Missin Church

Has anyone NOT had one of these conversations this past 16 months or so...Should we physically attend church or watch online? Why is "so and so" not attending yet? Why is my church not having in-person services yet or why IS my church or "that" church HAVING in-person services? As a pastor, calling and checking on my members, going to see them when it's been safe and wise to do so has usually been met with this common statement, that I sense to be defensive, "Well preacher, I'll be back at church 'soon,' we just don't feel comfortable yet." So many times, I've simply spent half of my conversations with folks trying to convince them this is not one of "those" calls or visits!

I've also been one of those pastors who has unapologetically called people to return to regular, physical church attendance, often using Hebrews 10:24-25. It seems most of my friends who are pastors have seen some decline in numbers, some more-so than others! But, this is not one of those finger shaking, "y'all need to be in church" posts! I want those who are legitimate DISCIPLES, not church members, converts, "church going folk," etc. to hear me out. Our primary call as disciples is not to just go to church, or to even join a church, to be baptized, etc.! We are to be disciples (followers of, adherents to Jesus and his teachings) who are making other disciples. Those who continue to 'miss church'  do burden us as pastors, sure. But the primary reason is that for far too many, simply making it TO church is the high point of their confessed faith in Christ each week. Attending worship, discipleship, small groups, fellowships, one on on accountability type meetings, lunches & coffee are all integral parts of our preparation to be the very best disciple we can be!

The Olympics will take place soon, the whole world will be watching fine tuned individual athletes and incredibly prepared, well functioning teams compete against the very best from around the world. We WON'T see how long and how much they've practiced, trained, sacrificed, and missed out on in order to be the very best in the world! What if we saw gathering with other disciples different than just something we get done each week to feel better, satisfy momma and daddy, or to keep the preacher from visiting or calling😁! What if we saw a greater purpose in our being a disciple of Christ, than simply making it to church, etc.? I fully believe that when we truly see the enormity of God's saving us through Christ and the responsibility and opportunity to be a part of impacting the eternity of others, "missin church" is no longer something we have to be preached at, guilted by others to stop, or receive phone calls and visits from preachers about!😉

 

 Lucy

Around 10 years ago I spent about 2 weeks in East Asia with a dozen or so others who had traveled with me to participate in making the name of Jesus known and glorified. While there, in a very high security area (where Christians and Christian work was closely surveilled), I met a then 8 yr. old girl whose English name was "Lucy." She was a practical joker, our first meeting involved her playing a trick on me,  and likely because I had served as a children's minister and had always had a natural ability to resonate with kids, we hit it off pretty quickly. She was with us a good bit throughout the week we served in "her" city. Toward the end of our time there, I was able to participate in her baptism...in a hotel bathtub, with other members of our team watching the hallways and stairways, in case someone came to stop us. I'll never forget her reaction to "the question" new believers are asked in that country. They are asked if they would renounce their commitment to Christ if they were threatened with imprisonment, losing their jobs, their families and even their lives. What still burns in my mind today is witnessing the fiery look that came on this little 8 yr. old beauty's face, her body tensing as she shouted with all the passion she could muster, "NO, I will never deny Jesus!

As it came time to leave the city where Lucy lived and had grown up, her mother, I assume in spontaneous desperation, tried to get us to take Lucy with us, claiming her future in the US would be so much greater than it would be there. The mom was crying, the horrified 8 yr. old was crying, and of course, many in our group (including me) were too. As we traveled by bus, then by train back to the major city where we'd return home from, my heart was heavy as I thought about all that had transpired that week. Of course, alot of what weighed on me heavily was what I'd taken away from a week spent with the Christians in that city, and, yes, with Lucy. Thankfully, I did not just bring home memories, but I have a calligraphy she had done for each member of our team, that still hangs in my office. Its meaning was debated (in their own language, not English!) by Lucy and those who facilitated the ceremony in which these were presented to us. It means something like "Big, or Strong Mountain." Several of my team said it stood for Big mountain, because of my freakishly large size, in comparison to others in that country (haha) but I choose to believe it was more of a reflection on my influence in Lucy's life and/or what she perceived about me, not just that she saw me as an overgrown American! 

Why all this today, on Feb. 9, 2021? I share this story from time to time, and Lucy's calligraphy, but when I looked at it today, tears filled my eyes and I prayed earnestly for Lucy, where she is today, both physically and spiritually. And, as I have contemplated today how that those 2 weeks 10 years ago impacted the trajectory of my life and my commitment to Christ, it finds me in both a place of frustration AND resolve. I do not know, nor do I understand all that is taking place in this world today. I tentatively have at least one international mission trip planned this year, but unsure as of today if it will even take place. I doubt seriously if I would even be able to return to East Asia anytime soon, if I could get INTO the city where Lucy lived, OR if she would even remember or recognize me, or me her! That's ok, God has reminded me, and I feel it's important to share this with any of you who read this, that none of our ministry in his name is in vain, that his word "will not return void" (Isaiah 55:11), and that we can trust in HIS power to hold and persevere all who have genuinely trusted in Jesus' work on the cross and his resurrection. I believe I WILL in fact see Lucy again one day, just maybe on the other side of eternity! I pray our lives are filled with "Lucy moments," opportunities for us to pour our hearts into the lives of others and give our lives to eternity impacting engagements

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