Grace vs. Us

The sooner we accept our ineptitude, the sooner grace changes us.



The problem in the modern leadership paradigm that we’ve created with our modern "spectacular rock-show exhibition seeker obsessive church-plant megastar media whore-of-a-ministry" model (whew) is that even though we place an immensely weighted emphasis on the gospel (which is wholly good) we also place more and more onus on our abilities and others.

If you took away all the pretense and all the glamour of your church experience could you stand to be exposed to a small room of 20 people studying and discussing the bible on its own merits and personal revelation? There is NO ability in us that transforms others, no value in our expertise; it is grace alone that changes men! Anything else is a demi-idol that threatens the true work of the gospel in men’s hearts.

We cannot partially rely on grace.

the Holy Catholic Church. . . (Not that one, the other one)

 We are a united people. Our cause and purpose is all the same. We have a reliance on each citizen and an accountability that reinstates that reliance.

We are United at all times. It is a natural inclination to reject the interdependence that fuels all of Christianity, but we must grasp and come to terms with the overwhelming responsibility of standing and falling together. I know the initial reaction to this unity principle is "if they fail then they did it on their own" or even worse "They made those decisions, they deserve what they get!" Holy God, are we saved for such a disgusting spiritual state as the modern church portrays?!?

Here's an example: I recently found out that an old friend got divorced. Apparently there were problems in the relationship for years. For a little background, this friend was a beaming example of what meant to be "radically saved"; his experience literally built my theology of God's power to change everything in a life. Knowing that God had moved so mightily in this couples lives, I was brought to instant brokenness for them. Understand that i wasn't disappointed that they brought yet another failed marriage into the forefront of the minds of unbelievers, nor was I critical of their disregard of Jesus' clear teaching that the Father hates divorce. No, my immediate concern was how have I [and by extension the entire church] failed them. I saw them both once a year for the past 8 years, did I go out of my way to connect with them, to pray with or for them, to give my heart to them. I love them both and when they fail, I fail. 

When you fail I don't want to know so I can condemn you. I need to know because we are "the body of Christ". We fail together and we will rise the same, friend! In the same way, when you triumph I don't want to puff you up or put you on a pedestal. I desperately want to share in victory because the risen Christ has made the difference for us.

There isn't an option here, if you are united with Christ you are united to His people. We can't afford to keep doing it any other way.

The New Way of Becoming Bold(er). . . "Discipline pt.3"

This is the third blog wrapping up this topic, here are the previous sections: Part 1, Part 2

So what is spiritual discipline?

In simple terms the disciplines are – practices built on principle applied practically to our daily lives. (like the alliteration, I learned that in 8th grade English class and every pastor known to man. Thanks Mr. Bradford.) 

An example of this would be:

-principle- Tim. 3:15-17 you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

-practice- I read the bible consistently 

-applied practically- Daily bible reading with the purpose of revelation and the expectancy of something being deposited in me that will not only make me a stronger Christian but a better human. 

That would be reading the bible, a very important discipline, and the list goes on and on, I don't have time to get into journaling, critical thinking, fellowship, serving others, fasting, offering, worship, questioning everything, love, etc. etc, you get the point. 

Now everything in the mature Christian life is a discipline.  And it would be impossible for me (or anyone else) to tell you which ones you need to work on the most.  The whole point of this text is to get you to start pouring these things into your life, to start asking yourself the hard questions of faith. 

It is all so much but so worth it.  Start finding the things in your life that need it and apply discipline to them (hint: everything requires discipline, from how you spend your money to your sleeping schedule, God has a purpose and will for it, it's our job to find it). 

These things are what give you the authority and power to reach the lost, encourage the weak, feed the hungry, accept the outcast, challenge the faithful, and be the church. When we get to this place together, falling back won't be an option because your faith will be at a place where mature belief sustains your relationship with God.  Weakness swallowed up in power (1 Corinthians 15:54).  Instead of relying on people and your circumstances to pull you through life, you'll be the one others rely on to encourage them.  But you'll never get to that place without spiritual discipline. 

You have to start considering this now, and thinking on this level.  This isn't the type of thing that you put off until you're "ready" or "mature enough" because until you devote yourself to this purpose you will never mature spiritually.  It's all about devotion, committing to something.  God's judgment lies in our motive, it hinges on what you are committing yourself to.  Are you committing yourself to this world and its obligations?  It's system of greed and strife, self-motivation and lust?  Or can you want what God wants. Can you commit to His standards, not a pastor's or your friend's, but His discipline? His motives. The long-lasting effects of that kind of faith are evident in lives like Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, AW Tozer, Moody, and Thomas Aquinas.  These people got it, that discipline isn't something that others can force on you to get you closer to God, these things are what you place on yourself to get others closer to God. To “know Him, and make Him known.”

Community can fail, Community never fails

This is a collaborative exercise, needed input from community outside of my immediate influence to accurately go into this. . . enjoy.

          I’m gonna be brutally honest and let you into my world for a second. I have no idea what to do specifically about this subject; it’s seemingly unavoidable and unnerving at the same time. Those of you that have shared in faith with me know that the last several years of my life have been about promoting, building, and sustaining COMMUNITY. There are many great blogs about it that go far deeper into its meaning and value within the body than I have time to, but what I want to talk about is a little more specific. I want to talk about the cycle, and even more pointed than that I wanna get into the thick of:

“when community starts to fall”.

Now the intricate balance we have learned to strike in leadership is one of growing with people but allowing people to grow outside of your influence also. [Another blog entirely involves growing with people you lead instead of just leading people, but another time-] This is no simple task because inevitably you will have a follower that gets into something so detrimental to their development that you feel that not stepping in is almost promoting sin, but it must be done. If people are not believed in and encouraged to great faith they will always struggle in “little faith”. We never want to see people fail but it’s the price that is paid to make them truly succeed. Now take that a step further, there are ministries and discipleships and a myriad of other things that we pour ourselves into that will eventually fade. The impact on individuals may never be fully realized (good or bad, eternal or temporary) but the first inclination is to step back in and revitalize the movement. I don’t know every step to take but my first impression is. . . NO! Stop. Think about our desires and the call of God. He called you away for a purpose, I know it’s hard, but the movement isn’t yours, it’s the Spirit of God moving in them. There are no bailouts in the Kingdom, a thing stands and falls on the Will of God alone. Of course good stewardship is necessary and should be duly encouraged, but we must allow things to run their course. It’s just as likely that things need to be destroyed to give birth to the next thing God wants to do.

Now I’m probably going to get some push back from this and that’s okay but something that is so incredibly lacking today is the true faith that comes through persevering. People make mistakes and as light or drastic as it appears, those mistakes have consequences. There is a natural cycle in the church; from youth programs to leadership and this experience is universal. Excitement swells, connections are made, influence becomes standard, critical mass is reached, the people revolt, leadership freaks out, there becomes a new norm and from there we either rebuild from nearly scratch or get called away. Now there are many more factors that come into play and the more community reliant a movement becomes the less likely the winding down takes hold and the easier to notice problems and address them with personal devotion/attention. The point is that we must allow leaders to lead, they will always need mentorship, the people will always need a new thing to rally for, but it’s our responsibility as leaders to give everyone the room to grow. God has a lot of puzzle pieces to order, we each have our call, be obedient to the ministry you are called to “Right Now” and avoid the trap of being disappointed about what cannot be sustained. Community will be rebuilt, attacked from a different angle, and flourish through the attack. God is faithful, His way is perfect.

Once again it’s hard to fully gauge this because my view of Community has come into such focus over the last few years, but we will work through this, and as churches become more aware of the filter of community I’m sure we’ll all have some better approaches, but for now trust in what God can and will do through our people. I’m interested in the thoughts of others who have seen vast community decline or change in the last few years, what are your thoughts, opinions, and warnings?

The Old Way of Becoming You(sless). . . "Discipline pt.2"

So in "part 1" i introduced the overall need for discipline, here we go into the effects of discipline (and the lack), here goes. . .

I can't overstate how easy and commonplace it is to fool ourselves into comfort and ease. You may have an intense love of God in your life today.  But it's easy for Lewis and Company to equate that feeling and security with "falling in Love" with Jesus.  And that's a good thing; I love to see people excited about loving God and being forgiven, full of wonder and expectancy. The problem comes when we expect this to be a constant in our spiritual lives.  That expectancy is soon turned to disappointment; first with our own lives and second with the Christians surrounding us.  And then what happens to your faith? 

I believe that it goes one of three ways, and keep in mind this is all after getting saved, these are positions taken in the church, not outside:

      1. Mundane Christianity— the most common alternative to living the abounding and fruitful way you think a Christian should. Most people in this category are often happy on the outside, still attending church many even becoming leaders themselves, but in their inner lives they have accepted that lifelessness and sin are simply the "way it is" and are too afraid of damnation to leave the boundaries of faith and too afraid of their own inadequacy and unbelief to challenge their faith to a higher level. 

      2. Muted Christianity—fairly common.  This is when someone gives up on the power and purpose of God altogether.  These people usually view Christianity as "a harness for the young and comfort for the old".  They may wander in to a service once or twice a year to maybe rekindle that once magical feeling of knowing God. Then it's back to real life without Christ and his constant weight on the conscience. 

      3.  Motive Christianity—rare, very rare.  This is where a person starts building something that overcomes the ups and downs of their feelings and seeks the permanent joy of being daily challenged to live in the place God has called them.  They may experience problems or turmoil but nothing moves them outside of sacrificial living and servanthood. 

Many people in the faith (especially young ones 30 and below) say, "mundane and muted? That would never happen to my relationship with God".  

Pay close attention to what I'm about to say:  If you do not start to build a lasting impenetrable faith now in your own hearts and lives, it will most assuredly and without notice happen to you.  Like I said before it's rare to get to motive Christianity after faith runs out. If you don't start wrapping your minds around spiritual discipline you will have little if nothing to hold on to when the feeling goes away.  And be assured the feeling goes away.  For many it happens after the excitement and accountability of youth groups for more critical thinkers it's earlier and for some it's later in life.  Whenever it happens you can see it in the distance, a little blurry and faint at first.  Maybe you're already getting tired of the church because (1)it's not living up to your expectations or (2) your not living up to God's standards. I'll tell you now the secret to getting past this. PRESS IN!

That's usually the beginning, you might start feeling like you don't belong with this people /- press in. Possibly it's too hard and not worth it. Wouldn't it be nice to just be like the world, free of restrictions and discipline /- press in. Now is the time to really find out who God is and what He wants from you, you can't slow down, you can't stop /- press in.  The race isn't for the quick but to who those who endure /-press in. 

Prayer. . .

John 20-21 // Joel 3 // Mathew 1-9

     There has been a deep burning desire (a new thing in my heart) for prayer.  I'm going through a lot of things in my life right now, unsure of numerous circumstances in and outside of my control.  But this desire is deeper than that.

     When I was young we had prayer meeting every Monday night.  We would show up (bare in mind I was 14 years old at this time) and pray.  These were prayer warriors.  My pastor, the worship leader, several other servants, and NO youth (if they did come they hung out in the foyer until their parents were finished).  I never had this mysterious desire to pray that everyone talks about, but I was taught the value and principle, so I did it anyway (unintentionally learning how to pray as worship*).

     Now, in my older life, with: more responsibilities, higher stakes, more failures [fewer successes], and the looming threat of ineffectiveness, I long for those days.  The feeling comes suddenly and I find myself questioning Eli asking whether next time I should say "Speak Lord, for your servant hears" (1 Sammy 3:11).

     I had a conversation with Curtis Wilson where the man of God asked me "What is prayer, is it something more than talking to God?"  The answer (which I couldn't come up with until several hours later) is unequivocally No.  Talking to God is what everyone does.  Atheists do it, Buddhists and Pagans do it. The writer of Job says even the devil does it.  I can easily conclude that Christians talking to God is a rather simplistic thing lacking power if not purpose. If we were honest with ourselves we would see that this low-level spiritual activity of "talking to God" is (other than shear acknowledgement) completely self motivated.

     The answer is in Samuel.  It says that Sammy ministered to the Lord day and night.  To minister, in the literal sense, meaning "to give".  Prayer is Giving (worship, meditation, bible reading, journaling; spiritual disciplines in general are giving). If something isn't taken out of us in these practices then we are fooling ourselves into a false sense of accomplishment**.  I'm not saying that you must exhaust yourself in prayer [although . . .?], nor do I believe talking to God as a negative thing, I do it all the time, but I can't settle for the good when I'm called to greatness.  When Paul says he prays without ceasing, I think he's paralleling his theme of pouring his life out as a drink offering.

     I remember praying until I couldn't pray anymore.  Can I challenge myself to commit to that kind of prayer again? Not to bring back some old glory but to seek the new one.  If I know His strength overshadows my weakness, my lack can be swallowed up in power.  This is a fight with my self; my relationship wants me to talk to God, of course this pleases my flesh (even my conscience), making God more like me and demanding little in the vein of sacrifice.  In contrast to "giving in prayer" where my spirit man is forced to rise up and endure the heavy weight of deep, insightful, and purposeful prayer, along with the weakness of my faith to give in to other pursuits.  Hence "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much", where do you think the "fervent" part comes in?

* There is something to be said about prayer as worship as well, but not now.

** That's not to say that we don't also receive something in these practices, but as the principle stands, power is in the giving, not the taking.