Finding Our Way

As I have mentioned in other places, I find that films are often present day parables revealing the presence of God in different ways. Last night I was watching the film Reign Over Me starring Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler. It's a film about a character played by Adam Sandler whose family was killed in one of the planes that flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11 and how a number of years later his old college roommate (played by Don Cheadle) bumped into him and how both of them trying to find their way in life somehow helped each other find a way to finding their way in life.

Afterwards as I reflected on this I realized that we are all trying to find our way in life. In the midst of the brokenness and difficulties in life mixed in with the joys - life is all about finding our way. And for most of us - finding our way in life takes us down many roads that lead no where.

There is a scene in the film where Adam Sandler appears in court to decide whether he ought to be institutionalized because it seems to his in-laws (who are also grieving the loss of their daughter and their grandkids) that he has lost touch with reality - not wanting to remember his family because the memories bring back so much pain. But the judge remarks that "it seems that he needs to find his way" and he asks for the in-laws to give him time to find his way.

We all have lives that are filled with stories of our trying to find our way. That seems to be the story of human experience. All of us are searching for a way that somehow puts our life together, gives us some meaning or direction. Some of us fill our lives with distractions hoping to busy ourselves with things or activities that keep ourselves occupied so that we don't go crazy trying to find our ways.

I discover that so many of us are lost in so many different ways. People lose their way in life, but so do families, communities, nations, and even the world. We are all trying to find our way - and it seems we don't have a whole lot of success in doing it - though some of us look like we have it together better than most.

And then I think about the story of Jesus - God coming to be with us, making his dwelling with us, walking among us. And in the midst of all of our trying to find our way in life, he comes saying that he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). I believe that Jesus comes alongside each of our lives weaving his life into ours - not forcing himself upon us - but trying to connect with us to show us the way. Too many of us are distracted by the noise of life to notice his connecting with us, but some who get the point of being distraught by coming up with another dead end are somehow able to see that walking with him leads to a way that leads to life.

Jesus, then is not about stuff to believe, or even a religious figure - rather Jesus is God coming to us, loving us, and walking with us so that we might begin to find our way in life. Jesus is not about a lot of do's and don't's but about extending an invitation to us, inviting us to walk with him so that in him we begin to find our way in life. On another occassion Jesus talks to people and invites those who are weary and burdened to walk with him, to be yoked or connected with him because he is able to bring rest into our lives (Matthew 11: 28-29).

I am discovering that the Life Story that Jesus brings is the Story that takes hold of all my stories of my trying to find my way in life and leads me to find my way in the midst of brokenness, in the midst of joy and laughter, in the midst of all that is life.

Walking with Jesus is about finding a way in life that is filled with life. I guess that is how I want to live out the rest of my life - and perhaps in my walking with Jesus, I might help someone else find their way as well.

Peace,
Roland

Evangelism: Technique or Expression of Way We Live in light of Jesus Christ?

Yesterday in the community where I worship (North Suburban Mennonite Church - www.northsuburban.org) I was engaged with someone on the subject of evangelism - about whether we need to be involved in it more.

That reminded me about some thoughts I had about evangelism earlier this month.

For me evangelism is not about techniques because when it becomes so it is to dehumanize persons. Sharing the news about Jesus ought to be about giving voice to the way we live as a new humanity in this world, rather than invoking some techniques to "win" people to Christ. Rather "goodnewsing" as someone has called it, is more a partnering with the activity of the Spirit of God in the lives of people God is touching.

Evangelism is also not about inviting people to church so that the church might grow. So then what is it and why engage in it?

I think we need to ask a different set of questions in order to understand why we engage in giving voice to what God is doing in our lives. These questions are not concerned with "what techniques do we need to utilize to grow?"

But rather -

"Whose lives is God touching? Who is God calling to be a part of his new humanity, new community? Whose life is God working in?

It is in discerning the answers to such questions that we begin to discover that God calls us to be partners with him in opening up the lives of others to God's overtures.

Evangelism then, is more about the work of God in the lives of others and also our own lives, rather than some technique or approach we use. It is about living life in such a way that we are open and sensitive to the people God connects us with - people God is active in bringing about transformation in their lives as God has done in our lives. When God brings people into connection with us we are changed because there is a connection the Spirit of God is developing that not only helps us mature, but is also focused upon drawing that person into a transformative relationship with the Living God.

God is at work in people's lives and when such people whom God is at work in either connect with us in our neighborhoods, at work, or come to see what is going on in our worshiping community, we need to be reminded that their coming into our lives may just be the work of the Spirit of God connecting them to us so that they might be recreated in relationship with Christ Jesus.

And so as we live our lives we may indeed invite people to worship with our community - not just to add numbers to our community, but to invite those people we are discovering God is at work in - the worshiping community provides a context for others who the Spirit of God is active in to intentionally connect with God and for us to connect with them and them to us.

So evangelism becomes more about discerning than exercising a technique. Are we aware of those God is calling to live their lives under God's reign? Are we praying for becoming aware of those with whom Jesus is connecting? Are we open to engage others who are searching, seeking because of the work God is doing in their lives? Are we conscious of our living out our faith, and at times giving voice to it, as providing open doors for others to find new life as human beings through and in Christ Jesus?

Some of the ways we can develop such awareness is through remembering our stories of how we were encountered and called by God to become persons within God's community. As we become aware of our own stories, we are more apt to take the time to hear the stories of others, helping them make connections in their own stories where God is connecting with them. It involves a daily praying asking the Spirit of God make us sensitive to the ones the Spirit is working in - just maybe God desires for us to walk with them, alongside them to guide them on their journey. Are we open to invite others into our lives, and open to being invited into the lives of others - in such relationships it is uncanny what the Spirit of God is able to develop.

Evangelism in such an understanding is not about bringing people into our church, but being a part of the lives of people whom God is working in to guide them to be able to respond to the calling of Christ within their lives, a calling in which Christ calls them to become a part of his kingdom, a new humanity, a new community - no matter what church they eventually choose to participate in.

Amazing Grace

Thought I'd share this ad with you that the Salvation Army is running -

Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o

Consider donating to the Salvation Army to help others in need.