Most people affiliated with a New Testament, Bible believing church will agree that the people are the church. The church is not made of buildings and property, but of the people who attend and carry out the functions prescribed in scripture. A few years ago I began asking a question to church groups. In regards to church, what is the difference between being and doing? I do not go any farther in describing what I mean so as not to taint the discussion. Some say being is more important with references as, “We must be the church before we can do church.” Others say, “We can’t be the church without doing what the church is supposed to do.”
Naturally, debates can go back and forth on this issue with these two lines of thinking and others. Which is right? I believe there must be a balance between the two. You can be First Community Church all day long without doing, and you can do all day long without being the true church of The New Testament.
On the one hand, churches fall into decline due to the busyness of doing, instead of being the church. This happens when programs, events, and bureaucracy (administration) overtake spiritual preparation and ministry to the community. Many of our churches across North America today have slipped into maintenance mode. In reality people of these churches do not even realize what is happening in their church. They have become program focused instead of ministry (Great Commission) focused. Some churches find themselves doing “things” in the name of ministry, when in actuality it is only business, something to make us feel good.
On the other hand churches can “be” the church all day long without ever “doing.” Your church can have Bible study and worship services every Sunday morning, again on Sunday evening and Wednesday, fulfilling all the traditions of the western world church and yet never fulfill the Great Commission.
How can any church be this blind or not able to see the trap of falling into either of these scenarios? Like the vacationer on a raft in the water at the beach who allows the water and breeze to lull him into a state somewhere between consciousness and sleep, so the church has allowed ourselves to be lulled into a similar state. We believe we are a good church as everything seems to be okay. Yet, like the vacationer, we have drifted far away from our beginning point and where we think we are.
While the church is theoretically designed to be self-feeding for spiritual growth, it was also instituted by God to feed the spiritual needs of the community. Therefore, we could say the church is a two-fold feeding station. It is 1) to feed spiritually and grow the members and regular attendees and it is 2) to reach out to meet the needs of the community, guiding them in spiritual matters and decisions as well.
To achieve and maintain a proper balance of “being” and “doing” requires prayerful, strategic planning. When done properly as described in the book of Acts and The New Testament in general, a church will experience four areas of results. The first of these four every church will experience spiritual growth. If as individuals and corporately as a church you are not experiencing spiritual growth, there is an issue. Without continual spiritual growth in a church, can we really expect to accomplish God’s purposes? What are you doing personally to experience spiritual growth in your life? What are you doing to lead your church in spiritual growth?
For more information on being vs. doing and how to move your church in the direction for a proper balance contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries. Reaching the Summit and Turnaround Journey are both excellent tools to assist you in achieving the balance needed for effective ministry.