by Elder Peter Lim

I have a vision for LBC that we would be full of people who are ready, willing, and able to carry out the work of a pastor. That when a visitor enters through our doors, it would be difficult to distinguish who belongs on the welcome team, new visitor team, same affinity group, and even who the pastors are because it seems everyone is concerned with showering them with the love of Christ and are genuinely happy to welcome them. Many of our people already come on Sunday mornings with this mindset and it’s awesome to see how they go out of their way to reach out to people. Unfortunately, some of us find it daunting to break out of our comfort zone to initiate conversations that are centered on Christ. We may find it easier to excuse ourselves because we are in a particular phase of life that makes it difficult to talk to new people. Middle School and High School students may consider themselves to be too young to talk to older people…such as Collegians. College students may feel a pressure to hurry up and leave so that they can study or to meet other collegians or they may be intimidated by older people and hang out with their own college crowd. Singles may feel a hesitation to talk to other people, especially of the opposite gender because they don’t want to be perceived as “scamming” every new visitor or giving off the wrong signals. Dating couples oftentimes disappear from the public eye and spend way too much time with only each other instead of ministering to other people together. Married people probably have important things to do on the weekends such as furniture shopping, home improvement, visiting in-laws, pulling weeds, and just spending time with their spouse. Those with young children often have the best excuses of all since it’s obvious that they need to take care of their little ones or leave at odd times for naps…for the kids of course. Older people may feel out of place at a younger church like ours. Some may wish to reach out to younger people but don’t want to appear like a creepy older person making younger people feel uncomfortable.

Whatever the excuses are, I just want to say stop! Let’s consider what a church is supposed to be. It is a place where older men and women are to train the younger men and women (Titus 2:1-8), the pastors are to train the people to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12), and all the people are a part of the body of Christ who speak the truth in love and work together for the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:15-16). Since we know that self-deceived people and the curious public also attend our services, we also make it a point to present the gospel every week in fulfillment of Matt. 28:18-20. Are those other activities that we do on Sundays so important that we fail to adequately do what we are supposed to do? I don’t want to separate Sundays as if that’s the only day we need to “do” church but it seems that even setting aside that one day for corporate ministry is so difficult for many people. Christians, let us inconvenience ourselves for the sake of ministry to others. How else can we do the “one anothers?” No one ever says on their death bed that they wish they would’ve spent more time shopping for nicer furniture or study more to get better grades. Life is about people, either to share the gospel with them or to encourage them to walk closer with Christ. Let’s never have the mindset that all the spiritual leadership is a job of the pastor or the other leadership types.