RELATIONSHIP…OR RELIGION

It’s Story Time!. Got this from pastor Bruxy Cavey.

Bob & Sue where a few years into marriage when they experienced lack of romance. Their marriage was a steady diet of predictable rituals and routines, stable, back lacking passion. Bob decided to take more initiative to rekindle their first love. Tuesday evening the doorbell rang. Sue went to the door to find their babysitter. She was surprised as she learned that Bob booked her. More surprise came when Bob told Sue to put on whatever she would enjoy wearing out on the town. Romance was returning! A few minutes later, Sue in a beautiful red dress, drove together with Bob to a fancy little Italian restaurant. The table was ready, and the manager was waiting at the candle-lit charming corner at the quiet back. Sue noted a card with her name on it. She opened it up to find a handwritten note from Bob. As the evening progressed, Bob & Sue enjoyed meaningful conversation. During the desert time Bob pulled from under the table her favourite flower – a single blue rose. This last detail moved Sue to tears. “The most wonderful week of their married life!” Bob was feeling “how can I make it last?”

The next Tuesday, at exactly same 6:30 pm the babysitter was at the door. Sue was even more surprised: “two weeks in the row! I could get used to this!”

She did not think it was a bit odd when Bob encouraged her to put on the same red dress from the previous week. As they pulled into the same parking lot of the same Italian restaurant she thought that Bob might not get full marks for creativity this time. But her delight turned to disappointment when she found the card with the same words on the inside. It felt weird when Bob ordered the same menu, and manipulated their conversation to cover same territory as the week before. The evening was going from weird to feeling suffocating. She wanted out, but she wanted to give Bob every benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the joke would soon end. But when he pulled the similar blue rose during the desert, her tears welled up for a different reason. That week was cordial, but mildly distant.

Next Tuesday evening the story repeated again. And the week later, and so forth. Today, if you were to ask Bob how his marriage is doing he would smile with a sense of accomplishment and say “I romance my wife religiously!” He may even encourage you to follow his formula, his system for a healthy marriage. But if you would ask Sue – she’d tell you she feels trapped, imprisoned in a loveless relationship by someone who means well, but does not have a sweet clue what relationship is all about…

And I am wondering if this is how God feels sometimes at our weekly worship…

Do not mistake a form for substance, a religion for relationship!

Being a disciple is about discipling

By now Canada has made enough medals to be in the top 12 ranking countries, but just a week ago some were worried about lack of winning. Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s flag bearer sent a message for those at home: Get your kids off the couch! He blamed the flaw in our culture that breeds laziness. Many Canadian papers had an article last weekend that asked these questions: “…are your kids playing Xbox or are they playing sports? Are they going to amusement parks on the weekend or are they swimming? Do kids have phys-ed at school?”

Reading such comments got me thinking about….Evangelism. We are the church of many cultures, and while feeling proud about churches in countries where we came from, we don’t do much about soul winning in Canada. Somehow, integration in the lifestyle affects even our faith activities.

Last week I challenged readers to mentor others by whatever type of relationships you chose: coaching, teaching, counselling, modeling, guiding others. Christianity invites people to imitate one’s life. It is a faith taught by one to another. “Follow me!” said Jesus. Similar is expected for Jesus’ followers. Apostle Paul urged the church in Corinth “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:16; & 11:1). He also commended the church in Thessalonica for becoming imitators of him and of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). The Great Commission of Jesus calls every believer to be a disciple and to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). One cannot call him/herself a Christian and not disciple others.

This week children learned significant truths during the VBS program: Know the Truth, Speak the Truth, and Live the Truth. How’s your Discipling going? Are you winning others to Jesus, are you on fire to lead people by your life example? Or has the “couch-potato” attitude got to you too?

Remember that Evangelism is simply inviting people to observe intimacy of your relationship with God. Only such a real “incarnation” or “embodiment” of the gospel will produce the desire in others to know Jesus.

As you seek to imitate Jesus, as you faithfully follow Him, have you noticed others seeking your friendship, seeking to imitate you and to follow you? If you are making your way to Christ others would follow even if out of curiosity.

One current translation of 1^st John 2:5-6 says “This is the only way to be sure we are in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” (The Message)

Run to win, run to win others, run with Christ.

ON BEING A DISCIPLE….

Last Sunday our Board met for a special purpose – to discuss possible strategies for soul winning, for Evangelism. As we dialogues about different events and activities that may interest people in coming to church, like concerts, socials, games, and more, it became more obvious that it is personal friendship that is needed to make people stay. Evangelism is not only to introduce and bring people – it is to make them stay in relationship with Jesus. Friendship Evangelism!

That is precisely what the Great Commission is all about – not just teaching, but making disciples! (Matthew 28:19-20).

Do we fully understand what “discipling” means? J.Robert Clinton had written the Mentor Handbook in which he provides a list of different types of discipling relationships: Coach, Mentor, Teacher, Counsellor, Sponsor, Life Model, Historical Hero Model, Spiritual Guide, and the Divine Contact. All these are “discipling relationships!” One cannot call him/herself a Christian and not disciple others.

Consider this discipleship! A simple command, yet it assumes a very complex relationship: it invites people to imitate one’s life. Christian faith is an imitative faith. Christianity is a faith taught by one to another. The life of Jesus Christ must be seen as the model worthy of imitation for every Christian. “Follow me!” said Jesus. Similar is expected for Jesus’ followers. Apostle Paul urged the church in Corinth “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:16; & 11:1). Paul also commended the church in Thessalonica for becoming imitators of him and of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).

The question we ask of our elected leaders if they actively mentor, disciple, and instruct others. The question really means: do we live lives worthy of imitating? And this should be asked of every believer: Can we invite people to follow us as we follow Jesus? The Evangelism is simply inviting people to observe intimacy of your relationship with God. Only such a real “incarnation” or “embodiment” of the gospel will produce the desire in others to know Jesus.

As you seek to imitate Jesus, to faithfully follow Him, others will seek to imitate you and to follow you. Have you invited anyone in your life to follow you? Have you led anyone to Christ? If you are making your way to Christ others would follow even if out of curiosity.

One current translation of 1^st John 2:5-6 says “This is the only way to be sure we are in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” (The Message)

Are you imitating Christ? Are people close to you imitate you? Have you consider your role as a disciple and a discipler? Jesus invites “Go and make disciples!”