Today's America reveals that Christians seldom share their faith in Jesus Christ outside of church circles. In fact, the truth is that often in the functions and activities of the church, little is shared by anyone except key figures. We hear of preaching to the nations but we hear little of sharing to the individuals we meet and interact with on a daily basis.
We have retreated as Christians into our safe cocoons. In ministry and life we only want the "Christian" brand and scene. We have Christian schools, sports teams, hangouts, etc.. I asked a question in our Bible Study group yesterday that gets to the heart of this - how many non believers do you know and interact with in your life? I remember growing up and attending public school that I was around many. In public school I had teachers who were Christians. They shared and cared and taught. Yes there were a few that were not believers. Yet there was a respect present. During pewee football, we would load the guys up after practice and go to our church Revival meetings. Most of the team was happy to go.
Today, we discover the shelter approach being implemented by parents. We talk about protecting. We emphasis fear from evil influences. We have withdrawn from the public and thus, rarely except within family do we find anyone that we have close relationships with that provide opportunity for sharing the Gospel. We talk about events at church that we hope will attract people. But we do not share Jesus with those we do not want to be involved in our lives. One could rightly say that we have adopted a "cult like" attitude towards our faith and lives. But not totally! For in our version, we are NOT as faithful to our beliefs and to God as the cults are to theirs. We miss worship and Bible Study for any reason. We put things before God that cult members would never put before their beliefs.
We have forgotten the role that God placed us in here on earth - we are missionaries. We have a calling to reach people! Yes, we have a calling to preach to the nations also. But our simple beginning starts with GO and share Jesus with all people! We can send money for special projects and do offerings to support missionaries serving around the world but we are to also BE missionaries. We are to care that people who die without Jesus go to Hell. it should disturb us that our lack of sharing has led to such an increase in people who have not seen a Bible nor have heard that Jesus died for them. Why is there no remorse and sadness?
We are quick to tell people how to live and yet we are selective in whom we desire to attend church with. It is easier for us to promote our soapboxes and feel good projects than it is to reach a world that needs Jesus. Lives all around are falling apart. People are experiencing things that many of us have never had to deal with. Children are growing up in homes where the normal roles of parents are corrupted and the lack of love and interest from parents to their children screams from every direction. And we as Christians just sit in our cocoons safe and feeling good. We point out the evil. We are good at that. We attack politicians as if they really could or would do anything that could fix our issues. But we keep Jesus to ourselves. As Christians we only seek to practice the parts of the Bible that we like. We are as selective with our faith as we are with sharing Jesus. We create man made systems of theology that excuse our sharing and we seek churches that only emphasis the certain things we like to attend.
Sharing our faith is simple! The only requirement needed is obedience to God. He promises that if we will be faithful, He will save! The Gospel is profound! The fact that someone loves us - period! The fact that someone died for us! The fact that we can avoid Hell! The fact that God has given us a guide book that fits our lives no matter where we come from and answers our most difficult questions! The fact that anyone can receive Jesus! Profound may be to small of a word! The Gospel goes beyond our understanding. The Gospel is freeing! The Gospel is life giving! The Gospel is AWESOME!
So can we answer why do we not share it and live it?
Blogging for the purpose of Spiritual Growth and Edification
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, June 24, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Root of the Obvious American Problem
It is not wise for one to offer something as a sure fire answer to everything. A know it all type person has little influence in the lives of others. Much of the discussion these days relating to the vast changes occurring before our eyes in America fits this know it all baseline. If not that, it most assuredly comes across as holier than thou to those listening and reading. Yet ignored due to the preceding is the answer to the problem that we see and know is growing. What is at the root of it?
I will offer two areas that I think will assist us in seeing the roots that are allowing all of this change to occur.
First, we lost the battle on the homosexual issues by not understanding the homosexual agenda. The agenda put forth was one of being recognized as a minority. Since the late 1970's this idea has been allowed to fully develop without any challenge from those who differ. More so, the silence from true minorities has been a booster shot to the homosexual movement. By embracing the minorities, and the minorities embracing the homosexual agenda, the agenda has actually captured an apparent victory.
To qualify as a minority, one must reproduce the same. Homosexuals do not reproduce. Homosexuals are NOT a minority. They never have been and never will be, unless we change the definition of "minority"! Had we simply begun the discussion, and continued it with this principle of fact, the influence of the agenda would have been severely held back. We chose to argue and condemn and were thus easy targets to be labeled as hateful. The influence of a behavior group would have been easily slowed had we kept the discussion here. We should have been assisting the minority groups in their struggle while protecting them from this usurping. We failed.
And yes, minority groups allowed this behavior agenda to steal the day and they have lost much as a result.
But something occurred inside many churches that equally allowed for the changing thoughts on sin and other things in America. American churches became soapbox churches. We have those who rally around the Bible and shout about people NOT living moral lives while we ignore the sin within. We loved the shouting and failed to reach people with Jesus Christ. We also have those that were/are determined to reach people and began to offer a more pragmatic form of teaching that led to little discipleship and an embracing of little moral truth. These soapbox type churches are now a majority in America. One may find it difficult to hear any clear teaching on the simple things of life, including human life, for fear of offending. And when one finds truth, often it is wrapped in self righteous indignation and not in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
The soapbox approach has developed due to one simple practice among us preachers.
Most American Pastors have abandoned Expository Preaching and most Bible Study groups are more focused on felt needs! We we fail to teach the Bible from cover to cover, verse by verse, and so we produce little in discipleship. And what little is done, is extremely weak. I have found it amazing to teach through Genesis and discover the depth of truth about understanding creation and life that is so easy to see and equally applicable today. I don't have to go off on a soapbox. The Bible speaks for itself with grace and in love to all who will receive. And Genesis actually covers homosexuality!
And don't forget, the Bible even tells us the itching ears and the leaving behind of sound doctrine will occur as we approach the return of Jesus Christ. We should not be so surprised that we are seeing it.
We should also be quick to repent of the fact that we actually aided in the progression of such.
I will offer two areas that I think will assist us in seeing the roots that are allowing all of this change to occur.
First, we lost the battle on the homosexual issues by not understanding the homosexual agenda. The agenda put forth was one of being recognized as a minority. Since the late 1970's this idea has been allowed to fully develop without any challenge from those who differ. More so, the silence from true minorities has been a booster shot to the homosexual movement. By embracing the minorities, and the minorities embracing the homosexual agenda, the agenda has actually captured an apparent victory.
To qualify as a minority, one must reproduce the same. Homosexuals do not reproduce. Homosexuals are NOT a minority. They never have been and never will be, unless we change the definition of "minority"! Had we simply begun the discussion, and continued it with this principle of fact, the influence of the agenda would have been severely held back. We chose to argue and condemn and were thus easy targets to be labeled as hateful. The influence of a behavior group would have been easily slowed had we kept the discussion here. We should have been assisting the minority groups in their struggle while protecting them from this usurping. We failed.
And yes, minority groups allowed this behavior agenda to steal the day and they have lost much as a result.
But something occurred inside many churches that equally allowed for the changing thoughts on sin and other things in America. American churches became soapbox churches. We have those who rally around the Bible and shout about people NOT living moral lives while we ignore the sin within. We loved the shouting and failed to reach people with Jesus Christ. We also have those that were/are determined to reach people and began to offer a more pragmatic form of teaching that led to little discipleship and an embracing of little moral truth. These soapbox type churches are now a majority in America. One may find it difficult to hear any clear teaching on the simple things of life, including human life, for fear of offending. And when one finds truth, often it is wrapped in self righteous indignation and not in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
The soapbox approach has developed due to one simple practice among us preachers.
Most American Pastors have abandoned Expository Preaching and most Bible Study groups are more focused on felt needs! We we fail to teach the Bible from cover to cover, verse by verse, and so we produce little in discipleship. And what little is done, is extremely weak. I have found it amazing to teach through Genesis and discover the depth of truth about understanding creation and life that is so easy to see and equally applicable today. I don't have to go off on a soapbox. The Bible speaks for itself with grace and in love to all who will receive. And Genesis actually covers homosexuality!
And don't forget, the Bible even tells us the itching ears and the leaving behind of sound doctrine will occur as we approach the return of Jesus Christ. We should not be so surprised that we are seeing it.
We should also be quick to repent of the fact that we actually aided in the progression of such.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The Great American Christian Question
The history of America is without honest question. This nation was founded on Biblical principles. From those principles God blessed and America grew beyond anyone's dreams. The power of such growth resulted in an incredible world protector for liberty and religious freedom. That was then!
What about now!
Christians in America need to answer this question quickly. We must also pray and be determined to get the right answer. For the right answer is our path from now forward. We will find the right answer by looking at our past failures. Yes, our past failures highlight the answer needed today.
We begin by admitting that we as American Christians have failed to understand that our primary purpose was and is to lead people to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, people are simply sinful people with NO hope for changing. We have fought hard the culture war. We have lost. We lost because we were not focused on leading people to the one true God who could and will save them through Jesus Christ. Our biggest failure as American Christians is found in that we did not reach the multitudes of people that God allowed to come to America. We had it all set up to reach world! We failed. Without a changed heart, people will not adopt an ideology that is Christian based. Our worldview will not make sense to them at all! We tried via many methods while avoiding the one and only method that works - leading people to Jesus! We begin to find our answer when we admit to this failure!
The absence of the power of the Holy Spirit evidenced in our lives is also a big failure! American Christians learned to play at church. We learned that real well. We developed many of our systems and programs in our churches by copying the world. The greatest one being Sunday School. We copied the American education system. We set up directors, had roll books, and some churches even use to ring the bell! We established programs, and I do mean many programs. We built our church schedules around the work culture of the 50's and 60's and we grew children's ministries/missions ministries for children right out of boy/girl scouts. The club mentality anchored our approach. For adults the same was true. In all of this, the programs became the focus in place of the power of the Holy Spirit living in and working through our lives. We taught for education sake. We learned many facts but we failed to experience the power God via the Holy Spirit in our lives. We were so focused on knowing about that we never realized we were not living in. Again, we failed.
This led to neglect of some key Biblical disciplines. In particular, fasting! There are those few types of churches that practice this and have for years. But many American Christians in our older age groups never were taught or led to develop fasting in their lives. Without fasting there can be no power of the Holy Spirit. Our lives were simply being lived through a mental ideology. An ideology that requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
So caught up in our programs and structure we embraced a salesman approach to sharing the gospel. We tweaked our services in some cases and in others demanded that we NOT change a thing. Time was always our focus and comfort and familiarity followed in our priorities. We began trying to attract people instead of sharing Jesus by living in Him. It worked for a while - maybe, maybe not. But soon we could not do enough to up what had already been done. People caught on to our sales pitch and began tuning us out. Again we failed.
People without Jesus began to see that those who professed to have him were not that much different. In fact, often times Christians were worse. We were mean, lacked compassion, ugly, holier than thou, and were more focused on we wanted and bragging about what we claimed to have, that people failed to see in us a compassion for them. We were anything but passionate for people. Love was not found for anyone, just for those we liked. And the slide continued. Only now, other religions and ideologies were being embraced. And we could go on and on...!
So what is the answer?
1. Know our purpose is to live obedient to the command of our Lord to lead people to Jesus!
2. Know that we must fucus on living in the power of the Holy Spirit daily! Without this power lives will not be changed.
3. Know that following Biblical disciplines must become a priority. Seek to learn these and apply them daily. The power of the Holy Spirit depends upon it.
4. Know that we love and thus show this love of people daily! People come in all shapes and backgrounds. We are to love them! Period!
We begin with these four! Until these four are evident, nothing else will matter! It is only through these four that Revival will come! And our greatest need right now is not political nor ideological.
What about now!
Christians in America need to answer this question quickly. We must also pray and be determined to get the right answer. For the right answer is our path from now forward. We will find the right answer by looking at our past failures. Yes, our past failures highlight the answer needed today.
We begin by admitting that we as American Christians have failed to understand that our primary purpose was and is to lead people to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, people are simply sinful people with NO hope for changing. We have fought hard the culture war. We have lost. We lost because we were not focused on leading people to the one true God who could and will save them through Jesus Christ. Our biggest failure as American Christians is found in that we did not reach the multitudes of people that God allowed to come to America. We had it all set up to reach world! We failed. Without a changed heart, people will not adopt an ideology that is Christian based. Our worldview will not make sense to them at all! We tried via many methods while avoiding the one and only method that works - leading people to Jesus! We begin to find our answer when we admit to this failure!
The absence of the power of the Holy Spirit evidenced in our lives is also a big failure! American Christians learned to play at church. We learned that real well. We developed many of our systems and programs in our churches by copying the world. The greatest one being Sunday School. We copied the American education system. We set up directors, had roll books, and some churches even use to ring the bell! We established programs, and I do mean many programs. We built our church schedules around the work culture of the 50's and 60's and we grew children's ministries/missions ministries for children right out of boy/girl scouts. The club mentality anchored our approach. For adults the same was true. In all of this, the programs became the focus in place of the power of the Holy Spirit living in and working through our lives. We taught for education sake. We learned many facts but we failed to experience the power God via the Holy Spirit in our lives. We were so focused on knowing about that we never realized we were not living in. Again, we failed.
This led to neglect of some key Biblical disciplines. In particular, fasting! There are those few types of churches that practice this and have for years. But many American Christians in our older age groups never were taught or led to develop fasting in their lives. Without fasting there can be no power of the Holy Spirit. Our lives were simply being lived through a mental ideology. An ideology that requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
So caught up in our programs and structure we embraced a salesman approach to sharing the gospel. We tweaked our services in some cases and in others demanded that we NOT change a thing. Time was always our focus and comfort and familiarity followed in our priorities. We began trying to attract people instead of sharing Jesus by living in Him. It worked for a while - maybe, maybe not. But soon we could not do enough to up what had already been done. People caught on to our sales pitch and began tuning us out. Again we failed.
People without Jesus began to see that those who professed to have him were not that much different. In fact, often times Christians were worse. We were mean, lacked compassion, ugly, holier than thou, and were more focused on we wanted and bragging about what we claimed to have, that people failed to see in us a compassion for them. We were anything but passionate for people. Love was not found for anyone, just for those we liked. And the slide continued. Only now, other religions and ideologies were being embraced. And we could go on and on...!
So what is the answer?
1. Know our purpose is to live obedient to the command of our Lord to lead people to Jesus!
2. Know that we must fucus on living in the power of the Holy Spirit daily! Without this power lives will not be changed.
3. Know that following Biblical disciplines must become a priority. Seek to learn these and apply them daily. The power of the Holy Spirit depends upon it.
4. Know that we love and thus show this love of people daily! People come in all shapes and backgrounds. We are to love them! Period!
We begin with these four! Until these four are evident, nothing else will matter! It is only through these four that Revival will come! And our greatest need right now is not political nor ideological.
Our greatest need is REVIVAL!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Emotions and the effects thereof!
Mood swings are bad. Emotions left unchecked to reality are far worse! America is in an emotion overload and the effects should they continue, could be America altering for the bad! Emotions are a God given reality. They make us human. They allow us to feel and avoid the horrific state of being a mere robot. They have there place in our lives and they are needed. But emotions were never given to lead us!
Right now emotions are ruining more than America may be able to grasp. Emotions have become the political most favored path to accomplish irrational change. Get emotions freely running, unchecked by common sense, and you can get people to do and say without thinking and make changes so lacking in logic and rational, that you can change an entire nation before anyone realizes it.
And this is the path America is currently on!
Emotions change priorities. We feel and thus we act. We change without ever taking the time to ask questions and evaluate completely what we are changing. We just desire to do something because the feelings we experience push us for some activity. But activity does not help our emotions long term. We hope it will - but it does not.
The emotional issues facing America today are leading us as a nation to a point of total chaos. And because the emotions are leading, we do not see the dangerous ending point. I thought I would highlight just a few to bring us back to reality:
1. An American is being held in Mexico and the American Government is doing literally little to effect his release. He violated no laws and is a military hero. Where is the outrage?
2. Benghazi is still in coverup mode with added Tylenol for headaches due to concussion sustained without specifics on the cause of such. We had military and Government officials killed. Where is the outrage?
3. The same Government that now wants to change the 2ND Amendment is the same Government that intentionally ran guns into Mexico in one of the worst debacles of US Government programs. Many have died as a result. Where is the outrage?
4. Our Government has the time to create a new task force to look at changes to gun laws and ownership rights while putting little effort into the real danger to American life, the fiscal cliff. And there is NO path to avoiding this cliff in sight? Where is the outrage?
5. It is beyond horrible to kill! I cannot fathom the depth of grief that parents and family members are experiencing right now in Connecticut. We as a nation with one unified voice have declared evil that was committed as such! And now people are saying get the guns! We cannot allow children to live in danger of such evil. And yet, our nation murders millions of babies via abortion and few cry over the evil! Where is the outrage?
America - we have a problem! Our emotions are leading us to miss reality! And the effects of this continuing will be more than I can even think.
Right now emotions are ruining more than America may be able to grasp. Emotions have become the political most favored path to accomplish irrational change. Get emotions freely running, unchecked by common sense, and you can get people to do and say without thinking and make changes so lacking in logic and rational, that you can change an entire nation before anyone realizes it.
And this is the path America is currently on!
Emotions change priorities. We feel and thus we act. We change without ever taking the time to ask questions and evaluate completely what we are changing. We just desire to do something because the feelings we experience push us for some activity. But activity does not help our emotions long term. We hope it will - but it does not.
The emotional issues facing America today are leading us as a nation to a point of total chaos. And because the emotions are leading, we do not see the dangerous ending point. I thought I would highlight just a few to bring us back to reality:
1. An American is being held in Mexico and the American Government is doing literally little to effect his release. He violated no laws and is a military hero. Where is the outrage?
2. Benghazi is still in coverup mode with added Tylenol for headaches due to concussion sustained without specifics on the cause of such. We had military and Government officials killed. Where is the outrage?
3. The same Government that now wants to change the 2ND Amendment is the same Government that intentionally ran guns into Mexico in one of the worst debacles of US Government programs. Many have died as a result. Where is the outrage?
4. Our Government has the time to create a new task force to look at changes to gun laws and ownership rights while putting little effort into the real danger to American life, the fiscal cliff. And there is NO path to avoiding this cliff in sight? Where is the outrage?
5. It is beyond horrible to kill! I cannot fathom the depth of grief that parents and family members are experiencing right now in Connecticut. We as a nation with one unified voice have declared evil that was committed as such! And now people are saying get the guns! We cannot allow children to live in danger of such evil. And yet, our nation murders millions of babies via abortion and few cry over the evil! Where is the outrage?
America - we have a problem! Our emotions are leading us to miss reality! And the effects of this continuing will be more than I can even think.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Double Standards Multiplying
Life is getting more and more complicated. Calls ring out for inclusion. Pleas are made for love and mercy, acceptance and equal protection. Standards once thought to be grounded in cement are now shown to sit atop sinking sand. What is taking place in America and American Christianity?
The clear visual for us today is seen in the uprising over Chick Fil A. The owner of the company, a private company, speaks his mind about what he believes to be true, and mainstream media outlets go ballistic. People who practice the freedom of speech suddenly want to attack the owner of a successful business for doing the same. A boycott is called for of the chicken serving establishments. City officials are pressured to rule these establishments as unwanted in their cities.
So what has happened to free speech?
I think this is an honest question. America has been under attack for years from the homosexual community. No doubt that much has been gained by there attacks. But how can this community of people use the rail of free speech and equal protection while denying the same to people who speak opposite. Important in the thought process is understanding that Chick Fil A has never NOT served a homosexual. They have never been accused of showing bias on any level.
This double standard is the result of compromises made over the years to the homosexual community. It is a price that we will now have to pay and somehow work through. We allowed a small group to gain a foothold in our decision process. Chaos is now an everyday norm. And there is not found a visible end anywhere down the road. Honesty is passing from the Christian community. In some circles today, what was once called homosexual activity is now passed as only battles due to previous life events. When Christians accept the double standard, the path to deliverance and true freedom are lost. When we allow this double standard to exist, we join the attack on the Gospel of Jesus and His Word.
How do we move forward?
I serve in a community that has one of the highest homosexual populations in all of Tennessee. Homosexuals attend our services weekly. I do not soften the Word of God as to the sin of homosexuality nor do I compromise limits for their involvement. Yes I have been questioned on this. Yes I get an occasional letter or email. Once I even got a visit to the office. But never have I ever been called unloving or homophobic for my beliefs and how those beliefs are taught and lived out on a daily bases.
People talk of building bridges these days. We must remember that we cannot build anything of substance on sand. Sin will not uphold the truth of God's Word. Sin allowed and justified cannot a bridge of biblical ministry support. Teaching the truth in love will drive a wedge often between people. The bible says of itself that the Gospel is an offense. Rants are not needed. But neither should compromise be found in this discussion. Many have come out of the homosexual lifestyle because of the work of God in their lives. And this will continue to be the case if we keep the Word of God out front in this discussion. The "if" is the key.
How long will Chick Fil A hold out? Will they cave in to the pressure? I pray NOT! For more is at stake than one mans right to speak publicly about his beliefs. The whole foundation of allowing the Word of God to speak and direct on this subject is on the line. If we lose this fight, we lose the path of sharing the Gospel to the American community as a whole - we lose our own credibility. And that my friends will be disastrous.
Double standards multiplying are more serious than many think! And the homosexual community is NOT the only place that this is occurring.
The clear visual for us today is seen in the uprising over Chick Fil A. The owner of the company, a private company, speaks his mind about what he believes to be true, and mainstream media outlets go ballistic. People who practice the freedom of speech suddenly want to attack the owner of a successful business for doing the same. A boycott is called for of the chicken serving establishments. City officials are pressured to rule these establishments as unwanted in their cities.
So what has happened to free speech?
I think this is an honest question. America has been under attack for years from the homosexual community. No doubt that much has been gained by there attacks. But how can this community of people use the rail of free speech and equal protection while denying the same to people who speak opposite. Important in the thought process is understanding that Chick Fil A has never NOT served a homosexual. They have never been accused of showing bias on any level.
This double standard is the result of compromises made over the years to the homosexual community. It is a price that we will now have to pay and somehow work through. We allowed a small group to gain a foothold in our decision process. Chaos is now an everyday norm. And there is not found a visible end anywhere down the road. Honesty is passing from the Christian community. In some circles today, what was once called homosexual activity is now passed as only battles due to previous life events. When Christians accept the double standard, the path to deliverance and true freedom are lost. When we allow this double standard to exist, we join the attack on the Gospel of Jesus and His Word.
How do we move forward?
I serve in a community that has one of the highest homosexual populations in all of Tennessee. Homosexuals attend our services weekly. I do not soften the Word of God as to the sin of homosexuality nor do I compromise limits for their involvement. Yes I have been questioned on this. Yes I get an occasional letter or email. Once I even got a visit to the office. But never have I ever been called unloving or homophobic for my beliefs and how those beliefs are taught and lived out on a daily bases.
People talk of building bridges these days. We must remember that we cannot build anything of substance on sand. Sin will not uphold the truth of God's Word. Sin allowed and justified cannot a bridge of biblical ministry support. Teaching the truth in love will drive a wedge often between people. The bible says of itself that the Gospel is an offense. Rants are not needed. But neither should compromise be found in this discussion. Many have come out of the homosexual lifestyle because of the work of God in their lives. And this will continue to be the case if we keep the Word of God out front in this discussion. The "if" is the key.
How long will Chick Fil A hold out? Will they cave in to the pressure? I pray NOT! For more is at stake than one mans right to speak publicly about his beliefs. The whole foundation of allowing the Word of God to speak and direct on this subject is on the line. If we lose this fight, we lose the path of sharing the Gospel to the American community as a whole - we lose our own credibility. And that my friends will be disastrous.
Double standards multiplying are more serious than many think! And the homosexual community is NOT the only place that this is occurring.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
How times have changed
I was reading an article this evening about a Florida Pastor who has been praying at school flag poles for some time. Now he is being told that it is illegal to do so. He has committed to continue his prayer time, normally surrounded by parents and grandparents, this coming Monday as normal. It all got me thinking.
In 1991, See You at The Pole was just getting off the ground as a student prayer meeting. The movement was student led and grew quickly. I was serving as a Youth Pastor in Louisiana and facilitated our students with accomplishing the Flag Pole prayer meeting. It was huge. And it continued to grow. After the first year of seeing what God was doing I realized that more could be done. I got with a fellow Youth Pastor from a neighboring town that was as crazy as I was and we started praying. We asked God specifically to give us a plan for what we felt was swelling up inside of us. Did we ever get an answer.
The next year we launched a See You at The Pole Rally. Remember, we were crazy! We sought to fill up an entire Worship Center with teenagers and share the Gospel with them. We encouraged students to get anyone they could to attend that night. It was gonna be wild. More crazy was the fact that neither of us budgeted the event (God placed it on our hearts after budget time) and out of the box thinking was going to be needed.
The plan formalized and with both us of us using our churches equipment and people the first rally day arrived. The morning Flag Pole was huge. But would they come that night? Our church was hosting it. Our adults had to move out of the Worship Center for their Wednesday night time. Talk about raised eyebrows. But they did. Many of our adults agreed to work security and do other things. They were still questioning just how many we would have and what in the world this event would be like. I was doing the same thing!
Thirty minutes until start time and only 25 teenagers were on our property. I was one nervous dude. Fifteen minutes before start time and still only 25. Then with five minutes to go - the swell hit. That night over 450 teenagers filled our Worship Center. It was beyond belief. Over 20 teenagers accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. 5 others surrendered to ministry. God had done a work beyond what we imagined. Our youth group took off and from that point on we never baptized less than 30 teenagers a year.
We continued the event and each year God worked in incredible ways. And yet today I realized just how much times have changed. Yes their were challenges back then. Legally I had an attorney and other people making sure we did not cross any lines. The schools themselves were supportive and many teachers joined in praying outside of the circle that the students would make. Parents and grandparents joined. No one from the school board nor the schools legal office tried to intervene.
Not today! Funny how people demand their freedom while limiting others. Funny how other religious groups resist legal pressure while enforcing the same on Christians. Ironic that the Occupy movement can violate laws and actually get public funds applied to clean up their mess and more. And yet today, a Pastor is told is it illegal to pray at a Flag Pole?
I'm still thinking...!
In 1991, See You at The Pole was just getting off the ground as a student prayer meeting. The movement was student led and grew quickly. I was serving as a Youth Pastor in Louisiana and facilitated our students with accomplishing the Flag Pole prayer meeting. It was huge. And it continued to grow. After the first year of seeing what God was doing I realized that more could be done. I got with a fellow Youth Pastor from a neighboring town that was as crazy as I was and we started praying. We asked God specifically to give us a plan for what we felt was swelling up inside of us. Did we ever get an answer.
The next year we launched a See You at The Pole Rally. Remember, we were crazy! We sought to fill up an entire Worship Center with teenagers and share the Gospel with them. We encouraged students to get anyone they could to attend that night. It was gonna be wild. More crazy was the fact that neither of us budgeted the event (God placed it on our hearts after budget time) and out of the box thinking was going to be needed.
The plan formalized and with both us of us using our churches equipment and people the first rally day arrived. The morning Flag Pole was huge. But would they come that night? Our church was hosting it. Our adults had to move out of the Worship Center for their Wednesday night time. Talk about raised eyebrows. But they did. Many of our adults agreed to work security and do other things. They were still questioning just how many we would have and what in the world this event would be like. I was doing the same thing!
Thirty minutes until start time and only 25 teenagers were on our property. I was one nervous dude. Fifteen minutes before start time and still only 25. Then with five minutes to go - the swell hit. That night over 450 teenagers filled our Worship Center. It was beyond belief. Over 20 teenagers accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. 5 others surrendered to ministry. God had done a work beyond what we imagined. Our youth group took off and from that point on we never baptized less than 30 teenagers a year.
We continued the event and each year God worked in incredible ways. And yet today I realized just how much times have changed. Yes their were challenges back then. Legally I had an attorney and other people making sure we did not cross any lines. The schools themselves were supportive and many teachers joined in praying outside of the circle that the students would make. Parents and grandparents joined. No one from the school board nor the schools legal office tried to intervene.
Not today! Funny how people demand their freedom while limiting others. Funny how other religious groups resist legal pressure while enforcing the same on Christians. Ironic that the Occupy movement can violate laws and actually get public funds applied to clean up their mess and more. And yet today, a Pastor is told is it illegal to pray at a Flag Pole?
I'm still thinking...!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)