God Calls

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.-- Acts 2:39

People are brought to faith in Christ by the promise of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit who constantly places our attention on Christ. The Lord is the one who does it all through the proclamation of the Gospel.

I used to be one of those people who would try anything to get people to darken the doors of the church. The logic behind it was: get people in the pews and preach the Good News! The more people, the better!! Churches with huge budgets can do this. I used to envy them, but I don't anymore. Slick marketing and gimmicks get people to come. Serving Starbucks will draw people from all over the place. But who's being drawn-- disciples or customers? Those who are attracted by the grace of God or those who merely smell the coffee?

I think the mentality of "get 'em in the pews and preach to them" has it all backwards. It attempts to add to the numbers before the proclamation of the Gospel. This isn't the pattern in the book of Acts. Proclamation comes first, and the Lord adds to the number. In other words, the distribution of the gifts of God is primary. That is all the Lord requires. I see no command in Scripture to pack church pews.

The apostles certainly never rented buildings, launched balloons, had praise bands, or catered to consumer tastes with brand name goodies. They went out and proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ and used the Scriptures to make that proclamation! The Gospel is what draws people.

I'm not against Starbucks or gimmicks or advertising. I just don't think they're effective evangelism tools!