What is the best and most effective way to reach the world for Christ?
I hope you do not have an answer to this question, because there is not one best way. There never has been and never will be.
Broad Questions Lead to Generalizations
In our churches we are fond of asking questions such as: What is the most effective system for church planting in India? What is the greatest need of the church in China today? What is the best approach to evangelize Muslims? What is the prime strategy to bring about cultural transformation in the United States? Which tactic will end human trafficking most quickly? What is the key biblical practice for successful mission?
At first these sound like great questions. We hope we will get clear answers quickly so we can take them and run! We can sign up for the best program, or pump funds into the most effective ministry. And we can stop doing and supporting all those ministries that now appear obviously no longer “the best and most effective” ones.
But the questions are misleading, and usually if answers are given they are likewise misleading. There is no secret formula, or one-size-fits-all solution, or silver bullet to finish the task. At least we ought to realize that rarely, if ever, are such large and complex tasks so easily understood, answered and achieved.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t think in more general terms and systems, and even have preferred methods. Broad thinking and deep analysis are needed, of course. However, when asking questions seeking to find basically one brief answer, we are being simplistic.
Specific Questions Lead to Better Application
Questions with superlatives are unhelpful because they exaggerate comparisons and result in superficial conclusions. It is not very constructive for church leaders or mission leadership teams to be thinking in this way. They will not be able to procure the answers we desire and the ones we really need to move forward in mission focus and increasing our impact.
Hopefully the reason we ask so many questions about mission is because we want to learn and grow, not to have pat answers to tough questions, and ultimately to become more effective in our ministry and mission fields.
What is missing? Context. Context is where we will find the answers. Each location and its circumstances is unique. There are so many variables that it is impossible to find a best approach to succeed in them all. Each place varies by its culture, its people, its realities of life, and so much more, and even by those serving the Gospel in that specific place.
Mission is always carried out in a distinct context. It will be helpful to customize our questions by adding specificity to our broad concerns. We might begin by asking those closest to our place of interest to provide further definition of their ministry environment. Then, we can ask intelligent and strategic questions, tailored to the situation. This will be a more profitable discussion.
Churches that have identified their calling for a global mission focus will ask better questions. They probably have discovered many answers on their own simply by being personally engaged in the work. And most likely they have been pleasantly surprised to learn that many methods work best; it just depends . . .
I hope you do not have an answer to this question, because there is not one best way. There never has been and never will be.
Broad Questions Lead to Generalizations
In our churches we are fond of asking questions such as: What is the most effective system for church planting in India? What is the greatest need of the church in China today? What is the best approach to evangelize Muslims? What is the prime strategy to bring about cultural transformation in the United States? Which tactic will end human trafficking most quickly? What is the key biblical practice for successful mission?
At first these sound like great questions. We hope we will get clear answers quickly so we can take them and run! We can sign up for the best program, or pump funds into the most effective ministry. And we can stop doing and supporting all those ministries that now appear obviously no longer “the best and most effective” ones.
But the questions are misleading, and usually if answers are given they are likewise misleading. There is no secret formula, or one-size-fits-all solution, or silver bullet to finish the task. At least we ought to realize that rarely, if ever, are such large and complex tasks so easily understood, answered and achieved.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t think in more general terms and systems, and even have preferred methods. Broad thinking and deep analysis are needed, of course. However, when asking questions seeking to find basically one brief answer, we are being simplistic.
Specific Questions Lead to Better Application
Questions with superlatives are unhelpful because they exaggerate comparisons and result in superficial conclusions. It is not very constructive for church leaders or mission leadership teams to be thinking in this way. They will not be able to procure the answers we desire and the ones we really need to move forward in mission focus and increasing our impact.
Hopefully the reason we ask so many questions about mission is because we want to learn and grow, not to have pat answers to tough questions, and ultimately to become more effective in our ministry and mission fields.
What is missing? Context. Context is where we will find the answers. Each location and its circumstances is unique. There are so many variables that it is impossible to find a best approach to succeed in them all. Each place varies by its culture, its people, its realities of life, and so much more, and even by those serving the Gospel in that specific place.
Mission is always carried out in a distinct context. It will be helpful to customize our questions by adding specificity to our broad concerns. We might begin by asking those closest to our place of interest to provide further definition of their ministry environment. Then, we can ask intelligent and strategic questions, tailored to the situation. This will be a more profitable discussion.
Churches that have identified their calling for a global mission focus will ask better questions. They probably have discovered many answers on their own simply by being personally engaged in the work. And most likely they have been pleasantly surprised to learn that many methods work best; it just depends . . .
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