Whose Afraid of the Holy Spirit?

"IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US
ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT"

- Galatians 5:26


What does it mean to live in the Spirit? To live in the Spirit is to be continually conscious of the presence of Christ in you. Many books have been written about walking in the Spirit. Some of them are very good. But most of these books deal with all of the things we need to unlearn, not what we need to learn in order to live in the Spirit. They are directed at Christians who are in error.

Does a new convert need to read a bunch of books in order to live a life in the Spirit? If so, then life in the Spirit becomes something difficult because only certain kind of people can read all of these books . . . Jesus said that in order to understand life in the Kingdom of God, we have to forget how intelligent we are and become like little children. I believe that there are many things concerning the gospel that we don't understand----not because they are difficult, but because they don't appeal to us.

We need to have the eyes of our hearts open to see that because Christ is in us, we have all that is needful for walking in the Spirit . . . To walk in the Spirit is to be continually conscious of His presence!

[excerpts from Juan Carlos Ortiz Living With Jesus Today, pp.58-63]

"WE THINK WE ARE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
WE ARE WRONG. GOD IS THE CENTER. WE MUST
CHANGE OUR CENTER OF GRAVITY. HE IS THE SUN,
AND WE REVOLVE AROUND HIM"
- Juan Carlos Ortiz



One of the simplist introductions to being a disciple of Jesus was presented in a little book by Juan Carlos Ortiz called Disciple (Creation House, 1975). He speaks about spiritual formation before anybody else does and he gives powerfull little illustrations and examples like Christians should exemplify mash potato love, where the Holy Spirit melts us all together in God's love.

Ortiz taught me many years ago that there are only two kinds of Christians or churches. Those who love one another and those who don't. Discipleship is not so much about talk but about God's power and way of life. God calls us children to grow up and become spiritual fathers but too many of us live like Christian infants our entire adult life. We need less talk and speeches and more fathers having children.

If being a disciple of Jesus means making more disciples (creating a duplicate), how are you doing in this area?

The Not-So-Family Friendly Bible

"THE BIBLE IS MORE THAN JUST A
PLACE TO STASH YOUR DRUGS"

- Thor Ramsey


The Bible is not as family friendly as we have all been allowed to believe. I remember as a younger Christian being offended by discovering that our Bible versions were sanitized. You know, "The SV Bible (sanitized version). It's where biblical scholars have tried to tone down, tame, and not make as offensive some of the more crude and course language of the Bible. Whether it be the prophet Ezekiel railing against Israel with sexually explicit statements or the Apostle Paul calling everything proverbial crap (you can fill in the blanks here) compared to knowing Christ, things are not as near as neat, clean, and tidy in the Scriptures as some people would like them to be.

Or people don't like to talk about the texts of terror, messy parts of the Bible, nor does the Bible really care about making various biblical heroes always look good. Nor is the Bible or even Jesus afraid of you "not getting it." The Bible tells us the truth so matter of factly at times that the truth is neither flatterning nor does it always "feel good" to hear it stated so bluntly.

Some have even said that the Bible is a dangerous book. Maybe people who live out this dangerous gospel are the only ones who really know what this book 'really' says?

Is Jesus a Polygamist?

"THE KINGDOM IS TO BE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR ENEMIES. AND HE WHO WILL NOT SUFFER THIS DOES NOT WANT TO BE OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST; HE WANTS TO BE AMONG FRIENDS, TO SIT AMONG THE ROSES AND LILIES, NOT WITH THE BAD PEOPLE BUT THE DEVOUT PEOPLE. O YOU BLASPHEMERS AND BETRAYERS OF CHRIST! IF CHRIST HAD DONE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHO WOULD EVER HAD BEEN SPARED?"
- Martin Luther


Jesus has only one wife, His bride the Church. He is not a polygamist. But if you talk to many people across denominations, they will tell you Jesus has many brides and many churches. They would never dream of calling Jesus a polygamist but that is essentially what they are doing in their misunderstanding of the unity and oneness of God's people.

Steven Harmon wrote a wonderful little book called Ecumenism Means You, Too (Cascade books, 2010). Harmon lists ten things you can do for the unity of the church. Here they are briefly:

1. First, pray for the unity of the church.
2. Second, pray for the unity of the church in the company of other Christians with whom you
have serious disagreements.
3. Third, commit yourself to a particular church, warts and all.
4. Fourth, embrace a particular denominational (and I will add, non-denominational) tradition.
5. Fifth, learn all you can about the "Great Tradition" to which all denominational tradition are
heirs.
6. Sixth, learn all you can about other denominational traditions.
7. Seventh, while remaining committed to your own denominational tradition, adopt another
tradition as a second tradition, much as you would learn a second language.
8. Eighth, join other Christians in sharing good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
9. Ninth, join other Christians in serving as advocates for social justice and environmental
responsiblity.
10. Tenth, search the Scriptures---devotionally, in the context of corporate worship, and with
study groups in your own congregation, but also with Christians from other traditions.

Harmon among other ecumenical Christian voices is calling Christians to go farther and deeper in biblical and practical unity.

If the church is like a flower, what would happen if there was some intentional cross-pollenation?

What is the Gospel?

REPENTANCE IS A
COMMANDMENT,
NOT AN INVITATION

The gospel of the kingdom is a Christ-centered gospel. Somehow this is lost in all the appeals we hear to Jesus as My healer, My savior, and Jesus appeals to My interests. So the gospel has become today Me centered and for My benefit. If you want to read about the gospel of the kingdom of God, go back and read the verses that are not underlined in many Bibles. Take a long look at the 'hard sayings' and tough discipleship teachings of Jesus.

Lee Camp in his book Mere Discipleship speaks about the 'good news' of the gospel. God has come to reconcile all things to himself and as we enter into that heavenly kingdom on earth, we too become reconcilers, peace-makers, obedient servants who even love our enemies. And a central word throughout the whole Bible is the word repent. "Repentance means change, and without change, without deep, thorough going change, one could not enter and participate in the kingdom . . . The Gospel invites us to follow the way of Jesus, who embodies for us the way of the kingdom" (pp.72 & 74).

How do you define the gospel?

Soul Revolution

DO SOMETHING SO BIG,
THAT UNLESS GOD IS IN
IT, IT WILL FAIL

- Frank Tillapaugh


Our world in changing so fast and many people are struggling to keep up. There are many revolutions going on from the technology revolution and micro chips to the food revolution and better and proper eating habits for a more fit body and life.

One of my friends asked me to listen to him and listen I did for the last two hours. He believes God is prompting him to start a soul revolution. I listened intently as this young minister poured out his heart and vision for what He believes God is calling the churches in our area to reach out to the community abroad.

Every day is a new day and as I look around, as people inside and outside the church are trying to fill their lives with so much 'stuff,' here is a kairos moment, a decisive time to work together as followers of Jesus and share the good news to spiritually hungry people.

I have talked about extreme faith make-over but most of us truly hunger for a God-sized vision and to see a real movement of God among the nations, and not just window dressing for bigger and flashier church buildings.

Here are some questions to ask ourselves which come from Michael Brown's Revolution in the Church (p.17):

1. Will we be revolutionaries for Jesus if it means the loss of titles and pristige and power?

2. Will we be revolutionaries for Jesus if it means the loss of friends and family?

3. Will we be revolutionaries for Jesus if it means the loss of money?

4. Will we be revolutionaries for Jesus if it means misunderstanding and even expulsion?

5. Will we be revolutionaries for Jesus if it means massive personal upheaval?

Will we? Will you?

What are you trying to fill your life up with?

Do you see a soul revolution on the horizon?

I Asked For Wonder

SOMETIMES WE WISH THE WORLD COULD CRY
AND TELL US ABOUT THAT WHICH MADE IT
PREGNANT WITH FEAR-FILLING GRANDEUR.

SOMETIMES WE WISH OUR OWN HEART
WOULD SPEAK OF THAT WHICH MADE IT
HEAVEY WITH WONDER

-Abraham Heschel


I used to engage atheists in arguments over the explanatory power of theism versus atheism and arguments that dealt with the existence of God. I have found much of this experience as an exercise in futility. Now my 17 year old son is getting intellectually assaulted by an atheist in several of his classes in High School. He prays, listens, and loves but he does not want to argue.
I'm proud of the faithful presence he is in our public school system which are often breeding grounds for unbelief, profanity, perversity, and the pursuit of every kind of sinful pleasure under the sun.

For people who simply believe that Christianity is an intellectually defensible worldview and if people would only understand the arguments will bring them to the truth of the Christian faith simply misunderstand that life and people often don't work that way. How many circular endless discussions, debates, and fighting rounds must people participate in to find out how fruitless this all is? How many arguments have I heard Christians and atheists use that cuts just as much against their own view as the views of the other! How many "win at any cost" and "take no prisoners" approach by both sides have witnessed the callousness of intellectual elite power plays?

In the early church, the pagans did not yell, "Look at the power of their rational arguments" but "See how they love one another." I simply refuse to play by the rationalist game rules much less in the atheist's playground. Arguments proving God's existence or philosophic sophistry that there is a God out there is not the Living God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac that I depend my life upon. So when the atheist asks me to talk about philosophy or 'proof's' or 'facts' I simply turn the conversation and ask, 'You tell me the story of athiesm and how it makes for a better world and I will tell you the story of Israel, Jesus, and the church and how that gives life meaning and hope to this world. Most athiests simply opt out of that conversation and that is fine with me too.

Are There Aliens Among Us?

I have always loved the sci-fi genre and stories. Whether it be books or tv shows or movies, if there was an alien luking around in the background, I was hooked. I have especially been a fan of the old campy 1950's sci-fi classics. There usually was some telling truth or wisdom proverb whether it was War of the Worlds or the Time Machine. Christians have typically speculated not only is there intelligent life "out there" but can people really believe that humanity is really it?

Some people even go futher and suggest that Aliens have already been here and yes, they might be living next door to you unawares. I am sure angels have been to planet earth with most people unawares but I quess you can call me a skeptic even with my great love for a good sci-fi story or late night movie.

But what should be a Christians response if their were aliens? I will ask an even more practical discipleship question, what should be a Christian's response or the church's response to illegal aliens? I will have to say that as a middle-class white American law-abiding citizen, I am disappointed in either the lack of charity on one side and the lack of wisdom that appears at times on the other side. Whether we like it or not, the Hispanic community will one day probably be the largest majority in America. How the church responds now will have great impact for good or for ill when it comes to our attitudes and actions towards this mushrooming group of Americans and yes, illegal aliens.

Here are some questions that beg for answers:

1. What do we do with children who are illegal aliens? When they turn 18, are they instantly criminals?

2. It seems that the problems in our laws are legion. Either we don't follow the laws we currently have or we have bad laws or laws that do not make distinctions in tough and complicated situations. One thing many people agree on is radical reform is desperately needed!

3. How can we encourage people to work with getting citizenship rather than hiding from the authorities? Should people be illegal aliens indefinitely? If there are common law marriages without people doing the legal thing, should there be common law citizenship for people who have lived in this country for a long time?

4. Is there a way to reward people to apply for citizenship and discourage those who go around or against the law or must it be an either/or thing? Is there a better middle ground than what we have today?

5. Some Christians argue that there should be no borders at all? How should the church respond?

How shall we then live?

PRACTICAL DISCIPLESHIP

1. Find someone you see as a spiritual Father or Mother to mentor and disciple you.
2. Find a community to grow you spiritually (discipleship works best with others, not alone).
3. Practice spiritual disciplines and solitude with God.
4. Look for where God is at work and join in (serve with joy and not out of compulsion).
5. Read the Bible daily but listen to what God wants you to pray and read.
6. Do ministry, acts of kindness, and sacrificial giving in two's and three's (Christ is with you!).
7. God's love and grace fuels the flame of our desire and passion (chase fully after God).
8. Practice the presence of God always.
9. Spend time in prayer and God's Word with your children and family.
10. Ask God every week for divine appointments and expect the miraculous.

Any other suggestions?

Islam May Be God's Gift To Stir The Church Out Of Its Slumber

Islam is mounting a world-wide challenge to win Western nations to their faith . . . But the question is are we going to love Muslims and not hate them; to reach out to them in the name of Jesus; and to believe God for millions of Muslims around the world to discover the beauty of God in the person of Jesus Christ . . . One of the greatest challenges facing the church is how to respond to militant Islam. Muslims are convinced that America is conducting a holy war against them. When President Bush announced the Second Gulf War as a 'crusade,' Muslims knew they were right. Taking sides is not the answer. We must take God's side.

It is not the kingdom of democracy we must preach, but God's kingdom of righteousness, joy, and peace through Jesus Christ' (excerpts from Floyd McClung YOU SEE BONES, I SEE AN ARMY). What we need is God's holy love in the church. What we have in the church too often does not really represent love much less God's holiness.

Do you think a holy love is missing in today's church?

What else do you think is missing?

The Elephant Standing in the Room

THE ELEPHANT STANDING IN THE ROOM IS 'THE CHURCH HAD CEASED TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AS IT WENT ABOUT CONGRATULATING ITSELF FOR TRANSFORMING THE WORLD, NOT NOTICING, THAT IN FACT THE WORLD HAD TAMED THE CHURCH'

- Stanely Hauerwas

Let's be honest . . . most ministers do not know how to grow a church, most Christians really don't know what they are doing spiritually, and most churches do not really know the first thing about discipleship and mentoring and training others how to grow as a follower of Jesus and to make more disciples. Ask someone to disciple or spiritually mentor you and they will probably hand you a book. Why? Because they were never discipled and so they can not give away what they have never been shown or taught.

I remember hearing the story of a young college aged man who wrote the three best Christian leaders he knew that taught on the spiritual life. Two of the men wrote back and recommended books to him. The third man, the late Henri Nouwen invited the young man to live with him for a short while and learn discipleship first hand. I do believe its this kind of daring courage and risky faith that Nouwen demonstrated over and over in his life that the Church desperately needs today.

Jesus never wrote a book (something worth pondering) but I always thought if Jesus did, it would be short, consise, and simple books like Nouwen wrote with few words and big print. The simplicity and the beauty of the gospel seems lost in today's confused and complicated world of mega-churches and televangelists. Nouwen fiercely loved Jesus and he spent his later years working with the handicapped and the disabled.

How daring and risky are you when it comes to living out your faith in an unbelieving world?

I Pledge Allegiance To . . . ?

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT DISCIPLESHIP IS
ALWAYS CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT CHRIST
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How is it that we live in "the most Christian country" in the world and see how things have gotten so corrupt morally and spiritually? Christianity in the West is in decline while Christianity in the global south is exploding. Yet the West holds all the cards, possesses all the resources, and still calls all the shots. What's wrong with this picture? In many ways, Christianity in today's environment seems to more inoculate people from the real thing, the gospel, and few seem to be getting real vacinnations that take us into the deeper life with Christ.

I remember in the early 1980's, one leading writer for Christianity Today wrote that the kind of Christianity we are winning people to will be to its own undoing in the end. And then there was Os Guiness who wrote a little later in his Gravedigger Files that the church was to change the culture but the culture was rather changing the church which made the church into its own gravedigger in the end.

An excellent book on dealing with discipleship issues in today's world is Lee Camp Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a rebellious world (Brazos Press, 2003). Lee is doing some creative discipleship over the radio in Nashiville Tennessee and he hits some key issues in his book. One of these issues is "Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God." The question is are we going to follow the empire of power building or the way of the cross which is the suffering Servant way of Jesus?

When Jesus cleaned out the temple, we can easily interpet this hard text of Scripture as a moment for righteous anger or not selling things in a church building or cleaning out your spiritual temple, your own body. But all these miss the deeper implications of the prophetic acting out that Jesus is doing. The temple represented the national allegiance of the people. Israel thought that as long as they had the temple, they would not come under judgment. But they put more stock in their national identity than their spiritual indentity with the Messiah. So the Messiah's temple is destroyed and resurrected whereas the temple in Jerusalem is destroyed later in 70 AD.

Do we get out allegiances confused today? Don't many American Christians think that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of America are almost the same thing? Haven't most Christians bought into the lie of the myth of redemptive violence and that evil resides in those outside of America whereas this country, rather than the church, has become the city on a hill?

Does not even the church in America think that it's job is to be in charge, to make the world right, to convert everyone to our way of thinking and living as Americans? In the end, when Jesus comes back, He is looking for faith in the world.

Where is your faith and what are you trusting in?

An Arrow Pointing to Heaven

"GOD GAVE US THE BIBLE NOT TO PROVE
THAT WE WERE RIGHT ABOUT
EVERYTHING BUT THAT GOD IS RIGHT,
AND THE REST OF US ARE JUST QUESSING"
- Rich Mullins


James Byran Smith wrote an amazing devotional biography on Rich Mullin called AN ARROW POINTING TO HEAVEN (Broadman Press, 2000). Most people remember Rich as a powerful Christian singer. But what many people may not know is Rich was a radical lover of Jesus who lived among Native Americans for a while as he served the Lord. In Brennan Manning terms, Rich was a ragamuffin who loved other ragmamuffins.

Rich Mullins had a depth of quality to him that is difficult to put into words. I remember hearing him in concert one time and he spoke genuinely and deeply about God's love and brokeness and how God's Word defined him and everything around him. He was a man from Indiana who had both substance and character in the way he conducted the affairs of his life. May God raise up more disciples with soaring spirits and passionate love for the weak and downtrodden of society.

Heaven on Earth?

"INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GROW BIGGER
CHURCHES, WE OUGHT TO BE TRYING
TO GROW BIGGER CHRISTIANS.

THE CRUCIAL QUESTION IS NOT HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE IN OUR SEATS BUT
HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ARE SENDING
OUT INTO THE WORLD TO BE THE
PRESENCE OF CHRIST"
-Rich Mullins


We love to talk about heaven today. What a wonderful place it will be. Nobody wants to go there right now but at the end of life, I sure want to inhabit that place. But does not God want to inhabit us NOW? Does not God want to bring heaven down to earth (read Rev.21:1-5). What do we really think Jesus was saying when he taught his disciples to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven?" Does God want to make what is already happening in heaven to happen on earth? Are we supposed to be simply earthy people or heavenly men and women?

I remember reading the exciting biography of Brother Yun and the under ground church. He was a man who lived out things one reads in the book of Acts. He even escaped from Prison like Peter did miraculously in Acts. When Brother Yun was imprisoned for his Christian faith, they simply asked him, "Are you an earthly man or a heavenly man?" If he said earthly man they would of let him go but if he said heavenly man, he was declaring himself a Christian and therefore would be locked up and tortured as a criminal.

Does not God ask us the same today? Are you an earthly man or a heavenly man? Are you showing a glimpse of heaven on earth or are you living in such a way that one can not tell which one you really are? No matter what happens in this world, God is calling forth his beautiful Bride, the church, to extend God's kingdom on earth. Maybe that is why the Bible also calls it the kingdom of heaven?

Monster Christianity

Christianity has become a big and scary thing for some people. Everything from the big bad Christians are trying to take over the government and dominate the world to some of the worse monsters I have ever run into were people who called themselves Christians.

For too long we have focused on church growth and evangelism and not discipleship. Is it little wonder that we have a form of Christianity that more follows Paul's list in the Bible of the flesh rather than the Spirit? Discipleship can not be an option any more for those who say they are followers of Jesus. Discipleship requires great sacrifice and is essential to spiritual formation and faithful Christian living.

I grew up watching monster movies. When everyone was playing cowboys and Indians, I was playing Planet of the Apes. When kids were playing Batman and Superman, I was playing Vampires and Werewolves. Vampire Christianity is all around me. Just give me a little of your blood Jesus but not too much because I want to suck the life out of everything in this world. Vampires used to scare me. Now they don't for the walking dead are all around me.

But I will say werewolves still scare me. I see so much evil in the world today and I'm scared. I'm also scared of my own spiritual complacency, moral compromises, and cowardice as a disciple of Jesus. So when I go to bed at night, I am not afraid that I will be killed by a werewolf, I am afraid of becoming one.

Looking Through a Glass Darkly

When you read the Bible, what do you see? Are we reading Scripture or books about Scripture? Is the Bible reading us or are we simply browsing through it? The Bible is to be a mirror that shows our true nature and self. Many are afraid to look into this mirror because it disturbs, challenges, and will not leave us where we are at. When we read the Bible, if we do not see ourselves in its mirror, we will have missed what God truly wants to show us. It takes courage to look deeply into the mirror of God's Word!

Have you looked in the mirror today?

Discipleship Brings Unity

"WE'VE GOT TO UNITE OURSELVES AS
ONE BODY. BECAUSE JESUS IS COMING
BACK FOR A BRIDE, NOT A HAREM"
-Tony Campollo


The future of the church is integrally connected to our unity in Christ's mission. Seeking the unity of Christ's body (the church) is a neccessary component to Christian discipleship. Our life in God is the basis for unity in our life with one another (John 17).

Unfortunately, the church needs to be the first to repent of religious pride, ecclesiastical arrogance, and its own self-sufficency. We live in a day where Christians are decieved into thinking they can live fine without the church or community. But the whole Bible and Christian faith is within the context of relationships and community. God hates schism and division but in some churches, these are almost virtues.

God calls us to repentance and for his whole bride (the church) to come together as one people. This is not a "sola" (only) invisible reality but one that is to be lived out and visibly seen by others. Its a decision for discipleship. Vatican 2 had it right when it said, "division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature." Oh, if all the major tribes of the church would radically live this out rather than give it mere lip service.

So we pray and wait, serve and hope for that day when the Messianic Banquet takes all of God's divided people and finally unites them (Matt.22:1-14; Rev.19:9).

Do you believe that unity is an important component of Christian discipleship? What should Christians or churches be doing to preserve better the unity of the faith?

Follower or Admirer Of Jesus?

The Great Dane, Soren Kierkegaard, lived in the middle of the 18th century wrote words which have infuriated and captivated Christians. Here is a sampling from his "Provocations:"

"It is well known that Christ consistently used the expression 'follower.' He never asks for admirers. No, he calls disciples. There is nothing to admire in Jesus, unless you want to admire poverty, misery, and contempt . . . Admirers keep themselves at a safe distnace. They are only all too willing to serve Christ as long as proper caution is exercised, lest one personally come in contact with danger. As such, they refuse to accept that Christ's life is a demand. In actual fact, they are offended by him" (p.85-86).

"When everything is favorable to our Christianity, it is all too easy to confuse an admirer with a follower. The admirer can be in the delusion that the position he takes is the true one, when all he is doing is playing it safe . . . The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices . . . He renounces nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all his strength, with all his will to be what he admires" (pp.86, 88).

Are you a follower or an admirer of Jesus?

God, Save The Christians

"To have religion on the level of mediocrity
is the most unqualified form of perdition"
- Soren Kierkegaard

I have been reading Shane Claiborne's delightful and challenging book "The Irresistable Revolution." I remember Greg Boyd once said that Jesus did not call us to religion but to a revolution. Somehow much of Christendom has forgotten that which is why we need some new John the Baptists, savvy disciples like Shane Claiborne, and grumpy philosophers like Soren Kierkegaard.

Shane shares in his book how Don Miller in "Blue Like Jazz" tells the story of a bunch of college students who dressed up like monks and set up a confessional booth but rather than getting people to confess their sins, they confessed their sins and the church's sins to anyone who would listen and forgive. I love hearing ordinary radicals doing something for Jesus whether it's college kids going for broke or old Christians who have decided that they have nothing to lose if they go broke for the gospel's sake.

Claiborne introduces many of God's misfits like Brennan Manning, a recovered alchoholic priest who writes, "The greatest cause of atheism is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable" (p.270).

All of this reminds me of Rob Bell and Don Golden's book provocatively titled, "Jesus wants to Save Christians." Bell has tried his own fair amount of behind the scenes discipleship because we all know too well how easy it is to have Jesus name on our lips but our hearts can be very far from him. Bell wants Christians to genuinely serve and work for the world and not engage in the myth of redemptive violence and empire building.

So maybe the expression "God, save the Christians" is another way of saying "God save the church?"

What do you think?

Ordinary Radicals

"IF THE DEVIL CAN'T STEAL YOUR SOUL,
HE JUST KEEPS YOU BUSY DOING
MEANINGLESS CHURCH WORK"
- Shane Claiborne


Shane Claiborne has a blog called "The Simple Way" and is both a prolific writer and radical disciple of Jesus Christ. He has served all over the world from cleaning lepers in Calcutta to working for peace during the bombing of Iraq. Here are a few excerpts from his book The Irresistible Revolution:


"We must be careful not to allow ourselves to be written off as radicals when church history and the contemporary Christian landscape are filled with ordinary radicals. But today people crave the spectacular. People are drawn to lights and celebrities, to arenas and megachurches. In the desert, Jesus was tempted by the spectacular---to throw himself from the temple so that people might believe---to shock and awe people, if you will. Today the church is tempted by the spectacular, to do big, miraculous things so people might believe, but Jesus has called us to littleness and compares our revolution to the little mustard seed, to yeast making its way through the dough, slowly infecting this dark world with love. Many of us find ourselves living differently from the dominant culture end up needing to 'despectacularize' things a little so that the simple way is made as accessible as possible to other ordinary radicals." (p.132)

The concept of multidimensional discipleship is essential as we consider how to retain a radical discipleship that is multiethnic, intergenerational, and includes singles and families. Otherwise we will just end up surrounded by people who look like us, think like us, and respond to the gospel in exactly the same way we do (p.139).

How many times have you went to a church event, small group gathering, or conference and everyone was simply talking to the choir?

Christian Contrarian

Sorry Kierkegaard has always been a proverbial thorn in the side of the church. Why? Because he lived in a day then that is not so different from our day where almost everybody in this country says they are a Christian but few are actually living it out.

So let his satire bite, even hurt, but thank him afterwards for it:


The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we
Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to
understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand,
we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament
and forget everything except pleging yourself to act accordingly. My God,
you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How will I ever get
on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship.
Christian scholarship is the church's prodigious invention to defend itself
against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians
without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would
we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God.
Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.


(PROVOCATIONS, p.201)

Spiritual Laws of Discipleship

The church and its people need spiritual mentors and coaches. I was with an old friend of mine today who seems like an old harmless man but delivers powerful words for those who have ears to hear. He was talking to me about seven spiritual laws on giving from Second Corinthians chapter nine. I like the word "spiritual" because it's not based upon the material much less the legal. I like the word "laws" because these are not consumer designed or optional bur demand obedience to God's Word and his ways.

As I read the text, verse 14 jumped off the page for me. Generous giving is linked to the response of the person to glorify God by praying for the person who gave to you. I have been in the church my whole life and have never heard one message or lesson on this specific verse or text of Scripture. And there it was in all its simplicity and beauty. Our response to generous sharing or giving is to praise God and pray for the person who gives to us. How have we missed that? Should we not teach this to others?

Is there some other spiritual law of discipleship that you have learned or uncovered?

Let us know . . .

Kingdom Economics

I was on a retreat when this first discussion took place about the definition and implications of kingdom economics. I plan on follow up with the group and brainstorm more about this and put it into practice but here are a few questions that come immediately to mind:

1. How do we break out of this consumer materialistic culture?

2. What about everyone having all things in common like some Almish communities or communities like Franciscan Friars? (Catholic community following the way of Francis of Assisi). How does this apply or not apply today?

3. How does kingdom living impact the ecology and being stewards of creation?

4. Are some Christians called to "depossesion" and become free by giving it all away, how does one know?

5. In a global world of poverty, how do we live simply so that others may simply live?

6. How do Christians deal with issues like debt, retirement, and what the Bible teaches on Jubilee? Does Jubiliee still apply today?

7. How does technology subvert the Christian faith or does it?


Comments? Other questions or issues that should be explored?

Small Groups, Big Impacts

I am really excited about a small group of Jesus followers in the Brownstown Indiana area who from various Christian church traditions who want to seriously follow Jesus where ever that leads? Our first meeting we discussed issues such as:

1. Kingdom economics

2. Mutual accountability

3. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit

We are also looking at ways to bless one another and others who are in need and need help. What does it mean to be a radical follower of Jesus in today's consumer society? How does God direct our lives and what is He saying this very moment? Where is the wind of God's Spirit leading you in your relationship with Christ and those around you?

Some of us are reading, praying, giving, and looking at where God is already at work and joining in. Some of us will be doing homework assignments to bring back to the group to challenge and motivate us in our walk and journey with Christ.

I pray God will make a whole army of such groups of hungry Christians who want to more be a disciple of Jesus than the typical "Christian" who too often is like sheep wandering in a spiritual desert. We are not starting a new church nor do we want people to abandon established churches (we actually encourage people to get involved and be a part of a local church some where). What we seek is renewal and restoration of God's purposes for God's people where ever they might be.

Small groups can have big impacts when empowerd by God's Word and Spirit in faith, love, and hope. But discipleship just doesn't happen, it must be embraced. It is intentional. We need one another and we need spiritual fathers and mothers to mentor and coach us along in our faith journey. God has always done big things with small beginnings.

You See Bones, I See An Army

"God takes us through the valley of dry
bones to teach us we don't have what
it takes to serve in God's Army"
- Floyd McClung


Huddled in small groups all over the country is an army of prayer warrriors on this National Day of Prayer. And here is what God desires from his people:

We are called to die! Not just once to sin, but as a way of life. By dying to our rights, we find life. That means dying to our opinions, dying to the right to be understood, the right to be represented, the right to be loved, the right to be treated justly, and all of our other rights . . . we humble ourselves before God and people (Excerpts from Floyd McClung YOU SEE BONES, I SEE AN ARMY).



The vision?
The vision is an army of God's people,
You see bones, I see an army
This is an army that will lay down its life for a cause.

Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.'

And this is the generation to pray
like a dying man or woman
with groans beyond talking
Waiting. Watching!

Their words make demons scream
Here comes the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes.
It will come to pass
It will come soon
The groaning of the Spirit
the very dream of God.

(taken from RED MOON RISING, pp.119-121)

Spiritual Warfare

God has had me out of my comfort zone for the past month. As I have been meditating on Ephesians chapter six which is known as the spiritual warfare chapter, I have taken notice that the whole book, even the whole Bible is about a disciples battle that is in the heavenlies and manifests itself in very concrete earthy forms.

Ephesians six is clear that our battle is not with other people but with the Devil and his skilled demonic army. Why is it that so many Christians seem defeated today and so many disciples find it so difficult to live out the radical implications of the gospel? Many followers of Jesus would say they strive to put on the whole armor of God every day so what is the problem?

So as the Spirit of God opens my eyes to new things, I see things in Ephesians six that I have never noticed before. Standing against the wiles of the Devil" (v.11) reveals Satan's schemes and strategy against God's children. Do we realize that Satan has a strategy? Do we know what our commander and Lord's strategy is for us today?

I have counseled Vietnam War vets and have found them so utterly confused and shell shocked from their past. Many of them will say things like "I did not know why we were there or where we were going?" Or "We had superior weapons than the enemy but it seemed like they would get the best of us more times than not." Why? One must have a battle plan and strategy to win over an enemy. Can it be that many Christians put on the whole armor of God but forget to check what God's plans are for the fight?

1 Cor.9:26 says we must not "fight like a man beating the air." Doesn't that describe many Christian believers and churches today? We need to be people of the Word. We need to know what we are doing and how we are to do it. The place where Satan is attacking is the home and yet the church thinks everything evolves around it's programs and ministries. We keep building bigger buildings, hiring more staff, and implementing more programs and ministries while families continue to fall apart under the vicious onslaught of the enemy. Unless the Church goes back to training parents to disciple their own children, we may seriously be looking at losing the next generation for God.

Lastly, notice that prayer is not one of the pieces of armor. Do you find that strange? Why is that? I have come to realize that prayer is the spiritual warfare. It's the very place where we depend upon God and His power and not on our strength and human sweat. It is on God's power and sovereign direction that leads his followers to places of peaceful rest and intense spiritual battles. We need to know both where the enemy is attacking as well as getting our marching orders from the Lord God Almighty. Maranatha!

Gospel Revolution - Part 3

WE NEED A REVOLUTION OF HOLY SPIRIT FIRE,
A SUPERNATUAL REVOLUTION
- Michael Brown


The reason America is in such a mess today is not so much because of corrupt politicians and sinful movie stars. No. The primary reason is the backslidden, compromised church. The reason there is so much darkness is because the light within the land---the house of God!---has been dark . . . 'We have seen the enemy, and it is us.' To be consistent, the call to violent activism would have to sound like this: 'Kill the compromised clergy! Slaughter the sleeping saints! Shoot the sinning shepherds! Nuke the noncommitted! Blow up the bankrupt believers! Wipe out the worldly watchmen! Who among us can throw the first stone---or shoot the first bullet?

It is not time to pick up arms and guns; it's time to put on the whole armor of God. That is the key to our success. That is how we win. The warfare begins with us, God's people. And when we are changed, we can change the world . . . When a person undergoes a revolutionary encounter with Jesus Christ in the dimension of the Spirit, he becomes a catalyst of revolution . . . A revolution not by the sword but by the cross . . . a revolution of love.

(Michael Brown's REVOLUTION, pp.287-288).

Kingdom Prayer

I am afraid of saying "yes," Lord.
Where will you take me?
I am afraid of drawing the longer straw,
I am afraid of signing my name to an unread agreement,
I am afraid of the "yes" that entails other "yeses."

And yet I am not at peace.
You pursue me, Lord, you besiege me.
I seek out the din for fear of hearing you, but in a
moment of silence you slip through.
I turn from the road, for I have caught sight of you, but
at the end of the path you are there awaiting me.
Where shall I hide? I meet you everywhere.
Is it then impossible to escape you?

I am afraid of your demands, for you are a jealous God.
I am hemmed in, yet I hide.
I am captured, yet I struggle,
For you are stronger, You own the world.


Son, I want more of you and for the world.
Say "yes," son.
For it is I who must do your work.
It is I who must live in your family.
It is I who must be in your neighborhood, and not you.

For it is my look that penetrates, and not yours,
My words that carry weight, and not yours.
My life that transforms, and not yours.
Give all to me, abandon all to me.


O Lord, I am afraid of your demands, but who can resist you?
That your kingdom may come and not mine,
that your will may be done and not mine,
help me to say "Yes."

[from Michel Quoist PRAYERS, pp.121-123]

Disciples Devotional

Consider the example of Stephen, the first martyr of the church (Acts 7). Why didn't he back down when he saw that the Sanhedrin, the governing religous body, was becoming enraged at him? Why didn't he try to pacify them? After all, he was probably a young man with a wife and children. His whole future lay before him. His family was dependent on him. But he never came home.

And then there was his ministry. He was a powerful preacher, anointed to heal the sick and perform miracles. Think of all the lives he could touch! Think of all the good he could do for the kingdom of God. Why didn't Stephen simply deny the false charges? "Men and brothers, the accusations are not true!" Why didn't he politely dismiss their questions and calm their anger? Why did he continue to stand up and speak out? The answer challenges us all: He was not seeking to save his life; he was seeking to be a witness. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it" (Matt.16:25).

This is the story of the true church in every nation and in every age: "You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city---where Satan lives" (Rev.2:13). This is the gospel of martyrdom, the gospel of Jesus . . . As Leonard Ravenhill observed, Paul did not mind if the cost of obedience was prison, "for it was better that he should be 'the prisoner of the Lord' for a few years than that his fellow men should be the devil's prisoners in hell forever." [taken from Michael Brown REVOLUTION, p.257]

Who Are You Serving

I remember an old Christian song which the lyrics went something like this, "You've got to serve somebody?  It may be the Devil?  It may be God?  But you got to serve somebody?   Who are you serving?  It seems like the church or popular question among Christians is, "Are you saved?"  But don't we get a very different answer if we ask "Who are you serving?"

 

Jesus said we are to give up EVERYTHING and follow Him (Luke 14:33).  Many Christians want to modify or explain these words away by saying one only has to be 'willing' to give up everything?  Does anyone read "willing" in this passage of Scripture?  On what basis to we dilute Jesus words today?

 

I am not saying people have to leave their families, quit their jobs, and sell everything they have.  But the issue of depossesion is a real issue that many of Jesus followers and disciples did exactly that.  I remember the Prayer of Jabez led me into jail ministry almost a decade ago.  It changed my life.  I've talked and have walked out with people who have lost everything and some freely give it all away to follow God.  I have a close friend who is starting an intensive discipleship ministry in Salem Indiana for men getting out of jail who are serious about being followers of Jesus.  It's called "The Good Samaritan Inn."  He takes no income and has literally given up everything to serve God in this kingdom ministry.

 

Living for God should be our all consuming passion, what ultimately governs and controls our life.  To be a disciple of Jesus means to be completely absorbed with Jesus and His mission.

 

Chris Criminger