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We continue the conversation with Charles Simpson as he talks about how we need to stay relevant in the Church but cannot compromise the truth of God’s Word. You can find out more on our previous conversations on the VFN Torch HERE.
Charles is asked the question, What did you mean when you wrote in your book, Ants Vines and Churches, “Relevance is a large issue in today’s church. In pursuit of relevance, many groups have sacrificed integrity in the presentation of the Gospel. The failure lies in relating to individuals on a CONSUMER basis rather than a MISSION basis?”
We see this in the Church where the needs of the people are trying to be met while compromising believer’s mission of going out into all the world and leading others to Jesus. Charles answers, “I would say that my primary task is to obey God and to represent the Gospel and the truth, to the best of my ability…now if I am dealing with somebody I have to try to make it as clear and understandable as possible.” We would call this relevance.
“But if I compromise the truth to make it palatable now that is a different thing.” He says that we can be relevant by taking the message of who Jesus is and what He did for us to the lost or even to the Church by making it as simple as we can, but the story must not be changed! We cannot exchange the truth to be relevant. Leaving out part of the Gospel is not being truthful and is disobedience to God.
Like Paul said in the Bible, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some,” but he never compromised the Gospel! He kept the truth until he was beheaded. Let us all be found faithful in sharing the full truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What are your thoughts about relevancy in the Church? We want to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected] or in the VFNKB Community HERE.
Image courtesy of Storyblocks.com
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