Sunday, May 03, 2009

Making Known His Glory

From:
"Apostolic passion", Floyd McCling,
"Perspectives on the world Christian movement",
1999, William Carey
Library


"Apostolic Passion." Therefore is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship of Jesus in the nations. It has to do with being committed to the point of death to spreading His glory. It's the quality of those who are on fire for Jesus,who dream of the whole earth being covered with the Glory of the Lord. I know when apostolic passion has died in my heart. It happens when I don't spend my quiet time dreaming of the time when Jesus will be worshiped in languages that are not yet heard in heaven. I know it's missing from my life when I sing about heaven, but live as if earth is my home. Apostolic passion is dead in my heart when I dream more about sports, toys, places to go, and people to see, than I do about the nations worshiping Jesus. I have lost it, when I make decisions based on the danger involved, not the glory God will get. Those who have apostolic passion are those that are planning to go, but willing to stay."




THOUGHTS:


AM I,

-Living a life of worship?
-Committed to the point of death?
-Spending quiet time with God's Word?
-Living with an eternal mind frame, or am I living for the here and now?
-Working for materialistic things ?
-Basing my life decisions on how to bring Glory to God, or on how to stay safe and comfortable?
-Planning to go tell others and willing to stay if needed? Or am I planning to stay.

Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

10 comments:

MacPerro said...

Rita -

This is another Venezuelan Pop oldie, this one from a time when Jose Luis Rodriguez (aka El Puma) and Lila Morillo were(I think) dedicated to evangelical missionary work- link follows. Give it a spin.

If you chat w. feathers, tell her not to be a perdida!

Cheers/DBC

http://mybloop.com/go/cGvlpy

Most Rev. Gregori said...

"Apostolic Passion" can also be summed up in the two words that served as the Papal motto John-Paul II:

"TOTO TUIS" - "MY ALL"

Brenda said...

Great reflection, especially powerful for those of us in the "biz" :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Rita! Very practical thoughts for every day living.

Ellen said...

Did you see the story where military chaplains at the US base in Bagram Afghanistan are handing out stacks of Bibles in the native languages, encouraging soldiers to convert Muslims? "Hunt people for Jesus" is how they put it. Kind of interesting that this is the same US base where the US military held and tortured Muslim detainees, one 22 yr old Afghan named Dilawar was tortured to death by US soldiers - the subject of the 2007 movie: Taxi to the Dark Side (that won the Oscar for Best Documentary).

Rita Loca said...

Ellen dear,
What is the world coming to???? Trying to convert people to Christianity by giving them a copy of the Bible in their own language! Intolerable! They should stick to the methods used by other religions and merely chop their heads off if they will not convert to their religion!
What has brought you to my blog? I am a Christian missionary and have no shame in saying so. I will evangelize as I feel people are entitled to hear the gospel and then make up their own minds.
Interestingly enough, I did see a piece on this event you mention on Al Jazeera. It was grossly exaggerated and showed the complete lack of knowledge some people have of biblical Christianity. A true Christan knows that no one can be forced to convert as that is a personal issue of faith. A forced conversion, would not be a true conversion at all. It would be a complete waste of time.
But hey! If a movie was made about it, it has to be true!!!

Ellen said...

It kind of reiterates the results of the Pew Research Poll that found Americans who attend church are far more likely to condone torture. Why do you suppose that is true? It really doesn't surprise me.

Actually, evangelizing is expressly against Centcom Command rules for US military conduct.

Regarding the movie, not just any movie but the '07 Oscar Winner for best Documentary. Documentaries by definition document facts. Yes, the same base of operations for US military evangelists also served as a base where detainees were tortured to death. Fact.

Rita Loca said...

Ellen, There are documentaries and 'documentaries'. Al Gore's was a 'winner' but full of nonsense as was Michale Moore's which was certainly not based on facts.
Christians condoning torture? First, I think the definition of torture should be clarified.
Do atrocities happen in war? I am sure they do. Interesting that of all the many terrible things happening in our world you choose this subject to be your pet cause. Not surprising to me.
You show a big prejudice towards Christians and are doing a lot of stereotyping here. Again, I ask, what brings you here to my blog?

Ellen said...

Demagoguing Al Gore and Michael Moore doesn't really help your case. In this case, either you believe the facts or you are in denial.

I am not prejudiced against Christians since I am one. I tend to be prejudiced against those who identify one political side with religion and then condone very unChrist-like behavior as they bow to their chosen political authority. Sinking to the level where American leaders authorize tactics that make us resemble our enemies is not an America that makes me proud. And doing it under the guise of 'moral values' tends to be even more revolting to me. Just my 2 cents.

There just seems to be so much hate, hypocrisy, and exclusion among the religious conservatives anymore, I am saddened that I can no longer relate to the conservatism to which I once admired.

Rita Loca said...

ellen, I am not happy with the Republican party either. I do not know why you would assume I condone torture.
As to Christians, we were given a command by Christ before his ascension into heaven to go to all the world and preach the gospel. If we truly believe those to be the words of Christ, how could you be upset with sharing the truth to a lost world. How sad to have the truth of Salvation and not share it with others just because they are Muslim or any other religion. That would be arrogant, to keep such knowledge to oneself is cruel and unusual punishment in itself. A punishment that will last all eternity.
As to the US resembling our enemies, not really. Although I do not approve of some of the tactics used, I do not have all the facts involved, and neither do you. However, no one was treated as Christians and Jews tend to be treated in that part of the world.
I sense a lot of hate, hypocrisy and exclusion form you. Why do you feel the need for everyone to agree with you? Why are you here at my blog? If you do not like what I say, why come read it?
I did a post of the many friends of Chavez, and you turned it into an Obama piece. It wasn't about Obama, it was about Chavez.
This article is about the need for Christians to be willing to give their all in obedience to the command of Christ to share the gospel around the world, you turn it into a support for torture. Very odd mental jumps for you to make. You seem to be intent to judge me and others by some sort of projection of your own prejudices.
Do you exert as much passion to spread your Christian faith with the lost?