PART OF WHY WE GATHER

I'm quote-filing this morning after reading several books recently. I just typed this in after reading it in Michael W. Smith's book, a simple blessing.

When we continually expose our minds to the standards of the culture, those standards begin to seep into our lives. The fatal change comes so gradually that, like the frog in the kettle, we don’t even notice it. First we are no longer shocked by evil. Then we become accustomed to it. Then we tolerate it. Then it’s only a tiny step to accept it as normal.  [p.76]

It immediately occurred to me that this is one of the key reasons that we get together for worship every week!

Through the course of the week we are inundated with the impact of massive and consistent cultural change! Many of us are realizing that we can't keep up with it. It's overwhelming. We may despair over the way younger generations seem to adapt and adopt trends that we are wary of.

Debbie and I love watching good dramas on television, but so often they are beyond what we consider acceptable. If you would examine our television, you would find a host of TV series and movies that we watched for five or ten minutes and then bailed out! This is because we ran into language, sexual situations, violence or moral issues that conflict with the values that we hold as precious. So, we move on...

The internet is an 'out-of-control' issue for people today. It provides a measure of anonymity and voyeurism that is high-risk for anyone who wants to maintain godly standards and behavior! Strict controls and accountability are necessary to maintain appropriate viewing patterns!

Just watching the news can fill a person with despair! 

But before this disintegrates into a "Woe is me! - the sky is falling" diatribe, let's make a right turn.

It occurred to me - as I typed this quote into my file - that one of the reasons we meet together regularly as believers in Jesus, is to serve as a correction for this onslaught of corruption and vulgarity. 

We meet to refocus!

We meet to confess our failures.

We meet to assess our spiritual vigor.

We meet to hold one another accountable.

We meet to remind ourselves of that which is good and holy!

We meet to be challenged to stay faithful and serve as a role model for the culture.

And if we're serious about our involvement, we are likely to be rewarded by the One Who forgives, cleanses and restores our souls!

It serves as a righting of that which is wrong! 

...a clarification of our intention.

...a renewal of determination.

...a reminder of decisions we've made.

...a sharing of responsibility for those who are part of our worshiping community.

...a statement of unity with a global community.

...a submission to divine Love

[This list could go on...]

We need this! We desperately need this! There are no 'lone rangers' in the Bible! Community is essential to maintaining commitment and promises! Wise men seek accountability; I suppose wise women do the same. 

Leaders and pastors who plan worship need to review this aspect of Sunday worship and be purposeful in structuring the time to accommodate these needs. 

The structure of our worship tends to prohibit engagement. We all sit facing the front. There are only a few people who could name everyone in the sanctuary. Most of our participation is a response to directions given from those on the platform. We may - or may not - connect with people before or after worship. 

In my last novel, Never Unreachable, a retired couple are invited to attend a 'house-church' that meets in a home. He immediately meets guys from the community that he knows from the hardware store, or school days, or the gas station. He loves the fact that food is always available and you can grab some when you want it. The atmosphere is casual. The leaders sit close - on the same level. New people are introduced and welcomed. There's ample time, before the structured time begins, for people to mingle, share stories, get acquainted and establish a comfort zone. He is surprised to find that he actually looks forward to Sundays!

I digress...

We need help to diffuse the pervasive impact of the ever-changing culture in our lives! 

Participating in worship can provide that help by reminding us of the standards that we revere and the fact that we are part of a community of faith that extends around the globe!

SIN OPENS DOORS [to more sin]

Follow the progression of this trail:

Acts 7:58 [All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted]

They took Stephen out of the city and began to throw stones at him to kill him. And those who told lies against Stephen left their coats with a young man named Saul.

Acts 8:1

Saul agreed that the killing of Stephen was good.

Acts 8:3

Saul was also trying to destroy the church, going from house to house, dragging out men and women and putting them in jail.

Acts 9:1,2

In Jerusalem Saul was still threatening the followers of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Then if Saul found any followers of Christ's Way, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

Saul began as a mere observer who was caught up in the raucous behavior of a crowd. Like any young man, his curiosity was peaked. Then, as a bystander, he became the protector of the coats of those who were killing Stephen! 

It's a subtle progression, that moved him from 'observer' to 'participant'! Somewhere in this role change Saul decided that he was in agreement with the acts of violence that these men were perpetrating! That's a BIG STEP!

There are some missing steps in Saul's progression at this point, but apparently not much time passed. Did he begin to associate with some of these violent men? Was he noticed by some of the leaders of this mob?

All we know is that the next verse tells us that Saul had begun to destroy the church. He did so via a vigorous campaign that portrays him as going from house to house. Notice the description of violence: "dragging out men and women and putting them in jail!!

I clearly recall being taught in one of my college classes the correlation between Acts 1:8 and 8:1.

Acts 1:8

But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world."

Acts 8:1

On that day the church of Jerusalem began to be persecuted, and all the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria."

______________________________________

THREE OBSERVATIONS

1. The subtlety of sin and its progression in our lives.
2. God's persistence in getting through to us!
3. What the enemy intends for evil, God can turn into good!

THE SUBTLETY OF SIN

One of the most clever tactics of our spiritual enemy is to persuade us that the sin we're about to engage in is not significant.

Put it in the same category with 'white lies'. It won't really make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  It won't hurt anybody. No one will ever know! 

In essence, you are being tempted to compromise!

Giving in to the process of compromise is a slippery slope! 

Once you've begun to compromise, the temptation to compromise becomes more and more compelling! 

• "Well, you did it yesterday. Why not do it today?"
• "It's a small thing! No one will notice."
• "You deserve a little pleasure in your life! Go ahead and do it!"
• "God doesn't really keep track of every little sin. Go ahead and live a little!"
• "Just do it! You can confess it later!"

And within three short verses, Saul went from holding coats to dragging Christians from their homes!

It can happen to you! It has happened to you! We can NOT afford to compromise! Write that down on the flyleaf of your mind!

THE HOUND OF HEAVEN!

God's love for you is persistent! 

"The Lord is...patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."  I Peter 3:9 [NASB]

When one of His sheep gets lost, He goes and searches for it!

When we have given in to sin, we immediately begin to sense God's displeasure! We begin to lose our joy! Guilt bears down on us. We lose that connection with God! Disorder begins to characterize our lives! 

If we're observant, we will see that God is reaching out to us and calling us to repentance! He wants us back in a right relationship with Him! He wants to use us for His glorious purposes!

If we allow Him,

"He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

[Psalm 23:3  NASB]

That inner peace is renewed in our lives! We know that we are back in a right relationship with our Lord! 

GOD REDEEMS US AND USES US FOR HIS PURPOSES!

Our amazing God took the zealous persecutor of Christians and appointed him as Judas' replacement among the Twelve!

No one saw this one coming! The original apostles were slow to accept Saul/Paul! They were afraid of him! They were suspicious of his intent! After all, this was the man who - almost single handedly - caused the Christians in Jerusalem to flee the city!

God will do the same in you - if you'll allow Him! 

Once cleansed, He will position you for influence! People will see the change in your life and will follow in your footsteps! They will want the peace, joy and assurance that you exhibit! 

Your spiritual impact will be magnified and your fruitfulness will be noticeable!

____________________________

 

Can God still do this? Is He still redeeming lives for His purposes?

ABSOLUTELY!

I recently re-read a book by Chuck Colson. He was President Nixon's 'hatchetman'. His intelligence and strategic manipulation was infamous! 

And yet - great was his fall!

From advisor to the president of the United States to the penitentiary!  In this evolution, a friend reached out to Colson with words of faith and encouragement. He was given a copy of C. S. Lewis' book, Mere Christianity. After reading it, he humbled himself and became a follower of Christ.

Colson never gave up on the 'down-and-outers'. He founded 'Prison Fellowship' which still reaches out to prisoners around the world with the transforming message of Christ! Colson rose to a new level of influence among the Christian community because of his brilliant mind and outspoken leadership! 

In the 20th century, God took another Saul and turned him into a dynamic and effective Paul!

He is able, more than able,
To accomplish what concerns me today.
He is able, more than able,
To handle anything that comes my way.
He is able, more than able,
To do much more than I could ever dream.
He is able, more than able,
To make me what He wants me to be.

Back in the 1980's, I was a big fan of the television program, HILL STREET BLUES. In almost every episode, Sergeant Phil Esterhaus ended the roll call by saying:

"All right, that's it. Let's roll.

And Hey! Let's be careful out there!"

It's equally important for us TO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

"Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith,...

the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself

perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.!"

[I Peter 3:9-10 NASB]