Thoughts on Ferguson, MO

As Christians, we ought to weep for the loss of life in this situation, and we ought to pray for peace in the streets of Ferguson and for justice to be done in this case.

We ought to be reminded though that in a racially divided world, the church of Jesus Christ ought not simply to advocate for racial reconciliation; we ought to embody it. We ought to speak to the structures of society about principles of morality and righteousness, but we also ought to model those principles in our congregations. The quest for racial reconciliation comes not just through proclamation but through demonstration.

The church, the Apostle Paul said, is a sign of God’s manifold wisdom, to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:10). When God joined together in one church, those who are both Jewish and Gentile, he was doing more than negating the bad effects of ethnic strife. He was declaring spiritual warfare. When those who the world thinks should hate each other, instead love each other, the church is testifying that our identity is in Jesus Christ (Col. 3:11).

-excerpt from article "Ferguson and the Quest for Racial Justice" by Russell Moore.
 http://www.russellmoore.com/2014/08/14/ferguson-and-the-quest-for-racial-justice/

Our Riches in Christ

This comes from one of my favorite preachers and authors, Timothy Keller:

Imagine you're a billionaire, and you have three ten-dollar bills in your wallet. You get out of a cab, and you hand the driver one of the bills for an eight-dollar fare. Later in the day you look in and find out there's only one ten-dollar bill there, and you say, "Either I dropped a ten-dollar bill somewhere, or I gave the taxi driver two bills."

What are you going to do? Are you going to get all upset? Are you going to the police and demand they search the city for the cabdriver? No, you are going to shrug. You're a billionaire. You lost ten dollars. So what? You are too rich to be concerned about that kind of loss.

This week, somebody criticized you. Something you bought or invested in turned out to be less valuable than you thought. Something you wanted to happen didn't go the way you wanted it to—these are real losses. But what are you going to do, if you're a Christian? Will this setback disrupt your contentment with life? Will you shake your fist at God? Toss and turn at night? If so, I submit that it's because you don't know how truly rich you are. If you're that upset about your status with other people, if you're constantly lashing out at people for hurting your feelings, you might call it a lack of self-control or a lack of self-esteem, and it is. But more fundamentally, you have totally lost touch with your identity. As a Christian, you're a spiritual billionaire and you're wringing your hands over ten dollars.

Tim Keller, The Two Advocates (Encounters with Jesus Series) (Penguin Group, 2014), Kindle Locations 242-244

Finding Calcutta

Mother Theresa is best known for serving the poor for many years in Calcutta. As other missionaries would come to see her work, they would often want to stay and work alongside her. Here was her response:

“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.” Mother Teresa (1910-1997); Founder Of The Missionaries Of Charity

Recently 15 people from Bellwood Church served in Hindman, Kentucky with a ministry called SWAP; "Sharing With Appalachian People". It is a home repair ministry that serves low-income families in several counties of southeastern Kentucky and West Virginia.We spent a week getting to know homeowners who have called that area home all of their lives. We did work for them such as repair roofing, flooring, and painting. It wasn't always easy or the best working conditions but it was great to serve and connect with the folks.

It was an amazing contrast - the beauty of the mountains surrounding the poverty of the people. I would do it again in a heartbeat because I have  found my Calcutta.

3 Signs That God is Moving in Your Church

There’s no way to manufacture a move of God. Yes, we follow God’s heart and the Spirit’s leading to plan, pray and prepare in faith that God will move though all we do, but only He can make the move.
At times, we may be tempted to “hype” things up to give the appearance that God is moving, (nothing wrong with passion and excitement) but how do we know it’s God? We see these 3 things:
1- Tears
When God moves in a church, there are outward signs of what is occurring in the hearts and lives of those we’re pouring into. And one of the most obvious, is tearful responses to the truth that is given in it’s many forms. Have the kleenex handy!
2- Talent
When God is moving, or about to move in a church, He breaks the ground with new spiritual talent. God understands His church needs leaders and workers to hold the Kingdom harvest that He is about to unleash.
So watch and listen closely for others God is “planting” among you, even if they sound or look different than what you wanted or expected.
3- Time
The fire and passion that accompanies a “God Vision” brings the sacrifice of time to the equation. Enthusiaism creates buy in to the point others are willing to serve and give of their time sacrificially because they see the manifestation of their labor not just the desired outcome.

This article is attributed to Artie Davis; Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Orangeburg, SC.

Lessons from Mayberry

One of my all-time favorite shows is "The Andy Griffith Show". I own all of the episodes on DVD and watch them with my family. We have memorized many of the lines and now have our "Mayberry language". I came across this piece that I found interesting. It is "Seven Tips for the Church from Mayberry"

1. Never carry a gun
Andy could keep the peace, protect the innocent and catch the bad guys…without a gun.
In the church world, we could learn from that. People don’t respond very well to force or a show of force. If we are patient and let others “catch it” and not force it, we will see a greater return.
2. Be loyal to your right-hand
Andy was very loyal to Barney. It didn't matter how many mistakes he would make, Andy believed in him, and Barney became better because of Andy’s investment in him.
3. Don’t be defensive
I never saw Andy get offended when someone didn't go with his idea or would out right criticize it. Being defensive is a sure sign of immaturity and pride. If it’s God’s thing, then let Him take an offense at the lack of faith on the part of some, we aren't given that right.
4. Be Deeply involved in the community
No matter what was going on, Andy showed his support. In doing so, he earned the right to lead others outside and inside the community. People go to where they are loved. The more involved we are in the lives of those around us, who aren't in the Kingdom, the more likely it is they will become members of the kingdom!
5. Befriend the “crazies” 

Do you remember Earnest T. Bass? The little crazy guy always running around throwing rocks? It seemed no one liked him but Andy. And Andy was the only one he would listen to. Love the un-loveable.
6. Never show partiality
Andy never spoke ill of anyone, rather he accepted all as equals no matter their beliefs or creed, or color. People are drawn to those that accept the just as they are! Now there is a huge difference between acceptance and approval. We must accept everyone, even though we may not approve of their decisions or lifestyle. Jesus did that very thing!
7. Always love first
Andy was a great example of not just loving in word, but also in deed. If we are to radically change our communities and grow the Kingdom of God, Love will be preeminent. Love is at the core and essence of God’s heart.

Being the Church

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Anti-Violence in Book of Revelation

Ever wonder why all the violent images are in the book of Revelation? If we believe God is love, how do you make sense of the "blood-bath" that is pictured? Biblical scholar, Greg Boyd gives an eye-opening understanding:

All the violent scenes in Revelation are symbols for the battle of truth and deception.  They never involve literal violence. In fact, they symbolize ANTI-VIOLENCE. The ingenious way John helps us get free of deception of trust in violent power is by taking a standard violent symbol and juxtaposing it with a symbol that undermines its violence and reverses its violent meaning. 

An interesting example of this is when John introduces the mysterious 144,000, which represent the army that fights with the Lamb. They are introduced in Revelation 7: 4: “Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.” The 144,000 was a well known Jewish symbol of the army that would accompany the Messiah in a violent uprising against Israel’s foes to restore Israel to its place as a sovereign nation. But this image of violence gets turned on its head. 

One example of this is found in Revelation 7:14: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” If you read Revelation literally, you have to wonder how washing a robe in blood could make it white. Taken literally its absurd, but interpreted symbolically its profound because this washing of the robes is a Jewish military metaphor. To be covered with another’s blood rendered you ceremonially unclean, so when Jewish warriors came back from battle covered with the blood of their enemies, they had to go through a purification bathing process before they could reenter society. Instead of washing OFF the blood of foes to become clean, these warriors are made clean by being washed IN blood – and it’s the blood of the one they followed into battle!

Many scholars believe John is not simply saying their sins are washed away by the blood of the lamb, though that is of course true. He is also saying that this army wears white linen because they shared in the blood of the Lamb. They were willing to suffer with Christ.  As it says in chapter 14, this 144,000 was willing to “follow the lamb wherever he goes,” even to the cross. While the standard image of the army of 144,000 following their messiah into battle was based on Babylon’s sword power, John has turned it on its head to communicate slain lamb power — the power of self-sacrificial love.

We are indeed part of an army, but not one that wins by shedding blood: we win by shedding our blood, just as Jesus did.

- See more at: http://reknew.org/2014/03/how-revelation-uses-violent-images-in-an-anti-violent-way/?