Planting Space

contributed by Doug Foltz

I’ve been working my way through Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer. I came across this quote yesterday :

The goal isn’t high quality presentation for the sake of entertainment; you’re striving for a level of creative excellence that will facilitate an authentic encounter with the Creator of everything. (Chapter 8, p.108)

Many emergent Christians feel strongly that church should not be a show put on for the entertainment of the crowd. My guess is that all Christians would agree with that statement, but it seems to be a high value for the emergent crowd. There is a positive shift away from Church being what is done on Sunday morning to Church as the incarnational ministry of Jesus. I would argue that this is more of a reaction to current cultural trends and not an indictment that previous generations failed to be incarnational. More on that in a later post.

There can be a slippery slope when a church intentionally chooses not to focus on “entertainment.” This can quickly become an excuse for a poor quality of work in both emergent and traditional churches. Regardless of what style of ministry we choose (lots of different styles are needed to reach lots of different people) we owe it to the lost to value excellence. There is no more important work than teaching the truth of the Gospel. Whether you teach God’s word in small group setting or you teach in front of a crowd of thousands, we can do nothing less than give our best.

Paul says to Timothy, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Keep these words of Paul in mind as you wrestle what style of ministry will best reach the lost in your community. When teaching God’s Word, excellence is not an option; it is a standard.

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