In today’s world, we often find ourselves inundated with information. We know what foods are healthy, what exercises are beneficial, and what lifestyle choices can lead to a happier life. Despite this wealth of knowledge, many of us struggle to put these insights into practice. This phenomenon is known as a low action information ratio—where our actions do not match what we know. We know a lot of things that we’re perfectly happy to NOT put into practice.
This concept resonates deeply with our spiritual lives. We, as a Lutheran congregation, know many things about Jesus—His teachings, His miracles, and His ultimate sacrifice. Yet, how often do we truly live out these truths? How frequently do we make and become disciples of Jesus in our daily lives?
From Knowledge to Practice
In the Gospels, Jesus tells us, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35). This powerful statement challenges us to move beyond mere knowledge and into action. It’s a call to shift our focus from simply growing our church numerically to genuinely caring about the spiritual welfare of those around us.
In other words, we are sometimes tempted to focus solely on filling seats on Sunday morning, apart from whether or not we actually make an impact on anyone spiritually. Or, perhaps we fall into the delusion of thinking that we ourselves have no ability to impact anyone spiritually; however, if we can just get them in front of that Pastor, dude, he’ll make it all right :~) This is not how Jesus envisioned the church at all (see Matthew 28:16-20).
Shifting Our Emphasis
A congregation with a future has a sincere desire to reach new people with the Gospel. This will generate actual growth. If we just wanted to fill more seats on a Sunday, a Sports Bar would have been a better choice than a church. True growth is not just about numbers (though its good to want that). It’s about the spiritual transformation of individuals and communities. When we focus on the spiritual well-being of others, numerical growth becomes a natural byproduct.
Let’s repent of our small thinking and the limitations we’ve placed on what Jesus can do through our church. Let’s invite Him to change our hearts and our perspectives, so we genuinely have a burden for those who are far from Him.
Rediscovering My Faith
When I was in college, I connected with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, a ministry that profoundly impacted my faith. This experience refocused my attention on the call of Jesus on my life, which, by the way, is the same for every Christian. At the same time, I was exposed to many people from all parts of the world who were comfortable being far from Christ. Many were proud atheists.
The environment of rediscovering my faith as a young Christian man at university, contrasted with the reality of many unbelievers happy in their state, broke my heart. This heartbreak should resonate with any Christian. It pushed me to take action, to live out my faith, and to share the gospel with others.
A Quote from Martin Luther
Martin Luther once said, “The church is not a place, it is the people. It is not only a steeple above the treeline, streets upon which it stands. The church is the hands and feet of Christ, the heart and voice of God’s people. The church is you and I—each of us—holding up one another, holding up our world.”
Going Forward:
As we reflect on our knowledge of Jesus and His teachings, let’s commit to putting this knowledge into action. Here are a few steps we can take:
Prayer: Let’s pray for a change of heart from small thinking and limiting what Jesus can do through our church and lives.
Repentance: Let’s repent of our complacency and invite Jesus to change our hearts.
Genuine Concern: Let’s develop a genuine burden for those who are far from Jesus, seeking ways to care for their spiritual welfare. This is something we actively pray for.
Engagement: As you go about your daily lives, pray- ask the Lord to give you new eyes to see. To see those who are far from him to see them how God see them. I mean, actually do this. Over and over again. Bug God to death with this one request until you have a breakthrough.
Conclusion
As we reflect on our knowledge of Jesus and His teachings, let’s challenge ourselves to move from knowledge to action. Let’s embrace the call to make and be disciples, caring deeply for the spiritual welfare of those around us. In doing so, we fulfill our true purpose as a church and witness the transformative power of the gospel in our community.
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