What about Saturday?

So, yesterday was Good Friday and tomorrow is Easter Sunday, but today is Saturday. What do you do with that?

Catholic tradition calls it Holy Saturday, the day that Christ’s body lay in the tomb. The Eastern tradition calls today The Great Sabbath because it’s the day that Jesus rested from His finished work on the cross. But both of those focus on God lying in state, if you will. And I have been reflecting on the disciples on that first Saturday.

Scripture is silent about Saturday, but I think it’s easy enough to know what was happening based upon Friday and Sunday. We know that on Sunday the disciples were together and they were not at the tomb. But why weren’t they standing outside that tomb waiting for Jesus to come out? He had told them several times that He would rise on the third day. Yet, they were not there. But they hadn’t scattered; they were together on Easter morning. Think about Friday. John tells us who was at the cross:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

Where are the disciples? Only John is mentioned being there. Well, think back to when Jesus was arrested and taken before the authorities. Peter followed along, trying not to be noticed. But he was recognized and confronted about being part of the Jesus following. Folks, this was a very real threat. Jesus had been arrested as a traitor. Anyone associated with Him could likewise be executed. That’s why Peter denied Christ three times; he was trying to stay alive. And that’s where all of Christ’s Apostles are until Easter morning, hiding out in fear of death.

Stay with me. Isn’t that where each one of us is following Good Friday? Without the Resurrection of Easter morning, don’t we have a dead savior? If Christ wasn’t raised on Easter, there is no hope. Nothing He said or did, even who He was, is true. And if He is not God, we have no hope.

Look at it another way. Did Jesus die for your sins, receiving the punishment that was rightly due you? I hope you answered “Yes!” But, if He wasn’t raised from the dead, He could not and cannot save you. That’s not a philosophical argument; it’s what Scripture says:

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

You see, living in Holy Saturday is hopeless. But many a Christian professes a crucified Savior, but misses the power and life of the Resurrection. They are perpetually living the fear and uncertainty of Saturday. So, reflect today on the hopelessness of crucified hope. Reflect on the fear that grips the desperate, hopefully just for this day. For tomorrow brings a new day, a GLORIOUS DAY…

Good(?) Friday

I had thought of lots of things that I could write on this Good Friday, 2012. But I'm not sure that there's anything worth adding to what the Scriptures have already said. So, today, on this Good Friday observance, I will post something for Sean. You see, Sean thinks the Bible was written to support the stories of the disciples, so that they could have power and recognition. But this is an odd story to write. It's not the story I would write. I would not create a weak god. He would not suffer. He would demonstrate power, not servitude.

But my god would whimper before this God. This God was not created by clever tricksters of the first century. This God revealed His coming to men, more than 500 years before He came, weak like an infant. Read Eugene Peterson's translation of Isaiah's prophecy of the death of Jesus. This is not the story that men would write. Therefore, it is infinitely more glorious. Read it and reflect. Easter is coming, full of light and hope and life. But let today be Good Friday. Let it be our darkest day so that His light may shine all the brighter. S

Isaiah 53 - The Message Paraphrase
Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?
The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him.

He was beaten, he was tortured,
but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn't true.

Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Wrong Prescription

What sort of lenses are you wearing? You know. We put on sunglasses with dark lenses because we are sensitive to bright light or to people peering into our eyes. Or we put on prescription lenses because we have imperfect eyesight and we wish to see more clearly. If you wear glasses, most are light enough these days that you don't even realize they are there.

Years ago, when I got my first pair of corrective lenses, I thought it would be cool to get prescription sunglasses. My hope was to be able to see clearly while enjoying my active outdoors lifestyle. The lenses I got had a purple tint to them. They were great for seeing in bright light conditions, especially on the ski slopes. After a short time, I didn't even realize that I was seeing the world in shades of purple. It looked normal to me. Fast-forward 10 years and I was told that the purple tint of my glasses was highly addictive and had created extreme photosensitivity in my eyes. My body, in order to protect itself, was developing a protective coating on my eyes which would eventually blind me. And all of this was happening without my knowledge, just because I had put on a pair of sunglasses, a very wrong pair.

So, what lenses are you wearing? I'm not necessarily talking about your physical eyes right now. I'd like to focus your attention on the eyes of your heart. We all have lenses through which we perceive the world. Our lenses are the result of our life's journey, what we've been taught, what we've seen modeled, or what we've experienced, both painful and wonderful. Our lenses are so much a part of us that we don't even know they exist. But we all have them and they alter reality to create our perception of what really is.

This is a conversation that I have had in the church for years and am just starting to have at the Vo-Tech where I'm teaching. You see, we slide into a mode where we deal with people and situations from our prejudices, conclusions that we have drawn before investigating the facts. It leads teachers and administrators to deal with teens using a template intended for all. It discounts the circumstances that have preceded today and dehumanizes the person. Schools generally run from ministering to the whole person, falling back on "teaching" content and referring problem cases for discipline and correction. Amazing teachers are the ones who enter the mess of the person to find out who they really are and why they are struggling so they can truly educate the whole person.

Today in church I was reminded of a video that I had intended to post months ago but I had lost the thought (my ADD got the better of me). But this video (below) out of Fellowship Church addresses the issue of how we see the world around us. Watch it and then let's have an honest discussion about how inconvenient it is to truly see people. Let's talk about our calling as Followers of the Inconvenienced God. And let's pray for one another that the Living Spirit of God would give us, not only eyes to see but, a heart like His, one which compels us in the name of Christ, Love, and all which is holy and sacred to enter the mess of the world with the full power of the Gospel of Grace.

So Far From God

This weekend, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as a nation. The irony is that in Ireland, they watch news reports about our celebrations which include corned beef & cabbage, green beer (usually way too much beer), parades filled with people dressed like leprechauns, and even rivers dyed green. And they wonder why we would celebrate one of their Holy Days with such foolishness.

You see, St. Patrick was an amazing missionary who brought the Christian faith to their island nation. And he was responsible for planting a church and a movement that was characterized by a profound understanding of the sent-ness of God’s people. The gospel for the Celts wasn’t so much about saving individuals, although that was certainly part of it. It was a powerful gospel which transformed lives, families, and communities. More than that, it broke down dividing walls between tribes, giving an island filled with tribal conflict a unifying identity in Christ. And the message, fueled by the Spirit of God, swept throughout the land and captured hearts all to the praise and glory of God.

Then there’s our celebration. Christ has no place in American St. Patrick’s Day. Some creative missional pockets are trying to restore the holiness of the day, but they are the extreme minority. Churches try to ignore or even condemn the holiday. And we miss a huge opportunity to remember faithfulness and to challenge God’s people.

And what does evangelism look like in America? Well, I took a picture of a sign at our local gas station. It’s below. Click on it to get a larger image if you have a hard time making out the object I have pointed out. The sign is advertizing gas station sandwiches. Yummy! But some well-meaning but misguided saint has put a tract on the sign. The message? I’m not sure. “Come inside and get a lousy, but cheap sandwich. And while you choke it down, read this literature that will probably make you nauseous if you are far from Christ.” And the person who put it there has annoyed a merchant in the community, provided a few laughs at the local pub, but feels like he has done his part to be a witness of the gospel in a broken world. It’s a good thing that it’s the Spirit that saves people and not us. But I’m sure that we’re called to a whole lot more than this.

Understanding Connection

OK, so I don't normally put "secular" stuff into my blog, but a friend sent me this video. He uses it in a seminar he does on finding healing in ministry. The video is rather long, but the gal is reasonably entertaining, so I hope you watch it thru to the end. Her topic is interesting, but her personal journey is fascinating. Yes, there's lots of pop psych stuff, but don't miss the point of her presentation. She's discussing the link between vulnerability and authentic connection. And she claims that connection is the thing we need and seek in life. Folks, that's biblical. And she provides insight into the reason we don't connect. Guess what. It looks a lot like trying to be God. So, watch the video and think about why we have a hard time connecting with one another and even with God. Then, let's talk...

Jacked-Up Faith

Have you ever noticed how messed up our understanding of Scripture is? I have been visiting a lot of church websites and realized that it’s found even among staff. Often, sites have brief bios for staff, sometimes even favorite Scripture verses. Let’s use one of those that seems to recur consistently, Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Doesn’t that sound wonderfully encouraging? God has plans for your life and they are plans you will like a whole lot. He loves you so much that He will make you healthy and successful. Wow! You’re something special!

Maybe you know that this verse comes from a message to Judah while they are in captivity in Babylon. That’s a step in the right direction. But that should cause you to ask yourself whether or not the “promises” of 29:11 even apply to you or to your current circumstances.

Let’s pretend for a moment that they do. I don’t think they do, clearly from the context, but I believe that they reveal something of the character and will of God, so there is some relevance. Isn’t it funny that we only list v.11 as one we find important? Look at some additional Scripture from that passage,

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:4-7

Oh my. Did you catch v.7? Seek the peace and prosperity of the city, Babylon! Pray to the Lord concerning it. And how should you pray? That He would judge your oppressors? That He would make them Jews (or Christians)? Nope! Pray for the prosperity of the city. Because then, and only then, will you prosper.

The context of Jeremiah 29:11 is missional instruction to God’s people, how they are to behave while they are in pagan captivity. This verse should be understood in light of the covenant faithfulness of God. He is sovereignly working out a plan for the redemption of all peoples. Those who are His, He uses to expand His Kingdom influence. Even when they have gone astray and followed godless leaders, He will not destroy them, because He is faithful. Yes, they will suffer discipline for blindly, even selfishly following leaders who tickled their ears. But His sovereign plan advances, even in Babylon. And once they have been punished, He will restore them to their mission in the land, the mission which they had abandoned in favor of selfish idolatry.

So, when we are taught that Jeremiah 29:11 all about God’s guarantee of goodies and comfort, when we believe that the gospel is about us rather than about His glory, aren’t we really committing the same sin that landed Judah in Babylon? The next time you are told and tempted to believe that God wants you to be wealthy and comfortable, take another look at the life Jesus lived. See if you can find prosperity. Is there a lot of physical comfort, especially toward the climax of His story? Then, let His words resonate deep in your soul,

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21

This Close, Yet Miles Away

Today is the day before the Lenten season begins for Christians. Last year at this time, I also blogged about Lent and called those who wanted to build Christian discipline in their life to engage in a study of 1 Peter and following a corresponding Disciplines Guide that I created. Those who truly wanted to grow in their faith took advantage of the opportunity and participated in that exercise or in one of their own choosing. And they experienced various degrees of success, as would be expected. That’s because Disciplines do not create holiness in our lives, but rather give us opportunities to reprioritize in order to allow the Lord to transform our heart and mind. Or else, they just make us miserable.

And that’s the problem with religion. The Lenten season has been viewed by pre- and post-Christians alike as the climax of the religious life, denial and misery. Rather than concentrating on what the season offers us, we focus on the process and what it prohibits. You can’t blame pre-Christians for this; we have created this perception ourselves. They are simply observing us. And to make matters worse, we created a celebration before the season, the party before the world ends, Mardi Gras.

Today is Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”). It is a day to party like it’s the end of the world, since the next day, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, surely is the end of living life according to our selfishness. And the world loves a party, especially one where all social conventions are overturned and flesh is king. Secret: The church loves it too.

Fat Tuesday was our creation, not theirs. But we sit back on our “blessed assurance” and direct chubby fingers pronouncing judgment toward them. The truth is: Fat Tuesday is a better reflection of the condition of Christ’s Church than of the lost world. We have gotten fat. Our faith is about us. The gospel is about us. Our Sunday morning religious expressions are about us. It’s all about us. God should bless us because we are so wonderful, and He should torture everyone else so that we can really appreciate how much better we are than they. Lost is our mission. Lost is following after our Suffering Servant. Lost is offering yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

The church has become fat on its reliance upon doctrinal knowledge to be its salvation. Jesus didn’t come to give us Bible studies. We have become fat on our traditions that create divisions in the church that Christ gave His blood to create. Jesus didn’t come to give us denominations. We have become fat and lazy, like Eli (1 Samuel 1-4), trusting that we are the chosen people of God while we mock Him with our religious activities. Jesus didn’t come to enslave us to rules and to make us miserable.

So, how do we recover from Fat Christianity? Well, it starts with right theology. It starts with taking another look at the God who became man in order to show us both Who He is and how we must become. Our faith has a focus, Christ, and an expression, the world. You see, Jesus didn’t come to give us a comfortable, prosperous life, but that doesn’t make us miserable because He is our treasure. But He did come to give us joy abundant. After all, it was He Who said, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10).

So, shape up, Church. Fatties have no place in the Kingdom of God.

Back to the Basics to Figure Out What's Wrong

Have you ever had the pleasure (or pain) that accompanies setting Mission, Vision, and Values for an organization? I have done this many times, both for churches and for businesses. For those of you who don’t know anything about these terms, let me briefly explain:

Mission: Mission answers the big “Why?” question. “Why do we exist?” It’s sometimes called “purpose,” especially outside the church. If you’re a business, it might state something about your product or service. While your mission will never change, you might express it in different ways during different seasons thru clever, catchy slogans. But slogans should never be confused with your mission. Mission is your reason for existing; slogans are to help people remember your mission so they will stay on track. For the church, our mission comes from the Great Commission.

Vision: Vision is often confused with mission, but it is very different. While your mission answers the “Why?” question, vision answers the “What if?” question. “If we successfully accomplish our mission, what will be different?” Vision is the level where you motivate people toward partnering with you in your mission. And casting vision is not the same as setting goals. Vision should be qualitative, not quantitative. And vision should be recast periodically. Vision changes to reflect the times.

Values: Core values answer the “How?” question. “How will we function (what will the characteristics of our organization be) as we accomplish our mission?” While churches do a fairly consistent job of identifying values, their values are not culture-creating. “The Bible” should not be a core value. I know, that sounds heretical because we do value the Bible. But a better core value, one which reflects our value of the Bible, might be “Obedience.” See what I mean? If not, read on and then let’s talk….

Let’s take a look at our mission. The Great Commission is found in several places in the Scriptures (Mark 16:16-18; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8) but most widely recognized in Matthew 28:18-20:

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."

Some drop v.18, but that may be part of the problem we are having being faithful. Right before commissioning His church, Jesus establishes His absolute authority in this act. This is not a proclamation to be ignored. The word we translate “go” sounds like an imperative command, but is actually an attendant circumstance participle, better translated “while you are going…” to indicate that this has very little to do with mission trips and everything to do with living a missional life. I won’t go into “all nations” with all its implications except to say that it means “everyone.” And we are told that we are to make disciples. There is our imperative command: “Make disciples!” Notice, it doesn’t say to sponsor events or attract a crowd or preach. But it does tell us what discipleship is about.

We are to immerse them (baptizing) into the Name. This speaks of something other than getting someone wet. We baptize as a symbol of our commitment to the discipleship journey. Sadly, most of our churches have retained the symbol, but lost the substance. The Name is the very identity of our God. It’s not a word, like your name or mine. It is who He is. And we are to help people to become fully immersed in God. The word we transliterate “baptize” was used of ships that were sunk at sea, consumed by the waters. It was also used of cloth that was being immersed into a dye only to emerge changed to take on its appearance. This is why we exist, to immerse one another in our Lord. But don’t miss the next part. As they say, “Proof is in the pudding” and our pudding has the flavor of obedience. Disciples of the Lord obey. Isn’t that obvious, since He has already established His absolute authority?

Is that what the church looks like? Or have we exchanged symbol for substance? Have we redefined the mission of the church and in the process lost our way? Perhaps we have ignored the goal, obedience. And in doing all of that, haven’t we in essence told Jesus that He is not Lord of the church, but we are.

Ask yourself which is more important, orthodoxy (right doctrine) or orthopraxy (right actions). Don’t hear me wrongly. I believe that our doctrinal beliefs have to be as accurate as our Fall-corrupted minds can handle. And actions that do not flow from faith in God are useless. But the Sovereign Lord says “Obey” not systematize and divide over secondary or even tertiary concepts. It’s a relationship. It’s relational. It’s obedience.

Spectators

So, last night was the Super Bowl and we had a pretty full house for the event. Honestly, most of us weren't really that into the game. It was more about wanting to cheer AGAINST the Patriots. But it was a great time of food with friends, mostly old and some new.

But how many of our churches look like our Game Day Party? They consist of an event on Sunday where we get together with a bunch of likeminded people we have known for years. We watch the game being played by other people (missionaries, clergy, staff) and occasionally loudly complain about poor officiating. Commercial breaks are welcome and are sometimes the parts that are more interesting than the actual show. And we get to cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys, trusting in the end that we are aligned with the winning team. And of course, there’s going to be a big celebration party when we win, one where we’ll act as though we were actually participating in the battle that waged on the field.

But there’s something funny about football that is unlike church. Afterward, you generally see more guys (and gals) go out, inspired by the show, and pick up a football and play. Maybe it’s just a dad playing catch with his kid. Maybe it’s a 4v4 game in the street. Maybe a bunch of folks form a league. And in that, maybe the NFL is doing a better job of making disciples than the Church of Jesus Christ. After the game, there are countless youngsters who dream of being the game’s MVP and leading their team to victory. And many if not most will try. And, truth be told, most will really enjoy just getting out there and being part of something thrilling and competitive where their unique talents make them contributors to something bigger than themselves. At the end of the “day” they will generally look back on the experience and be glad that they were part of the game.

But the church, not so much.

Corrupted and Clueless

So, what’s the biggest problem in Christ’s church today? Well, let’s talk specifically about the church in America (frankly, because the Chinese church is a beautiful example of faithfulness right now). We, on the other hand, suffer from heart disease.

Our problem is that we have fallen into a trap that is as old as the story. The problem with the people of God has always been our desire to follow after the gods of the world (read: “culture”). Let’s take a look at what Christ would probably say to the church in America:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:14-22

Let’s take a little time/space to break this down. Laodicea was a jewel in the Roman Empire. It was a wealthy hub of commerce in Asia Minor, known for banking and wealth, medicine (especially an eye salve), and clothing (particularly a glossy black wool that was valued by the very rich). But this jewel had a flaw, namely that it had no water and had to import this crucial commodity. Its neighbors, Colossae and Hierapolis were regionally renowned for their cool and hot waters, respectively. The cool pure waters of Colossae were a refreshing and life-giving substance, while the hot springs of Hierapolis were used medicinally to cure almost any ailment. But then there was Laodicea which used a Roman aqueduct to bring mineral-laden hot spring water to a thirsty city. By the time it arrived, it still had its sulfury stench and had only cooled enough to be tepid. There was nothing pleasant about the water of Laodicea which generally made you want to wretch.

This was their cultural setting, and unfortunately the church was being corrupted by its context. Jesus’ words are not for the godless, but for the ones who claim to be His children. And He introduces Himself as “the Amen” (a reference to absolute truth), “the faithful and true witness” (the very thing that His children are called to be in the culture), and “the ruler of God’s creation” (just in case they thought obedience was optional). According to Him, they have no refreshing, life-giving value, not for Christ, but for the community. Neither do they offer restorative, healing benefits. They are foul and repugnant, like the water. Furthermore, they have clothed themselves in the ways of wealth and opulence rather than in the white garments of righteousness. And while they claim to “see” by the help of cultural innovation, they are really blind. To what are they blind? To the fact that Jesus is not in their midst! He says, “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” and “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Now, take a look at the church in America; take a look at your own church. Does it reflect the culture of America more than it does the Kingdom of God? Maybe you don’t even know the difference, you’re that blind. Laodicea means “people’s rights”; it was their culture and it’s the American way. Ask yourself if you are serving the Lord and His Kingdom or if you (individually and collectively) are serving yourselves.

First and foremost, is your congregation a faithful and true witness in the community? Are you known for your cool refreshing waters or your medicinal springs? Or, has the god of this age set up his throne in your hearts? Has Christ left and you don’t even realize it?

Let’s make it very simple. What is your church like thru the week? If you’re thinking about a building, Jesus is knocking. If all of your activities are on Sunday (and Wednesday), Jesus is knocking. If you’re more concerned with the Sunday schedule or type of music than if lives are being transformed, Jesus is knocking. If your small group or Sunday school class never gets shoulder-to-shoulder with non-Christians, Jesus is knocking.

And maybe you’ll think this is good news, but He won’t knock forever. Repent!

Terror or Thrill?

So, for nearly a year now, my family has been living out our faith under circumstances that were never part of our plans. Truth be told, I don’t think that I would ever have even considered this experience as something to strive for. Yet, like countless others, we find ourselves in a season that God has provided that is far from pleasant. OK, it’s been downright painful and difficult.

But isn’t that the story that we see over and over again in the Scriptures? There’s a different story that we sometimes inadvertently tell (some intentionally) that says that giving yourself to the Lord will result in health, wealth, and prosperity. But that’s not the story of the Scriptures. Rather, we see people going thru all sorts of hardships. Some because they have created the circumstances, some because of the actions of others, and some unclear. But the story of the Bible is that God knows, cares, and is near. That’s the promise. He is also able to change it, but that’s not promised. Only that He knows, cares, and is near. And that is sufficient.

The key in the midst of this is to maintain the perspective of faith. Faith is trusting in the Lord. So, we have a choice. We can either be filled with anxiety, fear, even absolute terror, or we can choose to be prepared to see God’s presence in the midst of danger. Whichever we choose is an indicator of our faith. Now, please don’t hear me wrongly. I’m not saying that people with strong faith don’t feel fear or pain. Those are natural, understandable first responses. It’s following that response from the flesh that the inner person is made known. Because the Lord’s people rejoice in all circumstances, not because of the situation but because of who He is.

There’s a video clip that I saw in church on Sunday that captures this idea. It’s a commercial that has very little to do with the product being promoted. But it’s great to see these two responses to the same threatening circumstances. Enjoy the video, but notice the condition of the man. Maybe watch it a couple times so you really get it. Then ask yourself which you are.


Don’t you love the comment from the pig? “Pure adrenaline!”

We have a choice. It’s a choice of faith. In what or whom are we placing our hope? Are we just clutching the harness in terror, trying desperately just to survive? Or, are we enjoying the thrill of the ride, knowing that ultimately it is the Lord who holds us up if we have truly put our trust in Him… WHEEEEEE

Desperately Broken

Over the last several months, in addition to serving the poor in our community, my small group has been taking another look at Jesus in the Gospels. Now some of you are probably saying to yourself, “What does he mean by ‘another look’? Is this some progressive theology creeping in to corrupt Christianity?” That’s a fair question, but, if you’re one of the ones asking it, then you’re probably part of the reason that we are looking at Jesus of Scriptures again.

You see, the creeping that you need to be careful of is not so much that of liberalism, but legalism. Liberal theology is very easy to spot and usually attacks the divinity of Christ or the reliability of the Bible. But legalism, accompanied by his twin, self-righteousness, are insidious creatures that slither in undetected. I personally believe that they are given opportunity by an over-emphasis on the writings of Paul, giving him priority over the Jesus revealed in the Gospels. This is a result of our western perspective coupled with modernistic thinking; we prefer epistolary argumentation of facts over narratives. “We don’t have time for children’s stories! Cut to the chase! Just give us the facts (or rules) and we’ll be good to go!” And in this process, we lose sight of what the Bible is. It becomes a rulebook and a way for us to examine God, even manipulate Him. Yet, the mid-eastern perspective is that you allow God, thru His Word, to examine and transform you. But that’s a post for a different day…

So, we were studying this passage together:

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Mark 7:24-30

Within the context, this is one of two encounters with Gentiles where Jesus is trying unsuccessfully to remain hidden. And they follow after a passage where Jesus slams the Jewish religious leaders for holding to the traditions of men rather than following after God. This is called juxtaposition, putting two things close together so you can see the similarity, or in this case, the contrast.

Now, when we read this passage, we get stuck. We can’t figure out why Jesus was so mean to this woman who simply wants to find relief for her demon-possessed daughter. “Why would Jesus call her a dog?” We try to soften it by saying, “Oh, the Greek word Jesus used is for a sweet little puppy, not a mangy wild dog.” But a dog is a dog, and to be called such is insulting in that culture. So, what’s going on here?

Well, Jesus is making a point. The Messiah is being rejected by the religious leaders of the day because He doesn’t conform to their traditions. Jesus is demonstrating His power and authority to them but they refuse to see. Yet, the Gentiles are earnestly seeking God; He can’t manage to hide from them! It is the Jewish perspective that says this woman is a dog. In addition to being a woman, she’s Phoenician. If you’re unclear about how the Jews viewed the people of Tyre and Sidon, take a look at Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 36-38. The Phoenicians were arrogant merchant people who starved Israel while they grew wealthy. But here is a Phoenician woman saying to God Himself, “I don’t need the best that You are giving, Lord. I am willing to lick the filthy ground to receive that which Your Chosen people carelessly discard.”

Have you got the picture now? Jesus is this amazing treasure to be sought after and cherished. And before you start acting like a Pharisee and think this passage speaks to “pagans,” take a long look in the mirror and tell me if you like what you see. How do we treat Jesus day-in and day-out? Behold the picture of desperation and abject humility found in this “proud, arrogant Phoenician.” Any if we’re brutally honest for a moment, aren’t we more like the Pharisees who are so committed to their religious traditions that we prevent people from finding the Lord, starting with ourselves.

I love the comparison here. You have the religious leaders who are demanding that God conform to their expectations. Though they were commissioned to be a light to the nations, they did their best to extinguish the Light. And then there’s the godless heathen who is willing to break all of the rules in order to get the tiniest bit of grace from God. He cannot be hidden from her desperate heart. And you just know that, like her counterpart in vv. 31-37, she proclaimed the glory of God found in Jesus to all of her neighbors.

So, what does your faith look like?

Easy Solutions

So, I shared that our group has committed to reading thru the New Testament. And I also confessed that it was a challenge to stay on task. So, I thought I'd just comment on this a bit. Why? Because the #1 issue in the church today is that Discipleship is not happening. Now, some would argue that Evangelism is the biggest issue. But, if you're making Disciples, then the problem of sharing faith goes away because that's what Disciples do!

The reasons that Discipleship is a problem are basically two:

First, the primary focus of church leadership is on the Sunday morning event. Isn't that what church is all about? Well, no! But this is the American understanding of the faith. Actually, it's what moves us from the realm of "faith" to "religion." Because you can insist all day long that you are saved by grace thru faith, but if you make it clear in your spending that the most important budget items are facilities and salaries, then you don't really believe Ephesians 2:8-9. Don't believe me? OK, but take a serious look at the ministry of Jesus and then at the behaviors of His Disciples after He handed the ministry to them. Then, ask yourself if your organization even remotely resembles any of that. How do you make Disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)? Look at your financials and see how much money goes to Adult Discipleship. Now is a really good time to take a look, since you are either just starting a new Budget Year or half way thru the present one.

Second, Christians don't want to be Discipled. Oh, we might say that we do. But, when it's all said and done, we really don't want to put in the hard work. We say that we are committed to Christ, but we're just not "that committed." We are consumers of Christianity. And we demand that our consumeristic selfishness be fed. Our Pastor has to be an entertaining communicator. The music has to be what I like. There has to be Children's programming that keeps my kids interested so I don't have to fight them Sunday morning. And I want a magic Discipleship solution so that I don't have to put in too much effort. After all, it's hunting season, or golf day, or (fill in your favorite excuse). Look at this cheesy, but accurate video I found:


The bottom line is that we don't want the Lordship of Jesus. We want to have a Get-Out-Of-Hell-Free card and to feel like we're better than those who don't. And we want to take from the Jesus buffet only what we want. Because, isn't Christianity all about me?

So, is assigning a New Testament reading plan to our small group going to Disciple anyone? No! But we get together and talk about it. And we get together in tough, public locations at inconvenient times. Why? Because Discipleship is about learning to shed my me-centered worldview, and discomfort is a great path. And in that path, we find a Kingdom perspective, satisfaction, joy, and, yes, comfort. Because God's wisdom and His ways confound our worldly understanding.

Rumination

My small group has committed to reading through the New Testament together over an 8-week period. That’s a pretty good pace. Honestly, we have a difficult time keeping up with it at times. But we don’t beat each other up, simply encourage one another to not give up and to forge ahead. I’ll admit that it’s tough to set aside the time to read large chunks of Scripture. Additionally, we have been trained to eat God’s Word in small bites. That may be where I have the hardest time in this reading plan; when I read something that seems especially relevant to my life, I want to stop there and ruminate. (Look it up!)

That happened this morning. I was supposed to read 1 Corinthians 1-7. And eventually I did accomplish that task. However, I got stuck in Chapter 4.

Let me set the context. The situation in the Corinthian church was that the congregation was breaking down into factions. The point of the entire letter is to set forth the way that Gospel-centered community is supposed to look, over against what the Corinthians were creating. In Corinth, there were divisions in the church. We’re talking about more than cliques. These divisions were socio-economic and all about establishing superiority within the congregation. Men were lifting themselves up as leaders in the church and exercising privileges accordingly. And look at how Paul addresses this (I have noted key points to help you follow his argument):

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings-- and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 1 Corinthians 4:1-14

Can you catch what Paul is saying here? Christian leadership is about being a servant, dying for the sake of others. It’s not about lifting yourself up; it’s about being made low. Yet, it’s the sinful desire of our hearts to take the gifts that God has entrusted to us as a stewardship, gifts intended for His glory, and to glorify ourselves. But those who do have received their only reward here on earth.

Are you ready for a confession? I have been wondering if God has allowed the season that I’m experiencing in order to show me the threat of self-serving, self-aggrandizing, authoritarian leadership. I have been asking Him to reveal that in my own heart. I have been asking Him to shine His light of truth into the dark places, driving out darkness. And I have been asking for the grace to release pain (and judgment) to Him.

And, I’m also looking forward to all the ways in which He will be magnified in my brokenness. Otherwise, it’s truly all foolishness…

Resolutions

A new year is upon us once again and with it comes a time to look back over the previous season as we prepare to move forward into the next. For many, 2011 lasted way too long, bringing with it pain and suffering, loss and regret. Others saw their hopes and dreams come into reality during that same time. But neither group is wanting to relive that year, only to move forward into something better. So, after reflecting on 2011, we make new resolutions, things that we are committed to see happen in the New Year. And while I have not been a fan of New Year’s resolutions in that past, realizing that most are cast aside before the end of January, this year is a little different. Having emerged from probably the worst year of my life, I have committed to reflecting on those circumstances for the purpose of learning and growing in my faith journey. So, below are the resolutions that have been on my heart. I share them so that I might be better understood and also held accountable.

Resolve: Discipleship over programs.

The mission of the church is to make disciples and Jesus gave us the example to follow. He didn’t come to create ministries and programs. Rather, He spent time pouring into a few men. Yes, He preached to the masses, but He often did so in parables which He didn’t readily explain. Instead, to the ones who were eager to follow after Him and to listen and to learn, to those He explained all He was doing. He equipped them in about 3 years to take His place as teacher. If we’re honest, there is very little discipleship happening in the church today, not in America anyway.

Resolve: Faith over doctrine.

In the place of discipleship, the church has created programs that better resemble universities than synagogues. The Jewish way of discipleship was one where the One True God was given absolute authority over all areas of life and creation. But we have set ourselves over this God and subjected Him and His Kingdom to dissection and examination. Just like anything else we subject to the authority of science, we believe if we understand the parts, we can comprehend and manipulate the whole. And like the buffet, we take the parts that we prefer and disregard anything that doesn’t conform to our will. But doesn’t the Bible say, “Without proper doctrine it is impossible to please God”? Well, no, it doesn’t. But it does say, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). And this statement is not just about assent to certain doctrinal statements. No, it is found within a chapter of Scripture that describes those who committed their everything, even their lives, to serving God faithfully. They weren’t perfect people, but they were earnest. We need to commit to developing faith in Christ’s disciples.

Resolve: Glory over expedience.

Too much of what we do is because it serves our desires best with the least amount of pain. But that was not the example which Christ gave to us. Rather, He chose to glorify God in all that He did, regardless of the suffering waiting along the path. And I would suggest that without God’s glory being your highest priority, there is nothing sufficient to sooth the pain of life. Don’t kid yourself; the quick and easy solutions that you choose today will have painful consequences, either in this life or in eternity. It is only in a wholehearted commitment to seeing God glorified in your life that you can stand up through the pain. We desperately need something worth suffering for and that is God alone.

Resolve: Strength in weakness.

Everything in our flesh wants to establish and proclaim our power and authority. But, at the risk of sounding repetitious, Christ gave us a model of meekness. He was humble. And like my mentor taught me, humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It is taking on the role and attitude of a servant. We can choose to exalt ourselves now before men, or we can choose the Jesus way and humble ourselves now and be exalted by God before all of creation. For some, maybe myself included, we need to release those who have wronged us. The world says that we should retaliate. Your flesh says that you can show them real power and suffering. But the Lord says that He will right all wrongs. We need to come to Him humbly in prayer and allow Him to hold us up, regardless of the strong bulls of Bashan. Meekness is true strength in faith-filled restraint. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Resolve: Empowering over empowerment.

This last resolution is sort of a summation of all the others. The ministry which the Lord has given and which He blesses is one that equips and empowers others to be His faithful disciples. Biblical leadership is not about power and control. Christian leaders give power away. Ours is a life characterized by the desire to work yourself out of a job. This was the case with John the Baptizer, who proclaimed of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). It was also the case for Jesus who said that He must leave His disciples so that the Spirit would come in order that His disciples would do greater things than He (John 14:12). Beware, lest you become the person who desires power and position and feels threatened by anyone who appears superior to you. Rather, we are all parts of Christ’s body and the weaker parts are the indispensable ones (1 Corinthians 12:22).