Open Mike

Cemetary or Gasoline?

At Lake Forest, one of our motivations to which we aspire is 'Love Like Jesus with Grace and Truth: Growing in our love for the Bible by learning it personally and in groups.'  We learn the Bible on Sunday mornings, in small groups throughout the week, mid-week student discipleship - all kinds of ways.  For years, I've heard too many Christians downgrade and pooh-pooh the most intensive study of the Bible in graduate school, known as seminary.  The joke has been recycled for years that it should really be called 'cemetary' (for various reasons, most of which center around the perception that pure study of scripture and theology always devolves into dryness and disconnection with real life - which can happen).

For me, seminary was the opposite.  Never once did the Bible, church history, theology, preaching, etc. classes become dry or threatening to my faith.  Every semester, every class (seriously) i felt like was a privilege, that I got to spend inordinate amounts of time looking deeply into God's Word.  Particularly because I knew my life calling was to love people while teaching the beauty of Jesus from the Bible.  So why wouldn't i want the most thorough equipping and understanding possible? 

We experimented with gifting our church and area with an easily accessible, on-site seminary class this fall, which wrapped up last night. This fall our pastor of spiritual formation, Mitch White, led us to broaden the amplitude of Bible learning at Lake Forest, at the deep end of the pool, by partnering with Gordon Conwell Seminary to bring a seminary (graduate school) level course to our Huntersville campus. Over sixty Lake Forest leaders took the plunge, joined by 150 others from several N Charlotte churches (the winter semester moves to University Park Baptist Church). 

Our hope is to equip those who lead others at Lake Forest with the best knowledge and love for Scripture available to anyone in the world (literally, because Gordon Conwell is one of the top seminaries globally, and Dr. Laniak who taught this course, on the first five books of the Old Testament, is the dean).  Here are first-hand comments from some of our leaders who took the class - hmmm, cemetary or gasoline??

Mitch - I have absolutely loved this class.  One Sunday recently we worshiped with the song "How Great is our God" and i became overwhelmed with emotion because of what we are discovering in this course.....God IS great.  Not that I didn't know that already, but this class has made it more personal. Several times our instructors have said that the Gospel begins with Genesis, and I am finding that God's character is so evident in the OT that it's boggling.  Thanks for bringing this opportunity to our church family.  Love K.M.

Mitch,First of all, thank you for all the work you have put into making Bible Journey happen each week. I know there are others that help as well but just wanted to thank you for your part.I can’t begin to tell you how much this class has meant to me. I have been a lifelong learner and student of the Bible for many years but Dr. Laniak has a way of making the Bible come to life. I said in my study group that he makes the Bible become a “pop-up” book for me.  It has stretched me and made me think (and made me get out of my comfort zone) about a lot of things. I have a passion for God’s word and this was like pouring gasoline on a fire within. My prayer and desire is to share and motivate others to love the Word as much as I do. I can’t wait for the next session.  - L.D.

Mitch -  Nothing speaks to us at church like scripture - not the music or the candles or backdrops or the fun ... I think LF is going to be lifted to new heights if it has scripture as its basis & has trained people. Thank you so very much. Honestly, I am overwhelmed with the course & having to lean heavy on grace because the power & demands of the Pentateuch leave me feeling defeated. Sun morning helps with a hopeful counterbalance.  S.R.

Thanks, Mitch!   I have really enjoyed this class so much. I have never been able to get through Leviticus and Numbers with this much enthusiasm. Dr Laniak brought so much perspective to these books for me and showed me how to really value their content and teachings. It brought the holiness of God to an entirely new level for me, and I find myself falling face down more and more (figuratively more than literally) as I realize how much more I need to intentionally approach God for forgiveness to be fully in His presence. Looking forward to the next phase!  G.F.

Mitch,  The Bible Journey was like no other course I have taken.  My Bible journey is still new..since we came to LF about 51/2 years ago.  To have the course hosted right here at LF was such a HUGE benefit.  I am already a fan of Laniak ...since the leadership summit and the book LF shared with us.  I Used to see the Bible as old stories that were hard to relate to and not sure of the purpose and NOW the Bible is a map...a destination to arrive closer to our God.  Thank you and all the decisions that had to be made in order for LF to host and share this Bible Journey with our church and our community and those who want more.  To read the Bible with the words and then get the behind the text and other info pulls it all together to make it meaningful and useful right now in our daily lives. Thank you and thanks to all who had a part in bringing this experience into my life.   We chose to audit because working for ourselves we do not have control of our schedule and it pulls us in ways that we don't always anticipate. We are grateful for the experience and knowledge.   T.K.C. 

Pagan Origins of Christmas - Attempts at redemption then and now

Christmas is not celebrated on December 25 because Jesus was born on that day (neither Scripture nor early tradition informs us of that date).  Its origins are pagan in date, Christian in intent, and both/and in practices.  Ever since, quite a battle has raged between Jesus-worship and excessive-consumption around Christmas.  I'd like to tell you the original story briefly today.

But first, we've joined that battle this year at Lake Forest - a battle to LOVE ALL and WORSHIP FULLY this time of year.  The weapons with which we arm ourselves weekly in this series called Exchanging Christmas are: Spend Less, Give More, Love All, and Worship Fully. If you'd like creative ideas to apply last week's sermon, Spend Less, click here http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com/?q=/gifts/popular .  My favorite is the childrens' 'Restaurant Trump Card' to use three times in the next year when the family goes to eat out.

Here's the original story of Christians trying to redeem celebrations on December 25th, to give perspective to our efforts this year:

In Rome, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated December 17-25. Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful, drunkenness and sexual license were the norm, and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. Gifts were given, groups of inebriated citizens roamed the streets nightly singing in doorways while naked (the precursor to caroling).   Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun. On December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

Christians in the Roman Empire were thus surrounded by these celebrations annually.  Its thought that some of them began to wonder "how could we conspire to use this pagan celebration, our time off from work and school, in ways counter to the cultural narrative.  What if WE celebrated Jesus in a special way, in a way that tells the story of Jesus to our friends and neighbors?"  That is the conspiratorial, counter-cultural spirit we seek to recapture today.  Not just opposing the culture, but redeeming it to point to Christ. To celebrate in ways that embody and tell the story of Jesus.

In the fourth century, church officials took their cue from the informal Christmas celebrations that had been growing, and since they were now in power rather than the former pagan Roman adminstrators, decided to institute the birth of Jesus as an official holiday.Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens. It was also a time when baser ethnic and religious prejudices were given freer expression.

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown VA settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. (edited excerpts from History.com)

I pray that you will find ways to not be against culture, but for Christ this season, as we participate in this cultural and religious holiday in redemptive, not purely consumptive, ways.

Who Hurt You in the Church?

During last Sunday's 3rd service, I felt 'led' to pray something extra during our responsive prayer time.

The message was about Nathaniel having become skeptical in his spiritual life (due to repeated disappointment surrounding the promises of Israel and the Messiah), and how his friend Philip and then Jesus opened the door to positive faith and following Jesus.  I first applied this event from John 1 to people who are skeptical of the Christian faith, for different reasons, and invted them to come to faith in Jesus as Messiah.  I also applied it to already-Christians and asked:

"Are you jaded from being hurt by a Christian?  Did someone with a fish symbol beside their business listing cheat you?  Did mom or dad thump the bible at people all day on Sunday, and thump you every night at home?  These and more are reasons, especially the ‘I was hurt at church once,’ many already-Christians stop at a skeptical point, sub-consciously use the hurt as a future stiff-arm, and don’t continue through the door of intimacy with Christ, growing obedience to him and holiness of life, and perseverance in fellowship with other Christians, doing the hard work of 'being the church' with people just as imperfect as me."

At the end of the service, we invited people to any of the multiple prayer stations around the room, to physically symbolize their prayer to love a skeptical friend of theirs by lighting a candle.  AND to lay down to the Lord whatever cynicism, hurt, or experience they've subconsciously used to stiff-arm themselves away from being closer to Christ and more obedient to him.  The movement to the prayer stations was a powerful work of God's people in worship! 

During the third service, I added a prayer something like this - perhaps its for you today: 

"Who hurt you?  Let you down? In the church? And you struggle with skepticism toward the church of Jesus Christ, toward God himself, or the preciousness of God's Word? LAY IT DOWN at a prayer station today.  Name it, let it go!  So many people are at Lake Forest Church because you resonate with the phrase 'for people who've given up on church, but haven't given up on God.' For many of you, I've found that you got excited about your faith, rose to a leadership level in another church.  And THEN you actually experienced the thing that you knew theoretically - no church is perfect, each is a band of sinners loved by God, who hurt each other sometimes.  And you ran.  You ran from imperfection in the church and in the leadership.  Which is running from the imperfection in yourself.  Instead of running to Jesus, who alone is righteous.  Who is righteous on our behalf.  On the church's behalf.  Come pray, and lay it down.  Let Jesus be enough, then join him in loving imperfect people, yes, IN the church, which he loves so much he died for, 'while we were still sinning against him.'"

 

Relevant Denomination

I/we participate in a denomination because the book of Acts shows that the church of Jesus Christ is to be connectional.  This week is our denomination's annual national 'general assembly.'  This year's meeting is at the church I worked at my first 5 years out of seminary - Hope Church in Memphis TN www.hopepres.com .  Lake Forest's mission pastor (and future Lake Forest Davidson campus pastor) Michael Flake grew up in this church.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, our denomination, is several years into an attempt to re-create and re-form itself into a relevant denomination for 21st century ministry to 21st century culture.  We understand this transformation as the challenge to move from 'maintenance-focus' (what most if not all American denominations slipped into mid 20th century) to 'mission-focus' as a whole.  In other words, we seek to become a missional denomination that encourages, equips, and holds members accountable to be effective missional churches.

One hopeful measure that we are serious about changing as a denomination (that several years ago reached the point of plateau of most other denominations)?  This year's opening conference was a day-long teaching by Ed Stetzer on 'Becoming a Transformational Church' www.transformationalchurch.com .  Ed is a thought leader on defining what it means for the church to be 'missional' today, and actually doing hard research to help us learn how to become that. I decided to experiment with tweeting quotes from Ed's teaching all day long, and set a personal record for tweets in a day - you can see those in the sidebar on my blog site.

The word 'missional' is an important one, but has also become trendy and jargonistic among pastor-types like me.  So I thought I'd pass along excerpts of Ed's attempt, along with some other leaders in this movement (Tim Keller, J.D. Grear, others), to come up with a commonly agreed upon definition of the word.  Its good stuff, but its way too long to actually be a definition.  So they failed at a definition, but succeeded at a helpful manifesto.  My excerpts are below, the full text is at www.missionalmanifesto.net.  One observation- at the end of the manifesto are 'applications.' Now that we are launching a new church in August, we are actually 'doing' all of the applications recommended by this group.

God is a sending God, a missionary God, who has called His people, the church, to be missionary agents of His love and glory. The concept missional epitomizes this idea. This manifesto seeks to serve the church by clarifying its calling and helping it theologically understand and practically live out God’s mission in the world today. Although it is frequently stated "God’s church has a mission," according to missional theology, a more accurate expression is "God’s mission has a church" (Ephesians 3:7-13).
Missional is not synonymous with movements attempting to culturally contextualize Christianity, implement church growth, or engage in social action. The word missional can encompass all of the above, but it is not limited to any one of these.
 
Properly understanding the meaning of missional begins with recognizing God’s missionary nature. The Father is the source of mission, the Son is the embodiment of that mission, and mission is done in the power of the Spirit. By nature, God is the "sending one" who initiates the redemption of His whole creation. Jesus consistently spoke of Himself as being “sent” in John’s gospel and subsequently commissioned His disciples for this same purpose (John 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25).  As the "sent" people of God, the church is the instrument of His mission (John 20:21).

A strong foundation in the gospel, obedience to Christ and posture to the world are critical components to both individuals and churches living missionally. A missional community is one that regards mission as both its originating impulse and organizing principle (Acts 1:8). It makes decisions accordingly, believing that Christ sends His followers into the world, just as the Father sent Him into the world.
 
The Church, therefore, properly encourages all believers to live out their primary calling as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) to those who do not know Jesus. The ministry of reconciliation is applicable to both its native culture and in cross-cultural ministry throughout the world. In this sense, every believer is a missionary sent by the Spirit into a non-Christian culture activating the whole of his or her life in seeking to participate more fully in God’s mission.
 
Missional represents a significant shift in the way we understand the church. As the people of a missionary God, we are entrusted to participate in the world the same way He does—by committing to be His ambassadors. Missional is the perspective to see people as God does and to engage in the activity of reaching them. The church on mission is the church as God intended.

The church is a sign and instrument of the Kingdom of God, birthed by the gospel of the Kingdom and tasked with the mission of the Kingdom. The church is a covenant community of imperfect but redeemed believers living in our world. Followers of Christ do not live out their mission in isolation, but rather the Spirit of God enfolds believers into local Christian communities, i.e. churches. It is in and through such community their mission in the world is enhanced.

We believe that Jesus is the center of God’s plan. By extension, the church as the body of Christ is the primary medium of God’s mission to His world.  We affirm that while God’s work and presence is not limited to the church, nonetheless the proclamation of the gospel of Christ comes through the church and believers everywhere. Members of the church, living by the power of the Spirit, are being conformed into the likeness of Christ in their attitudes and actions.

The maturing of believers is inherent to the work of the church ushering those who place faith in Jesus from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity (Colossians 1:28). This means the church trains its members to be leaders in deeds of justice and ministry to the poor, as well as live out the implications of their faith in business, the arts, in politics, the academy, the home, and in all of life. As the church makes disciples, it equips them to bring their faith to bear on every area of their lives, private and public.

We believe the mission and responsibility of the church includes both the proclamation of the Gospel and its demonstration. From Jesus, we learn the truth is to be proclaimed with authority and lived with grace. The church must constantly evangelize, respond lovingly to human needs, as well as ”seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7). By living out the implications of the gospel, the missional church offers a verbal defense and a living example of its power.

We believe God’s mission, and thus the mission of His people, extends to every people, nation, tribe and tongue; to persons of every gender, age, education, social standing, and religious persuasion (or lack thereof). Thus a missional church will intentionally embrace diversity locally and will cross social, cultural and geographic barriers as agents of the missio Dei. God’s mission furthermore universally encompasses every aspect of life: personal, familial, social, cultural, and economic. This is grounded upon the universal authority and lordship of Jesus Christ.

Application: We believe the mission of the church continues in multiplying and maturing the followers of Christ (discipleship), increasing the number of congregations (church planting) dedicated to God’s kingdom (living under His lordship), extending God’s fame throughout the earth (worship), and doing good in the name of Christ (works of mercy).

Credo

Credo means 'I believe' in Latin, from which of course we get the word 'Creed.'  While there are many beautiful mysteries in this world, in the Bible, and about our faith, we must also know what we DO believe for certain.  At our baptism service a few weeks ago, I heard the most original, profound and clear personal Christian creed that I've heard in years.  It was written by a boy,Luke McConnell.  He read this aloud to everyone (what bravery!) just before his dunking.  Here it is,by permission. And you must imagine how he actually delivered it - he whispered the final sentence, as though a personal aside to his Lord:

Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus became human and was born on the first Christmas.  His life was GREAT.  He turned water into wine, He walked on the water, He made sick people healthy again, He made a little food into a lot of food, and best of all, rose from the dead!  He tells us to be kind, helpful, and to forgive.  We need Him because we can't be holy without Him.  He died for our sins.  He gives us a helper, the Holy Spirit.  Being a Christian means I believe in Jesus.  I trust You, Jesus. 

Thank you, Luke!  Creeds can be written either to emphasize the unique distinctiveness of a certain stream of Christianity (such as the Westminster Confession to which our denomination subscribes).  Other creeds are best for describing and cultivating unity between all Christians worldwide, regardless of theological emphasis.  The best such creed is The Apostle's creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament. Here it is.  May you read and express it this moment, in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, celebratory where we all agree on worshipping Jesus as Lord; generous toward your brothers and sisters, at least in this moment, regarding all the areas of speculation, 'grayness,' or 'disputable matters' (a la Romans 14:1) left out of this particular 'Credo.'

---

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
    the Maker of heaven and earth,
    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
    born of the virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;
    the holy catholic (literally meaning 'universal' not 'Roman Catholic') church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body;
    and the life everlasting.

Amen.