Causes Aplenty

Recently, I have found myself thinking a lot about all the different causes there are to get involved with these days.

There are probably millions of causes out there. Causes to help with medical research. Causes that help poor people. Causes that speak to affinities. Causes that advance political and ideological positions.

And these causes ask us for our time, our money, and our devotion.

They ask us to volunteer our time to knock on doors, talk to our friends, make phone calls, and more. They ask us for money. They ask us to show our devotion by advocating for it in the public square and wearing its gear (shirts, hats, bumper stickers, etc.).

These causes and their symbols are plastered all over social media, professional sports stadiums and uniforms, and our vehicles.

We cherish our identification with these causes. But what if our devotion is misplaced?

In Revelation chapter 3 verses 1and 2, it says,

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”

These words were penned to the Church in Sardis, the capital city in the ancient kingdom of Lydia. The city was one of great wealth and fame.

The church in Sardis was not rebuked for immoralities or gross corruptions. It was dead.

Not dead as in “non-existent”, but rather it was essentially a bit of the world under a different name.

This death was only seen by God. The world thought they were a wonderful, thriving church. They had a good name and a good reputation.

This description is not limited to churches but individuals as well. We may be fully engaged with church activity but not with growing in Christ.

As my father used to say, “are you doing church work or the work of the church?”

That idea can sting pretty deep because “church work” and “the work of the church” are two very different things. But to many they are one and the same.

The true work of the church is the greatest cause you could ever be involved with.

It is better than being part of a political party, giving to medical research, or boycotting businesses.

(And I am not saying that the aforementioned things are bad, just that the work of the church is BETTER!)

The work of the church is all about pointing people to Jesus Christ. Sharing the Gospel and living it out in our daily lives.

Think about it this way, when did you last knock on someone's door? To talk to them about voting for a particular political candidate or to talk to them about Jesus?

Who did you last make a donation to? Christian ministries or political campaigns?

What gear do you like to wear and put on your car? “Make America Great Again”? Biden-Harris 2020? Confederate flags? Black Lives Matter? Something else?

We are reminded in Scripture that we live in this world, but not of it. That means we should be engaged in taking care of our planet and our fellow people, but the greatest cause above any other is to make the name of Jesus known to the ends of the earth.

People want to be engaged and connected to a cause these days. Let's show them what the best cause of all time is!

Anyway, I was just thinking...