Time and time again when people report on their church they seem to revert to talking about the numbers in their Sunday service or similar. Sometimes it is literally as direct as the raw numbers, other times the report is more general ... but distilled down it is still the same basic thing, the size of the Sunday congregation.
Yet in Luke 10 when the extended group of disciples return from their assignment the criteria is this: "even the demons submit to us in your name" (verse 17). The talk is about how they have pushed the boundaries in mission, and seen tangible spiritual effect.
Jesus reminds them that their security is in Him rather than in any particular ministry or ministry result (v20), but nevertheless the successful attack on the enemy's domain is celebrated.
So why do we not use this kind of 'even the demons submit' criteria? Why are our reports not descriptions of mission boundaries explored, pushed out and why are the effects on the enemy not rehearsed?
When John the Baptist's messengers came to quiz Jesus, his reply was not "I'm chuffed, because I've got 12 regulars at my Bible study". No, it was 'see & hear: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed" (Luke 7:18 to 23)!
Put bluntly and directly: have we got the wrong criteria?
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