Reopening churches is good, right?

Which emoji most depicts how you felt when you heard the new that churches are encouraged to reopen? 🤗 or 😮 or 😡 or ☹️

This week has been an exciting one for many pastors who have been emboldened by our President’s recent statement announcing religious institutions as “essential”, encouraging them to begin to safely reopen. Many people are the 🤗 emoji at this news, as they should be. However, there are also just as many who are the ☹️ emoji because of the precautious they believe still needs to take place. There are mixed reviews on churches reopening, however, there were other “essential” businesses that have had hundreds of people gather in their buildings. Home Depot, Walmart, supermarkets and even dollar stores are open every day and I don’t think there has been as much controversy as there is about the church opening it’s doors. Traditionally, the church would be the first place people would run during times of crisis. Now, not even professed followers of Jesus Christ are in one accord about this matter.

Pastors are going to choose different approaches to reopen if they reopen at all. Some pastors will take their time, opening slowly, others will move more rapidly. There will be no approach that will make everyone happy. The burden on spiritual leaders in this time is heavier than ever. They can’t please everyone around them and shouldn’t try. Though, I would say, spiritual leaders should demonstrate grace and respect for wherever other spiritual leaders land in their decision.

While some parishioners will stay home from going to the actual facility and call it common sense or wisdom, some will go to church and call it devotion and courage. Should we reduce ourselves into ridiculing others convictions to feel better about ours? We can achieve unity if everyone, from wherever they are in the line, moving together towards a healthy and functional society, communicate support that we are all of the same vision. While the onset of this pandemic made us new friends the conclusion of this quarantine shouldn’t turn people into enemies. It would be sad if we end up re-erecting our fences based on choices we ourselves wouldn’t make in this time. Criticizing someone’s decisions because it’s not the one you are making is a good way of catching a worst virus than the one we are trying to protect people from. The virus of offense is looking to destroy all we built.

Here are my convictions that bring me to the decision I’ve made to re-open. I believe God’s word to be true. I believe God is a healer. I believe God is able. I believe miracles still happen. I believe Jesus didn’t retreat from the lepers but moved towards them because He was operating from the Kingdom of heaven. I believe when someone walks fully in faith- fear will want to shut them down. Fear needs a voice just like Faith. I believe we are not to let a political spirit or a religious one control our actions. If we are like everyone else or even worse in crisis, then what hope can we offer a world that is in crisis? And you possibly have the same convictions but have arrived at a different decision. Let us unite around what we are for and relational trust each other in places we don’t agree with. I am excited that churches have been encouraged to reopen because I love God and want to publicly demonstrate that. I want to honor the sacrifices that my forefathers have made to have religious freedom in this country. I want to step out of the comfortable boat and step into the turbulent water where I see Jesus walking. My stance is to communicate that I haven’t changed my mind that I have decided to follow Jesus. And that I recognize His church which He bleed and died to bring into existence is what I will be apart of to advance His kingdom and to be equipped for the end-time harvest. Church is not an institution to me it's a glorious gathering. Don’t get me wrong , I believe we can have a personal relationship with Jesus anywhere but the statement that “I am the church” is not a true statement. We are the church not any isolated, individual by him or herself. It would be good to remember there are specific ways that God shows up and blesses us when we are corporately gathered. Even if you can’t go to church right away because of specific situations in your life doesn’t mean you can’t be excited or you can’t support it. I don’t want to make you feel bad if you are unable to because of a compromised immune system or loved ones you need to protect. Just like you’re thinking of others because you’re staying put, in that same sensitive and caring way think of others who need to go to church when it reopens because the church is the hope of the world. We are gap standers not popular option makers. We are strangers and aliens in this world not natives and long term residence. We are to bring change into the world not be changed by it. We are voices of faith that usually stand-alone not voices of fear that hide in the crowds.

Let’s rewind and remind ourselves that we (the church) have been praying for our nation to return to God. Praying prayers that would put a halt to the secularization, anti-Christ agenda that was taking hold of our nation. I can recall prayer efforts that prayed for the highest position in the land to be a champion for faith efforts. Some got as specific as praying for presidential decrees that would liberate us from anti-christ tyranny that was becoming more aggressive by the day. When the Lord does answers our sincere, diligent prayers you’d think we would have gotten it by now that we usually get what we need in packages that we don’t want.

Since the start of this pandemic it has been a curiosity for me to see people’s response to their own spiritual leaders' voice and what faith they have in what the Bible has to say about where we are currently. There is a real cultural war happening to influence everyone. I believe that depending on who got the most of your attention shaped your perspective. My hope is that you let the Lord help you see things the way He sees them and walk this experience out in faith, love and honor.

A Kings comfort is money well spent

Sleepovers at my friend’s house were one of the hi-lights of my childhood. However, I remember one horrible sleep over experience that I’ll never forget. I was about 11 years old and one of my friends at school asked me to sleep over his house for his birthday. I had never been over his house before and since he was a good friend in school, going to his house would be a no brainer. It was sure to be a fun time. When my parents dropped me off I am pleasantly surprised that he lives in a great neighborhood in a small mansion of a house. I was not only intrigued by the size of his house I was sure that because he lived in such a nice place we were going to have a great time. But almost immediately things began to get awkward. He takes me to play his new Mike Tyson punch out video game but instead of us taking turns he forces me to watch as he plays. I asked if i could have a turn but he rudely denies me the chance to go one round with any of the boxers. Talk about getting sucker punched. In this mansion of many rooms he shares a room with his brother and I have to share a bed with my friend who is quickly turning in to my frenemy because of his poor hosting skills. The next day held promise. I thought that it could be a brand new start and things would be better. When he suggested we go bike riding around the neighborhood my optimism increased. We went to the garage and instead of giving me one of his bikes he gives me a skateboard to follow him up and down the streets. (Are you feeling sorry for me yet? I feel like I need therapy just writing this.) After we get back to the house he goes somewhere to do something and I am left alone, wandering around the wrap around porch of his house with nothing to do. I started thinking that maybe I should call my parents to pick me up but thought I would stay for his party at least. The party was a backyard barbecue where I got to witness his parents estranged relationship and his spoiled younger brother’s tantrums. The entire time I had regretted not making that phone call. When I arrived back home and walked through the front door of our simple non- mansion house I can’t begin to tell you how much relief my pre-teen heartfelt. And although I would never wish that kind of experience on anyone, it did teach me the value of hospitality.

I imagine all of you reading this would be happy to host the Lord's presence in your life. I don’t doubt that you would share everything you had and make it all about Him. You would give Him the seat of honor at your table, you would relinquish your rights so that He would enjoy Himself and never want to leave your house. Do you ever wonder how you could measure what kind of host you are? Is hospitality simply about how comfortable you make someone feel in your home? While that is part of it I also want you to consider something else. One of the main ways we can measure it is how we manage our money. Does that sound strange? Think about my friend and how he managed his possessions. He kept his possessions from ever touching my hand which showed that what he had was more important than me. If he would have been generous I would have felt important to him. We show how important the Lord is to us through our generosity. He lingers as long as He is being honored. When we include God in our spending and in our choices we are hosting his presence well in our lives. He honors the places and people who keep their honor on. He is most comfortable where He is most considered. Ironically, this type of thinking is how a wealth mindset is formed. He teaches us through our willingness to learn what makes Him most comfortable. Can you imagine how wealthy you could become if you would just know how to be a good friend when you’re hosting the King of Kings at your house?

Wash your hands from you know what and watch your soul become refreshed

A few days into the current pandemic I found myself getting hype. I became electrified about the idea that a point of demarcation had been created by the circumstances. I know it sounds strange to find anything to be happy about in a time where the fear was fresh, and the world was on edge. Here is what you might not know. I had been experiencing fear and had been on edge before this pandemic hit. The nature of what I was experiencing had to do with numerous situations that well-intentioned people had put me in. Without going into details here, let us just say it made things weird. So, when this pandemic hit, we were distanced from people yea, but it was the distance from our normal routines that helped me. While everyone was being encouraged to wash their hands more. I started to look at what was metaphorically in my hands. You know what I found in my hands. I found what I was carrying was regret on decisions I had made, shame that I didn’t know better, the pain people have caused me, and frustration where things currently were in my life. The truth was that this stuff that was in my hands had made its way to my soul. My soul needed a serious bath. What this time did for me, is that it gave me a chance to wash my hands of all that I was carrying in my soul. How refreshing this was.

The routines of life sometimes don’t allow us the time to adequately “wash our hands” of what we are carrying in our souls. Such as relationships that had disappointing conclusions. The actions of others that are no longer around that are haunting you because you see their resemblance in others. Delayed dreams because you couldn’t find the time or energy to make them happen. 

This demarcation in time showed me that what existed before all this didn’t need to follow me to the other side. My choice to wash my hands of those situations would place them in a pre-pandemic timeline of my life and what would come after would be a clean slate of post-pandemic perspective. While others were worried about getting sick, I was embracing my soul sickness and doing what I needed to do to get better. 

Washing my hands looked like me saying I’m sorry to people. It looked like me forgiving myself. It looked like me putting together a plan of action of what I learned from my failures. It looked like me getting into a groove of new disciplines. It looked like me distancing myself from the shame and guilt that came from those actions. It looked like me re-surrendering my life to the Lord who has brought me this far and has not given up on me yet. 

I’m still on a journey but now I am refreshed as I proceed. I’m writing this to encourage you to do what I did during this pandemic. Wash your hands of those things that have contaminated your soul.

Consumers or Disciples

Have you ever watched the news and saw some kind of horrific act done and thought to yourself "I can't even imagine doing that?"Those moments are shocking because they are so outside the grid of how we choose to live.

When I heard the statement that many people come to church and they are just consumers I was taken aback. This was way outside my grid. To think that people come for what they  can get instead what they can give. Consumer thinking is only committed as long as their needs are being meet. Don't get me wrong when I first started going to church my eyes were wide open to what was happening. I wanted to know what was available for my kids, what was being taught, what the vision was and if I could get along with the people I was sharing this sacred moment with. At first I had a few consumer qualities but I didn't stay there. People who have been attending church for any length of time (such as anything after 8 months) should start to desire to contribute not just consume. The greatest growth spurts are when we are in the action not on the sidelines. We have been called to be disciples. Disciple training comes in the doing. Eyes wide open when I start so I can make knowledgeable choice however when the choice is made now I am responsible to do my part to add on.

Consumers subtract and divide. Disciples add and multiply.

I have stores and companies that I am devoted to. So when I go in I don't even need to buy anything I am there because I am committed, interested and in my own way apart of that team. Consumers only shop to take. It's tragic news to see people treat God's church as a product. And when they are dissatisfied they move on to a new place to shop for their needs. I am a disciple of Christ. Do you know how you can tell? I am loyal and committed even in the rare moments when I am dissatisfied and it gets difficult. You can tell I am a disciple because I will serve in my suffering. Or when I trust my spiritual overseers to hear me out and to speak into my situation. Consumers are consumed with what they want. Disciples are disciplined to trust God in giving them what they need.

I know that a church is healthy when it has more people putting down their shopping bags, picking up their crosses and putting action to their commitment.

How can you tell the difference between a Consumer and a Disciple? Anything you want to add this idea?

Booing the home team

Only in his hometown is a prophet not honored.

When Jesus recognized that people who were most familiar with him weren’t recognizing him, He made that statement. Tragically, this phenomenon is still prevalent today. It shows up when people are more fascinated by the leaders they don't have than leaders they do have. It shows up when strangers get more of the benefit of the doubt than family. Or, when people can only go to therapists in order to feel safe with sharing their feelings. Are we honoring them more than someone who might actually be a closer, more capable person in our life?

How about when Internet bloggers get more of your attention and affections than people sitting right across from you. Or, when you quote a TV talk show host’s advice while your grandmother’s thoughts about the same thing are barely acknowledged. Or, when the ideals of a friend from school sound better to us than our parents’. Or, when a documentary is the "gospel truth" on what you believe about something. You might need to take a closer look in order to discover if the state of mind that Jesus accused his hometown people of having is living in you.

How is it that our hearts are wide open to the appealing presentation of strangers than to the up close and personal words of someone from our hometown? Hometown persons can range from trusted family members, to proven leadership in your workplace, to our faithful buddies in our places of worship, to those classmates who have been transformed for the better. Jesus was so common to the people from his hometown that they had a hard time taking him seriously. Their memories of him got in the way of the divine moments he was offering them.

Think about this...after the first strange, yet wonderful experience with Jesus happened in your life and then He addressed something He wanted you do or change, how fast did your conviction take to kick in and you get to changing it? Quick, snap, and in a hurry, right?  Now that you’re not strangers anymore with him but know him well, and now when he asks you to do or change something, how fast do you get to it? Not as fast, right?

I wonder how many prophets there are that God has raised up from the places you’re most familiar with. The dilemma you'll face is that your past memories try to keep you from receiving your present divine moment. You feel safe and secure in your history. This dulls you to what you have. If God has something for you, why wouldn't He just give it to you in a way that is sure to get your attention and affections? I believe it's to keep your eyes on honor. So the wisdom of God is that He hides the rare jewel you need in a familiar package you can take for granted. Why? Because it's the last place you'll look and the kingdom you’re a part of wants us to see with eyes of honor. Eyes of honor can see past the past.

Think about what Jesus possessed and desired to give to the people He was most familiar with. He had so much power and wisdom and blessings at his disposal, but the people of His hometown rejected it because they saw more of Him than what He carried.

Our application would be to ask God to give us His eyes to see the people we see every day, eyes of honor. Like that friend who is wiser than we give them credit for, or like that prophetic leader, or that parental boss that we have grown familiar with. Strangers can be entertained, but hometown prophets should be honored. If you are looking for a miracle, pay attention to the mundane. When you treat with mystery those with whom you have history, you might discover your miracle is right in front of you.