I have a great view of the bell-tower of our church from our back patio. I was sitting out there rather late last night staring at it, reaching several hundred feet into the night sky and topped with a cross, when a thought came to my mind. The church stands where it has for over 200 years, and I thought to myself, “Sentinel or Monument.” In the vast landscape of Western Christianity, there exists a stark contrast between churches functioning as vigilant sentinels, actively guarding and guiding their communities, and those that stand as mere monuments, frozen in the past.

Then this morning it was just a bit chilly as I sat on the porch reading and reflecting on our new bible study on the Book of Revelation. I lit the propane-fired table heater which lasted about five minutes before the tank ran dry. As I was changing out the tank I had the idea that a fire in the chiminea might be nice. So, I set about preparing, lighting, and tending to that fire and as I did so the following thoughts came to mind. With my new plan to publish a lengthier post on Friday’s to help us prepare for the weekend ahead, I offer them to you today. I pray you all have a blessed weekend with church being a central focus of your plans. If you’re in the area of Winona, MS, we’d love to have you join us at either Bethlehem Methodist Church (10:00 a.m., 34 Bethlehem Church Rd.) or Moore Memorial Methodist Church (11:00 a.m., 201 Magnolia St., both in Winona, MS 38967)

Keeping the Flame Alive: A Sacred Responsibility

February 9, 2024

By: Neville Vanderburg

In the tapestry of faith, the local church stands as a beacon, a place where believers gather to worship, learn, and grow together. Within this sacred community, the responsibilities of membership can be likened to the essential task of keeping a fire alive. Given the fact that about 40 million Christians have left the church in the United States over the last 25 years, we need to ask ourselves “Where’s the Fire?” For more details and ideas I highly recommend “The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?, by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan P. Burge, with foreward by Collin Hansen.

Just as a fire requires careful attention, nurturing, and active participateion, so too does the vibrant life of a church community. Over the last several years anyone who has heard me preach has heard me say at least once that the problem with the church today is the lack of ‘The Big C’ and that’s not Christ, it’s Commitment. As I was attending to the fire in my chiminea I decided to squirt some lighter fluid on it and, as you would expect, it immediately burst into flame, burning bright and hot – until the presence of the accelerant was gone. In some ways that’s what I’ve seen in churches of late. We know there’s a problem with the fire, and there’s just enough heat left in the coals that we think throwing on some accelerant (new programs, new worship style, etc., etc.) will solve the problem. And it does burn bright and hot for a time, but pretty soon dies back down.

Thinking about the task of keeping the fire alive let’s consider these profound implications for our roles as not just a member, but as a keeper of the flame.

1. The Spark of Salvation: Every fire begins with a spark, and so does our journey with Christ. Church membership starts with that recognition that we need Jesus, followed by a commitment to follow him, igniting the flame of salvation in our hearts. While the church does bear the responsibility of feeding and nurturing members, at some point the members (just like babies) must learn to walk, bearing the responsibility of fanning that initial spark into a roaring fire by continually seeking a deeper relationship with God through prayer, worship, and studying his Word.
2. Fueling the Flame with Fellowship: I can’t help but think that a big part of the reason those 40 million Christians have walked away from the church is because of poor fellowship. We show up and like accelerant on a fire burn brightly, but it doesn’t catch and we all walk away until the next opportunity to gather together. Church membership calls us to actively engage with our fellow believers, sharing our joys, burdens, and spiritual insights. In doing so, we contribute to the warmth of unity that sustains the entire community. This is why small-groups are so important.
3. Tending to the Flames of Service: As any Scout or outdoors enthusiast knows, a well-kept fire demands ongoing attention. I still remember the night the fire went out in Wildflecken, Germany. It was in the barracks where all the officers were sleeping and while it wasn’t a wood fire, the oil-fed heater still required attention. As the junior-officer present (JOP) I was tagged as the responsible individual to be sure the tank didn’t run dry. Well, I had been the JOP for quite some time as the Army was experiencing a shortage of lieutenants, and I was a bit tired of the duty. The constant calls of “let the JOP take care of it” had become irritating and I proceeded to announce to everyone in the barracks that I would fill the tank before going to bed, but if it ran out during the night somebody else would have to get up and fill it. Long story short: it did, I didn’t, and we got cold. Keeping the fire of the church going is what John Wesley might call the ‘search for holiness of heart and life.’ Through acts of kindness, generosity, selflessness, and service to those inside and outside the church, we become Christ’s hands and feet, ensuring that the flames of love and compassion never die out.
4. Guarding Against the Chill of Apathy: Once the fire goes cold the chill of apathy sets in. Similarly, in our spiritual lives and church membership, we must guard against complacency. My fellow officers had grown complacent, counting on “let the JOP do it” to take care of things. I’d grown apathetic. And as I said the result was that we all got cold. Diligence in attending gatherings, participating in activities, and pursuing spiritual growth keeps us vigilant, preventing the flame from dwindling. As I’ve told my churches, to only difference between the busy church down the street (the Sentinel) and the quiet one on the corner (the Monument) is committed involvement.
5. Passing the Torch of Faith: Just as a well-tended fire won’t go out, it also can be the source of ignition for other torches as well. A key church membership commitment is the responsibility of passing the torch of faith on to the next generation. Through mentorship, discipleship, and investing in the spiritual development of others, we ensure that the flame of God’s love endures for those coming behind us.

So, it’s Friday afternoon. Sunday is coming. On a scale of 1-to-10, with one being totally uninterested and 10 fully committed, where would you rate your church membership commitment? Wherever you are on that scale let me encourage you to move from passive affiliation to active membership so that the flame of faith will blaze forth in our communities and around the world. It is only through attention to our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness that we fulfill our sacred duty to tend to the fire within our local church. Doing so enables us to be communities of faith that worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly, not only maintaining but spreading the fire of Christ.

Next Friday we’ll take a look at the role of a Sentinel. Until then let me leave you with one question: Do you want your church to be here after you’re gone and, if so, what are you going to do to keep the flame burning?

Be blessed this weekend my friends! I’ll be back on Monday with my recurring “Thought for the Day” series and until then remember that God loves you and so do I.