The Philippines recently experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that was devastating for the area of Bohol where it was centered. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million. Watch this video and see how suddenly things can change:
I have been jolted a few times by earthquakes myself, in California and in the Philippines, and it is a very unnerving experience. But watching this collapse unnerved me in a different way. Here are some things I was reminded of:
1 – Church buildings are important historically, not eternally.
There is a difference. What we think of as so important now culturally, nationally, and historically will one day be no more. Think of that. The Bible says that heaven and earth will one day pass away, and God will fold them up like a coat (Hebrews 1:12). So, in reality, every historical building that you see will one day be gone. That should give us an eternal perspective.
2 – The church is made of people, not bricks and stone.
No doubt, there are many distraught people over the collapse of this centuries old church. Likewise, we mourn and are discouraged when old church buildings in our towns are converted into houses, restaurants, and bars. But are we concerned about the building, or the fact that there are no worshipers filling it? That’s the question.
3 – We should be more shocked about falling numbers of disciples than a falling bell tower.
When I first saw the video above, I let out an audible “wow”. It just came out. The sight of something like that in real life is shocking. But we should be more emotionally and spiritually moved by the fact that people around us every day are rejecting Christ. We should be more impacted by declining discipleship than by a crumbling building. Are we? Are you? Am I?
Please don’t misunderstand this post. My heart is in the Philippines. I do hurt for the people impacted, and I am sorry that this historic structure collapsed. But my point is still valid: the building is not important eternally; the people are. In our churches, we are often more impacted by a change in the physical environment around us (new worship center construction, renovated nursery area) than we are by life change in the people around us. It shouldn’t be that way.
Question: What about you? Do you find yourself more impacted by a change in environments or a change in a life? What do you think about my assertions above? Leave a comment below.
If you are a Christian from the Western world – you don’t deal with a lot of physical suffering for Christ. You certainly don’t deal with martyrdom. I think that’s a good thing. Good, but not certain.
I keep a book open in my office (see the picture above). It’s called Martyr’s Mirror and it recounts Christian suffering throughout history. Think Foxe’s Book of Martyr’s on steroids.
I keep the book always in view to remind me that most believers in the past have not enjoyed the freedoms we do today. Many of them paid the ultimate price for their faith. It also sobers me to consider whether my faith is strong enough to endure such a thing.
Here’s one entry as an example: “A. D. 1067, there was a God-fearing man, whose name was Henry, and whom the Romish historian calls a stranger, perhaps because he was obliged to live secretly or as a stranger among the Romanists. It is stated of him, that he preached the Gospel of Christ in the uttermost parts of Sweden, and that he was apprehended for this cause and beheaded for the name of Christ.”
It does us good to remember that our freedoms are not a given, and there may possibly come a time when Christ demands of us the ultimate sacrifice.
Note: If you’d like to read more entries from Martyr’s Mirror, click here.
If you want to buy a copy click here: http://amzn.to/He40It
When an orchestra plays, everyone assumes that the conductor is controlling the tempo and rhythm (possibly even the conductor himself). But the dirty little secret of an orchestra is that the drummer or percussion section really controls the rhythm. As long as the drummer is paying attention and willfully following the conductor, all is well. But If the drummer decides to speed up during a live performance, guess what? Everyone else speeds up too – even the conductor. Short of stopping the piece and starting over, the drummer has even the leader of the orchestra at his will. If you play an instrument, you know this to be true.
The percussionist drives the orchestra.
In much the same way, theologians – the thought leaders of the Christian world – drive our churches. They uncover the Biblical principles and mandates that apply to our lives and current world situation. They influence our pastors, missionaries, seminary professors, and Sunday School teachers. They write books and other materials discussing their findings and thoughts, and in doing so influence the action oriented leaders who take those ideas and apply them each week.
The sermon you will hear (or preach!) this Sunday is most likely influenced by the thoughts and conclusions of one or more theologians. As your pastor (or you!) prepares the message, he consults books, commentaries, and articles dealing with the subject he is addressing. He brings forward the quiet thoughts of the theologian.
Theologians are not some obscure people existing only in the back rooms of giant seminary libraries, up all hours of the night discussing with the walls the things of God. Theologians – past and present – influence your daily life more than you know. Many of them are obscure to most people. Their names are not on bulletins or billboards. They are not recognizable by even the most studious believers. And yet, in their quiet ministry, their voice is heard louder than even those that stand and speak.
This week I turn 30 years old. That’s 6 5’s, 10 3’s, or 30 1’s depending on how you look it. However, you view it – well, it’s more than 29.
I have been reflecting on my past and future, and I’ve determined 2 things about my next 30 years (and beyond Lord willing!):
I want people to see Jesus in my person and my path.
1) My Person
My words, deeds, character, relationships – who I am. I want people to see Jesus there, everyday; for those that know me today, in the present.
2) My Path
The legacy I leave behind – my path. I want people to look down my road and see Jesus walking beside me, guiding me, helping me; for those that remember or hear of me then, in the future.
Concerning evangelism, discipleship, and church work in general we often create unnecessary pressure for ourselves, because we think outside of our role.
A farmer understands that it is his job to till the land, plant the seeds, water and nourish the seeds, and wait for the harvest. He has fulfilled his duty if he does these things faithfully. It is up to God (and the environment He created) to produce a crop. In other words, the farmer knows there’s only so much he can do.
All that we can do is share the gospel, pray, and do our best to provide discipleship opportunities. It is the Holy Spirit who does the saving and sanctifying.
