The other day, I got an email from a friend of mine. It was a great article about Athletes in Action. It was written by a national religious editor for USA Today, who had recently had exposure to this organization. Jaded and repelled by his past experiences with self-righteous, perfect, know-it-all Christians, the reason for his article was that he was disarmed by their gracious manner. He commented that in their dialogue, their commitment to their mission was clear. And yet, it was presented in a manner that was respectful to those who choose not to agree or believe as they do. There is a novel concept these days for Christians. Our staff is reading a book together, and we recently went through a chapter where the author reminded us that although Jesus never compromised His standards of holiness, it never made Him unapproachable or unsafe. Sinners of every walk of life strangely knew He was different, and yet felt comfortable around Him. They even felt drawn to Him. What does that say of the current condition of Christianity when poll after poll tells us that Christians continue to be thought of in a negative light, and churches are the last place that people who are broken and hurting would turn to for help?
Here is what the journalist said that grabbed my attention. “Several AIA staffers I met voiced a desire to change the way Christians are perceived. ‘Many Christians are uncomfortable with where our culture is going, so they retreat from it,’ said Doug Pollock, AIA's evangelism director. ‘Instead of being 'in the world but not of it,' as the Bible stresses, they lob truth grenades over the walls of the fortresses they've created.’” Wow! Way to go, Doug! What an accurate picture of why we are where we are.
Here’s my thought for you this week. Drop the grenade! Rather than thoughtlessly lobbing “truth grenades” at people we don’t take the time to get to know, rather than being “right” all the time, rather than giving no thought to the collateral damage of our grenades, what if we acted more like Jesus? Let’s work on ways of letting people know that we are different, that they will not be shot, beaten, or hurt by us. And by the way, if you’re holding a grenade…put the pin back in it!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 06/26/2008
I stand back in amazement of what God has done through the Victory Project. It has literally been a God-thing at God’s speed. We are seeing more results, experiencing greater favor, and walking through more open doors than some faith based organizations that have been in existence for decades. A church that is primarily suburban birthing a baby that possesses a passionate heart for the least, the last, and the lost!
I think the thing that is the greatest encouragement to me is what this is doing to us. I personally have been touched and changed by my involvement in the greater community. Without question, I have watched this change many others among us. Stereotypes are falling by the wayside. People previously separated by income levels, skin color, background, and all other types of barriers are coming together. We are learning about each other. We are finding out that we are not as different from one another as we may have pre-conceived.
To take hope into hopeless people and situations is one of the most thrilling prospects I have ever been a part of. It may be a small difference we are making; but for the first time in my life, I feel like we are a part of the solution and not just a part of the problem. Thanks to those of you at the Gathering for embracing this vision. Thanks to community leaders for partnering with us. Thank You, God, for creating such a rewarding partnership. Who knew…and who knows where this will end up!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 06/16/2008
Last night, I was privileged to be a part of a small group of people who enjoyed an extraordinary moment. Life has those moments that throw huge doses of perspective at you. For example, it might be pretty easy right now to feel stressed by gas prices or the economy. Perhaps your family is going through or has been through a tough time. I know that pain is pain. It doesn’t matter what someone else is going through if you are feeling torn apart. However, I have to tell you, this will at least cause you to think. It might even cause you to be thankful for your problems. We received a phone call the other day that one of the men in our church had been diagnosed with cancer. When I sat down to talk with him, I discovered that two months earlier he was in good health and taking care of his wife who was sick and in the hospital. In his late 50’s, he was looking forward to retirement and enjoying time with her. Now, he has been informed that unless God does a miracle, he has months to live. That is tough news for anyone to hear. They had called and asked if he could be baptized, along with his wife. I sheepishly walked into this not knowing his state of mind. How would you respond? How would I? I honestly don’t know! I have to tell you, it was not what I expected. He has the most extraordinary outlook.
This group and I regrouped at their home last night and experienced a worship service in their living room. We read Psalms together and prayed over them as a couple. We took communion together in a sacred moment of remembering our own Redeemer, and then we baptized them. That’s right. For the first time in over twenty years of ministry, I baptized a man in his recliner! J His wife as well in the chair right beside him. It was cool! We worshipped God and we grew together. I don’t know whether God plans to heal my friend in this body or to heal him in a perfect body…but heal His son He will!
The most amazing thing about this man to me is his perspective. He is one of the most extraordinary encouragers I have ever met. I keep trying to say the “pastoral things” you say in moments like these, and he won’t let me talk. All he can say…as he sits there apparently being eaten alive from within by cancer… are amazing words of encouragement to everyone else. I told him I need to come see him every day, because I go to be a comfort, and he sends me out on cloud nine. He greets me by saying, “It is an honor to have you in our home.” Wow! Rather than complaining, feeling sorry for himself, or lamenting his plight, he speaks life into everyone who walks into his living room. He has one of the greatest attitudes, perspectives, and outlooks that I have ever seen in something like this. To my friend, thank you for blessing us! You have encouraged me beyond words. I am praying for your healing; but whatever happens, what we started last night…we will do together for thousands of years!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 06/04/2008
Here’s a thought…what if those of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ actually patterned our lives after Him? Two thousand years of church baggage has blurred the vision of many from Christ’s own actions and reactions. Have you noticed how forgiving God can be and how unforgiving His followers can be? An insatiable need to be right, to be more pure than the next group, to constantly reassure ourselves against the backdrop of others failures are all vivid departures from who Jesus really is. While I am not saying the church has lost its place in our culture, I am saying it has created a huge obstacle to overcome. That is the negative perception of His own followers by those to which we are trying to share His message. This is not new. Gandhi said, “I believe I would have been a Christian, were it not for Christians.” Enough! It is time to stop apologizing for our insensitivity and stupidity and start making fundamental changes.
This is not a rant about crazy Christians, or an angry backlash at stupid things done in the past. This is a heartfelt appeal for true God followers to become less focused on ourselves, and more focused on the people we are called to show Christ to in our lives. Non-spiritual people or unbelieving people are not stupid. They see through our shallow gimmicks and slogans. They recognize that often times our evangelism, our programs, and our Christianity is more about us than them. And they have walked away in droves.
Consequently, God has put it on our hearts, at The Gathering, to go after the Dechurched. The Dechurched are not people who have been unchurched; they have no relationship with God. Quite the contrary, the Dechurched have a spiritual relationship, believe, trust and a love for God. They are simply tired of the games that church people play to make themselves look better. They are tired of the stereotypes, judgments, condemnations and insensitivity of modern expressions of Christianity.
We can make a difference – you and I. We can show this world a different expression of Christ-following. I believe a more accurate one. To be absolutely clear, we are all flawed and imperfect. The sooner we all admit this beyond a cliché level, the better off we will be. The second thing is to be love. As soon as I say this, some truth protector is going to call me soft, liberal, watered down or some other insult to bully me to their position. Sorry, I can’t do it. I can’t be so far away from the pattern of Christ just so angry, self-righteous Christians give their stamp of approval. I want to share with you, anonymously, an excerpt from an email I received this week. The person writes… “I always thought church was a place to judge and form opinions about people that make mistakes. The Gathering has been a place for me that I see that is not true about church. It is a place that I can be honest and truthful. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your church family. I look so forward to becoming an active member of your fine organization! Broken people have a place at The Gathering and I am so glad that something led me to your church.” This may only be a dent, a pebble in a great ocean of commotion and confusion, but nonetheless it is one! And if more and more of us treated others the way that God has treated us…who knows what could happen?
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 05/29/2008
I don’t believe a bar is the place to find the answers to life, but I understand why some people feel much safer there. This week I led a New Member’s Class at our church. At the end, one of the people who God has led to our family said, “The thing I love about this church is that you don’t judge people. Virtually every other church I have been a part of judges people, and feels vindicated in doing so.” It is time to stop the madness! It is time that thugs in the Christian community stop destroying other people in the name of truth. It is time to stop the senseless and hypocritical violence! I am grateful to finally be with a group of people who get this. We are ALL sinners. And to those who aren’t a part of this…to those who don’t get it with the ‘throw the first stone’ bit, please…just don’t tell anyone you’re a Christian. We have enough to overcome with the damage already done!
Recently, I had lunch with a friend and a leader in our church. Both of us have been around the block enough in the “Christian circles” to know the drill. And yet, the topic of our conversation casually over lunch turned to the fact that we never cease to be amazed at the brutality of Christian on Christian violence. Now, I hate violence of any nature. I believe it to be the antithesis of who Jesus Christ, my hero, is. The African American community for years has decried the Black on Black violence that seems so senseless and so destructive. Drive-by shootings, gang warfare, and random acts of violence has created unspeakable grief and pain in a community already coping with many institutional wounds as a community. Rather than closing ranks, and showing solidarity, love, and support, many within the community itself “hate” on one another. Senseless!
I don’t know that I will ever understand why then it is that Christians live out this kind of foolishness. Self-righteous gang violence, drive-by slandering, and random acts of harm are not the patterns of Jesus. I just wish we could stop the senseless stuff. Rather than reinforcing the negative stereotypes of an unbelieving world, what if we shifted our focus to “do no harm.” What if we tried to love people with the crazy, unexplainable, unconditional love of our model - Jesus? What if we were less worried about always being right, and more focused on setting broken things back to right? I hope to spend the remainder of my life making a positive difference in the lives of hurting people. I don’t want people feeling like they have to go to a bar to find the acceptance they are looking for in life. What about you? Are you willing to love people, accept them, and offer a healing and helping hand? Speaking of hands, your hand is either lifting people up or pushing them back down. Which is it? And as for all the finger pointing…how has that worked out for us so far??? Just something to think about!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 05/15/2008
We now have a running joke among our crew here that has emanated out of what God continues to do. It has been amazing…over-whelming, even at times mind-blowing to watch what God has done with our church and His mission in the world. By taking seriously His charge to care deeply for the least, the last, and the lost, we have seen him partner with us in extraordinary ways! He has opened doors that we could not have opened on our own. He has given us favor with agencies and institutions that normally don’t connect with faith- based organizations very effectively. He has changed the lives, the futures, and the fortunes, of hundreds of kids. And He has changed us in the process.
It has at times almost become comical how He is using The Victory Project outreach though. This past week, we had yet another call from now a federal agency that wants to investigate a partnership with their at-risk community. We don’t know them and aren’t quite sure how they got our name. (But we know why!) Last night, one of our small groups made our first attempt to connect with the kids at The Nicholas Youth Center. They went down to hang out with the kids, prepare the way for a bi-monthly bible study time with them, and to play volleyball in the rain. By the end of the very first night, the kids were saying, “When can you come back?!” One of the adult leaders said, “We have never seen our kids respond like this to anything.” As they offered hugs and high-fives on the way out of the door, we once again realized this as a divine appointment!
So, now…every time someone calls out of the blue, every time we have one of those God orchestrated connections, every time another kid pronounces their new-found hope, every time one of our groups has an emotion altering experience outside of our comfort zone, we simply say, “Well, of course they did!” Our God is a good God!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 05/08/2008
When was the last time God set an appointment in your life? You know, one of those moments you hadn’t really planned on taking place. It is rarely on a schedule or a calendar. More often than not, it shows up as an ambush moment. When you least expect it, it’s there. You are just walking through life trying to walk with God, and He says, “You know what, I can trust you. I will use you!” And He intersects two lives that have eternal benefits and results. Yet again, this week we have seen another of those at The Gathering. I had yet another phone call from one of our staff leaders that led with, “You’re not going to believe this.” God has continued to open doors for us, to make provisions for us, and to create a unique existence that far supersedes “church life.” I will be honest, having been burned time and time again by “church people” over two decades of pastoring; I had just about given up on the organized church community. God has restored so much of my faith with these amazing events that we have experienced over the last year and a half of The Gathering, that He is restoring my soul and my faith.
I have seen clearly that God is still working mightily in the world around us. It just takes getting out of the crusty, self-satisfied organization of church life to see Him move in mighty ways. So, I say, let them have it. Let those who are “perfect” and have “all the right answers” meet and have meetings. I want to continue to meet with God. His meetings usually take place at the crash site. And for those who are willing to go to the crash site, get their hands dirty, and care more about real people than their persona, chances are…you will meet Him!
One last thing for this week…these are exciting times for our spiritual community! A week from Sunday, we will announce our building objectives. It is going to be awesome to have a home base to continue to reach out to our entire community with grace! Let me encourage you to get in the habit of checking, BecauseWeBelieve.com for regular updates and progress throughout the building process.
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 05/01/2008
Last week, I was having dinner with some friends. One of them was Monnie Bush, the Director of our Victory Project. His phone vibrated on the table. He picked it up and checked the message. While we were still having conversation, he started beating the table. I looked at him and said, “What is up?” He punched another button or two and handed me the phone. He said you have to listen to this. So, I did. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. On the other end of the phone was the recorded voice of a young man, about 17 years of age. This young man is incredibly sharp and full of personality. However, he is also a product of his environment. We met this young man through one of our Victory Project events. This means he had experienced some run-ins with the authorities. At this event I watched as he came to life as we handed him the camera and said, “Why don’t you video tape this?” Several times since then, we have been able to interact with him and his family.
Back to the phone call…on the other line his usually bubbly personality and voice were shaky. Rather than his usual cutting up, he was near tears. He said,”Monnie, I need to talk to you. I am tired of this life and I want to give my life to God. You are the only man I know to turn to right now, can you help me?” Needless to say, we were elated. Monnie did call him back that night. And later that night, Monnie sent me a text that said “We have a new brother!” What an amazing God we have! Only God could have made this type of connection that changes an eternity!!!
I am so grateful to be at a place where people care about what God cares about. Where the focus is on what truly lasts. I am grateful that God is expanding that, and allowing us to realize a new home. Because We have Believed, we are experiencing an amazing truth…Grace and people can really meet!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 04/17/2008
In the stories behind the story, there is always a gem. This past weekend, we celebrated Easter. It is the time that sincere followers of Jesus Christ celebrate the ultimate victory. We have life, the promise of eternity, and restored relationship with God because of the finished work of Jesus. For years, it has also been traditionally a time when people who don’t frequent church make a weekend worship experience a part of their observance. And traditionally, churches have made it a time to take a twice-a-year swipe of guilt at these guests. No wonder they don’t beat the door down to get back the next week. Hey, give me some more of that.
Consequently, churches are populated by two groups of people. Masochistic people who feel better after they have been emotionally beaten, and self-righteous, know-it-all, dogmatic types who elevate their plastic lives by pointing out others’ short-comings. Again, no wonder that daily the church is losing influence with the very people we are called to bring hope to in the message of the gospel. It has been my experience of late that the gospel has little to do with the mission and the message of Christ and has more to do with a culture that cultivates pride and pretense. Never the twain shall meet.
That is why this story means so much to me. This story, now added to the growing list of incredible stories at The Gathering, points out that the people of The Gathering are taking seriously the fact that grace and real people can meet. A mother and her daughter were invited by a friend to our Easter service. It just so happens that I happen to know them and the background of their story. When they arrived and the celebration began, they both sat and wept at their experience. Rather than a cold, ritualistic observance of Easter, rather than an emotional beating for all of their OBVIOUS shortcomings, they were introduced to a warm and loving God. They discovered that He was crazy in love with them. As life would have it, I heard through the grapevine that they are starting a new habit. They are coming back this weekend. They are coming to our early service and then go grab a bite together as a mother and daughter. A pretty cool new habit to add to life. I just hope that we can meet their new-found trust with the grace that it deserves. I hope that they see Jesus. Not the Jesus who is a good luck charm, or the Jesus who has been hi-jacked by American suburban Christianity, but the Jesus who is crazy, madly in love with them. I hope they see the Jesus who has big plans for their lives. Now that’s a habit!
Experiencing Grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 03/28/2008
To a follower of Jesus Christ, there is no greater or more intense week than that of Easter. Yes, it is true that our culture has hijacked the season…as have most of them through the ever increasing secularization of America. Most view it more as a birth of Spring, kind of like a second groundhog day. Others throw a religious spin on it and dress up for an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Still others market the time with Easter bunnies and the sell of candy. Now for years I have believed that the church has exactly the wrong perspective of this. Knowing these realities and beating people up with them are two different things. Rather than resenting people and brow beating them for only showing up “twice a year”, we should be grateful for the opportunity to share with them in creative ways the greatest news ever told. The other makes church members feel superior, but has really no positive effect. One of our greatest sins (beyond our condescending, judgmental attitudes) is that we are boring. No wonder they only show up once a year…it is the same ole grind every time.
But I digress. The point I am trying to make is that beneath it all, this is spiritually the most significant week of the year. Christmas is magical and inspires us with the amazing love of God. However, without Easter, Christmas would be a bedtime story for children. He was born one of us for a reason! He came into the world not just to teach us a new and better way or to dazzle with the power of miracles. No, He had a divine appointment! His whole life was headed for a specific mission. Almost certainly, the drumbeat of that appointment would grow stronger and stronger with each step that took Him closer and closer to the cross. The last week of His life was an amazing paradox of humanity. From “Hail, Him!” to “Hang, Him!” in a matter of hours only reveals the capricious nature of humankind.
This week, I want to encourage you to walk that path with Him in your mind. Listen to the cheers as He arrives, knowing that they will turn on Him. Look into the eyes of the disciples who will one by one abandon Him. Look at Judas at the end of the table. Follow him out to the cover of private corridors, all the way back to a kiss on the cheek in his last act of betrayal. Watch Him wrestle with the weight of the world in the garden. Listen to the lying, condescending lips of the religious elite. Feel the whip, the thorns, and the weight of the cross. Imagine the agony of the nails. Look out over the ingratitude of the very people He came to rescue. Try to imagine the blackness of His soul as He cries out, “Father, where have you gone?” Watch the demons dance as His life ebbs away. Listen to the sobs of His mother and dear ones. BUT THEN…get up on Sunday morning and go to the tomb! It is over! It is finished! Now listen to the shriek of the demons as they realize their ultimate demise. He is alive again, and now He is victorious…and so are we. Because of Him we are free! Let me encourage you to be amazed this week. Walk this path, and worship Him!
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 03/19/2008
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