Well, this is just a little of what the Bible says–because the Bible says a lot about being missional. Here are some high points.
Matthew’s Gospel starts the ministry of Jesus with the Sermon on the Mount. After the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches,
(Matt. 5:13-16) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
This is Jesus’ first lesson on evangelism. What will cause people to praise God? Our good deeds. And we are to do them in a way that brings glory to Jesus, causing our light to shine before men, like a city on a hill. The church should be a community that does such good things that people from great distances can see the good works and be drawn to them.
Matthew concludes Jesus’ ministry with his lesson on Judgment Day. In chapter 25, we are told that Jesus will separate the saved from the damned based on how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the imprisoned. And the saved will ask when did they do these things for Jesus? You see, they won’t do these things to get to heaven, but out of a simple, unmixed love for those being helped.
In 1 Peter, we are told,
(1 Pet. 2:12) Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Again, our evangelism is to be done through good deeds. We’ll be criticized for doing good, but in the end, God will make our work effective to bring the lost to God.
The classic passage we quote for arguing the lost into the church is actually more about good works–
(1 Pet. 3:11-17) [The Christian] must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. … 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? … 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
As Peter explained earlier, the best answer or defense is a life well lived–a life committed to helping others. Of course, we must be able to explain the reasons, but the reasons mean nothing without the living.
In Ephesians, Paul tells us that the purpose for which we are saved is to do good works–
(Eph. 2:10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jesus died and God saved us so we’d do “good works.” And so it’s the job of church leaders to equip the members to do good works–
(Eph. 4:11-13) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The foremost job of the elders to equip the members to serve others. Not to worship correctly or have the right form of organization or to choose the right name–to help other people. This is a much truer “mark of the church” than these other things.
And notice the reason. Paul says the leaders equip the members to do good works “so that” the body will grow into “unity in the faith.” I thought we’d be united through debate and argumentative bulletin articles! No, God says we’ll be united by spending our time in works of service.
You see, works of service change not only those being served but those doing the serving. We become more loving people, we learn compassion, through doing. And only people driven by a deep love for one another can ever be united.
We unite first in service, then in love, and only then in doctrine. We can’t even properly understand the scriptures except as we become the kind of people God wants us to be! And we do that through works of service.
