I love our church. 
I
really do. I love the worship, the community, the excitement &
passion and the ministries of our church. I especially love the people
in our church. But I hope no one ever mistakes my love for Harvest
Muskoka as my ultimate love ... because I love Jesus. I am all about Jesus.
My
hope and prayer is that as we get excited about what God is doing at
Harvest we don't lose the focus of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. That we
aren't just passionate about "our church" but that we're passionate
about Jesus in our church.
When
I read Paul's letter to the Philippian church it becomes so clear that
Paul didn't care about anything but Jesus and the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. I can imagine the latest Christian magazine hearing about this
Christian hot shot named Paul of Tarsus and finally catching up with him
in a prison cell for an interview. I think it would go something like
this:
Hey Paul, looks like things are going well for your
popularity but now you're in prison. Are you concerned how this will
impact you making a name for yourself?
I don't need a radio program or book deal ... if throwing me
in jail helps Jesus be more known and the churches who are passionate about
Jesus grow then I'm all for it! I love Jesus and want him to be known. (Phil
1:12-14)
Speaking of churches, what do you think about the church
down the street? They certainly don't do things the same way you do.
I don't care if a church doesn't do things like we do ...
it's not about the packaging; it's about who you are truly all about.
Even if their motives are off I only care if they preach Jesus and His
gospel clearly. I'm all about Jesus! (Phil.
1:15-18)
But Paul, you really do have a good thing going ... and your
pastoral credentials are phenomenal! Are you saying you'd leave it
all? You would give it all up - the success, this place, the church?
My status, my achievements, my popularity, my success, and
my religious traditions ... I wouldn't consider it a sacrifice to lose it
all. In fact even the term "give it all up" seems odd to me ...
I have gained Jesus Christ so everything else seems ... well, like garbage!
Maybe you're not hearing me clearly: I love Jesus ... it's all about
Jesus! (Phil. 3:7-8)
So, as I said: I love
Harvest Muskoka ... but only as we focus on, lift up the name of, and point
others to Jesus Christ. My hope and prayer is that when people come to
Harvest that they aren't impressed with the type of church, the organization
we're connected to, the worship style, the preaching, the look of the
gymnasium, the programs for the kids or our great parking J ... my prayer is
that people see Jesus.
Our mission statement could
be summed up by simply using the phrase, "It's all about Jesus".
Somehow it seems appropriate, and Jesus is surely what every church should be
all about. So when someone asks me what are you guys all about? My
answer is always Jesus. As I've said in the past, If Harvest Muskoka had
NASCAR jackets they would be the most boring ones in the world ... one patch:
"Jesus Christ". No patches for style of worship; no patches for
being Harvest; no patches for our view of end times; no patches for what
version of the Bible we use ... every thing we attempt to do at church should
be pointing to Jesus Christ.
Why are we so fired up
about studying the Word? Because it most clearly shows us Jesus.
Why are we so passionate about worship? Because we want to lift high the
name of Jesus. Why do we want to impact our community? Because we have
met Jesus and can't help ourselves from telling everyone about Him. Why
do we love and pray for the other churches in our community who preach
Jesus? Because they are helping to point people to Jesus.
So as a church, what should
we be seeking? We should always be seeking the Lord Jesus Christ himself - to
know him, and know his love and to be witnesses for Him. The Apostle Paul
says that the peak of his ambition is 'that I might know him' (Phil. 3:10). Not
that he might have wonderful experiences, or a perfect church, or a great life,
but that he might know him. And by knowing him we will love him.
Romans 5:5 says, 'God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us.' It says that the love of God is 'poured' into our hearts ... the
word used for 'pour' is a greek word meaning, gush forth, pour out, shed, spill ... it's saying that God is
overwhelmingly pouring out an abounding love into our hearts. "This is New Testament Christianity! New
Testament Christianity is not just a formal, polite, correct, and orthodox kind
of faith and belief. No! What characterizes it is this element of love and
passion, this Spirit filled element, this life, this vigour, this abandon, this
exuberance. That is what we must seek-not experiences, not power, not gifts. If
he chooses to give them to us, thank God for them and exercise them to his
glory, but the only safe way of receiving gifts is that you love him and that
you know him." (D. Martin Lloyd-Jones)
May we always be passionate
about our love for Jesus - knowing him, loving him and making him known!
Living
by His Grace,
Kaj