A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below. Jack Charleson is an Elder and Chairman of Evangelism, Bridlewood Presbyterian Church, and Chairman, Mission Ontario, and works as a bank manager in Toronto.
As Christians we have a responsibility to honour the command given by our Lord in the Great Commission. However, there is a tendency for many of us simply to ensure adequate funding is made available through congregational budgets to meet the expenses of others as they seek to carry out the work for us. All too often we fail to recognize the need for personal commitment to share in the promulgation of the free offer of salvation of the gospel to a lost world.
We cannot all travel to other lands, or even within our own country or province, but we can exercise the responsibility for evangelism within our own community. In a recent address, Dr. Ken MacMillan quoted that in Canada we are benefitting by the gospel but living off the faith of our fathers. He continued to say that the character of our nation is changing and Christian values are withering away.
Dr. Alex McCombie, in a presentation to the 1989 Adult Spring Retreat of Bridlewood Presbyterian Church in Toronto, offered several suggestions as to why we tend to resist evangelism. These include:
- “I don’t want my friends to turn me off.”
- the fear of rejection
- others are more gifted in this area
- “I lack the depth of experience.”
- “That’s why we hire a preacher.”
While there could be some validity to some of these statements for some people none support the recognition that, as Christians, each of us has a responsibility to carry out the command of our Lord.
Not all of us can approach evangelism in the same way. We all have different gifts but it is when we truly exercise these that the church is effective in fulfilling the command of our Lord to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus also said to his disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit and would be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Our Jerusalem is the community in which the congregation is located, or where our home is; our Judea is the province in which we live; our Samaria is Canada.
The disciples immediately set out to fulfill Jesus’ command. However, it appears the twentieth century church lacks the vision of the early Christians. A major factor contributing to this is the lack of unity in the body. This is evident in many local congregations, in denominations, and in the overall Body of Christ in Canada. In many respects various parts of the church today are working in isolation from each other. Many excellent efforts are being undertaken by different groups but the impact on the communities involved is lessened by our unwillingness to recognize the strength that comes when we put aside our differences and emphasize the common bond we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
First Corinthians 12:12-27 is an extremely familiar passage and there is little doubt many have learned much from this passage over the years. Paul seeks to stress that, though the body is made up of many parts, they all form one body (verse 12). To the pre- Christian this is sometimes confusing, particularly when he or she sees the diversity which exists within the church and how, in many instances we appear to be working in conflict with one another. Let’s examine this and see if we can determine what is taking place.
First, let us look at the church in our land, our province and in our community. Over the past few years it has been my privilege to be actively involved with a small group, seeking to encourage various branches of the church to come together in a concerted effort to create a significant impact on Ontario. At the same time, others have been working to do likewise across Canada.
We have seen many excellent evangelistic efforts in various parts of the country over the years. These have, in the majority of cases, resulted in the introduction of the saving love of Jesus Christ to many people and the church has benefited from the work involved. However, the inability of some individuals and groups to associate with these events has lessened the impact and I believe many of us will have much to answer for in this regard when we stand before our Lord. I find it hard to believe that, when we see the impact Dr. Billy Graham has had on this world, there are segments of the church who will not work with his organization due to the fact he associates with “such and such” a group. There appears to be no question all involved subscribe to the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and our salvation through him, but there is a particular doctrinal difference which appears to be irreconcilable. We are all the poorer because of situations such as this.
If a significant impact is to be made on any community, and indeed on Canada, then, as Paul indicates, we cannot say to any part of the body that we have no need of it. The Lord has placed us all in this land where a large portion of the population comes from around the world. When the church can put aside differences and seek to glorify God — and enjoy him forever — in all that is done, Canada can play a major role in introducing Jesus Christ to every corner of the world.
Chuck Swindoll, in a recent broadcast, emphasized that we need to have unity but not necessarily uniformity. Once the church in Canada moves in this direction, then the pre-Christian may have a better understanding. In our national anthem there are some significant words for the Christian: “O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.” Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit indeed have a special role to stand on guard for this land against the attacks of Satan.
Turning back to I Corinthians 12, on a congregational level we can see that there are certainly many “parts.” Indeed, depending on the number of members in the congregation it could be said that there are one, two or three hundred parts, since each individual member contributes to the body as a whole. Regardless of our background, as individuals who believe we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, he has given each of us at least one gift. In a congregation, as a cell in the Body of Christ, we are dependent upon each other playing one’s part. By so doing the body can become effective in the ministry to which it has been called. If we fail as individuals then we are accountable for any shortfall in the ministry.
As we proceed through the passage, Paul continues the analogy of the human body and emphasizes the importance of even the weaker parts. Verse 22 states these parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensable. Clearly, as individuals and as a congregation, we are required to play our part and also encourage others to participate in the work and worship of the congregation. By so doing, we will contribute to a more effective portion of the body the Lord has called to serve him in our community.
A body which is well co-ordinated is attractive to people around it — I do not feel the need to express the opposite! As a well co-ordinated congregation we can, and will have impact on the community and bring glory to our heavenly Father. Again the pre-Christian will be less confused about what the church truly is.
There is little doubt that we can all agree it is a poor reflection on the church when groups fail to work together. Undoubtedly many of us may agree our congregational impact on the community is lessened by difficulty in fully motivating our people. But if we ourselves are not motivated, then how can we expect others to join us? As he addressed a Renewal Day in Ottawa several years ago, Dr. J.I. Packer stated that if renewal is to be seen in the Presbyterian Church in Canada then it must start with the individual member. This is true also at the congregational level.
In Romans 12:2 Paul states that we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. He goes on to say we must not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
We know our bodies are made up of many parts and we seek to keep them in good order. This is evident by the current emphasis on diets and fitness clubs. By keeping our bodies in good order allows us to function more effectively (and as we grow older we certainly recognize that all parts are required!).
Before we knew Jesus Christ as Lord, our bodies functioned to conform predominantly to the pattern of the world. Once we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our priorities change and we are now to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, becoming living sacrifices — not dead as so many pre-Christians seem to think.
As living sacrifices we can become a more effective part of the church, the Body of the Christ and, through our transformed lives, become an example to those around us.
Many of us have endeavoured to become effective witnesses for the hope that lives within us. Unfortunately, we are all sinners and fall short. It is impossible for us to achieve this goal in our own strength, but we do have the assurance that when we confess our sin, God is faithful and he will forgive us. He loves us so much, he sent his Son to be an example for us, and to die on the cross that our sins could be forgiven. This was a tremendous sacrifice and surely calls each one of us to reassess our commitment to the Lord. We can share in the excitement of events which happen as the Lord reveals his agenda for the work of a church united in its efforts to carry out the command of the Great Commission, here in our community, across this great land, and to the furthermost corners of the world — a church which will surely be attractive to pre-Christians.
Let us pray God will continue to use each one of us and that we would be responsive to his call.