Upside Down Christmas

I've been reading "Upsidedown Kingdom" by Don Kraybill recently.  In it he talks about the social world of Jesus time being like a checker board.  People placed themselves in boxes of Pharisee, Wealthy, Jew, Gentile, Samaritan, Man, Woman, etc.  These boxes were important.  You only associated with those in boxes like your own.  But Jesus comes and begins stepping all over the boxes.  He associates with the lowly despised Samaritan woman at the well, the greedy manipulative tax collector and the uneducated fishermen.  Today our society is based on similar boxes.  Those that are college educated or trade school.  Those that have money and those that don't.  Those that are like us and those that aren't.

As we get close to Christmas and hear the same Christmas story read again, it occurs to me that Jesus started stepping across boxes from the very beginning.  A teen, unmarried mother, dirty shepherds, foreign Gentile wisemen.  From the beginning Jesus is reaching out and doing things in a way that are upside down.

So what am I doing this Christmas to celebrate in way that is upside down, that reflects the first Christmas.  How am I showing love, hope, peace and joy to the world around me and specifically to those whose boxes are farthest from my own?  How will I be like Jesus and step out of my comfortable box and into one less comfortable?  How will I live an upside down Christmas?

Together

The early church had to come together and rely on one another for their survival.  They were a persecuted group mostly of outcasts.  They needed to come together.  The same was true of the early Brethren.  Amidst a culture of war over religion, the Brethren’s view of peace and simplicity put them at odds with the ruling religious and political leaders.  They came together to live and work and challenge each other spiritually.  During the month of December and into January our Youth will be talking about how we work at growing together.  The Holy Spirit has blessed each of us with gifts and talents to use for his glory.  When we use these gifts together we see the Body of Christ more fully realized. 

Gemeindschaft

Often translated simply as community, this is how the early Brethren chose to see themselves.  They lived together, worked together, ate together, worshipped together and read the Bible together.  But this wasn't a Brethren invention.  The Bible itself is written to communities of people meant to be read in community and practiced in community.  Consider Romans 12:3-8 that talks about us being the Body of Christ each with our own gifts that are used to form one body.  Philippians 1:27 instructs us to contend as one.  Later Philippians 2:1-5 instructs us to share love and purpose and to put each other first.  Acts 2 is the vision realized as the early church shared everything in common.  Life, possessions, love of Christ.  In fact the early church chose to see themselves as ekklesia and koinonia.  Ekklesia was a community of people proclaiming a new lord and new kingdom.  Koinonia is often translated as "fellowship."  Over time the church became more individualized.  The Brethren chose to return to the idea of community.  This often seems like a strange concept in a culture drenched in individualism.  In fact individualism is often glorified. Being self sufficient, doing it on your own, "I can do it myself."  But Jesus never intended for us to do it ourselves.  More and more we see people yearning to be part of community.  Consider the rise of social network sites in the last few years.  Millions of people connecting in virtual communities.  But as Shane Hipps puts it they are virtual, but they are not community.  Community is a place where people come and share their hopes and dreams, the struggles and brokenness.  They help one another grow spiritually, but they also help each other in real, concrete ways as well.  And so we as Brethren seek to live life together and pursue God.  We seek to live in peace and to share Christ's peace with the world.  We seek to put Christ above all else and to help the poor and outcast by living a simple life.  And we seek to understand the Bible and be disciples of Christ together as a community.  As one Gemeindschaft.

Go Fish

Recorded in the three synoptic Gospels is the story of Jesus calling the first disciples from their careers as fishermen to come and be "fishers of men."

Jesus calls these men who have been rejected from the educational system to be the people to take the Gospel around the world.  In the strict sense of the term they are evangelists, proclaiming the evangelion to the world.  Unfortunately the term "evangelist" has been co-opted by culture and by poor theology.

When we hear this word it brings to mind images of people yelling messages of hell and handing out pieces of paper telling us we're going to hell.  The message is often filled with condemnation and hate.  Or else, at best, we think of people whose sole purpose is to get us to pray that prayer and say those words that will get us to heaven.  If we properly walk through the 10 step process we get a believer in Christ.

I'm not sure what any of this has to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to proclaim freedom from oppression spiritually and physically.  He came to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven where things are radically different.  He proclaimed this message in love.  He never forced anything.  Jesus told us to go and make disciples.  There's a difference between "believer" and "disciple".  A believer intellectually agrees with something.  A disciples agrees and follows through with action.  Jesus calls us to make disciples.

This Sunday I'll be talking more about the calling to those fishermen and Christ's calling to us to "Go and be fishers of men."

Is He serious?

This past weekend I had the privilege of presiding over my brother, Aaron, and his wife, Angela's, wedding.  It was an honor to be a part of their beautiful ceremony.  It will be a great memory for me too because it was the first wedding I've performed.

All that to say I was at my parents' church this past Sunday where my dad is the senior pastor (so this is life a little outside the Grove now).  He preached on a section of Scripture from John 6 where Jesus has just told his disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood.  Many of the disciples can't take this teaching and turn away.  Jesus doesn't stop them from leaving, but, instead, gives them a choice.  The main point of the message is what do we do with these hard teachings of Jesus, and there are many.  If we take Jesus seriously and believe that we are to put his teachings into practice, what does that look like?

I believe whole heartedly that we are to take the teachings of Jesus literally.  It has implications for our spiritual life, but more than that.  First of all I think the idea that part of life is spiritual and part is, well, not spiritual is a modern concept not a biblical one.  For Jesus, every part of who he was was spiritual.  Unfortunately we tend to turn everything into talk about our "spiritual life".  When we see the teachings about taking up your cross we talk about our cross being a sickness or relationship struggle or something else.  John Howard Yoder points out that the cross was something Jesus willingly chose and was the result of his moral stand against the powers and authorities in his world.  It was not something that was a surprise.  Taking Jesus seriously means living in radical obedience to Christ.  Radical obedience to Christ means that sometimes the powers and authorities of this age may persecute you and you may end up dead.

I'm also beginning more and more to think that I also need to take the Bible seriously when it says I am to live as a stranger and alien.  That my life as a literal citizen of the kingdom of God is to be literally different from those who are citizens of the kingdom of (fill in any country).  I could be wrong about all of this, but I am finding that Jesus was a revolutionary who told us to make disciples who follow and obey him.  He practiced radical love.  And I am learning what it means to take Jesus literally and seriously.

Thanks Dad!
Dad's sermon

"More Than Meets the Eye"

I'm back from the Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference which was in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I went with 19 senior high youth and 5 other advisors including my wife.  I'm not sure what my expectations were going into the conference.  Now that I'm back and have had a week or so to process, it really was a great week.  The speakers were very good.  I especially liked Shane Claiborne, Dennis Webb and Jarrod McKenna.  The worship was good too.

The best part of the whole time was getting to know our youth even more.  One day we focused on "Brokenness" and the next on "Grace".  With the combination of these two ideas working on us over two days it gave our group a chance to deal with issues in our own lives.  And what was great was being able to do so surrounded by people who loved and cared about you.

I felt so blessed by the opportunity to go with this group of youth and advisors.  Thanks to those who made this trip possible!

Watch for God

Last week was our churches Vacation Bible School.  If you're unfamiliar with VBS it's a place where kids come each evening for a week for 2 hours of learning about the Bible through stories, songs, crafts, games and, of course, snack.

We do something called "God Sightings".  Everyone was given a bracelet  that says, "Watch for God" on it.  After a week, I'm still wearing mine.  I must confess that I need it to remind me to be constantly watch for God.  I've been much more aware of God working around me.  For instance, I met a guy at our church last week.  His car had broken down and he was waiting for a friend.  I offered to give him a ride to where he needed to go.  Now this isn't a great story of car ride evangelism, of people pouring out their souls.  I simply gave the guy a ride.  Not far, maybe 10-15 minutes.  But it was good to help someone who needed it.  Not to convert him (I have no idea of what his faith life is like or if he even identifies with a particular faith.)  My goal was simply to help him out.  And I believe what I've done for the least, I've done for Him.

There have been a lot more examples of God showing up.  And when I think about it he's actually always there.  So I'll continue to wear my bracelet and make it a part of my life to be watching for God.  I encourage you to do the same.  He's always there.  In the big things and in the small things if we'll just take the time to look.

Youth Rally - "Invitation to Jump"

May 15-16

Midway Church of the Brethren

Youth Rally

Sunday Morning

John 4

The Woman at the Well is greatly impacted by the love shown her by Jesus. She goes back to her town and tells them about a wonderful man who knows everything about her. Skeptics and unbelievers question the validity of what she says. Her response is not to turn to logical argument or presentation of facts, and not to condemn them as sinful unbelievers. Her words are simply, “Come and see.” She invites them to come and see the giver of life. She invites them to see for themselves. Because faith is something we invite people to, not threaten them with. We need to invite people to come and see the power of a resurrected Christ. If all people had to see was our life, would they believe Jesus has risen from the dead? Is our life and example of new life? Do we defend or invite?

I’ve heard faith in Jesus compared to a trampoline that we jump on. I can give you a logical explanation of why jumping on a trampoline is good for you. It’s exercise that keeps you in shape. It’s fun to be creative while jumping on the trampoline. It’s fun with friends. But perhaps the best way to convince you that a trampoline is fun it to invite you to join me on one and experience it for yourself.

Who would you invite to come and experience faith?

Who would you invite to come and jump?

Youth Rally - "No Plan B"

May 15-16

Midway Church of the Brethren

Youth Rally

"No Plan B"

John 4

Jesus had all kinds of people as his followers. He had a liberal tax collector and conservative, militaristic zealot. And in John he has a woman who has been married multiple times, who has been used and abused. She’s an outcast even among the Samaritans. Jesus uses anyone and everyone to reach our world. Uneducated fishermen, foreign outcast women, tax collectors, doctors, former persecutors of Christians. And no plan B. We are all called to make a difference in the world around us and be an example of the good news to all people.

The woman had lots of junk in her life. Jesus knew everything. In fact he told her he knew everything. But he didn’t pass judgement on her. He showed her love and gave her worth. Jesus had every reason to not talk to this woman. He was a Jewish Rabbi. She was a Samaritan woman sleeping around. But because he showed her love she went and shared with her village. She’s not perfect, in fact she’s sinful and carries around all of this baggage. But it’s through her that this town first hears about Jesus.

What "problems" in your own life keep you from sharing faith?

Who are the people around you God has called you to love?

Youth Rally - "Fan Into Flame"

May 15-16

Midway Church of the Brethren

Youth Rally

Saturday Night

2 Timothy 1:3-7

Whether we grew up in the church or are new to the church we have been influenced by someone else’s faith. Their lives and the way they lived out their faith somehow made a difference in our lives. (2 Tim. 1) We have to take the faith and make it our own. In other words it’s not enough for us to rely on someone else’s relationship with Jesus; we need to have our own relationship with Jesus. Too often we rely on someone else doing all of the thinking, praying, worshipping, and serving.

In John 4 there’s a story about a Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at a well in the middle of the day. She’s been raised on a Samaritan upbringing and way of believing. When she meets Jesus some of the ways of believing change (where and when and how to worship). But this faith becomes a part of who she is and she can’t help but go and share it with those around her.

Perhaps you have been baptized or accepted Jesus as Savior, but this is not the end of a faith journey. It’s only the beginning. Growing in faith takes a lifetime. Paul even wrote that he had not taken hold of the final product of faith yet. He said he was always striving to grow and learn what it means to follow Christ.

Who is someone in your life who has been an example of living out faith?

What about their faith has been attractive to you?

How have you made that a part of your own life?

No National Day of Prayer?

Over the last few days I've seen this story in quite a few online formats. Apparently there's rumor that National Day of Prayer was going to be cancelled by the President. I check around at snopes.com, which is an online rumor fact checking website. As it turns out no such plan exists, yet the rumor persists. But this isn't really my concern. Rumor get spread all of the time unfortunately. My concern is the outrage.

What's so special about the National Day of Prayer that so many people would be outraged? I think those that are concerned about this are so out of a deep and heartfelt concern about our nation, the world and for people following Christ. But I think that this day in many ways represents that Christians in America like their faith to be simple and above all easy. Hopefully we as Christians aren't waiting for this one day a year to pray. Prayer is something we are called to do without ceasing.

I met a woman this week who does not hope for a National Day of Prayer. She is from Nigeria where Christians are facing intense persecution. Her church's meeting place was destroyed. Her fellow Christians in Nigeria have been put to the sword in the last 2 years. Somehow I don't think a National Day of Prayer is on the agenda for Nigeria, and yet her faith and that of other Christians in Nigeria is amazing. They are killed for their faith. Christianity in Nigeria is not easy.

In the story of Daniel in the Bible he not only has his Day of Prayer taken away, a new type of National Day(s) of Prayer is instituted. Now he is only allowed to pray to the king. And yet Daniel goes to his room and prays to God as he has always done. What does he get for doing this? The Lions' Den.

And still we are concerned about our National Day of Prayer. What if one day it's not a rumor? What if our day of prayer is taken away? And even more, what if Christianity itself becomes illegal in the United States? What will we do then? Will we falter? Will we say, "It's just too hard to follow Christ now"? Or will we be firm in our faith knowing that the pain and loss here is only momentary but what is coming will last forever?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not about his master." So check the facts, but also know that if some day our Day of Prayer is taken, we will continue to pray, and to follow Christ even if it's not easy.

Come and See

I've been thinking a lot about the woman at the well recently. You can read the story in John 4. But what has stuck with me recently is when the woman goes and shares with the others from the village. She goes and tells them what has just happened. When they aren't sure if she's telling the truth, the woman responds, "Come and see." In the evangelical community we often stress sharing our faith with others. Unfortunately this has too often turned into a debate about faith, or judgmental condemnation. The woman doesn't provide an elaborate proof of the faith. She doesn't beat up those in the community with condemnation for their skepticism. Instead she invites them to come and see for themselves who Jesus is.

I think we need to be more inviting. There's a time and a place for rationally defending the faith. There's a time for calling brothers and sisters to accountability. But if we want the world to see what following Christ looks like we need to invite them to come and see what he's doing in the world and show the world how it makes a difference in our own lives.

Connect and Grow

In Sunday School, Bible study, and on Sunday night Rap we've been talking about connecting with others and growing in our relationship with God. Here's an opportunity to do both. Easter is in roughly 2 weeks. That's 14 days. Read John chapter 12-21 in the next 2 weeks. That's 10 chapters in 14 days. John is a story of Christ's Passion for humanity from beginning to end. But we'll focus on Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem through his resurrection. That's how we'll grow. We'll connect with one another by commenting on this blog. Leave a comment on what your learning so that others can grow too from what you're learning. Here are a few additional resources to help you:

www.biblegateway.com and www.youversion.com