Living for ‘Revival’

 by Chris Jones

If I could zero in on a particular audience for this post, I’d say it’s for my Christian friends. Specifically, it’s for those who consider themselves to be “Evangelical”. More precisely, I’m thinking of those who are praying for something we generally refer to as “revival”; an awakening of our spirits, a movement towards repentance, resulting in deeper fellowship with God, spilling into and filling every corner of our lives. Do I have your attention?

In recent months, I’ve experienced a growing sense that the awakening we’re pursuing will not only be characterized, but catalyzed by two things: “compassion” and “generosity”. Although the two might be easily summed by saying “charity” or “love”, I think it’s important to see their progression. A thought or image triggers our compassion, hopefully moving us towards acts of generosity. My concern is in wondering what obstacles stand in the way of us, as a body, walking these out in practical, everyday applications.

As much as we want to believe that we’re compassionate and generous people, do our lives yield enough evidence to provide proof? Are we able to allow our generosity to take us to a place where our lives might become less comfortable?

At the risk of stirring the negative emotions and political opinions many have assigned to them, consider the following scenarios. Think about the college kid somewhere in the middle of America, asking for help with his mounting student debt. In a different town, there’s a single mother asking for a bump in pay to help spread her little income over many expenses. Broken families ask for protection from those they see as their oppressors. While one might feel justified in criticizing the notion that a system of government should intervene on their behalf, what other solution exists in the absence of the manifest compassion and generosity of their local communities? How might the compassion and generosity of God’s people change these seemingly unsolvable situations?

Is it really a surprise that revival doesn’t come to America, when much of the evidence seems to reveal our real dysfunction? Of all the requests we could make of God, have we failed to take firm hold of the basic tools He has already given us? What if our pursuit of revival began with earnest prayers to grow in the fruit He has promised us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5)?  I believe this is the answer to all of the above.

Isn’t it true that the contrast of our joy, peace, patience and self control, against the world’s despair, should move our hearts with compassion to see people restored? What role might more love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness play in motivating us to meet the needs of our neighbors, in generosity, with the resources of God’s Kingdom? What real, lasting revival might be sparked if we stopped just praying for it, and committed ourselves to living for it?

Rebuilding The Walls

 by Chris Jones

I had the great honor of standing in for our Pastor this past Sunday morning. My message was from Nehemiah, challenging us to consider how we represent God, as the body of Christ. I hope it encourages you today.

Dollars and Sense: a Broken Storehouse in a Broken World

 by Chris Jones

I’m aware that this type of article costs people friends. We become particularly sensitive when people talk about our financial and related lifestyle decisions. I challenge those with an open mind to read to the end, and hear what God might be saying through this. Asking your forgiveness in advance, I just couldn’t find a way to keep this brief.

Photo: “Money” by Photos of Money

Have you ever heard someone say that the love of money is the root of all evil? What does that mean? How is it even possible? If you’re not aware, it’s from the Bible. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT) says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Reading the direct translation in the Interlinear version is particularly sobering to me.

Some scoff at this notion, quipping that they don’t love money, only the things it can do for them. The sad reality of their deception is witnessed in a very public pursuit of empty possessions. For some, it’s a controlling desire to elevate their apparent social status, at any cost. For others, it’s a compulsion to surround themselves with every modern comfort and convenience, seemingly unaware that lasting happiness can’t be found under that rock.

Have we missed it?

Even if this isn’t our conscious attitude, how can the church of America not confess that we represent a culture that spends a far disproportionate amount of our time and financial resources on selfish pursuits, relative to our calling? It yields a dynamic in which our habits as consumers testify to a lack of dedication to our faith. What is our reaction to hearing Matthew 6:19-21, where it says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal…Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

In our pursuit of “more”, do we horde Kingdom resources, storing them in the many luxuries that serve little purpose other than accessorizing an existence wasted on personal interests? Meanwhile, we criticize our government and other social institutions that struggle to fill the void left by our disobedience and ineffective stewardship. You’re right! The System is broken! Yet, we place the wrong systems at the center of any discussion. Remember, God established a storehouse to meet all needs. Still, if the method for supplying His plan is plagued by unfaithful participants and careless stewards, the demand for provision will forever remain unsatisfied.

So…what’s the potential strength of the storehouse?

The image of cattle on a thousand hills doesn’t touch the vastness of those resources in our modern context.

Photo: “1040 income tax form” by Civil Beat

Let’s consider statistics from 2013 year-end. For example, did you know that there were a little more than 317 million people living in America at that time? They represented roughly 122 million households. Since the United States Census Bureau provides data that helps us estimate a 2013 average household income of roughly $68,000, we can calculate that American households collectively earned almost $8.3 trillion in that period. If the 83% of Americans who identify themselves as Christians contributed a standard 10% to God’s storehouse, something like $689 billion could have been contributed in that year alone.

Let’s not get crazy though. 

Taking a more conservative approach, consider this article. In it, Mike Holmes walks his readers into seeing how tithes could generate an additional $165 billion dollars above current giving, just from those who already at least partially participate in this model. If my math is correct, according to the statistics Holmes provides, that’s a surplus of three times everything that was tithed during the prior period. For those who I may have just lost, let me say, “that’s a lot!”

Then…what’s the potential global impact of a well-funded storehouse?

Photo: “shadows of hunger” by Hamed Parham

Since we don’t see numbers like this on a daily basis, it’s difficult to accurately gauge the potential impact of that increase in giving. For some perspective, consider the most recent estimate that just $30 billion dollars a year could solve the world’s hunger problems. Other sites place similar estimates on remedying the world’s literacy, water and sanitation needs (all totaling only $27 billion a year, according to www.generouschurch.com).

Sadly we’ve grown somewhat def and blind to major worldwide needs like these. Consider, then, this example, a current lightning rod for conservative christianity’s criticism of society’s attempts to solve the problems the church leaves unattended.

Photo: “Thousand Oaks Planned Parenthood Protest” by Marc Langsam

A recent Washington Post article estimated that Planned Parenthood’s total annual funding is somewhere just short of $1.2 billion. This includes government and private donations, fees, service charges and other fundraising efforts. While Planned Parenthood provides some needed, low-cost health services to a reported 1.2 million women (650,000 who might otherwise be left without that help), many Christians justifiably believe those benefits aren’t worth the hundreds of thousands of abortions also executed at Planned Parenthood and their affiliated providers every year.

There’s pretty clear irony, however, in the fact that many people who argue for the “defunding” of Planned Parenthood, are simultaneously and willingly (albeit, unwittingly) participating in the “defunding” of the one institution God established as the solution to this and the rest of the world’s failing attempts to provide any answers to otherwise impossible dilemmas.

Faith In Action

Photo: “Earth and North America from Space – digitally restored” by Royce Bair

What might happen if we took this charge seriously, understanding it as a mandate rather than a suggestion? What if a fully-equipped church engaged these issues, on a level of people serving people? What if our desire for a better car, more living space, increased comforts and all the other carrots the world might dangle before us, were sacrificed in the interest of seeing the Kingdom of God advancing, in love and service towards humanity?

Whether we like it or not, our faith is on trial. What defense do we have if the example of our lives doesn’t match the instructions in God’s Word? The profit Malachi not only tells us about God’s storehouse system, but warns of it’s broken components when he writes,

Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, “What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?” You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. “If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Malachi 3:8-12)

Root Of All Evil?

So, can there be truth in the belief that the love of money is the root of “all kinds of evil”? Perhaps understanding this reality requires a shift in perspective. Instead of seeing it as a direct personal cause and effect, it may be more accurate to recognize how our disobedience to this simple instruction allows the many evils that persist across a broader spectrum than just that of our personal experiences.

No further evidence is needed, to prove that Kingdom objectives will never be fulfilled through political persuasion. There’s no criticism to be more deservedly placed than that for our lack of obedience. If we’re responsible for representing the love of God to the people of this world, our greatest potential for breakthrough just might be found when the use of our dollars makes sense.

 

So, I’d love to hear the thoughts this triggers in you. Be sure to leave a comment below, or follow us on Facebook to join the conversation.

This is the source of your success.

 by Chris Jones

What can anyone really do? With all the problems we face, are we really capable of doing anything to bring change? Try as we might through political pressure, human manipulation, blood sweat and tears, sheer will of the human spirit or the financial resources of an entire planet, it seems few strategies are capable of really changing the trajectory of humanity.

As overwhelming as the task might seem, it’s undeniably God’s plan that we play a part in turning the world to Him. It’s natural, then, to excuse our lack of action by questioning our limitations. It’s natural. However, if we’re always only doing what comes naturally, we’ll forever miss what God is doing supernaturally.

God’s ability to intervene on our behalf is beautifully illustrated in 2 Kings 6:15-17. It says, “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

There’s much to which God has called us as children, as friends, as servants, as warriors. Many times our feelings of inadequacy prevail, and we withdraw from the battle, forgetting that we serve a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph 3:20)

Holy Spirit, fill us with boldness. Remind us to call on your power, to sustain us and take us through the battles of this life. Help us to be aggressive for your Kingdom. Open our eyes to the armies that surround us, to those who stand before us and behind us, as we charge into this world, knowing that the battle is yours.

The Key To Accomplishing More

 by Chris Jones

If there’s a verse I’ve heard a million times, it’s probably II Chronicles 7:14. It’s the one that says, “…if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

It sounds easy, right? Is it possible that the answer to all of our issues is just a prayer away?

If I’m reading this correctly, humility is also a significant part of the restoration process. Unfortunately, humility isn’t a natural component of our lives. I know I miss this, so many times. Even in doing what I believe to be right, I tend to get so focused on my call and perceived responsibilities that I take too much on myself. Rarely, in those moments, do I stop to remember that there’s really nothing I can do in my own power. My only success lies in turning to The One who holds all things in His hands, and has the power to make things right.

The problem? I ignore one command, designed to stop me in my tracks, bringing me into alignment with His plan, “humble yourself”. The process of our country (our cities, our neighborhoods, our families) being healed, begins with us choosing a lifestyle of humility, not just knowing that we’re not able, but understanding that fact so completely that we live our lives on our knees.

It’s a difficult process for some, giving up control, admitting our weakness. It’s ironic but true, that our greatest advances for the Kingdom of God will happen in the moments that we stop trying, confess our complete lack of ability, and turn the fight over to God. Humility is the Key.

Fathers, Don’t Miss This

 by Chris Jones

It’s unfortunate that the majority of fathers have fallen into positions of only managing “dad duties”, rather than truly leading their families. We’ve become referees, chauffeurs, babysitters, coaches, repair men, financial managers, judges and juries, chief TV remote operators, master grillers… the list is endless. It all conjures the image of a father as “King of the Castle”. Take caution though. This is no throne you should wish to usurp.

As leaders of our families, our responsibilities have literal and lasting “Kingdom” implications. Strong families are the backbone of truly successful churches, and effective communities. As a father, if you’re missing these next points, you might be missing what it means to be the leader in your home.

Primarily, a godly father will love his wife. Ephesians 5:25 says “for husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.” I believe the greatest gift a father could ever give his children is to love their mother. The confidence of knowing their home is secure, provides the best foundation for every lesson to follow.

Secondly, Ephesians 6:4 says, “fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” Warning: this means you need to be there first, under His authority, leading by example. A godly father isn’t going to respond to disobedience as a knee-jerk reaction, born of frustration, as his anger boils over. He’s grounded in the Word, having no need to fish for behavioral guidelines, since they’re clearly provided for us. Trust in God and His Word. Set them as the standard by which you lead your family.

As fathers, God’s blessing is that He allows us to partner with Him in raising the men and women of His Kingdom. On earth, we call them our sons and daughters. Be assured, however, that this is only a temporary relationship. We have a responsibility, and are accountable to God for the warriors our homes produce. What will you do with the gift you’ve been given, the opportunity to lead them?

Get In The Game

 by Chris Jones

So, let me start with this confession. I’m pretty terrible at Basketball. This is no secret to the guys I play with each week. This small fact, however, didn’t keep me from winning five straight games last Sunday. That’s right. My team was on fire, little thanks to my physical ability.  Over that stretch of five games, where the first team to seven wins, I was responsible for only one of the thirty-five points my team scored to earn those victories. Admittedly, it was an off day, even for my standards. Regardless of my lack of relative skill, however, I received every benefit of being on a winning team. I never had to sit on the sideline and watch, waiting for my turn. I didn’t have the bitter experience of being defeated. I got a good physical workout. I was a winner!

It’s like that in God’s Kingdom.

I think about Romans 5:1-2, where it says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

When will we finally let go of any remaining notion that we have to be someone of significance to be an effective participant in God’s Kingdom? When will we stop holding back our contribution to God’s work on earth, believing we have nothing to offer. In the meantime, we find a certain comfort on the sideline. We grow accustom to our limited victories, almost expecting defeat. We forget the feeling of experiencing a solid spiritual workout, supposing everything would be different if only we had the “skills” and “abilities” to make an impact on the world around us.

Can we finally get to the place where we understand that it’s all about Him? It is He who works through us. It is He who speaks through us. It is His love, His grace, His mercy that draw people and change lives. The only real danger is that we never open ourselves to being used, and never get into the game.

Senior Management

 by Chris Jones

It’s pretty easy to sit back and complain. Think about it. How often do things just get under your skin? It’s as if there’s no limit to the offenses that trigger our frustrations (political opinions, social differences, family drama, the check out line at Wal-Mart). Our first instinct is to lob insults and accusations, supposing things would be different if we were in charge.

So tell me, how exactly would things be different? What political powers would you replace? What social changes would you trigger? What injustices would you correct? If you had a direct line, a position of influence with the heads of all the world’s major corporations and economic and political powers, how would you exercise your authority?

Can you picture it?

Now, ask yourself, what are you doing with your position in the Kingdom? We rarely stop to realize that God has placed us in Senior Management. We have direct access to the throne of God. Read Ephesians 2. To paraphrase, it says, “You used to live in sin just like the rest of the world, but God gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. He seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. Now, all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit, because of what Christ has done for us. Now, you are members of God’s family.”

WHAT!?

It doesn’t stop there. Proverbs 21:1 (NLT), reminds us that “The earthly king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.” Furthermore, we’re told to bring our requests to God, concerning anything. (Philipians 4:6)

So, the next time you think to yourself, “something needs to be done about this,” take responsibility. God is in ultimate control, and you have His attention.

Is Happiness Stealing Our Joy?

 by Chris Jones

You know that feeling, the one you get when you’ve gone out of your way for someone. Weather in response to that “still, small voice” or personal gumption, there’s a sense of a greater call we tap into when we help those in need. It’s the inexpressible emotions of uniting in labor with Missionaries in the field. It’s the reward found in our sacrifice to make sure others don’t go without. It’s the peace that settles after sharing the grief of the broken and hurting. It’s unspeakable and enduring joy.

While such joy is the theme of life for some, it’s all too rare a glimpse of God’s glory for most. It makes me wonder, is the pursuit of happiness stealing our joy?

While it may seem like a matter of semantics to many, some will agree that there’s an undeniable difference in the happiness that comes from the pursuit of earthly goals and the joy we discover in the work of God’s Kingdom, being His love extended to the overlooked, the devalued, the forgotten, the “least” among us. None-the-less, we spend the greater part of our resources in a lopsided pursuit of a temporary happiness that expires as the luster of our possessions fades, inspiring us to believe that “bigger” and “better” will somehow satisfy the restless desire for our hearts to be filled.

In this context, it’s hard to ignore John’s urging to “…not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Peter also acknowledges the key to this joy when he said, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”

Christmas is a natural time of benevolence, and the joy that comes with giving. We’ve missed something though, if we believe God’s intent was that the birth of his Son would merely inspire a season of giving. Rather, His gift to us is that we needn’t settle for the “happiness” of this world, but that we share in the joy of being ambassadors for His Kingdom, giving completely of ourselves in service to others.

Can We Get Real?

 by Chris Jones

Can we get real? Are we capable of being honest about ourselves, with ourselves and others? Is it possible to strip away everything we believe and represent ourselves to be, to better see our lives compared to the example we have in Jesus Christ?

At its core , I think it comes down to a basic question of reputation.

It seems that so much of our time and energy, whether intentionally or not, are devoted to developing an image by which the world judges our worth. In that process, I believe we compromise the maximum impact we could have for God’s Kingdom. It’s a matter of personal appearance and clothing labels. How large is your house? What kind of car do you drive? The average American family lives well beyond it’s means to keep pace. All the while, God’s Kingdom and His people go with unmet needs. The poor struggle, with too few helping hands extended their way. The pursuit and maintenance of our reputations seem directly opposed to the work to which we’ve been called.

Compare this to the example Jesus set for us. Philippians 2:5-11 tells us,

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

I like that the King James version says “(He) made himself of no reputation”, all for the glory of the Father. In laying aside all earthly ambition, He was optimally effective in the work to which His was appointed.

If we’re capable of seeing ourselves for who we are, what warning do we received from James 5:1-3, where it says,

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment.

Isn’t it time that we see and respond to the needs around us? Isn’t it time we take an honest assessment of the ways in which we limit our impact by literally storing up our treasures in the form of earthly possessions? Isn’t it time we get real?