A minister was called to pastor another church. When he arrived there, he found that the church had a very large number of inactive members. He thought, at first, this was due to the fact that the church had been without a minister for so long. Now that he was there, surely these people would return. As time passed, it became evident that these people were not returning. It was then that he decided to make calls on those inactive people and learn the reasons for their inactivity.

He was told:

"I brought my neighbor's ten year old child, who has downs syndrome, to church with me one Sunday. The child was restless in the pew. I heard someone behind me say to the person next to them, ‘That child shouldn’t be in church.’ I left church that day and vowed never to come back."

"The church is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites," said one man. "People in church act holier than God on Sunday, but you should see how they live the rest of the week."

"I was told if I don’t make a contribution to the church I would be removed from the membership."

"During my painful divorce, I reached out to the church for help, but I was told people have enough problems of their own, they don’t want to hear about your problems."

"I taught Sunday School for 20 years and my husband was on the governing board for almost as long. When he had his heart attack, no one from the church cared. No one called to see how we were doing, why, the Pastor didn’t even visit."

" Sunday’s are just too busy. The kids have ball games, there are things to do around the house. You know how it is."

"I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian."

Legitimate reasons, OR excuses for not responding to God’s call? Jeremiah responded to God’s call saying,

"Ah, Lord God, truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."

As we celebrate World Wide Communion Sunday, one has to question the affect Christians as well as the Christian church has had in the world today.

The secularization of society seems to be increasing with each passing day. It seems we turn further and further from the truth, that this is God’s world, and that His Word is the only true authority.

Instead of seeking to emulate God and his Word, people young and old are searching elsewhere. It is hard to find video’s that don’t contain excessive sex, violence, and profanity. New Age religions, if they can be called religions, are seen as being cool, while established religion is a turn off. Children no longer take Christmas or Easter vacations. Now they take winter and spring breaks or holidays. Judges can’t display the ten commandments in their court rooms. One has to wonder, how did it get like this and where is it all going? More importantly, what can you and I do to stop it.

How many of you start the day by asking God, "What do you want me to do today?" Why do people, like Jeremiah, shy away from serving God?

Feelings of inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was too young and inexperienced to be God’s spokesman to the world.

Scripture is very clear, that you and I are created in the image of God. That you and I have a God given purpose. Like Jeremiah, we are appointed for a specific work, called to do a particular job. Maybe God won’t give you a specific task, like Jeremiah to be a prophet to the people. Our mission is simple - to love, obey, and serve God. Paul said, "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us;"(2 Cor.5:20) As believers in Christ, you and I are official representatives of Christ.

Do you respond, "Here I am Lord!" Or do you respond like Jeremiah, saying,

"Ah, Lord God!
Truly I do not know how to........."

The place was Worms, Germany. The date April 1521. A young Monk stood before the most powerful ruler in Europe, flanked by his advisers of Rome. Bishops, princes, and representatives of great cities filled the rest of the great hall.

In the midst of this impressive assembly there sat a pile of books sitting on a table. An official gestured toward the books and asked the young monk two questions: Had he written these books? Was there a part of them he would now choose to recant?

To the first question he answered, "The books are all mine."

To the second question he answered, "Unless I can be instructed with evidence from the Holy Scriptures....I cannot and will not recant." When the great reformer Martin Luther spoke these words, he knew he could be arrested and even executed. Martin Luther would not back down from his beliefs, that the Holy Scripture, was the final authority in matters of life and faith, not any man, not even the church. He concluded, "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."

Every day you and I have a choice to make. We have the same choice Jeremiah had, the same choice Martin Luther had. We have the choice to stand firm in our faith and our mission to love, obey and serve God, or not too. The question is not, ‘Can I?’ as much as, ‘Do I want to?’

The choice is yours to make.

AMEN