Experiences In Christian Living and Leadership

July 2009 Message

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all.  Lately I have been pondering the basis of a person’s self-image.  Everywhere we look, we find someone who wants to define us.  Turn on the television and you encounter an endless number of advertisements that offer you a product that will impact how others perceive you.  Listen to pollsters and data collectors and you will learn a whole array of categorizes and demographics used to define you.  Spend time talking with individuals in different avenues of your life and some of them will be more than happy to offer you labels that they use to define who you are.  All of these thoughts have caused me to wonder what the Lord might say when asked to define us as individuals.

 

I believe that the starting statement that the Lord would make when asked who someone is would be:  “This is a child of mine.”  The basis that I have for this is what we find in Galatians 4:4-7, “[4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  [5] in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.  [6] And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  [7] So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”  For me, this needs to be the starting point as we strive to define ourselves.  One of the key words in this statement is the word “child”.  It reminds me that I am still growing, still learning, still making mistakes, still striving to mature into what the Lord created me to be.  This statement also reminds me that above anything else, the Lord seems me as one in a family.  I belong to God and am accepted by God exactly as I am.

 

If we accept that we are first and foremost a child of the Lord’s then any other definitions become totally created by humans.  The distinctions seem to fall away.  Again, I turn to Galatians in regards to this point:  “[26] for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  [27] As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  [28] There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.  [29] And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.”  (Galatians 3:26-29)  It is clear that the human distinctions and labels that are created carry no weight in the Lord’s definition of who we are.

 

So when we strive to define ourselves and the image we project, I believe that it is vital that we strive to live out the image that the Lord sees and defines for us.  As a wise person often tells me, “Just because someone calls you a chair, does that make you a chair?”  Live out what the Lord calls you!!!

Life and Death

We have a piece of shrubbery outside the main entrance to our church building.  For reasons unknown, it seems to be dying (or maybe already dead).  It made me ponder the other day if this piece of shrubbery might be a vision for the condition of some churches today.  I also began to think about what it may be communicating to those that are thinking about entering our building.  So I decided to share some of these thoughts with those who read my blog.

In some ways, I believe that all believers are in a similar state as this bush.  Scripture tells us of the need to die to one's self and to become alive in Christ.  We also hear Jesus and Paul speak of being dead to sin and being made alive by the grace-filled action of Jesus.  So this bush could be imagery of this transition that occurs in all those who strive to be followers of the Lord.

Another image that comes to mind is in regards to the life within some churches.  Because churches at times make the conscious, or unconscious, decision to remain in their same mode of behavior, there can be the beginning process of death that occurs.  While some life may continue to exist, eventually there is great likelihood that death will overcome all of the church life and the community of faith may need to be removed.  When, and if, this bush finishes dying, it will need to be removed and potentially replaced.  But there is no absolutes in even this.  For if the bush receives the care needed, adjustments are made, there might be the possibility of rebirth and regrowth.  Many of the churches that I am thinking of, have the same opportunity.

Finally, as I consider the placement of this bush, it causes me to wonder if the Lord is trying to communicate something.  When a person walks up to our door, are they going to experience and see the spiritual life within the congreation as being dead or are they going to experience one of growth and potential.  What is the spiritual well-being of those who worship and serve within the walls of this building?  If there are dead aspects, are we willing to prune them out, remove them, and/or nurture what is living to the point of continued growth and possible rebirth?

I'd be anxious to hear your thoughts.  What do these images bring to your mind?  What do you think about the images that it has brought to mine?

What if......

Have you ever had one of those days when your mind loves playing the "what if?" game?  Today is one of those days for me.  I thankfully am able to still focus enough to accomplish the work that has been set before me.  However, I am finding myself constantly asking this question as I think about different aspect of my life and my ministry.

I view these times as the Lord wanting to open me to new visions and new opportunities.  While it can be a bit disconcerting, I think that these openings that the Lord is creating provide a great chance for growth to take place.  I am not always certain of the results of playing the "what if?" game but I have begun to accept that uncertainty is a part of my walk with the Lord.  I also sometimes struggle with how the game impacts my productivity but it seems that whenever I look back on a day like today, I discover that the game has produced some wonderful new threads for my life and my ministry.  New views, new approaches, new insights, and the acknowledgement of new opportunities definitely are productive even if they do not reduce the "to-do" list.  In fact I often experience growth in my "to-do" list on days like today.

So I invite all of you who read my blog to play the "what if?" game whenever the chance presents itself.  Don't accept just remaining in a current holding pattern but challenge yourself to dream new dreams, experience new opportunities, and explore in areas you have never considered before.

Transitions

Right now we are in a time period of transitions.  We are transitioning from spring to summer. School is beginning summer break for some, others are graduating and beginning a new time in their lives. It makes me stop and ponder life once again.  It seems that life is full of transitions.  Some of these transitions are positive and some are perceived as negative.  Most transitions in our lives are not even directly caused by us.  The key to me is how we respond to the transitions.

During a transition time I think that there are a series of questions that we can ask which might assist us in our response to the transitions:

1)  What benefits can be found in this transition?

2)  How will others benefit in this transition?

3)  Where can growth occur during this transition?

4)  How can I minimize what may be perceived as negative impacts of this transition?

5)  Am I managing this transition period or am I being passive during this transition period?

6)  Where is the Lord in the midst of this transition?

I am sure that there are many other questions that may assist.  I would be very interested in hearing some that you might add to this list. 

I think the key to successful transitions is naming what the transitions are, identifying the positive elements of the transition, and being actively involved in the transition.

A Great Article for Thought

I have become a great fan of following blogs and reading some on-line publications.  One such publication that I have found interesting is called "Next-Wave Ezine" and comes out of the the Emerging Church movement.  While I do not always share all the viewpoints of the featured articles, I do find them to be thought provoking and providing of a different perspective on ocassion.

I want to share one such article because I feel that it speaks to our fast-pace existence and our failure to truly see the opportunties that the Lord places before us.

Please follow this link -

http://www.the-next-wave-ezine.info/issue124/index.cfm?id=47&ref=ARTICLES%5FFOLLOWING%20JESUS%5F641

Walking Away

One of the difficult challenges for church leaders is determining when you have done all that you can to help an individual (or group of individuals) take steps on their faith journey.  Probably what seems the most difficult is the feeling that we never want to give up on anyone.  We rationalize it by saying something like - "The Lord never has given up on me so why would I ever give up on anyone else."  This admirable statement is not completely true according to the guidelines the Lord gives to us.

I want to draw your attention to this passage of Scripture:

Mark 6:6b-13

   [6b] Then he went about among the villages teaching.  [7] He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  [8] He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;  [9] but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.  [10] He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.  [11] If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."  [12] So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.  [13] They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. 

Jesus is giving instructions to his disciples as he sends them out to share his words with others.  If we focus on verse 11 we can clearly see that if anyone chooses to reject the disciples, they are to leave them and move on.  The key here is that the disciples were not instructed to give up on anyone but the choice lies with those who were to receive the disciples.  Jesus tells his disciples that if those who are to receive the words and the disciples make the choice to reject either or both, then the disciples are not to expend any more time or energy on helping them on their spiritual journey.

I think that this gives us a clear indication of how faith leaders are to respond to individuals that choose not to go forward in their spiritual journeys.  While this still requires a level of discernment on the part of the leaders, I believe that if we honestly evaluate and listen to the Spirit's guidance, we will clearly know when the time to walk away has arrived.

Driver's Seat

One of the most difficult things for me to do is to be in the passenger seat of a vehichle when one of my family members is in the driver's seat.  Almost any time we go somewhere, I am the driver.  Some would argue that this is a control issue, and they may be accurate, but I tend not to mind being in the passenger seat when a friend or someone else is driving.  It is only when one of my family members is driving that I tend to have a problem.

The other difficulty that I have is more metaphorical in nature.  It has to do with being in charge of the direction of my life.  I feel that I am the best qualified to determine the direction that my life takes and the decisons that impact that direction.  However, I have recently become haunted by a passage of Scripture and the words that Eugene Peterson uses when he translates this portion of Scripture in  The Message.  Here it is:

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.  You're not in the driver's seat, I am." -Matthew 16:24

This makes it pretty clear to me that if I am going to confess to being a follower of Jesus Christ, I need to be in the passenger seat in life.  Jesus intends to lead me and my life.  Jesus is in charge.

I don't know about any of you, but that is difficult for me to always abide by.  I struggle with wanting to hold on to the decisions of my life when I know that I need to make those decisions solely dependent upon the guidance of the Spirit.  And as a church leader, I need to also be mindful that my leadership should be following the leadership of the Lord.  This is the Lord's church, not mine.  Jesus, as the head of the church, is the one that determines the direction the church goes.

So if you can relate to my struggle, please share how you overcome your inner desire to be in the driver's seat.

Waiting and Yet Going Ahead

One of the aspects of my faith that has always been intriguing to me is the paradoxes that exist within it.  The continuous sense that we get from Scripture that there exists a now but not yet is especially interesting to me.  We Jesus speaks of the kingdom, we see a lot of that "now but not yet" concept.  Another paradox that has recently come to me is the reality of the Lord being with us, yet also going ahead.

Recently I had a discussion with a friend who indicated that he had quite a good conversation with the Lord on a recent walk that he took.  He mentioned to me that it had been a long time since he had a good chat with the Lord.  He thanked me for helping him recently learn once again that we should have chats with God.  I told him that I was very happy that he had a rewarding conversation with the Lord and then I said to him, "Remember, the Lord is always there and anxiously waiting to have a chat with you whenever you are ready."  The idea that wherever we are, the Lord is there is a very comforting thought.  But in addition to that reality, the eager waiting the Lord does for those times when we are ready to have a chat is an even more amazing reality to me.  It is that idea of the Lord always being there and ready to have a chat that is the first side of this paradox.

Another recent conversation that I had with my mother brings the other side of the paradox home to me.  She had indicated that as she was dealing with some challenges in her life that she also had a conversation with the Lord.  After I listened to her share, I told her that the Lord was already ahead of her on dealing with those challenges.  I mentioned that God goes ahead of us and prepares the aspects of life that need prepared for our journey.  So this creates the image of the Lord going ahead of where we are on the path.

These two conversations together give two different, but I believe accurate, images of our Lord on the journey of life.  God is with us and ready to take the time to chat, God is ahead of us and preparing for us.  This paradox in the reality of our Lord is only possible because God is not bound by time and the constraints that exist in our human existence.

I find this paradox to be extremely wonderful.  The idea that the Lord is always there and ready to talk things out with me, and the idea that the Lord is already where I am heading and preparing the way, is an idea that gives me great comfort and assurance.  What an awesome God we truly have!!!!

Faith vs. Religion

I was fortunate last week to be able to spend a couple of days with two of my college friends.  We were very close during my final year at college and have stayed in touch since then.  It is always fun to reconnect and bring each other up to speed with what is happening in our lives.  There is nothing that is not open for discussion between us.  So naturally one of the discussion times always tends to move toward the arena of religion.  Since we come from, and remain in, different faith backgrounds, the discussion can be more than interesting.

During one of the discussions about "the church" I shared what I feel is an extremely important distinction.  I indicated to my friends that I believe it is important that we are clear about the difference between faith and religion.  The words tend to be frequently interchanged in most conversations.  I feel that there is a need for believers to clarify these words and be very clear on how and when we use them.  So I am going to give you my definitions and I would be anxious to hear your responses to those definitions and the sharing of your own.

Faith is the word that I use when I am referring to "what we believe".  This to me is the essence of our belief structure and it is what impacts our values, our actions, and the choices that we make.  I can characterize my faith as Christian in nature.  This means that I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I believe that because of the love of God who created all things, I am saved through the actions of Jesus Christ on the cross.  I believe that because Jesus was resurrected, I am able to obtain the resurrection when my earthly life has come to a close.  I believe that the Holy Spirit guides, supports, encourages, convicts, and nourishes my soul throughout each day of my life.  It is this same Spirit that reveals to me the nature and plan of God.  These are some of the elements of what I believe and they are part of what constitutes my faith.

Religion is the word that I use when I am referring to "how we live out our faith".  It consists of the practices and rituals that we use to help demonstrate and strengthen our faith.  Therefore, religion only has value in the context of faith.  Practices and rituals observed with out the basis of faith are empty. 

All of this is based on my belief that we have too many people engaged in religion and too few people working on their faith.  For me, the greatest challenge in the church today is reversing that trend.  I believe that only through a reversal of this trend can we truly be a group that non-Christians would even want to engage.  Not to mention that I believe spiritual growth is the essence of living a faithful life for Jesus Christ.

So while I find worth in both the word "faith" and "religion", I would prefer faith any time.

Outside the Walls

A very good friend of mine just included in the weekly newsletter of his presbytery this article and it caused me to start thinking so I wanted to share it with you.

LEARN & LEAD

Equipping Your Church for Ministry

 

U2 is a popular Irish Rock band and many of you know the lead vocalist, Bono. However, some of you may not know that Bono is a Christian who uses his popularity as a rock musician to fight AIDS and extreme poverty. During the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast, he made the statement, stop asking God to bless what you are doing and get involved in what God is doing because it's already blessed. This is a good reminder to us, the churches in the Presbytery of East Iowa.  God is already involved in our communities--through food banks, student mentoring, backpack programs for kids and flood relief.  God is also evident as we give back to our communities by being volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel, caring for hurt children through foster care, helping challenged adults, teaching parenting classes, serving on community agency boards, building a town band shell or educating about the care and stewardship of creation.
 
Thriving churches understand that our response to God's overwhelming love for us is to be actively involved in redeeming all of creation. Where hurts exist, where injustice is present, where the environment is treated with careless abandon, these are the places the church is called to go.  Recently I heard a woman say, "just because I am an atheist does not mean I don't have many of the same values as Christians."  Building authentic relationships with those with whom we share a set of values is the beginning of mirroring the love we have experienced as a gift from God.  It is in these relationships that others can see God more clearly! 
 
Look for God's nudge as you joyfully say, Here I am Lord, send me.

 

Harry D. Olthoff

General Presbyter, Presbytery of East Iowa (PEIA)

I received a couple of important messages when I read Harry's article.  The first is that we need to remember that the work that we are called to be engaged in is the Lord's work.  The Lord is already at work in the world and already has placed ministries in motion, we need to find where we can contribute to the work already in progress.

The second is the importance of authentic relationships within the church.  I plan on writing on this topic some more in the future but for now I would put forward the understanding that our relationships are called to mirror the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Harry's call to be in authentic relationship with fellow believers is one that I think demands us to review the relationships within our congregations and begin dialogue about the status of those relationships.