Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross ---- A Word Aptly Spoken by Stan Mitchell Danger for Long-Term Christians by Barry Newton ---- COLUMN: Reality Check A Word Aptly Spoken by Stan Mitchell "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). The tall man stepped to the platform of the train, and looked at the crowd arrayed before him. His angular features reflected the gravity of the moment. He understood the importance of what he was about to say. The site was the place where thousands of men had fallen in battle, the critical moment in a bitter, heart-breaking war. The time had come to speak the words that would begin the healing. Conversely, the wrong words might tear the nation apart again. He had to find the right words. He began slowly, haltingly, then began to pick up steam. The crowd listened -- it was hard to tell how they were taking it. These were relatives of the men who were killed, colleagues, the wounds were still fresh and painful. The speech ended, and the crowd sat in silence. The speaker sat down heavily, convinced he had failed. But he was wrong. The crowd had been stunned by the breadth of the dream, silenced by the eloquence of its simplicity. They were so moved they could not respond. You know the speech. It began, oddly, with an account of how many years had passed: "Four score and seven years" earlier, their leaders had given birth to a dream. Abraham Lincoln wanted that dream to be revived. And his Gettysburg Address went a long way in accomplishing that aim. The nation survived, and grew, and prospered. You never know the good you will do if you say the thing you need to say. "I'm sorry." "I believe in you." "Thank you." "I forgive you." You may not see immediate results, but they may occur anyway. Think it through. Be brave. Then say what needs to be said. ---- What's your reaction to this article? Tell us here: http://www.forthright.net/reality_check/a_word_aptly_spoken.htm ---- COLUMN: Hands-on Faith Danger for Long-Term Christians by Barry Newton Having served Christ for decades, she felt a strange disorientation in reading "Danger for Long-Term Christians." What? Defensively a long list of benefits from serving Christ immediately flooded her mind. "More time provides greater opportunity to learn of Christ, grow into his image and develop the fruits of the Spirit," she thought. Her quick mind was not finished, "the greater the distance a person places between oneself and sowing to the flesh should diminish the trouble being reaped from those prior actions." Having adequately defended orthodoxy to her satisfaction, puzzlement settled in as she proceeded to read. "In Revelation, Jesus extended the grace of a pre- emptive warning to the Ephesian church in hopes that drastic action would not be necessary: 'I know your works and your labor ... I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the works you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place.'/1 Jesus was not finished. As he looked at the Laodicean church they also needed the blessing of a wake up call, 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ... Those whom I love I reprove and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.'"/2 Stuck in her mind, Jesus' words refused to go away. They can have a way of doing that. With them came a growing realization. Even into her own Christian life a lethargic paralysis had slowly crept. She knew she loved Christ and even worshiping with the saints, but the paralysis, while obvious, had remained conveniently out of sight. Whatever overt action she might have taken for her Lord had been strangled by worries. The weeds Jesus had warned about in the Parable of the Sower had so dominated her agenda there never was time to even think about reaching others for Christ or doing her part to help the church fulfill its various ministries. Furthermore, motivation to serve had been lulled to sleep by: "we've tried that before," "what I do won't make any difference," and "I've put in my time." American prosperity had fueled a Laodicean-style satisfied consumerism while an Ephesian lethargic laziness had overgrown her spiritual life. Her thoughts turned to her husband. He always had time and energy to work on his projects, enjoy recreational activities, relax in front of his favorite tv shows. Funny thing though, he just never seemed to have enough time to lend a hand in helping with the many opportunities of service presented at church. Of course, like the Ephesians and Laodiceans before them, they too would show up for worship. But clocking in for another worship service was about the extent of their labor for the Lord. How we live each day to serve Jesus and whether we actively participate in supporting the efforts of the church to fulfill its role is important because we are the church. We have a mission, purposes given to us by God. Christ knows what our physical limitations might be. He is also aware of what we are capable of doing. But most importantly, Christ knows what we are doing. For those who will have chosen to show faithful service will come the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." __________ 1/ Revelation 2:2,4,5 2/ Revelation 3:15,16,19 ---- Join the conversation. Read this article online and share your thoughts with us. Click here: http://www.forthright.net/handson_faith/danger_for_longterm_christians.htm ---- You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.htm