Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/72

Contributor - Will Kroon

Title - Are We Structured for Aggressive Outreach ?

Topic - Church In The World

Dr. Benes, editor of the Church Herald, stated in an editorial that "conservative churches are growing" and that our denomination seems to be stagnant. He also raised the question whether these churches might have something which we lack. I had hoped that he would have asked people to do a little research so that the questions could be answered. Since nothing has been forthcoming I would like to make a begin and start the ball rolling.

The thesis which I am prepared to defend is that the lack of growth in our denomination is not so much a lack of love or spiritual gifts. It is much more a lack of vision, a lack of courage and a lack of imagination. Furthermore, it has little use to compare our denomination with the Church of the Nazarene to use the example used by Dr. Benes. We are not operating on the same level as they are; we serve a different function in the universal church. For instance their men for the ministry are trained for outreach; ours are trained to be Pastors, expounders and proclaimers of the Word of God.

A Structured Program for Outreach

The basic written or unwritten structure used by aggressive churches and sects looks something like this: They set up a dynamic program or invite a challenging speaker. Then they use the media and their own people to invite people to their gatherings. The third step is to convince their audience that they are right anc that other churches are wrong (the Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and the Armstrong Group are good examples of this). Next they have a program ready to indoctrinate their converts; a program that leads to some sort of initiation. Last of all, they enlist their converts into their activities before they get some second thoughts about leaving the family of worshippers of which they once were a part.

As we look at such a structure, we may ask: "If this structure gets results for them, why can't we use it too? As I seek to answer this question I intend to point out where we can, and where we cannot adapt such a form of outreach. Before I will undertake such an attempt, I would like to point out that there are numerous other factors that explain why some congregations grow and while others decline. There are social and economical factors that play a role. Some congregations grow because they happen to be in the right location. In an article of this nature I have to be one-sided in order to get my points across. I only present such a black and white approach for the sake of clarity.

Having an inspiring program

Here is something we can learn from these aggressive churches. They aim to have a program that is inspiring. Many of the programs we offer are good, but they do not always kindle the imagination. They are too solid and are too difficult for those who are still children in the faith.

If we aim at reaching out, we need a variety of speakers; men who can both motivate and inspire their audiences. Since we often have the same people in church every Sunday, out of necessity we gear our programs toward further growth and toward a deeper understanding of the Word. That is one reason why our services do not click with persons who come to church for the first time. They are too far advanced.

Invite people to our services

We all realize that the sect groups are growing but we often fail to mention that they work for it too. They get never tired of inviting everyone to their meeting places. We could do a little less criticizing our own programs and do a little more work in inviting others to our services. When our children invite their friends to Vacation Bible School they get results. Their enthusiasm and lack of inhibition are examples to follow.

Furthermore, if we would use our imagination, our resources and our energy as is being done by these fast growing groups, we would see results too: Look at Garden Grove! When enough new people come to a service of worship, a sensitive congregation automatically takes care of coffee hours and programs where strangers can be met and where faith can be shared.

You don't have it

Most of the fast-growing church es and sects have one thing in common; they tell their audiences that other churches lack something which they have. They are convinced that others don't have the Spirit, lack the Truth, belong to an Apostate church or don't belong to the "True Church". This approach is very successful and it is effectively used by Mormons, Jeh. Witnesses, the Armstrong Group, as well as by the extreme wing of the Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal and Ref. Churches

My readers, this is the part in an aggressive outreach program which I cannot use. I believe in Cooperation and not in sheep stealing; I believe in mutual sharing with other believers in Christ, and not in killing their faith by telling that theirs is not real. For too long I have confessed with all my heart that I believe in One, Holy, Universal Church to do such a thing. I am not the least bit ashamed of my background in the Reformed tradition, but I have had enough fellowship with other denominations to know that there is a genuine faith in the same Lord I serve. That is why I cannot say "You don't have it!"

Indoctrination

There is nothing wrong in indoctrinating the members of the church into the basics of the Christian faith. We in our Reformed Church are too apologetic about this and almost seem to be afraid to mention where we stand. That's why so few people really know what our position is on the key issues of the Christian faith. They read all sorts of pamphlets and books about others, but little or nothing about their own denomination.

My main objection to the indoctrination by sects and the extremists in the churches is that they print their own material and have their own Bible (or translation of it). Like the Communists they use their own material in order to prove to others that they are right. That's why they are such difficult discussion partners.

While I am on the subject, I would like to explain why I no longer get enthused about much of the devotional materials that people send to me. Here I mean the literature that deals with the end-time, the book of Revelation and the theories dealing with the return of Christ. It did something to me at one time, but the more I study the Bible and read about Church history, the less exited I become. When I read it I share the feelings of Paul when he said: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought like a child . . . ; when I became a man I gave up childish ways." (1 Cor. 13 : 11). This material does injustice to Scripture and will not pass the test of time. The tales which I read as a child were real and meaningful to me then, but they no longer meet my needs now as an adult. So it is with these pamphlets. They are inspirational but not in harmony with reality.

Initiation

Since I cannot tell fellow Christians of other churches that they do not have it, I have strong objections to any initiation rite (laying on of hands, re-baptism, re-ordination, etc.) that would imply that the other was wrong and that we are the sole bearers of the truth. I have no objection to a re-affirmation of faith, of a rededication to Christ or to other forms of renewal. I believe in the biblical way of building on the foundations which other workers in the church have laid.

Put people to work

Involving each member of the congregation into the work of the church is something we ought to aim for but have not yet accomplished. Such an involvement would deepen the faith of our members and it would give our leaders more free time to reach out to the unsaved. Here we can learn something from the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons. In addition to inspiration the church also needs some perspiration.

Are we structured for outreach?

The Office bearers in our denomination - the pastors, elders and deacons - are focusing their attention on the people who are already in the church. We do not have the Office of evangelists in order to lead the congregation into reaching out.

The reason for having only three Offices, may reflect our historical past when everyone was considered to be member of the (state) church. When every person is considered to be in the church there is no need for reaching out.

Training of Pastors

Generally speaking our men for the ministry are trained to study and expound the word of God and to be shepherds of the flock. Our men are trained in schools and in libraries and not on the street. Their strength lies in giving leadership and direction to the flock, in detecting heresies and in giving catechetical instruction. Our strength has not been in bringing the. unchurched in our area to Christ; our strength has been to instruct those who have accepted the Lord. We see this too on the international level. Look how important a role the Reformed family has played in the Ecumenical Movement and how important a place the writings of Reformed theologians have in the seminaries of the world!

Conclusion

I have tried to show that in many ways we could be more aggressive and imaginative in our outreach but also that we cannot take over every means of outreach used by the "growing churches" of today. Some denominations are gifted in evangelism; our gifts are the interpretation of the Word and to give direction when there is confusion. Some denominations seem to be Christians of the first generation; we are more at home with Christians of the second generation. It is not that we are missing something which others do have; rather we are serving our Lord in a different capacity, on a different level.

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