Filed under: Leadership, faith | Tags: Acts, Christian, Jesus, morality, Penn
Recently, a Christian friend shared with me, “I don’t talk to people about my relationship with Jesus, but let them see how I live.”
And while I agree with Penn’s (of Penn & Teller fame) recent questioning of Christians who don’t “proselytize,” or specifically Penn’s statement of how much you hate somebody to believe there path is leading to eternal non-existence without your God, my friend makes a good point.
If Christians are living like Jesus, from the inside out truly set free, our lifestyles will reflect such a dramatic contrast to cultural norms that our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family will see overwhelming external evidence leading them to actually accuse you of being a Christian….
A great example of this is in Acts 11:26, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” This is the first example of the word Christian being used. In Antioch, the people who followed Christ were first called Christians…. It was a derogatory term meant to imply being just like Jesus. They were called Christians based on the external evidence of living so counter to surrounding culture, and instead following the lifestyle of Jesus.
People who were first called Christians we’re so loving, so forgiving, so grace giving, so generous, so merciful, so surrendered to the Lord’s truth, so committed to people who shared the Christian lifestyle, and just as loving to people who didn’t that it led people around them to realize these people, “Christians” we’re exactly like the Jesus they had seen firsthand or heard about.
Reflecting on this begs many questions to be answered. You may call yourself a Christian, but what do other people call you? And in our culture, both secular and Christian, we have gotten confused about that we are supposed to live in a way that we will be accused of being Christians. Not accused of being church goers. Not accused of being religious. Not accused of being good moral people. Not accused of being political. And defintely not accused of being smug ***holes who act as if we died on the Cross for our own sins.
If you call yourself a Christian, is their consistent overwhelming external evidence which backs it up?
Is it so obvious that people actually accuse you of being just like Jesus (read this last question to yourself slowly for dramatic effect)?
Filed under: Love, faith | Tags: Christian, disciple, event, Indy Metro, Jesus, religion
Lately, I’ve been thinking more specifically about the lifestyle of following Jesus Christ I adhere to as a disciple, and the calling I’ve surrendered to in making disciples of Him. What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
I’ve come to a simplified Scriptural understanding of a disciple: Someone that publically and privately lives according to the Great Commandment, while living out the Great Commission for God’s glory in everything they do (1 Corinthians 10:31), ALL in response to God’s mercy as the motive not guilt, works based Christianity or religion, etc (Romans 12:1-2).
Reflecting on this caused me to reflect over my journey. When I was hired into the full-time vocational ministry, I wasn’t personally discipling anyone consistently (nor had I ever), wasn’t living as a witness of Jesus Christ to anyone (word or deed) consistently, nor was I loving my neighbor (no matter how you defined who my neighbor was). And truth be told, in the little efforts I had put forth ended up “making disciples” of Aaron and not Jesus. And to think I was supposed to be a public example for other Christians of a disciple in a local church? OUCH!
Obviously, the Lord found use for me 
, but so much wasted time as I focused to run church programs and not building people first.
Understand, that answering this question about what is a disciple is truly the main thing in our Christian faith! Initially, being a Christian was an accusation based on a lifestyle so counter to culture and committed to modeling what Jesus Christ. We don’t see different levels of the Christian, a disciple of Christ, from the Scripture. There is one standard we are held to as people who publically proclaim ourselves as Christians. What we see in much of Christianity today is legalistic external lifestyle management or the “sin patrol,” religious people who call themselves Christians, or settling completely for less and simply “going to church.”
At Indy Metro Church, we are seeking to redefine what the “the norm” of what both the church and the Christian (a disciple) are to be in our beautiful city. While Acts 2:42-47 describes what happens mostly inside the Christian community in broader public, Acts 11:19-30 describes best what should be happening publically, corporately, outwardly. Both texts provide a great contrast for our modern understanding of what we see being a disciple is around us. Hard swallow to see that as “the norm” based on what we see a disciple to be.
So my encouragement for you is to consider, if you call yourselves a Christian, does your lifestyle mirror His? Ask the hard questions. Are you a disciple of Christ or just attending some “religious” events? How will you know the difference? It is a journey. God’s grace has covered my journey, administered through many people over the years.
Filed under: Love, faith | Tags: Jesus Christ, mercy, pain, rituals, suffering, the church
One of my most painful situations in my entire life started with a phone call 10 years ago. A phone call from my wife that our weekend plans had changed and we needed to head to the hospital immediately to see my father. Though I had no clue what was going on, because of the eerie nature of the ride I knew it was significant. When I arrived in the hospital room, father told me he had found out his kidneys and liver were shutting down. Just a couple months prior he passed a full medical scan yet 4 days later he passed away.
Like no other time in my life this spiritual journey I was on became very real. It took a radical change. Sure I did the church thing occasionally, believed there was a God, celebrated Easter & Christmas… but the whole thing changed for me with instant pain and suffering.
Almost instantly, I began searching for God’s purpose in my pain. Where was God in all this? Asking, “If you are real God, where are you at?” Like no other time in my life I needed to know if this was about rituals, buts in seats, yada yada yada. I needed to personally experience the Jesus Christ I had heard about but never truly believed in. I needed Him to enter into my pain. And I WAS INSTANTLY OPEN FOR A CHRIST FOLLOWER TO show me where the Lord is at in all this, to weep with me, to feel my pain, and to live the Truth around me like never before as the hands and feet of Jesus.
WE ALL FACE PAIN AT SOME POINTS IN OUR LIVES, AND MANY OF YOU WERE JUST LIKE ME AT SOME POINT IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD: And because of pain and suffering became open to the truth of who God is….and, like me, desperately needed to be a recipient of compassion and mercy, and justice over suffering.
It is with that in context a few weeks back I studied and shared some thoughts at Indy Metro Church about the story of Lazarus. I quickly realized how truly this wasn’t just a story of Jesus entering into the pain of his friends 2k years ago, but how this is my story too.
This Biblical story of Jesus entering into the pain of his dear friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is my story of how Jesus entered into my pain through the hands and feet of others. Read the whole story yourself, but below are a couple thoughts that stood out to me from the first few verses:
VS 1-3 & 5: It is abundantly clear that people very close to Jesus experience great pain. One of the greatest lies so many American Christians have been duped into believing is that to be close to Jesus removes you from pain and suffering.
VS 4- While God isn’t at the cause of suffering- WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING- WHETHER RICH OR POOR- IN OUR SUFFERING OR SOMEONE ELSE’S- THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALWAYS THERE- TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD MORE INTAMETLY.
As you read this story, what stands out to you? I’d love to hear it.
In response to a text like this, I encourage you to ask honest questions like: What pain has Jesus entered into throughout my life? Was it so clear to me it was Him? Where do I still need Jesus to enter in? How can I be used to enter into my neighbor’s pain?
The truth be told, sometimes all we can do is weep. For many of us “our Lazarus” wasn’t healed. We didn’t get the outcome we desired so we are left to search. God has shown and continues to show me the purposes for my pain over the years. My hope is for you to be able to share the same.
Filed under: Love
So after months of anticipation… tadaa or whala or shazam: Amelia Jean Story.
Nothing like a little scrubbin
Filed under: Love, faith | Tags: compassion, Jesus, justice, mercy, poverty, rich
In the middle of the Social Justice series for Indy Metro, this past week I engaged the passage of Mark 10:17-31. Actually this story about Jesus and a good outwardly moral, religious person engaged me first. I couldn’t seem to avoid it over the past month.
A couple of the takeaways for me from this man’s encounter with Jesus we’re:
Those so often Christian acts of justice and compassion end up modeling for the poor and marginalized a consumer lifestyle that happiness is in our possessions and stuff. “You don’t have this stuff, and you need this stuff to be happy. We have this and you don’t.” Often we end up perpetuating this attitude that TO BE ACCEPTED you must have these consumer goods, live in this neighborhood, and go to dinner at these places….
As Rich Christians (yeah, pretty much anyone reading this professing Christ as Lord), a great injustice we have to correct together is telling (through either actions or words) poor and marginalized people they’re entitled to live as we do because of Jesus, when Jesus shows us in this text we aren’t entitled to be living the way we do BECAUSE of Jesus.
And a warning that when you hear stuff these days like: “It’s your patriotic duty to spend in order to save the economy because America is a consumer based economy!” Consumerism is a religion in America that when we embrace says life is all about me…and following Christ daily is saying life is all about Him. As Christ followers we have to reject this so-called patriotic duty as Christians because the lifestyle of a Christian isn’t formed on the American economy but on Jesus Christ.
Perhaps, the most impactful observation for me from this encounter is Jesus reminding me that my arms can’t fully wrap around Him when I’m holding onto all “my” money and possessions.
May you allow this encounter to mess you up too…
This would be the spot for anyone who desires to share your revelation on baby names for our future girl! She is due to enter this earth on June 30th…. so names please!
Journeying through this season of lent, I discovered a reading today from Doug Steven of The Renewal Project I’ve felt sums up most of our lives.
“Our real problem is no longer the long list of sins we’ve committed. Our pressing problem is seperation, that we are distant from God and full of ourselves, that we are desperately insecure, demanding our way, overrun by fear, constantly in tension, not always a blessing to others. Jesus has intervened, taken on our sin, died our deserved death and offered us His abundant life. The greatest gift from the greatest gift, Himself.”
It’s hard to add to that. However, in reading the stark contrast described I am reminded of the passage John 10:9-10, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Filed under: Love, arts, faith | Tags: Indy, Jireh, skateboarding, support, theatre, worship
Really looking forward to an upcoming gathering at the historic Athenaeum on Thursday, February 26th at 7pm. A few of the opportunity seizers at Indy Metro Church are hosting a night of worship for Indianapolis!
Our lofty hope for the gathering is to create an atmosphere of worship, uniting the local body of Christ, while raising funds to generously support local non-profit organizations that compliment local Indy churches. Tix are only $10/each with all the profits going directly to Jireh Sports Inner City Skate Park! Jireh is an urban sports ministry working with the local skate community to develop an indoor/outdoor skate park in the city to be used to mentor urban youth.
I am stoked as we will be blessed with not one but two worship leaders, Rick Stump and Josh Hoke to lead us in our evening of worship in the American Cabaret Theatre!
So much opportunity at hand for us a lovers of Jesus in the city. More to come later I’m sure!
Filed under: Community, DIY, Leadership, faith | Tags: Christianity, faith, Howard Dean, Jesus, Johnny Cash, risk
Sunday am at Indy Metro I shared some concluding thoughts on our 4 month Nehemiah study that focused on a community of people so broken and weeping for a city they committed to doing whatever it took to see the restoration of a community bringing Glory to God. Throughout the entire book, we see Nehemiah to be a man who responded to the opportunities God brought to Him.
As I shared though having the opportunity isn’t enough- It requires us to take action, move, step forward, speak, respond, engage, love, to change…. It requires seizing opportunities that God brings to your door and being willing to live out the faith required to follow through.
So many Christians today have faith… but nothing about their lives require God to show up. No daily faith required in their conversations, schedule, finances, personal health, or with our children. There is so little risk in daily living for most American Christ followers… that you walk around really not knowing most of the time if God showed up or not. All the while asking isn’t there more?
And in my short journey with Christ I’ve experienced that one fully devoted humble, committed follower of Jesus Christ can have on the lives of people around them, their city, their neighbor, their office, their children, their generation, their classmates, their spouse, and their communities.
It’s sad though because I’ve observed so many churches completely tamed and neutralized what it means to be a fully committed follower of Christ. Our culture and many churches might as well have Jesus driving a mini-van, wearing his seatbelt focused on babysitting the kids in the car already. While the most accurate picture is prolly us in the back sitting on a milk crate holding on for dear life while Jesus drives a 350 HP 67 SS Chevelle with a bad paint job and an exhaust leak from launching train tracks chasing Satan hanging out the window yelling like Howard Dean.
Following Jesus has been turned into this safe, calculated, predictable and boring exercise. And inside most of us as Christ followers know something is missing don’t we? Maybe that is most the reason why most churches have always been absent of men? For men the image of following a neutered boring Jesus doesn’t exactly offer much appeal. A travesty too because I’m pretty certain American Christianity isn’t quite what the Scriptures describe.
For most Christians and seekers alike following Jesus can be summarized by the first song in this Johnny Cash movie clip. Puke! So my questions from the Sunday chat applies here too- What are you doing right now that if God for sure doesn’t show up you will be humiliated, embarrassed, ridiculed, exiled, or rejected?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Barton, Christmas, Indianapolis, Indy Metro Church, Jesus, justice, mercy
A couple weeks ago, Indy Metro Church, the Christian community of faith I’ve been involved in leading for the past 2 1/2 years hosted a year end Christmas party for our friends and neighbors in the Barton Tower & Annex. Though Indy Metro isn’t a traditional inner-city church, we are a church who embraces the important matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness in serving our great community.
Though we are a group of dreamers and lovers of people and Jesus, no one could have imagined what happened!
It all culminated in our early December Christmas party hosted at the Barton Tower in downtown Indy. The impact was significant in both the lives of people being served and those who came to serve. It always seems to work out this way!
One amazing piece that happened was a partnership between IUPUI’s Bepko Learning Center, Car-X, and Indy Metro that provided close to 200 full bags of food. One young couple at Indy Metro we’re so moved they generously purchased groceries and supplies to fill 50 bags themselves! Wow! This is the type of Christian community I’m involved in!
This blog isn’t big enough to share all the stories, but one highlight comes from Reagan. She is a mother who was invited by her daughter to serve together at the Christmas party. Clearly impacted, she share what happened when engaging the story of a woman completely different than her. Mary, the woman she is referring to, has been a part of Indy Metro for the last two years and truly has experienced Jesus in a transformational way!
“I spoke with a woman named Mary who was taking care of Dwayne, a 17 year old, wheelchair bound boy who has cerebral palsy. Mary started taking care of Dwayne when he was 3 years old and didn’t want any money for her care from Dwayne’s mother. Dwayne’s mother couldn’t care for him anymore and Mary asked if she could take him to live with her. What strikes me the most about this is Mary has no job and is poor. She loves Dwayne like he is her very own flesh and blood. I went down to Mary’s apartment with her to carry some food back for her. Her apartment shocked me. It was so small and crammed with things. I couldn’t see how she could maneuver the large wheelchair and Dwayne around. But Mary would do anything for Dwayne. God is working wonders with these two individuals. Not only is Mary a blessing and God-send to Dwayne, but Dwayne is the same for Mary.
We complain so much about what we have or don’t have. They have so little. She has no transportation either. If she wants to go somewhere, she bundles Dwayne up in blankets and walks with him downtown or takes the city bus. What an inspiration they were to me. Jesus shines through these two individuals. True unconditional love.”
