Church planting is a lousy way to do ministry for any other purpose than evangelizing a community. But you'd be surprised at how often it happens. Churches get started by planters for a whole lot of reasons: To be in charge of something. To teach every week. To lead a revolt against a former senior pastor. To satisfy an ego trip. To do something seemingly glamorous in ministry. To educate Christians...
But without a passion for sharing the Gospel with an unbelieving community, church planting is futile. Without the courage to preach Christ crucified as an atonement for sin, it's purely recreational.
Amen...Stuff like that makes no sense to me.
Posted by: Chris Marlow | September 09, 2008 at 10:31 AM
great post. really convicting. why are we planting a church? shoot, it's for any other reason, we should quit and help the kingdom in some other way.
Posted by: david | September 09, 2008 at 12:22 PM
This is it!! Keeping our eyes on Jesus and lettin' Him do the church planting through us according to His awesome message!
Posted by: Will Henderson | September 09, 2008 at 08:16 PM
humility and passion pour out of your post man. so true though. i talked to Jennifer Hudson for a while today and she confirmed my thoughts about you.
Posted by: daniel d | September 09, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Ben what would suggest a person do who is in a community that doesn't have any churches that line-up well with their own style, philosophy of ministry, and theological convictions?
Of course we should be about evangelizing those around us, but what if you are a possible pastor with greater gifts in teaching than evangelizing or apostling (4.11-13)?
Posted by: Brenton Balvin | September 12, 2008 at 10:11 AM