Week two of our study through Mark's Gospel took place last night. It's tough to cover three chapters in an hour's time so I highlighted a few passages that jumped out to me as I spent time preparing. There was plenty of great discussion and even a question or two that came up, one of which surrounded a tricky passage I'll try to address. As always, feel free to share your questions and comments.
Chapter 2
Vs 1-12 - The phrase "your sins are forgiven" and the connection to the paralytic's healing implies a relationship between sin and sickness, which was not an uncommon Jewish thought though this is not Mark's intent in sharing this story. Rather, Mark is again showing that Jesus is the strong Son of God who not only has the power to heal but the power to forgive sins. Which seems to fit well with the phrase Jesus uses to describe himself as the "Son of Man", which in later Judaism was used for a superhuman being that comes on the clouds of heaven. Another way in which Jesus' authority is conveyed.
Vs 13-17 - Being reminded that Mark had Gentiles in mind when writing his Gospel, the word "sat" in Greek is literally "reclined" which describes a familiar eating style for the Gentiles. In this passage we read that Jesus was sharing a meal with sinners and the Pharisees take issue with this. Isn't this us in the church sometimes? We fail to see that this story is describing Jesus' willingness to interact with us, the "sick" and "sinner", by judging others based on who they hang out with or call their friends. Jesus said that it is the sick who need a doctor which makes me think the Church should look more like a hospital than a country club.
Chapter 3
Vs 31-35 - It can be easy to read different passages in the Gospels where Jesus interacts with his family or talks about family in general (Matthew 10:37-38) and get a little defensive or upset. Sometimes it seems that Jesus doesn't care very much about family, especially when we read passages like this which make it seem as though he is ignoring his mother and brothers. This is certainly not what Jesus is saying and reading it that way may mean we are reading it too literally. I think the point that Jesus is trying to make instead is that the idea of family is much broader than a physical relationship, it is spiritual. Not only this but the very best way to love your family and neighbors is to love God first.
Chapter 4
Vs 1-20 - A parable that many of us have read or heard before. The challenge for us is to think about how we are making our "soil" better. In what ways are we preparing our souls to receive the seeds that God wants to plant in order that they might grow and bear fruit "thirty and sixty and a hundredfold"?
Vs 26-29 - I particularly like vs 27 because the farmer doesn't always know how the seed grows, it just does. So often as Christians we "plant seeds" and either a) don't even know it or b) see someone's faith grow but we're not quite sure how it got there in the first place. Maybe the main reason I like this short parable is because it emphasizes the partnership with the Holy Spirit. I sometimes forget that the Holy Spirit is at work in people's lives and fall into the trap of thinking it's all up to me, when it's clearly not! And thank God that it doesn't depend on just you and me.
A Tricky Passage
Vs 4:10-12 - At first glance this passage seems to convey a sense of exclusiveness and even a level of unfairness to those on the outside. First, I think it is helpful to look at Matthew's account of this story (Matthew 13:10-17) for a more in-depth reading of the prophecy from Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10). Second, I think it's important to keep in mind that Jesus wanted to make the Truth easier to understand, not more confusing (Mark 4:21-25), hence the reason that he taught using parables. Third, I think often we want to read a tone of judgment into this passage. While there is a judgment that is being described, it should be noted that it is a judgment that one brings upon himself or herself through unbelief and even outright rejection of Christ's message. This is what Isaiah's prophecy speaks of and what Paul mentions in Romans 16:25-26. Lastly, we cannot miss the faith factor in all of this. What I mean by this is that the Gospel message, especially for early Gentile Christians, began with a faith relationship because without that as the foundation, the whole message would be foolishness. Paul also talks a lot about this in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:18-3:1). So, there's an attempt at it at least....
March 4, 2010
Gospel of Mark: Chapters 2-4
March 3, 2010
The Avett Brothers
Until a few months ago I had never heard of The Avett Brothers but thanks to a good friend (@bhsmith1) I was introduced to their music. Not only have I become a fan of their tunes but I had the chance to see their show this past Sunday night (2/28) at the Murat Centre Egyptian Room in downtown Indianapolis.
Decent venue but honestly, the show these guys put on made the venue irrelevant. Not only was the opening act one of the best openers I have seen, The Low Anthem, but the show overall was solid. The mix was perfect, the guys were energized and the set list was everything I was hoping it might be. A total of 21 songs with each song full of passion and energy that left me wanting more.
Their style of bluegrass mixed with folky rock combined with vocal harmonies that only brothers can provide was powerful. You could feel the vulnerability and passion in their lyrics, hear it in their voices and see it on their faces. It was a beautiful reminder to me of God's ability to use music to connect with a person, even the "secular" kind. I like to think that God is able to use good music as well as "Christian" music. I walked away from that show wishing it wasn't over and feeling like I had just experienced church. I look forward to seeing them again, hopefully sooner as opposed to later.
March 2, 2010
Thoughts for Lent Part 2
A few thoughts that I pray will encourage and challenge you on your Lenten journey. As always, feel free to share.
Prayer
Lord of life and love, help us to worship thee in the holiness of beauty, that some beauty of holiness may appear in us. Quiet our souls in thy presence with the stillness of a wise trust. Lift us above dark moods, and the shadow of sin, that we may find thy will for our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Psalm 42 (what does your heart thirst for? do you seek God to quench that thirst?)
-John 6:22-40 (when people look at your life, do they see bread of life or bread that is stale?)
-James 1:2-18 (are you finding joy in the development of perseverance? what if, we used the sufferings we faced as ways to connect with others? what message might that send about the Gospel?)
Thoughts
There is no Christian who is not in the same case as the disciples. Every Christian ought to say to the Savior as humbly as they: 'Lord teach us to pray.' Ah! If we were only convinced of our ignorance and of our need of a Teacher like Jesus Christ! If we would only approach him with confidence, asking him to teach us himself and desiring to be taught by his grace how to converse with God! How soon we should be skilled in it and how many of its secrets we should discover! Do not let us say that we know how to pray the prayer they learned from him. We may know the words, but without grace we cannot understand the meaning and we cannot ask or receive what it expresses.
March 1, 2010
Don't Miss Out
If you are a Christian, in exactly 34 days you will have an opportunity that you really don't want to miss out on. It's as if every year the calendar lays in our laps the chance to tell someone about the Easter story. I know for many of us sharing our faith is not something that comes easily but I mean...at what other point in the year is the story laid out so simply for us to share with others? Don't get me wrong, Christmas is important (and certainly one of my favorite times of year) but we have to fight with credit cards, presents and consumerism to share our part of the story. Not as much with Easter.
My challenge for you is to begin preparing now in order to take advantage of the opportunity that will present itself in just a few short weeks. Ask God for opportunities to share the Easter Story and not to miss them when they come. If you've been looking for an "excuse" to invite someone to church, Easter just might be it.
February 25, 2010
Gospel of Mark: Chapter 1
I am co-teaching a class through the Gospel of Mark with another pastor (Rodney Frieden) on staff with me at Castleton UMC over the next 5 weeks. We are taking turns teaching through Mark with me kicking things off last night with chapter 1. Here is a summary of my notes and thoughts from last night...
Chapter 1
Vs 1 - Mark's gospel message conveys that Jesus is not solely the Jewish Messiah but that he is also the strong Son of God who is able to deliver us from the bondage of sin and claim victory over death.
Vs 2-3 - It was not uncommon to hear of kings who would send slaves/workers ahead of their chariots to smooth out the rough places to make it easier for them to pass through. John the Baptist serves this same sort of purpose for the ministry of Jesus, who is the King of kings.
Vs 6 - "camel's hair" could be camel skin or a fabric woven of camel's hair, which is more likely because it was much cheaper. 2 Kings 1:8 shows that Elijah's garments fit a similar description to that of John's.
Vs 7 - The word "powerful" or "mightier" was typically used for great supernatural beings (cf Rev. 10:1; 18:8, 21).
Vs 10 - Mark uses "immediately" 41x in his gospel, not always to note some sort of speedy action but to help us understand the sequence of events and how they unfolded. In regards to Jesus' baptism, I've often wondered if everyone else heard the "voice" and saw the "dove" and am thinking that they didn't. The reason I say this is based on John the Baptist, the one who would have heard or seen anything if there was something to see, does not know if Jesus is the Messiah a while after his baptism (Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 7:18-23).
Vs 11 - Paul had a similar experience on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9).
Vs 15 - "repentance" is not a major theme of Mark's gospel as he targeted a primarily Gentile audience, rather he focuses on salvation through Christ as God's rescuing act redeeming lost and helpless mankind from slavery to sin. Remember, Mark highlights Jesus' strength as the strong Son of God.
Vs 16-20 - Mark is emphasizing the quickness of their responses.
Vs 22 - "authority" literally means in the Greek "out from himself" which would mean that Jesus' authority came from himself because he IS authority. He Is the expert.
Vs 30 - Being a disciple of Jesus does not mean you ignore your normal, day to day life. We know that Simon Peter had a wife and he still followed Jesus, as well as many others (1 Cor. 9:5). Our discipleship is lived out in our normal lives, in our roles as spouses, bosses, parents, children, neighbors, employees, teachers, students, etc. To disconnect discipleship from your everyday life is to fail as a disciple.
Vs 40 - Mark wanted to emphasize who Jesus was and what he did, he doesn't spend as much time emphasizing his teachings. Jesus had the power and authority to heal and Mark makes that clear from the very beginning. The Gospel of Matthew spends considerably more time on Jesus' teachings than does Mark. This does not mean Mark didn't value his teachings but rather goes about his gospel in a different, more condensed way.
*If you have any questions, thoughts or comments please feel free to share by making a comment below.
February 24, 2010
"Hear No Evil" Giveaway Winner
February 23, 2010
Thoughts for Lent Part 1
My hope is that this can become a place for you to find Scripture passages to study, prayers to read and thoughts to think about during this season of Lent. If, along the way, you have questions or comments you want to share about something in particular or a thought in general, please feel free to share.
Prayer
Almighty God, by the power of your Holy Spirit open our eyes, ears, hearts, and very lips to your presence so that today we may worship and serve you in faithfulness, be blessing and healing reminders of your love to all whose lives we touch. We offer our prayers in the name of Christ. Amen.
Scripture
-Matthew 3:11-4:11 (In what ways are you preparing your heart to experience God through Lent? Each day?)
-John 13:1-17 (What does Jesus' example of service mean for you?)
-2 Peter 1:1-11 (Which things are you adding to your faith? Which things do you need to add? How do you plan on making that happen?)
-Luke 10:1-12 (Are you living out your faith with a sense of urgency?)
Thoughts
We have fallen into the temptation of separating ministry from spirituality, service from prayer. Our demon says: "We are too busy to pray; we have too many needs to attend to, too many people to respond to, to many wounds to heal. Prayer is a luxury, something to do during a free hour, a day away from work or on a retreat." But to think this way is harmful. Service and prayer can never be separated.Other Resources~From The Living Reminder by Henri J. M. Nouwen
It must be realized that the true sign of spiritual endeavor and the price of success in it is suffering. One who proceeds without suffering will bear no fruit. Pain of the heart and physical striving bring to light the gift of the Holy Spirit, bestowed in holy baptism upon every believer, buried in passions through our negligence in fulfilling the commandments, and brought once more to life by repentance, through the ineffable mercy of God. Do not, because of the suffering that accompanies them, cease to make painstaking efforts, lest you be condemned for fruitlessness and hear the words, 'Take the talent from him' (Matthew xxv. 28).~Theophan the Recluse
-"2 Stories": A daily devotional from Asbury Theological Seminary
February 19, 2010
"Hear No Evil"
I am at a point in my life where I have to read a lot and rarely do I get to pick what I'm reading. Hear No Evil was different. MPT writes in a way that is not only easy to read but so conversational and engaging that it is exactly how I would imagine a conversation would be with him while sitting at one of those hip Nashville joints he writes about. He shares openly and honestly about growing up looking at the world through a fundamental Baptist lens and how music helped him see a broader view.
There were times when he had me laughing out loud at things like his plan to become "God's Michael Jackson" (60) or his references to the classic CCM artists I grew up listening to myself like: Michael W Smith, Sandi Patty, and Petra. And then there were times when MPT would drop bits of insight that left me thinking and thoroughly challenged:
"people talking about how to create something "real" and "authentic" rather than just being real and authentic" (11).
"A person's first steps into grace are usually unsettling, more like walking into a minefield than a meadow" (72).
"Because of Jesus, I wanted to love people, which meant I didn't want to engage in relationships with an agenda" (214).
If you're looking for a great book that describes a journey of faith, grace, and music while making you laugh on one page and cause you to stop and think on the next, Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner is right up your alley. Get a copy and check it out for yourself.
The publisher gave me 1 copy to give away for FREE. A couple ways to enter...
-comment on this post listing the first CD you ever owned (be honest)
-follow me on Twitter & share the link to this post (include @mattlipan in your tweet so I know who to count it for)
-write a blog about it & include the link
*please leave some way I can contact you if you win
You can also purchase a copy from Random House here.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
February 17, 2010
The Lenten Journey
Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent, a journey of preparation that takes us to the foot of the cross and ends with an empty tomb. As a Christian, Lent is a time to remember the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). It provides an opportunity for Christians to find specific ways to refocus on their relationship with Christ through different spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, service and study. So often Lent is approached as a time of "giving up" something (chocolate, caffeine, the internet, sweets, etc.) but it must not stop there. The point of abstaining from something is to replace it with something else that draws one closer to God. I've heard it said that fasting without prayer (or one of the spiritual disciplines) is simply dieting. The purpose of Lent is to have more God, not less.
Now, if you are not a Christian, Lent might be a time of exploration and questioning as it ends with one of, if not the most significant Christian event in the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. If there is ever a time of year to look a little deeper into what it means to be a Christian, Lent is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Whether you call yourself a Christian or not, if one approaches it with an openness and willingness, the Lenten journey will not disappoint.
Pardon the Interruption
No, not the show on ESPN with Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon, though I do like it. I was actually thinking more along the lines of what God might be saying to me lately.
What would happen if God interrupted by schedule by wanting to spend some time with me? Honestly, I'm bummed because my first thoughts were about the appointments or meetings I might miss, the time I could be using to prep for a worship service or a Bible study I might be teaching. There are times when it really does seem like an interruption to me and I can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, my priorities might get a little out of whack when that happens.
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and how he was willing to take time out of his schedule to attend to the needs of another. Was it an interruption in the guy's plans for the day, absolutely! Was the man willing to set some other things aside because he knew it was the right thing to do, absolutely!
It is clear that God is asking me if I am willing to pardon His interruption in my day and well, the more I think about it, the more it seems like any "interruption" God wants to throw my way is the very thing I should be spending time on anyways. Maybe what seems like an interruption to me becomes, in reality, a chance to refocus and be reminded that my time and my schedule are really God's to begin with.
February 15, 2010
What's Cooking?
I was reading through the Gospel of Matthew the other day and something jumped out at me as I was reading about Jesus feeding the 5,000 (14:13-21). I have read this story countless times and for whatever reason Jesus' words in verse 16 hit me, "Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat [emphasis mine]."
Jesus is telling you and I to give people something worth sticking around for and I LOVE IT! What might be even more powerful is that because of what the Holy Spirit has done and continues to do in and through you and me, we actually have something worth sharing.
One of the questions then becomes what are we giving people to "eat"? Is the way we treat people providing for their spiritual nourishment? Are the words we use giving people a "taste" of Christ? Do our attitudes show that we have sustenance that comes from somewhere other than how much we make, the size of our house, what kind of car we drive or the degree mounted on the wall?
The other question to ask ourselves is what types of things are we "feeding" on? In what ways are you and I feeding our souls? Do we seek True nourishment or are we getting sick on the "junk food" of our culture?
Jesus says to give them something to eat....so it seems only appropriate to ask, what's cooking?
February 8, 2010
Dinner Guests
It is probably the combination of my 'Sacramental Theology' class at Asbury Theological Seminary taught by Dr. Stamps (@bobstamps) a few weeks ago, my final paper on the 'Openness of the Table' and having celebrated the sacrament of Communion this past Sunday that got me thinking. But before I jump in, I have to mention that 1) I would be incredibly surprised if this thought hasn't already been shared somewhere (I know John Wesley talked about the power of the Eucharist to transform people) and 2) I have not spent a lot of time studying this particular idea (yet). So, having said all of that, here we go...
Each Gospel has an account of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-23, John 13:18-30) and in each account Jesus mentions that the one who would betray him was dining at the table with him. I think this is significant for us today. In Jewish culture, the community and fellowship that took place around a meal was quite significant and the fact that this was a Passover Meal that Jesus and his disciples were sharing took it to an even deeper level of intimacy. This also happens to be the meal we model the sacrament of Communion after, as Paul mentions in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Now, not only did Jesus know that Judas Iscariot was going to betray him, I think he knew he already had and Jesus still welcomed him to the table! Notice in John's account (John 13:18-30) that Jesus doesn't tell Judas Iscariot to leave before the breaking of the bread but rather Judas Iscariot leaves after he received it, on his own accord. It seems as though Jesus is demonstrating an open invitation to the table of the Last Supper, even for those who would betray and deny him, that could be a powerful reminder for our Communion celebrations today.
February 6, 2010
Clipping the Religious Wings
There are a number of different political groups or labels we hear about in the news as the presidential primaries keep rolling on and if I may, I'd like to share some thoughts surrounding two of the more popular labels that are used to describe the Left Wing and Right Wing as they relate to faith and religion.
The "Evangelical" "Right"
evangelical: "1: of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as it is presented in the four Gospels 2: Protestant 3: emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual 4 a capitalized : of or relating to the Evangelical Church in Germany b often capitalized : of, adhering to, or marked by fundamentalism 5: marked by militant or crusading zeal". (definition from Merriam-Webster online)
Right or Right Wing: "7 often capitalized a: the part of a legislative chamber located to the right of the presiding officer b: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the right as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members 8 a often capitalized : individuals professing support of the established order and favoring traditional attitudes and practices and conservative governmental policies b often capitalized : a conservative position". (definition from Merriam-Webster online)
Looking at definitions 1, 2, and 3 I see myself as being described as evangelical but what is scary is how often this group of people can seem rather fundamentalist and I'm not sure I want that guilt by association. In our country, the Right is associated with the Republican party as it is known as the more conservative of the two major political parties but does the label "evangelical right" mean that there aren't or can't be evangelical democrats? Is it a conflict of interests to be a conservative Christian but not a Republican?
The "Religious" "Left"
religious: 1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity 2: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances 3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful b: fervent , zealous". (definition from Merriam-Webster online)
Left or Left Wing: 3 often capitalized a: the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer b: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members 4 often capitalized a: those professing views usually characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order especially in politics and usually advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man b: a radical as distinguished from a conservative position". (definition from Merriam-Webster online)
I can see myself as being described as religious though I would like to think I have some zeal about my faith I certainly wouldn't call myself, good or bad, a zealot. The Left Wing is considered to be the "wing" of the Democratic party and would be considered liberal compared to the Right. The Religious Left focuses on social issues that concern the poor and oppressed, which as I understand the Gospel, should be the concern of Christians regardless of which "wing" we use to fly our politics with. Does this mean that the "Evangelical Right" doesn't care about the poor or oppressed or social issues that may impact both or either? Is there a difference between being "evangelical" and being "religious"? Are evangelicals not considered religious or vice versa?
I think these are important questions to ask and think about before we claim to favor one "wing" over the other or even worse, claim that the "other wing" has it all wrong, stands for nothing good and shouldn't even consider themselves Christians. Maybe that's why there is so much imbalance in the Church, because we find ourselves trying to fly with only one "wing" and can't figure out why we keep going in circles.
February 3, 2010
Out From Amongst The Tombs
I was reading through Mark's account of Jesus' ministry around the Sea of Galilee (3:7-6:29) for our church's Lenten Devotional and the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man in 5:1-20 really struck me in a couple of different ways as I think about the Church in general, and the United Methodist Church specifically.
1. Jesus intentionally went to the place where the unchurched and de-churched (the word "Gentiles" is used here) resided. He was willing to go where few others were willing to go, places that "traditional church-people" might call unclean. We talk about being willing to serve the least and the lost but are we? Are we willing to adapt and change our approaches to ministry in order to engage the unchurched and de-churched?
2. When you spend time around death and decay, their stench begins to stick to you. Here we see a man who was cast out by his society and left to live among the dead. This could really mess with a person's head and I would imagine easily create a sense of worry, fear and despair. Is it possible that the Church has lived among the dead long enough and now it's time to come out from amongst the tombs? I wonder what difference it could make if we stopped looking at all the ways we are dying and focused instead on new ways to convey the message of Life.
3. Having an experience with Jesus changes people. After his experience with Jesus, this man would never be the same. Not only had Jesus brought him from death to life but Jesus gave him life with purpose. Notice how the man went into the "Ten Cities" telling others about his life changing experience with Jesus. I know and agree that the Church must move and adapt with culture but not at the expense of experiencing the One who makes life transformation possible. 'Jesus' seems like a decent marketing plan to me. Eventually it goes viral because as people see their lives changed, they can't help but tell others about their experience with Him.
February 1, 2010
"Careful What You Ask For"
Here is the outline from the sermon I gave at our Castleton campus this past Sunday (1/31/10).
**************************************
“Careful What You Ask For”
a sermon on the Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15
(parallel Luke 11:2-4)
A Few Initial Thoughts...
-Prayer is not a question of “if”, but “when”. Notice that Jesus says “whenever you pray." Prayer is a spiritual discipline that is meant to be practiced daily.
-Prayer is a conversation of the heart, which means that our motives matter. Jesus tells us that if we ask, we'll receive, well sometimes that makes us think God is some sort of divine genie waiting to grant our every wish. John clearly states this is NOT the case in 1 John 3:21-22 and again in 1 John 5:14-15.
-Notice these main themes as we walk through the Lord's Prayer: trust, forgiveness, persistence and community
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
-take note that it says “Our” Father, not “mine”. God is the Father of all, including our Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic, Pentecostal Christian brothers and sisters.
-the Aramaic word Jesus used was abba which is like saying “daddy”. This demonstrates an intimate relationship between Jesus the Son and God the Father, which flows over into our relationship w/God through Christ.
-“hallowed” or “holy” in Hebrew means “other" or "separate". I like to think of God as wholly holy, what I mean by this is that God in His infinite power and glory is completely separate from us which highlights the significance and importance of the Incarnation. God, who is entirely other, made Himself like us by sending His Son in flesh and blood.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
-this highlights the already-but-not-yet tension of God’s kingdom. It is not only about the future second coming of Christ but about making a difference in the world today. It emphasizes an attitude of dependency and trust in God for the future.
-notice the transition from the first part of the prayer which is directed toward and about God (thy name, thy kingdom, thy will) to us. This priority matches Jesus’ teaching about first loving God with our heart, soul, and mind and neighbor as self (Matthew 22:36-40). We also see Jesus mention this thought in Matthew 6:33.
-we begin to see words like "us", "we", "ours" and are reminded that we pray to God alone but not for us alone, we pray as part of, and on behalf of, the whole community.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
-“daily bread” translates to bread for the coming day or our needful bread. There is a clear distinction being made between ‘wants’, ‘needs’ and ‘perceived needs’ and shows a dependence upon God to provide for our daily needs. Remember Jesus says that our Father knows our needs before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8).
-"as we forgive" is the request that causes me to say we better be careful what we ask for. Here we are asking God to forgive us as we have forgiven others…that is heavy! How good are you at giving forgiveness?? Jesus stressed the idea again after the prayer (Matthew 6:14-15) which I don't think leaves much room for negotiation. This is also a forgiveness that extends outside the community of believers as we don't see Jesus qualify the forgiveness we are to show by mentioning believers only but "our debtors", anyone who has hurt us in some way. To truly pray this means we believe and acknowledge that Christ died for their sins as well as mine, and that He took upon Himself the justice they deserve.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
-James tells us in his first chapter that we know the trials and temptations will come and will serve to develop perseverance…(James 1:2-4). This is a request for God’s grace and strength to stand in the face of such trials and not to fall into evil. It doubles as a confession of recognizing without God's strength and grace we will fall into evil because with our own strength we cannot stand. It is a request of being led away from temptation or trials but still acknowledging God's will. We see a parallel to this in Jesus’ prayer in the garden…Mk 14:36 (Mt 26:42; Lk 22:42)
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
-notice how Jesus brings it all back around to focus on God’s kingdom, power and glory. We see that it begins and ends with God.
-we see how this is a prayer that brings people together, even those we might not expect. And so we pray this prayer with things like trust, forgiveness, persistence and community in mind.
January 30, 2010
A Prayer of William Barclay
O God, we thank you for all those in whose words and in whose writings your truth has come to us.
For the historians, the psalmists and the prophets, who wrote the Old Testament;
For those who wrote the Gospels and the Letters of the New Testament;
For all who in every generation have taught and explained and expounded and preached the word of Scripture:
We thank you, O God.
Grant, O God, that no false teaching may ever have any power to deceive us or to seduce us from the truth.
Grant, O God, that we may never listen to any teaching which would encourage us to think sin less serious, vice more attractive, or virtue less important;
Grant, O God, that we many never listen to any teaching which would dethrone Jesus Christ from the topmost place;
Grant, O God, that we may never listen to any teaching which for its own purposes perverts the truth.
O God, our Father, establish us immovably in the truth.
Give us minds which can see at once the difference between the true and the false;
Make us able to test everything, and to hold fast to that which is good;
Give us such a love of truth, that no false thing may ever be able to lure us from it.
So grant that all our lives we may know, and love, and live the truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
January 25, 2010
Pub Theology
I know it's been around for a while, church sponsored small groups that meet in local pubs or bars to discuss theology, the Bible and issues of faith. I understand one of the points of doing small groups in a setting like this is to engage individuals who otherwise might not join a small group to discuss theology, let alone enter a church building. I personally have never participated in a group like this (not because I'm against it, simply because I just haven't) but would be curious to hear your thoughts...so, what do you think about small groups that meet in pubs to drink beer (I'm making an assumption that some type of fermented beverage may, on occasion, be consumed) and talk about God?
Is it a cool idea?
Could you care less?
Would you ever participate in a group like this?
Is it wrong?
Have you ever participated in a group like this, if so, how was it?
What questions do you have?
January 20, 2010
"Learning To Play"
This is the text outline from my sermon this past Sunday at our Sunrise Campus. It was the 3rd of a 5 part series entitled "It All Goes Back In The Box" (inspired by the book from John Ortberg entitled "When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box").
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Joshua 1:6-9
Play By The Rules:
-Play with integrity
-Integrity is not the same as reputation or "sin avoidance"
-Matthew 18:8-9
-Be aware of sins of commission and sins of omission (so often we get focused on not committing sin that we sin by neglecting the things we should do, remember these words from James 4:17)
Play With Gratitude:
-The events of recent days in Haiti should serve as a poignant reminder of our need to do this
-Please checkout UMCORHaiti.org for more ways to help
-Luke 17:11-19 (live as the one that gave thanks)
Play With Your Mission In Mind:
-Your mission starts where you are
-Your mission is not about you
-Your mission will use your strengths (Exodus 4:1-5...God used Moses staff, the very thing he knew and drew strength from)
-Your mission will be connected to a deeper need
*Frederick Buechner writes that "generally the kind of work God calls you to is work a) that you need to do and b) that the world needs to have done. The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
-Your mission means that God wants to use you
*Don't forget that Jesus chose a couple raggedy fishermen and a couple tax collectors as his closest disciples, he not only can but wants to use you
January 16, 2010
On Suffering
Driving back from my week long intensive 'Sacramental Theology' class at Asbury Theological Seminary with Dr. Stamps yesterday I was able to catchup on some recent podcasts that I haven't had a chance to listen to. One of those comes from The Village Church in Texas (of which Matt Chandler is the lead pastor) and happened to be a message from John Piper talking about the issue of suffering. In this particular context, Piper was talking specifically about the suffering the Chandler family and The Village Church was going through as Matt has recently begun a battle with cancer. In light of the devastation that has taken place in Haiti, the topic of suffering seems, as always really, to be quite timely.
The main text for Piper's message was Romans 8:18-25, a passage where Paul talks about the suffering of all creation and the future glory that will be revealed. It also helps, as Piper mentions, to put suffering in a global context which often times we can forget as we tend to focus on individual sufferings while also helping us see that suffering is a sort-of prerequisite for glory, which makes our present sufferings not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed (vs 18).
Piper spent time focused on vs 20-21, which is what really got me thinking. He came at this "subjection to frustration" from the perspective of God passing judgment upon humanity for sin in the form of disease, natural disasters, fragility and death. He points to The Fall in Genesis 3 and said, "God judiciously sentenced the world to what it is today, it was a judgment on the world in response to sin." Piper goes on to say, "God subjected creation to futility not because we wanted it but because it was right. All disease, tornadoes, floods are dramatic statements from the Creator of how serious sin is." Like Piper, I believe Paul was saying that God is the one subjecting creation and that it was right but I'm wondering if it was in judgment or love?
I absolutely agree that sin is detestable to God and that He is the Divine, Holy, and Just Judge of the universe. I guess I'm wondering if the subjection of creation to frustration was an act of love rather than judgment. I'm not saying that I disagree with Piper but maybe what I mean by this is that God as Love gave creation the freedom to choose, which opens up the possibility for making the wrong choice resulting in being subjected to disease, natural disasters and even death. We clearly made the wrong choice and as Love, God had to allow us to make that choice, even if it was the wrong one, and as a result live with the suffering consequences.
When I think about things like a tsunami that kills 250,000 people or an earthquake that kills possibly 50,000+ or even acts of murder and terrorism, I'm not sure I think of them as God causing them as a means of passing judgment upon His creation for our sin. Instead I think I see them as the aftermath of sin with God being the first to shed a tear at the hurt, loss and destruction.
Does God hate sin, YES! Will God judge His creation, YES! Are we found righteous because of Christ, YES! Is God Love, YES! Will we continue to experience suffering until creation itself is liberated from its bondage to decay (vs 21), YES! Is this hard for us to understand when we only know in part (1 Cor. 13:12), YES! Can we trust and hope in the One who is faithful, YES!
Welcome to the tension that is the Gospel.
January 11, 2010
Some Thoughts on Multi-Site Ministry
The context for some of my thoughts on multi-site church ministry comes from being an associate pastor at Castleton UMC that currently has 2 campuses located in Indianapolis about 6mi apart. I also had the chance to attend a mini-conference our church hosted this past Saturday for other multi-site UMC's in the area and hear their experiences doing multi-site.
The Pros
-multi-site provides additional space when the main site is full
-multi-site provides a venue for a different style of worship than what takes place on the main campus
-multi-site provides the opportunity to reach more and different people
-multi-site can provide the opportunity for churches that are growing, vibrant and effective to duplicate themselves and their ministry
The Cons
-multi-site can be extremely expensive (ideally look for a space that a current church member owns and will allow the church to use rent/lease free)
-multi-site can stretch church staff extremely thin
-multi-site can cause tension within the main campus congregation because they are not on board with the vision or ministry of the 2nd site
-multi-site can become misguided when the focus becomes a building and not a ministry
Thinking about this a bit more after our mini-conference on Saturday and working at a church that has been multi-site for about 5yrs now I've realized I still have some questions about the best way to make multi-site work. Of course I know there are some great churches that are doing the multi-site thing almost to perfection (Community Christian Church in Chicago or The Village Church in Dallas for example) but I think I'm questioning the process by which most churches become multi-site. It seems to me that the upfront planning and visioning is crucial to a successful launch of a 2nd site especially but also for a 3rd, 4th or 5th as well. One of the big hang-ups for me is the endgame of an additional campus, what is its purpose or goal? The more I wrestle with this the more certain or uncertain I become depending on the specific site. I will be sharing more thoughts on this idea and its relationship with the UMC specifically in an upcoming post.
Care to share your thoughts and/or experiences of multi-site ministry? Are you a church leader with a multi-sites? Do you attend a church that has multiple sites? Do you move between them? Why or why not? I'd love to hear any thoughts on this topic you have to share.
January 10, 2010
"Getting Things Set Up"
This is the text outline from my sermon this morning at our Sunrise Campus. It was the 2nd of a 5 part series entitled "It All Goes Back In The Box" (inspired by the book from John Ortberg entitled "When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box").
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Philippians 2:1-11 will serve as the groundwork for our conversation this morning. From here we'll talk about 3 different things to keep in mind as we look at getting things set up in this game we call life.
One of the first things we want to know when setting up a game is How To Keep Score:
-We are by nature scorekeepers
-Our sense of the score influences the decisions we make, the attitudes we keep, and the perception of ourselves
-Examples of score keeping from scripture include: Cain & Abel; Leah, Rachel & Jacob; Saul & David
-We tend to keep score by comparing, competing and climbing
-Ortberg writes, "The problem with spending your life climbing up the ladder is that you will go right past Jesus, for he's climbing down" (p 45).
The Game Pieces:
-The two main pieces consist of the outer you (physical body, reputation, etc) and the inner you (character, spirit, soul)
-The outer is temporary, the inner is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18)
-Ortberg writes, “You look down at your hands one day and realize you’re looking at your parents’ hands” (48).
-There are plenty of ways to measure the development of the outer you, we must find ways to develop the inner you. A couple suggestions...
*self-examination and confession
*find friends that love you enough to speak truth into your life (in Christianese we call this an accountability partner, which I wrote about here)
*find time to be alone and listen to God
*examine your calendar and your checkbook
-A practical place to start is by spending as much time caring for the inner you as you spend on the outer you being reminded that the inner you is going to be around for a long time (Romans 8:35-39)
When It's Your Turn:
-Remember you don't control the game
*The story of Joseph & his brothers is a great example of not being in control (Genesis 37:12-36)
*When we not only recognize but embrace this, we can truly experience the freedom to love, to hope, and even relief from anxiety
*Galatians 5:1
-Remember that what you did in the past doesn’t determine the outcome of the game
*whether you won or lost the last game doesn’t matter
*free yourself from the guilt, habits, past mistakes or failures that are weighing you down
*”Sometimes we would rather complain about our ropes than untie them.” (56)
*the action doesn’t have to be amazing, just a concrete action
-Remember you can’t pass
*like Daniel, you and I have freedom to make choices though we don’t always get to choose the situation
*avoid falling into the “would haves” of regret: I would have loved more deeply, laughed more often, given more generously, lived more bodly
*Evaluate your convictions and your commitments, ideally where you commitments are is where your convictions lie
*Jesus makes it very clear that God and people are what matter
January 8, 2010
Shake It Off
Luke describes in the 10th chapter of his gospel (Luke 10:1-16) how Jesus sent out about 70 people into the "harvest field" of ministry. Their lone purpose was to tell the towns and villages they traveled to about the Kingdom of God. If the Good News of the Kingdom was welcomed there was peace and healing, if the message was rejected the disciples were instructed to tell the people, "Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near" (vs 11).
This passage (and a conversation w/a friend) got me thinking about the ministry involved in "shaking the dust from one's shoes" and moving on. It seems to me that there are times in ministry when we must shake the dust off and walk away. A couple important points to make about this before going any further...
-Notice that the 70 (or 72 depending on your version) made an attempt to engage in ministry before walking away.
-There are clearly some who will respond to the message of the Kingdom and others who won't. We must remember that this is not about you or me but rather about the news of God's kingdom.
-The kingdom of God is coming whether people accept it or not.
Has there ever been a time when you needed to walk away from ministry with someone? Do you think it's possible that shaking the dust off and walking away from a particular ministry situation is ever the best option? The more I think about it, the more I begin to see how the ministry of walking away could certainly be a powerful thing for everyone involved.
January 6, 2010
More Than Meets The Eye
One of the things that God has reminded me of over the past few months (and more recently the past few days) is that you and I often have no idea what kinds of things people are dealing with in their lives. This lack of knowing the whole story can result in doing or saying something that is unintentionally hurtful and insensitive or cause us to feel an unfair sense of frustration and anger toward someone.
The store clerk that seems to hate you specifically...just found out someone in her family is starting a battle with cancer.
The driver who cut you off and follows it up with a flip...is trying to cope with a relationship at home that is falling apart.
The individual at your church that seems to have everything put together...is working through an addiction that is on the verge of taking over his life.
Remember the story of Jesus talking with the woman at the well (John 4:1-26)? Jesus interacted with this woman in a way that was sincere, respectful, and full of grace...despite the fact that He knew the rest of the things this woman was doing and dealing with in her life, things that were not worthy of respect or grace. Think of the difference it could make if you and I were to approach people, conversations and situations with an attitude of humility and grace because chances are, we don't know the rest of the story.
January 4, 2010
The Wisdom of the Wise Men
The second chapter of Matthew's gospel tells us the story of the visit of the Magi (Wise Men) from the east to see the child Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). Taking a closer look at the story shows us how wise the Wise Men really were and gives us some things we should be thinking about in the year 2010...
1. They were paying attention.
a. The Magi had clearly been watching the sky because they not only noticed the star but knew there was something special about it.
b. The first thing they did when they arrived in Jerusalem was to start asking questions, not just any questions but being aware of what was happening, they were able to ask the right questions.
c. They stayed focused on what mattered, recognizing that Jesus was worthy of being worshiped. Is Jesus your center?
2. They remained persistent.
a. King Herod was a well known tyrant and murderer but any fear the Magi might have felt when he asked to meet with them privately did not deter them from seeking and finding Jesus.
b. They continued to trust the star of Christ as their guide and were not swayed by the wisdom of the world. Are you allowing Christ to guide and direct your steps?
3. They worshiped with joy.
a. They allowed themselves to experience the joy that comes from worshiping Christ.
b. These men of great stature and prominence approached Jesus, as a baby, with humility and awe. How often do we do that today?
c. They did not leave their encounter with God incarnate unchanged. The fear of King Herod's wrath did not have a hold on them, they were overjoyed by this experience and nothing could take that from them. When we encounter the Spirit of Christ, do we come expecting to leave different? How often do you allow the joy that is yours through Christ be taken away by the cares of this world?
January 1, 2010
Something To Look Forward To
Not only have we started a new year but I happen to be turning 31 tomorrow. Now, I've been hearing lots of excitement and expectation about 2010 and while I can't explain it, I am finding myself feeling the same way.
A couple things I am looking forward to in this new year:
*I am looking forward to getting that much closer to finishing up my studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in pursuit of my Master of Divinity. It is a 96 credit hour graduate degree that I'm estimating after this new year I will have completed 83 of the 96 required. The light at the end of the academic tunnel is getting brighter and brighter.
*I am looking forward to another year of ministry as a pastor in the UMC. I believe that this year holds a lot of potential for the local congregation I serve, the Indiana Conference, the UMC as a denomination and the Church as a whole. I believe this year could serve as a point of reference. If we fail to step up to the challenges that face us and do not look for new ways of addressing these issues we will remember this new year as the year we missed it. The time is ripe for change, and not simply change for change sake but change that will bring about renewal, rejuvenation, and revival. We, as leaders in the Church, must recognize the need for new approaches, ideas, and styles in our ministries as well as our leadership. I'm looking forward to being a part of this exciting time of growth and change...or not?
*I am looking forward to meeting and connecting with you and others through my blog and different forms of social media. Connect with me on my Twitter account so I can follow your tweets. On Facebook? Shoot me a friend request. Riding the Google Wave? Hit me up at matt.lipan@googlewave.com. I am also working on putting together a live online streaming Bible study and discussion group called "Outside the Walls". I would love to have you join in on the study and discussion. I'm really hoping to get into a regular blogging routine because I think 2010 will be all about making connections.
Of course there are other things I am looking forward to in the year 2010 as a 31yr old but these were a couple that came to mind. What about you? What are you looking forward to in this new year?
December 31, 2009
Top 5 Posts of 2009
Here are the top 5 posts people checked out in 2009 on A Journeyman's Catalog. If you had a particular favorite, let us know. Thanks so much to all of you that take a moment to read my thoughts along the journey, I look forward to hearing yours and connecting with you even more so in the upcoming year!
Happy New Year's!!
1. "I Am the Vine"
2. Secular Music in Worship
3. 2 Questions: Part I
4. By Your Bootstraps
5. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: Radical Hospitality
December 29, 2009
"Unwrapped"
Here is the text from my sermon entitled "Unwrapped" which I gave on 12/27 at our Castleton campus. Feel free to share any thoughts, comments or questions.
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Well, here we are, a few days after another Advent season and Christmas day. Many of you had the chance to spend some time with family and friends, I hope you found it to be meaningful and enjoyable. Tai and I had a chance to make it up to Holland, MI to visit with my family and over to New Lisbon, IN to visit hers. We had a good time and were reminded of how blessed we truly are. Now, two days after Christmas, here we sit and if you’re anything like me, you begin to take inventory now that everything has been opened and unwrapped. I can usually break down my Christmas gifts into three categories: things on my list that I asked for and actually got (which sometimes end up not being as cool as I thought they would be); things I asked for but didn’t receive; and the third category of “thanks?!?”.
Now, I don’t know about your family but both of ours are notorious for using boxes from one thing to put another thing in, so you're not quite sure what you’re getting until you get it unwrapped and out of the box. The classic story of this from my family is when we were all at my grandparent’s house and all the aunts and uncles were opening their gifts from grandma and grandpa and my dad starts opening his…at the time, for whatever reason, my dad was really into bowling…so unwrapping his present he reveals a shoebox with a picture of what appears to be a very nice pair of bowling shoes on the front. My dad gets excited and says, “Whoa alright, new bowling shoes”…opens the box and says, “No, I got these...” as he lifts up the work light that I’m not sure he has ever actually used.
This kind of thing happens to us all the time doesn’t it, whether it’s Christmas or not? We picture something in a certain way, it's wrapped in shiny paper with a nice bow, then we get it out of the box and realize it’s not what we thought it would be.
Perhaps it’s a job or title or degree we think will make all the difference but once we get it unwrapped we find it falling short of our expectations. Or maybe your perfectly wrapped gift is to have a family that looks a certain way, but then your kids do something stupid, your parents do something hurtful, you or your spouse do something to hurt each other or maybe you’re not able to have a family at all. The list can go on and on of things we think will make everything perfect but once we get it unwrapped we find it isn’t what we had in mind.
And then we read of this gift...
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 9:2-7
When we begin to unwrap the gift of God’s Son lying in a manger we see this is a gift that will not disappoint, not only this but we notice a couple things about this special gift…
It is a gift of His presence (Isaiah 43:1-3a)
-God promises to be present with us in the midst of the storms, trials and fires of life.
It is a gift of family (Galatians 3:23-4:7)
-God gives us the right to be called His children (John 1:12).
-You and I are connected as the family of God through the community of the Church.
It is a gift of hope (Hebrews 10:23-24)
-The gift of Jesus gives us hope in a world that can often seem hopeless.
-This is a gift we can and must share with others as we undoubtedly know people who abandoned, hopeless and alone.
Closing Prayer comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
December 24, 2009
A Voice of Reason
We have all heard plenty about the unfortunate decisions Tiger Woods has made in recent years and can add his name to a growing list of celebrity types who have fallen, in one way or another, as a result of choices each of them has made. I can't help but be reminded of the importance of accountability in one's life and wonder if Tiger would have had someone to confide in and hold him accountable, that just maybe an individual like that could have been the voice of reason Tiger so desperately needed to hear from before making such poor choices resulting in hurt, shame and embarrassment for him and his family. I think this whole tragic situation can serve as a reminder of a couple important things...
1. Do not think you are above doing something stupid that can cause hurt, shame and embarrassment. The moment we convince ourselves we are above or incapable of a particular sin is the moment when we make ourselves the most vulnerable. This is precisely the plan satan has in mind and exactly why he is called the Father of Lies. This is the curse of having a sinful nature and if we think otherwise we become liars ourselves (1 John 1:8).
2. Do not think you can stand up to, avoid or resist temptation and sin on your own. God created us to be in community with Him and each other, use that community to your advantage. Avoid as much hurt, shame and embarrassment as possible with the help of your brothers and sisters. Satan is described as a lion that prowls around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). It only takes a couple hours of the Discovery Channel to know that lions love to prey on the isolated animals of the herd, the ones that fall away from or are somehow get disconnected. You and I on our own are easy pickings to be chewed up and spit out.
3. Find someone to be your voice of reason. In Christianese it's called "an accountability partner". Find someone in which you can confide so that you can share your deepest struggles and most vulnerable weaknesses so that s/he can help you avoid them, that's the whole point of accountability!! You can't do it alone and you don't have to! You and I need people to speak truth and reason into our lives so that when our judgment gets clouded we have someone there to give us spirit-filled guidance and clarity. If you don't have this in your life, you need to ask God who that person might be for you and for whom you might be the very voice of reason that might keep someone from making an unfortunate decision that results in hurt, shame and embarrassment.
If you have questions about what an accountability relationship might look like, how weekly meetings go, or I can be of help in any way just let me know. Comment or email: matt@castletonumc.org
December 23, 2009
Style or Substance?
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey from 2007 talked about how a growing number of people "church shop"; meaning they move from one church to another as if grabbing lunch at a buffet-style restaurant picking what they like and leaving what they don't. More recently Outreach Magazine came out with their report of the 100 Largest and Fastest Growing Churches in America (the list) and I thought it was interesting to note that the vast majority of the churches on this list tend to have more of a "the special is your only lunch option" type of theology.
I kept riding my train-of-thought into this depot......
There are a couple of larger church pastors whose podcasts I listen to on a fairly regular basis (if you are ever curious who that might be or want to check them out just shoot me an email) and got to wondering if people enjoy some of the popular ones like Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan or Matt Chandler because of their preaching style and obvious passion or because of their theology. Are people aware of the substance of the pastors they listen to or is it simply a matter of style? I happen to find the theology of these three guys that I listed to be pretty solid but I know there are plenty of other large church pastors that have little to no theology at all and yet people listen to them by the tens of thousands. Why is that?? It seems as though our culture is so prone to consume that many would choose a pastor that preaches with misguided passion, void of any substance, over a pastor with solid substance and less style. If you find one with both, you better make sure your church holds on to them.
The Trappings of Tradition
I bet your family has some crazy traditions that have either already happened or are about to during this time of year. Care to share any of those? Only a couple came to mind for me and my family...
...my family always goes to church on Christmas Eve and then orders Chinese takeout. We eat that with sparkling grape juice in fancy glasses.
...my wife's family all gets the exact same pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve, wears them to bed and wakes up Christmas morning to her mom making crepes. They proceed to wear matching pajamas throughout the majority of the day.
Thinking about this over the past couple weeks has made me wonder if traditions have actually trapped the real meaning of Christmas. I don't think traditions are a bad thing, but I do think they need to point us to something bigger than the tradition itself. Is it possible that we have made Christmas more about traditions and less about God's gift to mankind? If Christmas is simply about traditions, we should call it "Traditiomas", dress-up like elves and give ourselves another excuse to go door-to-door asking for candy.
December 18, 2009
'Outside the Walls'
Be on the lookout for Outside the Walls, an online place designed for study & discussion to start in the next couple weeks. The purpose is to create connection and conversation around the study of Scripture and other relevant topics that impact our faith outside the physical walls of our churches. Right now it looks like studies/discussions will be Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings starting around 7 or 7:30pm EST.
Please drop a comment w/your feedback concerning topics for study & discussion, suggestions for days & times, and any other ideas or suggestions you might have. I would also be curious to know how many, if any of you might be interested in something like this or plan on joining us. Hope to see you there in a couple weeks.
http://livestream.com/outsidethewalls
December 16, 2009
Mercy and Justice
I just finished writing my last essay for this semester at Asbury Theological Seminary on the topic of Mercy and Justice. Parts of that essay are included below but what I really wanted to share was this video I came across and especially highlight the thoughts from Dr. Ben Witherington III ("Ben") talking about the same issues...
It is apparent throughout John Wesley’s ministry and theology that he was quite passionate about issues of mercy and justice. Wesley’s desire to preach the good news to the poor, reaching not only their spiritual needs but their physical needs as well, is what led him to the fields and marketplaces of his day seeing that his own church, The Church of England, was making no effort to do so. This is precisely why the majority of Wesley’s hearers were made up of poor laborers such as miners, quarrymen, iron smelters and soldiers. When speaking of the ad populum (the bulk of mankind) Wesley wrote in a letter to Dorothy Furley dated September 25, 1757, “I love the poor, in many of them I find pure, genuine grace, unmixed with paint, folly, and affectation.” The passion and love that Wesley had for the poor of his day is undeniable.
The issues of mercy and justice demand a response from us today, especially those who would consider themselves to be disciples of Jesus, regardless of denominational tradition. We are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) and when we stop to realize that everyone is our neighbor we can no longer ignore the injustice, persecution and poverty that is present all around us. This is a love that displays itself through actions of justice and gestures of mercy to “the least of these” as described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46, which typically are individuals who have no means of seeking justice and are often times shown no mercy. It is this “way of love” we must seek because without it “all we know, all we believe, all we do, all we suffer, will profit us nothing in the great day of accounts” (John Wesley, The More Excellent Way, 4.).
December 10, 2009
Stuck in the Middle
The United Methodist Church has, at various times, been described as the via media or the "middle way" when it comes to its place on the denominational spectrum. With its emphasis on grace it often times finds its ministry dwelling in the gray rather than the black or white. I believe this is one of the main reasons people are attracted to the ministry of the UMC (I know this is true for me as a pastor in it) because it creates a sense of openness and inclusiveness but I can also see where the emphasis on the "middle ground" could become a curse.
There are times when I wonder if the UMC has gotten stuck in the middle causing us to lose connection to some of our foundational beliefs, which is where the via media might become a curse. Has our focus on the middle made it seem as though we have no beliefs we are not willing to compromise on? Is it possible that one of the reasons for our decline in membership and worship attendance is that we've gotten lost in the gray as a denomination?
Having spent a considerable amount of time over the past few months reading a large number of John Wesley's sermons I can't help but see that he was clearly passionate about a number of issues which he saw as being black and white. It would be difficult to deny Wesley's emphasis on the presence of grace in an individual's life and the power of the Holy Spirit moving believers along in the process of sanctification and yet, how often do we talk about these things? Grace takes the "black" of accountability and the "white" of the expectation of holy living and mixes them together to make gray...but gray cannot exist without some black and white.
