We have life and death under control with our tongue. This concept can be one of great confusion and abuse. The "nameitandclaimitness" of my generation has hardened the hearts of the generation rising. So many of this generation come to church and have a spiritual experience or an emotional encounter. These are incredibly useful tools for attracting their attention or providing an entry into the presence of God. However if these encounters, or experiences don't at some juncture translate into an engagement, are they fruitful? An engagement is a promise of commitment.
But why would someone engage? Why did we engage? At 14 years old I engaged because that's all I knew, and I was scared to go to hell, lol. The spiritual foundation for me personally was firmly based on "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". Translation - "As long as you live under my roof, eat my food, and wear my clothes, you will go to church"HAHA!
Am I EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND GLAD FOR THAT, YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! I am in the family of God through the blood of Jesus today because my parents trained up the child in the way he should go......but...
Today's parents are different. The world is different. Even "old school" christian leaders are facing the reality that the type of Church experience that converted my generation ("X" 28 - 48 years old) is not working for the subsequent generations ("Y" 6 -27 years old and "Z" 5 and under). It's not enough for them to just take our word for it, or do as we say not as we do. These information hungry, intelligent and research driven generations are searching for truth and it will require more and more evidence to confirm and convert.
The evidence they are seeking is "street cred", "proven", "tried and true" with some swagger (confidence)!
"Oh, so God is Love? How come so many Church people are hating on sinners? Why did God take my (insert the appropriate person)? Why does the church hate gays? Why does the church frown on people who believe differently than I do?"
These are some the dominant questions/issues that the Church has to INTELLIGENTLY AND PLAINLY answer today. Let's face it, "Sovereignty" is a concept that is absolutely foreign to most, considering America has been a democracy run by the people since 1789 for goodness sake. Anyway....I feel that we need to make the gospel as PLAIN as scripture. Sure, self - help is good, overcoming is part, prosperity is God's desire, and Love never fails. "BUT...when I pray and believe and do all the right things and pay my tithe, and obey God, and forsake not the assembly of the saints...and things still go terribly wrong...what up then?"
Songs, powerpoint displays, million dollar sound systems, prominent staff members, and big ticket musical guests will only get them so far. Commitment is the key.
I hope that 2009 will be the year where we allow the experiences and encounters to lead us into a loyal engagement with God Almighty. God has used encounters and experiences throughout history to reveal Himself to His people, however these have been intended for the purpose of a commitment. Not only us committing to God, but by the confession of our sin and repentance, we would gain access to the commitment God promised throughout scripture.
For example -
God commits to Job in his book.
In Ps. 89:3-4 God commits to David
In 2 Chronicles God commits to Judah
In Isaiah 49:14-15 God commits to Zion (Israel)
The New Testament shows God's commitment to the greatest level.
John 3:16 God committed his only Son for crimes we committed.
How's that for a comparison of commitment?
Our commitment - SIN, LUST, and PRIDE
God's commitment - GIVE, LOVE, and LIFE
What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may much more abound? Is grace a spare tire? Is God's love our get out of jail free card? Are we pimping God's love for personal gain? Do we knowingly and boldly sin, and then use the love of God as a life-line? Is God a booty call? I know I'm getting really raw here, but trust me...the only ones offended are us "gen X ers".
This generation has been awakened, and unfortunately it has not been the power of God only that has awakened them. Every morning they are tempted, and nudged by evil communications (provocative music or conversations), witchcraft (rebellion), illicit images (internet, magazines etc), and a HOST of other things. For example, in my home I have full digital TV's (none in my or the kids bedrooms), a home movie theater, 4 ipods (all with video), 4 iphones (2 are the old 1st generation), 5 apple computers (3 laptops, mac mini, G5 tower) and an appletv! It's in my home too, not intentionally but it's there.
I'm not saying let's throw away technology and roll out the candles and communicate via morse code, but we all have to reckon with the spirit of the age and fight it.
Generation Y and Z are the golden prize! History's greatest achievements are being done by generation Y and Z! The most athletic, strongest, smartest, most beautiful, fastest, and brightest are among these. While the Presidential victory of Barack Obama is an incredible achievement because he is the first, it's simply that, the first. Most of us know who Jesse Owens is, right? You probably think he was the first black Olympic athlete like I did....wrong! The first was a man by the name of George Poage and most of us don't even know what he did. Generation Y and Z most likely can't even recall Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Flo Jo, or Jackie Joyner (Other great and record holding African - American Olympic athletes).
Golf...Tiger Woods...yes? First...no...The first was Bill Spiller in 1948, the first to win a PGA tour event was Pete Brown at the Waco open in 1964. The achievement is much larger than the color. The achievement proves that the nation has grown past a "dead mentality" or old prejudice in some regard. This is the blessing. There will be many more African American presidents, Latino American presidents, Female Presidents, and every other race to come out of these generations. We must protect them and respect them enough to give them the God of Scripture and not disrespect their intelligence by offering only an experience and not the engagement! Let's reaffirm our commitment to the Lord Jesus and show the evidence that people are seeking. Let's commit to our relationships with others. Let's commit to cover, respect, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Let's guard our families, and love our enemies.
Let's make 2009 the year of COMMITMENT!
Speak that over yourself this year "Lord I commit myself to You and I believe that You will honor Your commitment to me. I engage Your presence, not just encounter it. I give You my heart, mind, body and soul. Help me keep my commitment to You. In Jesus' name amen".
