Discipleship and the Christian Life – A peaceful and/or righteous life

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. . . . Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5: 6, 9)

Somewhere back a ways (the 28^th to be exact) we had Memorial Day. I did not say anything at the time because the verse and article topic at the time did not lend itself to the occasion. But here were are at May 31^st, and are presented with verses that would fit well into any Memorial Day meditation. So, what should we say first?

There are many reasons for going to war – one or two might even be legitimate. Maybe. But let us take up the focus in verse 6 first. The desire for righteousness is a strong and legitimate one. Wikipedia says of the word, “It is an attribute implies that a person’s actions are justified, and can have the connotation that the person has been “judged” or “reckoned” as leading a life that is pleasing to God.” When followed by a verse that blesses peacemakers, righteousness takes on the aspect of undertaking for those who have been assaulted and wounded by aggression, violence, and war. Is there any doubt that God wants peace? How than can a righteous person, who follows the teachings of God, give heed to Memorial Day?

That was the type of question that was asked of me when I was going through baptism class. I kind of “flunked” the question. It seemed to me at the time that there would be no harm in giving due and recognition to a memorial day (in Canada it was Remembrance Day in November which is Veterans Day in the US – Canada does not have a similar holiday in May). My pastor and my peers quickly “educated” me on the folly and error of my thinking. Then when I moved to the United States, and there was not just one but two holidays on this theme, it became obvious that churches had to, and did, find ways to re-make the day into more peace-based days.

So my thinking has evolved again; from being a “staunch Old Order Mennonite” who stood for peace absolutely to a “global” Mennonite who recognizes honor and commitment to a cause where it is found. Being “righteous” – that is doing what is good and honorable, and what affirms caring and compassionate for all people – is not confined to just non-resistant peace activists. We talk about “fighting” for a good cause even when we do not mean fisticuffs. While I may reject the means, I have to admit that the motive for many soldiers is to safeguard others.

So I guess where I come at at, gentle reader (and it has been a long-way-around trip) is that those who are righteous may not do “righteous” the way I do. If a person “hungers and thirst for righteous” risking their life to do so, how can I deny them honor and recognition? We praise those who put their own lives at risk for God’s shalom; who are we to judge their view of righteousness?

As I said, we are past Memorial Day for this year; but Veterans Day is still on the future pages of the calender. Perhaps by then we will have had more chances to look at this topic.

May you gentle reader look to our Lord as a guide to establish and affirm righteous, seeking to be keepers of peace where we find it, and makers of peace where there is none. Selah!

Church Order And Unity – Placing everyone in their proper order

“My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:20-24 )

Part of my job is shuffling and collating papers. I am, if I say so myself, quite good at it. Today I photocopied and then organized a considerable stack of papers according to names and dates. Around this time next week I will be hard at work shuffling, recording, and organizing another similar pile, and then combing those two piles into one massive pile. Data and totals from those pages will be entered into a spreadsheet and then that information will transferred to another set of pages. And then we start over next month doing the same thing.

Christ in his prayer above was also organizing and putting things into proper order. “[Y]ou are in me and I am in you. . . . . they also . . . in us . . . . I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity . . .” It is enough to get a professional paper shuffler and collator like me confused. Well, . . . may be not. That is, I get it.

Church order and unity may sometimes seem like it is trying to get everyone to think and do things the same way. But in reality it is more like trying to get the church as the body of Christ thinking and acting like Christ. It depends what your “ordering principle” is. That is, who decides what the proper order should look like. It is easy to say, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, of course! But who is it that interprets that?

When Christ was praying the above, he was not just praying for his disciples, but for ALL people who would come to believe. Christ’s prayer echoes down the ages to us, praying that you and I would be filled with Christ as Christ was filled with God. Are you allowing God to place you in the proper order? I hope and pray so gentle reader, as I also pray this for myself. Selah!

Ministry and Leadership: A Church “Salad”

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:1-13 )

One of the things I have come to appreciate in my adult years is a good salad. I used to think a good salad was one that just had lettuce – what I have come to learn is called “iceberg lettuce.” But a few years ago I became aware that other types of lettuce are very good also, such as butter lettuce, romaine, and radicchio. And carrots in salad are good, as are cucumbers, green peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and of course tomatoes. Mix all that up with some tasty salad dressing, and it is a meal fit for anyone. Add some croutons and it is perfect!

Well, ministry and leadership roles in the church are not that different from a salad. We all know you need “pastors” and “ministers” but there is such a wide variety that can attend to the needs of diverse groups and unique individuals you should not stop at just one or two. And the laity also contribute to the life of the church as well. I think the writer of Ephesians could have expanded the list if only he would have not confined himself to “traditional” roles.

That’s not to say that a traditional one-kind of lettuce salad is not good. And that having only one or two types of leadership roles does not make a good church. But leadership roles should not just be confined to the basics. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” is a large task, and the more people we have involved the better everyone is prepared. And consider that God’s people prepare God’s people! And this is the way the body of Christ is built up – each of us ministering one to another. We grow in faith and knowledge by being of service; in this way all people can attain “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Just as a good salad is not just lettuce, so too a good church has more than just traditional types of leaders and ministers. The Confession says, “The church calls, trains, and appoints gifted men and women to a variety of leadership ministries on its behalf.” It goes on to list some of the traditional roles – “These may include such offices as pastor, deacon, and elder as well as evangelists, missionaries, teachers, conference ministers, and overseers.” But I would encourage you gentle reader to think even beyond this list.

May you gentle reader include everyone who has interest and calling to serve in your faith community. May the Lord bless your “salad” of believers. Selah!

Discipline in the Church – when both sides are hurting

“If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.“  (2 Corinthians 2:5-8 )

The Confession says, “When this [a person causing themselves to be separated from the body of Christ] occurs, the church continues to pray for them and seeks to restore them to its fellowship.”

One of the things that surprises people about more conservative Mennonites is the use of the “ban” or “shunning” where/when a member of the congregation is considered to no longer be a part of the community – for it is a separation not only from the faith community but also no longer “recognizing” that person in any setting. It is severe and not done lightly. But I tell you gentle reader the person who is shunned is prayed for diligently and all hope and dream of the day when that person can be brought back into the community. The hope is always for a restoration.

There are stories and anecdotes of situations when a shunning has taken place. And the use of it in some literature concerning the Amish has not done anyone any favors. Usually, as fictional story telling goes, there is a “hero” or “heroine” who is standing for right, or unjustly condemned, or whatever the plot line needs to carry the story with interest. This person may or may not be the one who is shunned. And the reason for the shunning may be completely appropriate or highly inappropriate, or again, whatever propels the story line. I urge you gentle reader not to let those kind of things influence your perception. In our contemporary society we do much worse to those who we see as “outside” of our group.

Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, urges his readers not to keep the person in question isolate and thereby increase his/her sorrow, but to find ways to welcome that person back into the circle of faith. Just as you might place a child in “timeout”, that time away is to end – and the lesson learned – to be brought back into the family circle. I am afraid, gentle readers, that some strict circles of faith have not shown the compassion that Paul advocates.

I hope you have taken seriously the title I use; there is pain on both sides when a member of the faith community is set apart. We desired unity, to be together and not segmented. Just recently in our denominational magazine there have been articles and letters about the division when the Mennonite Church. Every faith group, I think, struggles to keep harmony and cohesiveness.

May you gentle reader seek not to find divisions amongst you, but ways to celebrate and promote peaceful unity. But as the need arises, I would pray that you use judiciously, carefully, and prayerfully the “timeouts” that are needed. Selah!

The Lord’s Supper – One Loaf, Many Mouths

“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” (1 Corinthians 10:17 )

I have often wondered about the bread that is used for Communion. The women (and in my childhood they were women) who baked the Communion bread seemed to be especially sanctified, although in the church of my childhood I could not tell you who they were. But just the idea or image of them seemed to be of women who were “the handmaidens of God.” In reality they were probably just women who knew how to bake good bread.

Another thing I just realized – for the large church that we were, there must have been multiple loaves of bread. Which sort of argues against the idea of one loaf. But the figurative is still there. If the “one loaf” is the body of Christ, then there is only one. The Confession says, “As we partake of the communion of the bread and cup, the gathered body of believers shares in the body and blood of Christ.”

Mennonites are very big on the symbolism found in the Lord’s Supper. We believe the bread is the symbol for Christ’s actual body – that is, we do not eat his body, but eat of the symbol of his body that was first done at the Last Supper with Jesus’ disciples. As we eat the bread, and drink the cup, we remember what Christ did for us with his physical body. And we pledge ourselves to follow in his footsteps giving of ourselves for our fellow believers, and for those who do not believe yet.

The “many mouths” part comes in when we accept any and everyone for Communion that professes faith in God. And that anyone can offer us the elements of Communion, because all of us are fellow believers together.

As far as my memory tells me, the loaves used in the Communions of my childhood all looked the same. This too adds to the metaphor of one loaf. It was not pumpernickel one year, wheat the next and sourdough the year after that. In the same way Christ and the way of Christ is the same – one loaf for all believers.

May you gentle reader join with your fellow believers in commemorating and celebrating the Lord’s Supper, taking from a common loaf that expresses that belief in the One and Only Lord God. Selah!

Baptism: Holy Laundry

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7 ) [Emphasis mine]

For some, in generations past, Monday was wash day. When I looked “Monday wash day” in the Google search, I found a very vivid description of what that was like before inventions of convenience, like running water. I remember growing up Saturday was wash day, and also grocery shopping day. When I was older, in my teens, we had a washer and dryer in the house, and so any day could be wash day. But still, Saturday evening found clean clothes hanging up in closets and clothes that needed to hang to dry hung up on the shower rod. I continued that tradition when I married and started my family.

In the days my children were small, doing the laundry was a very soothing chore – when I had the time to take my time. After the washer was started, I would just stand there and watch the clothes swish around. The washer made a soothing “glug-glug” sound and I used to pretend that the washer was washing all my cares away. Stains would disappear, and when once washed, my washer would add softener that would put a sweet delicate smell in the clothes. And the dryer would change wet, heavy, unwieldy items into light fluffy clothes that practical folded themselves and waltzed into drawers.

There was something very satisfying, yet tiring, getting the laundry done and having fresh clean clothes for church. And yes, there is a good analogy there of having/wearing clean clothes for church where we would be cleansed spiritually. I would make more of that, except that cleaning one’s spirit should not be confined to just one day a week.

In our household now laundry is likely to be done at any given time during the week – we wash when it is needed. I think I like that better as a spiritual concept. Many times getting laundry done is done in a rush because there are a hundred other chores to be done. But sometimes I have the time to take my time and wash clothes. And pretend that all my cares are being rinsed away.

Jesus rose from the day Sunday morning, having “cleansed” the world from its sins. However, he accomplished that by Friday night. And “rested” on Saturday knowing that he had completed the task of washing away sin. I like to think he was content, resting in the Spirit.

May you gentle reader allow the Lord to wash away your sins and cares, softening your life and turning wet despair into fluffy joy. Selah!

The Church In Mission: Being the salt in the world

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 13-16 )

The Confession says, “The church is called to witness to the reign of Christ by embodying Jesus’ way in its own life and patterning itself after the reign of God. Thus it shows the world a sample of life under the lordship of Christ. By its life, the church is to be a city on a hill, a light to the nations.” I notice though that it does not pick up on the metaphor of salt. And I have to wonder why not?

I can think of several reasons why light is emphasized over salt. First, it is easy to understand letting your light shine. Second, the idea of being “tossed aside” if you can not be useful might be hard to accept. Third, salt is food, and the only food we really make use of theologically and spiritually is bread, and wine. But I want to make a strong case for incorporating salt into spirituality.

First, salt does things and activates things. You can put salt on ice, and it will melt. Or you can add salt to ice, and put into a second container sugar, milk, and flavoring to create something wondrous. Salt in the proper amount is essential to live. Salt added carefully to certain foods can bring them to “life,” In the improper quantities can be very dangerous. Salt can also have a sanitizing effect – I looked it up, and as I thought salt is a component of bleach.

Now imagine that love is like salt in our lives. You add love to a difficult situation and where there was dissension now there is accord. Or add love to an already good relationship, and it gets better. Love is essential to love, but too much love or the wrong type of love – that is obsession or possessiveness – is not healthy. But pure love, as in God’s love, cleans everything. Finally, consider that we get involved in mission, gentle reader, because of love. And without love in our lives, we are useless.

May you gentle reader sprinkle your life and the lives of those around you with the salt that comes from our Lord. Selah!

The Church of Jesus Christ: A joyful, patient, and faithful community

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12: 11-13)

I have never attended church halfheartedly – at not since I have been an adult. For the “requisite” amount of time by adolescent rebellion I declined to go to church, but other than that my church attendance has been with enthusiasm. There have been periods in my life when I have not been able to attend church, but never has my appreciation for church dimmed.

Whether by happenstance or deliberate church, I seem to move quickly from a “pew-sitter” to being involved in some sort of organization or facet of the church. One task that I have done at several churches is contribute to the church publications. As I write this I am remembering that at one church I wrote a series on the weeks leading up to Easter – or was it Christmas? At two others I had an ongoing column in the church newsletters. (This is what gave me the courage to propose myself as a columnist on Third Way Cafe, and led to this blog.) Another task at two of the churches I have attended was designing the visual displays at the front of the church. At two churches I taught an Adult Sunday School class and at one of those also a children’s church time class. At another I was a frequent worship leader and worship planner. As a young parent I also did my time in the children’s nursery of two churches. And I have served on numerous committees.

I have had times of great zeal and felt a level of spiritual fervor that spurred me on to serve the Lord and my fellow believers. I have felt and encouraged hope, struggled through my own afflictions and supported others as they have felt their own, and have prayed both for and with my fellow believers. And in all things, I have shared what I have to give.

It seems to me these three words – joyful, patient, and faithful – describe perfectly what the church of Jesus Christ should be like. Not everything will be joyful, and you need to be patient as things work themselves out. But if you are patient and faithful, the joy will come and in unexpected ways. And the memory of that joy will carry you and your fellow believers through those times of affliction, and help you be patient.

Never be lacking in zeal, gentle reader. Be excited for the church and the people you worship with. While I was growing up, I was fortunate to grow up in a church that had deep roots in the community, and to live close by those who went to the same church I did. There is a special blessing to go to school and play with those you also sit with at church. For a child it is a reminder that faith is not just for Sundays, but for every day of the week too.

May you gentle reader know the blessing of being in close community with your fellow believers. I wish you joy, patience, and faithfulness each day. Selah!

What Does It Mean To Be Saved?

[A story about a change in perspective]

“Some men came, bringing to [Jesus] a paralytic, carried by four of them…. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’” (Mark 2: 3-9)

[I do not think, gentle reader, there has been much thought given to what the paralytic might have experienced. Using my understanding of physiology and coming to spirituality, I have tried to write about the experience. May you have an ever awakening experience with Christ. Selah!]

The room was crowded. And I am sure it was hot inside, because the smell of hot bodies was drifting out every door and window. Through these same doors and windows I saw legs, backs, and arms pushing and swaying. I only saw brief glimpses as we circled the house several times. I started to feel dizzy, but thankfully we stopped. I opened and closed my eyes several times trying to clear my vision.

Then the view changed and I saw a wall, and the corner of house. I felt myself being lifted up and up. The night sky became visible and I could make out faint stars. I felt cool air on my face, although I could feel the heat of what must have been 50 people underneath me. I heard the sound of branches and plaster being dropped beside me, and some of the dust settled on me. I looked over to one side, and saw I was near the edge, so I quickly closed my eyes again. I sensed movement all around me. And again I felt myself lifted slightly. But what came next astonished me.

I felt myself slowing dropping, almost dropping in measured sensations. I felt heat all around me. First there was the noise of what seemed like a hundred conversation; and then eerie silence. I opened my eyes slowly, and saw a roomful of eyes all looking at me. Looking up I saw my so called friends looking down at me and waving.

I would have closed my eyes and wished them all away. But one set of eyes held mine, and suddenly I did not want to look away. Those eyes devoured me, eating away my soul and spirit until there was nothing left. But still the eyes bore into me. And I felt myself falling into those eyes until they were like two large orbs that filled the sky.

Then in a split second the hundred conversations started again, and a hundred more were added. But strangely now all the eyes had turned away from me, and I felt alone. I remembered those eyes, and I closed my eyes remembering how they seemed to contain everything that was lacking in my life. I started to cry, and I felt the tears rolling down my face. I could do nothing to stop them.

Then a voice above all the other voices cut through the noise and there was silence again. In that silence I heard only one word – “Walk.” Around that word a multitude of images danced across my mind; arms, legs, feet of all shapes, sizes and colors. And again the word came, “Walk.” And my left big toe twitched. In the instant before that I could not have told you if I had a toe, big or little, nor how I could have known if it could twitch. While I was considering my big toe, I heard two other words – “Get up.” And with those words I felt a shiver down my back. I gasped, and in gasping my back arched back, which pushed my shoulders backwards. And my arms which had never left my side in a million lifetimes were pressed against the ground beside me.

My eyes opened, and I saw again those eyes. But they no longer devoured me, but pulled me towards them. I pushed against the ground with my arms and hands, not knowing how I was doing this. All I knew was that I must get closer to those eyes. Around those eyes a face evolved with nose, forehead, cheeks and mouth. The mouth opened and closed, and I heard those words, “Get up . . . walk.” I pushed harder and felt myself bend in the middle – I did not know I had a middle, but there it was. And there too was my twitching toe, now both left and right, and feet that seemed to wiggle. And a distance above those feet were knees that were also twitching. I could not see above the knees because a cloak stretched out to meet them. But since the cloak was also wiggling, there must be something underneath.

This same voice spoke again, and instead of words there was a sentence; “Get up, take your mat, and walk.” My vision blurred for an instant, and then cleared. Before me was a man whose eyes were those same eyes. And he smiled at me. It was like I was awaking from a dream. A world that had been flat and long now had shapes and dimensions. I remembered this world; I knew this world! Somehow, somewhere I had lost it. But now it was found. And it was more precious to me than ever before. And I knew deep within me that I would never do anything that would keep me away from this world again.

My hands reached out to grasp this man’s hands. My knees bent, then straightened out. My toes no longer twitched but seemed to grasp the ground beneath them. I felt my cloak sway around my knees, thighs, and hips. I looked behind me, and saw a torn and dingy mat. It did not look like it was worth anything, but I decided to take it with me. It would not be right to make someone else dispose of it.

I heard a noise above me. I looked up, and their were my friends, my faithful companions. I waved at them, and then waved the mat at them. They cheered, and called down that they would meet me outside.

I turned to the man whose eyes had called me. “Thank you” I said, “with all my heart and soul. I feel like I had taken a wrong turn, but I think I am on a better path now. But, who are you?” The man replied, “Your friends can tell you about me. I would like to hear how you are doing.” “Certainly,” I said, “I would like to come back sometime soon. I have a feeling I should talk to you some more.” The man nodded, and I walked outside to meet my friends.

Ahem . . . .

I suppose those of you who have been visiting this site for a while have noticed it has a different look. I was just browsing around (actually for another blog that I have started) and saw this theme. I could not resist it, and as WordPress made it easy to switch to I thought “why not?” If you think of a reason, please let me know. And if you encounter any problems with this new theme, please let me know.  Otherwise just sit back and enjoy the new visual. I promise you the content has not changed.

As to my other blog, I am still working out some of the details. It is called “Pondering From the Pacific”. Once I am more sure of what it will look like, I can reference a link. Shalom!