Only Then...

A rabbi asked his students, “When is it at dawn that one can tell the light from the darkness?”

One student replied, “When I can tell a goat from a donkey.”

“No,” answered the rabbi.

Another said, “When I can tell a palm tree from a fig.”

“No,” answered the rabbi again.

“Well, then what is the answer?” his students pressed him.

“Only when you look into the face of every man and every woman and see your brother and your sister,” said the rabbi. “Only then have you seen the light. All else is still darkness.”

Summer Rest

You haven't seen a lot of blogging recently by Scot and me, just wanted to let you know that we are taking a little summer rest. Scot headed out today for a graduate class he's taking and I will be doing some traveling in the next week or so. So....our blogging will be sporadic for the some of this summer. Have no fear, however, we'll post some things as time, energy, and inspiration permit.

We thank you for keeping up with us and encouraging us. Check back in from time to time and we'll get back in the saddle on a regular basis here shortly.

Can The Church Really Be Evangelistic?

I have deep desire for evangelism, especially in today's world. It is so crucial today to speak Jesus to a world that is desperate for good news. The light must shine! But as concerned as I am for evangelism, I am deeply aware that evangelism, at least in the way is should authentically be carried out, must be connected to the Church...or perhaps it may not be legitimate evangelistic practice. But this fact makes me worry (though I am trying to be hopeful).

I sense today that some of us are more concerned about our words (just get out and teach, preach, and share) than we are about our existence. We want to talk it but do we walk it as well? Both must be linked. In fact, I would argue that the Church cannot really be evangelistic (at least in the sense of being authentic sharers of good news) until we understand and really live out of our existence as people who look, think, act, say, live like Jesus. Here is a convicting statement by Scot McKnight as he reflects on the ideas of Lesslie Newbigin:

Evangelism takes place through the Church, and that means through Christians. In conversion theory this is called the "advocate." Evangelism needs to concentrate more on "who we are as Church" and less on "what we say," for until "who we are" embodies "what we say" we have little chance of being heard. Jesus didn't offer a four-point outline; he offered himself as the Embodiment/Incarnation of God and he calls his followers into his Embodiment and as such they witness to the saving grace of the gospel and bring into the world the kingdom conditions.

I am not sure some of us have truly wrestled with this idea. I am not sure we have fully entered into his Embodiment. I wonder if we really want to hear Jesus' words and put them into practice....to quote a little bible verse from Matthew (Sermon on the Mount). I know my own life and I know how much I fail to be and live this out.

But that doesn't take away from the reality and truth of this statement. Who we are is forever linked with what we say. And until we align those two things, the second will be hollow sounding and inauthentic, and the first we will never fully achieve. And the result will be that the Church will not have an evangelistic existence.

In light of the above words, here's a quote worth remembering:

The light of Christ's life reaches us through the Church as the community of those who, bound together in the love which Christ brought down, are "forever shedding that love abroad" in their own lives and "manifesting in the grace of Christlike character the reconciling purpose of God.

From Lesslie Newbigin: A Theological Life, by Geoffrey Wainwright (p. 36).

Or to put it more crassly, perhaps we need to shut up and learn to live up to Jesus.

This Little Light of Mine

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

We live our lives “before God” and before one another as well as before the world. To put it in Bible terms: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself. For Friday, here are a few exhortations to encourage us to that end:

This little light of mine....shine it where you are. May you see that your mission field is wherever you find yourself to be. God has uniquely called you for his purposes and he can use you wherever you are. Your workplace is God’s Kingdom laboratory. Your home is God’s mission point. Your relationships with your neighbors are points where God’s light can shine.

This little light of mine....shine it now. To quote from the Dead Poets Society movie, “Seize the Day!” That is not a bad proverb. It reminds us of who Jesus reminds us to be in Matthew 6, to not worry about tomorrow, but to live for God today, making the most of every opportunity. John Lennon wrote a song with the line, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” That should not be true. So live for today. Each moment is an opportunity for God’s reign. And the light of God’s Kingdom can shine even in moments of crisis. Each moment presents us with an opportunity and the privilege to live faithful to God in this time and place, whether in joy or pain.

This little light of mine...shine it together. Though we each are different, we are all a part of the same body. The light emanates from community not simply through individuals. God is calling us to mature past the point of church as a place where I get served or taken care of. God is calling us to be about more than what we enjoy, and rather to be a church that has a communal spirit about serving God, pleasing God, praising God, together. May we work together as one, and show both God and the world that we can be one, just as Jesus prayed.

This little light of mine...shine it continually. As Jesus said, no one takes a light and hides it under a bushel. It is put on a stand for all to see and its purpose is to continually shine. So shine, church, shine! God’s reign is breaking forth and he has a future for his kingdom. Let us, before God, shine our lights and endure throughout our lives.

“This little light of ours, we're gonna let it shine.”