At an interview for the pastorate at a church I once served I was asked an unusual question. It was one that I'd never been asked before. I was asked who I voted for in the last election. I'd been asked a lot of seemingly out of nowhere types of questions in these type of interviews before, but nothing like that. I realized that I was dealing with a group of politically conscious Christians.
Interestingly enough, many of the high profile members of that church were active in local politics within the both the city and county. In fact we had the mayor, the presiding county commissioner, another county commissioner, several school board members, a county roads commission board member, library board member, parks and recreation board member, various community action groups, and more. We had people in the police dept., the sheriff's dept., community feasibility study groups, etc. It was quite an active group.
We also had a lot of people into the national political scene in those days. Rush Limbaugh was extremely popular. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority was big. Many were avid listeners of James Dobson and his political opinions and efforts. We even had people line the streets with abortion protest signs.
My concern was that as a congregation we were more concerned about political issues than we were about people issues. I often told them in those early years of my ministry there that the most politically active thing they could do was to lead someone to Jesus Christ. If they really wanted to change the world or our country or even our community, lead their friends, neighbors, political opponents to Christ. It's the most effective way to change a person's value system. When they are changed by Christ, life takes on a new perspective.
As we made the switch from fighting politics to ministering to people in real need, our church began to grow. We still had plenty of people involved in politics, but our energies as church begin to shift to making a difference through ministering and trusting God, not our government.
When I left the congregation, our influence in the community had actually increased. Whenever there was a need or issue in our community, they looked to our church for leadership, ideas and answers. We hosted health fairs, business expo's, business leadership meetings, art fairs, school events, club gatherings, kids athletics sign ups, conventions, conferences. And when the community faced a tragedy whether 9/11 or the death of significant person or teen in our community, they gathered at our facility.
Governments and governmental programs all have their place in society. They are God ordained. But trusting in and investing all our time in them causes us to lose sight of God, His truths, His standards, His ability, His calling. We get off base when we think our political ideology is the answer. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not. God is the answer and the truths found in His Word.
God, forgive my arrogance. I never want to lose sight of my calling as a believer in Jesus. Help me make a difference in the lives around me. Help me to see your bigger picture. Help me to remember that you're the one sets up and takes down governments. Help realize you're always in control.
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mk. 10:28-31 (Leaving It All Behind)
I don't have a lot of memories of doing things with my father when I was a kid. I don't remember very many times when we played ball or he came to my little league games. I don't remember him taking me fishing very often or going exploring or on some adventure. I don't remember him reading stories to me at night.
I do remember one afternoon he taught me to hit a ball. I do remember him one afternoon teaching me to ride a bike which ended in me violently crashing into a tree and lots of cuts and scrapes on my body. I remember him helping me set up my Lionel train set on the dining room table. I can remember our annual camping excursion when we were a little older. I can remember him telling stories to us about Alexander the Great in the car on our long Christmas trips to my grandparents. I can also remember hanging around church A LOT. But as a whole, I don't have a whole lot of childhood memories with my dad.
When I was in high school, I went along on one of my dad's speaking trips at my parents persistence. On the 3 hour ride to his engagement we barely spoke to each other. Not out of anger or disagreement. We just didn't have anything to say to each other. We didn't have a whole lot of conversation on the way home either. But I do remember asking him about why he invested so much time in ministry at the expense of his family. His response left me unsatisfied. He told me basically that he had to fulfill his calling, that his commitment to Christ had come first and that he trusted God to care for the needs of his family.
As a teen, I didn't really understand that. However, my dad never walked away from us or really neglected us. But he was willing to sacrifice time with us to a greater Godly end. Hundreds, probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of lives are in the Kingdom of God today because of his willingness to answer God's call and obey His will. All four of us kids are currently involved in fulltime local ministries, as are some of the grandchildren. Today my dad is closing in on his eternal reward in heaven which I know will be richer than mine because of his life ministry. But he has seen a glimmer of his reward here in this life through the transformed lives he personally effected and those whom were transformed through the influence of his ministry.
God, I can't help but think of Abraham who left everything, his home and family, to follow you and your call. You gave him an eternal family because of his willingness to leave it all and follow you. You gave him a spiritual heritage that has lasted for over 4,000 years and a family that continues to grow bigger and bigger each day as people all over the world come to faith in Christ. God, I want to be like my dad who was willing to leave it all behind and follow you with everything he had.
I do remember one afternoon he taught me to hit a ball. I do remember him one afternoon teaching me to ride a bike which ended in me violently crashing into a tree and lots of cuts and scrapes on my body. I remember him helping me set up my Lionel train set on the dining room table. I can remember our annual camping excursion when we were a little older. I can remember him telling stories to us about Alexander the Great in the car on our long Christmas trips to my grandparents. I can also remember hanging around church A LOT. But as a whole, I don't have a whole lot of childhood memories with my dad.
When I was in high school, I went along on one of my dad's speaking trips at my parents persistence. On the 3 hour ride to his engagement we barely spoke to each other. Not out of anger or disagreement. We just didn't have anything to say to each other. We didn't have a whole lot of conversation on the way home either. But I do remember asking him about why he invested so much time in ministry at the expense of his family. His response left me unsatisfied. He told me basically that he had to fulfill his calling, that his commitment to Christ had come first and that he trusted God to care for the needs of his family.
As a teen, I didn't really understand that. However, my dad never walked away from us or really neglected us. But he was willing to sacrifice time with us to a greater Godly end. Hundreds, probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of lives are in the Kingdom of God today because of his willingness to answer God's call and obey His will. All four of us kids are currently involved in fulltime local ministries, as are some of the grandchildren. Today my dad is closing in on his eternal reward in heaven which I know will be richer than mine because of his life ministry. But he has seen a glimmer of his reward here in this life through the transformed lives he personally effected and those whom were transformed through the influence of his ministry.
God, I can't help but think of Abraham who left everything, his home and family, to follow you and your call. You gave him an eternal family because of his willingness to leave it all and follow you. You gave him a spiritual heritage that has lasted for over 4,000 years and a family that continues to grow bigger and bigger each day as people all over the world come to faith in Christ. God, I want to be like my dad who was willing to leave it all behind and follow you with everything he had.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)