What's most important? Outreach or inreach?

It is, I gently suggest, a serious error to make “outreach” a primary goal of the local congregation, and especially so when those who are already “with us” have not become clear-headed and devoted apprentices of Jesus, and are not, for the most part, solidly progressing along the path. Outreach is one essential task of Christ’s people, and among them there will always be those especially gifted for evangelism. But the most successful work of outreach would be the work of inreach that turns people, wherever they are, into lights in the darkened world.

The presence of God in the midst is the only sure mark of the true ecclesia. Of course there are conditions under which God will not be present in a group, and biblical and church history painfully illustrate this over and over. But every condition that omits his presence as the essential redeeming factor is just another effort at substituting a vessel for the treasure. Spiritual transformation will not occur, in that case, for it is a work of God. God’s intent is to be present among his people and to heal them, teach them, and provide for them.

The ministers—pastors, teachers, and others—should, with time and experience, expect to receive from the Christ-with-them profundity of insight, sweetness and strength of character, and abundance of power to carry out their role in the local group. The minister does not need tricks and techniques, but need only speak Christ’s word from Christ’s character, standing within the manifest presence of God. Of course we are talking about a steady course of life, not a momentary inspiration, and for such a life in its leaders the church languishes.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I’ve been to London, to see the great Queen. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what saw you there? I saw a wee mouse under her chair. Why consider the wee mouse, when your eyes could be on the Queen, whom, supposedly, you went to see anyway? Why look at some aspect of performance—some “vessel” matter, no doubt—when you could come to Jesus in the midst? 
pp. 245-247, SOURCE


 

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