Vince Armfield

The Cost
The cost of discipleship is the subjection of our independent will to the will of God our Heavenly Father.  In doing this, we truly walk in the footsteps of Christ.  In the garden, on the eve of his trial and subsequent execution – Jesus said it plainly – “… yet not my will, but your will be done.” (Luke 22: 41) 

Cheap Talk
Luke 14: 25-35, captures Jesus’ clear and concise admonition to those following him to Jerusalem (where he will be betrayed and killed) that real discipleship has a cost and you had best count it before claiming it.  Talk is cheap my friend.  I can say a lot of things; however, when it comes down to it – do my actions back up my words?

The Proclamation
This came home to me as I was musing over the Lord’s Supper or Communion.  The actions that Jesus referred to as recorded by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11: 24-25 have been hanging with me.  He took the bread and the wine – breaking the bread and equating it with his body and then drank the wine equating it with his blood – the combination proclaim a new covenant between God and man. 

Me, broken and served?
Can I honestly say that I am broken for others?  Is my life poured out for others?  Does the element of my body (literally in my actions) speak a message of redemption?  Does my life give life?  Does sacrifice inhabit my life, my thoughts or my actions?  Am I being passed out – given to others for the feeding of their souls?

Incarnational Living and the Other Shoe Drops!
I take the elements of communion and connect with God; however, where do I go from there?  Do I incarnate this relationship with other human beings and creation?  What is it that God wants to speak through me to this world?  Redemption?  Reconciliation?  Hope?  If so, I need to start seriously thinking and acting on my thoughts to say something.  This is the sound of the other shoe dropping for me. 

Your thoughts?

At first glance you may be thinking, “he’s lost it.”  I want you to hang in with me here.  How many times have we heard that phrase, “go to hell” or “the hell with you?”  I have heard them far more often than I care to remember.  Within the church, we would shudder if this came from the pulpit.  Perhaps some are even uncomfortable reading it in a Pastor’s Blog.

Truth is, people are dying every day and the Biblically literate person needs to be reminded that without Christ, these people are doomed for an eternity separated from a relationship with God in a place known as hell.  While this may read as melodramatic, the church is in the business of sharing Christ and warning those outside of Christ about hell.  Sharing Christ means you have to deal with the issue of sin, forgiveness and the spectre of hell.

Here is where the other shoe drops.  When we lose sight of our roles in this world as Christians – we might effectively be telling people to go to hell if we’re not telling them about Jesus.  Simplistic?  Probably; however, when you boil it down this is a very real and important part of this subject.  No one who understands the love of God and has come into relationship with God through Jesus wants anyone to go to hell.  However, when we are silent, it’s another story.

Imagine you are standing on a road – down the road a mile or so from you was a sharp turn that led off a cliff.  When people were passing you – wouldn’t you want to warn them – especially if you knew the detour route was just a half mile down the road?  Maybe you wouldn’t have to speak – you could create symbols with your life like arrows or exclamation points or whatever.  Surely you would do something.  Were this situation real, you would be in agony with each car that went over the abyss.

Here’s where the rub comes in – do you ever let your mind wonder to the real possibility that some of your friends, neighbors and perhaps even family may be headed down that road toward the cliff?  If so, what will you do?  Will you pray for them, will you tell them, will you warn them with your life too by not racing to the edge of the cliff yourself?

For each of us, the way we’ll sound the alarm that the cliff is coming will be different.  The main thing is that we remember that there is a cliff and that we take real steps to use our lives to warn others.  When was the last time you invited someone to church; youth group; dinner with friends from church; out to coffee to share what is happening in your life regarding God; bring your kids friends to Sunday school, church or Kids Club?

With the summer heat, I am reminded that there is a place a whole lot hotter.  I also remember that a teenage girl invited me to church and her college age brother talked with me, answering questions.  I remember her family lived differently with each other.  I remember being given a simple New Testament and encouraged to just read it.  I remember asking questions and later praying on my own to receive the love of God in Jesus Christ.  I was changed the moment that teenage girl invited me to church – the ultimate change came a bit later – but it started with someone inviting me to church.  The rest is history.  You’ll never know until you ask!

Greg Laurie had some thoughts regarding prayer this morning and they got me thinking…

When we consider our most intimate relationships with people – they are usually marked with easy conversation.  You can be a part for days, months and even years and then come together and pick up right where you left off.  Conversation in those relationships is easy, you know the other person – their likes and dislikes and how they will react to whatever you might say.  Comfortable as an old pair of slippers.

I think about my relationship with God.  Certainly, there is an aura of holiness and sacredness that surrounds Him – that is chiefly Who He is.  Understanding that, I can still converse with Him and have, in fact, been invited to converse with Him.  Through His word, He speaks to me and through my prayers – I speak to Him.  In time, as I have gotten to know God – my conversations have matured and grown more secure. 

Speaking with Him in many respects is like speaking to my wife.  Weird you think?  Well, my wife really is the person that I am closest to on this earth and our conversations are easy, deep (though many times light too) and inviting.  I look forward to the sound of Janis’ voice and enjoy speaking with her.  It has taken time to grow to this level of intimacy.  So too, in my relationship with God – time has given way to a deep and secure relationship.

I can speak to God.  Praying is like breathing.  I don’t have to wait for a “holy or sanctified moment or setting” to pray.  Turning off the radio and praying in the car (audibly) a well as walking through the beautiful Kirkland neighborhoods and speaking to God is a welcome blessing.  I share my ideas, dreams, confusions and frustrations.  Praying like breathing has become a natural part of my life – sometimes I find myself praying (what amounts to bouncing ideas off of Him) without effort.  Try it some time.

Playing your cards close to your chest can be an effective metaphor for the way we live our lives.  On the surface we show one thing; while hidden in our hands (the cards were dealt and holding onto) are the real issues of our lives (what makes us or has the potential to break us).

Of late, I hear from many quarters that there is great financial uncertainty.  Our current administration in Washington is spending money with bail outs and stimulus packages to astronomical tunes.  Our economy continues to suffer from the pig hearted greed and short sightedness of typical American pop cultural financial management (of mis-management) resulting in record job losses; a collapsed (or now rendered dysfunctional) home loan system; a “jobless recovery”; and down right fear.  This fear has transcended financial markets and has settled around some homes in the nurseries, kitchens and yes, even bedrooms – resulting in paranoia; suspicion and even paralysis.

Now we come to church.  We come in and sing (or mumble) our way through some familiar and some times unfamiliar tunes (hymns, praise songs and a the like) espousing our faith in God.  “How great is our God; sing with me, how great is our God… On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand… I Give You My Heart… Mighty to Save…. Standing on the Promises…” and the list goes on.  We hold open Bibles that read of a great and awesome God – one who is worthy of our best – dare I say, even our first and foremost.

And yet, across this country and over a table at St. James Espresso the other day – I heard the laments of God’s shepherds.  Ministries across the boards are suffering from a sharp drop in giving.  Yes, financial giving.  This sharp drop is curtailing evangelism, missions and simple day to day church operations.  And it is happening here in my own back yard.  Were it not for the faithfulness of a man years ago whoset aside a portion of his estate to the church – this church would be in extremely dire straights.  Is it right for one generation to live off of the faith of a previous generation – a dead man’s faithfulness.  On the one hand it is a blessing – this man’s faithfulness and willingness to see a large picture that eclipsed his own walk on this earth; however, on the other hand is this generation simply to sit by idle and hear about faithfulness and steps of faith and not actually take those steps.  Will this not lead to anemic faith at best and a dead and lifeless faith at worse?  God draws every generation to take its own steps of faith.  This is what knits our hearts to His.

Christians… we need to step into our calling for this generation.  Put our money where our faith is.  I am not championing some kind of health and wealth prosperity Gospel – I am simply stating that the work of God is done through the means of HIS people.  For some reason the God of the Bible (Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills) has chosen you and I to give of our substance to see His work accomplished.  And, He promises to bless us for trusting Him in this fashion.

When this world around us screams… FEAR!  What will our response be as Christians?  Run and hide, clutch what really belongs to God and turn and give mere lip service?  We must lean into the fear and intimidation of this world with confidence that God can not only save our souls for eternity but provide for our living today.  Encourage one another in this.  By the way, to the one who faithfully and sacrificially gives – God bless you… seriously… may God bless you!  Keep pressing for you are not serving man, but the one and holy heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, many years of incorrect teaching and preaching have led some to believe that “evangelism” is merely something you do.  It is an action taken or event participated in and usually comes down to “door knocking; street evangelism and/or chalk talking.”  Sadly, this truncates what is meant to permeate the very fiber of our being into a small event.  Evangelism is something we all live – whether we realize it or not!  To me this is an incredibly freeing thought!  It’s not about learning a sales technique in order to “close a deal,” it’s simply about loving God and allowing people to see that through my every day actions.  My life was intended to be a bridge – over which people can cross to meet God.  How exciting, to think God can use me.  In fact He has chosen to use us (people) to proclaim His glory.  That includes you (who are reading this)!

Evangelism – the proclamation of the good news of salvation by grace through faith – accomplished in the Person of Jesus Christ.  This message is to be lived and breathed out of our lives.  Meeting with someone and sharing your life – how your life has been impacted and changed by Jesus is evangelism.  Living with others and watching movies; going to ball games; watching your kids play soccer – while living for Christ in every moment is evangelism.  Bringing people under the sound of the Gospel is just as important as building relationships with them – each is redemptive.  I have seen young men and women give their lives to Jesus in my livingroom, coffee shops and other places as well as go forward at an evangelistic event such as Word of Life Super Bowl or Basketball Marathons where the Bible was opened and hope was given in Christ.

Balance in life is crucial to everything.  Evangelism is both a public appeal as well as private engagement.  It is not one or the other – it is actually both.  With this thought in mind, I was excited to hear about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries coming to Seattle in November for a rally.  I have met Greg Laurie and watched his presentation of the Gospel and am excited about the possibilities.  The Harvest Dates are 5-7 November 2010 at the Key arena – it is a completely free to the public event and sponsored by churches in the Puget Sound area.

At least for me and my church tradition, the sound of a rally or large scale evangelistic outreach smacks of the superficial and artificial examples of “evangelism” that I have seen practiced in the past.  I have grown to realise that with any event, it is what we make of it.  This Seattle Harvest will be an opportunity.  It is important that we take advantage of this opportunity to invite people – bring them and walk through it all with them – including the all important follow up.  This means we (I) have to put in effort in both prayer and participation and look to the Lord for the results. 

Prayer events in anticipation of the Harvest will be at some of the sponsoring churches in the Seattle area all at 7:30 pm:
July 22:  Eastridge Church, 425. 270-6300
August 19:  Westminster Chapel, 425. 747-1461
September 19:  Calvary Chapel South, 253.852-7030
October 14:  Calvary Fellowship, 425.775-3422
November 4:  Mars Hill Church, 206. 816-3500

If you would like more information about Greg Laurie and the Seattle Harvest check here:  www.seattle.harvest.org

At one point in time or another you have been wronged (intentional or not).  The question that hangs in the air is what will you do next?  Will you strike back; suppress the hurt and anger; grow bitter; try and simply forget it or… forgive?

Where to begin… as a Christian, I understand the Bible reveals that God through Jesus has forgiven me of all my sin.  The Apostle Paul would go on to write to the early church in Ephesus (Ephesians 4: 32) that we should forgive because we have been forgiven in Christ.  Plain and simple; the grace and forgiveness that we have received is to be passed on – we are to forgive because we have been forgiven!  As a “Christian” I am supposed to be reflecting “my Savior” back into the world around me (including relationships).  This is basic Christianity 101.  To follow Christ’s example means forgiving; but it also means enduring suffering.  Today’s candy pants chicken soup for the soul Christianity would have you somehow exclude suffering from a life in Christ.  That just isn’t Biblical. 

How then do we forgive others – understanding that we must follow Christ’s example, consider what He did with our sins (offenses against God) in 1 Peter 2: 21-25 – He essentially bore (carried them) to the Father and endured the pain and suffering associated with our sin.  The currency (payment rendered for our sin) was suffering.  Christ bore that suffering in order that our sins  might be forgiven.  It’s important to note that He entrusted Himself to the Father (One who judges righteously) and didn’t absorb the sin – it was atoned for.  When we understand the nature of the Trinity, we understand that God reconciled man (cleared away offense and restored relationship) through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

How on earth can I do such a thing?  Where does the strength come from to endure such suffering and give such strength so as to forgive another human being who has offended, hurt and perhaps even humiliated me?  Again, we look to 1 Peter 5: 6-11.  Peter was writing to a church enduring great suffering.  In this passage, we are instructed to be humble – not demand what we may perceive as our rights (retribution, retaliation and our pound of flesh) but seek strength from God by casting our anxieties, pain and grief upon Him who cares for us.  Our adversary, the Devil is seeking (relentlessly) to devour us (not our souls – that belongs to Christ; however, our lives, joy and Christian witness) by tempting us to hold grudges, plot revenge and basically stew in our own bitterness – suffering ourselves with the agony, shame and pain of an offense taken.  Wouldn’t this be just like the Devil to lead us into living a most unchristian like existence and needlessly causing our own extended pain.  Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly.

Our ability to forgive comes from the strength that God provides (vs. 10).  Plain and simply, we are called to forgive because God in Christ has forgiven us and He provides the strength needed for us to live like Him.  He is not commanding us to do anything that He has not already done.  Look to Matthew 11: 28-30, emulate Christ – learn from Him and His humility – who took our sin and carried it to the cross, enduring the suffering and shame so that our sins might be forgiven.  The currency of forgiveness is suffering.

Ladies and gentlemen of Christianity, this is where the rubber meets the road in our Christian life.  All of this Christian existence is a theory until we actually put it into practice.  Will you?

Remember, it doesn’t matter if the person you have to forgive receives that forgiveness or even acknowledges it.  You’re not responsible for their actions – only your own.  Even if a person who offended you is dead – forgive them.  In forgiving others you free yourself from the bondage, suffering and bitterness that the Devil would love to see you mired in.

Ever been reminded of your past mistakes in such a fashion that you were led to believe – there is no escaping them?  What an incredible weight to carry!  Talk about mill stones hanging around a drowning man’s neck!  When can we ever move past our past? 

The Bible offers a liberating answer in the Apostle Paul’s Epistle (letter) to the church in Rome.  Romans chapter 6 heralds an emancipation proclamation worthy or resounding this 4thof July weekend!  Paul writes to the church that we (who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ) are free from the bondage and tyranny of sin!  He boldly proclaims that we are no longer slaves to sin, we can beat our sinful inclinations and choose to do what is right.  Our past becomes a testimony to the beauty of the present. 

The victory is not found in good behavior (cleaning up my act); church attendance; or even reciting into the mirror each morning what a good person I am – it’s all found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It’s not about what I can do but rather what has been done for me!  This is liberating news! 

This Sunday – the 4th of July – while we celebrate independence from Great Britain and our freedom as a nation – we also can celebrate our freedom in Christ!  Let freedom ring… don’t sit on this news!

When my sons were younger, they wanted to be super heroes.  They played games and were involved in intricate sagas that involved imaginary super villains – pretty much like most kids.  I know I did.  One of my sons even went so far as to create his own pantheon of super hero characters based on his friends from school – complete with a wall poster charting their powers and individual costumes.  Then there is always the ice breaker question:  If you could be a super heroe, what power(s) would you want?

Now some pious among us would scoff at this and say their heroes need to be from the Bible – characters such as Moses, Elijah and of course Jesus.  To that I simply have to say, “come on and lighten up!”  They were just having fun and their fun was not going to erode the underpinnings of their faith in God – if it was, I had a bigger problem on my hands then just comics and super heroes.  Really.

Back to my point, there is a new movie being released:  “Kick A**.”  I omit letters; however, I believe you get the point.  The premise of the movie, while not the title, sounded so appealing – awkward teens transform themselves into crime fighting super heroes (without super powers of course) and come up with crazy names and even costumes.

I read the movie review and was so disappointed.  This is a powerful genre of childhood, teen and well… adult entertainment and to have it high jacked into another sexual, foul mouthed comedy really burned me.  Can’t these people in Hollywood (or where ever they come from) just leave things alone. 

What is probably most concerning to me is that many Christians will blithely subject themselves to it without checking it out and some will even then, think nothing of it.  On top of this, probably a good number of children will be taken to see it by unsuspecting (or undiscerning) adults and be subjected to some really crude and inappropriate stuff. 

Christians, we need to take a stand (not boycotte) and by pass such trash – educate ourselves and demand more from the entertainment industry than trash like Super Bad and American Pie XXL – don’t even get me started on Saw XI and it’s like.  A man or woman of God needs to take a stand (some kind of personal stand) for what is decent and what is pure and say no to this type of trash.

Are we so genuinely starved for entertainment that we will slosh and stumble through a sewer of human excrement to obtain it and pay $10.00 for the privilege?

I was so bummed when I read the review (I really should have expected it by the title); because of my own teen years and those of my sons – I wanted to see this concept played out.  Sadly not in this fashion.  By the way, I am not – as you may have gathered against movies and such technologies – come on… I am against subjecting myself, my soul to this type of overt and aggressive attack.

I have to admire John Piper’s decision to step back from ministry for 8 months to refocus, rejuvenate and reconnect his life.  He mentions that he is going to war against his own personal sins.  This is a great example to myself and I believe the greater church and community.  It is so important that we make the most important things in our lives a serious priority – regardless of how some may perceive it.  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/marchweb-only/23-21.0.html.

Making war, not peace with sin – you go John!

How did resurrection Sunday or Easter translate this day for me?  Well, it came in the form of two Hormel Canned Hams (Candied with brown sugar, pineapple rings and cherries); a 15 pound bag of potatoes (mashed with Brie cheese, garlic, minced onions, butter and heavy cream; corn and two small roasted chickens; strawberries coated with Ghirardelli Chocolates.  Add to these foods teens; college students; my mother and family.  Without the resurrection – these people would not be my brothers and sisters nor would we be sharing a meal together celebrating our redemption.

In my cramped; warm and loud condo we chatted about nothing and about everything – we watched “The Man from Snowy River” and some even learned new things (deep and serious things) about one another. 

Redemption is so far beyond mere ideology and theology it comes down to reality in moments like these.  Our hearts are knit together with the common bond of having been rescued – saved and are walking a path of reclamation – reclaiming the glory of God in our lives – some would call it sanctification and other beautification.  Broken, growing, struggling and rejoicing we are in it together. 

What does it mean, this resurrection?  It means life – both eternal and temporal.  I am profoundly thankful for today and look forward to tomorrow.