Free Range Spirituality

I have recently been amused by the “free-range” chicken commercial that shows a chicken wandering all over the country.  He sends pictures back home, but they have no idea where he is or why he is there.  I gave this concept a lot of thought and have determined that a lot of “christians” are practicing a form of “free-range” spirituality.

A recent article stated that many Americans consider themselves to be growing more spiritual, but they no longer believe in the church.  While there is much to criticize about the modern church as an institution, the concept of abandoning something that was established by Jesus goes contrary to Scripture and true spirituality.

When we use the term spiritual, we must remember that it can encompass a wide spectrum of thought and practice.  Hinduism, Demonism, Spiritism, Islam, Pantheism, Wicca, Christianity, and every cult can be seen as spiritual by their adherents.  Spirituality without the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is a dangerous element that can lead many astray from truth.

Too many professing believers have been deluded into thinking that church affiliation and involvement is an optional portion of the Christian life.  I remember many years ago having a visitor attend our services, and on his visitor card he wrote that he was a member of the “invisible, universal church”.  I suppose if you are a member of an “invisible” church, then it is acceptable to support the ministry with invisible tithes and offerings.  Many of the mega-church ministries have made this mindset even worse, because it is very easy for people to simply get lost in the crowds as folks come and go for the multiple services conducted each Sunday.

Jesus refers to the church as His Bride.  In light of this description, I think it is only appropriate that we take the institution that was started by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit as something that is worthy of our support and attention.  As Paul journeyed in his missionary travels, he started churches in many of the places he ventured to with the Gospel.

Pastors have a responsibility to serve and lead the folks that God given to their care, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:1-5).  The individual believer also has a responsibility to heed the advice and leadership of Godly instruction, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17).

It is hard to instruct those that feel no obligation to be faithful to the church that God would have them serve Him and others.  The church is still viable, but for it to be what it needs to be, we need the faithfulness and support of those who claim the name of Jesus.  This is not a time for “free-range” spirituality, but it is a time when God’s people need the support of solid Bible preaching and the fellowship of other believers.  It is difficult to live for God, but it is more difficult when we are wandering alone without the support of those who are committed to our care.

Journeying through the Desert

Life is a journey.

Just like any other journey, we will encounter a variety of scenes and a host of environments.  Personally, I enjoy traveling through lush areas that are filled with trees, streams, and wildlife.  I even enjoy traveling through vast expanses of fertile farm land where there is an abundance of new life that will sustain many.  The areas that I don't particularly care for are the barren deserts and wastelands.

I have learned that the ministry that God has called me is a journey which encounters all of the scenes I have described above, and more.  In fact, sometimes I find myself reminded of the old America song that has the lyrics, "I've been through the desert on a horse with no name."

The desert spans of life are the places where many of us will falter, fail, and be tempted to surrender in our journey.  God will at times, in His purpose, lead us into a desert to help us learn to rely upon Him.  God revealed this truth to the children of Israel in their wilderness journey, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them," (Exodus 15:22-25).

It was God that led them into the place of no water.  The people complained and God turned the bitter water of Marah into water fit to drink.  That could be seen as the end of the story, but God reveals more details: "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." (Exodus 15:27)  Just a short distance from the scene of their complaining was Elim, a place with twelve wells of waters and seventy palm trees.  Had they simply traveled on, they would have been able to enjoy the bounty that God had in store for them without the drama and doubt.

Sometimes ministry can seem to be like lush tropical forests with a proliferation of new life, and at other times it can seem as if we are stuck in a desert that seems endless as we gaze toward the horizon.  When we are in the desert times of life, we have to make a choice.  We can simply give up and our bleached bones will be a testimonial to what could have been.  We can gripe and complain and God can make the bitter water tolerable to us.  We can trust God and faithfully journey on.  If our confidence is in the leadership and power of God, then there will be an oasis ahead.  Also, no desert lasts forever.  The Sahara is a massive desert, but the jungles and grasslands of the African continent await if you travel far enough.

Do you feel as if you are in a desert?  Travel on, it eventually will end.  Are you dry and thirsty?  Go to God in faith, He waits to refresh us "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." (Isaiah 44:3-4).

Life is a journey.  Travel on, the desert will end!

Graduation Day!

I remember the day that I trusted Christ as my Savior.  Mr. Charles Faust, a faithful Sunday School teacher, had shared the Gospel with me week after week at Tenth Avenue Baptist Church.  His passion for my salvation led me to accept the Good News and become a child of God.

Unfortunately, I rarely saw the same passion in church as I saw in that Sunday School class, and I soon became bored with church and began to drift.  No matter where I attended church, the preachers seemed very proper but didn't seem to really captivate my attention.  My life was beginning down a dangerous path that could have very well led to much heartache and sorrow.

I will never forget my first Sunday at Providence Baptist Church.  I really didn't want to be there, in fact I hid in the car during Sunday School, but I knew I would have to go in for church since my family would be looking for me.  When Bro. Hancock got up to preach, I was not initially impressed.  He wasn't that big of a guy, but he had the heart of a lion.  I had never heard anyone preach like him.  He simply told it the way it was without decorating the message with religious and impressive language.  The way he preached, it seemed as if he had been watching me all week and was telling everyone just how bad I had been living.  I did not like him!  Even though I didn't like him, I went back the next week so I could dislike him some more.  Over a course of weeks God began to move in my heart.

It wasn't long before my family quit going to church, but the church van from Providence was always there to pick me up and carry me to church.  I grew to love and appreciate the straightforward preaching of Bro. Raymond Hancock, and God used him to gradually help transform my life from a potential thug to a follower of Jesus.  I cannot overstate the deep appreciation that I have for the ministry of Dr. Hancock and Providence Baptist Church.

At Providence I met my future bride, Sandy Wade, and Bro. Hancock conducted our wedding ceremony.  It was under his ministry that God called me to preach and his signature on my Ordination Certificate is one of my prized possessions.  As I sat and listened to him preach each week, I gleaned much on how to conduct myself behind the pulpit.  In the years that followed, I would occasionally take some of my folks to hear him and they often commented that I had adopted much of his preaching style.  I wear that as a badge of honor.

Yesterday Dr. Raymond Hancock won his battle with mortality and stepped into the presence of Jesus.  He has graduated ahead of many that he influenced for the cause of Christ, but his dividends continue to grow as those whom he influenced are still serving Jesus.

Thanks for being there Bro. Hancock.  Thanks for being faithful through the wonderful and the difficult times.  Thanks for being a role model for me when I desperately needed one.