Imagine this scenario. A group gathers in a boardroom. They’ve lost their leader, a man who produced every idea, every plan, every positive change. He took wonderful care of the enterprise.
But now he’s gone forever. The question in everyone’s minds concerns how to keep the enterprise going. Its future success hinges on attracting people to it.
“We need to find someone who has the charisma to attract people. For example, a good storyteller,” says the man at the head of the table.
A woman to the right raises her hand. “A good sense of humor. People like jokes.”
An elderly man speaks up. “His credentials are important. No one listens to the local dog catcher. Not even the dogs.”
A woman to the left pounds the table. “Programs. We need programs for kids. If we get kids, we get the parents. We keep the parents by giving them programs too.”
“How about a coffee shop?” suggests a young man, who looks like a recent college graduate. “Or a tasty bistro.”
“Listen to that young man,” says the elderly gentleman. “If bistros will attract young people, let’s plant at least an acre.”
Sadly, many churches plan this way when searching for ways to invigorate church life. Shouldn’t they consider how the early churches did it? Obviously, it worked.
From a small group of approximately thirty disciples, Christians now number over two billion. You might argue other religions boast of extraordinary numbers. True, but Christianity is the only religion you can’t be born into. Each person has to make a decision to become a Christian. Catch the significant difference?
In that early church, what led to more and more people deciding to follow Christ? As far as we know, none of the early leaders were particularly charismatic or good joke-tellers. Beautiful churches didn’t exist, nor did programs for kids or parents. Certainly, bistros and coffee shops in churches were far into the future. Therefore, plenty of people would rate the chances for success at near zero.
Yet, if I may, Christianity became the most successful enterprise in the history of the world. It all happened without their leader present in bodily form and even without what we know as the New Testament. From the world’s perspective, it should have failed. Yet, it did not.
The reasons are both layered and essential. It begins with the promise and presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes this promise at the end of His life: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
Later on in the same evening, Jesus says, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7)
Sounds ludicrous. Why would it be to anyone’s advantage to have Jesus leave them? Amazing truth: The only way it’s an advantage is if Jesus replaces Himself with Himself. Downsizing simply would not be an advantage.
Voila—the Holy Spirit! Now God is not bound to a human body as Jesus the Son was. Now, as the Holy Spirit, He is able to dwell within each person who places his trust in Jesus as the Savior of the world.
When the Holy Spirit comes, it is God unleashed upon an entire planet. His active presence within every believer of the early church becomes the foundation upon which churches are formed, letters and gospel documents are written and shared, and hundreds of people come to know and believe the truth of Jesus Christ.
Back to the boardroom scene. If that’s a church board, they should foremost seek the Holy Spirit who resides in each one of them. He has boundless wisdom and counsel to lean upon. He’s perfectly suited to help create the best kind of church.