Skype – the Internet – The Church

A friend of mine, Willie Butler, was once part of a worship team called FACE DOWN.  Frankly up until a week ago, I didn’t know about this part of his past.

Well, the group had broken up several years ago as all of the team members went on to their various ministries that God had called them to.

The group decided to get together for a night of worship at the Church they had all attended as kids and young men, First Baptist Church in Flower Mound, Texas.  All but one were in the area and it seemed a good time to get together.

One member is now a church planting missionary in Poland.   He obviously couldn’t make it -0r did he.  They set up a camera in the sanctuary so he could see what was going on and they set up a skype connection.  It was so immediate.  He got to say hi to his mom and dad who were attending and they had the opportunity to tell him how proud they were of him.  He talked about what they were doing and their prayer requests.  He also took questions from people.

It was really awesome.  I’m wondering what this could mean for the future of the Church when you can use an internet technology like Skype.  Could it mean that technology like this could be used for pastor’s conferences in third world nations?  Would that be a good thing?  Or would it lead to even more relationship problems.

I was amazed at the technology.  What could it be used for?  What are the possibilities?  What are the risks?

In places that are remote and we want to build schools but maybe we don’t have teachers there, can we use technology like this to bring teachers into the classroom?  I don’t know.    But it’s worth thinking about and questioning.

Salvation – As Easy as Saying A Prayer?

For any evangelical that has been involved in evangelism,  you may have been taught techniques or approaches like the Romans’ Road or Four Spiritual Laws.  I’ve seen lots of us ask people to “pray this prayer”  confess Jesus and believe – then you’ll be saved.  But I keep going back to some scriptures that seem to indicate differently.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  Matthew 7:21-23.

Jesus makes it clear 0 people who did might wonders in the name of Jesus will be cast out.   I don’t believe you enter into the Kingdom by works.  But if you truly know Christ and are known by him – You will do the will of his Father.

We hang up on the prayer.  Did Jesus ever tell anyone to make converts?  He said to “make disciples.”  Only real disciples will do the will of their Father.  Only real disciples will keep his commandments.  Only real disciples will love the one who hates him.

You want assurance of your salvation?  Are you a disciple?  Are you trying to follow Jesus?  I’m not talking about perfection.  I’m talking about striving to enter in the narrow way as Jesus says in Matthew 7:

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because^[a] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

 

 

 

What is the Church?

I’ve been doing a lot more thinking about the church and what it is.  I’ve been a part of mega churches.  I’ve been part of house churches.  I’m just not interested in the model or form anymore.  Now my question is – are we making disciples?  Are people experiencing life together, helping one another,  and loving one another?  Do we get together and talk about the things the Lord is doing in our lives?  Do we share struggles and ask for help.  Do we really offer help?

I’ve been struck lately in John’s Gospel with the fact that Jesus goes on quite a bit about if you love me, keep my commandments… but the ONE commandment he mentions keeping is that “you love one another as I have loved you.”  He didn’t use it to talk about “the sin issues” we often get caught up in (Not saying those aren’t important by the way.) But he emphasized loving one another.

So now I’m on a journey to explore more of this.  I’m not interested in models.  I’m not interested in movements.

How do we love each other?   Correction: How do I love my brothers and sisters?  So God has me looking at ways and stepping out in ways to help my brothers and sisters.  For me,  a lot of time, it’s practical /financial.

I’m trying to help meet real needs and relieve some stress for brothers and sisters who’ve suffered loss in this recession.

I’m also working on other areas of my relationships.  I have a number of friends that I meet at various times but still on a regular basis.  There are no “leaders” but there is real ministry.  There is real transparency.   There is real relationship and love.  I think this is more the church than anything.

I hope that when I leave this Earth, Jesus will say well done.  So to answer the question,  I believe the Church is a group of believers connected to one another in love.  I don’t think it has to do with Pastors, or Elders.  Those are important, but the Church can exist if they’re not present.  But the Church does not exist without real love and real relationships.

Meanwhile,  remember one of Jesus’ last commands to his disciples.  “Love One Another.”

What The Church Is Not

I’ve been exploring the idea of church lately.  What is it?  What is it not?  There are some things that I am sure the church is not.  I am tired of seeing the purposes of God being hindered because the church is being used by men to be what God never intended it to  be.

• The Church is not a building so quit putting most of your resources in it.
• The Church is not a corporation and the Pastor is not the CEO.
• The Church is not an institution.  Church traditions don’t mean anything unless they are solidly founded in the scriptures.
• The Church is not the Pastor’s vehicle to get people involved in “his vision.”  You mega church pastors who think this,  repent.  You house church pastors who think this and want to use the people in your church to become a bigger church…repent.
• The Church is not an arm of the State and should not be engaged in promoting  nationalistic agendas
• The Church is not an arm of any political party and should not be endorsing,  openly or under the table any political candidate.
• The Church isn’t the property of the leadership.  Leadership does not own God’s people.
• The Church is not a shopping mall for Spiritual services. 

I know some who read this will think I’m being hard on Pastors and leadership.  It’s true, I am.  I don’t think they necessarily started thinking about the church they lead in these ways, but it appears in the Western Church that’s where they end up.

They will stand before God and answer for good or ill about how they shepherd the people that God has brought into the congregation.

What do you think?

The Refuge – a Church doing Cool Stuff

Saturday night I visited the Refuge, a simple church that my friend Bill Benninghoff is part of.  The group started off with a meal, went to announcements then did something that really surprised me.  Instead of worship and teaching, they had a member share his story, his giftings, and his struggles.  Then the whole group ministered to him.  There were words of knowledge, some prophetic words.  There was a prophetic song, and scriptures shared and the Brother was encouraged and built up.

Kevin, one of the leaders explained that they believed they should really get to know one another.  So for the moment, each week one or two people are sharing their lives with the group.  I think this is an extraordinary idea.    Kevin explained that they are still struggling to navigate away from traditional ways of doing church into a more organic or simple model.

What I really appreciate is taht this group is really trying to get to know one another and love one another.  I am convinced that this can only result in a stronger community of faith.

The Refuge is also being very missional.  One lady, Anita, has been ministering to a family in the apartment complex, with others coming along side to help.   Two other gentlement are ministering to the homeless.  Some are ministering at a local nursing home and others are helping people by cutting lawns.  They are serving people in ways that will allow them to connect with the people they are serving.  Hopefully, it will open up the opportunity for people to share the gospel.

I was really encouraged to see this group of Christ followers dedicated to following Jesus and reaching out to people.

Come as a Child

Boy and Dad

I’ve been in a funk recently.  I am going between bouts of frustration and mild depression where all I want to do is crawl into bed and go to sleep.  Nothing in my life seems to be working or going my way right now.

(Image:KellyB/creative commons/attributions)

In my work life,  there has been a number of changes, none of which including my new shift makes me happy at all.

In ministry, I don’t seem to fit anywhere and am not bearing any fruit. 

I was supposed to teach at out Lake Como simple church yesterday- No one showed up.  I felt it was a waste of prep time and effort, not to mention a thirty mile one way drive for nothng.

I drove to  Lancaster for an outreach this weekend, but got delayed and lost and more delay.  I arrived an hour late unfortunately and everyone had already headed out to their posts.  I didn’t know where to do, so I headed back home.  That was another bunch of time about three hours and gas wasted.

I’ve been working on some projects which I hope will lead to some business opportunities.  Nothing I am doing there is working either. 

I’m in one of those places in my life that I just don’t like very much right now.  But the thing that really has me bothered is I don’t seem to know what I was created to do.  Everyone else seems to have and be secure in their “callings. and their purposes.   When I’ve taken it to the Lord (Read that as Complained to the Lord- whined to the Lord-etc), the only response I would get back was a simple affirmation,  “I love you, son.”

I had dinner with friends of mine last night and we had some good discussions.  Larry laughed at my predicament which wasn’t all that re-assuring.  After dinner on my drive home,  I felt like the Lord was speaking to me (no not an audible voice, but yet audible to my mind.) 

He said, “Son, you have one purpose and one purpose only.  You are my son and I am your Father.  Your purpose is that you are my son.”  I of course objected.  “Well, I know that.  But I’m talking about wha I’m supposed to do.” 

I felt like the Lord said that our purpose is in our being not in our doing.  Our purpose is to be “in Christ.”  Our purpose is to be children of the Most High to be in a relationship with him.  That is our highest purposes.  We will “do” things but it is always out of our relationship with him not out of our desire to be doing something.   I am not a teacher.  I am a child of God who God may ask to teach.  I am not an entrepenuer.  I am a child of God that God may ask to start a business.  My identity and purpose however is wrapped up in my identity in and relationship with God not in what I do.

I remembered the scripture saying :

¹⁵ Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  Luke 18:15-17

The Lord reminded me that children are not wrapped up in their purposes or their plans.  They are children.  They enjoy the “now.”  They are far more interested in being with the ones they love than about what they will be doing or what their career (or calling), or purpose is.  They just enjoy being and enjoy the moment.  Little boys would much rather spend time with dad, than going out to do something to feel “productive” or “useful.”

I believe that this is a place the Lord is calling me to spend time re-discovering.  I’ve somehow lost my first love and now is the time to re-kindle it.  My prayer is “Capture my heart, Lord.  Capture my heart.” 

So, I am laying the stuff I am doing at the alter and asking the Lord what he wants me to continue doing and what he wants me to lay down.  I believe I am entering a time of just being Father’s little boy again.

Missional Mom Storying the Bible for Refugees

B  and her husband T are friends of mine who are passionate about Jesus and his mission in the world.   They are passionate about reaching lost people and seeing them discipled into mature believers in Christ.  I just recieved this email from a friend in our simple church network.  I removed  the person’s name since they may be moving towards international missions some time in the future.

Wow,
Tonight Maite came over with Juan Miguel, and shared that the other night she prayed and gave her life to Christ,
and asked about I’s baptism.  She wanted to know how long she had to wait or what she had to do to get baptized. 
We have never formally talked about this- although I have been storying with her since January, we were at the
Jesus getting baptized story a couple of weeks ago, and due to some different things, I hadn’t storied with her in
the past two weeks.  It is so awesome to see the power of the Holy Spirit, drawing people to himself, and to see
the seed that was planted bear fruit.

Praise Jesus,
She is going to get baptized at her apartment complex pool on June 17th…you all are invited…

B

B learned bible storying several months ago and started by storying the bible with Cuban refugee women.  Maite is the first fruit of that effort.  B and her husband T are also now storying the bible with Bhutanese refugees that live nearby.

Christians Reaching Out to Help the Elderly in Lancaster Texas.

Join us in Lancaster

Saturday, May 30,  Christians from the Dallas-Fort Worth area will show up in Lancaster Texas to help the elderly with their yard work.

I talk alot about missional living.  I believe that every Christian is supposed to live in a missional context whether it is on the job,  in the neigborhood or in the store.

Most people however,  aren’t engaged.  This is a a great opportunity for those in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to get involved in reaching out to help others in the name of Jesus Christ.

This is the first outreach scheduled in Lancaster.  Another one is scheduled for June, which will be an outreach to help the poor with food, clothing and toys for children.

A follow up outreach is planned for sometime in October as well.

Missional Idol – The “Missional” Tall Tale

Alan Knox who is heavily involved in the missional conversation as an actual practioner has written an excellent Post entiteld Missional Idol.   It follows a brand new reality TV show, as contestants try to win the title  “Missional Idol.”   It’s a funny piece – and it is also very sobering as it serves to demonstrate what is happening in the “missional” conversation today.  I believe all believers are called to be missional and that it should be the heartbeat of every church.  Unfortunately, it is on the verge of being talked to death with very little real transformation and action. 

Check out the story  MISSIONAL IDOL here.

Our Commission is to Make Disciples – Not to Plant Churches

“Make Disciples.”   That was what Jesus essentially told his Disciples to do.  In Matthew 28,  Jesus last command to his followers was  “¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”  So there it is.  Jesus did not tell his followers to go plant churches.   He told them to go “make disciples.” 

In many ways we are putting the cart before the horse.  There is not one new testament command to plant churches.  But Jesus himself gave the command to make disciples.  I bring this up because I had heard many years ago that the most effective means of reaching the lost was planting new churches.  Indeed, it may be true, but do those new churches actually make disciples or do they make converts?  There is a difference and it is a critical difference.  We count as converts those who pray a prayer and “accept Jesus into their hearts.”  Disciples are ones who actually become followers of Jesus Christ.  If we follow Christs Command to make disciples,  often new churches will form out of that.  The church forms out of the harvest of disciples. 

I started one church and have been involved lately in working to start another church.  We have had to force ourselves to re-oritent back towards making disiciples because we got so caught up in the whole “church planting” idea.  So we’ve scaled back on the “church gathering” side and have put more effort into the discipleship side of the process. 

I know there are lots of people who believe that getting someone into “church”  the Sunday morning thing with the preacher is key to discipleship.  I will argue that has very little to do with discipleship.  Jesus did preach,  but more importantly he demonstrated the Kingdom of God by living it out among those that he was making disciples.  A Sunday morning preacher can’t do.  At best the Sunday morning message supplements a vibrant discipleship learning relationship, but cannot replace it. 

Teaching as Jesus said here is by his example.  He did preach or teach through the word, but he lived it out in front of them.  He brought validity to the message he preached by the life he lived.  New beleivers need those kinds of connections and relationships.  They don’t have to be perfect, as a matter of fact they won’t be perfect.  Peter wasn’t perfect,  John wasn’t perfect,  and much to the disappointment of many,  Paul wasn’t perfect.  Jesus was and only he was.  But if you are a Christ follower you shoud be learning from others more mature in Christ than you and you should be pouring out what you have learned into other disciples less mature in Christ than yourself.

Another point I would make,  the  ’church” as in the institution we call the church does a lousy job making disciples and I am convinced that real discipleship costs something.  I believe it costs the time and the effort to develop real relationships with people.  It’s possible it can happen without those relationships, but not likely.   In our western context the message of the church is “we’ll help you be a good christian,  just follow the rules we tell you, come to Sunday morning service,  listen to the message, and join a small group and everything will be fine.”   I’ve seen far too many who follow that path that are still biblically illiterate years on.  In addition, they aren’t putting the Word of God in practice in their own lives and even more devestating is that they didn’t learn to hear God themselves.”

We must begin to spend the time and effort to really disciple young believers and not-yet believers so that they can truly have Christ formed in them.   I am convinced if we are faithful in this,  we will have followers of Christ who will be fruitful and true laborers in the harvest.  And if we do our jobs right,  new church expressions will flow out of this process.