Kingdom Space

I was having coffee with my wife and a mentor of ours regarding missional church/fresh expression ministries.  He coined a term that rang differently in my ears: "Kingdom space."

For those familiar with the Missional Church movement, there is a great emphasis on NEIGHBOURHOOD ministry.  It's about being present in the local neighbourhood and being a witness to those who live around you.  This is why the concept of "house church" is so prevelent within such circles.  

But what happens when (by the grace of God) those communities start to grow beyond the capacity of one's own home?  Or, when the house congregation begins to crave something other, sacred, in order to worship our holy God?  

I think no matter how missionally focused we can be, there will always be that unique need to worship God in a sacred space.  This doesn't mean we can't worship God within the living room of our house church hosts, but there is something about having a designated space to claim as sanctuary.  

Thus the term "Kingdom space."  Perhaps it'll help any stale or critical views of the polished, stain-glassed, "no running in the" sanctuary images we might have in our minds.  Because we all know that the location really doesn't matter when it comes to real worship.  But we'd be pretty arrogant to assume that PLACE doesn't play a role in people's spiritual growing - otherwise there wouldn't be so many references in the First Testament about busing altars to designate the holy moments that occurred there.

Procrastination

I heard from a peer of mine that "Procrastination is a symptom of perfectionism."  The idea behind this is that those who procrastinate have a gold nugget in their minds (an idea that has the potential of being truly great and valuable).  They recognize the potential of this idea's value and so hold off until they "have enough time" to truly develop it and perfect it to provide the most value for those who may benefit.  They procrastinate because they want to perfect their idea so that it is foolproof.

I confess this was my attitude in youth ministry.  I had a number of ideas and plans in my head, but never had enough time to truly plan them.  This is true for many people - where does all our time go? As I was reflecting on this question I started wondering perhaps the problem is us.  Perhaps our emphasis on perfection is prohibiting great things from happening.  Perhaps we're getting in the way by trying to perfect something that only God can perfect.

Eugene Peterson critiques the North American perception of "The Pastor" as "...people who 'get things done,' and 'make things happen'" (The Pastor, 2011, 5).  He rather proposes that a pastor is "...the person placed in the community to pay attention and call attention to 'what is going on right now' between men and women, with one another and with God..." (The Pastor, 2011, 5).

Taking this into the role of any ministry position, it makes sense that our goal shouldn't be to perfect our ideas so that they work, but to take the raw nugget and simply role with it.  As we jump into the unknown we are faced with the challenge of asking, "What aspect of the Kingdom can we see unfolding before us?" and drawing people's attention to it.  The idea or "plan" doesn't have to be perfect.  It simply needs to provide the arena in which we seek the Holy Spirit's movement in illuminating us to the reality of the Kingdom of God.

So enough with procrastination and perfectionism.  Rather, let us use our peripheries to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is revealing around us.

Overcomer or Monster? Answer: Neither

So I was listening to Songza today and had it on the "Hit Christian Songs Playlist."  I was amazed at two particular songs that played back-to-back (as these two songs share where current Christianity has gone). 

The first song was "Overcomer" by Mandisa.  This has been a hit ever since it came out Aug 27, 2013.  It's a total pump-up song as it encourages Christians that they can overcome any barrier or challenge before them, because God is with them.  It's a great message, although it tends to focus more attention on the human effort during life's challenges and you only hear about God in the bridge.

The second song was "Monster" by Skillet.  This is a darker song, with some great, chunky, electric guitar.  This song expresses John Cooper's feelings of being a monster - most likely the result of sin.  It's a song expressing a the agony of doing what he doesn't want to do and not doing what he wants to do.  It can be a rather depressing song if you don't listen to it from a place of grace.

These are two great songs, but I fear that they represent a lot of Christians, and what Christianity has become.  On the one hand, we have Chriatians who think it's all up to them.  Sure, God will help them along, but it's really up to them and their efforts to succeed.  On the other hand, we hear this song about feeling like a monster!  The painful reality when we realize that our efforts simply aren't good enough.  We can't cut it...but aren't we overcomers?  Don't we just have to try harder?  No!  It's not about doing more or trying harder.

It's about grace.  It's about the love God has for us and the actions He took by sending Jesus - sacrificing His only Son for monstrous lives like ours.  Because of this sacrifice, and the victory that came with it, we no longer need to feel like monsters. At the same time, we are not overcomers.  GOD is the Overcomer!!! 

We would be wise never to forget this.  No overcoming that happens in our lives is of our own doing.  It is the Kingdom Transformation that the Spirit is working in each of us.  

What is the GOSPEL?

I've been reading a fantastic book, The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith, as part of a book study for my internship.  It's the second book of a trilogy (although it's the first from the series that I've read).

In chapter two, Smith shares about "the Gospel many people have never heard." What he means by this is the implications of the Kingdom of God.  Smith reminds us of the Gospel we're used to hearing: 

"God loves you.  But because of your sin, you are separated from God and cannot have a relationship with him.  Jesus died for you, and made provisions for your sin.  Through believing in Jesus you can know and experience God's love and receive eternal life." 

This seems like a decent summary of the Christian faith right?  Except this isn't what Jesus came to preach.  When Jesus started his ministry, he didn't proclaim: "Hey everyone!  Come to me!  I'll fix the issues you have with sin and that'll be that!  You'll be square with God and enjoy eternal life."

When Jesus started his ministry he proclaimed: "Repent, for the kingdom of God/heaven has come near." (God or heaven, depending on which author you're reading).  I don't know why it is, but when people hear the idea of the Kingdom of God, the common perception is that this is a place to look forward to; it is a futuristic experience, in a location far from our current reality.  If this is where you're at, I highly recommend checking out Smith's book as well as "Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright (it might take a while to get through, but I promise it's worth it)!

The Kingdom of God is indeed yet to be fulfilled (something we can look forward to).  BUT, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom had come near.  That it wasn't distant.  It is present even now!

In Philippians 2:5-7 we read: "...Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness."  Christ was with the Father, yet became human.  The One who was within the reign of God, now came to earth to live among humanity.  In Christ's living He provided, on earth, what the Kingdom of God looked like.  In Jesus' life, we can know what the Kingdom of God is like.

And as Jesus often did, He flipped humanity's perceptions upside-down to match the ways of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus' disciples are those who are open to the transition from us ruling our own lives, to a life where God is the ruler and in full control of every aspect of our life.  Jesus made Himself nothing so as to reveal to us what it means to live in the Kingdom - to take one's proper created place before the Creator.  He humbled himself to become obedient to death, even death on a cross!

To live a GOSPEL life is to live within the Kingdom of God.  That is what Jesus came to preach.  So why is it, that when it comes to evangelism and "sharing the Gospel" many of us seem to leave out the crucial point about the Kingdom of God?  It's almost like we panic and grab hold of one foundational piece to what we know about Christianity (namely, Christ).  But the next time we have a chance to share with someone about God, we would be wise to calm ourselves of that instinctive panic, and rely on what we know to be true and allow the Spirit to guide us through the conversation:

Jesus Christ, who being very nature God didn't considered equality with God something to be exploited.  Rather, he became nothing, taking on the form of a slave.  He did this as an example to the whole world about what the Kingdom of God is like.  An all-powerful, all omnipotent being taking on the opposite role and elevating the outcasts.  He revealed what humanity was designed for - to dwell in the Kingdom of God.  And through his life and sacrifice, we have the opportunity to be transformed into Kingdom People.

New Church Development

So I'm currently in Montreal at Presbyterian College for a New Church Development Conference.  I attended one two years ago, and it's great to be back and see some familiar faces.

One of the activities for this year was to venture out into the streets surrounding McGill University and pay attention.  We were observing the people in the area, what were the trends, what was the demographic, we had conversations with people about what they valued in the area or what needs they thought the area had.  All of this was to practice the awareness needed when considering a church plant.  If you're going to plant a church, it's good to know what kind of people are there and what the needs of the community are.

In traveling around Montreal I was amazed at how much I started noticing traits that Vancouver has, were missing here (perhaps it's because I went out here with a different mindset, and if I practice this same exercise in Vancouver I may have a similar experience).  But there were a few things I noticed about Vancouver...

1.  People in Vancouver have blinders on.  When I think of Vancouver I think of the business.  Everyone is rushing around, trying to get to the next thing on the schedule, people complaining they have no time for anything, cars honking at each other because the world around them is preventing them from accomplishing what they want to do.

As I was walking around Montreal I found a much more relaxed atmosphere.  In addition, I found people were talking with each other!  There were very little encounters of people with headphones on or heads down.  People were looking up and greeting each other; having conversations with each other.

Now I get that people in Vancouver chat with friends and colleagues.  But I also sense 2. a great loneliness in Vancouver.  People are isolated - maybe because they consider themselves "visitors" and don't feel the freedom to engage people in the streets.  Perhaps they are new, or introverted, or just not hanging out with people that day...either way, people in Vancouver tend to walk alone a lot (often rushing about from one place to another).

3.  Homeless people are ignored.  I was walking with a buddy who stopped to chat with a homeless man, Will, because Will greeted him first.  My friend asked Will where he was from, and he responded "Vancouver...but I like Montreal a lot better...people give me time of day here."  The conversation continued and Will revealed more and more about how people would say hello and chat with him.  When he was in Vancouver he was always ignored.  He wasn't even asking for money!  He just said "Hello!" to people, who would slap the blinders on and keep walking as if he didn't exist.

I can't help but notice how lonely a place Vancouver can be.  Is it any wonder why young adults are constantly going out to the club or bars or coffee shops - just to be around people! 

What would happen if the Church started to ACTIVELY and INTENTIONALLY engage in random conversations?  *Disclaimer: this is coming from an introvert!  I'm not one to start up a random conversation with someone - I find the idea stressful and overwhelming.  But I have to wonder, how many lonely people do I see everyday and not notice because I'm too busy keeping my blinders up?  How many depressed people are looking for someone to connect with (even with just a simple "hello") but only find busy people who are lost in their own schedule/world?

What does the Kingdom of God look like for such an individualistic world?  

I can use my introvertedness as an excuse - I can even say "I'm not gifted in that..."  But can the Kingdom of God not overcome my own insecurities?  Doesn't the Bible say that God's grace is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9)?

If you're wanting to see the Kingdom of God break into the community around you, ask God for observant eyes today.  Pay attention to the people around you, and see them as God sees them.  They are not just pieces of the mass...they are individuals, with their own story, journey and questions.  Gracious God, give me the eyes to see Your people.  Amen.

"Well, what do you know?"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way." (Prov 3:5-6, Today's English Version)

I was sitting in one of the Sunday school classrooms at the church I'm interning at, and I saw the above verse on the wall.  It had been a craft that a group of students put together.  I confess it was from a translation I had never heard of before (my translation list isn't as bountiful as it probably should be), but it stood out to me this morning (and not because of the bright pink paper it was pasted on).

It spoke to me because I realized just how many assumptions I make everyday.  I assume I know where people are coming from.  I assume I know their situation.  I assume I have a better answer to the question than they do.  I assume they're being self-righteous and I'm humble.  I assume...I assume...I ASS-ume...

How foolish have I been to believe that I could possibly know anything about another person without journeying with them?

This reflection comes from an experience I had at a Presbytery meeting last night.  There were a few people who got up to speak to make various motions, discussions, etc. (all very Presbyterian) and I found myself assuming I knew something about them.  The sinful voice within me started judging these people, when all the while I was sitting there not having a CLUE as to what was going on.  I was halfway between consciousness and enthused passing of judgment on people.  This is not a healthy place to be.

The above verse reminded me that my assumptions don't help anyone.  In fact, assumptions in general are just signs of our inability to trust in God.  Our assumptions come out of a place of trying to control the conversation.  It's easier to disagree and argue with someone if you don't have to engage them in a proper relationship.

This verse tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to remember the Lord in everything we do, because when we trust God and remember God, we'll see the other through God's eyes.  We'll be able to appreciate and love others and respond to them as beloved children of God; rather than making quick assumptions.

I feel like this is a rather simplistic notion, yet I fall victim of it so often.  It may be easy to explain, but not as easy to live out.

Developing Devotional Life

If there's one thing I've learned about myself, it's that I'm not a disciplined person.  The word itself implies work.  Discipline shouldn't come easy to us; it can't.  It requires work, effort, intentionality, practice...it's discipline!

During the next several weeks, I plan on disciplining myself.  To be theologically aware of life experiences (more intentionally that is), and to remain accountable to whoever reads this blog.  I'll be posting every Wednesday with reflections on the past week and identifying what God has been doing, where God has been acting and how I find myself fitting in (or against) all that God is working in/through.

Week 1

I've recently started up a new internship at Richmond Presbyterian Church.  This is the final internship for my M.Div degree requirements.

In the previous placement, my awareness of my spiritual health became apparent.  I was clearly burnt out from my previous placement as a youth pastor in North Vancouver.  Even now, I don't think I've fully recovered.  One would think that studying theology would be a simple fix, but I assure you it's not.  It's one thing to study about God, but it's entirely different to be in relationship with God.

I'm aware that life doesn't slow down.  There will never be a prime time to focus on my relationship with God, and nothing else.  Like all relationships, time must be made.

So as I start this new placement, I begin with the intentional process of meeting with God regularly.  Meeting God in prayer, in Scripture, in meditation and reflection.  Psalm 46:10 states, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Often Christians like to quote the first portion the verse.  I don't often hear the second half.

The first half is great!  It gives practical guidance...be still!  Life is chaos.  We're moving constantly.  We have news headlines updates ringing; work/school deadlines to make; relationships to develop and nurture; Twitter and Facebook updates causing our phones to beep at us constantly; the latest videos on YouTube to check out; cooking; cleaning; eating; devotions...the list goes on.  But what rarely lands on that list is to be still.

But we should be aware that being still is not an end in itself.  The purpose of being still is to know God.  To know God as I Am (active).  To know that God is active in and around us; in and through us; in and through others in our lives.  God is active in our lives, and if we move too fast we'll miss all that He is doing.

But being still and having a simple awareness of what God is doing is not the end either.  The verse goes on.  As is typical of Hebrew poetry, there is repetition - for that extra emphasis.  The psalter records God saying "I will be exalted..." (both among the nations and in the earth).  Each phrase expands the reader's perspective.  The first half, calling us to be still and know God as I Am, reveals the need to exalt God in our lives.  We are called to slow down, be still, not simply to be aware of God's presence, but to exalt Him for all that He's done and is doing.  As the verse goes on, we move from the individual realm to see that God's exaltation moves into a national realm.  For the author of this Psalm, this meant that the nation of Israel (God's holy, set apart, People) were to exalt God, because as a nation they were being still and knowing God as I Am.  But the verse doesn't stop there!  God will be exalted in all the earth!  The earth is to be still and know God as I Am.

This small verse, often understood in an individual sense, has become a global issue.  This isn't to say that the whole world will naturally do this (we know it's foolish to expect such a thing).  But it reveals a truth to us: being still and knowing that I AM God, is central to our design.  It is central to the design of the cosmos.  If we do not take the time to be still, to exalt God for God's activity in our lives, we will disrupt the natural order of the world.  We will bring a chaos into the world that depends on our own ability, rather than resting in God's calm.  We will bring anxiety, rather than the peace of knowing that God is in control.  We will bring busyness, rather than dwelling in God's care and provision.

I come to this new internship, not to ensure I complete my required work (and more), but to be still and know I Am.

Spirit of the Living, would You fall afresh on us.  Move us to a place where we can be still...where we can know that You Are God...where we can exalt You for all You've done and are doing.  May You be the centre of our being this week.  Give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear Your guidance and direction.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Hold Nothing Back

It's amazing how one could be studying God's word as a "profession," and yet not read Scripture in a devotional way.  I was recognizing this in my own life and thought I'd spend some intentional time meditating on Scripture (which was long overdue for me).

I stumbled upon Acts 5:1-11.  It's a frightful story.  In it, there's a couple who decide to sell their property (much like Barnabas two verses before) and give some of the earnings to the Church.  Now, for us today, that seems like an honourable thing to do!  In the consumerist world we live in, how many people would consider selling their property in order to bless a congregation with it (especially if your home is in Vancouver!)?

But as we read this story, we don't find Ananias and Sapphira blessed.  In fact, they die!  Let's back up a bit.  So they present the money before the apostles, but keep back some of money for themselves - seems like a decent thing to do; it is their home after all.  By the sound of it, they didn't keep much.  Yet, when they present it, Peter asks why they would do such a thing.  Ananias drops dead, and later his wife does too.

Before we become too sympathetic for the couple we should take some time to read between the lines.  In Acts 4:36-37 we read of Barnabas who sold a field he owned and brought the money - all of it - to the apostle's feet.  These two very different stories have little to do with the amount given, but rather the reason why the gifts are given.  Barnabas gave out of complete sacrifice for the good of the community.  He was entrusting himself into God's care in order to care for others.

The difference we see in Ananias and Sapphira is that by keeping some of the money for themselves, one could interpret their motives as self-centred.  They were giving so as to be seen in the same godly light as Barbabas.  They wanted the status - to be seen as godly people.  They may have loved the church, but they first loved themselves.  They didn't entrust their lives into God's care; they kept some for themselves, to ensure they'd have something to fall back on.  This is what one of my professors would call "Functional Atheism."  They took control - not leaving room for God's provision or care.  They also found their identity in being a good, holy, and righteous couple - not in God, as children of God.

I don't know about you, but I'm guilty of the same sin as Ananias and Sapphira.  I've refused to surrender control over to God.  I've placed my identity in many other things, apart from God.  And in all these moments, the final destination is death.  Not that God would strike me down right then and there, but it means that in pursuing ________, I'm not pursing God, who fills us with true life.  If we're not letting God fill us with true life, then we might as well be dead.

Resist the Devil...the Fight of Your Life!

So I was reflecting on Matthew 4:1-11 (one of my favourite passages).  I was reflecting on the human experience of Jesus' temptations, and resonated with the following realities.

Temptation 1 - "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.'" (4:1-3)

The first temptation that Jesus encounters hits him on a personal level.  It's a temptation that distorts his understanding of life: you need food to survive!  Jesus was HUNGRY (vs. 2)!  When the devil asks him to use his power to create bread, it would've hit Jesus hard.  Why not use the power?  He's been fasting for so long now; if he doesn't, when will he eat?  After all, food is something he needs to survive - he can't live without it.

This is how the devil works - he tempts us in areas we believe we cannot live without.  The first temptation can seem the hardest.  It's like entering a boxing ring.  The start of the fight, you see your opponent, but you have no clue how hard the impact of that first hit will be.  When it hits, there's a shock to the system.  The devil hits us hard with personalized temptations - things we believe we need in order to survive.

Often we read on and think, Jesus defeats the devil with Scripture and moves on.  This implies that the devil lets up.  He doesn't!  Like the boxing image, the punches keep coming.  The devil does not let up!

Temptation 2 - "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down.  For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (4:5-6)

In the previous temptation, Jesus uses Scripture to combat the devil (cf. Eph 6:17).  In the second, the devil begins to use the same weapon.  But we should also notice the craftiness of the devil.  He doesn't simply use Scripture to combat Jesus, but the second temptation builds off the first!

As a human, I have fallen victim to pride.  After overcoming a temptation, it's very easy to feel prideful.  We've had a small victory and want to celebrate.  The devil tries to trap Jesus in this state.  Throw yourself down Jesus!  Let all see just how powerful you are!  You were able to overcome my test.  Show them all how God will protect and uphold you.  You'll catch their attention then!  The second temptation builds off of the first.  There is no break.  The devil hits Jesus with the next temptation, feeding off of Jesus' weakened state from the first.

Jesus chooses not to focus on himself.  He recognizes that his Father has a plan that needs to be played out in full.  He remains faithful to God and refuses to allow pride to take over.  He chooses the path of humility before God.

If that's not enough, the third temptation continues off the previous two.  The devil sees Jesus' devotion.  He meets Jesus on top of a mountain (the Ancient world's symbol of a meeting place with the divine), and offers him everything:

Temptation 3 - "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.  'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.'" (4:8-9)

The devil has seen Jesus' discipline and humility to God.  He knows that this last temptation is offering him exactly what God has intended to give him.  BUT, this offer comes without the painful journey of humiliation, betrayal and the cross.  The end result will be the same.  It's a quicker way to the destination.  The fact that Jesus is so willing to go through it should be enough, right?  He's proven his devotion.  Why not just give him the end result now?

Jesus knows it can't be that way.  Each temptation attacks the very thing Jesus could not live without: a relationship with his Father.  THAT is the true, non-negotiable, reality for Jesus.  Jesus knows that it is only in relationship with the Father, that true joy, true peace, and true love can be experienced (even in the midst of the pain, suffering and horror that is found in this fallen world).  Jesus clings to God because God helps him find the hope needed to endure whatever is thrown at him.

How does Jesus resist?  Jesus combats the devil with Scripture.  This is not simply memorizing Scripture verses to quote when temptation comes around (though that can be extremely helpful).  But it's about having Scripture engraved in your heart (cf. Jer 31:33; Heb 10:16) and mind.  It's allowing Scripture to impact our very being - to become our second nature.  When temptation arises, we shouldn't be thinking about what passage to quote to bring us truth.  We should have alarm bells going off when we the temptation comes because it will be contradicting the truth we already know!

Quoting Scripture helps Jesus because he lives the Scriptures.  If we are to resist the devil we would be wise to do the same.

Summary:

The devil will try to distort the truths we know!  He'll distract us with things we believe we can't live without.  He'll encourage our pride to take over, and try to reward our devotion with an easy out.

We mustn't give in!  We need to know the truths God has given in Scripture.  We need to allow those truths, and the hope they hold, to permeate throughout our whole being.  Only then will we be able to stand against temptation, with Christ's strength.

Coffee Shops

It's a curious thing, coffee shops.  Hundreds of them are scattered around the Lower Mainland.  They're a meeting place for family, friends, and colleagues.  A quiet place to read a book or newspaper.  Free internet so you can email, check Facebook, or do some homework.  More often than not coffee shops are always full.

When I worked for Starbucks, I was trained to emphasize the "third place" environment.  Some of you may know this concept.  The "third place" is not home or work.  It's simply that "third place."  Ideally, a place where you can escape from the rest of life.  That short moment where you can catch your breath and refocus.  That place where all the noise calms so you can complete a task that has been weighing on you.  Ideally, isn't this what the Church is supposed to be?

But I've noticed, much like our culture, there is little community here.  Perhaps there are a group of friends who have gathered, but they're in their own world.  Perhaps everyone today is just an introvert and don't want to talk to anyone.  But how many people are drawn to coffee shops simply because they want to be around people?  They don't necessarily need to have a conversation, but are still long to be around others.

Perhaps we want to be part of something larger?  Or, to have that off chance that someone will notice us and we'll feel validated that we stand out?

I have to ask, what is the need here?  How can the church respond?  How can the PCC respond?