The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

“One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’” ~1 Corinthians 1:12

Our Tuesday morning men’s Bible study is looking at 1 Corinthians right now so you’re going to get a dose of this once a week or so for a while.

I see us just like the Corinthians. We have divided up into factions. One person belongs to a “progressive” faction.  One is of a “conservative” group. One claims a “traditional” view. Still another stands for the “liberal” position. Each group claims to have something the others don’t. We’re better. Or we’re more mature. Or more “correct.” Or more free. Or more righteous. Or more whatever. Everybody else is more rigid. Or more strict. Or more loose. Or more prone to slip. Or more worldly. Or more whatever.

Since our differences — distinctions — are seen as good things in and of themselves, and something in which to even boast, we limit ourselves to only the thinkers or authors or preachers or teachers in our own groups and have a real tendency to vilify all the thinkers and authors and preachers and teachers in the other groups.

And we divide. And we disfellowship. And we write articles and papers. And we split up our own families. And we tell the world that the Prince of Peace isn’t really all that great afterall. He can get us to our own congregations (or our own sections of our congregations) on Sundays. But real unity and peace is out of the question.

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul (insert your favorite preacher or congregation or Bible class teacher here) crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul (insert your favorite Christian university or author or professor here)?”

The answer to this evil division, of course, is found in the Word of God. What we see in Scripture is that the Gospel is Christ and him crucified. Period. That’s it.

But, alas, that’s not enough to support my clan or my faction or my segment of the divisions over the others. We’re all equal at the cross. Equal in sin. Equal in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Equally saved by grace. So, forget the Bible. Or, more accurately, let’s add on to the Bible. When’s the next lectureship? When’s the next gospel meeting? Email me the link to that article. Get me a copy of that magazine.

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” ~1 Corinthians 1:10

Peace. Seriously.

Allan

Our Tuesday morning men’s Bible study group dove into 1 Corinthians this week. And we were struck by Paul’s comments at the beginning of this powerful letter. He’s writing to a church that’s completely eaten up with pride and divisions and arrogance and immaturity. The leaders of this church are abusing the very gifts God’s given them to prove his holy presence. They’re running the church with worldly methods according to worldly standards. This church is a mess. It’s a wreck. It’s doing more harm for the Kingdom than good.

Yet, Paul writes:

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”

Huh?

Paul gives thanks for this church. He praises this church for their enriched speaking and knowledge. He calls them the “sanctified.” He claims that this whacked-out church in Corinth has just as many spiritual blessings and potential as any church that’s ever been established.

Huh?

How can he write that? How can he be positive and thankful? How can he, with a straight face, affirm anything good going on here?

“He [Christ] will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” ~1 Corinthians 1:8-9

God himself provides the guarantee. He will remain faithful to his promises to ultimately perfect his chosen people. No matter how immature they are, regardless of the ways they act toward one another and in their community, God is making his Church wholly blameless. We are forgiven of our sins and are in the process of “being saved.” We’re being remolded, transformed, even if it comes with great swings and dramatic ups and downs.

We’re always going to see the blemishes in God’s Church. His Church is made up of humans. Some days, those blights on the Bride of Christ are all we can see. It can be discouraging. It can bring us down. Especially when we recognize that, a lot of the times, we ourselves are actually part of the problem.

The key is to focus not on the unfaithfulness of God’s people but, instead, on the eternal faithfulness of our God. We are Christians still awaiting perfection, still awaiting the final revelation and completion and arrival of the Kingdom of God. It’s coming. And he promises that when it does, he will have made us ready.

That includes you. And me.

Peace,

Allan

“You are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” ~1 Corinthians 1:30

All the doctrine of the Bible is made personal is Jesus. God’s wisdom is Jesus. Our righteousness is Jesus. Our holiness is Jesus. Our redemption is Jesus. Our resurrection is made personal and real in Jesus. Everything we need, and indeed have, for salvation and a right relationship with God is in Jesus.

When you’re down two scores in the fourth quarter you need a Pro Bowl quarterback, not a good playbook. When you’re being sued you need a good lawyer, not a comprehensive law encyclopedia. When you’re sick you need a good doctor, not a user-friendly medical website. And when you’re facing your greatest enemies — sin, death, Satan — you need the Savior of the World!

God’s wisdom and righteousness and holiness and redemption are gifts to you from him. They are benefits, yes. But they’re more than that. They are actually aspects of a relationship with Jesus. It is him in you. For all of us who were baptized into Christ have clothed ourselves with Christ.

When you belong to Christ Jesus you have all you’ll ever need in life and death, in time and space, and for eternity.

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A look back at Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address which he began writing in August 1809, 200 years ago this week inspires the reader to carefully and prayerfully consider our Lord’s call to Christian unity. Scripture’s picture of unity. Our God’s will for unity.

The opening lines — one sentence with tons of commas — goes like this:

“That it is the grand design, and native tendency, of our holy religion, to reconcile and unite men to God, and to each other, in truth and love, to the glory of God, and their own present and eternal good, will not, we presume, be denied, by any of the genuine subjects of christianity.”

The whole thing is a call to unity. Reconciliation. The kind of reconciliation Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 5. Reconciliation between God and man. Between man and man. The kind of reconciliation that drives God’s eternal plans. The very ministry he’s given those of us who’ve professed our faith in him and put his Holy Son on in baptism. Campbell’s words in this document are bold. Aggressive. And they ring with beautiful and undeniable truth. The Declaration and Address, the charter document of our Churches of Christ, calls for a swift end to all divisions among those who claim to be followers of Jesus.

“Has the Captain of Salvation sounded a desist from pursuing, or proclaimed a truce with, this deadly enemy that is sheathing its sword in the very bowels of the church, rending and mangling his mystical body into pieces. Has he said to his servants, let it alone? If not, where is the warrant for a cessation of endeavors to have it removed?”

Campbell claims that tearing down the walls and uniting again with our brothers and sisters in Christ is a “matter of universal right, a duty belonging to every citizen of Zion, to seek her good.” And while the work will be difficult and the opposition will come mainly from within the church establishment, Campbell says it is God’s will. It is the Church’s will. It is the will of those who’ve gone before us. And our efforts will be divinely rewarded.

“…both the mighty and the many are with us. The Lord himself, and all that are truly his people, are declaredly on our side. The prayers of all the churches, nay, the prayers of Christ himself, John 17:20-23, and of all that have ascended to his heavenly kingdom, are with us.”

I thank God for the Campbells and the Stones and other giants of the faith who latched onto God’s holy will as revealed to us in Scripture and. would. not. let. it. go. They lived to obey God rather than man. They swore to use only the Bible as their guide. And they vowed that, despite the opposition, they would remain loyal to their King and his Kingdom. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. We owe them the effort to carry on the difficult work they started 200 years ago.

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24 days until the Dallas Cowboys kick off their historic 50th NFL football season. 24 days from now they’ll be battling the Bucs down in Tampa. And we’re counting down the days with the Red Ribbon Review, a look at the second-best players in Cowboys history, according to jersey number. (This countdown becomes much more important with every Rangers loss. If they lose tonight, I’m blaming it on Lewin’s “1999-ish” comments on Tuesday.)

The second-best ever #24 in Cowboys history is a Super Bowl MVP, cornerback Larry Brown. The Cowboys stole him with a 12th round pick in 1991 and got a starting right corner for five straight seasons, three of them Super Bowl championship seasons. Brown is best known for picking off two Neil O’Donnell passes in the second half of Super Bowl XXX which led directly to the points the Cowboys needed to win their third title in four years. Yes, the balls hit Brown right in the chest. Yes, it looked like one of them would have to be surgically removed after the game, O’Donnell threw them right at him so hard. But a lot of people forget what a great ‘95 season Brown had leading up to that game.

The former TCU star collected six picks that season, racked up 124 return yards, and ran two of them back for TDs. All of this just a few months following the tragic death of his young son. It was a great story that year. But most people have already forgotten.

Brown used his three rings and his MVP trophy to cash a huge paycheck in Oakland with the Raiders. That only lasted two years. He came back to Dallas in ‘98 and played just parts of four games for the Cowboys before hanging it up for good. He finished his Cowboys career with 13 total picks and 279 total tackles. He played in 13 playoff games, four NFC Championship Games, and three Super Bowls as a Cowboy. And he’s the second-best #24 in Cowboys history.

Peace,

Allan

“My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.” ~John 15:12

I’m blown away by the fact that Jesus showed his apostles how much he loved them by washing their feet the night he was betrayed. The Lord and Master of all got up from the meal, took off his coat, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a bowl, and washed their feet.

He washed their feet.

The King of the Universe knelt down and scrubbed 120 filthy, stinky, sweaty, dirty, disgusting toes. And all the stuff in-between the toes. He even washed the feet of Judas.

Knowing what Judas was planning to do — what he was about to do — Jesus still humbles himself and washes his feet. Jesus loves Judas that much. And then hours later he dies for Judas, this one who betrayed him. He dies for Peter, this one who denied him. He dies for all the apostles who fled and disowned him. He dies for the Jews who demanded he be killed. He dies for the Romans who carried out the execution. He dies for me, who’s just as guilty as any of these men in Scripture.

That’s a Savior’s love. No ifs, ands, or buts. Jesus never says I’ll love you if you treat me right. He doesn’t say I’ll love you when you get your act together. He doesn’t say I’ll love you when you grow up. Jesus’ love is not conditioned by right behavior or a good performance. It’s not based on your IQ or money or skin color or clothes or education or bloodline or status. Jesus actually says I’ll die for you when you’re my enemy. I’ll serve you while you’re sinning against me. I’ll give my life for you when you’re only thinking of yourself.

Because I love you this much.

And then he says, “Love each other as I have loved you.”

We don’t think about that enough. We don’t take it seriously enough.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is more important than preaching and giving and good works. Incredibly, he even says love is bigger than faith and hope. And if love is really more important than those things, then our conclusion must be that love is more important than everything. Love trumps our worship assemblies and worship styles. Love is bigger than our business meetings and budgets. It’s bigger than our doctrine and our tradition. Love is bigger and more important than any thing else out there that could ever possibly divide us.

If so — and I believe it with all my heart — then why aren’t we as committed to loving each other as we are to those other things that divide us and lead to arguing and fighting? Seriously. If love is the most important thing — and if you don’t believe that, then we’re not reading the same Bible — why do we fuss and complain?

As children of God and disciples of his Son, we must place unconditional, God-ordained love in the supreme position of our hearts and our minds and our church. All of our time and energy and strength should go into loving each other as Christ loves us.

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52 days until the Cowboys begin their 2009 regular season against the Bucs in Tampa Bay. Of course, training camp and pre-season games are right around the corner. But, honestly, who can watch that? We’re all pointing to Sunday September 13. And to help us get there, we’re recognizing the second-best players in Cowboys history according to jersey number.

Today’s #52 is tiny linebacker Dexter Coakley.

OK, he’s not exactly tiny. 5′10″ and 236 pounds is good for a small 1-AA school like Appalachian State. And despite setting all kinds of national tackle and interception records there and winning every defensive award there was, Coakley slipped all the way to the Cowboys in the third round of the 1997 draft.

And they got a steal.

Coakley wound up starting in his rookie year and played eight seasons in Dallas before giving way to Bradie James and Bill Parcells’ 3-4 defense. He was named to three Pro Bowls playing on a Cowboys defense that was built on speed and pursuit. And he wound up all over the Cowboys team record books. Coakley racked up a team record seven consecutive seasons of at least 100 tackles. He’s got the fourth highest total tackles record in team history with 1,046. And he’s tied with Dennis Thurman for the most defensive TDs in a Cowboys career with five.

Despite his size, Coakley was durable, too. In his eight seasons in Dallas, he only missed one game. He started all 127 games he played for the Cowboys. None of those games, by the way, were playoff wins. But he’s still the second-best #52 in Cowboys history.

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I’m still looking for information regarding the commemorative patch the Cowboys are going to wear on their uniforms this season to mark their 50th year. Anyone with info on that?

I’m also thrilled to share this bit of news with you: the NFL is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the old AFL all year long. The original eight teams of the old American Football League will wear 1960 throwback unis for three games this season, several of them matchups between AFL alums. Of great interest to me is the old Houston Oilers. Yes, the Titans are going to throw on light blue jerseys with light blue helmets and white derrick logos and gray facemasks for three games this season. Plus, they get the bonus game at the Hall of Fame on August 9. I can’t wait to see that.

Of course, the Jets will be sporting their New York Titans uniforms and logos this year. And the Boston Patriots will be giving us the classic triangle-hat wearing-Revolution-soldier-snapping-the-ball look on their helmets.

The Cowboys will also be involved in something pretty neat. When they travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs, they’ll actually be lining up against the old Dallas Texans. The Chiefs will be wearing bright red jerseys and helmets with the all-white Texas-shaped decal, including the gold star that designates the location of Dallas. Some Chiefs fans are upset that their team will be wearing a huge map of Texas on their hats this year, especially in a game against the Cowboys. But I think it’s super cool. The Cowboys and Texans never played a regular season game against each other before Lamar Hunt moved his team to Kansas City. Too bad this one’s at Arrowhead and not at the Cotton Bowl.

Peace,

Allan

The Legacy basketball team played its last game of the season last night, giving up our one-point halftime lead and losing by eight.  Of course, it was our first game since learning that we were losing Aaron later this month to some church team down in Houston. I’m not sure what we’re getting in return. Hopefully another strong 6′ 4′ post/forward with decent moves who comes with a Bunko playing wife and three adorable children. Probably just a couple of practice balls, though, and a dirty elbow pad.

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I’m convinced that the temptation to jump off the roof of the temple was the temptation to do something that would gain a lot of attention, to do something that would appeal to the crowds and make Jesus an instant celebrity. Surviving a 460-foot jump, especially if everybody in the temple courts actually saw the angels lifting him up in their hands, would put Jesus in the tabloids and on the talk-show circuit.

The temptation to be important, to be seen as important, in the world’s eyes.

In our wishes to be accepted by the world, to be seen as relevant or even desirable in the world’s eyes, we’ll do some pretty silly things. We’ll do some very worldly things.

Colt McCoy, Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback for the Texas Longhorns! Jordan Shipley, award-winning wide receiver for the ‘Horns! And they’re both members of the Church of Christ! So we plaster them on the cover of Christian Chronicle and all our brotherhood newspapers and magazines. We talk about them in our sermons and at our lectures and seminars.

Graham Harrell, record-setting quarterback for Texas Tech! He’s not a member of the Church of Christ. He actually belongs to a community church just outside Lubbock. But his parents are Church of Christ! They raised him Church of Christ! So let’s talk about him, too!

How about senator / actor Fred Thompson? He’s running for president! Now, we don’t know if he’s Church of Christ or not, but he said his grandmother used to take him to a Church of Christ when he was a boy. So let’s promote him, too!

Find us an athlete or a politician or a millionaire, find us a celebrity the world thinks is important, and we’ll use him or her to show the world that we’re important. (For a group that claims to be non-denominational, this is quite hilarious.)

You know, we all want the organizations to which we belong to be successful. We want our clubs and groups to be important. We want to belong to a winner. That’s why you see so many Yankees baseball caps around the country. That’s why everybody rooted for the Chicago Bulls in the ’90s and the Lakers today. Our culture is eaten up with celebrity and money and status. And it can eat us up, too.

That’s why if I ever run into Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton at our neighborhood Target I’ll approach him and wonder how I can get him to our church. How can I get him to visit? How can I get him to our Small Group? Will he have dinner at our house on a Sunday night? Would he even consider it? Should I ask him?

Why don’t I have those same kinds of thoughts for the other 20,000 people I’ve met in North Richland Hills?

More than at any other time in this nation’s history, people are church-shopping. How big is your church? How important is your church? How wealthy is your church? Who goes to your church? How new is the carpet in your church? And those kinds of questions disgust us. But at the same time, we’re screaming to each other and shouting to the world from our own pinnacle, “Look at us! We’re important! These people you value, these rich and famous people, they’re Church of Christ! We’re viable and we’re desirable! Accept us! We matter! Pat Boone, remember? Church of Christ!”

Jesus says, “You’re the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men. What it highly valued among man is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15).

Paul nails it in his letter to the Christians in Corinth. That group was very concerned that they be accepted as big and important by society. And Paul sternly warns them, “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

Jesus taught that a life like his, life in his steps, The Jesus Way, is one of rejection by the world, not acceptance. If the goal, the end, is to show them Christ, our medium, our means, have to be consistent with Christ. Or we’ll show them something else.

With apologies to Paul, Christ Jesus has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our value, our worth, our importance, our significance.

Peace,

Allan

I am so proud of our congregation.

Yesterday one of our wonderful ten-year-old boys, Avery Caddell, led us during three of our songs. Avery won a gold medal in song leading at last month’s LTC event at DFW. One of Avery’s dreams is to someday be a worship leader in God’s Church. He talks about it a lot. And Lance pretty much decided that someday was yesterday!

And I’m so proud of our congregation.

Lance introduced Avery right at the start, told the church Avery was going to be leading us in three of our songs, and then handed him the reins. (He already had a microphone.) And I was so nervous for him. I was grinning from ear to ear — and not just because Avery and Lance were wearing almost identical striped shirts (coincidentally, I’m told). But because I was nervous. I thought back to my very first times to lead singing, lead prayers, serve on the table, and read Scripture in front of the whole church. Just about at the same age. And I got the butterflies all over again. For Avery.

And I’m so proud of our congregation.

We sang our hearts out with Avery. Our God, He Is Alive! He is our God, the great I AM!

Have I mentioned yet how proud I am of our congregation?

It was during the second song Avery led that I was moved by our church family. See, Avery paused between verses during Our God, He Is Alive. It was just a couple of beats or so, but it was a definite pause. It caught all of us off guard. We didn’t really start the verses together because most of us were singing a very familiar song in a very familiar pattern. But by the second song, He Lives!, we started waiting.

As a congregation. All 858 of us. Together. Waiting for Avery to lead us.

You ask me how I know he lives? He lives…………(breath)…..within…(pause)…my heart.

Beat-one-two-three. Wait.

In all the world around me I see his loving care….

It was beautiful. It was amazing. It was moving.

We weren’t just singing with Avery. We were also singing for Avery.

All 858 of us. I didn’t see a single soul not singing. And not singing loudly. And we were all smiling. Smiling big. And focused on Avery. Really tuned in. Zeroed in singing with and for Avery. And waiting on him.

He’s ten-years-old, right? So of course, without exception, every single person in the room is intent on encouraging Avery, supporting Avery, doing everything in our collective power to make sure Avery’s experience is a good one. There’s not a person in the room who would ever criticize Avery or say anything that might discourage him. The whole church body was determined to lift him up. Oh, we exercised such grace. Such patience. Such love. Such encouragement. Such acceptance. Such….

What if we showed that exact same grace and patience and love and encouragement and acceptance to every brother and sister in our churches? What if we focused on lifting one another up? What if we absolutely refused to ever criticize? Ever? What if we concentrated on encouraging everybody? What if we each totally zeroed in on making sure I worship in a way, and respond to everybody in a way, that guarantees the people around me and up in front have a great experience?

We do it for Avery, we wait on him, because he’s ten-years-old. We support him and encourage him and love him and are patient with him and we shower him with well-deserved praise because he’s ten.

What makes us think the 53-year-old among us doesn’t need and deserve that exact same level of kindness and love? Don’t you believe the 19-year-old and the 61-year-old brothers and sisters in our churches need support? Don’t they need encouragement, too? Aren’t we required to treat every single person the same way we treat Avery? Isn’t it demanded of Christ’s disciples?

I know it’s mostly out of context, but I couldn’t help thinking yesterday and into today about Paul’s admonitions in 1 Corinthians 11. He got on to the church in Corinth because they refused to wait on one another. “Each one of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else.” At the end of the chapter he encourages them, when they come together, to “wait for each other.”

I am so proud of our congregation.

Yesterday we waited on Avery. Today, a lot of us are learning to wait on one another.

Peace,

Allan

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” ~Romans 6:4

The Resurrection is at the heart of every sermon preached in Acts. The reality of the Resurrection is the cornerstone and the proof of the divine goodness of the Kingdom of God. The apostles preached the Resurrection boldly and joyfully even at the cost of their very lives.

The Resurrection of Jesus is so strong.

It’s what turned Mary’s sorrow to joy. It changed the disciples’ fear into courage. It moved Thomas from doubt to assurance. It transforms the Church from an attitude of somber reflection to rejoicing celebration. It’s so powerful. It’s our hope. It’s our trumpet call. It’s the imperative force behind our Christian mission.

And if we embrace the Resurrection, if we claim the promise of the Resurrection as our own, then it will radically impact the way we live. When we understand that the glory of the Resurrection and eternal life with the Father is what awaits us after death, then we have no problem risking our lives or our well-being or our reputations or our popularity for the Gospel.

As owners of the Resurrection promise, death is not tragic. Our attitude is, “You can kill me, but you can’t hurt me.”

Graydon Snyder, in a commentary on 1 Corinthians he wrote in 1992, says living a Resurrection life means no longer insisting on “protection and security of the individual, institutions, and country.”

The life of the Spirit, with its hope in the Resurrection, does not, indeed cannot, dwell on the preservation of the flesh — personhood, institutions, nations. Rather, the corporate life of the Christian becomes one of risk. A Christian hospital can accept more welfare patients than economically advisable because it knows God’s love for the poor does not depend on its continued existance. Christians can call for total disarmament in the midst of a war because they know the future of the world does not depend on the survival of their nation. A Christian can risk his or her life because a Christian knows this life is not the end.

I’d add that a Christian Church can take bolder risks in evangelizing its neighborhoods, bolder risks in giving to children’s homes and homeless shelters, bolder risks in denying self and sacrificing self, knowing that the salvation of the world and the salvation of my soul is in the powerful and loving hands of our God who promises the Resurrection.

The power of the Resurrection and its promises is what causes us to say ‘yes’ to bold, risky Kingdom propositions instead of ‘no.’ It’s what gives us our confidence and courage. It’s what obliterates our timidity.

The Resurrection life doesn’t begin at our death. It begins right now!

Peace,

Allan

March is Missions Month here at Legacy. One hundred percent of our foreign and local missions budget for 2009 is funded by a special offering on March 29. And we’re spending the entire month gearing up for that. Talking about it. Preaching about it. Praying about it. Studying it. The mission of our God and the call of his Church: to take up the mission to seek and save the lost. We’re bringing up our own missionaries to speak to us on Sunday morninings. We’re hooking up via the miracle of the internet skype with David and Olivia Nelson in Ukraine and Corey and Emily Mullins in Australia to be with us in our assemblies. This past week 22 individuals and families from Legacy have signed up to take short-term missions trips with the Let’s Start Talking program.

 While considering the proclamation aspect of what we do together at the Lord’s Supper each Sunday (see yesterday’s post, “Proclaim the Lord’s Death”), it seems that communion time is also a missionary event.

The death of Christ concerns many more than just a few chosen and believing people. Jesus died for all. He died for all those who are weak, all those who are sinners, all those who are right now enemies of God. Christ does not delay his death for us and for all until the moment when we and others are converted and added to his flock. The Lamb of God carries all the sins of the whole world.

This is another thing we proclaim together at the table. In sharing the communion meal that celebrates the Christ, we testify to the promises of God that he loves all creatures, not just those now present at the table. We declare that Jesus died for all and that all are invited to answer his call to repentance and salvation and a restored relationship with the Creator through him. So the Lord’s table is a missionary event. A missionary action.

Markus Barth, again, from Rediscovering the Lord’s Supper:

“Proclaiming the death of Christ forbids an individual and egotistic, antisocial and particularistic celebration of the eucharist. The Lord’s table is an occasion for and a center of evangelism rather than a selfish search for peace of the soul or joyful private satisfaction.”

Communion time is not primarily a time for God to speak to us or for the clergy — preachers, elders, presiders, etc., — to speak to us. At Christ’s table it is the congregation of believers that is authorized and enabled to speak. We are all together heralds of the Good News. During communion we’re all gospel preachers. At the table we declare to all the world that God’s work embraces all of humanity and that the number of God’s people is not yet complete.

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Carrie-Anne’s picks are in. She’s taking Duke. Aggies and Horns are one-and-done. If you want to watch them play, you have to watch today.

Peace,

Allan

“Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” ~1 Corinthians 11:26

What happens when somebody dies? How do we feel? How do we act? What do we do?

We may be sad because of the loss or we may feel a sense of joy because of a prospective inheritance. In the case of a particularly tragic death, we may feel fear mixed with love. The death of a great poet or artist may result in feelings of deep respect. When an innocent person dies we may react with protests or vows of revenge. The convictions and deeds of a great leader may be so confirmed and endorsed upon his death that they actually radiate to later generations. People may celebrate the death of a tyrant by dancing on his grave.

Death can mean many things. And many can be our responses.

But none of those above mentioned actions and reactions express exactly what Paul means when he says “proclaim the Lord’s death.”

For Paul, the death of Christ was and is good news. It’s great news! And it is to be proclaimed with great joy.

When Paul describes the death of our Lord as a sacrifice, he’s telling us that the crucifixion is God’s greatest gift to humanity. “He who did not spare his own Son , but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement” (Romans 3:25).

“Proclaim the Lord’s death.”

To do that during the Lord’s Supper means that we are to express the pleasure and the joy that come as a result of the crucifixion. To proclaim means to announce publicly and clearly — not to whisper or remain silent — what has happened because of Jesus’ death and the meaning of that death. The table is an occasion and a practical form for showing and confessing that Jesus’ death is totally different from a natural event, a criminal act, or a tragic loss. It is not a reason or a place to cry or moan.

Markus Barth, from his 1988 work Rediscovering the Lord’s Supper:

“Those celebrating the Lord’s Supper know the pain and shame, the horror and scandal, of Christ’s death. However, they rejoice in the crucifixion and praise the slaughtered Lamb because God has raised from the dead the crucified Son and has accepted his intercession by enthroning him at God’s right hand. In Paul’s theology, as much as in the message of John, Hebrews, First Peter, and Revelation, the Crucified is always the raised and living Christ. The one who rules the Church and the world and who will come again is the crucified Christ. Through Christ alone the godless are justified and reconciled, saved and given peace. We have abundant reason to rejoice in Christ’s death and to praise the slaughtered yet living Lamb.”

To proclaim at the table is to do so with joy and gratitude. Love for God and gratitude for the sacrifice of his Son doesn’t exclude amazement and holy fear. That’s certainly part of it. But celebration and great joy that the Lord has come and that the lost have been found and that the dead are now alive expresses the real essence of the intent and mood of Christ’s meal. The Lord’s Supper is a meal of joy and thanksgiving, a eucharist, where we proclaim with one voice what Jesus’ willing sacrifice means for the world.

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For the record, Carley and Valerie have selected UConn, Whitney has picked OU (she’s very conflicted right now), and I’ve got Louisville winning the national championship. My Final Four is Louisville, Memphis, Carolina, and Duke with the Cardinals outlasting the Blue Devils for the title in Detroit. Carrie-Anne hasn’t given us her bracket yet. She has 24 hours.

Peace,

Allan

I’ve been accused of many things. Most of those things are untrue. This latest allegation that surfaced last night in more than a couple of places from more than a couple of people must be addressed in an open forum.

 I DID NOT IMPLY IN MY COMMENTS FROM THE PULPIT YESTERDAY THAT IF ONE DID NOT BRING BANANA PUDDING TO THE CHURCH POTLUCK ONE COULD NOT BE SAVED!!!

I merely commented that a church potluck isn’t really a church potluck without banana pudding. That’s all. The fact that we had about three dozen banana puddings at the dinner last night only proves I really didn’t need to say anything about it at all. Of course, I exaggerate. However, I’m taking bids now to secure my services for March 29. For the highest bidder, I’ll mention your favorite dessert from the pulpit while making an announcement about that night’s supper. Right now, I’m up to $35 for Key Lime Pie.

What a fantastic night last night. Well over 500 of us brought our favorite dishes and shared a common meal together a la Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 10 & 11. The quantity of food was mind-boggling. The variety was spellbinding. Only at a church potluck can you get chicken enchiladas, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the same plate. And love it. It was loud. It was chaotic. It was fun. And it was theologically beautiful.

Yes, a church potluck is a re-enactment of the gospel. A common meal. A common table. Every nation, tribe, language, and people. Everyone bringing something to the body. A gift of creamed corn. A talent of chocolate pie. A blessing of homemade egg rolls from our brand new sister in Christ who’s still wet behind the ears from her baptism that morning. All these abilities, all these contributions, all these gifts brought to the table to form one amazingly wonderful meal that serves to nourish the entire body.

Last night’s dinner was even more special as we witnessed our junior high boys and girls make vows of purity to their parents, to their friends, to their church family, and to their God. Over the din of crying babies and clanging forks, their parents made similar vows of love and availability and support. And then the whole church body stood and made vows to those families, vows to hold them accountable, to encourage them, to celebrate with them in their victories and mourn with them in their defeats. In the presence of our heavenly Father and each other, in the name of Christ, and by the power of his Holy Spirit. Running the race together. Passing the baton of faith. Through laughter and tears, promising to act like a real family.

And as great as all that was, the real capper of the evening was the sharing of the communion meal together as a church family. Around the table(s). Real tables and real chairs. In the context of a shared meal. A real meal with real food and real drink. A public acknowledgment that we are enjoying this meal together because of what God has done for us in Christ. A recognition that we are brothers and sisters together because of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. Again, over the noise of restless toddlers. Through the “distractions” of extra activity. Looking people in the eyes instead of staring at the backs of their heads. Giggling with each other when someone dropped a tray in the back. An encouraging wink during and after the prayers. A pat on the hand. Personal, but not private. Putting the “community” back in communion. “Recognizing the body of the Lord.” Making communion truly communal again.

Legacy is one great potluckin’ church! And I’m so grateful to belong to this body of believers that sees and understands the gospel value of a shared common meal.

Peace,

Allan