Archive for May, 2008

31
May

Everyone’s Sin

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Ethics and Faith

A few days a week I stay home with my daughter. I often find time while she naps to get serious things done, but sometimes I just rest and watch a movie. Yesterday I watched an interesting independent film called “For the Bible Tells Me So” which is about homosexuality in America and the view of Christians. It made me think about sin and how we define it. Oddly enough some has recently done a study on this excite issue.

Let’s begin by stating the most Americans believe in sin.

Specifically, 87% of Americans believe there are certain actions that are “almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective.” This is how sin was defined in a recent study by Ellison Research (a Christian research firm) of Phoenix Arizona, which sampled over a thousand American adults.

As we might expect, among those who regularly attend religious services, 94% believe in sin, yet among those who do not attend services, 80% still believe in sin. The difference is only slightly more evident depending on political persuasion. 94% of conservatives believe in sin, and 77% of liberals also believe in sin. Interesting the broad majority of liberals believe in the idea that some things are just morally wrong.

So, most of us believe in sin. But we cannot agree on specific behaviors and activities that can be defined as sinful. The following numbers tell the story.

The behaviors a majority of all Americans describe as sinful are:

  • Adultery 81%
  • Racism 74%
  • Using “hard” drugs such as cocaine, heroine, meth, LSD, etc. 65%
  • Not saying anything if a cashier gives you too much change back 63%
  • Having an abortion 56%
  • Homosexual activity or sex 52%
  • Not reporting some income on your tax returns 52%

A number of other behaviors are considered sinful by a significant portion of all Americans, although not a majority. These are:

  • Reading or watching pornography 50%
  • Gossip 47%
  • Swearing 46%
  • Sex before marriage 45%
  • Homosexual thoughts 44%
  • Sexual thoughts about someone you are not married to 43%
  • Doing things as a consumer that harm the environment 41%
  • Smoking marijuana 41%
  • Getting drunk 41%
  • Not taking proper care of your body 35%

Then there are behaviors that less than one-third of all Americans see as sinful:

  • Gambling 30%
  • Telling a “little white lie” to avoid hurting someone’s feelings 29%
  • Using tobacco 23%
  • Not attending church or religious worship services on a regular basis 18%
  • Playing the lottery 18%
  • Watching an R-rated movie 18%
  • Being significantly overweight 17%
  • Not giving 10% of your income to a church or charity 16%
  • Drinking any alcohol 14%
  • Working on Sunday/the Sabbath 14%
  • Spanking your child when he/she misbehaves 7%
  • Making a lot of money 4%
  • Dancing 4%

Of course if we take into consideration various religious, ethnic and political groups, or by gender, we would see some wide disparities. I would encourage you to look at the research yourself. I would like to spend my time asking, “How do we know what is and is not sin?”

Probably, the majority people draw on whatever moral or religious experience they have had in life - which defined sin for them. Those not “religious” usually draw on some moral or ethical code at which they have arrived through reason. Even those who claim not to believe in right and wrong have some kind of behavioral standard.

I remember as a child hearing preachers proudly point to their Bible and declare “This is our moral compass!” And I agree it should be - but this view has caused problems. First, we can’t agree entirely on what the Bible defines as sin. Plus, challenge a Christian about sin and we get downright nasty about it, resorting to badmouthing, shunning, beating each other because we’re questioned over what is sin. Second, the New Testament seems a bit vague on defining sin the way we would like. There is no single biblical passage that systematically lists all the behaviors that “annoy” God and all the behaviors that “keep him happy.” Just look at the list above — Smoking? Gambling? Racism? Dancing? Marijuana? Environment abuse? Making lots of money? None of this is specifically defined as sin in the New Testament or anywhere in the Bible.

Maybe we need to look at sin from a different perspective? It’s clear that God wants a relationship with us. Jesus provided a way by taking our sin - our bad behavior, past, present and future. In Romans 3:23-24, Paul does not bother with trivial arguments over what sin is and is not. He gives sin the broadest possible definition — anything short of God’s glory: “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are freely justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” For those who accept this offer, sin is no longer an issue. Now, in light of our relationship with God, and that fact that he is living in us, how do we behave? The way he leads us to. He will produce right, moral behavior in us (look at my previous post about the Which Comes First).

As Jesus leads us and transforms our consciences we’re not so concerned about lists, definitions, arguments and measurements of what is or is not sinful. But we should be concerned how our actions impact other people, about loving God, loving others and His creation in general. We should be concerned with Romans 14:23, “…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Why do we feel the need to argue what is “sin” or what is not? I assume so we can justify our ridiculous behavior? So we can continue to live self-destructive lifestyles? Why do we categorize other people’s actions as “sin”? So that we can criticize other people spiritually? So we feel better about our own standing with God by comparison? So that we can make sure that all sinners “get what’s coming to them” in this life? So that we can control the behavior of everyone around us to make a more comfortable (controlled) environment for ourselves?

How about grace? Doesn’t grace find beauty in everything? My entire life I’ve obsessed over sin - how do I stop, where is the beauty, has it been taken care of?  I think my problem (our problem) comes from wanting to fit into religion (whatever your religion) and less about making sure that God’s grace is our firm foundation.  Simply, living in Christ.  Learning how to live life in Christ.  ME (sinner) forgiven.

28
May

Starting From Scratch

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Church Plant

When I graduated from college I was recruited to move to Philly and help start a church, specifically the youth group.  They were just moving from a home group into a meeting location and had no families with youth.  The churches new location was just steps from where students 13-17 would hang out.  I had no idea how to start a church and no idea how to start a youth group.  “How do you start a youth group when a church has no youth?”  That was the questions I asked the youth pastor at James River and he said, “I don’t know?” 

Well, here I am again.  Next week my wife and I are starting a church from scratch.  We have refused to recruit Christians from local churches (but we’re open if they approach us).  However, we have spoken to every person we know who is not attending a church and hasn’t in over a year.  We want those who are unchristian, unchurched, or de-churched.  So next Friday we are hosting a social at our house and we will be asking these people their interest in a Spiritual Small Group.  A place they can explore God, connect with others, and hopefully accept Christ.  Summer and I are committed as Disciples of Christ to make new disciples who will in turn change their world.  I believe this is the beginning and it’s starting from scratch.  We are scared to death, but believe God is with us.  

Please pray for those who don’t know Christ who will join this journey, also pray God sends some deep believers to join us in leading and discipling new believers.  We know and looking for those people.  We are asking everyone we know and trust - pray God births the vision in others.  Thanks

23
May

HOW TO FEEL MISERABLE AS A CHURCH PLANTER

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Church Plant

I found this list on the web about artist, but as I read it - it sounded alot like church planters. Good Fun.

HOW TO FEEL MISERABLE AS A CHURCH PLANTER

(or, what not to do, underline any that currently apply)
  1. Constantly compare yourself to other church planters.
  2. Talk to your mother church about what you do and expect them to cheer you on.
  3. Base the success of your entire career on one church plant.
  4. Stick with what you know.
  5. Undervalue your expertise.
  6. Let money dictate what you do.
  7. Bow to public pressures.
  8. Only do ministry that your mother church would love.
  9. Do whatever the mother church/core team/attandees/donor/denomination asks.
  10. Set unachievable/overwhelming goals. To be accomplished by tomorrow.
20
May

For Those About to Read

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant

I love books.  I remember as a child my mother taking me and my sister to the local library to pick out the book of the week.  I spent most of my time looking at the pictures to determine which book I would read that week.  I love books and still do.

Recently, I’ve stepped up my reading because of the need for knowledge.  I love to gather information so I can lead well.  I love to read to know more about a subject.  I love to read because words are knowledge and knowledge is librating.

Here are two books I’ve read and currently reading. 

I just finished Tim Keel’s book last week.

I’m half done with Simple Church.  I recommend them both.

16
May

Austin Meets Mom

By Chris 4 Comments
Categories: Family

When two worlds collide strange things happen.  Colliding is what happen when the star of Austin (I love this city) and my mom met on 6thStreet.  A few weeks ago she was visiting and these pictures were taken with the most famous Austinite - Leslie.

For those not familiar with Austin and its culture - Leslie is sort of an Austin icon.  Leslie is a homeless cross-dresser!  Many consider him to be the epitome of the Keep Austin Weird campaign, as demonstrated by his two time run for mayor.  Leslie hangs out around 6th Street, this picture was taken around 6th and Trinity during the Pecan Street Festival.

I guess you wonder why I would post these pictures (besides embarrassing my mother)?  To illustrate how much Austin needs Jesus.  Also, to cause you to pray harder for our city.  We are loving the people like Jesus (and as you can see my mother) would - we want to turn their hearts toward Him. 

Please keep us in your pryers. 

11
May

Pentecost Sunday and Mother’s Day?

By Chris 2 Comments
Categories: Faith and Family

Today is both Pentecost Sunday and Mother’s Day, and I don’t think these two days have ever shared a weekend together?  Let me begin by saying how much I love my mother.  She is one tuff cookie who has agonized and regretted in life, but has raised and birthed two strong children. My sister and I are both believers and both value prayer and God’s leading because of her.  I love her dearly.

She also raised us in church and not any church a Pentecostal church(s).  When I was young we attended a Church of God in Memphis.  I remember seeing miracles as a child and thought speaking in tongues normal.  As a teenager we attended Assembly of God churches and I attended an A/G college after high school.  I credit my perspective of God to my mother’s deep faith.

At some point in everyone’s life you have to move away from your parent’s faith and into your own.  I made that transition in high school and more in college.  But it was after college that what happen on the Day of Pentecost became so much clearer.  I have a different outlook on Pentecost now.

First, let me say I believe in speaking in tongues.  I believe in the gifts of the Spirit and believe theu are for today.  No doubt.  But I don’t agree with the current state of the Pentecostal church.  I think many Pentecostal churches have taken the blessing of God and made it the object of their pursuit.  Let me use a story in 2 Kings 18 as an example of what has happened and what needs to happen.

We see in 2 Kings 18 where Israel (and now Judah too) has once again been in a cycle of obedience and disobedience to God, led by a revolving door of kings.  In 2 Kings we meet Hezekiah, a young man who seeks to use his authority to restore Israel to right relationship to God.  In order to do that, some housecleaning is in order.

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah [a] daughter of Zechariah.  He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.  He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called [b] Nehushtan. [c] )   2 Kings 18.1-4

In Isreal’s past God had instructed Moses to compose a bronze serpent and attach it to the end of his staff (Num 21.4-9).  This came in response to a plague of serpents that God sent as judgment on Israel’s rebellious complaining against God and Moses.  When they finally repent in the face of this serpentine judgment, it is the bronze serpent raised up that becomes the means of deliverance.  However, by the time of Hezekiah this bronze serpent has become more than a totem; it has become an idol that is being worshiped. So Hezekiah has it destroyed. Can you imagine destroying this symbol of God’s past salvation?  Yet his was necessary to give Israel the possibility of reengaging with God in the present, according to Hezekiah.

We are constantly faced with temptation to take the blessing of God and make it the object of our pursuit.  In the short term it is often easier to do this than to pursue the God who judges us.  But God is into reality, which makes the reason the evidence of the Holy Spirit so important.

I know all the reasons for speaking in tongues.  It’s evidence of the Holy Spirit (Act 2.4). It edifies the believers (1 Cor 14.4) and reminds us of the indwelling presence (John 14.16-17).  Speaking in tongues lines our prayers with His (Rom 8.26) and stimulates our faith (Jude 20).  But the most important reason I conclude is to empower us to be His witness (Acts 1.8).  I think this final reason, and most important, is what we should pursue as the Pentecostal church.  As leaders it’s important we balance between the “blessing” and the “mission.”

09
May

Do What With the Bible?

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Family

I’ve been wrestling recently about discipleship. I think this is the most important aspect of a church and one I’m sorry to say I’ve missed in my previous churches. I think a lot about what a disciple should look like in Austin in 2008. 2010. 2025? I believe discipleship starts by confessing Christ and Bible study plays a large role in their growth, but what role should Graceland play? Jesus said “go and makes disciples,” what does that mean in my context?

So I was reading this week and something a theologian said has me thinking and I don’t know my answer. I wonder if others could chime in and give their thoughts? In his book, Unleashing the Scripture: Freeing the Bible from Captivity to America, Stanley Hauerwas writes:

Most North American Christians assume that they have a right, if not an obligation, to read the Bible. I challenge that assumption. No task is more important than for the Church to take the Bible out of the hands of individual Christians in North America. North American Christians are trained to believe that they are capable of reading the Bible without spiritual and moral transformation. They read the Bible not as Christians, not as a people set apart, but as democratic citizens who think their “common sense” is sufficient to “understanding” the Scripture. They feel no need to stand under a truthful community to be told how to read. Instead they assume that they have all the “religious experience” necessary to know what the Bible is about.

Before all the comments come posting let me say I don’t know what to think. On one side I disagree, I value the Bible open and translated for my study. I credit my spiritual growth to reading scripture. I like the fact someone can challenge the truth I extract and offer their “opinion” on text. The other side I agree - the Bible isn’t open to democratic voting and “common sense.” Their most be a truth-bearing community to help our spiritual growth and moral transformation. Community is Accountability.

Discipleship:

What role should the Bible play in discipleship today (remember New Testament believers didn’t have a personal copy of the Torah…it was taught to them as boys)?

Who should help the new believer wrestle with scriptures that bring confusion (i.e. pluck out your eye, cut off your hand, etc)?

How much understanding should be left to “common sense” and “religious experience”?

Each person has their own story and experiences. I can’t expect them to look, read, walk, act like me. How do I disciple people to find themselves in Christ so they are Jesus in John Does skin?

08
May

The Lines Are Open

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Church Plant

So I’m not wearing the traditional black tux for this announcement but we are excited nonetheless.

Many of you have expressed interest in donating to Graceland. Although we are still in the approval process we are accepting donations by way of our local denominational leadership.

Our Austin Section of the Assemblies of God will be holding the contributions and helping us manage our account until we open our church checking account.

We are ready to receive any donations. Please send your contribution to:

Chris & Summer McCool

9909 Big Boggy Trail

Austin, TX  78747

Please write checks to Austin Section A/G and write in the memo “Graceland Church Austin”

Also, starting today we will have a page dedicated to this information. You can find it in the top right corner of this website under “About” and “Pictures”

07
May

I Drank Your Gas Pump

By Chris 2 Comments
Categories: Family

You probably recognize the title of this post - or if you replace “pump” with “milk shake” you should.  It’s from the movie “There Will Be Blood,” which is an American tale against the backdrop of the southern California oil boom of the late-19th century, it tells a story of greed and envy of biblical proportions. 

This morning I thought about this movie as I pumped my gas at the local Shell station.  I noticed as I pumped it was going slow or at least monetarily slow.  I noticed that my tank was filling up normal but the price was remaining low.  I looked closer and I was getting gas at .36 cent/gallon.  I asked others around me and they too were getting the same price - now aware they smiled with greed.  I guess the gas attendant forgot to put the extra three in the beginning (3.359 instead of .359).  So I filled my Xterra full (17 gallons) for $6.20. 

Here is the question I thought before I got in my truck, “Should I go tell them about their mistake?”  About two years ago when gas prices were sitting at $2.50/gallon I got gas for $1.50/gallon at a Citgo.  I went and told the attendant and he was shocked, wondered who else got gas that cheap, and questioned if he should charge me the difference (I didn’t let him). 

What was the right thing to do this morning?  I don’t know but by the time my neighbor got there the price was corrected.

03
May

The Techie Inside Me

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Family

Inside each man is the need for toys.  I know I shouldn’t force such a general label on a specific people group, and one so broad, but every guy I know loves big TVs, flashy music players, and what has become my death (this week) a trendy mobile phone. 

Yes, last week my wife (with the help of a dying old phone) helped me understand the need for a new phone.  We have ATT Wireless and were out of contract.  I liked the idea of walking away at anytime, but like the thought of a new toy more.  Of course Summer didn’t think twice and chose the Blackberry Curve (nice phone).  I wrestled thru the afternoon to decide on the Pantech Duo.  It looked very cool on the website and I didn’t know anyone with this phone (a plus, right guys?).  I hated the Pantech Duo!  I couldn’t hear anyone.  They could hear me fine, but I asked people to repeat themselves and that doesn’t fly with my wife (I think I naturally have a hearing problem - selective). 

So the Pantech Duo was returned and in its place I got the luxury AT&T Tilt, the most feature-packed smart device / PDA available in the United States.  Very nice phone and too much under the hood - I will never use everything this phone can do.  It’s touch screen and requires a “stick” to do must actions.  So I’m thinking of returning it too.  I’m giving it a few days (it’s a toy!).

My last choice will be Blackberry Pearl.  I would love to get the 8120 because it has WiFi which is awesome in Austin.  But that sucker is $200 and I’m working a budget and the last two have been refurbished.  I want something to help organize my life.  The next few years will be crazy by starting a church and raising a toddler (another reason for a more durable phone).

 Does anyone have any thoughts?  Suggestions?