The Truth About Life: A Case for Church (Rev. 1:12-20) Chris Altrock – 6/14/15
I met Jerry on a Sunday afternoon in the oldest neighborhood in Fort Worth, TX. He and I had gathered with a small group for Sunday dinner at the home of Steve and
Lindsay. Steve preached at a nearby congregation. He and his family of five practiced a ministry of presence in this racially and economically diverse neighborhood. After
devouring Lindsay’s pot roast, we pushed back from their long wooden plank table
and shared stories.
Most of our tales had a common theme: church. Steve and I preached for
churches. A married couple at the table were training with Pioneer Bible Translators so
they could take the church and its Book to others. Jerry and his wife taught the junior-high students at their church.
We listened while Jerry discussed his desire to share Jesus with his patients and bring them to church. As a cancer doctor, he intersected the storylines of peoples’ lives
in some of their most challenging chapters. Jerry believed God had called him to not just treat their bodies, but their hearts and souls as well.
Still, he explained, he hadn’t been sure how to do this. He noticed another
doctor who modeled one approach. This physician aggressively evangelized patients,
sometimes explicitly telling them they didn’t have long on this earth and, unless they
changed, they didn’t have a shot at heaven. Not only was the method ineffective, it was unethical. A visit from members of the medical board ended his pugnacious
proselytizing. Read More »The Truth About Life: A Case for Church (Rev. 1:12-20) Chris Altrock – 6/14/15