I have a dear friend who has spent his professional life involved in mission work and church planting and now works in recruiting mission teams to plant local churches. When last speaking with him, he noted how he is increasingly seeing more Christians who are not interested in church planting. There is a desire to do humanitarian service or good works in the name of Jesus, but not a desire to baptize and plant local congregations. Many young people and mission-minded individuals have bought into the idea of just letting the lost see Jesus through our works. Bibles studies and trying to convert them to Christ through direct teaching is not seen as an appropriate approach. This is a very concerning trend. This shift to a social-services based Christianity has drastic ramifications for the future.
A more biblical approach is the statement by Bill Hybels that “the local church is the hope of the world.” When we think about all the things making an impact for Christ today it is founded and rooted in the work of the local church. Foreign and domestic missions would dry up if it wasnʼt for the manpower and financial support of the local church. Benevolent ministries and humanitarian efforts locally and abroad are supported, organized, and carried out by local churches. The lost are won to Christ through the preaching, ministries, and efforts of the local church. Christians are strengthen, edified, and loved through the body of Christ; the local church. Jesus came to establish His church (Mat. 16:18). He spoke about members of the church being salt and light to the world (Mat. 5:13-16). Paul says the manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church (Eph. 3:10). The glory is to go to God and Christ through the local church (Eph. 3:21). The local church is the hope of the world, because it is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23)!
