FAITH: Maintaining mission and doing good works

An organization is endangered when it allows doing good things to replace the work of doing the main thing.  Certain things may be good—even good for others in the surrounding community, but if those good things take the place of the organization’s mission, the organization is losing its soul and going down the path of extinction.

The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) recently released their annual report.  Consisting of theological education of different denominational stripes, the ATS report highlighted the top 10 institutions that had the highest enrollment.  I was encouraged to see that the seminaries I attended (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY) are surviving, thriving, and on that list.  Both are led by good and faithful men.  While many conclusions can be drawn from the report, Ed Stezer, Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University rightly observed that “the fastest-growing and largest schools hold historic and conservative theological convictions. Look at all of these schools and you will see a clear correlation between growth and a high view of the authority of Scripture, as well as other historic patterns of faith and practice.”

We live in a time when organizations and institutions are struggling to survive.  Some are going out of business.  Some are consolidating with others to stay alive.  When you look at organizations that are thriving, those organizations, by and large are focused on their historic mission and remain committed to advancing their mission in the midst of a society that often expects them to accommodate and “meet needs,” relating to an everchanging populace.

Like the recent report of the Association of Theological Schools, we are seeing a parallel trend in churches.  Churches focused on and committed to their historic mission are thriving.  The one mission that Jesus gave the Church was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Sure, the Church is characterized by other things, but nothing is more important than the mission which was given to her.  The mission of the church is to make disciples.  The work of the church is to take those who identify as disciples of Christ and then baptize them.  After they are baptized, the church goes about teaching them what Jesus has commanded.  This is the bread and butter of the church.

I am not saying that Christians should jettison good works and only be about the work of making disciples in the narrowest definition possible.  On the contrary.  In addition to the work of making disciples, Christians are called to do good.  The Psalmist says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good.”  (Psalm 37:4)  Jesus says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  (Matthew 7:19)  The apostle Paul says, “And let us not grow weary in doing good…let us do good to everyone….” (Galatians 6:9-10)  Speaking of those in the church, he tells Timothy, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous are ready to share….” (1 Timothy 6:18)  Indeed, Christians are God’s “…workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

Many churches do the good work of promoting adoption.  I once pastored in a place where there was a tremendous heart for adoption.  An adoption ministry is a profoundly significant and godly work and brings about tremendous life-change in individuals and churches.  I wish more would participate in this joyful work and know the benefits of adoption.  But as tremendous as it is, let us be clear—adoption is not the mission of the church.

Feeding the hungry.  Sheltering the homeless.  Teaching the illiterate to read.  All these are good and needed things and are great works for the church to be doing.  While those are worthy works, if the church seeks to be about things like these, to the neglect of making disciples, it misses the mark.

Let the church not allow doing good things, whatever they may be, to supplant the mission of making disciples.

The proverbial horse must always come before the cart.

Todd E. Brady serves as Staff Chaplain and Advanced Funeral Planner at Arrington Funeral Directors.  He and his wife, Amy have five sons.  You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net.