The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

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Can We At Least Think About It?

August 2, 2014 / / 3 Comments

“Our citizenship is in heaven.” ~Philippians 3:20

The Church gets into trouble, we fail to live up to our responsibilities, when we equate national politics with the politics of God’s Kingdom. When we view earthly power systems as helpful to the cause of Christ, or something to be used, we fall short of our calling. When the colony of Christ, of which we are citizens, views the national agenda and the national methods of achieving that agenda as compatible with the ways and means of our Lord, we’re in trouble.

Consumerism. Materialism. Sex. Violence. Greed. Independence. War. That’s the prime-time lineup on our television stations. That’s what’s on the billboards and the sides of city buses. That’s what’s on the radio and our computer screens. That’s what drives this country’s economy. Those are the values that actually sustain this country and shape this country’s politics. They’re not compatible with the Kingdom of God, they’re competing.

But we don’t see it. Most of us don’t see the Empire as a subtle and seductive force working against God’s agenda. We don’t always view Caesar as actively seeking to destroy the work of our Christ. Because we’re so comfortable in this country, maybe. Because we have more than we’ll ever need, maybe. So we embrace the Empire as an ally, as something good that supports the Kingdom of God. In some cases, we even hold up Empire and Kingdom, God and Country, as if they are the same thing. We’ll talk like Christian values and American values are the same thing. Occasionally, we even give more to the conduct and culture of the Empire than to the conduct and culture of the Kingdom.

Maybe we don’t think about it. Can we at least start thinking about it? Maybe we’re not paying attention. Can we at least start paying attention?

Can we think about why we take off our caps and sing the national anthem at a ball game, but we get nervous if somebody wants to lead a prayer before dinner at Chili’s? Can we at least consider why we’ll stand perfectly still at complete attention with our hands over our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, but the reading of God’s holy Scriptures in the worship center on Sunday appears to be a cue to walk around and talk? Can we at least pay attention to why we’ll take a half-day off work so we can clap and cheer and whistle when someone becomes a citizen of this temporary, worldly Empire; but we duck out of the building when someone’s being baptized to become a citizen of the holy and eternal Kingdom of God in order to save ten minutes getting to lunch?

I get the emails and the articles and the videos from Christians almost every week. Emails calling democracy and capitalism God’s will for the entire world. I got an email last fall equating a single vote for a particular candidate with Christ’s singular sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Somebody sent me a slideshow last year that said defending our rights and freedoms by going to war is a great Christian value.

It’s so subtle, I guess. We don’t think about it.

South African Bishop Peter Storey said:

“American preachers have a task more difficult, perhaps, than those faced by us under South Africa’s apartheid, or even Christians under Communism. We had obvious evils to engage; you have to unwrap your culture from years of red, white, and blue myth. You have to expose and confront the great disconnection between the kindness, compassion, and caring of most American people, and the ruthless way American power is experienced directly and indirectly by the poor of the earth. You have to help good people see how they have let their institutions do their sinning for them. This is not easy among people who really believe that their country does nothing but good. But it is necessary; not only for their future, but for us all.”

Can we at least think about it?

Peace,

Allan

True Giving

July 31, 2014 / / 0 Comments

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is… contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.” ~Romans 12:6-8

We superficially assume that Paul’s command to be generous is meant only for those who have lots of money. No. Sadly, that misunderstanding causes lots of us to miss out on the terrific blessings of being generous.

Remember, these gifts listed in the middle of Romans 12 are gifts of God’s grace. God’s grace is the source of and the basis for these gifts. And it’s divine grace that guides us in the use of the gifts. A person gifted with generosity gives liberally not because he or she has tons of money, but because that individual has a grace-based understanding of possessions and their importance. His or her priorities are straight, in line with a gospel grasp of what our God has given to us.

And — this is just as important — let’s not limit this gift of generosity to our money and financial resources. Paul doesn’t; neither should we. The Scripture here is calling for an attitude of heart within the Christian community that says, “What’s mine is yours.” So many times your money is not the best thing you could give. More urgently, those in need could sometimes use your mechanical expertise or your plumbing skills or your time to just sit and listen.

Paul’s talking about an attitude. An open heart produces open checkbooks, open refrigerators, and open calendars.

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One of the great joys of working at the church building during the summers is the invaluable interaction with all the kids. (There’s a reason I keep two jars of Jolly Ranchers in my office at all times, and it’s not so I can see more of Matthew or Greg.) At any given time on any given day during the summer, our work is likely to be interrupted by the sound of relay races around the concourse, Nerf rocket launchers down the hall, or some form of zombie tag in the chapel. Yesterday, I was the grateful recipient of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk delivered by a mess of middle schoolers. Today, I was ambushed in my office by a group of church ninjas who were not as sneaky as they wanted to be and a whole lot funnier than they intended.

Our Lord says the Kingdom of God belongs to people just like these little church ninjas. I know why. Who can resist? Their great joy. Their creativity. Their vulnerability. Their tremendous capacity to forgive and their eagerness to love. The carefree laughing. The unashamed singing and dancing. God has called all of us to be just like them minus, maybe, the t-shirts over the heads. Or maybe with the t-shirts over the heads; I need to give that more thought. Thank you, God, for surrounding me with these little reminders of what you want for all of us.

Peace,

Allan

True Encouragement

July 28, 2014 / / 0 Comments

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is… encouraging, let him encourage.” ~Romans 12:6-8

When brothers or sisters in our community of faith are hurting, the greatest grace we can offer is comfort or encouragement in the middle of whatever it is they are suffering. A person doesn’t need advice or correction or rebuke in the middle of pain. And he doesn’t need empty words. What he needs is the freedom you give him to crawl inside a hug and feel the embrace of our God. When we’re in pain, we need others to just listen, to just be present. We need friends and family to listen to our grief and fears, to help us sort everything out, and to encourage us not to lose hope.

Think today about the people who have touched your life with this gift of grace. Maybe you’ve experienced some special comforting lately. Perhaps today is a good day to thank them for the wonderful ways they’ve been a vessel of God’s mercy and care.

Or maybe this is one of your stronger spiritual gifts. Maybe today is the perfect day to assess the needs of the people around you. Take a few minutes today to discover who might need your encouragement in their struggles. And then bless them with the mercies of their heavenly Father who lavishly pours out his gifts on his children.

Peace,

Allan

True Teaching

July 26, 2014 / / 0 Comments

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is… teaching, let him teach.” ~Romans 12:6-7

Those who are gifted to teach in the Church are called by Scripture to teach the truth. Obviously, teaching won’t bear fruit, regardless of the skills and abilities of the teacher, if the content of the efforts is false. This reminder is especially needed today when it seems more and more people in and out of the Church are much more interested in having their ears tickled than in being challenged by the radical call of God’s Word.

Secondly, teachers are responsible to prepare as well as they can to give their students as much substance as possible. The styles of teachers will vary, of course. But each teacher must be accountable to the community of faith for his or her best. Christian teaching is no place for flying by the seat of your pants. We are called to diligence in our studies.

Third, we use our teaching gifts from God best when we are genuine about how we teach. We must walk the talk. We have to be for real. We have no right to talk about the Scriptures unless we are personally willing to be confronted by them and to invest our whole beings into doing what they say. The impact of our teaching should be that others want to put God’s truth into practice. And we all know the best way for people to learn is through the examples of those who teach them.

God’s Holy Scriptures are such a treasure — bursting at the seams, exploding off the pages with new things to discover about God’s love and our place in his story. And we are all, to some extent, teachers. Parents and grandparents are constantly teaching. Bible class teachers and Gospel preachers qualify. Whenever another person is watching our modeling of our faith, we are teaching. We are teachers. It’s a gift that is to be nurtured by faith in God and in faithfulness to our Christian community.

Peace,

Allan

True Serving

July 24, 2014 / / 0 Comments

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is…serving, let him serve.” ~Romans 12:6-7

One problem with being a servant in God’s Church is that the person gifted to serve sometimes doesn’t realize how important his or her gift really is. He hesitates to even offer it. She might seek other gifts instead. The servant isn’t leading visible, out front, out loud, center stage ministries and he feels unimportant. Un-needed. She might feel small in God’s Kingdom.

Part of that is the Church’s fault.

We place too much emphasis on the bigger and louder gifts. We exalt the more visible and high-profile graces from God. Those gifts get more ink in the church bulletin. But in God’s economy, all spiritual gifts are exactly the same.

God can move mountains when you stuff a toy dog for a child at “The Bridge.” God can mend broken hearts when you move furniture and change out sheets and pillowcases at “Martha’s Home.” God can heal wounded souls when you sing at “Another Chance House.” God reveals his glory when you serve someone in his name.

All these gifts are critical to the community of faith. If they’re not exercised — or properly appreciated — we lose some of what we are intended by God to be because we’re not operating at full strength. We’re not functioning as a whole body.

Holding the songbook for the older lady next to you is an exercise of a spiritual gift. It’s just as important as what the preacher’s doing up there. And, probably, a whole lot more meaningful to her.

Peace,

Allan

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