Use the Keys!

The original keys to unlocking church planting movements among the unreached were forged 2000 years ago. They were basic and simple, yet threw doors wide open for the powerful and rapid advance of God’s Kingdom. Over time, unnecessary and often non-Scriptural changes were introduced. Church and the planting of new churches became complicated. Rather than opening doors, human methods may actually jam the locks, making them all the more difficult to open.

Let’s return to “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”[1] Take these ancient keys. Use them. They still work today. Let’s set the captives free!

I was launched into cross-cultural church planting in 1986 through being mentored by Dr. George Patterson. He had already planted an indigenous movement of self-reproducing churches and began equipping others to do the same. Accepting his invitation to join one of his teams, I experienced first-hand the value and joy of following New Testament principles. Eventually, with his encouragement, I began training and coaching as well. This work has taken me to six continents. From West Africa, through the Middle East and across East Asia, I have personally seen what happens when these keys are put into practice among Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and tribal peoples.

Please continue to study the primitive, apostolic model in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, and glean more key principles. Obviously, do not try to imitate all the methods of the apostles.  For example, Paul’s only means of travel was to go by land or sea, he never stepped aboard a 747.  We’ve got lots of advantages today. But rather than running off with “the latest winning methods”, we should first aim at becoming “experts” in Biblical principles, using them as our standard of reference from which we develop culturally specific methods.

Working with teams throughout the world, I’ve seen the necessity to adopt principles and adapt methods. Biblical principles will work in every context, but methods must be adapted to the local situation. Listen to God for the methods He wants used in a given cultural setting. As Henry Blackaby says, “Methods don’t work, God works.” Understanding and applying key principles, releases us into wonderful freedom and creativity in our methods.

In closing, I’ll quote a letter I received while living in Asia. My friend and co-worker, Lowell Farlow admonishes us all with these words: “Let us all walk in the fear of God as we plant churches, knowing ‘…we who teach will be judged more strictly.’ (James 3:1)  How desperately we each need an intimate relationship with the living God!  Out of that relationship will come the eternal fruit of His great love and labor: the Bride of Christ—the Church.”

“God Himself must be the Source and His Word the Foundation for all that we do.  Knowing God and His ways gives us a context and a perspective from which to apply these principles.  We must always keep our focus upon Him rather than on that which we want to do for Him.”