Author: Wick

From “A Plain Account of the People Called Methodists“

And yes, I recognize that John Wesley may not have been an advocate of how some small groups operate today. To read a quick summary of the purpose/details of his groups…check out this link. Small groups today could gain something from the heart for God/others found in these.

“11. But it was not long before an objection was made to this, which had not once entered into my thought: — “Is not this making a schism? Is not the joining these people together, gathering Churches out of Churches?”

It was easily answered, If you mean only gathering people out of buildings called churches, it is. But if you mean, dividing Christians from Christians and so destroying Christian fellowship, it is not. For, (1.) These were not Christians before they were thus joined. Most of them were barefaced Heathens. (2.) Neither are they Christians, from whom you suppose them to be divided. You will not look me in the face and say they are. What! drunken Christians! cursing and swearing Christians! lying Christians! cheating Christians! If these are Christians at all, they are devil Christians, as the poor Malabarians term them. (3.) Neither are they divided any more than they were before, even from these wretched devil Christians. They are as ready as ever to assist them, and to perform every office of real kindness towards them. (4.) If it be said, “But there are some true Christians in the parish, and you destroy the Christian fellowship between these and them; “I answer, That which never existed, cannot be destroyed. But the fellowship you speak of never existed. Therefore it cannot be destroyed. Which of those true Christians had any such fellowship with these? Who watched over them in love? Who marked their growth in grace? Who advised and exhorted them from time to time? Who prayed with them and for them, as they had need? This, and this alone, is Christian fellowship:

But, alas! where is it to be found? Look east or west, north or south; name what parish you please: Is this Christian fellowship there? Rather, are not the bulk of the parishioners a mere rope of sand? What Christian connection is there between them? What intercourse in spiritual things?

What watching over each other’s souls? What bearing of one another’s burdens? What a mere jest is it then, to talk so gravely of destroying what never was! The real truth is just the reverse of this: We introduce Christian fellowship where it was utterly destroyed. And the fruits of it have been peace, joy, love, and zeal for every good word and work.”

Recently I listened to the 2008 discussion between NT Wright and Bart Ehrman on “The Problem of Evil”. They introduced both men as widely renowned scholars and men of certain status in their fields. There was appropriate applause. Then NT Wright began with a 20 minute message of how he has a real Hope in the midst of grappling with the existence of evil. I’m a bit biased, obviously, but it was a solid 20 minutes that I think a LOT of Christians NEED to listen to.

Then it was time for Mr. Ehrman. A one time Baptist pastor and theology professor who became an atheist after a journey of biblical scholarship combined with how much is wrong with the world…etc. Granted, I’ve never heard of this man or heard him speak. But the difference between his attitude/approach to scripture and life in general; and the way he spoke almost made me wonder how he would be given the same podium as Wright. But a few of the key phrases, and opinions he presented over and over again brought up a good point.

Lately I’ve been spending time in the wonder of the “Foolishness” of God. When we stop pretending Christ makes sense in our world, and stop selling God as a one-way ticket to avoiding hell….Christianity becomes a whole lot more real and revolutionary, and most importantly – NEEDED in our world. But it’s still foolishness.

Now, a lot of what Mr.Ehrman spoke about are beliefs that Christians have somehow gotten over the centuries without much foundation. Wright would challenge many of those beliefs with just as harsh a rhetoric. I haven’t been able to listen to the part where they’re each allowed a rebuttal, but I’m looking forward to it. But to focus on (people who dismiss “evil” as a simple problem that was “dealt” with in a simple way by God……people who believe that there’s a rapture coming soon where we’re all gonna get “sucked up into heaven”….or focus on people who put their foot down that all creation was created in 6 days, and evolution is satans tool”) and to spend time calling that foolish is to miss the true redeeming foolishness of the Gospel.

This is the same foolishness highlighted in just about any atheist blog/book or popular movie also. Atheism and believers in other faiths attempt to promote THESE as the types of foolishness we are known for. And many Christians will sit back and say “well yes…we ARE supposed to be fools for Christ…so this is fine with me.”

We’re not foolish because of our biblical interpretation. We’re NOT foolish because we try to force God’s Kingdom in public and unloving ways around the world. We’re not foolish for believing in a God that we can’t even begin to understand, but we love to try. We’re foolish for the Gospel.

Foolish for letting go of power. For giving without expecting return. For loving to the point of death, even those who would seek our ruin. Foolish for forgiving tresspasses. Foolish for welcoming the poor, broken, smelly, and not-able-to-do-anything-for-us as our closest friends. Foolish for leaving our “doors unlocked”. For believing that Christ is the beginning and the fulfillment of so much that God is accomplishing in creation, and believing we’ve been invited to participate in that. For believing there is purpose to each day, not just in eternity, but IN THAT DAY to love others, and reflect God and His call from/to the unknown.

May we live as people, and become known as a body that exhibits the foolishness seen in Christ…a foolishness that is needed everywhere in creation.

You’ve probably received the e-mail by now, the one that reminds you to “fly your flag” in remembrance of September 11th, 2001. Honestly, we don’t have a flag or even a flag pole anywhere outside my house, and I’m okay with that. However I do find it unfortunate that, at least in the version I received, someone had written “Obama is trying to downplay this event!”. Making an obvious politically charged statement for selfish reasons in the midst of something that was probably started with good intentions.

Obama actually added to the “Patriot Day” by recommending a moment of silence at 8:46am this morning, on top of all the flags being at half-staff. (If you missed it, I’m sure it could still be an honorable endeavor…take a moment now.)

As Patriotic as we tend to get about this day, and the moment we remember on it, it can be easy to miss the larger picture. On September 11th, 2001 – we saw the brokenness of our world on a grand scale. What usually relegates itself to “getting mine” in the world, and driving like the road was made specifically for me, that day was manifested in something much larger. Some parts political, some parts religious zeal, man turned on fellow man, choosing for them that day would be their last. Innocent men, women, and children from all over the globe were killed.

As Christians, may we remember. But not remember as an isolated event, out of the ordinary, and impacting the United States of America. May we remember/have vision to see this as another symptom of a broken world that God has promised and has begun making new. An event that unites us in calling out to Christ, Come Lord Jesus, Come.

An event that calls us to yield control of whatever plane we may be threatening to crash to make a point. Calls us to put others before ourselves. Calls us to LOVE others in the name of God, not desire to overpower, control, or silence those who don’t believe with us. Calls us to be servants to a world who will take advantage of that.