The light breaks through
Engaging the Disinterested
Warning: Transformation May Occur
My name is Keith Haney. The writer and architect of this blog journey. Candidly I am a pastor, but you will find no judgment, only encouragement at this site. I am not sure how you stumbled upon this blog. Maybe you were seeking ways to help your congregation better reach its neighborhood. Or you were looking to grow as a leader. It’s conceivable the system and culture are crushing you, and you need consolation. If inspiration is what you are pursuing you will find it here, if you want to grow as a leader, I will challenge you to do that. If you want your church to just improve and add people in the pew, this blog may not be suitable for you. The world is changing and our old ways of connecting isn’t working. This blog it will test your traditional views of church and ministry, it may stretch you beyond your comfort zone. So, if you read, follow and share its contents with your leadership I hold no personal responsibility for the metamorphosis you may experience or the stress and transformation you may thrust upon your leadership.
Some categories to avoid if you want to read this blog safely. Avoid the section on Millennials. It is based on actual research and verified by my Millennials friends. It will ultimately alter your misconceptions about this passionate, missional generation. You will discover why they are just passing on the local church in alarmingly large numbers. The post entitled, “A Worship Style That Connects With Millennials” will cause you to abandon many of your Millennial worship initiatives.
You will also want to stay away from the posts on missional communities. It is the wave of the present for connecting with the unconnected. This section will make you angry and uncomfortable if you love the Sunday morning gathering time because this movement is not centered on worship in the traditional sense. You will get a sense of this with the post entitled, “Are Missional Communities a Threat to the Local Chuch?”
And, you will want to not click on any of the leadership sections. There is one there entitled, “Leadership 101: You Can’t Stop Stupid, and trying to fix Stupid Hurts.” Leadership is a passion of this pastor. I believe it is the one thing holding the church back from entirely being what God created Her to be, a dominant force for change of hearts and culture.
This blog also tackles the difficult often ignored issue of racial division in America. The writing on this topic led to a Bible Study, published in 2015 by Concordia Publishing House, entitled “Healing One Nation Under God: Healing Racial Divides.” It will challenge your conventional ideas about race while providing Biblical solutions to a complex issue.
There are safer places to surf while visiting this site. The devotions and sermon starters while challenging and insightful dangerous in that the Word of God itself points out our sins put also leads us into the arms of God’s grace and forgiveness.
Read, inwardly digest at your own risk. It is all based on the Word of God so blame the spirit for any transformation.
This content was created to share. Every day is a share-a-thon. Share away. We can help shape the future of the church together.
Picture of the Week: The House of God
The historic Stained-glass window of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Kansas City Kansas.
8 I love the beauty of your house, Lord;
I love the place where your glory resides.
9 Don’t gather me[d] up with the sinners,
taking my life along with violent people
10 in whose hands are evil schemes,
whose strong hands are full of bribes.
11 But me? I walk with integrity.
Save me! Have mercy on me!
12 My feet now stand on level ground.
I will bless the Lord in the great congregation. Psalm 26:8-12
Characteristics of Leadership, Part Two
The queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, and one day she put him to the test. She brought artificial flowers so perfectly formed that no human eye could detect them from real flowers. She put them in a vase on Solomon’s table, in his throne room next to his flowers. As he came in, the queen of Sheba is reported to have said, “Solomon, you are the wisest man in the world. Tell me without touching these flowers, which are real and which are artificial.”
It is said that Solomon studied the flowers for a long time and spoke nothing, until finally, he said, “Open the windows and let the bees come in.”
There are ways to tell the artificial from the real—let the bees come in; they will know where the real is. If we live with the authentic Jesus long enough, we will recognize the artificial when we see it. (Brooks Ramsey, “When Religion Becomes Real”)
Leaders may fool people for a while, but the real you will show up. In her presentation, Carla Harris added these other characteristics of leaders. If you have followed this blog you know the first one I value highly. I don’t think/believe you can truly lead or shepherd a people if you are not authentic. Carla shared a story about Carla “the singer” and Carla “the investment banker.” In addition to her work on Wall Street, Carla is a singer who has recorded three CDs and sung at Carnegie Hall. At the start of her career, she was hesitant to identify as a singer in her business role. But she noticed, whenever this aspect of her identity was brought up with clients, she naturally built a connection and differentiated herself from the other bankers. If you bring your authentic self, one aspect will help you connect.
A = Authenticity
- Authenticity is at the heart of every powerful, impactful and influential leader.
- Bring your authentic self to the table. Authenticity builds trust. Trust is at the heart of any successful relationship.
- Each part of your personality makes you unique because it is how God created and wired you.
- Take time in prayer and reflection to understand who you are. Reflect a couple of times every year– especially when you have life-changing events. This has been a great personal season for me seeking answers to these questions:
- Who are you when things get tough?
- Who are you when things get easy?
- Are you a great problem-solver?
- Do you like working on a team or alone?
D = Decisiveness
Having served in many capacities over my fifty-plus years on this planet. I have run across all kinds of leaders. Those who have this approach to deciding. “When in charge, ponder. When in trouble, delegate. When in doubt, mumble.” Yeah, those people drove me nuts. Make a call already will you? Then there were these kinds of leaders, “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go on. “ Andrew Jackson.
Then I have experienced those leaders who took time to get the needed information then had the courage to pull the trigger and live with whatever may come. For any leader, whether or not you like it, you are the leader because you have to actually lead. Which means making decisive moves. Will they all work out? Of course, not, nothing in life always goes your way. So, why would leadership be any different?
- Decisiveness
- Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay says, “The price of inaction is greater than the cost of making a mistake.”
Powerful, impactful and influential leaders must be comfortable making decisions. If you have trouble deciding, your team will lose the ability to produce fruit and trust in you. Even in the face of incomplete information, pray for direction and then trust your judgment, your experiences, and your people. Let these questions guide your time of discernment:
- Who can I call? Who has seen this before?
- What experiences have I had that could inform this decision?
But please for all that is good and proper, make a decision! Every experience you have will bring you one of two things: a blessing or a lesson.
Part one:
https://revheadpin.org/2018/10/25/what-are-the-characteristics-of-leadership/
Prayer for Veteran’s Day
Dear Lord,
As this new week begins we observe Veteran’s Day. So, my thoughts and prayers turn to those brave men and women who defend our freedom. You remind us in Exodus that you are our strength, our power, and our warrior.
The Lord is my strength and my power;
he has become my salvation.
This is my God, whom I will praise,
the God of my ancestors, whom I will acclaim.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name. Exodus 15:2-4
Your Son, Jesus Christ paid a heavy price our freedom from sin, our selfish desires, and Satan. Today, we remember the one percent of the population that defend our right to exercise our freedom. The cost of freedom is a great sacrifice. Thank you for the brave ones who have fought, and continue to fight, so courageously for our nation. Lord protect them with Your arms of grace and blessing them and their families. Encircle them with your peace and help them service with honor. While we know we live in a dangerous world, filled with those who would seek to do us and our soldiers harm Lord when the voice of hate rises up against them, we ask that you would silence it. Thwart the plans of the enemy who cause them to stumble, lift them up in Your mighty arms.
Give our leaders godly discernment. Make them constantly aware of what lurks close by. Help them be men and women of prayer, realizing that this is where their greatest help comes from. Help them stay united and strong, and resolute, determined and unwavering. Always forward in the power of your might and strength. In Jesus, precious name. Amen.
Pic of the Week: Golden Altar
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, and he held a gold bowl for burning incense. He was given a large amount of incense, in order to offer it on behalf of the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar in front of the throne.4 The smoke of the incense offered for the prayers of the saints rose up before God from the angel’s hand. Revelations 8:2-4
The Mystery is the Essence of Worship
When I was a theology student, one quote which stuck with me was “pastors are stewards of the mystery”. As a pastor, it, at times, is frustrating that I can’t explain all the ways of God. Take a step back and reflect on that concept for a moment. If we could explain all that God does and grasps His every moment, would He still really be God? As the Dutch theologian, Herman Bavinck writes, “Mystery is the lifeblood of dogmatics”. In worship, we see those mysteries on full display on a weekly basis. We come to God’s house and should expect to be awed.
Embracing the Mystery
16Then I set my mind to know wisdom and to observe the business that happens on earth, even going without sleep day and night 17I observed all the work of God—that no one can grasp what happens under the sun. Those who strive to know can’t grasp it. Even the wise who are set on knowing are unable to grasp it.”– Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 (CEB)
A. W. Tozer shares this great insight. “When the Holy Spirit comes and opens heaven until people stand astonished at what they see, and in astonished wonderment confess His uncreated loveliness in the presence of that most ancient mystery, then you have worship. If it is not mysterious, there can be no worship; if I can understand God, then I cannot worship God. I will never get on my knees and say, “Holy, holy, holy” to that which I can figure out. That which I can explain will never overawe me, never fill me with astonishment, wonder or admiration….”
Tozer nails it. We accept that there are things about God and His ways we will never comprehend. The reality of this truth keeps us humble. At the moment we think we have figured God out, He surprises us. He remains a mystery.
Isaiah reminds us of this eternal truth.
“8My plans aren’t your plans,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my plans than your plans.” -Isaiah 55:8-9
As Charles Spurgeon says, “I worship a God I never expect to comprehend. If I could grasp him in the hollow of mine hand, I could not call him my God; and if I could understand his dealings so that I could read them as a child reads his spelling book, I could not worship him…”
The Elements of Mystery in Worship
The Power of the Word of God
17Christ didn’t send me to baptize but to preach the good news. And Christ didn’t send me to preach the good news with clever words so that Christ’s cross won’t be emptied of its meaning.
18The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
“The world and words of Christ passed down in Sacred Scripture are never more alive than when prayed and proclaimed in the mystery of the Mass.” – Fr. Patrick J Winslow
What a joy to be invited by the Father to come and be fed with the life-giving words of Christ. In worship, we share this event with fellow believers and honored guests, as the Holy Spirit pours the power of God’s word into our hearts.
The Gifts of Grace in the Lord’s Supper and Baptism
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28).
These divine gifts of the Lord’s Supper and Holy Baptism are offered by God’s grace for the forgiveness of sins. We can’t fully comprehend how this side of paradise. Many have tried to explain how, when simple bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, but instead of focusing on understanding it we simply receive these mysterious blessings by faith. The water joined with the word and the bread and wine, becoming the body and blood of Christ have embedded in them a promise and power to save, guaranteed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Mystery in worship and faith is good because it allows us to have that sense of awe at the wonders and the working of our Almighty and power God. Embrace the mystery, be in awe of the wonders of His love and mercy, rejoice in the forgiveness offered.
TED Talk: How to Design A Library That Makes Kids Want to Read
When Michael Bierut was tapped to design a logo for public school libraries, he had no idea that he was embarking on a years-long passion project. In this often hilarious talk, he recalls his obsessive quest to bring energy, learning, art and graphics into these magical spaces where school librarians can inspire new generations of readers and thinkers.
What is True Freedom?
Some years ago in Los Angeles, a man was walking down the street with a sign on his shoulders. The front of it said, “I’M A SLAVE FOR CHRIST.” The back of it read, “WHOSE SLAVE ARE YOU?”
That is a good question because all of us are slaves to one or the other of two masters—sin or righteousness. We have no other choices. By the very nature of our humanity, we are made to serve and to be controlled by forces beyond our power. [1]So, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”[2]How Short Our Memories can be?
The Jews claim Abraham’s descendants had never been in bondage was certainly a false one that was refuted by the very record in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Jews had been enslaved by seven mighty nations, as recorded in the Book of Judges. The ten Northern tribes had been carried away captive by Assyria, and the two Southern tribes had gone into seventy years of captivity in Babylon. And at that very hour, the Jews were under the iron heel of Rome! How difficult it is for proud religious people to admit their failings and their needs!
The Jews who sadly believed they had to prove their faith by their faithfulness were trapped by the chains of the law. The law was enslaving them and robbing them of the freedom won for them in Christ’s death and resurrection. You can hear their misguided understanding in the cry, “We are Abraham’s children!” It is the same claim they made when John the Baptist confronted then in the wilderness. “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”Matthew 3:8–9. Jesus met their claims head on and made a clear distinction between worldly children of Abraham (v. 37) and Abraham’s spiritual children (v. 39).
In verse 37, “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.”[3]The spiritual children Jesus describes in this manner, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,” John 8:39
Jesus used the illustration of slave and a son to explain true freedom. The one who is a slave to sin is akin to the servant who may live in the house, but he is not a part of the family. Servants have no guarantee, no secure future. It is possible as the Jews heard this example their minds would recall the comparison between Isaac and Ishmael. You find that account in Genesis 21. A literal translation of the Greek text is helpful here. “Whosoever keeps on practicing (Present Participle) sin is the servant of sin.” These religious leaders were living in bondage to sin!
What Makes Us Truly Free?
I wonder if Jesus showed up today what would He be addressing in our churches? Where do we get our sense of identity from? Would we say we are followers of the teaching of the good Dr. Martin Luther, therefore we were never slaves to anyone or any false teaching? Would we hold to the liturgy as our safeguard? Or are we slaves to the leader of our congregation, or the connections we have made in our churches? None of these things are bad but if we think participation in these things or membership in the right church body will save us we have taken our focus off what truly saves, what truly set us free. Jesus points the children of Abraham away from works and back to faith. It is faith and faith alone that saves.
Faith in Christ makes us a child of God. Being connected to the Word of God and knowing the truth of Scripture is our safeguard against thinking we can save ourselves by our good deeds. Faith makes a slave of the king.
How can slaves of sin be set free?
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” John 8: 36-37
We can only be set free by faith in the One who has given His life to redeem us, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If that Son sets us free then sin, Satan, and our sinful self-has no claim on us. Jesus has broken the chains of bondage and we are truly free indeed!
[1]Green, M. P. (Ed.). (1989). Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively(Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[2]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:31–38). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
2The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:37). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Picture of the Week: Trust
The events of the last week in Pittsburgh at Tree of Life Synagogue can be faith-shaking. Amid the storms Lord, you remind me you are there. I find such comfort in the words of Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea when its waters roar and rage when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.”
There are moments in life when nothing seems to be going my way. When enemies encamp against me, Satan attacks at the most opportune times, and uncertainty about the future runs my anxiety to record levels. But the Psalmists points my heart back to you. He reminds me the One I put my trust in will never fail.
“God is in that city. It will never crumble. God will help it when morning dawns. Nations roar; kingdoms crumble. God utters his voice; the earth melts.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. “Psalm 46.
Through all of life’s challenges God, you are my Rock. You remind me that You are still seated on the throne and even when people or situations intend to do me harm you still have me in the palm of your Almighty hand. And what a mighty hand it is. In the Awesome name of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Urban Ministry: Is Like a Crockpot Meal
In order to do ministry in the city, you have to view it as a crockpot meal. It takes time, lots of time. It needs to simmer. People of the city are used to people dropping in for a season and leaving. You have to be willing to stay and tabernacle for a while, in most cases a lifetime.
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7
How would our attitude toward urban ministry change if we got a letter like the exiles received in Jeremiah 29? Here is the letter God sent to His people.
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:10–14.
In Jeremiah 29 there is a conflict brewing between Jeremiah and the religious leaders. Jeremiah had written a letter to the exiles in Babylonia, encouraging them to abandon any false hopes that this exile will be short-lived (verses 1–9). In fact, this punishment would last seventy years before the Lord would restore His people.
Urban ministry is about having a settled-in mindset.
If Christians go into urban ministry thinking that they are in it for a season and not in this for the long haul they will struggle to be effective. As we have discussed in the previous post, the challenges facing the urban centers of our world are not easily solved. The problems are complex. Those challenges have formed over decades of failure and abandonment, so to think you can solve them quickly is a bit naïve. It is also insensitive and destructive to people’s hope to start something, lift expectations, give them a glimpse of glory and then pull the rug out from under them before any lasting change is in place. For them, they would rather you not try than to promise something you can’t deliver. Hope is fragile in the city. Many ministry servants have made promises, many dreams have been dashed in the past. What the residents cannot stomach is another fly-by-night promise maker.
What is needed in urban ministry is a commitment to stick it out. A determination that through hell or high water this leader is planning to ride this through to the bitter end. You are committed to working through the frustrations, have the ability to overcome disappointment, settle for small wins and huge defeats. That you have the spiritual capacity to point hurting people to the only true source of strength, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. The work days will be long and the pathway ahead filled with potholes. And in the end, you may never get praise or a pat on the back for your efforts. On the contrary, people will most likely be suspicious of you and question your methods and your motives. Welcome to urban ministry. Are you ready to sign up? There is not a long waiting list of volunteers, the burbs are much more in demand.
Calling all courageous leaders with integrity!
In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose. – Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bits & Pieces, September 15, 1994, p. 4.
To borrow and alter a quote from my favorite leadership guru, Rev. John Maxwell, urban ministry rises and falls on leadership. The better the leader the greater the needs you will be tested to solve. As your competency level grows the demand will rise up to meet that growth.
As we bring this discussion to a close here are some qualities an urban leader needs to meet the opportunities before the ministry.
Spiritual Gift Awareness
Because the leader will be tempted to try and be all things to all people, it is imperative that the leader is able to discern his/her gifts for ministry. This is deeply rooted in the belief that each of us is uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit for ministry. Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
This helps define the areas where the individual might be best suited to lead in the church and focus on achieving the plan God has laid out for the ministry.
Passion
Spiritual gifts paired with the passion for ministry help provide the fuel leaders need to develop into high-impact leaders. Spiritual gifts without God-directed passion are simply gifts. When gifts are united with passion, people move toward their dreams of becoming impactful leaders.
Commitment
Once the gifting and passion for ministry are in place now comes the hard part, seeing the vision through. Tying this into the opening the leaders need to be willing and determined to commit to following the vision through to completion. This does not discount the possibilities that other commitments such as family, professional, or personal can prevent someone from staying until the mission is complete. What I am saying is that often we leave right before God’s blessings come from all the hard work that was laid before. Unless God clearly is moving on to a new challenge, give it your best. Your work in the Lord is not done in vain.
Other posts on Urban Ministry:
https://revheadpin.org/2017/06/13/how-we-deal-with-poverty-impacts-our-witness/
https://revheadpin.org/2017/06/06/urban-ministry-is-compassion-enough/
What Are The Characteristics of Leadership?
One of the more compelling speakers at the Global leadership conference was Carla Harris.
Over the next several posts I will share what she calls, Carla’s Pearls of Leadership. And it’s all in the letters of the word L.E.A.D.E.R.
Leaders need to leverage other relationships to be successful. – Carla Harris
You could read that quote and mistaken it for a selfish, “me first” approach to leadership, where you use people on your climb to the top.
L = Leverage
I view this from the shepherd’s heart. Our relationships are the key to life and ministry. If you view this from a biblical perspective it is centered on humility. The writer of Proverbs summarizes this well.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2
As a servant leader, you may not always have the best idea, nor the expertise but someone on your ministry team has access to the information. Using leverage means you seek help from those who have the God-given ability and knowledge to bless the greater kingdom goals. Your job as a leader is to create, encourage and release other leaders. “It’s not about the execution but about empowering other people. The more you give away, the more you create a powerful leverage.” Carla Harris
E = Efficiency
Even in the face of obscurity, you must still define what success looks like. – Carla Harris
“If you want to be a powerful, impactful and influential leader, you must be clear about what success looks like.” As a church, we struggle to define success. Talking that way seems unfaithful to the mission of God, yet God defines success. Churches get stuck when the goal is unclear.
Here are examples of God defining success.
And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’- 1 Samuel 15:18
And a more positive mission. God’s will for Christ Jesus.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53: 10-12
In ministry and life don’t be afraid to take chances. Chances are you will fail and when you do, celebrate the mistakes. A mistake can be as valuable as a success.
Is A Lack of Joy A Spiritual Warning Flag?
There is a sense in some circles that being joyful is not a part of the Christian life. The tension is between reverence of God and the joyful expression that others may see as drawing attention to oneself. I understand the delicate balance, but I also recognize that if what we do for the Lord does not give us joy and fulfillment how long can we survive the rigors of Christian service.
Is there a place for joy in Christian service?
George Bernard Shaw said, “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” – Jon Johnston, Courage – You Can Stand Strong in the Face of Fear, SP Publications, 1990, p. 171.
Take this journey with me. We will take this quote in sections because there is a wealth of wisdom contain it this paragraph.
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one…”
Joy is not something we can internally produce just like grace is not a natural concept to accept because both are birthed outside of our natural sinful human condition. Joy is almost infused in us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been called to carry out a great mission. To announce the reign of Jesus Christ to the world “…as you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 10:7
We are a people called for a divine purpose, to get the message out to those far from God. The heart of our message has the power to turn cold, unrepentant hearts, alive and ablaze with zeal for God. The good news is God has sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to announce the forgiveness of sins through His death and resurrection. Jesus confronts the world lost in sin, while also comforting that same world with his offer of forgiveness and everlasting life. Fellow travelers, you have the privilege to be ambassadors of reconciliation. How can this not enliven your heart and give you a reason for celebration? You have been set apart for a holy purpose and sent on a vital life-saving mission.
The alternative to embracing Joy.
“Christian joy is like that singing, yellow bird. One of the first effects of sin or doctrinal error is that we lose our joy in Christ. When your heart stops singing, that is a warning to watch your life and doctrine closely.”- Jim Johnstone
“…the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
Our other choice in life is to go around miserable and to complain about what a horrible lot life has afflicted upon us. The danger of doing ministry without allowing your joy to shine brightly is the witness it gives to a believing and unbelieving world. Who wants to journey with people who appear not to enjoy the ride? The love we have for God should overflow to people around us in our preaching, teaching, and service. That overflow is a joy.
The psalmist describes it this way, “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” Psalm 43:4. It is possible to lead with a quiet, reverent sense of awe at the wonders of God while also having a heart filled with exceeding joy over the love and grace of our Lord and Savior. Ministry is not about us, it is always about Jesus. Since ministry is about Jesus, understand the awesomeness of God while rejoicing in the joy of our salvation.
Repentance: Draws God Back to Us
In this four-week series on the church, we have covered three things that the church in Jerusalem did that was doing harm to the Bride of Christ. For a quick review.
Argumentative Spirit (James 4: 1–2a)
There was quarrelsomeness spirit dividing the church. People would church for the wrong reason. Each was seeking his or her own good instead of the good of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Prayerlessness (James 4: 2b–3)
“You don’t have because you don’t ask. 3 You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings.”
James’ people allowed prayer to become another thing that caused divisions and fights among the body of Christ. They were wanting the wrong things as they came to church. They were wanting their own desires gratified. God refused to grant their requests.
Worldliness (vv. 4–6)
4 You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So, whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
James points out that the church in Jerusalem was committing spiritual adultery. They claim to be joined with Christ, but we’re cheating on the groom with this love affair with the world.
It is never a good preaching or teaching practice to leave your people in despair. Once you lay out what is wrong, where their error when sin is crouching at the door, you must then lead people on a pathway to restoration. James creates such a path. In verses 7-11, he charts the course.
The Pathway Back (vv. 7-11)
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
What is the first step in this journey? The most difficult step, stop submitting to the devil and submit to God! Sounds simple. But that is the most difficult step. Sin is comfortable. Obedience isn’t, but James says we have power over Satan, if we will resist the devil, he will flee. Don’t just skip that section. We have the devil on the run. Not because of who we are but because of what Jesus has done.
Once we acknowledge we are not trapped by our sin, but more than overcomers, if we turn our attention to God, he will draw near to us.
What is preventing the repentance we need is a purification. Purification comes by drawing near to God through a process of cleaning up both our behavior (‘hands’) and our inner lives (‘hearts’). In Mark chapter seven Jesus teaches His disciples about what defiles us, the heart. If we are honest with ourselves many Christians find themselves with dirty hands and defiled hearts. We falsely assume we have struck a balance between being a Christ-follower and success in the world. Somehow, we have learned where others have failed to live in the world and think we can be completely unaffected by the world. Our hands are dirty. We are doing worldly things, things that are out of line with God’s will for our lives. We hang out in places in which should not be caught dead in, doing things we should not be caught doing. We say things they ought not to say and dismiss it as no big deal. Every one of these small acts of defiance makes our hands just a little bit dirtier.
The hands reflect what is in the heart. A. W. Pink observed that the hands and tongues are the shops, and the heart is the warehouse. To call people to cleanse their hands without also calling for them to purify their hearts is pointless.
Thus, we have James’ call to purify the heart. A call to cleanse the hands and mind is accomplished by washing away unbiblical thinking. Here is the tough part, this means we must stop making choices that are based on worldly values and to make our choices and decisions based on the Word of God. That is only done through faith. Christ creates the pathway through faith in His death and resurrection. Faith is the renewing of the mind, the new life in Christ is how we are clothed in righteousness.
Paul would point us to this verse for reflection and I will leave you with this to ponder. “Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. 2 Think about the things above and not things on earth.”(Col. 3:1-2).
God’s heart is to seek the lost (Ephesians 2:1-5). And bring back those who stray.
At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. 2 You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience. 3 At one time you were like those persons. All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else. 4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace!
Repentance is prompted by the Holy Spirit point us to our need for a Savior and turning or returning us to God. He even works repentance in spiritually dead people in conversion.
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