by Pastor Patrick Cho

As we welcome in a new year, I’m thankful for the opportunity to reflect on the church’s ministry to consider how we might best move forward in 2014. One of the most dangerous threats to the life of the church is complacency. This is particularly precarious when a church has enjoyed years of ministry together because things become routine. People get used to the way things are done. Change is cumbersome and unwelcome. Yet, it is essential to discern the difference between pushing forward just so things don’t grow stale and pushing forward because of the tremendous work that remains in front of us. We are not just trying to keep the masses busy or entertained. Our great goal is to keep the Great Commission and Great Commandment central to our vision. This way, even though we make progress, we see clearly that we are not at the finish line.

2014 is an exciting year for LBC San Diego because it marks fifteen years of ministry for the church! This May, we will be celebrating our anniversary and it is so incredibly encouraging to think the Lord has graciously brought us to this milestone. It seems like only yesterday we were together in the upper room of the old church building meeting on Sunday afternoons. Back then, we were just a handful of individuals hungry for the Word and excited to fellowship with one another. Fifteen years ago we committed ourselves to the Lord and to one another in the pursuit and application of the MVP and the Peacemaker Pledge. We certainly didn’t foresee all that the Lord was going to do through that young congregation, but we couldn’t have imagined we would be where we are now.

Even still, we recognize that there is so much more to do. People all around us are hurting and starving for truth. Wounded souls are in need of mending and darkened minds in need of illumination. As many turn to the Lord in faith by His grace, we realize the countless others who still need to hear about the cross of Christ and the offer of forgiveness for sins. I’m thankful that each summer brings a renewed zeal for evangelistic ministry because of our missions trips to the Czech Republic and Argentina, but I wonder how healthy that evangelistic fervor is considering how few participate in the regular weekly opportunities there are in local outreach. Not only must love grow within the cozy walls of our ministry, but it must extend further to the surrounding community.

I have said it before that this congregation is the most loving body I have ever been a part of, and I mean it. I wholeheartedly believe that the reason visitors stay at Lighthouse is because of the people here. Still, as loving as this body has been through the years, we have so far to go to understand the depths of love in its faithful application. Conflicts are always going to be a threat to the welfare of our fellowship. Reconciliation must be pursued from a spirit of love for the Lord and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Too often we allow our conflicts to go on unaddressed so that our sin festers in our hearts. Instead of confessing this as sin, we justify ourselves and our behavior. We need to remember that our commitment to be peacemakers is a lifelong commitment and one that will require constant application.

I have always appreciated this church’s desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. Every Sunday is a tremendous encouragement to look out and see so many young people enthralled by the Scriptures. Still, we must press on entirely by the aid of the Spirit to apply faithfully the truths we learn. It’s so easy to fill our minds with knowledge and puff up our spirits. What’s worse is that even though we grow in understanding we allow our devotion and passion for the Lord to fade. Many will commit this year to read through their Bible (and this is a great goal to have!). But let’s not forget that the true goal is to know the God of the Scriptures, and that our time in the Word is a means to that end.

This New Year, let’s take care not to drift into the spiritual doldrums. This will require great vigilance and a strong resolve. It’s easy to fall into the thinking that you are spiritually stronger than you really are. Let the words of Philippians 3:14 constantly drive you, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We saw some great successes in 2013 and the Lord has been faithful to walk with us these past fifteen years, but understand all that lies ahead, we realize that we could not possibly do it all even if the Lord gave us another fifteen years. Rather than growing complacent with where we are, let’s be a congregation that is pushing together towards that glorious prize.