Kingdom Work

A few weeks ago a pastor friend and I talked briefly about ministry. His comments troubled me greatly. He intuitively knew I was upset by our conversation. However, he mistakenly thought it was because I was upset about something with my church.

In reality, I was upset with him. His comments told me that he had no vision for the future of his church. He had no interest in Kingdom expansion. His heart is no longer burning with God’s call to spread the gospel. The people of his church seemed happy, so he was happy. However, these happy people are a group of about 10 who worship in an area where there is unlimited Kingdom potential.

In reality, his church is dead. He isn’t concerned.

While Dodge Park Church of God is not setting the world on fire, we are committed to entering the arena of Kingdom work and giving our best effort. We want to take new territory for God. We want to be soldiers in the great battle against Satan and evil. We want to honor Christ and serve him in the work of the Great Commission. We want to rescue people who are perishing. I believe our best days lie ahead of us if we embrace Jesus’ commission and compassion for our community.

As a pastor, I have known great successes and great failures. A few times the failures have led me to temporary retreat while my wounds healed. But, success and failure motivate me to continue the work God has given me.

Kingdom work is both invigorating and discouraging. Sometimes small gains leave us with doubt. Kingdom work requires great commitment to God’s assignment even when we don’t experience advances as often as we would like.

I think Dodge Park Church is committed to Kingdom work. To use a baseball metaphor in honor of the start of next week’s new season – we intend to keep swinging until there is no strength left to pick up the bat and walk to the batter’s box. In other words, we'll be at His work until He returns.

My friend, not knowing what I was thinking, has encouraged me to share my trouble with him. I haven’t done so yet. I’ve want to be able to express myself more clearly when I talk to him.

I’ve run across two quotes this week that help me. Both, I think, have something valuable to say to the church.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue gave his annual address at the winter owner’s meeting this week. Quoting an unnamed economist, he said: “Great companies and great organizations compete against themselves. They may be the best, but they are never good enough. They can always become better. History is clear. Those individuals and organizations that are remembered are builders. Sometimes the buildings are physical. Sometimes the building is intellectual. But those who are remembered are always builders.”

Tagliabue’s application is summed up in a phrase he coined: If it ain’t broke, fix it anyway because you can always make things better. That’s a good approach for the church. Continual steps of improvement can be taken to make us more effective in accomplishing our mission.

The second quote comes from the March 2006 edition of “Christianity Today” in an article titled “The Lessons of Jabez.” It is an editorial about Bruce Wilkinson’s resignation from the ministry he founded and named Dream for Africa. Bruce recently resigned apparently from burnout and disappointment.

The article quotes Teddy Roosevelt: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; … who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.”

Who wants to be a cold, timid soul for Christ? We can enjoy the “dust and sweat and blood” that comes from being actively engaged in Kingdom work. We must dare greatly for God. Souls depend on it.