is the church keeping us from fulfilling the great commission

Question, “Is the church keeping us from fulfilling the great commission that’s found in Matthew 28:18-20 18Jesus came to them and said I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. (CEV) Look at the first few words of verse nineteen carefully, “go to the people…”  Now this does not say wait for the people to come to you, while you sit inside your pretty church – but rather it says to go to them.  Meaning we are to get off the padded chairs/pews that we sit on and go to them. 

I love to read church signs, for the simple fact that they make me laugh most of the time and for no other reason.  I have been a Christian now for twenty seven years and I have never once visited a church because of what a church sign has said, whether it talked about a revival or whatever.  And I bet for the most part not many others have either. 

So what makes us think someone who is not a Christian is going to step inside our church because of a sign or because our church has a pretty curb appeal?  I have been around and part of a church my whole life and walking up inside of a new church I visit for the first time scares me to death.   In addition, let’s be truthful, most of us are pretty bad ambassadors for Christ, once we are inside the confines of the church building.  We fail miserably at really making someone feel welcomed.  We rather see the same person, asking them the same questions that we asked them the last time we saw them in church – instead of talking to someone new.   But you say that’s the reason why we have greeters in the parking lots and at the doors for, to welcome the visitors.  Come on who are we fooling that doesn’t really make someone feel like your church is a church they could feel a part of.  Everyone expects to see a greeter at the door, they say hi and shake your hand, but that doesn’t make you feel like you belong. 

No the great commission states that we go to where the people are at, in your towns and communities.  I know that’s a bit weird for most Christians, to be with or hang with sinners, but think about it we have the Holy Spirit with us to empower us for such a task and yet we still get nervous.  So you know a non-believer has got to be scared to walk up in a church building.  I believe that is why many churches are dieing.  We can’t understand why in the world people are not attracted to our theatrical performances and our grand light show.  Our churches our intimidating to many first time visitors no matter how people friendly we may think our church is. 

That is why we have to go to them.  Missional is a word that has been around for a while and within the past few years has caught favor with many Christ followers.  To be missional means we must see ourselves as a missionary wherever we are currently at.  It doesn’t have to be overseas; you are a missionary right in your hometown.  It is realizing that the lost are not going to come to us, but rather we have to go to the lost. 

Most of the churches that are growing in America today have a missional mindset.  These churches are biblically sound and don’t mind getting out there in the culture.  They are the types of churches that don’t see today’s culture as something to run from, but rather they engage today’s culture – wanting to put Christ in the center of today’s culture as much as possible.  The reason so many churches are falling at this is that they see culture and church on opposite ends of the spectrum that these two worlds are polarizing to each other. That is simply not true.  Take a look all through out the New Testament and where do you find Jesus? Not in the synagogues, but in the towns and villages with the people.  Jesus engaged his culture.  He went to the people.  So the question that has to be asked is are we going to the people or do we expect the people to come to us?   

Many churches see this word missional as offensive, because they have seen what they have done in the past work, but what they fail to realize is what worked ten or twenty years ago will not work for today’s culture.  Many have allowed the traditions of the church to blind them in their thinking that there is only one way to do church and that is the way they are currently doing it.  Why is it that we allow change in just about every area in our life, but the church?  Twenty years ago, hardly anybody had a cell phone, now everyone has got them even grandma’s.  The way we communicate has changed and we adapted.  So why can’t the church adapt the times as well, as long as we don’t change the content of scripture.  Does it really matter how we deliver it? 

As I said early being missional is not new, Jesus was missional.  I think what scares most people is the fact that we have to change the whole way we have been approaching church for most of our lives.  It is getting out of our comfort zones and it’s exploring unknown territory.  Being the creatures of habit that we are we don’t like this.  Being missional makes us rely more on the Holy Spirit and it forces us to form new relationships, something many of us have forgotten how to do. 

Also being missional is a lifestyle change, because you are trying to look at the world through the eyes of Christ.  Missional living is making your life about establishing relationships that are meaningful, always looking for new ways to engage culture so that you might have a opportunity to share Christ with someone.  Living a missional lifestyle is about being part of a community that cares for the needs of others before your own.  This lifestyle is very contrary to the world’s lifestyle; because of this very few will take this style of living.  When you live the missional lifestyle people begin to look at you differently and you realize what it is like to truly be just a strange of this world only passing through for a short time. 

Starting to live like this myself, I see things differently now.  , because I have realized there is much more to life than what just makes me happy.  With each day that passes, I feel like it is lost forever, that I will never get that day back to make a difference in someone else’s life.  Making a difference for Christ!  I feel like God has given me a new zeal for life like my life now has a purpose and that for me is very fulfilling!