It seems paradoxical, but change is the one constant in life – everyone faces it virtually everyday. We are faced with changes in technology, laws, procedures, relationships and values. At times, this change is considered a positive, while at others it results in numerous problems and the desire to follow the status quo. I believe and pray that God has started a radical change in the local church, one which revolves around the visions, dreams and future of the local body. There are three primary reasons why I believe this change is occurring.
Andrew AustinA change in culture: Is it possible that the visions we set five years ago are no longer relevant to our ever-changing world? No one can deny that the world has changed in the last 10 years, let alone the last 15 or 20 years. The change in culture has forced the local church to reexamine its visions, dreams, goals and evangelical efforts as it plays catch-up with the culture. If the church does not change, the world will leave it behind in a whirlwind of smoke and fire. We must see the positive changes (advances in technology and communication) that the world brings about and embrace them. Technology and communication can exist as wonderful evangelistic tools for the unchurched or for those who have simply fallen away from the local body.
Urgency for the gospel: It has been said for many years that the end of time was near. The apostle Paul even claimed to believe that he would witness this great promise. The promise is the return of Christ for his pure bride. While no one knows the exact time of this glorious event, many believe that the time is at hand and could occur at any moment. Due to our inability to know when Christ will return, we must view missions and evangelism as the most urgent adventure that we, as the local body of believers, can take part in.
We must be willing to go. Christ talks much about going and doing the work of an evangelist. Going includes to the uttermost parts of the world. Christ has called his bride to have a heart for the nations that is grounded in their need for an intimate relationship with a loving and forgiving God. Scripture promises that every tribe and every tongue will praise God at his throne. We have a place in that as we minister to the world.
Not only has Christ called us to go all over the world, but also to our own backyard. We must take time to look outward into our communities. We must see the needs, both physical and spiritual, and meet these needs in a timely and effective fashion. Churches must focus on the wounded, broken and hurting – and not on the church building, more money, and how we can improve our country club atmosphere, while all the time lying to ourselves that we are a hospital for the wounded and a rescue shelter for the hurting. Our visions, dreams and goals should be to live our lives in a radical way as we love God and love people. It should be to radically love people in a modern, relevant and fresh way.
A generational change: Many have stated that the current generation is possibly the most vital generation that has ever been raised up. It is true that this generation is not like the ones that have come before us. We are a generation that seeks a dynamic, direct and major change in the world around us. We desire to see that change and be the cause of it by our actions and the lives we live.
A generation has risen up that will go anywhere and do anything for something that we find value in. Christians who come from this generation have found themselves desiring to go all over the world for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This generation is also very relational. We seek to enter into relationships with people as our main way of evangelizing to others.
Austin, a student at North Greenville University majoring in intercultural studies, is the founder of Students Taking a Stand (www.coastsbaptist.com/stas). He is a member of First Baptist Church, Greer.