I’ve had a bee in my bonnet lately, to write a book called The Other Six Days. While writing I started questioning the format of a book verse the fluidity of a blog, and the benefits of posting shorter form articles more often across a broader spectrum of conversation. The idea of a blog won, and the heart of what I explore here is an urgency to speak into the climate and culture of the times from a Biblical worldview.
The Other Six Days hopes to motivate believers to approach the other six days of the week (outside of Sunday) with a Holy Spirit empowered, kingdom of God focused, Biblical worldview mindset and purpose.
It started with a question I presented to God out of frustration over the predominantly Sunday only church culture that is so common in Western Christian communities. How can the modern Western church be more effective in it’s impact on secular culture and society, especially in light of the rapid growing moral darkness. The small group of early disciples had a massive impact through the transformational message of the Gospel, in a highly hostile time. The cultures they engaged in were strong in their identity, traditions and values, yet the message became such a threat because of it’s impact, that many of the disciples were persecuted and executed for the message. They both preached and demonstrated the power of God to save. While the question is sincere in the context of the Western church and culture, it is not a reflection of what’s happening in the mission field. The message of the Gospel is having a major impact all over the world, especially in impoverished nations. People are hungry for the Truth and a hope that is eternal.
A Sunday only gathering of Christianity is not what Jesus had in mind when He said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18. We cannot be critical of the local church and it’s efforts either. There is a lot of good happening all through local churches around the world. My hope in writing is to explore the problems and solutions before God, and to encourage others to do the same. As iron sharpens iron, we need to be able to talk and challenge ourselves through an understanding of the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit to be willing to be led into all Truth. We need to grow up into the prophetic image of a holy bride, without spot or blemish. I am confident that if we keep on going the same way and with the same systematic religious programme of modern Christianity, not much will change, until persecution comes. Why wait for persecution, when we have the clear and unambiguous commands of our Lord and Saviour, to “Go into all the world”. Are we entertaining the lukewarm church that gets vomited out of Jesus’s mouth in Revelation? Has the purpose of the church become the church – a dangerous form of corporate self-righteousness?
My hope is to stir the faith of believers and especially leaders, and to help get the eyes of the bride back on Jesus. We need to encourage the awakening of the sons of God to their true identity and purpose so that we can effectively reach the harvest. Everyone has a role to play – for too long the burden has been placed on pastors, leaders and missionaries alone, and it’s time for the Body of Christ to awaken and do the work of ministry. If you are a believer, born again and saved by grace, you have been commissioned by Christ, to separate yourself from the world and become a light in the darkness. To be a light in the light is not the purpose. We have allowed so much of the world’s ways and values to influence the church, and it should be the other way around. The leaven of the Gospel is meant to go into the world.
We won’t solve the problem by being critical or blaming each other. There is only one path forward, and it’s together, humbly in Christ. I love the local church and carry a burden for it and it’s leadership. My hope is to build not break, although the Truth and the conviction of the Holy Spirit may break some areas in peoples lives, for the rebuilding thereof in the strength and purity of the will of God. The answers are not contrary to the local church either, it is a fundamental vehicle for Christianity. I believe it is a perspective issue, and as soon as we see the local church’s role in the proper perspective, Jesus (the head of the church) brings the needed change. Matters of heart and the spirit require the Holy Spirit be involved and the diversity of the Body of Christ is by God’s design. Unity is achieved through celebrating diversity, not conforming everyone to a monolithic, generalised, inferior image of a Christian that is lukewarm at best. It is to the very person and nature of Jesus we are called to be conformed.
I love the local church and the Sunday gatherings and encourage this to continue to grow in strength, but I also want to see the church outside of the building – in the world, revealing the Kingdom of God.
I look forward to seeing you join in the conversation.
Gavin Lloyd