Transforming Grace

Back to the Basics to Figure Out What's Wrong

2012-02-09T16:14:00.003-05:00

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

2012-02-06T08:24:00.002-05:00

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

2012-02-03T01:00:00.000-05:00

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?

2012-02-01T01:10:00.000-05:00

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

2012-01-30T08:34:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-27T07:45:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-16T10:27:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-02T07:52:00.003-05:00

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).

Bring Me to Life

2011-12-19T10:07:00.003-05:00

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?

2011-12-15T20:56:00.003-05:00

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!

2011-12-06T16:45:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-01T01:33:00.002-05:00

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

2011-11-27T22:10:00.005-05:00

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

2011-11-23T11:13:00.004-05:00

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

2011-11-17T10:44:00.004-05:00

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

2011-11-10T11:56:00.006-05:00

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!"

2011-11-03T15:31:00.001-04:00

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

2011-11-01T07:38:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-27T12:23:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-09T09:28:00.004-04:00

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

2011-09-28T09:28:00.003-04:00

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

2011-09-26T10:23:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-09-22T08:37:00.003-04:00

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?

2011-09-19T01:06:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-15T06:20:00.006-04:00

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

2011-09-12T04:11:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-10T23:59:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-09-01T11:13:00.004-04:00

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

2011-08-25T01:00:00.000-04:00

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)

2011-08-22T09:57:00.006-04:00

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.

Foreseeing the Future

2011-08-16T10:23:00.004-04:00

Back in April (seems like a whole other lifetime now), I blogged about the content of Alan Hirsch’s book, The Forgotten Ways. I had indicated that Hirsch argues that we have a Leadership problem in the church, and that comes from a wrong understanding of the “gifts” that Christ has given to us for faithfully leading His church to fulfill her purpose (Read that specific post here: http://tinyurl.com/3mekyk2). I also indicated there that I had taken Hirsch’s assessment. Yes, I tested with strengths predominantly in the A.P.E. categories, the very gift for the church that is usually rejected, ultimately leading to its demise.

So, when I read a book that speaks of the current state of the church, its strengths and weaknesses, its opportunities and threats, my gifting shifts into high gear. That’s at the heart of my “affair” with Hirsch right now. There are lots of prophetic voices out there, but his is the one that aligns almost perfectly with the vision that the Lord has given me concerning His church. Does that language scare you? It’s the language of Leadership, but sadly it is something you rarely hear outside of “Charismatic” circles. And in case you’re wondering, I do not consider myself a Charismatic. But that’s another posting…

I recently finished reading On the Verge by Hirsch and Dave Ferguson. While a lot of the initial material was an overview of information from The Forgotten Ways, the addition of Ferguson to the discussion brought the practical aspect of the active practitioner to the table. And the approach to rescuing the church in North America was not a throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater strategy! The problems in the church were clearly outlined and then a step-by-step process of shifting the church was discussed in great detail. In fact, the book was authored with an understanding and appreciation of the different styles of the writers, Hirsch’s theoretical musings balanced against Ferguson’s strategic implementation and vice versa. For that aspect alone, this book is an indispensible addition to the library of anyone who is passionate about the church being faithful to her calling.

So, do you want to know what the future of the church is? Well, it’s not certain; it depends a lot on what we do here and now. You see, there are two courses before us:

We can maintain the course we’ve pursued for the last 400-1,700 years (depending on which aspects of church you’re looking at). If we do, we have a clear picture of where we will be in the next 30 years. Just look at the church in Europe, dead or dying, irrelevant, impotent and an abomination. Or,

We can take a serious look at where we have failed, especially in the category of making the wrong things priorities in the church. We could learn a lot from honestly analyzing every aspect of our institutionalized faith to see what has been added due to cultural influences (syncretism). We can choose to repent and return to the Lord’s clearly-outlined instructions to His people. And we can see the return of faithfulness. But this path requires faith in the Lord.

The question is, when we see the Lord, face-to-face, will He find faith in His people (Luke 18:8)? How about in you? Who did He create you to be for Him, His Kingdom, and His church? What is He asking of you?

Dismal Report Card

2011-08-10T21:05:00.005-04:00

So, what is the purpose of the church? The Bible says that it is to glorify God. Ephesians 3:10-11 says “(God’s) intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And concerning those who call themselves “Christian”, Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). And the church glorifies God the same way that Christ glorified the Father, by fulfilling the mission that was given to Him (John 17:4). The mission of the church was given at Christ’s ascension, “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). And the manner in which the church is to complete her mission is found in the Great Commandment, “Jesus replied: ‘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. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:37-40).

OK, so much for ecclesiological review. Truth is that many who just read that paragraph where bored stiff. Some probably said, “Yeah, we already know that. So what?” But do we really know that? Do we know that at the level of it forming our ministries? Does any of that doctrine actually come into reality when we look at the organizations that we have created and called “church”? If we’re honest for even a moment, I think we have to confess that we have built something very different from what the Lord intended. And then we encourage everyone within the abomination, telling them that the Lord will surely protect His church.

Is that too harsh? Maybe a little. Let’s just call it hyperbole, exaggeration to make a point. But the reality is that most church leaders are more concerned with keeping the congregation placated by giving them what they want regardless of whether it is what they need. After all, if the people don’t feel good, the money will stop flowing. And most church staff is more interested in making sure the payroll is made than in actually being faithful to the Lord’s high calling. (Now, that’s harsh!)

So, how is your church doing? I have consulted to dozens of churches regarding these things and I’ll tell you that you can tell a lot about how you’re doing just by looking at your budget. Does the lion’s share of your money go toward fulfilling the mission of the church to reach those who don’t know the Lord and to making them, not just converts, but disciples? But money is not the only measure (though it’s a good one). How about your systems? Are you seeing human resources also dedicated to reaching the lost and helping them to grow into faithful followers of Jesus? Are you seeing life transformation as the Spirit of God works through the gospel, freeing captives from the clutches of sin and Satan?

Face it. We forget the reason we exist as a church. We are arrogant enough to believe that “church” is for us, not for Him. We even believe that He exists for us rather than vice versa. And isn’t that the argument of the atheists, that we have created God? Perhaps there’s more truth in that than we care to admit. Doesn’t Scripture repeatedly remind us of the human tendency to do exactly that? Paul describes our sinful nature all too well, writing,

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-- His eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 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. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Romans 1:18-25

Oh, did you think that passage referred only to “those filthy nasty homosexuals”? Sorry to burst your bubble. It describes all of humanity. Yep, you and me and everyone you know. Paul uses the specific example of sexual impurity to tell us all who we are in our corrupted essence. But the Lord is longsuffering and He says, “Repent and return to Me and I will wash you clean as snow.” And if you think that none of this applies to you because it’s the responsibility of “leadership” to set the course for church faithfulness, I can’t find that “out” in the Word. Repent and rise up into faithfulness, before it’s too late. Trust in the Lord and act in faith. Today would be about right…..

Until Then, Dear Friend

2011-08-03T16:32:00.005-04:00

Today, I got news that has been anticipated for a while, but it was still shocking enough when it came. A member of our small group passed away this morning. And with his passing, I'm witness to the emotions of people who knew him, those who knew him well and those who were just acquainted. While none of us should have been surprised at the news, there's something about death that is so final to us. And the death of someone we know always reminds us of the brevity of life, even our own. Maybe, especially our own.

Chuck and Nancy joined our group in September of 2009. And it didn't take long for us all to realize that the Lord matches people who are often extremely different than one another. You see, Nancy is a sweet, sincere Godly woman. And Chuck? Well, he wasn't a woman! And Chuck was a character. He could certainly connect at a very deep level with our biblical discussions, sharing freely about his life, even the stuff that most of us like to hide from others. But you could usually count on Chuck to throw in a joke somewhere along the journey. Sometimes, it was an off-color joke. OK, usually it was an off-color joke. But everyone knew Chuck's heart and his deep love for the God who had rescued him from darkness, and his steadfast devotion to the woman who rescued him from loneliness.

You see, Chuck was part of the glue that bound our group together as redemptive community. We are so much more than a bunch of people who have added another church obligation to our calendars. Rather, we are a bunch of broken vessels brought together by the cross of Christ and for His glory. And in His manifold wisdom, He chose to give us Chuck and Nancy, for our edification and for His Kingdom name.

For about a year, the group has tried to deal with Chuck's gradual decline. And we weren’t always the best example of Spirit-empowered community. Honestly, it's difficult to deal with death, even the death of someone whom you know is going into the presence of the King. It's even harder to minister to his wife; death is real and it carries real lose. But I saw glimpses of a true family when some or all of us would get together with Chuck and Nancy on the occasions when he couldn't make it to group.

But today, I had the honor of ministering to the gal who was cutting my hair, someone who had difficulty breathing over the news. And I can see that my wife, the rock, is on the verge of meltdown, empathizing with her friend, Nancy. And I'm sure that there will be other places to minister the Word of Life as the days move forward, for Chuck suffered and died well, a good and faithful servant.

The death of someone we know and love is a time when we should reflect on our own mortality. Should the Lord tarry, and there's every indication that He will, we will all have a last breath like Chuck. He knew that he was dying. But do the rest of us really understand that we all have a similar prognosis? Our days are numbered. Tomorrow, there will be one less, if we even make it to tomorrow. Are we each living as though this could be our last year, month, day, or hour? What will last are not things, but relationships. And I'm not saying that you should spend more time with your family. That's a given. I'm talking about laying up for yourself treasures in Heaven. Do you really believe that we all need a Savior and He is Christ the Lord? Then, who are you telling about Him? And is your sharing done with a true heart of compassion and mercy for those who are perishing?

"Goodbye, dear friend." Or rather, "Until then... And thank you for helping me to grow in faithfulness even as I tried to help you. Tell Jesus I'm following after you and I'm doing all I can to bring some with me." s

Reflections on Leadership

2011-07-28T18:44:00.003-04:00

Lately, I have had more time for reading and reflection. Usually, I am buried in a new book, one which challenges and stretches me in my understanding of our calling in Christ. But today I found myself between books and looking to refresh myself with a book from my journey. So, today’s reflection is from a classic on Leadership, Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.

And maybe you’re tuning out right now because you don’t see yourself as a “leader.” Well, the truth is that Leadership is about influence, not position. If there’s someone who is learning from your interactions, you are a leader. If not, you should carefully consider what we are called to in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). If you are a child of God, you are expected to be about the mission He gave all of us, making disciples. That’s a lot of “if” clauses, but, if you’re still tuned in, read on.

Sanders’ book has been one of the most-used guides to leadership excellence for every believer since the late 60’s, and I wanted to share with you his list of the Essential Qualities of Leaders:

Discipline: In order to lead others, you must be able to lead yourself well. This has historically been done thru the practice of Christian disciplines. Sanders emphasizes one about the others as being essential to godly leadership. Can you guess which one? Bible reading? No! He says that prayer is probably the most significant discipline in shaping the character of a Christian leader. So, how are you doing here? How’s your prayer life?

Vision: By vision, Sanders means the ability to communicate a compelling future state and the proposed path to that destination. Vision is important to leadership because it fosters optimistic hope. People who follow want to know that the leader has a clear idea of where they’re going. But vision also includes ability that many “visionaries” lack, namely the capacity to foresee the results of implemented decisions. Vision without sensitivity to context can quickly become abusive. Do you understand the circumstances into which you are speaking?

Wisdom: This is one that is often misunderstood. The accumulation of information is knowledge; discerning the correct, God-glorifying application of information is wisdom. And wisdom comes with time. This is a place where the church often finds itself doing things backwards. We tend to celebrate the young, hip, new person and cast aside the seasoned saint who has had years of trial-and-error ministry behind him/her. Wisdom trumps hip every time.

Decision: The reason prayer and vision are so important is that leaders need to make decisions. There is nothing more futile or frustrating than a leader who is indecisive. This is not the same as being rash. It involves acquiring all the facts, analyzing the context, and prayerfully seeking the Lord’s guidance before acting.

Courage: This is another area that is often misunderstood. Some would argue that courage is demonstrated in resolute confidence in and conviction concerning your plan. Rather, biblical courage is resolute confidence in the Lord and openness to conviction from His Spirit and His people. It is also the understanding that, as you lead, you expose your back to those who follow. Leaders often receive their wounds from “friendly fire,” those who have fears or ambitions. The courage of a leader is driven by principles that flow from theology. You have to fear the Lord more than slings and arrows, even those from “friends.”

Humility: Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking about yourself less. A leader understands his/her strengths and weaknesses. And humility is something that develops and grows over time. A humble servant is one who is modeling his life after the perfect Leader, Jesus Christ, who considered His position in Heaven nothing, came low to meet us in our need, served His sheep, and even died for them. Is this your understanding of humility, or do you think humility means not receiving recognition for the good that you do? That is false humility, something Jesus never practiced or condones.

Integrity & Sincerity: Sanders placed these last in his list, but this is one place where everyone in leadership struggles. Without these qualities, followers will lack trust. So, do you own your mistakes? Do you confess your failures? Are you known for being a person of principle, not swaying with circumstances, a reed blowing in the wind? And in your communication, are you honest? I don’t mean lawyer-honest, where you speak in half-truths that are intended to convey something different than reality. (Apologies to any thin-skinned lawyers out there; I got that expression from my dad.) I don’t mean wordsmithing your way around a difficult situation. I mean saying, “I really don’t know” when you don’t, not “We’re looking into several options.” Leaders communicate rather than manipulate. And remember, leadership is all about relationship. It’s intrinsic to the very concept, right? A leader who doesn’t have anyone following is just out for a walk.

Battle of the Gods

2011-07-15T15:33:00.005-04:00

Do you spend any time in the Old Testament? If you’re like most Christians, the answer is probably “No.” Some are in the habit of reading through Proverbs or Psalms, at least their favorites. Some prophecy enthusiasts plotz down in Daniel or Ezekiel. And I’ll admit that I would rather spend time in the Gospels than to read Leviticus or 1 Chronicles or Joel. In fact, if I’m really feasting on the OT, you’ll probably find me in the narrative books, the stories of the people of God as they tried to live out their faith.

Their story is truly pathetic when you really consider it. Despite having very real encounters with the Living God, the one true God, they continually returned to worshipping the gods of the land. They would turn their backs on the God who had called them and serve the gods made of wood and stone.

So, this morning I was reflecting on the battle between the gods from thousands of years ago. The gods in Canaan were called Ba’al, a word that translates “master” or “lord.” The gods of the Canaanites were found on the high places. To worship them properly, you had to set your life aside, ascend to the holy place and offer sacrifices. And in return the ba’al would bless you in some physical way, be it crops or children or wealth or power. When you were not at the prescribed place of worship, you were simply expected to surround yourself with tokens or idols to remind you of the ba’al and enjoy that which was given to you as your reward. Silly, pointless, even self-serving, right?

But look at the Christian church today; this is our pathetic story too. We ascend to the high holy place each Sunday to offer the prescribed sacrifice. And we expect that the deity will bless us with health and wealth as we descend back to our totem-filled life where we serve ourselves. You might argue that this is not the case for every Christian, even every church, and I would be a fool to argue that point with you. But, if we step back for a moment, open our hearts to the Spirit of God, and allow Him to show us all the sacred cows that He wants offered up as a sacrifice, we would all find aspects of Ba’al worship in our life.

The problem is that lots of what we do as Christians is formed more by traditions that we have inherited than by God’s will. Rather than being formed by culture, either Christian or otherwise, shouldn’t our lives and the expressions of our faith be formed by our theology? And I know that there are people who are glazing over right now because, 1) this post is longer than 4 sentences, and 2) I used the word “theology.” Stick with me.

What if our forms of church, what we do on Sunday and frankly every other day of the week, reflected our beliefs about God. Actually, they do! Whether accurate to His revelation or of our own fashioning, our life reflects what we truly believe. Part of the problem is that we have equated “belief” and “knowledge” or even “understanding.” But belief flows from the heart, the wellspring of life, while the others are from our mind. But how many of us know the right thing to do but choose to do something else instead? It’s a heart issue.

So, the question is “Who is our God?” Well, that is a huge question, but let’s start with this: He is the one who does not call us to ascend to Him, but He has stooped down to us. This is the doctrine of the Incarnation. The second person of the Trinity humbled Himself and took on the form of man and suffered and died for our sake. He was driven by His mission in the world, to seek and save the lost. He did not come to build monuments to Himself and demand the worship that He was due. His glorification was not commanded. Rather, He was glorified in what He did for the sake of others.

Let’s just start there. We, individually and corporately, should be like that...

Is Porn Really a Big Deal?

2011-06-30T11:47:00.005-04:00

OK, this is not what I was going to blog on today. I feel like Jude when he was preparing to address the church and then was redirected concerning his topic. In saying that, please don't hear that I think my blog is inspired text. I just believe that the Lord placed it on my heart to share on this topic...

Pornography is a huge issue in America, both outside and inside the church. And I have found that it is more common in the church than anyone would guess. That's for two reasons: 1) It's a "secret sin" and unless you get caught it probably won't be found out until it works its way out in other areas of your life; and 2) We keep it secret because the church generally responds with rejection and distance when someone shares that they are struggling in this area.

Breaking the captivity of addictive behavior, like pronography, was the topic I had planned for today. That will have to wait for another day. Today, I just want to show you the threat and impact of pronography. The link (below) will take you to a secular website; this is not hyped-up Christian rhetoric. Porn is a serious problem. I have linked this page rather than posting it here because I know that some who read this blog are very sensitive to issues like this. Please know that there isn't any pornographic material or language at that site. Finally, don't think that this only affects "other" people. This is an issue in your church, your local school, and maybe even in your own home. Especially if you struggle in this area, click through and read the stats. Then, find someone safe to talk to.

http://www.onlinepsychologydegree.net/porn-addiction-in-america/
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God's Will

2011-06-24T12:56:00.003-04:00

I’ve heard it many times. I don’t think I’ll stop hearing it until I go to glory. “How do I determine God’s will for my life?” Anyone who is sensitive to the Lordship of Christ must ask this question. But what is the answer? How do you know?

Well, there is the general answer, the call to obedience and faithfulness. It includes the responsibility to grow in faith and understanding, to become more like Christ Himself. Certainly that includes a holiness component, but being like Christ is more than that. If the purpose of our life was sinlessness, God would be cruel in leaving us here to do something we will never be able to do. Rather, He should just take us Home and seal us in a glorified state. But He doesn’t.

Therefore, it’s clear that He leaves us here for more than that. Generally speaking, that reason is to be like Christ by accepting His commission to be engaged in Kingdom work.

OK, in over 10 years of counseling in this area, I haven’t met a single person who was looking for that general answer (they get it anyway, because we all need to be reminded of it). Instead, they want to know what the Lord wants them to do here and now in these specific circumstances. While the circumstances vary tremendously, the answer is the same. Ready?

How does Scripture bear directly on your circumstances? This is defaulting back to God’s general will for your life. Will your decision bring you in line with His general will or derail you? Is this a decision for or against holiness as defined by God, not by the culture or anyone else? Scripture is your first rule.

Has God given you direction in the past? Sometimes, we follow God’s direction and then things go horribly wrong, at least from our perspective. Remember that circumstances never trump God’s direction. If you’re sure that you were following His guidance before you got into the mess, and if He chooses to be silent in your suffering, then He wants you to continue to follow His instructions. This is a time for perseverance.

Is God speaking to you now? Again, don’t assume that an opportunity that avails itself is a door that the Lord has opened. Many fall into sin this way. Others lose sight of their calling. If you are supposed to make a change, the Lord will make that clear to you. He does that by His Spirit working through His Word and in prayer and meditation, and He confirms that by His Spirit working through His people.

So, calm down and lean into Him. He can be trusted. You probably won’t get every last detail of how things will work out. You need to trust Him. Get into His Word. Pray fervently, asking Him to make your path clear. Involve trusted Christian friends, preferably not family (that’s another blog post). And then make your decision based up His guidance.

So, chocolate or strawberry ice cream? Hmmm. Lord? ;-)

Back on Mission...

2011-06-17T10:40:00.004-04:00

Where is your head concerning "church" and "community or small group" and "mission" and "calling"? Are these things that you add to life if you have space to accommodate them? Are some just for certain people or should every Christ-follower understand all of them?

Here's a video I came across this morning and I wanted to share with any who might still be following this blog. I apologize for being silent for so long, but it seemed like the right thing to do for the sake of Christ's witness within my sphere. But now, it's time to get back on track, eh?

Remember that you can comment here on this blog or you can send me private messages at scburghart@gmail.com.

Blessings,
s

Resurrection Dance

2011-04-26T11:43:00.003-04:00

Well, if you follow me on Twitter (@Steve_Burghart) or Facebook, you know that I have been reflecting for a few days on the significance of the Resurrection of Christ in the life of believers. And the conclusion? Well, I do have a tendancy to see what is broken and needs improvement, but can any of you say with confidence that the Church of Jesus Christ is living in the new life of grace rather than under the burden of the Law or in enslavement to sin?

Has the resurrection power of Christ created dancing in your heart? Look at this celebration is formerly-Communist Hungary...

Enslavement

2011-04-19T12:02:00.008-04:00

OK, I spent (some might argue “wasted”) an entire week on sharing about ecclesiology from Alan Hirsch's book, The Forgotten Ways. I hope that was helpful for all of you. The exercise was therapeutic for me. But let’s get immensely practical now…

What do we do about sin? I’m not talking about other people’s sin. I mean mine; I mean yours. And before you say that you have none, be reminded of what John wrote:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

So, now that we know that everyone sins, we have no more need for pretending, right? Yet, pretend is exactly what we do. Pretend and hide.

Watch this video about one man’s struggle with sin, but please finish reading the post once you’re finished:

Could you see the insidious nature of sin in the video? There is first an allure to sin. Even what our conscience would warn against, it calls to a need within. And before you smugly brush this all aside because your temptation is different than Nate’s, know that this is the nature of all sin.

You see, sin is more than the bad choices you make. There is a spiritual dimension. Sin is alive! It has consciousness. And it would have you and me. Look at how the Lord warned Cain:

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7

Cornelius Plantinga wrote a fantastic, scholarly book on the nature of sin, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. In it he describes how sin works in our lives. First, it allures us. When you are in a vulnerable place, your enemy knows and prepares a trap. But he’s not done once you bite. Then he begins a campaign of lies meant to drive you away from redemption. The lies are pretty standard and revolve around justification and/or acceptance. He may tell you that you deserve to do whatever you are doing because you have been mistreated or denied. Whether or not you hear that lie, he will surely tell you that you need to hide your sin from others, especially strong believers who are personally committed to helping you grow in the Lord. The lie is that you will be shunned and rejected. The truth, God’s truth for His church, is that you will be held accountable and helped toward victory and restoration. And finally, if you succumb to the second attack, the enemy makes you an apostle of death, encouraging you to drag others into your sin.

So, that was a lot of theory on sin and I promised to make this practical. Thanks for holding me accountable! What does this mean for us as Christians who are choosing to partake of Christian community? It means that community is your highest priority when dealing with sin, yours or someone in your circle of influence.

Certainly, the Bible is the source of truth, but it is only in communion with committed saints that the enemy is thwarted. So, do you ever feel the tug away from community? That’s the time when you should be praying fervently that the Lord would show you the dark desires of your heart that are trying to isolate you from the support you need. And, is there someone in your group that is pulling away? Pursue him! Find out what’s up in a loving and encouraging way. Become a safe place for that person and offer to walk through his dark valley with him.

I have over a decade of small group experience that says that a failing marriage sees withdrawal from group attendance shortly before disaster. Connect with the couple who can’t seem to prioritize group time or who interact on a superficial level. Connect with the spouse who withdraws into self or work or hobbies. Connect with the teen who lives behind a shut door and comes out only with earbuds inserted or who sits alone at church on Sunday morning.

Read more of the 1 John 1 passage and see the importance of avoiding isolation and committing to live “in the light” and notice that the fellowship that follows is not limited to between you and the Lord, but involves other believers. It’s God’s design; seek to live it!

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:5-10 (emphasis added)

Forgotten – Not Community!

2011-04-15T01:00:00.001-04:00

Well, this one is going to sound odd coming from the guy who is continually talking about biblical community, but stick with me. The church has built its identity around community and that is wrong.

If you are trying to build community, you are defining the church according to something that feels right to us. The gospel message gets reinterpreted in a form that validates our sense of belonging. It becomes, in essence, a justification of how we interpret family. In the process, the gospel message is watered down or even perverted.

Right now, some of you are saying, “Woohoo! No more push to get into small groups!” Hold your horses. We don’t shoot for community. We shoot for mission! And a right understanding of mission brings us together as a community formed in the context of ordeal. Hirsch calls this Communitas. And while the ordeal may be a matter of survival as it was in the 1st and 2nd Centuries and for the last 60 years in China, it doesn’t have to be that ominous. It simply means community formed around a worthy cause, namely the gospel of the Kingdom.

Communitas is a longing that God has placed in us, a desire to be part of something significant and far bigger than our puny lives. But communitas has been lost from the church primarily because of the absence of the other aspects that Hirsch outlines in his book. In the end, we have a safe, predicable, comfortable faith. And that’s because we have a safe, predictable, comforting God. And while He sends us His Spirit as a comforter, He clearly is not safe and loves to bust out of our boxes of predictability. Besides, ask yourself why the Spirit would be a comforter and Jesus would say that we need Him if we’re safe and life is predictable.

Want to understand communitas better? Spend some time with CS Lewis; the beavers will tell you that Aslan is not safe, but He is good. And spend some time with Lewis’ friend, Tolkien and set out on the most amazing journey with the most unlikely and unformidable comrades as they play their ordained roles in the final destruction of evil in the kingdom.

Or, seek comfort and miss the adventure for which you were created and redeemed…

Forgotten – Structured for Growth

2011-04-14T01:00:00.002-04:00

Hirsch calls us to implement Organic Systems within the church. He points out that this has not been the approach of the western church. Instead of a decentralized network approach, we have generally implemented a top-down, hierarchical, centralized structure. We have done this in the name of preserving doctrine. But he points out that it has historically done very little to protect from heresy in the church. Why? Because the model we implement is a power and control model. And who is attracted to that type of leadership? Men who want power!

William Pitt offered this thought in a speech in 1770 but it became famous when Lord Acton wrote about the Catholic Church to Bishop Creighton in 1887 saying, “All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupt absolutely.” But this is at the heart of the fallen human nature. We want to have God’s power and authority. So, men have taken biblical injunctions to man watchtowers and have seized the opportunity to choke the life out of God’s design for His church. To add insult to injury, we incorporated worldly business principles, forming the Church Growth Movement that grew but weakened the church.

Hirsch calls for a return to an organic model that decentralizes power and removes restrictions to growth and allows the environment that the church saw in its primal form, an environment conducive to rapid growth. He encourages you to think virus. As a humorous side note, after my leadership team created our current Connect Ministry shirts with the slogan “It’s how we roll,” I was considering the next slogan: “Connect. It’s viral and I’m contagious!” It didn’t sit well with the team. But we may revisit it! This idea is central to Hirsch’s desire to see a “sneezable” faith.

The question to be answered by every community of faith is, “Will we build to equip and empower or to control?” This is a question central to Small Group Theory, so I am very familiar with it. But, sadly, most churches don’t even consider the implications of their decisions in this area. And, at the end of the day, it seems more sensible, even spiritual to err on the side of control. But, what then does that say about our view of the role of the Holy Spirit in the church?

Forgotten – Fivefold Ministry

2011-04-13T01:00:00.003-04:00

OK, if you’re still with me, or rather Hirsch, this is where we might lose you. It’s the part that has caused the most tension in my life. And when Pastor Tim and I were exposed to this idea at a conference in Indiana last year, we agreed that it was compelling but we needed to be cautious. OK, that’s all the disclaimer I’m providing.

If I asked you who leads the church, what would you say? Pastors? Elders? A denomination or council? Hirsch says that part of the problem with the church is that 1700 years of Christendom has left us with a deficiency. In an environment where Christianity was legislated, the church lost its intended form.

First, the intended form. In Ephesians 4, we find in a description of the plan of God being worked out through the church that Christ gave gifts to men (v.8). Following that verse, Paul writes,

It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, Ephesians 4:11-12

Now, because Paul says these were “gifts” we have identified them as Spiritual Gifts. Furthermore, our very conservative hermeneutic says that Apostles are people who spent time with Jesus and wrote the New Testament and therefore no longer exist in the church today. In fact, we’re uncomfortable with Prophets since they sound like people who tell the future and we don’t think that happens anymore, also because we already have the Bible. And Evangelists? Well, they're strange people with scary hair and belong on TV, not in the church. So that leaves us with pastors/shepherds and teachers leading the church.

Here’s the problem. The Greek word for “gifts” that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, and that Peter uses in 1 Peter 4 is charisma, a grace bestowed. But the words that he uses in Ephesians 4 are dowrea (v.7) – we get the word “dowry” from it – and doma. Both of these are simply a gift given.

Hirsch argues that the doma given to the church to equip her for her mission in the world are apostles (those who make sure the DNA of the faith is transmitted into other contexts), prophets (those who serves as God's truth-teller to His church), evangelists (those who call unbelievers to repentance), shepherds (those who nurture, protect, and disciple the church), and teachers (those who help God’s people develop wisdom and understanding from His Word). (Noteworthy is that the Greek construction around shepherds and teachers indicates that this may be one role, not two.)

Hirsch says that we have gone off mission because we lost A.P.E. from A.P.E.S.T in God’s design of His church’s leadership. He goes further in stating that we must return to a 5-fold Ministry, which he call’s Apostolic Environment, in order to be truly missional.

So, how do I come down on this? Honestly, I am still cautious, but I find it intriguing. It also explains why churches go through a lifecycle, lose their creative energy and eventually die. If new faith communities are created by involving APE but then blow them off in favor of ST leadership, you would expect decay to death. So, I spent $10 and took an online assessment to see how Hirsch would classify me. Interesting!

Forgotten – Missional-Incarnational Church

2011-04-12T01:00:00.002-04:00

So, not Attractional, but what? Hirsch says that we are called to be Missional and Incarnational.

If you’re asking what that means, let’s start with where it comes from. Missional means “sent.” The people of God are sent by Him into the world as His apostles. No, not Apostles, the guys who wrote Scripture, but apostles, those who are envoys or ambassadors or messengers for the King. There will be more on apostleship in the next post, so hold off on bending your face out of shape because this sounds a little different than what you may have been taught. The bottom line is that Christians should view themselves as those who have been commissioned by the King to carry His message into the world in order to expand His Kingdom.

And Incarnational is the manner in which we are to go. It is built upon the doctrine of the Incarnation, that the second person of the Trinity, the Son, took on the form of a man. God did not come to us in all of His glory and splendor and majesty. Philippians 2 says that He “emptied” Himself, taking on the form of a man and humbling Himself, even to death on a cross. He didn’t come to overwhelm us, but to woo us. And that is the pattern we are to follow. That amazing passage in Philippians begins with the exhortation to have the same attitude (v.5).

Hirsch says that we are to follow this pattern. Rather than to plant churches, he says that we should plant the gospel. And from that effort, a people will grow and form a church. And this is exactly the opposite of what we do. We plant our preferred form of church in a new context and fight to conform the context to our predetermined interpretation.

Look at the ministry of Christ and see if it resembles how “evangelism” is done in America:

Presence: Jesus left His position of power and glory and honor and made Himself very present in His mission field.

Proximity: He lived with and among people. He was accessible to people, not just certain people, but intentionally meeting those who had been marginalized by the culture.

Powerlessness: He let His authority be discovered by His words and deeds, rather than by announcing who He was and demanding subjection.

Proclamation: His message was not about his audience and their sin problem and a way for them to escape judgment. Time after time, Scripture says that He came proclaiming the Kingdom. Then, He called people to repentance and faith.

Forgotten – Discipleship

2011-04-11T01:00:00.001-04:00

OK, so it all starts with “Jesus is Lord” but where does it go from there? Well, part of the curse of Christendom is the Attractional Church Model. If Christendom creates the motivation for going to church, then the job of any specific church is to create the most appealing church environment in order to attract the most people. If the rulers of the day say that you must be Christian or else be ostracized or even killed, your job is to find the most pleasant Christian experience. Voila! The Attractional Model and 90% of Church Growth Theory.

Church Growth Theory comes from the business world. And why not? After all, it’s all about marketing. The business community understands this too well; all you need to do is create either a product that meets a felt need in the market or create a desire for your product. If you can create both, homerun, baby! But, at the end of the day, the Attractional Model of church tends to create consumers, not disciples. It runs counter to the foundational message, “Jesus is Lord” and says, in effect, “You are Lord and we are here to serve you.” It works against building commitment to the Lord, to His people, and to His Kingdom work. Look at this parody and consider how much truth is there…

But Jesus didn’t come to make consumers. Consumers don’t change anything other than marketing tactics. When things go wrong or times get tough, consumers abandon you. They show their true colors and leave for something they believe to be better. And before you get mad at me, look at what John wrote:

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 1 John 2:18-19

I know this sounds harsh, but it is God’s perfect Word. Don’t focus on any individual you may know. That is not the point. What is the point is that discipleship produces people who are being made into the image of Christ. And at the core of our Christology must be the doctrine of the Incarnation (but that is the next post). The point here is that God used 12 disciples to change the world. 12 million consumers can’t do that.

The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief. T. S. Eliot

Have you been discipled? Are you willing to die for your Lord? He promised that those who are willing to lose their life for His sake would find true life.

Hirsch on "Jesus is Lord"

2011-04-06T23:00:00.001-04:00

Look at this video I found of Alan Hirsch explaining the significance of the creedal statement, "Jesus is Lord!" Do you agree?

Forgotten – “Jesus is Lord”

2011-04-06T22:00:00.000-04:00

It seems like a silly question. Maybe that’s why it’s not so silly and needs to be asked. Jesus felt it needed to be asked.

Jesus and His disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, He asked them, "Who do people say I am?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets." Then He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." Mark 8:27-29

So, who is Jesus? And what are the answers me might get? God? Savior? Friend? Prophet? Guru? Teacher? Rabbi? Lunatic? Myth? Where would you fall on this scale?

Hirsch argues that under intense persecution, the first Jesus people were forced to simplify their faith, even their Christology (theology of Jesus). In his words, they had to come up with the heart of their faith in “sneezable” form. What was left when everything else was stripped away? “Jesus is Lord!”

This statement was in complete alignment with their understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), they understood that their God, Yahweh, was the God above every god and over every part of life. His dominion knew no limitations. While other gods claimed influence over areas of life, Yahweh was Lord over all. And this Jesus was and is God incarnate.

More than Savior! Certainly God! But, by claiming Him as Lord, they signified the voluntary act of placing oneself under His authority. The question is: Is Jesus our Lord today?

Why ask the question? Well, frankly, we want a Savior, one who will “save us from the mess we find ourselves in.” We even want Him to be God because that means access to His power and riches. But, if He is Lord, well, we might have to demonstrate His sovereignty, not just on Sunday morning, but every moment of every day and in every circumstance.

For Hirsch, coming from his Hebraic background which tends toward a more holistic view of life, the church has strayed too far from this core doctrinal belief and it has led to low commitment to the Lord and to His Kingdom work. It has allowed us to live compartmentalized lives and think dualistically – sacred vs. secular. Yet we claim Him and therefore trust that He claims us. We even claim eternal security in that idea. And the fruit of dualistic thinking? It leads to Christian Hutus slaughtering Christian Tutsis, husbands abusing their wives, both young and old being more worried about social acceptance than standing for what is right. It leads to the worship of other gods, like status, power, pleasure, comfort, mammon, tradition, work, and family. Before you get ticked off at me because I mentioned your favorite god, understand that all of these are “sacred” when brought under the Lordship of Jesus.

So, right out of the gate, how are you doing in this regard? How is your family doing? How about your small group or class? And how are we as a church? Are we firmly rooted in the plain, yet powerful truth that Jesus is Lord?

Future posts will look at the five elements that grow from this foundational truth to create what Hirsch calls “apostolic genius.” Want to talk about this? You know where to find me…

Ways to Forget....

2011-04-05T16:49:00.002-04:00

OK, before I get too much further with this discussion of returning Christ's church to her roots, here's a video that David Felty sent me today. I think it demonstrates part of the issue we are facing today. Please, take it wherever the Holy Spirit would like to take you...

Forgotten Ways - Intro

2011-04-02T12:09:00.002-04:00

I have been on a book-devouring kick ever since Thanksgiving. I realized that my quiet time wasn’t enough to keep me out of a “funk” so I added to it reading and reflection from other sources. No, not the Qur’an, although I do own it and refer to it every time some Christian nut-job goes on a Nostradamus kick and says something brilliant like 9/11 was predicted in the Qur’an. But don’t get me started on that. I’m blogging about something else today.

I have been reading books on soul care, Christian leadership, and the church. Adding this type of reading to my quiet time devotions has really helped me to focus on my particular circumstances and allowed God to speak to my soul. I’m not saying this is the approach every believer should take, but this has worked quite well for the type of person I am.

The most recent book I have finished is Alan Hirsch’s The Forgotten Ways. This has been a very heavy, laborious read, both because of Hirsch’s intellect and also because the ideas really required a lot of reflection and comparison to theology, especially ecclesiology (theology of the church) that I had been taught. I’m still wrestling with the ideas of the book and maybe that’s why I’m choosing to blog some of that content.

Today, I’ll just lay out the context of the book. Hirsch argues that the church which the Lord established upon His Ascension was radically transformed when Constantine not only legitimized the faith, but made it the official religion for the Roman Empire. In so doing, the church experienced widespread acceptance which lasted about 1,500 years, a period he calls “Christendom.” During that time, the thing we call “church” today was formed. It even flourished. However, with the French Revolution came the idea that church and state should be separate. America was born in this secularizing environment. And, for the last 200+ years, God’s people have been trying to turn the clock back so that they can continue doing church in the same manner rather than adapting to the changing world.

And this is where Hirsch suggests something new, or rather, something very old. He says that the current context of the church is more like the context within which she was created. So, he argues, we need to get back to the Forgotten Ways of the church. And in case you find yourself content with the status quo, he sites that evangelicals represent less than 9% of the US population and the number is dropping every year. By 2025, it’s estimated that the number will be closer to 5%. Worse yet, Hirsch also says that our Christendom-Christianity is appealing to less than 16% of the population. He insists that it’s time to change our thinking about church, be willing to throw out a lot of what has been done for the last 1,700 years, and get back to our roots…

Finally! My Kind of Group!!!

2011-03-28T17:35:00.005-04:00

Are you looking for a small group that really fits you and doesn't try to change you into something you're not "comfortable" with? Check out this video. This guy might have the place for you!

Another Year... Reflection

2011-03-22T05:58:00.000-04:00

So, it's my birthday again. I don't share that so folks will buy me something, so please don't. The reason I mention it at all is because of what it means for me, namely an occasion for reflection on my life. Where am I? Where have I been? Where am I going? And if this next year is the end of this earthly story, will I feel that it was well-lived?

Does that sound morbid? Well, maybe a little, but this isn't the ranting of a depressed or discouraged person. It's just an attempt to bring a little reality to my life, to understand and appreciate that I'm mortal. Too often I minister to people who are shocked because someone they know and love has died. Why are they shocked? Mostly because they have been living as though they either won't die or at least will have a solid 80 years.

So, every birthday I try to assess my life. Mostly, I ask if I am fully committed to serving the Lord with every breath I take. And before you think that I am, I'll remind you that perfectionism like mine always sees where there's room for more. And I assess where I am. Am I where God wants me? If so, what is He asking me to do there? I have made my birthday that time to set aside all that I'm doing for Him and just listen for His direction and even His correction.

Do you ever disengage long enough for an honest assessment? Do you invite those closest to you to speak their observations about you into your life? Are you a child of the Most-High God? Then don't be afraid to listen to His assessment also. And, if you hear that you are a failure and a disappointment, you know you're listening to a spirit other than the Holy Spirit.

So, how are you doing? I have room to grow. Want to travel this road together? I value the company...

Group Dynamics - Contention

2011-03-20T23:00:00.000-04:00

So, your group has been together for some time now. You have figured out how to set boundaries around the “super-talker” in the group. You have worked out how you will manage being a group with kids, sorta. You even figured out how to artfully dodge the suggestions from your Coach that you should be maintaining an outward focus in your group. But then, conflict…

Sometimes conflict happens suddenly, almost without warning. One gal’s darling little angel bites or hits another gal’s and next thing you know the moms are quickly approaching thrown-down. Obviously, you need some outside help with this issue since advise from within the group will be perceived as taking sides.

But let’s talk about another sort of conflict in group. Eventually you’ll discover that different folks have different passions. Hopefully, since we asked everyone to study our SHAPE curriculum, you have come to understand that God’s design for His church and for your group is that there would be diversity of gifts and passions. The key is that in diversity there needs to be unity of purpose.

And that’s when the healthy contention that God purposed for your group turns to divisions, namely when the players involved are serving their own selfish purposes. It is only when the overarching purpose which God gave to His church is our central commitment that we can transcend contention and truly glorify God. Look at what James wrote about this and see if it applies to your group experiences:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:1-10 (emphases added)

And did you notice where James lays the blame for this selfish contention that tears at God’s redemptive community? The devil! At the heart of out-of-control contention is a desire to assert your will over another person, or over your group. This is very common in marriages, when spouses bring unfair expectations into the relationship and demand conformity. But notice that I said “unfair” expectations. There is right and wrong, truth and error. There are ideas and suggestions that will come up in your group that will take you away from God’s purpose for His church. Those should be opposed. However, most serious conflict and threats against unity in God’s church are not from these but rather from people who are trying to control, coerce, and manipulate.

So, the way to move forward is to have open and honest dialog. And be open to having your motives challenged, praying fervently that they stand the test. If they don’t, repent! Seek to be a person and a group of influence, not power. In this way, you honor our God and His gospel.

Because We Need To Smile....

2011-03-16T18:45:00.000-04:00

OK, I just couldn't resist. If you're feeling down or discouraged, take 2 minutes and watch this video. If it doesn't make you smile, go see a doctor about antidepressants! Enjoy, S

Playing With Fire!

2011-03-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

What’s your attitude toward the Bible? I have found that there are predominantly two wrong approaches found in our culture today. First is the Storybook understanding. The Bible for these folks is the Christian equivalent of Aesop’s Fables or a compilation of fortune cookie wisdom. “Hey, if it works for you, that’s nice.” The other approach I call Bibliolatry. These folks worship the Bible. It is God’s Holy Word and is worthy of praise and glory and honor. (Am I stepping on some toes right now?)

The Bible is certainly God’s “special revelation” to humanity. God speaks and some of what He has said has been preserved in the book that we call “The Bible.” “Some? What do you mean by ‘some’?” Well, since we believe that Jesus was and is God, if everything that God ever said was written down for us, wouldn’t there be more red writing in our Bible? But, while we have some of God’s Word, we also believe that what we have is sufficient for all faith and practice. In other words, the Bible contains all of God’s revelation that we need to be fully faithful to Him. While it does not contain all knowledge and, frankly, leaves quite a few questions unanswered, it still remains God’s perfect instruction for us, guiding us into truth and life and joy by the power of His Spirit.

But it remains clear from the practical outcomes of life that the Bible has been largely misunderstood, producing lives of contempt or legalism rather than lives that reflect its power. The Bible has the ability to penetrate the darkest, most private areas of the human heart as the Living Spirit of God uses it to convict us of rebellion and transform our attitudes through repentance. As one of my seminary professors put it, when you're truly engaging the Word of God, you are "Playing with Fire." But, again I suggest that I just don’t see this happening a lot. If people were truly experiencing God through His Word and seeing their lives transformed in miraculous ways as strongholds are obliterated and Kingdom fruit borne, then I believe we would see people clamoring to participate in its consumption, both privately and corporately. And I would think that they would be eager to share with others their love and trust toward the Lord.

Take a look at this video. This community in New Guinea was led to the Lord at least 20 years ago. This video shows their response to receiving the New Testament written in their native language for the first time, decades after trusting in the God who makes Himself known by “speaking” to men. When is the last time you saw anything remotely like this? :,)

The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.

Repent!!!

2011-03-08T07:13:00.005-05:00

Fat Tuesday. It’s upon us and that means within the culture that it’s the last day to throw all caution and prudence out and live for every fleshly desire of your heart, because tomorrow begins the Christian season of holiness. But, is that what the day before Lent should look like? This all comes from wrong thinking about what Lent offers us. World, repent! Church, repent!!!

During the Night of Worship, I shared about repentance being a turning your self-centered or worldly thinking back to right thinking about the Lord. In light of that, we are asking our groups and classes to consider a holiness study during the Lenten season leading up to Easter. The study is from 1 Peter, called Walk the Talk. Accompanying each of the seven sessions is a Christian disciplines devotional. Why? Because changing our thinking often requires breaking the patterns that we have adopted, patterns that flow from wrong thinking or lead us to reinforce wrong thinking. Our hope is that everyone who participates in this season with us will understand disciplines that way.

Here’s a breakdown of the sessions and disciplines which are suggested:

Session 1: Understanding the Battle for Holiness
Silence or Solitude & a Media Fast

Session 2: When You Don’t Feel Like Being “Good”
Inspection & Counting Your Blessings

Session 3: Developing an Appetite for Being “Good”
Ephesians Devotions & Worship or Celebration

Session 4: Refuse to Get Revenge
Prayer for Competitors & a Gossip Fast

Session 5: Learn to Live in Peace
James Devotions & Secret Service

Session 6: Get Ready for a Rough Ride
Slow Down & Margin

Session 7: You’re in Good Hands
Sleep & Sabbath

Don’t have your materials yet? Contact Sheri in the office and she’ll set it aside for you and your group, class, or family.

Not in a group yet? It’s not too late. Let me know and we’ll get you connected.

Offer Yourselves as a Living Sacrifice

2011-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

So, praise Him you people of God for He alone is worthy of our praise. He is our all in all. Ascribe to Him glory and strength and splendor. Commit to seek Him with all of your being. And offer yourselves to Him moment by moment as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. This is your spiritual act of worship. He wants all of your life, not the leftovers. And He wants you to proclaim His majesty throughout the world in song and word and deed.

Psalm 113
Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 29
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Worship with Gratitude and Confidence

2011-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Our God is a gracious, generous, loving Father. Scripture tells us that He gives good gifts to His children. Our God continually demonstrates that He is with us and for us. And what should be the response of a true worshiper of God? We should declare His greatness with gratitude and confidence, gratitude for His perfect provision and confidence that we are His and precious in His sight. We can have peace in any storm. If our God is for us, who can stand against us?

Psalm 40:1-4
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Woshiping When We're Unfaithful

2011-03-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

But if we are honest, we have to admit that a lot of the pain in our life is caused by our own poor choices. You see, at our core, we are selfish creatures. We seek to fulfill our own fleshly desires. We don’t want God reigning in our life. We want to be God. This is the reality of our life, both before we commit to follow Christ and after. And we have a very real enemy who speaks into our unfaithfulness. He tells us that we are no good. He says that we can never be acceptable to God. And he tries to convince us that it’s pointless to even try to worship God because He won’t listen to sinners. But Martin Luther declared in the first of his 95 Theses that “the entirety of the life of believers should be repentance.” The Hebrew word for repentance means “to turn away from” and the Greek word means “a change of mind.” So, the picture that we get from Scripture about becoming a worshiper of God is one where we are continually turning back to a right understanding of our Lord and changing our thinking according to who He is. That is why repentance is a huge part of the life of a worshiper of God. Our rebellious ways take us further away from God’s loving plan for our life. It’s only when we seek to know Him better that we learn to trust Him with every decision of life.

Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 51:1-17
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Worshiper In Times of Trouble

2011-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

But there’s a reality to life that we cannot avoid: We live in a broken world. (I shared here about the week I had leading up to this message, one which required that I truly apply this teaching to my own life!) There are times when we feel that we are being overwhelmed by circumstances. There are times when we feel that God is distant or maybe that He has even abandoned us. There are seasons of despair and defeat, of brokenness and hopelessness. And sometimes people say things like, “I just can’t worship God right now; I am suffering too much.” But these are the very times when we need worship the most. When you are feeling as though you may be overcome by circumstances, you need to reflect on the One who will never be overcome. And when you feel that grief and sorrow are crushing your heart, you need to be refreshed and renewed by the One who loves and cares for you, who will never leave you nor forsake you. Allow the dryness of your soul to be refreshed and revived with springs of living water from the one who knows suffering better than anyone else, your Creator and your Redeemer. The One who keeps watch over you both day and night.

Psalm 42:1-5
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 46:1-7
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Night of Worship - Becoming a Worshiper of God

2011-02-28T10:41:00.002-05:00

Last night was an amazing night of reflection in Word and song upon our glorious God. I'm told that over 300 were here in attendance. PTL for a wonderful turnout, but wishing that our entire church family had been there. Perhaps the seed was sown with enough to start a movement at Grace as we seek to move beyond "religion" toward faithfulness and worship in all areas of our lives. I have entered my sketchy notes from the night as blog entries for this week. I'm hopeful it will bless some... S

A few months ago, I blogged about the evolutionary journey that I have been on spiritually. You see, there was a time when I referred to myself as a Christian, sort of like a club you might join. Then, I realized that there were some fundamental, foundational beliefs that should be in place for any person who claimed to be in Christ, so I began referring to myself as a believer. But, as I grew in my faith, I began to understand that beliefs, if they are truly believed, should produce behaviors that are consistent with the character of Christ. To remind myself of this, I started calling myself a follower of Jesus. However, over the last few years, I realized that it was possible to have the right beliefs in God and to do the right things, even though my heart was in the wrong place. If I’m brutally honest for a moment, there are times when I act more from the realm of obligation and duty, not from genuine faith. There are times that I’m just going through the motions, following “religion” and not seeking God and His Kingdom with all my heart, soul, mind & strength. So, I have begun seeing myself as a worshiper of God.

So, why try to become a worshiper of God? Well, that what God says He wants. In Mark 12:30, Jesus says that loving God and people is more important than offerings and sacrifices to God. What He’s saying is that religious activity is not what God desires. He is looking for people who strive to know and love Him better.

“But isn’t worship what happens on Sunday morning, or maybe on a night like tonight?” Well, worship is not singing, although it might include songs. Rather than an activity, worship is a posture. And if we’re to be brutally honest for a moment, there are many times when we come to church on Sunday morning with something far removed from a worshipful spirit. Maybe we’re distracted by family issues from the morning. Maybe we have worries or concerns over our current circumstances. Maybe we have allowed bitterness or pride to create distance between us and God. Maybe, we’re not even sure that Christianity is anything more than some nice guidelines for having a better life.

So, tonight we’re going to start with the basics. We are going to participate in a corporate worship experience. Hopefully, each of us will be able to set aside the problems of life for the next hour and together enter into the presence of the Holy One. Tonight, through Scripture and song, we are going to be reminded of who our God is and proclaim His worth. Tonight, even as Psalm 22:3 says, may God be enthroned on the praises of His people.

Psalm 150
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 96
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

Psalm 134:1-2
Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Update on CAR trip from Pastors Tim & Doug

2011-02-13T08:13:00.001-05:00

UPDATE FOR CHURCH FAMILY FROM PASTORS TIM & DOUG:

Greetings from the C.A.R. We would like to thank you for your faithful prayers as we began our adventure on Tuesday of this week. We are very thankful for our safe travels to the C.A.R. as all of our flights and luggage made it safely. We did get a little worried about our luggage as it was the last four pieces to be taken from the plane.

We arrived late Wednesday night and then turned around Thursday morning to begin the all day trek to the Northern part of the country where we stayed at a Bible Institute where future pastor’s are trained in Bossangoa. Upon our arrival, we had the privilege of joining the director and his family for an authentic African dinner where we were served rice, beef liver in a sauce and goazo. It was a meal that cost them greatly, but they desired to show their love to us and went all out. On Friday, we visited our two schools. Bodali Level One and Bodali Level Two. Please know how blessed we were to spend time with Pastor Jeremy who is the pastor of the church that oversees the two schools. It was also a huge blessing to meet and interact with our two teachers, Samuel and Marc. Please know that these two men are amazing and genuinely love the children. Everyday, nearly 100 children are educated and fed because of your generosity and we have seen first hand the blessing it is to these children.

A few of the highlights of this stop was hearing a young girl recite the O.T. Walk Thru the Bible lesson. Another was seeing orphan children learning to read and write. Yet another was the blessing of playing with the children. We took over two soccer balls and two jump ropes and had the sheer joy of watching nearly 100 children get so excited over these small blessings. Jumping rope and playing soccer with them was an absolute joy that will not be matched by many other experiences.

Finally, because they are so appreciative of our support, they sacrificially gave us a number of gifts from the pastor and the church family. It will not sound like much to us as Americans, but please know it cost them dearly. They gave us some roots which are like potato, bananas and a chicken that we affectionately called Tina. Yes, we camped out with a chicken Friday night.

We love and miss you our church family dearly and consider ourselves very blessed to be representing Grace Church half way around the world. We long and look forward to the day when we get to share all that God is teaching us through this experience. Know you are making a difference through these hand in hand partnerships. Please continue to pray for us as we visit more schools this week and prepare to travel home next Sunday.

God, My Fortress and My Strength

2011-02-01T09:47:00.011-05:00

Wow. I'm on an amazing journey of faith right now. And I'm wondering what you're thinking about that comment. "Does that mean good stuff or rotten stuff is happening?" Well, BOTH! But isn't that life? There's good and bad stuff coming daily. And the thing that matters most is what you do with what God has provided for your life. Notice I didn't say "Allowed in your life," but provided for your life.

Look at this Kutless video that I just came across. Then, tell me what you're feeling.

(If you can't see this video here, go to http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=920BJ1NU).

BTW, no, I'm not losing my house and fighting with my wife over money. Just to trying to head off rumors....

Do you see victory or defeat? Do you see hope or despair? Maybe you see all of these things, but which are you leaving the video with? As I put the finishing touches on the Night of Worship we have scheduled for February 27, this video is settling down right where God has had me for two months now. In all things, will you worship Him?

The Least of These

2011-01-24T17:43:00.008-05:00

On Sunday, we joined churches across our country in recognizing the Sanctity of Human Life. Andy Spade, one of our Elders here at Grace, encouraged us to take time this week and reflect on Matthew 25:31-46. In that passage concerning judgment at the Second Coming of Christ, Jesus indicates that those who are truly His have a heart like His. And how was Jesus’ heart? In vv. 40 & 45 He says,

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (40)… I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (45).

Within the immediate context, Jesus is probably talking about care for Christian brothers who are “less notable,” but Paul tells us that our care and concern should be for everyone, not just our own. He wrote to the Galatian believers,

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10

This last Christmas season, many people in our church family had an opportunity to do that in a very real way. And by nature of my position, I was blessed to be along for the ride, so to speak. I want to tell you about the outreach what we did to Point Pleasant.

Point Pleasant is a home in Lancaster for medically-fragile children ranging in age from infant to 21 years. The facility’s goal is to enable children with special needs to realize their fullest potential in a caring, supportive home under the care of nurses, social workers, therapists, and physicians. I found out about Point Pleasant when Julie, part of our church family, told me of her passion for and compassion toward these kids. What God had placed on her heart, she was unwilling to pursue alone. She wanted to invite others from our church family to minister to these kids.

I want to tell you briefly about what I saw when the presents donated by our church family were delivered. For the most part, I will not tell you the names of these kids. I would like to protect their privacy. However, we did get a few pictures from the facility which I have permission to publish here.

First, I want to say that the staff at Point Pleasant have amazing hearts! The circumstances in which they work/serve daily are challenging. One worker shared that she usually has to start her day by finding a quiet place, often in the bathroom, and having a good hard cry for the kids and families served by Point Pleasant. But she said that it’s sort of like a psalm of lament for her. She needs to connect to the pain of a broken creation before she can give it fully to the Lord and just serve.

I’m not sure what I expected from the kids. Nothing could have prepared me for the scenes I observed. For those foolish enough to believe that these kids are unaware of their circumstances, I invite you to experience what I did that evening. For the most part, our volunteers had to open gifts and then show the kids what they got. And how they oo’ed and ah’ed over each gift as they held them where the kids could see. Some kids began kicking their legs in joy. Some squirmed right out of their shoes. Others squealed with delight. They could clearly feel the love of attention from their guests; they even liked some of the gifts! :o)

Let me tell you about two boys who rocked our souls. The first was a cute little boy who is about 4. He’s a sweetheart and was clearly Julie’s favorite. He was in the first room we visited, a common space for medical attention. But then we went to his room and found that he shared that space with his 13-year-old brother. One from our group, upon realizing the relationship, was devastated. How could God allow this to happen to two children in one household? She looked at me and just muttered, hoping to get an explanation that made sense. But, what explanation can there be to make us feel OK with that reality? Even one child born with such tremendous medical needs is unbearable. But two in one household? Our worker’s grief as she empathetically entered into the suffering of that family is a beautiful picture forever etched in my memory. I think she felt the pain the Lord felt as He gazed upon His friend’s tomb.

One more story to tell you about… And here is a place where I will break from my commitment to protect identities. At the end of our brief visit to Point Pleasant, we realized there was one undelivered bag of goodies. The tag on the bag simply said “Angel.” And no doubt, that is exactly what this little boy was to his parents, their darling little angel from the Lord. The reason the bag was still sitting on the floor is that the Lord had called this little one out of his painful existence. My notes say that Angel was with us only a brief 5 years.

Some are wondering how you could minister in these circumstances. Others are wondering why we have suffering like this at all. And theologians wrestle with making sense of all of this while atheists use these conditions as proof that there is no “good God.” But, in the midst of awful circumstances, I saw the faith and hope of God’s people as they reached out to minister to the “least of these.” Rather than ask “Why?” (though they probably each wondered it quietly), they heard the Lord call them to be like Him and reach into suffering with love and grace.

Do you want information on how you can serve regularly at Point Pleasant or other places where “the least” congregate? Let’s talk…

Friends Don’t Let Friends Attend Church

2011-01-17T11:01:00.003-05:00

What is church? For those who are Christian, you know that a huge part of our life involves adopting Christian culture. Rightly or wrongly, we focus a lot of our energy upon changing our behaviors and our words to align with this new “family” with which we are now joined. One of the words we pick up is church. But what exactly is church?

Well, if you want to consider the context of the origin of church, there is a little confusion surrounding the word. The Greek word which we translate church is ekklesia. But what exactly does that word mean? Etymologically, ekklesia comes from a root word, kaleo which means to call out and the prefix ek which means from. So, literally, ekklesia means to call out from. Some have used this argument to say that Christians are called out from the world and therefore should live lives separated from its evil influences. There have been monastic communities throughout the history of the church that have been build around this notion, that the world is evil and we, if we are to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:44), are to separate ourselves from all chance of contamination. But this misses the way ekklesia was used in Jesus’ day. This calling out was used in the sense of calling villagers out of their homes for a town meeting. The idea was that there were times when life needed to be interrupted in order that clear communication from governing officials could be made to the people so that they would understand what was expected of them and how to live. In practice, the word ekklesia carried more the meaning gathering or meeting. Ironically, this is very close to the meaning of the word synagoge, the word we transliterate synagogue which means place of meeting.

So, what does this mean for us? Well, for starters, we need to consider what happens when we “go to church.” The event that we call church which happens on Sunday morning is a sacred time more than it is a sacred place. The building at 501 W. Lincoln is just that, a building. There is nothing special about it until it serves as the place for God’s people to gather. And it becomes sacred because of the gathering. On Sunday morning, God’s people come together for a sacred purpose. They come together as those with a common identity due to God’s calling, redemption, adoption of them. They come to be together, to come out of their day-in day-out life and to prepare to hear from their King. And they acknowledge the message by proclaiming it back to Him in song and confirm their understanding by allowing it to produce Kingdom living as they are sent forth into the world.

So, tell me: Can you be a Christian without church? Please, I’m not talking about a works-based righteousness, that you will somehow be saved by attending church on Sunday. In fact, I’m suggesting exactly the opposite. Shouldn’t a vibrant relationship with our Living God produce love for Him and love for others, beginning with His people? Shouldn’t there be a “holy expectancy” as His children gather weekly to be with each other and to open themselves to communion with Him through the preaching of His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit? Shouldn’t His people continually look for opportunities to be poured out in the service of others, starting with the weekly gathering but spilling out into our daily lives? Shouldn’t there be something sacred about these times together? Or, is church a building and a show, a space where you hope to fulfill an obligation and maybe hear something new and interesting, if not in the sermon then maybe in a morsel of gossip? What do you and I expect on Sunday morning? And a tougher question, what do we do to help create a sacred ekklesia?

Growing as a Christian

2011-01-12T19:26:00.004-05:00

I don’t think I have ever asked a Christian the question, “Do you want to grow in your faith?” and received back a negative response. Sure, affirmation of the desire to grow is more convincing in some than in others, but every follower of Jesus Christ wants improvement in their walk. The places they want to grow and the motivation for change can run the gamut of possibilities. Some are significant changes and others less so, at least from the perspective of the person not struggling in that area. But if there’s a persistent issue or pattern in your life that you want to alter or eliminate, a mole hill can seem like a mountain. (This is a good place to resist the clichéd Christian retort, “Faith as small as a mustard seed will cast mountains into the sea!” Well, in 12 years of ministry, I have yet to see that splashdown.)

So, where do you want to grow? Or rather, where do you need to grow? Maybe you need to better understand God’s Word and how it directly relates to your life. A popular New Year’s resolution is to commit to reading through the Bible in a year. Two comments on that discipline: 1) Consuming large chunks of Scripture is vitally important to understanding the entire God Story. If you find this practice difficult because you want to slow down and savor every morsel, then you should seriously consider the Big Bite Commitment. And, 2) Expect to get bogged down in Leviticus and 1 Chronicles, even in some of the more repetitive prophets. If this is the case, start by committing to follow through regardless of how you feel. And something that works for some people is to use an audio Bible. I recommend listening while tracking in your study Bible, highlighting and marking anything that you find “meaningful” in the moment. If you come across something that generates more questions than answers, jot it down on a notepad and talk it over with someone when you have a chance.

Now, you knew there was going to be a plug in here somewhere for community. Here it is. (I hate to disappoint!) Bible reading is seen as a personal, private discipline. But that was not the context of all of the biblical admonitions to consume God’s Word. In fact, personal ownership of Bibles didn’t begin to come into play until the invention of the printing press in the 15th century. Here are some things that you get when you think of Bible reading as a corporate discipline:

You have other people with whom to discuss the meaning of the passage. Face it, there are some passages of Scripture that are downright confusing. Still others we think we understand, but we are disconnected from the author’s cultural context so we end up with a wrong interpretation. When it comes to understanding Scripture, generally speaking you are better off with more minds applied to the task.

You can hold one another accountable as you corporately commit to reading at the same place. Listen, you don’t have to be in the same room to read “together.” There’s a group I know that’s taking the month of January and reading through Matthew one chapter each day. But they are doing this privately. Then, they email and text one another about their understanding and reflections on each day’s reading. It’s a great way to keep daily “touches” within your group while also encouraging one another concerning the commitment to read and the value of meditation upon God’s Word.

And corporate commitment to the reading/study of God’s Word is significantly more likely to produce transformed perspective and behaviors in your life. Groups tend to reflect at a much deeper level and then hold one another accountable for following through on application of God’s precepts.

So, how are you doing with spending time in God’s Word, allowing it to penetrate deep into your heart, transforming your perspective and your behaviors? I’ll confess that I let my spiritual disciplines get out of control during the holiday season. It took getting back to devotions in a serious way to quiet my soul. The good news is that I started sleeping better and have much less back pain. The better news is that I’m seeing things in a more positive way than I did before. Same circumstances. Better constitution. Dare I say it? Even peace.

2011 Resolutions

2011-01-03T11:11:00.004-05:00

So, it's 2011. And every New Year brings an opportunity for reflection and recommitment to a new life, a "preferred" life. I find it a little humorous that we are willing to put up with unacceptable circumstances or behaviors in our life until the calendar changes. But that's another post...

I have run into quite a few folks who are very frustrated with their inability to overcome specific areas of sin in their life. Maybe they struggle with anger or legalism, pornography or jealousy, the list is long and infamous. Almost every time, the statement comes in a form similar to, "I hate this about my life and I have tried everything. I can stay sin-free for (insert some time period), but then I slide back into my old ways. Why can't I live without this burden?"

And therein resides the problem. We are not talking about a change in behaviors so much as we need a change in our thinking. We think that the Greek word, metanoia, which we translate "repent" means to change our activities. What it really means is to change our mind or our thinking. We have bought into a series of lies about God and ourselves and our social obligations that have replaced what God would have us understand, and these wrong thoughts form the foundation of our behaviors. Frankly, if we want to change our behaviors, we first need to purge our minds of these wrong ideas.

Once you have addressed those lies and replaced them with God's truth, you need two more things to create real change in your life. The good news is that only one of them is your responsibility. You need to discipline your "flesh" as Paul puts it. Sarx, translated "flesh," in this sense is not so much about the meat on your bones, but your tendency to rebel against God and His Kingdom. So you need spiritual disciplines to help you tame those desires and redirect your heart toward the Lord.

And the part that is not up to you? Well, true transformation comes thru the work of the Living Spirit of God. Every person who has put all trust and hope in Christ for salvation is given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The change that you are looking for in your life is a result of the work of God, the Holy Spirit.

There will be more on this in the future. This is a big part of what we will be looking at in 2011 at Grace. This is at the core of real Discipleship. And Paul says that this is how we are to worship God. I'll leave you with his words from Romans 12:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

Dad Life....

2010-12-23T02:15:00.000-05:00

For the dads out there... Enjoy.

Maybe God is moving on some of you to help us build a Men's Ministry at Grace. Why don't you let me know...

Living for Legacy

2010-12-20T11:57:00.004-05:00

Everyone wants to be remembered. They want to make their life count for something. For the man (or woman) of God, it usually means that others would acknowledge your accomplishments which truly built up the Kingdom of God, the places you showed that you were a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Sadly, some people, in pursuit of recognition, end up dishonoring God. Rather than pursuing the honor and majesty of the Lord, they seek honor and fame for themselves. In so doing, they disqualify themselves from the prize… a legacy!

Yesterday, I had the honor and privilege of attending the memorial service for a true hero of faith, Dr. Jerry Young. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet the man. But I have spent the last two years getting to know a lot of people whose lives were impacted by his ministry at Grace Church.

Was Dr. Young a perfect man? Certainly not. No one but Christ is! Was he a godly man? I am confident that he was, based upon the testimony of others and the fruit of his labors at Grace. What I have gathered is that Jerry Young lived a life of dedication to the Lord, his family, Grace Church, and his country. He is remembered as a strong man tempered by genuine humility. And from what I can tell, he took every opportunity to lift up Christ our Glorious Savior, not himself. And this ability comes from a confidence in your own true worth, not in your personal accomplishments, but in your relationship with the Lord God. Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). So, yesterday, we celebrated the legacy which Jerry Young left behind.

Earlier, I wrote that I never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Young. Well, “never” would apply only if everything he (and I) believed was a huge lie. But, because I am certain that our hope in Christ is right and true, I look forward to another opportunity, only God knows when, when I will be able to thank Dr. Young for his faithfulness and his legacy at Grace.

Communion of the Saints

2010-11-17T10:55:00.005-05:00

This Sunday, our Grace Church family is going to gather for our complete, three-fold Communion service. For those of you unfamiliar with the Grace Brethren full Communion, it is comprised of three components which define the journey of our faith from beginning to end. It is a beautiful picture of and reminder of who we are as the people of God, the subjects of Christ the King.

Bread & Cup

The sharing of the bread and the cup are common to the assorted Christian denominations. They are a remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord and Savior. We remember, but do not mourn that historical event. It is a looking backward to the means of our reconciliation with Him and with each other.

Love Feast

At our full Communion service, we celebrate with a love feast. This can take many different forms; this time it will be finger foods. It is symbolic of our future hope, to be in fellowship with the King and His people at the consummation of all things, what Scripture calls the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. This look toward the full expression of God’s Kingdom, Eden restored, is the hope of our faith, that which motivates us to persevere through the brokenness of this present age.

Foot Washing

The component of our Communion celebration which seems to bother the most people is the foot washing ceremony. First, what it represents; then, why I think it bothers us.

Foot washing comes from John 13 where Jesus washed the feet of His disciples before the Passover feast, the one we refer to as the Last Supper. Other denominations point to the servitude of Christ in this event, that He gave us a model for serving others. We historically have emphasized the cleansing aspect. When Peter asked to be washed completely, feet, hands, and head, Jesus told him that he was already clean and only needed his feet cleansed (v.10). Both of these aspects are true and both are to be present among God’s people. Christ called us to do just He had done (v.15). He says that He has set an example for His followers. The point of foot washing is to submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. We are to be like Him, and He came to serve others. And while He has made us clean by His blood, we are to commit to helping one another remain clean.

But I think here is where we have a problem with foot washing. Some don’t want to deal with other people’s feet and most don’t want to reveal their filth. Of course, I write this as analogy, because most of us do more to clean our feet prior to foot washing than we do any other time of the year. But it is in our nature to live as rebels against God and His Kingdom rule. We may be willing to accept a weak, broken, dying king, one who was willing to sacrifice for us. We may even love the idea of returning to Eden and all that sinless creation and a benevolent rich man have to offer sojourners from the land of brokenness and pain and death. But do we really want the whole package? Do we want to learn to obey all that He has commanded (Mt. 28:20)? Do we want to expose our shortcomings to others? But King Jesus says that unless you submit yourself to His authority in your life, you can have no part of the bread and cup and no seat at the feast (Jn. 13:8).

So, I’ll see you at Communion at 6pm on Sunday evening. Bring your dirty feet. And bring your fellowship circle. Let us celebrate all that our King has done for us in the past that allows us to gather in His name. And let us look to the future when He will make all things right, giving us the greatest desire of our heart, HIM, trusting that we will also get everything else He created us to long for. And let us come prepared to enthusiastically say “Yes” to all He has planned and decreed for our lives up to that Day.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100

Why Taste of Grace?

2010-11-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

Most of you have figured out why Grace Church and Connect need a ministry like Taste of Grace. I have sent out several emails explaining how ToG fits in with a missional approach to ministry. It also is a crucial part of our discipleship as believers and a church.

Stewardship: Stewardship is a HUGE concept in our faith. What will you do with the things God has entrusted to you? Will you squander blessings? Will you look to bless others?

Outward Focus: Churches tend to turn inward on themselves and distance themselves from their mission field. Outreach ministries keep our mission ever-before our eyes.

Christlikeness: Christ came ministering to the whole person. Christians tend toward a Platonic dualism, being concerned for the soul but not the body. If we’re to be faithful to Jesus commands and to be made into His likeness, we need to care for the whole person also.

Community: Grace Church doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We are part of a community. And our faith is built around the image of redemptive community, the church. Christ’s church is to have a positive impact on the world, not only from our perspective, but also from theirs. If Grace Church were to disappear, would the community mourn a tragic loss?

Here’s an Angel Food Ministries promo video I found on the Internet. It explains that food programs like ToG are for everyone. Take a look. Consider. And let’s talk…

The Genius of AND…

2010-11-01T15:48:00.003-04:00

Americans, especially Christians, are known for their either/or reasoning. Something is either “this” or “that.” And usually, that means that we’re going to break down into an argument about which is “right,” and by implication, which is “wrong.” And that’s when the real fun begins. Once you have sides claiming that their solution is the only right one, you can go to war against other views.

This has been the case in the church for about a decade. There is a war that has been raging between how you do church, philosophically. The war is between Attractional church and Missional church. Put in action language, it’s a war between “Come and see” and “Go and be/tell” approaches to ministry.

Now, no one would argue that the church is not to be missional. As I preached on October 24, we are to be a sent people, ambassadors for Christ witnessing about the person and work of Christ and about His Kingdom. But very few churches put their emphasis there. Rather, the trend of the last 30 years of church history has been upon building facilities and programs designed to attract people to our Sunday morning gatherings. See the tension?

Look at the connection process. One model says “Come here to our space, believe what we believe, act like we act, and then you can be part of us.” The other says “You are so important to me and to God that I will go out and find you, entering into your world and inviting you to be in relationship with me/us in the hope that you will come to understand why we believe what we believe.”

And how you allocate resources in each of these models is very different. The key resource in the Attractional church is money since it is necessary to build better buildings and programs. The key resource in the Missional church is people, and effort is placed on helping them to understand their calling to the mission field and then on encouraging and empowering them to act.

But this week, I’m headed to the AND Conference in Indiana. The AND Conference is a conversation about how BOTH of these methods have tremendous value for the church and God’s Kingdom. It’s a conversation about how you live and minister in the tension between two very different philosophies of ministry. And I’m not even sure that there is a totally right or totally wrong answer, but I’m hopeful that the conversation will lead to deeper thought, prayerful reflection, and lively discussion about what God wants from His people at Grace Church. This is a great experience for folks who find themselves in “white space.” And inspired by the message of yesterday, I look forward to being open to the skillful hands of the Potter as He shapes me, my brothers, and our church… Yes, even in Indiana! ;o)

Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria…

2010-10-28T16:00:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday I had another opportunity to be stretched. While I have delivered several sermons before, never was it in a formal church setting. For those of you who don’t know me well enough yet, I am a perfectionist and that perfectionism is focused primarily on me, not others. I’m willing to extend tons of grace to others, but I beat myself up pretty good. And if it involves teaching and preaching the Word of God, well the stakes are thru the roof!

I want to thank the dozens of people who encouraged me following my message. Frankly, I’m trying to make myself believe the compliments I received since I’m dwelling on the places I didn’t communicate exactly what I meant. Again, my perfectionism rearing its ugly head. The comments which meant the most to me were the ones about the significance of the message I brought from Acts 1. One woman told me that she had been a missionary’s wife for 39 years and had never heard such a compelling call to live a life on mission for the Lord. Wow!

But isn’t that truly the message of Acts 1:1-8? The language that Luke uses to instruct Theophilus about the responsibility of those who follow Christ is full of authoritative descriptions of Christ as commander or king. And Luke’s preference for calling the Christ followers “apostles” conveys his understanding that we are to be His envoys or ambassadors, to be His “sent ones.” And just so that we don’t make too much of our role in God’s redemptive plan, Jesus tells us that we need divine power in order to accomplish our enormous task.

So, you and I are sent to our Jerusalem. Have you thought about that this week? The people in your Connect group are part of your Jerusalem. So are your family members and your neighbors, and your co-workers. Have you been sent to them this week? Have you been a faithful witness for Christ and His Kingdom?

And how are you doing with your Judea and Samaria? There hasn’t been much time to go, but have you at least thought about them? Have you begun praying about them? Maybe your group could start praying about people having hearts ready to hear the message of the grace of God. Maybe you all could be praying together that you would have opportunities on the coming weeks and months to have an impact somewhere outside your Jerusalem, even if just in Judea. Is that something you even desire? If you don’t, does that trouble you in light of Acts 1:1-8?

Because, if we’re truly honest about it, most of the time we are really looking to build our kingdom, not His. We are looking for things or status or comfort. Do you think I’m wrong? What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount when He was addressing the masses?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33

Were people that way in ancient Israel, but we have evolved beyond that? Really? Maybe I’m the only one who has a tendency to slide back into my self-centeredness. But I doubt it, since I have eyes to see the world and there’s still much need for faithful witnesses for Christ but many who would call Him “Lord.”

Serving From Your SHAPE....

2010-10-19T12:40:00.005-04:00

Our CONNECT Ministry has been looking into how our serving the Lord and people is a crucial part of your personal discipleship. Also, we are learning about how the Lord uniquely crafted each of us to serve in a specific way.

Well, I came across this video which demonstrates the need to plug people in at the place God has set for them, not just wherever you have an available opening. Hope you enjoy a little humor....

I Believe in Evolution

2010-10-06T23:00:00.001-04:00

OK, I know. That’s a controversial blog title. You say “evolution” and it just sets people off. Before you check out or ask for my head, let me clarify. The evolution which I believe in is not the Darwinian attempt to explain the origins of life apart from God’s involvement. It is, however, the primary definition for the word “evolution,” namely “any process of formation or growth; development.”

When I first placed all my hope and trust in Christ, I called myself “Christian.” It was where I was at the time. That’s what I was becoming, changing from what I was into one of “those” people. And I started doing the Christian things like going to church and a few of the disciplines.

Then came the day (or series of days) where I began to realize that there was an entire group of people who called themselves “Christian” but who didn’t represent the beliefs which I held. They were attending church nearly every week, but they didn’t appear to have faith. Church was something they did, not something they were. And I wanted to identify myself in a way which set me apart from them. So, I evolved. I became a “believer.” I wanted to communicate that I believed upon the Lord and that I believed His Word. And belief creates a change in me, how I handle stress and pain, how I treat people and where I ascribe value.

And I was a “believer” for quite a long time. In tough seasons, I reminded myself that I was a believer and it helped me to lean hard into the Lord for strength and comfort. But, as I spent more time listening to solid preaching and in personal and corporate Bible study, I grew in my understanding that my salvation and adoption by the Lord weren’t so much about me as they were about Him. My redemption from enslavement to the enemy was so that I would become part of God’s army, not just His family. I realized that I was being sent into the world even as the Father had sent the Son, with a mission! And I realized that “believer” wasn’t adequate to reflect my understanding of my place in God’s Kingdom. So, I evolved again. I became a “Christ-follower.” This suited my deeper appreciation of the implications of our gospel. God had called me out of darkness into light in order to follow in His ways, to be like Him. And being like Him certainly meant becoming more holy in my words, thoughts, and deeds. However it primarily meant that I would be like Him in setting my selfish desires aside and serving others for the sake of the Kingdom. Again, I was pleased with my new moniker (that word is for you, Jeff) because it explained better where I was in my relationship with the Lord.

I recently evolved again. This time, I was completely happy with my identification as a “Christ-follower” but I found that there was a subtle distinction that I needed to make, for myself more than for anyone else. You see, I have a tendency to do things in order to feel good. Don’t read into that statement. I would find myself doing good things so that I could feel the satisfaction of having done the right thing. That’s not bad, right? But I wanted to look beyond the classifications “good thing” and “bad thing” and get to a motivation that transcended the actual circumstances. I wanted to be at a place where I could rise above the extenuating circumstances and see the bigger picture. Frankly, I wanted to get to a place that an apparently neutral discussion became clearly “good” or “bad,” to use primal classifications. So, I recently evolved again. I now try to see myself as a “God-worshipper.” Please don’t think that is a step backwards. I know that changing “Christ” to “God” seems like a watering down to some. Trust me; it isn’t. And the change to being a worshipper of God is a move toward reverence for me. I want to see every situation presented each day as an opportunity to worship the Lord or to worship myself. This is just where my journey of faith has me today.

So, are you evolving? I guess that the way to ask that which would be more widely approved in Christian circles is, “Are you maturing?” If you have been a Christian for a while, are you in a different place today than you were a year ago? 5 years? 10? Have to settled down in your journey, maybe even stopped growing altogether? As CONNECT and Grace Church move forward, we are going to talk a lot about discipleship. After all, our commission from the Lord is not to make “converts” but to make “disciples.” So, are you evolving?

Don't Reinvent the Wheel - Use This One!

2010-10-01T08:45:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, you can't say it any better than someone has already said it. So, you refer to them so as not to take credit for the work of another. Besides, it's good to bring a second witness. It avoids the typical response, "Well, that's just your opinion."

So, here is a blog post by a buddy with whom I attended seminary. It seemed incredibly relevant to our current circumstances. It's also one of the most important reasons we would like to see everyone at Grace Church in a small group. But keep in mind that simply being in a group isn't going to get you where you need to be. You have to be committed to following hard after the Lord.

Hope you appreciate by brother, Aaron's post as much as I did. http://bit.ly/amuxTq

Into the Fire

2010-09-28T16:44:00.005-04:00

What are the things that you look forward to in life? Summer? Graduation? Vacation? Kids moving out? Retirement?

What do you do during the seasons of pain? You know what I mean, those times when we suffer. Maybe it’s the loss of a job followed by a long stretch of unemployment, a time when you question your ability to provide for your family, your value in the marketplace, your significance to God. Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, a time of grief and regrets, a time of loneliness and emptiness. Maybe it’s a season of illness, maybe immensely painful for a time or maybe progressive, degenerative, and terminal. What do you do during times like these?

How do seasons of suffering affect your faith? Are you the same person spiritually when you come out as when you went in? I’ve found that few people emerge the same as they entered. So, is your faith stronger or shaken? Has it become more sure or is it feeble or absent when you emerge from the darkness into the light?

That is what our Grace Church family finds itself in right now, a season of suffering. The emotions are all across the spectrum. Some are in extreme dispair; there is no doubt in their mind that they are in the crucible of pain. The ones who are pleased perhaps don’t realize it, but they are in a very similar place. Because God’s Word tells us that times of suffering come for the testing of our faith.

You see, some of us profess faith and think we’re good-to-go. But when the testing by fire comes, we find out the value of that faith. Scripture tells us that we will all eventually be tested in this way:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

By Peter tells us that we don’t have to wait for Judgment Day to find out if we have genuine faith. He says that there are trials in life which serve as pre-tests, seasons God allows so we can know how we’re doing in our journey of faith:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

So, Grace family, we are all in a time of testing. The future of Grace Church is a product of the responses of each of us to that testing. It could be lots worse; the church Peter was writing to was being beaten, tortured, and fed to wild animals. But the test is the same. What response will our faith produce?

Tough Times? Reflect and Refresh...

2010-09-25T10:26:00.007-04:00

Well, the hits on this blog have been thru the roof over the last week. No doubt, people who were less-than-patient with waiting for the church letter about Scott were searching for clues. No doubt, they thought they found lots. They may have. This something that Grace Leadership has been living for months.

Of course, you've probably been wondering why things have gone silent. Maybe you have received and read your church letter by now and can begin to appreciate why. It's not for lack of effort. I have written a half dozen posts since the last one, but the time was not right to post them.

When I'm in a tough time, I go to something familiar, especially if there are fond memories associated with it. This week, I stumbled upon a video of a couple that I did ministry with at my previous church. I was overcome with a flood of warm emotions, something the Lord knew I needed at the time.

While I'm not ready to start really blogging again, I wanted to share the clip with you. Who knows? Maybe I can convince Jeff and Vangie that they need to take a trip to Lancaster County. Maybe they would like to try Shoo-fly Pie or Whoopie Pies. And maybe they would help us learn that when we cry out to our Lord, it is right and beautiful. He is our only hope. All else will disappoint...

Gather in the Park

2010-09-02T15:40:00.000-04:00

CONNECT Ministry gathered on Sunday afternoon to celebrate as God’s people at Grace Church all which He is doing and all which He wants to do thru us in our Groups Ministry. It was great to see hundreds of our Grace family, from newborn babies to our seniors, eating, laughing, and playing together.

I even had an elderly woman who was not with our group come to me to ask what all the celebration was about. She was here from New Jersey with her granddaughter, visiting her son who recently relocated to Lititz. I just told her that we were a group of church folks who had worshiped together in the morning and were now partying together in the park. She was amazed and asked which church we were from, because she felt her son needed a “family” here in his new home. By the end of our short conversation, she was wondering aloud if she should move to Lititz with her ailing mother-in-law from Florida because Lititz looked like a great place to experience real community.

I really appreciate all of the hard work of our volunteers who planned and executed the event. Also, I want to express a special “Thank you!” to all of the folks who attended and those who made donations above their meal ticket. The final event cost the CONNECT budget less than $600. You all ROCK!

I’ve had a little time following the event to reflect on the message I delivered with the help of the Becker’s. I appreciated the feedback I received from some of you. I heard that the message was both inspirational and tough to hear. Good! That means that it aligned well with God’s Word! Here are some bullet points the day after:

The lies of the culture are fueled by our enemy and are designed to distract and divert you from God’s will for your life. Your life is NOT about seeking comfort and order.

God-inspired vision for your future creates opportunities for both fear and a great story.

You have to travel thru the intense conflict of your story in order to create the character transformation and joy which you desire. There is no easy, safe road.

The very issues or events of your life that you think disqualify you from service to the Lord are the very reason that He wants to use you. At the end of your story, all glory will be His since He was clearly working thru weak vessels.

If you’re ready to write a great story with your life, make sure you do like any good storyteller and bring others along with you. Oh yeah, and don’t forget that the Lord is your guide!

(NUTS! I had intended to embed a video from Dr. John Piper, a pastor whom I admire a lot, but I think the enemy is thwarting my efforts. I have been trying unsuccessfully for 3 days using 4 different video formats, all to no avail. So, please try this link: http://bit.ly/cveINa. I hope it works for you. S)

CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 5)

2010-08-20T16:00:00.000-04:00

So, where are you at? Is Relationship good enough or do you want Fellowship? Have you ever tasted Fellowship? I’m betting that those who have tasted it will never settle for anything less.

Use this week of blog posts as a discussion guide for your group. Wrestle with the issue. Express the desires of your heart, for Fellowship, for each other, for the Lord. Are there things in your life that are choking out what God has for you? Does this sound like “crazy cult stuff”? Do you think that you’ll be just fine with how you have lived out your Christian faith, even on the day when the Lord judges your deeds by fire? Are you ready to up the ante? Are you convinced it’s time to say “All in!”?

How about those of you who are still on the sideline when it comes to CONNECT? Is it time for you to give group life a try? What might happen if you do? Want to know the worst? You may realize that you have been settling a lot in your faith. You might even find that you have to restructure your schedule to make room for what God wants to do. You might even find out that you have been missing out on the most incredible experiences of the Christian life, the very things you have been looking for since your first breath. But if there’s still breath, it’s not too late….

CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 4)

2010-08-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

That’s why CONNECT can’t be just another religious event on your calendar. It has to become the living out of what you have heard and what you believe as being instruction from the Lord who saved you.

But an event, even one that happens every Thursday or Sunday or Tuesday night, won’t get you there. CONNECT won’t create Fellowship. It’s the Spirit of God who does that. But CONNECT should possess all the right pieces to put your little band of Christ-followers in the right place for God to do what we know He wants to do among us.

And it can happen, even in Lancaster County! Let me show you a snapshot from one of our groups that is just starting to figure this out:

Just to update you all on our status.. I was hit pretty hard for a few weeks with some major spiritual warfare and depression.. Since my correspondence with you last, several of you have contacted us to see how we were doing. I wanted you to know that this meant a lot to us, and as I’ve thought about it over the past week, that’s exactly why we are in group together.. The easy thing is to go through life alone, and to never open up and share your heart and achings with others.. But this is contrary to the essence of the church.. We were made to be in fellowship with God and each other, and the fall has made the antithesis of that a natural tendency. I want you to know that I have a new appreciation for group in light of the past weeks and a better understanding of why and how we need each other, especially in times of static darkness. I’d like us to all be in prayer for how God can shape and mold our group into what He wants it to be and to do for: 1. His glory and worship, 2. A means of spreading the gospel of Christ, and 3. to be a safe and safer place where we, his church, can be real and live life together as seen in Scripture. Going through ruts is a powerful way that God can give us sensitivity to hurting people all around us.
Thanks all for your prayers and support during a tough time.. Please continue to pray for us.. I’ve caught a glimpse at the depth of the spiritual attacks that can come in times of weakness and I now see more plainly than ever that prayer is our greatest and most effective defense against darkness.

CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 3)

2010-08-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

So, why the big deal about Fellowship? Isn’t good Relationship enough? “Steve, isn’t this just you being a perfectionist again?”

“Good enough” is an interesting expression. The staff at my previous church were guided by that phrase. It was because we didn’t want to be paralyzed while we strove for perfection. But what does “good enough” look like in your worship of God? How about in your marriage? How about in your parenting? Isn’t the story of Cain one of offering God what he thought was “good enough” (Genesis 4:3-5)? Look at a similar story about the sons of Aaron who worshipped God according to their own standards:

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over it. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him a different kind of fire than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the LORD's presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Leviticus 10:1-2

Now, I’m not suggesting that settling for Relationship means that God will reject you on Judgment Day. But, I am saying that an earnest Christ-follower should seek to be obedient in every way. And the clear description of the new thing God created by His Spirit on Pentecost was characterized by Fellowship:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47

If you let the Word speak and don’t cast your cultural preferences upon it, it’s clear that this Spirit-generated community was continually doing all aspects of life together, especially those that we would consider religious. And Christ had told His disciples, during His prayer for them and the church that He expected that the unity among His followers and toward the Lord would be so radically richer than anything in the world that the world would know the love the Father has for His Son and for His church (John 17:20-23).

So, you should answer for yourself. Is this a matter of personal choice or should we have profound conviction? Christ’s hope as He went to His death was that what would be born from His suffering would be a community which has been radically transformed by divine power. So, can you be satisfied with anything less?

CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 2)

2010-08-17T16:00:00.000-04:00

Years ago, I used to have quite the addiction to soda, especially colas. And I was a connoisseur! Oh yeah. I could tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke! Pepsi is hands-down better. But better still is RC!

But then I realized that I was putting on a pound or two. I know that none of you have ever experienced that. It’s just me. I was bulking up. So I decided to drink diet cola. Now, I know that there are quite a few folks out there who made that switch successfully, but I couldn’t do it. The artificial sweeteners left a horrible taste in my mouth. It was so bad that I decided that I would rather drink less soda and get a really good one than to compromise on taste to consume gallons.

That’s similar to the difference between Relationship and Fellowship. Fellowship is the real thing while Relationship is something that we settle for to quench our thirst. Our relationships are usually pretty surfacy. We have relationships with neighbors, co-workers, friends, and even family. But Fellowship is something special, like Relationship on steroids!

Biblical Fellowship is something created by the Spirit of God. “Kononia” comes from a group of words meaning “something in common.” The Greek dialect in which the New Testament was written is called “Koine” Greek, because it was the common language of empire of Alexander the Great. It was the means of universally conducting business among the various ethnic groups across the kingdom. And “Kononia” literally means “communion with, participation in, or sharing together.” And the Christian experience is inherently communal. When you are saved from God’s wrath, you are saved unto the church.

But we settle for Relationship even when it comes to our faith. How many people, when asked where they experience “communion,” would say “At church!”? But this betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the richness of the word. Biblically, Sunday morning is “ekklesia,” the word we translate “church” but which literally means “gathering.” At Grace, a few times each year we have a special service which we call “Communion Service.” At that time, we usually share the Bread and Cup, footwashing, and a love-feast. All of these activities hold in common the person and work of Jesus. We have Fellowship with one another because we share in Him.

And the reason that I say we settle for Relationship is that the number of people attending our Communion Service is a mere fraction of those who gather on Sunday morning. That’s because we have convinced ourselves that the relationships of Sunday morning are as good as it gets, God’s very best for us. It’s a knock-off!

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t gather on Sunday morning. We are instructed to gather as God’s people, to come together in His presence and to sing His praises. We are to hear the preaching of the Word. But, we probably won’t find Fellowship on Sunday morning. More likely, we will bring Fellowship into the Sunday gathering.

CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 1)

2010-08-16T16:00:00.000-04:00

What is that thing that you have to have? You just can’t go on without it. You even tried something that you were told was a good substitute, but there was really just no comparison.

If we’re honest, we really long for meaningful relationships. Sure, some of us are less relational than others, but God has wired us all for relationship. That might be because we are made in His image and He is relational. Or, it might be so that we will seek Him in a significant way. (For my Calvinistic brothers, “so that we will find His grace irresistible.”) Bottom line, we were made for God! And, we have a deep-seeded need for others. That’s why the person who has been reborn will love God and love others. It’s who we were originally made to be.

That was our discussion at the Fireside Chat last Saturday night. We talked about being made for Fellowship. The problem is that we seldom, if ever, experience authentic, biblical Fellowship. Instead, we settle for a cheap knock-off, Relationship.

My next post will deal with the difference between Relationship and Fellowship. But let me leave you today with these thoughts:

When we were done with our 2-hour Fireside Chat and everyone was invited to mingle or leave, most of the 21 people present stayed an extra hour. And Shawna and I left the host home with the other lingering couple more than an hour after that. We didn’t just envision biblical Fellowship, but we began to seek after it!

Once you have experienced the Real Thing (no, not a Coke!), you’ll never settle for anything less!

Fireside Chat

2010-08-14T13:06:00.003-04:00

Tonight, most of our group leaders are going to be gathering at our Leadership Fireside Chat. This is an informal time to connect as leaders in CONNECT and to discuss the ministry, its present health and its future.

This time around, we are discussing CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle? The topic will center upon a biblical definition of Fellowship. Our hope is that everyone will come to a fuller understanding of the calling of the church. We are here to glorify God. We do that by allowing our understanding of Him to pour forth from our lives. And, foundational to that is the community He has created by His blood.

If you're a Leader who could not make it to this Fireside Chat, connect with your Coach for what you missed. If you're a group member who would like to attend the next Fireside Chat, you are welcome to attend. Talk to your Leader or Coach about growing in your understanding of CONNECT at Grace.

Death of America?

2010-08-10T15:23:00.009-04:00

Do you love America? I mean, love everything about our position of prominence in the world? Do you sort of expect that America will be a superpower in the world forever, at least until the Lord returns and gets our permission to change things a bit? (Does sarcasm communicate well thru a blog post?)

I’m betting that you’re probably expecting America to be a/the leader when it comes to the global scene. Oh, sure, there are a few ultra-liberal, Hollywood-types who think we are the most evil entity on the planet, but I trust that they don’t spend too much time in our neck of the woods.

So, what would you think if a Chinese economist stood before you and told you that America’s time in the spotlight is over and it’s China’s turn to rule the roost? How would you feel if he told you that China is already the #2 economy and will surpass the US in the next decade and lead the world for the next 500 years? What would you do as an American Christian if he asked for your blessings for China to develop as a Christian nation?

Well, that’s what happened in a challenging session at the Leadership Summit last Thursday. Chinese economist, Dr. Peter Zhao Xiao, speaking thru an interpreter, said that China will rise to world dominance economically. He also explained that his study of America taught him that our success was due to our Christian ethic. Therefore, he implored the church of North America to commit to developing a vibrant Christian influence in China.

So, what do you think, Christian? Ready to hand the reins to China? Not now? Not ever?

But isn’t that what we do all the time? Isn’t there a season when we realize that our time is waning and it’s time to pass the baton to the next generation? Now, I know that there are many who continue to hold firmly to the baton, and it can’t be pried from their clenched fist. “Like my gun, you can have the baton when I’m dead and can’t fight you for it, maybe.”

That was the case with King Saul. When David was anointed to be the next king of Israel, Saul didn’t take it too well, trying repeatedly to pin the lad to the wall with his javelin.

But that is not the Christian way. That’s not the way that John the Baptizer modeled. Speaking of the appearance of Jesus, he said,

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

And Jesus, at the end of His earthly ministry told His disciples,

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

Face it, we all will likely die before Jesus returns. It has been that way for 2000 years. And the church is only one generation from extinction.

So, who are you pouring into? Who will carry on in your absence? It’s never too soon to start preparing your replacement. Are you a godly “father” in the church? What young man are you mentoring? Are you a “seasoned” woman? Are you dedicated to teaching the young about being godly wives? (Titus 2:2-5)

Or, if it’s God’s desire to move global prominence to China, will we fight Him to keep it?

Consumer Christianity

2010-08-04T16:43:00.006-04:00

So, what do we get if we don’t use the right scorecard? Well, in plain English, we get a product other than what we desire or intend. If our scorecard doesn’t reflect our mission, then we will strive toward something other than what we are supposed to strive for.

The 3 B’s create a culture of consumerism as churches strive to attract and keep a crowd. Honestly, this is the second post I have written today on this subject. The first one turned out too harsh. I don’t mean to attack, but to challenge.

Rather than disciples for Christ, we make consumers of a product. If they like what you offer, they demonstrate it by returning and offering you a few bucks for it. If they don’t like it, they either leave or let you know what you need to change. So, the ultimate human product of the ministry is Sunday morning critics. Sounds neat, doesn’t it? Does it sound like it’s pleasing to the Lord?

I’ll be honest again. The thing which produced this series of posts was our Youth-led Communion Service last Sunday night. Frankly, every Communion Service should be packed to overflowing as the Lord’s people come together to celebrate Him. Furthermore, our annual Youth-led service is a time for the younger generation to share what God is doing in their lives and for the older generations to express their support of and confidence in that new generation. But we had fewer people show up for Communion than we did for the last PrimeTime Hymn Sing. Have we created a culture of consumerism? Have we communicated that Grace is here as a product to be consumed rather than a self-replicating community bringing glory to God?

All I’m saying, folks, is that we need to focus our entire ministry upon the mission that the Lord gave to His church. If we miss self-replicating and end up on self-serving, we end up with a church like the one in this video…

So, what’s it all about, anyway?

2010-08-02T13:07:00.005-04:00

Lately, I have been thinking deeply about every aspect of ministry. Not just individual areas, but how things fit together. And just so you don’t think that this is purely an organizational analysis, I have been considering this all in light of a new scorecard.

Well, the expression “new scorecard” indicates that there was an “old scorecard.” Since the days of the Church Growth gurus, the scorecard has been the 3 B’s: Bodies, Budget, and Buildings. That’s what churches measured in order to determine if they were “healthy.” Now, don’t hear me wrongly. I believe it’s very important for leadership to track these areas of ministry. But, since we seek to feel good about what we’re doing and if we use these measures as the indicators of success, we have now determined how we will move forward in ministry, namely in ways that show advancement in these categories.

But is that what we should really be measuring to determine if we are doing well has a church? While I believe that we should still measure in these areas, isn’t there a better, more biblical way to measure health in the church? At the heart of these questions is the fundamental question of what the church is. Or rather, What is the purpose of the church?

Well, not to get into a lengthy ecclesiology (theology of the church), the purpose of the church is to bring glory to God,

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

And the method by which the church glorifies God is found in the Great Commission,

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

And finally, the manner in which this is done is found in the Great Commandment,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'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.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

So, I am considering a new scorecard. Rather than the 3 B’s, how about one that I picked up while reading recently. How about we measure:

People who are being transformed to be more like Christ,

Congregations that are acting like the Body of Christ, and

Communities that are beginning to reflect the Kingdom of God.

Later, what’s at stake if we don’t get this right…

BLINDSIDED!

2010-07-23T01:00:00.004-04:00

Have you seen the movie The Blind Side? This is a great movie about a true story. We won’t discuss that it’s about a member of the unspeakable NFL team in the Baltimore area. Rather, I’d like to talk about the idea of a “Blind Side.”

Are you familiar with the term? Your blind side is the place you can’t see. On cars, we call them “blind angles,” that place where the driver cannot see using peripheral vision or rear view mirrors.

Think about a time when something caught you totally off guard. You’re cruising along thru life when all of a sudden, WHAM!!! You’ve been “blindsided”! Do you know what I’m talking about now?

That’s what Sandra Bullock tells Quinton Aaron, playing the part of Michael Oher, that he was made to do… Watch the quarterback’s blind side!

So, tell me about your blind side. What does it look like? If you try to answer me, you’re mistaken. Because that’s the definition of a blind side, the place you can’t see!

How dangerous does a blind side sound to you? Well, scuba divers developed dive masks with side windows to increase their peripheral vision. That’s kinda a nice thing to have if you might encounter something like a shark, right? Add side windows, decrease your blind side. Sounds like a step in the right direction, agreed?

Let me introduce you to the Johari Window. It sounds like an exotic name, but it’s really just a blend of the first names of the developers, Joseph & Harry. The Johari Window is a tool to help you understand yourself better, especially how self-aware you are. Now, some of you are tuning out because this sounds too much like self-help psychology. Hang with me. It’s just a tool!

Everyone’s Johari looks different because it is determined by your own self-awareness and people whom you have invited into your life for accountability. If you are rather dull when it comes to introspection and self-analysis, your self-awareness is low. With good openness to accountability, your blind side can be radically reduced. However, teaming good self-evaluation with accountability, it can nearly be completely eliminated.

OK, now, back to God’s Word. The best way to reduce the likelihood of being blindsided in your Christian walk is a two-pronged approach:

First, it involves Scripture reading and prayerful reflection.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25

But also, it includes brothers or sisters in the Lord with whom you are doing life together, people who have access to you and with whom you are open about your thoughts and deeds, your struggles and your failures. People with whom you are intimate.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Get Naked!!!

2010-07-20T14:27:00.007-04:00

A couple weeks ago, we heard a message from Pastor Scott on Intimacy from the story of Enoch found in Genesis 5. I wanted to take the opportunity of that story to talk a little more about Intimacy.

In the passage, it said that “Enoch walked with God” (vv.22, 24). This is the second time in Genesis where we read about God walking around. Can you guess where the first time is? It’s Genesis 3, the story of the Fall.

It says that Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden during the cool of the day (3:8). The idea behind the Hebrew word for walking (halak), which literally means “walking around” is the idea of “living out one’s life.” We would say “doing life” or, in CONNECT Ministry, “how you roll.” And since Adam and Eve recognized the walking about of the Lord in the garden, it’s pretty clear that walking about with Him was a big part of their life before they met a serpent and an opportunity to doubt God.

Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were described as “both naked and unashamed” (Genesis 2:25). But, once “their eyes were opened” (3:7), they covered and hid themselves in shame. So, life before the Fall could be characterized as walking naked with God.

Fastforward back to Enoch who walked with God. This is the picture of Intimacy that we get from the context of Genesis. The life that was pleasing to the Lord was the one that walked with Him in nakedness. There was nothing coming between Enoch and the Lord. There was nothing to hide. There was openness and transparency.

Now take a look around you. Look at the folks in your church. And the ones in your small group. And the ones in your family. I’m just betting that they are covered. They are covering their shame even as they are covering their nakedness. And I’m willing to bet that they are covering up before the Lord also. These are all signs of the curse!

So, get naked! Start with the Lord. Share your deep, ugly secrets. Open up to Him the dark places in your heart. Will they shock Him? Will they surprise Him? Of course not! He sees them all anyway! And He wants you to bring them before Him. But here’s the really scary part: He wants you to do that in Christian community also. Because you cannot have Intimacy with God and not with His people, the Body of Christ.

Start small, but get real. This is when groups really start to see life transformation. Because, guess what? We all have marks of the Fall in our life. And God has decreed that we would work all that out in redemptive community. So start by uncovering your feet. I bet they’re like mine and could use a cleansing.

Get intimate! Get real! Get naked! And ROLL!!!

On Vacation!

2010-07-15T14:47:00.005-04:00

Well, I hope that you didn’t give up on this blog or me over the past month. Many of you already know this, but I took my family back to California for 3 weeks. Yes, a real vacation!

I’m told that’s what you’re supposed to do during the summer. In fact, we are conditioned from the time we enter school as a child to understand that there are certain pauses in the routine. There’s a short one in December that used to be called “Christmas Break;” that’s now “Winter Break.” There’s another short one in March or April that used to be called “Easter Break” but now is “Spring Break.” And the biggie is SUMMER VACATION!

But what happens on vacation when you’re a pastor? Does ministry stop? Does it stop in Lancaster County when I leave? Is it nonexistent wherever I go, visiting my family in CA or Shawna’s in AZ? Can I just turn it off and say, “Hey! I’m on vacation!”

Well, in CA, we reconnected with family and friends and found that ministry opportunities were abundant. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the midst of a marvelous economy where people are losing jobs and homes and healthcare. So we headed to Phoenix over July 4 weekend and guess what? Yep, the same story only a little worse. You see, when money dries up and things go away, you’re left with relationships and if those are awful, maybe you’re noticing how miserable you really are, maybe for the very first time. When the intoxication of things and activities wears off, maybe you realize that you really hate your life. Guess what? Ministry opportunities abound there!

Can you go on vacation from being a Christian? What would that look like? “What happens on vacation, stays on vacation!!!” Hopefully you recognize my rhetorical questions. Hopefully you’re struggling with the concepts here. Because, during the summer, groups tend to go dormant. It’s cultural! We are so programmed to see summer as a time to take a break, and we view group life as a weekly event rather than a lifestyle. Therefore, it makes sense that we should take a break. But what would it look like in your marriage if each summer your husband said, “Wow! I’ve been waiting for this a long time! Thought I’d never make it! Well, see you in 3 months. I’m off to Jamaica, baby!”

Certainly, group life looks radically different in the summer months. But, if we were to be brutally honest, we’d have to admit that we actually have more available time during summer. Days are longer. Kids are out of school. Most school sports take some kind of break.

So what do you say? Maybe you set the studies aside for the break you need. How about getting together for a BBQ or two? You could invite neighbors whom you might want to ask to group or church in the future. Maybe plan a service project, either for this summer or something for the holiday season, if you plan big. Maybe you could dream about what God really wants to do in and with your group.

That’s what my group is going to do now that we’re back home. I’m going to talk Ed into sparking up the fire pit and we’re going to get around the flames and talk about life. We’ll discuss the struggles in our lives. We’ll share hopes, dreams, and prayer requests. We’ll encourage one another with stories of where God has met us most recently. And we’ll discuss how He’s calling us right now to live life to the full.

You see, it’s easy to slip into a life of numbness and routine, to be robbed of good things and to settle for an imitation. But God is calling you to an intentional life of thrills and challenges and ultimately, significance. And don’t you want your life to be about something more than a few weeks under a palm frond umbrella?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Leadership 201

2010-06-17T22:00:00.002-04:00

How do you make a leader? For some time, the thought was that leaders are born. But that’s simply not the case. That concept is decidedly unchristian. It leads to the notion that leadership is all about gifts and abilities – certainly important components – and not that leadership is about influence. Here’s an example. A Christian leader must be humble. Is humility a gift or ability? Well, James 3:13 says that humility comes from wisdom. Paul, in Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine fruit of the Spirit. But in Colossians 3:12 there is a parallel list with the insertion of “humility” as well as “compassion.” So, while I wouldn’t dogmatically say that these two qualities need to be added to our list of nine fruit of the Spirit from Galatians, I will say that humility is something God develops in our life. Therefore, leaders can be made.

(How well do you know me? Many of you have already guessed where I’m going to go with this. Maybe that makes me boring and predictable. Maybe it makes me sure of where to look for guidance and instruction. I’ll let you decide…)

In three short years, Jesus started a movement that remains to this day. And He started that with a handful of misfits. So how did He manage to prepare these guys to carry on with His great work after He had left? Sanders wrote,

Jesus trained His disciples superbly for their future roles. He taught by example and by precept; His teaching was done “on the road.” Jesus did not ask the Twelve to sit down and take notes in a formal classroom. Jesus’ classrooms were the highways of life; His principles and values came across in the midst of daily experience. Jesus placed disciples into internships (Luke 10:17-24) that enabled them to learn through failure and success (Mark 9:14-29).

That’s what we’re doing in our CONNECT small groups ministry. CONNECT is a Leadership Factory. Our Commission from the Lord is to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20). A disciple is a follower, not just a learner. A disciple is striving to be like the Master. And the proof of discipleship is engagement in the work of making disciples. Is that how you view your involvement in your CONNECT group? Do you understand that you are actively engaged in a Leadership Development program which closely resembles on-the-job training?

Maybe you haven’t jumped into a small group yet. Maybe you’re worried about the misfits with whom you’ll be yoked, guys like Peter, John, or Judas. Maybe you’re worried that you might be the one labeled “misfit,” like Thomas. Maybe you just think that what you’re already doing is good enough and you don’t need redemptive community to be a true disciple. I guess the question is, “How’s it working for you?” Or better yet, “Where are the disciples you have helped produce?” It’s easy to pick them out. They’re the ones out there, making more disciples.