Two recent events have led me to put a few thoughts about prayer on digital paper. The first was a blog entry by a retired missionary, Leroy Seat (theviewfromthisseat, Aug. 15, 2012). The second was a local prayer seminar led by Chris Schofield of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Dr. Seat concluded that intercessory prayer had at least as much impact on the one who was praying as it did upon God or the object of the prayer, perhaps more; perhaps always the impact of intercessory prayer was to be seen upon the one praying. Dr. Schofield without trying to explain how prayer works simply said that God uses prayer and doesn't always bother to tell us how or in what fashion.
May I share a few of my questions, generally for which I have no answers satisfactory even for myself? They also represent issues raised in questions for centuries. There is nothing new here. The issues and encouragements offered by both of these scholars should be a part of every believer's struggle "to attain...to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) We can study prayer, read about prayer, hear testimonies about prayer, but in the final analysis we must practice prayer to learn of its purpose, benefits, and power.
Do I need to pray? Jesus thought it important enough to give a model prayer (Luke 11:2-4) to his disciples. The Fourth Gospel has the entire seventeenth chapter set aside to record a very personal prayer of Jesus. He took time out from his ministry to pray (Luke 6:12) on special occasions.
Do I need to pray for life's necessities? I serve an all-knowing God. Why should I tell him what he already knows especially in the area of my needs (wants?)? Jesus was blunt in his teaching on prayer in this matter (Matthew 6:31-33). Our heavenly Father knows our needs. Focus on righteousness instead.
Do I focus my prayers on praise for God and his revelation in Christ and nature? The Psalms are filled with such prayers (Psalms 63, 65, 66, 92, 95, et al). The Apostle Paul calls for believers to sing songs of praise to God (Colossians 3:16).
Do I pray for that or those who are beyond my personal touch, intercessory prayer? If my prayer exists only to prompt me to write a card, make a phone call, or send a donation, then is my prayer any different from the compassionate decision of the atheist who sends a check to Feed the Children? God as a personal Being becomes irrelevant when the idea is taken to the extreme.
Does persistent prayer make a difference? Jesus offered a parable (Luke 18) that emphasized the importance of persistent prayer. The Apostle Paul told his churches to pray at all times (I Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18-19).
Prayer is communication, with one's self or with someone else. It must impact the one who prays. If it does not have an impact on others, then it is a form of meditation, self-evaluation, and encouragement and nothing else. We should seek to follow, even if we cannot completely understand, the Bible's guidance on prayer. Is prayer viewed as meditation that leads to self-improvement and a more vigorous and righteous involvement in the world? Is prayer presented as a divine tool placed in mortal hands that allows man to be involved in his Creator's work?
These and other questions can fill books and have done so for ages. As I said, I offer nothing new here. These are but the thoughts of a pilgrim who is following the path many others have already travelled.
I choose to see prayer as an opportunity, deserved or otherwise, understood or otherwise, to be a part of the Creator's continuing involvement in his creation. As surely as the Creator-Father left his initial creation unfinished according to the earlier story in Genesis 1, and presented it to man to "have dominion over and subdue", today he still calls his children to join him in finishing creation through the gift of prayer. I can offer no scientific solution or philosophical clarification, only the same path that always involves man's relationship with God. "Without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Just the Facts, ma'am (and sir)!
It happened again and no doubt I will see a lot more of it in the upcoming season of Advent. It is one of those little burrs that get under my saddle and leaves me gritting my teeth and and wanting to scream. The Bible has been translated into perfectly good English. Sure, various translations may offer variations on nuances, but you can still pretty much get the facts straight. Read the Book and get the facts straight! Use the Bible with integrity.
The most recent incident took place with a preacher who described the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The passage is often used to show that the first man was not guilty of sinning first but rather the first woman. How this excuses the man I am not sure. In the current case the preacher said that the man was not there and the woman made the decision without him implying that if he had been present, he would have been strong enough to stop the whole terrible event. Problem was, he was there, standing beside her. Read the Book!
Another misuse that I hear all too often is that from creation to Noah's flood it never rained. Sorry, that doesn't show up in my KJV, NASV, ESV, or any other translation. It is not even in the old Hebrew. The verse quoted says that, "And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and not a man to till the ground" (Genesis 2:5, KJV). The rather obvious implication here is that there were no plants because there was no rain. When it rained, we got plants. Noah had lots of plants and so did everyone before him all the way back to Adam. Read the Book!
Genesis is not the only part of the Bible that can get misused. In II Kings 2 we find the story of the final hours of the prophet Elijah. All my life I have seen paintings of the prophet's departure from earth into heaven. Consistently the pictures have him riding a chariot of fire into the clouds. Only the scriptures describe Elijah ascending in a whirlwind and the chariot remains behind to keep Elisha the servant away. Have some integrity and read the Book!
With only a little more than three months to go until Christmas, we are already seeing store displays going up touting the season. We will get a good view of all the iconic emblems including trees, lights, reindeer, fat guys in red suits, angels, shepherds, and mangers in stables. We will also get to see on a regular basis three tall, stately men dressed in fine robes. The problem is, even if you accept the traditional date of the birth of Jesus in mid-winter (it was probably in the spring), the magi did not arrive for another eighteen months or so and they found Jesus with his parents living in a house (Matthew 2). Have some integrity and read the Book!
These may all be innocent oversights or perhaps embellishments to create more interest in the story. Even so, we must be careful in our use of the biblical texts lest we start influencing our theology and daily life decisions because of a loss of integrity. A retired pastor, Ray Hodge, twenty years ago compiled a list of statements of dubious veracity (Familiar Quotations, True and False). A couple of them reveal how we misquote the Bible.
The most obvious one comes from I Timothy 6. We often hear, "Money is the root of all evil." The actual wording in the Bible includes more explanation, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Money has no moral nature. Our tendencies toward greed and fear of being without drive us to crave money and the power and security we believe it can provide.
One biblical misquote Hodge does not include is from a Greek fable and is often placed in the Bible. "God helps those who help themselves." The reality is that God wants to be generous to all and particularly to those who CANNOT help themselves, the poorest, the widows, the orphans, and the homeless stranger. We make and accept these misquotes when we refuse to approach the Bible with integrity.
Like the good detective on the television program Dragnet was prone to say, "Just the facts, ma'am".
The most recent incident took place with a preacher who described the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The passage is often used to show that the first man was not guilty of sinning first but rather the first woman. How this excuses the man I am not sure. In the current case the preacher said that the man was not there and the woman made the decision without him implying that if he had been present, he would have been strong enough to stop the whole terrible event. Problem was, he was there, standing beside her. Read the Book!
Another misuse that I hear all too often is that from creation to Noah's flood it never rained. Sorry, that doesn't show up in my KJV, NASV, ESV, or any other translation. It is not even in the old Hebrew. The verse quoted says that, "And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and not a man to till the ground" (Genesis 2:5, KJV). The rather obvious implication here is that there were no plants because there was no rain. When it rained, we got plants. Noah had lots of plants and so did everyone before him all the way back to Adam. Read the Book!
Genesis is not the only part of the Bible that can get misused. In II Kings 2 we find the story of the final hours of the prophet Elijah. All my life I have seen paintings of the prophet's departure from earth into heaven. Consistently the pictures have him riding a chariot of fire into the clouds. Only the scriptures describe Elijah ascending in a whirlwind and the chariot remains behind to keep Elisha the servant away. Have some integrity and read the Book!
With only a little more than three months to go until Christmas, we are already seeing store displays going up touting the season. We will get a good view of all the iconic emblems including trees, lights, reindeer, fat guys in red suits, angels, shepherds, and mangers in stables. We will also get to see on a regular basis three tall, stately men dressed in fine robes. The problem is, even if you accept the traditional date of the birth of Jesus in mid-winter (it was probably in the spring), the magi did not arrive for another eighteen months or so and they found Jesus with his parents living in a house (Matthew 2). Have some integrity and read the Book!
These may all be innocent oversights or perhaps embellishments to create more interest in the story. Even so, we must be careful in our use of the biblical texts lest we start influencing our theology and daily life decisions because of a loss of integrity. A retired pastor, Ray Hodge, twenty years ago compiled a list of statements of dubious veracity (Familiar Quotations, True and False). A couple of them reveal how we misquote the Bible.
The most obvious one comes from I Timothy 6. We often hear, "Money is the root of all evil." The actual wording in the Bible includes more explanation, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Money has no moral nature. Our tendencies toward greed and fear of being without drive us to crave money and the power and security we believe it can provide.
One biblical misquote Hodge does not include is from a Greek fable and is often placed in the Bible. "God helps those who help themselves." The reality is that God wants to be generous to all and particularly to those who CANNOT help themselves, the poorest, the widows, the orphans, and the homeless stranger. We make and accept these misquotes when we refuse to approach the Bible with integrity.
Like the good detective on the television program Dragnet was prone to say, "Just the facts, ma'am".
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Building Mirrors or Bridges
Each day I try to spend time praying for the churches I serve. Each prayer also acts as a point of evaluation. Sometimes it is a prayer for myself, "What can I do to help this church, Lord?" Other times it is more of an assessment, "Oh God, help them!" The image I often get is a church that is either focused on building mirrors or one that is building bridges.
We do it as churches. We do it as individuals. We build structures that reflect our priorities. We invest in these structures to the extent of the value we place on them. Some mirrors are beautiful in their frames and clarity. Some bridges stand as monuments to their architects. Both are utilitarian in that they serve a real purpose. Is that purpose what God designed us to have as our focus?
When we build mirrors, we may be looking out, but all we see are ourselves. Using water as a mirror got old Narcissus in big trouble. Mirrors can be beautiful in clarity and design. They still have one purpose, to reflect the image in front of them. That mirror may be the judgment we use as we look at ourselves and condemn others by our self-admiring standards. (Luke 7:36-50) For people more often than not, it is a shallow opportunity to focus upon themselves or prioritize their personal needs.
For churches mirrors exist as well. When the pronoun most used is "we", the church has built a mirror. The church is investing in the image that it finds most pleasing to itself. When the church builds a mirror, it has cut off its view of the world and limited itself to its own perceived needs. When a church builds a mirror big enough, the real world disappears. All that exists for the members is their self-perception.
Harry Potter fans will remember a segment in which Harry discovers a special mirror that allows the viewer to see his deepest desires. Harry saw his parents. Ron saw himself as a sports champion. I have wondered at times what I would have seen. How much of my sinful nature would have interfered with my desire for Christlikeness?
As much for churches as for individuals we can build mirrors that are distorted and give us a twisted image in the reflection. When the mirror is twisted and deformed by false priorities and self-centered goals, the church will develop misguided plans and an unrealistic future. God's will and the guidance of the Holy Spirit are pushed out of the picture.
Or we can build bridges. Bridges show us the future even if we dare not move into it. Bridges show us what we could be. Bridges show us opportunities to be a part of something new and different. People build bridges when they develop and deepen relationships with other people. Churches build bridges when they open the door for their members to become salt and light in the world. (Matthew 5:13-16) Churches build bridges when they open their doors to all people with the encouraging word that everyone is a sinner and must walk the same path to living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
We build bridges when we tell another person that they are important enough to us to invest our time and emotional energy in their lives. We build bridges when we decide that helping enrich the life of another is worth what it may take out of our own life. We build bridges when we live out the command to love our neighbor as ourselves.
The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church must carry on the ministry of Christ. Jesus turned no one away. They each decided for themselves if they were willing to pay the price of following Christ. (e.g. Matthew 4:18-25; 19:16-22; Luke 9:23) The Church must likewise build a bridge that says all are welcome to come and go with us. The keeper of the bridge, Jesus Christ will reveal the price of the toll.
Each person, each church, must decide if they are building a mirror or a bridge. I have never found mirrors very helpful except to show where I have been, and self admiration is no temptation at all! A bridge, however, leads to a whole new world, new people, new opportunities to show God's love. That is worth my time and effort.
We do it as churches. We do it as individuals. We build structures that reflect our priorities. We invest in these structures to the extent of the value we place on them. Some mirrors are beautiful in their frames and clarity. Some bridges stand as monuments to their architects. Both are utilitarian in that they serve a real purpose. Is that purpose what God designed us to have as our focus?
When we build mirrors, we may be looking out, but all we see are ourselves. Using water as a mirror got old Narcissus in big trouble. Mirrors can be beautiful in clarity and design. They still have one purpose, to reflect the image in front of them. That mirror may be the judgment we use as we look at ourselves and condemn others by our self-admiring standards. (Luke 7:36-50) For people more often than not, it is a shallow opportunity to focus upon themselves or prioritize their personal needs.
For churches mirrors exist as well. When the pronoun most used is "we", the church has built a mirror. The church is investing in the image that it finds most pleasing to itself. When the church builds a mirror, it has cut off its view of the world and limited itself to its own perceived needs. When a church builds a mirror big enough, the real world disappears. All that exists for the members is their self-perception.
Harry Potter fans will remember a segment in which Harry discovers a special mirror that allows the viewer to see his deepest desires. Harry saw his parents. Ron saw himself as a sports champion. I have wondered at times what I would have seen. How much of my sinful nature would have interfered with my desire for Christlikeness?
As much for churches as for individuals we can build mirrors that are distorted and give us a twisted image in the reflection. When the mirror is twisted and deformed by false priorities and self-centered goals, the church will develop misguided plans and an unrealistic future. God's will and the guidance of the Holy Spirit are pushed out of the picture.
Or we can build bridges. Bridges show us the future even if we dare not move into it. Bridges show us what we could be. Bridges show us opportunities to be a part of something new and different. People build bridges when they develop and deepen relationships with other people. Churches build bridges when they open the door for their members to become salt and light in the world. (Matthew 5:13-16) Churches build bridges when they open their doors to all people with the encouraging word that everyone is a sinner and must walk the same path to living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
We build bridges when we tell another person that they are important enough to us to invest our time and emotional energy in their lives. We build bridges when we decide that helping enrich the life of another is worth what it may take out of our own life. We build bridges when we live out the command to love our neighbor as ourselves.
The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church must carry on the ministry of Christ. Jesus turned no one away. They each decided for themselves if they were willing to pay the price of following Christ. (e.g. Matthew 4:18-25; 19:16-22; Luke 9:23) The Church must likewise build a bridge that says all are welcome to come and go with us. The keeper of the bridge, Jesus Christ will reveal the price of the toll.
Each person, each church, must decide if they are building a mirror or a bridge. I have never found mirrors very helpful except to show where I have been, and self admiration is no temptation at all! A bridge, however, leads to a whole new world, new people, new opportunities to show God's love. That is worth my time and effort.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Size Doesn't Matter
Last Sunday, September 2, I had the pleasure of attending a church about which I have read and heard but seen only from a distance. My older son attends Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. We went together to the 9:00 AM service.
Southeast Christian is a megachurch, hosting around 20,000 worshipers each weekend on three campuses. The sanctuary seats about 9,000 on the main campus. The facilities scatter over forty acres and the church uses big yellow buses to bring attenders in from the far reaches of the parking lots. The entry hall is larger than several churches in my association and contains multiple information sites allowing guests and members to learn what Southeast Christian is doing and how to become involved.
My son and I did not participate in the worship service while seated in the main sanctuary. We sat in the cafe that was located off one side of the Atrium. About sixty people joined us sitting in cushioned armchairs or around small tables. The service was brought into the cafe by flat screen televisions and a single large projection screen.
Though a cafe setting, there was less noise than at a standard Starbuck's. Fewer kids got up to find a restroom than I see in many of our churches. People had their Bibles and their Kindles to use in following the pastor's sermon. Song lyrics were projected on the screens and everyone was encouraged to sing along regardless of where they were seated. We joined together in communion while a praise chorus was being sung. We watched three church members each baptize one of their family members who had recently made a profession of faith.
The pastor, Dave Stone, in his sermon related the story of Nehemiah striving to rebuild the walls of destroyed Jerusalem and then brought out the relevant points for daily living. He ended his message with a direct appeal for listeners to realize the only way to put their lives back together is through Jesus Christ. It was a strong evangelistic appeal.
Did I say that I found myself deeply in worship through all this? In case I skipped that, yes, I did. I worshiped with a small group in an informal setting that was taken very seriously by everyone around me. They may have been sipping on their espresso, punching keys on their Kindles, or in quiet conversation with their neighbor at the table they shared. They weren't there to get lost in a crowd or avoid feelings of guilt. I envisioned what it would have been like to be siting on the mountainside and listening to Jesus discuss the Beatitudes with the thousands around him (that's comparing the settings, not Dave Stone to Jesus!).
Two characteristics stood out. This place represented sincerity of worship and quality of preparation and involvement. You don't have to be a megachurch to have sincerity and quality as high priorities for worship. You just have to take God and his demands on our lives seriously. It is sad that too many of our churches are dying and blaming the society, sports, the next generation, or some foreign country for their demise. The truth lies too often in a church's lack of sincerity in following the demands of the Kingdom of God and their unwillingness to give their best in serving their Lord.
When people give their best effort, which comes by sacrificing something else, and keep their motivation grounded in the desire to glorify God, then a worship service will lead people to worship even if they are seated in a cafe. The worship service at Southeast Christian flowed with smoothness and without hesitation. People knew what they were supposed to do and when they were supposed to do it. The only apology for an interruption came when the music leader apologized for having to get a drink of water due to allergies.
My son has moved to a community about an hour from the church. He intends to keep attending and deepen his involvement in Southeast Christian. He already attends a Sunday morning Bible study group and has taken on the role of a mission project leader for them. Mega did not dampen his interest in the church. I look at the churches in my association and wonder how many would have drawn my son back after he moved an hour's drive away. How does your church service rate?
Southeast Christian is a megachurch, hosting around 20,000 worshipers each weekend on three campuses. The sanctuary seats about 9,000 on the main campus. The facilities scatter over forty acres and the church uses big yellow buses to bring attenders in from the far reaches of the parking lots. The entry hall is larger than several churches in my association and contains multiple information sites allowing guests and members to learn what Southeast Christian is doing and how to become involved.
My son and I did not participate in the worship service while seated in the main sanctuary. We sat in the cafe that was located off one side of the Atrium. About sixty people joined us sitting in cushioned armchairs or around small tables. The service was brought into the cafe by flat screen televisions and a single large projection screen.
Though a cafe setting, there was less noise than at a standard Starbuck's. Fewer kids got up to find a restroom than I see in many of our churches. People had their Bibles and their Kindles to use in following the pastor's sermon. Song lyrics were projected on the screens and everyone was encouraged to sing along regardless of where they were seated. We joined together in communion while a praise chorus was being sung. We watched three church members each baptize one of their family members who had recently made a profession of faith.
The pastor, Dave Stone, in his sermon related the story of Nehemiah striving to rebuild the walls of destroyed Jerusalem and then brought out the relevant points for daily living. He ended his message with a direct appeal for listeners to realize the only way to put their lives back together is through Jesus Christ. It was a strong evangelistic appeal.
Did I say that I found myself deeply in worship through all this? In case I skipped that, yes, I did. I worshiped with a small group in an informal setting that was taken very seriously by everyone around me. They may have been sipping on their espresso, punching keys on their Kindles, or in quiet conversation with their neighbor at the table they shared. They weren't there to get lost in a crowd or avoid feelings of guilt. I envisioned what it would have been like to be siting on the mountainside and listening to Jesus discuss the Beatitudes with the thousands around him (that's comparing the settings, not Dave Stone to Jesus!).
Two characteristics stood out. This place represented sincerity of worship and quality of preparation and involvement. You don't have to be a megachurch to have sincerity and quality as high priorities for worship. You just have to take God and his demands on our lives seriously. It is sad that too many of our churches are dying and blaming the society, sports, the next generation, or some foreign country for their demise. The truth lies too often in a church's lack of sincerity in following the demands of the Kingdom of God and their unwillingness to give their best in serving their Lord.
When people give their best effort, which comes by sacrificing something else, and keep their motivation grounded in the desire to glorify God, then a worship service will lead people to worship even if they are seated in a cafe. The worship service at Southeast Christian flowed with smoothness and without hesitation. People knew what they were supposed to do and when they were supposed to do it. The only apology for an interruption came when the music leader apologized for having to get a drink of water due to allergies.
My son has moved to a community about an hour from the church. He intends to keep attending and deepen his involvement in Southeast Christian. He already attends a Sunday morning Bible study group and has taken on the role of a mission project leader for them. Mega did not dampen his interest in the church. I look at the churches in my association and wonder how many would have drawn my son back after he moved an hour's drive away. How does your church service rate?
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