Wisdom From John
The Sacrificial Squirrel
The Sacrificial Squirrel
Or
Why the church is failing
Ever wonder if God is working in your life or that he even cares about you? Well, if your answer to this question is a very timid "Yes" or an "I'm not sure," I have one thing to say to you…."Wake up and look around you, God is alive and well. You're just not paying attention."
This morning as I was enjoying my first cup of coffee, a squirrel sacrificed its life so that I could listen to a message from God. But wait, before I explain this comment, let's go back to what happened a week or so ago. For you see, if you've not noticed God working in your life, maybe you are not aware of how he works in the lives of his children. So, let me explain how he often works in mine.
God sort of works like an artist...he paints a picture over time or he writes a book one chapter at a time. Chapter one for today's events happened several days ago and came in the form of a friend telling me about her pastor's Sunday morning sermon. The title of the sermon was, "The Practical Atheist."
According to her pastor, a practical atheist is someone who attends church but then does NOT live like a Christian. They know religion but they don't know Christ; they attend church but never seem to make Jesus Lord over their lives. The practical atheist plays at church but never becomes a disciple of Christ. From this sermon arose a question, "Is the church failing to make disciples?" Better yet, "Does the church even understand what makes a person a disciple?"
While you're thinking on this, let's return to this morning's sacrificial squirrel…chapter two. This morning a cute, little squirrel touched a wire that was carrying 12,000 volts. In a flash this squirrel entered into eternity and the lights went out in Taylorsville. Now when the lights go out, we power company folks kick everything into high gear and I was soon on my way North. As I was leaving, my friend stopped me to ask if I would return her sermon notes from the "Practical Atheist" sermon; odd that she'd ask but part of God's building story. In a way, he was giving me a small reminder of something he had already shown me.
Now, as I was heading North, I "just happened" to hear a retired baseball player share his testimony on American Family Radio. You guessed it; he touched on the idea that many individuals who attend church never achieve maturity as a Christian. In truth, too many churchgoers cannot even lead a fish to water let alone lead a sinner to a saving knowledge of Christ (my words, not his). If you doubt this, ask the person sitting next to you this Sunday morning how many people they have led to the Lord.
This ballplayer told of how he had been raised in an atheistic home and attended a very liberal Catholic high school. He grew up thinking the Bible was filled with fairytales and that Christians were blindly following something that wasn't real. And, then God changed his world with a serious injury and during his recovery he met a real disciple of Christ Jesus. And, as they say, "The rest is history."
Why had he been turned off to Christianity by the church folks he associated with on the team? Why had he refused to make a serious attempt to find a relationship with God? Why was going to church such a turn off to him? His answer; the Christians he knew could NOT answer his questions nor could they adequately explain the scriptures. As I understand his answer, his Christian friends knew the Bible, but they didn't know the word of God.
Some of his questions were on the order of; "Where's the proof that God exist?" "Where is the historical proof that the cities of the Bible were actually cities?" Why would God allow evil to exist in the world?" And, "Why can't we find proof that the characters of the Bible actually lived?" While there may not be cut and dry answers to these questions, a mature Christian should be able to give an acceptable answer to them.
Well, one day our ballplayer met a real disciple of Christ, and through their friendship he found God and a personal relationship with Christ. Now he is a motivational speaker and is spreading the Gospel across America. His challenge this morning; stop playing church and truly make Jesus Lord.
A Christ like disciple is someone who wants to be like Christ. A true disciple does not just follow Jesus; they want to be "like" Jesus. This is why Peter got out of the boat. If Jesus, his Rabbi, could walk on the water, then Peter wanted to also walk on the water. He wanted to be like his Rabbi. He wanted to do the things that Jesus did. When was the last time we churchgoers had the desire to be like Jesus and do the things that Jesus did?
Look at the American church community. We have whole Christian communities supporting politicians who support abortion and homosexual marriages. We have whole Christian communities who sit in silence as federal judges kick God out of the public arena. We have whole Christian communities turning their backs on the homeless, those in prison, and the widows and orphans. How can we call ourselves Christians if we sit by and watch the evils of pornography, child abuse, and drug addiction destroy our Nation's children and then take no action?
This morning God sacrificed a squirrel so that I would hear a baseball player give his testimony and hear his challenge to our Nation. This morning a squirrel gave up its life so that God could once again tell a sinner like me that my sacrifices pale in comparison to the sacrifices of a true disciple. This morning Taylorsville went into the dark so that God could tell us, the Church, that it is time we obey one of the last commandments Jesus gave his followers…Go and make disciples.
Today, God once again challenged me to stop being a churchgoer and to become a true disciple of Christ.
God, forgive me for failing you. I have not been the obedient child I should have been and I have brought shame to your name. Please Lord; give me ears to hear your voice, eyes to see your path, and the heart of a child that I might become a true disciple. I want to be like Jesus. Help me to overcome my unbelief and to walk in faith. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for being a forgiving God who loves us unconditionally. You are the almighty God, the God most high and I love you Lord.
Just a thought
John Keilholz ICWAO@hotmail.com May 13, 2010
