Should we babysit the unfruitful?
From resonate.ca’s weblog:
One of the more interesting and potentially controversial sections in Cole’s “Organic Church” occurs in chapter 5, “Kingdom 101: What you sow you will reap.”
Neil talks relates Jesus parable of the seed and the sower, noting the four types of soil. He focuses on the fourth type of soil, the good soil. Neil relates that “I have now come to expect two thirds of those who accept the message to fizzle out and not bear fruit.. This has given me hope. Why? Because ..If only two bear fruit, I no longer babysit the unfruitful eight. Instead, I invest my life in the two. These two will bear much fruit.” (69)
It sounds harsh. But what have been the impact on churches full of unfruitful “disciples?” We are forced to spend much of our energy and resources on trying to keep these people happy. By and large they are not there to contribute but to be served. In other words, they think ministry is for them instead of by them to the world. Jesus and religion are just another spoke on the busy wheel of their lives, and not the transforming center. Neil continues,
“Because we think that the number of people is a sure sign of fruitfulness and success, we do everything we can to keep people. We try to woo them to keep coming. What we end up with is an audience of consumers.. we compromise and keep the bad soil in our membership..”
Of course, this is even more convoluted when our jobs depend on the crowds.. and the mortgage has to be paid.. Neil recommends we rehear Jesus on this issue.. and rehear his call to “shake the dust from our feet” when the good news does not take root in soil and produce fruit.
I find Neil’s comment on investing in the two groups that will bear fruit to be unfortunate. I can see his point that some people are comfortable in the pew and don’t want to grow. Others want to be entertained. I agree that we shouldn’t entertain them, but other people are there because they really want to.
A key word in this blog is “resources”. Where we choose to spend/pursue our resources individually, and as a church says much about what we consider important. We need to ask ourselves, does God expect us to have a ministry for every need or just concentrate on a few? Has entertainment replaced honesty before God? Has Sunday School or small groups become a social babysitter or a place to pursue the radical mind of God?
Personally, I think that there are fakers in the church; but also I believe that there are many others who just need to wake up and realize what exciting things God has for them. We all need a nudge from time to time to keep on growing. Thanks for the nudges!