Instrumentality of People

So Dwight Smith, missiologist, author of Invading Secular Space, and creator of the Renovation Center concepts was in town earlier this winter to share some ideas about church with a group of churches.

As a church wrestles with what it means to exist for its circle of accountability, tension will be felt by some. The tension being that the "contract" they signed when they started attending church is changing. Let's be honest and I have to be honest about myself too. We often come to church as consumers: what's in it for me? what's in it for my children? are the sermons and music what I like?

In light of this, Dwight shared three things that are hard to change when it comes to doing church:

     1. The change quotient of people in the church.
People cannot be controlled. It is hard enough to control my self. It goes back to what I learned in a counseling class: there is a circle on control – which is me. And there is a circle of influence – which is every one else. Know the difference.

     2. The level of nominalism in the American church.
Surveys are everywhere describing the people in the church as not being much different than those outside the church. While I’m not sure how much stock to put in these surveys, through experience I generally agree with this premise.

     3. The fact that we live in a post-Christian America.
As a result of this, responsiveness to the Gospel is way down. On a public level, there is scorn and ridicule of Christians. It may be the goof-ball churches who burn holy books or protest at funerals. However, there is still a significant level of responsiveness to the Gospel on a personal level. That is, when it comes to me connecting with my neighbors, their responsiveness to Christ is still there.

Thus, people are the instruments of God’s mission more than ever. This is theologically true. And this is strategically true. Like it always has been. May God help us to realize this and activate us to a deeper walk with Him for the sake of others.

Weather Today

You'd think it happen more often. But it doesn't.

Here's is a picture of some gadgets off my desktop. For once, the weather in each place is sunny and cloudless. That is saying something since some of these places only share a few hours of simulataneous sunlight.

Each place represents family or friends.

Surrender

V. Raymond Edman. What an interesting person! Missionary, pastor, college professor and president.

After serving in WW I, Edman served as a missionary in Ecuador. About a year after his arrival, his fiance' Edith arrived in Ecuador and they were married in 1924. Life together was not an easy life on the field, especially with sickness. In 1925, Edman encountered his first sickness. Everyone expected Edman to succumb to the sickness. After being transferred from the mountains to the port city of Guayaquil, the mission leaders purchased a coffin for Edman and sent for his family to catch the train to the coast.

Because Mrs. Edman did not have a black dress, she was instructed to place her wedding dress in black dye in preparation for the eventual death. Even the funeral was set for 3 P.M. on that dark Saturday, July 4. Amazingly, God spared him and he returned to the US for a time to fully recover.

His passion of devotion to Christ was evident in his own life too. He regularly started the day at 3:00 AM, but never after 5:00 AM. Prayer and reading the Scriptures were a given in his life.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect about his life was the manner in which he passed into the presence of the King. On Friday, September 22, 1967, Edman rose for prayer at 3 AM, a day which would be his last on earth. Edman's biographer, Earl Cairns, gives a detailed narrative of Dr. Edmans passing into glory:

Dr. Edman began to speak at 10:40 on the topic In the Presence of the King, using his audience with Emperor Haile Selassie in 1947 to illustrate his theme. He told of how he had been briefed on what to wear, when to bow, and what steps to take. He applied this preparation for the audience with the emperor to the need of those who come to chapel to prepare themselves to come into the presence of the Kings of kings. He spoke of the need for reverence, silence, prayer and worship when one came in and them the need for hearty participation in the service. He began to close his talk at about 10:53. Suddenly he stopped speaking and collapsed after a slow half turn (192).

After the student body had been dismissed, the doctor came into chapel and pronounced him dead. What an appropriate transition for a life so well lived for the King.

Here are some powerful words of his, as quoted by the CrossGlobal Link Missions Moment (4/12/11):

I had utterly abandoned myself to Him. Could any choice be as wonderful as His will? Could any place be safer than the center of His will? Did not he assure me by His very presence that His thoughts toward us are good, and not evil? Death to my own plans and desires was almost deliriously delightful. Everything was laid at His nail-scarred feet, life or death, health or illness, appreciation by others or misunderstanding, success or failure as measured by human standards. Only He himself mattered.

May God activate my senses and my heart so that I may know He is at hand (Philippians 4:5).