Tag: preach

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Legal, Financial and Ritual Concerns

Deuteronomy 15-18

Chapter 15 begins, “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” Wouldn’t that be amazing! The idea that “there need be no poor people among you,” is a worthy goal; even though, “there will always be poor people in the land.” Even today we see this reality and we know we must “not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.” Lord, I pray we can “be openhanded” and truly loving to those in our community.

Reading through this part of the Old Testament is challenging. On one hand we see timeless wisdom in the statements above, then in the next section we read about our wonderful slaves. Puzzling for those who want to believe we Christians have it right, those who are seeking what we claim is the ultimate prize: Jesus Christ.

Rejoice! “Remember that you were slaves…” Judges, don’t accept bribes, don’t worship other gods or listen to occult practices. Purge the evil among the people. No more grumbling or complaining (I’m really preaching to myself). The Lord is my inheritance…no need for more!

There is a lot of wisdom in this section, but scary consequences for those who are “to be put to death.” In our posh and super civilized culture, this extreme measure makes no sense. What we must do is understand the historical significance and look for those themes that remain constant. This is not a call for capital punishment. It is, however, a call to be blameless before the Lord.

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The Priests

Exodus 27-29

Many details are provided for consecrating Aaron and his sons, priests of the Lord. One thing I see when reading these details is that Moses honored the people who created all of the supporting elements of the tabernacle. By examining each detail, in essence he says, we are able to worship the Lord because you created the “skillfully woven waistband,” your contribution matters.

The people needed order and discipline, God provided both through Moses, Aaron and the leaders. They are far from done at this point, but no one can say they didn’t understand what they were supposed to do: it was clearly spelled out for them.

Many people want to revert to this kind of religion: just tell me exactly what to do! If I have any inkling of understanding here, this is a careful examination of a very young, very immature Israel, God’s chosen people. We can see their growth by watching the changes through the Old Testament. The more I understand the ancient, the more I have a chance at appreciating the Gospels. The time before and after Jesus ministry is so radically different, but only when I learn about the before picture.

Lord help me to appreciate the words of old, those who dedicated themselves to you, your tabernacle, your worship. It’s difficult to see how to preach from these chapters, but I know you gave it to us for a reason. Show me Lord. I’m wide open.

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God’s Covenant with Abraham

Genesis 12-15 and Psalm 5

“…in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness” Psalm 5:4-5

King David teaches us a lot about transparency by writing many of the psalms that reveal his frustration with those who seek to undermine God’s people. David made plenty of mistakes, but he always came back to God and entreated others to do the same. “Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies–make your way straight before me” (5:8). Just as we sing songs that repeat phrases as we emotionally pour ourselves out to God, David repeated asks the Lord to lead him and to wipe out the wicked; both with trust that God would do what he has promised.

And so we begin the amazing story of Abraham in Genesis 12. A story of promise, another covenant between God and a humble man. From the very beginning God’s promise is emphasized, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).

So Abram took his family, everything they had, and completed the trip his father begun–they went to Canaan. There was famine in the land, so they packed up and headed to Egypt where Abram’s first deception plays out, “Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” Apparently, Sarai is quite beautiful, so Abram has a plan to take advantage of the Pharaoh’s eye for women…and it worked. Pharaoh’s men took Sarai to the palace and Abram was able to acquire cattle, servants, etc. When Pharaoh discovered Sarai was Abram’s wife he made them leave the country, but they were allowed to take all they had accumulated. So they departed.

Abram became quite wealthy and accumulated livestock with his nephew Lot, to the point that they needed to part ways to make room for the animals. Abram gave Lot the choice and Lot chose what he considered the better option in the area of Sodom. As time went on, the kings of the surrounding lands began to fight, “four kings agains five.” The band of four kings seized Lot and his possessions and took them away. The news was reported to Abram, so a rescue mission was planned with “the 318 men born in his household” (Genesis 14:14). This morning I noticed the phrase, “The 318 men…” not some random group, this is “the” group. According the NIV Study Bible notes, “the Hebrew for ‘trained men’ is found only here in the Bible.” Interesting.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed AbramGenesis 14:18

The King of Sodom tries to make a deal with Abram, but he is rebuffed harshly, “I will accept nothing by what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me.”

Abram is still troubled that he has no child of his own blood. The Lord hears his lament and reminds him of the promise, “He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them…so shall your offspring be.'” The response: “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” As Abram struggles with understanding how all of this will happen, God makes a covenant with Abram and gives him a glimpse of the future where his descendants flourish.

In Romans 4 Paul points to this text as the basis for preaching justification by faith over works, “therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring…He is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16). See also Galatians 3:6-14.

Lord let us be a people of faith. Help us to learn from the example Abram showed — all the honor and glory belong to you.

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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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Ragamuffin Gospel: The Scandal of Grace: Fifteen Years Later

Call to Action

Apparently, Brennan Manning was scolded harshly by some in the Christian community for this book. Perhaps he speaks as a prophet for our current Christian culture, calling out those who would reduce Christianity to a Sunday morning activity–which happens to include most of us. I suggest “us” in this sense because, like it or not, those who are not assimilated into our culture view Christians as all one people lumped together. They don’t know the difference between a nun and evangelical. We (collectively) have built institutions–not Jesus. We are the ones that make rock stars out of gifted musicians, celebrities out of gifted preachers, untouchables out of those who publish books.

Manning implores us to destroy these titles and simply share the gospel of grace through living lives of loving our neighbors.

  • Ragamuffins don’t sit down to be served; they kneel down to serve.
  • Ragamuffins give thanks for the smallest gift
  • They don’t complain about the feeble preaching of their local church, but are grateful for the smallest crumb that tumbles from the preacher’s mouth
  • No long prayers or big words (just small words that force you to look up the definitions!1)
  • There is no pretense about self-sufficiency
  • Raw honest becomes part of the character of a ragamuffin
  • Radical dependence and trusting surrender are the heartbeat of a ragamuffin
  • They have found the hidden treasure in the field–nothing compares to the kingdom of God

Our churches are not country clubs, decked out to impress our communities. We must not endorse nominal Christianity, but at the same time we need to figure out how to graciously move to defrost the frozen chosen. Belief in Christ is not the end of the story–it’s the beginning of a new life.

Perhaps the supreme achievement of the Holy Spirit in the life of ragamuffins is the miraculous movement from self-rejection to self-acceptance. It is not based on therapy or the power of positive thinking; it is anchored in their personal experience of the acceptance of Jesus Christ.

Though I prefer to meet someone who is lost in the self-help section of a bookstore over one who is addicted to some mind altering drug or drink, all are in need of the accepting grace of Jesus Christ. It would not be authentic for me to wander into bars to meet those who are seeking to soothe themselves with alcohol, but it would not be a stretch to put a band together and play in locations that would force me to get to know those who don’t even know they’re lost. Such behavior isn’t taught in Sunday School, let alone from the pulpit, but I wonder, is that what ragamuffins do?

Perhaps that’s a bit provocative and the bi-vocational pastor is the answer. We need to get creative and listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do whatever works to remove barriers that prevent those who are living without the awesome love of God that we all know is freely available. No more playing it safe.

Reading this chapter is like reading a synopsis of the book, like Manning was agitated just enough to recap the main points of the book–he couldn’t help himself! The preacher preaches. That’s his gift. This sermon is in writing for us to hear over and over again, to underline and highlight the thoughts that speak to us individually.

I can’t help but believe that if our churches were filled with ragamuffins, we would be so attractive to the outside world that we could not contain the people–and they would not mind a bit.

« A Word After

19 Mercies: A Spiritual Retreat »

 

Notes:

1 systole and diastole. Diastole is the part of the cardiac cycle when the heart refills with blood following systole (contraction). Ventricular diastole is the period during which the ventricles are filling and relaxing, while atrial diastole is the period during which the atria are relaxing.systole-diastole

2 mysterium tremendum: overwhelming mystery.

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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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Ragamuffin Gospel: #9 – The Second Call

Chapter 9

Halftime

This chapter reminds of Bob Buford’s book, Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance1. In October of 1995, I transitioned from the Air Force to civilian life–it was time to move into a new season in my life. The truth is, I’m still growing and trying to figure out what’s next, but this hasn’t prevented me from trying, failing, tripping and falling flat on my face.

As Manning explains, there is a point where we realize something needs to change. Most of the time it takes some significant event is required to jolt us from comfort to action. That’s why preachers and politicians search for words to stir emotions, wake us from our relative comfort zones. I’ve probably just offended a bunch of people by putting preachers and politicians in the same sentence, but sadly I’ve seen both use tactics to provoke people to action.

We must reach a point of holy discontent, of righteous indignation, a place where we know something inside us must change. How we arrive at this point matters if we want it to stick. It’s not a New Years resolution to lose ten pounds, it’s a lifestyle change that just happens to result in losing weight. More significantly, we must reach the point where we see the door closing, where we understand the words of Jesus in the parable of the wedding banquet and simply can’t sit still, Matthew 22:14: “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

The second journey begins when we know we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the morning program.

(After reading this, Chaotic Love (You’re The One That Really Matters) started playing in my head over and over again!)

In our cynical society we are reminded that one individual cannot make a difference, that we are insignificant. Over and over again, Satan uses such tactics to keep us down, to make us believe we’re wallowing in pride when we have a God-inspired idea. The Adversary wants us to be self-conscious about singing out, raising our hands, pouring our hearts out. Sadly, this is true too much of the time, but we have the antidote in front of us, printed in numerous languages and styles, God’s word is there for us to “grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18. Use the Bible to learn, to grow, but Lord teach us to get out of our comfort zones and into the world that desperately needs to see the word in action.

Lord, I pray that we become a people that understands from the deepest part of our being that “you’re the One that really matters.” And in that knowledge we find the faith, hope and love to act.

From the Chapter

  • The second call is a summons to a deeper, more mature commitment of faith where the naïveté, first fervor, and untested idealism of the morning and the first commitment have been seasoned with pain, rejection, failure, loneliness, and self-knowledge.
  • Three obstacles: a crisis of faith, of hope and of love.
  • #1 Faith.
    • God’s answer: The next time you preach about My love with such obnoxious familiarity, I may just come and blow your whole prayer meeting apart.
    • Evangelical faith is the antithesis of lukewarm news: It always means a profound dissatisfaction with our present state.
    • If we are criticized, let it be for the right reasons: because we are not emotional enough, because our emotions are puny, because we lack a deep, passionate, uncompromising affection for Jesus Christ.
    • We need to ask ourselves: Do I really believe the Good News of Jesus Christ? Do I hear His word spoken to my heart?
  • #2 Hope
    • Matthew 22 describes a feast. Do we really believe we are going to a wedding feast that has already begun?
    • Our hope, our acceptance of the invitation to the banquet, is based on the idea that we will triumph over pain and suffering (not escape it).
    • To really be a disciple of Jesus, one must be as committed to the message of the kingdom as He was, and to preach it whether or not the audience finds it relevant.
    • The issue is not whether the world considers it relevant; it’s whether it is true.
  • #3 Love
    • We must love and, even more, we must run the risk of being loved.
    • God wants us back even more than we could possibly want to be back.
  • One significant barrier: fear. We are afraid of failure.
  • We tend to think we have to project some image of perfection:
    • It’s simply not true
    • Keeps us from reaching the lost
    • it would be a shallow existence
  • Depth of character is achieved by one who has failed and who has learned to live with it.
  • God longs for someone daring enough to be different, humble enough to make mistakes, wild enough to be burned in the fire of love, real enough to make others see how phone we are.

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Chapter 10 »

 

Notes:

1 Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, by Bob P. Buford et al.

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Jesus Wept and Lazarus Walked

As Jesus explained in the previous text, he now arrives at the scene where Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days–he is dead. Both Martha and Mary cry out to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This was a family that Jesus knew well, they must have spent many days together talking about everyday normal stuff…they were great friends. That alone makes me pause.

Martha hears Jesus is coming and she goes out to meet him; Mary does the same. These are significant words on many levels. In a culture that shuns women and prevents them from any leadership role, here we see the Apostle John highlighting their story for all to read. Of the hundreds of stories and angles, God inspired John to write in these women into the story of the Gospel.

Jesus sees them and the others who have come to comfort them in their time of loss. He know what is about to happen, but he must have been swept away with human emotion as we read the most often quoted, shortest verse in the Bible,

Jesus wept.

The Jews that saw this were divided: some see the love that Jesus had for Lazarus while others are immediately cynical, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus wept for so many reasons, but I think he wept because he felt the pain of their loss. They weren’t pointing fingers at Jesus when they said he wouldn’t have died had Jesus been there, they were lamenting, grieving, reaching out to their friend. This isn’t a time for great lectures and preaching sermons. Jesus have very few words to say as he comforts his friends first of all by being there with them.

What he does next is way over the top, extraordinary, miraculous and dramatic. Before the incredible moment, Jesus prays,

Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.

He walks to the tomb, has the stone rolled away and calls out to Lazarus to “come out!” and the “dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen…”

Fully human, fully God. Both evident in these few verses.

Bible Gateway Links:

John 11:17-44

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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God’s Law Will Remain

These few verses give us great reason to read and understand the Old Testament, the Law that was provided by God (as opposed to that which the Pharisees had created). Jesus defines a point in history that is before and after John the Baptist:

Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in. (NLT)

People are eager to hear the Gospel, they really are! Perhaps we make it too difficult, too complex or maybe we make it too simple, too cheap!! Somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum we need to preach the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do his great work. We don’t have to have all the answers or even pretend to understand all that is before us. What we know is that Jesus came to fulfill all we read about in the Scriptures and we must share that as faithful witnesses.

The Law will not disappear. Adultery is still adultery, yet another reference that points to the sanctity of marriage (that’s a whole different subject). God provided a firm foundation in the old covenant and Jesus builds the church on top of this unmovable force.

 

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 16:16-18

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Jesus accused of serving Beelzebul

“Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined…” Jesus provides strong teaching to those who accuse him of serving the “prince of demons” by explaining the impossibility of such an accusation. This passage includes some significant themes to unpack as Jesus preaches unity wrapped in the context of “those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Today’s passage is another perspective on the accusation that Jesus was acting under the authority of Beelzebul (Satan). The reference in Matthew and Mark point to the Pharisees and teachers of the law (See insight posted here); Luke simply states “some of them said.” This post will focus on the passage in Luke where the name Beelzebul is used 4 of 9 times in the New Testament (NIV).

Luke 11:14-28
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