“Greater Things” Thursday #25: “No One Responds Alone”

NOTE: Lebanon Road’s 2011 theme is “Greater Things.” For an introduction and video to the theme, click here. Each Thursday, we are emphasizing an area in which we are striving to meet that theme.

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Today’s “Greater Thing” is something we have been doing for some time at Lebanon Road, but that needs some more emphasis. A couple of years ago, I read a post of Steve Higginbotham’s wonderful blog (one of my favorites). The post was called “Removing the Lid.” In it, he described how a sermon, heard by some of the elders at South Green Street in Glasgow, Kentucky (where Steve preached at the time; now he is at Karns in Knoxville) talked about how no one should respond to the invitation by themselves. That sermon, delivered by brother Keith Parker, opened their eyes to a problem: why, when someone is making such a massive decision in their lives, do we just let them sit on the front seat alone when Christians are to be a family?

[You can read the entire blog post here. It’s short, but powerful.]

My eyes were opened. Sometimes, when an individual responded, someone would come and sit with them. At other times, they just sat there. I always tell the person that I need to stand and wait, in case someone else responds (which has happened, thankfully, at times!). So, sometimes, they just sit there through 2, 3, or more verses of a song…alone.

That shouldn’t be!!!

I made an appeal to our elders and deacons, and then to the entire congregation, to become a place “where no one responds alone.” Since then, no one has ever sat on the front seat by themselves. Friends, deacons, elders, family members…all have made their way down to sit and encourage an erring Christian, or one who has decided to put Christ on in baptism. Teenagers have come down, as well as some who were teenagers long ago (how’s that for political correctness?).

It is moving. It is emotional. More than that, though, it is being a Christian. We preach and teach that we are “together” and “united.” Never should that be more true than when one comes to the Lord, or when one needs prayers of forgiveness and encouragement.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am that this has become part of our “culture” at Lebanon Road. When someone responds in a public way, it is difficult. It is nerve-racking at times. To have that brother or sister (or sometimes, multiple brothers and sisters!) sitting with you and placing a hand on your shoulder, means the world.

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How to make this even greater, Lebanon Road? Keep it up! When you see someone come down, swallow your pride and come sit beside them. What a display of love, togetherness, unity, and kindness. It sure does this preacher’s heart good, but it has to do far more for the one who has come forward.