Converts to What?

"We worry too much about reaching people," explained a recent "missional" convert. He explained that he had read my book and a few others and he wanted to be more about the mission of God and less about nickels, noses, and numbers. "We have to show the love of Jesus, not just tell people about him." He was a convert to missional but was not as focused on seeing converts to Christ. And he is not alone.

Converts to a Cause
I continue to see movements gaining traction among Christians that do not seem to have many converts. In other words, they have recruits to their cause, but few converts to Christ. And I am concerned. I am concerned that in the name of "fixing the Church" we are not proclaiming the Church's gospel.

You've seen it, too, among others—the emerging church wants to rethink structures; the missional folks want more social justice; the charismatic folks want more of the Spirit; Baptists want to convert the Presbyterians; the house church people want more authentic community; and the Reformed folks just want, well, I am not sure since they never seem happy.

I must confess I have an affinity with some of these groups. But, a change movement that does not produce converts is as useless as a systematic theology text at Joel Osteen's church. Even if and when the cause is important, that is not enough for the church and its mission. Central to our task is to display the glory of God through His redemptive work through the redemption of those far from Christ.

Let's Talk
An argument of sorts has arisen among some friends of mine that helps illustrate the point. Mark Driscoll, in his oh-so-subtle way, said that many in the emerging church "don't have any converts." Dan Kimball has expressed his missional misgivings about missional churches without conversions. Several defenders have responded to the critics. But, the conversation can and should be much broader than "emerging" or "missional" conversations: I have heard it in charismatic, Calvinist, Baptist, and other settings. And, there are always defenders.

But, I believe defending is not the answer. It is never a good thing to be defending our lack of converts to Christ while we are busy converting people to our cause. To me, it is the difference between complaining and creating a new (and better) way.

For example, I have been identified with the missional conversation. I believe the church can and must identify with the missio dei and refocus its agenda around the purpose of God. Yet, I don't want missional to mean attacks on mega and fast growing churches who are reaching people "wrongly," while missional churches are reaching few "rightly." (Now, take that last sentence and replace the word "missional" with the word "reformed"—still works. Now do it with "Baptist"—yep that's 3 for 3. Need I go on?)

Now, I am not willing to say that a lack of converts is a sign of unfaithfulness. But, I am willing to say that too many change movements are not seeing lost people's lives changed. And I think that is the wrong kind of change.

So, my Reformed friends, let's not only read 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John (that is, John Calvin, John MacArthur, and John Piper), let's go plant some more churches. My emerging church friends, let's take a pause from the theological rethink and head into the neighborhood and to tell someone about Jesus. My missional friends, let's speak of justice, but always tell others how God can be both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." My house church friends, let's have community, but let's be sure it is focused on redemption. My Baptist friends, let's focus more on convincing pagans than Presbyterians. And, my charismatic friends, let's focus less on getting existing believers to speak in tongues and more on using our tongue to tell others about Jesus.

Now, I know the preceding paragraph will tick some of you off—and, I am trying to be a bit edgy while making a point. But, let me suggest you be less offended at my words and more focused on Jesus' words: Go therefore and make disciples of nations.

If you are passionate about what you believe you will naturally want others to "get it" as you have. For example, you would not be a very good charismatic if you did not want me to be baptized in the Spirit. However, I think it is unhelpful that so many Reformed, emerging, missional, denominational, Baptist, house church, charismatic, and every other kind of Christian spends more energy persuading other believers than they do reaching non-believers.

So, let's continue conversations about being "missional" or whatever, but let's not do so if it distracts us from the mission. Instead let's talk about these issues but not let them distract us from our main focus—showing and sharing the love of Jesus to a desperately lost world that needs a message of hope.

Showing a Better Way
If you want to convince me (and the body of Christ) to your cause, you must show me it is a better way. You must tell and show something different. You must not just protest what is, but you must show me what should be.

Ivan Illich was once asked if the way to societal change was best through revolution or through reform. He explained it was neither—at least if you wanted long term change. Instead, he said we need to tell an "alternative story" that is so compelling it draws others to the story.

So, tell your alternative story. Show me a way that is passionate about the cause and filled with new converts to Christ. If all you have are criticisms, concerns, or new ideas, but no new converts, that hardly seems a better path or an "alternative story."

So, don't defend your lack of converts, repent of it, weep over it, and resolve to change it.

8 Comments »

1. Good words Ed. I agree wholeheartedly. Missional must mean a focus on demonstrating good works in Jesus Name and sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom so that people come to faith in Jesus and are discipled in the way of Jesus. May God stir each of us to live with this posture.

   Comment by KenFleck - Jan 13, 2009 @ 11:28 AM

2. Indeed you’re right, and I have no other option but to agree 100 %, first of all when a read the 3 first paragraphs I misunderstood you, but once i’ve read the whole thing I could only agree, like Saint Augustine said ” Preach the gospel. When necessary, use words.”

   Comment by Pr. Carlos Rizzon - Jan 14, 2009 @ 10:42 PM

3. Great stuff Ed. Thanks for challenging us to keep the main thing the main thing. I’ll be passing this along to friends.

   Comment by adam herod - Jan 15, 2009 @ 10:44 AM

4. Good article.  I was just thinking about this after talking to a friend who disagrees with me slightly theologically earlier… what does it matter if we’re not fulfilling our calling?

   Comment by anthonystephens - Jan 15, 2009 @ 01:03 PM

5. Hey Stetzer,

   You are setting the record straight, and yet not straight at the same time.  I love your research, conviction, and enthusiasm.  I have noticed, however, that your advice to the various flavors of Christians still lacks an adequate description of the two fronts to Christian stewardship, Evangelism and Discipleship.  You are saying that both are important, but not showing the bridge between “using our tongue to tell others about Jesus,” and the next paragraph where you quote Jesus’ words: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of nations.’

   We ought to recognize our role in both, but remember that they are not identical.  Easily, the greatest frustration for many flavors of Christian is that they do not recognize that the agenda is two-fold, or they always put an emphasis on one to the eclipse of the other.  Most commonly, we place priority on evangelism of the non-believer, or “the lost” over discipleship of those who are already in the flock.  Christ’s priority, and His great commission for us was, was to replicate disciples.  In doing this, evangelism is a natural fruit of the one being discipled.  The past 15 years of seeker-friendly churches are the epitome of expecting undiscipled believers to be evangelists.  In essence, it’s backwards.

   If you truly want to seek the lost, make disciples.  I think this is what you’re stabbing at.

   Comment by Bread and Sham - Jan 15, 2009 @ 11:54 PM

6. Hello everybody that’s me again… what Bread and Sham are saying make a lot of sense, but I’ve came to realize that, if we could describe the Christian experience or what is necessary to have a “good” Christian life you have to have a good relationship with God and a good motivation with what you do. Once you have a good relationship with God, your relation with your neighbor will go easy. Motivation has to do with why you do things @ your Church, to others, in your house…I have a concept that evangelism is like worship, is a lifestyle, and like a lot of us have seen most of the Christians are judgmental and sometimes very confuse about their beliefs (lack of discipleship) and quoting saint Augustine again ” Preach the gospel. When necessary, use words.”

   Comment by Pr. Carlos Rizzon - Jan 16, 2009 @ 07:39 AM

7. Great article, thanks!  Whenever I see discussions about models of doing this or that as christians, it generally reminds me of a scene in the cartoon movie The Emperor’s New Groove where the emperor has been turned into a llama and he is trying to take potions to become a human again.  After becoming a bird, a whale, and a turtle, he finally takes a potion and exclaims..“YAAY!!!  I’M A LLAMMA AGAIN!!!...oh…....wait….”

   We tend to try to turn ourselves into super-christians of some sort (which is fine I guess) but in the process we lose the object of our faith.  You seem to be pointing out that a faith that is without Christ is without much point no matter what the model, method or denomination.  That point is worth preaching in any circumstance, I think.

   Comment by srvdove - Jan 19, 2009 @ 09:47 AM

8. i agree totally with this article.  the american church has gotten so wrapped up in the cause they ‘selling’ they forget about the One who started all this…Jesus.  Jesus was the completion of all the above…missional, baptist, reform, house church and so on.  He was the perfect example of what should be…and if we are to be like Christ that is who we should be.  i love the challenge written above.  if our only focus is on Christ, He will guide our steps to be more missional, spirt filled, transparant, lovers of all people!!!

   Comment by jeremy hartzler - Feb 06, 2009 @ 11:28 AM

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