[Paul] is careful to demonstrate that his methods match his message. This text [1 Cor. 9:19-27] is especially instructive to those who struggle, as most of us do in our churches, to discern the relationship between the two. We often hear it simplistically stated: The message must remain the same, but methods must change. Often this rationale is used to justify methods that are considered avante garde. However, it is naive to consider that there is no relation between the two. Paul’s methodology was driven by his message. And this should be true in our ministries today. While we remain in the world, we are not of it. It is this principle throughout that offers the most practical and sustaining value of this text for our own situation.
Thoughts from the Christian perspective: discernment issues as they relate to the current state of the church and society.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Your Message Must Drive Your Method
[Paul] is careful to demonstrate that his methods match his message. This text [1 Cor. 9:19-27] is especially instructive to those who struggle, as most of us do in our churches, to discern the relationship between the two. We often hear it simplistically stated: The message must remain the same, but methods must change. Often this rationale is used to justify methods that are considered avante garde. However, it is naive to consider that there is no relation between the two. Paul’s methodology was driven by his message. And this should be true in our ministries today. While we remain in the world, we are not of it. It is this principle throughout that offers the most practical and sustaining value of this text for our own situation.
5 comments:
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An excellent point! The method should reflect and exalt the Lord as much as the message.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Which is why I find it so abhorrent to watch videos of these emergent "pastors"!
ReplyDeleteA few months ago, our pastor preached a message in which he addressed your point very strongly.
ReplyDeleteAt one point, he addressed the many human inventions, and as he called them, "stinking gimmicks," that are so often used in an effort to bring people in to the church. If we are not careful, we can forget the truth of the statement that "what we win them with is what we will win them to."
Here are some direct quotes from the sermon:
"We're filled with so many stinking gimmicks ... they're all around us, these stinking gimmicks."
"Almost anywhere and everywhere we find stinking gimmicks to try and draw people in. They are everywhere ... trying to be relevant..."
"These people (the early Christians) didn't have any stinking gimmicks. They prayed and ministered the Word."
Gee, I don't think he liked those "stinking gimmicks"!
ReplyDeleteI have too often had to repeat to someone that "what you win them with is what you win them to" because they praise these mega-assemblies for their "relevant" messages. The Church at large is training people to be self-focused!
Amen! I can' t stand gimmicks. We are called to speak the truth in love to the lost, and pray for them. The Holy Spirit has always been effective in bringing conviction to people's hearts - that's His job - conviction of sin and conversion of the repentant soul.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit is always glorifying Christ. Gimmicks do not glorify Christ.
Paul didn't want the cross of Christ to be emptied of its power. I'm afraid Christians turn to gimmicks because they don't think proclaiming the Gospel and praying and the Holy Spirit "works". I wonder if it's a lack of faith in either God's message or method, or both.
No one can be manipulated into salvation.
-Carolyn