Lately I’ve been reading through 1 Peter as often as I can. Peter is one of my favorite apostles because he is the real deal. What you see is what you get with Peter and God did some amazing work through him.
In this letter, Peter quickly describes Christians as “a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” And then he tells us the reason that God has made us that way – “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Peter makes it very clear that the reason for doing or not doing anything is for the kingdom of God. That’s pretty heavy for me.
When is the last time you made a decision solely based upon the Kingdom of God?
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.” Psalms 40:6
In ancient Israel, if you desired to be a lifelong slave to someone, they would pierce your ears. David eloquently says in Psalms 40 that we can sacrifice all that we want but what God really wants is our whole lives.
I was reminded this evening of the simple but revolutionary practice of prayer walking. The idea was shared to me by a brother in Christ a little over two years ago and I uncomfortably participated with him but later learned to enjoy it immensely.
A prayer walk is simply a conversation with God as you walk. I think the great power of prayer walking is in sharing the walk with another Believer. Through a mutual conversation of thanksgiving, seeking, praising, lamenting, and sharing, often you will sense God right in the middle of you as you walk.
If you’re looking for a way to speak to and listen to God in a new way – try going on a prayer walk today.
This is a great video of Tim Wise’s belief about what Christian institutions need to do to begin addressing racial injustice and oppression in the U.S.
There are two levels to many social issues: individual (personal) and structural (institutional). Studies show that the vast majority of Evangelicals believe very strongly that social issues are to be solved at the individual level and that making changes institutionally only impedes people’s individual rights. The reasoning implied here, I assume, is the belief that when you make institutional changes or regulations to address a social issue, it would limit people from wanting to give individually.
So let’s look at an example on how this plays out. Poverty is a growing social issue in America. Many Evangelicals think that this problem needs to be dealt with on the individual level. People should give out of the goodness of their hearts and dedicate their own personal time to help impoverished people and neighborhoods. When asked if any institutional changes or government regulations should be employed to assist in this effort, the answer is typically no. This same reasoning applies to how Evangelicals typically approach the issues of racism, immigration, and social justice.
Does this reasoning make sense? Is there consistency?
Let’s look at abortion – one of the Evangelical’s strongest political platforms. The logic here does not carry over very well. The majority of Evangelicals try to tackle the abortion problem institutionally rather than individually. Although there are many crisis pregnancy centers and support systems for pregnant mothers considering abortions, most Evangelicals will choose to commit their time to institutional solutions first (i.e. voting, government regulations). To many Evangelicals, it would never be good enough to just counsel pregnant teens to not have abortions and not to vote pro-life. In fact, some would condemn others if they chose not to vote pro-life. But I say, do you vote to help the poor? Do you vote to stop institutional structures that exist to oppress certain groups of our society?
So why is there a difference in the way that Evangelical Christians handle these different social issues? Why can abortion be attacked institutionally but poverty and racism cannot? Are the sins of economic oppression and racial injustice not as serious as the sin of abortion?
Every now and then I am reminded of what really makes a good man. Yesterday I had one of those moments. It was senior sunday at our church; a time when high school seniors are congratulated and celebrated by the church.
In the bulletin for the service every senior had their picture, a list of awards and achievements, and then there was a small section for their comments. Most thanked their parents for all they’ve done for them and God for taking care of them. As I was reading through these most of them seemed pretty ordinary and expected until I came upon one of the senior girl’s comments.
She wrote, “Daddy, you’re my rock!” Then she went on to thank him for all of the times he played basketball and baseball with her, took her on dates, and just spent time talking about life with her. She finished her comments about her dad by telling him that one day she hopes God will bless her with someone just like him.
I’ve heard it said, that if you want to know what a person has done then look at their resume, but if you want to know who a person is, then find out what their family says about them. I don’t know this man that well but I sure want to know him better now. If he does nothing more with his life than what he has done for his daughter, his life will have been well-lived.
Think about what your children would say about you? It’s never to late to start investing in the greatest resources God has given you.
Will you be proven to be a good man at the end of today?
If you’re looking for inspiration wrapped up in realness and common sense theology, than Donald Miller’s, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, is a must read. Miller has a gift when it comes to molding real life stories into motivational fuel.
Throughout the book you are introduced to an underlying theme of Miller working with two screenwriters to write a movie about his life. This process allows Donald to gain insights into the power of story. As he learns what makes great characters and stories, he realizes that human life is really summed up by the stories we create for ourselves. Weaved through this underlying theme are the different stories that Donald begins creating because of this new insight.
After finishing this book I was left with encouragement and enthusiasm to begin creating stories of my own. Inspired by Donald’s depiction of people who lived great stories, I began to imagine what stories I could enter in myself.
One insight that really motivated me was Miller’s portrayal of Bob. One of Bob’s greatest qualities was the stories he created for his family and for others around him. By entering into exciting adventures with his children, he helped them become people of character. Donald indicates that people of character are built by the stories they’ve had to live through. Now I’m considering the many stories I’d like my own family to participate in.
The most refreshing quality of this book is its realness. It isn’t a sterile self-help book or a sappy feel-good motivational book. Miller realistically depicts life and the good, bad, sad, and adventurous stories we all live in and through. If you desire to get off the couch and start living life, then this book will help you get on that road.
Somewhere deep within me there is this great hope that someday I’m gonna make it big. I don’t mean rich or powerful. It’s this feeling like someday I’m going to make a huge difference and be successful. The more and more I talk to other people about this I find that I am not alone. Most people dream of becoming great in some form or fashion. Maybe it’s an American thing, I’m not sure.
As I pondered this, my biggest fear popped into my head. What if God’s plan for my life is to glorify him through a relatively simple and mundane life? Would I still be open to following him wholeheartedly? Prosperity gospel has permeated American Christianity so much that even in churches where it is not preached, the expectation is still there subconsciously. This expectation that following God means financial blessing, career success, or some popularity.
C’mon, you must admit you’ve thought it too? When something bad happens in your life, don’t you examine what you must have done wrong lately? And it doesn’t even have to be something bad, it could just be that something I’ve been hoping for – like a raise or promotion – hasn’t happened? I start going through all of the questions: Maybe I’m not reading my Bible and praying enough. Maybe I need to start helping out in that church ministry I’ve been putting off. There must be some reason why good things aren’t happening or why bad things have happened to me. Prosperity gospel has really permeated the Christian religion.
So think about it. What if God is calling you to be faithful to him by living a somewhat ordinary, simple life here on earth. Would it change your commitment? To me, that is the hardest call there is. It dashes my hope for God calling me to some adventurous ministry somewhere, or for him using me as an instrument to help thousands of people change their lives for the better.
The key to me is what Paul speaks of Phillipians 4:11, “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” God wants us to live for Him now, where we are. It may not be glitzy or glamorous or where you always thought God might take you, but it’s where he has you for the moment. Are we living for God where we are at right now?
“It is mainly a social organization, pathetically timid and human; it is going to stand on the side of wealth and power; it is going to espouse any cause which is sufficiently popular, with eagerness.”
W.E.B. DuBois- in his analysis of the Christian church (1931)
Has much changed from 1931? This analysis is strikingly different than Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Does your church tackle hard, unpopular issues and people?
Is your church scared of ruffling feathers?
Does wealth have power in the Church?
Throughout chapter 10 of Acts, Peter has taken several risks to obey His Lord. First, he invites three Gentiles into his home to be houseguests, then he travels with them, and then enters the home of a Gentile and communes with a large gathering of Gentiles. By doing these things Peter has violated Jewish law and will have his whole religious community looking to ostracize him.
In this text, Peter has just given a great sermon about equality and that God does not show favoritism or partiality. Will he back up these statements by living them out? In Acts 10:48 he does. Peter stays with these Gentiles for several days to further build relationships and to be an example to the world of God’s intentions for human relationship.
There are a lot of great talkers out there today – I’ve been one of them. There is a lot of talk about loving everybody and standing up for those who are oppressed, but when the time comes for action there is nobody to be found. When things look controversial the masses part.
Do you have people of a different ethnicity over to your home for a meal?
Do you intentionally stand up for the oppressed in conversations with those who are making racial jokes or slurs?
Do you deny your own reputation to be seen with people who are more than questionable?
If we are going to uphold the integrity of the gospel we need to demonstrate that the power of Christ is powerful enough to bring together different races and cultures.
