I was thinking about God a while back and something hit me, so I decided to share it. It may not be a problem with you, and honestly it has never been a problem for me, but I think that it is a problem that affects many within the body of Christ. Understand, this one is more of a idea then a piece of wisdom, but I think will challenge you or at least challenge you to challenge those around you. So, here goes.
I am sure you are familiar with John 1. Honestly as much as I love Luke's gospel, I believe the gospel of John has the best beginning.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What a incredible way to begin telling the story of Christ. In the beginning...no better place to start then that, and then for the rest of your gospel you go on and explain how the statement you just made can be proven. What a great outline for a book, someone should try it...Just Kidding. As great as John 1 begins the verse I want to talk about today is found a bit deeper in the first chapter though. Specifically, I want to focus on John 1:46
John 1:46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathaniel asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
Wow, less then a chapter after you introduce Jesus, and state that He was with God from the beginning and that Christ is a equal part of the Trinity, you already have people doubting if He could be who He claimed to be. John the Baptist was one that recognized Christ for who He was. In fact, John the Baptist recognized and acknowledged Jesus while he was still in his mothers womb. Of course, there were other people (the first disciples are examples), that immediately recognized Christ as well. In spite of these people though, many did not recognize Christ for who He was, and part of that was due to where He was from. Bottom line, no matter what He said or did, Jesus was still from Nazareth, and that meant to many that there was no way He could be who He claimed to be.
Now I know that we are by no means Jesus, and we are by no means as hated or persecuted as He was, but I do think that lack of belief due to the heritage, history, location and status of a person is something that many may be able to relate too. I think that there is an assumption on the part of some that there are certain areas, certain cities, and certain neighborhoods within every city that nothing good come from. Weather you are from Blaine, Knoxville, Chicago, New Work, Wichita, Vacaville, or Spring some assume that because you are from a certain city / area that you are not able to succeed or do good things. Looking deeper, within every city there is a road, a community, a neighborhood that many people assume to be incapable of producing good.
How does that relate to God you ask. Well within every “un-useable” city, neighborhood, community, or area there are churches. Churches that are there trying to show God to the world. So, when people make assumptions about a city, a neighborhood, a community, or a area, they also make a assumptions about the churches within those places. People say - “It definitely could not be God at work at such and such, as God could never use such a place or such a people.” Sure, some of that view may come directly from the actual actions of generations, residents, and attendees prior to the current ones. Honestly though even if the views are based on past facts, that does not mean that people today have to live down too their heritage or the expectations of others.
That is what I really want to tell you today. Never let anyone tell you that because you are from a certain city, community, etc that nothing good can come from it or you. Specifically never let someone tell you that about your church or ministry. No matter what church or ministry you attend, or are involved in, it will be too small, or too large, for somebody. Every church will forever be in the wrong neighborhood for somebody. Every church will always be branded by the mistakes of its members, both past and present. None of those things however stop God from using and working through His people, who are devoted to Him.
Simply, the great news is that God is not worried about where we are from, He is concerned about where we are going. You probably know that, but sometimes I think that some members of the body of Christ believe they are destined to less then others because of their location or because of the history of their church, community, or city.
I do not have any direct proof, but sometimes it seems that I can sense a air of defeat in some Christians before they even begin. It may be no more then the - "We tired that before, it failed" thought going through their mind. My view on that thought is two fold - 1) sure that may be true, but this is a new time, and 2) well try it again, that does not mean the idea was bad it just means that it was the wrong time or lead by the wrong people previously. If my feeling is true, and it may NOT be I admit, then we (not just you, but all of us) need to work to encourage everyone to get onboard with the unique and special vision God is giving them, their local church, and their ministries regardless of where they are located and regardless of past incidents.
Stepping up and taking on the view that God can and will do great thing no matter the location and the people involved, may mean that some may leave a particular body, but others will come. Those that leave are not by default bad either. They simply may be called to go somewhere else and do something else. That is God properly placing people where they need to be, not a sign that a person is lost or wandering. Basically, a person leaving will not make success or the work of God any tougher then it is already, as they were not, and should not have been, on board to begin with. God has a plan, God has a purpose for us all, and God knows the exact people that He wants - in character, skill, and quantity - to accomplish things in specific places.
Today, I want to encourage you to tell others that they are not defeated / useable because they are on a certain street, live in a certain community or city, or attend a certain church. Physical location and past issues and mistakes are not sufficient to hinder the work of God. The Son of God did not come from a great city, He was not raised in a fine home, He never walked around with a lot of money in His pocket.
What I am trying to say is that God is not defeated by situations, we are. We are defeated because we are unwilling to trust God to lead us where He is directing us. That is all, Satan wins not because the idea was bad, or because leadership was wrong, but because the people never believed and they allowed assumptions about both themselves and past actions to keep them from acting.
This idea goes back to one of my key mind sets for living. Change is scary, but it is constant, and those that do not change die. The tools and methods of our fathers are not ours, but the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible is ours forever. How we reach out and ministry may change, but the purpose and call behind the work has never changed. The key is too never let our physical and mental situation, nor past issues and defeats, dictate our spiritual response today.
Have a great day being from a too small, too large, under appreciated, over exposed, nowhere, center of the world church, that can do all things through Christ.
