Wrong Prescription

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

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

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

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

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

So Far From God

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

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

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

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

Understanding Connection

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

Jacked-Up Faith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Close, Yet Miles Away

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back to the Basics to Figure Out What's Wrong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spectators

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

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

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

But the church, not so much.