Love Thy Neighbor and Love Thine Enemy

Plenty of Christians (and I use the term generously) throughout the years have missed these two ideas for many reasons. However, I think these two things (plus the love we are to have for one another) demonstrate the uniqueness of our faith, and it demonstrates the power of Christ to change individuals and groups into wonderful communities of love.

The shooting last week in Orlando has left all Americans in shock and grief. The sadness only deepens as many use this tragedy to further their own agendas. From celebrities to politicians to religious or social groups, they want to hijack a bad situation and carve it out to suit themselves. The reason it may be easier for them to do so, is that this attack was carried out by a radical Muslim upon a bar primarily frequented by homosexuals.

So America has a perfect opportunity to see the worst in Christians (again, so-called). They are looking for the conservative, evangelical American Church to hate. They expect it to hate Muslims or homosexuals or both. Of course, the reasons for stereotypes is that there is some truth; the downside is that there are some that don't fit the mold. So bring on the hate, right? All this when we claim to follow a man who ate and drank with sinners and Pharisees, touched lepers, forgave adulterers and criminals, and asked for the sins of his torturers to be overlooked.

What if Christians wept sincerely with all over all? What if believers, without affirming their lifestyle, let their gay/lesbian friends know that this shooting was wrong, and had they been there, they would have defended them like their own lives? What if, without affirming their theology, Christians "loved those who hate you" openly? What if Christians lived what Jesus taught?

What would the world see in us?

Abortion in the Pews

We will have about 1.2 million abortions in our country this year. Half of those women will be regular church goers and self-identified Christians. One may argue that many of these women are casual or nominal Christians, and not genuinely saved. So just to be on the conservative side, let's say that 200,000 of the 600,000 are actually believers. An abortion costs about $500 on average. This means that in 2016 believers will contribute over $100,000,000; that's one-hundred million dollars for all of us who have trouble counting zeros. Therefore, if we could just stop Christians from have abortions, we would truly begin to defund Planned Parenthood without regard to a presidential veto.

After that lesson in math, here's one from statistics. A recently released study demonstrated that only 7% of women who were regular church attendees when they had an abortion ever sought counsel from someone in the church. When asked why, they responded in unison; the church was judgmental, condemning, and shameful. They felt like the church response would not be helpful, but terrible. They were probably right, and still are in most cases.

Having said those two things, I went to a seminar yesterday. It was put on by Care-Net which is a network of Pregnancy Centers seeking to care for women in unplanned pregnancies. The Pregnancy Care Center of Tiftarea, whom I work for, is an affiliated center. Our centers typically, not exclusively, see women who are unchurched. The seminar was addressing the problem of the other group of women that I mentioned before--those in the church that don't typically come to us.

They want to stop the money, the murder, and the mauling in the church. So what they are proposing is that the church be like the pregnancy centers within the church. They think that the church can and should non-judgmentally love and care for these women. Novel concept--love one another. Crazy, huh! Almost like Someone said that before John 15:12. Care-Net wants to offer training for churches, and ways for pcc's to come alongside the church (instead of the other way around) to help the churches help men, women, and families feel like the church is a place they can turn to in a time of fear, shame, and worry.

Training is good, but the perception of the people will take longer to change. The attitude of the church must change from condemnation to love. Our practice can be holiness and love simultaneously. We do not have to sacrifice our commitments to righteousness in order to look upon sinful people with compassion, and aid them in their suffering. When this is preached, taught, and lived out in the church for an extended time, perception may change. Hopefully church culture will change. Attitude will change. Only then will our effectiveness increase as we truly begin to rescue those who are regularly in our congregations, and those who would one day be in our congregations.

One-third of my generation is gone. Many from "Christian" mothers, afraid of "Christian" churches. Let's start changing the perception now.

How To Treat The Shepherd

While I was in Maine with a church plant, I had a man (who was attending my church, but not a member) who called me one day, and he told me that he always dedicates the first lobster he catches each year to the Lord, and did I want it? Duh. He brought it over, and it was HUGE, 3lbs! It was just under the legal limit where if they get any bigger, you have to throw them back. It tasted really good too!

The names have been left out to protect the innocent, and me. Only those in the Sunday School class know this . I was in a church this month, and I caught the last part of the Sunday School. The lesson was from Nehemiah, and was pertaining to the reestablishing of worship, specifically the care of the Levites and the giving of fruit, wine, grain, and money to help take care of their needs.  It was interesting, and true to the text, and the teacher did a good job. It was Lifeway material (so many of you studied it, and may have entertained the question), and the writer asked the question: “including, but not limited to money, what does a church do to take care of pastors?” What a great question! Having been a pastor for 11 years, I thought of the ways that churches went above and beyond for me and my family. I also thought of the times that we really felt forsaken. So I was excited to hear this class’s answer.

I sat in a meeting of ministry leaders and pastor once, and I listened to how many of them felt alone in their ministries. Having been hurt by others or by churches caused them to be very guarded, and afraid to be fully vulnerable and trusting. There was a longing for it, but it wasn’t being met. I thought, maybe we are doing something wrong? Maybe we have the wrong mindset when it comes to pastors and churches? Maybe this is the reason that we tend to have short tenures in the pastorate? Do we make the divide to great between pastors and congregants?

So what did the class say? They were silent. Didn’t say a word. “Ok, moving right along…” Wow. Do churches not give much thought to what they can do to take care of their pastor other than paying him? October is pastor appreciation month, but not all churches do anything special. But why not do something all year? Having seen the pastor side of that question, as well as having seen a lot of turnover in the first 15 months of my ministry here, I raised my hand and led them back to answer the question. This is a question that I wish every church member in our association would be required to answer on paper.

I think I am going to preach on this, but let me give some suggestions today. 1) Money is good, it says you love him; but, if this is all you or your church does, he is only a hireling. He is hired to preach, to visit, to marry, to bury, to be at the hospital, to be at the beck and call of others.  2) How about his time off. Make sure he takes it. Some preachers will work themselves to a fault. If they lose their family for you church, you have not taken care of him. 3) Speaking of his family. What do you do for them? Are their expectations upon his wife or children that wouldn’t be on another church family? Give them more vacation time than a business would; the church is not a business. It is a loving family, so let’s all be one. 4) One of the best things that you can do for him and his family is to let them just be a part of the church. Let him just be a church member. Visit his family. Befriend him. The divide between the pastor and member is far too wide. Shepherds had a close relationship with their sheep.

These are general suggestions, you have to ask yourself, what does our pastor need; not just, what is it that we have to give to just do enough. Each situation is different. “A new command I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you should also love another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” –Jesus, and I think He would apply it to pastors too.

Valentine's Day

No, I'm not going to give you the "real" history of St. Valentine, or just argue why we should or shouldn't celebrate or enjoy the day. I just want to think about something that I heard this morning related to it.

I was listening to the radio and they were talking about V-D.  They gave a statistic that said the average person spends $100 on V-D cards, gifts, or dinners. I guess I'm not average at my house.  So anyway, one of the female hosts asked the male hosts: other than gifts, what is the number thing that a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend can say to them feel special" (I think some research had be done, missed the very first of the conversation).

So the guys thought a little, and decided it had to be some words of affirmation, but they never really gave any guesses that were specific. So, she revealed that according to the study, the words, "You make me happy," were the best and highest on the list. So, then they began to analyze why that would make their wives feel special. "Do I so certain things to make her happy?" Or "do I say things that make her happy."  Or, "is it just being there." And the female host said that they were getting closer with the last one.  But the deepest answer is not simply being there, but just being.  Telling your wife that she makes you happy just because she is, and she is in your life. She exists. God made her. She is special all on her own. She just is.

Then I thought, we should be like that with God. Usually we aren't. We say that we enjoy Him because He has done so much for us. Or we say we enjoy Him because He loves us, or because He listens to us or answers prayer or saves us from sin or hell. But again, the deepest level is that He just is! We enjoy God because He is. He exists, has always and will always. He is faithful, just, true, sovereign, holy, infinite, zealous, glorious, immeasurable, eternal, wonderful, satisfying, awesome, marvelous, independent, loving, merciful, righteous, all-knowing, omnipotent, and the list could go on. He is, and He is in our lives, for those who are born again to the living hope He provides.

So, this V-D, and every day for that matter, tell your spouse they make you happy (if you really mean it); it will bless them. And more importantly, tell your God that you love Him with passion affection because He is!

10th Anniversary Video