In 1950, a woman returned to Cincinnati from vacationing in Milan, Italy. Traveling in her luggage was a little lizard. And for some unknown reason, she let it loose in her backyard. Ohio’s Division of Wildlife says that the Common Wall Lizard now totals 1,500 per acre in Southwestern Ohio. It has weathered many severe winters and is officially considered a permanent resident. Sound familiar?
David Garrison, author of Church Planting Movements, introduced me to the idea of being a lizard. A lizard stays on the hunt looking for food, unlike a frog who sits around on a lily pad waiting for his food to come flying by.
Resources for CABA churches are in the harvest, but need to be discovered. Waiting around for someone to stumble upon your need is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Here are five descriptions of a lizard that can be applied to a Christian who is faithfully on-mission.
1. Lizards are cold-blooded and need warmth from the sun. The Covid-19 pandemic was a good example of a chilling spiritual winter. Lizards seek out the sun on a regular basis, and we must seek out the Son, too. Apart from the Son of God, “you can do nothing” (John 15:5). During the COVID-19 cold snap, we needed to spend more time with Jesus than in other seasons of life. How about today? Are you abiding in the Son? Here’s a challenge that should warm your heart: Are you discipling 12 who also disciple a dozen? And are they abiding in Jesus?
2. Lizards stay on the hunt. Can your church members self-feed? Lizards are extremely quick and are very determined. They know food is out there waiting to be found. Jesus said that we must count the cost before starting (Luke 14:28). What if your pastor was hospitalized or died? What if the Internet went dark next week? Can your church’s members continue disciple-making? Do your leaders know how to keep the church going?
3. Lizards can be almost anywhere. “The lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces” (Proverbs 30:28 ESV). The church has been scattered into their neighborhoods. Access to people is possible with a bit of courtesy, patience, and tenacity. Healthy lizards are ubiquitous. Lizards trust that the Holy Spirit is already at work among those with resources to carry out His will; the unfinished task of evangelization. Zoom, Facebook, and other social media streams are today’s water coolers and front porches where people met in years gone-by.
4. Lizards vary in size and shape. First, they’re reptiles, not amphibians. Some lizards are chameleons that can shift their color to match their environment. Some are three inches long while others are ten or more feet long. Only two species are poisonous. God made us all unique. When the Holy Spirit entered us as a guarantee of our salvation, He also uniquely gifted us. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1 NASB). As we live for the Lord, we are invited to join Him in His mission designed uniquely for us.
5. Lizards live in communities. Networking and resourcing go hand-in-hand. They know where to get needed help. They are usually seen alone, but they have mates that give them responsibilities beyond their own needs. They develop a healthy appreciation for those around them, learn from them, and can be alerted to danger or alert others through body language. The point is that they are skilled communicators.
You can take an analogy only so far, so I’ll claim what Garrison liked to add, “When a lizard gets his tail chewed off, he can grow a new one.” That’ll hunt!
--Mark Snowden serves as director for the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association
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