Public Passion VS Private Devotion

I wonder if the inconsistency in my walk with God has anything to do with the fact that I can lead a “successful” church in America without being in love with Jesus. I’m sure I could blame American church culture, my position, or a busy schedule for my lack of reverent intimacy. The truth, however, is that my sin and hypocrisy is a result of me.

I FORGET TO LOVE GOD
It’s not like I don’t want to. In fact, when I’m deeply in prayer, it’s clear to me that there’s no place I’d rather be. I know that I love God. When I sit and think about Him, I’m filled with intense feelings of adoration. I’m convinced that He means more to me than my wife, kids, or anyone else on the planet. I just forget to love Him.

We can argue that we’re busy doing ministry, which is how we express our love. But if that’s all God wanted, His words to the Ephesians in Revelation 2 would make no sense.

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostle but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” (NIV)

God recognizes the Ephesian church for their wonderful ministry. Yet He makes it clear in the next verse that they are not loving Him. He tells them, “You have forsaken your first love.”

What has always surprised me about that passage is God’s threat to remove them if they don’t start loving Him again. “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” God tells the hard working, sin hating, doctrine-loving, persecuted church that He doesn’t want them around unless they love Him. He’s never been interested in unloving children. His desire has always been love. It was the great command in the Old Testament and the New (Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37). Love was supposed to be the catalyst of all godly action.

When is the last time you came alone before your Father just to enjoy Him? If it has been a while, don’t waste your time reading this article. Get alone and adore Him. Pray that you would no longer merely love Him through your religious actions, but with the passion befitting a person in love.

When I first fell in love with my wife, I never “forgot” to call her or spend time with her. Rarely, if ever, did she get crowded out because I was so “busy.”

I FAKE PASSION WELL
Leaders make the greatest hypocrites because of their ability to persuade and deceive. Rarely is there a pastor whose character exceeds his reputation. If I were to ask those closest to you about your relationship with God, what would they say? If I were to ask God the same question, what would He say? If your family, friends, and congregation have better things to say about you than God, it’s because you give them that impression. We do this because we can. God gifted us with an ability to communicate. Too often we use this ability not to convey who we are, but who we want others to think we are.

It’s similar to the church in Sardis, to whom Jesus says, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Rev. 3:1 NIV) Others believed the façade, but Jesus knew the truth. He reminded them that He knew of their spiritual deadness. The hope was that it would jolt them toward true life. God’s desire for all believers, especially leaders, is “life that is truly life.” (I Timothy 6:19 NIV) You’ve all had times, hopefully, when you experienced this “life.” But when you aren’t experiencing it, you fake it. Why? What’s the point in faking it when you can have it?
This article originally appeared in the Catalyst GroupZine Volume 3, Courageous in Calling.

I once heard a Christian leader say, “I refuse to let my public passion exceed my private devotion.” As a leader, have you made that commitment? It could make for some pretty boring sermons.

It burdens me when I think we may have missed it. I ache when I consider how we are missing out. Remember, being obsessed with Jesus is a good thing. Trading the truth for a lie doesn’t benefit you or any person you are leading. This isn’t coming from a writer saying, “You must repent.” It’s coming from a fellow sinful leader saying, “We’re so stupid if we don’t.” You can have genuine intimacy with Almighty God today. Why not?

I FOLLOW THE PEOPLE I LEAD
It is hard to be rejected. I hated it in junior high, and I still hate it today. It didn’t take long to learn how to fit in, in order to avoid the pain of rejection. That ability has stayed with me and begs me to use it. I know how to keep people from rejecting me and leaving the church. I know what words to say and which actions to take to keep people around. But when I do that, I’m no longer leading. I’m being led by the right or wrong desires of the people.

God calls us to give people what they need. Based on His word, regardless of whether they stick around. Jesus led. Few followed, but He kept leading.

Last summer I came to a shocking realization that I had to share with my wife: If Jesus had a church in Simi Valley, mine would be bigger. People would leave His church to attend mine because I call for an easier commitment. I know better how to cater to people’s desires so they stick around. Jesus was never really good at that. He was the one who said, “He who loves father or mother … son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:37 NIV) I’m much more popular than Jesus.

Having come to that conclusion, I came back to the church with resolve to call people to the same commitment Christ called them to. I knew that people would leave, and they have. I found comfort in that because, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26 NIV) Over time though, the conviction can fade, and it gets tiresome seeing people leave. There is a constant pull to try to keep people around rather than truly lead the faithful who remain. When my church was started, I used to tell my wife that I didn’t care if we only had ten people, as long as they really loved God and desired to worship Him with all of their hearts. Where is that conviction now?

I sometimes wonder what I would have done if I were the pastor of the church in Laodicea. We’re all familiar with that church in Revelation 3:14-22. It’s the “lukewarm” church that Jesus said He would “spit out” of His mouth. Would I have been strong enough to overcome the prevailing attitude of the entire church? Or would I have eventually been sucked into its flow and fate? I like to think I could have stood alone, but I’m not so sure.

My youth pastor had a saying that I still remember twenty-five years later, “Leaders lead.” It’s what we do. It’s what God has called us to do. Of course there’s sadness when people refuse to follow you, but it’s better than the sadness that would come if you stopped leading. Paul said boldly, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Don’t be led by your people. Lead them. It’s what you were made to do, equipped to do, called to do. It won’t be long before we’ll see that it was all worth it.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)

Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.” (NIV)

Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (NIV)

1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (NIV)

31 Comments »

1. Great article about the importance of private devotion and love for God.  Thanks for the reminder.  Thank you for all of the applicable NIV Bible references, especailly the ones from Chapters 2 and 3 in Revelation.

   Comment by Mike Tinnon - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:11 AM

2. This is so encouraging!! With so many changes going on in our church and in our youth it is difficult to find the meaning of volunteering and being a student leader, but I know we will get through any sitaution with God’s help!  I cannot think of any other way I want to spend my week than helping out in the student ministry!

   Comment by Justin G - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:30 AM

3. Great challenge to all of us in the body of Christ! Whether a pastor or not. We all needed that! Thanks Francis for being so authentic. :)

   Comment by Khori smith - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:40 AM

4. I can’t even begin to say how refreshing an article like this is! I love hearing these words—to care more about being faithful rather than simply keeping people happy! Thank you for these words!

   Comment by John Alexander - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:46 AM

5. Right on target sir! We have been teaching from Revelations this month in our preteens class at our church! Speak truth.

   Comment by jesus-worshiper - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:49 AM

6. Francis,
   Thank you so much for your honesty and candor!  This is an area wherein we all as ministers need to be held accountable.  When the devotion is there, the passion is a by-product.  When it’s not, our pride makes us want to fake the passion and fool people into thinking we’re “spiritual” and have a vibrant relationship with the Lord.
   Thank you again!  I am printing this off to read on a regular basis in an effort to have you hold me accountable through your message.

   Comment by Susan Nolley - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:49 AM

7. Good stuff! Thanks again, Francis Chan and Catalyst! Just what I needed…I’m going to find my “alone spot” with God right now…

   Comment by nadine.w - Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:56 AM

8. I really cannot say “thanks” that the article makes me feel good, but man does it confirm the medicine God is giving me in order to continue His transformation of this area of my life.  All that is discussed stems from our problem with “pride,” which C.S. Lewis described as “the complete anti-God state of mind.”  I would push these thoughts described by France Chan even a little further to say, in the end, we end up serving or worshipping an imaginary God when we get all wrapped up in imitating many of the errors of the churches mentioned in Revelation.  I know one thing to be true, when I do finally have a meaningful encounter with the real God and reflect on who He is, who I am, and all that He has done anyway, I do fall to my knees and the sincerest of passion returns.

   Comment by Gary Lewis - Jan 19, 2010 @ 12:06 PM

9. Wow Francis as usual spot on in delivering the unvarnished Word . I feel that he is being used as a mirror to help us look at ourselves and impel us to be more like Jesus .

   Comment by Heather Grey - Jan 19, 2010 @ 12:46 PM

10. Thank you Francis Chan.  Not for making me feel good but for challenging me.  It is all too easy to get caught up in the business (busy-ness) of being a pastor that I forget what I am truly supposed to be about - loving God with my heart, mind, strength, and soul.  I will read this weekly to remind me to “dance with the one who brung me.”

    Comment by Ed - Jan 19, 2010 @ 12:58 PM

11. This has been inspiring. I stopped reading this article and got in prayer halfway through! Praise be to God!

    Comment by Simon Nompone - Jan 19, 2010 @ 02:22 PM

12. I have to be honest.  I struggle with this.  It’s hard being a doer, to learn how to just be.  I find no greater joy than serving Him, and that’s a problem.  My greatest joy should be just Him alone.  But that’s hard.  I burned myself out working for Him with passion that was not being replenished in time spent with Him.  And now I sit without a job or ministry chomping at the bits to re-enter, but He’s saying, “Just sit with me a little while longer.”  It’s hard.

    Comment by Alan (@jalanb2009) - Jan 19, 2010 @ 02:36 PM

13. I resenate with you Francis.  I am in the midst of transformational ministry in this church and it is not easy.  Whenever you try to change DNA there are those who rise up against you.  I am thankful that I learned some time ago that you can’t give what you don’t have.  I have to work from a full tank, the work is to hard to do otherwise.  This ministry would be impossible to do as God wills if I was not in Love with Jesus.

    Comment by Wesley Osborn - Jan 19, 2010 @ 03:37 PM

14. Very thoughtful article. If only those who read it really had ears to hear the truth contained.

    Just the tip of the iceburg, hinting at the apostacy of the churches. May God have mercy and heal our blindness.

    Comment by Julie - Jan 19, 2010 @ 04:21 PM

15. Yep…exactly what I needed to hear to stop my head from spinning in the ministry whirlwind I am in and get my heart, mind, and soul focused on what I was created and commanded to do!!!

    Comment by sharon - Jan 20, 2010 @ 01:02 AM

16. Thank you for reminding us the children of God about what is more important to Him; A love relationship.

    Comment by Enoch Meshullam - Jan 20, 2010 @ 06:13 AM

17. Thanks.  And I’ve always appreciated the way you bring it back to our sinful hearts, needing Jesus in desperate ways.  You never compromise on that, and you lead by admitting your weaknesses first.  Which is honest, and humble, something He delights in.

    Comment by Jessica Kent - Jan 20, 2010 @ 09:47 AM

18. Ouch!
    ...and, THANKS!!!

    Comment by Bill - Jan 20, 2010 @ 11:58 AM

19. Humbling & challenging.  Help me Lord!

    Comment by Harry Profit - Jan 20, 2010 @ 03:22 PM

20. “Leaders make the greatest hypocrites because of their ability to persuade and deceive. Rarely is there a pastor whose character exceeds his reputation.”

    That’s true for more than pastors. I’ve wanted to write a book about this from a pastor’s kid’s perspective. The influence is powerful, but with it comes danger.

    -Marshall Jones Jr.

    Comment by bondChristian - Jan 20, 2010 @ 04:21 PM

21. Thank you very much for your words on Revelation 2 and the Church in Ephesus. It was quite jarring. I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:3 when he writes: “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” Giving oneself up to martyrdom the most serious price a Christian could give. Yet, if it is not done in love, it would profit NOTHING.

    I really needed to hear this. Thank you again.

    Comment by Walt - Jan 20, 2010 @ 04:43 PM

22. Fake passion…what a sad phrase.  Unfortunately…I know exactly what it is.

    Comment by Debi Porche - Jan 21, 2010 @ 10:18 AM

23. WOW. That is so convicting and encouraging at the same time. Thank you so much to whoever posted this. It’s very helpful to a guy that’s getting tired of trying to lead and pushing against the grain. I love what he said about knowing what to say to get people to stick around. How true.

    Comment by Ky Martin - Jan 21, 2010 @ 12:18 PM

24. Private Devotion to us is ~ Time Alone With Almighty God… These are moments we spend heart-to-heart with GOD - we make time for this intentionally… So often that it became much like a very good habit… Moreover, it turned into an essential moment that we desire almost instinctively - then naturally… LOVE causes that desire to come about flowing from within [much like hunger and thirst].

    It is almost impossible to trade these moments off by someone who truly love HIM ~ above all else…  by someone who’s truly in love with HIM - because the more time like this you spend with HIM the more you fall in love with HIM… just can’t help but fall in love with HIM more and more and more…

    Everyday from there and then [that place and from that very moment on] we will find ourselves driven by HIM to do HIS assigned whatever… Yes, driven away at times… because there is something that makes us want to simply stay.

    Comment by Andrew Yanga Castro - Jan 22, 2010 @ 02:30 PM

25. You seem biblical but entirely not.

    2 Chro 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

    Cornerstorne Church is not called by his name. I mean you will not call your son son of peter when your name is Francis. It is but proper that people will call him son of Francis, Isn’t it? Is it proper then to call His the Church of God?

    1 Cor 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

    No offense Francis, but I see that you are God fearing man. When you speak of loving a person it means loving her unconditionally & so with God including the Church of God built by Jesuschrist where He is the chief cornerstone. No exception whatsoever.

    Comment by ely biado - Jan 22, 2010 @ 10:39 PM

26. i don’t know what in the world ely biado (#25) was even talking about??? wow. but as far as what francis wrote… thank you. it’s so easy to just do what He’s called us to do (ministry) but neglect what attracted us in the first place (His love and spending time in His presence). Lord, forgive me.

    Comment by jim d - Jan 25, 2010 @ 02:24 PM

27. Oh praise the Lord!  Sometimes I think I’m the only one with this problem and it’s so hard to admit that the passion is waning when the “nice job” compliments keep coming.  I don’t think it was a coincidence to come across this article at this particular time. God is truly a loving God.  Thank you Bro Chan for your words of wisdom. :)

    Comment by E Riggs - Jan 26, 2010 @ 09:29 PM

28. Hi Francis what a heart tearing, soul searching, devotion/ whatever you want to call it.

    The LORD has been revealing EXACTLY the same revelations recently, about purely loving HIM first, the way I use. Doing what I did at first, through Revelations 2-3.

    It’s so true, Revelations 2-3 is highlights Jesus’ value system of what a church should look like not the world’s.

    Blessings mate!

    Comment by p.shiz - Jan 27, 2010 @ 01:01 AM

29. @ jim d of comment #26

    It is not what in the world I am talking, it is in the word of God actually.

    Pardon me, but just because you are doing the ministry, you are righteous in the eyes of God.

    Jas 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

    If your religion is not in the Bible you will deceive many.

    As St. Paul said:

    1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the Apostles, having no right to be named an Apostle, because of my cruel attacks on the church of God.

    As I have said, Cornerstone Church is not the religion built by Christ Jesus. Building another is a shame or a slap on His face.

    1 Pet 4:17 For the time has come for the judging, starting with the church of God; but if it makes a start with us, what will be the end of those who are not under the rule of God?

    Comment by ely biado - Jan 27, 2010 @ 02:02 AM

30. Love the heart of this post, but I fear the subtle legalism it presents (though, I suspect, not intentionally).  The challenge is good, but at the end of the day, we simply cannot love God good enough.  That’s why we needed Jesus.  That’s why he died - to accomplish for us what we are not good enough to accomplish on our own.

    With that said, I’m not so sure that public passion should be equal to private devotion - again, our devotion isn’t good enough, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t, too.

    Surely, we have much learning to do when it comes to loving God and learning to live in his grace.

    Comment by Ken Eastburn - Jan 27, 2010 @ 05:09 PM

31. here in lies the crux.. Why was man created? what is the real goal of salvation? What should Discipleship be about?  Where is the position of leadership to be in the Church, standing up front or under the body lifting it up so that The Church can do the work of the ministry? Where does it say preach to the Church? Where does the bible put one man “over” a body of believers? Our private passion for the Lord should be the driving force that causes us as leaders to not just free the body of Christ but to equip and empower them.  We need to stop leading like the world and start serving like Jesus.  Your private passion must turn into public servanthood, and a hunger to see the church be the church… Leaders are to help other’s become like Jesus.  As long as we lead from the top, and judge for the church(1Cor. 14;26) we will have .3 to 10% of the church doing all the work and the others feeling unfulfilled and not needed or wanted. If we are leaders we must disciple—- as an example (1Pe.5:3)...My prayer is that you would let your passion for intimacy break the traditions of man and loose you to be the servant, not the head.  neil

    Comment by neil w gamble - Jan 30, 2010 @ 01:31 PM

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