Legacy is defined as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” In my own words, I see legacy as something left by someone else for future generations. It could be money. It could be reputation. It could be values. It could be example. Well…you get the drift.
WHAT. ABOUT. A. CHURCH?
In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt a church leaves a legacy. Dead or Alive. Traditional or Contemporary. Selfish or Giving. Inward-focused or Outward-focused. Troubled or Unified. Again…you get the drift.
I finished my series on the book of Colossians last week but since I have been spending the last three months exploring the teachings of Paul, I thought it would be good to see how effective his warnings were. So, even though the church at Colossae is not mentioned later, the church of Laodicea (also in the Lycus Valley) is! Revelation 3:14-22 is the place. If you have read that passage before, you will recognize it as a not-too-friendly place to read. Of all the churches mentioned in chapters 2-3, Laodicea is the only one that has nothing good or positive said about it. How would you like that for a legacy? Can you hear the conversation taking place several years later (if there even is one)? “Dude (contemporary talk), this church is a mess. What in the world were our parents/grandparents thinking when they let stuff happen? Then again, I reckon we aren’t much better.”
There were three major elements of the heresies bewitching the church culture:
- the worship of many gods. There were gobs of them.
- Gnosticism- they prided themselves in “deeper knowledge.” It led them to visions & mystics, the idea that God was good but matter evil, i.e. denying the humanity of Christ.
- Jewish legalism/ceremonialism- Circumcision and the OT laws were necessary for salvation.
One was ugly enough by itself, but put all three of them into a barrel of a gun and shoot them, and you have the potential for mass chaos. Paul spent a significant amount of time trying to warn the Colossians of the heresies. Sadly, as you can see in Revelation 3, they didn’t listen.
This will be my last of this series. I begin a new one next week called Jesus, The Center. Can’t wait for you to see the banner Dan has done for that one. It is awesome!! I’m telling you folks. You need to have Dan do some stuff for you. 🙂 I sincerely want to thank so many of you who have prayed throughout this series. I am a poor judge of my preaching, but I am praying the folks were as “blessed” through this study as I was.
Now for your question: what kind of legacy are you leaving? Who are you leaving it for? If you were able to “attend” your funeral, 🙂 what would be one or two things that you would want said? Have at it. Oops I apologize. That is questions. Have a great weekend.
To all my preacher friends, I leave these words: “Preach the Word (and nothing but the Word).”
Hmmmm, let’s see….How about…
He was a good man who love his family and God passionately.
I can accept that…have a great weekend Bill!
That works Jay. Thanks.
I hope they say I never served cheap whiskey or bought cheap toilet paper.
🙂
LOL!!
Finished well.
Good one Ike. I am sure you will.
Bill,
>>If you were able to “attend” your funeral, 🙂 what would be one or two things that you would want said?
——————-
I would want them to finally tell me the truth.
Voltaire the French philosopher, says:
To the dead one owes respect; to the living one owes the truth.
I disagree. It should be the opposite, in my opinion. So I would want people to really, finally, be truthful about me and tell me what they really thought.
Have a great weekend, Bill. See ya Monday,I’m sure.
i will tell you the truth Donald. I have never met you but I am sure we would have some interesting discussions if we did. Until then, may you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.
The first thought that came to mind was “even though it seemed he received little more than trial after trial, he kept pursuing God in everything.”
What a great thought Jason. “he kept pursuing God.” That should be said about each of us. Thanks.
Loved God, Loved family, served all. Praying now you have a wonderful service and weekend.
I have this sneaking suspicion it will be said about you Tom. You are an example of that. Thanks for the prayers.
Tom,
I would stand and say,
“Behold, a true Israelite, in whom there was no guile.”
You earned this. Seriously. I don’t think you have one false bone left in you after Jesus remade you into His image.
He was one messed up guy. Marched to the beat of a different drummer and thought out side of the box.
Some one allready told me that. I liked it.
Not a bad legacy Larry. Sounds like you live it now. Thanks for the thought.
Bill
I hope my legacy will be one that has added value to leaders and has helped them grow.
If I attended my funeral I would want people to say, Dan
Desired to please God with all his heart.
Loved family and people.
had a passion for spiritual growth and personal growth.
Had a passion to impact others.
I know we can choose today what we want our legacy to be and daily maintain those choices.
Also I only thought about personal legacy but never a church legacy. Great thing to think about if you are a church leader.
Dan
Those are great things to have said about you and, even though I have not met you Dan, sense that they absolutely describe you. Like to see you do a post or two on the latter. Thanks for coming by.
Thank you Bill.
If I was able to attend my funeral,I would want people to say:
“She was very kind, caring and loving. She was shy but when she was given a chance to speak her mind, she would pour out her heart telling you what she liked and did not like about you. She always wanted to have a knowledge of things people considered unimportant. She was daring and loved challenges. She wanted to know more about God and made up her mind that when she got to heaven, she would have a long list of questions to ask God.
Well, I guess I have mentioned more than two things.
Have a blessed weekend.
Love,
Mercy.
No need to apologize mercy. I didn’t put any stipulations on how long. I hope these will be said about you when the time comes. May you always want to know more about God. Thanks
My legacy will be for all that can so that they see Christ but especially for my kids.
Two thing said – “Is he breathing?” and “Looking he is Alive!”
Really though I would love to hear He love and showed Christ in everything he did. He loved his wife, children, and friends wholeheartedly.
Give them Heaven this weekend!
We have got to be twins cuz my first thought is to make a joke. Seriously, great epitaph. Thanks Jim.
The whole idea of leaving a legacy has been big on my heart for the past couple of years. I can’t wait until the end of my life to start thinking about this. If I want to leave a lasting legacy, I have to start with now.
My goal is even bigger than leaving a legacy for my children. I want to leave a legacy for my children’s, children’s children. I want to see a 3 generation legacy like Abraham/Isaac/Jacob. That’s something worth living for and starting now!
You are right Tony. It is not too early thinking about it now. That is so cool what you say in that last paragraph. Powerful thought!
3 generations? Loved that!
I think they would say that I loved people.
Bill, thanks for all the encouragement and prayers. Know that April and I are doing the same.
Good to hear from you Michael. Sounds like you all are settled in. Good epitaph also. You’re welcome and they are appreciated.
I would want people to say that I was always pointing people to Jesus, and not seeking glory for myself.
What an awesome thing to have said about you Melissa. I am sure it will. Thanks for coming by.
Michael,
Do I have to wait until you are dead to say that about you? It’s obvious to me that you do indeed love people. Of this there is no doubt.
😀
Really enjoying your blog!
I would want people to say that 1. I loved God. And 2. I loved others. Simple but powerful statement, and I’m trying to live that out.
Thanks Jon. Enjoying yours also. Your statement sounds eerily familiar to what Someone else said: Love God first. Love people next. Way to go! I pray you live that out. Thanks for coming by again.
legacy – as a reformer of the wayward church, someone who pursued reconciliation and boiled the church down to what mattered.
After following your blog for a couple of months now Charlie, I would say that would be an accurate one. Thanks.
Hmmm…..
Lived life only to laugh and find love. Hope you do too
Good one to leave behind Ed. Thanks for visiting.
hi Bill,
I hope to leave a positive legacy behind for my children, grandchildren and family. I hope I can also leave behind a legacy for others. I would like to leave behind a godly legacy. I hope to impact as many people as I can for God before my days are done on this earth.
What to say at my funeral? I want people to say that they loved me and that I loved them. I want people to say that I made a difference in their lives and that they were glad to have known me. I want people to say ‘she loved God’ and lived her life to demonstrate that fact.
Both of those are good Linda. I think our dream should be to leave behind a good legacy to all we come in contact with. I, too, want people to know I loved them and made a difference in their lives. Thanks.
I would want people to see that I served God, and served others. I want my children to see that I loved and honored my wife my entire life.
Great legacy to leave behind dustin-for others and for your children. Thanks for swinging by.