Thoughts

Poverty Gospel

While on the subject of evaluating the messages being preaching amongst the Christian church, I cannot help by mention and critique a prevalent thought making its rounds through Christian media and print.  It seems that everywhere you go you hear words such as "compassion," "justice," and the like.  Sadly, the reasoning behind this movement is not as pure or as biblical as they are currently being communicated.

Quite simply, being poor and needy does inherently make you closer to God or more valuable in His sight.  We must not allow the hidden message of the “Social Justice” to prevail that somehow God always sides with the poor (See also “Liberation Theology”).  Yes, God does command a love and justice towards the poor, but this is not favoritism, it is mercy.  We are directed to care for the poor and needy because this is the posture of God towards all humanity.  Every one of us is spiritually depraved and incapable of saving ourselves; we need the mercy of another.  By caring for the hurting, we demonstrate the mercy of God towards humanity and encourage an attitude of gratitude inside of us towards God.

Please care for the sick and poor, but do not equate their suffering with inherent righteousness.  The only reason why the poor were more quickly to receive the message and ministry of God was that they KNEW they needed help.  It was not because they were poor or sick.  The religious, on the other hand, largely ignored the Gospel and suffered rebuke, not because they may have been wealthy or middle-class, but solely because they felt that they were either entitled to God’s favor or did not need His assistance.

We are all poor, and we are all called to model the ministry of God.  No one is better, or more inclined, to the favor of God.

Baptism Results

Oct. 17, 2011 - Baptism Challenge Results

Earlier this week the Lord challenged the church to trust Him to save more people.  Once again, He delivered above expectations!

Following an incredible service inside of PS144, the Church took to their homes and neighborhoods looking for the "one more" who Jesus wanted to save.  Numerous conversations were had, some jubilant and some tragic (like the one man who said he never wants to ever hear about Jesus), but were had for the glory of God and the salvation of His people.

When the baptism service began, the church was full of excited family and friends.  Venus, a young mommy of two beautiful girls, was the first to be baptized, and she shared an incredible story of how God saved her from her past and has given her a new identity and future.

Next was August, a former addict who comes from a nominal religious family who is more into mysticism and the occult than Jesus.  Initially coming to the church to question the pastor, he quickly realized Jesus was real and truly changes people.  Within months, Auggie became a Christian and regular of the church.  Auggie loves his church family and knows that only Jesus can save Him.

Before the night was over, we gave opporunity for anyone else to be baptized.  With absolute certainty, a young girl who had never visited the church before stepped up and proclaimed her desire to become a Christian and be baptized.  While knowing of Jesus and His church, she had not fully committed to Him before.  After seeing and hearing the Gospel and its effects, she knew it was time for her to give it all to Jesus.  Dalia jumped in the funky green water, clothes and all, and professed Jesus as her Lord and Savior!

Despite what you may have seen or heard, JESUS CHANGES PEOPLE.  All we need to do is give Him opportunity.

Baptism Challenge - Update

Oct. 14, 2011 - Update

This week's "Baptism Challenge" has been such a revelation for this church, and it's not even completed yet!  While some are taking advantages of the opportunity, many more are still hesitant to engage the Lost with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Guys, it is not about you and your ability.  We need to learn to trust Jesus for the opportunity, favor and results.

Allow me to share a little story from Acts 8:26-38...

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

...And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water!  What prevents me from being baptized?"  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

The Spirit said, "Go," Phillip obeyed and the man was saved.  Guys, we believe that Sunday, October 16, is going to be a big day at FHCC; but a lot hinges on your obedience.  Please keep stepping out in faith and ask people to believe in Jesus.  BE the CHURCH. 

The plan:  We are not looking for spiritual debates, we are simply seeking the Lost.  In every situation we want to give people the opportunity to both become a Christian and participate in water baptism.

Baptism and Membership Celebration

Sunday, Oct. 16 @ Genesis
5pm - 7pm
*Please bring a dish to share and friends are always welcome!

What Gosepl is this?

What has become of the Church?  I know that to some this post is going to sound negative and judgmental, but please hear me out.  I am terribly heart sick about the way the American church communicates the Gospel.  The Gospel is about Jesus, the Glory of God, not the majesty and wonder of man.  (Psalm 8:4: What is man that you are mindful of him?)  Yet, if you visit the American church, especially the ones labeled successful and large, you will walk away with the feeling that man is wonderful and exists as the purpose of God.  This is wrong and heretical.

Yes, God loves man and man has significant worth, but it is not infinite or inherent worth.  Man only has value because God has chosen to allow a reflection on His image to reside in man (Gen. 1:27).  Without God’s intentional will granting him worth and purpose, man is but dust and ashes.  Man is not praise worthy, God is.

Beyond this fact, there is still the chosen disposition of man.  God chooses to bless man with magnificent universal worth, and man responds with rebellion and consequential depravity.  Every person voluntarily sins against the Holy, Righteous God.  The price for this treason is not only spiritual and physical death, but shame, guilt and a marred conscience.  Man sucks.  Even when we come to know God through Christ, there is still a tendency and desire to rebel and manipulate His works as our own.  There is no ground whatsoever for man to be praised or highly regarded as a direct object of worship in our churches or theology.  All glory belongs to God who alone is infinitely and inherent good and worthy.  Yet, when you visit the American church all you hear and see is the praise of man, with God as his servant.

Yes, God loves you and wants you to have a better life; but this is not to come with an attitude of entitlement or superiority.  The kindness of God is to lead us to humility and His praise.  Yes, Jesus wants to make you better, healthier and happier, but according to His will and plan, not yours.  The wonder of the Gospel is God’s mercy and sacrifice for a sick, depraved and evil creature (a.k.a. man) that has been given EVERYTHING freely.  The Gospel is: You suck, God rocks.

Why, why, why do we kowtow to the sinful psyche of Humanism and promote man-centered and glorifying churches?  Why isn’t the Gospel enough?  Why do we, as redeemed and regenerated beings, allow the sinful ways and desires of our former lives to not only manipulate the Gospel, but also celebrate the twisted and corrupted views of others?  Why isn’t God’s glory and grace enough?  Why do we have to promote man over or beside God?

I would argue that the need for such is worldly acceptance (Rom. 1:24-25).  The American church is not satisfied with the applause and glory of God, but still longs for the acceptance of his society.  Christians and their leaders know that the world will not stand for worshipping God unless they, too, get something out of it.  So, we cut corners, twist the truth, or downplay the parts that might offend.  We feed man’s sin.  (And then we wonder why the American church is so lazy, uncompassionate and ineffective…)

I don’t want a big church if it isn’t centered on God’s Gospel.  I don’t want to pastor people who understand God as a gentle grandfather who overlooks sin and wrong behavior so as to spoil them.  I want a God who loving calls out my depravity, satisfies His wrath against me through His son, and then grants me new life and a fresh start through His indwelling Spirit.  I want a Gospel that promotes only what is GOOD.  The American version of the Gospel is not “Good News,” it’s sick.  It promotes wickedness and vanity.  This is horrible news!

Oh, God, do not allow me a spirit of bitterness and conceited judgment, but do grant me zeal for Your Name.  I know that I have no business judging those outside of the church, that is for you alone to do on the Final Day, but God grant me influence to lead Your people, if only a Holy Remnant (Rom. 11:5), back to You.  Father, may Your Gospel and Your glory always be enough for me.

Stepping Back and Learning

These past few weeks have been incredible.  Fall is here, hunting season is about to begin, the kids are happy and I've finally been able to enjoy the fullness of my family and ministry partners.  It wasn't that things were bad previously, it was only that I was not able to fully appreciate the gifts and ministries that God had given me outside of Forest Hills Church.  The way we were living over these past five years involved the ministry consuming my every thought.  Tragically, the result of such was an inability to enjoy the simplicity of mere fellowship with my family.  Sure, we spent time together and I was around more than most dads, but it wasn't "quality time."  We rarely just "hung out" and talked about each other and stupid stuff.  Instead, our time and conversations always revolved around something related to ministry or crisis.  It kills me to even write such things and know that I wasn't even aware of how bad things were getting.  It took a major shift in life and ministry to open my eyes to the reality I had created.

My situation is not unique.  Most of us never realize the lifestyle we are living and creating while we are immersed in it.  We get tunnel vision and ignore everyone and everything else in life or we become ignorantly optimistic and deceive ourselves into thinking "it's only for a season," while the "season" goes on for years.  It is no wonder that God has created the Sabbath for man.

A study of the Sabbath in Scripture is really pretty interesting.  Over and over again it is mentioned as one of THE commands of God and marks of a true believer.  However, outside of the commands of what not to do, the Scriptures are very silent about what a person should do on a day of rest.  I believe this is because the day is not about religious observance, but mere fellowship and appreciation.  We should be enjoying the persons and things God has given us without the distraction of the routine week. God knows that we're messed up people who really stink at prioritizing and/or appreciating our reality; therefore, He has given us the opportunity to step out of the routine and refocus.

I am grateful for the recent moves God has given my family and ministry.  I still do not fully understand everything, but some things are becoming clearer (and healthier).

Getting Out of the Way

When the Lord called us to go and plant a church in NYC, we knew it was ultimately going to become an indigenous church.  Christine and I may be the ones to give oversight for a season, but the long term success would have to come from local people embracing the responsibilities and opportunities that come with being part of a church.  Gratefully, many of those we have ministered to have "stepped up," but more are needed.

Churches are not McDonald's.  You do not simply buy franchising rights, a cookie-cutter business and advertising model, and open up shop.  Instead, you need to work within the culture context of the church and its location to develop the right method and mindset that the Lord will use to save and reform people into a new and godly entity.  The culture of NYC is dynamic and involves a lot of dependency on others.  It's not that they people are lazy or incapable, but rather that they have been taught to look to others.

In NYC, the government runs everything and often businesses and landlords impose a mentality of "them and us."  There is a HUGE divide between worker and employer, landlord and leasee.  In short, people are not likely to take initiative or ownership of much, but rather let the "professionals" or those in charge do the work.  It's really sad and destructive.  So many people are being hindered from achieving all that they could because of this belittling mindset and culture.  And this is especially true inside of the local Christian church. 

Getting people to take ownership and initiative of the ministries inside the church is difficult, but they must.  We've appointed, trained and encouraged many over the years, but the culture of "ineptness" is very strong.  Bringing in outsiders only makes things worse and encourages the mindset that it takes a professional to do the work.  We studied other models and read lots of books to no avail.  This past summer we spent three months studying the early church of Acts 1-2 and reminding all of the Holy Spirit's power to make all "ministers and priests" (I Peter 3).   Yet, five years later and only a few are sharing in the ministries of teaching, administration, janitorial, evangelist, and discipleship.  The only thing we haven't tried is getting out of the way completely...until now.

After much prayer and counsel, Christine and I will begin stepping out completely from the local church in Forest Hills.  This is not to say that "we quit," but rather that we endorse those inside the church to do the ministry of the church.  It has already been five-weeks since making this transition and the results are positive.  Small groups are forming and new people are coming into the church.  We are still giving oversight to the "big picture," but we are leaving the day to day operations to the locals.  Our ministry has gone from pouring into the community, to now pouring into the new leadership.  In many ways this is a more difficult and demanding task than before, but it is so worth it!  Again, new people are being saved and Christians are being empowered to trust the Holy Spirit even more.

Maybe sometimes we just need to get out of the way...

I'll Fight You and Give You a Bible (!!)

When I saw my drunk confrontational friend sitting with two other hipsters, I knew it was going to be a good night.  As I asked to get a minute with my friend, the other two immediately asked me to sit down and join them.  And as I began speaking to the guy I know about the Holy Spirit telling me to come back and give him a bible, the table literally lit up!

The guy immediately took the bible and began looking it over while the other two began twenty questions.  As it turns out, they were your typical post-modern 20-somethings who were not against Jesus, but were against Christianity and the church.  What threw them, however, was that I was young, carrying a bible without a name tag and uniform and talked about Jesus like HE really mattered to me, personally.  I didn't freak out about their questions or begin apologizing for mistakes I personally never made.  Instead, i talked about my Lord, Savior, God and Friend, Jesus.

The conversation lasted over and hour and ended with the original guy remaining indifferent towards Jesus, but his two drinking friends contemplating Jesus.  It was they who agreed to take and read the bible I was offering, and they even mentioned that they would check out a local church.  It was an incredible night and I was blessed to walk out with not only my teeth, but three new friends!

In hindsight, I have no regrets for how the night was handled or the results that came about.  This is not because I did everything perfect, but rather that I did a few things right like listen to the Holy Spirit, defend Jesus and love strangers.  I say all of this not to brag, but rather to boast about the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit.  It was Him who gave me love, compassion, wisdom and resolve.  It was Him who opened the eyes of the people in conversation.  It was all about Him.

Too many Christians are too busy operating in the flesh with Christian motives.  This does not work.  Doing Christian things in the manner that the world does them, or with an attitude of fear, accomplishes little to nothing.  What the world needs is the power of the Holy Spirit.  What made my conversation different from the many these young people have had with other Christians was the power of the Holy Spirit.

I know this post is full of assumptions, but please consider it.  Please consider how often you do or do not evangelize.  If you don't share your faith, then I think you may have proven my point...  If you do, then please consider the response of you and those you engage.  Is it you doing to work or is it the Holy Spirit?

I've written enough posts this month alone to solidify my case that I am nothing and He is everything.  I am so humbled that I not only get to be a missionary and church planter to NYC, but that I get to be a Christian for Jesus and receive the promise of the eternal Spirit residing and empowering my daily life.  Thank you, Jesus, and save many more!