The Evolution of Mark

^“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-5)

Today I would like to discuss the evolution of Mark Applegate from age 13 to present. Along with this week’s Walnut Festival most certainly comes at least a few of my classmates from Republic, Missouri to town. The prospect of seeing former classmates makes me both excited and melancholy. With this in mind, for my 3 active readers and 4 Dog and Pony Show listeners (hi Mom...will you buy me a free-ride bracelet for the BWF?), I offer this column as a bit of a salvation/spiritual autobiography.

I first “asked Jesus into my heart” at age 13 at a water booth at the Ozark Empire Fair. Fairs, since then, have held a special place in my heart. (In fact, the Republic Fall Festival, a carnival in which I ripped a chunk of skin the size of a chicken nugget off my leg on a tent stake, was not unlike our Walnut Festival.) My experience at the water booth was a building block in my spiritual journey. For years I considered this event as the day I officially “became a Christian”. I had no real change in my life minus, perhaps, fear of getting caught when I sinned. So I tripped along sinning without fear for over a decade. Since 2003, when I moved to Stockton, God has convicted to reevaluate my testimony through the admonition to “examine myself to see if I am (or, in my case, was) in the truth” found in 2 Corinthians 13:5. After looking at the fruit of my life, the actions/affections flowing from my heart, and the trajectory of my Christianity, it is, in hindsight, easy for me to see I was Born Again (John 3) when I “rededicated my life” in Branson in 1996. It was in this season that I first repented and believed the Gospel, as compelled/required by the Bible. Shortly after, I was baptized by a deacon (which was fortunate since I outweighed my pastor there by a good 150 lbs). God, through this process, replaced my stony heart with a heart of flesh (ala Ezekiel 36:26). Far from Jesus occupying my dead heart, the promised Holy Spirit regenerated me and replaced that old, dead thing with a new heart that beats for Him.

Now let the apology train begin... To all my friends growing up in the beautiful town of Republic, I am so sorry. Taking the name of Christ, and living the way I did during those years, was hurtful to you and blasphemous to His name. This being said, as sick as it makes me to think of those years, the more I look back at my Salvation the more I give thanks for His forgiveness. Much like the sinful woman in Luke 7, being forgiven by an incredibly merciful God has made me deeply love Him. If someone would have spoke the “truth in love” to me during those years, and pointed out my sin, I would have (God willing) repented and trusted Him and spared many people of pain and disillusionment. When we see people claiming Christianity, as the beginning verse says, we “owe them” a rebuke with truth in love. God’s Glory is at stake, and nothing is more important. I was “tossed around by teachings” during this lost decade of my life. I was allowed to believe myself saved when I, in reality, was not. It is this reality, undergirded powerfully by urgency for God’s Glory that drives me today. When I spoke before the book ban committee, I was trying to speak to Christians with hopes of God using this mumbling goober to prevent others from losing a decade in their life too. The same applies to Wednesdays on the Dog and Pony Radio Show. Likely, if someone would have spoke to me during my lost decade as I spoke to the committee/audience or to the radio show audience, I would have been mad. “Who is he to judge me?” I would have asked. I would have thumbed my nose and went on doing my thing. I understand both your ambivalence and your anger, and apologize for any sin involved in the process.

In conclusion, God is doing the same to some of you today. Check the fruit of your life. Is Christ precious to you? Do you get rebuked by God when you sin? I can’t judge you. Lately I certainly have sinned in some of the tactics I have used in trying to share the truth in love. Despite a good motive, I am sorry when I fail in this important matter. That being said, don’t let this critical message get lost by a poor messenger. Look at your life today, and repent and believe the Gospel if you haven’t already. Don’t let a decade of lost time pass you by.

A last, special note for my Republic friends: Welcome to my “new” hometown! We are not perfect, but we have a pretty good life here in Stockton! We have the best hamburger place (Squeeze Inn), the prettiest lake, and the best school you will ever find. We are what Republic was in the 1970’s minus the bell-bottoms. I hope you enjoy your visit to town!