In-reach
We established in chapters 1-3 that the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom, and our absolute necessity to share (tell out, preach) this same good news, is the ONLY message of the true ‘church’. With this in mind we can recognize that mission, per se, can have a number of differing forms, but here in the Western world, at any rate, we can summarize our mission task as either in-reach or out-reach.
With in-reach the local church/assembly/fellowship makes itself available and attractive to the local community. It might be described as being a good neighbour in the sense of Mark 12:31. We are open, honest, and always willing to give an account of the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15).
Our doors are open – figuratively speaking – at all times, and literally at given times such as a Sunday worship meeting. Any seeker is free to visit, test, and so “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8, 1 Peter 2:3). This freedom and openness may not be possible for the modern ‘church’ in situations of systemic persecution, but here in the West it remains the normative situation and therefore the stance which any fellowship should be happy to adopt. We welcome those who are genuinely seeking.
Beware that in-reach does not become a substitute for outreach. As noted in chapter 6, some churches are ‘on the back foot’ as regards mission. Even worse, rather too many are ‘sitting on our hands’, with absolutely no vision or intentionality in this regard; as Proverbs reminds us ‘where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18). ‘Churches’ not interested in outreach may in reality be in terminal decline.
A ‘social gospel’ is in reality no gospel at all. A social gospel may in truth be a subliminal or self-deluding excuse not to preach THE gospel. Having said that, some social projects may assist in helping the non-believer to taste and see, as suggested above. Our motives need to be pure ….. If there is a social project, then it needs to lead to and enable anointed conversations.
Whilst in-reach ought to be the reality and norm for the local ‘church’ in the West, outreach mission absolutely MUST figure in any church’s strategic plan.
Outreach mission
The contrast with ‘in-reach’ is straightforward. With in-reach there may be a specific invitation to a seeker to join with us in our local ‘church’ setting, but beyond that the stance adopted is that the seeker is expected to take the initiative, and to come in! This may not be easy for them for a host of reasons.
Outreach involves * specific movement beyond our comfort zone, * an intentionality to share Jesus with those who do not know Him, * creating opportunities for ‘anointed conversations’. Furthermore, outreach mission involves moving away from a static position to a dynamic encounter – and it is when we are on the move that the Holy Spirit is best able to demonstrate His presence, power, and personality. Outreach can be short-term or long-term, but always involves going out and meeting people ‘where they’re at’, literally and metaphorically.
Anointed conversation
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10: 14-14, ESV)
More people would like to know about Jesus than we usually assume. Some only want ‘head knowledge’, others to know something more deeply. Either way, an anointed conversation is one that points towards Jesus, helps people ‘see’ Him, helps people understand why He was crucified , and helps people see the eternity-changing reality of the resurrection. Such a conversation may or may not encompass those specifics, but an anointed conversation is where a person feels that Jesus is the unseen ‘third person’ of the conversation. It is a conversation where Holy Spirit is active and changing hearts and minds.
Perhaps anointed conversation can best be contrasted with a dead-end conversation where a person sees, but does not ‘see’, hears but does not ‘hear’, and actively evades responsibility to respond. Ultimately it is not the missioner’s responsibility for the outcome of a conversation, but it is our responsibility to be available (at all times) and willing to give an account.
An anointed conversation does not have to supply every answer to every question! Indeed questions can all too often be a smokescreen to evade recognizing Jesus, or to divert the subject: https://christiancomment.org/2021/02/02/question-for-question/ . We can say, however, that an anointed conversation is one where Holy Spirit influences the outcome, and that should be our # one priority.
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