SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #128 ----6/26/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #128 ---- 6/26/00
TITLE: "Line In The Sand"
My Dear Warrior Friend:
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I trust
this note finds you drawing fully from the inexhaustible provision of the
Lord.
This week has been a transition week for me, trying to get adjusted back
to time and life in America's Midwest, traveling up to see our newest
grand daughter (born two weeks ago while we were in Munich), doing some
work for my parents, and generally trying to settle back into some sort
of routine without Jo Ann, who is still doing "Grandma" for the new born.
Frankly, I've had considerable difficulty making the adjustments this
time, and I'm not sure why, other than it seems there is so much on my
mind about so many things at the moment. I really don't feel like Jo Ann
and I have had time to "decompress" yet from such an extraordinary trip.
In some ways, I feel like a pastor who has just concluded a big church
project, realizing another one is following immediately on the heels of
the first.
One of my weekly joys is that of asking the Holy Spirit to plant some
word of encouragement in my heart just for you ---- something I can share
not so much from my limited knowledge, but rather from the transparency
of my own hungry pilgrimage.
Often those thoughts come out of recent or current experiences I am
personally facing. Today is such a point, apparently being prodded by
several circumstances of late ---- namely, . . . .
1. Contrasting the Church, the ministry, and the receptivity of the
people during our recent trip to the Balkans.
It is quite an exhilarating experience to feel you are really making a
difference instead of just going through meaningless and fruitless
routine. Watching the missionaries, local pastors, and new believers
take the Gospel seriously can be an unsettling occasion in contrast to
the lethargy and hollowness of much that we see in the American church
today.
it is clear that a line has been drawn between the world and The Church,
and even between churches wanting to save face or make a name for
themselves and those willing to be The Church of Scripture.
It is obvious that the line has been drawn and the animosity established
and even increased between Christians and those of other religions. The
line has surely been drawn between the believers who opt for lifeless
institutionalism and those who long for vibrant organisms pulsating with
the very life of Jesus.
The line in the sand is clear. There is no longer any uncertainty or
question about it.
2. Noting the continued murderous persecution of The Church in Sudan,
Somalia, Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria, India, and other places.
Several hundred more were killed last week in Indonesia. In India more
regions have been declared 100% Islamic. In Nigeria more states have
adopted Sharia law, making Christianity illegal and forcing people to
embrace the harshness and hatefulness of Islam.
Last Monday thousands of mujahidin descended on the Christian village of
Duma, northern Halmahera in Indonesia, massacring some 170 Christians,
destroying around 300 homes, kidnapping women and children and leaving
scores of Christians wounded. Hundreds have been killed in Sudan as
believers are targeted for persecution and murder.
Coptic Christians in Egypt live in constant fear, with scant protection
from the government or police. They are often charged with fabricated
criminal offenses while their abusers go unpunished. Several bishops and
priests are charged with national security offences that carry the death
penalty, following their advocacy for their people.
Persecution of followers of Jesus is increasing. I am convinced that the
day is not too distant when similar hatred and violence will erupt in
western countries. Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in
the world. As the antithesis of Christianity, it is reasonable to expect
horrendous persecution from extremists in that group as well as other
anti-Christian groups.
The line in the sand is clear. Are you ready for the outcome?
3. Seeing the sluggishness and fruitlessness of so many churches in
America.
Ever increasing numbers of churches are doing less and less with more
and more. We are seeing the clear tumorous growth of the Revelation 3
church of Laodicea. The wealth of that church is nothing compared to the
hoarding and/or squandering of many churches today, spending so much on
themselves and so little on the propagation of the Gospel.
I'm sorry, friend, but counting building payments, operating expenses,
and salaries as part of the missions budget is a wasted argument. If a
church is going to genuinely be part of what God is doing, I believe it
should be prepared to spend an equal amount on direct missions and
evangelism for every dollar it spends on itself.
I remember as a boy hearing my father describe the church of his day as
the Laodicean Church. If that is true, then it was but an infant which
has now reached adulthood in your day and mine.
The Laodicean Line has been drawn in the sand. If we do not voluntarily
make some choices, God will bring circumstances into play that will force
those choices.
4. Watching some of my friends go through fiery trials in their
respective ministries.
One, a music and worship leader who was asked to come to a church to
develop a "blended service" of traditional and contemporary worship
styles and music is now being attacked from both sides for his failure to
"meet their needs".
Another, also a music and worship leader, is being so bound with demands,
restrictions, and intimidations, that he is being sucked dry of all
spiritual vitality and life. Unfortunately, it is probably affecting the
same in the worship services.
A pastor with whom I attended college has been beaten up so badly that he
has little left to offer, and is surviving primarily by simply going
through the motions and adopting a "maintenance mentality" until he can
be restored.
A missionary friend is having his time consumed trying to make major
shifts and adjustments in his strategies as a result of decisions made at
"headquarters" by people who have never been anywhere near the site of
his missionary ministry.
And, for every person like that whom I know, there are certainly hundreds
or even thousand of others going through similar difficulties. It seems
that, in many circles, the Body of Christ is trying to do more and more
unproductive things that only exhaust energy and resources, rather than
getting back to the basics of the Great Commission.
It reminds me of Joseph Bayle's "The Gospel Blimp".
During a cook out with friends from church, a man becomes concerned with
his neighbor whom he sees across the fence drinking a beer. He shares
his concern with his fellow believers ---- and they come up with an idea.
How about subtly planting some Gospel literature on his property?
One guy knows about a surplus blimp they can "buy for a song". They
realize they could cover the entire neighborhood ---- even the entire
city ---- and not just the one neighbor for just about the same amount of
work.
So, away they go, some wrapping "Gospel Bombs", while others take blimp
flying lessons and others develop a plan to sell advertising space on the
sides of the blimp as a means of offsetting costs.
The project gets bigger and bigger, and the neighbor gets angrier
constantly picking up all those tracts.
Of course, the project continues to expand ---- now with a Board of
Directors, a CEO, and special appearances around the country. They even
provide "eye in the sky" services for certain sporting events.
One day the group realizes that the guy with the original burden for his
neighbor has dropped out, nowhere to be found.
When they track him down one Sunday evening, the find him (of all
places!) at the beach ---- on a Sunday night! And ---- he's with his
heathen neighbor!
Well, everyone knew he was just a "flash in the pan" Christian, so they
go try to restore the backslidden brother.
When confronted about his spiritual reversal, he tells his Christian
friends what happened.
One day, during a moment of physical and emotional exhaustion, and while
resting in his back yard, he notices his neighbor sitting there ---- all
alone, and looking very sad. During the course of normal conversation he
learns the man's wife is in the hospital undergoing serious surgery.
To this revelation the Christian neighbor tells his wife, who immediately
prepares some food, does laundry, and just does what good neighbors do
for other neighbors in trouble.
This leads to a strong friendship, several opportunities to tell this
unbelieving neighbor about Christ, and ultimately to the conversion of
the neighbor, his wife, and two children.
So, that's the reason this Christian brother dropped out ---- he needed
time to disciple the new converts.
Oh, well ---- so much for Gospel blimps! They can be found everywhere
---- many different brands, but all doing the same thing. Becoming
bigger doesn't guarantee you will evangelize better. In fact, common
sense indicates that probably just the opposite will happen ---- unless
you can make certain that you get bigger in the right places for the
right reasons.
The more I watch what is happening in many local churches, the more
amazed I am at how many men and women stick with it rather than leave.
And yet, it should come as no surprise just how many are leaving the
institutional church specifically for other venues of ministry, or even
leaving the vocational ministry altogether.
The line has been clearly drawn in the sand ---- by angry people who are
more interested in their own agendas than in God's. And, if you want to
survive, you dare not cross that line. But, there is no place left to
stand.
5. Reviewing the Biblical record that such things will happen, and will
increase as we are drawn ever closer to the return of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Frankly, it's a bit frustrating when I realize that, though they
shouldn't happen and could be avoided, tall these things will happen,
nonetheless.
How do you cope with the reality that the Bible predicted such days as
these? How do you stay motivated to be involved politically when you
know it will do little if any good? How do you keep yourself going as
salt and light when you know the meat is already rotten, and people
prefer the darkness?
Even in the darkness, the line in the sand is clearly seen, isn't it.
Out of these observations, it seems I am certain of only two things ----
the faithfulness of God, and the ever more visible Line in the Sand.
DRAWING THE LINE:
Things are happening around the world that are beyond comprehension.
Even though the Bible predicts it, who would have ever believed that
persecution would be so rampant in so many places? Who would have
foretold such a falling away and denying of the power of God, even though
clearly stated in Scripture? Who could have anticipated such a moral
tail spin into debauchery and depravity as we see today on every front?
It's one thing to hear it predicted; it's another to see it happening. I
remember during my childhood my father proclaiming that such days were
coming. I remember preaching it myself. But, it all seemed to be so
distant ---- so futuristic.
But, not anymore.
It's here ---- now.
And, it will get worse still.
The line has indeed been drawn in the sand. The time for anticipation
has passed ---- the time is today.
In thinking about that, what can I share with you, my friend, to
encourage you in your ministry? Is "vain prognostication" enough? Is
angry rhetoric sufficient? Are words of doom and gloom adequate to lift
your spirits?
Hardly!
The line has been clearly drawn, to be sure. But . . . .
Now what?
DECISION TIME ON THE LINE:
Here, dear partner and co-laborer, is what I feel God wants me to
encourage you with.
1. There is definitely a line being drawn in the sand.
If you had ever doubted it before, doubt it no more. There is definitely
a line drawn in the sand. That which began in the Garden of Eden when
the line drawn in the heart of Lucifer perhaps eons earlier, reached into
the world of humanity, has now traced its way into a new era ---- perhaps
the final one.
It's not your imagination, and it's not your spiritualizing or
"theologizing" the human state. What you think you see is really there.
Face it. What you read about, wrote about, preached about ---- it has
come to pass. It is undeniable.
Now what?
2. Though winds may temporarily erase it and fog may obscure it, the
line will be drawn again.
If you get your hopes up periodically by going to a new venue, by
depending on your tenure, by reading another book or taking in another
conference, don't think the line has disappeared. Even if you take a
sabbatical, the line is still there. Even when you don't notice it
because of a fresh new program or a different strategy, the line is
there.
And it will always be there ---- the Cross made certain of that.
Even when political dust storms, economic instability, denominational
squabbling, or the rise of a new sports hero hide it from your view, the
line will become visible ---- and more clearly defined.
3. It will eventually become a great chasm which cannot be straddled.
Scripture seems clear to me that these trends will continue, and will
increase. The days of fence straddling or finding some neutral ground,
in my opinion, are over.
The line is so clearly defined and has been drawn so many times, that it
has eaten up all the safe ground of neutrality, and will soon become a
chasm that, if attempted to be straddled, will swallow you up and destroy
you.
Rather than be anxious over this anticipated event, we should rejoice
---- it removes one third of our choices. Now all we have to decide is
which side of the line to be on.
4. Somewhere, sometime, you will face a decision.
Make no doubt about it, my dear friend ---- I believe we are living in
the day when every one of us alive will be forced to make the decision.
But, of course, why should that surprise us? Jesus Himself said we
cannot serve God and materialism. Just as Joshua was forced to a crisis
of faith, so we will be.
If there is any time left at all, it is minuscule. The showdown is near
---- it is eminent. "Choose you this day whom you will serve." In the
days ahead there will soon be no place for neutrality or compromise. Of
course, in Jesus' mind, there never was ---- that has been all our doing.
The line in the sand is there, and it is clear. What will be your
decision.
5. God will show you what to do, so go for it.
Dear, dear friend! If you have a heart for God at all, I know God will
show you what to do. He may want you to remain where you are, faithfully
laboring in hostile surroundings to a people who, like in Isaiah's case,
will hear and not understand. If that is what He calls you to do, then
do it faithfully, lovingly, and compassionately.
It may be He will call you to stop casting your "pearls before swine",
shake the dust from your shoes, and move on. If that is His call, then
do it.
He may change your ministry entirely. If so, then embrace it, turn loose
of the old wine skins, and follow and serve Him wherever it takes you.
I am a firm believer that God puts desires and vision in our hearts in
order to create a hunger that causes us to take action. To repeat a
question I've asked more than once in these letters, "If you could do
anything in the world you wanted to do in serving the Lord, what would
you do?
I believe that is a question worth answering. If the line is indeed
drawn in the sand, maybe it's time to ask ---- and answer ---- that
question.
6. God will give you the grace to first endure, and then take the next
step.
While you're waiting on God for clarity of understanding, He will give
you the grace to endure whatever it is you must ---- whether it be
ministering to a dull and lifeless people, standing your ground in the
middle of a fire fight, or walking through the darkness of public
humiliation and misunderstanding.
No burden will be too great for God's faithful provision made available
during such hard times. He will see you through. As the prophet said,
"I've never seen the righteous forsaken, or God's children begging for
bread." You can be certain of that.
Then, once God has enabled you to endure the darkness, be ready to take
the next step when the light breaks through. And, don't wait until you
have all the light ---- just walk in the light you have.
When I was a small boy there were times when the roads were too muddy for
the car, so we would take either a tractor or team of horses with a hay
wagon. Sometimes we would just walk. In order for us to see where we
were going, my uncle or aunt would carry an old kerosene lantern. It
gave plenty of light.
During some of those times, I would venture out beyond the reach of the
light. When I did, the outcome often found me in a water-filled ditch or
a mud hole in the middle of the road. Why?
Because I walked beyond the light that I had, I was so impatient.
However, to my childish amazement, I discovered that if I walked in the
light I had, we'd eventually make it to church ---- and back home again
---- without muddy incident. I didn't have to have the whole route
lighted before I could walk the entire way to church and back.
All I had to do was walk in the light I had. My uncle took care of the
rest.
As long as you need it, God will give you the grace to endure ---- then
He'll give you light to move on.
7. Jesus Christ has clearly written the final chapter.
The greatest breath of fresh air you and I have during these days of
spiritual darkness is in knowing beyond any doubt that God is going to
have the final word in it all.
No matter how intense or costly the persecution, no matter how
backslidden Christians become, no matter how dead and institutionalized
the Church gets, and no matter how dark the nights may be, the final
chapter is a whopper!
So ---- when you look down and see the line drawn in the sand, then Look
up, my brother or sister! Your redemption draws near!
What a challenging and exciting time in which to live! All of this
rumbling is to no avail.
Listen to this:
"Why are the nations in an uproar, and the people devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel
together against the Lord and against His Anointed.
"'Let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!'
[they say].
"He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He
will speak to them in His anger, and terrify them in His fury:
"[He says] 'But as for Me, I have installed MY King upon Zion, MY holy
mountain!'
"I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, 'Thou art
My Son, Today I have begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will surely give
the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy
possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Thou shalt shatter
them like earthenware!'
"Now therefore, O kings, show discernment! Take warning, O judges of the
earth. Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Do
homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you parish in the way, for
his wrath may soon be kindled.
"How blessed are ALL who take refuge in Him!"
Psalm 2:1-12
Yes, my friend, it's true. In spite of it all, and through it all, God
has the final word.
So ---- have a great day ---- a great week ---- a great ministry ---- a
great life!
In His Bond of Grace and Mercy,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright June, 2000. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
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request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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