From the Pastor’s Pen

Author: Rev. Dr. Corey D. Brown
July 23, 2019

According to Malphurs in A New Kind of Church, many churches have spawned across the country making the availability of God’s Word more prominent and profitable to persons in every part of the states. Within these bodies of churches, most leaders and pastors have an emphasis or desire to create disciples and promote the idea of discipleship. Most churches also believe and see the significance of church growth and the urgency for seeking the unsaved. Communities change when the church makes efforts to evangelize neighborhoods. As a result, school districts are strengthened with moral and Christian values, and homes are centered on family stability and growth. However, the means by which each church prepares its members for discipleship varies in many ways.

To be an effective church in the 21st century, the church must have more than one employee, namely the pastor. The goals and objectives of any church with a significant amount of membership, 250 members or more, will require more than the mere efforts of the pastor. If the pastor can accomplish all of the church’s goals single-handedly, then how large are those goals really? Today’s church need more than a senior deacon operating as the Superintendent of Christian Education, but has no cabinet of assistants, teachers, educators, chaplains and other necessary members. Today’s church must also live up to its name, and attempt to do what it proclaims. For instance, many Baptist churches have the word “missionary” in their name, but cannot name one missionary in their church. People are in search for authenticity, integrity and morale, and it begins with the church. All across the globe, church doors are closing and posting for sale signs on the church property, not because there are no more people to evangelize, but because 20th century churches cannot survive in a 21st century.

There is a key that every church must have to unlock the hidden potential that is overlooked and undetected by the natural eye. These hidden potentials rest within each individual member of the congregation, and the gifts that God has given them to strengthen and unify the church. The church must make the effort to offer programs and ministries that foster growth, which provides spiritual gifts assessment tests, and opportunity to join the overall goal and mission of the church. In Malphurs book, the author discusses a few trends that have proven to be successful in the organization and revitalization of the 21st century church.

The Life Cycle of a Church as presented by Malphurs paints a prolific picture of the rise and fall of the church as it relates to church attendance and the age of the church. Malphurs states the church is an organization as well as an organism and because of such the church could possibly experience a birth, growth, plateau, decline and death, which is typical of many businesses and organizations. The statistical nightmare is that "four out of five churches are plateaued or declined." One of the contributing factors of a church that is stagnant or irresolute is because of the suffering attendance and activity of the youth and young people. In essence, churches across America is dying; and if its existence and survival is to be preserved, then the church must shift its focus and began to strategize for a healthy, functioning orgasm.

Malphurs in A New Kind of Church speaks of the changing times of the church and why the churches are changing. Particularly, the churches are changing because people, at least in America, do not have the same respect for the local and global church as our generations has progressed. In the late 50’s and early 60’s people were motivated, or at least respected the church enough to attend on Sunday mornings. There were laws of certain states that forbid stores to operate on Sunday which limited its citizens to activities they could participate in, and as a result, people generally attended church. The culture of those years was the expectation that decent people with families and values would attend church on regular basis to demonstrate their appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for surviving in some tough economic times.

Malphurs also raises the controversial concern of churches changing in regards to their interpretation of biblical passages. The author states that the scriptures are the basis for our faith and practice. If we incorrectly interpret the text then we miss the wholeness of the scripture and loss its true meaning. Malphurs mentions that he agrees that anyone can make the bible say anything they want it to say. This does not necessarily mean they are correct in their efforts and interpretation, but they can manipulate the Bible to make it apply in support of their corrupt theology. The disciple-makers message must be discipleship focused with kingdom building as its ultimate end goal. The charge for the disciple-maker is to make disciples, and that charge can only be fulfilled through the proper exegetical interpretation and application of scripture. The loyalty and commitment of discipleship must be emphasized, as well as the personal sacrifices that entails and embodies the discipline of discipleship. With an emphasis on living a Christ-centered life, the disciple-makers message must adhere to the strict doctrine and examples of Jesus Christ who vicariously elected and trained apostles that would carry the gospel further into the extremities of the world.

Malphurs injects a serum that refutes how some churches prioritize tradition over scripture. The clinging to tradition is a primary reason of the downfall and death of many churches because their priorities is not biblical driven. Churches will have traditions as any other organization, but the church must remember to prioritize scripture over tradition. When tradition contradicts scripture, then the church has to adhere to the scriptures and not force the scriptures to support their tradition or practice tradition over the correct interpretation of scriptures. The proper way of interpreting scriptures as known in seminary circles is hermeneutics. If a church does not practice sound hermeneutics, then it is bound to place tradition over scripture and could prove devastating in the growth and longevity of the church.

The disciple-makers message cannot be founded upon his or her own theological perspectives. Opinions are not appreciated and have little to no value when making disciples. The scriptures are already written, and the blueprint for making disciples is already laid. The disciple-makers message does not need a new foundation, but the disciple-maker is charged to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. The early church devoted themselves to the apostle’s teachings, and continued in the process upon a foundation that was already laid. A common mistake that teachers make is that they tamper with the foundation by removing the essence and significance of the prophecy, birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and the return of Jesus Christ. There is no other word more superior and powerful than the word of Jesus Christ. Disciples must understand that their assignment is to follow Christ and His teachings, and obey men who have authority over them as proven men of righteousness.

Malphurs also defines the roles and operations of the church. Malphurs develops a definition of the local church which is “an indispensable gathering of professing believers in Christ who, under leadership, are organized to pursue its mission through it functions to accomplish its purpose.” Malphurs also wrestles with the biblical concept of servant hood which defines the purpose of a serving church. Malphurs also challenges the church to be strategic in its thinking when evaluating church models as examples of both successful and failed churches. Finally, the author introduces a paradigm shift to develop a new-model church to serve and operate in this present age.

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