I am writing this at the beginning of 2008 before the first Sunday of the year, because I have just received an email regarding what is happening in some mega-churches across America and I understand that some major big-named ministries are being investigated regarding their financial affairs. I was aware that there were problems but I did not realise they were this serious. What happened to the simple preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
What is missing? And who are missing? If some men of integrity are missing then things can suddenly go very wrong. Let me correct that. They do not go wrong suddenly. They go wrong slowly bit by bit until the issue is immense and the Name of Jesus Christ is ridiculed and laughed at, as a consequence of the activity and behaviour of those who perhaps started well.
Let me illustrate this in a different way by looking at Thomas. You will find the actual account in John Chapter 20.
Nobody knows where he was nor why he was not present with the others, but he missed so much by being absent.
Thomas was not in the Upper Room on resurrection evening when Jesus Christ appeared to his baffled wondering men. He was the disciple who had been quick to ask questions, and now his mind seems to be racing, as he attempts to work out just what has been happening.
Did he go off to consider seriously all the various events of these past few days? Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, crucified and buried. Thomas had witnessed these facts.
But now some trustworthy women were saying that the tomb was empty and that Jesus had met them that morning, and Peter and John were adding to the irrationality of it all.
The risen Jesus had appeared to those who had gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, and He had spoken to them and breathed upon them.
Thomas had missed seeing and hearing the risen Jesus, and receiving from Jesus, and this raised further questions in his questioning mind.
He would not accept the explanatory answers of Peter and John and the others. That was not good enough. Mere words were insufficient.
“For me to believe I will have to poke my fingers into His wounds!” Thomas wants evidence.
He has to wait another week, and that can be a long time when you have a heavy troublesome burdened heart.
One week later, through the same locked doors, Jesus Christ reappears, and now Thomas has his chance. He did not need to touch Him.
Realising who this is he blurts out, “My Lord and my God!”
By being absent a man can miss seeing that vital convincing evidence.
There is something further though. By remaining silent when you become aware that what is going is not quite right, then other things can go wrong. Money can be misused. Funds can be diverted from their original intention.
During this coming year, if you are a committed Christian, be present at all the Services you can. Be in the Word of God every day. Take time and make time to read it and pray. Know the Scriptures as well as you can. Keep yourself as pure as if possible in this soiled sinful fallen world.
If you serve on a Committee or Board and you see things going wrong or just beginning to go wrong, have the courage to speak up. God will honour that. But not only that – there will normally be someone else around who will have the spiritual insight to see the same issues and who will rise and speak to support you.
These things take courage. I remember someone saying to me when I was appointed to a very important committee forty years ago this year – I must have been a boy member! – now stay to the end of the meeting because it is when good Bible believing people slip away and absent themselves that bad decisions are made in the final minutes when there is no-one to speak up and speak out.
This calls for real leadership!
Much is at stake – even the glory of the Name of God, and of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.