Hartwood Presbyterian Church

What should be central to our ministry?

Rev._Smith — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:55:19 +0000

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the on his head. Mark 14:3 NRSV translation

What follows after this moment is something that has come to the front of our debate in this age as we “debate” to what extent should the church or any organization care for “the poor.” Some were appalled by this act of anointing done by this woman. we can’t be certain that they were mad, because it was a woman or THAT woman, or just that anyone not recognised as an authority of such divine matters would dare anoint anyone. They don’t dare attack the woman based on her gender, because Jesus had on a number of occasions reached out and included women in what used to be a “boys club.” Therefore, they attack the waste of funds by highlighting the great need all around them present in the poor that filled the streets and common areas of Bethany at that time. There is one more thing at work here that will help us understand what Jesus was and is saying to his followers then and today. Notice where in Bethany they were staying; Simon the lepers’ home. This was the house of someone who is known in his community as unclean, outcast, and all who entered his home I imagine would not be welcome to enter in the temple to worship.

Jesus’ disciples and followers are misinterpreting the entire scene and fixing their gaze on the money wasted on a moment. Jesus response is aimed at their misguided attempts to show concern. Even though they say they are worried about the poor, what really stands out is that 300 denarii is being dumped on his head. It is clear that Jesus knows that he is entering his final hours and this anointing is more than any of his closest companions has ever offered. His body is being prepared for the death that he will face and walk through for their sake and indeed all souls. This monetary gift is minimal in comparison to the one that is going to be given through his personal sacrifice for all and Jesus is laying the ground work for their eventual understanding that money and our role of caring for those in need are important, but never at the expense of dethroning the Lord of all. Of course we must be wise stewards with the funds that we have been entrusted to use for ministry. Absolutely we must care for those who are in need. However, there is only one Jesus and nothing is more important than our adoration and praise to the one true savior of all!

Jesus Flipping Tables

Rev._Smith — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:52:34 +0000

“Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

Here we see God’s Son reminding the leadership that the whole point of the covenant that was established with Abraham was not just to bless them, but all nations. For they were to be the people set apart that would direct all hearts, souls, and minds to the One True God. Instead they fell prey to a distorted notion that they were given the ability and authority to establish financial and ritualistic barriers between the world and God. Jesus offers the not so subtle corrective by over turning tables and chairs.

A question for us to consider today is whether we, the Body of Christ, set up barriers (financial or other) to keep people from God. Sometimes we do this intentionally, because we want people to live into the standard we see laid out in scripture. Other times we may not be aware that we are do it as we focus on the financial needs of our local ministry. However, both can and in some cases have become barriers to those who like to here more about this Christ and the God that we worship.

If we are so concerned on “fixing folks” first, before we allow them access to God then we have misread the scriptures. Do not misunderstand me. It is appropriate to establish standards for those who are called to lead, but that is a different matter. Rather what I am highlighting is our tendency to fixate on perfection now for the visitor, to the regular attenders, the member who is struggling to plug-in and find their place at the table of ministry.

The financial piece is a challenge in that it takes money to keep the lights on, the grounds clean and cared for, and the staff employed. However, if concern about money is permitted to become the focal point of every conversation among the leaders, then we are violating our calling, which is to worship the Lord with our being, and provide for our neighbor with the same energy that we provide for ourselves. It is hard to point to the hope we have in Christ and the liberator joy we receive when our shoulders are drooped and our faces sullen due to the weight of our serious financial matters.

If our Christ risked everything for all, then we too should be more willing to lay aside our lists of who is okay to love and who is okay to shun. We too must trust the Father’s perfect will in light of our momentary struggles, financial or otherwise.

Evangelism: slow cooked meal style

Rev._Smith — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:49:55 +0000

I have been making my way through The Road to Missional by Michael Frost. It is a fantastic read and something that all Christian leaders should engage with as part of their contemplations regarding how to reach our neighbors in our Western culture context. One such gem within the book is where Frost highlights the problem of how to “do” evangelism. Some say verbally others say it’s all about your actions (social justice and hospitality). Frost begs us to consider that the truly missional congregation will see both as inseparable actions within our “sentness” as the Church.The quote that I am chewing on and am really enjoying is the following:If evangelism is like a meal, think of it as being prepared in a slow cooker and served over a long night around a large table. It can’t be microwaved. It can’t be takeout.I love this image. Maybe it is due to my affinity for slowing things down, especially a meal full of conversation. It also could be that I long for such a thing based on the fact that having four children under the age of 7 meals are rarely slow and full of conversation (it is something we are working on). So the image that is painted here is appealing, but it also speaks to how I am inclined to operate myself. Too often, just as Frost points out, we evangelicals get this notion that we must tell everyone that we meet how to get to heaven and if we don’t then they are doomed and it is on us. So we walk onto planes, commuter trains, sit in coffee shops wondering if we are about to be tested to see if we are up on our faith. “Hi! That looks like a tasty burger. Would you like to know how to get to heaven?”There is something seriously wrong with our understanding of God if we honestly believe that it is all on us in those few seconds to share the message of eternal life or that person will never experience the beauty of the resurrection of Jesus. I do know that we are moved by the Holy Spirit to speak to “strangers” and share about our faith. However, I believe that it is about sharing our story and not about specific high points you must reach by the time you land. Maybe, it is the start of conversation that will last another 4 months over e-mail. Maybe, that is all you will ever get with that person. If so, trust that God has them firmly in the love palm of God’s hand just as God has you. The interactions that we should be paying closer attention to are the ones that we have more frequently with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers/classmates. Slow cooked meal style.

No need to reinvent the wheel

Rev._Smith — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:53:36 +0000

One hope that I have with the emergence of our post-denominational missional context is that it will help congregations overcome our desire to do a “mission project” with our name and ideas attached. For example, I recently spoke with a representative from http://www.churchworldservice.org and one of the challenges that they have faced is that congregations would rather start a project themselves than contribute to an organization that has already cleared the mounds of red tape that exist when doing international assistance to those in need. Why?! So we can be assured that our money is well spent through personally going to these places and getting a stamp on our passport?A true missional congregation will ask what is a need that they want to impact, pray, and then look around at all the organizations that exist that may already be addressing the problem. Christians need to view humanitarian efforts with the same perspective as they do their own spheres of influence. They are both mission fields. We are called to witness to our families, co-workers, neighbors, etc. If we want to address a need that we see in the world like hunger, why does it have to be a “Christian” organization. What better way to be the Church then to partner with self professed humanist relief organization. When asked why, you can say, “because the Son of God has come into the world to set the poor and oppressed free, give sight to the blind, and make the lame walk.”

These walls can’t hold us in

Rev._Smith — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:55:04 +0000

Too often the Church has relinquished its true identity for the confines of a building. We are so proud of our accomplishments and the structures we build, but should we use them (buildings and programs) to identify who we are as followers of Jesus? Well, we shouldn’t, but sadly we do. How many times have you heard something like the following; “I know that I need to get back to Church, my life has been so busy.” Apart from the fact that this should serve as a warning sign that the individual speaking does not own their schedule and therefore their life, it shows a common misunderstanding that people have about of what or more appropriately who makes up the Church.
Church is not something that we go to, because we are the Church. It exists wherever we are located. I am not saying there is zero value in gathering together to lift the name of God on high. That should happen, but what I am saying is that we need to stop identifying the Church as a physical structure or programs that we do and get back to what scripture calls it; “you are the light of the world.” If people began to understand themselves as not merely representing a brand of Christianity (I belong to this little church or I am a part of this hipster church movement at the strip mall) and instead embodied who they really are (new creations to the glory of God) then this world would see the Light that is driving out the darkness that seeks to destroy us all.

Oh me of little faith

Rev._Smith — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:56:15 +0000

It is one of those haunting things to encounter a story involving Jesus teaching his disciples and watch how the end result of their interaction with them is “You of little faith!” I recently thought that this is best interpreted as Jesus saying to his disciples “C’Mon man!” In my youth I could not understand how the disciples could be, at times, so daft. Here they are walking around with the Son of God and they just don’t get it. Years passed by, life has provided me with a number of occasions to sit be the bed of those who are dying, diagnosed with cancer, and who are disabled. There in those moments I find myself never wanting to offer “false hope” or lead them to believe that it is their lack of faith as to why they are not getting better. So I pray, for God’s holy presence, God’s love and compassion,, God’s peace. These things that I pray are honest, from the gut, kind of things that I believe in heart and mind.

That was all thrown out the window one day when I was doing my rounds in a hospital in Jersey and I walked into a room of a Egyptian Coptic Christian woman. I do not recall what she was being treated for, but I recall that the situation looked dire. I walked in thinking that I would offer comfort and prayers of peace. Instead I was met by eyes of fait and deep conviction.She explained to me the story of their faith and that they firmly believe that even today if you pray with faith mountains can be moved. She paused, looked me right in the eyes and said, “I want you to pray that I will walk out of here and I want you to believe the words when you pray them.”I can not tell you to this day what I prayed, but I remember what my internal dialogue was as I prayed. “Lord, heal this woman on account of HER faith, and take the little faith that I have and show me you still work in miraculous ways.” The result was she was granted healing to walk out of the hospital by her own power.This happened in 2004 and has not been the norm in my walk with Christ, but I will never doubt that God can and still does work in ways that blow our minds, that are not easily explained, I thank God for it!

The peace of the city

Rev._Smith — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:57:26 +0000

It may seem strange to say that there is quiet and peace to be found in a city. Most of the time when we think of cities we are filled with images of clubs that stay open late, cabs and other cars honking, delivery trucks arriving at all hours, but in the midst of all this I have found that there is calm to be found. In fact I believe that on can find peace that is on par with being in the midst of nature. The primary reason is that there is just as much beauty to beholdwhen we are surrounded by humanity as there is when you stand on top of a mountainor open field by a stream. The best time to experience this peace in the city, as I have found, is by foot in the early hours of the day, or when the rain is coming down. For many rain is a deterrent, but given that I am originally from Seattle I stand with all my NW folks that call rain liquid sunshine. Let’s face it, if people in Seattle waited for the sun to come out and the rain to stop falling then nothing would ever get done. OK, I am getting off topic. The point is that there is a rich experience awaiting anyone who is willing to step out into the streets, slow down, look, listen and be still amidst those who race around to the next task. When we do this we begin to see just how crazy small our worlds have become if we let our e-mails, text messages, and calendars run our life. We all have to earn money so we have to do some of that, but we would feel more balanced if we took more time to allow for perspective to unsettle our routines. When we start to do this we become available to see and hear things that we were once too easy to miss. Oh, one last recommendation on this one. If you walk, leave the ipod or smartphone off. Happy Trails!

The Church has no right to say…….

Rev._Smith — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:58:48 +0000

The Barna group has released a new book that covers their 5 year study of youth who have left the Church. When asked for their reason the youth cited intolerance of sexual practices that the greater culture claims as normative. There is also the cry of disbelief that the Church in their eyes is still anti-science. These were the two that stood out the most to me, but certainly you could throw in the old standard “it’s boring” and “it’s full of hypocrites.” The last two are true cop-outs, because they betray the person who uses them by revealing that these young people have not examined either their faith or their own shortcomings enough. The former two critiques of the Church are problematic in that they are classic complaints against the Christian faith done with a modern remix flare. The anti-science complaint often times stems from those who have ingested just enough Dawkins, Harris, or Hitchens to decide that all religion is anti-science. These few loud voices in the complex fields of science have claimed to hold the truth after thorough testing and examination that they hold there is enough to persuade everyone with their rally cry “leave religion in the past, progress is to had through our research.” When we stop and step back for a moment at these claims for what they are we begin to see that these voices of intellectual progress without religion are just as extreme as any militant fundamentalist religious group. Are they not saying of themselves; follow me and MY findings for my ways are error free compared to that of religion. In truth science is just as dependent upon cross-examination and reform as religion. So to claim that one holds the key to progress for a better society based one’s own intellectual capabilities alone is just as arrogant and dangerous as the religious cult leader who commands his followers to drink the poisoned Kool-aid. Notice also, that there are a multitude of faithful Christians, as well as other religious persons, who are some of the best and brightest in the multitude of scientific fields today.

The complaint that the Church is “anti-science” is true for those who have pulpits that rail against it, but many pastors support the pursuit of science. I think that some of the confusion may lay in the errant belief that pastors have no right to offer caution or critique when it comes to the ethics of some of the current research practices in genetics. It is essential that Christians, especially pastors, offer their caution to the scientific community to consider the larger picture of what they are pursuing. Just because technology has enabled us to do something does it mean that we must press on to see if it works? It is that kind of thinking that produces something that is later used as the most destructive device know to humankind. There is also caution about whether it is permissible to “test” on humanity. Too often, for the sake of progress, science has used the poor and those who are thought to be under the radar as test subjects. Speaking up as the Church against such practices does not qualify us as being “anti-science,” but as ones who seek to see discovery take place in an ethical and humane fashion.

The last one is sexuality. It appears to be the case that people of all ages in our culture have relented that we are all sexually driven beings and that if someone or some group promotes self-control then they are out of touch with what is classified as “healthy” behavior. It is really naive and arrogant of this generation to think that we are the first to engage in a debate on this subject. In fact when you search the pastoral letters in the New Testament (often influenced by the Hebrew Bible) we see words of caution and chastisement of the people who are trying to figure out what it means to be a follower of Jesus and exist in their culture. There are a number of occasions where the apostle Paul says (and I am paraphrasing here) “Yeah I know you used to get it on every weekend with someone you met the other night, but I am telling you that your body is now a place of worship where Jesus resides and you are defiling your body which is a place of worship when you do. Show some self control! You are so much more than a walking flesh bag of hormones!” I know that this does not resolve that matter. However, if you are reading this and you are considering leaving the Church behind I urge you to reconsider. Before you leave pray, then ask yourself “Have I talked with anyone from the Church about my feelings on these issues?” Lastly, I urge you to consider whether it is truly wise to step out on your spiritual journey on your own? We were never meant to be creatures that walk alone, we are wired to be in community. Let the community wrestle with your questions.

Be Bold. Walk Humbly.

Rev._Smith — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:00:56 +0000

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1-2 The Message//Remix We have become so accustomed to placing our God stuff in portions of our lives rather than allowing our lives, every square inch of it, to be in God’s hands and command. Too often we delay over how this is to be done and give up on it too easily. The time for excuses has ended. We know how we are to pray. So let us pray. We know about Jesus’ Way. So let us walk. We know about God’s love. So let us forgive. Hold nothing back. Be bold in your faith in Jesus. Walk humbly before God.

To whom or what do you turn?

Rev._Smith — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:02:14 +0000

Whenever people face hardships or obstacles in their lives they turn to whatever is in their hearts to lift them up. If you have placed your hope and energy in sports then you will look to that to provide relief. However, no sporting or race team is guaranteed victory every Sunday. Some may choose to lose themselves in 30 minute comedies or spend time immersed in the world of romance through book, television, and film. However, all these come to an end and the high of laughter and love is just as fleeting as the flick of the remote to the next channel. We are not hard wired to put our hope these things, but the average person devotes countless hours to these and other entertainments to help us find balance in our lives. Yet, just like the effects of a phenomenal meal serve on to satiate our appetites temporarily. After even the greatest feast a new hunger will rise from within each of us. That hunger is not one that is birthed in a need for nutrients attained by further consumption. It is the ever present empty that persists and can only be partially reduced by such entertainments. There is a way to not only to quiet, but satisfy the craving that lurks within…it is through Jesus Christ. For some this may seem like a cop out. Let me ask you to consider what allows us to respond with such negativity to Jesus being the answer? Too simple? In truth to really submit one’s being to Jesus as an answer is extremely complicated. Much more so than arriving at the conclusion that we are all here on this planet by chance. If you adopt that all is merely accident or chance in life then not much is expected of you. It is quite the opposite when you say Jesus is the solution. Then our entire ethic is challenged. Our sense of self importance is taken apart. Our ability to pursue success at any cost is taken away. The greatest mystery of all time is who Jesus is, yet the answer has been revealed. The challenge is will we respond or continue to pretend that there is a better way.