Really?
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From time to time I will be posting some things I have heard or read from U.S. church and those related to it that may be worth a rethink. What are your thoughts?
Billboard ad for a church:
“Unlike any other church you have ever seen.”
Mega church pastor:
“Pray and ask God to do big things this weekend.”
Heard from multiple pastors:
It’s not the pastor’s job to win the lost. His role is to equip the believers.
Missionary:
“I don’t do lost people.”
(This is the second post of this type. See “Say what?” for more.)
Cross culture through literature
By · CommentsThis week The Upstream Collective is conducting a JetSet Tour spending time in a number of places including Copenhagen, Denmark. Seeking to make a small contribution to this week’s discussion and vision trip, I suggest a little reading…
Learning the literature of another people or country is key for a couple of reasons. First, the process aids the learner in acquiring cultural insight. This, I believe, fits with 2 Timothy 2:15. We are to have some insight into how the Scriptures may be perceived by other cultures. For example, in an animistic culture where people are seeking to understand how things began, the genealogy in Luke has proved powerful in some contexts. When working in a former Communist culture, use of a text that may have been used as a tool to disprove God (e.g. John 3:16) may not be the best place to start explaining the Word.
Second, being a student of literature communicates to the nationals that you are entering as a learner wanting to be enriched through their heritage. At some levels, the ethnocentric tendencies are suspended. Many healthy conversations may center around their national heroes. Not only does this firmly place the foreigner in the role of the learner and the national in the role of expert, but this can also lead to meaningful relationships and opportunities to deal with the big issues. These topics may include wisdom, social justice, love, the meaning of life, God, eternity, existentialism, hope, etc.
Thankfully, there is a rich trove of authors that are Danish and even more that are Scandinavian. Some authors to spend time reading would include:
- Hans Christian Anderson – a Danish author that is one of the premier children’s story-tellers in all of history. Some of his famous tales include The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid.
- Søren Kierkegaard – another Dane that was philosopher, theologian, and so much more. Exploring his frustrations with the state church among a host of other ideas may prove helpful for the individual as well as gaining insight and access to future conversations.
- William Shakespeare – though he is a touch less Danish than the two writers above, the famous tragedy Hamlet occurs in and around the Kronberg Castle.
Happy reading!
g2G: Information
By · CommentsKey principle #3 for moving discipleship from great to good: Celebrate learning and knowledge as both the process and the goal of discipleship.
good
When pursuing good discipleship, it is helpful for the individual and the church to focus on learning as at least a primary objective. The number of Bible studies one has completed, books read, speakers listened to, and conferences attended can all be indicators of how well a person is coming along in their discipleship process. More advanced discipleship in the vein of the good may include: committing to memory arguments in apologetics, learning the beliefs of other religions, memorizing Scripture, pursuing some level of proficiency in systematic theology, etc.
Celebrations of the good seem to be effective when helping people understand they have graduated from some level of study through acknowledging their course completion publicly, presenting an object such as a certificate or a t-shirt, graduating from a course of study, etc. Stratifying disciples in levels of learning may help a group know that they still have a ways to go to become more discipled–to attain the good. For example if a person is sitting in a beginner’s course or a 101 level, he may look with a holy anticipation and inspiration at the people in the 301 and 401 levels. Press on.
The church can employ phrases to help celebrate and motivate disciples to learn the latest requisite information. Phrases worth consideration that may advance this motif could include being a “life-long learner” or talking about our quest as a journey “to know Him.” When emphasizing the data acquisition that is necessary to know more about Christ, these phrases may be helpful to achieve no better than the level of good.
Great
Frankly, I don’t think Jesus excelled at putting together programs of curriculum. I can only remember reading of one pop quiz that He gave His followers. While verbally, Peter passes the test, his actions soon after show that he had not fully embraced the truth.
Instead of emphasizing information acquisition, Jesus talked about salt being salty and light having the properties and effects of light. He spoke about and lived a life of action. He shared that, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (Jn 5). This was discipleship that was no less than great.
Jesus’ method of discipleship seems to have stuck pretty well with his disciples as they did a whole lot of Jesus-like actions after He returned to heaven. We find them writing about the same ideas. James puts it succinctly in his letter that we are not to be people who just hear the Bible, but we are to live it.
too much?
Thom Wolf states that in the West, “we are educated beyond our obedience.” In places where God is moving in miraculous ways around the world, there is usually (I am not currently aware of an exception) a large number of new believers that are playing integral roles in networks such as church-planters and leaders whether officially or unofficially. New believers that learn one thing and obey it fully are more obedient than seasoned believers that know 10 things and obey 7 of them. Also, the disciple that has just learned and obeyed one thing is then able to share this with someone who has not learned and obeyed this yet. Information in this situation is vital as it directly impacts obedience. Life-long learning here is essential as it is intertwined with transformation and obedience.
(In the excerpts from my non-book, Great to Good (G2g), truth or satire may be employed. At times, the two may even meet.)
start with Me
By · CommentsA Greek maxim that was important for Oedipus in the past and through Neo’s life in the future, “know thyself” is key to understanding and influencing future actions and outcomes. In this brief clip from one of Urban Entry’s recent DVD releases, Mark Charles–a Navajo indian–shares about the importance of understanding one’s own culture first in order to be able to communicate with integrity and effect.
Art and CPing in KC
By · CommentsThis week at Union Station in Kansas City I saw the following…. Can you guess what it is?
Here’s a little more scope. Figured it out yet?
Zoomed out here…
In Andy Warhol style, there were several different color images of Marilyn Monroe each constructed from cans of food such as tuna and beans. This was one of several constructions designed for a food drive endeavor.
Surely there are many lessons to come from this, but I’ll leave these for the reader.
While in KC, I also had the privilege of meeting with a group of church planters. They were making plans to start 30 churches in the next 10 years. It was a blessing to hear their hearts and to be a small part of the opening questions we should be asking session. I have already and will continue to pray for you guys. Press on!
G2g: Disassociate
By · CommentsKey principle #2 for moving discipleship from great to good: Disassociate the spiritual from everyday life.
good
To limit discipleship to the realm of the good, it is helpful to compartmentalize things that are holy or sacred as distinct from other common or secular things. The good allows for reduction of spiritual things to the eternal condition of souls and the church as well as the nature and worship of God. There is upside to this minimalization. The limited range of topics allows one to delve deeper into the cognitive learning as the focus reduces the scope of areas to address. Additionally, with emphasis on a narrow definition of that which is sacred, requirements for disciples and those that would make disciples are minimized. For example, how one conducts business, interactions with neighbors, and family relations will not need to be under scrutiny except for when it involves eternal soul issues. Ultimately, the categorization of sacred vs. secular allows those who are righteous to disassociate from those that are unrighteous in most areas. Ongoing, interactive relationships are not important except for the moments where the gospel is being proclaimed when seeking to make disciples in a way that is good.
Great
Throughout His life, Jesus did so much to blur the lines of the sacred and the secular for the purpose of showing the mercy, grace, and glory of God. He did most of the teaching we read about in the gospels outside of the temple. He allowed a woman to anoint His feet with oil using her hair while reclining in the home of Lazarus. Interacting with the immoral Samaritan woman, He once again confounded the categories that religious leaders had established and maintained. Obeying His mother’s instructions, he changed water into wine in the stone jars that were reserved only for ceremonial washing. Also, he ate in the homes of sinners and tax collectors on more than one occasion.
Jesus was not simply content to come and be in the presence of the lost, but He made it His purpose. He shared that He came “to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” as well as “to seek and to save that which was lost.” His stories revolve around the lost coin, sheep and son. He told of the wealthy father that ran to embrace His filthy, stinky son who had squandered his wealth living as a hedonist. He provided examples and a lifestyle that belong only in the realm of the great.
ordinary
In his awared-winning book Seeing God in the Ordinary, Michael Frost writes:
The truly converted souls know that gratitude is the stuff of life. Our eyes are wide open because we’ve learned to see God’s goodness in the most mundane things. We see God’s grace revealed in movies, books, stories, good food and drink, sport and hobbies, cooking, small talk, raising kids, shared laughter, and strong coffee. And for this we are eternally grateful. Such gratitude sets us free from using others as objects. It liberates us from codependent, needy relationships.
(In the excerpts from my non-book, Great to Good (G2g), truth or satire may be employed. At times, the two may even meet.)
G2g: Identify the Start
By · CommentsKey principle #1 for moving discipleship from great to good: Start discipleship post-conversion.
good
After someone has made Christ their Lord, it is important to start teaching about who Christ is. Prior to that point, the person or group seeking to disciple at the status quo level of good should limit conversations and interactions with non-believers to evangelistic efforts. Many tools are available for the purpose including but not limited to the Roman Road, Four Spiritual Laws, Steps to Peace with God, the EvangeCube, Way of the Master, and a bevy of apologetic materials. Friendship combined with conversations about how Christ as Lord impacts family, work, relationships, etc. is risky or worse when maintaining the good.
Great
In the realm of great, discipleship began at the very first encounter. Jesus stated, “You have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” As a result, the life He lived before his disciples, the way He interacted with them, the words He spoke to them were representative of God the Father from the very first interaction. Even during introductions, discipleship had begun. This was the great model. It took some time until we see recognition of Christ’s Lordship from his closest followers. But all this time He was lovingly, faithfully showing them the Father.
intentional selection
It is essential that pastors, leaders, and other disciple-makers intentionally clarify when they will begin discipling others. If discipling is to be done exclusively with pre-existing believers, the message may be a little bit less difficult to convey with a little less mess. This, realm of good discipleship, is effective when helping nice people become nicer. Tranformation in this strata is difficult to find as celebration may revolve around maturation. This progression of maturity, however, is easier to construct and oversee.
pastor as discipler
When leaders pursue replacing the great with the good, it will be helpful for each to clarify his or her role as one who works only with believers. In large churches this could be limited to working primarily or exclusively with other church staff. This helps promote the good of encouraging other disciple-makers to invest their time in those that already identify themselves with Christ. This will effectively help the church body be a nicer group of people. Additionally, if all disciple-makers in the church are seeking to work only with the redeemed, it will preclude the godless from being likely to come into the church which may even help reduce the amount of intensive discipleship needing to be done. Whether or not the pastor chooses to disciple and who he selects for this time investment will have major ramifications in the pursuit of the great or the good.
(In the excerpts from my non-book, Great to Good (G2g), truth or satire may be employed. At times, the two may even meet.)
Learning from Eli
By · CommentsLast night I had a date night with my wonderful, beautiful wife. We had a great time with a little Mexican food, great conversation, and a movie. For the first time in I don’t know how many years we were able to see a recent release–The Book of Eli. It was surprising, graphic, thought-provoking, and inspirational.
There were several scenes and themes that were compelling for me. Carnegie’s devious plan to be the one who can read the words from the Book so that people would come to him and do as he says was insightful and disturbing. Solara’s desire to take the Word to her home town was inspiring. Seeing both the purity and change in Washington’s character were encouraging. However, the scene that stood out most for me was a partial, unfinished prayer.
Being with Eli as he prayed, Solara experienced her first prayer. Though uncertain how to behave during and after the prayer or what it was all about, she was obviously touched. This experience with a man that she had seen kill many justly who now treated her with a kindness she had not seen before sparked a change in her. The next morning, she sought to share some goodness with her mom as she led her in prayer. Though never told she must pray nor taught how to pray, she sought to emulate the one that had spent time with her. She was learning about the Father through Eli. Discipleship was well under way.
G2g: The Intro
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From different backgrounds, a group of men came together as a band of brothers. One would be lost in the journey, but those that remained were tight. They had walked through so much together. The group had feasted together and been hungry together. Rejoiced and despaired together. Laughed together and fought with one another. There was a bond of communitas that drew the students close to each other. These 11 men had seen their Teacher respond to others in ways they had never even dreamed possible. Lives were transformed, families were saved, each man had changed so much because he had walked and lived with, as well as watched and loved Jesus–because the Teacher had first loved each of them.
It could not have been better. The disciples had seen their Master be violently crucified. At the time each had lost his faith and run in fear. But Jesus came back; He rose from the dead. And then He came to them and showed His love for them and challenged them to do as He had modeled over the past three years. As they lived their lives, they were to make disciples that would experience life and transformation. The model was Christ. Pointing others to their Lord was the call and blessing of the disciples–now the disciple-makers. This was great. Improvement simply would not be possible.
Since then, some have undertaken the task of improving the discipleship process. It was you and me, your church and mine. How? Where? Why? When? With whom? All points were open for discussion. Through innovation and change we have effectively been able to make this a good thing that has some effect. Though this good of ours was not His great, it was at least good.
Maybe good is enough. Maybe that’s all we really want. Maybe this is close enough to obedience in the area of making disciples.
(Over the next several weeks I will be posting a number of excerpts from my non-book. We will be examining some specific ways that we have and still abandon great to pursue good in the area of discipleship.)
Great to Good
By · CommentsIn the midst of a windstorm this week in the beautiful state of Alaska, I had a brainstorm. For now, my plan is not to write this book…
While I do have a cover worked out just in case, I thought maybe I would make a few consecutive posts on this blog site with others spread over time that would be excerpts from this book I am not planning to write.
Disclaimer: Please note that there may be some similarities between the cover of this book and another book. If you stumble upon the other book, please note that I am a fan of said book by a Mr. Jim Collins. Any similarities or differences with said book cover are for the purpose of fun and communication. All original ideas in his book continue to be his while all ideas in the book I am not going to write are mine or somebody else’s and probably of very little interest to him.
