What's the Point of Membership?

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I've heard this question several times over the years, especially working with our Children's Ministry: "What's the point of membership?" or "Why do I need to join the church?" I think it's a valid question, especially considering there are North American denominations with no formal membership process.

With our summer New Member's Class, "Discover Apex", just around the corner (June 6 and 13) I think it's appropriate to look at a few reasons why membership in a local church is important (by membership I mean a formal commitment to the church and a formal commitment from the church to an individual). I recently read Doctrine by Driscoll and Beshears (one of our summer recommendations) and it lists several reasons for membership that are worth mentioning here (in some cases they've been condensed and paraphrased):

1. Salvation involves new life in a communal relationship with a church to live on mission for Jesus' kingdom. The Kingdom begins its reign in the church.
2. Jesus' call to "follow me" means come join a group of disciples who together are the people of God. The New Testament uses collective metaphors to describe the church of Christ like flock, temple, body and family. Each of the images communicates the idea that God's people are to remain together.
3. Real disciples commit to the church because they know they need the help of others to keep following Jesus. There is accountability and they know they need this kind of incentive to strengthen their spiritual lives.
4. Paul's favorite metaphor for the church that we find in the New Testament is the body. If you are a hand in the body of Christ, then you need an arm and a head to do what the Spirit has gifted you to do. Those who care about living fruitful lives for the advancement of the gospel know that the church with all its gifted people is essential.
5. Disciples know they need to be equipped for ministry. Apart from the church, there is no way to be trained to do the ministry of the church or truly live a life of love.
6. If you are wise, you know how easy it is to fall into deception apart from the protective work of wise leaders and the insightful help of other Spirit-led believers. You need elders to watch your soul, to be responsible for you before God. They provide spiritual protection for you and care about your growth in Christ.
7. Jesus followers join churches because they want to be like Jesus and will risk loving others deeply. 
8. Disciples know that though the church is imperfect, Christ calls them to strengthen it by their presence rather than criticize it in their absence. When we love and give to one another, then we grow as individuals and as the family of God.
9. Christians join churches because they know it is the right thing to do. From the beginning, God said it was not good to be alone. As God's Trinitarian image bearers, church community is essential and non-negotiable.
10. Jesus' heart for and commitment to the church should compel us to love and serve the church. Those who ignore the church, criticize the church, despise the church, or even harm the church must seriously question whether they truly love Jesus and are his followers, since true Christians love and serve the church because Jesus does.

Something to think about! If you'd like to find out more about ABC or would like to check out the "Discover Apex" class then please contact Tim and he'll get you hooked up!

Lost, Life of Pi and Narnia

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

So, a few (hopefully non-random) thoughts...

I'm a fan of Lost. It's been a brilliant (not perfect) six year body of work, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the journey. As I watched the finale this past weekend there was a lot about it that I loved; the imagery, the closure, and a few (very few!) answers. All along the way Lost has had some elements of spirituality and religious overtones mixed in as it explored the metaphysical and the series finale was no exception. Without giving anything away, I don't think the writers meant Lost to be a definitive guide to what happens to us in the afterlife. But the syncretism of Lost has always left a sour taste in my mouth and the finale didn't shy away from those themes in the slightest.

It actually reminded me of a book I read recently called Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The main character, Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, is an Indian boy who survives for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Pi was born Hindu, became a "Christian" at the age of 14, and then immediately after began to follow Islam as well. Here's Pi's reaction to his new-found faith in Jesus: "Then I raced down the hill on the left and raced up the hill on the right--to offer thanks to Lord Krishna for having put Jesus of Nazareth, whose humanity I found so compelling, in my way. . . Islam followed right behind, hardly a year later." On the boat, Pi would alternate praying to Jesus, various Hindu gods, as well as performing salah 5 times a day.

I don't remember when I was first introduced to the land of Narnia, but I must have read those books a hundred times over the years. They never get old! One of my favorite, and one of Narnia's most poignant scenes takes place at the beginning of The Silver Chair. I think it has a great deal to say about Lost and about Life of Pi. Here's how it goes down:

"If you're thirsty, you may drink." [the Lion said]
They were the first words she had heard since Scrubb had spoken to her on the edge of the cliff. For a second she stared here and there, wondering who had spoken. Then the voice said again, "If you are thirsty, come and drink," and of course she remembered what Scrubb had said about animals talking in that other world, and realized that it was the lion speaking. Anyway, she had seen its lips move this time, and the voice was not like a man's. It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in rather a different way.
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I--could I--would you mind going away while I do? said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

There is no other stream. There is no other way. In our current inclusive culture that's not a popular position, but it's Jesus' position and for it not to be popular doesn't make it any less true. Syncretism and trying to please everyone is always the easy way out, but Jesus was never about the easy way. "How narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life, and few find it," Jesus said. There's only one way to God and that's through Jesus. I still love Lost and Pi's journey was quite the story, but I'm going to go with the Lion of Judah on this one. There is no other stream.

Summer Reading List

We usually have a few books recommended here on the website (you have to be logged in to see it) during the year, but this summer everyone from the staff pitched in and we compiled a Summer Reading List. Here it is, and enjoy!

1. The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg. (Peter's pick) Witty, practical and deeply insightful book that calls us to experience the abundant life that Jesus provides for us. John's transparency and ability to laugh at himself, as he talks about the Christian life, is refreshing.
2. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. (Tim's pick) This is not a marriage manual to show three steps to better communication or five things to do to have a happier marriage. It is a book designed to show how to use the struggles, challenges and joys in marriage to draw closer to God and grow in Christian character; to become holy.
3. The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan. (Phil's pick) The emphasis of this book is one's soul being restored, which will happen only by restoring the Sabbath for your life. "Sabbath rest" is devoting time to reflect upon God and His work in both our own lives and the world. This is especially important in a fast-paced 21st century world!
4. Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead and Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears (Nathan's picks) I've got two picks; one fiction (Byzantium) and one non-fiction (Doctrine). "Byzantium" is the story of Aidan, a 10th century Irish monk, who is chosen to take a special book to Constantinople and his subsequent adventures along the way. "Doctrine" is an interesting and very practical guide to the major doctrines of the Bible. Very readable and clearly written!

There is Fury in a Pheasant's Wings

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I can see God's love in my little boy. I'll stare deep into Tobin's eyes as he struggles at first to focus on me and then finally finds my face only a foot away from his. His two month old blue eyes look into mine and I watch as he traces my face (probably wondering about all the hair and whiskers!) with his gaze. And then he smiles. This is a smile I could die for. Whole worlds could be made from this smile and new words spoken and deserts filled with water, it's that kind of smile. His whole body turns into a smile and my heart gets quickly lost in the never-ending, rescuing, always-faithful love of God.

I can feel God's peace when I listen to music. I like lots of different styles, but I'm thinking of Andy McKee, specifically. He is a master and he's been given a gift. When I hear his fingers dance over the strings I can see the Giver of all good things. My heartbeat slows and all around me fades into a rhythm of contentment. Not even my four year old chasing my three year old over my lap while howling like a wolf can break my trance. I'm swept away by chords and melodies and lyrics like, "There's fury in a pheasant's wings."

I know God is real when I stand in the Appalachians. Early one morning, Kristi and I climbed to a ridge in the Shining Rock Wilderness and stopped to catch our breath. We could see forever. A painting stretched out in front of us brushed with colors and textures that I couldn't come close to naming. A river of clouds ran through the peaks in the mountain dawn and we were taken away. Transfixed. Not even noticing the burning in our thighs. The sun lit the clouds and turned them into a river of fire. And we were standing above it all, lost in the creative majesty of our God.

The Overconfident Rich Young Ruler

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I have a lot of possessions. Too many. I like books. I like music. I like movies. Consequently, I have many of those items. Kristi was thrilled the day I discovered the wonderful resource of our local town library and began the marvelous process of checking out--reading--and returning books instead of bringing home purchased epic tomes to collect dust somewhere in our home. I also have a stamp that I like to stamp on my books to show that they are mine.

I have an iPhone, which I confess that I love. There's an XBOX 360 in our living room that was bought for purely unselfish reasons (Yeah right!) like playing family DVDs, watching Netflix, looking cool with its whirling green light, etc. And we have a van. This is no ordinary van; it has automatic doors. I don't know what we did before we had automatic doors they are so convenient. My Dad stills stares incredulously at them whenever he loads our kids in the car and they close by themselves, slowly and carefully without smashing any little fingers.

Stuff. The more we have the more we want. The more we want the less satisfied we feel. And the more miserable we feel when our stuff breaks or falls apart.

In Mark 10 we read about an encounter Jesus has with a man we know only as a "rich young ruler." This fellow comes to Jesus one day; actually, he runs up to Jesus and kneels before Him and asks, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answers with a logical progression, "Do you believe in me as God, or am I just a teacher, a rabbi to you?" He then continues by reminding the young man of the commandments which he would have been familiar with and here's where the descriptor of the man expands to "overconfident rich young ruler." The ruler replies, "I've kept all these from my youth." Really? You've honored your father and mother perfectly? You've never born false witness?

Jesus looks at this earnest young man and Mark records that Jesus loved him and then He addresses what was really in the young man's heart: "Sell all you have and give to the poor. And then come follow me."

Verse 22 says that the man was stunned at this demand and went away grieving because he had many possessions.

While this rich young ruler was sincere in his assertations that he had kept the commandments he obviously wasn't keeping the first commandment; that of God taking first place in his heart, because he was hung up on all his possessions and couldn't let them go. He was floored by Jesus' request. If only the Rabbi had given a different answer!

This hits home for me sitting in my comfortable house in 21st century America typing on my nice computer using my only occasionally erratic wireless network. Am I willing to follow Jesus and to let go of whatever it is that is holding me back from loving Him with my whole heart? Could I say goodbye to my stuff? I can't serve both God and Money, that's for certain. God, let King David's prayer be mine: "Help me to be single-minded and whole-hearted in my devotion towards You, Jesus." And let nothing hold me back.

FOCUS Conference This Weekend!

We wanted to write a little on a great opportunity for all ABC teachers called the FOCUS Conference. Whether you teach adults, youth, or children this conference is for you! The dates are Friday night, May 14 and Saturday morning, May 15 so it's not a lot of your time, but we really believe that it will be worth it to you to come as we spend some time in fellowship and in training. One of our main goals with this conference is to equip you in your classrooms as you teach and to be sharpened together as teachers!

We'll eat a special dinner together on Friday night and then have one large group session together immediately following. On Saturday morning we'll break out into our age-appropriate sessions. Here's the schedule for the weekend:

Friday 14th
6:30 – 7:30 Teacher Appreciation Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
7:30pm – 8:30pm Combined Group Session

Saturday 15th
8:30am – 9:00am continental breakfast
9:00am – 9:45am Age-Group Track Session 1
9:45am – 10:00am break
10:00am – 10:45am Age-Group Track Session 2
10:45am -- 11:00am break
11:00am -- 12:00pm Age-Group Track Session 3

We've got some great folks coming in to teach and to train and they'll be covering some really good topics. Some examples of what we'll be talking about in the children's teachers breakouts are: discipline in the classroom, age-appropriate story-telling, games, songs and other tools that you can use in your classroom.

Feel free to email Nathan with any questions, but we really hope you'll sign up and join us that weekend! Click here to sign-up today!

Meat and Manna

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I love Numbers 11. It's been a tough book to get through so far; we've had census numbers, the duties of the Kohathites and what the Meratites had to carry around. The Jealousy Ritual chapter was interesting I have to admit, but all the numbers had me feeling pretty jaded to this 4th book of the Torah.

And then out of nowhere came Chapter 11. Well, I can't really say out of nowhere because the Israelites had a habit of complaining and bickering, but it still took me by surprise.

But first, I have to make a confession to help with some context. I can totally commiserate with their situation. I once was shamefully tricked into eating a Tofu Burger. I won't mention names, but that first bite and subsequent scarring of my palate was a low point for me. Our first son, Aidan, was born in a hospital that served no meat. Those were dark days. One of my proudest moments as a Father was when Aidan ate, and loved, his very first cheeseburger. He was only two and I took him to Hardees and watched with pride as his face lit up with those first few swallows. (I do shamefully confess that Gavin will pick Chicken Fingers or Nuggets every time, however)

So, when the Israelites cry out, "Who will feed us meat?" I can feel their pain just a little. All they have to look at is this manna stuff. And, to be honest, the description of the manna that follows doesn't exactly get my salivating juices flowing. Coriander seed, Bdelium, and boiled. It really sounds like a rice cake. I recognize and respect that some people are into that, but I would rather eat my flip flops.

Moses' response to the Israelites' complaining about their wilderness menu is priceless. "Lord God, why have you brought this trouble on me?" he says. "These people whine like babies and I really don't feel like I should have to carry them and nurse them all the way to Canaan! Where can I get these people some meat?"

(And this is the story that led to our first and glorious instance of the blessings of delegation, a concept that companies, factories, and churches all over the world have adopted to much merriment and glee for the delegators.)

But the best part is what God tells the people (this is my loose paraphrase): Get ready for tomorrow because you are going to eat meat and I am not happy with you. I will give you meat and you will eat meat like you've never eaten meat before. Did I mention I am not pleased with all of your whining and ridiculous complaining? You're going to eat meat for a whole month. And you're going to eat it till it comes out of your noses and you're sick of it.

So God sends them meat. Quail, in fact. And not just a few quail. There were birds three feet deep blown into their camp. And not just in their camp. There were birds three feet deep a day's journey in each direction from their camp.

The people got what they asked for. Quail coming out their noses and their tents and everywhere else and them struck down with a plague.

Now that I think about this chapter, I'm sorry I ever gave my Mom grief about what she was fixing for dinner, and a salad for supper tonight sounds pretty good. But still no rice cakes, please.

Did You Wash Your Hands?

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Every night before dinner we go through the same routine. The boys run off to the bathroom to wash their hands (which have accumulated gobs of germs, dirt, nasty-mucus stuff, probably worm-larvae, and who knows what else!). Aidan does fine washing his hands by himself, but Gavin needs help. He can't roll up his sleeves or put the soap on his hands. When he does have soap on his hands he stares at it and lets it roll off into the water. He hasn't quite gotten the idea that you have to rub the soap around for it to be effective! And, of course, by the end of this nightly routine, water is everywhere...

Did you know that Jesus talked about washing hands in the Gospels? Check it out from Mark 7:1-8:

The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Him. They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean that is, unwashed—hands. (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches. Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why don't Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean hands?"

He answered them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:
    These people honor Me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from Me.
    They worship Me in vain,
    teaching as doctrines the commands of men.
    Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men."

Oh, the Pharisees. Some of our favorite characters in the Bible (for entertainment purposes!). They didn't quite get Jesus. Actually, that's not true. With a few notable exceptions, they didn't get him at all. They were too hung up on their traditions and the way things ought to be done. They had added to the law and had placed heavy yokes upon the people and separated themselves from everyone who wasn't as holy as they were. And they weren't even keeping the laws that they themselves had made up! No wonder John the Baptist and Jesus rightly called them hypocrites, broods of vipers and whitewashed tombs.

Jesus knew their hearts and that the Pharisees were so concerned about appearances they were leading people straight to hell. He could have cared less that the disciples' hands hadn't been washed before they ate.* To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams. You're missing the point, Jesus says to the Pharisees, the POINT is ME! I am the long-awaited Rescuer come to save the world! And I'm standing right in your midst!

How about me? Am I so bogged down in the way things have always been done or the way I feel like they should be done that I'm missing the point? That I'm missing the MAIN THING? Do I give God lip-service, but my heart is far from Him?

Oh God, I pray that my worship of You would be in Spirit and in Truth. That I wouldn't just go through the motions. Teach me how to love You and to honor You and for my life to be lived for Your Praise and nothing else!

*As a parent I do feel like I have to make an addendum and let you know that I agree whole-heartedly that washing your hands before you eat is a good thing and support this practice in your homes. Especially if you're a little boy.
 

Subtle Hints & the Prophets

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I have a question for you: Have you ever gone to someone's house for dinner or to visit and forgot to have that conversation with your wife or your husband about when would be the appropriate time to leave said dinner? If you walked in and didn't have a plan at some point in the evening there would come that awkward moment when you weren't sure if your host was ready for you to be gone from their domicile or if they were hoping you'd settle in for a game of Balderdash or Mexican Train. You then have to catch your wife's eye and through a series of subtle and awkward eyebrow twitches try to figure out if it's the right time.

I once heard about an interesting tradition. In this particular culture a family would host a party or have friends over for dinner. At some point in the visit the hostess would get up and go place a broom by the front door. It was a subtle hint that it was time for the guests to leave! When the broom was set by the door all the guests vacated quickly. It was time for them to go!

God's message through the prophets to Israel wasn't quite so subtle. In fact, I don't think God is in to subtlety at all, although I could be wrong. Two quick examples:

1. Isaiah warned Israel that the Lord would send the Assyrians to fight against them if they didn’t repent. He said Israel is a people destined for God's rage and that the Assyrians would trample the Israelites down like clay in the streets. The whole rage theme and getting trampled down seem to be direct statements of Israel's impending doom. There's nothing subtle there.

2. Jeremiah warned the people of Judah and Jerusalem that the Lord would send the Babylonians to destroy them. Again, there's nothing ambiguous about plundering, seizing and being carried off to a foreign land.

The majority of the Israelites refused to listen to the prophets. They even persecuted and killed them. They continued to worship their idols. Some of them went to the temple and performed the ceremonies, but they didn’t love God with their hearts.

So God allowed the Assyrians to conquer the 10 northern tribes and take them away as captives. The Assyrians brought in people who worshiped idols who didn’t know God and they intermarried with the Hebrews who were left and their children became known as Samaritans. Judah (the 2 southern tribes) also refused to repent so God allowed the Babylonians to take them away into their own country. The Babylonians smashed the walls of Jerusalem and tore down and burned the temple that Solomon had built.

When it comes time to repent God doesn't mess around. There's no broom at the front door with God. There's no secret phrase indicating it's time to change one's heart and obey. There's no subtlety. The time is now to follow after God with your whole heart!