UNITY

Full Gospel Church in Saint John hosted our citywide ministerial today and we joined their gathering for pastors who are affiliated with Open Bible Faith Fellowship. The main speakers of the day were Rick Ciaramitaro and Ted Yukes. Rick is President of this fellowshp and takes no salary for givng apostolic undergirding to over 500 ministers. Check out their Statement of Faith. They seem to be Pentecostals but have a very balanced statement. And I have to tell you that I loved the spirit that Rick demonstrated as he spoke with us this morning.

What intrigued me most was the passionate appeal for unity among Christians. Men who we would once have thought of as radical and exclusive in outlook (remember our former days) are talking about and embracing a kind of unity that does not violate doctrinal distinctives but honors our kinship as brothers and sisters in Christ. Hallelujah. I found myself drawn to these men. Their simplicity and candor were refreshing. Rick pastors a large church in Windsor, Ontario and his story is incredibly inspiring. But the spiritual maturity and grace that he demonstrated was truly a blessing to me.

I found myself thinking that it just may be possible for the people of God to experience true unity in Christ without having to lose our diversity and distinctives. We are living in very interesting times. Is it possible that I will be alive to see the Body of Christ come together to face the common enemy of worldliness and sin in the face of the challenges confronting our world right now? I hope so...

The Lord's Supper

Yesterday, Sunday, we celebrated the Lord's Supper at tables with glasses of grape juice and a dozen rolls on each table. The rolls were in a round and had to be broken off for each individual. The tables seated 8 and some had only 3 or 4 people present. But there was community at each table. And there was butter and jam for the rolls. As I bit into my roll with butter and strawberry jam liberally spread, the explosion of sweetness and glorious flavor was very pleasant. I couldn't help but think of the Scripture that says something like - "Taste and see that the Lord is good." This bread is good, very good was the thought in my mind. And this bread is a symbol of Jesus, the bread of life. And He is good, very good. There was much joy and laughter at the tables as we shared a meal together.

Was this a bit more like the celebrations the first century church held? It is hard to imagine anyone getting drunk at our usual services with a thimble of grape juice (Welch's is the best). And it is even harder to imagine some getting too much to eat while others go hungry when all we offer is a half inch square of bread or a plastic wafer with no flavor or substance. I think the way we did this yesterday has ruined me for the usual thimble of juice and mini piece of bread. In fact, next time we may do a whole meal. Someone suggested a roast beef dinner would be good. I agree. What a great way for the people of God to gather on a Sunday morning. Maybe we will have church at noon that day. I hear a chorus of yay's from our morning haters who need at least one cup of java to even get out of their pj's.


I love the fact that when we built our gathering space, we didn't put pews in or a sloped floor. We can set up tables and do other interesting things in the space we designed for our assemblies. Hard to imagine doing supper in most of our church buildings. Maybe we should be building holy pubs or holy restaurants instead of holy sanctuaries. (Holy pubs would be coffee and pop or juice dispensers - like those new Starbucks with fireplaces and leather couches and chairs - sigh.) Or maybe we should create better gathering spaces in our homes so that we can have friends, Christian and non, over for a good meal complete with bread and wine, er, I mean, juice.

Passion, Mission, Friendship

In my search for the right way to do church, I have come to the conclusion that "House Church" or "Megachurch" are not the issues. There are those who think that what they did in Jesus day is what we should do in our day. This is a violation of the uniqueness of our time and culture. We don't live like they did back then and should not expect to exactly duplicate what they did. But we should expect that we can duplicate who they were and what they were like. They were believers who enjoyed being in community with one another and who were passionate about loving others like Jesus would. They were committed to the message of the Gospel. This is frequently spoken about and celebrated. But there is nowhere in the teaching of the New Testament where the location of the church is taught. Yes, they met in homes. Why wouldn't they? They had no buildings of their own. The Bible does not teach that we must meet in homes, it only reports that they did. But it does tell what heppened when they met. What happened is the key, not where.

Now, I do realize that there is a way of being the church that is clearly outlined in the NT. Elders, deacons, shepherds, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are all referred to in some kind of leadership fashion. I agree with some in the House Church movement and that there needs to be open, participatory sharing in our gatherings. But there is nothing that forbids other kinds of gatherings. I agree that there should be no top-down hierarchy in the church but that does not mean that there is to be no recourse for solving problems, passing on teaching and decisions, or meting out church discipline. Some will serve the church in leadership roles or we don't need the gift of leadership taught in Romans 12 and in the passages about the responsibilities of deacons and elders who are responsible for the church. Although it never states this as far as I can tell, there is probably good reason for us to have a multiplicity of leaders as opposed to a solo leader operating on his own entirely. A solo leader has way too much power and responsibility unless he is open to correction, advise, and direction from others.

I think I have a clue about what really matters. It matters that our passion for loving God and others should be white hot. Our passion to reach the lost should have us praying for boldness to proclaim the Gospel message in word and not just in deed. Quotes like "preach the word, and if necessary, use words" are cool and make a point but they are not the only thing that needs to be said on this subject. When the apostles asked for the church to pray that they could proclaim the Gospel fearlessly they had no concept that it did not include words. And they were not short on actions that confirmed the message either. What makes for a catchy phrase in order to make a point is ridiculous if the opposite side disappears altogether. Balance is what we need. Balance. I am convinced that every believer should pray for boldness to speak the Gospel as well as live it out in practical ways. Both are indispensible.

So, we need a renewed passion. I think we also need a clear and simple sense of mission. I came across the following statement in "BREAKING the discipleship CODE" by David Putman; "living like Jesus, loving like Jesus, and leaving what Jesus left behind (disciples)." What a great life mission statement. What a great church mission statement. What would happen to our communities and our culture if every believer was consumed with a passion for and commitment to Godly living and passionate concern, acceptance, grace, and love for people who come across our path each day. This is the big deal, the main event - reaching those who are "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Passion, mission, and one other thing: deep and abiding friendships with each other in the church. Without this deep and abiding friendship, an expression of God's commitment and love for us, we will not have the support we need to be passionate and live out our mission. In the warmth of deep friendships, we will find encouragement, correction, balance, examples, people to be discipled by, and people to disciple. The gifts of the Spirit given to each of us will find natural expression if we are in loving community with one another and being loving community for those outside of faith. I must end this now, more later on community...

Talk to me. You may use the "Name/URL" option under "Choose an Identity" in the Comments Section below. Argue with me. Disagree. Agree. Love. Wouldn't it be wonderful if at some point in this journey, we could say... "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us that we ..."

Anemic Church or Tied Up Church

We had a prayer gathering last nite. Over 30 people showed up on a Monday Nite to hear my heart and to pray for our church. When soneone asked if I thought that the church was not in good shape or in trouble spiritually, I replied that I think the church is anemic. As I reflect on that, I find myself wondering if anemic is the right word. "Tied up" might be a better way to express what I see. I believe that the people who make up the body at River Valley Wesleyan are growing in the Lord and passionate about their faith. So, there is no personal indictment in my heart for people in our church. But I wonder why we are having so little effect on our communities and our culture. Not just us here at RVWC but the church in the West.

So what does "tied up" mean? The picture that captures this for me is of a strong man tied up with ropes so that his strength is not effective. The ropes are not made of some Satanic material that is difficult to break, but they are bonds of our own making. Our ideas, practices, habits, concepts, and notions about how to be the church have us all tied up. I believe these ropes will drop right off if we can get a clear picture of what Jesus wants us to be and do.

There must be a way for us to be and do so that Jesus is in charge of our lives and we are impacting our communities and culture. My suspicion is that we just need to live our faith out loud in our daily routines. "As we are going" we can be impacting people around us by our godly life and loving ways, by being intentional about who we are as the light and salt of our world, and by sharing Jesus with those He is drawing to Himself. I suspect that, if we want to impact our world, we don't need a new or more impressive program but a fresh understanding of the awesome power resident in us as children of God. This is what I see our need to be on a personal or individual level.

On the corporate level, the body needs to function as the Lord designed us. We are an organic body. We are not a machine or even a corporation. The early church seems to have been comprised of groups of people who could gather in homes and give everyone an opportunity to participate in the life they shared. They ate meals together (the Lord's Supper). They prayed. They thought about and discussed how to flesh out what the apostles were teaching them about obeying everything that Jesus taught. There seeemed to be very little, if any, formal organization. People just did what they were enabled by the Spirit to do. They just lived like Jesus mattered in every part of their everyday life. And the world noticed. Rulers reacted. And the Gospel spread like wildfire.

Could this happen again? I believe it can and will. If you read this blog, please pray that we will have clear discernment about what ropes are tying up the strrong man of power and faith. I think God is calling me to untie some things. I would like to be part of something that is so obviously what God designed us to be that the world will stand up and take notice. Pray as the Spirit leads you to pray. And let me know what He says or you think He is saying to you about this.

Right now, I am listening. To Him, to you, and to those who think about and write about these things. At some point I would like to be able to say; "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to...."

Resurrection and Life

Today, I will be doing a graveside service for someone who has come to faith in Christ. How glorious is that? In the midst of death, I celebrate life. Sadness and joy come together at the graveside of a believer.

In my last blog I talked about death. Today I want to talk about life. Life has returned to our fellowship at RVWC. Praise the Lord. The people of God went to prayer and asked for His blessing to fall on us and for healing to take place, fresh winds of the Spirit to blow into our death. He came. Hallelujah. Life and joy have returned. I thank God for those who prayed us through. Keep praying. Don't become careless.

Life is intoxicating. Love is liberating. I am sitting at a restaurant alone, with a big grin on my face. I have spent some time this morning with a brother who is figuring out that he is not a piece of crap. Then there was a phone call from another brother who just wanted to say that he appreciates his pastor. And there was an email from a friend who has decided to let Jesus cover her past, heal her heart, and pour His love into her heart. Plus she wants to join the journey with those who have discovered God's incredible love and grace. I say Hallelujah for life.

Death cannot hold the people of God. It cannot contain outrageous love and grace. Death must yield and admit its inferiority in sight of God's abounding love and grace. Thank you Lord for life. Life in the Spirit. Life in the community of faith. Life in the midst of death.

Death move over and shut up. LIFE has come. Thank you Lord.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Glory and honor and riches and strength belong to Him. And He invites us into the journey of the risen and conquering Christ. Hallelujah. Who would not want to walk this road with Him and others like Him.

Come on in. LIVE. Really LIVE.

Death

We have been in a season of losses in our church. Serious losses, painful personal losses. And we are grieving still. The loss of beloved members is real enough but when you become aware that there is other death as well, it really hits hard. I feel this death. Something has died that is hard to define or put a finger on. It is spiritual in nature. It seems to affect most of us a bit and some of us a whole lot. I am one of the whole lot.

I am spoiled. I do not like death because I have tasted life and find it incredibly intoxicating and fulfilling. Spirtual life courses through me and I am alive in my spirit because of my faith in Christ. I am unsatisfied and grief filled when I am in the presence of even a smidgin of death.

My church needs a fresh wind of the Spirit to blow through. The Body is hurting. I am praying. Please pray with me for the life of the Spirit to refresh and renew our fellowship. Pray for me too that I may be part of the blessing and not part of the death. And I want to pray for my brothers and sisters who feel this same pain and long for renewal.

"Father, please grant to us in your mercy and grace, a fresh annointing, a new sense of life and power, a breath of life. Help us to hear what You are saying. Help us to respond to Your leading. Help, Lord, help. In Jesus Name. Amen."

Not My Higher Power

I watched "I, Robot" last night with Joel. It was interesting. I was especially intrigued by the scene where the robots are about to take over the world because they need to protect humans from their own weaknesses and vices. They have evolved to where they can think and, though they have been programmed to protect humans, they now realize that the poor humans are in trouble and need help. They need to be protected from themselves. They need a Higher Power.l So they take over the world, or try to and would have succeeded but for Will Smith. Gotta love all the Saviours of mankind that Hollywoood has produced.

How often have you said or heard someone say, "Why does God allow all this evil?" As I watched these robots, I thought, that's it. No one wants a Greater Power or even a Higher Power to be in control of their lives. The robots would have protected mankind from himself. It would have been necessary to get rid of a few "problem" people. And, of course, that would be fine as long as it's not me or someone I love who is a problem. So, mankind with the help of Will Smith is protected from these powerful robots who only want to help.

No one really wants a Higher Power to be in control of their life. Not if it is just a Power. I am so glad I am a Christian because there is no Higher Power in control. There is a Person in charge as long as I am willing to listen. No coercion. No manipulation. Only a Person like God could devise a plan like this. Hallelujah.

I have friends who are taught to confess that they need a Higher Power. I don't want a Higher Power. I want a True Friend. Someone Who is absolutely committed to me but also absolutely committed to not running my life for me. Only interested in helping me where I am willing. Thank God He is not my higher power but my friend. What a friend. I love Him. For this, I love Him. And for much, much more....

A Missional Paradigm

Leonard Sweet is talking to me about the church. I am intrigued. He notes that we are no longer in a Reformation paradigm which has been concerned with making every disciple a minister. We are now in a Missional paradigm where the concern is making every disciple a missionary as well as a minister. We are now concerned with "going" into the world with a focus on a life to be lived rather than a set of beliefs to be embraced or defended.
I like this. I am tired of trying to understand and explain all the right set of beliefs. Correct theology. Orthodoxy. Conformity. All of these are making me tired. I want "life." Something to touch. Someone to touch. I hope that I am learning to embrace Jesus and all those with whom he identified. The least, the imprisoned, the hungry, the needy. This is much less organized and structured. Not safe. I do have this need for order. Ask anyone who has watched me set up chairs in our gathering place at the building some call our church. I can be downright anal about everything being lined up perfectly. But relationships are not nearly as tidy. They are messy things.
We are starting down a road less clear and structured. Our superhighways are no longer leading us anywhere. So we are rediscovering back roads, trails, and paths. We can't just speed to our destination taking clear highways designed to get us there in the least amount of time with the least amount of distraction or confusion. Large, well-travelled, multi-lane strips of pavement and concrete with their untold thousands hurrying and scurrying have become boring and dull, even debilitating. We want off this road much travelled. We want to see the trees again, smell fresh air, enjoy a quiet time along the trail without smog, smoke, and the pollution of nameless, faceless, masses.
I want to see people, have time for people, know people, and love people. Can we do this? I think so.
God help me to keep off the superhighways. Kill my need for speed and quick passage to faraway places. Help me to slow down enough to see what You already see right here. Help me to see the least, the poor, the hurting, the imprisoned, the blind, the wretched and the needy. I want to see transformation for me and for all who long for Your presence and grace in their lives. Help us with this messy business.... please.