A Faith that Works

The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy. I have started as the interim pastor of Westside UMC in Geneva, AL, and It has been full steam ahead. I am excited and invigorated about what God is up to!
 
This past Sunday, March 14 I began teaching a series titled Faith, Hope, and Love: Becoming the Church God Desires Us To Be. The series is based on 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10. Let me type it here so you may read it.
 

^2-5Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you're in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions. 
 
^5-6You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.
 
 ^7-10Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore—you're the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom. (The Message)
 

Several years ago I was reading this passage, and I really felt the Holy Spirit leading me to take this passage as my personal vision as well as my vision for ministry. The Spirit of God brought to my attention several characteristics Paul praised the church of Thessalonica for; however, it was the impact the Thessalonian believers had on the surrounding areas and region that stood out to me most.
 
As I pondered this more, it struck me the church of Thessalonica had such an influence because of three specific aspects. (1) They had works of faith, (2) they had labor of love, (3) they had a strong hope in the return of Christ. Then I felt the Spirit saying to me, "Brian, live your life focused on works of faith, labor of love, and hope in the return of Christ and your life will impact the lives of many, and as you live it yourself, teach others to do the same."
 
Works of faith are upward toward God and are an expression of our devotion to Christ as we are led by the Spirit. Our labor of love is an inward expression of our love toward other believers and our neighbors as we seek to build community, fellowship, and accountability with them. Finally, we give and tell others of the hope we have in Christ as we patiently endure our anticipation of his second return to set all things right.
 
This is exactly what this series is about --- works of faith, labor of love, and an endurance of hope. I want to inspire others to live by faith, be known by love, and to bring the world hope. I pray these series will begin to do just that. A "Faith that Works" is the first session of the series, and it will be followed by "A Love that Serves" on March 21 and "A Hope that Inspires" on March 28. Let me briefly discuss with you the first session.
 
The word work in "works of faith" is an aversion to most of us. We do not like work. Work entails sweat, dirt, and doing something we do not want to do. So, when we hear "works of faith," we often think to ourselves, "This is something I do not want. Keep me far away."
 
Yet, this is not what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about works that begin internally and are expressed externally. Works of faith begin on the inside and then they manifest on the outside. When we allow God to work in us, he changes our hearts and passions. After this process begins, we begin to incrementally behave in new ways because we have become new creatures. Isn't this what Scripture teaches. We are a new creation in Christ born again into a new life. Works of faith are a result of the Spirit of God working in us and bringing actions out of us.
 
Very often, we protestants become extremely nervous when we begin talking about works. After all, we are saved by grace through faith. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. There is nothing we can do to cause God to love us more. This fact sometimes causes us to reject any talk about works because we do not want to make a mockery of God's grace; however, grace brings faith, and the faith that grace brings produces works in our lives. If we truly have faith, then there will be works in our lives. Here let me type a few more verses for you.
 

 ^21-24Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
 

Wow! This is a very powerful passage of Scripture. "Faith and works are yoked together. Faith expresses itself in works." Faith and works can not be separated. Faith produces works, and works strengthen our faith. The reformers were known to say, "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Faith is the only basis of our salvation, but the faith that brings our salvation should produce works of faith in our lives. It is not that we are earning our salvation by works, but our salvation brings works. If the Spirit of God is working in our lives, he will propel us to works of faith. Our beliefs are proved by our actions. How can we say we believe if we do not act on our beliefs?
 
Our faith manifests itself first in our commitment to follow Christ, and in following Christ we become imitators of him. Paul writes to the Thessalonian believers, "In imitating us, you imitated the Master." This statement is life altering. I want to be a person who is following and imitating Christ so well that if people imitate me they imitate Christ. This should be a goal of all who are serious about being a disciple. A disciple is someone who has mad a commitment to follow and imitate Christ. By default a disciple is someone who has works of faith operating in her life. There is no way around it.
 
If there were no bibles in print, and you were the only bible someone could read. What would they read? If you were the only bible someone could read to learn about Jesus, what would they read about him? I pray our lives are filled with works of faith worthy of a disciple of Christ. A disciple is totally committed to the Master, and he gives all he is for all Jesus is.
 
As we grow in Christ, and the Holy Spirit produces works of faith in our lives, we as disciples become servants. Actually, their is no distinctions between a disciple and a servant. To be a disciple, is to be a servant. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. We as his followers are not above him. We too are called to be servants. If we are not serving, then we can not be called disciples of Christ. In the church, we have overused the word volunteer. The Kingdom of Heaven does not have volunteers it has servants. A volunteer works on their own time when they feel like it, but a servant works and serves on the Lord's time as the Spirit leads, guides, and teaches.
 
A disciple is an imitator of Jesus who is engaged in works of faith and is completely surrendered, committed, and called to be a servant to all.
 
Let me give you a list of qualities and characteristics of a disciple of Christ. Here are the works of faith that are minimal in the life of a disciple. Remember, our works of faith are upward toward God and are an expression of our devotion to Christ as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
 
A disciple:
 
Prays daily -- there is no substitution for prayer
 
Reads Scripture daily
 
Lives in community with other believers
 
Is a servant
 
Is a steward of all God has entrusted to her
 
Is is witness of the love of Christ in word and deed
 
Seeks to be held accountable
 
Worships corporately with other Jesus followers
 
A disciple seeks to imitate Christ by serving the world through the power of the Holy Spirit and in so doing lives by a faith that works!
 
Stay tuned for the next message of this three part series.

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A Stand Agaist Gambling

The following is taken from The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church, 2004:

The Social Principles state, "Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, and destructive of good government. As an act of faith and concern, Christians should abstain from gambling and should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice. Where gambling has become addictive, the church will encourage such individuals to receive therapeutic assistance so that the individual's energies may be redirected into positive and constructive ends. The church should promote standards and personal lifestyles that would make unnecessary and undesirable the resort to commercial gambling – including public lotteries – as a recreation, as an escape, or as a means of producing public revenue or funds for support of charities or government" (¶ 163G).

When asked which commandment is first of all, Jesus answered, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:29-30). Gambling feeds on human greed and invites persons to place their trust in possessions rather than in God. It represents a form of idolatry that contradicts the first commandment. Jesus continued: "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Mark 12:31). In relating with compassion to our sisters and brothers, we are called to resist those practices and systems that exploit them and leave them impoverished and demeaned. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:9-10a: "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

Gambling, as a means of acquiring material gain by chance and at the neighbor's expense, is a menace to personal character and social morality. Gambling fosters greed and stimulates the fatalistic faith in chance. Organized and commercial gambling is a threat to business, breeds crime and poverty, and is destructive to the interests of good government. It encourages the belief that work is unimportant, that money can solve all our problems, and that greed is the norm for achievement. It serves as a "regressive tax" on those with lower income. In summary, gambling is bad economics; gambling is bad public policy; and gambling does not improve the quality of life.

We oppose the growing legalization and state promotion of gambling.

Dependence on gambling revenue has led many states to exploit the weakness of their own citizens, neglect the development of more equitable forms of taxation, and thereby further erode the citizens' confidence in government.

We oppose the legalization of pari-mutuel betting, for it has been the opening wedge in the legalization of other forms of gambling within the states and has stimulated illegal bookmaking. We deplore the establishment of state lotteries and their use as a means of raising public revenues. The constant promotion and the wide advertising of lotteries have encouraged large numbers of persons to gamble for the first time.

We express an even more serious concern for the increasing development of the casino enterprise in the United States, for it has taken captive entire communities and has infiltrated many levels of government with its fiscal and political power.

Public apathy and a lack of awareness that petty gambling feeds organized crime have opened the door to the spread of numerous forms of legal and illegal gambling.

We support the strong enforcement of antigambling laws, the repeal of all laws that give gambling an acceptable and even advantageous place in our society, and the rehabilitation of compulsive gamblers.

The church has a key role in fostering responsible government and in developing health and moral maturity that free persons from dependence on damaging social customs. We urge national, tribal, state and local governments to read, analyze and implement the recommendations of the National Gambling Impact Study report released by the United States in 1999. It is expected that the United Methodists churches abstain from the use of raffles, lotteries, bingo, door prizes, other drawing schemes, and games of chance for the purpose of gambling or fundraising. United Methodists should refrain from all forms of gambling practices carried on in our communities and should work to influence community organizations to develop forms of funding that do not depend upon gambling.

The General Board of Church and Society shall provide materials to local churches and annual conferences for study and action to combat gambling and to aid persons addicted to gambling. The General Board of Church and Society, annual conferences, and local churches shall work with the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling and grassroots organizations opposing gambling to stop and reverse legalized gambling. The General Board of Church and Society shall report to the 2008 General Conference which stock market and securities practices might be considered forms of gambling. The Board shall consult with the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits and other agencies with investment portfolios in developing this report.

ADPOTED 1980

AMENDED AND READOPTED 1996

AMENDED AND READOPTED 2004

Copyright © 2004, The United Methodist Publishing House, used by permission

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Reflections for Local Citizens who Support Country Crossings and Electronic Bingo Gambling

In my previous post, I proposed some questions for reflection for Christians, Pastors, and Religious leaders who are opposed to Country Crossings and Electronic Bingo Gambling. I think now I will raise some questions for all citizens who support Country Crossings and Electronic Bingo Gambling.

It is said that Country Crossings has created new jobs to the Wiregrass area. This I do not doubt; however, has there been real reflection on the unemployment or financial instability Electronic Bingo Gambling and Country Crossings will cause too many? Has this really been considered or mainly ignored?

In the short time that Country Crossings was open, I personally know at least one person who has suffered emotionally, relationally, psychologically, and financially due to the electronic gaming machines. Certainly, there are others, which have been affected in much the same way.

Has Country Crossings considered providing some type of help, assistance, relief, or advocacy for people that would suffer from the gambling machines? Could Country Crossings provide counseling for people who believe they have acquired an addiction to the gaming machines? Could the establishment provide financial counseling for individuals who lost what little they had to the gaming machines? Since Country Crossings has created the possibility for such situations, isn't it feasible to consider how it may help to relieve these situations? If the answer is, "No, it is the individual's responsibility to know what her gaming limits are" or some similar response, then the question needs to be asked, "Does Country Crossings really care about the financial well being of the citizens of the Wiregrass community." If it did, it would seem, these questions would be seriously considered, and Country Crossings would show itself responsible for the welfare and commonwealth of the community. After all, if Country Crossings were to at least make an honest effort to address these issues, its persona in the local community would be more positive.

Before the objection is even raised, "Well, why don't other local businesses ask how they are affecting the local community negatively and begin seeking positive ways to address the issues they have created? Why is Country Crossings being singled out of all other businesses?" I would answer, "All local businesses and individuals should be asking these questions, and now is a good time to begin asking and finding solutions. Why can't we begin leading the way today?" The truth is, "No one is exempt!"

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Reflection for Fellow Christians who Oppose Country Crossings and Electronic Bingo Gambling

I have a question for reflection for all the Christians and Pastors and Religious leaders who are against gambling and such. Have you thought about how your spending habits have exploited people across the world? Have you thought about how buying certain coffee brands and other products is taking advantage of poor people in various places? After all, it is the hippest and coolest thing ever to serve coffee and doughnuts during Sunday morning worship. Is the Church contributing to the exploitation of coffee farmers because of this hip practice? (Oh no, not I, I have tipped over the sacred cow.)

When is the last time you have ever advocated for the poor or even gave of yourself to help the poor? Do you have friends who are poor? Were they struggling financially before Country Crossings came to Dothan, AL, but you failed to help them?

Look, all I am saying is, let's be consistent. You cannot claim to be interested in the financial welfare of people if you have not looked at these issues and possibly even others. To not do so is hypocritical. (Lord knows I am the biggest hypocrite of them all!)

Disclaimer: I am not advocating for gambling. I am just calling for some honest reflection from all of us. I'm just saying......

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Julie and Julia

Last night I watched the movie Julie and Julia. It is a movie based on two true stories. One story is about the early life of Julia Child, and her culinary career. The second story is about Julie Powell, and her experience blogging about cooking all 524 recipes from Child's cookbook titled Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Both women shared the desire to do something with their lives besides existing. Julia Child pursued a dream of graduating from culinary school, and she eventually became a published author of her famous cookbook. She also hosted a television show teaching viewers to cook French cuisine. Julie Powell had basically hit rock bottom in her career, and the only relief she received from her mundane life was to cook dinner each night. Julie aspired to be a published author and she saw no way this would become a reality. While discussing her dissatisfaction about life with her husband, he inspired her to blog about cooking all 524 recipes from Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking within a year's time. Julie accepted the challenge, and her blog became extremely popular with readers. Eventually, she published a book about her blog, and from that, the movie Julie and Julia was produced.

This movie highlights how the lives of two people who have never met can be intertwined. It demonstrates how the life of one can influence the life of another, and in turn, the lives of so many more are and will be inspired. Truly, all of our lives have impact in this world. A web that connects all people together, and no matter how insignificant we believe our actions are, they are touching the lives of people we may never meet. Even the normal everyday decisions we make can have atomic influence over history.

Julia and Julie both desired to do more than just exist. They wanted their lives to mean something. One was not content to be an ordinary housewife. The other was discontented with working day in and day out confined to a cubicle. Because of this, each woman followed their heart's desires, and both have influenced time and history and the lives of countless others. These two women represent us all.

No one wants to just take up space and waste the air they breathe. Everyone has a deep desire to do more with their lives than just maintain the status quo. All people, no matter who they are, are significant. Placed within us all is the key to unlock destiny. It has been given to us by our creator. There is a champion in us all, waiting to be unleashed upon the created order. We can't truly live until we have unlocked our own genius. As a matter of fact, others cannot truly live out their potential until we begin to embark on our own journey of faith. It is locked away within us. It's waiting to be engaged. Now is the time to discover!!
"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Jeremiah 29:11

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I Can't Get Up!

Just the other morning, I was getting ready to take my children to school. It was an extremely cold morning, well, for south Alabama, and I was making sure I was dressing warm. Over my sweater, I had on my black leather jacket. I had my neck wrapped in a scarf. My head was covered with a toboggan, and my hands were warmed by my leather gloves.

When my two sons and I got into the car, I said, “I am bundled up.” They looked at me and said, “Yes, you are.” I then asked why they had not done the same. They told me that it was too many clothes to be wearing. I said, “Well, at least, you will be warm.” And they said, “Well, at least, we will be able to move around comfortably.” Then one of my sons said, “We would be like Ralphies’ brother Randy on ‘A Christmas Story.’ You know when his mom put all those winter clothes on him, and he fell in the snow and could not get up.” Then we all laughed, and I said, “I guess you’re right.”

As I drove, I began to think about that little scene in the movie. By bundling her son up so heavily, Mrs. Parker really believed she was doing Randy a favor. Obviously, she was protecting him from the snow and cold; however, her actions put Randy at a disadvantage. As Randy was walking with Ralphie to school, he was knocked down, and because of all the clothing Mrs. Parker wrapped him in, he could not get up. So he just rolled back and forth in the snow, shouting, “I can’t get up!”

Then it dawned on me, we pastors often do this to those under our care. We do our best to help them and to encourage them. We give them the dos and don’ts, and we mold them to be exactly like us. Though our intentions may be good, often, we do more harm than we truly desire.

Instead of allowing them to wear the belt of truth, we squeeze their waist with hypocrisy. We teach them to allow self-righteousness to guard their chest instead of allowing them to put on the breastplate of righteousness that is truly found in Christ. Shoes for the gospel of peace are replaced for shoes of backbiting, gossip, and disunity. We lead them to put down the shield of faith and to take up the flaming arrows of the evil one to throw at one another. The helmet of salvation is reduced to an individualistic, self-seeking, self-serving message of protection from hell instead about the Kingdom news that heaven has come near to earth. The sword of the Spirit is proclaimed as the word of God only when it can be used for our advantage to advance our agendas or to keep others under control.

When we replace the armor of God with something of our own creation, we are actually preparing the people of our communities for failure. Just as Randy could not get up under the weight of his own clothing, often, those we have been entrusted to disciple feel the same after we have bundled them up and turned them lose to walk on their own. When they find themselves fallen due to life’s pressures or sin, they wallow in fear, self-pity, and condemnation, yelling, “I can’t get up!” We assume we are preparing the participants of our faith communities for the cold world they face day in and day out, but in actuality, we have burdened them even more. The people of our faith communities are often ill prepared to face life in a Christian way. We turn them loose to the wolves; they fall, and can’t get up. Then we fail to help them get out of the hole we put them in.

As we seek to disciple those who are part of our faith communities, we should remember well the words of Jesus, “The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:2-4, NRSV).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW4IZ0Flh3M

Jaclyn: Blessed to be a Blessing

Well, tonight I saw the vision of God for his people in action. Jaclyn Elliott, my beautiful fiancée, preached a great message on God's calling for us as individuals. She was living out her calling as she gave the message God had given her to a group of a little over 50 people at Love In Action's Celebrate Recovery (www.loveinactionministries.com). She used her blessing, her gift and calling God has given her, to bless others, and she done a wonderful job as the Holy Spirit worked through her.

As the Spirit of Christ spoke through her, others were being encouraged to live out their calling from God to become a blessing to others by living out their own blessing from God, which in this case would be their call from God. I was so proud of her and thankful that many others came and encouraged her after her message. God truly blesses us through others.

She is a wonderful preacher of God's word, and I am so looking forward to working as a team with her in God's Kingdom. It is such a blessing to be blessed with a person who shares the same hopes, dreams, and visions with you. I know in my spirit that God has great things in store for us as we seek his will together. Together, we will be blessed to be a blessing to others. I can see with the eyes of faith a tremendous ministry in store for us. God has been so good to me.