Knock and It Shall Be Opened

Luke 11:5-10

5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness [or persistence] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

If your neighbor came knocking on your door at three in the morning saying, "Hey man, I need some bread." You would probably react the same way the man in the story did. But, if he kept knocking and asking, knocking and asking, you would want to do anything to make the noise go away. So he would get his bread. Not because "he is your friend", but because of "the man's boldness".

What is more likely to get your attention? Someone quietly asking every now and then if you could help them with something, or someone on their knees every day begging you to get them through this trial? Which person would you be most likely to help? Which person seems more passionate about what they need? If you were asking God for something or just thanking Him for all that He's done, which technique is more likely to show Him how much you love and need Him?

I put all this in here to say, when we're coming to God with our burdens, shouldn't we come as the friend in the night? Loud, Bold, Persistent, and Passionate.

Who has our attention?

We are reading the gospel according to Luke in the park, and I just wanted to share something that stands out to me.

Let's be honest. We have a tendency to hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of important people. When Barack Obama speaks, we listen to every word that he says. We analyze, criticize, memorize, and sometimes even praise his words. This is the reason we have 17 news stations, so we can hear people discuss the ramifications of what he or any other political figure has said. These important people have our attention!

But is this where we are to hear from God?

Luke chapter 3 begins in a very intersting way. It starts with Luke telling Theophilus (and us) who the important people are. Here is Luke 3.1-2a:

"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high preisthood of Annas and Caiaphas..."

What a line up! Emperor, Governor, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, Tetrarch, High Priest! These are some important people that Luke is mentioning. But Luke goes on to say...

"the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3.2b-3)

After listing all of these prominent men, Luke states that the word of God came to John, a man who lived in the wilderness. John is pretty much a nobody. He doesn't have a special title. But if we've been listening closely, we will remember that John's father (who was filled with the Holy Spirit) has already told us about John's one-of-a-kind mission:

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." (Luke 1.76-79)

The title-less John will inform a hurting people that their salvation has arrived. He will inform the people that have been sitting in darkness of the sunshine that is on the way! John will. Not Caesar, not Pilate, not Herod, not Philip, not Lysanias, not Annas, or Caiaphas. John, the son of Zacharias, a wilderness dweller. The other folks may be making headlines, but John is preparing the way for Jesus. Luke wants us to know that John's preparation for Jesus is God's word to His people.

God's word doesn't always shout out where men usually expect important things to be said. It may be shouting out in the wilderness. God's word doesn't have to come from the high-profile people. It may be coming from someone who appears to be quite "unqualified". Wherever God's word comes from we can be sure of this, it will be preparing us for Jesus. Jesus and what He has to say is most worthy of our attention, even though it might not be making headlines.

Come join us at Fireside Park (MWF @ 6PM) as we hear from the one who is our salvation!

communion and community

Jesus is a light of revelation to the nations and the glory of God's people Israel (Luke 2:32)  In  tonight's scripture reading at the park we heard of Simeon from the Gospel of Luke chapter 2.  Simeon was a man in communion with God. Because He was in communion with God, he was enabled by the Holy Spirit, not only to see Jesus, but to recognize Jesus as the salvation of God's people.  What a privileged position Simeon had. Simeon was in such tight communion with God, that God gave him discernment to enjoy the only true hope. That hope is Jesus Christ, and God has granted us the very same hope and the very same joy. He is at work in the lives of many individuals here in Oceanside.  Together we desire to grow in our personal communion with God and encourage others along the same lines.  It is true that communion with God will come to expression in community with others.  If founded on true communion, the community will function as a microcosm, or miniature version, of the spiritual community of all who are united to Jesus Christ by faith.
That is why at the corner house, we are looking for new community founded on real communion. We are thrilled to join Simeon in seeing what God is doing through Jesus.   Jesus is the salvation of the Lord, He is the light of revelation to the Gentiles, and He is the glory of his communing  people, Israel. You are welcome to join us in communion and community.

A little more "Total Church" from their introduction pg. 18

I like this list of possible adjustments that might turn up as we pursue some Biblical re-thinking about the "success" of our local church. 

Being both gospel-centered and community-centered might mean:
-seeing church as an identity instead of a responsibility to be juggled along with other commitments
-celebrating ordinary life as the context in which the word of God is proclaimed with "God-talk" as a normal   feature of everyday conversation
-running fewer evangelistic events, youth clubs, and social projects and spending more time sharing our lives with unbelievers
-starting new congregations instead of growing existing ones
-preparing bible talks with other people instead of just studying alone at a desk
-adopting a 24-7 approach to mission and pastoral care instead of starting ministry programs
-switching the emphasis from bible teaching to bible learning and action
-spending more time with people on the margins of society
-learning to disciple one another-and to be discipled-day by day
-having churches that are messy instead of churches that are trying to pretend
  We have called this book Total Church.  Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter. It is an identity that is ours in Christ. It is an identity that shapes the whole of life so that life and mission become "total church."

Here is a link to info on the book "Total Church"
http://www.amazon.com/Total-Church-Radical-Reshaping-Community/dp/1844741915

Total Church

 "Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community"  is the best book I've read on doing, and being, "church" (ecclesiology).  It covers a perspective that many of us would recognize as a Biblical emphasis on the real, local expression of Church life.  I Think its a good read for all Christians and It may be especially helpful for leaders of churches and small groups. Here is a paragraph from the introduction:

Alan is the leader of a small Baptist church. He moved to lead his suburban congregation five years ago after several years of working in industry and three years of studying in a theological college.  He has seen a number of people join the church, but not as many as he had hoped.  They have a thriving mothers-and-toddlers' group, a solid youth work program, and an accomplished music group.  And yet Alan can't help feeling that the church is only scratching the surface. Truth be told, it feels as if ministry has become a production line: churning out sermons, putting on events, trying to generate another wave of enthusiasm for evangelism. If only there was another way of doing church.

The introduction sets forth a few familiar scenarios which lead the reader through a review of some of our presuppositions and possible misconceptions on church life.  The authors are interested in helping Christians understand the biblical emphasis upon "gospel" and "community" at the center of their christian identity. I reckon it is filled with very helpful, biblical, thinking. Let me know what you think of it.

community

I am really looking forward to God granting me the patience I need to participate in building church community...even if that building of church community is to the negligence of my more natural preference for a "successful" church "event". May the LORD help me!   : )       -Jeff

Overcoming Evil: The Law Versus The “Hero” in Batman: The Dark Knight

For a long time I have mocked one of my best friends because of his love for comic books. Reading a book with pictures seems so 3rd grade. And while I still, to this day have never read a graphic novel, I cannot help but be captivated by stories about superheroes. Gone are the days of a naïve focus on the superpower of the superhero. Today, I welcome the more mature, thematically-focused approach to such stories.

The more I watch Batman: The Dark Knight the more I love it. I love it because not only is it an entertaining movie, but it is a movie that is seeking to answer the question, “How do we overcome evil?” Sure, professors in ivory towers discuss how to solve “the problem of evil” philosophically, but what about the average citizen of Gotham city? It is one thing to have a solution worked out in our heads, it’s another thing to have evil visit our own doorstep.

Batman: The Dark Knight offers two ways to solve Gotham’s problem with evil. As the city begins to be rundown by mob men seeking to make a good chunk of change, Harvey Dent, Gotham’s District Attorney, steps in as the arm of the law. Dent seeks to bring about justice without compromise (or maybe a teensy-weensy bit of compromise) no matter the cost. Batman, on the other hand, is not burdened down with rules of a legal system and thus has more freedom to do what he wants in the name of justice.

Both Commissioner Gordon and Batman see hope in Harvey Dent. They both acknowledge that Gotham needs a lasting change that Batman can assist with, but never provide in full; Batman cannot provide such change because as Lucius Fox points out, Batman has “too much power for one man.” This is what Rachel Dawes explains to Dent at dinner with Bruce and his date. In support of Batman, Dent cites Rome as an example of one man taking over to provide justice. Dawes reminds Dent that Caesar never gave up the power that was granted to him and became a tyrant. Gordon and Batman turn to Dent as the hope of justice for Gotham City.

If the Joker were not involved in the story, either of these ways (the law or the hero) might prove to be effective in conquering evil. However, the Joker throws all of this off; with the Joker, there seems to be no sign victory over evil for the “good guys.” The Joker plays his cards right, and proves to be too much for Gordon and Batman: “[He] took Gotham’s white knight, and brought him down to [his] level.” The Joker explains that “madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push.” Through the Joker, this movie is at least saying that evil is hard to put in a chokehold even for, as Batman states in reference to Dent, “the best of us.” Alfred says, “some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money…they can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” The reason evil usually defeats good is because evil does not play by the same rules. It’s chaotic! The Joker wins because everyone else is playing by “the rules.” When people think they have him cornered, he uses the trap door that no one else knew existed.

Have you ever tried to play a game with someone who cheats? You have two choice: (1) Cheat back or (2) Stop playing the game all together. The old adage, “Cheaters never win,” is a pipe dream. It is out of touch with reality. It’s more like, “Cheaters prevent non-cheaters from winning.”

So where am I going with all of this? Superhero movies reveal two things about our world:

1. Evil cannot be defeated by Law.

2. In desperate times, people will allow for a single man to provide justice, but we fear one man having too much power.

The Bible is a great place to find both of these realities at work. The people of Israel are called to be God’s special people and are given God’s special law. This law is meant to bring blessing and life. But the law proved to be unable to control the people as evil and sin still remained. When the people of Israel are finally given kings, their kings abuse their power by levying heavy taxes and stealing land from the people.

We have a hope of “Cheaters never winning,” with Jesus. The New Testament writers see Jesus as a person who overcame evil, even though it looked like evil got the best of him. Jesus’ willingness to die for God’s people shows that he is able to be trusted with all power and glory and honor and dominion. May we look to him with a steadfastness of hope!

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin…” -Romans 8:3