Friday, July 14, 2006
Run, Rick, Run!
1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)
So, Rick Warren is headed to North Korea and the pundits, the preacher-politicians, and diplomats are all concerned about him being "used" or being a "pawn." Wow, I’m so glad they’re concerned--not that journalists, government cuddling preachers, and diplomats have ever been used! Let’s be clear about one thing, Rick has stated on numerous occasions, and backed it up by his life and ministry, that he is a pastor trying to do God’s work and help people and churches find their purpose. His message and his practice is, and has been, consistent.
Rick’s more than a mega-church pastor. And, man, how we need that! He doesn’t look at his local church as his primary theatre of operation, but as his base of operation to bring hope to the world--this is as it should be. Would to God every church in America got that--if they did, this world would be a radically different place.
We live in a global world where faith is only getting stronger and growing faster. With the seas of change in globalization, people are looking for roots and anchors. Faith has a bright future.
The worse that could happen is Rick would be "used" like the countless other people who have been there and in the process share the good news that might impact some lives with hope. Or, perhaps he would be arrested as an agent of the West and write a powerful book in prison that would radically impact the world--maybe on his favorite topic of purpose! Or, perhaps get martyred (he once took that spiritual gifts test that said he had that gift which can be used only once!) and the result would lead to a nation-wide revival that would impact the world like never before. There are no bad scenarios of doing God’s will, only multiple outcomes we can speculate that are all good!
For God to give Rick the place He has in the West and the world, and for him not to use his influence as a tool for righteousness--that would be the sin.
So, Rick Warren is headed to North Korea and the pundits, the preacher-politicians, and diplomats are all concerned about him being "used" or being a "pawn." Wow, I’m so glad they’re concerned--not that journalists, government cuddling preachers, and diplomats have ever been used! Let’s be clear about one thing, Rick has stated on numerous occasions, and backed it up by his life and ministry, that he is a pastor trying to do God’s work and help people and churches find their purpose. His message and his practice is, and has been, consistent.
Rick’s more than a mega-church pastor. And, man, how we need that! He doesn’t look at his local church as his primary theatre of operation, but as his base of operation to bring hope to the world--this is as it should be. Would to God every church in America got that--if they did, this world would be a radically different place.
We live in a global world where faith is only getting stronger and growing faster. With the seas of change in globalization, people are looking for roots and anchors. Faith has a bright future.
The worse that could happen is Rick would be "used" like the countless other people who have been there and in the process share the good news that might impact some lives with hope. Or, perhaps he would be arrested as an agent of the West and write a powerful book in prison that would radically impact the world--maybe on his favorite topic of purpose! Or, perhaps get martyred (he once took that spiritual gifts test that said he had that gift which can be used only once!) and the result would lead to a nation-wide revival that would impact the world like never before. There are no bad scenarios of doing God’s will, only multiple outcomes we can speculate that are all good!
For God to give Rick the place He has in the West and the world, and for him not to use his influence as a tool for righteousness--that would be the sin.
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