Why all the hate?

     I just read this story about a NC Baptist pastor who was applauded by his congregation for saying that homosexuals should be fenced in and allowed to die. How very awful! It is terrible enough that anyone would even think such a thing but unbelievably terrible that people would stand and cheer someone who actually spoke that sentiment.
     I really don't understand all the hate. People disagree. People can have broad and varied views on many different issues but why does that have to result in such hatred? Especially as Christians love and respect are the first order of the day even with those who are our enemies. Jesus taught us to love our enemies. If we are to love our enemies that certainly includes people with whom we strongly disagree.
     One of the catch phrases I learned as a child was to "hate the sin and love the sinner." It was also emphasized to me that this phrase applied to every individual. We are all sinners imperfect before the throne of God. His holiness shines a light on our sin and none can escape its revealing light. We stand righteous before God based only on his love, mercy and grace. Humility before God and one another is what is called for. So I find it odd, unbelievable, distressing, repulsive when people supposedly speaking God's Word spout such vitriol. Who do they think the are? Perfect? Even the only one who was ever in fact perfect, our Lord Jesus, would not respond to any sinner with such hatred. He's the one who left the 99 righteous in order to save the one who was lost.
     This is what I think about the whole issue. First, my political philosophy. We live in a representative democracy and not a theocracy. The non-establishment clause of the First Amendment of our American Constitution prohibits the state from establishing any religious principle as law on the basis of it being a religious principle alone. I believe the Supreme Court has rightly interpreted and supported the place of religion in the public square. Religion and faith cannot be prohibited nor can it be outrightly supported by the state. From the governmental and social perspective faith and religion is in the public square of engagement. However, it is not the only voice. Indeed, many and varied voices have arisen over the last 60 years that were previously silenced by the voice of the majority in days past.
     The Christian Church has lost that overwhelming majority in our country and we are responsible for this decline for several reasons. We became complacent with evangelization. We turned to politics to resolve our diminishing influence rather than the Word of God. Some created enemies we could vilify and around whom we could build an opposition. Rather than love and grace, healing and forgiveness, we turned to law. We condemned rather than seek salvation. So here we are decades later seeing the results of that division, animosity that has grown in some segments of the church that results in such awful attitudes and statements as above.
     As for my religious views I am a Christian. I accept the Holy Scriptures as God's Word. I cannot find any way to affirm sexual expression except between a man and a woman in the holy estate of matrimony. This means I believe that much of what our society affirms in this age of free sexual expression is wrong. I don't have to make a long descriptive list. I believe that anything outside of what God has ordained as the blessed expression of sex (between a woman and a man in a married godly relationship) is ultimately harmful to us. That's not to say that it doesn't physically feel good or sometimes even "feels" right. It is to say that God's Word warns us that ultimately it will do us harm. That harm may be physical, emotional, spiritual or relational. Ultimately, it does not work toward our good.
     If I hated everyone who did not abide by this standard or made them the foil of a coalition, I'd have very few people on my side of the fence. Maybe this is precisely what has happened to the church, why is it diminishing rather that growing. Sin is sin regardless how it is expressed in our lives and actions. Sexual sin is no worse that any other action, thought or attitude contrary to God's holy way. God has sent us into the world to love sinner, to proclaim his Word. It is up to God by the power and presence of His Holy Spirit to transform people. My job, our job is to proclaim the Good News of salvation and new life in Jesus Christ. Our responsibility  is not to condemn but to love even our enemy. So, why all the hate? I know one thing for sure. Hate is not of God because God is Love. Hateful statements such as the one above does not in any way reflect the heart of God.
   

A NEW PARADIGM OF CHURCH MINISTRY

Practically everyone involved with the Church today recognizes that the Church is in the midst of a paradigm shift. I date its beginning in 1958 when church attendance as a percentage of the US population began its decline.

Over these last few decades, the Church has lacked clarity and direction. Congregations have struggled to provide effective ministry. They have tried many different strategies that have largely failed as church attendance has continued its persistent national decline. Two (maybe more) generations have been lost to the Church during this time of confusion.

The last time the Church went through such a radical shift in its paradigm of ministry was in the 3^rd and 4^th centuries. The Church transitioned from a persecuted minority to become a state sponsored church of the Constantinian Empire. A hundred years later it became the Holy Roman Empire. A paradigm shift in church ministry is happening again and after fifty years I believe signs of the future model of Church Ministry are finally in sight.

The Bible tells us that without vision the people perish. I share this vision of a paradigm of Church ministry in the hope it will continue discussion and bring more clarity to where God is leading us. 

A NEW PARADIGM OF CHURCH MINISTRY

1.   The Church is a Mission Outpost
 There is a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of ministry throughout the world. The congregation of the future will be involved in reaching out globally. Just coming to church and giving a donation will not be enough for future members. We need to change our image from being a destination point to being a launching point for ministry.

2.   The Church is Focused Foremost on Evangelism
Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ locally and globally is central. Local and global outreach is fundamental to serving the needs of people. Evangelism and service are intertwined.

3.   The Church is a Counter-Cultural Expression
Sharing the love of God with all people without compromising the Word of God will be central to the life of the Church. The Church will increasingly lift up a model of life substantially different from what is culturally accepted.

4.   The Church is the Living Community of the Body of Christ
Increasingly, the focus on community will grow more important as the culture becomes more and more fragmented. The need for a strong sense of belonging will also grow more important as Christians find themselves living in the wilderness of moral and ethical decay. This need for community will limit the size of an individual congregation. The need for community combined with the desire for evangelism will move a congregation to establish other campuses in its local area, new congregations outside its local area and congregations around the world. 

5.   The Church is Programmed to Meet the Needs of the Whole Person
It's not just about spirituality and worship. The Church needs to attend to the whole person, body, heart, mind and soul because any one part affects the whole person. If we are ailing spiritually, it affects our body and vice-versa. If we have "stinking thinking," it affects our whole person and the way we interact with others in life. Ministry must be programmed to meet the needs of the whole person.

These five elements reflect some of the characteristics of where I believe the Lord is leading the Church especially in North America. I would appreciate your comments, additions, and corrections.

Evangelism can be fun

   Early in my ministry I mentioned to my senior pastor that ministry is fun and should be fun. Sure, there are times when we are dealing with difficult times but even then, God's grace and mercy blesses. Mostly though, when we are reaching out to others with the Good News, it's actually fun. Unfortunately, that view was discouraged.
   I was reminded of this yesterday when my church submitted two floats in our city's holiday parade. One was a scene of the nativity with the bell choir playing "Joy to the World" and other religious seasonal music. Our second float was our youth puppet team doing a Veggie Tales Christmas. Both were well received in the parade. The real joy of the event came for us walking on with the floats passing out candy and promotional flyers. Looking people in the eyes, and wishing them a Merry Christmas and a "God bless you" was such a joy. Most people answered with a thank you and some a "God bless you." Most everyone smiled and were blessed. It was a small thing but we reached out with God's Word and we were all blessed. It was rewarding and that is what also made it fun.

Louie Giglio - Laminin

Gifts and Talents

God has created us all very unique. How sad that we usually do not name the wonderful talents with which He has blessed us. We go through life feeling inadequate rather than thankful for how we were created. We are amazing! It is amazing what we do naturally without even giving it a thought. And because we don't give it a thought, we don't realize just how wonderful it is...how wonderful God is...how wonderful He created us.

No more. Not in our congregation. We'll work at it. Defining our gift, talents and envisioning how we can release them to glorify God because He's the one who is the source of it all.

Related to Relevance is Variety

There are a variety of ways in which what is Godly relevant finds its way into our lives. I'm always amazed by how God touches our lives. Who would have thought that an island girl (Bahamas) living in Florida would be absolutely enthralled with country and western. Every time I think about her dressed in blue jeans, cowboy boots and hat, line dancing with a bunch of country boys and girls similarly dressed makes me joyously laugh. She meets with a C&W church group every Sunday night to worship and praise God and then enjoy one another's company. God is amazing. So here are the cowboy Ten Commandment as sent to me by this island girl.

The Cowboy Commandments
                    1.  Just one God.
                    2. Put nothin' before God.
                    3. Watch yer mouth.
                    4. Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
                    5. Honor yer Ma & Pa.
                    6. No killin'.
                    7. No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
                    8. Don't take what ain't yers.
                    9. No telling tales or gossipin'.
                   10. Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Pretty simple. Pretty straight forward. Pretty relevant. God's Word just lasts and lasts and lasts...

The Contemporary Message Is So Predictable

I drove to the Appalachian Trail with three junior high girls in my car. I listened to the pop music of these young teens all day. The contemporary message is so predictable. Its extent is shocking. The longing is the same...for love, fullness in life, meaning, purpose. The secular answer is always the same...has been since the dawn of human history: Sexual titillation and expression; money and possessions; people used as a commodity to make one happy.  The depth of emptiness is amazing.

One song, the newest by Eminen and Rihanna, "Love the Way You Lie," is about a violent relationship between a guy and a girl, obviously not married but living together. That fact in itself would have been shocking only a few decades ago. Now the depth of depravity in the relationship doesn't even raise an eyebrow...the teens sing it out without even realizing what they are affirming. The melodic chorus Rihanna sings is:
           "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
            Well, that's alright because I like the way it hurts
            Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
            We'll that's alright because I love the way you lie
             I love the way you lie"
Each verse grows successively more violent till the last verse where he promises to tie the girl to the bed and light the house on fire if she ever tries to leave again. The song ends with her singing the chorus melodically:
          "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

            Well, that's alright because I like the way it hurts

            Just gonna stand there and hear me cry

            We'll that's alright because I love the way you lie

             I love the way you lie

             I love the way you lie"

Another song spoke of "bullet proofed" hearts that have been broken never again to be susceptable to love because true love is "impossible." Yet another sang the praises of finding completion of life in another person as in "I need someone to love." The worst deception is in a half truth. It is true that we need someone to love but that need can only be satisfied by loving God. 

2 things - How could we ever think that our lives could ever be completed by another imperfect human being with an ego of their own trying to satisfy their own needs and not ours? AND more importantly why would anyone want to be the person upon whom such a responsibility is placed? As if we could be a god who can give such completion to another person. Definitely looking in the wrong place. 

What is shocking is that this empty meaningless clatter is being honored. This contemporary message of an old old lie is glorified and too many have become deaf to its sound. Open our ears, O Lord, to the true Word that lasts and lasts and lasts....