Too many Christians want Christ…AND…in addition…. (you fill in the blank.) Before long the additions become Christ’s competitors. Not long after, they become his superiors. In no time Christ has no relevance by those additions being all-important.
That may explain why some people commit to church activities, faithfully serve for a time, then, without explanation or visible reason, reduce participation or STOP. As thorny/soil believers, they find fulfillment in juggling a number of projects, interests or commitments, but each only as it satisfies an existential need and they feel it worth the effort. Since their interests change, they make periodic adjustments. Multiple involvement remains, but always at the mercy of time constraints. They discard what has lost its appeal or they feel no longer merits their time. At that point, the question of investment-to-reward ratio determines the discard. And…without a firm commitment to Jesus, he’s the first to go. For no leader demands more of us—since he demands the first of us in every thought, decision and behavior; and is therefore eliminated by those who simply have too many interests to concentrate all their energies on ONE issue, person or cause. A corollary issue relates to this point. All Christians, including leaders, can mistake busyness with spirituality. Which is why the church can be more divisive than unifying in members’ lives. It’s a challenge leaders must resolve when Covid-19 runs its course. We won’t need less Christian work done. We will need to involve more people, each with fewer roles, instead of fewer people with more roles. The need of lay workers, always the genius of New Testament life, will be enhanced by the uncertainties Covid and other issues pose. But the service will need to provide opportunities without being another of many civic organizations that keep family life scattered. Since many of us find quietness before God unappealing, even boring, we neglect him for what keeps excitement surging through our minds and hearts. Our friend Elijah suffered from that sin. When duty called, he formidably served. But after the fierce contest at Carmel, and he recounted it in the quiet following, adrenalin failed. He needed to wait before God. When he failed to do so, he fell to the threat against life that he would have disregarded prior to Mt. Carmel. (This is a supposition but based on understanding the response to Jezebel and the collapse of adrenaline rush in activity once quiet has returned.) Like him, our discipleship-life can get so noisy with activities, projects, deadlines and meetings that we hear only their demands, frustrations, shouts ad moans. In the turmoil, God’s “gentle whisper”, AKA “still small voice”, may be not only unheard but unwelcome. Elijah, in the grip of manic-depression, judged his entire life by a single threat from a wicked woman. He couldn’t read the entire book of his life’s work at that time. He could see only the last chapter—and it revealed a weakness he didn’t know he had and, once seeing, didn’t want to see as his finale. But, excepting a few brief appearances as God’s most important servant in the critical battle with Baal, Elijah’s signal success—and do not minimize its usefulness in God’s Kingdom—was his appointment of Elisha as successor. God would permanently retire Elijah from ministry. He would always personally, through chosen men, continue to attack every satanic effort to introduce deities to divert attention from himself, the REAL, ONLY GOD! I’ve always remembered that my brother Dick said he was “worn out” previous to his death. I remember it so clearly that I never use the term. I may be exhausted. I may need more sleep. I may even need a break from writing and preaching. But I never say, “I’m worn out.” Philip Rivers retired from the NFL a few days ago. He said he could still run, still pass, still lead, but the time had come to STOP. I’m 84, without an awareness of it. I still preach with power and write with clarity. And however much 84 years shout that I have only a past of service, I’m preparing like I have a future in God’s service. I may be wrong, understand. But retirement from preaching and writing will have to overtake me as I keep speeding along. I WILL NOT slow down and make it easy. One or two more Parts will be in this series. But for now…Remember: God will call us: to accept Christ; to be obedient to Christ; to an active role in serving Christ. We may not hear him by allowing too much static, from too many other causes. Remember: if we have plenty of other options in life, we won’t want God to monopolize it. That very busyness will keep us occupied, distracted and confused about our REAL purpose in life—read II Corinthians 4:16-5:10. But if we say our SINGLE life desire is to KNOW God and the Christ he sent, God has a place where any Christian can be used. End Part X
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