…the redefinition of the Great Commission to a measurable objective of maximising numbers of converts and church members has emasculated Christ’s imperative to make disciples in all nations. Jim Plueddemann puts it well: “When we aim only at what we can measure, we ignore the most important goals of character, discipleship and holiness, which we cannot predict or quantify without falling into legalism… lukewarm churches are the result of this assembly line mindset.”
Furthermore, today’s prevailing focus on “completion of the Great Commission” is a misleading call for humans to activate an outcome that can only occur when Christ returns and gathers all believers unto himself (Mt 24:30-31). The initiative in Christian outreach comes from God and God alone, not from fertile strategic minds (Jn 5:17, 19-20); “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil 2:13). We cannot initiate strategic outcomes and celebrate apparent success for which God and God alone has the responsibility.
Numerical growth, if it occurs at all, is an outcome brought by a sovereign God who activates, conviction, regeneration and sanctification (Jn 3:6-8; 16:8-11; Acts 1:8). God often calls the best people to work in places where results, humanly speaking, are meagre.
From Changing the Mind of Missions by Engel and Dyrness p. 88.
12 replies on “Planning, Counting and the Great Commission”
There are no prizes, but a huge amount of admiration for anyone who can name all of the books in that pile.
Incidentally the term of art for hitting targets at the expense of values is “output distortion”. If you haven’t read it, this is an excellent article: http://www.businessofgovernment.org/blog/business-government/does-management-numbers-work
Dave Pike liked this on Facebook.
I have always thought that we could apply the discipline of Project Management to Bible translation and raise the same questions about hitting targets and output distortion to translation work.
A couple of years ago I did some research on church planting effectiveness which was featured in Issue 6 of Vista. Since then I have continued reflecting on this and presented a paper at the recent European Church Planting Symposium which asked a lot of questions about quantitative measures of church planting and argued for a more creed-based values approach. This should be published next year. The original Vista article is attached FYI http://europeanmission.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/vista-issue-6-july-2011-final.pdf
Jim Memory liked this on Facebook.
Gregg Ramirez liked this on Facebook.
The Great Commission and output distortion. http://t.co/BLpQWe6zqu Not everything that matters can be counted #ChristianMission
I recognise Bosch, at least… Appreciating your recent posts Eddie.
I thought Bosch would be the first to be identified. I’ll leave it a while and then try and remember to name the others.
Salvation to the ends of the earth, Mission of God, Mission of God’s People …
Two out of three, David. Mission of God’s People isn’t there.