THE FAILURE OF PASTORAL-ONLY CHURCHES
Published by Jonas Clark Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 in Apostolic Ministry, Christian Life and Culture, Leadership, Misc Christian Information |
Our pastoral-only model of Christian leadership, ministry and church is ineffective. Without an apostolic shift to a more biblical model of ministry Islam will overtake America.
Christianity and Christian culture is being overrun by Islam. (Article continues below…)
According to Muslim Demographics in Europe, for example, 90% of the population growth has been Islamic. Where France has 1.8 children per family Muslims have 8.1 children per family.
In southern France there is now more mosque than churches. 30% of the children age 20 and younger are Islamic and in Nice and Paris that number has grown to 45%. By 2027 20% of the population will be Muslim and in just 39 years France will be a new Islamic republic.
In the last 30 years the Muslim population of Britain rose from 82,000 to over 2.5 million with over 1000 mosques. In The Netherlands over 50% of all new-born babies are Muslim and in only 15 years 50% of Holland will be Muslim.
In Russia 23 million people are now Muslim and soon over 40% of the Russian military will also be Muslim. “We don’t need terrorists, we don’t need homicide bombers. The 50 plus million Muslims (in Europe) will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades,” said Muammar al-Gaddafi.
According to the German Federal Statistics Office, “The fall in the (German) population can no longer be stopped. Its downward spiral is no longer reversible… It will be a Muslim state by the year 2050.”
All this points to the gradual demise of Christian culture and points out the seriousness of the times we live. I believe that Christian leaders need a fresh biblical perspective of ministry and church structure. There are currently 52 million Muslims in Europe. The German government is expecting that number to double in 20 years to 104 million.
We need to see the importance of equipping and empowering every believer to invade, occupy and influence their territories for Christ. People must see themselves as salt and light. Scripture makes it plain.
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).
For Christianity to advance its followers must be equipped for dominion. Muslims have a world agenda and aren’t afraid to advance their religion and culture. What’s wrong with the Christian? While we were in the church singing amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me Islam was spreading throughout the world. In 1970, for example, there were 100,000 Muslims in America. In 2009 there are 9 million.
Islam is advancing. “We must prepare ourselves for the reality that in 30 years there will be 50 million Muslims living in America,” said the Islamic Strategy Conference in Chicago. Will Christianity have that same growth rate without a fundamental shift within our ministry structures?
God blessed Adam and Eve. He said multiply, produce, increase, subdue and take dominion (Genesis 1:28). It’s vital we stop withdrawing ourselves from the world and get into agreement with Jesus. He prayed that the Father not take us out of this world but just as He was sent so are we.
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:15-18).
Jesus was sent as a revolutionary king. His mission was to redeem us of our sins and restore the kingdom. His ministry as the Lamb of God is finished. The ministry of restoring the kingdom is not yet complete. Scripture says, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:25-28).
Three words capture the apostolic nature of Christ’s Church. Those words are build, restore and govern. As born again believers we are called to advance and establish the Kingdom of God in our generation. The Kingdom of God is not on the other side of Pluto, it is within you. Christ has called you as a particular new creature. Within you are seeds of purpose, His purpose. He has called you out of darkness and transferred you into the Kingdom of God. Start learning more about the apostolic Church and its structure. Apostolic churches are not just hospitals they are informing, equipping and governing centers.
As a Christian you have a responsibility. That responsibility entails engaging your duty as an ambassador of the Kingdom. Stop withdrawing yourself from the battle and do as David did. He ran to the battle with a shout in his spirit. When his brothers challenged his motives he made it clear he carried a different spirit. He said, “Is there not a cause?” Our generation also has a great cause. Share your faith. Plug in to your local church. Lay hold of a dominion mindset and give God something to bless.
Our pastoral-only models of ministry are ineffective. We must make the transition into apostolic ministries to be more effective in ministry. The world is not groaning and travailing waiting for the manifestation of sheep but sons.
Leader, make the shift. Learn all you can. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Without a new understanding of the building, restoring and governing Church, America, like Europe, will become a Muslim republic. I wrote “Effective Ministries and Believers” outlining some strategies the Holy Spirit gave me to help you make the transition. My prayer is that you will receive even more.
Some are looking for the rapture to save them. Scripture declares, however, that Christ is not going to return for a defeated Church but a glorious one. He is coming back for a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). Not a defeated one that was overrun by foreign gods, secular humanists or radical Muslim extremists. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Who are the kings that Christ is the King of? Who are the lords that Christ is Lord of? I submit that they are His disciples. The word lord means ruler. Let’s move into our kingship and rule this world with Christ.
Your partner,
Jonas Clark
7 Comments to THE FAILURE OF PASTORAL-ONLY CHURCHES
I really like what you said about moving into our kingship and ruleing this world with Christ. I would like to hear more on that subject.
I would also like to ask you a question about something else. Could you tell me where I could do that to assure that you would get it and be able to answer me back? It is very important to me. It is in reference to the Jezebel Spirit.
Bishop Henry W. MaxwellMay 7, 2009
Wow, as usual your message is right on time for me. I am from a traditonal baptist church until I heard the gospel by Jonas Clark ministries. I must admit I am changing and actually can’t go back to traditional way of doing things. I’ve purchased books from your Apostolic Ministry and secretly call myself Bapostolic. Truthfully daily I am becoming more and more Apostolic and thank God for it. The notion of Pastoral only ministries no longer reside with me. I have an all inclusive young congregation that is calling for people with a passion like the pastor for minitries. This new way is so biblical that I am shamed some time realizing how far away from the word I’ve been. Thank you Jonas for letting God use you to help me…
ProdigitMay 7, 2009
the problem with these statistics is that they are lineair statistics, not calculating a future change.
True islamic families are big, partly because the Islamic baby boomers entered europe from the ’60′s to the ’80′s.
People born in the ’80′s are taking on the culture of the country they reside in. An average Belgian family has between 1 and 4 childeren, 2 to 3 are more common. An older islamic family has about 6 to 8 childeren indeed. The newer generation that went to school has about 4 childeren, and even more modern islamic families go with 2 or 3, as there is less and less governement support for babies and large families.
You also need to take in calculation that Northern Africa does not widely access condoms or birth prevention. In Europe birth prevention is very common. Unlike abortion in USA, in Europe people would close wombs, or take pills to not get pregnant.
A small family is common there, plus there are just too many people packed together! Childeren cost a whole bunch of money, despite governement support.
Also, in this generation where it’s more common for people to live together, instead of marrying, you see a lot more of separations. Women want to wait untill their 30′s before they get a baby, because they feel like life has too much to offer to miss out. Besides, once they’re 30, they’re more serious about a relationship, knowing the market is very hard to find a good man over the age of 30.
This mentality sleeks and seeps into Islamic immigrants.
Also, in the western world, like Europe or USA, there isn’t the need for lots of people to get born. Like the statistics say, 2,1 childeren will maintain the population. In Turkey, morocco, and other African nations, there are still a lot of guerilla wars going on. sometimes whole families get murdered out of an act of revenge. Things you won’t see in more civilized societies.
So they have the need to reproduce; just like in Iraq it will be very common to have 14 childeren after the liquidation Saddam Hussein has done to some places. There also is the space to do so.
The first time I heard speaking of islam invding europe was on a conference nearly 10-15 years ago.
A man, prophet of God, said these things would happen. At that time it was a very unusual message.
Today we see it is so. the majority of immigrants are muslims from turkey or morocco, bringing their ‘god’ of war and ‘jihad’ with them.
Their childeren are violent, and always cause trouble. They are a people that can not be trusted, for they are not keepers of their word.
They have the appearance of being holy, but in the corners of their hearts far are from holy.
But the good thing is their culture is rubbing with the stagnant European culture. In all of this they are a thorn to most european inhabitants, but unknowingly their prescence is changing the european for the good!
Christians see the danger of an Islamic state,and put effort in reaching out to those people with the gospel. And some even get saved!
Non christians see all the evil they do, and decide to stay far from it. Also opening up to newer cultures.
The first generation of crossbreeds half N African, half European are being born in a European environment.
And in all of this Jesus even died for them, and their culture. If there’s ever a culture that needs to hear about true salvation, forgiveness and love, it is them!
Often God brings a thorn in the flesh, to almost force the body to do what it wouldn’t do without it.
There are still a lot of troubles waiting, because Islam is a tough core that can not be won without love, time, friendship, care, and prayer.
Like the religious leaders, and like barbarians alike… Jesus died even for them!
ProdigitMay 7, 2009
About the apostolic message Jonas is (continuously) preaching; sooner or later it will be caught by people.
But it requires a dying of the old; and an uprooting of the old backbone of religion planted in the USA.
As the older generation becomes less and less apparent, churches which embrace the newer ways of dealing with things will see a growth, mostly of christians that went to those traditional churches and where disappointed.
I think the newer will be all about the people, and their relationship with God in a practical way, and how to function as a body in unity, not out of law, but out of love.
Adam K.May 9, 2009
Just a quick note, someone has produced a very short video in response to the “Muslim Demographics” video called “A response to: Muslim Demographics”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pnpJU31HM0
There is also a very indepth demographic video called “Dangerous Demographics” which can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w3meSupCME&feature=related
Samuel BrowneMay 11, 2009
All your revolutionary teachings on the “Kingdom” and the “Apostolic and the Prophetic” have had a profound impact on us , renewing our minds here in Delhi, India and catapulting us into a realm of kingdom dynamics hidden to us for many years and is now breaking loose into the (North) Indian Church here! For many it is new and is an eyeopener. We are holding PASTOR seminars across North India to IMPART this BREAKTHROUGH REVELATION into their hearts. It sure is renewing the minds of many here and we see an APOSTOLIC shift occurring as the Pastoral is waning away and the APOSTOLIC and the PROPHETIC anointing being released here along with the message, being released into a PASTORAL-ORIENTED-CHURCH . It is upgrading their ‘OLD WINE thinking’ into the NEW WINE and is advancing the Kingdom and not the church , here in India.
Thank you Apostle and Prophet JONAS CLARKE . (Man of God)
Noel BowkerMay 18, 2009
have appreciated the writing on the Apostolic function for the church. it is a belief I have held for most of my 20years leaading a church. I had a word from the Lord, that if we didnt change the model the church would die, because the expectation on the Pastor to be everything to everyone is not right and is too great for them to carry
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May 6, 2009