Disciple

It has caught my attention that the word disciple has been popping up more and more in secular usage especially in the business world (see http://www.willmancini.com/2010/01/if-steve-jobs-made-disciples.html) for an example.  Basically the idea is to find a leader, teacher, mentor and glean all that one can from that person.  To follow them, learn from them, copy them, and then be able to do what they do.  The business world understands the value of discipleship.  Sometimes I wonder if the church has lost sight of the value of discipleship.  To follow Jesus as a disciple means we learn from Him, copy Him, and then find ourselves able to do the things He did.  In his video Dust, Rob Bell suggests that we fear copying Christ to the point of being like Him because we doubt ourselves (view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_-fDTzNz9s).  We doubt our ability to be Christ-like.  I think we do fear Christ-likeness but for different reasons.  I think we fear being a disciple and becoming Christ-like because of the cost.  We don't want to pay the price of discipleship.  More on this to come.   

A Prayer for my Children

Dear God,
    I thank you for my children.  Please let me be worthy of their innocence.  Help me father to keep their joy while overcoming their fears.  May I never forget how to play in the yard you have given me.  Humble me and let me be little before you yet give me the strength to protect them when I need to.  Redeem me as a parent so that you might be successful despite my failings.  Remind me everyday that they are yours and you have entrusted me to their care.  Help me be worthy of such a trust.  Amen. 

Taking a Risk

Dormant.  Or maybe another word that can be used is stagnant.  In moments of inactivity it is harder to see God (my personal opinion).  God is much easier to see in the midst of activity.  Whether that activity is ministry work, tragedy, or blessing it is easier to see God in these moments.  One of the best ways to see God is to take a little risk.  Not the foolish kind of risk (for more on this see Proverbs) but the living-like-Christ kind.  The letting your light shine kind of risk.  The, "I will trust you in this because it makes no earthly sense to me" kind of risk.  This might mean going on a mission, giving a large gift, diving into a ministry area, making a commitment to volunteer a number of hours, making a confession etc.  In our group we call this the BSS or Big Scary Step.  For Abraham it was the first steps leaving his home country.  For Peter it was the first step out of the boat.  What will it be in your life?

A Top 10 Tough Challenge

I am working on a list of 10 hard things in anticipation of a series of lessons that Adam Markle and I will be teaching soon.  I would really like to hear what everyone out there thinks about the tough things God asks of us.  To prime the pumps I am going to say that one of the toughest things we are called to do is live in community with one another.  We are so diverse and unique that it is hard for two people to live together- much less a congregation of 180.  However, for some reason God calls us to live in community and do so with unity and peace.  Not easy... what are your thoughts?  What has God asked of us that is tough?

On Divorce

Whoa, did I get a lot of emails about divorce after my last post (Divine Ventriloquist).  There is such a variety of thoughts and emotions on this topic that I thought I should clarify with an add-on post. 

To begin I have seen teachings that say Malachi 2:16 is not referring to divorce as we understand it... this is not so.  The context of the passage will tell you that God is referring to a broken marriage.  In verse 14 God is angry over the broken promise and ruined relationship.  The context of this verse is marital unfaithfulness and I will address that in a moment.

Also, this passage is directed toward men.  Culturally we understand that in that time period women could not make the decision to divorce.  This does not excuse women from similar admonishment.

Third, I do not believe that divorce is an unforgiveable sin.  However, I do believe that sin is involved in divorce.  Fighting, arguing, and selfishness, are a part of the process that leads to divorce.  Anger, jealousy, bitterness may also have been part of the process.  These things are hurtful, sad, and not what God intends for or from His people.  We can be tempted to play the blame game of his fault or her fault but that is more of the same division.  The church should focus more on prevention and healing than on assigning fault or guilt.

Additionally, I do believe there are circumstances that are the darkest of all.  Child abuse or spousal abuse are sins that anger God.  Unfaithfulness is one of those anger-invoking sins that is mentioned directly in Malachi.  Such circumstances are complex and should not be met with simple responses.  I have been awed at the willingness of a spouse to forgive cheating.  I have been confused at the unwillingness of a spouse to escape abuse.  These cases have no easy answers and should be addressed individually with much prayer.

Divorce is messy, ugly and hurtful.  God hates divorce because it hurts his people when they go through it.  It does not say that God hates divorcees.  He does not.  However, it angers Him when His children are hurting and hurting each other. 

I think this adequately responds to the emails I have gotten.  Would like to see some of that discussion here so that everyone could give input.   

The Divine Ventriloquist

How many of us are perfecting our ventriloquist act?  You know, the ability to make your voice appear to come from some inanimate object (such as a puppet).  Many people are experts at ventriloquism and don't even realize it.  What I am referring to is the number of people who are able to make their own voice come out of God.  Almost all of us have this amazing ability to make God say what we want Him to say instead of listening to His divine voice.

For some this occurs when they read scripture.  They want the Bible to say certain things or not say other things.  We apply political correctness to the timeless truths until we hear our own voice coming out of the scriptures.  It takes rigorous discipline to approach the Bible in as neutral and open-minded way as possible.  Without such discipline we will certainly be performing ventriloquism before we know it.

Others confuse their own thoughts and desires for the will of God in their life.  More and more I have heard of husbands who have left wife and kids because, "God wants me to be happy."  Is it too politically incorrect to tell you that Malachi 2:16 says, "God hates divorce?"  He hates it because it means somewhere in that relationship someone (maybe both someones) did not act Christ-like.  It means that a covenant was broken.  Maybe there was abuse? No doubt such a thing breaks God's heart.  How dare people then say that God wants them to divorce?  God wants them to run off with someone else?  I don't think so.  Quite an act of ventriloquism!

Finally, this can be done on a corporate level too.  There are times when the church can get so mired in tradition, cultural practices, and particular interpretations/teachings that it will not listen to God's voice in the present.  Maybe new teachings or cultural changes (that are acceptable) will be rejected meaninglessly.  Leaders need to avoid replacing God's voice with their own.

My conclusions on the matter is that we are still caught up in the first sin.  In Genesis satan tempted Eve by telling her she would be like God.  We are still trying to be God.  We are silencing Him and filling in our own voice instead.  We are not being image bearers but image changers.  Trying to make God in our image.