Eutychus

Thursday, February 5, 2015

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper.  Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.  The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps.  As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy.  Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.  Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms.  “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!”  Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together.  Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.  Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.   Acts 20:7-12 (NLT)

"Wellie" is our little rag mop Shih Tzu. His place, when we are in the sunroom watching TV, is stretched-out, lying mostly comatose on the ottoman, right in front of the couch potatoes.  From that vantage point he can survey his entire kingdom.

(Including an excellent observation point of our unguarded snack or dinner plates; the little man is not without his darker side!)

Anyway - on Tuesday I spoke to my Dad, who lives in New York.  He had an important doctor's appointment Wednesday, so before we hung-up - with Dad on speaker - Elizabeth and I joined hands and prayed for Dad's appointment. 

(Wellie might have joined us, but he was snoring on the ottoman!)

At the end of the prayer I closed with "amen" and Wellie stretched, rolled a bit, and fell right off the ottoman on his curly-haired head.  It must've been a powerful prayer to move my heathen dog!

Well, it didn't require another prayer to restore Wellie to life; he shook his head a bit to clear the fog, and was just fine.

I fear that happens too much in our lives as followers of Jesus.  We say "Amen" and roll-off to the next thing with something of a spiritual fog as if we're not expecting God to show up.  

That's so different than the way Paul prayed.  When the young man, Eutychus rolled out of a third story window, it was a time to expect God to show up, or call the undertaker.

For You Today

What is there about your prayer life you would change after hearing about Eutychus?

Are you wide awake now?

The UN-Shopping List - Part 1

Monday, December 29, 2014

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron.  “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us.  We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”  So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”  All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron.  Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf.  When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”  Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf.  Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”  The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings.  After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.  The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain!  Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.  How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live!  They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it.  They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”   Exodus 32:1-8 (NLT)

When I was a preschooler I used to go shopping with Mom.  And when I was old enough to walk I would tag along behind her and look for familiar packages (chocolate, gooey things and Pop Tarts, of course!).  Mom and I each had our job in that store; I would throw stuff I wanted in the basket whenever I thought she wasn't looking; Mom would pick out all the unhealthy stuff, put it back on the shelf, and say aloud to nobody in particular, Hmmm, now I wonder how that got in there; it's on my UN-shopping list!" 

For the days until the new year arrives, I’d like for us to create an UN-shopping list based on the experience of the Exodus people, Israel.  If you will, let’s think of the approaching new year as a grocery store.  You have just walked-in, gotten your basket, and you’re about to enter the first aisle.

A new year is a clean slate aisle; you can choose what you will from the shelves.  That can be a refreshing thought, with the outlook of forgetting last year's mistakes and trials; it can also be intimidating.  The people of God had a new chance; they'd been held prisoner for 400 years in Egypt, and now they were camped at Mt. Sinai, free.  The question was, "What do we do with this freedom, this clean new slate?"  Their leader Moses had been up on the mountain speaking to this God with no name, no face; he'd been gone for weeks. 

They chose to get nervous.  

We also have that choice; we can be nervous about the economy or our government.  We might worry about our jobs or kids.  Maybe your relationship with your husband or wife is shaky. 

What will happen this year? 

Considering the only certainty about this new year is its' uncertainty, it’s a good idea to decide early on what belongs in your life’s basket and what doesn’t. 

Today’s item that doesn’t make the cut:

Unbelief - Weak Faith

God told Moses the people were unbelieving.  He said they had corrupted themselves; they were "quick to turn away."  Literally, the word means go to ruin.  The nervous Israelites had turned away from the presence of a God they couldn’t see, in favor of a hand-crafted idol, a bull statue covered with gold plate.  Up to this point, the people had been following the Lord by faith.  Now they wanted something of substance. 

We are not altogether so different.  For some folks to attend church there must be all the outward physical signs of God's approval – TV cameras, vast programs, famous personalities.  (You wonder at times just who it is people come to worship under those conditions.) 

Sometimes I get nervous about following the Lord by faith.  I would like for God to drop a few miracles in my direction so I can believe better.  Then the Father speaks to my heart, "Russell, what is this puny faith you’re walking with?”

Sometimes things happen in our lives that shake what little faith we may have.  There is a Bible-word for that:  TEMPTATION! 

If you're going to toss unbelief out of your cart for this year, put in some time preparing to do just that.  You do that by becoming better acquainted with the author of faith. 

Remember, faith comes by hearing...the Word of God ^{Romans 10.17}.  

Make time this year for Bible Study, fellowship and prayer, both at home and with your church family.  Make it a priority. 

J. Wilbur Chapman said, "My life is governed by this rule:  Anything that dims my vison of Christ or takes away my taste for Bible study or cramps my prayer life or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it." 

For you, today

Unbelief?  Weak Faith?

Toss it!

Intentional Faith Development

In the Peanuts cartoon series, Lucy is in business as a psychiatrist.  “Advice—5 cents,” says her sign.  Charlie Brown is her client.  Charlie Brown woefully asks Lucy’s advice on finding a purpose in life.  Using the metaphor of the bow of a large boat, Lucy responds, “Some people go through life with their deck chair facing backwards, looking at where they’ve been.”  Then she asks,” Charlie Brown, which way is your deck chair facing?”  Charlie Brown concludes sadly, “I really don’t know—I’ve never been able to get my deck chair unfolded!”[1]

Today is the third week (of five) in our series on the practices that you can see flourishing in the life of healthy, fruitful congregations.  We began with Radical Hospitality (welcoming others in Jesus’ name); last week was Extravagant Generosity.  Today we are going to unfold the deck chair of developing our faith.  Perhaps, where our spiritual development is concerned, we have all spent time with an unfolded chair or two. 

Intentional Faith Development

It will help to define what we mean by Intentional Faith Development. 

Define “Faith”

Faith has to do with your relationship to God, and the trust-level you have to let Him control things.  In Paul’s letter to the Roman church[2] Paul begged and pleaded with believers to watch their lifestyles – to make certain they were not being conformed to this world, meaning they were to live like Jesus lived, not like the people who crucified him; they should be transformed people.  That word “conformed” shows up in Galatians, where Paul wrote that he was working as hard as he could with them, and on them, to see Christ formed in them.

Define “Development”

This “conforming” to the image of Christ is growth, maturation in the faith, and of your faith.  The Greek word is telos (telos), meaning “mature” or functioning in the manner for which you were created.  A surgeon goes to school to become telos in surgery; his goal is to become proficient in his practice of healing.  In Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase writes,

Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations practice Intentional Faith Development. From the first generations of Christians to the earliest Methodists to the youngest generations of faithful members today, the followers of Jesus Christ mature by learning together in community. Churches that practice Intentional Faith Development offer high quality learning experiences that help people understand Scripture, faith, and life in the supportive nurturing of caring relationships. (Abingdon Press, 2007; p. 62)

Define “Intentional”

“Intentional” may be the most disturbing of the three words in today’s emphasis.  This word debunks the myth that growth occurs in the Christian journey by osmosis (where it seeps through your skin like poison-ivy); you just go to church, read your Bible a little, pay your tithe and stay away from bad habits, and, voilà, you’re a Christian; the Jesus gene takes over and you go to heaven. 

Generally speaking there is a parallel between the spiritual and physical life.  Jesus taught many truths by illustrating them with physical realities.  He said he was like a vine, we are the branches.  We are sheep, he is the shepherd. 

Intentional vs. Osmosis

This is also true with the idea that our faith (relationship with God) and development (Christ formed in us) will not happen unless intentionally tended by every Christian.  To clarify this principle, consider the following comparison of intentional parenting, as opposed to letting a child do whatever he wishes:

·        Intentional parents take their children for checkups, shots and make them brush their teeth.  “Osmosis” parents wait until the child is sick and weak.

·        Intentional parents involve themselves in their children’s education.  “Osmosis” parents raise ignorant children.

·        Intentional parents train their children in faith and community responsibilities.  “Osmosis” parents raise hellish, carnal children, because they don’t know better.

·        Intentional parents teach their children manners and how to respect others.  “Osmosis” parents raise selfish, brutish, obnoxious children who assume there’s no one else in the universe but themselves.

In each of these, it is not the children who are at fault, but the parents who sit back waiting for the parenting osmosis thing to kick-in.  We all know that doesn’t happen!

So, how can you/we be intentional about spiritual growth?  When Paul addressed this issue, he spoke to the whole church, but he also lifted up the idea of Christ being formed in you.  So it is a personal issue which is before the whole congregation.  This is how we apply intentionality – it is personal AND corporate; it’s for the individual believer AND the community. 

This is why we covenant together, agreeing to support all the different functions, such as worship, Bible study, fellowship and prayer (Acts 2:42).   There are five components to this covenant:  We promise each other our prayers, presence, financial gifts, service and witness. 

Medium and Movement

But here we have to be careful not to confuse the medium of these activities with the movement that creates faith development.  Medium is what coveys you to a desired result; movement is the actual, measurable growth BECAUSE you participated in the medium.  Huh?  An illustration – My car brought me here this morning – it was the medium, and it moved me up I-85 to 311 and then Worthville Road and into the driveway covered with ice.  The car got me here.  But the goal was to be here, not to ride in the car!  

The goal was to be with you all – to arrive at this destination.

Bible study, prayer meeting, fellowship times, mission service, giving and worship are like my car…they are not the goal of becoming a Christian; they are not the movement.  These are the media in which we participate in order to grow our faith so we become the kind of people God seeks as His children.

It’s a Journey

Let’s compare once more the difference between osmosis and intentionality:

Osmosis Faith-Development in the 21^st Century

When you opt for the quick, or the easy, undemanding, totally-in-my-comfort zone approach to discipleship, you might choose the new I-Phone app for confession.  Seriously!  This new app allows you to enter the booth via your hand-held I-Phone, confess your sins, press the “finish” icon, receive absolution and end your session cleansed (that is, if you do the assigned penance!).

This is not a joke to some people; it’s an option!  Without doing the hard work of facing your sins and dealing with them, we can opt for anonymous confession and absolution, without so much as getting off the couch! 

The same holds true for spiritual faith-development in terms of worship, missions, giving, witness and Bible study; it’s all on the Internet, just waiting for the click of your mouse to make you into a Super Saint!  You can even donate by Pay Pal!  Religion without the fuss, demands on your time, or all those irritating people…what a deal!

Intentionality

Intentionality in developing your faith requires a much more ancient app – personal involvement!  Incidentally, that’s always been God’s way, ever since he went looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden after they had sinned.  They wanted to hide; God wasn’t having any of it!  The same held true for their son, Cain.  God came to the first murderer and confronted him with the question, what have you done?  It was the same question God put to Cain’s parents; it’s the same question he holds before us.  God wants “up close and personal” – that’s why proxy doesn’t work in developing your faith.  Nobody else can do it for you, and if you wait for “osmosis” to kick-in, you’ll have a very long wait. 

Intentionality takes time and doesn’t avoid the steps that promote development of faith.  It’s a long….. (Life-long)…process!  Pastor Melissa Bailey-Kirk shared in a sermon something about steps that really sticks in my mind:

Twentieth century archaeologists uncovered some interesting things about the ancient Temple Mount in Jerusalem, one of which is the seemingly random design of the southern stairs.  It was by these stairs that weary travelers climbed several hundred feet from the valley to the actual Temple. The rise of the steps varies in some instances by several inches. The stretch or depth of the steps varies—in no discernible pattern—by several feet!                    

Now, some might conclude that the design engineers were either under the influence of mind-altering chemicals or incompetent. But not the ancient rabbis. They saw the random, sometimes treacherous state of the southern stairs as a powerful metaphor for Intentional Faith Development. They argued that the engineers were not “stoned” but were persons of faith who knew that to ascend the hill of the Lord hurriedly and without thought would be spiritually dangerous. Rather, those who would approach God must do so with intention, caution, and measured steps—paying attention and learning all along the way.[3]

All Along the Way

All along the way!  What a wonderful picture of how intentionality works.  Each step is considered part of the whole.  That is your life; that is your life being conformed to the image of Christ!

At Bethany we have the media – like my car was the medium to get me here.  What we’re involved in right now (worship) is part of the “all along the way” changing or transforming process.  There is Bible Study and prayer both on Sundays and Wednesdays.  There are mission efforts, relating to the schools, hospitals and prisons and homebound.  There are mission opportunities like helping with the Nehemiah House project at Ward Street.  You can crochet prayer shawls and help with Youth.  There are various committees on which to serve.

All of this is part of the uneven, seemingly random set of steps to help us become persons of stronger faith.  It is intentional; it may seem like the results are osmosis-like, but God’s way is always step-by-step until Christ is formed in you!

Father, like the poet, we have many steps to go before we sleep.  Order those steps for us; keep us on the pathway of developing our faith.  LORD, in this moment place in our hearts the desire to take that next step.  Some here should be serving, studying or learning to pray, because that is THEIR next step.  Show each of us how to intentionally step-into finding that next piece of the journey along the way.  We pray in the Name of the Father, Because of the Son, Cooperating with the Spirit…Amen!

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[1] Allan R. Bevere in a sermon, Intentional Faith Development Is About Purpose (quoted in Moments Together for Couples, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey [Regal, 1995]; p. 215).

[2] Romans 12:2

[3] Melissa Bailey-Kirk in a sermon, Imago Dei