Parched

Last week was decent, but it seemed to be laced with times of spiritual dryness and apathy. My reaction toward these times was less than stellar. I didn't view them as a chance to press on, but a chance to soak in the doldrums of seeming spiritual emptiness. At times I even thought to myself, "now is a time to take a break from all this spiritual stuff."

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It's pretty amazing, isn't it, that the times when we need to press into those things that bring us to God we retreat from because we feel too weak, too empty, to inept? It's the first and easiest thing to do. Much harder is to press through the desert to get to the spring.

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Toward the end of the week I began reflecting on this seeming emptiness, and I began seeing it as an opportunity to draw more into God rather than retreat since He was apparently just not 'showing up.' Adversely, it was probably me who wasn't showing up. One of our bishops not too long ago used the phrase 'pressing into our humanity', and I think this was one of those times for me. To me it meant that I bring this sense of humanity...this spiritual ache...this seeming emptiness...to God. Instead of retreating from all the things I would normally do as part of a 'devoted' life I might have instead pressed into the deeper disciplines of the spiritual life in order to lean more into God, facing the present feelings of emptiness and inadequacy.

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Pursue, not retreat. Greater intensity, not throwing in the towel. These are the next roads to take when I face this kind of dryness.

CNN and How Faith Should Be

Before church this morning I do what I do most days...turn on the news and see what's going on in the world. This morning's top headlines were speaking to the termination of membership between Barak Obama and his now former congregation of Trinity. When asked if he would be looking for another church Obama responded with something along the lines of wanting to be in a church where he could "sit and meditate and be part of the congregation" rather than being a political part of the church (If you know me, you know I am really bad with direct quotes, so you're getting a framework here).

In response to Obama's desire to sit and just be for awhile, the CNN commentator said, "Now that's the way things should be." That is a direct quote. That's the way things should be, huh? So instead of sticking your neck out do be involved and risk all for the Kingdom, we just sit around, meditate, and get fed? This is the impression of the faith I'm getting from this commentator who may not have thought much about what he was saying. However, this is very truth telling.

It's getting at the problem of Christianity in our country being a spectator sport, for lack of a better term. The perception people have of the Christian faith is us going into a building, sitting, listening, learning, and leaving. But this is not the essence of the Christian faith, at least not to me. What's sad is this is the impression people have. They don't have the one of works, service, sacrifice, long suffering, etc. It's a come and go faith to them...come on Sunday, and then go.

A few posts ago I described what I saw as the negative tendencies of this generation in regards to the Christian faith. Well, here's a positive one: they're done with this spectator religion. The young Christians of today want to make a difference. If their faith doesn't demand something of them they're disappointed and can sense it's not the real thing. The Christian faith necessitates cost, and this generation is willing to pay it. While there is still nominalism, I believe there is a great dedication to living like Jesus and dedicating oneself to the cause(s) of Christ...to the poor, the environment, injustices such as torture/economic sanctions/world debt/starvation/AIDS/etc. These are the things that are motivating my generation. They are the things that are motivating me.

So to the CNN commentator...that's not the way things should be. The person being an active representation of Christ to their community...that's the way things should be.

Are You Spent?

I'm coming off a long hiatus here, but I finally feel I've got something to share, however brief it may be.

As a child I really feel I was sheltered, or maybe just unaware, of the problems people were facing. Now at almost 30 years old I'm faced with them everyday. I'm faced with my own issues, and I'm made very aware of the falleness of the world around me as I take phone calls and listen to people and where they're at. I could say that 'it's ministry', but I think I'd rather say 'it's everywhere.' You can't escape the fallen nature of the world...the hurts, the evils, all of it. But there's got to be a better way, doesn't there?

Enter a brief hymn of Paul in the beginning of 2 Corinthians that brought much encouragement to me this morning. Here it is:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from the
God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through
Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and
salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient
endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because
we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Ever realize how life seems to have those two poles: suffering and comfort? The tension of joy and sorrow? The tension where everything is held together and everything is falling apart? The beauty of Paul's words is that we are held together in Christ...pulled toward suffering and despair by the events of everyday life, but yet pulled toward hope by the salvation of Jesus Christ.

So many times I just want to give in. It's so easy to give in and just go down the spiral of suffering into disillusionment and despair. However, in my experience thus far, God is here to strengthen us and give us hope in what seems like hopeless situations. This is the promise of God in this present life, is it not? That somehow though we'll have trouble in this world we've overcome it through Christ. It has not overcome us.

Beware of the Bandwagon pt. 2

In reading a comment left from yesterday's post I had some further thoughts regarding jumping on the current trends of ministry. Missional ministry presses a heavy emphasis on what we do to live out our faith and to literally bring about the Kingdom of God...or at least aspects...here on earth. These are outward actions that impact lifestyle decisions and should have a big element in service to others. What I haven't read in my readings exploring missional ministry is how the spiritual disciplines, prayer, or the empowering of the Holy Spirit work into such a movement (if anyone has suggestions on such reading, I would appreciate them). There is a lot of emphasis on being like Jesus, but we must also be filled by the Spirit of Christ. The majority of people today would want to be like Jesus because Jesus was a good man. He had good morals. He treated people right. Who wouldn't want to be like Him?

The tension lies with me in the emphasis on doing faith (missional) above the issue of the Spirit's empowerment. I'm not saying missional leaders don't believe this, but it is not a large part of the conversation. What I am saying is that as we serve, we do it with the strength that God provides (as Peter says). In fact, I think the book(s) of Peter would have great things to say to us regarding our current topic. One of my favorite verses from 1 Peter is says something to the effect (sorry...don't have a Bible in front of me) "He who speaks should do so as if he is speaking the very words of God, let him who serves do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

Missional actions ought to come from the conviction of the Spirit through the power of the Spirit. If you haven't noticed yet, social consciousness is becoming a thing of popularity. Sitcoms regularly feature "green" ideas (I love 30 Rock). Celebrities are featuring atrocities such as Darfur and Africa (who can get past Brad and Angelina?). And those things are great for what they are. They are raising awareness. But what happens if we do it just because everyone else is doing it? If we do it simply as actions of service the question arises, "What are we serving them for?" The coming of the Kingdom of God is about the poor, the orphan, and the widow...but it's about the Kingdom of God...the Savior...entering into the hearts of the poor, the orphan, and the widow. It's not only crossing social barriers and addressing social problems but it's bringing eternal life (in there here and now as well as eternity) and salvation (mental, physical, spiritual, emotional...through Christ) into those places as well.

I admit I don't know much. Even with an MDIV I don't consider myself a great theologian. So what I'm about to say may be way off...so grant me some grace here. This is where I think we must be aware of the works of our faith eclipsing the filling of our hearts with the Spirit of God. It is the Spirit that brings to life the acts of service to our fellow man (or woman). People may not come into a saving relationship with Jesus because of our actions, but it ought to be the intent to show them Christ in such a way that draws them to such a loving Savior. No, I'm not saying people are projects. The thought of that sickens me. What I am saying is that the followers of Christ must serve everyone without bias to show them the deep love and care of the Savior of the world.

Our missional actions must originate with a conviction of the Spirit and be empowered with the Spirit of Christ.

For these things I give thanks...

...for children who demonstrate childlike enjoyment of little things
...for a wife who is unconditional in her love and unwaivering in her support
...for a community of faith that does their best to live like Jesus
...for a modest home filled with memories of my family
...for parents who did their best to raise me in following Jesus
...for health and the ability to enjoy small things...walks...laughter...and the taste of good
food
...for provision of those things we need, and the priviledge to live without excess
...for friends in the journey of faith who struggle with me in the unknown of it all
...for joy
...for healing
...for change of heart and character and a God whose changes with gentleness and
compassion...thank you that your kindness leads to repentance
...for the opportunity to love and serve others and to learn from their life circumstance
...for Father
...for Son
...for Holy Spirit

To anyone reading, have a blessed day of Thanksgiving. I join you in thanking the Maker of it all!

GodSoaked World

Are you ever really satisfied with your faith? Is it ever enough or are you left wanting for more? I'm not satisfied, and yes...I'm left wanting for more. Every bit God reveals of himself leaves me in want for more. I don't want to stay where I am. The pieces of revelation I'm graced with are not enough. I want more of God.

Many of us feel inadequate in our faith in Jesus and we're left to saying "I should really pray more" or "I should really read the Bible" or whatever...and those are good things. But the fact of the matter is that God is constantly around us, ready to be observed in every great and every small thing. Laughter is a grace of God and exemplifies His presence. Love is the same. The relationship you have with your husband or wife is a blessing of God and on it his Presence rests. People possess divine attributes. Nature in all its beauty cries out the glory of God. The fact is that God is rarely if ever absent, but we are the ones who are so.

So raise your awareness of the presence of God. Let your thirst grow. As you experience and witness the greatness of Him let it cause you to look for more. Wherever you are reading this right now...look around...where's God? How do you see Him, hear Him, and witness Him? As the psalmist says, "Where can I flee from your presence?"

Faith Without Rights

A series of questions...

Suppose for a minute you had no rights as a Christian. You could not speak the name of Jesus under penalty of imprisonment and death. What would come of your faith? Would it cease? Could someone take it from you?

So you have to have a right to be a Christian? You have to have a right to pray in school? The 10 Commandments need to be posted on a courthouse? If they are taken away, does that make the 10 Commandments any less valid? If taken away, are they then meaningless because they are not in the public eye? Were they intended to be a placard or a way of life?

What if we had no voice, but all we could do was to live out lives exemplifying Christ? What if the only way we could show Jesus was through service? What if our freedom for Sunday gatherings was taken away? Would our faith diminish because of no place to meet, or is Jesus something bigger than a place or a voice? Does Jesus become less real in you if He can't be talked about around you? Would there be a noticable difference in your actions if the only way you could express your faith was through action?

What did the writer of Ecclesiastes mean when he said "You are God in heaven, and here am I on earth...so I'll let my words be few?" Does reverence toward God mean fewer words and greater action? What would the world think if we willingly gave up talking about our faith and began demonstrating it instead? Would there be less hypocritical accusations toward the church?

My point: Faith is something within...lived out...sometimes without words...heavy in witness through actions...not for self justification but love for others...it doesn't need to have rights...it can survive without them...and it fact, at times, it grows without them too.

Theology of a 4 Year Old

Cool little story from yesterday...

I was sitting with my son talking about God and how God lives in us through the Holy Spirit (yea, I know...deep for a 4 year old!).

Conner: "So I'm his house?".

Me: Yea, something like that.

Conner: Well, He sure has a lot of room to run around...

Profound little thought from my 4 year old son. I heard something last week that struck me in thinking about how to share faith with children. It was the thought that we should share the faith in a way that is comprehensible to them, and as they grow and mature, what we share should grow and mature as well.

So we have to look at our kids in the stage where they are. For my newborn, sharing faith with him is praying over him and singing to him. For my two year old it is reading Bible stories, praying with her, and singing songs. With my four year old it is answering questions about Jesus and the Bible for an hour and a half long car ride home.

I'm very convicted we need to be very intentional about sharing the Christian faith with our children. I love hearing stories of young people who have a deep heritage of faith in their family. They didn't have to go off and do the things most people do before they find Christ. Within their deep heritage they grow in faith until one day their crisis experience isn't deliverance from drugs or alcohol but a crisis experience in making the faith they grew up with their own.

Not sure where it is, but it makes the thought of "God's faithfulness to a thousand generations to those who are faithful" all the more real.

Faith Tensions, Part 1 1/2

A brief follow-up to the last post...I had a great/timely/interesting conversation with one of our laypeople the other day in regards to what I was trying to articulate in the last post. There were a few things he said I identified with well.

First: "Everything is not good, but everything is good." He's speaking of a sense of discontent - what is not good. Everything else in life is fine, but he's discontent with his current role of ministry. He feels God's call to a certain ministry - to begin a certain ministry. He's not there yet. He's in a current role but his heart is calling him elsewhere. I identified with this in a great way. There are many things my current role fulfills in my sense of calling, but there is still much I want to do/experience for the Kingdom. On a greater level I wonder how many of us have a type of holy discontentment. There are things God is placing on our hearts (ways for us to serve...burdens for people, etc), but our ability to do these things is not yet here. Much like my desire for missions overseas.

Second: "There is so much to do it feels like you can never do enough." At first I was shocked because I thought only pastors felt this way. But here was a layperson completely vested in his role feeling the same way I did. It was relieving to hear this yet troubling at the same time. It emphasizes the fact that what we do for God and the church we must feel called to...not just putting a warm body in an open position. This is ineffectual for the body of Christ. We can do so much more when we serve where God puts a burden on our heart rather than where I feel I'm needed...BIG DIFFERENCE. Stewardship of time is critical and we must make sure we're investing our time where we are called.

I was very encouraged by our conversation. God's moving all over the place in our church. I'm privileged enough to have conversations with people I don't normally have a chance to talk with and I'm able to hear their heart. It's amazing what God is up to at New Hope. It's also relieving to hear others going through the same things you are.

Faith Tensions, Part I

What ever happened to a faith that is easily defined? How is it that some people who follow Jesus give the impression they have it all together? Why is it so hard to look at major Christian leaders who have purpose and passion and wonder where your own purpose and passion are? How driven must they be to accomplish such great things for the Kingdom?

Every so often I live in the tension of discontent, failure, and wander (not wonder). I question myself and exactly what it is I do. I think it's beyond personal insecurity. It's a faith issue. It's not that I don't believe. In these times I identify myself most with the words of Peter after Jesus asks the remaining disciples if they are going to leave too...his reply...'where else would we go?' My sentiments exactly. Following Christ is hard, but where else am I supposed to go? Ministry is difficult for me, but where else can I go? I know deep down in my soul this is where I am to be, but it doesn't help the tension.

The tension, at least for this post, is between what is and what could be...and my role in it. This immediately leads to another tension - my involvement at all in what could be. One of the remarkable things of faith is God's power to do things on his own but choosing to use humans. It's me but it's not me. So what do I have to do - what role do I have to play - in bringing what could be into existence? What role do I play in 'Thy Kingdom Come'?

I don't know, and this is what frustrates me.

There are times I know - times I feel inspired, filled, and passionate. But then there are other times, more frequent than the others, when I am left in wander and without answers. I identify well with the wandering in the desert - with Abraham waiting so long for a son. I wonder what went through Abraham's mind day after day after day in waiting for the promise?' What happened in his mind as he waited for his role in being involved with what could be coming into reality?

The Kingdom vision is big - too big for me to grapple. Yet I look at so many people I know and it appears (at least) they are grasping and moving with their role. Connections are made...they seem to know what they're doing. But me, I'm still figuring this whole thing out. Where exactly do I fit? What is required of me? What is my role?