Different Values

The comment surprised me: “You guys live with a different set of values.”
I was a weekend visitor in the congregation, invited to present a leadership and planning workshop on Saturday and to teach and preach on Sunday. Some of the elders invited me to share Sunday lunch. Also present was Roberto Miranda, a coworker in Latin American leadership training. Several of us were visiting after the meal.
The conversation naturally turned to missions and the task of building strong local churches. We talked about the challenges; we talked about the opportunities. Roberto mentioned my work as board chairman at Baxter, and I was delighted to tell of the difference Baxter graduates are making in various parts of the world. As the group talked about the need for leadership and effective teachers in the churches, Roberto described the Latin American leadership work as it has developed over several years. We talked about receptivity and our desire to respond as quickly as possible to needs. We shared the story about how more and more congregations and training schools are seeking to develop strong leaders.
I told how Jan and I have been dreaming for at least 35 years about the goal of paying our own way to serve in smaller struggling churches. Along the way, God turned our attention from domestic missions to international missions, but the goal remained, and our ministry and mission work today is the result of a decision made long ago.
Roberto’s story is also a story of God’s guiding hand, for his work in leadership training developed after years of work in the secular world.

As the conversation wound down, one elder remarked, “You guys live by a different set of values.” So it is with Christians. Call it what you will. “March to a different drummer–set your affections on things above–seek the kingdom first….” The description fits not only ministers and missionaries. It is for all who serve in the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus. We live by a different set of values. May that difference be reflected in our lives today!

Have Our Preachers Quit Reading?

In March, at a gathering that draws Christians from across the nation, I visited with the owner of a Christian bookstore. He is a good friend; I always ask how sales are going. His observation, “Our preachers have quit buying books. Look around you. Our preachers are not here. These are motivated members who love the church, are actively involved, and want to improve their own lives. Most of what I sell is not to preachers.”
Last week I visited with the owner of a bookstore that specializes in used books. He is a brother in Christ and his bookstore has an excellent selection of used (and inexpensive) books of interest to Restorationists. He and I reminisced, and I thought about the countless hours I have spent over the past 40 years in browsing used books. He said, “Our preachers have quit buying books.” He was referring to preachers in churches of Christ. As I reflect upon his statement, another question surfaces: “Have our preachers quit reading and studying?”

We live in a world with multiple information sources. One does not have to acquire books to read them–public and private libraries have amazing sharing plans and almost any book in the world can be accessed at a local library. One can e-read with Kindle and Amazon. The Internet is everywhere. But much of the significant research and up-to-date information is in copyrighted books that are not distributed electronically.
The answer to the question in our title can only be answered by our preachers, and each must answer personally. For me, I have not quit reading, but I read differently. During some years of my ministry, I read or reviewed a book a day. I read the New Testament through every month. I have changed my reading habits, but I still read–some would say voraciously.
I am sure of one thing. Christianity rests upon the principled foundation of truth, and when our preachers quit reading, researching, and studying, Christianity is in trouble.

It’s Sunday Again: “You Are Loved”

For many years during my ministry and preaching, I kept in my Bible a small bright pink post-it that simply read, “You are loved.” This morning, I received an email expressing appreciation for the workshop, classes and sermons I presented last weekend. I also received this morning (electronically) a reminder of the seminar and activities in Guatemala two months ago. This morning I am contemplating God’s Word: when the Psalmist declared the beauty of the love that binds together brothers, he spoke in advance of the beauty of Christian love.

There are many ways to describe what God’s people do when they assemble for study and worship each Lord’s Day. We worship, we share fellowship. We sing, pray, study, and share the memory of Christ’s love and sacrifice–that which binds us together in our imperfections. I hope also this day as you assemble with God’s family that you will receive many reminders of the fact that you are loved. One benefit of our weekly (and more frequent) gatherings is that we are reminded that we are loved and valued despite our unworthiness. The body cannot get by without any member–all are important, all contribute, all are loved, all are needed. The world tears us down and questions the value of who we are and what we do in the kingdom.

On this Sunday, I remind you that “you are loved.” I guess that is part of my “preacher hat” as I strive to reflect God’s word to his people. I suspect you need that reassuring word from God, because I know how much I appreciate the words of love and appreciation.

Christian: Like Christ?

A recent email from MinEmergent included a quote from Diana Butler Bass (A People’s History of Christianity).
“Whereas militant Christianity triumphs over all, generative Christianity transforms the world through humble service to all. It is not about victory; it is about following Christ in order to seed the human community with grace.”

The brief quote, titled “Generative Christianity,” raises the question as to how Christianity generates and regenerates itself in the world. The contrast between militant Christianity and generative Christianity gives me pause. Today I am reflecting again on the nature of the klingdom–does the version of church we know best operate according to the methods of this world, or are we pursuing the forms of the kingdom that are “other worldly”? Recall that Jesus himself said that his kingdom was not of this world.

Too often, I fear that the accepted version of Christianity is more destructive than constructive. Some seem more interested in tearing down than building up. The history of Christianity includes periods of overt militancy; more difficult to perceive are the continuing tendencies toward covert militancy. The triumph of Christianity will not be through disciples who fight, even though confrontation was at times a part of Jesus’ ministry. The triumph of Christianity will be through disciples who unhesitatingly and faithfully follow Jesus’ example–reviled but not reviling, giving more than receiving, serving more than being served. The subtle triumph of Christianity, in our own lives and in the lives of those we touch, will be through humble servant hearts that “seed the human community with grace.”

Let us use this phrase as today’s challenge: God, as I go forth this day, may I seed the human community with your grace, wherever I go and wherever you lead me.

Measuring Leadership

Human nature desires measurements. We are competitive. How am I doing? Am I succeeding?
Leadership, especially Christian leadership, is often evaluated by the wrong standards. Leadership is not in title, position, or prestige. Leadership down at the church house must not be measured by secular standards.

Christian leadership involves two basic elements: service and influence. Leadership is exercised from below, not from above. The who who leads, the one Jesus calls the greatest, is the one who serves. Leaders can be identified by their relationship with the least–their willingness to serve at the fringes, the uninvolved, the dropouts, the depressed, lonely, and needy. Leaders involve themselves in a lot of relationships that are not mutual–the other person cannot repay or respond. A person who serves everyone unconditionally will naturally become a leader. Because leadership involves service, leaders invest incredible amounts of time in other folks. Needs do not arise on our schedule–leaders are available to serve and meet needs.

Christian leaders influence others. This is not by power or control. This is more indirect than direct. Christian leaders rescue the perishing, tell the good news to the lost. Christian leaders are evangelistic and pastoral. They care for the least and have the unique ability to reach out, touch, and influence others. The influence of the Christian leader is by example. Others are 100% involved because the leader is 100% involved. Influence comes from many sources–knowledge, competence, relationships…. The influence of the Christian leader comes because others can clearly see the presence of God–commitment, demeanor, attitude, action, care and concern.

It’s Sunday Again: Finding Family

Yesterday’s leadership seminar was a superb experience–a men’s breakfast, morning sessions, and afternoon meeting with the shepherds yielded fresh mission and vision statements that can provide direction, dreams, energy, and enthusiasm for renewal and continued growth.
Today will be a time to focus on remembering God’s purpose and encouraging us to live out the reality of our family status in Christ. The contemporary church struggles to live out the reality of its grandeur in God’s eternal purpose. The church tends to live monochromatically–living out the reality of only one of the spiritual dynamics of integrated Chrisitan lives. God’s intent is that we Christians oscillate through the spiritual relationships of our life in abundant living, but our tendency is to live more narrowing, at times focused on spiritual realities, at times focused internally on the life and activities of the church, and sometimes focused externally. When these three dynamics are combined, they empower one another and bring us into abundant, fulfilling, lives of integrity and healthy relationships.

I am a Maximalist

I have been accused of being a perfectionist. I like to do things well, I want to do things right. I am demanding–of myself and of others (perhaps too much of others). But I do not see myself as a perfectionist. It would be more accurate to say that I am a maximalist.
Especially in matters of Christianity, perfectionism is a dead-end approach. The “too hard” gospel leads to perfectionism and legalism. The “too soft” gospel leads to a false liberty and freedom. I am saved by grace; I am not saved by works. I will not receive my reward because I live a good Christian life. (I was amazed to hear this statement at a recent funeral.)
But these observations do not say that my actions are unimportant. I am committed to works of faith, not works of merit. I am committed to faithful obedience. I must do the best I can—that is the nature of loyalty and faithfulness. I cannot shortcut my faith response to Jesus my Lord. I do not rest in grace as an excuse for anything less than my best. I do not ask how little I can get by with. I will give everything I can; that is total commitment. The total commitment folks of the late 1990s were right in teaching, but wrong in practice. Christianity requires maximum commitment—anything less than my maximum fails to meet the Bible definitions of authentic discipleship.

Grieving for a little while….

The discussion was lively and challenging with stimulating questions and observations as we reviewed the first two chapters of the book of First Peter.  As is often the case, we were a little hard on ourselves.  Maybe we don’t suffer enough…perhaps our faith is not strong enough…or our spiritual sacrifices are not sacrificial enough….

What is the balance between rejoicing and suffering?  I admit that answers are not easy, but there is help.  In the midst of the text (1 Peter 1:6) is a little word we easily overlook.  The verb is usually translated “to grieve”, but it can carry the idea of heaviness and affliction.  The question is not only, “Do we suffer?”  The question is, “What causes us grief?”  Do we hurt for the situation of our world?  Are our hearts heavy for the circumstances of those we know and love?

It is true that we often fail to do what we think we should do.  But before we are too hard on ourselves, let us observe that we sometimes fail to act because we have tried before without results.  We have spoken up for the Lord, accepted the ridicule, and seen that hearts were hardened more than softened.  We have tried to share the gospel, but faced hearts protected by stone walls.  We have observed the disinterest, the immorality, the lack of commitment.  I regret (repent?) that I fail to act, but I also affirm that my heart is heavy for the lost and those outside of Christ.  I grieve for the spiritual demise and decay in my nation.

May God gives us hearts that can always be touched by the hurts around us.  Such “grieving” demonstrates faith just as does our faithful endurance of suffering.

Worship and Enjoyment

C. S. Lewis said something like this in his little work on the Psalms: “We praise what we enjoy.”

We are not thankful for what we do not enjoy. We do not praise what we do not enjoy. Some folks do not come to church because they do not enjoy. Some folks feel no compulsion to praise God because they do not enjoy his presence in their lives.

If we would grow in our praise, gratitude, and worship, let us learn the lesson of Paul’s words to the Philippians: Rejoice!

We Are Not Doing What We Know to Do

[Note: A blog posting edited and forwarded–explanation of the two older comments.]

Although my previous blog was titled, “What we are doing isn’t working”, my reflections since writing that piece have led me to conclude that the problem is most likely not what we are doing, but what we are not doing.

To borrow a term common in the church planting movement (with reference to planting churches that will plant churches), we have lost our DNA.   In too many places, the evangelism DNA strand that motivates outreach has been subtly replaced with a self-centered strand.

 The early church had a strong effort in evangelism.  They went everywhere preaching the word.  They could not but speak what they had seen and heard.  They constantly shared the good news of Jesus.  The churches of Christ as recently as 50 years ago had a strong emphasis in evangelism.  Domestic evangelism and foreign missions were emphasized.  Almost every church had an evangelism program of some kind.  Home Bible studies were common–filmstrips and charts, and open Bible studies.  Evangelism training series were taught and Christians attended such series.  At one church where I ministered, almost 10% of the congregation attended a training series.  Later at another church, the number was only 5%, but in both locations, evangelism was boosted.  There was a time when Christians unashamedly invited their friends, neighbors and families to church, and people came.  Churches hosted multiple evangelistic activities and special series.  Gospel meetings declared that the gospel mattered for eternity.  Not only did local churches host events, the members came to the events.  In the early years of my ministry, I remember driving an hour or two to attend gospel meetings and to hear great gospel preaching.  We didn’t go by ourselves–we invited others to go, and we shared sweet fellowship.  Entire youth groups would go together to hear gospel preaching.

Some of the details of what a local church can do have changed, but there are many good ways to bring people to Jesus at the beginning of the 21st century.  Up until about 15 years ago, Jan and I set up all the home Bible studies we could handle simply by contacting and inviting Bible study with those who visited our services.  This included spouses and family members of members, visitors, newcomers to the community, and others who visited the church on special occasions.  Now we have fewer visitors.  Why?  Perhaps there is less interest, but I am confident that one reason we have fewer visitors is that we issue fewer invitations.

Gospel meetings can be effective–if we make a concerted effort to make certain non-Christians and unbelievers are present.  Perhaps our greatest problem is that we are no longer certain about who is saved and who is lost.  Those outside of Christ are lost.  People who are not faithfully living for Jesus are lost.  A majority of those we know are lost.  Since the Lord could come at any time, it is time for us to get serious.

Some churches spend one night per week (often Monday) engaged in activities focused on outreach and evangelism.  Some churches use this time for activities that are inwardly focused, but the churches that are growing use this night primarily to reach out.  Some churches use focused (not random) benevolent programs to reach unbelievers effectively.  The list could be continued beyond the length available here.

What do these efforts share in common?  An emphasis and desire to reach the lost.  Churches that know that the folks without Christ are lost, churches that focus on reaching those folks, are still succeeding in bringing the lost to Jesus.