I share this because as of recently I’ve understood why God “hardened” the heart of leaders in scripture.  I once questioned why God would someone to make the wrong choice?  Why would He cause someone to choice destruction over peace?  For me I imagined that Pharaoh became more stubborn, resisting God’s will.   But what really happened was much more profound than increased stubbornness.

There are a few Biblical accounts where the Hebrew word “Hazak” is used such as with Pharaoh (Exodus 14.4) and the Canaanite leadership (Joshua 11.20).  This word doesn’t mean harden, which implies increased stubbornness. It means bold, strong, strengthen.  So God actually moved in Pharaoh’s heart in such a way that he became exceeding bold, one might say foolishly bold and aggressive.  Same story during the conquest of the land of Israel under the leadership of Joshua, God “hardened” the hearts of the Canaanites so that they would be destroyed.  Not even one city made peace with the Israelites that day they became foolishly aggressive in opposing Isreal.

So you may be asking how being lead of the Spirit and God hardening one’s heart relate?  To begin it’s recognizing God’s sovereignty and willingness to exercise that sovereignty to accomplish His purpose.  Normally we view sovereignty as above or superior to all others, chief, greatest, supreme dominion or power, you get the point.  But because His sovereign He is complete and inter-connected.  God in every aspect of His Spirit is complete and connected to our life, so when God emboldens and strengthens one’s heart He is not removing the decision from them but giving them self-confidence.  So instead of hesitating to witness God before them, they heed to the false self-sufficiency (Mark 8.17-18).

God’s activities are hidden except to the most discerning, but we often are haphazard in our faith viewing God one dimensional, when He delicately guiding our world to accomplish His purpose (1 Cor 2.16).  Sometimes is easier to be “foolishly aggressive,” at least it was for Pharaoh, than purposeful in being submissive to God’s purpose.  I think Jesus had it right: Do His will(John 6.38), pray His way (Matt 6.9,10), and suffer for his name (Luke 22.42).  Because the end game is clear, only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 7.21) and the will of the Father is that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life (John 6.40).

May God not found need to “harden” your heart because you live in step with His Spirit.

Last night we watched “The Soloist” (with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr) a fascinating true story of a mentally ill, homeless man whose talent on the strings inspires an LA journalist.  Although I didn’t find the movie terrific, I kept thinking to myself that every Christians needs to watch this film.  We need to see how Downey Jr wanted to help Foxx in all the wrong ways or how sick our view of poverty and sickness has become. 

The big question that keeps running through my mind is how to heal people.  I mean how do we heal the sick, end poverty (or the poverty at arms reach), and actually do greater deeds than Christ (John 14.12).  This leads me to the issue of money and how churches use our finances.

I see tremendous opportunity for churches to impact our world through our use of finances.  But we first have to develop a biblical approach to finances.  I think it’s important we revisit the right way for money to be given, collected, or made use.  It’s not the point of this blog to squabble over tithing as a valid scriptural principle verse an Old Testament principle.   But what we can all agree is tithing/giving is not meant to support our organizational systems and building support.  That was the view and practice of the teachers of Christ day and one that Jesus did not share (Matt 23.23).

Tithing has a way of fostering a superstitious way of thinking: “If I give God this specific amount, I will have His blessing; if I don’t, then I won’t”.  However, giving is important and commanded by teachers who followed Christ (1 Corinthians).  But tithe thinking limits giving because it misses the real principle we find in Scripture: generosity.  If we follow the teaching of Jesus in Luke 14.33 most of us would give more than a tithe as a regular part of our Jesus-following life.

Imagine with me if we began moving away from limitations in tithing and embraced the realm of generosity.  Imagine the release of finances this would bring?  Also imagine these resources being concentrated into workers (sent ones into hostile environments or entrepreneurs of movements) and to meet the needs of the poor.  Instead of paying a mortgage or supporting staff in Christian welcoming environments, we put that money toward healing.  My point is this:  In the USA alone, over 72 billon dollars goes to religious institutions mostly for clergy salaries and buildings.  With that type of aid ready we wouldn’t have a healthcare debate in America:  Christians could easily volunteer to pay the bill and be responsible for healing in America.

This brings me back to “The Solosit” because the movie ends with Foxx not unchanged medically and mentally ill , but we learn that friendship does more for a person than medicine could.  And we realize that healing begins with love and friendship (Rom13.8).  Maybe I’m naïve to believe but when we can offer Jesus, generosity, and healing friendship without walls why would we want to be slaves to the lender and elevate some Christians above others?  I’m not condemning, I prefer to get the log out of my own eye and determine what I can do.  I simply want to suggest that if we can sustain a movement without buildings and unnecessary staff, and add a new level of generosity, we have tremendous potential. 

Tremendous Potential!

Something that is obvious about any wedding is that it’s mostly about the bride and some about the groom.  She does most of the work and He does most of the _____ (you fill in the blank).  On the big day the attendee will smile when they see the groom, but they will stand in respect when they see the bride.  She is beautiful, pure, and glowing; just what a bride should be.  When Jesus walked the earth there was a betrothal period during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding. It’s this imagery and symbolism of marriage that is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. These are those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal savior and have received eternal life. In the New Testament, Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Recently in our gatherings we have discussed Colossians – Christ is enough.  We have been reminded that Jesus is the Head of the Church, He is everything.  But personally I have been asking the question, “What is the Brides responsibility?”  Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age.  So our responsibility is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24).

Before I expound let me say I love the Church.  I think she is beautiful in spite of everything.  But no one should find her more beautiful than the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ).  Actually I think sometimes He is the only one that finds her stunning.  But over time I found we tried to make her more attractive.  I guess a little make-up can’t do too much harm, unless we try to make her more attractive for the wrong reasons. 

The point I want to make is that we can become so in grossed in making the church more attractive to people that we take away from make makes us glow – Jesus. When people hear the good news it should be about Jesus and not the church.  Jesus is our hope of salvation.  We exist as the church because He lives.  Simply put it’s more important we are attractive to Jesus.

Here is how I was taught to make disciples.  Once someone makes a decision to follow Christ you invite them to attend a discipleship class (these classes have different names but do the same thing).  The class instructs the new believer how to “be different.”  The problem is you don’t learn to be a disciple, you must live it.  Being a disciple and making disciples is about the going: not to church, but going as the church. As you live with people becoming disciples (this is called making disciples and it’s messy) you notice this band of people become much more than friends, they are your church.  I could say a lot more…but let’s stop here.

Because recently I have been discouraged, not at any one particular person or event, just false expectations I have created.  It’s hard to go through de-toxic of everything you’ve come to believe about the kingdom of God. My biggest down fall has been relationships.  I’d developed a “pulpit pastor” mentality about people over the last ten years.  Stand in the pulpit and tell them how to think, act, and respond to God – but at all cost guard myself from actually openness about my own life.  I feared rejection or worse lost disciples.  It’s hard to make disciples if you’re afraid of people.

Last week as I whined, Summer asked the big question:  Who are you discipling?  Who are you meeting with daily or weekly?  I had to confess no one regularly (sigh).  She really stuck it to me.

But as much as it hurt to answer – I respect her more than anyone.  She practices making disciples.  That is what is so attractive about her.  She surrounds her life with people becoming disciples.  Not viewing them as teacher/student, but as equals.  She is a true model of what Jesus called us to do: go and make disciples.

I have an amazing wife that not only challenges my life but has all my love.

This past weekend I attend a good friends wedding.  It was a beautiful wedding outdoors under the blue sky and like many weddings 1 Corinthians 13 was read highlighting love.

Like many people who follow the call of Christ to go and make disciples, there are days I want to “throw in the towel” and shout from the roof “Have it your way!”  Sounds unloving, right?  But it’s actually love for God and others that keeps me “going”.

I bring up this honest truth because the apostle who wrote these beautiful words of love to the Church of Corinth actually wanted to give up on them.  When we read Acts 18 we learn that Paul would go out every Sabbath to the meeting place and do his best to convince people about Jesus (18.1-4).  After his colleagues arrived, Paul went from part-time evangelist to full-time giving all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade people that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah (18.5).  But without immediate success, all Paul saw was how they argued contentiously and contradicted him at every turn.  So Paul had it with them and quiet, chalking it up to a bad job on his part.  You might say he said, “Have it your way!”  He decided his time better spent with other people who would respond (18.6).

Here is my confession: I’ve felt this way more than once.  That my efforts were in vain and thought to myself why keep trying?  But it’s what follows in this story of Paul and Corinth that keeps one going.

Paul went home.  He returned to where there was people like him: God-fearing friends.  But here is the catch Paul’s efforts weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the leader of the meeting place, put his trust in Jesus.  His entire family believed with him (18.7-8).  Actually in the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized (18.8).

One night God spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you.  No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you.  You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” And that was all Paul needed to stick it out in Corinth.  He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians (18.9-11)

I’ve never had a similar dream, but I find comfort in knowing God is with me and no one can truly hurt me.  That somehow, although unseen, many people are coming to God’s side in our city.  I too can stick it out and faithfully teach the Word of God in Austin.

I don’t know where you’re at, but no matter, God is with you.  There is no class of clergy and laity in the body of Christ, only disciples.  As a disciple you are called to go and make other disciples.  As you go (and you must keep it up), don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you.  No matter what happens, God is with you and no one can hurt you.  You have no idea how many people He has on His side in your city.  Stick with it Jesus follower and continue to faithfully teach the Word of God in word and action.

“We will, Lord, until you return!”

Why does God insist on the long road – the job you hate, consent physical pain, delay of immediate joy?  Didn’t Jesus get the memo – accept Him and life gets better: more money, better friends, nicer clothes, and any job you want.

Peter had a lot to say on this issue.  He said, “Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. (1 Peter 4.2)”

Ouch.  I think the part that says “…instead of being tyrannized by what you want,” hits the hardest.  Reminds me of the last LOST episode for the season where Ben asked Jacob, “What about me?” and Jacob responds “What about you!”  So often we assume because we are doing what Jesus expects or commands there is something in the works for us.  Our reward is Christ and no promise of friends, fame, or fortune. 

But this doesn’t mean God is absent.  When life gets really difficult, we can’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job (1 Peter 4.12).  You see if you find “life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it (1 Peter 4.19).”

Here is the conclusion I have come to – true freedom comes from pursuing what God wants and He wants us to care for His people with all diligence.  Not because you have to, but because you know that makes God happy.  Not calculating what you can get out it (salary), but acting out of spiritual impulse (God will provide my needs).  Not telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way (1 Peter 5.2-3).

I’ve come to the assumption that it’s unjust to ask people to live for Christ daily outside your sanctuary, if you sleep on the pews.  Actually, I think true Christianity comes from being the church without buildings and actually just living with people.  Maybe this is unorthodox but maybe the deeper truth of Christ is in getting our hands dirty and clothes frayed daily with the people we are sharing the Kingdom of God with?

Nonetheless, I’m content with who I am, and don’t want to put on self-importance.  God’s strong hand is on me; he’ll promote me at the right time. So I live carefree before God; he is most careful with me (1 Peter 5.6-7).

Disclaimer: I don’t really believe Christian = more, better, nicer, all-inclusive

During this recession I’ve seen a few car dealerships close along our main interstate.  One in particular the entire lot is covered with hefty weeds.  At first I responded by think they don’t belong there!  A weed is a plant in an undesired place.  Except as of late I’ve began to compare weeds to the church.

The message of the Kingdom of God, one in the opinion of the leaders of Jesus’ day, took root in undesired places. In Luke 13:18-19 Jesus actually compared the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed. Some think he was talking about the Kingdom of God starting very small, but over time it would grow to grand proportions.  However, the parable, as Jesus told it, carried a different message.  The mustard was so aggressive, it was considered to be unclean. One mustard plant could corrupt an entire garden. There were many restrictions on when and where mustard could be planted, if at all. Simply put, there is a good chance that the man planting the seed was doing something illegal. The mustard plant, both now and then, was often considered to be nothing more than a pesky weed.

Jesus’ message actually got him killed because it showed up where people didn’t expect it, nor wished it.  Like weeds the message of Jesus’ was unwanted for a number of reasons: it’s unattractive to the self righteous, crowded out or restricted religion, and survived in inadequate conditions but with adequate resources (the Father helped).  Some weeds are hazardous, but so is the message of the Kingdom of God.  Weeds cause irritation as does the message of the Cross (1 Cor 1.18) and normally spreads naturally (2 Thess 3:1-3).

So before I share my theory I want you to know I realize that weeds are not favored in scripture (Genesis 3:17-19).  What I am convinced the phrase, Kingdom of God, conveys the center of Jesus’ life and message.  But just like gardening or lawn care, participation is voluntary; the Kingdom of God, like weeds, is present, whether or not people recognize and accept it.

The main thrust of the kingdom is the spiritual transformation of individuals who make up the body of Christ. This ministry of Jesus continues through the Church.  However, the Kingdom of God in not the Church, yet the two have an inseparable relationship. The true Kingdom of God includes all who have believed, or will believe, in Christ as Savior from the Church’s inception until the end.

But I digress, what I believe is the Church should be as simple as the common weed.  The “weed” is not a weed when growing where it belongs or is wanted.  Jesus said he came to the sick.  He said that sin begins death.  If you’re dead, you’re not reproducing. 

Professor Richard C. Lewontin of Harvard University defines weeds as plants that create environmental conditions in which it cannot reproduce.  He takes the example of pine trees that crowd out sunlight such that its own offspring cannot grow.  So imagine the church as the weed thriving in environments that normally suffocate itself to spiritual death. 

I believe the church shares similar adaptations as weeds, allowing them to proliferate in disturbed environments whose soil or natural vegetation has been damaged.  Weeds evolve, adapt, and grow in human-disturbed areas.  Should not the local church do the same in the areas of our city and community?  Going where sinful man have disturbed life, adapting and growing in order to bring true life? 

See the church, like a weed, have a nature that often give them an advantage of quickly growing and reproducing.  This is why I’m convinced of the house church method, because it allows the church to be sustainable for many years or have short lifespans with multiple generations in the same area; however, contently spreading to where life is absent.

 ”Weed seeds are often collected and transported with crops after harvesting of grains, and so many weed species have moved out of their natural geographic locations and have spread around the world with humans.”  Okay, Bible thumpers don’t remind me that Jesus often spoke of separating the weeds from the harvest, I get it.  What I’m getting at is that weeds, like the church, move out of their areas and spread around the world through humans.

 Weeds thrive where human conversion has occurred.  Church thrives where human conversion (change, transformation, movement, exchange) will occur.  Humans are the vector (force or influence) of transport and the producer of disturbed environments, so weeds have an ideal association with humans (so does the church).

America is drifting away from religion according to a recent study by Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.  According to the American Religious Self-Identification Survey (ARIS) Christianity’s hold on many Americans is slipping, losing out not to other faiths but to “no faith.”  “Americans are slowly becoming less Christian…The challenge to Christianity does not come from other world religions or new religious movements, but rather from a rejection of all organized religions,” said the ARIS.

Catholics remained the largest religious group nationwide, thanks largely to immigration from Latin America into Texas and California.  But mainline Protestants lost the most ground dropping from 18.7% in 1990 to 13% today. The “no religion” group gained 20 million adults since 1990 and is the only group to have grown in every state.  Only 10% of that group explicitly identifies as atheist or agnostic. 

The survey is clear that adults are leaving denominational religions and not returning to church and claiming no religion, or going to nondenominational or evangelical churches, although they too have seen a decline.

The Northeast now surpasses the Pacific Northwest as the least religious part of the country.  And that is not the end.  For the first time, the ARIS 2008 survey included a question on belief about God, and the findings suggest some Americans may not share fully the theology of the groups with which they identify.

A little less than 70% believe “definitely in a personal God,” with 12% believing “in a higher power but no personal God.”  Some 2.3% say there is no God, while 10% either don’t know or don’t think there is a way to know.  So 30% or more people wouldn’t fit the definition of a disciple of Jesus. 

These numbers bring up a good question.  People normally remain with the faith they grow up with.  And now that a good fraction of the population is being raised outside the religious influence, what does it mean for religious institutions?  Can Christianity change it’s methods enough to reach those leaving the church and/or be positioned to reach the growing future generations who will be “no religion,” agnostic or atheist.

 The season of Lent involves Jesus’ death.  Beginning tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, we enter the Lent season.  Lent began as a time of preparation for baptismal candidates who would be baptized on Easter Sunday.  But since these baptismal candidates were part of a living community of faith (like Graceland), the entire community was called to preparation.  So, Lent, a season of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday, and culminates with Holy Week.

 Why would a Christ follower, who has no roots in Catholicism, practice Lent?  Because these season invite us to participate and move past the regular cycle of “day in and day out” and the week to week to engage a larger, historical and meaningful event.  Lent is a season of deep reflection that ends with a great celebration of Easter.  It incites in us the sacrifice Jesus made for us as we fast.  As we find quiet corners in our day to speak with God, we share the same silence as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Likewise, as Jesus stood between us and God we show justice toward others during Lent (as we should 365 days a year).

 Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them close to God, and often give time (or money) toward charitable purposes or organizations. Without doubt many misuse these seasons but even unbelievers sin of Fat Tuesday and make temporary sacrifice until Easter.  I believe God honors any desire, no matter the reason, that draws us toward Him rather than static or backward motion.

That is why I observe Lent.  I encourage you to do the same.