Think.Act.Believe.
Reflections on making the world more like Heaven & making people feel as though they have been in the presence of Jesus.
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Character counts in leadership. It’s possible to have all of the right experience and still lack the character qualities to be an effective leader. One can be close to other effective leaders, possibly even on a great leadership team and still not pick up the skills and qualities that leaders need to take the reins during times of crisis. I’m talking about Judas. Today, the Wednesday of the Passion Week, marks a day when nothing much happened. Every other day of the week was packed with action; confrontations, miracles, and teaching that amazed the huge crowds. But on Wednesday everyone laid low. Jesus and his team were tired from the hectic pace of the first three days of the week. They were also resting up for the celebrations at the end of the week, or so they thought. Nothing much happened, except… …one disciple slipped out of Bethany and made the 2 or 3 mile walk back into Jerusalem. Once there he arranged a meeting with a group of people whom Jesus, had just the day before called snakes, scorpions, wretches, blind fools, and robbers. To make matters worst, he told the most self-righteous men in town to get in line behind prostitutes and tax collectors if they hoped be a part of God’s Kingdom. In what may be the worst case of poor judgment in world history, Judas surmised that this was a group with whom he could work. Judas struck a deal. For the equivalent of about $3,500 he agreed to help them find Jesus when he was away from the crowds who were amazed at his teaching and wondering if might be the answer to their prayers for liberation from the Romans. Judas had been there when Jesus walked on the water. He picked up the leftover crusts of bread after one or two miraculous feedings. And just a few months earlier he had watched in amazement as Lazarus stumbled out of the tomb still wrapped in burial clothes. Judas is proof that being around Jesus isn’t the same as becoming one with Jesus. That recognizing him as a pretty good guy isn’t the same as recognizing him as the one true King. And worst of all for Judas, he proved that recognizing ones mistakes isn’t the same as repenting from them. After Jesus was sentenced early on Friday Judas wanted out of the deal, but apparently he still wasn’t willing to let Jesus change his heart. Judas wasn’t just unfit for leadership. He was unfit for citizenship in God’s Kingdom. This is a week for self-assessment. Where do we fit in the story? With whom do we identify? Will we be like Judas and decide that Jesus is not for us? Or, will we be like many in the crowds who take a wait and see approach, putting off a decision about Christ for a later day? My suggestion. Let’s take our cue from a thief. Two of those crucified were in Paradise by the end of the day, Jesus and the thief who was willing to recognize his sin and seek God’s forgiveness. One is not fit for leadership in God’s Kingdom if he or she is following someone down the wrong path. Want to find your way into God’s kingdom? Follow Jesus. At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week. Join us for Easter...10:30, this Sunday.
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The story of Jesus is the best story ever. The Passion Week is it's most dramatic chapter. It's a story of extremes. Extreme love countered by extreme hate. Extreme rejection countered by extreme forgiveness. Entry on a donkey. Exit under a cross. Welcomed as King. Led out of town as a convict. There are some lessons for us in this amazing story. Sometimes life isn't fair, but God is still in control. Sometimes friends will desert of betray us, but God is still by our side. Sometimes it looks as if there is no way out, but God always makes a way. Sometimes evil appears to have won, but with God the story isn't over. And finally, sometimes our behavior mocks Jesus, but when there is a spirit of belief and repentance he forgives. This is one of the most important weeks in the year, a week for each of us to come to grips with the identity of Jesus. What is our role in the story? Will we mock him ... or will we worship him? Will we seek a light load ... or will we carry his cross? Jesus doesn't just want to be our friend. He didn't come so that we could have a nice day. Jesus came as King. A holy King who executes justice and punishes evil. A benevolent King who forgives the brokenhearted. A kind King who cares for the poor, who looks out for the vulnerable. And most of all ... a welcoming King who opens the door to his Kingdom and invites us in. At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.
'It's the season of political intrigue. Guessing which candidate will win this or say that.
It's a good time to step and consider that Jesus teaches us to pray that his kingdom will come quickly, that God will do things his way, and that his plan will be accomplished as though it were unfolding in Heaven itself. He also tells us to keep our prayers short and our words simple because he already knows what we need. God knows where America fits in his plan. He knows what we need to get there. He will have his way. Perhaps the worst thing that could happen would be getting what we deserve. But God in his grace usually doesn't give us what we deserve. He gives us something better. In other words, "No worries." There will be ups and downs, but for those following Jesus the path leads to beautiful kingdom where all things are new, where evil never happens, and where we get to hang out with nice people forever. Our future is in the hands of Jesus and he is a good, good King. Pray. Vote. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. Give to God what is God's. Then pray some more so that our leaders can help us live quiet and peaceful lives. Do that for awhile. Enter eternity with Jesus. It's that simple. No Worries. "I don't lament the fact that Christians are concerned about border security, or that they feel Trump will fix it. I lament it when I don't also hear us talking about the need to love and respect immigrant families. I don't sense the Christian values of gentleness, patience, compassion, and forgiveness in some of their chants. God tells us to welcome the immigrant. I'd like to hear us talking about how we honor this command. What would we want policy to look if our families lived south of our border? That's the standard Jesus set."  I’m writing this blog in response to a discussion that occurred on my Facebook page this weekend. This post is about the interplay between Trump’s candidacy and immigration reform, an issue I care about deeply.
In my Facebook post I my lamented the fact that at Saturday’s rally in Dayton, when Trump mentioned his intent to build the wall (you know which one), and when the crowd immediately began chanting “Build it. Build It,” Trump’s first reaction was to thank evangelicals for their support. I mentioned that I could not imagine Jesus joining in the chant and if that’s so, neither should we. I stand by these comments, but not for the reasons you many think. First, allow me to address the elephant in the, well, elephant. Let me comment on what is happening in the Republican Party. Trump excites people. Those who like him like him a lot and the same is true for those who dislike him. This isn’t just a phenomenon occurring outside the church. Christianity Today has noted that we can’t let this issue divide us within the church. We need to allow each other to go through a process of selecting the candidate whom he or she feels is best suited to fill the office. Some friends, and good Christians, have come to the conclusion that Trump is that man. Most who have done so admire his business savvy and feel that country needs that right now. Others trust him to fix the things that are broken in our immigration system. Bottom line, those who do not like Trump shouldn't judge those who come to the conclusion that he is the best available option this fall. Those not supporting Trump, need to resist the urge to judge those who are. The same is true for any other candidate. Doing so, in the wrong spirit, is sinful. Other people joined the Facebook conversation because they thought that I meant that good Christians could not support Trump’s wall. As an immigration advocate my position on this issue will surprise you. I think securing the border is a first, and necessary step to fixing all the other things that are broken. My opposition to the wall is not an indication that I don’t appreciate the need for national security. I don’t like the idea of a wall because I think it is the most expensive way to secure our border, and I think it sends the wrong message to our neighbors in Mexico. I would prefer solving the border issue with unarmed drones, fencing in some areas, cameras, sensors, and strategically placed border guards. If economic conditions in Mexico improve at some point, the wall would be an obsolete structure that we will have to maintain for centuries. (And regardless of how nice Trump makes it, I don’t think it will compete with China’s as a tourist attraction.) I also think that the demands for drugs are so high in the United States that drug dealers will just develop other routes. If so, do we build a wall along our beaches and Canadian border too? I don't think so. I think my next comment will really shock you. As a matter of fact, it shocks me. For three reasons I suspect that Trump may be a good candidate to fix immigration. First, once he builds the wall, or does whatever he ends up doing to secure the border, he will have lessened the main reason many won’t address the other aspects of our outdated and broken immigration policy.  I’ve posted this week about some of fascinating background behind King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. It’s an amazing piece of American history and American literature. All should take time to read it. Over the next few days I am going to reflect on some of my favorite quotations from the letter. King begins by addressing the charge that the things happening in Birmingham were none of his business. He responded, “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” King could have played it safe. But he didn’t. King voluntarily put himself in harms way because he recognized that, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” He wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” This begs a question. When and where are standing for justice? When have we rallied around a cause, not because it would make our lives better, but simply because injustice is there and it, in and of it self, is our enemy. Dignity of life issues and opposition to abortion may be an example, but often our stand for life costs us little. It’s a good stand, but it can’t be our only stand. Are we equally passionate about caring for the lives that are saved, making sure they live in safe neighborhoods, attend good schools, and get good jobs? We are tied these children born into poverty by an “inescapable network of mutuality.” Do we realize that we wear a “single garment of destiny” with families who have entered our country illegally to escape poverty and violence? We should be as committed their flourishing, as we are to things like border security and job protection. Our destiny is tied to theirs. The whole world benefits when our poorest neighbors prosper. How willing are we to take a costly stand, to put our own reputation, treasure, and safety on the line to push back against evil that threatens not us, but our neighbors. King also quoted Thurgood Marshall who wrote, "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." There is an urgency to matters of justice. To delay it is to perpetuate it. To stand idly is a moral wrong. When injustice comes to our attention we are compelled to act. While as individuals we cannot tackle every evil in the world, we certainly ought to be involved in confronting some. Hats off to organizations like International Justice Mission, World Relief, and The Preemptive Love Coalition who are in some of the most dangerous places in the world because injustice is there. At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.
 There are times when I haven’t been civil, times when I responded in anger and attacked the messenger instead of the issue. I’ve regretted it every time. Last night's Republican debate was a study in civility. Pundits across the nation have noted the stark change in tone. For the first time this election cycle I felt less despair and a bit more hope. Not because any particular candidate won, but because civility won. A few weeks ago the entire buzz was that Marco Rubio was gaining momentum. Then came a few days where he digressed to name calling, making fun of person’s appearance, and joking about the size of his ….uh...uh (this is a church website) endowment. Rubio behaved like a juvenile and paid a steep price. He instantly went from contesting for wins to single digit support. Instantly. I admire Rubio for openly admitting his error. He seems genuinely remorseful for his lapse of civility. He embarrassed himself, his family, and apparently his supporters and he admitted it. The best way to learn from mistakes is to learn from the mistakes of other’s mistakes. Marco taught us something. When civility loses we lose. Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner have written eloquently on this topic. They observed that, “Bad character and bad behavior discredit good arguments. Allow me to list a few principles of civility.
 At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.
 In an earlier post (The Forgotten) I reflected on the moral and historical insignificance of the eight pastors who were the recipients of King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, noting that while King is revered they are forgotten. I implied that they lacked the courage and moral fortitude to challenge the status quo.
After reading Edward Gilbreath’s new book, Birmingham Revolution: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Epic Challenge to the Church I’ve realized that my assessment was naïve and unfair, particularly to the two evangelical pastors in the group; Edward Ramage a synod leader of the Alabama Presbyterian Church, and Earl Stallings, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Birmingham. King’s letter was a response to a joint statement issued by the eight pastors in April of 1963 where they urged for restraint and patience, trusting the courts to eventually deal with the inequities and atrocities that had become the norm in Birmingham. Gilbreath fairly noted that these eight pastors were in favor of ending segregation and that on a previous occasion, in January of ’63, they had responded to Governor Wallace’s infamous, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” rant by issuing a public statement calling for the dignity of all people and asserting that all of Birmingham’s residents bear the image of God and should be entitled to the same “rights, privileges, and responsibilities” shared by the city’s white residents. True to Christ’s prediction that those who speak prophetically will be insulted and called names, these eight pastors were called “integrationists,” “communists,” and “nigger lovers.” Gilbreath’s analysis clearly shows that these eight men were caught in the middle, trying to end segregation, but hoping to do so “without rocking the boat.” But it was Gilbreath’s discussion of what happened before and after the letter that intrigued me the most. On Easter Sunday of 1963, one week before the letter, uninvited “black visitors” showed up at First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church to test Ramage and Stalling’s willingness to extend Christian hospitality and freedom of worship to African Americans. Both churches were wealthy, socially connected, and ambivalent about ending segregation. The pastors were calling for an end to segregation while many in their congregations were deeply committed to the status quo. As eyes watched to see how they would respond, both pastors faced a moral dilemma, welcome the guests and face the wrath of their congregations or turn them away and face the condemnation of their conscience. According to Gilbreath, both pastors listened to their principles and “chose Christian love over racial belligerence.” They extended a welcome and in doing so they sealed their own fate. With one exception, King never referred to the eight Birmingham pastors by name in his letter, referring to them only as “My Dear Fellow Clergymen.” The exception was Earl Stallings, the pastor of First Baptist. King called him out by name and commended him for his stand. After the letter appeared and the spotlight shifted to some other city, the congregations in these two evangelical churches demanded that their pastors consider the error of their ways and adopt policies of continued segregation. According to historian, S. Jonathan Bass, “Unlike so many white southern ministers, Ramage and Stallings had chosen to act as spiritual leaders rather than social followers.” Both men were forced out if their churches. Their decision cost them their jobs and their source of livelihood. I’ve written before, noting that much of my inspiration to advocate for immigration reform comes from King’s letter, and from the negative example set by so many conservative faith leaders of that day. Listed below are a few lessons that can be drawn from this account.
At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.  This post, and tomorrow's are reposts of essays that I did on a previous blog. Hope you enjoy them. After that I will begin a series based on my favorite quotations from "MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Charles Carpenter George Murray Nolan Harmon Paul Hardin Joseph Durick Earl Stallings Edward Ramage Milton Grafman In towns all across America streets are not named after them. School children do not learn about them. No one waits in line to see the homes where they were born. They are…simply forgotten. They weren’t necessarily bad men. They weren’t unimportant men. They were men of influence, men with a voice and the respect of their community. Most would have agreed; they were good men, according to one, “men of genuine good will.” While evil men are remembered and great men are enshrined, these men…. just forgotten. Forgotten for being on the wrong side of history. Men forgotten for being silent when “a word fitly spoken” could have made a difference. Men who are forgotten for valuing comfort and stability over justice and compassion. Forgotten because they were unwilling to call out the status quo, and show it for it was… cruel and unjust. These are the eight men on the other side of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” The recipients. Eight well educated white pastors, priests and rabbis who by God’s providence led reputable congregations in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. At a crucial time and at a crucial place they made choices that destined them to be forgotten. King warned that, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” These eight men are forgotten because for too long they chose delay and denial, calling King’s actions on behalf his black bothers and sisters in Birmingham “unwise and untimely.” King was not from Alabama. Birmingham’s problems were not his problems. Criticized for joining a fight that was not his, King wrote, “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” He inserted himself into a situation where his life could make a difference. His example calls us to do the same. Immigration is not my problem, deportation, not my concern. My family will never be personally harmed by the injustices of a broken system. But I care about immigration reform because injustice is here. I care about immigrants, with or without documentation because I have recognized “the interrelatedness of all communities.” From his jail cell King wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly…. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider.” The men and women who I see at Walmart are not “outsiders” or “illegals.” They are husbands. Mothers. Neighbors. People who long for the same things that I do, friends, jobs, places to worship, and homes for their children. I am a privileged person, blessed with a good education and endowed with opportunity. I’m part of the group that generally gets hired first and fired last. My view of poverty is from a distance. My taste of discrimination and prejudice is just that, a mere taste rather than a meal or a lifetime of meals. While it is true that I have worked hard and typically tried to be responsible, many of the blessings and privileges that I enjoy are influenced heavily by the group to which I belong. My group, the educated, white, American middle and upper class is a blessed and privileged group, a group with little personal reason to take up the cause of immigration reform. King noted that, “history is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.” He noted that while “individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture,” groups seldom do. I am an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform because I believe that unless people are moved by virtues like courage and boldness to stand against the injustices of our current broken system (a system that limits access based on skin color, weakens the family unit, and dehumanizes my fellow man) justice will be delayed and broken policy will go without repair. My reasons for supporting immigration reform are many. I believe it is good for our economy. I believe that it is in keeping with the deepest values of my Christian faith, values of kindness, self-sacrifice, and care for the stranger. I believe that comprehensive reform will make our nation more secure and be a blessing to our global neighbors. But one of my reasons for supporting comprehensive immigration is less focused on the immigrants themselves, and more centered on my own desire for an honorable legacy. I don’t want to be forgotten. Forgotten for being on the wrong side of history. Forgotten for being unwilling to stand with those bearing the wounds of a broken system, and for failing to recognize Augustine’s warning that “an unjust law is no law at all.” For these reasons and many others I am an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.  Okay, I know it’s awkward, but no other label works. I’ve been thinking and writing about labels a lot recently for two reasons. First, this election cycle is drawing attention to the fact that labels mean different things to different people. Second, I am now the Pastor of a church that has a refreshing history of eschewing labels. Just call us Christians, thank you. I have a confession. This isn’t the first time I have messed with labels. Years ago a good friend made the mistake of asking me to be a groomsman in his wedding. He made the much bigger of mistake of allowing all of his groomsman to stay in his home while he and his bride were honeymooning. We took full advantage of the opportunity to do a number of destructive things including changing all the labels on the couple's canned goods. (We also painted ‘House of Passion” on the grass in his front yard but that has nothing to do with this post). Accurate labels help. They help when you are looking for a can of Cream of Mushroom soup, and they help when you are trying to explain who you are and what you believe. Hence, my new label. I’m an Evanjustirepublicrat. First of all, I’m committed to certain things that used to be at the center of the evangelicalism. I’m committed to looking to scripture for my foundational beliefs about life and morality. Second, I think everyone needs to make his or her own decision to follow Christ in order to experience spiritual life. And third, I think the church has a responsibility to spread the good news of abundant life in Christ around the world. Second, I care deeply about justice. The people who rallied against slavery were motivated by a biblical understanding for human dignity, and by a willingness to do anything on their power to correct the wrongs of slavery. It was justice that motivated Christians to insist on child labor laws that outlawed the exploitation of children. It is justice that currently calls us to value the lives of the yet to be born (as well as valuing the mom’s caught in struggles that make abortion seem like their only option). Justice should also cause us to care, among other things, about poverty, failing schools, unequal opportunity, racial reconciliation, human trafficking, and the lives of individuals and families caught in a broken immigration system. Now about the Repulicrat part of my new identity. I find that both of the current parties speak to certain issues that matter to me as a Christian. I like the fact that Republicans understand the limits of what government can do and stress the importance of personal responsibility. I like the fact that Democrats remind us that many aspects of the current system are broken in ways that result in unequal opportunity. It's not as easy for some members of our communities to flourish as it is for others, and this is a matter of justice. Both also have some glaring blind spots. I’m appalled at the blatant disregard for unborn life among Democrats. I'm equally offended by the language that Republicans are using to demonize immigrants. It flies directly in the face of nearly 100 passages in the Old Testament about valuing the stranger and treating them with dignity, respect, and compassion. In fact we are commanded to love them as we love our own families (Leviticus 19:34). Neither party is a good fit for me. So where does that leave me? It leaves me longing for heaven and praying that it will come quickly. It leaves me hungering for the Reign of King Jesus. It leaves me with awareness that our world is broken, our leaders are broken, and we are broken in ways that only Jesus can restore. And he has promised that he will. Jesus is currently laying the groundwork for a brand new Earth, a brand new Heaven, and even brand new bodies no longer bearing the scars of sin. Think of it; everything will work correctly. It leave me with a reminder that my job is to love God with my heart, mind, and soul trusting Jesus to take care of the rest. Everything else is falling into place just as God planned. At Central Christian Church we are committed to addressing issues of justice and standing with those in need. Jesus didn't put us in Springfield so that we could worship comfortably in a beautiful sanctuary. He put us in springfield so that give our most vulnerable neighbors a taste of heaven and a relationship with Jesus. Join us for worship at 10:30 Sunday Mornings. Join us in community service the rest of the week.  |