What Do I Know of Holy?

A wonderful song by Addison Road asks rhetorically, "What do I know of holy?" The message is particularly appropriate as we begin a new year, especially in groups like the one I am a part of -- the Church of the Nazarene -- where we spend a lot of time talking about "holiness." We are right to spend time talking about such things. Scripture does: "Be holy as I am holy," God declares. Our call as Christians to "make disciples" is a call to be examples of a holy God who expresses his love though the person of Jesus Christ and then to call others toward that kind of existence. If we are seeking to follow and emulate a holy God, then talking about holiness together is time well spent.

However, this song I mentioned in the first sentence captures my imagination because of its incredible humility and deep reverance for God. One verse, for example, says that the singer knows the words, that God is "mighty to save," but in reality as she examines her life, she sees that so often those well-rehearsed sayings are nothing more than "words on a page." But then, the singer goes on to say, "I caught a glimpse of who You might be...." In other words, an encounter with the living God brings about not well-rehearsed answers that "sum up" the God of the Universe in a series of doctrinal statements or buzz words. Rather, the singer's encounter with God brings her to her knees, although it was just "the slightest hint of You." The chorus then gives a more heartfelt, humble, and honest response: "What do I know of you....Where have I ever stood but on the shores of Your ocean?" It is a modern day reflection of the awe for God expressed in Psalm 8, when the writer, as he examines the world around him, ponders in amazement the vast grace of God toward human beings.

Even in the short time Jesus walked among us, John's Gospel (chapter 20) reminds us that if all the wonderful things Jesus did were written down, all the books in the world could not contain them. So, while we do know a lot about God because God has desired that we know Him and know how to encounter Him, there is so much to know and encounter: "it is overwhelming to me," says the Psalmist. Maybe our problem is very much like the problem the singer expresses in the first line of the song: "I tried to hear from heaven, but I talked the whole time." God's love and holiness apparently transcend the catch phrases and bullet-point responses we often put forth as our definition for "holiness."

We believe that we are called to a "holy life," a life reflecting the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus does not give formulas for holy living, but instead He gives an invitation to a relationship with God through which we learn what it means to be "holy as He is holy." More often than we realize, that relationship includes (or should) times to pause, to be in awe, to recognize that God is and always will be much bigger than we can imagine and loves more than we know. This kind of awe, Proverbs reminds us, is the "beginning of wisdom." It is the beginning of encountering what we do not know. It is the beginning of encountering what holiness is, how we can live it out, and what the vast difference is between God's holiness and our own each day. From this encounter comes the deepest, most sincere confession: "What do I really know of holy?"

-- Charles W. Christian

Christian Famous

Recently, the gifted Evangelical writer and pastor, Francis Chan, after writing two best-selling books (including the New York Times bestseller, Crazy Love), and helping his church in California grow to over 4,000 members, resigned and move to Asia.

Unlike some pastor prominent Evangelical leaders, though, Pastor Chan's resignation was not prompted by a moral scandal of any kind. In fact, his resignation came about because, in the words of a recent article reporting the story, he was becoming "Christian famous" -- meaning that his fame in Christian circles was becoming enormous. Becaues of this, he felt that he was hearing more about "Francis Chan" in his church than he was hearing about the Holy Spirit. So, Pastor Chan announced his resignation, packed up his wife and children, and moved to Asia for awhile, desiring to get out of the spotlight and refocus his ministry perspectives.

While not every "Christian famous" Evangelical leader has been corrupted by their fame, I believe Pastor Chan's message and emphasis in his resignation are admirable. His actions remind us that the focus of any kind of ministry can easily become more about human gifts and personalities than about Jesus Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit. Isn't it ironic that the One who came to us so long ago in Bethlehem came not as a "superstar", but as a baby hidden away in a simple village? Jesus's birth, life, teachings, and death were real life demonstrations that God's vision of greatness and power are very different from those of the world. When Jesus "suceeded," virtually no one was seeking Him out as a "church growth" speaker. When Jesus demonstrated power, it was in order to point people to the saving vision of the Father, and it was not the kind of power (i.e., brute force) that the "powerful" of His day or of our day would pay much attention to. But, the results were amazing!

Jesus' unwillingness to grab the spotlight after His baptism (see Mark 2, for instance, where the Spirit of the Lord "casts" Him into the wilderness "immediately") resulted in a lesson that all believers strive toward: resisting the temptation to earthly power by allowing God to be the Source of our peace and provision. Jesus' insistence upon turning away from forceful intervention (see the arrest scene in the Gospels where Peter draws the sword and others seem willing to do so, too) demonstrate a lifestyle and the creation of a community that fights from its knees instead of seeking to bring its enemies down with violence. The most vivid descriptions of Jesus in the Bible are not about His great power or fame, but about His great humility and willingness to allow love to conquer hate, and the glory of God to transcend human ideals of glory (See Phil. 2, for instance).

My prayer is the Francis Chan will continue his journey deeper into the humility and integrity that Jesus wishes for all of us. Now that Pastor Chan has many more temptations, may he find the current "wanderings" to be filled with the presence of God and with messengers of God who will help restore his strength and focus. And may we all be able to point to more servants of Christ who would rather point to the One born in a lowly manger than to themselves. Jesus could have been famous -- not just "Christian famous" -- in His day. He could have had power -- real political and military power. Instead, He pulled away from the limelight and more deeply into the will of the Father.

May God's agenda of peace, humility, grace, and love be the defining characterstics of Christmas and of those of us who have fully experienced the joy of the Christmas message and its Messenger.

-- Charles W. Christian, Seattle, WA.

American Idols

"You shall have no other gods before me." ~ Exodus 20:2 (from the Ten Commandments)

A recent Time magazine survey got the attention of many in our post-9/11 world. It said that 47% of American Muslims consider themselves Muslim first, and Americans second. Furthermore 29% considered themselves Americans first and Muslims second. This kind of survey reminded me of stories I heard about John F. Kennedy's run for the White House in 1960, when the press asked him if in a crisis he as Roman Catholic would defer to the Pope ahead of the Constitution if confronted with such a choice. Kennedy (who would go on to become America's first Roman Catholic president) answered firmly that as President, no ecclesial authority or religious creed would outrank his allegiance to the Constitution or to the country.

Regarding the two examples above, it seems that many Christians are troubled that the 47% number (nearly half!) is so high, but are relieved at the 29% statistic. Furthermore, it seems that many Americans breathed a sigh of relief when the young Senator from Massachusetts in 1960 made his statement, so much so that they elected him as president over the more experienced former vice-president, Richard Nixon. However, as I read Scripture, from the Ten Commanments to the sayings of Jesus especially, it seems that we as Christians may need to rethink our answer to the following question: Are we more Christian or more American (or whatever nationality we may be)?

It seems the prevailing sentiment among American Christians is that faith is a "private matter" that is part of our learning to be a "good citizen" of America in general and of our favorite political party in particular. It seems that Jesus would disagee, though. Time and time again, Jesus contrasts the Kingdom of God with the "kingdoms of this world." Indeed, the final straw for those seeking to kill Jesus came about when He began making distinctions between the Kingdom He came to proclaim and the kingdom that prevailed financially, politically, and militarily in his own day! He contrasts His peace with the peace that "the world gives." He remarked that His kingdom is not "of this world," which in Greek is best understood as saying that His kingdom does not derive its power or authority from the world's way of governing. And, elsewhere in the New Testament, when Jesus and Paul urge believers to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" and to do our best to respect the authorities placed over us, both make it clear that our ultimate allegiance is to God, and when the two (the government/nation and the ways of God) are in conflict, God's kingdom is to be the winner.

Tony Campolo, the Evangelical preacher and sociologist, once ran for Congress in Pennsylvania. He was introduced at a rally by a well-meaning friend and supporter who stated that if Campolo were elected he would "carry out the will of those who elected him without question; he will be your representative." Campolo approached the podium to thunderous applause, but quickly corrected his well-meaing friend. "My friends," he began, "I cannot completely agree with the introduction I just received. I am a person of faith, a Christian, and I will represent the people of this district on insofar as the will of the people does not contradict what I hold most dear - my faith in God." There were some stunned looks and some pockets of applause. Campolo was not elected, but he went on to become one of the most influential Evangelical ministers and leaders of the last fifty years. Sadly, it was a constituency of Christian voters that was partly responsible for Campolo not receiving enough votes to be elected.

What's the point? The point is that if we are true followers of Jesus Christ, our loyalty is to His kingdom and His ways above all else. I wonder if the survey given to Muslims were taken by we Evangelical Christians, who make a point of saying we highly value the message and meaning of Scripture, if we could even find 47% who would say, "Before anything else, I am a follower of Jesus." If so, then we would be saying with our lives and our allegiance that when our favorite political party is doing something contrary to the ways of Christ, we would rather critique it or even abandon it before we would compromise our faith in Jesus. We would say that, while we are thankful for our nation, we will not blindly worship its ways or policies when those ways contradict the ideals of God and of God's Word. We will allow lesser loyalties to bow before the Majesty of the One who is King of Kings and whose Kingdom/Nation is our heart's true home.

-- Charles W. Christian

What if there were such a place?

What if there were a place where we could be completely honest? What if we did not have to feel that we were traveling through most of our life's journey alone? What if we could gather in a place where people, despite our differences, had a common goal of helping and loving no matter what, so that we could encounter God's unfiltered love at its deepest and most consistent level?

Such a place would require trust. It would also require lives so transformed by God's love and mercy that there would be patience and willingness to receive all comers without harsh judgement or ridicule, while at the same time pointing toward a clear picture of a God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. It would require time: time to ease into relationships, to develop some common goals, to discover common themes of God's grace and redemption as we recognize both our differences and those things which bind us together as men and women created in the image of God.

Such an accepting, free environment would also require the presence of unconditional love, the Source of which is God Himself as experienced in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian community would gather to mirror the Trinitarian God who is, according to Scripture, "rich in mercy and full of love."

In such a gathering, there would eventually be opportunities to have others speak words of real encouragement and assurance in ways that we can comprehend most clearly. There would be opportunities to be honest about our struggles and shortcomings without flinching or without fearing that these will somehow be used to harm us or shame us later on. It would be a place where the eternal "I love you" of God Himself would be so evident in the hearing, responding, correcting, creating accountability, and encouraging of others that His love would seem to drip from the very walls like honey.

The late John Lennon, co-founder of the Beattles, imagined such a place without God (in his song, "Imagine"). But, as we have seen throughout history, such a place does not exist without the kind of love and peace that only God can give. Although we in the Church have often fallen short of God's ideal community -- one that, among other characteristics includes the kind of freedom and grace described above -- God through Jesus Christ has empowered the Church to be that community! Jesus demonstrated such a community among the Twelve He called as the first disciples. They, in turn, moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, participated in similar gatherings. Still today, there are men and women, teens and children, who are seeking such a place. This cannot happen with everyone -- not even everyone who attends church or small groups. However, among Christians who are dedicated to being there for each other in such open and loving ways, there is hope for true revival to sweep our land: fresh renewal of the power of "two or three" (or a few more) gathering to seek God's face and to encourage one another toward God's best for them and for the world He has made.

Its fruit is a Christianity without masks and without walls. It remains the goal for every healthy gathering of believers.

Let us pray and seek ways to be part of the Church in such a way that the masks can eventually come off, where God's forgiveness and love flow freely, and where the Church becomes the true counter-balance to the phoniness, loneliness, permissiveness and despair of this world. Where we are gathered for these good purposes, Jesus promises He will there, too.

-- Charles W. Christian

Loving the Unlikeable

Jesus' call to love our enemies (see the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5-7, among other places) remains one of the most difficult tenets of the Christian faith. Most of us can keep from adultery, we can refrain from killing, and we can even be trained to be truthful. But, the loving our enemies command continues to be a serious challenge to our Christian faith.

We are told that we are to love the "unlovable." When I think of such a category, I think of those who look different from me, those perhaps born into more difficult circumstances, those who made some poor choices, or those who are not traditionally considered to be in the "in" crowds. Of course, these are exactly whom Jesus is speaking about and speaking to as He begins to build His kingdom in the Gospels. And, they are people who are difficult to love at times, given that none of us is immediately comfortable with those who are different. As hard as this group -- the "unloveable ones" -- are to love, there is an even harder group that Jesus Himself loved and called those who identified with Him to love: the UNLIKEABLE!

The unlikeable are those I would describe as not too different from us. They could be relaetives, schoolmates, co-workers, or even fellow church members! They often share many cultural similarities with us and may even live in our own neighborhoods. Yet, they differ in at least one key area from us: they really seem to enjoy finding ways to NOT like us! They nit-pick, gossip, and even embarrass us in various ways, not seeming to care about how we feel or what our response may be. And no matter how hard we try to like them, or for them to like us, it just does not seem to happen.

Jesus had people like this throughout His ministry. Certain leaders in His own community, key government officials (after Jesus gained a bit more popularity), and even some of Jesus' own relatives seemed to find fault in literally everything He did. They just refused to like Him! Yet, even from the cross, we are haunted with Jesus' words: "Father, forgive them...." How in the world can we do that? I can love those who are unloveable in the world's eyes, especially since so often I do not encounter those people on a day to day basis. Furthermore, I do not often (often enough!) let the "unloveable" get close enough to me to do any major damage. The unlikeable are another story, though. They often get close enough to harm me a great deal through things like betrayal, lies, gossip, slander, or just plain meanness! Love THOSE people? No way.... At least, no way that I can generate on my own.

So, here is where the good news of the Gospel really comes to the fore. Apparently Jesus has the ability and is willing to give us the ability to love the unlikeable, as well as the unloveable! Here are some helpful ways:

1) Remember that though love is unconditional, trust is earned. I can love people even if I do not trust them fully. Jesus did not trust Judas fully (and for good reason) but still allowed Judas to present even during the Last Supper, where Jesus blessed the disciples with His presence in a special way through the bread and the cup. We can show the love of Christ to those who refuse to like us without granting them access to our full trust until they earn it.

2) Mercy can teach us important lessons about ourselves and others. Seeing even the toughest characters through the eyes of mercy, even pity, can help us come closer to seeing others the way Jesus sees them. They are in need of a savior just as we are, and even if we are never able to be their friend, perhaps we can pray for a life-changing friendships for them.

3) I can learn something even from my enemies. When we seek to look through eyes of love, we are less likely to be defensive. When the walls of defense come down, we can find a kinder truth that can benefit us, even when the intent of difficult and mean people is negative. We can put aside the walls of defensiveness, even when we keep up our healthy boundaries with poisonous people.
Often when I encounter the critique or even bitterness of others without being defensive, I am able to sort out lessons I need to learn (though, of course, I wish these were presented in more loving ways).

4) We can all benefit from added prayer time. And, our enemies can drive us more deeply into prayer and into experiencing at least a portion of the sufferings of Christ and of others. Even when we suffer unfairly at the hands (or words) of difficult to like people, we can learn not to be that way, and we can repent for times when we have been that way! Furthermore, we can simply realize our complete dependence upon Christ for our confidence, peace, and identity, regardless of the good or bad flowing from others.

Blessed are the peacemakers...we need more of them, and we need to become peacemakers as we live among both the "unloveable" and the "unlikeable."

-- Charles W. Christian

Not Pretty...but Beautiful

Ethicist Stanley Hauerwas has been quoted as saying that the problem with much of American Christianity is that has mistaken love for simply "being nice." Of course, there is nothing wrong with being nice, as we often remind our children. However, Dr. Hauerwas's point has something to do with the nature of the Gospel.

Jesus came from a bad neighborhood ("Can anything good come from Nazareth?"), interacted with the "wrong" people ("Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"), was not afraid to confront hypocrisy ("whitewashed tombs"), and chose as His disciples extremely unlikely leaders (only Judas Iscariot seemed to have credentials that would get him hired at a regular job, and look how that turned out!).

The Kingdom that Jesus spoke about and invited all to join was one where its residents lived and worked in the toughest places and among the most downtrodden. Followers of this new Kingdom walked among the demon-possessed, the lepers, the overlooked, and the unclean. All the while, a message of grace, forgiveness, and healing love shined through each interaction.

Today the Church of Jesus Christ continues to live out this legacy. So, we are not just called to be "nice," but we are more specifically called to be loving. Love is not always "nice" at first glance, but it always promotes healing. And, we are called to do ministry in what can at times seem very mundane, ordinary, and even messy ways: embracing the shattered lives of those who need Jesus the most -- the "least of these." The results of this kind of messy love are not always easily measurable. Indeed, the Bible reminds us that much of what we invest will not demonstrate its fullest return until seen in the light of eternity. That's OK, though. The One keeping tabs is the only One whose measurements count in the long run. It's not a pretty calling...but it's beautiful!

Charles

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest;
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

These words are part of a beloved hymn that extols the faithfulness of God, expressed most clearly in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Growing up I remember hearing stories and witnessing for myself examples of great faithfulness. My maternal grandmother (my mother’s mom) lived 93 years (she died in 1993), and I always remember how near a hymn of the Church was to hear lips and how at night she would repeat a simple prayer with us when we stayed at our house. Though a childlike prayer learned in her youth, she prayed it with such sincerity and earnestness that I knew that beyond the prescripted poetic prayer there were thousands of other prayers prayed over a lifetime relying upon the faithfulness of God. Great is Thy faithfulness!

My paternal grandmother (my dad’s mom) is now over 90 years old, and although according to her doctors, her health is fading, my recent conversation with her involved her giving me more comfort than I feel I gave to her. There was an underlying confidence in her voice about the faithfulness of God, the God who keeps His promises and who finds a way to conquer, even when things and people around us (even our bodies!) start to give way. Granny Dee, as we call her, is what I would call a “truth-teller” in our family. Oh, we are all truthful people as best we can, but Granny Dee has a way of getting to the heart of a matter and speaking clearly. This comes from a lifetime of interacting with the God who is Truth, and whose truth is seen in real life in faithful keeping of His Word. Great is Thy faithfulness.

My brother and I grew up hearing stories of both our grandfathers making deals “on a handshake.” There were no wordy contracts that required many signatures for most of the transactions they were involved in, whether buying or selling. Rather, they did business with those whom they trusted, and those who did business with them saw enough of their lives to see faithfulness. This faithfulness, they would attest, is not simply something that came from their surroundings or even from their own natures. Rather, their desire for faithfulness was derived from the faithfulness in a loving and consistent and faithful God. Great is Thy faithfulness.

For my parents, their relationship with my brother and me was marked with love and generosity. We saw these traits through their interactions with us and with others. To this day, my brother and I can quote versions of the following speech, often delivered to us before we left the house on some adventure: “I don’t care where you are or what you are doing, you can always call us and tell us the truth, and we will be there for you.” What a legacy! We never felt we had to “hide” from our parents, although I’m sure we tried occasionally. Rather, we learned (sometimes the hard way) that truth, consistency, and faithfulness were the measurement of “success” in any relationship. They had learned it from their parents – and from their Heavenly Father! Great is Thy Faithfulness.

So, how does God measure important things like “success” and “wisdom” and “holiness” in our lives? The biblical examples have a common theme: faithfulness! When the Bible reminds us to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” the writer recognizes that there is a real difference between God and us. God knows this, too! God also recognizes that His perfection is greater than ours. Therefore, the way God seems to take measure of what it means for us to be His child, to be transformed into His image, and to become what He has intended us to be is not some impossible dream. It is about faithfulness: consistently allowing God to work in us, telling the truth in love, and moving forward as the Spirit of God leads. Jesus demonstrates this faithfulness throughout the Gospels and throughout our lives. And, God gives us the means by which to follow in faithfulness: He empowers us by His Spirit to be faithful people, too! As the chorus of that hymn reminds us: “All I have needed Thy hand has provided....” That includes the ability to grow in grace, to love as Jesus loved, and to be faithful! Let’s be people who seek out and follow the faithfulness of Jesus in all of our relationships. Great is THY faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

-- Charles W. Christian (Revised and Reprinted from the August 2010 Grace Encounters Newsletter)