Nowadays Church and how we do it is changing; the way we did things 15 years ago is not the way we do things now. The programs have changed to reach and keep up with the fast pace that we live today, to keep people stimulated, interested, emotional charged. As with technology, our programs and gimmicks in the Church are short lived, they run their course very fast, and then we have to find the next fad to entertain, give us knowledge and stimulate us into having a relationship with God.

In the self-centered, self reliant world we find ourselves living in today this can be very overwhelming and tiring for us as ministers. It is hard to keep up, the expectation to feed people with new and innovated programs and services to keep them interested in having a relationship with God can be daunting. At times I find it a little more than I signed up for! My lack of understanding in technology for one is a big weakness on my part, but praise God for gifted people to help in that area. Not only that, but trying to come up with ideas that no one else is doing to attract people to our Church really is hard and shows my weakness and my insecurit ies, which makes me feel I have failed if the programs do not work.

So we keep going, we spend more time coming up with a new ideas, more energy, more worry, less time doing what I was called to do! To the point to where I wonder is it all worth it? Have I failed as a minister for God, am I stuck in the past? Are the things I feel are important such as listening to Holy Spirit and being obedient to him, allowing Him to change people from the inside out, preaching the word of God out of the Bible without any gimmicks, or not even having power point to present your message, a thing of the past? I don’t believe so. In fact I feel we have been trying to minister to the flesh more than the spirit, all our programs have been to satisfy the flesh more

than the spirit.

I under- stand the pro- grams we do are needed to draw people out, so we can at some point, “if they stay!” have opportunity to feed their spirits. My question is do we have doing Church all mixed up? Are we about seeker friendly services to fill our churches or Holy Ghost transformation? Are we worried about what we can do to draw people and keep people, or what Holy Spirit can do? We see or hear of a Church full of people and we think it must be on the cutting edge of the next big thing! We start to think all our programs and gimmicks are making church more prevalent. Is it really or are we putting man’s desires and expectations above Gods? Are we man pleasers or God pleasers? I wonder how it all looks to Christ. Who is really getting the glory? Do we really trust what Holy Spirit can do through us, or is it our plans and our programs that we really trust in? As I read

1 Timothy I am encouraged that Timothy had insecurities and frailties like mine! His mentor Paul encouraged him to focus on what is important, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” Paul encourages Timothy to do what he was called to do! Paul wanted Timothy to focus and to preach to the people three things as is found in 1 Timothy 6:11,12, “But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you confessed so well before many witnesses.”

First was the ethical appeal: run from, flee from things like materialism, love of money, a drug called covetousness, things that stimulate the flesh, youthful passions, selfish ambitions which lead to many sinful lusts. Paul tells him to pursue righteousness and godliness. Righteousness is right dealings with our neighbor and all that entails, godliness is a right relationship with God, honor Him with your life. Six qualities Paul admonishes Timothy to live by and preach are righteousness and godliness, faith and love, and endurance and gentleness. These six things remind us of the fruit of the Spirit, and the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The second appeal is doctrinal: fight the good fight of faith! No-one likes conflict, and not everyone likes to fight, but in a world that we find ourselves in truth is not so black and white. In today’s postmodern age (you have yours and I have mine, they have theirs) plurality of truth is so prevalent, where is absolute truth? What is absolute truth? If we believe strongly the Bible speaks of absolute truth as I do, we cannot compromise the truths written in it, or who it is written all about, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wants Timothy, and ourselves, to turn away from error and fight for truth, guard it, protect it, proclaim it. Gentleness and grace should be the manner and method in which we fight the good fight. Don’t shrink back from this unpleasant duty in a world where truth is up to the individual, but press on, fight the good fight. We move from ethics and doctrine to experience.

The Third Appeal:

Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” John 17:3 sums it up, “This is life eternal that they may know you, almighty God our Father, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” It is through the personal knowledge of God, a personal relationship with God, that eternal life is found! The death and resurrection of Christ brings hope that one day we will be at His side. This inspires us to: love that labors, because he first loved us! Faith that works,

is not just reading and believing but doing, flowing in the gifts, edifying the body of Christ.

Though times are changing let the method change not the message. I can hold on to what Paul is saying to Timothy as if Paul is speaking to me! Keep it simple, preach Christ crucified, let Jesus Christ draw all men to Himself, rejoice in my weaknesses for Christ is made strong in them, preach in season and out, whether you have a computer and PowerPoint or just a bible, whether you have a program that reaches thousands, or just do things for fun. Let Christ be the focal point and centre of all we do as ministers and servants of God. God bless!

Pastor Gord Horsley

Abiding Place Fellowship Shelburne