Australian College of Ministries

 

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

 

Student:                 Grant A. Mitchell

 

Subject:                                 PCB 229               Church Growth Perspectives

Lecturer:                              Dr. LeRoy Lawson

Date:                                      8th - 11th August 2000

Ministry Centre: Carlingford

 

Assignment:                         Critique of “The Purpose Driven Church” by Rick Warren

 

Due Date:                              Friday 15th September 2000

Worth:                   40%

Word Requirement:            1500 words

Word Count:                        1527 words

 

Introduction

This assignment is quite disconnected at times, as it is really a connection of my reflections, rather than my criticisms. It is difficult for me to criticise, or even critique, a God-given strategy that is working, and so I believe that my reflections on Rick Warren’s book will be more a critique on how it will apply to the local church I am involved with.

 

God

Since this book is all about church growth, it is good to see that it begins with what God wants to do. This takes a weight of some responsibility off our own efforts, and ultimately on the one that church growth is about - God!

 

However, Rick speaks rightly when he puts side-by-side the combination of God’s power and people’s skilled effort. Both are needed, and this not only places a great reliance on God, but also a need for commitment to provide skilled effort. I have no excuse for being lazy in my efforts for God, not even the reliance on God’s power can be an excuse.

 

And so it is also good to see Rick focussing on what the Holy Spirit is doing - that is, preparing responsive hearts, and leading us to them. This is God’s work, and He will do a lot to prepare and lead. I need to ensure that my skilled efforts are in touch with God’s preparation and leading.

 

Purpose

I think that just “removing what is stopping growth” is too simplistic a view for church growth. Admittedly it is an effective strategy, but I believe that seeking God’s specific strategy for a church would count as much as removing the restrictions that God does not have in his will for a local church.

 

Is a response to circumstances a lack of planning? From the rest of the book it doesn’t seem so, but there may be a fine line between responding to circumstances, and lack of planning.

 

The two questions “Are we doing what God intends for us to do? and “Are we doing it well?” need to always be together. Often we can initiate biblical ideas, programs, and strategies that are ineffective. We use the excuse that “we must be doing something wrong inside this idea,” when really we should dump the idea for something more effective. In contrast, we need caution against using effective ideas that are not driven by the heart and will of God; and this may include using God-given ideas that another local church has, that God is not asking my local church to use!

 

It is a fairly encompassing statement for the church to exist to “edify, encourage, exalt, equip, and evangelise.” Wrapping this around the five circles of commitment gives great focus to the target of these purposes, but I also believe that Rick’s understanding is that these purposes will be involved in every target of the church, albeit to different degrees. This is what it will mean to balance the purposes and bring “health to the body of Christ.”

 

It is at the heart of the Churches of Christ to express the New Testament doctrine of the church, and so, in agreement with Rick Warren, our purpose statements need to express these doctrines. There is always some part of tradition that is positive.

 

Ministry

Why has there been such a focus on short term pastoring in recent years if Rick is suggesting that long term pastors are needed for growth? I believe this is something we haven’t been getting right - and even with assistant pastors. Shuffling around for “experience” may actually be less helpful than what we think.

 

There is a dangerous belief amongst church members that the location of a church needs to be static. Beginning new services in different locations is seen as divisive to the unity of the body. How does this reflect on Rick’s principle that a change of building/location did not limit church growth? It may be different, for it appears that the whole church body shifted to a new location. Should this be the strategy we use for growth, or stick with the “use a new location, as well as the old one”?

 

Focus

I think it is only partly transferable to start a church with unbelievers - simply because this is part of a church planting philosophy. For an existing church, or service, a different strategy is needed. However, this may apply to new ministries and services at an existing church.

 

A strong reminder that witnessing to unbelievers is one thing we can do on earth that we can’t do in heaven. At the heart of this book is reaching the lost. I was particularly challenged to see growth come from the “outside in, rather than from the inside out.” It is okay to disciple unbelievers.

 

Once again Rick brings focus to targeting the community - each church is “suited to reaching a certain type of people.” This focus for effectiveness shines out amongst the objections of exclusivity. This can even be seen in my local church with its connection to a Korean congregation. The English services are not so much exclusive, as they are effective for English speaking people. However, when reaching seekers it will be important to realise that this particular geographical area does have a multi-cultural population, so a different key to our focus is still yet to be found.

 

It is a difficult pill to swallow, that “growing churches focus on reaching receptive people. Non-growing churches focus on re-enlisting inactive people,” but I agree with it. Our local church needs to connect with receptive people, discover the “key to their heart”, their times of “change and pain.” This is a core strategy for connecting people with Jesus.

 

It is a tricky, but necessary, strategy to never forget what it is like to think like unbelievers in order to win them. We have been called to be in the world, but not of the world. However, we often end up being next to the world, and not interested in the salvation of the world. Catching “fish on their own terms” may seem controversial to some, as we focus on reaching needs rather than preaching a “pure gospel”, but Rick’s point is strongly supported by James’ words, and Jesus’ actions. James says we must “do the word” not just speak it, and Jesus ministered in the world.

 

I support the three non-negotiable elements of a seeker service (love and respect, relate to needs, and practical and understandable message). What Rick’s strategies have done to my thinking is shaken them a little about knowing which of my local church’s services are for members, and which are not, and why they don’t meet both audiences. Maybe this is why my church hasn’t seen significant growth recently. However, I’m not entirely convinced that these ideas of a seeker-sensitive service are completely transferable to Australian culture.

 

Actions

One of Rick’s key points is loving the unchurched in practical ways, that is, in listening and understanding their problems, in meeting their needs.

 

“Unbelievers aren’t expected to act as believers” - this is a key statement when it comes to evangelistic outreach. The need to recognise the difference between “accepting and approving”. The heart of this that Rick drives is love. “Love draws people in like a powerful magnet.”

 

It is a positive challenge to me to “intentionally act in ways that demonstrate our love for visitors and for those who don’t know Christ.” I need to not only think of the needs that these people will have, but be willing to step out of my comfort zone to reach into their lives with not only interest, but with love and concern. This will mean more than words and nice conversations, but invitations, offerings of help and support, and providing genuine friendship. This will take my time, energy, efforts, and resources; but the Christ gave his life for these people. Rick is right in pointing us to the Cross to pull us out of having a heart grow cold toward people who don’t know Christ.

 

Focusing on one level of commitment at a time seems exclusive (working from the “Life Development Process”), but I believe that focus brings strength to the ministry, with a realisation that the areas out of focus at the moment will not be neglected forever. Knowing, Growing in, Serving, and Sharing Christ all connect levels of commitment to the purposes of the church - Rick’s strategy takes the members through a natural process that keys them into the purpose of the church, with multiplication (“mission-sending station”) as the final part of the process.

 

Being apostolic seems to be the key Rick is bringing out here - when a church is healthy, it sends people.

 

Conclusion

These reflections, on the place of God, purpose, ministry areas, focus, and actions, pool together where I believe the strengths of Rick Warren’s book is. Church growth is driven by God’s purposes, with strategies that will be specific to local areas, based on the unbelievers and seekers of that area, and expressed through the actions of evangelism that reach out in love. This is how the purpose-driven church brings church growth.