Jesus did say, "go", didn't He? If I remember correctly, that was the word. He didn't say "Wait for them to come!" I'm pretty sure about that. He didn't say, "Do the best you can, wait, and then complain about the empty seats!" I know he didn't say that. Ahhhh! Yes! I have it right here in front of me. It is all coming back to me now. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..." Yep, that's what Jesus said. He simply said, "go".The word "go" here really does mean "go". The Holy Spirit chose this word with the traveler in mind. It is a word with intent behind it and also a destination. There is not one shred of "the wait and see" approach woven into this word. You can dig, but you'll never find wait in this word for "go". The kind of action in mind is urgent action. The word is used to describe Paul who was ""compelled by the Spirit". It says, "I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there... I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:22-24). Paul's intention, his destination, his urgent action was all aimed at finishing "the race" and completing "the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace". To accomplish this task, he did not wait, he did not hope, he did not complain about empty seats. Instead, he just went, and guess what? God worked.
The BIG problem today is that churches are waiting for people to come to a place where more and more people aren't coming. They just aren't. No matter how many bells and whistles we have, or even really good coffee, all the trends are saying that it is just not working. If we do fill the empty seats, it is usually someone hopping from church to church. Those folks will fill some other church's seat temporarily as well. The unbelievers and "unchurched" of the world are not waking up on Sunday morning today and saying, "I have nothing else to do today so I guess I'll go to church". It is just not happening despite the coffee, even if it's Starbucks.
I believe Jesus knew this when he made his very last statement to the disciples. The word "go" was intended for them and it was intended for us today. When you are a goer you understand, as Reggie McNeal writes, "if they aren't going to come to us, then we've got to go to them. This is the crux of the issue. Churches that understand the realities of the present future are shifting the target of ministry efforts from church activity to community transformation. This is turning the church inside out."
It is high time to turn the church inside out. The fellowship in the church is still powerful. People still need an invitation in to experience it, but only to get recharged and refocused on "go"ing. It is the task the Lord Jesus has given us. It is the only way to "finish the race". It is the only way to "complete the task". So, let's get going. If we do, guess what? God will work.
