Beyond Charity – Introduction
A few weeks ago, I was talking with a friend about our desire to reach out to and love some of “the least” in our area. He recommended a book by John M. Perkins called Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Since our library had withdrawn this book from their shelves – an action that neither one of us understands – he sent me his copy of the book. I’ve read the first three chapters, and already I appreciate how Perkins is putting words to many of the things that I’m sensing from Scripture, and he’s helping me to understand the background of the plight of the urban poor.
In the introduction of his book, Perkins explores the birth and growth of the urban ghettos, explains his own spiritual journey, and documents the work that he, his family and friends, and others are doing to bring reconciliation to the poor, urban centers of the United States.
I love the way that Perkins begins to describe his “struggle with racism and poverty”:
My struggle began one Sunday morning in 1957 at a little Holiness Mission in Pasadena, California, when I discovered that God loved me. I had grown up in Mississippi without a mother or a father. I grew up without the certainty of love. That morning all the longing of my heart came together when I heard that God loved me, that God had sent his Son into the world to die for my sake. That morning, the best that I knew how, in the midst of all my feelings of inferiority, in spite of the fact that I was a third-grade dropout, at the age of twenty-seven I reached out to God. It seemed that this was the morning that I had been born for. I felt what I had missed all of my life: I was loved by a holy God. I felt great joy mixed with sadness and guilt. I could not stop weeping, for I was overwhelmed by my foolishness and sinfulness. I saw that my sin was like spitting in the face of this God who loved me even now in spite of my sin. I felt that I had been rejecting him for twenty-seven years. And yet I was overjoyed at the experience of God’s love for me. The experience of this joy has stayed with me.
I’m glad that Perkins began his story about his own “struggle with racism and poverty” by describing how he came to know the love of God. Our love of others flows from our love of God, which originates with God’s love for us. Perkins’ struggle continued…
Over the last thirty-five years, the struggle has been to reconcile what happened to me there, the experience of God’s love, with living in the world. The struggle has been to show to my neighbor the reconciling love I found at conversion, when out in the world I found bigotry and hatred – even from Christians – because I was black. At every key point, at every crucial moment, I have been surrounded by Christians who loved me so that I felt that reconciling love…
The first time I went [to a Bible study], I looked around me and saw that everyone there was white except for me. I had never, ever, seen white folks and black folks together in church in Mississippi, so I was afraid I might get turned away; but my desire to know the Bible was too strong for me to leave.
I went to the back of the room and listened to the Bible lesson from there. By the end of the lesson, I knew I wanted to keep coming to this class. I knew I wanted to learn what this teacher had to teach me, but I was afraid that I would not be wanted, because I was black. I waited until most of the other men had left, and then I went up to the teacher. I reached out to shake his hand, but he didn’t shake my hand – he put his arm around my shoulder. I felt the reconciling love of God. I felt that he wanted me there.
Perkins goes on to describe how the church must stop handing out charity to the poor out of guilt. Instead, believers must live with the poor and help them through the love of God. If our actions make us feel better about ourselves, then we are giving charity out of guilt. If our actions cause us to love and spend even more time with the people, then we know we are demonstrating the love of God.
Although this book was written in 1993 (not long after the LA riots), believers today can learn alot from Perkins about living with and helping “the least” – and in so doing demonstrating our love for God (Matt 25:40). This is how Perkins closes his introduction:
It has been said over and over again that the government has tried to solve the problems of the inner city and has failed. Yes, the government has failed when it comes to the poor. Our nation’s cities are in a crisis. But in every crisis there is opportunity. I believe that this crisis is an opportunity for us, the church, to step forward and lead the way in restoring the inner city by bringing the physical presence of God into the city. I believe that the church has the opportunity to pioneer and model a way of life whereby our nation itself can experience a new birth. One of the reasons that I love this country is because of its commitment to freedom. That freedom gives us, the church – the people of God – the opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world a more excellent way…
It is time for the church, yes, the whole church, to take a whole gospel on a whole mission to the whole world. It is time for us to exhibit by our very lives that we believe in the oneness of the Body of Christ. It is time for us to prove that the purpose of the gospel is to reconcile alienated people to God and to each other, across racial, cultural, social, and economic barriers. It is time for the reconciling love of God that has touched each individual heart to spill over into love for our neighbor.
I’ve asked God to let his love spill out of me and into love for my neighbor. I’m looking forward to reading and sharing more of this book with you.
Faces, Names, Lives
Over the last week or so, God has given me the opportunity to meet a few people who are very different from me – and different in various ways. Since I’ve met them, God has kept their faces, names, and lives in my mind as I’ve continue to pray for them and to wonder if and how God is going to continue winding our lives together. Its interesting, because until about a week ago I didn’t know these people… but now I think about them all them time. I think I’m learning more about love.
Tina – She is a friend of a friend of ours. We’ve talked to her a couple of times, but last Saturday I had a chance to talk to her more at the home of our mutual friend. She has emphysema and was recently treated for cancer. She is constantly on oxygen. She’s trying to stop smoking. She’s living a very difficult life. She says that she needs friends – people she can talk to when she’s struggling. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who appreciated someone praying for her as much as Tina.
Mrs. Fort – We actually met her briefly about two weeks ago, but we had a chance to talk to her more last Saturday. She has arthritis, and it bothers her when the weather changes. Last Saturday she told us that she thought it might rain because her knee hurt. She introduced a couple of her granddaughters and one of her great-granddaughters. I could tell that she was very proud of them. I think my wife remembers her the most, especially the way that she looked when she introduced the girls.
Emanuel – At first he thought we were trying to sell him something, and he wasn’t interested. When he found out that we wanted to give him some fresh vegetables and fruit with no strings attached he was a little more interested. He also wasn’t too interested in talking to us until I asked him about his scooter parked just outside his duplex. He loves his scooter and is very proud of it. He also loves vegetables. It is amazing what people will tell you when they’re talking about something that they care about, instead of trying to force them to talk about something that I care about.
Mrs. Jenny – She was sitting in a motorized chair when I met her last Monday. My friend was reading the Bible. She leaned over to me and said, “I’m not an atheist, but all this religion stuff is new to me. I really only started coming because of him”. She pointed to the three year old son of my friends… the little boy who was going from person to person talking to them, giving them hugs… loving on people who were not usually loved on. This simple expression of love by a three year old attracted her to hear what my friend was reading from the Bible. Her hearing is bad, so she couldn’t hear all of the words he was reading. But, she could see the love he was living very clearly.
These four people are all different from me and each other in various aspects: social status, age, race, economic status, physical abilities, etc. But, all of us are alike in the way that matters most: God loves us and desires to be reconciled to us.
Missional without the label
Last fall, some good friends of ours decided to start spending time in a local nursing home. This wasn’t a “church program” or a “ministry”, but a desire on their part to spend time with “the least” in order to demonstrate God’s love. They talked to the administration at the nursing home, completed the forms and classes and tests necessary to spend time with the residents, and started going to the nursing home one morning each week. They all went – the husband, wife, and their children, even their 3 year old.
They invited me to go with them, and I wanted to go. But, I couldn’t go because of scheduling – work, teaching, and school scheduling. However, since its summer, I’m only working, so I was able to adjust my work schedule to spend time with them in the nursing home.
I arrived at the same time my friends arrived, and I walked into a common room with them. There were already fifteen or so residents sitting in a circle – some in wheelchairs, some in chairs, some on sofas – waiting for them to arrive. My friends started greeting the residents, and I could tell right away that this was more than a “program” to them. They genuinely love these elderly men and women. Some of the residents greeted them with smiles and hugs and words expressing their gratitude for coming. Other residents nodded or moaned, but were unable to communicate more than that. Some residents seemed completely unresponsive. But, my friends made their way around to each person, holding their hand, speaking a kind word to them, showing them the love of Christ, even if the person could not respond.
Eventually, a few of my friends headed down the halls of the nursing home to the rooms of some of the residents that they knew well. A few minutes later they returned walking with or pushing someone who had forgotten that they were coming, or had been unable to come on their own. Soon, there were twenty or more residents chatting with my friends.
My friend reminded the residents that they had been reading through the Gospel of Matthew together. He opened his Bible and, he and his children started reading from chapter 25 – each one taking turns. They read two chapters, not just a few verses. I knew that some of the residents could not hear what was being read. I knew that some of the residents could hear but could not process or remember what was being read. But, they knew that my friends were there because they cared for them deeply.
Call it coincidence – or call it divine providence – but the chapters that my friends read that morning included this passage:
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:32-40 ESV)
I couldn’t help but noticed that I was seeing this passage lived out in front of me at that very moment. My friends were loving “the least” – people who could not return their love except in a touch or a hug or a kind word, if that. But, my friends love them any. They were not looking for a response from this sweet men and women. My friends were the ones responding – they were responding to the awesome grace and love and mercy and forgiveness that God had poured out on them.
After they read two chapters from the Gospel of Matthew, my friends asked the men and women if they would like to sing. Several of them called out the names of popular hymns and we all sang. After we sang, my friends once again made their way around to each person, greeting them again and speaking to them individually.
My friends do not read my blog. They probably do not know about the term “missional”. They probably do not know about the discussion that surrounds the meaning of the word “missional” today. But, they don’t care. They do not lavish their love on these precious people so that they can claim the label “missional”. Instead, they love because they were first loved. They love because God’s Spirit is producing love within them.
Missional Stew
Rick at “The Blind Beggar” suggested a synchroblog to discuss the definition of the term “missional” (see his post “Call for Missional Synchroblog“). To be honest, I don’t know how much I’ll be able to add to this discussion. I’ve only recently begun to consider the meaning and implications of being missional. However, I’m looking forward to reading the other posts, and I encourage my readers to read and consider what other people are saying about the term “missional”.
When I was growing up, the “regional” airport in a large city near us decided that it wanted to steal some of the air traffic away from ATL (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport). Over several years, there were studies and consultants and budgets and votes. Eventually, the airport made a huge decision – they decided to change their name from “regional airport” to “international airport” – as if changing the name would change who they were.
I think many followers of Jesus Christ may be attempting to add “missional” to whatever they already doing. But, adding the label “missional” to their meetings and programs does not make them missional. So, what does “missional” mean?
Several bloggers will be posting and defending their definitions of the term “missional”. To be completely honest, I don’t know exactly what it means. Instead of offering my own definition of “missional”, I thought I would throw a few ingredients into the stew (so to speak). In other words, whatever “missional” means or how “missional” is applied to someone’s life, I think it should include these things (not a comprehensive list):
Gospel: “Missional” is dependent upon the Gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about a “gospel presentation”. I’m talking about living a life that is reconciled to God through the finished work of Jesus Christ and the continuing work of his Spirit. It means recognizing that just as God has reconciled us to himself, he desires to reconcile “all things” to himself.
Relationship: “Missional” is relational. I don’t see any other way around it. God includes his children in his mission toward other people. It is a relational mission – both relationship with God and relationship with one another and relationship to the world.
Intentionality: “Missional” requires intentionality. I do not see how someone can be accidentally missional. This does not mean that missional activities are always pre-planned – they can be spontaneous. But, spontaneous acts of mission can still be intentional.
Cost: “Missional” is costly. This does not mean that you are being missional by only giving money. However, it does mean that living a missional life will cost you money, time, and energy, among other things. It may even cost your reputation (especially among religious types).
Love: When I originally wrote this post a couple of weeks ago, I did not include “love” as an ingredient in my missional stew. Why? Because I thought “love” was obvious. However, after further thought, I think “love” needs to be a part of any definition of “missional” – both the love of God and the love of others – both the love of other believers and the love of those who are not followers of Jesus.
Like I said earlier, I’m looking forward to reading more posts that actually define the term “missional”. I hope that many of them include some of these ideas.
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Here is a list of the 50 bloggers who are defining the term “missional” as part of this synchroblog:
The Gathered and the Sent
I’ve read several blog posts and comments (some on my blog and some on other blogs) recently which have encouraged me to look closer into that group of historical figures known as Anabaptists. I realize that there are many groups today who claim descent (either direct or indirect) from the Anabaptists and Radical Reformers of the early 16th century, and many even use the name “Anabaptist”, but my interest is directed primarily toward the early Anabaptists. In spite of my classes and studies in church history and even baptist history, I admit that I know very little about these men and women.
So, in order to learn more, I’ve picked up a few books. Primarily, I was looking for source material – that is, essays and books written by the Anabaptists themselves. I’ve also picked up a few books that summarize the writings and describe the lives of the early Anabaptists. What I’ve read so far has been very interesting, and has encouraged me to continue my study – if I only had more time!
First, I’ve learned that the Anabaptists did not define themselves by baptism. Instead, the name Anabaptist (“re-baptizer”) came from their Protestant opponents. The Anabaptists themselves defined themselves by their ecclesiology – a topic in which I’m very interested, of course. Consider the following quote from The Anabaptist View of the Church by Franklin Hamlin Littell:
The dominant theme in the thinking of the main-line Anabaptists was the recovery of the life and virtue of the Early Church. The ordinances which had characterized the True Church (die rechte Kirche) in that Heroic Age were to be made a program for thoroughgoing reformation. The Reformers were not willing to make so radical a break from the past, but those whose key concept was restitutio rather than reformatio were determined to erase what they considered the shame of centuries and to recapitulate the purified church life of the Golden Age of faith. (pg 79)
Thus, the Anabaptists desired to become the church as described in Scripture; they did not desire to modify existing structures – which they called the “fallen church”. According to the Anabaptists, the church is gathered together, led together, unified, controlled, ordered, and kept by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. These were not merely ideological concepts, but instead they were practical differences that led them to live differently. Peter Ridemann (1506-1556) expressed this very clearly:
Therefore, such a people, community, assembly, or church is gathered and led together by the Holy Spirit, which from this point forward rules, controls and orders everything in them…
The children of God… become his children through the unifying Spirit. Thus, it is evident that the church is gathered together by the Holy Spirit: also that they have their existence and are kept in existence by him, and that there is no other church apart from that which the Holy Spirit builds and gathers.
But, there is another interesting aspect of Anabaptist ecclesiology. They did not consider the church to only be gathered by the Holy Spirit; they also considered the church to be sent by the Holy Spirit. In fact, many of them understood baptism as both a symbol of the entry into the church, and as “ordaining” them to life-long service and evangelism. Everyone who followed Christ in baptism became both a “full-time minister” and a “full-time missionary”. As Littell further explains:
Not only was a new historical significance given to the Great Commission, but its application was made relevant to the life of the ordinary layman. The missionary mandate was no longer the prerogative of special orders or selected professionals. The layman was no longer limited to remaining obediently in his appointed place and status. The Commission applied to the most simple believer and claimed him as an evangelist. (pg 113)
In the first few years of the Radical Reformation, this desire to obey the Great Commission led to many hundreds joining into small bands of believers (conventicles or congregations), in spite of the threat and presence of persecution and suffering at the hands of the Catholic, Protestant, and Reformed Churches.
So, what happened? Why did the evangelical fervor of those early Anabaptists lessen over time? Littell suggests two reasons: 1) They forgot that the Holy Spirit has separated them from the world, or 2) They forgot that the Holy Spirit had sent them into the world. Some groups seemed to lose their desire to follow the “life and virtue of the Early Church”, while others desired to completely isolate themselves from unbelievers and lost their “missionary mandate”.
I think it is easy for believers today to fall into one of these same extremes. How do we protect ourselves from these errors? We must remember that we are both the gathered (out of the world) and the sent (back into the world). The work of the Holy Spirit includes gathering and sending. If we do not recognize both in our lives, then we know that we are failing to follow him.
Defining "Missional" Synchroblog
Rick at “The Blind Beggar” is calling for a synchroblog on Monday, June 23 in order to discuss the meaning of the word “missional”. (See “Call for Missional Synchroblog” and “Missional Synchroblog Update“.) While I’m coming to this discussion – and way of living – rather late, I’m still planning to take part. I’m looking forward to what others are saying about this term that could quickly become a buzz word with very little meaning behind it. If you’re interested in taking part (with at least 40 other bloggers), let Rick know in a comment to one of his posts.
Small steps toward "out there"
A couple of days ago, in a post called “Living ‘out there’“, I said:
But, lately I’ve been thinking that God has another way for us to be “out there”. I don’t want to share details at this point. We have an acquaintance (not a friend yet) who has access to a group of people that may need to see a real, tangible demonstration of God’s love. In the next few days, I’m hoping to talk to our friend and see if God may be leading us both in the same direction. I’ll keep you posted.
Well, today was the day that our friend was supposed to introduce us to some people in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, she was hospitalized a few days ago. However, she was so excited that we were coming to spend time in her neighborhood, that she had already told many of her neighbors that were coming.
So, even though our friend was in the hospital, we went to meet a few of her neighbors. Several of them said that they knew we were coming – so, I’m glad we decided to go. What did we do? Well, I still don’t want to share too many details. But, the purpose of us meeting her neighbors was to begin building relationships with them. We don’t expect anything from them, but we hope to continually give and give, of our time, our energy, our resources. And, in the coming weeks, we hope that God will show us how we can serve them better.
Nothing amazing happened today – nothing miraculous or mind-blowing – except… we talked with Dennis, and we met Tina. We also met Marvin and Laura and their mother – oh, and their dog, Star. We met Belle and her adult son. And, we met a few more people who did not share their names with us – yet. These people are different than us… We’re being patient – just as God was patient with us.
What am I learning? People are important. God loves them. He’s teaching me to love them too. Yes, it was a very small step, but it was a step toward living “out there”. A small step is better than no step at all.
Following God individually and corporately
One of the passages of Scripture that I find very interesting and revealing is found in Acts 13:
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping [serving] the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:1-4 ESV)
There are many things that we can learn about the church in Antioch from this passage. We see a great ethnic diversity among the people mentioned. We see their desire to serve God and one another. But, in this post, I would like to see what this passage teaches us about the individual and corporate aspects of following God.
The church in Jerusalem had sent Barnabas to Antioch because they had heard that Hellenists were now part of the church in Antioch (Acts 11:22). Barnabas recognized the grace of God at work in Antioch, and began to encourage the church there (11:23). Barnabas next went to Tarsus to find Saul (Paul) and bring him back to Antioch where they remained for a year (11:25-26). When we hear from Barnabas and Saul (Paul) again, they are returning to Antioch from a trip to Jerusalem, and they are bringing John Mark with them (12:25). This brings us up to Acts 13.
Saul (Paul), Barnabas, and others were serving God and other by prophesying and preaching among the believers in Antioch. At some point, God reveals that his desire for Saul (Paul) and Barnabas was for them to leave Antioch in order to take the Gospel into other areas of the Roman empire. After praying and fasting, the church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul (Paul) on their way as God had directed.
Notice that God’s directions for Barnabas and Saul (Paul) was personal to them. At this time, he did not send off Simeon, Lucius, Manean, or others, although they were all faithfully serving God and his people in Antioch. There was an individual aspect to God’s direction to Barnabas and Saul (Paul).
But, there was also a corporate aspect to God’s sending of Saul (Paul) and Barnabas. Notice that the church in Antioch – not just Barnabas and Saul (Paul) – prayed and fasted concerning this decision. The church in Antioch also laid hands on them and sent them off as God had directed. In fact, at least in this passage, Scripture says more about this corporate aspect than it says about the individual aspect.
In response to God’s love and indwelling Spirit, each of us should respond to God by listening to him as he communicates with us. When he directs us one way or another, we walk in the directions that he points, trusting him for each step. If no one walks with us, we still follow God wherever he directs us. However, many times, God does not appoint us to walk alone. Instead, he both provides others to walk with us, and he also provides a corporate response to our faithfulness and obedience.
As God directs us individually, and as we share that direction with our brothers and sisters in Christ, the church responds by coming along side, praying, sending, providing, supporting, encouraging, equipping, sending. Sometimes, God may direct others within the church to walk with us as well. He may use our obedience as a catalyst to encourage others to listen to him and follow him as well.
Working together – individually and corporately – the way we find Barnabas and Saul (Paul) and the church in Antioch working together – we find that we are not sending ourselves, and the church is not sending us, but it is actually God through his Holy Spirit who is sending us.
Living "out there"
Yesterday, in my post called “And day by day“, I recalled how were are learning to share our lives with brothers and sisters in Christ “day by day”. In other words, “church” is not a location or a weekly event to us. “Church” is a family. God has adopted us into his family, and we are now brothers and sisters with all of his children – “brother” and “sister” are not just titles, they point to actual relationship.
But, as I ended my post yesterday, I explained that lately I have recognized that something is missing from our lives. What is missing? We are missing the “in the world” part. Jesus said that we are to be “in the world” but not “of the world”. We need to live “out there” among the people who have not been reconciled to God yet. We need to live among the least and the lost. We need to learn how to love and serve and practice hospitality toward those who are not brothers and sisters in Christ.
Don’t get me wrong… this is not a new realization in my life. This realization happens regularly to remind us not to get too comfortable living among the saints – as important as that is. Just as Jesus came for the “lost sheep”, he sends us “out there” as well.
A couple of years ago, when we moved from seminary housing to a real, live house, we tried to build relationships with some of our neighbors. We’re continuing to try to build those relationships, but it has been very slow. We’re learning to be patient and trust God to work in their lives. We are waiting on God to give us opportunities (which he has) to love and serve our neighbors.
We’ve also recently served our community through the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. It was a great way to offer hope and help to hurting people. We met alot of people and plan to continue supporting this cause.
But, lately I’ve been thinking that God has another way for us to be “out there”. I don’t want to share details at this point. We have an acquaintance (not a friend yet) who has access to a group of people that may need to see a real, tangible demonstration of God’s love. In the next few days, I’m hoping to talk to our friend and see if God may be leading us both in the same direction. I’ll keep you posted.
If God is doing what I think he may be doing, then this will probably require some changes for us. And, it will be costly. It won’t cost us much financially, but it may cost us time and energy. We may have to change our schedule… give up a few comforts. But, God is worth any cost, as are the people involved.
Early emerging church history
Ryan Bolger, one of the authors of Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures and an assistant professor of church in contemporary culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, has written a short history of some of the early emerging / missional discussions that took place at Fuller. The article is called “Fuller Seminary and Emerging Churches“. If you are interested in ecclesiology, the emerging church, missional churches, or church history, you will probably find this article very informative. I especially appreciate how he recalls some of the motivations that brought several people together to discuss the church.