Heroes

Who are the heroes in our culture? Some see sports figures as heroes. Others prefer to point to people like firefighters, disaster relief workers and military personnel. We appreciate people who do not hesitate to help others, no matter the personal cost.

Who are your heroes? You would probably add to the above list by citing personal heroes—family members, teachers, coworkers, and others who have had a great impact on your life.

I spend lots of time with heroes. In various places around the world, people have given up almost everything and committed their lives completely to seek the spiritual well-being of others. I am in contact with several older national missionaries who face intense financial struggles. They are among my heroes. An overwhelming majority of Latin American church workers depend on secular employment or the employment of a spouse in order to survive. They serve without complaining and persevere beyond my expectations. They are my heroes.

I stay in their homes and eat at their tables. They put us Christians and ministers in the U.S. to shame in the sacrifices they make. They eat things we would hardly consider eating. They do not have things we take for granted. Many live in circumstances we North Americans would abhor. I walk miles with them (and ride the public transportation with them for long trips) because they cannot afford a car. One gets used to concrete floors, open windows and doors, and cold showers. Meatless meals and rice three times a day begins to seem normal.

Sometimes others ask if they can accompany me. My answer is always “yes” but I feel compelled to issue the customary warnings—you will not hear much English, the trip may not be easy. Perhaps I am too discouraging. After all, it is an honor to meet the real heroes in this world, those who have given up much and paid a great piece, all so that others can know the love of Christ!

God’s Mission in this World

What is God’s mission in this world? While there are many ways to describe it, the concept of re-creation provides a continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the beginning God created (Genesis 1-2), and in Jesus Christ he re-creates (Ephesians 2, et.al). Broken relationships are restored in Christ. Re-creation is possible. God’s mission is a mission of re-creation. The sin problem in the garden was the result of and resulted in broken horizontal relationship. In Jesus Christ, solves the sin problem, but God also creates unity through meaningful, lasting relationships.
We can analyze the concept of creation and re-creation theologically with great benefit, but one eventually must ask what it means to experience the new creation–to live the adventurous and abundant life in Christ, to live in peace, to know firsthand restored relationships and reconciliation.
The contemporary church emphasizes love as the way to re-creation, restoration, and reconciliation. What does it mean to live in the new way of love? Since God is love, he is the one defines love. Love extended unconditionally in God’s grace does not guarantee acceptance. God loves the world but that does demand universalism and the salvation of every human being. That God chastens and disciplines those he loves as children must speak of a different aspect of love. Many Christians have adopted contemporary views of love that are popular in the secular world, but God ultimately defines love. Love excludes certain things, love disciplines and demands obedience. The extent of love is measured by sacrifice and service. To live the life of love according to God’s definition is to live courageously.
One’s personal salvation is only a first step in God’s plan to re-create, restore, and reconcile the world. Christians are committed to daily engagement with God’s mission of re-creation, restoration, and reconciliation. This engagement requires courage and compassion, for God’s mission is one of peace–resolving conflict and developing caring relationships. Salvation does not occur in isolation and is not maintained in isolation. Let us love God and one another enough to submit, sacrifice, and serve; let us love as Jesus loved. Any other definition of love, including the weak and superficial definitions popularized by contemporary culture, is inadequate to accomplish God’s mission in this world.

It’s Sunday Again: God’s Great Family

Today I am at home. I will worship at Park Plaza. I anticipate sharing the unique and special fellowship that exists when one is at home.
So far this year, I worshiped on Sunday with 25 different congregations of God’s Family in eight countries. Six of the congregations were English-speaking, most of the time I have worshiped in Spanish.
This morning I am contemplating the marvelous work God is doing in this world among his people. In the last three months, I have spent time with members from dozens of congregations. Some are large, some are small. Some are tremendously evangelistic and growing spectacularly by God’s power; others are struggling to find God’s way in the midst of almost overwhelming challenges. Almost all have an intense love for and interest in missions. Some appear healthy but are really stagnant evangelistically; others face great problems but continue to share the word because that is who they are.
All have one thing in common–they request and covet prayers from their brothers and sisters. They send greetings and love and seek the support the great multitude of believers around the world. Today I am praying for God’s great spiritual family around the world, thinking of special people, places, and congregations. Will you join me?

Rethinking Evangelism

What is the goal of evangelism? Give me a one word or one phrase answer–quickly! What do you think?

The movie, Stolen Summer, is the story of a boy who wants everyone to go to heaven. As a result, he tries to convert his friend, the son of a Jewish rabbi. The story revolves around the desire of the boy that everyone go to heaven, a desire complicated by fact that rabbi’s son has terminal cancer. The complicated storyline fails to focus clearly that Jesus is the only way to heaven, but the movie challenges superficial thinking about Christianity in that it defines evangelism in terms of wanting others to go to heaven (instead of wanting others to be baptized, wanting others to become a certain kind of Christian, wanting others to become a member of the church, etc.).

Question: is our concept of evangelism too human-centered and not enough God-centered? Just thinking…just asking!

Anniversary–44 (or is it 88?)

Today is our anniversary. Jan and I were married on August 15, 1969–44 years ago.
When we are asked how many years WE have been married, we always add her years or marriage and my years of marriage. We began that tradition on Valentine’s Day in our first year of marriage when we celebrated one year–6 months for her and 6 months for me. We have celebrated our marriage 87 times, today is 88.
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life who has helped make possible the many things God has done through us across the years.

Review: God’s Favorite Place on Earth

Frank Viola. God’s Favorite Place on Earth. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2013.

When I received an invitation to review Frank Viola’s newest work, I eagerly accepted the offer to read the book and write a review. I received and read the book the first week of June, but left almost immediately for three weeks of mission work in Honduras and Panama. I returned to the U.S. for only a week before I left for about two weeks in Venezuela. Just this week I have had the opportunity to reread the book.

The book was for me a disappointment in one sense, but also a spiritual challenge. Having read other books by Viola, I was expecting analysis and challenging thinking, an appeal to my left brain. Viola is always analytical, but in this book the analysis finds a different outlet. Here is storytelling and a challenge to reconsider what it means to have a meaningful relationship with Jesus.
As a free narrative based on the biblical text and research, the book provides a template and guide to demonstrate how one may meditate more deeply on Bible stories and integrate texts that may not appear related. The book challenges the reader to develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus based on the special relationships Jesus developed with Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany. Here one finds an invitation to spiritual encounter and a changed life.

Readers should always be aware that authors are seldom far from their theological understandings, and this is the case here, especially with some eschatological imprecision and hypothesis. The problem with telling a story is that story may get ahead of the teachings of Scripture. Viola suggests Christ will return to Bethany whereas the biblical text says both the resurrected and the living will meet him in the air. Viola also connects Bethany the fulfillment of Revelation 21.

Overall, the book is easy to read, and the inclusion of a “Walking It Out” section in each chapter helps open possibilities for understanding applications in one’s daily Christian walk.

It’s Sunday Again: Praying for Missions with the Spiritual Family

Today I am back “home”–my first opportunity to assemble for worship with my Park Plaza spiritual family this month. (Good thing June has five Sundays!) Today the elders will pray for various mission efforts of the Park Plaza church, including my upcoming trip to Venezuela.

I am thinking this morning about how grateful I am for the way God has richly blessed my life.
I am thankful for the opportunity to worship in my mother tongue, although the words of many spiritual songs in Spanish are very meaningful and touch my heart.
I am thankful for the opportunity to listen and “soak up” the word rather than being the person responsible for sharing the word.
I am thankful to worship with my physical family–children and grandchildren.
I am thankful for the encouragement and support I receive from my spiritual family as I seek to advance kingdom things and strengthen churches across Latin America.
I am thankful for the opportunity to focus on how God works in my life and in this world.
I am thankful to God for his indescribable initiative of grace, extended to those least deserving.

Honduras and Panama: Developing Leaders

After spending eighteen days in Honduras and Panama with visits, contacts and presentations in 37 churches, I am back home. For those who do not know the purpose of these mission trips, for the last four years I have traveled across Latin America (in most parts of Central America and South America from Guatemala to Chile) to encourage churches to think realistically about their past and to plan for the future. A good way to summarize the goal is to say that I am helping with church development and leader development. Many churches have been begun by missionary efforts, but the majority have failed to grow and have stagnated. Most of the churches in Latin America do not have elders, and those that do have often followed the lead of U.S. churches and have fallen into unhealthy (and unbiblical) patterns of leadership. The majority of the places I go do not have a North American presence. Often the church was established (weakly) and the missonaries left. The need is to strengthen churches and help them grow to accomplish God’s will in their unique places in the world.
I make about ten trips per year, averaging two weeks out of the U.S. per trip. The invitations continue to multiply as churches realize the need. Almost always in the churches where seminars are presented, there are also members present from surrounding churches. The number of churches receiving teaching each year is between 100 and 200. I speak to hundreds of Christians and have the opportunity to listen to the concerns and dreams of dozens of Christians–leaders, potential leaders, and members who care deeply about the church.
The challenge in Latin America accentuates the need in the U.S. that churches think carefully and biblically about the role of leaders and God’s plan for the biblical organization of the church. The problems in the U.S. are easily transported to mission fields where the leadership problems are often more severe.
A model Paul used for working with the churches he had established is set forth in Acts 14:21-23: strengthening, edifying, and naming elders. This same process I seek to use so that healthy, sustainable churches can develop to the glory of God, and so that these churches can become missionary churches able to help establish more churches.

Missions: How?

How is mission work to be done? What is God’s plan for taking the gospel into all the world.
First, the gospel goes forth through those who are “sent.” The Antioch church sent forth Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3). Throughout the centuries, the church has sent forth missionaries with the Gospel message. Jesus sent his disciples into the world, not in the sense of traveling to distant lands, but in the context of their daily lives. One could translate the Great Commission in Matthew, “As you are going, make disciples….” Not all are sent into foreign lands and distant places, but every Christian is sent.
The gospel goes forth because there are “senders.” How can messengers go forth unless they are sent? (Romans 10:15). When one cannot personally go to those places where the message of gospel is to be preached, one can help others go. I am grateful for those Christians who make it possible for others to go.
An often overlooked truth is that the gospel goes forth through the “pre-sent.” The pre-sent are those who are present in this world in the normal routines of life. I am “pre-sent” to those places where I am already present. Wherever we Christians go in our daily lives, we are to take the gospel with us. When those who are sent to a new location to sow the seed of the gospel, those who accept the message become those who are pre-sent (present) in the context of daily living.
The gospel will not permeate the world and reach to the far corners of the globe without the involvement of all three groups: the sent, the senders, and the pre-sent (the daily presence of Christians). May God help us be faithful in doing our part to echo forth the saving message of Jesus.

Missions: Why?

Why missions? Why should the church be involved in taking the gospel into all the world? Why should Christians be concerned about mission work? God’s people are called to mission concern and involvement by four “calls.”
First, consider the call from above. God desires the salvation of all people (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Jesus came to seek and to save lost people (Luke 19:10). The Great Commission sends Christ’s disciples into all the world to make, mark, and mature disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus came because of God’s love for the world and God’s desire for the salvation of his human creation (John 3:16). Jesus’ disciples are interested in continuing the work of Jesus.
Can you hear the call from below? The demanding, destroying work of sin urges God’s people onward with the saving message of the gospel. The fact that evil exists in this world and destroys the potential and future of human beings should cause Christians to seek and rescue those who are mired in the emptiness and danger of sin.
The call from around us is the call of countless souls who are seeking a better way but do not know the way. Jesus is the way, truth, and life, but the majority of our friends and neighbors, coworkers and associates do not know how to find and walk in the light that illuminates the way to God. Almost everywhere we look in this world, we see those who are overwhelmed by the consequences of living as if there were no God. Mission work seeks to take the message of Jesus into all the world.
Finally, Christians can hear the call from within. When we have the heart and mind of Christ, our hearts are touched by the plight of those around us. There echoes within our hearts and consciences the desire to do something to help those who struggle to escape the meaninglessness of life without Christ. Our hearts reach out to help with physical needs, but the call within the heart of Christians also demands that we reach out to resolve the spiritual dilemma of life without Christ. The call within demands that we share the Good News of Jesus, because eternal salvation comes in no other name.