A Low Volume

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63 the last couple of weeks has looked to me a lot like a ghost town. It aches me. Where did everybody go? I mean, seriously people! I go to Germany for 3 1/2 weeks, and, when I come back, everyone's gone! What's up with that? (It's sad to admit it, but I know there's no connection... Right?)

After we sang some worship tunes tonight (seriously, where else would one get the intimate setting and awesome talent of our guys? Tonight we had Ryan and Stu and Danny (not a normal Dan I talk about!). Dan's gotten a lot better at singing over the last few months. And, he's getting better all time. Ryan and Stu are both awesome, too.), we sat around in a circle and had a little bible study because there are so few of us. I'm not complaining. I think 63 is the kind of ministry that must keep going, even when the chairs are empty. Ultimately, it is GOD who provides the bodies. So, I guess my question here is really to Him: "Lord, where is everyone?" In the meantime, I am praying and I know that others are, too that God will strengthen the ministry here and allow it and us who are there in it to reach out to more people and, as Christ says it:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:19-20

We had a little bit of an interesting discussion though tonight. Brian was talking to us about the following passage:

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Be Holy

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:10-21

It was an interesting conversation because, early on it it, Brian started talking about how Christ is our vindication, and then raised the question: When you share the gospel with somebody, what do you share? Do you just talk about Christ's death for our sins, how we have salvation through His blood, and about the victory demonstrated in his resurrection? Or, do you also talk about how, in the end, Christ is going to come back and excercise God's righteous wrath on all who have rejected Him?

It started a little bit of discussion going back and forth about how people present the gospel to non-believers. As Brian put it: The gospel, to the non-believer, is offensive. Therefore, the question running around the circle was about how much emphasis different people think we should put on talking about God's wrath and coming judgement. People often shy away from that because it really is offensive to someone who does not believe it. A lot of people seem to think that it is dangerous to stress that part because it tends to cause people to walk away. I think it is equally dangerous to leave it out though, and that seemed to be Brian's standpoint as well. Although, I doubt I would make as much effort as he seems to. People don't like being judged, and that's basically what it is. It's a reminder that each and every one of us will be judged.

Praise be to the Lord that He sent His son to die on that cross in my place!!!

It was making me think though about my own efforts in ministering to others. I don't pass out tracks to people like my Dad does. I don't confront people with the message of the gospel out of the blue. I don't constantly remind a non-believer of the message. I honestly don't feel comfortable doing that. But, I do fight not to hide it also. I do fight not to let it go undefended. I am working on living my life more and more in a way that testifies to the power of God's Holy Spirit inside of me. I do work at places the credit for the victories in my life on Him. I think that is the way I share the message. I was in the middle of thinking about this when Dan said something similar (I think it was something similar) about how we can alternatively share. Maybe God has a plan to prepare me to be able to share in that confrontational wayu as well. I will try not to run away from it! I only know that, as far as I am concerned: I want to work everyday to be more and more His servant, to give Him the glory (because He deserves it!) for every success and victory, to pray and, through prayer, deepen my relationship with Him, and, ultimately, I hope to serve Him in some purposeful way here on this Earth before He decides to bring me Home. I don't want to waste this time that He has given me.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

- C.S. Lewis

You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit — immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.

- C.S. Lewis - The Weight of Glory

Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it.

- C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

The greatest source of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips but deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

- DC Talk