The Church: "My Rights" vs "Whatever It Takes"

"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." I Corinthians 9:22b-23

I've been "wal-martized." My wife discovered Wal-Mart when she was a college student at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. They had one there, and it made life very convenient for the college community. Virtually every town we have lived in since we were married has had one, and we've become accustomed to shopping there. I knew that I had become "wal-martized" when I recently bought a wireless router for the house from somewhere else. After two weeks, it failed to work correctly, and after making a call to the service number on the box, discovered that it was faulty. I returned it to the store where I bought it, only to discover their reluctance to give me a refund or replace the product. After a couple of conversations with an assistant manager, and then the store manager, they finally agreed to replace the router with a new one, but let me know that was not usual store policy. I made a comment about Wal Mart standing behind everything they sell, and was politely told "Sir, this isn't Wal-Mart."

Lesson learned. The next time I need computer parts or supplies, I know where I will go to buy them. Wal Mart has taught me that a store should stand behind its products, and they will take anything back for either refund or replacement if it doesn't work, no questions asked. It is part of their "whatever it takes" motto that has helped them become the world's largest retailer. "You can get that at Wal-Mart," is an almost automatic sentence in American English these days. One of the first questions group leaders ask upon arriving at a World Changers project is "Where is the nearest Wal-Mart."

Wouldn't it be great if one of the first questions people asked when they moved into the neighborhood is "Where is the closest church?"

In the passage of scripture in I Corinthians 8, 9 and 10 from which the scripture citation above comes, Paul is encouraging the church to have a "whatever it takes" attitude toward the gospel. Setting personal preferences and comforts aside, Paul preached the gospel message. In doing so for the church at Corinth, he even set aside the customary offerings taken to support those in vocational ministry "for the sake of the gospel." His reason for doing so was so that he could share in its blessings. These were blessings that Paul had experienced before, and understood as being far greater reward than anything monetary could provide. Paul had discovered that seeing people come to Christ, and experience discipleship and community in the church was a far more valuable experience than any personal privilege he could have had as an apostle of the church.

It is worth some introspection and self-analysis to ask this same question of ourselves, both individually and as a church. Where are we headed? Are we simply maintaining the "clubhouse" for our own benefit or are we willing to be self-sacrificing of the things we believe we are entitled to have as a result of our tithes and our service to the church in order to experience the blessings that come when we see others benefit from our ministry service? Are we willing to do whatever it takes, without sacrificing the truth of scripture, to be the bearers of the gospel in our community, or are we simply going to collect and channel resources for our own privileges?

We are at a place in the life of our church where we need to answer these questions, and then take some action. The cycle of having a period of excitement and enthusiasm when we call a new pastor and havins some growth occur as a result of a few new programs he introduces, followed by a period of plateau and decline will not last much longer before it permanently impairs our ability to reach the community effectively. We need to decide where we are going and what it will take to get us there. As opportinities arise, led by the Spirit, we need to take advantage of them.

Are you coming along?