We're all in this together, right?
Hi Folks,
Let me encourage each of you to make friends with other Christians. Whether they be Church of God, which is whom most of us are close friends with, or other denominations. Make friends with other Christians. We serve a big God folks, not a "God in a box". Let's keep our perspective fresh, and broaden our circles of friends. We may learn from others, and we may get an opportunity to teach.
Working as a missionary in a foreign country (Nicaragua) has given me the opportunity to work with the Seventh Day Adventists, The Baptists, The Assemblies of God, The Verbo Church, The Moravian Church, and a council of churches comprised of all of those, and more. The only religions which we haven't directly worked with, for one reason or another are the Catholic Church, the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), or the Jehovah's Witnesses. What a privilege it has been to be exposed to, and work with, each of these devout segments of Christianity!
We all serve one God, and He is mighty indeed. As we pursue our theological lives with vigor, and search for the realities of Spiritual Existence, we come across many trails to follow. Like a gifted hunter pursuing a deer down a rocky slope, we must use all of our skill, and insight into the nature of that which we are pursuing to gain our goal. We have already achieved Salvation, by accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts and into our lives. Now, as we take the walk of faith, we seek enrichment of our Spiritual lives. What do we do, once we have committed our lives to become better, saved, human beings through Christianity?
We seek. We seek after "the truth". Those of you that know me well, know that I am not a "denominational drummer", so to speak. I am a Church of God missionary because my personal beliefs are very close to what the doctrine of the Church of God is stated to be. Unlike many in my particular denomination, I was not raised under the Church of God doctrine, but under the doctrine of the Assemblies of God. They are very similar, and these two denominations work particularly well together because of their shared beliefs. But perhaps because of this change in perspective at an early time in my youth, I have always been open to other teachings. I have seen good Christians in many other denominations, and I believe that we will all see each other together in Heaven, and we will THEN KNOW how silly our denominational disputes were, and we will laugh...together.
I encourage each of you to seek friends outside your denomination, whatever that denomination may be. The Church of God, The Baptists, The Seventh Day Adventists, The Assemblies of God, etc, and so on...DON'T have all the answers. It is Jesus Christ himself that has the answers.
I believe that this last general assembly conducted by the Church of God will put a new face on our particular denomination. A face that harkens back to a time when the Church of God was growing, and Spiritually powerful. As we seek friendships outside of our denomination, invite them to see what it is that the Church of God has to offer. As we move back towards more commitment to our missions department, and the spreading of the "Good News" of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, bring others into the fold to see our commitment to His name. Make plans to visit, or support a missionary. THIS is where the life's blood of a strong church rests, on it's following of the Great Commission.
Evangelism is something that I have a calling towards, it is what I preach, and it is what I teach. The Church of God has resources for those "seekers" that are out there. We are NOT an exclusive club of believers that excludes sinners, ARE WE? Don't we SEEK AFTER sinners, that they may receive Christ? Isn't THAT what it is ALL about? If we aren't evangelizing, we are being complacent. Did Jesus sacrifice his life, so we could achieve complacency? The Church of God is NOT a complacent organization, and I don't believe anyone in the Church of God is comfortable with ONE SOUL being lost to sin. It will take effort on your part to share Christ...but someone made that effort in YOUR LIFE, so that YOU could go to heaven, right? What if we decide today that "enough is enough"? Do we accept that "some will be lost"? I fear that some do accept that, and I pray that God will send his Spirit to motivate people beyond this selfishness in their lives.
Bring the sinners to church, and you may find that they make YOU a better person, and our congregations stronger for their presence. Bring them in folks, I want to see the churches "bustin' at the seams" with sinners! Let Christ do His work in their Spiritual lives, and HE WILL! All you have to do is get them to come to church, or kneel and pray, or question how their life can be better.
God bless you all richly, and I hope my "ramblings" this morning weren't to far off base.
Richard
Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
Richard & Carolyn Becton
3005 Pine Dr NE
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)
ADDRESS IN NICA:
Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America
posted by Casa de Servicio | 11:05 AM
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