Quote of the day – Shane & Chris

“The divorce rate of evangelical Christians now surpasses that of the rest of the population in the United States. Evangelicals are getting divorced, and gay folks are wanting to get married, and religionists keep accusing homosexuals of destroying the family. Yikes” (233).

Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw, Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008. 9780310278429.

This is a rather controversial book but I think he raises a good point although I have only before heard that the divorce rates are the same, not that Evangelicals are divorcing in even higher numbers than others. If Evangelicals as a whole were forced to choose between NO DIVORCE on any grounds and HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE on any grounds I am pretty sure what the result would be. The statistics speak clearly to the fact that we would be willing to accept someone else’ sin before giving up our own. I wonder why 72% of those outside the church think it is full of hypocrites?

Unfortunately, we don’t seem to care that God was pretty clear on his feelings about divorce: “’I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel, ‘and I hate it when people clothe themselves with injustice,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 2:16). It isn’t too often in the Bible that God declared he hated things. Many people seem to think that Jesus would be easier going than that but he was pretty clear on the issue of divorce as well: “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery” (Mt 19:9//Mk 10:11-12; Lk 16:18). I guess only certain verses are supposed to be taken “literally” at “face value.”

Why is there such a disconnect between belief and action in the Evangelical church? In our own lives? If this concerns you read today’s post linking to an article on Francis Chan and read Forgotten God!

Francis Chan in Christianity Today

Brandon, John. “Crazy Passion: Francis Chan keeps pushing and pushing to make more and more disciples.” Christianity Today. 10/16/2009 09:53AM.

A couple of days ago Christianity Today published an article about Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love and Forgotten God, both of which I have reviewed recently. It focuses on his personal story and his current endeavour to start a different kind of church that mixes the house church and large group gathering church together. He is moving from Simi Valley into the more populous regions of LA.

I’m glad to hear that he still believes in the larger church and it will be interesting to see how the two can be combined. I don’t know of any house church movements that have been overly successful in North America but I look forward to something that goes beyond the small group model. What he’s doing kind of sounds like the Korean model which would be good if it can create the passion for God which is his goal.

Book of the Year – Forgotten God by Francis Chan

I know it’s only the middle of October but I have finished 144 books this year and I have reason to believe that of those this is the most important for the Church today.

Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Colorado Springs, 2009. 1434767957, 9781434767950.

I recently reviewed Chan’s Crazy Love and noted that I was a little concerned about his lack of balance between the immanence and transcendence of God. I have no such hesitation in recommending this book about the Forgotten God by which he means Holy Spirit. Francis ably addresses the fact that we as Christians seem to have forgotten the place of Holy Spirit in our lives. He seeks to redress this failure by reminding us of our calling to live like Christ empowered by Holy Spirit. In a sense this is the same calling as Wholly Sanctified that I just reviewed. Chan focuses on the role of Holy Spirit in that and our need to remember him.

In the introduction he states, “While no evangelical would deny His [Holy Spirit's] existence, I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can” (15). I don’t think too many would argue with this statement. Unfortunately, too many Christians are convinced that they can’t do any better and they accept the status quo. Of course, that is the point – they can’t do any better and need to let Holy Spirit empower them. Why are so many Christians discouraged and feel disempowered about living holy lives?

Chan addresses this issue in seven chapters each of which seeks to answer a specific question. At several points in the book he cautions readers to stop and think about where they are at, or to read a certain section of Scripture and reflect on it before coming back to this book. This is helpful if people are willing to do it. Like most things in life, readers will only be successful in receiving a filling up of Holy Spirit and living out of his strength if they seek to place themselves within his sphere of influence. Exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit isn’t about intellectual knowledge but about allowing Holy Spirit to control us. Let us renew our minds and walk in his ways. Amen!

This book isn’t overly long (167pp) so it will be an easy read for most. There is more to be said about Holy Spirit and his role in our lives and in the church but if there was one introductory book I would want church goers to read this would be it.

God loves Christians // God loves the Church

God loves Christians // God loves the Church

You would think that by definition those two statements would be accepted by all who follow Christ but unfortunately that isn’t always the case. It has become fashionable for Christian leaders to define themselves as anything but “Christians.” Jesus followers is one popular term. The idea being that “Christian” is loaded with too many negative connotations and has too much historical baggage. If we want to get back to portraying true “New Testament Christianity” we need to take on a new identifying name such as “Jesus followers.” This is problematic given that the book of Acts records that “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (11:25). These weren’t just any “Jesus followers,” these were the disciples of Jesus. The term is also used in Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet 4:16 and by the apostolic Fathers. If we want to portray NT Christianity shouldn’t we use the NT label? This will prevent confusion and if we are concerned about others misusing the name of Christ we need to live up to his name and cause others to reflect on why they are not like us. The actions of some should not prevent us from using Christ’s name! Our actions as Christians can heap burning coals on those who oppose his will.

Other segments of Christians have decided that the Church has failed and we should restructure ourselves according to some new movement. Aside that the fact that ultimately the Church is the body of Christ and not a format we must consider that the early Church was just that – a Church. They held meetings in a centralised location and engaged in the stuff of church (read the Scripture, listened to preaching, prayed, sang, gave, and regularly celebrated Communion). This brings us into the realm of the emergent church and the claim that “Everything Must Change.” I came across two blog posts today reflecting on “How emergent was the early church?” and they conclude that the current emergent church seems to reflect medieval Christianity more than first century Christianity (Cf. New Leaven and The Church of Jesus Christ). All my life I have attended church on Sunday and you know what – every Sunday God has been there too because he loves the Church. It may have its problems but its Christ’s body on earth and as long as people continue to gather in his name he will be present and he promised that not even the gates of Hell could prevail against it! Amen!!

Quote of the Day – Michael W. Smith

“I believe that good music is judged not by what it sounds like, but what it does to us.”

The above quote is found on page 160 of his book, It’s Time to Be Bold. Nashville: Word Publishing, 1997. 0849933366. It can be found in the BAC library under 248.4 SMI.

Smith takes readers on a tour behind the scenes, basing his chapters on the reasons why he wrote certain songs. The book’s chapters contain brotherly advice on relationships with family and friends, reading the Bible and praying, our involvement in the church and world, spiritual warfare, and dealing with pain and suffering. He writes with a familiar tone and invites readers to share his world.

BTW, if you ever meet him in real life, be sure to call him MacGyver as he really likes that and might even write about you in a future book!

“Music is God’s way of keeping the poet alive inside all of us.”

International Student Outreach Seminar

Next Saturday, October 3, 2009 there will be a special speaker at Surrey Alliance Church. Douglas Shaw will be speaking on reaching out to international students who have come to Canada to study. It looks like a good opportunity to learn about this type of ministry and it is free, which is best of all!

For more information surf on over to the Surrey Alliance website.

N. T. Wright speaks out on D025

The Times has published an article from Bishop Wright in which he responds to the actions of the American Episcopal church in which they voted 72% to approve D025. Wright opposes this move because it is wrong and also because it will tear the Anglican Communion further asunder. He concludes: “The Episcopal Church is now distancing itself from that fellowship[of confessing Anglicans]. Ways must be found for all in America who want to be loyal to it, and to scripture, tradition and Jesus, to have that loyalty recognised and affirmed at the highest level.” Those Anglicans living in BC under the authority of an apostate bishop know what those ways look like. They are currently in court fighting to prevent him from taking their churches out from under them.

The irony could not be thicker as the American church recognises that this issue is controversial when they state: “While the church continues to discern God’s will in these matters….” God’s will in these matters?!!? How could God’s will be made any clearer? If you accept the Bible as the written expression of his will it could not be any clearer. If you do not, then stop calling yourself Christian; you are not a church if you do not acknowledge Christ as your head. Let’s pray for our enemies and continue to love those who oppose the will of God, with the hope that by doing so they will turn from their wickedness and seek his forgiveness.

How specific is God’s plan for your life?

Many people turn to God when they are indecisive about what to do with their lives. As a high school student I wondered what I should do after I graduated. As a college student I wondered what I should do after I graduated. As a graduate student I wondered what I should do after I graduated. As a working adult I wondered if I should go back to school. Who would I marry? Where would I live? I had a lot of questions, the answers to which would affect my whole life. As a Christian I asked, “What is the will of God for my life?” In this post I want to look at two books in the BAC library which examine the will of God and how it works in relation to his children. Both are written by popular, well respected authors and are found under 248.4.

J. Oswald Sanders, Every Life is a Plan of God: Discovering His Will for Your Life. Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1992. 0929239547. 248.4 SAN.

Bruce K. Waltke, Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. 0802839746, 1553610105. First published in 1995 by Vision House Publishing, Greshem, Or. 248.4 WAL

As the title of Sander’s book indicates he advocates that “every life is a plan of God.” However, he does not view this plan as detailed and exhaustive. “If there is a divine plan for our lives, and I believe there is, we should not expect it to be like an architect’s blueprint. Or like a travel agent’s itinerary, all complete with dates, places, and times. We are not automatons controlled by a heavenly computer! Divine guidance concerns people who have been endowed with the awesome power of free choice” (10-11). The purpose of God’s guidance is to “lead us into a wholesome maturity and a growing likeness to Christ” (11). Sanders does believe that God directly guides us at times, such as through dreams but this is quite unusual. He dispels a number of myths that people have about divine guidance such as every open door being the will of God and every closed door being his prohibition.

The bulk of the book concerns the methods that God uses to guide us. The primary method is through the instruction laid out in the Bible. If something is clearly commanded in the Bible God will never command us to act contrary to that revelation. God may speak to us in prayer but will also use who we naturally are (after all he created us!). He uses our gifts and abilities and our temperament to show us where to go and what to do. If God has given us musical ability he will show us how to use that, not require we give it up and become a sculptor. He devotes an entire chapter to the missionary call and lists eighteen things that should take place before one confirms that they are called to be a missionary. He suggests it can take ten years for the process to be completed (127-129). These steps include personal preparation through education and experience and confirmation from others such as our pastor.

The title of Waltke’s book demonstrates his determination to prevent people from seeking the will of God in a superstitious manner. He begins the book with a number of examples in which Christians seek God’s will through coincidence or impressions. Waltke’s basic stance is that “God is not a magic genie. The use of promise boxes, or flipping open your Bible and pointing your finger, or relying on the first thought to enter your mind after a prayer are unwarranted forms of Christian divination” (12). Waltke agrees with Sanders that God equips people with gifts to match their calling and other Christians will affirm the person in that calling. Our calling is revealed through our relationship with God rather than through any special signs or “hunches” that he might provide.

Waltke has specific chapters on the basic ways in which God guides us: through obedience to the Bible, through matching our desires with scriptural principles, through wise counsel, through God’s providence in the world in line with his recorded will in scripture, and through rational sound judgment based on scripture, ability, giftedness, overall strategy and circumstances. He concludes with a chapter on divine intervention in which he focuses on “our getting to know [God] through his word and letting him shape our character, our hearts, and our desires. Then as we know the mind of God we can live out His will. He expects us to first draw close to Him, then allows for seeking wise counsel as confirmation, or taking our circumstances into consideration and using our own sound judgment to make a decision” (168-69).

Both of the above books are really saying the same thing. God does provide guidance to his children but it comes primarily through natural rather than supernatural means and we should not expect God to speak to us about specifics in response to our demands for divine acts or dreams. Superstitious practices are for pagans rather than Christians who are called to know God personally and then live out of that reality as we make decisions. Both authors emphasise that we should start with God’s word to us in scripture and then make decisions is the light of that based on our God given abilities and inclinations. This process needs to be backed up by the wise counsel of other Christians.

Why do churches grow?

Andy Rowell over at Church Leadership Conversations has an interesting post in which he looks at the conclusions of seven research teams looking at church growth. Here are the fourteen reasons that are given, as reported by Rowell:

Here is a summary of the 14 factors which I document fully below: (1) witnessing, (2) strictness, (3) high fertility rates, (4) caring for children and youth, (5) high involvement, (6) welcoming new people, (7) leadership, (8) prayer, (9) being a church of 1000+ attendees or under 50 attendees, (10) being located in rural counties, (11) being in rapidly growing zip codes, (12) being in a tradition that is altering worship practices slightly but not too much, (13) churches that offer “intimacy and choice” and (14) attractive worship style, senior pastor, and church reputation.*

Obviously there is no consensus concerning what ‘makes’ a church grow. Presumably the presence of Holy Spirit also has something to do with it but he blows where he wills and can’t be pinned down . Follow the link to read more about the findings in each category.

*Andy Rowell, “Fourteen theories of church growth from seven research teams” Church Leadership Conversations blog (June 16, 2009),  n.p. [cited 16 June 2009]. Online: http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2009/06/fourteen-theories-of-church-growth-from-seven-research-teams.html

Three return Order of Canada

It was announced today that three Montrealers have returned their Order of Canada and their resignations were accepted by Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean. In the CBC story it only focusses on one of those three, Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, who returned his award because Morgentaler received the same reward last year for “his services to women and for leadership in the fields of humanism and civil liberties.” I don’t know of anyone in the history of Canada that has done more than Morgentaler to destroy women, humanity and civil liberties for the unborn so he certainly deserves some kind of recognition. However, I think that the CBC is unduly focussing on the Catholic in this case as it barely mentions astronomer René Racine and pianist and conductor Jacqueline Richard. As a result the related comments on CBC are largely focussed on attacking the Roman Catholic church. Should they not mention all three equally and then folks can attack astronomy and orchestras with the same vehemence?