Repelling others in the name of Christ

Have you ever heard about the woman who was following the Apostle Paul around and yelling, "Yo, listen up, these guys speak for God and know the way to live forever! Listen up!"

Like the pimped up car with the tinted windows sitting next to me at the light, her "boom, boom, boom" was constant and loud. It turned heads. The cranked sound system starts annoying me after maybe 30 seconds. This girl went on for days.

It sounds to me like she's really into promoting Paul and the cause of Christ. She's definitely not ashamed to draw attention to them. She's vocal and persistent. She's got a sketchy past but now she definitely seems to be pretty motivated by Paul's message.

And then something bizarre happens ... Paul gets tired of the endless noise and turns to her and shuts her up by casting an evil spirit out of her.

This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. Acts 16:17-18

The account in Acts 16 really isn't about the girl at all. It's about corrupt people making money off oppression and then making Paul pay for ruining their business by freeing her.

But, I'm drawn to the girl. Why would an evil spirit push her to keep calling attention to Paul and telling everyone to listen? That doesn't make sense to me ... unless she was actually repelling people by her actions. Maybe that was the case. The whole of Scripture shows us that demons were not in the habit of boldly pestering the Lord's agents. Or maybe Paul just felt bad for her because of her condition and decided to heal her.

Have you ever met someone who is incredibly vocal, zealous and looks totally committed to Christ but they repel people like classical music repels teenagers? Let me be clear, I'm not suggesting they are possessed. What I am wondering is if we do more harm than good when we take on the role of the obnoxiously vocal girl.

Most of my Christian brothers and sisters who fit this mold wear their "persecution" like a badge and are actually fueled by resistance and objections. When they get no result or face objection they become even louder and more aggressive. Gentleness and respect are far from view. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness ... nowhere to be seen as loud voices and passionate pleas ring out.

I cringe when my loud brother steps up to the microphone and I think, "Oh man, what's coming now?" When that passionate man scolds and wags his finger against whatever the cause for the day, I ask that the Lord might soften his words. I look around the room and see eyes roll and arms fold across chests in defensive postures.

I remember a young woman in one of the groups I directed who presented herself as super spiritual. She wanted more times to pray, more worship and frequently lectured the others about what it meant to be serious about God. She was vocal and passionate and repelling. Others just felt like they didn't make the grade when she was around. Until a weekend retreat that flipped everything upside down.

As 20 of us spent time away seeking God's direction, she spent most of the weekend dominating our discussions. But then, one of the young women found lice in her own hair. The super spiritual one flipped. She reacted angrily, called the girl "disgusting" and refused to be in the same room or even ride in a car with the embarrassed girl. While she threw her fit, another young woman who was known for having some visible struggles and making some poor choices, stayed up putting lice treatment in the infected girl's hair. She then patiently and lovingly combed out dead lice and eggs until the girl was clean. All the while she assured the young woman that it was okay and could happen to anyone. It was very clear who represented Christ that weekend.

The next weekend the super-spiritual girl shared her testimony and went on at length about what it means to love God and love others. Unfortunately, no one could hear her because her actions were still screaming so loudly in their ears. Several girls confronted her after her message but she would not receive them. She was not about to take any advice from anyone who she saw as being lower on the spiritual maturity ladder. She still saw them as far below her.

Repellent. Missing the point of Jesus. Twisting arms. Judging. Pointing fingers. Comparing. How can we be so blind to think that we are calling people to Christ when we see them running for cover when they see us coming?

Jesus didn't repel. In fact, crowds followed Him. He had to slip away to manage some alone time. He listened to people. He heard them, he called them by name, he ate dinner at their houses. He challenged the status quo religion and invited relationships.

The pharisees were all about lifting themselves up and drawing attention to how holy they were. Jesus didn't even make their cut.

When the pharisees are happy with me it is time for me to re-evaluate my witness.

I got, got, got no time ...

How would your perspective change if you had an unlimited supply of time and resources? Let that sink in for just a minute. I'm thinking that my usual annoyance with the slow teenager working the drive-thru might just evaporate.

We Americans are slaves to the clock. Some cultures operate with little thought of time. When my African friends say we will meet "tonight" I have learned that they might show up anytime after 3 pm and stay for as long as it takes until it just seems appropriate to call it a night. Time is irrelevant.

We like to have our agendas, our planners and schedules. But, we also like to fantasize about time travel and being able to manipulate time.

Enter God. Time is not an issue for God. He's timeless. Can I admit to being baffled by that fact? Timeless. All of time has happened at once. God exists in what has been called the "external present." It is occurring and finished. In fact, God created time and before He created it, there was no human measure. What time is it right now?

I look in Genesis and see a 7 day account. But then I notice that our time pieces don't even get hung in the sky until day four. Were there 7 days or not? I think there were but I also think that God includes time type stuff for our benefit because He's timeless. Our days our numbered, God's days are not.

We move to close the deal, wrap up the loose ends and then move on. But God is willing to take a lifetime or more to accomplish His purposes. In some portions of Scripture He stays silent for hundreds of years. We "drive-thru Christians" get nervous and start laying on the horn when He doesn't quickly greet us with "May I take your order." Or worse, we give up and speed away angrily.

Isaiah 40::31 Those who wait on Him get strength. They go further and higher.

If I had an eternal perspective I bet it would effect my relationships the most. I bet I'd play more games of Monopoly and Risk. Most of us value time more than we value people. We just don't have time to "waste." For most of us, time is money. It's a commodity to be spent.

I believe that God created us, trees, seeds, animals and all. Much of His creation consists of things I can wrap my mind around and, at least superficially, comprehend. They are things I can see and touch. But time? Time is not something I can produce or contain. I can't store it up for future use and cannot give my extra hours to someone else nor borrow from them when I'm in need. I have absolutely no control over time itself.

My time budget is limited. I have a very finite number of minutes to spend. I wonder why I have such a tough time recognizing that the best place to spend those minutes is in relationships? I wonder why my daily calendar shows that I live in a Christian bubble, interacting almost entirely with Christians doing Christian things. If I would just spend my minutes loving others outside the bubble, hearing them and building relationships, surely God would open hearts to eternity with Him.

That is the clear message of the gospel that Jesus preached and lived.

Where can I find a pin to pop this bubble?

From Holy Hal to Cow-killing Kevin

I disagree. You disagree. People have been disagreeing nearly as long as there have been people. People react different ways in the face of disagreements. I've worked with a number of different profiles in ministry.

Holy Hal moves quickly to point out that God Himself has brought him to the point of view he champions. It's tough to disagree with Hal since he sees imself as the mouthpiece of God on the every matter at hand. "God is telling us to ..."

Dicing Debbie chooses to slice and dice those who disagree by bringing their many faults to the forefront. Her attacks can be vicious and bloody.She moves up and gets her way by assassinating others.

Sensitive Sam perceives any disagreement to be a personal attack and is wounded by the person who disagrees. He wonders why the person disagreeing with him doesn't like him.

Politicking Pete hears the disagreement, presents his side and then, if not on the winning end, hits the campaign trail enlisting others to join his cause. He approaches the same disagreement from seemingly limitless directions. It's never over for Pete. No decision is final until it is the decision he endorses.

Fleeing Freddy avoids conflict at all costs. In the face of disagreement he leaves. He doesn't want to fight. He's been bruised too many times.

Defensive Dave perceives disagreements as attacks and immediately sets out to defend his opinion without much effort to consider the opposing viewpoints. He begins working diligently to put together a bulletproof defense.

Grudging Gary carries the weight of past disagreement and adds new weights continuously. He carries a lengthy list of wrongs which he will not give up.

Doormat Doreen won't disagree or offer her thoughts even though her team may need them. She doesn't want to offend anyone. She stays silent and goes along.

No-compromise Nancy routinely disagrees with anything new or different. She elevates her position by spiritualizing and attaching it to something she calls, "the gospel." She proudly stands on her commitment to "never compromise the gospel."

Complaining Cal. You know if his name is on your schedule, you're in for an earful of all the ways you disappoint. Cal always has some issue to discuss and something with which he is unhappy.

Negotiating Ned looks for common ground and works to bring things together for the best interest of the team and the advancement of the cause. His efforts often get people onto the same page.

Peacemaker Patty is concerned with relationships. She is unafraid to disagree or hear disagreements. As far as it is possible for her, she works to be at peace with all. But, if peace cannot be found, she is able to stand her ground.

Straight Stan is honest and direct. He will state his opinion and has a reputation for being a plain talker. He clearly states his disagreements attaching no other incidentals or emotions to them. Sometimes the truth hurts but the team knows Stan's motives are pure. Stan boils it down to the issue at hand.

Cow Killing Kevin isn't afraid to challenge the system or process and ask if it is time to kill a sacred cow. He is unafraid to disagree with man-made traditions or existing policy and ask "why?" He'll just as easily end an existing program as begin a new one. He recognizes his own biases and offers them to the same evaluation.

Captain Carole is charged with steering the team. She's at the helm with steering wheel in hand. She must make the best decision she can taking input from her crew. She has her own ways of dealing with disagreement from the list above.

I'm in Carole's position. I see my own strengths and shortcomings as a leader. I know my natural inclination to become defensive and, when burned out, would rather flee conflict altogether. But I also see negotiating skills, cow killing and straight talk bearing fruit.

I've had numerous crews over the years and have had each of the people above serve at one time or another. Today I work harder to assemble the most balanced team I can.

Holy Hal is passionate but he silences others since he claims to speak for God. Dicing Debbie leaves a pile of hurt people in her wake. Complaining Cal is a bummer draining all who listen. Politicking Pete is exhausting and makes the team feel like it is wasting its time by always revisiting the same issues. Grudging Gary gets angry fast and triggers emotions. No-compromise Nancy works well maintaining existing programs but stalls innovative teams.

I've found Doormat Doreen to be an asset when separate from the personalities above. She brings a new perspective when she feels safe. I've also seen Defensive Dave and Sensitive Sam either grow stronger or worsen depending on the makeup of the team.

My dream teams, and I have had a few, have included a balance of peacemakers, negotiators, straight talkers and cow killers. It's no coincidence that they fit the description of leaders in Titus.

Titus 1:7-9- It's important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God's house, be looked up to - not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

I'm curious ... what personality profiles have you seen on leadership teams? What has been their effect on the vision, mission and ability of the team as a whole? Pushy Pam? Monopolizing Mandy? Bully Brad? Welcoming Will? Fair Frank?

Where can I ride my bike?

Be in the world but not of it. Come out and be separate. Don't be friends with the world. Love others. But, how do I love others when I can't hang out with them? How do I serve others when it looks like I'm not even supposed to ride my bike on their side of the street? Should I ring my bell and let them know I'm coming so they can straighten out?

There's Jesus again, sitting at a well with a promiscuous Samaritan woman. He's talking with her. And there He is having dinner with a short, little tax collector. Woah, that lady is pouring perfume on His feet! What's the deal with that? It looks like He's definitely a friend. He's pretty comfortable! 

Over there, in the corner, I see a group gathering around a table. They look like they are ticked-off about something. They're mumbling under their breath and looking toward Jesus with scowls on their faces. I can hear snippets of their conversations.

"What's He doing with them?"

"Have you heard the way she talks?"

"They don't even go to church. What's he doing hanging around those people?"

Jesus notices their conversations but doesn't change anything. Instead He looks like they've punched him in the heart again. They just don't get it. They still want to focus on religion and are missing the relationship news he is living.

Do you think when He had dinner at Matthew's house (Matthew 9) that all the people who got together changed the way they talked, the things they joked about and their normal courses of life so they wouldn't offend Jesus? I doubt it. Rough crowds aren't known for towing the line.

I know that some people say Jesus didn't miraculously create fermented wine at the wedding feast. They tell me He created grape juice and it's silly to think otherwise because fermentation "takes time." I guess it's an easy way to credit Jesus with a miracle without allowing Him to take any part in people drinking wine. Apparently Jesus is powerful enough to make grape juice from water but He comes up a little short in his ability to affect fermentation. So close ...

The mumbling masses mumble on. Jesus tells them that He came for people like these and that He's going to hang out with them and share life with them. While the holy huddle sits in a corner complaining about how unholy He is, questioning His motives and grumbling about He and His disciples not following the rules, Jesus keeps loving people. He tells His complaining friends that they need a lesson in kindness (Mt 9:13) and that He'd rather have that than all their self-elevating sacrifices.

Jesus was altogether separate. He hung out with people altogether in life-transforming ways. His mindset was entirely different and separate from the secular and Hebrew mindset. He revealed the life and heart of God in the same Scriptures they had. It's possible to study the Scriptures and miss the One. Do you know what I mean?

The grumblers are still off to the side. They meet together to discuss ways to reach out to others but then set boundaries that make honesty and comfort impossible. They create surreal experiences. They list random rules. They schedule spontaneity and chance right out of the picture. The people they attract, if any, are the same systems types that they are. They program programs that they will like.

How many times have I heard a well-meaning brother or sister say the key to reaching others for Christ is to have more worship services? More studies? More prayer times? How many times have we rushed in to serve some soup to the hungry and then rushed out before things got uncomfortable?"Uncomfortable" happens when life occurs. Schedules and programs with tightly-packed agendas help us stay in control and make sure nothing awkward happens. Smokers won't smoke, swearers won't swear and no one will tell an off-color joke if we make sure to eliminate time for joking. It will be perfect if they all just sit and listen and then go right to their cars and leave. We'll feel good. They'll wonder what the heck just happened.

I can see Jesus reclining at the table at Matthew's house. Most houses were a couple rooms with dirt floors. The theme was multi-purpose functionality. Rolled mats for reclining. Finger bowls for dipping. Cheese, wine, vegetables and fruits, and eggs. The main course was most likely fish but may have been red meat if Matthew was pulling out all the stops. The smells of a boiling stew pot - salt, onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, mint, dill, and mustard fill the house. Some sweet honey or date syrup take the bitter edge off. Conversation flows, laughs erupt and life happens.

Belong. Believe. Become. I love you, you love me, you love others. Rinse and repeat.

The mumblers espouse an entirely different approach; become and then belong and then believe. Actually, believing isn't really all that important as long as one becomes (changes behavior) and then finds that he belongs (is accepted based on that change.) You can make the grade without believing anything different at all. Just do the right stuff and say the right things and you belong.

Jesus demonstrates love and extends belonging first. People react to his unconditional love by replacing their belief system with a grace-based paradigm and then desire to become like Him. Remember Zaccheus? Because Jesus loves and accepts me, I will determine to love and accept others. Because He forgives me I will forgive others. 

Being separate is not about going through a cloudy behavioral checklist determining worth, value or status. It's not about a random list of ever-changing cuss words and it's not about making sure your iPOD is filled only with the hippest of Christian worship music and absolutely no U2 .(Bono swore on television, remember?)   Being separate means renewing our minds with a system that allows for people to be welcomed, heard and treated with kindness. Being separate appears to me to be less positional than it is attitudinal.

I refuse to let your can of beer or the fact that you just said a naughty word put distance between us. I refuse to turn you away or discount or devalue you. I refuse to reduce the kingdom of heaven to matters of eating or drinking and the daily trivium of life (Rom. 14). I refuse to look down my nose and pass judgement on you. I refuse to join that table in the corner.

I choose to truly be separate.


Breathe Deep (The Breath of God) 1996

Lost Dogs from the album "Green Room Serenade, Part One"(Terry Taylor)

Politicians, morticians, Philistines, homophobes
Skinheads, Dead heads, tax evaders, street kids
Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim wits
Blue collars, white collars, war mongers, peace nicks

Breathe deep
Breathe deep the Breath of God
Breathe deep
Breathe deep the Breath of God

Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop outs
Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed
Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens
Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists

Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords
Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics
Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life
Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites

Police, obese, lawyers, and government
Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects
Atheists, Scientists, racists, sadists
Photographers, biographers, artists, pornographers

Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thespians
The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers
Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and juries
Long hair, no hair, everybody everywhere!

Good Friday

Silence.

What do you say???

Silence.

Who are you???

Silence.

Don't you understand that I have the power to execute you???

The only power you have is that which has been given to you.

Liars lie. They swear and lie. "Crucify him! Release Barabbas!"

"What crime has he committed? What has he done?"

The politician succumbs and does what politicians so often do. He sacrifices values and morals to give the loudest what they demand. Pilate handed them Jesus.

Soldiers. Purple robe. Mocking insults. Tearing flesh. Blood and pain.

Stumbling. Weak. "You there! You come carry his cross!" they said to Simon.

Golgotha. Lifted high on rough lumber. Gambling for His clothes. Vinegar on a sponge. Laughs.

"Forgive them Father. They don't realize what they are doing." He prays for his enemies even while hanging on the cross.

"Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

"Today you shall be with me in paradise."

It is finished!

I am reborn, spotless, a new creation ...

Feet are gross...

Maundy Thursday. It sounds like someone got confused. Is it Maunday or is it Thursday? What's it all about?

Here's the scene. Jesus and His disciples are getting together to celebrate Passover with a meal. We refer to it as the "Last Supper" because it was the night before Jesus went to the cross.

The normal custom was for a servant to use a basin to wash the feet of all who came in for the supper. But on this night something was very different. The servant was Jesus! The Jesus the disciples had been traipsing around with over the past few years, the man they had seen heal people, feed thousands and spend His time telling them about His Father's kingdom, knelt before them with towel in hand ready to wash their feet.

It wasn't the first time He did something that baffled them. He was full of surprises. But this one, this one was just too much to handle without someone taking exception. It was Peter. Peter had a history of speaking up.

"You don't plan to wash my feet, Lord? No way," Peter said.

Jesus was patient with him. "You don't get it right now, Peter, but you'll understand this later."

"This is not okay. I won't let you do it, " Peter protests.

"If you don't get into this foot washing thing, Peter, you have missed the entire point of my being with you and you have no part of me," Jesus said.

"Well if that's the case, then wash all of me - my head, my heart, my feet!" Peter said.

When Jesus finished He sat back down at the table and told them that He had set the example for them and that they were now charged to serve one another and love others. He commanded them again to love. Wash feet. Serve. Do the lowly job. Set status and position aside.

John 13:34-35 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other."

Maundy is from the Latin word to "command." When we gather on Maundy Thursday we remember that Jesus commanded us to love and serve.

Maybe it's just me but it seems like that "command" of Maundy Thursday services has taken a back seat to remembering the Last Supper sadly and reverently. The purpose of this last gathering was to sum it all up again; to explain it all one more time with a powerful display of love. Jesus took the place of the servant and washed feet knowing full well that His Father had given Him charge of everything (v.3). The most powerful man on the planet chose to wash feet to leave one last point of what He had been saying for three years.

Be challenged today, Maundy Thursday, to fulfill the command. Love one another. Wash feet.

Drawing lines while love goes out the window

"Come sit with me, my child, I have something for you." With a beaming grin, my Father reached into his pocket and took out a a shimmering cross. He gently he placed it over my heart. I watched it become part of me.

"You are mine," he said in a reassuring voice that somehow gave me freedom instead of servitude. It instantly removed performance and insecurity weights that had been accumulating for decades. I can still hear them;

"Jesus doesn't like it when you watch bad shows and we'll tell you what they are. God is dissapointed in you when you laugh at things that we tell you are inappropriate. Always leave room for Jesus to walk or sit between you and that girl you like. Be careful little eyes what you see." I got the message that I was a big disappointment to God.

"I did not send my Son to condemn you but to rescue you. It's about love ... love that allows you to be declared innocent even when you know you are guilty. It's my gift to you, my son." (John 3:17)

My Father showed me through His Word that he used to have a system that was based on law. He showed me how people failed time after time to live up to His holiness. He showed me some laws that seemed pretty silly to me and chuckled when he saw the puzzled look on my face. "Do you know anyone who could pass these tests?" He asked knowing that I did not. "It's impossible unless you receive the Gift of Grace I give you." (Eph. 2:8)

"This cross that I have burned on your heart is a reminder of my love for you. Get ready for people to try to add to it." I asked what could they possibily add. A sad look took over His face and betrayed the hurt He felt.

"Some will work to add regulations. Circumsicions are not a big deal in your world now like they were after my son walked the earth. But, there will be different standards added. People will tell you that you have to act a certain way to be truly saved. Some will spiritualize it and tell you have to speak in tongues, others will tell you you can't watch television or movies. Some won't want you to dance or drink wine or eat meat. And all are convinced they speak for me."

I nodded silently.

"My child, be about the majors. Love others. Please don't ever reduce my love to a simple series of do's and don'ts. When you become one who draws lines in the sand, you become judge and jury. Walk over lines to love."

"Sit with me for awhile ..."

Take the Pharisee-Legalist quiz.
1)Do you act as if you essentially have a monopoly on God's word, the knowledge of God's will, sound doctrine, and truth? ("God told me that...")
2) Are you often a "hyper-seperationists" in your attitude toward others? (Good Christians and bad Christians.)
3) Do you smugly denounce and ridicule believers who do not believe or behave exactly as you do? (John 9:34).
4) Do you have an outward show of "humility" and "consecration" while inwardly you are proud and self-righteous?
5) Do you want the praise of men; are you looking for honor as "the spiritual one" in the group?
6) Do you present your man-made traditions or codes as God's irrefutable eternal laws?
7) Do you idolize certain leaders of your group?
8) Do you fail to "practice what you preach?" (one standard for church things and another for "real life.")
9) Do you keep others from having or seeking true godliness by judging them inferior and making them feel inferior?
10) Do you act as if you are "favored" by God more than anyone else?"

(adapted from http://www.biblebelievers.com/ - an interesting variety of readings across the spectrum)

One thing is sure about legalists ... they tend not to attract people with the love of Jesus. Or, if they do attract people to their systems, it is not long before they become weighed down and discouraged.