robsingleton.net

14 December 2007

Call’m Out! Part 1

Mansonconcert Can anyone reading this ever imagine the following?

You have a church where the Holy Spirit begins to move in amazing ways—hundreds, if not thousands, are coming to faith in Christ. Marriages are being restored, people are becoming more generous—less self-serving, there’s great joy spreading like the ripple effect when you throw a large rock in the pond. This church develops an incredible sense of community to the point where people are saying the whole experience is reminiscent of Acts chapter two.

Ok, got a picture of that in your head?

Good, because that wasn’t what I wondered about at the beginning of this post. This is…

Can anyone imagine Christian groups within the same community of a church like the one I just described doing everything in their power to bad mouth, criticize ,sabotage, and maybe even pray against such a church?

No way, right?

Wrong. We hear it every so often at Southbrook Church. Things like:

Oh, they’re just interested in numbers over there.
I don’t think it’s possible that all those people are really getting saved.
They don’t focus on discipleship and that’s what God said were really supposed to be doing.
It’s just easy believism.
The pastor’s really persuasive, that’s not God.
I think people should be brought along slowly to the realization that salvation is found in Christ.
There just trying to out do other churches (huh?).
It’s all a competition to them.

All of the above and more have either been said about Southbrook or me about pastor friends of mine or churches I respect and admire who take very seriously the great commission found here.

And all the above statements were made by fellow “Christians.” I put the word “Christians” in quotes because I’m at a loss for an accurate way to portray them. And I honestly struggle with what “Christianity” really means to some of these people. Would Christians get all riled up about hell-bounders finding Christ?

Would “Christians” question a sincere persons moment of trusting God?
Would “Christians” really take the work of the Holy Spirit and attribute it to nothing more than persuasive arguments from a human being?
Would “Christians” tell a brand new, enthusiastic Christ follower that their not really saved because it all happened too fast? Who decides what’s too fast?
Would “Christians” really discourage calling people out to publicly trust in Christ for salvation because of the fear that it might look too much like ‘competition’ to someone (‘someone’ I’ve discovered, usually refers to the critics themselves).
Would “Christians” really tell others to focus on discipleship rather than evangelism?! The last time I checked (and the time before that) discipleship wasn’t even possible with individuals who were not saved.

I could go on and on but I won’t. It’s pointless. The critics live to criticize, never pausing long enough to see how they are wasting their lives for Christ and missing out on His glorious call and commission. So I don’t write this for them. I write it for the confused and those who have been wounded or disillusioned by the Christian Siskel and Eberts of life. To you all I say this…

Don’t run this race called life for the critics. That audience is constantly growing and ever fickle. Run it for an audience of One.

Run it for God.

In the end, He’s the only one who really knows our hearts.

He’s the One who died for you.

He’s the One who saved you to run this race in the first place. So don’t listen to the critics when you’re smack dab in the middle of doing what God called you to do. They will tell you the wrong things and before you know it you’ve wasted your own life just like them. They will tell you that people just don’t move like that these days. They don’t come to Christ by the thousands. They don’t make passionate, real, heartfelt decisions at a single meeting. But they’re wrong. Dead wrong. Don’t let their lack of faith rub off on you.

By the way, the picture of nearly everyone raising their hands to make a decision at the top of this blog was not taken at a church.

It was taken at a Marilyn Manson concert and those kids are placing their trust in Satan. That freak mocks Jesus and salvation and real alter calls at nearly every concert (and I use the term, ‘concert’ in the loosest of ways). He knows the harvest is ripe, it’s just that he makes sure to spoil the crop before it’s ever picked.

People are desperate for someone to follow, gang. The alternatives other than Jesus Christ are pretty scary. But the truth remains. If we don’t call’m out, someone else will. Then they could be lost forever.

I prefer to call’m out for Jesus.

If that makes me a freak, so be it.

I’m a Jesus Freak.

Share and Enjoy:

9 Comments currently posted.

clayton says:

Thank you thank you thank you. Rob, this needs to be said more forcefully and deliberately by pastors and leaders. It is easy to criticize, it is more difficult to create (Wintson Churchill). Critics never really have a problem with the things they criticize (salvations, big churches, loud worship music, whatever). They have a problem with themselves and they are too lazy to deal with it and fix it by the power of the risen Lord. So instead, they focus attention away from themselves hoping to distract others from the real issues (sin, rebellion against God, self-righteousness, poverty, injustice, and lost people dying without hope in Jesus). The hardest thing often times is discerning when to ignore the critics, when they have a valid point that must be considered, and when to warn them once before they are expelled from the church for causing trouble. The apostle Paul had grace for almost every person in every circumstance, but he refused to tolerate divisive people within the church. Don’t believe it? Try reading Paul’s letters. Do you think people ever criticized him, or Barnabas, or Peter? Maybe those same modern day nay-sayers don’t believe that 3,000 people were saved in one day in the book of Acts, or that Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families with a little boys fish sandwich. Just saying…

Stephanie says:

Wow- I love when you read something that is relevant to other things going on in your spiritual walk! I have been struggling with what exactly is wrong with so many “Christians” that I know and while reading John the other day a verse really slapped me in the face- John 2:24-25
“But Jesus would not entrust himslef to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” This verse pertains to the people who were believing because of the miracles they had seen and Jesus STILL knew better than to place trust in anyone other than God. So, instead of wondering what was wrong with the “Christians” causing my disgruntledness- I am now wondering why I expect any more when I place my trust in any other than God. As within any society or group of people, there are always the bad seeds giving the honest and earnest a bad name. The good thing is that God will continue to bless those who do His will and hey- how sad will it be on judgement day for those who KNEW better but chose not to DO better??

Key says:

Wasn’t Paul (Saul) a critic at one time? Aren’t we all critical at times? Let’s ALL scroll back up to the words of Rob: To you ALL I say this…

We ALL need a Savior. It’s an “Ah Ha” moment when we finally realize this (sadly, some never do). People are coming to Christ for many different reasons. It could be because they’ve heard that GOD is the only one that really knows our hearts and THOUGHTS. Or that they’ve heard that Jesus is ALWAYS with us. For some that might seem more like a threat than a blessing. Coming to Christ, beginning to know Him, love Him and follow Him involves choices and decisions. It’s a need.
Crave on Wednesday nights at Southbrook (thank you Pastor Jeoffrey) has been offering great practical steps to grow closer to Jesus. ~ Ways and reasons to consistently read and apply the Bible. (Revelation 1:3) ~ The importance and power of prayer. (Luke 18:1-8)
Christ followers ARE desperate! What a JOY!
Yes Rob, I can imagine that church! The blessing is….it’s real. To the glory of GOD!
(2 Corinthians 4:15) Call em’ out for Jesus…so they will know HIM! And know the NEED for HIM!

Josh Via says:

Good stuff, Pastor Rob. You hit it right on.

bigdadgib says:

Great post Brother Rob,

I know one thing is true and it is this…

If you are doing nothing for Christ, the devil is a happy camper and nothing is said.

If you start leading people to God, teaching the Gospel, and give your church work to Christ, the devil will use every vice, every tool, every stone he can to trip you up.

I have not been to your church (not yet… do you have big truck parking?) but it sounds to me like you have the devil madder`then a pig caught under the gate.

I say, “Praise God”… you must be doin’ somethin’ right!

RSS Reader BigDadGib

rob says:

Pastor,

Our family just started attending Southbrook a couple of weeks ago. I have been searching for a church for sometime that was doing Gods work and winning souls to Him rather than creating programs to keep the congregation happy. I am so glad we have found a home at Southbrook. The presence of the Father is in the building every time we walk in and I challenge the critics to visit and see and feel what is missing in so many “churches”.

Thank you for serving and letting our Father work through you.

Carl says:

Spot on! My thoughts to the tee. Praise Jesus he works wonders everyday for anyone willing to give up the world to accept his free salvation.
God Bless,

Carl

Rob says:

Hi Smiths!

Man, I’m thrilled you all have found a home in Southbrook Church! Yes, we are VERY serious about reaching those who are far from God with the grace and love of Christ. That will never change–at least as long as I am pastor!

In Him,

Pastor Rob