I took my 88 year old father-in-law, Tom, to the Low Vision Clinic. This center provides services and rehabilitation for individuals with, you guessed it, low vision. Low vision can be caused by many things including macular degeneration (AMD) and Myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness; both of which my father-in-law has.
One of the first things the doctor asked Tom, was, “Do you know what we do here?”
I thought this was an unusual question. I thought, “Of course he knows what you do here or he wouldn’t be here.” I couldn’t be more wrong. Tom was recommended Low Vision by his optometrist and a good idea what they did of wha they did but he said, “Kind of” but with a a seasoned amount of intrepidness.
The more I thought about it, the more I thought, this was the right question. Older people, but anyone with a low vision issue, regardless of age, is referred here and most are seeking a solution, even a cure, to get back what has been taken from them.
Tom’s question and the doctors answer set the bar for expectations and services provided.
The doctor explained what they did, and I paraphrase,
We offer eye testing, suggestions for glasses and occupational therapy for the sight impaired.
I can’t help but think the church needs to ask this question to its parishioners, again, “Do you know what we do here?” We need to reset the bar and program accordingly.
Here are some of the things the average church goer believes the church is for
Education
Most church attendees believe the church is there to educate them about the bible through preaching, small groups and Sunday School. They would be right, to a degree, but is this what we do here?
Social
Many church goers believe the church is a hub of activities like wedding teas, meetings for men, women, youth and children. These people would also be partially correct, but is this what we do here?
Community Outreach
A good portion of attendees believe that the church exists to meet the needs of a community through food distribution, counseling and career training. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these things, but is this what we do here?
What modern pastors think the church is for
It seems, to me, many modern day pastors, across denominations, believe the church is for everything from building ministry platforms and launching podcasts to building large building and increasing their social media imprint, but is this what we do here?
A few of the last things Jesus told his disciple,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
and
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15
This leads me to believe that the answer to the question, “Do you know what we do here?” is
“we preach the gospel and make disciples”
and if the education, social and community outreach programs do not directly tie into these two imperatives, the people who go to church have no idea what the church is supposed to be doing.
If the pastor and his team are not emphasizing this through preaching, designed programs and personal relationships, the the people who go to their church have no idea what the church is supposed to be doing.
Like, Tom, going to the Low Vision Clinic looking for solutions for his failing physical eyes, people come to church looking for answers, spiritual clarity concerning their lives in this world and the next, what do we tell them we do here?
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I you’re a youth pastor who’s ready to change or needs to be equipped to answer the question “Do you know what we do here” check out my Discipleship Bundle