During the mid-20th century, an ideological battle waged between western democracy in the United States and the iron fist of communism in Russia.  The conflict gave birth to the Red Scare of the 50’s and McCarthyism’s list of all the so-called ‘communists’ who had infiltrated the rank and file of the American political and entertainment spheres.  In 1954, President Eisenhower gave words to a policy in the U.S. administration called the domino theory.  The domino theory assumed that if one country or people-group in a region came under the powerful influence of communism, then all of the surrounding countries would fall as well, like a row of dominoes.
          The domino theory that aptly described the dangerous consequences of communism in Europe and Russia, I think, presents a keen reminder to those of us who are church-going folk interested in growing the Kingdom in Seminole and the surrounding area.  Here’s the reminder:  Your influence impacts those closest to you.  And when your influence is infused by your love for Christ, then your invitations to your closest friends can make an eternal impact.  Each of us has circles of influences and a network of relationships.   
          The longer we follow Jesus, the more we tend to take our friends for granted spiritually, and miss out on the opportunities the Spirit gives us to help them experience Christ.  One domino has the potential to knock over hundreds, even thousands of dominoes if they are lined up right.  One invitation to church could set off a chain reaction that affects everyone in your network of relationships.  The reality is that most people will reject your invitations, but that should not prevent us from inviting, because some will accept immediately, and some over time. 
          Three families joined our church Sunday—Deriek & Angel Patterson, Corey & Kim Crabtree, and Robert & Sandy Johnson.  The Patterson’s were the first domino.  They started attending a couple of years ago.  Then Deriek & Angel invited Corey & Kim.  Corey & Kim started attending about a year ago.  Eventually they got acclimated to all of us here at First Baptist, figured out we wouldn’t bite or scratch.  They attended awhile, and eventually decided it was safe enough to invite their friends, Robert & Sandy.  It’s always good to check out a church real good before you join.  You know, make sure they don’t have an annual snake-kissing festival or check each other for ticks during the spring.  Stuff like that. Anyways, dominoes work.  I’ve always said we learn more from our new members than from those of us who have been here for awhile.  I guess the big lesson for us to learn is the ancient practice of inviting your friends to join you in experiencing God at church still works.  So keep lining up your

Category : Tommy Talk