Out at Leadership Training last summer, we've been studying through the book of 2Timothy. In chapter 3, we looked at a verse that has been very familiar to me. In 2Tim 3:12 it says "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . . ." In context, Paul is speaking about his way of life, his sufferings, the trials and struggles he has faced, and is encouraging Timothy with the reminder that these sufferings and persecutions are to be expected and they're a part of living for Jesus in a fallen world.
If we move from the Ancient Text forward a couple of thousand years - we're now in America in 2006. The words, "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" have a strangely hollow ring for us. Of course we know that in other parts of the country, there are physical sufferings that are happening to Christians and church leaders in places where those ideas are violently opposed, places like China, or Saudi Arabia, or Sudan among many others. In these places it's easy to see the persecution and the average believer in Jesus at least feels the threat of those persecutions. But in America right now, what does persecution look like if it even exists? At this point in our history it certainly isn't physical, and very rarely involves the threat of violence. In this vaccum of persecution that was similar to what the early church faced, there have emerged all sorts of ideas about what persecution might be. I don't believe it is as many young have communicated, that persecution is someone making fun of their Christian Music or their countless Christian meetings they attend. That so rarely happens anyway, I think if someone looks at a Christian the wrong way, they're ready to cry "Persecution!" I don't believe it is persection when a person doesn't like or finds it strange when he observes a weird christian pop-subculture, a Christian ghetto, insulated from the "problems" and the people of the world, accentuated by it's own music, concerts, seminars, t-shirts and bookstores. That's a fair criticism, because in many ways a Christian ghetto is distasteful even to me. There is something about that that is so far from the ideals of the Kingdom.
So what does persecution look like today? These are just my opinions, but I believe, more than anything, it is the pressure that our society and even Christians themselves place upon themselves to SHUT UP! Be quiet, blend in, don't stick out, don't offend, tolerate, don't pass judgement, don't believe something so strongly that it makes others feel insecure. An interesting study would be to find out how much of that pressure comes from society, and how much of that pressure comes from Christians trying too hard to appease our culture in an effort to not offend with a message that Jesus himself said was offensive.
We had a discussion on evangelism with some of the LT students this summer, and many of them were wrestling with not wanting to be pushy or feed into stereotypes that the average person who doesn't follwo Christ may have of Christians - I believe a very good thing to think about. As I looked around the group of people who were having this discussion, I recognized these people as very kind, loving, genuine people in their relationships with one another. But when it came to those who weren't Christians, they were overly concerned about how they might come across to them, not wanting to be seen as overbearing or only concerned about sharing their faith in Jesus. It is almost as if they have placed upon themselves some pressure for relating to the world around them that they don't feel when it comes to their relationships with one another. Why would we be any different when hanging out with a co-worker than what we are when we're hanging out with our friends who follow Christ. I understand that is something we have in common, but we struggle to be the genuine people that God is making us to be in the body of Christ. It is no wonder the world sees us as hypocrites. We are fearful, standoffish when it comes to those around us who don't know Christ, or maybe on the other end trying so hard to relate and connect with them that they can see we're trying so hard to be too cool, or even worldly. But when it comes to our relationships with one another, we're more relaxed comfortable, willing to right a wrong and engage with vulnerabilbity with one another.
We will be persecuted if we want to live godly. The message we proclaim will be offensive, not because we're acting like arrogant, inconsiderate jerks. We need not to add anything offensive in the way we present the message (from our attitudes to our words) But we will be persecuted because we're the same kind of kind, caring, compassionate Christians that we are when we're with one another. Followers of Jesus who are living and proclaiming the life of Jesus which challenges our selfish, self-centered motives for life.
Matt 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
We're probably so hesitant to be persecuted because we've placed a gag-order on ourselves. The subtle pressure that says, "I don't want to offend, or push someone away." As a result we never give or tell the life-changing message of the gospel. As a result we persecute ourselves to keep the world from doing it because of Jesus.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
not falling away because of Jesus . . .
these are some thoughts from an all church gathering we had a couple of weeks ago. the Lord moved powerfully in people's hearts that night, and it will be a night for the members of the Revolution at Ball State to remember for a long time to come . . .
Luke 7:18-20
John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'
First, let's think about John's experience with Jesus prior to this time in his life:
John lept in Elizabeth's womb when a virgin Mary became pregnant with Jesus and she came to visit Elizibeth.
Zacharia knew that John would be a prophet that would prepare the way for the Lord – and the Lord would give salvation to his people. Surely he taught his son growing up, that he was the one who would precede the Messiah.
John said of Jesus - I baptize with water – after me one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
John Baptized Jesus and saw the Spirit of God descend in Bodily form. Heard a voice "This is my son with whom I am well pleased.
John 1:29-32 Look the Lamb of God – takes away sins of the world. I have seen and testify that this is the son of God
Why would he say in v. 20 – is it you or someone else???? That is some serious DOUBT. Conviction turned to doubt. He was so sure, earlier in his ministry now he's asking the question are you the one or should we expect someone else?
John's circumstances had changed since those days of faith and confidence. He was in prison now. Back in Luke 3, John was put in prison for giving Herod an earful about his immoral lifestyle. Now the circumstances of life have gotten hard. This is the ministry God has given me? It didn't turn out the way I expected it, rotting away in a dungeon.
He told his disciples, "Go to Jesus – I need to know, if He's the one."
I need to know – God are you really who you say you are? Circumstances have gotten hard for me. Honestly, there have been years of disappointment and disillusionment. I didn't think this is where I would be at age 35. When you're younger you dream – My dream didn't involve me still being in Muncie. My dream didn't involve leading fewer people to Christ each year, numbers dwindling in our church, my dream didn't involve working harder and more strategically than ever to get people to go to LT this summer, and having the smallest number we've ever had. My dream didn't involve a painful relationship conflict that I would still be dealing with 5 years after it happened. My dream didn't involve depression and discouragement and hurt and pain.
If we've walked with Jesus for a while, I'm sure there are experiences and circumstances that didn't turn out the way we hoped they would when we were dreaming about our lives. Deaths, job struggles, feeling like you're in the same place you were 10 years ago, still not being married, close friends leaving, lonely, relationship hurts, wounds . . .
Those aren't the things we dream about. A lot of us have had dreams for a long time, and circumstances have changed those dreams.
Sometimes we find ourselves in prison like John and we begin to doubt. "Ask Jesus (who at one time we were so convinced by) if He's the one."
Luke 7:21-23
"At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Blessed is the man who doesn't fall away on account of me. On account of what Jesus is doing in our lives, on account of the circumstances He's allowed . . . blessed is the person who doesn't fall away.
When I heard someone share this a couple of weeks ago I was broken. I am someone who has almost fallen away – given up, given up hope because of Him. Because of where he has me in life in circumstances in feelings and emotions.
This isn't where I thought I would be. The real issue is that I'm disappointed with God. I have needed to tell him that for quite some time. I guess I didn't realize it. A couple of weeks ago I told him. It was emotional, and hard yet true and honest and real.
In verse 24 it says John's messengers left – they left before Jesus told the crowds what he thought of John – no one born of women greater than John. It's interesting that Jesus praised John, and John may never have heard that.
Sometimes I don't stick around long enough to hear what Jesus thinks about me. Maybe I'm really afraid of what he might say. But I think he would say the kinds of thing he said about John - He's proud of us. He loves us. We're his children.
I was talking with our church a couple of weeks. We've been through some difficult stuff over the last several years. I have got to admit it's seemed rather hurtful and painful. Started long before many of the students who were a part of our church were around. Just to give a glimpse of how hard this has been . . . There is one guy currrently on staff with us whose hands start sweating and he gets sick to his stomach when we talk about the past. Admitedly, some healing needs to take place. But we've had a long process of responding to that, just doing the best we can, trying not to give up or to fall away on account of what God is doing here. To be honest with you, though we've reacted. We've taken the pendulum that was so focused on results and effectiveness, and working hard and being driven in ministry to the Lord and swung it all the way over to no structure strategy, goals or plans – just relationships. Maybe that's what we needed, but we've swung the pendulum all the way to the other side. Afraid of hurting people – controlled by fear. Mark (the other pastor here) and I made decisions based on fear of what people, some of those we're closest with, would think. But it's time to move forward. We've realized that it's time to let go and it's time to bring the ministry of our church back in balance. As I was sharing this with the church, I realized that for some this will be new, different. Things aren't going to be the same as they've been over the last couple of years. From relaxed and comfortable to: we might actually develop some plans and strategy. Some goals and focus. I asked our church a couple of weeks ago to be a part of it, and they responded with a resounding, "YES, that is what we want." We asked them to take a step up in devotion to God and in service to the church. It's the only way we'll get there.
How do you look on the future?
Keep reading on in Luke 7:31-35
"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.' For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Pharisees they hardened their hearts, they were cynical. Am I cynical about the future? Here's what cynical people think: it doesn't matter what you do – eat or drink and they said Jesus was a glutton, John came fasting and they say he's got a demon. When we're cynical, nothing looks good? I asked this to some of the older folks involved with our ministry – Are you cynical? Have you become cynical? Another resounding YES.
My Journey – armed with a handful of verses I was going to reach the world.
Okay, maybe I was Idealistic, then I moved to Positive thinking, then . . .
Realistic – some hard things happen have to accept, then . . .
Pessimism – bad things keep happening, then . . .
Cynicism – nothing is good enough
Idealism – Optimism – Realism – Pessimism – Cynicism
We're all at different points on this. Maybe you're an optimistic person – Idealistic. Anywhere on this continuum. Often based on our circumstances we're on the mountain or we're in a dungeon or we're just young or we've been around the block a couple of times. Any of these things can keep us from hope.
On Easter of this year, I broke down crying during one of our services, because as I was sharing about the Resurrection and about Hope, the Holy Spirit pricked me, "Neil, have you lost hope?" It was painful to have to say yes.
I've grown cynical – used to be more idealistic – more naïve – now I want to become hopeful. Am I going to be dispappointed again? Yeah, there is a real good chance of that. I'm going to screw up and put my hope in the wrong things again too. But can I be hopeful?
Can I lead you where I'm trying to go? What's standing in the way – circumstances – negative attitude – sin – Call to repentance. Some of us old guard – leaders here need to repent reaction out of self protection before we can move forward. Are you cynical – what got you there.
Job 30:26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.
Maybe you've made the decision you're done with hope. Will you repent? Are you riding the fence happy and carefree, but not laying your life down for Christ – will you repent? Are you stuck in habits and patterns that have kept you from moving forward, will you repent? Are you taking the easy road, the comfortable path, forgetting that we've been called to lay our lives down? Have you lost hope and become pessimistic? Are you critical about everything? Do you compare yourself with others and wonder why they're moving forward and you're not? Are you jealous or angry or bitter? Will you repent?
Hope means that we take a risk, a risk to trust God again. We start fresh. Maybe we've been disappointed by Him because our lives or our dreams didn't turn out the way we hoped they would. "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." We will be blessed to hold onto hope, or to revive it, or to renew it to take the risk to examine Jesus again. "Are you the one we should expect?" And wait to allow him to answer us.
Luke 7:18-20
John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'
First, let's think about John's experience with Jesus prior to this time in his life:
John lept in Elizabeth's womb when a virgin Mary became pregnant with Jesus and she came to visit Elizibeth.
Zacharia knew that John would be a prophet that would prepare the way for the Lord – and the Lord would give salvation to his people. Surely he taught his son growing up, that he was the one who would precede the Messiah.
John said of Jesus - I baptize with water – after me one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
John Baptized Jesus and saw the Spirit of God descend in Bodily form. Heard a voice "This is my son with whom I am well pleased.
John 1:29-32 Look the Lamb of God – takes away sins of the world. I have seen and testify that this is the son of God
Why would he say in v. 20 – is it you or someone else???? That is some serious DOUBT. Conviction turned to doubt. He was so sure, earlier in his ministry now he's asking the question are you the one or should we expect someone else?
John's circumstances had changed since those days of faith and confidence. He was in prison now. Back in Luke 3, John was put in prison for giving Herod an earful about his immoral lifestyle. Now the circumstances of life have gotten hard. This is the ministry God has given me? It didn't turn out the way I expected it, rotting away in a dungeon.
He told his disciples, "Go to Jesus – I need to know, if He's the one."
I need to know – God are you really who you say you are? Circumstances have gotten hard for me. Honestly, there have been years of disappointment and disillusionment. I didn't think this is where I would be at age 35. When you're younger you dream – My dream didn't involve me still being in Muncie. My dream didn't involve leading fewer people to Christ each year, numbers dwindling in our church, my dream didn't involve working harder and more strategically than ever to get people to go to LT this summer, and having the smallest number we've ever had. My dream didn't involve a painful relationship conflict that I would still be dealing with 5 years after it happened. My dream didn't involve depression and discouragement and hurt and pain.
If we've walked with Jesus for a while, I'm sure there are experiences and circumstances that didn't turn out the way we hoped they would when we were dreaming about our lives. Deaths, job struggles, feeling like you're in the same place you were 10 years ago, still not being married, close friends leaving, lonely, relationship hurts, wounds . . .
Those aren't the things we dream about. A lot of us have had dreams for a long time, and circumstances have changed those dreams.
Sometimes we find ourselves in prison like John and we begin to doubt. "Ask Jesus (who at one time we were so convinced by) if He's the one."
Luke 7:21-23
"At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Blessed is the man who doesn't fall away on account of me. On account of what Jesus is doing in our lives, on account of the circumstances He's allowed . . . blessed is the person who doesn't fall away.
When I heard someone share this a couple of weeks ago I was broken. I am someone who has almost fallen away – given up, given up hope because of Him. Because of where he has me in life in circumstances in feelings and emotions.
This isn't where I thought I would be. The real issue is that I'm disappointed with God. I have needed to tell him that for quite some time. I guess I didn't realize it. A couple of weeks ago I told him. It was emotional, and hard yet true and honest and real.
In verse 24 it says John's messengers left – they left before Jesus told the crowds what he thought of John – no one born of women greater than John. It's interesting that Jesus praised John, and John may never have heard that.
Sometimes I don't stick around long enough to hear what Jesus thinks about me. Maybe I'm really afraid of what he might say. But I think he would say the kinds of thing he said about John - He's proud of us. He loves us. We're his children.
I was talking with our church a couple of weeks. We've been through some difficult stuff over the last several years. I have got to admit it's seemed rather hurtful and painful. Started long before many of the students who were a part of our church were around. Just to give a glimpse of how hard this has been . . . There is one guy currrently on staff with us whose hands start sweating and he gets sick to his stomach when we talk about the past. Admitedly, some healing needs to take place. But we've had a long process of responding to that, just doing the best we can, trying not to give up or to fall away on account of what God is doing here. To be honest with you, though we've reacted. We've taken the pendulum that was so focused on results and effectiveness, and working hard and being driven in ministry to the Lord and swung it all the way over to no structure strategy, goals or plans – just relationships. Maybe that's what we needed, but we've swung the pendulum all the way to the other side. Afraid of hurting people – controlled by fear. Mark (the other pastor here) and I made decisions based on fear of what people, some of those we're closest with, would think. But it's time to move forward. We've realized that it's time to let go and it's time to bring the ministry of our church back in balance. As I was sharing this with the church, I realized that for some this will be new, different. Things aren't going to be the same as they've been over the last couple of years. From relaxed and comfortable to: we might actually develop some plans and strategy. Some goals and focus. I asked our church a couple of weeks ago to be a part of it, and they responded with a resounding, "YES, that is what we want." We asked them to take a step up in devotion to God and in service to the church. It's the only way we'll get there.
How do you look on the future?
Keep reading on in Luke 7:31-35
"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.' For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Pharisees they hardened their hearts, they were cynical. Am I cynical about the future? Here's what cynical people think: it doesn't matter what you do – eat or drink and they said Jesus was a glutton, John came fasting and they say he's got a demon. When we're cynical, nothing looks good? I asked this to some of the older folks involved with our ministry – Are you cynical? Have you become cynical? Another resounding YES.
My Journey – armed with a handful of verses I was going to reach the world.
Okay, maybe I was Idealistic, then I moved to Positive thinking, then . . .
Realistic – some hard things happen have to accept, then . . .
Pessimism – bad things keep happening, then . . .
Cynicism – nothing is good enough
Idealism – Optimism – Realism – Pessimism – Cynicism
We're all at different points on this. Maybe you're an optimistic person – Idealistic. Anywhere on this continuum. Often based on our circumstances we're on the mountain or we're in a dungeon or we're just young or we've been around the block a couple of times. Any of these things can keep us from hope.
On Easter of this year, I broke down crying during one of our services, because as I was sharing about the Resurrection and about Hope, the Holy Spirit pricked me, "Neil, have you lost hope?" It was painful to have to say yes.
I've grown cynical – used to be more idealistic – more naïve – now I want to become hopeful. Am I going to be dispappointed again? Yeah, there is a real good chance of that. I'm going to screw up and put my hope in the wrong things again too. But can I be hopeful?
Can I lead you where I'm trying to go? What's standing in the way – circumstances – negative attitude – sin – Call to repentance. Some of us old guard – leaders here need to repent reaction out of self protection before we can move forward. Are you cynical – what got you there.
Job 30:26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.
Maybe you've made the decision you're done with hope. Will you repent? Are you riding the fence happy and carefree, but not laying your life down for Christ – will you repent? Are you stuck in habits and patterns that have kept you from moving forward, will you repent? Are you taking the easy road, the comfortable path, forgetting that we've been called to lay our lives down? Have you lost hope and become pessimistic? Are you critical about everything? Do you compare yourself with others and wonder why they're moving forward and you're not? Are you jealous or angry or bitter? Will you repent?
Hope means that we take a risk, a risk to trust God again. We start fresh. Maybe we've been disappointed by Him because our lives or our dreams didn't turn out the way we hoped they would. "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." We will be blessed to hold onto hope, or to revive it, or to renew it to take the risk to examine Jesus again. "Are you the one we should expect?" And wait to allow him to answer us.
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
The Naivete of Faith
Where is faith, when naivete is shunned?
This has been my struggle recently, to understand how can I have faith when my perspectives seem too "informed" or "thought-out" or "calculated" . . . all the things that nullify the need for faith to begin with.
I can remember days of naivete. Days, that honestly I now long for, because they held a belief that God loved my faith, my risk-taking, my willingness to not have it all figured out. God loved my being willing to throw myself on him in pure naive trust. I compare that with now, and I envision God scrutinizing me because I don't have the most balanced, sensitive, well thought perspectives for ministry activities and plans and strategies. Verses now have to be understood in their proper context, and I can't "claim a verse" that isn't saying exactly what it was intending to say. Back in the day, my faith was inspired by verses that were lifted from their context. Yet they spoke something to me, that my soul was desperate to hear . . . things about God loving me and his sovereignty and his desire to bless me and show his goodnesss to me and his desire to use me to fulfill his purposes in this world. That when I joined up with God in what he was doing, that God was pleased.
In honesty, I wonder if I've now become too worldly, too fleshly, too logical, too knowledgeable and analytical to be able to place my faith in something that in a "faith moment" might seem ridiculous according to the criteria described above.
Isn't naivete connected with faith. Unless you come to me like a child you won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I perceive such a far cry from that in the wisdom of our Christian culture. It's about doing your best to not offend, to work from within a system that is corrupt and failing, to not cause waves.
In my naivete, much of my faith used to carry battle imagery. It wasn't always a battle that I understood properly (a battle with the forces of evil in the heavenly realms) but it was a battle that inspired faith and trust in God.
Which is better naivete or "humanly wisdom" that looks down on or shuns the naivete of the young or the zealous?
This has been my struggle recently, to understand how can I have faith when my perspectives seem too "informed" or "thought-out" or "calculated" . . . all the things that nullify the need for faith to begin with.
I can remember days of naivete. Days, that honestly I now long for, because they held a belief that God loved my faith, my risk-taking, my willingness to not have it all figured out. God loved my being willing to throw myself on him in pure naive trust. I compare that with now, and I envision God scrutinizing me because I don't have the most balanced, sensitive, well thought perspectives for ministry activities and plans and strategies. Verses now have to be understood in their proper context, and I can't "claim a verse" that isn't saying exactly what it was intending to say. Back in the day, my faith was inspired by verses that were lifted from their context. Yet they spoke something to me, that my soul was desperate to hear . . . things about God loving me and his sovereignty and his desire to bless me and show his goodnesss to me and his desire to use me to fulfill his purposes in this world. That when I joined up with God in what he was doing, that God was pleased.
In honesty, I wonder if I've now become too worldly, too fleshly, too logical, too knowledgeable and analytical to be able to place my faith in something that in a "faith moment" might seem ridiculous according to the criteria described above.
Isn't naivete connected with faith. Unless you come to me like a child you won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I perceive such a far cry from that in the wisdom of our Christian culture. It's about doing your best to not offend, to work from within a system that is corrupt and failing, to not cause waves.
In my naivete, much of my faith used to carry battle imagery. It wasn't always a battle that I understood properly (a battle with the forces of evil in the heavenly realms) but it was a battle that inspired faith and trust in God.
Which is better naivete or "humanly wisdom" that looks down on or shuns the naivete of the young or the zealous?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)