Show & Tell

We have all heard the phrase “Actions speak louder than words”. It is a largely accepted view of the majority of people living in America today. We buy into it because someone can say “I love you” but not act like it. Someone can say “I forgive you” but not act like it. The list goes on and on, you can say anything you want, but if you don’t back it up with your actions, then the words become hollow and meaningless.

There are two sides to this phrase and we must examine both as believers. When we say we forgive someone, we must act forgiving, when we say we love someone, we must act lovingly. When we say we love God, we must act like it through faithful obedience. “Christians” who claim to follow Jesus but then deny him by their lifestyle are nothing but hypocrites, liars, and plastic souls. If we do not allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to change the way that we live as well as the things that we say, then we do not really understand Jesus at all.

On the other hand, we believers have let this “actions speak louder than words” mentality slip too far into our minds. We think that simply “loving people to Jesus” is the best and only way to do evangelism. We think that if we do nice things for people, meet their physical needs, and give them money, we are doing enough. Even if there has been no verbal sharing of the gospel, what the bible says, or what it means to follow Jesus, we think we have done our job by loving them with our actions.

It will always be a good thing to meet people’s physical needs. In fact we have been called to help the poor and needy in tangible and practical ways. As believers, we must back up our words with our actions, but we must not neglect the power and importance of verbal proclamation of the gospel. What good are our actions if we do not explain to the people we are attempting to “love to Jesus”, why we are doing what we are doing, how Jesus has transformed our lives, and that he loves them and wants to transform them as well? The power of the gospel message comes from a beautiful blend of actions and words and we must not be too quick to rely only on one or the other. Love people with your actions, serve them, help them, feed them, clothe them. Love people with your words as well, tell them about the bible, tell them about Jesus, and tell them about his unbelievable love for them. Through our actions and our words, the Spirit will move in the hearts of those who hear the gospel message.

My Fellow Americans

How have you been serving in the church that you currently attend? With the kids? In the kitchen? Teaching a bible study? Cleaning the toilets? Have you been serving at all? If you aren’t regularly serving in your church, then are you really a member of the body? If you are not helping the body in some way, you’re really more like a tumor than a helpful, functioning body part aren’t you? If you just show up for the late service, enjoy the music and the sermon, shake a few hands, and then leave – you are not being an active part of the body like you have been called to.

President John F. Kennedy, in one of the most famous speeches in American history proclaimed these profound words:

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.  - John F. Kennedy

The New Testament talks about how believers are all different parts of the body of Christ and each part needs the other (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 5). The eyes need the feet to move, the feet the need the eyes to see, only the nose can smell and only the ears can hear, and without any part of the body, no matter how seemingly small, trivial, or insignificant, the body would not be whole. But a tumor is a part of the body that is taking up nutrients and space in the body, but offering the body nothing in return. It doesn’t belong there. It isn’t really a part of the body if it does not serve or benefit the body in any way.

If you are not serving your church, and you just show up to the late service, sit back and enjoy the show, and then leave, you are not benefitting the body of Christ in any way. You are selfishly sucking up nutrients offered by the body without offering anything beneficial to everyone else in return. Its about time that the American church hears something like this: My fellow Americans, ask not what your church can do for you, ask what you can do for your church. To truly be a part of a church, THE Church, we must serve. Jesus himself did not come to be served, but to serve. We must share that heart and mindset. We must not come to be served, but to serve. We must offer the body what God has gifted us with. We must stop being selfish, lazy spectating, nutrient sucking tumors of a people, and become active members of the body of Christ that expect to serve and not be served. 

Church Consumerism

When you ask someone why they go to a certain church, almost always the answer is somehow related to how the church is benefitting them. “The pastor’s sermons really fill me up.” “I really enjoy the music and the band.” “If I don’t go to this church, I don’t get my fill of God for the week.” I have heard these answers over and over again and they are weak. Even people that are going to their church simply for relational purposes are missing out on what church is supposed to be. Yes, your church should rejuvenate you, it should fill you up, you should enjoy relationship with other believers, you should enjoy singing praises to God. But God intends church to be so much more than just music, speaking, and a rejuvenating experience.

Throughout the New Testament, Paul and Peter over and over again emphasize the importance and necessity of serving the church and serving other people. God has gifted all of his followers with unique abilities, gifts, experiences, talents, and passions. Each unique person is biblically required to use these to build up the church and advance the kingdom. If you are limiting your church experience to enjoying the sermon, the music, and the fellowship, you are missing out on the full beauty of God’s established church. Those are good things, but they should be perks, not the focus. Church is not about you. It is not about what you enjoy or how talented the musicians are. It is not about just making friends or hearing a gifted orator speak truth well. Church is about serving and worshipping in community so that God might be glorified and his kingdom increased.

So many people today choose which church they go to based on themselves, their preferences, and what they enjoy the most. Too many choose which church they go to based on the giftedness of the speaker. Too many choose which church they go to based on how good the music is and if they sing the songs they like. Stop making church about you and what you like and start making your church experience about serving, worshipping, and glorifying God in community. Look for ways to serve and to share life with others who are serving with you. Look for meaningful God centered relationships whose focus is to glorify God. Look for people who are genuinely worshipping God, and not the pastor, the music, or each other. Instead of comparing and contrasting churches like you would cars you want to buy, let God guide you to the body of believers that he has prepared for you. Serve, worship, and glorify God in the community that God has designed for you.

So That

Do you ever find yourself wondering why something is happening or has happened to you? Have you ever thought about what God’s purpose is in either causing or allowing something to happen in your life? I often find myself questioning God’s sovereignty and plan for my life. Surely some of the tragic events or heartbreaking moments in my life were mess-ups or accidents that weren’t supposed to happen. Surely God is too good and too loving to let something bad happen in my life on purpose.

In the 1997 suspense thriller, The Game, Michael Douglas plays the immensely wealthy Nicholas Van Orton. After a conversation with his unusual brother, strange things start happening to him and he is forced to run from people who are trying to kill him. After days of running and hiding, there is a climatic moment on top of a building. After a series of events, Van Orton leaps off the top of a building. Instead of splattering all over the ground, he falls through breakaway glass and lands safely in a giant airbag marked by an "X", surrounded by hundreds of his friends and family. The twist ending is that his brother had paid millions of dollars to have this “game” set up for him to play. All of it was a game. It was all carefully planned and carefully carried out. His every move was monitored by the game’s planner and they had numerous plans in the works to make absolutely sure that Van Orton would end up in the exact right place at the exact right time.

In Galatians 1:11-24, the Apostle Paul briefly describes his story to the churches in Galatia. He discusses the story of his previous life apart from Christ, his dramatic conversion, and his post-salvation life in Christ. In verses 15 and 16, Paul writes:

But when God, who from my birth set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles.

Paul recognized that God planned everything that ever happened to him. Every detail of his life was carefully planned and carefully carried out based on his choices and responses. Before he was even born, God was preparing Paul’s “game”. He was preparing every detail so that Paul would end up exactly where he was supposed to at exactly the right time. Since before either of us was born, God had a plan for your life and for my life and through the good and the bad, the joyful and the tragic, he has carried it out to perfection in order to make sure we end up exactly where we are supposed to be right this very minute. Can you imagine how much planning and detail it would take to plan every detail of a few days for one man in the movie? To plan every detail of every minute so that everything runs according to plan?

God is so sovereign and so loving. He cares enough about you and me to plan every tiny detail of our lives to make sure that we end up exactly where we are supposed to so that we might proclaim the Gospel in that place. So that we are able to represent Christ to the people in that place. So that we might fulfill God’s calling in our lives through obedience. So that his name might be glorified. So that the lost might be saved. Since before you were born, God planned every detail to make sure you would get to wherever you are right this very second so that you might share his love with the people around you. Are you going to let that go to waste? Or are you going to step out in obedience so that God might be glorified? 

Church Denominations

Having spent the last 4 years of my life surrounded by hundreds of college students who have grown up in a significantly different Christian America than any other generation, I have heard a lot of different thoughts and opinions about denominations in general. Most have no idea what denomination their church really is unless it has it mentioned in the church's name. Even if they do know what denomination their church is, they have no idea what that really means. And the worst part that I have noticed in my experience is that they don't even care. 

I have spent the last 4 days in Houston, Texas at the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor's Conference. I have been a Southern Baptist since April 13, 1990, probably before actually. Growing up in the family that I did, I knew more about what it means to be Southern Baptist than most kids my age did. Over the years, thanks to my parents, grandparents, and mentors/pastors in my life, I have learned even more about the denomination, how it works, what we believe, etc. This week, my knowledge about the denomination tripled (approximately) and I developed an incredible appreciation and sense of gratitude for denominations in general, but specifically Southern Baptists. 

Allow me to share/brag just a few of the many reasons that I'm proud to call myself a Southern Baptist:

- Southern Baptists are the largest protestant denomination in North America at 16 million members. 

- There are over 45,000 churches that actively collaborate and work together. 

- Southern Baptists planted over 24,000 churches last year alone. 

- 337,385 people came to faith in Christ through the work of Southern Baptist missionaries in 2013 alone. 

- Southern Baptists support almost 5,000 missionaries outside of North America. 

- Southern Baptists operate 6 of the best seminaries in the world. 

As I have learned more about denominations, I have come to realize how important it is, not necessarily to be Southern Baptist, but to know about your church's affiliations. Whether or not you agree theologically, you cannot deny the impressive stats above and the power that lies within the core Baptist value of cooperation. God has blessed my denomination throughout its history and has allowed SB members to be a part of building his Kingdom all over the world. 

All that being said, no matter how old you are or what church you go to, I would encourage you to learn more about your denomination. Learn about the doctrines your church stand upon - you might be surprised both positively or negatively by what you find. Think deeply about what your church believes and whether or not you believe it is biblical. Learn about how your denomination is organized and works together - this will tell you a lot about their values and effectiveness. There are many reasons to think about and examine your church denomination's beliefs and values, strengths and weaknesses. Do a little googling and researching and watch your life be enriched with knowledge and a deeper appreciation for church!