Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy.
Hebrews 11:35-38
Adrienne and I enjoyed a tour of some of the old churches in Charleston, SC on Monday. While the churches we visited date back from the late 1600s the buildings that have housed them have been destroyed and rebuilt many times because of fires, earthquakes, and, not least of all, wars.
During the civil war the churches received much artillery fire because the steeples were used as targets for the cannons. Our tour guide reported that there is evidence of one church building having received over 60 direct hits.
I read later that during one such bombardment a shell exploded in the churchyard while the congregants were gathered for worship. What did they do? Did they run? Did they take cover? They simply continued their service and then moved to another church.
Risking your life to worship God. Hmmm… Does this seem radical? It does to us but would it have seemed radical to those immortalized in Hebrews 11? Would it have seemed extreme to our spiritual forefathers who suffered the loss of everything for their faith?
Jump ahead from the Civil War era 150 years. What do we in our age have to give up for our faith? What are we risking for our eternal inheritance? What are we placing at our Savior’s cross? What does our faith cost us? What is our great sacrifice?
Baseball.
A recent article in the New Jersey Star-Ledger titled, “Pastors question sports on Sundays” chronicles the intense suffering families are going through because youth baseball leagues schedule games on Sunday:
Karen Melvin, whose 9-year-old son, Stephen, plays baseball, says they miss between three and four church services every season because of game conflicts.
On those Sundays, choosing between church and the game can be agonizing, she says.
“In those cases where we went to the game, you feel guilty,” said Melvin, 51. “But he’s my one and only, and he lives for baseball.”
Stephen’s team is small and his teammates depend on him. But Melvin says she sometimes feels like she’s giving her son conflicting messages — that going to church is important, except when it comes to baseball.
Poor Stephen! He lives for baseball! His team is so small! His teammates depend on him! This is a crime! How can they get away with this?
I wonder if Stephen knows about his namesake. You remember… the first Christian martyr!
I’m sorry. If it sounds like I don’t have much sympathy, it’s because I don’t. We’re pathetic. The moment our shallow faith comes into conflict with even the smallest of our worldly desires we pitch a fit. We’re so given over to the world that we’re completely blind to how transparently shallow our faith has become.
On the bright side I read an article today where pastors are optimistic that the high price of gas this summer might actually improve attendance.
“I’m a silver lining kind of guy,” admitted the Rev. John Mayer, executive director of City Vision, a Minneapolis company that tracks religious demographics. “Everything I’ve read indicates that people are going to be driving less this summer because of the economy. I hear people saying that they won’t be going to their cabins as much. Of course, they might just sleep in, but my guess is that they will go to church more often because they are around and it’s what they normally do on Sunday mornings.
“But I’m not a prophet, so don’t stone me if I’m wrong.”
You’re probably wrong, John Mayer, but don’t worry… We won’t stone you.
~ by David Maxson