Never Forget…
A couple years ago I had the privilege of going to New York City in order to help a local church leader connect with a NAMB church plant in the area. During our time there we had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan. It was a cold November evening so there were not many other people around. The silence allowed the noise of the rushing waters to fill the air. It was a sobering place As we reflect on the events of September 11th, 2001; we realize that since that day our world and our country has never been the same. I was in college the day the towers fell and that very day I was supposed to go to the visitation for my grandfather, a navy veteran who also retired from the FAA. My family could not travel from the western side of the U.S. because all air travel was suspended. We all just sat in disbelief about what had happened. We have all been changed by the events of this day. Even the church cannot say that she has escaped the effects of that day.
- The World Shrank
- Christianity, more than ever, was bound to patriotism.
- The people of Islam need the Gospel
Today I am praying for all those whose lives were forever changed by the events of 9/11. There were so many who did not return home from work that day; so many that were forced to move forward without the people they love. I am also praying for all of our service men and women who answered the call to stop terrorism both here and abroad. I am praying for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, both our military and first-responders. But I am also praying for our missionaries in the field who are trying to bring the Gospel to those in Islamic nations. I am praying for them and for the people who will hear the Gospel through them. May these people hear the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be transformed by it!
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Brother, your “ministry” is not worth your life.
Last week the nation was shocked to read about a pastor in California that had taken his own life after a lengthy battle with depression.
Andrew Stoecklein seemed to be doing quite well on the surface. He was happily married and the father of three beautiful children. He was pastoring a vibrant church in a beautiful area of southern California. He certainly did not seem to fit the bill of a pastor struggling in ministry and fighting for his life. His death has once again put the spotlight on the mental health of those in ministry. As pastor appreciation month approaches, several Christian media outlets are posting articles about depression, suicide, and the pressures of ministry.
Unfortunately, the numbers do not lie. Pastors across the nation suffer from depression, the feelings of isolation, and exhaustion. Many do not think they are making a significant impact on their congregation. Even pastors’ wives and children are not spared the stress and pain of ministry, with many reporting that they needed counseling for the pressures of having a spouse or parent in ministry.
I must say that I can understand how this must feel. As the only pastor of a small church, there have been many times when I have doubted my calling. I have questioned whether I was doing more harm than good to my congregation. I have even struggled to do anything because of an overwhelming feeling that all my efforts were destined to fail.
So as I reflected on this pastor’s actions and the statistics that show that so many other pastors are on the same path; I was left with this word of advice:
Your “Ministry” is not worth your life.
Let me explain:
- Your “ministry” ≠ the Gospel
The title of this post is intended to be provocative and I have no doubt that some who read this would respond by ask, “Didn’t Jesus himself say, ‘For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.’ (Mark 8:35) Now you’re telling me that my ministry isn’t worth my life?”
Yes, that is what I am saying, and I am saying it because your ministry is not the gospel. It is true that we may very well be called to go and preach the Gospel in places where the Gospel is not welcome. We may be called to face persecution, imprisonment, even death as we faithfully share the Gospel with the lost.
However, that isn’t really what we are talking about here. Here, we are talking about your “ministry” or the particular work or vocation where you are currently serving. It is one thing to preach the Gospel knowing that you may be in danger for doing so. It is quite another thing to stay in a certain position or job even though it is leading you to burnout or self harm.
Jesus himself told his disciples that they were to preach the Gospel and yet be willing to walk away from bad situations. He said, “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.” (Matt 10:14) He gave them permission to move on instead of grinding to the point of exhaustion. You need to know also that you have permission to move on as well.
- The Gospel will go on; even if your ministry doesn’t.
The next thing you may say is, “But I can’t do that!!! If I quit, then no one will be here to witness in this church / community / town!!!”
Really? One of the hardest things for a pastor, missionary, or lay leader to understand is that the Great Commission does not hang on our ability to succeed in a particular ministry. I can promise you that even when you step down or step aside, the Gospel will continue moving forward.
Yes, your particular ministry may cease to exist. Yes, you may see opportunities to share missed because of your absence. And yes, things may appear to be worse because you are no longer at the helm. But do not fear, the Gospel has not been thwarted and the Great Commission will go on. We know this because the Bible is true.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Rev 7:9)
See? God is going to see that every tribe, tongue, and nation come before the throne in worship. You cannot thwart the plans of God; even if that means stepping down for a season to rest and be with Him!
- Your family > Your ministry
This brings me to my last point. I beg you that you please listen to this, your “ministry” to your family should always, always take priority over every other ministry you have; vocational or volunteer. Pastors and every other form of minister often feel like everyone is demanding their time and attention; often at the neglect of their spouse and children. I beg you here and now to break that cycle in your own life. If a ministry or church cannot function unless you neglect your family, then it isn’t the place for you.
Even before Christ gathered the church, He established the family, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) In this moment the first family was formed and just as it was placed before the church in history, it should be placed before the church in priority.
One thing we know for certain, you cannot minister, care for, and love your family if you are not there. It is far more important that you be a husband to your wife and a father to your children, than you be a pastor to a church. A church, ministry, or mission can have a variety of leaders, but your family can only have one father. Please, be that father. You cannot do it if you are gone all the time, and you cannot do it if you take your own life.
Your family loves you and needs you; be there for them.
Brother, your “ministry” is not worth your life. It is okay to step aside and/or step away. The Lord will provide for you and He will take care of you. Rest, seek counseling, and be with your family. It is not too late.
If you are reading this, I am praying for you. Pray for me too.
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The Buck Stops Here
The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, has always been my favorite president. While an obvious reason that he is my favorite has to do with our shared home state, another reason is the tremendous level of responsibility he took in his job and in life in general.
Harry Truman served his country during World War I and he tried to reenlist during WWII while he was already serving the country as a congressman before he was tapped to be Roosevelt’s VP. When Harry Truman became president after Roosevelt’s death, he was famous for placing a sign on his desk.
The sign read, “The Buck Stops Here”
This sign served as a reminder to Truman and his entire staff that they did not have the privilege of “passing the buck” on to someone else. If it reached his desk, then he had a duty to address the issue and find a resolution.
It seems like this has become more an exception than the rule in life. Most people want to “pass the buck” onto the next person in hopes that they can avoid doing anything that may be hard or cause them to miss out on something else.
This is also true in the church as well. Most of us have a pretty good ideal of what the church “ought” to be doing
The church ought to be witnessing. The church ought to be teaching the Bible to her members. The church ought to be meeting the needs of her community in order to share the love of Christ. The church ought to be on mission in her community, surrounding areas, and across the globe.
But who is supposed to do it?
Should the pastor?
Yes he should. There is no question that the pastor should be sharing the Gospel with the lost, ministering to the congregation and the community, and taking care of others.
But there is a problem here. If a church delegates all ministry duties to the pastor, then the church cannot grow, many ministries and opportunities will be missed, and the pastor will eventually burn out and/or give up. In other words, the church’s ministries will be severely limited, and it is highly likely that people both inside and outside of the church will perceive that the church still is not doing what it ought to be doing.
Should the gifted?
Another idea is that only the spiritually gifted should do the work of ministry. Thankfully, this does not place all the burden on the pastor, but it still limits the church’s ability to do all that it ought to be doing.
Usually when we think about “the gifted”, we mean people who are natural teachers, extroverts, and people with the gift of gab. But God uses several other gifts in accomplishing His mission. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” This tells us that ALL OF US are gifted to accomplish the mission of church. If you think that the work of the church is only for the “gifted”, then you may have to realize that YOU are gifted and called to serve in the church.
Should I?
This is the heart of the matter. When it comes to ministry and felt needs in the church, we can be tempted to “pass the buck” onto the pastor, the deacons, or some other gifted individual. But the reality is that God has revealed that need TO YOU!!!
Do you see a group in our church that is being neglected? Start a ministry! Have you noticed a community in our county that is unreached for the Gospel? Recruit an outreach team! Do you have a burden for people who are lost? Pray for them!
Jesus said in John 20:21, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” I hope and pray that you will take this commissioning seriously.
So where do you see God working in your heart and life? How will you respond? Will you pass the buck, or will you own it like our former president and say, “The buck stops HERE!”
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Firmly Planted
A couple weeks ago I got a call on Saturday from one of our church members, John.
“Hey man, do you want to go floating on Monday?”
John had a couple kayaks that he had bought several years ago, but never had gotten them out on the water. He brought them to church one summer as props for VBS and after ogling over them for a while, he said that we would go one day. Monday was finally going to be that day.
“Sure! Let’s do it!!”
A couple days later John and I found ourselves on the Nolin river right by Gilead Baptist Church floating on one of the nicest mornings I had seen in quite a while.
As we followed the river through many dips and turns, we saw some wildlife, marveled at rock formations and notice the many beautiful trees that hung over the river, providing us shade.
John said, “Isn’t it amazing how some of these trees can have some of the root structure washed out and yet they still grow and hold tight to the bank?”
“I think it is probably a testament to how strong their roots really are.”
As we continued our float, I began to ponder what the Bible says about trees like these and how they related to the life of a believer.
Psalm 1 says:
1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
The trees that we passed were a reminder that those cling to the Word of God will continue to grow no matter what the world may throw at them.
- These trees grow even in adversity.
The very fact that we could see so much of these trees root structure reminded us that these trees had been through some stuff. They had seen drought and they had seen flood. I have no doubt that pollution and liter had passed by their way. They had seasons where they grew rapidly and times where they barely grew at all.
Yet they always grew and they always had to take the good with the bad. Psalm 1 implies that the tree goes through seasons where a different tree might wither and die. Living according to Scripture does not promise a life free from doubt, worry, stress, or hardship, but it does promise to give you all you need to endure these seasons and grow in spite of them. - These trees are completely dependent on the source
Right along with the previous point, it becomes very clear that the tree is completely dependent on the river for everything. No one had to tell the tree to dig down deep. No one had to tell the tree that it would need a huge, complicated root structure in order to stand firm and take advantage of all the river had to offer. It did it because it was designed to do so, and the more it grew up, the more it needed to grow down and dig deep in order to remain.
It really is a shame that we are not as smart as trees. We constantly need to be told that we have to dig deeper into our source of life. We grow a little and we think we can put the Bible, prayer, and Christian community on the shelf. We face adversity and we withdraw into ourselves instead of digging deeper into the Word of Life! Can you imagine for a moment what would happen to a tree if it pulled its roots back into the trunk during a drought? It would be dead in a week!!! So why do we do it?
We have to recognize that we NEED God, His Word, and a relationship with the Son in order to live in this life. After that, we need to dig deep into his Word and our relationship with Him in order to get through it all. - The tree uses this blessing to fulfill its purpose
Now it may be a little self-centered on my part think that those trees’ purpose was to provide shade for me and John, but it sure was nice!!!!!
Regardless that tree had a purpose. Perhaps the trees’ purpose was to hold the soil in place, or keep the water (and kayakers) cool & shaded, or maybe it was to provide food and shelter for animals that live near the water. Regardless, it was not there just to suck up water and pull nutrients from the river!!!
We are the same way. God is feeding you and growing you through His Word for a reason. I can tell you what the reason is too!!! You are here to make disciples. Jesus said these words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matt 28:19-20) Now, I cannot tell you how you’ll do that or what it will look like; you will have to discover that for yourself! But I can tell you that it will not happen if you don’t stay rooted in God and His Word!
The trees on the river remind us of our need for God and our mission for God, but it also reminds us that with God we will endure until the end. I am praying that you will “dig deep” into the Word with us at THBC!!! God bless!
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Be Gracious
The other day I am home from the office and while I was changing clothes, I turned to charge my phone. As I did so, I discovered that the plug for my charger was missing. Well, anyone who has children understands that this meant that my daughter had stolen my plug in order to charge her IPod.
No sooner had I made this discovery when I heard shouting from my kids.
“You stole it!!!”
“No, I didn’t!”
“Yes, you did! You knew I was using that!!!”
I rushed down the steps to intervene before this shouting match turned into a fight. There in my home office were my two daughters shouting at each other as loud as they could. My oldest daughter, the one with an IPod, was accusing her little sister of stealing something that wasn’t really hers to begin with.
“What is going on here?”
“SHE stole my…!!!”
“Just like you stole my charger?”
(silence)
It is never fun to be reminded that we are just as guilty of sin.
In Jesus day, He told the story of a salve who owed his master a large sum of money. He was unable to pay the large sum at the time in which it was due. He knew that the normal consequence for failing to pay a debt was the selling of his family and property and possibly prison. Therefore, he fell at the feet of his master and begged that he would be given more time.
His master felt compassion for the slave and did not just give him an extension, but forgave his debt completely! The slave did not walk out of that court a man with more time, but a man who had been set free from his debt and the fear of all punishment!!!
However as he left the court that day, the salve saw another slave who owed him a much smaller sum of money. He grabbed the man and began to choke him, demanding his money! The other slave begged him for more time in order to pay back the debt, but he would not have it. He had the other slave thrown into prison for failing to pay the debt.
The slaves deeds eventually made their way to the master’s ears. When he heard of the incident, his face became twisted with anger and he called the slave back into his presence. The master confronted him for his wickedness and his lack of mercy and then sent him away to be tortured for the debt that had been forgiven him! (Matthew 18:23-35)
Through this parable, Jesus reminded Peter that those who have been shown mercy ought to be merciful as well. On other words, be gracious for you have received grace yourself!
This is something that should be true of all Christians as well!!! We need to be quick to show grace and quick to forgive. Here a some quick reminders that may help you do so.
- You are not perfect
Paul, after listing several sins, says, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:11) This passage should be our reminder that were are only different because God forgave us!
- They are not perfect
- Christ is perfect, and He forgave
“I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:11) These are the words of Jesus to the woman caught in sin. He had every right to condemn her. In fact, He was the only one with a right to condemn her. Yet he chose to forgive her!
Go, and do likewise.
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Let us gather…
Summers are a blessed time full of fun and exciting events!
Many of us have taken advantage of this season with camps and trips, vacations and adventures. But often this also means that our full schedules tend to pull us away from gathering with other believers for the purpose of worship.
It does not take much to notice that churches all over the nation see a drop in worship attendance over the summer months. Unfortunately, for many this also means getting out of the habit of corporate worship; with some taking a very long break before they gather again with their church family.
It is during times like these that we need to be reminded of the importance and certainly the blessings that come when the saints gather together to worship God. Here are a few things to consider as we head into the school year and try to get back into a routine.
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Reflections from Camp
As many of you know, I have the privilege of co-directing our local associational camp. This year was one of the most challenging and most rewarding camps that I have been able to be a part of.
God did some tremendous things at camp this year. We saw kids come to know Christ. We got to hear from many who wanted to further their relationship with Christ through Baptism. We even got to talk with several young people who felt a strong pull towards missions. It was fantastic!
Now that I am home and I have had some time to reflect on all that happened at camp, I wanted to share with you my reflections from camp.
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Wanted: Christians who…
Imagine for a moment that you saw this ad in the paper:
WANTED: Christians who would be the Church and not just go to church.
What would be your initial reaction? What questions might you have for the person who posted the ad?
What would be the difference between a Christian who is the Church versus the Christian who merely goes to church?
I want to present to you a few qualities of Christians to strive to be the Church.
- They are present.
The first clear characteristic of Christians who are being the Church is that they show up. Those who just go to church view church attendance and participation as something to do when they are available. If the things of life (work, recreation, chores) demand their attention, being present is quickly sacrificed.
But to those who are the church, presence and participation are a priority. They are there even when it is inconvenient. They show up even when they don’t feel like it. They serve when better offers come along. This isn’t limited to Sunday morning either, they are always there to give a helping hand; whether it is encouraging a brother/sister over coffee or getting dirty on a project at the church building. Those who are the church always show up!
- They are giving.
Paul writes, “For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7) Therefore, it stands to reason that those who are the Church are eager to give and give sacrificially.
But there is more to this than giving, there is a mentality to the Church that this world is passing away and all the things that are in them. (1 Jn 2:17) This should mean that the Church does not desire to cling to the things of this world over the things of God. The Church ought to be generous in their giving because they know that by giving the local church is able to do more as she meets needs and shares the Gospel with the nations. Paul also wrote, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” When the Church gives, God will use those gifts to reach the nations with the Gospel!
- They are sharing.
Jesus clearly said, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (Jn 20:21) This “sentness” means that every single person who claims Christ is supposed to be a witness for Christ in this world. People who are the Church embrace this fact and seek to share the good news of salvation through Christ to the world. They just don’t do it as part of a church program, nor do they delegate that responsibility to a pastor or someone “gifted with evangelism”. The Church shares the Gospel with their family, friends, and coworkers. When they aren’t sharing, they are praying for those who need to hear it.
- They are loving.
The last and probably the most important characteristic of the Church is love. Jesus told his disciples, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:35) First, the Church has to love one another. We love each other even when we disagree. We love each other even though we are different. No matter way, we love each other. Secondly, we love those outside of the church. We love them so much we speak the truth in love. (Eph 4:15) We love them so much that we do everything we can to see them come to Christ. People who know nothing about us or our faith should be able to see that we love others.
So how would you do? Would you be able to answer the ad? Imagine for a moment how different things would be if everyone sought to be the Church and not just go to church! It would change the world!!!
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The Power of Prayer
Last night something fantastic happened.
Last night a small group of people gathered together, reached out into the heavens, and spoke with God.
In other words, last night a group of people gathered to pray.
It seems like the significance and the majesty of prayer has become somewhat lost in the church today. We cannot help but view prayer as something passive; something you do when you can’t do anything else. I often find myself saying, “What can I do for you… besides just pray?” It is as if I am saying that prayer is insignificant or that it doesn’t really matter.
But this is clearly not the case; prayer is by far and away THE most powerful tool that the Christian has today. It should be our “go to” weapon against the world and the evil one, and it should saturate every move the church makes. Prayer should be central to the life of the Christian and the life of the Church. We should above all else be a praying people.
So what happens when God’s people pray?
- God hears our prayers.
Do not miss the significance of this statement! God, the Creator of the Heavens & the Earth, He who put the stars in the sky and keeps them burning, is listening to our prayers. It does not matter how significant they may seem or how often we pray; God always hears our prayers. The apostle John said it this way, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) How wonderful it is to know that God is listening! - God not only hears He also acts on our prayers.
One of the most tragic developments of the modern age is a concept called “moralistic therapeutic deism”, which is the belief that God, generally speaking, leaves you alone unless He wants to reward you for being good. Under this mode of thinking, God does not really listen to our prayers, nor does he act unless it’s just to be nice to us, but the Bible paints a very different picture of God. According to the Bible, God does act on our prayers and He can and will do amazing things if we cry out to Him and seek His will. The Lord himself says, “And [if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The God of the Bible will certainly step in to deliver his people and do wonderful, miraculous things. Believe it or not, this church has experienced it!!! We have seen prayers answered in miraculous ways that moved us all to worship God!! - God will also change us.
I think the most unexpected thing about prayer is the effect that it has on the person praying. Last night I came to church overwhelmed, frustrated, and burdened with concerns. However, as I gathered with the saints I was confronted with the reality that God is still working, answering prayers, and advancing His Kingdom. I was reminded that God has not abandoned me or His people, and I realized that God already has the victory over Satan, sin, and the grave. I don’t need to fret because God is in control. When I walked in, I was a man feeling the pressures of defeat. When I walked out, I was renewed and ready to fight the good fight. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha had been surrounded by the Arameans. His attendant thought they were doomed, but Elisha was not worried. Elisha then prayed that his attendant would be able to see what was really happening. Suddenly, the attendant could see a whole host of angels prepared to do battle with the Arameans. Now, nothing actually changed about the situation; the Arameans were still there and the angelic army had always been there. It was only his perspective that changed! God still does this today. Sometimes it is not the situation that needs to change, but our perspective of it. Listen as God helps you see clearly!
If you are a member of my church (or any church) and you skip those prayer meetings because you have other more important things to do, please reconsider!!! Every powerful movement of God throughout history began with a small group of people praying, and that is exactly what we want God to do now! To Him be the glory, amen!
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Beware Hearty Approval
“and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” – Romans 1:32
Believe it or not, I like to be liked. It feels good when people agree with what I am saying, and I often crave that feeling of acceptance that comes with positive feedback, whether it be to my face or through social media.
There is just one problem: sometimes I do not need approval; I need rebuke. I do not always have the right heart or the right mindset when I speak and when I post on social media. I have been surprised recently at how quickly people applaud opinions that can be hurtful or even destructive. Paul reminds us in Romans chapter 1 that those who are perishing (i.e. the lost) are quick to commit sin and to give their approval to the sin of others; even Christians. This verse should serve as a warning to Christ followers who crave approval. Not all approval is good, and we must be cautious when we receive it!
If you are like me, I bet you like approval too. But let’s take a few minutes and ask ourselves if the approval we are getting is actually the approval that we need.
Here are some questions to consider when people are giving us “hearty approval”.
- From where is the approval coming?
Jesus said that you can judge a tree by its fruit. (Matt 12:33) When you say something and/or post something to social media and the people cheering you are individuals who reject Christ or live in sin, then you should review what you have said. - Who is receiving the approval?
Proverbs 26:28 says, “…a flattering mouth works ruin.” Often bad approval desires to puff up the person. They want you to feel right and justified in your position. They will remind you how smart you are, and how you are perfectly capable of forming your own opinions apart from Scripture and wise counsel. Ultimately, they want you to glorify yourself over godly wisdom and even God himself. - What are they really approving?
This is undoubtedly the hardest part. When we think or feel a certain way, it is very difficult to hold those ideas up to the light of Scripture. However, we simply must do this in order to really understand why our opinions are being positively received. Are they approving your right understanding of Scripture and how it applies to the times? (1 Chronicles 12:32) Or are they encouraging you to pursue sinful actions and thus rebel against God and his Word? If you are not sure, seek wise counsel from godly people whom you respect!
Please understand that not all positive feedback is bad. Jesus himself said that people will observe what we do and, “glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16) Sometimes what you do and what you say will point lost people to Christ; that is a wonderful thing!!!
But be cautious and let all that we do point others to Christ!
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