There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

In the Gospels when someone asks Jesus to have mercy on them they are asking Him to share of himself, that they might be made whole.  As one body of Christ, and as a part of the larger body of Christ, that is our calling, God’s vision for our church.

A little over a month ago Jenn Lebow began Mercy Mondays on her blog.  I have been meaning to join in ever since but this week’s prompt really got me thinking.  She asked about groups or organization who are spreading mercy.  This, of course, made me think of Bethany, and whether or not we are spreading mercy.  I thought about God’s vision for our church and realized that sharing mercy, in the Gospel sense, was really what it was all about.  But are we following God’s vision for us?

The answer is a “Yes and…”  Yes, we have people sharing the gifts and experiences God has given them.  ”And” we are going to continue to get better at doing so.

“Yes” we had a member talking about his past struggles, sharing how the mercy of this congregation has helped him have another chance.  ”And” others will learn to share how they have experienced mercy because of him and his sharing.

“Yes” we had a member share the ministry he experienced with prisoners, how through these imprisoned men God spoke to him and showed him what freedom looked like.  ”And” because of his sharing others have started seeking their own freedom.

“Yes” our doors have opened for the homeless, both literally and spiritually.  ”And” they have had the chance to find themselves, and helped me find myself.

That’s the great thing about being an organization of mercy, the mercy cycles back around, and continues to spread out.  It grows, so fast that we think it will have to stop soon.  In fact, it can be scary thinking that it will.  But it doesn’t.  It just spreads, going wider and deeper all at the same time.

I’m realizing that “Yes” we are an organization the acts out mercy and holds mercy as a core value.  ”And” we will continue to grow in that mercy, allowing it to deepen us as it widens to draw others in.

 

The Art of Being Used

When you pass by that woman sitting in the median with a sign reading, “No job, three kids, nothing to eat, please help” what do you think?

If you’re like me you wonder whether or not she actually needs help, has three kids, could find a job if she wanted to. You wonder if she is really a drug addict, or, if she is in need of food why she appears to be overweight. If you are a little more generous than me you might wonder how she ended up in the situation, or if a few dollars is really going to make any kind of difference. For most of us the natural inclination is to at least critically assess the situation before deciding whether or not we should help. But why?

Why is our natural inclination when we see someone holding up a sign asking for help to critically determine whether or not they really need help, or if they are worth our help? We don’t want to be used or taken advantage of. There may be some other reasons, but we really don’t want to be taken. We are taught to be wary of those who would try to use us, take advantage of us or con us out of what is rightfully ours. And so we ask these questions in order to avoid being taken advantage of, as a kind of defense mechanism. And, usually, if we ask the questions long enough the light will turn green before we get the chance to help.

There are plenty of legitimate and valid reasons for these questions as well, but this particular reason is a lie. It’s a lie that we tell ourselves both to protect ourselves/what’s ours and assuage our own guilt. The idea that being used is a bad thing is antithetical to a life well lived, especially from the standpoint of faith. We all want to be useful, we all want to have something to offer to someone. The reality is not that we don’t want to be used, it’s that we want to dictate the terms by which we are used.

The problem with this is that we may not always know how we can best be useful, where we might be most useful or to whom we might be most useful. We are likely to miss out on wonderful chances to do some real good in the world because we want to be in control of our usefulness. Thus, many moments and opportunities are squandered, not because there was just nothing to be done, but because we were more interested in our own control and desires than in doing good.

This is where the art of being used comes in. Rather than seeking to be useful, which tends towards our desires and controls, we should seek opportunities to be used. We should look for chances where we can say, here I am, what can I do. When we do this God can speak, God can help us see, know and do things that we otherwise might have missed. This is the art of being used – recognizing the beauty of taking a chance to bring forth goodness rather than only doing something that has been rationally decided upon.

Back to that woman in the median. Maybe I am asking the wrong questions. Maybe we all are. Rather than trying to deduce something we could never actually know and then acting based on that deduction maybe we should be asking: What can I do? How can I be used? Whether it is our money, our time or even just just a kind smile and a wave, we just never know how we can best be used until we are there and we ask.

Maybe we should remember another story about someone beside the road needing help. Others passed by, trying to deduce the cost and reward of being useful and just kept walking. But the Good Samaritan asked a different question: How can I be used?

 

Bethany’s Currency

I am rich beyond measure.  I have so much that I will never run out of and I can give away freely without concern for the future.  Ministers aren’t supposed to be rich, but I am – just not in the traditional sense.

Sunday, June 3rd, was one of the most difficult days  in the life of Bethany and as difficult a worship service as I have ever led.  We lost a wonderful man who added a great deal of life, energy and love to our congregation far too early.  We mourned our loss, prayed for his wife and their daughter and all those who were also mourning.  We remembered him and sought to learn from the example that his life left for us.  At the beginning of the service and again at the end of the service we paid each other in the currency that matters most to churches, the currency I realized makes me rich, the currency Tom used with people and with animals (he was a veterinarian), hugs.

You may wonder how hugs are a currency but I am starting to wonder how we have never seen them as such.  The American currency is the dollar, a representation of monetary value or worth.  There is nothing that makes a dollar worth anything other than the fact that we all recognize it as what it is meant to represent.  Well, if a dollar is a representation of monetary worth then why can’t hugs be a representation of human value and worth.  Not just hugs, but any kind of physical act meant to convey love, grace, comfort, and hope.  Shouldn’t this be the currency of the church?

It’s kind of funny and kind of sad that we have thousands of books on money espousing so many different theories all based on a system that is purely a human construct.  But we don’t have much in the way of books on hugs, or even the importance of physical gestures of caring.  At the end of the day, though, we mourn those who offered those kinds of gestures, we most miss those who were most adept at showing love, at using this different kind of currency.  Sure, the rich and famous get the big headlines, but the impact is not as deep, except with those they knew and loved and those who knew and loved them.

Jesus was asked a question about paying taxes and responded by saying that that which is Caesar’s should be rendered unto Caesar.  It seems to me that He was saying that coins were valuable to Caesar and the Roman empire but they were nothing more than a construct, they were false and unimportant.  If Caesar wants the coins, then give them to him, because there are things that are more important.  Then they asked, if this doesn’t matter what does?  Jesus said, Love.  Love the Lord your God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself.

We will miss Tom because of his love for us, for children, youth, adults and for all of God’s creatures.  He traded heavily in this currency.  It is also a currency that is always left behind, in limitless amounts for all who need it.  All we have to do is think about the sound of his walking stick, his big grinning face and those long arms opened wide for a hug.  He was rich, as we all are, when we trade in that currency.

 

Our Lives Speak Our Faith

I am a preacher, which is probably the least important thing I could do at a church or as a Christian.  I didn’t always think this way, in fact my personal email address begins with imapreacher because I used to think it was the most important thing I could do.  But, I’ve come to realize that preaching alone is indeed the least important thing I do.

This past Sunday we had a young man baptized, recognized two high school graduates, celebrated the announcement of our new secretary, cheered a marriage celebrating it’s 68th anniversary and had three new members join.  That’s a pretty fantastic Sunday for our little church.  Guess how much of it happened because of my sermon on Sunday.  Guess how much of it had little to nothing to do with any sermon I have preached since arriving at Bethany nearly three years ago.

Paul wrote that within the Body of Christ the least important members are given the places of honor, while the most important members are often the least honored.  We make a big deal about the sermon, the quality of a preacher and the importance of the sermon to the worship service, but I think Paul is dead on with his assessment.  That place which has become most honored, the preacher, within the Body is actually of less importance while those that aren’t as honored are of far more importance.

I’m not trying to beat myself up or degrade what I do, as a pastor I know that much of what I do is important.  As a preacher, though, the words don’t mean as much as I had once assumed they would.  The reason for this is that words are easy.  It doesn’t cost us much to speak words.  There are some times when that is not true, sometimes words require us to take a chance and to be willing to face consequences.  Most of the time, though, words by themselves are hollow and relatively ineffectual.

The way that we live, on the other hand, has consequences, influences and results that words alone can never have.  How we use our lives, our time and our talents all requires far more of us than words, and therefore they have a much greater effect on those around us.  Actions and lives have real, tangible effects, as well as real, tangible costs.  They go deeper in the life of the person doing the living and the acting, and they go deeper in the lives of those they touch.

The three men who joined the church on Sunday, as well as the one who was baptized, were all deeply influenced by a man who lived out his faith.  Tom Fore was a great friend and a great example of service and love to all three and it is because of that influence, more than anything else, that the three of them joined this Sunday, the day after Tom’s funeral.  Tom spoke many words in his life, in fact he preached a couple of times here at Bethany.  But more than anything else he lived a life that showed deep faith, huge amounts of love and abiding joy.  And that speaks volumes.

 

Mistakes, I’ve Made a Few

And then some.  This Sunday I am preaching on messing up and redemption.  I want to use a personal story, the problem is that I have too many to choose from.  My goal on Sunday is to get across that there is nothing that we can do to make ourselves unredeemable, so I want it to be a pretty big mess up.  You’d think that would narrow the field pretty significantly, but I’ve still got a number of options.  I used one in a blog last week, http://wp.me/pO6ct-3N.  As I have been thinking about all of these mistakes, the biggest ones, I have noticed that there is not just one mistake but a multiplicity.

The biggest mess ups of my life have happened because I did one thing wrong, and then tried to cover it up and then lied about the cover up.  It’s a scenario we see a lot with celebrities as well, but I think it’s pretty common among normal people, just without the cameras.  When I was a senior in high school I got a speeding ticket.  It wasn’t my first but for some reason I thought that this would be the ticket that would push my dad over the edge.  So, I tried to cover it up, pretending like it didn’t happen and hoping it would go away.  It didn’t and the court contacted my dad to let him know what was happening.  So, I lied to him, told him I didn’t get the ticket and I didn’t know what it was all about.  I kept lying and he finally went to the Clerk of Court who showed him my signature on the ticket.  (BTW, he forgave me and still loves me)

I was certain that what I had done was unforgivable, for whatever reason.  So I covered it up and then lied about it.  I think that’s one of the lies that is most destructive and also most perpetuated.  If you mess up don’t let anybody know because they won’t forgive/love/like/be friends with you if they knew your mistakes.  In fact, we live in a society that suggests we should only allow people to see us when we are at our best, perfected, or at least covered up.  It is these expectations and lies that create the biggest catastrophes and the gravest mistakes.

Even worse, many churches tend to tell people the same thing.  Show up looking your best.  Follow the bulletin.  Don’t let your baby cry.  Stand up and sit down at the right moments.  Don’t tell people about your struggles, sins, mistakes or deepest pains.  Many churches, without meaning to, communicate the message that only perfect people are allowed.  I am thankful that Bethany has allowed me to make numerous mistakes and still accepted me as its Pastor, and it is my hope that anyone who visits will find that as well.

Here’s why.  We are all flawed, we all make mistakes, we all mess up.  But that’s how we learn, that’s how we grow, the mistakes and mess ups are what God uses to make us the people we were created to be.  It is only when we dive into the waters of God’s grace and swim around that we learn what freedom it gives us to try, to grow, to learn and to realize that perfect is a lie.  We were not created to be some idyllic perfection, we were created to be unique individuals, learning and growing together.  If we can’t admit our mistakes, we can’t learn from them, we can only attempt to be something that goes against what we were created to be.

The choice is left to us.  As individuals, we can choose to continue to try to cover up our mistakes, run away from them, hide from them or pretend they don’t exist, presenting a fake shell to the world and shackled to a group of lies.  Or we can jump in, taste what true freedom is, swim in the vast waters of God’s grace and live into who we were truly created to be.  As churches, we can choose to uphold societal standards, and teach others that there really isn’t forgiveness.  Or, we can be the place where those waters of God’s grace pool, where flawed but real individuals come and where people learn who God created them to be.

Come on in, the water’s fine!

 

Defining Ourselves

So, there’s been a lot of anger, vitriol, hatred and bigotry going around lately.  It seems to be coming flying from all directions and at this point many Christians are fighting against other Christians.  A lot of disgusting, degrading and dehumanizing things have been said and in response a lot of others have rushed to oppose, repudiate and degrade them.  This has actually, in many ways, become the overall cycle of the conservative vs. liberal world we live in but I don’t think it should be that way with Christians.

There are a lot of reasons why this kind of back and forth vitriol is bad, some theological and others more practical.  From the practical standpoint it doesn’t make a ton of sense to give someone you think is wrong, misled and possibly speaking dangerous words your microphone.  Really.  In this day and age when we have so many platforms from which we can speak, facebook, twitter, blogs and other social media, giving someone our microphone allows them to reach a ridiculously large audience.  Why would we want to do this?  Furthermore, if you think that they are a bad representation of your faith, why would you spread the person’s words?  You aren’t embarrassing them.

Secondly, you do nothing but reinforce their idea that they are right by attacking them.  Jesus tells his followers they will be persecuted if they follow him, it’s going to happen.  By striking back all that happens is those who spread the vitriol in the first place can say to themselves and their followers, “See, the devil is coming after us, obviously we are right.”  By shouting and sneering the only thing that is accomplished is that we help reaffirm those who already feel pretty certain about their own beliefs.

It’s not just about them, though.  Any attack made through social media is unlikely to affect significant change any way.  There is not a deep enough relationship with those we would like to see changed for change to actually happen.  But, what happens to us when we feel it necessary to stand up and repudiate those we disagree with is pretty significant as well.

First, there is the problem of humility/ego that rears its head.  There are two ways that seem most obvious.  First, I don’t think many of us really expect to change those we disagree with as much as we want to be accepted by those we do agree with.  By repudiating we say, look I am not like that, I agree with you and I do so openly.  I am a great defender of (insert ideals here)!  Secondly, there is a self importance in thinking that we have to be the ones to stand up and repudiate those others.  It seems to me like every time a biblical character got a little too self important bad things happened.

Finally, the real problem is that this just isn’t the way Jesus instructs his followers to act, and even Paul would have had a problem with seeking revenge.  Jesus told His disciples that they will be known for their love for one another.  That is how followers of Christ are meant to define themselves.  There are many Christians who are defining themselves as against this or that, or as not this or that.  That is not how Jesus says we will be known though.  So, instead of feeling the need to define ourselves as not like them, or even against them, why don’t we try to define ourselves as Jesus instructed us, loving one another.

 

Fear Itself

Have you ever stopped to consider how much control over your life fear has?  Seriously, take some time and think about it right now if you have a few moments.  Think about all of the things you do and don’t do simply because of fear.  How long’s your list?  My guess is, it’s not long enough, I know that mine’s not.  Not because we need to fear more but because we aren’t aware of how much of our lives are controlled by fear.  Do you lock your doors at night?

Even as I am writing this my fear is making me want to hedge a little bit, to say, it’s okay and rational to lock your doors at night.  Seriously, even writing about fear makes other fears come out of me that I didn’t even realize I had.  There are any number of things that we are shackled to in life that keep us from becoming the person we were created to be.  For a long time, I had thought that fear was one of those things.  I’m starting to think that maybe fear isn’t something we are shackled to, but that fear is the shackles, no matter what we may be bound to, fear does the binding.

I guess that’s what FDR was talking about when he uttered the now famous phrase, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Because, in the end, fear is what drives us to do utterly terrifying things, fear is what convinces us to not do good things, fear is the thing which keeps us from being free to live as we were created to live.  In fact, even when we seek to overcome fear we are still allowing fear to control us.  We tend to believe the only way to overcome fear is to be courageous, to look fear in the eye and in a moment of absolute bravery not let our fears stop us.

I don’t find this to be all that helpful, because the fear is still there, only conquered by a moment of bravery, ready to return in a moment of weakness and take control of our lives again.  The scriptures are full of commandments about fear and most of them have to do with not being afraid.  I wish that they all said that but the scriptures are not always so clear.  Many of these commands are given to someone who is about to be sent by God.  The do not fear command is not saying be brave and overcome your fears, it is saying don’t be afraid at all, for this is the only way we will be able to go where God is sending us.

This is one of the most difficult steps of faith, though.  Do not be afraid requires more than momentary courage, or even an endless supply of bravery.  Do not be afraid requires complete faith.  Do not be afraid does not mean that nothing bad can ever happen to us.  Do not be afraid means that we trust that the final word is God’s and that all things can be redeemed.  Do not be afraid does not mean that we will be safe and protected no matter what.  Do not be afraid means accepting we are not meant to be safe and protected.

Do not be afraid is a process, letting go of our fears and replacing them with faith.  It requires an awareness of those fears, an acceptance of the possible outcomes if they don’t control us and a faith in the God who redeems, not only us from our sins but all things.

 

Letter to the Future Church

A new book has come out called “Letters to the Future Church.”  It is composed of letters from theologians and church leaders with encouragement and prophetic messages for the future church.  Seems like a neat idea so I thought I would give it a go.

To the Future Church,

I’m not sure but I’m guessing that it seems you have less power and influence than the Church in America once had, judging by the trends of the last couple of decades.  You may see this as disappointing, possibly something to be lamented, and many of my contemporaries would agree with you if you do.  Many Christians now believe that the nation and  the church are worse off because there are fewer laws that uphold and enforce Christianity, fewer in power who will help advance the Kingdom of God through legislation, and society in general is breaking away from the church.  Fewer people go to worship on Sunday mornings, preferring soccer games, yard work or simply sleeping in.  They wonder: How will justice be done; who will stop sin; won’t society just fall apart; how will be people be saved if the Church loses power and influence in our Nation?

If you are feeling the same way, or possibly even worse, then you may be worried about the wrong things.  Consider how God chose to send His Son, not as a King or an Emperor, or even a General or Great Philosopher.  God sent His Son to save us as an infant born into poverty.  He grew to be a carpenter and a teacher in the backwaters of Israel, not in the center of power in Rome.  When He was crucified only a few witnessed his death, and even most of those mocked Him.  His resurrection appearances were not to Caesar or even the Chief Priest, but to the poor beleaguered disciples and to some women.  Even among His disciples Jesus made himself a servant, not a ruler.  Remember that Jesus washed His disciples feet, telling them that if He, who is the greatest, would serve them they should also serve others.

The desire for power, influence, and prestige are desires of this world and live into the stories told by this world.  The idea that the best way to change things, the best way to answer all of those questions about justice, salvation, and the Kingdom  is through power and influence is the story told by those who have power and influence and want to keep it.  It has been the story told by the church for the past several decades.  It is not God’s story.  God’s story tells us the way to change things, to answer those questions, is through service, love, sacrifice, and relationships.

If you find yourselves in the position I would guess you do, recognize the blessing before you and live into God’s story of service, love, sacrifice, and relationships.  Live a story that shows the world’s story it is wrong, that power and influence changes those who seek it, so that they cannot truly use it to change the world.  Live a story that says Jesus’ way of service and humility really works, and that you truly believe in it.  If, on the other hand, the tide has turned and you find yourselves in positions of power and influence, then find the courage to relinquish it, so that you can live lives telling God’s story.

Blessing and Courage to you,

Ben

 

A Whole New World

As I sit at my desk today I am watching a 16 year old young lady being taught to drive by her grandfather. The excitement on her face as she got out of the passenger seat and ran around the front of the car was palpable, even from across the parking lot. This is a sort of right of passage in many parts of our society, receiving the learners permits, learning to drive and finally getting the license to drive on your own. As with any right of passage, first wisdom must be imparted, talents gained, and numerous hours of practice put in. The work is not done only by the learner, the young lady in this case, but also by those with the experience and wisdom to impart, the grandfather.

At some point after completing the right of passage, the young lady will receive that which makes her so excited, some modicum of freedom and possibility will open to her which was not previously available. She will be handed the keys to a car and she will be given the opportunity to use what she has learned, from the instruction and experience of her grandfather, and from the experience she has received in our parking lot. She will use this new talent to open up new possibilities and to live life in her own way. The experience and wisdom passed on to her by her grandfather will not be used in the same way he has used, but for something new and different, for it is her life that she is living, not his. That is what rights of passage are all about, preparing someone with the wisdom and experience of generations in order to help bring about new life.

All of this raises a question for me about the church, where are our rights of passage? I know, our right of passage, in a believers baptism church, is baptism, or confirmation in a church that baptizes infants. But, does this really do the same thing as a right of passage elsewhere in the world. It fits, in that we pass on knowledge and experience through pastor/confirmation class, but it seems lacking in the handing over the keys after we are done. Sure, those who have completed the class are welcomed as members and offered communion, but, that is doing the same thing with what they have been given as has always been done. Where is the freedom, possibility and opportunity that is supposed to come along with a right of passage? We, as in the Church, still have some learning to do when it comes to empowering believers for ministry.

 

Our Creative Potential and Shortsighted Stubborness

On the same day about a month ago the final Shuttle Mission was launched and the Debt Ceiling was reached. Simultaneously we were reminded of our seemingly limitless reach and our occasional refusal to put it to use. In many ways, this is the paradox of modern life, a simultaneous state of awe over our realized potential and our continued failures. We can reach the moon and the sun but we can’t seem to learn how to live together with people who are different. Why is it that for every moment of reaching space we seem to have one hundred moments of stubborn refusal to use our talents for creative purposes?

There are many reasons we don’t realize our potential, and most of them boil down to one of three things, underestimating our potential, overestimating our potential, or being indifferent to our potential. Taking them in reverse order, indifference is a great threat in a society which believes it has it made and things don’t need to get much better, as long as they don’t get worse. We have shelter, food, clothing and safety, plus the opportunity to gain more of all the above, why would we care too much about our potential.

For people who know they are talented overestimating our potential is a very real danger. When I played basketball as a child my dad was the coach. He would always brag that at the end of games he could pull me aside and tell me that he needed me to turn it on and I would. I had learned that I didn’t need my best all the time, I was good enough without it for most sitations and I could trust it to be there when I needed it. There is not much in life that requires fully realizing our potential, though, and it never gets used even though we know it is there.

While both of these can be dangerous they do not close off potential, just lower the odds that it will be realized. Underestimating potential, on the other hand, eliminates it altogether. When we understimate potential we say it can’t be done and we limit what we are capable of. The Good News isn’t just a story from two thousand years ago, it is that we are created with the potential to transcend all limits, even death. The Good News is that the stories of a world redeemed which seem impossible are possible, that God’s creation is crackling with that potential. The Good News opens up the possibilities before us, and reminds us that when we set ourselves to do something, even the impossible, we have the potential to reach the limitless heavens.