"INTERESTING!"
Two Links...

I had hoped to share some interesting thoughts and ideas this time from Tim Morrey’s book, “Embodying the Faith.” It is an insightful look at “church” today, and how the very young congregation that he pastors is approaching faith and ministry and mission in ways that are very engaging to those in our wider culture.

However, my life is kinda crazy right now, after a kinda crazy month of August (death of my aunt in Seattle, my mom’s broken leg and two scary stays in the hospital, arrival of our new transition pastor). I just haven’t had time to put together the things I want to share with you from Tim’s book.

Instead, in order to keep my blog alive and active, I’m going to put up two links to information that I recently found fascinating. The first one, “The Perils of Hipster Christianity,” generated quite a bit of dialogue when I shared it with a bunch of twenty-somethings on Facebook. The second one, “Open Source Church,” was a suggested read from Don Johnson, a pastor friend from Santa Barbara. It will shake up what you might be assuming about the Church right now--and where it is headed! Consider these links a kind of “wake up call” for all of us who are comfortable with the Christianity we’ve always known, grown up with, and assumed to be standard. How will we adapt to the changing face of our world, of ideas and processes, and of the Church itself? Consider this blog post an education in “Church Next!” Enjoy...

Perils of Hipster Christianity

Open-Source Church

“ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR POSITION?”


The fourth day at chapel, Richard began with a history lesson of the Church, and how “the game” was played way back at the beginning of the Christian faith. He cited Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells his disciples that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth--clearly indicating that “the game” is to be played on the entire field. The gospel was to go to the whole world.

The Church stayed local though, right there in Jerusalem. Believers didn’t venture out with the “good news,” but stayed together in that familiar, intimate, comfortable place where all those big events of Christ’s final days took place, and near to the temple, the geographical center of their faith.

And what was the impetus that finally got the Church to move out? Persecution! Acts 8:1 describes how believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria when a great persecution broke out against the Church at Jerusalem. Richard compared this with the situation facing the Mexican Church today, with fewer Americans coming to Mexico now because of fear, border issues, violence, and drug and gang warfare. This might be the “hour” for the Mexican Church to step up and step into roles that they have relied on others for--in essence, to move out of their own familiar, comfortable “Jerusalem” locales and into “the game” that is about bringing the gospel to the whole world.

Richard also talked about another way of being in “the game” today: Think It - Ink It. The point being if something is good for me, then it might be for someone else too, so it’s important to share it through writing, blogging, texting, Twitter, Facebook, etc. It might contribute to God’s game plan and make a difference in the final outcome of the game because these are ways to impact more people in more ways than ever before with God’s game plan.

The fourth question that Richard posed was: “Are you playing your position?” He reminded us that there are different roles on a team and it is important for everyone to know where they are supposed to be playing in order for the team to function well and to be successful in the game.

One position is OFFENSE.


These players are on the attack! Going forward, pressing hard to make a goal. Romans 10:14-15 puts it well:

“How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

God sends some on offense, bringing “good news” to those who have never heard it, locally, nationally, and globally. These are people on the front lines of “the game,” who go out and do the immediate work of evangelists, actually speaking and living out the gospel in the midst of people who are not acquainted with it. This could happen in a series of steps too, over a period of time, as people feel the call, prepare and train for “offensive positions” for the game, and finally go out throughout the world to spread the good news of Christ’s salvation. Richard stressed that if offense is one’s calling--one’s position--in the game, it is important in marriage to choose a spouse who is looking in this same direction. Otherwise they will always hold you back from your calling--from playing your position on the team of Coach Jesus. Richard shared very personally about this from his own life experience.

Another position is DEFENSE.


These players do the sending! Assisting and making it possible for those going on offense to have the resources and everything they need to do their work throughout the world. People who play defense are not less important or any less involved in the game than those playing offense. Both are needed for “the game” to be played well, completely, correctly. They are in it together. It’s as if a person on defense is saying: “You be the beautiful feet that go; I will be the beautiful hands that send!”

One helpful way of playing defense is making money for the Kingdom. Some Christians are gifted with the ability to make money--lots of it--and when they dedicate themselves to advancing the Kingdom of God with their gifts--playing their position, as it were--they can have a tremendous impact on the playing field, on other players, and on the “the game.” Other crucial defensive players include administrators, logisticians, strategists, “cheerleaders,” and perhaps most important of all: pray-ers.

In the final analysis, it’s not a matter of how much I’ve got to give (from my wallet, my abilities, my gifts, etc.) but rather of how much the Lord has got of me! When He has captured my heart, I willingly put my hand into someone else’s and use all that I have to help them play their position in “the game.”

Of course, there are MIDFIELDERS too.


These people actually live out there where the action is, on the field where the evangelists, missionaries, and other people on offense are playing on the front lines of “the game,” sharing the gospel. However, their jobs are defensive, supportive, assisting, and making possible the plays that the offensive team are running.

How do we know what postion we are meant to play in “the game?” As we seek and pray and assess who we are, our interests, our gifts and abilities, etc. we can trust that “Coach Jesus” knows how we play best, and He will use others to confirm how God wants to use us in “the game.”

Finally, there are those who SIT ON THE FENCE.


These people don’t even have a position on the team because they are not players in “the game” at all. They’re just watching, waiting, talking about what’s going on, perhaps offering their critique as observers, but not realizing they are clueless about the actual dynamics and reality of “the game” because they aren’t part of the action. Revelation 3:16 might be directed at them: “Because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Christians who sit on the fence tend to think of their faith as a personal matter, about having correct belief and doctrine, yet ignoring or forgetting the important scriptural truth: “Faith without action is dead.” (James 2:26) Christians who are not on the team, who are out of shape, and who don’t know their position in “the game” are clueless that their relationship with God is tenuous at best--that “such regulations have an appearance of wisdom...but they lack any value” in being a player on God’s team and in “the game.” (Colossians 2:23 - modified) Those who are sitting on the fence need to wake up, shake off their lethargy, and jump into “the game!”

In the end, God calls all of us to the position we are going to play in His game. We can trust Him to show us, equip us, and place us where we will be most strategic in accomplishing His game plan. Again, it’s not a matter of how much I’ve got to give (from my wallet, my abilities, my gifts, etc.) but rather of how much the Lord has got of me!

Does God have a grip on you? Are you committed to His game, and to His team? Are you totally sold out to “Coach Jesus” and willing to go and do whatever He asks of you, for the good of the game and the team?

This is how our mission team was challenged throughout our week in Mexico.

I hope you’ve been challenged by my summaries too!

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

This is the game plan that Coach Jesus gave his disciples when He ascended to the Father 2000 years ago. It is the same one for us today. So let’s get in spiritual shape, commit to His team, take up our positions, and play “the game” that God has designed for us to win: taking the gospel of salvation to every tribe and tongue and race until the whole world hears. Amen.

“ARE YOU IN SHAPE?”


On our third day at chapel, Richard began by reminding us that there are people who are not on the team today. Once they were, but for a variety of reasons they are no longer players, which is very sad. Richard also reminded us that the Lord is our coach, and that He calls the plays!

Then came the next question for us to consider: “Are you in shape?” Because in order to play the game well and to be a strong member of the team, you need to keep fit, exercising regularly and staying healthy so you are ready for whatever comes your way. Richard broke it down into three areas:


1. EAT RIGHT! Not “Christian junk food” that is tasty and satisfying for a few minutes, but doesn’t last. There is so much “Christianity Lite” being served up these days; books and conferences and music and teaching that offer “feel good” spirituality. Many believers settle for this quick and easy “fast food” fare that is being offered, rather than the healthy, hearty, balanced nourishment that is required if we are to grow deeper spiritually. We need to get beyond milk to the meat of God’s Word (see I Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12; my blog on Oct. 23, 2008). Richard shared how this gets tougher as we grow older because the Opposition wants to take us out--out of the game and off of the team. The more ineffective we are, the better! Richard suggested that we take the “No Bible, No Breakfast” challenge in order to maintain a healthy spiritual diet. The Enemy tries to keep us from this Book any way he can, and messing with our feelings is one of the biggest ways he does this. To grow strong, we cannot go by how we “feel.” If we do, we will never get in shape nor be able to go the distance required for God’s game. The parallel to sports is obvious. Superb, successful, winning athletes train and push themselves regardless of how they “feel” on any given day when they are working out. They are disciplined and committed to becoming a finely tuned competitor and capable member of the team and they never allow their personal, passing feelings to affect their training. Richard reminded us that “discipline” means doing what you know to be right even when you don’t feel like it. And it is this kind of discipline that is required in our spiritual eating habits, taking in God’s Word regularly, deeply, intentionally if we are going to get into shape and maintain our spiritual health.


Richard quoted Richard Wurmbrandt, founder of “Voice of the Martyrs” and who was held in a Romanian prison for 14 years: “I read (the Bible) when I feel like it, when I don’t feel like it, and until I feel like it!” He also offered us a picture of “a cord of three strands...not easily broken” (Ecc. 4:12), using the words in, around, and for:

•We need to be in the Word for ourself, learning and growing and maturing as we grow ever stronger and more familiar with its richness for our lives.
• We need to carry the Word around with us for others so we can share it and allow it to impact those we meet.
•We need to be under the Word from our pastors and leaders, submitting to its authority as it is preached and taught by our spiritual instructors, for the Word of God is never just a private, personal matter of interpretation and study.

When the Word of God is consumed in this way, it will strengthen and equip us as team members for the game.


2. DRINK RIGHT! “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into on body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (I Cor. 12:12-13) Richard reminded us how essential water is to life, and how quickly we die without it. It is the same spiritually. We need to drink of the Spirit ALL the time! This is what refreshes us, keeps us healthy, keeps us connected and unified as the Body of Christ. In the Corinthians passage, Richard pointed out that baptism is done to us, as we submit to God, die to self in the waters of baptism, and afterward enter refreshed into new life with Christ. But drinking of the Spirit is done by us. It is us taking in the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, and allowing Him to continually refresh us, inspire us, lead us and guide us so we are fit spiritually. If we don’t drink of Him, we will quickly wither, dry up, and die.

Richard said that fear is the biggest quencher for growing spiritually. Fear of what will happen, and of what we will have to do, if we drink of the Spirit. He quoted I Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” And fear always quenches the fire of the Spirit. He said that today in the Church there are many “charisphobics!” People afraid of the Holy Spirit, at least practically speaking, who are very doubtful, suspicious, and “hands off” about Holy Spirit stuff. Richard also said that anger is the biggest opposition against the Spirit and hindrance for growing spiritually. Anger hurts and grieves the Spirit, and can become a foothold for an “evil spirit” to take root in people. He said that fear is found more in introverts, holding them back so they don’t do what they should do, and anger is found more in extroverts, prompting them to do what they shouldn’t do. Both fear and anger must be overcome in order to “drink right” from the Holy Spirit and become fit for God’s game.


3. EXERCISE RIGHT! This is about our faith! About building strong spiritual muscles so we can play the game well and be a responsible, “in shape” member of the team! It means stretching ourselves, learning to trust God more, venturing out and pushing ourselves beyond what is comfortable, easy, and familiar. In order to build more muscle and burn off excess fat, athletes continually add more to their exercise regimen (more weights, more repetitions, longer distances, etc.). So it is for us if we want to grow stronger in our faith, and in our relationship with God. Exercise is not always fun or pleasurable either--we all know this! Sometimes we just don’t want to do it. We’re tired, or sore, or it’s too hard, or it’s gotten boring, or we want to do something else instead, or we just want to take it easy--and we give up! Stop. Forget how important it is to keep fit and healthy. Allow ourselves to get out of shape, flabby, lazy, slowly, first a day and then a week and then a month at a time, until exercise is no longer part of our lives. That “discipline” we once had is gone. We have capitulated to just doing what feels good, easy, takes no effort or energy or learning, and lets us zone out. The necessity of constantly exercising our faith is obvious.

Finally, Richard asked us this question What are you trusting God for this week in Mexico? He reminded us that GOD will touch someone or some people, drawing them to Himself. It takes faith for this to happen. It means we have to trust more, do more, let the Spirit take charge, exercise our faith, and then trust God for even more yet.

So can you go the distance? Can you play the full 90 minutes of the game? Can you take the “hits” of the game? The message is clear: We MUST be in shape! We need to eat right, drink right, and exercise right. This is the way to play the game--God’s game--and to be on the team with Coach Jesus!

“ARE YOU ON THE TEAM?”


The second day at chapel, while tossing the soccer ball back and forth to us, Richard posed this question: “Are you on the team?” Because if you’re going to be “in the game,” you have to be “on the team!”


Richard described what it’s like to be on a team; things like cooperation, understanding the game, playing your position, listening to the coach, and so forth. Then he read a passage of Scripture, Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will say to them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

“...I never knew you...” A warning, from Jesus...

Richard reminded us from the previous day’s teaching that lots of churches are not “in the game” that God has for us to play. These churches only think locally, or maybe nationally, but they are not fully participating in the whole game that is God’s strategy for spreading the gospel.

Then he went on to say that Jesus is our coach! In this game of spreading the “good news” to all the earth, Jesus is the one who leads the team, calls the plays, corrects, encourages, mixes things up when necessary, keeps the bigger picture in mind as the game unfolds, etc. The question is: are we on the team, following Coach Jesus, and being a team player? It takes more than saying “Yes,” having good intentions, and kicking the ball around a bit. Richard pointed out that these verses from Matthew serve notice that not all churches and not all individuals are “on the team.” They might think they are, saying good things and even doing nice things, but no! They are not committed to the game--to God’s game. They are not full participants and, therefore, not submiting to the authority of His coach. Saying ‘Lord, Lord!” and doing a few religious things does not mean that people are “in the game” or “on the team.” And when the clock runs out and the game is finally over, instead of celebrating with the team, Coach Jesus will say to them: “Who are you? You’re not winners with my team. Get out of here!”

Ouch! That’s pretty harsh.

What happened? What might a player do to remove themself from the game and to disqualify themself from the team that Jesus is coaching?

1. A person might say, “I’ll follow what the coach says if I like the play.” But what if Jesus calls another play? A hard play? A play they don’t like? This is where many of us who claim to follow Jesus fail to follow through. As long as the game and the plays are going our way, to our satisfaction, for our benefit, we’re committed. But when things get tough or frustrating, when it’s not easy or fun anymore, or when there’s struggle and conflict involved, many of us back off, let down, make excuses, criticize the game and the coach, even leave the field and the game. Or we start a new game, one where we call the shots, make up the rules, manipulate the outcome, do what’s more fun and personally appealing to us, and since it has the appearance of being the same game as the one we left, we foolishly believe we’re in the competition. Again, Matthew 7:23 spells it out plainly. Jesus says: “I never knew you. Away from me!”

2. Another attitude that shows a person is not on the team is when they ask: “What am I getting out of this?” Richard said this is especially true of American Christians, because we tend to make everything related to faith “all about ME!” You know what I’m talkin’ about! You hear it all the time: “I’m not being fed.” “I want something more spiritual.” “It didn’t inspire me.” “It’s not my kind of music-message-style-worship space-presentation (fill in the blank...)” “The service is too early-too late-too long-too boring (fill in the blank...)”. “That meeting-program-event-activity-service (fill in the blank...) isn’t convenient for me.” Underlying all of this self-centeredness are a number of assumptions: a sense of pride (“I do the right things and don’t do the wrong things”), which breeds a sense of entitlement (“I deserve certain “perks” because I’m a good Christian-good church member-committed-faithful”), a sense of self assurance (“I’ve got things organized, have the anwers, and know what’s best”), and even a sense of control--to the point where people say: “I’m not getting much here, so I’m leaving!”

Clearly, these attitudes demonstrate that a person is not on the team, because the only consideration the person has is for themself, not for the good of the team. And they certainly are not taking direction from their coach, Jesus. The Message puts it this way: “All you did was use me to make yourself important.” (Matt. 7:23) Certainly not something a team player wants to hear--and would never even consider!


3. One more attitude that shows a person is not on the team is this: “I’m in the game--as long as it doesn’t cost me anything!” There is a quick, pointed response to a person who takes this position. It comes in the words of Coach Jesus himself:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34)

If you are going to be a player on the team that Jesus is coaching, you must be willing to give up everything for the good of the team. Your life is not your own anymore, and it never will be again. "You were bought with a price” (I Corinthians 6:20)--by the Coach Himself! You owe Him your total allegiance and commitment, and must be willing to do whatever He says and go wherever He commands, despite your personal preferences, concerns, apprehensions, doubts, desires, etc. Jesus expects your full cooperation and willingness to respond to His direction. You must submit to Him completely. This is the only way you can be on His team.


Many Christians make excuses for their poor performance in the game and try to justify their attitudes and actions: “I said the ‘sinner’s prayer! I ‘went forward’ and gave my life to Jesus! We’re saved by faith and not by works, so I’m good to go!”

But again, from The Message, Jesus says this: “Knowing the correct password...isn’t going to get you anywhere with me.” (Matt. 7:21)

The words of Jesus ring out: “I never knew you. Away from me!” It is “not he who says...but he who DOES the will of my Father!”

This question, “Are you on the team?”, was as difficult for me to hear as the one the day before. It made me think long and hard about whether or not I’m a good team member and following through with the plays Coach Jesus has for me to execute in the global game of spreading the gospel. I know that in my heart of hearts I want to be a vital member of the team! I try to follow what the coach is telling me, even when it stretches me beyond what I think I can do, or what I think is fair, or when the plays don’t seem to fit the game that I’ve been trained for up until now.


This last point is, I believe, the situation most of us are facing today. It is extremely difficult for us who have been team members for many years to stay the course and obey our coach when the game plan switches, especially the way it is being formulated today. Our team seemed to be doing so well before, in the past! Every player knew their part, what to do, where to go, how the plays worked. Doggone it, why is Jesus switching it up now? We were comfortable with the game before! Everything made sense to us. Everyone knew the code words, the game book, the runs and the passes and the customary ways to move the ball around the field. The new plays that Coach Jesus is calling, in order to spread the gospel these days, make us uncomfortable. They don’t make sense now. The language, the instructions, and the methods seem strange, ineffective, even wrong!

I like the old ways of playing the game! I like the old words and phrases and plans and actions! I want to do everything so it’s comfortable and meaningful to me again! The way the game is supposed to be played. Let’s just do what we’ve always done harder-stronger-louder-flashier..that’s all we need to do! Let’s just tweak those good old plays that we already know, just a bit...they’ll work just fine!

But Coach Jesus says “NO!” The GAME is the same, but now the PLAYS must be adapted in order to be effective in the world today. “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Will we trust our coach, submit to Him and to His will, His way, His game plan? Will we discipline ourselves to learn the new game scenario, the new, more effective and relevant strategies for playing the game, and train ourselves so we can be competitive members on God’s team today? Better equipped to be His witnesses in all the world and to effectively spread His “good news” to every corner of the playing field that is our world?

Next week: “Are You In Shape?”

“ARE YOU IN THE GAME?”

It’s been a long time since my last blog post, I know, but being gone on the Mexico mission trip for a week and then dealing with a load of church business when I got home, I simply haven’t had time to put anything together.

Now I’m excited to get back into it though. And our speaker at YUGO this year has given me some great material to delve into for my next four posts!


Richard Sharp, from “Operation Mobilization,” inspired us each morning at chapel with the topic of bringing the gospel to the whole world, using soccer/the soccer field as the analogy to get his message across (so very appropriate, with the World Cup happening...). With his charming British accent, engaging smile, and relational style, Richard hit us hard each day with challenges that were relevant, biblical, pointed, and practical. I’ll try to be as faithful as possible to his well-crafted presentations.

First of all, every day as he began his teaching time with our mission team (we were the ONLY group at the YUGO camp this year - too many churches afraid to send teams because of the media’s hype about gang and drug violence), Richard tossed a soccer ball randomly to people while asking the question of the day.


He expected an honest answer too! So on the first day, he asked this of us: “Are you in the game?” How would you respond? That’s what we heard, without yet knowing the context of the question nor the theme of the week. We were definitely intrigued!

Before delving into his topic, Richard first did some other reflective work with us on that first day. He asked us to write down what our biggest hope and our biggest fear were for the week of ministry that lay ahead of us. This made us put all of our cards on the table, right from the start; what we were thinking, concerned about, preoccupied with. We shared our answers with the group, and the results were very insightful. From there, Richard reminded us about our role as “evangelists” in the coming week, and the picture he drew formed (what else?) a cross. The horizontal part represented “making friends.” The vertical part represented “introducing our best friend, Jesus, to our friends.” Where the two come together is the “sweet spot,” where the connection is made and our friends also encounter our best friend and want to join in our camaraderie with Jesus too.

Then Richard went into the main focus of the day which, again was: “Are you in the game?” He talked a bit about soccer, and then he drew a large soccer field on the board.


Next, he read Acts 1:8 to us:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Richard said that this is God’s “game plan” for His Church, and that the soccer ball is “the gospel.” Back on the board, he described how the goal area is like the local congregation (Hilmar Covenant Church), the penalty area is like the nation (the United States), the half of the field on the side of the defending team is like the regional area (Canada & Mexico; nations around us), and the far half of the field is the entire globe (the whole world). Comparing this to what we read in Acts, Hilmar Covenant = Jerusalem, the United States = Judea, the nations around us = Samaria (and like the Jews in Jesus’ day, many Americans don’t much like “those people!”), and the global world = the ends of the earth. Culturally speaking, the local and national areas have the same culture, the regional areas have a similar culture, but the global world areas have a separate culture.

God’s game plan is that we, His people--His players--are to GO to ALL of these areas and cultures! The gospel is to go everywhere - to every part of the world, just as in the game of soccer, the soccer ball goes everywhere on the soccer field. So when Richard asked us “Are you in the game?” he was trying to find out if we are fully engaged in the game that God wants us to play; fully obedient to what God desires and expects from us.


He pointed out that most churches only stay in the goal area, self-absorbed and comfortable in their own little home territory, never stepping out and getting into the game at all. Some churches do go farther and get involved in spreading the gospel beyond their local congregation, which is better, but it is still quite easy and, again, is not really playing the game at all. A few churches step out into the more uncomfortable and challenging regional areas and seek to reach people who are different and who require certain sensitivities and different approaches in order for the gospel to impact them. However, this still takes place in only part of the world - on just one half of the soccer field.

In order to play the game of soccer though, you must play on the entire field! And in order to be fully in God’s “game” of bringing the gospel to every tribe and tongue and nation, we must go all the way, everywhere, “to the ends of the earth!”

Richard underscored this by showing how the book of Acts itself describes the progression of the gospel message (which was intended by God to continue for all time). Acts 1-7 describes the gospel being proclaimed locally and nationally (Jerusalem and Judea). Acts 8 and 10 show the gospel moving out into a wider region (Samaria, Ethiopian eunuch, Roman centurion Cornelius). Finally, in Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas set off to take the gospel to the then-known world.

This presentation was deeply convicting to me, and it had a strong impact on the rest of our mission team too. I reflected on the ways I am “in the game”--and the many ways I am not participating fully in it. Now, it’s true that I’m a total failure at soccer! My interest, skills, techniques, understanding of the game, and commitment to it are nil. I’m definitely not “in the game” of soccer. But I am a Christian! And for us who are, the gospel is the core of who we are! As essential and as indispensible as the soccer ball is to soccer. If we claim to follow Christ - if we claim to be soccer players - then we must have great facility, familiarity, appreciation, and experience with what is necessary to be “in the game” (i.e. the gospel - the soccer ball). If we aren’t thoroughly familiar with them, comfortable with them, skilled with them, or if we utilize them poorly, we will be ineffective participants “in the game,” whether it is the Christian life or soccer itself.

It won’t be easy. Jesus never said that it would be, and soccer coaches guarantee that to be a great player it is going to be mighty tough, in every way (physically, emotionally, mentally). Perhaps that’s why there are so many lukewarm Christians and mediocre soccer players! When the demands of these “games” get more intense, most of us tend to pull back, ease up, and ultimately step out of the game, becoming “armchair experts” instead! Thinking we know all about the game and how it should be played, but not actually particpating in it, only watching from the sidelines.

Richard talked about how, in our Christian lives, we tend to want an “out” when things get uncomfortable, unfamiliar, tough, and tragic. But God never said He would take us out of the hard difficulties that we face in life. Instead, God says: “I will take you through this!” To do so, we are made “FIT” to handle the process: F = FOR you (God says He is always for us), I = IN you (God says He dwells within us, through His Holy Spirit), and T = THROUGH you (God will triumph over the difficulties through us). Our attitude, then, needs to always be a “FIT” one so we can be fully engaged “in the game” and be ready for whatever comes our way.


I hope you’ll spend some time this week chewing over these concepts and applying them to yourself. Again, how would you answer the question: “Are you in the game?” Can you say, as we were asked to do at YUGO: “Lord, have your way in me.”

Next week: “Are you on the team?”

It's been more than three weeks since my last blog post. Someone even emailed me and asked why I haven't put up anything new here! Sorry about that; I had a week's vacation in Seattle visiting family I haven't seen in 24 years, then came back to lots of details for our upcoming Mexico mission trip, preparations to perform a wedding, and all of my regular duties (which are much expanded these days without a senior pastor in place). Here are some of my thoughts about something I've been tossing around in my brain for awhile:

"POINT OF VIEW"


A few weeks ago our visiting preacher did a four week series on John 9: “The Man Born Blind." Pastor Mike had many good and relevant insights into the text, but one in particular caught my attention and I have continued to ponder it ever since. It came out of the early verses of the narrative:

John 9:2-3 “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’”

Pastor Mike pointed out how easy it is for us to make assumptions about things, to understand situations in certain ways, and to believe our view of reality is the right and true one. The common thought of Jewish people in Jesus’ day (and today too, really) was that “you reap what you sow,” and so if bad things are happening to you, they are the consequences of doing wrong, of breaking the rules, of sinning. You’re getting what you deserve. This was what Job was also charged with by his friends: all of the calamities that had befallen him meant he must have offended God. To be honest, there are places in Scripture that indicate this “tit for tat” understanding of life too. Check out Deuteronomy 28, for example. God spells out very clearly that obedience to Him brings blessing and disobedience brings curses--and lots of ‘em!

But in this passage from the gospel of John, Jesus once again turns conventional wisdom upside down, as he so often does, and refutes the common “everybody knows that” understanding. The infirmity of the man born blind, with all its attending issues and problems, was not the result of error, broken rules, or sin, but in order for “the work of God (to) be displayed in his life.”

Wow! What an incredible perspective on infirmities, on problems, on struggles, on all the “bad things” that occur to people in life. These situations are not necessarily the consequences of our poor choices, wrong decisions, bad behavior, or “sin” at all! They just might serve a purpose that is higher, or be part of a larger picture that only God can presently see, and so the reasons for the tough realities that people are facing are more complicated than what we humans can figure out or deduce.


In fact, might it even be possible that the “bad” things (as in: “Why do bad things happen to good people?”) are not really bad at all? From a human standpoint, yes. But what if we step away/step back/step out of our customary frame of reference and, instead, gain a different viewpoint--which Jesus often brought to situations wherever he went--and understand “bad” in a different light? For example, we have all heard the testimonies of people with disabilities who say the challenges they face in dealing with their “bad" thing actually strengthens them, gives them a deeper appreciation for life, and makes them better people. Some have even said that they are grateful for the “bad” thing in their lives. Some who have spent time in prison say that this “bad” thing was actually a “good” thing for them, because it helped them straighten out their lives. I haven’t seen it, but someone told me about a movie where a person who had been blind from birth is suddenly able to see--and that vision is so overwhelming for them that they want their blindness back! Vision...bad? Who can even imagine such a thing?

Even in our Christian faith, we view “bad" things (especially death) with a positive attitude. Paul states that he is grateful for the difficulties he has faced because of how they have challenged him, changed him, and allowed the gospel to be received by people. Even death, the worst of the worst of all ”bad" things, is cast as a good thing; as something to be desired by those who know Christ: “To die is gain.” “I would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” “We groan, longing for our heavenly dwelling.”


Christian funerals and memorial services are full of references to the fact that death is not the final reality; that from a Christian perspective (again, stepping back/stepping out of our customary human, worldly frame of reference) the loss of a loved one is only a temporary “badness.” We claim with Paul: “Our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Even in the face of death, we proclaim hope! One day we will be reunited--forever!


We have a “heavenly” perspective, not a human, earthly one. Our understanding of the “badness” of death is that it actually brings about good things for us in the end!

Could it be possible that the things we call “bad” (infirmities, disabilities, hardships, and so forth) are not bad to God? That perhaps they are just another way--another aspect or different experience or expression--of living?

Now, I realize that what I’m saying here is kinda risky. I certainly do not mean to trivialize anyone’s hurts, troubles, or suffering by putting a “smiley face” on them and saying they are really just fine; that all you need is a different attitude or perspective about your situation. I do not advocate ignoring problems either, which is actually just avoiding them and all the inherent conflict that occurs when intentionally dealing with one's issues. Jesus himself faced the pain, the suffering, the agony--the BAD--of crucifixion and did not minimize the horror of it at all. He cried out to God to spare him from it! He knew it would be terrible, and no amount of changed attitude or fresh perspective changed the awful, BAD reality of it.

But I am curious about these verses from John that do indicate how our customary, conventional view of things in life can be completely wrong. They are not God’s perspective, desire, or reality at all! Something else is going on, and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to help give us God’s view and purpose in every situation in life. “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) I fear that sometimes all of our reasoning and theologizing and thoughtful doctrinal responses to the “bad” things that happen to people are neither right nor helpful at all. Too often we have only sought answers intellectually, when what we need to do is seek them spiritually through prayer, meditation, silence, insight. A rational approach might be easier, clearer (for some), seem more sensible, yet completely miss the mark--just like the disciples’ question of Jesus about the man born blind.

“But we have the mind of Christ.” (I Corinthians 2:16) This is my desire. May we all pursue this worthy, vital goal so we can more clearly discern the Lord’s activity in our lives every day. What better way to deepen our relationship with Him too!

I'll write again after we return from Mexico, but it will probably be at least three weeks again. Be patient! I've got a good blog post idea coming up. Pray for me and for the mission team while we're south of the border - thanks everyone!

FAITH/WORKS (again...)

“WHERE IS IT WRITTEN?”

If it were possible for an evangelical church to have a mantra, this would certainly be the one for the Evangelical Covenant Church! This foundational formulation guides every aspect of our denominational life, from Bible study to worship to the sacraments to the living out of our faith. So, it is written:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And it is written:

“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)

And again it is written:

“We have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16b)

And again:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:34,40b)

And yet again:

“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

And......

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

Faith - works - grace - law - belief - deeds - yep, there sure are lots of things “written” in Scripture; lots of ideas, instructions, and truths that often seem quite diverse, contrary, situational maybe. What does all this mean? Why would God allow these conflicting sentences into His “perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct” (another one of our major Covenant affirmations)? You’d think that something as significant as our salvation would be spelled out so clearly, so unequivocally, so unambiguously that there would be no hint of confusion, no need for interpretation, not a bit of conflicting thought or instruction for us, God’s people. It should be presented plainly, objectively, exactly (like a “how to” book), in plain English, everything defined with a precise meaning: “This is faith! This is what belief is! This is how it works! These are the steps/procedures/formulas for correct faith and getting to heaven.” Black-and-white answers; all doubts and questions resolved.

Maybe this is why we create things like “The Four Spiritual Laws.” Things that simplify the complexities of faith so we can manage it, prescribe it, control it.

Yet there it is, in just some of the verses of Scripture I chose: different ideas, plainly saying that faith is not about what we do--and also that faith apart from what we do is useless; no faith at all; dead.

If you know church history, you know that this was one of the key issues during the Reformation: justification by faith/justification by works. Protestant theology has affirmed that salvation is sola fide, through “justification by faith alone.” Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theology exclude such a firm, strong, single-minded stance, holding instead that grace implies good works, and so they are also necessary for salvation.

(Let me state clearly at this point, so no one can charge me with Covenant heresy :) that I ascribe fully to “justification by faith alone!” As both a member of the Covenant Church and the Covenant Ministerium, and as a follower of Jesus, this tenet seems most real, miraculous, unique, TRUE--so refreshingly different from all other religions where salvation must be achieved and where actions and consequences create uncertainty, fear, and distance from the deity, rather than the confidence, hope, joy, and intimate relationship with the God of the universe that we graciously have through our Savior, Jesus. The question is: what defines “faith?”)

Why am I rehashing all this topic? I got to thinking about faith and works again because of something I read in a recent teaching letter from “Bridges For Peace,” the organization I volunteered with on my sabbatical in Jerusalem four years ago:

“In rabbinic teaching, we find a great depth of instruction on the importance of what we do. In at least modern Western Christianity, we find the emphasis placed on what we think or believe. Sadly, sometimes this difference has been exaggerated and portrayed as Jewish people only caring about “deeds” and being bound to legalism. A more accurate criticism is sometimes leveled against modern Western Christianity: that we only care and teach about what we think or believe and not about what we do. Neither of these extremes is a fair portrayal of either rabbinic Judaism, nor of biblical Christianity.”


This made me wonder if what needs clarifying are our definitions of faith/belief and works/actions. It seems to me that what we have done is to divorce what was never intended to be separated at all. That “faith” is, in and of itself, an active thing; a demonstrative thing; an embodied reality of one’s strongly held tenets of truth. It is not merely an intellectual, ideological, theological doctrine to which one gives mental assent. The way the writer of James frames his instruction on faith affirms this more unified, integrated, Jewish approach to belief.

But is this the way we Evangelical Covenant Protestant Western Christians really understand faith? To be honest, in my growing up years it was firmly planted in my Christian education that faith has nothing to do with what we do. For years, faith to me was very much an idea, right thought, correct belief, specific knowledge, and orthodox doctrine--in short, a mental exercise, giving assent to and consciously accepting this entire slate of information. Being open to other information and ideas was risky and dangerous. It might be unorthodox, erroneous, even heretical! People would be suspicious of you, God would surely disapprove, and you certainly were in danger of not going to heaven.

This “either/or” understanding of faith and works is what I picked up as I was growing up as a Covenant youth. Perhaps this was meant to distinguish us from Catholics, or to help us steer clear of “works righteousness” (I’m not sure why...maybe that’s just the way we evangelicals assumed faith to be in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s).

No wonder I experienced several crises of faith at various times throughout my life as I tried hard to resolve all the conflicting “bits” of theology, teaching, preaching, and information I was continually receiving and discovering as I sought a closer, deeper walk with Christ. I really wanted to know the TRUTH! I really did seek to honor God with all of my life! I really did want to understand this whole Christian deal; to have it make complete sense. But I kept bumping up against things that raised questions and doubts, that did not make sense to me, and that sometimes just made me want to throw in the towel on the whole business of Christianity. I’m grateful for the many teachers, counselors, authors, pastors, and other spiritual advisors who walked along side of me through these “dark night(s) of the soul” and helped me discern and develop better, bigger ways of grappling with Scripture, theology, ethics, and all the other aspects of faith with healthy, critical thinking.

But back to faith & works - belief & actions...here are some things rattling around in my brain:


•Can we distinguish between “works” and “actions?” Might “works” be human attempts to achieve one’s own salvation, while “actions” are the seen embodiment of faith/belief; the inevitable evidence of one’s deepest convictions?

•Faith: it is NOT works. But is it NO works?!

•It seems to me there is a lot in our faith that is not meant to be pinned down and dissected like a frog in an anatomy lab! The realities of God’s designs are too immense, too beautifully rich and complex, too intricate to be contained in the logic and thinking of finite humanity. Remember, Jesus spoke in parables! “The kingdom of heaven IS LIKE...! It cannot be precisely defined. Maybe it isn’t meant to be. It can only be grasped obliquely; subtly; with something akin to peripheral vision. This kingdom is too spectacular and wonderful to nail down or to be viewed directly. Same with faith and works. They are best approached with “parable” language, best understood as elements in a relationship, intricately and intimately connected, like a marriage--and not meant to be sundered. We get into a can of worms when we try too hard to specify and delineate and pinpoint each element--faith and works--and mess up the rich relational reality of belief and action as they are lived out in actual life.


Overall, I think the author of the teaching letter gets it right when he says the extreme portrayals of faith and action in Judaism and Christianity are not fair in either case. It seems obvious--and biblical--to me that faith is not just an idea or construct, mental assent to something, or vocal statement of what “I believe.” It has within it implications of action/deeds/works--evidence that what is inside one’s head and heart is actual, real, alive. The book of James clearly testifies to the interconnectedness of faith and works. We need to get over our human tendency to demand hard, definitive, intellectual constructs regarding these two components. We need to realize that the Jewish understanding of faith as a lived-out active reality beautifully compliments the more intellectual, mental, in-the-head understanding of faith that has been characteristic of Western Christianity. As we do, the world’s rather jaded and negative perception of the Church as a hypocritical religious institution obsessed with irrelevant, divisive agendas will be changed, “and they’ll know we are Christians by our love” as we offer the world obvious, irrefutable evidence of our faith in Christ.

Whadayah think?