The Going Is Good

Sep 6, 2012 | ,

Here’s a pattern in the Bible. It happens over and over again.

Life is rough. God intercedes. Life is good.

Yes, it’s a simplification, but it’s there.

But then life gets rough again. People die. Invaders overtake the land. People are expelled. People end up living in slavery.

Then God intercedes and life is good.

But then everything falls apart again after a while. Wash, rinse, repeat.

What seems to be happening in these cases is, that when life is good, people think they can do it for themselves. They forget about God and make up their own rules as they go. Eventually things get so bad something breaks and there’s a sudden, great spiritual revival and people are all going to church and following God’s plan.

When I look at this pattern, I think of the state of the church and society today.

Here’s what I think.

We’re still on the way down.

The going is good so we don’t need God.

I believe we are on the verge of a great spiritual revival of Biblical proportions. God is putting people in places, He’s preparing things, getting ready. Only, things aren’t bad enough yet. We’re probably getting close, but not quite close enough.

It’s sad, but true.

When we look at the Bible, things get really bad before the masses begin crying out to God for help and returning to Him.

We aren’t there yet. We are well on our way to making our own rules, we’ve been doing it for decades. The man-made structures of governance and accountability are showing cracks under the stress. Sin is rampant, especially in these sectors. And innocent people are suffering greatly.

I pray we can avoid further pain and suffering. I pray things won’t get that bad.

But until people are ready to turn to God, there’s not a lot of hope to be had. God is pouring out His love to the world, but the world isn’t listening. And until the world is ready to listen, there’s going to be some struggles along the way.

What we can do as a church is be faithful to God’s call to love Him most of all, and our neighbours as ourselves. That is, love the people around us, the people who struggle, the people who need help. People just like us.

The world as a whole may not be ready, but people in our communities are longing to be loved.

This is where the church can make a difference. This is our calling today.

Come in. Seek God. Reach out. Love.

God will take us there.

An Interview With Robin Mark

Sep 5, 2012 |

I know, I know… I rant and rave about this guy, especially if you know me in person. Robin Mark truly is a man of God and also one of the best worship leaders and song writers out there. His Canadian tour dates will be announced soon HERE

If you wonder about what he is really like, check out this two part interview done by 100 Huntley Street:

 

 

Biblical Religion

Sep 3, 2012 | ,

I didn’t preach this past weekend, but we read from the first chapter of James during the service. It’s a passage I love.

But here’s the verses that really speaks to me when I think of people out there who say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

“If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:26-27

These people who look at the church, or “religion” today are seeing a certain thing. They are seeing buildings. They are seeing denominational structures of various sorts. They are seeing certain news stories coming out of corruption and other evil acts in the church.

These are not examples of religion. At least not as defined by James.

James gives us a true, biblical definition of what “religion” looks like. Notice there’s no mention of building. No mention of committees or denominations.

Religion is service. Religious is the giving of ourselves to better the lives of others.

It’s love. In action.

How are we doing?

Somewhere along the way we lost this definition. Is it no wonder why people have lost their connection with religion when we ourselves are not living it out?

Let’s get it back! Let’s remember what it means to represent Christ to the world. Let’s be agents of hope, change, and, most importantly, love! Not just for the folks around us, but especially those who need it most in our communities.

Imagine the consequences of the church living out a religion as James defines for us!

state of shock

Aug 30, 2012 |

I truly am in a bit of a state of shock this week. I don’t expect it to ease much at all over the next little while.

As some of you may know, the United Church of Canada had it’s triennial General Council meetings this summer. Overall, when I looked at the agenda beforehand, there didn’t seem to be a lot of controversy going in compared to previous General Councils.

The big news coming out was that they voted to support economic sanctions against perceived illegal Israeli settlements in disputed lands with Palestine. People weighed in heavily on both sides of the issue from all across the spectrum.

The decision has not landed well with people.

Also, the church is facing severe financial crisis at it’s national office level and spoke out against the Northern Gateway Pipeline. These also have caused ripples in smaller ways.

As I look around, the only way I can describe the state of the church right now is that it’s “broken”.

In communications with my peers across the country, I hear stories of heartbreak and pain. Both in themselves and in their congregations as people assess the future of the church, the decisions it has made just weeks ago, and their futures within it.

Over the years I’ve felt extremely broken in my relationship with the church, more than once, even this year. But I’ve never seen so many broken at the same time as I do right now. Now I wasn’t around in church in the late 80s, nor terribly involved 10 years ago when other extremely controversial decisions were made.

But I am shocked by the amount of pain and brokeness being expressed in the church today. Absolutely shocked.

Emails, Facebook comments, conversations, people are seriously questioning their future in the UCC, both clergy and members. I didn’t see it coming at all. I thought this was going to be a fairly tame General Council.

I was wrong.

This I find rather ironic as, after praying about it, I made a conscious decision this summer to attempt to be more positive in my “Words to the Church” than I had been over the last year, and trying to lift up the church instead of beating on it. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of beating being done from both inside and outside the church.

My prayers are with the my friends and all people who are connected to the United Church of Canada. May the Father of us all guide us into healing and strength, and may He heal our broken hearts.