Comments on: God’s Work Continues http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/ ...laboring for the gospel as it transforms me, my city, and my world for all of eternity... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:35:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jason http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-104 Jason Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:11:57 +0000 http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-104 Yes, but didn't Paul spend years working with the disciples before he went out on his own to do the ministry for which he is most commonly known? I guess you need to define what you mean by the sidelines. Yes, but didn’t Paul spend years working with the disciples before he went out on his own to do the ministry for which he is most commonly known?

I guess you need to define what you mean by the sidelines.

]]> By: celljet http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-103 celljet Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:49:05 +0000 http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-103 It's our human nature to want the world to revolve around us. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to sit back and watch God use someone else, while we sit there chomping at the bit. I've had to do this and it's not easy. It’s our human nature to want the world to revolve around us. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to sit back and watch God use someone else, while we sit there chomping at the bit.
I’ve had to do this and it’s not easy.

]]> By: marcbackes http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-100 marcbackes Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:23:59 +0000 http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-100 <i>I’ve been on the sidelines for the most part for a number of years because God’s been refining me and taking crud out of my life that needed to be gone. I know that I’m going to be back in the game…but the Great Coach is just making my skillz a little better (yo) so that when I’m in the game I can play at the right level.</i> I would argue (and I think Biblically) that there is no "right level" to jump in at. And I also don't have in mind church activities or ministries. What I have in mind is Jesus as King. Reigning, ruling, and in absolute sovereign command of our lives. He is faithful, whether we are or not. It's not a thing of being "improved" so then I can get in the game. If we believe in "waiting" until we're good enough, or until Jesus has done enough in us, then I don't think we have a proper understanding of God's holiness and our sin. We'll never be good enough. The beautiful part of the Gospel is that God invites the most broken, the most hurting, the most sinful, the most incompetent into the mission and says to them "Watch what I will do through you". That's why the Gospel is so amazing. Jesus, though rich, became poor and goes looking for the same kind of people to advance the mission of redemption. Saul, become Paul, is a perfect example. I’ve been on the sidelines for the most part for a number of years because God’s been refining me and taking crud out of my life that needed to be gone. I know that I’m going to be back in the game…but the Great Coach is just making my skillz a little better (yo) so that when I’m in the game I can play at the right level.

I would argue (and I think Biblically) that there is no “right level” to jump in at. And I also don’t have in mind church activities or ministries.

What I have in mind is Jesus as King. Reigning, ruling, and in absolute sovereign command of our lives. He is faithful, whether we are or not. It’s not a thing of being “improved” so then I can get in the game.

If we believe in “waiting” until we’re good enough, or until Jesus has done enough in us, then I don’t think we have a proper understanding of God’s holiness and our sin. We’ll never be good enough.

The beautiful part of the Gospel is that God invites the most broken, the most hurting, the most sinful, the most incompetent into the mission and says to them “Watch what I will do through you”. That’s why the Gospel is so amazing. Jesus, though rich, became poor and goes looking for the same kind of people to advance the mission of redemption.

Saul, become Paul, is a perfect example.

]]> By: Jason http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-99 Jason Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:14:20 +0000 http://marcbackes.com/2008/06/13/god%e2%80%99s-work-continues/#comment-99 The cynic in me would say that we're afraid to move on without them because even within the church circles the equasion "more people = more Jesus" holds true. It doesn't matter if 4,999 of the 5,005 people in your church don't do a single thing for Christ...you have a 5,000+ member church. It's a status thing. It's not right...but that's the way it is. Now, don't automatically rule out the folks on the sidelines. I've been on the sidelines for the most part for a number of years because God's been refining me and taking crud out of my life that needed to be gone. I know that I'm going to be back in the game...but the Great Coach is just making my skillz a little better (yo) so that when I'm in the game I can play at the right level. I don't want to jump in the game and be the center because that's where I feel most comfortable when God wants me at the point and running the plays. Now, I know some folks use that as an excuse...but some of us are sincere in that. :) The cynic in me would say that we’re afraid to move on without them because even within the church circles the equasion “more people = more Jesus” holds true. It doesn’t matter if 4,999 of the 5,005 people in your church don’t do a single thing for Christ…you have a 5,000+ member church. It’s a status thing.

It’s not right…but that’s the way it is.

Now, don’t automatically rule out the folks on the sidelines. I’ve been on the sidelines for the most part for a number of years because God’s been refining me and taking crud out of my life that needed to be gone. I know that I’m going to be back in the game…but the Great Coach is just making my skillz a little better (yo) so that when I’m in the game I can play at the right level.

I don’t want to jump in the game and be the center because that’s where I feel most comfortable when God wants me at the point and running the plays.

Now, I know some folks use that as an excuse…but some of us are sincere in that. :)

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