Saturday, December 20, 2008
Dance The Night Away
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Value of Community
The second of our Core Values at Campus Church is COMMUNITY.
THE STORY: Let’s go back…way back. It’s Friday night and there’s a message on my answering machine when I get home from work. I expected there to be one. It’s Ashaun letting me know that we were going to hook up at “The Guy’s” house to worship and pray before we went out that night. I pick up a few of the guys and we head over to the guy’s apartment and look at 12-15 smiling faces, hugs, and blessings moving about the room like a cloud. Ashaun grabs a guitar and prayer commences before he strikes the first chord. The most amazing time of worship and prayer follows.
After an hour or so we stop and try to decide where we are going. As we are talking one of the guys mentions how God miraculously caused his empty tank of gas to get him through the week and one of the other guys mentions that they are still short on the electric bill. Everyone in the room jumps at the opportunity. Wendy and Jackie are fast on the draw of their Senior in high school allowance money, Kenny whips out a 10 spot, and before 2 minutes pass us by, the guy’s needs are taken care of- followed by a swift rebuke to get a steady job and we continue to discuss where we are going that night. We decide on The Dreaded Bulldog…a new coffee shop on May & Britton(or something like that).
We are all excited about what could happen…after all, 12-15 Christians supercharged by the Holy Spirit are about to go out and brag on Jesus as we are loving on people. We show up and have no need to try to draw attention to ourselves…remember there are 12-15 of us and we are all grins and blessings. We sit down and soon a conversation with a group of drunk high schoolers embarks. Everyone is sharing their testimony of how it came to be that they fell in love with Jesus. Before long it turns into an event that engages the entire coffee shop and conviction begins to appear on the faces of the drunk high school students.
The following day a few of those kids walk the aisle of their local church and get saved. I know what had happened the following morning because one of those high school kids recognized me on OU’s campus about 5 years after the fact. My wife Jamie and I were on the campus, again talking to folks about our love for Jesus and a seaming stranger asked me if I remembered him from 5 years before at the Dreaded Bulldog. He told Jamie and I about the decision that he and his friend had made that following morning in the church that their family had been involved in.
THE EXAMPLE: The event described above is in no way being offered as having equal standing with the incredible since of community enjoyed by the primitive Church in the book of Acts. This event is being describe because we believed that the since of community enjoyed by the primitive Church was just as rightfully ours at this time as it was theirs in their time. We as a community of believers made a priority of embracing the teachings and example of Jesus which enabled the primitive gathering of followers to not only imagine but enjoy an incredible and miraculous exhibition of Christian Community. Let’s go back…way back via Acts 2:42-47…
THE NOT SO HIDDEN TRUTH: So let’s look at these verses as students instead of as professors and see what we can learn.
1) v. 42 And THEY devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2) v. 44 And all who believed were TOGETHER and had all things in common.
3) v. 45 And THEY were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need.
4) v. 46 And day by day attending the temple TOGETHER and breaking bread in their homes they received their food with glad and generous hearts.
Notice the plurality and totality of the events that they shared and experienced TOGETHER. Learning, communion, prayer, distribution of resources to those who were in need, worship…on and on. They shared life TOGETHER and did it “day by day” or in other words they did in constantly. These events that they chose to share and experience together were not mere introspective indulgences. These events brought more and more, thousands of more and more into the kingdom.
5) v. 47 and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
LIGHT THE FIRE!: This substance of community that I am talking about is the substance that builds “a city on a hill that cannot be hidden” This is the substance of “a lamp on a stand that gives light to all in the house.” This is the substance that “so shines before others that when they see it, they glorify God.”
WE THE PEOPLE: Recently I heard a friend of mine was explaining to a group of international students here in the US that we as Americans do not value community in our culture in the same way that they might have enjoyed it in their own countries where they came from. Many of these students came from cultures where it was not necessary to call before they show up at a neighbors house. In other cultures it is also expected that meals would be shared with others and not alone or with immediate family only. In fact in certain areas of India the evening meal is what occupies the duration of time until night and you can expect people to come and go from your house during this meal as you yourself might go into other houses during this time. Daryl (my friend) apologized to the students the we as Americans value our privacy and that they should not expect such notions of hospitality here as they did in their own countries. He explained that it is very important that you call and make appointments instead of expecting to spend time with others. We are very task driven and not relationally driven as a culture.
THE CHALLENGE: My challenge here is this…look intently into the message of the Kingdom and be resolved to model your expectations and actions upon the orders and models provided to us through the Lord’s teachings and the example given to us by the churches that followed. You will be cheating if you are looking at the model provided for you by the church down the street…I mean Biblical models (no offense Mister Church Down the Street, I’m not doing so good myself in this area). So let’s go start some fires on hilltops and bring some glory to Jesus through some visible Jesus lovin’ people servin’ community.
We value a faith that is shared and experienced through tight bonds of friendship and giving.Bear with me as I charter the waters of Christian Community. Well, I hope you can do a better job than just “bearing with me”. I hope you catch a fever for experiencing it!
THE STORY: Let’s go back…way back. It’s Friday night and there’s a message on my answering machine when I get home from work. I expected there to be one. It’s Ashaun letting me know that we were going to hook up at “The Guy’s” house to worship and pray before we went out that night. I pick up a few of the guys and we head over to the guy’s apartment and look at 12-15 smiling faces, hugs, and blessings moving about the room like a cloud. Ashaun grabs a guitar and prayer commences before he strikes the first chord. The most amazing time of worship and prayer follows.
After an hour or so we stop and try to decide where we are going. As we are talking one of the guys mentions how God miraculously caused his empty tank of gas to get him through the week and one of the other guys mentions that they are still short on the electric bill. Everyone in the room jumps at the opportunity. Wendy and Jackie are fast on the draw of their Senior in high school allowance money, Kenny whips out a 10 spot, and before 2 minutes pass us by, the guy’s needs are taken care of- followed by a swift rebuke to get a steady job and we continue to discuss where we are going that night. We decide on The Dreaded Bulldog…a new coffee shop on May & Britton(or something like that).
We are all excited about what could happen…after all, 12-15 Christians supercharged by the Holy Spirit are about to go out and brag on Jesus as we are loving on people. We show up and have no need to try to draw attention to ourselves…remember there are 12-15 of us and we are all grins and blessings. We sit down and soon a conversation with a group of drunk high schoolers embarks. Everyone is sharing their testimony of how it came to be that they fell in love with Jesus. Before long it turns into an event that engages the entire coffee shop and conviction begins to appear on the faces of the drunk high school students.
The following day a few of those kids walk the aisle of their local church and get saved. I know what had happened the following morning because one of those high school kids recognized me on OU’s campus about 5 years after the fact. My wife Jamie and I were on the campus, again talking to folks about our love for Jesus and a seaming stranger asked me if I remembered him from 5 years before at the Dreaded Bulldog. He told Jamie and I about the decision that he and his friend had made that following morning in the church that their family had been involved in.
THE EXAMPLE: The event described above is in no way being offered as having equal standing with the incredible since of community enjoyed by the primitive Church in the book of Acts. This event is being describe because we believed that the since of community enjoyed by the primitive Church was just as rightfully ours at this time as it was theirs in their time. We as a community of believers made a priority of embracing the teachings and example of Jesus which enabled the primitive gathering of followers to not only imagine but enjoy an incredible and miraculous exhibition of Christian Community. Let’s go back…way back via Acts 2:42-47…
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.THE DOUBTERS: The subject at hand is community, and the importance of the church doing community well. I have heard messages and discussions about the visible community demonstrated in Acts 2.42-47 that were not favorable toward this first ingathering of saints, but believed that these guys were really missing the mark. Some say that the church was suffering from a Pinko Communist agenda that led God to punishing the church by means of persecution. Others have said that the church fell victim to a introspective indulgence of mere inward concern. Now these are both wild extremes but the truth is this...we can be unnecessarily intimidated by passages like this. At this time if you would, just sign over your mortgage to me, along with the title of your car...I'M JUST KIDDING! JUST KIDDING. The life of faith that the disciples had come to know was a life that was shared and experienced with Jesus. They traveled together, they ate together, they did ministry together, and they suffered together. Jesus taught them to share their lives and resources with people who had need. Jesus promised them that through this love, the world would know that He lives among them.
(Acts 2:42-47)
THE NOT SO HIDDEN TRUTH: So let’s look at these verses as students instead of as professors and see what we can learn.
1) v. 42 And THEY devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2) v. 44 And all who believed were TOGETHER and had all things in common.
3) v. 45 And THEY were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need.
4) v. 46 And day by day attending the temple TOGETHER and breaking bread in their homes they received their food with glad and generous hearts.
Notice the plurality and totality of the events that they shared and experienced TOGETHER. Learning, communion, prayer, distribution of resources to those who were in need, worship…on and on. They shared life TOGETHER and did it “day by day” or in other words they did in constantly. These events that they chose to share and experience together were not mere introspective indulgences. These events brought more and more, thousands of more and more into the kingdom.
5) v. 47 and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
LIGHT THE FIRE!: This substance of community that I am talking about is the substance that builds “a city on a hill that cannot be hidden” This is the substance of “a lamp on a stand that gives light to all in the house.” This is the substance that “so shines before others that when they see it, they glorify God.”
WE THE PEOPLE: Recently I heard a friend of mine was explaining to a group of international students here in the US that we as Americans do not value community in our culture in the same way that they might have enjoyed it in their own countries where they came from. Many of these students came from cultures where it was not necessary to call before they show up at a neighbors house. In other cultures it is also expected that meals would be shared with others and not alone or with immediate family only. In fact in certain areas of India the evening meal is what occupies the duration of time until night and you can expect people to come and go from your house during this meal as you yourself might go into other houses during this time. Daryl (my friend) apologized to the students the we as Americans value our privacy and that they should not expect such notions of hospitality here as they did in their own countries. He explained that it is very important that you call and make appointments instead of expecting to spend time with others. We are very task driven and not relationally driven as a culture.
THE CHALLENGE: My challenge here is this…look intently into the message of the Kingdom and be resolved to model your expectations and actions upon the orders and models provided to us through the Lord’s teachings and the example given to us by the churches that followed. You will be cheating if you are looking at the model provided for you by the church down the street…I mean Biblical models (no offense Mister Church Down the Street, I’m not doing so good myself in this area). So let’s go start some fires on hilltops and bring some glory to Jesus through some visible Jesus lovin’ people servin’ community.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Value of Truth
FINDING TRUTHHave you ever received a forwarded email that contained political or gut wrenching content? You know the stuff I'm talking about. The stuff that keeps snopes.com alive. I find it hard to believe that the content finds a following of loyal patrons who FIND THE CONTENT BELIEVABLE. Here's an example (I am not using this example to support a presidential candidate.)
"Obama Explains National Anthem Stance: ...Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played...Obama explains. "And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all...I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.""
Uh Really! Did he say that to reporters? This quote was originally written as a "Satiracal Look at Recent News" by John Semmens for the Arizona Conservative in Oct of 2007. Now it's being forwarded to every grandchild in the nation as truth. How bout a little girl on her death bed who's last wish is to have her poem forwarded to as many people as possible because a concerned tycoon is dumping money into the cancer fund for each time the email is forwarded. That's gross...this example is also a lie. There never was a little girl who wrote a poem and made a dying request associated with a brokered deal with a philanthropist who would finance the cure for cancer based upon our effort to forward a heart wrenching poem throughout the world abroad.
CORE VALUE NUMBER 1
We value the unchanging truth of God revealed through Jesus Christ in His Word and by His Spirit.
UNCHANGING:
The Word of God is unlike culture, trends of humanity, or even nature itself...The Word of God is UNCHANGING.
..."All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
(1Peter 1:24-25)
When you look at the history of humanity you will find a history of changing cultures and trends that define people groups from all over the world. Cultures change, trends are changing, knowledge even changes. Things that have been considered truth in one generation have been proven false in the next generation. For example there are ancient cultures who believed the world was supported by a great elephant in the heavens and not suspended in space by unseen foundations of Jesus' sustaining power. Man at his best arrives at inconsistencies of truth in nature and philosophy. Man at his worst will equate lies with truth and utterly destroy those who have chosen to listen. There is beauty to behold in man, but it is not to be compared with the unchangeable and eternal nature of truth that has come from God. I am continually amazed at the knowledge and direction that has been given to me from Gods truth. This truth has brought me to a place of satisfaction in this life. Whether I am referring to drug addiction, science, hope, marriage, parenting etc, etc, etc, I have been reveling in the gift of truth given to me by God through His Word and have myself experienced amazing summits of joy and satisfaction. On the other hand, I find even Christians today that have chosen to allow cultures and trends to define truth for them are buried in the grave of depression and frustration both as individuals and families. Truth from God is both timeless and has unchanging relevancy.
REVEALED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST:
The Word of God has been revealed to mankind in it's entirety and completely in the Person of Jesus Christ throughout the ages.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John 1:14)
Have you ever wondered what God is really like. Philip asked Jesus this question and Jesus was like "duh"...well in so many words, maybe something more like "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? The book of John in the Bible opens up with this amazing and profound reality which makes it very clear to us that God has revealed himself to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ from the beginning of time. The book reads "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)" The very God who spoke life into existence has descended as a man and has shown us the clearest embodiment of truth not only in His words, but His life, His relationships, His power, and most importantly...His love.
REVEALED BY THE WRITTEN WORD:
The Truth has been revealed and preserved to mankind in written form by men who have been particularly appointed by God.
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
(Exodus 24:4)
In this verse the name of the man who had written the books of the law is identified. The truth of God has been recorded in written form for us. God has chosen to preserve, in written form, the events of His words and actions that He deemed necessary in order for mankind to truly understand and know Him. These words and actions have been preserved from the beginning of time and written from the time of Moses. God's word has been written through the lives of prophets, priests, kings, and apostles, but most importantly in the last days God has revealed his truth through the person and words of Jesus the Messiah. The entirety of the Bible is the written and preserved revelation of God.
REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST:
The truth of God is taught and revealed to followers of Jesus by the miraculous presence of Jesus Christ through his Spirit.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
(John 14:16-17)
If it is not amazing enough that the truth of God has been written down for us that we might know Jesus, then we ought to tremble at the thought that the very word that we are reading will come alive in all who believe in Jesus. The truth of God is alive. It is the truth of God spoken by the mouth of Jesus who has not only created the world that we live in, but sustains it by the same spoken word. There is nothing magical about the paper and ink of the Bible, but the power that rests in the source is far greater than magic. God has not only chosen to speak and reveal truth to us but to make this truth alive in us through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus are not merely taught in the sense that we have all had teachers with us in different areas of our life, we are transformed and instructed by truth that is alive in us.
A final charge...
A final challenge to myself and all of us is this. Embrace the word of God with confidence and resolve. Resolve to embrace it as timeless and without need for change. Allow the truth to mold you, instruct you, and correct you in it's plainest and simplest intention as it is written. What a joy and satisfaction we have in front of us with God's truth being freely given to all who believe.
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