I get these e-mails...

You know the ones that almost shout from the screen 10 best practices for… (Mine are church health, growth, finances etc.) Yours are probably work at home, invest here on the ground floor or make more money in just a few hours a day. It starts with “I’ve learned the 10 steps to…” or “if you follow my proven, pragmatic program your church… Just as an aside I do also get the “Russian women are searching for you” and “Looking for singles in the Guyton area?” e-mails too. I delete them. It is easy to look at their results and say well maybe this is what I need to do. Those steps seem reasonable and it worked there maybe…So I/we (more on the I) will be successful or maybe thought of as successful. Have you noticed how they play to our insecurities and vanity? They appeal to our dark side. The side that says I can do it. I need money, power, buildings or in the church world the ABC’s attendance, building and cash. The result is a tangible here and now measure of your success in life for men by the measure of what you have done or are doing. Regarding those success principles of scripture, where does the Holy Spirit play in here? Where does success flow from? Who is to build the church anyway? How does Jesus measure success? Let’s start with the last first.

Jesus measures success in terms of faithfulness. He asked his disciples to follow him. The rich young ruler who had kept all of the commandments was asked to go and sell his good, give the money to the poor and follow him. He left because he had much. In restoring Peter Jesus gave him a task. Peter, not wanting anyone left out of the “fun” asked Jesus what about John and Jesus replies what does that matter you follow me. In other words you be faithful to what I ask of you, what I give you, what you have skills to do. Then you will be successful.

Who will build the church? Jesus said “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18 NIV 1984). That seems straight forward and easy if we follow him. Do what he tells ya. That seems so simple but how many people rebel against anything they are told by anyone. Just a tip for the day if someone yells “GET DOWN.” Just do it. Don’t argue or try to figure it out. There will be time to argue about it later. Years ago I pulled up to a fire scene and a police officer is running away from the building. I decided to get behind the truck and THEN figure out why he was running. It turns out ammunition was exploding inside the house. Good call on my part. Jesus is tasked with building the church and we are tasked with following Him.

Because of the Holy Spirit, our success our everything flows from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Savior. Everything flows from THAT relationship. Mother/daughter, husband/wife, father/son, employee/employer every relationship, word, deed, thought flows from that relationship. Our relationship with God is more important than food or water. It is not possible for us to follow him without relationship. Oh, sure we can do it for a little while but not over the long difficult landscape that is life of a believer in a sin infested, infected, affecting world. It is just not possible apart from a relationship with Christ. Yes, we can do things, grow things and look like success but not be faithful and therefore have no relationship. Jesus spoke of this when some said in the judgment;

 ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV 1984)       

The key was relationship or the lack thereof.

I don’t think a marketing e-mail shouting “you want success in life, do you want faithfulness then shore up your relationship with Christ,” will garner many clicks. Even if they yell, “operators are standing by, order now” or “wait we will double our offer.” It may prove to be a hard sell because it is hard to prove. Fruit is difficult at time to see.

For Lent this year what if you decide to do something instead of giving up anything?

How about strengthening your relationship with Christ?

Regularly consider his sacrifice that ought to do it!  

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev