On another blog (eyesturnedoutward.com) Andy White has been reflecting on some obstacles to living an outward focused life. I wrote one post about misunderstanding as an obstacle. It's made me think about some of the issues surrounding living a life for and with Jesus as leader and forgiver, Lord and Saviour to use more traditional language.
I thought about this and began to wonder about the concept of holiness. I've always found holiness to rather like a bar of soap in the shower. The more tightly you try to grip it, the more likely it is to slip out of your hand. Sometimes it seems that the more you try to define holiness, the more it eludes you and you drift towards legalism as a solution.
So I'm not going to define it as anything more than living like Jesus lived, and that's where I see the hurdles appearing. How do we live like Jesus lived? How do we do what Jesus would do?
As a local church leader I get plenty of opportunities to see what happens when we don't manage to live like Jesus lived. And I'm not just talking about other people's lives I'm talking about my own life too.
This isn't a one size fits all solution, but I've noticed that sometimes the root issue is trying to live a double life. In other words we live like followers of Jesus when we're around other followers of Jesus, but we live like non-followers when we are with non-followers.
I remember Jim Packer saying: The problem with North American Protestantism is that it is 3,000 miles wide but only half and inch deep. The double life approach leads to shallow Christianity and shallow Christianity will not produce lasting fruit.
So I ask myself: How am I doing? Am I living like a follower of Jesus?
This isn't a complete programme, perhaps there isn't one. Maybe it isn't even a complete thought! But as a work-in-progress I wanted to think out loud for a moment.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
The priority of serving
I'm reading, on and off, a book called Quick to listen Leaders by Dave Ping and Anne Clippard. I've mentioned it before when I blogged about the miracle question. Here's another quote:
The "barefoot pastor" [a name given to missionary pastors in India] name comes from the unique way they've found to multiply themselves. Once a leader establishes a church with more than twenty-five members, he selects a few of his disciples, usually ordinary villagers too poor to afford shoes, to become missionaries to the next village down the road. They walk to the next village and meet the people. Then they begin serving, sharing the story of Jesus, and praying until they have made enough converts to establish a church. When that church is ready, it sends its disciples on to the next village. (p41)
Hidden away in this description is one really key thought. There are times when have in the past defined evangelism as parts two and four of this process-the preaching and converting. We do pray, but don't often see service as a key aspect of outreach.
Last night I was at he members meeting of a church I serve as moderator. We got talking about one particular group that uses the church premises, that once was part of the ministry of the church, but is now run by folk from outside the church. There was talk about how to bring it back into the life of the church.
My solution? To get in there and win it back by serving. Rather than just a take-over bid, I believe that the way forward is through serving. As people experience the love of God as we serve them I believe that it will open doors to sharing the gospel.
I guess it's summed up in the concept of loving people into a relationship with God rather than trying to talk them into it.
The other thing that attracted my attention was the size at which the church was expected to multiply. Can you imagine most UK Christians being happy to send out missionaries when they reach 25 people? To most of us, we're not even sure we want to multiply our housegroup when it gets the 25 because won't that mean we'll no longer be together, and anyway, if not everybody comes there might only be 15 of us!
We have an opportunity coming our way in Cotton End that I think will challenge how we see church planting. To begin with small groups that can multiply quickly and move on to new areas may be key to our ability to impact the new housing developments that are coming our way. I know we're not going barefoot, and we probably won't walk too far, but we will serve and pray to earn the right to share the good news about Jesus.
The "barefoot pastor" [a name given to missionary pastors in India] name comes from the unique way they've found to multiply themselves. Once a leader establishes a church with more than twenty-five members, he selects a few of his disciples, usually ordinary villagers too poor to afford shoes, to become missionaries to the next village down the road. They walk to the next village and meet the people. Then they begin serving, sharing the story of Jesus, and praying until they have made enough converts to establish a church. When that church is ready, it sends its disciples on to the next village. (p41)
Hidden away in this description is one really key thought. There are times when have in the past defined evangelism as parts two and four of this process-the preaching and converting. We do pray, but don't often see service as a key aspect of outreach.
Last night I was at he members meeting of a church I serve as moderator. We got talking about one particular group that uses the church premises, that once was part of the ministry of the church, but is now run by folk from outside the church. There was talk about how to bring it back into the life of the church.
My solution? To get in there and win it back by serving. Rather than just a take-over bid, I believe that the way forward is through serving. As people experience the love of God as we serve them I believe that it will open doors to sharing the gospel.
I guess it's summed up in the concept of loving people into a relationship with God rather than trying to talk them into it.
The other thing that attracted my attention was the size at which the church was expected to multiply. Can you imagine most UK Christians being happy to send out missionaries when they reach 25 people? To most of us, we're not even sure we want to multiply our housegroup when it gets the 25 because won't that mean we'll no longer be together, and anyway, if not everybody comes there might only be 15 of us!
We have an opportunity coming our way in Cotton End that I think will challenge how we see church planting. To begin with small groups that can multiply quickly and move on to new areas may be key to our ability to impact the new housing developments that are coming our way. I know we're not going barefoot, and we probably won't walk too far, but we will serve and pray to earn the right to share the good news about Jesus.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Four Essentials
Having just posted a short entry about my dream, I thought I'd add what I'm calling the four essentials or the four non-negotiables of church life.
A Biblical Church
This is a church committed to the Bible as God's word, relevant and life changing today just as it has always been.
A Mission-involved Church
A church committed to reaching out to a lost or missing world with the good news of forgiveness and reconnection with God.
A Relational Church
A church committed to building positive relationships.
A Praying Church
We all believe that prayer is significant, we need to be 100% committed to pray.
A Biblical Church
This is a church committed to the Bible as God's word, relevant and life changing today just as it has always been.
A Mission-involved Church
A church committed to reaching out to a lost or missing world with the good news of forgiveness and reconnection with God.
A Relational Church
A church committed to building positive relationships.
A Praying Church
We all believe that prayer is significant, we need to be 100% committed to pray.
The church of my dreams
Part of the process of putting big picture into small boxes for me is to dream. Some time ago a colleague sent me something that began We dream of a church... It was from a church in Texas, Irvine I think. Anyway it got me thinking, and for what it's worth this is my work-in-progress dream of church.
As I think about the future my dream, my vision is for a church that is actively meeting the needs of those within the church and those beyond the church.
I dream of a church with a wide diversity of ministries balanced between spiritual and practical (although I'm not trying to suggest that something spiritual is not practical or the other way around).
I dream of a church that is growing in a sustainable way and a church that is always thinking creatively about how it can touch the wider community through kindness and in service, and open the door to a clear and compelling invitation to respond to God's love shown through Jesus Christ.
I dream of a church that is willing to take Holy Spirit inspired risks in order to make a difference in the communities it serves.
I dream of a church of radical believers who live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ and will do whatever it takes to drive back the kingdom of darkness and usher in the reign of Christ.
As I think about the future my dream, my vision is for a church that is actively meeting the needs of those within the church and those beyond the church.
I dream of a church with a wide diversity of ministries balanced between spiritual and practical (although I'm not trying to suggest that something spiritual is not practical or the other way around).
I dream of a church that is growing in a sustainable way and a church that is always thinking creatively about how it can touch the wider community through kindness and in service, and open the door to a clear and compelling invitation to respond to God's love shown through Jesus Christ.
I dream of a church that is willing to take Holy Spirit inspired risks in order to make a difference in the communities it serves.
I dream of a church of radical believers who live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ and will do whatever it takes to drive back the kingdom of darkness and usher in the reign of Christ.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Jesus loves the church. Honest!
When we first came across a song the first line of which was Jesus loves the church, I thought it was a bit twee to say the least. But I then realised that the real struggle I had was with the truth behind the song. Jesus really does love the church. The struggle arises because there are times when I am not so inclined.
So I prayed, and asked God to help me love the people he loves, to love the church he loves and commit myself to the church as he has always done. It's a work in progress.
Here's a quote for fellow lovers:
There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addiction, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness... No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
Bill HybelsCourageous Leadership
So I prayed, and asked God to help me love the people he loves, to love the church he loves and commit myself to the church as he has always done. It's a work in progress.
Here's a quote for fellow lovers:
There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addiction, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness... No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
Bill Hybels
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Big pictures and small boxes
Since my confession about leadership in my last entry, I thought I ought to do some thinking about what makes leadership hard, at least for me. We are all wired in slightly different ways. As far as I know I am wired with an inclination towards a more visionary mindset than towards a management mindset. This has caused me some problems from time to time, mainly because I don’t see my role as a manager and others have seen it that way.
The difficulty comes when you try to translate the vision into a workable reality. To do this I have cone to the conclusion that I need to surround myself with people who are pioneers. Pioneers are the kind of people who can hear the dream and are willing and able to turn the dream into reality with the minimum of information. I always remember during my previous life in R&D for a big multinational company, taking a rough sketch of an idea for a piece of equipment to our engineers for fabrication. It was amazing to see this sketch turned into a real piece of kit by someone who could recognise my concept and make it work. With all the will in the world I could not have done that.
Of course not everyone is a pioneer. Some are settlers. Settlers are so important to the vision because without them there would be no food on the table. Settlers settle. They build farms and houses. They make sure everything runs as it should. Whilst the visionaries are off dreaming new dreams and the pioneers are out charting new courses, the settlers keep the garden under control.
Each of these groups needs a different amount of information to help them see what is going on around them. The pioneers are happy with the big picture, the settlers need the small boxes.
So here I am, trying to work out what goes in which box and how to package it so that everyone can get a piece of the picture that is manageable for them. It’s my heartfelt desire as a leader to help everyone get in on the action, to understand the important role that they play in fulfilling the bigger vision of our life together.
So I recognise that for me doing this work of translating vision into reality is hard, but I’ll do my best so that everyone around me has the chance to do what they do best for the glory of God. I’m off now to draw some big pictures and try to stuff them into some small boxes!
The difficulty comes when you try to translate the vision into a workable reality. To do this I have cone to the conclusion that I need to surround myself with people who are pioneers. Pioneers are the kind of people who can hear the dream and are willing and able to turn the dream into reality with the minimum of information. I always remember during my previous life in R&D for a big multinational company, taking a rough sketch of an idea for a piece of equipment to our engineers for fabrication. It was amazing to see this sketch turned into a real piece of kit by someone who could recognise my concept and make it work. With all the will in the world I could not have done that.
Of course not everyone is a pioneer. Some are settlers. Settlers are so important to the vision because without them there would be no food on the table. Settlers settle. They build farms and houses. They make sure everything runs as it should. Whilst the visionaries are off dreaming new dreams and the pioneers are out charting new courses, the settlers keep the garden under control.
Each of these groups needs a different amount of information to help them see what is going on around them. The pioneers are happy with the big picture, the settlers need the small boxes.
So here I am, trying to work out what goes in which box and how to package it so that everyone can get a piece of the picture that is manageable for them. It’s my heartfelt desire as a leader to help everyone get in on the action, to understand the important role that they play in fulfilling the bigger vision of our life together.
So I recognise that for me doing this work of translating vision into reality is hard, but I’ll do my best so that everyone around me has the chance to do what they do best for the glory of God. I’m off now to draw some big pictures and try to stuff them into some small boxes!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Being a leader
A confession: I find being a leader hard sometimes. There are days when leadership is the last thing I want to do with my life, but I know it's a core part of my call to ministry. So what do I do? Well I look for stuff that inspires me and motivates me to keep going. I'd like to think that I look for stuff that helps me improve, but then again I sometimes feel like Edward Bear in the opening paragraph of the Winnie The-Pooh story.
Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think about it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn't.
Anyway, to get back to the question of leadership, I have on my wall opposite my desk a number of things. Photographs taken by my daughter Ally, the dates for Easter up to 2024, my personal mission statement and my ministerial recognition certificate just in case I forget who and what I am! There are other things and maybe I'll describe those in another post.
One of the things I have is an interesting one page description of leadership. I'm not sure where it came from, a website I think or an email newsletter of some sort, but I find it a helpful reminder of a few things. Here it is.
Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think about it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn't.
Anyway, to get back to the question of leadership, I have on my wall opposite my desk a number of things. Photographs taken by my daughter Ally, the dates for Easter up to 2024, my personal mission statement and my ministerial recognition certificate just in case I forget who and what I am! There are other things and maybe I'll describe those in another post.
One of the things I have is an interesting one page description of leadership. I'm not sure where it came from, a website I think or an email newsletter of some sort, but I find it a helpful reminder of a few things. Here it is.
Effective leadership today is not about helping people find the answers they need; it's about asking the right questions in the right context at the right time. It is less about being a gladiator in control and more about being anirritatorr who asks thought-provoking and disturbing questions like Jesus often did.
Leadership is less about teaching specific skills; it's more about leaders being in close relationship with God, understanding their gifts and passions, then walking alongside others so they learn from the kind of person you are rather than from the things you say.
Leadership is less about setting vision, reaching goals, motivating, and inspiring others—important as these can be. Leadership is more about helping people create environments where they experience community with others and loving relationships that move everybody forward.
Leadership for a new era does not make sure that people are thoroughly trained before they are turned loose. The new model is on-the-job learning where the leader and everybody else is learning constantly and pouring their lives into others. The sooner people begin serving together, the sooner they experience God's presence and guidance in their lives.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Through the gates
Reflecting on the story of the five missionaries (Jim Elliot, Nate Saint et al) it's easy to think that their story sets the bar too high for our mission endeavours. I happen to see it somewhat differently. Personally, the simplicity of their whole-hearted commitment serves as a constant challenge.
I'm getting towards the end of the book now. I know what's coming, yet I still feel a strange emotional tug as I realise that as they spoke of their willingness to die to bring the gospel to an unreached people, this would indeed be the price they would all pay. They were not adventurers setting off on some exciting road trip. They knew the risks and they prepared for them as best they could.
The section of the book I've just finished included some of Roger Youderian's journal. For me it was deeply moving to read of his personal struggle with the value of what he was doing. He had decided that it was time for him to leave Ecuador because, as he put it, of a Failure to measure up as a missionary and get next to the people.
There are days when I feel the same about ministry, days when I sense a failure to measure up as a minister. To me it's comforting to know I'm not alone. Minister, missionary or just a follower of Jesus Christ, I guess none of us are far from these feelings of uselessness in the kingdom of God.
Had Roger Youderian decided to go home, he most certainly would not have found himself in the jungle seeking to extend the hand of friendship to the Auca, he would not have died that day in January 1956. But even through the darkest night of his soul he sought only to love God and follow him wholeheartedly. This surely is one bar that can never be described as set too high.
I'm getting towards the end of the book now. I know what's coming, yet I still feel a strange emotional tug as I realise that as they spoke of their willingness to die to bring the gospel to an unreached people, this would indeed be the price they would all pay. They were not adventurers setting off on some exciting road trip. They knew the risks and they prepared for them as best they could.
The section of the book I've just finished included some of Roger Youderian's journal. For me it was deeply moving to read of his personal struggle with the value of what he was doing. He had decided that it was time for him to leave Ecuador because, as he put it, of a Failure to measure up as a missionary and get next to the people.
There are days when I feel the same about ministry, days when I sense a failure to measure up as a minister. To me it's comforting to know I'm not alone. Minister, missionary or just a follower of Jesus Christ, I guess none of us are far from these feelings of uselessness in the kingdom of God.
Had Roger Youderian decided to go home, he most certainly would not have found himself in the jungle seeking to extend the hand of friendship to the Auca, he would not have died that day in January 1956. But even through the darkest night of his soul he sought only to love God and follow him wholeheartedly. This surely is one bar that can never be described as set too high.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Writing the ongoing story
I wrote a number of entries on this blog about Jim Elliot as I read through his biography. Having finished The Shadow of the Almighty I turned my attention to Through the Gates of Splendour, the story of Jim Elliot and the other missionaries with whom he shared the determination to bring God's truth to the Auca Indians. The book follows the story from Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming's departure for Ecuador. The following extract talks about their arrival at the mission station of Shandia.
In Shandia, Jim and Pete became full-fledged missionaries for the first time. They had come to reach the Quichuas with the Word of God, a task for which they were prepared but could accomplish only if the gained the Quichuas' confidence and love. So by living among them, sharing in their lives and thus laying the foundations of mutual trust they hoped to open the minds and hearts of the Indians to the Christian message.
When I think about writing the narrative of the gospel in my time, I think this idea of living among the people, gaining their trust and love, building foundations of mutual trust and respect is so foundational. Most of the time I've been around church evangelism has been a bold declaration of truth, and I'm not decrying that at all. The problem was always that we were dashing out into the world, doing a bit of outreach, and then rushing back to the safety of the church.
To live among the people is far more difficult. Perhaps the reason overseas missionaries appear to have more success stories to tell us than we have to tell them is because of this simple truth-they live among the people.
I like servant evangelism because it gives me the chance to live among the people. An opportunity to serve them, to share with them, to be an example of God's love and generosity to them in the hope that this will eventually open a way for them to discover the full extent of God's love for them.
Perhaps we write the story best when we live the story among the people Jesus misses most.
In Shandia, Jim and Pete became full-fledged missionaries for the first time. They had come to reach the Quichuas with the Word of God, a task for which they were prepared but could accomplish only if the gained the Quichuas' confidence and love. So by living among them, sharing in their lives and thus laying the foundations of mutual trust they hoped to open the minds and hearts of the Indians to the Christian message.
When I think about writing the narrative of the gospel in my time, I think this idea of living among the people, gaining their trust and love, building foundations of mutual trust and respect is so foundational. Most of the time I've been around church evangelism has been a bold declaration of truth, and I'm not decrying that at all. The problem was always that we were dashing out into the world, doing a bit of outreach, and then rushing back to the safety of the church.
To live among the people is far more difficult. Perhaps the reason overseas missionaries appear to have more success stories to tell us than we have to tell them is because of this simple truth-they live among the people.
I like servant evangelism because it gives me the chance to live among the people. An opportunity to serve them, to share with them, to be an example of God's love and generosity to them in the hope that this will eventually open a way for them to discover the full extent of God's love for them.
Perhaps we write the story best when we live the story among the people Jesus misses most.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Red Herrings off the Starboard Bow
As I continue to muse on The Da Vinci Code I got to thinking about the nature of the gospel. It strikes me that the more we try to defend our faith position, the more we fuel the fire of a supposed cover-up. When you want a conspiracy, you'll find all the evidence you need. It's the "Of course they would say that" approach.
And when it comes to The Da Vinci Code it's not difficult to pick holes in Dan Brown's version of history. His assertions about the power of the church and pattern of decision making bears no real resemblance to the real nature of events. Others more able than I have documented and discussed these things.
So I got to thinking about what should be my response, and that's when it struck me. The gospel is a mystery to be revealed not a secret to be kept. As Christians we are not the possessors of secret knowledge, but the revealers of God's amazing truth.
If there has been a cover-up, if there has been a conspiracy, then it's surely been by the hands of those who don't want this amazing story of God's sacrificial love to get out into the public domain.
I'm going to give this some more thought. Perhaps there's a blockbuster novel in there somewhere involving a small, faithful band of Christ-followers who faithfully through the centuries have kept the truth alive through the worship and preaching and ministry of the church.
Perhaps it's a story that's already been written and is always being rewritten for each new age.
Perhaps you are even involved in writing it.
And when it comes to The Da Vinci Code it's not difficult to pick holes in Dan Brown's version of history. His assertions about the power of the church and pattern of decision making bears no real resemblance to the real nature of events. Others more able than I have documented and discussed these things.
So I got to thinking about what should be my response, and that's when it struck me. The gospel is a mystery to be revealed not a secret to be kept. As Christians we are not the possessors of secret knowledge, but the revealers of God's amazing truth.
If there has been a cover-up, if there has been a conspiracy, then it's surely been by the hands of those who don't want this amazing story of God's sacrificial love to get out into the public domain.
I'm going to give this some more thought. Perhaps there's a blockbuster novel in there somewhere involving a small, faithful band of Christ-followers who faithfully through the centuries have kept the truth alive through the worship and preaching and ministry of the church.
Perhaps it's a story that's already been written and is always being rewritten for each new age.
Perhaps you are even involved in writing it.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Do a Venice ditch
The issue for me is not about proving or disproving Dan Brown’s version of history. After all The Da Vinci Code is a novel, it’s not history, although worryingly even some Christians haven’t realised that. The issue for me is how to present the truth of the Gospel in an age that loves a conspiracy and a cover-up? Presidents lie, Prime Minister’s appear to bend the truth, the media manipulates and everyone is probably involved in a cover-up somewhere in the world.
As far as the conspiracy theorist are concerned we’re not told the truth about alien visitors, or Kennedy’s assassination or the moon landings. So why should we believe the story of Jesus as told in the bible and handed down through the church? That’s the crux of the challenge, not historicity of texts.
Perhaps the real challenge of the Da Vinci Code is for all Christians to get better informed about the historical origins of our faith, to grasp the narrative as much as the theology of our heritage.
And in case you hadn’t realised…
“Do a Venice ditch” is an anagram of The Da Vinci Code and interestingly Dan Brown is an anagram of own brand or down bran. This is obviously a conspiracy by the supermarkets to get us eating their own healthy breakfast cereals.
Ps Yes, I've read the book, and I'll probably see the film.
As far as the conspiracy theorist are concerned we’re not told the truth about alien visitors, or Kennedy’s assassination or the moon landings. So why should we believe the story of Jesus as told in the bible and handed down through the church? That’s the crux of the challenge, not historicity of texts.
Perhaps the real challenge of the Da Vinci Code is for all Christians to get better informed about the historical origins of our faith, to grasp the narrative as much as the theology of our heritage.
And in case you hadn’t realised…
“Do a Venice ditch” is an anagram of The Da Vinci Code and interestingly Dan Brown is an anagram of own brand or down bran. This is obviously a conspiracy by the supermarkets to get us eating their own healthy breakfast cereals.
Ps Yes, I've read the book, and I'll probably see the film.
Friday, May 05, 2006
The Miracle Question
The miracle question is something I came across in a book called Quick-to-listen Leaders by Dave Ping and Anne Clippard. Dave Ping co-wrote Irresistible Evangelism with Steve Sjogren and Doug Pollock.
The miracle question is this:
Think about your church, your vision, your mission, your purpose, and your people. Then ask yourself this question:
If a miracle happened tonight and you returned to the church tomorrow with everything and everyone operating just the way God intended, what would be happening?
Now someone is bound to say: "That'll never happen in my church!" But that is not the point of the question. In the book they explain that most of the time we focus on the problems that surround us rather than on the solutions that are available. The idea of the miracle question is to move the focus away from the problem towards the solution. When we become solution focused, we see the possibilities, the potential.
It's always been something on my heart that the church can sometimes be in danger of seeing the world outside as the problem rather than the opportunity. I'm no evangelist, but if I can shift my perspective towards thinking about how my community might look if Jesus was both its leader and forgiver, then maybe I'll start to think more about how I can be a part of what God may be doing amongst the people with whom I share this corner of England.
I need to give the miracle question some thought.
The miracle question is this:
Think about your church, your vision, your mission, your purpose, and your people. Then ask yourself this question:
If a miracle happened tonight and you returned to the church tomorrow with everything and everyone operating just the way God intended, what would be happening?
Now someone is bound to say: "That'll never happen in my church!" But that is not the point of the question. In the book they explain that most of the time we focus on the problems that surround us rather than on the solutions that are available. The idea of the miracle question is to move the focus away from the problem towards the solution. When we become solution focused, we see the possibilities, the potential.
It's always been something on my heart that the church can sometimes be in danger of seeing the world outside as the problem rather than the opportunity. I'm no evangelist, but if I can shift my perspective towards thinking about how my community might look if Jesus was both its leader and forgiver, then maybe I'll start to think more about how I can be a part of what God may be doing amongst the people with whom I share this corner of England.
I need to give the miracle question some thought.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Easter and Christmas
As I prepared for Easter Sunday I remembered something I heard Arsene Wenger (the manager of Arsenal footballl club) say in an interview. He said, "Christmas is significant, Easter is decisive. "He was, of course, talking about winning the Premiership, but what a good statement about our faith too.
Christmas is significant. At Christmas we celebrate an amazing event in history. God came into the world as a human baby. No sudden arrival fully grown-up, or heavenly appearance, just a natural birth into a normal world. So normal, hardly anyone noticed. The only visitors where a group of shepherds who'd been told what was going on, and much later a mysterious group of travellers from the east.
Yes, Christmas is significant. But Easter is decisive.
Easter changes everything. The birth of Jesus initiated a sequence of events that met their fulfilment in the cross of Jesus Christ and the empty tomb three days later. His death changed everything. As Max Lucado says, there are important events in history--—the turning of the first wheel etc. But when it comes to redefining history nothing compares to the cross.
Without the events of Easter there would be no Christian faith, no Christian hope no possibility of forgiveness. Bu tbecause of the cross God has once and for all decisively rewritten history.
Christmas is significant. At Christmas we celebrate an amazing event in history. God came into the world as a human baby. No sudden arrival fully grown-up, or heavenly appearance, just a natural birth into a normal world. So normal, hardly anyone noticed. The only visitors where a group of shepherds who'd been told what was going on, and much later a mysterious group of travellers from the east.
Yes, Christmas is significant. But Easter is decisive.
Easter changes everything. The birth of Jesus initiated a sequence of events that met their fulfilment in the cross of Jesus Christ and the empty tomb three days later. His death changed everything. As Max Lucado says, there are important events in history--—the turning of the first wheel etc. But when it comes to redefining history nothing compares to the cross.
Without the events of Easter there would be no Christian faith, no Christian hope no possibility of forgiveness. Bu tbecause of the cross God has once and for all decisively rewritten history.
Weird things happening with text
Just to say...
I've noticed that every so often I get weird and wonderful characters appearing in my posts. I guess it's got something to do with the text editor and the fact that I copy and paste from my word processor most of the time.
Also, from time to time, sentences seem to get rearranged—words moved or added or deleted. This means some things don't make sense.
I'm sorry if you're trying to read the posts and they don't make sense. I'll try to keep a check on things, but it seems to happen even after I've checked everything.
I've noticed that every so often I get weird and wonderful characters appearing in my posts. I guess it's got something to do with the text editor and the fact that I copy and paste from my word processor most of the time.
Also, from time to time, sentences seem to get rearranged—words moved or added or deleted. This means some things don't make sense.
I'm sorry if you're trying to read the posts and they don't make sense. I'll try to keep a check on things, but it seems to happen even after I've checked everything.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The legacy of Jim Elliot
Yesterday, on the train home from Paris (I thought I'd just drop that in!!) I finished reading The Shadow of the Almighty. So how do I feel now I've read the book?
The first thing to say is that in all honesty there were parts of the book that were quite tedious to read. I think that's because I mostly expected the book to be about Jim Elliot's life in Ecuador and all the excitement and adventure of his albeit short missionary life. In fact the book is far more about God's work of preparation of Jim (over two thirds of the book is pre-Ecuador) for that comparatively short-lived experience. Perhaps the biggest challenge of the book is the way it squares up to the reality of preparation. Too much of my time, perhaps too much of most Christian's time, is spent treading water, waiting for something to happen, instead of preparing for God's purposes to be worked out in our lives.
I remember thinking at University that when I got a job, I'd develop a routine and I'd have regular devotional time with God and regular study time too. When I was working, I thought this would become a reality when I got to Bible College. And when I was at college I thought that it would happen when I got into ministry. Then, I thought, the day will be mine to structure around my relationship with God and his ministry through me. (Now I'm in ministry and have been for 15 years. If I can't work it out now, it will have to wait for retirement!)
I was wrong of course. The slow day, the quiet day never came, and doesn't look like coming any time soon. Over all these years I've learnt one simple truth. Unless I choose to do it, it doesn't get done. Unless I timetable study and prayer, I don't study and I don't pray. Even when I do, it's never easy. I'm tired and concerned about many things. Focusing on God is never easy. If someone as committed as Jim Elliot found it tough, why do I think it should be any easier for me?
What I've learnt from Jim Elliot, is that I'm not alone. Perhaps more importantly, I've also been reminded that my feelings are not the measure by which I test these things either. In a paraphrase of Jim Elliot: It's just a matter of focused obedience. God's will in my life. It's an echo of the pattern of prayer Jesus taught his disciples:
"Your will be done..."
Jim Elliot was no missionary hero, he was just an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, but it didn't happen overnight.
The first thing to say is that in all honesty there were parts of the book that were quite tedious to read. I think that's because I mostly expected the book to be about Jim Elliot's life in Ecuador and all the excitement and adventure of his albeit short missionary life. In fact the book is far more about God's work of preparation of Jim (over two thirds of the book is pre-Ecuador) for that comparatively short-lived experience. Perhaps the biggest challenge of the book is the way it squares up to the reality of preparation. Too much of my time, perhaps too much of most Christian's time, is spent treading water, waiting for something to happen, instead of preparing for God's purposes to be worked out in our lives.
I remember thinking at University that when I got a job, I'd develop a routine and I'd have regular devotional time with God and regular study time too. When I was working, I thought this would become a reality when I got to Bible College. And when I was at college I thought that it would happen when I got into ministry. Then, I thought, the day will be mine to structure around my relationship with God and his ministry through me. (Now I'm in ministry and have been for 15 years. If I can't work it out now, it will have to wait for retirement!)
I was wrong of course. The slow day, the quiet day never came, and doesn't look like coming any time soon. Over all these years I've learnt one simple truth. Unless I choose to do it, it doesn't get done. Unless I timetable study and prayer, I don't study and I don't pray. Even when I do, it's never easy. I'm tired and concerned about many things. Focusing on God is never easy. If someone as committed as Jim Elliot found it tough, why do I think it should be any easier for me?
What I've learnt from Jim Elliot, is that I'm not alone. Perhaps more importantly, I've also been reminded that my feelings are not the measure by which I test these things either. In a paraphrase of Jim Elliot: It's just a matter of focused obedience. God's will in my life. It's an echo of the pattern of prayer Jesus taught his disciples:
"Your will be done..."
Jim Elliot was no missionary hero, he was just an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, but it didn't happen overnight.
Another Car Wash
Another Saturday, another free car wash. I wonder what impact this is having on the church community?
The whole impetus behind doing these free services is the principle of Servant Evangelism, a principle I read about in the Autumn of 2005 for those who don't know the journey so far. I hope that we will extend our acts of kindness beyond a simple programme of things we do, and towards a new culture for the way we do church, particularly evangelism. Let me explain.
I came to the conclusion some time ago that one of the reasons we don't engage in evangelism is because we've made it so very difficult for ordinary Christians to do. We've asked everyone to be an articulate and winsome evangelist. We've told them that the reason they can't do evangelism is that they don't know enough, that they are not brave enough or that they aren't committed enough.
We've also made the failure of our evangelism a virtue. When people reject our message, we say it's not our technique that's lacking, but rather it's their fault, or the devil's fault. Now there is probably some truth in this, but we can't absolve ourselves that much. We are, after all, part of the evangelism equation.
So, to get back to my question about the church community. My hope and prayer is that by introducing simple acts of kindness as a part of our evangelistic strategy (not our whole strategy), we'll begin to build evangelistic values into our culture as a community of faith. Not values of conversion, but values linked to sharing God's goodness as we experience it. Out of this, by the grace of God, people will begin to see what we've always proclaimed——God changes lives.
If servant evangelism is only a programme in our church, it only ever be a programme and eventually it will go the way of all programmes. It will either become institutionalised (we do it, but we can't quite remember why we do it?) or it will die through lack of interest and commitmentt. If it becomes part of our culturee, we will do it because it's the most natural thing for us to do.
The whole impetus behind doing these free services is the principle of Servant Evangelism, a principle I read about in the Autumn of 2005 for those who don't know the journey so far. I hope that we will extend our acts of kindness beyond a simple programme of things we do, and towards a new culture for the way we do church, particularly evangelism. Let me explain.
I came to the conclusion some time ago that one of the reasons we don't engage in evangelism is because we've made it so very difficult for ordinary Christians to do. We've asked everyone to be an articulate and winsome evangelist. We've told them that the reason they can't do evangelism is that they don't know enough, that they are not brave enough or that they aren't committed enough.
We've also made the failure of our evangelism a virtue. When people reject our message, we say it's not our technique that's lacking, but rather it's their fault, or the devil's fault. Now there is probably some truth in this, but we can't absolve ourselves that much. We are, after all, part of the evangelism equation.
So, to get back to my question about the church community. My hope and prayer is that by introducing simple acts of kindness as a part of our evangelistic strategy (not our whole strategy), we'll begin to build evangelistic values into our culture as a community of faith. Not values of conversion, but values linked to sharing God's goodness as we experience it. Out of this, by the grace of God, people will begin to see what we've always proclaimed——God changes lives.
If servant evangelism is only a programme in our church, it only ever be a programme and eventually it will go the way of all programmes. It will either become institutionalised (we do it, but we can't quite remember why we do it?) or it will die through lack of interest and commitmentt. If it becomes part of our culturee, we will do it because it's the most natural thing for us to do.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Recovering grace at the heart of the message
I'm not the first person to observe that people outside of the church have a far better idea about we stand against than what we stand for.
We've just spent a week at Spring Harvest, but I'm not suggesting that this is the problem! No, it's some of the things that get onto the evangelical agenda that worry me.
Take the whole science versus creation debate. In the blue corner we have the extreme creationists, and in the red corner we have those who see rejecting evolution as some form of intellectual suicide. As someone who's worked and studied in both the theological sphere and the secular realm of research and development, I've sorted lived in both worlds. I've had the opportunity to look at things from both points of view. And the truth is, there's never been a debate for me. If God wanted to create the world in an instant, I have no problem with that. I'm rather more interested in why he did. But that's not the only potential red herring in the pack.
I feel saddened that we're sometimes in danger of getting hot under the collar about things that, in the end, won't matter a great deal at all. They may appear to matter now, but they are just a distraction. I don't want to use my short life crossing "t's" and dotting "i's" of correct doctrine whilst missing all the important stuff of helping people connect with God.
I just can't get excited anymore about a good argument about who's right and who's wrong. I live in a community of around 1000 people I think. I'm not sure many of them are too concerned about these things. I'm guessing that most of them are more worried about why life doesn't appear to be working properly for them or for their families or for a friend at work who is a 'really nice person' but is dying from cancer, or facing another major life challenge.
So thanks Spring Harvest for helping me to remember that grace it at the heart of our message; that we're imperfect beings who are trying hard to live as God intended us to live; and that I'm not alone on this planet.
Favourite moment from Spring Harvest? Has to be when Adrian Plass shared his map reading story and when he pointed out that an anagram of fundamentalist was "snail fed mutant".
We've just spent a week at Spring Harvest, but I'm not suggesting that this is the problem! No, it's some of the things that get onto the evangelical agenda that worry me.
Take the whole science versus creation debate. In the blue corner we have the extreme creationists, and in the red corner we have those who see rejecting evolution as some form of intellectual suicide. As someone who's worked and studied in both the theological sphere and the secular realm of research and development, I've sorted lived in both worlds. I've had the opportunity to look at things from both points of view. And the truth is, there's never been a debate for me. If God wanted to create the world in an instant, I have no problem with that. I'm rather more interested in why he did. But that's not the only potential red herring in the pack.
I feel saddened that we're sometimes in danger of getting hot under the collar about things that, in the end, won't matter a great deal at all. They may appear to matter now, but they are just a distraction. I don't want to use my short life crossing "t's" and dotting "i's" of correct doctrine whilst missing all the important stuff of helping people connect with God.
I just can't get excited anymore about a good argument about who's right and who's wrong. I live in a community of around 1000 people I think. I'm not sure many of them are too concerned about these things. I'm guessing that most of them are more worried about why life doesn't appear to be working properly for them or for their families or for a friend at work who is a 'really nice person' but is dying from cancer, or facing another major life challenge.
So thanks Spring Harvest for helping me to remember that grace it at the heart of our message; that we're imperfect beings who are trying hard to live as God intended us to live; and that I'm not alone on this planet.
Favourite moment from Spring Harvest? Has to be when Adrian Plass shared his map reading story and when he pointed out that an anagram of fundamentalist was "snail fed mutant".
Being good news
As I dragged myself out of bed at 5:50am this morning and stood outside the church wondering why I get up so early on a Sunday morning and offer to cook breakfast for anyone else who's willing to get up that early, I realise that I'm a bearer of the best news the world can ever hear.
I just wish that I was better at it than I am.
Yesterday we did another free car wash. If you're new to the idea of doing something for free, then you'll have to read one or two other posts to get a flavour of the reasoning. Once again things were quite slow to start and we ended with a flurry. The last car we washed was so dirty, no one was sure what the real colour was until we'd washed it! It actually was that bad.
The thing is, that washing someone's car fro free is worth it just to see their reaction both when you tell them it's free and when they see the difference you've made.
I wonder what they talk about afterwards? Maybe they don't talk, or maybe they wonder why we were doing and then again maybe they are still trying to figure out what the catch actually is. And then there's the people that drive past and look. They don't come in, sometimes they smile, but they don't come in. Do you think they say the themselves, or their passengers, "There must be a catch, it can't possibly be free."
Strange isn't it that a simple four letter world like 'free' can be so misunderstood.
Here's another interesting thing, they were all differentt people compared to last time. No repeat customers. It's a passing trade, so I guess it's unlikely that the same people are going to be driving past at the same time. It many ways this is a good thing. I means we've touched more lives with the kindness of God. If you count our little outing with the stamps, we've connected over 300 people with God's kindnesss through these simple acts.
Now, I know that there is far more to evangelism than washing cars or giving away stamps. But I have a sneaky feeling we're changing some people's mind about what the church is all about. I hope we're beginning to break down some of the barriers that have built up over long periods of time between the church and the people on the outside.
Only time will tell, but in the meantime there a few more clean cars on the road and a few more drivers who can't get their head around why a dozen or so people would give up a Saturday morning to wash cars for no other reason than to show God's love.
I just wish that I was better at it than I am.
Yesterday we did another free car wash. If you're new to the idea of doing something for free, then you'll have to read one or two other posts to get a flavour of the reasoning. Once again things were quite slow to start and we ended with a flurry. The last car we washed was so dirty, no one was sure what the real colour was until we'd washed it! It actually was that bad.
The thing is, that washing someone's car fro free is worth it just to see their reaction both when you tell them it's free and when they see the difference you've made.
I wonder what they talk about afterwards? Maybe they don't talk, or maybe they wonder why we were doing and then again maybe they are still trying to figure out what the catch actually is. And then there's the people that drive past and look. They don't come in, sometimes they smile, but they don't come in. Do you think they say the themselves, or their passengers, "There must be a catch, it can't possibly be free."
Strange isn't it that a simple four letter world like 'free' can be so misunderstood.
Here's another interesting thing, they were all differentt people compared to last time. No repeat customers. It's a passing trade, so I guess it's unlikely that the same people are going to be driving past at the same time. It many ways this is a good thing. I means we've touched more lives with the kindness of God. If you count our little outing with the stamps, we've connected over 300 people with God's kindnesss through these simple acts.
Now, I know that there is far more to evangelism than washing cars or giving away stamps. But I have a sneaky feeling we're changing some people's mind about what the church is all about. I hope we're beginning to break down some of the barriers that have built up over long periods of time between the church and the people on the outside.
Only time will tell, but in the meantime there a few more clean cars on the road and a few more drivers who can't get their head around why a dozen or so people would give up a Saturday morning to wash cars for no other reason than to show God's love.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Asking for a miracle
This an extract from a letter Jim Elliot wrote to his sister from Ecuador.
We also wanted to find out if there was any truth to the possible friendly contact the southern Quechua might have with the Aucas, the one really savage tribe down here. There isn’t. They have just killed five in the area. We were looking for Auca homes as well, but found nothing… More and more that tribe is brought before as a possible field of labour for my life. They are utterly untouched. And so far they are inaccessible. It would take a miracle to open the way to them, and we are praying for that miracle.
Shadow of the Almighty p221-222
Is it too simplistic to say that God answers prayers, but not always in the way we expect him to answer? For Jim Elliot the miracle came after his death. The door that opened, and that eventually led to members of the Waorani tribe (the Aucas) finding faith, was truly a miraculous answer to this prayer, but could anyone have predicted it to be so? Jim Elliot certainly knew the risks that faced them as they sought to reach this people, but he was willing to face that risk, to do all that he could do in offering himself for God’s purposes.
We can’t speculate how things might have been had Jim Elliot and the others not died on that riverbank. I’m sure that God could have and probably would have reached into that group of people another way, but I wonder. It’s one of those interesting questions.
Sidestep for a moment into science or history. We assume that if Newton had not “discovered” gravity then someone else would have done so. But is that a reasonable assumption? There is at least one school of thought that suggests that this might not be so.
Step back into the realm of following God. What is God waiting to do if you only you will walk in obedience to his call? Jim Elliot spoke about the Auca Indians as a possible field of labour for my life. I guess God achieved exactly what he wanted to achieve through Jim’s life.
The question is—is he being allowed to achieve what he wants to achieve through your life because you are submitting it willing to his purposes?
We also wanted to find out if there was any truth to the possible friendly contact the southern Quechua might have with the Aucas, the one really savage tribe down here. There isn’t. They have just killed five in the area. We were looking for Auca homes as well, but found nothing… More and more that tribe is brought before as a possible field of labour for my life. They are utterly untouched. And so far they are inaccessible. It would take a miracle to open the way to them, and we are praying for that miracle.
Shadow of the Almighty p221-222
Is it too simplistic to say that God answers prayers, but not always in the way we expect him to answer? For Jim Elliot the miracle came after his death. The door that opened, and that eventually led to members of the Waorani tribe (the Aucas) finding faith, was truly a miraculous answer to this prayer, but could anyone have predicted it to be so? Jim Elliot certainly knew the risks that faced them as they sought to reach this people, but he was willing to face that risk, to do all that he could do in offering himself for God’s purposes.
We can’t speculate how things might have been had Jim Elliot and the others not died on that riverbank. I’m sure that God could have and probably would have reached into that group of people another way, but I wonder. It’s one of those interesting questions.
Sidestep for a moment into science or history. We assume that if Newton had not “discovered” gravity then someone else would have done so. But is that a reasonable assumption? There is at least one school of thought that suggests that this might not be so.
Step back into the realm of following God. What is God waiting to do if you only you will walk in obedience to his call? Jim Elliot spoke about the Auca Indians as a possible field of labour for my life. I guess God achieved exactly what he wanted to achieve through Jim’s life.
The question is—is he being allowed to achieve what he wants to achieve through your life because you are submitting it willing to his purposes?
Friday, April 07, 2006
Back with Jim
I'm still working my way through Shadow of the Almighty. I guess I thought it would be the story of Ecuador and Ecuador alone. In fact it's 200 pages before Jim Elliot sets sail with Pete Fleming in February 1952. This in itself is a lesson about how God takes his time preparing us for service. I remember the first time someone drew my attention to how long God takes with some lives. Moses, for example was 80 when he began to lead the people, Abraham was in his seventies when he set out for Ur, Joseph spent 13 years (I think) in prison and Daniel spent many years in Babylon.
This aside, here's the reason for this entry:
From a letter written to Pete Fleming about the possibility of his joining Jim to go to Ecuador.
To me, Ecuador is simply an avenue for obedience to the simple word of Christ. There is room for me there, and I am free to go. This of course is true of a great many other places, but having said there is a need, and sensed my freedom, through several years of waiting in prayer for leading on this very point of 'where?', I now feel peace in saying, 'I go, sir, by grace.' (Shadow p185)
I'm challenged by the simplicity of obedience. It's clear from the book that Jim Elliot's desire was to be obedient in every area of his life. He saw a bigger picture than a single country. While the place was important, the opportunity to obey was paramount. He'd spent many years asking God for a destination. He wanted to be sure that he was serving in the "right place".
I don't want to read too much into his comments, but to be able to describe Ecuador as a simple avenue of obedience after all he went through getting to this point sets me thinking about my own call.
Too many Christians tread water waiting for some revelation about what to do next. Perhaps what Jim Elliot is saying is to take the opportunity before you to serve God wholeheartedly. Personally my call is to serve God in ministry. My current setting is simply the avenue to do that, it doesn't define me, God does that as he shapes and reshapes my life.
I love my current setting. And I have no doubts at all that this is where God has placed me and where he wants me to be. But this is not the whole picture, the bigger picture is serving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. It's to "put first the kingdom of God". This must be my perspective.
This aside, here's the reason for this entry:
From a letter written to Pete Fleming about the possibility of his joining Jim to go to Ecuador.
To me, Ecuador is simply an avenue for obedience to the simple word of Christ. There is room for me there, and I am free to go. This of course is true of a great many other places, but having said there is a need, and sensed my freedom, through several years of waiting in prayer for leading on this very point of 'where?', I now feel peace in saying, 'I go, sir, by grace.' (Shadow p185)
I'm challenged by the simplicity of obedience. It's clear from the book that Jim Elliot's desire was to be obedient in every area of his life. He saw a bigger picture than a single country. While the place was important, the opportunity to obey was paramount. He'd spent many years asking God for a destination. He wanted to be sure that he was serving in the "right place".
I don't want to read too much into his comments, but to be able to describe Ecuador as a simple avenue of obedience after all he went through getting to this point sets me thinking about my own call.
Too many Christians tread water waiting for some revelation about what to do next. Perhaps what Jim Elliot is saying is to take the opportunity before you to serve God wholeheartedly. Personally my call is to serve God in ministry. My current setting is simply the avenue to do that, it doesn't define me, God does that as he shapes and reshapes my life.
I love my current setting. And I have no doubts at all that this is where God has placed me and where he wants me to be. But this is not the whole picture, the bigger picture is serving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. It's to "put first the kingdom of God". This must be my perspective.
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