The Gospel (New Definitions pt. 2)

We've recently been discussing the need to better define words that we use without much thought within Christian sub-culture. In a recent post we asked the simple question: "What is Evangelism?" many would respond by saying that it is the proclamation of the Gospel..."the Good News".

While I would agree with this statement, it begs yet another question: What do we mean when we say: "Gospel"?

Is the Gospel reflected accurately enough when we say: "Jesus died on the cross for my sins so that I could be made right with God and go to Heaven when I die"?

What elements do we need to consider when trying to define what the Gospel is? How has our western culture influenced the way we view and understand the Gospel?

The Cost of Change

Although change is necessary component of the human existence it, most often, is not easy. Change means a departure from that which we "know" in an effort to discover that which we have no concrete experience of. Many of us want to see changes in our lives, yet change threatens our sense of security; security not in what is necessarily "best" for us, but rather security in what is familiar.

French writer Anatole France wrote: "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another".

Jesus called his disciples to pursue change when he told a group of fishermen, "come and follow me". The scriptures go on to say, "at once they left their nets and followed him". These fishermen were willing to set aside their way, for a new way after Jesus.

This is not a one-time call for discipleship, but a continual moment-by-moment decision we are faced with; to lay down our way for the way of Christ. It is only through laying down our old life that we may experience the working change of Jesus in our life and in this world....but are we willing?

What makes it difficult for you to let go of your old ways? How might God want to bring change to your life? What do you have to "die to" to usher in that change?

A Threat To Real Christianity?

I recently was given Chuck Colson's latest book: The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters. This book's purpose is to outline what Christians should believe so they can better live out (and defend) their faith.

Early in the book Colson points out that Christianity and the message of Christ get misunderstood by our mainstream media. In an effort to clarify the hope of Christianity he writes that "love and forgiveness are hallmarks of Christianity, real Christianity" (p.17). Colson goes on to write: "real Christianity is no threat but a glorious proposal".

The "Good News" is good news for all people...a "glorious proposal" indeed: to leave a life of greed, selfishness, and death and pursue Christ's work in this world. Colson is spot on.

Yet only 5 pages later Colson's words give reason why other people groups (and the mainstream media) see Christianity not as a welcomed remedy, but as an oppressive tyrant when he writes: "The Christian West is under assault by the twin challenges of secularism and radical Islam" (p.22). When we articulate the issues we face in this manner does the world really see the Gospel as "a glorious proposal?"

These kind of statements do more harm in creating an "us vs. them" mentality, making some out to be the "good guys" and others the "bad guys". While secularism and Islam may be on the increase are these to be seen as threats or as opportunities for communicating our hope in Christ?

Unfortunately when we begin to rally people around the "issues" that threaten our way of thinking, we end up working people up in a frenzy of fear that often times leads them to respond in such a way that looks nothing like the real love that Jesus calls us to live by.

May the Gospel relieve us of our fear and show us that the very people we thought we were to fight against are the very people we are called to fight for.

Evangelism (New Definitions pt. 1)

I was recently in Pittsburgh with with some other pastors to discuss how to help encourage "stuck churches" regain their missional focus and call.

Much of our conversation focused around this word: Evangelism. We discussed at length (and passionatley) just what we mean when we say "evangelism" and just exactly how one measures a church that is healthy in the area of evangelism.

While there were some differences between us pastors as we tried to define the word evangelism, our culture all the more has all kinds of thoughts and images when one hears, "Evangelism" or "Evangelistic" (in some ways Evangelism has become a dirty word as it conjures up images of people passing out tracts, holding picket signs, or even missionary imperialism).

So now I am curious...How do you define the word "Evangelism"? What does Evangelism look like? How does a church measure it's health in this area?

Rising Up (Philemon: A Response Of Hope pt.4)

Oppression occurs when people are abused, neglected, and treated unfairly. When another human being's rights are violated for any reason injustice is close at hand.

Injustice preys on those considered to be "weak" (the poor, children, elderly, minorities). Acts of oppression are fueled by the "powerful", the greedy, selfish, and the violent. Oppression tears apart that fabric of another human being's image and self worth.

Justice is at the very heart of God: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you" - Psalm 89:14

Because of God's heart he calls us to be a voice and advocate for the afflicted: "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed" - Psalm 82:3

God's pursuit of justice for all people is a theme that carries on all throughout the Scriptures. The question is not "What does God think about injustice?", but rather "What are we doing in light of God's heart for the oppressed?" (listen to podcast "rising up against injustice").

Where do you see injustice and oppression today? What are practical things that followers of Jesus can do to break the chains of injustice?

When We Are Wronged (Philemon: A Response Of Hope pt.3)

What do we do when we've been wronged? How should we respond when others have hurt us? Paul's letter to Philemon speaks to these questions (listen to "when you've been wronged" podcast).

We all have people in our life that we have trusted and invested in. Part of our human experience are those moments when our trust in people was taken advantage of...our good nature used and abused.

Sadly, when we are wronged it is not only the immediate pain that we experience, but its lasting consequences that have such a devastating effect. When others inflict hurt on us it changes our perception of people and this world. We become less trusting, slower to invest in others, and increasingly cynical.

In these moments we have a number of various responses. Some of us try to forget, others hold a grudge, and still some decide to fight back. Although these responses may be a natural reaction, for many of us they fail to bring true lasting peace. Over and again Jesus speaks of our response to be one of forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15).

Forgiveness does not equate to "forgetting" (much of the pain others inflict on us changes the composition of relationships making forgetting virtually impossible)...there are consequences to the hurt others cause. When one forgives, the pain and consequence of the hurt is still acknowledged yet something else takes place.

When we forgive we are communicating to the other that they no longer "owe us" anything, setting them free from any debt they may have outstanding. Further, forgiving another human being sets us free from the need to collect on the debt owed. When we forgive we no longer have to exert energy, time, and emotion on collecting what another cannot give us (how can an individual give us back our innocence?).

The hope of the Gospel is that forgiveness sets us all free from the hurt we cause one another in the hopes that a true reconciliation of all things might occur.

Grace and peace.

Works Of Charity

"He does much who loves much. He does much who does a thing well. He does well who serves the common good rather than his own interests."

- Thomas 'a Kempis; The Imitation Of Christ

Lilly's Construction

I'm going to be honest right out of the gate on this one...I have absolutely no idea what this is. Well yes, I know...it is a combination of tooth picks, styrofoam packaging, and coffee cups. However I don't have a clue as to what they now form.

Each individual piece serves (or "served") a purpose, but I'm not sure just what purpose this "structure" serves. Even more, what are you supposed to do with it?

My 6 year old daughter Lilly is the head designer and chief architect behind this project so I figured that at least she could answer my questions...

Nope.

Lilly doesn't have any idea what this is "supposed to be" or what it is "supposed to do". Further, not "knowing" what it "is" or what it "does" doesn't really bother her. She simply appreciates it because she made it and it is hers.

Lilly's construction reminds me that the value of beauty and art cannot be measured by pragmatic functionality. It is beautiful, creative, and inspiring simply because it is.

When I look at my life, with a scrutinizing pragmatic stare, and wonder just exactly what I'm supposed to "be" and "do" (so that I can measure my worth), I need reminders that my beauty and value as a human being is not measured by mere definitive functionality, but because I am the worksmanship of the master Artisan.

While In Pain

Throughout life's journey we experience pain and affliction on many levels. Some are deep relationship hurts due to our actions, others are feelings of worthlessness brought upon us with the loss of work and a meaningful purpose in life.

Pain meets us deep in our psyche through the dark hallways of depression and rests heavy on us when our bodies are broken down by sickness. As human beings we are no strangers to pain and the uncertainty and weariness that it causes.

Affliction and pain not only tear away at our body and mind, but it draws us outside of community until we find ourselves suffering alone. This space of isolation becomes the moment where death seems close at hand...we feel cut off from loved ones and forsaken by our Creator.

In this state the true nature of our self is tested, along with how we view God (who we believe God to be). If, in our darkest hour in which hope is dead, we believe God to be tired of us and ambivalent to our plight then hope is certainly dead.

Yet if the Scriptures are true, and Jesus' description of God's character accurate, then maybe we can begin view God as a caring father who is good to his children. With that understanding of God's nature, regardless of how dark and painful life may be, hope has the opportunity to be resurrected.

Who in your life needs to be reminded that God is loving and good? How can you reflect God's loving and caring nature to them in the midst of pain and darkness?

Giving Dignity (Philemon: A Response Of Hope pt.2)

In our world we make distinctions and classifications between people and people groups. We not only label people based on ethnicity, class, gender, and political ideology, but we also treat people differently. Sadly, this classification system is how our society measures one's value and meaning (holding some in a higher regard and others in a lower) and in doing so, strips those who are "less than" of their God given dignity and humanity.

In Paul's day slavery was one of those clear class distinctions. There were the "haves", the "have-nots", and the "slaves". Slaves for the people of the 1st century were nothing more than commodities; bought, used, and sold to turn a profit. Their "worth" was only found in their ability to contribute the growth of their master's economic portfolio. Slaves knew no dignity.

It is in this light that Paul's words to Philemon (a slave owner) regarding his disobedient run-away slave (Onesimus) are earth-shaking: "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother...welcome him as you would welcome me (v.15-17)." (listen to this week's Renovate podcast on Philemon).

In his short letter to Philemon, Paul is subversively dismantling the grid of classification and status by which his world operates. Paul sees Onesimus not as a slave who committed a crime, but as a brother who is of great value. Through his words Paul puts on display a new system; one that is charitable, equitable, and just, and in so doing, Paul challenges his contemporaries (like Philemon) to live by that same system.

This is the hope of the Gospel.

"What classifications and distinctions in our world rob people of their dignity?" "What are ways in which we can give dignity to others regardless of the class distinctions of our world?"