Welcoming Strangers

Like every kid in America, I knew that it was a bad idea to talk to strangers. We watched these creepy videos in school of bearded men in oversized sedans pulling up to little kids to offer them candy, and we all knew that the correct response to that hypothetical situation was to run away.

While telling one’s children not to talk to strangers is probably good parenting practice, John gives the church somewhat different advice in his third letter. In fact, he commends them for doing just the opposite: giving support to strangers. You can imagine how this scene might have unfolded. Demetrius shows up in a small town in Asia Minor and wants to be involved in the church. He’s some kind of traveling missionary who claims to know John, but no one in the church has ever met him. One group in the church wants to welcome and support him and another group is more reserved. Perhaps they’re concerned that he might teach something false or put the congregation in danger (Christianity is not exactly popular among the Romans at this time). Whatever their reason, this group, led by Diotrephes, takes a stand, refusing to welcome the strangers and trying to kick them out of the church. In our safety-conscious culture, we can understand their caution. John, however, sides with the first group, saying that they ought to welcome and support even strangers in order to be co-workers in truth with them.

After telling this congregation to welcome strangers, John makes another surprising statement. He writes to the congregation that they should imitate what is good, not what is evil. (No surprise there.) He goes on to say that whoever does good is from God (still no surprise), and whoever does evil has not seen God. He does not say whoever does evil is not from God, or whoever does evil is from the Devil, or whoever does evil ought to be kicked out. He simply says whoever does evil has not seen God, implying that what evildoers really need is not to be feared and shunned, but to have an encounter with our God. And what better place exists for that to happen than inside the doors of a church.

Tera

“I’m Church of Christ"

That's what I normally say at the Catholic University of America when asked by my peers (Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Mennonites) to describe my church affiliation. The name definitely takes some explaining since we're not one of the easily recognizable mainline churches, and we're also not an evangelical or Baptist church. But taking the time to explain the history doesn't bother me, so I usually do. What does make me uncomfortable, at times, is the "of Christ" part of our name.
It's not because I'm embarrassed. It's because I'm nervous. It is a bold name. A name says a lot, of course. Names are a powerful part of our language. The name Church of Christ can make me nervous because of what the bold meaning of the name implies. The "Church of Christ" is a powerful name because it highlights that our church belongs to Christ; that it is his church; that it is a gathering of people which represents the Messiah. The name Church of Christ makes our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ front and center. The name highlights a supposed proximity to Christ. And this should cause us to pause because a relationship to Jesus Christ is costly.
Taking on Christ's name requires that we give up what we hold dear to become part of his covenant family of others-focused communion. The name Church of Christ should always cause us to ask: "Are we of Christ?" "Are we Christ-like people?" "How well do we live up to a name that describes a people belonging to him?" If we claim to be the Church of Christ, we must recognize that we'll have to conform our American way of life to His death and resurrection way of life, not the other way around. The life of Christ was full of sacrifice and service on behalf of others who were "enemies and sinners" (Rom. 5). It is a narrow path. The life of Christ was a life begotten by the Father and sent into the world to seek and save the lost. Christ is the great reconciler of the divided and embattled. How tragic that Churches of Christ have, at times, become known for splitting rather than reconciling.
As we reflect on Randy Harris's retreat message that the church must "leave the building" to bring God's relentless, reconciling love to others (rather than expect them to come to us), we should think about what the name Church of Christ means for the Springfield community. We should let the name challenge us, and I think it's good that it make us a little nervous. To be a church that is worthy of the name Church of Christ will require relinquishing power and becoming vulnerable in order to serve others who are different from us. May the Lord give us the grace we need to more fully become a Church of Christ.

Matt

Keeping In Touch

Here’s a great quote from Samuel Wells’s God’s Companions: Reimagining Christian Ethics: “When people of the current generation talk about keeping in touch, what they usually mean is email, mobile phones, landlines, or even perhaps a letter. The irony is that none of these involve touching anybody. Eating together is one way, perhaps the most important way, in which people learn to touch one another. In eating together, they become one another’s companions--bread-sharers.”

I know distance makes keeping in touch with others very difficult. I constantly experience the painful feeling of being apart from many people I love. It seems like we can channel this longing for close relationship in several different ways. One way that may not be helpful is relying exclusively upon technology to meet our relational needs. Don’t get me wrong, I think technology is great. I have a blog. I have a Facebook account and enjoy it very much. I’ve even written on how the Internet is a real community. But I have to remind myself that technological communication cannot replace the experience of a face-to-face, bodily meeting with another person. This is really tough to remember in our culture of gadgets. Even the phone call, one of the most basic gadgets around, cannot replace talking with another person face-to-face.

The relentless production of new forms of communication requires us to be very intentional about preserving the practice of making local friendships. This will be especially hard on those accustomed to relying solely on long-distance friendships. It seems easier just to contact the long-distant friends using technology than it does developing an entirely new friendship. We all know finding new friends takes a lot of time. But I don’t think it’s worth the cost of neglecting face-to-face friendship. There’s something deeply real and Christian about a face-to-face encounter, especially over a meal. I think the communion table is a symbol of this deep reality. Genuine relationship is nourished by breaking bread together. Despite the newness and the risk involved, the forming of face-to-face friendships over meals is perhaps one of the most Christian, and counter-cultural things we could do. So, do you know any good places to eat around here? Matt

Continuing by Faith*

By faith Abel, by faith Enoch, by faith Noah, by faith Abraham and Sarah . . .

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth . . . they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, by faith Isaac, by faith Jacob, by faith Joseph, by faith Moses' parents, by faith Moses, by faith the people passed through the Red Sea, by faith the walls of Jericho fell, by faith the prostitute Rahab . . . was not killed . . .

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

By faith, fifty years ago, a group of Christians began a congregation . . . may we continue by faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith . . .

*from Hebrews 11: 3-40 and 12: 2

Announcing a Special Event

God prepared the Hebrews for their departure from Egypt, as told in the Book of Exodus, He commanded them (verse 14 of Chapter 12): “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD – a lasting ordinance.” In verse 17 He again says: "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. This commemoration has come to be known as the Passover Festival. It was so important that God further told the Israelites to renumber the months of their calendar so that this commemoration would occur during the first month.

Would it surprise you to know that as Christians, and for the most part Gentile Christians, we have learned the meaning of, and continue to celebrate the Passover?

This year the original Passover festival, more or less as laid out in scripture (Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23) will be celebrated for a week beginning at sunset on Friday April 18. How and why is this significant to Christians? Why, how and when do Christians continue to celebrate this festival? Come share a different kind of experience with us. Find out the answers to these questions and more.

During our worship service on Sunday, April 13, we’ll begin to explore the Christian significance of the Passover festival. Then, on the following Saturday, April 19, you are all invited to explore the full meaning of the Passover Seder - the combined service and meal associated with this holiday. If you’ve never attended a Passover celebration, this is your opportunity to learn all about it. If you have had this unique experience, this too is for you, because we’ll explore Passover from a Christian perspective.

So bring your family and join your Springfield brothers and sisters for a fascinating learning experience and a potluck meal. More information will follow, and the specific time will be announced over the next few weeks. We’ll also have a sign-up sheet (so we’ll know how many we need plan to accommodate). Mark the date on your calendar now, and plan to be with us for this special event.

More Facts About Acts: Women

If we were to pick up the book of Acts and look for a theme in regards to women, we’d have a few choices. Women are mentioned either directly or indirectly over 20 times in the book of Acts. Here are a couple suggested themes:

How about the theme of suffering? (we might call this women’s sufferage;-)

There are three separate times that it mentions women who were tortured for their faith:

Acts 8:3 Saul committed women to prison,

Acts 9:2 That Saul might bring women bound to prison,

Acts 22:4 Saul/Paul testifies how he had committed women to prison before his conversion.

It’s true that they suffered but it’s not exactly a consistent “theme”.

How about the theme of women behaving badly?

Acts 5:1-11 When Sapphira lied for her husband and God judged her for her part.

Acts 12:13-16 Rhoda didn´t open the gate for Peter!

Acts 13:50 The Jews stirred up the “devout and honorable” ladies who did a pretty good job of joining with men to get Paul and Barnabas tossed out.

The problem with that one is the theme of men behaving badly is much more consistent, and the men are guilty of slightly worse offenses than “not opening gates”.

But how about a theme of Women Being Faithful?

In Acts chapter 2 Peter stands up and quotes the prophet Joel:

17" 'In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

We see the prophet Joel’s words come true in Acts. The very first European convert is Lydia. We see faithful women in Acts 10, 12, 16, 17, and 18. Thanks to our faithful sisters at Springfield…many of whom get limited press but do much of the work. Perhaps that is the major theme that has not changed since the first century . . .

Mark

Off the Bottom of My Screen

I have noticed there is a phenomenon at play in my life that drastically affects all I do. I suspect that it may be at play in your life as well. I call it "The Bottom of My Screen Syndrome". Basically it works like this: my life seems to revolve around people contacting me via emails. (Even my telephone voice mails at one job get automatically emailed to me as Mp3's.) They pile into my in box at a terrific rate. They come in fast enough that I can't possibly reply to all of them, so I find myself sort of randomly replying to the ones that are not urgently sent from someone work-related. Therefore, as soon as the emails disappear off the bottom of my screen...they join the thousands of others down there, and they are literally out of sight, out of mind. The only encouraging thing about this is that I don't yet have a Blackberry...which has an even smaller screen and thus subjects more and more of my emails to the "bottom of my screen" reality. Ironically, as I write this bulletin article it is this reality that causes me to forget to send an article to Carrie much of the time!

Sadly, we live in a culture where this is the way we operate. Priorities are often sacrificed because they get pushed off the bottom of our screens. Whoever shouts the loudest or sends the most SPAM gets our attention. God, who does not play that game, often gets pushed so far down the screen that we never even think of him. We are too busy handling the things on our screens... regardless of whether they are all that important.

Paul did not have this problem. God never left his screen, never became an after thought, and never got pushed aside by the worries of the day. This was true of Paul before he met Jesus, as he endeavored to serve his Lord as a Pharisee of Pharisees. But it was even more true of his life AFTER he met Jesus. Before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was passionate about serving God, but after he met Jesus he began giving speeches like the one he gave in Acts 17, where he said, "God is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."

What was it that kept service to God on Paul’s screen even after he realized that the old-school-Pharisee motivation for serving God was not the main reason to serve him?

Mark