Jan 12 2010

Is Caring for the Poor Optional?


In his letter to the churches of Galatia the Apostle Paul records an abbreviated story of a meeting he had with Peter, James, and John in the early days of the church. The conclusion of the meeting was that Peter, James, and John would go to the Jews with the gospel and because of their recognition of Paul’s gift of “grace” that he and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles. They shook hands signifying their brotherhood in Christ and those ancient pillars of the early church simply asked them “to remember the poor“. (Galatians 2:9-11)

This would have been a great time to have given a sweeping theological discourse on the doctrine of justification or the biblical model for missions but their only request as they sent these two gifted men to evangelize the pagan masses was “Remember the poor“.

Another consideration along this line of thought is our practice of taking up a collection on the first day of the week (Sunday) in our churches. We do it because it is biblical and after all we do want to be guided by the Bible in all that we do don’t we? A careful reading of the text we base our practice on follows.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem” (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)

Now, to be people of the Bible we must be honest about this passage. It was not that people should bring tithes into the store house. It was not to pay for the church plant and it’s employees. It was simply a collection for the poor.

It was to be done, not only in Corinth but in the churches of Galatia as well, to provide funds for the poor saints in Jerusalem. And, it was to be temporary. Paul instructed that they should do it ahead of time so there would be no need to try to gather up the collection after he arrived.

Sorry to disappoint you but that is exactly the case. Do I think it is wrong for our churches to take a collection each Sunday. Absolutely not, but I do believe we have missed the main purpose of doing so, “the poor“.

I suggest we look closely at the ministry of Jesus. He was truly a holistic healer. He healed and he taught. He fed and he taught. And, it is clear that his early followers did the same. The first outpouring of Christian love by the newly born again folks in Jerusalem not many days after Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2.

“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:43-35)

The first observable proof of a new found faith was not evangelical zeal, or fascinating manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but rather their common concern and care for the needy among them.

In light of this clear teaching in the Bible I am astonished that some people are complaining that too much emphasis is being placed on helping the poor by churches and para church mission groups. I am saddened that so many are misguided and only see the need to preach the gospel while largely ignoring the poor they are preaching to.

May I explain my theological position on this matter by illustration? I love my wife Carol Jane. She is a bright, vibrant, talented, driven, godly woman. How do I love her? Do I love her by sitting in my recliner with a warm fuzzy feeling about her in my heart? Is that what love is? Certainly not!

I love her by doing the dishes, by complimenting her on a new outfit or hair style, by seeing to her needs when she is sick, by giving her pleasure, by honoring her, by seeing to every need possible for me to fulfill. That is how love works. Love is a verb!

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15,16)

You see, caring about one’s soul and having nice warm feelings and mushy thoughts doesn’t put food on the table or clothes on the bodies of the poor. Only providing for their needs in tangible ways counts in the end.

In conclusion, one way we love God is by caring for the poor, loving our neighbors, and the household of faith. We cannot honestly claim devotion to God and ignore the less fortunate around us and in the world at large. It is good to have reasons to love God based on solid truths from the Bible, and it is good that those truths evoke strong emotions at times and feelings of joy and satisfaction and result in praise. However, you can’t love God and not at the same time love others, and love is much more than an emotion.

Our missionary outreach should always and forever be a telling of the good news about Christ by any method or means available to every person possible. But, as we go we must care for the poor or our message will more likely than not fall on deaf ears. A fellow with a good meal in his belly will care more about what you tell him about a God who loves him than one who is hungry.

Agape’

Royce

Jan 10 2010

A.S.K.


“Only those who pray get their prayers answered.”

It is usual and normative for Christian believers to pray. It is also usual and normative for those same people to have answers to  their requests.

Reduced to its most elementary definition prayer is simply asking. Prayer is a human asking God for something. All of the teaching about prayer, and all of the prayers in the Bible verify this foundational truth.

A S K

Jesus gave this simple teaching in Matthew chapter 7 saying:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who Asks receives, and the one who Seeks finds, and to the one who Knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-9)

Ask, Seek, Knock, a very simple way to remember just what prayer is. He then went on to tell what the results would be for those who do this simple thing.

  • Ask! Can you do that? Sure you can. And, the sure promise from Jesus is “it will be given to you…” Do you need something only God can give? If the answer is “Yes” then Ask! “Everyone who Asks receives…” The reverse is true also. We don’t have what we need because we don’t ask God for it. (James 4:2) And, we sometimes ask motivated by the wrong motives. (James 4:3) If what you ask for will honor God and bless your life, boldly Ask!
  • Seek! Seek implies that are to be diligent in our praying. To seek is to go for something, to explore every avenue, to be proactive about what we need. The Bible in Hebrews 11 (the faith chapter) gives more light on seeking. “whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6b) Don’t be lazy in prayer, put forth some effort and go to God with passion for what you want.
  • Knock! Prayer is knocking on God’s door! This another way of teaching us to pray. If I go over to my neighbor’s house to borrow a cup of meal I can’t just go and stand be the door, I must knock! And, if he doesn’t answer at first I must keep knocking. The difference is, God is always at home. If you knock God will open the door. Keep knocking until you have what you need.

The idea presented here can be illustrated by this example. Have you ever been inclined to give a child something, partially because they just kept asking over and over and over? I have and I think you have.

We are to ask and keep on asking, we are to seek and keep on seeking, and we are to knock and keep on knocking. If we do, God will keep on answering, we will keep on finding, and the door will keep opening.

You have tried it your way, used your reasoning and resources and remedies? Why not just make a request, and keep making your requests?

A man much more wise than I am once said “The weakness of a Christian will usually be a prayer weakness, and the weakness of a church will also usually be a prayer weakness as well”.

Need anything? Ask God.

Royce

Jan 8 2010

The Journey of Grief


Have you walked that lonely road, desperately missing a loved one who has died? Perhaps you have recently lost a family member or a dear friend and the pain is still raw and sharp. Or, it might be that even though your loss was several years ago the hurt never seems to heal like you expected it would.

Welcome to GriefShare.

“GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.

GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life.” (from the GriefShare website)

My wife Carol and I became vividly acquainted with grief and grieving in 1997. Her husband Terry died suddenly in the summer and my wife Jeanine died the same way just before Christmas and her 44th birthday.

Because we knew first hand how difficult it is for survivors to go through the grief process we decided to offer a hand to those who are hurting  as we did. In just a few days we will begin our 8th year of facilitating GriefShare groups. Our experience has been a mixture of sadness and joy as we have walked along side many wonderful people with broken hearts. We have seen some amazing transformations through this ministry of love and mercy.

Last year we were joined in our GriefShare ministry by John and Maggie Dobbs. John is the pulpit minister at the Forsythe Church of Christ in Monroe. John and Maggie lost their son, John Robert, several months ago, a few days before he was to graduate high school. John is a prolific writer and has chronicled much of his personal journey of grief at his popular blog “Out Here Hope Remains”.

We began having our groups meet at Forsythe last year after several years at Whites Ferry Road Church in West Monroe. The Forsythe Church is centrally located on Forsythe west of the Oliver and Forsythe intersection.

On Monday, January 11th at 6:00 p.m. we will have a time of greeting and registration for the upcoming series. We will meet weekly for 13 weeks. Each week we will watch a DVD (30 to 40 min.) and then have a discussion time.

You can expect the following:

  • Very helpful information. The series includes ministers, Christian counselors, famous authors and other experts on grief, and people just like you who share their stories of hope.
  • People who really care about you. Our only goal is to love and nurture hurting people in Christ’s name.
  • Tears are welcomed. Tears are the beautiful expression of a hurting heart and God’s unique way of cleansing a troubled soul. Don’t be fearful of crying, all of us do cry, or have, it is normal and expected.
  • A safe place. Your confidentiality will be respected and honored. What you choose to share in a GriefShare group will not leave the group. “What happens in GriefShare stays in GriefShare”.
  • You don’t have to talk. It’s really up to you. Often people are not ready to talk in a group setting. That is OK. You will be expected to talk only if and when you feel comfortable doing so.
  • Christ centered. Our resources are biblical in nature and we readily say that our ultimate comfort in times of trouble comes from a vibrant, authentic, relationship with Jesus Christ. Our mission is not to have you change your church membership or to pressure you into anything you don’t want to do. We only want to love you in Christ’s stead and point you to him.
  • You will get better! I’ll make you a promise. If you attend each week and take advantage of the resources available to you, I assure you that you will realize that you have found comfort, peace, and a new hope that makes daily living without your loved one much more bearable.

Remember! Each Monday at 6:00 p.m. at Forsythe Church of Christ, 2101 Forsythe Ave. in Monroe. Put it on your calendar now so you can’t forget, you’ll be glad you did. I look forward to meeting you!

Questions? Call Carol Ogle at 318.348.2291

Agape,

Royce

Jan 5 2010

Church of Christ? What is it?


Church? What is it to you?

I ask these questions and challenge our thinking in the context of the churches of Christ, a fellowship I have enjoyed for almost a decade now. I have come to know and appreciate some of the most dedicated, humble servants of Jesus Christ I have known anywhere, and as in every group, some folks not so desirable.

It is common to hear someone say to another of a mutual acquaintance “He is a member of the church” or “She was not a member of the church”. This is not uncommon phrases but it takes on a different meaning than if spoken by a Baptist or a Methodist. In the circles in which I travel it almost always means not the body of Christ but more narrowly, the Church of Christ. And to make things more complicated many CoC people believe the body of Christ and the Church of Christ are one and the same.

Many of our folks will add the words “The Lord’s…” before church. This way of conveying the same thought makes it more definite what is intended, at least to other CoC people.

The inevitable end of this line of logic is that every other group on earth who claim to be followers of Jesus are not a part of “The Lord’s church” or the “True church” and are something other than genuine Christians.

Ideas about what others who claim to be Christians are ranges from “false prophets”, “lost sinners” to a kinder and gentler “in error” and “seekers”. And, there is the rather odd and completely unscriptural idea that some people are sort of saved, but not completely. You can never get anyone to say it this clearly but it is certainly what is implied. The truth is, one either has eternal life or he doesn’t. You know, either Becky is pregnant or she isn’t. Or a better illustration is either Uncle John is dead or he is alive, there is no in between.

Followers of Jesus are called in the Bible “disciples”, “the way”, “believers”, and as a group “the church”, “the church of God”, “the assembly of God”, “the church of the firstborn,  “the body of Christ”, and “the Bride of Christ”. These terms all are descriptions of the sum total of all believers in most cases.

There are also references to the earthly representations of the one body, local churches. They are mentioned as being tied to geographical areas or cities. Then there are those identified by the person who owned the house where they met.

I think it would be good if we (Church of Christ people) agreed on these facts.

Church of Christ, and other Restoration Movement groups are not the only ones saved. Remember the old phrase “We are only Christians but not the only Christians“? The RM fathers ideal was to unify ALL believers into one church. How could that have been a worthy goal if all the others were lost?

Every member of every Church of Christ is not saved. EVERY member of EVERY church would need to be saved for some of our outrageous statements to be true. I recently read a blog where the author was trying to make the case that only Church of Christ members are saved. That is a tough assignment!

The “church”, the universal body of Christ which includes all redeemed people from every age, is not the same as the local churches. The exact reason is that there are tares growing with the wheat. There are impostors who are no more than actors. Only believers are in the body of Christ, not make believers!

Perhaps the most odd, and the most compelling, evidence that people who embrace the sectarian idea that only their group is saved comes to us courtesy of many of our most “conservative” Church of Christ preachers.

They will quickly tell you that only those in “the Lord’s Church”, (the churches of Christ) are going to heaven. These same men will then insist that so and so Church of Christ is lost because they have musical instruments accompany singing on Sunday morning. And, there are perhaps dozens of other sins that will send a whole congregation of “The Lord’s Church” to hell, like raising your hands in worship, women speaking in church, serving communion from the rear of the auditorium rather than the front, having a kitchen, and teaching anything that brother Holier-than-thou disagrees with.

How can Church of Christ people be the only ones saved and at the same time some of them be lost? It is rather confusing isn’t it. The glaring problem for the people who teach such nonsense is that it cannot be defended in any coherent way.

What so you think?

Agape,

Royce