In my recent trip to South Asia, I was part of a team working in an unentered (by us) village. Like many of the areas where we have worked, poverty was about the only thing the people had plenty of. And hospitality. This village was marginally receptive to a visit from an American. We spent several hours from house to house sitting on the floor and discussing the gospel.
Receiving a gift of honor, hand-crafted by the people of that church as an expression of gratitude.
As I would share the stories of hope from the gospels, I would ask the questions: Have you heard this story before? Have you heard of this Jesus before? Most all stated they had never heard the story of hope, but some had heard of Jesus. At some point in the past, EV teams had entered the village from a different tribe of Christians. They had taught the people that a sign of repentance and trusting Jesus was that the women would be more plainly adorned, forsaking the wearing of jewelry (piercings and bangles). My interpreter spent the majority of the time trying to convince the villagers that we did not believe that to become a believer one would have to stop wearing jewelry. In most cases, the women refused to “believe” because they did not wish to stop wearing bangles (thin, jeweled bracelets usually worn several at a time).
Like you, I might think that is a “silly” obstacle to overcome to find peace and forgiveness. But then again, I am approaching the matter with Western eyes. I later spoke to our area partner (pastor) who explained the problem. The pastor advised that he often ran into this objection in his area and found the same results. He explained that a “widow” in these villages would not wear bangles. She would dress in a plain outfit and refuse the jeweled accessories as a sign of mourning.
A church we were privileged to share testimony with and I had the privilege to preach to on Sunday. Our national part there is doing an amazing work
So, imagine if you would…a woman in America coming to faith and being told to remove her wedding band, earrings, and any other pretty accessories. Besides the cultural stigma from her friends (you’re married but refuse to wear a ring), and the cultural assumptions by her community (she is not wearing a ring so she must be unmarried), the disrespect shown to her husband would become a stumbling block to the gospel in his life and an affront to his honor as a husband. All because of poor cultural exegesis (a study of the cultural norms) and weakly supported theology (jewelry itself is somehow worldly and ungodly).
Our team praying with gathered locals who were hearing the gospel and seeking God’s mercy
The well-intentioned (charitably speaking) efforts of this false gospel propagating group had done incredible harm to the advance of the Kingdom in these villages. They had inadvertently (again charitably speaking) erected a stumbling block to those who would hear the life-changing offer of Christ.
I am reminded of James 3:1 which reminds those who teach the things of God that we will incur a stricter judgment for influencing people to believe false assertions about Christ. I am also reminded of our Western history of the same type of things. (i.e. Skirt lengths, music, dancing, playing cards, make-up, and tattoos, just to name a few).
A goodbye photo with dear friends whose love and leadership inspires me
As I reflect on this, I am convinced that we MUST be more diligent to ensure that if we speak on behalf of our gracious Father and misrepresent the timeless and perfect message He has entrusted to us, we make ourselves accountable for the eternal damnation of untold scores of people. Their blood is, in part, on our hands.
As a messenger entrusted with a message, make sure you get
it right. We will all stand one day before Him to give an account.
I would love to hear your thoughts…particularly if you think I am embellishing or overstating my case. The conversation matters, because the gospel matters.
This is the first of several articles I will publish this week discussing my recent trip to this region. Check back daily for pictures and reflections on lessons from the trip…
Well, this question is a little weird. I know the obvious answer is because Jesus commanded us to make disciples of ALL people groups, and South Asians are part of the “ALL.” I also know that mission trips are fun experiences of fellowship and personal growth. I also know it is exciting to experience different cultures up close. These are all great reasons.
A local leader and his wife
Of course, some would say to me: We go because of the “call
of God” on our lives specifically and uniquely. If He tells you to go, you must
go! This is also a true statement that I would not argue.
However, what if there were three other reasons to go? Would you?
In recent days I had a great privilege to work with dear friends from our church in a ministry area we have been involved in for over a decade. Our church identified a People Group that was Unreached and Unengaged (meaning we had no known believers and no active disciple-making efforts among them (that we were aware of). On my trip, I wanted to see the work up close and minister alongside our network of national leaders/partners who were evangelizing, discipling, and deploying their own people to reach their nation (political entity).
one of several baptisms we celebrated
In the process of four days, our teams saw 75 professions of faith across several villages that were previous unentered. That’s right…no one had been among the villagers to tell them of Jesus. I know…because I asked them. As part of the sharing model we employed, I had the opportunity for significant dialogue (through my interpreter). In every encounter, I asked if the person had heard of Jesus and if he/she had heard the story from the Word of God that had shared with them. Without fail, the stories of hope from Scripture were foreign to the people. While some had heard the name of Jesus, all but a handful of the 150+ people we shared with were certain that this was their FIRST TIME hearing the Name of Jesus. That is really my first reason—because people have never heard of God’s Son.
Sharing with a young congregation on the significance of baptism
Second, I think someone should go because people are receptive to the Gospel. Receptivity to the gospel is not a constant everywhere. It ebbs and flows. With only a few exceptions, every person I spoke with invited us to sit for a moment and share about Jesus.
Walking to an area that is inaccessible otherwise following the monsoon season this year. Six believed in this area.
Finally, I think someone should go because it will change your love life. (Yes, I used that word to catch your attention). I mean to say, I love the South Asian people. I love the culture. I love the food. I love the strong spirit of the people and their humble presence. I love the children’s smiles and I love it when women hear the stories of God’s grace and feel valued by God…a first for many of them. I love it when men hear of the Prodigal Son and find hope for themselves. I love when families hear of my personal faith journey and realize that God is gracious. I love the hospitality of the people. I love them. Going to South Asia will change your love life!
If you’ve never been…let me encourage you to go. Take next year’s vacation and spend it in South Asia. Sit down in a front-row seat watching God do His redemptive work. Watch defeated eyes brighten with the hope of Christ. You’ll never do anything MORE significant than partnering with God in an amazing work like that.
If I can help you or resource you…or just sit and answer
questions and concerns over coffee (or Skype), you only need to ask. Shoot me a
note from my contact page or through the church where I am privileged to serve.
Recently, I had a discussion with a friend in church about strongholds
in the journey of discipleship. I shared how generosity was a personal
stronghold for years and how the guilt and shame seemed to increase by layers
every week during the offering. Once I made the decision to give a tenth
(tithe) of my income to the Lord through my church, my worship suddenly
changed! God taught me about His sufficiency, taught me to trust Him, and
showed me what I could be part of by simply being obedient to the teachings of
Scripture.
Another area that the majority of Christians struggle with
is the Lord’s command to “make disciples.” Many substitute “disciple-making”
with church attendance, serving in a church program, or teaching a church
curriculum; however, there is no way to ignore the command. A “disciple-maker”
(Christian) cannot NOT make disciples. Not every Christian is called to serve
overseas or serve in vocational ministry through a local church, but EVERY
Christian is instructed to make disciples.
Many Christians deal with the same layers of guilt and shame
over making disciples that I did over generosity. What if though…they were one
decision from releasing the guilt and finding joy? …just as I did with the
sin relating to my lack of generosity? How can a person find freedom and joy
and encouragement in this area of the disciple-maker’s life? Please allow me
suggest three things to do in response to your decision to change:
Identify WHO. This isn’t complicated. It
is simply someone you know that you have not shared the gospel with and
have not heard their unique story of how they became a believer. Begin voicing
a prayer to the Lord daily, “Lord, grant me the opportunity to share the gospel
with ____.”
Learn HOW. There are dozens of good ways to share. At Englewood (the church I serve) we promote and use the 3 Circlesapproach. I have used many approaches through the years. I like this one for a number of reasons, among which is the fact that it feels the least awkward when getting started.
Rehearse WHAT. Write out your own story of conversion (testimony). Share it with a friend, your Connect Group leader, a pastor, or your neighbor’s dog. Listen to how the Gospel is rehearsed in weekly worship services. Practice sharing the Gospel using the 3 Circles approach with your spouse, your children, or a friend. Make it so familiar that you can do it in your sleep.
If this is an area that you would love to experience joy in, join me for the upcoming Focus Group on Becoming Conversational with the Gospel, beginning October 9. I would love to be part of your journey to victory.
What a cool (figuratively speaking of course) day with our church family at Englewood Baptist Church yesterday. With Summer coming to a close, we celebrated together with our Second Annual Tailgate Party on September 8, 2019. It was, as you might expect, “Eastern NC” HOTTTT!
One of the highlights of this special gathering is the opportunity to celebrate baptisms outside on the field together. Twenty-one people went “public” with their faith yesterday! I don’t say that to make much of Englewood or to create a comparison trap based on numbers; rather, each “number” had a story. We had young and old, white, black and brown, confident and timid…people from varying backgrounds…all step into the baptismal waters with a singular intent: To Make Much of Jesus!
I love baptisms for two primary reasons.:
First, it is a beautiful picture of the Kingdom and the heart of our King Jesus. No matter one’s background, age, politics, race, or any other cultural identity…all are welcome and all are ONE in the Kingdom.
Second, I love the stories of adversity. We had a man whom I had the privilege to lead to Christ days before brain surgery several months back…who came with his wife to be baptized yesterday. We had another man who only weeks ago had major neck surgery step forward to go public. Another church member who is a passionate evangelist and is extremely active in missions confessed that she had her baptism out of order and God convicted her. With tears, she went into the waters and came up from the waters beaming…knowing that she was now fully obedient! Another child with a terrible fear of water due to a trauma clung to my neck as she was baptized. This day was so important to her she was willing to face a terrible fear for no other reason than to make Jesus famous!
Reflecting on the privileges of the day, I was reminded that not everyone treats this precious ordinance with such significance. Just know though…Jesus did and does. When we obey Him, trust Him, follow Him and honor Him, the Gospel itself shouts from the waters of the baptismal pool… “Jesus Christ is Lord of all!”
I wonder how many others would say that they are absolutely certain that they have honored him in the same way as these precious twenty-one people did yesterday? If you cannot but want to, I would love the privilege to help you GO PUBLIC with your allegiance to the King of kings!
What a cool opportunity that Jodi and I had this weekend. She has shared life with a close group of friends since her school days and we have all shared in one another’s lives…to one degree or another. This weekend, one of her friends was married and two households became one.
The ceremony was quite intimate. In fact, it was pretty much
family and a few select friends. As the couple stood facing one another, the
officiating pastor shared a single truth…love is the key to a successful
marriage. I began to consider that nugget of advice and think about how
true it was. After all, Jodi and I have been together since high school and
thirty-one of those years have been in marriage.
Let me say that I agree with the advice but add a qualifier:
Love IS the key…but love is a verb, not a noun. I think
sometimes people treat love like a noun. I showed you my love. I fell in
love. Our love disappeared. We used to be in love. You get
the idea…
In reality, love (as given as an ingredient for a successful
marriage) is a verb. It is an action, not an object. “Husbands
LOVE your wife like Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33).” Love is
not something you find or something you possess…it is something you do. Love is
challenging…because not everyone is always loveable. Marriage is not easy,
but it is rewarding when two people work at it. Marriage is about changing. God
uses the attributes of your spouse to change you…to shape you…to grow you…and
to perfect you. You spouse is part of the “all things” that God works together
for good (Romans 8:28).
Here is good news. You may be thinking… “I have missed it. My
chance at love has gone away.” Not so! It is as close as your next
decision to love (verb) one another. You control whether you will love and so
does your mate.
So, if you are looking to step into the arena of marriage and you hope for great happiness in it …don’t look to fall into love; rather, choose to love. Love fiercely. Love tenaciously. Fight for love. Pursue your beloved. If you need a good model…look to God who SO LOVED you that He sent His Son to purchase your redemption (John 3:16-17). Look at His adoptive love with which He loved you and made you a son or daughter (1 John 3:1). Love (verb) like that…and success in marriage is nearly guaranteed.
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