Remembering the Most Poor at Christmas

The biblical mandate clearly directs believers to demonstrate God’s love by serving, blessing and empowering people that have physical needs such as hunger, housing, medical care, etc.

But the holistic mandate of Jesus is equally clear about our calling to proclaim God’s love. The Good News was shouted by angels, shepherds and wise men two thousand years ago.

Mother Teresa once stated that the poorest of the poor are not in the streets of Calcutta, but in the suburbs of America.

Perhaps the most “poor” are not those lacking shelter or healthcare or adequate food or clean water or appropriate clothing.

But rather those who have not heard about the miracle in Bethlehem, and those who have heard but have not allowed Christ to be born in their hearts by faith.

Why is it that I hear little about families taking action to proclaim the Gospel to these “poor” during the Christmas season?

The Power of a Story

Everyone loves a good story.

I am on the way to a wedding in Sewanee, TN. Someday I will ask Lane, “So tell me your story. How did you and Bill fall in love…?” She will blush, smile widely as precious memories flood her mind, and then she will tell her love story. Powerful.

Part of my energy is invested in leadership coaching through Awake Consulting. Recently I asked a client and friend to write his story – “What were you like as a leader in the past, and how did you get to this point?” He had never connected the dots. This new perspective gave him and his team encouragement. The changes in his leadership style and effectiveness over the past 12 months are radical. He loved telling his story.

Men and women gather in a borrowed room, and someone begins with, “Hi. My name is Bob.” Within moments, people are sharing about their real and difficult struggles, as well as victories. In this confidential and compassionate circle, people struggling with addiction or struggling with an addict meet for accountability and encouragement. One reason this recovery model is so helpful is the power of storytelling.  

Over the past 25 years I have taken over 50 teams of volunteers into various cultures around the world in order to share and receive the love of Christ. Every person that has traveled with me has been asked to do things in preparation for the journey. But no preparation has been more important than the writing of their faith story. It is not easy to write briefly and in way that “works” in a setting far different than the witness’s home environment.

Storytelling is powerful in both directions. I am challenged and amazed as I carefully think through my own journey AND the listener catches a glimpse of how another human has walked this earthly journey. Hearing someone’s story is a blessed gift.

Prepare and tell your stories this week. Write, blog, record, whatever….

Ask someone about their story. Listen carefully, with gracious ears ready to learn from a fellow-traveler.

And then there is THE Story. Have you heard the story of God? How is your story a part of His Story?

Red means Go

There is a big gap between Easter and Christmas – 8 months. But in the liturgical calendar, today is Pentecost. You may know little or nothing about this celebration.

There are no Pentecost sales at the mall. There isn’t a marketing figure like a Santa or a big rabbit. No companies provide a paid holiday for Pentecost. Families don’t travel for miles around to gather and eat on this day.

The Church fathers established Pentecost as an annual time of reflection (along with Advent, Christmastide, Lent, Easter, etc.) in order that disciples would never forget the core tenets of the Faith. Their plan has had limited impact.

The biblical theme of Pentecost is generally Acts 2. The Spirit is poured out on the followers of Jesus and international visitors in Jerusalem that day – in keeping with His promise in Acts 1:8 and elsewhere. Many church leaders will use this Sunday to celebrate the third Person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit). Others will celebrate the diversity in their own congregations or in the global Body of Christ. Both of these are vital and important… but inadequate.

The liturgical color of Pentecost is RED, and in this case, red means GO.

I pray that today – and every day – we will remember that the Holy Spirit has entered our lives not for our own sakes but for the glory of God and the good of the world.

After Acts 2 the disciples were clearly more empowered and intimately connected by the Spirit. Great things began to happen in Jerusalem. But they did not initially move out to other areas (Judea, Samaria and the uttermost). Great worship, great teaching, great fellowship, great sharing of resources with each other, BUT no outward, cross cultural outreach.

Finally God used persecution to scatter the disciples and their witness. And eventually the wonderful people of God in Antioch caught the vision and began to strategically participate in God’s mission in keeping with Acts 1:8.

Outreach is a core tenet of our faith. It is not an extra-curricular option. Until and unless we dynamically engage in outreach to those beyond our own cultures, we will be short of biblical discipleship.

Not much of this emphasis in your church today? Write a kind note to the leaders. Volunteer to help create a celebration for 2012 that honors Christ and moves people out.  

Red means GO. Let’s elevate this core-discipleship challenge appropriately. Who knows what might happen.

11 Checkpoints for Disaster Response

When a person allows the Spirit of Jesus to enter his or her heart, a transformation begins. One of the fruit of this new life is an increased sensitivity to the suffering of others – similar to Jesus being moved with compassion (Mt. 14:14, 15:32, 20:34). As Christ followers, we have a new heart and new values. It is natural, therefore, when we feel compelled to take action in the face of pain and suffering.

This God-given attraction is sometimes confused (or even exploited) by the media and others with various motivations. People take action to help those affected by disasters for various reasons – not just because they are following Jesus. Would you allow this possibility? There should be a difference in the way Christians and the rest of the world respond to crises. 

I pray that the following guidelines help you lift high the light of God’s love in such a way that legitimate, underserved needs are met and Jesus Christ is glorified.

1. Identify your reasons for wanting to participate. Possible motivations include peer pressure, guilt, pride (bragging rights or good PR for your company), or in order to have a teaching point for your children, I am not judging any of those motivations other than pride. But if your primary motivation is to bring practical assistance that demonstrates God’s transforming love, celebrate this desire as evidence of God’s Spirit in your life.
2. See the big picture. The needs being highlight by the media today are not the only needs in the world. In fact, they might not even be the most critical needs. People in countless places suffer horribly throughout the year, but most never appear on our television screens.
3. Lift up Jesus. Give where non-Christians are not likely to give. People of various faiths and no faith will make donations to the obvious organizations – those highlighted by the media. But you are a Christian. You realize that there is spiritual suffering as well as physical. Consider giving donations to ministries (including the church in the affected area) that are holistically addressing the needs of people – soul and body.
4. Don’t make a hasty decision. A good steward puts in the time necessary to make informed decisions. Don’t be overly influenced by the media invitation by your favorite movie star or athlete. If you already have a relationship with a trustworthy ministry, ask them if they are involved in this crisis.
5. Bigger is not necessarily better.  Large agencies generally get all the media attention. Don’t overlook much smaller organizations that focus on a specific need.
6. Think years not hours. There are some immediate needs in every crisis, but the affected population will have complicated and various needs for weeks, months and years.
7. Think beyond finances. Consider non-financial ways God may call you to join him in responding to the crisis. Is there a way to get your company involved? Could you respond to the crisis by giving your time? This may not necessarily mean going to the scene of the crisis. Perhaps you could help mobilize your church.
8. Think of local connections. Consider connecting with people locally that are related to the particular geography where the crisis occurs. For example, if the disaster is in Japan, reach out to Japanese international students, restaurant workers or churches in your community.
9. Do no harm.  Some actions that are intended to help actually hurt. Unwise charity creates dependency. Aid without relationships can create bitterness and, in the case of Christian aid, resistance to the Gospel. Work with organizations that aid in a way that shows respect to recipients and includes a path for them to assume responsibility for their own lives and community as soon as possible.
10. Pray and act. No matter what else you do, pray. And pray more specifically than “God, bless those poor people…” Think of specific challenges your particular family would have if you were a resident of the affected area. Involve your children in this brainstorming… and then pray. Remember to pray especially for the Christian residents and Christian workers in the area.
11. Focus on eternity. Because of the fall of humankind (sin, Genesis 3), suffering and death will be a part of the human experience until the Lord of Life intervenes. We will all face death in one way or another. An eternal perspective does not lessen our concern for or response to the suffering others. However, this perspective reminds us that physical pain and death are not the greatest tragedies. For those who have responded in faith to the grace of Jesus Christ, a day of ultimate victory and healing is coming. Here is the ultimate tragedy. There are hundreds of millions of people who face the pain of life and the reality of death without any knowledge of the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

God is the First Responder. Our action is only a reaction to God’s invitation. 

If you want help in making this or other decisions related to strategic participation in the mission of God, please contact us.  FollowOne International. 

Race, Reconciliation and the Church

Some humble reflections on race and the Church from one in recovery – 

1. Because of poor biblical exposition, self-centeredness, fear and other factors, churches and religious organizations have often been the cause and/or encouragement of racism.
2. Effectiveness as a minister requires a commitment to reconciliation, equality, partnership and shared leadership.  These will be very unlikely unless racial healing has been specifically addressed.
3. Diversity is not the same thing as reconciliation.
4. People in areas populated by numerous races (diverse, instead of just two races and a clear majority/minority), may have a hard time understanding areas where race is such a factor – numerically, economically, historically and politically. The requirements of Christian love and holiness do not vary from place to place. However, the challenge of reconciliation is quite different in a small, rural town with two races and a history of racial tension as opposed to a metropolitan area with twenty races and no such history.  
5. Wise churches will create programs, policies and staffing patterns that foster reconciliation and equality.
6. Freedom from this sin, fear, demon and disease is ultimately found in Christ alone.

When this healing process began in my life I had no idea that I would ever be involved in missions and outreach. The process of racial reconciliation has been extremely important in my ability to effectively serve people in other cultures. Over the past 25 years I have had the privilege of serving in America and over 30 other countries. Whatever effectiveness I have had would have been greatly hindered, if not impossible, if God had not initiated the work of racial healing in my life – as part of sanctification, this process continues today.

Your Turn
Regardless of what race is dominant in your church or organization, what are some things it has done to promote racial equality and reconciliation?

What is the difference between an authentic action and tokenism? 

God help us all.

Part 3 of 3 in honor of MLK… and for the glory of God