Thursday, December 4, 2008

"Gathering some thoughts on Gleaning" by Mark Hershey


In light of the economic woes, increased unemployment, and more of America living off welfare, I want to take a glimpse on the biblical concept of gleaning… I’m not trying to solve all economic problems, but just provide a few thoughts that may better inform and stimulate discussion on how we can integrate gleaning into life today.

Gleaning

The biblical custom of gleaning “was rooted in the practical necessity of caring for the poor. The Mosaic law stipulated that owners allow needy persons to gather the grain that remained after the reapers had made a single sweep of their fields (Lev 19:9–10; Lev 23:22; Deut 24:19–21).” (From, IVP Dictionary of Biblical Imagery)

Lev. 19:9 “‘When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest.
Lev. 19:10 You must not pick your vineyard bare, and you must not gather up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
Lev. 23:22 When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.’”
Deut. 24:19 Whenever you reap your harvest in your field and leave some unraked grain there, you must not return to get it; it should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow so that the LORD your God may bless all the work you do.
Deut. 24:20 When you beat your olive tree you must not repeat the procedure; the remaining olives belong to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow.
Deut. 24:21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard you must not do so a second time; they should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow.

“This solution to a social problem required that the recipients work hard for their provision, and it therefore preserved the dignity that is sometimes forfeited by those who are entirely dependent on the generosity of others.” (From, IVP Bible Background Commentary: OT)

Gleaning in The Book of Ruth

The character of a widowed stranger in the land
Check it… Ruth was someone in need. She was a widow, an alien in a foreign land, and had to serve as provider for her and her mother-in-law (I’m reminded of some women today and how they have to serve as the sole provider for their family after daddy either went to jail, left them, had a deadly illness, etc.). But, Ruth was impoverished and didn’t have a source of income or food. Though she didn’t have much, she did have the determination to serve her mother-in-law (who also did not have a husband or any sons to look after her in her old age).

The character of a man whose life God had blessed
Then, we see a man, Boaz, who had possessions and the means to not only feed his own household, but others’ as well. The setting of the book was bleak… the times of the Judges were dark… there are recordings of women and the poor in general being taken advantage and abused. But Boaz followed the law and the commands of God (see above). He allowed Ruth to glean in his field, which enabled her to do work that provided food for her and her mother-in-law.

Ruth and Boaz
In the story of Ruth and Boaz, we find a Biblical image of gleaning. (By the way…After Boaz showed kindness to her, and they hooked up… it turns out that their Great-Grand child was King David! If you want to track the genealogy even further, you will find our Savior, Jesus Christ as a descendent!) How does this biblical example of gleaning carry over to our lives today? Is there a command or example to follow?

In what way could we today follow the lead of Boaz and allow others to glean from the bounty that God has given to us?

Friday, November 28, 2008

Generosity, Gratitude, and the Gospel by Joshua Beckett


I was perusing the Anglican Book of Common Prayer today, specifically looking at the portion concerning holidays. The prayer for Thanksgiving Day reads as follows:

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I really like the sentiment expressed here – that the purpose of God’s abundant blessing in our lives goes beyond his fatherly gift of provision for our own needs. It also includes the opportunity for us to emulate him in practicing generosity and caring for the needs of others. As I considered this, my attention drifted to 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. If you haven’t read it recently, take 5 minutes and do so – it’s amazing! In 10 action-packed verses, Paul weaves together the themes of generosity, reward, cheerfulness, provision, concern for the poor, righteousness, confession of the gospel, the glory of God, and thanksgiving!

There is a breathtaking process at work here. What follows is my attempt at unwinding some of the magnificent threads of truth in this passage:

* All things belong to God.
* God blesses believers with grace (both spiritually and physically/financially) and provides for their needs.
* In response, believers “sow” the provision they have received through the ministry of lavish and sacrificial giving, caring for the poor, especially other believers.
* This generosity brings about several results:
à those in need are fully taken care of
à they glorify God by their genuine thanksgiving, and they pray for their
benefactors
à God enables those who gave to continue in still greater generosity and
increases the harvest of their righteousness.
à Rinse, lather, repeat – the cycle continues!

In all of these stages, God is the primary agent behind the scenes – providing for, guiding, enabling, and rewarding Christians who participate in this ministry of service. But our role is by no means insignificant – we are to step out in faith and sow bountifully, give cheerfully, pray earnestly, and glorify God for his extravagant grace. And we do so bearing in mind the ultimate act of cosmic generosity which the Triune God himself demonstrated in the gospel. Indeed, our obedience in giving is directly tied with our confession of the good news of Jesus Christ. The former flows from the latter and demonstrates the authenticity of our faith, all to the glory of God.

I pray that we will keep these thoughts in mind and look for divinely appointed opportunities to be generous, both in the present (when it is easy for us to forget that other people are more broke than we are!) and in the future (as our nation and world faces the implications of the disastrous economic situation in which we find ourselves). Imagine what would happen if, in the middle of financial hardships on every side, the church demonstrated her trust in God’s provision and gave sacrificially and cheerfully to take care of those in need, both her own members as well as those outside. What a powerful testimony that would be to the watching world!

God has given us so much, and grateful generosity is our single-minded and whole-hearted response. Thanks be to God for his most inexpressible gift – his son Jesus Christ!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Adopt a School? by Damien Howard


[excerpt taken from: Educators expect Obama will alter No Child Left Behind rules
By Matt Arado Daily Herald Staff. (retrieved from http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=251777&src=3)]


"One of President Bush's most noteworthy accomplishments - the No Child Left Behind law enacted in 2002 - might undergo some fundamental changes when President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
Obama said during the presidential campaign that while he supports the law's overall goal, he believes the program needs fixing.
Obama has called for an additional $18 billion to be invested in the nation's schools, in part to help school districts meet the law's expectations. He also called for new assessments that track students' progress over time, rather than relying on the results of a single standardized test…"

[excerpt taken from: Adequate Yearly Progress Report 2008 (Interactive Illinois Report Card)
NORTH CHICAGO COMMUNITY HIGH SCH - NORTH CHICAGO SD 187]

"-Question 1: Is this School making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)?
Answer: No
-Question 2: Is this School making AYP in Reading?
Answer: No
-Question 3: Is this School making AYP in Mathematics?
Answer: No
-Question 4: Has this School been identified for School Improvement according to the AYP specifications of the federal No Child Left Behind Act?
Answer: Yes"

So what?
We do not have to wait to see if Barack Obama will scrap No Child Left Behind before we decide to lend a helping hand in a way that is pleasing to God and nurturing for his children.
North Chicago Community High School is approximately 19 minutes or 12.5 miles away from Trinity’s campus. The wealth of our immediate surrounding is not what one would find 12 miles north of here in North Chicago. Some statistics suggest that North Chicago is one of the most financially underprivileged communities in the greater Chicago-land area with one of the worst school districts.



Faith Alive is in the process of developing partnerships so that we can have some sort of effective and lasting ministry in North Chicago, Waukegan, and/or Elgin. Several churches in Lake County have adopted schools and are serving as a resource for these schools by way of mentorship and maintenance of the schools. The statistics above suggest that North Chicago Community High School needs help. Focusing on just this one school, I have a question for the Trinity community. What could we do to help? Is there some way that we could use the intelligence that God has blessed us with to positively impact children of North Chicago? What is stopping us from adopting a school?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Thoughts on a Discipleship House by Danny Hartman

November 17, 2008

The church I attended while in Madison had the mission statement, “building a community to reach a community.” I really like it. I am reminded of 1 Peter 2 which says that we are being built up as a spiritual house with Christ as our cornerstone. What precious community.

Personally, I love my community in Quad 4 and can echo with the psalmist, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity!” We are enjoying “building a community” eventually to “reach a community.” But what if, together, we could do both now?

As an example, Messiah has an inspiring off-campus housing program in which students minister in and to their local community.

http://www.messiah.edu/community/interest_housing.html

What if a group of students chose to invest in the churches and schools of hurting communities just north of here? What if, year after year, students passed and picked up the baton for a sustainable presence of salt and light? It’d be a discipleship house. We’d be enjoying and glorifying God by building a community to reach a community.

Are you interested? Let’s discuss.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Thoughts on the Trinity, Love and Justice by Akele Parnell

1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

God is love; no Christian can deny this. But I am convinced that there is more to unpack from this statement then you may have originally thought. God is also triune; no orthodox Christian would deny this statement either. Here again, I think there is more to this fact than is usually acknowledged. I believe that these two aspects of God when seen together provide important and practical implications for our understanding of human relations, justice and God.

God has expressed eternal love within the Trinity for all eternity. The three persons of the Trinity God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist in an infinitely deep interpenetrating bond often referred to as the perichoresis. This bond is so great that it actually has substance, and within this substance love is certainly elemental. The relationship between the persons of the Trinity is defined by love, although it may be defined by other qualities as well.

Further, all authentic relationships were designed by God to take part in and be defined by mutual, reciprocating love. In a broader sense, communities which consist of a group, or groups of individuals, who share and participate with one another in relationships, should also be marked by love. This seems to follow because relationships should be marked by love and communities consist of relationships between persons. What’s more, a society which is essentiality the totality of a group of social/communal relationships (communities), it seems, should be marked by love as well.

Once again, the paradigm for any relationship or group of relationships is shown to us by God himself within the Trinity, and this model is marked by love. Thus, we have a model in God’s own relations within himself for how we should behave toward one another and it would seem that this model would have implications on society as well if society consists of totalities of relationships. My proposal is that if we believe that God is one in three persons, and we believe that God is love, that the doctrine of the Trinity has direct implications on societal relations and thus, justice within society. Further, it seems that a society marked by divine love would be devoid of injustice. Let me know what you think, and your thoughts on how the doctrine of the Trinity can and should bare on the work of justice in the church.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Reflections on the Election by Jeremy Johnson

Last night a wonderful and historic event occurred when Barack Obama was elected the 44th president, and the first African-American president, of the United States. I went out last night to catch the results of the election but also to hear the speeches from both candidates (in a place where there would be a bunch of TVs). I was very pleased with both candidates for their kind and gracious remarks, and I was encouraged by their desire for national reconciliation after a long and heated campaign. When it was all said and done, even though I voted for McCain, I was unable to overlook the wonderful display of joy and harmony I saw televised of Americans in Grant Park and around the world.

Nevertheless, it struck me that maybe some of the people who were such vocal supporters of Obama might be making a mistake—a mistake that many conservative Republicans (including myself) had made at various points over the last eight years. As I watched Obama give his tremendously powerful and incredibly gracious acceptance speech, my heart began to swell with pride at seeing our democracy in action. In the middle of his speech, however, I began to believe that Obama wasn’t really speaking, but preaching.

Obama is a charismatic man to be sure, but his message last night was powerful because it was not his own. I believe it was a gospel message that had nothing to do with the gospel. That is not to say that I disagreed with his speech, or that I didn’t like it, because as I previously stated, I actually loved it. In my eyes, his speech was a proclamation of good news that trumpeted “change” because of a sincere feeling of “hope”. Ironically, it was just last week that I sat in a class under Crawford Loritts—an incredibly gifted preacher of God’s Word—who pleaded with us to never stand up in front of a group of people with a Bible in our hand, without expecting change. After watching last night, I found myself realizing that it is foolish to stand up in front of a group of people without a Bible in your hand, and to expect true change or experience eternal hope.

I offer this perspective as a Bush supporter, as someone who has stumbled my way through the hollow and shallow labyrinth of civil religion, and as someone who has placed his hope in man and not in God.

Now, before I say anything else, I want to reiterate how grateful I am to both candidates for their efforts in promoting unity and reconciliation after a hard fought political battle. I thought both candidates showed a tremendous amount of class last night, and I was proud to be an American.

It has been eye-opening, however, for me to see what I was doing at this time eight years ago. George W. Bush, a conservative, evangelical, Republican had just won the White House and offered hope of drastic change from the Clinton administration. I bought into this conservative ideology hook, line, and sinker. I believed that Bush was going to help us become a Christian nation again. I believed Bush wasn’t going to ignore conservative, evangelical Christians and that our voices would be heard. I believed that Bush had answers to many of the problems I had with government—and if I’m honest with myself, I actually saw Bush himself as the answer. While I do believe that he has been a good president, I’ve probably been guilty of placing too much trust in a mere man.

In light of what we find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe that placing our hope and trust solely in a political candidate is a form of idolatry. I was certainly guilty of it, and many from the evangelical bumper-sticker brigade around the country probably struggled with it as well.
In conclusion, I would first like to join with my friends who are rejoicing in this historical moment as the realization sinks in that the United States has elected its first African American president. Remain mindful, however, lest you repeat the same mistake I made eight years ago. Resist the desire to place all your hope in a political system, in a government, or in a man.
Secondly, to my friends who might disagree with the direction our country took last night, take heart in the words of John McCain:

“I urge all Americans ... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”
Finally, to my friends on both sides of the aisle—may we always remember where our true citizenship lies. My prayer is that American Christians would never grow too comfortable in this alien land and that we would always put nation first—so long as it is the kingdom of God. And may we never forget that true change and eternal hope were purchased on the cross by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Monday, October 27, 2008

History Hanging in the Balance?

With only eight days until the close of the election the race seems to be tightening and people on
both sides are getting increasingly nervous about the outcome of the election. This election is certainly one of the most historic races ever but for what reasons? Do you think this election is one of the most important elections ever—as many are saying— and if so, for what reasons? Do you think that major policy issues that you care about hang in the balance? Is this election more symbolically important for the image and direction of the country? Let me know what you think?

Monday, October 13, 2008

Justice Is as Justice Does by Joshua Beckett and Jeff Liou (featured in The Graduate Scrawl)

Justice Is as Justice Does?

A Conversation between Friends

Josh: Ok, Jeff, I hear you talk a lot about social justice, but what do you actually mean when you say that? It sounds really grand and, to be honest, maybe a bit self-important. But I’m unclear as to what this concept entails; it seems kind of vague.

Jeff: Yeah, it can be vague. Many who use the phrase don’t tend to define it. Instead, some will mention a list of issues – like racism, gender discrimination, classism, etc. But that’s not a definition. Still, any definition should be broad, if not vague. Therefore, Christopher Wright has written about mishpat (“justice”) in the “broadest terms” as actions undertaken to set things write – like they will be in heaven.

Josh: All right, but how is that any different from love? When I think of interpersonal relationships, shouldn’t love be what is primary? What is so significant about justice?

Jeff: In Luke 11:42, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for neglecting “the justice and the love of God.” The two are certainly related, but not identical. It seems that justice places certain demands on us pertaining to others in our society. But if I’ve heard you correctly, Josh, your question makes it sound like you think of justice merely as a subcategory of love.

Josh: Yeah, I guess that is where I was coming from. But I see your point – both love and justice do have social implications. I do care about these values; and I am sincere when I pray for God's kingdom – with all of the justice and love that it brings – to come on earth. But I guess I’m wondering what that looks like for me here and now. What am I supposed to be doing? I can’t save the world, and it irritates me when people like Bono preach at me as if I am to blame for the world’s problems because I’m not doing enough.

Jeff: Ugh, I hear you. Vocal, Bono-quoting Christians who wear their commitment to end poverty on their sleeve are often dismissed as “liberals,” or “guilt-trippers.” I should be more careful. But my instinct is that here at Trinity, we should, at least, be preparing ourselves to engage a world fraught with injustice. Let me ask you this: do you think that when you graduate you’ll be ready to lead your church – whether you’re in the suburbs or the city – to address urban poverty?

Josh: Not really. Back in undergrad when I was living in Knoxville, I used to talk with homeless people quite often in a given week; but it seems like since I’ve moved to the suburbs, I’ve forgotten how to interact with poor people, let alone lead a congregation to minister to them. I know that God has a heart for the poor, and I care too; but there’s only so much time, and my main priority must be preaching the gospel and addressing spiritual poverty.

Jeff: I’m certainly not asking you to “neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” What I am seeking is that we become ready to comfort the Chicago mothers who lost their children in the drive-by shootings this summer. How is “Christ died for sinners,” Good News to them? Frankly, one of my annoyances is the way that people forget that sin isn’t just a private matter between “me and God”; it affects every part of society. So, how could the complicated injustices be solved simply by preaching good theology?

Josh: Point taken. Evangelism and practical deeds of compassion and justice are linked; and I haven’t forgotten James’ warning about a dead faith that says, “Keep warm and well fed,” and then does nothing about someone’s physical needs. But my concern comes from looking at church history. I remember with sadness how the social gospel replaced the message of the cross and how acts of justice and mercy supplanted an emphasis on saving faith. Even today, I have noticed how my friends can get really excited about “being agents of social justice” and then lose their passion for Christ and him crucified.

Jeff: I’ve got friends who’ve gone that way, too. I’ll be up front. I don’t have a good answer. But John Stott’s quote haunts me: “Evangelical Christians during this century have tended to be in the rearguard, instead of in the vanguard, of social reformers.” That’s us. And I think we need to talk about these things.

Create an Overnight Bag for a Child Entering Emergency Foster Care!

Join Community Impact in serving abused and neglected children by creating an Overnight Bag for kids entering emergency foster care! These children are often forced to leave their home without the opportunity to take any belongings and would benefit greatly from your donation!

Listed below are some of the items that you may chose to fill your overnight bags with. For the toiletry items, travel size or regular size items are acceptable. You do not have to include the entire list in each bag; this is just an example of the types of things to be included.

Please do not include any medications or products that contain alcohol.

The children range in age 11 – 17 years.

All purpose overnight bag or small size duffel bag
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Journal and pen or pencil
Bath Soap
Shampoo & Conditioner (or two-in-one product)
Wash cloth
Non-perishable snack (such as fruit roll-ups)
Chewing gum
Playing cards
Easy crossword puzzle or word puzzle
book

It would also be great if you could include a note of encouragement for your foster child to make the bag more personal and meaningful in reminding them that they are loved and cared for, despite how alone they might feel.

Commuters can drop off their bags in the Student Ministries Office (in the Lew) or at the coffee house on October 24th from 9:00 pm - 1:00 am in Johnson Hall and receive a free dessert!

Students living in residence halls can create bags together with their floors or give bags to their RA! The floor that creates the most bags will be given a Ice Cream Float party! The winner will be announced at the coffee house!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Jeff Liou Reflects on War Analogies in Today's Context


I just finished watching the HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers (BoB).


War movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. I confess; I like explosions. But BoB was so full of character development, ethical questions, and other things that make you go, "hmmmm..." For example, short interviews of the actual WWII veterans depicted in the show introduce every episode. This series REALLY makes you admire the "Greatest Generation" for their selfless sacrifice and high idealism. The episode where they first stumble across the concentration camps will haunt and inspire me to justice for a long time. (I'm willing to bet that public sentiment about WWII made popular the use of war analogies in Sunday sermons for years to come!)


I've also been watching HBO's Generation Kill. It is a smart, critical look at the Iraq war that is irreverent and sardonic. High ideals are hard to come by. In fact, the producers parade the moral depravity of scornful, racist troops in ways designed to churn the viscera. Generation Kill makes BoB look like kindergarten. Present-day attitudes about war, in general, and about Iraq, in particular have even reached Trinity where war illustrations are met with some tentativeness in preaching classes.


So, when Ralph Winter writes that we should adopt a war-mentality about the allocation of material resources for the "war" (i.e. missionary) effort, what would you do? How would you contextualize that one in this day and age? What is the best use of war analogies today? Are there any?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

"Who is My Neighbor? Part 2 by Mark Hershey



“Who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:25-37 – Part 2 of 2

Luke 10:30-37 The story continues…

Jesus tells a story about a man who, going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, falls into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

In the man’s helpless state, we find three people in the story that are able to him.

A priest happened to be going down the same road…
When he saw him, he passed by on the other side (v.31)

So too, a Levite…
When he came up to the place and saw him, he passed by on the other side (v.32)

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was…
When he saw him, he felt compassion for him (v.33)

Each of these three men saw the same thing. They saw someone who was beat up, bloody, half-dead, with no possessions. They each noticed the same exact thing. They looked at someone who was in desperate need, a breath away from death, unless someone intervened. The first two had the exact same reaction, choosing to pass by on the other side of the road. But it was the least likely of the three, the Samaritan, whose reaction was much different. Upon seeing the person in need, he felt compassion!

It is interesting that the priest is the first to come onto the scene. He is a man who, on earth, represents piety to its fullest extent. He is the one who offers sacrifices to God in behalf of others, yet he does not act in behalf of this man during this scene. This compassionate act that the Samaritan man made, as many compassionate acts do, involved a concrete price that the Samaritan was willing to pay. Compassion is not easy. Check out Luke 9:57-62 as this relates to the cost of discipleship. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, Darrell Bock, 1033)

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.

“Look after him and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

After finishing the story, Jesus asked, “which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (v.36)

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus uses many different verbs to describe all of the Samaritan’s actions on behalf of the man in need: “he goes to him; bandages him, pours oil and wine on his wounds; puts him on his donkey, carries him to the inn, and takes care of him, even to the point of leaving enough money behind to make sure the man has two weeks lodging to recover” while also promising to return to cover any extra costs. (NIV Application Commentary: Luke, Darrell Bock, 301)

Notice Jesus’ question to the man in verse 36. Most English versions state “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor…?” But the Greek actually has Jesus asking, “who became (gi÷nomai) a neighbor to this man?” This is so huge!! “Thus, compassion, response, and love make a neighbor, not locale or race. One should not seek to narrowly define who is a neighbor so as to limit ones responsibility. The obligation is not to see what can be avoided, but to render aid when it can be readily supplied.” (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, Darrell Bock, 1034)

Prayer:
Lord, please open our eyes to those in need. Whether it is someone who is lying by a road or someone who is sitting next to us in class. Help us see the world through Your eyes, feel with your heart, and make our faith alive as your hands and feet. Amen.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Mark Hershey Who is my neighbor? Pt. 1.

“Who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:25-37 - Part 1 of 2

Luke 10:25-29 The scenario went down like this…

A lawyer (or scribe) tested Jesus by asking what he had to do inherit eternal life.

Jesus replies, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

The lawyer replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”

Now, understand that Jesus does not think that you have to do good works to get to heaven, as some may say this passage says. No, Jesus’ response shows that this verse is saying, “a devotion to God is expressed in a devotion towards others, so that there is no distinction between devotion to God and treatment of people (c.f. Colossians 1:3-5, 1 John 4:11, Romans 8:1-11… To “do the law” means, in essence, to love. To live by the Spirit means to love and do righteousness).” (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, Darrell Bock, 1025)

But the lawyer wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The lawyer’s whole purpose in asking this question was “to justify himself”. Luke provided that important detail that to explain that, “The lawyer is looking for minimum obedience required, but Jesus requires total obedience. It shows that he is approaching God on human terms and not on God’s. Jesus refuses to allow this limitation… Jesus refuses to turn people into a subspecies or into things that can be ignored.” (Bock, 1028)

Others agree that Jesus correctly identified the corrupt motivation of the Lawyer’s question.
“He (Jesus) does not like this question. Carving humanity up into groups some of whom are worthy of our love and others are not. Jesus does not answer the question, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ He tells a parable that changes the question." Piper continues, "Jesus tells a story that changes the question from ‘What kind of person is my neighbor?’ to ‘What kind of person am I?’ He changes the question from ‘What status of people are worthy of my love?’ to ‘How can I become the kind of person whose compassion disregards status?’" (John Piper, www.desiringgod.org)

Thoughts? Questions?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Getting Down To the Heart of the Matter by Akele Parnell


“It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.”
- Bono

Unless you’ve been living under a rock then you’ve heard of the economic crisis our country is currently going through. It seems all the big name financial services companies were well on their way down the tube. Of course that was until the current administration and its advisors decided that a 700 billion dollar bailout might save our economy from taking a nose dive into a depression. While this 700 billion dollar “rescue plan”—as it is now being called—has not yet passed through congress, some sort of extremely expensive bailout is likely. I think it averages out to over 2,000 some odd dollars per tax payer. Now, I’m nowhere near a professional economist, so for me to say whether or not the bailout is a sound economic idea is simply above my pay grade. Still, I think Bono has made a good point here. Prior to the chaos related to this economic debacle our economy was already going through ruff times. I heard non-stop talk about the country’s massive debt and the excessive cost of this administration’s plans and policies. But low and behold, we had 700 billion dollars we could spend to save our economy and rescue our nation and from possible economic ruin.

So what’s the lesson here, well for one it’s amazing what we can find when we really need too. But seriously, as I thought about Bono’s quote I thought about how I handle my own finances. Anytime I’m in need or there’s something I really want, I always find a way to either get it, or find the faith that God will provide, and that’s good. But do I find that same sort of zeal when someone else is in need? The answer is certainly not as much as I’d like. I can find 4.00 dollars to get something at Starbucks when I’m broke, but can’t seem to find the time and money to adequately help those to whom 4.00 bucks means the difference between eating or not eating, life or death. When a missionary is raising support to go serve among the unreached, forgotten peoples of the world, do I search for money the same way I would if I was trying to get a new X-box, or go on a road trip with friends. I can’t say I do.

Jesus said “do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” For the 25 to 30,000 children who die every day of well known preventable diseases and poverty related issues, we as a nation can’t seem to find the political capital to scrape up the necessary 3% of the 700 billion dollar government bailout which congress is now considering (Despite popular opinion we actually spend less than .2%, not 2%, of our GNP on foreign aid, one of the lowest percentages among developed nations. Most goes to places where we have military involvement or interest, and less than .1%, not 1%, goes to purely humanitarian aid in the places that need it. Additionally, we spend thirty times more on military expenditures than on foreign aid based on figures before the Iraq War).

As disappointing as these figures may be, if I break down the percentages of what I spend in my own life, I’m afraid I’ll find a similar pattern. Jesus said in Luke 12:34 that “where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” In other word’s you can tell what a person really loves by where they spend their money. Where do you spend your money? The two greatest commandments Jesus gave are to Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Love is first and foremost a matter of the heart, but it overflows into the way we live our lives. Matthew 15:19 states that out of our heart come evil thoughts and actions, murders, adulteries, lies and the like. Thus, we can tell if we love someone by how we treat them and we can tell what we love in our hearts by what we spend our money on. If we take this understanding and measure our lives by it, then clearly we as a nation need a heart change, and more than likely we as individuals need the same. We need the grace that changes hearts and the faith that changes actions.

Lord, touch our hearts and soften them, may your Holy Spirit help us to Love you and to Love others. For love that doesn’t act, isn’t really love at all. Help us to be obedient to your will and to “do unto others” as we would have them do to us, moreover let us do onto others as we do for ourselves. Lastly, God change the way we spend our money, I pray that you would get down to the heart of the matter.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Why Christians Should Not Vote by Nicholas Walker

Preserving life or care for the poor? Personal responsibility or aid for America’s impoverished communities? Environmental concern or crime reduction? This year’s election will force voters to make important decisions as to what values they think are most important to our nation. As disciples of Jesus, we must make these decisions based on the values that our Savior taught us. The problem comes, though, in trying to vote for the candidate which best represents God’s Kingdom values. I would argue that both candidates in this year's presidential election will support some Kingdom values while leaving others neglected. As followers of Christ who attempt to be obedient in our choice of a candidate, we find ourselves in the situation of having to order and prioritize which values we see as most important. We find ourselves in the difficult position of choosing which Kingdom values we will work to see implemented and which we are willing to allow to be neglected.

However, as people called into a New Community of Christ in which we live out the Kingdom of God on earth, we can never put ourselves into a position of working towards some Kingdom values at the expense of others. In order to live out the Kingdom that we have been called into, we can never uphold one set of Kingdom values over another. When we support some aspects of God’s Kingdom while neglecting others, we loose our prophetic voice. I am defining the Church’s prophetic voice as the voice declaring God’s rule which is to be lived out in our context and which is spoken through God’s people. God’s Kingdom is not a political platform which changes based on the current situation but is the timeless call for God’s will to be done on our earth. In voting, the Church looses its prophetic voice by failing to express the fullness of God’s concern for all people. Casting a vote for a candidate inevitably means advocating social justice for some while oppressing others. Therefore, voting prevents Christians from maintaining the prophetic witness we are to have in the world as well as preventing us from maintaining the fullness of Kingdom values.

Casting a vote for a candidate is a sign of allegiance to that candidate and what they stand for. Therefore, as a follower of Christ, the witness that we have in the world for Christ is compromised unless that candidate encompasses all of the values of the Kingdom of God. To cast a vote for a candidate means allowing your voice to be heard through that candidate - letting the candidate speak for you. As long as we allow candidates to speak for us we will be unable to maintain our prophetic voice.

Through abstaining from voting I am not calling for followers of Christ to abstain from society, the world, or politics. I am not calling for a withdraw from the world but for a better way of engagement, one that will allow us to advocate for all of God’s values instead of merely allowing us to play our individual part within the culture wars. Christians should abstain from voting because direct action in the world is a far better and consistent method of engagement with the world than voting. We cannot continue to expect politicians to do the Kingdom work which Christ has called His Church to do. If you sense God’s concern for the poor, I challenge you to look for ways in which you can engage the poor in our community. If you want to work for the reduction of abortion in our country, volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center and share in the pain of these mothers. Instead of debating over which presidential candidate is godlier, Christians must unite in action and do the work which God has called us to do.

The Kingdom values of Christians need to be lived out in every aspect of our lives instead of just by casting a ballot. If you have no intention of actively getting involved in any of the issues that are important to you in choosing a candidate, then I encourage you to vote. The little that is accomplished through voting is better than no action at all. However, if you passionately seek to live out the values of the Kingdom of God and work to see God’s will done on earth, I encourage to you vote with your entire life and not just with a ballot every four years.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Seeking the Kingdom

Yesterday, as I was thinking about the new launch of the FaithAliveonline blog, I was drawn to reflect on some concepts of the kingdom and some questions about its implications. During this time of reflection I came across Matthew 6:33 which says to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Prior to this statement Jesus had Christ exhorted his followers to not get weighed down by the cares of this life, that is, food, clothes, even our life itself. Rather he tells us the focus of our hearts and therefore our actions should be on the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

After reading this verse I asked myself what does it look like for me and other Christians in America to truly seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? In our reliance on God and in our purist of his kingdom do we dare live in radical love for God and our neighbor? Do we dare live lives of costly discipleship unencumbered by the worries of this world? A question more relevant to our discussion last week is what the political environment in America would look like if those who confessed Christ lived lives which truly reflected our profession of faith? Would this cause us to be more influential in politics less influential? How would this effect the way we vote if we vote? What would we do about major the major social issues which concern us such as abortion, poverty, and crime?

For Cody Fisher a friend of Mark Hershey seeking the kingdom looked like doing something extreme, something dangerous, something hard. Here's his story.

California was always home for Cody Fisher, a recent graduate from Cedarville University (Christian college in Ohio). He always had a heart for kids and devoted his life to working with youth. Shortly after graduation, Cody was convicted of the needs for some of the youth, globally. He left sunny California for the even sunnier, and hotter, climate of Northern Iraq to work for a relief organization. He was stationed in one of the most war-ravaged areas of Iraq. The needs of the people were abundant, as many of the youth that Cody worked with had health problems, specifically heart diseases. The high rate of heart disease is unknown, though poor hygienic conditions, overcrowding, bad housing, inadequate medical treatment, and malnutrition definitely play their part. In assessing each case, Cody saw that there needed to be some kind of long-term solution. It was difficult because there were not any doctors in Iraq who were cardiovascular surgeons in Iraq and the kids had to go to Israel or Jordan for the surgeries. There was a need for money, but how could Cody provide that as he was living as a missionary in Iraq?

Dreaming with fellow teammate, Jeremy Courtney, they brainstormed ways they could help raise funds for kids to have heart surgeries. In Iraq, the Kurds have been making handmade shoes, called Klash, for many years. Those who make the shoes are very skilled laborers and take great pride in the shoes. They are very popular as almost everyone wears them on the streets. Cody and Jeremey both bought shoes and loved them. They came up with the idea of selling the shoes on the Internet for profit to help pay for the kid’s surgeries. Their idea took off...

“In a matter of days we had a website up and running and we had sold enough shoes to get reasonably excited about funding our first heart surgery. At the start of 2008, after a little over 5 months of business, we had been a part of financially contributing to the screening, travel, housing, and/or medical expenses for seven children who were in serious need of heart surgery!” (A statement from their website)

Though they might not necessarily be getting down and dirty in ministry, they took the time to understand the needs of the people. In living with them, they soon realized the potential of their trade skills. Because they are linking up the shoemakers with buyers in the US and Europe, they are able to help the economy of Northern Iraq, find solutions for health problems and share the love of Christ.

- Adapted from personal story and www.buyshoessavelives.com

Monday, September 15, 2008

Should Christians vote? By Adam McClun



“Should Christians vote?”

Yes.

“Why?”

An even better question; brought to relevance with the upcoming presidential elections. I’d like to briefly highlight four points for why we should vote.

As believers we are called to select exemplary leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13 & Titus 1:5-9) who imitate Christ’s leadership and sacrifice. Quite frankly neither of the two primary presidential candidates exemplify Christ’s leadership, but in all honesty who does live up to this standard of perfection? Even if our leaders prove to be insufficient, we as believers can witness through our vote.

Politics are culturally relevant. Everyday people enter into political discussions; around water coolers, ballgames, shopping malls, and yes, in churches too. We ought to be engaged in these conversations. See Paul’s famous dialogue at the Areopogous in Acts 17:16-34 for further illustration on relevant cultural engagement.

We are given the privilege to live in a nation in which our voice can be heard (this is not the case in many nations around the world). The democratic process is one that allows each citizen a choice in their government, therefore the government that’s ultimately selected is based on our consensus. As we are entrusted with this task, we are to be held responsible.

Let’s look at Matthew 22:21, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” In this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees, we hear one of the most important principles for believers to live by. For individuals, life is not supposed to be compartmentalized into the political & religious realm; rather by fulfilling our obligations to earthly authorities we are honoring God (Romans 13:1-7).

We should be wary of falling into two extremes. First, by separating ourselves from our own world (as the Amish, might do). In a fair, just democracy by not voting we are essentially withdrawing from the political process. The second extreme is using politics as our primary method of change; this downplays the role of the Good News. Balance between these two extremes is needed.

Matthew 22:15-22 is powerful because it show us that Jesus’ kingdom is not one of military or political rule, rather it operates within the existing political order. The early church got this, and paid for it with their blood. Today believers living in countries that are politically hostile to the Christianity get this. In everything we do, we do it first and foremost as followers of Jesus Christ.
Adam McClun is a second year Masters of Divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Dvinity School.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Hope for the World


The gratuitous atrocities, and horrific tragedies which occur in our world, cause many to resign into despair. A mother in America loses a young child who dies because of the absence of adequate health care. A young boy in Angola is stolen from his parents and forced to kill for a cause he neither supports, nor understands. A girl in Indonesia is born into a brothel, with no future but to service men from the age of 5 until she is no longer considered to be useful. Considering the evils which come from the hearts of humanity, one can easily slip into a sort of nihilistic cynicism about what amount of good can actually be done in our World. To many in our times the thought of any sort of hope, is nothing more than a balm for the misguided, the ignorant and delusional.

Yet there is hope. There is a hope that is real, tangible, a hope which can be seen and felt. For those who put their faith in Christ there is more to hope for than anyone could imagine. It is this hope which keeps me hopeful in our broken world. It is the hope in the now and not yet, reign, of the God of love, justice, mercy and compassion, which keeps me hopeful that not only will one day things will be put right, but that I might bring hope, love and compassion to people in our world today. It is precisely the content of this hope, which can break through the darkest of darkness and bring light and new life into the depths of despair. Clearly we are called to bring hope to those in our World. We are to be the hands, feet and mouths of Christ. Moreover we the Church, are to be the body of Christ. God could have done things anyway he desired but he chose us to be his witnesses.

Yet, many questions remain unanswered. What does this witness look like in our World? How is it best and most holistically expressed? Does it only include preaching? Should Christians try to influence the world around them and if so, in what way? Should Christians work within the framework of governmental and secular systems of the world to bring hope or should this only be done within the four walls of the church and its para-church organizations. People matter to God, justice, righteousness, mercy and love matter to God, life matters to God. Micah 6:8 states “He has shown you, O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God desires for these aspects of his character to be manifest in the earth. But what does that look like in our everyday lives? We will explore these and other related issues here at FaithAliveonline.blogspot.com and we invite you to joins us.

For our first topic we will look at issues relating to this election season. The first issue we will deal with is the issue of voting. How does faith impact the way we vote if we vote? In this election season, does our faith require that we cast a vote, endorse a candidate or raise our voice at all?

Check back tomorrow Tuesday September 16, 2008 when Adam McClun shares with us his opinion about why Christians should vote.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Pentecost 2008 in Washington, D.C. by Akele Parnell

So I just got back from the Pentecost 2008 conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by Sojourners. It was a gathering of over 230 people, from a variety of Christian traditions (and a few from other faiths) for the purpose of equipping leaders to become agents of change in their churches and communities. Through faith-based advocacy and organizing the leaders of the conference hope to mobilize a faith based constituency around the issue of poverty, who are capable of influencing congressional and presidential priorities around domestic and global poverty, in order to end extreme poverty. The conference’s slogan “Training for Change,” captures the practical focus of the conference as well as its lively, activist nature. All these aspirations manifest themselves in the Vote Out Poverty Campaign. The major action plan of this campaign is to get voters to get out and to vote on the issue of poverty.

It was wonderful to see hundreds of Christians gathered together to live out their faith by responding to the injustice of poverty. The conference was challenging―in that I was urged to act in ways which cause me to step outside my comfort zone― as well as encouraging to see so many likeminded Christians―meaning, likeminded in our commitment to living out our faith by taking action against injustice.

We should all be encouraged to know that we have brothers and sisters out there who are actively engaged in the fight for justice and paving the way for a just future for all those ravaged by poverty. I sometimes get discouraged because it seems as if those who see the Biblical call to justice and act on it, are too few far and in between.

However, I left the conference encouraged, re-energized and with a new perspective. When faced with the lack of co-laborers, I find wisdom and encouragement in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he said “almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” When I can’t see the end he reminds us that “faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase,” and when faced with the doubt that my work is fruitless I realize that just as Christ rose from the grave “that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” Christ is redeeming the world and we can be a part of that now. What’s more, we can be actively engaged in loving our brothers and sisters who are suffering, by speaking out for their rights and getting engaged in the struggle for justice. Finally, although we don’t always see the fruits of our labor we can be sure that what we are doing is making a significant change, of eternal value.

Akele Parnell is a first year Masters of Divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Pollution vs. Parents by Jeff Liou


I drive what I like to call a “big nasty.” More specifically, it is a full-size, luxury SUV that gets 15 miles per gallon of premium (only!) gas. Perhaps you’ve seen it. I have no way of verifying this, but I suspect that among evangelicals of my generation, environmental stewardship is coming to be seen as a biblical imperative. I’ve internalized this commitment, which is why I am loath to drive this car. Though, some days, this loathing pales in comparison to the pain of paying for 22+ gallons at the pump. So, I guess that’s another thing – it simply doesn’t seem to be the wisest use of the financial resources God gives us.

Yet, this car was a gift of love and sacrifice from my (non-Christian) Taiwanese American parents. Many second generation children (children born in the US to immigrant parents) understand gifts of this nature in the context of their parents’ struggle to secure a better life for their children. How, then, can a second generation child like me reject a gift like this without dishonoring my parents’ generosity (they knew we can’t afford a car on our own) and concern for safety (they very genuinely emphasize the safety of the vehicle)???

Do I choose between care of creation and the fifth commandment? Or can I somehow ‘have it all’?

Some might think it the easier route to say that since my parents aren’t Christians, I don’t have to obey them. I don’t think it’s that simple. Is honor only deontological? That is, is there some prewritten game-plan for how to honor parents? OR, is honor also, to some degree, existential and situational? That is, if my parents feel dishonored (relationally AND culturally), am I not in some way responsible?

I’d love to hear what you think! And pity me the next time you me driving the “big nasty!”


Jeff Liou is a first year Masters of Divinity Student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What is Compassion? by Adam McClun

What is compassion?

Lets begin by looking towards Jesus for this one. Matthew 9:35-38 states, “Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his field.’”

Jesus healed people’s disease and illnesses, yet his compassion (pity) for the crowds came from their problems of hopelessness (not knowing where to go for help). Every person’s life is problematic, yet compassion as an answer to these problems is multifaceted. It involves both the physical and spiritual. However at the end of the day Christ is people’s only real hope.

Problems are not always fixed by simply doing, they will be fixed through compassion and time. To be truly compassionate towards people, this means that we will take them all the way to Christ. It is crucial to share the Gospel and give people a chance to respond to it. At crucial points in my own life, being challenged by other people was just was I needed to hear (not necessarily what I wanted). To be challenged, questioned, and face trials is where the most growth can occur. The most compassionate thing we can do is to reconnect a lost soul to the eternal God.

So just what does it look like to cultivate compassion? First off, biblical compassion is a commitment not a convenience. One cannot expect a sustainable ministry within the urban core while living comfortably out in the suburbs. A missionary cannot minister to his target audience without being directly involved in their day-to-day lives. This means a willingness to give up all convenience. Sacrifices must be made for the advancement of God’s kingdom, after all the ultimate sacrifice has already been accomplished. This is where the issue of ‘time’ comes in; we as ministers to people’s needs should commit long term to a ministry. It is a very scary thing to do, but in the big picture of things what do we really have to lose? We must live life together with others to share the Good News and build them up in faith.

Sympathy merely feels sorry, however biblical compassion always acts on that sorrow. It is not a reaction; it is a response. Consider the terrible tragedies that occurred last week with the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China. As in Matthew 9:37-38, there is a huge need for spiritual and physical workers. As followers of Christ we are to respond. What can we do to respond?

…Praying? Answering people’s questions of why bad things happen? Allowing those affected to see God’s hope? Going to the areas affected? Shipping supplies? Monetarily giving?

As a seminary student, I at times feel so inadequate with addressing the problems of the world. I’m stuck in Deerfield, but I want to go now and meet these massive physical and spiritual needs.

But wait, God has placed individuals in my own life whose needs he can use me to meet. I have a whole community of people I know and don’t know yet whom I can affect for God’s glory over the next two years of my life in North-Eastern Illinois.

* All Bible references are taken from the New Living Version.
** This Blog post referenced at times: A Heart for the City. Edited by John Fuder. Moody Press:
Chicago, 1999.

Adam McClun is a first year Masters of Divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Dvinity School.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Alicia McGregor Leonardi Reflects on Her Experience at an Inner-City Church

Faith Alive, the TEDS Biblical Social Justice group, finished the 2008 academic year with a panel and small group discussion forum at the Oakwood New Life Covenant Church. Alicia thought it was super tight. Here are her thoughts:

Since the group had been planning the event the past few weeks, I was looking forward to the evening quite a bit. Despite high expectations, the night exceeded my expectations.

While preparing my introductory speech shortly before the event started, I realized that I had spent the past few months living in the suburbs talking to people about what I experienced in inner-city Denver. Now, instead of talking about the city, I was going to talk to the city. Facing this reality prompted justice-related thought after justice-related thought.

I pondered what exactly separates people in the city from people in the burbs, people in the western world from people in the Asia, children going about the business of being kids from children forced into sweatshops or prostitution. Why does God allow some to be born into rotten, oppressive and violent situations and spare others this same fate?

Though I didn’t come up with a definitive answer to the aforementioned tough question, I was pleasantly surprised by the minds of the youth we worked with. After we introduced the concept of justice and concretely discussed its definition as it relates to the bible, we broke off into small groups to discuss what we personally could do to make our immediate environments more just in light of God’s word and what he has done for us in Christ. They had so many good ideas.

Compared to past work with youth, where soliciting answers was like pulling teeth, these teens were like fireballs of knowledge. From sponsoring safe spaces to ask questions to preparing for political actions to initiating service projects, these teens were ready to start something.

Damien made the excellent point that the kids had so much to say, because they deal with injustice every day of their lives and don’t get to choose whether or not they are confronted with violence. This is a good wake up call when you live in a place where you can leave laptops lying around without worrying.

The youth pastor said the group will select two of the more than two dozen ideas the youth came up with and actually make them happen. So the youth get empowered, and we get some eye-opening ministry experience. Good times all around. And it all started with one little round table at Melton filled with a handful of stressed students who admit they have a lot to learn regarding justice. Amazing.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Applying PT 5000 (By Jeff Liou)




*These thoughts are my own and in no way claim to represent Dr. Sell’s views.

Do you remember Dr. Sell’s flowchart? Do you remember which box he (and Frankena) thinks is most important? That’s right, Box C – the profile of what you want to produce. I think that Dr. Sell makes a great case for us to think through what maturity in our organizations ought to look like. I think he’s also right to call out the “bait and switch” in the contemporary church model that fixates on “felt needs” instead of thinking about discipleship.

But, as I sat pondering the importance of Box C, I began to wonder whether students typically think of what kind of person they want to produce or what kind of community we want to produce. Obviously, we don’t have to choose between developing people and communities. But isn’t the Scripture replete with statements about what the people of God ought to be? Individualistically, we can look to vice and virtue lists. Communally, we can look to passages like Matthew 5:14 (city set upon a hill). For the two aspects presented in tension, we can look to Ephesians 4:1-13. It doesn’t seem optional for us to grapple with the profile of the community we want to produce.

And here’s the rub: If the question of ethnic diversity never crosses our mind, it seems to me that we resign ourselves to whatever racial demographic ends up resulting – and let’s face it… that usually means homogeneity. Is that ok? Let me put it another way: If we feel free to leave Isaiah 56:7 (“house of prayer for all nations”) out of Box C do we not miss something that Jesus desires for his Church (Mark 11:17)?

There may be problems that I haven’t seen with putting a communal spin on Box C. And I know that this is more complicated for churches in, say, North Dakota. But I thought I should ask us. I’m eager for your feedback!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

New Event

Prof. Lisa Sung of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School will be sharing her dissertation, which revolves around the issues of race and ethnicity, and looking at the two concepts from a sociological and theological standpoint this Friday, April 25.
“Race and Ethnicity: What’s the Theological Difference?”
A Presentation of Research Based on the Dissertation,
“‘Race’ and Ethnicity Discourse and the Christian Doctrine of Humanity:
A Systematic Sociological and Theological Appraisal”
Prof. Lisa Sung, Systematic Theology, TEDS
April 25, 2008

Reflections on the Recent Violence in Chicago ( by Damien Howard)


“ LET'S FIGHT WHAT FOSTERS YOUNG TOUGHS”

“You can't have a discussion about race without taking stock of the hell that some young black and Hispanic men are putting their communities through. This weekend, a rash of violence has put beset communities further on edge.

Harold Davis understands this far better than I do. He runs Amer-I-Can Enterprises II, which gives teens the opportunity to learn carpentry while they earn money. He sees how hard these youths are working. Some work to stay out of harm's way, others to change their lives.

Davis also sees how futile it often feels to his young charges when navigating in the line of gunfire.

'They're not planning for their futures anymore,' he said. 'They're planning for their funerals.'

I wrote about Davis and his students last May after Blair Holt, 16, was killed on a CTA bus. None of Davis' young workers knew Blair personally, but each understood the pain of having a young relative or friend gunned down in gang violence.

This year is different. Several of Davis' workers have been directly affected by the killings. Some either are related to the 24 Chicago Public Schools students who have been killed since the beginning of the school year, or they're related to the countless other teens—some dropouts—whose slayings have gone virtually unreported."

-Dawn Turner Trice 9:08 PM CDT, April 20, 2008


Everything aforementioned is from Trice's article, my personal contribution is below.

In diverse circles of engagement, I have come across people who share the sentiment that "The Church" has no power. We can sit back and quibble about the ambiguity of the nomenclature-"The Church," and request further clarification of what is meant by this term; or we can take this as a personal attack of our character and wake up to the fact that this argument may have some relevance. The senseless violence that is pervasive in many of Chicago's urban neighborhoods is typical of urban centers across America. According to Eddie Gibbs in Church Next, we live in a world that is growing increasingly non-Christian. He continues by implying, one major argument of post-modern adherents is that we Christians legalistically assert Orthodoxy with inconsistent Orthopraxis.

My question is- How is "The Church" planning on responding to this violence that is taking place in our nation? If we see all humans as being made in the image of God (Imago Dei), we should quickly become aware that WE MUST DO SOMETHING to work towards the preservation of people from these distressed environments (The Sanctity of Life Argument). I believe, in the vein of Dr. Martin Luther King, that NOW is the time- not just for strategic planning, but more importantly, strategic action!

I pray that the two criticisms that are mentioned in this submission, against the church, are not true. I pray that we don't lack power- I don't see how this could even be possible if our bodies are truly the temples of the God’s Spirit. And, if in fact, our bodies are vessels of the Holy Spirit, this should denote a "Christ-likeness" that imperatively calls us to action when confronted with the reality of heinous misdeeds and callous injustices. As I pray, I also hope that we won’t take our gift of the Holy Spirit for granted. If God has given us power to effect change in societies through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, it is an utter disservice to our Father if we just "sit on" his gift to us.

What are you going to do with your talent(s)?

Call to Action- As a community, lets stimulate substantive conversation of what we can do to combat the violence taking place in our nation's urban centers and also elsewhere (from the perspective of theologians, activist, or concerned Christian citizens).

What I am Interested to know- Is this reckless violence something that we, as Christians, should be talking about and working to change? I am really interested to know what you think because I rarely hear these concerns conversed in areas where these problems are less prevalent.”

A link to the article commented on can be found at [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-trice-21-apr21,0,454035.column]

Damien Howard is a first year masters of divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Trinity Chapel Speaker Tomorrow!

Don't miss out on Rev. Stan Archie... this Tuesday and Thursday at 11PM in the Chapel. I'm not sure what he is talking about, but he is a very passionate and seasoned veteran in fighting for social justice. Coming from one of the most violent cities in America, Archie has extensive experience that we can certainly learn from...

Archie is the Founding and Executive Pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. He works not just within the church but also partners with state and city governments to make life better for those in the inner city. To give you a glimpse into some of his work outside of the role of pastor, Archie is:

- a Member of the Missouri State Board of Education (which is a very notable position)- President of the Kansas City Leadership Foundation (an organization devoted to community betterment and strengthening individual ethics and character)
- National speaker, workshop facilitator and private consultant in the following areas:Diversity/ Unity Training, Community Development, Conflict Resolution, Relationship Development, Urban Family and Parenting, Urban Development, Business Advisor, Leadership Development Specialist, Character Counts (Character Education), and National Adopt-A-School Implementation Training

With 20+ years working in Kansas City, partnering with other churches and organizations for causes related to social justice, I'm sure Archie will offer some great insights and wisdom. I've heard him speak a few times and this is one chapel you won't want to miss. Come to the chapel service at 11 and the Q & A /Free Lunch afterwards (on both Tuesday and Thursday). C-ya There!

Mark Hershey is a first year masters of divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

A Few Thoughts on Re-envisioning Evangelical Christian Politics. (By Mark Hershey)

Friends,

I want to share with you an awesome 39 min sermon on multi-racial churches, inner city ministry, social justice, racism, and the desperate need for change in American churches... all rolled into one. I watched it last night and the speaker, Soong Cha Rah from North Park Theological Seminary, covered a lot of different issues and brought up some great discussion starters. His sermon is called: "Freedom to all Captives and Pardon to all Prisoners"

Just one quote:

"There are 90+ passages on looking after the orphan, widow, and illegal alien. There are 0 passages on the right to bear arms. Why are there more Christians who are members of the NRA than Christians who would like to see immigration reforms."

Okay, make that two:

"We need to understand that racism is not just an individual issue. It is corporate. We can argue against that saying, ‘I’ve never owned a slave. I didn't take any land from the native Americans... I'm not a racist’ ... but you have benefited from an economic system that was built on free land stolen from the Native community and free labor kidnapped from Africa. Now if you're an economist, and you get free land and free labor, you know that you better have a booming economy. America was given free land and free labor and built an economic system.... and today we are still benefiting from that unjust corporate system....so we have the responsibility today of that unjust corporate system because we are still benefiting from it."

With these two quotes, I also want to say that Soong Cha Rah isn't just a deconstructionist, but he does offer some solutions and encouragement. Here is a link to the lecture. Check it out. Post your comments. Let's chat.
Audio Podcast:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Uywi07AudioPodcast

Video Podcast:
Go to iTunes Store and type "uywi07" - Click on "Freedom to all Captives and Pardon to all Prisoners" to download for free.

Mark Hershey is a first year Masters of Divinity Student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

A More Perfect Union (By Akele Parnell)


It seems surreal for the first time ever in America history, an African-American is making a real vie for the highest, most prestigious, and most influential office in the free world. Indeed Barack Obama may well be on his way to becoming the president of the United States of America. For me, this is truly remarkable considering that when my father was a teenager the majority of African-Americans couldn’t even vote, let alone run for president. Had you asked me a just a year ago if I thought an African-American, or any non-white male, had a real shot at becoming the president, I would have chuckled and said no. Now, judging by the looks of things, it seems as though I was wrong. Surely, the Obama-mania that is sweeping the country is good evidence that America has come a long way in the area of race relations. It might even lead some to suggest that Obama’s nomination is a sign that America is now a post-racial, perhaps even colorblind, society. But, the recent furor surrounding retired pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright (Obama’s former pastor) and his controversial remarks remind us that America is still a racially polarized society.

Wright’s racially charged and inflammatory statements have been called everything from "racist" and "anti-American" to "the unadulterated, prophetic truth on American society." Still, regardless of one’s opinion on the issue (and I must admit the issue is far more complex than the media’s prima facie treatment of it), they give us an opportunity to have a dialogue on race that could help bring unity and healing to the church and the rest of the America.

It is for this reason and in an attempt to quench the conflagration of controversy that threatens to destroy Obama’s bid for the presidency, that Obama has made one of the greatest and most accurate speeches on race in America, of any presidential candidate since JFK. His speech was poignant, honest, and direct, and if we look at just a few of the key points in Obama’s speech we may glean some critical insight into the context of our racially divided past, our much improved but still racially divided present, and we may find hope for a more unified, multicultural future.

In his speech, Obama emphasized that we cannot nor should we ignore the issue of race; and I agree. We can’t pretend that we live in a colorblind society and as good as the whole colorblind theory sounds, it simply is not grounded in reality or history. Just look around and you can see profound segregation almost everywhere, from neighborhoods and schools, to churches and social clubs, to the cafeteria here at Trinity. But to fix this we shouldn’t pretend we don’t see it; we can't pull the cover of so-called “colorblindness” over our eyes so that we don’t see de facto segregation in our closet. We me must understand that we live in a racialized reality and, as Obama reminds us, “understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point.” Only then will we be able to explain our current racial disparities and begin to address them. We do this not to stir up old wounds, though it will be uncomfortable, but as Obama’s opening quote from the preamble indicates, we do so “in Order to form a more perfect Union”, not just in America but in the church.

Obama also reminds us of what Billy Graham first lamented in 1950 and what Martin Luther King Jr. later reiterated: “eleven o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week.” This reality should be offensive for Christians who believe that the Gospel transcends racial divisions and believe that Christ wasn’t kidding when he prayed that we would be one. For Graham and King, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the most unifying force in the universe. But is our passive acceptance of segregation saying to the world that the division of the church down racial, economic and other lines is stronger than the redemptive power of Christ? I know many non-Christians who think so.
Obama reflected on how the great Civil Rights activists sought "to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time." Perhaps we, as the church, should seek to narrow that gap between the promise of our faith and the reality of our time.
Akele Parnell is a first year masters of divinity student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.