Hosea & Church Planting
By Michael Cochran
Following on from my previous two posts (fear and doctrine), I want to explore a another of these lessons from the book of Hosea.
In Hosea 2 there is a fascinating exchange between Israel and God. This is all portrayed through Hosea and his marriage to the adulterous Gomer. The exchange bookends chapter 2 and has God speaking to his wayward bride — Israel.
Only once in chapters 1–3 does Israel speak. What she says is instructive to all of us. She explains why she has acted ‘shamefully’ and ‘played the whore’ (2:4). She (Israel), goes after other lovers (idols) who she hopes will give her economic prosperity, that she believes she rightly deserves (see 2:5 and then 12 where Israel speaks again).
She says, my bread, my water, my world, my flax, my oil, and my drink. Like a petulant child who won’t share a toy, Israel proclaims that all these blessings from God are actually hers, instead of them being God’s gracious gift. Israel thinks she has actually earned them and deserves them.
The LORD however, rightly rebukes Israel. In 2:9 we read him say no, these are not yours, they are actually mine. I am the one who lavished these gifts upon you, I am the one who protected and cared for you, I am the one who has done all of this for you. Yet, you have run after other lovers and taken the good gifts I have given you, spurning my love. You have gone so far as to take my good gifts (‘silver and gold’) and turn them into actual, physical, idols to worship (2:8)!
What does this have to do with church planting?
Everything. Listening to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill it is clear that a brand was built around the minister. This is something that is far too common today. Far too many ministers look at church planting as their work, their church, and think that through their endeavours God is rightly prospering their work. It’s easy to point the finger to others (and there may be a legitimate case for this at times). But it’s harder to see in our own hearts this Satanic lie.
It is easy, when things are going well for a church plant (or an established church), to view it as if you, the minister, are the cause instead of seeing all the blessing as a gracious gift from the LORD. Do we view ourselves as essential and irreplaceable? Do we view our successes as derived from our brand and speaking, or do we recognise that they come from humble prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit?
It is these kinds of diagnostic questions Hosea wants us to see. When times are good, it is easy to forget the God from whom all good gifts flow. It is easy to work in our strength and might instead of reliance upon the Spirit in all prayer and supplication.
Ministers, let us be those, like Paul, who testify to God’s abundance and overflowing grace in our lives and in the life of our churches. For we water and plant, but God gives the growth. Let us not fall for the Satanic lies of modern business strategies, but instead let us be upon our knees, praying and asking that the LORD would give tremendous growth and then when it comes, let us turn around and praise him for it!
