Powerful Christmas Songs

Old hymns can sometimes not hit the mark in worshipful attitude and theology, the two components to a great worship song. But of course hundreds of christian worship songs are written monthly and a lot miss the mark as well. However, as I prepare and lead advent and Christmas services I began to reflect on these hardy little tunes that have endured so long. Often their music is so full and robust you can miss the message and worship of the song. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was never a song intended to live past 1868, but fits the bill here.

The first stanza is perfect for advent. It sings,

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.”

Advent is a time of waiting and often in darkness. Everything compared to Christ is dark and we await his second return as Israel awaited the messiah those many years ago. From darkness to light is not only the message of Christmas but of the gospel as well.

The last stanza also hits me in the theological heart,

“O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!”

As we live in this dark world and know how great God’s kingdom is, we can only pray as Jesus taught us, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matt 6:10. Descend to us Lord. Only he can “cast out” our sin and make us pure. John 3 concerning being born again is here as well as John 15 of abiding with us. How amazing to have a God who not only casts out sin from our lives but he also lives with us.

As we sing songs like this one this Christmas, may they not be simply nostalgic candy to our ears but robust worship moments, engaging our lives with God’s to see a glimpse of his kingdom as he brings it.

 

Spiritual Gifts and Our Weekly Gathering

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV)

As I read Corinthians, I believe it is the furthest off from describing where church is at. We often read 1 Corinthians and apply it to us by putting great restrictions on the gift of tongues and women and whatever else we pull out of it. But, the reality is that we don’t have the same problems as the Corinthians. They were wild in the Spirit and eager for the Spirit’s manifestations and with that here was a little chaos that ensued.

This is not the case for every church. In fact, I have been at churches and services where the manifestation of the Spirit is wild. But it is as though we hit extreme while missing the mark. We either seek the manifestations of the Spirit a little too eagerly or not enough. But the question is not, Who has the Spirit more? But, are we building people up?

We are not good at building people up. We are hardly active citizens for the kingdom of God, but most of the time, spectators. We sit at church and look forward at the stage (we make churches like an in adequate theatre after all), hardly getting out of our seat and barely getting passed the weather and “God bless you.”

But if we take this verse from 1 Corinthians, the principle and heart of Paul’s message become obvious and addresses the purpose of our church gatherings, namely this: “Let all things be done for building up.” O that we would each take up a hymn, psalm, lesson, revelation, tongue, or interpretation before we arrived at church to build each other up. Maybe it looks like spending time in prayer during the week to which we hear from god and he gives us a scripture or word for someone, or the church and Sunday was spent hearing those revelations from God. That would be a church service. Instead the encouragement is left up to the worship leader choosing the right music and video. It is up to the pastor to build a great message everything week. How draining are we to those people?

How can we be active participants for God’s kingdom at our gatherings?

 

A Youth Pastor’s Reflection

I had lost this post a few months ago after a youth leaders meeting, after which I was pumped for life. I was disappointed I could not find it. But bam. Now it’s back, so I wanted to publish it. Though it is a couple months old the idea and thought is still current for me.

Mid June 2013
Tonight the faithful youth leaders gathered to envision what The Lord has done this past year and where we are heading for the upcoming year. Reflection and refocusing. These are some of my favourite times of the year. This is especially true of this year as a purpose and a plan has been formed in years gone by and watching it evolve and develop into effective discipleship is joyful.

Here’s where we landed: action with teaching. Youth need to experience to learn and grow. The classroom is only good for so long. How can we do as Jesus did and walk and teach. Feed the masses and teach a lesson or heal the lame on the sabbath and teach about The Lord of the sabbath. How can we experience the gospel and embody biblical truths as a youth group? That is our upcoming struggle and I am excited for it. Here we come 2013-14! Lord, your kingdom come!”

 

For God’s Sake

“For God’s Sake Johnny, pull up those pants.”

Maybe I have been watching too many 80s and 90s shows but this phrase strikes me as an odd one. It has been labeled to me as a swear. Of course, scripture doesn’t bode well for those who misuse the the name of God, but I want to examine this phrase a little closer, according to some words of Jesus.

Jesus taught us to pray (Matt 6) and in turn to hallow the name of God. As Jesus prays to the Heavenly Father, he states, hallowed be your name. To hallow the name of God is to set it apart as holy. To hold it up in high regard. But what of this name? What does it matter about God’s name, it’s His character and being that matters after all.

Within scripture a name means so much more. Living in a culture where children a named to sound unique and not get picked on at school, we don’t initially get what this phrase from Jesus means. The name meant the very character of the person. Naming a child meant labelling his or her character. Jacob, from birth, was known as the trickster. It’s what his name meant and it held up. He tricked his brother into giving up his birthright. Hollowing the name of God is holding Gods character as holy and set apart. Which, if we call ourselves Christians, means we bear the name of God and need to keep it holy in our lives. Which for me is absolute surrender to God.

So back to our phrase, “For God’s Sake.” It’s known as cursing when in fact it should be redeemed as a phrase meant to bring awareness to how we bear the name of God. Our issue is we use the phrase when we are fed up with something, usually that something is moralistic. So Johnny pulling up his pants is for Gods sake because its a matter of Gods name being smeared.

But what if “for God’s sake” was less of a moralistic phrase and one of surrender. What if it meant, I give up everything in this day to God. If I wake up in the morning and exclaimed, “for God’s sake,” it would be to remind myself for whom I live. An odd thought from an odd phrase.

Of course this is a flippant phrase that is simple jargon in our society, but here it goes: For God’s sake Christians, hallow his name.

 

Well Done Thy Good And Faithful Servants

As I listened to Marc & Jason give their nostalgic wonder of beginning their ministry journey at Briercrest only to bookend it here, I have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I had nothin to do with Downhere and their success, but simply belonging to the same school makes me feel that accomplishment. I’m sure it doesn’t compare but I wanted to in appropriately quote scripture to say, “well done thy good and faithful servants.” Downhere has always had a great humility about them and it truly showed as they proclaimed Christ at their final show at Youth Quake 2013. It is a bit sad to see them end their ministry, which is a good thing. They’ve been doing great work and representing Christ well as the band, Downhere. That’s what I mean with “Well Done, thy good and faithful servants.” Briercrest and Christianity can say well done to this band as they wrap up their ministry. I believe the Lord must be saying the same thing. So maybe my funny feeling inside of well done is not so heretical after all. I am truly inspired to live my ministry as well as they have. So here I say it, Well done Downhere, the Lord’s good and faithful servants.

 

Fitting Into a Church

Fit. Do I fit here or there? Since coming into ministry part time and full time the past 6 years, I see something that’s either concerning or encouraging. You be the judge. People often come to a church or leave a church based on what is available for themselves and their family. Maybe rightly so. We all need to find a fit, but soon our attitude changes. “If I am a senior and there is nothing for a senior to do then I’m out.” Or “if I have a child and there is nothing for families , I’m out.” The list can go on. Here is a concern I see in our view of church:

Let’s just get together, aka, “The social club affect.” We do need to be a community. This means there can be events that we go to and are organized as simply social. They can be social for specific ages, genders or stages in life. The Issue: Most churches in Canada are small. There are often 200 or less people, busy people. People who only have so much time. Let’s say we plan a family event, a senior event, a children event, singles event, and a young adult event. All social in nature. Where is there time to teach people scripture? Where is the time to disciple leaders? Where is the time to pray for one another? I wouldn’t mind the social events if we were such great disciples that the events turned into a prayer meeting for our towns, or if we encouraged one another in prayer or scripture. But let’s face it, 2-10% of people are mature enough to do this. In result, church becomes just another social organization. Is this bad?

We have to look at the mandate of Scripture. What does God tell us the church is? Acts is clear that it is a gathering of believers. They shared everything together, including meals and money. But let’s look at what they were doing. Even their Trustees (who wiped tables and served) were preaching the Gospel to those who have never heard. They were men filled with the Holy Spirit and desired to see Christ fill the world. Is this our passion? Jesus told us to “make disciples” (Matt 28:19). The church cannot put on events or programs for every single group of people or we’ll die.

When we evaluate a church to say we don’t fit, I ask why? Why do you not fit? The answer is usually this: “There is not enough for me and I don’t see the church having anything for my family.” My question is this: Have you asked about the vision of the church and at what stage the church is at? Are they in development of leaders or programs? Are we concerned with social events more than growth of disciples? The church is more than its face value.

COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS: When the church says its a community, it means we’re family. It means we are a family who are striving for the kingdom of Jesus! The question need not be “what is there for me,” but how can we grow spiritually and work for the kingdom together?

Churches: We need to be asking this question and evaluating consistently.

Believers: Be patient. Especially if the church is attempting to move forward. Be a part of the solution not the transient crisis we are a part of.

North Americans(we) are consumers: We shop shop shop. If we don’t find what we like at Walmart, we go to Costco. If Costco is mistreating us, we go to Superstore. If one church is isn’t serving exactly our tastes, it’s time to move on. This mentality kills the church.

To be the church we must invest ourselves in a community for the purpose of growing each other in CHRIST through tough and joyous times alike. Jesus put up with us. He died for us. Let’s work together for the Kingdom of God. Let’s keep watch of our priorities and “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things(needs) will be added to you.” We must listen to Jesus’ words and the rest of scripture in how to be the church. Then we can be as creative as we like in being the church, but we must keep our Identity.

 

To Winnipeg and Back Again

Who knew we could serve God’s Kingdom right here in Canada? (The secret is I did). Last year we took a team to Winnipeg to serve the downtown with OM and City Church. Both of these are doing great work For God’s Kingdom. Feel free to click on their links. This year we took some youth again and again God woke us up to the world and His work in it. God gave us confidence in His Kingdom as he showed us how he works. We learned from different religions first hand and in their temples or places of worship. We were taught about sharing Jesus with the world in both the why and the how. We were given a chance to serve the community in events and prayer walks. We learned about cultures we never knew existed!

Now what? Did it really change us? Time will tell. Will be grab onto what we experienced and learned or will it be just a good memory. Does God’s Kingdom really matter to us?

One thing I learned: We have to be careful how internally focused we are as a church body. We need to be healthy Spiritual, but part of that comes when we stop looking internally and look to the world and the community around us. It’s ironic that to be selfless we normally look more to the self. The antidote to selfishness is to look outwards to others. Internal and external need to be help is sweet tension.

After this we realize that we do care for God’s Kingdom, we are just too internally focused to see His Kingdom at work. Here’s the Challenge: To not forget this. To take it up and to serve Vegreville. To share the amazing grace God gives. So this post is a reminder for me. It is a reminder to remember to serve and to help others serve God in whatever way. To share the good news Jesus has with whoever is in my life. Let’s do it. Let’s make disciples who reach out and are not intimidated by this luxurious world but saturated with God’s love for his creation!

 

Dying Denominations to a Thriving Community

I recently attended a class at Ambrose in Calgary and during the class on the History of the Christian and Missionary Alliance a comment was mentioned that I feel I need to expound upon. The comment was something to this extent: Denominations are changing. Loyalty to denominations are changing and so their identity must change as well.

These comments were made to sound like the idea of denominations are dying. Of course denominations are not a biblical idea, but I can see how they can model the idea of community. I have never been a denomination guy and have desired for the church to be one as God is one, but since being at Briercrest and joining the Christian and Missionary Alliance, my mind has changed.

At Briercrest I found the value of rich Christian community. Before, I was scared of the idea of a hanging around a bunch of guys all the time. I was always intimidated. Being in Eliason Manor (My dorm) showed me that guys can live in a rich community environment surrounded around Christ.

Denominations may be failing with their current model. Many denominations are shrinking. But, what if denominations reshaped their thinking and models to be more of a Christian community. This could look more like a fraternal union. But now I am starting to sound like AB Simpson. Of course it will look different than the beginnings of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but have similar values.

Denominations look more like they surround around a central model or business smothered with doctrinal beliefs and practices. The denominational head determines laws, doctrine, programs, etc. Denominations being a community of believers looks different. It is a means of support in Christ. It looks like a place to go for prayer and healing rather than looked at as a boundary and chains within which we are slaves to. It can be modeled as an encouragement and discernment centre for local churches and to ignite passions that start ministries. Getting into the denomination will look less like something to “achieve” and more like something to desire to be apart of. A denomination as a community becomes a movement for Christ rather than business to produce Christians. A denomination as a community ignites passions to spread the Kingdom of God so that people can do nothing but want to be a part of Christ.

Of course community can be developed in many ways and should be locally within each local church and its respective community, but there is something to say about being intimately connected to a larger body. It is impossible to be a part of every body of believers in this world, so denominations can become a community in which you thrive in Christ and other denominations are other Christ communities working for the Kingdom.

If denominations in their current model or paradigm are dying then it may be time for a paradigm shift. Denomination as community for Christ sounds great to me. Thoughts?

 

Lessons Learned from the Poor

Lessons Learned from the Poor. By David Guertzki

The link above is a post from a professor and mentor of mine. At first I thought it was simply another account of a missions trip. But not with David. Thanks David for this post.

Context: David is observing a class in Ecuador. Its a partnership class with Briercrest and Compassion International to combine in-class theology with the outworking of theology. Love the idea of this class and hope to join one day.

 

Sexual Exploitation and The Church’s Response

I read an article today that stunned me. Here it is: “Children sexually exploited by gangs” Or simply google Sexual Exploitation in the UK and you’ll see what this blog post is all about.

This article was written concerning the UK. This is a highly organized country right? I do not wish to slander England, but I do desire for change as is the call of the church. I am stunned by these numbers:

“Current Estimates say up to 10,000 children could be affected.”

“Involves children as young as 11”

This next one is shocking: “Three-quarters of England’s local safeguard and child protection boards were not recording information on child sexual exploitation, the report said.” The report was done by The University of Bedfordshire.

The question we encounter is this: What is the church to do?

The government is taking action on this, since this article was in part from the deputy children’s commissioner. So does this let us sit back and ride the government’s back? Of course not.

We are called to care for the least of these. James says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (Js 1:27). Between this and Jesus’ comments about little ones, I think we have a strong mandate not only to talk about protecting children buy to act on it.

This begins at home. Tomorrow I am helping teach a seminar on Plan to Protect. This Plan is to protect our children from such things. Church’s should first have a plan of how they are protecting their own children. Next we look to the children in our community. How are they being protected. I am glad to say that our country reports and keeps very good records of abuse to children. As the body of Christ we have a call to act justly and we must act (Micah 6:8). I am not sure how you wish to care for our children, but we must care for them in Christ’s name. Physically and spiritually. We must not separate the two as we care for them. Our goal needs to be as protective brothers and sisters.

I have been really mean to people who picked on my little sister. She is mentally handicapped and vulnerable. Not only have individuals picked on her so have systems. I do not take well to that. I have battled school systems, principals, teachers etc., to make sure my sister was protected and enjoying life.

This attitude should not change when it comes to the children all around us. When we encounter injustice, I firmly believe our gospel calls us to act. I realize we cannot do it all, but we can at least be participating in the capacity we can handle. I think of organizations like Invisible Children. This organization is helping children in central Africa. White Monkey’s and Free Burma Rangers. Women are being rapped and children stolen to be in the army. The rant will stop for now. Let’s just act. This should be a no brainer.