Author: Wick

Last month I was privileged to attend conversations on the topic of holiness at the pastors’ day hosted by the “Wesleyan Holiness Consortium“.  The two primary speakers were George Barna, and Mark Van Valin.  Today’s post will focus on the message from Barna.

He was speaking on the topic of “How to partner with God more effectively toward genuinely transformed lives.”  Toward lives that naturally bring about the virtues of faith, hope, and love…and yield the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit.  Statistically speaking (which is Barna’s forte), we currently have some very unhealthy churches.

Barna gave us the important reminder, that no matter gifted we are…no matter how well prepared the sermon is, and no matter how tight/seamless the service goes….WE cannot transform lives.  We need the Spirit of God to move in New ways.

He talked to us about his current research journey, that will be released as a new book, focusing on the “Journey” most believers (or communities of believers) experience.  He found 10 primary stages, or “stops” on that journey:

1. Ignorance (of sin)
2. Indifference (skeptics, etc.)
3. Concern (so what do I do about this?)
4. Ask for initial forgiveness. (often “fire insurance” type decision)
5. Involved (developmental, service, “what’s next” questions begin to be asked)
6. Spiritual Discontent (been involved a while, but realize the change is outward, wanting more)
7. Recognize the need to be broken (by sinful nature – need for God’s work)
8. Healing (once we’ve surrendered to God, restoration & growth can come)
9. Love (from and for God)
10. LOVE (for others – a very distinct step apart from #9)

Some important notes on the above:
 – These are not always sequential…especially the first 5.
 – Most people stay within the first 5 stops.
 – #6 is often the place where people want to “change environment” (go church shopping), but retain the issue at heart.  Often seen in young adults who are used to age-segregated “youth group” mentality consumer-driven church experiences…and now find themselves without a section on the menu for them specifically.
 – #7 is crucial, and often missed.  Majority of believers say they accepted Christ without brokenness.  The consumer-driven (avoid hell, or gain better life) models of salvation miss out on what Jesus is up to!

Barna then gave 4 important “next steps” for us as churches/ministries:
1. Recognize that EVERYONE is on this journey somewhere.  Where are you?
2. Reflect on what “transformational ministry” means?  We are reminded the “endgame” is NOT “heaven”.
3. We need to invest more church resources in steps 1-4 than we do currently.
4. We are called to be vulnerable in realizing these things.  To partner together, and find fellowship with others seeking a better understanding as well.

May we find ourselves on the journey, and locate those we love as well….as we seek the Wholeness that Jesus Christ is offering even now…

The final speaker of the conference was, in my opinion, the one that provided the vision/framework/calling that the other sessions made you thirsty for.  Rob Rienow, of “Visionary Parenting“, spoke to us on “How to change the DNA of our church?”

He gave a great presentation, beginning with Genesis and going through both Old and New Testaments, on how the Bible is not just “meat” for great messages, but is also full of “method”. (at this point, we Methodists smile a bit at our cleverness)  Rienow called us, as churches and in our own families, to “reclaim” the connection between the Great Commission and the institution of the family.  He gave us 3 main points in the midst of it:

1. God created FAMILIES to be discipleship centers.  Not speaking about a mom, dad, 2.5 kids and a dog, either.  Talking about great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, parents, cousins, kids, etc.  The automatic expectation throughout scripture was the impact a transformation had on not just one person, but on the direction of their family’s lineage/heritage. 

2. The biblical purpose of parenting & grand-parenting is to impress hearts of children with the love for God.  This purpose never fades or is reduced simply because they “move out” or seem to stop paying attention, which leads to point number 3:

3. God created family as an essential engine of world evangelism/cosmos transformation through the power of multi-generational faithfulness!!!  We see God’s vision for Abraham and his family in Genesis 18:18-19.  That multi-generational faithfulness begins with NOW.  Regardless of what has happened in the past, and what you’ve inherited, you can begin a LEGACY of several generations all transformed by New Life, and impacting the world with your own home/family/preparations for family. 

The calling of much of this comes down to Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.”  To impress this upon the hearts of our children, to model it as we walk together, and to talk about it in a way that reveals how important it is to the very fabric of our lives.  But it can be hard to achieve, if we don’t understand/think about what it means ourselves.

To love the Lord with all our heart, means to Love God in regard to “What I Love”.  What captures my heart?  What has the power to tug on my emotional strings?  How are we helping the “heart” of our family to be directed toward the God who has given us His Love?

To love the Lord with all our soul, means to Love God in regard to “Who I Am”.  Where does our identity come from?  Our confidence and reason for getting up every morning?  Do we humbly give thanks to a God who gives us an identity as sons and daughters of the Most High?  How are we helping our family receive it’s identity not from finances, social status, or culture…but from the Word of God?

To love the Lord with all our strength, means to Love God in regard to “What I Do”. What have we accomplished recently?  What work have we done?  What have we created, and where have we joined with God in “making all things new”?  How are we helping our family to be involved in things that matter to the Kingdom of God more than things that will fade in a few years?

Malachi 2:15 reminds us that God has given us marriage for a purpose. He makes two into one, and hates divorce, because he desires “Godly offspring”.  And no, this is not a call toward parenting “Duggar-style”.  This is simply the Truth…that God desires that following Him would be a multi-generational family together thing, and in/through this….His purposes continue to be accomplished.  How hope-filling and exciting…to anticipate together with many generations..the completion that God promises, and that we have all been living toward together!!

Whether this simply means we continue what we’ve been doing, or calls us to allow ourselves and our families to be changed…may God bless the generations and extensions of each of our homes/families this week….and may He begin with you and yours…

Last night we talked a bit about this passage, and the insight felt like something very worth sharing.  Many of us have heard this story before.  It’s an illustration of the Kingdom of God….a parable that points to what Jesus is bringing about.

There are two main messages we often hear, associated with this story.  Both miss the point by quite a bit.  Usually, when these verses are quoted or read, we hear one of two messages:

1. “Well done, good and faithful servant..” Usually it’s only these words we hear.  Often as the goal of their life…a romanticized notion of arriving at the pearly gates, and to have Jesus with a long flowing white robe (kinda like a Snuggy, actually), offering us our own Heavenly Snuggy, and ushering us into a giant cloud-themed living room saying “Well DONE, good and faithful servant.”  God finds that we’ve accomplished His “work” well in this lifetime, and we’ve proven ourselves faithful despite all of the temptation we had to work to avoid during our days on earth.  Our emphasis is on being “done”, and now being able to get on with what all Christians really want to do, which is to say lounging around drinking coffee and chai, and playing musical instruments from the 2nd Century….basking in the sunshine (which is actually the light radiating off of Jesus), and working on our son-tan. 🙂

2. “You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things!”  When we hear these words, many times today it’s in relation to a “prosperity gospel” type message.  That if we are faithful with the few bucks we make right now, by giving tithes/offerings sacrificially, donating to worthy causes, and managing our affairs with Jesus at the center….God will no doubt increase our wealth, our success, and our empire of sorts.  This is very popular.  We with little money would love to believe this, because it’s an easy path to success and financial peace (right?).  Those with lots of money love to believe it, because then it’s easier to rest easy with lots of money, as it is God’s reward for the sacrifices already made and done with.  But the truth is, you could be incredibly faithful with the little bit of money you have right now….and a tornado could still hit your home, and insurance refuse to pay for much.  But don’t tell Joel Osteen. 🙂

The Truth is, the story remains a parable about the Kingdom of God.  The words “Well done, good and faithful servant…” do come at THE END OF THIS LIFE, and are immediately followed by the next phrase “You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things!”

We will be given tasks/work in the Kingdom of God, just as we have many tasks at hand right now.  If we are found faithful with what we’ve been given in this life, God will respond to that in the coming Kingdom!  Not by giving us a large crown or mansion, or a “time off” couch and Snuggy….but with more responsibilities!!!  A word given negative connotation by an earthly existence that is often way too imbalanced….but how glorious will be our responsibilities when God has been revealed fully, and made all things New!!!!  Our tasks as priests and rulers will continue, and take New forms in the ages to come….I look forward to it all….and pray that God finds I’ve been faithful with what I’ve been given here and now….