Personal from Joseph Tkach

A story of
working together

A story in the book of Joshua relates to our church situation today. Joshua is the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan, entering the land of promise and defeating the Canaanites.

The story begins in Numbers, because the Israelites began to conquer land even before they crossed the Jordan River. Numbers 21:21-35 describes victories over Amorite kings north and east of the Jordan. This was good grazing land, and the Gadites and Reubenites, who had large herds and flocks, asked Moses for this land (Num. 32:1-5).

It may have been an innocent request, but Moses was harsh with them: "Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites?" (vs. 6-7).

Moses compared their request to the fiasco at Kadesh Barnea, which resulted in an entire generation dying in the desert (vs. 8-13). "And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel" (v. 14).

Moses thought they wanted to enjoy safety while the other 11 tribes fought the Canaanites--that they wanted to quit fighting and not help their brothers, even though their brothers had helped them.

They then promised Moses that they would help fight the Canaanites, leaving their wives and children east of the Jordan (vs. 16-19). Moses accepted this suggestion, but warned them of the consequences of reneging on their promise (vs. 20-24).

That brings us to Joshua 1:12. Joshua reminded the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh of what Moses had told them: "The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.... All your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you" (vs. 13-15).

So the two and a half tribes promised to fight--and they were true to their word, apparently fighting for seven years to help the other tribes acquire their lands.

Joshua 22 concludes the story: "For a long time now--to this very day--you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. Now that the Lord your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes ... on the other side of the Jordan" (vs. 3-4).

It was a story (in contrast to the time of the Judges) of tribes working together to help each other. The people were faithful to the commands Moses had given them, and faithful to what they said they would do.

What does it have to do with the church today? I believe it is fair to compare the Reubenites and Gadites to congregations who, by God's grace, have weathered the doctrinal storms well and whose congregations are strong and stable.

Now, a few of them would simply like to "stay home" and enjoy their blessings, becoming independent and no longer contributing to the general good and needs of the whole denomination through which God brought them to where they are.

I believe, like Moses believed of the tribes who secured their territory early, that these congregations have the responsibility to stay in the battle and work until their brothers and sisters can enter "the promised land" and also enjoy their rest.

Most congregations, of course, are eager to do this, and I am thankful for them.

However, it is tempting to begin to think, in effect: "Thank you for making the doctrinal changes. We are glad you taught us about grace and led us out of exclusivism and legalism. We are glad you have taught us about the priesthood of all believers and the importance of evangelism in our local area.

"We appreciate all this, but now we want to go on our own. We aren't going to help you teach anyone else. We are glad you helped us, but now that we are where we are, we aren't going to help you any more."

In many ways, I understand how people could feel this way. They are happy for the benefits and for the new vision of ministry, but now they want to begin implementing those benefits in their local area, and they see the rest of the denomination as just an impediment to their goals.

They have what they need, so they no longer are willing to put their goals on hold in order to help the rest of the congregations survive until the properties have sold. I believe this is the sort of attitude that Moses so strongly warned against.

It is important to understand that there is no need to sit on our hands during this transition period. Even while we are waiting for the property to sell, much good work is being done for the kingdom.

Many congregations are doing an effective local work, while supporting the kingdom work in the denomination, too.

I received this report from Sonny Parsons, pastor of the San Antonio, Kerrville, Uvalde, Corpus Christi and Victoria, Texas, congregations:

On Pentecost in San Antonio we had a full house. At the end of the service we took communion and, rather than taking up an offering in the usual way, we asked the people, as they came forward to take communion, to bring their offerings and place them in the baskets provided.

Since beginning community outreach, more than 20 new people have visited services. My wife, Jane, uses our van to pick up neighborhood children, and some attend church regularly and have invited other children.

Following are some things our congregations have done to encourage evangelism. We give God the credit for what he has allowed us to do.

1. I recommend that pastors be involved in ministerial alliances. This has given me a view of a wide spectrum of beliefs. The Billy Graham Crusade helped open up doors for attending these alliances. It is surprising how interconnected many are.

2. After meeting with Paul Cedar at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, we began prayer walks in November. As we walk through the neighborhood, we pray discreetly for God to call people to saving knowledge. Mr. Cedar feels that everyone who comes to Christ has had someone praying for them.

We asked members in December to start praying that God would show us a community to begin to evangelize, and that he would provide a meeting place in that area, and he did!

We have it seven days a week. It is in the community he showed us, and it is less than a quarter of a mile from my home, so I can be among the people in the community.

3. When we finished our Congregational Mission Statement (which is, basically, to fulfill the great commandments, to love God and neighbor, and to carry out the great commission), the parts started coming together.

I asked the members, as our mission statement mentions, how far are you willing to go to show love to your neighbors? I then asked: Would you be willing to go so far as to change the day on which you worship to accommodate the needs of new people?

We then began a series of messages about the possibility of changing our services from Saturday to Sunday. Easter Sunday was our first Sunday service, and God has led the people into making this change. Only four or five people did not want to change. So we offer an alternative service, Saturday at 5 p.m., and the regular service is Sunday at 11 a.m.

4. We started a community outreach called New Beginnings, based on 2 Cor. 5:17. We have T-shirts with the title New Beginnings Community Outreach Ministry WCG on the front and back.

5. We often have T-shirt day in services, and then go into the community to pick up trash. The shirts help identify us. We felt we had to let the community know we cared for them, before they would listen to us sharing the gospel.

6. I told our congregations that unless we evangelize and make disciples, we were going to die as a congregation. We need to be nourished congregationally, but we also need to reach out to the unsaved community.

Shortly before this, I heard John Quam of Mission America talk of ways to involve the community in evangelism. One way was "canning hunger." The congregation goes door to door asking for canned goods to be given to the homeless, and then you also mention that your church prays for peoples' needs.

They are asked if there is anything they would like for us to pray about, that only God can solve. In less than an hour we collected enough to feed 150 people.

We delivered the food to the Salvation Army in Kerrville. We sent a note to each home canvased, thanking them for their response and inviting them to services.

7. We took the first six weeks of the new year to have each congregation go through the WCG Statement of Beliefs. All who completed this study were then presented a certificate saying they had completed the class. If we were going to bring in new people, we had to understand and support our denominational beliefs.

8. In May we delivered a brochure to 500 homes in the area telling what we offer the community, and asked for input on outreach activities they would like a church to sponsor. As a result, we offer a craft class Thursday mornings.

Note: No aspect of our evangelistic outreach has been expensive. Costs are minimal, but the returns are greater.

Fruit being borne

Not everyone can do the kinds of things that Sonny and Jane are doing in Texas. Each congregation must work out its own ideas and plans according to their gifts and the needs of the communities they serve.

They are eager to make a difference for the kingdom of God. They are thankful for what the denomination has done to make this possible, and they support the ongoing work the church has to do, so that more congregations can become increasingly effective in God's service!

In the time of the judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and the nation suffered tremendously for it. We see this attitude in American churches today, too, in our highly individualistic culture.

Many people in every denomination think of their own desires first, and give the church the crumbs that are left over. In both time and money, they are short-changing the church. Ironically, on a individual basis, wealthy Christians (on average) give smaller percentages than less financially blessed Christians do!

Friends, there is work to do--incredibly important work. It is not easy, but it is the job that Christ sets before us. If you have received benefits from the church, I urge you to help others receive them, too. If you have received spiritual benefits, I urge you to give material benefits (1 Cor. 9:11).

If you have received a spiritual harvest, do not just take the benefits and run away. Stay to help your brothers and sisters until we conquer the "Canaanites," and all of us can enter the rest that God has promised (Heb. 4:1-11).