January 26, 2003: Against Bait-And-Switch Evangelism
I like to quote from time to time a slogan I picked up from Presbyterian pastor and theologian James Montgomery Boice, who got it from former Moody President William Culbertson, namely: "What you win them with you win them to."
Let me explain. We Christians are agreed about what we want to win people to: faith in Christ, virtuous character, joyful worship, charitable works, fervent prayer, reverence for the Word. But it seems to me that we make the mistake of believing that we can win people to these things by means of completely unrelated stuff like entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. Then we're surprised when all we've really done is win people to entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. But why should we be shocked that they are reluctant to take up their cross and follow Christ when we have been so reluctant to make it clear that that is really what we are all about?
We must put Jesus Christ, and devotion to him, front and center at all times. Don't hide Jesus away till later. I have seen well-meaning missionaries put service first, and then puzzle over why the indigenous peoples won't make the transition from enjoying the social benefits we provide to following the Lord we worship. I have seen
well-meaning suburban Christians put activities first, and then wonder why their friends won't receive Christ after they had so much fun at the church's special events.
What you win them with you win them to. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Win them with, and to, Jesus.
Sunday, January 26, 2003
Sunday, January 19, 2003
January 19, 2003: Fostering Community
As missionaries my wife and I were often asked, "So how do you like Colombia?" It was hard to answer, because frankly we weren't in Colombia because we liked it. We were there to translate the Bible. As for liking it, well, Colombia was not in our top ten list of places where we wanted to retire.
But after returning to the U. S. I realized one thing I missed about Colombia: the sense of community. You knew all your neighbors there. You played soccer in the street with them. When the daughter of the neighborhood orange peddler got sick, you pitched in to buy her medicine. Community life had the feel of "Sesame Street" or "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."
At home in the U. S. I have found it harder to get to know people. Our affluence and technology make it easy to avoid them. You don't have to see your neighbor's face when you come home: your garage door opener gets you inside without having to step out of the car. You don't have to ask anybody for directions: get them off MapQuest. You don't talk to a gas station attendant: swipe your credit card, fill up the tank and go. And your kids never organize themselves into baseball teams in the park any more - their thumbs are too calloused anyway from the video game buttons they've been pressing alone in their rooms.
We have to work harder than our Colombian counterparts to foster community. Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" That unity is more than peaceful co-existence - it involves some actual contact.
Let me encourage you this week to say hello to a neighbor, or call a friend you haven't seen in a while, or just do something - anything - to take a bold step forward against the isolating winds of modern culture that tend to blow us into sad little corners all by ourselves.
As missionaries my wife and I were often asked, "So how do you like Colombia?" It was hard to answer, because frankly we weren't in Colombia because we liked it. We were there to translate the Bible. As for liking it, well, Colombia was not in our top ten list of places where we wanted to retire.
But after returning to the U. S. I realized one thing I missed about Colombia: the sense of community. You knew all your neighbors there. You played soccer in the street with them. When the daughter of the neighborhood orange peddler got sick, you pitched in to buy her medicine. Community life had the feel of "Sesame Street" or "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."
At home in the U. S. I have found it harder to get to know people. Our affluence and technology make it easy to avoid them. You don't have to see your neighbor's face when you come home: your garage door opener gets you inside without having to step out of the car. You don't have to ask anybody for directions: get them off MapQuest. You don't talk to a gas station attendant: swipe your credit card, fill up the tank and go. And your kids never organize themselves into baseball teams in the park any more - their thumbs are too calloused anyway from the video game buttons they've been pressing alone in their rooms.
We have to work harder than our Colombian counterparts to foster community. Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" That unity is more than peaceful co-existence - it involves some actual contact.
Let me encourage you this week to say hello to a neighbor, or call a friend you haven't seen in a while, or just do something - anything - to take a bold step forward against the isolating winds of modern culture that tend to blow us into sad little corners all by ourselves.
Sunday, January 12, 2003
January 12, 2003: Goodness As The Route To Happiness
One of my favorite movie lines comes from the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, a series that I think actually does justice to one of the best books ever written. There is a scene where Jane, who is as sweet and kind and saintly as a person can be, exults over a marriage proposal from the man of her dreams. As she shares her joy with her sister Elizabeth, she says she hopes that someday Elizabeth can be as happy as she. Elizabeth smiles and says, "Till I have your goodness, I can never have your happiness."
There is great wisdom in that confession. Goodness expands our capacity for joy, and that is why the greatest delights can only be experienced by good people. She who has cultivated the virtues of generosity, graciousness, patience and love will spring a bit higher and make merry a bit longer on those days when God blesses her with a reason to rejoice. And she will be able to spot those occasions more easily than the dull sinner who can never find anything to be happy about.
Solomon said, "The prospect of the righteous is joy" (Proverbs 10:28). That joy, of course, may be some time in coming. Jesus had to wade through great sorrow to get to it. But after the pain of the cross he was finally able to delight in “the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2).
My mother was fond of saying that joy is a by-product of obedience, and I think that is exactly right. Pursue happiness by itself and you will find it elusive. Pursue goodness instead, and you will find happiness sneaking up behind you and catching you unaware.
One of my favorite movie lines comes from the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, a series that I think actually does justice to one of the best books ever written. There is a scene where Jane, who is as sweet and kind and saintly as a person can be, exults over a marriage proposal from the man of her dreams. As she shares her joy with her sister Elizabeth, she says she hopes that someday Elizabeth can be as happy as she. Elizabeth smiles and says, "Till I have your goodness, I can never have your happiness."
There is great wisdom in that confession. Goodness expands our capacity for joy, and that is why the greatest delights can only be experienced by good people. She who has cultivated the virtues of generosity, graciousness, patience and love will spring a bit higher and make merry a bit longer on those days when God blesses her with a reason to rejoice. And she will be able to spot those occasions more easily than the dull sinner who can never find anything to be happy about.
Solomon said, "The prospect of the righteous is joy" (Proverbs 10:28). That joy, of course, may be some time in coming. Jesus had to wade through great sorrow to get to it. But after the pain of the cross he was finally able to delight in “the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2).
My mother was fond of saying that joy is a by-product of obedience, and I think that is exactly right. Pursue happiness by itself and you will find it elusive. Pursue goodness instead, and you will find happiness sneaking up behind you and catching you unaware.
Sunday, January 5, 2003
January 5, 2003: What Will They Say At Your Funeral?
At the last church I pastored I had to do a lot of funerals for people I had never met. I would always meet with the family beforehand so I could learn about the deceased and say nice things about him or her during the message. It was a joy to hear about the good character and lives of some of these people. Sometimes my experience was like Peter's in Acts 9, where he went to the funeral of a woman named Dorcas and her friends told him about all the good things she had done.
Then sometimes my experience was like that of a pastor I read about who asked a new widow,
"What was your husband like?"
"He was kind of average."
"Did he have any hobbies or anything?"
"No."
"What did he like to do?"
"He watched TV."
"Any particular programs he liked?"
"No, he just watched everything."
What in the world do you say at the funeral of a man like that? "We are gathered here to honor the memory of our dearly beloved. He watched TV."
Spend a minute contemplating what honest people will say about you when you're dead. After you're done being depressed about that, resolve for this new year to be more like Dorcas. Do so many good things that everybody will mourn your loss and wish they could bring you back. And don't watch too much TV.
At the last church I pastored I had to do a lot of funerals for people I had never met. I would always meet with the family beforehand so I could learn about the deceased and say nice things about him or her during the message. It was a joy to hear about the good character and lives of some of these people. Sometimes my experience was like Peter's in Acts 9, where he went to the funeral of a woman named Dorcas and her friends told him about all the good things she had done.
Then sometimes my experience was like that of a pastor I read about who asked a new widow,
"What was your husband like?"
"He was kind of average."
"Did he have any hobbies or anything?"
"No."
"What did he like to do?"
"He watched TV."
"Any particular programs he liked?"
"No, he just watched everything."
What in the world do you say at the funeral of a man like that? "We are gathered here to honor the memory of our dearly beloved. He watched TV."
Spend a minute contemplating what honest people will say about you when you're dead. After you're done being depressed about that, resolve for this new year to be more like Dorcas. Do so many good things that everybody will mourn your loss and wish they could bring you back. And don't watch too much TV.
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