Tim STEWART

Exodus 1-18: Seeing God in a New Way

What is God like?
Is He all-powerful? All good?
Apart from us? With us?
For us? Against us?

Distinct answers to these binary questions form the basis of worldviews, philosophies, and religions – it all comes down to what you think about God. In light of the problem of evil, Atheists and agnostics will view God’s power and goodness as mutually exclusive – while Christians will trust that God is working to pursue, convince, and redeem His lost, but free people. Many eastern religions (polytheist, pantheist, mystic) emphasize God’s nearness, while western philosophy from the enlightenment (Deist) emphasizes God’s separation from humanity. In contrast, Christians will embrace that both are made possible through the work of the Trinity, as revealed in the stories of Scripture.

If you’ve read through Genesis, I hope you can say that you’ve learned a lot about God’s character. I hope you have observed the manner in which He relates to people. And I hope that you’ve gained a sense of His purpose for humanity. I’ve argued that our purpose in reading Genesis should be to get to know God. He is the Protagonist of the story Who ties it all together. We’re not looking to other characters for an example to follow; rather, we learn through the context of their stories about how God interacts with people.

God specially created humans to bear His image, to be fruitful and multiply – exercising stewardship over the earth on His behalf. When people persisted in rebellion, God specially chose Noah to re-start humanity. When people united in their pride, God scattered the nations and specially called Abraham – a man with apparently limited potential – to father a nation that would bless all others. God entered into a personal relationship with Abraham and his descendants, making promises and inviting them to respond in faith. So, Genesis was all about God’s personal interactions with individuals, who He used to reach out to others.
Four centuries pass between Genesis and Exodus, and Abraham’s descendants have been “fruitful and multiplied” in Egypt. They have now become a great nation – just as God had promised to Abraham – and a threat to Egypt. The time is right for Israel to leave there, and the time is right for them to enter Canaan, where the people have been given their allotted time (Genesis 15:13-16).

Again, the time has come for God to act – to intervene in world affairs, and reveal Himself in a new way. His purpose and methods are still the same – choosing people to use for His glory – but His chosen instrument is different. In Genesis, God related directly to individuals – especially the patriarchs; in Exodus, God now acts on behalf of their descendants – the nation of Israel. After the setting is described, the story of God’s action begins as follows:

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. (Exodus 2:23-25)

God heard…remembered…saw…knew. A new side of God is being revealed. In fact, in the very next chapter, He personally reveals Himself to Moses in the form of a burning bush. In this one moment, we see that the Angel of the Lord Who is seen in the bush is also the same God Who is speaking from it – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Finding himself in God’s holy presence, Moses removes his sandals and hides his face in fear (Exodus 3:1-6). Yet, this holy God is not aloof and unapproachable. He tells Moses:

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land (Exodus 3:7-8)

This same God Who created the world, called Abraham, and appeared in a burning bush is the Lord who sees, hears, cares, and comes to the rescue. In Genesis, we see references to “God” and “the LORD” interspersed. The generic term, “God,” or Elohim is often used when referring to God’s Almighty, macro-level activity. The personal term, “LORD,” or Yahweh, is used when God personally interacts with humans. It is here, in Exodus 3, that God formally introduces Himself to Moses as Yahweh, the LORD, the I AM. The true, living God of Creation is the One Who is with the nation of Israel. He explains to Moses:

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. (Exodus 6:2-6)

And indeed, God brings them out, and saves them. Egypt is devastated by plagues, the sea is parted, and the nation is miraculously fed. God fulfils His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-16), and also to Moses – that Israel would worship God at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 3:12).

In the early chapters of Exodus, we see more clearly than anywhere else (until Christ’s coming) that the Almighty God above is also down with His people. Centuries later, God says in Isaiah 57:15:

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Praise God, who is Big Enough to save, and Near Enough to care!

Online messages available here.

Genesis 23-50: God’s Unlikely Heroes

If you’re following along through the book of Genesis, I hope you’re enjoying this fascinating story. In these later chapters, things get quite…interesting. From here on, the pages of Genesis are filled love stories, sibling hatred, rivalry between wives, rape, scandal, God’s promises and, through it all, God’s blessing.

For quite some time, the book of Genesis focuses on the development of the relationship between Abraham and God. God calls him to start a new life in a new land, where He will be blessed and become a great nation to bless all nations. Through the twists and turns, conversations and silence of their relationship, Abraham proves his faith, while God remains faithful.

But, after Abraham’s death, a new phase in the story begins. New questions emerge: Will God be faithful to Abraham’s descendants? Will they, in turn, remain faithful to God? If so, how will they be blessed, and become a blessing to others?

One cannot assume anything. Just as a billionaire’s children may not manage their parents’ estate well, so it is uncertain whether or not the children of Abraham will “walk in the footsteps” of their father’s faith (Romans 4:12).

We begin with Isaac. Unlike his father, he appears to be a timid man – rather than routing his enemies in battle (Genesis 14), he chooses to retreat from neighboring shepherds. Yet, like his father, the LORD blesses him (Genesis 26:2-5), and others recognize it (Genesis 21:22-23; 26:26-29). Yet, Isaac had his own strength – he seemed more loving and affectionate toward his wife, Rebekah. The first mention of “love” in Genesis is spoken by the Angel of the LORD, in reference to Abraham’s love for Isaac. There was no reference to marital love, up to that point; it is said that Sarah obeyed Abraham as her “lord” (1 Peter 3:6). In contrast, upon meeting his newly arranged bride-to-be, it is immediately said that Isaac loved Rebekah (Genesis 24:67). While his father was able to successfully pretend that he was not married to Sarah when they travelled, Isaac could not keep his hands off Rebekah (Genesis 26:6-9). He also takes an active role in praying his wife when she is barren – something that could not be said of Abraham (Genesis 25:21).

Yet, love can have its dark side. Isaac and Rebekah had twins, and each favoured a different one. Yet God, in His wisdom, chose to pass on His blessing through the younger one – through Jacob (Genesis 25:22-23). This would be His pattern throughout all time – displaying His power through weakness. And, not only was Jacob younger, but his character offered little redemptive quality. While Isaac lacked his father’s courage and strength, the apple may have fallen even farther from the tree, for Jacob.

Jacob was known to be a swindler. He traded food for his brother’s birthright. He disguised himself to steal his brother’s blessing. Before long, he was fearing for his life, and fled to take refuge with his mother’s family. There, he fell in love with his cousin, Rachel, and worked for 7 years in exchange for her hand in marriage. He thought he had met his match, but was actually mistaken! Rachel’s older sister, Leah, stole their first night through disguise, and later traded food with Rachel obtain further marriage privileges. God had initiated a relationship with Jacob (Genesis 28:15), and now He was working on him. He provided Leah, who’d teach Jacob a lesson and confront him with his faults (as many good wives do). He would continue to “wrestle with God” until He had a new name, and was reconciled with his brother. Leah, for her part, also needed a personal transformation – which happened through childbearing. Though, at first, she was obsessed with finding affirmation from her husband, by the time she had her fourth son, she had learned to put her hope in God. She named him “Judah,” meaning “praise (Genesis 29:31-35).

From here, people usually think that the story focuses on Joseph. But, it’s more of an interplay between the two contrasting stories of Judah and Joseph. Just as Judah’s birth brought transformation to her mother, so his life would bring transformation to his family. And, just as God promised in a dream to bless and use Joseph, so would it come about – helping to fulfill God’s original blessings: for His people to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) and to be a “blessing to all nations” (Genesis 12:3). The sons of Jacob are introduced in Genesis 37, where it is revealed that Joseph is not only his father’s favorite, but possibly God’s too. He dreams that, one day, his whole family will bow down to him.

But, the story quickly turns to Judah. When his brothers throw Joseph down a cistern and plot his death, Judah quickly takes charge, and convinces them to sell him as a slave to a passing caravan (Genesis 37:26-27). Being the fourth-born, he seems to have supplanted the place of his older brothers, who had perhaps lost legitimacy because of their major sins (Genesis 34:25; 35:22). However, after his father is grieved, Judah leaves the family and starts his own. His first two sons die, due to wickedness, leaving his daughter-in-law, Tamar, a widow. Though she is entitled to marry the third son, Judah refuses, fearing that his third son will die, as well. When Judah’s own wife dies, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute, seduces Judah, and becomes pregnant. Judah is ready to have Tamar put to death for immorality, until he learns that he is the father. This serves as a turning point for Judah, who repents (Genesis 38:26).

Joseph’s story then follows, in parallel, showing a strong contrast (Genesis 39-41). He also leaves his family, though not by choice. He also encounters a seductress, but refuses her, and is blamed for it, anyway. In prison, God is with him, and be is a blessing to others. He eventually interprets a dream of Pharaoh, and is promoted to second-in-command for the whole kingdom. Joseph maintains his integrity, and God blesses him.Sometimes, people think of the story ending there. Judah and his brothers were bad, and got punished. Joseph was good, and got rewarded. But the story continues:

Joseph is bitter. When his family experiences a famine, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for food – all except his new favorite, Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin. When the other ten brothers arrive in Egypt, they bow before Joseph, not recognizing him, nor that they were fulfilling his dream from years ago. Joseph treats them harshly, accusing them of being spies, and tells them to never return unless Benjamin is with them. The brothers show remorse for their former sin, and Joseph is brought to tears (Genesis 42:21-24). The brothers return home, and Jacob refuses to send Benjamin. Reuben offers the lives of his first two sons as insurance – an offer that is refused by his father. Finally, Judah takes charge, and personally takes responsibility for Benjamin, convincing his father (Genesis 43:8-14). When they return to Egypt, Joseph is brought to tears at the sight of Benjamin, but again hides his emotions. This time, he frames Benjamin of theft, in an attempt to keep him in Egypt (Genesis 43:29-44:15).

Can we still acquit Joseph of doing any wrong? After his brothers have repented of their sins and obeyed his wishes, will he still insist on punishing them, sending them away, and grieving his father?

Again, Judah takes charge. Judah was the one who got them into this mess. Judah was the one who had first repented. Judah was the one who took responsibility, and convinced his father to send them, saving the family from starvation. In Genesis 44:16-34, he delivers a long speech to Joseph on behalf of his family, reiterating their guilt, his father’s grief, and his willingness to serve as a substitute, in place of Benjamin. This finally melts Joseph’s bitterness, and he reveals his identity to them. He also openly acknowledges God’s good intentions in everything that had transpired. He releases them from responsibility, seeing that God was behind it all. He weeps, kisses his brothers, and reconciles (Genesis 45:1-15).

This may be one of the most underrated episodes in all of Scripture. Judah, whose birth transformed Leah into a God-worshipper, who had been reformed from rebel to family leader, offered himself as a substitute, bringing reconciliation to his family, God’s chosen people. But what is he remembered for? His scandalous escapade with his prostitute-daughter-in-law. Why do we like to keep record of sins, rather than chart a person’s journey of transformation? When did the life of faith become a life of comparison and competition?

While Joseph has rightly been called a “Christ-figure” for his role in blessing all nations (Genesis 50:20-21), Judah could be an even better example. Joseph is often the fan-favourite, because of his apparently flawless character. He fits into our religious formulas: go good, and be blessed. He also fits into our cultural formulas: work hard, and find success. But, underneath that facade was a deep bitterness that could only be healed by the loving sacrifice of Judah.

Judah’s transformation is a more powerful story, and his role in Christ’s genealogy should not be overlooked. Judah, who substituted himself for the sins of another, would proceed to become leader of the family, and father of kings (Genesis 49:10), leading to David, and Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2-5) – the ultimate, perfect sacrifice and substitute for our sins. As Jesus said in Mark 10:45:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus’s genealogy was full of scandalous situations. The women (let alone the men) mentioned in Matthew 1:1-17 were: Tamar, a foreign, incestuous prostitute; Rahab, a foreign prostitute; Ruth, a foreigner; Bathsheba, an adulteress; and Mary, a pregnant, unwed virgin. God isn’t trying to keep up appearances. He is on a mission to call and redeem a people for His glory. And, in many ways, the rougher the material, the more beautiful the finish. The darker the night, the brighter the light.

He says about His people, Israel, in Deuteronomy 7:6-8:

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

And about His people, the Church, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

May the stories, in Genesis, of relationships between God and His people, encourage you to know and follow after this loving God who welcomes all to Himself.

Online messages available here.

Lent, Discipline & A Month Without

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lent Season.

Yesterday was “Shrove Tuesday,” or “Fat Tuesday” – the last chance for many to feast and party, before the sombre Lent season commences. IHOP offers free pancakes to everyone. Carnivals and parades pop up here and there, especially New Orleans. Why such a contrast?

Traditionally, Lent is understood to be about self-denial and purification. It is modeled after Jesus’s 40 days of fasting in the desert, where He confronted and overcame temptation. Similarly, many Christians use the 40 days leading up to the Easter week as a time of self-denial, or fasting. Given the nature and length of Lent, it is understandable that it’d be preceded and followed by feasts! But why fast, in the first place?

Fasting can have two causes, but really one effect. First, it can be reactive to a problem – a sort of practical repentance from sin. Something in your life is too big, too harmful, and it needs to go. Or, at least, you need to break a habit and limit a dependency. Second, fasting can also be a proactive step of growth – a sort of preparation or purification. The object of the fast may not necessarily be negative, but it must be removed or restricted in order to create space for something else. Both cases are illustrated in Hebrews 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Did you notice that? In order to run our race, of following Jesus, we must not only shed the “sin that entangles,” but also “everything that hinders.” Fasting, like any spiritual discipline, is about creating space for God to move in our lives. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Discipline, argues that, while righteousness is purely a gift from God, Spiritual Disciplines “open the door” to His liberation and blessings:

God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us (7).

Participating in Lent can run the risk of engaging in legalism. We can try to perform well, and out-perform others. Foster also acknowledges this danger, and points us back the the purpose of the Disciplines – as our act of faith in receiving God’s grace. John Ortberg, in The Life You’ve Always Wanted, says something similar:

Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important—not because they prove how spiritual we are – but because God can use them to lead us into life (39).

So then, Lent offers us a yearly opportunity to do something together as Christians: to fast, to deprive ourselves, to give up something, in order to create space for God to fill. What could that look like?

The first time I remember participating in Lent was when I was a teenager. Even then, I think the meaning was clear to me – give up something that is in the way of your relationship with God. So, this was reactive. Yet, even a reactive fast can be proactive, in that it creates space for something better. I decided to give up TV. At my home, there was often a TV on, somewhere. There was also a computer screen or two, or three. I’m not saying that my family was unhealthy – we were outdoorsy, and ate meals and prayed together. But for me, the TV was taking up too much space in my life. I knew it, deep down.

Through that month, I overcame many awkward and isolating situations, and emerged a different person. My appetite for TV had shrunk. After a while, I stopped missing it. My head was clearer, my mind was freer.

Many years later, as a young father, I had time to reflect on my busy life during a 16-day road trip. We lived in an apartment with two children (and another coming soon) while I served as pastor of an inner-city multicultural church. As we often do on vacations, my wife and I agreed to make adjustments to our home life, to make it healthier and more sustainable. For me, I decided to give up something new – every month.

What a fascinating experience. It seems so daunting beforehand, so agonizing in the process, and so freeing by the end of it.

In September, I gave up pictures. Having frantically tried to capture every beautiful sight and memorable moment during my road trip, I began to feel like moments and sights had become commodities, or objects for me to ravenously consume, to frantically collect. I wondered – “what if I just experienced moments for what they were, letting them pass into my memory?” It was a freeing experience – and I learned to be more attentive. I learned to appreciate things and let them go, to find intrinsic value in a moment, without the extrinsic benefit of stored images.

Next, it was coffee. This was a hard one. My body and mind groaned for caffiene in the early days of October, and I tried to fool it with decaf and tea. I cheated a little, and learned the gravity of the situation. I do not want to be addicted to something, like this.

In November, I targeted sports media. Now, that may or may not sound like a big deal. But, perhaps everyone can compare it to something – social media, the newspaper, romance novels…whatever you fill your gap-time with. I tended to check sports scores, news, and highlights whenever I could – waiting at the microwave, on the toilet, on the bus, at a red light, at a playground, in a lineup, or even while waiting for another page to load. Through this fast, I began redeeming the value of gap-times. Our bodies need time to breathe; our minds need time to think; our souls need time to pray, practising the presence of God.

Now, it’s March 1, 2017 – here we go again! Lent is beginning, and so is a new month. Why not prayerfully reflect on what could give way in your life, to make room for God? Is it a “sin that entangles?” Repent of it! Is it “anything that hinders?” prune it away, so that fruit will come!

For me, I’ve cut my phone data, and have restricted its internet use to Google Maps and News. Perhaps that seems like nothing, but for many, a phone threatens to become everything. Its “capabilities” can actually enslave you, by making you feel that things that would normally be done later, elsewhere, should be done here and now. Ironically, then, greater ability means less freedom. With a smartphone, I feel that I have no excuse to not respond immediately. I have endless temptation to remove myself from the moment, and dwell in cyberspace.

For March, my phone is no longer “everything.” It’s capabilities are limited. It is a phone, a reader, a music player, a map, and a newspaper. And, I’m glad – these capabilities enable me to more efficiently do what I would need to do anyways. But as for email and social media, they can wait. I don’t need to operate them via a mobile device. Their place in my life will be my stationary computer. Why? What’s the harm?

First, many smartphone capabilities are passive – there when you need them, and invisible when you don’t. But, mobile email and social media tend to be more active – they send us instant notifications as messages come. They make us available to be reached by new means. Like phone calls, they can intrude and distract. And for me, I’m deciding to assign them a limited place, and make them once again passive – there when I want them. My hope is that the new space this creates will be filled with a greater sense of God’s presence, listening through Scripture & prayer.

Secondly, the capability to respond instantly via mobile email and social media opens up new risks.
How many rash and regretful messages would you like to take back?
How could waiting a while have changed their tone?
How many long, rambling emails “should have been a phone call”?
How effective can communication be through email and social media, anyways?

Email and social media still have their place in my life. Email is helpful for conveying written information clearly, thoughtfully, and privately. Social media is helpful for conveying information publicly, and seeing what others are conveying publicly. Both are more efficient than their predecessors – snail mail, bulletin boards, etc. But their place in life will be limited – to my stationary computers.

There is freedom in limitations. Cattle frolick in a fenced-in field. Children shamelessly play, within the loving and accepting confines of their home. Spouses enjoy a special intimacy that comes with commitment. Parents can enjoy watching their children grow, as they let go of their own plans for the time being. Workers can enjoy efficiency and productivity, as they narrow and specialize their career focus. Mature adults learn to take themselves lightly, accepting who they are, and what they will never be. And hopefully, I will hear God’s voice more clearly, as I limit other ones.

Is there a way that you could create space for God to work in you?

One Size Doesn’t Fit All, by Gary L. McIntosh

Some years ago, as I began shepherding my first church, I ran into some challenges. The church where I was called to pastor was not like the church in which I grew up. My childhood church had programs, leadership teams, and a variety of social sub-groups. My new church was like one, big, extended family, informally led by a few patriarchs and matriarchs. In my old church, novelty was sought after. In my new church, history was valued. Understandably, there were some communication barriers as I sought, along with the church leaders, to discern God’s direction for our way forward. It was during that pastorate that I was given a book called One Size Doesn’t Fit All.

After following God’s call to a new church, one of the first things the elders and I agreed to do was read this book. I hoped that it would help create some common ground between me and them – that it would help us understand where we were as a church, and where we should be going. I wasn’t disappointed.

The book uses a narrative form to express points about the difference between small, medium, and large churches. Each chapter involves a conversation between a young pastor and an older mentor – who offers him advice about how church ministry operates differently at different stages of growth.

Small churches are defined as 15-200 in attendance, and comprise 80% of all North American Churches. Their defining characteristic is that they are small enough to be single-cell: they have one pastor, and everyone can know each other. They grow by attracting people into their warm fellowship, but insist on remaining consistent with the history and culture of the church. Key families provide continuity in leadership, and members value their individual voice in decision-making.

Medium churches are defined as 201-400 in attendance, and comprise 10% of churches. They are described as “stretched cell,” where programs, teams, and committees have been added, but are still connected to a single building and leadership circle. They grow through operating successful programs, which are run by teams and committees that are empowered with authority by the membership. Leadership is transitioning from pastor + congregation to teams, who move beyond history to present needs.

Large churches have more than 400 in attendance, and comprise the remaining 10% of churches. Only 1% of all churches have more than 2000 in attendance. A large church has successfully transitioned to a multi-cell model, involving multiple pastors, services, and/or locations. Growth occurs through word of mouth – the “buzz” created by its increasing size and impact. Leadership becomes more centralized in select, specialized leaders, and is driven by a vision for the future.

Must every church progress from small to large, in order to be successful? No. While growth should always be sought, it can be accommodated through church planting as well as church expansion.

Does growth happen by simply changing church structure, by acting like a larger church? No. The size-descriptions above are descriptive, not prescriptive. Yet, as growth occurs, these structures and modes of operation should follow closely behind. They describe what is necessary to keep a church running optimally and smoothly, in its given size.

Then, how does growth happen? How does a small church become medium? The author identifies certain barriers to growth in small churches, with corresponding solutions:

A small-church image can become entrenched in its identity. In response, a new sense of purpose must be connected to their identity – As followers of Jesus, what are we called to do?
Fellowship can become ingrown. In response, new avenues must be opened for outsiders to become insiders: classes, small groups, leadership positions. Ministries run by individuals should transition to being led by teams.
Evangelism and Programs can become stale. In response, encourage new initiatives, celebrate successes, and raise the profile of activities that align with the renewed sense of purpose and mission. Develop a “star program” that your church can specialize in.

As a church nudges toward medium-size, which issues arise, and how are they dealt with?

Complexity makes administration challenging. In response, develop a distinct identity and focus as a church. Work on a long-range plan, and improve quality of ministry before quantity.
Staff, facilities, and finances become stretched. In response, duplicate services and ministries in the same location. Hire more staff, before people begin falling through the cracks.

Clearly, as the book title indicates, there are different challenges and solutions for churches of different sizes. For me, observing my church’s situation, a number of ideas stood out:

Leaders must be intentional – we would be wise to learn from the past, be grounded in the present, while always looking forward.
There are different sources of church growth – attractive fellowship, ministry programs, and word of mouth. As the author puts it, “add…divide…multiply.” To some extent, all can happen at any size, but we can play to our strengths.
When it comes to programs, focus is key – we must identify the gifts and opportunities that God has provided, and respond to His specific leading. We are not called to be everything to everyone.
For a church to grow, leadership must make room – new leaders must be trained and welcomed. Authority must transfer from individuals to teams, and from an inner circle to a broader group who share common values, mission, and vision.
It all comes back to our sense of purpose and mission – we are led by Jesus Christ, Who calls us to follow Him, and invite others to do the same.

Did anything mentioned above resonate with you? What have you seen and experienced in church life?

Genesis 12-22: Called on a Journey of Faith

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” – Genesis 12:1

What a way to begin a relationship! God calls Abraham to leave everything behind, and go to a new land – to be made into a new person, for a new purpose. This marked the beginning of a century-long journey of faith, in which he’d be greatly blessed by God to be a blessing.

This also marked a turning point in how God would operate on earth – how He would pursue a relationship with humankind. He began by creating humans to be set apart from the other animals – they would bear His image, reflecting His character, relationality, morality, and authority on earth. They were given dominion over creation – as stewards who were to care for it. When they rebelled against God and sought independence from Him, death and separation from God resulted. Things went from bad to worse, until God determined to start fresh with a single family who were set apart as righteous – Noah, his three sons, and their wives. Yet, sin remained a systemic problem. When people united in their rebellion against God at the Tower of Babel, He divided and dispersed them – mitigating the effect of their evil, rather than wiping them out again. Now, for the third time, God would set apart one couple – this time, not to birth humanity from scratch, but to birth a new nation:

“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Genesis 12:2-3

God had dispersed the peoples of the earth into many nations. Now, He would create one nation to bless them all – one nation through which He would reveal Himself and His salvation to the world. And it all started with this one man, Abraham, who responded to God’s call with faith.

Abraham was 75 years old, and his wife, Sarah, was barren. They were perfect candidates for God to show His power, love, and grace. God, who can create something out of nothing, would call forth a nation from this unlikely couple, who were “as good as dead,” when it came to producing offspring. But, all they needed to do was believe God’s promises, and receive in faith:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” – Hebrews 11:8-12

That may sound rosy and wonderful, but the journey was long and winding. Their faith would be tested and refined along the way. God’s promises would be threatened. When they fled a famine and went to Egypt, Abraham fearfully endangered his wife, claiming that they weren’t married. But God protected her. When they returned, Abraham gave the better portion of land to his nephew, and then rescued him from invaders. But God continued to bless him. Then after waiting 10 years for a son, Abraham and Sarah arranged to have a child through a maidservant, and then cast her out when she rebelled. But God took care of the maidservant, and promised Sarah a son. Abraham enjoyed fellowship with God, and God invited Abraham to intercede for his nephew, who was in trouble again. Abraham endangered Sarah again, and God protected her, again. Finally, Isaac was born, 25 years after the initial call to faith. His name referred to the laughter that Abraham and Sarah shared, as God promised and faithfully provided in the most unlikely way:

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” – Genesis 17:17

And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” – Genesis 21:6-7

Yet, there was one more step to be taken: A test of faith. Some time over the next 37 years, Abraham would be called to give up the greatest gift that God had ever given him. God had promised to give him a son, through whom a nation would be born, to bless all nations. And God was asking Abraham to sacrifice him?

Before we throw our view of a loving God out the window, consider the context. In ancient times, in the land of Canaan, this was standard procedure. Offering one’s firstborn son to the gods was a common method of seeking continued fertility and fruitful harvests – as later kings of Israel will unfortunately confirm (2 Kings 3:27, 16:3, 17:17, 21:6). Though God had previously denounced killing humans, who bear His image (Genesis 9:5-6), and though He would later explicitly denounce child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:9-12), Abraham would not have been as culturally surprised by this command as we are, today.

From the beginning, an enduring principle has remained: God deserves our very best, and He owns it all, anyway. Abel pleased God by sacrificing the firstborn from his herd (Genesis 4:4). Abraham and Jacob practised tithing. Moreover, after God spared Israel from the plague of the firstborn in Egypt, He declared that all firstborn of Israel belonged to Him (Exodus 13:1-2, 22:29-30) as well as the firstfruits of their harvest (23:19).

Yet, God, Who’d have every right to demand anything, provides a way out. As He redeemed His people from slavery, He offered redemption for the firstborn, who would have been His payment:

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord‘s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ – Exodus 13:11-15

God provided a way for the firstborn to be redeemed – by way of substitution. An animal sacrifice would serve as payment for a firstborn. And the tribe of Levites would collectively take the place of all firstborn, to be devoted to a lifetime of service to God, supported by the offerings of other tribes (Numbers 3:12, 18:21).

And so Abraham and Isaac become a sign of things to come; just as Adam and Eve were to reflect God’s image to all of creation, now Abraham and Isaac were to reflect God’s way of redemption through His chosen nation. Abraham was willing to give His one and only beloved son, whom He loved (Ishmael had been sent away). Isaac willingly submitted to His father’s will. Abraham had departed, early in the morning, on the three-day journey to Mt. Moriah – where it is said that the temple of Jerusalem was later built, where sacrifices for sin would be regularly made. Isaac carried the wood up the hill, as Jesus carried his cross, nearly two millennia later, to die as our sacrifice, once and for all. Abraham assured Isaac that the Lord would provide a sacrifice, and Isaac allowed himself to be bound and prepared for sacrifice. Abraham was a foreshadow of our loving God the Father (John 3:16), while Isaac was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16).

Abraham had passed the test of faith. He fully expected to return from Mt. Moriah with his son (Genesis 22:5), expecting that the God Who miraculously brought this child into being would also bring Him back from death (Hebrews 11:17-19). God had always been faithful to His promises.

God did provide a sacrifice on that day – a ram caught in a thicket, who would take Isaac’s place. Having seen Abraham’s willingness to obey, the Angel of the LORD remarked that “now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12). The Hebrew word for “know,” here, is yada. It means to become acquainted, through experience (and it can serve as a euphemism for sex – Genesis 19:5). The LORD knows everything, but now He has observed Abraham’s obedience first-hand, in relationship. As a result, He confirms his promise to bless all nations through him (Genesis 22:15-18).

God’s plan was to bless Abraham to be a blessing. He invited Abraham into a relationship in which promises, when received by faith, would result in works of blessing for others. Sound familiar? Notice the sequence of grace-faith-works found in Paul’s summary of our relationship with God:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10

Where do we go from here? God’s call to Abraham is a call to us, as well. His life serves as a sort of template for the journey of faith. Not a manual. Not a perfect example. But, a template; a story to compare to our own. Abraham was called, and he went. Abraham walked in relationship with God, coming to know Him and discover His faithful character. And eventually, Abraham was tested. Would He choose God, or God’s greatest gift?

Abraham was called to leave his past, and even sacrifice his future. Jesus called his disciples to leave their vocations and give up their lives. Has your relationship with God involved a departure, a leaving-behind, a repentance, to be made new?

Abraham journeyed with God through thick and thin, growing, learning and blessing others as he went. What twists, turns, and bumps along the road have you encountered? What have you learned about God along the way?

Abraham was tested – to see whether his faith was in God, or in the blessing that God had given. Is there anything more precious to you than a relationship with God, Himself? Or, is your love for Him conditional – based on His blessings?

God chose Abraham, the man of faith to give birth to a nation that would bless all nations. His descendants were the Israelites, through whom God continued to reveal Himself. Through the Israelites, Jesus Christ came, fulfilling God’s promise to bless all. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be part of God’s people, who are blessed to bless. Our invitation is to walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had (Romans 4:12).

I encourage you to reflect on this story of one man’s journey of faith, and compare it to your own walk with God.

***This post is part of a series, titled “God’s Story,” which also involves a God’s story and sermon series.

Political Personality, Policy, and Practice…and where our Hope Belongs

Today is January 20th, 2017 – the day of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Few expected this day to come – it was perhaps even more surprising than Justin Trudeau’s electoral victory, on October 19, 2015.

The headlines haven’t changed much, since Trump essentially began monopolizing them during the Republican nomination process. There are those who cry out against his harsh manner, claiming that he lacks the temperament or personality to be a President. Then, there are those who debate the merits of his policies, and either agree or disagree. You can now view his speech for yourself.

I spent four years studying International Relations in university, and have maintained a steady interest in the topic during the decade that has followed. I tend to withhold my verbal support from any particular candidate or party, and certainly don’t place my greatest hopes in them. It can be easy to cynically claim that each party simply purchases different people’s votes with promises of funding. Or you could claim that the parties make no difference, because there are un-elected others who run the show, behind the scenes. Or, if nothing else, you could say that no party is perfect, since they come in ideological “packages,” each with good policies in some areas, and bad policies in others. So, you need to pick your main issue – will you vote based on policy for taxes, environment, crime, welfare, education, religion, or immigration?

At least, I wish this was the question in people’s minds. But, alas, it seems like the media, and many others, are preoccupied with this question: Do I like the personality of the leader?

OTTAWA, ON: March 31, 2012 – It only took two and a half rounds for Liberal MP, Justin Trudeau, red corner, to beat Conservative Senator, Patrick Brazeau, blue corner, in their boxing match during the fight for the cure event in Ottawa on Saturday, March 31,2012. (iPOLITICS/ Matthew Usherwood)

We saw this in Canada, where our left-leaning and right-leaning parties, ranked 1 & 2 in the polls, were suddenly swept aside in favor of a young, attractive, populist leader. The NDP and Conservatives had serious platforms, soberly proposing balanced budgets that each promised a realistic way forward. But the Liberals had a charismatic leader who, despite his slimmer credentials and lack of experience, captured a majority government on a platform of vague promises and a deficit budget. “But he’s so handsome and nice…”

Then, our neighbours to the south did something similar. Now, I might be saying the same thing, even if Hillary had won. The point is not that Trump beat Hillary, but that both became their party’s candidates, despite the availability of rival candidates with clearer and more inspiring policy platforms. It is understandable that many Democrats were excited about having the first female candidate, ever. And many Republicans became excited about the charisma of their independently wealthy, already famous reality show host. Both were exciting firsts. But both parties missed out on opportunities to choose candidates with very clear and compelling policies for the betterment of their country.

But on the flip side, when it comes to criticism, I am disappointed to see how much has also focused on the personality of the leader. People pointed out that Trump is rude. People found Hillary to be disingenuous. But what policies did they propose? Who had the better ideas? To whom would each be looking, to help guide their country forward.

Why do we do it? Why do we obsess over the personality of the leader? Why do we idolize them, as if they have all the answers to our problems, and the ability to satisfy our hopes? Perhaps these yearnings and desires are not illegitimate, but just misdirected. C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity says:

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

Or, as King David said in Psalm 62:5-8:
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;God is a refuge for us.

Now, I wouldn’t want to underestimate the importance of a leader’s personality. In each country, the leader chooses the executive, names members of the judiciary, and can push forward his personal agenda, to a certain point. Also, the character of a leader can rub off on others – whether it be their fellow politicians, or the public. So, civility and respect (for the one candidate), and transparency & sincerity (for the other) would be valuable. But deeper than that, we should be examining policy, and asking – What do they propose to do?

Yet, a final distinction should be made – between policy and practice. Between promise and production. Unfortunately, the jury is out on this – we will gain our answer through hindsight, rather than before the election. In the meantime, let’s not waste our worries in the wrong places. Consider Who is in charge, and where your hope will find rest.

Psalm 2:1 – Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 33:10-11 –The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 42:11 – Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.

Genesis 1-11 – The Beginning and a New Beginning

In the beginning, God…

That’s how the Bible begins – in the beginning, before anything, God. That sets the tone for the rest of history. God is the Source, the Point of Origin. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Provider, and the Savior. Yes, eternally our Savior. John 1 says of Jesus Christ, the Word and Light:

John 1:1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And, if the Son is eternal, that would make God eternally Father. He is eternally loving, relational, and life-giving. Jesus said,

John 17:24 – Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

So this eternally loving, relational, life-giving God made humans in His image, as the crown of His creation. We, as male and female, were created to reflect God’s loving, relational, and life-giving character by being fruitful and multiplying on the earth. We were also given dominion over creation, to rule as stewards on His behalf. God, the Source of the universe, also has given us our purpose. The two main questions of a worldview are covered.

What do these two truths mean for your life?

What happened next?

As the first chapter indicates, Genesis (and the Bible) is all about God, and His relationship with us. As you read through Genesis, consider making a heading for each chapter, outlining what God does, and how people respond. It could go something like this:

God creates – Humans reflect & rule
God provides – Humans fruitful & multiply
God commands – Humans sin & cursed
God gives – Humans kill & divide
God sustains – Humans walk with God
God distinguishes – Humans evil or righteous
God cleanses – Humans destroyed
God promises – Humans saved
God renews – Humans blessed, cursed
God multiplies – Humans unite in pride
God divides – Humans disperse on earth

Out of all His creation, God sets aside humans to bear His image and represent Him on earth. He blesses them to be fruitful and multiply, but they rebel and are cursed with death. Their offspring divide, veering in two directions: a sinful line, and a righteous line. The seventh generation of evil is Lamech, who kills two people; the seventh generation of good is Enoch, who walks with God. Humanity is sinful and divided.

So, God decides to start over. He sets aside Noah and his family, the only remaining members of the righteous family line, and wipes out the rest of evil humanity. He promises to never again do this, and renews the blessing and affirms their value as image-bearers. But, by the next generation, we are already seeing both blessing and curses. This time, humanity rebels against God by pridefully uniting, to make their name great, and to reach up to God. God comes down, and disperses them into many languages and nations, so that they will fill the earth, as intended. Now, a third new beginning is in order…

What a story! Do you notice the flow? The repetitive cycle that has begun?
More such patterns occur as you continue through the Bible, especially in books like Judges and 1-2 Kings.

Many have wondered why God would create such a world – that would “mess up” and need to be “re-started.” If God is so powerful and perfect, how could His creation go so wrong? That’s where His purpose comes in – He has always planned to work through people who choose to love Him. He is raising children, not robots. He started by setting aside humans from animals. Then, He set aside the righteous line of Noah. Finally, in chapter 12, He will set aside one family to be a blessing to all…

He has always been inviting people into a relationship with Him – people who hear His calling and recognize their God-given purpose. He invites us into a lifelong journey of transformation, an eternal experience of love, hope, peace, and joy.

We have the privilege of learning about this in the Story that Scripture lays out for us – including the stories of many individuals who walked with God. This year, I invite you to journey together through “God’s Story” – a sequence of historical books in the Bible that make up its main narrative. I look forward to getting to know God and His purposes for us in the year ahead!

***This post is part of a series, titled “God’s Story,” which also involves a God’s story and sermon series.

The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis

This time of year, I hear of many people’s plans to fly south for a period during the winter. In Canada, we call these people “snow birds.” Some squeeze a week-long trip to Mexico into their busy plans. Others spend half the year in Palm Springs or Arizona. As for me, over the past month, listening to C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy audiobooks has felt like a bit of a virtual vacation. These books captured my imagination and offered new perspectives in a way that I could compare to my experience of international travel.

To briefly summarize, without spoiling: the books take place on Mars, Venus, and Earth – in that order. Their main protagonist is Dr. Ransom, who is originally kidnapped by two academic colleagues and taken to Mars in their spaceship, against his will. Once there, he becomes acquainted with the intelligent species on the planet – both organic and angelic. It is these angelic beings who then bring him to Venus in the second novel, where he is given an important task. In the third novel, Dr. Ransom holds more of a background role, working behind the scenes of the other characters.

Though the trilogy takes place in sequence, in the same universe, with some of the same characters, the novels are also strikingly different from each other. Personally, I likened the first two to an exotic vacation, from which I felt sorry to return. While following Dr. Ransom’s travels on Mars and Venus, I found myself gaining new perspectives of my own world – just as I have gained insight about my own culture while immersing myself in other cultures on Earth. In contrast, the post-war English setting of the third book was a more specific context that did not easily connect with my own. Rather, this book had more to offer the reader in terms of its plot and characters.

On Mars, (Out of the Silent Planet) Lewis depicts an old world that had never fallen into sin: different intelligent species coexisted in a complimentary fashion, in trusting obedience to their angelic overseer. While their appearance, habitat and language awakened my imagination, it was their culture that I found most striking: they were content. They felt no need to increase their population, amass literature, or develop technology; they embraced the seasons of life, and trusted in divine providence.

On Venus, (Perelandra) Lewis depicts a newly created world, where its first woman inhabitant is completely innocent and ignorant. She lives completely in the moment, without perspective of time or space. Her home is a floating island that is always changing form, and her food grows bountifully on trees. The food satisfies, leaving no desire to gorge oneself; the land moves, offering no way to store possessions. When she encounters an evil tempter, Dr. Ransom realizes his purpose in being sent – to intervene on her behalf. While he struggles with the thought that his circumstances are predestined, he realizes that he still holds the freedom to choose his course; God’s will can take another route, if necessary. After considerable deliberation, he breaks out of his passive resignation, opting for physical intervention in place of intellectual argument. While doing so, he reflects on the proper application of hatred and the effect of evil on a person.

On Earth, (That Hideous Strength), Lewis chooses quite an un-exotic setting: a college town in post-war England. But, while this book lacks the exotic setting of its prequels, it offers much deeper characters and a more complicated plot. In fact, it is as long as the first two books, combined. At the outset, Lewis informs his readers that he is presenting his argument from The Abolition of Man in the form of a story: when academics abandon truth, all hell breaks loose. The The story’s conflict is instigated by the N.I.C.E., a government-sponsored research organization that plans to develop a new race of humans who can live eternally in a mechanized-disembodied state. They are opposed by Dr. Ransom and his companions, aided by a combination of mythological forces from the previous books as well as England’s past. The main two characters are a young couple who must choose a side, while working through the ordinary struggles of career and marriage.

As one might expect of Lewis, offers a “moral to the story” that was contemporary to his historical context. Having extensively studied the historical period in which these books were written, I cannot help but see connections between these novels and the events in England during the time of their writing. The first book was published in 1938, shortly before the imperialistic powers of the world would plunge headlong into World War II. This human vice, clearly depicted in the novel’s main antagonist, Dr. Weston, is sharply contrasted with the contentment of the Martian races. The second book was published in the midst of World War II, as Britain literally fought for its survival against the Nazi regime. An apologetic for their efforts can be found in Dr. Ransom’s own intervention against evil on Venus. The third book was published at the end of the Second World War – as the ugly effects of the Holocaust and Nazi plans to create a “master race” were being uncovered. Interestingly, the antagonists in the third novel are also trying to manipulate the evolution of the human race.

Overall, the books are imaginative without being technical, and intentionally philosophical without being religious. One might be disappointed if they approached this trilogy with hopes for “hard science fiction,” or “religious dogma.” Rather, like Narnia, these fictional works serve as allegories that carry ethical considerations. Similar to Lewis’s area of study, they might fit best into the category of mythology. By approaching the books with these expectations, I hope that you can enjoy them for what they are!

While originally found in the form of 24 CDs, the 30 hours of audio are now downloadable on Christianaudio.com