Monday, June 29, 2009

For God so Loved the Terrorists?

If Osama Bin Laden were to release a video with tears in his eyes, expressing that he had recently committed his life to following Jesus, denouncing his previously violent interpretation of religion - and asking for forgiveness from every individual and family his network had terrorized and harmed - how would you respond? Sound too ridiculous to even consider?

This Sunday at Valley, we will learning from a true story in the Book of Acts which is not too far removed from that scenario. In this case, the terrorist's name was Saul of Tarsus - a deeply religious man who for several years was a key mastermind behind the terrorizing and killing of many early Christians. You can imagine how the early disciples and leaders of Christianity must have felt when when this man approached them claiming to have had a radical conversion to Jesus and to His way of love rather than violence and hate...

"Fellowship" is a radical concept - radical in the right sense of the word. When Christians find themselves in fellowship with one another - they view themselves as standing on a level playing field at the foot of Christ's cross. They realize that they are equally valuable, equally forgiven, and equally grateful for the goodness of God in their lives. How in the world was it possible that a group of individuals who had suffered so significantly at the hands of Saul's evil agenda were now able to fully accept him into their spiritual family? Could you find the strength to do such a thing? Would you even consider this a sign of strength? Come hang out with us this Sunday at one of our three gatherings (8AM, 9:30AM or 11:00AM) to learn more - and feel free to chime in with your thoughts right here at Raw and Relevant!!!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Professional Christians? Where is THAT in the Bible?

When you look in the mirror, do you see a minister? If you are a follower of Jesus, you do! Unfortunately, when many people think of "minister" - they envision someone in a white collar who preaches sermons and officiates wedding and funerals. But Jesus and the Apostles taught that all Christ-followers are ministers.

It's true that there are some who are called to vocational ministry (such as pastors, evangelists, etc. - see Ephesians 4:11-13) but the term "minister" simply means "servant". Have you ever found it strange that in Western Culture we have professionalized the ministry so much that many churches in search of hiring a pastor will focus on higher education before things such as "character and calling." I'm not downing education. I have a degree in Bible and Theology myself. It's just that I wonder if our view of "the ministry" is a bit skewed...

In Acts 4, there's a cool story about Peter and John being dragged in to face a panel of judges who wanted to interrogate and threaten them related to their spreading the message of Jesus all over Jerusalem. It's interesting that the text says the council was "astonished" at their courage because they knew them to be "unschooled, ordinary men." Evidently these guys couldn't figure our how non-credentialed ordinary fishermen who were not "religious professionals" could be leading such a vast and growing movement.

It goes on to say that the only thing they knew for sure is that these men had "been with Jesus." Can you imagine? What a compliment! Peter and John were not qualified as ministers because they were educated in a prestigious seminary, or had come from the right family line. Rather, their sole qualification was that they had the influence of Jesus all over their lives!

My prayer is this: "God - help me never to become a 'professional minister'. When people get to know me, may they say ONE thing about me above all else - that they can tell I spend a lot of time with Jesus."

After washing His disciples' feet in John 13, Jesus said, "As I have loved you (through servanthood) so you should also love each other...." Granted, personally spending 3 1/2 years with Jesus would have topped any seminary education. But at the end of the day, these guys were still just blue-collar types who learned as they served. Join us this Sunday at Valley for "Vintage - Part 3" as we discover why ministry is something we are ALL called to.....and feel free to chime in with your thoughts related to this right here at Raw and Relevant!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

The End of the World as We Know It?

Upon rolling out of bed earlier this morning, I turned on the news - switching back and forth between FOX and CNN. Riots continue in Iran over the alleged "rigged" election. A rogue North Korean vessel believed to be headed for Singapore and suspected of transporting illegal nuclear devices is about to be intercepted by the USS John McCain. The hunt for Bin Laden drags on in Pakistan. The U.S. prepares to "fight" a dragging economy by burying our children's financial future under $12 trillion (yes, trillion) in deficit spending over the next 10 years. The unemployment rate begins to approach double digits...and taxes are being INCREASED across the board. It makes a person wonder if whether our house and senate members ever sat through even the most basic course in free market economics.

As a follower of Jesus, I'm not immune from wrestling with angst over these realities. I trust that God is in charge, and yet I long for a world where peace is the rule rather than the exception. I long for a world where individuals voluntarily take care of one another's needs rather than relying on the government to do so. I long for a planet where racism is replaced by equality, and where God's kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Herein lies the paradoxical reality of following Jesus. We live with the tension that on the one hand, a form of the "kingdom" of God is already present and is being manifest through Christ's Church bringing grace and healing to the sinful and wounded. On the other hand, those of us who take the Bible at face value realize that as history unfolds, God's Word predicts increasing wickedness rather than righteousness leading up to the return of Jesus. Jesus said that as the end approaches, "nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." Paul wrote that in the last of the "last days", people would become more violent and self-serving than ever. I have always wrestled with the reality that Jesus' reign was inaugurated at His first coming, will be consummated at His second coming - and WE live in the "already but not yet" phase of it all. There is so much possibility for peace and healing right NOW if people would but turn to Jesus and follow Him. Yet both Biblical prophecy and common-sense observation suggests that things aren't improving - and won't get drastically better on earth until Jesus comes again.

I would be interested in knowing where YOU stand. What do you think?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Evangelism - How Scary is THAT?

Whether you consider yourself a follower of Jesus or not - "evangelism" can be a scary word. For many Christians, the idea of sharing the message of Jesus with people can be paralyzing. Questions tremor in our minds. "What if I say the wrong thing? What if I get rejected? What if I come across as being a hypocrite?" and so on.

For the non-follower of Jesus, the word evangelism might envoke thoughts of cheesy TV preachers trying to rope you in so they can get your money. Or it may remind you of that fundamentalist uncle who always seems to be trying to cram Jesus down everybody's throat.

The reality is, evangelism simply means "spreading the good news". In one sense, everybody is an evangelist. Most normal human beings enjoy sharing "good news" with their friends and neigbhors. An MRI reports good results. An estranged child finds his or her way home. A person's neighborhood narrowly misses being enveloped by a forest fire. Good news - from the miraculous to the mundane - is something we like to share.

Unfortunately, sometimes Christians do a poor job communicating the good news of Jesus. As a pastor who talks about Jesus all the time, I regret that I have failed MANY times to accurately represent Him. This week at Valley, we will be diving into an incredible story to discover what evangelism is - and isn't. I invite you to join us for part or all of our current series "Vintage: Ancient Values for a Relevant Faith." I would also be interested in hearing about your experience with this scary word....evangelism....

Thursday, June 11, 2009

What does CHURCH mean to You?

What do you think of when you hear the word "CHURCH"? Do images of fire-breathing pulpit-slammers and holy-rolling emotionalism come to mind? How about painfully boring and predictable repetitions of creeds and slogans? Have you ever been sitting in church and asked yourself the question: "Is this REALLY what Jesus had in mind?" What exactly to they mean by the term "church SERVICE" anyway?

No matter what your past experiences, I think Jesus DID have something different in mind. And while no church is perfect - and some traditions CAN be very Biblical and helpful in spiritual development - it is my opinion that there are a few things a person should look for in choosing a solid church.

First, a person should be concerned with whether a church passionately and faithfully preaches and teaches the Bible - and specifically the GOSPEL of grace.

Secondly, a solid church will be concerned with playing a significant role in God's universal CHURCH in the local community and the world. The early church gave much attention to caring for one another's needs as brothers and sisters in Christ - building one another up and "spurring each other on toward love and good deeds."

Thirdly, one should be concerned with whether the church in question has a clear passion for impacting the CULTURE - rather than fearfully circling the wagons and retreating into a realm of separatism. In other words, a Biblical church should strive to be IN but not OF the world-system, taking every opportunity to bring the life-changing hope of the Gospel to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of everyone without prejudice.

In his great book "The Radical Refomission", Mark Driscoll points out the crucial need for local churches committing to this triune focus on the GOSPEL, the CHURCH and the CULTURE - and spells out the consequences of leaving one or more out of the picture. Driscoll argues that when Christians focus on....

GOSPEL plus CULTURE while ignoring the CHURCH - we get parachurch ministry. This is not to say that all parachurch ministries fail to work in partnership with or as arms of the local church. He simply points out that many parachurch ministries don't last because they are formed as rebel movements against perceived or real failures within the organized local church rather than initiating reform from within.

He then adds that when we focus on....

CULTURE and CHURCH without the GOSPEL - we get liberalism. Theological liberalism has all but destroyed many once-vibrant mainline denominations. By neutering the Gospel of the miraculous and the eternal, it becomes little more than a network of social do-good efforts aimed at meeting temporal needs. Christ's words then take on special significance when He said, "What good will it profit a person to gain the whole world (materially speaking) and yet lose his own soul?"

Finally, he adds that when a church focuses on....

CHURCH and the GOSPEL while ignoring CULTURE - we get fundamentalism. Modern Christian fundamentalism is that movement which began in the early 20th century as a response to the rise of secular humanism. Honorable in its original intentions, the fundamentalist movement has often become a culturally-irrelevant band of complainers who can scarcely appreciate any beauty or truth in anything outside of their own circles and angrily condemn the very sinners Jesus came to save.

At Valley Church, we aim - however imperfectly - to care deeply about all three of these realities. Proclaiming the Bible and the Gospel it reveals, meeting the needs of one another as best we can through generous love, and caring about the culture so much as to seek to live out Christ's kingdom values over and against the myopic selfishness of secular society. I'm sure a person could pick apart 100 different ways in which we are failing to achieve these goals at any given time. But we ARE trying - and will continue to try by the grace of God.

As beggars at the door of God's mercy, we at Valley are being transformed into grateful followers of Jesus day by day. I would invite you to come join us beginning this weekend at one of our three gatherings - 8am, 9:30am or 11am on Sundays - 5063 Maple Road in Vacaville. Who knows? You might just begin to start entertaining a POSITIVE concept of "church" to replace the one you now live with. I'd also be interested to know your opinion about "church" as you see it. Feel free to chime in....

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Vintage Faith in a Cutting-Edge World

I am thrilled to begin a brand new teaching series at Valley on June 14. It's called "Vintage - Ancient Values for a Relevant Faith." In relation to that series, I've asked a few people, how they would complete the following sentence: "If I could change or improve my church, I would......." Then I ask them to think beyond the programs and events they are currently involved in or benefit from. Think beyond the personalities they interact with. D.L. Moody is said to have prayed the following on a regular basis: "God, my generation has yet to see the impact of just one man wholly committed to Jesus. Let me be that man!" What if this was the prayer of an entire church? What if - by learning from the Book of Acts - we surrendered ourselves more completely to BEING the hands and feet of Jesus? I invite you to come hang out with us beginning June 14. Let this be the summer God radically changes your perspective.....