The Church and Men
As you may be able to tell, I’m reading through the book of Revelation. I’ve never read it all the way through before, so I thought I would. I’ve read the letters to the seven churches before, even taught some lessons on them in early in my teaching “career.” This morning it was the letter to the church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)
As I read this letter over and over I kept thinking of men. Jesus told the church he was proud of their love, their faith, the good stuff they do, and even how they patiently endure the tough stuff life was throwing at them. Then He hit right between the eyes. Jesus told them that in spite of all the good stuff, He was troubled by. . .literally, “held it against them”. . .their willingness to accept and follow a false prophetess. Jesus called this woman “Jezebel.” Don’t know if that was her real name or a reference to one of the most vile and immoral queens Israel had ever had. Doesn’t really matter much, either way they got the point. She was teaching and they were following her down the road of sexual immorality.
So how does this relate to guys, me included? We trust God, love others, do great things - even in the name of God - and patiently endure the hardships of marriage, rebellious children, layoffs, pay cuts, addictions, and a whole mess of stuff. Yet, we give in to Satan’s lies about lust, pornography, sexual immorality, adultery, and all kinds of sexual sins. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s tough being a godly man in today’s world. But how can we ever be the church - God’s church - when men won’t deal with these ongoing sins?
Listen guys, we have to get over our shame, our guilt, and our pride if we ever hope to face up to these problems in our lives. They’re real and they are tearing down our lives, our marriages, our families, our communities and having an incredibly negative impact on Jesus’ bride - the church.
Let’s start talking about these struggles. Let’s begin encouraging and helping one another. Let’s begin praying for one another. Your wives deserve it! Your children deserve it! Your God deserves it!
Let’s stop being the church at Thyatira. Let’s stop believing Satan’s lies. Let’s be the men God designed and desires us to be!
Mike
Your First Love
Read Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus this morning.
As far as the church (our churches) goes here’s what I wrote.
But I was drawn Jesus’ words, “You have forsaken your first love.” The more I thought about those words the more I thought about the church’s relationship to Jesus. He is their groom and the church is his bride. In essence He was saying that his bride had lost their love for their husband. . .their spouse.
As I mulled these words around in my mind this morning I couldn’t help to wonder about my own marriage. I remember when we got married - the excitement, the wonderment, the awe, the amazement that God would bless me with such a gift. Then I began thinking, after only a year and three months, would Cindy know if I had stopped loving her like I did when we first got married? Would she be able to tell if I was just going through the motions? Am I more madly in love with her today than I was the day we joined our lives together? I wrestled with these questions.
Here’s what I came up with:
- I am more madly in love with her today that I was the day we were married!
- I never want to get to a place where I ‘m just going through the motions - I want to do what I do because I love her. . .AND I want her to know it!
- I never, ever want her to wonder if I’m just going through the motions - doing the right things without the right reasons.
- If she ever thinks I am, I want her to call me on it.
- If I find myself going through the motions, I want to be man enough to admit it, repent of it, and begin falling back in love with her.
What about your relationship with your wife? You just going through the motions in your relationship with her? If not, keep it up!! Our world needs more men like you. You can help by encouraging and teaching others what you’ve learned about keeping the love fires hot. If you are just going through the motions, Jesus said there was a solution. I think it’s risky, but it’s His remedy not mine. He says we need to admit we’ve forsaken our first love; first to yourself, second to God, and third to your wife. This takes guts. It takes courage. It takes a willingness to do things right and be obedient to God - love God and love others, most especially your wife. Then Jesus tells us to repent, or turn from just the motions and turn back to your wife. This may mean getting rid of anything and everything that attracts and distracts your love away from your wife. Finally, Jesus said we shoudl get back to doing those things that you did when you first started falling in love with her.
Like I said, this could be risky, but it’s the right thing to do. Just remember, just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing. Guys, it’s up to us to take the lead in our families. It’s up to you to make things right.
Mike
Relating
Sometime last week there was a copy of Purpose Driven Connection, a magazine put out by purposedriven.com in my box at the church so I threw it on my desk to read later. Yesterday morning (Sunday) I picked it up and thumbed through it. I came across a an article called “Are You Connected?” The article shares the story of how people who, through differing interests, passions, giftedness, etc., are connecting with groups around them. Some connect through music, some through interests in motorcycles or surfing.
Here’s the cool thing that I piqued my interest - they would meet and have church. That’s right, in the pursuit of their passion or interest they would have worship, Bible study, pray for one another, and share the gospel - all the things that we do in “church.”
Then it hit me! How many guys do I know who have definitive interests - fishing, hunting, cycling, motorcycles, lifting weights, running, technology, finances, their jobs, and a bajillion more I just don’t have time to jot down, that could use those gifts, passions, and interests to reach out to other guys?
I remember when I lived in Lufkin, Texas I rode with the Angelina Bike Club. We met every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to ride mile after mile together. Some went to my church, some attended other churches, some didn’t go to church at all. But cycling was my bridge to this group. It was what I lived for. I prayed for them. I encouraged them. They encouraged me. And I got the chance to minister to those guys.
When I moved to Saraland, AL I bought my first Harley. Man! Did I have a blast using that bike that reach out to people. . .to guys in the same way. Tom Briand and I went on many a ride on our Harleys. We prayed together. We encouraged each other and on several occasions we were able to encourage other guys.
What about you, men? What’s your passion or interest? And how can you use it to reach out to the men in your circle of influence? What if you said something like, “God, I love doing/participating in ________________, I give it to you to reach men who share the same passion.“ Then, you begin open your eyes to who God leads you to. You may have to join a club or organization. Maybe not. You may have to hang out with some guys you normally wouldn’t. But aren’t those the guys we want to reach anyway?!
If we are going to change our families and communities we are going to have to change the hearts of men. And that takes men willing to take a risk. Men who will use their interests, hobbies, and passions to reach out to guys from all walks of life. It will take men who are willing to be bold. Men who are willing to step out on faith and trust God.
Take the challenge!
Mike