Please Note: This is a lengthy article (It summarizes 4 sermons and over 40 hours of work). I humbly ask you to read the entire piece as it is an attempt to bring these 4 messages together. I have included a throne-room-review, with all the art work embedded in the file if you would rather print it out and read it away from the computer screen.
I want to tie together the messages of the last four weeks. This is very important to me, and I think its something important to us as a church. I actually have a very specific intention – I am trying to be faithful to a strong sense that I have (that I believe is from the Lord), that our shared vision needs to be renewed. I thought about this, prayed and studied a great deal while I was on sabbatical and I believe the Lord spoke to me in wonderful ways from my study of the book of Revelation. I am convinced that the vision of Christ’s exaltation presented to the church in this extraordinary book brings redemptive history together in a way that can energize the church in a time of great need. I am convinced that ours is a time where we need to see Jesus as preeminent, enthroned and with a dominion that is everlasting and ever expanding. (more…)
In just a few days Gail and I will celebrate 26 years of marriage. I’m delighted to be with her, and I’m grateful that she stills finds me a source of joy in her life. But something I have discovered about marriage is this – it cannot be left to itself – marriage needs periodic questions, evaluation and re-affirmation. Leave it to run on automatic pilot and you will end up some place you won’t want to be.
I have had a harder time learning this regarding church life (I guess because with just me and the mrs. I can figure this thing out more quickly than when you have to think about a whole group of people). The truth is, church life requires a very similar willingness to evaluate and renew commitment. I will admit that this is a struggle I don’t always do so well at working through. I assume that people are on the same page, and that commitments made in the past are still working and still relevant. But my time in the book of Revelation as well as some current difficulties are teaching me that I need to think once again about these matters.
Jesus, standing in the midst of His churches
When John saw the vision of Jesus standing amidst the lamp stands I wonder was he astonished by the interest that Jesus had in evaluating the seven churches in Asia Minor? There is no specific reaction of John to this – only the seven times repeated phrase – ‘To the angel of the church of (fill in the name) write…’ Considering how much trouble was going on in the Roman Empire and in Jerusalem I find it quite amazing that Jesus is so completely focused on the life inside these 7 congregations. While there is some reference to outside troubles, like what He says to Smyrna ‘the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.’ Most of the words are directed at life inside the congregations. Jesus, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings concerns himself with whether His people have passion for Him, or whether they are tolerating false teaching, or false prophets in their midst. Wow – with all that was going on around these churches, I’m blown away by the range of Jesus’ evaluative eye – He cares deeply about the quality of life among his people.
After these letters were read what do you think happened next?
Okay, so its Sunday in the church of Ephesus – news spreads throughout the congregation that there is a letter from John that is to be read in the public gathering. The same thing in 6 other congregations in Asia Minor no doubt took place over whatever period of time it took to get this thing circulated. But try to imagine what it might have been like to hear this – ‘But I have this against you‘ (Rev. 2:4) or this; ‘But I have a few things against you‘ (Rev. 2:14). Do you think things became spooky silent in those churches? Do you think that the next time each of those churches met for worship they noticed there were a few less than the week before?
As I understand this process through which Jesus brought each of these seven churches I am convinced that this sort of thing is meant to be a normal part of the life of every local church. Okay, so maybe we won’t receive a letter specifically addressed – ‘to the church of West Orange called Lamb of God.’ But what Jesus does here with each one of these churches is evaluate, redraw the lines and say – listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church. He speaks and he clarifies what He thinks is important, how he defines commitment, and what faithfulness looks like on the part of the people in each one of these congregations.
Six months of study and reflection have led me to the conclusion that this is a time at Lamb of God Fellowship for evaluation and renewal of commitment to take place. In a way that is similar to marriage – the relationships which make up a church community need reassurance – ‘I’m here, and I still want to do this.’ Leaders need reaffirmation from the people – ‘we believe in you, and we still want to follow your lead.’ Leaders need to be able to say to the people – ‘we still count it a privilege to serve you.’ I believe that God has shown me clearly that He is taking us through a process of refinement and pruning. I won’t say at the moment all the things that convince me of that, but suffice it to say that as much as one can know anything I believe Jesus is refining this congregation (myself included).
Would you like to know what I believe?
I have come to believe that some of us have already decided we are no longer committed to Lamb and in various ways have withdrawn our support. This pains me, but I believe it to be true. Others of us need to repent because we haven’t been faithful to what that commitment means and have allowed other things to get in the way. I also know that there are many of you who are faithful and prepared to give yourself as fully as you are able to the things that God has for us. You are the ones who give generously of time and money, who pray for the church, who are willing to sacrifice and faithfully persevere. Maybe you do know, or maybe you don’t – but I am deeply thankful for each one of you. What I pray is this – ‘please Jesus I hope most still have a optimistic view of the future and want to continue building our little piece of God’s Kingdom.’
I want to say that loving this work, Lamb of God is not the same as loving Jesus (although I do believe that loving a local church somewhere is crucial to healthy Christianity). I think LOG has demonstrated over and over again – we love the whole church and pray for God to bless every church He has given us opportunity to know and be involved with in this area. I don’t for a moment believe we are the only church, or the best church. We are what we are – partly wonderful and partly difficult. However, – if you are unhappy, and find yourself filled with criticism and unrelenting dissatisfaction with Lamb – please either work it out or leave. Don’t allow your dissatisfaction to harm this little body of brothers and sisters. Please understand I don’t want anyone who really wants to be here to leave. I want everyone to find a way to work out conflicts, resolve disappointments and to grow together. I know this pleases Jesus. But lingering when you really can’t support this work is a receipt for harming others. Words matter. Criticism, picking away at those who lead and finding fault with one another is most surely a sign that things aren’t working for you.
When I was a young pastor having people leave would devastate me. I would re-criminate myself and feel like I had failed. Sometimes it was my failure. Other times it was something else. Other times it was never clear why someone had left. But age has given me a more philosophical view of things – ‘you don’t necessarily finish this race with the one’s you started with.’ I still feel the loss when people leave – but I recover more quickly.
What I know is this – I still have a passion for pastoring. I still feel energized by being with God’s people. I still want to look ahead and discover with my brothers and sisters new moves of the Spirit, new lessons of God’s goodness and love and new opportunities to welcome people into this motley fellowship of the friends of Jesus. Perhaps this is a time for you to re-affirm the same.