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People of the Second Chance

December 9, 2009 in Culture, Jesus with 0 Comments

A few years ago Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite (Deadly Viper Character Assassins, Junky Car Club) birthed an idea that revolved around radical grace. That idea was People of the Second Chance (POTSC for short). What started as a sidenote to their other ministries has developed into a movement of it’s own. As Mike and Jud wrote on the front page of POTSC,

People of the Second Chance is no longer just a nice concept with some stickers and tee shirts, but the very story we are living out right now.

So take a few minutes to visit the new website and blog.

Become a fan at Facebook.

Follow POTSC on Twitter.

Follow Mike and Jud on Twitter.

A Place for Everyone

October 17, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 0 Comments

In Acts chapter fifteen we see the first recorded conflict in the Christian church. A group of Jewish Christians were telling Gentiles (non-Jews) that if they wanted to be saved, in addition to accepting Christ they must also be circumcised. So Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to bring the matter before the apostles. After the various parties made their arguments here is what James (the brother of Jesus) had to say in verse nineteen:

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. (ESV)

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (NIV)

And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (NLT)

So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. (The Message)

There is so much one can unpack from this verse, which is why I presented it in various translations. They all say the same thing, but to varying degrees of bluntness.

Have you added anything to the message of Christ that could make it difficult for your unchurched friends to come to know Him?

Is your church or ministry doing anything that could make it difficult for unchurched people to know Christ?

It’s okay if people choose to reject the cross, but let’s don’t put a whole lot of other things in their way that cause them to get confused before they get to the issue, which is the cross.
- Andy Stanley

Now I know some of you reading this will find it hard to stomach the first part of that quote;

It’s okay if people choose to reject the cross…

Because if what the Bible says is correct, then the only alternative to the cross is Hell. But the fact is that many people will reject the cross (Matthew 7:13). So what Andy is saying in this quote, and in the video below, is let’s not make it easy for them to reject the cross by putting obstacles in front of them before they even get to make a decision to follow or reject Jesus. Instead, let’s make it as easy as possible for people to come to God – that way, if they still choose to reject Jesus it isn’t because of traditions or a musical style or dress code or a language only known to the churched.

Anyways, here’s the video. It’s about ten minutes long.
To watch the full sermon click here.

Persecution

October 12, 2009 in Jesus with 5 Comments

18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.

John 15:18-20 (ESV)

When most people read this passage they think of all the religious persecution Christians have faced over the years. From ancient Rome up through modern day China, Christians have always faced persecution in some form, whether it be governments or other religions.

Not to discount those persecutions – I can’t begin to describe the level of respect and admiration I have for those who, in the face of death still cling to their faith in God. But this morning when I woke up, there was one question on my mind: What group, more than any other, persecuted Jesus?

What if Jesus, seeing as He is God and knows the future, were trying to tell us not that the world (as in unbelievers), but the world (as in all those around us) would hate and persecute us?

Think about it – if you’re a Christian in a Muslim nation, of course your persecutors will be Muslim; you’re surrounded by them!

But if you’re a Christian in a Christian nation…… a nation where, especially in certain areas, everyone is a Christian…… who will be your persecutors?

14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

Luke 11:15-18 (ESV)

A Christian Idol?

September 19, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 2 Comments

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food. 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).

2 Kings 18:1-4

When Hezekiah became king of Judah one of the first things he did was abolish idolatry and that included the bronze serpent Moses was instructed by God to make, because what had been a symbol of redemption had, over time, become an idol. People were more concerned with the object than what it had provided.

Many Christians are quick to point out things that could be idols for us in the 21st century: money, entertainment, success, sex, work, people…… the list could go on. Really, anything we put above God is an idol.

But one area we ignore is our own traditions.

People in church will argue over what music should be played, what you should wear, even what color the carpet should be!

So here’s a question: has the cross become an idol?

How many songs have you heard about the cross, instead of what Jesus did on the cross?

How many people wear a cross around their neck as if it were some good luck charm?

How many church buildings have a cross in their sanctuary or on top of their steeple for decoration?

I’m not saying that having a crucifix in your church or around your neck is wrong. It’s the why that makes it right or wrong.

So, have you made the cross an idol?

Viral

August 20, 2009 in Jesus with 11 Comments

Viral marketing, viral video…… you’ve probably heard someone using those terms. If you haven’t, or if you’re unsure of their meaning, when something goes viral it simply means that is replicates and spreads quickly and exponentially… like a virus. Thanks originally to email, and now to YouTube and social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, we’ve all seen the power of viral marketing and viral video, even if some didn’t know what it was. Some of you might remember the Peanut Butter Jelly video that was popular several years ago, the dancing baby from Ally McBeal or the fat kid lip-syncing Numa, Numa. A more recent example would be the JK Wedding Entrance Dance that was posted on YouTube last month. A friend of mine sent me the link in a Facebook message, I posted it on Twitter and Facebook, several of my friends posted it on their sites, etc., etc., until within a few days it was everywhere. As of right now, exactly one month after being posted on YouTube, the video has over twenty million views. What was originally just a video of someone’s wedding entrance is now among the top 100 most viewed YouTube videos of all time!

Anyways, this got me thinking; we as people are viral. Our attitudes are viral, our passions are viral. We all know this – we’ve all had that situation where everything was going good, but all it took was that one person saying that one thing to us and from that point on the day was ruined. On the other hand, we’ve all had one of those days where nothing seems to be going right but all it took was one person to smile or say something encouraging and suddenly things seemed to turn around. So I was lying in bed early this morning thinking about Jesus and how everywhere he went he was speaking life into people. Jesus changed lives not through law, but through love. John 3:16 doesn’t say if you accept Christ, God will love you. It says because God loves us He sent Christ to us. Jesus loved people where they were at and that love was so infectious it caused them to love, and then to change. Because even a child knows that merely saying “I love you” isn’t the same as showing it through your actions and life. As the old DC Talk song says, “Luv is a verb.” The early church didn’t have any fancy marketing strategies to advance the message of Christ; no TV/radio commercials, no podcasts, no websites, no million dollar buildings. Nothing to draw people in, except love. What began as just a sect of Judaism is now the largest religion in the world, and originally is spread from person to person through love.

Yet Christianity is now hemorrhaging followers. Instead of growing it is shrinking year over year. Why is that?

Where's the Steeple?

July 27, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 3 Comments

Rolling Hills Baptist Church sells property to help community.

I’ve posted that link on Twitter several times but thought I should put it on here as well. It’s still messing me up.

This is the church BEING the church; realizing it’s not about a building or time frame, but about community with God, each other and the world.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “…on this rock I will build my church…”; later in Matthew 28:19 Jesus commands his disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”. In the original text, the word we translate as nations is the Greek word ethos, which can be interpreted as both bordered territories and ethnicities. I think too often we interpret that scripture as going to third-world countries, yet how many “nations” are represented in the United States alone? I’m all for sending missionaries to other countries, but if we interpret Matthew 28:19 literally doesn’t that imply we’re all missionaries? You may not be called to China, but what about your place of employment?

Another problem I’ve seen (and participated in, so I’m pointing the finger at myself) is so-called “outreach ministries”. Again, instead of being salt and light in our world, we convince a group of people in the local church that it’s their ministry to go into the community and “reach out”, which usually has nothing to do with serving or love. Shaun King (pastor of The Courageous Church in Atlanta, GA) posted something on his Facebook page that really intrigued me. His wife was getting her hair done and her stylist asked, “Does your church have an outreach ministry?”, to which Shaun’s wife replied, “No. Our church IS the outreach ministry.” That’s what Rolling Hills Baptist Church is doing; they’re (literally) putting their money where their mouth is by assisting those in their community who need something more important than an expensive building. Not that I’m against comfortable seats and concert level PA systems – I’m actually very much in support of all that. I believe Christ has called us to excellence in ministry. But when a church puts its WANTS and WISHES above the NEEDS of the community God called it to LOVE and SERVE, there is a problem.

Tony Morgan once asked, “If your church closed its doors tomorrow, would your community notice?” In the case of Rolling Hills I believe so, because their “church” isn’t about the building they meet in, it’s about people showing people the love of Christ.

Freddie, Please

July 9, 2009 in Church, Culture, Jesus with 3 Comments

For those who haven’t seen my Twitter or Facebook stream the past few days, I purchased Derek Webb’s new album Stockholm Syndrome. Derek is one of the founding members of the popular CCM group Caedmon’s Call and a few years ago decided to branch out into a solo career. I’ve never really listened to Caedmon’s Call or his solo stuff, but I was intrigued so I figured I’d buy it. Especially considering it’s the first explicit release from Christian label INO.

Anyways, like most people, I do most of my listening while driving. So I burned the album to disc and popped it into the CD player this morning before heading to work. I’d already listened to some of the album at home, but driving to work it felt like Derek was giving me a kick in the teeth on two songs in particular – Freddie, Please and The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum.

Freddie, Please is blatantly directed at those who judge homosexuals (NOT homosexual behavior) and one line in particular really stood out to me:

“How could you do this to me?
How can you tell them you love me,
when you hate me?

After doing a little research I discovered this morning that the song is in reference to Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church. The guy who has become infamous for the “God hates fags” pickett signs and website and also for protesting soldiers’ funerals.

The other song, The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum is the one that really was a kick to the face. It’s in reference to a Rich Mullins quote where people would come up to Mullins after concerts and say, “Wow! The Holy Spirit really moved at that certain point in the song,” and Mullins would respond, “No actually, that’s where the kick drum and the bass came in.” Three lines in the song say all that needs to be said about the Christian subculture:

“I don’t want the Father; you know I want a vending machine.
I don’t want the Son; you know I want a jury of peers.
I don’t want the Spirit; you know I want a kickdrum.”

So, I can’t wait to get off work just so I can listen to more of the album.
StockholmSyndromeDerekWebb

Are You Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?

July 7, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 0 Comments

In my last post I wrote about how the Christian church in America is dividing itself by arguing over the little things and not focusing on the big picture, which is the fact that Jesus is the redeemer for ALL who choose to follow Him. I used the example of a quote from Tony Campolo where he said:

“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids dies of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said ‘shit’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

The sad thing is, Campolo is right. Unless it directly affects us, we don’t care. Think about it; there are several orginizations which offer the ability to sponsor children in 3rd world nations for around $30 a month. Yet how many of us do that? And don’t think I’m judging you; I’m just as guilty as the next person. But say you’re living paycheck to paycheck and literally cannot afford $30 a month (because that might be a tank of gas for you); can’t you at least show some compassion?

So this brings me to the supposedly controversial new song by Derek Webb called What Matters More.

I say supposedly controversial because the only reason it is considered to be controversial is Webb is a Christian artist (Caedmon’s Call). If he were not a top 40 CCM artist, the “Christian” community wouldn’t even know about this song. But maybe that’s why God gave this song to him instead of John Mayer or Kanye West, because coming from a Christian artist makes it hard for us Christians to ignore.

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn’t silently consent when the liars speak
Denyin’ all the dyin’ or the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings

‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

The point of the song is pretty clear to me – instead of reaching out to those who are fighting HIV/AIDS, the Christian community has demonized homosexuals. In the book unChristian (authored and edited by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons), Shayne Wheeler of All Souls Fellowship contributed this:

“During the Alexandrian plague (third century), Christians risked their lives in caring for the sick, taking a posture of grace that said, ‘I am here for you. I may die, but you will not be alone.’ The church embodied the gospel and the message was not forgotten. In the 1980′s, the AIDS epidemic hit the gay community. Otherwise healthy men were dying and nobody knew why. The only link seemed to be their sexuality. The church had opportunity to again speak grace and instead spewed venom. Rather than showing compassion, we self-righteously proclaimed God’s judgment. The message came through loud and clear. It was the wrong message. And it was not forgotten.”

After sharing a personal story, Wheeler goes on by saying,

“The Bible is clear: homosexual practice is inconsistent with Christian discipleship. But there is not a special judgment for homosexuals, and there is not a special righteousness for heterosexuals. For all of us, our only hope for the fracture in our soul is the cross of Christ.”

In the same chapter Kinnaman and Lyons make a great point:

“It is one thing to be against homosexuality, to affirm that the Bible rejects the practice of same-sex lifestyles, but it is another to be against homosexuals, to let your disagreement with their behavior spill out in your feelings and words toward them as people.”

Yet how many of us have done just that?

Just the other day a friend of mine was looking at my Facebook page and noticed I am friends with someone who is openly gay. Their response – “You’re friends with ___________?”. I responded by asking “Well yeah; is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”. They responded with “Isn’t he gay?”.

Sad.

Back to the Derek Webb song; I think Derek is telling us we can continue to be part of the problem, or we can change and be part of the solution. Change doesn’t mean we stop preaching what the Bible says; change means we see a need, and despite our differences with those in need, we work to meet that need. Millions of people die every year as a result of HIV/AIDS; we can either do something about it, or we can continue to hide in our churches and talk about the “gay agenda”. Isn’t that what James 1:22 is all about; don’t just hear, but get off your butt and do?

A House Divided

July 4, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 3 Comments

“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids dies of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said ‘shit’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

- Tony Campolo

And therein lies my problem with the church in America. I’m not a big Tony Campolo fan, but that quote pretty much nails it. Christians are so busy arguing over the little things that they miss the big picture. And it isn’t limited to world hunger. Abortion is another issue. I’ve blogged about it before, but just to rehash things, what is more important – fighting a losing battle to outlaw abortion or developing Christian alternatives to Planned Parenthood that would greatly decrease the amount of abortions taking place? And if you think we can have both, pass the pipe cause I want to smoke what you’re smoking.

Of course, those are just two examples of issues outside the four walls of the church. But even inside the church, Christians are so busy bickering and fighting with each other it’s no wonder my unchurched friends don’t want to have anything to do with the church. Hell, I don’t want to have anything to do with it. I once read an anonymous quote that said “I love Jesus; it’s His fan club I can’t stand.” A perfect example can be found on YouTube. NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC began a sermon series on Easter Sunday entitled The Gospel. Part one was called Highway To Hell, and they kicked off service with the band performing a cover of AC/DC’s Highway To Hell. Personally, I think that’s awesome, especially considering the fact that Easter Sunday is the most attended day in most churches around the world. NewSpring reported that over 300 people accepted Christ on Easter Sunday. Would some of those have accepted Christ without hearing Highway To Hell in church? Probably. As scripture says, the spirit of God draws men unto salvation, so nothing you or I do can influence a person’s choice to accept Christ. Unless, of course, God uses you to lead them to him. What if God used an AC/DC song to push some of those people over the edge? From what I’ve read, NewSpring has heard from dozens of members who have said that had it not been for the band playing Highway To Hell, their father, brother, son, sister, husband, daughter, etc. would have left without making a decision to follow Christ.

Now, I understand that some people have a problem with this whole situation. And that’s okay. I’ve read several blog posts and YouTube comments from people who, while they didn’t agree with the methods, praised God for the 300 that accepted Christ that Sunday. What disgusts me are the people who blog or comment about the performance and show no resemblance to Christ in their attitudes. Some have even gone so far as to question the salvation of those 300 from Easter Sunday! Just Google NewSpring Highway To Hell and read some of the garbage that shows up in the top 10.

A similar example is methodology. Until recently I was visiting a church but finally had to stop going because I was sick of hearing the pastor drag churches through the mud instead of sharing with me something God revealed to him in the Bible. Do you really think Jesus cares if you worship him through a hymn as opposed to a Hillsong United song? No! As long as He is glorified. Do you really think that Jesus prefers preaching over teaching? Again, no. As His message is delivered the rest doesn’t matter. Do you think Jesus prefers exegetical sermons over topical sermons? Or the lighting in the sanctuary? Or the volume of the music? Or the way you’re dressed? NO!!!! Those are all HUMAN preferences.

With that in mind, I’m reminded of Mark 3:24-25. I don’t blame the liberals for a lack of values and morality in America. Nor do I blame the “gay agenda”. And I won’t even blame the media or the press. I’m blaming all of us who call ourselves Christians, because the church in America is a house divided. Is there a perfect church out there? No. But when people spend more time arguing semantics than they spend showing the love of Christ to everyone they encounter then we are a house divided.

Missional Living

May 30, 2009 in Church, Jesus with 3 Comments

Life can be funny sometimes.

Or maybe I’ve just got a twisted sense of humor.

Over the last couple years I’ve come to believe that many of the things I’ve been taught to avoid and in some cases even demonize, are not in and of themselves evil. Music, alcohol, etc.

A friend of mine explained it to me this way: “America is a nation of gluttons. We do everything to excess.” And he’s right.

Sadly though, people like to pick and choose what they demonize. I know people who are quick to condemn me for having a drink, yet most doctors would consider them to be obese and last time I checked, the Bible is just as harsh towards gluttony as it is drunkenness.

And just for the record, I’ve never been drunk. Never even been buzzed. And I don’t ever plan to be either.

Anyways, ever since moving back to Louisiana, I’ve really begun to ask the question, “What is church?”.

Do I have to go to a building with “church” in the name in order to “go to church”?
Do I have to go to that building at a certain time, on a certain day?
Does there have to be a very specific order that determines what is done in “church”?
Is an online community real community?

I’m still wrestling with these questions daily, so by no means am I saying that I have all the answers. Nor am I against the traditional Protestant concept of church. I believe that church, when done right, is an awesome agent for change, discipleship and spiritual growth.

The big question I’ve been wrestling with is, have we put God into a box by putting His church in a box?

Last time I checked, the Biblical definition of a church is the regular assembly of believers for the purpose of edification and instruction. In other words, to refresh and to teach. If that is church, then I go to church every Sunday night at McAlister’s where there is a Bible study. And if online communities count, I go to LifeChurch.tv every week.

All of that brings me to this: earlier this week a friend told me that they have really begun to “question my lifestyle”, because I don’t go to (their definition of) church, I enjoy the occasional adult beverage and have been known to smoke a cigar every now and then.

Yet the funny part (funny to me) is that twice in the past two months I’ve had very deep, thought-provoking, long conversations with an unchurched friend of mine about Jesus, the Bible, church and sin, and during both conversations we enjoyed a couple cigars and some bourbon.

Thoughts?

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