I feel constrained by a number
of things to write and post another blog.
The first is simply the discipline of writing, you must keep doing
it. The other is that Sunday, September
12th is National Grandparents
Day. Yes, I know there is a holiday
or day designation for just about everything, but this one has merit. There is small disagreement over the actual
origins but most attribute the impetus to Marian
McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia.
Originally she wanted to champion the cause of lonely elderly folks in
nursing homes as well as urging young people to tap into the wisdom and
heritage grandparents could supply.
Eventually, Congress officially designated the first Sunday after Labor
Day as National Grandparents Day. The actual resolution cited the day’s purpose
as: “...to honor grandparents, to give
grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to
help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people
can offer.” I can’t disagree with
any of that! The final reason for
writing this now is the growing realization that more and more people (and
they’re still young!) are becoming grandparents!
The real genesis of this idea,
however, can from some of our strategy for 2010. I wanted to give a chance to new and younger
evangelists to preach in our church. A
fresh voice and good benefits all the way around. The first up in February was Jamil Hurst from the Rotherhithe
congregation in South London. During the
revival I had Marty Carnegie introduce
him in the first service, since he had been his pastor in London for many
years, and he was largely responsible for recommending him. Marty said, “He is a true grandson of this
congregation.” When he said that
something was immediately triggered in my spirit!
It’s been happening to me more
and more frequently, too. I am speaking
in places and being introduced as Pastor Warner...“He is the grandfather of
this church or ministry.” This is
the meaning behind the title of this article.
It comes from the Xhosa tribe in South Africa when I was preaching in
Pt. Elizabeth, S. Africa. I was
introduced as “Tumkhulu” (tum - cool
- loo) meaning grandfather. Along with
this is “fundisi” (foon - dee -see)
for pastor. I still have the figurines
they gave me of two Africans (gray-headed and “mature”) in honor of this title,
having planted Alan & Laurie Kern there many years ago. Plus, this kind of recognition or
appreciation is always received by me, not personally, but as a representative
of our local church and the faithful investment of our great people for many,
many years. All of this inspired me
beyond the obvious that we ‘might’ be getting older! There are some very potent spiritual truths
and blessings connected with this that we should consider.
1st,
The spiritual delight & encouragement grandchildren bring!
The Bible is very clear here in
(Prov.17:6)NLT “Grandchildren are the
crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” There is a blessing and a responsibility
inherent in this facet of life. We need
our youth and our youth need those who are older. This is why we don’t just divide the church up
into a permanent and exclusive “youth group.”
While we do minister to our youth, we don’t give in to our culture’s
obsession with youth (will do anything to retain this, real or artificial). God’s will and purpose is expressed though
people of all ages joined by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s marvelous
“Body.” There is no doubt that becoming
a grandparent represents a true milestone of life. It seems that once you marry off a son or a
daughter, there is a bit of a loss that can accompany this. Then you start looking for a “return on your
investment” in the form of your “children’s
children!” Along with this comes
some interesting changes. I asked
evangelist Marty Carnegie if he and Barbara were coming to this year’s marriage
retreat. “Ahh, Pastor Warner” he said,
“we’re going to be baby-sitting.”
I’ve never heard that from him before!
I’m sure it was a blessing to Cetan and Brittney, but my, my, how things
change! In this same vein, one of the
great blessings and delights of our Bible Conference is to see the sons and
daughters and the “grandchildren” of this congregation come to Tucson and be
with us for that blessed week.
2nd,
The organic nature of revival and the work of God!
When Marty referred to Jamil as
a “true grandson” he was not referring to an organizational linkage, but a family
bond. The dictionary defines
organic is “having a growth and
development analogous to that of living organisms.” The scriptural pattern of this is the
life of Abraham. (Gen.14:14) describes
Abraham’s response to a crisis involving his nephew Lot. It says,
“When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318
trained men who had been born into his
household.” Even though he was
outnumbered by his enemies, there is a dimension of victory related to an
“organic” group, or those born in your house!
The lesson is pertinent to the church today. Many of the “mega-churches” or moves today
are not convert-based but involve people looking for a “better deal” and
moving from one field to another. It is
not focused on those moving from darkness to light or from the power of
darkness to God and the kingdom of light.
The blessing of sons or daughters or grandchildren in the faith is that
of a valued, cultivated and guarded relationship. Isn’t this the Pentecostal promise Peter
preached on that miraculous day? He
said, “your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy.” I believe that though it
has broad application, that promise and dimension can be taken literally.
3rd,
The awesome power of multiplication
This promise is inherent in the
faith and blessing of Abraham. God told
him, “I will surely bless you, and I will
surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is
on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and
in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed...”
(Gen.22:17, 18) There is a generational
quality to God’s blessing and the Gospel’s capacity. The promise of covenantal fruitfulness and
progeny reaches to the “children unto the
third and fourth generation.” No,
this is not automatic, but if we contend for this and pray, then the Gospel
carries this dimension: the power of multiplication! How many “generations” are we talking about
today? In some cases, there are four
generations removed of pastors; and some fifth generation workers! What a mighty God we serve!
So if someone refers to me as tamkhulu, I wear that as a badge of
honor, and give God all the glory, “Lord, continue to prosper the work of Your
hands.” Does this mean that the sky is
the limit? I don’t know, but I do know
that we are extremely privileged as a church to taste something of this reality
and vision. Helen Keller was right when
she said, “Life is either a daring
adventure or nothing.” Oh, and by
the way...! Do you remember when you
were willing to go and take your kids with you anywhere that God had called you
to? Those things haven’t changed just
because there are now grandchildren! We
could add to what Jesus said, “And Jesus
answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house,
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands
or ---- grandchildren ---- for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive
an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and
mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come
eternal life.” Happy grandparents
day to all.
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