Welcome to Church Street, just one option for life growth for you! Here, the trees are supposed to grow fruit without being watered and the grass is intended to be freshly cut each morning without the tedious chore of pushing a mower. If you look all around, you see private residences that sit side-by-side without the residents ever interacting. No one inquires about the hurt occurring behind the walls when no one is looking. These houses look beautiful from the outside, but are often empty shells, shielded by fancy drapes, a bright disposition and a Bible verse doormat that causes each visitor to assume all is well. Others, upon entering the doorway, contain furniture so bright they must be protected by a lack of use – or are so fake it is painful to see! However, if this isn’t the street for you, there are others – Career Circle, Popularity Parkway, Education Avenue or Pipe Dream Drive. Many believe that you can actually drive down them each for a bit and everything will be great! The problem is, Church Street only exists because the real church (those that trust Christ with their lives and eternal salvation) chooses to make its mission a location: not a group of people united around one purpose – going and telling the world about the Son of God. Instead of being the church, we bring people “to church.” I’m tired of living on that street – aren’t you?
This is one of the reasons we are changing the way we do student ministry here at Redeemer. Fuse can’t stay the same. I have an amazing volunteer staff at Fuse Student Ministries, who give hours and hours a month to help students move toward growth. They sacrifice time, money and use their gifts to try to make an impact on the students they are called to serve. They are committed and continuing to learn what commitment really looks like. I love listening to them think out loud concerning student growth and leadership, and I am inspired hearing them talk about the students we oversee. They truly care and want to see students unlock all the potential God has for them. We each believe that God is leading us on a journey to show students what God really made them for – not just a street they have to choose. This is more like the town square, from which each avenue and alley of life proceed and have fullest meaning. We believe Jesus gave us His plan – make disciples who make disciples. It is our job, no commission, to train students in the ways of “being the church” and making disciples.
Unfortunately, for too long, church has been the place we go when we feel it will meet our needs. I’ve been a consumer for too long and need an attitude check. I often treat it as a job and not my life’s calling. I do not let others in from time to time. I forget that church gatherings are for the glory of God and not my own. I forget that my commission is to make disciples and not worship plans. I hide behind a happy veneer and Bible knowledge often. What parts of that analogy do you see in you? What can you do as we transition into a true disciple-making ministry and not just a program with Jesus attached?