Weak but Strong

We live in a culture that deplores weakness. “That was a weak effort.” “Don’t show people your weaknesses; only show your strengths!” “Your argument is weak; weren’t you paying attention? Do you really want to fail?” “This coffee is too weak!”

Weakness is something to be avoided. Imagine going on a job interview and giving more weaknesses than strengths to describe your role in the desired position. Think you will still get the job? We don’t delight in weakness. As Saul Bloom, one of my favorite characters in Oceans 11, says, “I don’t do weakness… it costs too much!” Our weakness reveals our need for someone or something more. Our weaknesses reveal that we CAN’T do it by ourselves, that we must have help.

While we don’t value weakness, the apostle Paul saw weakness as a strength: “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” For Paul, weakness allowed God’s strength to shine through. He acknowledged that we can’t do it on our own, but with God we are stronger than we ever could be. So, dear brothers and sisters, let’s attempt to reveal our weaknesses this week, so that Christ can shine through!

Viral Christianity

I am amazed by viral videos. How many of us haven't seen such great YouTube classics as The Nooma-Nooma guy, Double Rainbow, the Bed Intruder Song, and so many others? What makes these videos popular? Why do they gain so much momentum? Are they really that funny or entertaining? (Not always). Are they always unique? (Not really). Are they a good use of our time? (Hardly ever).

So what makes them so popular?

I think it's momentum. The video starts small, a few people see it, nothing major. But then people begin to share it. They use their social media networks to spread the video's appeal. They post it on Facebook, refer to it in twitter, link to it on their blogs. And suddenly it is off. People have to watch things that are shared. They feel they must respond. They might think it is stupid in the end; they might find it a waste of time; they might totally buy in and begin posting it for all of THEIR friends to see... But they rarely ever simply ignore it.

Oh, that Christianity would be the same! In fact, at one time it was. People couldn't help but share the good news of Jesus. They wanted others to know what they knew. It started off small: 12 here, 500 there, 3,000 on Pentecost... But then the movement was off! They couldn't make it stop. It was like the mustard seed: starts off small, but eventually provides shelter for all the animals.

What can we do to make Christianity viral again? What can we do to make it appealing to those around us? How can we make them interested enough to take notice, not just writing us off as stupid or irrelevant?

That is the discussion we will be following for the next four days. Stay tuned, and learn how to become viral!

May Our Love Be Contageous

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love… We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:7-8, 19-21)

John’s commandment to the churches echoes Jesus’ commandment to his disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus combines his commandment of loving your brothers and sisters in Christ with the idea of loving others as well.

Love is the mark of a true disciple. If God is love, and we are letting God reign in our lives, then how is this love overflowing from us into the lives of other people? How are we making a difference in our community? Are we taking care of the poor, the destitute, the disabled, and the broken?

When we are truly loving people, we begin to make a difference in our world. That could be people outside of the church, or people inside of it. Think about it: how many of us have treated someone in our church family poorly? Maybe you spoke behind their back, or argued in anger, or lusted over them, or cursed them... Maybe it is simply excluding others from our group. You aren't like us, so we wouldn't be hurt if you just went away... Oh, we'll never tell you to your face, but we sure won't do anything to make you feel welcome, either.

As Christians, we cannot act like the world. We are called to love and unity because of our faith in Christ Jesus. We must put behind the things of the world (jealousy, backbiting, arrogance, hatred) and focus instead on building one another up in love. I am not sure when we get to heaven if God is going to be concerned as much about our complete doctrinal understanding as much as he is with the answer to this question: "How well did you love your brothers and sisters, and how well did you love and serve the world in my name?"

When we are truly loving people, if we are truly making a difference in the lives of people, then others will begin to take notice. They won't be able to help it. It will be infectious, a viral movement spreading to people all around us.

Much like what we see in this video. It starts out small, but by the time others join in and we are working together in perfect unity and harmony, others begin to want to join in. May our love be infectious, and may we always be "viral" in our world!

Hungry? Why Wait?

“Hungry? Why wait?”

The Snickers ad campaign proclaims to the “hungry” masses of our world that there is no need to hunger and no need to delay our gratification. If you are even remotely hungry, grab a Snickers. You shouldn’t have to deprive yourself.

Sadly, we don’t know what real hunger is. Few, if any, of us ever have to go to bed hungry. We have enough food not only to sustain ourselves but to gorge ourselves. Really, our hunger pains are simply “You know, I haven’t had any food in three hours” pains. Few of us know what it means to truly need food.

The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it this way: “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7). In his time of temptation by the Devil, Jesus hasn’t eaten for forty days. The Devil tempts Jesus to make the stones turn into bread and fulfill his own needs. Jesus answers, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt. 4:4).

Too often we try to fill our own hunger, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, with food that doesn’t satisfy. We often try to fill gaps in our life with stopgaps, something to simply get us through. The hunger always returns, the pain always resurfaces, and the longing is never filled. We need something to fill us up, something more than a spiritual Snickers bar.

As Jesus is talking to his disciples he delivers this message: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35).

Hungry? Why wait? Grab ahold of Jesus, who will fill all your needs.

A Modern Parable

One day Jesus was seated quietly in the marketplace when he is approached by a young marketing executive from a large advertising firm.

The young man struck up a conversation with Jesus: "I've always admired you and your work," the young man told Jesus. He talked about his character, his power, his rants against the religious establishment, his miracles, and his works of social justice. "I've always admired your stance on women's roles in society. I love your work with the poor and the disadvantaged. And that thing you did with the lepers, and the man born blind! That was amazing? How did you do that!?!? I love your teachings, and the way you stick it to the Pharisees! And raising Jairus' daughter, Lazarus, and that widow's son from the dead? Priceless! You do good work!"

"Umm, thank you," Jesus replies hesitantly.

"But," the executive continued, "I think you are missing a golden opportunity to market yourself better! I mean, all this talk about denying yourself and taking up your cross? The world rejecting you? Pain and loss for your followers? All of that talk is bad for business! You know you would get a lot more attention if you would make your message user friendly! Health and wealth, that kind of thing."

"Besides," the young man rushed on, not allowing Jesus time to interject; he was on a roll! "Besides... there's a lot of marketing potential here! Bracelets and books, jewelry and music, programs and seminars... We could make a gold mine on this Christian Living thing. It is its own market! We could market Christianity to the masses! Christianity for the single life, Christianity for better marriages, the Christian way of raising our children. 40 Days to a Better You. your Best Life Right Here Right Now. The Christian Secrets of Business Success... We could even turn around the whole meaning of the cross and make them out of gold, put them on a chain, and make them a sort of status symbol or a brand!"

"Think of it," he continued, "just think of all the possibilities! Church would be like a great mixture of Kiwanis and Country Club! Beautiful buildings on every corner, shining the light of Christian prosperity to a lost and dying world! A place for hurting people to look at and realize just how bad their lives are! Maybe by seeing our beautiful churches they will turn back to God and leave their lives of sin. Think about it... Church will be a great place for people to try out their A game. It will be a place where they act better than they do throughout the week! It is calling them to a higher standard of life and living. While you are here, you WILL blend in! Our pastors and ministers will be put on pedestals and held up as role models, even if they are a little broken or rough around the edges in private."

"Jesus, just think about the possibilities! Think about the power and prestige that will go with being a Christian! We can use our faith to punish those who disagree. We can pour billions into political interest groups and parachurch political organizations. We can start our own radio stations, For Us and By Us, and create our own TV networks. We can make our own films and movies, create our own little subculture. Think of all of the possibilities! Just imagine what could happen with a little marketing savvy and initiative!"

"So, let's make this Christianity thing a little easier to follow. Can we boil it down into a pithy saying or some trite comment people can remember? Can we make church and ministry about us so that it will attract more people? I think we are sitting on a gold mine here, Jesus. What do you think?"

So, what do you think Jesus would say? What Would Jesus Do? (Yes, all puns intended!)

Maybe Jesus would answer...
"One thing you lack. Go and sell all you own, all you treasure, give away your heart's greatest desire, and then come and follow me."

OR, "Seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness..."

OR, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

OR, "How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Or maybe just, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!"

What is the heart of the Gospel? Is it health and wealth? Is it success? Is it corporate driven Christianity? Is it about making money with catchy gimmicks, having the biggest church, or the prettiest building? Is it about programs and ministries, youth groups and coffee shops, marriage seminars and Christian movies?

A wise minister once told me, "Whatever you win them with you win them to..." I think it is true. Over time, as Christianity become more polished and marketed, we began to ignore some of Jesus' teachings. Oh, we like the stuff about heaven, but we often ignore things like "Blessed are the poor... Woe to those who are rich..." We live in favor of Jesus' miracles, but ignore Jesus' calling to true discipleship and cross-bearing. It leads non-Christians to despise marketed Christianity, and called Ghandi to say, "I like Christ, but I don't like Christians! I would be a Christian, if it weren't for Christians..."

What kind of Christianity are you bought into? Does it change who you are, or just gloss over your rough edges? Do you look good on the outside with all of the t-shirts buttons and jewelry but are dead or dying inside, or are you truly being transformed? Christianity is not about gimmicks, programs, or marketing initiatives, building programs or church growth.

Instead, Christianity is about following Christ, God in the flesh, who died for you but had the audacity to not stay dead! It is death, burial, and resurrection, and our following Christ in death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.

Christianity is meant for more than cheap tricks and failed gimmicks. Let us never take the easy road of corporate marketing. Instead, let's take up our crosses and begin to follow him, wherever he leads.

Honest discussion on science and religion for 100, Alex.

The gulf between the religious and non-religious is growing. Don't believe me? Listen to the name-calling and angry ranting that BOTH sides do when they get the chance.

"Religious people are nothing more than closed-, small-minded idiots who aren't smart enough to know their head from their..."

"Evolutionists are too stupid to see the glory of God in the world around them! They have their noses turned up so high they miss the obvious!"

And on and on and on the discussion goes. We rarely stop to listen to one another.

I recently was reading a blog about this topic, and this was my response to the discussion that was ongoing. (I will list it below.) The discussion does what discussions on science/religion normally do: They bog down in semantics, argue that they are right, and never actually say anything to prove or disprove their points. They simply argue about the idiocy of the other side.

How do we discuss topics of science, sociology, and religion openly and honestly without getting our feelings hurt or hurting the feelings of another? Can we do that? How can we have honest discussion with those we don't agree with?

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From what I have read today in this post, we have the same problem that Scot was alluding to: we aren't listening to one another. The discussion going back and forth has gotten bogged down in semantics, which is what usually happens.

Hrafn, the honest religious person would make the statement, "I don't have it all figured out, because God is so much greater and more mysterious than I can imagine." (Yes, that is religious from Judeo-Christian perspective, but it is my heritage and worldview so bear with me.) Honest religious people (can I just say Christians) have a fundamental belief in the God who is. Some argue for literal 6-day creationism; others leave room for creative evolution or see God's hand in the evolutionary process. The honest Christian is always seeking and searching for Truth, for the unexamined faith is not worth having.

The honest scientist would also make the statement, "I don't have it all figured out" also. Scientific certainty exists until someone comes along and dismantles it with the latest theory to explain how things work. Scientists are always looking for new ways to understand what they see; the honest scientist will tell you they are still growing and searching.

Can science and faith coexist? Absolutely yes. Is it always easy? Absolutely not. Are we sometimes at odds? Sure.

The most important thing we can do is first LISTEN to one another openly. Too often we listen to the other's point of view while simply building up our arguments in our mind, so we never actually actively hear what the other person is saying. We simply argue out our points: "Evolution is fact!" "NO! Evolution is theory!" Yet we never actually say much of anything worthwhile. We don't even defend our positions well, we just dig deeper trenches. (Don't worry, we do the same thing in politics, too.)

Sorry if I rambled, but I just wish we could have deeper discussions on the differences and similarities between science and religion, looking to where we can coexist and peacefully deciding where we might agree to disagree. Will it ever be 100% harmonious? No, but I think it could be a lot better.

The Anti-Religious Jesus

“But don’t worry… I’m not religious.”

Those words characterize a number of the conversations I have had with KU students over the past two years. So many people on campus are afraid of being religious. Indeed, it has become something of a taboo. “Thou shalt not be religious!” seems to be the mantra of many young people I meet. I recently passed by a car with the bumper sticker: “The Religious Right is Neither.” People think being religious is a bad thing.

Is it? Is being religious necessarily bad? Well, the answer seems to be both yes and no. “Religion” teaches us what God requires of us; it calls us to live by a certain standard and a moral code. It calls us to the recognition of something greater than ourselves.

Yet Jesus called us to more than just religion. In fact, Jesus did not get along well with religious people! (Or at least those who thought of themselves as attaining their own salvation through their works.) In Matthew 23, Jesus confronts the VERY religious Pharisees on their own self-righteousness. He lovingly refers to them as “snakes” and “broods of vipers.” “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are” (Mt. 23:15).

Jesus calls his disciples to a higher calling than just being religious. Religion is about what we do to attain salvation. Christianity is about the God who has already provided salvation for those of us who believe and obey. Jesus doesn’t call us to be religious; he calls us to be a part of The Way. Christianity isn’t just a religion; it is a way of life that calls us beyond rules and regulations and closer to the heart of God.

So go out and don’t be religious. Instead, live by The Way of God, loving people and showing them through your lives the God who loves them too.

The Flag and the Cross

Last night I was watching ABC News with Charlie Gibson. They were interviewing a soldier in who had known Major Hassan in the Army and worked with him in the past.

In his interview, the soldier said something that rubbed me the wrong way. "I always had a problem with him. He always said he was a Muslim first and an American second. But I didn't think that was right. If you took an oath to defend your country and the Constitution, that should come first. Anything else is simply wrong."

In our nation, where radical faith of any kind is looked down on or questioned, it seems like his statements make sense. He wants to attack radical Islam and make sure that it cannot rear its ugly head again.

But here is my problem. I have always considered myself a Christian first and an American second. My allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, and always will be so. I have no problem with patriotism and loving one's country, and even dying for one's country in order to defend rights and freedoms. But as a Christian, regardless of how much I love my country, I simply cannot drink all of its Kool-Aid.

As a Christian I cannot just ignore some of the legal things that I think are unethical. I must always view my political leanings as an outlet of my faith. Now, this says nothing about being a Democrat or a Republican. Both are fine places to sit, and neither is a Christian position. Rather, I approach every issue in life in light of my faith. My belief in God MUST color my thoughts about abortion, capital punishment, unjust war, taxes, health care, etc. As Paul tells me "'Everything is permissible,' but not everything is beneficial..."

I am a Christian first and an American second. It simply isn't going to change, regardless of what the government or the military tells me. My allegiance to the flag does not trump my allegiance to the cross; when one stands in stark contrast to the other, I must take notice.

Does this make sense? What are your thoughts?

The Kingdom of God

Last night I had a discussion with my FriendSpeak reader on the Kingdom of God. For those of you who don't know, FriendSpeak uses the story of Luke in English to both teach people how to speak Ebglish better and to introduce them to the Bible. My FriendSpeak reader is a visiting professor from Korea doing post-doctoral work at the University of Kansas. His English skills are amazing, and I am awed by his love for God. He loves pursuing new knowledge.

Yesterday's conversation lasted 35+ minutes as we discussed the coming of the Kingdom of God. He wanted to know what the Bible said about the Kingdom. Here is what I wrote this morning. I would love your insight. What did I say right? Did I get any of it wrong? Please, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

__________

The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is an enigma. Throughout the New Testament we are told various things about the Kingdom. It seems to be both a present reality and a future orientation. The Kingdom of God is better translated as “the reign of God,” where God’s rule is established.[1] This takes place in the present, in our own lives, as we seek to follow the way of Jesus Christ and live by his example and his teaching. As we become more like Christ, the reign of God becomes better established in our own lives. This is also a future reality: God’s reign will not ultimately triumph until the end of time, “when every knee will bow on earth and under the earth, and ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

Theologian Stanley Grenz puts it this way. “The kingdom of God is that order of perfect peace, righteousness, justice, and love that God gives to the world. This gift is eschatological (“at the end of time”), for it comes in an ultimate way only at the renewal of the world consummated at Jesus’ return. But the power of the kingdom is already at work, for it breaks into the present from the future. Therefore, we experience the kingdom in a partial yet vital manner en route to the great future day.”[2] In essence, the coming of the Kingdom of God creates a new way of life for us today. Because our lives are ruled by our belief in Jesus Christ, we begin to influence and change the world because of our faith. We put the Great Commission into action: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28). Our hope is to help others becomes citizens in the Kingdom of God.

In Mark 1, Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15).[3] This takes place after the temptation of Jesus in the desert.

Luke, however, goes a slightly different direction. Luke makes Jesus’ first discussion about Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:18-21). Lulke seems to equate the Kingdom of God with people’s physical and spiritual lives being healed. When God reigns, things are made right and people are made whole.

Jesus has a bunch of different parables about the Kingdom of God:

1. The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-, Matt. 13:1-15; Luke 8:4-10): The Kingdom of God grows as a man sows the “seed” (the Gospel).

2. The Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)

3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-34; Mt. 13; Luke 13): The Kingdom is like a mustard seed; it starts out small, then grows big.

4. The Parable of the Yeast (Luke 13:20-21)

5. The Parable of the Priceless Pearl and the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46): The Kingdom is worth everything you own; you must be willing to part with everything in order to receive the kingdom.

6. The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-52): The Kingdom of Heaven will gather everyone together, and then will weed through the good fish and the bad fish. Jesus tells us that the final fulfillment of the Kingdom will come at the end of time, when the Son of Man returns.

There seems to be both a present aspect of the Kingdom and a future aspect of the Kingdom:

Luke 17:20 – “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.”

- The Kingdom of God is tied to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 gives us a clear example. The Holy Spirit is our seal, our marker that guarantees us a place in the final Kingdom (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30)

- This begins on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and continues on through believers today.

We are also told that the Kingdom of God has already been brought about:

Luke 9:27 – “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 21:31-32 – “Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

In summary, the Kingdom has both a present and a future orientation. God’s rule exists in our lives because we have given our lives over to him. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us and guides/counsels us on how to live. By teaching others about God and Christ, we help spread the Kingdom in the world, because others will accept him and receive the Spirit as well. However, the Kingdom will not become a full reality until Jesus returns and the world sees the glory of God.

I hope this helps. I have enjoyed writing it for you. I would love to discuss it with you more!

In Christ,
Daniel

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[1] This seems to be the best use of the Greek term basileia (βασιλεια).

[2] Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, Eerdmans: 1994, p. 22.

[3] Matthew makes a similar statement from Jesus in Matthew 4:17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. Matthew equates heaven to the place where God rules as sovereign.

Weak and Strong

Last week I taught a class about the weak and the strong from Romans 14-15.

In Romans 14, Paul is talking about the difference between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. This has really been the backdrop of the entire book. The Jewish Christians had formed the foundation of the Romans church throughout its history. We find Jews from Rome present on the day of Pentecost, cluing us in that maybe God used them to originally found the church. (Sorry to all of the Catholics who think Peter did it; you are wrong.)

In 49 AD, however, the Roman Emperor Claudius expelled all of the Jews from Rome. Seutonius tells us that there were fights concerning the teachings of "Chrestus," which caused such an uproar that the Emperor just decided to sack them all. [“He expelled all of the Jews from Rome over the instigation of Chrestus…” (Claudius 25.4)] This edict applied to both Jews and Jewish Christians; there was no difference at the time. Acts tells us that Priscilla and Aquila came to Corinth because they had been kicked out of Rome (Acts 18). When Claudius dies in 54 AD, his edict is null and void. Thus, the Jews begin to return home. But when they returned to church they found it vastly different than how they had left it. Gentiles had moved into positions of power. They were not celebrating the Passover, adhering to the Sabbath, or doing any of the other Jewish practices that had been a part of the Roman church before.

The Jewish Christians are at odds with the Gentile Christians over what is necessary. They feel that certain days should be considered holy. They refuse to eat food that has been sacrificed to idols (really the only butcher shops in the city of Rome were attached to the temples). Thus, the Agape feasts were broken, hollow affairs in which the two groups did not associate. It was into this Sitz im Lieben that Paul writes about the "Weak" and the "Strong."

The Jewish Christians were decidedly Jewish: they still kept the Sabbath; they celebrated Jewish feast days; they kept the kosher laws; they circumcised their children. The Gentile Christians were decidedly Gentile: they did NOT keep the Jewish laws; they did not worry about circumcision; they ate whatever they wanted. Both groups thought that they were the stronger Christians.

Here is what Paul tells us: "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

Paul argues that the Jewish Christians are the "weaker" group. Paul, the "Jew of Jews, the Pharisee of Pharisees," argues that the Gentile Christians are the stronger. Yet he also says this:
"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Although they were the "Stronger" Christians, they were supposed to do whatever was necessary for those whose faith was "weaker." That is what it means to be a "Strong" Christian!

Who are the stronger Christians among us? The truth is, we all believe that we are the stronger Christians. Each of us believes that we are right. Our way of doing things is best, our traditions are the correct ones, our church is THE CHURCH and all of the others are wrong. It's what we believe!

So what does this mean for us today? What are your thoughts?

Anticipation

As a young child, my life was full of anticipation. I couldn’t wait for Christmas to come or for my birthday to roll around. I remember being eager to see my dad at the end of the day when he came home from work. I remember I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could have a job, drive, and do anything I wanted to do. Everything seemed like a new adventure, and every day had something to look forward to. I lived my life anticipating what lay in the future.

Many of us anticipate things in our lives today. We cannot wait for summer to come. We cannot wait to graduate college. We can’t wait to start our new career, buy a new house, or drive a new car. I know that I cannot wait to get married this summer. Our lives are full of anticipation. We are eagerly awaiting the day when we will achieve all that we have wanted to achieve.

How many of us feel that way about heaven? Can you eagerly wait to get there? Is it something you look forward to with anticipation?

I have heard that as you get older you begin to anticipate heaven more. Life is like a vacation: as it begins you love every minute of it, but as it goes on you can’t wait to get back home. So don’t feel bad if you don’t anticipate heaven right now. But we do need to be ready for when it comes. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five of them, however, did not anticipate his coming and forgot to bring oil. They are eventually left out of the party. We must anticipate that God could return any moment, and live our lives in such a way that we are eagerly awaiting his coming.

I look forward to the day when heaven becomes a reality because of John’s vision in Revelation:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

What an amazing thought! Let’s live in anticipation for the day that God will make all things new.

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

We follow a Savior who died but wouldn’t stay dead!

Have you ever thought about how amazing the resurrection is? It is shocking, crazy, and hard to believe. But it is true! Think about how Jesus’ followers felt. They watched him die, they buried him in the tomb, and when they went to take care of his body it was GONE! Mark tells us the women ran away scared! Matthew describes the scene:
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
Those who experienced the resurrection were frightened, amazed, struck with awe, dumbfounded, scared witless, worshipful… Actually, all of the above all at once! But I think we have grown so used to the story that it has stopped truly shocking us.

I have had the opportunity to see people hear the Gospel message for the first time. I was teaching in Papua New Guinea and told the basic Gospel story: God sent his Son, Jesus, to teach us how to live to honor God, but people didn’t like his message so they had him killed. I watched the sadness in the crowd as we talked about the death of Jesus and his burial. I needed to stop to get a drink of water when one of the listeners spoke up: “NO! That can’t be the end! I know you didn’t come all this way to tell us a story about how a man died.” So I was able to tell them the REST of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say.) As I told them about the resurrection they began to smile and clap, and two or three started crying out of joy. The entire group was moved by the story of the resurrection.

It is powerful. It is amazing. It is ridiculous. It is the hinge of history. It is an act of God. Think about it: We follow a Savior who died but wouldn’t stay dead! That is the message of hope that the world needs to hear. And that is the wonderful event that we are celebrating today.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Ambassadors for Christ

In all of the foreign countries I have lived or worked in, I have always loved getting to learn new things, eat new foods, and experience new traditions and cultures. But, let’s face it: when you are on your own and away from home, sometimes you simply get homesick. You long for the taste of a real American hamburger or to hear someone speaking English properly. I still remember the day I was feeling very homesick (and slightly lost) in Berlin, Germany, when I came across the American embassy. It was great to see the Stars and Stripes flying overhead, to see American Marines, and to know that that there was a little beacon of hope for me in a big, confusing place. It offers us a little piece of comfort and home.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul calls each of us an “ambassador for Christ.” He reminds us that our goal is to offer comfort, safety, and witness for Christ all around the world.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us…”

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to spread God’s agenda and initiative throughout the world. We are called to be his presence, his shelter in the storms of life. We stand as a beacon of hope and home for those who feel lost in the world.

Why are we Christ’s ambassadors? Well, if Christ has changed our lives and made us new creations, then we should want the same for other people. Our mission is to share the saving grace that we have received through Jesus to everyone we meet. Our job is to make God’s appeal to their hearts, to draw all men to himself. What an amazing task we have been given!

So, Ambassadors, get out there and make a difference! God would have us do no less...

Faith and Doubt

Can we have doubt and still have faith? The question has plagued many a good Christian for years. If I have doubts, do I still have faith? Does God understand and still love me even when I wonder about his existence, his goodness, his mercy?

In essence, is it ok to doubt?

One of the people I admire most is Mother Teresa. She spent her lifetime caring for the sick, destitute, and distraught in the slums of Calcutta, India. We admire her for her beautiful faith and her adherence to Christ. Yet here's what's amazing: Mother Teresa lived in a sea of doubt.

She penned these words to Christ at the request of her confessor:

Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love — and now become as the most hated one — the one — You have thrown away as unwanted — unloved. I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone ... Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony.
So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them — because of the blasphemy — If there be God — please forgive me — When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. — I am told God loves me — and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart.

Imagine how she must have felt. She was surrounded by abject poverty and debilitating disease. She lived in the midst of incredible pain. As she viewed the world, she was forced to wonder if God existed. Yet she never wavered, never gave up hope. She lived out Paul's admonition: hardpressed but not crushed, beat down but not in despair...

Can we have doubt and still be a Christian? Absolutely!

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Mark 9. In Mark 9 a man brings his demon possessed son to the disciples. He is at the end of his rope; his son has been this way since he was born. He has no hope because nothing else has ever worked. And even Jesus' disciples can't drive out the demon.

The father comes to Jesus as his last hope. Maybe, just maybe, he will be able to do something. He asks if Jesus can, will he heal his son. Jesus replies, "If you can? Everything is possible to he who believes!"

The father's reply is my favorite: "I do believe! But help me in my unbelief." How amazing is his response?!? The father feels exactly as many of us feel. We believe, we have faith, we know God is God. Yet we still have these nagging doubts, these back-of-the-mind fears. We aren't quite sure we believe like we say we believe.

Can I tell you a secret? THAT'S OK! Pray the father's prayer: "I do believe, but help me in my unbelief." As we wrestle with our doubts and fears, we come to realize that doubt is part of the process of faith. As theologian Paul Tillich tells us, " Doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith."

The greatest heroes of faith lived with doubt. God called Abraham at age 75 and told him he would give him a son; however, Isaac didn't arrive on the scene until Abraham was 100. You can't tell me that Abraham didn't doubt. Read the story with doubt in mind: Abraham is always trying to fulfill God's promise in his own way. He makes Lot his heir, then his manservant, then has a child with Hagar... Abraham might have had faith in God, but he surely had doubt as well.

Faith isn’t about simply accepting things because it is what is expected of you or because it is what you have always been told. Faith isn’t blind acceptance; however, it does involve a level of blindness because we cannot see the One we have faith in. Instead, faith is about a daily wrestling with the facts of life and the Truth of God.

What are your thoughts?

Bearing Fruit...

One of my mentors in college asked me a very difficult question one time: “If you stopped living for Christ today, would anyone know the difference?”

How do people know we are Christians? Can they tell? As we live our daily lives, living among our friends, our co-workers, our fellow students, can they tell that there is something different about us? How do people know we are Christians?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples how to live their lives. Jesus’ request is that they live in such a way that they bear good fruit.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-19)

Our fruit is what identifies us. The actions people see, the words that we speak, the things that we stand for… this is the fruit that people see. We are called to be fruit bearers in our daily lives. But what fruit are we supposed to bear? If we are recognized by our fruit, then what are we supposed to bear out in our lives? I think Paul gives us a glimpse in Galatians 5, when he discusses the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… These are the qualities that we are called to display in our own lives. By this fruit we will be recognized.

How would our world be different if each of us determined that we would try to live out the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives? But, let’s be honest: we can’t force ourselves to bear fruit. We can’t grit our teeth, bear down, and force ourselves to display this spiritual fruit. Notice Paul’s statement: the fruit of the Spirit. This is the fruit that the Holy Spirit brings into our life. We can no more gain Godly patience on our own than we can make an apple sprout from our head. Rather, the Spirit is what brings the fruit. We are simply called to draw closer to God. If we draw closer to God in our hearts through prayer, worship, reading, etc, then this fruit will naturally begin to appear in our lives as well.

As Jesus reminds us, by the fruit the tree will be known. May we always bear good fruit in our lives in order to bless the lives of others. And when YOU are asked, “If you stopped living for Christ today, would anyone know the difference?”, may those around you be able to say, “Yes!”

Don't Worry? Man, I am anxious about that!!!

What do you worry about?

Let’s face it, we all worry. We worry about the future, we worry about the present, and we worry about the past. We worry about finances and not having enough. We worry about our health and the health of our loved ones. We worry about what people think about us. We watch the news and worry about the things that we hear, or we pick up the newspaper and worry about the headlines.

We are a worried people. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety disorders are the leading mental health diagnosis in America. An estimated 40 million people live with anxiety problems. But the truth is, 100% of us worry about something.

As Jesus is speaking to his followers on a mountainside, he spends a significant portion of his time talking about worry: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…” (Matthew 6:25) Jesus tells his disciples to stop worrying about the things of this world: food, clothes, possessions. Jesus wants his disciples to put their anxieties aside in order to live a happier, more productive, more God-filled life.

But let’s be honest: this seems almost IMPOSSIBLE for us. After we got done discussing this passage at Refresh the other night, one of my students told me that she had already broken her resolution and had begun to worry about school. How can we follow Jesus’ teachings? How can we move beyond our anxious thoughts?

I think Jesus gives us the secret in the passages that come before this. Jesus begins his discussion of worry with the word “Therefore.” Thus, we have to figure out what it is there for. Jesus’ immediate words talk about not being able to serve two masters; serve God only (Mt 6:24). Jesus discusses storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Mt. 6:19-21). Jesus tells his disciples to fast; he calls them to intentionally abstain from the things of the world (mt. 6:16). These three admonitions teach us that God is more important than the things of this world.

But I think the real secret comes in the passage right before. Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done… Give us this day our daily bread…” (Mt. 6:9-11, emphasis mine). Did you catch the secret? Did you hear how we can begin to overcome our worries? It doesn’t just start with prayer; it starts with how we pray! We must pray that God’s will may overcome our own, that we will seek his kingdom. And we are called to pray for our daily bread; it doesn’t talk about storing up bread for the future, but simply worrying about today, for “each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I pray that each of us may learn how to trust God with our future, because he knows (and provides for) all of our needs.

Christianity and the Internet

How can churches interact with our culture? The Southern Hills Church of Christ has decided to start producing YouTube videos to reach a mass audience. What are your thoughts? Is this an effective way to reach the world?





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Singlehood and the Body

I want to continue our conversation on how we create community and cause our church to function as the people of Christ.

One of the questions that Duin brings up in her book (Quitting Church) is the question of relevance. She argues that many of the buster/Gen Y generations see church as simply irrelevant to their lives. One of the stats that she discusses is the place of Singles within Christianity.

As many of you know this is a big topic for me. Having worked with Singles' ministry in the past (and having been a single minister) I am conscious of the problem: singles simply have very little place in the church. We argue that they DO have a place and a function, but let's be honest: how many sermons do you hear on the joys of singleness? How many of our sermons are devoted to having a great marriage, a great home, being great parents? These are some of the things that singles do not experience. They are told that singleness is a gift from God, but they also get the subtle hint that no one else really wants this gift. If singleness is a gift, they are wondering where they can exchange it!

The problems are infinite: They are struggling with feelings of loneliness, lack of intimacy, sexual desires, and they feel like the church is the LAST place they can turn. Many of them want to be married, yet they aren't quite sure where to go to meet people. It doesn't seem to be at church. They want to connect with God and with others, but most feel like second-class citizens.

No one wants to talk about Paul's dedication to singleness from Corinthians, or the fact that Jesus himself was single. We dedicate so few resources to this age group, yet they are a significant percentage of our society and our churches. Households with only one person (or single-parent households) are the largest percentage in America: 50.2% of America's population is in this category. Yet how much of our emphasis in church is directed to this age group? It's no wonder that singles are the largest percentage of people missing from church. (That 18-25 category.)

How do we go about giving singles a place in our communities of faith? How can we conscientiously provide a place for singles that is nurturing and caring? How can we be the Family that God has called us to be? What are your thoughts?

Creating Community

Thanks for your comments on community in church. I am going to be posting more about Christ, culture, community, and church over the next few weeks. But here is some food for thought...

One of the ways that we can add community back into our corporate worship is to restore the Lord's Supper to its rightful place. The Lord's Supper was used as a communal meal by the early church.
- Acts 2: 42, 46-47: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

- Acts 20:7: "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread..."

I think the most telling argument is found in 1 Cor. 11:17-34. We find Paul telling the Christians in Corinth to wait for one another before they eat their meal and take the Lord's Supper together. For Paul, the community aspect of the Supper was the most important. It was a time for ALL of the believers to gather together to eat, fellowship, and rejoice in their Savior.

I think the Lord's Supper holds a key ingredient for our need for community. It is a ready made time for our community with one another and with God. As Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper he did so in the setting of a meal (the Passover) surrounded by his friends. "Do this in remembrance of me..." The dicsiples' carried on this meal tradition throughout their history. However, we have often now made it a time of silent reflection, a time when people are to sit still as a stone and think about their sins and their Savior. OR we completely sing over the whole time period, barely taking time to reflect on the importance of what we are doing. We rarely speak to anyone else during the Lord's Supper (except to say "Here" or MAYBE to say thank you as the tray is passed.)

What if, instead, we spent some time focused on the communal aspect of what we are doing. We, the Body of Christ, are partaking of the body of Christ. How can we do this in a way that both glorifies God AND creates a sense of community among our brothers/sisters?

This application is not foreign to the Restoration Movement. In an article written by Alexander Campbell, he describes the perfect worship service: it involved singing, praying, and standing around a table and having a communal meal as people talked together. They would discuss what God had done for them, their faith, their understanding, etc. For Campbell, worship was a gathering of the community to worship God and to edify one another.

What are your thoughts? Can this work? Have you ever seen this done? What are some ideas you have?

A Church Like Cheers

I have been pretty discouraged today. I think it has something to do with the last book I am reading for my Book Review for the Christian Chronicle (due to be published in March.) I am working through the book Quiting Church, written by Julia Duin, the religion editor for the Washington Post, and I am becoming discouraged with the state of the church in America.

Although the Barna Group estimates that church attendance has remained the same for over 40 years (around 43% of the population), recent polls have shown that this number is grossly inflated. Realistically only 18-22% attend church regularly (with regularly being defined as once a month!) Statistics also show that only 4% of today's teenagers will be involved in a Bible-based church
by the time they have their own families. The vast majority of people are simply dropping out of church for various reasons: scandals in church leadership, lack of authenticity, lack of leadership/pastoring, etc. Many former church attendees simply see worship and "church" as irrelevant to their daily lives. It doesn't touch on the issues that affect us the most: emotional issues, sexuality, social justice, etc.

One of the issues that is most common is the lack of community within churches today. Intriguingly, there are stats that point to us creating our own problems. There are over 331,000 churches in America. However, 80% of the American church population attend 10% of those churches (33,000). The mega-church is in mega-boom. (At least, theoretically.) Thus, most churches are small but most people attend large churches. They want to be a part of a place where there are dozens of ministries available for every age group, social demographic, and personal preference. They want to lose themselves in the crowd to feel uplifted. Yet the very thing they crave often is the most damaging: they trade in authentic community to be surrounded by a community. They want to feel cared for, and they long to be an integral part of a community of believers, yet we often do nothing about it except quietly walk out the back door, forsaking church altogether.

What is the solution? What is the best way to go about bringing these Christians back into a community with one another?

An obvious choice is planting churches. New churches grow faster than older churches. It is simply the life cycle of the church, and this isn't a negative thing. Church planting isn't a disparaging of the established church. Think of it this way: whatever church you attend was once a church plant. Someone had in mind to reach a new group with the Gospel. (Unless you are a part of a church split, then the divisions get tougher!) Yet if we plant churches that look exactly like EVERY OTHER CHURCH then I think we have missed the point. We need to be a place where authentic community takes place. And as our unchurched population is telling us, that obviously doesn't seem to be happening in the vast majority of churches in America. So how can we reach this unchurched population? How can we encourage them to become a part of an authentic community with God? How can we help them not forsake the community of believers?

I believe we need to approach this problem with missional eyes. People are struggling to understand God in the midst of their situation. They long to feel connected with God, and they need the encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ to spur them on. They need AUTHENTIC community. Essentially, we need a church like Cheers!

Many of you remember this early '80's sitcom. I love the theme song that introduced the show:
"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go...
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name."

Now, granted, I am not advocating changing the Lord's Supper from crackers/juice into beer/peanuts. But we need to be realistic: there is more authentic community at the local bar than in our church gatherings. We need a church where people are always glad you came and everybody wants to know your name.

How do we go about doing that? How can we create authentic community? I think it is the most important question that we, in our endeavors, can attempt to answer. So, what are your thoughts? Mine will be coming soon.