What a ridiculous question? Everyone knows that church planting is not something God does, but what pastors and evangelists and missionaries do. What kind of blog title is that? The kind you get from a ministry like No Compromise Radio whose tag line is: “Always biblical, always provocative; always in that order.”
When I moved from New York to Boston in 2001 to church plant, I met monthly with other church plant pastors in the area for prayer and encouragement. Invariably the question I was constantly asked by these other men was if I was going to follow the PDC model for church planting. They were referring to Rick Warren’s book “Purpose Driven Church.”
When I would answer their query with a resounding “No”, their looks of astonishment were as if to say well what other models are there if you want to be successful here in the spiritual wasteland known as New England.
They had succumb to the non-biblical, market-driven, consumer-friendly approach to ministry. During that time I picked up a book by John MacArthur, “Hard to Believe”, that highlighted this worldly approach to ministry.
The first role of successful merchandising is to give consumers what they want. You’ve got to modify your product and your message to meet their needs if you want to build a market and get ahead of the competition. Today this same consumer mind-set has invaded Christianity. It’s Christianity for consumers: Christisnity Lite, the redirection, watering down, and misinterpretation of the biblical gospel in an attempt to make it more palatable and popular. It tastes great going down and settles light. It seems to salve your feelings and scratch your itch: it’s custom-tailored to your preferences.”
John MacArthur
If you think the onslaught of the market-driven church is something exclusive to our generation, then you don’t understand church history. Listen to the voices from the past. First from the Prince of Preachers.
“The churches have now conceived the idea that it is their duty to amuse the people. Others may regard this as a matter of no consequence; but we view it as breaking forth of a leprosy.”
Charles Spurgeon(19th century)
And now from “The Doctor”.
“The church is no longer distinct from the world, for instead of the church going out into the world we have allowed the world to capture the church from the inside.”
Martyn Lloyd-Jones(20th century)
If man starts a church by taking a survey asking people what they are looking for in a church and then coming up with a profile like “Saddleback Sam”(Saddleback Community Church, pastor Rick Warren), then the question still remains, “How does God start a church?” Or better yet. “How did God start His Church?” For the answer we need to go to the birthday of the church on Pentecost.
The people in attendance that day…
…heard Peter proclaim, Jesus(Acts 2:22), His foreordained crucifixion(Acts 2:23), His resurrection(Acts 2:24-32), and His exaltation(Acts 2:33-35).
…were confronted with the Lordship of Jesus Christ(Acts 2:36)
…were convicted by the Holy Spirit(Acts 2:37)
…were commanded to repent(Acts 2:38)
…received the word and were baptized(Acts 2:41).
The text tells us that the Lord saved 3000 souls that day(Acts 2:41).
So how did God start His church?
“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Acts 2:39
By his effectual and irresistible call.
“‘What’, you say, can God make me become a Christian?’ I tell you yes, for herein lies the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent; but gets it. It does not say, will you have it? but makes you willing in the day of God’s power…The gospel wants not your consent, it gets it. It knocks the enmity out of your heart. You say, ‘I do not want to be saved.’; Christ says you shall be. He makes your will turn around, and then you cry, ‘Lord, save, or I perish.'”…If Jesus Christ were to stand on this platform tonight, what would many people do with Him? If He were to come and say, ‘Here I am, I love you, will you be saved by Me?’ not one of you would consent if you were left to your will. He Himself said, ‘No man can come to Me except the Father who hath sent me draw him.’ …They shall come! And nought in heaven, nor on earth, nor in hell, can stop them from coming.”
Charles Spurgeon
