Is Jesus a Conservative or a Liberal?

Today's sermon will surely generate discussion for some time to come.  Calling attention to our need to reexamine our "oral tradition" concerning instrumental music and restrictions on women is no small matter.  It is as though there has been a large elephant in the room that everyone is aware of, but nobody wants to talk about.  Some will surely become very excited thinking that the church is about to change dramatically.  Many will be optimistic about this and many others depressed or even angry. However, calling attention to the elephant in the middle of the room is NOT advocating doing anything about it necessarily, except acknowledging its presence. Then we are in a position to talk about it and decide if the Lord desires us to make any changes, or to leave things as they are.  But for the sake of our teens and young adults especially, we must address the subjects!

Unfortunately, I fear that in the midst of highlighting these two areas in need of discussion we run the danger of missing the heart of Jesus' message; which is the heart!  There is no way we can preserve the unity of the Spirit if evil is coming out of our hearts.  The track record of churches talking about sensitive subjects is not good.  Because of this churches are reluctant to honestly examine controversial issues.  The problem is not in talking about difficult topics but in the arrogance and slanderous manner in which church folks conduct themselves.  If we will all repent of the evil that lives within our hearts we will surely be able to talk about any subject, no matter how controversial, and together discern the leading of God's Holy Spirit.  True followers of Christ would not have it any other way.

Soft Bread and Hard Hearts

How much stock should I put into comments made to me after the sermon?  It seems today I invited an unusually large number of statements to be made concerning my inept math skills.  (Will I ever become ept?) I have come to expect this if numbers play any role in my sermon.  Today's blunder, however, was a mere slip of the tongue, not a true math miscalculation.  Be that as it may, a fair percentage of you made sure that it did not go unnoticed.

Others were much kinder making sure they communicated their good feelings about the sermon and it's presentation.  I have learned that anytime I get children from the congregation involved at least that part of the sermon will gain congregational good will.  

Before leaving the building I heard one comment that indicated someone managed to get past the financial misspeak and grasp the intended point of the presentation.  This person told me that they were having some difficulties at work and the sermon served as a good reminder for them that just as God has helped them in the past he will continue to provide what they need in the present.  Indeed!  As much as I enjoy a good laugh over my verbal mistakes; and as good as it makes me feel to know that my lessons are appreciated, the highest compliment I can receive is that someone found God in the midst of the sermon.

I keep a post-it note above my computer monitor that has two statements written as quotations.  The first one reads, "Thank you preacher for enlightening me."  The second, "Thank you God for saving me."  This serves as a reminder to me that whenever I preach I want people to walk away with the second statement on their hearts, minds, and lips. 

Traveling Light

We suffer from Bible over-familiarity.  By this I mean we know the Bible stories so well that they no longer produce an emotional reaction in us.  For example, in today's sermon I told the story-in-the-story of John the Baptist's unjust murder.  He upset some powerful people and they have his head cut off and placed on a dinner platter.  We've heard that story so many times that it has lost much of its power. 

Today I tried to "re-frame" the story by telling about the horrible murder of five missionaries more than 50 years ago.  Hearing about the incredible faith, not only of the young men, but also of their young wives and later of their grown children, makes the story produce many emotions.  Someone said I should have provided tissues in the pews. 

This story impacted my life when I was a college student and continues to shape it to this day.  If you would like to learn more I would recommend the following resources:

•  Elisabeth's Elliot's classic book, Through Gates of Splendor is avaliable at most public librarys
• At least three DVD's are available
• Through Gates of Splendor is a documentary narrated by Elisabeth Elliot.  It is 36 minutes in legnth
• Beyond Gates of Splendor is professionally produced documentary which appeared in theaters in 2002.  It features Steve Saint, son one of the slain missionaries and is 96 minutes long.
• The movie clip I showed today was from The End of The Spear produced in 2006.  It is a powerful retelling of the story bringing it up to the current day.

Below (if reading this on my blog) you can find some easy links to buy each of these items on Amazon.

Impact Week 2010

My favorite part of the service today were the interviews I was able to have with so many of our members who were involved in Impact Week.  Even though Impact Week is a youth driven activity it is supported by a multitude of people.  That is why I designed the interviews to reflect all ages, both genders, long term members as well as new Christians, singles and marrieds.  Everyone that was involved has a story to share and it was good to get a small sampling of those this morning. 

Nobody could keep up the pace of Impact, and nobody should even try.  Impact Week is designed to be a sprint.  The gun sounded last Sunday and the activity was fast and furious.  We hit the finish line today and now we rest.  After resting, it will be time to get up and move again - not at a fast run but at a nice walking pace.  Let's take the lessons we learned from Impact week and fit them into our daily walk.  As we walk let's remember to:

• Invest yourself by moving through fear by faith

• Meet people seeing others through the eyes of Jesus

• Pray constantly

• Do Acts of Kindness by serving those in need

• Live in Community with like minded believers in Jesus sharing our lives

• Continually offering Thanksgiving to God

Crazy Love

Of all the wonderful sights and sounds we experienced Sunday morning in worship; there was none more beautiful to my eyes than our communion service.  As the praise team began to sing I watched people turned to face each other or place their arm around one another throughout the sanctuary.  The sounds of joy were abundant as people expressed their thankfulness for their own salvation and their gratitude for the salvation of their brothers and sisters.  We all ate the bread and drank the cup in unison and pledged our selves to allow God's love to flow through us so that others might know the "Crazy Love" our Father has expressed for us in the gift of his son, Jesus. 

There is nothing more beautiful than a swift flowing Colorado river.  The water is crystal clear.  The snow packed mountains are the source and the rivers flow on and on and on; blessing the earth and all her inhabitants.  God has given us that river as an illustration of how he desires for us to live.  He is the source of abundant waters.  We are the river letting his love flow through us on and on and on, so that all might experience the blessing of knowing and being known by their Loving Father. 

Impact Week 2010 has begun and we have adopted our theme this year from a wonderful little book written by Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.  May God's "Crazy Love" flow through us so all that we come in contact with might know that they are loved.

Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe

I am continually amazed at the ways in which Mark's picture of Jesus speaks to my heart.  Who would have thought that the most dangerous place to be in 1st Century Palestine was Jesus' hometown of Nazareth?  At least, it was dangerous in terms of faith development. 

Sure the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem made it challenging to put one's faith in Jesus.  But, I get the sense that people kind of enjoyed "stickin' it to the man" and Jesus gave them plenty of ammunition when it came to disregarding the petty rules and senseless legalism of the religious leaders. 

But in Nazareth, it wasn't just a challenge to put one's faith in Jesus, it was downright impossible!  How could one stand up against the people who had known Jesus from infancy?  They'd watched him grow up.  Jesus had played in their streets.  His mother, brothers and sisters were all still living there.  If you think it's hard to go back to your hometown and have people respect you as an adult . . . . perhaps you can understand why it was so difficult for those living in Nazareth to develop faith in Jesus as the Lord of the universe and Savior of the world. 

The most challenging part of this for me is realizing that the most difficult place for one to develop faith today may very well be the place where Jesus is best known -- the church!  After the sermon I was speaking to one of our long term members about how much easier it is for new Christians to "just believe" than it is for us seasoned members.  Do these new Christians grow bolder in their attitudes and actions because of their association with us; or do they tend adopt our ways of doing church and just kind of blend in? 

Perhaps the best thing all of us "veteran" Christians could do is take a giant step backward away from all our "knowledge" and begin the journey again.  Stop listening to all those voices defining and refining the faith; putting limits on the power of God.  Listen to the voice of Jesus and he will tell you, "don't be afraid, just believe" (Mark 5:36). 

Managing the Unmanagable

"I'm just doing the best I can!"  This can be a commendable statement made by one who is truly making the best of a bad situation.  On the other hand, it could indicate the fear that keeps one in a bad situation.  No matter how horrible life becomes it is often not as frightening as the unknown.  One of the problems faced by contemporary Christians is the "tame" Jesus; the smiling, happy, good buddy Jesus. 

Perhaps it's reflected in a t-shirt I saw not long ago that read, "Jesus is my Homeboy".  Now, I don't want to judge anyone wearing the shirt as I appreciate those who are unashamed of their faith.  But the townspeople of the land of the Gerasanes did not beg Jesus to leave their region because Jesus was too cool for them.  They begged him to leave because he had just demonstrated his unbelievable power over an army of demonic forces.   They were scared of him because a man with that much authority and power could not be controlled.  He would do whatever he wanted to do.

By" taming"  Jesus we have unintentionally turned him into our buddy instead of our Lord.  We expect Jesus to do what we want him to instead of giving him the obedient allegiance he deserves.  We wonder why we don't walk more in victory over sin and instead have to just "do the best we can" trying to manage it.  The man formerly known as Legion could tell you.    

"I've got a plan Jesus," he said.  "Let me become one of your followers."  It was a really great plan and I'm sure the man thought it was a great idea for him to leave his old life behind and go with Jesus everywhere.  He could give testimonies and listen to Jesus teach.  He could grow in his faith and be trained to do wonderful service in the future.  Jesus said, "I'm not going to do your plan.  Here is my plan.  Go back to your family and friends and  tell them what the Lord has done for you."  The man didn't argue.  He didn't continue to beg Jesus to follow the plan he had offered.  He just did what Jesus said. 

How different our lives would be if we just did what Jesus said.  We did what he tells us to do with our money, our relationships, our priorities, our principles, our . . . well, our everything.  Stop trying to manage your unmanageable life and give Jesus control.