Im Torn

Friday, October 18, 2013

They Sit Together on the Porch by Wendell Berry

They sit together on the porch, the dark
Almost fallen, the house behind them dark.
Their supper done with, they have washed and dried
The dishes–only two plates now, two glasses,
Two knives, two forks, two spoons–small work for two.
She sits with her hands folded in her lap,
At rest. He smokes his pipe. They do not speak,
And when they speak at last it is to say
What each one knows the other knows. They have
One mind between them, now, that finally
For all its knowing will not exactly know
Which one goes first through the dark doorway, bidding
Goodnight, and which sits on a while alone.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

We need to grow up


My church is an extremely missions-minded church.  In fact, that is one of the primary reasons why Trey and I decided to join this particular fellowship of believers.  We want our children to grow up with the Great Commission being lived out before them, not simply taught.

However, over the past few weeks, I have heard several people complain that there is too much of a missions-emphasis from the pulpit.  

"He preaches too much about missions."  "We aren't all called to be missionaries."  "I don't know about you, but I'm supposed to stay right here in my Jerusalem."

To be honest, I have begun struggling with a question about a "calling" to the mission field...why don't I have one??  Why am I not considered one of the elite followers?  Why am I not called to ministry or to missions?  Am I not good enough for God's all-star team?

The truth is:  I have been called.  

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  (emphasis mine) Christ-followers, from the very beginning of their walk, are all called to the mission field for the glory of God.  That will definitely look differently in each of our lives, but, make no mistake, we must all be prepared to go.  In fact, Rupert Leary says, "Plan to go, but be willing to stay."

So...if that is the case, why do we get angry at preachers who focus on missions?  Why do we get irritated when the Great Commission is emphasized "too much"?  Why do the vast majority of us believe that we are called to hang out in "Jerusalem" and only the really good ones are bound for the ends of the earth?

"When discipleship is healthy, sending is easy."

Ouch.

When I heard Leary say this, it all came full circle.  The Church is failing in her discipleship ministry.  Therefore, her sending is weakened. 

Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (Mark 1:17)  He went to the marina, sought out His men and invited them to spend three years in life-on-life ministry with Him in order to prepare them for His purpose...to get His story to the ends of the earth.  Now, the entire earth wasn't even populated at that time, so obviously 12 men weren't going to finish the job.  But, they were to reproduce their lives to the next generation, and that generation would reproduce to the next, and so on.

Discipleship is not a Bible study, a book club or an accountability group.  Discipleship is guiding someone from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity so that they can reproduce.  We are spiritual babies.  Okay...before you get all high and mighty about being saved as a toddler and a member of your church for the past 30+ years...being a Christian for your entire life does not mean that you are spiritually mature and reproducing.  It might just mean that you are spiritually fat.  Have you ever been discipled?  My heart breaks when I bring this topic up among my generation of believers.  We don't have a clue.  We have been lost in the shuffle of over-programming, worship-style wars, and denominational power struggles.  Our enemy is shrewd.  I wish every pastor would put a hard stop to every single program in the church until a true discipleship program was established and effective.  Imagine.  The last time that happened, the world was changed.

Why does the emphasis on "going" elicit such irritation and angst?  Because we can't.  We don't know how.  But, saying "I can't. Please help me," hurts our pride.  It's easier to whine and say, "You can't make me."  We need to grow up.