“The fact is that
there now is lacking a serious and expectant intention
to bring Jesus’ people
into obedience and abundance through training.”
During my doctoral studies at Fuller Theological Seminary
one of my instructors asked each student to give answer to this question: “What
is the greatest obstacle to your church reaching a higher level of
effectiveness?” Two students answered before it would be my turn.
The first student, a senior pastor of a 1,200-member
congregation in Toronto , Canada
The second student answered, “A prevailing culture within my
church that is defined more by the attitude, ‘It’s about me!’ rather than ‘It’s
about God!’ Membership seems to be more about taking care of ‘my needs’ than a
concern for the mission of reaching our community for Christ.”
Then it was my turn. I wished that I had had more time to
reflect before having to respond so quickly. The answer that pressed against my
heart was, “The lack of a clear understanding of how to move from the shadow
waters of faith to the deeper waters of discipleship.” Now, nearly five years
later, it is clear to me that more time would not have changed my answer.
One of the other pastors quickly turned to me, following my
answer, and suggested, “Don’t you mean that the problem is the lack of
discipline among your members?”
I answered that such an assessment would be unfair. People
must first understand a pathway for growing in their faith. Simply, people need
to be shown “how.” It was then that I determined what I would do for my final doctoral
project. After a year of reading, thinking, praying and conversations with many
pastors of what they found working in their congregations, I developed one pathway
for Christian formation: Practices, Solitude, Community and Sharing. This
approach is detailed each month in the church’s news magazine, The Spire and fully developed in my
book, Faith Journey. I imagine now that it is a question of discipline, isn’t
it?
Joy,
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