Nations1

One of the things I have noticed a lately in mission talk, is a shift in the focus of mission activity. That shift involves the move away from church planting toward a more humanitarian mercy ministry type mission work, only. For example instead of seeking to plant churches, U.S. churches are opting more toward ministries that seek primarily to feeding, clothing, freeing sex slaves or dealing with justice type work. It sounds cruel to even question this type of work. I usually hear things like:   “What’s the matter don’t you want to help orphans or feed starving people? “

Well of course I do , but I want them to know Jesus also. What good does it do to feed them and send them to hell?

My question is:  “Why can’t we do both?”

It seems most of what I see in this movement is a trend away from planting churches that can have a long term effect in that culture, to ministries that focuses on how we can help them. Jesus plan was that we help but we also train (disciple) others to help themselves. That discipleship takes place through the local church.   The church in a culture is what changes a culture.  It is what insulates and provides for people in that culture caught in perpetual poverty or slavery, or… you name it.

I love the whole idea of helping free slaves or feeding people. We must do this . But if we ignore the biblical mandate of planting churches we fail in the long run. We may feel really good about ourselves but the question we must ask is “Are we being effective for the long haul?” If hearts are not changed in that culture in 50-100 years you will still have as many slaves as when you began.  Nothing changes.

The church expansion IMHO is what changes culture and challenges culture to change.  Here is a video that talks a bit about this whole idea.

If interested here is a video interview of Piper and Keller on this issue. HERE