Being in a smaller town sometimes I get asked if I want to visit or join certain civic clubs or community organizations. Typically I decline in a very respectful way claiming lack of time or something to that effect. Truthfully however, if time permitted and the inquirer truly wanted to know what was running through my head... I would reply with something like this.
"If I thought God was going to change the world through your civic club or organization then I would be in it. However, I believe that Christ is going to change the world through His church - so that is why I do what I do."
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Husband to 1 wife, daddy to 4 kids, ravenous consumer of peanut butter.
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7 comments:
Sure, I don't think the civic organizations themselves can change the world for His Kingdom, and they certainly aren't made specifically for that purpose. If it's in God's will, though, He changes things of the world through His people in whatever way He sees fit. We can't reach the world if we stay in our bubbles. We have to live in it. The problem is that most of us (myself, included) aren't as busy reaching because we are too busy "living."
I agree those organizations are not designed to lift high the name of Christ. If they were then they would be a church and be called something else.
{I'm only speaking personally here, I don't want to assume I speak for everyone} - But for me, I can not justify living in the world apart from my church. If I am evangelizing my neighbors then I had better be able to point them to a covenant relationship within a local church body. Otherwise I am exercising futility.
Sadly the church has abdicated this role of community improvement to civic organizations (similarly as it has abdicated other areas of its authority such as marriage, education, and science). When in fact it should be the church's role (read: the people in the church) to better the community.
Yes and amen.
question: civic organizations like what??? rotary club, boy scouts, school board?
What do you mean exactly? What clubs ask me to join them?
Alright, I must be careful here, lest I run the risk of confusing some and infuriating others. I acknowledge that I have several friends who are members of such civic service organizations like the Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, and Lions Club (Not that I am lumping them all together because they are not all equal). Let me start by reminding everyone, “I am not saying these clubs are useless.” I don’t believe I ever gave that impression. Clubs like these do many great things for our community, our schools, our young people, the world, poverty, hunger, and abuse problems.
That said, the thing these clubs do not do is evangelize the lost world and disciple believers to become more like Christ and encourage them to do the same (2 Tim 2:2). This task has fallen to the church. Christ set that design up long ago (Matt 28:18-20).
Now, since I have devoted my life to the equipping of the saints I must (if not by default, then by desire) align myself with the church in order to fulfill that commandment and role. I (again I may only be speaking personally) cannot justify being on the board of directors of any group which does not line up with that same goal. Am I on a board of directors for another group outside the church, yes I am. However, it is a ministry devoted to the mission I mentioned in the 2nd paragraph. I’m not saying we should all enter the church, lock the doors, and pray for rain. What I am saying (I hope) is that while a civic club can provide scholarships, clean our community, help students who are being abused, feed the hungry, etc. they can not (because of their nature and design) come close to fulfilling the Great Commission. Can the individuals within those clubs do it? Absolutely, however not effectively if it is done apart from the church. As I stated previously, evangelism done apart from the church (and I am referring to the local church) has historically been ineffective.
Phew... I hope that helped.
OK. I see what you are saying now. Isn't it cool to to see all the different ways that God can lead His people to serve a community?!
Now, how to get them doing it....that might be the million dollar question!
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