All for a Good Cause

How far do you go for a good cause? The cause in this case is the greatest cause, to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19), the area of work, as always, is the world. This very often requires us to put ourselves in places that we wouldn't ordinarily go, amongst people that we wouldn't ordinarily associate with and in support of causes that we wouldn't ordinarily support, all for the sake of what is often referred to as bridge building.

The reality is that less and less people, even at Christmas, will voluntarily come to church unless they are invited to come. Church hasn't just become an unpopular place to go; for this unchurched generation it has become a frightening place to go; what will happen when I get there? Will they let me out again?

Bridge building requires building of friendships and the building of community relations; both take time and both require us to meet with people where they are with their interests with the hope that they see us as warm and welcoming and therefore accept our non-threatening invitations to come to the place that they might hear and, in God's time, respond to the gospel of saving grace.

This evening, the church that I pastor will be supporting a village event called 'Santa Comes to Irby'. There will be many Christians who will look at events like this and talk about how worldly and commercial the whole thing is, and how the real meaning of Christmas is Jesus, and will therefore not be involved; and I do understand and sympathise with the arguments.

All I can say is this, 'It's not about you', it's about the good cause, it's about allowing the people of this world to come to a place where they can hear the gospel. Step out of the box, as Christ Himself stepped out of Heaven for us, so we also should step out into this world for Him.

The Biker Pastor