I was taught in Bible school that Jesus spoke in parables so people would remember what He said. The Bible says Jesus spoke in parables so people would not understand and be healed. Just the opposite from what I had been taught. This is because God brings certain people to Jesus. It is not a democratic free-for-all!

I believe the attitudes I have mentioned above have a common denominator: God does not know or care about what He is doing. We have to help Him out by going forth blindly and trying to get people to adhere to our religious beliefs.

Now, either this attitude is correct or else it is not correct. I absolutely refuse to hover in the middle. Either Christ is going to build His own Church, or He wants me to build it according to my own understanding and in my own strength. Either I am to go forth blindly doing what I think is best, or the Lord Jesus will show me my part and help me to do it.

The latest twist on the desire to help God out is business management techniques applied to building churches. Establish your goals (more churches; more people saved). Establish your techniques for attaining these goals. Develop your quality-control techniques. Practice system iteration to insure maximum efficiency and productivity.

You don't have to pray or hear from God. Just follow approved management techniques. Of course, after you have decided on your course of action you should pray that God will bless it.

I am in favor of being logical and clear in what we do. However, the Bible does command us to not lean on our own understanding but to commit our way to the Lord.

In any case, the effectiveness of any system, be it business, military, or education, is to establish clearly and definitely the desired goal. If the desired goal is not established beyond doubt, the operation of the system is an exercise in futility.

Now, to establish the building of churches and increasing the membership is a humanly conceived goal, it is not a Bible goal. Therefore we have error heaped on error, in that we are pursuing an unscriptural goal with unscriptural methods.

The biblical goal is twofold. First, it is that we be changed into the image of Christ. Second, that we be brought into untroubled rest in the Center of God's Person and will. The many Kingdom roles and responsibilities, such as being a part of the eternal Temple of God; being a brother of Jesus Christ; being a member of the Bride of the Lamb; being a part of the Body of Christ; are all utterly dependent on our being in the moral image of Jesus Christ and dwelling in untroubled rest in the Center of God's Person and will.

One might argue that before people can begin the transformation into Christ's image and the entrance into God's will, they first must be brought to Christ. There is no question that this is true. But bringing people to Christ is a means to the twofold primary goal. It is not the primary goal. If we make it the primary goal we have confusion.

To be continued.