Dear Salvationist, Participant Or Spectator?

Jesus doesn’t need a fan club.
He doesn’t need cheer leaders on the sidelines happily applauding but never stepping foot on the field.

If you are a soldier or adherent  of The Salvation Army – we don’t need a fan club either.
We don’t have time to sit on the sidelines and cheer.
Every member of this army should an active participant in this great mission we are called to.

Distractions:

I understand that there are times when we peer over the fence at other churches and ministries and we wish we were like others – but this isn’t what we’re called to do either.  We might also get so caught up in over analyzing everything within the four walls of our buildings that we lose sight of the hurting people outside of our buildings who need someone to bring them hope and to share with them the love of Christ.  We were made for so much more than just keeping a uniform warm and a pew occupied.  Our lives have been offered into a greater service than just selfish ambition and personal gain.  We are not serving ourselves but we are to serve our communities and those in it through Christ-like selflessness.  We cannot afford to become distracted by elements of worship or fence-peering or dressing to impress.  No, we have communities to serve in and to love regardless of how we might be treated along the way.

Along with our distractions, there is also the distraction of social media and cellular devices.  Although these can be used for good, they can also distract and pull us further away from one another.  It sounds hypocritical talking about this as I write this blog article, and I’m equally guilty of this, but how much time do we devote every day to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?  One might contend that they are bringing encouragement and hope by posting, and perhaps you are, but by and large we are so consumed by the social media that we sometimes neglect to look up from our tiny screens and into the communities we currently live.  We need breaks from these devices.  We need to look up and see real needs right in front of our faces – right there in your own community!

 

General Andre’ Cox recently said this at the National Advisory Organization Conference – “Never has there been a time when people were more engrossed with communicating, but who is really listening?’ He continued: ‘The virtual environment cannot replace looking someone in the eye, talking directly to them and knowing that they listen. God must also get frustrated with us because he keeps talking, but do we listen? … He has spoken most clearly to us through Jesus. When God sent Jesus he gave us a clear example of how to order and live our lives.”
(Source: http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/news/inr270416)

So let me ask you again, are you a participant or a spectator?
Are we still listening to the Holy Spirit as He leads us?
He is active and available…but are we?

Jesus doesn’t need a fan club, He desires disciples and soldiers who are willing and able to step out onto the mission field (both here and far away) and serve Him boldly and unashamedly.  Are you available?  Are you ready to participate in the battle for souls around you?  We cannot do this work, this calling with out first listening to His Holy Presence as He provides the wisdom and guidance for this army of salvation.

It’s time to get on with it and step up…are you ready?