Gathering and Serving all weekend long
Saturday morning, some of my friends planned a work day to help a family with their house. The husband has been trying to put new siding on his house, but he has had to travel for work alot during the last year. Plus, this family is always serving others. Even when the husband is in town, he’s usually working on someone’s car or helping people in others ways.
So, while he was out of town, several people got together and put siding on part of his house for him (his wife knew about it, but he didn’t). They worked for 13 hours. Margaret, my wife, and our children helped out as well. Because I had some other work that I needed to do, I was not able to help. But, it was so encouraging to see these friends come together to give of themselves, their time, and their energy to serve others.
I did take a break to go to the government-assisted housing project that our family has been visiting on Saturday mornings. Since my family was helping out our friends, they did not go with me. I know several of the neighbors were disappointed that I was the only one who came by that morning. But, I was still able to give out some fresh produce and talk to many of the people in the neighborhood. (Please pray for two of the neighbors who are having difficulties in their relationship. They are both believers, and we’re helping them to reconcile their relationship.)
One of the neighbors is a single mother with four children. She works and attends school. She’s very close to finishing her course of study, but she’s saved Physics for her last semester of classes. I’ve helped her study for Physics before, and she said that she needed more help. Unfortunately, I’m behind in my own studies because of my recent eye problems. I asked her if she could meet with us Sunday morning, and then I could help her with Physics after lunch. She said that she was working Sunday morning, but she might come by after lunch.
Sunday morning we had a good church meeting. Just as we were getting ready to eat lunch, this single mother walked in. I was very surprised! I was even more surprised to see how my brothers and sisters welcomed her and talked to her. We invited her to eat with us, and she accepted our invitation. (But, then, the chili smelled so good, who could have refused?)
After we ate and talked for a while, she took out her Physics books. As we were getting ready to study, a good friend of mine sat across from her and started talking to her about Physics. He’s a professor also, teaching Science and Engineering at a college in Raleigh. Before I knew it, he was tutoring her in Physics! I didn’t teach her anything. What a blessing!
After they finished reviewing two chapters of Physics, she thanked my friend, and my wife walked her back to her car. I thanked my friend for serving her in that way.
What a blessing to know that God has surrounded us with people who are willing to give of themselves to others, both towards friends who are also servants and towards those who can never give back!
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?
Schlatter on love and the community
As I mentioned a couple of days ago in my post “Schatter on the individual and the community“, I had an opportunity to skim through a few sections of Adolf Schlatter’s book The Theology of the Apostles: The Development of New Testament Theology. Just a few paragraphs after the one I quoted then, I found this paragraph:
As soon as the concept of love becomes the central term of ethical instruction, the community’s indispensability is secure. In the isolation of the individual, love would lose its sphere of operation and wither to an empty attitude. If it truly comes to permeate the human will, a union of giving and receiving arises for which the recipient is as indispensable as the giver. By recognizing God’s will to be love, the community receives irreproachable sanctity. (287)
There is so much depth in these three sentences.
First, if we truly understand love, then we will understand that love is the central term and driving force behind our ethic. Rules and laws and precepts will never cause us to live ethical lives. But, if we live out the love of God in our lives, then we will live ethical lives. I think that the church has replaced a life of love with a life of rules. This needs to change. Jesus said that all “rules” and “laws” boil down to two similar commands: Love God and love others.
Second, love requires both giving and receiving. Many times Christians are very happy about giving, but they are reluctant to receive. We feel that receiving makes us weak or incapable. Instead, receiving is an act of love, just like giving is an act of love. If we do not learn how to receive, then we do not understand love.
Finally, love presupposes community. We cannot be individualistic and still love. It is impossible. Love requires that we take our mind off of ourselves and think about others. Love requires that we take what is ours and give it to other people who do not deserve it. Love requires that we take last place and consider others as more significant. We cannot love without community.
I love paragraphs like this one. What do think about Schlatter’s short paragraph on love and the community?
The Message of 1 John
I like to read from The Message translation. One night, Margaret and I read 1 John together. Here are some passages that stood out to us:
My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you’ve known it from day one. It’s always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing! Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness. (1 John 2:7-11 The Message)
Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children. What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. (1 John 2:29-3:3 The Message)
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:18-24 The Message)
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love! This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. (1 John 4:11-16 The Message)
What did I take from reading 1 John that night? Its very important to practice (not just talk about) the love of God. Practicing the love of God demonstrates that we are his children, that we are keeping his commandments, and that God abides in us and we are abiding in God.
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.
Am I against church programs?
About a year ago, I wrote a post called “Am I against church programs?” in which I tried to explain my thoughts about programs in the church. Since my previous post concerned program and organization and institutionalization, I thought this would be a good time to review this older post. I hope you enjoy…
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Am I against church programs?
Many times, I am asked, “Are you against church programs?” Some people, knowing that I do not stress church programs, also make a jump in logic and ask, “Why are you against church programs?”
My simple answer is, “I am neutral toward church programs.” In general, I am neither for church programs nor against church programs. Of course, in a time when churches define themselves by their programs (check out most church web sites), stating that I am not for church programs usually causes those who are for church programs to view me as the enemy – somehow against the work of God in their programs. But, this is not the case at all. I recognize that God works in many different ways, including through many programs. So, my neutral stance should not be recognized as being antagonistic toward church programs.
This then, usually brings up another question: “Why are you neutral toward church programs?”
The best way for me to answer this question is to turn to Scripture, specifically Mark 7:1-13:
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”
And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban’ (that is, given to God) – then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:1-13 ESV)
In this passage, Jesus deals specifically with traditions that had been handed down to and taught by the Pharisees. Notice that Jesus did not condemn these traditions, but neither did he promote them. However, Jesus did condemn any tradition that causes the individual or group to leave or reject the command of God.
Just to pick on a particular church program (tradition), let’s consider Sunday School. Sunday School is not a command of God. It is not required of believers to attend Sunday School. So, if we are not responsible for attending Sunday School, what are we responsible for? We are responsible to make disciples, to teach one another, to have fellowship with one another, to serve one another, etc. Many would say that these are the purposes of Sunday School. I agree that these are usually the purposes of Sunday School. But, when we teach “attending Sunday School” as a requirement for believers, then we are teaching our traditions instead of the commands of God, even though we may have held to our traditions as a means to keeping the commands of God.
Unfortunately, many times we teach people to hold to our traditions and to participate in our programs because the programs are easier to measure and control. For example, many times church organizations will use Sunday School attendance as a measure of discipleship. In the same way, the church organizations will control who can teach in their programs in order to protect from any instructions that would disagree with the stance of the organization. These programs and traditions, while probably started in order to help believers keep the commands of God, tend to replace the commands of God – either consciously or unconsciously – in the minds of the believers.
Thus, when asked if they are making disciples, believers can point to their attendance in Sunday School. When asked if they are evangelistic, they can point to the organization’s evangelism program. When asked if they are teaching their children to walk in the ways of God, they can point to their children’s ministry. When asked if they praise God, they can point to their participation in choir. When asked if they give to others who are in need, they can point to their tithes and offerings. When asked if they fellowship with other believers, they can point to their covered dish dinners. When asked if they worship God, they can point to their attendance at a Sunday morning meeting (“worship service”). However, while each of these programs may be means to helping believers obey God, attendance or participation are not the goal in and of themselves; and, furthermore, attendance or participation neither equates with obedience nor do they preclude the individual’s responsibility toward God and toward his fellow believers.
This does not mean that I think programs are inherently evil. Jesus did not condemn the traditions of the Pharisees in general, and I do not condemn programs in general. In fact, I have seen programs work very well. Usually, this happens when the program is organized for a specific and short-term purpose.
For example, if a family’s house is destroyed by fire, an organized program to help them with money, food, accommodations, etc. would be very beneficial. In this case, the “benevolence” program has a specific purpose: to help the church show kindness and to serve this family who is in need. When the need is met, then the program would stop. What usually happens, though, is that this “benevolence” program is continued after the need is met. Thus, we feel a need to continue to staff and maintain a “benevolence” committee or program which has no specific goal, other than show benevolence, which is the requirement of all believers, not just those in this program. The program becomes the goal, instead of the means to meeting a goal.
My friend Eric, from “Hammer and Nail“, described my position on church programs in a comment to his post called “Let Them See the Gospel“. He said:
I think one reason people outside the church may not see a living faith within the church is that we often rely on church programs to accomplish the work the individuals should be doing. I know that opens up a big “can of worms” about church programs. However, I think the connection is real. Programs, whether good or not so good, often lead people into shirking their personal responsibility to serve others by thinking that the church program will take care of it. Within the church, we need to talk much of personal responsibility to serve one another within the body and outside the body.
Thus, our goal should not be creating, promoting, staffing, and running church programs. Our goal should be discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, hospitality, service, etc. These things can happen within church programs. But, they can also be hindered when church programs become the focus and goal of our organizations. The church should focus on loving God and loving others through discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, hospitality, service, etc. instead of focusing on creating and maintaining programs.
Didache on loving God and loving others
The Didache (“Teaching”) is one of the earliest Christian writings, probably written in the late first or early second century. (Here is an English translation.) The first chapter reads as follows:
There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able. Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts). Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.
Did you notice that the author begins with the command to love God and love others, but then his exhortations shift to how we demonstrate love toward others. Why do you think the author did this? Was he wrong in his focus?
Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
October 15, 2008 is the next “Blog Action Day“. The topic of this Blog Action Day will be poverty. Thousands of people from around the world will be writing about poverty on that day. I plan to take part. I hope that many, many Christians decide to take part as well. Perhaps you can take part?
(HT: Brother Maynard)
Interrelational Discussion Group – Poverty
This Saturday evening, August 23, at 7:00 pm, I am helping to lead a discussion group on serving the poor. If you want to know more about this “Interrelational Discussion Group”, I mentioned it several weeks ago in a post called “Interrelational Discussion Group – Scripture“. So far, I have been able to take part in discussions on the ecology, Scripture, and the church. I was not able to attend the night that the group discussed torture. The purpose of this group is to invite Christians to discuss practical issues related to the gospel.
God has moved my family to a point where we are regularly interacting with and serving the poor. If you are interested in my thoughts on serving the poor, here are a few posts that I’ve written recently: “Boasting in humiliation“, my ongoing series on John Perkins’ book Beyond Charity (“Introduction“, “Our Vision“, “Our Gospel“, “Lollipop Love“), “Mercy not Sacrifice“, “God works through my wife too“, “Opportunities to Serve“, “Small steps toward ‘out there’“, “Living ‘out there’“, “God loves the homeless“.
If you are interested in taking part in this discussion group – or any other discussion group (every two weeks) – and if you will be in the Wake Forest, NC area on Saturday, August 23, then get in touch with me for more information. You can leave a comment here, or send me an email (my email address is at the top right of this blog).
Love one another… if you have nothing better to do
My heart is heavy tonight. During the last few weeks, we have met several brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling. Some are struggling financially. Some are struggling with health or emotional problems. Some are struggling with loneliness.
These brothers and sisters in Christ are not “members” of our church, but they are “members” of other local churches. But, from what we have been told, the churches do very little – if anything – to take care of these “members”. They continue to struggle and continue to hurt and continue to be lonely with very little help from their churches.
Now, I’m excited that some of the brothers and sisters who are part of our church are coming along side these hurting people and offering them help. They’ve offered financial assistance, medical assistance, counseling and discipling assistance, shopping assistance, and companionship – and they’ve offered all of this without asking these people to “join” our church.
Here’s what I can’t understand… what happened to love? What happened to Jesus’ statement, “They will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another”? These churches continue to preach this… why don’t they live it?
What happened to John’s statement, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” These churches continue to sing about this… why don’t they live it?
I wish I could say that these were isolated cases, but they are not. I’ve seen this over and over again. Last night, my wife was almost in tears concerning someone who served tireless in their church, but the church has done very little (if anything) to help in their time of need – and, yes, everyone knows about this need.
Honestly, this does not make any sense to me. In the very early days of my blog, I quoted Brethren, Hang Together by Robert C. Girard:
The structure that now ties us together is the structure of personal relationship – to each other, to the group, and to God. If we fail at love, there will be nothing left. But, then, is there really anything of value left in the church, when love isn’t there (1 Cor. 13:1-3)? [330]
We need to think very seriously about what Girard said. In many ways, our churches are failing at love – even love for one another, not to mention love for those who are different from us. If we are failing at love, then Paul would say that we are noisy gongs, clanging cymbals… nothing.
Look around you. Do you see a brother or sister who is hurting or in need. Love them. Now. Sacrificially. Humbly. Completely. Liberally. Repeatedly. Consistently. Now.
Don’t feel like loving them? Then there’s nothing left.