Integrity and Social Justice

There is much heat and perhaps not enough light being generated within the church at the moment, with passionate conversations around the Obama healthcare law and connected issues around freedom, the US constitution, and right versus left-wing world views. As the Pastor at Journey Church, I want to blog about some of the issues raised in various Facebook threads. It's important to step out of the intensity of some of these conversations/judgments and just think broadly and in a biblical, historically orthodox way about the issues of social care, individual and corporate response to need etc.

First it has been proposed that an individual needs to separate one's faith, social, political, scientific and even artistic thinking and acting. While I think I understand what the proposer meant, I gently disagree. Science, if done well, should indeed be free of any subjective influence - including worldview and faith assumptions. Of course 100% subjectivity in science is never practically possible, but it's a valid aim. Much of what passes for science in the popular media is sadly shaped by a 'secular humanism' faith/worldview that is so pervasive it is hardly noticed. But that's another blog post! As for every other category, I believe our God-view (theology if you will) should, must and inevitably does inform and shape every other sphere of the mind. Indeed to resist such shaping would be to detract from the integrity (one-ness) in which we live out faithfully our allegiance to Jesus Christ and His mission, vision and purpose.My art is informed by God - because art deeply expresses who I am - and that has been radically transformed by the Holy Spirit at my moment of initial salvation, and my ever-continuing sanctification.

My political views must be an extension of my new-creation identity - or else I am letting them be formed by some secondary identity. Now, let me quickly make clear that Christ-followers of good conscious come to very different conclusions about how to politically express the God-mission. That's OK and does not indicate an incongruity in the Body Of Christ (the church) because God chooses now (and always) to work through our humanity - in all its diversity. It does mean that I must engage with other Christ-followers (and secular people) in a spirit of mutual respect, restraint and good manners. After all, who am I, but someone given a second chance by Jesus? What right do I have to judge others? None! Therefore with humility and hesed loving-kindness, I will engage politically. For the record, I am a political independent. I will engage issue by issue as informed by my faith, rather than subscribe to any broad partisan systems of policy. That's just where I am. If you are a member of a political party - that's fine. As your pastor, I just want you to be fully convinced that your vote reflects Jesus' will for you and the resources and relations He is entrusting to you. Peace be ours.

Now, let me 'grasp the thorn' of so-called social justice and the social-gospel. These are not dirty words. They are beautiful words, because I am a Christ-followers who lives in a society. I am called to reconcile the world to Christ. My area of influence is my immediate society - including the people who read this blog. Of course I want justice for us all! God is just. I am called to be like God. God wants us all (society) to be like Him. So social justice is the aim of every Christ-follower. I am called to live in ways that focus on others as much as myself. ("Love they neighbor as thyself" - what else can it mean?). That means a socialistic impulse is expressive of a Godly worldview.

Church versus State: Some have fondly advanced the view that social justice is the role of the church not the State and that Christians have allowed this role to be delegated to the State, who do a poor job of it. Furthermore, some have even argued that social justice is not a goal of the church, but Christian Charity, as if somehow the two were effectively different. Maybe they have a point, but if they do, I think it may be predicated on a weak premise: that the State is influentially discrete from the church. I would say that one role of the church is to lovingly effect the culture around us with Christ, We are the 'aroma of Christ' - salt and light in a decayed and dark world. If the State has taken on the roles of social welfare and care, it is almost entirely so because the church has been phenomenally successful at influencing the State with Christ-like ethics. Hallelujah! We should rejoice at this, rather than fight against it!

Of course, the Gospel of Salvation and Sanctification (saving and discipling) is primary and social concerns are secondary. The social-gospel must never displace The Gospel. But also, The Gospel must never be an abstract truth, not expressed in lived-out lives that bless the world. John 3:16 tells us that God loves the world, and so must we - individually and collectively as the church and also as citizens in a republic. Even The Lord Jesus Christ cared for people's immediate needs as he shared the truth. Often before He shared the truth. Sometimes the only truth He shared was an act of social justice.

In essentials let there be unity. In non-essentials let there be liberty. Oh but so, so, so important - in all things let there be real Jesus-humble love.

The Church of the Nazarene is a wonderful denomination because:

1) It has just enough centralized oversight to be healthy. Our hard working General Superintendants (i.e. arch-bishops) and District Superintendants (i.e. bishops) are very inexpensive to fund and provide just the right level of government to keep us on track and away from errors experienced by dectralized and congregational church models. Yet also we avoid the heavy centralized, expensive government that can tend to corruption sluggishness seen in some episcopal and heirarchical church models. Nazarene get that balance just right.

2) We fully fund our wonderful missionaries. We have a modern, intelligent, culturally sensitive missions body that is a force for good around the world, working tighly to develop nationals to provide spiritual, educational, medical and infrastructural care and blessinbg. Yet our missionaries do not have to fund raise - we do that for them as a church. This model is rare, insightful and effective.

3) We have a brilliant metholodology of gradually allowing people to explore a call to rdained Christian ministry. The approach is graduated with local, district licensing and then ordination - a wide funnel. This is in stark contrast to other denominations that seem to demand instant full commitment when considering ordained Christian ministry.

4) Our commitment to education. nazarene run dozens of Universities and colleges around the world. May we never become an anti-intellectual fundamentalist church! We value the mind as well as the heart.

5) Our commitment to service - especially to the poorest and unenfranchized in society.

6) Our balanced view of gender: That we warmly embrace and uphold female believers in teaching, preaching, pastorates and leadership at the highest level. Truly we understand and live out the in-breaking value systenms of heaven, and a restored humanity!

7) Our tender, sensitive but firm line of rejecting from leadership in the church those in an ACTIVE gay lifestyle. While accepting and loving GLBT people as image bearers of God, and we do not follow the many crowds in recognizing an active gay lifestyle as normal or honoring of God. We applaud people who recognize themselves as being gay and who choose to live celebately - and gladly would welcome these people into leadership (just as we do for heterosexuals who reject sexual lifestyles that do not honor God). We live out a posture of brokenness and love towards the GLBT community and individuals - never falling into judgmentalism. We tenderly recognize this as an explosive and divisive area and approach our stance with intentional gentleness and authentic care. Few other denominations hold such a doctrinal position and such a Christ-like love for all people.

What a great part of the Christ's Church to worship and serve in!

Yesterday a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, epicentered just 10 miles from the capital, Port Au Prince, and with a depth of just 5 miles. Over 10 aftershocks registered magnitude 5.0. Devastation happened instantly.
1117GMT: Troy Livesay tweets:"Church groups are singing throughout the city all through the night in prayer. It is a beautiful sound in the middle of a horrible tragedy."
Now, more than ever, Haiti needs clean relaible water sources.
The Church of the Nazarene is a major presence for order, education and care in Haiti. Keep an eye on http://www.ncm.org/learn/disasterresponse/ as we respond. Pray for swift relief of those injured, grieving and materially needy.

2009 Top 5's

Here are my lists of some of my favorite things of 2009:

Top 5 Albums:

Paul Baloche - Glorious

U2 - No Line On The Horizon

Coldplay - Viva la Vida

Laura Story - Great God Who Saves

Brooke Fraser - Albertine

Top 5 Films:
Up!

Gran Torino

Slumdog Millionaire

The World's Fastest Indian

Avatar

Top 5 People:

Cindy Tanuma, Community Caregivers of Greater Derry - extraordinary carer

Linda Frost - extraordinary teacher (I am objective - I promise!)

Dick Hook - quiet, faithful servant heart

Cathy Bailey - most patient and gentle person

Lewis Hamilton - brilliant Formula One driver.

Top 5 Companies:

Infiniti of Nashua - great products, service and attentionto detail

Amazon.com - ditto

Panera Bread, South Willow Street, Manchester NH - ditto

Dunkin Donuts, Crossroads, Londonderry - ditto - always get my order right

Lycos.com - stillprovide great web site hosting inexpensively

My Top 5 Pastors of 2009:

Kim Richardson, Beverley MA Nazarene - selfless, honest.

Paul Berube, Grace Fellowship Nashua NH - visionary, always has time to stop and say hi.

Geoff DeFranca, Community Chapel, Nashua NH - a pastor's pastor: wise and kind

Bruce Southerland, Manchester Christian Church - transparent helper

David Pinckney, River of Grace, Chichester NH - for moral courage.

What I learn from my Cat

I wake up this morning thirsty, my mind racing with dozens of thinks I have to get done today, and already stressed by anxieties and guilty about things I haven't gotten done and several friendships that are very important to me that I need - want - to improve. I'm behind schedule on a few important projects, some of them now urgent. My body is so tense I feel like a wound up spring.

I swing my feet out of bed, it's 5 AM, dark. I usually wake at 5:30 so if I've woken early it's becuase my mind isn't sleeping. Even as I stand up and stretch, the Holy Spirit is calling me to my 'special place'. It's a battered old sofa on a little attic in my house where no one can see me - a hiding place. I keep two things there - a lamp and a large, easy to read Bible. I put on some clothes, and curl up and pray. I pray to God for all the things I think I want and hope for. I pray for my church, my children, my wife, myself, my friends, my projects, my family.

Then I confess to God that what I have just done is really to try to persuade Him to do all the things I want Him to do for me. I recognize that if I could, I would manipulate God to do my bidding. Next, I realize that I really can't even pray to God and be completely free of the need to try to get my own way. I confess this to Him. Now I'm praying more honesty. As I am doing this, my two cats come and nuzzle up with me. One of them just sits next to me, leaning on me. The other one is more needy this morning, sitting on my lap and pushing his head into me, provoking me to stroke him and scratch him between the ears - which I know he likes. It occurs to me that what I most need this morning is just what my cats need. They need me. They need my touch, my assurance, my presence. They need time with me. Just to be.

I stop my conversation 'at' God and ask if I could just have Him this morning. Even before this thought is forming in my mind, my back neck and stomach relax. I had hardly realized they were tensed, but now they are relaxed. I stop using words and just take time to be.

I stay there for maybe 5 minutes and sense a need to pray on my knees. I get on my knees and again I don't use words. I just open up my mind, my heart. It's quiet and dark still, but I don't even notice that. I get a sense that again I am trying to earn my way into God's approval. He reminds me there is no need. He's already seen right through that. Just be quiet Eddy, and be with me.

I tell God that I want Him, I want to want Him more than I do. And with purer motive. I want to obey Him and live a life centered on Jesus and surrounded by Him. I sense God would like that too. My cats are just sitting with me now, and we are all the better for it.

Now my day can begin. One task at a a time. No hurry, no hustle. It's a different day.

I read a little scripture and the words get through to me.

I start to pray for my friend again. This time I don't ask God for anything, but just recognize that God knows what I want for me and my friend. God gives me a sense that He is already on top of that situation and I can have peace about it. God reminds me that I already know what I ought to do - so I should just make time today to get that done.

Not everyday starts this way, but I'm glad this one has. I'll listen to my cats more often.

Driving through Rhode Island yesterday...

My car radio was tuned to 90.9 FM to pick up my favorite Boston NPR news station. Coming in from Connecticut somewhere was a student radio station on the same frequency, playing avant-garde indie rock. The band's name included an anatomically unmentionable body part.
As my road rose and fell, my radio alternated between the two stations and sometimes just gave me a confused signal of the two on top of each other.

It struck me that this was an analogy of the Christian life. The voices of the Holy Spirit broken up by and sometimes drowned out by the voices of our world - entertainment, endless sports, news, work...the avalanche of noise and information we are all immersed in.

How necessary, beautiful, restoring to turn the world's signal down a while and listen to the pure signals of Father. Of course Boston isn't heaven, and I wouldn't equate NPR to the Holy Spirit, but you get the idea.

The closer I got to Boston, the clearer my station came in...

3 little words, Part 1
I've been considering three little words that each convey to us the very character of God, tell us about ourselves, and are the bedrocks of both church, and the ultimate goal of God working in time/space. Pretty comprehensive huh? Well as you might imagine, for three such powerful God-words, they are in Hebrew.
Word number one is...macom. It's pronounced 'ma-comb'.
Macom is often translated into English as 'space' or 'hospitality'. As with all Hebrew words, it conveys a complex idea. This is hospitable space. This is what the powerful one does for the weak one in a relationship. They create a hospitable space for a relationship to happen. It doesn't take but a moment to see this is a word for grace, and indeed it is sometimes translated that way.
God , the one whom we frequently ignore, malign and blaspheme, He opens macom towards us. He come to us. He creates a hospitable space, and there He invites us into relationship. It is a self-giving, but not overwhelmingly so - for that would not be hospitable.
Rather, astonishingly, He creates space for us. For us. For us to misbehave in, for us to encounter Him, discover Him. He waits for us there. It is sheer utter graciousness. Macom. What a beautiful, powerful, wonderful idea.
Last, macom is a word for heaven too. Heaven is macom-space. Where God is filling, where we can grow in worship of Him, continually discovering Himself, and what it means to be made in His image, together, for ever and ever.

The church is heaven on earth. An instance of the in-breaking Kingdom of God on earth. Where the fabric of heaven is being formed in the here and now. Church is macom - a hospitable space where people - anyone - can come and encounter God. Christ will be in church. Because the church is Christ's body, we are Christ. And we open up macom and invite the world in, without pre-conditions, without expectations. Just a grace-space. May you dwell in macom, may you be a macom-creating person for the world around you to encounter the Christ within and through you.