Facing the Inevitable

The old tree had stood on the steep hillside for more than two centuries. The land around it lay at too sharp an angle to cultivate, so the tree and the other ancient maples near it had been allowed to grow, getting larger and older as the decades passed. Now the bark was tough and thick. Moss and lichens grew in the crevices that stayed moist and never completely dried. The shade it created kept all other plants from growing in its shadow. The seasons seemed to have little influence on it.

This autumn, however, something was different. The days grew shorter. Leaves turned yellow, orange, red, and brown. Falling from the trees with every breeze, they created a scene in constant motion. All the trees lost their leaves, all except that one eldest maple.

It stood there on the hillside covered in leaves that had lost their beauty and become brown, dry, and shriveled while still clinging to every limb and twig. Earlier in the year spring had come and with it the new growth. Summer had provided the heat and rain to strengthen branch and limb. Fall had arrived saying it was time to halt the growth and once more rest for the explosion of new life that would come following the winter. But the tree was afraid. What if the spring never came? What if there was no awakening from the snow and cold of winter? What if these leaves, as brown and shriveled as they might be, were the last to ever grow upon this tree?

How many individuals make decisions that reflect the life of that tree? With the changing of the seasons of life, they face each new year with fear and anger at having to give up what once seemed so permanent and now is so frail? How many churches see the world changing around them and in fear hold on to old and ragged tatters of once strong and effective programs and ministries that now touch no lives and minister to no soul?

The fear of losing what we once took for granted, what we thought gave life its value, can dominate our thoughts and decisions. Such fear can impact our relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves. Such fear can paralyze us in the midst of change, and hold us back when we need to step forward and embrace what is happening around us.

When churches confront this fear of change, the greatest weapon is faith in the God who gave the church its birth. The God who brought forth the church at Pentecost (Acts 2) is also the God of life. Life grows and changes in that growth. The tree could not and would not have wanted to remain a sapling. Yet the tree was mortal and mortality brings the guarantee of physical death.

The Creator-God is also the God of history who will preserve what he has created for his own purposes. Fear has no place in the hands of God. His plan fits his purpose. Changes are a part of that plan. His nature will not change. His purpose for his creation will not change. He created all things good and he will bring them to their appropriate end.

Local churches to be effective tools in the hand of God must be willing to accept the changes through which he takes them. To reject that relationship is to accept the fact that one day they will be seen as covered with old and shriveled efforts that have no purpose. As such they will only hinder the new growth that God intends his church to bring forth.

We as people are no different. We hold on to the trappings of a bygone era thinking that if we can manage to keep the remnants, they will in some measure retain their original vitality. We choose too often to ignore that every season brings its blessings and its gifts. Every season has its purpose. Every season provides unique and vital ways we can express life and share it with others. When we hold on to the old ways and wrap ourselves in the trophies of past victories, we only hinder the new opportunities that bring joy to life.

Old leaves dropped upon the ground in their season provide the material for the new soil that will one day nurture seeds of trees yet to sprout. The earth needs those old leaves. People can use their years of experience to mentor the new generation following them in a world that changes every year. Seasons change. The world changes. People change. God intended change not to be feared but to be used to enrich the years ahead.

Making the Most of These Annual Meetings

The associational annual meeting is over, and the state annual convention is next month. They involve months of planning. They involve taking time away from home and local church field. The agenda is packed to the extent there is little time to evaluate or consider all the dynamics. There are a lot of reports and a few business sessions. Why go?

Out of the distant past these annual gatherings of Baptist church members brought fellow believers together who were otherwise separated by long distances  and poor travel conditions. They discussed the needs of sister churches and the need of distant mission fields. They also discussed the boundaries of Christian doctrine and how diverse an interpretation could be accepted. They provided the opportunity for new relationships to be developed and old relationships to be strengthened. Fellowship was a key purpose behind these annual meetings.

Now in the 21^st century a few of these purposes remain. General business for the large group is conducted and the general affairs of the churches are evaluated.   Some associations and conventions use these occasions to overview the doctrinal stance of the convention and determine if any corrections are needed. Individual church needs are rarely brought to the attention of a convention, perhaps more so on the local associational level. Improved travel time has allowed the meetings to be shortened in duration and agendas have been tightened accordingly.

An underlying need, however, has not been diminished. That is the need to establish or reestablish relationships with people from other churches. Fellowship, socializing, catching up on the local news from other areas of the state or nation is still critical for the strength and health of the Church. Christians need each other. The more turbulent the times, the more Christians must depend upon ongoing contact with other believers.

On the national level this can be extremely difficult, but the benefits of being in face-to-face contact with others are still evident. Emotional support, sharing and mixing of ideas, and seeking the common ground may be possible in our digital age, but a small screen cannot replace the communication conveyed through body language and voice tone.

State convention annual meetings offer a bit more opportunity as contacts between meetings is easier and therefore serve to reinforce the impact of the business session gatherings. Ideas shared may be more applicable in the common state arena. Other avenues of contact are more available on the state level. The possibility of stronger relationships is enhanced by participating in state level annual conventions.

Within the area of the local association, however, we see the benefits of involvement at its highest. Local church representatives who gather at associational meetings find they are sitting next to neighbors. They are talking to people they see at the supermarket and the restaurant. They are discussing issues with those with whom they do regular business, whom they saw the previous week, and may see again the following week. Discussions and decisions at associational meetings are made in the context of ongoing and close relationships. It is hard to walk away from strong disagreements in this context.

The local association of churches offers a richness of ideas and planning development. Churches in different contexts offer a variety of perspectives that is essential to healthy Kingdom work. Churches are strengthened by listening to and learning from the stories of their sister churches. Churches are encouraged by hearing of the victories of others in their region. Shared resources make the big projects for the local community possible when otherwise such ministries might be nothing more than frustrated dreams.

Relationships are critical for the work of the Kingdom of God. Strengthening those relationships must be a high priority. Associational cooperation and the annual meetings representing that cooperation are worthy of our time and efforts.

Do I Threaten You?

Jesus said his followers are the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt changes the taste of food, kills grass, and makes a mess of snails. It preserves meat by killing the bacteria that would spoil it. If you use a small amount of salt in food, you may get no results at all. Use too much and you make the food inedible. Gargle salt water and it helps a sore throat to heal. Drink sea water and you may sicken to the point of death. Salt can accomplish a lot. What it accomplishes depends upon how and where it is used.

Light wins against darkness every time. A small light may only reveal the key hole to unlock your door. A lot of light brings a city to life at midnight. Light shows us what might be sneaking up behind us in the shadows. Light reveals to the world those secrets we thought were hidden. Light can reveal. Bright light can blind. The intense, focused light of a laser can destroy. Light can accomplish a lot. What it accomplishes depends upon how and where it is used.

Salt threatens bacteria. Light threatens those who would keep their actions hidden. Jesus might ask all his followers, “Does your faith threaten anyone?” He warned his disciples as he sent them out to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 10) that they would be persecuted and imprisoned because of their connection to him. They wouldn’t be harassed because they were Galileans in Judea, or because they were fishermen far from the sea, or because they had funny accents. They would run into trouble because they were connected to Jesus.

Their connection to Jesus made them a threat to the authorities and social structure of the day. To the extent they were salt and light according to the definition of Jesus, they would be a threat to the people who had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. That relationship represented change, transformation, a rejection of the old pattern of the world. That connection to Jesus explicitly called for a different set of values and a different foundation for relating to God and his creation. That relationship represented a major threat.

Is my faith a threat to the authorities of my day? Does my relationship to Jesus Christ represent a threat to the values of my society and its foundations for social interaction? Does my faith represent salt that will improve society even while it destroys the bacteria that is seeking to destroy society? Does my faith represent light that shines in the darkness and reveals the Truth that is the nature of God? Does my faith point to a better way of life now and a hope for life beyond this life? Does my faith threaten anyone or anything?

We live in a sinful and fallen world. The news headlines offer us death counts and the depths of betrayal. The “facts” sent to us consist of theories of conspiracies and speculations on the extent of greed and corruption. We hear of rumors of war, the progress of war, and the results of war. These represent the macro conflicts between nations and the micro destruction of families and individual lives. We tally deaths by bombs on the battlefield and by doctors in abortion clinics.

Jesus said his followers are to be as salt and light in this diseased and darkened world. To do so will be to threaten the accepted way of life. To do so will be to act as catalysts for change and transformation. To do so will mean living out the teachings of Jesus without regard to cost or consequences.

My faith ought to be a threat to anything that is counter to the nature of God. It should be, but is it? A congregation of Christ followers should be a threat to the society in which it exists. Its example should be a threat to the values of the surrounding society. Its teachings should be a threat to those of its social context. Its efforts at reformation and transformation should be a threat to the standards of those already in control.

The faith and standards of the Church of Jesus Christ are founded upon the two great commandments (Matthew 22:34ff). Loving God is our highest priority and the dynamic that should shape every decision made whether by a local congregation or by an individual follower of Christ. Loving our neighbors as ourselves becomes a reflection of the love Christ had for us as he died on the cross, an innocent individual for a guilty world.

God's kind of love threatens the powers of this world. Yet we are called to operate out of his kind of love, foremost for God, but also for our neighbor. Only then can we be the salt and light we have been called to be. Only then can we transform our society. Only then will our faith be the threat it should be to our sinful world.

Friendly or Friendship

"They're not looking for people who are friendly. They're looking for people who will be a friend."

The major difference between being friendly and being a friend is the personal investment we are willing to make. This shows up in our neighborhoods, in our businesses, and in our churches. What we decide to be can make the difference between someone wanting to speak to us again and someone we will never see again. How much of you are you willing to share?

Every one of my thirty-three churches will tell you they are a friendly church. Just ask them! At the same time try to become a part of their family circle. That will tell you more about their definition of friendliness. Many of these churches are being very honest when they say they are friendly. Their definition of being friendly just has some qualifications attached.

In a world that is becoming dominated with means of communication that limit the place of body language and touch, people still want to know there is an emotion behind the words that is expressed in ways better than some emoticon. Few individuals want their lives to be dominated by a digital expression of others. There is still the need to be able to say you are part of a group of tangible people.

These groups may be family links. They may be fitness clubs. They may be social activist groups. They may be circles of individuals whose common interest demands that they have face-to-face contact. A digital presence will not be adequate for satisfaction regardless how bright the smile or clear the voice.

Friendship involves recognition of common goals, common needs, a common path through life. Details are unimportant. Friends answer the phone instead of allowing the machine to take it or the memory bank to record for later consideration. Friends change personal plans to be involved in the lives of others. Friends allow themselves to be inconvenienced because the relationship is worth it. Friends sacrifice for friends because what is maintained or gained is worth far more than what is sacrificed.

Friendliness too often is reduced to a set of negatives. I will not ignore you when you pass by. I will not erase your message immediately when you contact me. I will not forget to acknowledge a kind deed you did for me. Friendliness is more often marked by a response rather than an initiated action.

People need friends. Friends take the initiative. Friends make the first offer. Friends are willing to make sacrifices. Friends are willing to say I will change something about my life if it will make your life more of what it needs to be.

Churches offer friendship beyond friendliness when they offer authenticity. They offer friendship when they offer acceptance while remaining true to their beliefs, inclusion without compromise. They offer friendship anytime they offer a seat at the table of fellowship without first passing judgment.

Jesus said that a man must live out or even die to show his friendship. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13, RSV) People are looking for friends that are willing to put some depth into their relationship, are willing to be honest about their relationship, are willing to put some commitment into their relationship. When our churches start practicing their faith on this level, the world will come asking about who we are.

All Those Special Days

They're lined up like soldiers on review. One after another over the next three months plus they come with their own unique themes and both traditional and contemporary modes of expression. We have packed these late fall and winter months with enough holidays and special commemorations to allow us to survive the rest of the year. This is great for those involved in the celebrations. It is exhausting for those who do most of the planning and work.

Around here my churches are involved not only in revivals, but also homecomings and fall festivals during October. Church members are begging for candy donations and volunteers to handle the games. You have the special meetings and all the preparation meetings for the special meetings. Unchurched people are being invited to hear the gospel, see how much there is to eat on Homecoming Sunday, and hear some preacher from out of the past.

October is over one day and the talk surrounds the coming Veterans Day service where the church belonging to God gets turned over to the government and you're lucky to find a Christian flag anywhere. Even while plans are being made for this event, the leadership is thinking ahead to the Thanksgiving service on the Tuesday or Wednesday evening prior to that day of feasting. A handful of churches have no mid-week service at that time. Rather they have a special dinner on Thanksgiving Day itself to give a destination to those who have no place to go or anyone with whom to share the day. The church says, "We intend to be your family." Others don't go to the church building at all. They go to the local food ministry and serve dinner from mid morning to mid afternoon, delaying their own celebration until the evening.

The smell of turkey is not out of the kitchen before Advent Sunday arrives. Actually in central North Carolina as might be true in your area, Christmas decorations and craft ideas have been on sale since early September. Advent just marks the beginning of the Christian focus upon the season and reflects nothing of the actions in the marketplace. Among Baptists this four week season can include an inaugural Advent service, recognition of each of the four Sundays of Advent, choir presentations, children's plays, small group dinners and times of socializing, candlelight services, celebrations of the Eucharist, a Christmas Eve service, churchwide parties at which the jolly old elf may show up, and an additional emphasis on doing something for the poor and world mission efforts.

The last poinsettia plant heads out the door and the committee gets the church ready for the annual New Year's Eve service to welcome in the coming year with the prayer that it will be better than the last. Some such services last only an hour or so leaving little time to party. Other congregations make a night of it with dinner on the 31st and breakfast on the 1st, my kind of party. God is placed right in the middle of this celebration of new beginnings, a most appropriate recognition of the One who gives and restores all life.

These special days for the most part are recognized by our society with little attention paid to the revelation of the Divine that is possible in each one. The commercialization seems uppermost with some lip service given to the importance of taking time to strengthen ties among family and friends. The Christian must make the intentional effort in our secular society to note the role of God's involvement in history on these significant days.

One last day must be included in this list, a day that receives little recognition in our churches or our society. Yet it represents one of the great freedoms for which our ancestors in the past and our family members today have stood up and defended even if it meant dying. In a society that is becoming increasingly hostile to religion in general and Christianity in particular, we must remember Religious Freedom Day (religiousfreedomday.com).

Established by President Bill Clinton early in his administration, January 16 has been proclaimed Religious Freedom Day every year since by each sitting president. This day was set side not to declare our country free from religion, but rather a country in which every individual would be free to express their personal religious faith or lack thereof without concern for persecution or governmental interference. This day celebrates a right that was recognized in our legal codes as early as the Virginia Resolutions of 1786.

All of the special days we celebrate as Christians, not only during these fall and winter months but also throughout the year, are ours to enjoy because we have this freedom. Muslims enjoy the same freedom during the month of Ramadan. Those of the Jewish faith can celebrate Hanukkah with the same freedom from persecution. When groups tell us we cannot, then we must practice our freedom with even greater determination. Only then will all these religious occasions regardless of our chosen faith remain special for our children and generations yet to come.