PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “Losing Ground or Practicing Detente?”
In 1988 I had the privilege of attending the Conference on Biblical Inerrancy/Biblical Interpretation held at the Second Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. I had the privilege of taking seminar classes at the feet of some of the most gifted Evangelical Scholars of all time. I attended classes taught by Charles Swindoll; Charles Ryrie; Howard Hendricks; Charles Stanley; Ed Young Sr; John Bisagno, and others. My favorite class was the one taught by perhaps one of the greatest theological minds of our generation-Carl F.H. Henry. I still remember a quote by Dr. Henry as if it was only yesterday. He said, “Gentlemen, we sing with enthursiasm ‘Like a Mighty Army Moves the Church of God’-but an army that only captures a few scraggly prisoners each year is hardly worth name ‘a Mighty Army’ “. He was emphasizing the fact that for all our innovations, programs, and advancements that the Church is losing ground in its impact on people’s lives. What was true then is ever more true now. We spend great time and energy trying to communicate to our generation and communities and they “stay away in droves!”. Don Francisco described our generation as one “rushing helter, skelter to destruction with their fingers in their ears!”. It reminds me of something I read years ago in a book by Bill Bright and James Davis. They wrote, in their book Beyond All Limits, about an experience of the famed English Explorer Sir William Perry. Perry was known for his efforts in mapping most of the Southern Polar Cap. They write, “On one particular expedition, (Perry) and his crew were preparing to kike to another unfamiliar location. On eve of their departure, they studied the stars and determined their exact coordinates. As the sun rose, they began a hard lengthly journey to this unmapped region. They marched through the ice and the snow, and the howling wind, all day long with the freezing air burning their lungs. At sunset they they made camp, totally exhausted from their day’s trip. After their evening meal, before retiring to rest, Perry studied the stars again to determine their exact coordinates, and to log their progress northward. What he discovered totally stunned him! Though he and his crew had journeyed north, a full days journey, traveling as fast and furious as they could, They were now further South that when they started at the day’s dawn. How could that be? But the coordinates do not lie! After struggling to solve this perplexing paradox, they finally discovered the truth. They had indeed traveled a full day northward, but…they were on a giant sheet of ice that had broken away from the rest of the land, and they were floating South at a greater pace than they were driving North. So in spite of all their efforts…in spite of going in the right direction…they were losing ground and did not even know it”. When I read that I thought what a description of the Church in this new millenium. We do everything in our power, as a fast and furious pace, hoping to make progress in our ministry to the world, only to find out each day, each month, each year we are losing ground. How can that be? It is due to the bigger picture. John, in his First Epistle, told us the problem is the whole world has broken loose, and is lying in the lap of the evil one. Satan is busier than ever “blinding the minds” of those who believe not. He and his evil fowls are stealing the seed of the Word of God ever so quickly as it lands on the hardened soil of the hearts of the listeners. What are we to do? The Church is getting discouraged and going on the defensive.
It is to our generation of believers that the words of Winston Churchill find new application. Someone has said that during WWII that Sir Winston Churchill “mobilized the English language and sent it into Battle!” The sagacity and satire, the zesty wit, and daring defiance of this great man fired the inspiration of his generation to fight for victory. In his orders to Lord Louis Mountbatten Churchill said this-“You are to plan for the offensive. In your headquarters YOU WILL NEVER THINK DEFENSIVELY!” Not bad words for us to hear today. Stay on the OFFENSIVE! NEVER GIVE UP! Dr. Alan Redpath, Pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, years ago said, “The thing we need to be afraid of today is that the spirit that produces world trends should invade Christ’s Mighty Army and argue us off the offensive into a compromised co-existence with the world’s attitudes-so that we end up like the world-taking lessons in French and practicing Detente!” Maybe that is what Dr. Carl F.H. Henry was saying! In these last days we must stay on the OFFENSIVE!
How are we to do that? Let me briefly mention some ways to do that. Number one we must STAND UP. I Corinthians 16:13 Paul told the Church of Corinth that they need to “stand firm in the faith; act like men; be strong!” ( I Cor. 16:13 NASB). One way to stay on the offensive is to take opportunity on every occasion to prove our faithfulness to our LORD by taking a stand for Him. We have too many Christians whimping out. It is getting harder and harder to tell the Christians from the worldlings! Vance Havener said, “the world is getting more Churchy and the Church more worldly, it is getting harder to tell them apart”. Someone asked a dear elderly lady who was nearly blind, deaf, and so crippled she could barely get around, why she bothered to come to Church. She couldn’t read the words on the screen, couldn’t hear the testimonies, and certainly heard very little of the sermon. But she never missed a Sunday service. Her reply, “I want the devil to know whose side I’m on!”. Does the World and the Devil know whose side your on? STAND UP FOR JESUS! But then we must SPEAK UP. The Bible says “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!” (Ps. 107:2). Someone has said, “sometimes Silence is not Golden-It is downright YELLOW!” The Christian on the offensive speaks up for his LORD in the power of the Spirit. One of the key words in the book of Acts is the word Parresia-boldness. The Church was so effective because the fullness of the Spirit that made them witnesses included a powerful boldness. That is missing today. We must tap back into HIs Power. Then we need to LOOK UP. Luke 21:28 says, “When you begin to see these things come to pass, LOOK UP your redemption is drawing nigh”. We need to be a GOING CHURCH FOR A COMING LORD!. C.S. Lewis said those who “thought most of the other world, have done the most for this one!” Amen! People with eternity in mind will make the greatest impact on time…because they know the time is short…and eternity is so long! Then stay on the OFFENSIVE until we are TAKEN UP! (I Thes. 4:17) “We who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the LORD in the air and so shall we ever be with the LORD”. Even so come LORD JESUS.
SERMON: WHAT A SERMON! WHAT A SAVIOR!
Matt.5:1-12
I. THE MOUNTAIN
II. THE MASTER
III. THE MESSAGE
IV. THE MANIFESTATION