One of my favorite pastimes has become thinking, talking, and living triperspectivally. Now, I don't like the word because it makes me appear smarter than I am so I will stop using it after I define it. Triperspectival love is best defined by Jesus himself when he said the two great commandments were to love God and love others. When he mentioned loving others, he had two camps in mind, the people of God and those who were not counted in that number as the people of God. So in essence, if we were going to look at love triperspectivally, we would say that we should love God, love his people, and love those who don't follow God.
Many followers of God have jumped on Jesus' bandwagon and simply redefined these terms of love. I am glad they have done this because love sometimes has become cliche for people. For example, many times older, middle-class, white, Christians proclaim we should love the poor, but are vehemently against going to Covington, KY or downtown Cincinnati, OH because of the crime, theft, murder, and drugs. I see this as a complete contradiction of terms. I would say this would be the exact opposite of love. At best, it's definitely the opposite of what Jesus did when he was on Earth.
Well, anyways. I simply wanted to mention the terminology floating around out there that many disciples of Jesus have come up with. I like their terms, some better than others. My encouragement would be to adopt one of these groupings, or mix and match them, and use them often. I have done this and it's given me fresh perspective on what "love" is. So here they are [in no particular order]:
Jesus
Love God, Love Church, Love World
Soma Communities, Vanderstelt
Disciple, Family, Missionaries
Total Church, Chester
Gospel, Community, Mission
Matt Chandler
Pietism, Church?, Culture
Organic Church, Cole
Divine Truth, Interpersonal Relationships, Apostolic Mission
Robert Banks
Worship, Edification, Mission
Mark Moore
Believe, Belong, Bless
Peter LaRuffa
Celebrate, Connect, Contribute
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Fatherhood: Teaching Children
When the ancient Israelites were being delivered out the bondage and slavery of Egypt right before the last plague of extermination of all the Egpytian firstborn male sons and animals, one of the commands God gave to Moses to give to the people was the blood of a lamb would be the covering over the firstborn of Israel as long as they had blood smeared over their door and everyone was in the house. The command continued in that this act in history would set a precedent for all of future Israelites in this fashion: they must teach their children and grandchildren what God had done for them.
There are many failures in fathers and mothers today, but one that is striking is a lack of communication about how they as the parent had arrived in the particular place they find themselves presently. Even growing up as a child, I knew very little about my parents or my friend's parent's history.
This spurs me on to speak much about what God has done and is doing in my life to others, and especially to my son. I do not have an inflated ego, but a desire that my life be an open book and that my son might learn from my life, both victories and failures. I don't want to live in the dark before him. I don't want him to just be told what to do and not to do, but to reminisce in a faithful God. Many times I have heard older people say, "God is faithful." But there is not a story behind it. Or if there is a story behind it, it was something of the past and there's no present testimony being lived out to reveal God is still faithful. Don't get me wrong, God is still faithful, but oftentimes there is a departure from walking close to God as the years go on and there's not any new stories of God's faithfulness to be told.
My prayer is that my life would be completely open with my son. I desire that I tell of all that God has done and that there would also be a present to my relationship with God to tell. I want my son to know that God was faithful and that God is faithful. I want my relationship with my Father to be participated in by my son. Jesus prayed that his people might be one. I pray that I might be one with my son; that we would seek and love God together and that we might see his faithfulness together.
One other aspect that I believe is of utmost importance here is that Israel was to teach one anothers children. This is hardly non-existent today among God's people because of the fallacy that parents are to train their children alone. We don't even want other people disciplining our children. But in Israel, if a young person sinned greatly against the Lord, the person who saw it was to bring the sin to light to the people and then cast the first stone to kill the young person. So if my son sinned greatly, if another child of God saw it, he was to bring it to light before the people of God and then cast the first stone to kill my son. I did not have a say so in the matter because Father God wanted his people to be holy. Now I am not advocating killing our children, but that we would teach our children to fear the Lord. This typology of child rearing in the Old Testament reveals something very significant about teaching children: that God sees beyond the immediate relatives and moves directly past blood and sees people as "related" who love and fear God. So God's ultimate "family" is his people and he longs for his people to treat the issue the same. This places high responsibility upon the people in my church to see my son Ethan as their responsibility and me to see the other children as my responsibility.
Jesus reaffirms this when he says, "Who are my mother and sons but he who keeps the word of God?" Paul continues this train of thought when he said the older men are to train the younger and the older women the younger women.
We are to teach our children, the children of God, the ways of the Lord and to fear his name. We probably ought to remove the responsibility from a few Sunday school teachers and call all the church to step up to their God-given role.
There are many failures in fathers and mothers today, but one that is striking is a lack of communication about how they as the parent had arrived in the particular place they find themselves presently. Even growing up as a child, I knew very little about my parents or my friend's parent's history.
This spurs me on to speak much about what God has done and is doing in my life to others, and especially to my son. I do not have an inflated ego, but a desire that my life be an open book and that my son might learn from my life, both victories and failures. I don't want to live in the dark before him. I don't want him to just be told what to do and not to do, but to reminisce in a faithful God. Many times I have heard older people say, "God is faithful." But there is not a story behind it. Or if there is a story behind it, it was something of the past and there's no present testimony being lived out to reveal God is still faithful. Don't get me wrong, God is still faithful, but oftentimes there is a departure from walking close to God as the years go on and there's not any new stories of God's faithfulness to be told.
My prayer is that my life would be completely open with my son. I desire that I tell of all that God has done and that there would also be a present to my relationship with God to tell. I want my son to know that God was faithful and that God is faithful. I want my relationship with my Father to be participated in by my son. Jesus prayed that his people might be one. I pray that I might be one with my son; that we would seek and love God together and that we might see his faithfulness together.
One other aspect that I believe is of utmost importance here is that Israel was to teach one anothers children. This is hardly non-existent today among God's people because of the fallacy that parents are to train their children alone. We don't even want other people disciplining our children. But in Israel, if a young person sinned greatly against the Lord, the person who saw it was to bring the sin to light to the people and then cast the first stone to kill the young person. So if my son sinned greatly, if another child of God saw it, he was to bring it to light before the people of God and then cast the first stone to kill my son. I did not have a say so in the matter because Father God wanted his people to be holy. Now I am not advocating killing our children, but that we would teach our children to fear the Lord. This typology of child rearing in the Old Testament reveals something very significant about teaching children: that God sees beyond the immediate relatives and moves directly past blood and sees people as "related" who love and fear God. So God's ultimate "family" is his people and he longs for his people to treat the issue the same. This places high responsibility upon the people in my church to see my son Ethan as their responsibility and me to see the other children as my responsibility.
Jesus reaffirms this when he says, "Who are my mother and sons but he who keeps the word of God?" Paul continues this train of thought when he said the older men are to train the younger and the older women the younger women.
We are to teach our children, the children of God, the ways of the Lord and to fear his name. We probably ought to remove the responsibility from a few Sunday school teachers and call all the church to step up to their God-given role.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Great Facade Of Ministry
Today, ministry has been cloaked in the coverings of positions, degrees, salaries, and are usually seen as "the professionals." I propose that ministry is something entirely different from what we have made it today. There need be no cloak covering up the truth of what ministry truly is. But let me first diffuse the confusion, then define ministry.
Now because ministry has become let's say, a position, it's something that we feel has to be protected. What do I mean? It needs to be protected from those who might seek to take it. Or possibly even from those who might seek to destroy the reputation of the one in the high position.
Or let's look at this from another angle, if ministry is for those who reach "the professional" level [the best of the best so to speak], then we also have to maintain a certain degree of "professionalism" in order to not lose our standing in the eyes of others.
Now from Jesus' perspective, the God who made everything, everything was ministry. He did all for the glory of his father and he always did His will. So once again, all his life was ministry unto his father. He slept to the glory of God, ate to the glory of God, spoke to the glory of God, taught, healed, laughed, cried, and did all things for his father's glory. This was his ministry. This "ministry" was God-given and so only God could end it. No man would or even could take this away from Jesus. He did not have to prove his innocence in order to keep it. In fact, because he did not prove his innocence, his life was ended.
In addition, Jesus was not "a" or "the" "professional" minister. He did not have a salary from the ministry. He did not have a high position that he was trying to protect. He was not trying to maintain the status of professional. He was not afraid of what others might take from him, albeit possessions or positions. He was not afraid of those who sought to destroy his reputation. This is notable because I think it makes us put ministry in its true light. It removes the facade and calls us to call a spade a spade.
So what is ministry? If Jesus had it and no one could take it away, what is it?
Ministry is your life. Our lives are living sacrifices. If ministry is my life, what implications does this have for me? This means that I can do anything I want to. Answering this question could not be contained in one book. It would take a lifetime to answer. Ministry is giving my will and life over to the will of God to do all he pleases. It means to enjoy what he's given and to use it for his purposes. Steve Timmis said [ministry is], "Ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality."
I have a tendency to use extreme examples to make points, but may it suffice here. Ministry may mean hanging out in the hood with the gangstas. Ministry may mean going to the strip bar to call women to repentance [I recommend this ministry for women only]. Ministry may mean standing before the public to make a defense of the Gospel even though it may cost you everything like it did Paul; in fact, we might say Paul "lost" his ministry because he went to Jerusalem, but nothing could be further from the truth. Ministry may mean a spouse divorcing you because of your stance to follow Christ. Ministry may mean hanging out in the crack houses. For the pacifists, ministry may be in the armed forces. For the Pharisees, ministry may be in the gay bars. For the old people, ministry may be in the malls. For the young people, ministry may be in the nursing homes. Let's not limit God for the fear of man. Let's not put God in a box because we fear we might lose our position, title, salary, or professional title. God is so much more worth it. And ministry is everywhere and anytime and in all ways for the one who's hearts been given to God.
The great facade is that it is something other than your life lived out for the glory of God. Don't buy that because its cheap. You serve God right where you are no matter what. Don't fear man. To the Pharisees of our day, Jesus and Paul made some pretty dumb mistakes that cost them their ministry because they could not prove their innocence. But to the ones who's lives are ministry, all was for the glory of God and no one could take that from them.
Now because ministry has become let's say, a position, it's something that we feel has to be protected. What do I mean? It needs to be protected from those who might seek to take it. Or possibly even from those who might seek to destroy the reputation of the one in the high position.
Or let's look at this from another angle, if ministry is for those who reach "the professional" level [the best of the best so to speak], then we also have to maintain a certain degree of "professionalism" in order to not lose our standing in the eyes of others.
Now from Jesus' perspective, the God who made everything, everything was ministry. He did all for the glory of his father and he always did His will. So once again, all his life was ministry unto his father. He slept to the glory of God, ate to the glory of God, spoke to the glory of God, taught, healed, laughed, cried, and did all things for his father's glory. This was his ministry. This "ministry" was God-given and so only God could end it. No man would or even could take this away from Jesus. He did not have to prove his innocence in order to keep it. In fact, because he did not prove his innocence, his life was ended.
In addition, Jesus was not "a" or "the" "professional" minister. He did not have a salary from the ministry. He did not have a high position that he was trying to protect. He was not trying to maintain the status of professional. He was not afraid of what others might take from him, albeit possessions or positions. He was not afraid of those who sought to destroy his reputation. This is notable because I think it makes us put ministry in its true light. It removes the facade and calls us to call a spade a spade.
So what is ministry? If Jesus had it and no one could take it away, what is it?
Ministry is your life. Our lives are living sacrifices. If ministry is my life, what implications does this have for me? This means that I can do anything I want to. Answering this question could not be contained in one book. It would take a lifetime to answer. Ministry is giving my will and life over to the will of God to do all he pleases. It means to enjoy what he's given and to use it for his purposes. Steve Timmis said [ministry is], "Ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality."
I have a tendency to use extreme examples to make points, but may it suffice here. Ministry may mean hanging out in the hood with the gangstas. Ministry may mean going to the strip bar to call women to repentance [I recommend this ministry for women only]. Ministry may mean standing before the public to make a defense of the Gospel even though it may cost you everything like it did Paul; in fact, we might say Paul "lost" his ministry because he went to Jerusalem, but nothing could be further from the truth. Ministry may mean a spouse divorcing you because of your stance to follow Christ. Ministry may mean hanging out in the crack houses. For the pacifists, ministry may be in the armed forces. For the Pharisees, ministry may be in the gay bars. For the old people, ministry may be in the malls. For the young people, ministry may be in the nursing homes. Let's not limit God for the fear of man. Let's not put God in a box because we fear we might lose our position, title, salary, or professional title. God is so much more worth it. And ministry is everywhere and anytime and in all ways for the one who's hearts been given to God.
The great facade is that it is something other than your life lived out for the glory of God. Don't buy that because its cheap. You serve God right where you are no matter what. Don't fear man. To the Pharisees of our day, Jesus and Paul made some pretty dumb mistakes that cost them their ministry because they could not prove their innocence. But to the ones who's lives are ministry, all was for the glory of God and no one could take that from them.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Ideals
Most of us want to be in a different place in life than we find ourselves. "Ideally," we would rather do such and such or be somewhere else or even change our lives in some significant fashion.
But this does not happen, despite all our vain words, because we do not start making steps in the right direction. We want immediate change and instant satisfaction. Smokers won't stop smoking because they won't make small steps in the right direction. It's either "all or none." Resolutions are fading fast in the world around us. Just a week ago millions were made, only to fall by the wayside because we can't handle the process of change. It does not happen quick enough so we throw in the towel.
We settle for so much less than God has for us when we won't make a small step in the direction. God is patient, why can't we be? He allows us time to change, why won't we? As I talked with a friend of mine recently, he was discouraged over the lack of communal and missional churches in the Tri-state. To him, the struggle rested in the fact that he knew he needed to be part of a local church, but knew there were not any communal and missional churches near him. My counsel was, "Start making steps in the right direction even though they are not going to thrust you into the exact place you want to be today. You will get there." He could have settled for such less by not being part of a local body of believers just because it was not the ideal place he'd like to be. Five years from now, he still will not be where he would ideally like to be. But that's because God keeps stretching our hearts, giving us more to long for. This life is filled with unmet desires. "All creation is groaning, waiting for the revealing of God's children because God has subjected this world to futility."
My family is not where we want to be. I feel like a failure as a father. My heart is prone toward laziness with my son. But I make steps in the right direction; and others have stepped into my life to push me on in the right direction.
Steps cannot be made without a standard. If there is not standard of where we are to go, how we are to get there, i.e. what God desires of us, then we are lost and must rely upon ourselves for the source of all wisdom and direction. Once again, settling for so much less than God in his wisdom has planned.
Ideally, I want to be perfect, but it will not happen. Should this deter me from such a high goal? No, because God has put eternity into the hearts of men and we long for something greater than ourselves. We long to live in a perfect world and that is what we shall get for the ones who love Jesus. Ideally, we are not where we want to be, but we take one step at a time. One day, God shall bring a close to this age and the ideals of our hearts and so much more shall at once and at last be fulfilled.
But this does not happen, despite all our vain words, because we do not start making steps in the right direction. We want immediate change and instant satisfaction. Smokers won't stop smoking because they won't make small steps in the right direction. It's either "all or none." Resolutions are fading fast in the world around us. Just a week ago millions were made, only to fall by the wayside because we can't handle the process of change. It does not happen quick enough so we throw in the towel.
We settle for so much less than God has for us when we won't make a small step in the direction. God is patient, why can't we be? He allows us time to change, why won't we? As I talked with a friend of mine recently, he was discouraged over the lack of communal and missional churches in the Tri-state. To him, the struggle rested in the fact that he knew he needed to be part of a local church, but knew there were not any communal and missional churches near him. My counsel was, "Start making steps in the right direction even though they are not going to thrust you into the exact place you want to be today. You will get there." He could have settled for such less by not being part of a local body of believers just because it was not the ideal place he'd like to be. Five years from now, he still will not be where he would ideally like to be. But that's because God keeps stretching our hearts, giving us more to long for. This life is filled with unmet desires. "All creation is groaning, waiting for the revealing of God's children because God has subjected this world to futility."
My family is not where we want to be. I feel like a failure as a father. My heart is prone toward laziness with my son. But I make steps in the right direction; and others have stepped into my life to push me on in the right direction.
Steps cannot be made without a standard. If there is not standard of where we are to go, how we are to get there, i.e. what God desires of us, then we are lost and must rely upon ourselves for the source of all wisdom and direction. Once again, settling for so much less than God in his wisdom has planned.
Ideally, I want to be perfect, but it will not happen. Should this deter me from such a high goal? No, because God has put eternity into the hearts of men and we long for something greater than ourselves. We long to live in a perfect world and that is what we shall get for the ones who love Jesus. Ideally, we are not where we want to be, but we take one step at a time. One day, God shall bring a close to this age and the ideals of our hearts and so much more shall at once and at last be fulfilled.
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