“I alone am left” (I Kings 19:10,14) ” have 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (19:18).
Lord, I’m the only one out here in the field doing anything worthwhile.
I’m your best hope, Lord. Mine is the best church. Our denomination is the last of the faithful.
Sheesh!
How does the Lord put up with the likes of us?
Usually I let it go, but this time I felt the pastor of that church–we’ll call him Silas–and I had sufficient history to withstand my telling him that his advertising slogan–his “church’s identity–was offensive.
“We’re going to reach Atlanta and the world for Jesus!”
In my letter–maybe I should have phoned, but that would have made it seem more urgent–I said something to the effect that, “I appreciate a challenging goal for your people, and it’s great to keep the mission of world evangelism before them. But imagine if you are pastoring a smaller church in your city (most churches in your city are smaller!) and you read that. It implies you’re going to do it all without any help from anyone else, and feels like a putdown.”
I suggested a more faithful slogan might say “We’re going to reach Atlanta and the world for Jesus by working with God’s people everywhere.” Not as catchy or pithy, to be sure. But truer and far more responsible.
Silas was not gentle in his reply. “McKeever,” he began, always a clue that niceties are out the window. “Most of the churches around us are worshiping the status quo or struggling to keep their doors open. It does feel like we’ve got the task alone.” He ended with a gentle reminder that I should take care of my own assignment before telling a brother how to do his.
Point well taken.