David Platt's 'Radical'

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone that is currently content with where they are at in their faith journey and want to stay that way.  This book is like taking a nice and orderly deck of cards and throwing them as high into the air as you can.  As I am slowly but surely making my way through David Platt's 'Radical' and I must say that the book is quite frustrating to read, but in a good way.  Platt shares about his journey from a safe Americanized Christianity to something that is much more Christlike.  He talks about numerous trips around the globe where he met and encountered fellow believers that clung to and embraced the gospel in a manner that many of us in the West know little about.  Platt often highlights specific stories of these people and the amazing work that they are doing in their communities and countries for the sake of Christ.  It is impossible to read this book without looking at one's own life and how 'safe' many of us live.  The last thing most of us want is to have to sacrifice the comfortable and predictable way that we have become accustomed to living and give that up.  However, Platt states that an honest reading of the gospels and Christ's words show us that as believers we are called to be servants who do not find our comforts and joys in the treasures of this world.  Instead, just as Philippians 2 states, our attitude (and life) should be like that of Christ Jesus who humbled himself for the sake of others.

Again, this book frustrates me as I read it.  I sometimes dream of 'selling everything and moving to (insert 3rd world country)' in order to (insert act of service).  However, what is someone like me to do when I owe $30,000+ in school loans to the government and need to continue making money to pay off those loans?  Books like Platt's are frustrating because I don't know what radical obedience looks like in my life at this point.  Sure, I know I am called to be a faithful husband and pastor, but am I really making the most of my time and my life?

youth ministry and the family

I recently came across a documentary/book 'Already Gone'  featuring Ken Ham (answers in Genesis).  The book examined the mass exodus of many young adults from the church all across America and the reasoning behind it. Their primary conclusion is that youth ministries are failing to effectively teach and disciple students.  According to Ham and others featured in the documentary, youth ministries have become so focused on entertaining students that they have gotten away from genuine spiritual formation.

While I believe that there are points of truth to Ham's observation, I believe that the documentary is pointing the finger in the wrong direction.  As one who has been a youth pastor at the same church for 6.5 years, I have noticed a trend among the students who 'stick around' after graduating from the youth ministry and those who don't... In fact, the results are pretty much undeniable.  While there is a part of me that would love to believe that the youth ministry is the primary agent that shapes and forms the students who come through the door, it is the family that students come from that seem to have the greatest influence on whether a student 'sticks around' or leaves the church following high school.

It is extremely rare (in fact, I am struggling to think of more than one or two examples from my church) to find a student who sticks with the church following high school who has absolutely no support at home.  On the other side of the coin, as I look at all the students who continue to seek the Lord while being connected to a local church body and each one of them comes from a family with a mother and a father who I know are greatly invested in their child's life and rooted in their own local church.

Again, the ego inside of me wishes that it was my preaching, my ability to teach, the events that I plan, etc, that had more to do with the ultimate decision a student makes, but the reality is that parents and family have a far greater influence on the spiritual formation and shaping of their child than the youth ministry ever will.  This does not serve as an excuse to reduce the importance of having an effective and quality youth ministry, however, it is important to recognize that the 'end all solution' to raising a child is not simply making sure they go to the right school or that they are a part of the best youth ministry.  Instead, it begins at the home.  May we all recognize (especially those who are parents) that God has entrusted us with one of the greatest responsibilities that the world has ever known: raising a child in the faith.

a good word from stanley

I have slowly but surely been making my way through 'The Peaceable Kingdom' by Stanley Hauerwas (I think 'slowly' is the only way to read his writings while actually understanding what he is saying).  While talking about morality, he made a statement that I believe to be so true: "Most people want God to fulfill all of their desires but they are unwilling to allow God to transform those desires."  What a true and brilliant observation!  How else can we possibly explain the prosperity gospel that is so popular in our country?  We find ourselves skipping over or writing off passages and texts that talk about servanthood and simplicity while highlighting and underlining passages where Jesus and Paul talk about being blessed by God.

I know I am guilty of this very thing.  As believers, may we seek to come before God in honestly and humility and thereby have our very hearts changed and transformed.

evangelism and culture

It is not uncommon to hear statements like, "how come our church does not (fill in the blank) like my old church did?"  Recently, someone asked me, "I remember back in the day we used to go door to door with a Bible in our hand telling people about Jesus... Why don't we do that anymore?"

Some people look at their local church and are saddened by the changes they have seen take place... and some of those feelings are for good reasons.  However, it is also important to remember that in many ways we must always be changing and evolving to in order to better minister to the culture that we live in.  There really is no disputing this truth.  If I used a curriculum that we written in the 1930s, there is a very large chance that the content will be effective simply because it was written by a people writing to others living in the 1930s.  While the core truth and beliefs may not change, the method in which that truth is taught and conveyed must evolve and change if we are to effectively relate to a 21st century people.

The reason why evangelism must look different in the year 2011 than in did 10, 20, or 50 years ago is because people and culture change.  For example, it was much easier to go 'door to door' 50 years ago because in the year 1961, the pastor/priest and the American Church was not nearly the laughing stock that it has become today.  With constant news reports of sexual abuse, child abuse, money fraud, affairs, etc, how can we not expect the image of the church to change?  How can we expect people to not question the Christian faith when they turn on the television and watch Benny Hinn hitting people with his jacket as he fills them with the Holy Spirit?  With that said, the average household is skeptical at best when it comes to the American Church.  Therefore, evangelism must look different than it did even just 10 years ago.  Before we begin telling people about our faith, we ought to embody it with a servant heart.  We must engage in the slow work of building relationships and allowing our faith story to flow out of that relationship.  Because whenever someone is truly seeking to know and love Christ more each day, it is impossible for others not to see Christ in them.

turning 30

Well, in just over 2 weeks I will be turning 30 years old. While I realize the word 'young' is a relative term, I generally think of people who are in their teens and 20's when I associate people with being 'young.'  As I approach this new decade of my life I can't help but take a look back at the previous one.  While in my 20's I have: graduated from college, moved twice (to Michigan and then Kansas City), started and finished seminary with my M. Divinity, married my best friend Rachel, started pastoring my first church as a youth and associate pastor, gotten a great four legged dog Dunkin, met and made some amazing friends, and much more.  During my 20's I have grown as a man, a husband, as a pastor, and as one striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

For some reason or another, God has decided to bless me in so many ways.  I pray that if the Lord continues to blesses me with another 10 years that I may seek to serve God throughout all of it.

personal piety and more individualism

Having read some great books lately along with some great conversation, I have found myself rethinking some of the most basic questions that we as Christ followers must always be asking ourselves; one of those questions being, 'what does it look like to be a follower of Christ in my day, my neighborhood, my church, etc.'  What messes with me is when I look around, I see several different people who I believe love the Lord doing a number of different things...

(As I describe these different people, I am well aware that several of these groups and people may overlap with others listed... just allow me to ramble for a bit :-)

A good friend of mine who I greatly respect has decided that to truly heed the call and teachings of Christ means that he may no longer pay taxes to what he believes is, "a government that endorses poverty, war, and genocide."  For my friend, part of following in the footsteps of Christ is to denounce loyalty to his government.  He has grown frustrated with an American Church that will get more upset over someone dropping the F bomb in a sanctuary while perfectly fine allowing racism in its doors and turning a blind eye to the systemic sin in their city and country.

Just the other day I heard a husband and wife (again, people I look up to) tell me that God has been challenging them to learn the scriptures.  They attend several bible studies throughout the week and have placed learning God's Word at the forefront of their lives.  To be a Christ follower is to know, understand, discuss, and be transformed by the Word of God.

Then there are others who believe that to follow Christ is to wake up each day and say, "Help me to be an instrument of your peace and love."  These are people who desire God to strip them of their selfishness and sin day by day so that they may be a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led people.

Others believe that to follow Christ is to take seriously the call to social action and social justice.  These people look at the suffering, sin, and injustice in their communities and world and decide that they are going to try and do something about it.  This call is inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus throughout scripture.  Jesus seemed to be full of compassion for the suffering, hurting, and poor, therefore, we should do likewise.

All of that to say this...

The last few weeks I have begun thinking that to be a follower of Christ must mean and look like more than just one's own personal piety of praying enough, reading enough, and 'trying really hard to be like Jesus.'  Is the Christlike life really nothing more than a bunch of individuals trying to deny their sinful nature while striving to be and look more like Jesus?  While I definitely affirm that one's own personal piety is a piece of the puzzle, I don't think it is the whole puzzle.  I believe that there is a social and corporate aspect that we have been missing and neglecting as an evangelical church.

Chime in if you wish!

more of the same ;-)

I was reading about a well known pastor and author the other day.  While he is barely over the age of 40, God has already used this man to start a church, plant 8 other churches, and help establish a seminary.  Pretty awesome resume if you ask me.

I got to hear 'awesome resume man' preach a little while back and there is no doubt about it, the man is a gifted communicator.  However, the question I couldn't help wonder was what would happen to his church if he was gone?  How many people go to this man's church because he has become somewhat of a Christian celebrity?  What if God's word was taught just as accurately, but not as creatively and enthusiastically by someone else... would this cause a mass exodus from his church?

My question is this... Do we attend church for the central purpose of worshiping our risen Lord and Savior, or, for reasons that are a little more consumeristic?  How is it that we listen and place such emphasis on the preaching of God's Word and very little on any sort of response of worship and adoration?  Worship is secondary... the response has become secondary... optional.  To me, this is a sure sign that church has become more of a place where, "I learn, I meet with people I know, I find community, I drink coffee and donuts in a cozy atmosphere, etc," as oppose to the place where I humbly enter the sanctuary to worship and celebrate the risen Lord.