Blog Archives
Our failure to T.H.I.N.K. first
Have you noticed the escalating level of harsh and hurtful comments in the public discourse? Does it seem to you that people with differing opinions and ideas are more interested in degrading and dehumanizing the “other” than in listening and learning and creating a better community? I have an idea that might help.
You might think I’m going to throw some Bible verses at you, which I could. But I’m not. It occurred to me the other day that when I take couples thru pre-marital counseling, I recommend a strategy for dealing with important (and often emotional) conversations. It’s an idea I learned many years ago, and I don’t even know who thought it up originally. But it’s this:
THINK before you speak.
And I would extend that to say, “THINK before you post, too.”
THINK is an acronym representing five check-points. If what I’m about to say doesn’t check off ALL FIVE of these boxes, then it would be wise to go back to the drawing board and figure out a better way to say what I want to say. Is what I’m about to say…
- True
- Helpful
- Inspiring
- Necessary
- Kind
If you wanted to you could probably summarize all these questions in the idea of “loving one another.”
To clarify, inspiring doesn’t mean all I say is “rah, rah, you’re a great person.” But it does mean I want my comments to inspire the other person to become the best version of themself; to stir up a desire for something better within them. If you prefer a Bible passage, you could check out some comments in Ephesians 4:25 – 5:4, or Jesus very challenging words in Luke 6:27-36.
None of these ideas are intended to say we shouldn’t discuss important, or even difficult matters. But the manner in which we carry on these conversations is vitally important. And the culture around us beckons us to stoop to the lowest denominator, to make assumptions about those with whom we disagree, and to participate in dehumanizing the “other.” Jesus’ plan is for a very different kind of community, one in which people from diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, and traditions become formed into a family of brothers and sisters who are learning to think and act like Jesus himself, IOW to love one another.
This is a challenge. This may be the defining challenge of this age. Jesus himself said that the way in which we love one another would let the world know if we truly are his disciples. (John 13:35)
-Pastor Mark
My history with Black History month
February is Black History month. There was a time in my life when I truly didn’t get it. I didn’t understand why a special month was necessary.
But through the patient conversations of many friends (too many to name, but you know who you are), through the compelling writings of gifted authors, and through the convicting words of powerful preachers, I’m at a very different place than I used to be.
This month I’ve been delighted (and somewhat embarrassed) to learn about key African-Americans in our nation’s history who were innovators, inventors, leaders and more. Mostly they are names I’ve never heard before. My life is enriched because of them. And now I am beginning to get to know them. And Facebook DOES have some redeeming value after all. (E.g. did you know that today, Feb. 23rd, is the birthday of W.E.B. DuBois, b. 1868, author and historian, and the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard.)
This month I’ve also been reminded of the history of the African American church, including it’s painful origins and prophetic voice. (I even learned recently about a “Black Reformation” in the 18th century, led by former slave Rebecca Protten and others.)
And this month I’ve been encouraged by the 25 or 30 people of Seneca Creek who gather every Sunday night around tables to learn and grow together in our Multiethnic Conversations groups. Many of the conversations are centered on the issues related to the black-white history of this nation. The candor, the humility, and the courage shown by these people is inspiring.
One of the questions that came up recently at a table group was, “How do we help other churches grow in this area?” It’s one of the most important questions of the group so far. While I don’t have all the answers, I know two things are essential for us, and for every other church that is on this journey:
- Relationships. It starts with people like those of us at Seneca Creek who are willing to have honest, courageous conversations, and are willing to suspend our beliefs and opinions long enough to listen to those who don’t look like us.
- Prayer. This is truly the work of God to bring about reconciliation. And this topic is the devil’s playground in our country. We need the power of prayer to overcome our fear, our prejudice, and our pride. We need the power of God to tear down the strongholds of injustice. We need the power of prayer to soften our own hearts and unstop our own ears.
February is just a month. But it’s so much more. It’s a month to remind us of the challenge of becoming the kind of church that Jesus had in mind. And it’s a month to remind us that our country and our world desperately need the church to light the way in this increasingly fractured and divided world. Maybe by focusing on black history for a month we’ll learn how to rewrite our own history for generations to come. Which would make this a very important month indeed. That’s my prayer.
-Pastor Mark
Who’s missing from your life?
Last weekend Nikki Lerner challenged us with three great questions, one of which was this: Who’s missing from your life?
Specifically, as we build bridges into an increasingly multi-cultural world, and a very multi-cultural church, who is missing from YOUR life who could provide you with relationships and insights and understanding that go beyond your own culture and nationality? None of us has the whole picture. We all have things to learn from those who are not like us.
This reminds me of a conversation we had early this Spring about Searching for Significance. I shared a four step B.E.L.L. strategy to live a “questionable” life (i.e. a life that causes others to ask questions):
Bless 3 people each week (at least one of whom does not attend Seneca Creek)
Eat with 2 people each week (at least one of whom does not attend Seneca Creek)
Listen to the Holy Spirit at least once a week
Learn Christ once a week (intentionally study the person/life of Christ)
It’s easy to take that second step, “Eat with 2 people this week,” and make that a way to connect with the missing people from your life.
- It could be someone from a different culture/nationality
- It could be someone from a race other than yours
- It could be someone from a different generation
- It could be someone from a different educational or income status
- It could even be someone with a different immigration status.
I know that I’ve been enriched over the last years by sharing meals with people of different races, nationalities, generations, and even faiths. The point is that we will not be able to build bridges if we won’t take the first step of building relationships. And since everyone’s got to eat, what better way to start?
As a church this is one of our great opportunities. So let me ask you: Who’s missing from your life? And how will you begin to include them this month?
-Pastor Mark
P.S. If you missed the chance to submit your question last weekend, we’d still love to hear from you and try to address it. You can use the comment section below if you’d like.
Living in faith, hope and Love 