(note: i have yet to write out my first encounter and resulting relationship with Bobby -- i'll try to do that soon for those of you who may be reading this without knowing the background)
While i was at Bobby's last week, i saw a picture i had never seen before. When i took a closer look, it was a picture of Bobby at my age -- holding his 4year old daughter and 2 year old son. i knew that Bobby had kids. i knew that he had been married. i knew he had brothers and sisters, and even met a few. But in all these months of seeing Bobby, i never saw him as someone's dad, someone's son -- that a child or wife, or parent were out there somewhere, praying, hurting, seeking their loved one. That in his 20+ years of addictions and wandering, someone was out there missing their dad.
As i drove away, i started seeing other people differently -- not some guy crossing the street, but someone's lost son maybe on his way to or away from home. Not some kid bobbing her head to the radio, but a daughter who may have tuned her parents out a long time ago. i started to ache for people, and pray for them, and not just pass them by.
Maybe that's how God sees the people we pass by so easily. While we're on our own agenda or trying to check out of WalMart as quickly as we can, God is hurting for the people we try to beat to the open cashier. God is pleading with us to see the wayward son, daughter, mother, father and to join Him in rescuing them.
Then i started aching for a different reason -- why haven't i been aching like this? Why have i been so self-centered? Why is seeing people as God must see them so difficult, so unnatural for me. Even as i write this, i know that my heart has begun cooling off to that previous cold state.
Jesus, speaking of the last days, warns us in Matthew 24:12-13, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." And John records the revelation of Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).
Dear God, Heavenly Father who ever pursues us with Your faithful love, keep my love hot and my heart tender for others just as Yours is. As You help me to see others as You do, motivate me to love them as you would, for your name's sake. Amen <><
Monday, February 28, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
spurred
That says ‘spurred,’ not ‘spurned’. Unfortunately, the former is not as easy to find as the latter. Especially for those with dreams, visions, and desires beyond the ordinary, the status quo, the day-to-day. Tragically, the imbalance of spurn to spur is prevalent, even in the body of Christ.
My father-in-law recently sent me a cartoon with a dejected pastor and an enthusiastic layman sitting at a booth. The booth has a sign that reads, “slam the pastor, $5” while the layman exclaims, “we’ve just paid off the CE wing, and now we’re going for a new parking lot!” Even what starts off as a good spur can end in a stinging spurn. For example, after one recent Bible study, one saint remarked, “I really like your Bible studies – you’re a really good teacher...” (At this point, i’m about to graciously accept the kindness, until the rest of the comment) … “In fact, you may have missed your calling.” At which point, i could simply smile and bite my tongue.
This kind of treatment is not just reserved for pastors, but is very much alive between the pews. Sometimes this lay-spurn is blatant and direct, but more often experienced in a spiritualized, guerilla warfare through any number of looks, whispers, Sunday afternoon lunches, and business meeting power plays. Andy Stanley says it’s often disguised in the form of prayer requests, as gossip is masqueraded through the prayer chain.
The tragedy is that it’s not disguised to a watching, skeptical world. What we think are only read by our compatriots is clearly perceived by young Christians and unbelievers alike. In the end, the church loses, the Kingdom suffers, and God weeps.
God had a different design for his people. Even before sin corrupted a perfect world, God saw there was something wrong in paradise. God’s first observation of man was that we needed others. In creating Eve, God created relationships – the spurring kind – positive, intimate, encouraging, challenging, reciprocated, interesting, humorous, comforting, inspiring.
One of my favorite verses regarding the fellowship of believers has been Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Last night, we were able sit around a table with friends and share some struggles, share some passion, laugh together, pray for one another – and in the process fulfill that verse. My wife and i left spurred. (to those friends, thank you)
Today, i sat with other pastors and lay leaders from other churches in Alabama. Together, we prayed, sought God, wept, shared hurts, shared burdens, shared dreams, and more. We read Scripture, and meditated and spoke of our God who is able to break down every dividing wall of hostility, while propelling His church against the very gates of hell to reclaim lost souls. In the process, i was drawn not only closer to God, but closer to everyone in the room – even particularly closer to one that i had not ever really seen eye to eye with. At the end, we embraced and share mutual respect and appreciation for the heart and dreams of the other. i left spurred. (to those men and women, thank you)
Wouldn’t it be great if that was more common? What if spurring was more prevalent than spurning? Wouldn’t our churches be different? Wouldn’t our pastors and lay people be healthier? Wouldn’t the Kingdom win? Wouldn’t it?
Another dream? i know. So will you spur it or spurn it?
My father-in-law recently sent me a cartoon with a dejected pastor and an enthusiastic layman sitting at a booth. The booth has a sign that reads, “slam the pastor, $5” while the layman exclaims, “we’ve just paid off the CE wing, and now we’re going for a new parking lot!” Even what starts off as a good spur can end in a stinging spurn. For example, after one recent Bible study, one saint remarked, “I really like your Bible studies – you’re a really good teacher...” (At this point, i’m about to graciously accept the kindness, until the rest of the comment) … “In fact, you may have missed your calling.” At which point, i could simply smile and bite my tongue.
This kind of treatment is not just reserved for pastors, but is very much alive between the pews. Sometimes this lay-spurn is blatant and direct, but more often experienced in a spiritualized, guerilla warfare through any number of looks, whispers, Sunday afternoon lunches, and business meeting power plays. Andy Stanley says it’s often disguised in the form of prayer requests, as gossip is masqueraded through the prayer chain.
The tragedy is that it’s not disguised to a watching, skeptical world. What we think are only read by our compatriots is clearly perceived by young Christians and unbelievers alike. In the end, the church loses, the Kingdom suffers, and God weeps.
God had a different design for his people. Even before sin corrupted a perfect world, God saw there was something wrong in paradise. God’s first observation of man was that we needed others. In creating Eve, God created relationships – the spurring kind – positive, intimate, encouraging, challenging, reciprocated, interesting, humorous, comforting, inspiring.
One of my favorite verses regarding the fellowship of believers has been Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Last night, we were able sit around a table with friends and share some struggles, share some passion, laugh together, pray for one another – and in the process fulfill that verse. My wife and i left spurred. (to those friends, thank you)
Today, i sat with other pastors and lay leaders from other churches in Alabama. Together, we prayed, sought God, wept, shared hurts, shared burdens, shared dreams, and more. We read Scripture, and meditated and spoke of our God who is able to break down every dividing wall of hostility, while propelling His church against the very gates of hell to reclaim lost souls. In the process, i was drawn not only closer to God, but closer to everyone in the room – even particularly closer to one that i had not ever really seen eye to eye with. At the end, we embraced and share mutual respect and appreciation for the heart and dreams of the other. i left spurred. (to those men and women, thank you)
Wouldn’t it be great if that was more common? What if spurring was more prevalent than spurning? Wouldn’t our churches be different? Wouldn’t our pastors and lay people be healthier? Wouldn’t the Kingdom win? Wouldn’t it?
Another dream? i know. So will you spur it or spurn it?
Monday, February 14, 2005
serving: the reflection of God
At the top of the list of things the prophet Micah reports as divine requirements is “to act justly.” we’ve summarized that term in the word “serve,” because i feel it reflects the heart of God, as demonstrated through His Son Jesus Christ whose acts of justice were found through his serving.
Jesus sets his purpose plain in Mark 10:45 when He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Hebrews 1:3 tells us that the Son is the exact representation of the Father, just as Jesus Himself told Thomas and the disciples, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then, as i once heard Erwin McManus conclude in a Q&A session, the chief description of God would be a Servant.
So what does it mean to act justly?
Essentially, to act justly is to not only to live according to God’s righteous character and commands, but to bring this state of justice into the lives and relationships of others. Then, to act justly, you would have to enter someone’s injustice.
This is reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry. In reading the prophet Isaiah, Jesus read His divine purpose, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
To enter someone’s injustice is not easy. It’s not clean. It’s not going to fit your schedule with a start and end date. Formulas and plans often end up out the window. People suffering from the chains of injustice are right where Satan wants them. Entering into injustice is like trying to break someone out of the enemy’s dungeon—expect a fight.
This is why we stress the end before the beginning in the Micah 6:8 ministry strategy – if you’re not walking humbly with your God, and if you haven’t got a good understanding of mercy, you can’t act justly. Jesus set this example through His earthly ministry.
In accomplishing the prophetic mission, Jesus’ mercy was evident (several requests for Jesus’ healing began with “have mercy”); and his words and actions were according to the will of God as determined through prayer and His humble walk with His Father. He said, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49) and "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19-20).
Then, again, God must be a servant, The Servant--and His people ought to be about His business of serving to reflect His love and character.
In future blogs, i’ll share a few of our experiences in the desire to act justly. We don’t have this all figured out. It’s person by person, learn as you go, trial and error, grace and mercy. Many have paved this road ahead of us and offer a legacy of wisdom. Sojourner Truth, William & Catherine Booth and the original Salvation Army, Mother Teresa and the sisters of charity in Calcutta, countless missionaries, and i would add Kurt Salierno and his co-laborers in Atlanta (www.churchonthestreet.com).
Jesus sets his purpose plain in Mark 10:45 when He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Hebrews 1:3 tells us that the Son is the exact representation of the Father, just as Jesus Himself told Thomas and the disciples, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then, as i once heard Erwin McManus conclude in a Q&A session, the chief description of God would be a Servant.
So what does it mean to act justly?
Essentially, to act justly is to not only to live according to God’s righteous character and commands, but to bring this state of justice into the lives and relationships of others. Then, to act justly, you would have to enter someone’s injustice.
This is reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry. In reading the prophet Isaiah, Jesus read His divine purpose, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
To enter someone’s injustice is not easy. It’s not clean. It’s not going to fit your schedule with a start and end date. Formulas and plans often end up out the window. People suffering from the chains of injustice are right where Satan wants them. Entering into injustice is like trying to break someone out of the enemy’s dungeon—expect a fight.
This is why we stress the end before the beginning in the Micah 6:8 ministry strategy – if you’re not walking humbly with your God, and if you haven’t got a good understanding of mercy, you can’t act justly. Jesus set this example through His earthly ministry.
In accomplishing the prophetic mission, Jesus’ mercy was evident (several requests for Jesus’ healing began with “have mercy”); and his words and actions were according to the will of God as determined through prayer and His humble walk with His Father. He said, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49) and "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19-20).
Then, again, God must be a servant, The Servant--and His people ought to be about His business of serving to reflect His love and character.
In future blogs, i’ll share a few of our experiences in the desire to act justly. We don’t have this all figured out. It’s person by person, learn as you go, trial and error, grace and mercy. Many have paved this road ahead of us and offer a legacy of wisdom. Sojourner Truth, William & Catherine Booth and the original Salvation Army, Mother Teresa and the sisters of charity in Calcutta, countless missionaries, and i would add Kurt Salierno and his co-laborers in Atlanta (www.churchonthestreet.com).
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