Alright, it is at the risk of sounding cliche and "Miss America-esque" that I write this entry. But I'm starting to get just a little aggravated with something I've been noticing more and more as the days go by.
My grandma was just talking with me the other day about the fact that one of the things on the Synod 2010 agenda is whether or not to adopt the Belhar Confession. It's basically a statement of belief in the unity of the Church. She said that she agrees with the confession, that she doesn't have qualms with it and so she doesn't see why she would vote against the adoption but she said she thought it was kind of pointless, that we're already doing that.
Just today I picked up the copy of The Banner that we got in the mail and started reading about what kind of topics were on the agenda for Synod this year. That is when I read this concerning two churches in the CRC that want to move to a different classis because of their disagreement on the placement of women in the church, "Such a move could be seen to strain the spirit of the agreement in the denomination that we will live in unity despite our differences..."
This is simply disunity happening in the same denomination, not to mention what happens across denominational lines. And I think it's silly!
"We believe that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a
variety of ways:
-in that we love one another
-that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another
-that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another
-that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind
-have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope
-together come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ
-together are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity
-together know and bear one another's burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another and upbuild one another, admonishing and comforting one another
-that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness
-pray together
-together serve God in this world
-together fight against all which may threaten or hinder this unity"
I might memorize that.
In the words of Sanctus Real, "Oh oh we need each other, so what's the fighting for? Oh oh we need each other. Please don't close the door. Oh oh we need each other through all the highs and lows. Oh oh we need each other cuz no one's meant to live alone"
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Bangladesh
The possibility that I will be in Bangladesh next Summer is so great now that I am forced to begin thinking very seriously about it. I've applied for two internships there and both look promising for acceptance. Regardless of whether or not that is where I end up, the reality that I will soon (as in 2 years) graduate college and be on a mission field with a degree, has planted itself on my heart. Two years is a very short time that will go by very quickly. And I need to ask myself a hard question: Am I ready?
Now, the answer is no. But I suppose with two years left to prepare, learn and grow in the academic, college setting, I would expect to say no. If I was ready now, I would be there now. Maybe a better question is, what do I need to do to be ready?
The reality that I could die is setting in. And it isn't a bad thing. That thought doesn't discourage me or make me afraid. It makes me think and it makes me desire to be better. I know that until you are in the situation you can never guess what you would do, but I am inclined to speculate: Could I die for Christ?
This is what I need to do to be ready:
1. I need to read my Bible more often. I take God's word for granted. I'm simply not reading it enough.
2. I need to expand my prayers. This is not about me and my family and my church and my friends...this is about the world and the Body of Christ and people that I have never met before. This isn't just about asking for stuff, it's about thanking for stuff, praising for stuff...Prayer is one of the most tremendous tools I have against the evil in this world and I don't need to go anywhere special to use it.
3. I need to serve more. I just need to do more stuff for people. I have been blessed in so many ways and I am most certainly not using enough of those blessings to further the kingdom and "help a brother out."
4. I need to argue less. It's not always about being right. There is a very fine line between "iron sharpening iron" and "iron smashing feet." Truth in love and nothing else.
5. I need to eat more healthily and exercise more often. I can't focus on the spiritual and ignore the physical. God made this body, too, and it's not mine. This body belongs to him, for him to use in his kingdom. I don't want to miss an opportunity to minister to someone because I couldn't climb the mountain, couldn't walk the village, couldn't move the boxes, couldn't kick the soccer ball...
And those five things should be more than enough to focus on for the time being. Keep me accountable, friends! Ask me how I've been doing with these things. Don't be afraid to say, "Hey dork! Look at what you're doing right now!"
And ask yourself: What do I need to do to be ready? Because we are all called to be missionaries.
Now, the answer is no. But I suppose with two years left to prepare, learn and grow in the academic, college setting, I would expect to say no. If I was ready now, I would be there now. Maybe a better question is, what do I need to do to be ready?
The reality that I could die is setting in. And it isn't a bad thing. That thought doesn't discourage me or make me afraid. It makes me think and it makes me desire to be better. I know that until you are in the situation you can never guess what you would do, but I am inclined to speculate: Could I die for Christ?
This is what I need to do to be ready:
1. I need to read my Bible more often. I take God's word for granted. I'm simply not reading it enough.
2. I need to expand my prayers. This is not about me and my family and my church and my friends...this is about the world and the Body of Christ and people that I have never met before. This isn't just about asking for stuff, it's about thanking for stuff, praising for stuff...Prayer is one of the most tremendous tools I have against the evil in this world and I don't need to go anywhere special to use it.
3. I need to serve more. I just need to do more stuff for people. I have been blessed in so many ways and I am most certainly not using enough of those blessings to further the kingdom and "help a brother out."
4. I need to argue less. It's not always about being right. There is a very fine line between "iron sharpening iron" and "iron smashing feet." Truth in love and nothing else.
5. I need to eat more healthily and exercise more often. I can't focus on the spiritual and ignore the physical. God made this body, too, and it's not mine. This body belongs to him, for him to use in his kingdom. I don't want to miss an opportunity to minister to someone because I couldn't climb the mountain, couldn't walk the village, couldn't move the boxes, couldn't kick the soccer ball...
And those five things should be more than enough to focus on for the time being. Keep me accountable, friends! Ask me how I've been doing with these things. Don't be afraid to say, "Hey dork! Look at what you're doing right now!"
And ask yourself: What do I need to do to be ready? Because we are all called to be missionaries.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mountains Melt Like Wax
I was in class several weeks back completely engrossed in a lecture on 1 Corinthians. I had no idea how I could grow up in the church and still not know so much! It was awesome the way God was opening my eyes to verses I had never seen before. The Bible is such an exciting thing! It is living and active, and no matter how many times you read it, you can read it again and find something totally new, something that applies exactly to what you are going through at that very moment. (Sometimes it is scarily accurate.)
But two rows in front of me was a girl knitting. To chairs to the left of her a boy watched a tennis match. One row directly above him a girl texted and read a novel. Next to her a girl whispered and giggled with the boy behind her. I could connect almost every person in the classroom to an activity outside of 1 Corinthians.
I think we've all lost something. Even me. Maybe it's a product of growing up in the Church, or maybe it's simply a product of growing up in America, but there seems to be something missing from the average Christian here...
There used to be a time in which people would flock from miles around to hear the Word of God preached. In some places this still happens. One pastor I know in the Philippines preaches to hundreds of people every day! The little church there is poor. They spend what little income they receive from members on food and medical supplies to take care of other people. They don't have fog machines. They don't have youth garages with Guitar Hero. They don't have people with drums and guitars on a stage with cool lights. But they have more members huddled under a thatch roof than the building I attend.
When did we stop believing that authentic Christianity is what really draws people in, and start believing that fog and bright lights would be able to hide our hypocritical lifestyles enough to attract people? They are lost, not stupid!
There is no passion anymore. Nobody wants to listen to a teaching on 1 Corinthians, they would rather knit or text. When did God lose his power? When did we lose our awe? Where is the God who made mountains quake; who appeared in pillars of fire and billowing smoke? Where is that God in America? Where is the fear of the "Israelites"?
Awesome God,
Consume your people. Singe their hearts and scorch their souls. Set an unquenchable fire in them. Revive a nation of Israel in America. Set the Church ablaze. Shroud those who claim you in dark smoke. Cause them to tremble at the very thought of your awesomeness. Raise a nation of real Christians that flock around your name, that throw off the fog and don the smoke. May people be attracted by our genuineness.
Amen.
"The Lord reigns, let the Earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the Earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the Earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory!"
Psalm 97:1-6
But two rows in front of me was a girl knitting. To chairs to the left of her a boy watched a tennis match. One row directly above him a girl texted and read a novel. Next to her a girl whispered and giggled with the boy behind her. I could connect almost every person in the classroom to an activity outside of 1 Corinthians.
I think we've all lost something. Even me. Maybe it's a product of growing up in the Church, or maybe it's simply a product of growing up in America, but there seems to be something missing from the average Christian here...
There used to be a time in which people would flock from miles around to hear the Word of God preached. In some places this still happens. One pastor I know in the Philippines preaches to hundreds of people every day! The little church there is poor. They spend what little income they receive from members on food and medical supplies to take care of other people. They don't have fog machines. They don't have youth garages with Guitar Hero. They don't have people with drums and guitars on a stage with cool lights. But they have more members huddled under a thatch roof than the building I attend.
When did we stop believing that authentic Christianity is what really draws people in, and start believing that fog and bright lights would be able to hide our hypocritical lifestyles enough to attract people? They are lost, not stupid!
There is no passion anymore. Nobody wants to listen to a teaching on 1 Corinthians, they would rather knit or text. When did God lose his power? When did we lose our awe? Where is the God who made mountains quake; who appeared in pillars of fire and billowing smoke? Where is that God in America? Where is the fear of the "Israelites"?
Awesome God,
Consume your people. Singe their hearts and scorch their souls. Set an unquenchable fire in them. Revive a nation of Israel in America. Set the Church ablaze. Shroud those who claim you in dark smoke. Cause them to tremble at the very thought of your awesomeness. Raise a nation of real Christians that flock around your name, that throw off the fog and don the smoke. May people be attracted by our genuineness.
Amen.
"The Lord reigns, let the Earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the Earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the Earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory!"
Psalm 97:1-6
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