"INTERESTING!"
Two Links...

I had hoped to share some interesting thoughts and ideas this time from Tim Morey’s book, “Embodying Our 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!