Christ, the One and Only

To contemplate the fathomlessness of God is a wonderful discipline. Another great discipline is to meditate upon the richness of who He is. Today, I simply want to be saturated in Christ. The following list is a good starting point.

Jesus Christ is . . .

• completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4)
  
• completely sufficient for creation (Colossians 1:16-17)
  
• completely sufficient for salvation (Hebrews 10:10-12)
  
• completely sufficient for redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19)
  
• completely sufficient for propitiation (1 John 2:2)
  
• completely sufficient for purification (Hebrews 1:3)
  
• completely sufficient for sanctification (Ephesians 5:26-27)
  
• completely sufficient for righteousness (Philippians 3:8-9)
  
• completely sufficient for glorification (1 John 3:2)
  
• without defect or blemish (1 Peter 1:19)
  
• the fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2)
  
• the only God (Isaiah 45:5)
  
• the only begotten Son (John 1:14, 18; John 3:16)
  
• the fullness of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)
  
• the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily (Colossians 2:9)
  
• the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2)
  
• the Creator of all things (Colossians 1:16)
  
• the Beginning of creation (Revelation 3:14)
  
• the purpose of all things created (Colossians 1:16)
  
• before all things and holding all things together (Colossians 1:17)
  
• the sustainer all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3)
  
• the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15)
  
• the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3)
  
• the exact representation of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3)
  
• the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 1:5)
  
• the Head of every man (1 Corinthians 11:3)
  
• the Head of the body, the Church (Colossians 1:18)
  
• the Head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:10)
  
• the Physician that heals (Luke 4:23-24; 5:31)
  
• the Wall of Fire that defends (Exodus 13:21)
  
• the Friend that comforts (John 15:14-15)
  
• the Pearl that enriches (Matthew 13:45-46)
  
• the Ark that supports (Genesis 6:18; Revelation 11:19)
  
• the Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures (1 Corinthians 10:4)
  
• the Fortress that cannot be shaken (Psalm 18:2)
  
• the Mountain of refuge (Psalm 18:2)
  
• the Deliverer (Romans 11:26)
  
• the Shield and Horn of Salvation (Psalm 18:2)
  
• seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high (Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1)
  
• with us (Matthew 1:23)
  
• better than the angels (Hebrews 1:4-14)
  
• greater than Satan (Luke 4:1-12; John 14:30)
  
• stronger than death (1 Corinthians 15:55; Hebrews 2:14)
  
• the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
  
• our Peace (Ephesians 2:14)
  
• our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1)
  
• our Life (Colossians.3:4)
  
• our Advocate (1 John 2:1)
  
• our Intercessor (Job 16:20)
  
• the Refiner and Purifier (Malachi 3:3)
  
• the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
  
• the Strength of Israel (1 Samuel 15:29)
  
• the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
  
• the Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)
  
• the Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 3:14)
  
• the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)
  
• the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10)
  
• the Champion (Isaiah 19:20)
  
• the Servant and Chosen One (Isaiah 42:1)
  
• the Righteous Servant (Isaiah 53:11)
  
• the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1)
  
• the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel our Redeemer, the God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5)
  
• the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)
  
• the Light of the World (John 8:12)
  
• the Son of Man (Matthew 20:28)
  
• the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14)
  
• the Vine (John 15:5)
  
• the Bread of Life (John 6:48)
  
• the Bread from heaven, the Bread of God (John 6:32-33)
  
• the Bread of God (John 6:33)
  
• the Door (John 10:7)
  
• the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)
  
• the chosen and precious Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6)
  
• the Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4)
  
• the Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:10-13)
  
• the Lord of the Harvest (Matthew 9:38)
  
• the Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
  
• the Prophet, Priest, and King (Hebrews 1:1-3)
  
• the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14, 19:16)
  
• the King of the nations (Jeremiah 10:7; Revelation 15:3)
  
• the King of the ages (Revelation 15:3)
  
• crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9)
  
• our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9)
  
• our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
  
• the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
  
• the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
  
• the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20)
  
• the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25)
  
• the Lord God of hosts (Isaiah 47:4)
  
• the Banner for the peoples (Isaiah 11:10)
  
• the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
  
• the Word of God (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13)
  
• the Word of Life (1 John 1:1)
  
• the Rock of Salvation (Psalm 62:2; 89:26; 95:1)
  
• the Rock of Israel (Isaiah 30:29)
  
• the Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
  
• the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9)
  
• the Branch of the Lord (Isaiah 4:2)
  
• the Creator and Comforter (1 Peter 4:19; Isaiah 43:1; John 16:7)
  
• the Messiah (John 1:41)
  
• the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and End (Revelation 1:17; 22:13)
  
• the great I AM (John 8:58)
  
• the Amen (Revelation 3:14)
  

The Fathomlessness of God

It has been way too long since my last entry. My schedule over the past few weeks has been crazy. The next couple of weeks may be as well as I finish up my two seminary classes and prepare for all our Christmas music not to mention welcoming our new pastor.

Around A.D. 500 some works were written by one whom many believed was Dionysius mentioned in Acts 17:34. Because he was a follower of Paul, these works were influential throughout the churches of the East and West during the Middle Ages. One incredible thing that came from these works is something called Negative Theology, Via Negativa (Latin for "Negative Way"), or Apophatic Theology.

According to Wikipedia, Negative Theology is the attempt to gain and express knowledge of God by describing what God is not (apophasis), rather than by describing what God is. In Negative Theology, it is recognized that we can never truly define God in words. All that can be done is to say, it isn't this, but also, it isn't that either. In the end, the student must transcend words to understand the nature of the Divine. In this sense, Negative Theology is not a denial. Rather, it is an assertion that whatever the Divine may be, when we attempt to capture it in human words, we must inevitably fall short.

In the church, it more common to seek to understand God according to the tangibles. God is good, faithful, and merciful. God is love. God is Shepherd, Present, Near, and Peace. God works in these kinds of ways and reveals Himself in these kinds of ways. You get the picture. Now all of this is good and vital for our growth in Christ and the magnification of God in and through our lives. Yet, if we only seek to fit God into our understanding, we may loose some of the transcendence of His nature.

Here are couple of examples of Negative Theology in writing. From Orthodox Faith by John of Damascus:

"No man hath seen God at any time: the only-begotton Son who is in
the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." The God-head, then, is ineffable and incomprehensible. For "no one knoweth the Father, but the Son: neither doth any one know the Son, but the Father." Furthermore, the Holy Spirit knows the things of God, just as the spirit of man knows what is in man. After the first blessed state of nature, no one has ever know God unless God Himself revealed it to him - not only no man, but not even any of the supramundane powers: the very Cherubim and Seraphim, I mean.

Therefore, we believe in on God: one principle, without beginning, uncreated, unbegotton, indestructible and immortal, eternal, unlimited, uncircumscribed, unbounded, infinite in power, simple, uncompounded, incorporeal, unchanging, unaffected, unchangeable, inalterate, invisible, source of goodness and justice, light intellectual and inaccessible; power which no measure can give any idea of but which is measured only by His own will, for He can do all things whatsoever he pleases; make of all things both visible and invisible, holding together all things and conserving them, provider for all, governing and dominating and ruling over all in unending immortal reign; withouy contradiction, filling all things, contained by nother, but Himself containing all things.

If you're like me, reading the above can be a little "out there" unless you bring it to a more simplified setting. Let me give it a try.

God displays His glory yet is invisible.
God is powerful yet His power has no limits.
God placed His creation in time yet has no beginning or end.
God is beautiful yet is indescribable.
God is Creator yet is uncreated.

Christ is enthroned in majesty yet enbodied in meekness.
Christ is God yet does not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
Christ is pure goodness yet willing to suffer evil.
Christ is eternal yet experienced death.

The Negative Way reinforces the fathomlessness of God. God cannot be placed in the box of our mind's comprehension.

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens - what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave - what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. (John 11:7-9)

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one canfathom. (Psalm 145:3)

May we continually seek to know God while understanding our limits in knowing the fathomlessness of God.

A Heart Prepared, Opened, & Changed

In picking up from my last log, we find the Holy Spirit leading Paul and his missionary band to the city of Philippi. Paul’s method of evangelism was to first go to the Jewish synagogue of the city and reason with the Jewish congregation concerning the Scripture. In Thessalonica he spent three Sabbath days in the synagogue reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that Jesus was indeed the Messiah (Acts 17:2-3). In Berea he again proclaimed from the Scriptures in the synagogue and spent several days examining the Old Testament with the Jews as well as a number of Greeks (Acts 17:10-12). On his next visit to Athens, he used the same method - he first went to the synagogue and shared on the Sabbath, then spent several days in the town expounding on the Word and proclaiming that Jesus Christ was the Savior (Acts 17:16-17).

Backing up to his visit in Philippi, we assume that there was not a significant Jewish presence in the town for there was no synagogue; ten Jewish men were required to form a synagogue. On the Sabbath, he and his companions went outside the city along the Gangites River where he expected to find a place of prayer. A small group of women had gathered there for worship, some Jews and other probably proselytes. One of the women there was named Lydia, who sold purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a city known for its purple-dyed, woolen fabrics. The Lord opened her heart to Paul’s message and she became the first European convert to Christ along with her entire family.

I just love this simple story of redemption. Let me share some of my thoughts:

• A heart prepared - Lydia was a “worshiper of God” (Acts 16:14). This doesn’t mean that she was a believer in Christ, but she was probably a converted Jew. I imagine that she spent every Sabbath and other days down by the river in prayer and worship. She had a relationship with God and lived a life of complete devotion even before encountering the power of the gospel. The soil of her heart was prepared.
  
  
• A heart opened - Outside of the grace of God, how do we move toward God? He opens our eyes to the truth and empowers us to respond. He breaks open our hearts for the message of salvation. God works and we respond.
  
  
• A heart changed - For Lydia, her worship would take on a whole new meaning and purpose. No longer would she worship the God of a promised Messiah, but rather the God of a promised fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

As we are faithful in sharing the gospel within our community, our state, our nation, and world, may we by God’s grace continually find hearts that are prepared, opened, and ready to be changed for the glory of God.

A Journey of Passion By Faith

Paul and Barnabas had just experienced a sharp disagreement that would result in this missionary band dividing into two groups: Barnabas would take John and travel to Cyprus and beyond; Paul would take Silas and travel through Syria, Cilicia, and to the west. On this particular journey, the Spirit kept him from preaching in Asia (Acts 16:6) so he traveled along the northern border of the country. He wanted to go north into Bithynia, but again the Spirit would not allow him. So, he went west until he reached Troas on the northwest coast of Mysia. It was in this town that Paul had the vision from God calling him to bring the gospel to Macedonia.

They traveled through the cities of Samothrace and Neapolis until they reached the town of Philippi where they would spend several days. The first question that comes to my mind is, “Why didn’t he evangelize in the two towns before Philippi?” In fact, it doesn’t seem that he evangelized in Troas at all during this journey. On his third missionary journey, Paul spent about a week in Troas. It was in this town that he raised a young man named Eutychus from the dead after he had fallen from the third floor of a building listening to Paul preach. Again, why would Paul pass through these towns without staying a few days to share the gospel and gather the believers together?

We don’t know whether Paul evangelized or not, at least on a personal level. I imagine that he did have opportunities to share his faith as he encountered people throughout the day and evening. When he was getting food and water, I’m quite sure that he wasn’t silent about His Savior. When he sought shelter for the evening, I’m quite sure that he probably had a probing question or two for the innkeeper. Yet, his greater evangelistic effort would be saved for another location - Philippi. Let me share some of my thoughts as to why he passed through some towns and heavily evangelized in others.

First of all, he was sensitive to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t go to Asia or Bithynia because the Holy Spirit was leading him elsewhere. The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit kept him from preaching in Asia (Acts 6:6). When he wanted to goes north and east to share the gospel, the Scripture says that the Spirit of Jesus would not allow him to enter the Bithynia (Acts 6:7) He packed up his bags and traveled to Macedonia the immediately after his vision from God because that was what God told him to do. He was obedient to the Spirit’s leading and to God’s command.

Secondly, he was sensitive to the open doors God provides. We get a picture of this on Paul’s third missionary journey at the city I already mentioned - Troas. In writing to the church in Corinth, he said, “I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me…” (2 Corinthians 2:12). The people were receptive to the gospel. God had prepared the way for the message of good news. Paul didn’t stay at this time as he was worried about his brother in Christ, Titus, whom he was probably planning on meeting in Troas. Since he didn’t find him there, he traveled to Macedonia and then later returned to Troas as described above.

Thirdly, he was sensitive to God’s strategic plan. Philippi was an important city. It is located along a range of hills which divides Europe from Asia, the east from the west. These hills dip to form a pass where Philippi is located thus controlling the road from the east to the west. One of the great decisive battles in Roman history was fought at Philippi where Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius to set forth the future of the Roman Empire. Philippi was established as a Roman colony a few decades before the birth of Christ. Rome would send large groups of veteran soldiers to these colonies to settle there and provide a strategic road center for the Empire. These colonies were also places of cultural influence. Roman language was spoken, Roman dress was worn, Roman customs were observed, the magistrates took Roman titles, and they observed the ceremonies of Rome. In a sense, Philippi was a mini-Rome whose influence would radiate throughout the region. To establish a church in Philippi would be incredibly strategic in the ultimate expansion of the gospel through the region and known world.

We can learn several things from Paul's journey to Macedonia:

• One must follow his passions and be aggressive in living out kingdom work. Paul and a few friends were not complacent and content with status quo Christianity. They were passionate and went to great extremes to live it out.
  
  
• One must be sensitive to the work and guidance of the Spirit. Paul tried to preach in Asia; he tried to cross the border of Mysia. Yet, the Holy Spirit intervened and guided them elsewhere. Our faith journey should be led by the Spirit of Christ. As we aggressively follow our passions, we must allow the Spirit to be our compass.
  
  
• One must respond immediately to the voice of God. After God gave the vision to Paul during the night, Paul and his companions got ready to leave for Macedonia at once. When God speaks to us in our hearts, through His Word, through someone else, through a circumstance, or some other way, we must get ready to respond at once.
  
  
• One must look for open doors. As we live out faithfulness to God, He will open doors of receptivity and anointing that we must respond to. We join God in what He is already doing in the hearts and lives of people for His name’s sake.
  
  
• One must trust in God’s strategic and sovereign plan. We don’t always see the big picture. I don’t image that Paul saw the significance of the city of Philippi in regards to the greater expansion of God’s kingdom. Our role is to serve fully where and when He plants us for ministry.

In my next log, I want to look at Paul’s first spiritual encounter in Philippi. Until then, may we aggressively live out our passions by faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we immediately obey His voice, look for open doors, respond to His work in people’s hearts, and trust in His sovereign plan for the glory of His name.

The "Yet" of Ceaseless Worship

This week, we took our family to see the movie, Facing the Giants. This is a must see! It’s a movie that shows how the power of God is more than enough when facing the giant and sometimes impossible situations of life. This movie presents the clear gospel message. It will be an incredible tool of evangelism for years to come.

One of the themes that was emphasized throughout the movie was praising God in both the good times and the bad times. When the football team won, they would praise God. When the football team lost, they would praise God.

I was reading Habakkuk’s prayer/song found in the third chapter of his prophetic book and saw this same theme addressed. He writes:

Though the fig tree does no bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Each of the food and drink items mentioned in this passage has tremendous significance. The fig tree was one of seven food producers mentioned in the description of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:8). The fig was an important food source in biblical days. Figs were eaten fresh or dried. The first fruit of the fig tree was a special delectable (Isaiah 28:4, Hosea 9:10, Nahum 3:12). Dried figs were used all year round and were invaluable in times of war. Oftentimes, the figs were dried into clumps or cakes. These caked figs were commonplace and provided a daily staple. Figs were also used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7, Isaiah 38:21).

Grapes were also a significant fruit. They were eaten fresh and also dried as raisins. Like the dried figs, they were often made into cakes (1 Samuel 25:18, 30:12, 2 Samuel 6:19, 16:1, 1 Chronicles 12:40, 16:3, Hosea 3:1). The most important use of grapes was the making of wine which was the most common drink of that day. Diluted wine was also a regular beverage. Wine was used medicinally and also as a disinfectant.

An indispensable commodity in biblical times for food, medicine, fuel, and ritual was olive oil. Olive oil, along with grain and wine, were considered a blessing given by God (Deuteronomy 11:14, Hosea 2:22, Joel 2:19, 24). Olive oil was used for cooking and for fueling lamps. It was used as medicine in the treatment of wounds (Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34). It was also used during religious acts and the preparation of a body for burial. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as well as the objects dedicated to God’s service.

After Habakkuk describes the loss of these three most significant items (figs, grapes, olives) which were not only sustainable food items but also symbols of God’s blessing and prosperity, he next focuses upon all crops and livestock. He says that all of the fields are barren and the pastures and pens are empty. What he is ultimately describing is utter desolation. With no fig, no vine, no olive, no crop, and no herd, there would be no hope, no future, and no life.

Then he puts forth the most important word of the passage - “yet.” Though there is no hope, no future, and only eminent death, yet will he rejoice and be joyful in the Lord God, his Savior. What a challenge for us today. No matter the circumstances, the pressures, the seeming hopelessness, the pain, the defeat, or whatever the Lord allows into our lives, the joy of praising God will not be affected or halted.

Job was another man who understood this truth. After losing his wealth, his family, and his health, he remained righteous before God. He said, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (Job 13:15) Notice again the "yet."

Ceaseless worship is ascribing worth to God in both the good times and difficult times; it is ceaselessly focusing our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection upon God and not our circumstances. Ceaseless worship is saying "yet."

Father, may the fruit of my ceaseless worship be joy, praise, and hope both in the light of day and in the darkness of night. May You hear me say "yet" during the darkness.

Unified Worship

As a follow-up to my last post, I want to share my heart about unified worship. Though I’m presently in favor of multi-services in multi-languages, I still believe that we should continually seek to lay down our preferences and speak many worship languages. Again, when I mention worship language, I’m considering the numerous distinctions of style and cultural preferences. In our blended service at UBC, we incorporate hymns and contemporary choruses, choir and praise team, orchestra and rhythm, hymnbooks and screens. I realize that the term blended can mean many things, too. For some churches, a blended service might mean a blend of black gospel music with traditional choruses. For others, blended might mean southern gospel songs with hymns. Still others might blend CCM with contemporary praise and worship.

A couple of generations ago, a person could walk in to just about any SBC church and recognize the surroundings, the hymnal, and most if not all of the music. Today, SBC churches are like the big box of crayons that has the sharpener on the back; they come in multitudes of colors. They cover every spectrum of the scale from music, to programs, to theology, to size, to vision, and so much more.

Today as people move from place to place and become involved in new churches, they bring with them various backgrounds. As churches grow these Christian cultures merge. Also, as the younger generation has little if any denominational loyalty, they enter the mix with even a more diverse perspective. Lastly, add in the new believers and seekers to your church and you have a rainbow of cultures, experiences, perceptions, likes, dislikes, expectations, desires, needs, preferences, etc. The enlarging gaps between the generations further highlights these distinctions. How can you possibly engage each person even within a blended service?

In worship, the goal is the glory of God. He is the purpose of our gathering. He is the focus of our praise. To Him alone do we bring the offering of worship. Yet, there still is a need to provide the best vehicle for the body as a whole to truly engage in Spirit-filled and Truth-embodied worship. This brings us back to the question of how do we engage the heart of such a diverse group of people within a worship service?

First of all, there is no way to provide the perfect worship language for everyone. Even in the multi-worship service churches, there will still be gaps. Let me throw out a few of my thoughts that if practiced, would make our worship more unified.

• God alone must be the object of our worship. If we let our preferences, styles, likes, dislikes, expectations, etc. come before God, we’ve engaged in false worship. In fact, my preference for hymns or for choruses can become an idol. He alone is the only God! “Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)
  
  
• The supremacy of Christ and the Word must be the theme of our worship. When we gather seeking to exalt the Savior and praise the worth of the Lamb, our preferences don’t matter any more. When we gather to feast from the Word of God, our likes and dislikes are not even appetizing. The atoning work of Christ and the beauty of His Word is more than enough.
  
  
• The Spirit of God is the source of our worship. As we yield to the Spirit, He empowers us to worship God fully and completely. Our efforts will always fall short. But if we are being led by, if we are living by, and if we are keeping in step with the Spirit, He will empower and embolden our worship.
  
  
• The “one anothers” of God’s Word must be the fruit of our worship. Scriptures such as speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; submit to one another out of reverence for Christ; bear with one another; encourage one another; love one another deeply from the heart; live in harmony with one another; clothe yourselves with humility toward one another; and more, force us to lay down our differences and put the interests and needs of others above our own.

Only in heaven will we have truly unified worship - a worship where every tribe, tongue, people, and nation sing the new song (Revelation 5:9-10). So, whether we have one service or multiple services, may we strive to reflect the ceaseless worship of heaven.

Unity or Uniformity

I recently read an article written by Ralph D. Winter entitle “The Highest Priority: Cross Cultural Evangelism.” He submitted the paper to the Lausanne Conference of 1974. The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization seeks to encourage and stimulate the involvement of churches, denominations, ministries, networks, and individuals in the cause of world evangelization. Their mission statement is: "The whole Church taking the whole Gospel to the whole world." To find out more about the Lausanne Committee you can go here. To see the other documents of Lausanne 1974 you can go here.

This article addresses specifically cross-cultural evangelism as it relates to the global mission field. As I read the paper, I first considered how it might apply to our church’s desire to bring the gospel to the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond people. Yet, as I reflected upon it more, I realized that it speaks directly to evangelism, ministry, and worship here in northwest Arkansas and even more specifically here at UBC.

Three Types of Evangelism

Winter outlines three different kinds of evangelism: E-1, E-2, and E-3 evangelism. E-1 evangelism occurs when an individual from the same cultural, linguistic, socio-economic, and other backgrounds shares the gospel with another individual/group from the same background. E-2 evangelism occurs when an individual shares the gospel with another individual/group from a similar but not the same background. The culture may be a little different; the linguistic dialect may be somewhat different, or the social structure may be a little unique. E-2 evangelism is a little more challenging and may require different techniques to effectively communicate the gospel. E-3 evangelism occurs when an individual shares the gospel with another individual/group from a totally different background. The culture, language, and economic status are usually different creating significant barriers to sharing the gospel effectively.

For example, on our trip to the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond (DK) this past April, I was given the opportunity to share the gospel with the village of Gorta. Obviously, they were a significantly different culture, social status, economic status, educational status, and language to name just a few. This would be E-3 evangelism. Before I shared the gospel with the villagers, we wanted the new DK covert to share the message of salvation with his own people. As I mentioned in a previous post, this experience will go down in my “most memorable moments” of my life. This type of evangelism would be E-1. Jetu was sharing with people from his own culture. He spoke the language and shared in terms that they could understand. Though he was from a different village, it was still a DK sharing with DK. Now let’s say that the village of Gorta came to Christ and began to evangelize the other nearby DK villages. This would still be E-1 evangelism. But, if they began to share with other tribal groups such as the Kutia, Sitar, Malua, or Desia, it would be E-2 evangelism. These tribes speak a little different dialect and have a little different cultural and social background. For example, the Sitar people are known as the weavers as they weave baskets, containers, hats, mats, etc. The DK are primarily agriculturalists and do very little weaving. The DK could possibly understand what the Sitar are saying but it would be a little more difficult as the dialect is unique. The Kutia people live in the hills like the DK but they are the most primitive of all the tribals or Khond people. The women are barely clothed and their villages are even less advanced than the DK. Yet, all of these tribal people are somewhat similar and the boundaries to cross are not that significant.

As we do E-3 evangelism among the Kuvi/DK, we hope to raise up new converts who will do E-1 evangelism among their own people. As a church planting movement begins, we will want to encourage the Kuvi/DK to do E-2 evangelism among their cousin tribes. E-1 evangelism is the most effective. E-2 is less effective and E-3 is the least effective. All three types of evangelism are necessary, though the goal is to bring E-1 evangelism to the people group as quickly as possible.

E-2 and E-3 in Our Community

So how does this relate to northwest Arkansas or to UBC? Do these three types of evangelism transfer to our individual or corporate ministry of evangelism? I believe that they do. UBC has its own unique background. Though we are a church that is open and welcoming to any and everyone who would like to be a part of the vision, mission, ministries, and relationships we call UBC, we have a unique identity or DNA. There are exceptions, but on the whole we are a Caucasian, middle-class, and well-educated group of believers. Overall, our family worship service is fairly traditional and our preaching is evangelical. We are a Southern Baptist Church that embraces other ministries and mission efforts. These descriptions are fairly broad but give enough of a fingerprint to distinguish us from other churches in the area.

The vast majority of those who visit UBC fit into these categories. Is this a bad thing? No, it is a natural thing. We naturally invite people to our church that are within our spheres of influence and relationship. The majority of those led to Christ who plug into our church usually fit into these categories.

One of the most significant helps and evangelistic ministries of our church is Second Mile. They administer the grace of God by helping people who are in desperate need. They also faithfully share the gospel with everyone who comes through the doors for help and as a result, many decisions for Christ are made. What ever happens with those new believers? Why do so few ever plug into our church body?

Angela and I have become friends with an individual who has been ministered to through Second Mile. We have invited her to church on numerous occasions. She lives just a few blocks away but has yet to ever come to a worship service. She shared with us one day why she could not attend UBC. She first said that she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. We told her that it doesn’t matter what you wear to church, but it really mattered to her. She also said that she wouldn’t fit in with all of us rich folks. I’m not sure what the definition of rich is, but when you’re living from welfare check to welfare check trying to raise four children alone, it doesn’t take muck to be called rich. She also said that our church was just too big. As we shared with her, I realized that it wasn’t E-3 sharing, but it was definitely not E-1. Our church was a different culture to her - a different socio-economic status that she could not relate to.

At this point, there are a couple of choices. First, we can just right her off. Her excuses for not being involved with a church fellowship will be nullified before a holy God. Secondly, we can help her find a church that is more “culturally” relevant to her situation. Thirdly, we can seek out new methods of providing ministry and worship opportunities that she can relate to here at UBC. Actually, the later did take place at UBC for awhile. There was a member who had a burden for the new Second Mile believers. He formed a Bible Study for them on Sunday mornings meeting in the Second Mile building. The potential for a ministry like this is enormous. What would happen if God’s Spirit came down mightily upon such a ministry to the point where we were having 100-150 people show up on Sunday morning? Would we have to insist that they filter into our regular worship service or eventually combine with our regular service? I would say no. This new body of believers will be able to do E-1 evangelism and reach a far greater number of people from similar backgrounds that our regular ministries and worship service could through E-2 relationships.

Let me touch on another hot topic that continually circulates among our church. Should the college students continue to have their own worship service and ministries or should they be combined into one unified ministry? It sounds wonderful for all of the different groups being together in unity. To worship and minister together is surely what God intends for the church to do and be. Yet, I’m afraid that we’re sometimes more concerned with uniformity and than with unity.

We have a Chinese Bible study that meets in our facilities on Friday night. They don’t join with us on Sunday morning and we wouldn’t expect them to as the cultural divide is probably too wide. We might even realize that new Second Mile believers will seldom enter our worship center and it would be a great thing to offer a unique setting for those believers so that they can grow and flourish in their faith and more effectively reach others within their particular sphere of influence and background. Yet, with the college, we see them more as E-1 relationship rather than E-2. Sure, there are some college students who come to our regular worship service and prefer it above our more progressive college service. Sure, there are some who want to be more integrated or at least have the opportunity to rub shoulders with families and older adults. Yet, the vast majority of college students have difficulty making the “cultural” leap to our service. In fact, if they college student is totally unchurched, it may feel more like E-3.

Unity or Uniformity

Is it a matter of method or a matter of biblical principle? Is it more about unity in Christ or about uniformity in UBC? Is it kingdom mindedness or kingdom building? Well, I’m still struggling with this issue, but you can tell where I’m leaning. I’d love to be a part of a church that doesn’t define unity by the single type of worship service or ministry it offers. I think it would be awesome to have multiple worship and ministry settings that reach out into many different cultural settings of our community. I would love to be a part of a church involved in E-1, E-2, and E-3 evangelism, missions, ministry, and relationship. I think it would be incredible to have Hispanic, Chinese, Second Mile, College, Traditional, Contemporary, Blue Grass, etc. gatherings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all giving glory in their setting and worship language. May the glory of God be the uniting theme of our worship, our ministries, our evangelism, our missions, our relationships, and our all.

The Mysteries of God

I’m taking a seminary class on church history from the establishment of the Church to the time of the Reformation. In my years at Baylor and Southwestern Seminary, I studied church history from the perspective of music and worship. We broadly touched on the theological issues; usually when these issues influenced church music and worship form. The class that I’m presently taking focuses on the historical and theological aspects of the church.

It has been so interesting looking at the early church fathers and apologists wrestle with and defend both the humanity and divinity of Christ. In the early 4th century, the debate mainly focused upon the deity of Christ. After A.D. 360, the divinity of the Holy Spirit became a target for heretics. The Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381 drove a stake into the heart of heretical teaching concerning the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit and helped define what we call today the doctrine of the Trinity.

As I read a good deal of the writings of these early church fathers and apologists, it is fascinating to see them try to verbalize the doctrine of the Trinity. After the Council of Constantinople, the wording was God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are “one in substance/essence and three persons/beings/hypostases to which we today speak of one God in three Persons. Yet the early writers struggled with describing one God in three Persons much like we do today. We use descriptions like water in three different forms, a pie cut in three pieces, or a man being a husband, father, and son. All of these descriptions fall so short. How can we truly begin to explain in human terms the Trinity?

There are others aspects about God that are almost impossible to understand or explain. Try explaining some of these mysteries:

How does God eternally exist?
How vast is God’s presence?
How great is God’s greatness?
How does Christ, the hope of glory, exist in man?
How is my body a temple and place of residence for the Holy Spirit?
How can God love someone like me?

Here are my answers:
He just does.
Vast.
The greatest.
By His grace.
By His grace.
By His grace.

To truly think about and meditate upon God is to realize that He is mysterious. He cannot be fathomed. Consider some of these passages from the Word:

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? (Job 11:7)

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. (Psalms 145:3)

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. (Isaiah 40:28)

One of the newer worship songs that I enjoy today speaks to this theme, especially in the choruses. I’ll close out today’s thought with this song by Laura Story and Jesse Reeves calld "Indescribable."

Indescribable! Uncontainable!
You place the stars in the sky,
And You know them by name;
You are amazing, God!

All powerful! Untameable!
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim:
You are amazing, God!

Incomparable! Unchangeable!
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same;
You are amazing, God!

God's Glory Among the Kuvi

This past week, our church, our missions committee, our 2006 India mission team, numerous individuals, and our family had the opportunity to visit with Samanta Naik. Samanta, or Brother Sam, is from India and helps oversee a ministry in the state of Orissa called Happy Valley. Happy Valley provides a Christian boarding school for about 40-50 children and a Bible College to train young pastors and evangelists. On our trip to minister among the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond (DK) this past April, our mission team spent several days at Happy Valley and grew to love Sam, Bano, and Philos - his wife and son.

Before I proceed with the present, I must go back to the roots of how India and the Kuvi/DK people have been branded upon our hearts. I humbly recognize that there are many who have contributed much more significantly to the expansion of the kingdom of God among this people group than I have. I’m grateful for the small contribution that I’ve been able to make so far and the opportunities that the Lord has given me to bring light to this overwhelmingly dark area of the world. As I hold my little flashlight among the Kuvi/DK alongside other lightbearers, I pray that the Lord continues to add flashlights, floodlights, lighthouses, lighting towers, lighting grids, and more for the glory of God.

The Beginning of a Vision in Our Hearts

Angela and I met at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1989. I need another log to share about God’s providence and grace in bringing us together. She came to seminary believing that God was going to send her to the mission field, possibly working in China at a children’s orphanage. The Lord would alter and fulfill this calling in the years to come, but in a totally unexpected way.

We were married in June of 1991 and graduated from seminary the next year. The Lord brought us to Farmington, Arkansas to serve in our first full-time ministry. A few years later we were involved in a church plant launched from our church in Farmington in cooperation with the association and another local pastor named Clark Lasse.

In 1995, a class entitles Perspectives on the World Christian Movement was offered in our area. Angela had always wanted to take the class while in seminary but didn’t get the opportunity. She wanted take this class, so we decided to enroll together. The class had a dramatic impact upon our lives. I shared with Clark, Wayne Summers, and Kevin McCollum what God was doing in my heart. Wayne had already taken the class, Clark grew up on the mission field, and Kevin had just returned from a short-term mission assignment with the IMB. God ignited a vision in our hearts to become involved in adopting an unreached people group. Without going into all the incredible details, God led us to the Kuvi of India. Our church, Life Change Community Fellowship, formally adopted this unreached people group seeking to help instigate a church planting movement among them.

The First Trip to KuviLand

We formed a missions team to pray, prepare, and plan. In 1997, I had the privilege of being a part of the first team from our church to walk among the Kuvi. Our simple objective was to engage this people with the love and kindness of Christ. We prayerwalked among various villages, laid hands on and prayed for the sick, fellowshipped with them, and gathered a great deal of video, pictures, and information that we could bring back to our church. This precious people were deeply planted into our hearts and into the hearts of our church body.

Our Second Trip to KuviLand

In 1999, Clark, Wayne, Kevin, myself, and a friend of mine named Mike Delancey made another trip to India. This trip involved a week of teaching to pastors who were working among the Kuvi. One of our translators was completing a degree and Hindustan Bible Institute (HBI) where we were teaching. Our hearts quickly bonded with this student/translator not knowing that this relationship would continue to grow over the years. Our new friend’s name was Samanta Naik.

Another key relationship was with a man who was running a children’s orphanage there at HBI. His name was Louis, and he would join us on our second week as we traveled from Chennai in south India to G.Udayagiri in east central India to spend a week with Calvin Fox, an IMB missionary working among the Kui people, a cousin group of the Kuvi. Our desire was to learn some of the agricultural, evangelistic storytelling, and medical methods used in reaching his target people to see how they might be implemented among the Kuvi. Calvin passed away several years ago and his work in G.Udayagiri has discontinued.

Next Steps

Let me fast forward a bit, not to overshadow other significant trips and progress, but to bring this story to its present climax. Life Change Community Fellowship metamorphosized into Life Change International (LCI), a mission organization whose major focus and support is channeled to reaching the Kuvi for Christ. LCI purchased land at the base of the Kuvi/DK foothills in Muniguda with the plan of establishing an agricultural and evangelistic training center similar to Calvin Fox’s about four hours away. Louis would live at the training center and oversee this initial phase of evangelism to the Kuvi/DK. He would be helped in the agricultural techniques by a man named Tuna who was Calvin’s main assistant.

In October of 2005, UBC formally adopted the Kuvi people. When UBC sent its first mission team to KuviLand this past April, we met and/or worked alongside Tuna, Samanta, and Louis. Each man is gifted in distinctly different ways. Tuna is obviously gifted in the agricultural techniques and how to improve food and cash crops. Louis is blessed with mercy and humanitarian gifts that work well with his heart for people. Louis and his wife Visanthi were wonderful hosts for our team and guided us throughout the various Kuvi/DK villages. Samantha is a natural leader and visionary that wants to establish a boarding school, medical clinic, and Bible college about an hour away from Louis’ training center. Samantha went up into the hills with us and served as a translator.

As UBC prays and considers its next steps for our work among the Kuvi/DK, I can’t help but believe that each of these three men will play a more significant role as we seek to coordinate our efforts. Our focus now seems to be upon four specific areas of ministry: evangelism, agriculture, education, and mercy.

Evangelism, Agriculture, Education, and Mercy

We must continually engage the Kuvi/DK with the gospel. We must share the message in every means possible whether it be storytelling, one-on-one evangelism, village evangelism, crusades, and more. We must go ourselves and share the gospel. We must send national evangelists into the hills. We must support the seven new DK Christians and continually encourage them to share the gospel with their people. Samanta could possibly be a key person in this area as his ministry helps equip pastors and evangelists.

Agriculture is the means by which the ministry can become independent from Western support. The goal is also to take many of the techniques into the villages in order to improve the crops thus improving their health and income. Tuna could possibly be a key person in this area.

The Kuvi/DK are a primitive, tribal group. They are uneducated and illiterate. They have knowledge of the hills and have learned to adopt to the harsh conditions of life in these villages. Yet, with the caste system and their uneducated status, they are in bondage and enslaved to stay in their present condition from generation to generation. Something must be done! We are beginning to discuss the possibility of putting Kuvi/DK children in a boarding school where they will be provided the basics for living, and education, and the gospel. At the same time, we need to send qualified teachers into the villages to begin teaching the other children, youth, and families to read and write. Again, Samanta could possibly be a key person in this area with the establishment of his boarding school. Louis is also a key person as he presently has several assistants working in the villages. Louis also has a before/after school teaching program at the training center for the area children.

Mercy ministries such as medical, sanitation, clothing, etc. open doors into the villages and provide a legitimizing purpose for our ultimate goal of evangelism. Louis is possibly the key person to oversee these types of ministries. As already mentioned, Samanta is preparing to build a medical clinic and is also planning on acquiring a minibus that will be converted into a mobile medical unit.

Conclusion

God is up to something big here. He is continually expanding the vision into hearts and churches. He is lining up significant relationships that will play key roles among the Kuvi/DK. Prayer networks continue to be advanced. I’m humbled and grateful to be a part of making Christ known among the Kuvi/DK.

For our family, the vision began with my wife’s heart for missions. If it were not for her influence upon my life in this area, I’m not sure that I would have ever taken the Perspectives class, or at least not in 1995. I would not have shared so passionately with our church staff or personally become involved with the Kuvi/DK. Who knows, the Kuvi/DK might still be an unheard of people group still waiting for the first chance to hear the name “Jesus.”

I’m grateful for my wife, for my partners in ministry, for the various teams that have gone to India, for the churches and mission organizations who have joined the cause, for those national leaders on the frontier, and for those who continually champion the cause of Christ for the Kuvi/DK.

I look forward to the day when the glory of God shines brightly among this precious people group known as the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond.

Knowledge and Reflection of God

This morning I read the short book of Jonah. It’s only four chapters long, but it paints a beautiful picture of the grace, compassion, love, and mercy of God. It also challenges the believer to put knowledge into action.

God had called Jonah to preach against the city of Nineveh because of its wickedness. In disobedience, Jonah ran from God and from His call to preach repentance. He tried to get as far away from God as possible. In fact, he fled to the west border of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea where he boarded a ship headed for Spain. He wasn’t just jumping on his camel and going to the next city or even country, he was going as far away as he possibly could.

Why did he run from God? Why did he choose such drastic disobedience? Some suggest that because he was a Jew, he was appalled at the idea of God offering forgiveness to a “heathen” people. Nineveh was located in Assyria along the east bank of the Tigris River in modern day Iraq. The city was known for the cultic worship of the goddess Ishtar. How could God show grace, compassion, love, and mercy upon an idolatrous nation - a nation that was not chosen by God to carry His blessing? We get a hint of Job’s feelings after God showed compassion to the people of Nineveh. Jonah 4:1-2 says, “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, ‘O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.’” These verses don’t reveal the root of Jonah’s disobedience but they do show us that Jonah wanted God to unleash His wrath upon the Ninevites.

Maybe Jonah was prejudice against the Assyrians. Maybe he believed all idolatrous nations should be destroyed. Maybe he was prideful of His status as a Jew and position as one of God’s chosen people. There could be any number of root issues that could be considered and possibly should be explored. Yet, to me, there is a greater tragedy to be found in this account.

As indicated in the verses above, it is clear that Jonah knew God. He knew His character - gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and merciful. He knew how God would respond to a repenting people - forgiveness. Yet, Jonah displayed godless character and action in his own life. He had a knowledge of God without a reflection of God. Let me sidetrack for a minute and focus on God’s character.

God demonstrated His grace, compassion, love, and mercy to everyone mentioned in this story. First of all, He demonstrated His character to the sailors. When they agreed to throw Jonah overboard during the storm, they knew that would be committing murder. In fact, they cried out to God asking Him not to hold them accountable for taking an innocent man’s life. God was gracious to them. When the sea calmed, the men bowed in worship before God. Secondly, He demonstrated His character to the Ninevites. When they repented from their evil ways, the Scripture says that “He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened” (Jonah 3:10). Lastly, He demonstrated His character to Jonah. He provided a great fish to swallow him rather than allow him to drown in the raging sea. When Jonah cried out to the Lord from inside the fish, God heard Him and had the fish spit him out on dry ground. God even pursued Jonah when he was angry. He came to Jonah when he was angry at God’s forgiveness poured out to the Ninevites. He came to Jonah again when he was angry about the withered vine. What an incredible God we serve. He shows grace, compassion, love, and mercy in our desperateness (sailors), in our wickedness (Ninevites), and in our carnality (Jonah).

Now let me get back to my main subject - knowledge without reflection. Jonah knew God’s character and even saw it demonstrated, yet he wouldn’t reflect or demonstrate God’s character in his own life. This is where the rubber meets the road; this is where faith is lived out. I may have incredible knowledge of God, I may attend every Bible study offered at church, I may read the Bible daily, I may have large portions of the Word memorized, I may even lead a Bible study. Yet, if the character and nature of God are not reflected and demonstrated in my life, I’m like smoke blowing in the wind. God reveals His character and nature in His Word and demonstrates them in our everyday lives. He calls us to reveal and demonstrate His character and nature in our daily lives.

Father, thank You for revealing and demonstrating Your compassion, grace, love, and mercy to me in my desperateness, my wickedness, and my carnality. Thank You for continually pursuing me even when I run from You in disobedience. Oh, forgive me for not immediately responding to Your voice. May my knowledge of You always be reflected and demonstrated in my life. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to receive and incarnate Your Word.

God's High and Deep Love

As I was preparing the worship service for this coming Sunday morning, I've been drawn to two specific passages of Scripture that are just incredible. Let me include them here:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:17-19)

Both of these passages speak to the love of God. The first passage reminds us of the inseparable union of God's love with the believer. The second passage reminds us of the immeasurable nature of God's love for the believer.

As I meditated upon these two verses, I was drawn to the two similar phrases which I italicized above - height nor depth/high and deep. When I think about these words, the first things that come to my mind are sky and sea. When I examined the meaning of the words in the original Greek language, I wasn't far off.

God's love is deeper than the deepest part of the sea. If I took a submarine to the bottom of the ocean, I couldn't escape the grasp His love has upon me; I can never be separated from it. This is an incredible truth that gives strength to my present and hope for my tomorrow.

I enjoy looking at the stars at night. Astronomers tell us that the Whirlpool galaxy is 31 million light years away. I can't even begin to comprehend that. Yet, if I was somehow able to travel out to this galaxy, I would find that God's love is present with me for even the highest of heights cannot separate me from His love. I would also discover that God's love is all around me for it is as vast as the heavenly expanse.

Here's another incredible fact. If I traveled out to the Whirlpool Galaxy and saw the nucleus, I would discover that God's love is also displayed. Take a look at this picture of the nucleus of the Whirlpool Galaxy to see what I'm talking about.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

Worship - An Act of Grace

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, writer, and existentialist of the early to mid 19th century. He was a critic of the state church of Denmark arguing that the marriage of the state with the church brought secularism and politics into the church thus making Christianity an empty religion throughout the country. He believed that the institutional church made lazy and apathetic Christians. Much of his writing in his latter years was dedicated to awakening Christians to the need for total abandonment and commitment in their faith.

One notableble contribution of Kierkegaard was his idea of worship as drama. In drama there are three distinct parts: actors, prompters, and audience. He said that worship is much like a drama with these three parts. Too often the worship leaders were the actors, God was the prompter, and the congregation was the audience. He argued that there should be a redefining of roles to which the worship leaders become the prompters, the congregation becomes the actors, and God becomes the audience.

There is much truth to this idea. Often in our churches today, the congestionion is simply an audience coming to sit and receive or even more sadly to be entertained by the professional worship leaders and pastors who have a special instructional relationship with God. Thus, the congregation can sit idly and watch the religious performers do their thing.

In true worship, the worship leaders and pastors should simply be the prompters of worship while the congregation is the major participant of worship for the audience of one - God.

I agree with this idea whole-heartily and see my role as a worship leader as both a prompter of worship, but more importantly a participant of worship with the congregation. Yet, as I've thought about worship more and more, I've begun to see worship as drama a little differently.

Worship is sometimes defined as ascribing worth to God or "worthship." I believe that worship is nothing more than our response to who God is and what He has done. God is a holy and so I respond with bowing and confession. God is merciful and gracious so I respond with humbleness and thanksgiving. God is loving so I respond with joy and adoration. God is great and awesome so I respond with fear and reverence. God is victorious so I respond with shouts and celebration. Jesus died upon a cross so I respond with tearful repentance. Jesus rose from the dead so I respond with triumphant praise. Jesus sits enthroned in majesty so I cast my crowns before Him. Jesus has been given the name above all names so I bow to my knees in humble confession of His lordship.

I could go on and on. We respond to His name, His character, His works, His will, ... His all. Therefore, the more I know and experience Him, the more I worship Him. So if worship is my response to who God is and what He has done, then God takes the initiative. God reveals Himself and I respond in worship. God reveals Himself through His Word, through prayer, and through His sovereign guidance in circumstances and then I praise, adore, give thanks, confess, and more. Therefore, God is not only the audience, He is also the prompter of my worship.

As I consider my role in worship, I realize that in my weakness, I cannot engage in the act of worship without His participation. In his letter to the Romans, Paul expressed this dilemma in reference to prayer. He said that in our weakness, we don't know what to pray for. Yet the Spirit of God, who lives in us (1 Cor. 6:19), helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. The Holy Spirit prays for us in accordance with God's will (Rom. 8:26-27). Without the Spirit of God living and working in my life, my prayers and my worship are centered upon me. My prayers become focused upon my wants and my will as opposed to God's desires and will. My worship becomes focused upon my likes and preferences as opposed to God's character and glory. Therefore, God is not only the audience and prompter, He is also the actor.

So if God is the audience, the prompter, and the actor in worship, where do I fit in? The answer is grace alone. My position as a worshiper is an act of God's saving grace. My participation as a worshiper is an act of God's empowering grace. So, let me bring all of this together in the following definition of worship: worship is ascribing worth to God by grace in response to who He is and what He has done.

Worship is

ascribing worth to God

by grace

in response to

who He is and

what He has done.

All Nations in Ceaseless Worship

I've been on vacation this past week visiting my family in Texas. I had a great time hanging with the family, going to the beach, tubing on the river, finding a few caches, and eating Mom's cooking. I didn't get the chance to post while I was away, but I did get to do quite a bit of reading in preparation for my two seminary classes which started last week - missiology & church history.

One of the textbooks for the missiology class is Perspectives on the World Christian Movement edited by Ralph Winter & Steven Hawthorne. I had the privilege of taking this course in the mid 90s and it did what the titles says - changed my perspective of missions. Let me share a couple of thoughts that I've been reminded of while reading a couple of the articles in the book.

What we call the Great Commission says,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

This passage contains rich applications for the Church and for all believers. I want to focus today upon the first part of verse 19 which says, "go and make disciples of all nations." The words "all nations" come from the Greek words panta ta ethne.

When we first hear the word "nations" what often comes to mind is a political, geographical, or religious grouping such as the United Nations, the nation of India, or the Islamic nations. Yet that is not the use of these words found in Matthew 29:19.

Panta simply means "all," "every," or "whole." Ta is the word for "the." Ethne is the plural form of ethno which means an "ethnic group" or "a people with a unifying ethnic identity." Thus the phrase could say, "go and make disciples of all the ethnic people groups."

I was brought up being taught that the Great Commission was God's call for me to be a witness for the lost. It was God's commission upon my life to evangelize those who do not know Christ and to make them disciples of Christ by the grace of God. I saw this as my task both locally and globally but specifically with the individual in mind. By making local disciples who made disciples, it would become a discipleship process that eventually became global in scope.

I believe that this can be an application of this passage although it is not at the foundation of its meaning. In the NT, the singular ethnos never refers to individuals; it always refers to a people group or nation. The plural form ethne can refer to either individuals or people groups. Of the 18 times the plural form is used, only once must it refer to individuals (Matt. 25:32) Nine others demand the people group definition based upon context or connection with the OT (Mark 11:17, Luke 21:24, Acts 2:5, 10:35, 15:17, 17:26, Gal. 3:8, Rev. 12:5, 15:4). The remaining eight could go either way (Matt. 24:9, 24:14, 28:19, Luke 12:30, 24:47, Acts 14:16, Rom. 1:5, 2 Tim. 4:17). Further, almost all of the 100 or so uses of panta ta ethne in the Greek Old Testament refer to nations when not talking about the nation of Israel.

I like the way John Piper put it in his book Let the Nations Be Glad:

In all likelihood Jesus did not send His apostles out with a general mission merely to win as many individuals as they could, but rather to reach all the peoples of the world and thus to gather the "sons of God" which are scattered (John 11:52), and to call all the "ransomed from every tongue and tribe and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9), until redeemed persons from "all the peoples praise Him" (Rom. 15:11).

Heaven will not just be about individuals worshipping God, but rather about people groups or nations worshipping God. The nations will bring their splendor, and honor, and glory before Almighty God in holy, new-song worship (Rev. 21:24-26).

Therefore, I will pray for the nations or people groups of the world. I will send and I will go to the nations or people groups of the world. Why? Because God desires worship for every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. God not only wants my ceaseless worship, He wants all nations in ceaseless worship.

Things Above

In my last post, I reflected upon the passage in Colossians that admonishes us to set our minds on things above or to become kingdom minded. Our kingdom mindedness results from our position with Christ. By God's grace, we are hidden with Christ in God.

The next question is, "What are the things above that I set my mind to?" Chapter 3 of Colossians goes on to outline earthly things such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying (Colossians 3:5-9). In his letter to the Galatians, Paul decribes the fruit of flesh:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21)

The obvious answer to the question is that we are to set our minds upon the opposite of these things. Paul goes on to tell us that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, forebearance, and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-14). He tells us that a life lived in submission to the Spirit bears the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

In his concluding exhortation to the Philippian church, Paul writes:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praisworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Wow, you put all of these together and you have quite a list. My mind is to be set, focused, and consumed with these things. Yet, how in my own strength am I supposed to fix my mind on these things? Without the guiding hand of God, how do I even know what is true? Without the grace of God, how do I discern what is lovely? Without the Prince of Peace intervening, how does peace consume my thoughts and actions? I don't, I can't, and it doesn't!

For you see, Christ is the very being and definition of all things above. The things that are true - Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). The things that are noble or honoring - Christ alone is crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7-9). Things that are righteous - Christ has become our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Things that are pure - Jesus is the purest of sacrifices (Hebrews 7:26-27). The same is true with the fruit of the Spirit. God is that fruit. To bear the fruit of the Spirit is to blossom with the very nature of God.

I keep coming back to the same place as I rest in these passages and others - to truly live, I must die. For in dying, Christ flows and pours forth in my living. My thoughts, my emotions, my words, my actions, and my all, brilliantly reveal the things above which are ultimately my God and my Savior.

Father, I am humbled as I bow at the foot of the cross realizing my position in Christ through His death and resurrection. By Your grace and mercy, I have been crucified with Him. Now, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me so that I may now live for Him and for Your glory. May You alone receive ceaseless worship.

Kingdom Minded

The letter to the Colossians was written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He had never visited Colossae and was not relationally connected to the church there outside of a few friends. The church most likely reflected the diversity of the city with a mix of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, Roman influence, and Oriental mysticism. As the church experienced trouble, Paul wrote this letter of admonition and encouragement. His focus was the centrality of Christ.

One of the beautiful passages in the letter is found in chapter 3.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)

I also like the way THE MESSAGE puts it.

"Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from His perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life."(Colossians 3:2-3)

Our minds are to be affixed, affectioned, and absorbed in kingdom things not earthly things. We are to be so kingdom focused that our thoughts reflect the heart of Christ. Through the miraculous act of grace, we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). As we daily die to self, we live in Christ; we are hidden with Him.

As I studied a little deeper into the word "hidden," I found some great food to chew on. The word comes from a Greek word krupto from which we get our English word "crypt." A crypt is an underground burial vault or chamber that is usually concealed, hidden, and secret. Another associated word is encryption which is a message hidden within a message.

When I think of a crypt, I picture a team of adventurers digging around in Egypt looking for mummies. They make their way to a large underground room and then search for the hidden crypt that has to be right before their eyes. What usually happens is someone accidentally pushes a stone or wall ornament which triggers a wall to swing open revealing the crypt. The crypt was there the whole time, it was simply behind the wall. With encryption, the hidden code is there in the message, it's just hidden within the words. Though a person may know there is a crypt in the room or a code in the message, all the person can see in the room or the message.

So it is when we are hidden in Christ. We died to ourselves and Christ now controls us. We are clothed with Him (Galatians 3:26-27). As we are yielded fully to the Spirit of God, people don't see us anymore - they see Christ.

Therefore, through daily dying I am concealed in Christ and kingdom minded.

Father, for the glory of Your name, may those who look at me, see Christ alone.

Weeping for the Lost

Another book that I am reading is called Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer & David Putman. The book challenges churches to engage their local communities as missionaries do in foreign countries. A couple of statements in the book have really challenged me and revealed a heart this is overlooking my Jerusalem. Before I share the statements, let me lead up to them.

Our church has recently adopted an unreached people group in India called the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond. Through past ministry opportunities, I've been involved with this people group for about a decade. I've had the privilege of praying for these people and even walking among them on several mission trips, the most recent being this past April.


During our time with the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond (DK) this past spring, our team had a once in a lifetime experience. To our knowledge, there was only one Christian convert among the DK when we made our trip. We had the opportunity of spending quite a bit of time with this enthusiastic and energetic 19 year old boy. We spent three days living in various DK villages. One evening, the entire village gathered with us for a time of singing, dancing, and sharing. After an hour or so of music and dance, the village chief asked to hear about the God of creation. This new convert stood before the village and shared the gospel. My eyes filled with tears as I watched this young man pour his heart out longing to see his people come to faith in Christ. To see the fruit of years of prayer and ministry was absolutely overwhelming. (By the way, since our trip, there are now seven more converts.)

Backing up to the first day after entering India, we met up with an IMB missionary serving in the north working among the Napalese. We asked him to share with us about his ministry and how we could pray for him. As he shared about the Napalese, big tears ran down his cheeks reflecting his deep love for and passion to reach these people.

Now to the statements from the book that have shaken my heart.

The key to breaking the code of a community is to have the heart of the Father for that community. The only way to do that is by spending serious amounts of time with the one who loved Jerusalem deeply enough to weep over it. We must have that same weeping spirit for the lost of our own glocal communities.

Missionaries have know this for centuries: To reach a tribe we must first have a call to reach them, and then have a love for the people. We need to receive God's call and have a love for that group.

I can tell you my heart is tender toward the Kuvi/DK. I have wept for them and I'm not a crier. Yet, when I look at my heart in relation to the lost in my community, the passion meter is barely registering. Sure, I've taken opportunities to share about Christ to the lost, I've ministered to those in need, and I've actively sought out my neighbors to build relationship with them in the hope of leading them to Christ. Yet, my heart doesn't break over the lostness of my community; my eyes don't fill with tears before the Lord as I pray for my community. I care for the lost of my community, but I don't weep for them as Jesus did for Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41)

I'm grateful that the Lord brought this book across my path. Now, by God's grace, I long to see my community with the same eyes I see the Kuvi/DK with.

Father, forgive me for my shortsightedness and sinfulness. Forgive me for my lack of concern for the lost of my community. By Your grace and mercy, ignite a flame in my heart for those around me that need to experience life with Christ. Impassion me with a longing to gather the lost of my community as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Matthew 23:37) Then let me respond to every opportunity that You bring my way by sharing and showing the love of Christ. Let Your word in my heart be like a fire that cannot be held in. (Jeremiah 20:9)

Still Seeking

I have just started a new book. Well, actually it's a real old book written about 397 A.D. The book is called The Confessions and is written by Augustine. It is his autobiography outlined in thirteen different books. Augustine became the bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Yet, his journey before getting to this point was filled with hedonism and self-gratification. The Confessions is a prayer confessing his sinfulness and God's grace.

In his first book, he hits on the same theme that the Lord's been impressing upon my heart - seeking and finding. He begins with praising God for His greatness and power. He reminds us that God has created us and draws us to Himself in praise for our joy. He draws from Psalm 22 and Matthew 7 when he says, "But Scripture tells us that those who seek the Lord will praise Him, for as they seek they find Him, and on finding Him they will praise Him."

It is a true that seeking and praising go together. If we are promised to find God as we seek Him earnestly and with all our heart and soul, our response can only be that of praise. If after seeking God, He graciously reveals more of His greatness to me, my response would be praise and reverence. If after seeking God, He graciously reveals more of His mercy to me, my response would be humility and thanksgiving. If after seeking God, He graciously reveals more of His holiness to me, my response would be confession and bowing. Worship becomes my response to God's response to my search.

The ultimate goal in seeking is finding more of God. Augustine shares another rich statement, "What does this mean? Yes, let him rejoice in that, and choose to find by not finding rather than by finding fail to find You." Have you ever sought after God with a concern and not received an answer only to discover you have found more of God in the silence? Take some time with this thought.

In 1994 I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an incurable inflamatory disease of the large intestine. Countless times I've cried out to God asking for healing. Countless times I've asked Him what He wants to teach me through this disease. I have yet to be healed or receive an answer to my prayer. Nonetheless, I believe I have learned more of God than I would have without the disease, not because of the disease itself, but because of the seeking. Yes, even in not finding or hearing, we are drawn into a deeper, richer, and fuller worship.

Father, let my seeking be turned to praise for Your glory and my joy.

Seeking Earnestly

Today, I continue with the treasure theme but with a deeper looking at how we are to seek. Psalm 63 is one of my favorite Psalms. David is away from the beauty and comforts of the sanctuary in Jerusalem. He writes this song from the wilderness or dessert of Judah. Let me give you the first eight verses below.

O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:1-8)

You can take any one of the short phrases above and soak in it for hours. One particular phrase caught my heart's attention today, "earnestly I seek You."

Now I'm no Hebrew scholar, but I do have a few resources that help me dig a little deeper into the original text. The word "earnestly" comes from a Hebrew word shachar. It is also translated to the word "diligently" in some translations. The word "earnestly" means to be up early for a task or to search for something painstakingly, earnestly, or diligently. Shachar - to rise up early in the morning and seek for something with intensity.

I've been thirty before. I can remember running out of water on boat while fishing in a fresh water lake during the hot summer. I got to the point where I lapped up water from the lake not even caring what else I might be drinking. What if I had been in a dessert? I assume if you're in a dessert and your mouth is parched from lack of water, you would go on an all-out search for water as your life may very well depend upon find it.

Jesus is our living water. As we rise up early in the morning, our soul and body (our all) should long for Him like a thirsty man in the dessert. He is our all. He is our source. He is our life. When we seek Him earnestly we will find an oasis of life.

This week, I'm leading our 1-5 grade children at Summer Music Camp here at our church. We're learning a musical entitled "Splash Kingdom." One of the songs speaks of Jesus as our Living Water.

Living water flowing down on me

I'm a believer

Rain come down, surround me like the sea

I'm a believer

Washing away my sin

Giving me hope to live again

Filling my heart with love

Bringing me strength from God above

Living water flowing down on me

I'm a believer

Rain come down, surround me like the sea

I'm a believer

Jesus the Living Water come down on me

Call His name

and then you will be saved

Jesus Christ

He paid the price for you and me

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2a)

May the Lord Jesus rain down upon us and surround us like the sea.

Treasure Seekers

The number one movie over the past couple of weeks has been the second installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Almost every character in the movie is after a treasure chest containing a special object. Well, how can you have a pirate move without a treasure chest; they just go together.

For the past couple of years I've been involved in a sport or hobby called geocaching. In short, people hide various sized containers and log them by there longitude and latitude coordinates. With a handheld GPS unit, you can download or manually input these coordinates into the unit and then head off to try to find the containers. These containers can be as large as a five gallon bucket or as small as a film canister or even smaller. Presently, there are over 290,000 containers or caches hidden in over 220 countries.

I love the sport. At present, I've found 256 caches and can hardly wait for the next opportunity to get out and hunt for more. I've even put out seven caches myself. I think what I enjoy the most about it is the thrill of treasure hunting. Now there really is no significant treasure in these caches; usually they contain some small toys and trinkets. If you take something out, you are supposed to put something in to keep it even. My boys enjoy the contents while I just enjoy the find.

In my last blog, I shared about treasuring the Lord. He has chosen us and claimed us as His treasured possession. In the same way, I want Him to be the most valued treasure in my life; I want Him to be my Treasure. The Bible speaks about finding treasure.

But if from there you seek the Lord you God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut. 4:29)

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jer. 29:13)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matt. 7:7)

These verses are filled with hope for the believer. They remind us that God is never far off even when we feel alone or abandoned. The verse in Jeremiah was given to God's people when they were in Babylonian exile. God said He would fulfill His promise to bring them back to Jerusalem. He reminded them that He had plans to prosper them, not to harm them, and to give them hope and a future. I often need this reminder too.

As I soak in these three specific passages of Scripture, three specific truths come to the forefront for me.

1. God revels in being found. The first two passages actually speak of His covenant relationship with His people. Even when God had to respond in judgment to the Israelites and scatter them throughout the nations or exile them into captivity, He still offered to be found and restored relationally.

I remember playing hide-and-seek with my boys when they were young. I would often hide in such a way that they would find me easily, like hiding behind the curtains with my feet sticking out the bottom. Why would I let my feet hang out the bottom of the curtains? Because I loved it when they found me. I loved hearing the excitement in their voices when they spotted me. I loved seeing the joy in their eyes and faces when after they touched me, I would jump out and grab them up in my arms saying, "You found me." We would tumble around on the floor laughing and connecting heart-to-heart.

God can be found. Like a father with his children, God wants to be found.

2. God requires "full-throttle" seeking. God said that He would be found by looking for Him with all of our hearts and souls. God wants all of us. Our relationship with Him must be one of priority and preeminence otherwise our search will be casual. If I drop $5 in the park, I would probably go back over my path and give a quick search. Now if I drop my wedding ring, I would give it an all out search. I might even get out the metal detectors to help me with my search. Why? Because there is much greater value in the ring. Because of the significance and value I place upon God, I seek Him with everything I have.

3. God responds in grace. God pours out His unmerited love by giving according to my requests, by allowing me to find Him, and by opening the door upon which I knock. God would be justified in never responding to me or allowing me to find Him. Yet through the blood of Christ, I'm given hope and assurance and promise. When I seek Him with all of my heart and soul, I know that He will be found.

Let's be treasure seekers today.

Treasuring God

I was reading Steve Camp’s blog on an entry entitled The Juniper Tree: Learning to Treasure Christ in the Hard Places. He shared a paraphrase from John Piper in which he said, ““we have taught people to submit to Christ and we have taught them the truth about Christ, but have we taught them to treasure Christ?” Steve goes on to tell about the juniper tree, the very tree that Elijah sat under in fear and trembling by the threats of Jezebel soon after he had conquered the prophets of Baal. For Elijah the juniper tree was a place of suffering, defeat, depression, fear, and the plea before God for his own life. Steve shares about his own juniper tree experience of divorce and the continual consequences of that mark in his life. He is learning to treasure the Lord though his juniper tree.

As I reflected upon Steve’s thoughts, I had to admit that by the grace of God, I haven’t walked through a juniper tree experience. I haven’t had to try to learn what it means to treasure Christ during dark and difficult times. Don't get me wrong; I've had plenty of difficult and challenging times, but no juniper tree experiences. Yet, I was pierced by the questions that came to my heart, “Am I treasuring Christ during the good times?” “Do I see Christ and my relationship with Him as a priceless treasure?”

As I allow the Spirit to examine my life, I see that I’m growing in my submission and yieldedness to Christ. I’m growing in my knowledge of the truth about Christ. I’m serving and obeying Christ. I’m worshipping Him in thanksgiving, praise, confession, and adoration. Yet, I ashamedly admit that I don’t treasure Him.

In various places throughout the Word, God speaks about his choosing of Israel and taking them as His treasured possession:

Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6)

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all
the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasure possession. (Deut. 7:6)

And the Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as
He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands. He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations He has bade and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised. (Deut. 26:18-19)

"They will be Mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession." (Malachi 3:17)

Under the new covenant, I have become a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that I may proclaim the praises of the One who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) God loves and treasures me so much that He gave His only Son. Jesus loves and treasures me so much that He humbled Himself to death upon a cross. He gave Himself up for the church to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. (Eph. 5:26-27)

There are things that I treasure: my wife and my three children are priceless to me. On the wall in our dining room hangs four china plates that are hand painted by my grandmother who passed away a few years ago. If I was alone and our home caught on fire, those plates would be some of the first things I would grab along with several special photo albums that my wife treasures. If my wife’s wedding ring turned up missing in our home, we would tear the place apart until we found it. We would do so not because it would be expensive to replace, but rather because it is extremely special, it’s a treasure.

I regretfully admit that I sometimes treat my relationship with God more like a lost penny than a lost diamond. I have had to fall on my face before my Savior seeking forgiveness for my casualness and negligence. Now, in all my limitations, failures, and frailties, I’m asking the Lord to rekindle the flame and passion of my first love. I’m asking Him through grace and mercy to ignite my love, worship, and devotion to Him alone.

May our only goal be to know Him, glorify Him, adore Him, desire Him... treasure Him.