Book Review: The Next Christians

I highly recommend the book "The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America" to all church leaders and Christians who are looking for hope for the church and God's kingdom. As a pastor I am seeking to understand the next generation and world around us. Lyons' book gives great insight to both. He challenges the reader not follow the latest fad but to return living and telling the full Biblical story. He reminds us that the story is not just fall and redemption. The whole story is creation, fall, redemption, restoration, and consummation. He invites Christian to move beyond the idea that they have their "ticket punched" for heaven to joining with God and others in restoration. Some of his examples will make the average Christian uncomfortable. The reality is we have become too comfortable. If you are looking for greater encounter with God and His missional purposes in the world, you will want to read this book.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Jay Cutler and Sports Fans

In the world of professional sports Jay Cutler committed the unforgivable sin. He left a game with an injury. Well not just any game. The winner goes to the Super bowl. Unfortunately for Jay he will be judged and vilified by many of us that sit in the comfort of our living rooms. As we snack our way in to greater obesity we complain about Cutler’s heart. “He doesn’t have a compound fracture. He is able to stand and walk without a limp.” As if being able to stand and walk means you can play quarterback in the NFL. Hopefully, for his sake, the MRI will show that he has a severely torn ACL. Anything short of that will be unacceptable. A man who has taken more sacks than anyone else in the NFL this year will be labeled a sissy. A man who has no problem throwing into triple coverage after an interception will be judged for his lack of confidence. A man that has the respect of his teammates and recklessly throws his own body around will be judged to have no heart.
Why would we judge Cutler so harshly? Is it our quest for entertainment at any cost? Is it so we can feel as though we have personally accomplished something great? Or because the team we root for beat another team? Maybe it is the fact that he gets paid millions of dollars. With the cost to have him on the team, we expect him to risk life and limb. We expect him to ignore any conventional wisdom, including the professional medical staff on the side line. No, with that kind of money, nothing short of being carried off on a stretcher is acceptable. As a Bears fan, I hope Jay is on our team next year. If Brian Urlacher and Olin Kreutz say Jay Cutler is a tough player and was too injured to play, I’ll go with them over the guy sitting on his couch eating his potato chips. I do not have enough information to judge his heart or integrity. Those with more in-depth knowledge and different expectations, judge away. It is still a free country.
I do have some thoughts and questions that remain for those of us who call ourselves Christians. One can easily argue that Mr. Cutler and every other professional athlete are ridiculously overpaid. I will agree on that. But I have to ask, did God pay a ridiculous amount to purchase us and our salvation? Revelation 5:9 tells us that it is with Jesus’ blood we have been purchased. If the price paid corresponds to the expectation for the payee, how are we doing?
Reality may show that Cutler could have played and we may question his heart because he should have known the importance of the game. But let’s be consistent. Jesus indicates that we will be judged in the same way we judge others (Matt 7:2). Our churches would radically change the world if we lived up to half the expectations we place on professional athletes. We are involved in something way more important than a football game. We are talking about the kingdom of God and eternity. Seriously, when was the last time you stayed up late studying the game plan (Bible) and preparing (praying) against the enemy’s attacks? Do you play hurt or do you abandon God and his people because some other Christian has offended you? Do you sacrifice for the team (church) or are you an individual player? (i.e. I am Christian but not part of a church)
Jesus Christ didn’t invite people to hang out in a stadium (church building). He didn’t invite them to put on a jersey (place membership in a church). There is nothing wrong with those things. But we have been invited to something greater. Jesus invited people to deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow Him. He said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” He said, “Follow Me, I will give you treasures in Heaven. I will give you a place in the kingdom.” "He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do” “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." In another place he said, “go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” I realize we need to contextualize that, but I am sure whatever it means it is a far cry from how most of us live. Most of us have bought so much we have nothing to give to the poor and, in fact, we are in debt. How are you doing? Are we living up to the standards we place on other people?
At a critical point in the life of Jesus one of his closest friends denies Him. Not once, but three times. Talk about losing heart. Talk about letting the team down. What did Jesus do? If he were a modern day fan he would have traded him off to some other team. After all Jesus paid a high price. He should expect more from this ungrateful person. No. Jesus doesn’t do that. He restores him. He invites him back to a life of purpose and ministry.
Where do you find yourself today? Are you living up to the same standards you place on others? Do you live with the passion you expect them to play with? Do you forget what is important? Are you on the sideline when you should be playing? Wherever we find ourselves, Jesus is there inviting us to get back into His game.

New Year's Resolution

I like this time of the year. We have just celebrated the birth of Christ. We are now preparing for the New Year. In some ways, the New Year is a fresh start. If the old year was hard, there is always the hope that the next year will be better and more promising. Unfortunately, we often allow the previous year to define what can be accomplished in the New Year. I wonder if history repeats itself. Or does human nature expect nothing different?

I was reminded of this during our Christmas play. There is something prophetic in the repeated line of “nothing ever happens here.” Where is the hope? Where is the expectation? The people seemed doomed to living a life of low expectation with nothing new or exciting. If we are not careful, we can miss what is really happening and what God wants to do.

As we look at the events leading up to the birth and early ministry of Jesus, we see a pattern. It starts with Zacharias. When an angel speaks to him about the birth of his son he asks, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” Keep in mind he is talking to an angel that just delivered exciting news. Maybe that alone should be enough evidence. After his son is born, no one wants him to be named John because, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” Talk about a “we have never done it this way before” attitude. Then when Jesus is born, the Magi do not show up in Bethlehem. This is a city of little importance. They showed up where the action should be - in Jerusalem. Years later, when Jesus comes out of Nazareth, Nathanael asks “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” It is as if the past dictates the future. We seem to struggle with the idea of God doing something different. What if God actually wants to accomplish great things through us in the next year? What if He wishes to do things greater than we believe possible or probable?

I am not suggesting that we should be unrealistic about the future, but we need to be open to God. Recognize, as we prepare for a New Year, our future is not determined by our past, location, or abilities. Our future is dependent on our openness to the working of God in our lives. Do we believe that God can do great things in our lives in the next year? Are you ready for whatever HE wants to do?

Keep Christ in Christmas

Most likely this post will not be what you expected. It may actually irritate you. Hopefully, it will cause Christians to think.
For years I have been frustrated by what Christmas has become. The commercialism and secularism of the holiday certainly poses a challenge to the serious follower of Jesus Christ. Every year Christians seem to fight back with our slogans. “Keep Christ in Christmas.” “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” We don’t like that someone may sell “holiday” trees or say “Season’s greetings.” After all, for Christians we are celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ the hope of all generations. How can anyone not honor the one who has come to set us free and make all things new? So we demand, “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
Keep Christ in Christmas sounds like a good message. Or is it? I think it depends. Who is the recipient? Are we talking to Christians? Great message! Certainly keep Christ in everything you do. Make sure that following Christ is a way of life and not just the appropriate name to be used in your greetings and in the title of your tree. Christ invited us to be His disciples. A disciple is someone who follows and becomes like His teacher. We can keep Christ in Christmas by doing the things He did. This isn’t done by demanding that those who aren’t his followers honor Him. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Do I think it is silly that people sell “holiday” trees? I do. No one is fooled by calling a Menorah a holiday candle holder. We know what it is when we see it. But, me calling it a Menorah doesn’t make me Jewish. Honestly, what do I care if my neighbor, who doesn’t follow Christ chooses to have a holiday tree and greets me with “Season’s greeting.” My demand that he recognizes Christ doesn’t make him Christian. It may actually make him resent me. I become just another Christian that insist non-Christians live like or at least talk like Christians. We can become modern day Pharisees. We can have all the right traditions and yet forget weightier matters. I am not suggesting that all beliefs are equal. I am suggesting that we could win the wrong battle and lose the opportunity and privilege to share the hope of the Gospel. If I care for my neighbor I will treat him as Christ would. This is a great time to be in prayer discovering how we can best show the love of God to those around us. As a Christian, how can YOU keep Christ in Christmas?

Transmitted or Transformed

I have a growing concern about the pain, anger, hopelessness, fear, and distrust that I see all around us. These attitudes, emotions, and responses tend to elevate and reproduce themselves when left unchecked. Richard Rohr suggest that if our pain is not transformed it will be transmitted. I believe he is correct. If God doesn't transform the pain of our lives we will act out in destructive ways and transmit that pain to others. Usually, we can see this when people commit violent and horrific acts. It seems less realized in some of our "passive aggressive" responses such as avoidance, gossip, and grumbling. Don't be deceived the practice of these behaviors is evidence that we have hurts that need to be transformed. These behaviors are destructive. The results are seen in our relationships, families, society, and unfortunately our churches.
God's word tells us in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Being transformed is not something we do by ourselves nor does it happen over night. It is something God does through the working of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Our job is to bring our hurts to God and allow Him to heal us and renew our thinking through believing His word.
Are you transmitting your pain or is it being transformed?

Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?

News about Christianity in the USA is often bleak. For years the influence of the Christians in society has been dwindling. Each year 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors forever. Those who study these changes predict little variation of this trend. Statistics about the percentages of churches that may not be in existence in the next 10 to 20 years is alarming. We have seen first-hand some of this trend.

In spite of this news, I am optimistic about the future of FBC Carthage. I don’t say this with rose colored glasses I am a realist. I know that as a congregation and as a Christian community we have hard work before us. I am actually excited about what God is doing and will do through us. God’s people have faced hard times before and thrived. Last week we heard how Nehemiah said to the people, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach." The people not only assessed the situation but responded to the vision that God gave them to rectify the situation. The words “let us” are extremely important. When God’s people work together on a God given vision incredible things happen.

Right now we are beginning several new adventures. We have just begun a stewardship campaign. A critical component of this campaign is to discover what God has laid upon our hearts. We don’t want to just “do church” but we want to be a part of what God is doing right here at this time. Maybe some of the churches that are closing their doors forgot their missional purpose God had for them. I pray that we continually remind ourselves and refresh that vision of reaching out with the love and hope of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth is America has never been more ripe for the Gospel. Other countries have begun to send missionaries here. As a part of discovering where God is working an outreach team is seeking ways we can better serve our community. Additionally, we are starting a youth group that has been completely revamped from last year.

This Sunday I will preach from 1 Chronicles 29:1-20. This chapter shares how God’s people joyfully gave of their finances and abilities to build God’s temple. In the opening verses King David asked, “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?” When we hear the word consecrate usually we think of it meaning “to set apart” or “to make holy.” Many places the Bible talks about consecrating the priest. In this context they are set apart for the work of service for God. I discovered recently that the word we have as consecrate is actually a Jewish idiom which literally is translated “to fill the hands”. I think this is a powerful picture of worship and thankfulness. Think of salvation. In salvation we reach up empty handed to God and He blesses us with forgiveness, salvation, and a place in the family of God. Now we who have reached up empty handed put our hands back up. This time they are not empty. This time not to earn anything nor out of need. Instead, we reach up with thanksgiving and praise. We reach up with an offering of a portion of what God has given us. When we understand this we can say with David, "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.” (v.14)

Who then is willing to “fill his hand” this day to the LORD? Let’s seek the Lord together as we heed this call.

The Promise Driven Church

Most North American Christians have heard of The Purpose Driven Church or The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I don't want to tear apart Warren's work. There are plenty of others out there that already make their entire ministry about doing so. I would only dream of reaching as many people with the Gospel as Warren has. Really his work has challenged me to think deeper.
I wonder as I reflect on Galatians 4:21-31. Should “purpose” be the driving force in our lives and in the church? Do we need purpose and meaning in life? Absolutely! Too many of us wander through life without direction or any real purpose. The truth is that God has a purpose for all of us. But should purpose really be what drives us?
In Galatians Paul uses Sara and Hagar's story allegorically to explain a situation in Galatia. Notice all the pairs that He uses: Sara and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, slavery and freedom, law and grace , Flesh and spirit/promise
He writes in vs. 21 to those that are seeking to be justified by works of the law: Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. In vs. 23 he tells us the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh (or born in the ordinary way) and the son by the free woman through the promise
From the account in Genesis we are told that God promised Abraham that he would have a child and would be a Father of many nations. As time went on Sara reasoned that she was getting old and unable to bear child so she asked Abraham to sleep with their servant Hagar. The birth of Ishmael is not just an example of a natural pregnancy (Nothing supernatural was needed for it to take place). But his birth is an example of someone trying to help God. It is an example of God’s people understanding part of God’s purposes but not functioning through His Promise. Paul goes on to show that the slave woman and the freewoman as well as their children could not co-exist. Only children of the freewoman are heirs to the promise. The children of the slave woman are to be slaves according to Gal 4:24. Slavery to the law results from us looking at what God wants for our life and trying externally to make our life look like that by following a set of rules. It’s not the same thing as the transformation that takes place when Christ is formed within you through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Do not read modern Jewish/Arab relations into this. You will miss the point. Paul is arguing that you are either a child of the slave woman or the free woman. You are either functioning from the flesh or the spirit. You are either driven by the law or by the promise
The Judaizers attempts to force the Gentiles to live as Jews were much like Abraham’s choice to have a child with Hagar. Both could argue that they were attempting to fulfill God’s purposes. You could say they were purpose driven. They were not called to be purpose driven but promise driven. The law and God’s purposes for our lives are good they give us guidance and direction. But they do not empower us. All the purpose and law in the world can’t save us or make us Holy. That is God’s job and he does it through a promise.

Isaac was a child of the promise. He was conceived when there was no hope. Abraham and Sara were well beyond child bearing years. All of this was done not because of anything great that they did. Read their stories. Family therapists make a living off of people with histories such as theirs. The promises took place because of the irrevocable nature of a promise given by God. Why would we put our hope anywhere else than in the promises of God? God declares things to be and they are so. The same God that created the world out of nothing, allowed Sara to give birth at 90, had his son born of a virgin is the same God that empowers us today.
Psalms 119:140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
Be a promise driven Church. Live the promise driven life.