Replay: Duplicating what God Created
Two years ago, I wrote a post called “Duplicating what God Created.” Everyone follower of Jesus wants to see God’s kingdom expanding on earth. However, we can jump ahead of God and begin to duplicate something that God has done somewhere or at another time or among another group of people. We should never assume to know what God is doing or how he is going to do it. We can really trust God to do the work that he wants to do.
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Duplicating what God Created
Over the last few days, I’ve had conversations with different people around the idea of “duplicating what God created.” We didn’t call it that, and never used those words, but that was the point of our discussions.
What do I mean?
Well, as humans, we tend to be methodical. When we see something that “works,” we tend to want to re-created it… duplicating the systems and processes that seemed to produce the result. Often, we get good results. This works well in the scientific fields. But, in sociological fields – i.e., where people are involved – usually the “duplicates” fall short of the original.
Why? Well, simply put, because people are involved, and people are different from place to place and time to time.
This works into our church life as well. Perhaps a group of believers get together, and they make a huge impact on their community. People study this group of believers, and produce a system with the same activities and programs and ministries and leadership structure, etc. But, they don’t get the same results.
Why not? Because the people involved are different. The context is different. The gifts and opportunities are different.
Perhaps this is why we do not see a clear picture of what the church “looked like” in Scripture. If God gave us a clear picture of what the church looked like in Jerusalem, then many would try to duplicate it. If we had a clear understanding of how the church met in Thessalonika, then others would try to create the same kind of meeting. This kind of duplication will not work, because the people involved (i.e. the church) is different.
So, instead of giving a clear picture of what our church meetings should “look like” or how leadership should be structured, or what ministries we should pursue, we’re given different types of information. Whatever we do should be in love. However we meet, we should edify one another. Wherever we go and whatever we do and whoever leads us, we do so as family.
If we take these kinds of “normative” principles with us, it will not matter (as much) what the church meeting ultimately looks like, or how the leaders operate, or what kinds of ministries we pursue. And, we will recognize that while our meetings, leadership, and ministries may look different than another group’s, our goals and purposes are the same.
We will only be concerned when we find love missing, or mutual edification lacking, or family identification nullified. Then we will seek to rectify the problems… not because of wrong activities.
While we will rejoice about how God works among a group of believers, we will not jump at the “next big thing” that comes along, trying to force another group of believers into a mold created by different people.
Instead, we will be comfortably uncomfortable allowing God to create what he wants to create, with the people that he brings together, using the gifts and talents and opportunities that he gives them. And, we will recognize that it’s okay (and even expected) that we don’t look like another group of believers or that God is working differently in and through us.
And, we will happily refuse to try to duplicate what God may be creating somewhere else or at a different time or among a different group of people. Instead, we will focus on loving, edifying, caring, making disciples, and evangelizing the world as God has given us gifts, talents, opportunities, ministries, and resources.
Most Read Post of 2011: How Does the Church Respond to Poverty?
I’m out of town this week, so I’m linking to the most read posts on my blog from each year from 2007 to 2011.
The most read post on my blog from 2008 was “How Does the Church Respond to Poverty?”
Please take the time to read that post and the comments from my readers.
Thank you, and I’ll “see” you again soon.
Most Read Post of 2010: Should pastors/elders be paid a salary?
I’m out of town this week, so I’m linking to the most read posts on my blog from each year from 2007 to 2011.
The most read post on my blog from 2010 was “Should pastors/elders be paid a salary?”
Please take the time to read that post and the comments from my readers.
Thank you, and I’ll “see” you again soon.
Most Read Post of 2009: A Megachurch in Jerusalem?
I’m out of town this week, so I’m linking to the most read posts on my blog from each year from 2007 to 2011.
The most read post on my blog from 2009 was “A Megachurch in Jerusalem?.”
Please take the time to read that post and the comments from my readers.
Thank you, and I’ll “see” you again soon.
Most Read Post of 2008: Won’t Get Fooled Again
I’m out of town this week, so I’m linking to the most read posts on my blog from each year from 2007 to 2011.
The most read post on my blog from 2008 was “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
Please take the time to read that post and the comments from my readers.
Thank you, and I’ll “see” you again soon.
Most Read Post of 2007: The Church or The Organization
I’m out of town this week, so I’m linking to the most read posts on my blog from each year from 2007 to 2011.
The most read post on my blog from 2007 was “The Church or The Organization.”
Please take the time to read that post and the comments from my readers.
Thank you, and I’ll “see” you again soon.
Spending the week serving others with the church
My wife organized a week-long service project that we will be taking part in with some friends this week (Monday, June 18, 2012 – Friday, June 22, 2012). We’ll be traveling to a neighboring state to do construction work – primarily painting – for people who live in a low income neighborhood.
Our family will be taking part as well as several other families of believers that we meet with regularly. Also, some friends of friends will be joining us. On top of all that, believers from other churches from other areas will take part as well.
Most of the people who will be taking part in these projects will be teenagers. I’m looking forward to spending time serving people with some friends, and also I’m looking forward to getting to know some other brothers and sisters in Christ.
During this coming week, I will not be publishing new posts. Instead, I’m going to link to the most read post from each year of my blog from 2007 to 2011. Also, I will not be able to interact in the comments as much as normal.
I hope you enjoy these old posts as much as I’m sure I’ll enjoy spending time serving people in the name of our Lord.
Scripture… As We Live It #213
This is the 213th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”
And how are they to preach unless they are sent educated, ordained, and licensed to “the gospel ministry” by a local church? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news sermons to the church!” (Romans 10:15 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
Replay: Jesus demonstrates God’s love even towards those who reject him
Five years ago, I wrote a post called “Jesus demonstrates God’s love even towards those who reject him.” It was actually part of a short series that I did based on a meme that was going around the blogs about then. (Do you remember what blog memes were/are?) There are several passages in the Gospels that proclaim Jesus’ love either in word or deed. But, one passage in Mark in particular has always awed me. Mark writes about how Jesus loved someone who rejected him.
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Jesus demonstrates God’s love even towards those who reject him
I was tagged by Bryan at “Charis Shalom” to post five things I dig about Jesus. It was very interesting thinking about five things, so I’m blogging through my list. The third “diggable” item on my list was that Jesus demonstrates God’s love even towards those who reject him.
Jesus is the supreme demonstration of God’s love toward us – not a mental, philosophical, idealistic kind of love, but an active, moving, giving, doing kind of love. Jesus’ love cannot be earned, cannot be repaid, cannot be lost, cannot be duplicated.
According to Jesus, the entire Hebrew Bible can be wrapped up in one two-fold command: Love God and love your neighbors. (Matt 22:38-39; Mark 12:30-31) According to Luke, a Jewish expert in the law agreed with Jesus. (Luke 10:25-28) James combined the two-fold command into one: If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. (James 2:8)
Love is important… love is necessary… love is central. And, God demonstrated his love for us in Christ’s death on our behalf. Notice, Christ did not die for us because we were righteous; he died for us while we were sinners. He did not die for us because of our worth; we were worthless without him. He did not die for us because we deserved it; we deserved only death, condemnation, and damnation. Christ died for us because he loved us.
There remains nothing in us to earn God’s love; and yet he loves us. In fact, though we cannot earn his love, we also cannot be separated from his love. God’s love for us through Christ is complete and eternal. This love is granted to us by grace; lavished on us despite ourselves.
But, what about those who reject Jesus? Sure, God loves those of us who are in Christ. He loves those who are new creations. He loves the sheep; but what about the goats?
There was once a rich, young man who came to Jesus. He asked Jesus a very important question: “Why must I do to have eternal life?” After a short conversation, Jesus told the man to sell everything he had and follow Jesus. The man refused because he had great riches. (Matt 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22) The man rejected Jesus in favor of the riches of this world.
Mark, as he often does, adds a piece of information that is not found in the other accounts. Mark said that Jesus loved the young man. (Mark 10:21) Jesus loved the man who rejected him. God-in-flesh, worth of glory and worship, loves someone who rejects him for land and money. This is the same God-Man who would look at those who were crucifying him and ask his father to forgive them.
I have chosen to follow Jesus. And, sometimes, I do. Hopefully, I follow him most of the time. But, honestly, like Peter, I often follow other voices that are not the voice of my father in heaven. During those times, I reject Jesus. And, Jesus loves me.
Sometimes, by my words and actions and attitudes, I deny and even attempt to separate myself from Jesus – again, much like Peter. And, Jesus loves me.
God demonstrates his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And he loves us, and loves us, and loves us, and loves us…
We can’t measure the fullness of Christ’s love for us – we will never reach the end, never find the boundary, never cross the line, never go too far, never find that last straw. (Eph 3:18-19) Nothing will separate us from Christ’s love – not Satan, not demons, not sin, not ourselves. (Rom 8:35-39)
When others forsake us, God loves us. When others disparage us, God loves us. When others hate us, God loves us. When others shame us, God loves us. When others forsake us, God loves us. When others are more holy, righteous, mature, godly, spiritual, efficient, practical, committed, involved, knowledgeable, smiling, Christian… God loves us – with an active, moving, giving, doing kind of love.
Whenever… Whatever… Wherever… God loves you!
Free copies of The Jesus Paradigm and Will You Join the Cause of Global Missions
Energion Publications is giving away two books by Dave Black: The Jesus Paradigm and Will You Join the Cause of Global Missions? You can find information about the giveaway and how to have a chance to win here: “Free Copies of The Jesus Paradigm.”
In fact, Henry – the publisher – says that he is giving away FIVE copies of each book. So, you have a pretty good chance of winning.
I have read The Jesus Paradigm and loved it! I’ve written a few articles about that book here on my blog. (If you’re interested, you should be able to find links in the “Related Posts” list after this post.)
I have not read Will You Join the Cause of Global Missions? yet, but it is probably just as good as Black’s other books.
Jump over to the Energion Publications post, leave a comment, and wait to hear the good news.