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The New Normal of Christianity

April 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Can you remember back long enough to recall Detroit being king of industry, or Pittsburgh being the home of steel? Things change, don’t they? A year or so ago Dr. Gary Maxey, a member of Mount Pisgah UMC here in Atlanta, shared with me a study he was working on in terms of the impending global shift of Christianity.

Dr. Maxey, founder and then President of West Africa Theological Seminary, shared telling research that revealed that the migration of the heart of Christianity was en route to new central hubs, China and West Africa.

Christian Europe, once the bastion of the faith, was becoming increasingly more secular and North America was beginning to show signs along the same trend. According to a study just released referenced by Dr. Bill Bouknight in the latest Confessing Movement Happenings epage, (Research Corporation for Science Advancement shared at the American Physical Society Meeting in Dallas), this global shift in Christianity is gaining momentum and making Dr. Maxey an excellent prophet.

According to Bouknight’s article Christianity is dying in Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Switzerland. This past Sunday more Anglicans attended church in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda than did Anglicans in all of Canada, Britain, and and Episcopalians in the United States combined. More Christians church attended worship in China (who had no churches in 1970) than in all of Christian Europe combined. And there were more Roman Catholics in worship in the Philippines that in any single Roman Catholic country in Europe including Italy or Spain. Wow!

So where is America in all this? Better yet where are we in all this? The move of God cannot be stopped and I praise God for His move in Africa and China, but at the same time I beseech God for a wake up call for America and Europe.

What can we do? Praise God that at Mount Pisgah we are on the upswing with God and are seeing great and marvelous transformation by the Holy Spirit. We can also simply live the Christian faith out in the family, workplace, and community we are in and be disciples of Jesus who are making disciples of Jesus. Bottom line, Christianity has always been a generational model and we need to live in that responsibility. God bless you today with joy in living out your faith in Christ in service and generosity!

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Unlearning

April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

So it’s all cool, right? I’m up like super early, 5 am, and it is just me and God. Got a real desire to live the life God intends so I think today I am just gonna be quiet to God speaks. Before I pray, before I read the Bible, before I read Chan or Batterson, or whoever’s got the next hot topic. Just me and God. It was beautiful.

In a few minutes God speaks right into my mind, “So, you think I am trying to teach you something?”. Eureka! Right to the heart of the matter. My non-verbal batter gushed forth from my mind to God’s ears, “Precisely, isn’t that what you are trying to do in all this? Aren’t you trying to teach me something?” (Long pregnant pause) “Nope”…God’s response is no, that is not it, and actually that is not at all it!

So what is the deal? “Actually, I am inviting you to unlearn the way you have learned how to navigate life without total dependence on me.”  Speechless is a good way to describe me at this point…God’s grace and love is so HUGE! To think the God of all creation and eternity has come to meet with me to share this pearl of great price early in the day in Johns Creek, GA!

The wheels of my mind are turning warp speed and then my gray matter offers, “you want me to unlearn?”   God responds, “Yep”. So, I guess I am back at mile marker 1 but never been more excited! My mind, will and emotions are now in touch with the spirit of God that is beckoning me to intimate obedience. It’s not a call to abandon my faith, it’s a call to abandon myself into the hands of Abba who loves Steve, forgives Steve, redeems Steve, empowers Steve, and wants far better for Steve than Steve can ever think or orchestrate. I love this journey! Join me. Christi is Risen, Christ is risen indeed!

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God’s Feeding Program

April 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I am inspired by Jesus post resurrection fishing expedition with Peter and the boys. A pretty good day as they loaded the boat with 153 fish. No definitive word on if they were St. Peter’s fish but it mattered not. It was a very good day! The encounter contained a final missional commandment that we would do well to embrace.
John 21:10-19
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” NIV

As I study this passage I am struck by the intentional redundancy of Jesus’ parting command to Peter. This was the sum total of Jesus investment in Peter including giving his life as a ransom for Peter, you, and me.

One command spoken three different ways is unique to Jesus’ teachings: Feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, and feed my sheep. Understanding before that Jesus had proclaimed that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God surely Peter got it. Give the little ones (lambs) the Word. Take care (serve, nurture, care for, protect) the flock and make sure they don’t suffer from God inspired nourishment. We also remember, though vaguely, about the Bible speaking to the peril of  sheep without a shepherd. These are the greatest days of our lives, let’s live them well, let’s live them in a specific purpose for God.

Oswald Chambers asked himself repeatedly, “have I totally surrendered my life to God to do with as He pleases?” I suspect this was the very message that Jesus was sending Peter. Never disowned by the Father though he did indeed deny Christ three times, Peter embodies the hope for us today. Live in the moment, live for God, and live out the purpose and command God has gifted you for in Christ Jesus.

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