"For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God
for salvation to everyone who has faith..." (Romans 1:16)
I love the story of when a pastor bumped into an individual in the grocery store that he saw occasionally at his church. He asked the young man why he didn't attend church more often. The man said that he liked the church alright, but he got a little tired of hearing the same hymns every time. Baffled the pastor asked what hymns they were singing so often. The man replied, "Joy to the World" and Silent Night."
When I worked with youth, I used to joke about the "Camp Christians:" the kids who showed up for the summer camps, the ski trips and special retreats. Now working with the whole church, I joke about the "Christmas/Easter Christians," those people who only show up on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday.
Every time these services roll around, we pay particular attention to the worship service, seeking to make it as visitor friendly as possible. One aspect of these services is the sharing of the gospel: the simple plan of salvation for those who have never heard it before. I have heard church members (not at this church) criticize pastors for doing the "gospel thing" at these services. They say things like, "Oh, here it comes... the obligatory Altar Call."
So it was with a great deal of joy that I heard one of our recent new members express her faith to the session (the church's governing body). When asked about her faith journey, she told of her Catholic upbringing. Someone asked if she had ever accepted Jesus Christ into her heart, and she said, "Yes, here, at the last Christmas Eve service."
I was thrilled to hear this. On the night we celebrate the angel chorus over the cradle, we can also celebrate the rebirth of a new Christian. As Jesus said, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)
God is at work in our church. That work is not only in the ways we are serving in the community or in the ways of our Bible study participants are becoming more spiritually mature, but God is working so that people are coming to faith. And that is exciting.
If ever a pastor begins to speak the simple message of the gospel and you think to yourself, "I've heard this before, I don't really need to listen," I would encourage you to take a moment and pray. Pray for anyone in the service who has never invited Jesus into their heart. Pray that the Spirit of God would work within their lives and knock at the door of their heart. And pray that they would accept Jesus' invitation to commit their life to Him.
May we join with the choruses of heaven as we rejoice over every person who comes to faith because of the ministry here at FPCSA. And may we never be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation.
May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
