Acts 2:44-45 records these words "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (TNIV). One of the reasons I believe church is worth bothering with is the way the God works through his generous people to provide for people in need. This morning I found myself on the receiving end. I am blessed to have a small number of really good friends. One of these friends is also a colleague in ministry. We often call each other when we're frustrated, discouraged, or just need to vent. So I call him every day and he calls me every other day :-) (kidding of course). Anyway, we were enjoying a coffee this morning when during our conversation he slid an envelope across the table and told me that he and his wife wanted to bless me and Michelle by paying for new tires for our truck. I can't describe the feeling. We recently found out that we have to put a new roof on our house, the tires on Michelle's truck are really bald, and we didn't know how we were going to pay for everything. I was pretty overwhelmed at my friend's generosity. He shared how God put it on his heart to bless us with this, and that this was what the body of Christ is all about. I am so grateful and this type of generosity is one of the reasons I believe church is worth bothering with. We are a body. We should be there for one another. We should care for one another. We should love one another. We should help one another. This morning I found myself being blessed by a great friend. My hope is that we can all be a blessing to others as God empowers and enables us.
"for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (NRSV). That's a good verse. It's one that we like to reflect on in times of need or weakness. I'm sure it's not just on jewelry, but on bumper stickers, tee-shirts, and maybe even "Christian" gyms (if there is such a thing out there). I think this is a good thing. It's good to be reminded of these kinds of verses. After all, when Deuteronomy 6 speaks about the law, it says to tie it on your hands and foreheads, and fasten it to your walls. So when I would look at that necklace, I always assumed that God had given me this spirit of power to get me out of troubling or difficult circumstances. To be sure, sometimes God does. But my necklace didn't have 2 Timothy 1:8 etched into it. If it had gone just one more verse it would have included, "Do not be ashamed , then, of the testimony about our Lord or me his prisoner, but join me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God" (NRSV). It seems to me that according to the second part of the passage that the spirit of power that God has given us is to endure difficulties. I've never seen a bumper sticker that said, "Join me in suffering for the gospel." But, the reality is, sometimes we do suffer. Following Jesus isn't about knowing what's ahead or what to expect. It's about knowing WHO we follow and being prepared for anything. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul writes, "But I am not ashamed, for I KNOW the ONE in whom I have put my trust..." (NRSV emphasis mine). My prayer today is that we will get to KNOW this Jesus who we are following more and more.
Reading through 2 Timothy this week. Came across this verse this morning, "Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controveries; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:23-26 NRSV).
It seems to me that from this passage the only thing guaranteed by "winning" or being "right" in a stupid controversy is quarrels. I'm amazed at how often Christ-followers, and I include myself here, would rather be "right" than "kind," "patient," or "gentle." Being "right" about an argument only seems to lead to a breakdown in relationship. And often the things we take our "stand" against seem senseless in light of eternity and God's goodness. It makes total sense that being kindly, patient, and correcting with gentleness would lead to God perhaps granting that people repent. After all the fruit of the Spirit include "patience, kindness, and gentleness," but not "correctness." Being "right" doesn't necessarily lead to correction. So rather than having to be right all the time, wouldn't it be great if Christ-followers were known for being kindly, patient, and gentle. These qualities don't exclude truth. They "precede" truth, going before and laying the groundwork for truth to be received. Am I right? Never mind that last question, lest we quarrel :-)
This morning I was reading in Philippians about Paul encouraging the believers by telling then that his imprisonment has actually helped to spread the gospel and helped others speak even more boldly about Jesus (Phil. 1:12-14). I'll be the first to admit that God doesn't always make sense to me. If I were Paul, I would be wondering to myself, how can I fulfill my role as an apostle when I'm imprisoned? It wouldn't have made sense to me. Yet Paul says that his circumstances actually helped spread the Gospel. I wonder how often I close the door on what God might be up to or miss opportunities to see the Gospel spread because I don't see how it possibly makes sense. Do I always take the path that makes sense or am I open to allowing God to work through me in all different kinds of circumstances? I suppose I typically go the way that makes sense because it's comfortable or familiar. God help me to choose you over sense.
Galatians 5:16-17, Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want" (NRSV). The desires of the flesh and life by the Spirit are opposed to each other. This seems to indicate that you either feed one or you feed the other. Whichever one we cultivate and feed will be the one that grows. For me, when I'm being passive about my Spirit life, I am sure that I am feeding my flesh without even reflecting on it or realizing it. The key for me is to be about practices and disciplines that will help me to cultivate a Spirit life. If what the Spirit desires is opposed to what the flesh desires, I've got to place myself in environments and postures (through disciplines and practices) to hear those desires of the Spirit. What kinds of practices are helping you to live by the Spirit?
This morning I was reading Galatians and came across this verse - 2:11-12, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group" (TNIV). Wanting the approval of others is a powerful thing. I'm not sure why it's so powerful. I suppose it's because of our own insecurity that we love "fitting in" or "pleasing others." I mean, here is Peter, the same guy who stood up in front of the religious leaders in Acts 4 and told them that not only did they crucify the Messiah, but that he would not listen to their command to stop teaching about Jesus. Now he's avoiding Gentiles because he's afraid of a certain group of influential people. Maybe he was just trying to keep everyone happy. I guess that's the thing about being part of the body of Christ. If the aim is truth and authenticity, you can't keep everyone happy. Because we're all a mess. Not to mention, following Jesus can be messy. At times I can be easily swayed or influenced. We're all a work in progress. I need people in my life like Paul who will not only give their lives to help build me up, but will oppose me when I'm in the wrong. I think we all do. The question I need to wrestle with, and perhaps you might too, is this: Am I more in love with following Jesus or pleasing people. If it's Jesus, I need to embrace the mess, be open to rebuke, be willing to speak truth, and surround myself with people willing to journey with me.
It's been over a month since I've blogged anything. I figured this would happen once courses at Fuller started this quarter. I'm taking two classes this quarter and it's been extremely busy. I've got two more weeks to go and I'm looking forward to being able to come back here and begin tracking more thoughts and ideas with you. See you in a few.
I just finished reading a book titled "Who Gets to Narrate the World" by Robert E. Webber. In one of the many great thoughts in the book. Webber writes, "In almost every religion the quest is to find a way to transcend the pain and suffering of life, and get connected with the powers of the other world that will help us endure this world...But in these religions we never hear that God himself has entered our history and our suffering to redeem us for life in this world." I've been reflecting a lot on the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Or as the message translates it, "...moved into the neighborhood." I don't know about you, but I think that sometimes I treat God like the "other religions" that Webber describes, who try to connect with a God who is far off so I can get through the pain and suffering of life. Instead, I should be continually looking to God who came to us to redeem us for life in his world. A God who is not some far off distant being waiting for us to get to him, but a God who comes to us. A God who is living and active in the world he created and redeems.
I've been reflecting on Romans 4:18-22 this past week. Verses 20,21 say this about Abraham, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." In the face of what seemed like a hopeless situation (becoming a father, when Sarah was well past the age of childbearing) he was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. For some reason, the definition of belief has changed in our world today. In my humble opinion it has been weakened. We can say we believe something without it really affecting our actions. It's as if when we say we "believe," what we are really saying is "I agree with." But belief should translate into action. Sharon Daloz Parks, in the book Big Questions Worthy Dreams writes, "Faith is intimately related to doing. We human beings act in accordance with what we really trust- in contrast to what we may merely acclaim" (Parks 2000:26). My prayer is that God will help me to be "fully persuaded" and to do what I say that I truly believe.
I'm reading a book right now called Who Gets to Narrate the World by Robert E. Webber. In it, he writes about how God's story suffers from reductionism and privatism. He writes, "The Christian faith was reduced to the problem of my sin, the work of Christ for me, the necessity of my conversion and the expectation of my faithfulness to live like a Christian. I was made the center of the story. I needed to invite Jesus into my life and my journey so he would walk with me and bless my life and my ministry." The problem is we tend to make the Gospel all about us. But it's not our story. It's God's. He's the author. He's the director. We're the supporting cast. I need to die to my story and align my life with God's story. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..."
Mondays can be tough sometimes. They can can also be a fresh start at the week. As such, I thought it would be good to meditate a bit on spiritual disciplines or habits. For some reason disciplines are often confused with legalism or guilt-driven duty. I love Dallas Willard's description of spiritual disciplines. He says, "A discipline for the spiritual life is, when the dust of history is blown away, nothing but an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom. When we understand that grace (charis) is gift (charisma), we then see that to grow in grace is to grow in what is given to us of God and by God. The disciplines are then in the clearest sense, a means to that grace and also to those gifts (Spirit of the Disciplines, 156)."
If ecclesiology seems like a big word, it's just the "study of church." This morning, my son Caleb (who is 5) woke up with pink eye. As this can be highly contagious, I told him he wouldn't be able to go to church, but would have to stay home with mom. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He began begging me to go. He said, "Dad, I won't let anyone touch my eyes I promise." I couldn't help but cry too. He taught me something amazing about church this morning. A lot of people can find any excuse they can to avoid going to church on a Sunday. They find it easy to miss a week if there is even a hint of inconvenience. They see church as a "place you go to" or a "service to attend." My son could really care less about the music, or the sermon. But, he absolutely loves the people of Praxis. Many thanks to all of you at Praxis who make our kids feel so loved. Caleb couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you this morning. I read recently in a book called The Tangible Kingdom that said, "Church must not be the goal. Church should be what ends up happening as a natural response to people wanting to follow us, be with us, and be like us as we are following the way of Christ." My son seems to get this. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said unless we become like little children we can't enter the kingdom (see Matthew 18). I shared what I learned from my son with our church this morning. It was hard to fight back tears. But I have to say, I've learned one of my greatest lessons in ecclesiology from a 5 year old. I'm so proud of him.
Christmas is over and a new year is upon us. I was reflecting more on the movie Avatar today. in the movie Jake Sully, a former marine, has to infiltrate the Na'vi people on the moon Pandora and get to know them in an effort to try to get them to move out peaceably so that the Americans can excavate their land for a precious material worth big bucks. In essence he needs to find out what they want so that they can negotiate a peaceful move away from their land vs. a military strike that forces them out. In one of his video journals he makes a comment to the effect of "What do we have to offer them that they want? Our light beer and blue jeans?" (don't quote me on that word for word, but that was the essence). They seem completely content with their connections with each other, their deity, and their land. I laughed out loud when he said this. I couldn't help but think of Philippians 3:7,8, " But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" (TNIV). The word "garbage" is actually a pretty tame version for the original Greek. I'll let you use your imagination, but I couldn't help but reflect on the "things" that we value, think are important, or chase after in life. Paul says that he considers these things nothing in comparison of knowing Christ. One of my prayers for the new year is that we would really believe and live as though this were true. That we would pursue our relationship with Christ, and our relationships with others. And that everything else would look as valuable as light beer and blue jeans compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
I just finished reading a book titled "Who Gets to Narrate the World" by Robert E. Webber. In one of the many great thoughts in the book. Webber writes, "In almost every religion the quest is to find a way to transcend the pain and suffering of life, and get connected with the powers of the other world that will help us endure this world...But in these religions we never hear that God himself has entered our history and our suffering to redeem us for life in this world." I've been reflecting a lot on the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Or as the message translates it, "...moved into the neighborhood." I don't know about you, but I think that sometimes I treat God like the "other religions" that Webber describes, who try to connect with a God who is far off so I can get through the pain and suffering of life. Instead, I should be continually looking to God who came to us to redeem us for life in his world. A God who is not some far off distant being waiting for us to get to him, but a God who comes to us. A God who is living and active in the world he created and redeems.
I've been reflecting on Romans 4:18-22 this past week. Verses 20,21 say this about Abraham, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." In the face of what seemed like a hopeless situation (becoming a father, when Sarah was well past the age of childbearing) he was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. For some reason, the definition of belief has changed in our world today. In my humble opinion it has been weakened. We can say we believe something without it really affecting our actions. It's as if when we say we "believe," what we are really saying is "I agree with." But belief should translate into action. Sharon Daloz Parks, in the book Big Questions Worthy Dreams writes, "Faith is intimately related to doing. We human beings act in accordance with what we really trust- in contrast to what we may merely acclaim" (Parks 2000:26). My prayer is that God will help me to be "fully persuaded" and to do what I say that I truly believe.
I'm reading a book right now called Who Gets to Narrate the World by Robert E. Webber. In it, he writes about how God's story suffers from reductionism and privatism. He writes, "The Christian faith was reduced to the problem of my sin, the work of Christ for me, the necessity of my conversion and the expectation of my faithfulness to live like a Christian. I was made the center of the story. I needed to invite Jesus into my life and my journey so he would walk with me and bless my life and my ministry." The problem is we tend to make the Gospel all about us. But it's not our story. It's God's. He's the author. He's the director. We're the supporting cast. I need to die to my story and align my life with God's story. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..."
Mondays can be tough sometimes. They can can also be a fresh start at the week. As such, I thought it would be good to meditate a bit on spiritual disciplines or habits. For some reason disciplines are often confused with legalism or guilt-driven duty. I love Dallas Willard's description of spiritual disciplines. He says, "A discipline for the spiritual life is, when the dust of history is blown away, nothing but an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom. When we understand that grace (charis) is gift (charisma), we then see that to grow in grace is to grow in what is given to us of God and by God. The disciplines are then in the clearest sense, a means to that grace and also to those gifts (Spirit of the Disciplines, 156)."
If ecclesiology seems like a big word, it's just the "study of church." This morning, my son Caleb (who is 5) woke up with pink eye. As this can be highly contagious, I told him he wouldn't be able to go to church, but would have to stay home with mom. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He began begging me to go. He said, "Dad, I won't let anyone touch my eyes I promise." I couldn't help but cry too. He taught me something amazing about church this morning. A lot of people can find any excuse they can to avoid going to church on a Sunday. They find it easy to miss a week if there is even a hint of inconvenience. They see church as a "place you go to" or a "service to attend." My son could really care less about the music, or the sermon. But, he absolutely loves the people of Praxis. Many thanks to all of you at Praxis who make our kids feel so loved. Caleb couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you this morning. I read recently in a book called The Tangible Kingdom that said, "Church must not be the goal. Church should be what ends up happening as a natural response to people wanting to follow us, be with us, and be like us as we are following the way of Christ." My son seems to get this. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said unless we become like little children we can't enter the kingdom (see Matthew 18). I shared what I learned from my son with our church this morning. It was hard to fight back tears. But I have to say, I've learned one of my greatest lessons in ecclesiology from a 5 year old. I'm so proud of him.
Christmas is over and a new year is upon us. I was reflecting more on the movie Avatar today. in the movie Jake Sully, a former marine, has to infiltrate the Na'vi people on the moon Pandora and get to know them in an effort to try to get them to move out peaceably so that the Americans can excavate their land for a precious material worth big bucks. In essence he needs to find out what they want so that they can negotiate a peaceful move away from their land vs. a military strike that forces them out. In one of his video journals he makes a comment to the effect of "What do we have to offer them that they want? Our light beer and blue jeans?" (don't quote me on that word for word, but that was the essence). They seem completely content with their connections with each other, their deity, and their land. I laughed out loud when he said this. I couldn't help but think of Philippians 3:7,8, " But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" (TNIV). The word "garbage" is actually a pretty tame version for the original Greek. I'll let you use your imagination, but I couldn't help but reflect on the "things" that we value, think are important, or chase after in life. Paul says that he considers these things nothing in comparison of knowing Christ. One of my prayers for the new year is that we would really believe and live as though this were true. That we would pursue our relationship with Christ, and our relationships with others. And that everything else would look as valuable as light beer and blue jeans compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.