Friday, April 22, 2011

LEVEE


We have all viewed with great horror the scenes of the tsunami ravaging Japan or the flood wall of water overtaking New Orleans as the levees break away. Such sights leave us staring at the TV screen in disbelief as the images are played over and over by the media.

As David Platt says, in some ways 'the floods depict the radical call of Christ to Christians and the church. When Christ calls us to abandon what we have and abandon what we are, it's almost as if He's challenging us to put ourselves out there in the flood plain ... our lives ... our possessions ... our churches ... our plans and hopes and dreams ... in front of the levee and then ask God to break it ... to sweep away whatever He wants ... to leave standing whatever He desires ... to completely re-make us, according to His will.'

Some days I wonder if I'm there personally?
I wonder if our church is there.

Is our community of faith at a place where we might say, 'God, we'll do whatever You want ... we'll drop and lay down whatever You command ... we'll eliminate whatever isn't best ... we'll add whatever is necessary to make Your glory known in the world, no matter the cost to us.' I don't know. Are we there?

I simply and humbly want to ask the question, 'Among all the good things we are doing and planning (both personally and organizationally), are there better ways to align ourselves with God's Word ... are there better ways to mobilize God's people ... are there better ways to marshal God's resources for God's glory in a world where millions are starving and over a billion have not yet heard of Jesus?'

Some would say that's a great question for a pastor who desires a really short tenure. I'm convinced it is a question we cannot avoid.

And be blessed.

No comments: