Last night I had the odd experience of being in two different environments. The first was Day Seven, an event put on by 6:22 Ministries here in Greenville. It was a rally of Christians to worship Jesus, pray for our city, and to unite people from all different churches. On that front, it was a great success.
The second environment was something completely different. It was a concert at the Backdoor Skate Park in Greenville. Our friends, Ironsides and the Gospel Years, invited us out (they really just needed our equipment) to run sound for them. We got in free, and helped switch bands on and off stage. In between, we enjoyed some awesome music, and got to meet different people.
Why I am writing this post? For one reason only: Harmony, I do not want us to preach, discuss, and sing about redeeming our city and reaching the lost….and then never do it. We are called to be missionaries to our culture. And that means that sometimes we have to leave the rallies and hang out with the lost. There’s a time and place for both. And both are vitally important. Unification in the church is instrumental to redeeming a city.
But here’s the thing: it’s so easy to get really excited about Jesus saving our city that we neglect the footwork Jesus requires us to do in order to accomplish His act of redemption. Right after Day Seven on Friday night, I’m sure many turned their eyes/hearts/minds to church on Sunday, or even the next big 6:22 Ministries’ event in the fall, Worshipfest. We immediately focus our attention to the next Christian rally instead of the lost and dying city at our doorstep.
And here’s what’s happening as we do that: our mouths are singing for the walls to come down as our hands begin to lay bricks.
Harmony Church, I want us to realize that when we talk about redeeming our city or seeking the lost, that it’s not just empty words. I really mean what I preach: Jesus will redeem our city. And it will happen in our lifetime, I’m praying. A city that loves Jesus is not a pipe dream or unattainable vision. I want us to rally around the Cross, and then go forth into the city and culture with the Gospel of Christ’s atoning death and conquering resurrection. When I talk about saving the city, I’m not kidding. I’m for real. Let’s pray like it depaends on God, and work like it depends on us. Read your Bibles. Meet your neighbors. Say hey to strangers. Hit your knees in prayer. Sing praise in the shower. But above all, keep the Cross central, and realize that we are here to do business. We are not playing around.
This is not a game.