OVERCOMING EXCUSES AND RESISTANCE TO CHURCH PLANTING

INTRODUCTION

OVERCOMING EXCUSES AND RESISTANCE TO CHURCH PLANTING

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The Church is, at one and the same time, the community of the redeemed and the redeeming community. The Church is God’s agent on the earth, the medium through which He expresses Himself to the world. God has no other redeeming agency on the earth. The Church was brought into existence by the preaching of the gospel. Individuals hear the message of Christ proclaimed, calling them to turn from their sins and to believe in Christ as their only Saviour (). The Holy Spirit convinces them of their need so they could repent and turn in faith to Christ as Saviour. God forgives their sins and the Holy Spirit produces a spiritual regeneration so that they are born again by the Spirit (). Such converted people are by the very act of regeneration made members of the body of Christ, which is the Church (; ).

Christ, which is the Church (; ).

The Bible teaches that the Church is in the world to fulfil a three-fold mission namely: (1) To serve and glorify God, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth (; ; ; ,). (2) To build up and perfect its members and thus strengthening and edifying the Church (; ; ). (3) To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to lost men and women and to be a witness of the power of the gospel (Acts1:8; ; ). The evangelistic emphasis of the ministry of the Church is to be seen in the words of Jesus in the Great Commission: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” ().

In the early church, everywhere Barnabas and Paul went, they preached the gospel and the converts were brought together in local churches. These local churches in turn continued the work of evangelism and of establishing other

gospel and the converts were brought together in local churches. These local

churches in turn continued the work of evangelism and of establishing other

churches. In view of these, we can see that it is not enough for an evangelist to raise up a group of converts, it is necessary for the church to be planted in order to express the will and purpose of God by fulfilling its mission to the world. The task of evangelism is not complete until local churches are planted. There are man-made excuses and resistance that can hinder the planting of churches. But these excuses can be overcome through persistent prayer, passion and vision for the lost, and a willingness to obey God no matter the obstacles on our ways.

1. CHRIST’S MANDATE FOR CHURCH PLANTING

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Church planting is an extension of the Great Commission. It is the aftermath of an evangelistic outreach to unreached communities. It is the end product of all evangelistic outreaches through which converts can be conserved, preserved, edified and built up to be witnesses in return. Thus, church planting is in essence the carrying out of the divine commission and those who do so have the promise of Christ that He will be with them “even unto the end of the world” (). The true Church will not only continue to exist, but it has a unique ministry to the world for which no substitute can be found. The divine imperative is to preach the gospel that will transform man’s character. This is the primary mission of the Church and this is why we are concerned about church planting. Each true local church is a living cell of the body of Christ. It has within it the power to

local church is a living cell of the body of Christ. It has within it the power to

expand and reproduce itself. This task must continue until Christ’s return. A study of the New Testament shows that planting of local churches is of utmost importance. The local church is the gathering together of believers in one area for the purpose of worship, self-edification and to carry on the work of evangelism. Church planting brings about the continuation of the Great Commission because the local church is an expression of the body of Christ to its community and God’s agent for evangelism in witnessing to the unsaved in that area. Without church planting, all evangelistic efforts to new communities is wasted effort and we will be accused of unfaithfulness by Christ who has called us.

2. CONQUERING EXCUSES AND RESISTANCE TO CHURCH PLANTING

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There are excuses and resistance that need to be removed if we are to arise

and do what Christ our Master wants us to do and in the way He wants it done.

They include:

(1) Procrastination (; ).

(2) Shortage of man-power (; ).

(3) Shortage of finance (; ; ).

(4) Past failures ().

(5) Lack of social infrastructures (; ,).

These are the major excuses against the challenge to plant a new church. But they can be overcome if we put in the proper perspective, the vision and passion for souls that are lost. The value of souls, the eternal state of lost souls and the unequalled rewards awaiting us should motivate us to do all within our power to reach out to souls.

Some resistance needs to be overcome before a viable local church can be

planted. These include:

(1) Demonic forces like Simon the sorcerer (,; ).

(2) Physical opposition from other religious groups (; )

(3) Superstition (; )

(4) Sin and self ().

With the power of holiness, righteousness and fulness of the Holy Spirit, the

church planter can surmount all such resistance through prayer. The promises of God are for us: “Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (). “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you” (; ; ; ,).

3. COMMITMENT AND CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH PLANTER

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Paul the apostle, the great church planter, demonstrated the right attitude

and spirit when he said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” ().

The time for church planting is now; time and tide wait for no man. Let us have the mind of Christ and look away from everything that can distract our attention. “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (). Let us make ourselves adaptable to the situations and conditions of those whom we are seeking for the Lord. The Lord will not leave us alone but will work with us.