offer - its programs, style, music, teaching, small groups, etc. Yet, even after catching the fish there is still the problem of keeping the fish in the boat. If the church does not offer specific connection and integration strategies to assimilate the unchurched they will work their way out of the net and back into the water.
Additional research by the Barna Group tells us that less than 25% of those who currently attend church were personally invited to church. Even more frightening is the fact that only 10% of first time visitors ever return. What does that say about the state of the church?
Accomplishing A Biblical Purpose
Many churches today are beginning to re-examine everything they do by asking themselves if they are accomplishing a biblical purpose in the way they conduct their ministry. It has been said that a definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results." The Great Commission applies to ALL of us. Ultimately, what really matters is reaching out to the lost. The Apostle Paul realized that the Church needed to be outreach oriented. This is not a new idea. There is nothing wrong with old methods and traditions, as long as you don’t make it your religion.
Paul made the statement that we should "not be conformed to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2). He was referring to our commitment to spiritual things, and fundamentally, our way of looking at the world and our part in the Kingdom of God. It is apparent he was talking about mind-set, the attitude of heart, and a willingness to live for God and not the world. In light of 1 Corinthians 1:19, this was not a statement regarding a personal style of worship. In contrast Paul said "I am all things to all people" (1 Corinthians 9:22). He wasn’t stringent in his approach to ministry, instead his approach was dictated by his circumstances and the people he was ministering to, ["Always for the sake of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:23)] not his own preference or style. We must always be careful that our approach to the Gospel doesn’t get in the way of the core truths it conveys, but at the same time we should try to win them "by all means" (1 Corinthians 9:22).
“If I Be Lifted Up”
The average church size in the United States is less than 70 people. Fewer than 10% of all Americans regularly attend a church each week. Some have said that the reason the church isn’t growing is because the Holy Spirit is not moving as in times past. What does that say about our faithfulness to the Great Commission? If Jesus is the same "yesterday, today and forever" can it be honestly said that the reason for this lack of growth is that the Holy Spirit is not moving as He once did? (Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus said that when He is "lifted up" He will "draw all men" to Himself (John 12:32). It is God’s will that "all men" be "saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3). It is the responsibility of the Church to see that Jesus is "lifted up" so that the world might be drawn to Him. If we are to be the manifest presence of God’s love in this world we must reach people by being culturally relevant in style and approach, not alienating them by the ancient traditions of men, while at the same time, maintaining doctrinal purity and holding fast to the absolute truths found in God’s Word.
If the Church is to be effective, then it should study the culture of its community as to what could be most effective as a method of ministry and use a variety of available methods to stay in touch with contemporary trends and technologies.
We must fulfill the Great Commission as living examples of God’s love. We must offer a style of ministry and the un-compromised word of God in a format that will ATTRACT the lost, by becoming attractive, taking on the fragrance of Jesus so that once the lost experience it they can never forget the aroma of His beauty (2 Corinthians 2:14). We must fascinate them with the Lord of all creation!
The mistake the Church has made through the centuries is requiring the people to start where the Church is instead of the Church starting where the people are. The question that remains to be answered; “What do we need to do to reach the people where they are?”
Questions For The Heart
Before making a critical judgment the following questions should be honestly addressed:
1) Would a spiritual seeker be attracted to a church where they were subjected to hearing culturally irrelevant music and a message that was far above their head, or didn’t apply to their daily needs. Would they be likely to come back?
2) If a spiritual seeker came to a church and was exposed to many people speaking in tongues and prophesying would they be intrigued by what they heard or would they think, as Paul wrote addressing the same issue, that "you are out of your mind" and not return? (1 Corinthians 14:23)
3) Did Jesus go into the Synagogues and behave in such a way as to please the "religious" leaders or did He focus on the "seekers" in spite of the preferences of the traditionalists of the time? Would healing on the Sabbath have been considered non-traditional?
4) Didn’t Jesus speak to the common people in their language and in ways (parables) they would understand within the context of their culture?
5) Is the main point of the public service on Sundays to minister to the Christian or is it to reach out to the lost? If the main point of the Sunday Service is to minister to the Christian, then how does the corporate Church reach out to the lost?
6) Is the growth of the church “transfer” growth or is it truly showing steady and consistent growth by winning the lost? Is it stagnant, growing older or even losing members?
7) Is the Holy Spirit sending spiritual seekers to the church but they never return?
8) Could there be value in using the Sunday Services for outreach, and then use a Christian education and fellowship program for continued discipleship?
9) Is it really a compromise to change traditional methodology to keep people interested in the church so that you can continue to pour the Word of God into them?
10) Are people in the Church today more concerned with having their needs met or are they interested in meeting the needs of others? Could that be considered as the real "compromise" of the Great Commission?
Future Challenge
Without compromising the Bible, is the Church willing to do whatever it takes to reach the lost and spiritually dying in whatever manner possible? Is the Church willing to stop talking about what should be done and just start doing it? Is the Church willing to allow the Holy Spirit to empower each member to be like Paul, and become "all things to all men, so that” “by all means save some"?
I submit that if the Church is willing, then it will understand “Outreach Evangelism” ministry and "not be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
