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Velcro Christians
Chris Adsit, Associate National Director of Discipleship, Military Ministry
Have you ever been to a
"Velcro Bar"? I haven't, but I hear they're all the rage in some parts of the
country. Apparently, one wall of the barroom is covered with the "woolly" side
of the classic Velcro fabric pair. Enthusiastic patrons don a jumpsuit made entirely of
the "hooks" side of the Velcro. Then, with the aid of a mini-tramp, they take a
flying leap and see how high up they can stick to the wall. Brawny men with ladders are
then employed to tear the leapers off the wall and reunite them with the floor. When
someone says, "I got ripped-off at Blacky's Bar last night," they mean it
literally.
Some say that if you want to pull a dirty trick on one of the leapers, put on a mohair sweater and give him a big hug just before he launches. The fuzz from the mohair clogs up the Velcro hooks, greatly diminishing the stickability of the jumpsuit. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "bouncers" in the bar context. Not a pretty picture.
That's the problem with Velcro, isn't it? Sometimes bits of thread, lint, fuzz, hair, fur, etc. get stuck in the little hooks, and it doesn't work. Nothing wrong with the woolly side--only the hooks side. In fact, even the hooks are working just fine; it's just that they've hooked to the wrong stuff, which keeps them from hooking to the right stuff.
Christian ministry is a partnership. God is the brains, we are the brawn; God is the hand, we are the tool; God is the electricity, we are the light bulbs; God is the vine, we are the branches; God is the wool, we are the hooks. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me… therefore you make disciples… and I will be with you." For reasons clearly known only to Him, God has decided to partner with us puny humans to accomplish His glorious will and expand His Kingdom here on earth. It's not how I would have done it, but He has His reasons.
Our contribution to the partnership may not be significant, but it is crucial. All the power generated by gigantic Hoover Dam still has to pass through a few square inches of wire. If that little wire's cut, the dam might as well be a Hoover vacuum. God is the source of all power and authority, and His method involves flowing through you and me. But we are the potential tripped-breakers in the system.
Here's where the Velcro comes in: some Christians are like clogged-up Velcro. Our hooks have become so attached to the wrong stuff, that God can't find room to hook His right stuff to. He is determined to accomplish His will on earth by partnering with His people, and He's doing everything He can to "hook up" with us, but too often He finds very little in us with which He can partner.
When I'm full of anger, will God be able to use me as an instrument of His grace? The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:20). When I'm puffed up with pride, will God use me as His humble servant? God resists the proud. (1 Peter 5:5). Will my soul be quiet and receptive to the things of God if it's filled with lust? Abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. (1 Peter 2:11). Will God be able to energize my witness if I'm packed with materialistic motivations? And the deceitfulness of riches… enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:19). I may leap with great vigor and expectancy at God's Velcro wall after hugging that mohair world, but I'll bounce right off and land in a heap--disappointing everyone concerned. "Lest possibly… I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27).
For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is supremely interested in using you to accomplish His purposes on this planet, but is He finding things in you that He cannot partner with? Is He finding your Velcro jammed with fleshly fuzz? If you'd like to remedy that situation, try using a few small nails. …That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection… (Philippians 3:10).
Special thanks to Gospel Communications Network for the use of the Bible Gateway!
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Eugene, OR 97402-0044, USA
disciplemakers@ccci.org
(541) 345-3458
(866) MAKE-DISCIPLES (866-625-3347)
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