The University Christian Movement, with offices in New York City, voted itself out of existence in 1968. On their door, one of the participants posted this sign: “Gone out of business— didn’t know what our business was.” Didn’t know what their business was! Even God’s people can lose their way and not know what it is to be a Christian, or what is the work that God enjoins a Christian to perform.
Since the days of the early church there have been varying opinions as to what Christianity is to be about; so Paul would write to the church at Galatia: “I am astonished that you are turning to a different gospel.” There had developed a different way of looking at things, hearing the gospel, arranging priorities and doing ministry. There had evolved varying opinions as to what was the business of Christians.
In 1992, Rick Warren wrote the highly influential book, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission. His advice to churches is: “Don’t compete for market share. Instead, compete with non-consumption. (The business of the church is to) offer people something they cannot get anywhere else.”
In the late 1800s, trains dominated the transportation industry of the U.S., moving both people and goods throughout the country. Then a new discovery came along — the automobile — and incredibly, the leaders of the railroad industry did not take advantage of their unique position to join in this transportation evolution.
The railroad barons did not understand what business they were in. They thought they were in the train business. But they were actually in the transportation business. Time passed them by, as did opportunity. They couldn’t see what their real purpose was.
The railroad industry mistook means for end. The church is not in the “church” business. The church is the means. The end is a relationship to God. The church is in the relationship to God business. That is the Church’s purpose. That is the Christian’s purpose.
There is only one business for the Christian to be in—the business of God as taught and exemplified by Jesus. When a certain would-be-disciple asked to follow Jesus, if only he could first go bury his kin, Jesus said: (The Message translation) “First things first: Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” The business of the church, the business of the Christian, is to offer an avenue by which the world may approach a relationship to God.
A dignitary of the Church of England tells how once in the city of York he groped his way through a dense fog to the famous old cathedral, York Minster. So misty and murky was it that it was only with difficulty he found the door. But upon pushing the door open he saw in the transept of the nave a circle of bright sunlight. For a moment he marveled as at a miracle. Then he understood that the tower above the light rose higher than the level of the fog outside, and there the sun shone and poured its glorious light through the tower windows into the cathedral. Though it was no miracle, it was a potent parable. For that is the very core and essence of Christianity’s business— that it be a venue that aspires to highest Heaven, rising far above the mist and the murk of the common day, that it may bring God’s light into a darkened world. Now, followers of Christ, with the blessings of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus, be about your business.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.