Sharing A Bad Word In Church

 Hello Church,

Most people know me as someone who doesn't like to be in your face with religion.  In an attempt to be transparent, I am not always a fan of religion, per se.  I believe that sometimes religion can get in the way of living out the Christian Faith, ironically (a post for another day).  However, there comes a time when religion needs to just get a hold of us and shake things up in a more direct way.  The is called ....close your ears little ones..... 

evangelism  (gasp)

Over the years 'evangelism' has taken on negative connotation.  We have images of in-your-face Christians who somehow think they know what is best for you when you know they have no idea the kind of life you live.  It's a turnoff for sure.  It's one reason I didn't want to be a pastor.  

However, there are those moments.  Sometimes you just have to say the words, 'You need Jesus'.  'You need Jesus' or 'Do you know Jesus?' are a couple of phrases I have said over the years, but not often at all outside of a sermon.  Saying it in a sermon is easy for me because I assume that people are there to hear about Him.  But in a random conversation?  Too evangelical!

However, there have been moments.  Usually it comes when I am appalled with an attitude I see in a long-time church-goer.  Or I have said it in a half-joking way with someone who seems grumpy about their life (my wife have had numerous times to say it to me, but let's not encourage her).

Have you ever said, 'you need Jesus'?  Timing needs to be perfect and it needs to be said to the right person, but more direct methods of evangelism can work (i.e. standing on the corner of the street holding a Bible and shouting at people is not good timing, nor to the right person).  It can be done with someone with whom you have a healthy relationship with and who trusts you (i.e. not with someone with whom you are angry).  Good evangelism is done out of concern and care, not out of spite or frustration.

We are more used to the subtle approaches to evangelism, letting our church be seen through more casual community events, but not with too much pushiness.  This is because we know that a defensive person would never come visit us for worship.

But I invite you to look for that rare opportunity.  It might be passed off as a funny comment, but it might also plant a seed for future discussions.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Jesus Has A Dream

 Hello Church,

On this Martin Luther King Day, I am reminded of my personal desire for simple and decent equality.  The key word here, for this blog, is 'simple'.

It isn't a complicated matter.  Jesus was very obvious about unconditional love for all.  Though you might argue He didn't love the religious leaders all that much, He particularly focused on their behavior of treating others...well... unequally.

Unfortunately, today, it isn't a simple matter.  Combine the multiple layers of political agendas (i.e. pork barrel spending that turns a relatively simple bill into a 6,000 page document) with the national media who chooses to forego objective journalism and suddenly the simple concept of equality gets lost.  So what hope is there to get back to the simple matter of equality?

The Church

I'm a big fan of simple, straight forward sermons.  I'm also a fan of teachings that ignore all unspoken subtleties and undercurrents and hidden agendas.  It makes sense, then, that I'm a big fan of Jesus.

Theoretically, if the Church was in charge, we could get back to simple and decent.  It's only theoretical because the Church is made up of humans who tend to complicate matters (please read the 3rd paragraph again).  Even if we are able to scrape away multiple man-made agendas, the history of the Church isn't without it's pitfalls.

That said, authentic religious institutions who stick to Jesus can bring a purer and more straightforward approach to peace and justice and equality.  It takes strong leadership, for sure.... and an intentional desire to study Jesus and only Jesus.

So I don't believe it an accident that one of the biggest civil rights activists in our history was a leader of a church.  MLK, for sure, wasn't perfect.  History also uncovers his flaws.  However, that is the beauty of what we remember today because it was not MLK to whom we listened.  He was able to allow just enough of Jesus' agenda to be heard through his complicated and flawed life to bring a simple message to a complicated world.  

So be the Church.  Let enough of Jesus' simple agenda flow through your words and actions that it is what other people see and hear.  You'll have a much better chance to make someone's day much better.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Why I Choked Up In Worship Yesterday

 Hello Church,

I do have those moments when I cry.  It isn't often.  My kids can testify that they simply don't see me cry.  Truth is, in almost every moment, my rare times of tears come as I lead worship.

Yesterday was one of those days.  You can look it up on our podcast.  I don't really get proud or embarrassed by it.  I actually think I handle it okay when it happens.  I just stop talking for a few seconds and let the moment pass.  Then I continue.  Usually it only takes a few seconds.  Yesterday at the 9:00 service was different.

It came while reading the creed during the Congregational Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant.  I've read the creed a million times in my life.  It shouldn't have been such a hard thing to do.  But there are a couple of realities that smacked me in the face while I read it......

First, only I could ready it.  Normally, in that situation, we would be reading it together.  The reality of the pandemic and the protocols that were put in place discourages us from reading or singing together.  I think the idea of the congregation not getting the privilege to read it together as a Faith community saddened me more than I ever expected..... especially the creed... the one liturgy that explains the backbone of our Faith.  Stupid Covid.

Secondly, as we experience so much bitterness, anger and even hatred in our social and political world, it occurred to me that so many are trying to get through it without the Faith that the creed describes.  This is a foreign idea to me.  Without my Faith, I know I would be a much more hopeless and angry person.  If such people would just choose to embrace the Faith... even if it is another Faith... I believe it would ease our spirits and calm us down enough to do a better job of handling conflict.  And yet people, for some reason, conclude that the Christian Faith... any Faith... is somehow inconvenient or silly or detrimental or whatever.  This doubly saddens me.

The good news?  I got through it and read the creed.  And I'll get through stupid Covid.  And I'll get through the frustrations of our time.  Why?  Well.... read the creed and you'll understand.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

What's Up With The Attitude?

 Hello Church,

Most of Scripture isn't about what happens to you.  It is about how you respond to what happens to you.

For me, a new year brings an introspection of the old year.  To be clear, introspection is a look inward.  It is an examination of one's own feelings or thoughts.  It is an act of self awareness.  How do I think about how I felt?  How do I feel about what I thought?  How did I feel about what I did?

What about you?

The lack of introspection brings a lack of learning about one's self.  It's difficult to improve as a person if you don't evaluate how you have done in the past.  Yes, I know, 2020 was more than difficult than most years.  I am also the first to admit that I spent my share complaining (privately and publicly) about all that was happening around me.

But most of Scripture isn't about what happens to you.  It is about how you respond to what happens to you

We like to read about everything God did to us; for us; around us; with us; within us; in spite of us; etc.  However, large chunks of Holy Scripture describes how people responded to what was going on around them, whether events were caused by God or not.  

How did you respond in 2020?  How will you respond in 2021?

For me, 2021 is going to be an opportunity to better respond to events around me.... the way Scripture teaches:  empathy, compassion, grace, love and generally be more helpful.  Most of all, I want to do what Scripture describes the most about how people respond:  giving thanks to God.

I pray your introspection will bring you renewed intentions as you move into a new year.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe