MORE FROM CATALYST
back in the 70’s, doesn’t that make me sound old, well i’m on my way, but that’s another day. anyway back in the 70’s there was this touring singing group, pre-contemporary bands that sang this song that had this line, “God has always had a people.” Matt Chandler’s talk at Catalyst last week reminded me of that song.
Matt took a walk through the Bible, from creation to Acts and then in history through the development of the church in Europe to America, to his church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to how the UN is reporting the growth of Christianity around the world. He landed on Hebrews 11, by faith…Abel, Noah, Abraham, Rahab, etc, etc, etc.
Matt reminded us that even though we may not see God at work in our location that God is still at work. first, let me say that i love being a part of a church where we don’t have to ask the question “where is God?” last weekend’s service was a good example. as is the way that Engage Atlanta is working with Samaritan’s Purse to help flood victims. as is He at work in other ministries at WRC. we are privileged to see God’s hand everyday. secondly, if you are in a church where it seems God has left the building, i’m about to give you a piece of advice and it probably isn’t what you think. 1. pray – for your pastor, the leadership, yourself. 2. ask God where He is at work and join him there; in your church, your community, your mission field – you lead it, obviously you need to work with the leadership but if God has put something on your heart then you need to do it. maybe God wants to use you to revitalize the church.
a few years ago i moderated a meeting for a friend of mine. a group was about to fire him. we had the meeting and for about 1.5 hours people griped and complained and talked about taking the steps needed to fire the guy. finally one man stood up and said “maybe the problem is with me. i’m a sunday school teacher, a deacon in this church, perhaps i need to step up.” the tone of that meeting changed and for the next hour people began to share how they needed to contribute more. there were a few who left the meeting upset that no steps were taken to fire the pastor. but for 5 – 10 years that church grew a little at a time and eventually filled up the worship center again. the sad ending is that eventually that small group got him. but you see, God was at work in that church in the heart of this one individual and it grew something if only for a time.
God is at work. Find Him there. Join Him. Quit whining about the world, be the church. “God has always had a people.”
