Do it anyway!

This blog includes some excerpts from my nearly completed book:

“’Do it anyway…Sounds like the title to a great country song, Huh?  Well, that’s because it is an excerpt from a Martina McBride song, entitled, “Anyway”.  The premise of the song is much like that of The Paradoxical Commandments, written by Dr. Kent Keith ( http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/)

The true, yet harsh reality is that the “religious” crowd can be the most condescending and critical of all people groups.  It’s a little too ironic that the very people who should be encouraging you to become passionate, to fast, to serve, and reach the unchurched community, are the very ones who say “you can’t do this or that…”, or “You are just doing that to get a name for yourself”. 

To which I say…”Dare to dream, build, think big, do it anyway!’”

The truth is, people will generally doubt authenticity. They say "After all, no one would be so passionate about just reaching people!?"  Well, I must admit, I am that person!  I find more joy in seeing a person, otherwise on his/her way to a Devil’ hell, as God’s pursuit reaches them unaware!  That pumps me up just thinking about it!!!!!

But even still, people tend to think you have some hidden agenda if you have a passion for serving the Lord with your whole heart.  Much like fasting, many find it to be unnecessary (like it used to) since we live in the dispensation of grace (God’s unmerited favor).  Not so, in fact any “work” we do under grace is not to get God or man’s attention on us, but rather to turn our attention to HIM.  You see, serving God is my desired response to HIS grace! 

A corporate fast, though the challenge is made in the open, still should be entered into with much prayer and done in private. Why?  Because "what you fast" is between you and God.  You may want to "agree" with a spouse or accountability partner to fast a certain thing and pray with you about a certain issue. But, the fact that you are fasting is not something you tell everyone you come in contact with, that goes against God's plan.  Though this may seem like an oxymoron for a pastor to say, I am going to say it ‘anyway’,  “flee religiosity”! The truth is, if you serve the Lord, the religious crowd will shoot you down!  But, as Jesus told His disciples, “just shake the dust off your feet”, which is to say, don’t take it personal, and drive on!

Matthew 6:5 says, 

"And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward."

 The reality, is if your passion, your fast, your serving is to have men look at you...that's all you get! But in the contrary, if you want to hear from God, verse 6 states, 

"But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly."

I don't know about you, but I want the "...reward you openly" deal!

Like with Jesus, personal attack may come your way too. To sit across the table and listen to someone attack your character, integrity, and motives, simply breaks your heart! Not for you though…for them!  They represent the same crowd that Jesus often wrestled with in the Pharisaical community.  How did Jesus react to them? By calling them “hypocrites”!  In fact, Jesus said that they were like “whitewashed tombs, on the outside clean, but on the inside full of dead man’s bones”. Harsh words from a loving Savior!  But, even Jesus had very little patience for such absurdity!

You see, when you fast, when you become passionate or serve, know that you will be placing yourself under scrutiny. I was fortunate to have been mentored by some incredible men of God, to include my present pastor, Dr. Rex King.  But to simply assume that all pastors, church members, etc. will embrace your new-found passion, is setting you up for real defeat!  People will like passions will understand. We should pray for the rest to gain or regain that passion.  A fast, is a good start!

Do it anyway!  In light of all the scrutiny, the personal attacks, the murmuring, and even the in-your-face bashing, Be passionate anyway!  Fast anyway!  Pray fervently anyway! Serve anyway!  Reach out anyway!  Love your enemies anyway!  Get involved anyway!  I promise you, it is worth it!

 Regardless of the venue in which I have spoken; whether a funeral, a wedding, a youth meeting, a conference, or in a third-world country, I try to decrease in me and increase in HIM. Fasting is the vehicle to do just that.  I have been privileged to see thousands of people come to Christ…why?  Because I have given them the opportunity to know the greatest hope, the greatest love, the only answer to all the world’s problems, the person of Jesus Christ!  It is never me…only HIM!

But it is however, my choice to choose to “do it anyway”!  Will you?

In Christ, I’m doing it anyway!

Marc