Not only did Michael Perkins design this blog recently, he also wrote this awesome guest post for today. Michael is a pastor, writer, blogger, husband and father who lives in Lousiana. You can connect with him on his blog, Untitled, follower him on twitter at @MichaelDPerkins, or visit his design site, Epic Elephant. Thank you Michael for faithfulness in all you do.
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I cannot stand sitting behind someone at a red light and the light turns green and they just sit there because they are texting or checking their phone.
It literally drives me crazy.
Let me be honest and say that if I’m behind you and you don’t go…I’m going to honk my horn.
The purpose of driving is to go.
Not to stop.
And here’s my real concern: Too many of us operate under a red light mentality.
We stop until God says go.
2000 years ago Christ said to go.
And nothing has changed.
This is a call to action. This is a call to arms. The horn is honking.
We must go.
Do you check your phone at red lights?
I check my phone when it chirps at me. Usually that’s while I’m actually driving.
I wonder how much of the stopping until God says “go” comes from the church structure we use in America. Churches aren’t usually encouraging and working with their members to have them “go” to do ministry they feel called to do (unless the church is already doing it and they can use them to do it.)
We feel we have to stop unless a church or some pastoral board approves it because if it was God’s will, that would happen, right?
I mean, we hear all the time we need to have accountability and people over us, right?
There is a fundamental problem there Jason, either for American churches or any local expression of the Church. We should start to believe in the reality that God has ordained us all as royal priests (1 Peter 2:9). Disciples (christians) need no mediator other than Christ to discern and act on God’s will. The viel was torn. You have permission to “go”.
And yes, we all need to seek wise counsel and examine oursevles through community, leaders, and other relationships within the Body. But this doesn’t mean you are powerless to act and “go”.
This is a huge problem that stems from the dangerous division we’ve created between the “clergy” and the “laity”. This creates the false view of a professional and ametuer Christian class. Those divisions simply don’t exist.
Jason, I know what you are saying, but Jesus was and is calling us to share about Him. We don’t need permission to do that.
The question is, how many people will get honked at while reading this post…
lol. awesome man.
I don’t check my phone at red lights. Correction: I rarely check my phone at red lights. Honestly, I can’t stand when people drive and talk/text…disaster waiting to happen.
I really like what you said here. A lot of times we sit and just wait for a sign instead of just doing/acting.
Exactly man. We have to act and do, rather than just sit.
“This is a call to arms.”
Indeed. I had a thought of the movie 300, where the Spartans came across the males from other towns who wished to join the Spartans in fighting against King Xerxes, but they were no more than poets and pottery makers. Not fighters. Not warriors.
A call to arms would be fantastic, but I wonder who will respond to it. Will warriors and sons of God answer, or will poets, pottery makers, and the “new masculinity” group respond?
This (your post) is good food for thought, Michael.
Or some poets and pottery makers will show up and become warriors.
I hope you boys are right. I really do.
I hope they all respond, Donald – and not with a spirit of timidity, but one of power and love(2 Tim 1:7).
Yes. And I text too – but only at red lights. Great article Michael – love the design of this site too – you Rock!
You need to stop that. lol.
I’ll be honest – I check my phone when the lights red – or sometimes I fill out my mileage log.
Mileage log?
I do NOT check my phone at red lights, unless someone is calling me.
It can wait.
I would think you are the exception.
I have checked my phone at a red light, but I’m with you. I don’t like to wait for others. I do give an “appropriate” time, say 5 seconds (that’s really a lot of time) and then I give a toot on my horn. Nothing mean or aggressive.
I think 2 seconds is the unwritten rule.
Some people don’t even give you 2 seconds.
Sigh… guilty. I check my phone on occasion. Time to fess up and change!
word!
At least you’re not denying it Dustin!
If I checked my phone at a red light, I would be in huge trouble by the parents! haha.
By the way, your ad is up on my site now, Ryan!
Grounded!
Love that. 2000 years ago He said to go. Why are we still waiting? DEEP!!!
I have checked my phone at red light. Guilty as charged!
Yes! Exactly!
Why are we?
I think we often (gulp) don’t believe Him. Or maybe we don’t feel equipped? When He clearly gave us His Spirit which is the equipping we all need.
Great answer Moe. I find in scripture that it is all based on a lack of trust in God, or simply put unbelief. God is obsessed with our trust.
I really like that. He is obsessed with out trust.
I rarely check my phone at a red light, unless I’m expecting a call and I couldn’t remember if my phone was on silent or not.
I agree with your commenting convo with Jason Wert up there as well. I have noticed most churches aren’t the most supportive in helping their people go do ministry that isn’t necessarily linked with their church (or bringing people into a Sunday morning service). But that shouldn’t stop us. It’s even how I started Ignite. I didn’t wait around for my church to say it was ok. I went and did it and earned their support along the way.
Great post bud.
And I appreciate how you started ignite for sure. I just think we stop and wait for permission to share the Gospel.
I have certainly checked it before, but I always hold my phone up so I can see it and the light at the same time.
It is a very real thing though that we tend to live with a “stop” mentality rather than a “go.” Good stuff, Michael. Thanks.
Well then, that makes it okay
There is a sticker on the back of my motorcycle helmet, “hang up and drive”
We are indeed called to go, into the whole world. At least go outside your home and do. Be the hands and feet of Christ. Don’t have a clue where to start? Contact Habitat for Humanity and volunteer to help build a single mother descent housing. Contact the local soup kitchen and volunteer to help feed the hungry. Contact your church and volunteer to lead a middle school Sunday school or small group.
Go
Do
-Peace
I think the point is just to go. Good stuff allen.
Um, yeah. Never any other time though. Promise.
Good word. Go!
Exactly! I have noticed most churches aren’t the most supportive in helping their people go do ministry that isn’t necessarily linked with their church (or bringing people into a Sunday morning service). lol. It can wait.
Time to fess up and change! I have checked my phone at a red light, but I’m with you. I think the point is just to go. Grounded!