Tag: disciple

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Destruction and Birth

Genesis 19-21 and Psalm 6

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed. Whether an enormous earthquake (the consensus of the references I found) or some unknown catastrophic event, the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah were ultimately punished. Lot, his wife and two daughters flee at the bidding of the angels disguised as men “grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them” (Genesis 19:16).

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” Genesis 19:26

Given the result, it seems fair to conclude that Lot’s wife didn’t just glance over her shoulder; rather, she was consumed by her desire for that which was left behind. When Jesus was teaching his disciples about the end times, he referenced this narrative: Luke 17:28-29, 17:32.

“Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it” Luke 17:32-33a

Once again we see the need to understand the Old Testament better to appreciate the references from the New Testament. It’s important to see what has happened to appreciate what will happen. Lord, increase my understanding!

Lot’s two daughters were apparently raised in such depravity that they conspired to get their father drunk and have sex with him in order to have children. Thus we have the beginning of the Moabites and the Ammonites from which battles will ensue in the coming generations.

Abraham and Abimelek — “She’s my sister” a second time. Abraham uses the same ploy a second time (and Sarah added ‘He is my brother.’ Abimelek has a dream that reveals the deception and has a meeting with Abraham where he explains the riddle,

Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, ‘He is my brother.'”Genesis 20:12-13

There is truth and there is the whole truth. Interesting. Abimelek gives Abraham lots of stuff and Abraham prays for him. Thus Abraham is again rewarded for this deception.

The Birth of Issac

Just as the angel said, Sarah became pregnant at the age of 90 (Abraham became the father of Issac at 100). Somehow they still have a sense of humor about the entire affair:

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. Genesis 21:6

Sarah must be filled with joy as she realizes that God allowed her to have a son, so much so that everyone will laugh with her. It’s a wonderful image. But once again, Sarah is extremely unhappy with Hagar and Ishmael, so Abraham sends them out. God provides for Hagar in the desert of Paran. They are now out of Sarah’s way!

God is the Lord of promises kept. As humans, we tend to make a mess of everything, but God works with us anyway! Praise God for his patience, his providence, his protection and relentless pursuit of his people.

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Counter Culture – Just Beginning

A few weeks ago, Travis invited me to read a book he was working on: Counter Culture, by David Platt. This book won’t find the coffee table of many. Most will view this as extreme and radical, but that really is the whole point. What Christ calls us to is not normal, it is not the accepted path of our society.

We may recognize that what we thought were separate social issues are in fact all intimately connected to our understanding of who God is and what God is doing in the world.

The most difficult thing about this book is to read it with the loving eyes of Christ. We are so easily ensnared by of earthly desire to be accepted that we forget our primary mission is to make disciples of all nations.

This could take a while. Here’s the table of contents. Interested in the journey?

Chapter 1. The Greatest Offense: The Gospel and Culture

  • In the Beginning, God
  • Our Natural Reaction to God
  • The Sin of Self
  • Is Jesus Unique?
  • The Eternal Offense
  • Do You Believe the Gospel?
  • A Call to Conviction, Compassion and Courage

Chapter 2. Where Rich and Poor Collide: The Gospel and Poverty

  • The Wealthy Aristocracy
  • The Convicting Reality
  • Free to Work
  • “Want To”
  • Work Diligently
  • Live Simply
  • Give Sacrificially
  • Help Constructively
  • Invest Eternally
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 3. Modern Holocaust: The Gospel and Abortion

  • For All of Us
  • God and the Unborn
  • The Key Question
  • Wonderful Works
  • God the Judge
  • Redeemed and Restored
  • Every One Worth It
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 4. The Lonely in Families: The Gospel and Orphans and Widows

  • A Story of Redemption
  • Mirror of God
  • A Culture of Orphans and Widows
  • The Right to Redeem
  • The Resources to Redeem
  • The Resolve to Redeem
  • Mara Ruth
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 5. A Ware on Women: The Gospel and Sex Slavery

  • Meet Maliha
  • Closer to Home
  • Modern Slavery
  • Created Equal
  • Slavery and Pornography
  • Fighting With The Gospel
  • Hope and Healing
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 6. A Profound Mystery: The Gospel and Marriage

  • Male and Female He Created Them
  • Christ and the Church
  • The Distortion of God’s Design
  • Countercultural Marriage
  • Once and For All
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 7. Bought with a Price: The Gospel and Sexual Morality

  • Loving Boundaries
  • Born This Way
  • “Did God Really Say…”
  • Darkened Hearts, Disordered Minds
  • God So Loves…
  • A New Identity
  • A Costly Call
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 8. Unity in Diversity: The Gospel and Ethnicity

  • Church Bombing
  • The Human Race
  • A Gospel-Less Starting Point
  • Ethnicity
  • What the Gospel Makes Possible
  • One In Christ
  • The Sojourner in our Midst
  • Off the Sidelines
  • A Better Country
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 9. Christ in the Public Square: The Gospel and Religious Liberty

  • The First Freedom
  • An Alarm
  • Dignity in Disagreement
  • A Global Perspective
  • Proclaiming Christ
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 10. The Most Urgent Need: The Gospel and the Unreached

  • Are We Going to Choose Comfort or the Cross?
  • Are We Going to Settle for Maintenance or Sacrifice for Mission?
  • Will Our Lives Be Marked By Indecisive Minds or Undivided Hearts?
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

 

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Some Songs from 2003 and 2004

Fond memories of serving Christian Life Church in Milton, Florida from 2002 to 2005. We had a young family way back then and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Middle School ministry, Discipleship Training (as a trainee) and some elementary school-aged ministry (Sunday morning worship and Vacation Bible School). Thanks to the Air Force we continued to move and serve at other churches, so this post is all about remembering a few highlights during Zoë’s assignment to Hurlburt Field, Florida (at this point I’m retired and working as a software consultant).

Here’s a link to the page that captures Discipleship Training memory verse songs and VBS 2004.

Discipleship Training, 2003

The lack of quality of the discipleship training songs is a bit distracting. These weekly renditions were recorded on my Boss 16-track hard disk recorder in our dining room. I had very few tools back in those days…that’s my excuse anyway. The truth is, these little songs helped us memorize scripture. I had a cassette duplicator and made a dozen copies of each to pass out to our training cohort. When You Pray (song #2), based on Matthew 6:6 and Don’t Be Anxious (song #8) based onPhilippians 4:6-8, are still my favorites. The recordings leave much to be desired (i.e., they suck), sorry about that, but the verses still remind me of important scripture that is buried deep in my heart (song #3), I Seek YouPsalm 119:10-11. At the time, I dutifully memorized2 Peter 3:18 (song #1) and recorded the commercial-like song. Since then I’ve studied Peter quite a bit more and have come to know and respect this Apostle. I still pray for the ability to do as he requires in 1 Peter 3:15-16. Song #5 is pretty weird, but I have to say, I remember 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and the important lesson these few verse contain. Songs #4 and #6 are difficult to listen to, yet they serve as a reminder that these tunes were there to serve a purpose: help memorize scripture. That leaves song #7, Temptation, based on 1 Corinthians 10:13. Here Paul is teaching his fledgling church in Corinth a lesson that we struggle with today and I’m glad this verse repeats itself in the back of my head,

No temptation has ever seized you except what is common to man,
God is faithful He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can stand.
But when you are tempted, he will always provide a way out
So that you can stand up, you can stand up to it.

Once again, the recording is sketchy (at best), but it still rings in my head when temptation arises — that was the point of these songs. They were there to remind us of important scripture passages. Surprisingly, no record label has tracked me down for these! 🙂

Vacation Bible School, 2004

I still remember approaching Pastor Johnny Williams about writing the music for VBS. This was a big deal for Christian Life Church. They had a very positive reputation for high quality VBS that attracted well over 300 children from the area, pretty cool for Milton, Florida. We were there for VBS 2003 and I just thought this was something I could do. There are several things I remember about this experience, but the most significant include Katrina’s (second daughter) sign language adaptations of the lyrics and subsequent teaching these songs and motions to the children. She did a fabulous job and ended up leading worship for KidZone in Virginia on our next assignment.

Another fun memory was the final recordings of the songs. I wanted to have children’s voices on the recording, so the “choir” you hear on the recordings are actually just the children from three families (more than a dozen enthusiastic voices). Yes, I know some of the timing is a bit off, but it’s real and it was really a blast putting this together. I wish I had a recording of 350 children singing and signing these songs on that final VBS night. They filled the stage and really did a great job. So much fun!

The theme for VBS was Extreme JC, so we climbed, swam and ran fast to this energetic song to get them started. We taught them the fruits of the spirit in Fruity Blues (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness, faithfulness, thankfulness and self control) based on Galatians 5:22-23. Yes, I still remember these in order. It Will Be Done was was one of the key teachings for this VBS and though this is a kid’s song, it is a good reminder that we can do all things with God, it’s our choice to get on His team! Because You Say So I Will is so much nicer than this recording indicates. Maria Pool did a fabulous job of singing this (along with her 6 children!) and Kelly Toole’s flute was perfect. I remember Kelly coming over to our house to record it. She was probably 17 or 18 at the time (???). When I answered the door she asked if anyone else was home because she was not allowed to enter a man’s house alone. Such great parents! Yes, our girls were all there, but I still remember how she honor a very reasonable rule that was in place to protect everyone. Thanks Kelly! She listened to my keyboard rendition of the flute part and we recorded it completely with very few takes. I hope she’s still playing. When I initially thought about this song, I intended it to be a rock-style song, but this turned out to be a very contemplative style song. I still remember the children sitting on stage as they sang this song–they really brought it home.

Special thanks to Pastor Bailey Dickerson (rocking piano), Pastor Johnny Williams (drums) and Nathan Black (lead guitar) for their support in recording these tracks. And thanks to Maria Pool (lead vocals) and Kelly Toole (flute) on Because You Say So I Will.

Thanks for the Memories

I’m not entirely sure why I’m writing this post this morning, but I am very thankful for the great memories at Christian Life Church. Thanks Pastor Doug Holmes for your music and solid Bible teaching. Thanks to the many friends we made during our short assignment and time at CLC. God Bless.

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unChristian: 4. Get Saved!

Are we keeping score?

Outsiders are skeptical about our desire to put another notch in our belts and “get someone saved for Jesus!” Our methods for implementing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is tempered by the hypocrisy was discussed in the previous chapter.

Only one-quarter of young outsiders firmly perceive that Christianity offers them “hope for the future” (23 percent), and only one out of every seven strongly believes Christianity is “genuine and real” (15 percent). Despite the fact that most young outsiders say that Christianity has good values and principles (79 percent), a majority say that the Christian faith teaches pretty much the same basic ideas as other religions (81 percent). 1

These statistics help shape the basis for the chapter and should compel us to action. How is it that only 23 percent of the next generation find hope in Christ? What are we doing, or rather, not doing to lose 77 percent of the population when most appreciate the “good values and principles” taught in the Bible?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer would probably answer that we have cheapened the Gospel, created the theology of “cheap grace.” Brennan Manning would agree and I think many pastors of the modern Christian church would join the fray.

My goal each day has little to do with getting a notch in my belt, but outsiders don’t have that perception–that’s what I want to learn from this chapter.

Some Realities

  • Sharing faith is best achieved through interpersonal relationships–not through mass revivals. Less than one-half of one percent of the born-again Busters said they came to faith as a result of radio, television or tracts being passed out. That’s more than zero, but just barely.
  • Mass evangelism creates more negative responsive–three to ten times the negative response.
  • The Great Commission doesn’t give us the license to offend people. The apostle Paul taught us that the Gospel will be offensive, but he always pointed to Christ and encouraged us to be kind and considerate. The people Jesus most often offended were the religious, the self-righteous Jewish leadership.
  • Most don’t aren’t logical thinkers and are not interested in having an intellectual discussion based on modern apologetics.  While that’s probably an accurate conclusion from the data presented, I don’t believe this is a license to avoid studying Scripture and building our own intellectual arguments. William Lane Craig leads a host of modern apologists that have gone to great lengths to developing convincing, scientific, arguments that support a wide array of theses presented by the Bible. It’s good to wrestle with these!
  • Most people come to faith before adolescence. What we do in church matters. We must have serious discipleship plans if we are to see a generation of believers rise up and move this country back toward Christ.
  • Reaching fiercely independent adults is a difficult task–Jesus told us it the world would problems (John 16:33). This should be no surprise, but as mentioned early, is also not an excuse for apathy.

Forgettable Faith

Most people in our country, some 82 percent, have heard the message of the Gospel, been to church and have heard about Christianity. But as teenagers enter the adult world, the vast majority of them fall away from the church.

The vast majority of Americans, regardless of age, assert they have already made a significant decision to follow Christ! 2

But what does that really mean? Kinnaman digs deeper to find that only 3 percent actually have a Biblical worldview based on these factors2:

  1. Believes Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
  2. God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and he still rules today
  3. Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
  4. Satan is real
  5. Christians have a responsibility to share their faith
  6. The Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches
  7. Unchanging moral truth exists
  8. Such moral truth is defined by the Bible

 

These statistics should drive us to examine how we raise disciples. If I sound redundant, I’m ok with that! Most people in this country have “heard the gospel.” The question is, what have they heard? Or perhaps more importantly, what have they experienced? What are we doing to perpetuate cheap grace? How can we redirect this?

Our research confirmed that many of these young people actually went through a time when they were searching for faith. They were probing the Christian faith, trying it on for size, but they couldn’t get past some of the mental, emotional, or spiritual barriers— often heightened by their experience of an unChristian faith— so they gave up. 3

Having Clear Outcomes in Mind

Leaders in the Christian faith will no doubt agree that we should all be seeking transformation, to become like Christ in all things. Defining that is a bit difficult to agree on. Here are some points to consider:

Clearly we need to redefine our metrics, how we measure success. If not by numbers, how do we do this? How do we measure depth and quality of spiritual maturity? I think the main emphasis is not the numbers but the reality of moving deeper in our faith and letting the numbers be evidence, not the goal.

Lord help us to be more Christ-like and lean on you for understanding.

 

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Chapter 5 »

 

1 Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 69). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

2 ibid, p.75.

3 ibid, p.78.

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Under the Overpass

I finally took time to sit down and read Mike Yankoski’s book, Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America. We’ve had the book in the house for several years. I think it was a gift from someone when I was on staff at Shoreline Community Church, but I’m not sure. Dealing with homeless issues is something we saw on a daily basis there. As the “big” church in Monterey, people knew they could seek help at Shoreline.

Like The Heart and the Fist, this is not a book that I will outline, add discussion questions or some kind of leaders guide, it’s just a short review of thoughts I have based on the reading.

To begin with, it’s really short and easy to read, so if you’re looking for a book for those who don’t read much, I highly recommend this one. With only eight chapters (sections), Mike Yankoski recounts his adventures with his friend Sam Purvis as they hit the pause button on college and subject themselves to living on the streets of Denver, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego.

Beginning

If you look at the featured image on this post, you’ll see that I intentionally included Matthew 16:24 in the background. We are called to be disciples of Christ, called to action, called to do something with our limited time on earth. This book is about Mike and Sam being faithful to hearing God’s call in their life for this particular journey into the homeless subculture of the streets in a handful of major cities in America.

I greatly appreciate their patience in planning and executing this particular mission. They didn’t just get motivated and take off; rather, they formed a board of advisors, asked for prayers and, get this, they listened to their elders. That is an amazing thought. God honored their plans and heartfelt desire to learn about homelessness by experiencing.

It was an experiment, one they could cancel at any time, but these guys were committed and stuck to their plans with little modification (they left Phoenix about a week earlier than planned because of the heat).

Lessons Learned

There are many lessons learned throughout the course of their journey. One of the most poignant stories was from a church in Portland. I wish I had a photo of this:

A large gray church rose up behind a wrought iron fence in front of us. The building was old and weathered. Above the mahogany double doors hung a sign in red letters: “No Trespassing. Church Business Only.” A new chain and two huge padlocks secured the gate at the sidewalk.p. 114

How many times do we project those words instead of the words Jesus taught us to love the least of these. I know we need to lock our doors, but is there some way we can be open for those in need?

Here’s a quick review of the cities and a thought on each as I flip back through the pages. It’s interesting that because of my time in the military, I’ve lived in and around the cities in this book (with the exception of Portland).

  • Colorado Springs (60 miles south of Denver),
  • Manassas, Virginia (a city in the Washington DC area),
  • Monterey, California (100 miles south of San Francisco…several trips there during our 3 years including a mission trip to the Tenderloin)
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Much business in Los Angeles and a few trips to San Diego

Perhaps this was part of the appeal of the book and part of the reality that I’ve walk past homeless guys in most of these cities (and countless others in my travels). Hmmm. Something to think about.

Denver

Staying in a mission for a month was their way of getting acclimated to the idea of being homeless. It seems like they learned a lot in this process and makes me want to spend a month in mission somewhere without this computer, internet or cell phone. Seriously.

Washington DC

The separation of classes is really prevalent in DC…those who have (power and money) and those who have nothing. The sad reality that a huge part of this population comes from military veterans is difficult to appreciate. Why are our veterans abandoned?

The story of Tiffany in this chapter was really inspiring. A young Christian college student, Tiffany saw Mike and Sam and bought them dinner without knowing their story. Cool. I reminds me of something our daughter Cynthia might do (if she has, she wouldn’t tell us anyway…that’s how she is!). Seeing the guys were hungry, she simply offered to take them to dinner and listen to their story. Nice.

Portland

Basic needs for restrooms, showers, clean clothes and even something as simple as water are things the homeless population struggle to find. The “body basics” are daily concerns. The guys went for weeks without a shower because that was just not available. I’m reminded of the mission in Montgomery where they intentionally built showers and laundry facilities to help the homeless.

San Francisco

God’s providence was evident in several ways in San Francisco. Reading this chapter reminded me of the week I spent with the youth of Shoreline Community Church as we ministered to those in the Tenderloin district…the poorest of the poor. I could smell the smells and see the faces of those I met as Yankoski recalled their experience. When they met a 17-year old preacher in the park who was following his calling I couldn’t help but smile. We discount our teenagers too quickly these days. Here was a guy who was sincere. Well done.

Phoenix

I loved the Mr. White Polo Shirt story. Some megachurch with excellent security staff kicked Mike and Sam off the property because of an event the church was hosting. Later Mr White Polo Shirt found them in church, hugged them and asked for forgiveness. How often do we get a chance to ask for forgiveness for our missteps?

San Diego

The story of Doug saving a guy from drowning was a surprise. The surrealistic experience toward the end of their time on the streets must have really made an impact on Mike and Sam. It’s a brief, but Doug’s story is symbolic of so many on the streets who are addicted to something they can’t shake, though they try.

Concluding Thoughts

This is the incredibly sad reality of many on the streets: mentally ill, alcoholics, drug addicts, beaten, worn, without hope. These are the least in our society and we are called by Christ to serve them. I greatly appreciate the end of the book (pp 218-219) where Yankoski provides a few ideas and encouragement to get involved locally:

  1. Find the rescue mission nearest to you. Call and find out how you can get involved. Show up an hour early and plan on leaving an hour after you’re scheduled to. Have conversations with the homeless as they stand outside, waiting to get in. Bring bottled water, baked cookies, granola bars, patience, and a sense of humor. You’ll bless those who cannot bless you in return.
  2. Go downtown with a friend or friends (don’t go alone). Buy cups of coffee or a bag of take-out food, find a homeless person sitting around asking for money, share your gifts, and enjoy a conversation. No agenda, no plans, no purpose other than to be with that person. You’ll be amazed at what unfolds.
  3. Is it cold outside? Go to your closet and grab the sweater, sweatshirt, or coat you keep telling yourself you’ll wear sometime but know you won’t. Call up four friends and tell them to do the same thing. Then go downtown and hand out your warm clothing to the men or women huddled under the overpass or in a doorway. As you stand there thinking of how cold your nose is, you’ll be amazed at the genuine thankfulness of someone whole whole body is probably numb. And your giving will warm your soul, too.
  4. Become a spokesperson in your your group, church, and community for those who have no voice. Be relentlessly suspicious of your comfortable life, and of the comfort zones that render so many Christian fellowships insensitive and ineffective in our communities. God calls us all to more. And you and I can lead the way, one small step at a time.

In other words, do something.

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unChristian: 2. Discovering unChristian Faith

Generation Gap Widening

This chapter provides more background into the rest of the book and provides an introduction to the next six chapters.

One of the interesting dichotomies is the strong desire for Mosaics and Busters to be part of a tribe while maintaining fierce individualism–perhaps disturbing is a better term.

Fewer than one out of ten young adults mention faith as their top priority, despite the fact that the vast majority of Busters and Mosaics attended a Christian church during their high school years. Most young people who were involved in a church as a teenager disengage from church life and often from Christianity at some point during early adulthood, creating a deficit of young talent, energy, and leadership in many congregations.1

It’s imperative that we take time to understand the gap and to figure out how to make connections. But we need to be careful not to simply repackage Christianity to be appealing to a particular target audience. I fully believe Jesus is as relevant today as He was when talking to people on earth 2,000 years ago. We need to deal with the tension this causes, not ignore it, while at the same time being consistent. Difficult to say the least.

The leadership at Elevation Church has apparently figured this out. We have friends in Charlotte (and other Elevation locations) that are excited to be part of their vision. My prayer is that the cake is as good on the inside as the icing on the outside appears. I earnestly pray for their leadership and hope with all my heart that they are listening to God in every decision they make. Too many people’s lives are at stake!

Hostile Takeover

The data presented shows a drastic shift toward Christianity’s role in society. In 1996, 85% were favorable to Christianity. By 2006, that number is down to 38%, even to the point that one-third say Christianity represents a negative image, one they don’t want to be associated with. Compare this with:

Their impressions of the Bible are mixed: most think it has good values, but only three out of ten believe that it is accurate in all the principles it teaches.2

This just fuels my desire to see the Bible taught in churches, not for memorization, but for understanding. I pray that God will open the way for the Biblical Literacy Assessment to become a reality that wakes people up to the reality that we all need to comprehend the Bible.

Most Outsiders know the story of Jesus, most have heard, “It’s simple, just accept Jesus, believe in Christ, confess your sins and you will be saved.” (The A-B-Cs of coming to Christ.) I cringe every time I hear a pastor say, “it’s simple” or “all you have to do is…” This quickly becomes a faith that’s centered around something “I do.” Jesus did not teach this sort of cheap grace. Yes, we must come to grips with our sinful nature, confess our sins and accept Christ, but it is not simple. I’m not suggesting we embrace 613 laws that must be followed (or else), just that we get real about our own sinful nature, let transparency become the rule and not the exception. Jesus came to give life to a broken world and we’ve made it a “join the club” atmosphere.

Why So Negative?

Perhaps this is why people react negatively when we boast about the security of our eternal reward compared to their destiny. We are not so important–Jesus is. I strongly agree with Kinnaman’s assertion: “We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.”

Six Broad Themes

The next 6 chapters will dive into these topics:

  1. Hypocritical.
  2. Too focused on getting converts.
  3. Antihomosexual.
  4. Sheltered.
  5. Too political.
  6. Judgmental.

Complex Background

  • Perceptions are not formed in a vacuum or based on limited exposure
  • Impressions are forged through many inputs: churches, relationships, other religions — conversations with other
  • The “secular” media is not as effective as we might expect
  • Bad experiences in church have a strongly negative influence on many — not a surprise — something like 30%.

Hijacking Jesus

This is where caution must rule. We must not edit the Bible to make it more palpable for outsiders, nor try to look more appealing to satisfy their appetites. Kinnaman refers to this as hijacking Jesus, “softening or reshaping the gospel” to somehow make it more interesting. He believes outsiders want to have conversations and not persuasion sessions.

Do Perceptions Matter?

  1. What people think about Christians influences how they respond to us. People’s attitudes drive their actions.
  2. What people think about Christians should help us be objective.
  3. What people think of Christians can change.
  4. What people think about Christians reflects personal stories.

Years ago I put a simple reminder on my desk, one that I could see when speaking with anyone: “Perception = Reality.” What someone perceives is in fact their personal reality and that matters to me. That doesn’t give me license to become a chameleon, but it does mean that I take Paul’s words seriously:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

A Wake-up Call

One of the things Kinnaman does in this book is to translate the percentages into numbers, e.g., “Millions of young outsiders are mentally and emotionally disengaging from Christianity.” Millions. People that Christ died for. Not a percentage or statistic, rather a list of names we could create if we were so motivated. That is profoundly sad. What am I doing today to remove one name from that list? Lord, I pray that you will show me some way to more someone off of that list each day and that I would teach others to do the same!

Responding to unChristian Faith

Jesus’ answer is recorded in John 17 as our Savior prays for his disciples:

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

I found a post by David Mathis interesting, “So let’s revise the popular phrase “in, but not of.” Christians are not of this world, but sent into it. Not of, but sent into.” I hope and pray that we become unhappy with churches that are so inwardly focused that they miss the command to be sent into the world by Jesus himself. We have a mission to complete. Lord help us!

 

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Chapter 3 »

 

1 Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 23). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

2 ibid, p. 24

 

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Like An Avalanche

Last Sunday (Feb 21, 2016) we sang the song, Like An Avalanche,1 a powerful song that compels us to come before the throne on our knees. There are several scriptures implied in this musical work of art. The bridge in the song, that musical section that serves to tie the song together, is based on these passages (at least) Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, Matthew 10:38-39:

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Jesus is talking with those who are following him. The people are impressed with his miracles and teaching so he clarifies what it means to be a disciple, something I’m sure many find difficult to understand. To be a disciple of Christ comes with a cost. In the referenced passages we find Jesus lays out some heavy requirements. I imagine there were many who were shocked by Jesus words in Matthew 10:32-33:

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

These are powerful words that no doubt set many on their heels, stopped them in their tracks. “I will disown before my Father in heaven.” You. Me. Family. Friends. What is our response to such words? How do we react when we read these words? Turn the page and keep going? Do we fill our quota of scripture for the day and check off the box that says read the Bible?

The Bridge

This Sunday we led this song with a room full of people who are seeking to grow in their faith, to be disciples of Jesus. I’m not sure how many times we sang this phrase, but I couldn’t get enough and it still plays in my mind as I type this:

Take my life, take all that I am,
with all that I am I will love you.
Take my heart take all that I have
Jesus how I adore you.

How I pray that we can truly embrace this posture of complete devotion to Jesus. Let the lyrics and music wash over us all. I hope these words keep repeating in your mind as you consider Like An Avalanche.

 

 

1 Like An Avalanche, Joel Houston and Dylan Thomas, Hillsong Music Publishing, 2010

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unChristian: 1. The Backstory

Seeing Christianity from the Outside

Our research shows that many of those outside of Christianity, especially younger adults, have little trust in the Christian faith, and esteem for the lifestyle of Christ followers is quickly fading among outsiders. They admit their emotional and intellectual barriers go up when they are around Christians, and they reject Jesus because they feel rejected by Christians.1

It’s not a surprise that many have little trust in the Christian faith, but digging into the details Kinnaman and Lyons explore this concern through many lenses. The Backstory explains how Gabe Lyons confided in David Kinnaman about his calling to explore these issues and to reveal them to other Christ followers who certainly have a sense that this is the case, but really don’t understand the nature of the problem.

Why unChristian?

Outsiders, those who are not part of the Christian faith, see Christ through our actions, our words and deeds, especially the negative press, and find little to compel them to be a part of the Christian community. Quoting Bible verses isn’t helpful in bridging this gap. Building relationships based on love and trust matters–not viewing people as projects. We have a lot to learn from the data presented in this book. So here we have evidence of outsiders’ reactions to Christianity. This is an opportunity to listen and learn. We must be willing to engage, not just throw our hands up and quit. Christ called us to make disciples and He promised it was not going to be easy.

New Directions

Terms and definitions are required to discuss perspectives used throughout this book. It’s always risky to apply a label, so the authors have chosen terms that are meant to avoid derogatory connotations.

  • Outsiders. This group includes atheists, agnostics, those affiliated with a faith other than Christianity (such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Mormonism, and so on), and other unchurched adults who are not born-again Christians.
  • Mosaics. Those born between 1984 and 2002.
  • Busters. Those born between 1965 and 1983.

The primary focus of this book is on those between 16 and 29 years old, the Mosaics and Busters because they comprise a huge portion of our population and they are the generation that will be running the country when we’re old and retired!!

While the focus seems to be on outsiders, it appears that many Mosaics and Busters that are Christ-followers are skeptical of present-day Christianity–they are feeling the heat of negative perceptions. In my mind this is a huge call for discipleship that we (as the elder population) need to take seriously.

And so the journey begins. My prayer is that God will open my eyes to the great opportunities that are revealed in this book, that the size and scope of the problem keep me up at night as I wrestle with understanding what one person can do to affect change that is so desperately needed.

 

« Intro

Chapter 2 »

 

1 Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 11). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

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Ragamuffin Gospel: A Word After

Epilogue

Now it’s time to sit back and ponder what we’ve read and reflected on for eleven chapters. A few scriptures to remind me of the extraordinary power and love God has for me: Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:17-20.

The love of Christ is beyond all knowledge, beyond anything we can intellectualize or imagine. It is not a mild benevolence but a consuming fire.

In reality it seems that religion is much easier than the kind of faith and love that God calls us to accept. Following a strict set of rules, no matter how difficult provides an imperical measurement, a factual perspective. However, it’s impossible to quantify how much I love my wife, though I tell you it’s a lot!

Manning shares two stories in this brief afterword:

  1. Mary Magdalene, a woman who demonstrated amazing discipleship in a time when women were considered second class is a fitting example for us all to emulate. It’s interesting to read recent articles on Mary and her leadership role in the early church. A woman who came to Jesus with seven demons became the model Christ follower. Interesting to say the least.
  2. Peter was already back to his trade of fishing when Jesus cooked breakfast for him after his resurrection. The one who denied Jesus was reinstated beyond his wildest dreams. Peter was able to preach from his brokenness. If he had succeeded in his own power, his story would have likely gone nowhere, but in Christ he found strength.

And now it’s time for our story, what will it be? Stop putting on masks and pretending to be something I’m not. Transparently love others. Lord help me to study the life and words of Christ and those who follow him with passion so I may be an instrument of your peace and a light to the lost. God, I’m so unworthy of such a task! It’s ridiculous for me to even ask for such things, but I trust you have a plan and all I truly want out of this life is to leave knowing I gave it my very best for you.

« Chapter 11

The Scandal of Grace: Fifteen Years Later »

 

Notes:

1 exigency. An urgent need or desire. Love has its own exigencies.

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Ten Questions: #7 – Why do you condemn homosexuality?

Complete question: Why do you condemn homosexuality when it’s clear that God made gays and that he loves all people the same?

Summary

  • The Story of Jesus’ interactions with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26) provides a helpful model for our consideration
  • Jesus modeled the need to affirm God’s love toward all people–including men and women ensnared in any kind of sexual immorality.
  • Our primary focus should be on affirming the positive model God gives us for sexual expression within a biblical marriage–one man and one woman, for life.
  • God clearly prohibits homsexual activity in the Bible, but it isn’t listed as being worse than other sins.
  • Human desire might seem natural, but that doesn’t make it right.
  • We need to explain that someone’s orientation toward or temptation by same-sex attractions is not in and of itself sin.
  • Jesus’ treatment of the woman at the well clearly demonstrates that God wants all kinds of sinners to come to him for salvation.

Introduction

  • As we seek to respond to this difficult question, we can find guidance in what Jesus did and said.
  • In the main passage for this chapter (John 4:1-26), Jesus is seen traveling through Samaria, an area the Jewish leaders avoided because they simply would not associate with those people.
  • In interesting insight from Our Daily Bread, with reference to the woman at the well, “He revealed a supernatural understanding of her unquenched thirst for life.” Jesus saw something in this woman that no one else understood because he wasn’t there to judge her, he was there to save her.

Affirming and Showing God’s Love

  • God loves all people. We should affirm God’s love for all people, regardless of their lifestyle or the particular activities or sins they may be engaged in.
  • Our actions here will speak much louder than our words

God our Savior…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

  • Jesus reaches out to homosexual men and women–and indeed all those in the LGBTQ community–with the same kind of love and intentionality that he showed to the Samaritan woman
  • His love was radical and real. He genuinely cared.

Extending God’s Grace

  • Jesus, the quintessential evangelist, expressed a mixture of grace and truth–including truth about her moral failures.
  • Don’t focus on trying to reform people from the outside in, but rather on sharing the life-changing gospel…from the inside out.

Affirming God’s Model for Human Sexuality

  • From the beginning, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Genesis 2:24
  • How many people? Two. Which genders? One man and one woman.
  • If you are married, sexual expression between you and your spouse is encouraged and even celebrated as a gift from God. But outside of that, there are no examples of sex condoned by God. Absolutely none.

Telling the Truth About God’s Will

  • We need to lovingly tell the truth about what God says regarding sexual relations.
  • First, make clear that the Bible’s position is not based on isolated verses
  • Second, those who see this issue differently often try to explain away the texts that do seem to prohibit sex between members of the same gender.

Old Testament

New Testament

  • Since Jesus doesn’t explicitly address the issue of same-sex practices, could someone make the case that he actually endorses it just because of a lack of specific prohibition?
    • He never speaks out agains slavery, child trafficking or the oppressive occupation of his homeland by Roman authorities
    • The consistency of his message provides implicit understanding
  • Paul also provides a clear warning about same-gender sexual sin (among others): 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:8-11.
  • The matter-of-fact way in which Paul includes homosexuality in this list must mean people at that time were familiar with the practice.
  • Paul makes it clear that God expects us to regard these activities as a thing of the past, something we did before accepting Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Addressing a Misguided Assumption

  • Some have said, “it’s clear that God made gays,” that some people have same-sex desires. Since “God made me this way, with these desires, so he must have intended me to have and to fulfill these desires.”
  • There are major problems with this way of thinking.
    • First, all kinds of desires occur in people (food, recreation, fame, fortune, etc.). These can be from God, but taking any of them to the extreme doesn’t automatically make them appropriate.
    • Second, not every desire is from God.

Temptation Does Not Equal Sin

  • Being tempted to steal something is not the same as actually stealing
  • Temptation itself is not sin

God is Looking for True Worshipers

Making the Church a Place of Grace

God Uses Redeemed Sinners of Every Stripe

  • Turning Atheists into Missionaries
  • God seems to delight in turning unlikely candidates into uncanny instruments of his love and truth. The anti-Christian Saul became the apostle Paul.

Tips for Talking About This Issue

  • Prior to talking about this issue, try to gain Jesus’ loving perspective toward all kinds of sinful people.
  • God sent Jesus for all of us…we are all sinners.
  • Eliminate degrading humor and comments about homosexuals and the gay community–the church, small group, within your family–completely. Mittelberg actually says, “to the degree possible;” I have less empathy. Ephesians 5:4
  • This is a charged issue, remember James’ admonition (James 1:19): “you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
  • People often expect us to be uncaring. Surprise and intrigue them with your Jesus-like love “in a gentle and respectful way.” 1 Peter 3:16
  • Speak the truth of God’s Word without pronouncing judgment on individual people. We are all challenged by biblical principles. This is God’s revelation, not your personal opinion.
  • Emphasize the life-giving message of the gospel, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Romans 5:6
  • Try to help people understand the biblical perspective, but be prepared to be misunderstood. Persevere, be consistent, know that God is with you and “joy awaits” you (John 4:36).

Questions for discussion

  1. What kinds of examples have you seen from Christians in addressing issues of homosexuality? Did they emphasize truth at the expense of grace–or vice versa?
  2. How do you feel about the balance of grace and truth in your own perspective on this issue? Do you need to shore up one side or the other a bit? How can you go about doing that?
  3. What can we as Christians do if we’ve been too strong on one side of the issue, failing to live out the WWJD principle discussed at the beginning of the chapter?
  4. What are some practical things your group or your church could do to make it a more accessible and friendly place for serious spiritual seekers who are struggling with this issue?
  5. Toward the end of the passage in John 4, after the disciples came back to find Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, they urged him to eat. Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about…My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work (John 4:32, 36). Have there been times or eras in your life when you related to Jesus’ statement? What could you do to experience that kind of era once again?
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