Open Air Preaching

A Question For an Elder

"Would you choose to associate with individuals who practice open air preaching in evangelism?"

I found it to be a rather odd question, but since it was important enough to ask, if I value the asker, then it deserves an answer.

  At Grace, we aren't a military type establishment, so yes.  Yes I would allow our members to preach on the streets.  I'm not a control freak kind of guy.  No I likely wouldn't join them.  I've given street evangelism my best shot, and God has clearly shown me that He has better uses for my time and talents.  If the question has to do with providing funds, I don't think I would make it a budget item.  If they wanted to go on stage for the church to pat them on the back and tell them what a good job they are doing, that would be kind of weird.

Yet I think the question is asking something different in what it refers to as, "association".  Would I formally associate with an open air preacher or ministry?  Would I promote it as being a core ministry of the church?  Maybe.

I look at it as I would any other form of ministry.  Ministry isn't about the stuff.  It is about people.  If the question were about something other than open air preaching, I'd give the same response.  If it was about people going door to door handing out tracts, I'd say maybe.  If it was about compassionate care, I'd say maybe.  If it was about Christian authors, I'd still say maybe.

Any decision whether or not to formally associate with an open air preaching person would have little to do with the form of evangelism, but everything to do with the individual(s) involved.  

Paul tells Timothy in 1Tim 5:22, "Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.  Do not share in the sins of others".

    Paul has much more in mind than associating with street preacher types, but here lies a vital principle for ministry.  We don't associate with a person in ministry without taking time to test them.  There are more important things to evaluate than the style of evangelism.  Before I would formally associate with a street preacher, Christian author, or music leader, here are the things I want to see.

Is There Fruit?

I'll be short on this one, because it's simple.   Is there fruit from their ministry?  Are they actually leading people to Christ, and are those people being baptized and added to the church?   I need to see fruit.  I need to see the evidence that God's in it.  After all the public evangelism I've done, and maybe I just was t very good at it, I've made more disciples through reaching into people's lives.  In truth, I don't think I've led anyone to Christ on the streets.  I've had, some cool conversations, but that's as far as it went.  As lame as it sounds, inviting people to church has done more to make disciples in my ministry than all my efforts in public as a Gideon.

If they aren't leading people to Christ, then what are they doing?  And if they are leading people to Christ, but they aren't finding their way into the church, then again, what are they doing?  Is it some personal glory seeking mission, or are they really working as part of the church?

Are They On Our Team?

This one is tougher to measure.  I'm not asking about whether or not they are saved, although, that is imperative.  What I'm asking is, are they really part of the church?  Do they really have a heart for the people of Grace Community?  Do they even like the church, or are they grumblers?  Do they truly see themselves as an extension; the hands and feet of Christ here at Grace?

During the summer in our small town, I coach my kid's house league soccer team.  Last year, there was a boy on the team, who really wasn't on the team.  He wore the jersey.  He showed up to almost every game.  He put a smile on his face and was even one of the most talented people on the team and among the top goal scorers.

Whenever I see him now, I can tell he doesn't really even want to acknowledge me.  I do my best to say hi to him and make conversation, but I can tell he doesn't want much to do with me.  He wasn't really on my team.

The same thing happens in church world.  People teach Sunday School, come out every week and lead prayer groups and Bible studies, but in their hearts, they really don't like their church.  In their minds, they are better than the rest.  They do their ministry, feeling like they have it all together, and that the church just doesn't deserve them.  If they were to be completely honest, they look down on their church.  They wear the jersey, but just aren't "on the team".

I'm rather attentive to this kind of thing, because I've been that kind of person.  If Grace really knew what was in my heart, they wouldn't have asked me to be an elder.  I was smart enough however to appear much less arrogant than I actually was.  Over time as I have served, God has given me an authentic love for His people, and I pray it shows.  Sure, I guess it worked out okay, but I would never intentionally associate myself with a person who has not demonstrated a committed, humble, servant attitude towards Grace Church.

So if a street preacher just waltzes into town and wants to partner with Grace in some official capacity, then no.  Not until they have demonstrated a true commitment to the ministry here at Grace.  Even if it's a longstanding member who has served as an usher week in and week out, it might still be a no, if I sense that they really don't much like the church in general.  (And yes, there are boatloads of people who really don't like their church)

I want to see fruit, but more importantly, I want to see Christ.  I want to see His attitude towards the church.  He laid down his life.  He gave it His all. All.  Do they love the church?  Do they lay down their lives for her people?   If they don't have love, I don't care how good they can preach, they're not on my team.  If they do, then we'll talk.

Sparse Non-Christian Documentation on the Life of Christ

Dear Anonymous

         I have thought much of you these past 24 hours and whether or not to make an attempt to help you understand why 1st century historians spent little time following the life of a Judean carpenter.   Then it occurred to me.  You might be someone that I know and love, but chose to remain anonymous, so as to maintain a comfortable relationship with me.  I'm also taking the time for you on the slim chance that you really do want to understand how the world works, although I have my doubts.  Please prove me wrong.  Lastly, the God I serve, the one you believe does not exist, exhorts me to love all men.  In short, I was wrong to have judged you.  Please forgive me the indiscretion.  So whether I know you or not, I'll help you in any way I can.

  In a sentence, here it is;

  

The kinds of things that Jesus did, are not the kinds of things the world takes note of.

I will give you a real example from our time to help illustrate this phenomenon.  

About two years ago, a man from our town went on a trip to Israel.  He was a cripple.  I forget how he got that way.  What I do know for certain, is that he had been disabled for some time and it was well documented.  A local charitable organization had actually made a short film about his impairment, highlighting the difficulties he faced in life.

    While in Israel, he was bathing in the Pool of Siloam.  During this, a Christian prayed for his healing.  Believe it or not, this man was healed.  It is the exact same kind of thing we read about Jesus doing in our scriptures.

Upon returning home, outside of our church nobody seemed to care.  I didn't see anything in the newspaper, nothing on local radio or on national television.  It is absurd to think that the world would have operated according to different principles during the first century than it does now.  So I'm not sure why you would expect to see anything written about Christ, that didn't come from those who believed in Him.

So you have made a very valid observation.  We live in a world that does its best to suppress the truth of Christ.  That is your problem.  Not mine. What I don't understand is why?  Why aren't the works of Christ noteworthy?

If you want to further investigate this issue, I encourage you to take a close look at the kinds of things historians generally took note of.  What you will find it is that they generally took little interest on the activities of tradespersons in occupied states.  Someone like Jesus wouldn't even deserve a cursory glance.  

  I have helped you a great deal.  You may thank me later. 

A Distasteful Diety

Dear Mr Bossman,

  Thank you very much for asking me to have a look at Bob Ripley’s “Life Beyond Belief”.  I can't tell you how honoured I am that you value my opinion on matters of faith and doubt enough to consider me for the task.  Please know that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you these past 14 years.  I appreciate the way our company is run, building its foundation on integrity and quality workmanship.  These values are a big part of why working with you is a fit for who I am.

  I’m into the second chapter and at this point, one thing is clear to me.  After looking at how God interacted with humanity apart from a Saviour, Bob doesn't like Him.  That is plain.  Why he finally made this observation at 55 is uncertain.  In fact, he asks that very question himself.

  He is obviously a very intelligent man.  I also believe he is a better writer than I am.  My take on what he refers to as his deconversion, is that he hadn't really investigated the full nature of God prior.  Even after a life of professional ministry and extensive theological education, looking closer at God in the Old Testament revealed things to him; distasteful things.  He sees something very different than I do when I read the same pages.  I see a God with incredible patience towards His people, and mankind in general.  

  How about you?  Have you taken the time to really look at who God is?  I'm not sure how Bob would have expected life to look like without Christ.

   Bob thinks that God is mean, vengeful, distasteful and hypocritical and has done very well to verbalize those sentiments.  At the same time, he seems to think it mean that non believers would have to spend eternity without Christ.  I find that to be completely odd.  For a person who sees God in that light, why would they want to spend eternity with Him anyway?

  Think what you want about God.  Call Him what you will; mean, merciful or otherwise.  At the end of the day, our opinions of His nature have no sway over whether or not He is.  My view on His interaction with mankind during the Old Testament is as follows.  Without a Saviour, we are not going to make it with God.  I know this flies in the face of what a lot of people think.  We want to think, “I should be good enough.  God should just get past the wrongs I've done.  I'm not as bad as other people.  I do enough nice things.”  

  I'm not good enough to make it with the Toronto Maple Leafs let alone an almighty, perfect God, and they aren't even that good.

  Bob has certainly gone beyond this.  He is not thinking that he’s good enough for God.  He clings to the hope that God is little more than a nightmare having made it to print.  At this point, I think he has to be an atheist.  I’m certain that it would be too painful for anyone who views God in that light, to consider the possibility of answering to Him at the end of this life.

  In any manner, he doesn't like God anyway, so it won't be too disappointing if he doesn't spend an eternity with Him.

   For a man who sees God as he does - knowing Him to be an unappeasable Deity, Life Beyond Belief is probably the only way to continue living with some semblance of sanity.

  

Time for a Rewrite

Dear Bob

  I'm reading your book entitled, "Beyond Belief".  I don't normally read books, but my boss has asked me to have a go at it and give him my thoughts.  I wanted you to know that I appreciate your humanity and candidness, although, as a fellow author, I thought you might appreciate the heads up.

  Your first chapter doesn't accomplish what I think you had hoped.  If I understand you correctly, you had hoped to establish in the mind of the reader your authenticity as a believer before your deconversion.  I know how costly it can be to make changes once a book has made it to print, but it may be necessary to change the bulk of chapter 1.

Your account of life as a Christian reminds me very much of a man who attended one of my book studies a year ago.  I had asked the group a question about their faith, and the gentleman proceeded to tell us all about the many acts of kindness he had done for the less fortunate in his life.  It was a very awkward moment, and as the group leader, I really didn't know how to handle the moment.  You could almost feel the tension in the room.  It seemed quite out of place in a setting of supposed believers to hear about this man's accomplishments and wonderful acts of kindness.  It flies in the face of what we generally understand as the Gospel itself.  Believers typically speak little on what they have done, and make much of what Christ has done for, and in them.

I appreciate how zealous you were for the Christian religion.  In the balance of your life, perhaps you have done more good than bad.  I am glad of your accomplishments in the political arena, and your contribution for humanitarian efforts globally.  I believe you were committed to your cause so intentionally that you neglected your own family. 

On the outside, you would likely have convinced me had I been your friend, yet somehow, reading it in print, it becomes so painfully obvious that the religion your served so passionately, holds little resemblance to the Christ I know.  Hearing about your achievements, your attitude towards your first church and neglect for your family seem misplaced at best for someone who is trusting Christ.

I get it though.  I really do.  I get how you might have really thought you were in the club.  When my wife met me in 1992 she asked me if I was Christian.  You see, she wanted to marry a Christian man.  I told her I was a Christian, not as a lie, but because I really thought I was.  At the age of 19, my life hadn't been nearly as religiously successful as the life you have lived, but I truly believed myself to be among the people of Christ.  Reading your chapter reminds me so much of what it was like to think I was a believer, even though I had yet to come to truly know Christ.

I have one more short item that may be of assistance.

On Trust

I'm not sure if you are really trying to speak to the Christian community or not.  If you are,  then you will likely hope that they would trust some of what your are saying.  There is one glaring aspect of your testimony that inhibits people of authentic faith from lending you their trust.  Although likely not by intention, you unwittingly insult them.  You describe your pilgrimage as, "the honest account of one person's journey from faith to reason."  Life Beyond Belief, Bob Ripley, Page 28

  It is after all your story and you are allowed to phrase it however you want.  It is common practise among atheists to insist that us Jesus types are unreasonable.  I don't expect anything less from most atheists, but given your past, I rather expected something more.  If you would like to enjoy the trust of the believing community, you might entertain the notion that faith is not without reason, and neither is faith an exclusive thing to Christians.  I know atheists who think that extra terrestrial life must exist in the universe, even though they have never seen such creatures.  (Oddly enough, these individuals claim to be people of reason)

We both know I'm not God.  I don't know the complete truth about what has happened in  your heart over the last 50 years or so.  I do however know what it's like to be self deceived.  That may or may not be your case.  What I know for sure, is that as a believer, your first chapter fails to gain my trust, and I really see little evidence of a life having ever resembled what I know to be the life of a new creation.

      

PS - If you ever consider reading one of my books, have a look at Chapter 7 of The Edge of His Cloak.  It ties in to this topic quite significantly.

The Difference Between a Disciple and an Apostle

****Disclaimer****

What you are about to read is MY response to a question someone had for me.  It may or may not be THE answer.  In the event that MY answer is not THE answer, I do hope that some of these insights may be helpful.

The Question

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

Perhaps the greatest difference between these two words are their respective functions. Each word seemed to have been generally understood in its time.  One word is used to describe the relationship between people.  The other word is meant to describe a person's role.  Before I define them, I will illustrate the difference within the context of family.

  I am a father of four children.  I am also their provider.  The words 'father' and 'provider' serve two distinctly different  descriptive functions.  Father is used to identify my relationship to my family.  Provider helps to describe part of my role in my family. (Of course, God is the true Father and Provider.)

As the word father defines my relationship to my family, the word disciple is used to define the type of relationship between people. Likewise, the word apostle is an identifier for a persons role within the people of Christ.

The Role - Apostle

Apostle 1:  One sent on a mission.

An apostle is generally interpreted to mean, "Ultra spectacular, miracle working, ultimate Christian."  However, the word apostle literally means, one who is sent on a mission.  The body of Christ still consists of people who are gifted and sent on missions by The Holy Spirit, but we have given them another name.  I will let you try and guess what we call them now.

The Relationship - Disciple

The word disciple identifies a very specific kind of relationship.  It's kind of like being a follower and a student, but I'm certain entails much more.  Whereas the end goal for a student is to learn what the teacher knows, the end for a disciple is to become what the discipler is.  Being a disciple of Christ therefore goes far beyond learning what He taught, but involves us becoming like Him. 

ASL 2014 Annual Review

Well soccer fans, another year in the Abell Soccer league has come to a close.  The time has therefore come when we recap this seasons highlights.

This being her 8th year in the ASL, Rachael has once again demonstrated her reliability  on the rearguard of her team.  Although the Durkees coaching staff saw in her the flexibility to serve in various roles on the field, it was her firm and reliable skill as a defender which kept her as the final line between the the net, and opposing strikers.  It was her part of this stone wall that kept the team undefeated in tournament play.

There were no surprises as Jerry, the youngest Abell took the field for this 2014 under 9 season.  Solid between the posts as usual, so steady in fact, that his team posted a league best .58 goals against average, Jerry put up 6 shutouts for the season.  Also producing offensively for his team with 5 goals and five assists, he helped his team to handily capture first place for their level.

With twice as many Abell's on the team, Peloquin Promotional Printing was the team to watch.  Starting off the year with three straight losses, and only 1 win in their first six games, it looked as though the year would amount to one of pain, suffering and defeat.  Through hard work, persistence and determination, the season ended very differently from how it began, placing second overall.

Part of the team's resurgence was due to the reliability of their starting net minder, the strapping Marlow Abell.  Although statistically average, with one shut out during the regular season, and one in tournament play, game after game he provided consistently secure coverage as keeper.  It was this security at their back which provided the team with the drive forward, knowing the net was looked after.  

With two competent net minders, and a solid defender, Ned provided the bulk of Team Abell's offence.   Having scored a total of zero goals in his last three seasons, he took East Elgin Youth Soccer by complete surprise, leading his team both in goals and assists.  When asked why he went three full years without so much as even one goal, Ned gave this response,

"I was saving up, waiting to really deliver the wow factor."

Deliver he did, his training, speed and endurance allowing him to tally 13 goals.   Not being a very intimidating presence to look at, his line was often referred to as "the little people". And with an impressive 18 assists, he was obviously not a ball hog. 

Now with a fist and second place finish for team Abell, the question we now ask is this, how can they possibly improve next year?  Time will tell.

Publicly Rebuking Sin

This week I was asked, "Why don't churches discipline like this?":

"Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others."  (1 Timothy 5:20)

As much as I would like to answer this one thoroughly, I don't believe it's possible to do so succinctly, because the truth is, there are many reasons why we don't see this kind of discipline very often in our churches.  Some reasons are biblical, and some reasons reveal our own shortcomings.  I will briefly list a few, and comment only on a few of them.

1. The internet has helped greatly.  Now it often even happens in front of the whole world.

2. This kind of Church gathering rebuking was rare in scripture, taking place once as we know it in the Corinthian church.  Likewise, it should be rare among us.

3. The kind of sin.  In Corinth, the kind of sin that was dealt with publicly, was obvious enough, that even the pagans didn't do that kind of thing.

4. Lack of discernment among leadership.  When do you make the call to subject someone to that kind of public shame?

5. The kind of sin at hand has affected our own lives, and therefore clouds our judgment.

6. We often have a desire to protect the dignity and integrity of the people under our care.  (Is that Jesus?  That can be debated)

7. The nature of sin itself (hide it)

8. I know it's not biblical, but public defamation of character can have legal implications

9. Protecting the victims

Lack of Discernment Among Leadership.

The only people in our churches who know exactly what should be done, tend to be the back seat leaders.  In our day, they write blogs, post their opinions on social media and speak quite authoritatively on what needs to be done by pastors and churches.

The people who are actually in authority, have a much more difficult time making the kind of decisions their calling demands.  It's not that they don't study scripture, pray or know their bibles.  We just don't always know.  I'm sorry for that.

Suppose a teenager gets pregnant with her boyfriend.  We know that her and her boyfriend fornicated.  It happens.  With sin, how do you get to the bottom of it?  Are they still  fornicating?  How do you find out for sure?  Sin is like black tar.  It's wretched and sticky.  People lie about sin.  They hide it.  They say they don't when they actually do.  They don't want to expose it.  What if the two are going to get married?  Is that what needs to be done from here on out, or should they be excommunicated?  If they aren't a member of the church, but come once in a while, can you rebuke them if they aren't an active part of the church?

Back seat Christians normally have very definite answers to these kinds of questions.  Elders like me normally do not.  My hunch is that if the back seat people were called to the role, they wouldn't continue to have the same confidence in their assertions.  (As for me, if someone comes along who is truly better fit to fill my role, I will gladly step aside.  In fact, I am often looking for just such an opportunity)

When To Make that Call

The kind of sin we see being exposed in the church in scripture, is the kind of sin that would have been alarming, even to pagans.  There is a tendency to hide the sin among us, even when it is alarming and should be exposed.  The news is often bringing to light instances of sexual abuse, where a church knew about it, and did nothing with it.  This should never be the case.

These kinds of glaring things tend to be rare, both in scripture and in real life.  It's not that these kinds of sins are rare in the world, in fact, they go on all of the time.  What I mean is that, most often, people who really want to intentionally pursue a life of blatant sin, generally walk away from God anyway.  Maybe they don't recognize it overtly, but something in our spirit knows that light has no fellowship with darkness.

Protecting The Victim

       Part of the nature of sin, is that there is nearly always collateral damage.  Sin nearly always affects individuals other than the culprit.  Whether right or wrong, consideration is often given towards the victims of sin.

Husband X commits adultery on Wife Y, with woman Q.  Q was married  to her husband P.  X and Q have committed an obvious act of adultery.  This isn't one of those cloudy mirky issues.  They weren't supposed to do that kind of thing.  Wife Y is a valuable part of your congregation.  Her life is ruined.  Husband X really isn't continuing to be an active part of the church anyway.  Wife Y is desperately trying to continue to follow Jesus, but raising her kids all on her own, and trying to work and raise her family is already more than she can bear.

How do you get husband X to come back to church long enough to expose him?  Wife Y begs and pleads with you not to make her life a Sunday morning spectacle, the shame of it already being too much to bear on its own.

This happens way too much. The names change, but the sins remain the same.

Some Final Thoughts

I know I haven't addressed even half of the items I brought up.  In short, there are times when sin needs to be rebuked in front of the church, although the kind of sin where we are called to do so is not an everyday affair.  The majority of rebuking in scripture is done person to person (Jesus rebuked Peter, Peter rebuking Simon the sorcerer, Paul rebuking Peter), not during a Church meeting like in Corinth.

Confronting each other isn't something to shy away from, but my hope for you is that you will not be drawn to the kind of "Christianity", where rebuking and correcting is the main endeavour.