There are definitely some ‘heart idols’ that have cropped up for me in this process of raising funds to secure this second space for the mission of Seven Mile Road. By ‘heart idols’ we mean the invisible motivations or inclinations of the soul that battle against gospel faith, against seeking God’s glory, against true holiness. Here is a quick five. There are others.
1, I want to raise $150,000 so I can say that I raised $150,000 in 40 days and people can say I am awesome.
2, I want 100% of Seven Milers to give to the cause so that I can say how I am such a great leader and our people are so with me.
3, I want to have a building that people will walk into and comment on how Seven Mile Road is so ‘with it’ compared to other churches.
4, I want to have this all work out so that I can enjoy basking in how what I lead always works out.
5, I want to do this well so that other planters are calling me to ask my advice on how to secure space and raise money and multiply sites.
If I could take all that and drench it with kerosine and light it and watch it burn, that would be great. What would it be like to have a heart that was only and consistently motivated by seeing God glorified and His people well-served and His mission fostered? I am not saying that those are never my motivations or that those aren’t really the ones I hang onto while the others I fight, but it is quite frustrating to always be tending toward sin and self.
But as Joie taught us, God is infinitely perfect in His mercy and His patience, and so we confess sin and repent of sin and fight sin and throw ourselves on His mercy and keep pursuing maturity in Christ.
What I don’t let my sinfulness slow us down from the work we are called to. We are going to raise the $150,000. I am going to pull for Seven Mile to participate 100%. I do want the space to reflect the beauty of our God and the incarnational aspect of the gospel. I do want to be a resource to others who are about the work of the gospel and need someone to model the practicals for them.
But I want to do all these things holy, and from holy motivations.
God, have mercy.
