The doctor told her she’s dying
It’s been a while since I’ve written about our friends in “The Neighborhood.” There are several reasons for that. One of the main reasons that we haven’t been able to spend as much time with them as we normally would.
In case you haven’t been reading my blog in a while, “The Neighborhood” is a low income, government assisted housing development in Wake Forest. Originally, one of our friends invited us to come meet some of her neighbors there. Eventually, we became good friends with many of those who live there.
One of the ladies that we met was T. When we first met T., she had just had surgery for breast cancer, and she had been diagnosed with emphysema. She’s been on oxygen the entire time that we’ve known her (about 2 1/2 years). For the last year or so, she has had an assistance program coming to her house a few times a week to help her out.
She called me last week. She was very upset. She’s been having an even harder time breathing, and she went to the doctor. She was not able to see her normal doctor. The doctor that checked her that morning told her, “You’re dying. There’s nothing we can do for you. You may have a week or two, or maybe a year, but you will die soon.”
Now, she’s under hospice care.
I stopped by one afternoon to spend some time with her. She actually looks very good – better than she’s looked lately. She doesn’t think she’s as bad as the doctor said. Who knows.
She told me that she knew that God was taking care of her, and that she was trusting God. If God decided she was going to die soon, then she would. If God did not want to die soon, then it didn’t matter what the doctor said.
She said that she wants to get stronger so that she can come meet with the church with us. I told her that coming to our meeting place on Sunday morning should be the least of her concern. But, I told her, I thought the church would want to come to her.
Her face lit up. She smiled really big. “Do you think they’ll come here?” she asked. “I’m not able to clean my house like I want to. I don’t look very presentable.”
I promised her that her brothers and sisters did not care what her house looked like (they would probably even clean it for her), and they didn’t care that she had not had her bottom teeth replaced yet, and they didn’t care that she couldn’t take baths as often as normal. I told her that the church would want to come to her, to encourage her, to pray with her, to sing with her, to help her through this.
I haven’t seen her this bright and cheerful in a long time.
Learning Greek is the Goal? No!
Our Greek Study Club meets for the first time this evening at 6:00 at our church’s meeting place. Join us if you’re interest and you’re in the area (map).
(By the way, if you’re interested in learning Greek but you’re not in the area, stay tuned… I hope to make some exciting announcements in the coming weeks and months.)
So, as we meet, is our goal to learn Greek? Well, kinda. It is a goal, but it is not THE goal.
Greek is simply a tool to help us study and understand the Scriptures. The Scriptures, then, help us mature as disciples of Christ. As we mature as disciples of Christ, we disciple others both by proclaiming the gospel and by helping others mature in Christ.
So, learning Greek is not the goal. Learning Greek is simply another tool that we can use as we live for Christ.
A Heritage of Faith
For those of you who are not aware, Dave Black is my PhD mentor. BeckyLynn, his wife, is continuing to struggle with cancer. Yesterday, Dave penned this words about his thoughts while driving home from the hospital:
On the drive home today I was strangely nostalgic, thinking about the heritage I will one day leave to my children and grandchildren. More than ever, I’m beginning to realize that the most important lesson for our children today is the lesson of faith. Not faith in one’s job or the economy or our intellectual attainments. Not faith in all of our human achievements. But faith in God — the God who created each one us, who made everything from absolutely nothing. Faith in the God who has the power to see everything, who understands our deepest heartaches, who has all authority, who alone has the power to forgive sins and to restore broken relationships. Faith in the God who who can keep us from wallowing in despair and self-pity. Do I have such faith? Sometimes I feel like a miserable failure in this area of my life. But if I want the next generation to have such faith I must first possess it, and possess it in quantity.
Faith is huge… bigger than we think. I trust God, but I want to trust him more. And, even more than that, I want my family and friends to see that I am trusting God.
They don’t always see that. Thanks for the reminder, Dave.
Two on Preaching
There were (at least) two good posts last weekend about preaching and sermons:
Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia” states “Preaching the Word is not just for pastors.” His point (as the title indicates) is that all believers should take responsibility for preaching the word. This is his conclusion:
Being prepared to preach the Word, in season and out of season, is the responsibility and privilege of all Christians. It is antithetical to the witness of Scripture to restrict something so basic as proclaiming the Good News of Christ to a tiny minority in the church. As a believer in Jesus Christ, bought by His blood and regenerated by the Holy Spirit, I have the same responsibility to declare Christ to the world as Timothy or Paul. If you are His disciples, you have that same responsibility as well. Don’t let anyone tell you that your responsibility is restricted to sitting in your pew and listening to someone else.
You may notice that Arthur does not define the phrase “preach the word” that way it is often defined in churches. You see, Arthur has decided to use the NT definition and usage. So, Arthur is not talking about preaching in the same way that most churches use the term “preaching.” Instead, Arthur is saying that all believers should proclaim the gospel.
Also, Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” talks about “Sermon Memory.” Eric says that he does not remember many sermons, even the ones that he’s preached. Eric says:
Why is this? Why is it difficult to remember sermons? The reason is that God did not make our brains primarily for one-way communication. I’m not suggesting that we can’t learn this way, but rather that the much better way to learn is through dialog/conversation. I think we would all agree that we retain much more information through engaging, back-and-forth conversation.
I agree with Eric on this too.
In fact, I’ll make a statement that many Christians will probably disagree with. I think the modern practice of sermonizing when the church meets (especially when the same person teaches in a monologue fashion week in and week out without discussion or dialog) is a hindrance to the growth and maturity of the church.
Consider the Outcome of Their Way of Life
Scripture says as much (if not more) about the “way of life” of leaders as it says about the teaching of leaders. Consider the emphasis and importance that we place on teaching in the church today. We should place as much or more emphasis on our manner of life – our conduct.
Here’s just one passage to consider:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 ESV)
As I think back about the time I spent in Ethiopia, I’m continually reminded about the way of life of the two men that I traveled with.
For example, although Danny was concerned about his lack of experience, he taught strangers (who turned into friends) in a prison. I saw Dave Black live with and work with others in spite of the terrible experience that he and his wife (BeckyLynn) went through just days earlier.
Now, the question that I must ask myself is this: Am I learning from their example?
And, the question that I ask other leaders: Are you teaching with your lives as much as with your words?
And, the question that I ask others: Are you learning from those who are following Christ and demonstrating that by the way they live their lives?
Internet Ministry: Interaction
In my first three posts concerning internet ministry (“What is it?,” “Evangelism and Discipleship,” and “Global Interaction“), I defined internet ministry as “the use of online services, apps, functions, and technologies in order to serve people with the intention of helping those people grow in maturity towards Christ” and concluded that even if we pursue evangelism online, our ultimate goal should be discipleship – that is, not simply making converts, but helping people maturing in their walk with Jesus Christ. Finally, I encouraged those involved in “internet ministry” to recognize the importance of personal, face-to-fact contact and example in discipleship.
In this final installment in my series on “internet ministry,” I would like to continue discussing the importance of “face-to-face contact and example” by talking about using online interaction to further facility discipleship.
When I use the term “interaction,” I’m talking about communication that takes place in both directions. Now, certainly, it is possible to help someone without this kind of two-way communication. For example, someone could post a teaching based on a particular passage of Scripture, and someone else reading that teaching could benefit, without further interaction.
In reality, this is similar to the teaching/preaching found in many churches today. A person hears a teaching/sermon, but has no further interaction and no deeper relationship with the teacher/preacher. The person hearing can be helped with this type of teaching/preaching, but the amount and type of help is limited.
The way the Jesus and others in Scripture practiced and taught it, discipleship was interactive, in the midst of sharing life together, with questions and answers and follow-up and discussion and argument and another example, etc. It is possible to include this type of interaction using online resources.
The problem is that many who post material on the internet consider the “posted material” to be the most important part of their work. In fact, that posted material is simply the beginning. Whether through comments or emails or phone calls or whatever, the further interaction with other people is often much more important than the posted material that began the further interaction.
Again, do not misunderstand me. Still, personal, face-to-face interaction with both important and necessary. But, using various means, internet ministry can be more interactive and, therefore, more effective at helping people mature in Christ and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Of course, this also means that the way that we interact with people is as important (if not more important) than what we say (or write) in our posted material. If we react with hostility to someone who disagrees with us, it will completely nullify our post about the love of Christ. If we reject someone else, it hinders our message about the grace we have through Christ.
Finally, through interaction, we can demonstrate that we are also teachable – that we also need to be discipled – that we do not have all the answers – that God can and does speak to us and changes us through other people.
So, as we use online tools and resources to disciple others – that is, to help others grow in maturity in Christ – we should seek as much interaction as possible, always attempting to demonstrate the love of Christ in that interaction. In humility, we should admit that we do not have all the answers, that we are sometimes wrong, and that our relationships with others is more important than proving ourselves to be right.
The Purpose of Participation
For the last few yeas, our church gatherings have been more participatory – meaning, more people take part in the speaking, teaching, edifying, encouraging, etc. that happens during our church meetings.
However, participation is not an end in itself. Our goal is not increased participation from the body of Christ. Our goal when meeting together is mutual edification (1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 10:24-25). We allow and encourage many people to take part in our meetings because we understand that God works through all of his children (mutual) in order to help us all walk in maturity in Christ (edification).
So, a participatory meeting is not our goal, but a tool that God uses to build up his children when the church meets.
Internet Ministry: Global Connection
In my two previous posts concerning internet ministry (“What is it?” and “Evangelism and Discipleship“), I defined internet ministry as “the use of online services, apps, functions, and technologies in order to serve people with the intention of helping those people grow in maturity towards Christ” and concluded that even if we pursue evangelism online, our ultimate goal should be discipleship – that is, not simply making converts, but helping people maturing in their walk with Jesus Christ.
In this post, I am will discuss one of the major benefits of serving people using online resources, and I will show how this benefit can also be a disadvantage.
Of course, the benefit that I’m talking about (as indicated in the title of this post) is the global connection, meaning that by using online resources we are able to connect to people all around the world. Until very recently (less than 100 years), if I wanted to communicate with someone in another country, it would take days, weeks, even months or more. Today, I can talk with people from every country on the planet in seconds.
In previous generations, the only people who could carry on conversations with people of different religions were those who traveled to different countries, or those with neighbors who were part of different religions. Today, anyone with a computer or cell phone with an internet connection can communicate and interact with people from any number of belief systems.
So, the ability to communicate with other people has been drastically improved through the use of online resources. Because of the advancements in communication, many have compared the invention of the internet to the invention of the printing press. And, in many ways, the two inventions are similar. Both inventions dramatically increased the ability to communicate ideas.
This then, leads to one of the disadvantages of this new global connection. But, let’s take a step back and consider the practices of the apostles and other Christians as demonstrated in Scripture. Often, Peter, Paul, James and others would desire to communicate with other believers in distant lands. They would then write letters – often dictating the letters to others who could write – and then send those letters by couriers, a process that could take weeks or months to complete.
However, neither Peter nor Paul nor James nor any others mentioned in the Scriptures relied completely on long distance communication methods. The letters were generally sent with other people who were to live among the recipients and help them with any problems they may have. Thus, the long distance communication was combined with personal interaction.
In fact, in many of Paul’s letters, instead of simply telling his readers what to do, he would remind them of how he himself had lived while he was among them. Thus, the letters were only part of an ongoing process of discipleship that included past interaction and present interaction. In other words, these people knew one another face-to-face, not just through letters.
With the advantages of today’s global connectivity, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of face-to-face interaction. As we help people walk with Christ, no written words – no matter how eloquent – can replace a living example.
It’s easy to hide behind a computer screen and never interact with others face-to-face. We must never allow our “online” ministry to replace the process of building mutually discipling relationships with other people that God brings into our lives. In fact, internet ministry should work to supplement – not replace – our service to other people in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, etc.
So, as we attempt to disciple people using online resources, we must remember that internet ministry – as with other types of long distance communication – works best when it is accompanied by face-to-face, personal interaction, either with us or with other Christians who can demonstrate a maturing faith by example.
Internet Ministry: Evangelism and Discipleship
In my previous post, “Internet Ministry: What is it?,” I defined “internet ministry” as follows:
“Internet ministry” is the use of online services, apps, functions, and technologies in order to serve people with the intention of helping those people grow in maturity towards Christ.
What what kind of service can be included in “internet ministry”? Is this evangelism or discipleship?
The short answer is, “Yes.”
First, in Scripture, evangelism is part of discipleship. “Discipleship” is simply the process of helping someone live in a manner that honors Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. “Discipleship” is helping someone else mature in Christ.
Evangelism is the process of proclaiming the gospel with someone or some group. This is the first step of discipling that person or group.
Note that evangelism is different from apologetics. Apologetics is presenting arguments in support of one’s beliefs in order to show that those beliefs are reasonable, cohesive, coherent, and consistent. So, apologetics may or may not include a presentation of the good news.
Evangelism, on the other hand, focuses on the good news of Jesus Christ and the fundamentals of trusting Christ for salvation and life. As such, evangelism is part of the process of helping someone live as a disciple of Jesus Christ – that is, discipleship.
Thus, internet ministry – if it is truly ministry (“service”) – is a part of the process of discipling others. This process begins with evangelism, but must not end there. Remembering that “ministry” includes interaction with others, “internet ministry” must continue beyond evangelism to helping the new believer follow Jesus more closely – that is, to mature in Christ.
(Note: I believe this is true of all evangelism, not just online evangelism: Evangelism must include the intention of continuing the discipling process.)
So, an “internet ministry” (or any type of service) that focuses on proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers must include the further service of helping new believers grow and mature. Why? Because our goal as disciples of Jesus Christ is not to evangelize (only), but also to make disciples. Our goal is not converts, but disciples.
When we proclaim the gospel to someone, we are (whether we realize it or not) beginning the first step of discipleship. So, when we proclaim the good news, we should understand that we’re asking the person or people to begin to share our lives with us so that we can help one another grow in maturity in Christ.
Yes, there will be occasions when these types of ongoing discipling relationships are not possible. But they should be the exception, not the rule. We should not plan to use the internet only to serve people through evangelism. Instead, we should understand that evangelism should include further discipleship, and so include discipleship in our plans to serve people.
Jesus told his apostles, “As you go, disciple all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20). If this command applies to us (and I think it does), then we should seek to disciple other people wherever we go. If we go across the oceans, we should seek to make disciples, even if that includes evangelism. If we go across the street, we should seek to make disciples, even if that includes evangelism.
And, if we go online, we should seek to make disciples, even if that includes evangelism.
The Psalm or the Shepherd
I ran across this story a few years ago. I don’t know if it’s a real story or not. But, for some reason, I thought of it today:
There is a story about an old man and a young man on the same platform before a vast audience of people.
A special program was being presented. As a part of the program each was to repeat from memory the words of the Twenty-third Psalm.
The young man, trained in the best speech technique and drama, gave, in the language of the ancient silver-tongued orator, the, words of the Psalm.
“The Lord is my shepherd …” When he finished, the audience clapped their hands and cheered, asking him for an encore so that they might hear again his wonderful voice.
Then the old gentleman, leaning heavily on his cane, stepped to the front of the same platform, and in a feeble, shaking voice, repeated the same words-“The Lord is my shepherd. . .”
But when he was seated -no sound came from the listeners. Folks seemed to pray. In the silence the young man stood to make the following statement:
“Friends,” he said, “I wish to make an explanation. You asked me to come back and repeat the Psalm, but you remained silent when my friend here was seated. The difference? I’ll tell you. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.”
I want to know the Psalm. But, more than that, I want to know the Shepherd.