Muscle of Methodism

It is ironic that the genius  of  groups like AA, Weight Watchers and other self help groups lies in their use of small groups for accountability, mutual support and recruitment. It is also ironic that most of the fastest growing churches also use small groups for the same purpose.

Such small group strategies are nothing new. In the 18th century, a small man with a huge vision implemented a small group strategy to disciple converts from the coal mines of Britain. It brought cohesion to the Wesleyan Revival which spread across the British Isles and America.  George Whitfield, a contemporary and at times a combatant of Wesley, wrote the following toward the end of his life. ” Mr. Wesley chose the wiser course. He organized his followers into bands (small groups) and they persevered,my followers are like a “rope of sand”.  Two hundred years later, David Lowes Watson, a church historian and Wesley scholar,  said  these small groups were the “Muscle of Methodism.”

The irony comes from the fact that the tradition that became the symbol of small group ministry, has all but abandoned the small group strategy.  From 1968 until 2008, United Methodism has lost 3 million members, from just under 11 million to less than 8 million members.  Could it be that part of the decline is the result of  abandoning what Watson called “the Muscle  of Methodism”?

Why is it that small accountable, support groups are no longer popular in Methodism?  The answer to that question would involve more space than a blog is designed to devote, but at the risk of over simplifying the subject, we Methodists just don’t want to give a strict accountability for our discipleship to a small group.  We also are not comfortable with  laying bear before others, our deepest thoughts and yes even sins.  We want a religion that is proper and respectable rather than one that is rigorous and personal.  In other words, we  want a laid back kind of faith that is pristine,  rather than one that opens up the messy part of our lives, thank you.

For the past few months I have had the opportunity of visiting  a congregation that has built its ministry around what it calls Missional Groups.  They are at the heart and soul of it’s polity.  The congregation is young, in fact we are one of the few gray haired folks in worship.  (Carol would remind me, there are few gray hairs on her head).  The lay people seemed animated and focused in their faith.  There is a vitality  in carrying out their mission through these Missional communities.

I think Methodism today can re-kindle its flame that spread scriptural holiness across the globe, but only by remembering the genius of our founder, not through a new program or organization, but through recovering the intimacy and accountability of the “Muscle of Methodism”.

Forgetting the past

The apostle Paul in Philippians wrote, “Forgetting what is in the past”.  The Bible also tells us, God remembers our sin no more.  We talk about forgiving and forgetting”.  Does it mean that we are to literally zap the past mistakes and injuries from the recesses of our cerebellum.   I thought  we were to learn from our mistakes.  Cleansing our memory of the injuries at the hands of  others could make us more vulnerable to be hurt again.

I don’t believe that is what God intended.  Forgetting is less to do with memory  loss and more to do with leaving  the baggage of our sin and pain in the past and not carrying it over to burden us in the past and present.  It is only in receiving the grace Jesus bestowed  upon us, when he took our place and paid the penalty for our sin, can we bury the past and be fully present and free before God and others in the present and the future.

Continued bleeding

Mainline denominations continue to shoot themselves in the foot when their connectional bodies show how out of touch they are with members in their local churches.  Every poll taken says the majority of Americans want to retain the idea that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman.  Yet, the Episcopal church, he Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America and the United Church of Christ (not to be confused with the independent Churches of Christ) have given their blessing to gay marriage.  This week, the Presbyterian Church USA votes whether  to join the above groups in calling that which is unholy, holy.

Before, my own denomination, the United Methodist Church gets too haughty by saying we have resisted such efforts at our General Conferences, the only reason we may not have joined the band wagon is that United Methodists in Africa, who represent a large group within our fellowship, are united in opposition to such changes.

The result of those who give in to the politically correct culture and embrace are bleeding profusely, which should give caution to the Presbyterian’s this week.   People have a need to anchor their lives in changeless truths that will stand the test of  life’s storms, but instead mainline Christianity continues to drift to and fro in the sea of confusion.

Just a thought,

Sticky Wicket

One of the seismic changes taking place in our culture is the move from centralization to decentralization of power.  With rapidly advancing technology, no longer does the top of the food chain control the flow of information throughout the organization whether it be business, government or even volunteer organizations such as the church.

I will never forget when I first saw this illustrated.  It was in the 1989 Tiananmen  square tragedy .  The powerless students bypassed the traditional Red Chinese channels of communication and used fax machines to plan their strategy.  In spite of the horrible events of that day, it was a sign of the democratization of communication.  No one foresaw this would be followed up by cell phones, internet, email, texting as well as social networking.

Now, a magazine can be published, where the writers, artists, proof readers, printers can all live in different places of the world and collaborate on putting out the magazine without any of them being in the same room.

This is a  problem  for those who are use to running a top down style of organization.  Those at the grassroots are finding ways of effectively communicating with each other without the permission or blessing of the people at the top of the pyramid.

People are  finding large bureaucratic organizations too slow, too insulated and too inflexible to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing marketplace of ideas, products and services.  Those unwilling to grant more freedom and authority to those on the grass roots level will find themselves as dinosaurs of the 21st century.

This is true in our government as well.  Diverse grassroots groups like the Tea Party movement, the environmental activists are driving bureaucrats crazy.  The recent clash between the state of Arizona and the federal government is more about the decentralization of power than about race. People want more freedom to deal with local problems and they are bound and determined to claim that authority.  No one wants to go back to the racism of Central high school in the 50’s, but maybe the pendulum has swung too far.

In my own realm, the church has also been impacted by this trend.  Itinerancy served the church well, when Bishop’s were like generals, who deployed clergy like troops to new posts on the growing frontier.  Now, the itinerancy has turned into a patronage system for those who are loyal to their superiors.  I am not suggesting all becoming congregationalists, but I am saying, both more power and authority need to be given to those expected to carry out the mission.

The changing decentralization of power is not all good.  There lies the potential for anarchy and chaos, but if we think for a moment we can return to a top down structure to meet our future needs, the only persons we are fooling are ourselves.

Just a thought,

Bob

Eating out with the guys

Its not every day I learn something valuable, but today was one of those days.  I went out with some new friends from Fellowship Bible Church for lunch.  Several of the guys ordered the largest and most delicious looking burger I have seen in a while..  I, with my smug way, ordered a salad with grilled chicken and vinaigrette dressing.  Proud of my accomplishment I sat there drooling over their burgers the whole meal, while i dutifully ate my salad.

After lunch, I went home, and had to do a memorial video for the funeral home.  I was ok  until after I delivered the dvd to the funeral home.  I suddenly had a giant craving for a hamburger, I could hardly stop my car from pulling into Mac Donalds for a Big Mac or BK for a Whopper.

Then it hit me,  Whoppers and Big Macs just aren’t that good (sorry fast food fans), if I had given into temptation not only would I have felt the guilt, I really wouldn’t have enjoyed the burger that much while I devoured it  in very few bites.  I realized the taste would not match the craving.   If I was going to blow my diet for a meal, I should have bought one the burgers for lunch with the guys.  I would have still had the guilt, but at least savored the meal.

Now I  am not saying that breaking a diet with a  hamburger is a sin.  I am afraid, I am not that pious, but the afternoon did teach me that very seldom is the enjoyment in a bad decision measure up to what it promises, plus on top of that, we have to deal with the guilt.

So, I passed on the fast food joints and headed home and enjoyed a tasty banana.  I wont say the next time I eat with guys, I wont have one of those giant gourmet burgers, but I will try in the future to examine my cravings for what they deliver as well as what they cost.  I guess that is a lesson worth learning.  Thank you, Lord.

Just a thought,

Bob

Surprise

We all have heard the expression I got more than I bargained for.  Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, got more than he bargained for when he made a visit to the temple one day.  After a motivational worship service, where angels danced, the foundations of the temple shook and Holy Smoke bellowed, Isaiah responded, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live in the midst of a people of unclean lips.  In other words I’m in big trouble, I am messed up and the people around me cant help, because they are as screwed up as  I am.

What caused the angst  that young Isaiah was experiencing?  The next verses give the answer, “For my eyes have seen the King (No he wasn’t talking about Elvis), the Lord of Hosts.”  Isaiah came face to face with God and he couldn’t look at himself or anyone else for that matter the same way anymore.

The truth when we catch a glimpse of who God is, we become aware how messed up we really are.  When we compare ourselves to each other, it is easy to say, well at least we are better than so and so, but we compare ourselves with God, the veneer and facade of our self sufficiency is stripped from us and we lay naked, exposed before a totally awesome and Holy God.

But that is when the story takes a 180.  God singes and cleanses Isaiah’s lips and says, “Now Isaiah, you are ready for me to use.”  Its a story that is as true for us as it was for Isaiah. Once we come to  grips with how impotent and messed up we really are, we can hear the message of grace, hope and power.

Lets take a fresh look at God today, not the emaciated caricature of God in our culture, the celestial bell hop view of God, but the God who created our world and everything in it.  The God who sustains the universe with one word from his lips.   The God who  will return and execute vengeance on all who stand in opposition to his truth.  It is this God who defines our identity and determines our future.

Just a thought,

Bob

The Word

Theological conservatives like myself have often been accused of  “Bibliolatry” (worship of the Bible rather than God, the triune Creator, Savior and Counselor).  I think most of those criticisms are misguided and off base, but I do think we as Evangelicals need to distinguish between the written Word and the revealed Word.

The Bible is no doubt the only way we will ever hear the revealed Word of God (the son; John 1:14).  The Bible is the authoritative totally trustworthy vehicle in which God chose to reveal his Son. Yet to only speak of the scriptures as God’s word can cause us to miss their main purpose; to reveal to us Jesus Christ, God’s son and our Savior and Lord.  Also, we can only  hear this word when the message of the Bible permeates the coldness of our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. (II Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12).  So in a sense Karl Barth was correct when he said, “it becomes God’s word for us”.

We do not believe the revealed word of God contradicts scripture any more than God could contradict Himself, yet to emphasize the written word at the expense of the revealed Word or the spirit that impinges the word upon our hearts is to confuse the instrument with it’s purpose and henceforth it can become a form of idolatry.

This may be a heavy subject for Bobalou’s Blog, but one I believe is important.

zmr

The past can be a wonderful resource for  helping us address the challenges of our future or it can be impediment that stunts our growth.  Biblical Hebrew provides a wonderful lesson in knowing the difference.

One of the Hebrew words for remember is transliterated “zmr”. It means to take something from the past and bring it into the present, which is quite different from nostalgia, which causes people to live in the past.

Do we live in the past to protect us from the  present or do we pull strength, wisdom and inspiration from the past.

Just a thought,

Bob

Narcie update

Narcie update. Narcie had her brain tumor successfully removed. The doctor say “no cancer” and she is doing well.

Facebook Friends

In the last few days, Facebook has been the instrument that has communicated sad events in the lives of people from my past. One a young wife and mother, who was a teenager when I was her pastor. Amy was born with a hole in her heart, now requires surgery to repair that hole.

The other a daughter of a colleague and former seminary classmate of mine. Narcie, a campus minister, rolled out of her bed and started having convulsions last week and was discovered to have a brain tumor that needs removal.

I share these two stories for two reasons. One, so that you can pray for Amy and Narcie. Second, to say despite all the bad press Facebook has received lately, It is a wonderful instrument in keeping people connected despite distances of time and geography.

Numerous times I have been reunited with friends with whom I had lost contact.  These Facebook reunions have enriched my life.  Sometimes it is easy to focus on the dangers of something, without looking at its opportunities.

Just a thought.