Raising The Bar On The Dialogue
Ever notice how our dialogue often reflects the current events of the day? Now that we are into the hockey playoffs, you can hear people talking about who won last nights game, who played well or who stunk the joint out. And no doubt, much dialogue has occurred over the recent global financial crisis. We all have been singed or burned by this global reality.
Our dialogue often reflects what is going on around us and reveals what we are passionate about. For example, the Canadian Opera could play at the K Rock Centre Friday nite but you can be guaranteed that I won’t be initiating too much talk about that. It is just not my passion area. However, hockey and the financial crisis are worth the verbal exchange.
When Jesus departed and was about to send the Holy Spirit, He said to the disciples one word in the Greek language which is two words in the English language which was to shape, prioritize and direct their ministry. It was a powerful statement that was to become their passion and occupy their dialogue as they stood around the water cooler at work. Do you know what that was? “Make disciples” (a “disciple” is a life-long learner who is walking in step with Christ). Clear, easily understood and spoken by the one who modeled that command during His public ministry.
At Bethel, there are many good things we can talk about. It is great that as we build community, and the trust that goes along with it, that we can open up our hearts on a number of issues. However, one of the most important dialogues we can have as a growing community of faith is the “discipleship dialogue”. The big news is that Christ has left us with an incredible challenge and given us the Holy Spirit to transform our lives and the lives of those around us.
So, who are you talking about discipleship with these days? Are you at all concerned with how Bethel is doing in this area? Are lives being transformed at Bethel or do we have a static church of calcified saints? What of Bethel’s ministries do you see as doing a great job in this area? On a personal note, how is your spiritual growth progressing these days? What are the challenge areas? Who is challenging you and causing you to growing?
The dialogue is important because the topic is essential to the vitality and the health of Bethel. I would encourage you to use the tool below to help you personally asses your own growth these days. Use the tool to discuss with someone their growth. Also, what would you add to this tool? What’s missing? If you are in a small group, why not discuss this tool with your group and identify how your group helps or hinders transformation in your own life. Let me know your thoughts.
Mark
• Are you building a redemptive relationship with at least one other person who
does not know Christ?
• Are you engaged with the poor?
• Are you using your workplace as a platform for ministry? If so, how?
• How often do you interact with people of other ethnic groups?
• Do you steward your resources?
• How often in the week do you sit down and read God’s word?
• Describe your prayer life…
• Are you part of a smaller community of believers that you pray with, serve with,
study God’s word- basically doing “journey” together.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Touching Base! Part 36
The Need To Know
We all have experienced various levels of difficulty in accomplishing a task. For example, there are days when getting out of bed is a breeze - it’s bright, warm, and the feel and sense of spring leading to summer is in the air. However, getting up at the same time in the winter month of January - when it is dark and cold - is a completely different story. Those mornings require a little more discipline and octane in the tank. Cold mornings may mean we hit the snooze button a few more times.
Based on my observations and interactions with people at Bethel, the “level of difficulty” when it comes to following Christ is becoming more and more challenging. With the plethora of books, websites, and other forms of media that attack the validity of the Christian faith, there is a tremendous need to know what one truly believes. We are living in a day and age where everything is coming into question. It is an understatement to say that the truth claims of Scripture are under attack. Followers of Christ are being accused of being somewhat naïve, shallow, vulnerable and simple. There is a tremendous need for followers of Christ to dig deep and truly understand what they believe and why they believe it. If a follower of Christ does not make this commitment, then many will be blown away by the torrid gusts of opposition that are becoming increasingly frequent.
In USA Today, a person being interviewed said, "None of my friends believe in God. When the subject of religion comes up around the table, we all just mock it. It's a source of ridicule." 27 percent of Americans do not even expect a religious funeral at their death. The survey doesn't indicate how many are hoping to skip death altogether.
What are some of those issues that we need to understand about our faith?
• Biblical Origins - How did we get the Bible? Does it stand the test of academia?
• What do we mean by “inspired” and “inerrant”?
• Intelligent Design versus Evolution - is it reasonable to believe in a God who created the heavens and the earth?
• What about hell in this age when everyone can believe what they want and be right?
• How do we explain some of the horrific texts of the Old Testament?
• Is Jesus the only way or might there be others? To say there is only one way seems rather arrogant of Christians.
• What about all those “contradictions” in the Bible?
Pray this week for Bethel and the many that attend the various ministries of this church. Pray that followers of Christ would dig deep, study hard, and be able to articulate their faith in a world that questions almost everything. Pray that we might be able to graciously, lovingly and intelligently engage with people who are seeking truth. The need to know is now, the need to go and reach a lost world hasn’t changed since Jesus said the fields were white unto harvest!
Mark
We all have experienced various levels of difficulty in accomplishing a task. For example, there are days when getting out of bed is a breeze - it’s bright, warm, and the feel and sense of spring leading to summer is in the air. However, getting up at the same time in the winter month of January - when it is dark and cold - is a completely different story. Those mornings require a little more discipline and octane in the tank. Cold mornings may mean we hit the snooze button a few more times.
Based on my observations and interactions with people at Bethel, the “level of difficulty” when it comes to following Christ is becoming more and more challenging. With the plethora of books, websites, and other forms of media that attack the validity of the Christian faith, there is a tremendous need to know what one truly believes. We are living in a day and age where everything is coming into question. It is an understatement to say that the truth claims of Scripture are under attack. Followers of Christ are being accused of being somewhat naïve, shallow, vulnerable and simple. There is a tremendous need for followers of Christ to dig deep and truly understand what they believe and why they believe it. If a follower of Christ does not make this commitment, then many will be blown away by the torrid gusts of opposition that are becoming increasingly frequent.
In USA Today, a person being interviewed said, "None of my friends believe in God. When the subject of religion comes up around the table, we all just mock it. It's a source of ridicule." 27 percent of Americans do not even expect a religious funeral at their death. The survey doesn't indicate how many are hoping to skip death altogether.
What are some of those issues that we need to understand about our faith?
• Biblical Origins - How did we get the Bible? Does it stand the test of academia?
• What do we mean by “inspired” and “inerrant”?
• Intelligent Design versus Evolution - is it reasonable to believe in a God who created the heavens and the earth?
• What about hell in this age when everyone can believe what they want and be right?
• How do we explain some of the horrific texts of the Old Testament?
• Is Jesus the only way or might there be others? To say there is only one way seems rather arrogant of Christians.
• What about all those “contradictions” in the Bible?
Pray this week for Bethel and the many that attend the various ministries of this church. Pray that followers of Christ would dig deep, study hard, and be able to articulate their faith in a world that questions almost everything. Pray that we might be able to graciously, lovingly and intelligently engage with people who are seeking truth. The need to know is now, the need to go and reach a lost world hasn’t changed since Jesus said the fields were white unto harvest!
Mark
Friday, April 17, 2009
Touching Base! Part 34
A Sea Of Faces
“They” is a plural pronoun that refers to people in general. When we read in Acts 2:42 that “They devoted themselves....”, we really have very little idea who “they” are. Yet to the original audience you can be assured that “they” had faces and stories and that this group developed pockets of smaller community in that large group so that stories could be told and lives connected.
The challenge at Bethel is to encourage people to Pursue, Include and Engage (PIE) a few faces. The Church was never established to be a place of “people in general” but a place of “people specific”.
This week, I want to encourage you to use the following tool to PIE a few faces. Take time to sit down and reflect on some of the suggested questions the various decades ask. Identify the decades present in your group, add to the questions, and use them to PIE the faces in your group.
Mark
Questions of the Decades
(Resource: Gordon Macdonald, A Resilient Life)
20’s – Identity questions
• What kind of man or woman am I becoming?
• How am I different from my parents?
• Can I love and am I lovable?
• Who will offer me the family like connections that I need or never had?
• What do I want to do with my life?
• Around what person or conviction will I organize my life?
30’s – Responsibilities of life begin to emerge
• How do I prioritize the demands being made of me?
• How far can I go in fulfilling my sense of purpose?
• What does my spiritual life look like? Do I even have time for one?
• Why am I not a better person?
40’s – The complexities of life accelerate
• Who was I as a child and what powers back then influenced the kind of person I am today?
• Why do some people seem to do better than me?
• Why am I often disappointed with myself and others?
• Why are limitations beginning to outnumber options?
• What would it take to pick up a whole new calling in life and do the thing I have always wanted to do?
• How do I take care of my aging parents?
50’s – They have moved across life’s middle
• How many years are left?
• Why is time moving so fast?
• Why is my body becoming unreliable?
• How can my spouse and I reinvigorate our marriage now that the kids are gone?
• Who are these young people that want to replace me?
• What do I do with my doubts and my fears?
• Will we have enough money for the retirement years?
60’s
• When do I stop doing the things that have always defined me?
• Who will be around when I die?
• Why am I curious about who is listed in the obituary column of the papers; how they lived and why they died?
• If married – which one of us will go first, and what is it like to say good-bye to someone with whom you have shared so many years of life with?
• What do I regret?
• Are the things I have believed in capable of taking me to the end?
70’s and 80’s
• Does anyone realize or even care who I once was?
• Is anyone aware that I once owned (or managed) a business, threw a mean curveball, taught school, possessed a beautiful solo voice? Is my story important to anyone?
• How much of life can I still control?
• Is there anything I can still contribute?
• Am I ready to face death?
• When I die will I be missed or will news of my death bring relief?
“They” is a plural pronoun that refers to people in general. When we read in Acts 2:42 that “They devoted themselves....”, we really have very little idea who “they” are. Yet to the original audience you can be assured that “they” had faces and stories and that this group developed pockets of smaller community in that large group so that stories could be told and lives connected.
The challenge at Bethel is to encourage people to Pursue, Include and Engage (PIE) a few faces. The Church was never established to be a place of “people in general” but a place of “people specific”.
This week, I want to encourage you to use the following tool to PIE a few faces. Take time to sit down and reflect on some of the suggested questions the various decades ask. Identify the decades present in your group, add to the questions, and use them to PIE the faces in your group.
Mark
Questions of the Decades
(Resource: Gordon Macdonald, A Resilient Life)
20’s – Identity questions
• What kind of man or woman am I becoming?
• How am I different from my parents?
• Can I love and am I lovable?
• Who will offer me the family like connections that I need or never had?
• What do I want to do with my life?
• Around what person or conviction will I organize my life?
30’s – Responsibilities of life begin to emerge
• How do I prioritize the demands being made of me?
• How far can I go in fulfilling my sense of purpose?
• What does my spiritual life look like? Do I even have time for one?
• Why am I not a better person?
40’s – The complexities of life accelerate
• Who was I as a child and what powers back then influenced the kind of person I am today?
• Why do some people seem to do better than me?
• Why am I often disappointed with myself and others?
• Why are limitations beginning to outnumber options?
• What would it take to pick up a whole new calling in life and do the thing I have always wanted to do?
• How do I take care of my aging parents?
50’s – They have moved across life’s middle
• How many years are left?
• Why is time moving so fast?
• Why is my body becoming unreliable?
• How can my spouse and I reinvigorate our marriage now that the kids are gone?
• Who are these young people that want to replace me?
• What do I do with my doubts and my fears?
• Will we have enough money for the retirement years?
60’s
• When do I stop doing the things that have always defined me?
• Who will be around when I die?
• Why am I curious about who is listed in the obituary column of the papers; how they lived and why they died?
• If married – which one of us will go first, and what is it like to say good-bye to someone with whom you have shared so many years of life with?
• What do I regret?
• Are the things I have believed in capable of taking me to the end?
70’s and 80’s
• Does anyone realize or even care who I once was?
• Is anyone aware that I once owned (or managed) a business, threw a mean curveball, taught school, possessed a beautiful solo voice? Is my story important to anyone?
• How much of life can I still control?
• Is there anything I can still contribute?
• Am I ready to face death?
• When I die will I be missed or will news of my death bring relief?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Touching Base! Part 33
Story
Without disclosing confidences, this past week I sat and listened to several people tell me their story. No, not a story they made up, or were hoping to publish, just their story- raw, unedited, real. Their story of:
• experiencing God, sensing God stirring their hearts, drawing them to Himself
• wrestling with the mystery of following God
• dealing with personal issues that they felt were holding them hostage and not allowing them to move ahead
• dealing with doubt and uncertainty on the journey
• finally letting God have His way and setting aside their stubbornness
• brokenness, shame and despair
• wonder as they reflect back and see how God has orchestrated all the pieces fitting together
• seeking, pursuing and discovering God yet still filled with questions and a deep sense that the journey ahead is long and windy
• deep disappointment and learning to hear the voice of God in the charred remains
• salvation
One truth about every person that walks the planet is that we all have a story. “Story” has been defined as “A narration or recital of that which has occurred; a description of past events; a history; a statement; a record.” If someone said to you “Tell me your story.” Where would you start? What might you focus in on? What might you be tempted to leave out, embellish, or tone down? Where in your story might the pain be the greatest, the joy the fullest, the growth the deepest?
Let me encourage you in three ways regarding story.
1. Pursue people to understand their story. Each week at Bethel, counting both services, we have 600 “stories” walk in and out of our building. If we would only take the time to listen, there is a wealth of wisdom and perspective to gain. Why not sit down with someone this week and open up the conversation with these words, “Tell me your story.” Better than any novel or the TV screen is hearing the drama spoken from someone’s lips.
2. Sharing our story deepens our sense of connectedness. Whenever someone tells me some part of their story and I mine, there is a bond established, a bridge built.
3. Finally, what makes following Christ so exciting is to realize that our story somehow fits within the Grand Story of the ages. God in His wisdom is now dwelling among us and within us. A loving God is ushering us into the ways and wisdom of the kingdom. And He is weaving His grand purposes through the fabric of our story.
Take time to listen, take time to tell your story!
Mark
Without disclosing confidences, this past week I sat and listened to several people tell me their story. No, not a story they made up, or were hoping to publish, just their story- raw, unedited, real. Their story of:
• experiencing God, sensing God stirring their hearts, drawing them to Himself
• wrestling with the mystery of following God
• dealing with personal issues that they felt were holding them hostage and not allowing them to move ahead
• dealing with doubt and uncertainty on the journey
• finally letting God have His way and setting aside their stubbornness
• brokenness, shame and despair
• wonder as they reflect back and see how God has orchestrated all the pieces fitting together
• seeking, pursuing and discovering God yet still filled with questions and a deep sense that the journey ahead is long and windy
• deep disappointment and learning to hear the voice of God in the charred remains
• salvation
One truth about every person that walks the planet is that we all have a story. “Story” has been defined as “A narration or recital of that which has occurred; a description of past events; a history; a statement; a record.” If someone said to you “Tell me your story.” Where would you start? What might you focus in on? What might you be tempted to leave out, embellish, or tone down? Where in your story might the pain be the greatest, the joy the fullest, the growth the deepest?
Let me encourage you in three ways regarding story.
1. Pursue people to understand their story. Each week at Bethel, counting both services, we have 600 “stories” walk in and out of our building. If we would only take the time to listen, there is a wealth of wisdom and perspective to gain. Why not sit down with someone this week and open up the conversation with these words, “Tell me your story.” Better than any novel or the TV screen is hearing the drama spoken from someone’s lips.
2. Sharing our story deepens our sense of connectedness. Whenever someone tells me some part of their story and I mine, there is a bond established, a bridge built.
3. Finally, what makes following Christ so exciting is to realize that our story somehow fits within the Grand Story of the ages. God in His wisdom is now dwelling among us and within us. A loving God is ushering us into the ways and wisdom of the kingdom. And He is weaving His grand purposes through the fabric of our story.
Take time to listen, take time to tell your story!
Mark
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Touching Base! Part 32
Cheating God
God didn’t take on flesh and then die on cross and resurrect from the dead so He could finish in second place. His death and resurrection clearly declare that He alone is worthy of absolute worship, pure devotion, and supreme love. To be a Christ follower means to have Christ at the center of our lives, not in the margins or in some other place so that other things can be central, and Christ marginalized. Easter is a good reminder of not only the mind-boggling work of God on our behalf but of the incredible debt of gratitude and love that He deserves from us. Anything less than absolute surrender is cheating God of what He is worthy.
As one who desires to live a Christ-centred life, I recently sat down and listed some of the ways I and others can be tempted to “cheat” God in this area of pure devotion.
I cheat God when.....
• I do not take the time I need daily to calibrate my life with His Word. It is so easy to allow things to push aside that much-needed “God time” in my life.
• The pace of my life does not allow me to live an attentive life to the voice of God speaking, nudging, or prompting me. I find that even a 10-minute time-out during a busy day can help me reframe my day and “retune my spiritual ears” to God’s voice.
• I allow ungodly thoughts or actions to find a harbour in my life. As Paul said, I am His temple, we are His temple and thus what is allowed in and what comes out (words, behaviour) need to be in keeping with His character.
• I am too proud to talk about my “battle zones” with people. God is often most glorified when I/we are willing to talk about the issues we grapple with. God works through weakness, through stories of our lives being under construction.
• I lack the courage to speak up or take action in an area in which I know He has prompted me. How many of us have failed to walk through an open door God set up for us? How many of us have missed an opportunity because we may have been afraid of looking foolish?
• I am not thorough. God is most glorified when I do my best with whatever He has called me to do. When I cut corners, leave something to the end and thus don’t do a great job, then I think God is cheated. I know it’s true that God works in spite of us but I also think that God would appreciate a little more effort at times from our end.
How might you cheat God? Scripture says not to cheat God but to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:5)
Just after writing this, I received this poem from someone in the church. She said that God used this poem in her life when she was to busy and was not taking time for God. Thought you might appreciate this.
Mark
Crowded Out
My day was filled with many things
Some that I cared a lot about
For I had planned each moment full
But my Lord was crowded out.
I really meant to read His Word
To pray with heart devout---
But things just crowded in until
My Lord was crowded out.
For things I wanted most to do
The time I found, without a doubt
And somehow days were oft the same;
My Lord was crowded out.
My heart grew sad without His smile
The foe was hard to rout;
For He alone who's all in all
My heart had crowded out.
At last I've learned to plan 'round Him
Though friends may plead and pout;
And days are double full and rich
Since He's not crowded out.
God didn’t take on flesh and then die on cross and resurrect from the dead so He could finish in second place. His death and resurrection clearly declare that He alone is worthy of absolute worship, pure devotion, and supreme love. To be a Christ follower means to have Christ at the center of our lives, not in the margins or in some other place so that other things can be central, and Christ marginalized. Easter is a good reminder of not only the mind-boggling work of God on our behalf but of the incredible debt of gratitude and love that He deserves from us. Anything less than absolute surrender is cheating God of what He is worthy.
As one who desires to live a Christ-centred life, I recently sat down and listed some of the ways I and others can be tempted to “cheat” God in this area of pure devotion.
I cheat God when.....
• I do not take the time I need daily to calibrate my life with His Word. It is so easy to allow things to push aside that much-needed “God time” in my life.
• The pace of my life does not allow me to live an attentive life to the voice of God speaking, nudging, or prompting me. I find that even a 10-minute time-out during a busy day can help me reframe my day and “retune my spiritual ears” to God’s voice.
• I allow ungodly thoughts or actions to find a harbour in my life. As Paul said, I am His temple, we are His temple and thus what is allowed in and what comes out (words, behaviour) need to be in keeping with His character.
• I am too proud to talk about my “battle zones” with people. God is often most glorified when I/we are willing to talk about the issues we grapple with. God works through weakness, through stories of our lives being under construction.
• I lack the courage to speak up or take action in an area in which I know He has prompted me. How many of us have failed to walk through an open door God set up for us? How many of us have missed an opportunity because we may have been afraid of looking foolish?
• I am not thorough. God is most glorified when I do my best with whatever He has called me to do. When I cut corners, leave something to the end and thus don’t do a great job, then I think God is cheated. I know it’s true that God works in spite of us but I also think that God would appreciate a little more effort at times from our end.
How might you cheat God? Scripture says not to cheat God but to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:5)
Just after writing this, I received this poem from someone in the church. She said that God used this poem in her life when she was to busy and was not taking time for God. Thought you might appreciate this.
Mark
Crowded Out
My day was filled with many things
Some that I cared a lot about
For I had planned each moment full
But my Lord was crowded out.
I really meant to read His Word
To pray with heart devout---
But things just crowded in until
My Lord was crowded out.
For things I wanted most to do
The time I found, without a doubt
And somehow days were oft the same;
My Lord was crowded out.
My heart grew sad without His smile
The foe was hard to rout;
For He alone who's all in all
My heart had crowded out.
At last I've learned to plan 'round Him
Though friends may plead and pout;
And days are double full and rich
Since He's not crowded out.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Touching Base! Part 31
What You Are Won By, You Are Won To!
Recently I attended the Camp IAWAH strategic planning day. It was a great day of looking at the long-term vision and implementation of plans for IAWAH.
One of the statements that stuck was, “What You Are Won By, You Are Won To!” For example, if a person is won to Christ by ministry at IAWAH, then it is that organization that will likely have a profound impact on their spiritual growth - the cabin counsellor, the tight camp community, the amazing friendships all serve to create exceptional experiences and memories.
However, what happens when the camper outgrows the camp experience as a youth? What happens after the summer when they head back home to the regular routine? What happens if they move away and are unable to attend camp the following year? What can happen is that their spiritual passion fizzles. With the absence of the camp experience they may feel like a fish out of water as they attempt to pursue their spiritual walk with God. And with the inability to reproduce the “good old days”, the student simply moves on and leaves God behind.
So what’s was the solution? Glad you asked. It is becoming increasingly important to help camp kids connect with a church in their community. The local church can provide a spiritual lifeline year-round and for the rest of one’s life. Again, what they are won by, they are won to!
And this is one of the reasons why Fred Grendel, our youth Director works approximately 11 weeks per year at IAWAH. We value that partnership with them and see it as a critical link in kids’ development. And here at Bethel, Fred can help kids who attend become part of the church community and thus sustain their spiritual growth.
This principle is not only true for camp ministries but other kinds of ministries that God uses in winning people to Christ and discipling them. The Church plays a critical role in being the long-term sustaining grace in people’s lives. As they learn the value of the local church and become part of the local church community, they can experience a lifeline for life!
So Church, let’s guard the health of Bethel. It is imperative so that we provide the kind of community that will disciple people of all ages, and for many of them, be that vital link of helping sustain spiritual growth through critical life transitions.
Mark
Recently I attended the Camp IAWAH strategic planning day. It was a great day of looking at the long-term vision and implementation of plans for IAWAH.
One of the statements that stuck was, “What You Are Won By, You Are Won To!” For example, if a person is won to Christ by ministry at IAWAH, then it is that organization that will likely have a profound impact on their spiritual growth - the cabin counsellor, the tight camp community, the amazing friendships all serve to create exceptional experiences and memories.
However, what happens when the camper outgrows the camp experience as a youth? What happens after the summer when they head back home to the regular routine? What happens if they move away and are unable to attend camp the following year? What can happen is that their spiritual passion fizzles. With the absence of the camp experience they may feel like a fish out of water as they attempt to pursue their spiritual walk with God. And with the inability to reproduce the “good old days”, the student simply moves on and leaves God behind.
So what’s was the solution? Glad you asked. It is becoming increasingly important to help camp kids connect with a church in their community. The local church can provide a spiritual lifeline year-round and for the rest of one’s life. Again, what they are won by, they are won to!
And this is one of the reasons why Fred Grendel, our youth Director works approximately 11 weeks per year at IAWAH. We value that partnership with them and see it as a critical link in kids’ development. And here at Bethel, Fred can help kids who attend become part of the church community and thus sustain their spiritual growth.
This principle is not only true for camp ministries but other kinds of ministries that God uses in winning people to Christ and discipling them. The Church plays a critical role in being the long-term sustaining grace in people’s lives. As they learn the value of the local church and become part of the local church community, they can experience a lifeline for life!
So Church, let’s guard the health of Bethel. It is imperative so that we provide the kind of community that will disciple people of all ages, and for many of them, be that vital link of helping sustain spiritual growth through critical life transitions.
Mark
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Touching Base! Part 30
IT HAS GOT TO STOP
Mark’s note: this week’s post is by Carmen Gauvin-O’Donnell, Church Administrator
Honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
Anyone who's known me for any length of time will know that I do not speak "Christianese" well, that "inside language" that some Christians use, as in "my newspaper came five minutes early today and I knew it was a BLESSING from GOD!" But they also know that, even more, I have a hard time with those who do (except under certain circumstances and in certain contexts), because of what I call the external "freak factor". Let me explain why in (yet another) case-in-point that happened to me just the other day.
I was attending a conference on behalf of Bethel whose aim was to update us on the legal issues affecting charities today. Because it was for charities in general though, the attendees were a mix of churches and secular charities (yes, that’s underlined for a reason!)
So at lunchtime I start chatting with two lovely women, by first asking who they represent (so I know who's "church" and who isn't necessarily "church"):
- the first is a young lady, an accounting student who, as part of her accounting training, is on a placement in the office of a (secular) distress centre
- the second is a lady who's attending on behalf of her church because she's the Church Treasurer.
I ask the young lady about the aims of the centre she works for and we have a general conversation (which goes just fine) about how busy such centres have become. I mention to her that in our church one of the things we encourage is the development of small groups, a group of people you see weekly for Bible study and fellowship, which becomes an extended family for you. We believe that people who know they are truly loved and cared for don't generally need to call a distress centre for help since they'll turn to their "family", which can only help their centres be less busy.
Now, at this point in the conversation, the young woman is nodding her agreement, understanding perfectly what I mean and agreeing with it. Great!
Then my fellow Christian lady asks her if the centre ever refers people to churches for help. That's innocuous enough and would be okay if it had been left at that... a "just-out-of-curiosity" question.
Now let the "fun" begin (and believe me when I tell you I say that firmly tongue-in-cheek): the young lady reiterates that she personally has no idea since she's just working in the office and is not a volunteer herself. My Christian sister then jumps in with the following, right at the young lady (this isn't word for word, but you'll get the idea):
"Because you know the WORD OF GOD heals EVERYONE!
His word is a LAMP unto my FEET and a LIGHT unto my PATH…!”
WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP .... that’s the sound of the klaxon going off in my head as she said it.
Why? Because the poor young lady did everything but step back in shock... this was the look on her face:
And what was my reaction? (I kept this one inside, but only just, believe me!):
"OH NO!..., I thought, ... let's steer this one in another direction... NOW."
So I jump in and ask my fellow Christian, "Er... SO... what about YOU…? Are you a paid treasurer at your church, or is it a volunteer position...?"
And she says...
"Oh NO, it's PAID! You see we are a NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH (Carmen's thought: is there another kind? ) and we believe that THE LABOURER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES..."
And on and on and on. So much for my finely-crafted plan.
Well at this point, our young colleague leaves us, ostensibly to go get some dessert, but you know what? I guarantee all she was thinking was "OH-MY-GOSH... I have GOT to GET OUT of HERE!" And what's more, what kind of conversation do you think went on at her office the following morning?
"Hey, how was the conference...?"
"Great, but I met another one of those religious freaks! She went on and on about God being a lamp or something... and how I guess they're different than other churches because they're a new testament church... whatever that means..."
Now, before my name is submitted to my church's Board of Elders for immediate dismissal and crucifixion, let me get some things straight with y'all:
- do I believe that the Word of God heals, and that it is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path? ABSOLUTELY.
- do I believe in a church with a paid staff, and that they are labourers who are worthy of their wages? ABSOLUTELY. After all, I’m one of them!
- do I believe that God "blesses me richly" all day long? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
BUT, here’s the Tip-of-the-Day and the point behind my posting:
If you are a Christian who tends to speak "Christianese",
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
think of the context you are in before you do it!
Our job as Christians is to be a light in the world because our lives look different, not BIZARRE!
In other words, had that been a Church conference full of believers, my colleague could have "Christianesed" to her heart's content!
But by not thinking of the context she was in, I think she unwittingly may have done more to keep our young colleague away from the Gospel of Grace than to bring her closer to it.
And it has got to stop.
Carmen
Mark’s note: this week’s post is by Carmen Gauvin-O’Donnell, Church Administrator
Honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
Anyone who's known me for any length of time will know that I do not speak "Christianese" well, that "inside language" that some Christians use, as in "my newspaper came five minutes early today and I knew it was a BLESSING from GOD!" But they also know that, even more, I have a hard time with those who do (except under certain circumstances and in certain contexts), because of what I call the external "freak factor". Let me explain why in (yet another) case-in-point that happened to me just the other day.
I was attending a conference on behalf of Bethel whose aim was to update us on the legal issues affecting charities today. Because it was for charities in general though, the attendees were a mix of churches and secular charities (yes, that’s underlined for a reason!)
So at lunchtime I start chatting with two lovely women, by first asking who they represent (so I know who's "church" and who isn't necessarily "church"):
- the first is a young lady, an accounting student who, as part of her accounting training, is on a placement in the office of a (secular) distress centre
- the second is a lady who's attending on behalf of her church because she's the Church Treasurer.
I ask the young lady about the aims of the centre she works for and we have a general conversation (which goes just fine) about how busy such centres have become. I mention to her that in our church one of the things we encourage is the development of small groups, a group of people you see weekly for Bible study and fellowship, which becomes an extended family for you. We believe that people who know they are truly loved and cared for don't generally need to call a distress centre for help since they'll turn to their "family", which can only help their centres be less busy.
Now, at this point in the conversation, the young woman is nodding her agreement, understanding perfectly what I mean and agreeing with it. Great!
Then my fellow Christian lady asks her if the centre ever refers people to churches for help. That's innocuous enough and would be okay if it had been left at that... a "just-out-of-curiosity" question.
Now let the "fun" begin (and believe me when I tell you I say that firmly tongue-in-cheek): the young lady reiterates that she personally has no idea since she's just working in the office and is not a volunteer herself. My Christian sister then jumps in with the following, right at the young lady (this isn't word for word, but you'll get the idea):
"Because you know the WORD OF GOD heals EVERYONE!
His word is a LAMP unto my FEET and a LIGHT unto my PATH…!”
WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP .... that’s the sound of the klaxon going off in my head as she said it.
Why? Because the poor young lady did everything but step back in shock... this was the look on her face:
And what was my reaction? (I kept this one inside, but only just, believe me!):
"OH NO!..., I thought, ... let's steer this one in another direction... NOW."
So I jump in and ask my fellow Christian, "Er... SO... what about YOU…? Are you a paid treasurer at your church, or is it a volunteer position...?"
And she says...
"Oh NO, it's PAID! You see we are a NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH (Carmen's thought: is there another kind? ) and we believe that THE LABOURER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES..."
And on and on and on. So much for my finely-crafted plan.
Well at this point, our young colleague leaves us, ostensibly to go get some dessert, but you know what? I guarantee all she was thinking was "OH-MY-GOSH... I have GOT to GET OUT of HERE!" And what's more, what kind of conversation do you think went on at her office the following morning?
"Hey, how was the conference...?"
"Great, but I met another one of those religious freaks! She went on and on about God being a lamp or something... and how I guess they're different than other churches because they're a new testament church... whatever that means..."
Now, before my name is submitted to my church's Board of Elders for immediate dismissal and crucifixion, let me get some things straight with y'all:
- do I believe that the Word of God heals, and that it is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path? ABSOLUTELY.
- do I believe in a church with a paid staff, and that they are labourers who are worthy of their wages? ABSOLUTELY. After all, I’m one of them!
- do I believe that God "blesses me richly" all day long? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
BUT, here’s the Tip-of-the-Day and the point behind my posting:
If you are a Christian who tends to speak "Christianese",
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
think of the context you are in before you do it!
Our job as Christians is to be a light in the world because our lives look different, not BIZARRE!
In other words, had that been a Church conference full of believers, my colleague could have "Christianesed" to her heart's content!
But by not thinking of the context she was in, I think she unwittingly may have done more to keep our young colleague away from the Gospel of Grace than to bring her closer to it.
And it has got to stop.
Carmen
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