Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend....Commitment?

I have been musing for some time about the current weaknesses in the "organized" church.  One of the primary areas of apparent weakness in American Christianity seems to be in our level of true commitment.

I had an old song from my teen years come into my mind early this morning.  The song, "Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend John", was written by Dick Holler and first recorded by Dion.  While it was never one of my favorite songs, it still had a melody and message that was intriguing to many teen minds.  The song was a reminder of people that were lost to the present, but their ideals were to live on.

As this tune played in my mind, I had the thought that we seem to have abandoned some very important qualities in recent days that need to be reclaimed.  One of the first traits that came to mind was the concept of commitment. Human nature has always been, at best, flawed and in need of constant spiritual prodding, but the world of today seems to be particularly shallow when it comes to being committed.  Marriages fail when one, or both, spouses no longer feel the need of being faithful to their mate and their vows.  Many churches are struggling spiritually because the membership sees their involvement as being driven by convenience and personal preference.

God has gifted His people to be able to serve ably for the glory of the Lord and the benefit of others, " But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him..... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (I Corinthians 12:18, 27).  He enables us to do what we need to do for His Kingdom, therefore, the breakdown is not with God but it is within us.

The American church seems to want a religion of convenience that allows us to come and go as we please,  live anyway we please, and never be challenged about things that would make us uncomfortable.  I realize that there are a good number of vibrant, evangelistic Bible believing ministries, and I am thankful to God for the work they are doing for God.  Although, I am greatly concerned with many of the "church growth" models that are more specifically designed to entertain the crowds rather that challenging them to follow Jesus with full devotion.

The Lord Jesus showed His commitment to us when He died upon the cross.  This reality should motivate those of us that truly know Him as Savior to devotion, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16.24).  Too many "professing" believers have adopted a brand of spirituality that can be controlled by our personal whims and desires.

Jesus came to be our Savior.  Praise the Lord for this great truth!  Those that are serious about their faith see that Jesus is also Lord, and as Lord He is worthy of our commitment, " He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:10-13).

Anybody here seen my old friend commitment?  I pray that God will enable me to model true commitment to my marriage, my family, my church, and my Savior.  We need a band of people who will be touched by God to exhibit real commitment in a fickle age.

The Roller-Coaster Called Life

Every life has those exhilarating high moments and those times when it seems the bottom has fallen out from under us.  This seems particularly true in the life of a pastor.  The pastor not only deals with the issues of his own life, but he is called upon to share and help with life's details of those that are within his care.

This past week has been a microcosm of the extremes that life presents to us.  Last week my wife and I celebrated our forty-second anniversary of marriage.  Sandy is a special gift of God's grace to me and I could not imagine having anyone else to be the one who completes me.  We also had the joy of traveling to San Antonio, Texas to be present at our oldest son's "Change of Command" ceremony.  It was a wonderful trip and allowed us to spend some quality time with his family.  While we were gone, we received word that we had a death in our church family.  Life seems to be a continuous mixture of laughter, joy, tears, and sorrow.

We find within ministry a constant call to be there with people we love in their intimate moments.  Some need us to rejoice with them in their wonderful times.  Others need advice and compassion to help them through times of sorrow,struggle, failing marriages, sicknesses, and even death.

Over the years, I have had a number of men that have come to me to inform me that they were considering ministry as a "vocation".  My advice to them has always been that if they could do anything else, and feel that they were in the will of God, they should do something different.  On the other hand, there is no calling that is more fulfilling than ministry when it is a calling from God.

Many years ago we made a trip to Six Flags over Georgia, and the "Scream Machine" was at that time the main roller-coaster at that site.  I remember the anxiety as we were strapped into place and the cars began their ascent.  There was a moment when I wondered if we could survive the trip, but after a few minutes we arrived safely at the point of departure.  Since that time, I have ridden a number of roller-coasters that have made the "Scream Machine" seem tame, but they all are a good example of life.

When we begin to leave the loading area, we are unsure about what is ahead, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (I Corinthians 13:12).  The only thing that we have to keep us secure is the realization that we are held secure by the promises of God's Word, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and the Designer of our life, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2).

Praise the Lord, one day the roller-coaster ride will be over.  Those who know Christ as Savior will be able to enjoy eternal happiness and bliss, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4).

Life may have many unexpected drops and turns, but if we are held by the Spirit of God and the promises of God we shall arrive home safely.  Be certain that your faith is in Christ as Savior rather than your own ability to weather the storms of life.  Jesus alone has the ability to be the author and finisher of our faith!