bullying in the church

So, I have been thinking lately about how different causes and the way people try to get other people involved. I don't have a problem with people getting other people interested in Darfur or social justice issues because Jesus did have concern with the poor. To be fair, these are well intentioned people that want to make a difference for the kingdom. Yet I've noticed that there are at least three main tactics people use. there are probably more than these, but for the sake of argument I'm only going to focus on these three. (note: This is not true of ALL churches, these are just some trends that I've noticed.)

1.) THE WORD COUNT FALLACY - Basically these people really like looking at their concordances and say, "The Bible talks about this topic x amount of times, therefore we should be really focus on this." The problem with that is the fact that the Bible covers A LOT of topics and doctrines. Thus, we should interpret the Bible in light of other passages of scripture that talks about other stuff.

2.) THE EMOTIONAL APPEAL - This is another common practice, mostly used by charasmatic people. It usually consists of one person who has had a life changing experience overseas and so they really want you to be involved with what they themselves. The only problem is that not everyone is called to be an eye, or a hand, or a foot. (see 1 Corinthians 12:14-18) God's heart is way bigger than what you and I can even comprehend. Sometimes, He reveals different parts of His heart to other people and yet the same time they are all connected to the same big main thing that is on His heart... that none would perish but come to the saving knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)

3.) ETHNOCENTRICISM - This one is more of a shot at Conservative Christians who have warmed the same pew since third grade. They've done things their way and that's just about the only thing they know. When you approach them with a new idea to do outreach, they'll flip out because you've just violated their social norms. They are more concerned with orthodoxy, and less concerned with orthopraxy. With them, they will think that unless you do things their way, they think that you are automatically think that YOU are the heretic. Other less strict churches will do the same with orthopraxy, or with their adgendas.

So, what is a Christian supposed to do? The best way would do what Paul told Timothy.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. " (2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV)

It isn't bad to get involved with different causes. But when people start bullying me with "you should be involved with this cause or that cause." I just keep in mind that I really only have one cause. And that cause is Jesus!

In what ways have you experienced bullying in the church?

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Humility: Something I Really Suck At

Something has been eating at me the past few weeks and I feel like I need to confess something. When it comes to humility, I SUCK AT IT!

I don't have everything together. I normally want to do things my way. If I smell a wolf comming, I want to bash them in the head with my words. and even when I start to notice that ministry is not going the way I wanted to in the first place, i'll just grab a Coke and smile and pretend everything is ok.

Just recently, God's just been rocking my world a lot in this area. I want to say that my life is built on humble orthodoxy, but it tends to come out like i'm a jerk which is neither humble nor orthodoxy. I want to say that I know where I'm going, but then I find out that I threw away the map at the last gas station 50 miles ago.

When I was in Honolulu, I was reading this passage in the book of Philippians.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:1-11 ESV)

It kinda sounds like Paul is saying, "Look! Do you want to see God's glory? The glory of Jesus cannot be divorced from the cross." And so many times, we tend to fail to see that all of our lives are ment to be all about the King of kings. How many of us tend to hang onto lots of B.S. that really don't matter in the eternal perspective? Maybe it is a relationship? Ministry? Way of doing things?

So, I simply want to apologize for calling out some famous emerging church leader. At the time I felt like I was justified because I knew something was wrong with his video, but yet my words that I used were too salty and i shouldn't have said things that i made too strong of comments. I pretty much don't care for the guy and I think that he does come to wrong conclusions, but I am just a missionary and on my own I can do jack squat to change peoples minds. I had no right to call this guy out on my blog. As much as I want to be discerning, I can go overboard.

In closing, I just wanted to show this video which I think is a really powerful song when you look at the lyrics.

Is it evangelism if the gospel is not proclaimed?

I've been tossing this around in my head back and forth for the past month and I feel like I should make a post on this.

I do know in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the preached word of Christ. But yet I know that the sentiment of today is that we should do evangelism using good deeds and we will not push our agenda onto people (a.k.a. share the reason for the hope that lies within them). They will usually point out that Jesus loved on people and hung out with the prostitutes and all of that is true. But what exactly is the reason why Jesus loved on those people? To call them to repentance. Scriptures do not tell us how long Jesus hung out with them, so to say that Jesus built relationships with them is reading into the text.

If we look at the book of Acts, see acts of mercy happening. Peter and John healed a lame beggar at Solomon's Portico (Acts 3) and the scriptures go on to say that Peter actually gave the gospel when people started to ask what was going on.

To be honest, I really don't blame the emerging folks that say that the gospel is to be lived out. Titus does talk about keeping a balance between right teaching and right living. But taken to the logical extreme, you get this piece of garbage...




In other words, to heretics like Rob Bell, the gospel isn't about the resurrection or the fact that Jesus took on the wrath that we deserved. The gospel is more about how you feel when you are around a group of believers. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about how Jesus really did rise from the dead and really did eat meals with people and that the gospel . The stuff Rob Bell says in this video sounds eerily similar to what the heretics in the Jesus Seminar, whose mission is pretty much discredit the actual cannon of scriptures we have now called the Bible and the actual evidence for a historical Jesus.

That brings me to the world famous evangelism cop out line, "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words." I have a problem with this because it just makes just as much sense as "Always eat three square meals a day, and when necessary use food." I don't see how someone can preach the gospel without actually using words. it just does not follow logic.

So, is it evangelism if the gospel is not proclaimed? If we truely believe that people could die at any moment and go to hell without a relationship with Jesus, I would have to say, "no".

Aloha!

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you are feeling well today. I am doing well myself. My laptop died on me a few days before my flight to Honolulu, so I am currently borrowing a roommate's laptop right now. What sucks is that I've half of my music on my computer and my ipod was wiped clean, so I'm pretty much stuck with none of my favorite music. But the bright side is that I'm coming to the realization that this SALT seminar is a time where I get to just hang out with Jesus a lot and it is kind of beneficial for me to realize that Jesus does not sound at all like John Piper. And thanks to an unidentified donor, someone is hooking me up with a netbook for me to use for mow untill I get back to the mainland US to have Geek Squad look at my other laptop (I hope that Geek Squad will actually FIX MY COMPUTER THIS TIME!!!!!).

Getting to Hawai'i was interesting because of the security. I ended up getting patted down even though I showed them my special card that I carry with me through every metal detector that says that I have a metal rod in my right leg. I don't want to sound ungreatful because Homeland Security has been a great blessing to our country because he have not a terrorist attack since 9-11, but can't they at least give me the benefit of a doubt that when I show them my card they can give me a free pass? I guess that is US taxpayer bucks for you.

Being at the base has been pretty amazing. I am just an eight minute walk from the nearest grocery store, about a five minute drive to ne nearest Yogurtland that is on a college campus, and has very lush scenery. I'm in this Saff and Leadership Training seminar with twenty other people from all around the world. Today, I had a great lecture from Danny Lehmann's wife, Linda, about Jesus being worthy of everything. It has been kind of eye opening for me to see that the numerous doubts that I've had in terms of my calling and knowing that Jesus is larger than all of my doubts.

Well, I think I am going to go. I have some free time and taking a nap really sounds good to me right now. I will catch you all next week.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Andrew Ramsey
Matthew 6:33