Re-Imagining the Adult Sunday School

This piece is an idea in the formational process. We have experimented with the format in venues other than Sunday School and were excited at its success. Several physical changes need to be made before we can implement it in adult Sunday School classes. In the meantime, I offer this as an innovative way to reach out to new adults and still remain effective in teaching long term members of the church. I have attempted to find out if any other congregation uses a similar format, but, so far, my search has been unproductive.

The secular learning experience in the past few decades has undergone tremendous change. While large classes taught by one lecturer still happen regularly in college and university settings, other formats continue to gain popularity. Distance learning, multi-media, field trips, study groups, practicums, dyads, roundtables and other configurations of education make up the learning landscape today. These innovations reflect the realization that people learn in many ways, not just one. This leads me to a re-examination of adult Sunday School. The adult learning experience in the church, in my observation, needs a radical upgrade. The two main objectives of adult Sunday School ought to be teaching the Bible and discipling people into a Christian lifestyle: in short, Bible and fellowship. Most traditional adult Sunday School teachers lecture adequately, but their classes fail in the fellowship aspect. For example, when visitors come to an adult Sunday School class, they rarely have a meaningful conversation with anyone except the person that brought them. They listen to the teacher, but hardly ever converse with him. They get introduced to other members of the class on the way in and out, but exchange little beyond “hello,” “we’re glad to have you” or “hope you come back and see us.”

My concept of a re-imagined Sunday School would be a format in which people enjoy themselves, want to be there, actively engage in the interaction both mentally and emotionally, have their needs of self-esteem and acceptance met, learn solid Bible principles, form wholesome relationships with others and see spirituality modeled not just before them but beside them. I envision a learning environment that is a virtual smorgasbord or banquet style of learning in which a number of round tables are set up in a Family Life Center like the one we have in Toledo. The teacher/moderator/facilitator at each table would explore a variety of topics and lead students in a conversational format. The topics offered would be Bible-based, people-driven, need-sensitive and would reflect the latest happenings and thinking in the world. Each table would hold a different discussion. Coffee, tea and donuts would be served from a main area. When people arrive, they would go to the refreshment area and then choose the table they feel the greatest need for on any given Sunday. They could—-and would be expected to—-change tables from time to time.

Topics offered may include Thru the Bible, Hot Topics, Marriage, Family and Parenting, Bible Doctrine, Spiritual Disciplines, One-on-One, Electives, Christian Finances, Christian Living, World View, Relationships, Theology, Practical Christianity, etc. They may even include such topical areas as New Converts, ACTS, Discipleship, Griefshare, Addictive Behaviors and other topics as needs arise. In addition to discussion tables, a media/literature table would be available that would be stocked with books, magazines, tracts, CD’s and DVD’s to enhance the educational experience of students. A TV monitor could be continuously looping with a selected DVD.

Each moderator would be trained to conduct “directed discussions” based on his or her subject range. Moderators would draw from their research, current events, their own judgment and from questions their participants ask to decide the specific direction they should go on a given Sunday. The key word that should drive all discussions is relevance. Because leading a discussion can be challenging, a thorough training session would be conducted to help facilitators to do an excellent job.

The Sunday School Superintendent and or designated assistant will coordinate the activities. This includes making sure of setup, the refreshment crew is doing their job, the check-in table is supplied with needed materials and the starting and ending times are observed. He would also need to be sure that the moderators stay on topic, provide help for them to get copies made of handouts, check out resources for them, be informed if a moderator is going to be absent, help secure substitutes for absent moderators, and keep the session running smoothly from an overall standpoint.

From an organizer’s point of view, the class names, attendance and offerings would be handled from a “check-in” table. All participants would stop by the table to check in and pick up a list which would show the topics, the moderators and the table layout. It would also include church announcements, flyers and tracts. Packets of church information for guests would also be available. Offerings could either be given at the check-in table or at the discussion table. Each table would conduct its own opening prayer. There would be considerable moving around in the room, but it should not disrupt each discussion. The atmosphere would be similar to a banquet where people have their own conversations going at each table and do not pay much attention to the noise and movement around them.

A committee would be appointed to prepare the coffee, bring the donuts, set up the counter and make sure everything is provided for refreshments. They would maintain the area during the session so the counter doesn’t get messy or unhealthy. If necessary, they should set up the tables and chairs before the session begins and stay afterwards to clean everything up and rearrange the room. If the senior adult classes need to use the FLC, they may need the room to be set up differently. This crew needs to be faithful, dependable and efficient. If there are enough people on the committee, they may be able to rotate Sundays of duty. Another option would be to hire a couple of teen boys to do the set up and tear down job. The class offering should take care of their wages.

Moderators need to commit to staying relevant, well-read, aware of current events and sensitive to the Spirit of God. Each one needs to be a seeker of knowledge and information; a listener; a counselor; a resource of spiritual and scriptural truth; and a friend to the people at their table. They need to know when a discussion is getting into areas that are potentially dangerous. They need to know how to handle obnoxious people. They need to know how to open, direct and wrap up a discussion so that the people leave with a solid grasp of truth.

Some discussion has led us to re-think the age-old title of Sunday School as it applies to adults. Twenty-somethings don’t respond well to that term because it seems too childish, especially when they want to invite visitors. While we would keep the term for the children’s programs, the name for adult education could be changed to something else. The following are either in use or have been suggested: LifeWord, Word of Life, Connect Point, Encounter, Sunday Morning Live, Sunday Friends, Foundations and other names. The name should be meaningful and easily explained.

This kind of format would require a large room and would need a qualified staff of facilitators. It may not work for some churches, but a larger church should be able to do this without too much trouble. The First Apostolic Church in Toledo will do several pilot sessions with this format before making a permanent switch. It is also possible that this set-up could be done on a six to eight week or a seasonal basis.

Hypertypology

The Danger of Overused Typology 

Typology has long been a favorite tool of Bible scholars and preachers. Rich details link Old Testament stories, events, people, places and things to the New Testament, adding strength and dimension to spiritual truths of the church age. When kept in perspective, typology enriches our knowledge and appreciation of the gospel. When it dominates the Biblical landscape, however, typology distorts or even destroys sound Bible teaching. The result is hypertypology, a term I have coined to describe this harmful view.

Through various shadows and figures, the Old Testament illustrates actual spiritual principles that we embrace today. For example, the brazen altar serves as a type of both Christ’s crucifixion and of repentance in the life of a new believer. A beautiful type of Christ is found in Joseph, the patriarch who became an Egyptian official in Pharaoh’s court because he played such a vital role in the salvation of the nation of Israel . Israel itself illustrates the church of Jesus Christ . Many of Israel 's experiences answer to the spiritual triumphs and tribulations the church faces today. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” I Corinthians 10:11

Types add greatly to our understanding of the New Testament. For example, in the door to Noah’s ark, we see Jesus who said, “I am the Door.” As the door was to the ark, so Jesus is to the church. The kingship of David has powerful implications for Christ as the King of Kings, and the feasts of Israel shape our worship services and other practices of the present. Moreover, the use of types and shadows provides boundless inspiration and hope for believers today. The anointing oil, the sacrificial offerings, the unleavened bread, the lampstands and the rock that yielded water for the nation of Israel all hold great spiritual meaning for us. In fact, typology gives us great appreciation for the awesome intricacy with which the entire Bible fits together like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. Pieces that baffle the beholder when pondered by themselves suddenly reveal a breath-taking view when they correspond with a New Testament truth. This process translates into the unity of the book, God’s masterpiece.

Hypertypology occurs when typology is taken too far. It has much the same effect as hypertension, or high blood pressure. We know that without blood pressure, an organism is either dead, or will soon die. On the other hand, too much blood pressure severely stresses the circulatory system and can cause a heart attack or stroke. Death may follow. In the same way, hypertypology threatens a balanced understanding of the Bible. Danger always lurks whenever we overuse legitimate types, when we exaggerate emphasis on the shadows and take away from the substance, when we make types rigid and singular in meaning, or when we subordinate the gospel to types rather than the types to the gospel. Such use of typology constitutes error and easily leads to false doctrine. Proper Biblical exegesis, however, demands that certain limitations be placed on types and shadows. Types cannot do more than they are designed to do: emulate the real, but not supplant it.

Consider the following dangers of hypertypology:

1) It permits the types to drive New Testament doctrine and theology, thus making the first covenant superior to the second. This clearly reverses the theme of Hebrews, both figuratively and literally.
2) It presumes unintended meanings from New Testament passages. It is improper, for example, to alter the interpretation of New Testament passages or definition of words because we think they conflict with the Old Testament.
3) It imposes unwarranted consequences upon New Testament events. For example, hypertypology makes Jesus into a lawbreaker because he violated certain provisions of the Sabbath.
4) It forces the New Testament back through the loop of the Old Testament. It other words, hypertypology would hold that New Testament doctrine only has meanings assigned to it by the Old Testament.
5) Hypertypology seduces the dubious scholar into a mistaken confirmation of his privately held theories. This is perhaps its greatest peril because anyone can espouse some theory, find an Old Testament type that supports it, and then artificially make the New Testament agree with the resulting doctrine.

Classic examples of hypertypology abound. Sabbath-keeping, the doctrine that demands the church today to observe the last day instead of the first day of the week, is probably the most familiar. The fourth chapter of Hebrews clearly shows this to be a type of “the rest” of the believer. The believer’s rest is not observing Saturday as a holy day, but in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 28:11-12.) Also, keeping certain dietary laws which were mandatory for Israel but only represent spiritual truths for today's saints illustrate hypertypology. Other examples include the tabernacle and its furnishings, many personages in the Old Testament (e.g. Melchizidek) and historical events of Israel . The hypertypologist elevates these types to a position of higher significance than their spiritual meanings in the New Testament. In each of these instances, those who insist today that the church must either practice or at least subordinate the New Testament to the Old, teach in error.

Hypertypology produces some specific errors in reasoning. These errors stem from a very rigid insistence that the type must fit down to the most minute detail. This position creates impossible situations. One such erroneous teaching involves baptism. We know from I Corinthians 10:2 that the Red Sea passage during the exodus typified water baptism. Yet, the water did not actually cover the Israelites, even though the word baptism means to immerse. We also understand from several verses in Hebrews that every New Testament believer has access into the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament tabernacle rituals, however, only the Priests, not the common people, entered into the holy place. Also, in the holy place, the shewbread was to be eaten only by the priests, yet David ate this contrary to law. (Matthew 12:4) In other words, the types were just that: types. When misconstrued as laws instead of symbols, they become distorted and even absurd.

New Testament believers proclaim the superiority of the New Covenant. The book of Hebrews provides all the clarity we need to be assured of this fact. “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ...For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts...In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:6-13. The writer to the Hebrews also deals extensively with this subject in the ninth chapter. The conclusion to which we must come is unavoidable: the New Testament is now the sole arbiter of our salvation and doctrine. Does this mean that the Old Testament has no value to us today? Not at all. It does mean that the Old Testament must be viewed through the lens of the New Testament, not the reverse. Whenever the Old Testament gets in the driver’s seat, doctrinal error always ensues.

Hypertypology can negatively impact New Testament doctrine by distorting the teaching and practices of the early church. The new birth experience, for example, involves the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  If we were to make the Old Testament use of spiritual or angelic visitations superior to the historical references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, we would draw very different conclusions about this gift than we would by affirming the superiority of the New Testament.  The Spirit of God moved upon individuals before the new covenant, but he did not take up residence within them as he did subsequent to the day of Pentecost.  This would vastly alter the theology and experience of the Spirit baptism.  Other aspects of New Testament teachings like the initial evidence truth in receiving the Holy Spirit, and a host of other authentic, Biblical experiences would be severly damaged if we were to make the New Testament subservient to the Old. 

The Old Testament saints died in an imperfect (incomplete) state.  Their salvation is intrinsically tied to the believers of the New Testament. Hebrews 11:40 clearly says, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."  KJV.  For us to revert back to the Old Testament for meaning and application of spiritual truths would be to go backwards from completion to incompletion.  Not only would this fly in the face of divine revelation, it would be a shameful error.  We must allow the Old Testament to continue to be the school master to bring us to Christ.  We must not leave Christ to return to the school master.  In Christ alone do we find the fulfillment of all things.

More Thoughts I've Chased, But Haven't Caught

• Isn’t it amazing how inconsiderate people who block others’ view, cut in front of them, talk loudly and generally disregard the people around them become so irate when the same thing happens to them? Sensitivity to the welfare and feelings of others is the core of manners.
• The best hosts know that hospitality consists of attending to guests’ needs as though they were their own. Courteous guests never demand anything, even those things that most of us deem necessary. Therefore, the host who anticipates his guests’ needs and provides them without being asked will always be praised for his graciousness.
• Job security for volunteer laborers will never be in jeopardy.
• Forgiveness can be perplexing. Can a person demand to be forgiven? If he doesn’t feel that others are doing their “Christian duty” in forgiving them, can he criticize them and use it for leverage and power against them? If an offending person has done something so bad that others have to watch out for him, is that forgiveness? What is “fruit suitable for repentance?” Is there a difference between virtual and actual forgiveness, meaning that you can forgive in your heart without expressing it with your mouth? Is forgiveness verbal? Have you forgiven if you haven’t forgotten? Do you forgive me for asking these questions?
• Whenever I am confronted with strange doctrinal positions that seem to condone disobedience to God, the Scriptures and spiritual authority, I am thoroughly confused. How can anyone read the scriptures, embrace the gospel by faith, and confess to know Christ, yet so freely sabotage their own beliefs? Is there a theology of disobedience? Evidently, some such odd theological position must provide the basis for a seemingly convoluted doctrine like this. A theology based on disobedience to the Word of God is more of a non-theology or an anti-theology.
• It is amazing how we hide behind scriptures that seem to excuse or condone unscriptural behavior. One scripture often quoted to justify this position is “man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” Therefore, we reason, if we pay attention to our heart, we can ignore our outward appearance. This seems to grant license to violate another scripture, “Avoid the very appearance of evil.” But God never presents two opposing positions to us and then informs us that either one we choose is fine with him. If two right choices stand in front of us, we are to choose both. It is not either/or. It is not inward or outward holiness, it is inward and outward holiness. The operative scripture in this instance is “This ought ye to have done, not to have left the other undone.”
• Unity, the desired goal for all disparate believers, finds fulfillment in Christ alone. As we embrace his doctrines, keep his priorities, live his lifestyle and die his death, unity will appear. I salute and support every attempt to move the church in this direction. Our world has grown weary of the replicas of the first church. They continue to search for the originals. May our impulse toward oneness bind us together in Apostolic distinctives.

How to Get the Most Out of Church

“Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15:4

Do you feel like you’re not really a part of things? Like you’re the odd man out? Are you always the fifth wheel, the loner, the misfit, the klutz or maverick? Do you consider yourself overlooked, under-utilized or under-appreciated? Maybe you need to have a basic understanding of how the church works. Jesus set forth the functionality of the church as resembling the vine, branches and fruit in John 15:1-8.

There are definite roles for each operant. Jesus is the Vine (plant, the essence of the tree). God (The Holy Spirit) takes care of the vineyard. We, the individual members are branches that grow out of the vine, we get all our instructions and nutrients from the vine, and we bear (produce) fruit.

Specific expectations and assignments are given to the branches . Branches that don’t bear fruit are taken away. Branches that do produce fruit are purged. Branches that produce fruit are expected to produce even more fruit. Branches are expected to abide (stay plugged in) in the Vine.

God maintains the branches. The Holy Spirit purges the branches, the Word makes the branches clean and branches that don’t produce fruit are cast out. Branches that are cast out wither and are burned.

Good things happen to branches that stay in the vine. According to this illustration, prayers get answered, God gets glorified, we bear much fruit and we will be Christ’s disciples. Let’s now translate this into practical applications.

It is the responsibility of every church member to stay a part of the church and stay involved. It rarely happens by itself. It takes work. How? Attending regularly is a great start. Then, know what is going on. Typical excuses for not knowing are a) “I don’t like announcements!” b) “I don’t care about all the different ministries.” c) “I’m too busy to keep up with everything.” d) “Who’s that?” These statements are telltale signs that a person is unplugged. Electricity only flows through the plugged-in device. You also stay involved by going out of your way to be friendly. You may think, “Nobody talks to me.” Remedy: Talk to them! Talk is more than Hi and Bye. Carry on a conversation. Ask questions. Show interest. If you sit there like the proverbial bump on a log, expect to be treated like one!

When you commit to a ministry, be faithful. Let your leader or your team know if you can’t make it to a practice or an activity. If practice is required, then PRACTICE IS REQUIRED! Your job is not fulfilled by just saying you can’t make it. If you can’t make it, you don’t just forget it. Your job is to take care of the responsibility. Also, recognize that there are qualification requirements to do ministry. At our church, we ask for a six month waiting period because the scriptures teach us not to promote a novice. We require discipleship training. We ask for agreement and alignment with all the expectations of a holiness church. We request a positive and supportive attitude.

Please note: No one has been commissioned to put the church on trial! For example, some may think “I’m not going to show up for a while to see if anyone will notice.” Or, “I’m just going to sit here and count how many people actually come up and speak to me.” Not a good idea. If you want people to know and care about what’s going on in your life, you must originate the communication. Call the pastor. Call the church to make sure the pastor knows. If you want to be missed, do something that truly edifies the church. The branches that produce fruit get missed if they don’t show up!

There are certain responsibilities and obligations toward your local church. a) Take care of your tithes, offerings and financial obligations. (Just as U. S. citizens can’t pay their taxes to Canada just as long as they pay taxes somewhere, so you can’t pay tithes anywhere, just as long as you pay tithes.) b) Speak positive, helpful, encouraging words about the church and its ministries. c) Recruit toward the church, not away from it. e) Grow where you’re planted.

Understand who you are and where your gifts and abilities lie. If you can sing, sing. If you can’t, be content to make a joyful noise in the congregation, without being obnoxious. If you haven’t been asked to sing or play, there may be a reason. (Maybe you really can’t sing or play; maybe you’re not qualified in other ways.) If you have a ministry, let the leader know, but be prepared to have it judged. (1 Corinthians 14:29). Do not attempt to do something you are not equipped to do. (Even a positive mental attitude can’t make up for an abysmal lack of talent.)

Pour yourself into whatever ministry God has given you. Read, study, pray, work. Don’t get frustrated because others don’t have your vision. Don’t whine and complain that nobody cares. If you do your job with excitement and enthusiasm, you will generate interest. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. When you function in the church according to Bible guidelines, you enjoy a beautiful and fulfilling relationship.

Bon Appetit

“…a good report maketh the bones fat.” Proverbs 15:30

Excuse me, but you probably eat too much, and your diet likely contains too much fat, too many carbohydrates and you sit around way too much. Okay, me too. Anyway, our obesity dominates the news these days. At least 64 million Americans — nearly a third of adults age 20 and older — meet the federal government’s criteria for the excess weight, and the rate approaches 50 percent among the elderly. The percentage of overweight children and adolescents more than doubled since the 1970s, making about 15 percent of them now overweight. Authorities identify the primary causes as fast food, junk food and the lack of proper exercise.

Ironically, for being a nation of fatties, we probably spend more money on weight loss programs than any country in history. Weight loss strategies run the gamut from aggressive treatment like stomach stapling or liposuction to the more passive restricted-intake diets. Diet pills, dietary supplements, shots and fasting fill up the middle ground. Those who need more help can seek out clinics, clubs, therapy and even hypnosis practitioners. And, after calorically-challenged people finally achieve their optimum weight, their ultimate goal is to curb their out-of-control appetite. Most agree that they could keep their weight down if they just didn’t love to eat so much, or at least eat so much food that was bad for them.

From a spiritual perspective, a healthy appetite for good food remains the best way to a strong inner man. David said, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” Psalms 42:1. The soul thrives on an insatiable appetite for God. In fact, we can accurately measure our spiritual health by gauging the degree of desire we have for godliness. Jesus forever established this standard when he taught, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. He differentiated between appetite for anything and appetite for righteousness. Filling up on non-nutritious food may suppress the hunger and thirst for awhile, but eventually, it leads to a breakdown in health.

Given these spiritual realities, one of the most effective strategies Satan can use against us is to either to fill us up on junk food or subdue our appetite altogether. His first ploy can easily be seen in our growing preference for fun, entertainment, materialism and pleasure. It is less a matter of what than how much. Reference Paul’s warning to Timothy, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” Whatever surpasses our love for God will eventually replace it.

The second prong of the satanic strategy is much more insidious: appetite loss. In the physical world, when people lose their appetite, food becomes irrelevant. Succulent steak, chocolate cake, ice cream…nothing sounds good. Likewise, if people lose their appetite for spiritual things, then the gospel, the church and God become irrelevant. Indeed, we can see this pattern taking shape in the world. The enemies of Christ have discovered that they need not destroy Christianity; they only need to diminish the sense that salvation is necessary. “Therefore they say unto God, ‘Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.’” Job 21:14 . Without an understanding of sin, there is no discernable need for Calvary . If there is no judgment, there is no need for a savior. Rick Lawrence writes in Group Magazine,

“What strategies are deployed against us? One is to make faith in Christ irrelevant to the “real lives” of children and teenagers. There’s evidence this strategy is working. Results from the National Study of Youth and Religion have just been released. In the broadest, deepest exploration into teenagers’ religious beliefs and behaviors that’s ever been done, the picture that emerges portrays kids’ collective relationship with God as shallow at best. While one out of 10-or-so adolescents have a living, vibrant, everyday relationship with God, nine out of 10 see God as a ‘divine butler or cosmic therapist’ who exists only in the background of their lives, waiting to be summoned when they have a problem. For the vast majority of teenagers, God is irrelevant to their everyday lives.”

Appetite loss happens by the onset of sickness or by tricking the body into feeling full. Thus, people do not always recognize the danger of spiritual appetite loss. When passion for God dissipates, the slumbering soul may be oblivious to the crisis.

The most significant job facing the church today is to keep Generation X, Generation Y—-those born between 1976 and 1995—-maintain a healthy appetite for God. This will take a renewed commitment to teach the most basic of spiritual laws: sin and salvation. The world needs to know more than just the how of doctrine. We must constantly and effectively teach them the why.

When You Need a Miracle…and When You Don’t

Man can’t cause them and the laws of nature can’t stop them. They look like manna falling from heaven, water gushing from a rock, a man rising from the dead four days after he was buried, and five loaves and two fishes multiplied to feed five thousand. They show up in the disappearance of cancerous tumors, bags of groceries found on doorsteps and cocaine addictions gone within seconds. Who wouldn’t want a miracle?

Apostolic people believe that Biblical miracles were real, and that God works miracles today. The New Testament teaches us to pray for miracles, to expect miracles to happen and that believers can even have the gift of the working of miracles. All of us have encountered problems that could only be resolved through the mighty power of God. When this happens, we should not hesitate to pray for a miracle. Indeed, we have plenty of witnesses among us who have personally experienced miracles from God.

To expect God to perform miracle for any reason, however, is an abuse of his eternal purpose. Not only does it result from a gross misunderstanding of man’s relationship with God, it forces people to make wrong decisions and causes them to be bitter against God. It is sad when people become angry and bitter against God because he didn’t do something that he never intended to do in the first place.

The human side of me wishes that God would have performed a lot of miracles that he didn’t. I wish God would have kept the three Hebrews from going into the fiery furnace; that he would have stopped Daniel from being thrown into the lion’s den; that he would have prevented Peter from cursing Jesus; that he would have stopped Judas from betraying him; that he would have spared the life of Stephen who was stoned to death; that he would have delivered Paul from the thorn in the flesh. God, in his wisdom, chose not to perform any of these feats. Strangely, we believe we are entitled to a bubble around us to keep us from cuts, bumps or bruises. We think that anything stressful, dangerous or inconvenient should summon the miraculous power of God to make it peaceful, safe and convenient. But God has never worked this way. He purposes are higher than our myopic vision can see. (Ephesians 3:11). In our carnality, we pray shortsighted and selfish prayers that ironically seek to circumvent the will of God by means of the power of God! There are at least five circumstances in which you don’t need a miracle.

Preparation . God is not going to deliver you from a trial that will prepare you for a greater purpose to be fulfilled in your life. All of us are works in progress. God continues to shape us, whether he uses the potter’s wheel or the refiner’s fire. To stop would abort his plan. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Refusing God’s test means rejecting his design for your life.

Reaping . God is not going to keep you from reaping the consequences of your actions. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:7-9. If you make foolish decisions, you cannot pray for a miracle to get you off the hook.

Establishment of truth. God is not going to subvert his own Word. Why should he undermine that which is perfect and forever settled in heaven? Instead of praying for a miracle that calls for God to alter his Word, we simply need to follow the precepts of the Word. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:9-16. We have no excuse to live and think outside the parameters of the Bible.

Obedience. God is not going to enable disobedience. If he has already forbidden something in his Word, he cannot grant permission for it. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20.

Responsibility . God is not going to do something for you that you need to do for yourself. It is up to us, for example, to keep our own hearts clean. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1. He wants us to grow and growing involves learning, strengthening and mastering vital components of our lives. Helping the chick to hatch or forcing the rose to bloom destroys nascent life. A miracle of intervention may temporarily stop your pain, but it will also destroy the eternal purpose of God.

Pray for a miracle when you genuinely need one. When you don’t, pray for grace.

Atonement by Bomb?

Sometimes, stories couldn’t hit you any harder than if someone punched you in the solar plexus. That’s the way I felt when I read this:

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian mother of two small children, who killed four Israelis by blowing herself up at a border crossing, carried out the suicide bombing to atone for having committed adultery…Raiyshi left her 18-month-old daughter, Doha, and her 3-year-old son, Obedia, and blew herself up at the Erez crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, killing three soldiers and a private Israeli security guard. The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot first reported that the woman was compelled to carry out the attack as atonement for betraying her husband with another man. (WT, 1-20-04 )

I cannot describe the infinite sadness that rolled in on my heart at learning of this tragedy. Had someone told me that this woman was deranged, or that she blew herself up over revenge, hatred, sacrifice or even a barbarous brand of politics, I would have shaken my head and turned the page. In our post-9/11 world, we have come to expect such things. Her motive, however, was none of these. She was attempting to erase the guilt of sin by eradicating herself.

Raiyshi’s religion forced her to admit her sin, but gave her no Savior to confess. When she sinned—-and we must not dismiss the gravity of adultery—-she did not meet with the message of grace. There was no rugged tree planted at the end of her wrongdoing. Instead, she felt anguish and despair. Her only answer was to inflict pain and suffering upon herself, and end her life in an act of savagery. Few incidents in my recent memory have so contrasted the magnificence of Calvary with the horrors of sin. Raiyshi’s suicide should provoke us to much thought.

Can you imagine the sequence of events that led up to this bombing? First, the woman was confronted by her accusers. There must have been a flood of tears, fits of grief and loud wailings, but no one backed off. The inescapable question now became what she would do to atone for her sin. After awhile, someone suggested a suicide bombing. Everyone approved. The experts at terrorism came with their devices and outfitted her. As they strapped the bomb onto her, they must have told her that since she was going to die for her sin anyway, maybe God would have mercy on her if she if she killed a few of their hated enemies along with her. It was grim, sadistic and cold. And this was the best they could do for her!

For those of us schooled in the concepts of grace and love, these proceedings seem twisted and warped. And yet, I wonder how much we piously intone the marvels of grace ourselves, and then proceed to strap on bombs of a different kind…bombs just as deadly as those of explosives and shrapnel? Constructed from shards of guilt, clouds of shame, destructive agents of bitterness and biting words of condemnation, these bombs wipe out individuals, families and entire congregations. Many times our unforgiving attitudes effectively kill people who have sinned.

Often, however, it is the guilty parties themselves who experience such profound remorse that they become their own executioners. They convince themselves that they deserve to die, or at least, to suffer. Spin-offs from such reasoning are numerous. Some sink into depression. Some commit suicide. Others throw themselves with abandon into lives of sin, thinking that they may as well make a total mess of their lives. Some sabotage their own successes. They feel hollow, cheap, phony and hypocritical. “I don’t deserve God’s grace” they continually groan from deep within.

How many times have we heard the message thundered from our pulpits, sung from our choir risers or methodically taught in our weekly bible studies? “You cannot pay for your own sins!” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. And we raise our hands to rejoice over the thought. But the only reality we may feel as we leave our hallowed sanctuaries on Sunday is the shame that creeps back into our consciousness on Monday.

A critical gap exists between humbly accepting the atoning power of Christ’s blood and the desperate acknowledgement of our sin. Far too many people vacillate between the two positions. They are fully aware of their sins and the shedding of sinless blood to wash the guilt away, but they cannot forgive themselves for committing the sins in the first place. Actually, it all comes down to faith. It takes faith to accept God’s grace.

Did anyone ever tell Raiyshi that bombs cannot atone for sin? I think not. But, neither can self-destructive behavior compensate for sins committed in the life of a believer. Only the blood of Jesus takes away sin. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Titus 3:5. No, self-righteousness will not atone for sin. Nor can unrighteousness. God wants each of us to put our absolute faith in the blood of Jesus alone, and leave it there…forever.

Just How Old a Dog Are You?

“And brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus , an old disciple.” Acts 21:16

If the well-known cliché is true, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. The real trick, though, is finding out how old the dog is. In terms of people, not dogs, we are reminded by our senior citizens’ group, “Young At Heart”, that getting up in years should be no barrier to high achievement. Golda Meir was seventy-one when she became Prime Minister of Israel. Michelangelo was seventy-one when he painted the Sistine Chapel. Benjamin Franklin helped frame the U. S. Constitution when he was eighty-one. Our beloved Brother Fred Kinzie, Pastor Emeritus, was seventy years old when he wrote his first of many books, and he did them all on his computer word processor. He still uses the computer every day at the age of ninety-three.

Obviously, chronological age has no relevance to learning. Anyone with a voracious appetite for mastering new things and has a zest for life can continue to learn at an age when many head for the nearest rocker or lazy-boy. On the other hand, I have known those who stopped learning before they got out of high school. They fight every attempt to goad them into some educational venture. If a training program involves more than learning how to operate a DVD player or a microwave oven, they run the other way.

All of my life, I have heard that the true disciple of Jesus has a teachable spirit and yields himself as clay in the hands of the Potter. But, if an individual has no desire to learn, what difference does a teachable spirit make? The very meaning of disciple is to be a learner. It follows, then, that anyone who intends to please God must have an overwhelming drive to take in as much knowledge as possible and then use that knowledge to expand his usefulness and skills to benefit the Kingdom of God .

In my ongoing research into leadership strategies, I have found that three huge jobs of a leader are to teach, train and coach. Teaching transfers an understanding of concepts and knowledge of a subject to a learner. Training structures a program to help a learner actually apply the concepts to his life in a real and practical way. Coaching offers the subject encouragement, analysis and motivation to succeed. From the disciple’s point of view, the challenge is to receive the teaching, training and coaching. This is where the question comes into play, “Just how old a dog are you, anyway?”

You have to be teachable. A teachable student listens. He opens his mind up to new concepts. He lays aside traditions, preconceived ideas, prejudices, pride and intellectual inertia and allows his thinking to be reshaped. He doesn’t argue petty points. He doesn’t insist on his own way. He permits the persuasiveness of his teacher to convince him.

You have to be trainable. To be trainable is to submit to the commands of the trainer. All trainees must learn to obey the simplest of commands. Although he may not fully understand why he is asked to do certain things, a trainable disciple trusts the guiding hand and voice of the trainer. He faithfully adheres to rules and schedules imposed upon him, despite any pain and discomfort they cause. Knowing that old habits die hard, he “mortifies the deeds of the body.” The person in training understands that he is growing stronger, healthier and more balanced. He has the end goal in mind and doesn’t deviate from the program.

You have to be coachable. A coachable person permits his attitude to be managed by his coach. He swallows his touchiness, his petulance, and his natural resistance to instructions in order to increase his sensitivity to the coach’s words. He forms a bond with his coach and believes that the strategies and methods of the coach will work. When the relationship between a coach and his team gels, it produces a spiritual dynamic that unites everyone and moves the team forward. The coachable person does not strive to be his own man or to assert his will against the coach. Something larger than himself drives him.

A recent development in colleges and universities is the advent of the adult student. People no longer buy the old notion that school is only for the young. They have found that older persons can go back to school and learn something totally different than the trade or profession they may have worked in all of their lives. It’s not unusual these days to hear that a retiree or an octogenarian has earned a bachelor’s degree. The early church also knew that whenever one started to be a disciple, he never stopped. It’s time we embraced this concept all over again. I believe it is significant that Mnason was designated as an old disciple. He kept learning beyond the point of conventional expectations.

Teachable, trainable and coachable. These are mandatory discipleship parameters. It doesn’t matter if you’re old, young or somewhere in between. Get started…again.