Someone pointed me to some church planting resources a while back, among which was the following article by Dr. Tom Cheyney. Tom serves as the Strategic Resourcing Manager within the Church Planting Group of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and is responsible for developing world-class resources for partnering churches, church planters, and those who work with them.
Tom’s “article” is meant to be motivational, “20 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PLANT CHURCHES.” I will warn you from the beginning: some of Tom’s reasons for planting churches are hardly reasons at all; therefore, be prepared for my responses which I feel are offered in the same tone as his. I think it sad that something as important as church planting is treated so lightly, so I am simply responding (reacting?) to Tom’s “article,” not criticizing. Tom’s 20 Reasons are BOLD.
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20 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PLANT CHURCHES
The apostle Paul said: “
The man who plants and the man who waters have one
purpose, and each will be rewarded accordingly to his own labor (1Corinthians
3:8).
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder,
and someone else is building on it. But each should be careful how he builds”
(1Corinthians 3:10).
1. “Church planting is the most effective evangelism tool anywhere (Acts 6:7).” Isn’t this backwards? This reason we build and paint the nursery is not so that we can have a baby, but because the baby is on the way. Planting a church for the purpose of evangelism is like a farmer needing a field, so he will casts seed to get it. A wise farmer will not so much as build a barn before he has planted. Acts 6:7 reads, “
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” The church is planted because the gospel is planted and bearing fruit.
2. “Many tools exist to assist you in planting a church with the North American
Mission Board.” What did we do before the NAMB? Is this really a good reason to plant a church?
3. “Church planting is the Great Commission at its best. Multiplication is the heart of a church planter. Replenishment is part of God’s amazing vineyard. That which is watered, ultimately becomes a source for future planting. (Isaiah 55:10)." I agree fully with the Great Commission, but what precisely is being multiplied, replenished and resourced? The Great Commission is about broadcast of the gospel. Multiplication and replenish-ment should be that of individuals who gather in local bodies, not merely the multiplica-tion and replenishment of local bodies themselves. The context of Isaiah 55:10 is God’s Word that “
will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (55:11) It is God’s Word (rain, snow—see 55:10) that provides man with what he needs.
4. “You long to establish new life and to break new ground. You are a cultivator
and gardener of spiritual life.” Again, does the sower sow seed (the gospel, God’s Word) or barns? And who is it that causes the growth? “
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.” (1 Cor. 3:8-10) Did you notice in the verses above #1, just under the title that 1 Cor. 3:9 was missing (“
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building”)
5. “New churches tend to grow much faster than older churches.” So when the new church becomes an old church, we should rush out and plant another new church! Read what
this pastor has to say (note 4th paragraph down).
6. “It is a holy privilege to exercise your gifts under God in providing a growing new church, fashioned on the New Testament.” When does “new” become “old” and what about the whole counsel of scripture, rather than the last 27 books?
7. “New churches produce more ministry leaders (Acts 16:5)." I don’t see how Acts 16:5 proves the point except that when evangelism is aggressive, the church grows with true converts. Here’s what R.A. Torrey thinks, “It is a great privilege to preach the Gospel, but this world can be reached and evangelized far more quickly and thoroughly by personal work than by public preaching. Indeed, it can be reached and evangelized only by personal work. When the whole church of Jesus Christ shall rouse to its responsibility and privilege in this matter, and every individual Christian become a personal worker, the evangelization of the world will be close at hand. When the membership of any local church shall rouse to its responsibility and privilege in this matter, and each memberbecome a personal worker in the power of the Holy Spirit, a great revival will be close at hand for the community in which that church is located. Personal work is a work that wins but little applause from men, but it accomplishes great things for God.” (“
How to Work for Christ,” Vol 1.)
8. “Lost people matter to God.” Yes, they do. And we do evangelism until they are found and are able to be made part of the church, as regenerate members.
9. “You can give life to the vision God gave you for your life’s ministry.” If God has not breathed life into it, it’s dead. Sorry, but I just don’t have life-giving capability.
10. “Church planters have more fun.” So does anyone else who fills in the blank for the “_____ have more fun” bumper-sticker (plumbers, cowboys, truck drivers, etc.).
11. “You long to penetrate a city and found a flagship church.” I do? Yes, I do plan to penetrate a city, that much is true. But I don't need a fortune cookie to tell me this. A “flagship” chuch? How about a biblical church? There are too many flagship churches where I live.
12. “Your family’s faith will grow.” I pray this is so (like so many other ministry families can attest--and there are some that do!). I could not begin to tell you about the way my kids . . .
13. “Church planting is relational and enables you to make many new friends for
Christ.” Now here is some good insight. Church planting is very relational as people grow and serve together. Also, when enemies of Christ are made through the new birth His friends by means of evangelism—I give a hearty “amen!”
14. “You will have more people praying for you.” About as many as pray for our evangelism ministry? Oh, goody!
15. “Church planting is complete evangelism.” I am going to assume the writer means, “evangelism completed.” Or there is an echo in here . . .
16. “You have a desire to see future planters and pastors to be called to ministry from your ministry investment (Proverbs 11:24)”. I just want to see lives changed for the glory of God, in the image of Christ (see #18). If they become planters, pastors, missionaries, teachers, then they had better also be godly men and women, husbands, fathers, children, etc.. I just don't need a fortune cookie to tell me this.
17. “Why clean up after someone else when you can start fresh from scratch?” So . . . if I don’t like my church, I can go plant one just for me! ;-)
18. “You are not afraid of hard work (Proverbs 13:11).” And nothing but. Oh, and I really enjoy criticism too!
19. “You can have it your way.” See #17, then let's go to Burger King.
20. “You can’t wait for this to end so you can be obedient to the Lord and enlist
right now!” No comment.
