The Hope of the World

I recently found a quotation that captivated me. Spurgeon (1834-92) was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. He frequently preached the Good News of Jesus to audiences of more than 10,000 people. He has been called the Prince of Preachers. The quotation is about the Church and speaks much to the necessity for the Church to be impacting our culture.

And let the entire body of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ–instead of looking to societies for evangelization, or to commerce, or to governments– remember that she is the sole saviour of the world. As Christ was the world’s hope, so is the Church the world’s hope, and she must take up the charge as if there were not another.

I agree with Spurgeon. I have heard Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church state it this way:

The local Church is the hope of the World.

The Church, the bride of Christ, is called and charged to bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ to the World that Jesus Himself says that He loves (John 3:16). It may be nice, and maybe on some issues necessary (ie: abortion), to have the government and as Spurgeon refers to "commerce and societies" to partner with us. But in the end the call to feed the hungry, to give hope to the poor, to care for the orphans and widows, to address the issues of oppression, of bondage, of social ills like AIDS, abortion, and Human Trafficking to mention a few is the charge to the body of Christ. We cannot depend on the government to have the heart of Jesus Christ nor to truly be able to bring hope to our social ills.

I must confess that much of my life as a Pastor has been primarily about pasturing the local church that I have been a part of and of personal evangelism. I believe this is my spiritual gifting. But over the last several years, I have been convicted and challenged that a significant part of my maturity and the discipleship of God’s people must include engagement in the lives of the “lost and the least” of the world. We must do this not only from an evangelistic perspective, but also to address with compassion and justice the needs of those around us.

I am being challenged that true discipleship cannot be merely knowledge (although it must include knowledge) nor just personal life issues. Any plan for maturing believers in Christ must include leading followers to be engaged in the lives others. To be engaged with an evangelistic heart with those who do not know Jesus yet. And leading them to be engaged with a “loving people as they are in Jesus’ name” heart that serves people with compassion and seeks justice for people in the name of Christ.

Discipleship, of course, is following Jesus. To follow Jesus will certainly lead us to become a friend of the “tax collectors and ‘sinners’” of our day. Following Jesus will lead us to bringing good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and to release the oppressed (Luke 4:18).
“Jesus, expand my heart.”
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

P.S. This post is not meant to take us off the hook in our need to be politically astute and aware. We certainly don't want a government that would be working "against" the Church or the causes that the Church is called by God to address.

Endorsing a Candidate for President

Soon we will be casting our vote for the next president of the United States of America. The date for the vote is November 4, 2008. On November 5th (hopefully) we will know who our next president will be.

I would like to urge all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ to be in prayer for the election and certainly in prayer for whomever becomes our next president. The Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I have been quite captivated by the race over the last months. I would like to pose a few questions to you as readers of this blog.

I am wondering how captivated you are in the presidential campaign?

What are the main issues for you as a voter?

When you think of casting your vote, how much does your faith enter the equation?

Do you think there are valid Christian values expressed by both of the political parties? If so what are they?

Finally, what wisdom do you see in clergy endorsing or not endorsing a candidate for a public office?

How do you think you would personally respond if the clergy of your church endorsed a candidate contrary to who you were supporting?

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

PRIVATE RELIGION?

Today the Grand Forks Herald reported on a survey published in the Fargo Forum on October 17, 2008. One of questions reported on was the role of religion in public life. According to the survey 50% of the people in our region regarded religion as a private matter.

I find that very interesting. It fits very much into our regional culture. We pride ourselves as being highly independent and of course private. I suppose if we are merely talking about religion in the sense of a set of precepts or doctrines one could keep that generally to oneself. Unless one of the precepts of said religion was to make the message of the faith known to others; as does Christianity. Then notion of one’s faith being private, if one is a follower of Jesus Christ, is immediately repudiated by the message of Jesus' life.

Jesus was clear that his followers would be those who lived their faith in Him with a lovingly public persona. He said things like: “Go and make disciples. You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth.” Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save the lost.” To be a follower of Jesus then, would take part in doing the work of Christ.

Maybe we could better understand the sentiment in the survey if we recognized that being a follower of Christ is certainly “personal” but it can never be “private.”

I like the words of G.K. Chesterton: “A man can no more possess a private religion that he can possess a private sun and moon.”

In regard to your life in Christ, seek to be as public as a light in a dark place!

Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

The Greatest Bailout in History

I have found myself with an increasing frustration about this great historical bailout. It frustrates me that our government is giving a "get out jail free" card to the executives who have basically cheated, mismanaged, lived selfishly ambitious, and indulgent lives with no regard for others. It frustrates me further because there seems to be no plan for payback! I probably don't know all the ramifications of us choosing not to do the bailout, but my gut tells me; "lets just bite the bullet and take the tough pill now for an economy run on debt, dishonesty, and selfishness.

But it occurs to me that this bailout by the U.S. government is not the biggest bailout in history of people who have cheated, mismanaged, lived selfishly ambitious, and indulgent lives. No this current bailout is nothing compared to the bailout provided for all of us by Jesus Christ. When Christ died he payed the debt for our sin! That is a wonderful unconditional bailout. And truth is that we have no opportunity for payback. Our only response is to live lives of gratitude and love to Him and for Him.

I find myself today grateful and humbled for my personal experience of being bailed out -- as undeserving as I was -- I am a recipient of God's grace, forgiveness, and restoration. And now, I seek to live in His economy and as a citizen of His Kingdom.

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

Economic Downturn

I wrote myself a note on a piece of scratch paper last night as I watched the news reports of a crumbling stock market and the governmental efforts to protect several faltering companies. Here is, in part, the gist of what I wrote:“

I am so thankful that as I watch our economy being threatened by dishonesty, greed, and mismanagement that I am seeking to invest in a different Kingdom. It is so easy for me to want to gain riches here and to expand my grasp for possessions and properties. But I am thankful that my heart has been gripped and is being gripped by a call toward a heavenly kingdom. A kingdom not made with hands.”

I am reminded of Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:19,20): "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. “ To be honest there are many times that grasping for the things of immediacy are more inviting than the “someday return” of my eternal investments. This is something I wrestle with. It is one of the reasons I am thankful for several of the early commitments that Bonnie and I made together regarding our finances. We have protected ourselves against the lure of the immediate and from, for the most part, my impulsiveness regarding purchases, and the temporal “this is a really good deal.” In the midst of these boundaries that we have, there really is an increasing sense of freedom and, in these days, protection! I don’t think in this life we will ever be totally protected from economic difficulties or even ruin, but the principles of God’s Word are sound. And if nothing else, we are invested and investing for eternity.

Now my big questions is: Do I jump on the downturn and purchase some low priced stock? Do I capitalize now! Honestly the greed monster is still alive in me... So I will pray and talk with Bonnie and see what would be wise and prudent.

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

A Simple Blessing

I was burning a few pieces of an old cedar log in my chimenea. The stars were shining and the moon was reflecting light in a “pause and notice kind of way” behind the clouds. At one moment the clouds, with the moon behind them, had the legendary silver lining. Bonnie and my friend Tom were sitting with me. And other than the fact that the height of my fire was threatening the branches on my willow tree, it was a near perfect Grand Forks evening.

As we were talking, Tom told a wonderful little story about his encounter with Dr. Billy Graham. It made me think of the simple power of a blessing.

Tom had worked as server in a hotel/restaurant and had the opportunity to serve a few “famous” people. He served a famous rapper, complete with security and swooning waitresses. And he had the opportunity to bring room service to Dr.Graham. He had ordered a burger. When Tom arrived Dr. Graham was sitting casually waiting for his meal. There was no security. No pomp. Just a gentle man sitting alone in his room.

Tom told us a bit about his conversation with Billy. I would love to meet him. But all these years later there was something in the conversation that stood out to Tom.

As he was finishing setting up the room service and was preparing to leave Dr Graham spoke the words: “God bless you, son.” He said the words not in a habitual or perfunctory way. They were heartfelt. And they were a true blessing to Tom beyond just the words.

I wonder if we could get our heads around the power of a simple blessing to those we encounter. Our "bless you" invites the Creator of the universe to extend His favor and grace. This is a wonderful act of love. It is a gift. Be generous with your blessings!

Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

The Covenant Elects a New President

The denomination that I belong to, the Evangelical Covenant Church elected Rev. Gary Walters as our new president. Walters after being prayed over stepped to the pulpit and delivered his first message as our president. Walters reminded us that we have always been known as a Mission Society or The Mission Friends. A body of believers intent on reaching those who do not know Jesus yet. He reminded us that we are a People of the Book. In the early days we were called the Readers. He quoted James 1:22-25, which was the text for his message:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he
has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Walters then went on to highlight what he called 3 “urgency's” for the Evangelical Covenant Church. They are urgency's because they are woven throughout God's Word.

1. First is the call to evangelism – the sharing of the good news.
“Every Covenant president has said the same thing,” Walters declared. “It is no small matter to God that there are lost people – and it must become no small matter to us, or we deceive ourselves.”Recalling the words of former President Milton Engebretson, Walter reminded the audience that “if evangelism is not the first priority, it will become no priority.”

2. The second urgency in scripture is the call to be doers of the word in areas of compassion, mercy and justice.
“It is no small matter to God that there are hurting people in the world – and it will be no small matter to us. We deceive ourselves if we think otherwise and fail to act.”Our response requires more than just sincere sympathy for those who are hurting, Walter suggests. Quoting Debbie Blue’s oft-stated illustration, Walter said compassion pulls people out of the river; justice goes upstream to stop those who are pushing them in.” Jesus wants more than sympathy for hurting people – he wants us to help them, to do something about it.

3. The third urgency in scripture is the call to be the whole church – to experience unity in Christ.
“It is no small matter to God that the world is fractured, and that the church is too often as well . . . and so it will be no small matter to us. We deceive ourselves if we think otherwise and fail to act.”The world is fractured along three primary fault lines, Walter said in paraphrasing the apostle Paul. The three lines are race, class, and gender. “But, through the cross, Christ has ushered in a new community – Paul says that in Christ, there is neither Jew or Greek (race), slave or free (class), male or female (gender). The cross creates a new community where all of God’s children are valued and celebrated.”

The above highlights from Gary Walters message are taken from the Evangelical Covenant Website: http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item6391

In my family of origin, I don’t agree with everything they say or do, but I love being a part of the family! I feel the same way about my denomination. I don’t agree with everything we say and do, but I love being a part of it. I am very encouraged by the direction that our new president has declared. I am encouraged to be a part of a church family that seeks to make a difference for the Kingdom.
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul