When the Church Arrives
I enjoyed the essay “Church is Here” by Joy Schroeder at “Communitas Collective.” As Joy struggled with her understanding of church and the busyness and concerns of the week, the greeting of a five-year-old girl helped her understand the nature of the church:
We finally arrived, 45 minutes later than I had planned. I apologized sheepishly to anyone and everyone while imagining the worst to be unfolding behind the doors of the enormous vacation home. Visions of grumblings about late dinner and half-starved children wailing like banshees invaded my mind. Instead, what I overheard as my family hustled inside completely changed my demeanor and the direction my evening was headed, and subtly confronted my personal struggle with what to call our group and weekly gatherings.
Emma, the precocious five-year-old daughter of one of the other families, noticed us coming through the door with overflowing armloads of food to share, and joyfully exclaimed:
“Look, Mom! Church is here!”
If the church is people (and it is), then shouldn’t we use the word “church” in that way?
If you can’t spend the night don’t bother going
Strider, at “Tales from Middle Earth,” is one of the best storytellers that I read. And, as a bonus, his stories are true. In his latest post called “When the Road is too Long,” he tells the story of traveling to a wedding – or, rather, attempting to travel to a wedding.
When he realized that he was not going to get to the wedding in time, he and his family stay with some friends in a nearby village. It was only after all of the other visitors left, and his family remained past normal “visiting” hours that the host opened up and was interested in hearing the gospel.
This is what Strider concludes:
We have a saying on our team that says that if you can’t spend the night don’t bother going. I don’t always live by this but this story reminds me of the truth of it. When we spend the night with people we stay past the polite guest phase and hang around for the deep conversation phase of the day.
It is important to hang around for the deep conversation phase of they day. I’ve found that this can happen earlier, but only after spending time and getting to know the person.
Yes, I know that many people are open to the gospel at any time, and we should be ready and willing to share anytime. However, for those who are not immediately ready, it often takes time, patience, and love in order to earn a right to be heard.
Are we willing to take the time?
“To be relevant and beneficial, the text must be understood – and then applied”
The title of this post is a quote from Dave Black’s blog (Friday, November 13 at 8:02 a.m.). Here is the quote in context:
In the course of teaching Greek (both classical and Koine) the past 34 years I’ve found that translating Greek into English is a very different enterprise from understanding what the text means. A translation may at times sound very erudite, but to be relevant and beneficial the text must be understood — and then applied. One of my greatest challenges as a teacher has been to get my students to see the need to give up theological jargon when translating from Greek into English. If we can use simpler and clearer words to express the truths of Scripture, then by all means let’s do so. Why, for example, should we render Rom. 12:11 “distribute to the needs of the saints” when “share what you have with God’s people who are in need” will do the job and is much clearer? Or why should we insist that the purpose of pastor-teachers is “to equip the saints for the work of the ministry” when we can say “to prepare God’s people for works of service”? If all we do is parrot the standard English versions while translating from English to Greek, I’m afraid we’ll end up with nothing but another secret religious society. If insisting on the use of theological jargon actually helped people to become more obedient to the Word of God, I’d say do it at all costs. But is there any evidence that it does?
To admit this inadequacy honestly can be very intimidating to the teacher. It means, in fact, that we can no longer be content to offer courses in Greek exegesis that fail to include serious self-examination. Somehow we need to move our students from a mere grammatical approach to the text to one that involves them deeply in the Christian pilgrimage. What is the purpose of exegeting Paul’s Christ-hymn in Phil. 2:5-11 if we, the translators, are not willing to model the upside-down kingdom of God in our own lives? Strangely, I am discovering that more and more of my students are asking the “so what” question of everything they are learning. And I am more and more convinced that the joy of living the Gospel in our lives is what should drive the exegetical process in the first place. I may be wrong, but when we talk about “seminary education,” I think we are talking about training students for the adventure of living the Christian life in the real world by doing what is important in God’s eyes. I have found, to my horror, that it is far easier to simply talk about the text than to seek to live it out. Look at the New Testament writers like Paul or John who wrote and taught in the crucible of actual missionary experience. They were willing to follow the Lord Jesus even at the risk of death. They didn’t just talk about the truth, they lived it.
If Paul says I am to share what I have with God’s people who are in need, I’d better be doing just that. This pedagogical insight may belong in a fortune cookie, but it’s the best I can do.
I thought this post went along well with my series from this week: “Listening to the Experts,” “Listening to Theological Experts,” and “Listening to One Another.”
The work of disciple-making must move beyond education and telling what Scripture means in order to include the more necessary part: showing what it means… living the Scriptures. We can be highly educated and just as highly disobedient.
What did they think about Jesus?
Two years ago, I wrote a post called “What did they think about Jesus?” Have you ever stopped to think about what people thought about Jesus? Or, have you asked yourself what people today would say about him if Jesus walked among us physically today? Should they be thinking and saying the same things about us?
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What did they think about Jesus?
A friend at “amateur” published a post called “Looking Back“. She says:
It’s hard for those of us with many years of hindsight [believing that Jesus is God the Son] to see what a truly hard-to-take-in thing Jesus’ appearance was. Surely He stood out, being the only sinless person around; people would know there was something different about Him, but with a human’s inability to recognize Truth — even those of us after His death who have the Holy Spirit to nudge us with it have problems sometimes seeing it — it still would have taken faith to believe He was God.
I’m not sure that this was her intention, but this statement made me wonder what the people of his day would have thought about Jesus.
We know they thought he was a drunkard and a glutton because he hung out at the homes of “sinners”. We know they thought he was a blasphemer because he considered himself to be the son of God. We know they thought he would be an earthly king because he talked about the kingdom. What else would the people of his day have thought about Jesus?
Would they have thought he was a push-over because of the way that he loved people unconditionally?
Would they have thought he was a little “touched in the head” (crazy?) because he was homeless and wandered around from place to place?
Would they have thought he was brash because he did not try to hide what he was feeling from people and actually said what he thought?
Would they have thought he was an adulterer because so many women stayed around him?
Would they have thought he was insolent or cynical because he questioned the accepted religious traditions?
Would they have thought he was not serious enough because he spent time with children?
Would they have thought he was simple minded because he told easy-to-understand stories and did not pontificate on deep theological truths?
Would they have thought he was a terrible leader because of the followers that he chose?
Would they have thought he was wrong because he died?
Kevin Vanhoozer Lecture
In my previous post, “Listening to Theological Experts,” I mentioned Kevin Vanhoozer’s book The Drama of Doctrine (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005). Vanhoozer discussed his conclusions in this book in a lecture in Southeastern’s chapel this morning. You can find a list of all chapel lectures and sermons here.
Also, you can click here to listen to the mp3 file of Vanhoozer’s lecture.
(Note: The links on the SEBTS website were not working last night. However, the links should work now.)
Talking too much or too little
When church meetings are interactive, there is always the possibility that some people will talk to much and some people will talk too little. I probably fall into the “talk too much” camp.
I think there are several reasons for this, and I’m working on a post (or series of posts) concerning one possible cause: our understanding of expertise and experts.
Laura at “Who in the World are We?” has written a short essay concerning speakers and non-speakers in a post called “How do you Balance Talkers and Listeners?” She says:
I’ve been on both sides of this problem: the talky expert and the quieted voice. Neither one is good. Communal Bible study must happen as community, not merely in community. Participation, not mere presence, makes for community. If it occurs otherwise, then it is probably a lecture–and likely a boring one at that.
How do you balance the voices in communal Bible study, honoring both expert and non-expert?
In most church meetings, this is not an issue (or perhaps you could say the issue is taken to the extreme) because only one (or a few) people speak or take part in the meeting.
How would you answer Laura’s question? How should the church balance the “voices” during church meetings (not just Bible studies)?
21st Century Church Contest Entries
Energion’s blogging/essay contest is finished. All the submissions are in, and the judging has begun. I know, because I’m one of the judges. Without giving away my preferences or rankings, I thought I would share some thoughts from each essay (in the order listed by Energion):
From A. Amos Love’s submission:
This congregation of “Disciples of Christ,†“the ekklesia of God,†“ sons of God,†will;
Forsake all…
Love not the world…
Love not their own life…
Just want to know Him…
Count all things but dung…
Always take the lower place…
Make themselves of no reputation…
From Arthur Sido’s submission:
Scripture does not lay out a specific, liturgical schedule of events to govern the lives of believers nor is one desirable. All too often we have tried to push Scripture aside when it comes to the gathering of the New Covenant people as the church and replaced it with our own pragmatic solutions, rituals and traditions which may bring us comfort and a sense of being religious but bring little glory to God. Isn’t bringing glory to God what the gathering of the church is supposed to be about?
From Lew Ayotte’s submission:
When the Assembly of Christ is about building one another up, not dividing over leaders or denominations, focused on recognizing their own leaders, they will inherently be about fulfilling the Great Commission. In fact, I believe following Jesus’ command here may be like second nature to them. They will see the world through His eyes instead of their own. As the Assembly of Christ, reaching our neighbors will not be based on a program, chant, or weekly exercise… it will be according to Christ’s example. Each member in the assembly will recognize their responsibilities, although different, each one has an extremely important role.
From David Blanton’s submission:
Finally, a Jesus Christ ministry cannot help but look like Christ Jesus, the only mirror that is worth measuring itself against. What did the Good Samaritan look like? The parable never gave the listener a physical description because it wasn’t important. The only radical ministry is the one that has Christ Jesus as its center, who said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. If a ministry does that, then it cannot help but look like a Jesus Christ ministry. Does the ministry look forward or backward or does it abstain from the obtuseness of looking anywhere but its center?
From Lionel Woods’ submission:
When the disciples met with Christ, He was modeling community before them. They asked “where are you staying†and He answered “come and seeâ€. From that day forward they lived in a community, sharing, eating, living amongst, and knowing one another. They would have looked at what we giggle at today as a cult. We think that type of life on life is appalling, idiotic, unnecessary, we believe that type of life is too radical, ridiculous, we cling on to our autonomy like it is a right, my friends it is not. We belong to a King. A King who has created us for this community a community to reflect who He is.
From James Lee’s submission:
This aptly demonstrates the need for our ministry to each other and provides a point of commonality that will equip us to be true salt and light in the world while loving each other. We cannot accomplish the tasks of discipleship and proclamation of the Gospel through political agendas, legislated morality, bully pulpits, and sectarian distinctions that scream we are right and you are wrong. We can only accomplish true ministry in this century through the power of Christ, His Holy Spirit, and a love for one another that strengthens us to face the enemy head on, and storm the gates of hell with the victory that was wrought in the spotless Lamb’s blood.
From Christopher Larson’s submission:
Such ministry will seek to avoid the two pitfalls of pragmatism on the one hand and self important hyper-spiritual perfection on the other. it will celebrate the freedom to do many things so that one thing might in the end be done, and it will celebrate all who share that calling as brothers and sisters in the ministry that takes many external forms, but in the end is one, (Pslam 119:63). Our goal will be to always ‘remember Jesus Christ’ in whatever form our work may take, and to know however difficult the path may seem He is Lord and He is not in chains, but freely working in and through us to bring forth a people for Himself, (2 Timothy 2:1-9).
I enjoyed all of the submissions. They all caused me to think about the church of Jesus Christ in the 21st century in different ways. I encourage you to read each of the essays.
Margaret wrote about homeschooling
My wife Margaret was interviewed by a friend about our choice to homeschool. You can read the interview on the blog “Prayer of Hannah” in a post called “More Schooling Options: Homeschooling.” As you can see, the interview is part of a series on schooling options.
If you read Margaret’s interview, you’ll see that homeschool was a personal decision for us – a decision that we do not hold others to. It is possible for parents to raise their children properly in any type of educational environment.
BeckyLynn Black is in the hospital
Dr. Black reported last week that Mrs. Black’s white blood count was low and that she would not be able to have her next chemo treatment today. Apparently, she was admitted to the hospital last weekend. This is from an email that we just received:
BeckyLynn Black was admitted to UNC Hospital Saturday night with a fever. She also has a sore throat and is having difficulty swallowing… As of this morning, the doctors still have no firm diagnosis, but are treating her with antibiotics. Her temperature must return to normal and stay that way for 24 hours (without any medication) before they will discharge her; she may be in the hospital several more days.
The way to greatness is through selfless service and scandalous love
Yes, I know that I just quoted my friend Adam at darnellia a couple of days ago. But, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to link to his post “The Up-side Down Kingdom.” This is how he concludes:
The overwhelming evidence in the Synoptic Gospels for the ordering of the kingdom of God is that the way to greatness is through selfless service and scandalous love, and the way to victory as a disciple is through self-surrender. Ruling over others is absent in the up-side down kingdom; all are equals under the one Master. Honorific titles are worse than worthless, and the citizens of the up-side down kingdom are to love to the extent that it shocks those outside of the kingdom. In the end, “that which is exalted among men is detestable before God†(Lk 16:15).
Adam says this is the first of a new series of essays. If this essay is any indication, then his new series is going to be awesome!