"The Glory of the Church"

There is a specific, proper, unique, awesome and wonderful glory of the church assigned to them and them alone that is rarely experienced these days. Those few saints of past days who have experienced it will instantly affirm that this is so, and many, if not most, today's church people either deeply hunger for a repeat of it, or - as in most instances - consider it mere emotionalism, or even fanaticism.

I know that the glory of the church is a fact, and, if I did not know this, or chose not to believe this, I would teach and preach it anyway because Jesus promised it in John 17:22 as He prayed for His church just before leaving them and returning to His Father.


"And the glory which You (the Father) gave Me (Jesus, His Son) I HAVE GIVEN THEM: that they may be one, even as We are one".

The fact is that this glory is so appropriate and desirable that Jesus prayed that His Father would endow His followers with it. There is a strong sense in which we are not the church without it!, and that the church is completely unique on earth because of it. This glory will be experienced by no one else on earth, because He has reserved it for His church. It will be found in and of the church, and nowhere else.

Satan hates the church's glory! and the church has historically been a persecuted body in this world of evil and iniquity. Holy people have been abused, maligned, mistreated, insulted, ill-favored, discriminated against, assaulted, and even killed from the dawn of human history, but they have all had this treasured, peculiar aura of God's glorious presence with them as a unique mark of idenity.

A righteous Abel was killed, but his blood cried up from the ground. An upright Job was woefully abused, but God brought him out better and stronger on the other side of his afflictions. A righteous Joseph was framed, but God was with him in prison and vindicated his honor. A praying Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, but God graced that cavern with His control and glory. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were mercilessly thrown into a blazing inferno, but Jesus walked with them there and delivered them. Jeremiah was dropped into a stinking, mouldy, miry, vermin infected pit, but God was there with him (think of it! God in that pit!) and brought him out.

Peter was placed in jail by the Romans, but God's angel was there to bring him out. Stephen was murdered in the cruelest fashion, but God's glory was on his soul, and the shine of His presence on his face. Paul and Silas sat on a cold, damp jail floor in stocks and chains, but God illuminated that dungeon with His presence and glory and gave them enough grace to sing hymns at midnight. And John was surrounded by the glory of God on a lonely Isle of Patmos.

The glory of the church is the presence of heaven's God. It when He draws near to us, and probably one of the most impressive properties of this peculiarly reserved glory is that we can experience it personally even if the various bodies of the church are too pre-occupied and too busy to wait on Him.

What I have experienced and noticed is that God's glory attends those who desire it, and hunger for it, and wait on Him for it.

Yuks from Yakima: Bathroom Brouhaha

Note: This is the second of a four-part series of true, church-related humor. These are true, unembellished stories that occurred while we were pastoring the Yakima, Washington Wesleyan Church.

It was Sunday morning and the service was just beginning with hearty singing and a good spirit.

Emmett Cameron was just introducing the third hymn when Grandma Harmon quietly slipped out of her usual pew and headed for the back of the church.

We all knew what that meant since the only two avenues to the restrooms were either through a door off from the platform, or out the front doors and around to the side for an outside entrance. Few traipsed across the platform in full view of everyone unless the weather outside was really raw.

Between verses of the song I could hear a hammering and a pounding coming through the closed platform door. I correctly guessed that only Brother Cameron and I could hear the racket (and I was not sure about him), so - after catching his eye - I arose and quietly went through the door.

From that point, Emmett, our excellent song leader, was on his own, and got the workout of his life - somewhat of a mix of an unscheduled concert and a marathon. He chose, and led, song after song while I worked to rescue Grandma Harmon from the ladies restroom.

Some of you have seen those old door with two little brass buttons just below the lock. Grandma saw them, and - of course - pushed one - the one that locked the door.

So here we were, pastor and Grandma Harmon, trying to communicate through the locked door while the congregation sallied forth with copious praises in song. She tried every suggestion I gave her, but only became more and more frustrated.

I finally told her that we would have to removed the door from its hinges, but that I would have to go over to the parsonage and get some tools and a ladder, and pass them through the outside window to her. Obviously, this all took some time, and the small window was the kind that remained just partially open to keep it from breaking or hurting someone. She just could not get the hang of how to take the window out, even with my instructions, so here I was, suited preacher on a step ladder, looking in to the ladies restroom and holding conversation with someone there.

After getting a hammer and screwdriver to her from a half opened window, it was then a matter of giving her much encouragement on how to get the pins from the two hinges lavished with a few coats of paint! She would say that she couldn't do it, and I would say that she could... and all the while Emmett was bravely carrying on in the sanctuary with a couple of dozen songs... to the accompaniment of muted voices from the bathroom, mingled with hammer and screwdriver sounds.

Finally...success! and I re-entered the platform door to the eminent relief of Emmett, and, sure enough, after a bit Grandma came in the back door, sat down, and we both acted like it was something we did each service!

Church Work is Heavenly

For two weeks we have been looking at 2 Corinthians 5:9, and particularly the four outstanding points it makes:

"Wherefore we labor (the fact), that, (the "nature" of the labor), whether present or absent, (the "arena" of our labor), we may be accepted (the "motive" of our labor), of Him".

It is repeated that in this brief verse, the Apostle Paul defines his entire ministry and life work. It equally sets down the proper goals of us Christians who work in Christ's church today.

So, the third aspect of a Christian's life work is "the arena" of the labor, as described by the writer as being either "present or absent". Here is a poignant thought. The Holy Spirit impressed Paul to tell us that a Christian's work is only begun when his physical life ends - that there will be work for us to accomplish when we graduate, transfer, transition into the realm of Christ's presence.

Jesus taught - as to responsibilities for His followes in His heavenly kingdom - in Matthew 25, Luke 19, Matthew 20:23, and The Revelation 1:6, that there would certainly be "labors" in the heavenly realm. Paul was certainly persuaded that he would have responsibilities in the world to come as well as in this life, and that he would be accountable to God in the presence of the Lord as much as during his earthly duties.

This truth adds dimension to how we work for the Lord now. It makes a definite connection to our Christian service in the heavenly kingdom to come as much as in Christ's church on earth today. It strongly reminds us that the visible world and the unseen one are both the same in nature, in purpose, and in accountablility.

And this leads us right into the thoughts of next week's topic, which is "the "motive" or "reason" for Christian service.

Smart People Follow the Instructions

We have been looking at 2 Corinthians 5:9: "Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him".

The word "that", reveals THE NATURE of our labors for the Lord. It is such an ordinary, common word, but in analysis tells us so much!

We can be busy and not get anything, or at least, not much, of value accomplished. The idiom that comes to mind is "spinning our wheels", and those of us who live in snow country see it happen every winter. When spinning ones wheels, there is much racket, but no movement or progress.

Many people equate being in a hurry as getting something done - that rushing here and there is somehow speeding up a process. The adage that "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get" impresses our minds, and all of us, at one time or the other, have verified the "haste makes waste" proverb.

The valid point here is that we church workers do well to consider in "what" we invest our lives? Paul did. We do this best by spending time alone with God on our knees and faces to discover what His "agenda" is for us.

It is a matter of constantly going back to "the plan"; the blueprint; the instruction sheet; the schematic; or the manual. I frequently watch my Deloris crochet (how can I help but...?) - with the instruction book or sheet right there in front of her...constantly checking it for the step-by-step instructions. Smart people follow the instructions.

We want our Christian lives to count. We want our building to last. We want our labors to be exactly like the pattern. We want to reap a good harvest. We want to run a worthy race. We want to win the crown. We want to win our battles. We want to ace our tests.

So it is important for us to keep checking with our Lord to make sure that our labors are the kind He has in mind for us. I term this "living in tandem" with God's plans. It is important to work, to labor, in Christ's church, but more important to be engaged in the program that the Holy Spirit has in mind for us.

Where are the "Jacks"?

Words have power. Sometimes the smallest of words have the greatest power. The word "if" is an excellent example. "Or" is another. Look with me at some intensely meaningful words found in 1 Corinthians 5:9, and I quote:

"Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him". KJV

The word "labor" speaks of the fact. The word "that" identifies the nature of the labor. The two words "present or absent" reveals the arena of the labor, while the word "accepted" provides the reason or motive for the labor. The last three modify (or explain) the first. Isn't this a thrill...and all in one verse!

This linguistic exercise just fills my cup to overflowing. The Holy Spirit, through the writer, Paul, actually describes the entire life ministry of the Apostle Paul in a single, brief verse.

To a similar degree (for each Christian equally has a Divinely proscribed job description), this verse tells you and me about our work in the body of Christ.

WE LABOR. We need to see that every Christian has a job to do...a need to fill...a place on the team!

Paul included all of us in the "we". There are no second or third stringers in Christ's church. There are no "subs" on His team. We must see that there is a specific, singular, one-and-only slot in the make up of Christ's church for each of us. There may be only so many positions in the visible church, but there are as many places of service as there are believers in the body of Christ.

Jack (his real name, though he is in heaven now) bought and maintained and drove the "biggest, old vans" he could buy, and filled them with children each Sunday at the Vancouver, Washington Pilgrim Holiness Sunday school. Where are the "Jacks" today?

Mythella at 85 years of age still faithfully and weekly cleans the church and does the church bulletin at the First Church of God in Orofino, Idaho. Where are the "Jacks" today?

Cara Lee Mueller could be counted on to play the organ at the Bartlesville Oklahoma First Wesleyan Church each Lord's Day for 49 years, including the Sunday before being transfered to heaven's anthem chambers the following Tuesday.

The "Jacks", "Mythellas" and "Cara Lees" are much fewer, and harder to find these days. Being counted on is not high on the list of qualifications in the modern church. Being counted on is subservient to "if it is convenient and fits into our plans" for church service in 2008. I know that we live in a different day, but also know something precious and necessary has been lost here.

The church needs workers who they can count on...but the greater need is ours. We individual Christians need the soul satisfaction that only comes from "being counted on".

On "The Emerging Church" Movement

Truth does not develop - or emerge - or expand - or multiply - or intensify.
Truth remains always the same!

Neither does it dissipate, or minimize, or weaken, or neutralize, or lessen, or reduce.
It is just what it is and always has been.

It does not get stronger or brighter or greater or higher or more profound or more emphatic.
The power of truth is of itself.

It does not matter what men do with truth, how they treat it, deal with it, define it, judge it, critique it, label it, impoverish it, or emasculate it.
Truth is self-sustaining.

Men can abandon it, deny it, change it, redefine it, contemporize it, degrade it and substitute it...
but it remains changeless and pure.

Truth does not need constant updating, new understanding, greater intepretation and later revelations.
It is the same as Jesus left it to us.

Truth does not need neo-orthodoxy, or higher criticism, or post-modernism, or "Jesus seminarianism" or contemporary theology.
Truth is as changeless as God.

Truth does not need validation or support or underwriting, or assistance or apology or corroboration or explanation.
It stands alone.

Truth cannot be organized or methodized or standardized or departmentalized or relevantized.
It is, and will always be pure and whole.

It does not need to be dramatized or embellished or groomed or cosmetized or aggrandized.
Its beauty is of and in itself.

By W.L. Boone

"Is There a Prayer Meeting Tonight?"

This question came to a Portland, Oregon pastor on Wednesday two afternoons ago, and, Thank The Lord!, that pastor could answer in the affirmative. Few can anymore, for regularly scheduled, mid-week prayer meetings have just about vanished from the American church scene these days.

I promise you that "Mrs. Prayer Meeting" has just about died in most of our churches, for there are very few professed Christians who want them, or attend them. Why would this man be calling to ask a pastor friend of mine if there were a prayer meeting at his church on Wednesday night?

It was because he had just got right with God!! And wanted to be in prayer meeting. He wanted to go to church! He wanted to be in a prayer meeting!

Turn the clock back about thirty years ago in our church when another man prayed through to a definite conversion victory in Jesus. Juan Alphonso Ramos came to repentance after mistreating his wife under the influence of alcohol. At that time, in addition to two Sunday services and a mid-week prayer meeting, we had a men's prayer meeting every Saturday night in the pastor's study. Juan came to them all, and after he attended the first Saturday night men's prayer meeting, he waited until all of the other men had gone, and asked me, "Pastor, doesn't the church have any more services?"

I have used this true illustration all through my ministry, for it reveals just how hungry new Christians are to hear the words of the Lord, and pray, and be around other Christians. Juan was not only daily employed, but was a mid manager of 200 people in a prominent electronics company, and yet, with all of the heavy demands of his excellent job, he wanted more church services, and especially more prayer meetings.

All through my ministry I have told this true story, because of the sadness in my pastor's heart that there are so few older, experienced Christians who demonstrate this hunger. Those who walk close to God still do! If we stay close to Him and His word, that hunger is still there! And whether thiry years past, or a week ago, when people really pray through and find God, they want to know "if there is a prayer meeting tonight?"