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[Last Post] Engel’s Strategy Classic: Restoring the Missing Cutting Blades
By chris | February 15, 2008
And now the exciting conclusion to the 1975 classic “WHAT’S GONE WRONG WITH THE HARVEST” by James Engel
Restoring the Missing Cutting Blades
We began with the question, “What’s gone wrong with the harvest?” The problem clearly does not lie in a total lack of harvest equipment, because there is an abundance of most of that! The real issue is the missing cutting blades. First, we need a Spirit-led research-based strategy to reach people with the Good News and to build them in the faith as they grow to spiritual maturity. Equally important, this strategy must be designed and implemented by a properly functioning Body of Christ.
So here you have it — the keys are to be found in the strategy and function of the Church. In many ways, much of what we have said must be painfully obvious, because most of it certainly represents common sense. Yet the obvious all too easily becomes lost, almost in the same manner as when we look at the forest we fail to see the trees. Our purpose has been to provide a “second touch” — to look at the familiar from some new perspectives and to provide some solid answers to the challenges the Church now faces.
THE IMPERATIVES FOR TODAY
Now, where do we go from here? What must be done to put those cutting blades back in place? It is necessary to review and to bring out the major generalizations from the preceding pages, and it is our prayer that these will prove useful as guidelines for any church or parachurch organization that takes its biblical mandate seriously.
Declare a Moratorium on Program Orientation
Program orientation, as you will recall, arises when a strategy decision is made on the basis of what the decision-maker thinks ought to be rather than on the basis of objective evidence about the circumstances to be faced. Frequently this results in a wrong decision being made in the first place, but, even more seriously, it leads to the continuation of a program long after its effectiveness has ceased. Often the decision is made simply by borrowing what has worked for “the other guy.”
It almost seems as if we expect people to adapt to the programs of the church or the parachurch organization. The fact is that people are under no obligation to do so, and it is a complete abbrogation of biblical principles to maintain such an orientation. The Church must show that it is responsive to the society in which it exists. If this cannot be demonstrated, the survival of organized Christian religion is at stake. Jess Moody puts it well: “The church needs to be informed that the world isn’t obligated to pay any attention to us. I am convinced that they will when we deserve to be heard. We must merit an audience.” 1
Program orientation can create a church or parachurch organization that is outwardly orthodox and prospering but is spiritually bankrupt inwardly. The emphasis becomes one of maintenance of the organization rather than ministry to the Body of Christ and to the world. The result is an easy kind of complacency in which little is demanded of, or given to, members of the congregation, and the paid staff assumes a dominating position. Those who do not conform are viewed with suspicion, and Christianity as a lifestyle becomes a very comfortable part of the milieu in which it exists.
Quite different results are achieved when decisions are made on the basis of analysis of the environment and adaptation of programs to the needs that will emerge. Change is required in a changing world!
At the same time, it must be pointed out that there are some distinct limits on change. The normal response in a business firm, for example, is to respond to a declining market and introduce changes in its product line and advertising where necessary. It is free to do so without restrictions other than those imposed by company policy and the law.
At first glance, this appears to be a proper strategy for the Church as well. One of the leading advocates of change, Bishop Robinson, alleges that “there must be a radical re~ casting of the most fundamental categories of our theology — of God, of the supernatural, and of religion itself,” 2 if the Church is to avoid becoming irrelevant to all but a tiny minority. Therefore, large segments within the Church have attempted to become more relevant through a radical challenge to the authority of the Scriptures and abandonment of many long-standing doctrines, especially those pertaining to the return of the Lord, the final judgment, and salvation.
A striving for relevancy, of course, is appropriate, and it is by no means a twentieth century phenomenon. John Wesley was used by the Spirit to help institute a revival that swept England, transformed lives, and brought about dramatic social reform. In the strictest sense, however, Wesley and other reformers 3 proceeded in a manner exactly the opposite to that advocated by Robinson and other present-day radical theologians. Their effectiveness resulted from a return to the precepts of early Christianity and was based on a reaffirmation of the ultimate truth and ultimate authority of the Word of God. Christianity must adhere to its scriptural foundation if it is to be true to its stated purpose. No other institution offers a “product” that, at its very heart, claims to be based on revealed ultimate truth. To deviate from this foundation is to erect a totally different product — one that cannot legitimately be called Christianity.
Some church leaders seem to be carried away by a passion for newness as if they were deliberately instituting a policy of planned obsolescence. Once they deviate from the scriptural base, however, they are open to a challenge of the criteria they are using to reject the historical biblical message. At times it seems as if there are no standards whatsoever, with the result that Christianity is forced to compete with other philosophies based strictly on human wisdom and reason.
The response of laymen to “planned theological obsolescence” is decidedly negative. The late Louis Cassells made this penetrating observation about change for the sake of change:
What I hear these modern men saying is that they’re sick and tired of being told what they can’t believe. They want to know what, if anything, they can believe. . . . If you persist in handing out stone where people ask for
bread, they’ll finally quit coming to the bakery. 4
“If the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8).
Formalize the Planning Process
A Spirit-led planning process begins, proceeds, and ends with a seeking of the mind of the Lord. This almost goes without saying, but God also expects man to do his part —“We should make plans, counting on God to direct us” (Prov. 16:9, Living Bible). Man uses three bases for planning, all of which are guided and enriched by the Spirit: (1) experience, (2) intuition, and (3) research. All three really are necessary, but all too frequently research is considered to be irrelevant. Yet, we have shown that the planning process demands research if it is to be done correctly, especially in analysis of the environment and measurement of effectiveness. Research is basically a collection of any type of information useful for planning — surveys may or may not be needed~
The task of world evangelization lies before the Church. It is clear that the past methods have not fully accomplished the job. We have no choice but to take seriously our responsibility of managing the resources God has given us to accomplish His goal. This cannot be done by going on, “business as usual.”
Many, if not most, who are involved in the Church or the parachurch organization are going to require new training. Such tools as computers, statistics, sample surveys, the latest in graphics, and cable television will become commonplace. But these tools cannot be used in the hands of amateurs. At the very minimum, anyone who claims to be a professional in communication today must have a working knowledge of audience psychology and behavior, techniques of research, the fundamentals of media selection, advanced training in creative writing or message preparation, and an appreciation of updated methods in graphics and production. The secular businessman often spends as much as one month a year in executive training and development, both on and off the job. Can the Church and its leadership afford to do anything less?
Now, a word to the Christian educational institution. Some of us seem to feel that adequate training in communication has been provided if the student has learned how to prepare a polished three-point sermon (which may or may not make a polished three-point landing). The emphasis, then, is on the message and not on understanding the audience — therein lies the crucial failure! Moreover, sermon preparation is just one part of the total communication function of the Church. Our sights must be raised to comprehend the crucial role to be played by a multiple-media, multiple-church strategy.
Adoption of a New Lifestyle in the Church
Henry G. Bosch tells the interesting story of what happened when a customer in a small store discovered that the slow-moving clerk was not around one morning:
“Where’s Eddie? Is he sick?”
“Nope,” came the reply. “He ain’t workin’ here no more.”
“Do you have anyone in mind for the vacancy?” inquired the customer.
“Nope! Eddie didn’t leave no vacancy!” 5
There are quite a few “Eddies” in most churches today. They leave, and no one even notices. Why? First, because there is no real sense of the Body of Christ in which members are involved in a functioning manner. Second, many, by their own decision, have chosen to sit on the church bench on the sidelines of the action.
God expects something quite different, as we have said in many ways earlier. Any benches in the Church today are strictly man-made, because God does not allow us that luxury. Obedience to His commands is expected.
It is not necessary to repeat what has been said before, except to make one more point. And that is that God expects us to keep our focus on His goals for the Body of Christ. Now that seems to be an obvious point, so why make it? The reason is that some of us take on functions that God never intended — especially straitjacketiflg and criticism of the leadership. “If you don’t stop playin’ that rock music for those kids, you won’t get another dime from me.” “What kind of tract is this? It doesn’t even tell them how to pray to receive Christ.” “If you don’t stop using that modern Bible in the Sunday school, my kids aren’t coming back.”
Heard any of this before? You see, we are focusing on the wrong things. We must always ask just one question: Are the methods getting God’s results? If not, say your piece, but don’t be a critic just because you don’t like something. If we truly are the Body of Christ, centering on meeting God’s goals together, it is amazing how trivial differences disappear.
Return the Church to its Biblical Roots
This, of course, was the subject of chapter 9, but let it simply be noted here that we must turn our spiritual searchlight on our programs, organizational structures, and methods to see if we are truly adhering to the biblical principles. Of particular significance is review of the organization to ascertain that the church is manned by those who have been gifted by God to do His work. Anything less than that will only inhibit the carrying out of our intended functions.
Cooperate With Others in a Multiple-Media Strategy
Chapter 4 made the point that the ministry of proclamation and persuasion demands a cooperative strategy using all appropriate media. No single church or parachurch organization can do much more than the equivalent of aiming a tiny hose at a forest fire.
Some will react violently, objecting to what looks like an attempt to revive the contemporary ecumenical movement, which is gasping for life. That is not our intent for a moment. Frankly, we feel that the ecumenical movement as it has been expressed to date should be allowed to die and should be buried without a tombstone. Our convictions about maintenance of the biblical distinctives should be abundantly apparent to the reader by now.
We are pleased that God truly is at work to build a spirit of cooperation within His Church. This is not just a glib statement but results from observation based on world travels. Something exciting is happening. It seems as if God is now mobilizing the Church for one last great push. We notice wherever we go a motivation that calls for cooperation and for a Spirit-led strategy. For this reason, we are greatly encouraged about the future of the Church. We may not have many years left — who knows? — but it does seem that God is doing something totally unprecedented. From our limited human perspective, it appears that we have both the manpower and the media to finish His work in our lifetime. Are we prepared to venture out in faith, with others, in some uncharted waters?
A LAST WORD
Mark said, “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed (Mark 16:20). This, in a nutshell, is the work of the Church — a united body going out, preaching, with the Lord confirming His presence by signs and miracles. Have any miracles happened in your church lately? Why not?
It is our responsibility to release that divine power into the world today. To restate Tozer’s powerful words:
The Church must have power; she must become formidable, a moral force to be reckoned with, if she would regain her lost position of spiritual ascendancy and make her message the revolutionizing, conquering thing it once was. 6
We lack nothing that is necessary to finish God’s work. Let’s get those cutting blades back in place and expect miracles!
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