Thoughts on Advent...

I was thinking about the season of advent earlier today, and sat down to write some thoughts down for the next Missions Musings, an informal newsletter I put out at our church throughout the year updating folks on what's going on in outreach.

I wrote from a somewhat different slant this time. Instead of sharing updates, news and opportunities, I wanted to reflect on the season of advent and the connections that I perceived from a familiar verse of Scripture and how it may be an encouragement and challenge to us as we seek to share Christ's love with others.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests.’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them about this child.”
-Luke: 2:7-18

Advent: A Season of Expectant Waiting
Most of us are familiar with the above passage from Luke. So much so, that perhaps in our familiarity and rush through this contemplative time of year, we even skim it because of its familiarity.

I would love to encourage you to reread it and meditate on it for a moment with this thought in mind:
In today’s world, the only exposure that many people have to this Scripture is through the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, when Linus shares the message of expectant hope with Charlie Brown, who blew it again by getting a dorky little Christmas tree, one that could even be compared to “the least of these.” Who on earth would pick such a pathetic tree?

Yet Christ came for all of us, yet an alarming number of people in our world don’t have any idea of who He is. You don’t need to travel to Mozambique to meet them, either, they live right in your community. As representatives of Christ it is our calling and responsibility (known as the Great Commission) to share him with those who don’t yet know him.

When we love Christ with a passion, it is then a sobering thought to think about how many people there are who don’t (yet) know Christ. Of course, part of the reason for this may be precisely because of Christians they DID know. Were they hypocritical? Did they live any differently than the rest of the world? Were they judgmental? A great book to read about perceptions that non-Christians have of Christians is UnChristian. It is precisely how I felt for years.

If you are a Christian, how many non-Christians do you interact with, and even more so, have relationships with on an ongoing basis? Dan Kimball refers to this as living in the Christian Bubble, when we no longer have any friends outside of the church.

Recently a group from CMF met with Doug Diven, Director of Hand Up Foundation, (HUF), who spoke about his call to start the HUF Ministry. He described a “Holy Discontent” when he realized he didn’t have any non-Christian friends. And that really bugged him.

As I contemplate sharing Christ with others and developing friendships and relationships with others who don’t know Jesus and think about the above Scripture, I am both encouraged and challenged.

The Scriptures say that the shepherds lived nearby where the baby Jesus was to be born, and that they were busy tending their flocks. It reminds me of our place in our community and how we also live nearby to a place where great things may happen. Not the birth of the Messiah, but having the privilege of being the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors; while still tending our flocks (families, responsibilities, church events, etc.)

It also clearly says that the shepherds were terrified. Yup, it’s scary to do something new and different especially when the directive comes from unseen messengers…it’s more comfortable to stay home.

But the shepherds obeyed, and went to Bethlehem and were blessed. I believe we may also be blessed if we leave our routines and comfort zones and respond when God calls us.

There’s a catch, though, and that’s the obedience part. Ya gotta get up and do it. Hard? Sometimes. Scary? Sure. Rewarding? Beyond belief!

And finally, when the shepherds returned to their normal lives, they spoke about what they had seen, and the fact that “all who heard it were amazed.”

In a situation where we go out and serve, while we may certainly go back and share our experiences with others and be amazed (at how God uses us), I think the real amazement will be from those whom we serve. The question, "Why on earth would someone who doesn't even know me give two hoots about what happens to me?" It begs an answer.

And through that sharing others will hear about our Jesus.

This advent season (and beyond) won’t you join me in waiting expectantly for Christ and the opportunity to share him with others outside the four walls of church?

May peace abide in you and radiate from you as you pause to reflect upon the season of advent.

More Emerging Thoughts...Yuppies and the Poor

Back to the notion of caring for the poor and what that looks like, who does it, and what about those yuppies of the world?

The comment that got me thinking more was, "yeah, but what about the yuppies of the world? God wants them too! And THEY may never go into the gutters...and if Jesus is only there, they will never meet Him!"

Reading this comment elicited a couple of thoughts:

• Absolutely God wants the yuppies too..which leads to the next thought...
• The poor are not just the poor physically, but also those who may be quite satisfied (so they think) with their life, thank you very much, but are decidedly missing something that every latest techno gadget, newer, bigger and better can't satisfy. They are poor in a different way. Although, with the mortgage crisis, they may also become monetarily poor as they now have homes worth far less than what they owe on their mortgage...
• These poor in spirit present a unique challenge, because they believe in the illusion that they are in control (believe me, I know, I was there for years) and don't perceive a need for getting to know Jesus.
• I shared my frustration a while back with a friend that I don't really fit in in my neighborhood. I live in a nice hood, but people don't come out and mingle much, and the homes get bigger, fancier, more more and that is where the rub is for me. The excess is what distresses me. It is that question of "do you really need the newest, biggest, best, replacement whatever when the original wasn't even worn out" because of the difference that could make in someone living in abject poverty's life. Kind of like the question of if you spent the money on the tummy tuck on the poor (or the bag of oreos) caring for them, well...
• I think there's a balance here. It's OK for me to put new carpet in my daughter's room (especially when the old is totally gross) but I don't want to do that at the exclusion and expense of making sure someone elses' needs are being met.
• We did some Christmas shopping yesterday. Our church has adopted some really needy families. The nine year old girl in that family doesn't have much. She is physically poor, but also perhaps poor in spirit. Hopefully reaching out to her will touch both.

Can not the poor in spirit also be those who are living without gentleness, self control, love, joy, peace, kindness goodness and gentleness? Isn't another label for that group the oppressed?

I think those are the poor I am thinking about the most, those that are oppressed in some way or another, and that isn't limited by their demographics or socio economic status...

How many wealthy people do you know who are poor spiritually?

If you are a committed Christian, are you living in what Dan Kimball refers to as "the Christian bubble?" That came up in our prayer meeting with the founder of HUF (Hand Up Foundation) the other night. He remarked that he didn't know any (or many) non-Christians, and those are who we are to share the love of Christ with. And that churned in him a spirit of Holy Discontent. I, on the other hand, know lots of people who don't know Jesus (yet) and I am to love them. Really love them. So that includes my neighbor's whose consumerism makes me ill at times (and who at other times I viewed with more than a sprinkle of righteous indignation, shame on me!). So he radically changed his life.

That is transformation. And God is blessing it.

Peace.