Monday, January 31, 2005
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Daniel
Daniel is a fixture, here in Clifton (University ghetto-Cincinnati). Long hair, red. Surfer-style speech. Rings on all fingers. Occult symbols around his neck on chains and strings... All the people who are daily in this part of town know him.
Sometimes he's violent. Usually, he's drunk... This morning, he was soaking wet (only his right leg, actually), incredibly drunk, forehead bloodied by a blow. He smelled like garbage and beer. He slept in the woods.
He needs our help. He needs some fresh clothes and a shower, some money for beer, some cigarettes. He needs someone to sponsor his existence: bring him comforts when possible--lunch, cigs, cash, bus tokens...
...someone to love him to the place of trust, to meet him where he's at... to associate with him. Someone who gives without pushing...
...gives without pushing off, "now I've done my job."
...gives without pushing away, "take it and leave me alone."
...gives without pushing "I'll give if i think you'll change."
Someone who would just sponsor a life on the street. just come and love Daniel, every chance they get.
So far, he's jesus.
I recently heard from a local church leader how difficult Daniel can be when they're trying to have service and he's sitting outside the windows, mumbling and yelling in a stupor. Their best remedy was to invite him in.
I like that. It didn't "work". What is "work"? He yelled, got violent, whatnot. He's Daniel.
Well, the invitation to civilize didn't "work" (though I suspect the Lord is pleased with it). What about the sponsorship of his life? People hunting down the local poor to give them gifts! To provide for needs.
You know what Daniel needed today? He kept mumbling about candles and a radio. That way, when he sleeps in the park he doesn't feel lonely and scared, i guess. He didn't explain.
Candles and a radio... good idea, Dan.
Sometimes he's violent. Usually, he's drunk... This morning, he was soaking wet (only his right leg, actually), incredibly drunk, forehead bloodied by a blow. He smelled like garbage and beer. He slept in the woods.
He needs our help. He needs some fresh clothes and a shower, some money for beer, some cigarettes. He needs someone to sponsor his existence: bring him comforts when possible--lunch, cigs, cash, bus tokens...
...someone to love him to the place of trust, to meet him where he's at... to associate with him. Someone who gives without pushing...
...gives without pushing off, "now I've done my job."
...gives without pushing away, "take it and leave me alone."
...gives without pushing "I'll give if i think you'll change."
Someone who would just sponsor a life on the street. just come and love Daniel, every chance they get.
So far, he's jesus.
I recently heard from a local church leader how difficult Daniel can be when they're trying to have service and he's sitting outside the windows, mumbling and yelling in a stupor. Their best remedy was to invite him in.
I like that. It didn't "work". What is "work"? He yelled, got violent, whatnot. He's Daniel.
Well, the invitation to civilize didn't "work" (though I suspect the Lord is pleased with it). What about the sponsorship of his life? People hunting down the local poor to give them gifts! To provide for needs.
You know what Daniel needed today? He kept mumbling about candles and a radio. That way, when he sleeps in the park he doesn't feel lonely and scared, i guess. He didn't explain.
Candles and a radio... good idea, Dan.
Purpose and Life
in the last entry, I posted some "randoms" from a four-man conversation in a local coffee shop. I'll be doing that from time to time. It's a way of letting supporters and friends in on what kinds of ideas are shaping our heart here.
at the end, you'll find a statement like:
"...making converts has been killing the church..." or something like that. I got a good comment from Justin on it. I want to respond in an entry, as well as the comment I posted in response.
first of all, I admit that statements like that come in the flow of a conversation and aren't the best for public posting... They can cause problems in their roughness and absolutness.
But I stand behind that statement. You see, the meaning of that statement hinges on the term "making converts". Jesus NEVER told us to do so. He spoke in terms of DISCIPLES, all the time. He also told us to BEAR FRUIT! And to LOVE one another... These are all precise, guiding articulation of Jesus' teaching on our purposes here.
Now we do find Nicholas, a convert to Judaism, in Acts 6. He becomes a Christian (after being a convert) and then is a deacon. Church history has some interesting things to say about this Nicholas, but that's not for here...
And Jesus speaks of conversion, too. He uses it in the imperative sense: "Convert, or perish." Repent is a good meaning here. Turn to me! You know?
So the noun form of convert, as well as the verb form, are surely Biblical language. But the PREDOMINANT commands don't say "Make Converts". This would be akin to saying "change people's minds" (which thing we do, since the love of Christ constrains us to convince men 2 Cor 5).
The predominant teaching of Jesus had to do with God, each other, the poor, the sick, prisoners, outcasts, forgiveness, giving away, love, obedience, fearing God, bearing fruit...
Now some say that this fruit is the fruit of "souls" coming into the kingdom, or "converts". This is a view of fruit that gives us a false assurance. There are so many who have a ton of converts--people whose minds are changed by their teaching and whatnot--people who have joined their Christian movements--but they don't have LOVE! They don't touch the poor--physically. They don't have time for kids and stupid people. They avoid the lowly and the needy.
But Jesus is commanding a life that loves (has genuine affection for) the poor, needy, outcast, sinner... a life that GIVES AWAY the stuff of the world and embraces the cross in the little, daily stuff... footwashing, toilet-scrubbing, child loving, homeless-hugging life.
...a life content with obscurity that sees Jesus in the face of every "least of these", His brethren... a life involved, swirling, mingling with the prisoner, the poor, the needy...
the sea of need can close over our heads. Let it. It's a good death.
We aren't here to solve the problem, but to drown in an ocean of loving them. funny thing--when you step out of the boat with this mentality, you FLOAT!
Our key...
Our source of purpose...
Our focus while on this earth...
is not all about propagating the faith.
It's about loving God. Loving God is seeing Jesus and serving Him in our neighbor! It's being His neighbor!
Purpose found in propagation is detrimental to the health of the church... that's because the health of the church is dependent on us seeing that it's "all about". Having a goal, a purpose that is bigger than the "movement", "institution", or any posterity or credit we get...
It's all about PLEASING THE LORD in the way we love each other and the world.
This includes preaching the word at all opps.
In fact, "converts" (rescues, salvations, saved souls) are the result of this love for God and our neighbor. The LOVE is the purpose. This is in contrast to "church growth" and "soul winning" purposes, which are a popular idol...
So, we all know that "church growth", "soul winning", "movements", "institution", "conversion", and "converts" are Biblical language.
But something deeply unspiritual and profoundly hindering has proceeded from this misplaced focus. We need to return to a focus that pleases the Lord. A good look at Romans 12, the whole chapter, will be medicine to heal...
This just a rant,
at the end, you'll find a statement like:
"...making converts has been killing the church..." or something like that. I got a good comment from Justin on it. I want to respond in an entry, as well as the comment I posted in response.
first of all, I admit that statements like that come in the flow of a conversation and aren't the best for public posting... They can cause problems in their roughness and absolutness.
But I stand behind that statement. You see, the meaning of that statement hinges on the term "making converts". Jesus NEVER told us to do so. He spoke in terms of DISCIPLES, all the time. He also told us to BEAR FRUIT! And to LOVE one another... These are all precise, guiding articulation of Jesus' teaching on our purposes here.
Now we do find Nicholas, a convert to Judaism, in Acts 6. He becomes a Christian (after being a convert) and then is a deacon. Church history has some interesting things to say about this Nicholas, but that's not for here...
And Jesus speaks of conversion, too. He uses it in the imperative sense: "Convert, or perish." Repent is a good meaning here. Turn to me! You know?
So the noun form of convert, as well as the verb form, are surely Biblical language. But the PREDOMINANT commands don't say "Make Converts". This would be akin to saying "change people's minds" (which thing we do, since the love of Christ constrains us to convince men 2 Cor 5).
The predominant teaching of Jesus had to do with God, each other, the poor, the sick, prisoners, outcasts, forgiveness, giving away, love, obedience, fearing God, bearing fruit...
Now some say that this fruit is the fruit of "souls" coming into the kingdom, or "converts". This is a view of fruit that gives us a false assurance. There are so many who have a ton of converts--people whose minds are changed by their teaching and whatnot--people who have joined their Christian movements--but they don't have LOVE! They don't touch the poor--physically. They don't have time for kids and stupid people. They avoid the lowly and the needy.
But Jesus is commanding a life that loves (has genuine affection for) the poor, needy, outcast, sinner... a life that GIVES AWAY the stuff of the world and embraces the cross in the little, daily stuff... footwashing, toilet-scrubbing, child loving, homeless-hugging life.
...a life content with obscurity that sees Jesus in the face of every "least of these", His brethren... a life involved, swirling, mingling with the prisoner, the poor, the needy...
the sea of need can close over our heads. Let it. It's a good death.
We aren't here to solve the problem, but to drown in an ocean of loving them. funny thing--when you step out of the boat with this mentality, you FLOAT!
Our key...
Our source of purpose...
Our focus while on this earth...
is not all about propagating the faith.
It's about loving God. Loving God is seeing Jesus and serving Him in our neighbor! It's being His neighbor!
Purpose found in propagation is detrimental to the health of the church... that's because the health of the church is dependent on us seeing that it's "all about". Having a goal, a purpose that is bigger than the "movement", "institution", or any posterity or credit we get...
It's all about PLEASING THE LORD in the way we love each other and the world.
This includes preaching the word at all opps.
In fact, "converts" (rescues, salvations, saved souls) are the result of this love for God and our neighbor. The LOVE is the purpose. This is in contrast to "church growth" and "soul winning" purposes, which are a popular idol...
So, we all know that "church growth", "soul winning", "movements", "institution", "conversion", and "converts" are Biblical language.
But something deeply unspiritual and profoundly hindering has proceeded from this misplaced focus. We need to return to a focus that pleases the Lord. A good look at Romans 12, the whole chapter, will be medicine to heal...
This just a rant,
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Rohs St. Cafe in Cinci...
randoms from a four-man conversation at Rohs St.
what do i need to do this stuff?
got utilities, still on.
got the mortgage, not foreclosed yet.
got enough food, indeed!
got friends.
TVs.
All kinds of truck!!!
we can just start!
we're terrible managers of what God's given us...
jubilee/ransom/stewardship
loving peoplesubverting the system
asking for lessgiving away what we do have.being a place to serve...
creating a place for lifechange to happen conversation to happen
putting ourselves on a shoestring to do it...
being a slave to the beggar...
past the idea of posessing god
no to making converts, yes to pleasing his heart...
how much of the giving to who asks is objectively for us?
what about when we run out? Then faith begins!
surely simplistic, but look what happens!
according to what we have, not don't?
making converts is killing the kingdom.
200 years of preaching religion has cheesed us out.
the healing comes in living the word
what do i need to do this stuff?
got utilities, still on.
got the mortgage, not foreclosed yet.
got enough food, indeed!
got friends.
TVs.
All kinds of truck!!!
we can just start!
we're terrible managers of what God's given us...
jubilee/ransom/stewardship
loving peoplesubverting the system
asking for lessgiving away what we do have.being a place to serve...
creating a place for lifechange to happen conversation to happen
putting ourselves on a shoestring to do it...
being a slave to the beggar...
past the idea of posessing god
no to making converts, yes to pleasing his heart...
how much of the giving to who asks is objectively for us?
what about when we run out? Then faith begins!
surely simplistic, but look what happens!
according to what we have, not don't?
making converts is killing the kingdom.
200 years of preaching religion has cheesed us out.
the healing comes in living the word
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)