by Mike Chong Perkinson
I have often wondered why it is that people struggle to get along with each other. Husbands find it difficult to understand their wives; wives, at times, feel like they are married to an alien that doesn’t comprehend the feminine heart; siblings fight and contend for parental affection; and those in the Kingdom of God, the Church, war with one another over right doctrine and preferred practice. Like the Zealots of old, our reformation tactics, even if well intended, are not about bettering humanity and the Kingdom of God but some form of nationalism that interjects its religious superiority and prejudice over others. After all, the best human organizations can do is to create structures that dominate and oppress – dehumanizing individuals as it turns them into human doings, functionaries within the oppressive matrix that serves the powerful and the few.
The Kingdom of God, on the other hand, is not about a power that restricts, dehumanizes, oppresses or dominates. Rather, the Kingdom of God is about the freedom (Luke 4:18-19) that Christ ushered in that results in a power of service that frees others from the bondage of the oppressive demonic matrix. The power of the new society that Jesus came to create is not one that needs to be served, creating fear in the lives of its constituency. Rather, Jesus came to bring about a Kingdom that will serve others even if by dying for them.
All this to say, the best religious structures can do is give rise to oppressive and restrictive measures that continue to live along the lines of the satanic matrix that continues to dehumanize and devalue the pinnacle of creation (humanity). As polished and right as our doctrine might be the machinery of religion still serves the few, drawing the many to support it, while the many serve the machine and lose their humanity. Maybe this has something to do with why so many are disillusioned with organized religion. It would appear that our overall efforts at reform simply deform the creation more and more.
On a more positive note, have you ever noticed that humanity is often at its best in the midst of catastrophe? When a hurricane or some natural disaster or terrorist attack strikes one of our cities, we see humanity step up in a way that normally does not take place in our day to day routines. Fireman, police officers and the like sacrifice their lives to help those caught in the throes of death’s grip. The heroic efforts of those during 9/11 are forever etched upon the minds of us all.
Why is it that during such difficult times people act more human than at any other? I submit to you that the reason is the playing field has been leveled. We are no longer doctors, lawyers, CEO’s, but simply human beings. It doesn’t matter if the person trapped in the building is a house wife, a CEO, degreed or non-degreed, all that matters is one of the human family is hurting and someone needs to help them. For a moment we get a taste of humanity at its best, as it loves sacrifices and re-humanizes the other. For a brief moment, the country is one and we are all just human beings contending for the humanness of each other. The problem, as we all know, is that we can’t maintain this.
Jesus comes to bring about a true reformation of heart that re-humanizes us through the power of the Cross. He came to level the playing field. He became human so that we might return to being human. He became a Man so that we could see how the Father (the Trinity) is and how the God-head relates to itself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He brought about a Kingdom that is based in 3 relationships: Loving God and loving others as you love yourself. More simply, relationship with God restores our relationship with the self, healing our brokenness, which then allows us to have relationship with others. The purest form of a level playing field is the power of the Church to serve and re-humanize the other. In other words, loving people is the primary characteristic that verifies we are disciples of Christ.
A man went to Rabbi Shammai and made a request, “I will believe in the God of Israel and abandon idolatry on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while standing on one foot.” Shammai was rather irritated by this request and was holding a builder’s cubit measure rod in his hand that he quickly used to whack the would-be convert with, driving him away for asking such a ridiculous question.
The other great Rabbi of the day, Hillel (both were contemporaries of Jesus) was next in line for this foolish man’s question. He asked Hillel and Hillel responded. “What you do not want someone to do to you, do not do to him or her. The rest of the Torah is commentary upon this principle. Now go and learn it!” This is the negative application of the Golden Rule taught by Jesus.
The heart of the Torah that Jesus came to restore is highlighted by Rabbi Hillel. The issue is in how we relate to each other. Another great Rabbi and Pharisee (Acts 23:6) said something along the same line: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)
Dear Saint, Pastor, leader, may you find your heart overwhelmed by the love and mercy of our God that has resulted in your freedom that has released in you a heart to serve His Kingdom. May you resist the oppressive nature of the demonic matrix that seeks to overtake our churches and organizations while it dominates and oppresses people all in the name of Jesus. May you find your life more human, more alive as you and your family enjoy the liberating power of the Cross that sets us free from human domination. May the coming revolution not be about our personal prejudices, a nationalistic pride or self-serving theology. May Christ come and set me free from myself and free me to be myself for His pleasure and Kingdom so that others might be re-humanized in the love of the Cross.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
One Lord, One Faith, Many Graces
by Tom Johnston
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:4-7, ESV
So then, why all the sects, denominations, networks – all the different brands? Why is it that it seems that while God sees us all as one, we are working so hard to try to portray ourselves as different? Why do we feel the need to be unique as a church or denomination? Is sameness bad?
At the heart of this segment of Paul’s letter to the mighty church at Ephesus, the Apostle to the Gentiles is trying to help them see the wonderful nature of God: unity in diversity, and how that is expressed in His Church. God as trinity is One, yet diverse. Paul reminds them of this singular nature of God as a prelude to his discussion of diversity. He makes a clear point of there being only one body, only one Spirit, only one hope, only one Lord, only one faith, only one baptism – and only one God who is the Father of the one family, called the Church.
With all this unity and singularity, why then do we have so many brands? If we are meant to be interdependent, why so much expressed independence in the churches? With more than 3,000 denominations, networks, independent groups and non-denomination denominations today, we seemed to have missed the point of the “one body” et al. somewhere. What we experience is more division than diversity, more isolation than interdependence. Why?
In verse 7, Paul mentions that each member (diversity) of the one body (singularity) was given a grace empowerment for the building up the body of Christ, for bringing us to unity in faith and spiritual maturity. It seems such development equips us for growth in love, and makes us resistant to the shifts brought on by the “winds of doctrine.” Yet, amazingly enough, it this issue – doctrine – which seems to divide us the most. Not necessarily just on the big points: the Bible, the Person of Christ, etc. but on things, well, that seem to us to be less important, things not essential, not core to the Christian faith. Our doctrinal statements and our liturgies become reasons to depart from the unity of the faith, from the bond of peace. Indeed, they have been the cause for wars.
Where then, does the expression diversity come in? In the grace of Christ. The fundamental uniqueness of His grace working through the various streams of the Church and individual people provide us with a display of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). The multiplicity of Christ’s grace expressed is what imparts us our uniqueness, all of which is meant to function and flow together in oneness – God is one – with one purpose – the building up of the one Body and the extension of the one Faith. At Praxis, we currently have the privilege and joy of serving pastors and denominational leaders from more than 20 denominations, as well as many independent churches and networks. Most of the time when we are together with these dear saints, we can’t tell them apart, because we can see in all of them the grace empowerment of Christ Jesus at work in them.
So, go ahead and hold onto your doctrinal proclivities and creedal statements – we want you to. But hold onto them loosely – and please don’t use them as a hammer on the rest of us – don’t let them divide us. What we need everyone to do is bring their grace to the table – that which Christ has invested in them. We need who He is in each of us. Just don’t go home and take your ball with you, because then we all lose out – and so does the world. We might differ in a few bullet points on our creeds, fliers and websites, but we still need the grace of Christ in each other. It’s the only way the West can be one again for Christ.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:4-7, ESV
So then, why all the sects, denominations, networks – all the different brands? Why is it that it seems that while God sees us all as one, we are working so hard to try to portray ourselves as different? Why do we feel the need to be unique as a church or denomination? Is sameness bad?
At the heart of this segment of Paul’s letter to the mighty church at Ephesus, the Apostle to the Gentiles is trying to help them see the wonderful nature of God: unity in diversity, and how that is expressed in His Church. God as trinity is One, yet diverse. Paul reminds them of this singular nature of God as a prelude to his discussion of diversity. He makes a clear point of there being only one body, only one Spirit, only one hope, only one Lord, only one faith, only one baptism – and only one God who is the Father of the one family, called the Church.
With all this unity and singularity, why then do we have so many brands? If we are meant to be interdependent, why so much expressed independence in the churches? With more than 3,000 denominations, networks, independent groups and non-denomination denominations today, we seemed to have missed the point of the “one body” et al. somewhere. What we experience is more division than diversity, more isolation than interdependence. Why?
In verse 7, Paul mentions that each member (diversity) of the one body (singularity) was given a grace empowerment for the building up the body of Christ, for bringing us to unity in faith and spiritual maturity. It seems such development equips us for growth in love, and makes us resistant to the shifts brought on by the “winds of doctrine.” Yet, amazingly enough, it this issue – doctrine – which seems to divide us the most. Not necessarily just on the big points: the Bible, the Person of Christ, etc. but on things, well, that seem to us to be less important, things not essential, not core to the Christian faith. Our doctrinal statements and our liturgies become reasons to depart from the unity of the faith, from the bond of peace. Indeed, they have been the cause for wars.
Where then, does the expression diversity come in? In the grace of Christ. The fundamental uniqueness of His grace working through the various streams of the Church and individual people provide us with a display of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). The multiplicity of Christ’s grace expressed is what imparts us our uniqueness, all of which is meant to function and flow together in oneness – God is one – with one purpose – the building up of the one Body and the extension of the one Faith. At Praxis, we currently have the privilege and joy of serving pastors and denominational leaders from more than 20 denominations, as well as many independent churches and networks. Most of the time when we are together with these dear saints, we can’t tell them apart, because we can see in all of them the grace empowerment of Christ Jesus at work in them.
So, go ahead and hold onto your doctrinal proclivities and creedal statements – we want you to. But hold onto them loosely – and please don’t use them as a hammer on the rest of us – don’t let them divide us. What we need everyone to do is bring their grace to the table – that which Christ has invested in them. We need who He is in each of us. Just don’t go home and take your ball with you, because then we all lose out – and so does the world. We might differ in a few bullet points on our creeds, fliers and websites, but we still need the grace of Christ in each other. It’s the only way the West can be one again for Christ.
How To Not Stink At "Evangelism"
by Phil McFarland, member of the Praxis 24 Fellowship
Americans love shortcuts. We value expediency and hate waiting. Let’s face it; we are accustomed to getting what we want, in the shortest possible time. A mere twenty years ago, a single phrase universally described a bygone era: “Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.” As Christians, we’re not immune to impatience. In fact, I suggest we’re worse off. With God on our side, why should have to wait? With the full force of Scripture behind us, we’re genuinely confused why the majority of lost and misguided people surrounding us fail to recognize what we’ve discovered. We want to believe our Lord’s words, that the ‘fields are white for harvest’. Yet, Christ’s prayers in Gethsemane seem to often go unrealized. Why?
Over the course of the past year, through prayer and reflection, I’ve compiled a list of simple truths I believe are essential in order to communicate God’s love in today’s world. I’ve adopted a practice of rereading these occasionally to remind myself of the depth of relational investment required to effectively model Christ’s sacrificial love.
1. There’s no two ways around it; you really must love people; this means having other people’s best interests in mind and being genuinely (and solely) motivated from compassion. 'Witnessing' for any other reason is merely arguing about your beliefs.
2. Learn what's important to others first, then communicate God's love in a way that's meaningful to them, based on their values. They’ll never adopt your values before experiencing your love for them.
3. Unbelievers can't be expected to learn jargon; if genuine communication is going to occur, you must speak their language –fluently. Do you think “Christianese” is holy?
4. If you can't communicate your core, foundational beliefs in common, everyday language, then chances are, you really don't understand them to begin with.
5. Don’t wait to tell others about Christ. Live-out the change He’s making in your heart and describe to others what’s happening in your life when God presents the opportunity to do so.
6. Speaking to someone about Christ is far more personal than talking to them about their weight. If you don't know them (or care for them) enough for that discussion, than you probably need to lovingly invest more into their lives before trying to talk to them about their errors of belief and spiritual destiny.
7. Christians are far better at drawing distinctions between themselves and others around them than they are at recognizing the connections that already exist between them and those that God has placed in their lives.
8. Contrary to what you believe, most non-Christians have not rejected the God you serve. They've rejected a half-formed set of ideas, based on their godless experiences. If you don't believe that, ask them to describe the god they've rejected -and see how it little it compares to God's true character. If you still doubt this, ask yourself, “What would I believe about God if I had not met Jesus?”
9. Christians place a supremely high value on what they believe. Non-Christians truly aren't concerned about what you believe; they only care about how you treat them and others. If they see a significant difference in how you act, they may listen to what you have to say in relatively small, digestible chunks.
10. Don’t perpetuate the idea that people are loved more when they act right. That only reinforces the (wrong) belief that love is earned. Instead, merely love them. Unconditionally. In time, they may want to know why – live out 1 Peter 3:5. Then, connect them to Christ, our Cause and Source. At that point, a transformation of heart and values will occur. Their behavior will change in response to the birth of love, forgiveness, grace and appreciation in their lives.
Americans love shortcuts. We value expediency and hate waiting. Let’s face it; we are accustomed to getting what we want, in the shortest possible time. A mere twenty years ago, a single phrase universally described a bygone era: “Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.” As Christians, we’re not immune to impatience. In fact, I suggest we’re worse off. With God on our side, why should have to wait? With the full force of Scripture behind us, we’re genuinely confused why the majority of lost and misguided people surrounding us fail to recognize what we’ve discovered. We want to believe our Lord’s words, that the ‘fields are white for harvest’. Yet, Christ’s prayers in Gethsemane seem to often go unrealized. Why?
Over the course of the past year, through prayer and reflection, I’ve compiled a list of simple truths I believe are essential in order to communicate God’s love in today’s world. I’ve adopted a practice of rereading these occasionally to remind myself of the depth of relational investment required to effectively model Christ’s sacrificial love.
1. There’s no two ways around it; you really must love people; this means having other people’s best interests in mind and being genuinely (and solely) motivated from compassion. 'Witnessing' for any other reason is merely arguing about your beliefs.
2. Learn what's important to others first, then communicate God's love in a way that's meaningful to them, based on their values. They’ll never adopt your values before experiencing your love for them.
3. Unbelievers can't be expected to learn jargon; if genuine communication is going to occur, you must speak their language –fluently. Do you think “Christianese” is holy?
4. If you can't communicate your core, foundational beliefs in common, everyday language, then chances are, you really don't understand them to begin with.
5. Don’t wait to tell others about Christ. Live-out the change He’s making in your heart and describe to others what’s happening in your life when God presents the opportunity to do so.
6. Speaking to someone about Christ is far more personal than talking to them about their weight. If you don't know them (or care for them) enough for that discussion, than you probably need to lovingly invest more into their lives before trying to talk to them about their errors of belief and spiritual destiny.
7. Christians are far better at drawing distinctions between themselves and others around them than they are at recognizing the connections that already exist between them and those that God has placed in their lives.
8. Contrary to what you believe, most non-Christians have not rejected the God you serve. They've rejected a half-formed set of ideas, based on their godless experiences. If you don't believe that, ask them to describe the god they've rejected -and see how it little it compares to God's true character. If you still doubt this, ask yourself, “What would I believe about God if I had not met Jesus?”
9. Christians place a supremely high value on what they believe. Non-Christians truly aren't concerned about what you believe; they only care about how you treat them and others. If they see a significant difference in how you act, they may listen to what you have to say in relatively small, digestible chunks.
10. Don’t perpetuate the idea that people are loved more when they act right. That only reinforces the (wrong) belief that love is earned. Instead, merely love them. Unconditionally. In time, they may want to know why – live out 1 Peter 3:5. Then, connect them to Christ, our Cause and Source. At that point, a transformation of heart and values will occur. Their behavior will change in response to the birth of love, forgiveness, grace and appreciation in their lives.
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