Can the church have creativity without compromise? Can she be characterized by cultural relevance while still remaining prophetic?
Church leaders today are faced with the necessity of addressing the enormous changes in American society brought on by technology, competition, and the erosion of commonly accepted biblical values.
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Paul, the first and greatest missionary, evidenced this spirit of sacrifice and cultural relevance when he said, "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew . . . to the Gentiles I became a Gentile . . . I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:20-22). |
Clearly, the youth population is growing at a significant rate while youth baptisms are plateaued.
What issues must be considered and addressed for the local church to have a greater impact upon people in its ministry field? Surely prayer and issues of a clear spiritual nature are paramount!
Beyond the issues that are clearly spiritual, the church must also consider its relevance to the needs and tastes of the people it is trying to reach. Jesus personified relevance, for it is written: "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
It is often difficult to make the necessary changes to reach unreached people. Since 1845, Southern Baptist missionaries have circled the globe sacrificing their creature comforts and stylistic preferences to take the good news of Jesus Christ to those who are in spiritual darkness.
Paul, the first and greatest missionary, evidenced this spirit of sacrifice and cultural relevance when he said, "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew . . . to the Gentiles I became a Gentile . . . I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:20-22). Because of the love of God and the calling upon our lives, we must do whatever it takes to obey God and fulfill His plan.
Churches and individual believers must unleash their best creative efforts to present the good news of Jesus Christ with the most compelling methods within their reach. The first sentence of the Old Testament affirms that God created. The overarching emphasis of the New Testament is the assertion that if a person identifies with Christ, he or she is a new creation.
In order to be true to the message and mandate of Scripture, the church must be willing to alter its culturally conditioned methods to pursue, in obedience, the everlasting mission of God.
Dr. Tommy Ferrell is director of the Evangelism Growth Team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, where he supervises the Collegiate Ministry Department, Youth Department and the Men's Ministry Department, including Disaster Relief. He holds a doctor of philosophy in evangelism and church growth from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Ferrell previously has served as a church youth minister, church planter and pastor.
