The Evergreen Church - Angel Stadium Declaration

Angel Stadium Declaration

Dear Evergreen Church Family,

On April 17, 2005 more than 30,000 members of the Saddleback Community Church gathered in Angel Stadium to celebrate their congregation's 25th anniversary. But they did more than just rejoice in the way God fulfilled the original vision he gave Rick Warren for the congregation in 1980. Rick also shared a new vision God has placed on his heart, one for mobilizing all God's people all over the world to tackle the giant obstacles that keep people in spiritual darkness.

At the end of the celebration, they all stood together and read the declaration you will find at the end of this letter to help them express their radical commitment to this global spiritual revolution.

I believe that public declarations and proclamations can be extremely valuable; this one in particular is what we might call "A Purpose Driven Covenant". In other words, its clear objective is to mobilize God's people all over the world to be salt and light in the world. Sometimes we hesitate to say "set prayers" because we haven't made them up ourselves. Sometimes we are reluctant to repeat affirmations that have been composed by someone else because we don't want others to "put words in our mouth". In a way this is understandable; some well meaning people think it is less spiritual to say something that someone else has said before.

But what if your fiancé said to you, "on our wedding day, I won't repeat the vows the pastor says. I don't want to say anything that isn't coming from my own heart." Or what if someone refused to sing a song in church - or belt out The National Anthem at a baseball game or say The Pledge of Allegiance at a public gathering on account of the fact that they hadn't made up the words spontaneously on their own - as if the only legitimate confession we can make is one that is sourced in ourselves?

I would like for us to stand together on the Global Day of Prayer (May 15,
2005) and make the following Declaration of Faith. However, I do not want us to just recite it by rote. I want us to declare it by faith. I want us to make this Declaration our own. Here's how: Pray about it. Ask God to supply to you both: 1. the will to make it your own, and 2. his grace at work within you to fulfill it. (Phil 2:13.) Recite it, repeat it, rehearse it, "own it" - i.e. embrace it as something you might actually want to say yourself. Then come prepared next Sunday to make this Declaration to the Lord.

In Christ,

Bruce
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DECLARATION:

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling, and I'm finished with wavering. I've made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, we over me, character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I will not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one.
Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!"