Wednesday, August 8, 2012

HOPPING

This blog post comes out of a lunch I had with a good friend today.  The topics always fly when we're together and today it turned - albeit briefly - to church hopping.

My friend really despises it.

Now of course we have our share of folks who have come to KFA (www.kenoshafirst.com) from other churches and a lot of them are reading this right now.  They moved, they transferred, they were hurt, they got tired, the Gospel stopped being preached where they were, there was sin in the leadership, they lost interest, etc ... and we love them.  Many of them are my good friends and are among the most gracious, kind, loving, hardest working partners we know.  Just because people attended a church previously doesn't make them church hoppers.

'The topics always fly when we're together and today it turned --- to church hopping.'

But when people hop from church to church hoping to find 'deeper teaching - better singing - more for my kids,' usually it isn't long before the new church starts to smell a lot like the one they came from -- then they're off to try the next, new, better one.

We do not exist to attract that person.  We cannot afford to lose focus on what God has called us to do.  He has called us to be fully invested in reaching people who are on the outside of faith rather than those who are already committed to it and attending church elsewhere.  God has called us to cast an outward focus on a world that is lost and wandering away from Him.

And doesn't it just make sense?  Isn't the actual pool bigger where people don't know Jesus than fishing in ponds where they've already committed to Him?

I think so.  I know it's easier reaching already saved people than going after those who are seeking.  It isn't ultimately more rewarding, but it's easier.

So let's love those whom God brings to KFA (and to your church, wherever it may be) - and care for them - and serve alongside them - and then let's turn our gaze to the outside where people are looking for a reason to really live.

And be blessed.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is so fabulously eye opening, and a great read. I pray that many get the opportunity to do so.