I love to use the word "adventurous" when applied to the Christian faith. If the journey is not an adventure, if it is not exciting and fun, if it is merely a walk through Walmart or Crate and Barrel, what is the point? If we shrink-wrap and present the gospel of Jesus as a preserved tasty morsel to be partaken of as dessert or in between meals, then we limit the power, the uncertainty, the mystery, the majesty, the danger, and the excitement.
My mom always used to remind me, and often still does... "Let go and let God..." That simple, yet profound wisdom can be applied so often not only to our faith, personally, but also to our corporate faith journey as well. If our denominational leaders would learn to simply "Let go and let God... direct local, national and international missions and ministries, determine how local congregations engage their communities, spend their monies, name their gatherings (if at all), build their buildings (if at all), contextualize the Gospel, etc... When the indigenous leaders in colonized countries in Africa and other places like China, were freed up to apply the good news (initially brought pre-packaged by well-meaning missionaries) to their context, their cultures, within their worldviews, all hell broke loose, and the Gospel truly became Gospel to those folks. To "Let go and let God..." is a frightening thing, because it involves faith - real faith, not just a controlled, religious, ritual, institutional faith. To "let go and let God..." is to be adventurous.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Why do we do what we do?
The Global Christian Church is both diverse and yet unified by Christ's Spirit. The majority of Christianity is no longer seated in the northern hemisphere in Western nations, but now is South in countries like Africa, South America and China. We have much we can learn from our international brothers and sisters. I think that if we are humble and open to critiquing ourselves and practices, we will benefit. So much of our current practices in the western church are enculturated representations of the gospel. And without realizing it, many of our traditions are pagan in origin, outdated and arguably may no longer apply to our culture today...
paid clergy - Constantine created a salaried priesthood
majestic buildings - Constantine transformed the Roman Government buildings into worship centers.
infant baptism - primarily a result of civil religion?
Altars with candles/Rails/procession into Sanctuary /choirs /central seat for priest - the ancient Roman emperor processed into gatherings with choirs singing, and sat at the central seat of honor - this became the process for priests in the state adopted church - the altar table with candles came straight out of the pagan temples - the rails separated the clergy (now a separate class) from the laity (a new word to describe 2nd class Christians.
Pulpit preaching, Robes and the Offering - The traveling Sophists wore special clothes and preached eloquent "sermons" to the delight of many people, and at the end of their speech, passed the hat for donations - many of these intellectual philosophic speakers became the early bishops/fathers of the church when they converted to Christianity.
The list can go on and on - and yet we continue many of these practices as if they were the fundamentals of the gospel. We need to realize that just like the early African church, who are currently dealing with cultural issues like ancestor worship and polygamy, at one time these Western forms were much needed applications for communicating the gospel to the early converted pagan/gentile church. At what point do we re-evaluate our practices and forms in light of the surrounding local culture to ensure that we are accurately communicating and living the good news with those within our reach? Will the young churches of Africa and the south eventually reach this point of amnesia regarding forms and practices?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
SEVEN... Last Words; Stations of the Cross - Suggested Holy Week Devotions
sunday
FIRST WORD “Father, forgive them.” Luke 23:34
read 1 Corinthians 4:12, Acts 3:17, Matthew 27:35
Do we sometimes hurt others and not know what we are doing? What can we learn about forgiveness from Jesus’ first words on the cross?
FIRST STATION Jesus Condemned
read John 19:1-16
monday
SECOND WORD “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
read Revelation 2:7
Was it fair for the criminal to get to go to heaven with Jesus? Do you sometimes think people deserve it when bad things happen to them? What do you deserve? And what, thanks to God’s action through Jesus, do you get?
SECOND STATION Jesus Carries the Cross
read Mark 15:16-20
tuesday
THIRD WORD “Woman, behold your son! Behold, your mother!” John 19:26-27
read John 13:23; 20:2
Is there someone you could love as though they were a member of your family? Besides family members, who has influenced you greatly in your life?
THIRD STATION Simon helps Carry the Cross
read Luke 23:26
wednesday
FOURTH WORD “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34
read Psalm 22:1
Have you ever cried out to God and asked “why”? When have you felt alone or abandoned?
FOURTH STATION Jesus is Stripped
read Matthew 27:27-31
thursday maundy
FIFTH WORD “I am thirsty.” John 19:28
read Psalm 22:15
When in your life did you feel like you needed someone or something? Did you feel God’s Presence at that time? If so, how?
FIFTH STATION Jesus is nailed to the Cross
read Mark 15:22-28
friday good?
SIXTH WORD “It is finished.” John 19:30
read John 21:25
When your life on earth is finished, what do you think people will say about you? Are you casting a shadow or projecting the light of Jesus?
SIXTH STATION Jesus dies read Luke 23:44-46
SEVENTH WORD “Father, I trust my spirit into your hands!” Luke 23:46
read Psalm 31:5, John 19:30
What should we do when we want things our own way? What happens when everybody wants their own way? When is it hardest to let go and let God have His way?
SEVENTH STATION Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross and Buried read Mark 15:42-46
saturday
REVIEW, CONTEMPLATE, AND FAST
monday Jesus chased the money changers out of the Temple. Tuesday and wednesday Jesus preached and taught in Jerusalem. thursday Jesus and His disciples had the Last Supper. Jesus prayed before He was arrested. friday Jesus was crucified. saturday everyone rested, because it was the Sabbath.
Fast from something today (food, tv, phone, computer, etc.). Think about Jesus and consider your emotions. How would you have felt that day if you didn’t know the rest of the story. How do you think Jesus felt? How does it make you feel now knowing what you know? What do you think you would have felt like if you had been there during that time?
sunday easter!
resurrection
from the dead
He is alive! The tomb is empty! Jesus is alive!
read John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4
He is alive! Jesus Christ lives! Alleluia, and Amen.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Green? How 'bout Spectacular?
I am humbled and enriched by a broader, all-encompassing view of the redemption of all creation. Our theological and ethical views are often so limited, even when we think we are moving in direction which challenges the status quo. From the conservation movement to the rights of future generations to animal rights to biocentrism to the wilderness movement to the land ethic to a deep ecology; all of our attempts to understand God's creation and work in the world fall short. When I approach God with humility, seeking to know Him more, God continues to expand my discernment of the breadth, height, width, and depth of His love for His creation. How much farther can this go? What must it be like to see our Creator Redeemer face to face rather than through a lens or mirror darkly? Oh the light of New Jerusalem, the Presence of our Almighty God, His Shekinah glory! Wow!
Good ecological theology read from evangelical point of view: Bouma-Prediger, For the Beauty of the Earth
Monday, March 3, 2008
RECOVER PRAYER
Ephesians 1:10-23 And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ-- everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. God's purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God. Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.
What an honor and privilege to be able to engage in prayer. Knowing that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf, constantly, makes our prayer life all the more important. We are called into prayer as we commune with Christ through His Spirit, and even when we aren't sure how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us and through us in accordance with the will of the Father. Moving mountains is God's work, and yet we are called to cooperate in some mysterious way in making those mountains move. There is power in all prayer, individual and corporate, but truly amazing things happen, I think, when two or more are gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ, praying in accordance with His will for others. We in the West need to recover a supernatural understanding of faith in general, and prayer in particular.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
FILL UP AND SET OUT
1 Samuel 16:1-13
"Fill your horn with oil and set out... I will send you... for I have provided..."
FATHER ALMIGHTY, Why do we grieve so much over the past? Why is it so difficult for us to shift gears with you and move on to your new thing? The mighty prophet Samuel was even afraid of what others might do or say if he left at your instruction and searched for your next king. "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." How often is this phrase repeated in your church today?
Saul, who was once considered a mighty warrior was now fearful, suspicious and worried about maintaining his own rule and power. Rather than focusing on you LORD, Saul was focused on maintenance of his own status quo. How often is this repeated in your church today? Samuel knew things were a mess - he knew Saul was not the LORD's king over Israel - and yet allowed himself to be intimidated by Saul and his minions. And yet YHWH says, "How long will you grieve... fill your horn with oil and set out... I will send you... for I have provided..."
Lord, help us in your church to be Samuels - willing to listen obediently to your directions and to go where you send us seeking your provision. I pray Lord for all of our leaders, myself included, that we would not dwell in our grief and disappointment over the past, but step heartily and bravely into the new thing you are doing. This is an old, old story, repeated time and again... But your Kingdom is not stagnant, not reliant on one or a few persons, not a formula of rituals and comforting practices, but rather a journey of change and unexpected grace and adventure. Your are not impressed by our budgets, buildings or barbeques, for you don't look at the "outward appearances", but you O Lord "look on the heart".
Help us in your church today to be men and women of courage - to embrace the fullness and wholeness of your gospel mission - going where you send to those you send us to - seeking out your provision - anointing new leaders who are men and women after your own heart - Davids and Samuels. May we be a church on the move - seeking - anointing and moving on in your victory!
"Rise and anoint him; for this is the one. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went..."
May we recognize our sent nature, Lord Jesus, and move forward, for your glory and in your grace with your Spirit mightily upon us. Amen.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Ultimate Love Story
St. Valentine's Day was originally an early Christian remembrance of a couple of church leaders, both named Valentine, who were martyred for their faith, that is killed by an oppressive regime because they refused to dis the Jesus who they followed. The consumer takeover of the holy day is not unusual today, but is very misleading. Sometime during the Romantic period in Europe, Chaucer and others helped make the shift towards a celebration of Romantic Love rather than a remembrance of Sacrificial Love. The result is the benefit of the market place today, especially for those who sell greeting cards, flowers, food in restaurants and movie experiences.
All of that aside, if we return to the heart of the holy day, we are reminded that Love is Sacrificial, not just Romantic. The warm fuzzies come and go, but sacrifical love is here to stay, come hell or high water. According to Jesus, this sacrificial love doesn't come easy, but is our true source of joy in this life. "I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it-- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." (John 15:11-13)
Jesus clearly shows us how to really love, and that love unavoidably involves sacrifice: It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began-- to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9)
True romance doesn't happen at 8 pm on Valentine's Day, as a guilty husband or boyfriend runs into Walmart to purchase some discount flowers to bring home to an expectant spouse or girlfriend. True Romance is love that is sacrificial and well-thought out. It is the thought put into these acts of love that makes it special. A dozen roses is here today and gone tomorrow, but true sacrificial love stays the course.
Our God was not at the Roman equivalent of Walmart at the last minute purchasing cheap flowers for humanity to prove His love. No, our God’s love was well thought out, extravagant, sacrificial, and planned before the World began… Jesus is not an afterthought, Jesus is sacrificial love in the flesh. His story, God's story is the ultimate love story...
For God so loved the world... that He created it, and never left.
For God so loved the world.... that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save. (John 3:16-17) Jesus comes to us as sacrificial love, personified, in the flesh and spirit, and hopes to transform us into His likeness. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35)
The ultimate love story is "the" story, "our" story. We must simply begin to live into it, not in our own strength, but indwelled by the One who is sacrificial love. Our response is submission, acceptance and joy! THE ULTIMATE LOVE STORY is still playing out…
How does the Story END?
We don’t know the exact Time and Place… Only God Does.
But… We do know How it Ends (READ Revelation 21)
See, the End is only the Beginning!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Manipulative Faith
Matthew 6:5-7 "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." - JESUS
Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you," says the LORD.
Psalm 138:3 When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
1 Kings 8:30 "May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive."
I am a person who believes in prayer. I love the precious gift of prayer offered to us by a benevolent, loving Creator God. I love the fact that my Savior is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for me and the whole creation, and that Jesus calls us into prayer in accordance with His heart. I love the Holy Spirit who prays for us at times when we have no idea how to even begin to articulate our prayers (Romans 8:26-27). Prayer is a gift - Prayer is a calling - Prayer leads us closer to God - Prayer helps us come to know God better - Prayer is intimate and relational, and at the same time corporate - Prayer is powerful - Prayer is a privilege - Prayer is for everyone.
PRAYER IS NOT...
a magic formula to get what we want. God listens to our hearts and desires, but true prayer is in accordance with God's heart and God's desires for our lives. The more tuned into God we are, the clearer our prayer life becomes. Have you ever had an internet prayer forwarded to you? Pretty stupid question, eh? We all have. Unfortunately, most of the forwarded internet prayers that get passed around are generally not about generating a sweet aroma of incense towards God, as much as about pleasing the person who started it. These Spiritual emails are genuinely manipulative, and self-serving (in my opinion). It drives me crazy when I read something that makes the reader feel that they are not faithful if they do not increase the number on the forward box and send it to as many people as possible. These are plain and simply chain letters, that are steeped in superstition, and capitalize on fear and manipulation. In a rare moment this morning, I was reading one and thought I would give it a chance. It sounded pretty good, so I was praying along with it in agreement up to a point, and then I just stopped cold and deleted the message. This is what was inserted into the middle of the prayer...
"I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe."
We have all read these emails, some have even forwarded them on, but have you ever really thought about what the real message is...
God is a manipulative God - not a God of grace, mercy and love - you must perform by jumping through particular hoops in order to convince God that you believe.
Does it actually show a lack of faith when we feel like we must argue or manipulate someone into believing as we do? Can't we simply live our lives before others trusting that God is with us and glorified through us as we live bold, radically different, grace-filled lives? This type of prayer smacks of pagan ritual and belief. In a sense we feel that the more people we can guilt into a faith of works (i.e. passing on an email) the more points we score on the heavenly game card (see Matt. 6:5-7).
The God I serve and pray to does not work this way. My Lord, Jesus Christ is with me no matter what, always ready to forgive, always offering love, always helping me to keep my feet on the path of sanctification. I think it is important that we recognize how contrary to our Christian faith these email manipulations really are. Now, you need to go out and spread the word about these emails, or something terrible may happen, or you will miss out on a tremendous blessing, or...
Well, you get the point!
Exodus 8:9b "I will pray that you and your houses will be rid of the frogs."
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