My daughter was telling me the other day how she was sick of Tim Tebow. It wasn’t him, so much, but the constant media blitz about him. For a while he was counter-cultural, the hope of the grass roots and the outsider. Now he was mainstream, overplayed, imitated, the spokesperson for companies trying to make a profit.
This is what happens when something becomes too common, too hyped, too much a part of the established cultural flow. People start to resist. New and alternative movements cause a buzz of excitement. A mainstream fad causes resistance.
The tendency to bash the church is moving into fad territory. I watched the popular YouTube video “Jesus>Religion.” While it reflects today’s prevalent anti-institutionalism and this generation’s movement toward deconstruction of established systems, its slick and commercial appearance, along with a its faux alternative tone, show that church/religion-bashing has gone mainstream. In other words, the church is trying to lure people in by bashing itself. This has become a fad. And people see through fads. They don’t like them. They resist them.
So, as the church resists itself so people who really resist it will be attracted, the resistors of the church will resist the resisting. Got that?
What’s the answer? Ephesians 3:10 says that God’s intent was that “now, through the church, [His] manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” The answer is for the church to be the church. Not to resist itself or bash itself or destroy itself, but to BE itself. That, because of the very nature of the church, IS alternative. The answer is to go back to the Savior Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but shakes every generation from sin and complacency with His counter-cultural Word.
A church that has strayed from being the church need not jump on the bandwagon of bashing the church. There is no need to try to find self-righteousness in self-flagellation. On the other hand, a church that has strayed from being the church can’t sit tight in complacent inaction. Self-righteousness through self-satisfaction is off the mark, too. The church needs only to hear His call back to its first love, back to the Savior, back to being Christ’s church. The church is the always-new movement created by God to transform the world. It never was and never will be a fad.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Grace and Diapers
Yes, I’m back in the diaper realm. Very deeply into the diaper realm.
My daughter has given my wife and I a precious granddaughter. She’s almost nine-months-old and is the most beautiful and precious granddaughter in the world (unbiased opinion based on a random sampling of neutral grandchild observers, of course).
Well, to get a little personal, she switched formulas and her gastrointestinal system did not agree well with the change. Things got--how shall I say it--clogged up. This was not a pleasant situation. It caused a good deal of angst for grandma and grandpa and even more angst for granddaughter. I can say with confidence that this has been the low point in her entire life so far.
She’s flowing much better now after much prayer, a formula readjustment, and a few helpings of pears, blueberries, and oatmeal, thank you very much. But the whole episode got me thinking (dangerous territory!): Our existence is hanging in a very delicate balance. One tweak in the digestive area and agony results. It’s amazing that so many of us are humming along with all systems go. We truly live by grace--all the way down to the, uh, downward parts. We live by grace.
So many who are suffering understand this. Rainfall is a few inches off and nations can starve. Cells split too aggressively and cancer can attack the body. Be found in the wrong place at the wrong time and a violent person can bring life to an end. It’s the tragic groaning of a broken world. It’s the tragedy and pain of sin. It’s God’s creation out of balance.
What a blessing that at the right time, God sent His Son. What a blessing that Jesus hung on the cross to counterbalance the crushing power of death. What a blessing that Jesus sends you into this broken world to bring the balance of hope and life to a culture clogged with hopelessness and despair.
Yes, all of this from diapers. Actually, all of this from a sweet little girl who is beginning to understand the blessing of God’s grace.
And I didn’t even mention the word “poop” in the entire article!
My daughter has given my wife and I a precious granddaughter. She’s almost nine-months-old and is the most beautiful and precious granddaughter in the world (unbiased opinion based on a random sampling of neutral grandchild observers, of course).
Well, to get a little personal, she switched formulas and her gastrointestinal system did not agree well with the change. Things got--how shall I say it--clogged up. This was not a pleasant situation. It caused a good deal of angst for grandma and grandpa and even more angst for granddaughter. I can say with confidence that this has been the low point in her entire life so far.
She’s flowing much better now after much prayer, a formula readjustment, and a few helpings of pears, blueberries, and oatmeal, thank you very much. But the whole episode got me thinking (dangerous territory!): Our existence is hanging in a very delicate balance. One tweak in the digestive area and agony results. It’s amazing that so many of us are humming along with all systems go. We truly live by grace--all the way down to the, uh, downward parts. We live by grace.
So many who are suffering understand this. Rainfall is a few inches off and nations can starve. Cells split too aggressively and cancer can attack the body. Be found in the wrong place at the wrong time and a violent person can bring life to an end. It’s the tragic groaning of a broken world. It’s the tragedy and pain of sin. It’s God’s creation out of balance.
What a blessing that at the right time, God sent His Son. What a blessing that Jesus hung on the cross to counterbalance the crushing power of death. What a blessing that Jesus sends you into this broken world to bring the balance of hope and life to a culture clogged with hopelessness and despair.
Yes, all of this from diapers. Actually, all of this from a sweet little girl who is beginning to understand the blessing of God’s grace.
And I didn’t even mention the word “poop” in the entire article!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
You Do Make A Difference
On the Friday night before Thanksgiving week, a friend of mine, his wife, and his mother were killed in a fiery crash when a semi tractor and trailer plowed into their car on the interstate. They were traveling home from his daughter’s wedding. He just walked her down the aisle and whispered “I love you” in her ear. The highway patrol had to find where the young couple was honeymooning in a mountain cabin to break the tragic news to the new bride and groom at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday.
These are the kinds of events that take your breath away and cause you to look up to the heavens and ask God, “What are you doing?” and “Where are you?”
My friend’s brother suddenly went from planning Thanksgiving dinner for the family to helping to plan three funerals. After I sent him a message of sympathy in which I could barely find the words to express my sorrow to him, he replied with steady words of faith and hope. He said:
“On Friday night, God said ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ Jesus sacrificed everything so that we could have the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. I KNOW that my redeemer lives!”
Then he went on to say that the main reason his faith is so strong is because of the pastor he had throughout his childhood and young adult years. He said that his pastor never wavered in his faith. This faithful pastor was a rock for him as he grew up. Through some of the toughest times, this pastor helped him. In fact, he said that he asks himself even today: “What would pastor think of this?” Besides his parents, his pastor continues to be one of the most influential people in his life--even though his pastor retired years ago and lives far away.
What does all this mean? Pastors, servants of Jesus, you who invest yourselves in the lives of others for the sake of Jesus Christ: YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. During this season of reflection, don’t give up. Keep going. Trust the Lord of the church. You do make a difference!
These are the kinds of events that take your breath away and cause you to look up to the heavens and ask God, “What are you doing?” and “Where are you?”
My friend’s brother suddenly went from planning Thanksgiving dinner for the family to helping to plan three funerals. After I sent him a message of sympathy in which I could barely find the words to express my sorrow to him, he replied with steady words of faith and hope. He said:
“On Friday night, God said ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ Jesus sacrificed everything so that we could have the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. I KNOW that my redeemer lives!”
Then he went on to say that the main reason his faith is so strong is because of the pastor he had throughout his childhood and young adult years. He said that his pastor never wavered in his faith. This faithful pastor was a rock for him as he grew up. Through some of the toughest times, this pastor helped him. In fact, he said that he asks himself even today: “What would pastor think of this?” Besides his parents, his pastor continues to be one of the most influential people in his life--even though his pastor retired years ago and lives far away.
What does all this mean? Pastors, servants of Jesus, you who invest yourselves in the lives of others for the sake of Jesus Christ: YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. During this season of reflection, don’t give up. Keep going. Trust the Lord of the church. You do make a difference!
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Rise of Networks
The Holy Spirit has been up to something in Texas. Local churches and ministry agencies have been thinking more about seeing the Gospel spread exponentially. Multiplying quality and faithful ministry to reach the lost has become the laser focus all around the state. This focus has been manifested in the growth of regional church planting networks.
A church-planting network is a “church planting machine”--a ministry dedicated to and accomplishing the recruitment, training, and deployment of new workers for network generated new ministry starts.
Currently in Texas, a dozen networks have sprung up. These include:
LINC Houston, LINC North Texas, LINC San Antonio, POBLO Texas, The FiveTwo Network based out of Crosspoint in Katy, The SoulThirst Network in the greater Dallas area, the OnThisRock Network forming at St. Peter in Roanoke, The Summit Network out of St. Paul in Fort Worth, The ACTS Network emerging in the northwest Austin area, the ULC Network emerging at University Lutheran Church in Austin, the Great Commission Ministry Network developing out of Cristo El Salvador in Del Rio, and the Missional Worker Training and RioMAC network developing in the Rio Grande Valley. Other networks are emerging around the state.
In fact, from only eight of these networks, 80 new churches are expected to emerge between now and 2017!
The strength of networks involves local passion for the Gospel, local relationships, local opportunities, and local innovation. The Texas District is proud to partner with networks to fuel the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
Could your church or your circuit enter into network activity for the sake of the Gospel?
A church-planting network is a “church planting machine”--a ministry dedicated to and accomplishing the recruitment, training, and deployment of new workers for network generated new ministry starts.
Currently in Texas, a dozen networks have sprung up. These include:
LINC Houston, LINC North Texas, LINC San Antonio, POBLO Texas, The FiveTwo Network based out of Crosspoint in Katy, The SoulThirst Network in the greater Dallas area, the OnThisRock Network forming at St. Peter in Roanoke, The Summit Network out of St. Paul in Fort Worth, The ACTS Network emerging in the northwest Austin area, the ULC Network emerging at University Lutheran Church in Austin, the Great Commission Ministry Network developing out of Cristo El Salvador in Del Rio, and the Missional Worker Training and RioMAC network developing in the Rio Grande Valley. Other networks are emerging around the state.
In fact, from only eight of these networks, 80 new churches are expected to emerge between now and 2017!
The strength of networks involves local passion for the Gospel, local relationships, local opportunities, and local innovation. The Texas District is proud to partner with networks to fuel the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
Could your church or your circuit enter into network activity for the sake of the Gospel?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Casual Church
A Christian in India said to Francis Chan: “How can you be casual about something you’ll lose everything for?”
This Christian was asked why his faith in Christ spilled over into every area of his life and conversation.
In China, Chan described a uniquely Western phenomenon: “Where I come from people go to services in buildings and switch if they want a better speaker or better childcare or better music.”
The underground church participants laughed hysterically. Impossible, they thought.
In our Western bubble, we sometimes believe that the United States’ expression of the Christian Church is the norm around the world. We think that because of the freedom of Christian development, we represent what the world should conform and aspire to. Organization, education, strategy, you name it: we can begin to believe that we’re doing everything the way it should be done.
But the facts are much different. The United States comprises only 4% of the world’s population. The way “we” do it is, in fact, a minority expression of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Of course, Biblical principles are to remain consistent in the body of Christ. But a number of non-biblical attitudes and practices have taken hold in the cultural development of Western Christianity. These attitudes and practices are not necessarily all bad, but they may skew Western Christianity’s congruence with what the Scriptures show the Church is to be.
One skewed reality is casual and compartmentalized Christianity. As one Asian believer stated: “To have people come into a room who do not want to be disciple-makers doesn't make sense.”
Will we as Western believers defend all we’re doing and vehemently declare that in the area of Church we have no sin? Or will we humbly and repentantly consider the question we started with: “How can you be casual about something you’ll lose everything for?”
This Christian was asked why his faith in Christ spilled over into every area of his life and conversation.
In China, Chan described a uniquely Western phenomenon: “Where I come from people go to services in buildings and switch if they want a better speaker or better childcare or better music.”
The underground church participants laughed hysterically. Impossible, they thought.
In our Western bubble, we sometimes believe that the United States’ expression of the Christian Church is the norm around the world. We think that because of the freedom of Christian development, we represent what the world should conform and aspire to. Organization, education, strategy, you name it: we can begin to believe that we’re doing everything the way it should be done.
But the facts are much different. The United States comprises only 4% of the world’s population. The way “we” do it is, in fact, a minority expression of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Of course, Biblical principles are to remain consistent in the body of Christ. But a number of non-biblical attitudes and practices have taken hold in the cultural development of Western Christianity. These attitudes and practices are not necessarily all bad, but they may skew Western Christianity’s congruence with what the Scriptures show the Church is to be.
One skewed reality is casual and compartmentalized Christianity. As one Asian believer stated: “To have people come into a room who do not want to be disciple-makers doesn't make sense.”
Will we as Western believers defend all we’re doing and vehemently declare that in the area of Church we have no sin? Or will we humbly and repentantly consider the question we started with: “How can you be casual about something you’ll lose everything for?”
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
This is Hard
I received a note from a friend of mine who has served as a missionary in Burkina Faso, West Africa for twenty years. He shared the news that for the very first time in history, the local people who are now believers will be praying for their people. Most of the Koromba people are either animist or Muslim. A small band of about 30 believers in an area of over 100,000 people will be lifting them up in prayer that all may know Jesus and the life He gives.
This is a big deal. It’s taken decades to get to this point. It’s been a challenging, stretching, high-effort, persistent, relational outreach. Little by little fruit is being borne.
When we in the U.S. hear about the growth of Christianity in Africa or Asia, we rejoice, but we also may veer off in two directions.
First, we may think it’s easy. We think the Western cultural barriers don’t lend themselves to a movement of Kingdom expansion. We imagine that our lives are much more complex, fragmented, technical and advanced. People in our culture, we conjecture, aren’t as amenable to the Gospel. But in Asia and Africa--well, life is simpler, more networked and, therefore, “easy pickings” for the spread of the Gospel.
Second, we may miss the point. Instead of marveling at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Southern Hemisphere, we may start to worship the movement. We may become enamored with the numbers and lust after the phenomenon as an idol. Crying out “We want a movement, too!” may be more about possessing success than seeing God succeed in people’s hearts and souls.
Two truths need reinforcement among us in the West. First, the movement of the Gospel in Africa and Asia is hard work. It’s a difficult journey. The blood of many believers cries out from the ground of those nations and forms a foundation for what is happening today. The living Word continues to pound against spiritual and cultural barriers that we can’t even imagine.
Second, a primary weakness in our lives is the production of idols. The book of Deuteronomy opens with a dissection of our souls, making us aware of the fact that we always lean toward idol development and worship. As the Church expands around the world, we need to keep our eye on the ball--the cause of the Gospel, and not lapse into competing for the best world mission movement.
Around the world, every believer in the East, West, South or North has been called by Jesus to deny himself and take up his cross and follow. It’s hard. And it’s all about Jesus, not about us.
This is a big deal. It’s taken decades to get to this point. It’s been a challenging, stretching, high-effort, persistent, relational outreach. Little by little fruit is being borne.
When we in the U.S. hear about the growth of Christianity in Africa or Asia, we rejoice, but we also may veer off in two directions.
First, we may think it’s easy. We think the Western cultural barriers don’t lend themselves to a movement of Kingdom expansion. We imagine that our lives are much more complex, fragmented, technical and advanced. People in our culture, we conjecture, aren’t as amenable to the Gospel. But in Asia and Africa--well, life is simpler, more networked and, therefore, “easy pickings” for the spread of the Gospel.
Second, we may miss the point. Instead of marveling at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Southern Hemisphere, we may start to worship the movement. We may become enamored with the numbers and lust after the phenomenon as an idol. Crying out “We want a movement, too!” may be more about possessing success than seeing God succeed in people’s hearts and souls.
Two truths need reinforcement among us in the West. First, the movement of the Gospel in Africa and Asia is hard work. It’s a difficult journey. The blood of many believers cries out from the ground of those nations and forms a foundation for what is happening today. The living Word continues to pound against spiritual and cultural barriers that we can’t even imagine.
Second, a primary weakness in our lives is the production of idols. The book of Deuteronomy opens with a dissection of our souls, making us aware of the fact that we always lean toward idol development and worship. As the Church expands around the world, we need to keep our eye on the ball--the cause of the Gospel, and not lapse into competing for the best world mission movement.
Around the world, every believer in the East, West, South or North has been called by Jesus to deny himself and take up his cross and follow. It’s hard. And it’s all about Jesus, not about us.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Reaching the Uncomfortable
What if 80% of the population had claustrophobia? You know, complete fear and discomfort of small spaces.
What if you were head of a WiFi company and decided to build tiny cubicles in which the public could access the WiFi connection it needed in a fast, affordable, and convenient way? But in a very tiny space.
20% of the population would amble into your miniature WiFi cubicles and rejoice. At last! Cheap, affordable and convenient WiFi access, with charging stations for all my gizmos, to boot!
80% of the population would sweat, shuffle, hesitate, think long and hard--and head to a spacious Starbucks. There is no way they would step into that cubicle no matter how pretty it was, no matter how nicely they were invited, and no matter how badly they needed WiFi. It just wouldn’t happen.
The church faces this issue today. 20% of the population is comfortable stepping into church. They feel it is important and they follow through. 80% of the population thinks the roof would cave in on them if they walked through the church doors. They hesitate, sweat, or write off the need for what the church provides. They’re not coming inside.
How do we reach people with the Gospel who have written the church off? How do we communicate the Good News so it looks and sounds like good news to them?
Some churches are going to the uncomfortable. Moving outside of claustrophobic cubicles, believers are thinking creatively about what the church looks like in the community. They are inviting the uncomfortable into the wide and open spaces of serving others in the name of Jesus. They are entering into relationships with the 80% and are praying and watching for Jesus to show up.
Believers need to remember that inviting people to church, while very worthy and important, will only resonate with two out ten people. But inviting people to make a difference in the lives of others, to dedicate their lives to a worthy pursuit, will resonate with nine out of ten people. Statistics show that, while only 20% of the population wakes up in the morning with a desire to attend a church service, 90% of the population wants desperately to make a difference in the world. Isn’t Christ’s Church the biggest difference maker in history?
What if the uncomfortable became gripped with Jesus’ grace while participating in a Gospel act? What if that new blessing led them to worship the One who shows such love?
How are you rethinking your company strategy so that 100% of the people have access to eternal life?
What if you were head of a WiFi company and decided to build tiny cubicles in which the public could access the WiFi connection it needed in a fast, affordable, and convenient way? But in a very tiny space.
20% of the population would amble into your miniature WiFi cubicles and rejoice. At last! Cheap, affordable and convenient WiFi access, with charging stations for all my gizmos, to boot!
80% of the population would sweat, shuffle, hesitate, think long and hard--and head to a spacious Starbucks. There is no way they would step into that cubicle no matter how pretty it was, no matter how nicely they were invited, and no matter how badly they needed WiFi. It just wouldn’t happen.
The church faces this issue today. 20% of the population is comfortable stepping into church. They feel it is important and they follow through. 80% of the population thinks the roof would cave in on them if they walked through the church doors. They hesitate, sweat, or write off the need for what the church provides. They’re not coming inside.
How do we reach people with the Gospel who have written the church off? How do we communicate the Good News so it looks and sounds like good news to them?
Some churches are going to the uncomfortable. Moving outside of claustrophobic cubicles, believers are thinking creatively about what the church looks like in the community. They are inviting the uncomfortable into the wide and open spaces of serving others in the name of Jesus. They are entering into relationships with the 80% and are praying and watching for Jesus to show up.
Believers need to remember that inviting people to church, while very worthy and important, will only resonate with two out ten people. But inviting people to make a difference in the lives of others, to dedicate their lives to a worthy pursuit, will resonate with nine out of ten people. Statistics show that, while only 20% of the population wakes up in the morning with a desire to attend a church service, 90% of the population wants desperately to make a difference in the world. Isn’t Christ’s Church the biggest difference maker in history?
What if the uncomfortable became gripped with Jesus’ grace while participating in a Gospel act? What if that new blessing led them to worship the One who shows such love?
How are you rethinking your company strategy so that 100% of the people have access to eternal life?
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