Give Me One Biblical Reason...

                                                                                       - Photo by Josh Hunter

I was asked about GCC's new site in Elkhart. 

Here is the quote. This was the question:

"Give me one Biblical reason for your decision to launch a new site in Elkhart. Just one. One reason you think one more church service in Elkhart is necessary."

I wanted to offer a politically correct response. Really. I wanted to answer with words that soothed the emotions of my inquisitor.

So I told the story about Jesus' lesson regarding God's love.

Matthew reports Jesus taught about the desire God has for everyone to know Him.  I told the story and said, "God doesn't want anyone be lost. God doesn't want anyone to perish."

Jesus said, "If a man has a hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one?  And if he finds it, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine others safe at home! Just so, it is not my Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:12-14)

With that response, I apparently came up short. 

The inquisition continued.

Maybe it was the tone or the volume of the follow-up question.  Maybe it was the aggressive manner of delivery, or the stated notion that the people of Elkhart really "don't need to know about Jesus."

I formulated my next response. I thought about trying to satisfy the urgency of the moment without exacerbating the issue.

But I said something like this...

"One day we're all going to stand before God. It'll be Judgment Day. Judgment Day is payday - when the wages of sin will be paid-in-full. If you stand before God with payment due, you'll receive payment. The wages of sin lead to death.  If you stand before God with your sin-debt paid-in-full, you'll receive the gift of God, which is eternal life. I want everyone to stand before God knowing their sin-debt was paid-in-full by Jesus. We're launching a new site in Elkhart to deliver the Good News. Jesus paid our sin-debt in full!"

"Otherwise," I said, "The Bible says Judgment Day will be a very bad day."

Zephaniah 1:14-18 -  "The Great Judgment Day of God is almost here. It's countdown time:... seven, six, five, four... Bitter and noisy cries on my Judgment Day, even strong men screaming for help. Judgment Day is payday—my anger paid out: a day of distress and anguish, a day of catastrophic doom, a day of darkness at noon, a day of black storm clouds, a day of bloodcurdling war cries, as forts are assaulted, as defenses are smashed. I'll make things so bad they won't know what hit them. They'll walk around groping like the blind. They've sinned against God! Their blood will be poured out like old dishwater, their guts shoveled into slop buckets. Don't plan on buying your way out. Your money is worthless for this. This is the Day of God's Judgment—my wrath! I care about sin with fiery passion— A fire to burn up the corrupted world, a wildfire finish to the corrupting people."

Zephaniah 2:1-2 - "So get yourselves together. Shape up! You're a nation without a clue about what it wants. Do it before you're blown away like leaves in a windstorm, Before God's Judgment-anger sweeps down on you, Before God's Judgment Day wrath descends with full force."

Comments

[Amber Cox]

Dad! I love this picture of you! I think your hair looks cool.
Heart,
Amber

[Jami]

Mark, this picture is awsome...

[Becky Hunter]

May GCC sponsor thousands of sites where millions of people can come to know Jesus Christ personally. And may you come up with a zillion additional ways beyond that to share the Good News with the world. "you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 ...Elkhart, by my calculations, is included in this sentiment, somewhere between Samaria and the remotest part of the earth.

[Josh Hunter]

I too think this picture is awesome :) Also, I am glad people in Elkhart will get to know Jesus because Granger was there talking about Him and showing His love in that community. Thanks again for an awesome trip and your wonderful hospitality. I always learn a lot when I am there.

[Lisa Hunter]

You have a hot photographer!!! Wish I could have been there to visit with you and Aunt Sheila!
Love you guys,
Lis

[Jim Ruth]

Sounds to me like he might not have gotten a hot dog. If something doesn't change in his life, COOKING a hot dog in eternity won't be an issue! And THAT'S why we're going to Elkhart!

[Kem Meyer]

Mark... this is the GREATEST photo of you. One of the best I've ever seen. Love it.

BTW... sometime I need to talk to you about Opistognathus aurifrons. Just whenever.

[Steve Miller]

Many years ago, a pastor shared the story regarding one of his first ministries with me. They were growing and the body was excited. But they were also busting at the seams and pretty much leveraged every inch of space they had to grow and now they needed to do something about it. As part of the "next step" process, a leadership meeting was called to develop a plan for expansion. He went into the meeting with great excitement, but was stunned when so many of the "leaders" questioned the need to add space. It culminated with one highly respected trustee thumping the table as he proclaimed that the building had served them well for many years. There was nothing wrong with the building as it stood. Besides it was paid for.

My pastor friend said he was just wise enough to refrain from retorting that if that's the case they should just change the sign instead. It could read - WE'RE FINE THE WAY WE ARE. THE REST OF YOU CAN JUST GO TO HELL. He chose instead to visit individually with several of the leaders and when he realized he could not budge them on this issue, decided it was time for him to pursue his ministry elsewhere.

If we truly value what we have gained in Christ, then we would spare no effort to share Him with everyone we can in whatever fashion that we can.

[James Kytta]

Mark,
What if these truly are the last days and Jesus will come back in our lifetime?! Would we hold back our effort to reach the lost for Jesus?! No!!! We would go all out to the max!
Luke 12:42-48 "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall set over his houseservants, to give them their portion of food in season?
Blessed is that servant when his lord comes and finds him so doing.Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the male servants and women servants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk,the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.And that servant who knew his lord's will and did not prepare, nor did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.But he not knowing, and doing things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him much shall be required. And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

[Meagan]

I am continually in awe of your wisdom and leadership. I am so thankful to be a part of GCC, especially with a leader such as yourself fearlessly directing the way according to the will of God. I look forward to the changes ahead!

[Dianne Ranes]

You have Grandpa Beeson's eyes!

[Bill McCready]

Mark,

I want you to know that as a pastor, I get the same 'helpful' questions just about every time we try to do anything. I love that you love people enough to try to reason with them, and I love that you don't stop pushing the envelope to get the message across. I am a fan, not just of you, but of Jesus in you. Keep doing it, don't stop for anything, and fill Heaven with people who can tell that guy why a new campus was necessary.

Blessings,

Bill McCready

[Scott Miller]

Hey Mark...I love it...don't you just want to poke those people in the eyes (with the love of Jesus of course). We were asked the same question when planting Pathway in Middlebury 8 years ago...does Middlebury need another church? 340 people and an average of 25 people coming to Jesus a year over the past few years later, I would say they did! And so does Elkhart! We'll be right behind you Mark...

Scott Miller
scottmillerblog.com