At Calvary Chapel Sydney we have a Tuesday morning prayer meeting from 6 to 7:30am open to all who desire to attend. After I started the coffee and sat down to read the Bible before the meeting, I looked towards the front door. On a table near the entry sits a green, thriving plant. I my experience, plants do not stay green on their own! My best efforts to keep green things green and growing typically produce dismal results. Over the past couple months I have seen different people from the church checking the condition of the plant, watering it, and clearing away the ants which on a daily basis find it again and again.
Taking care of the plant is no one's job and yet is a job always done. As far as I know the care for this plant is not governed by sign-in sheets, a planned roster, or even word of mouth. Amazingly this living plant looks a million times better than most of the plastic plants I have seen in churches or office buildings. Because caring for a live plant is sometimes difficult or impossible because of lighting or other conditions, some purchase synthetic plants to add some greenery. Synthetic plants, though they require less continual maintenance, involve a good deal of labor to occasionally wash the dust which firmly adheres to the silk petals and leaves.
It occurred to me that as both real plants and fake plants adorn buildings all over the world, people can choose to be real or fake when they enter a church building. Some people seem to actually prefer a fake atmosphere, where everyone is fine and life is great. This approach seems predictable and safe, has minimal upkeep, and no trimming or fertilizing required. This is a life devoid of life and therefore devoid of love. When people are real, that is when God and His people are free to serve each other. There will be watering necessary, trimming, removal of dead foliage, and perhaps even have to deal with difficulties. Ants are attracted to water because it has the power to sustain life. The main difference between a real and fake plant is a real plant is alive, while the fake plant never was.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the real from the fake. I find it ironic that we rarely think fake plants are real upon close inspection, but people will scrutinize a real flower and say, "It's real? It looks so fake!" When a flower is gently touched, the cool softness betrays it as a living plant. The fragrance also stimulates our senses to discern the truth. It would be wrong for any person to judge the depth of someone else's spiritual walk because of his or her personality. Some people are naturally more transparent than others, and this can be as much a strength or a fault.
The fact remains that there are real Christians who attend church, and also fake ones. Judas appeared to the disciples to be above reproach though Satan had entered into him. When Jesus said, "What you do, do quickly," John 13:29 tells us what was going on in all the disciple's minds: "For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. " They thought he was going to do a blessed service, when instead he was intent on the betrayal and murder of Christ! Jesus was willing that all, even Judas, come to the knowledge of the truth and did not exclude him. God has given us all an opportunity to be born again, and our new life is to spent cultivating this new life in others. Galatians 6:10 says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
If you notice something needs doing, it may be God wants you to do something about it! Instead of complaining about the drama in our own lives or the lives of fellow believers, instead of growing weary from picking up dead leaves and clearing away ants, let us praise God for the life He has brought to our souls and to those in our fellowships. Don't wait for someone to do what God has enabled and equipped you to do. Can you water a plant? Can you share Christ's love? Can you reach out to those who are hurting? By God's grace, yes we can!
28 February 2011
27 February 2011
Lesson from a Chicken Man
Yesterday after church service many of the ladies from our church gathered together for yum cha at a local restaurant. Not to be left out, some men went over to North Rocks for a meal at Nando's. I had never been to Nando's before and were treated with some delicious spicy chicken. I ordered extra hot chicken and added extra-extra hot peri-peri sauce...it was a welcome amount of heat for a spicy food enthusiast as myself.
While we waited for our party to arrive, we were greeted by a Nando's employee offering chicken wings to people who passed by. Most people who walked by were happy to enjoy a sample or two. Occasionally there was a person who was not interested, but the bearer of wings did not seem to mind. He continued to happily hand out samples and vouchers: why should he be ashamed to offer quality meat for free?
As I ate my sample I thought about the parallels of evangelism. Jesus is the Bread of Life freely offered not just to satisfy a stomach temporarily, but to save souls for eternity. In offering Christ to others we address the greatest need of all people for love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation. The truth is, most people are more interested to fill their mouths and stomachs with lemon and herb roasted chicken than to consider the truth of the Gospel. We as Christians ought to be as joyful to offer the Gospel without offense to all as this chicken man, I thought.
Do we as Christians believe Christ is better than roasted chicken? Of course! I considered differences in motivation. This man was a paid employee who offered free chicken on the hopes that people would buy more chicken. It is to our shame that we would offer the Gospel for the express purpose of inviting people to attend our churches. This cheapens the sacrifice of our Savior. It is good to be able to direct seekers to fellowships where they will be exposed to the whole counsel of God's Word, don't get me wrong. But our motivation for sharing Jesus must never be to increase attendance of our church. That makes us like mere hirelings. We ought to share Christ with the lost for the sake of Christ. We share Jesus because of the souls He died and rose to save, not to fill pews.
If we shrink from the idea of sharing Christ with others, we must confess it as sin. It brings glory to God when we are without shame concerning the Gospel as Paul states in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Also he affirms in Romans 10:11: "For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Just think of the power of the God through the Gospel to save! Let us be bold to share Christ with the world for His sake alone motivated by God's love. Jesus has taken our shame: let us choose never to pick it up again.
While we waited for our party to arrive, we were greeted by a Nando's employee offering chicken wings to people who passed by. Most people who walked by were happy to enjoy a sample or two. Occasionally there was a person who was not interested, but the bearer of wings did not seem to mind. He continued to happily hand out samples and vouchers: why should he be ashamed to offer quality meat for free?
As I ate my sample I thought about the parallels of evangelism. Jesus is the Bread of Life freely offered not just to satisfy a stomach temporarily, but to save souls for eternity. In offering Christ to others we address the greatest need of all people for love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation. The truth is, most people are more interested to fill their mouths and stomachs with lemon and herb roasted chicken than to consider the truth of the Gospel. We as Christians ought to be as joyful to offer the Gospel without offense to all as this chicken man, I thought.
Do we as Christians believe Christ is better than roasted chicken? Of course! I considered differences in motivation. This man was a paid employee who offered free chicken on the hopes that people would buy more chicken. It is to our shame that we would offer the Gospel for the express purpose of inviting people to attend our churches. This cheapens the sacrifice of our Savior. It is good to be able to direct seekers to fellowships where they will be exposed to the whole counsel of God's Word, don't get me wrong. But our motivation for sharing Jesus must never be to increase attendance of our church. That makes us like mere hirelings. We ought to share Christ with the lost for the sake of Christ. We share Jesus because of the souls He died and rose to save, not to fill pews.
If we shrink from the idea of sharing Christ with others, we must confess it as sin. It brings glory to God when we are without shame concerning the Gospel as Paul states in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Also he affirms in Romans 10:11: "For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Just think of the power of the God through the Gospel to save! Let us be bold to share Christ with the world for His sake alone motivated by God's love. Jesus has taken our shame: let us choose never to pick it up again.
18 February 2011
Mark Peters, My Friend
Yesterday I received word that one of my friends and co-laborers at Calvary Chapel El Cajon has passed into eternity: Mark Peters. His time of difficulty has passed, having recently been diagnosed with cancer. Having been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ, Mark undoubtedly now rejoices in heaven. My grief is great, not because Mark has gone home but that I was unable to visit him as he lay dying. I will not be able to attend a service to memorialize his life. Though God is a present help and comfort to me, presenting a tangible testimony of my thoughts of Mark in the presence of his family and friends is unobtainable.
Hence the impetus for this post: let me tell you a little about my friend Mark. The thing which struck you immediately about Mark is that he was real. His faith and love for God was real. He had not had an easy life by any means - there had been many struggles along the way, but God brought him safely through. His enjoyment and willingness to serve God was not a contrived ploy to find favor with men or God. There are certain "decorum" guidelines set for the ushers at the church, but I don't know that Mark heeded them! He would sing with gusto and raise his hands to God in praise. Every Sunday he was there, holding his cup of 7/11 coffee, greeting people, having loud conversations, moving chairs. He was a Roman Guard annually at our Easter outreach. I'm pretty sure Mark has helped set up for every Easter sunrise service I can remember...we'll miss his helpful hands.
A lather by trade, a man well-acquainted with dirt-bikes who listened to Third Day, a fixture greeting people at the door with coffee and bulletins in hand, a man who came with his son Richard to Men's Retreats...but this is only scratching the surface of who Mark is. I say who Mark "is," because Mark has not ceased to be. His body has ceased to function, but his soul lives on in the presence of Christ his King. He is clothed not only with Christ's robe of righteousness, but a glorified body with which to serve God forever. I can hear his voice rising strong and clear over hosts of angels, tirelessly praising the God who has graciously granted him eternal life.
The days of coffee, lath, and plaster are finished - but eternal day has dawned for Mark. Gone are the days of sickness and pain, arrived is the age of complete freedom from sin and earthly limitations. Sing Mark, jump for joy! You have entered into the joy of the LORD, where there is no darkness forever and ever.
Do you know this hope of eternal life is offered to you as well? Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Mark confessed his sin, and asked Christ to forgive him. John 3:16-17 reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Hence the impetus for this post: let me tell you a little about my friend Mark. The thing which struck you immediately about Mark is that he was real. His faith and love for God was real. He had not had an easy life by any means - there had been many struggles along the way, but God brought him safely through. His enjoyment and willingness to serve God was not a contrived ploy to find favor with men or God. There are certain "decorum" guidelines set for the ushers at the church, but I don't know that Mark heeded them! He would sing with gusto and raise his hands to God in praise. Every Sunday he was there, holding his cup of 7/11 coffee, greeting people, having loud conversations, moving chairs. He was a Roman Guard annually at our Easter outreach. I'm pretty sure Mark has helped set up for every Easter sunrise service I can remember...we'll miss his helpful hands.
A lather by trade, a man well-acquainted with dirt-bikes who listened to Third Day, a fixture greeting people at the door with coffee and bulletins in hand, a man who came with his son Richard to Men's Retreats...but this is only scratching the surface of who Mark is. I say who Mark "is," because Mark has not ceased to be. His body has ceased to function, but his soul lives on in the presence of Christ his King. He is clothed not only with Christ's robe of righteousness, but a glorified body with which to serve God forever. I can hear his voice rising strong and clear over hosts of angels, tirelessly praising the God who has graciously granted him eternal life.
The days of coffee, lath, and plaster are finished - but eternal day has dawned for Mark. Gone are the days of sickness and pain, arrived is the age of complete freedom from sin and earthly limitations. Sing Mark, jump for joy! You have entered into the joy of the LORD, where there is no darkness forever and ever.
Do you know this hope of eternal life is offered to you as well? Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Mark confessed his sin, and asked Christ to forgive him. John 3:16-17 reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
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