Jesus Wants to Save Christians

I just listened to the audiobook of Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don Golden. It is an incredible book that paints a wonderful picture of the church today living in a radical story of grace and mission propelled by the symbol (and story) of Eucharist. It goes beyond Eucharist--it is merely a symbol that points us to a deeper reality of just how upside down (or rightside up) the kingdom of God is--power and wealth are status symbols of empire and we exist within an empire. And the Bible doesn't have very positive things to say about empires.

I encourage you to read (or listen) to this book. It will challenge and revolutionize our understanding of what it means to be a Christ follower.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"Which Story Do We Live In"

Brian McLaren spoke back in August at Mars Hill Church in Michigan. He paints a fascinating picture of the different stories we live in and how they distort the Story of Jesus to fit their own story line. It is powerful.

You can find it here.

A call from de Caussade

This morning I read the following. I'd really like to get your thoughts.

Notice where the responsibility of holiness lies. Also, pay attention to what de Caussade calls us to.

God wishes to dwell in us in poverty and without the obvious accessories of holiness which can cause people to be admired. This is because he wishes to be alone the food of our hearts, the sole object of our desiring. We are so weak that if the splendour of austerity, zeal, almsgiving or poverty were to shine out in us, we would take pride in it. Instead, in our way of following Christ, there is nothing but what seems unattractive, and by this means God is able to become the sole means of us achieving holiness, the whole of our support. Meanwhile the world despises us and leaves us to enjoy our treasure in peace.
God wishes to be the sole principle of our sanctity, and for that reason all that depends on us is our active fidelity which is very trifling. Indeed, in God’s sight there can be nothing great in us – with one exception: our total receptivity to his will. God knows how to make us holy, so let us stop worrying about it and leave the business of it to God. All depends on the special protection and operation of providence; our sanctification will occur unknown to us and through those very things which we dislike most and expect least.

Let us walk, then, in the small duties of our life, in active fidelity, without aspiring to great things, for God will not give himself to us for the sake of any exaggerated effort that we make in this matter. We will become saints through the grace of God and by his special providence. He knows the eminence to which he will raise us; let us leave it to him to do as he pleases. Without forming false ideas and vain systems of spirituality, let us be content to love God without ceasing, walking in simplicity along the road which he traced for us, a road where everything seems so insignificant to our eyes and to those of the world.

-- Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

God will make us holy; he will sanctify us. We are called to "active fidelity." de Caussade is talking mainly about our attempts to make ourselves holy and that is apparent.

But as I read this I keyed in on the thought of "vain systems" and our attempt to syncretize two worlds that have a hard time blending. There is a vain system of spirituality that is very pervasive in our world. It tries to bring the desire of wealth and prosperity along with a spirituality that says God wants this for me. It is on very dangerous ground that one stands upon while making that claim. No where in Scripture, nor history of the Church do we find this idea supported. For 99.9% of Christ followers around the sphere of time and space, this has not been their experience. Reason does not lend to this understanding either. It is a rather recent 20th Century American, modernist/individualist, self-focused lens through which the Bible is read.

Jesus said no one can serve two masters. As we approach the greatest advertising/marketing/spending season of the year, can we hear the whisper of simplicity amidst the ringing cash registers and covetous commercials?


What does it mean to be called to simplicity? What does it look like for us in America? In Suburbia? How does a call to simplicity affect our lives?

Also, what does it mean for us to be called to active fidelity, rather than a pursuit of holiness?

What say you?

Gregory the Great on Praying for our enemies

Remembering what Hippolytus said in the previous post and Christians and the military, I read this reading today (Sept 3 celebrates Gregory the Great) from a homily from Gregory the Great. To me this reading calls us as Christ followers to question how we involve ourselves in politic of war.

When our hearts are reluctant we often have to compel ourselves to pray for our enemies, to pour out prayer for those who are against us. Would that our hearts were filled with love! How frequently we offer a prayer for our enemies, but do it because we are commanded to, not out of love for them. We ask the gift of life for them even while we are afraid that our prayer may be heard. The judge of our soul considers our hearts rather than our words. Those who do not pray for their enemies out of love are not asking anything for their benefit.
But suppose they have committed a serious offense against us? Suppose they have inflicted losses on those who support us, and have hurt them? Suppose they have persecuted our friends? We might legitimately keep these things in mind if we had no offense of our own to be forgiven.
Jesus, our advocate, has composed a prayer for this situation and in this case the One who pleads our case is also our judge. There is a condition he has inserted in the prayer he composed which reads: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Since our advocate is the One who comes to be our judge, his is listening to the prayer he himself composed for our use. Perhaps we the words: “Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” without carrying them out, and thus our words bind us more tightly; or perhaps we omit the condition in our prayer, and then our advocate does not recognize the prayer which he composed for us, and say to himself: “I know what I taught them. This is not the prayer I gave them.”
What are we to do then, my friends? We must bestow our love on our brothers and sisters. We must not allow any malice at all to remain in our hearts. May almighty God have regard for our love of our neighbor, so that He may pardon our iniquities! Remember what He taught us: Forgive, and you will be forgiven. People are in debt to us, and us to them. Let us forgive them their debts, so that what we owe may be forgiven.

Could it be that we have put our patriotism/nationalism before our "Christianism?"

Pacifist Jesus???

John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servants name was Malchus).
Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Peter was carrying a sword some three years into his discipleship. He was prepared to use it and even swung a blow that should have struck the head in a deadly fashion (Good reflexes Malchus)!
If Jesus was against protection or any form of violence he would have surely rebuked Peter not for this one incidence but for ever having thought this action would be OK.
His only rebuke was that at this moment He had to submit and not fight because it was the Fathers will that He be taken.
Jesus being God cannot be molded into the pacifist of our touchy feely generation and culture. I believe that this would be an isogectical and not exegetical endeavor.

Hippolytus on ...

Today the life of Hippolytus is honored in the Anglican tradition. He wrote a treatise (ca 215AD) called The Apostolic Tradition, in which he seeks to correct the practice and pattern of worship that was already being either intentionally moved away from or just innovated. Hippolytus saw that the tradition of Christian worship needed to be handed down and kept.

What strikes me is what is found in the list of vocations Hippolytus gives that Christians should not be involved with.

16 They will inquire concerning the works and occupations of those are who are brought forward for instruction.²If someone is a pimp who supports prostitutes, he shall cease or shall be rejected.³If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. ⁴If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁵If someone teaches children (worldly knowledge), it is good that he cease. But if he has no (other) trade, let him be permitted. ⁶A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁷If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. ⁸If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ⁹A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. ¹⁰If someone is a military governor or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. ¹¹The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. ¹²The prostitute, the wanton man, the one who castrates himself, or one who does that which may not be mentioned, are to be rejected, for they are impure. ¹³A magus shall not even be brought forward for consideration.¹⁴An enchanter, or astrologer, or diviner, or interpreter of dreams^b, or a charlatan^c, or one who makes amulets, either they shall cease or they shall be rejected. ¹⁵If someone's concubine is a slave, as long as she has raised her children and has clung only to him, let her hear. Otherwise, she shall be rejected. ¹⁶The man who has a concubine must cease and take a wife according to the law. If he will not, he shall be rejected.

A soldier is not a position worthy of a Christ follower. "...He shall be rejected, for he despised God." I have heard persons in the military say "for God and country." Hippolytus would, of course, have a major disagreement with that.

Is Hippolytus off in left field? If he's not, what does that mean for American Christianity that sees American patriotism as part and parcel of the Christian faith?
Also, he says that if a Christian military man in authority is not to execute people, what does that say about capital punishment?

A quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said in "The Phenomenon of Man" published in 1959 (A highly controversial book in the Roman Church [and subsequently probably Protestant as well] ),

"Our century is probably more religious than any other. How could it fail to be, with such problems to be solved? The only trouble is that it has not yet found a God it can adore."

Obviously he was progressive. In this book he attempted to weave together like a jacket zipper two unseemingly divergent points: science, viz. evolution, with theology. And this is what got him into trouble. However this little quote from the book seems to be very interesting to me. For in this statement there is a sense of progression. That as the church continues to be the church, living into the realities of the kingdom of God, the world will find the God it can adore. Idealistic, yes; Romantic, yes; Ivory tower, no. Maybe the optimism of grace. Maybe a little bit of Moltmann's Panentheism?

What say you?

Addendum:

Thanks to Curt, who is always graciously helping me say things better, I will try to give a clearer thought.

I find this quote to be fascinating. A world with so many problems to be solved and his thought that this makes our world more religious. It could be the very reason we have the problems that need to be solved is due to the very lack of religion (and I mean it in the historical sense, and in the idea of Wesley--a religion of the heart). Yet de Chardin's thought isn't left in that paradox, but the simple realization that the god the world serves is itself.

I could be reading into de Chardin's thought when I said that it points me to an optimism of grace...and that if the church re-orients herself to God's kingdom and the triune God working in the world to set all things to rights and participates in that, the world begins to see this God it can adore. I see in this quote (for whatever reason) a call to live more intentionally in the ways of Jesus. I think of Hauerwas who talked of the church being the identity the world is so desperately looking for, which it doesn't have.

Am I in left field blowing dandelion seeds?

The smallest small group in America

Todd Hunter has recently initiated a new small group ministry called Three is Enough. Here is an article saying that three might be too big.

http://larknews.com/august_2004/print.php?page=4

Gregory the Great on Pastoral Care

Today, I read in Celebrating the Seasons a selection from Gregory the Great's "Pastoral Care." It actually comes from chapter seven of Book One, "Of the Life of a Pastor." Celebrating the Seasons does a great job of using more modern vernacular. But I think that the way the Early Church Fathers series writes them is still understandable.

Here in this reading, I find it interesting, that even in life "back then" pastors could get caught up in things that pull us away from what we need to be doing. Read this below and tell me what you think. Does this exhortation need to be heard by more of us today? If you need a more modern reading, go to Google Books and do a search for Celebrating the Seasons and go to page 332.

The ruler should not relax his care for the things that are within in his occupation among the things that are without, nor neglect to provide for the things that are without in his solicitude for the things that are within; lest either, given up to the things that are without, he fall away from his inmost concerns, or, occupied only with the things that are within bestow not on his neighbours outside himself what he owes them. For it is often the case that some, as if forgetting that they have been put over their brethren for their souls’ sake, devote themselves with the whole effort of their heart to secular concerns; these, when they are at hand, they exult in transacting, and, even when there is a lack of them, pant after them night and day with seethings of turbid thought; and when, haply for lack of opportunity, they have quiet from them, by their very quiet they are wearied all the more. For they count it pleasure to be tired by action: they esteem it labour not to labour in earthly businesses. And so it comes to pass that, while they delight in being hustled by worldly tumults, they are ignorant of the things that are within, which they ought to have taught to others. And from this cause undoubtedly, the life also of their subjects is benumbed; because, while desirous of advancing spiritually, it meets a stumbling-block on the way in the example of him who is set over it. For when the head languishes, the members fail to thrive; and it is in vain for an army to follow swiftly in pursuit of enemies if the very leader of the march goes wrong. No exhortation sustains the minds of the subjects, and no reproof chastises their faults, because, while the office of an earthly judge is executed by the guardian of souls, the attention of the shepherd is diverted from custody of the flock; and the subjects are unable to apprehend the light of truth, because, while earthly pursuits occupy the pastor’s mind, dust, driven by the wind of temptation, blinds the Church’s eyes.

Ancient Faith sermon series

What would a sermon series look like today preaching through the Apostles Creed? The Creed is a succinct telling of the orthodox faith. In a world of swirling belief systems and competing narratives, how could we approach this statement of faith in a relevant way that calls a congregation to live out/practice, as well as call those who are on the way to faith, to experience this faith?

Born of God, Arise

This song was a part of the Morning Office at Mission St. Clare today. The words are pretty simple. The song reminds us of who we are and calls us to enter fully into our new identity given to us by the risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!, born of God, arise.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
born of God, arise and follow your God.

Come and be clothed in God's righteousness:
Come join the band who are called by God's name.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!, born of God, arise.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
born of God, arise and follow your God.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!, born of God, arise.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
born of God, arise and follow your God.

Look at the world which is bound by sin:
Walk into the midst of it proclaiming new life.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!, born of God, arise.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
born of God, arise and follow your God.

Words and music: Mimi Farra, adapted (20thC)

The Future lies in the Past

Christianity Today ran an article in the February 2008 edition entitled "The Future Lies in the Past." I'd be very interested to get your input on this. I am among these whom Webber called "the younger evangelicals" and resonate with the article. Do you agree with Webber that the path to the future runs through the past?

The Kite Runner

Tonight, Amy and I watched The Kite Runner. I found it to be a very deep and beautiful story. Beautiful? But, it's a movie of such violence and silence! Grace is woven all through the film. It is beautiful how Hassan refuses to hit Amir, even after he is pelted by his best friend in an effort to move him to attack him for his cowardice. I find it fascinating how the son of Hassan continues his work of redemption...even as he is being saved. I find it interesting how the Amir, whom we never see pray in the film before, is brought to a place of prayer. There's so much to this film.

Easter, Day 17 of 50

Trying to stay in the rhythm of Easter is difficult, especially since it doesn't get the attention it deserves from the surrounding culture like Christmas does (and that cultural celebration/observance is placed in Advent rather than Christmastide). I found this hymn this morning that is beautiful. The tune wasn't something I was familiar with so I used the trusty "Sing to the Lord" hymnal and cyberhymnal.org to try to find some melodies that are more familiar to our Christian tradition so we could sing this wonderful hymn. Its meter is LM, which can be sung to the tune of "When I Survey the Wonderful Cross." I find this a very interesting juxtaposition especially considering that "When I Survey" is focused on the cross, and this hymn is about resurrection. The hymn can also be sung to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." I think it is good to be able to cross the tunes from the seasons, especially from Christmas because of its joyfulness. There is also tune from "Jesus Shall Reign" that works well. This hymn is really great and I hope that it ministers to you as it did me.

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.

Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with the Father reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Words: Brian Wren

Corporate Confession

There is a really interesting thread on a/the general confession that is missing from our worship services. It'll take a little while to read through them all. It's interesting to see how differing views on holiness/entire sanctification [and even cultural assumptions] shape (and determine) one's view toward a corporate confession. I'd encourage you to read it. In the season of Lent I find this conversation to be timely.

http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=17664

A Community Called Atonement

I just started a new book by Scot McKnight entitled, "A Community Called Atonement." So far, just 50 some pages in, I want to share that I could not put it down. However, a book of this magnitude requires so much processing, I would like to propose that we share some of the ideas from the book and talk about what we are defining as the "church" - not to mention anything else that may spring forth from reading. Here is something that stands out from the first few pages:

" 'The gospel we preach shapes the kind of churches we create.
The kid of church we have shapes the gospel we preach.'
It would be simplistic and colonizing to suggest that power determines everything, but we should be alert to the observation that the power a local church possesses shapes what it offers as gospel and atonement. Could it be that we are not reconciled more in this world - among Christians, within the USA, and between countries - because we have shaped our atonement theories to keep our group the same and others out? I believe the answer to that question is unambiguously yes. "

While there is so much I think about this and will hopefully share, I will simply say that I agree with his assessment and anticipate reading what you think.

A hymn for Shrove Tuesday

Alleluia, song of gladness,
hymn of endless joy and praise.
Alleluia is the worship
that celestial voices raise
and, delighting in God's glory,
sing in heaven's courts always.

Alleluia, blessed Salem,
home of all our hopes on high.
Alleluia, sing the angels;
Alleluia, saints reply;
but we, for a time on this earth,
chant a simpler melody.

Alleluias we now forfeit
in this holy time of Lent.
Alleluias we relinquish
as we for our sins repent,
trusting always in God's mercy
and in Love omnipotent.

Blessed Trinity of Glory,
hear your people as we pray.
Grant that we may know the Easter
of the Truth, the Life, the Way,
chanting endless alleluias
in the realms of endless day. Amen.

Can be sung to any 8.7.8.7.8.7 tune
From The Saint Helena Breviary, Church Publishing 2006

Wesley Conference Webcast

This next Thursday and Friday (07-08 Feb) there will be a webcast for the conference at NNU entitled: Furtherness: Holiness Reoriented in a Changed World." The guest speakers are Brian McLaren, Scott Daniels, and Thomas Oord. It's only $25 a person and the more you have with you watching, the cheaper it gets. It would be easy to hook a computer/laptop up to a video projector! If Amy and I weren't going to Turbo at Northwood, I'd definitely be a part of this. Here is the link to find out more: https://www.nnu.edu/wesleywebcast

I encourage you to be a part of this. Perhaps if no one can participate, we should get the DVDs and get together and watch it and discuss. Bring the conference here and have our own, at the lead of these great leaders.

Refraining from using business as a metaphor for the church

I'm finishing up Alan Roxburgh's and Fred Romanuk's book entitled The MIssional Leader: Equipping your Church to Reach a Changing World. On p118 I think they give a pretty convincing argument as to why we cannot and should not use the language and metaphor of business for the church. Now, in the following quote they are talking about leaders, but there is a sentence (or two perhaps) on the church using the language.

At the core of leadership, then, is the question of one's identity and its source. This is why the church cannot simply borrow its categories for leadership from other arenas and impose them on its life. To do so is to borrow a purpose and end that are not shaped out of this fundamental participation with God. When we borrow from other arenas such as business or corporate governance, we actually form a character and identity as a leader that, though it may be successful by any number of measurements, leads away from formation as God's person. It also gives the church that is involved a distorted understanding of itself and its own purposes. For example, some current leadership models derive from measuring effectiveness in terms of numbers and size, which are not necessarily measures of success in a life with God.

I think they are spot on. We have played a numbers game for so long, as if the size of our congregations prove our effectiveness. However, we are called to make disciples not just attract the masses. I've refrained from saying anything else...to just let what they say stand for itself.

The beginnings of a missional theology

So, I googled "missional theology" this morning and found this on a blog. I think it's a really great start. I say it's a good start because I connect the Kingdom of God with Missio Dei, and there is no language of Kingdom there. I see it as good fodder for thought.

cold, historical insights, and the opposition

Today was once again another cold day - only real cold.  Did I mention I hate the cold?  Me and cold don't mix well - like oil and water.  In fact it has been freezing rain here today and a brick 34 degrees.  It could be that it is one of those times where the rain is actually giving us a message: it's a cold day.  Economic recession, war, not much is on the up and up - save lavitra commercials. In actuality though there are some important things going on in our world.  Why, centuries and centuries later, have we not learned something from Christ.  Martin Luther King Jr. once made a statement that a man has already died if he is not willing to give his life for something - but the statement is often taken out of context - it is prefaced with 'in our non-violent' ways.  Jesus says that he came to bring a sword, (look it up... Matthew 10) but everything in the passage is about a backwardness that is so obvious we mistake it for straight forward.  A deeper look would expose that this passage points toward being so on board with Jesus' message of hope and kingdom that one would need to take up sword to get there.  In effect, we should have the passion enough to die for this type of connection with the kingdom and hope through Christ.  Later on, Jesus says that those who live by the sword die also by the sword, another deeply mis-used phrase. So.  Jesus in effect did not come to lead a revolution by military force but a new type of force that would change our reality.   ... Later he makes his thoughts about physical force more clear: "am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?"  What makes sense of this?  There is a deep longing within the message of Christ that brings a revolution of love so powerful and transforming, that it actually calls us to have altered states in our minds.  Think about it, "non-violent ways?"  No one actually thinks that non-violence is a real form of love is it?  I simply have two things that need to be shared.

1. Why do we believe that it was great for one man to stand opposed to all that we see as wrong.  War, segregation, unfair laws, and more.  It was great for a man who is a follow of Christ to stand up and do that - then... but not now.  If I were to stand in front of my church and chastise them for believing in a war that should not be waged and call on them to bring back our troops - I would be ousted from the church.  Why?  Because I oppose them politically?  Spiritually?  Why is it no longer acceptable for a man in the church to call out what he sees as wrong? There is serious opposition to this?  Do we not want to hear good news? 

2. Good news.  If we were to so truly believe this state of mind to the point where we actually loved people, shared wealth, cared for each other - do you think it would be possible to overcome some of the challenges presented extreme fanaticism?  I do.  I believe that the kingdom that Jesus spoke about was truly revolutionary, and we have very few people that enter into it that don't get caught up in something. [myself included]  

My hope is that we overcome.  

Hospitality's relation to Community

We had our meeting this past Sunday night with our launch team. We talked about community and what it means. This week I've still been reflecting on it. I found myself thinking about hospitality in community. I kept coming back to certain questions. They weren't worded exactly like this but similar: Can you have community without hospitality at its core? If so, what would it look like? Can you have community without hospitality at all? I wonder if we were to "recover" a strong ethos or spirit of hospitality in our fellowships of Christ followers, how might that change the essence of each particular community of faith? A community could be hospitable and still closed off to those outside. But, I think that to do so would miss a major aspect of hospitality. What do you think?

A Pure Heart

It’s the whole speck and log thing. It’s the one finger pointing out and three pointing back at me. It’s a known issue in thousands, shoot—probably tens of thousands of churches, but for some reason no one does too much of anything about it. We talk about how much it causes problems and keeps the local expression of the body of Christ broken and fragmented. Slander and gossip in the various guises they take are passive killers, like carbon monoxide quietly leaking into a closed room.

I confess, I have actively participated in conversations about some one who has done something or hasn’t done something. When in a group with others having that conversation, the experience seems to unite us, to bring a sense of solidarity because we express our feelings and frustration about said person (or persons). When that particular group of persons get together, it isn’t long before the conversation turns to the Persons (that’s their name now), and the situation is relived, re-experienced. In some of those conversations we’ve talked about how Persons talks about other people and how it isn’t right. And there in lies the paradox (self-contradiction): participating in a practice that we ourselves condemn for others. Ahh, but we are justified in our actions, or so we easily convince ourselves.

I read the quotation below this morning and it’s what stemmed this email. It’s from a writing from the 1st or 2nd Century A.D. by the Shepherd of Hermas, who addresses situations like these with bold words, words that are like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Be humble and innocent, and you will be like the children who don’t know the wickedness that ruins men’s lives. First, then, speak evil of no one, nor listen with pleasure to anyone who speaks evil of another. But if you listen and believe the slander which you hear, you will participate in the sin of him who speaks evil. For believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother [or sister]. Therefore, you will be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. Slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace, but always remains in conflict. (italics mine) Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at peace with everyone. Put on a holiness that will not offend with wickedness, but whose actions are all steady and joyful. Practice goodness.

Most of the time I think the stuff we fill those conversations with are petty and small, or a misunderstanding of something said or done. It shows how shallow the friendships really are. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don’t. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link—If I’m really honest with myself, sometimes I’m the weakest link.

But “love covers a multitude of sins.” My prayer is that I willfully perceive those conversations for what they are—evil, and speak grace into them, instead of contributing to the fragmentation and downward spiral experienced in so many congregations. I want to be a part of a loving community that nurtures deep friendship, loyalty, respect, and Godly love. And the Holy Spirit will guide us if we open ourselves, soften our hearts to allow his corrective grace. And in that correction I am being reshaped in the image of Christ and he continues to make me holy. My light that shined dimly is rekindled, to the glory of God. Thanks be to God.

“But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased to dwell.” Heb 13.16

I am the Church

A new friend named Nathan who attends SNU emailed me this video. It has quite a few messages, but one that nearly comes out of the screen and slaps us around a bit. That sounds a little violent...what I mean is it brings our attention back to a fundamental reality: WE are the church--not a building, not a building with stained glass and a steeple. We--diverse in age, ethnicity, stories, walks of life, perspectives, and experiences--are the church.