Whatever Happened to Commitment?
By Tim McClure
She was distraught and voice was broken and elevated with anger as she frantically asked me, “Whatever happened to commitment?” Her fiancé of twelve months broke up without even a reason. “I can’t believe it, after twenty years, the Smith family just up and quit our church and went across town to a church that holds a totally different doctrine than we do” my pastor friend said to me in despair. “After I paid his bail, got him off drugs, put his marriage back together and got him a job with a friend of mine, he came in my office and told me that God had told him to go to another church” another pastor told me with a broken voice and confused.
No matter where you look, the commitment level of our world is in peril. Look around you, many of the large major banks have failed, the largest insurance companies have folded. General Motors and Chrysler went bankrupt and millions of American workers have their 401 K to tank and left their retirement in doubt. Politician’s promises have faded before the ink has dried on their campaign flyers.
Marriage vows are threatened with the perplexity of emotional insecurity and parental commitment will only last as long as sensual fulfillment is given by the other spouse. Domestic abandonment is the norm instead of the impugned rarity. “My word is my bond” mantra is now an ancient relic on display in ecclesiastical museums. “Trust me” has become a warning phrase in a sentence that means, “I’m lying .” Let me ask, whatever happen to commitment?
Dr. Martin Luther King said it well, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” The Bible reads, If you will make a commitment to God he will help you in all you do (Ps 37:5). If you will make a commitment to God in your work, then it will succeed (Prov 16:3). Commitment is an act of committing to a charge or trust. Commitment is a pledge that means an unbroken agreement.
I understand that our 21st Century culture has corrupted almost every aspect of American life. I agree with you that our government, social and civic institutions have sold us out for a dollar. I have also been victimized by our gigantic corporate system who will replace you to save fifty cents. I know there is no more security in our social, domestic, scholastic or corporate world. I can appreciate that it feels like everywhere you turn someone is trying to rape you, sell you out or cheat on you.
However, no matter how evil the world becomes; no matter how corrupt society functions, we cannot submit to join their sinful virus. The church cannot concede to such a sinful nature and prostitute our spiritual life all in the name of “looking out for #1.” I rebuke the spirit, the notion, the apathy that shouts in my face, “Whatever.” I curse the remote holding, couch sitting selfishness that cares for nothing except their own driveway.
I am one who after 37 years of marriage still says “till death do we part.” I am still committed to the church I founded and pastor over 29 years ago. After 38 years of being a member of a church, I still do not miss a single service – Sunday & Wednesday (unless I am out of town preaching or vacationing). Call me “Old Fashion” but I don’t believe Jesus will lie to anyone if he says, “Well done thou good and FAITHFUL servant.” I believe in eternity. I believe in a judgment day. I believe in heaven or hell. I believe that my life, my action, my commitment does matter. Whatever happened to commitment? In Christ Jesus, nothing; how about in you?
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THIS WORLD TODAY!
1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms.
5. Of the remaining 33% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.
You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church! FOR SAFETY’S SAKE – Attend church… IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!
Philosophies to live by:
* A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
* A pint of example is worth a pound of advice.
* The best vitamin for making friends is B-1.
* He who throws mud loses ground.
The above article, “Whatever Happened to Commitment?” is written by Tim McClure. The article was excerpted from www.promiseland.com newsletter in September of 2009.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
