An exercise in generalizations and criticisms among the church
A couple of weeks ago, I published a post called “Dealing with generalizations and the church.” There were several really good comments on that post as readers thought through how we should deal with generalizations.
Well, thanks to an article published by “Leadership Journal” called “Why I Won’t Give to Your Church,” the church now has the chance to deal with generalizations in a real and public way. And, for the most part, I’d say many are not dealing very well…
(By the way, HT to Randy at “Bible Study Geek” for pointing us to this article in his post “Jewe: Why I Won’t Give to Your Church.”)
I encourage you to read the article and the comments. (There are 25 comments at the time that I’m writing this post.)
Whether you agree with the article’s author or not, once thing is clear: Very few of the commenters are interested in listening to him or his concerns.
Could he have written this article in a way that would be more palatable? Perhaps. But, that’s a completely different issue. The question here – again – is how do we deal with generalizations among the church.
Obviously, this author makes several generalizations, both about churches and about people his age. How should someone respond to these generalizations? What about someone who agrees with the author? What about someone who disagrees with the author? What if someone knows of instances that do not match the generalizations?
You see, I think the way we treat people often says more than what we actually say to them. And, unfortunately, I think many of the commenters are speaking loudly…
So, let’s pretend that you actually know the young man who wrote this article. 1) Assume that you disagree with his generalizations. How would you respond to him? 2) Assume that you agree with his generalizations. How would you respond to him?
(By the way, if you want to discuss the content of the article, that’s fine too. But, I’m really interested in thinking through dealing with generalizations and criticisms, both when we agree with them and when we disagree with them.)
Asking people to vote on their preferences for heaven or hell
I’ve read several very good posts lately on the topic of discipleship – i.e., helping one another follow Jesus Christ.
One of the best has been a post by Keith at “subversive1” called “How to Make Disciples: Part 1 – The Problem.”
There are several great things about Keith’s post. He begins by discussing what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and suggests that many today have confused making disciples with making converts.
At one point, Keith makes this statement:
I believe the main reason for this phenomenon is simple; Christians are largely concerned with making converts. In other words, it starts with the way we understand (or misunderstand) the Gospel and then flows into the way we evangelize.
Most Christians today understand the Gospel as simply saying a prayer so that you can go to heaven when you die. This isn’t the Gospel. It is a simplistic element of the larger doctrine of the Atonement, but it’s not the Gospel.
Growing up, I remember that choosing between heaven and hell was a huge part of “presenting the gospel.” I’m sure we’ve all heard the “fire and brimstone” preacher who warns, “You don’t want to go to hell, do you?” Why, even a few years ago, I was taught to start sharing the good news by asking, “Why should God let you into heaven?”
Not too long ago, while study the Gospel of Matthew together with the church, I noticed something interesting. Jesus didn’t invite people to follow him by asking them to choose between heaven and hell. Yes, he talked about eternal life, and he talked about eternal death… but wasn’t that usually after someone was following him?
What about in Acts? Are there examples of any believers inviting people to believe in Jesus so they would go to heaven and wouldn’t go to hell? I can’t think of any… but I could have forgotten something.
In the epistles, it’s a little more difficult. These were all written to believers. But, even when Paul, Peter, James, Jude, etc. wrote about the gospel, I don’t remember them encouraging people to proclaim a choice between heaven and hell.
So, where did this come from? I honestly don’t know.
But, here’s my big question… if we don’t invite people to choose between heaven and hell, what do we invite them to? I think the answer is fairly obvious, but I’m wondering how you would answer that question?
I am a runner
It was another day… another city… another race…
Margaret (my wife) and I woke early Sunday morning – before 5:00 a.m. in order to get ready and make the drive into downtown Raleigh. We were headed for Cameron Village and the start of the RunRaleigh half marathon. I’ve run several half marathons, but this one was a little special.
What made this one special? Well, I ran a marathon for the first time about a month ago. I registered for this race for several reasons but mainly because I wanted to have motivation to keep running after that marathon.
It was still dark when we found a parking place very near the start/finish line and made our way to another line: the line for the porta-potties. It’s always fun to maneuver in a porta-potty in the dark. Then we got together with some friends who were running the same race, snapped a few pics, and watched the sun and excitement rise.
Eventually, it was time for the race to start. I made my way to the starting line while Margaret found a place just down the road to watch the start… and to cheer for me as I ran by.
The race itself was (believe it or not) a very relaxing event for me. Like I said, I primarily registered for this race as a motivation to keep running after the marathon last month. I ran slower than usual and just enjoyed the sites, sounds, and conversations.
Conversations? Yep. I ran with a pace group, and enjoyed talking to several other racers on the 13.1 mile course. It turns out that the pace leader is the race director for another half marathon that I’m running next month. He runs ultras (greater than marathon distance – that is, > 26.2 miles), so he offered alot of advice and encouragement. And, there were two ladies who were running a half marathon for the first time. So, I was also able to add a little advice and encouragement.
During the race, we watched the sun rise higher in the sky and passed several local landmarks and streets. We passed many cheering spectators, and I saw a part of Raleigh that I usually don’t get to see.
Well, I said the race was relaxing… it was, except for that last hill. That was tough… brutal even. But, I made it! It was so exciting to top that hill and see a long downhill to the finish line.
As I approached the finish, a friend yelled my name. I’ve run trail with him before. He was standing about a block from the finish with his two boys cheering for his wife who was also running.
Then, just past him, I saw Margaret. She was smiling and waving and snapping pics! Ok… so I picked up my pace a little at that point.
Across the road from Margaret was a group of running friends who had finished the race before me or who did not run but had come just to cheer on other runners. They were also yelling my name and cheering me on to the finish.
With all of that encouragement, I’m not sure my feet touched the ground those last few yards.
When I crossed the finish line, they placed a finisher’s medal around my neck and gave me a bottle of water. I found Margaret in the crowd and she gave me a huge hug and told me how proud she was. We walked over to my friends, and we all congratulated each other and cheered on other runners as they approached the finish line.
I was tired, sore, and happy. It was such a fun, exciting, exhilarating, thrilling morning… It was a celebration with other runners, family, and friends.
I just thought you might want to know what the people (racers and spectators) were experiencing when the bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday.
The church is God’s people gathered together. Really.
What do you think about when you hear the word “church” (or “ekklesia” if you prefer the Greek term, or “iglesia” if you prefer Spanish, or “eglise” if yo prefer French, etc.)? What picture comes to mind? What fills your imagination?
Many, many Christians – probably most – would immediately respond that the church is the people. Of course, when we talk about “church,” we not just talking about any people; we’re talking about God’s people. And, again, most would agree.
But, many would also put limitations, boundaries, or conditions on which “people of God” they can refer to as “church.” And, that’s a problem.
Because, you see, even if we SAY that we believe that the church is the people of God, in practice we actually live as if other things (besides the people) work to define who constitutes church.
What kinds of things do people allow to define who among God’s people actually constitutes “church” for them? Well, for some, it’s location. For others, it’s time. For others, it’s event or activities. For some, it’s organization or leadership or hierarchy. For still other, it’s certain particular doctrines.
If these things are allowed to define church, then what happens when the people are in a different location? They’re not the church. What if they get together at different times? Then it’s not the church. What if they gather for different activities? They’re not the church. What if the organization or leadership is not present or disappears? Then the church is gone too.
Then, for others, it’s only “church” when a certain group of the people of God get together. If it’s others among God’s people who get together, then they don’t consider that church. (It’s a slightly different take on the organization aspect mentioned above.)
We must be honest with ourselves. If things like location, place, activities, or organization modify our understand of who is or who is not “church,” then we are not truly identifying the church with the people of God.
The problem is, the church really is the people of God. It’s that simple. When we are with our brothers and sisters in Christ (in any place, at any time, for any activity, with any or no organization), we are the church.
When we don’t recognize ourselves as the church, we’re likely to miss what God is intending to do through us to build up others or through others to build us up. When we don’t recognize ourselves as the church, we will also miss the fact that we are family and should treat each other as family.
So, the church really is the people of God. We must not allow anything else to qualify (or “disqualify”) that definition.
Scripture… As We Live It #256
This is the 256th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. But, sue them if they attempt to take away your rights as an American – I mean, Roman – citizen. (Romans 12:14 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
Unity is a “first tier” doctrine
Three years ago, I published a post called “Unity a ‘first tier’ doctrine.” The post was a response to something that’s been happening for 2000 years, but has been celebrated for the last few years. I’m talking about arranging different convictions and beliefs into “tiers.” Usually, there are 3 tiers. As far as I can tell, these different tiers only work toward one purpose: separating the body of Christ. However, from what I can tell from Scripture, our goal should be living in unity with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ – and, yes, that means working and serving together to further the kingdom of God.
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Unity a ‘first tier’ doctrine
You’ve probably heard the concept of the multilevel (or tiers) of doctrines. Generally, depending upon who is talking or writing about this, there are two or three tiers of doctrines. The first tier typically separates believers (Christians) from nonbelievers (non-Christians). The second and/or third tiers then separate believers from one another, usually determining whether or not the person talking/speaking feels it necessary to relate to someone who differs from him/her.
In other words, two people who both agree on the ‘first tier’ of doctrines would consider each other believers, but they would not find it necessary to fellowship, serve, meet, whatever together if they disagreed on second and/or third tier doctrines.
I think there is a huge problem with this multi-tier view of Christianity. The problem is that unity is a ‘first tier’ doctrine. What do I mean? Look at this passage from Titus:
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11 ESV)
According to Paul, a person who divides from brothers and sisters should be warned twice. If the person still remains divisive, then the church should separate from him. In other words, “divisiveness” is a reason supposing that someone is NOT a brother or sister in Christ.
In Scripture, there are very, very few reasons given for one believer to separate from another believer. This separation is the same as refusing to recognize someone as a brother or sister in Christ. Thus, “divisiveness” is a first-tier doctrine that is placed on the same level as teaching a false gospel, practicing gross immorality, and refusing to work to support yourself and others (yes, this is a ‘first tier’ doctrine also).
What does this mean? It means that just as it is impossible for someone to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit and continue in gross, unrepentant immorality, it is also impossible for a believer to divide himself or herself from brother or sisters based on disagreements (i.e., in Titus, Paul describes these as “controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels”… we have plenty of those, don’t we?).
The various ‘tiers’ only provide us reasons and justifications for dividing from others who we still consider to be Christians. Thus, they allow us to verbally acknowledge someone as a child of God without accepting them as a brother or sister in Christ. This is a concept that is completely antithetical to the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is, then, in fact, only one ‘tier’… if you want to call it that. Either someone is or is not a brother or sister in Christ. If someone is a brother or sister in Christ, then we MUST treat that person as a brother or sister in Christ, regardless of disagreements. Otherwise, WE are the ones being divisive, and the church should seek to divide themselves from us.
But, what glorifies God?
Bringing glory to God… All followers of Jesus Christ want to bring glory to God. It’s a no-brainer.
But, what brings glory to God?
That’s not always a no-brainer… because it’s not the same in all situations.
Dave Black wrote about this in his blog yesterday (Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 8:20 a.m.):
This morning, for example, I was really trying to wrap my head around the Christian’s purpose in life. We often say, “Why, it’s to glorify God, of course!” I have no problem with those words. But are we willing to pray, “Lord, glorify Yourself through me”? The reason I say this is because God sometimes has some strange ways of bringing glory to Himself. Lazarus’s sickness was for the glory of God (John 11:4). Peter’s death was to be a means by which he would glorify God (John 21:19). Much discussion, I believe, has confused rather than clarified this matter of glorifying God. It is possible to glorify God more by death than by life, in sickness than in health, during those twisted, terrifying periods of life when everything seems dark, even in those drab and normal days when nothing is “happening.” It is easily possible to so idealize “glorifying God” that we come dangerously close to denuding the expression of any meaning. Look at your life. By the world’s standards, it may or not be successful, but that’s really irrelevant. Satan is a great imitator, and he has a false gospel, a false discipleship, and a false sanctification. Especially vulnerable are those who get caught up in following some famous Bible teacher’s pet theories and religious vagaries, never settling and abiding in the Truth themselves. It is of first importance that the Christian learn to glorify God no matter what happens to him or her, whatever it takes, whatever it means, even if it means being dropped to the bottom of the ladder, even if it means stooping to drudgery or bending low in unappreciated service to others.
Think about it just a minute…
James was killed in prison, but Peter was released from Prison… Which one glorified God?
Stephen was stoned to death by the crowd in Jerusalem, but Paul was rescued from the crowd by the Romans… Which one glorified God?
Barnabas traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch and beyond, but Philip stopped traveling when he got to Caesarea… Which one glorified God?
Eutychus was raised from the dead, but Stephen was not… Which one glorified God?
I could go on and on using various examples in Scripture. Which examples glorified God? We cannot determine the answer to that question by looking at the outcome.
Whether someone died or not does not necessarily bring glory to God. Whether someone gave money or not does not necessarily give God glory. Whether or not someone speaks does not necessarily glorify God. Whether or not someone travels around the world does not necessarily glorify God.
So, what brings glory to God?
What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ (i.e., be a Christian)
Lately, when I’ve watched or listened to interviews with Christians, I’ve heard something like this: “I’m a Christian, and so I …” What follows invariably related to some of the major social or cultural battles raging today.
“I’m a Christian, and so I think X about illegal immigrants.”
“I’m a Christian, and so I believe X about gun control.”
“I’m a Christian, and so my stand on same-sex marriage is X.”
“I’m a Christian, and so I prefer for X political party.”
These are only a few of the kinds of statements that I’ve heard recently. I’m not concerned that people have strong opinions about certain things. Not at all. I am concerned, however, when these opinions or convictions are used to define what it means to be a Christian. Or, if these convictions do not define what it means to be a Christian, they are often used to divide Christians from one another.
I understand that this is not usually what people intend to communicate by these statements. I think they intend to communicate that because they are followers of Jesus Christ – and based on their understanding of who is and and how he wants them to follow him – they believe certain things about the world, and those beliefs affect their stands on various social, cultural, and political issues.
But, I think what others usually hear is this: “Christians believe X about that issue.” or “To be a Christian, you must believe X about that.” or “Jesus wants you to vote for X.”
Is that really what following Jesus is all about? Because that’s what we’re telling people (whether we intend to or not).
Believe it or not, most of the social issues that we’re dealing with today were also present in the first century AD (not only present, but prevalent and accepted). But, in Scripture, we never see Jesus’ name invoked to attack or defend a political, social, or cultural stance.
So, if being a Christian (a follower of Jesus Christ) is not about these things, then what is it about? What should we focus on when we talk about being a follower of Jesus Christ?
Some ARE listening to their brothers and sisters in Christ who have mental illnesses
First, I’ll be honest… I don’t like the phrase “mental illness.” But, I don’t know what else to use. I’m talking about emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. (If you know of a better phrase to use, please tell me.)
Yesterday, I published a fairly short post called “The church is talking about mental illness, but are we listening?” The point of that post was a simple one: While the church is talking about mental illness right now because of the tragedy in the family of a celebrity Christian, we need to be listening to those who have mental illnesses.
Yes, we can learn more about mental illnesses by listening to the people who struggle wit them. But, even more important, we can learn more about ourselves and about God by listening to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those who struggle with these kinds of issues.
I was extremely encouraged by the response to that post. I want to share some of those responses with you. These responses were left in the comments on that blog post:
Robert wrote: “What we need is people who have been there and out the other side to find their life redeemed to be ministers to those who need to know ‘It doesn’t have to end this way.'”
Liz wrote: “We need fewer people who pat us on the shoulder and tell us we need more faith. Maybe we do, but unless you’ve been there and out the other side, just do as Alan says. Listen to them and pray with and for them. Please.”
Tom wrote: “The single most important thing I think I have ever done for anyone is be there. To simply be present, engaged, encouraging and part of someones life, to love them as friends has been the highest calling of my life.”
Randi wrote: “Listening… being there… removing shame with love… referring to resources… prayer… that’s what I would picture Love doing for those who are battling this illness.”
Dan wrote: “See, listening is great. But there’s something that has to happen before listening; and that’s just showing up. Getting someone, anyone, to show up in person to be there for mentally ill people or their families is 80% of the battle.”
John wrote: “We have looked down upon people who deal with mental illness, as if they are ‘less than’, or as if we are so much more spiritually mature. To some degree, we expect them to somehow snap out of it and move on with their lives.”
And, here are a couple of responses from Twitter:
@morethanpepper wrote: “26 years as a christian with depression been quite the road”
@ReagonGood wrote: “31 yrs of depression it never goes away it plagues your mind its a day to day process you learn to cope or you may die trying”
I want to especially thank my friends who struggle with these issues and who contacted me privately. I appreciate and love each one of you.
The church is talking about mental illness, but are we listening?
I do not know Rick Warren, and I did not know his son. (Yes, I’ve read one of Warren’s books, but that doesn’t mean that I know him.) However, I have known many people who found themselves in Matthew Warren’s place, and many people who have found themselves in the place of sorrow, grief, and guilt that many of Matthew’s family probably find themselves in now.
I once sat in a lady’s living room listening to her nephew talk about his faith in God and his relationship with Jesus Christ. He also talked about his struggles with depression. After he killed himself, I sat in that same living room and listened as his aunt grieved and mourned the loss of her nephew.
I sat in another living room of a close friend who has struggled with bipolar disorder for many years. When he left home that morning, he had left a suicide note for his family and taken a gun with him. His family struggled with what was going on and what they could do. I listened to them and prayed with them, and later rejoiced with them when my friend returned home. As long as I’ve known him, he has demonstrated a strong faith in Jesus Christ and has often encouraged and taught me as we’ve shared our lives together.
I’ve sat in other living rooms, or held the other side of the telephone, or stood next too many other people who have struggled with what has been called “mental illness”: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I’ve talked with them; I’ve encouraged them; I’ve tried to help them.
But, most of all, I listened.
Today, because of the tragedy in the family of a Christian celebrity, the church is talking about “mental illness.” People are defining it, describing it, debating it.
But, are we listening… really listening… to our brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with these problems?
If we’re not, we should be. We can learn from them, because they are part of us. They are an important part of us. They are a needed part of us.
And, until we accept them as part of us, and until we stop talking and telling and condemning and warning and explaining… until we start listening… we’re going to miss something important that God wants to do in our lives THROUGH them. (Of course, God can use us in their lives too, but that’s a different point.)
A good friend of mine has been struggling with depression for a long time now. Every time I talk to him, he encourages me to trust Jesus and to follow him regardless of where he leads me. He is a good brother in Christ… the kind of brother that I would like to be to others. And, he struggles with depression.
I listen to him, because he is part of the body of Christ with me, because God loves him, and because I love him too.
The church is talking about mental illness now… but are we listening?