By Adam B. Dooley
Pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee
From Birmingham up to Manhattan, across to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, the summer of 2024 is shaping up to be history’s hottest season to date.
Families are roasting on ballfields. Attending an outdoor wedding feels like falling into a burning ring of fire. Health enthusiasts cannot rise early enough to outrun the heat. Conversations between strangers turn to the weather faster than a Dairy Queen ice cream can melt in your hand.
I’m not suggesting it is wrong to commiserate in our sweaty misery, but I can’t help but recall another impassioned dialogue about the summer heat that occurred long ago.
After preaching in the city of Nineveh, the reluctant prophet Jonah fled to the east and sat under a self-made shelter, lamenting the grace of God toward others (Jonah 4:1–5).
In what can only be described as an object lesson of priority, the Lord caused a large plant to grow in order to comfort Jonah with shade from the sun’s scolding rays (Jonah 4:6).
Misplaced priorities
The prophet’s enthusiasm for the plant far exceeded his joy over the salvation of sinners in the city.
Likewise, when God appointed a worm to attack the plant so that it died, Jonah was far more distressed by his discomfort than the lostness of the people around him (Jonah 4:7). He even lamented his own life, blindly speculating that death would be better than the distress of the sun’s heat (Jonah 4:8).
In a moment of vulnerable exposure, God challenged Jonah’s hypocritical priorities by comparing his great compassion for a plant to his lack of compassion for the souls of people (Jonah 4:10–11).
We don’t know how the prophet responded, perhaps intentionally, because the book’s open-ended conclusion invites us into the story. How would we have answered the Lord? Do we show more concern for the temporal or the eternal?
God calls every Christian to give witness on the earth to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:8).
He charges us to make disciples of all nations by going, baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19–20).
As salt and light, we are to let our light shine before others so they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:13–16).
Because Jesus Christ is not a good way to heaven, or even the best way to heaven, but the ONLY WAY to heaven, our hearts should break for the lost more than any trivial pursuit or possession.
‘No greater privilege’
Outside of knowing Jesus personally, there is no greater privilege than introducing another person to our Savior. Yet, sadly, you might hear believers talk more about the weather this summer than the unbelieving friend or neighbor they’re praying for and sharing with.
News of a heat wave might concern us more than the eternal lake of fire and brimstone that will serve as the final resting place for those outside of Christ (Rev. 20:11–15).
Only Christ can save sinners; therefore believers should feel no pressure to guarantee outcomes when sharing the gospel (1 Cor. 3:7). Yet, we can share with the confidence that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13).
Because Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3–4), we should, without apology or favor, present repentance of sins (Luke 13:3) and faith in Jesus (Rom. 10:9–10) as the doorway into the Kingdom of God.
Every day, where we live, work and play we meet people at school, work, parks, hospitals and restaurants who need Jesus.
Do we care? Or does the eternal lostness of our neighbors evoke little more than an apathetic yawn with us?
Do we find future weather patterns more interesting and the summer heat more concerning? Or does God’s priority to seek and to save the lost shape the priorities of our lives?
Jonah became insensitive to God’s plan for the world, but we don’t have to.
When is the last time you shared your faith? How long has it been since you prayed for a lost friend? Who will you bring to church on Sunday?
Reflections on a patriot’s faith
By Tony Martin
The Baptist Record
As the sun rose and set on another July Fourth, our hearts swelled with pride. Fireworks lit up the sky, and flags fluttered in the breeze, reminding us of the freedoms we cherish. But amid the celebrations, there’s a deeper reflection to be had — what does it mean to be a Christian first and a patriot next?
Our world and its systems are broken. Everywhere we look, we see evidence of this. Wars rage, injustices persist and divisions deepen.
It’s easy to get swept up in the tide of current events, to become overly concerned with the political, social and economic upheavals that seem to define our times. As Christians, however, our first allegiance is not to any country or ideology but to God.
Staying focused
Being a patriot is not a sin, nor is it something to be ashamed of. In fact, being concerned for your country, caring about its future and being passionate about its values can be commendable. But our passion and concern must be rightly ordered.
Colossians 3:1–4 (ESV) reminds us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
This Scripture calls us to lift our gaze above the earthly realm and focus on the eternal. It’s a challenge to prioritize our heavenly citizenship over our earthly one.
“[I want others] to understand that even if they don’t like the ‘right now’ they’re facing that God is purposeful,” said Ruth Chou Simons, author, artist and founder of GraceLaced, who wrote “Now and Not Yet: Pressing In When You’re Waiting, Wanting and Restless for More.” “God is at work, and He doesn’t waste any seasons. Some of the very best ways that God redeems His story comes out of times where you’re very hidden and possibly looking like the opposite of success.”
“We felt like we had a small glimpse of heaven. People from different parts of the world, speaking different languages, all worshipping the same God was amazing,” said Stephen Miller, member and director of operations of Singing Churchmen. The group recently traveled to Puerto Rico to partner with Iglesia Bautista Logos and the Logos Baptist Academy for a weeklong music camp.
“The thing [we need] more than anything else is to create an environment where these associational leaders can thrive in what they do. That’s what I hope to accomplish overall,” said Ken Allen, who is transitioning into the role of director of associational missions and church planting for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
“It’s so important for families to have conversations early on before something happens and be sure to state wishes such as financial and medical power of attorney,” explained Lisa Anderson, spokesperson for Focus on the Family, who provided care for her mother before she passed away. “Those conversations will set you up for success instead of scrambling when an emergency happens. Talk with your siblings about how they can help with paperwork in advance, that way no one’s emotions are coming into play.”
“My prayer is that the outreach for the Olympics would be a launching point, a springboard, for church planting in Paris,” said Jason Harris, who is leading IMB’s Olympic outreach in Paris this summer.
“You never know when an opportunity for ministry will wash up at your feet. Don’t bury your faith in the sand,” said Ken Lass, retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor who writes a column for The Alabama Baptist.
“It hit me that you put the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony in the same sentence, so they both have incredible power. We build our whole life on the belief and knowing of the richness of the blood of the Lamb, but [often] we disqualify our testimony. I just believe our testimony has so much power with the blood of the Lamb,” said Laney Rene, author of “Daughter: Becoming Who You Already Are” and founder of The One He Loves ministry.
“People rush to get rid of grief because they see it as hanging on to a loss, but grief is really hanging on to love, which is why you always feel it,” noted Leah Wilson, senior adult ministry director at First Baptist Church Foley, Alabama, on GriefShare classes. “That’s just a perfect way of putting it. If you didn’t love someone, you’re not going to grieve. That’s what grief is. It’s love.”
