Good day dear friends.
Dean Virgil Matthews was my first religion professor. He was the
Dean of Students at Lon Morris College, and he enjoyed teaching
religion to first time Bible students such as myself. Dean Matthews
was also the one who would gather the hardy group of minister-
wannabes on Sunday nights to chat. I'll never forget the first
meeting where about thirty of us were in a big circle on that campus
and Dean Matthews said, "Look around boys (yes, sadly, we were all
boys), and out of this group of about thirty, only two of you will
be ministers." Everyone looked around with that question the
disciples felt when Jesus said one of them would betray Him. The
verse, "Many are called, few are chosen" came to mind. And Dean
Matthews was right, only about two of us in that circle that
night became ministers.
But the greatest lesson Dean Matthews taught was when he asked our
religion class, "What is the opposite of love?" Oh, man, that's an
easy one, all hands in the air, some just shouted out the
answer, "Hate!" No. No? How could it not be hate? That was the
word of choice growing up when we were angry with our brothers or
sister, "I hate you!" We didn't mean it, but it sure sounded
great. "No," the dean calmly replied, "the opposite of love is
indifference." Huh? That's no fun! You can't say, I indifferent
you! Well, you can, I just did, but folks would just think we were
crazy and walk away.
We thought about it during the silence and then he began to explain
and we began to understand. Love and hate both have passion and
both recognize that the other is still alive. To be indifferent is
to not care one way or the other; no passion, no emotion, no nothing.
As pastor reviewing our financial standing, I wonder how many of us
are indifferent to Christ's ministry here among us? There seems to
be no passion or emotion in our giving. We seem to care little if
at all, if there is life in our ministry at church or not. We may
pay lip service, but that seems to be all we're willing to pay.
I'll share with you parts of a letter from a pastor in Houston
facing a big decision for his church. It's from another
denomination and they have to decide if they're going to keep their
doors open or not. Yes, friends, that's what does happen when folks
are indifferent to God's work among us, we close the doors. What
other choice do we have? Apparently, the church had frozen salaries
for some three years now. And now, utilities are not being paid,
etc. Here is part of that letter,
"This has been a tremendous burden for me for 14 years, weekly
wondering if we would have enough to make it just one more month.
Trusting God. Have you ever heard me complain about this burden? No.
So now for the first time some folks are just beginning to feel the
heat and they're saying, "It's too much. I can't handle it. All we
ever do is worry about survival. We can't do ministry when we're so
worried. We're tired of fighting. Let's just close!" Somehow I
thought you had more backbone than that.
"Only worried about survival? In 14 years, we added 265 names/souls
in the parish register, some of which have passed on or moved on in
normal attrition. We have baptized 84 of that number. We have
celebrated 69 weddings and 69 funerals. We have partied and
potlucked. We have provided underwear and clothes for people from
the Philippines to Africa. We have hosted and supported three other
worshiping congregations. We have celebrated 1500 worships and
communions. Let's not forget the real stuff of church life.
"Meanwhile, how many people do you know that have voluntarily
refused even a cost of living raise for 3 years in a row? Maybe your
congressman did. Or maybe your doctor or lawyer said to you, "You
know times are tough so just pay me two-thirds of your bill, no
problem." Maybe your favorite TV preacher said, "If you send me any
money, I'll send it right back!"
"How many people do you know that have voluntarily refused even a
cost of living raise for 3 years in a row, and that while being paid
$26,000 less than the required minimum for their profession? I find
it ironic."
Why do some churches get to this point? Indifference. The letter
continues:
"This church's next miracle is YOU, when you decide to really give.
The church's next miracle is YOU when you quit tellin' new members
they'll never hold leadership positions, so quit suckin' up by
volunteering. The church's next miracle is YOU when you start
bringing your friends to church instead of sayin' you're gonna
someday. The church's next miracle is YOU when you quit
sayin', "Everyone's already giving as much as they possibly can
afford."
"That's bull! Do you think on his worst day that Sam Walton thinks
you're already giving as much to Wal-Mart and Sam's as you can
possibly afford? Not on your life. They want your last buck and will
go to any length to get it. Gee I went to Foley's the other day and
there was a sign there that said, "Don't shop here today. You've
already given us as much as you can afford." Not likely. Try not to
compliment yourself on your K-Mart giving when you think you're
knockin' down heaven's doors with left-overs after the credit card
bills.
"This church's next miracle is YOU when you decide that this church
is an important force of good in this community, and that it ought
to be here and that people will suffer terribly without it. This
church's next miracle is YOU when you decide to show up regularly to
sing and worship and praise God. This church's next miracle is YOU
when you decide that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is THE most
important thing, and that people really do need to hear more about
GRACE in a religious culture that damns you to hell every time you
turn on the TV or pick up a fiction religious novel and you're
paying good money to consume bad droppings."
That pastor is anything but indifferent in his plea to the
congregation.
Where are you in your relationship with Christ in your church? The
Lord Jesus in the last book of the Bible, that some folks now think
is only a new drama series on NBC, Revelation, said, "So, because
you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you
out of my mouth." That was from Rev. 3:16 and it was a prophetic
word to the church about being indifferent.
Let's get passion back in our worship and that includes our giving!
PRAYER: Gracious God of passion. We thank You for your passion for
us. We celebrate the fullness of life that you share with us and we
pray that we might receive from you that spark which will motivate
us to imitate that passion in our lives to give of ourselves, our
prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service, to making You
shine in us. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Have a blessed day! See you in church!
e.v.
