What is it that keeps us from entering into more joy, more peace, more abundance? Some would answer, “I need more faith, more dedication, more sacrifice, more obedience.”
Let’s stop at “more obedience” and take that idea back into the Garden of Eden. What was the command that was given to Adam regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Do not eat. In other words, DO NOTHING!!!!
How is our salvation earned? DO NOTHING!!!
How is our salvation kept? DO NOTHING!!!
Why do we hate those words so much? We identify all too easily with Adam.
Why does the journey seem so difficult? We hate these words, DO NOTHING.
Let’s unpackage this thought with a simple illustration using money. You have a friend that has the same financial situation as yourelf. You go out for lunches with him and you take turns buying lunch. This makes you feel equal to him. Your friendship is secure based on being able to do for him what he does for you. You don’t feel shame or inadequacy or that you are abusing your friendship.
But something changes. He receives an inheritance of 100 million dollars and gives you 10 million dollars just because he wants to. How do you keep up with that? Do you buy him a thank you gift? The reality is that you can DO NOTHING for him except to continue to be his friend.
This is what God has done in our lives. Let us DO NOTHING and be His friend.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Jesus is our Friend
How did Jesus reveal Himself to mankind? In the most non-descript, non-threatening, not worth knowing kind of way. He didn’t come with all the bells and whistles. The day he showed up He would have been mocked as a bastard and the taunts would have been His to bear growing up in small town Nazareth.
He had no land, no money, no houses. He wasn’t part of any special group. He essentially said by the way He came that He wanted to know us as a friend not for what He could do for us. He didn’t want the celebrity status or the rich man status that does not allow a person to know if they are real friends or simply somebody that gives people status or things through association with them.
How could God become our friend if He was busy showing off His Godness? Even when He performed miracles He often told people not to tell anyone. Why? Because people are self serving and we only seek after the next loaf of bread or healing instead of a beautiful friendship that is being offered.
It is no small idea that throughout history people have used the Bible to define doctrinal statements of belief in order to know who is in and who is out. I was staggered that when I looked into the creeds and statements of faith by many denominations that the idea of being God’s friend and His being our friend is not there. The word love is not used in the Apostle’s creed or the Nicene creed. The word friend can't be found anywhere.
Friendships only count when we don’t force them to do anything for us. When they do something that is not forced it is icing on the cake but it is not the basis of a friendship.
The other side of the coin is that when we are friends with Jesus we are friends with those who are His friends as well. Again very few church models define themselves through friendships and yet Jesus literally says that this is the only way to define our relationship with Him and others. He uses the strongest language possible to show how important this is. He literally made it a commandment that we love each other.
The message of the cross is that Jesus died for His friends.
Why did Jesus die? This is the most revolutionary thought ever. Because He is our friend.
John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
He had no land, no money, no houses. He wasn’t part of any special group. He essentially said by the way He came that He wanted to know us as a friend not for what He could do for us. He didn’t want the celebrity status or the rich man status that does not allow a person to know if they are real friends or simply somebody that gives people status or things through association with them.
How could God become our friend if He was busy showing off His Godness? Even when He performed miracles He often told people not to tell anyone. Why? Because people are self serving and we only seek after the next loaf of bread or healing instead of a beautiful friendship that is being offered.
It is no small idea that throughout history people have used the Bible to define doctrinal statements of belief in order to know who is in and who is out. I was staggered that when I looked into the creeds and statements of faith by many denominations that the idea of being God’s friend and His being our friend is not there. The word love is not used in the Apostle’s creed or the Nicene creed. The word friend can't be found anywhere.
Friendships only count when we don’t force them to do anything for us. When they do something that is not forced it is icing on the cake but it is not the basis of a friendship.
The other side of the coin is that when we are friends with Jesus we are friends with those who are His friends as well. Again very few church models define themselves through friendships and yet Jesus literally says that this is the only way to define our relationship with Him and others. He uses the strongest language possible to show how important this is. He literally made it a commandment that we love each other.
The message of the cross is that Jesus died for His friends.
Why did Jesus die? This is the most revolutionary thought ever. Because He is our friend.
John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Monday, May 28, 2007
In Search of the Christian Lifestyle
This was in Christianity Today about 20 years ago.
An excerpt from a young father’s diary.
Saturday
I slept in today and read the paper, wasted most of the day lying around watching tv.
Listened to Christian radio at night and was challenged by the message.
The speaker was saying that the problem with the world today is too many lazy Christians
Sunday
After church I went around collecting canned goods for the soup kitchen and got back just in time to get the family to church on Sunday night.
The pastor spoke on the decline of the family and that father’s don’t spend enough time with their children anymore
Monday
I took the kids out for dinner and a movie. We had a great time.
Later that night a special on world hunger caught my eye. The speaker said that you could feed a child in a third world country for the cost of dinner and a movie.
Tuesday
Fasted all day.
Went to the men’s fellowship meeting that night and we had a special speaker who emphasized physical fitness, stating that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and the key to being in shape is good nutrition and exercise.
So I ordered a pizza when I got home.
Wednesday
Got up early and went for a jog. Shot some hoops with the kids and later that night listened to another radio preacher who was talking about burnout.
People are so busy with church, family activities, work, etc., that they never have time for themselves anymore.
Thursday
Slept in today, read the paper, spent most of the day lying around. Did not turn on the radio.
An excerpt from a young father’s diary.
Saturday
I slept in today and read the paper, wasted most of the day lying around watching tv.
Listened to Christian radio at night and was challenged by the message.
The speaker was saying that the problem with the world today is too many lazy Christians
Sunday
After church I went around collecting canned goods for the soup kitchen and got back just in time to get the family to church on Sunday night.
The pastor spoke on the decline of the family and that father’s don’t spend enough time with their children anymore
Monday
I took the kids out for dinner and a movie. We had a great time.
Later that night a special on world hunger caught my eye. The speaker said that you could feed a child in a third world country for the cost of dinner and a movie.
Tuesday
Fasted all day.
Went to the men’s fellowship meeting that night and we had a special speaker who emphasized physical fitness, stating that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and the key to being in shape is good nutrition and exercise.
So I ordered a pizza when I got home.
Wednesday
Got up early and went for a jog. Shot some hoops with the kids and later that night listened to another radio preacher who was talking about burnout.
People are so busy with church, family activities, work, etc., that they never have time for themselves anymore.
Thursday
Slept in today, read the paper, spent most of the day lying around. Did not turn on the radio.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Politically Correct
Aren’t you glad you’re in a community of believers that accepts
your fears, your zeal,
your doubts, your faith,
your foolishness, your insights,
your discouragement, your passion,
your failure, your achievement,
your carelessness, your love,
your sorrow and your joy?
A place where masks are no longer necessary and you don’t have to be politically correct. Where being real is valued as the foundational step to growing in Christ.
your fears, your zeal,
your doubts, your faith,
your foolishness, your insights,
your discouragement, your passion,
your failure, your achievement,
your carelessness, your love,
your sorrow and your joy?
A place where masks are no longer necessary and you don’t have to be politically correct. Where being real is valued as the foundational step to growing in Christ.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
We Need a Boss
3,000 years ago the demand from the people of Israel was give us a king. Samuel was upset because he thought they were rejecting him (a little self-absorbed) but God said no, they are rejecting me. It seems it is human nature for us to want someone to be over us.
We want a coach, a father, a mother, a captain, a foreman, a boss or a pastor. We want them to be exemplary in their jobs and we’re frustrated when we’re wiser or harder working than they are. Sometimes it feels like we can’t live with them and we can’t live without them.
We demand that our bosses treat us fairly, which of course means that I never get anything less than those I’m associated with. Remember presents at Christmas with siblings. If by chance I do get a little more, well… that’s ok to, just keep it quiet. Even when we say we want someone to watch over us, what we really mean is they can tell us what to do as long as we want to do it.
A simple example from church life is the percentage of people who tithe in a church where a pastor preaches tithing. (not a good teaching by the way but that shouldn’t matter if we are under his authority) Usually comes in at around 17% compliance. If you asked the other 83% if they needed to be under a pastor they would nod in the affirmative and be quite upset if you suggested that they didn't need a pastor.
Why do we struggle with forming a group of equals? It’s uncomfortable. It requires knowing and understanding each other. It says each one is necessary and can contribute to the life of the group. No more whining when things go wrong. We're responsible for each other.
A few years ago I was exploring native thought processes from days gone by. Survival was difficult and depended on everyone contributing to the group. How did they teach this groupthink to their children? When a nine year old boy was given the task of collecting firewood for the night there was an expectation that the task would be done. Little Jimmy thought shooting squirrels for the day was a better pastime than collecting the needed firewood. Come night time, 20 below zero seems really cold without a fire to warm your tootsies. What did the group do to the little rascal? Nothing. They went cold. They knew that if he didn’t recognize his value and responsibility for the group that eventually they would pay an even higher price.
How unlike us. We would rather yell, spank, avoid, cut off, deny allowance, bribe… Anything but let him know his real value and paying the price for him to learn it.
Why do we need a boss?
Why do we want our independence?
Why don’t we want to be part of a relational group?
Two possible answers.
1. We don't want to be responsible for ourselves or for others.
2. It is easier to do it ourselves or lead a group than to pay the price for others to mature.
We want a coach, a father, a mother, a captain, a foreman, a boss or a pastor. We want them to be exemplary in their jobs and we’re frustrated when we’re wiser or harder working than they are. Sometimes it feels like we can’t live with them and we can’t live without them.
We demand that our bosses treat us fairly, which of course means that I never get anything less than those I’m associated with. Remember presents at Christmas with siblings. If by chance I do get a little more, well… that’s ok to, just keep it quiet. Even when we say we want someone to watch over us, what we really mean is they can tell us what to do as long as we want to do it.
A simple example from church life is the percentage of people who tithe in a church where a pastor preaches tithing. (not a good teaching by the way but that shouldn’t matter if we are under his authority) Usually comes in at around 17% compliance. If you asked the other 83% if they needed to be under a pastor they would nod in the affirmative and be quite upset if you suggested that they didn't need a pastor.
Why do we struggle with forming a group of equals? It’s uncomfortable. It requires knowing and understanding each other. It says each one is necessary and can contribute to the life of the group. No more whining when things go wrong. We're responsible for each other.
A few years ago I was exploring native thought processes from days gone by. Survival was difficult and depended on everyone contributing to the group. How did they teach this groupthink to their children? When a nine year old boy was given the task of collecting firewood for the night there was an expectation that the task would be done. Little Jimmy thought shooting squirrels for the day was a better pastime than collecting the needed firewood. Come night time, 20 below zero seems really cold without a fire to warm your tootsies. What did the group do to the little rascal? Nothing. They went cold. They knew that if he didn’t recognize his value and responsibility for the group that eventually they would pay an even higher price.
How unlike us. We would rather yell, spank, avoid, cut off, deny allowance, bribe… Anything but let him know his real value and paying the price for him to learn it.
Why do we need a boss?
Why do we want our independence?
Why don’t we want to be part of a relational group?
Two possible answers.
1. We don't want to be responsible for ourselves or for others.
2. It is easier to do it ourselves or lead a group than to pay the price for others to mature.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Would You Love Me If...?
If everything was known about a person, would you want them as your friend. I’m talking the good, the bad and the ugly. What if they ridiculed that which you love? Unconditional love is the catch phrase answer in Christianity and yet …I can’t say that I do so well with the reality.
What about if you met someone who is brilliant, personable, accepting, truthful and gracious at the same time, and has never, ever sinned? Would you have been comfortable around a man like Jesus?
One last thought. How did Jesus feel when he was hanging out with those whose warts he completely knew, even when they didn’t?
Remember, it wasn’t since the garden that God got to hang out with His children in a normal way.
I think He would have been over the moon with joy.
What about if you met someone who is brilliant, personable, accepting, truthful and gracious at the same time, and has never, ever sinned? Would you have been comfortable around a man like Jesus?
One last thought. How did Jesus feel when he was hanging out with those whose warts he completely knew, even when they didn’t?
Remember, it wasn’t since the garden that God got to hang out with His children in a normal way.
I think He would have been over the moon with joy.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
A Poor Substitute
Small groups are definitely “in” these days in most churches. If you want to be politically correct you must at least give lip service to the idea anyway. But is small a guarantee for anything. Here is a list of misplaced priorities that small groups, including house churches sometimes form around. This list is taken from Frank Viola’s book, “So You Want to Start a House Church?”
Some political viewpoint
Calvinism (‘the doctrine of grace’)
Some end-time theology (preterism, post-millenialism, or pre-tribulationism)
Spiritual gifts
‘Holy Ghost laughter’ and being ‘slain in the Spirit’
Personal Prophecy
Faith Healing
Home Schooling
Home Birthing
Social justice and helping the poor
Any man’s doctrine (the group exists to debate various doctrines from the Bible)
House churching
Social fellowship (‘hanging out’)
Doctrine of ultimate reconciliation or universalism
Eternal security
An academic Bible study
Evangelism
Discipleship
Prayer
Personal Holiness
Spiritual Warfare
Health and nutrition
After looking at this list there’s a part of me that wants to say yuck to some of these things but not all of them. After all, we need a reason to get together, don’t we?
Strange how we would prefer to gather around an ‘it’ instead of “Him’. Jesus said He wanted to be the reason for our gatherings.
Matt 18:20 (NKJV) "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
I have been in way too many meetings that said they gathered around Him but somehow I found them boring, lifeless, selfish or agenda driven. (This includes way too many prayer meetings that I’ve been in and led.) I almost don’t know what it looks like to gather around Him. I hear its being done in some places in the world.
Quoting scripture in order to fool ourselves into thinking we have the reality is a poor substitute for really having Jesus in our midst. Wouldn't it be cool to be like the early disciples and only gather to be around Jesus?
Would you establish new priorities if you really thought Jesus was going to be there?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Jesus: A Failure at Leadership
When I think of Jesus and leadership, I am more than a little mystified. By any standard, modern or historical, Jesus was just awful.
For the first 30 years he was just a good, oldest son. No one knew of his remarkable qualities. It seems that the only thing on his resume was that he was well liked.
When he finally did get around to doing something, he went and hid in the desert for 40 days.
He gathered up the most common of men to hang out with. He was supported by a group of women.
His followers loved him and hated him, often within minutes of these two opposites.
He didn’t have anyone write anything down. His closest friends didn’t think to write anything about him for at least 20 years after he was gone.
He talked a lot about his relationship with his father.
They only thing that really seemed to matter to him was building friendships with some very unlikely men and women. Even then, his most ridiculous teaching came in the form of washing their feet.
Even today, people don’t put much thought into his model of building friendships.
When he died his closest friends abandoned him. He was such a poor leader that if he hadn’t risen from the dead those closest to him would simply have gone fishing for the rest of their lives.
People seem to really miss the point when they talk more about his miracles and teachings rather than the startling fact that his entire plan for mankind hinged on the friendships that he had developed over the course of three years.
Would you have entrusted the destiny of the world to the likes of a Thomas or a Peter or a Martha?
For the first 30 years he was just a good, oldest son. No one knew of his remarkable qualities. It seems that the only thing on his resume was that he was well liked.
When he finally did get around to doing something, he went and hid in the desert for 40 days.
He gathered up the most common of men to hang out with. He was supported by a group of women.
His followers loved him and hated him, often within minutes of these two opposites.
He didn’t have anyone write anything down. His closest friends didn’t think to write anything about him for at least 20 years after he was gone.
He talked a lot about his relationship with his father.
They only thing that really seemed to matter to him was building friendships with some very unlikely men and women. Even then, his most ridiculous teaching came in the form of washing their feet.
Even today, people don’t put much thought into his model of building friendships.
When he died his closest friends abandoned him. He was such a poor leader that if he hadn’t risen from the dead those closest to him would simply have gone fishing for the rest of their lives.
People seem to really miss the point when they talk more about his miracles and teachings rather than the startling fact that his entire plan for mankind hinged on the friendships that he had developed over the course of three years.
Would you have entrusted the destiny of the world to the likes of a Thomas or a Peter or a Martha?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Oops 2 or is it Oops TOO?
In “Oops”, I make the point of Jesus’ disciples not fathoming that they were hanging out with God. It’s not hard to figure out why they didn’t understand Him this way. Jesus was fun. He wasn’t anything like what they experienced when they went to “temple”. Sure He did really neat stuff but they did really cool stuff too. It wasn’t like He was doing things that they hadn’t heard of in the Old Testament. Moses did some pretty far out stuff as well. Their biggest problem was that He was so normal and dare I say it, non-religious.
This is actually a new idea that is poking around in my brain. I hadn’t really considered His disciples not understanding His Godness. We’re so much better with the answer than they were. Is Jesus God? Of course. Why? The Bible tells me so. John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.
The first time that I remember hearing about Jesus was when I was trying to memorize the disciples names at Sunday School when I was about 10 years old. I was presented with the idea that Jesus was God but all I really remember was trying to memorize Nathaniel or was it Bartameus? Telling me he was God was like telling me that Elvis Presley was a singer. That’s nice. But why are there two Judas’ in the list of disciples? Which one was the bad one?
Do we really get what the disciples didn’t? Wayne Jacobsen tells this story from his friend Dave Coleman. Dave is a hospice chaplain and has witnessed more death than average. One of his comments that burst another one of my religious bubbles was the idea of Christians dying much more peacefully than non-Christians. He said that by and large that just isn’t so.
This is one of those stories. A lady with cancer was admitted to the hospice. She was in her nineties and had been a Christian for most of her life. She knew she was dying with cancer and was in fear of what her fate was. It seems that back during World War 2 when her husband was off to war, she had found herself in dire financial straits, with 2 young children to look after. She failed to tithe because of needing to feed her children. She knew that her cancer was God’s judgment on her for having committed such a wicked act and now she was afraid of meeting Him. For over 60 years she had been dreading God, but had worked overtime in trying to gain back His favor. When the cancer hit, she knew she had missed out.
Is it possible to intellectually know that Jesus is God and yet be more like His disciples in their total disappointment at the crucifixion? Could in be that in our religious endeavors we are no more at home with Jesus as our personal friend than knowing Tiger Woods as our weekly golf buddy?
I can understand the disciples with their Oops; I’m saddened when I consider all of my Oops.
This is actually a new idea that is poking around in my brain. I hadn’t really considered His disciples not understanding His Godness. We’re so much better with the answer than they were. Is Jesus God? Of course. Why? The Bible tells me so. John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.
The first time that I remember hearing about Jesus was when I was trying to memorize the disciples names at Sunday School when I was about 10 years old. I was presented with the idea that Jesus was God but all I really remember was trying to memorize Nathaniel or was it Bartameus? Telling me he was God was like telling me that Elvis Presley was a singer. That’s nice. But why are there two Judas’ in the list of disciples? Which one was the bad one?
Do we really get what the disciples didn’t? Wayne Jacobsen tells this story from his friend Dave Coleman. Dave is a hospice chaplain and has witnessed more death than average. One of his comments that burst another one of my religious bubbles was the idea of Christians dying much more peacefully than non-Christians. He said that by and large that just isn’t so.
This is one of those stories. A lady with cancer was admitted to the hospice. She was in her nineties and had been a Christian for most of her life. She knew she was dying with cancer and was in fear of what her fate was. It seems that back during World War 2 when her husband was off to war, she had found herself in dire financial straits, with 2 young children to look after. She failed to tithe because of needing to feed her children. She knew that her cancer was God’s judgment on her for having committed such a wicked act and now she was afraid of meeting Him. For over 60 years she had been dreading God, but had worked overtime in trying to gain back His favor. When the cancer hit, she knew she had missed out.
Is it possible to intellectually know that Jesus is God and yet be more like His disciples in their total disappointment at the crucifixion? Could in be that in our religious endeavors we are no more at home with Jesus as our personal friend than knowing Tiger Woods as our weekly golf buddy?
I can understand the disciples with their Oops; I’m saddened when I consider all of my Oops.
Oops
Have you ever wondered what Jesus’ disciples felt after he rose from the dead?
They were ahead of most of their peers in that they had been with Jesus when He:
gave them the insight scoop on His teachings,
had them feed the five thousand,
had countless meals with them,
defied the religious system of the day,
raised the dead,
brought sight to the blind,
cleansed lepers,
preached good news,
set captives free,
cast out demons,
raised the dead,
and had them do some of these things themselves.
They even knew enough to call Him Messiah, which for them meant a deliverer like Moses.
In all of this they didn’t know that He was God until after the resurrection.
Oops.
They were ahead of most of their peers in that they had been with Jesus when He:
gave them the insight scoop on His teachings,
had them feed the five thousand,
had countless meals with them,
defied the religious system of the day,
raised the dead,
brought sight to the blind,
cleansed lepers,
preached good news,
set captives free,
cast out demons,
raised the dead,
and had them do some of these things themselves.
They even knew enough to call Him Messiah, which for them meant a deliverer like Moses.
In all of this they didn’t know that He was God until after the resurrection.
Oops.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Left Below
A great spoof on the Left Behind series.
A popular but misguided teaching trying to scare people into the kingdom.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Recovering Pharisee
I hate to admit it but nobody knows it better than me. I’m a recovering Pharisee. It’s like I need to be in an AA group but its for recovering religiaholics. My name is David and I’m a religiaholic.
There was a kid’s song that I heard in my early years that went like this,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee
Cuz a Pharisee’s not fair you see,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee.
The tendency of a Pharisee is to make everybody conform to whatever interpretation of scripture that they are favoring at that moment. The problem with their interpretation is that it is always birthed from rules instead of love.
Birthing something from love; how hard can that be? 39,000 denominations have given it a go and failed. House churches can pop up on every corner of every city, town and village in North America and not be birthed in love.
Conformity is the name of game but its better known name is religion. There are two main ways of missing out with God, sin or religion. Both can miss the point of love as the be all and end all. Of the two, sin is easier to see. Religion can be masked in all kinds of neat words like commitment, morality, faithfulness, sacrifice… and yet at its core, still miss out on love.
I know I’m a recovering Pharisee because when I hear some wonderful truth my mind tries to formulate a plan to make myself and/or others do it. I hear rules to conform to, rather than freedom to be lived in.
I can know truths like God is our healer and turn them into accusations against others when healing doesn’t occur.
I can wallow in condemnation even when I know there is no condemnation for God’s children.
I can work harder and harder to receive his acceptance even though He has already accepted me.
I can judge those who are trapped in religious walls, while I still struggle with trusting Him with my daily bread.
Perhaps the first step in the recovery process is the most important step of all.
Hi, my name is David and I’m a recovering Pharisee.
There was a kid’s song that I heard in my early years that went like this,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee
Cuz a Pharisee’s not fair you see,
I don’t want to be a Pharisee.
The tendency of a Pharisee is to make everybody conform to whatever interpretation of scripture that they are favoring at that moment. The problem with their interpretation is that it is always birthed from rules instead of love.
Birthing something from love; how hard can that be? 39,000 denominations have given it a go and failed. House churches can pop up on every corner of every city, town and village in North America and not be birthed in love.
Conformity is the name of game but its better known name is religion. There are two main ways of missing out with God, sin or religion. Both can miss the point of love as the be all and end all. Of the two, sin is easier to see. Religion can be masked in all kinds of neat words like commitment, morality, faithfulness, sacrifice… and yet at its core, still miss out on love.
I know I’m a recovering Pharisee because when I hear some wonderful truth my mind tries to formulate a plan to make myself and/or others do it. I hear rules to conform to, rather than freedom to be lived in.
I can know truths like God is our healer and turn them into accusations against others when healing doesn’t occur.
I can wallow in condemnation even when I know there is no condemnation for God’s children.
I can work harder and harder to receive his acceptance even though He has already accepted me.
I can judge those who are trapped in religious walls, while I still struggle with trusting Him with my daily bread.
Perhaps the first step in the recovery process is the most important step of all.
Hi, my name is David and I’m a recovering Pharisee.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Control versus Consensus
Lead, follow or get out of the way is a motto about getting things done. Leaders that follow this creed usually start with good intentions and generally want good things to happen. By good things, they of course mean their definition of good. If the word “control” was used to describe this leadership style, those who fit into the lead/follow camp will simply dismiss the accusation as coming from those in the “get out of the way” camp.
If you’re trapped in a house on fire you definitely want someone who knows how to lead this way, to be the one trying to rescue you. Nevertheless, control will always be at the heart of the decision making process. The nice thing about this leadership style is that it is not dependent on the size of the group and with a gifted leader many things get accomplished.
Working through consensus is a whole different style of “doing” things. This style is criticized for being slow and catering to the weakest link. The strength of this style is that its main goal is to strengthen relationships. The downside is that it can only be used in small groups, maxing out at 12-15 people. It is possible for a manipulative, control person to deceive a small group into thinking that they are making decisions through consensus.
It is a rare thing to find churches being led by consensus. Usually, only a few leaders make the significant decisions. This is widely accepted as everyone knows consensus is not possible because the numbers don’t allow it.
Some leaders like the idea of consensus so they gather a representative core (up to 8) of the whole. They only make decisions based on consensus of this group. This mini group usually becomes very close and really builds strong relationships with each other. They feel that when they announce that they have made a decision affecting the large group that it will be wholeheartedly accepted. After all, the decision was done through consensus.
What this core leadership group fails to realize is that the very thing that made them feel united and strong is being denied to the large group. The large is still not part of the consensus building mechanism. The outcome is still follow or get out of the way.
When Paul used the metaphor of the body to describe the operation of the “church”, he was truly advocating consensus. His vision was to help people understand that Jesus is the head and each member is vital in the outworking of His will on earth.
It’s like this. When I decide that I want my fingers to type this blog, a whole number of body parts must work together to accomplish this task. My fingers don’t tell my wrist what to do, nor does my wrist talk to my elbow and then my elbow speaks to my shoulder. My brain speaks to each member and as they move in consensus to my head, my blogging skills show up.
Whether or not my writing has any meaning, no one thinks of my blogs as having come from my fingers or my wrist or my elbow. My head is what people will consider as having been the culprit.
This is what we are to look like when the church works together through consensus. At the end of the day, people should only be considering the head and His name is Jesus.
If you’re trapped in a house on fire you definitely want someone who knows how to lead this way, to be the one trying to rescue you. Nevertheless, control will always be at the heart of the decision making process. The nice thing about this leadership style is that it is not dependent on the size of the group and with a gifted leader many things get accomplished.
Working through consensus is a whole different style of “doing” things. This style is criticized for being slow and catering to the weakest link. The strength of this style is that its main goal is to strengthen relationships. The downside is that it can only be used in small groups, maxing out at 12-15 people. It is possible for a manipulative, control person to deceive a small group into thinking that they are making decisions through consensus.
It is a rare thing to find churches being led by consensus. Usually, only a few leaders make the significant decisions. This is widely accepted as everyone knows consensus is not possible because the numbers don’t allow it.
Some leaders like the idea of consensus so they gather a representative core (up to 8) of the whole. They only make decisions based on consensus of this group. This mini group usually becomes very close and really builds strong relationships with each other. They feel that when they announce that they have made a decision affecting the large group that it will be wholeheartedly accepted. After all, the decision was done through consensus.
What this core leadership group fails to realize is that the very thing that made them feel united and strong is being denied to the large group. The large is still not part of the consensus building mechanism. The outcome is still follow or get out of the way.
When Paul used the metaphor of the body to describe the operation of the “church”, he was truly advocating consensus. His vision was to help people understand that Jesus is the head and each member is vital in the outworking of His will on earth.
It’s like this. When I decide that I want my fingers to type this blog, a whole number of body parts must work together to accomplish this task. My fingers don’t tell my wrist what to do, nor does my wrist talk to my elbow and then my elbow speaks to my shoulder. My brain speaks to each member and as they move in consensus to my head, my blogging skills show up.
Whether or not my writing has any meaning, no one thinks of my blogs as having come from my fingers or my wrist or my elbow. My head is what people will consider as having been the culprit.
This is what we are to look like when the church works together through consensus. At the end of the day, people should only be considering the head and His name is Jesus.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Bethany: Where Jesus Felt at Home
This is an excerpt from an Ebook, Bethany, by Frank Viola.
How does a church give the Lord His proper and rightful place?
1) To receive Christ properly is to give Him the place of honor, supremacy, and centrality.
I have often made this statement: Sectarianism and elitism are like body odor. Everyone else can smell it except those who have it. Make not mistake about it: Jesus Christ is not at home in a church that is elitist or sectarian.
I will simply say this that Jesus Christ will not take second place. He is not at home in any church that doesn’t give Him the place of absolute supremacy and centrality. He wants to be more than a guest. He wants to be Master of the house.
2) To receive Christ is to receive all that He is.
…preaching ministry…healing ministry…ministry of blessing…ministry of suffering…ministry of teaching…ministry of helping the poor and the oppressed…ministry of building up the body…ministry of reaching the lost
To properly receive and welcome Jesus Christ is to receive all that He is. He’s a whole Person. We can’t say we want one part of you, but not the other parts.
3) To receive Christ is to receive all who are a part of Him.
Let me articulate a great temptation for house churches today. It is the temptation for us to become cloistered, ingrown, and insular.
Bethany, receives all whom Christ has received. And they are welcomed.
To do otherwise is to say, “Lord, we’ll take your hand and your arm, but we don’t want your foot or your leg.”
In short, the Lord is looking for a place where He is completely received and fully welcomed. Not Christ plus something else. And not Christ minus a part of Christ. But Christ all and in all.
How does a church give the Lord His proper and rightful place?
1) To receive Christ properly is to give Him the place of honor, supremacy, and centrality.
I have often made this statement: Sectarianism and elitism are like body odor. Everyone else can smell it except those who have it. Make not mistake about it: Jesus Christ is not at home in a church that is elitist or sectarian.
I will simply say this that Jesus Christ will not take second place. He is not at home in any church that doesn’t give Him the place of absolute supremacy and centrality. He wants to be more than a guest. He wants to be Master of the house.
2) To receive Christ is to receive all that He is.
…preaching ministry…healing ministry…ministry of blessing…ministry of suffering…ministry of teaching…ministry of helping the poor and the oppressed…ministry of building up the body…ministry of reaching the lost
To properly receive and welcome Jesus Christ is to receive all that He is. He’s a whole Person. We can’t say we want one part of you, but not the other parts.
3) To receive Christ is to receive all who are a part of Him.
Let me articulate a great temptation for house churches today. It is the temptation for us to become cloistered, ingrown, and insular.
Bethany, receives all whom Christ has received. And they are welcomed.
To do otherwise is to say, “Lord, we’ll take your hand and your arm, but we don’t want your foot or your leg.”
In short, the Lord is looking for a place where He is completely received and fully welcomed. Not Christ plus something else. And not Christ minus a part of Christ. But Christ all and in all.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Good Triumphs over Bad: Not Really
Star Wars probably typified this normal human construct to explain dualism. In episode III, Revenge of the Sith, we see Anakin Skywalker take the final steps to completely turning over to the dark side. Jedi masters were to trust the force but only the light side. The idea was that the good side didn’t control you but aided you in your quest for justice. If you turn to the dark side you will be controlled.
East Asian thought has the same idea using the words Yin and Yang. They are thought to be complementary with Yin being earth, female, dark, passive, and absorbing; Yang is heaven, male, light, active, and penetrating.
Western thought is a little simpler; we just talk about the battle between good and bad. The idea is getting more stuff in the good column to overcome the stuff in the bad column. At the end of the day if you are successful in doing this then you are granted the privilege of being called a good person.
Christianity sometimes falls into this trap of thinking in this pagan thought form. Even witnessing tools get you to understand that you need Jesus because of your sins (the bad stuff). The simplistic and wrong idea is that if you eliminate the bad stuff by having them forgiven you will only be left with good stuff which is pleasing to God.
To all of that heathenistic thinking let’s just say YUCK!!! It almost gives the impression that if someone really did fill in, only the good column, then they would be OK. The rationale is that we know that’s not possible, so we need Jesus. But what if someone did manage that feat? Would they need Jesus? It is simply the wrong question.
Watchman Nee in "The Normal Christian Life, tells this story to better understand that it is not what we do but rather about our very identity.
In China one day I called on a Christian leader who was sick in bed, and whom, for the sake of this story, I shall call 'Mr. Wong' (though that was not his real name). He was a very learned man, a Doctor of Philosophy, and one esteemed throughout the whole of China for his high moral principles, and he had long been engaged in Christian work. But he did not believe in the need for regeneration; he only proclaimed a social gospel.
When I called on Mr. Wong his pet dog was by his bedside, and after speaking with him of the things of God and of the nature of His work in us, I pointed to the dog and inquired his name. He told me he was called Fido. 'Is Fido his Christian name or his surname?' I asked (using the common Chinese terms for 'personal name' and 'family name'). 'Oh, that is just his name', he said. 'Do you mean that is just his Christian name? Can I call him Fido Wong?' I continued. 'Certainly not!' came the emphatic reply. 'But he lives in your family', I protested, 'Why don't you call him Fido Wong?' Then, indicating his two daughters, I asked 'Are your daughters not called Miss Wong?' 'Yes!' 'Well then, why cannot I call your dog Master Wong?'
The Doctor laughed, and I went on: 'Do you see what I am getting at? Your daughters were born into your family and they bear your name because you have communicated your life to them. Your dog may be an intelligent dog, a well-behaved dog, and altogether a most remarkable dog ; but the question is not, Is he a good or a bad dog? It is merely, Is he a dog? He does not need to be bad to be disqualified from being a member of your family; he only needs to be a dog.
The same principle applies to you in your relationship to God. The question is not whether you are a bad man or a good man, more or less, but simply, Are you a man? If your life is on a lower plane than that of God's life, then you cannot belong to the Divine family. Throughout your life your aim in preaching has been to turn bad men into good men; but men as such, whether good or bad, can have no vital relationship with God. Our only hope as men is to receive the Son of God, and when we do so His life in us will constitute us sons of God.' The Doctor saw the truth, and that day he became a member of God's family by receiving the Son of God into his heart.
If you would like to read more by Watchman Nee and other great Christian writers you can find their books at: http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bookcat.htm.
East Asian thought has the same idea using the words Yin and Yang. They are thought to be complementary with Yin being earth, female, dark, passive, and absorbing; Yang is heaven, male, light, active, and penetrating.
Western thought is a little simpler; we just talk about the battle between good and bad. The idea is getting more stuff in the good column to overcome the stuff in the bad column. At the end of the day if you are successful in doing this then you are granted the privilege of being called a good person.
Christianity sometimes falls into this trap of thinking in this pagan thought form. Even witnessing tools get you to understand that you need Jesus because of your sins (the bad stuff). The simplistic and wrong idea is that if you eliminate the bad stuff by having them forgiven you will only be left with good stuff which is pleasing to God.
To all of that heathenistic thinking let’s just say YUCK!!! It almost gives the impression that if someone really did fill in, only the good column, then they would be OK. The rationale is that we know that’s not possible, so we need Jesus. But what if someone did manage that feat? Would they need Jesus? It is simply the wrong question.
Watchman Nee in "The Normal Christian Life, tells this story to better understand that it is not what we do but rather about our very identity.
In China one day I called on a Christian leader who was sick in bed, and whom, for the sake of this story, I shall call 'Mr. Wong' (though that was not his real name). He was a very learned man, a Doctor of Philosophy, and one esteemed throughout the whole of China for his high moral principles, and he had long been engaged in Christian work. But he did not believe in the need for regeneration; he only proclaimed a social gospel.
When I called on Mr. Wong his pet dog was by his bedside, and after speaking with him of the things of God and of the nature of His work in us, I pointed to the dog and inquired his name. He told me he was called Fido. 'Is Fido his Christian name or his surname?' I asked (using the common Chinese terms for 'personal name' and 'family name'). 'Oh, that is just his name', he said. 'Do you mean that is just his Christian name? Can I call him Fido Wong?' I continued. 'Certainly not!' came the emphatic reply. 'But he lives in your family', I protested, 'Why don't you call him Fido Wong?' Then, indicating his two daughters, I asked 'Are your daughters not called Miss Wong?' 'Yes!' 'Well then, why cannot I call your dog Master Wong?'
The Doctor laughed, and I went on: 'Do you see what I am getting at? Your daughters were born into your family and they bear your name because you have communicated your life to them. Your dog may be an intelligent dog, a well-behaved dog, and altogether a most remarkable dog ; but the question is not, Is he a good or a bad dog? It is merely, Is he a dog? He does not need to be bad to be disqualified from being a member of your family; he only needs to be a dog.
The same principle applies to you in your relationship to God. The question is not whether you are a bad man or a good man, more or less, but simply, Are you a man? If your life is on a lower plane than that of God's life, then you cannot belong to the Divine family. Throughout your life your aim in preaching has been to turn bad men into good men; but men as such, whether good or bad, can have no vital relationship with God. Our only hope as men is to receive the Son of God, and when we do so His life in us will constitute us sons of God.' The Doctor saw the truth, and that day he became a member of God's family by receiving the Son of God into his heart.
If you would like to read more by Watchman Nee and other great Christian writers you can find their books at: http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bookcat.htm.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Evangelistic Promiscuity
Romans Road to Salvation
The Four Spiritual Laws
These are two of the most well known witnessing tools used in evangelical programs. Both of them put a tremendous amount of onus on a seeker to say a salvation prayer. Many believers hand out tracts of these plans. The idea is that an individual can come to know Jesus personally through this mechanism.
The problem that is often associated with these programs is that they appeal to individualism and see salvation as a simple contract that is to be signed and can be used as a ticket to heaven. It’s almost like fire insurance, just in case there really is a god somewhere in the universe.
There is little recognition that salvation means they are now sons or daughters within the body of Christ. Presenting salvation as a relationship of knowing and loving God and our new brothers and sisters is almost non-existent in these programs. It is certainly not spelled out at the beginning. It’s like buying a new car only to find out that you have to buy tires and an engine after the purchase.
Follow up statements from believers sometimes go like this: Now that you’ve said this prayer make sure that you find a good church that teaches the bible and declares Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
The idea that the believer is now personally responsible for the new Christian’s growth is often downplayed or even overlooked. The person responsible for there growth is the babe in Christ. If they fall away, “aw shucks, I guess they just didn’t have what it takes.”
The carelessness that I have seen in these programs and the lack of understanding of the Body of Christ, makes me cringe when I see well meaning Christians indiscriminately handing out tracts of this nature.
There seems to be little thought to the after effects of this prayer. Go to church and read your Bible is the mantra for follow up.
It’s almost like teenagers having sex with no thought as to the consequences and responsibilities of what making babies involves.
I call the implementation of these plans of salvation: Evangelistic Promiscuity.
The Four Spiritual Laws
These are two of the most well known witnessing tools used in evangelical programs. Both of them put a tremendous amount of onus on a seeker to say a salvation prayer. Many believers hand out tracts of these plans. The idea is that an individual can come to know Jesus personally through this mechanism.
The problem that is often associated with these programs is that they appeal to individualism and see salvation as a simple contract that is to be signed and can be used as a ticket to heaven. It’s almost like fire insurance, just in case there really is a god somewhere in the universe.
There is little recognition that salvation means they are now sons or daughters within the body of Christ. Presenting salvation as a relationship of knowing and loving God and our new brothers and sisters is almost non-existent in these programs. It is certainly not spelled out at the beginning. It’s like buying a new car only to find out that you have to buy tires and an engine after the purchase.
Follow up statements from believers sometimes go like this: Now that you’ve said this prayer make sure that you find a good church that teaches the bible and declares Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
The idea that the believer is now personally responsible for the new Christian’s growth is often downplayed or even overlooked. The person responsible for there growth is the babe in Christ. If they fall away, “aw shucks, I guess they just didn’t have what it takes.”
The carelessness that I have seen in these programs and the lack of understanding of the Body of Christ, makes me cringe when I see well meaning Christians indiscriminately handing out tracts of this nature.
There seems to be little thought to the after effects of this prayer. Go to church and read your Bible is the mantra for follow up.
It’s almost like teenagers having sex with no thought as to the consequences and responsibilities of what making babies involves.
I call the implementation of these plans of salvation: Evangelistic Promiscuity.
What's in a Name?
When I first went to Korea I ran into one of those cultural differences that tends to surprise. If you ask people in Korea their name, they will tell you their surname (family) name first and then their given name. It gets easy after a while but it does bring confusion when using your own name. Should I go with Korean custom and use my surname first? Especially with a name like mine where the last name can be a first name. What if they know my custom and want to make me feel comfortable so they do it the western way. Am I Grant David or am I David Grant?
Women in Korea do not change their surnames when they get married. They use their father’s surname all of their life. This shows respect to their patriarchal lineage. Funny, that in the west, when a woman refuses to change her surname at marriage, it tends to be a sign of independence.
I had two Korean boys staying with us when I came back from Korea 3 years ago. They were here to attend public school and get an English edumacation. Their middle name was the same but was written last, like a surname. The school assumed they were brothers. Names are supposed to help us identify ourselves and yet we ended up with some interesting cultural faux pas, when identifying them.
I did a rather strange thing a few years back when I changed my name from Gary to David. For $135 anyone can legally change their name. A fair bit of confusion came about with the changing of my name. Some of my friends would work really hard to remember to call me by my new name and sure enough as soon as they saw me, the old name would come out with a quick apology to follow. One of my friends simply refuses to make the adjustment. I even have a hard time retelling a story about myself from my Gary days. What do I call myself? Was this really worth the hassle? Yeah, it is.
It was easy for my kids to get my name right, but then again, they had changed my name quite a bit earlier. I used to go by the name daddy to them. But then Jamie changed it so that he could distinguish between me and all of the other daddy’s out there. In French the affectionate term is called “Pa” with a definite French pronunciation. I didn’t even realize that my name had changed till quite a bit after the fact.
A name really does give a sense of identity and belonging. I’m sure there are some people who might want a different family name due to cultural, linguistic changes. I have no idea how people might feel with surnames like Gay or Anus but I’m sure they are the ‘but’ of a few jokes.
When it comes to Christianity it seems everyone has to belong to a certain name. There are 39,000 denominations and 3,826,000 different congregations in the world. They all have a name to define who they are, but sometimes, even more importantly, to define who they are not. Sadly we tend to use those names like designer labels to define who is “really” in and those who are tending to miss out on some finer points of doctrine or methodology.
When people ask what church you attend, make sure you have a name handy, as that is one of the marks of being a Christian. Under no circumstances, ever tell people that you don’t belong to a name. They will think that you are either a slacker, rebellious or into some weirdo cult. On the upside, they will definitely be praying for you.
What did Paul think about this idea of naming the groups we are in?
1Cor 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you, but [that] you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's [household], that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided?
I don’t know how we would not use a name to identify ourselves? I only know that when we identify with a name, Paul would ask this question,
“Is Christ divided?”
Women in Korea do not change their surnames when they get married. They use their father’s surname all of their life. This shows respect to their patriarchal lineage. Funny, that in the west, when a woman refuses to change her surname at marriage, it tends to be a sign of independence.
I had two Korean boys staying with us when I came back from Korea 3 years ago. They were here to attend public school and get an English edumacation. Their middle name was the same but was written last, like a surname. The school assumed they were brothers. Names are supposed to help us identify ourselves and yet we ended up with some interesting cultural faux pas, when identifying them.
I did a rather strange thing a few years back when I changed my name from Gary to David. For $135 anyone can legally change their name. A fair bit of confusion came about with the changing of my name. Some of my friends would work really hard to remember to call me by my new name and sure enough as soon as they saw me, the old name would come out with a quick apology to follow. One of my friends simply refuses to make the adjustment. I even have a hard time retelling a story about myself from my Gary days. What do I call myself? Was this really worth the hassle? Yeah, it is.
It was easy for my kids to get my name right, but then again, they had changed my name quite a bit earlier. I used to go by the name daddy to them. But then Jamie changed it so that he could distinguish between me and all of the other daddy’s out there. In French the affectionate term is called “Pa” with a definite French pronunciation. I didn’t even realize that my name had changed till quite a bit after the fact.
A name really does give a sense of identity and belonging. I’m sure there are some people who might want a different family name due to cultural, linguistic changes. I have no idea how people might feel with surnames like Gay or Anus but I’m sure they are the ‘but’ of a few jokes.
When it comes to Christianity it seems everyone has to belong to a certain name. There are 39,000 denominations and 3,826,000 different congregations in the world. They all have a name to define who they are, but sometimes, even more importantly, to define who they are not. Sadly we tend to use those names like designer labels to define who is “really” in and those who are tending to miss out on some finer points of doctrine or methodology.
When people ask what church you attend, make sure you have a name handy, as that is one of the marks of being a Christian. Under no circumstances, ever tell people that you don’t belong to a name. They will think that you are either a slacker, rebellious or into some weirdo cult. On the upside, they will definitely be praying for you.
What did Paul think about this idea of naming the groups we are in?
1Cor 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you, but [that] you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's [household], that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided?
I don’t know how we would not use a name to identify ourselves? I only know that when we identify with a name, Paul would ask this question,
“Is Christ divided?”
Monday, May 7, 2007
If You Could Choose
If you could choose between being one of the five thousand that Jesus fed or one of the disciples that passed out the bread, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being healed of blindness or one of the disciples that was watching, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being one of the mob that said crucify Him or one of his disciples who failed Him miserably, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being a Pharisee that secretly saw Jesus at night or one of His disciples that ate with Him everyday, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being in the crowd that wanted to throw Jesus over a cliff or one of His disciples that were often confused by what He said, what would you choose?
If you could choose between hearing Jesus speaking in parables or one of His disciples that got the interpretation, what would you choose?
If you could choose between keeping all of your riches or being one of the disciples that had left everything, what would you choose?
Up close and personal was the way to know Jesus. If we are to grow in our love for each other, shouldn’t up close and personal, be our first priority as well?
1Joh 4:19 (NIV) We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
If you could choose between the professional, power packed, large meeting and the intimate, participatory, small meeting, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being healed of blindness or one of the disciples that was watching, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being one of the mob that said crucify Him or one of his disciples who failed Him miserably, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being a Pharisee that secretly saw Jesus at night or one of His disciples that ate with Him everyday, what would you choose?
If you could choose between being in the crowd that wanted to throw Jesus over a cliff or one of His disciples that were often confused by what He said, what would you choose?
If you could choose between hearing Jesus speaking in parables or one of His disciples that got the interpretation, what would you choose?
If you could choose between keeping all of your riches or being one of the disciples that had left everything, what would you choose?
Up close and personal was the way to know Jesus. If we are to grow in our love for each other, shouldn’t up close and personal, be our first priority as well?
1Joh 4:19 (NIV) We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
If you could choose between the professional, power packed, large meeting and the intimate, participatory, small meeting, what would you choose?
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Brothers and Sisters
Have you ever had a fight with an older sibling who is left in charge while Mom and Dad are out? Sometimes, it’s just like all out war. When Mom and Dad do get home, there is lots of finger pointing and sometimes deep seated resentments that build up over the years.
Growing up in the kingdom of God has a lot to with overcoming these childish tendencies. Paul said it this way,
1Cor 13:11 (NIV) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
As we come to understand our position as sons and daughters of God, there should be a parallel maturing to understand our relationship with each other as brothers and sisters. The most often used term to define our relationship within the New Testament is brethren (brothers and sisters). It is used more than 300 times while the total number of the function terms, (pastor, elder, apostle, teacher, overseer, prophet, evangelist), are used less than 50 times in total.
When do you arrive at that position of equality? When does a new born baby acquire the position of being a brother or sister to older siblings?
Is it wrong to defer to those that are ahead of us? Of course not. Unless that deferring continues beyond normal maturing in our lives. What I mean by this is that it is normal for a younger brother to look up to an older brother, but when that continues well into adulthood, it’s down right icky. They should be peers and understand themselves that way.
Oddly enough the positional, hierarchal model that is prevalent in churches only gives the idea of brother/sister equality, meaningless lip service. The idea for many parishioners within institutional church models to think of themselves as peers to their pastors is almost sacrilegious. Consequently, instead of maturity, childish thinking is rampant. It’s almost like they see their pastor as a babysitter to contend with or give in to.
I remember an older sister in a church that I was pastoring being angry with me because I didn’t motivate her through guilt by using more fire and brimstone type of preaching. She had been a Christian for more than 60 years and was still acting like a little child in her understanding of her position within the body of Christ. My position as a pastor somehow stunted her growth. She never saw me as a peer but she did get ticked with me like younger children do with their older siblings, from time to time.
Why is it so difficult to understand that we are all to mature into being peers (adult brothers and sisters), with equal authority and varying responsibilities?
Growing up in the kingdom of God has a lot to with overcoming these childish tendencies. Paul said it this way,
1Cor 13:11 (NIV) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
As we come to understand our position as sons and daughters of God, there should be a parallel maturing to understand our relationship with each other as brothers and sisters. The most often used term to define our relationship within the New Testament is brethren (brothers and sisters). It is used more than 300 times while the total number of the function terms, (pastor, elder, apostle, teacher, overseer, prophet, evangelist), are used less than 50 times in total.
When do you arrive at that position of equality? When does a new born baby acquire the position of being a brother or sister to older siblings?
Is it wrong to defer to those that are ahead of us? Of course not. Unless that deferring continues beyond normal maturing in our lives. What I mean by this is that it is normal for a younger brother to look up to an older brother, but when that continues well into adulthood, it’s down right icky. They should be peers and understand themselves that way.
Oddly enough the positional, hierarchal model that is prevalent in churches only gives the idea of brother/sister equality, meaningless lip service. The idea for many parishioners within institutional church models to think of themselves as peers to their pastors is almost sacrilegious. Consequently, instead of maturity, childish thinking is rampant. It’s almost like they see their pastor as a babysitter to contend with or give in to.
I remember an older sister in a church that I was pastoring being angry with me because I didn’t motivate her through guilt by using more fire and brimstone type of preaching. She had been a Christian for more than 60 years and was still acting like a little child in her understanding of her position within the body of Christ. My position as a pastor somehow stunted her growth. She never saw me as a peer but she did get ticked with me like younger children do with their older siblings, from time to time.
Why is it so difficult to understand that we are all to mature into being peers (adult brothers and sisters), with equal authority and varying responsibilities?
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Identity Theft
What makes you part of a family? Did you earn that place? Do you have to fight for it? Is it a longing that is never fully realized? Is someone or something always in the way? How we answer these questions of belonging is at the heart of how we see ourselves: it is in fact our identity.
When Jesus came to our world, his purpose was to settle the issue of our identity. He died so that we can be born again as sons and daughters of His Heavenly Father. Sadly, we are often trapped in finding our identity, even as Christians, in something other than being sons or daughters within the family of God.
In the book, Identity Theft, Kevin Avram and Wes Boldt, examine the three counterfeit identities that seek to limit or even shut out the voice of the Spirit of God in our lives. They call these identities laborer, orphan, and beggar.
Here is an excerpt describing what they mean by these terms.
Laborer: Laborers find identity in their work, like and trust systems, and desire to emulate those who know how to “get things done” or “make it happen.” They want to please God, and believe they can do this through their labor or achievement. They believe that, in the end, they will receive recognition and reward for what they do or accomplish.
Orphan: Orphans cannot find their identity anywhere. They are comfortless and have difficulty seeing where they fit. Their identity is defined by a persistent sense of need and a desire for Sonship/Daughterhood, but their heart’s response of pride and ongoing tendency toward self-sufficiency keeps them from dependence on the Father.
Beggar: Like Laborers and Orphans, Beggars respond to truth in pride. They too see the world through the prism of self-sufficiency, but recognize they do not actually possess it. As such, they see the world as a collection of victims and villains, with themselves as the victims—even when they act as villains.
I fully recognize that much of my discomfort about myself is the feeling of being an orphan. I even know where this feeling first began to take root in my life. I haven’t found programs or rituals that alleviate this feeling of neediness and aloneness.
Is it any wonder, with any one of these identities masking our ability to hear, understand and relate to God, that we need to completely recognize our total need to be emptied of our wrong view of ourselves? This kind of transformation can only take place in an environment where we can be fully known. Even then, letting go of the things that have deceived us from our true identity, is a daunting task. We need others who see more clearly than ourselves. We need the body of Christ to rise up to its full stature and help up is in our journey.
When Jesus came to our world, his purpose was to settle the issue of our identity. He died so that we can be born again as sons and daughters of His Heavenly Father. Sadly, we are often trapped in finding our identity, even as Christians, in something other than being sons or daughters within the family of God.
In the book, Identity Theft, Kevin Avram and Wes Boldt, examine the three counterfeit identities that seek to limit or even shut out the voice of the Spirit of God in our lives. They call these identities laborer, orphan, and beggar.
Here is an excerpt describing what they mean by these terms.
Laborer: Laborers find identity in their work, like and trust systems, and desire to emulate those who know how to “get things done” or “make it happen.” They want to please God, and believe they can do this through their labor or achievement. They believe that, in the end, they will receive recognition and reward for what they do or accomplish.
Orphan: Orphans cannot find their identity anywhere. They are comfortless and have difficulty seeing where they fit. Their identity is defined by a persistent sense of need and a desire for Sonship/Daughterhood, but their heart’s response of pride and ongoing tendency toward self-sufficiency keeps them from dependence on the Father.
Beggar: Like Laborers and Orphans, Beggars respond to truth in pride. They too see the world through the prism of self-sufficiency, but recognize they do not actually possess it. As such, they see the world as a collection of victims and villains, with themselves as the victims—even when they act as villains.
I fully recognize that much of my discomfort about myself is the feeling of being an orphan. I even know where this feeling first began to take root in my life. I haven’t found programs or rituals that alleviate this feeling of neediness and aloneness.
Is it any wonder, with any one of these identities masking our ability to hear, understand and relate to God, that we need to completely recognize our total need to be emptied of our wrong view of ourselves? This kind of transformation can only take place in an environment where we can be fully known. Even then, letting go of the things that have deceived us from our true identity, is a daunting task. We need others who see more clearly than ourselves. We need the body of Christ to rise up to its full stature and help up is in our journey.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Paradigm Shift
A paradigm is simply the way through which we see our world. It is how we interpret events both past, present and future.
Imagine being magically transported back in time 300 years ago. How would you describe where you came from and how you lived? Would it be easy to adapt to their lifestyle? Would you dare tell them about the future?
Let’s ask this another way. Let’s transport Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, into our modern times. What would he think about what he saw in our churches today? Remember his writings were to people in the context of living out their Christian lives in homes. His instructions were meant for that context, with no other context imagined by him. Would he be pleased with how his words were being applied? Would his paradigm make it difficult for him comprehend his own words in the wineskin of the modern church?
What about us? Does our paradigm affect how we hear his words? If we haven’t even considered this question, then know for sure that it has.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had a paradigm of what they thought religion was to be like. In fact, one of them, Nicodemus, recognized Jesus as a significant teacher. Jesus immediately confronted him with a new paradigm of being born again. He even scolded Nick for not understanding his picture. Nicodemus had been so stuck in one paradigm about loving God that he had a difficult time recognizing God, when He showed up. Nick trusted the scriptures with all of his heart and yet was baffled by the simplicity of Jesus' life.
I like the term born again as it is meant to impress on us that we need to fully change our way of understanding our identity. It is pregnant with meaning; one of them being the need to grow from babes into maturity. It lends us the understanding that if we are to grow it should be in the context of a family.
Families don’t hire someone to look after themselves. Each one learns their responsibilities and privileges of being in the family. No one undermines a father and mother’s role in raising their kids. It is expected that kids mature and become the primary caregivers to the next generation. There is never an elitist group governing a family. They are quite capable of looking after themselves.
Paul’s picture of the body of Christ maturing in homes weaves beautifully with Jesus’ picture of family growth. 2000 years later, homes and families are still the bedrock of every society on the planet.
Why have we chosen a different paradigm of living out their words?
Imagine being magically transported back in time 300 years ago. How would you describe where you came from and how you lived? Would it be easy to adapt to their lifestyle? Would you dare tell them about the future?
Let’s ask this another way. Let’s transport Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, into our modern times. What would he think about what he saw in our churches today? Remember his writings were to people in the context of living out their Christian lives in homes. His instructions were meant for that context, with no other context imagined by him. Would he be pleased with how his words were being applied? Would his paradigm make it difficult for him comprehend his own words in the wineskin of the modern church?
What about us? Does our paradigm affect how we hear his words? If we haven’t even considered this question, then know for sure that it has.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had a paradigm of what they thought religion was to be like. In fact, one of them, Nicodemus, recognized Jesus as a significant teacher. Jesus immediately confronted him with a new paradigm of being born again. He even scolded Nick for not understanding his picture. Nicodemus had been so stuck in one paradigm about loving God that he had a difficult time recognizing God, when He showed up. Nick trusted the scriptures with all of his heart and yet was baffled by the simplicity of Jesus' life.
I like the term born again as it is meant to impress on us that we need to fully change our way of understanding our identity. It is pregnant with meaning; one of them being the need to grow from babes into maturity. It lends us the understanding that if we are to grow it should be in the context of a family.
Families don’t hire someone to look after themselves. Each one learns their responsibilities and privileges of being in the family. No one undermines a father and mother’s role in raising their kids. It is expected that kids mature and become the primary caregivers to the next generation. There is never an elitist group governing a family. They are quite capable of looking after themselves.
Paul’s picture of the body of Christ maturing in homes weaves beautifully with Jesus’ picture of family growth. 2000 years later, homes and families are still the bedrock of every society on the planet.
Why have we chosen a different paradigm of living out their words?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Evangelism 101
Definition: sharing good news.
Peter is a wonderful friend who has been teaching me about evangelism. He is 74 years old and has led a full life of sharing with others his love of Jesus. He wasn’t trained in seminary and describes himself as an entrepreneur in the business world. His formal training was going out and talking with people about his love affair with Jesus. He spent many years in prisons, not as an inmate, but as a visitor wanting to become a friend.
Apparently men in prison have a healthy distrust of anyone visiting them with a religious mindset. Nevertheless, Peter in his own uniquely disarming way managed to break through into countless men’s lives. One of their questions that they always asked him was “why don’t you ask what I’m in for.” Peter’s response was, “I don’t care.” He had a clear understanding that the gospel is Jesus himself. He focused on telling them about His Lord and His love for them.
His philosophy was that he was acting like a tow truck driver. He didn’t care why they were in the ditch; he only wanted to help them to get out. He would tell them stories of what it meant to be born again.
His favorite story was the transformation that took place when a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly. A caterpillar does nothing but eat and destroy any plant that it is on. Eventually it spins a cocoon around itself and emerges as a butterfly. Butterflies no longer destroy but drink the nectar from flower to flower, pollinating them, which brings more life.
Peter never focused on sin but on the One who conquered sin and death. For him evangelism was sharing a vital, life giving relationship with none other than Jesus Christ Himself.
I have found it interesting when asking Christians why Jesus died, that their first response is usually, “He died for our sins.” Peter would answer, “He died so we can have a relationship with Him and His Father” It’s no wonder that so many came to know Jesus through Peter’s plan of evangelism. He didn’t focus on their sin. That was like getting them to know that grass was green or the sky is blue.
He hadn’t been trained in mass evangelism techniques; he only knew that they needed Jesus.
Peter is a wonderful friend who has been teaching me about evangelism. He is 74 years old and has led a full life of sharing with others his love of Jesus. He wasn’t trained in seminary and describes himself as an entrepreneur in the business world. His formal training was going out and talking with people about his love affair with Jesus. He spent many years in prisons, not as an inmate, but as a visitor wanting to become a friend.
Apparently men in prison have a healthy distrust of anyone visiting them with a religious mindset. Nevertheless, Peter in his own uniquely disarming way managed to break through into countless men’s lives. One of their questions that they always asked him was “why don’t you ask what I’m in for.” Peter’s response was, “I don’t care.” He had a clear understanding that the gospel is Jesus himself. He focused on telling them about His Lord and His love for them.
His philosophy was that he was acting like a tow truck driver. He didn’t care why they were in the ditch; he only wanted to help them to get out. He would tell them stories of what it meant to be born again.
His favorite story was the transformation that took place when a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly. A caterpillar does nothing but eat and destroy any plant that it is on. Eventually it spins a cocoon around itself and emerges as a butterfly. Butterflies no longer destroy but drink the nectar from flower to flower, pollinating them, which brings more life.
Peter never focused on sin but on the One who conquered sin and death. For him evangelism was sharing a vital, life giving relationship with none other than Jesus Christ Himself.
I have found it interesting when asking Christians why Jesus died, that their first response is usually, “He died for our sins.” Peter would answer, “He died so we can have a relationship with Him and His Father” It’s no wonder that so many came to know Jesus through Peter’s plan of evangelism. He didn’t focus on their sin. That was like getting them to know that grass was green or the sky is blue.
He hadn’t been trained in mass evangelism techniques; he only knew that they needed Jesus.
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