Who is my neighbor?
Mark, at “My Little Light“, has written this poem called “The Neighbor“.
I don’t know your name and I doubt we will ever meet.
I always see you at your church. I live across the street.I sit out on my front porch and wave at the passers by.
You never wave back. Maybe the sun is just in your eyes.I shout a hello to your family as the church doors you walk in.
I hear a muttered statement about missing church and sin.If the doors are open I see you there for every event that’s held.
Services, potlucks, and picnics. Oh, the food that I’ve smelled.I can hear the instruments and voices as you praise your God.
While I enjoy the music I must admit that I find one thing odd.I sometimes hear your pastor preach about spreading the word.
I scratch my head and wonder if any of you really heard.Cause I don’t know your name and I doubt we will ever meet.
I always see you at your church, but none of you see me.
Since our church doesn’t own a building, we don’t have “neighbors” in the sense that Mark is talking about in his poem. However, we do have neighbors. What kind of neighbor am I?
Every meal a sacred meal
Chris, at “Filtering Life Through the Cross“, has written on a very important topic in his post called “Jesus the Party Animal?!” Chris begins his post with this paragraph:
My wife and I enjoy having people over to dinner. We enjoy spending time with friends that we are very close with while we also enjoy eating with people with whom we don’t really know at all. It was only until recently that I realized that there was deep meaning behind sharing a meal together. I always knew that some fellowship and sharing took place, but I did not grasp the full extent of what sharing a meal actually meant.
Chris also quotes Crag Blomberg’s book Contagious Holiness: Jesus’ Meals with Sinners, a book that I haven’t read but have now added to my reading list:
Jesus’ table fellowship with sinners reflects his willingness to associate with them at an intimate level, but not merely for the sake of defying convention or enjoying a party. In each case various textual clues, if not explicit statements, demonstrate that Christ is indeed calling them to repentance and summoning them to become his followers. At the same time he is ready to accept them at the slightest sign of a positive response and does not follow the Essene pattern of requiring a lengthy period of probation for them to prove themselves…As to the meaning of Jesus’ behaviour, the unifying theme that emerges is one that may be called ‘contagious holiness’. Jesus discloses not one instance of fearing contamination, whether moral or ritual, by associating with the wicked or impure. Rather, he believes that his purity can rub off on them, and he hopes that his magnanimity toward them will lead them to heed his calls to discipleship. (pg. 167)
Good stuff. When we start realizing that all moments – and all meals – are sacred, and when we start living as God’s children in all moments – and all meals – I think we will see a marked difference in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Invite someone to your home… eat with them… and “rub off on them”.
Freedom in chains?
David, at “discipleMexico“, has written a very good post called “Freedom“. Apparently, David was detained in a Mexican jail for 33 hours following a traffic accident. During the time that he was in jail, God gave him several opportunities to speak about freedom in Christ.
Here is part of David’s story:
In Mérida, I was made to wait in a room with three benches and an air conditioner that had seen its best days perhaps 10 years ago, but I was not alone. It “just so happened†that, there with me in the “waiting room†was a man who we’ll call José. He had arrived the day before, having crashed his car while driving drunk on his way home from work on the other side of the peninsula, but that wasn’t the whole story. He was also a prodigal son.
He had once had a vibrant relationship with the Lord and had been an active member of the Christian community, but his work had isolated him, and in his isolation his bad choices multiplied. The crash was the end of a slippery slope that had left more than his car in a wreck, but sometimes it takes hitting bottom before we begin to look up.
José told me his story, and I told him mine, but I didn’t end it with the story of the accident. I told him that although God hadn’t caused my accident, that my meeting with him was certainly more than coincidental. I told him of the Father that welcomes home all who return to Him, and I invited him to start the journey back. We prayed, and in that detention center, we felt the presence of God. We knew that even though it seemed that our immediate future was out of our hands, we knew the hands that held our eternity.
José wasn’t the only one in the room with me. There were two youth who had been detained for driving drunk, and two others who were in the middle of a dispute between their respective insurance companies. While we waited for news about our situation, we formed a community: we talked about our families and our faith, we shared everything from the food that was brought to us to the floor that we slept on, but what filled me with the most joy was our last moments together.
It was exciting and encouraging for me to read about how David allowed God to use him in this unexpected “opportunity”. How about you? Has God given you some unexpected opportunities to speak about Him? Did you take advantage of those opportunities?
A good reputation among outsiders…
According to Paul, the church should recognize leaders based on several characteristics. One of those characteristics is a good reputation among those who are outside the church (1 Tim. 3:7). Recently, Phil at “Square No More“, took part in a pagan festival called Pagan Pride (see his post “A Christian Presenter at Pagan Pride?!“). In response to his presentation, Phil received a letter from a pagan couple. This is the text of that letter (which comes from his post called “A response to pagan pride“):
Pastor Phil,
I just wanted to thank you again for the kind and thoughtful discussion you moderated at pagan pride yesterday. I was so impressed that you managed to neither soft pedal or market away the true differences of belief involved or make those differences excessively confrontational. Usually interfaith dialog between any of the, let’s say, ‘Abrahamic’ faiths and other religions is either so diplomatic that it is dishonest about the true nature of their basic differences, or so focused on the differences that they appear as you aptly put it ‘mean and judgmental’ Somehow you managed to find a middle course between these extremes and I have seldom seen this done with such grace.
But but you also avoided two other mistakes (I believe) Christians commonly make in witnessing their faith. 1. You did not speak as if we non-christians had never heard this message before and 2. You did not speak to us non-christians as if we were in need of rescue. I know you likely believe we *are* in need of rescue, but that you were respectful enough to not explicitly condescend shows a good heartedness and sensitivity I am not used to encountering among evangelicals. This is important because this attitude conveys that you are aware that many non-christians are just as comfortable and assured of their beliefs as you are, and just as contented in their lives and full of spiritual hope as well. That is, we are as committed to our stuff as you are to yours. Too many Christians fail to recognize this and this tends to shut down discussion right from the start.
The sort of discussion we had yesterday is also encouraging in so far as the discourse between Christians and non-christians has become increasingly and dangerously polarized, toxic and political. That you have drawn such fire for even speaking with neo-pagans is yet another perplexing proof of it. It just seems so un-Christ-like to condemn you for ministering to neo-pagans, after all, that is exactly what Christ would have done. If there is to be any peace at all and if the political fiber of our Country and Constitution is to hold together we need to continually remind each other that whatever we may believe we are NOT enemies.
Christian Day was speaking with my wife after the discussion yesterday and told her how kind, generous and basically samaritan-like you and your people have been in the Salem community. And in this respect I think we have at least one common belief: argument and discussion is worthwhile and even fun, but it is far more important to persuade by one’s example of loving kindness.
The whole thing made Debbie and I feel great. We’ve been talking about it quite a lot. We will likely never share your congregation’s religious beliefs, but we hope you will consider us allies all the same.
Peace,
George Popham and Debbie Fields Popham
What kind of reputation do you have among outsiders? Do they recognize both your conviction and a lack of judgmental attitude on your part? Or do you come across as too diplomatic or judgmental? Or, do you even spend enough time among “outsiders” for them to know you?
If you decide to spend time among those outside the church, realize that it could get you in trouble with some who consider themselves righteous – it happened to Phil, and it happened to Jesus too.
Sin and Grace
God has brought many wonderful people into our lives. One of them, Amber, from “an examined life“, has written a short but very good post about sin and grace called “Humility and Joy“. This is what she says:
This is a quote from Dr. Liederbach that he uses to keep him in perspective:
You are more sinful than you ever dared believe, but you are more loved than you ever dared to hope.
Don’t we always think the opposite? I frequently think less of my sin or at least avoid understanding the true depths both consciously and unconsciously. However, while I so frequently manage to ignore the depths of my sin, I also fail to fathom the depths of the love of my Savior! At least in my own life, it is only through facing the horrors of my sin that I am able to relish in the love that saved me. This is yet another area I am a Pharisee and blasphemer who denies the power of God’s grace in my life!
Which is better: making less of my sin but not relishing in the love of a savior or truly understanding it and being blown away by His grace?
Yes, the more we understand our sin, the more “blown away” we are by God’s grace. Also, the more we should extend that grace to other sinners. Unfortunately, we don’t always extend God’s grace to others.
Maturity again…
I really enjoyed the synchroblog yesterday on the topic of maturity (see “Maturity and Education“). I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes from some of the authors:
“i think if i was summing spiritual maturity i’d say it’s “moving toward a more and more undivided life.†that what’s on the inside is on the outside. it’s giving up comfort & control. it’s living in the tension of Jesus ways & ours ways & asking help to tilt more toward his.” – Kathy Escobar
“It doesn’t mean that we don’t still disagree; it means it doesn’t matter that we disagree, it doesn’t change that we are family.” – Erin Word
When my Grandma Verna who lived to be 103 and was a true elder, turned 99, I asked her the question that I’d asked her every year on her birthday for as long as I’d been an adult: ‘Gram, what did you learn this year?’ She said, without hesitation, ‘I had to re-think my theology again this year. I always thought that it was my job to worry and pray and try to keep all of you (her extended family) on the straight and narrow path to heaven. Now I know that all I have to do is love you. That’s all I have to do!’ – Beth Patterson
“If someone still spends more time complaining about their circumstances than being thankful, edifying and joy-filled in their speech, then there’s good evidence that an infantile faith remains. It demonstrates that we have forgotten (or fail to believe fully) that God is loving us, blessing us, and taking care of us.” – Bryan Riley
“In stark contrast to the typical haphazard lifestyle most people embrace, maturity is taking pleasure in each sphere of relationship while making intentional choices for the betterment of each.” – Joe Miller
“And when I surrendered to being loved, I realized a startling truth. Love would change me from the inside. And the more I received His love the more I could reflect that love to the world around me. And the cool thing was there was no law against love.” – Jonathan Brink
There were other great blog posts. Take the time to read them all. Also, think about joining the synchroblog next month. Read Phil’s post “What is a synchroblog?” for more information and for a link to the page where you can join the synchroblog.
So, what is maturity?
Maturity and Education
This post is part of a monthly synchroblog. The topic of this month’s synchroblog is “Maturity in the Light of our Faith”.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post called “Mutual Hermeneutics“. In that post, I started a discussion about biblical interpretation, and the tendency of modern believers to place the responsibility of interpreting Scripture in the hands of trained professionals. In a follow-up post called “Toward Mutual Hermeneutics“, I made some suggestions that I think would help believers move from a professional-only hermeneutic to mutual hermeneutics.
In the comments of the second post, David from “Love Each Stone” started a good discussion concerning the relationship between education and spiritual maturity. David suggested in one comment that “The contrast and comparison between “mature believers” and those with “training and expertise” is an interesting discussion that would probably be worth a whole separate post”.
A few days later, I found myself consider the topic of maturity again – this time for this synchroblog. Originally, I wanted to write a post on the topic of the role of the church meeting and edification in spiritual maturity. I am very interested in this topic, and I’ll probably write a blog post (or perhaps a series) on this topic later. For now, though, I wanted to continue the discussion on the relationship between training or education and spiritual maturity.
Let me start my stating that I teach in a college part time. When I finish my PhD – hopefully within the next calendar year – I hope to find a job teaching full time. I am not against education. I believe that education can be good, helpful, and important. However, education is not the same as discipleship, nor is education the same as spiritual maturity. And, I think that modernity has equated (or misunderstood) education for spiritual maturity to the detriment of the church.
Let me start by quickly examining a passage of Scripture that is often used to defend the necessity of education:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
I quoted the KJV here because it is the only major English translation to translate the command as “Study” (other early English translations also used “study”: the Bishops Bible of 1595 and Tyndale’s translation of 1534). Yet, that word “Study” has stuck in our (or at least mine and those I’ve talked with) memory and affected the way we understand what Paul said. Now, look at the ESV:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)
Thus, Paul was not calling Timothy (and others) to study, but to diligence. The difference is in the change of meaning in the word “study”. Similarly, Paul was not telling Timothy to study the Bible in order to be approved, but to do his best (be diligent) in the way he lives according to the gospel. (For “rightly handling” see Prov 11:5 where it is translated “keeps his way”. For “word of truth” = “gospel” for Paul, see Eph 1:13 and Col 1:5.)
So, right away, let’s get this passage out of our system. Paul was not telling Timothy to be educated by studying the Bible. He was telling Timothy to make every effort to live his life according to the gospel. In so doing, Timothy would be like an approved work who has no need to feel ashamed.
But today, we place such an emphasis on education that it has become almost synonymous with spiritual maturity. When someone graduates from Bible school or seminary, they are often hired right away by church organizations, with the assumption that the degree indicates maturity. Since the church does not know the individual personally, they only have the degree and a few hours of acquaintance.
However, while a degree may indicate a certain amount of knowledge – hopefully – the degree does not indicate spiritual maturity. The degree does not indicate that the person demonstrates love toward those who are “unloveable”. It does not indicate that the person knows how to deal with “opponents” with grace, patience, and gentleness. The degree does not tell us that the person is hospitable or willing to share what God has provided. Even passing classes in theology, hermeneutics, New Testament, Old Testament, Hebrew, and Greek does not indicate that a person knows how to interpret the Scriptures, much less live according to them. Graduation does not make a person spiritually mature.
Of course, our church system is based on the assumption that an educated person is spiritually mature. Most church leaders (pastors) would not spend the time getting to know people and letting the people get to know them before they accept a position in a church organization. Similarly, for the most part, the people would not wait to determine a person’s spiritual maturity level before recognizing this person as a leader. We expect our leader’s to be ready-made by Bible colleges and seminaries.
Its time to move beyond the assumption that education equals spiritual maturity. It may mean that the system has to change – so be it. The church needs leaders who are spiritually mature more than they need educated leaders. Again, I’m not disparaging education. Instead, I’m simply pointing out that we need spiritually mature pastors more than we need educated pastors.
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Here is a list of bloggers who are taking part in this month’s synchroblog on the topic “Maturity in the Light of our Faith”:
Phil Wyman at Square No More with “Is Maturity Really What I Want?“
Lainie Petersen at Headspace with “Watching Daddy Die“
Kathy Escobar at The Carnival in My Head with “what’s inside the bunny?“
John Smulo at JohnSmulo.com with “Christian Maturity“
Erin Word at Decompressing Faith with “Long-Wearing Nail Polish and Other Stories“
Beth Patterson at The Virtual Teahouse with “the future is ours to see: crumbling like a mountain“
Bryan Riley at Charis Shalom with “Still Complaining?“
Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church with “Maturity and Education“
KW Leslie at The Evening of Kent with “Putting spiritual infants in charge“
Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with “Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity“
Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?“
Joe Miller at More Than Cake with “Intentional Relationships for Maturity“
Jonathan Brink at JonathanBrink.com with “I Won’t Sin“
Susan Barnes at A Booklook with “Growing Up“
Tracy Simmons at The Best Parts with “Knowing Him Who is From the Beginning“
Joseph Speranzella at A Tic in the Mind’s Eye with “Spiritual Maturity And The Examination of Conscience“
Sally Coleman at Eternal Echoes with “vulnerable maturity“
Liz Dyer at Grace Rules with “What I Wish The Church Knew About Spiritual Maturity“
Cobus van Wyngaard at My Contemplations with “post-enlightenment Christians in an unenlightened South Africa“
Steve Hayes at Khanya with “Adult Content“
Ryan Peter at Ryan Peter Blogs and Stuff with “The Foundation For Ministry and Leading“
Kai Schraml at Kaiblogy with “Mature Virtue“
Nic Paton at Sound and Silence with “Inclusion and maturity“
Lew Ayotte at The Pursuit with “Maturity and Preaching“
Growing, Learning, Changing
Jeff, from “Losing My Religion: Re-Thinking Church” has given us a glimpse of how he has grown and what he has learned in a post called “Just Some Stuff I’ve Learned“. I can relate to these:
- I used to see God as a Person to be communicated with only through various spiritual exercises like prayer, worship and Bible study. The more of these you did…the more spiritual you were.
Now I see God as Someone who is actively engaged in my whole life, and I can see the signs of His presence throughout my existence–and I see spirituality as the ability to perceive and commune with God in the mundane as well as in the other activities. - I used to see “worship” as specific actions directed toward God (i.e., singing, raising hands, bowing, dancing, etc.), whether in private or in a corporate worship setting.
Now, as a believer, I see worship as interwoven throughout life–that all of a life lived unto God can be worship, including acts of service and kindness to others, developing Christlike character, and even the pure enjoyment of the life He has given us. All of life is worship, and I don’t have to turn worship on and off by specific activities. - I used to see “the ministry” as a coveted calling and vocation, a profession relegated to a few people selected by God. While I recognized the priesthood of all believers, I still saw “the ministry” as something above. And as one called to “the ministry”, I saw it as a job more than anything else–something I turned on and off. The ministry was “the Father’s business.” I used to see my position in ministry as a position to be protected at all costs; and protect it I did.
Now I see the ministry as interwoven into the fabric of every follower of Jesus, a calling inherent to all of us, and something we can walk in naturally as as we live our lives. I believe there are still those God leads to devote themselves full-time to ministry pursuits, but “the Father’s business” encompasses any endeavor or profession that is productive and life-giving. And full-time ministry (done the right way) is not a life of entitlement, but of service.
What have you learned recently? How is God changing you during this part of your journey with him?
Scripture… As We Live It #19
Here is the 19th edition of “Scripture… As We Live It“:
These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. Therefore, stop having love feasts altogether. If people are going to come in and spout heresy, then it is much better to cut out that kind of fellowship. Or, if you want to have fellowship and feasts, make sure that you tightly control who can speak. It is much easier to keep everyone from talking than to deal with the ones who cause trouble.(Jude 12-13 re-mix)
God Loves You
In May 2007 and October 2007, I wrote two posts called “God Loves You” and “God Loves You 2” respectively. The love of God is amazing and enigmatic. Many times, people are beaten down because of their (seeming) insufficiencies, problems, sins, etc. I wrote these posts to encourage my readers. I hope they encourage you, too.
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God Loves You
I have a message for all brothers and sisters in Christ…
To those who did not want to paste a fake smile on your face and act like everything is fine… God loves you!
To those who did not sign up to help in the new “ministry program” even though you felt pressured and made to feel less spiritual… God loves you!
To those who did not feel like sitting through another mini-concert and lecture that did not apply to you… God loves you!
To those who struggle with sins that are not the kinds of sins other believers accept… God loves you!
To those who have been called uncommitted because they do not attend every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, and special event… God loves you!
To those who have struggled with their relationship with God and have been instructed that the answer is to get more involved with programs… God loves you!
To those whose children do not memorize all their Bible verses or cannot find every book of the Bible within 2.7 seconds… God loves you!
To those who do not work in the nursery, even after being guilted and given dirty looks… God loves you!
To those who choose not to bow your head and close your eyes… God loves you!
To those who feel they can never be good enough, can never do enough, can never look good enough, can never say the right things… God loves you!
To those who have had their questions, struggles, and pains all too easily brushed aside or fixed… God loves you!
To those who can’t live up to the obligations and expectations that others have placed on them… God loves you!
Can you imagine living in that kind of love every day, instead of the guilt and shame which we usually allow others and ourselves to subject us to?
Can you imagine offering that kind of love to everyone, instead of the conditional approval that we usually offer people?
God loves you.
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God Loves You 2
So, this also goes out to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ:
To those who ask the wrong questions… God loves you!
To those who are ridiculed for being different and who stopped trying to look and act like everyone else… God loves you!
To those who have nothing to put into the offering plate… God loves you!
To those who would prefer not to sing in public… God loves you!
To those who fell asleep before the closing illustration of the third subpoint of the second section of the sermon from Leviticus… God loves you!
To those who like their tattoos, piercings, and long hair… God loves you!
To those who do not get excited about the latest publication by Rick Warren, Beverly Lewis, Max Lucado, Gary Chapman, or even D.A. Carson… God loves you!
To those whose children are not little angels… God loves you!
To those who are ignored or shunned or maligned by leadership… God loves you!
To those who have not memorized the books of the Bible, don’t know where Nineveh is located, and can’t pronounce the name Melchizedek… God loves you!
To those who have children but no spouse, a spouse but no children, or neither spouse nor children… God loves you!
To those who need a listening ear instead of a lecture, a friend with a helping hand instead of a ministry project coordinator, or someone with a gentle tongue instead of wrath and rhetoric… God loves you!
To those who are afraid to trust, afraid to care, afraid to love, or afraid to try… God loves you!
To those who want to follow God, but don’t fit any of the ministry categories… God loves you!
To those who missed “church” four weeks in a row and no one noticed… God loves you!
To those who need five hours of baby sitting instead of a 5 second hug or handshake… God loves you!
To those whose “Sunday best” includes tank tops, ripped jeans, and flip flops… God loves you!
To those who would prefer to have someone show them how to live faithfully instead of tell them to live faithfully… God loves you!
To those who feel burdened by those around them and are not allowed to rest in Christ… God loves you!
Can you imagine living in that kind of love every day, instead of the guilt and shame which we usually allow others and ourselves to subject us to?
Can you imagine offering that kind of love to everyone, instead of the conditional approval that we usually offer people?
God loves you.