I'm sharing this because it hit home with me today and I think when you read it, you will have a similar reaction. Also, I have lots to say, but right now I'm still spitt'n nails mad and I just don't think I can write a civil blog post. So enjoy a far more civilized post courtesy of the good Rev. Wesley!
On Dissipation
Showing posts with label Wesley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wesley. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sermon 74-Of the Church
What is the church, really? If you lost your church building would you, could you, still meet together?
For those days when you just can't say it any better than what has already been said-bring on John Wesley!
Of the Church
I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together!
For those days when you just can't say it any better than what has already been said-bring on John Wesley!
Of the Church
I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Resurrection vs. Regeneration
Once again, I have run across something that made me go hmm...and it actually clarifies something I have struggled with for a while. Current "churchese" talk circles have said that the United Methodist Church needs a resurrection to happen. I understand the point they are trying to make, but the term has bothered me. So I looked up the definition in my Webster's dictionary and here's what it said:
This morning I was reading in Wesley's Christian Library a piece from John Arndt's True Christianity. He talks about following the pattern of Christ and he uses the term "regeneration". Regeneration-it is a very interesting term! Here's the definition:
The Apostles were the first "spiritual generation". They planted seeds in the Disciples (the second spiritual generation) and they followed the pattern of Christ-they grew, they matured, they became leaders. Stephen and Phillip and Barnabas became "seed planters" and Christianity spread. They did their apprenticeship at the feet of the Apostles, then they were sent out as leaders to continue the process. Regeneration was built in to the system right from the start!
Here's the modern day lesson for the church. Discipleship done well has regeneration already built in to the system! Our members need to spend time at the feet of good leaders, listening, learning and seeing how things are done BEFORE you put them in to leadership roles. They need time to mature. But once they reach that level of maturity, they can then become leaders themselves and they can plant the seeds and lead others through the same process. The individuals that they Disciple can then become leaders as well, once they reach that level of spiritual maturity. And the process continues. Active regeneration.
Regeneration does not start from a dead place. It starts from a living place. The Holy Spirit is alive and well! It does not need to be resurrected. The only thing that needs work happens to be "us". We need to embrace regeneration in ourselves. Then we can start the process of regeneration in our churches.
I'm liking this idea of regeneration! :-)
"the act of rising again, after death"So, are we saying the church is dead? I don't buy that! If you look at what Wesley wrote in the sermon that I posted yesterday, he said that there was a remnant or "seed" that remained, and it sprouts and it grows and it matures.
This morning I was reading in Wesley's Christian Library a piece from John Arndt's True Christianity. He talks about following the pattern of Christ and he uses the term "regeneration". Regeneration-it is a very interesting term! Here's the definition:
"to give new life or vigor to-a spiritual rebirth"This is a term I can relate to-it makes sense! It also illustrates exactly what I was seeing in the Book of Acts (which I posted about last Thursday). The Spirit is not dead! The church by extension is not dead because a remnant or "seed" remains! Let's apply it to the model that I noticed in Acts.
The Apostles were the first "spiritual generation". They planted seeds in the Disciples (the second spiritual generation) and they followed the pattern of Christ-they grew, they matured, they became leaders. Stephen and Phillip and Barnabas became "seed planters" and Christianity spread. They did their apprenticeship at the feet of the Apostles, then they were sent out as leaders to continue the process. Regeneration was built in to the system right from the start!
Here's the modern day lesson for the church. Discipleship done well has regeneration already built in to the system! Our members need to spend time at the feet of good leaders, listening, learning and seeing how things are done BEFORE you put them in to leadership roles. They need time to mature. But once they reach that level of maturity, they can then become leaders themselves and they can plant the seeds and lead others through the same process. The individuals that they Disciple can then become leaders as well, once they reach that level of spiritual maturity. And the process continues. Active regeneration.
Regeneration does not start from a dead place. It starts from a living place. The Holy Spirit is alive and well! It does not need to be resurrected. The only thing that needs work happens to be "us". We need to embrace regeneration in ourselves. Then we can start the process of regeneration in our churches.
I'm liking this idea of regeneration! :-)
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sermon 68-The Wisdom of God's Counsel
I read this early this morning and I thought to myself-"there is nothing I can say that can top this gem!" So if you have not read it, today needs to be the day that you DO read it! Notice two things: first, Wesley picks up on the pattern that I saw in Amos (my blog post from Friday). Second, he talks a lot about the renewing seed, and how God repairs what is decayed.
Get over your fear of the "thee's and thou's" and take the time to read and absorb what Wesley is saying because it's a game changer!
The Wisdom of God's Counsel's
Get over your fear of the "thee's and thou's" and take the time to read and absorb what Wesley is saying because it's a game changer!
The Wisdom of God's Counsel's
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Big Picture-Imagination Adventure of the Day
Something happened though to change my thinking on this question. My home state got hammered by massive amounts of flooding and there were towns that were literally cut off from everyone else around them. Granted, they didn't have to go a full week before supplies were flown in to them, but they did have a period of days where all they had to survive was what they had in town. Not only did they survive, they thrived under the pressure! You see, they discovered that when they worked together they had more than they thought! They discovered that they were more than the sum of their parts!
I am reminded of the early church portrayed in the Book of Acts. In chapter 2, starting at verse 44 (NRSV) it says:
"All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people."Now I'm not suggesting that you sell all your stuff and join a religious commune. No. What I am suggesting though is that you look at your church family and your community with a new set of eyes. We tend to look at things a piece at a time. We look at the parts rather than looking at the whole picture. The early church prospered and grew because they worked together as a whole. They had one goal-sharing the good news of Jesus! Everything they said, everything they did, how they lived, was focused on that goal. They discovered that they were more than the sum of their parts.
Let me go back to the example of the towns that were cut off by flooding. The first thing they did was meet together to figure out who was accounted for, who was not, who needed help and what did they need to focus on first. Some people had food in their freezers which they pulled out and donated for a big town barbecue so everyone would have something to eat. Some had heavy equipment which they put to work trying to rebuild roads so they could get things opened back up. Some had ATVs which they used to either rescue folks who were stranded or to try to find a way out of town to get supplies. Horses, propane cook stoves, generators-there were things in town that individually wouldn't make much of a dent but when pooled together would sustain them all until they could get help. And plain ole labor-people willing to pitch in to help clean up because the faster they could clean up, the more they could save and the faster they could rebuild. They were able to accomplish a lot more working together than working individually.
There's a lesson to be learned here. Churches want to "make an impact" they want to "do and be" but many times you have groups of individuals doing a little bit of this here and a little bit of that there in the hope that this will be "the next big thing". Not that these things are not good or important but where do they fit in the big picture? What part are they of the whole? When you look at your church in relation to your community what part do you play? Where do you fit in? What is your goal for your church and for your church within your community? What could you accomplish if your entire congregation worked together? What would you accomplish if your church worked with others in your community?
If we focus on the big picture rather than the individual parts I wonder how that would change what we do in our churches and I wonder how that would change how we interact within our communities? I wonder what kind of resources we would discover, that had always been there, but we didn't notice? I think about individuals sitting in our congregations who would like to find a way to actively participate but who think there is no where that they fit in within church ministry. Or, I think about people in the community who would like to find a way to help but they have no group to connect with. Can we take those parts and connect the dots and do something truly extraordinary?
One of the great things about the Methodist tradition is that work is not a dirty word. You don't do works because it somehow scores you angelic brownie points. You do work because it is an outward expression and demonstration of your faith. As the Apostle Paul said "Faith without works is dead." Wesley understood this, that's why he went to the prisons and brought not only faith, but food. That's why he set up Sunday School so children who worked in factories six days a week could not only hear the word but learn to read the word. He knew if a young person could read they stood a better chance of advancement-they stood a better chance of being able to have a better life. He understood the need to preach and teach but he also understood the value of the practical. He understood the importance of meeting someones needs.
So take some time today for some quiet reflection and really think about the big picture. Where do you fit in? Where does your church fit in? What can you do with others that would make a difference towards uplifting and sustaining your community? What can you accomplish if you work together with others?
There's your exciting thought adventure for today! Have fun!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Distinctly Methodist?
Methodist minister and blogger, Jeremy Smith, posted in a round about way on a topic near and dear to my heart! Here's a link to the post Methodist Kudzu so you can read it for yourself. He was quite specific, I am going to reflect a little more broadly on this topic. My biggest pet peeve with the United Methodist Church is that it does not clearly stand for, or reflect, the stated beliefs of the United Methodist Church. When the average member can not tell you what the UMC believes or why we believe this, then you have a problem!
In The Message paraphrase, Proverbs 24 has this little gem:
Here's my point. We have an amazing foundation thanks to John Wesley and the early founders of United Methodism. In my opinion, hands down, bar none, we have something worth sharing! But as a denomination today, we are all over the place in what we teach and how we teach it! We have lost the unity of the message and our messages are no longer connected to the foundation! Not only is the average member puzzled by what we believe, it seems some of our ministers have the same problem! (Yup, here I go stepping on toes again). Some call this an "identity crisis". I think it goes deeper than that, we have a unity crisis. When you stray from your roots or your foundation, then you are no longer connected, and that, my darling friends, is a problem!
Jeremy has pointed to something very specific-we are allowing Bible Studies to be taught in our churches that do not line up with core Methodist beliefs. I think the problem is even bigger-we do not teach core Methodist beliefs in the first place. What makes us distinctly Methodist? What do we believe? Why do we believe this? Why do we do things one way instead of another way? Seriously, why are we not preaching this from the pulpit or teaching it in Sunday School class? Because we are no longer anchored to the spiritual foundation that is the UMC. Because our leaders do not feel a necessity to be anchored to our distinctly Methodist foundation. We have preached "anything goes" for so long that we have become a detriment to our own denomination. And as members, we stood by and didn't say a word! Gee, I couldn't possibly imagine why we have a problem!
Not that this is new. Even Wesley preached on this topic! Go read sermon 61 They Mystery of Iniquity and you'll see what I mean. That's why teaching (and preaching) the core beliefs is critical to regaining our unity and connection with our foundation. That is why the early societies were so "methodical". They understood how easy it is to get distracted and off course. It's human nature to follow the shiny bobble! It's hip, it's cool, it's popular, yeah let's go with the flow! Going with the flow has never been a "mark" of Methodism. Methodists are expected to hold to a higher standard.
The solution to this is not an easy fix. We, as members, can demand a higher standard, but then we become the "problem child" churches in the Methodist hierarchy. Or, as an individual, you can do what I've done, which is read and study my bible, read and study Wesley's sermons and notes, and read and study about the history of the United Methodist church. Educate yourself and then share what you have learned with others. It's an eye opener! But I can tell you from personal experience, it's well worth the effort! And pray. Pray, pray, pray because we have so much to offer, if we would just go back to our solid foundation! I have faith that we can and will reclaim our heritage, but I understand that I may have to wait...
In The Message paraphrase, Proverbs 24 has this little gem:
"It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation..."My dad was a carpenter. I'm no expert but I absorbed enough wisdom from him over the years to understand some things about buildings. First, the foundation has to be solid. It can't wiggle or wobble, it needs to be firm. Second, the frame needs to be solidly connected to the foundation-the building needs to be unified. There is a right way to build and there is a wrong way to build. Some flaws are cosmetic and just need to be covered. Other flaws though, negatively impact the integrity of the structure and you have to tear them out and fix the problem. Build correctly and your building will stand firm. Build it wrong and your building can (and at some point will) collapse.
Here's my point. We have an amazing foundation thanks to John Wesley and the early founders of United Methodism. In my opinion, hands down, bar none, we have something worth sharing! But as a denomination today, we are all over the place in what we teach and how we teach it! We have lost the unity of the message and our messages are no longer connected to the foundation! Not only is the average member puzzled by what we believe, it seems some of our ministers have the same problem! (Yup, here I go stepping on toes again). Some call this an "identity crisis". I think it goes deeper than that, we have a unity crisis. When you stray from your roots or your foundation, then you are no longer connected, and that, my darling friends, is a problem!
Jeremy has pointed to something very specific-we are allowing Bible Studies to be taught in our churches that do not line up with core Methodist beliefs. I think the problem is even bigger-we do not teach core Methodist beliefs in the first place. What makes us distinctly Methodist? What do we believe? Why do we believe this? Why do we do things one way instead of another way? Seriously, why are we not preaching this from the pulpit or teaching it in Sunday School class? Because we are no longer anchored to the spiritual foundation that is the UMC. Because our leaders do not feel a necessity to be anchored to our distinctly Methodist foundation. We have preached "anything goes" for so long that we have become a detriment to our own denomination. And as members, we stood by and didn't say a word! Gee, I couldn't possibly imagine why we have a problem!
Not that this is new. Even Wesley preached on this topic! Go read sermon 61 They Mystery of Iniquity and you'll see what I mean. That's why teaching (and preaching) the core beliefs is critical to regaining our unity and connection with our foundation. That is why the early societies were so "methodical". They understood how easy it is to get distracted and off course. It's human nature to follow the shiny bobble! It's hip, it's cool, it's popular, yeah let's go with the flow! Going with the flow has never been a "mark" of Methodism. Methodists are expected to hold to a higher standard.
The solution to this is not an easy fix. We, as members, can demand a higher standard, but then we become the "problem child" churches in the Methodist hierarchy. Or, as an individual, you can do what I've done, which is read and study my bible, read and study Wesley's sermons and notes, and read and study about the history of the United Methodist church. Educate yourself and then share what you have learned with others. It's an eye opener! But I can tell you from personal experience, it's well worth the effort! And pray. Pray, pray, pray because we have so much to offer, if we would just go back to our solid foundation! I have faith that we can and will reclaim our heritage, but I understand that I may have to wait...
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Social Principles and Theology?
John Meunier's blog post yesterday hit on a topic that has bothered me for a long time! To give you a little background in a nutshell, the United Methodist Church governing structure is based on the Book of Discipline which was originally laid out by John Wesley as a framework for the original Methodist Societies. It's actually more complicated than that, but I'm trying to be brief and give you a general overview. Contained within the Book of Discipline are the "Social Principles" of the United Methodist church. They are non-binding, but essentially they are supposed to be the "prophetic voice" of the UMC. According to the UMC website, the first social principle appeared in 1908. Methodist History 101 in a nutshell.
Here's the thing. To me, they read more like a political platform than a well thought out position. There's a lot of "we support this" and "we oppose that". I'm not the only one that has noticed this as I discovered after reading Allan R. Bevere's blog yesterday afternoon. The question is not so much the statement, but rather, where is the biblical justification to back up the statement? Or, to put it another way, where is the theology behind the social principles?
So to try and find an answer to this question, I did a search which brought me to the UMC General Board of Church and Society. I looked at the Social Principles and I looked at both of the PDF files that give the "Biblical Foundation" for our Social Principles and the "Kings Actions Condemned by the Prophets". If you would like to look at them, go here.
Now granted, I need to dig a little more deeply than just a quick run through on the scriptures (which is what I did this morning...I looked every single one up), but I have to tell you that my initial impression was...well, let's just say I was underwhelmed. Wow, UMC leadership, if this is the best ya got, Lord help us all!
And as far as quoting Wesley, no doubt that he was a serious advocate for social justice and reform. The difference is, he didn't just talk a good talk, he walked a good walk! And I don't think he ever got arrested for protesting for social reform. The reform he advocated was active. He didn't just say "we need prison reform" he actually went into the prisons to minister to people both spiritually and physically. He didn't just say "we need to teach our children to read". He created Sunday School so children had the chance to not only hear the Word of God, but to also learn how to read it as well!
I guess that's my big bug-a-boo with the Social Principles. I think, to really have teeth you need to back it up with a strong biblical foundation and you need to be able to act upon that principle. Otherwise, as Shakespeare said it's all "sound and fury, signifying nothing."
I'll go even one step further. I'm not fully convinced that the Social Principles should be a part of the Book of Discipline. They are, in the history of the UMC, a very late addition. From my view in the pew, they have been more divisive than constructive or instructive. I'm sure there are many that would disagree. Either way, I think that as a church, we need a lot more discussion on this topic.
Here's the thing. To me, they read more like a political platform than a well thought out position. There's a lot of "we support this" and "we oppose that". I'm not the only one that has noticed this as I discovered after reading Allan R. Bevere's blog yesterday afternoon. The question is not so much the statement, but rather, where is the biblical justification to back up the statement? Or, to put it another way, where is the theology behind the social principles?
So to try and find an answer to this question, I did a search which brought me to the UMC General Board of Church and Society. I looked at the Social Principles and I looked at both of the PDF files that give the "Biblical Foundation" for our Social Principles and the "Kings Actions Condemned by the Prophets". If you would like to look at them, go here.
Now granted, I need to dig a little more deeply than just a quick run through on the scriptures (which is what I did this morning...I looked every single one up), but I have to tell you that my initial impression was...well, let's just say I was underwhelmed. Wow, UMC leadership, if this is the best ya got, Lord help us all!
And as far as quoting Wesley, no doubt that he was a serious advocate for social justice and reform. The difference is, he didn't just talk a good talk, he walked a good walk! And I don't think he ever got arrested for protesting for social reform. The reform he advocated was active. He didn't just say "we need prison reform" he actually went into the prisons to minister to people both spiritually and physically. He didn't just say "we need to teach our children to read". He created Sunday School so children had the chance to not only hear the Word of God, but to also learn how to read it as well!
I guess that's my big bug-a-boo with the Social Principles. I think, to really have teeth you need to back it up with a strong biblical foundation and you need to be able to act upon that principle. Otherwise, as Shakespeare said it's all "sound and fury, signifying nothing."
I'll go even one step further. I'm not fully convinced that the Social Principles should be a part of the Book of Discipline. They are, in the history of the UMC, a very late addition. From my view in the pew, they have been more divisive than constructive or instructive. I'm sure there are many that would disagree. Either way, I think that as a church, we need a lot more discussion on this topic.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Seriously, Who Exactly is Driving the Bus?
And the bad news just keeps rolling in! But as my mother is fond of saying, this too shall pass! I know the turmoil is real but this is one of those times when keeping your wits about you and focusing on the important things really can make a difference in the outcome! Who is driving your bus? The spirit of anarchy or the Holy Spirit that passes all understanding? Are you living in fear or are you living by faith? Which bus are you riding?
I have mentioned here previously that I've been working through Disciple Bible Study on my own. This is the Bible Study program that the United Methodist Church has widely promoted as being effective in teaching about discipleship. Wonder of wonders, after 17 weeks of study we are now FINALLY getting in to the New Testament. And this week's section is titled "Radical Discipleship" with today's reading focusing on Matthew 3-7 (talk about perfect timing). I've been using my Wesley Study Bible as I have gone through the Disciple study because it has extensive notes.
Contained within this section (chapter 5) is The Beatitudes-the "blessed are" verses. John Wesley preached extensively on the Sermon on the Mount and it is worth reading what he had to say! If you go to the Wesleyan Center for Applied Theology you can read the sermons (21-33) and I encourage you do so! Take your time because it will deepen your understanding on these very key scripture verses.
Now that I have gone round the mulberry bush and laid the groundwork for what I want to talk about, let me get back to my key point. Having read this material previously and, having read Wesley's sermons I have found a couple of things already that I disagree with in the Disciple Study and in the notes in the Wesley Study Bible (it's only Tuesday, for heaven's sake!) And in the grand scheme of things this relates to what is going on in our world today. Why is there such a hunger for this teaching and yet such a huge misunderstanding of what it means to be a disciple? Why does it seem like our moral compasses are so skewed and fear seems to be the predominate driving force? Where are our leaders? Who is driving the bus?
First, Disciple Bible Study defines a disciple as "a learner". Having already looked up the word, I know that this is not a fully accurate definition. It's accurate as far as it goes but it just doesn't go far enough! A much better definition is "apprentice". Why? Because it clearly implies that YOU must be active in your learning. A teacher may teach, but YOU must practice and then ultimately you must go out and use what you have been taught! Another key thing about apprenticeship is that you have to choose carefully who you follow. Who will be the best teacher? Or, in the modern vernacular "who are you going to let drive the bus?" Who are the leaders and teachers today? More importantly, are they the best choice?
My second "nitpick" (and yes, I may be splitting hairs here) is the Wesley Study Bible note (section on 5:17-48) that says "Righteousness, a term that is better translated as 'justice'..." Again, accurate as far as the definition goes but there is so much more to it! Let me ask you this, does the word grace come to mind when you think of the word justice? No? The definition of righteous in my dictionary says "in conformity with the moral law". What's the ultimate moral law in the Bible according to Jesus? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. In my opinion, you have to add grace in to the mix along with justice in order to have a full understanding of what righteousness implies. The grace of God through Jesus saves those who choose to follow. In turn, those who follow are expected to conform to the ultimate moral law, justice THROUGH grace, or put another way, justice BECAUSE of grace, which is righteousness. To me, this is a much bigger or more accurate picture of what the word means. There is an active component to this that has to come from me. Am I acting justly towards others because of the grace that I have received? Are my teachers and leaders leading by this example? Or is it a whole lot of self-serving lip service? Am I looking out for others or am I just looking out for me? Do I justify my actions or do I really act justly towards others?
All of this brings me around to the topic of morals and ethics and the importance of proper teaching and proper leading. Seriously, if you follow the news pundits you'd think the world was coming to an end! I hate to burst your doom and gloom bubble but I have to tell ya, in my little corner of the world the sun is still shining and the birds are still singing! Yes, the stock market has tanked, yes there has been a loss of paper money but in the whole scheme of things, is making money the ultimate end all and goal of life? Is the "dash for cash" the key critical factor in life? Is getting ahead really what I should be working towards? I know money matters because it pays the bills, keeps a roof over your head and buys the food but it's meant to be a tool, not the controlling mechanism of your existence. Yet, for a lot of people it is the only thing to live for!
There in lies the problem. We have people leading and teaching who have made the accumulation of wealth the key component to our existence. Their moral compass is skewed and when the spirit of anarchy decided to jump in, the end result was fear and chaos! Panic peaked, fears drove widespread sell offs and the economic engine went splat! Who is driving the bus? Chicken little? Is the sky really falling? Isn't that what some people think? This thinking extends far beyond the financial markets. This extends in to government and business as well. When the moral compass is out of whack bad policy follows! Maybe, if those in power stopped and asked the question "is this how I would want my friends or family or neighbors to treat me" we might see some different results! Which bus are they driving, the fear mobile or the faith express?
All of this demonstrates why Discipleship is critical to teach and critical for those in leadership. Apprenticeship, proper training, providing a firm understanding of the foundation and teaching others how to go out and use what they have learned-all of these are key elements to learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit in all walks of life. It's the source-it's what feeds the deep river and it is what keeps you on track! Without that firm moral compass you end up with anarchy. Take a good hard look around you and ask yourself, is this really how I want to live? Isn't there something more? Yes, there is and now is the time to grab hold of that something more!
People of God, it's time to start raising up leaders of courage with the right moral compass to drive the bus! It's time to stop talking about Discipleship and instead start creating true apprenticeships in order to teach courageous individuals how to step forward and lead. We already have the blueprint, let's start using it! Fear and chaos need to become the exception, not the rule! It's time to grab the wheel!
I have mentioned here previously that I've been working through Disciple Bible Study on my own. This is the Bible Study program that the United Methodist Church has widely promoted as being effective in teaching about discipleship. Wonder of wonders, after 17 weeks of study we are now FINALLY getting in to the New Testament. And this week's section is titled "Radical Discipleship" with today's reading focusing on Matthew 3-7 (talk about perfect timing). I've been using my Wesley Study Bible as I have gone through the Disciple study because it has extensive notes.
Contained within this section (chapter 5) is The Beatitudes-the "blessed are" verses. John Wesley preached extensively on the Sermon on the Mount and it is worth reading what he had to say! If you go to the Wesleyan Center for Applied Theology you can read the sermons (21-33) and I encourage you do so! Take your time because it will deepen your understanding on these very key scripture verses.
Now that I have gone round the mulberry bush and laid the groundwork for what I want to talk about, let me get back to my key point. Having read this material previously and, having read Wesley's sermons I have found a couple of things already that I disagree with in the Disciple Study and in the notes in the Wesley Study Bible (it's only Tuesday, for heaven's sake!) And in the grand scheme of things this relates to what is going on in our world today. Why is there such a hunger for this teaching and yet such a huge misunderstanding of what it means to be a disciple? Why does it seem like our moral compasses are so skewed and fear seems to be the predominate driving force? Where are our leaders? Who is driving the bus?
First, Disciple Bible Study defines a disciple as "a learner". Having already looked up the word, I know that this is not a fully accurate definition. It's accurate as far as it goes but it just doesn't go far enough! A much better definition is "apprentice". Why? Because it clearly implies that YOU must be active in your learning. A teacher may teach, but YOU must practice and then ultimately you must go out and use what you have been taught! Another key thing about apprenticeship is that you have to choose carefully who you follow. Who will be the best teacher? Or, in the modern vernacular "who are you going to let drive the bus?" Who are the leaders and teachers today? More importantly, are they the best choice?
My second "nitpick" (and yes, I may be splitting hairs here) is the Wesley Study Bible note (section on 5:17-48) that says "Righteousness, a term that is better translated as 'justice'..." Again, accurate as far as the definition goes but there is so much more to it! Let me ask you this, does the word grace come to mind when you think of the word justice? No? The definition of righteous in my dictionary says "in conformity with the moral law". What's the ultimate moral law in the Bible according to Jesus? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. In my opinion, you have to add grace in to the mix along with justice in order to have a full understanding of what righteousness implies. The grace of God through Jesus saves those who choose to follow. In turn, those who follow are expected to conform to the ultimate moral law, justice THROUGH grace, or put another way, justice BECAUSE of grace, which is righteousness. To me, this is a much bigger or more accurate picture of what the word means. There is an active component to this that has to come from me. Am I acting justly towards others because of the grace that I have received? Are my teachers and leaders leading by this example? Or is it a whole lot of self-serving lip service? Am I looking out for others or am I just looking out for me? Do I justify my actions or do I really act justly towards others?
All of this brings me around to the topic of morals and ethics and the importance of proper teaching and proper leading. Seriously, if you follow the news pundits you'd think the world was coming to an end! I hate to burst your doom and gloom bubble but I have to tell ya, in my little corner of the world the sun is still shining and the birds are still singing! Yes, the stock market has tanked, yes there has been a loss of paper money but in the whole scheme of things, is making money the ultimate end all and goal of life? Is the "dash for cash" the key critical factor in life? Is getting ahead really what I should be working towards? I know money matters because it pays the bills, keeps a roof over your head and buys the food but it's meant to be a tool, not the controlling mechanism of your existence. Yet, for a lot of people it is the only thing to live for!
There in lies the problem. We have people leading and teaching who have made the accumulation of wealth the key component to our existence. Their moral compass is skewed and when the spirit of anarchy decided to jump in, the end result was fear and chaos! Panic peaked, fears drove widespread sell offs and the economic engine went splat! Who is driving the bus? Chicken little? Is the sky really falling? Isn't that what some people think? This thinking extends far beyond the financial markets. This extends in to government and business as well. When the moral compass is out of whack bad policy follows! Maybe, if those in power stopped and asked the question "is this how I would want my friends or family or neighbors to treat me" we might see some different results! Which bus are they driving, the fear mobile or the faith express?
All of this demonstrates why Discipleship is critical to teach and critical for those in leadership. Apprenticeship, proper training, providing a firm understanding of the foundation and teaching others how to go out and use what they have learned-all of these are key elements to learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit in all walks of life. It's the source-it's what feeds the deep river and it is what keeps you on track! Without that firm moral compass you end up with anarchy. Take a good hard look around you and ask yourself, is this really how I want to live? Isn't there something more? Yes, there is and now is the time to grab hold of that something more!
People of God, it's time to start raising up leaders of courage with the right moral compass to drive the bus! It's time to stop talking about Discipleship and instead start creating true apprenticeships in order to teach courageous individuals how to step forward and lead. We already have the blueprint, let's start using it! Fear and chaos need to become the exception, not the rule! It's time to grab the wheel!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Use Your Head!
How many times have I heard this phrase over the years? It also falls on the list of "things I swore I'd never say but yet I did utter those very words!" I'm beginning to think in this day and age, it's not such a bad thing to say!
I ran across the phrase in The Message paraphrase of Colossians 4:
In our day of "instant everything" asking someone to really think seems like a tall order! It's a critical skill worth cultivating. Phrases like "think it through", "think before you act", "think before you speak" why do they matter? They matter because what you say or what you do matters! You can have a positive impact on your life or someone else's life Or, you can have a negative impact. If you want to avoid the negative, then you had better use your head and think it through before you say or do anything!
Thinking is something that Wesley encouraged as well. One of the church terms that gets used without a lot of explanation is "Wesleyan Quadrilateral". Simply put, Wesley believed that scripture, tradition, experience and reason are the tools to use on your faith journey. A life of Holiness is a continual process of engagement not a "check your brain at the door and just do what I tell you" style of living. Nope! It involves thinking and doing. It involves work.
Wait a second! We're saved by grace not by works! (That's what you're thinking, right?) That statement is absolutely correct. "Trudy, you just said I have to think and do and work!" Yes, I did. On the surface, it may sound like a contradiction, but it's not. Think of it in terms of your life. Did you get your diploma, or your job or your house or whatever by hoping or wishing or did you go out, do your homework, come up with a plan and then work towards achieving the goal? Of course you researched and created a plan and did the work because that is logical! That's how you achieve goals!
I've said it before I'll say it again. Grace is a gift. It's a gift from God. In accepting the gift it is understood that you are not going to be the same person you were before! You're not going to do the same things that you did before! You are expected to share this gift of grace! You change and grow inwardly. That change is then reflected in what you do outwardly! The change reflects a change in thinking, which leads to a change in how we act towards others. Rather than discouraging independent thinking, it encourages using your head!
Wesley believed that scripture was God inspired. Tradition means asking how has this scripture has been consistently interpreted and how does someone else's interpretation line up with the traditional interpretation? Reason asks "does this make sense?" Experience shows whether the "latest, greatest" interpretation pans out in the real world. Bottom line, it matches perfectly with what Paul was saying about using your head! God is not asking us to sit back and let someone else give us the answers. God is encouraging us to think and to act!
How do I help and encourage others? What can I do to bring out the best in myself, my family, my church, my community? These are the sorts of questions you start asking on your faith journey. The God inspired ideas start coming. Work becomes a joy because your hands reflect the ideas in your head which reflect the change in your heart!
So let's all use our heads! That's what the good Lord made it for!
I ran across the phrase in The Message paraphrase of Colossians 4:
"Use your head as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."Use your head, be gracious, bring out the best in others, don't put them down-that's some pretty sound advice if you ask me! Sort of falls along the lines of the old phrase "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
In our day of "instant everything" asking someone to really think seems like a tall order! It's a critical skill worth cultivating. Phrases like "think it through", "think before you act", "think before you speak" why do they matter? They matter because what you say or what you do matters! You can have a positive impact on your life or someone else's life Or, you can have a negative impact. If you want to avoid the negative, then you had better use your head and think it through before you say or do anything!
Thinking is something that Wesley encouraged as well. One of the church terms that gets used without a lot of explanation is "Wesleyan Quadrilateral". Simply put, Wesley believed that scripture, tradition, experience and reason are the tools to use on your faith journey. A life of Holiness is a continual process of engagement not a "check your brain at the door and just do what I tell you" style of living. Nope! It involves thinking and doing. It involves work.
Wait a second! We're saved by grace not by works! (That's what you're thinking, right?) That statement is absolutely correct. "Trudy, you just said I have to think and do and work!" Yes, I did. On the surface, it may sound like a contradiction, but it's not. Think of it in terms of your life. Did you get your diploma, or your job or your house or whatever by hoping or wishing or did you go out, do your homework, come up with a plan and then work towards achieving the goal? Of course you researched and created a plan and did the work because that is logical! That's how you achieve goals!
I've said it before I'll say it again. Grace is a gift. It's a gift from God. In accepting the gift it is understood that you are not going to be the same person you were before! You're not going to do the same things that you did before! You are expected to share this gift of grace! You change and grow inwardly. That change is then reflected in what you do outwardly! The change reflects a change in thinking, which leads to a change in how we act towards others. Rather than discouraging independent thinking, it encourages using your head!
Wesley believed that scripture was God inspired. Tradition means asking how has this scripture has been consistently interpreted and how does someone else's interpretation line up with the traditional interpretation? Reason asks "does this make sense?" Experience shows whether the "latest, greatest" interpretation pans out in the real world. Bottom line, it matches perfectly with what Paul was saying about using your head! God is not asking us to sit back and let someone else give us the answers. God is encouraging us to think and to act!
How do I help and encourage others? What can I do to bring out the best in myself, my family, my church, my community? These are the sorts of questions you start asking on your faith journey. The God inspired ideas start coming. Work becomes a joy because your hands reflect the ideas in your head which reflect the change in your heart!
So let's all use our heads! That's what the good Lord made it for!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Opinion is not Religion
One of the shortest John Wesley sermons that I have read is his sermon "On the Trinity" where he starts out with this statement:
Not that this is a new or modern phenomena. Ah yes, history does love to repeat itself because we choose to ignore the past! In Luke 18, Jesus is telling the story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee. I like how The Message Paraphrase words it because I can clearly picture it in my head:
The tax man knew who he was and didn't make excuses or try to deny the truth. He knew he was a sinner! We don't know the rest of the story but if you look at your own life, change happens from within when you get honest and choose to simply be yourself. When you acknowledge your shortcomings and ask God to work through you, inward change is reflected by your outward response to the world around you!
The Pharisee on the other hand was living in the world of opinion that became his "religion". He "posed" before starting his prayer, he was "all that" and he knew it because he was an "expert" he was "high class" he was obviously better than the common man! But who did Jesus say was made right with God that day?
So where are the modern day examples you ask? Let's start with church. How many people stay away from church because they think they are not good enough to be there in the first place? They make a statement like "I will go to church when I..." (insert whatever various reason they give for not being good enough to go in the first place). And let's be honest, the church hasn't done a lot to change that perception! Somehow we have managed to make people outside the church think that they are not welcome unless they have it all together.
Then there is politics. Agreements can not be reached nor plans made because the latest opinion poll shows that compromise might effect the possibility of being re-elected. So they do TV interviews and make speeches about how right they are and how wrong the other person is without regard to what is best for the country. They do nothing but try to look good while we teeter closer and closer with the cliff edge.
In science you have individuals who have researched and have formed opinions but they haven't been able to prove them yet. The good scientist clearly state that it is simply an idea that they haven't proven. They are humble enough to admit that they could be wrong. The arrogant scientist will word their opinion as fact even though it hasn't been proven. And heaven help the individual within the field who might disagree because they stand a good chance of being ostracized because they are not in the same league as the "great and mighty one!"
Oh how the mighty will fall if they continue to walk around with their nose in the air! They take their opinions and proclaim them with a religious zeal that would be the envy of any great camp meeting preacher! The religion of opinion? World view prevailing over God's view? On the surface, it may look like a hopeless situation, but it's not. There is always hope with God!
I have a choice. I can start with me. I can start with simply being who I am. I can study the Bible and pray and follow in the way that God leads. I can do what God asks me to do and I can strive to change what I can for the better. I can treat others with dignity and respect even if we differ in opinion. I can look for common ground and work to find solutions. We all have that God given power! We don't have to bow to the religion of opinion! One person can make a difference! And the change will happen when we start with being who we are and confess just like the tax man "God give mercy. Forgive me a sinner."
The difference between the tax man and the Pharisee comes down to humility. One chose to listen to opinion, the other chose God as his source. Each of us has the same choice as to who we will listen to and what path we will follow. Choose your source! Choose wisely!
"Whatsoever the generality of people may think, it is certain that opinion is not religion... Persons may be quite right in their opinions, and yet have no religion at all; and, on the other hand, persons may be truly religious, who hold many wrong opinions."Wesley was talking about people who had a hard time believing in the Trinity (the 3 in 1 of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) because they couldn't fully explain or understand it. But I think his statement, taken in a broader context, can sum up pretty precisely why there is so much conflict in our world today. We have allowed opinions to be turned into quasi religion! Say it long enough and loud enough and people might just start believing it!
Not that this is a new or modern phenomena. Ah yes, history does love to repeat itself because we choose to ignore the past! In Luke 18, Jesus is telling the story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee. I like how The Message Paraphrase words it because I can clearly picture it in my head:
"The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' Meanwhile, the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"What a contrast in approach! Here's the kicker:
"Jesus commented, 'This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.'"God's view or the world view? Time and again, we are asked to choose our source. This occurs all the time, whether it is at church, or in politics, or science, or life in general. Getting to know God's view, choosing him as our source takes work, especially if you want to become more than yourself!
The tax man knew who he was and didn't make excuses or try to deny the truth. He knew he was a sinner! We don't know the rest of the story but if you look at your own life, change happens from within when you get honest and choose to simply be yourself. When you acknowledge your shortcomings and ask God to work through you, inward change is reflected by your outward response to the world around you!
The Pharisee on the other hand was living in the world of opinion that became his "religion". He "posed" before starting his prayer, he was "all that" and he knew it because he was an "expert" he was "high class" he was obviously better than the common man! But who did Jesus say was made right with God that day?
So where are the modern day examples you ask? Let's start with church. How many people stay away from church because they think they are not good enough to be there in the first place? They make a statement like "I will go to church when I..." (insert whatever various reason they give for not being good enough to go in the first place). And let's be honest, the church hasn't done a lot to change that perception! Somehow we have managed to make people outside the church think that they are not welcome unless they have it all together.
Then there is politics. Agreements can not be reached nor plans made because the latest opinion poll shows that compromise might effect the possibility of being re-elected. So they do TV interviews and make speeches about how right they are and how wrong the other person is without regard to what is best for the country. They do nothing but try to look good while we teeter closer and closer with the cliff edge.
In science you have individuals who have researched and have formed opinions but they haven't been able to prove them yet. The good scientist clearly state that it is simply an idea that they haven't proven. They are humble enough to admit that they could be wrong. The arrogant scientist will word their opinion as fact even though it hasn't been proven. And heaven help the individual within the field who might disagree because they stand a good chance of being ostracized because they are not in the same league as the "great and mighty one!"
Oh how the mighty will fall if they continue to walk around with their nose in the air! They take their opinions and proclaim them with a religious zeal that would be the envy of any great camp meeting preacher! The religion of opinion? World view prevailing over God's view? On the surface, it may look like a hopeless situation, but it's not. There is always hope with God!
I have a choice. I can start with me. I can start with simply being who I am. I can study the Bible and pray and follow in the way that God leads. I can do what God asks me to do and I can strive to change what I can for the better. I can treat others with dignity and respect even if we differ in opinion. I can look for common ground and work to find solutions. We all have that God given power! We don't have to bow to the religion of opinion! One person can make a difference! And the change will happen when we start with being who we are and confess just like the tax man "God give mercy. Forgive me a sinner."
The difference between the tax man and the Pharisee comes down to humility. One chose to listen to opinion, the other chose God as his source. Each of us has the same choice as to who we will listen to and what path we will follow. Choose your source! Choose wisely!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
See Your Vision and Make it Plain
Why is it that I can understand Wesley's sermons more easily than I can understand some of the sermons delivered by modern ministers? Wesley uses terms like "thee" and "thou" and words that you don't even hear anymore like concord (who knew it was more than a grape or a plane! It means harmony.) How many of us who sit in the pews get asked "well what did your minister talk about?" How many of us are unable to come up with a good answer?
I think the first problem may be what some would refer to as "churchese" or "religionese"-the words that get used that sound warm and fuzzy but unless you are within a select circle you have no idea what they really mean. Every profession has their own unique language-teachers, doctors, lawyers, for example, and it is to be expected but when you are trying to communicate an idea to a lay person, you have to speak in plain language.
I think a second issue is that we try to take something simple and make it sound more sophisticated or complex than it really needs to be! Some of it may have to do with ego (see my education paid off, I really do know something) but I think actually it has more to do with this desire to come up with the coolest spin for the latest ad campaign. Somehow what we have is not cool enough or flashy enough or catchy enough so we have to re-invent it in some way. The result is a failure to communicate.
Let me give you an example. Our church had a workshop where a consultant from the conference came in and gave his presentation. One of the points that he consistently hammered on was the need to bring in more children, youth and young adults. But every "contemporary" example that he used came from the Boomer generation. Being a Gen-X'er I understood his points but I couldn't relate to them. I (like an idiot) mentioned this at the end during the comments time and he looked at me like I had grown three heads! (Thanks for listening...not!) Look folks, I understand the assassination of JFK was a big deal but I didn't experience it personally. It is modern history but for me it is still history! The Challenger explosion, I can relate to, but the Millennium generation can't because they didn't experience it as it happened. September 11th, that is a point in time that the older Millennium generation can understand and relate to because they experienced it happening. I share this because at this workshop there were young adults (those individuals that the church is trying to involve) and what they got out of it amounted to very little that they could relate to or apply. And we wonder why our message isn't getting through...
I could give you more examples but I hope you get my point! I have read enough of the Wesley sermons now that I can see a pattern and even though the wording is archaic I still get the point of his messages. Wesley takes scripture and if it is Old Testament relates it to New Testament and vice versa. He explains how it has been understood in the historical context, how traditionally it has been interpreted. He then follows it up with why it is important to the here and now today! People may not have agreed or embraced his message but dollars to donuts, they understood what he said to them!
So I am paraphrasing Habakkuk 2:2 here when I say see your vision and make it plain. What is the scripture that you want to talk about? Where is the connection between Old Testament and New Testament? How has it been historically interpreted? How do I take this and use it in my life today? Ask some questions so I have something to mull over during the week! Point me towards figuring out how I can apply this in a practical way!
Now this doesn't mean that you have to spill some deep dark secret or that you have to use vulgar language for shock value, which seems to be the latest greatest trend. What it means is that simple is better! If you are going to use "churchese" then explain what that warm and fuzzy term really means in plain English!
If you want members to run with the message, if you want them to "go out and make disciples" then put the message out in a way that is concise and clear so they can understand! Honest to goodness it really is that simple! Discipleship in its simplest form means apprenticeship or training someone so they can do the job. Trust me, there are people sitting in your pews starving for that sort of message! And when you light that fire, look out cause it's gonna burn! Ah, what a vision!
I think the first problem may be what some would refer to as "churchese" or "religionese"-the words that get used that sound warm and fuzzy but unless you are within a select circle you have no idea what they really mean. Every profession has their own unique language-teachers, doctors, lawyers, for example, and it is to be expected but when you are trying to communicate an idea to a lay person, you have to speak in plain language.
I think a second issue is that we try to take something simple and make it sound more sophisticated or complex than it really needs to be! Some of it may have to do with ego (see my education paid off, I really do know something) but I think actually it has more to do with this desire to come up with the coolest spin for the latest ad campaign. Somehow what we have is not cool enough or flashy enough or catchy enough so we have to re-invent it in some way. The result is a failure to communicate.
Let me give you an example. Our church had a workshop where a consultant from the conference came in and gave his presentation. One of the points that he consistently hammered on was the need to bring in more children, youth and young adults. But every "contemporary" example that he used came from the Boomer generation. Being a Gen-X'er I understood his points but I couldn't relate to them. I (like an idiot) mentioned this at the end during the comments time and he looked at me like I had grown three heads! (Thanks for listening...not!) Look folks, I understand the assassination of JFK was a big deal but I didn't experience it personally. It is modern history but for me it is still history! The Challenger explosion, I can relate to, but the Millennium generation can't because they didn't experience it as it happened. September 11th, that is a point in time that the older Millennium generation can understand and relate to because they experienced it happening. I share this because at this workshop there were young adults (those individuals that the church is trying to involve) and what they got out of it amounted to very little that they could relate to or apply. And we wonder why our message isn't getting through...
I could give you more examples but I hope you get my point! I have read enough of the Wesley sermons now that I can see a pattern and even though the wording is archaic I still get the point of his messages. Wesley takes scripture and if it is Old Testament relates it to New Testament and vice versa. He explains how it has been understood in the historical context, how traditionally it has been interpreted. He then follows it up with why it is important to the here and now today! People may not have agreed or embraced his message but dollars to donuts, they understood what he said to them!
So I am paraphrasing Habakkuk 2:2 here when I say see your vision and make it plain. What is the scripture that you want to talk about? Where is the connection between Old Testament and New Testament? How has it been historically interpreted? How do I take this and use it in my life today? Ask some questions so I have something to mull over during the week! Point me towards figuring out how I can apply this in a practical way!
Now this doesn't mean that you have to spill some deep dark secret or that you have to use vulgar language for shock value, which seems to be the latest greatest trend. What it means is that simple is better! If you are going to use "churchese" then explain what that warm and fuzzy term really means in plain English!
If you want members to run with the message, if you want them to "go out and make disciples" then put the message out in a way that is concise and clear so they can understand! Honest to goodness it really is that simple! Discipleship in its simplest form means apprenticeship or training someone so they can do the job. Trust me, there are people sitting in your pews starving for that sort of message! And when you light that fire, look out cause it's gonna burn! Ah, what a vision!
Friday, June 24, 2011
What are you being asked to do?
The United Methodist Church currently has this big push "to go and make disciples" based on Jesus' commissioning of the disciples in Matthew 28. They have lots of catchy campaign slogans and this is the foundation and driving force behind "Call to Action" and "Healthy Church Initiative" just to give you a couple of examples. My personal opinion, I think they put the cart in front of the horse. They have the right idea but they're coming at it from the wrong direction.
The beauty of Wesley's basic Methodism was that he understood that change comes from within FIRST and when you feel that love of God within you, you are compelled to share it with others. If the heart is "strangely warmed", if change begins to happen within you, ideas start to flow. You see and notice things that you didn't pay attention to before and you feel compelled to do something! I think that's why Wesley emphasized (rightly so) the importance of reading scripture, of praying, fasting and being in fellowship with others who help hold you accountable and keep you moving on the right path. You don't do mission work simply to do mission work. You do the work because it truly matters to you! It is a reflection of what is inside of you.
Some friends from church are currently down in Joplin, Missouri helping out with tornado relief efforts. Cindy, who is the driving force behind this effort, posted on Face book one day "I'm thinking of going down to Joplin to cook, who wants to come?" That simple question led to a group of friends getting together to go and help out in any way possible. This wasn't organized by the church. It didn't have the backing of some slick ad campaign. It started from the heart of one person who felt compelled to do something!
The same thing happened when my friend Sonia came up with the idea of creating a coffee house space at our church for young adults who didn't want to go to Sunday School on Sunday mornings but wanted some place to gather. Sonia shared her idea with some other folks in her adult Sunday School class and Higher Grounds Coffeehouse was born. One person, with a God inspired idea, who shared it with others to turn it into a reality because she felt compelled to do something!
I could talk about another friend, Crystal, who, as a young adult, felt that it was important that our church offer Vacation Bible School. It wasn't really in the budget but she shared the idea with others and created a wonderful VBS experience for children on half a shoestring! Crystal has also taken over as youth group leader as well because she wanted the youth to experience the same positive atmosphere that she did as a teenager! There are a lot of other things she could be doing but she feels compelled to act and lead!
Great, God inspired ideas, do not come from committee or because they are on some arbitrary checklist. They come from within, from the heart, from a compelling need to do something for others. And a changed heart comes from following in Christ's footsteps. You learn by reading scripture and meditating on what it is saying to you personally. That leads to the prayer "God, what are you asking me to do?" That's the point that I am at right now in my spiritual walk. My guess is that some of you reading this are at that point as well. I don't have an answer yet but I have hope that I will soon! Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Maybe God has already given you a plan or idea but you haven't acted on it because you don't think the church will back the idea. Do it anyway! If you feel compelled because your heart is telling you it's the right thing to do then do it! If it's a God idea it's gonna go regardless of what others say or think! If you feel strongly about volunteering at the battered women's shelter or starting a prison ministry or delivering for meals on wheels than do it! Change comes because compassionate people act. People are compassionate not because it looks good, it is because they have a heart for compassion.
What is God asking you to do? Study, pray, discern, act. And God be with you!
The beauty of Wesley's basic Methodism was that he understood that change comes from within FIRST and when you feel that love of God within you, you are compelled to share it with others. If the heart is "strangely warmed", if change begins to happen within you, ideas start to flow. You see and notice things that you didn't pay attention to before and you feel compelled to do something! I think that's why Wesley emphasized (rightly so) the importance of reading scripture, of praying, fasting and being in fellowship with others who help hold you accountable and keep you moving on the right path. You don't do mission work simply to do mission work. You do the work because it truly matters to you! It is a reflection of what is inside of you.
Some friends from church are currently down in Joplin, Missouri helping out with tornado relief efforts. Cindy, who is the driving force behind this effort, posted on Face book one day "I'm thinking of going down to Joplin to cook, who wants to come?" That simple question led to a group of friends getting together to go and help out in any way possible. This wasn't organized by the church. It didn't have the backing of some slick ad campaign. It started from the heart of one person who felt compelled to do something!
The same thing happened when my friend Sonia came up with the idea of creating a coffee house space at our church for young adults who didn't want to go to Sunday School on Sunday mornings but wanted some place to gather. Sonia shared her idea with some other folks in her adult Sunday School class and Higher Grounds Coffeehouse was born. One person, with a God inspired idea, who shared it with others to turn it into a reality because she felt compelled to do something!
I could talk about another friend, Crystal, who, as a young adult, felt that it was important that our church offer Vacation Bible School. It wasn't really in the budget but she shared the idea with others and created a wonderful VBS experience for children on half a shoestring! Crystal has also taken over as youth group leader as well because she wanted the youth to experience the same positive atmosphere that she did as a teenager! There are a lot of other things she could be doing but she feels compelled to act and lead!
Great, God inspired ideas, do not come from committee or because they are on some arbitrary checklist. They come from within, from the heart, from a compelling need to do something for others. And a changed heart comes from following in Christ's footsteps. You learn by reading scripture and meditating on what it is saying to you personally. That leads to the prayer "God, what are you asking me to do?" That's the point that I am at right now in my spiritual walk. My guess is that some of you reading this are at that point as well. I don't have an answer yet but I have hope that I will soon! Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Maybe God has already given you a plan or idea but you haven't acted on it because you don't think the church will back the idea. Do it anyway! If you feel compelled because your heart is telling you it's the right thing to do then do it! If it's a God idea it's gonna go regardless of what others say or think! If you feel strongly about volunteering at the battered women's shelter or starting a prison ministry or delivering for meals on wheels than do it! Change comes because compassionate people act. People are compassionate not because it looks good, it is because they have a heart for compassion.
What is God asking you to do? Study, pray, discern, act. And God be with you!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wesleyan Terminiology Part 2: Justification and Sanctification
Now I know that understanding the old English in a Wesley sermon can be hard but I really encourage you to read all of Justification by Faith because the sermon does an excellent job of explaining what these terms mean. Also, you will run across a word that Wesley uses in a lot of his sermons: vouchsafe. In modern English it means to grant or to give as a favor.
Having said that, let's talk about Justification first. Using Romans 4:5 as the basis, Wesley defines Justification this way:
Sanctification is considered by Wesley to be a "fruit" of Justification. Although the slate is wiped clean, because we are human, the roots and weed seeds of sin still live within us and they can sprout again if we are not on our guard. Thus, the saying "from grace, to grace to grace" came about. I had a hard time understanding this at first because I have heard both terms used to describe the same exact thing. Then I looked outside at my garden and the explanation clicked.
Here in Missouri we have some weeds that if you don't get them out early will continue to plague you throughout the growing season. So I went out, garden fork in hand and turned every square inch of the upper half of the garden. I dug down and pulled out 6 inch taproots, I pulled every runner root, dug every wild onion, put it all in a bucket and stuck it on the compost pile. I dug it all out, I took all the weeds out of the garden, removed them completely. The section was completely bare!
A few days later, after a little rain and a little sun I looked out and lo and behold, there was a blanket of green on that bare ground! Ah ha! The light bulb went on in my little head. I'm forgiven so sin no longer has control but the roots of sin still exist within me. If I'm not careful they will sprout again! Wesley put it this way in his sermon On Sin in Believers:
For me personally, understanding these concepts was a huge relief! I know that I don't always get things right! Sometimes, I just totally and completely blow it, whatever "it" happens to be on my path! Now, because I have a better understanding of what Sanctification means, I can recognize a mistake, I can admit to it, ask forgiveness, correct what I can and move on AND have faith that the spirit is still working within me! I understand why it is so important to watch, guard and pray. I understand why it is so important to read scripture everyday. It's a spiritual battle. The tools are spiritual. Justification is the good root. Sanctification is the visible proof or "fruit".
Thank you God that spiritual perfection is a process and not a prerequisite!
Having said that, let's talk about Justification first. Using Romans 4:5 as the basis, Wesley defines Justification this way:
"...In consideration of this, that the Son of God hath "tasted death for every man," God hath now "reconciled the world to himself, not imputing to them their" former "trespasses." And thus, "as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification." So that, for the sake of his well-beloved Son, of what he hath done and suffered for us, God now vouchsafes, on one only condition, (which himself also enables us to perform,) both to remit the punishment due to our sins, to reinstate us in his favour, and to restore our dead souls to spiritual life, as the earnest of life eternal."In other words, if you accept Christ as Saviour, by faith, God grants forgiveness of sins and there is a restoration of right relationship with God. Justification.
Sanctification is considered by Wesley to be a "fruit" of Justification. Although the slate is wiped clean, because we are human, the roots and weed seeds of sin still live within us and they can sprout again if we are not on our guard. Thus, the saying "from grace, to grace to grace" came about. I had a hard time understanding this at first because I have heard both terms used to describe the same exact thing. Then I looked outside at my garden and the explanation clicked.
Here in Missouri we have some weeds that if you don't get them out early will continue to plague you throughout the growing season. So I went out, garden fork in hand and turned every square inch of the upper half of the garden. I dug down and pulled out 6 inch taproots, I pulled every runner root, dug every wild onion, put it all in a bucket and stuck it on the compost pile. I dug it all out, I took all the weeds out of the garden, removed them completely. The section was completely bare!
A few days later, after a little rain and a little sun I looked out and lo and behold, there was a blanket of green on that bare ground! Ah ha! The light bulb went on in my little head. I'm forgiven so sin no longer has control but the roots of sin still exist within me. If I'm not careful they will sprout again! Wesley put it this way in his sermon On Sin in Believers:
" Let us, therefore, hold fast the sound doctrine "once delivered to the saints," and delivered down by them with the written word to all succeeding generations: That although we are renewed, cleansed, purified, sanctified, the moment we truly believe in Christ, yet we are not then renewed, cleansed, purified altogether; but the flesh, the evil nature, still remains (though subdued) and wars against the Spirit."Sanctification is an ongoing process. It's spiritual work. When a "weed" pops up, it makes you stop and ask yourself if this truly reflects the love of God at work in your life. If not, then it's time to pray that the spirit renews, cleanses and purifies you so you can be further sanctified.
For me personally, understanding these concepts was a huge relief! I know that I don't always get things right! Sometimes, I just totally and completely blow it, whatever "it" happens to be on my path! Now, because I have a better understanding of what Sanctification means, I can recognize a mistake, I can admit to it, ask forgiveness, correct what I can and move on AND have faith that the spirit is still working within me! I understand why it is so important to watch, guard and pray. I understand why it is so important to read scripture everyday. It's a spiritual battle. The tools are spiritual. Justification is the good root. Sanctification is the visible proof or "fruit".
Thank you God that spiritual perfection is a process and not a prerequisite!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Try Loving Your Neighbor (a.k.a. Get a Clue!)
I wish I could say that I was surprised after reading this article on yahoo news about worker's share of national income plummeting to record lows. I'm not! Nor are many people around the country surprised by this report. This is the reality that main street is living with on a day to day basis. Some refer to this as "class warfare"-the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and those in between are sliding down a slippery slope.
It's not a new concept. Look back in history at Egypt, Rome, France and even during Wesley's lifetime in merry ole England. People get wonko when "religion" starts talking about "matters of state" but you need to realize that many of the things that "state" is concerned with are the very same things that "church" is concerned with as well. The bottom line acid test question-do you love your neighbor as yourself? Government is supposed to exist to protect the rights the governed. Church exists to teach people to "love your neighbor as yourself" because God loved you first! Different sides of the same coin.
Wesley did not shy away from this by any stretch of the imagination. Not only did he preach on it; the various societies set up prison ministries and Sunday School in order to teach the children who worked in factories how to read-just to give you a couple of examples! Wesley believed that the inward change of heart was reflected in an outward change of action. The more love you have, the more you want to share that love with others in practical ways.
I think the problem we see today is that too many people think they "deserve" something. On one end of the spectrum you have the philosophy of I worked hard, I earned this, I deserve what I buy, own, etc. On the other hand there are individuals who feel they are entitled, life has been hard, it's o.k. if I work the system. Then you have folks in the middle-they would just like to have what they need and they are willing to work for it and they are willing to help others along the way. Not all rich are greedy. Not all poor are trying to milk the system. Not everyone in the middle is willing to lend a hand. But let's face it, this is typically how the discussion is framed which is a sad commentary on the state of civility and honest conversation!
Jesus said in Luke 12:48 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Wesley in his sermon "The Law Established Through Faith-Discourse One" talks about how people who are saved by grace suddenly think they do not have to follow the same rules as before because anything goes.
"...Is your conscience as tender now in these things as it was then Do you still follow the same rule both in furniture and apparel, trampling all finer, all superfluity, every thing useless, every thing merely ornamental, however fashionable, underfoot Rather, have you not resumed what you had once laid aside, and what you could not then use without wounding you conscience And have you not learned to say, "O, I am not so scrupulous now" I would to God you were! Then you would not sin thus, "because you are not under the law, but under grace!"
In other words the Grace of God that kept you humble has exited the building of your heart! Suddenly, you're a Christian and you do what you want to do, when you want to do it, how you want to do it and you don't worry about anyone or anything else because "you're under grace, not the law!" Hogwash! If you truly understand the concept than you KNOW that you are called to a higher standard! That's the point that Wesley was trying to make in his sermon-don't use grace as an excuse.
There is nothing wrong with working hard and providing for your family and giving them what they need! We cross the line when we feel that we have no obligation to help others. How different would things be today if we had the courage to reach out to others to assist, guide, mentor? How can we go wrong in loving others by giving them a sense of hope and in some instances, real, tangible assistance?
There are individuals and groups that put their money where their mouth is and practice what they preach. More are needed! Let's humble ourselves and use our resources to reach out to our neighbors. It's painfully obvious that change is not going to come from Washington D.C. Real change will come from you and I and a lot of other individuals around the country "loving our neighbors" and making our communities better, stronger places for everyone!
It's time for a little humble pie and a whole lot of loving our neighbors!
It's not a new concept. Look back in history at Egypt, Rome, France and even during Wesley's lifetime in merry ole England. People get wonko when "religion" starts talking about "matters of state" but you need to realize that many of the things that "state" is concerned with are the very same things that "church" is concerned with as well. The bottom line acid test question-do you love your neighbor as yourself? Government is supposed to exist to protect the rights the governed. Church exists to teach people to "love your neighbor as yourself" because God loved you first! Different sides of the same coin.
Wesley did not shy away from this by any stretch of the imagination. Not only did he preach on it; the various societies set up prison ministries and Sunday School in order to teach the children who worked in factories how to read-just to give you a couple of examples! Wesley believed that the inward change of heart was reflected in an outward change of action. The more love you have, the more you want to share that love with others in practical ways.
I think the problem we see today is that too many people think they "deserve" something. On one end of the spectrum you have the philosophy of I worked hard, I earned this, I deserve what I buy, own, etc. On the other hand there are individuals who feel they are entitled, life has been hard, it's o.k. if I work the system. Then you have folks in the middle-they would just like to have what they need and they are willing to work for it and they are willing to help others along the way. Not all rich are greedy. Not all poor are trying to milk the system. Not everyone in the middle is willing to lend a hand. But let's face it, this is typically how the discussion is framed which is a sad commentary on the state of civility and honest conversation!
Jesus said in Luke 12:48 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Wesley in his sermon "The Law Established Through Faith-Discourse One" talks about how people who are saved by grace suddenly think they do not have to follow the same rules as before because anything goes.
"...Is your conscience as tender now in these things as it was then Do you still follow the same rule both in furniture and apparel, trampling all finer, all superfluity, every thing useless, every thing merely ornamental, however fashionable, underfoot Rather, have you not resumed what you had once laid aside, and what you could not then use without wounding you conscience And have you not learned to say, "O, I am not so scrupulous now" I would to God you were! Then you would not sin thus, "because you are not under the law, but under grace!"
In other words the Grace of God that kept you humble has exited the building of your heart! Suddenly, you're a Christian and you do what you want to do, when you want to do it, how you want to do it and you don't worry about anyone or anything else because "you're under grace, not the law!" Hogwash! If you truly understand the concept than you KNOW that you are called to a higher standard! That's the point that Wesley was trying to make in his sermon-don't use grace as an excuse.
There is nothing wrong with working hard and providing for your family and giving them what they need! We cross the line when we feel that we have no obligation to help others. How different would things be today if we had the courage to reach out to others to assist, guide, mentor? How can we go wrong in loving others by giving them a sense of hope and in some instances, real, tangible assistance?
There are individuals and groups that put their money where their mouth is and practice what they preach. More are needed! Let's humble ourselves and use our resources to reach out to our neighbors. It's painfully obvious that change is not going to come from Washington D.C. Real change will come from you and I and a lot of other individuals around the country "loving our neighbors" and making our communities better, stronger places for everyone!
It's time for a little humble pie and a whole lot of loving our neighbors!
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