Bring Me to Life

So, what is your view of the condition of the person who has not yet turned to the Lord for salvation? If you're like most, you focus on the sin in their life, their rebellion against God. But, every once in a while, someone captures an amazing picture of theology. And recently I came across a song that does just that. The song is Bring Me to Life by Evanescence. They are a Goth Rock band led by an amazing singer/songwriter/pianist (and yes, Christian) gal. And while the group would not be considered a Christian band, her beliefs come boiling to the surface in her songwriting. So, I've embedded a video of them performing the song live in Vegas. Also, I have included the lyrics below.

Watch, listen, and read. Then, tell me if this was anything like your pre-conversion experience. I wonder if you have ever even thought of your salvation in these terms. And I hope that the Spirit will use it to quicken your heart and motivate you to mission...



"Bring Me To Life"

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I’ve become so numb.
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home.

Chorus:
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run,
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I’ve become.

Now that I know what I’m without,
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life.

(Chorus)

Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie; there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see;
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me.
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems.
Got to open my eyes to everything.
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here!
There must be something more!
Bring me to life!

(Chorus)

(Bring me to life)
I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside.
(Bring me to life)

Who would Jesus condemn?

What if Jesus came to “visit” today? I’m not talking about His awaited coming, the time when He will come in as a conquering king and deal once and for all with evil. I’m talking about a little “check-in visit” just to provide a little divine input. Who would Jesus have the harshest words for?

Well, you might think, since the church is the body of Christ and His presence in the world today, that He would condemn those whom the church condemns. This week, I was small-talking with a fellow who is in leadership in a local church. I guess he assumed that he knew how I felt about Christian issues because he rather boldly told me that he was offended and outraged that he heard a radio commercial for a church that accepted “anyone, regardless of your past.” He went on to say that such a church doesn’t believe in anything. Then he elaborated, saying that his church throws people out who cannot lead pure lives.

OK, let’s not get into my thoughts on this matter, not at first anyway. Let’s look at the first time Jesus dropped in for a little visit. His ministry lasted about three years and He encountered a vast variety of folks during that time. There were traitors, invaders, the ritually unclean, the socially outcast, the ethnically unclean, thieves, and whores. But all these He did not condemn.

So, are the “lovey dovey Jesus” people right? Was Jesus’ ministry syrupy sweet to everyone? Hardly! Have you read the gospels? Let me give you one little example:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” Matthew 23:13-33

Woe! This isn’t lovey dovey talk. And who is it directed at? Not the “sinners” but the religious leaders. And why? Well, it should be clear from reading through this passage. He repeatedly calls them hypocrites, but look at their hypocrisy. They claimed to understand the fine details of the Law, but were actually misleading the people. They were building a religious system rather than calling people to faith in God. In fact, they set up barriers to faith before people, all in order to establish their power and authority in Israel. These are the people who suffered the condemnation of Christ 2000 years ago.

So, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Jesus, if He came for a little visit today, wouldn’t condemn those who are trapped in their sins. He would spend time with them and call them into a relationship based on trust in Him. But to the religious people, especially the leaders, who are more interested in building their own kingdoms of power and position while using His name (in vain), to those people He would say, “Woe to you, hypocrites. How will you escape being condemned to hell?”

Get me outa this cave!

Christmas is right around the corner. Churchy, religious people call it Advent so that non-Christians won’t know what we’re talking about. After all, if they understood the true meaning of Christmas, they might turn to the Lord and be saved and then we’d have fewer people to feel superior to. (Yep, that’s another blog post – I’ll save it for another day….)

So, if non-Christians know anything about the biblical reasons for Christmas, they have learned that from “Christmas stories” whether on TV or in our churches. Maybe they even have come to a Christmas service just because it seemed like the right thing to do. Maybe they even heard the Nativity story there in church. But, did they hear it correctly? Or, did we take advantage of the opportunity to communicate God’s story by telling it wrongly? Maybe we have one part so messed up that it creates more confusion for Guests to the church and unfaithfulness in those in the family of faith.

One thing that’s generally jacked up in our Nativity story is the place where Jesus was born. Some have Him in a stable – the story says He was laid in a manger. Others have Him in a cave – that’s where you’re told He was if you tour Israel. And the villain of the story is the evil innkeeper who threw a pregnant mother out into the cold December night, leaving her to bed with animals. And maybe that’s where the error creeps into the story, with a terrible translation of a single word and a Western interpretation filled in around that poorly-translated word.

The word in Greek is kataluma. In nearly all of our English translations, kataluma in Luke 2:7 is translated “inn.” And Westerners, especially Americans think “motel.” So we are left with a young couple in desperate need of a place to sleep and an evil, money-grubbing innkeeper who took the last of their money and made them sleep with the animals. Isn’t that the story pretty much as we tell it?

But kataluma is used in another place in Luke. Sound biblical interpretation says that you should look for other occurrences of difficult words, especially if the same author uses that word in another place. And where is kataluma used again by Luke? Well, if “inn” is the right understanding, then you might think that it’s in the story of the Good Samaritan who took the injured man to an inn for his recovery. But the word Luke uses in 10:34 is pandoxion, not kataluma. So, where is the other usage of kataluma? It’s in 22:11:

“and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”

In fact, Mark also uses kataluma in his account of the upper room where the Lord and His disciples shared in the Passover meal.

And this may seem like an insignificant point, but I’m going to try to convince you otherwise. You see, Joseph was going to his city of origin, Bethlehem. It’s the place that his family called home. He would have been going to stay with family, not at some motel. There probably would have been no inns in Bethlehem; it was too small and insignificant. But there would have been kin. And Joseph would have gone to the patriarch of the family trusting that hospitality would assure him of lodging in the upper room, the guest room. And the story tells us that the guest room was occupied, probably by other family who had come “home” to be counted in the census. And so they were lodged in the main level, with the family. And the reference to a manger? Well, that would have been at the rear of the main level because livestock were brought into the rear of the home to keep them warm in cold weather and also to provide heat for the house. We know this from archeological evidence.

So what? Well, the Middle Eastern concept of hospitality is huge. And while misunderstanding this part of the Nativity story doesn’t impact Christology (theology pertaining to Jesus), it greatly affects an understanding of our obligation to community. In truth, if we were to be honest about our gospel, there is a huge communal component that we, as Americans, have really missed. And what about that person who knows nothing of the gospel, that Christmas Guest in our church? Well, there’s a good chance that the story sounds like a fairy tale. And if they do happen to hear about God Incarnate, they will probably miss altogether the responsibility we have toward one another. We have…

No Ordinary People - No Ordinary Work

OK, so I'll admit that it has been very difficult being out of an official ministry position for the last 7+ months. But, honesty compels me to also confess that ministry continues, despite the illegitimacy of it.

I have returned to Acts 5 on several occasions during this "season" of life. No, not the story of Ananias and his wife, but the latter part of the chapter:

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin-- the full assembly of the elders of Israel-- and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Acts 5:17-29

You see, your calling cannot be restrained any more than the gospel itself can be. For those who have truly committed to serve the Lord and His Kingdom, He is the absolute ruler of their life. And He commands each of His children to be His witnesses. He doesn't say that you have to be a pastor first. Only some are called to be pastors and tend God's flock. But all are called to be witnesses.

Here's a story of a faithful witness and the impact that she had because she understood her high calling. Watch the video. Be encouraged. Then, go and do likewise, even if you "just" clean houses. ;-)

Saving Faith

So, what do you make of the following verse:

"But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." Hebrews 10:38

Is this just about "living" eternally with God? I have heard it preached that way. Maybe, just maybe it means something more. Maybe it has more to do with living out your faith once you have made a profession. What if this verse is less like Romans 10:9 ("If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.") and more like Philippians 2:12 ("Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling")?

Within the context of Hebrews 10, it seems pretty clear that 10:38 is about living out your faith. Please don't go too far with this and say that we earn our salvation by what we do to serve God and His Kingdom. There is way too much Scripture to indicate that is not the case, especially Ephesians 2:8-9 ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.") But, like James indicates in Chapter 2 of his letter, our true faith, what we truly believe about the Lord, is demonstrated in our actions.

So, how are you doing? Is your life bearing fruit of repentance? Are you living out the gospel? What do your relationships look like? Are they demonstrations of divine reconciliation? What are you living for? Have you offered yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? Is your life characterized by love for God and people? Are you living out your calling to be an ambassador of Christ?

Look at how one family is living by faith. No, it doesn't mean that everyone has to follow their example. The principles apply, not their specific application. But, they are part of the "cloud of witnesses" and they should be an encouragement to each of us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). So, watch this video and let's talk...

Rio Portrait - SBC 2011 from imb connecting on Vimeo.

Theology of Thanksgiving

OK, I know that title is probably not the most exciting, but today I am feeling like I need to just deliver sound Theology straight up. Will you allow me that?

Let’s start with a brief discussion of something all of us know, Geometry. I can almost hear some of you screaming right now, but hang with me. I’ll admit that Geometry was one of my favorite classes in high school. Why? Because it was a puzzle to be unraveled, and it was done so analytically and logically. But I would like to suggest to you that we can learn a lot about giving thanks by drawing on what we remember (hopefully) from Geometry.

In America, giving thanks is treated like a point but we should think of it like a ray. Let me refresh your memories. A point has no width or length. It is different than a line which is a series of points strung together in an infinite string. See, most of us think that giving thanks is something that we do at a point in time. While time may be a line to us, thanksgiving is a point on that line, the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving Day. It’s a point where we stop doing what we normally do, gather with family or close friends, watch football, eat too much, and say that we are thankful. And then, before the day is over, a multitude of us are out glutting ourselves at vendors who gorge themselves on our consumption, but that’s another blog post…

But the Christian life is not revealed as one with occasional or even periodic thankfulness. In fact, most of our English translations do a wonderful job of expressing the continual act of giving thanks reflected in the Greek grammar of Paul’s letters. It’s almost wrong to call it a “continual act” since it’s more of a lifestyle or mode. And some people get this, but for them thankfulness is a line. They understand that we are to be characterized by thankfulness, but that line is defined by a couple of points where they expressed thanks. Remember? That’s the definition of a line. A line is a string of points drawn through two points and extends continuously in both directions. And for a lot of Americans, stringing together several points of thanksgiving is the right way to live a life of gratitude.

But I would liken biblical thanksgiving to a ray. A ray is a portion of a line; it begins with a point on the line and then continues in one direction infinitely. I say Christian thanksgiving is like a ray because it has a starting point and then a direction. If you like Physics, thankfulness is like a vector. A vector has BOTH magnitude and direction. Furthermore, it has a position relative to other points.

OK, too much Math and Science. Let’s bring it back to Theology. Gratitude is demonstrated as a continuous state of motion. Gratitude has direction. It is not something we feel, but how we act. And all of it is in reference to our starting point, that moment that we acknowledged the relevance of the death of Christ to our lives. That was the point that created new life in us. It’s not that what transpired before that point is unimportant. However, it is that point, us before the cross of Christ, and the subsequent direction, living out the Resurrection, that defines our faithfulness. And that ray is characterized by gratitude to God. Thanksgiving is How we do all that to which we are called.

So, by all means, gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day. If you’re so inclined, go ahead and watch the Packers beat the Lions, the Cowboys beat the Dolphins, and the Niners beat the Crows. And gather around a bountiful table, but don’t overindulge since gluttony is the antithesis of gratitude. But reflect deeply on the blessings that the Lord has given to you. Do you know that every instance I found of Paul giving thanks was in reference to the people whom God had brought into his life, and that his admonitions to live thankful lives are buried in the midst of instructions concerning living in Christian community?

My pastor taught me that we are blessed to be a blessing. I like that perspective. It helps me keep my faith about more than me. So look for opportunities to train yourself to be other-focused. Look for places where you can apply the blessings that the Lord has given to you. And apply blessings in relational ways, inviting others to participate with you.

If you find that you just can’t come up with a tangible way to express Christian gratitude this season, consider joining a growing movement to bless the homeless in our area. Go to www.simplysocks.info for more information.

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. Psalm 106:1-5

Building Religion

Evangelicals are very fond of talking about the difference between “religion” and “faith.” Of course, they are quick to point out that we have a faith, and not religion. Religion is something that man creates while faith is something that God creates in you. Religion is generally a bunch of rules, while faith is about entering into a relationship with the Living God. Yada, yada, yada…

But how is it that we, as Christians, create religion? Sure, you want to point to people who think that, if there really is a God, He grades on a curve, looking at how the population in general is behaving toward one another and then giving the A of salvation to the highest achievers. But how about people who understand that salvation is an undeserved gift, a grace from God? How do people who start out right end up in dead religion?

My reflections this week have been on “form” and “substance.” You see, Christians are very good at getting the two confused. They fall into the enemy’s trap of believing that following the forms of the faith is the same as participation in the life of faith. What does it look like? “Do you attend church regularly?” “Do you give 10% to the church?” “Do you serve in a ministry?” “Do you attend a small group or Sunday School class?” “If you answer ‘Yes’ to all of these, then you’re living the life of faith!”

And there’s also a list of things you shouldn’t do. “Don’t drink, smoke, have sex, use profanities, cheat, steal, lie (wow, we could talk about this one!), and don’t ever associate with someone who does these things. If you don’t do these things, and a few others, then you’re surely living the life of faith!”

All (actually, most) of this is the “form” of Christian faith. But faith is a relationship with God! The form is intended to make time and place for the relationship to be nurtured by and thru the Holy Spirit. Apart from His activity in all of this, you have dead religion. And falling back on the safety net of professing that you are saved by grace alone through faith alone is trap of your enemy. He’s a liar!

Now, before you get all self-righteous because you attend a “Spirit-filled” congregation, know that the Spirit of God tends to be the shy, anonymous person of the Trinity, not the flamboyant, ostentatious “power-on-display” of some congregations. Yes, He is our source of all things needed for our growing up into the full stature of Christ, including spiritual power. However, when we dictate that a certain demonstration of supernatural power must be on display in order for His presence to be known, we are stepping way beyond the Spirit as He is described in Scripture. And, again, we are looking at dead, though maybe very active, religion.

The reason I have been dwelling on this subject is because the small group that I participate in is planning an amazing outreach to the homeless in our vicinity. That’s a good form! And we are inviting others to participate with us. That is closer to substance, but still just useful form. My fear is that we would not slow down and create the space and time for the Spirit to participate with us. I believe wholeheartedly that the Spirit led our group to this outreach opportunity. And it is certainly well within the will of God that His people would reach out in this manner. But I also know that He is not a reluctant, but a meek God. He wants to be invited to participate. And He wants to be trusted to provide all that is needed to reach whatever goals He has determined would be achieved thru this form.

Because I am convinced that the purpose of this outreach (and church attendance, service, tithing, study, fellowship, holiness, etc.) is to bring glory to Him by participating in being His church. And in that form, filled with the substance of a right relationship with Him, we are being fitted together to rise up to be a holy temple as we are being brought to maturity, attaining to the full measure of Christ.

Our Search for Ancient Paths

So, I promised you last week that I would tell you how my small group was seeking to “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16). So this is what we have been doing…

We started with a study of Jesus in the Gospels. Specifically, our group has been going through the Gospel of Mark. And the rule is that all of the “skubalon” (Greek term, look it up!) has to be thrown out the window (or flushed down the drain). Only what is “vintage faith” is what can remain. And this is no purely academic effort. Every study has a huge what-does-this-mean-for-us discussion. Down the drain go all of the trite Sunday School answers. We usually hear the question, “And did you get that from this text or somewhere else?” There’s a lot of discomfort in that. And you can almost hear the moaning as the sacred cows are butchered. But I’ll also say that this group is going “deeper” than it ever has, maybe deeper than any group I have ever participated in.

And then, there’s action. Because God made Himself known to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth as found in an ancient book we call the Bible, we are seeking to be His faithful followers. This God we serve did not give us an academic faith. He gave us an example! And He said that, even as He lived that example in tangible ways in the world, He expects that we would do likewise. All that He was and is was “incarnated” in this man, Jesus. And we are to incarnate our understanding of Him. We don’t avoid doing “bad” things because He might punish us. Rather, we realize that people looking upon us are seeing what we believe about our God. So, we try to represent Him in all we do. It’s NOT easy because we are so different from Him in our humanness.

And this Fall, we are seeking to serve the “least” among us. The group came up with an outreach they called “Simply Socks.” You see, the homeless generally have only one pair of socks and those are wretched! But there are already clinics and missions that interact with these folks; we don’t have to create the opportunity. Instead, what we can do is call others to join us. So we’re collecting new cotton socks to donate to ministries in the city. And we’re advertizing this effort within our spheres of influence. Two teachers in the group have taken it to their schools. I’m sharing through this blog. There is a website: Simply Socks (https://sites.google.com/site/simplysocks2011/). And I’m hopeful that others will want to join in on the mission of the church, even if they don’t believe. After all, can anyone look upon a broken, desperate person and not be moved to an emotional response? The emotion you feel might show how close to God you really are.

So, where are you and your group? What emotion do you feel when you look upon the homeless? Or do you even look? The Lord does. He sees. He knows. And He acts, through His people! Join us on our search for the ancient paths!

"We Will Not Listen!"

So, how did the church in America get into the mess that it finds itself in now? Is that a premature question? If you think so, perhaps you are new to this blog. The fact is that churches today resemble corporations more than they do the Bride of Christ. The business world has infiltrated the church. It’s not a hostile takeover; business principles were invited in. Then came business men to run the church. And then, the prophetic voice, the voice of God thru His chosen vessel, was cast out of the church. Why? Because what was being built was more important than what God wanted. After all, didn’t God place these business men into these positions of authority? And aren’t they expected to serve Him out of their SHAPE, which includes decades of surviving, even thriving in the world? And isn’t the prophetic voice really just a trouble-maker, maybe even someone who wants to steal the power of the Leaders?

Now, for better or for worse, this is not a new story. The tragedy is that this is the story of humanity. This is what we do, tell God that we don’t really need His input because we have it all figured out. This is why we deserve His judgment. Paul wrote, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). And please don’t try to explain this away by saying that Paul is talking about people who practice homosexuality. That is a Pharisaical understanding of this passage, which uses a specific example to illustrate a problem that is common to all of us! And also don’t think that you can hide in anonymity either. Paul is quite clear in saying this is a collective problem (Romans 1:32). The judgment of God falls on Leaders and the people alike. There’s no deflection allowed.

But there’s good news! Because this is a common condition, we have the biblical example to fall back on. Go figure! God actually provides for us in the Bible with a positive teaching in the midst of a negative example. “Oh, God, Your story is so dark in the Old Testament. It’s such a downer. It really bums us out when we read it!” But I offer to you that it is in contrast to darkness that light can truly be appreciated. Scripture tells us that the darkness blinds us, numbs us to the depth of our depravity, so that we think we are doing good when we are practicing wickedness. But God provides light, if we have eyes to see or ears to hear.

So, look at the story of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom was the “bad” part of Israel, setting up an alternate temple where idolatry was practiced. And for the people in the South, they must have felt pretty smug as they watched God judge their northern cousins by the hand of the Assyrians. But, fast-forward the story about 100 years and you hear the voice of the prophet raised up once again, this time against Judah.

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem... For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction. I will destroy the Daughter of Zion, so beautiful and delicate. Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion.” “Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon! But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long. So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!” This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression. As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me. Take warning, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it.” This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes.” To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the LORD, and I cannot hold it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years. Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land,” declares the LORD. “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 6:1-15

Pretty graphic, terrible stuff, right? But then, this glimmer of light before a return to darkness:

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’” Jeremiah 6:16-17

Part of God’s perfect provision for the church is the prophetic voice, watchmen. In the midst of the darkness that we call light comes the voice of God calling us back into the light of His redemption. And that revelation? “Ask for the ancient paths!” In other words, “Repent, turn from your futile ways, ways that you have constructed for yourself, and do it My way” declares the Lord.

So, what is the “ancient path”? Do we even remember? Or, have there been too many voices added to the conversation? I’m not saying that everything that the business world has offered the church is evil. I am saying that it was wrong to adopt their ways and label them “God’s way” and worse still to silence the prophet. Next week, I’ll share with you what my small group is doing to rediscover the ancient path and restore righteousness to at least one small part of Christ’s church…

Building on the Right Foundation

So, how do you create an environment where God is glorified and people are not ground into pulp? Well, a better question might be, “How can you claim that you are honoring God if you are abusing people?” And for those who think that I’m belaboring an inconsequential point, let’s take a look at what Jesus taught as the Greatest Commandment:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39

Notice He said that the second greatest commandment is “like” the first. This is not “similarity,” but rather “sameness.” He hits you with the command to love people in the same breath that He tells you to love God. And if that doesn’t lend enough weight to the issue, He follows it up with this outrageous statement:

“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (v.40)

Folks, “all the Law and the Prophets” basically means “all of Scripture” to His audience. What Jesus is saying is that you cannot pursue ANYTHING of God if you do it outside of the context of loving God and people.

So, now, back to the question of how you make sure that you don’t build an abomination rather than a church where “the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3:10)? Well, for nearly 2,000 years, the people of God have followed a simple instruction from the Lord which has seared this command into their inner-being. It’s not building modern temples, not collecting offerings to administer programs, not establishing dictatorial positions of power. It’s more pure than that. It’s reflective of the essence of the church. It’s simple, yet amazingly profound. It’s the Lord’s Supper, the Communion of the Bread and Cup.

How often does your church share in Communion? It has been my experience in this area that most who are outside Mainline denominations do it rarely if at all. If we’re honest, we believe that a tortured Savior dying on a tree is something reserved for the eyes of those who need to “accept” Him. And I’m not sure that I would argue against that, only offer to reframe it. Because, even those who have been following Him for decades need to learn to “accept” Him more profoundly.

It’s in the cross – not shiny and clean and vacant, but rough-sawn, soiled, and occupied – where all that is foundational to our existence comes into focus. In the cross, our “minor offenses” are revealed for their significance. In the cross, we come as close as we dare to the holy righteousness of a God who is an all-consuming fire, a God who is pouring out His wrath as the just penalty for dishonor.

And it’s in the cross that we see the perfect picture of love poured out for the sake of others. We see arms stretched out wide, as a sin offering but also as a sign of openness to receive the worst of sinners. Because, the man on the cross is no mere man, but God Himself.

And in the Communion of the Bread and the Cup, we remember the cross, and the image is seared into our inner-being and our collective identity, so that it might become impossible to treat any person dishonorably.

So, break and eat the bread. And drink the fruit of the vine. And do it in a worthy manner, lest you eat and drink judgment upon yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).

Spiritual Abuse

I just came across a great article written by a gal who has been around the block in ministry, even to planting a church. In her years of ministry with her husband, she has encountered and helped so many people wounded by ministry that she has been able to write books on the subject. The truth is that churches (and small groups) are full of sinners. Yes, even pastors, elders, and deacons are sinners! And sinners act out of their selfish desires.

Right now you should be feeling the tension in which we are called to live out our faith. God is knitting us together to be His church, the holy place where He dwells by His Spirit. Yet, we are only "saints" by declaration; we still sin, a lot! But this is actually God's design for His physical presence in the world. He expects the gospel we profess to be worked out in these circumstances. Yes, we are to be a living, dynamic gospel-in-action. Unfortunately, most Christians don't understand this. So we have people who are ground up and spit out by churches, wounded saints who have tasted of God's presence and also want to spit. There are probably some in your small group. There are certainly many in your congregation. There are many more who have checked out concerning church. Maybe you're one of them.

So, here's an excerpt from Mary DeMuth's article. She gives 10 symptoms of abusive ministries. This also applies to your group. So take a look around and see how things are going. Start by inspecting yourself. And remember, we identify problems in order to address them, not to create more pain.... Blessings, s

Spiritually abusive ministries…

1. Have a distorted view of respect. They forget the simple adage that respect is earned, not granted. Abusive leaders demand respect without having earned it by good, honest living.

2. Demand allegiance as proof of the follower’s allegiance to Christ. It’s either his/her way or no way. And if a follower deviates, he is guilty of deviating from Jesus.

3. Use exclusive language. “We’re the only ministry really following Jesus.” “We have all the right theology.” Believe their way of doing things, thinking theologically, or handling ministry and church is the only correct way. Everyone else is wrong, misguided, or stupidly naive.

4. Create a culture of fear and shame. Often, there is no grace for someone who fails to live up to the church’s or ministry’s expectation. And if someone steps outside of the often-unspoken rules, leaders shame them into compliance. Can’t admit failure but often searches out failure in others and uses that knowledge to hold others in fear and captivity. They often quote Scriptures about not touching God’s anointed or bringing accusations against an elder. Yet they often confront sin in others, particularly ones who bring up legitimate biblical issues. Or they have their circle of influence take on this task, silencing critics.

5. Often have a charismatic leader at the helm who starts off well but slips into arrogance, protectionism, and pride. Where a leader might start off being personable and interested in others’ issues, he/she eventually withdraws to a small group of “yes people” and isolates from the needs of others. Harbors a cult of personality, meaning if the central figure of the ministry or church left, the entity would collapse, as it was entirely dependent on one person to hold the place together.

6. Cultivate a dependence on one leader or leaders for spiritual information. Personal discipleship isn’t encouraged. Often the Bible gets pushed away to the fringes unless the main leader is teaching it.

7. Demand servanthood of their followers, but live prestigious, privileged lives. They live aloof from their followers and justify their extravagance as God’s favor and approval on their ministry. Unlike Jesus’ instructions to take the last seat, they often take the first seat at events and court others to grant them privileges.

8. Buffer him/herself from criticism by placing people around themselves whose only allegiance is to the leader. Views those who bring up issues as enemies. Those who were once friends/allies swiftly become enemies once a concern is raised. Sometimes, these folks are banished, told to be silent, or shamed into submission.

9. Hold to outward performance but rejects authentic spirituality. Places burdens on followers to act a certain way, dress an acceptable way, and have an acceptable lifestyle.

10. Use exclusivity for allegiance. Followers close to the leader or leaders feel like insiders. Everyone else is on the outside, though they long to be in that inner circle.

Have you ever experienced this kind of situation? What did you do? How did you heal in the aftermath? And what can we do as responsible Christ followers to expose this kind of abuse? What can we do as leaders to follow in the gentle footsteps of Jesus?

If you're interested, you can read her entire article here: http://bit.ly/urhnSK

The Wrong Way, and the Right

When we look at the church in America, we sense that there’s something horribly broken about it, but most of us can’t put our finger upon what that “something” actually is. The ones who are the most sensitive to it are teens (and ’tweens). They realize that there is a huge disconnect between what is being taught about Christian community and what they are seeing in their church, especially the leaders. But don’t you just love it when the Lord sends a prophet to tell you what is wrong.

Yes, the symptom is hypocrisy, but Eugene Peterson tells us what is causing the condition; it is a rejection of a foundational component to Christian life, acceptance of the way of Jesus. You see, in the typical church in America, we believe that a certain set of truths, if understood and accepted, will lead to eternal life. Now, consider that statement and tell me that you disagree with it. Isn’t that what we have been taught from the beginning, especially in conservative churches?

But is that what Jesus taught? Did Jesus come onto the scene with an evangelistic gun filled with apologetic bullets? Or did He rather invite people to walk with Him, to follow in His ways, and in the process, to come into a robust understanding of gospel truth? Notice what He told Thomas when asked about the way to eternity with the Father:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

And Peterson points out that we have lost Christian life because we have not accepted the first step, accepting the Jesus way. At best, we have skipped it and started with truth statements from the Epistles. At worst, he claims that we have substituted the American way for the Jesus way. We have taken Jesus truth and married it to the American way of managing an organization. Disciples have become Guests. Rather than a call to die to self we invite people to consume. So people pick a church based upon the music in the “worship set” and the entire gathering ceases to be a sacred moment in the presence of our Lord. And the Children’s program has to be exciting so that kids will want to not only come back but hang out with complete strangers while parents get a little “me/us time.” And when leaders realize that the programs are not making Disciples, they hire a Discipleship Pastor and give him measurable goals, like any top-notch corporation would. And Discipleship is redefined from a life fully committed to the Lord and His mission to making sure that the programs have volunteers and the money keeps flowing into the machine. Glorifying God is replaced by making sure the organization survives. It’s the epitome of idolatry and self-worship!

It’s time that the church took another look at Jesus. Not the Jesus of our own making, the idol we have created, but the Jesus of Scripture. And we need to resist starting with truth claims about Him and look deeply at how He calls us to be. I’m not suggesting that we reject truth, but truth is the second step. First, Jesus is the way, and the Jesus way leads us into the truth in a way that creates Jesus life in us and in our churches.

The good news is that Jesus doesn’t call the religious leaders first. You don’t have to wait for your church to “get it.” Jesus rebukes the leaders who have created their kingdom where His should reign. And He calls the people. The Jesus way has always been a people movement. He is the head, and we are all members of His body. So why are we waiting for a new head? It’s not too late. Listen to His call. Hear His voice. And commit to His way. And He will lead you into truth and life. He said so.

Bridging

It's been a busy week, so I apologize for not getting something up on the blog sooner. I have been thinking a lot about creative ways to meet and reach people who don't run in our "church" circles. One of the biggest obstacles to evangelism is the fact that churches encourage new believers to sever ties to friends who are a negative influence on their "purity." Thankfully, there's a growing number of churches that are repenting of this approach to discipleship. However, the truth remains that most Christians are insulated and isolated from their mission context.

So here's what a group of young people in the south started doing to get themselves outside of their bubble. It is a way to meet people they would never meet otherwise. It's also a way to meet them naturally and, in a tangible way, to demonstrate love and acceptance. I especially like how one of the "clients" refers to the evangelists as his "friends." And this program, called "Laundry Love" is spreading all over the country. Very nice!

One more quick point: This is a bridging strategy, not evangelization. While it demonstrates love, it is not a replacement for sharing the truth of the Gospel. People still need to know the sovereignty of God, the depth of their rebellion and its cost, and especially the grace found in Jesus. So, watch the video for ideas on how to build bridges to people who need to hear about God's grace. Then, reflect deeply on how His grace has changed you into His ambassador of reconciliation, and then grab a group of friends and get busy.

Be Imitators - 1 Corinthians 11:1

OK. So I showed you evangelism that I believe better serves the kingdom of Satan rather than the Kingdom of God. In order to show you that prophets don't just see what's broken and beat on people, I have another clip that shows you another way to reach people for Christ. I'm not saying this is the only way. However, this may be one of the best ways that I know. It is decidedly biblical and should be natural to Christ followers. Notice how the witnesses understand that salvation comes from the Lord and that they are just meant to be available, loving, and ready to share as the times arise.

A couple comments. I know our culture. Don't take this example and re-define mission as only to international students at universities. There are opportunities all around us to be missional. Also, for those who think that relational or lifestyle evangelism doesn't involve God's Word, look at what roles faith and Scripture have in their mission.

One last thing. Listen to the testimony of the Turkish student, Emre who received the Lordship of Christ. There is no doubt that he has come face-to-face with the one true God!

Let's talk.....

Dealing with the Prophet

So, what do you do with the prophet? This question is near and dear to my heart. Do you understand that prophets are part of God's dowry to the church? Ephesians 4:11-12 says that God has given them to the church to build us up for good works.

Quick explanation of my understanding of the role of prophets today. I don't believe they give us new revelation from God. I also believe that they don't foretell future events, though God is certainly capable of giving them such information. I see the role of the prophet today to be one of calling God's people to repentance and obedience to God's word.

Let's be honest for a moment. We like the idea of prophets, but we don't like prophets themselves. They get in our faces. They confront what we are doing. They are usually angry. And they say things we don't want to hear. They expose the darkness in our hearts and call us to confession, repentance, and obedience.

So, are prophets just holier-than-thou, angry people? What motivates the prophet? Is it self-righteousness? Can I offer here that the prophet is motivated by faithfulness to the Lord and love for the church? He must be since he knows better than most what happens to the prophet. Even when he is successful, like Elijah on Mt Carmel, there's a Jezebel looking to kill him. Yet, the prophet speaks regardless. It's because he's willing to lose his life for the sake of the witness of the Lord through the faithfulness of His bride.

So, submitted for your "enjoyment" please watch this video from one of my favorite prophetic voices. Can you hear his message? Will you hear his message? Honestly now, what are you feeling deep inside? Do you want him to quietly go away? Remember, he is God's dowry to the church.

Jesus is the Way; This is NOT!

OK, I seriously received this video from a Christian organization which is actually advocating this method as a legitimate, if not preferred, style of evangelism. Really? How many of you think that the approach portrayed in this video is even acceptable?

I'm going to lay my cards on the table, folks. We are to have the same attitude as Jesus! That's not my opinion. It's Scripture (Philippians 2:5-8). And for those of you who like to point out that Jesus used harsh approaches at times, take a serious look at "With whom?". Jesus reserved the in-your-face approach for self-righteous, self-serving religious leaders.

So, I present this video to you as NOT the way to reach people with the gospel. In fact, I would argue that these folks don't even understand the gospel, but that's another post for another day...

Who Are You in the Story?

OK, back in April, I threatened to share with you my favorite character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I got a little sidetracked, but want to get back to that now.

JT and Andy shared their favorites, Legolas and Boromir, respectively. These are both great characters. Legolas does have that marvelous, though chicky hair that JT lacks. And Boromir represents well the human condition – we are creatures who think that we can solve all problems, no matter how daunting, if we are just given the opportunity. Yes, it would be very cool to see yourself as Legolas, ever-young, wicked with a bow, and really hard to hit ‘cuz he bounces around like a jumping bean. And, what I know of Andy, it doesn’t surprise me for a moment that he identifies with Boromir. A fairly honest self-assessment with a tendency to evaluate on the low end for humility’s sake makes Boromir a likely choice for all of us.

Maybe you see yourself as the valiant warrior and gracious hero of the day, and Aragorn is your character. Or, maybe you refuse to give in to physical inadequacies, are doggedly stubborn and immensely competitive, and Gimli is your favorite. Or, perhaps you desire to wield unearthly power and alter circumstances with the power of your spoken word, and you see yourself in Gandalf or Arwen or Galadriel.

Let me show you the character that I admire the most. He’s an unlikely hero. In fact, if no one tells his story, you would never know that he played a significant role at all. He’s Samwise Gamgee, or Sam as he’s called. And why is he my favorite? Because Sam is the most reluctant leader you would ever find. Nowhere does he try to take a position of authority, but his leadership and strength, his loyalty and courage shine throughout the story. He is thoroughly content not being the lead guy but immensely aware of his responsibility and role in seeing the team succeed. And Sam understands that his life is defined by the story. He doesn’t create the story so it has meaning for him. Rather, he realizes that a life poured out serving a noble cause is a life well-lived. Yes, he has weak moments, but Sam is driven by his commitment to the cause and to his fellow warriors. And I can think of no finer thing that could be said of a person when his or her life is weighed.

Watch the two videos below and then ask yourself if you are living a life fully committed to serving God and His Kingdom through His people, the church. Are you living the only life that’s worth dying for?

Brutalized

I promised to share with you the most significant portion of Bishop’s book for my life. It was the part that caught me quite by surprise. As I read thru each chapter, I thought, “Oh, I’m glad he put this in here.” Not that I know everything, but I have read a few hundred books, many on the topic of keeping the church of Jesus Christ faithful to her mission. However, when I got to the last section, titled “Remember Only God,” I was taken aback by the first chapter.

Bishop talks about the reality of suffering attack in our faith, especially for leaders. And, yes, he affirms the attacks we all expect from our enemy, Satan. But he goes on to share about the attacks that few Christians speak of, at least the ones you still find in the church. He brings up the very real issue of attacks from within the church itself.

First, there are a couple things which need to be established:

All attacks come from the kingdom of our enemy, even those from a brother or sister. You see, we are under the mistaken belief that Christians are fully sanctified. Sorry to burst your bubble, but the truth is that our righteousness is imputed to us. We are not righteous; we have been declared righteous because of Christ’s righteousness. The irony is that we all know this about ourselves. We know that we are sinful. That’s why we wear masks in Christian community, because we want to be sinless like everyone else, right? But the truth is that we are all a bunch of fakers. At best we are hiding sin so that we won’t be shunned, and at worst we are pretending to be better than others so we can feel justified before God in a relativistic way. “After all, I’m not as bad as him or her!” The point is that we have to come clean about our sin nature as a community of faith, and we need to expect that people are going to hurt us, yes, even intentionally.

And it must be stated here that everything that we call an attack is not. There is legitimate confrontation within the people of God. Just because someone gets in your face, calls you out, or even thwarts your efforts, it does not mean that person is serving the enemy and out to destroy you. We need to be honest in our assessment of every situation and take every opposition as an opportunity for self-examination. This is one of the hardest things to do, whether you are a believer or not. When opposed, our flesh kicks into high gear, we dig our heals in and prepare for war. Don’t believe me? Then you’re probably not married. However, if you are married, think about the last time you were confronted about a shortcoming. How did you handle it? Denial? Deflection? Rationalization? Outright counterattack? Listen, don’t automatically assume the worst motives in others, even when you feel threatened. That is the playground of our enemy.

OK, back to genuine attacks. I remember my mentor telling me, “If you’re a Leader, that means your back is wide open to friendly fire!” I know this truth from personal experience. And there is nothing more painful than betrayal. In fact, that is the one place where the Lord allows us to break the most intimate fellowship relationship, marriage. Infidelity is the worst possible betrayal, a violation of trust and a brutalization of your closest companion. And the Lord allows us to divorce under those circumstances. But He does this, not because it is what is best, but rather because of hardness in our own hearts (Mark 10:5). In fact, His story is that He continues to love us despite our infidelities!

So, what should you do when you have been betrayed, attacked, and brutalized? Well, the Sunday School answer says “Forgive!” OK, that’s nice. That just means that you are not going to seek retribution; you are leaving it in the hands of the Lord. Some of us need to really do that. Maybe we claim to have forgiven, but it’s clear that the wound still festers and is slowly consuming us. That’s related to another answer that comes from our flesh. Our flesh says, “Separate and be bitter, especially in thoughts about your attacker.” But, again, as I was taught by my mentor, that’s like drinking poison and hoping it kills your enemy. And our enemy says, “Attack your attacker’s reputation. Make him suffer like you have suffered. Destroy her relationally!” Hopefully, I don’t have to counter that position, only state it.

But what should we do? Well, look at Christ’s example. He was betrayed by those closest to Him. Of course, you’re thinking of Judas right now, maybe even thinking about the Judas in your own life. Instead, look at Peter. Christ even warned Peter that he would betray Him (Luke 22:34). But Christ did not cast Peter aside. In fact, John 21 contains the most amazing restoration story in Scripture! The one who had denied his Lord three times was restored to relationship and position in a three-fold affirmation and commissioning by the One betrayed. Why was Peter restored and Judas not? Certainly, Peter was weak while Judas was wicked. But the Jesus I know redeems even wicked men. My guess is that Judas was never restored because he chose the path of the enemy. He separated from the only One who could help him thru his failure. Rather than to trust in his Master and the Master’s gospel of peace, he fell into the enemy’s trap of isolation, guilt, despair, and self-destruction. And then, it’s too late for even Jesus to save.

You will be hurt by others. It’s what you do with that pain that has eternal implications.

Dangerous

I have spent the last week reading through Dangerous Church by John Bishop, pastor of Living Hope Church. This book is part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series. Since I have enjoyed reading other titles in the series, anticipation was high that this book would really challenge me as a leader in Christ’s church.

First, I would have to say that this book is primarily designed for church leaders, not the average Christian. However, since I believe that the church is a “leader incubator,” I think there is value to curious believers in reading books like this one. In fact, I repeatedly experienced déjà vu while reading the book since its points were clearly greatly influenced by one of my mentors Rick Warren at Saddleback Church.

Next, this is solid stuff that the church in America needs to return to often. Face it. We experience drift. Even if we start out with the right plan and motives, humans are prone to disregard their dependence upon the Lord. He expects us to be in intimate fellowship with Him as we seek faithfulness in our actions; for us, everything should flow from a right relationship with our Lord. But that’s not what our lives, and frankly our ministries look like. And Bishop’s book is a strong call for the church to return to her biblical roots and mandate. The church exists to rescue the lost. It is the responsibility of leadership and the work of every believer. Any program or event that does not advance these points is irrelevant at best and an abomination at worst.

Now, I’m just guessing, but I’d say that Bishop has roots in the Baptist tradition. I venture that guess because of his tendency to over-state the singularity of purpose of the church, namely toward evangelism. It’s an appropriate topic for discussion since the church in America is culturally marginalized and evangelistically impotent. However, saying that the church exists to make converts is part of the current problems with the church. We tend to over-simplify things and artificially compartmentalize the functions, even the purpose of the church. As I stated earlier, the church is a disciple-making factory. It is not an evangelistic crusade that is focused on raised hands and wet heads.

One final criticism before closing (read later this week for the most significant thing I took from the book). Bishop is a devout advocate of the Attractional Model of church and his anecdotal stories provide the practical justification for his views. His church launches satellite campuses in six-packs, even internationally. There isn’t a Missional bone in his body, despite his insistence. When he writes about congregants reaching the lost, he means inviting people to church. Ironically, he does discuss their inability to plant a campus right across the river from their hub due to cultural differences. But the discussion comes in the context of a “Don’t give up when faced with failure” encouragement. If he would take his own advice and take “everything” to the Lord as negotiable in order to expand the Kingdom, maybe he would realize the problems inherent in the satellite movement. It’s not that satellites are wrong, but they certainly must acknowledge and reflect the indigenous culture.

OK, see you later this week for the big thing that God spoke to my heart through the reading of Dangerous Church….

Never Forget

There are times in history referred to as turning points, times when events occur that are so significant that they affect not only those who experience them but also the generations after them. They not only interrupt the status quo, but they create a "new normal."

The Exodus story is one of those events. God intervened with power in the history of man, rescuing His people from Egyptian slavery. And He instructed them and the generation to follow that they should remember that event so that they could walk through whatever their present circumstances with the confidence that their God was for them and none could stand against them.

September 11, 2001 was another turning point. In a moment of roaring jet engines and blazing fire our lives were forever changed. The images of people jumping out of crumbling towers and firemen rushing through death's gates will be forever etched into our own life stories, even if we don't know the name of a single victim of that fateful day.

It's right that we should remember the thousands who gave their lives that Tuesday morning. But there's more than that which should be remembered. You see, we had enemies that day that sought to cripple and destroy us. They struck at our leadership and at our financial power. And, they were successful. Why? Because we had become a nation that had placed its confidence in our might and our wealth rather than in the One who had provided both. Our enemy knew our weaknesses and struck at our idols.

But, in the moment of the attack, something happened in this country. Even as happened in the history of Israel (read Judges), in our darkest hour, when our idols were revealed for what they truly are, so much wood and stone, we sought the Kingdom of Heaven. Firemen risked everything to save desperate people. Passengers of UTD 93 risked everything to keep Plane #4 from being a terror missile destined for the Capitol. And I'm told that even the streets of New York were a compassionate place as we all became brothers and sisters in an epic struggle.

So, on this 10th anniversary of that history-altering day, yes, remember those whose lives were demanded of them. But remember how we turned from our idols and sought the Lord in our desperation. And remember the love we had toward one another. Don't let their lives be spent in vain. Cast off your idols and worship the Lord. Your idols will fail you. But He will never leave you nor forsake you. For He alone is good and His love endures forever.

Stop Using That Word!

OK, so as I make the rounds to various church leaders in the area and talk with them about strategic planning needs, one thing is becoming tragically clear. Most of these guys use the word "Missional" often, either in describing their church or what they don't want to be, but few of them actually know what the word means. Most often, they tend to fill the word with their own meaning. Supporting missionaries does not make your church missional. Neither does having small groups. Neither does encouraging your people to ask neighbors, friends and co-workers to come to church on Sunday morning. In fact, if you refer to the building where your congregation gathers on Sunday (or Saturday) as "the church" then you probably don't get it.

Church is something we are, not a place we go. And church is a gathering, a collective term. One person is not the church. I would argue that even one family is not the church, since you were gathered by biology, not the Spirit of God. The church is the presence of the Lord Jesus Himself in the world. We are the body of Christ. And we are to be doing the things that He did while He was in the world. He even commanded it before He left us nearly 2000 years ago.

So, let's discuss this command for a moment. Where is the Great Commission for the church? Let's start with Matthew 28:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

But it doesn't end with Matthew. If you believe the extended version of Mark is Scripture (I don't, but let's look at it anyway):

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16

And in John:

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:21-23

And finally, Luke/Acts:

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:7-8

OK. It was important enough to be stated 4-5 times. Do you think we should take the Mission of the church seriously? If you say "Yes" then you have to take a serious look at how resources (financial and human) are allocated toward that end. And there can be no sacred cows. The Mission is everything and only that which advances the Mission should be preserved.

Take a look at this short video about being on mission and then let's talk...

Lulled Straight to Apostasy

I’ve noticed that there is a spirit that has gradually crept into the church, a spirit not of God. It comes from our enemy via culture and it has the potential to destroy the church. It is evident in the conversation around “criticism.”

Have you been around a critical person in the church? Have you ever said or even thought to yourself, “That person has a critical spirit?” Or maybe you think, “He is so dark.” You know the type of person I’m talking about. They are the ones that always manage to see what is wrong or what is broken and needs to be fixed. And it’s not enough to see it. They feel compelled to tell others, maybe even demanding that changes be made. And you’re thinking, “Why doesn’t she just meditate on Philippians 4:4-8?”

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. Philippians 4:4-8

Well, sorry to step on your toes (maybe not – maybe it’s the way to startle you out of the spell you’re under), but this is a total misapplication of this passage based upon a misunderstanding. The admonition to focus on good things does not mean to ignore the things that are not good. This is not a passage that can be whipped out of your back pocket any time someone is pointing out a perceived problem in the church. In context, it is clear that Paul is saying that your sense of peace should be based upon the Lord, His sovereignty and His provision, not by denying what is not good. Granted, there are complainers in every church, but I’m not speaking of those folks. I’m talking about the ones who are God’s special gift to you.

Don’t believe that God gives churches people with such a message? Well then you probably have a really hard time dealing with all of the prophetic voices of judgment that are found in Scripture, maybe even the very words of Christ. You see, there is a call running throughout the Bible, a call to return to the Lord or there will be serious consequences. And that call includes a clear description of the spiritual condition of God’s people. I’ll admit that sometimes when I read those passages I wonder, “Isn’t God or the prophet exaggerating this a bit, using hyperbole to make a point?” And there’s no doubt that hyperbole is used in the Bible. However, predominately the Lord is revealing an accurate picture of the hearts of His people during prophetic pronouncements.

So, what happens to the prophetic voice today? Well, the prophet isn’t sawn in two or thrown in a cistern (maybe figuratively but not actually, though some might like to). More likely the prophet is discounted as being negative or critical or dark. He is told to look at all the good things that are happening. In extreme cases, he is told that good things will happen if you just visualize them and speak them into existence. And the question that should be on everyone’s mind should be: If the Lord has given the church the gift of prophets so that we might remain faithful and true to Him and His calling (Ephesians 4:11-13), what will be the consequence for those who reject the prophet and his message? Looking at the totality of Scripture, I’d say that the future looks bleak for those communities.

But it’s too easy to generalize this and make it about “the church.” How about your local faith community? How about your church or your small group? What are you doing with God’s gift to you, the prophet?

Offense or Defense (Warning: Long post)

I admit it. I love watching soccer. Yes, football is another favorite sport. So the fall is a time of the year that offers lots of distractions. But some “distractions” are actually beneficial. You see, I tend to see things strategically. That’s just how I’m wired. When I look at the soccer field, I see areas of vulnerability. If they belong to my team, there’s an urgency to shore them up. If they are in the opponent’s defenses, I want to exploit them.

Beyond that, I’d say that there is one strategy that drives me nuts when I see it being played out. I call it the “Don’t Lose Strategy.” Hopefully you know what I’m talking about. It’s the driving strategy behind the soccer team that is up by two goals and all of a sudden they stop attacking the opposing goal and they lock down their defenses. Or, the football team that has been riding the quarterback’s arm and taking advantage of weak defensive backs decides to run the ball to burn the clock. Maybe they even run a Prevent Defense where they willingly give up shorter passes to defend against the deep threat and easy touchdown. Either way, it’s a denial of what earned you the advantage and a crippling fear of losing. And there’s nothing more encouraging to an opponent who has no defenses against serious attack than to see the fear and insecurity of this sort of shift in strategy.

How do you view the church? Is the church designed to be stronger offensively or defensively? (There’s tremendous temptation to make a pun here using the word “offensive” to describe churches that just don’t understand the gospel, but I’ll restrain myself, sorta.) Well, when God created man, He commanded him to “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). And Jesus indicated that His church would be a people who are assaulting the very gates of Hell (Matthew 16:18). Certainly, there are instructions to leaders to watch over the flock and to protect it from wolves, but they are passages that speak more about the heart of the leader than to the nature of the church. Actually, it’s a good thing that they are stated explicitly since wars are usually fought by Attila the Hun, not Mother Teresa.

So, why is the church functioning under a Don’t Lose Strategy? Frankly, that was not the strategy of the first 300 years of church history, a time when the world saw the explosion of Christian faith sweep across Europe, northern Africa and into the Orient. Ours was a bold, aggressive thrust at the heart of darkness in the world and it changed the very fabric of civilization. Yes, the cost was high and many gave up their lives for the cause of Christ, but they did it with courage and confidence, trusting in the One who had sent them.

But that is not what the American church looks like today, not even remotely. The end of summer doesn’t only mark the time when my favorite sports swing into high gear. It’s also the time when students go back to school. And for some families, maybe they are sending their son or daughter off to college. They have closed one chapter of their life and are entering another. We know lots of people in this category since our oldest daughter graduated high school last spring. And overwhelmingly these parents are concerned that their kids are going to be overcome by a Christ-less world. Is that reasonable fear? Yes! The facts indicate that most of those young people will fall away from the faith during their post-HS season of life. The question is “Why?”

I believe it is a failure of the church concerning children and youth, frankly, concerning families in general. Churches, eager to attract families and keep them happy, throw tremendous resources at Children and Youth programming. They communicate indirectly that parents should not be concerned with the spiritual development of their children because the hired professionals will do that. Rather than to equip parents to raise their children in the faith, they feed into a culture that offers parents lots of surrogate options (teachers, coaches, even entire villages). And the sad truth is that most Children and Youth programming does little to disciple young people. Either the ministries are designed to entertain or, if they do instruct, they don’t partner with parents and build in continuous reinforcement of biblical truth (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). And, tragically, most High School programming has no hint of development in it. Freshmen and seniors experience exactly the same forms, maybe even content. Instead of graduating fully-formed Christians who have been prepared to disciple others, they leave their relevant music, fun activities, and relational atmosphere and are told that they are ready to join their parents and grandparents in a radically different environment. There’s reason to fear for their faith if they are headed into secular academia.

So, what’s the solution? Well, you could send your youth to Christian college and then it just becomes a task of picking the one that matches your flavor of Christianity. Or, the church could start taking discipleship seriously and not be so worried about making everyone feel good so they will stay in the church. There are certainly lots of ways to do that, but let me describe one that I just experienced.

Shawna and I visited a church that has no Children and Youth programming. Families attend service together and children engage the content at the level they are able. The pastor opens the pulpit to the congregation so that they can reflect and expand upon the content of the sermon. This allows those who communicate well with children the opportunity to share the subject material at age-appropriate level for the young. It also models for the parents how you can train up children in the great truths of the faith. Then, the church also has a robust groups approach to living out faith which includes entire families. The big question is not “Who will watch the kids while we focus on Scripture?” Rather, the question is “How can we continue what was begun on Sunday morning and then implement it in ways that further the education of all of us, parents and young alike?” In this church, we saw intentionality toward significant engagement with the Word of God which was highly participatory and gifts-based so as to strategically disciple all generations of the church family.

And the results? Well, that church was sending two young people into the mission field. They gathered around and laid hands on them, praying that they would have a tremendous impact on their mission assignment, that they would be beacons of truth and grace as they went off to college. But the ceremony had to be postponed until the end of the service. Why? Because the young man who was being commissioned as a missionary to his college in Worcester, MA had finished leading us in worship and had left the building. You see, during worship, the Lord had spoken to his heart and had told him to go buy a single pink rose for Carol, one of the congregants. This older gal had shown up that morning with a very short haircut. When asked about it, she shared that she had donated her hair to Locks of Love (www.locksoflove.org/mission.html). And in obedience to the leading of the Lord, this young man left Sunday fellowship and teaching, found a single, long stem, pink rose and returned to present it to this dear saint who had sacrificed so much out of love for the hurting.

So, tell me, parents. Is that how you want to send your kids off to college or would you rather huddle in fear for the four years that they will be in harm’s way? It’s time to take discipleship in the church seriously. It’s time that the church went back on the offensive. It’s time our enemy returned to hopeless fear because we’re advancing with reckless boldness.