At the beginning of this year, our pastors let us in on the goals and dreams for 2015 and our “Hey Neighbor” campaign. Together, as a church, it has been our mission to be better “neighbors” to people at work, school, where we live, and even where we worship. The idea that by loving others we are sharing the love of God. And this is vitally important for us to do – have we not been commanded? Love God. Love people. Pretty simple right? Well Trinity went a bit further and suggested that perhaps our “neighbor” as scripture reads is not just the person sitting down the pew that looks just like you do. Perhaps our “neighbor” is someone we disagree with politically, creatively, theologically, and even – dare I say – in terms of football teams. Really, it’s good stuff y’all – go take a listen to the sermon series by both Nathan & Brian.
So in light of all this talk about who is our neighbor, and how we are to show them love, ministries were grown to help us do just that. Ministries that required volunteers, time commitments, monetary commitments, and continual prayer. Goals were created – how many openings to be filled, dollars to raise, etc. But one thing stuck out to me amidst the conversation however, and it was this goal: 100 new professions of faith. As in 100 new adult baptisms. Meaning one hundred people that professed their faith in Christ that had never done so before.
This is ridiculous. Even for a church our size. Crazy perhaps. And if our pastors are reading this – it’s true. People thought (and likely still do) think this an insane goal. One that is very unlikely to be mastered. One that simply cannot be checked off the list quickly and with ease. Which is why I feel so strongly that this is right where we need to be as a church in terms of goals. Sure we can pull together resources to fund a program where hungry kids are fed. We have money. Sure we can pop up a bouncy house for the neighborhood and let the kids frolic and play together. What parent is going to turn down a free way to make sure their kid is tired has fun with other kids? Sure we can wear a t-shirt and talk about our church and all the incredible things we do – but talk about Jesus – I mean really talk about Jesus – with people who aren’t believers? You’ve got to be outside your mind.
Talking about your faith to people who aren’t sitting right there in Sunday School with you is down right scary sometimes. And let’s be honest, it’s sometimes just as difficult when we know they’re believers too. It’s pretty darn uncomfortable to test the waters of a relationship and risk ridicule, questions you can’t answer, and even being shut down completely. And to do that a hundred times over? Well, you can understand the apprehension. And yet, we are called to go & make disciples. We are called to be uncomfortable. We are called to do the impossible, for in Him all things are possible. And I believe we are called to dream big, for we serve a God that is bigger still.
So the fact that this goal makes us uncomfortable, I think, is a good thing. Especially at a church like ours that is flourishing in the ministries that we do and the money that we raise, I think we could all do with a little feather ruffling. And maybe even a little failure. I asked our pastor recently where we were in our goal and while we’ve blown the past 10 year average out of the water – we are no where near the hundred mark. You see, if our goal had been 20, I don’t think people would have flinched. Maybe even at 50 most people would see it as doable. But the beauty of 100 is that apart from Him it would be unthinkable. The loftiness of the number necessitates that our faith lies with him. It demands that our words and actions reflect His witness. It commands a lifestyle of praise and an attitude of love. Are we going to reach our goal? I have no idea, but honestly, probably not. Because we are a flawed people living in a now but not yet world, struggling to put the world back to rights, and in our humanity we fail. But you know what? I think that’s ok. Because the Lord uses broken people to change the world. And sometimes, we need to be reminded that it is He who sustains us, and He alone who is sufficient. For it is in our humble weakness His strength can shine.
