After the children finished their ice cream they left the table to the teenagers and adults.  During this gathering of friends and family in Austin last summer a question was asked of Nick… “Do you Twitter?”  Recently graduated with honors from the University of Texas and now in his first position at beginning of a career in business … he hesitated … then said “yes”.  Seeing an opportunity I asked, ”why?” Again…he hesitated ... what he said next has caused me to reflect for the last several weeks.  What did he say?

“… I don’t want to be perceived as irrelevant.”

There it was – both brutal honesty … and a healthy self awareness. Twitter, Facebook, I-phones, and their myriad technological cousins and future progeny stand as emblems of everything considered the latest and greatest.  This evening, at an invitation-only event, Apple will reveal its much anticipated updated version of the I-pod.  Promising to be smaller, sleeker and more powerful it will – in a flash – make every adolescent who pulls the old model out of their backpack on the bus feel left behind and outdated.

Okay – we aren’t teenagers anymore and don’t (typically) rush out to replace our fully functional (car, phone, TV, … spouse ...?) with the latest model, but we do retain that same mindset, albeit we bury in deeper down in our psyche.

Over a recent lunch with an accomplished pastor and elder statesman of our faith, I asked why he thought the church was continually trading in one model of ministry for another program for another emphasis ... (which, often, are nothing more than an old model with a fresh coat of paint).  He smiled wryly then answered without hesitation…

“three reasons; the arrogance of youth, a laziness that looks for a way to avoid the inherently difficult and a lack of understanding of what has been.”

I am first to say that we have to minister to real people in a real world.  We must adjust our delivery methods to communicate clearly in a rapidly changing culture.  But, in the effort to remain relevant we must not lose the heart of real discipleship …

1. HUMILITY is a value for God’s children. In real life it means we hold our opinions gingerly, recognizing our limitations, imperfections and unexamined bias.  It means we can learn something from almost anyone… if our heart is right.

2. PERSPECTIVE helps us have an accurate view of what is and what has been. Isaac Newton is one of the most important figures in science having made advances in chemistry, theology, developed the theorems of calculus, proposed the Laws of Motion and Gravity……  Isaac is the one who first said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” 

3. GOD FOCUS means I have a greater desire to hear His “well done” at my life’s end than enjoying the applause of men’s throughout.

4. FOCUS ON EFFECTIVENESS in fulfilling the Great Commission and Great Commandment.  If the latest, greatest techno toy, ministry model or creative idea will make us more effective, then sign me up!  If we are simply twittering to show we can then let’s not bother.

5. EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE because the “work smarter, not harder” mantra has its limits.  Dad used to say, “Nothing of value comes easily.”  I have learned and relearned the wisdom of those words during my life. Ministry service almost always requires sacrifice.

Right now, I am reading two books… one is a collection of essays on the life and ministry of John Broadus.  He is one of, if not the, greatest pastor/scholars of the last 200 years.  The second book is called “Southern Baptist Identity;” it is also a series of essays written by some of the greatest theological minds in action today. By looking at and hearing from the lives of the wise and godly gone before I have been given a stronger footing and foundation, but also a clearer and greater appreciation for what I can see and on whose shoulders I stand. As a result, life is richer, roots of faith deeper, resolve to persevere stronger, mind more clear, passion for God's word more intense, fellowship with the saints sweeter and, hopefully, ministry more God-honoring and effective.

There is a time to look forward and there is a time to look back ...
Pastor Paul