"The only way to truly transform culture is to create culture." -Andy Couch
I have had two significant impacts this past week that led me to think about culture, the gospel, and our impact as believers in Jesus. The first is reading the memoir of hip-hop artist Lecrae. His book was gritty, challenging, transparent, and thought provoking. The second was a Vision Tour of the city of Denver through the North American Mission Board in search of a place to begin a new mission opportunity. While on this tour we met several church planters and heard their stories of mission for the gospel. Both the book and the trip impacted me separately, but also worked in tandem to reveal a fresh look at cultural engagement as believers.
The Book
Lecrae has been a culture changer since his career as a hip-hop artist began. He revolutionized the Christian hip-hop world and made incredible impact by packing theology driven lyrics to music that started to sound more like hip-hop heard on the radio. Eventually, Lecrae found himself in a place caught between two world, two cultures- the "Christian" and the "secular". The result was a gospel-centered artist who began to take the message to the world. As he has put it before, he started making music for the church, now he is making music from the church. His sound and lyrics have changed, but the message is still clear. He explains that the change happened when he started engaging the world differently. He states in his book, "...being a Christian is not just about being saved from something but also being saved to something. Following Jesus doesn't just save us from a less fulfilling life or eternal separation from God. It also saves us to a life that can radically transform the world around us through the power of God." This quote was the key to opening my mind a little more. I've known what he says for a long time, but something rang even more true now.
The Trip
While on the Vision Tour we met pastors who were trying desperately to engage a culture that cared very little for ideas of church, gospel, salvation, etc. Over all, the people they were engaging were in the city for fun, escape, and fulfillment most which could be found in the activities the city offers. However, the one thing that was looked for and could not be fully found was community. Each pastor stated the majority of people they come across would leave Denver after a few years because they were lonely. They may know people, but rarely on a deeper level. So, these pastors began to create community, true biblical community, built on love, care, sacrifice, and connection. One particular story stuck with me. The pastor made a connection with a person in the community and this person and his wife were expecting their first child. After a relationship was built and the couple was nearing their delivery date the pastor asked if he could get some people to bring them meals to help out. The man was astounded that someone would even do that. He even said I've never experienced something like that before! Even more incredible was the church (just a handful of people) committed to providing three meals a week for three months!! In many churches I've been a part of, we are lucky to get a full week filled.
What does all this mean?
For some of you this may mean little. You may be looking for the next controversial blog about something that can cause a stir. Or you may already know what I am describing and perhaps are living it out. For most, I bet we haven't thought much about our culture and how the gospel engages it. Well, we have likely thought about telling the most people we can about Jesus (which is right and good) or we complain about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket(weird analogy thinking about hell as a place of fire; that hand basket would get burned up...). That's just it though! We do a great job complaining about culture, being absorbed into the culture, or copying it. What happens if we actually create it! Christians were some of the first to care for orphans, widows, and the ill. We were once a people at the forefront of building orphanages, hospitals, places of care for the outcast. Christians were once at the forefront of art; depicting the gospel through music, paintings, sculptures, literature, etc. Some are still doing this, but I fear we have stopped being culture makers and are culture complainers, copiers, or wrapped up in the culture. We are not to be separated from culture, we are not to create just a sub-culture, we are to be culture makers! We should be creating a culture that is dynamic in love, justice, grace, service, fellowship, meekness, and ultimately Christ. Practically, I think this dynamic culture making happens when families adopt or foster children (even the hard ones) as they show the value of life is more than just a baby in the womb. We see it when we live financially at a particular means and give away the rest to those who need it. Dynamic culture making happens when we are willing to tell our children they can go to the farthest places of the world, even dangerous places, to reach others for Christ.
The biggest issue of creating a new culture is starting. For most of us, it will involve getting out of our comfort zones, it will involve sacrifice, it will involve the unknown. However, it is our calls as believers to be culture makers as we are called into the mission of Christ to reconcile all things to Him. (2 Cor. 5:17-21) We have to start somewhere, the question is where are you going to start?
Friday, May 27, 2016
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Love the Assembly, Hate the Sinner?
So, I'm not the best at blogging regularly, but when God wakes me up in the morning with ideas and thoughts I tend to listen and write.
Perhaps part of my thoughts come from various books I have been reading and my consistent time in Scripture as God speaks. In the Christ Centered Exposition Commentary on 1 Timothy, the author reveals that "Out of the seven billion people in the world, only one-third claim to be Christian. That leaves us with 4.7 billion people in the world today who are on a road that leads to an eternal hell. And two billion of those 4.7 billion unbelievers have no access to the gospel." (111) I suppose this reality stuck with me because I was left to ask why. The commentary was focused on how affluence can negatively affect our view of sharing Christ. I, however, wonder if we actually love our church community (The Assembly) more than we do the unbeliever(The Sinner)?
Thom Rainer, who has authored many books and created a program to help churches revitalize states that once a church becomes inwardly focused it loses it's mission. His blog post states the following,
"But churches can lose their outward focus and become preoccupied with the perceived needs and desires of the members. The dollars spent and the time expended can quickly become focused on the demands of those inside the congregation. When that takes place the church has become inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission congregation."
Of course and inward focus is vital to the flourishing of the church too, but how does too much inward focus happen and what are the results?
Program trumps Spirit
Evangelistic efforts of a church must be programed in many ways. Churches must focus their efforts in a particular mission field- community, state, nation, and world- that would require planning and effort of program. In addition, learning ways to share the gospel with people that follow a particular program carries great benefit as well. However, I fear in our culture that loves to compartmentalize we miss the fact that we are called to be on mission at all times. Our Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 reveals that Jesus tells His disciples to "go". The idea is better understood, "as you go" meaning continuously practicing. Have we in the church programmed so well, that we have taught our people that you can only "go" when you go on a particular mission trip or "outreach" event of the church? In addition to program we must teach that we develop a spirit, a mindset, of "as you go." Each and every opportunity in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhoods, in the store, etc. should be embraced with a spirit of reaching others for Christ.
We've Been Hurt By People
All of us experience hurt by other people both believer's and non-believers in Jesus, but I wonder if that leads to a hardened heart against those who don't know Jesus. I once knew a teenager who experienced hurt from a person at his school. He knew that the other student was not a believer and was destined for a place separated from God eternally. Because of the hurt received he decided in his mind not to share the gospel with the student because the other student, "deserved to go to hell."Whoa!! Thankfully, by God's grace, the Spirit convicted this young man and I was able to walk him through that. But, can we indirectly do the same as we either get hurt from others or when we attempt to share the gospel and are ridiculed we step back? We may step back in fear, but maybe secretly we simply write someone off and just accept they will go to hell. Even in rejection we should still pray for those who hurt us, we are called to love those who persecute us for the means of that person possibly coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We've Grown Spiritually Fat
Inward focused churches and people love discipleship and fellowship. I know, cause I can get that way. Discipleship and fellowship in many ways are for the church to encourage and lift up one another in Christ, but in their full purpose is to actually bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Acts 2:42-47 reveals church life of the inward focus. Prior to these verse Peter has preached and reached out to people through his message. At the end of the chapter, the apostles and disciples have devoted themselves to one another in discipleship, fellowship, and service. It was sacrificial, counter-cultural, and full of life. The result, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Discipleship was intended to train believers for the purpose of reaching out. Fellowship and service in the church should be something so different from the rest of the culture it is reaching out. In fact, we should be finding ways to invite "outsiders" into our fellowship to experience the life and Spirit of Christ in our relationships with one another. The acts/processes of discipleship, fellowship, and service were never an end in of themselves. They are a means to reach in and out. Instead, many in the American church simply consume in these acts/processes and continue to grow spiritually fat never exercising their faith in Jesus to reach others.
We've Starved Ourselves Spiritually
As a believer we are in a continual state of growth (2 Pet. 3:18; Eph. 3:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Tim. 4:15; Eph. 2:10) or at least we should be. However, when we fail to grow in Christ (which is an oxymoron) it effects how we view others, our world, the mission of the church, and our ability to share Christ. Study in the Word, theology, perhaps sociology, our culture, and from Christian leaders all aid in our growth. The Word is first and foremost in the growth of the believer and the others simply help. If we are not learning what Jesus has called us to, how to put it into practice, and take the next steps in growth we starve spiritually. The result is a shallow believer (maybe even not a believer at all) who has no understanding of how to share Christ. Even more, we can starve ourselves by not practicing our faith too. No matter where we are in our growth-infantile or mature- we are called to practice it because it brings more growth too. When we are challenged by someone, we should study and search for answers to give. When we are challenged we should love the other person no matter how their challenged was presented and how much we disagree. Thus, we grow instead of staying starved, plus we fulfill the commission we were given.
You may be asking, how does all this really equal hating someone? Several years ago a video surfaced of the comedian and atheist Penn Gillette who was touched by someone giving him a Bible. His words resonate still today as he equates a lack of sharing to hatred toward another. The fact remains that we show the greatest act of love by introducing them to the One who can save them, bring them new life, and change their heart. Even more, to believe that someone is destined to a place that separates them from God eternally, a place that is for punishment of sin, then our hearts must be inclined to share. Please note I said share, not save. Salvation belongs to Jesus as He works in the person's heart, but our call is to share the good news.
Perhaps part of my thoughts come from various books I have been reading and my consistent time in Scripture as God speaks. In the Christ Centered Exposition Commentary on 1 Timothy, the author reveals that "Out of the seven billion people in the world, only one-third claim to be Christian. That leaves us with 4.7 billion people in the world today who are on a road that leads to an eternal hell. And two billion of those 4.7 billion unbelievers have no access to the gospel." (111) I suppose this reality stuck with me because I was left to ask why. The commentary was focused on how affluence can negatively affect our view of sharing Christ. I, however, wonder if we actually love our church community (The Assembly) more than we do the unbeliever(The Sinner)?
Thom Rainer, who has authored many books and created a program to help churches revitalize states that once a church becomes inwardly focused it loses it's mission. His blog post states the following,
"But churches can lose their outward focus and become preoccupied with the perceived needs and desires of the members. The dollars spent and the time expended can quickly become focused on the demands of those inside the congregation. When that takes place the church has become inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission congregation."
Of course and inward focus is vital to the flourishing of the church too, but how does too much inward focus happen and what are the results?
Program trumps Spirit
Evangelistic efforts of a church must be programed in many ways. Churches must focus their efforts in a particular mission field- community, state, nation, and world- that would require planning and effort of program. In addition, learning ways to share the gospel with people that follow a particular program carries great benefit as well. However, I fear in our culture that loves to compartmentalize we miss the fact that we are called to be on mission at all times. Our Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 reveals that Jesus tells His disciples to "go". The idea is better understood, "as you go" meaning continuously practicing. Have we in the church programmed so well, that we have taught our people that you can only "go" when you go on a particular mission trip or "outreach" event of the church? In addition to program we must teach that we develop a spirit, a mindset, of "as you go." Each and every opportunity in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhoods, in the store, etc. should be embraced with a spirit of reaching others for Christ.
We've Been Hurt By People
All of us experience hurt by other people both believer's and non-believers in Jesus, but I wonder if that leads to a hardened heart against those who don't know Jesus. I once knew a teenager who experienced hurt from a person at his school. He knew that the other student was not a believer and was destined for a place separated from God eternally. Because of the hurt received he decided in his mind not to share the gospel with the student because the other student, "deserved to go to hell."Whoa!! Thankfully, by God's grace, the Spirit convicted this young man and I was able to walk him through that. But, can we indirectly do the same as we either get hurt from others or when we attempt to share the gospel and are ridiculed we step back? We may step back in fear, but maybe secretly we simply write someone off and just accept they will go to hell. Even in rejection we should still pray for those who hurt us, we are called to love those who persecute us for the means of that person possibly coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We've Grown Spiritually Fat
Inward focused churches and people love discipleship and fellowship. I know, cause I can get that way. Discipleship and fellowship in many ways are for the church to encourage and lift up one another in Christ, but in their full purpose is to actually bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Acts 2:42-47 reveals church life of the inward focus. Prior to these verse Peter has preached and reached out to people through his message. At the end of the chapter, the apostles and disciples have devoted themselves to one another in discipleship, fellowship, and service. It was sacrificial, counter-cultural, and full of life. The result, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Discipleship was intended to train believers for the purpose of reaching out. Fellowship and service in the church should be something so different from the rest of the culture it is reaching out. In fact, we should be finding ways to invite "outsiders" into our fellowship to experience the life and Spirit of Christ in our relationships with one another. The acts/processes of discipleship, fellowship, and service were never an end in of themselves. They are a means to reach in and out. Instead, many in the American church simply consume in these acts/processes and continue to grow spiritually fat never exercising their faith in Jesus to reach others.
We've Starved Ourselves Spiritually
As a believer we are in a continual state of growth (2 Pet. 3:18; Eph. 3:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Tim. 4:15; Eph. 2:10) or at least we should be. However, when we fail to grow in Christ (which is an oxymoron) it effects how we view others, our world, the mission of the church, and our ability to share Christ. Study in the Word, theology, perhaps sociology, our culture, and from Christian leaders all aid in our growth. The Word is first and foremost in the growth of the believer and the others simply help. If we are not learning what Jesus has called us to, how to put it into practice, and take the next steps in growth we starve spiritually. The result is a shallow believer (maybe even not a believer at all) who has no understanding of how to share Christ. Even more, we can starve ourselves by not practicing our faith too. No matter where we are in our growth-infantile or mature- we are called to practice it because it brings more growth too. When we are challenged by someone, we should study and search for answers to give. When we are challenged we should love the other person no matter how their challenged was presented and how much we disagree. Thus, we grow instead of staying starved, plus we fulfill the commission we were given.
You may be asking, how does all this really equal hating someone? Several years ago a video surfaced of the comedian and atheist Penn Gillette who was touched by someone giving him a Bible. His words resonate still today as he equates a lack of sharing to hatred toward another. The fact remains that we show the greatest act of love by introducing them to the One who can save them, bring them new life, and change their heart. Even more, to believe that someone is destined to a place that separates them from God eternally, a place that is for punishment of sin, then our hearts must be inclined to share. Please note I said share, not save. Salvation belongs to Jesus as He works in the person's heart, but our call is to share the good news.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)