Category: Exploring Church Ministry Blog

Why Are We Here? (Matthew 9:2-13)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Jesus heals and forgives a paralyzed man

Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (New International Version)

“The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints.”

Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abby”)

Why does the Church exist? Why did Jesus come to this earth? What are we supposed to be doing? Does Christianity make any difference in this world? Why are we here?

The Church is not on this earth solely for the benefit of Christians, any more than a hospital exists for the benefit of the doctors or insurance companies.

Rather, the Church is designed to extend the mission of Jesus through proclamation of good news with the restorative touch of grace. The Church is the community of the redeemed, gathered together for worship and encouragement, and then sent into the world to be the continuing presence of Jesus on this earth.

This mean that the Church’s calling is not to find others who can help them with their tithing and budget, or to keep the pews warm with fresh bottoms.

Some folks are not healthy. Some are sick physically, and others spiritually. Even more are emotionally brokenhearted. And then there are those who are sick-and-tired of being sick-and-tired.

Please know that Jesus came neither to condemn nor heap a pile of unrealistic expectations on us. Christ points us to the source of healing and transformation, and invites us to come to him. 

Conversely, there are many other people today who are healthy, spiritually alive, and have a good well-being. And they possess the opportunity to participate in ways that bring holistic healing to the world as Christians. The mission of Jesus is our mission, as well.

Jesus came to bring forgiveness and transformation. In today’s Gospel healing, it was a case where the person’s paralysis was both physical and spiritual. The paralytic found in Jesus healing of both body and soul.

The religious insiders observed the healing of the paralytic. Yet, they didn’t rejoice over it. Instead, they were hung up on Jesus claiming to be God. Although this may have been a hard truth to accept, Jesus labeled their response as evil – because of an inability to perceive the situation as a divine intervention. Since the religious insiders wrongly discerned who Jesus is, they wrongly interpreted the situation. 

It’s important to see Jesus as the Human One who extends compassion and forgiveness. If we fail to see this about Christ, we will get caught up in all kinds of silly matters concerning personal preferences and power plays, based in how we think things should go, rather than how God is shaking out things.

Jesus came to forgive our guilt and shame. Healing the body is good, but it’s not enough. Christ came to heal both the body and the spirit. At the heart of the human condition is spiritual brokenness, and Jesus wants to remove the obstacle of sin and create a new healthy society. This is a radical vision which seeks to encompass all persons – which means Jesus touched many people overlooked by others.

Jesus came to call the despised people of society, the “sinners.” He called Matthew, a tax collector. Tax collectors were hated. They were corrupt characters who extorted money from innocent people. And furthermore, Jesus had dinner with Matthew, along with all of his unsavory buddies. This kind of behavior by Jesus was deeply offensive to upstanding citizens.

However, Jesus did not back down, saying that it’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. And he backed up his social actions with Scripture by encouraging offended folks to meditate on what the biblical phrase, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6)

It is possible to engage in outward rituals of worship, do all the right things, fulfill duty, yet still miss the heart of what God wants for humanity. Mercy is what God wants. Jesus knew this. So, Christ entangled himself with sinners to bring spiritual healing and restoration.

If we want to see God deliver people from their unhealthy situations, we must entangle ourselves with them, into complicated lives that are not pretty, with persons who have been tainted by sin. 

Lots of people are in awful predicaments. Christians, like their Lord, will need to get their hands dirty and their feet wet to extend Christ’s ministry of mercy and forgiveness.

The gospel was never intended to be proclaimed from afar, but up close and personal. The merciful mission of Jesus requires the following three activities:

  1. Intimacy with Jesus. Engaging in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, giving, fasting, reading, and meditating on Scripture. These practices help us to know Christ better and how to respond with mercy.
  2. Intimacy with fellow believers. We are hard-wired by God for community. Superficial relationships only provide superficial community. Christians need to help one another with spiritual growth, and to hold one another accountable for the mission of Christ.
  3. Intimacy with “sinners.” This world is filled with sick, needy, hurting, and lonely people who are locked in unhealthy patterns of living. They need a merciful change of life that comes from the merciful Jesus acting through merciful Christians. 

Mercy, not judgment, is at the heart of all change. For things to be different, we must be acquainted with mercy.

Most merciful God, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, deed, and neglect. We have not held fast to your commandments and have strayed from your teachings. We turn away from self-centered actions and pride. For the sake of your Son, Jesus, have mercy on us and forgive us so that we are released from all sinful obstacles. Empower us with your wisdom, revelation, and discernment so that we might be your merciful hands, feet, and words to one another and those who do not yet know you. Amen.

The Source of True Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14-16)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Jesus Christ and the Apostles, by Nicolás Martínez Ortiz (1907-1990)

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory. (New International Version)

Godliness is an important thing for those who seek to follow God.

So, the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul gave Timothy some sound practical instructions regarding how things ought to be conducted between pastor and people. Paul did this because he wasn’t quite sure how long it would be before he could show up in person, and he wanted to ensure that the ministry would go forward in a way that honored Christ.

Christian ministry is important because it doesn’t simply have to do with one’s private abilities and affairs. Rather, Christian leaders and pastors are entrusted with the household of God, the church. Believers are a holy sanctuary of the soul, the place where God dwells by means of the Spirit.

The Church is not a brick and mortar building, but the place of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Pastor and parishioners alike are to support the truth of the gospel, that is, the good news about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Both believers and bishops who make up the Church support gospel truth by doing the following:

  1. Hear and heed the truth. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear… This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:8, 11-15, NIV)
  2. Handle the truth rightly. Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15, CEB)
  3. Hide the truth in your heart. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11, NIV)
  4. Hold the truth as the Word of Life. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. (Philippians 2:16, NLT)
  5. Ingest and digest the truth. Study, meditate, and devote yourself to God’s Word. Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. (Jeremiah 15:16, NKJV) You must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says. (Deuteronomy 8:3, GNT)
  6. Interest yourself in the truth, and defend it. “I have been put here for the defense of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:16, NRSV) I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people. (Jude 1:3, CEV)
  7. Impart the truth and disseminate it to others. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130, NRSV) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. (Matthew 28:20, NLT)
  8. Indicate and demonstrate the power of the truth in the way you live your life. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. (Colossians 3:16-17, CEV)

The Church is a big deal because the head of the Church, Jesus Christ, is a big deal.

In many quarters of the world, the Church no longer has much influence or impact. For some, the Church is nothing more than an outdated antiquarian club that’s irrelevant to us today. For others, the Church is an abusive institution that looks to extend selfish power over others. And for many, the Church is simply not something they want to be a part of, having neither strong opinions one way nor the other.

Yet, the Apostle Paul, in his letters to all the churches, presents the Church as united to Christ and an extension of his person and work on this earth. Now, that’s a big deal!

Therefore, the Church is meant to confess Christ in its daily witness in all it says and does. In other words, the Church is to embody the words and ways of Jesus, and even Christ himself, by means of God’s Holy Spirit.

Everything about the Christian is to exude the very life of Christ.

How we can possess such a vital union and connection with Jesus is a mystery. Rather than trying to understand it, we embrace it and live it with all the energy the Spirit of God grants us.

We do, however, seek to know Jesus Christ ever more, every day. The more we know Christ, the better we will be able to know the height and depth of love, and to extend that love in all the places of this fallen planet that lack it. This is where true godliness and goodness spring from.

The Church everywhere and for all time confesses and proclaims that Jesus Christ descended to this earth, was visibly seen in a human body by both people and angels, proved right by the invisible Spirit, proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, and ascended into heavenly glory.

After two thousand years of church history, Christians are still unpacking the incredible richness and mystery of what all that means for us and for our salvation. And it is a spiritual journey worth taking for the rest of our lives.

May I walk this day, O Christ, in the realm of grace, walking with you, my feet firmly on your earth-path, my heart loving all as kindred, my words and deeds alive with justice. Amen.

Jesus the Mentor (Mark 3:13-19)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Jesus and the Disciples, by Rudolph Bostic

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preachand to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealotand Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (New International Version)

For me, every place in Holy Scripture is significant, even the seemingly mundane portions of it. Today’s verses might appear rather insignificant. However, there is some important meaning to recording who Christ called as his disciples and why he did it.

Jesus appointed twelve Jewish men to be his close disciples, his apostles. In choosing them, let’s not read into it something that isn’t there. This choosing, in no way, is meant to convey that church leadership boards are always supposed to have twelve men. It seems to me, that if such churches believe this, they ought to go all the way by insisting that they ought also to be Jewish Christians – no Gentiles on the election ballot at the annual meeting!

Excluding women, maintaining a particular number of people to a group, or considering only one ethnicity to leadership is nowhere to be interpreted in this text of Scripture. I can imagine Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father raising a Spock-like eyebrow to such hermeneutical gymnastics and stating the lone word, “fascinating!”

A disciple is a follower. An apostle is one who is sent out with a specific purpose. Jesus called these particular people in order to send them out with a mission. In other words, Christ’s disciples are really missionaries. And these apostles, these missionaries, are appointed in order that they might be with Jesus, follow him everywhere, learn from him, and then have the received authority to go out and accomplish the mission given them to do.

An apostle can only properly carry out the instructions of the Teacher by first being a disciple who spends copious amounts of time in that Teacher’s presence. Indeed, if we are looking for some contemporary application in these more mundane texts of Scripture, let us find here an insight into our own Christian formation.

Jesus and the Disciples, by John Mathews

Christian ministry is rightly patterned after the Teacher we follow, Jesus our Lord. Christ himself demonstrated for us the way of mentoring or discipling, through his own words and actions. He called particular individuals, taught them, and equipped them for spiritual warfare in this world by granting them authority to do the work.

If we need a pattern, there it is. It’s a model of mentoring others in the ways of Christian mission and ministry. The idea is that we call, teach, equip, and authorize others in the words and ways of Jesus. I really don’t much care what you call it: Christian discipling, relational mentoring, small group teaching, spiritually forming, or any other word or phrase.

The important thing is to actually understand and do this very Christ-like work of developing mature followers of Jesus who can do the important work of spiritual warfare and ministry, then in turn, develop others. We are to pass on a body of faith and doctrine, of mission and ministry, to a group of people who will do the work. And they then do the same for others.

I rather like the word “mentoring” because for most people it evokes the idea of putting time and effort into some relationships for a specific purpose. And when we look at Christianity as a great mentoring project, perhaps we will see why church is becoming a byword in many parts of the Western world. This also ought to perhaps clue us into how we might move forward as Christians.

I am suggesting that, generally speaking, we have neglected this pattern of Jesus in calling, teaching, equipping, and authorizing. It is one large reason why there is such a decline in church attendance (and participation) in the West. And until we collectively take up this mantle of mentoring ministry, we shall continue to lessen, because we are irrelevant to people’s daily lives – both inside and outside the church.

As a first course of action, I invite you – no matter your age or stage in life – to make it a priority to simply “hang out” with individuals and groups of people. Maybe that sounds like an extrovertish sort of thing to do. However, this invitation is coming from me, an introvert. I didn’t say you have to be the life of the party, or engage in a lot of talking. But I am saying that mature followers of Jesus ought to strongly consider some intentional relationships with people other than family and a few friends.

Hang out around any given church, on any given Sunday, after any given worship service, and you are likely to see small groups of people talking with each other. Those groups typically center around friends according to age. What is often lacking are intentional interactions between the generations.  

Ethiopian Orthodox Church depiction of Christ and his disciples

The younger generations (particularly persons aged 18-29) often need and want to have relationships with more experienced (older!) believers in the faith. Younger adults, however, tend to lack the confidence to go after older adults in order to be mentored or influenced by them. I believe the onus is on the older generations to go after the younger.  

Maybe I’m just old, but it seems like younger generations have an incredible array of relationships, differing levels of friendship, and a complexity to their interactions that I didn’t have “back in my day.” What’s different, it seems, is that their relationships are more gray, and less black and white. And they appear to do a solid amount of hanging out.

Hanging out is typically sitting around with a group of people, eating and drinking, watching movies, studying (or doing bible study) or any other activity. Its doing just about anything, but doing it together with others. And this is the perfect environment for initially establishing how to begin living into the words and ways of Jesus to mentor others.

One of the things we older folks can do is to really understand the reality of younger generations’ relational interactions. For example, when I lived in a university town I used to often just “hang out” with college students, with no agenda other than just being with them. The local Perkins restaurant was at its busiest at midnight, filled with college students hanging out.

There are places in every town and city where young adults go, especially the bar scene. Bars aren’t just places to drink, but are locations of conviviality where persons have the chance to be around one another in a kind of secular church where fellowship happens, looking for a chance to relate meaningfully with others.

All people desire intimacy and want to know that someone else cares about them. This is a very real and felt need. How that need is going to be met can be either legitimate or illegitimate. And we can help with that.

One of the best things we can do for others is to communicate to them that we “have their back,” that we care, love, and genuinely like them.

No one can sniff out a disingenuous attitude quite like a young adult. So, our interactions have to be an authentic desire to be around them. Also, this does not mean we have to pretend to be younger than we are. Instead, one of the greatest needs a young person has is to be in a mentoring relationship with someone older and wiser who can help them navigate life and bring some sort of definition to relationships that they may lack.

The older generations could learn to “hang out” with younger generations and find individuals for whom they can build a solid one on one or group relationship with. If they can have such relationships now, it will serve them for a lifetime.

It seems to me that, as I look at the biblical text, being a mentor, and walking alongside another with love, grace, and wisdom, is built into Christianity by Jesus himself. So, let’s consider how we might best go about this important work.

May your love overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 3:9-11, NRSV)

The Need to Defend a Ministry (2 Corinthians 10:1-11)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Mosaic of St. Paul Preaching, 12th century, Duomo, Monreale, Sicily, Italy

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 

For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. (New International Version)

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of feeling like I have to defend my ministry – my philosophy of how to go about things, my hermeneutics, my words, my actions, my clothes, my food – and pretty much everything about me. Believe it or not, I’ve been criticized for things like not having shiny enough shoes (and having too nice of shoes), the make and model of the car I drive (and don’t drive), being too serious (and not being serious enough).

So, for me, I detect in the Apostle Paul’s retort to the Corinthian Church, an exasperation. Reading between the lines, I can hear him saying something like, “I can’t believe I’m even talking about this stuff because you guys are about as spiritually aware as a bowling ball – and bowling balls haven’t even been invented yet. Heck, I don’t even know what a bowling ball is! That’s about how much you know what you’re talking about. Sheesh!”

Yet, despite Paul’s annoyance and displeasure with the Corinthians’ line of thinking, the Apostle still made up his mind to craft a response that was as humble and gentle as he could possible come up with.

A modern archaeological site at Corinth, Greece

The Church’s first criticism toward Paul is that he is bold from a distance, but up close and personal, rather weak and unimpressive as an Apostle. I’m willing to be that every church pastor in the U.S. is more than able to know what this feels like in putting themselves in the Apostle’s shoes.

It’s an age old criticism that every preacher faces at various points, or at least with some sermons or writings. The people just don’t appreciate or like what they’re hearing or reading. It often comes out in the ubiquitous phrase, “I’m just not getting spiritually fed.” Wrapped up in that phrase is not only the criticism of oratorical skills, but also that they don’t like something about the preacher’s physical appearance, particular idiosyncrasies, or interaction with other people.

The second criticism of Paul by the Corinthians is that he acts too much according to human standards. In other words, the Apostle is just too worldly for them. If you happen to know anything about the ancient Corinthian Church, you’re either doing a major eye roll right now, or you’re just plain busting a gut in laughter.

There’s no more worldly church in the New Testament than the Corinthian Church. To have them bringing this point up to Paul is both laughable and downright sad. But again, every preacher nowadays knows the criticism all too well. For example, many pastors aren’t paid well with the convoluted reasoning that they shouldn’t be tempted toward worldliness – even though the parishioners themselves have no problem owning large homes, multiple cars, and high paying jobs.

The Corinthians were likely also concerned about Paul’s egoism – that he’s too much into worldly power and philosophies. Again, laughable stuff, considering the source. Yet again, these sorts of criticisms are rife within many churches. And the critics themselves tend to be ones who are enamored with wanting power and control for themselves, wanting to ensure that no one, including an upstart pastor, never treads upon their mastering of a very small world.

Orthodox icon of St. Paul writing to the churches

Paul responds to this by stating that he is, of course, a human being. However, he wields a different kind of power. Employing military metaphors, the Apostle describes the weapons that he uses as capable of destroying spiritual strongholds of arguments, and obstacles of pride against the knowledge of God – the very sorts of strongholds that were present among the Corinthians.

What’s more, Paul takes captive every thought and makes it obedient to Christ, and not to a self-serving agenda of worldly control and power. And he will use those weapons, if necessary, if the Corinthians keep up their petty criticisms and worldly behavior.

The bottom line of it all is that Christ made Paul an Apostle; and nobody in the Corinthian Church was made one. Paul’s authority was given, not taken, and he will use it to build up and not tear down. In other words, the Apostle Paul was committed to fulfilling his apostolic commission by establishing churches, building up those churches in the strength of faith, and protecting them from misguided and wrongheaded ways of operating.

All I have to say to this is that I am very glad that the Church belongs to Christ. Because that’s the only way we can still be talking about the Church still existing all these centuries later. God works, despite all the human foibles and nonsense.

Even though I talk like this (as does Paul!) there are still good Christian believers and good Christian churches in this world. Not every parishioner lacks self-awareness, is short-sighted, and has a plank in their eye. Nor are all pastors just in it for attention and some sort of worldly gain.

I’m still living and breathing, ministering and mentoring, after decades of Christian labor because of many good people who treated me well, spent good time with me, as well as those who received my teaching and my love, put it into practice, and have produced a harvest of righteousness beyond what I could imagine.

It would be good for all of us to experience supportive community, spiritual maturity, and wise ministry to others. If we can go through any process – no matter what it is – with the humility and meekness of Christ, then no matter what the end is, we have brought some peace and goodness into this old fallen world of ours.

And there is no shame in that!

Almighty and eternal God: Every good and perfect gift comes from you. Send down upon our pastors and parishioners alike a healthy spirit of grace and goodness, so that we all together may truly please you in all we say and do; and continually pour out your divine blessing upon us all. We ask this for the honor of your Son, our Advocate and Friend, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.