Influencers

Somehow in God’s providence, I was born into a family of great faith, and blessed with two parents who modeled being Jesus to others every day. My Dad, though no longer in this world, still influences my daily walk, and the kindness of my mother’s voice reminds me in every conversation to be more concerned about others than self.

Equally remarkable, I married into a family of great faith. Though neither of Vicki’s parents is still living, seldom does a day go by that somehow their faith doesn’t influence how I live. Their generous, but unassuming approach to being a follower of Jesus did not go unnoticed by me – and no doubt many others.

One of the lessons I learned early from my own parents, and quickly after I became a part of Vicki’s family, was that you ought to pay attention to people of faith who model what it means to say you love Jesus. What I have discovered in following that advice is that it is surprising how many people God places in our individual journeys of faith who, if we are paying attention, can strengthen and encourage us along the way. 

The past Saturday, Vicki and I were in Johnson City, Tennessee to attend the celebration of life for one of these “strengthening and encouraging people” in our lives, Eva Hoffman. Last fall we were there for the same kind of service for her husband Carl. Carl and Eva – Chief and MaMa – were two of God’s great gifts to us since we first met them in August, 1976,

I met Carl first. He had just retired as a Captain for Delta Airlines and I was entering my first year of teaching at what was then Atlanta Christian College. I had heard stories about this airline pilot who had purchased a seven-seat Cherokee airplane and was going to fly people from the college around and also take some classes. He was sitting on the front row of the first class I ever taught – Hermeneutics and Exegesis as it was called back then – and I was a just out of graduate school young guy who thought he knew enough to teach the class. 

It wasn’t long after that first class that Vicki and I met Eva, we were going to fly with them to a convention in Florida. That three day trip sealed the relationship and Chief and MaMa became lifelong friends – examples to a relatively young married couple who would benefit greatly by being on the inside of their lives. We spent weekends with them in Williamson, Georgia where they lived at the time. Went on countless trips in that little airplane representing ACC, and most importantly, we took advantage of their example. I was privileged to help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows.

When our two daughters were born, Chief and MaMa took them into their lives. Despite being 90 years old and in poor health, and having lost her husband just this past fall, our daughters still received birthday cards from MaMa in April and May of this year. So did I. And no doubt were she still among us, Vicki would have in August. 

I heard Carl speak on multiple occasions and probably attended a Sunday School Class or two that he taught. I was in a class on basic flying skills in which he was a part of the instruction team. I don’t remember that I ever heard Eva doing any official public speaking. But I learned more about life than I have time to write about this morning from just watching and paying attention. Following the lesson my parents and Vicki’s parents taught us, I was greatly blessed by Carl and Eva Hoffman. 

The Hoffmans spent several years living in Tarpon Springs, Florida. We were fortunate to visit with them a couple of times since Vicki’s parents lived in St. Petersburg. Carl had a great boat and took us out on Tampa Bay. He was as well informed and intrigued by boating as I had known him to be about flying. They were deeply involved in the church there – just like they had been everywhere they lived. 

Carl loved great music and had the stereo system to prove it. He and Vicki often had conversations about music that left me (and I think sometimes MaMa) behind. The gift of hospitality and encouragement possessed by MaMa made Carl’s life possible and together, the two of them are at the top of my list of people who have influenced my life and Vicki’s and our girls.

I had the opportunity to visit briefly with MaMa back in March. She was a cheerful and encouraging as ever despite her declining health. She wanted to know how Vicki was doing health wise, and thrilled to know how much better she was. She bragged on Sarah and her editing of the Point Magazine and wanted to know how far along Bethany was in her PhD program. She even bragged on me! I went there to encourage her. I left there encouraged. There was no litany of illness, struggle, and difficulty. I left her home reminded of what a great thing it is to pay attention to the people God places in your life.

I could list dozens of things I learned from Carl and Eva but that would miss the greater blessing. The greater blessing is presence and influence. The details are important, but not the issue. The issue is that when you were in their presence, you had the opportunity to be influenced to be more and more like Jesus.

I’ve been a bit distracted since Saturday morning just thinking about Carl and Eva, and a host of other folks whose paths crossed mine in life. I am so thankful for parents – both mine and Vicki’s – who were great influences in my life. And I am thankful that they taught me to pay attention to the people around me. 

All of this makes me wonder if this isn’t what the writer of Hebrews was thinking about when he wrote, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2) 

The providence of God is an amazing thing! Pay attention.

Winning Respect

In my neck of the woods, we have just endured (suffered might be a better word) the primary season for the upcoming November elections. Unfortunately, Georgia law requires a 50% plus 1 vote count in order to win, so we are now in a similar world of run-off elections to see who will be the nominee for various offices – from county commissioners to state legislators to the governor to  US Senate candidates. 

In a state where the civic Jesus is still pretty popular, candidates often approach elections by seeing if they can “out Christian” their opponents. Seemingly every issue before every government has an official “Christian option” and the politicians are determined to identify that option with their campaigns. When more than one candidate sees the same “Christian option,” then the effort to “out Christian” each other takes on Mach level speed. 

All of that has had me thinking about the use of adjectives. In particular, it makes me wonder about the need to attach the adjective “Christian” to my points of view, my position on issues, and especially on my life. If I truly am a “Christian candidate,” wouldn’t you know that without the adjective “Christian” on every campaign poster? Even more complicated for me is the fact that all sorts of positions get labeled “the Christian option” when I’m pretty confident Christians might view that issue differently. One of the mailers in my box recently declared “Christians stand for the Second Amendment.” Really?

In a remarkable little sentence in 1 Thessalonians 4, just before he launches into a protracted (for 1 Thessalonians) discussion of the reappearing of Jesus, Paul is talking about our daily lifestyles and notes that how we live is important so that “your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12, NIV) That is prefaced by his admonition that we should “live a quiet life, mind our own business, and work with our hands.” 

The word Paul uses that is reflected in “win the respect of outsiders” is from a family of words, not used very often in the New Testament, that suggests “decent, proper, becomingly, appropriate, and presentability.” I’ve tried, but failed, to find a way to think that Paul really isn’t suggesting that how I daily live my life is how I win the respect of outsiders, that is, unbelievers. But it seems pretty obvious that this is precisely what he is saying. When all is said and done, my most important avenue for influencing non-believers is what they see me do in my daily living.

You don’t have to do a lot of research to know that at this particular juncture in Western culture, believers aren’t at the top of the list of things people respect. The civic Jesus roars with a bit of arrogance that this simply demonstrates how far our culture has drifted from its moorings. But the Jesus of Scripture would remind us “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” (Matthew 23:37, NIV)

If you think about it, when the choice is a “lecture on what is wrong with you” or “an invitation to come and find protection,” that really isn’t a hard decision to make. It boils down to the nature of the gospel itself – is it “fix your lives and come to Jesus” or “come to Jesus and let’s fix our lives together.”

I’m confident that the answer is the latter of those two options and equally confident that is why Paul wants us to live our daily lives in a way that “wins the respect of outsiders.” It shouldn’t require an adjective before my name and life to make that happen.

When the Kingdom of God Breaks Out

I’m not sure why, but at the end of every spring semester I find myself surprised. It happens every year, so you would think I’d be prepared. But I’m not. I know the answer has something to do with new wine skins and brand new garments that Jesus said would describe His kingdom. You can’t bottle up, to use a mixed metaphor, new wine – and my Theological Foundations for the Christian Life class yesterday was living proof that Jesus knew what He was talking about.

The 41 students in my class were put into 11 groups earlier in the semester. Instead of writing a term paper on some theological topic, they were given instructions about finding a way to model something we learned in class in a meaningful way. The instructions included the fact that their project couldn’t be done in the context of a local church – not because I don’t believe in the church, but because that would be too easy. I wanted them to do something that would challenge their comfort levels, express authentic biblical thinking, and make an impact.

Looking over the reports from yesterday, this class rang the bell! As a class, this group of Point students contributed somewhere in the neighborhood of 600+ hours of doing kingdom things. They reflect creativity and courage; commitment and generosity; and, perhaps most importantly, a willingness to work together in ways that reflect what being “in Christ” is all about. Not one student in the class is perfect, which is a good thing since their professor certainly isn’t, but they were willing to engage in the idea of “kingdom people doing kingdom things” in ways that make me understand what a blessing it is to be a part of the kingdom of God and Point University.

One group went all the way to Jackson, MS where they participated in the launch of a new church that is deliberately focused on being a congregation where economic, racial, and other social distinctions are ignored. They slept in a challenging neighborhood, did all sorts of work over the weekend  in inviting the community to be at the launch, and on Sunday, set up for church, worked in the nursery, did children’s church, served as ushers in the service and lots of other “stuff” that goes into launching a brand new kingdom outpost.

Another group of guys did a Bible study in a county jail. They made all the arrangements, bought pizza and soft drinks, spent time with inmates, and led a study of Jesus’ visit to the house of Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7. One student said of that experience, “This affected me emotionally . . . Before the project I was nervous about being around inmates, but I was quick to realize that they are just people like me who made a wrong decision.” They plan to continue that project.

Another group did a “free yard sale” in one of the poorer neighborhoods in West Point. They collected tons of clothes, toys, household goods, and the like and had a “sale” where everything was free. In addition they did a cookout for the neighborhood during the “sale.” Among the things students said about this project, “I learned that no matter where you are from or what you have experienced you could lay it at the feet of Jesus and move on to bigger and better things in Christ. I also learned that we do need each other; I needed to learn this.” Another group collected supplies for Save-A-Life ministries in Lanett – helping that ministry serve unwed mothers in the area, which is a huge need. 

Another group decided they would discipline themselves to meet at least one new person a week for five weeks.  One student told about a lady he met in line at the DMV who was angry with the whole world, including God.  Because of that conversation, that lady visited the church where this student is involved the next Sunday. Another student in that group said, “Without this project I would have never thought to ask people about their story or been able to comfort them through listening and just being there for them. This has really showed me the importance of community.”

One of the more interesting groups was the one that decided to “panhandle for the homeless.” They spent a good bit of a Saturday in downtown West Point, holding signs that said things like, “I have a home, but am collecting money for those who don’t.” They raised a good bit of money for a ministry that seeks to help men who are homeless because of addiction problems. “I learned that you can make a difference for the Kingdom of God simply by volunteering your time. Our project took very little money to accomplish a great task” was how one student described that experience. Another group worked with a lady who sees herself as “a missionary in the Valley” – living in and ministering to people in challenging neighborhoods. They discovered that “you can be a missionary right here” is what one student said.

Another group did a prayer walk where they recruited other students, created three “journeys through our community” where students walked, stopped to pray, and ended up together in front of the Academic Center of Point – praying! I remember standing on the second floor balcony watching them as they came together to pray. Students from all different backgrounds, standing in front of Point – praying! One student said about this project, “This experience has given me a different perspective on what it means to live within a community. There are always going to be people that you may never see or meet. But that doesn’t mean that you cannot pray for them.”

Another group recruited a group of students and spent a while at the East Alabama Medical Center that had been very restrictive about visitors because of concerns about viruses. They were able to spend time with children (and adults) who had been in the hospital a while – taking them toys, etc. and making the day a bit brighter. Another group titled their project “Stepping out into Creation” and recruited other students, focused on the beauty of God’s creation and cleaned up some of the trails near the West Point landing for the Chattahoochee River. “We made a small jump into being what Adam and Eve were commissioned to be when it pertains to the maintaining of the world and everything in it” is how one student described that experience.

This is longer than I intended, but actually it isn’t long enough. I could have quoted from every student and described in much more detail every project. For the “Chicken Littles” out there who are pretty sure the sky is falling when it comes to young adults, you have an open invitation to my Theological Foundations for the Christian Life class late next April when we will make these same kinds of reports in class. You might have your mind changed.

But, actually you could come and visit Point just about any time and discover young adults ready and willing to serve in the name of Christ to transform our culture for Christ.

And to think, I get paid to work here!

A Week Later

The resurrection stories in John’s gospel quickly move from that first “first day of the week” where Jesus shows up in the midst of the disciples in a locked room to “a week later” where similar things happen on “the first day of the week,” but this time Thomas is present.

John has already told us that Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the group of disciples. No reason is given for his absence – but I can imagine that his brain would have been on overload trying to sort out all the confusing signals of the past few days. Chief among them might have been to think about how he could have been so wrong about Jesus. With no theological concept of Messiah facing death, or even being the Son of God, how had he managed to throw away three-plus years of his life? Perhaps he was a “processor” and simply needed to be alone to process all that he had witnessed.

But during the week, apparently there was contact with the other disciples and they told him, “We have seen the Lord.” (John 20:25) Even less likely than thinking of Messiah as dying, the idea of resurrection of a dead Messiah must have been overwhelmingly unbelievable. Thomas replies, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (20:25) Is he being difficult, or just reasonable? Is he being a cynic, or simply careful?

The next “first day of the week” they are together again – Thomas is with them. Again, Jesus just shows up among them. Like was true on the previous first day of the week, Jesus declares, “Peace be with you.” In the best of Jewish thinking, peace spoke to self, others, God, and creation. Perhaps Jesus is doing more than simply saying “calm down, don’t be nervous” and in fact is declaring that since what I did on the cross (“It is finished” – John 19:30) and have now been raised to never die again, peace is now your gift. In the context of Jesus’ way of thinking, perhaps He is saying, ‘You can be at peace with yourself, with others, with God, and with creation.”

The old prophet Simeon, in Luke’s birth narrative, understood that. When he took baby Jesus out of Mary’s arms, he declared, “Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32) There’s certainly more to “peace” than “calm down, don’t be nervous!”

Jesus is aware of the struggles Thomas has had, and quickly invites him to come, touch, and believe. The text doesn’t say if Thomas actually needed to touch or not – but he quickly makes what is among the more remarkable confession statements in Scripture: “My Lord and My God!” (John 20:28) Raised in a world of rigid monotheism, Thomas confesses that this man he had followed around for so long, this man he knew had died on a “cursed tree” and been buried, was alive – and because of that “Lord and God.” All Jewish sensitivities about those words and their sacred nature have now been redeemed by the living presence of Jesus Himself. 

Data released by the Barna group in March, 2014 suggests that there are still some Thomas-like people around us. According to that report, 49% of Americans say that church engagement is “important” or “somewhat important.” 51% say otherwise. Among the 30 and under portion of our population, only 20% say church engagement is important, with 35% identifying themselves as “anti-church.” Those numbers were even worse when “church” was described as “evangelical.”

Back to Jesus and Thomas, it should interest us that Jesus doesn’t write Thomas off as a bad investment. Neither do we see Jesus offering up a debate on who He is. He doesn’t treat him as though he is being difficult of cynical. Jesus simply says, “come, touch, believe.” I’m not sure how else to read this conversation other than to suggest that Jesus believes His presence is powerful enough to change doubt into belief.

In one sense, I can’t say to an anti-church twenty-something “come, touch, and believe.” But in another sense, I can. Paul doesn’t describe the church as “the body of Christ” as a neat little metaphor that can spiritualize weekly gatherings. He seems to think that the church truly is the body of Christ, called to be ministers of reconciliation in ways that change doubt to belief. (2 Corinthians 5:16ff) So there is a sense in which I can say, “come, experience, and believe.” 

That may be the reason Jesus says earlier in John 20, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (20:21)

But as long as overwhelming portions of our culture view us so negatively, we have limited opportunities to say “Come, experience, and believe.” We have some work to do!

"The Stones Are Crying Out"

My own sense of being offended by those who insist on confusing political opinion with the gospel of our Lord has made me very reluctant to ever be tempted to do the same. If I hear one more television ad where a sleazy politician is trying to bathe his or her political nonsense in “Christian values,” I think I will be sick.

But for crying out loud! I’m reminded of that story in Luke’s gospel where, during the final week, some of Jesus’ disciples are praising Him, shouting “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” Of course this offended the Pharisees and they demand that Jesus “rebuke your disciples.” Jesus replies in a way that must have astonished his critics, “’I tell you,’ he said, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’” (Luke 19:40, NIV)

I don’t want to be guilty of being the kind of follower of Jesus for whom the stones have to speak.

How can we who are followers of Jesus be content with the political hacks of our day using gospel language in such repulsive ways? I’m not remotely taking political sides here, but honesty compels me to say that politicians on the right seems to think they have freedom to use our sacred language to prop up their political ideas more and more.

You may have heard of Sean Hannity. He is a slick radio and television talking head. Sometimes he says things that I think are politically correct – but I find myself thinking that I need to rethink what I think if what I think is so similar to what he thinks. He’s not doing the gospel any favors.

Yet, he uses our language all the time. He forever loves to quote “Let not your hearts be troubled . . .” as though he were the person to be quoting Jesus, while at the same time accusing the current president of thinking that he is “the anointed one.” Think about that. Those words he quotes all the time come from the Upper Room, within hours of when His disciples would face the brutal reality of His crucifixion. I just can’t take it that some “getting richer every day” entertainer would think that because he is on the radio, I don’t need to worry. “The stones are crying out.”

While I have a long list of issues over which the current president and I would have stark disagreement over were we to discuss them, I would never take the idea of Messiah – “the anointed one” – and sully it by using it as a pejorative to describe a political opponent. Maybe the president does think more highly of himself than he ought, but do we need to make “the anointed one” a political name-calling episode instead of a reminder of the redeeming work God accomplished in Jesus of Nazareth? “The stones are crying out.”

Then over the weekend, Sarah Palin pushed me over the line. Did you hear what she said at the NRA meeting in Indianapolis on Saturday? If you didn’t, here it is: “Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists.” You and I don’t have to agree on whether or not waterboarding is appropriate as a way of gaining information from terrorists that might protect innocent people from harm to be offended that she would take the sacred word “baptize” and associate it with an action that has been roundly challenged by both liberals and conservatives.  I simply can’t imagine what it the world would possess any politician to think that is appropriate. “The stones are crying out.”

If you live in Georgia, television viewing has become a series of political ads for the US Senate, where one candidate after the other, bathing themselves in the aura of Christian values, proceeds to overstate the truth about themselves and blast the overstated claims of opponents. I’m thinking of disconnecting my land line, for no other reason than the simple fact my answering machine will no longer be filled with political phone calls. The mailbox is no different – if I believed what is on the flyers, postcards, posters, etc. that are in there daily, I would assume that Jesus must have been a card carrying member of the NRA who saw little need for concern for the poor and should have said “Don’t give Caesar anything” rather than “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” “The stones are crying out.”

If this sounds a little “anti-rightwing” it isn’t meant to be. The left of our political culture seems to not care enough about the gospel to abuse it. Jesus seemed to think that what we call “Christian values” could be summed up as “Love God, Love neighbor.” If that’s true – then neither the left nor the right should attempt to clothe themselves in the Jesus story.

My wife and I don’t even tell each other exactly who we vote for, so I can guarantee you this isn’t about for which candidate you should vote. I simply don’t want “the stones to cry out” about the abuse of gospel vocabulary while I sit back and vomit.

Little wonder that Barna reports that our culture’s attitude toward church is tanking.