just wanted to share two great examples of people living out the faith God has called us to. The first is a pastor named Genesis from Cameroon who truly lives out the Gospel in every area of his life - beyond the four walls of the church building, he shares the love of Christ through priding clean water for his town, job opportunities, and computer training, among other things. check out his website: http://cfs.hintonline.org/
the second is International Justice Mission, an organization that believes God's heart for justice is a central part of the Gispel and live out this belief by working to redeem this world. it's amazing what the love of Christ can do:
http://www.ijminstitute.org/?utm_source=IJM&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HomeAds
read these and be encouraged. God is MIGHTY to save and wants to use us to help show that!
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save." - Zephaniah 3:17
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Interesting thoughts on the abortion issue....a more creative solution....
Jim Wallis Supports Common Ground Measures on Abortion Debate
WASHINGTON, DC – July 23, 2009 — Rev. Jim Wallis, progressive evangelical leader, author of The Great Awakening and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States, issued the following statement outlining his support for Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act.” Wallis also commented on the issue of federal funding of abortion within the current proposed healthcare reform.
Rev. Jim Wallis Statement:
In a nation as prosperous as ours, all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Reasonable people may differ on how best to accomplish this goal, and I welcome a rigorous policy debate about it, but it should be a moral priority for all of us. We must work together to find common ground that will provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.
At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing. For too long, abortion has been a contentious and ultimately divisive debate between simplified and polarizing positions of “life” and “choice.” A far better approach is to advance a common ground dialogue with both sides that results in real solutions.
Federal funding of abortions is prohibited by current law, and that prohibition should be maintained. Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion. These provisions would maintain the current status quo, and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together.
On the issue of abortion itself, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” addresses both how best to prevent unwanted pregnancies and support pregnant women who desire to carry their baby to term. It also makes adoption easier. The bill demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles.. It could lead to genuine progress in reducing the number of abortions and improving the quality of life for women and children --all by addressing the real issues that often lead to abortion. Abortion is legal in the United States, and although Americans are divided on its moral status, most feel the tragedy of abortion and believe that we currently have far too many for a healthy society.
Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro are wise public servants who are trying to unite us around the new common ground of abortion reduction, one that people on both sides of the debate can agree to. Helping young people to delay sexual activity, preventing the pregnancies that people don't want, economically supporting low-income women to give them a real choice about having a child, and encouraging adoption will all work to reduce abortion in America; and who could be against any of that?
We have a great opportunity to advance our shared values and common goals at a crucial moment in our country’s history. Sojourners and I strongly support this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud the creative solutions it offers for real action.
Jim Wallis Supports Common Ground Measures on Abortion Debate
WASHINGTON, DC – July 23, 2009 — Rev. Jim Wallis, progressive evangelical leader, author of The Great Awakening and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States, issued the following statement outlining his support for Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act.” Wallis also commented on the issue of federal funding of abortion within the current proposed healthcare reform.
Rev. Jim Wallis Statement:
In a nation as prosperous as ours, all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Reasonable people may differ on how best to accomplish this goal, and I welcome a rigorous policy debate about it, but it should be a moral priority for all of us. We must work together to find common ground that will provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.
At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing. For too long, abortion has been a contentious and ultimately divisive debate between simplified and polarizing positions of “life” and “choice.” A far better approach is to advance a common ground dialogue with both sides that results in real solutions.
Federal funding of abortions is prohibited by current law, and that prohibition should be maintained. Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion. These provisions would maintain the current status quo, and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together.
On the issue of abortion itself, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” addresses both how best to prevent unwanted pregnancies and support pregnant women who desire to carry their baby to term. It also makes adoption easier. The bill demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles.. It could lead to genuine progress in reducing the number of abortions and improving the quality of life for women and children --all by addressing the real issues that often lead to abortion. Abortion is legal in the United States, and although Americans are divided on its moral status, most feel the tragedy of abortion and believe that we currently have far too many for a healthy society.
Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro are wise public servants who are trying to unite us around the new common ground of abortion reduction, one that people on both sides of the debate can agree to. Helping young people to delay sexual activity, preventing the pregnancies that people don't want, economically supporting low-income women to give them a real choice about having a child, and encouraging adoption will all work to reduce abortion in America; and who could be against any of that?
We have a great opportunity to advance our shared values and common goals at a crucial moment in our country’s history. Sojourners and I strongly support this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud the creative solutions it offers for real action.
The purpose of the Church...
"The purpose of the church is not to be socially agreeable; it is to speak robustly to the state on behalf of those who cannot speak effectively for themselves."- Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister, http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/15/a-prime-ministers-conscience-is-pricked/
The Australian Prime Minister states so clearly what I feel many of us today simply just don’t get. As the Church, Christ commands us to "love our neighbors as ourselves." That is His greatest commandment, after loving Him first. It's funny that He considers loving others so connected with loving Him that He says the two in the same breath, yet the Church today seems bent on focusing so much on the first command but not the second. Why is the Church today so concerned with our personal salvation, personal well-being, personal image, when what Christ actually commands throughout Scripture is to be concerned with OTHERS? His Gospel is one of such selfless, saving love that, when truly known, can not help but pour out of us to others. Jesus actually goes so far as to say that if our faith isn’t outward focused, then we don't truly know His Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46). If we know Him, we will plead the cause of the afflicted and needy (Jeremiah 22:15-16). We will feed His sheep (John 21:15-16). We will help our brothers and sisters in need (1 John 3:16-18). We will spread His Gospel to all people (Matthew 28:18). His love brings us salvation and, living in that love, we will bring salvation as well.
His love transforms us to be more like Him, so that we begin to truly be able to love God and then others more than ourselves. As we die to ourselves more and more everyday and grow in Christ, we begin to see more of His vision of selfless faith. As our minds are renewed in His Spirit, the connection between His love for us and our love for others strengthens. When we become more like Him, His love in us increases to naturally love others like He loves them. We realize that our faith is anything but just about us. We are called to be transformed into Christ - which means we are called to hurt like He hurts, to feel compassion like He feels compassion, and to actively love others out of God’s great love in us (Romans 12:2).
Like Christ, we are called to be a voice where no one else will. In Christ, we see how to be this voice: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). We see how we are to "learn to do right" by seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and pleading the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
As theologian Carl F.H. Henry said, "If the church preaches only divine forgiveness and does not affirm justice, she implies that God treats immorality and sin lightly. If the church proclaims only justice, we shall all die in unforgiving sin and without the Spirit's empowerment for righteousness. We should be equally troubled that we lag in championing justice and in fulfilling our evangelistic mandate."
Being a follower of Christ means loving Him AND loving others. He has saved us by His amazing grace, and the selfless love that led Him to give up His life for us now fills us and enables us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. When asked why we should care about what the government does, what happens to people in other countries, about the homeless man on the street, etc, we should without hesitation respond "Because God loves me." If we believe in the love of God, then that love should lead us to love others. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Through His Spirit in us, we can love our brothers - it is not the whole Gospel of Christ if we don’t. (1 John 3:17) Christ has given us salvation, and He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we may bring this salvation - His love and justice - to others. THIS is the Gospel. He calls us to be a part of His redemptive work. So let’s BE the Body of Christ and live in this selfless love.
The Australian Prime Minister states so clearly what I feel many of us today simply just don’t get. As the Church, Christ commands us to "love our neighbors as ourselves." That is His greatest commandment, after loving Him first. It's funny that He considers loving others so connected with loving Him that He says the two in the same breath, yet the Church today seems bent on focusing so much on the first command but not the second. Why is the Church today so concerned with our personal salvation, personal well-being, personal image, when what Christ actually commands throughout Scripture is to be concerned with OTHERS? His Gospel is one of such selfless, saving love that, when truly known, can not help but pour out of us to others. Jesus actually goes so far as to say that if our faith isn’t outward focused, then we don't truly know His Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46). If we know Him, we will plead the cause of the afflicted and needy (Jeremiah 22:15-16). We will feed His sheep (John 21:15-16). We will help our brothers and sisters in need (1 John 3:16-18). We will spread His Gospel to all people (Matthew 28:18). His love brings us salvation and, living in that love, we will bring salvation as well.
His love transforms us to be more like Him, so that we begin to truly be able to love God and then others more than ourselves. As we die to ourselves more and more everyday and grow in Christ, we begin to see more of His vision of selfless faith. As our minds are renewed in His Spirit, the connection between His love for us and our love for others strengthens. When we become more like Him, His love in us increases to naturally love others like He loves them. We realize that our faith is anything but just about us. We are called to be transformed into Christ - which means we are called to hurt like He hurts, to feel compassion like He feels compassion, and to actively love others out of God’s great love in us (Romans 12:2).
Like Christ, we are called to be a voice where no one else will. In Christ, we see how to be this voice: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). We see how we are to "learn to do right" by seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and pleading the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
As theologian Carl F.H. Henry said, "If the church preaches only divine forgiveness and does not affirm justice, she implies that God treats immorality and sin lightly. If the church proclaims only justice, we shall all die in unforgiving sin and without the Spirit's empowerment for righteousness. We should be equally troubled that we lag in championing justice and in fulfilling our evangelistic mandate."
Being a follower of Christ means loving Him AND loving others. He has saved us by His amazing grace, and the selfless love that led Him to give up His life for us now fills us and enables us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. When asked why we should care about what the government does, what happens to people in other countries, about the homeless man on the street, etc, we should without hesitation respond "Because God loves me." If we believe in the love of God, then that love should lead us to love others. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Through His Spirit in us, we can love our brothers - it is not the whole Gospel of Christ if we don’t. (1 John 3:17) Christ has given us salvation, and He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we may bring this salvation - His love and justice - to others. THIS is the Gospel. He calls us to be a part of His redemptive work. So let’s BE the Body of Christ and live in this selfless love.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day
So check this out: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3166. Tomorrow is election day and we have such an opportunity to bring CHANGE to the US and to the world. If you have some time before you vote, please read this article and really pray about what our voting priorities should be, and how to vote in a way that reflects those priorities and brings about the change we desperately need.
Also, this is a really short but really good article that speaks to the current economic crisis and how we, as Christians, can view this whole situation. Or how we SHOULD view this whole situation: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2705.
Throughout the Bible we see those with much turning away from God and the life He intended them to live. And we see God humbling His people, even using economic and social crises to humble them and turn them back to Him. Maybe God is going to use this whole economic crisis to wake up the American Church. Maybe it will remind us where our confidence should lie, and maybe it will remind us of the life God desires us to live and the way He desires us to use the blessings He has given us. Maybe this whole crisis will help change America and the Church for the better. And at this time, with the elections coming up and the chance to actually make our voice be heard and help bring about that change, I pray we step up and DO IT.
“Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” –Psalm 83:18
Also, this is a really short but really good article that speaks to the current economic crisis and how we, as Christians, can view this whole situation. Or how we SHOULD view this whole situation: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2705.
Throughout the Bible we see those with much turning away from God and the life He intended them to live. And we see God humbling His people, even using economic and social crises to humble them and turn them back to Him. Maybe God is going to use this whole economic crisis to wake up the American Church. Maybe it will remind us where our confidence should lie, and maybe it will remind us of the life God desires us to live and the way He desires us to use the blessings He has given us. Maybe this whole crisis will help change America and the Church for the better. And at this time, with the elections coming up and the chance to actually make our voice be heard and help bring about that change, I pray we step up and DO IT.
“Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” –Psalm 83:18
Sunday, October 12, 2008
the election....
So it’s getting closer and closer to the elections, yet I am no closer to knowing who I want to be my next president. In thinking about the whole situation, I’ve realized there are a few root issues that need to be thought about that just aren’t addressed enough. As a Christian and an American, I am in a hard spot right now. My American culture and even some of my churches stereotype me and tell me I have to care about abortion and gay marriage more than any other issue and vote for the candidate that will do the “right” thing on those issues (aka the Republican). But as I look deeper into it and into what it means to truly live for Christ, the “right” thing is really not what my culture, both secular and Christian, is telling me I should do. Rather than call myself a Christian – the definition of which is something I’m not even sure I want to be associated with anymore – I’d rather call myself a disciple of Christ. And as a disciple my principle question in every situation, whether political or not, should be: what will bring the most glory to God and further His Kingdom?
I am an American and I love my country. I recognize what a privilege it is to live here and I believe I am truly blessed. But I am a follower of Christ FIRST before an American citizen, so my first aim should be the furthering of His Kingdom rather than the furthering of the American Kingdom. So when I sit down and think about who to vote for, I am not thinking about who will make America the most rich and prosperous and who will make me the most comfortable and enable me to buy the biggest house, etc. I am thinking about who will do the most to further the Kingdom of God and us to accomplish the purposes He has called us to. Or, in the case of this year’s election, the question we may need to ask is who will bring the least harm to the Kingdom? It may be a “Christian” candidate, it may not.
And going along with these questions, we need to ask ourselves as disciples of Christ what we believe the overall role of government should be. This will also help determine who we vote for. If the Church really did its job, really did what the Bible calls us to do and lived the way Christ exemplified, we would not need the social programs and welfare programs we currently have and the foreign aide the government currently gives. Realistically though, the Church isn’t doing everything it can – it isn’t taking care of all the homeless, the oppressed, the widowed, etc (Is. 1:17) It is doing a lot, but it is not doing all it could. And the American church today especially isn’t doing all it could with the blessings God has given us. We simply can’t use the excuse that we’re doing a lot already – as Christians we are daily supposed to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). We should daily be seeking to grow and change, and the overall Body of Christ should reflect this. The American Church needs to grow and change – we can’t be stuck in the American culture. We look way too similar to American society- we are supposed to look different. We are supposed to stand out. If we are no longer standing out and living in a truly Biblical way in our country, then maybe it’s time to change more, to be different more.
Since the Church is not doing everything it can then, the responsibility falls on the government. So should we be voting for the Democratic candidate, who wants to take more money from the wealthy and distribute it more evenly, putting it in more programs that will help the poor and needy? Is that the government’s role? Or do we vote for the Republican candidate, who will let citizens keep more control over their personal finances and decide what to do with it? As disciples, do we want to have more control over our finances and trust ourselves and our fellow believers with it, hoping that we’ll do with it what God has called us to? Do we deal with the problem from the inside out? Or should we just let the government have more control and address these issues, since we are just not doing it right now?
Either way, there NEEDS to be a heart change in the American Church. If we were living and giving like we are called to, then I would say definitely vote for the candidate that will give us more control over our personal lives and finances and let us reach out to the world the way we decide. But I honestly don’t know if we will be good stewards of what God has given us. I pray someday we will have a Church that does not need the government to help us with our work. I pray someday the government strives to model itself after the Church and the way we live and govern ourselves because it is so successful at dealing with the world’s issues. And I believe we can get to that point, because Christ left us with the perfect example of how to govern wisely and respond peaceably to conflict and command with authority but not violence, etc. But right now the Church is not at a place where the government is going to look to us as an example.
When I say Church, I am not speaking about individual churches, because clearly there are MANY wonderful churches all over the US that are truly doing the work of God. When I say Church I am talking about the Body of Christ overall, so I am generalizing. Right now I am definitely generalizing about the Church in America, and generally speaking, I don’t believe the Church in America is reflective of the way Christ desired the Church to look. I pray that a change starts to happen from the inside out, that our hearts are changed to see how Christ desires us to live with the blessings He’s given us. And I pray that we truly start to live that way, so that some day soon we have a government that will work alongside us but not do our work for us and a candidate that we feel will actually move us toward doing the work of the Kingdom, and not two that both seem to be moving us away from that work.
But for now, vote for the candidate that will best help us bring about that change in the Church that we so desperately need and that will best help us further the Kingdom of God.
I am an American and I love my country. I recognize what a privilege it is to live here and I believe I am truly blessed. But I am a follower of Christ FIRST before an American citizen, so my first aim should be the furthering of His Kingdom rather than the furthering of the American Kingdom. So when I sit down and think about who to vote for, I am not thinking about who will make America the most rich and prosperous and who will make me the most comfortable and enable me to buy the biggest house, etc. I am thinking about who will do the most to further the Kingdom of God and us to accomplish the purposes He has called us to. Or, in the case of this year’s election, the question we may need to ask is who will bring the least harm to the Kingdom? It may be a “Christian” candidate, it may not.
And going along with these questions, we need to ask ourselves as disciples of Christ what we believe the overall role of government should be. This will also help determine who we vote for. If the Church really did its job, really did what the Bible calls us to do and lived the way Christ exemplified, we would not need the social programs and welfare programs we currently have and the foreign aide the government currently gives. Realistically though, the Church isn’t doing everything it can – it isn’t taking care of all the homeless, the oppressed, the widowed, etc (Is. 1:17) It is doing a lot, but it is not doing all it could. And the American church today especially isn’t doing all it could with the blessings God has given us. We simply can’t use the excuse that we’re doing a lot already – as Christians we are daily supposed to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). We should daily be seeking to grow and change, and the overall Body of Christ should reflect this. The American Church needs to grow and change – we can’t be stuck in the American culture. We look way too similar to American society- we are supposed to look different. We are supposed to stand out. If we are no longer standing out and living in a truly Biblical way in our country, then maybe it’s time to change more, to be different more.
Since the Church is not doing everything it can then, the responsibility falls on the government. So should we be voting for the Democratic candidate, who wants to take more money from the wealthy and distribute it more evenly, putting it in more programs that will help the poor and needy? Is that the government’s role? Or do we vote for the Republican candidate, who will let citizens keep more control over their personal finances and decide what to do with it? As disciples, do we want to have more control over our finances and trust ourselves and our fellow believers with it, hoping that we’ll do with it what God has called us to? Do we deal with the problem from the inside out? Or should we just let the government have more control and address these issues, since we are just not doing it right now?
Either way, there NEEDS to be a heart change in the American Church. If we were living and giving like we are called to, then I would say definitely vote for the candidate that will give us more control over our personal lives and finances and let us reach out to the world the way we decide. But I honestly don’t know if we will be good stewards of what God has given us. I pray someday we will have a Church that does not need the government to help us with our work. I pray someday the government strives to model itself after the Church and the way we live and govern ourselves because it is so successful at dealing with the world’s issues. And I believe we can get to that point, because Christ left us with the perfect example of how to govern wisely and respond peaceably to conflict and command with authority but not violence, etc. But right now the Church is not at a place where the government is going to look to us as an example.
When I say Church, I am not speaking about individual churches, because clearly there are MANY wonderful churches all over the US that are truly doing the work of God. When I say Church I am talking about the Body of Christ overall, so I am generalizing. Right now I am definitely generalizing about the Church in America, and generally speaking, I don’t believe the Church in America is reflective of the way Christ desired the Church to look. I pray that a change starts to happen from the inside out, that our hearts are changed to see how Christ desires us to live with the blessings He’s given us. And I pray that we truly start to live that way, so that some day soon we have a government that will work alongside us but not do our work for us and a candidate that we feel will actually move us toward doing the work of the Kingdom, and not two that both seem to be moving us away from that work.
But for now, vote for the candidate that will best help us bring about that change in the Church that we so desperately need and that will best help us further the Kingdom of God.
Monday, September 1, 2008
prosperity gospel
This is a clip of John Piper responding to the false doctrine of the prosperity gospel. He shows so clearly how preaching prosperity in the Lord's name is a lie and not the at all the Truth of Christ....it is in fact the opposite of the true Gospel. it is this prosperity gospel that is blinding so many people and turning our american christianity away from true Christianity. Getting rid of this false gospel, this message that tells us God wants us to be rich and content and have all the material things we want, ridding our society of this gospel will help bring about the change we so badly need. The change that will help us live the lives God intended us to live: lives that feed the hungry and clothe the naked and rescue the oppressed. Lives that CARE. Lives that LOVE. We were never created to be content when the world was the way we wanted. We were created to be content when the world was the way God wanted. And clearly it is not there yet. So let's stop believing this false gospel and move toward His world.
http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/03/piper-on-prosperity-gospel.html#93
http://theologica.blogspot
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Advise Everyone... Endorse No One (by Shane Claiborne)
As we pass the half-way point of our Jesus for President tour, we remember Jesus' admonition that we be "as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves." There is a lot of momentum around our little campaign of political misfits - from some of the mainstream media and from the dozen cities where we've had thousands of folks come together to plot goodness. And with the momentum comes temptation.
We've been courted by candidates who want an endorsement... or who at least would like us to be "advisers." At first I thought advising a candidate was a subtle euphemism for endorsing them, but I have come to think that there is an important distinction to make between "endorsing" and "advising." I want to be an adviser to every politico that asks, and an endorser of no one but Jesus. Chris and I just joked that he could become an official advisor for Obama, and I'd take McCain just to make sure folks know that we are not partisan. We do take seriously the opportunity to dialogue with political candidates, or anyone else for that matter, especially as many people seem to be rethinking politics as usual. As for the presidential candidates, we're not sure how our counsel will go over, since it may begin with advising those seeking office to melt down the weapons of our arsenal and transform them into things that bring life to the suffering masses of this planet--"beating swords into plows" as the prophets say. But we'll see if anyone takes us up on the offer.
Chris and I end the 2-hour JFP presentation with these words:
We will not be endorsing any candidates. Rather, we will invite them to endorse the political manifesto of our Commander-in-Chief and to join the peculiar upside-down Kingdom that blesses the poor and the peacemakers...
Our central allegience is to God's Kingdom, and we invite everything else in the world to align itself with the norms of that upside-down Kingdom. That is what we endorse, and we stand behind everything and everyone that moves us closer to that - the coming of God's Kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven." And we get in the way of everything that contradicts and works against God's Kingdom - interrupting injustice with grace.
In post-Religious Right America, we want to learn from the mistakes of the generation before us (so we don't repeat them) - one of which was telling Christians who to vote for. Rather than spoon-feeding people answers, we hope to stir up the right questions - and trust that the Spirit will lead us as we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling." One of the places the religious right went wrong was telling people what to do rather than inviting them to think for themselves, with the help of the Spirit of God (in fact, it even seems a real lack of faith to to coerce or convince people to do exactly what we want them to... as if the Spirit is not at work in them). That's where Jesus shines - he stirs up questions and tells stories that unveil truth, rather than drafting a careful declaration or endorsement that's going to solve everything wrong in the world.
Folks come out of our JFP shows with all kinds of ideas churning. Some have shared that they are inspired to start an adoption agency to try and decrease the number of abortions. U.S. soldiers have said they are becoming conscientious objectors or are seeking discharge. Some folks have said they are going to organize for one of the candidates, and others have said they are going to write in "Jesus" on Nov. 4. To all of it we say, "Yes!" Thank God the Spirit is at work, and is renewing minds and imaginations in the Church, so that we might follow the command of Romans: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Reporters often ask folks leaving our presentations funny questions like: "Young evangelicals are the swing vote in this election... has this evening affected how you are going to vote in November?" I heard one person say beautifully, "That's the wrong question... the real question is how can we become the change we want to see in the world TODAY and not just hope that every four years we can elect politicians to change the world for us." May it be so. May we continue to become the change we want to see in the Church and in the world. Enough donkeys and elephants - Long live the Lamb.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
the Year
the Year
This has been a year where I have been broken and stripped. I’ve been made weak so He can be made strong. And I think I’m finally getting to that place, where He is becoming greater and I am becoming less. I am truly desiring His voice more than my own. But it took a year of hurt and heartache to begin to get to this point, and through it God has shown me so much. And now because of all that I’m here, able to write about the AMAZING GRACE and LOVE of Christ because I have truly experienced it. I’m not writing as one who knows about it in her head, but one who’s believed it in her heart, one who’s been picked up by it when she’s never thought she’s be able to get up, one who’s clung to His grace when she lost everything else, one who’s heart has ached so much that only a Divine justice could overthrow the conquering hurt.
I’ve realized that its not about ME. Despite what I’ve thought for so long, my life is really just not about me. We go through pain not because we’ve done something horribly wrong or God wants to teach us some huge lesson about our lives – it is just for HIS purposes. Whatever they may be. And He s worthy of that. He’s finally getting me to the place where I am broken enough that my perspective is actually starting to change and I am seeing the word outside myself. And there is a big world outside myself. He is real. And He desires all people to know His love, all people to see His glory. So His hand will work all things for that purpose. And that might even mean pain sometimes. I feel like my eyes are being opened to this whole world that I didn’t even know existed, this world that is not about me and what I can do to affect the world and how the world is going to affect me, but simply about God’s great purpose for this earth and the small way in which He may be able to use my life to show that purpose. And I’m realizing that maybe to show His great purpose, his great LOVE to this world, I might have to go through pain so God can be glorified through it. He redeems all things, even the horrible messy things I do, and instead of God bringing something wonderful for me at the end of every situation in my life, maybe His purpose is to simply redeem me back to Him. Simply to show how His love is greater than any evil, any sin, any pain. To show that He redeems even the worst of sinners.
He redeems me. That is the whole purpose. Not some great life lesson or wonderful treat for me for making it through. There’s no amazing twist that helps me understand why certain things happen and certain things must be lived through. Just the promise that He redeems. That His love brings me back. And through this redemptive story being seen yet again in this fallen world, maybe just one more soul in this despairing world will see this Love that never fails, this love that only brings us closer to Him when we fall, and maybe this soul will surrender its pain as well and give glory to the Father. This is His purpose. This is the way of things. And after everything, it’s all I need to know.
Because when He spins me around to see from His perspective, I finally have PEACE.
Dissatisfaction
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post something on here – life has been crazy. This past year has been a time where God has humbled me and broken me and finally gotten me to a point where I will listen to Him and not my own voice. My eyes have been opened to so much because now I’m actually listening. I’m still in the process of sorting it all out and processing everything He’s been changing in me and showing me, but here’s a little bit of it. It’s mostly just a thought process, things God’s been making clear to me that I’m processing through writing, so forgive me if it’s jumbled and confused. But here it is, a little bit of the change that God has been working in my heart:
So, two main thoughts to consider –
I have been wrong. Wow. Huge to think about.
And: What needs to happen?
Elaborating a little bit:
I just don’t this is the way the world is supposed to be. I think maybe it’s time to consider that we might be wrong, and it might be time to try to figure out what needs to happen.
God desires something so much better for us all. But we, His people, His church, are not pursuing that Way. Not really. I don’t think most of us are purposefully not pursuing it. We’ve just been so influenced. By our culture, by those around us….we’ve gotten off track.
But if we want the world to change and for things to be different then we have to LIVE DIFFERENTLY. God has called us to be a people set apart. We can have all the missionaries we want doing all the wonderful things they’re doing, and we can have Christians in government making good laws, but until the Gospel is truly lived out then not a whole lot is really going to change. The way things are right now, our Christian culture as a whole, is WRONG. It seems to me that the way we are living in
Nowhere in the Word does it indicate that once one comes to know the Lord, one should sit and be content with life. On the contrary, throughout the Old and New Testaments, we see God commanding His followers to “bless the nations,” to “go out and baptize all people,” to “feed and clothe and bring justice to the poor and needy.” We are created to bring God into the world, not to just be content with God in ourselves. There is a huge second half of the Gospel that the majority of Christianity today has left out: after personal salvation comes the good works that true faith produces. Out of salvation comes service to God, comes a life dedicated to His purpose and will. NOT a life that reflects the very culture our faith should deliver us out of, not a faith that perpetuates the culture that leads to the pain and destruction of so many. There is a quote that’s been sticking out to me a lot lately: “If you’re content, then you’re not paying attention.” If we are content as Christians in our world today, then I would say we do not truly know the Gospel. Christ says if we do not help the least of these, then we do not help Him (Matt. 25:31-46).
"Through the Justice Revival we want to help redefine what it means to be a Christian disciple so that thousands of Christians will understand that they can't be good followers of Jesus without also committing to Jesus' agenda, which includes feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, giving care to the sick, and visiting the prisoner" (Matt. 25:35-36).
-Rich Nathan
Our Christian culture today tells us, rather it is preached to us, that it is fine to know Jesus in our hearts and know prosperity with our lives. But the Gospel tells us if even one of our brothers or sisters is in need and we do nothing, then we don’t know Him.
For our world to be changed, we need to be changed. Unless there is a significant shift in our Christian culture and the Church begins to truly live out the Gospel of Christ, our world will not be changed. I can go into government and try to make all the laws I want to help people, but unless the hearts of the people are into keeping these laws, then they will not make much of a difference.
My heart is breaking looking around me – God has given us the ability to SPEAK. We are the blessed and disgustingly small percentage of people in the world that have the FREEDOM and the MONEY and the MEANS to speak and act. We can speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. Why do we keep silent? God’s heart must be breaking. We have the great honor of speaking of His great GLORY and SALVATION, yet we are SILENT. He has chosen US to be His hands and feet, US to bring His GLORY to all people. Yet we hide His glory behind our comfort. People are dying without ever knowing the love of Christ while we worry about if we can get the dress we want to wear for Easter. Our Christian culture must reflect the politics of Jesus, not the politics of
“It is useless to dream of reforming the socioeconomic structure...as long as there is not a correspondingly deep change in our inner selves.”
- Dom Helder Camara
Brazilian Catholic archbishop
“Christ died so that we might live. Now we are to die so that Christ might live.”
-Shane Claiborne, Jesus for President
So how do we actually bring about this change that needs to happen? Ultimately, WE need to be changed first. We need to die. That is what we are called to. Not call ourselves Christians and then live the lives we think God would want us to live in this day and age. We are called to completely die so that Christ might completely live the life He wants to live through us. We need to be convicted. We need to be filled with Christ's vision for this world and His kingdom. Until our core is broken and we begin to see only what Christ sees and truly have His vision for this world, then our actions aren’t going to change much. People telling you to do something will only push you to do so much. Our hearts need to be convinced. We need to be convicted. We need to see with Christ's perspective instead of our own. And that won’t happen until we realize that the right way may not be the way we see through our eyes and DIE to that way, to that vision. Then HIS Way will finally be the Vision we see and the Way we seek to bring into the world. Then when we’re changed, we can spread the change. Think, talk, question. Start acting. Start living differently. See what the Bible says about how we as the Church should live, then lets start doing it. Lets not be a part of this culture and this world. Lets actually live like Christ: lets love the hungry and the sick and the oppressed as if they were Jesus standing on our streetcorner, lets not care about trying to dress and talk like everyone else, let our hearts actually break for those who try so hard to find satisfaction in the things of this world and not stay silent around them any longer, let us desire to see people know the love of Christ more than our favorite football team win the game or political party win the election…
Please join me in praying. Pray for us to be humbled enough that we might begin to hear other voices beside our own. Praying for conviction and for His definition of the Truth, for our death and His life. Pray for us to truly LIVE, to live like Christ and live in Christ.
“He must become greater; I must become less.”
-John 3:30
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
-2 Cor. 5:17
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Justice
this vision
American mind
now we are known as the American blind
our form of justice is freedom –
for us
Why don’t we cry?
content in our ignorance
our mothers and daughters are fine
what about her life?
opposing popular belief is:
TRUTH
JUSTICE,
in its righteous form, does not exist today
their daughters die
while we applaud progress in our lives
Who are we?
JUSTICE – contorted to fit our minds
WE LIE
TRUTH is objective
CHANGE is imperative
if we call ourselves people –
i t ’ s t i m e
to care for all of mankind
JUSTICE
Yearns
to wake tonight
American mind
now we are known as the American blind
our form of justice is freedom –
for us
Why don’t we cry?
content in our ignorance
our mothers and daughters are fine
what about her life?
opposing popular belief is:
TRUTH
JUSTICE,
in its righteous form, does not exist today
their daughters die
while we applaud progress in our lives
Who are we?
JUSTICE – contorted to fit our minds
WE LIE
TRUTH is objective
CHANGE is imperative
if we call ourselves people –
i t ’ s t i m e
to care for all of mankind
JUSTICE
Yearns
to wake tonight
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