Why?

So far I have tried to describe our vision at CossPoint, the importance of listening to God, and listening to others.  Now, let's turn to the reason why.  Why do we need a vision?  Why try and make disciples of others?  Is it not enough that we come to church weekly and sometimes volunteer to help?

What do we have at CrossPoint?  For the believers, we are the adopted children of God according to Paul.  Because of Jesus willingness to go to the cross we have a relationship with God.  Many of us belong to small groups that nurture relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our children get a chance to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus.  Isn't that enough?  What more do we want?

If we are disciples, followers, of Jesus we have to listen and obey his teachings.  Matthew 28:19 says get out into the world and make disciples.  We have a lot of good things at CrossPoint, but the average non-believer is not going to just walk in the door.  Great programs will not attract the unsaved.  If we want to share what we have, and we should, we have to go out and invite others into our fellowship.

I am sorry to have to say this, but we do not live in a Christian nation.  To add to this, many of our churches do not preach the gospel.  They do not teach about sin and redemption.  Many churches are just self help clubs, or worse clubs whose members try and convince God to give them the good life.  To many Americans believe there are many paths to God.  The Bible teaches there is only one path to God and that is through Jesus.  But is that really taught in many of our churches?

If the church, CrossPoint, is to grow we have to be willing to go out into the world, each in his or hers own way, and share the gospel, to witness.  We have to go to non-believers and invite them into our fellowship.  In Jesus ministry, he went to the people, he did not wait for them to come to him.

We live in a fallen world, Jesus came to reconnect us with God, that is what we have to share.  The Holy Spirit convicts, but as disciples we have to be sensitive to the opportunities he provides to witness.  We are not promised an easy time, Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me.  Unlike so many preachers who promise a worry free life, we will not have a worry free life, but we have a Comforter, we have help if we listen and ask.

The church is not supposed to be seeker friendly, it is to be a group of seekers.  Seekers of the lost.  I have said this before, the idea of sharing my faith scares me, but what is scarier is the thought that I do not share.  Join with me and be seekers of the lost, do what Jesus commanded us to do.