the united states of apathy

for about a month now, steve has been hammering in the idea of the great commission and the persecuted church at gateway's sunday morning worship services. november 12 is the national day of prayer for the persecuted Church worldwide. i have missionary friends throughout the world and i prayed for them (as well as the brothers and sisters that i have never met and most likely will never meet) and i hope to see them again someday.

something that steve pointed out that i thought was interesting is that the Church has grown more throughout history in regions under heavy persecution than those with freedom. what an interesting thought in context of america. what our forefathers fought for in this country has become the stumbling block upon which we have left Him behind.

cut now to yesterday's baptism service at gateway. i watched 8 people be baptized from the balcony (i was the dude that raised and lowered the screen - "thank you, thank you very much" (c) elvis). i was by myself watching. it was pretty moving. my thoughts were bouncing back and forth between the prospect of someday baptizing my own son and being shocked at the average age of those being baptized. one lone grown woman threw off what would have been about an 8 year old average age because she was baptized with her 2 sons.

see, i found god at 17. i had no form of direction or true meaning until then. the idea of a supreme god that loved me (which sounds cliche but is very significant for a dude that has as many insecurities as i do) changed everything. but sonia found god at a very early age. somehow, her mind wrapped around that idea early and she has been fortunate and blessed to have walked with god for the vast majority of her life. i have just recently passed the 50% mark and i wish i could go back and change that. i have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of wasted time to make up for.

as i processed the services from the last month, i was equally disgusted with the Church as i was optimistic for its future. for every lethargic and apathetic "follower" of jesus, there are 7 children and a mother that take up their cross. for every ailing and sick church in america, there are 15 underground around the world that are fearlessly moving forward the gospel that set them free. for every pastor of a suburban church that does "too much already" but has enough time to play xbox360, ride up angeles crest on his motorcycle and take wierdo pictures of himself with strange moustaches, there are 10 who are headed to their house church under the cover of night to pray and worship.

i make myself sick...