I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Chan pastors Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California.
This book will, hopefully, rattle lots of cages within the ranks of American Christianity—at least it needs to. Radical? Yep. Biblical? Painfully so. There may be some divergence of opinion about his understanding of lukewarm Christians in Revelation 3:14-21, but don't let that side-track you.
This book challenges us to put our lives where our Christian mouths are. It isn't pretty. It isn't easy. But it is worth it. Chan calls us to put ourselves in a place where we have to trust God, the if-God-doesn't-come-through -I-am-toast kind of trust. He lives it and, and his church lives it.
Example (I paraphrase): "Jesus said to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' We decided, then, about a year ago, that it was logical to spend as much on our neighbors as we do ourselves. then our church should give away half of what it takes in."
Now this will resonate with young readers, but it gives great pause to those of us who have been a part of church forever (I am, see profile, late fifty-something, and my earliest memories include church). Most churches struggle to tithe their own income. That is only 10%. But 50%? I personally believe that churches need to tithe their income if they honestly expect their members to do it. I think if we give away to glorify God, then God will see to it that the income is there to sustain the giving away along with sustaining the church.
When I was a seminary student I served a small church in Southeastern Oklahoma on weekends as their youth guy. I remember being in a deacon meeting when one of the men said that "God began blessing our church when we decided that 5% of everything that came in would go to a benevolence fund for the poor." They still gave to other causes and to the denomination (Yes, they were SBC.) But here was a small church, on the corner of two section lines (a "section" is a square mile of land, I learned), situated six miles from "downtown." By the way, "town" had a population of 3200. The whole county's census was around 11,000. It had lots of sections. and plenty of poor people. It was so joyous to be able to give in Jesus' name to someone who needed His touch.
Cage rattled yet? Well, this thing about giving is just an example of a radical, Biblical, really Biblical faith. Check out the book. Pray over what you read.
Also, check out the videos on the crazylovebook website. Some of them are awesome. I haven't looked at them all, but I think you'll enjoy them, and maybe be challenged by them.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Crazy Radicals
I know. It has been awhile since I posted. Yet, "somehow," as Rat spoke to Pig in last Sunday's edition of Pearls Before Swine (Comics Section) "the world moved on. "
This one has been floating around in my brain for a couple of weeks. I am still not sure it is "done."
I have been thinking about Christ-followers who have figured out that Jesus' word to "Go" was not reserved for a few select people, but for everyone. Most of us, even those in the church, see these people as fanatics, or crazy radicals.
They don’t look like radicals. Yet, they have gotten a vision very different from what most of us see as Christianity. They have figured out that real Christianity is experienced through complete obedience, not just showing up at church once a week. They view life as a mission. Most are neither obnoxious or offensive in what they do. The love they feel for the people of the world is not natural, but put in their hearts through a relationship with their Creator.
Some of them are twenty, thirty and now forty-somethings. Some are "older" adults like myself. Some of them are college age. Some are High School kids. All are doing crazy stuff like spending a summer in service overseas, or in a difficult or remote setting in this country. They read the Bible imperatives about caring for the poor, for orphans, for outsiders. They believe Jesus was talking to them! Imagine.
They are a challenge to me, and at the same time give me hope for the future. They are willing to obey even if it means sacrificing comfort, security, wealth, etc., to impact cultures that range from “different” to “I-cannot-believe-you-are-living-there-like-that.”
They desire to not waste their life pursuing something that they will one day leave behind. Instead, they invest their lives in things eternal.
The Apostle Paul said... “We are fools for Christ’s sake…” 1 Corinthians 4:10
Crazy.
This one has been floating around in my brain for a couple of weeks. I am still not sure it is "done."
I have been thinking about Christ-followers who have figured out that Jesus' word to "Go" was not reserved for a few select people, but for everyone. Most of us, even those in the church, see these people as fanatics, or crazy radicals.
They don’t look like radicals. Yet, they have gotten a vision very different from what most of us see as Christianity. They have figured out that real Christianity is experienced through complete obedience, not just showing up at church once a week. They view life as a mission. Most are neither obnoxious or offensive in what they do. The love they feel for the people of the world is not natural, but put in their hearts through a relationship with their Creator.
Some of them are twenty, thirty and now forty-somethings. Some are "older" adults like myself. Some of them are college age. Some are High School kids. All are doing crazy stuff like spending a summer in service overseas, or in a difficult or remote setting in this country. They read the Bible imperatives about caring for the poor, for orphans, for outsiders. They believe Jesus was talking to them! Imagine.
They are a challenge to me, and at the same time give me hope for the future. They are willing to obey even if it means sacrificing comfort, security, wealth, etc., to impact cultures that range from “different” to “I-cannot-believe-you-are-living-there-like-that.”
They desire to not waste their life pursuing something that they will one day leave behind. Instead, they invest their lives in things eternal.
The Apostle Paul said... “We are fools for Christ’s sake…” 1 Corinthians 4:10
Crazy.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Been Called a Christian Lately?
I was reading a bit today in Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, who is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. It is pretty telling when you get nailed a couple of times in the forward (Written by Chris Tomlin). Chris cites the scripture passage in Acts 11:26 where believers were first called Christians in Antioch. They were given the name by people who had watched them. Tomlin wonders if anyone could be identified today as a Christian because it was obvious by their actions.
“Christian.” A literal definition I am told means “little Christ.” We don’t know if the people of Antioch meant the term as a compliment or a pejorative — yea or yuck. But still, the believers got the name because they looked like Jesus would have looked.
I wonder if any of us have ever been approached by someone who had observed our lives, either long or short term, who said something like: “I’ve been watching you. You must be a Christian.” I don’t think I have. That is convicting. Part of the church problem is that we church people look, act, smell, think, live the way everyone else does. Sadly, we think that is how it is supposed to be.
“Christian.” A literal definition I am told means “little Christ.” We don’t know if the people of Antioch meant the term as a compliment or a pejorative — yea or yuck. But still, the believers got the name because they looked like Jesus would have looked.
I wonder if any of us have ever been approached by someone who had observed our lives, either long or short term, who said something like: “I’ve been watching you. You must be a Christian.” I don’t think I have. That is convicting. Part of the church problem is that we church people look, act, smell, think, live the way everyone else does. Sadly, we think that is how it is supposed to be.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
KoG
“John Piper often reminds his readers about what we will present to God when we meet him face to face. Will it be our seashell collection? Will it be our low handicap in golf? Even though I like seashells and play golf whenever I get the chance, my point is that these are not to be all-consuming.” Mike Minter in A Western Jesus, page 148.
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain, in the Lord.” Apostle Paul in a letter to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 15:58)
“Weariness should come from Kingdom work.” — Mike Minter, page 149.
What does the Kingdom of God look like? In Rick McKinley’s challenging book, This Beautiful Mess, he spends a lot of time on that. He points out that Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is “here,” “near,” and yet it “is to come.” McKinley says it is “already” and “not yet.” The “not yet” part is in Revelation. The already is what we’re supposed to be about. Pastor Rick gives some great examples of what a few of the people in his church are doing to take the Kingdom of God to people. (Read the book. Turn off the screens and take time to read, think and pray. I don’t go for everything in the book, but most of it resonates. Your mileage may vary.)
I want to get a handle on the Biblical idea of “Kingdom of God.” And I want the western church to get it, and I want my church in particular to get it. Yet, I have to admit, catching hold of a Biblical concept of the Kingdom of God (KoG) and not the western re-interpretation of it is downright scary. It is radical.
From time to time, things happen in church life that make me want to rant, “What on earth does that have to do with the Kingdom of God?” The right answer is usually, “nothing.” It has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. It is far and away usually a matter of taste, comfort, tradition or something else that matters little to God. Church in America is more about “my kingdom come, my will be done,” than it is about His Kingdom coming.
My grandfather taught me the concept of “good tired.” It is the feeling you get after working very hard and being nearly exhausted, but because you had been involved helping someone else, something with a higher purpose than self, it was a “good tired.” To echo Minter: “Weariness should come from Kingdom work.”
Kingdom work is work that matters, has eternal impact, changes lives, helps people understand who Jesus is and how He cares for them, even if most churches and church people don’t. A lot of what churches do is good stuff, but it isn’t Kingdom work.
Twenty years ago, I took my first overseas trip for the Kingdom. I have never experienced anything like it. It was like Pentecost. People were asking us to tell them about Jesus. I heard about a church in the area. It was the largest. Most were small. Every Sunday, though, two thousand people would walk (some for miles) to the meeting spot and gather around a tree in the hot African sun, and worship. God often reminds me of that when I am whining about the church building being too cold or too hot. They had nothing else on which to focus.
Are you weary because of Kingdom work, or has church just made you tired?
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain, in the Lord.” Apostle Paul in a letter to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 15:58)
“Weariness should come from Kingdom work.” — Mike Minter, page 149.
What does the Kingdom of God look like? In Rick McKinley’s challenging book, This Beautiful Mess, he spends a lot of time on that. He points out that Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is “here,” “near,” and yet it “is to come.” McKinley says it is “already” and “not yet.” The “not yet” part is in Revelation. The already is what we’re supposed to be about. Pastor Rick gives some great examples of what a few of the people in his church are doing to take the Kingdom of God to people. (Read the book. Turn off the screens and take time to read, think and pray. I don’t go for everything in the book, but most of it resonates. Your mileage may vary.)
I want to get a handle on the Biblical idea of “Kingdom of God.” And I want the western church to get it, and I want my church in particular to get it. Yet, I have to admit, catching hold of a Biblical concept of the Kingdom of God (KoG) and not the western re-interpretation of it is downright scary. It is radical.
From time to time, things happen in church life that make me want to rant, “What on earth does that have to do with the Kingdom of God?” The right answer is usually, “nothing.” It has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. It is far and away usually a matter of taste, comfort, tradition or something else that matters little to God. Church in America is more about “my kingdom come, my will be done,” than it is about His Kingdom coming.
My grandfather taught me the concept of “good tired.” It is the feeling you get after working very hard and being nearly exhausted, but because you had been involved helping someone else, something with a higher purpose than self, it was a “good tired.” To echo Minter: “Weariness should come from Kingdom work.”
Kingdom work is work that matters, has eternal impact, changes lives, helps people understand who Jesus is and how He cares for them, even if most churches and church people don’t. A lot of what churches do is good stuff, but it isn’t Kingdom work.
Twenty years ago, I took my first overseas trip for the Kingdom. I have never experienced anything like it. It was like Pentecost. People were asking us to tell them about Jesus. I heard about a church in the area. It was the largest. Most were small. Every Sunday, though, two thousand people would walk (some for miles) to the meeting spot and gather around a tree in the hot African sun, and worship. God often reminds me of that when I am whining about the church building being too cold or too hot. They had nothing else on which to focus.
Are you weary because of Kingdom work, or has church just made you tired?
Friday, July 4, 2008
A Dunwoody 4th
Attended the annual Independence Day parade that runs right in front of my mom's house today.
There was anticipation,
Many were dressed for the occasion
Honor guard
Bands
Old Soldiers
And Remembering those no longer with us.
There was a huge flag
Floats (Many with politicians riding)
There was lots of candy thrown, and the kids loved it!
A birdman from the Hawks made an appearance
And lots of friendly faces.
And a bit of advertising
What a great country we are blessed to live in!
There was anticipation,
Many were dressed for the occasion
Honor guard
Bands
Old Soldiers
And Remembering those no longer with us.
There was a huge flag
Floats (Many with politicians riding)
There was lots of candy thrown, and the kids loved it!
A birdman from the Hawks made an appearance
And lots of friendly faces.
And a bit of advertising
What a great country we are blessed to live in!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Relevant (Signposts of Heaven - Part 2)
“We try so hard to be cool.” That statement from Rick MicKinley’s book, This Beautiful Mess, really hit me. (Multnomah Books)
But you say…
“Hey! We’re relevant. We’ve got screens! We use PowerPoint! Videos!”
“We’ve got a bazillion dollar sound system. People that come to our place never need that sound wave treatment to break up kidney stones. It happens right here every Sunday.” [We don’t have a system like that. Far from it.]
We will never “out-cool” the world or “entertain” as well as the world does it. That isn’t our purpose. (This does not mean, though, that we should make it a goal to be irrelevant! That just makes us ineffective.)
Relevance comes through relationships, not programs or technical doohickeys. It happens when people see Jesus coming through us instead of us telling about Him. He is changing us to be more like Himself, and thus, we are becoming “little Jesus’” wherever we are – or at least we are supposed to be.
Here are some quotes from the book…
“Relevance is a consequence of kingdom living, not a cause.”
“Authentic relationships make us relevant”
“Love given without any other agenda is always relevant.”
Hmmm.
But you say…
“Hey! We’re relevant. We’ve got screens! We use PowerPoint! Videos!”
“We’ve got a bazillion dollar sound system. People that come to our place never need that sound wave treatment to break up kidney stones. It happens right here every Sunday.” [We don’t have a system like that. Far from it.]
We will never “out-cool” the world or “entertain” as well as the world does it. That isn’t our purpose. (This does not mean, though, that we should make it a goal to be irrelevant! That just makes us ineffective.)
Relevance comes through relationships, not programs or technical doohickeys. It happens when people see Jesus coming through us instead of us telling about Him. He is changing us to be more like Himself, and thus, we are becoming “little Jesus’” wherever we are – or at least we are supposed to be.
Here are some quotes from the book…
“Relevance is a consequence of kingdom living, not a cause.”
“Authentic relationships make us relevant”
“Love given without any other agenda is always relevant.”
Hmmm.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Signposts of Heaven - (Part 1) Sent!
Signposts of Heaven – Sent
Been reading Rick McKinley’s book, This Beautiful Mess. I have just finished chapter 7 – “Signposts of Heaven.” [Rick isn’t a SBC guy, but he and his church are having an impact, perhaps a profound one, in a large city in the Northwest part of our country. Some of his practice probably differs from mine, but his Jesus is the same.] There are two things in this chapter that jumped out at me. The first one is the idea of being “sent.” The other one is “relevance” – but that is another blog. Perhaps tomorrow.
Signpost of Heaven – the title comes from the idea that every believer is to live his or her life to point others to the Kingdom of God and Heaven. Pastor Rick says, “Paradoxically, signposts of the kingdom radiate the most beauty when they’re planted in the middle of the most mess.”
Think this way. A light shows up the most when in the greatest darkness.
Hmmm. Think about that for a few moments before reading on.
I have to admit that I plan my life, well… try to plan my life so I avoid the mess and the people of the mess. Yet, every one of us has some mess in our background. You and I should be grateful that God has “redeemed my life from the pit,” as the Psalmist said. (Psalm 103, as an example).
Sent. Even the most nominal evangelical should be able to state Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus said “Go.” He said it to all of us. Every Christ follower is sent. McKinley notes, “In the Bible, the word sent is used more than 650 times, and in a majority of its uses, God is doing the sending.”
Later on in the chapter: “ ‘Going’ implies that we go somewhere new, to someone not like us,”
Most of us just assume he wants us to hang out with people that are pretty much like us. Go to any church. Most of the people there look pretty much like the rest, as far as culture and economic standing go. Jesus wants us to cross a border. It may not be a national or international one. It might be a cultural one. And it might be into a mess. But it can be beautiful.
Who (and whose mess) is He sending you to?
Been reading Rick McKinley’s book, This Beautiful Mess. I have just finished chapter 7 – “Signposts of Heaven.” [Rick isn’t a SBC guy, but he and his church are having an impact, perhaps a profound one, in a large city in the Northwest part of our country. Some of his practice probably differs from mine, but his Jesus is the same.] There are two things in this chapter that jumped out at me. The first one is the idea of being “sent.” The other one is “relevance” – but that is another blog. Perhaps tomorrow.
Signpost of Heaven – the title comes from the idea that every believer is to live his or her life to point others to the Kingdom of God and Heaven. Pastor Rick says, “Paradoxically, signposts of the kingdom radiate the most beauty when they’re planted in the middle of the most mess.”
Think this way. A light shows up the most when in the greatest darkness.
Hmmm. Think about that for a few moments before reading on.
I have to admit that I plan my life, well… try to plan my life so I avoid the mess and the people of the mess. Yet, every one of us has some mess in our background. You and I should be grateful that God has “redeemed my life from the pit,” as the Psalmist said. (Psalm 103, as an example).
Sent. Even the most nominal evangelical should be able to state Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus said “Go.” He said it to all of us. Every Christ follower is sent. McKinley notes, “In the Bible, the word sent is used more than 650 times, and in a majority of its uses, God is doing the sending.”
Later on in the chapter: “ ‘Going’ implies that we go somewhere new, to someone not like us,”
Most of us just assume he wants us to hang out with people that are pretty much like us. Go to any church. Most of the people there look pretty much like the rest, as far as culture and economic standing go. Jesus wants us to cross a border. It may not be a national or international one. It might be a cultural one. And it might be into a mess. But it can be beautiful.
Who (and whose mess) is He sending you to?
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