One Church

Jesus prayed that we be ‘one’ but for almost 2,000 years the Christian Church has experienced divisions, splits, dissension and even heresy.

How can we possibly be ‘one Church’ when there is so much division?  Some churches have only male ministers while some allow females.  I’ve been in churches where their services last over two hours; in other churches, you can be out in thirty-five minutes. 

Some churches baptize babies, some only adults.   There are seven sacraments according to some but only two according to others. I actually know of one that counts thirteen!

Raising your hands for worship may be in vogue but in some churches it’s considered rude and inappropriate.   Music is likely one of the biggest differences and churches vary from having no instruments to having worship at 98 decibels.

While I could go on and list pages of differences there is still hope that we can be  “one”.   Deciding that we are One Church is still a choice despite what appears to be stark differences.    The choice is to look at our differences as interesting diversity within “One Church” rather than examples of different churches. 

Since 325 AD, the “One Church” has had a statement of faith, the Nicene Creed, as the litmus test of Christianity.  The thirty-five lines in the Creed are the essential beliefs that define what we can refer to as “orthodoxy”……not as the Greek or eastern branch of Christianity but in the true sense of the Greek word “orthos” meaning “right”  or “true”.

The Nicene Creed doesn’t mention the length of worship services, doesn’t mention the role of men or women.  The Nicene Creed doesn’t mention music at all and only has one word on baptism……not nearly enough to divide us.  The Nicene Creed is primarily about Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His role in the redemption of mankind.  We call this the gospel, the one thing that every Christian Church can agree on.

We can be “One Church” when we embrace the diversity within the church and rely on the “One Gospel” to bring unity.

Prayer - the antidote for worry

The Apostle Paul tells us about prayer and how to handle worry in his letter to the Philippians,

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Being anxious and worried may be common but it is also a common problem.  All worry is nonproductive; too much worry can be disabling and lead to panic attacks and other behavioral issues. Paul's encouragement is a simple antidote for worry.  This verse also tells us three important things we can learn about prayer.  

1. Prayer is an act of worship…that is why God is jealous of who we pray to.    Prayer connects us with a God who loves us, cares for us and is our present hope in our time of need.
2. Prayer calls upon the ‘omni’s of god”  They include
   a. God’s omniscience –God is all-knowing
   b. God’s omnipresence - God is all-present/all-seeing
   c. God’s omnipotence - God is all-powerful
   d. God’s omni-benevolence – God is good
3. Prayer provides peace.....it is the peace that passes understanding; it is the true answer in our time of need.

Giving Grace to the Humble

In Matthew 8:5-13 the story is told of Jesus and the Roman Centurion.  Both Matthew and Luke record the story.  This is how Matthew tells it:

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

We’ll stop this story at this point because we can already learn a lot from these few verses.

This Roman officer, a centurion in charge of one hundred Roman soldiers, comes and pleads with Jesus.   Think about this….this is a career military officer, a Roman, in charge of highly trained warriors that represent the conquering and occupying army and keep order in this northern region of Galilee.

The Romans are hated by the Jews; however Jesus, also a Jew, has no hate for this man.   This Roman humility is obvious as he not only pleads with Jesus but also asks Jesus for healing, not for himself but his servant, likely a household slave.  This humility moves Jesus.

In the book of Micah, one of the last books of the Old Testament and written about 700 years before this exchange between Jesus and the Roman officer answers the question of what God expects of us. 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ESV

Humility is not only a virtue but it is expected by God and the key to receiving grace and answered prayers.   James, the Lord’s brother, writes, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 ESV.  In other translations it says that God actually resists the proud. 

I don’t know about you but when I pray, when I ask the Creator of the universe to hear my petition I don’t want resistance.

Humility or the lack of it is always the result of a comparison.  We lack humility when we compare ourselves to others and feel superior. We are humble when we give honor to others. 

Humility should come easily when we compare ourselves to Jesus or the standards that are set for us in the Bible.  We fall short…way short of what is expected.  However, God embraces us with his love and grace when we are humble. When we are willing to submit to God’s plan, to His timing and His will for our lives, He hears our prayer and responds with compassion.

Two Choices

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus presents us with two choices:  “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.  How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

So the choices are a narrow gate and a wide gate.  Like the different doors on “Let’s make a deal”, one door, one choice is much, much better than the other.

I find the hard part of this teaching is that while Jesus says that we need to enter through the narrow gate He also says that there will be few that find it or choose it.  We all have many family, many friends, many neighbors and to think that many will choose the path that leads to destruction while only few will find true life is very sobering.  Nevertheless, it is a choice that is freely made. 

Note also the choice of the narrow gate.  Jesus  refers to Himself as the gate in the story of the Good Shepherd in the gospel of John.  Note that while Jesus says that this choice, this door or gate is narrow, the choice itself is not difficult. 

It is the road that then follows that is difficult, not the choice.  Jesus told us, "In the world you will have trouble.” Then Jesus added, "But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)

The road can be difficult because of persecution. This is all too frequent today in places like Egypt, Nepal and Iran and Jesus warned of that as well (Matthew 5:11-12).  Jesus also said that us that the world would hate us (John 15:18-19).

The Greek word that is translated for the word strive when Luke refers to this teaching and Jesus says, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate” is agonizomai.   You don’t need to know Greek to see the similarity with our word, “agonize”.   

We choose the narrow gate, the right path and then we struggle and strain.  Along with the trouble and the persecution we are often like a athlete straining towards to end-zone, an Olympian putting all of their effort behind their opportunity to gain the gold.    

I’ve referenced other great scholars commenting on this teaching and they are all clear:  Our striving and our effort, no matter how great will not save us.  The Bible is very clear that salvation is by the grace of God through of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

We don’t earn heaven by striving for it.  This narrow gate is Jesus Himself and the door is open to us; to those few who make the choice.

Still Buying IBM?

I was a business manager in the 1990s, and at the time there was an axiom that said, “No one ever gets fired for buying IBM.”

IBM was “Big Blue,” and they had a commanding share of the market.  Their computers were well known and built to last; yet, at the same time, anything but cutting-edge.  The saying was true in that buying IBM was safe, predictable and boring.

I was one of those people who didn’t like doing or recommending things because they were safe.  

To me, it seemed like there were great opportunities for those that had taken risks.  I became one of those managers that was known as a risk-taker.  It served my employers well, but sometimes made my career felt a little shaky.  Nevertheless, risk-taking is not an option but a requirement.  Every business today started because someone took a chance; someone started something that was risky.

If innovation and risk-taking are necessary in all organizations, that certainly includes the church.  One of the reasons we have many local churches today that have 10,000 or more members is because church leaders were willing to take risks; they were willing to be innovative.

Creativity and a willingness to change and fail are qualities that we need in our local churches.   While these are traits we desire in our lead pastors, they’re just as important in all other roles – from youth minister to business administrator.

Creativity can be as simple as introducing a new song or event, and can be as challenging as selling all of the church’s existing buildings and relocating in the inner city.  “Buying IBM” was an easy way to not get fired back in the 1990’s.  However, some of those employees and companies eventually lost everything because their organizations were no longer growing; their products and services had become irrelevant; and their competitors had taken over their customers.

Reprinted with permission from Church Executive Magazine  March 2013

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Ahhhhh  Les Miserables

I've been a fan of Victor Hugo's epic French novel since I was in college.

There was something about the drama.   I love the historical setting of 19th century Paris and I'm intrigued by likely one of the most famous characters in literature, Jean Valjean.   I had the opportunity to see the stage play again this past weekend with my wife and my parents at a little community theater in Ocala.  They did a great job but this is not about their thespian skills.

In the above clip we see the act that leads to the redemption of a man, Jean Valjean, a peasant imprisoned and sentenced to indentured servitude for stealing a loaf of bread.  His crime, while possibly minor, merited a punishment.   Like most of the people of Paris in the early 19th century, Jean Valjean's life is miserable (hence...les miserables).   The poor, the downcast and the needy are judged to be inferior.  They are inferior to those that are judged to be superior.  This includes the rule keepers, the police and the nobility.

The change in Jean Valjean came at the hands of a priest, a man of God.   This priest ransoms him with silver and tells him that his life now has meaning.  He must now live a changed life.

This amazing epic drama touches my heart.    It reminds me of the universal human condition that we are all helpless, we are all inferior, we are all broken and in need of redemption.

The Christian overtones in the play are clear.  The redemption of mankind also comes at the hand of a priest.  Not an earthly priest however, our redemption was paid for by Jesus Christ on calvary.   The offer of redemption is simple: accept that the price has already been paid and understand that you have been ransomed, you have been redeemed. As a result, we are to live a life that now has meaning.  This is to be a life that is honoring to God.

While in the stage play, Jean Valjean does change,  police inspector Javert continues his chase of the former convict 24601 and only has punishment in mind.  In his way of thinking people don't change.   Grace does a work in Jean Valjean's life but there is no grace in Javert.  Even when his life is spared by the changed Jean Valjean, Javert cannot find it in his heart to change, to repent and to accept grace as an opportunity.

It has been said that all great literature has Biblical roots.  Perhaps the reason is that the primary issues of life are addressed through Biblical characters.   Redemption, grace, forgiveness and restoration are available and the primary source is the Bible.

A Lesson from James

I don't know about you but it seems like we all get tested. 

Whether it's something that we know is coming and perhaps even have the time to prepare, or it's something sudden like a sickness or even the death of a loved one, a financial hurdle or the loss of a job, testing comes often. 

How we deal with the tests are more important than the difficulties themselves.   Regardless of how difficult the trial or the test, the way we respond is actually more important. 

The book of James is one of my favorite books in the New Testament, likely because it just seems like so much common sense.  Perhaps the reason it is common sense rather than a theological work is because James was the half-brother of Jesus.   The Bible tells us that James and his brothers, Joseph, Simon and Judas were not followers of Jesus early ministry (John 7:5).   Scholars believe that Jesus likely appeared to James after the Resurrection because James, his mother Mary and his brothers were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.   James decision to follow Jesus was because he had proof.  He had certainly not been as wise or as learned as his older brother, but he was street smart. 

This is what James had to say about trials: 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2-5)

So testing produces perseverance.   My definition of perseverance is the ability to continue to do something even when it is difficult.   I’d also say it’s summed up in the saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

I love that….very practical advice.

When we persevere, the Apostle Paul said in Romans 5:3-4 "perseverance produces character; and character hope."

So when we have difficulties we have the opportunity to develop both our character and also hope.   I’ve found that in the long run, most of the stuff that we worry about and fuss about doesn’t matter.  What matters is character.   If we have the character that Jesus wants to produce in us and through us then we have the best hope of all.