Category: Uncategorized

The 2nd primary speaker mentioned in yesterdays’ post was Mark Van Valin, from Spring Arbor, Michigan.  Whereas Barna talked to us mainly as ministers and churches, VanValin spoke to us as children of God; and offered new insight in our conversations on “Holiness”.

He began by offering 3 main “traditions” of salvation:
 – Proposition – we believe the right things
 – Behavioral – we do the right things
 – Relational – we know the right person.

Obviously, his desire for us was the third understanding.  That we might come to know an intimate experience of Jesus Christ.  From John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  We see the trinity relating to each other in places like Jesus’ baptism, exhibiting Love and Joy and Family.

Many of us have been asked the question “If God is complete, in need of nothing, why did he make us?”  Mark reminded us it was out of His fullness, not loneliness, that God created.  A fullness that He desires to share with us.

Van Valin compared our approach to our lives in regard to holiness like an island with overgrown plant life.  That holiness is not simply “weed-wacking” around our island, taking care of the small manifestations of outward sin.  Sin generally comes from some sort of “self” focus:

 – Self-promotion – “what about me?” mentality
 – Self-protection – “always being safe”, “not me!” mentality, disguised as humility
 – Self-indulgence – “please me” mentality, easier to spot this one, seeking pleasure/avoiding pain, addictions
 – Self-sufficiency – shies away from mystery, “let me” mentality, not willing to be broken/vulnerable

 These fear-based “larger issues”, destroy relationships and our ability to relate well…to God, or others.  All of this pointing to the real enemy often not being satan, but ultimately myself.  Van Valin offered reminders to yield ourselves to Christ for each of these areas, in order:

 – Humility
 – Obedience
 – Suffering/Intimacy/Self-control
 – Trust

These 4 things not only deepen, enrich, and help build relationships…they also REQUIRE community.  Church is much more than an hour on the weekend that you can choose whether or not you’re interested in attending this week.  It’s a community experiencing life-transformation together, and transforming their world as those lives are lived out together in mission and God’s presence. 

May we invite those around us to participate in the intimacy of genuine life together in the same way we’ve been invited to participate in what the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actively doing…

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…