The Heart of the Church

What is going on in the church world today is monumental.  If you have ever read anything I have written, please take some time to read and absorb the following.  Bottom line is…war is going on in the heavenlies.  (“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephes. 6:12)  Make no mistake there is a major conflict going on between the forces of good and evil.  The true center of the battle revolves around our eternity and the eternity of our family and friends, and, really, the eternity of the entire population of the whole world.

If I could somehow find a way to put my pastor’s heart in my hands, it would beat around the issue of the above paragraph.  This makes for an interesting conundrum.  On one hand, we eagerly desire the church to be a place of place of serenity and peace.  On the other, the scriptures clearly point to a scenario of conflict.  This is amazing.   Rodney King’s question, “Can’t we all just get along?” stands in crystal clear contrast to the words of Jesus, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:51-53)  Simply put, there will be no “happily ever after” until we reach the “ever after!”

It is important to make a major point right here.  The church can be a place of purpose and unity and peace…when the heart and passion of the church beats in unison with the heart and passion of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This understanding clearly gives every local body of believers clear options.  We can get onboard with the Great Commission, or, we can develop alternate commissions that may be at the same time honorable and off-target, resulting in exactly the conflict of which Jesus speaks in the above paragraph. 

This is not a difficult, or unusual, subject for this pastor to address.  It is, however, articulated with a great deal of risk.  Jesus and the New Testament writers were very clear regarding our need to submit to the eternal Commander in Chief.  Jesus, himself, said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:33)  Did you get that?  When the kingdom of God is at the top of your priorities and to-do list, your needs will be met.  But don’t miss the context, your needs will be met even though every day will bring its own set of troubles!

 Every editorial should have a good punch line or two.  Here is one…every body of believers (church) has to make up its corporate mind, every day and every moment, that the advancement of God’s kingdom will be their main business, function, mission, etc.  The local church that makes this choice will be both unusual and highly productive.  That is where we are headed and, today, it is apparent that progress is being made.  Let me give you a few examples.

Sorry for the generalities, but I don’t yet have permission to give specifics.  I can tell you this much—yesterday a treasured fellow worker in our church came into my office with a glorious pronouncement.  He mentioned the name of a man in our church who has confessed Christ as Savior.  Two things stand out to me.  One is that God is forever faithful.  He never gives up on anyone.  The other is that this guy’s life is forever changed.  He will hardly recognize himself and his motivations as he goes through the weeks and months ahead.  Pray.  Not kidding you, I danced (in my spirit!) when I heard this story.  It is the key hope of my life and ministry that such news will take place on a regular basis as we go into the future.

Last evening’s Celebrate Recovery (CR) gathering was noteworthy.  It was our rehearsal evening.  The ministry formally begins next Wednesday evening, March 3^rd.  Mind you, I don’t have addictions in my background, but this ministry has been of significant help to me, just in coping with life.  Have you prayed the entire serenity prayer lately?  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

Not saying that this beautiful ministry (CR) has come together, so far, without lots of work, challenges and some mistakes.  Not saying that the future of this beautiful ministry will be unflawed.  It is entirely possible that this ministry will expose our church to people, things and situations that are radically different from the way we normally operate.  CR people are notably different and enthusiastic.  This would be a great place to note Nate’s testimony this past Sunday and his forceful singing and playing!!!  Multiply that times all the people currently involved and times all the people God will lead our direction, and we are in for a ride, a wild ride, a heavenly ride!  Last night we enthusiastically sang… THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

I’m on the road ...To recovery, I’m on the road To recovery, Step by step, Day by day, I’m on the road To recovery, Trusting God Along the way, Trusting God All the way, I’ve got a Friend I can talk to, I’m not alone Anymore, I’ve got faith That I can walk to, And a future Worth living for…

Just saying that “seeking his kingdom first” comes with powerful blessings, and, impossible challenges.  Challenges that only God can meet and overcome!  To highlight and punctuate our purpose last evening, a guy none of us knew came in last evening and stayed with us long enough to drink a cup of coffee and make some new friends.  Folks, there is more to come!  Lots more!

Tapping the kaleidoscope.  If you could look into the hearts of several people in our church, you would see multitudes of children.  When I started this editorial with words about a “war in the heavenlies,” it seems crystal clear that the prize in this war is both the future and eternity of our children.  I do not have the communication capacity to say how much our children are at risk.  We have the most precious and beautiful children in the world in our church.  Did you know that some of them do not know the fundamental basics of living for Jesus?  Several are at a loss as to how the Holy Bible is put together.  Recently I explained the commandment, “Do not commit adultery” by saying that means we are not to participate in sex before marriage or go outside our marriage to have sex with someone else.”  Thank God for Christian parents and thank God for the church backing up the good lessons the kids are learning at home!

Stay with me.  Sunday afternoon, it was my privilege to introduce seven 5^th and 6^th grade boys to my “Jesus Park.”  (By the way, that park is getting close to being operative, even nice, pretty, and all that!)  In some ways it makes little sense for a sixty-two year old pastor who had taught Sunday School, shared a message in the worship service and having a meeting at 5:00 PM and another one at 6:00 PM, to go the extra miles with these kids.  But, let me tell you that in regards to kids we are going to reap what we sow.  And, don’t forget that we will reap what we sow.  We will reap more than we sow.  And, we will reap for a long time after we sow!  Is it worth it to invest the time and energy to…sow good stuff?  You bet!

There are several other ministries in our church that reflect God’s top priority.  Pastor Adam and the teen workers and several key teens are praying and paying the price.  Women’s ministry just completed a powerful, well-attended, Beth Moore series –When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.  The People Encouraging People Sunday School class gives every indication of seriously addressing Matthew 6:33.  Love what I see!  Chuck Dunnavant’s new Christianity 101 SS Class could not be more timely.  I encourage everyone who wants to get a grip on our basics to attend.  The class begins March 7^th.  Time and space does not allow me to describe other ministries on track to make a big difference in the lives of people.

With all of the challenges we have faced, I have to tell you, I really like the prospect of our church to benefit from being fully engaged in this “seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness first.”  When (and I believe we are making fabulous progress right now) our priorities reflect His priorities we have every reason to be optimistic about every area of our lives.  Friendships will deepen and the core of our friendships will revolve around…who we can add to our friendship circles!  Our kids will thrive in every way, especially spiritually, as we put Jesus in first place in our lives.  God makes great promises to people who put Him first in their finances.  As far as I know, there are no areas of our lives that are untouched by this great principle…seeking His kingdom first!