Evangelism Bulletin 227 – Old-style Messy Church

As we read the pages of the New Testament, do we stop and think what the early church was actually like? Think about the opening verses of Acts 13 where Saul and Barnabas were chosen to go out on mission. Can you imagine what it must have been like to find the right people for a job that had never been done before and had a high risk of failure?

Full-Time Outreach Worker Antioch Christian Fellowship We are a vibrant, charismatic-evangelical fellowship with a passion for spreading the gospel in and around the eastern-Mediterranean region. We are looking for a young, spirit-filled person to take the Christian message to those who have yet to hear about it. Your job will be to create new church communities in the towns and villages, select and train local leaders and teach the faith. Salary : Nothing (OTE) – depending on experience Pension : You must be joking Working Hours : 24/7 Company Car : In your dreams Secretarial Provision : LOL Accommodation : Make your own tent Contract Period : 1 year The successful applicant must be qualified to degree-level Christian Theology (Jewish and non-Jewish flavour), a good communicator and a team worker. Two references must be provided, one from your previous employer. For an application form email office@antioch-fellowship.org

Well, after 3 months in the Antioch Recorder and in the shops, post offices and libraries of the surrounding area the church met together for prayer as follows:-

The Church : “Lord, we have advertised as requested but the only applicants are Saul of Tarsus, an autocrat and control-freak and Barnabas who wouldn’t say ‘boo’ to a goose and has no qualifications.”
The Lord : “They’ll do.”
The Church : “But Lord, for all their faults, they are our best people. We won’t survive without them.”
The Lord : “Oh yes you will.”
The Church : “But Lord, they will never be able to work together – they are so different. And Saul couldn’t provide a reference. His previous employer wouldn’t play ball. And when he preaches, no one can make head nor tail of what he’s on about.”
The Lord : “Blow this for a lark. If I say ‘send them’, send them!”

And so, Saul and Barnabas were sent out with much prayer and rejoicing. New leaders emerged in the Antioch Fellowship and their worked thrived. As for Saul, he planted lots of churches, appointed new leaders, wrote lots of letters, changed his name, argued with head office, had a bust up with Barnabas, and upset loads of people in the process.

Do you ever wonder why God chose the leaders you have in your church? If only everyone was made in our image and thought the way we thought! Instead the church is full of diverse people who, somehow, fulfil their calling and serve the purposes of the kingdom. So, if you thought ‘Messy Church’ was a recent invention (sorry Lucy), then look back at the pages of the New Testament and you’ll find it originated right there. In fact if you look at the Bible overall you’ll find even worse…

Noah was a drunkard, Moses a stuttering ex-murderer, Samson had a penchant for the girls, Jeremiah was hardly out of nappies, Elijah was a manic depressive, John the Baptist had no dress-sense and lacked social graces, John Mark had cold feet, Simon Peter had foot and mouth disease (he opened his mouth and put his foot in it) and Lazarus was – errr - dead. And yet … 

So with all these tales of woe, all I can say is ‘there’s hope for me yet!’