Which is better, an uncommitted person or a half-committed person? I believe that the uncommitted is better because a half-committed person is infectious.
Let’s say that you have a team of twenty-five persons that have committed themselves to a cause. Initially, everyone is on board with the mission and purpose of the cause. They diligently seek God’s guidance and favor through their prayers. They attend the meetings faithfully to ensure that nothing gets left undone as well as to draw closer to one another as each goes through the challenges of life that has refocused around this new commitment. Each one shares their monetary resources to the cause so that it is funded well enough to be effective in its purpose and not an embarrassing half-baked attempt. As the numerous opportunities of actual work comes into play no one shy’s away from seeing that all the needs are met. Each person that has a talent uses it to ensure that nothing is left undone.
Because all twenty-five persons are working together with one purpose and one cause, other people on the outside begin take notice at what is happening with this committed team. Before you know it, the outsiders catch the vision of the original committed folks and connect with them and their team eventually doubles to fifty!
As time goes on, the committed have a great impact on their community by advancing their cause. Lives are changed and great buildings are built based on the principles and mission of the original team of committed folks. All is going great until one day.
One of the committed team members becomes less committed because they figure there are so many now that they don’t have to work as hard and do all the things that they used to do. After all, they have worked so hard to see that the vision and mission of the team was attended to that now they need some much deserved rest.
They begin their rest and start to enjoy their hobby of fishing, sewing, etc. more and more. They are able to spend more time with their friends and families (after all, families are important). Eventually they find that they even have more time to put into their jobs and careers.
Initially, the cause is not affected very much by this team member’s lessened commitment. All seems to be going well until another team member happens to notice what is going on.
The totally committed witness the half-committed and figure that if these that claim the name of the original committed team can get by with the minimal amount of prayer, attendance, giving, and service then they wonder why they have to work at it so hard. The once committed find that they now have company. The other committed team member joins them at their leisure and the two even begin to have social events, family gatherings together to celebrate their new found enjoyment of things outside the teams hard working disciplined structure.
A ripple rocks the team. It starts out small but then another one hits again. Many other committed team members notice the two having what seems like so much enjoyment outside the team. With all the ripples that are hitting, they too figure they can join in the half-committed. One by one the totally committed convert to the half-committed until one day the majority of the team becomes sickly, weak and anemic.
What used to be accomplished with little effort now drains what is left of the committed to the point of despair. The totally committed begin to reason that the team must be destined for failure and they throw their hands in the air saying “What’s the use?” and many more join the ranks of the half-committed.
Meanwhile visitors still continue to come to see what is going on because they have heard so much in the past about this committed team. Instead of witnessing a team that is committed to their cause, they instead see internal struggle, catastrophes and casualties stacking up to the ceiling and they determine that they want no part with this team’s mission and priorities. After all, who wants to come aboard a sinking ship? Eventually, word gets out and the visitors quit coming. The team looses its passion and focus and becomes distracted until one day a new leader comes along.
The new leader challenges the team and they figure that they can do it again. Many of the half-committed slowly become totally committed and one by one their ranks increase in great number. A shadow of the original committed team begins to emerge and great things begin to happen again. New visitors come along and see what is going on and sure enough some even join the ranks of the ever increasing committed team.
Then it happens – again. The totally committed become half-committed and the vicious cycle continues. Many have observed that some came and never were committed at all. They were noticed and invited to join in but never connected. Because the uncommitted never connected, no damage was ever done. They just went their way as the team continued on their mission.
It is the half-committed Christian that does far more damage to the “team” than does any uncommitted person will ever do. When the uncommitted try to take prayer out of our ballgames, God shows up and the entire stadium erupts with prayer! Yet when one half-committed Christian drops out of the picture, they take scores of families with them.
The majority here this morning are official members of East Mt. Zion UMC. At some time or another many of you have taken the vows of membership. Many are mistakenly believed that the membership vows are between you and this church. The vows of membership are a covenant agreement between you and God. Out of the seven part list of vows, the most commonly remembered is the question dealing with faithful participation in the ministries of this church; As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?
So what is the answer?
Renounce (confess), Repent, Recommit
Proverbs 28:13-14 gives us the starting point. “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.”
We must renounce our sin. It is wrong, according to God’s Word, to make a promise to Him and not follow through (Ecc. 5:4-7). Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. If the only thing we have sacrificed is a turkey or ham over the holidays then we cannot expect to receive mercy from God.
1st John 1:9-10 tell us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
In Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist is quoted as telling those who came to hear the message “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.” I believe that God’s Kingdom is much nearer today than when John the Baptist delivered that particular message.
Psalm 32:5-6 tells us “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
The psalmist says “finally.” Is there a sin that you have struggled with in years past? Has it nearly got the best of you? If so, today can be the “finally” for you. It’s your choice dear friend.
When we renounce and repent we can then recommit. One of the greatest restoration stories from the Bible concerns the Apostle Peter. After denying Christ three times, Jesus comes to Peter and offers him reconciliation (John 21:15-23). After acknowledging his love for Jesus publicly, Jesus instructs Peter to tend to the church by feeding, tending the sheep.
Jesus, through restoring Peter, gives instruction as well as privilege. Jim Bakker and his PTL ministries, Jimmy Swaggart and many more lead the list of modern day folk that fell out of popularity when scandal rocked their ministries. What if Jesus personally visited one of these fallen religious leaders like He did with Peter? Do you think they would be honored and excited if Jesus told them to go and feed His sheep?
Jesus has a prescription for us if we would only listen attentively to His call. When we are pulled from the miry clay of sin and are restored, we are given the directive to immediately go forth and demonstrate our witness to His Kingdom.
We cannot feed sheep unless we go to the pasture. We must go where the flock is. Many sheep are lost and we must seek them. A majority of sheep are in the pews and fellowship halls in churches around the world. Hebrews 10:25 tells us “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
As we begin this new year of 2009, lets come together with one goal, one accord (Acts 2:1). We are called to be unified through the blood of Christ with one hope to live in eternity with our Creator in the heavenly realms. Let us set our minds to this one task, recommitting ourselves to putting God first in this year and seeking His righteousness. Matthew 6:33 tells us that if we do this, “all these things shall be added unto you.” This means that everything else will fall into place.
I don’t know about you but when I see the potential for God’s plan to take off, I get excited! I know that when God’s plan is accepted by God’s people, signs and wonders begin to happen in a way that brings Him glory and honor. Are you ready to recommit yourself today? Are you ready to be a first hand witness to God’s glorious signs and wonders? If so, here is your task – feed my sheep!
Let’s go one step further and make this a challenge! We have an opportunity this morning through the sacrament of Holy Communion to draw one step closer to God. I encourage you as you take the elements, the body and blood of Christ, that you take them with reverence and allow God to speak to your heart. An altar is here in front and I ask that if God has spoken to you this morning, take time and kneel at this altar to acknowledge Him in prayer. Allow Him to begin a new work in your ministry today.
