church

Respecting the Old and the New

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36He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, “The old is good.”   Luke 5:36-39

Both are valuable.

New wineskins and old wineskins.

Because of what they hold: wine.

Jesus tells this parable as His new community is under attack.

I believe He conveys the value of both the old and the new.

Put new wine in old wineskins and you spoil both.

Those who have partaken of the aged wine prefer the old rather than the new.

Most people who have experienced good times in community don’t really like change.  We want to hold onto those moments when we experienced God’s grace together.

The church is Jesus’ discipleship movement. But our assets like buildings, culture, music, books, and websites distract us from the fluidity of His Kingdom.  We are seduced into illusions of permanence and legacy that have little to do with His Kingdom.

We require the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit in order to live in the tension of honouring people graced by Jesus in the old and in the new. I know… I’m a church planter. I’m living in-between; sent from the old in order to plant seeds and gather the new. I’m learning that our critique of either will lead to sin if we fail to cherish the people He has and is drawing into the family of Jesus.

Church, Hockey, and Getting in Trouble…

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The other day Kevin Lowe, President of the Edmonton Oilers, unleashed a maelstrom of protest when he suggested that he really likes paying fans a bit more than the ones who cheer from home.

Truth is, everyone pays for hockey somehow when cities make way and pay the bills for arenas to be built.  But, as noted, we don’t seem to mind when our team is winning.

What about church?

Church: Its about every follower of Jesus being a participating part of the the body of Christ.

Hockey:  Well for most of us, it really does come down to being one of two kinds of fans:  the kind that watches from home or the kind that pays the bills by showing up at the arena.  And here’s the thing:  both are just watching.

Church isn’t a spectator event.

Its a life together; people assembled as the Body of Christ.  People connected to each other.  People with a new perspective of ownership with the others.

4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Sometimes I feel like a Canuck.

Sometimes I think like a member of Jesus’ church.

I see the others I’m gathered with and I think,

“We’ve been gathered by Jesus.  We belong to each other and what we are doing together matters.”

Note to church leaders:  We’ve got to help our churches out here by helping them see and celebrate the win!

The kiss of love

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:12-14

12By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Observations:

Peter encourages them to greet one another “with the kiss of love.”

Application:

I have a friend who regularly greets me with a slap on the back or a chest bump!  Its all about the affection and the happiness of seeing each other.  In general Canadian culture is not predisposed to greetings with kisses… or even hugs!  However, the spirit of this command remains for us.

I think Peter must have remembered how Jesus was betrayed by a kiss from Judas.  (Luke 22:47-48)  The contrast is striking.  The followers of Jesus as beneficiaries of His death and resurrection now greet each other with a kiss that recalls the great expense paid for their fellowship.  And thus our kin-ship in the church is based not just on affinity and blood-line, but on the grace of our Lord.

Because of Jesus, may our greetings of other brothers and sisters in Christ be infused with real affection for each other.  So… let’s warm it up and let the love and brotherhood we feel with Jesus into our relationships with others in His church.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for moving toward us and expressing your love for us in real ways.  Help us build the kind of friendships and relationships together in your churches that honour Jesus.  AMEN.

Leading in His Church

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Scripture:  1 Peter 5:1-4

1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Observations:

Peter speaks to the “elders” as an elder, as a witness to the sufferings of Jesus Christ, and as a participant in the glory that is going to be revealed.

Shepherd the flock of God

exercising oversight willingly;

not under compulsion.

not for shameful gain, but eagerly.

not domineering, but as an example.

When Jesus the chief Shepherd appears, you will be rewarded. 

Application:

I have had the joy of serving in leadership in Jesus’ church for the past 27 years.  As under-shepherds to Jesus, leaders of His church must be able to check their motives.  Leading out of neediness produces toxic leadership.  The church is not meant to bear the weight of my soul.  So I must keep going to Jesus with my heart and life and let him heal me.  His Spirit sources willing labour, circumspect contentment, and humble submission.  Persistent service for the advancement of His people requires the long-view and the willingness to let leading be about Jesus and not about me.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the grace to call Jesus, Lord, and for the grace to serve to your church.  Strengthen the men and women who are serving your church today here in Vancouver.  May your church be shaped by the Gospel of Jesus that they may pour their lives out for His glory.  AMEN.

When I’m hurt I…

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Scripture:  1 Peter 3:8-12

8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10For

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

11let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Observations:

All of you: a general word to all the congregation.  Peter exhorts them to possess the following:
unity of mind
sympathy
brotherly love
a tender heart
a humble mind

Peter exhorts them to avoid seeking revenge.

Peter appeals to the wisdom of a life that God blesses: a good life that avoids pursuing evil and diligently pursues doing good in response to a watchful and very present God.

Application:

Getting hurt, offended, frustrated in the context of the community we call church is highly likely.  Revenge has many forms relationally, passive and active.  It is more than just indifference.  I wonder if a lot of “just disappearing” is sometimes a form of relational  revenge.  I wonder if the movement into “not caring” is a form of evil.

The Gospel presses me to follow Jesus into the life of a gathering of other followers of Jesus and learn “long-suffering” relationally.  Peter is incredibly realistic here.  He is suggesting that sometimes people in the church community do act badly relationally!  And the challenge for those of us on the receiving end of it is to not act badly in return.  He calls repaying evil for evil.  When I’ve been hurt by a brother or sister in Christ, unity, sympathy, love, a tender heart, and a humble mind go right out the window.  Unless, I look for Jesus the crucified extending His hands to each of us.  Only then can I find the courage to bless with His truth and grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, have mercy on us.  May the wind of your Spirit blow away the chaff.  May the warmth of your Word warm our hard hearts.  May Jesus be glorified in our churches.  AMEN.