What Do We Do with the People Who Don't Believe...Yet?
How Kingdom Churches Engage with Outsiders
“Membership has its privileges.” That’s what American Express began telling us way back in 1987. The appeal was that as an insider you get perks not available to the general public. Perks like access, power to purchase, and special rewards. Insiders get the VIP treatment. Insiders are important, more important, if you will than outsiders.
Jesus’ first disciples were tempted to feel the same about Jesus and his ministry.
In John 4, they walk up on Jesus talking to an outsider.
Just then his disciples arrived, and they were amazed that he was talking with a woman. Yet no one said, “What do you want? ” or “Why are you talking with her?” -John 4:27
That woman, wasn’t just any woman. She was an adulterous woman. And she was a Samaritan woman. She was an outsider in every way possible. The disciples were confused that Jesus would talk to her, but they were too timid to ask him about it.
They tried to move on, but Jesus didn’t. After a few other words, he said to them,
Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. -John 4:35
After that, that woman brought many of her Samaritan friends to Jesus.
The outsider had a clearer picture of Jesus and his ministry than the insiders did.
Kingdom-oriented churches understand the dangers of the insider, and they intentionally keep their eyes open and their hands ready for the harvest.
Consider these 5 ways Kingdom churches engage outsiders:
They are indiscriminate in building meaningful relationships.
Jesus took a genuine interest, took the time, and risked rejection to build a significant relationship with the Samaritan woman. He made no distinction based on social class, ethnicity, religious background, or moral sensibilities. The Great Commission is a mandate to make disciples of all nations—all “ethnos.” We could translate that to mean “all kinds of people.” Kingdom churches make it a point to engage all kinds of people and groups of people who have no orientation around the Gospel. They go out of their way to remove barriers, and to welcome people from every corner of their community.
They are intentional in showing hospitality.
Hospitality isn’t an optional activity for the Christian. It’s also not just whipping up an amazing dinner. Our new life in Christ means we make room in our lives for the outsider. We create margin for the marginalized because the gospel compels us to invite people into our lives even before we invite them into our churches. So, healthy churches equip and celebrate gospel-rich conversations and relationships that don’t necessarily, right-away or even ever, produce “butts in pews.” They build systems and structures that move disciples into the “friend to sinners ” zone.
They are unassuming in their conversations about spiritual things.
Jesus asked questions. He began by noticing where people were rather than where we might think they should be. In a pre-Christian community, people do not know the language of the Bible, and they certainly don’t know what it means for them. Kingdom churches equip the saints for the work of ministry by teaching believers to use language that invites rather than excludes, to ask rather than assume, to welcome hard questions rather than fear skepticism. They view caring for people where they are as biblical fidelity, and anything less as biblical compromise.
They are generous in their posture toward outsiders.
Generosity is not a money thing as much as a mindset thing. Somewhere along the way, we began believing that good stewardship means that our church receives a return on the investments we make in the community.
In this same passage, Jesus said,
I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.” -John 4:38
The church operating for Jesus’ kingdom experiences a harvest that others have planted. Jesus’ expectation is that they will also make generous deposits of which others will harvest.
They are confident the Gospel changes lives.
Notice the power of the Gospel testimony of one saved Samaritan:
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of what he said. 42 And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.” -John 4:39-42
We should engage in the public square so everyone can flourish, but we’ve not been called to “fix” people. Kingdom churches point every person to Jesus, trusting him to change lives and transform communities. Rather than railing against the people Jesus came to redeem, Kingdom churches lead believers to bear witness of the Gospel, knowing it is the power of God to save everyone who believes.
The Finish
Membership is less about privileges than it is about responsibilities. Jesus, an original member of the Triune Godhead, never waited for people to come to him before he loved them. Instead, he emptied himself and took on flesh. He came to us. Kingdom churches go first, and love all kinds of people, even the ones who will never love them back.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
EVERYONE’S WILSON
I’m the Executive Director of Everyone’s Wilson and The Everyone’s Welcome Network—a Gospel-driven community transformation initiative. Our mission is to unite the Church to engage the community, so everyone thrives. Very simply, we’re passionate about helping Jesus-loving people live like missionaries in their local community through prayer, equipping, collaboration, and service.
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