Altar
Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter
Albritton
October
19, 2014
His plan has not changed
A Gallop poll once revealed that of the major denominations in America, the United Methodists are the
least likely to invite someone to church. I was ashamed to read this but not
surprised. I have known for years that my Methodist friends are timid about
sharing their faith.
If we could overcome our timidity we would likely see a jump in
church attendance. Other polls reveal the striking fact that most unchurched
people would come to church if someone invited them. Even more remarkable is
the report that 8 out of 10 new converts started coming to church because a
friend invited them.
The earthly ministry of Jesus included more than his preaching, teaching
and healing ministry. He formed a band of disciples. These were men Jesus
needed to accomplish his mission. In his Gospel Mark says Jesus called these
men because he “wanted” them. What an honor – to be wanted for the service of
the King!
The Twelve were appointed to serve as Jesus’ apostles. He asked
them first to be “with him.” He wanted to know them intimately so that they
could bond together and understand his mission. Being with Jesus day after day
was the best possible preparation for ministry. We can only imagine how much it
meant to the disciples to spend time apart with Jesus.
Jesus prepared the apostles so he could “send them out” to proclaim
the good news. After their training,
Jesus sent them out two by two. No one knows why Jesus sent them out in pairs.
Perhaps they, like us, were afraid to go one by one. However, most of us are
more willing to “go out” if someone will go with us. The presence of a friend
helps us overcome the fear of being intimidated or rejected.
The apostles were ordered to travel light. They could take only a
staff, their sandals and one coat. Why? Jesus did not want them to be hindered
by their “stuff.” Stuff can get in the way. Life, after all, does not “consist
in the abundance of our possessions.” Jesus was asking his disciples to
practice what he preached and lived out in his own life. There is no evidence
in the gospels that Jesus hauled a large suitcase around as he traveled.
More than that, Jesus wanted the apostles to be completely
dependent upon God. He knew that God would provide if they trusted him. And God
did provide – through the generosity of people, the apostles had all the
provisions they needed. They learned a basic principle of Kingdom living –
Where God guides, he provides!
Jesus knew the disciples would sometimes be rebuffed. So he
prepared them for rejection: “If any place will not welcome you and they refuse
to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a
testimony against them.”
We should remember, when we are snubbed, that Jesus did not
instruct the apostles to speak against those who rejected them. No denouncement
was called for; they were simply to shake the dust off their feet and leave.
When we are willing to do that, often we find a more receptive audience the next
time around.
We may observe that the apostles obeyed Jesus and their work was
rewarded with success. Many were stirred by their strong preaching to change
their ways and turn to God. They had power over evil spirits because Jesus had
given them that power. Mark says “they expelled many evil spirits.” They
“anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
There is reason to believe that Jesus still wants his disciples to
“go out” and offer his redemption to the whole world. So we who are present-day
disciples should spend time with Jesus, receive his power and go out in his
name to share the good news. When we do we must leave the results up to him.
Once I heard Harry Denman say, “Jesus said ‘Go’ more often than he
said ‘Pray’ so his disciples must be willing to let Jesus send them out to share
the good news.” Harry was right.
The more we go out, the more we learn to depend on God rather than
ourselves and our stuff; and the more we will receive the power to share the
good news about Jesus with others.
Dr. Fred Craddock, respected teacher of homiletics, says that
Christians are fearful of sharing their faith because their pastors have not
taught them how to do it. Pastors, Craddock says, must preach so that their
people can learn how to say the
faith, sing the faith and live the faith.
That is quite a challenge – but a challenge pastors dare not
neglect. Faithful disciples of Jesus must be taught and motivated to go; it is still
the Master’s plan. + + +