by Doug Blair
CHURCH ON THE HOIST
Two Churches Together Seeking
More of Christ
Doug Blair, C. 2012
Waterloo, Canada
A VOICE FOR HIM
I am troubled Lord
By what you would
Have me announce.
It is jarring,
Sobering,
Quite unlike former
News of encouragement,
Edification, comfort.
Often I have visited
Your Body
With thrilling
Words of destiny,
Agenda, untapped potential,
Giving the faithful
Glimpses of
The ‘greater things that
They might do’
Because You have gone
Unto the Father.
Harvest, Healing,
Reconciliation,
Prosperous venture.
Many platforms.
But now I see
Straightenings, reproach,
Desertions,
A little flock
And I tremble.
Is this moment your
Time to show
The assemblies
That without You
They can do nothing?
To weep at
The World taken in?
To repent again
With wiser eyes,
Multiplied scars?
From self-assurance
Which years back
Had evicted
Pure, holy,
Precious, child-like
Beggar’s faith
From their midst?
Submission to Sovereignty?
Compassion for the unlovely?
Worship without shopping lists?
Will this be the time
For serious harvest?
In a dark and perverse
Generation?
Without honest answers.
May we find again
Your Sabbath? (Isaiah 58)
And delight in
And through You?
Only?
WHO ARE THE PRIESTS NOW?
Christ gave up the ghost. The thick veil in the Temple at Jerusalem split from top to bottom. In real terms the Mosaic economy had finished its course. The succession of high priests was ended. The beasts for sacrifice, no longer required.
One blood-letting would now have eternal focus. One High Priest, eternal office. And believers were enabled to approach holy functions and places standing in the righteousness of their Saviour. This is the New Covenant. We are told in the Letter to the Hebrews that we may now come boldly to the throne of grace that we might receive help.
We are told in Peter's First Letter that we have been raised to "a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices" (chapter 2:5).
But might any veils still stand in the way of our service? How might we caution ourselves? Beware of the following:
1. Persisting in known sin. (Psalm 66:18)
2. Unforgiveness. (Mark 11:24-26)
3. Prayerlessness. (Mark 14:38)
4. Condemnation unchecked from Satan. (1 John 1:8,9)
5. Idols of distraction. (1 John 2: 15-17)
6. Shyness and Fear of Man.
7. False humility.
8. Tempting praise. (Luke 17:10)
9. Lack of Bible foundation. (1 Timothy 4:16)
10. Making a "pope" out of any man. (Psalm 118:8,9)
11. Lack of rest.
12. Lack of meditation in quiet.
13. Church barricades to the five-fold. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
14. Backward looking sentimentality. (Luke 9:62)
15. Judgmental spirit.
16. Comfort seeking.
I guess it just boils down to how much you desire to conform your will and ways to God's. How much you perceive yourself as the purchased possession of Jesus, and as His ambassador with dynamic delegated power. At any moment a large door may open.
Look again to Psalm 37. If you resolve to "delight yourself in the Lord", seeking His agenda, you will discover that you receive increasingly "the desires of your heart" (the desires of your Lord's heart).
The potential of such ready volunteers is awesome. They are the ones who have been given "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
In the Lord's name they may "loose" revelation, forgiveness, healing, fresh confidence, agendas of help, ministry commissions, praises and supplications which will move Heaven. They may also "bind" dark practices, temptations, strife, spiritual attack, sickness, thick-headedness, condemnation or despair.
What a tremendous privilege we have as day-to-day priests of our God through Christ!
Admittedly we still need pastors and mentors for clear direction, interpretation, confession, prayer agreement and a mature sounding-board. But we must not abdicate from evident openings for ministry. We must be bold when the Spirit urges (but not when our fleshly ambition prods). Christ uses believers (Mark 16:15-18). Not just men and women with certificates on the wall.
When, oh when will our churches discover this? Unlocking the treasure of the priesthood of believers. And it is for the community at large. Not just in-house.
A MOST NEEDFUL MESSAGE
Keith approached the pulpit, looked at all the familiar faces and gulped:
"Brothers and sisters, I was moved profoundly by something which I read last night about the priesthood of all believers. I am going to speak now from the heart. I love you. I want to see Jesus glorified in you. You will probably be upset by the following, but I am not deterred.
A comfort has set in around here. A luke-warmness. A busy-ness without fruit. I see faces repeatedly which seem to say 'Pastor, pray for me. Pastor teach me what I must know. Pastor affirm me and reassure that I am in the heavenly flock. Pastor show me what I must really know from John's Gospel, or Romans, or Daniel, or Proverbs, or Revelation. Smooth out all the knotty points. Pastor win souls for me. Pastor bring in God's presence for me.' I can entertain this sort of thing no longer.
I assure you that things are going to change. A coach demonstrates strategies, conducts fitness drills and then lets the team go out on the field... AND PLAY! I am going to release you to play ball. Basic Bible study. Yours. Regular use of concordance, dictionary, commentary. Yours. Extended study hours in our Church Library. Yours. Regular burdened corporate prayer in the services. Yours. Regular testimonies of challenge and victory in our gatherings. Yours. Exercise of spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body. Yours. Regular efforts to invite the unchurched to more relaxed gatherings. Yours. Street witness teams on an ongoing basis. Yours. The training of such witnesses. Yours. The mentoring of new believers. Yours.
So, lovingly, I repeat that things are going to change. Expect now to see in me more of the coach or conductor, and less of the surrogate. You are going to become increasingly a conditioned force for righteousness, comfort and truth in this community. Henceforth we will leave many of the other programs to the theatres, restaurants, gymnasiums and social clubs which abound. We are going to make the Body of Christ a vital issue which offers help and hope. We are going to make our Master smile. God help us."
TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH
The note read briefly, "Pastor Keith, may I see you in your study for a few moments at 5:00 P.M. on Monday? Bruce Benton" It had been given to Keith by staff on Monday morning. Dropped into Sunday's collection plate.
Keith had spent a most painful twenty-four hours since his rebuke from the pulpit. Imagine, calling out luke-warmness; the crippling routine; denouncing many programs; turning a good forty percent of his responsibilities back over to the congregation. Wow! Had he heard God accurately on all of this?
But he had not been able to get an image out of his thoughts. It was in Mark's Gospel. Jesus coming into Jerusalem on the Monday morning of Passion Week. Hungry, and seeing a fig tree in His path. Although this tree showed leaves, it bore no fruit. To the surprise of His disciples Jesus cursed the tree. Later that same day he whipped the sellers and money-changers out of the temple. Two seemingly destructive acts ...by Jesus. Keith had examined the church for days in light of this image.
Throughout the day, Keith had imagined many troubling scenes. His associate pastor asking if he had really meant all of that. Fred and Sarah, co-chairs of the Board of Elders, meeting him with pained looks after their many hours of organization and stirring up the people. Martin, the Missions chair, reminding him of the big cheque recently sent to field workers at the school in Kenya. Harvey the Pre-teen Sunday School Superintendent coming in for another Saturday afternoon of preparation, laden down with children's magazines, videos and felt-board figures. His own wife shaking her head at his discounting of his own tireless service to date. He was, in a word...miserable.
And it was ten minutes until Bruce's hastily called visit. But here is what Keith did not know. Bruce had been with the church some eighteen months. A corporate accountant transferred from Mississauga. His wife, Karen, once an elementary school teacher, had been staying at home recently for the benefit of eight year-old daughter Martha and four year-old Brendon. The couple were still sensing something missing in the oft-repeated term "church family". They had attended programs, received smiles and small-talk and offered some efforts in last year's Easter Pageant. But they were dissatisfied with the lack of real engagement with other parishioners, the lack of transparency, the handicap to real burdened prayer one for the other, the low-bar messages of basic redemption time and again from the pulpit, the evident spiritual gifts in the pews lying dormant, while staff did it all and grew weary.
After much consideration and talk, Bruce and Karen had decided to leave the fellowship, and Bruce felt strongly that he should give an account. But then Keith had dropped the bomb on Sunday in his remarks. That sounded like real church, real growth, real forward movement into Christian maturity, real burden bearing, real evangelism, real service in-house and at large. Could the people be ignited in this fashion? A desperate call indeed, but a worthy call.
The intended ten minute apology blossomed into an hour's talk between brothers of the faith, stirred with the same vision and hope, zealous for the glory of the same Saviour.
Bruce's parting words: "Thanks Keith for all of this. Consider my thoughts. Get back to us...and soon. We really want to help. This thing will work!"
DOWN GOES THE GAUNTLET
Old George wiped away the tears. It was Tuesday and he had just had a visit from the young pastor. Keith had told him of the surprising challenge which he had been burdened to issue. He was smiling in giving the news and animated. But the old church elder of former days, suffering almost total blindness and general atrophy of the limbs could not take it all in. Keith had left a CD copy of the message, knowing in his heart that George would rejoice at the development. And that he would pray.
George remembered eight years ago that whole process of selecting a new pastor. He had been drawn to Keith from the start in a field of six possibles. Other men stood taller; had a more compelling timbre in their voice; had papers from more prestigious Bible colleges. George had felt like the old prophet Samuel, passing by more imposing candidates for the runt of the litter, David. But David had had the key to God's heart. So did Keith.
During these last two years George had not been able to leave the Rest Home to attend, but he had gotten reports from various sources and he had taken on the burden in heavy prayer for Keith's constancy. George was aware of some of the more imposing personalities and their regrettable sense of territory in church program. He had feared that Keith was buckling. That a low common denominator was taking over.
In his forty-five years at the fellowship George could remember a wide variety of characters in the pulpit. Some with a sincere malleable shepherd's heart. Some commandants. Some ear ticklers. Some career boys. But then there was Keith.
He could still remember Keith's candidacy sermon taken from that haunting prayer at the end of the prophecy of Habakkuk. He had entitled it "Yes, this is true religion." The one where the prophet had said 'although the trees and crops fail and the livestock go missing, yet I will rejoice in the Lord.' This was a matter of loving God for God's sake, and not for His trinkets. George had loved the young preacher for the purity of his spirit and the loyalty of his message. The selection vote had been close, but it is possible that George's input had won the day.
The two had enjoyed a special bond over the years. Each on an occasion had had to correct the other on an issue of serious importance to the church. But brotherhood and mutual respect had never wavered.
And now this young man was telling the assembly to 'move on, grow up, wean themselves, take risks for the thrill of new revelation and new opportunity, open up one to the other, and then come together in agreement to take blessing and truth outside the church walls'. George was hugging himself in the wheelchair at the prospect of all of this. His prayers were being answered. For the moment there was nothing as adequate in the way of praise and thanksgiving as "the tongues":
"Parabba do manni forrah sic bianti pas kemmi soodah." And then laughter. Rich, full and in the tone of a much younger man (1 Peter 1:8).
The one nurse at the station down the hall turned to her colleague and remarked, "Oh there goes old George again in that odd language of his. Wonder what it could all mean? Too bad when they get like this."
Note: The story is told of Father Nash who would travel to each crusade town and travail for days for the anointing and fruitfulness of Charles Finney's preaching. The astounding results are history.
HOW WILL THE HOME FARE?
Keith closed the garage door and skipped up the back steps. He wondered if this might be an awkward dinner. He had almost forgotten the milk and margarine on the way home. Coat on the hook. Wash up at the back sink. A near stumble over Michael's tricycle. The kids already seated at the dinner table. Beth coming over from the counter to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Sorry I'm a bit late guys. I had a great visit with George Cromarty."
Ten year-old Becky's eyes strayed toward Mom in a knowing sort of way and then smiled up at Dad. Little Mike pushed across the table the crayon sketch which he had just completed: "That's the bush leading to the trout pond Dad. Remember? And the cardinal way up in that tree. And me on the dock with two good ones already in our basket."
Keith took a long look at the art and then brushed his son at the back of the head. "Good, Son, a really good picture. I think it gets the tack board for at least a week. Of course, your next one will probably be better."
Keith sensed Beth's unspoken comment: 'Would you please say grace? Things are getting cold.'
Hands joined in a circle.
"Father, thank you for this good day, and our home, and our safety, and this good food prepared as You have provided it. Thank you for our kids who are growing so well. Thank you that you have instilled in Beth's heart and in mine this vision for the maturing and usefulness of our Church and for the joy and blessing of the people, our friends. May they share gladly in our hopes. This is a big assignment. You are a big God. Keep us from fear and from going ahead of what you have laid out. In Jesus name, Amen."
He felt his wife's hand give an extra squeeze, and then she sighed heavily. Then it was Becky's turn with news about the field trip planned at school for the Friday two weeks away...
And down from a glowing spring evening sky, over the backyard, through the kitchen window and onto the busy table streamed shafts of light of Grace.
WORKING MEETING
Wednesday. Mid-week evening service. The damp weather hadn't helped but there was a presentable gathering. Several new faces. Keith had seated himself in one of
the mid pews and was chatting with those nearby. The tone was casual.
Right on time Keith went half-way down the centre aisle and opened his Bible. He read from John 13. The gathering in the Upper Room. The meal. The sudden rising of Jesus and disrobing. The basin of water. The washing of friends' feet. The hesitation of Peter. The Lord's rebuke, and his question, "Know ye what I have done to you?" Finally the admonition in verse 17, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Then he stopped and prayed simply, "Lord take us now where you want us to go." A pause of fifteen seconds. "Friends would you simply get up and accompany us to the All-Purpose Room downstairs."
A surprised comment or two and the shuffle of numerous feet out the rear doors.
Beth and Bruce and Karen and two other couples were already downstairs in the side kitchen. The pizzas were hot. The responding laughter was enthusiastic. Beth spoke next, "Every working meeting goes better with pizza. Seat yourselves as you wish in groups of six or so."
As the people chatted for the next fifteen minutes, pencils and paper were distributed. Finally Keith piped up although he did not leave his chair. "OK, we have heard the Lord's challenge. The pizza is gone. The paper is in your hands. How are we going to start "foot washing" around here? What to resolve? What to record? What to change in our gatherings? In comments or ministry from the floor? In visitation and outreach? Most of you heard what I said on Sunday. Tell me what sounds good...bad...workable.
