Speaking of views of God (below), one false view I often hear from believers is that they think God "abandoned" them during a time of crisis. What kind of god would do that? I can't think of anything more crushing than to be left hanging at your moment of greatest need. In reality, what's probably happened is that the person in crisis thinks God has abandoned them because they don't think God is pleased with them. They, in essence, cut God out of their life because they think they "deserved" it. They have judged themselves unworthy and expect God to do the same. But the truth is that God is there all the time - undoubtedly sad at His inability to help the person because they shut him out.
I mention this in case you are in that place right now. Maybe you are going through a hard time (divorce? failing health? financial stress?) and you are tempted to think that things aren't turning around because God has left the scene. Trust me, God hasn't abandoned you. He's never far away. He's always near and quick to take our hand.
The truth is, many of our troubles are simply consequences of a long series of life decisions. God isn't going to magically fix our mistakes or even the offenses done by others to us. Rather, he promises to be with us through the hard times. Remember, the promise is that he will never leave you or forsake you. He walks with you through the fire. He doesn't snatch you from it. Just because your problems don't disappear doesn't mean that God has abandoned you. But if you'll reach out for his hand, he'll grab it and show you how to walk through these hard times and come to a place of new beginnings.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
The Impact of Your View of God
I attended a conference this week on forgiveness. One aspect of forgiveness is that people tend to forgive in direct correlation to their view of God. If they view God as kind, compassionate and forgiving they are much more likely to be the same toward others. Along those lines I've heard it said that every person develops into their image of God. If you think God is harsh and judgmental, odds are you too are a harsh and judgmental person.
It's always a bit confusing when I come across people who say that God is loving and forgiving yet they aren't that way themselves. There's a disconnect there that they don't even see. If they are honest about what they really believe about God, they'd admit that deep down they believe God is harsh and condemning. And that is why they are the same way. They are created in their image of God. Who they say God is is just a cover up for what they really believe. Until they discover this disconnect they are dooming themselves to being harsh and condemning themselves. It's too bad because they could be experiencing a totally different life - a joyfilled, peaceful life - but their view of God is shutting them off from that.
So, it's worth a look. If you find it hard to love and forgive others, check what you really believe about God. Ask him to reveal your heart and show you what's true. And then ask him to reveal his true self to you.
It's always a bit confusing when I come across people who say that God is loving and forgiving yet they aren't that way themselves. There's a disconnect there that they don't even see. If they are honest about what they really believe about God, they'd admit that deep down they believe God is harsh and condemning. And that is why they are the same way. They are created in their image of God. Who they say God is is just a cover up for what they really believe. Until they discover this disconnect they are dooming themselves to being harsh and condemning themselves. It's too bad because they could be experiencing a totally different life - a joyfilled, peaceful life - but their view of God is shutting them off from that.
So, it's worth a look. If you find it hard to love and forgive others, check what you really believe about God. Ask him to reveal your heart and show you what's true. And then ask him to reveal his true self to you.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Going Deep with God
At Cedarbrook, we are passionate about helping people find God. We recognize that there are all kinds of obstacles that keep people away from God so we see it as our role to help clear the path for them.
We are also passionate about helping people to find emotional healing. Life can be pretty cruel. We not only want people to connect with God we want to help mend their wounds.
But what about those who are connected to God and healthy? What place do they have at Cedarbrook? They are the backbone of the church. They are the ones that serve those finding both God and healing. Without their dedication we could never reach new people the way we do.
There is a misperception in churches that "going deep with God" means that you can quote a lot of the Bible and pray for hours at a time. People expect their church to offer a lot of programs to help their members know more. But I think the truly deep things of God focus around serving others and allowing God to change your character. I'm not trying to put down Bible reading and prayer - just offer a balance. I think we've all known people who can quote the Bible flawlessly who don't seem to be very concerned about their own personal flaws.
If you are a part of Cedarbrook (or another church), I want to challenge you to consider how you can help build various aspects of the ministry so we can be even more effective at helping people connect with God. It's not about you learning more. It's about you helping others who know nothing about God. Help with the youth or the children, lead a small group, assist one of the helping ministries like Celebrate Recovery or Divorce Care, be the most welcoming greeter or usher, offer your technical talents, start new ministries that help the poor or single moms or simply invite your friends.
Our goal is to echo Jesus who said that he didn't come to be served but to serve and to give his life for many. You can't get any deeper than that.
We are also passionate about helping people to find emotional healing. Life can be pretty cruel. We not only want people to connect with God we want to help mend their wounds.
But what about those who are connected to God and healthy? What place do they have at Cedarbrook? They are the backbone of the church. They are the ones that serve those finding both God and healing. Without their dedication we could never reach new people the way we do.
There is a misperception in churches that "going deep with God" means that you can quote a lot of the Bible and pray for hours at a time. People expect their church to offer a lot of programs to help their members know more. But I think the truly deep things of God focus around serving others and allowing God to change your character. I'm not trying to put down Bible reading and prayer - just offer a balance. I think we've all known people who can quote the Bible flawlessly who don't seem to be very concerned about their own personal flaws.
If you are a part of Cedarbrook (or another church), I want to challenge you to consider how you can help build various aspects of the ministry so we can be even more effective at helping people connect with God. It's not about you learning more. It's about you helping others who know nothing about God. Help with the youth or the children, lead a small group, assist one of the helping ministries like Celebrate Recovery or Divorce Care, be the most welcoming greeter or usher, offer your technical talents, start new ministries that help the poor or single moms or simply invite your friends.
Our goal is to echo Jesus who said that he didn't come to be served but to serve and to give his life for many. You can't get any deeper than that.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Dying with Dignity
I just heard that the pope is dying with dignity. I wish the same could be said in regard to Terry Schaivo. No matter how much I understand and appreciate the complexity of her situation and those who care for her, nothing justifies starving someone to death. I'm amazed that people could sanction health care providers to do this, as if starving her is not euthanizing her. Who are they kidding? Can anyone walk away from this and not feel like they just killed someone?
I wouldn't starve my dog to death. We wouldn't starve prisoners to death. Why her? It would have been more honest and humane to give her a lethal injection. At least we do that much for people on death row. But they didn't do that because then it would have been murder.
As is often the case, it takes a death before justice is established. I hope that Terry's death will serve that purpose for others in her condition. It's an emotional and highly charged issue. I don't want to come across as self-righteous because I know there are many elements that have to be weighed in all of this. I just struggle with the thought of starving someone to death. It can't be the best decision.
If I'm ever in that situation and people want to kill me, then please tell them to kill me flat out. Don't let me suffer while they do the politically correct thing in order to salve their conscience.
I wouldn't starve my dog to death. We wouldn't starve prisoners to death. Why her? It would have been more honest and humane to give her a lethal injection. At least we do that much for people on death row. But they didn't do that because then it would have been murder.
As is often the case, it takes a death before justice is established. I hope that Terry's death will serve that purpose for others in her condition. It's an emotional and highly charged issue. I don't want to come across as self-righteous because I know there are many elements that have to be weighed in all of this. I just struggle with the thought of starving someone to death. It can't be the best decision.
If I'm ever in that situation and people want to kill me, then please tell them to kill me flat out. Don't let me suffer while they do the politically correct thing in order to salve their conscience.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Clarifying the Vision
One of my favorite business/management authors is Marcus Buckingham. He used to work for Gallup, now on his own. I just read a timely article by him today called "The Clear Leader". His main point is that a leader doesn't have to be exciting or revolutionary but he/she does need to be clear. This is "timely" because one of my leaders told me today that he wasn't sure he knew what the vision of Cedarbrook was. Oops. Not good.
I think one of my problems is that the vision is so clear to me that I think it's obvious to everyone. Working three days a week at a treatment center I get the privilege of bringing good news of God's life-changing love/power to people who have no doubt that they need it. Many of them soak it in like a sponge and it has transforming effects. I don't doubt the reality of God or his ability to impact lives because I see it every day.
The mission of Cedarbrook is to offer this same experience to its members and beyond. We've put it this way - "Our passion is to first experience, then share, the life-changing love of God." Maybe that sounds too religious to be believable. But that's exactly what we are looking to do...first help our members experience the life-changing love of God - in their lives, their relationships, their thinking - and then have them share that good news with others. Churches are great at telling others about God - telling the Bible story. That's well and good. But I want us to add our own stories to that - our stories of how God has changed us in tangible ways. If we don't have a personal story then we shouldn't be telling others. That's phony and people smell it a mile away.
Our vision helps to facilitate our mission. Our vision is to facilitate this life-changing experience with God through biblical teaching, creative arts, opportunities to serve and authentic community. Once God changes a life there is a domino effect. They come into the church and add to the community by serving and they reach out to their families and friends with their story. It's not a canned presentation. It's real life. It's authentic. Believable. And that's why Cedarbrook keeps growing.
I think one of my problems is that the vision is so clear to me that I think it's obvious to everyone. Working three days a week at a treatment center I get the privilege of bringing good news of God's life-changing love/power to people who have no doubt that they need it. Many of them soak it in like a sponge and it has transforming effects. I don't doubt the reality of God or his ability to impact lives because I see it every day.
The mission of Cedarbrook is to offer this same experience to its members and beyond. We've put it this way - "Our passion is to first experience, then share, the life-changing love of God." Maybe that sounds too religious to be believable. But that's exactly what we are looking to do...first help our members experience the life-changing love of God - in their lives, their relationships, their thinking - and then have them share that good news with others. Churches are great at telling others about God - telling the Bible story. That's well and good. But I want us to add our own stories to that - our stories of how God has changed us in tangible ways. If we don't have a personal story then we shouldn't be telling others. That's phony and people smell it a mile away.
Our vision helps to facilitate our mission. Our vision is to facilitate this life-changing experience with God through biblical teaching, creative arts, opportunities to serve and authentic community. Once God changes a life there is a domino effect. They come into the church and add to the community by serving and they reach out to their families and friends with their story. It's not a canned presentation. It's real life. It's authentic. Believable. And that's why Cedarbrook keeps growing.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Branding a Church?
I just sent the following out to some of the leaders at Cedarbrook. I thought you might be interested. I offered my thoughts on five points on "branding" printed in Fast Company magazine - a business mag. Branding has to do with creating a corporate identity that connects with your customer base. I thought it had some application to Cedarbrook Church too.
Andy Spade on Branding
The visionary designer offers lessons from the world of fashion on how to brand your products -- and how to sell your brands.
1. The bigger you get, the smaller you should act.
Never, ever start thinking like a big company. Otherwise you become corporate, and there's no interest in that.
(To me, this means I need to see more people one on one, not less. I can't remove myself from the daily lives of our people. One of the things that has fanned our flames in the early days is the fresh stories of life-change and the passion of volunteers. When we reduce everything to a policy or a doctrine we've become corporate and lost what attracted people in the first place.)
2. Never believe anything you've done is successful.
Challenge it every second, every day.
(We are able to pull off events like we just did at the Mabel Tainter Theater because we have been willing to scrutinize every ministry for what works and doesn't work. We haven't been afraid to ask, "How can we do this even better?" Every time we do that we create the potential to reach more people more effectively.)
3. Brand consistency is overrated.
The brand doesn't have to look the same, but it has to feel the same. An element of newness and surprise is important for any brand.
(This is where core values come in. We want to offer new things in different ways. Someone stopped on the way out of the service last Sunday and said, "I've learned that I can never assume what's going to happen here on Sundays" -That was a good thing to her! But even though things are new, they still need to come from a common place, a core system of beliefs with the same message being offered-just in a different package. )
4. Brands should have some mystery.
Customers should never understand the whole picture of a brand.
(If we reduce God down to something too manageable and understandable, then we aren't being true to God. I personally am offended by simplistic - sound bite - faith. We have to maintain a mystery about God and church life.)
5. Your people are your product.
They are the vehicle through which everything happens, and they define what you put out.
(From the very beginning, others have been the driving force behind CB. As we grow, my biggest fear is that WE will become the driving force....what is best for us. Not just the insiders, but the leaders. We have to fight this tendency with everything we've got. The unchurched person who doesn't know Christ and the marginally churched person in our seats...THEY are why we do what we do. THEY are the ones we need to be in touch with and design our services and programs for...not us.)
Andy Spade on Branding
The visionary designer offers lessons from the world of fashion on how to brand your products -- and how to sell your brands.
1. The bigger you get, the smaller you should act.
Never, ever start thinking like a big company. Otherwise you become corporate, and there's no interest in that.
(To me, this means I need to see more people one on one, not less. I can't remove myself from the daily lives of our people. One of the things that has fanned our flames in the early days is the fresh stories of life-change and the passion of volunteers. When we reduce everything to a policy or a doctrine we've become corporate and lost what attracted people in the first place.)
2. Never believe anything you've done is successful.
Challenge it every second, every day.
(We are able to pull off events like we just did at the Mabel Tainter Theater because we have been willing to scrutinize every ministry for what works and doesn't work. We haven't been afraid to ask, "How can we do this even better?" Every time we do that we create the potential to reach more people more effectively.)
3. Brand consistency is overrated.
The brand doesn't have to look the same, but it has to feel the same. An element of newness and surprise is important for any brand.
(This is where core values come in. We want to offer new things in different ways. Someone stopped on the way out of the service last Sunday and said, "I've learned that I can never assume what's going to happen here on Sundays" -That was a good thing to her! But even though things are new, they still need to come from a common place, a core system of beliefs with the same message being offered-just in a different package. )
4. Brands should have some mystery.
Customers should never understand the whole picture of a brand.
(If we reduce God down to something too manageable and understandable, then we aren't being true to God. I personally am offended by simplistic - sound bite - faith. We have to maintain a mystery about God and church life.)
5. Your people are your product.
They are the vehicle through which everything happens, and they define what you put out.
(From the very beginning, others have been the driving force behind CB. As we grow, my biggest fear is that WE will become the driving force....what is best for us. Not just the insiders, but the leaders. We have to fight this tendency with everything we've got. The unchurched person who doesn't know Christ and the marginally churched person in our seats...THEY are why we do what we do. THEY are the ones we need to be in touch with and design our services and programs for...not us.)
Thursday, March 24, 2005
There's a Crack in Everything
I like to read through TIME magazine to stay current with world news. I can't say I read it for inspiration. But the closing essay this week was excellent- written by a follower of Jesus commenting on Ashley Smith and Brian Nichol's, the gunman in the recent Atlanta massacre. He offers an interesting view of grace. The quote at the end is worth the read itself. Go to http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/printout/0,8816,1039693-1,00.html
Happy Easter.
Happy Easter.
Risking Failure
I wrote below about Cedarbrook being in a time of transition. As new ministries are added the web of communication and responsibility gets more and more complex. I've worked hard at delegating authority so the success of any one ministry doesn't rely on me. The "I have to touch everything in the church" mentality that many pastors have is what condemns their church to stay small.
But letting go also means risking failure, at least in the short run. We've had very few meltdowns in our existence. Most, if not every big event we've offered has gone off incredibly well. But that's not reality. There will be meltdowns. There will be failures along the way. And, as much as that is disappointing at the time, it's really a necessary step in the process of transferring responsibility from the few to the many. Every failure exposes the weaknesses in the system that we can't see on paper. We can get mad at the mistakes (and maybe revert back to consolidating decision-making to a few) or we can be proactive and address the issues to make sure they don't happen again.
I believe that God has called Cedarbrook to reach hundreds of people, but that will only happen if leadership and decision-making is released to an ever-increasing circle of individuals. My input and the input of the LEAD Team will always be there to guide our direction, but we can't micro-manage if we want to develop our full potential. And we have to be willing to embrace failure as part of the growth process.
Why do I tell you all this? Because the same is true in life. We can stay "small" spiritually/emotionally by not risking failure - playing it safe - maintaining high control. Or we can "get big" by being willing to embrace failure and learn from it rather than running from it.
But letting go also means risking failure, at least in the short run. We've had very few meltdowns in our existence. Most, if not every big event we've offered has gone off incredibly well. But that's not reality. There will be meltdowns. There will be failures along the way. And, as much as that is disappointing at the time, it's really a necessary step in the process of transferring responsibility from the few to the many. Every failure exposes the weaknesses in the system that we can't see on paper. We can get mad at the mistakes (and maybe revert back to consolidating decision-making to a few) or we can be proactive and address the issues to make sure they don't happen again.
I believe that God has called Cedarbrook to reach hundreds of people, but that will only happen if leadership and decision-making is released to an ever-increasing circle of individuals. My input and the input of the LEAD Team will always be there to guide our direction, but we can't micro-manage if we want to develop our full potential. And we have to be willing to embrace failure as part of the growth process.
Why do I tell you all this? Because the same is true in life. We can stay "small" spiritually/emotionally by not risking failure - playing it safe - maintaining high control. Or we can "get big" by being willing to embrace failure and learn from it rather than running from it.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Growing Pains & Dealing with Loss
I've noticed that whenever I find myself frustrated/angry that it's often during a time of transition. Things in my environment have shifted and I need to make changes. The problem is that I don't always recognize the changes. I just feel the frustration and want a quick fix.
For example, there have been a variety of communication breakdowns among ministry leaders over the last month at Cedarbrook. At first I was tempted to just see it as mistakes that people were making. But it's more than that. I think Cedarbrook hit the tipping point in communication. The system that got us this far has finally revealed its weakness. It's insufficient. In other words, it's not the individuals who are at fault as much as the system that we have in place.
My frustration has become a red flag to me if I am alert enough to see it. I have to step back and ask, "Is there a change/transition in process that's causing me to feel this way?" Any change implies a loss. What was is no longer. A simple email or touching base with someone on Sunday doesn't get the same response that it did in the early days of the church. That's a loss. Life is more complex requiring more attention on my part. That too is a loss. I have a choice (as we all do in these moments of transition), I can remain angry/frustrated and hope that current problems merely blow over and get better on their own, or I can address the systemic problems to alleviate future breakdowns. It takes time and effort, but in the long run it's what enables us to grow and reach more people for Christ.
For example, there have been a variety of communication breakdowns among ministry leaders over the last month at Cedarbrook. At first I was tempted to just see it as mistakes that people were making. But it's more than that. I think Cedarbrook hit the tipping point in communication. The system that got us this far has finally revealed its weakness. It's insufficient. In other words, it's not the individuals who are at fault as much as the system that we have in place.
My frustration has become a red flag to me if I am alert enough to see it. I have to step back and ask, "Is there a change/transition in process that's causing me to feel this way?" Any change implies a loss. What was is no longer. A simple email or touching base with someone on Sunday doesn't get the same response that it did in the early days of the church. That's a loss. Life is more complex requiring more attention on my part. That too is a loss. I have a choice (as we all do in these moments of transition), I can remain angry/frustrated and hope that current problems merely blow over and get better on their own, or I can address the systemic problems to alleviate future breakdowns. It takes time and effort, but in the long run it's what enables us to grow and reach more people for Christ.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Overcoming the Pain of Loss
This week I'm preparing to speak on grief and loss. I've come across a number of articles that I want to pass on to you if you are interested;
- Fording the River of Grief. This article gives a good overview of grief and how to approach it. http://bgea.com/DMag_Article.asp?ArticleID=527
- God in the Journey of Grief - an interview with Evelyn Husband, wife of the Challenger astronaut who was killed when the spaceship blew up. http://bgea.com/DMag_Article.asp?ArticleID=406
- When the Grief Stricken Get Grief Stuck. This piece helps people learn how to move through the stages of grief. http://www.ctlibrary.com/9844
Easter week is a time to reflect on Jesus' sufferings. It's also a good time to reflect on your personal sufferings and find God's healing.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Why Bother with Church?
If organized religion has problems, why bother with church? (see my post below). That's a question I honestly ask a lot. But I'll tell you why...
- God doesn't have any "only children". God has a family and he wants us together. We may not like our family at times, but he calls us to love each other and spend time together. Just like reunions bring children together who have parents in common, church brings people together who share a common faith in God.
- The church speaks truth into our lives (hopefully!). When we gather for a worship service or a cup of coffee with other believers, God uses each other to speak truth to each other. Truth keeps us close to God and close to each other. Truth encourages us and frees us to become the person that God called us to be.
- We can impact a community in significant ways when we all come together and pool our time, talent and finances. It's easy to become independent and self-centered. Church keeps our focus on being a blessing to others.
- People are attracted to God and added to the family when we work as a team to honor God with our lives.
There are many more reasons, but these are the ones that keep me coming back! If you think there are better things to do with your time I want to challenge you to join us at Cedarbrook for three months and see if it doesn't change your life. (I'm talking about more than Sunday morning. Get involved with a small group and find a place of service). Give God a chance to show you what he had in mind when he created the idea of church in the first place. My guess is that you'll come to the same conclusion that I have; the church is the hope of the world and I have to be a part of it.
The Problem with Organized Religion
I spent time with my brother this week. He really has trouble with church. It's not church so much. It's the people. He thinks there is a lot of phoniness associated with the church - a lot of people who talk about God and Jesus who never let it truly affect their lives. He's one of those people that doesn't like organized religion.
The funny thing is, neither do I! That may seem odd (being a pastor), but I know exactly what he's talking about. Organized religion can do strange things to people! I visited a church recently. It was fine. The music was good. The message was good. The people were nice. But there was phoniness. There was baggage - things in place that weren't necessary ...expectations, assumptions..."If you become a Christian you need to be like us." I know that from their perspective they were just seeking to develop community. They didn't see the baggage. But I did. And it was disappointing because I sat there thinking, "If my brother was here, he'd be so aware of the baggage he wouldn't be able to hear the truth of your words." There are millions of people like my brother who would love to be in church but they feel like attending would actually compromise their values. They want to know God better but they don't want to take on all the "extras" that church seems to require of them. So they keep their distance.
The sad thing is, I'm sure that Cedarbrook has it's own baggage. I just don't see it. But I pray for eyes to see the baggage so we can get rid of it. Our only purpose should be to help people connect with God and then let God connect us with each other. Community and commitment can't be forced by intimidation or obligation. They develop naturally as we find ourselves following Jesus together. Is that too much to expect?
The funny thing is, neither do I! That may seem odd (being a pastor), but I know exactly what he's talking about. Organized religion can do strange things to people! I visited a church recently. It was fine. The music was good. The message was good. The people were nice. But there was phoniness. There was baggage - things in place that weren't necessary ...expectations, assumptions..."If you become a Christian you need to be like us." I know that from their perspective they were just seeking to develop community. They didn't see the baggage. But I did. And it was disappointing because I sat there thinking, "If my brother was here, he'd be so aware of the baggage he wouldn't be able to hear the truth of your words." There are millions of people like my brother who would love to be in church but they feel like attending would actually compromise their values. They want to know God better but they don't want to take on all the "extras" that church seems to require of them. So they keep their distance.
The sad thing is, I'm sure that Cedarbrook has it's own baggage. I just don't see it. But I pray for eyes to see the baggage so we can get rid of it. Our only purpose should be to help people connect with God and then let God connect us with each other. Community and commitment can't be forced by intimidation or obligation. They develop naturally as we find ourselves following Jesus together. Is that too much to expect?
Friday, March 11, 2005
Is Faith for the Small Minded?
I read an article on John Travolta last Sunday (Life, March 4, 2005). They asked him about his interest in Scientology - a pseudo religion. He said, "Scientology is for people who want to think for themselves...it's the opposite of other religious philosophies, where you are told what to think." Hmmmm.
I've got two problems with that. First, it's good to be told what to think if you are in the dark about truth. Who wouldn't welcome that? Only the fool ignores truth when offered to him/her. Second, being told what to think doesn't preclude thinking all together. Once you are given the truth, then you can apply the truth in all of your reasoning. Receiving truth doesn't shut down thinking, it should expand it.
Travolta is reacting to what many have observed; that some Christians stop thinking when they believe (or other religious types as well). As much as I disagree with Travolta, I understand what promps his words. Sometimes faith is a cloud that descends on someone. Once that happens, they are worthless. You can guess their response to every question because they have been "programmed" to believe certain things. They simply spit out the "right" answer.
Travolta isn't alone. I recently read Harriette Cole's problem solving column in the St. Paul paper. Two people responded about the close-mindedness of Christians. One said, "I grew up with religion, but when I grew, I began to realize how irrational and unsupportive the whole system of religion is." And another protested, "Athiests believe in a moral society based on scientific truths, not a magical fantasy book that our slave-owning, witch-burning ancestors waved like a flag."
It's easy to discount these criticisms as "anti-God", but I think they are more anti - closemindedness than anything. We can show the world better than this. We don't have to be simplistic. I don't believe Jesus was. Simple answers are easy but God has never made convenience a priority to my knowledge. Some of the world's best thinkers have been strong believers in Jesus Christ. Let's follow their example and bring honor to our faith not ridicule.
I've got two problems with that. First, it's good to be told what to think if you are in the dark about truth. Who wouldn't welcome that? Only the fool ignores truth when offered to him/her. Second, being told what to think doesn't preclude thinking all together. Once you are given the truth, then you can apply the truth in all of your reasoning. Receiving truth doesn't shut down thinking, it should expand it.
Travolta is reacting to what many have observed; that some Christians stop thinking when they believe (or other religious types as well). As much as I disagree with Travolta, I understand what promps his words. Sometimes faith is a cloud that descends on someone. Once that happens, they are worthless. You can guess their response to every question because they have been "programmed" to believe certain things. They simply spit out the "right" answer.
Travolta isn't alone. I recently read Harriette Cole's problem solving column in the St. Paul paper. Two people responded about the close-mindedness of Christians. One said, "I grew up with religion, but when I grew, I began to realize how irrational and unsupportive the whole system of religion is." And another protested, "Athiests believe in a moral society based on scientific truths, not a magical fantasy book that our slave-owning, witch-burning ancestors waved like a flag."
It's easy to discount these criticisms as "anti-God", but I think they are more anti - closemindedness than anything. We can show the world better than this. We don't have to be simplistic. I don't believe Jesus was. Simple answers are easy but God has never made convenience a priority to my knowledge. Some of the world's best thinkers have been strong believers in Jesus Christ. Let's follow their example and bring honor to our faith not ridicule.
Monday, March 07, 2005
The Lure of E-Mail
I spoke on Sunday about internet pornography. Thankfully that's not a temptation to me. My biggest temptation is checking my e-mail! I office primarily out of my home (less distracting) and my computer is in our dining room (very central to our home). The computer screen seems to always be calling out to me.
There's something about mail that is alluring. As a kid, I always loved checking the mailbox. Back then, there wasn't much junk mail. If you got a letter it was usually hand written by someone you knew like grandma or someone. So I always had a sense of expectancy going to the maibox.
I feel that way when I open my yahoo account. I suppose it's because I'm a pastor that makes it exciting. I probably send and receive about 60 emails a day (total). I'm in contact with a lot of people and I'm often hearing good news. God is up to good things in a lot of lives. Other emails come from leaders with questions about their ministry. Sometimes I get emails from people across the country who read an article or sermon that I wrote and they want to thank me. Those are fun!
Knowing that there might be a mailbox with pressing questions or good news makes it hard for me to not check it frequently. It's addicting. I almost "need" to get that continual flow of information to be content. That's a little scary. So I started a new discipline. On Fridays (my new day off), I'm not going to check my email at all for 24 hours. I guess you can say it's a fast. I'm amazed how calming it is for me to stop the information flow. It's like not drinking coffee for a day. You don't get the buzz and your thoughts aren't bouncing around your head as fast as usual.
I share this because maybe you can ask yourself...What is it that I need to have flowing into me to be content? And ...What is it that God might be asking me to fast?
There's something about mail that is alluring. As a kid, I always loved checking the mailbox. Back then, there wasn't much junk mail. If you got a letter it was usually hand written by someone you knew like grandma or someone. So I always had a sense of expectancy going to the maibox.
I feel that way when I open my yahoo account. I suppose it's because I'm a pastor that makes it exciting. I probably send and receive about 60 emails a day (total). I'm in contact with a lot of people and I'm often hearing good news. God is up to good things in a lot of lives. Other emails come from leaders with questions about their ministry. Sometimes I get emails from people across the country who read an article or sermon that I wrote and they want to thank me. Those are fun!
Knowing that there might be a mailbox with pressing questions or good news makes it hard for me to not check it frequently. It's addicting. I almost "need" to get that continual flow of information to be content. That's a little scary. So I started a new discipline. On Fridays (my new day off), I'm not going to check my email at all for 24 hours. I guess you can say it's a fast. I'm amazed how calming it is for me to stop the information flow. It's like not drinking coffee for a day. You don't get the buzz and your thoughts aren't bouncing around your head as fast as usual.
I share this because maybe you can ask yourself...What is it that I need to have flowing into me to be content? And ...What is it that God might be asking me to fast?
Sermon Out-takes
Every week I have to throw out something from my sermon that I like. I think and read a lot all week and I REALLY want to cram it all into my sermon - but I just can't do it. Good thing we have to be out of the CineMagic by noon because it forces me to be concise! But I realized the other day that this blog is a good place to put those out-takes.
Last week I was talking about Romans 1 -3. Paul's making the point that we can't judge others because we all have issues. To us, those issues are minor. But to God they probably look fairly similar because he looks behind the behavior to the attitude of the heart. Didn't Jesus say that lust was equal to adultery and anger equal to murder?
I was thinking that if I asked God to send me the sins of my heart, I'd expect him to send me a short e-mail. But God would probably have to put it on a CD to hold all the files. I think that's a good idea of how far off I am when I am quick to overlook my sin and judge others. There's a lot more there than I think there is. How about you?
Last week I was talking about Romans 1 -3. Paul's making the point that we can't judge others because we all have issues. To us, those issues are minor. But to God they probably look fairly similar because he looks behind the behavior to the attitude of the heart. Didn't Jesus say that lust was equal to adultery and anger equal to murder?
I was thinking that if I asked God to send me the sins of my heart, I'd expect him to send me a short e-mail. But God would probably have to put it on a CD to hold all the files. I think that's a good idea of how far off I am when I am quick to overlook my sin and judge others. There's a lot more there than I think there is. How about you?
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Why I Try Not to Use the Word "Sin"
Not too long ago a new person at Cedarbrook wrote to us and said they probably weren't going to return often to Cedarbrook because they noticed that I purposefully used the word "mistakes" instead of the word "sin" in my sermon. I guess they saw that as a moral and theological compromise on my part. So, let me explain.
I often use synonyms or descriptive phrases for "sin" when I speak- for a very definite reason - the word "sin" carries all kinds of double meanings and baggage. I purposefully don't use it because I don't want someone assuming I mean "x" when I really mean "y". ( I do the same for other words like "Christian", "saved", sanctified, etc.)
For example, to many unchurched people (many whom attend Cedarbrook), "sin" implys that they are evil and therefore God doesn't like them. Sin is thought of in terms of "big" things like murder or adultery, etc. and not in terms of more hidden issues like greed or anger or envy.
Biblically, "sin" is falling short of God's glory - or perfection. That being true, every thing that I do is sin because I don't do anything perfectly. My understanding of sin is not exclusive (pointing the finger at bad people) but inclusive - meaning that I'm fully aware that we are all in the same boat and therefore need to work together to cling to Jesus for salvation.
If everyone understood sin like I do, I'd always use the word sin. But few do. Using the word "sin" brings more confusion and reinforces bad theology. So I rarely use it unless I've defined the word in context.
One thing very different about Cedarbrook, compared to other churches, is that we tailor everything (as much as possible) to be understood by unchurched, bibilically ignorant people. We don't "dumb things down" intellectually but we do try to use terms that everyone understands and can relate to. For some well churched people, it takes time getting used to this because they are more comfortable with a well established Christian vocabulary. But I'm very committed to speaking in a language that people can understand so they are drawn to God and do not prematurely reject him simply because they misunderstood a term used.
I often use synonyms or descriptive phrases for "sin" when I speak- for a very definite reason - the word "sin" carries all kinds of double meanings and baggage. I purposefully don't use it because I don't want someone assuming I mean "x" when I really mean "y". ( I do the same for other words like "Christian", "saved", sanctified, etc.)
For example, to many unchurched people (many whom attend Cedarbrook), "sin" implys that they are evil and therefore God doesn't like them. Sin is thought of in terms of "big" things like murder or adultery, etc. and not in terms of more hidden issues like greed or anger or envy.
Biblically, "sin" is falling short of God's glory - or perfection. That being true, every thing that I do is sin because I don't do anything perfectly. My understanding of sin is not exclusive (pointing the finger at bad people) but inclusive - meaning that I'm fully aware that we are all in the same boat and therefore need to work together to cling to Jesus for salvation.
If everyone understood sin like I do, I'd always use the word sin. But few do. Using the word "sin" brings more confusion and reinforces bad theology. So I rarely use it unless I've defined the word in context.
One thing very different about Cedarbrook, compared to other churches, is that we tailor everything (as much as possible) to be understood by unchurched, bibilically ignorant people. We don't "dumb things down" intellectually but we do try to use terms that everyone understands and can relate to. For some well churched people, it takes time getting used to this because they are more comfortable with a well established Christian vocabulary. But I'm very committed to speaking in a language that people can understand so they are drawn to God and do not prematurely reject him simply because they misunderstood a term used.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
The Offense of Grace
I'm continually amazed by grace. It's so complex and it's impact on people is astounding...not always in a good way.
Grace is troubling. It's not always what we want it to be. For the "sinner" grace doesn't lower the bar of God's standard. It doesn't let people off the hook or wink at their sin. Jesus still says, "Be holy for I am holy". That's hard for the "sinner" because they are ashamed of their failure and can't find the strength to obey. They hope that grace will simply forgive and forget.
For the "religious" grace is also hard. It's hard to hear that you and the sinner are seen by God as the same - that your works don't earn you any credit. It's hard to hear that the motives of everyone's heart are wicked and deceitful regardless of how we act. They like to think that they are better than "those people". They want to know that grace has been offered to them because they did something special in God's eyes.
Grace doesn't always make us warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it makes us bitter because we thought it was something that it's not.
But seen through the right lense grace forgives the "sinner" and empowers them to change. Grace gives them the second and third chance (and even more) than they really deserve to be given. And grace offers to them the power of God's Spirit to help them to do things that they never thought they were capable of doing. Rather than merely covering their sin, grace strengthens them to conquer sin. And even if they never achieve the ideal, they know that God accepts them based on Jesus' work on the cross, not their work on earth.
And for the religious, grace can melt their hard heart. It can give them insight into the hidden motives that they are too quick to ignore. Grace helps them to see that rather than being a "cut above" the rest that they share most things in common. Suddenly they are able to talk to the broken, the divorced, the abused, the homosexual, etc. because they see that they too are broken. They don't have it all together either and thankfully Jesus accepts them apart from their good works.
Whether you see yourself more as the "sinner" or the "religious" I hope you can push through the offense of grace and allow it to transform you into the person that God made you to be.
Grace is troubling. It's not always what we want it to be. For the "sinner" grace doesn't lower the bar of God's standard. It doesn't let people off the hook or wink at their sin. Jesus still says, "Be holy for I am holy". That's hard for the "sinner" because they are ashamed of their failure and can't find the strength to obey. They hope that grace will simply forgive and forget.
For the "religious" grace is also hard. It's hard to hear that you and the sinner are seen by God as the same - that your works don't earn you any credit. It's hard to hear that the motives of everyone's heart are wicked and deceitful regardless of how we act. They like to think that they are better than "those people". They want to know that grace has been offered to them because they did something special in God's eyes.
Grace doesn't always make us warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it makes us bitter because we thought it was something that it's not.
But seen through the right lense grace forgives the "sinner" and empowers them to change. Grace gives them the second and third chance (and even more) than they really deserve to be given. And grace offers to them the power of God's Spirit to help them to do things that they never thought they were capable of doing. Rather than merely covering their sin, grace strengthens them to conquer sin. And even if they never achieve the ideal, they know that God accepts them based on Jesus' work on the cross, not their work on earth.
And for the religious, grace can melt their hard heart. It can give them insight into the hidden motives that they are too quick to ignore. Grace helps them to see that rather than being a "cut above" the rest that they share most things in common. Suddenly they are able to talk to the broken, the divorced, the abused, the homosexual, etc. because they see that they too are broken. They don't have it all together either and thankfully Jesus accepts them apart from their good works.
Whether you see yourself more as the "sinner" or the "religious" I hope you can push through the offense of grace and allow it to transform you into the person that God made you to be.
Stories of Those Struggling with Homosexuality
I've read a number of excellent articles for my recent message that I thought you might enjoy reading yourself. Here are some links:
- My Path to Lesbianism http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/002/36.62.html . This article explains how a woman was led into the gay lifestyle from past hurts and how she was able to walk away.
- Cheated by the Affirming Church http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/012/36.50.html . The title tells you how this author feels about a church that chooses to only affirm homosexuals and not help them to change.
- No Easy Victory http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/003/2.50.html . This piece gives you good insight into the life of someone who struggles with same sex attraction even though he's tried everything he can do change.
Some of these articles also offer links to ministries that help Christians with their same sex attraction.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Speaking Truth or Opinion?
I've changed the way I preach. I often qualify what I speak by saying something like, "That's what I believe, now you have to ask God if it's true" or "You can believe what you want. Aren't you glad you don't have to answer to me?" Some people may think that that takes away from the power of preaching but I think it's a much more honest approach.
I grew up as a Christian listening to preachers that were convinced that every word they spoke was sent from heaven. Their passion and strong conviction impressed me. I believed everything they said and wanted to be just like them. But as years went by and I grew in my relationship to God I started to question my mentors. Some of the things they said were just plain wrong. I'm sure they thought they were right at the time but now with new information and new experiences under my belt, I could see that they were misguided.
Those experiences have made me cautious in both how I listen and how I speak. It's made me slow to buy everything I hear and temper my desire to proclaim "the truth". Not that I don't believe what I say is true, but I have to understand that I'm fallible. I hear things through my own filters and dysfunction. I do my best to check my thoughts against what other people have said but when it comes right down to it, only God knows the truth.
Now, there are some things that I'm rock solid about - the basics of the faith - Jesus coming and dying for our sins, etc. I'm talking more about how we apply our beliefs to daily life or maybe those debatable passages in scripture or doctrines of the church.
Occassionally someone will come up to me after I speak and say, "You really nailed that!" "That was exactly right!" I don't know how to respond because they may only be saying that they see life through the same filters that I do. Or then again, maybe I did get it exactly right!
My point in all of this is that in both speaking and listening we have to be humble. As much as it feeds our ego, we can't always be confident that we are proclaiming or hearing truth. We need to welcome the Spirit of God into our lives to show us what is true... it may take years for some things to click. Only then will we know if what was proclaimed was true or false.
I grew up as a Christian listening to preachers that were convinced that every word they spoke was sent from heaven. Their passion and strong conviction impressed me. I believed everything they said and wanted to be just like them. But as years went by and I grew in my relationship to God I started to question my mentors. Some of the things they said were just plain wrong. I'm sure they thought they were right at the time but now with new information and new experiences under my belt, I could see that they were misguided.
Those experiences have made me cautious in both how I listen and how I speak. It's made me slow to buy everything I hear and temper my desire to proclaim "the truth". Not that I don't believe what I say is true, but I have to understand that I'm fallible. I hear things through my own filters and dysfunction. I do my best to check my thoughts against what other people have said but when it comes right down to it, only God knows the truth.
Now, there are some things that I'm rock solid about - the basics of the faith - Jesus coming and dying for our sins, etc. I'm talking more about how we apply our beliefs to daily life or maybe those debatable passages in scripture or doctrines of the church.
Occassionally someone will come up to me after I speak and say, "You really nailed that!" "That was exactly right!" I don't know how to respond because they may only be saying that they see life through the same filters that I do. Or then again, maybe I did get it exactly right!
My point in all of this is that in both speaking and listening we have to be humble. As much as it feeds our ego, we can't always be confident that we are proclaiming or hearing truth. We need to welcome the Spirit of God into our lives to show us what is true... it may take years for some things to click. Only then will we know if what was proclaimed was true or false.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Taking Time to Have Fun
I was at a conference a few months ago and a friend stopped to talk to me. He said, "So, Remy, what are you doing for fun these days?" It was like a shot to the heart. I felt sad and embarrassed all at once. I said, "Tom, I don't do fun. I haven't figured out how to pursue excellence and fun at the same time."
My answer has haunted me ever since. I should be able to make time for fun but it seems like there is always one more person to see or another e-mail to return and my sermon can always use more work. So, just this week I made a big decision; I'm taking Mondays off - the whole day. I've always worked "just a few hours" on Monday mornings but one thing leads to another and I inevitably work the whole day. The only true time off I take is Friday mornings to be with Lisa. That's our "date" time together. That means that I'm not taking any personal time and I'm not getting any jobs done around the house. Not good. [Update; after more thought, I've made Monday a work day and I'm taking all of Friday off. If I don't work on Monday I'm buried by Tuesday!]
I don't say this to complain or beg sympathy or impress you with my hard work. I reveal this weakness of mine in case there are others out there doing the same thing. We've got to knock it off! We need to be asking each other the same question asked of me, "What are you doing for fun these days?" And then we have to go have some fun, even if it kills us!
It's taken a few months but I actually did something fun last night. I went skiing for the first time in about 20 years. I almost backed out at the last minute but I forced myself to go. On the first trip down I almost cried. It was so good to do something that I loved but couldn't seem to justify the time or expense. Plus I had a good time getting to know the friend who brought me. Skiing is a very relational time because you spend half the time talking on the chair lift. It was a great affirmation that I was doing the right thing. And I believe it will ultimately add excellence to my work because I will be more balanced in life and refreshed.
So, do me a favor, stop me every now and then and ask me what I'm doing for fun!
My answer has haunted me ever since. I should be able to make time for fun but it seems like there is always one more person to see or another e-mail to return and my sermon can always use more work. So, just this week I made a big decision; I'm taking Mondays off - the whole day. I've always worked "just a few hours" on Monday mornings but one thing leads to another and I inevitably work the whole day. The only true time off I take is Friday mornings to be with Lisa. That's our "date" time together. That means that I'm not taking any personal time and I'm not getting any jobs done around the house. Not good. [Update; after more thought, I've made Monday a work day and I'm taking all of Friday off. If I don't work on Monday I'm buried by Tuesday!]
I don't say this to complain or beg sympathy or impress you with my hard work. I reveal this weakness of mine in case there are others out there doing the same thing. We've got to knock it off! We need to be asking each other the same question asked of me, "What are you doing for fun these days?" And then we have to go have some fun, even if it kills us!
It's taken a few months but I actually did something fun last night. I went skiing for the first time in about 20 years. I almost backed out at the last minute but I forced myself to go. On the first trip down I almost cried. It was so good to do something that I loved but couldn't seem to justify the time or expense. Plus I had a good time getting to know the friend who brought me. Skiing is a very relational time because you spend half the time talking on the chair lift. It was a great affirmation that I was doing the right thing. And I believe it will ultimately add excellence to my work because I will be more balanced in life and refreshed.
So, do me a favor, stop me every now and then and ask me what I'm doing for fun!
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