The Forecast Is Rain

Our Men’s Ministry group is finishing up the book “Courageous Living: Dare to Take A Stand”, by Michael Catt. We have covered all ten chapters in the book, each describing the courageous nature of individuals in the bible from Abraham to Stephen and challenging us to learn from their courageous actions. Over the past three months there has been time of great reflection, great teaching, great small and large group discussion. The final chapter on Stephen, may have been the most humbling and convicting for me and for my calling. I wanted to share with you a portion of the last two pages of Chapter 10. This is a challenge to myself, as a leader of my family, and a leader in the church, as well as, to the readers who lead themselves and their families to be "witnesses" for Jesus Christ.

"The American church is not ready for persecution. We aren't the stuff of which martyrs are made. We are wimpy, self-serving, and self-centered, dining on pabulum and watered-down Christianity. One of my favorite illustrations ever used by Ron Dunn was entitled, Braving the Rain. He wrote the following article for his church newsletter at MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church after reading another pastor's article thanking his members for "braving the rain" to come to church.

I want to thank all of you who BRAVED THE RAIN last Sunday morning to attend church. Such sacrifice and suffering humbled me. I can imagine how it must be to awaken to the petrifying noise of rain. Dedication hangs in the balance. The silky voice of the Tempter whispers in your ear: "Don't be foolish! Why risk your life?" Suddenly, your shoulders snap to attention, the jaw sets in determination. "Get thee behind me, Satan!" you shout, "and hang the crease in my pants." Then, counting not your life dear unto yourself and side-stepping treacherous mud holes, you splash through the deluge to your waiting car. 

Demonstrating raw courage, you navigate your four-wheeled ark over three blocks of slippery streets, while rain slams against your windshield like silver bullets. Surely, this deserves a place among those other heroic exploits of the faithful: "they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tortured, THEY BRAVED THE RAIN." 

Reaching the church, you once again take your life into your hands and with nerves of steel, plunge from the drenched car and over soppy sidewalks to the dry haven of the classroom. As I stand at my window watching this spectacle, my heart swells. I hear distant applause----strange applause----wings clapping? I can hardly preach. I feel I must write a new edition of Foxes Book of Christian Martyrs. How the world must have gasped in unbelief and admiration as they saw you BRAVE THE RAIN.

The cross demands more of us! The twenty-first century finds us facing increased persecution in America. We can no longer expect (and maybe we don't deserve) preferential treatment. In a generation absorbed with celebrities, we need stand-up men like Stephen."    Courageous Living, Chapter 10, pp 142-143.


I read this to my wife Monica. We were humbled and challenged by the message. She talked about a missions trip she took with her parents and a church group to Guatemala where it poured down rain on a Sunday. The missionaries rode in a vehicle to church that day. The locals walked. The missionaries were not expecting to see many at church that day. They were surprised to see the church was packed. Monica said she was humbled by the sight because most had walked barefoot and they were soaking wet. She said the rain was coming down so hard that day, it hurt your skin as it struck you.

It reminded me of the church service I was fortunate to speak at in Malawi, Africa. No lights in this small building, but for the sunlight that came through one open window and through the single doors at both ends of the building. Everyone sat on a dirty concrete floor, except for us. They provided Monica and myself a mat to sit on. A very emotionally, humbling experience for me, knowing what we have for church buildings in America.

Our discussion reminded us, that we are unbelievably blessed to live in this country. Have we gotten soft in our faith because of those blessings? Soft enough that a little rain can keep us from the fellowship and worship of our creator, while fellow believers, on other continents, will walk through rain, barefoot, to do the same.  And maybe it's not rain that keeps you from that fellowship and worship, maybe it's "fill in the blank". It's whatever is keeping you from your relationship with God and fellow believers. Why is that important? When the time comes to answer the call, will God be able to trust you to stand, when everyone else is falling? The forecast is rain. It's your call now.
 

Terry Langenberg
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