Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday May 17, 2010

Every now and then the old brain freezes and this just took one look from The Great Blonde and I haven't recovered. I am not ashamed to admit my paralysis brought on by a simple look, as her "look" would have stopped Hannibal dead in his tracks as he crossed the Alps. So, the Lord bypassed the one who gives "looks" and supplied my need for today's article via the prolific pen of Dale Byers a gifted retired pastor who lives and writes in Holland, Michigan. Give serious heed to his article:

Too Old To Grunt? Dr. Dale Byers

The word "grunt" is normally used as a verb; as when a pig will grunt as he leaves the mud hole. The word grunt , however, is now being used as a noun that describes a position. Recently, I asked a young man what his job was and he replied that he was a "grunt" for the company where he was employed. So this word represents someone who serves in a position where all that is required of him is the grunt that is exerted as he applies his muscles to move an object, lift a heavy load or strains at a simple undignified task.

We are all familiar with the grunt. It is the sound that is made when we strain with such effort that we must grunt to succeed at our task. It is the sound a boxer makes when he exerts all of his weight and strength behind a blow to his threatening opponent. It is the sound of a weight lifter as he comes up from the squat and lifts the weight over his head. It is only when he makes that unique sound that he is able to successfully overcome the limits of his ability.

It was my privilege to serve for approximately 27 years as a pastor and about 6 years in other positions of ministry. During that time I learned that the success or failure of a church or any portion of ministry is all directly related to the grunt. It is not a dignified word, and the activity that it represents does not hold any resemblance of executive glory. It is the dirty, difficult, tasks that no one wants to do, but, must be done if ministry is to succeed.

Now that I have retired as a pastor, I am faced with a choice, "Am I too old to grunt?" A video tape was made of our recent Vacation Bible Time when over 500 boys and girls assembled for a wonderful week of impacting their lives with Scriptures. Videos were made with a goal to deliver a free video to each of the visitors' homes in a courageous effort to reach them for Christ. I watched as the videos sat unmoved on the table and our pastor pleaded for workers to deliver the videos. It was obvious that someone had to "grunt" to see those videos delivered.

I asked my granddaughter Emily and my Grandson Nathan to assist me. We found so many blessings as others joined in the effort to deliver the videos. As I knocked at the door of one home, a teen-age boy came to the door. It was evident that he was struggling with life. My heart ached as I saw the evidences of his loosing the battle. I spoke with him about Christ and he permitted me to pray for him. As I sat in my car, I began to pray and ask God for him. If you had been in the car with me, the sound you would have heard might be described as a groan, but it was really a grunt, as every mother is familiar with the grunt of childbirth. It is true that there can be no spiritual birth without spiritual travail. How is it that we are so eager to participate in sowing the seed but have such little interest in the spiritual travail for souls? The blessings of birth always follow the pains of labor. Grunting always precedes the glory as the Cross precedes the Crown.

There are many grunting sounds around church. You can hear them often as they come from the choir. All of those beautiful songs of worship are nothing more than the grunts of ministry. Those familiar grunts ascend from the nursery, children's church, Sunday School, Awana, youth groups and various other ministries. Listen carefully and you will hear the sounds of the Holy Spirit birthing The Church of Jesus Christ throughout the various ministries of a local church.

All of those grunts are identified with Christ in His great work of redemption. When I am tempted to complain at my grunt in life, I remember that Simon the Cyrenian no doubt had to grunt to lift the Cross for Christ. I then assume it an honor for me to grunt in my small work for Jesus.

So now that I am officially a retired pastor, what is the goal for the rest of my earthly life? I hope I can become an Old Grunt! I didn't say an "Old Grump." I said an "Old Grunt" for Christ.

Thank you Dr. Byers for this great article. In the churches a great army of retired grunts are AWOL and what a difference can/would be made if they follow the example you have set before the church in this piece.

Larry Lilly Copyright (C) 2010 Use with credit

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