Categorized Christianity

I like categories.  You could not tell it from the way my house and tool shed look right now, but I am most content when everything is in it's proper place.  The electric tools are in their box.  The plumbing tools (although I hope to never need them again) and in their box.  And so forth.  It just makes it easy for me.  When I need something I know where to go and where to look for it. 

Many Christians also like categories.  As I am preparing a sermon from the Acts 15 passage, "Should all Christians look alike, act alike?"  A discussion board that I am part of asked the participants to define the terms evangelical, conservative, liberal, fundamentalist, charismatic, etc from a Biblical perspective.  You see we like categories. 

The problem with categories is that they are arbitary at times and instead of bringing people in they keep people out. 

It seems that James states that we should remove the barriers that keep people from coming to Christ.  Specially in that context that surgery is not required neither is following the Mosaic worship practices (Acts 15:19).  However; he also states that we should respect difference in worship practices and avoid the 4 mentioned things in vs. 20.  3 of which refer to eating of meat with blood and the 4th dealing with sexual immorality which is to be avoided. 

I wonder what are the barriers that we unintentionally put up in the church? at NewSong?  While at the same time the things that we do help define who we are.  Christianity is not a behavior modification program, but like all relationships it does change our behavior? 

How does one manage the tension tearing down the barriers without losing who you are?  What are the non-negotiables? 

Weird

Was John the baptist weird?  

We've been talking about the difference between being a bold follower of Jesus and simply being weird?  John the Baptist stood out from amount the crowds.  He wore clothing made of camels hair and he ate wild locust and honey. He stood by the waters or in the water calling people to repent of their sins.  Some would call that weird.

Now in reality all of us are a little weird.  We all have our quirks.  We all have those things that we do spiritually to help us focus on Christ. Yet when people who don't understand us or our relationship with Christ can easily think that a person who attends a worship service every week and joyfully gives 10% of their income is simply weird. 

My concern is that people who are not followers of Jesus are turned off and away because of our weirdness.  Some of that is just to be expected.  But... Sometimes followers of Jesus, in my opinion over spiritualized things to the point that they simply become weird.

The first followers of Jesus believed in this "new" religion based on the resurrection of Jesus. They left everything to follow Him.  And they would eat a meal which would include a time of sharing bread and wine that they said represented Jesus' body and blood. That's weird. 

Or is it based in reality?   The first followers of Jesus did not go around saying this is what we believe.  Rather they said this is what we have witnessed.  We saw this. There is no magic here.  Jesus was crucified.  We saw Him die. He was buried in the tomb right over there, which is now empty. And we have seen Him alive. We are witnesses!

For me weird happens when we over spiritualized things. Jesus is real!  He died was buried and is now alive. That is the fact that the first followers based their life on. Not some feeling not some saying not some magic words or formula. 

People want something that is real.  There will always be an large part of following Christ that is filled with mystery. He is God!  But the mystery is just that, the unknown known.

Was John the Baptist weird.  Depends on who you ask.  But his teachings were solid grounded in reality. There is one coming greater than I.  Repent of your sin.  Seek God to find life! 

To me that is solid, not weird.

Ashamed

This past Sunday I talked about how Jesus was not ashamed to be identify with a bunch of sinners.  He proved that when He went down into the waters and asked John the Baptist to baptize Him.  John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, and Jesus had nothing to repent of.  But He willingly identified Himself with people like me who do.  He's not ashamed. 

I wondered if there is anything a person could do that would make God ashamed of them. 

Then I remember Hebrews 11, the chapter in the book of Hebrews entitled the "Great Hall of Faith."  The chapter is filled with all these people who "kept the faith."  And right in the middle of it we read this passage...

Hebrews 11:13-16

 ¹³ All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. ¹⁴ Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. ¹⁵ If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. ¹⁶ But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

That last sentence always stops me in my tracks, "That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God..."  The reason is because they were forward looking people.  They were looking forward to the promises of God.  They never quit on God or on themselves.

A good friend of my once said when his business failed, "I allowed myself one day to have a pity party for myself.  But then the next day, it was get up and going.  I have work to do." 

Sometimes life deals us a heavy blow that rocks our world.  It takes us off our feet.  God is there to help us up and to point us to a future.  To a new hope in Him.  The only thing that would make God ashamed is when we simply give up on Him and on ourselves. 

Keep moving forward in faith!  His promises are for you too!

ScrewTape Christmas

This Christmas, I was looking for something to read.  A friend suggested I read a CS Lewis classic, "The Screwtape letters."  

The book contains thirty-one letters from Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood, who is screwtape's underling in fiendishness. Screwtape is an upper-level "devil" in the complex bureaucracy of the underworld. The "Screwtape Letters" are friendly advice from this elder "devil" to a front-line tempter on how to take the soul of his "patient", a young Christian man just trying to live out his everyday life.

The third letter was most appropriate for this season.  Wormwood was told to help his client focus on the imperfection of his family members, specifically his mother.  So that when his mother raised her eyebrows as she had a habit of doing, the client would then think that his mother was upset at him or thinking evil of him.  Here is the most interesting part, it does not have to be true!  The client just needs to think it.

Now I know for some of you, getting together with your extended family during the holiday season can be most stressful (not for me but for you :) )  We will have opportunity to see our loved ones at their best and worst.  What I want to encourage you to do is to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Instead of thinking evil about them, think good about them.  Instead of the raised eyebrow being something negative, make it a positive or a neutral. 

Only you have control of this one.  No one can make you think anything except what you want to think.  Remember Philippians 4:8...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Think great thoughts!  It is a great gift to give to your family and yourself.

May the joy of Christ be yours this Christmas season!

Worship Gathering

I am wondering how this day is preparing me to meet with God this Sunday?  It is difficult because God is with me today.  He is here.  Yet, I know that there is something that God does when we meet together.  I am a die hard New England Patriot Fan.  (Yes, this is a rough week for me.)  I am a fan everyday, but there is something special that happens as friends gather together to watch a game.  It is somewhat the same and a lot different. 

If what happens when we gather can happen when we don't gather, then why gather?  Why would God call us to meet together?  Why would He promise to show up in powerful ways? 

Yes, God is with me today!  Yes, God wants to meet with His people as we gather together.  I don't have to wait to communion with God.  While at the same time I anticipate the gathering!