Outreach - The Right thing to Do?

I've been thinking lately about how we as the church view our role in relation to our communities. “Outreach” is a buzz-word that often surfaces.

We often hear (or say) phrases like, “Let’s do an outreach”. “We had an outreach and had food, music, and a guest speaker”. Or “In order to grow, we need to 'reach out' into our community.” Though I don't necessarily disagree, these phrases raise a concern for me. I don’t want my neighbors inviting me over for dinner because they want me to join their church, their political party or their Amway pyramid (unless of course they let me know that up front). I want them to invite me over because they enjoy time with me. I don’t want to be invited to a party or event and be trapped into listening to a 20-minute message that I never knew was in the agenda. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the church being a light, and sometimes that means doing outreach-type events. I just don’t want to be only seen as an outreach project, and I think it is healthy that we ask ourselves, “Why would anyone else?”

At Real Life Church, our goal is to add value to our community and those around us. We want to work on service projects, help disaster relief teams and give to the needy. This is not for the purpose of getting new members or attracting the attention from potential consumers of our religion (though that can and should be a result). We do it because it’s “The Right Thing To Do”. That's what being the Church is all about.

I wonder how many churches would do “community outreaches” if they couldn’t wear church T-shirts or hang their banners or pass out invitations to their church? I'm not saying that any of those are bad, but if the main reason isn’t pure, then is it truly a spirit led action? Our motive should be out of a heart of love and care for people.

I would encourage you (the Church) to lean more toward getting involved in the community and the lives of the people you're around, letting your light shine before them, that they would see your good deeds and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Our goal as Christians is to become more like Christ, and he did life with people. Let's allow that to be our witness of the love of God.

Pastor Steve

Posted on Fri, June 25, 2010 by Taylor Murray filed under

5 comments (Add your own)

1. Joshua wrote:: Hmmm.. pretty challenging. Thanks for that, Pastor!
Fri, June 25, 2010 @ 9:59 AM
2. Freedom wrote:: Great thought! I have thought about this as well.

I love the heart behind it. Pure love must be void of an agenda.
As a result, that pure love, will attract, because people don't know pure love, and people have an instinct to embrace a mystery.

I also love the challenge of the Spirit led question. Do we do things to grow or do them because we are led to do so, because we are moved with compassion?

Thanks for this!
Fri, June 25, 2010 @ 10:16 AM
3. Jackson "Nickels Hawkeye" Johnson wrote:: Thanks for addressing this.
The dumbest thing that Christians can do is be corny and irrelevant. By doing these "outreach" events without relevance to the attendants everyday lives, we make ourselves out as a strange, holier than thou, we've taken you as our pet project because you need us to help you, heartless people. Obviously, someone who doesn't share our beliefs would be turned off by this.
Relationships MUST be established and entrance into their lives to give direction and guidance MUST be established FIRST! One can't do that usually through ONE event every six months etc...
Time is needed.
Time cannot be substituted.
Buildings aren't built in a day, so how can a relationship with a complex design such as the average human be built in a day?
It can't. Those who organize events for outreach purposes would do well to remember that!!!
Fri, June 25, 2010 @ 6:16 PM
4. Paul wrote:: This is "so" right. When a Church does an "Outreach" as means to an end other simply showing love it is obvious to those who are receiving the service. Walls go up. They brace themselves for the sales pitch and discount everything that is said or done as just a sales pitch.

They are waiting for the line, "All I need is for you sign on the bottom line."

Our bottom line should be Jesus words in Matt 22:37-40 not the number of butts in the pews.

...You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.
Sat, June 26, 2010 @ 8:07 AM
5. Douglas Nast wrote:: Agreed. For example, your decision on how to handle mountain biking was a very good community outreach, and in less skilled hands there was a real possibility for it to be an outreach killer. Thanks so much for the great trails. Let me know when you are organizing the next trail work party.
Mon, July 12, 2010 @ 11:16 AM

Add a New Comment

Your Name:

Your Email/URL (Optional):

Your Comment:

Enter the code you see below:
code

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.