"I lack the fervency, vitality, life, in prayer which I long for. I know that many consider it fanaticism when they hear anything which does not conform to the conventional, sleep-inducing eulogies so often rising from Laodicean lips; but I know too that these same people can acquiescently tolerate sin in their lives and in the church without so much as tilting one hair of their eyebrows." - Jim Elliot
let's dig the wells of this city... 'til the water flows.
i was introduced to this song (video below) when dave sang this song with the japan missions team at service. this is such an intercessory song for our city and for the cities of this world. i feel like so many of my xanga entries are about this but really, there is so much brokenness in this city, in whole communities. there is so much more to do.. so much more wells to dig. not just here in nyc but all over the world.
i came across the blog of the band who originally wrote this song and i liked what they wrote. here goes:
I'd love it if church
started being more proactive, people getting their hands dirty. I'd
love to have more opportunity to get my hands dirty. Still not sure
what that looks like, if you know, do tell.
The song God of this City
was written in a bar in Pattaya, Thailand. We went there as part of a
missions trip to Thailand. Our expectations were none, we hadn't done
this sort of thing before - I'd personally never been to Asia before
that time. Did we have some 'heart' for Thailand prior to the trip? Not
particularly! Sorry, no offence Thailand! We just hadn't experienced it.
The
truth is, when you worship in a place, you start to see God's heart for
a place. One of the most revelationary moments of my life to date has
been playing a worship set in a strip club and hearing God say "I'm the
God of this city". These people are oppressed and exploited, they're
sold and forced to do the most derogatory acts - and in the midst of
them God says 'I love these people'.
We look with our eyes and
we see the wrong, but when we look beyond the situation and we see the
true beauty and value in someone's existence, we see what God loves
without condition. The things I've seen, I've been helpless to change -
that's the truth, I am totally powerless to change anything by my own
strength. In spite of all this - God, give me the opportunity to be
part of the change, to resound your voice that says 'I love you,
without clause or condition'. To renounce condemnation of the world and
say that despite the dirt, despite your history, there is a new way -
there is a banquet and you are invited.
That's my God. -----
Sad to say, but I've grown accustomed to the idea of digging with a few faithful, sometimes even alone, when it comes to ministry to the poor or the marginalized. Where are the people who would not only talk about the issues of this world but will arise and get their hands dirty with the heart of Christ that beats with jealous love for whole communities of people-- mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters, children? How I long to see the day when the Church as a whole would unite and arise to dig the wells together-- how much of an impact we would make! There is SO much to do... SO many wells to dig. Let's DO this!
