On having non-Christian friends and making a difference in the world

Posted by in missional on Aug 10th, 2005 | 2 comments

A Baptist deacon asked his pastor to go with him to invite a friend/co-worker to an upcoming Easter service. The pastor, of course, accepted the invitation immediately. The pastor met the deacon at the church at the appointed time. They left in the deacon’s truck and headed to their appointment.

As they engaged in conversation about their favorite mutual subject of football, the pastor noticed that the deacon was headed down a street that was known primarily for it’s night life. No, not night life as in bats or raccoons or even the opera. Night life, as in bars and strip joints. The pastor asked where they were going to meet the invitee. The deacon named the bar. The deacon then asked if the pastor wanted to turn around and go back to the church. The pastor, being the rebel he was and remembering how Jesus mingled with all kinds of people, told the deacon to drive on to the appointment.

The appointment was kept by the invitee/friend/co-worker only because the deacon knew that his friend could always be found at this bar, on this day of the week, having a beer and shooting a game of pool. The deacon pulled into the parking lot of the bar and parked. The pastor looked around to see if any members were driving by and got out knowing this is what Jesus would have done.

The deacon and pastor walked into the bar and made small talk. Being “good” Baptists, they ordered two Pepsi’s and got in line on the invitee/friend/co-worker’s table. The deacon’s friend was, admittedly, taken back by having his Christian friend come into “his world”. And when the deacon’s friend asked who the friend was he had with him, he was taken back even more. The deacon and the pastor got beat like a drum at the pool table but they made a positive impact on the non-Christians in the bar that night. The invitee/friend/co-worker didn’t attend the Easter service, but he was closer to listening to God’s message of forgiveness more than ever before.

The pastor never told his church members he went to the bar. He didn’t want the deacon to get in trouble.
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Growing up in the Christian subculture, I was taught a form of bigotry. It was a bigotry targeted at non-Christians. Kind of strange, don’t you think? In the very same house, I was taught to respect people of other ethnicities and cultures. Even though we were from the South, the “n” word was verboten in our home and rightly so. Being the son of a pastor, I was raised in a home that place a high view on international missions. The result of that was a personal desire on my part to learn and investigate other cultures. The culture of North Africa deeply intrigues me to this day.

The bigotry, of sorts, against non-Christians in my earlier years was a genuine attempt of my parents to keep me from running with the wrong crowd. After all, Socrates did say that “birds of a feather flock together.” There is a thread of wisdom to be embraced here, no doubt. But when I began to read the Bible more intensely in my latter 20′s, I came across a number of passages that completely blew apart my worldview of non-Christians . No longer could I say, “They just need God.” I had to say, “I need to be their friend so they can see Jesus in me.” (It also meant I needed live a more authentic Christian life.) Christ hung out with the disciples for sure. He also spent most of his social life in the presence of people that the religious people thought were off limits…white collar criminals, prostitutes, and those with socially unacceptable diseases to name a few.

The following passage of Scripture should challenge every Christian that reads this devotional. Especially if their view is that Christians should only have other Christians as friends.

So buckle up all you Christians, we’re going for a ride…this devotional might make you a bit queasy.

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (1Corinthianss 5:9-10, NIV; emphasis mine).

As Christians, we can’t be isolationists. Secluding ourselves from those that are not yet Christians, to paraphrase Paul, would mean that we would have to pack up and move to Mars or something. Over my many years of being in the Christian subculture, I have heard people say in arrogance or ignorance that they had nothing other than Christian friends. The arrogant wear it as a badge of honor. The ignorant probably would have non-Christian friends but they’ve either been sucked into the legalistic Christian subculture or they simply haven’t thought that much about it. The reason for this blog entry/devotional is to jar some and nudge whoever is left.

So how do you have non-Christian friends without being influenced to the point of indulging in the things that cause them and you pain and misery? How do you make a difference in the world without compromising the spirituality that’s transformed your life? Do what Jesus did. He had a core of God-followers that he was around the most. When he spent time with those who weren’t yet God-followers, it was always after he had spent a lot of time talking to the Heavenly Father in prayer. Talking to God a lot also prepared Jesus for the criticism he would receive from the Pharisees, i.e. religious jerks. (On a very encouraging note to those that attend The Journey Church, you don’t have to worry too much about Pharisees in our faith community.)

If you’re a follower of Christ and you lack non-Christian friends, get some. It’s the only way to make a difference in the world for God. Have Christian friends, but be a friend to those who aren’t Christ followers yet. Don’t take my word for it. Take Jesus’ word for it:

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:9-13, NIV).

It’s time we all made some new friends, isn’t it?

Have a great day

The big flashlight: a modern day parable

Posted by in spirituality on Aug 9th, 2005 | 0 comments

It was a dark and stormy night. (Nice beginning, huh?) The weatherman had warned of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. The hail woke us up. Then it got still and quiet. Then the wind picked up again. That meant it was time to get in the ‘frady hole (Okie phrase for storm cellar). We had to use our hall bathtub as our storm cellar. But that wasn’t the real problem. The problem was, the power was out. It was pitch black except for the flashes of lightning that intermittently gave just enough light to get to a spot and be stuck until the next flash of lightning. I didn’t have to worry about that because I had the big flashlight in my bedroom. The other flashlights had weak batteries. I knew that because I could hear Dad screaming something to the effect that I had better put fresh batteries in his flashlight after I go frog gigging next time or it would be my hide. I was thinking to myself he should have listened to the weather before he went to bed. After all, the weatherman said it was going to storm…bad. The more I thought, the worse things got all the way around.

It didn’t help matters that Dad stubbed his toe on his way to the kitchen to find some matches and a candle. Now he needed the light so he could find me and kick me into next week. All the time I couldn’t figure out what the panic was about. I couldn’t hear the freight train sound of the tornado yet. Besides, I had the big flashlight with me. In fact, I was just getting out of bed to find it for Dad.

Now there was another problem. I couldn’t find the big flashlight. I couldn’t find the only flashlight in the house that had a good battery in it. Brilliant. I needed to find the only good flashlight in the house fast because things were quiet in the kitchen. That meant Dad was getting close to having the light necessary to…well, you know.

Found it. It was under my laundry. Not in the laundry basket, just under my laundry. Under the “clean enough to wear again” pile next to my bed. I clicked the button on the big red flashlight with the good battery, and it lit up my room. I turned around to take Dad the flashlight and saw him standing in the doorway. I anticipated the inevitable implementation of Proverbs 23:13. As I handed the light over to my Dad, he greeted me with words that I completely did not expect.

He took the good flashlight from me and said, “Son, you have to keep the big flashlight where anyone can get to it when it storms. It puts everyone at risk when you keep it to yourself. Now take this candle and go get some blankets out of the closet and get in the tub in the hall bathroom. I’ll go get your mother………What in the world were you thinkin’ anyway?”

I was thinking I was glad I didn’t get kicked into next week. I was thinking I was selfish to keep the only good flashlight for myself. I was thinking Dad knew that feeling guilty about putting others at risk would be worse than his boot in my backside.
…………………………………

Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all (Matthew 5:15, NLT).

Even in the most modern of translations, Matthew 5:15 takes some investigation to understand the truth within the passage. Let’s put the passage in modern day terms. “Don’t turn your flashlight on and stick it in the laundry basket. Instead, keep it out where everyone gets use out of it.” In other words, if we keep the light that Jesus Christ has given to us to ourselves, it deprives those who don’t have a relationship with him from knowing him at all. Their eternal safety is at risk when we selfishly keep it to ourselves. If you and I are going to make a difference in the world, we have to put the light of Christ in an obvious place. A place where it can benefit everyone.

Heavenly Father, please help us remember that the light of your love is for everyone. May we never keep it to ourselves. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

Have a great day.

On being Johnny Storm

Posted by in spirituality on Aug 8th, 2005 | 1 comment

In the summer blockbuster movie Fantastic Four, Johnny Storm takes a leap of faith from a skyscraper and then screams, “Flame on!” He takes off in a blaze of glory and defeats the heat seeking missile intended to kill him. He is a changed person. He has embraced the incredible power created within him as the result of an encounter with force far greater than himself. He is able to do things no one, not even Johnny Storm, thought possible. Amazingly, he begins to understand his new found abilities aren’t for his personal glory but for the better good of humanity. He moves from self-centeredness to serving others.

If you’re a follower of Christ, your story should turn out a lot like the Marvel comic character Johnny Storm. Since you’ve been reborn and have become a new creation, you’ve been given capabilites far greater than your own. In order for you to realize all that God has for you, it will take a leap of faith on your part.
The gifts you’ve been given of eternal life and the power of prayer aren’t yours to keep. Instead they’ve been given to you to benefit others. God has re-created us so we can make a difference in a world that is sick and living in darkness.

You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see (Matthew 5:14, NLT).

The leap of faith you and I have to take isn’t that difficult. When Jesus speaks about his purpose and plan for us in Matthew 5:14, he’s telling us that he will put us in a position where our light can be seen…like a city on a mountain. He’s also saying that our light isn’t there just for our benefit, it’s there for others to find their way to God…through us. We’re a light that should draw others into the community of God.

Letting your light shine in the darkness of the world is actually easy. That’s because letting your light shine is more about being than doing. Jesus says that his followers are the light of the world, we don’t have to manufacture anything. Being in a healthy relationship with him results in being a light. Jesus puts us in a place where we can be seen, in a community of other lights, so others benefit and can see their way out of their personal darkness. That’s easy enough. God’s grace not only makes us a light but puts us in a place where that light can be seen.

More on letting your light shine tomorrow.

Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all (Matthew 5:15, NLT).

Have a great day.

Big God

Posted by in spirituality on Aug 3rd, 2005 | 0 comments

Forgiveness is a big word when it refers to God. Especially the word used for forgiveness in the Old Testament. OT for all of you newbies. We’re talking the first thirty-nine books of the Bible.

The word that’s used in the OT to describe God’s forgiveness toward us is literally translated abundant forgiveness. That’s not just plain vanilla forgiveness here. Not a “no problem” or a “it’s all good” kind of forgiveness. Think about the word abundant. It means plentiful or profusion. In other words, an ample supply of lavish expenditure. It just keeps getting bigger. Amazing. That’s a lot of forgiveness. That’s a Big God. Let’s talk about the last half of that translation. The word forgiveness means to give up resentment. When God forgives, he lets go “a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury.”

So what’s that say about God and his ability to forgive? Even though God is displeased with our sin he chooses to lavishly expend his love on us. In other words, you can’t begin to tap his forgiveness. He is more than willing to give up any feeling of displeasure with us and his ability to forgive is endless.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21, NIV; emphasis mine)

For those reading this that are followers of Christ: Take some time and thank God for his abundant forgiveness. If you meditate on that passage long enough, you won’t be able to do anything but bust out in thankfulness.

For anyone reading this that hasn’t started a relationship with God: God’s forgiveness is bigger than…well, you name it. His abundant forgiveness is there for the taking. Ask him to forgive you and wait for him to pour his abundant forgiveness into your soul.

He’s a Big God. Very Big God.

Have a great day.

Thinking beyond forgiveness

Posted by in spirituality on Aug 2nd, 2005 | 1 comment

Forgiveness isn’t easy for a lot of people. Read the following real life situations and think beyond forgiveness. It will help you forgive the big stuff and the little things.

“I can’t believe they call screened me.”

Forgive them. Maybe they have something big going on in their life right now. As a matter of fact, you may not be the most important person in their life at this second. Or they could be very busy. There’s a possiblitiy you could be getting on their last nerve and they don’t want to talk to you right now. On the other hand, maybe there’s a relationship issue that needs to be resolved. You may need to ask them to forgive you.

“That jerk just flipped me off!”

You didn’t do anything. You’re just sitting there minding your own business. The person that used their middle finger to tell you you’re Number One has bigger issues than not getting his/her way in traffic. Forgive them. It’s clear they’re leaning toward their Darth side. Ask God to bring something or someone into their life to make it better. You say, “Yeah, right”. I say just try it. You’ll be amazed what it will do for your attitude.

“I’ll never be able to forgive them for what they did.”

A fireman accidentally dropped their overcoat on the road after they finished a run. My Mom swerved to miss it, lost control of her car, and ran head-on into a conversion van. She died immediately. Did the fireman make a mistake? Yes. But would being angry at him for the rest of my life bring back my Mom? No. The circumstances were completely beyond my control. Forgiving the fireman was the only logical solution. I had to forgive the fireman for something he did that was totally out of my control. It wasn’t just the right thing to do, it gave me peace in a difficult time.

We can’t control how other people react to life. When their adverse reaction to life affects us, we have to forgive them. We can learn about how to forgive when we understand where forgiveness comes from. Forgiveness began with God. God, in his perfect wisdom and knowledge knew that humanity was going to make mistakes…plenty of them. God decided to forgive humanity and give humanity a chance to ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness is God’s gift to us. He forgives us when we use our free will in ways that damage our relationship with him and with others. He could control us. Even though he’s God and he has every right to control us, he chooses differently. God shows his love for us by not controlling us. He gave us free will so that we can choose to love him in return. So what do free will, love, and forgiveness have in common?

If God controlled us, that wouldn’t be love. If God didn’t forgive us when we exercise our free will, that wouldn’t be love either. So God forgives. Jesus Christ showed us what it meant to forgive, even from a human perspective. Sure, he was God and he could have simply given the word and rescued himself. But Jesus’ mission wasn’t to impose himself as God on humanity. His mission as God was to forgive humanity for the wrong done to Himself and to humanity. Another facet of Jesus’ mission was to show that humanity had to be a part of God’s mission. He showed us we should forgive others for things we don’t have control over.

We can’t control other people’s life situations. We can’t control traffic. We can’t control other people’s oversights. You can’t control the fact that I sent this daily devotional out so late.

We can control how we react to life.

Have a great day.

p.s. Please forgive me for the late devotional!

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