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Boredom

Last night, I finished my sixth of fifteen books required for my upcoming August D Min classes.  The latest was J. Gresham Machen's classic Christianity and Liberalism.  I had read this book years ago, but it is worth reading it again, for it outlines the battle Machen faced with liberalism in the Presbyterian church 80 years ago (he lost the battle and had to leave the denomination).  We are facing exactly what Machen faced, but this time fighting it as society attempts to make Jesus nothing more than a nice, moral teacher like Confucious or Buddha. 

Yet last night I attended a small church seminar (I won't say where or sponsored by whom) and listened to two good presentations, one of which was read from a paper.  Yet I looked around and the audience was listening, but there was a general malaise.  Some of the people were bored, the questions were half-hearted and most of us present were pretty much "grey heads."  It was definitely not a youth movement.  I sat there and thought, "This is part of why we are losing the battle with cultural liberalism; we are boring!" 

Then I thought that last week at the same time, I was at The Pacific Insitute seminar in Seattle.  I have heard that material many times before, yet I was on the edge of my seat, took a lot of notes and made many journal entries.  So I sat in the session last night and asked God for insight.  I asked Him to show me if it was my problem and to open my eyes to what I am missing.  I prayed that the same dynamic would be found in me that was in Jesus' ministry, "The large crowd listened to him with delight" (Mark 12:37). 

I want to write and speak in such a way that people are interested. I also want them to be able to take the message out and apply it immediately to family, work or church. I don't mind entertaining people, in fact I accept that I must entertain to keep their attention.  I want to have a message, however,  to go with my entertainment.  And Lord, please make me relevant!  I know my brothers would say, "Truth is truth and doesn't have to be relevant to be truth." I would agree, but does that mean that truth can be presented without passion.

Jesus was relevant; He taught but He also healed and counseled.  He met the people where they lived, and they walked for days and then sat for days to listen and be with Him.  They followed Him without thought for their own provisions (He had to multiply bread for them to eat on several occasions) and I cannot believe that they sat for days and were bored.  Jesus spoke truth but also embodied truth. There was something irresistible about Him and I want that same dynamic present when God gives me opportunity to communicate for Him. I know that is a dynamic of the Spiri but if there is anything I can do to foster that dynamic, then I am willing to pay any price to have it.

What have we become accustomed to in our church worlds?  Why are we content to be bored, not seeing that while we are willing, our youth are not?  Why do we settle for substandard communication when we are surrounded by a culture that excels at getting their message across?  I don't have many answers and I'm not sure I am even asking the right questions.  Furthermore, I know I have been part of the problem and want to be part of the solution.  Lord, help me to communicate effectively and accurately the truth that You have entrusted to me and allow me to do it in a way that is acceptable to You and delightful to Your people.  Amen. 

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Comments

face

I feel ya brother. Thank you for your transparency and I pray God that you would use John for your glory.

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