This End Down

I often have days where I wake up feeling absolutely horrible. I used to hate them, because I’d fuss around trying to figure out what to do with myself–get productive, eat food, get outside, do something. Often one of those would help some, but it’d very often end in frustration. Finally, I’d desperately cry out to God to help, reading the Word, putting on worship music, seeking him in prayer. And then after a while I’d be fine.

This morning I realized that, whatever the cause, it’s an instant cue for me to seek God. It’s great! I wish more mornings began with me desperately needing and seeking the Lord. I asked him to make it happen more often, although I wouldn’t mind if he kept the desire around but found a way to make it happen without me feeling like death in the morning.

Mike Patz - Accord

Sermon last week from my church about “One Accord”—I talked to my leadership team about this two weeks ago, but Mike is a much better speaker than I am.

It’s a little over an hour, so if you don’t have time, that’s cool, but I definitely suggest you read it—especially if you’re into politics.

O God, our Father, we remember at this time…how the eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
—-We thank you that Jesus took our human body upon him, so that we can never again dare to despise or neglect or misuse the body, since you made it your dwelling-place.
—-We thank you that Jesus did a day’s work like any working-man, that he knew the problem of living together in a family, that he knew the frustration and irritation of serving the public, that he had to earn a living, and to face all the wearing routine of everyday work and life and living, and so clothed each common task with glory.
—-We thank you that he shared in all happy social occasions, that he was at home at weddings and at dinners and at festivals in the homes of simple ordinary people like ourselves. Grant that we may ever remember that in his unseen risen presence he is a guest in every home.
—-We thank you that he knew what friendship means, that he had his own circle of men whom he wanted to be with him, that he knew too what it means to be let down, to suffer from disloyalty and from the failure of love.
—-We thank you that he too had to bear unfair criticism, prejudiced opposition, malicious and deliberate misunderstanding.
—-We thank you that whatever happens to us, he has been there before, and that, because he himself has gone through things, he is able to help those who are going through them.
—-Help us never to forget that he knew life, because he lived life, and that he is with us at all times to enable us to live victoriously.
This we ask for your love’s sake. Amen.
From Prayers for the Christian Year by William Barclay

The first few days were so full of new things that it was easy to write often. That’s less the case now, as I try to not be overwhelmed by the extensive amount of new information that’s finding its way to my ears. Thankfully, as an Extrovert (yes, InterVarsity and its obsession with Myers-Briggs has sucked me in) I need to process externally, and this is one of the best spots for that. Yesterday, though, I definitely found new information bouncing off my head, with no way to make its way past the jumbled barrier of all the other new information I’ve taken in over this week. Thankfully, note-taking helps me keep the new info for later processing.

• I’m sitting outside of the capitol and there’s a farmers’ market surrounding the entire capitol square. People-watchers, [insert phrase here that means "enjoy yourself." I couldn't remember what the phrase was... the only thing I could think of was "eat your heart out", and somehow that doesn't seem right.]
• I finally gave in and learned all about Myers Briggs, took the formal MBTI test (who knew that the “Center for Application of Psychological Type,” whose brochure we’re using to teach use about MB, is in Gainesville), had some long conversations about it, and took MyType on Facebook. I am, officially, and after some figuring, an ESFP, an Extroverted Sensing Feeling Perceiver. That means a lot of things, but it mainly means that I understand myself a lot more now. I know that seems silly, but part of the process of figuring out my MB type was figuring out that some aspects of my character are that way because of my family, some because of people’s expectations of me, and some because of the way I actually am as a person. It’s nice to start figuring out which are which.
• I evangelize some non-Christ things like crazy. It’s never on purpose, but the list keeps growing. This week they’ve been: Books of the Bible presentation (from whom I just got an e-mail regarding their future plans… exciting…), Moleskine, and Mac. We’re actually thinking about starting a MUG (which I never heard of before this week) for InterVarsity staff who use Macs, because there’s so little organizational support for Macs and such a growing number of us who use them.
• There was a dance party last night. I seldom enjoy dancing–not that I have a problem with it, but that I’m uncomfortable doing something when I feel like everyone else is better than me (and I know that’s not rational, but I can’t really control that feeling)–but this particular party happened to have a Wii party across the hall from it, which was a very nice alternative. So, I played Smash Brothers and Rayman Raving Rabbids while the more self-assured staff danced their faces off.
• I’ve never been as encouraged about staff, fundraising, or the particular things I’m involved in on campus. I’m encouraged about the ISM (International Student Ministry) some of my students want to start, I’m encouraged about BCM (the Black Collegiate Ministry) in the Southeast, I’m encouraged about our Nurses’ Christian Fellowship, I’m encouraged about fundraising and my call to staff and InterVarsity as a movement. This is good.
• Mario and Princess Peach just walked by me. There is some sort of treasure hunt/scavenger hunt/something going one, and we’ve been seeing pairs of people run by in matching clothing with marathon-like numbers on their chests and bags on their backs. Most are dressed like runners, some are dressed like middle-aged people trying to dress like runners, and those two were dressed like Mario and Princess Peach.
• Did I mention that Madison is gorgeous? Madison is gorgeous.
• That’s it for now. I’m going to get my butt off of my computer for some of my Sabbath and see what sort of reflections are in store for me.
• I just had some confirmation that I’m an extrovert. Dave, my roommate, left the Starbucks I’m sitting at about 10 minutes ago, and I’m already craving human interaction. Yep.

I’d love to do a huge amount of Biblical and etymological research into this concept, but I’m at work and need to keep working. But here’s my frustration (and yes, this is in response to the whole Lakeland Outpouring ordeal.)

We aren’t supposed to judge people. Judge not lest you be judged, Plank in your eye, and all that. People who God have used mightily in the past have ranged from those who occasionally disobey God to people who are seriously messed up–David, Samson, Solomon, Martin Luther King Jr., and plenty of other people. If you read anything about the lives of “revival” preachers and honestly about other people God have used in the past, they’re all messed up people. The gifts of the Spirit–big, powerful, crazy things–are not necessarily accompanied by the fruits of the Spirit in individual leaders. Why? Because God uses messed up people to work his will. If he didn’t, whom would he have to use? I’m constantly arguing this, and I’m constantly a proponent of seeking the good in what God’s doing, not the bad in how people are messed up.

However, we are called to be wise. We are called to discern between good and evil spirits. We are called to not be misled by false prophets. We are told there will be false prophets among us, wolves among the flock. We have a responsibility to see that the people of God are being led well, and that they are not being misled–especially away from God and/or toward oppression or bondage. And if we are wise, we will be aware of the potential for bad teaching, bad leadership, and things that don’t lead toward God.

Therefore, we have two primary responsibilities, whether or not we’re responding to a situation like this: to seek God, and to help others seek God. If the Lakeland Outpouring is a big revival that’s sparked, led, and inspired by God, then our response is to participate in any way we can and to encourage others to do the same. But if there are spirits or leaders who don’t point toward God, we cannot in good conscience sit back and say “Well, God will deal with them.” How do you think God will deal with people who oppress his people? By judging them on judgment day? Yes; however, God calls us now to draw people out of bondage and oppression and fear and the world, and if we see people in the name of God leading people away from God then we need to be the first there to stop it.

Am I saying that the Lakeland Outpouring is not God? No. I never have. My first response to it was positive; I started with the assumption that it was a legitimate move of God led by legitimate seekers of God. It’s only been through my attempts to discern wisely and Biblically and lovingly that I’ve come to see a lot of very worrying things about the man who stands in front of the pulpit throughout the entire meetings, the man who directs the movement of the meetings and controls the microphone. So am I saying its leaders are imperfect? Absolutely. But that’s a given.

God is moving in Lakeland. People are seeking God in Lakeland. Real healings (seem to be) happening in Lakeland. These things are very good. Todd Bentley is leading poorly in Lakeland (not just his past–he’s doing it now.) Some people are faking things in Lakeland. Lakeland itself seems, from friends I’ve spoken to in Lakeland, to not be affected at all by a “revival” in its midst. These things are very bad. Therefore, we need to respond wisely.

I don’t have a point. I don’t have an agenda. I don’t even have a solution for these things I’m writing. I’m just trying to figure out what my response should be. I’m not for or against the Lakeland Outpouring. I’m for people seeking God, and I’m against people being misled. I’m for the Kingdom of God coming into our world, and I’m against Christian bubbles and sensationalist church meetings that have no impact on the world around them.

Finally, a somewhat related note on the word “revival”: I put it in quotes because it’s a hugely dangerous word, one whose misuse has convinced far too many people that a true revival looks like a bunch of people in a big Christian orgy seeking God together. I’m sorry, but something that doesn’t bring about the Kingdom of God isn’t a revival. Therefore, if a revival is breaking out somewhere, I think (my personal opinion–correct me if I’m wrong, this isn’t hugely researched and I’m not a scholar in the history of revivals) that the surrounding areas should be affected. If revival breaks out in Lakeland, then the city of Lakeland should be transformed. People should see God’s glory and want to repent and then follow and glorify him. (Berry tells me that many historically significant revivals have been characterized by individuals repenting and then receiving the work of the Spirit in their lives; he characterizes revivals by three things: Repentance, Faith, and then Mission). Sinners repent, sick healed, poor restored, widows and orphans and the oppressed and aliens freed and loved. Is that happening now? No, no, and more no. Might it happen? Please, Jesus, work mightily in the hearts of those people who are desperately seeking you and move them to make a difference in that city and in their home cities. Yes, it might, and I pray that it will.

Since the days of the early church, history has led us to an unfortunate understanding of the word minister as a professional, seminary-educated leader. This leads the rest of us to think that ministry is an extra, a volunteer aspect of our lives. Kingdom resources are often wasted because those who do not do official “ministry” simply pour all of their skills and talents into self-growth, success or making money. More Christians should see themselves as ministers first in whatever job they do and seek to maximize their effectiveness as kingdom workers, regardless of position or title. [...]

If we believe that God is everywhere, there is no such thing as a secular job. We should never think of our work as being separate from our lives of faith. Any job, as long as it is not in opposition to the laws of God, can be a matrix for our real, central call–to be fishers of men and women. Work should be an act of worship, a vehicle for purpose, creativity and joy rather than simply a utilitarian act in order to secure food, housing or education.

From Following Jesus Without Dishonoring Your Parents