Bold as Bullhorn

I had just sat down on a bench at the crowded Farmer’s Market when he started talking.  A half-block away, his voice boomed over the multitude, turning many heads at once.  Within a moment, though, most of those turned heads were turned back the other way — deliberately trying to avoid eye contact — or had sunk into sad or chuckling head-shakes.  ”Bullhorn Guy” had arrived.

The message was clear as could be: if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, you risked the eternal fires of hell.  In a clever twist, he appealed to those in the crowd that were already Christians to talk with the people they were walking and shopping with about whether or not THEY had been saved and “had come to know the Lord.”  Standing there on the corner on an otherwise glorious morning, Bullhorn Guy declared an ominous cloud of warning that was hard to ignore.  But ignoring him is exactly what most people did.

As I looked around, I could hear the comments from the various vendors: “Right on time.”  ”You’d think he’d learn.” “I hope this guy’s in hell with me for being so annoying.”  He was turning off the very audience he was trying to reach.  My heart sank as I began to think, “How many of these people will never even consider to follow Christ because of the negative impact of this man?”

Then another comment drifted to my ears.  It was a mid-aged gentleman, talking with one of his co-workers as they unloaded the produce for the day.  ”I appreciate his boldness,” the man said, “but why should I listen to him if he doesn’t even know me?”  This double-theme struck me powerfully.

We often shy away from sharing the Good News because we fear that people will see it as too pushy or condescending.  Yet this man admired Bullhorn Guy for being bold, for being willing to profess his faith in public.  What he DIDN’T like was the manner in which it was being shared.  There was no element of relationship to it, no personal connection, no compassion or nuance pertaining to life circumstance.  It was merely a one-sided dictation that left no room for understanding “the other.”  Add to that message of suffering, threat and fear — rather than the love, peace, healing and community that Jesus proclaimed — and you have a recipe for a lot of turned-off shoppers.

People are looking for us to be bold with our faith.  But being bold does not mean a rigid, accusatory stance in which ‘we’ are right and ‘they’ are wrong.  It means being willing to go out on a limb, building upon the trust in our relationships to share the Hope we have found for our own lives.  Most people will respect us for the vulnerability of opening our discipleship to them, but it needs to spring from the fertile soil of established relationship.

May we be bold as Bullhorn Guy, but choose the personal touch of friends who actually know those we are sharing with.

What’s Your Intention?

“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether or not you have enough to complete it? Otherwise, when you have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, all who see it will begin to ridicule you, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

~ Luke 14: 27 – 30

No doubt you’ve heard a thing or two about the necessity to save more since the collapse of the sub-prime market in 2008. In a nutshell, people were spending more than they should, and saving less than they ought. Caught in a pinch, back-up funds weren’t available to many people who had built their lives on excessive, credit card-driven spending. Setting aside a healthy amount from each paycheck is a critical component of wise stewardship.

But there is an underlying principle which has often gotten overlooked: intentionality. To be intentional means to set up a plan, be deliberate in your actions, to forecast for rain or shine and live responsibly within your means. We can talk all we want about the importance of setting aside 10% of our funds into a savings account, but until we’re intentional about giving up that extra iced mocha latte or doing all of our errands at once to reduce fuel use, it’s merely empty theory. A generous disciple understands that we must be intentional about saving wisely so that we can create a better future for those to come after us. As part of a balanced budget – save some, share some, and spend responsibly – our money and resources can have dramatic positive effects on a broad range of people, both today and down the road.

But intentionality is a spiritual discipline as well. In our scripture from Luke, Jesus tells us that no one should dive in to discipleship – that is, following him – lightly and without considering all of the costs. It costs to follow Jesus. Have we set up a plan for how to grow deeper in our relationship with God? Are we deliberate in our spiritual formation? Are we willing to take empty theory and give it flesh and blood sway in our lives? Is our discipleship just for us, or is it a blessing to those around us? We can sometimes find that, like our bank accounts, racking up frail spiritual brownie points won’t do much good when we find ourselves in tough times. Instead, let us invest wisely – intentionally – into our own “spiritual deposit boxes” that we may remain strong in our faith and blessing to others.

Jesus Who?

Jesus is walking along with his disciples one day, and they come into a large town, heavily influenced by Greek thought and the religion and culture of the occupying Roman Empire.  Surely they must have come across statues honoring various gods or kings or statesmen, with people paying tribute to them all.  I can imagine Jesus walking past one of these statues or shrines and thinking to himself, “Hmm, I wonder how my disciples perceive me?”  So, he asks them!

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  he asks.  The question is a major one: the Son of Man, in Jewish tradition, was to be the very expression of God’s reign on earth.  The disciples point to several historical possibilities.  ”Well, SOME people say it was John the Baptist (who had just been killed), but OTHERS believe it was Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, but I’ve also heard people who think it was Jeremiah, who warned the people of God’s coming judgment.”  All were surely good answers — each of these people had attracted crowds and followers while declaring the coming of God’s kingdom.  But none had brought about the full hope of a covenant people.  Every one of them had died without seeing the lasting establishment of God’s peace in the world.

Jesus must have nodded approvingly of their suggestions.  Surely there were good Jews who might believe that each one of those men had been the Son of Man.  But then, in typical Jesus-fashion, he totally flips the question.  He doesn’t ask them, “Do you think that I am the Son of Man?”  Instead, he says, “But who do you say that I am?”  None of them had proposed that Jesus could be the Son of Man.  They could choose a million responses: you are a great rabbi; you are the mighty warrior-king who will topple the Romans; you are our teacher; you are _______.  Surely, in the midst of a city filled with statues of great people, they could come up with something.

Peter’s response, then, is a shock: “You are THE Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  That’s quite a powerful claim!  Jesus is the One who is to liberate the Jewish people, to usher in the kingdom of God, the One chosen as being the fullest and final expression of God’s desires in the world.  As the reader has known all along, this is, indeed, who Jesus is, but the disciples are just now coming around to the idea.  For Peter to make this declaration, then, is a major step for him.  And, indeed, Jesus praises him for this, in essence validating his profession when Jesus says that it was God who revealed this to Peter.

But then comes another disorienting twist.  They can’t tell anybody.

Why?

Why on earth would Jesus want the disciples to keep quiet about this?  Now that they’ve figured it out, what reason could there be to tell them not to tell everyone else that Jesus was the Messiah?

Because they don’t fully understand it themselves yet.

You see, in Peter’s mind, he wants Jesus to be like one of those statued-people, or like Elijah or Jeremiah.  He wants him to be a great leader, worthy of remembrance and veneration.  He wanted Jesus to be the GREAT rabbi, the STRONGEST warrior, the WISEST teacher.  But he could not yet imagine Jesus as the suffering servant.

This is why they could not share yet: because the fullness of Jesus’ purpose was not yet completed as he had not yet gone to the cross.  His death and resurrection were central to his message, and thus to declare him as the Messiah before these events would be a hollow proclamation.  It is in the cross and the empty tomb — God’s validation of Jesus’ teaching and sacrifice — that the real story of ‘Messiah’ finds completion.

So who do WE say that Jesus is?  Is he merely another statue that we honor with passing interest?  Is he a teacher whom we can choose to listen to as we want, or turn from if we disagree?  Is he a warrior, sent to rid us of our problems and declare a new world order?  The temptation is to reduce the message of Jesus to a sliver that we are comfortable with.  The temptation is to focus on his life and teaching while ignoring the cross and the Risen Lord.  What view of Jesus does your life reflect?  Have we set someone else — perhaps even ourselves — up as the One we are waiting for?  Or do we find in Jesus the witness of God’s love and purpose that is indeed greater than any leader or teacher or ideology?  So often we get close, like Peter, in saying the right words about Jesus but failing to align ourselves with the deeper meaning that his life, death and resurrection lay claim to in our lives.

So who is the Jesus we are declaring?  A shallow, anemic puppet Jesus who fits our notions and comforts, or the radical vision we see through scripture, tradition and by the witness of the Spirit in our lives, the vision of Jesus as the Ultimate reconciliation through sacrificial love?  I don’t want a statue to worship: I want the Living Son of God.

What Is It?

Last night, six of us gathered at the Iowa State Extension office to participate in a focus group on young adults and social media. Most of us knew very little about Extension and the services they provide, and those that did know held a fairly narrow view, associating it only with 4-H and Ag programs. After the formal focus group, we hung around after to ask our friend — who works for Extension — what it was. “Well, let me tell you,” she said, as she explained everything that they do and the many services they provide. As we listened, we became more and more interested and more and more supportive of their work. Really all that it took was a few minutes of her sharing for us to be hooked. And she shared in a way that made sense to us, appealing to common interests and her awareness of some of our needs and passions. I felt that after a ten-minute conversation, I could adequately steer others to Extension as their life circumstances needed.

I think we face a similar issue when it comes to the church. We believe we have a great thing going: I love our theology, feel embraced and a part of our community, and am excited about our future. We know that others need to hear about this great thing we are a part of, but we think it would take too long to tell them or be irrelevant to their lives. We expect others to share the witness for us — others who are ‘smarter,’ ‘more articulate,’ or we’d even settle for those paid ministers

But just like with Extension, we don’t need to rely on somebody else in an office somewhere to share the Good News of Christ with our friends — we need to rely on OURSELVES! You know your friends better than I do, and you know what speaks to them and their hunger for fulfillment. You don’t have to be knowledgeable about every detail of our Basic Beliefs in order to share why Community of Christ is important to you (though it certainly doesn’t hurt!). And you don’t have to impress or convince or be perfect in the delivery — all you have to do is share your own story and invite.

We have an inCREdible message to share with the world, but any message needs messengers. Most people are searching for something to ground their lives in meaning, and the restorative message of God’s love for you and the whole world is certainly something worth offering! I often hear people lament, “We have such a great church, I just wish that others knew more about it.” My answer to them? ‘Then I guess you’re the one who needs to share it with them!’ Talk about our message of wholeness and peace. Talk about the ‘welcome’ that Jesus extends to all people and the sense of community expressed through the church. Talk about transforming lives and neighborhoods through justice and healing. Talk about the incredible feeling that comes in true forgiveness. Talk about the blessings of a world-wide body of believers, united in a common desire to see God’s reign of peace come in this world. Talk about the hope of new life today and beyond death. Talk about whatever inspires YOU to be a part of Community of Christ.

But fundamentally, you have to talk It is a rare chance when someone stumbles across the church; more often than not, the only way they will ever know about this incredible treasure we know as the Community of Christ is if YOU share it with them.

So the next time somebody asks you, “What is it?” be prepared, like my friend at Extension, to say, “Well, let me tell you…”

It’s Really Not That Scary

People often ask me “How do you do young adult ministry?” It’s a loaded question, implying that there is a secret combination of skills, programs, communications and a little bit of luck that are all blended together to form “good YA ministry.” In a sense, this is true: good planning, engaging messages, and a dose of marketing all go a long way toward reaching out to young adults. But when this question is asked — how do you DO YA ministry? — people are often missing the point…

Last night at about 4:30, I sent out a quick text message to a bunch of friends, asking if they could make dinner plans. Several were out of town or working, but by the time 6:30 rolled around, there were seven of us seated around the table at Okoboji Grill, scanning menus and chatting. Two hours later, as we headed home, I couldn’t help but think how much this evening meant to me. It was fascinating to watch the evening unfold, and I think there was a lot to glean about the true simplicity of young adult ministry.

1. It’s all about the relationships. Let me say that again: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS. One more time? Yea, it really is ALL about the relationships! We weren’t talking about programs or theology (much, lol) or the deep issues in our lives. I wasn’t asking them to serve on a committee or trying to hook people into doing something for the service. It was just a bunch of people getting together simply to enjoy one another’s company. And it was GREAT. This is a group that has been slowly forming into a community, and there are new members every time. What happens is the recognition that we each need other people in our lives, and simply being together is a welcome break from the paces of work and home, desks and chores. People need people, and YA ministry begins with the recognition that we are all yearning for relationships where we can laugh, bounce ideas around, share stories and be our genuine selves. It doesn’t have to be fancy or structured — it just has to be offered.

2. Which leads to the next, easy point: JUST OFFER! I wasn’t sure how many people would be around, or if they’d want to come, or if the restaurant choice was the best. But I offered anyway, and got a great response. There are times people will be busy — keep offering! We often shut down after one attempt, taking it as a personal rejection or indication that they will never be interested, but it’s just not the case. Most people have really full schedules, but with each continued invitation, we are sending the signal that we genuinely care about somebody and WANT to get together. And eventually, a time will fit, the place will be right, and the need to connect with another person will be present. And don’t let money, transportation, or attire be a hindrance: offer to pay, to pick-up, and set the tone as casual in dress and conversation. But it’s a pretty certain rule: if you never invite, they will never come.

3. It’s okay to be spontaneous. My calendar is already 75% full until Thanksgiving, lol, but sometimes people like to do things on a whim. If you want to set plans a couple of weeks in advance, great, but many YA’s are just as comfortable responding for something that evening.

4. Connect people to one another. Several in the group knew each other through college; several had never met until the moment we sat down. It’s all about uncovering mutual interests or sharing bonding stories — we talked a LOT about pets last night! — whereby people can get to know one another. Each time someone new has “come into the group,” they feel at home and want to come back.

5. Food = Good. There is something about eating — or getting tea, a coke, coffee, etc — that sets people at ease. Community is formed around the dinner table, because it’s a natural rhythm of all of our lives. It allows everyone to be vulnerable and helps generate starting conversation. And, everybody has to eat, so why not do it together?!?

When it comes down to it, ministry with young adults really isn’t that scary. It’s not as complicated as we may want to see it. It’s not a secret formula that only the lucky few have unlocked, but is something every person in your congregation can — and SHOULD — do. Granted, as relationships grow and blossom and deepen, other venues for ministry will become important and applicable, but the beginning is just as simple as a quick call: “You wanna go to dinner tonight?”

What Matters Most?

Depending on the season, the time of day, and my mood, many different things seem to be of the utmost importance.  This afternoon, ‘sleep’ is probably right up there at the top of the list!  My mind and eyes are drooping, and it’s as though all I can think about is fixing this nuisance.  Every reaction, every decision, every move is screened through the lens of “Dan is tired.”  Right now, it is Priority #1.

But I know that after an anticipated good night’s sleep, I should awake refreshed in the morning, no longer (as) tired and ready to face something new.  By tomorrow morning, that which is most important now will (hopefully!) be but a memory, replaced by another “most important matter.” 

This seems to be a natural rhythm in our lives.  Issues burst upon us, demanding our attention or asking to be solved right away.  We fret or worry or focus compulsively on something that will pass soon, yet we can’t help but presume that, in the moment, it is the most important thing.

Yet this asks me to give pause, to reflect.  Do I get wrapped-up in that which is, ultimately, not that important?  Do I want my life to be a series of vignettes, each with their own pressing sub-plot yet never connected to a broader tapestry of story?  Are these temporay concerns worth dedicating my entire self to, or is there something greater through which I can re-vision the cavalcade of issues that bombard me with each new day?  What am I fixing my vision upon?  What is it that I allow to serve as my ‘screen’ through which I interpret everything else?  

President Veazey is going to be giving his annual address to the Community of Christ, an address entitled “The Mission Matters Most,” this Sunday at 6 p.m. U.S. Central.  In this address, it seems as though he will be reminding the church — and by inclusion, me — that while there are many things that may consume us from time to time, none are ultimately as important as living and declaring the mission of Christ.  That is the dream which catches and compels us, the work which trumps all other, the vocation in which we find abundant life.  When we might otherwise be distracted by tangential issues, it is a reminder that in the end what matters most is the mission of God through Christ.  That is what we dedicate our lives to.  And unlike my tired-ness or what color to paint the santuary or whether to schedule services for 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., this summons is more than a passing blip on the radar.  It is something that will be relevant well-beyond the ADD of my concerns; it is eternal!

As we prepare for this address, let us spend some time in prayer and reflection, asking that we may be open to the re-orientation of our lives around this True Priority.  What matters most?  The mission of Jesus Christ!

To watch the worship and address live on Sunday evening, go to:  http://www.cofchrist.org

Declare God to All…But Why?

We are told that we need to be witnesses for God, that our outreach is important, but what does that actually mean for us?  We know that missionary endeavors are a central part of the Christian life, but, like so many curious children do, I find myself asking, “Why?  Why?” to each answer I come up with.  And because I was one of those children (still am, in a way!) who was never satisfied with the answer “Because,” I found myself asking this question this week a lot.  So often our response to inquisitive disciples who ask “Why should we declare God to others?” has been “Because,” and that just isn’t good enough.  Let’s explore some of the answers to this question…

One of the most pervasive responses is that the reason we witness of God is because we want others to know that God desires to help them.  In this perspective, God is the Great Gift Giver, the One whose ultimate desire is to bless us.  The logic goes that our lives are empty and void before knowing God, so the primary purpose of evangelism is to fill this void with a reassurance that God is on our side and is looking for every opportunity to make our lives better.  Who wouldn’t like a God like this?!?  This God has my best interests in mind and has the power to influence circumstances for my benefit.  We as Christians are to invite others to know this God who wants EVERY person to be blessed because we have experienced a happiness which pervades our lives. 

On one level, this response is very appropriate.  God is indeed a loving God whose presence in our lives uplifts and blesses us.  God does seek the very best for each of our lives, but here is where this line of thinking begins to break down.  If all God wanted was to make us happy, what happens to our faith when bad things happen?  Does it mean that God no longer cares?  Another weakness is much more sinister.  Many use this idea – that God’s ultimate purpose is to bless us – to seek riches, often at the expense of others.  Greed, environmental abuse and the exploitation of the powerless often stem from this me-centered notion.  Joel Osteen, megachurch pastor and one of the most prominent voices in Christianity today, is one of the best examples of this theology, as he essentially tells people that “If you will only believe in God, God will make you rich and everything will be great in your life,” a message which seems to stand in stark contrast to Jesus’ emphasis on self-sacrifice, care for the poor and realization that there is suffering in the world.  Surely a message of personal gain isn’t why we want to proclaim God to others…  

Another viewpoint comes in the idea that God is the Great Comforter, and our declaration is to lift people from their hopelessness and fear.  God is always available to listen to our struggles and walk us through the problems and difficulties of life.  Because God is All-Knowing and All-Present, God provides all the answers and solutions to that which we face, if only we will listen and take the advice.  To declare God to all, then, is to share a message that God helps us get through life and can help others, too. 

Again, there are merits to this answer.  We are told that the Holy Spirit is a Comfort when there is no other comfort available, and we do trust that God carries us through the storms of life with love and patience.  But this God has little actual influence over our lives.  To many, this view of God is as a glorified therapist whom we visit from time to time, seeking clarification, but whose office we then leave to go about the rest of our lives.  This declaration asserts that we are only in need of minor tweaks from time to time, and demands nothing of us in return.  God is passive in this equation, simply offering us a sounding board to bounce ideas off of as we discover the answers from within.  As with the first illustration, this God allows us a me-centered view of the world without the hassle and challenges of loving others and seeking true justice and reconciliation for others.  And it seems to me that Jesus didn’t only sit and listen to a person’s needs – he confronted them with difficult questions about their behavior and challenged them to live radically different lives grounded in service to others.  Declaring a God of Therapy rings shallow in a world of need…

Others will swing to the exact opposite side of the spectrum when answering the question, “Why do we need to declare God to all?”  Their response?  “If we don’t, they are doomed to eternal separation from God.”  In attempting to balance a warm-fuzzy God with the message that God is also Just and worthy of awe, many paint God as jealous and hard to please.  This God is one who must be appeased by right action and right belief, lest He decides that His Holy Presence cannot be stained by the dirty soul.  God is forgiving, but only to a certain extent.  God is loving, but only to those who love back.  God is merciful, but this mercy has boundaries, and those who have not taken on the name of Jesus Christ stand outside those limits.  As Christians, it is our moral obligation to save every person we come into contact with out of fear that they might perish in eternal fire.  This type of evangelism is driven by fear, and fear is not something that is within the nature of God.  In fact, as the author of 1 John reminds us, “God is love…and there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”  I think it is pretty obvious why this is not our motivation to declare God to all.

So maybe we don’t actually need to.  After all, why should we try to push our beliefs on somebody else in the first place?  There are perfectly good people leading perfectly good lives who claim no religion or who follow another one.  How could we be so presumptuous as to think that what works for us will necessarily work for someone else?  Christians have a long track-record of being pushy and overbearing, and this just tends to put people off.  What ultimately matters is that we do our best to live as God would have us live, and if somebody asks us about our faith, then we can share.  In the meantime, though, it seems silly to even be talking about declaring God to others. 

A variation of this idea is that we don’t need to declare God, but rather simply uphold the notion of love.  Everyone can agree that love is important, so why not make the religion-neutral focus of love our pronouncement?  It is certainly more palatable than the other alternatives, and touches on every corner of our living.    

So why are we asked to declare God to all?  The problem with the two perspectives we just talked about – that we don’t need to share God with others or that we should shift our attention from ‘God’ to ‘love’ – is that they fall starkly outside of what it means to be a Christian.  They shy away from the radical proclamation which stands at the very center of the Christian faith:  that Jesus is Emmanuel, God WITH us, the Word Become Flesh who was revealed to humanity.  Jesus came boldly announcing the in-breaking reign of God and the transformation of self and society it brings.  He never forced this message on anyone, but he was always inviting them to participate in its new reality.  And the God he pointed to, the God we are to declare, is not an impersonal, nameless idea, concept or suggestion, but is the Living God, the Creator of All who has been self-revealing through the ages.  We cannot keep silent, because the hope and peace that we have been baptized into claims our lives so fully and in such a way that we ask, “How can I keep from singing?!”  We have come to know God in such an intimate way that we want everyone else to have the same opportunity we have.  This is not an abstract philosophical term, but a God who is in very nature relationship and who welcomes us into this possibility.

And this is why we are to declare God to all!  Because God desires above all else to restore us to right relationship.  True relationship means that we are loved no matter what, but that we also commit to struggling together.  While God seeks the best for each person, God is also weaving our varied stories together and seeking that which is best for the entire creation.  God desires to bless us, but not at the expense of others.  God comforts us, but also challenges and calls us into action.  God judges us, but also extends us infinite grace and love.  And, perhaps most important of all, God is a personal God, a God who suffers when we suffer and who dances when we dance; a God who is present in the harsh reality of poverty and disease and a God who speaks to us through the sweet smell of lilies.  You see, God does not simply desire to tweak this world, but to transform it.  By declaring God to all, we are inviting people to come and be in relationship with this relational God, to be transformed and experience new life in the dawning reality of God’s kingdom. 

A wise seventy once told me that “The Gospel is not complete until it is shared,” and that makes a lot of sense to me.  You see, everything else about the Good News of Jesus Christ is great, but it doesn’t find fulfillment until it speaks so deeply to us that we can’t help but share it with someone else.  When we have experienced something wonderful, we want to tell somebody.  When our lives are being shaped and molded and woven into patterns of love, generosity, reconciliation, mercy and peace, we have to let someone know how it makes us feel and act differently.  Relationships demand hard work and come with a very high probability of change, but it is in this covenant with God that we discover true life. 

“Declare God to All”.  Of course!  But why?  Because our God is not a God to be feared, or a Glorified Therapist, or a God who sits on the sidelines and ignores the plight of the downtrodden.  No…Our God is a God who desires above all else to restore us to right relationship with Godself, ourselves, one another and all of creation.  We declare this God because, as D&C 162 says, we “are a people who have been loved, and who now courageously choose to love others in the name of the One [we] serve.”  This God, and this God alone, is the One we are called to proclaim.  So let us do it boldly.

How Can I Keep from Singing?

“The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart…How can I keep from singing?”

I have been a singer my whole life. From a young age, I would immerse myself in the melodies and countermelodies, rhythms and lyrics of music. In times when I couldn’t express in my own words the deep feelings I was experiencing, music could. There is a power resonant within the interplay of text and tune. In a way I don’t fully understand, giving voice to these songs seemed to create a new reality, a sense that my life and the world were somehow richer, simply by the fact that notes on a page had been transformed in to sounds on the air. In a technical sense, these notes are a vibration in the air, an energy that changes the surrounding environment. To sing a note is to move it from a passive state to an active one; it is to give the music life.

We often read about peace. A great deal of writing and study has been dedicated to the notion and the many possible interpretations of this simple word. In our lives and as a church, it is important to “develop a Christ-centered theology of peace”. Yet any theology remains shallow unless it can be taken from the written page and applied. Just as a piece of music is not complete until it has been sung or played, so too peace is not reality until it is lived and acted upon. To “share the peace of Jesus Christ” is to sing into awareness the life-transforming shalom that God offers. We sing a duet of sorts with God, co-creating in hope, life and love. And why do we sing? Because we have heard the Song of peace Christ is writing, and it changes us in such a way that our heart’s response is to sing along. “The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart…How can I keep from singing?”

Pessimistic Christians?

“Pessimistic Christian.” It is a perfect oxymoron, when you stop to think about it. A pessimist is someone who takes a negative view on life, who tends to expect the worst and therefore finds the worst in all things. There is always some issue or problem that can be found to use as evidence in claiming that we’re in a bad situation and it probably isn’t going to improve. For the pessimist, the world is at best something just to get through, and at worst a system constructed to trap people, filled with individuals who are out to “get” others and care only for themselves. To be a pessimist is, by definition, to reject hope.

Christians, however, are people who literally live by hope. The word “hope” occurs over 75 times in the writings of the New Testament alone, with encouragement such as “hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5: 5) In the letter to the Ephesians, the author prays that the congregation “may know what is the hope to which [Christ] has called you,” (1: 18) which the author of Titus declares to be “the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (2: 13) A Christian is one who views everything through the promises of God being fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians see challenges, but they also see possibility. We find pain, suffering and intolerance, yet know that God’s love and peace are stronger and will ultimately triumph. The world is not some dark and sinister place, or something simply to be tolerated, but is rather the stage upon which God invites us into the thrilling dance of relationship. We meet each person, not as someone to be feared but as a beloved child of God. Christians seek out the good in every situation, even when it seems that darkness and despair have conquered.

Why? Because we believe in the transforming power of the resurrection. Our declaration with Christians of all ages that “Christ is risen!” reframes any situation, placing us unequivocally on the side of hope. We are Easter people: those who find life and possibility in the darkest hour, and who know that, through the resurrection of Christ, the future has been secured. We need not fear. As our Basic Beliefs say: “We press forward together in service to God, knowing that our labor is not in vain. The future of the creation belongs to the Prince of Peace, not to those who oppress, dominate, or destroy. As we anticipate that future, we devote ourselves to seek Christ’s peace and pursue it….With faith in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we face the future in hopeful longing.”

One cannot be a pessimistic Christian – the terms are simply incompatible. Far too often, though, we choose to ignore the True Hope of the gospel by getting swamped in the short-term details and stresses. Sometimes we even want to take a pessimistic view, and in those moments we must confess of our failure to place ourselves into the hope of God. We can’t have it both ways. The terms are mutually exclusive. So which one will we claim?

As numerous as the stars…

This morning I witnessed what is perhaps one of the most incredible sites in all the natural world.  It started out with just a few birds, rising up from an unseen field and making their way over the lake where I normally go walking.  Within a few minutes, however, the skies were filled as literally thousands of small birds rose over the tree line to fill the skies with their silhouettes.  And just when I thought they had all flown by, another wave would emerge, so that over a period of five solid minutes there was a constant stream of these birds as they began their fall migration south.  It was a breath-taking sight to behold. 

It reminded me of the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis.  In the story, Abraham faithfully follows God’s call in his life, and because of his response, God declares that “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.”  The blessing continues that “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”  (Gen. 22: 17, 18)

The migration of birds seemed to be “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore,” yet it began with just a small group, leading the way.  For those who respond to God’s call to embark on a journey of faith and transformation, the promise is that God will use our faithfulness to bless others, perhaps even thousands.  Our example, the lives that we live and the faith that we share, serves as a beacon to others to the point that, perhaps through us, all nations on earth will be blessed.  The idea of thousands of birds lifting to the sky, their eyes fixed on the same goal and agreeing to journey together, is one that we should consider as we examine our own faith journey.  And like Abraham, God can use our dedication and service to speak blessing into the world.  Though it can be a struggle, and sometimes we feel like we may be one of the only ones making the journey, you never know who is following behind, strengthened and encouraged by your example.