It's often in the brokenness, and in the desert places that growth and new life are born. Christ came to suffer and die; we are called to follow him. Sometimes it's in the suffering, and the many deaths we experience, that we find our true life. "Unless a seed falls to the ground ...". As counter-cultural as it is, especially among Christians, embracing the tragedy of life can be the best way forward.
Thanks so much for posting this! It's a good reminder of the key value of lament. Let's not neglect this important component of our faith. Thanks again.
I think you are absolutely right. Pastors (and church leaders and all of us) need safe spaces where we can go to share our struggles - to find help and healing and grace in the midst of the struggle. We have to remember that we are in spiritual warfare - of course there are going to be struggles, there will be wounded soldiers. The battle can't be avoided, but maybe we can avoid some of the casualties. I remember a conversation with a distraught pastor, who was grieving the fall of a beloved colleague who was now facing jail time for serious criminal sexual behavior. He asked, where could this pastor have gone, before it got to this point? Where could he have found help before it reached this level? Such a good question! And I had no answer. We could only grieve together.
I agree wholeheartedly with these good reasons why deacons are needed at classis and synod gatherings. It's a much better and more fruitful meeting when the deacons are there. THANK YOU deacons for serving in this way - we need you.
This is good Mark, I'll look forward to your other posts. Such a valuable learnings for all of us: ministering the very presence and grace of God, seeing suffering as our preparation for ministry, and seeing our own weakness as God's strength. Thank you.
Jesus refused political power, walking away from those who wanted to make him king. Yet he talked a lot about loving our neighbor, the second greatest commandment next to loving God. We must make the effort to contextualize and understand what it means to love God and love our neighbor in our own context. That's how we follow Christ. Thanks are due to OSJ for helping us do that. Please, let's not sink this important discussion down to the level of partisan politics, it's far too important.
Sure, I can think of lots of examples. There have been several times over the years where I've gathered a group of people from my church (or students when I used to be on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) to participate with me in an activity related to a something that affects us. For example, there is a march and a vigil every year during Sexual Assault Awareness month in April (Take back the night) and there is one also in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's a good opportunity for all people to listen to the voices of those who have had these experiences, to learn from them, to stand with them and to show support by opposing the violence. It especially makes sense for Christians to be there because we believe that each person is created in the image of God.
Other examples are service projects or spiritual retreats that welcome participation from all Christians. We put our desire to love God and love our neighbors above our other differences. I've served on the board of an organization that assisted homeless women and children, and we certainly didn't all agree politically, but we came together for this common purpose. It's a beautiful thing. I'm very thankful that my church has people who are very conservative and others who are not; it has both democrats and republicans and we all worship together on Sunday. That's what church is supposed to look like. We are members of one body (body members do not all look alike, nor do they think alike)
Franklin's father met with presidents, both democrat and republican. He did not endorse a political candidate nor a political party. That's the difference. As Christ followers, I believe we are called to focus on the biblical principles of love, justice, mercy, etc. and understand that those principles have expression in both political parties. And we must call out injustice wherever it occurs. It's not partisan, and it's not about one party maintaining political power. In other words, following Christ, and his Word takes precedence. Franklin, I believe, has chosen a different path.
I have found spiritual direction invaluable in my life. Not sure I would have survived without it at certain points, or at least would not be in the same place I am now. A spiritual director will help you see God's presence in places where you haven't seen it before, and can help frame or form your own questions and conversations with God. So thankful for good spiritual directors, and would encourage anyone who is serious about going deeper in their relationship with God, and with yourself to try it. I think you'll like it.
I once took my 3-year old son to a vacation Bible school at a church in the neighborhood. The woman who ran the program welcomed me and shared with me her mission, as she saw it, and I never forgot it. She said, "Our goal is to love these children right into the kingdom of God." What a great mission that is!
Thank you, Eric, for your affirmation of this story. Many people I know who have suffered sexual abuse, and have walked for awhile on the extremely difficult road toward healing, are the strongest, most grace-filled people I know. Our God is an amazing, redeeming God! The question that arises in my mind is this: How can we, in our churches, cooperate with God's healing work? What do those who have suffered abuse find in our church communities? How can we, as the Church come alongside? How can we create safe spaces, giving opportunity for God's transforming work among us?
Thank you Trudy. "As long as the church sees sexual abuse as only personal sin and not also as a prosecutable crime, the church will never be seen as the house of a just God...Christ proves it: Grace never negates consequences. Forgiveness still requires justice." Words from Ann Voskamp.
Yes, thanks are due to the courageous survivors, who were able to finally be heard. And thanks are due to the judge, who allowed their voices to be heard in her courtroom. And thanks are due to our justice system, as imperfect as it is, which will keep Dr. Nasser from perpetrating further harm. We must be careful however not to make Dr. Nasser out to be a monster. I go to church in E. Lansing, literally across the street from the campus of Michigan State University (MSU). MSU is my alma mater, the place I worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for many years and then went back to school for a master's degree. Last Sunday at church, between services, I happened to talk with 3 people who knew Dr. Larry Nasser. One was a patient of his, who spoke about how much she liked him. One was a colleague, who remembered working with him. One sent a daughter, a middle-school student athlete, to him for treatment. All of them were very troubled by what was happening, because they had good experiences with Dr. Nasser. He was loved, appreciated, and did many good things for many people. That's another aspect of what makes these findings so, so devastating, the ripple effects reach far and wide. The entire MSU community, and far beyond that has been affected. And yet, we must not demonize Dr. Nasser, for in the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” All of us stand before God only by the grace he has given, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And no one is outside God's long reach of grace. It's what makes us free to acknowledge the truth, even ugly truths, about ourselves and about others.
Posted in: Singing Broken Hallelujahs
It's often in the brokenness, and in the desert places that growth and new life are born. Christ came to suffer and die; we are called to follow him. Sometimes it's in the suffering, and the many deaths we experience, that we find our true life. "Unless a seed falls to the ground ...". As counter-cultural as it is, especially among Christians, embracing the tragedy of life can be the best way forward.
Thanks so much for posting this! It's a good reminder of the key value of lament. Let's not neglect this important component of our faith. Thanks again.
Posted in: What Lessons Can We Learn from What’s Happened at Willow Creek?
I think you are absolutely right. Pastors (and church leaders and all of us) need safe spaces where we can go to share our struggles - to find help and healing and grace in the midst of the struggle. We have to remember that we are in spiritual warfare - of course there are going to be struggles, there will be wounded soldiers. The battle can't be avoided, but maybe we can avoid some of the casualties. I remember a conversation with a distraught pastor, who was grieving the fall of a beloved colleague who was now facing jail time for serious criminal sexual behavior. He asked, where could this pastor have gone, before it got to this point? Where could he have found help before it reached this level? Such a good question! And I had no answer. We could only grieve together.
Posted in: Deacons at Classis & Synod: Why It’s Not Just “Another” Meeting
I agree wholeheartedly with these good reasons why deacons are needed at classis and synod gatherings. It's a much better and more fruitful meeting when the deacons are there. THANK YOU deacons for serving in this way - we need you.
Posted in: The Drawing of Jesus Hides a Big Stain
This is good Mark, I'll look forward to your other posts. Such a valuable learnings for all of us: ministering the very presence and grace of God, seeing suffering as our preparation for ministry, and seeing our own weakness as God's strength. Thank you.
Posted in: Franklin Graham as a Model on Clergy Involvement in Politics
Jesus refused political power, walking away from those who wanted to make him king. Yet he talked a lot about loving our neighbor, the second greatest commandment next to loving God. We must make the effort to contextualize and understand what it means to love God and love our neighbor in our own context. That's how we follow Christ. Thanks are due to OSJ for helping us do that. Please, let's not sink this important discussion down to the level of partisan politics, it's far too important.
Posted in: Franklin Graham as a Model on Clergy Involvement in Politics
Sure, I can think of lots of examples. There have been several times over the years where I've gathered a group of people from my church (or students when I used to be on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) to participate with me in an activity related to a something that affects us. For example, there is a march and a vigil every year during Sexual Assault Awareness month in April (Take back the night) and there is one also in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's a good opportunity for all people to listen to the voices of those who have had these experiences, to learn from them, to stand with them and to show support by opposing the violence. It especially makes sense for Christians to be there because we believe that each person is created in the image of God.
Other examples are service projects or spiritual retreats that welcome participation from all Christians. We put our desire to love God and love our neighbors above our other differences. I've served on the board of an organization that assisted homeless women and children, and we certainly didn't all agree politically, but we came together for this common purpose. It's a beautiful thing. I'm very thankful that my church has people who are very conservative and others who are not; it has both democrats and republicans and we all worship together on Sunday. That's what church is supposed to look like. We are members of one body (body members do not all look alike, nor do they think alike)
Posted in: Franklin Graham as a Model on Clergy Involvement in Politics
Franklin's father met with presidents, both democrat and republican. He did not endorse a political candidate nor a political party. That's the difference. As Christ followers, I believe we are called to focus on the biblical principles of love, justice, mercy, etc. and understand that those principles have expression in both political parties. And we must call out injustice wherever it occurs. It's not partisan, and it's not about one party maintaining political power. In other words, following Christ, and his Word takes precedence. Franklin, I believe, has chosen a different path.
Posted in: And Then He Said, 'When Will You See a Spiritual Director?'
I have found spiritual direction invaluable in my life. Not sure I would have survived without it at certain points, or at least would not be in the same place I am now. A spiritual director will help you see God's presence in places where you haven't seen it before, and can help frame or form your own questions and conversations with God. So thankful for good spiritual directors, and would encourage anyone who is serious about going deeper in their relationship with God, and with yourself to try it. I think you'll like it.
Posted in: Immersed in God's Love (A Short Theology of Nursery)
I once took my 3-year old son to a vacation Bible school at a church in the neighborhood. The woman who ran the program welcomed me and shared with me her mission, as she saw it, and I never forgot it. She said, "Our goal is to love these children right into the kingdom of God." What a great mission that is!
Posted in: Justice, Grace, and Worth: Rachael Denhollander's Victim Impact Statement
Thank you, Eric, for your affirmation of this story. Many people I know who have suffered sexual abuse, and have walked for awhile on the extremely difficult road toward healing, are the strongest, most grace-filled people I know. Our God is an amazing, redeeming God! The question that arises in my mind is this: How can we, in our churches, cooperate with God's healing work? What do those who have suffered abuse find in our church communities? How can we, as the Church come alongside? How can we create safe spaces, giving opportunity for God's transforming work among us?
Posted in: Justice, Grace, and Worth: Rachael Denhollander's Victim Impact Statement
Thank you Trudy. "As long as the church sees sexual abuse as only personal sin and not also as a prosecutable crime, the church will never be seen as the house of a just God...Christ proves it: Grace never negates consequences. Forgiveness still requires justice." Words from Ann Voskamp.
Posted in: Justice, Grace, and Worth: Rachael Denhollander's Victim Impact Statement
Yes, thanks are due to the courageous survivors, who were able to finally be heard. And thanks are due to the judge, who allowed their voices to be heard in her courtroom. And thanks are due to our justice system, as imperfect as it is, which will keep Dr. Nasser from perpetrating further harm. We must be careful however not to make Dr. Nasser out to be a monster. I go to church in E. Lansing, literally across the street from the campus of Michigan State University (MSU). MSU is my alma mater, the place I worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for many years and then went back to school for a master's degree. Last Sunday at church, between services, I happened to talk with 3 people who knew Dr. Larry Nasser. One was a patient of his, who spoke about how much she liked him. One was a colleague, who remembered working with him. One sent a daughter, a middle-school student athlete, to him for treatment. All of them were very troubled by what was happening, because they had good experiences with Dr. Nasser. He was loved, appreciated, and did many good things for many people. That's another aspect of what makes these findings so, so devastating, the ripple effects reach far and wide. The entire MSU community, and far beyond that has been affected. And yet, we must not demonize Dr. Nasser, for in the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” All of us stand before God only by the grace he has given, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And no one is outside God's long reach of grace. It's what makes us free to acknowledge the truth, even ugly truths, about ourselves and about others.