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

Race, Reconciliation and Real Life

Some thoughts on race and life from one in recovery -

1. Racial reconciliation involves more than political correctness. Not every relationship, office or church that appears to be reconciled is in fact reconciled. Healing comes one person at a time. It is not a corporate event.
2. Diversity is not the same thing as reconciliation.
3. I’m not sure how I can be held guilty or accountable for the sins of white racist predecessors. That’s not the primary issue. I have my own sins and tendencies to deal with.
4. I am not the one who decides what is racist or not. It doesn’t matter what I think. It is what the other person thinks – the offended party.
5. Some people claim they have never owned a racist thought or action. Even if that is true, they have probably been the beneficiary of racism (especially white folks like me).
6. Racism is not just an issue in the southern part of the United States; nor is it just a black and white conflict. It occurs across the nation and around the world because it is rooted in basic human nature: pride, fear and the depravity of the soul. Any demographic or race that has power can be lured into racism.
7. Intentional participation in transforming process of racial reconciliation is foundational for those seeking to become grace-filled disciples of Jesus Christ. I wish I had started earlier than age 30.
8. Healing requires honesty, courage, intentionality and a long term commitment.
9. Reading and prayer are important in the process, but there is no substitute for face-to-face involvement with people in other cultures and races.
10. Since most racism is heavily influenced by heritage, a commitment to reconciliation calls for careful parenting, including worship, education and recreational decisions.
11. Freedom from this sin, fear and disease – and from the pain caused by it – is found in Christ alone.

What steps can you take to deal with the obvious, latent or smothered reality of racism in your life? What steps can you take to communicate racial equality and an appreciation for the sacrifices of people like Martin Luther King Jr.?

Possible Action Steps

• Visit the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
• Stop at one of the many sites in the South that are marked in memory of those involved in civil rights – Atlanta, Birmingham and elsewhere.
• Read a book on the history of civil rights or racial reconciliation. Or what about a book a year?
• Watch movies about race and civil rights struggles.
• Honestly consider your own family background and heritage – not to create guilt but to be authentic and intentional.
• When making educational choices for your children, consider reconciliation issues as well as the quality of education in various settings.
• Have you ever asked people of a different race to have a meal in your home?
• Seek out a friend of a different race and ask them to mentor you on the topic of race and reconciliation.
• Regardless of how prestigious it might be, why would you be a part of a club or organization that has racist practices or policies (yes, I’m including country clubs)?
• It is one thing to never use humor or language that might be considered racist. It is another thing to smirk or even laugh when someone else resorts to this. Would Jesus really smirk? What might he/we do instead?
• Confess your sins and ask Liberator Jesus to set you free.

Share with the blog-world other things you have done in this area…?

Part 2 of 3

Happy Birthday… Really

Part of our family tradition on Christmas Day involves singing Happy Birthday to You and blowing out a candle on a birthday cake. We do this first thing in the morning. Before the explosion of presents, noise and food, we add one more reminder of the day’s significance.

At best, our cake and song may help us remember the birth of Jesus. But is that all there is to celebrating this special birthday? What about the life of Jesus? A friend and student of mine at Asbury Seminary wrote these insightful words in 2000:

In celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus, it has made me think about how we celebrate birthdays in general.  At Christmas we always seem to focus on Christ’s birth, and of course there is good reason.  But usually when we celebrate birthdays of those close to us we don’t go back and remember the person’s birth (unless we’re their parent!).  When I think about celebrating someone’s birthday, I usually am celebrating the fact that this person is who they are, that they are alive and that they are in my life.  I may celebrate what has been going on in our shared life since their last birthday.  I may not think about this consciously, but that is what I am doing when I celebrate a birthday with someone.  I think that is probably what most of us do. 

Why not do the same thing with Jesus on his birthday? Why not celebrate what has been going on in our shared life with him since his last birthday? How have I grown this past year because he walked the earth, and now shares his life with me? (Melynne Rust)

Yes, Jesus was born – humbling himself to take on the pain and limitations of being “human” (Phil 2:6-8). On Saturday, you and I celebrated The Birth.

Today would be a good time to contemplate and celebrate your relationship with the Birthday Boy. To use Melynne’s concept -

• Celebrate who Jesus is.
• Celebrate that he is alive and that we are in his eternal family.
• Contemplate how your life has been impacted and transformed by Jesus since his last birthday celebration.

Remember, Jesus didn’t come to just bless and transform you and me. He came to bless and transform the world for the greater glory of God… and he has chosen to involve us in this mission. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday.