Reaching Those Far From God - I've Been Thinking

I think a lot about being a church that is equipped to reach those far from God, and I have a couple of thoughts.  As typical - they aren't fully thought through, but this gives me a chance to sharpen my thinking by forcing me to write them down.

If we are going to be a church that is truly serious about reaching people who are far from God, then we must be a church that is willing to put up with some who have some SERIOUS problems. We are called to be fishers of men. It seems to me that many churches want to catch "fish" (lost people) but by the time they reel them in - they want those "fish"to be scaled, gutted, cleaned, cooked, maybe fried, and seasoned. And that is why those churches can't even keep the ones the DO manage to reach. 

I don't fish, but I'm guessing I wouldn't like it much. I like to EAT fish, but preparing fish doesn't sound fun to me. In other words, because the scaling, gutting, cleaning of fish doesn't sound attractive to me - I will always be dependent on others to provide me TRULY fresh fish. It seems to me that a lot of churches TALK about wanting fresh "fish" (those far from God), but the process is WAY too distasteful for them to actually DO it.

Agree? Does this make sense?

Comments

[Rebekah]

That makes complete sense. I never thought about it in that way before, but I agree. It does seem like we don't want anything messy in church, just people who are already in perfect little packages at that point where God has freed them. How are we to reach those far from Him though, if we don't like getting messy? Great analogy. I love fish too, but scaling, gutting, cutting off the head? Gross. No thanks. I'm definitely going to be praying that we are a church that doesn't shy away from getting messy to get the Gospel out there. Thanks for your great thoughts!

[Steve Powell]

Hey David,

As a fisherman that both likes to catch the fish AND likes to eat them, and does all of the in-between stuff, I can say that one needs to keep the overall perspective in mind.

The filleting and cleaning aren’t my most favorite activities BUT I know they are just a means to the end. The rewards are great on the other side! I don’t think the analogy is much different in the “far from God” perspective. At least not from how I think of it.

[Nancy]

Here are some of my not-fully-thought-out responses...

Yes, I agree. I think we all struggle to love those that aren't easy to love-because we are too much like the world. If we are going to love like Jesus, even unconditional love isn't enough. Jesus' love isn't unconditional in the sense that he'll say we're "ok" where we are. His love is better than unconditional, because he doesn't leave us where/the way we are - he longs for our fully committed, transformed hearts - for his glory and our blessing.

I can't remember where I read about God's love being better than unconditional, but it makes sense to me.

I have this struggle myself as I work in a place that doesn't appreciate my God or my expressions of faith - and I don't like working with people like that! But, maybe that's why God has me here; to teach me to love those who are unlovable, and share him with those who are his enemies.

Am I off?

[Brad Files]

Interesting thoughts and no easy solution. (Who said taking up a cross was supposed to be easy?) I don't like to suffer for the sins, stupidity, or weakness of others. Taking up a cross doesn't mean suffering for our own sins. (That was already taken care of.) Taking up a cross means willingly sharing the consequences of the sins and weaknesses of others. And I don't like it. I'm responsible with my finances. Why should I have to help someone who screwed up theirs? I'm faithful to my wife. Why should I have to clean up someone else's mess in that regard. I'm clean. You're dirty.

I think a lot of it has to do with how I see myself. If I really think I'm better than other people, helping others will flip between holding my nose while I help them or sticking it in the air when I don't.

If I am really the chief of sinners (I've been so blessed by God, but still I wallow in idolatry), then broken people are my only friends who "get it". My love for them is based on a shared experience of devastating mercy. My plenty (in material areas, perhaps) fills their want. But their plenty (perhaps a brokenness leading to a radical dependence upon God) corrects my idolatry of personal responsibility. None of us are self-made men or women. Lives of giggling, awe-filled, generous gratitude are the only appropriate response.

[David Whiting]

I LOVE the thought that his love is BETTER than unconditional!!! Awesome!!

[Randy C]

You are right on track. Christians need to be willing to get their hands dirty and accept that ministry can be messy. Keep up the good work!

[Pam Menke]

If the church can accept the Menke's, and our disfunction I think we can accept ANYONE!!! Hahaha!!! Have a great day and thanks for being a awesome leader!!

[Kristen]

David, This totally makes sense as I grew up fishing with my Dad and brother. It is a messy process but so worth the effort when you see the results!!! God is using you to luer those fish in! God's word, the bait, has a draw like non other! Happy Birthday today! Enjoy our day and God Bless! We love you and thank God for you and how he is using you and your family at Northridge!

[Sheri J]

Makes perfect sense. I think believers, myself included, are afraid to get too close to the seriously lost people for two reasons. The spiritual battle is ongoing and we tend to cling to our Christian circle for fear of falling into the unbelieving world that the lost live in. Someone with a serious problem is also extremely draining on a relationship. It is also scary to befriend the lost that have the serious problems you speak of like drug addiction, violence, etc. Does that mean we don’t have faith that God will deliver them while keeping us safe at the same time? Or should we be cautious. I don’t know.

I have reached out to an alcoholic/drug addict at an arm’s length, because I know this person has issues with stealing to satisfy the monetary need of the addiction. I know this person would love to be invited to my home and made to feel like family and in my heart I would love to do that, but I keep our friendship at an arm’s length because I don’t want to be stolen from and because I live alone with an impressionable child. I will never stop inviting her to church, which she hasn’t come to yet and I will never stop letting her call and talk, although I have had to turn my phone off at bed time to avoid 3:00am calls, but just how far should we befriend people this lost? I think about it a lot.

[Kim S]

Agree - It's like alot of things in life... We want the end result but don't want to "deal" with the process to getting there

[Rebecca Chalone]

In many ways we're struggling to want to go to the new North. We seem to not be able to plug-in anywhere and chaff at where we're being pigeon-holed. BUT, and this is HUGEEEE, we are still at North BECAUSE it is finally a place where I can invite my gay friends and know they will not be shunned. North is a place where I feel comfortable to invite the hard-living woman I met who lives with the father of her baby. I think we've arrived to the place where all truly are welcome. Trouble now comes, as already said, how to help the fish become THE CHEF's masterpieces without stinkin' up the place.
Funny, I just started making myself eat fish with Joe - he loves it - I hate it, not because it tastes bad, but because in my judgmental, prissy, everything must be right attitude, I can't stand the smell of fish or the look of those shiny, slimy, grey skin stuff - -EWWEWE! But, cleaned up and well-cooked, fish is among the healthiest stuff on earth. Maybe that's why we're called Fisher's of Men - 'cause it really is the healthiest way for us to live. May we all grow healthier! Mangia!

[Cheryl Murray]

I would suggest that the process of adding in fresh (and maybe not so fresh) fish is that much more difficult for long-time Christ followers because when you have a heart for outreach, you get ALL SORTS of fish. And some of those fish don't know the rules.

They don't know what propitiation is. They don't necessarily understand that you can't lose your salvation. Maybe they've *gasp* never read the book of Romans! Predestination? Mustard seeds? Huh?

I think this is probably the first time many long-time church attenders are having to deal with people (and not just a few) who come and sit in our chairs (I almost said pews :D) without first completely subscribing to our beliefs.

It's uncomfortable and yes, messy. You can walk down our halls on any given Sunday and hear things come out of people's mouths that you NEVER thought you'd hear in a church.

And all I have to say to that is PRAISE GOD. Praise God that we have a church that is filling with people who haven't had a relationship with Christ.

[Harlan]

"Artfully said . . . and an interesting point, especially considering that Christ reached out to the seemingly worst of society. He didn't come for the "clean" and lofty. He came for those who would have the greatest appreciation and admiration for His gift of grace and freedom. Supporting foreign field missions can make a church feel good about it's obligation to the Great Commission and at the same time help it avoid getting it's hands dirty right in their own back yard. There should be a balance between both. The Gospel begs us to Love our neighbor. And that may mean rolling up our sleeves and digging into the dirt right around our feet."

[Billy Cook <]

My Daddy always said God cleans His own fish and always after He catches them! Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

[Eric J]

This is one of your better posts, and I hope that you'll really take the issue to heart.

[Brent Carl]

Hey David...great post! I wrote an article a while back about some things God has been teaching me about unconditional love...it's called "Beef Stew" http://leadershipreflections.org/2009/11/12/lesson-learned-beef-stew/
We miss you guys at Northridge! From Snowy Maryland,
Brent & Bonnie Carl

[Dave Dyson]

Dave, I love the way you think. The realty of “fishing” is the “fish stink”. Having an understanding of that fact prior to “casting my line in the water” will better prepare me for the task. Thanks.

[Pam F]

I LOVE to fish! Count me as faithful.

Agree.