The Ministry is the title of a new show coming to a TV near you about a near-megachurch. Written by Joel Kilpatrick, the creator of Lark News, the evangelical version of The Onion. Check out more about it here. I wonder if it will be as good as I think it can be. I'm hoping it grabs on audience so we can see his ideas unfold.
I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
Exodus 23:29-30
Ever grow impatient with God's process of growing you or releasing you to live and serve as you have always dreamed? I know I have.
I found encouragement from the above verse that God is faithful to release us into what we have grown ready for. If he were to completely swing open the door our character, habits, and expectations would simply lead to disappointment and attack. Jesus talks about this in regards to the Enemy and how he works:
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.
Matthew 12:43-45
In other words, if we are freed from what has ailed us, but we do not enter ino life with God (the Kingdom) there will simply be emptiness and desolation which leaves us open for even more attack. This will leave us worse off than when we began.
Now I see Jesus leading us in victory little by little. He is growing us. Reshaping us. Transforming us. And then, when we have the character to rely on His power, we find we have travelled farther than it seems, and more and more of the life we've always wanted is ours. So it seems Jesus admonition to be faithful with little has even wider scope than simply that of service, but also in the renovation of our hearts and relationships.
While reflecting on the Exodus passage these were the questions I felt I should ask myself:
What am I waiting for God to do in my life, relationships, and ministry?
In what ways am I not ready for those things to actually happen tomorrow?
What are some of the battles I face between now and what I am waiting for?
How may these battles shape me and my dependence on God?
What am I facing this week that I need God’s help with?
Interesting to hear a "news" perspective on some of the possible changes to how Americans do church:
"There are also questions about the extent to which the emerging church conversation will push out beyond a white-middle-class movement to become truly diverse and global. And whether it will have a lasting spiritual impact." Zing!
I am getting back into reading books again. I just received a shipment of new books and John Stott's The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor is a breath of fresh air.
Stott, I think, lays out a basis for common ground moving forward as a Church in an ever-changing post-Christian culture. The respect for the institutional Church, and the heart for the authentic Church would be hard for anyone to argue with.
While Stott dives into reflections on the elements in any church (Worship, Evangelism, Ministry, Fellowship, Preaching, Giving, and Impact) that will certainly be challenging to many, I loved his picture of "God's Vision for His Church." He argues that the characteristics that are essential for a living church are:
A Learning Church: a church submissive to the teachings of the apostles (Scripture)...relating to the apostles.
A Caring Church: a church characterized by generosity...relating to each other.
A Worshiping Church: a church that rejoices and reveres God both in private and corporately...relating to God.
An Evangelizing Church: a church with compassionate outreach (led by Jesus, spreading salvation, and part of every day life)...relating to the world.
Stott also invested time affirming the strengths of the "emerging" church, as he sees them:
1. Identifying the life (or way) of Jesus as their example and teaching.
2. Transforming secular space by rejecting the sacred-secular divide promoted by modernism.
3. Living as community as kingdom or family community.
I commend this book to those of you who are passionate about Christ's Bride, the Church.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:26-27
For awhile I have gone back and forth with some people about whether or not God really likes religion (Toph is of course one of them). I always came back to this verse as an argument against the modern definition of religion: "A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs." (ref) I argued, vehemently at times, that God is not concerned with a set of beliefs, ritual observances, or even moral code (though clearly these are derived from a fear of God and a humble and contrite heart, Psalm 51:16-17).
I am not stepping back from this position too much, but I clearly made a mistake. I did not take into consideration what "religion" meant in the Greek 2000 years ago.
"1) fearing or worshipping God; 2) to tremble; trembling, fearful." (ref) Of course the ancients knew that "religion" was more than some set of governing beliefs or ritualistic behavior. It was, at its heart, a definition for your attitude toward and relationship with God. Is your attitude one of awe, respect, and honor towards God? Then your are religious.
James exposes that this attitude towards God will be reflected in your speech, in your actions, and in your character. A tongue that builds others up actions that join the oppressed, and a heart that remains pure in the midst of evil and brokenness are all evidence of a true heart of religion.
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This does not have only theoretical implications for me. As I began my new job, Family Pastor, I had a lot of ideas about how I would be spending my time. One thing that has consumed more time than I anticipated is a local Kids Club. The leaders from last year backed off, volunteers have left for different reasons, and the few that remain seem uncertain of whether or not God is calling us to this ministry. Personally, I was not planning on leading or facilitating an after school program for kids when I signed on . . .
However, I come across these verses in James, and wonder about my heart towards God and whether it is reflected in my desire to join the fatherless and be a part of their lives. I also remembered reading from Hebrews 11:25-27 . . .
(Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
I am not saying I would be mistreated serving in Kids Club. I just connect my discomfort with it and realize this discomfort, compared to the suffering of Jewish slaves, is nothing. Moses, by faith, entered into a difficult situation because of his encounter with God. His new found respect, honor, and awe for God led him to uncomfortable places. Even before Christ was physically on the scene, it was for his sake that Moses let go of the fleeting comforts, rewards, and pleasures of Egypt.
John Piper challenged an audience about whether or not they would choose suffering for the sake of Christ and as a blessing to others. His example: if you and a brother were adopting children and two became available. Would you choose the one with significant challenges over the completely healthy one to bless your brother and choose to enter into the suffering of this child for the sake of Christ?
So, will I choose to facilitate and serve at Kids Club simply as a blessing to other brothers and sisters in Christ as well as for the sake of Christ in the lives of those kids? I am wanting to say yes. And am beginning to move out in faith. Realizing I do not have enough faith, my prayer is:
"God, help my unbelief."
I have stumbled across a great online resource for those of you into apologetics (www.leestrobel.com) and those looking to grow their relationship with God and ministry (www.johnortberg.com). While I am usually completely against those who have www.ME.com as their website, who can argue with the vault of free video resources on these sites. I particularly commend all the videos by William Lane Craig (pictured above) on Lee's site. Dr. Craig is a research professor for Talbot Theological Seminary (the graduate school of my alma mater and his work has been so helpful to me in explaining some of the "reasons" I believe.
To say goodbye is to reap
the harvest of relationship.
To reap some sweet fruit
and even bitter grief.
To say goodbye is to leave
the family that you love.
To leave behind those who
have known you every thought.
To say goodbye is to weep
for the moments lived and lost.
To weep for what once was
and may never be again.
To say goodbye is to hope
the loved ones you leave will fly.
To hope that now they are
in better hands than yours.
To say goodbye is to laugh
for those memories bad and good.
To laugh holding each other
for the moment cannot end.
To say goodbye is to pray
that God’s will is done.
To pray that as each day passes
love is spread.
To say goodbye is to wish
for more of what has past.
To wish that heaven will
be where we meet again.
Goodbye my friends.
