Wash dishes . . . to the glory of God

In his role as a missions mobilizer, my brother Dave has been in Germany and is now on his way to Croatia. This that follows is his update for day six of his journey. - Ray

Day 6 - July 22, 2012

Worms, Germany

As I write these updates, I find my mind turning to you, the reader especially because of the varied responses I get back from people like you. Some are mothers and homemakers, others are government employees, one is a flight attendant, a few are retired, some are in full time ministry, while others work in IT, the medical field, or radio. A true cross-section!

Two things tend to characterize these individuals: (1) a passion for Christ to be made known in all places at all times to all peoples; (2) frequent uncertainty that the daily tasks assigned to me have anything to do with fulfilling the Great Commission. And lest I appear to be exalting "the missionary" and the missionary role unduly, I want to say that I am aware of the crucial part each person plays in the big mosaic of world evangelism.

A young mother wrote me today in response to these updates. She said: "I am blessed to have this reminder as I wipe and spank butts, that our gracious God is at work in my little world and also among the nations."

That is reality. How easy it is to forget that the changing of that diaper, the cooking of a meal, speaking to a customer or making a delivery or chatting with our neighbor is the vital role we are called to play in God's cosmic plan.

When we are involved in the "dailyness" of life and going about the tasks God has called us to, some things just seem mundane, even meaningless.

Elisabeth Elliot had a way of putting the "menial" tasks in context: "This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness." What a great perspective!

Do you believe today that the things on your agenda are the work of mission? That you have been called to do the tasks assigned to you today? Are you convinced that not even illness or affliction can prove to be an impediment to God carrying out his work through you?

I will close with the profound thought of John Henry Newman: "God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain."

Go wash dishes and change diapers and fix computers to the glory of God!

Dave

"But I go out as a missionary

. . . not that I may follow the dictate of common sense, but that I might obey the command of Christ. This command seems to be strictly a missionary injunction so that apart altogether from choice and other lower reasons, my going forth is a matter of obedience to a plain command. And in seeking to assign a reason for going abroad, I would prefer to say that I fail to discover any reason why I should stay at home. - James Gilmour, missionary to the Mongols

In Need Of A New Heart

Life is the mightiest of all possessions. From death to life is the mightiest of all changes. And no change short of this will ever avail to fit a person’s soul for heaven.

It is not a little mending and alteration – a little cleansing and purifying – a little painting and patching – a little whitewashing and varnishing – a little turning over a new leaf and putting on a new outside that is needed. It is the bringing in of something altogether new – the planting within us of a new nature, a new being – a new principle – a new mind. This alone, and nothing less than this, will ever meet the necessities of person’s soul. We need not merely a new skin, but a new heart.

~ J.C. Ryle

Stay or Go?

Should one stay in churches that affirm beliefs and behaviors that stand opposed to the cross of Christ? Should we remain in such an association in order to work against their delusions and possibly help them change course?

It probably depends on the matter in question, but for those who are deciding what to do in the face of today's watershed theological and social issues, I like Dietrich Bonhoeffer's answer: “If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction.”

Know and Believe God's Word

Greg Beale's, A New Testament Biblical Theology, scores big points with his perceptive analysis of the ongoing deceptions afflicting the church today. Besides the errors of Adam and Eve and Israel, where they refused to simply trust the truth of God as He spoke, there is the church's continuing failure to simply do what we know . . . be what we profess . . . act on what we say we believe. In spite of all of our knowledge, we still prefer the lie. We still refuse to change our minds, our hearts, our lives. He concludes chapter seven with application for where we live:

The heart of the matter is this: do Christians know God's word, do they believe it, and do they do it? If not, then the lies of the evil one will slip into our lives and churches ever so subtly. When this happens and the process goes unchecked and uncorrected, then the deceptions begin to pour in like an overflowing river (cf. Rev 12:15) . . . Do Christian families make God's word the center of their homes? Do pastors set aside sufficient time to study God's word in preparation for Sunday sermons in order to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God as workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15)? If not, then the false teaching of those "who have gone astray from the truth" will make inroads into the church (2 Tim 2:18). (223)

Never grow weary of reading your Bible

Let's heed Bishop Ryle and never grow weary of the slow, steady, growth that comes from the daily, disciplined, increasing, love affair with reading the Bible.

Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced.

Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading. (J. C. Ryle, Practical Religion, 136)

Not by sight, but by faith

By Cal Thomas

Tribune Media Services

A group of conservative evangelical leaders met in Texas last weekend and endorsed a Roman Catholic for president. Given the history of evangelical antipathy toward the theological underpinnings of the Roman Catholic Church, that in itself signals a remarkable evolution (pardon the word), along with a considerable amount of political pragmatism.

The blessing of what was once called the “Religious Right” fell on the once-married Rick Santorum and not the thrice married and more recent convert to Catholicism, Newt Gingrich.

The endorsement came on the same weekend when Tebow-mania was at its height, as were the ratings for CBS, which carried the Denver Broncos-New England Patriots football game. Tebow’s Broncos were crushed by the superior and less openly religious Patriots.

Despite evidence that politics (and sports) cannot deliver America from its collective sins, evangelicals repeatedly search for an earthly savior. So desperate are they to find this deliverer that they have glommed onto the Catholic Santorum, a man whose religion many of them vilify and hold in utter contempt, in hopes of trumpeting their conservative values and faith-based initiatives in the coming election. In so doing, they make a mistake their Scriptures warn against.

The Kingdom of God functions best, said the One who ought to know, when it is invisible, or hidden. In his numerous parables, Jesus spoke of it being like a treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44), or as tiny as a mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32). As for prayer, He said to do that privately, not in public “…like the hypocrites...” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Those who spend a lot of time arguing for the inerrancy of Scripture seem to gloss over these instructions when it comes to politics and football.

Why do many evangelicals feel the need to see their faith on public display? Are they that insecure about the One in whom they claim to believe? His Apostle, Paul, said, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) Was he kidding?

I’m sure Tim Tebow is as fine a man as everyone says he is; everyone except Bill Maher and other “apatheist” detractors. But the Jesus about whom Tebow frequently speaks and to whom he drops to one knee to publicly praise, said to go into your closet and pray in secret and then your prayers will be heard.

The point has been made by several commentators that God also loves players on the losing side of games (and elections), so why don’t losers praise Him and we them? Just asking.

Something else evangelicals gloss over. Scripture says all authority comes from God and He puts people in power who serve His purposes, not ours. There are too many verses to cite here. Look it up.

For those who claim to believe the Bible is “the Word of God,” it means God has a purpose for President Obama being in office. Evangelicals may not like it and many may not vote for him, but they can’t credibly deny this truth. In the ultimate church-state moment, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus responded that Pilate would not have that power had God not given it to him. (John 19:11) Case closed.

American Christianity is unique and the antithesis of what the faith looks like in much of the world. Elsewhere, Christians pay a high price for their faith. Some are denied their freedom, some are denied jobs and still others are denied their lives. Christian missionaries labor for low pay, receive little recognition and are often persecuted. Jesus said those who are greatest on Earth will be least in Heaven and vice versa. (Matthew 19:30)

Righteousness doesn’t come from the top, but from the bottom. A nation that focuses on money and pleasure will get political leadership that reflects that idolatry. The list of great nations that have collapsed throughout history is a long one. Self-indulgence toppled most of them. Invading armies merely finished the process.

Instead of intensely focusing on football and the next election, perhaps evangelicals ought to pray more; in private, of course, and with the right motives.

(C) 2012 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.