CrossCulture Mission Points

...This is work in progress...

My local church at CrossCulture in West Covina, CA is formulating its mission statement. We have always thought and taught that the foundation of the church should be a community that exemplifies the tenets of the Sermon on the Mount as delivered by Jesus Christ Himself. The following are some talking points that may find their way to the final form of its Mission Statement:

•Winning the World to Christ by WHO we ARE (NOT what we DO)

The first century church won the world to Christ because of who they were, their way of life and their culture based on both the teaching of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Modern churches try to win the world to Christ through fancy feeding or evangelism programs, structures, good preachers, training, methods, techniques - ALL without exception were NOT used by the first century church. Most of this methods are designed to hide the fact that most christian have in reality not been transformed by Christ into a new creation. These are programs created, promoted and pushed by "dead" christians.

The world is NOT attracted to Christ because it is not impressed by modern-day Christians whose actions and "normal" behavior speak louder than their words that the world is really saying, "Your actions are speaking so loud, I can't hear what you're saying!"

Modern Christian leaders tend to hide their UNTRANSFORMED lives behind programs, methods, training and structures and hoping that these would be used by God to reach the world. Unfortunately, though a few are reached, the ones reached tend to accept a caricature of true Christianity instead of the real thing. On the other hand, the first century Christians had NONE of those, all they had were lives submitted to and transformed by the Holy Spirit. History records that the non-Christian world looked at the first century Christians and exclaimed, "Behold, how they love!". Christians obviously had something that was different from the world and what the world wanted.

Today, Christians still have a great message but, unfortunately, live lives, have value systems, behaviors and a culture that are no different from the unbelieving world, if not, even short of obnoxious.

We reach the world by demonstrating our transformation, by showing how different our value systems, attitudes and behaviors are. And THEN, according to St. Francis, "...if necessary, use words."

•Through the Culture of the Cross, building an alternative society that is Kingdom-minded (lives and dwells in the Kingdom)

•Building a community that lives beyond the level of mediocrity.

Being a citizen of the Kingdom of God is not the same as casual membership in any organization. Citizenship demands responsibility and active involvement in the affairs of the Kingdom ACCORDING TO THE RULES or LAWS of the Kingdom.

•Faith developed by knowing the King

•Faith/service exercised naturally and from the heart

•Righteousness that exceeds

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ the King did not and never intends to micro-manage His subjects. This is fundamentally because He wants to establish a culture and value system that lives beyond keeping-your-nose-clean. On the other hand, the Lord intends for His subjects to live a way-of-life this is not passive but initiates righteousness and goodness that not only makes the world take notice (Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."), but includes the intention to transform the citizen's immediate environment and sphere of influence , "You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:12)... you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)".

The unconventional rules of thumb of the Kingdom are supposed to be the visible manifestations of salt and light to the earth that demonstrates the radical difference between Kingdom culture and the world's culture.

Firstly, it is concerned with what occurs in the heart as stated in Christ's analogy of murder vs. anger and adultery vs. lust. Secondly, it emphasizes the value of marriage relationships and highlights the equality of man and woman in Christ's restatement of divorce and remarriage (sadly, something that most American Christians are so amiss at). Thirdly, it puts so much weight on personal integrity such that a citizen's word carries (or destroys) his honor. Fourth, it has a revolutionary approach to dealing with a citizen's reactions to the personal offenses of his fellow men. Fifth, it emphasizes the cost and effect of true love.

Sixth, it demeans self-glorification as a goal in doing good, but seeks only the approval of God. Seventh, it elevates prayer as a personal and private issue with God, that once prayer becomes a mere public display, it is no longer directed to God and has no value.

Eighth, it emphasizes that what should be personal and private with God MUST remain PURELY personal and private, as in the giving of alms and fasting. Ninth, in the Lord's prayer, it demonstrates how a Kingdom citizen addresses and speaks with the King.

Tenth, it highlights where a Kingdom citizen invests his time talent and treasure, not so much in this world but in and for the Kingdom of God. As a result, a citizen's concerns should be directed at pleasing God and seeking His righteousness. In response to this, the King takes care of the things of this world.

Eleventh, it demeans the imposition personal opinion upon others and elevates personal righteousness. Twelfth, it highlights the value of our good works whether material or intangible and the responsibility of dispensing it ONLY to those who can appreciate it.

Thirteenth, it promises that being a true citizen of the Kingdom and tangible benefits. Ask, Seek, Knock and the King will respond POSITIVELY.

Fourteenth,