Just Do It

A question that I often get in my work is "what's the key to effective ________." In that blank may be evangelism, follow-up, community ministry, or any number of other outreach related topics. The question came up frequently enough that I decided to rethink my answer. Before, when asked, I started right into the traditional pre-packaged response about this program and that emphasis and acquiring such-and-such material. It didn't take me long to realize that this convention appropriate response created a crisis of duty in our churches. The vast pool of resources available to churches today, although very useful, can easily become a substitute for the actual work with which they are designed to assist. Not to mention the fact that much of what's available is financially out of reach for many churches especially in the New Orleans area. With that in mind, I began thinking about Peter, Paul and the early church. They had no programs, no special emphasis, no bright colored material but yet they reached the people through out the Roman empire and beyond and they did it while being hunted and killed like animals. They were equipped with the only three things needed to radically advance the gospel; the Holy Spirit, The Word of God, and their own story. To these three they added one crucial ingredient, the determination to do what Christ had commanded. Long before Nike used it as a slogan, the early church decided to just do it. No excuses. No procrastination. No dropping back to punt or waiting for someone else to do it for them. They just did it and did it until they left this world by natural means or were expelled at the hands of godless men. For them, the key to effective missions was to take what God had given and then just do it. Obedience, what a concept! Now when churches ask their familiar question, I'm sure to include this important lesson I learned from the early church. Its not an easy lesson to apply because it takes much time and effort but it gets the job done. Don't just give the appearance of sharing Christ, do it.