Well, my friends, it has certainly been fun sharing these thoughts with you. I hope I’ve at least stimulated you with this small manual to go out there and seek more information. I hope you can see how the gifts God gave, the interests you have, the culture you engage in, and the time and treasures God has blessed you with can all be used in service toward our loving Father, for whom we owe everything. It’s a joy to be able to do His will. It’s an honor that God will use us to tell His message of love and salvation to others who have yet to believe.
Remember to have fun, too. God wants good things for our life. God wants everyone to come to know and believe in Him and share in His warm and loving embrace. It’s just this darn sin that gets in the way in the form of selfishness, stubborn pride, greed, laziness, and the list goes on. While you will have some challenges, no doubt, some trials and setbacks perhaps, you will also experience love, joy, and peace that passes all understanding in knowing, really knowing, you are fulfilling your purpose in this world. Big or small, it all counts in God’s book.
Go at your pace, too. If you are excited and all revved up to go and share your witness – great! Be purpose driven. Just don’t let your drive burn out your purpose. All that means is simply share your witness as you feel called. Don’t think you have to witness to X number of people per day and that if you don’t you are some how failing God. Get started, yes, but don’t torment yourself by setting some unrealistic goal. There are no set numbers of people you need to witness to. Sure, everyone you meet is a potential person to share with but at the same time don’t beat yourself up and become discouraged if you don’t witness to every person you meet. I want to encourage, yes. I want to get you started, yes. But I don’t want to burn you out either. Again, simply go at your own pace.
So go and serve the Lord in joy and gladness, my friends. And I’ll see you at the movies (or a concert, or an art gallery, or a...you get the picture) with Bible in hand and a prayer in my heart.
We started with the Great Commission. That’s where it is for all of us. Our purpose. Our life. Don’t forget. Let’s repeat it again, shall we?
Jesus says to us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this—I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Amen.
Showing posts with label evangelism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evangelism. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Your Utility Belt (Planting Seeds - 18)
Like Batman, you’ll have many pop culture tools in your utility belt to witness to the world. But what are the core, solid, and basic tools you’ll need to “go the distance?” And when you’ve opened the door with a person through engaging them in a current film or piece of music, what are you going to say from there? As I said earlier in this book, I’m not here to give you the words. The Holy Spirit can do that just fine, thank you very much. But I am going to give you a few reminders (and you know I like reminders) of stuff you already know (“Duh,” again) – but lets face it, we all need reminders. The world pulls at us in so many different directions, and you know the Devil is on the prowl to pull us away, distract us, and confound us any time he can, (“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8) that we need to be reminded and refreshed about how to maintain, keep focused, and...“go the distance.”
So here is your own utility belt of items to keep, practices to do daily, habits to get into. You know these things but ask yourself if you really KNOW them and practice them. Know and practice them so well that they become part of your identity, part of who you are so that you cannot function properly without them.
They are that important.
1) Read the Bible daily
The key word here folks is DAILY. You say, “I know, I know.” You may even have good intentions. My friends, intentions are bunk. Remember our pal Yoda who said, “There is no try. There is only do.” Remember our Nike slogan. “Just do it.” I’m pounding these things over and over because we don’t do it. And we have to. The Bible is a living, breathing, powerful tool. It is God’s word. And that word is alive. It is inerrant. It is God-breathed. It’s not a bunch of feel-good stories or nice words of wisdom to put on a mantel above your fireplace (though it’s okay if you do). Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet or composite of good attributes, or a caricature or a metaphor. The Bible is power. The Bible is truth (not subjective but objective) – the ultimate and only truth because the Bible is God. Words are powerful in and of themselves, yes. But the Word of God is the King Kong of powerful words.
Hear His Word now:
“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12
As Christians, we need to be constantly growing, reinforcing, remembering, and applying God’s Word in our life and in our witness. It’s so very, very easy to get distracted. I try to set aside time in the evening to read four chapters – one from the Old Testament, one Psalm, one Gospel, and one New Testament. Do I do it all the time, every day? No. But for the most part I do and I continually work toward and pray for the strength to read the Bible daily. Without it, folks, we just drain away, we atrophy, and we forget. We do. But we cannot. Make it a point to work on reading God’s Word daily no matter where you are, no matter what time of day. One chapter or ten, even one verse (but come on, at least set a minimum of one chapter, it’s shorter than your average magazine article) whatever, but do it. And don’t just read it. Study it, absorb it. And, memorize it...
2) Memorize the Bible
That is, memorize verses. You’ve seen throughout this little book all the wonderful verses of encouragement, direction, and strength that I hope you take time to memorize. Spending time not just reading but memorizing will help you in your witness. When you are nervous or seeking just the right thing to say to someone, yes, the Holy Spirit will guide you, but the Word of God will be more effective in your witness when you already know it. The words just flow off your tongue as the Holy Spirit pulls them from the memory cells in your brain and plants them on your tongue. So make sure as you are reading the Bible, you are spending separate time to memorize God’s Words and make them your words.
3) Go to church
I often read about people saying they have God in their life or in their heart but they don’t need church or “organized religion.” Religion has taken on a bad connotation it seems as well as has church and that’s a shame.
The bottom line is you need church. You need fellowship. Church may be a hospital sometimes, but really it’s a gym. You need to power up and refill your battery cells after being in the world for the last week. God dwells in your heart yes, but He really dwells in His church. (“For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20).
Christ instituted the church on earth when He sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles. Who wouldn’t want the chance to praise, pray, sing, learn, partake in Holy Communion, and dwell with God among your fellow believers? I don’t understand people who say they believe in God but do not “Honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” as God commands. Look at how believers acted amongst each other at the church’s formation: “And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47.
That’s church, baby!
Unity in Christ – Working Together With One Heart & Purpose
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2
And don’t be a church hopper. Yes, churches are run by humans and as humans, we sin, we bicker, we sometimes don’t get along. But that doesn’t mean you run away to a new church at the first sign of a struggle or difficulty. Stick with it. You don’t ditch your family for a new one when the going gets tough, do you? (Well, I suppose some do but is that what God calls us to do?) Why would you abandon your church then? Build something at your church – your relationship with your pastor, your fellow church members, your community. Stay with it and attend regularly and God will only continue to grow in your heart as you go out and face the world each day. I think people should be running to their church every Sunday. It’s a welcome reprieve from the day-to-day dealings of the world. And we carry the church with us. That is, we carry what God has implanted with us. We live our life for Christ daily. Remember the mindset – having a total worldview of God first in our life in all things. Church is simply the cherry on top of the sundae. And who doesn’t like Sundays (pun intended)?
So if you don’t have a current church home, find one already! Jesus is our example and He attended church regularly: “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the scriptures.” (Luke 4:16) What makes you any different then? Remember the cowboy church. Find one that fits for you. You like rock and roll Christian music or traditional hymns? Find one that fits for you. Just don’t get too caught up in the style of your church over the substance of what is preached. Sure, you want to be comfortable, but instead of asking whether the church uses electric guitars in their service, first and foremost you should ask, “Is this church talking to me about the Gospel and the saving message of Jesus Christ?” Because, just like reading the Bible daily, you need to hear that message each and every week. Don’t tell me you know the Christmas story, you know the Lent story, you’ve heard the “Good Samaritan” or the “Prodigal Son” story a billion times. Maybe you’ve heard but have you HEARD it? Do you live it? Is it part of your being or DNA even? Make it so. We are creatures of forgetfulness and distraction and self interest. We need to hear the Gospel message as often as we can, especially if we want to be a witness of it to the world.
If all you are hearing at church are ways for life to be better for YOU, then you are in the wrong church. As Rick Warren said in “Purpose Driven Life,” It’s not about you. If the sermons you hear are all about ways to increase your financial wealth through Christian living or ways to be happier in your life – if all you hear is stuff about you, you, you – get over yourself! That’s not your purpose. Your purpose is, say it with me, serving God through sharing the Good News of salvation in Christ. And lo and behold, when you do that, you find your life is the best it can be – even if by the world’s standards it isn’t. We are not of the world as the saying goes. We are in it. And while we are in it, we need to act in it. We need to act on behalf of our loving Savior, follow His example, who served mankind His whole ministry. That’s our ministry, too. Be we can’t do it without a support group. You’ll find that support in your church.
4) Be prepared for attacks
Let’s face it, as soon as you start putting it out there and start living your purpose by witnessing about Christ, the Devil is going to jump all over you like white on rice. The Devil would rather you stay silent, go to church like a good little Christian, but keep your faith personal – that is, keep it silent, internal, and don’t share it with anyone. Sure, the Devil says, go do your church thing for an hour on Sunday, but then forget about it and get back to your real life. And keep that Jesus stuff to yourself. You have no right to force people to believe what you think. Everyone has the right to believe what they want so keep it to yourself.
Trouble from All Sides
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. 2 Corinthians 4:8
Is that your life right now? It is for so many Christians. And it makes the Devil happy. But now it’s time to shake yourself out of this soul-deadening way of life, take up your armor, and kick some Holy-butt! You know the Devil is prowling around like a lion. You know you’ll have people look at you funny or even with disdain when you start sharing the Good News (that’s one of the reasons why you’re going to be clever about doing it through culture, but NEVER diluting the message either. Never sugar-coating or watering down the message of Christ. All roads do not lead to heaven though many want to believe that. But what some people want and what is real are two different things. Christ loves everyone and makes it so easy to love Him back. He did the hard work and His loving Grace saves us – why people push that message away and treat it as narrow-minded is a mystery to me but never mind. The purpose is still the same. We need to go the distance even when it gets hard), so just expect it and then leave it behind. Christ is there to strengthen and be with you so really what do you have to fear? I know, I know, you still have to actually “talk” to people, and put yourself out there. But it’s okay, really. You are going to do fine. And believe me, once you get going, you’ll dig it and wonder why the heck you haven’t been doing it before.
Remember, the Bible is your ally: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
When You Suffer For Doing What Is Right
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13-17
Yes, there will be some tough times perhaps. Look at what happened to Jesus’ apostles. Even John, who wasn’t killed, was banished to the island of Patmos, yet God still had work for him when He gave John the visions to write the book of Revelation. Christ himself said, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.” (Matthew 24:9) We read in Romans 8:17, “And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
And Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 21 & 25, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God...Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe...This foolish plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.”
So you may get labeled as “narrow-minded,” “naïve,” “simple,” “intolerant,” or “foolish,” as Paul says. Not to sound glib but again, so what? “O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:4)
But on the other hand, what will happen to your neighbor if you never say anything? What if God had you in mind to talk to your co-worker and you never did for fear of being labeled “the religion guy?” What will you tell God when He asks what you did with the talents He gave you? Did you bury them or did you put them to work? So don’t worry so much about yourself but instead be concerned with the things of God. Be concerned with sharing His Good News so that ALL might be saved.
By the way, this is another reason to get your butt into church and build a family of fellowship there in one place. The world will get colder and colder as you put on your armor daily to battle the Devil to save souls. You need the love, kindness, and support of a church family to back you up, power you up, and keep you up.
5) Keep Learning
As you start your witness, we’ve talked about keeping it simple. Share the Gospel. John 3:16. And that’s good. Practice your witness, your personal story, in the mirror or with another Christian friend. Write it down. You’re not trying to create a canned-speech here, but in the beginning, it’s good to get your foundation down. You prepare for job interviews. You have cue-cards when giving a presentation at work. Prepare what you want to say and as time goes on, you’ll add to your witness and be speaking off the top of your head with the Holy Spirit there priming the pump all of the time.
As you read the Bible, read other books on faith, the history of Christianity, witnessing, and of course all those great books on finding God with pop culture that I mentioned in the last chapter. The point is to keep growing in wisdom and knowledge. I think everyone should have a basic course in apologetics (that is, the ability to make an intelligent argument for the truth of Christianity and Jesus Christ as our savior). This ties in with having a “worldview” of your beliefs which permeates everything you do and not simply keeping your faith in a box on Sunday that you keep separate from the rest of your life. People like to complicate things and as we just read in 1 Corinthians, they look at Christianity as simple-minded and foolish, an out-dated belief system that worked in days of superstition but doesn’t work in today’s enlightened, science-driven, post-modern society. The message of the church and the invitation to Christ’s grace will always be easy and open to those who believe it. As Christians, God calls us to keep growing in our knowledge of Him, as He speaks to us in Hebrews 5:12 – 6:3:
“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely, we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.”
Amen. And don’t call me, Shirley. :-)
6) And last but not least: Prayer
In the movies you often hear the over-used line during some moment of crisis: “All we can do now is pray.” I saved prayer for the last in this list not because it’s the last thing you should do – no, it’s the first thing. I saved it till now because it’s the most important thing you can do. Again I hear you saying, “I know, I know.” But, like reading the Bible daily, I have to ask, “Do you?”
Prayer is the best maintenance tool you have on your utility belt to call on God for strength, wisdom, endurance, joy, you name it. As you live your life, as you give your witness, pray unceasingly. I mean it. Get a little chant going in your head throughout the day. You know the Jesus Prayer? It goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It’s a tradition for the Greek Orthodox church and what a great tradition. Start saying this little prayer throughout the day and soon it will be running through your head on auto-play.
Jesus Prays for Us
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:15-18
The point is to call upon God, always. He is our strength, our wisdom, our source for everything, especially for being an effective witness. Here’s some good advice from God as He spoke through the apostle Paul: “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. And Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22. How powerful is that, huh? And, this: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2).
Just go back to step one – Read the Bible, and combined with prayer, you have a powerful combination. Top it off with the strength and support of fellowship through your family church and your continued drive to learn more – God will certainly bless your efforts.
So here is your own utility belt of items to keep, practices to do daily, habits to get into. You know these things but ask yourself if you really KNOW them and practice them. Know and practice them so well that they become part of your identity, part of who you are so that you cannot function properly without them.
They are that important.
1) Read the Bible daily
The key word here folks is DAILY. You say, “I know, I know.” You may even have good intentions. My friends, intentions are bunk. Remember our pal Yoda who said, “There is no try. There is only do.” Remember our Nike slogan. “Just do it.” I’m pounding these things over and over because we don’t do it. And we have to. The Bible is a living, breathing, powerful tool. It is God’s word. And that word is alive. It is inerrant. It is God-breathed. It’s not a bunch of feel-good stories or nice words of wisdom to put on a mantel above your fireplace (though it’s okay if you do). Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet or composite of good attributes, or a caricature or a metaphor. The Bible is power. The Bible is truth (not subjective but objective) – the ultimate and only truth because the Bible is God. Words are powerful in and of themselves, yes. But the Word of God is the King Kong of powerful words.
Hear His Word now:
“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12
As Christians, we need to be constantly growing, reinforcing, remembering, and applying God’s Word in our life and in our witness. It’s so very, very easy to get distracted. I try to set aside time in the evening to read four chapters – one from the Old Testament, one Psalm, one Gospel, and one New Testament. Do I do it all the time, every day? No. But for the most part I do and I continually work toward and pray for the strength to read the Bible daily. Without it, folks, we just drain away, we atrophy, and we forget. We do. But we cannot. Make it a point to work on reading God’s Word daily no matter where you are, no matter what time of day. One chapter or ten, even one verse (but come on, at least set a minimum of one chapter, it’s shorter than your average magazine article) whatever, but do it. And don’t just read it. Study it, absorb it. And, memorize it...
2) Memorize the Bible
That is, memorize verses. You’ve seen throughout this little book all the wonderful verses of encouragement, direction, and strength that I hope you take time to memorize. Spending time not just reading but memorizing will help you in your witness. When you are nervous or seeking just the right thing to say to someone, yes, the Holy Spirit will guide you, but the Word of God will be more effective in your witness when you already know it. The words just flow off your tongue as the Holy Spirit pulls them from the memory cells in your brain and plants them on your tongue. So make sure as you are reading the Bible, you are spending separate time to memorize God’s Words and make them your words.
3) Go to church
I often read about people saying they have God in their life or in their heart but they don’t need church or “organized religion.” Religion has taken on a bad connotation it seems as well as has church and that’s a shame.
The bottom line is you need church. You need fellowship. Church may be a hospital sometimes, but really it’s a gym. You need to power up and refill your battery cells after being in the world for the last week. God dwells in your heart yes, but He really dwells in His church. (“For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20).
Christ instituted the church on earth when He sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles. Who wouldn’t want the chance to praise, pray, sing, learn, partake in Holy Communion, and dwell with God among your fellow believers? I don’t understand people who say they believe in God but do not “Honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” as God commands. Look at how believers acted amongst each other at the church’s formation: “And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47.
That’s church, baby!
Unity in Christ – Working Together With One Heart & Purpose
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2
And don’t be a church hopper. Yes, churches are run by humans and as humans, we sin, we bicker, we sometimes don’t get along. But that doesn’t mean you run away to a new church at the first sign of a struggle or difficulty. Stick with it. You don’t ditch your family for a new one when the going gets tough, do you? (Well, I suppose some do but is that what God calls us to do?) Why would you abandon your church then? Build something at your church – your relationship with your pastor, your fellow church members, your community. Stay with it and attend regularly and God will only continue to grow in your heart as you go out and face the world each day. I think people should be running to their church every Sunday. It’s a welcome reprieve from the day-to-day dealings of the world. And we carry the church with us. That is, we carry what God has implanted with us. We live our life for Christ daily. Remember the mindset – having a total worldview of God first in our life in all things. Church is simply the cherry on top of the sundae. And who doesn’t like Sundays (pun intended)?
So if you don’t have a current church home, find one already! Jesus is our example and He attended church regularly: “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the scriptures.” (Luke 4:16) What makes you any different then? Remember the cowboy church. Find one that fits for you. You like rock and roll Christian music or traditional hymns? Find one that fits for you. Just don’t get too caught up in the style of your church over the substance of what is preached. Sure, you want to be comfortable, but instead of asking whether the church uses electric guitars in their service, first and foremost you should ask, “Is this church talking to me about the Gospel and the saving message of Jesus Christ?” Because, just like reading the Bible daily, you need to hear that message each and every week. Don’t tell me you know the Christmas story, you know the Lent story, you’ve heard the “Good Samaritan” or the “Prodigal Son” story a billion times. Maybe you’ve heard but have you HEARD it? Do you live it? Is it part of your being or DNA even? Make it so. We are creatures of forgetfulness and distraction and self interest. We need to hear the Gospel message as often as we can, especially if we want to be a witness of it to the world.
If all you are hearing at church are ways for life to be better for YOU, then you are in the wrong church. As Rick Warren said in “Purpose Driven Life,” It’s not about you. If the sermons you hear are all about ways to increase your financial wealth through Christian living or ways to be happier in your life – if all you hear is stuff about you, you, you – get over yourself! That’s not your purpose. Your purpose is, say it with me, serving God through sharing the Good News of salvation in Christ. And lo and behold, when you do that, you find your life is the best it can be – even if by the world’s standards it isn’t. We are not of the world as the saying goes. We are in it. And while we are in it, we need to act in it. We need to act on behalf of our loving Savior, follow His example, who served mankind His whole ministry. That’s our ministry, too. Be we can’t do it without a support group. You’ll find that support in your church.
4) Be prepared for attacks
Let’s face it, as soon as you start putting it out there and start living your purpose by witnessing about Christ, the Devil is going to jump all over you like white on rice. The Devil would rather you stay silent, go to church like a good little Christian, but keep your faith personal – that is, keep it silent, internal, and don’t share it with anyone. Sure, the Devil says, go do your church thing for an hour on Sunday, but then forget about it and get back to your real life. And keep that Jesus stuff to yourself. You have no right to force people to believe what you think. Everyone has the right to believe what they want so keep it to yourself.
Trouble from All Sides
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. 2 Corinthians 4:8
Is that your life right now? It is for so many Christians. And it makes the Devil happy. But now it’s time to shake yourself out of this soul-deadening way of life, take up your armor, and kick some Holy-butt! You know the Devil is prowling around like a lion. You know you’ll have people look at you funny or even with disdain when you start sharing the Good News (that’s one of the reasons why you’re going to be clever about doing it through culture, but NEVER diluting the message either. Never sugar-coating or watering down the message of Christ. All roads do not lead to heaven though many want to believe that. But what some people want and what is real are two different things. Christ loves everyone and makes it so easy to love Him back. He did the hard work and His loving Grace saves us – why people push that message away and treat it as narrow-minded is a mystery to me but never mind. The purpose is still the same. We need to go the distance even when it gets hard), so just expect it and then leave it behind. Christ is there to strengthen and be with you so really what do you have to fear? I know, I know, you still have to actually “talk” to people, and put yourself out there. But it’s okay, really. You are going to do fine. And believe me, once you get going, you’ll dig it and wonder why the heck you haven’t been doing it before.
Remember, the Bible is your ally: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
When You Suffer For Doing What Is Right
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13-17
Yes, there will be some tough times perhaps. Look at what happened to Jesus’ apostles. Even John, who wasn’t killed, was banished to the island of Patmos, yet God still had work for him when He gave John the visions to write the book of Revelation. Christ himself said, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.” (Matthew 24:9) We read in Romans 8:17, “And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
And Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 21 & 25, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God...Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe...This foolish plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.”
So you may get labeled as “narrow-minded,” “naïve,” “simple,” “intolerant,” or “foolish,” as Paul says. Not to sound glib but again, so what? “O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:4)
But on the other hand, what will happen to your neighbor if you never say anything? What if God had you in mind to talk to your co-worker and you never did for fear of being labeled “the religion guy?” What will you tell God when He asks what you did with the talents He gave you? Did you bury them or did you put them to work? So don’t worry so much about yourself but instead be concerned with the things of God. Be concerned with sharing His Good News so that ALL might be saved.
By the way, this is another reason to get your butt into church and build a family of fellowship there in one place. The world will get colder and colder as you put on your armor daily to battle the Devil to save souls. You need the love, kindness, and support of a church family to back you up, power you up, and keep you up.
5) Keep Learning
As you start your witness, we’ve talked about keeping it simple. Share the Gospel. John 3:16. And that’s good. Practice your witness, your personal story, in the mirror or with another Christian friend. Write it down. You’re not trying to create a canned-speech here, but in the beginning, it’s good to get your foundation down. You prepare for job interviews. You have cue-cards when giving a presentation at work. Prepare what you want to say and as time goes on, you’ll add to your witness and be speaking off the top of your head with the Holy Spirit there priming the pump all of the time.
As you read the Bible, read other books on faith, the history of Christianity, witnessing, and of course all those great books on finding God with pop culture that I mentioned in the last chapter. The point is to keep growing in wisdom and knowledge. I think everyone should have a basic course in apologetics (that is, the ability to make an intelligent argument for the truth of Christianity and Jesus Christ as our savior). This ties in with having a “worldview” of your beliefs which permeates everything you do and not simply keeping your faith in a box on Sunday that you keep separate from the rest of your life. People like to complicate things and as we just read in 1 Corinthians, they look at Christianity as simple-minded and foolish, an out-dated belief system that worked in days of superstition but doesn’t work in today’s enlightened, science-driven, post-modern society. The message of the church and the invitation to Christ’s grace will always be easy and open to those who believe it. As Christians, God calls us to keep growing in our knowledge of Him, as He speaks to us in Hebrews 5:12 – 6:3:
“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely, we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.”
Amen. And don’t call me, Shirley. :-)
6) And last but not least: Prayer
In the movies you often hear the over-used line during some moment of crisis: “All we can do now is pray.” I saved prayer for the last in this list not because it’s the last thing you should do – no, it’s the first thing. I saved it till now because it’s the most important thing you can do. Again I hear you saying, “I know, I know.” But, like reading the Bible daily, I have to ask, “Do you?”
Prayer is the best maintenance tool you have on your utility belt to call on God for strength, wisdom, endurance, joy, you name it. As you live your life, as you give your witness, pray unceasingly. I mean it. Get a little chant going in your head throughout the day. You know the Jesus Prayer? It goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It’s a tradition for the Greek Orthodox church and what a great tradition. Start saying this little prayer throughout the day and soon it will be running through your head on auto-play.
Jesus Prays for Us
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:15-18
The point is to call upon God, always. He is our strength, our wisdom, our source for everything, especially for being an effective witness. Here’s some good advice from God as He spoke through the apostle Paul: “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. And Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22. How powerful is that, huh? And, this: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2).
Just go back to step one – Read the Bible, and combined with prayer, you have a powerful combination. Top it off with the strength and support of fellowship through your family church and your continued drive to learn more – God will certainly bless your efforts.
Go the Distance (Planting Seeds - 17)
Maintenance Mode
In the movie, “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner keeps hearing a voice in his cornfield. And though he doesn’t really understand it, something in him trusts that voice and he ends up plowing most of his cornfield under to build a baseball diamond, at the risk of losing his home and alienating himself and his family from the neighborhood. Partway through the film, after having listened to the voice though it’s been hard, he hears the voice now say, “Go the distance.”
Ripe for the Pickin’
These were his [Jesus’] instructions to them: “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. Luke 10:2
That is just what you need to do. You might be excited to try and engage the world with your witness using the tools of the pop culture that surround us and that’s all good. You’ll probably hits some snags, maybe get discouraged, maybe embarrassed or frustrated. On the other end, you’ll experience the power of Christ working through you and see how coming at your witness from the side instead of directly head-on actually works, and makes the person you’re talking to comfortable and at ease enough to open up with you over time. You may plant seeds and never see them flower, but flower they do through the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is, no matter what happens, don’t give up, don’t get lazy, don’t get distracted, don’t stop.
Go the distance.
Don’t Get Discouraged
So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9
Disclaimer
If you stayed with me so far (thank you, first of all) I want to make sure we are crystal clear about something. Obviously, I have a love of film, music, art, literature and other aspects of the culture we live in today. Like most people, I have an appreciation for beauty, for fun, for entertainment and enjoyment. But make no mistake. The goal of planting seeds is NOT to create a justification for spending all your time engaging in a life of leisure and entertainment. There is a time and a place for everything. God expects us to have time to rest, to take enjoyment from the things mankind creates, and to bask in the beauty of the world He created. (“And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Then follows the next verse. “And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose in this is that people should fear [respect, stand in awe of] him.” Ecclesiastes 3:13-14) But our purpose, our calling, the first thing we should always be doing is looking for ways to serve our generous and loving Lord by sharing the Good News. Because that is, after all, where we find our true joy.
This is not a blog about putting movies and books and arts and music above God. These are merely tools God has given us to use in our utility belt to witness to the world. We take those metaphors, myths, and messages found in the culture of film, music, art, etc. and direct them towards a new life in Christ from the existing life in the world. I know you get that but sometimes it’s good to put things plainly, in black and white, ink on the page (or bytes on web), you know, so that we’re all on the same page.
Go ahead, you can tell me, “Duh, dude,” if you want.
In the movie, “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner keeps hearing a voice in his cornfield. And though he doesn’t really understand it, something in him trusts that voice and he ends up plowing most of his cornfield under to build a baseball diamond, at the risk of losing his home and alienating himself and his family from the neighborhood. Partway through the film, after having listened to the voice though it’s been hard, he hears the voice now say, “Go the distance.”
Ripe for the Pickin’
These were his [Jesus’] instructions to them: “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. Luke 10:2
That is just what you need to do. You might be excited to try and engage the world with your witness using the tools of the pop culture that surround us and that’s all good. You’ll probably hits some snags, maybe get discouraged, maybe embarrassed or frustrated. On the other end, you’ll experience the power of Christ working through you and see how coming at your witness from the side instead of directly head-on actually works, and makes the person you’re talking to comfortable and at ease enough to open up with you over time. You may plant seeds and never see them flower, but flower they do through the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is, no matter what happens, don’t give up, don’t get lazy, don’t get distracted, don’t stop.
Go the distance.
Don’t Get Discouraged
So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9
Disclaimer
If you stayed with me so far (thank you, first of all) I want to make sure we are crystal clear about something. Obviously, I have a love of film, music, art, literature and other aspects of the culture we live in today. Like most people, I have an appreciation for beauty, for fun, for entertainment and enjoyment. But make no mistake. The goal of planting seeds is NOT to create a justification for spending all your time engaging in a life of leisure and entertainment. There is a time and a place for everything. God expects us to have time to rest, to take enjoyment from the things mankind creates, and to bask in the beauty of the world He created. (“And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Then follows the next verse. “And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose in this is that people should fear [respect, stand in awe of] him.” Ecclesiastes 3:13-14) But our purpose, our calling, the first thing we should always be doing is looking for ways to serve our generous and loving Lord by sharing the Good News. Because that is, after all, where we find our true joy.
This is not a blog about putting movies and books and arts and music above God. These are merely tools God has given us to use in our utility belt to witness to the world. We take those metaphors, myths, and messages found in the culture of film, music, art, etc. and direct them towards a new life in Christ from the existing life in the world. I know you get that but sometimes it’s good to put things plainly, in black and white, ink on the page (or bytes on web), you know, so that we’re all on the same page.
Go ahead, you can tell me, “Duh, dude,” if you want.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
More Examples on Planting Seeds (15)
Unleash the Inner Prayer Warrior and Christian Barbarian
We spoke in chapter one a little bit on the fear you might have in attempting to witness for Christ, whether to strangers or even people you know. Here are a few books to help empower you on your way to becoming the Über-Witness that you really are inside.
“Waking the Dead,” by John Eldredge.
“Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity,” by Nancy Pearcey.
“The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within,” by Erwin Raphael McManus.
“The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God,” by Mark Buchanan
“The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think like Jesus,” by Brennan Manning.
It’s All on the Web
“CultureWatch” - Another interesting website that brings culture and faith together is DickStaub.com which is about “Equipping the Culturally Savvy Christian through insight, quotes, and articles from the intersection of faith and culture.” The site provides commentary on faith and culture covering movies, music, books, and contemporary issues.
A great website, basically a blog, is www.culture-makers.com which contains the collected writing of Andy Crouch who explores the ways that culture shapes faith, and the ways followers of Christ respond to culture. Worth a visit or two...or three...
Mars Hill Media is a non-profit media ministry whose goal is to “stir up cities with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through thought provoking, impactful media messages.” They are tuned in to using today’s culture and media sources to get their message out. And they offer some free resources, including an online version of their pamphlet, “Good News for the Religiously Tired,” (you can also purchase a hard copy). Go to: www.marshillmedia.com
Blogs
The last I checked, there were over a thousand Christian weblogs (source: blogs4god.com) and that number will undoubtedly be bigger when you check. Remember we talked about those who like to share their faith through writing? Well here’s a way get going immediately (if not sooner!). You can create you own blog for free and there are templates to chose from so you don’t need any design skills to create and format your blog. Just the will to do it and tenacity to keep it up. Go to it, writers for God!
Nothing but the News
For those news junkies out there who like to talk about current events, you might want to check out the “Religious News Service,” which bills itself as “the only secular news and photo service devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics – exclusively.” Find them at www.religionnews.com.
Top Film Lists
Artsandfaith.com publishes a list of “Top 100 Spiritually Significant Films.” You’ll find many films listed there to stimulate your faith and get you thinking.
Writing Out Your Faith
“I was a Christian before I started writing,” said Bret Lott, author of many novels, including “Jewel.” So he’s a writer who is a Christian, not a Christian writer. His goal in writing is to teach and evangelize through fiction but his work in not preachy. (Source: “A Jewel of a Writer,” by Lauren F. Winner, published in “Christianity Today,” June, 2005)
Christian film critic, Matthew Kinne, loves movies so much that he wrote a devotional book, “Reflections for Movie Lovers,” which includes 365 musings on the power of cinema from a spiritual perspective.
Though we’ve already mentioned Stephen King, there are a few other works of his that bear mentioning. King has said, “While I believe in God, I have no use for organized religion.” Be that as it may (who knows how God may be working through people – Christian or non-Christian? He does, though. We know that from the Bible.) Stephen King has certainly featured God directly or indirectly in much of his work, offering you a wealth of material to draw from in those discussions with the fans of scary novels/movies (or not-so-scary, as it turns out, too). Here are a few to explore if you haven’t read/seen them already:
“The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” (book)
“The Green Mile” (serial book and movie)
“Dreamcatcher” (book only, forget the movie)
“Desperation” (book)
Christian Fiction (Yes, It’s out there and doin’ fine, thanks)
“Struck by Lightning,” by ME. Yep, Mike Curley. Okay, another shameless plug, but it’s a pretty decent little Christian supernatural-horror type book so if that’s your thing, give it a spin and let me know what you think. Be kind, though.
Like a good mystery? Ted Dekker has written several suspense novels with Christian themes woven throughout his stories. “Red, Black, White,” and “When Heaven Weeps” are just two you might want to check out.
“Shadowmancer,” by G.P. Taylor. More darkness and evil stuff in this fantasy novel. Also, “Wormwood.”
“This Present Darkness,” a classic by Frank E. Peretti. Check out his other novels, too, like “The Visitation.”
“Girl Meets God,” by Lauren F. Winner – a year in the life of a young Christian woman’s life whose father is Jewish and whose mother is a lapsed Baptist. See, I’m not all about the evil, spooky stuff.
“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger,” by David Gregory, about a guy who gets an invitation to dinner with Jesus and gets to ask all the questions one might want to ask our Lord and Savior.
“Comes a Horseman,” by Robert Liparulo. “Christianity Today” sums up this spiritual thriller with: “Take ‘The DaVinci Code,’ throw in a dash of ‘Left Behind,’ pair it with the intrigue of a Tom Clancy thriller, and you’ve got this chilling debut novel.”
"Christ the Lord," and "Road to Cana," by Anne Rice. Yes, Anne Rice, the writer of all those vampire novels, has written a compelling fiction of Christ’s life as a young boy. The story of Ms. Rice is also compelling – her journey to re-discover and re-confirm her faith is worth reading about and is certainly a great example to share in your witnessing for someone who is struggling in their own journey. Think of the many fans of her vampire tales who don’t have Christ in their life. What a wonderful chance to share the Gospel through this novel.
Again, there’s more Christian fiction out there than you can shake a stick at (but why would you anyway and why do you have a stick?) so give these a taste for that whetted appetite then go for seconds, and thirds, and...
We spoke in chapter one a little bit on the fear you might have in attempting to witness for Christ, whether to strangers or even people you know. Here are a few books to help empower you on your way to becoming the Über-Witness that you really are inside.
“Waking the Dead,” by John Eldredge.
“Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity,” by Nancy Pearcey.
“The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within,” by Erwin Raphael McManus.
“The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God,” by Mark Buchanan
“The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think like Jesus,” by Brennan Manning.
It’s All on the Web
“CultureWatch” - Another interesting website that brings culture and faith together is DickStaub.com which is about “Equipping the Culturally Savvy Christian through insight, quotes, and articles from the intersection of faith and culture.” The site provides commentary on faith and culture covering movies, music, books, and contemporary issues.
A great website, basically a blog, is www.culture-makers.com which contains the collected writing of Andy Crouch who explores the ways that culture shapes faith, and the ways followers of Christ respond to culture. Worth a visit or two...or three...
Mars Hill Media is a non-profit media ministry whose goal is to “stir up cities with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through thought provoking, impactful media messages.” They are tuned in to using today’s culture and media sources to get their message out. And they offer some free resources, including an online version of their pamphlet, “Good News for the Religiously Tired,” (you can also purchase a hard copy). Go to: www.marshillmedia.com
Blogs
The last I checked, there were over a thousand Christian weblogs (source: blogs4god.com) and that number will undoubtedly be bigger when you check. Remember we talked about those who like to share their faith through writing? Well here’s a way get going immediately (if not sooner!). You can create you own blog for free and there are templates to chose from so you don’t need any design skills to create and format your blog. Just the will to do it and tenacity to keep it up. Go to it, writers for God!
Nothing but the News
For those news junkies out there who like to talk about current events, you might want to check out the “Religious News Service,” which bills itself as “the only secular news and photo service devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics – exclusively.” Find them at www.religionnews.com.
Top Film Lists
Artsandfaith.com publishes a list of “Top 100 Spiritually Significant Films.” You’ll find many films listed there to stimulate your faith and get you thinking.
Writing Out Your Faith
“I was a Christian before I started writing,” said Bret Lott, author of many novels, including “Jewel.” So he’s a writer who is a Christian, not a Christian writer. His goal in writing is to teach and evangelize through fiction but his work in not preachy. (Source: “A Jewel of a Writer,” by Lauren F. Winner, published in “Christianity Today,” June, 2005)
Christian film critic, Matthew Kinne, loves movies so much that he wrote a devotional book, “Reflections for Movie Lovers,” which includes 365 musings on the power of cinema from a spiritual perspective.
Though we’ve already mentioned Stephen King, there are a few other works of his that bear mentioning. King has said, “While I believe in God, I have no use for organized religion.” Be that as it may (who knows how God may be working through people – Christian or non-Christian? He does, though. We know that from the Bible.) Stephen King has certainly featured God directly or indirectly in much of his work, offering you a wealth of material to draw from in those discussions with the fans of scary novels/movies (or not-so-scary, as it turns out, too). Here are a few to explore if you haven’t read/seen them already:
“The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” (book)
“The Green Mile” (serial book and movie)
“Dreamcatcher” (book only, forget the movie)
“Desperation” (book)
Christian Fiction (Yes, It’s out there and doin’ fine, thanks)
“Struck by Lightning,” by ME. Yep, Mike Curley. Okay, another shameless plug, but it’s a pretty decent little Christian supernatural-horror type book so if that’s your thing, give it a spin and let me know what you think. Be kind, though.
Like a good mystery? Ted Dekker has written several suspense novels with Christian themes woven throughout his stories. “Red, Black, White,” and “When Heaven Weeps” are just two you might want to check out.
“Shadowmancer,” by G.P. Taylor. More darkness and evil stuff in this fantasy novel. Also, “Wormwood.”
“This Present Darkness,” a classic by Frank E. Peretti. Check out his other novels, too, like “The Visitation.”
“Girl Meets God,” by Lauren F. Winner – a year in the life of a young Christian woman’s life whose father is Jewish and whose mother is a lapsed Baptist. See, I’m not all about the evil, spooky stuff.
“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger,” by David Gregory, about a guy who gets an invitation to dinner with Jesus and gets to ask all the questions one might want to ask our Lord and Savior.
“Comes a Horseman,” by Robert Liparulo. “Christianity Today” sums up this spiritual thriller with: “Take ‘The DaVinci Code,’ throw in a dash of ‘Left Behind,’ pair it with the intrigue of a Tom Clancy thriller, and you’ve got this chilling debut novel.”
"Christ the Lord," and "Road to Cana," by Anne Rice. Yes, Anne Rice, the writer of all those vampire novels, has written a compelling fiction of Christ’s life as a young boy. The story of Ms. Rice is also compelling – her journey to re-discover and re-confirm her faith is worth reading about and is certainly a great example to share in your witnessing for someone who is struggling in their own journey. Think of the many fans of her vampire tales who don’t have Christ in their life. What a wonderful chance to share the Gospel through this novel.
Again, there’s more Christian fiction out there than you can shake a stick at (but why would you anyway and why do you have a stick?) so give these a taste for that whetted appetite then go for seconds, and thirds, and...
John Eldredge – The Message in the Movie (14)
If you ever get a chance to attend one of John Eldredge’s seminars or workshops, I highly recommend it. He’s written several books you might want to explore, some of them listed elsewhere in this book. Probably a good place to start is his website: www.ransomedheart.com.
The reason I like this guy so much is that he’s very down-to-earth and easy going. He’s a blue jeans kind of dude that just loves Jesus and wants to share, to heal, to help. And he was one of the first people I saw who integrated a lot of popular culture to help illustrate a spiritual point – both in his books and seminars. He’s big on the idea that we are all in an epic adventure in life, so movies like “Braveheart” (what a great Christ figure character), “Lord of the Rings,” “Last of the Mohicans,” are movies he often pulls from. I could go into each of his books and tell you what I liked or responded to but instead I’ll just say, check his stuff out. I’m sure there’s something you’ll respond to there, but he is well worth the journey of exploration. Here’s just a taste of what he’s about from his book, “Epic.”
“Christianity, in its true form, tells us that there is an Author and that he is good, the essence of all that is good and beautiful and true, for he is the source of all those things. It tells us that he has set our hearts’ longings within us, for he has made us to live in an Epic. It warns that the truth is always in danger of being twisted and corrupted and stolen from us because there is a villain in the story who hates our hearts and wants to destroy us. It calls us up into a Story that is truer and deeper than any other, and assures us that there we will find the meaning of our lives.”
You’ve got your own part of the “Story” to tell, too. Whether a page, or a chapter, or your own volume – Part One, and it’s all important in God’s eyes.
Play your part.
The reason I like this guy so much is that he’s very down-to-earth and easy going. He’s a blue jeans kind of dude that just loves Jesus and wants to share, to heal, to help. And he was one of the first people I saw who integrated a lot of popular culture to help illustrate a spiritual point – both in his books and seminars. He’s big on the idea that we are all in an epic adventure in life, so movies like “Braveheart” (what a great Christ figure character), “Lord of the Rings,” “Last of the Mohicans,” are movies he often pulls from. I could go into each of his books and tell you what I liked or responded to but instead I’ll just say, check his stuff out. I’m sure there’s something you’ll respond to there, but he is well worth the journey of exploration. Here’s just a taste of what he’s about from his book, “Epic.”
“Christianity, in its true form, tells us that there is an Author and that he is good, the essence of all that is good and beautiful and true, for he is the source of all those things. It tells us that he has set our hearts’ longings within us, for he has made us to live in an Epic. It warns that the truth is always in danger of being twisted and corrupted and stolen from us because there is a villain in the story who hates our hearts and wants to destroy us. It calls us up into a Story that is truer and deeper than any other, and assures us that there we will find the meaning of our lives.”
You’ve got your own part of the “Story” to tell, too. Whether a page, or a chapter, or your own volume – Part One, and it’s all important in God’s eyes.
Play your part.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Seed Planters from Yesterday & Today (8)
Finding Christ in Culture
Pop quiz. What is one of the biggest, one of the most universal forms of entertainment (dare I say, artform? Yes, sometimes) in our culture today? Television? Music? Film? I suppose you could make an argument for all three. And that’s really the point. There are so many ways to introduce a discussion on faith through today’s popular forms of culture. It’s a safe bet to say everyone is familiar to some degree with television, music, and film and that everyone has some favorites in each area. But what about other forms of culture like art? Paintings, drawings, photography, and computer graphics. And what about writing? Fiction, drama, poetry, screenplays, journalism. And what about...well, you get the picture.
So what do YOU like? Are you a movie nut like me? Does music speak to your soul? How about television, everyone’s guilty habit? Come on, admit it, you have a few shows you like to watch every week. And yes, there is a lot of great television out there beside public access. So take your pick. While you’re deciding, let’s take some time to explore some of the seed planters out there already and see how they are planting the message of Christ in their chosen medium.
Movie Messages
You knew I’d start with movies, didn’t you? Hey, it is my blog after all. I’m sure if I asked you to come up with five favorite movies – ones you don’t mind watching again and again – you could easily do it. Probably ten movies or more even, huh? Movies you’ve seen so many times you can recite the dialogue in your sleep, yeah? But could you take those films and use them as a diving board to jump into a conversation about your faith? Probably.
Christianity Today Movies
The magazine, “Christian Today,” has been around for awhile but their official “movie” section started in February of 2004. While they may have come a little late to the game in developing an online forum for discussing faith in film, they’ve certainly made up for it in content, which is why I’m beginning with them as my first example.
Not only do they review every movie that comes out – and archive them for future reference – but they provide a few “discussion point” questions to help start a conversation. So if you don’t know how to get started in tying a film to your faith, start with these questions. It’s a great way to begin. The site includes reviews from other Christian reviewers, downloadable Bible studies for about five bucks on lots of films, interviews, articles and commentaries about faith and film, and even a parental barometer for deciding whether your kids should see a certain film or not.
“Christianity Today” has done a really wonderful job with this website. If I had to recommend one source for you to go to for information on film and faith, this could very well be the one. You’ll see throughout this book several references to source material from “Christianity Today,” so you know I’m a big fan.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/
Christian Movie Review Websites
There are many websites out there in cyberland to provide you a wealth of Christian movie review material. Remember I asked you to pick out five of your favorite movies? Take those five movies and explore the reviews of them on these websites (including “Christianity Today”) to help you in formulating your message. Film is a very powerful medium for expressing a theme, a message, a mood, or idea. It’s a good idea to research what others have already said about a film you’re interested in discussing, not only to confirm what you want to say but also to provide additional ideas as well as possible critiques on your message – and how to respond.
The Film Forum – now called, The Joy of Movies
This was one of the first Christian movie review sites I came across when I first started looking into using film as a tool to share my witness, and it remains a favorite of mine. Editor Steve Lansingh has a wonderful way with words and is able to find a spiritual message that really hits home in every review he gives. On his website, part of his bio reads, “Steve is a spiritual sojourner whose encounters with God are usually found in everyday, ‘mundane’ moments like watching movies, preparing food, holding hands, waiting in line, and laughter. He believes that since life was created as a gift, and human beings were created in love, then the purpose of Christianity is not to withdraw from our surroundings but to know God more fully through experiencing this world.”
Sounds like a seed planter to me, doesn’t he?
I read an article of his called, “Ten Films of 1999,” which included a discussion on a few challenging films from a Christian standpoint such as “Fight Club” and “American Beauty.” At first glance you might not think there was any kind of message a Christian could use from these films to give context to their faith, but read what Mr. Lansingh had to say in one of his columns:
“There’s a scene in ‘Fight Club’ in which Tyler Durden forces a store clerk at gunpoint to follow his dream of becoming a veterinarian. I identified with this clerk; sometimes I need the gun to the head to make the bold choice rather than drift along with the rest of society. To me, this scene make the movie’s point: Choose this day whom you will serve. It also got me thinking: If I was forced to name what I wanted to do with my life, could I identify one particular thing I hope to accomplish, without which the trigger might as well have been pulled? So I decided to write, in essence, a mission statement. My mission is ‘to look for God’s hand in the everyday and help others see it.’ The question ‘Fight Club’ asks me, and that I will probably constantly struggle with, is why I’m afraid to leave behind what makes me unhappy in order to pursue that goal wholeheartedly.” (Source: Ten Films that Made my Year, by Steve Lansingh, “The Crossing.”)
After I read that, I was hooked. What a powerful statement. And what a powerful tool films are to share your faith. And not just “spiritual” films either. Challenge yourself to find a message in the films that the people you plan to witness to like the most. Don’t gravitate only to the obvious Christian message films like “The Passion of the Christ” or “The Ten Commandments.” Odds are you’ll have much better success in your witness by coming at Christ through films seemingly devoid of any Christian context.
Films, good films, deal with the total human experience and that experience includes a relationship of some kind with the spiritual side of humanity. It’s your job as a Christian to tap into the broad subject of spirituality which we can find in almost any film and focus it in tightly on the message of salvation in Christ. Take some time to see how Mr. Lansingh and the staff of “The Joy of Movies” do it and learn from them.
Then go do it yourself.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.joyofmovies.com/
Like “Joy of Movies,” there are a ton of website resources for you to explore if movies are what you like and you feel comfortable discussing them with your friends and acquaintances in relation to your faith. The few I’ll mention here are just the tip of the iceberg, but worth exploring as resources as you develop your own way and style of “movie witnessing.” (Note: websites come and go. Hopefully the ones listed here are alive and kicking as you read this, but if not, put those fingers to work on a Google search for “Christian movie reviews,” or “Christian movie critics,” or “film, faith, witnessing,” or other phrasing that you come up with. And then you’ll “come up with” a lot, trust me). Some sites are better than others and some focus on the message of Jesus Christ in their reviews more than others. But all of them have something to say. Take a look and see for yourself and decide what works best for you as a resource.
In no particular order:
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/ – Pop culture from a spiritual point of view. Lots of great resources on this site.
http://www.christiancritic.com/ - Reviews and spiritual commentary of film critic Michael Elliott.
http://www.lookingcloser.org/ - Looking for truth, beauty, and meaning in the arts (includes music reviews, too). Read Jeffrey Overstreet’s “Purpose of Looking Closer” statement. Here’s a bit from it: “To glorify God in the discipline of art, one must pursue beauty, truth, and excellence. All beauty belongs to God. All truth. All excellence. Movies, like any art form, can reveal for us pieces of the truth, no matter who directed the film, who starred in it, or what it is about.” Pretty good stuff, don’t you think?
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ – Based on the publication of the same name from Focus on the Family. Also includes reviews and commentary on music and television.
promontoryartists.org - Encouraging Christians in the arts and impacting culture through the arts.
Like I said, there are a ton out there, but these will get you started.
Movies to Ponder
The following list is by no means a definitive list of movies to use as your entrée to sharing the message of Christ. No doubt, some of them will not be to your liking for a variety of reasons. All I ask is that you do not dismiss them outright. If you haven’t seen them, take a peek. If you have and wonder what the heck I could be talking about in terms of using a film like say, “American Beauty,” as a witnessing tool. Be open, pray about it, then go with something you like. That’s the real key – being passionate. In the first place, what we are really doing is being passionate about Christ. Then we tie that passion into a movie that really touched us in some way. In some way the movie was exciting, moving, thrilling, thought provoking, etc. to us. Put it all together and take your passion and excitement to your friends so that they pick up on it and catch fire, too. That’s what it’s all about, right?
So take a look, see what you think, then maybe explore some of the reviews of these films on the Christian movie review sites above, and see where God takes you the next time you’re standing around the water cooler with your friends and co-workers. Strike up a conversation: “Hey Bob, did you ever see the movie, American Beauty? That scene where the kids video-taped that plastic bag floating in the air was really interesting. It reminded me of...” And you’re off!
In no particular order:
American Beauty – perhaps a challenging movie for some Christians, but at the heart it speaks to finding God’s beauty in the everyday and to a hope for a happier life by just being who you really are because life is worth living even though humanity has its flaws. How might we as Christians speak about hope and offer that message to those trying desperately to hold up appearances while feeling completely lost inside?
The Stand – One of my favorite Stephen King books and a pretty good mini-series. Like many stories in the horror (and sci-fi) genre, this one speaks to the ultimate struggle between good and evil. Here, King gets pretty direct in defining that good and evil as God vs. Devil. I love the horror genre (and sci-fi) for exactly that reason – at the core of almost every horror movie is the good vs. evil theme. Who will win? “Aliens,” “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,” “Independence Day,” “The Exorcist,” “Star Wars,” – just a few examples where you could take the idea of good versus evil and get into a conversation about the ultimate good, that is God, and the ultimate evil, that is, the devil.
An article on ChristianityToday.com has this to say about horror movies and the Christians response:
“...in the hands of a sanctified imagination, the horror form...can become a vehicle for redemption. . . True horror treats good as good and evil as evil. . . True horror reminds us how profoundly moral our universe is. It reminds us, refreshingly, of simple things like good and evil, justice and mercy, courage and cowardice. . .True horror, finally, makes possible an experience of grace. It suggests that we too are misshapen, we too are duped by evil. There is in us all a Mr. Hyde. . .The horror story, in the end, is a reminder that our present reality is disturbed and distorted. In the hands of the Christian, that reminder can become an invitation to redemption. . . The horror story is not an escape from life, in all its wildness and terrible beauty; it is rather a way of walking through it, and as such a reminder that there is meaning, thanks be to God, in the middle of all the horror.” (Source: “The Horrors!” by W. David O. Taylor; ChristianityToday.com, posted 4/05/2005)
Amen.
The Matrix – Okay, a ton of stuff has been written about this film and the series. I even mentioned it earlier in this book. But it’s worth talking about again. Themes of Christianity and Buddhism abound in the film but one of the most obvious and simplest-to-grasp character types in this film is Neo as the Christ figure. This is a common character type in many films but is so very clearly presented in Neo as the “one” who will save humanity from the machines and free them all to live freely in Zion. To do this, he has to sacrifice himself so that the other humans can live. Neo’s character, that is, his purpose, reminds us that a fallen world of people is still worth saving. Both in the first film and most definitely in the last film we see these themes played out (sorry if I’m spoiling the end for some of you but if you haven’t seen “The Matrix” by now – what planet are you from. Just kidding. Relax, have some fun). This series can create many long conversations and debates for you as you witness, and you can have fun along the way because aside from the message, it’s a very entertaining film, too.
Fight Club – I resisted this movie for a long time because I thought it was a film about gratuitous violence. How wrong I was. Yes, like “American Beauty” it is a challenging film. There is violence in it but this film is a dark comedy. Did I say comedy? Yes, one that bites. But as you read in the quote from Steve Lansingh, there’s a lot to unpack in this film—it’s about not sitting by and wasting your life. Finding purpose, being yourself, not letting the world and its drive to acquire material possessions define who you are. (There’s a great sequence where the main character sees his apartment through the eyes of an IKEA catalog and wonders what kind of dining set defines himself as a person). What a great opening to talk to others about where to find your real purpose for living – in Christ. Give the movie a try. See if it fits.
The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty – interestingly, both starring Jim Carrey, but both films speak, in different ways, to the consequences of when humans try to play God and runs things on their own. Not good. But how many people do you know who try to live life on their own terms, who don’t need God, and like the family in “American Beauty” are living a miserable life on the inside while pretending all is well on the outside?
Ben Hur – we could put many of the openly religious movies in this category, like “The Ten Commandments,” “The Passion of the Christ,” and even the excellent (though slightly more veiled) mythological take on the Gospel through the movie version of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” as wonderful and very direct tools for witnessing, but I want to focus on just one scene in “Ben Hur.”
Ben Hur is in chains as a slave and is being whipped and harshly moved along by the Roman soldiers. They stop for a moment and, as Ben Hur is collapsed on his knees, a figure bends down to give him some water, which he readily drinks down in gratitude. The soldier tells this “person” to stop but he doesn’t. Finally, the soldier comes forward to whip the tar out of this guy who won’t listen to him and the “person” stands up. We only see him from the back but it’s clear that this person is Jesus. Jesus stands there calmly, not moving as the guard looks upon his face (again, we only see the soldiers reaction, Jesus’ back is to us the whole time). The soldier is about to strike and pauses, looking into Jesus’ face. His anger becomes confusion, then perhaps embarrassment or shame and guilt, and he quickly looks away and walks off.
What a very simple scene but what a powerful one to show the love, compassion, sympathy, strength, and power in our savior. I cry every time I watch that scene which becomes even more powerful later on as the roles are reversed and Ben Hur tries to give Christ water as he carries his cross to Golgatha.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of scenes that we can draw on to share our message and not necessarily the whole film. Look for the scenes that speak to you. They may not even have much to do with the movie’s main story line, but you can use them in your witness.
Leap of Faith – A film that didn’t get its due in the theaters because of mis-marketing. It stars Steve Martin and Debra Winger and the story is about a slick talking preacher who goes around scamming people out of their money with flashy talk and fake miracles. But he arrives in one small town and is confronted with an honest-to-God miracle on his very own stage and is forced to deal with what he really believes. This is a great little film about redemption and the power of faith.
Shawshank Redemption – A wonderful movie based on a Stephen King novella (not a horror story, either) with its core message of holding on to hope even in the most terrible, bleak, and unjust situations. A powerful tool to witness for speaking to our hope and trust in Christ even in the most dire situations we find ourselves in – and to not giving up.
Lord of the Rings – Like “The Matrix,” a lot has been written about Christian symbolism in this trilogy. You’ll find many resources on the Internet and in various books, but here are some themes to think about in terms of your witness – a journey to save the world from destruction (we’re all on a journey, aren’t we? Every day, fulfilling our purpose to help Christ “save the world”), about not giving up (that theme of hope again), sacrifice, and faith, are but a few of those big, universal themes we find in epic stories like the Ring series – and don’t they all tie into the biggest story of them all? The story of salvation in Christ in the Bible. And unlike the Ring series, this “story” is true. What a powerful message.
The Apostle – Christians aren’t perfect. We sin like everyone else. The difference is that we recognize that we sin and seek Christ’s forgiveness daily and strive to live the best we can in a sinful world. In “The Apostle,” Sonny is a Southern preacher who loves the Lord and is filled with the spirit. But in a moment of rage, he gives into the darker side of sin and commits murder. Hiding out from the law, the film is about Sonny finding the road to redemption and walking it. This is a powerful film showing the dual nature of man – fighting against his sinful nature and continually seeking Christ’s righteousness, and the struggle of it all. To those you witness to who take the stance that all Christians think they are better then everyone else (you’ve heard that one before, right?), this might be a good film to lead into a discussion on the frailty of man (all humanity) and the need for having Christ in our life.
Okay, we’ll stop there – in just these few films I’ve mentioned, think about how many different directions a discussion on your faith could go. Explore for yourself. You may have no interest in the films I’ve just mentioned, but I hope I have whet your appetite to see how films can be a powerful tool to lead into a discussion of sharing the Gospel message of salvation in Christ – which is our ultimate goal. There are many ways to get started, and films are just one way.
But a fun way, I think. See you at the movies.
Moving Music
What kind of music do you like to listen to? Rock, heavy metal, country, punk, rap/hip-hop, acoustic? Christian music covers all styles of music. At one time Christian music was solely identified with the gospel-quartet-flowery-worship-type of music that it, well, kinda was in the beginning. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just that musical tastes are so varied and Christian music has expanded beyond what it was to reach those other tastes by artists who have a passion to share their witness through a certain style of music.
There are many Christian concert festivals today that share a diverse range of music styles but one of the first ones that I heard of was the “Cornerstone Festival.” As I dug into what Cornerstone was all about, I hit the motherload. They also have sister sites (http://www.burningbrush.net/ and http://www.flickerings.com/) that showcase art and film in a Christian context at the festival. I encourage you to explore their websites and magazine and if sharing your faith through music is your thing, start saving your dollars for a road trip to their next annual festival.
Here’s a little bit of what you’ll read on their website for what Cornerstone is all about:
“This event called Cornerstone Festival is far more than a massive musical experience. It is more than a collection of hundreds of solo artists and bands representing every style and sub-genre on the current musical landscape. It is more than a gathering of expert thinkers and speakers offering over twenty separate seminar tracks on an amazingly diverse range of subjects. It is more than the sum of its parts, as is the body of Christ.
“Cornerstone Festival is the annual gathering of a community of believers that is spread out all over the world. From young children to senior citizens, Christians of all ethnicities and backgrounds migrate to a patch of 500 acres in central Illinois for four days of fellowship, entertainment, education and edification. One way of looking at Cornerstone is to see it as a continuation of a Jesus movement that began in the first century and remains a beacon of joy and spirit as we move into the next millennium.”
Rock and roll – Jesus style.
Check it out: http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/
Christian vs. Non-Christian
Just like films, you don’t have to stick to only “Christian” music in order to share your faith. Music speaks to us on a universal level through themes of love, hope, faith, anger, fear, that we as Christians can speak to. Of course, groups like Jars of Clay, DC Talk, Jennifer Knapp, Lost & Found, and other Christian groups not only have great music but a great message to share. But if those you are trying to witness to are immediately turned-off or suspicious when you bring them up, find out what type of music they like and see if you can’t find some themes in that music to tie your faith into.
Look at some of the mainstream rock groups out there that also have spiritual themes in their music like U2 and Creed. Let’s not stop at rock music, though. What style of music do your friends like?
Country? I love two songs by Garth Brooks, “The River,” and “Unanswered Prayers,” that speak, on some level, about finding your faith and trusting in God. Country music is full of themes concerning loss, grief, love, hope, and redemption.
Like Jazz? Music that speaks to your soul, not in words, but in your heart. One of my favorites is John Coltrane. Ever listen to his piece called, “A Love Supreme?” If you haven’t you should. Coltrane saw this work as his gift to God, his thanks to God for giving him the gift of music, something he wanted to share with the world. This is probably his most known piece of work, and arguably his most influential as a jazz artist. But what about as a seed planter? I think it’s a safe bet to know that many a person who has searched his or her soul in search of God was helped along the road through Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.”
Here’s a little bit of what Mr. Coltrane himself had to say about his masterpiece:
“During the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His Grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD. . . He is gracious and merciful. His way is in love, through which we all are. It is truly – A Love Supreme.
“This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say ‘THANK YOU GOD’ through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.”
Wow. What a witness. Could you use this jazz masterpiece as part of your witness to carry forward the message God gave through John Coltrane?
Oh, yeah.
Classical music? Another form of music that speaks to and touches the soul. Much of Johann Sebastian Bach was played in the churches of his day. One of the most prolific composers of his day and whom many would consider The Greatest of Them All. A skilled organist, he was the ultimate church organist. As cantor at the church of St. Thomas in Germany, he wrote at least 215 cantatas (choral pieces) for his church. Just a couple of his many works that reflect his faith include “Magnificat,” and “Passion According to St. Matthew.” Worth checking out.
What about George Frideric Handle? Everyone has at least heard the Hallelujah chorus from his most famous work, “Messiah,” right? Known to be a bit of a hot head himself, but his music spoke for itself. In “Messiah,” we have a musical story in three parts depicting Christ's birth, death, and resurrection with each part breaking down into a series of arias and choruses, using a Biblical passage as their basis. When Handel was writing “The Messiah,” it is said that he saw visions of God and Heaven and, while composing the Hallelujah chorus, “saw heaven opened and the host of it worshipping the Glory of God.” What a great way to talk about Christ for classical music lovers, or any lover of music. What can one say to that except, “Hallelujah!”
Just as King David used music to express his praise and love of God, so too, you can do the same by sharing your passion and joy of Christ through the music you love with others.
Writing Your Witness
Do you like to write? I do. As a seed planter myself, writing is a gift that God has given me to share my witness. I published a novel called, “Struck by Lightning.” It’s an interesting tale in the horror and supernatural genre that is a story of good vs. evil (God vs. Devil). The basic premise is, what if the demon Legion, which Christ himself exorcised and sent into the herd of pigs and over the cliff to their death, what if Legion had managed to scratch and claw its way back to earth in our time, and now was looking for a little revenge? My goal was simple: write an entertaining story while also planting a few seeds that God could water. After reading my book, perhaps a person might ask, “What do I really believe will happen to me after I die?” “Am I really willing to take the chance that all this Jesus-stuff is not true? What if it is true and there really is a hell?” And by asking those questions, then start to explore what they really believe in hopes that their journey leads them toward finding the answer in Christ. (Shameless plug: “Struck by Lightning” is available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.bn.com/ ). To date, it certainly hasn’t been a blockbuster, but people have bought it. And if only one person is directed to Christ through reading my book, then I say along with Handle, “Hallelujah!”
One of the things that’s so exciting about writing is the many forms it takes. There’s a group of entertainment professionals out in California (though they’ve since spread across the country) who got an idea back in 1999 and created a training program to train people of faith for careers as TV and film writers. Called, “Act One, Inc.,” they’ve since grown their program to now include an Executive Program for aspiring entertainment executives. What a great idea. When you get a chance, read their mission-vision statement on their website, http://www.actoneprogram.com/, which reads in part:
“Act One, Inc. exists to create a community of Christian professionals for the entertainment industry who are committed to excellence, artistry, and personal holiness, so that through their lives and work they may be witnesses of Christ and the Truth to their fellow artists and to the global culture.
“Stressing artistry, excellence, professionalism, and spirituality, Act One prepares students to be salt and light in writers rooms, on sets, and in studio and network offices. Our goal is not to produce explicitly religious entertainment, but movies and TV programs of unusual quality and depth.”
Think of some TV shows from the past that can be used today in your Christian witness: “Touched by an Angel,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “7th Heaven,” to name a few.
Stepping aside from the world of fiction writing, what about the other “writers” out there? What are they doing with their talents to plant seeds for Christ?
Photojournalists write with their pictures. They see the world, that is, they pause and take notice of it. And then they record it for others to see. Here’s another great website to check out: http://www.christiansinphotojournalism.org/. Christians in Photojournalism started out as a support group, and their basic belief is that all Christians should develop a keen sense of visual literacy. See the world around you and be prepared to talk about it, and to witness both to it and through it. In a “Christianity Today” article (October 2004, Vol. 48, No. 10), Denise McGill interviews five top Christian photographers about their work. Here are a couple of quotes from those interviews:
“[Joanna] Pinneo says photojournalists are privileged to be allowed into people’s lives. ‘God has chosen us to be communicators,’ she says. ‘If we see people, or even touch them, it’s kind of like touching the hem of Jesus’ robe.’”
“He [Greg Schneider] makes no apologies for bringing his strong viewpoint to work behind the lens each day. ‘I’m truly trying to make the kind of picture that will move people to invest in God’s kingdom in different ways.’”
Isn’t it amazing how God uses so many different people with so many different talents to share his message of love and salvation? Are you starting to see it yet? You know your purpose, yes, but are you starting to put together all those talents and interests you have stirring inside yourself to see how they can be directed, or channeled, I should say, toward fulfilling that purpose?
Oh yeah, I knew you could.
Even if you are not a writer (or a photographer), certainly you could use the works of other writers – of novels, plays, poems, and so on, as a tool for witnessing just like we’ve discussed in film and music. And of course, what book is your best tool for witnessing? The Bible! Duh. I know, you knew that one.
But what else is out there and what are some examples of other writers using their gift to witness for Christ?
Some of the obvious ones you may remember are, “The Prayer of Jabez,” “Purpose Driven Life,” and how about the “Left Behind” series? Maybe a little heavy-handed in its approach to a tale of the end times as recorded in the book of Revelations, but still a great discussion topic. Ever read any books by Frank Peretti? One of his most famous is “This Present Darkness.” He’s a Christian fiction writer for the most part, sharing his faith in tales of the supernatural that he weaves. You may know about C.S. Lewis and his Christian novel series, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” (And the film version of the first book in the series, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” is another great witnessing tool). But C.S. Lewis is known primarily as one of the great Christian thinkers, who, along with G.K. Chesterton, and a host of other Christian thinkers and theologians, provide a wealth of information for you to build upon your skills to witness or even engage in a healthy apologetics debate.
Start off small, of course, get your feet wet as you witness more and more with the tools you find most comfortable and accessible but be open to growing in your knowledge and your witness. As you grow in confidence, knowledge, and ability, be open to expanding your level of witnessing.
How about the classics? Certainly John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and his description of Hell, Eden, and Heaven or even Dante Alighieri's three part epic, “The Divine Comedy” with his description of Hell could offer some stimulating conversation. Don’t want to go that deep? Then how about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” that toe-tapping musical depicting the life of Joseph in the Old Testament?
The beauty of writing is in the varied forms it offers to readers – from prose to poetry, plays to screenplays, journalism to all the many non-fiction books we have in the world to enjoy. So much of it can be used by you in your seed planting efforts whether as a writer yourself, or in using the works of other writers to open that conversation up.
And remember, too, like we talked about with film, the writing you use may be Christian in nature, may be “spiritual” in nature, or may just be plain ol’ secular entertainment. It’s how you use and apply it that matters. For example, one of my favorite writers happens to be Stephen King. Is he a Christian? I don’t know. Personally, I see in his work a man searching for answers about what is out there and what he believes. In an afterword in his book, “The Colorado Kid,” he asks the questions of where do we come from and where are we going. He doesn’t know and possibly has a “sneaking suspicion all that might be a con-job laid down to fill the collections plates.” But I know where we are going and you do, too. That’s the message we need to tell, to share (and I’d be happy to share it with Mr. King if he would like J). But whether or not Mr. King is a Christian, could I use his work as a launching pad to start a conversation with a non-Christian friend about Jesus? You betcha. As I said before, one of my favorite King books is, “The Stand,” which boils down to your basic good vs. evil story (like we discussed earlier concerning the TV mini-series version). King even goes so far as to use the character of God (which he has in other works, too) as the “good” in the book. So, my friends, it’s all fair game. Don’t be afraid of the so-called secular material out there. Whether or not the original author/creator intended a different message than the love of salvation in Christ, you can use it in your witness. Remember what our lad who once owned a technicolor dreamcoat said to his brothers who almost killed him then sold him into slavery, “As far as I’m concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” (Genesis 50:20a). Now, I’m not saying anything that doesn’t have a Christian stamp on it is evil. By no means! All I’m saying is – it’s all out there. The good, the bad, and the ugly. God uses all things towards His will. Whatever you use, use it to God’s glory.
Can I get an “Amen?”
That’s right!
Checklist & Summary
1. Use the world around you, everything, that is – EVERYTHING – if it can help you in the goal of fulfilling your purpose to tell the world that Jesus loves them and died for their sins so that by simply believing in Him and living the best life we can in that faith, that one day we’ll be with Christ in paradise and oh what a par-ty it will be!
2. The arts of the world are a good place to start. Everyone has a favorite movie, song, play, novel, work of art, etc. and odds are you can find a way to bring up a conversation about your faith through your mutual love of those arts.
3. You may have the skills of an artist (writer, painter, musician, photographer, etc.) and can use that talent to witness for Christ.
4. Or, you may not have those skills but you have the love for an art form. So get out there and talk it up.
5. See item #1. It doesn’t have to be a “Christian” item in order for you to use it as part of your witness. Just know what you want to say and how you want to use it in your example as you share your message.
6. Have fun! This is not a chore, not something to be afraid of (yes, I know there is fear involved but once you start doing it, you won’t be able to shut up. Just get started. Go slow, go steady, but go!), not something to be “checked off” as in, “There, I did it, now I’m done.” No, this is your life! This is your purpose. This is number one on the list. It’s what you live for and can’t wait to start doing. Right? Right. So have fun. That’s why God invented smiles, belly laughs, and people who snort when they hear something funny. Life is meant to be fun. To be enjoyed. We become completely fulfilled and know who we are when we have Christ first in our life and foremost in our minds and hearts to share with others.
Pop quiz. What is one of the biggest, one of the most universal forms of entertainment (dare I say, artform? Yes, sometimes) in our culture today? Television? Music? Film? I suppose you could make an argument for all three. And that’s really the point. There are so many ways to introduce a discussion on faith through today’s popular forms of culture. It’s a safe bet to say everyone is familiar to some degree with television, music, and film and that everyone has some favorites in each area. But what about other forms of culture like art? Paintings, drawings, photography, and computer graphics. And what about writing? Fiction, drama, poetry, screenplays, journalism. And what about...well, you get the picture.
So what do YOU like? Are you a movie nut like me? Does music speak to your soul? How about television, everyone’s guilty habit? Come on, admit it, you have a few shows you like to watch every week. And yes, there is a lot of great television out there beside public access. So take your pick. While you’re deciding, let’s take some time to explore some of the seed planters out there already and see how they are planting the message of Christ in their chosen medium.
Movie Messages
You knew I’d start with movies, didn’t you? Hey, it is my blog after all. I’m sure if I asked you to come up with five favorite movies – ones you don’t mind watching again and again – you could easily do it. Probably ten movies or more even, huh? Movies you’ve seen so many times you can recite the dialogue in your sleep, yeah? But could you take those films and use them as a diving board to jump into a conversation about your faith? Probably.
Christianity Today Movies
The magazine, “Christian Today,” has been around for awhile but their official “movie” section started in February of 2004. While they may have come a little late to the game in developing an online forum for discussing faith in film, they’ve certainly made up for it in content, which is why I’m beginning with them as my first example.
Run the Race – Don’t Quit
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12:1-2b
Not only do they review every movie that comes out – and archive them for future reference – but they provide a few “discussion point” questions to help start a conversation. So if you don’t know how to get started in tying a film to your faith, start with these questions. It’s a great way to begin. The site includes reviews from other Christian reviewers, downloadable Bible studies for about five bucks on lots of films, interviews, articles and commentaries about faith and film, and even a parental barometer for deciding whether your kids should see a certain film or not.
“Christianity Today” has done a really wonderful job with this website. If I had to recommend one source for you to go to for information on film and faith, this could very well be the one. You’ll see throughout this book several references to source material from “Christianity Today,” so you know I’m a big fan.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/
Christian Movie Review Websites
There are many websites out there in cyberland to provide you a wealth of Christian movie review material. Remember I asked you to pick out five of your favorite movies? Take those five movies and explore the reviews of them on these websites (including “Christianity Today”) to help you in formulating your message. Film is a very powerful medium for expressing a theme, a message, a mood, or idea. It’s a good idea to research what others have already said about a film you’re interested in discussing, not only to confirm what you want to say but also to provide additional ideas as well as possible critiques on your message – and how to respond.
The Film Forum – now called, The Joy of Movies
This was one of the first Christian movie review sites I came across when I first started looking into using film as a tool to share my witness, and it remains a favorite of mine. Editor Steve Lansingh has a wonderful way with words and is able to find a spiritual message that really hits home in every review he gives. On his website, part of his bio reads, “Steve is a spiritual sojourner whose encounters with God are usually found in everyday, ‘mundane’ moments like watching movies, preparing food, holding hands, waiting in line, and laughter. He believes that since life was created as a gift, and human beings were created in love, then the purpose of Christianity is not to withdraw from our surroundings but to know God more fully through experiencing this world.”
Sounds like a seed planter to me, doesn’t he?
I read an article of his called, “Ten Films of 1999,” which included a discussion on a few challenging films from a Christian standpoint such as “Fight Club” and “American Beauty.” At first glance you might not think there was any kind of message a Christian could use from these films to give context to their faith, but read what Mr. Lansingh had to say in one of his columns:
“There’s a scene in ‘Fight Club’ in which Tyler Durden forces a store clerk at gunpoint to follow his dream of becoming a veterinarian. I identified with this clerk; sometimes I need the gun to the head to make the bold choice rather than drift along with the rest of society. To me, this scene make the movie’s point: Choose this day whom you will serve. It also got me thinking: If I was forced to name what I wanted to do with my life, could I identify one particular thing I hope to accomplish, without which the trigger might as well have been pulled? So I decided to write, in essence, a mission statement. My mission is ‘to look for God’s hand in the everyday and help others see it.’ The question ‘Fight Club’ asks me, and that I will probably constantly struggle with, is why I’m afraid to leave behind what makes me unhappy in order to pursue that goal wholeheartedly.” (Source: Ten Films that Made my Year, by Steve Lansingh, “The Crossing.”)
After I read that, I was hooked. What a powerful statement. And what a powerful tool films are to share your faith. And not just “spiritual” films either. Challenge yourself to find a message in the films that the people you plan to witness to like the most. Don’t gravitate only to the obvious Christian message films like “The Passion of the Christ” or “The Ten Commandments.” Odds are you’ll have much better success in your witness by coming at Christ through films seemingly devoid of any Christian context.
Films, good films, deal with the total human experience and that experience includes a relationship of some kind with the spiritual side of humanity. It’s your job as a Christian to tap into the broad subject of spirituality which we can find in almost any film and focus it in tightly on the message of salvation in Christ. Take some time to see how Mr. Lansingh and the staff of “The Joy of Movies” do it and learn from them.
Then go do it yourself.
Check it out for yourself: http://www.joyofmovies.com/
Like “Joy of Movies,” there are a ton of website resources for you to explore if movies are what you like and you feel comfortable discussing them with your friends and acquaintances in relation to your faith. The few I’ll mention here are just the tip of the iceberg, but worth exploring as resources as you develop your own way and style of “movie witnessing.” (Note: websites come and go. Hopefully the ones listed here are alive and kicking as you read this, but if not, put those fingers to work on a Google search for “Christian movie reviews,” or “Christian movie critics,” or “film, faith, witnessing,” or other phrasing that you come up with. And then you’ll “come up with” a lot, trust me). Some sites are better than others and some focus on the message of Jesus Christ in their reviews more than others. But all of them have something to say. Take a look and see for yourself and decide what works best for you as a resource.
In no particular order:
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/ – Pop culture from a spiritual point of view. Lots of great resources on this site.
http://www.christiancritic.com/ - Reviews and spiritual commentary of film critic Michael Elliott.
http://www.lookingcloser.org/ - Looking for truth, beauty, and meaning in the arts (includes music reviews, too). Read Jeffrey Overstreet’s “Purpose of Looking Closer” statement. Here’s a bit from it: “To glorify God in the discipline of art, one must pursue beauty, truth, and excellence. All beauty belongs to God. All truth. All excellence. Movies, like any art form, can reveal for us pieces of the truth, no matter who directed the film, who starred in it, or what it is about.” Pretty good stuff, don’t you think?
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ – Based on the publication of the same name from Focus on the Family. Also includes reviews and commentary on music and television.
promontoryartists.org - Encouraging Christians in the arts and impacting culture through the arts.
Like I said, there are a ton out there, but these will get you started.
Movies to Ponder
The following list is by no means a definitive list of movies to use as your entrée to sharing the message of Christ. No doubt, some of them will not be to your liking for a variety of reasons. All I ask is that you do not dismiss them outright. If you haven’t seen them, take a peek. If you have and wonder what the heck I could be talking about in terms of using a film like say, “American Beauty,” as a witnessing tool. Be open, pray about it, then go with something you like. That’s the real key – being passionate. In the first place, what we are really doing is being passionate about Christ. Then we tie that passion into a movie that really touched us in some way. In some way the movie was exciting, moving, thrilling, thought provoking, etc. to us. Put it all together and take your passion and excitement to your friends so that they pick up on it and catch fire, too. That’s what it’s all about, right?
So take a look, see what you think, then maybe explore some of the reviews of these films on the Christian movie review sites above, and see where God takes you the next time you’re standing around the water cooler with your friends and co-workers. Strike up a conversation: “Hey Bob, did you ever see the movie, American Beauty? That scene where the kids video-taped that plastic bag floating in the air was really interesting. It reminded me of...” And you’re off!
In no particular order:
American Beauty – perhaps a challenging movie for some Christians, but at the heart it speaks to finding God’s beauty in the everyday and to a hope for a happier life by just being who you really are because life is worth living even though humanity has its flaws. How might we as Christians speak about hope and offer that message to those trying desperately to hold up appearances while feeling completely lost inside?
The Stand – One of my favorite Stephen King books and a pretty good mini-series. Like many stories in the horror (and sci-fi) genre, this one speaks to the ultimate struggle between good and evil. Here, King gets pretty direct in defining that good and evil as God vs. Devil. I love the horror genre (and sci-fi) for exactly that reason – at the core of almost every horror movie is the good vs. evil theme. Who will win? “Aliens,” “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,” “Independence Day,” “The Exorcist,” “Star Wars,” – just a few examples where you could take the idea of good versus evil and get into a conversation about the ultimate good, that is God, and the ultimate evil, that is, the devil.
An article on ChristianityToday.com has this to say about horror movies and the Christians response:
“...in the hands of a sanctified imagination, the horror form...can become a vehicle for redemption. . . True horror treats good as good and evil as evil. . . True horror reminds us how profoundly moral our universe is. It reminds us, refreshingly, of simple things like good and evil, justice and mercy, courage and cowardice. . .True horror, finally, makes possible an experience of grace. It suggests that we too are misshapen, we too are duped by evil. There is in us all a Mr. Hyde. . .The horror story, in the end, is a reminder that our present reality is disturbed and distorted. In the hands of the Christian, that reminder can become an invitation to redemption. . . The horror story is not an escape from life, in all its wildness and terrible beauty; it is rather a way of walking through it, and as such a reminder that there is meaning, thanks be to God, in the middle of all the horror.” (Source: “The Horrors!” by W. David O. Taylor; ChristianityToday.com, posted 4/05/2005)
Amen.
The Matrix – Okay, a ton of stuff has been written about this film and the series. I even mentioned it earlier in this book. But it’s worth talking about again. Themes of Christianity and Buddhism abound in the film but one of the most obvious and simplest-to-grasp character types in this film is Neo as the Christ figure. This is a common character type in many films but is so very clearly presented in Neo as the “one” who will save humanity from the machines and free them all to live freely in Zion. To do this, he has to sacrifice himself so that the other humans can live. Neo’s character, that is, his purpose, reminds us that a fallen world of people is still worth saving. Both in the first film and most definitely in the last film we see these themes played out (sorry if I’m spoiling the end for some of you but if you haven’t seen “The Matrix” by now – what planet are you from. Just kidding. Relax, have some fun). This series can create many long conversations and debates for you as you witness, and you can have fun along the way because aside from the message, it’s a very entertaining film, too.
Fight Club – I resisted this movie for a long time because I thought it was a film about gratuitous violence. How wrong I was. Yes, like “American Beauty” it is a challenging film. There is violence in it but this film is a dark comedy. Did I say comedy? Yes, one that bites. But as you read in the quote from Steve Lansingh, there’s a lot to unpack in this film—it’s about not sitting by and wasting your life. Finding purpose, being yourself, not letting the world and its drive to acquire material possessions define who you are. (There’s a great sequence where the main character sees his apartment through the eyes of an IKEA catalog and wonders what kind of dining set defines himself as a person). What a great opening to talk to others about where to find your real purpose for living – in Christ. Give the movie a try. See if it fits.
The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty – interestingly, both starring Jim Carrey, but both films speak, in different ways, to the consequences of when humans try to play God and runs things on their own. Not good. But how many people do you know who try to live life on their own terms, who don’t need God, and like the family in “American Beauty” are living a miserable life on the inside while pretending all is well on the outside?
Ben Hur – we could put many of the openly religious movies in this category, like “The Ten Commandments,” “The Passion of the Christ,” and even the excellent (though slightly more veiled) mythological take on the Gospel through the movie version of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” as wonderful and very direct tools for witnessing, but I want to focus on just one scene in “Ben Hur.”
Ben Hur is in chains as a slave and is being whipped and harshly moved along by the Roman soldiers. They stop for a moment and, as Ben Hur is collapsed on his knees, a figure bends down to give him some water, which he readily drinks down in gratitude. The soldier tells this “person” to stop but he doesn’t. Finally, the soldier comes forward to whip the tar out of this guy who won’t listen to him and the “person” stands up. We only see him from the back but it’s clear that this person is Jesus. Jesus stands there calmly, not moving as the guard looks upon his face (again, we only see the soldiers reaction, Jesus’ back is to us the whole time). The soldier is about to strike and pauses, looking into Jesus’ face. His anger becomes confusion, then perhaps embarrassment or shame and guilt, and he quickly looks away and walks off.
What a very simple scene but what a powerful one to show the love, compassion, sympathy, strength, and power in our savior. I cry every time I watch that scene which becomes even more powerful later on as the roles are reversed and Ben Hur tries to give Christ water as he carries his cross to Golgatha.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of scenes that we can draw on to share our message and not necessarily the whole film. Look for the scenes that speak to you. They may not even have much to do with the movie’s main story line, but you can use them in your witness.
Leap of Faith – A film that didn’t get its due in the theaters because of mis-marketing. It stars Steve Martin and Debra Winger and the story is about a slick talking preacher who goes around scamming people out of their money with flashy talk and fake miracles. But he arrives in one small town and is confronted with an honest-to-God miracle on his very own stage and is forced to deal with what he really believes. This is a great little film about redemption and the power of faith.
Shawshank Redemption – A wonderful movie based on a Stephen King novella (not a horror story, either) with its core message of holding on to hope even in the most terrible, bleak, and unjust situations. A powerful tool to witness for speaking to our hope and trust in Christ even in the most dire situations we find ourselves in – and to not giving up.
Lord of the Rings – Like “The Matrix,” a lot has been written about Christian symbolism in this trilogy. You’ll find many resources on the Internet and in various books, but here are some themes to think about in terms of your witness – a journey to save the world from destruction (we’re all on a journey, aren’t we? Every day, fulfilling our purpose to help Christ “save the world”), about not giving up (that theme of hope again), sacrifice, and faith, are but a few of those big, universal themes we find in epic stories like the Ring series – and don’t they all tie into the biggest story of them all? The story of salvation in Christ in the Bible. And unlike the Ring series, this “story” is true. What a powerful message.
The Apostle – Christians aren’t perfect. We sin like everyone else. The difference is that we recognize that we sin and seek Christ’s forgiveness daily and strive to live the best we can in a sinful world. In “The Apostle,” Sonny is a Southern preacher who loves the Lord and is filled with the spirit. But in a moment of rage, he gives into the darker side of sin and commits murder. Hiding out from the law, the film is about Sonny finding the road to redemption and walking it. This is a powerful film showing the dual nature of man – fighting against his sinful nature and continually seeking Christ’s righteousness, and the struggle of it all. To those you witness to who take the stance that all Christians think they are better then everyone else (you’ve heard that one before, right?), this might be a good film to lead into a discussion on the frailty of man (all humanity) and the need for having Christ in our life.
Okay, we’ll stop there – in just these few films I’ve mentioned, think about how many different directions a discussion on your faith could go. Explore for yourself. You may have no interest in the films I’ve just mentioned, but I hope I have whet your appetite to see how films can be a powerful tool to lead into a discussion of sharing the Gospel message of salvation in Christ – which is our ultimate goal. There are many ways to get started, and films are just one way.
But a fun way, I think. See you at the movies.
Moving Music
What kind of music do you like to listen to? Rock, heavy metal, country, punk, rap/hip-hop, acoustic? Christian music covers all styles of music. At one time Christian music was solely identified with the gospel-quartet-flowery-worship-type of music that it, well, kinda was in the beginning. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just that musical tastes are so varied and Christian music has expanded beyond what it was to reach those other tastes by artists who have a passion to share their witness through a certain style of music.
There are many Christian concert festivals today that share a diverse range of music styles but one of the first ones that I heard of was the “Cornerstone Festival.” As I dug into what Cornerstone was all about, I hit the motherload. They also have sister sites (http://www.burningbrush.net/ and http://www.flickerings.com/) that showcase art and film in a Christian context at the festival. I encourage you to explore their websites and magazine and if sharing your faith through music is your thing, start saving your dollars for a road trip to their next annual festival.
Here’s a little bit of what you’ll read on their website for what Cornerstone is all about:
“This event called Cornerstone Festival is far more than a massive musical experience. It is more than a collection of hundreds of solo artists and bands representing every style and sub-genre on the current musical landscape. It is more than a gathering of expert thinkers and speakers offering over twenty separate seminar tracks on an amazingly diverse range of subjects. It is more than the sum of its parts, as is the body of Christ.
“Cornerstone Festival is the annual gathering of a community of believers that is spread out all over the world. From young children to senior citizens, Christians of all ethnicities and backgrounds migrate to a patch of 500 acres in central Illinois for four days of fellowship, entertainment, education and edification. One way of looking at Cornerstone is to see it as a continuation of a Jesus movement that began in the first century and remains a beacon of joy and spirit as we move into the next millennium.”
Rock and roll – Jesus style.
Check it out: http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/
Christian vs. Non-Christian
Just like films, you don’t have to stick to only “Christian” music in order to share your faith. Music speaks to us on a universal level through themes of love, hope, faith, anger, fear, that we as Christians can speak to. Of course, groups like Jars of Clay, DC Talk, Jennifer Knapp, Lost & Found, and other Christian groups not only have great music but a great message to share. But if those you are trying to witness to are immediately turned-off or suspicious when you bring them up, find out what type of music they like and see if you can’t find some themes in that music to tie your faith into.
Look at some of the mainstream rock groups out there that also have spiritual themes in their music like U2 and Creed. Let’s not stop at rock music, though. What style of music do your friends like?
Country? I love two songs by Garth Brooks, “The River,” and “Unanswered Prayers,” that speak, on some level, about finding your faith and trusting in God. Country music is full of themes concerning loss, grief, love, hope, and redemption.
Like Jazz? Music that speaks to your soul, not in words, but in your heart. One of my favorites is John Coltrane. Ever listen to his piece called, “A Love Supreme?” If you haven’t you should. Coltrane saw this work as his gift to God, his thanks to God for giving him the gift of music, something he wanted to share with the world. This is probably his most known piece of work, and arguably his most influential as a jazz artist. But what about as a seed planter? I think it’s a safe bet to know that many a person who has searched his or her soul in search of God was helped along the road through Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.”
Here’s a little bit of what Mr. Coltrane himself had to say about his masterpiece:
“During the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His Grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD. . . He is gracious and merciful. His way is in love, through which we all are. It is truly – A Love Supreme.
“This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say ‘THANK YOU GOD’ through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.”
Wow. What a witness. Could you use this jazz masterpiece as part of your witness to carry forward the message God gave through John Coltrane?
Oh, yeah.
Classical music? Another form of music that speaks to and touches the soul. Much of Johann Sebastian Bach was played in the churches of his day. One of the most prolific composers of his day and whom many would consider The Greatest of Them All. A skilled organist, he was the ultimate church organist. As cantor at the church of St. Thomas in Germany, he wrote at least 215 cantatas (choral pieces) for his church. Just a couple of his many works that reflect his faith include “Magnificat,” and “Passion According to St. Matthew.” Worth checking out.
What about George Frideric Handle? Everyone has at least heard the Hallelujah chorus from his most famous work, “Messiah,” right? Known to be a bit of a hot head himself, but his music spoke for itself. In “Messiah,” we have a musical story in three parts depicting Christ's birth, death, and resurrection with each part breaking down into a series of arias and choruses, using a Biblical passage as their basis. When Handel was writing “The Messiah,” it is said that he saw visions of God and Heaven and, while composing the Hallelujah chorus, “saw heaven opened and the host of it worshipping the Glory of God.” What a great way to talk about Christ for classical music lovers, or any lover of music. What can one say to that except, “Hallelujah!”
Just as King David used music to express his praise and love of God, so too, you can do the same by sharing your passion and joy of Christ through the music you love with others.
Writing Your Witness
Do you like to write? I do. As a seed planter myself, writing is a gift that God has given me to share my witness. I published a novel called, “Struck by Lightning.” It’s an interesting tale in the horror and supernatural genre that is a story of good vs. evil (God vs. Devil). The basic premise is, what if the demon Legion, which Christ himself exorcised and sent into the herd of pigs and over the cliff to their death, what if Legion had managed to scratch and claw its way back to earth in our time, and now was looking for a little revenge? My goal was simple: write an entertaining story while also planting a few seeds that God could water. After reading my book, perhaps a person might ask, “What do I really believe will happen to me after I die?” “Am I really willing to take the chance that all this Jesus-stuff is not true? What if it is true and there really is a hell?” And by asking those questions, then start to explore what they really believe in hopes that their journey leads them toward finding the answer in Christ. (Shameless plug: “Struck by Lightning” is available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.bn.com/ ). To date, it certainly hasn’t been a blockbuster, but people have bought it. And if only one person is directed to Christ through reading my book, then I say along with Handle, “Hallelujah!”
One of the things that’s so exciting about writing is the many forms it takes. There’s a group of entertainment professionals out in California (though they’ve since spread across the country) who got an idea back in 1999 and created a training program to train people of faith for careers as TV and film writers. Called, “Act One, Inc.,” they’ve since grown their program to now include an Executive Program for aspiring entertainment executives. What a great idea. When you get a chance, read their mission-vision statement on their website, http://www.actoneprogram.com/, which reads in part:
“Act One, Inc. exists to create a community of Christian professionals for the entertainment industry who are committed to excellence, artistry, and personal holiness, so that through their lives and work they may be witnesses of Christ and the Truth to their fellow artists and to the global culture.
“Stressing artistry, excellence, professionalism, and spirituality, Act One prepares students to be salt and light in writers rooms, on sets, and in studio and network offices. Our goal is not to produce explicitly religious entertainment, but movies and TV programs of unusual quality and depth.”
Think of some TV shows from the past that can be used today in your Christian witness: “Touched by an Angel,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “7th Heaven,” to name a few.
Stepping aside from the world of fiction writing, what about the other “writers” out there? What are they doing with their talents to plant seeds for Christ?
Photojournalists write with their pictures. They see the world, that is, they pause and take notice of it. And then they record it for others to see. Here’s another great website to check out: http://www.christiansinphotojournalism.org/. Christians in Photojournalism started out as a support group, and their basic belief is that all Christians should develop a keen sense of visual literacy. See the world around you and be prepared to talk about it, and to witness both to it and through it. In a “Christianity Today” article (October 2004, Vol. 48, No. 10), Denise McGill interviews five top Christian photographers about their work. Here are a couple of quotes from those interviews:
“[Joanna] Pinneo says photojournalists are privileged to be allowed into people’s lives. ‘God has chosen us to be communicators,’ she says. ‘If we see people, or even touch them, it’s kind of like touching the hem of Jesus’ robe.’”
“He [Greg Schneider] makes no apologies for bringing his strong viewpoint to work behind the lens each day. ‘I’m truly trying to make the kind of picture that will move people to invest in God’s kingdom in different ways.’”
Isn’t it amazing how God uses so many different people with so many different talents to share his message of love and salvation? Are you starting to see it yet? You know your purpose, yes, but are you starting to put together all those talents and interests you have stirring inside yourself to see how they can be directed, or channeled, I should say, toward fulfilling that purpose?
Oh yeah, I knew you could.
Even if you are not a writer (or a photographer), certainly you could use the works of other writers – of novels, plays, poems, and so on, as a tool for witnessing just like we’ve discussed in film and music. And of course, what book is your best tool for witnessing? The Bible! Duh. I know, you knew that one.
But what else is out there and what are some examples of other writers using their gift to witness for Christ?
Some of the obvious ones you may remember are, “The Prayer of Jabez,” “Purpose Driven Life,” and how about the “Left Behind” series? Maybe a little heavy-handed in its approach to a tale of the end times as recorded in the book of Revelations, but still a great discussion topic. Ever read any books by Frank Peretti? One of his most famous is “This Present Darkness.” He’s a Christian fiction writer for the most part, sharing his faith in tales of the supernatural that he weaves. You may know about C.S. Lewis and his Christian novel series, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” (And the film version of the first book in the series, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” is another great witnessing tool). But C.S. Lewis is known primarily as one of the great Christian thinkers, who, along with G.K. Chesterton, and a host of other Christian thinkers and theologians, provide a wealth of information for you to build upon your skills to witness or even engage in a healthy apologetics debate.
Start off small, of course, get your feet wet as you witness more and more with the tools you find most comfortable and accessible but be open to growing in your knowledge and your witness. As you grow in confidence, knowledge, and ability, be open to expanding your level of witnessing.
How about the classics? Certainly John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and his description of Hell, Eden, and Heaven or even Dante Alighieri's three part epic, “The Divine Comedy” with his description of Hell could offer some stimulating conversation. Don’t want to go that deep? Then how about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” that toe-tapping musical depicting the life of Joseph in the Old Testament?
The beauty of writing is in the varied forms it offers to readers – from prose to poetry, plays to screenplays, journalism to all the many non-fiction books we have in the world to enjoy. So much of it can be used by you in your seed planting efforts whether as a writer yourself, or in using the works of other writers to open that conversation up.
And remember, too, like we talked about with film, the writing you use may be Christian in nature, may be “spiritual” in nature, or may just be plain ol’ secular entertainment. It’s how you use and apply it that matters. For example, one of my favorite writers happens to be Stephen King. Is he a Christian? I don’t know. Personally, I see in his work a man searching for answers about what is out there and what he believes. In an afterword in his book, “The Colorado Kid,” he asks the questions of where do we come from and where are we going. He doesn’t know and possibly has a “sneaking suspicion all that might be a con-job laid down to fill the collections plates.” But I know where we are going and you do, too. That’s the message we need to tell, to share (and I’d be happy to share it with Mr. King if he would like J). But whether or not Mr. King is a Christian, could I use his work as a launching pad to start a conversation with a non-Christian friend about Jesus? You betcha. As I said before, one of my favorite King books is, “The Stand,” which boils down to your basic good vs. evil story (like we discussed earlier concerning the TV mini-series version). King even goes so far as to use the character of God (which he has in other works, too) as the “good” in the book. So, my friends, it’s all fair game. Don’t be afraid of the so-called secular material out there. Whether or not the original author/creator intended a different message than the love of salvation in Christ, you can use it in your witness. Remember what our lad who once owned a technicolor dreamcoat said to his brothers who almost killed him then sold him into slavery, “As far as I’m concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.” (Genesis 50:20a). Now, I’m not saying anything that doesn’t have a Christian stamp on it is evil. By no means! All I’m saying is – it’s all out there. The good, the bad, and the ugly. God uses all things towards His will. Whatever you use, use it to God’s glory.
Can I get an “Amen?”
That’s right!
Checklist & Summary
1. Use the world around you, everything, that is – EVERYTHING – if it can help you in the goal of fulfilling your purpose to tell the world that Jesus loves them and died for their sins so that by simply believing in Him and living the best life we can in that faith, that one day we’ll be with Christ in paradise and oh what a par-ty it will be!
2. The arts of the world are a good place to start. Everyone has a favorite movie, song, play, novel, work of art, etc. and odds are you can find a way to bring up a conversation about your faith through your mutual love of those arts.
3. You may have the skills of an artist (writer, painter, musician, photographer, etc.) and can use that talent to witness for Christ.
4. Or, you may not have those skills but you have the love for an art form. So get out there and talk it up.
5. See item #1. It doesn’t have to be a “Christian” item in order for you to use it as part of your witness. Just know what you want to say and how you want to use it in your example as you share your message.
6. Have fun! This is not a chore, not something to be afraid of (yes, I know there is fear involved but once you start doing it, you won’t be able to shut up. Just get started. Go slow, go steady, but go!), not something to be “checked off” as in, “There, I did it, now I’m done.” No, this is your life! This is your purpose. This is number one on the list. It’s what you live for and can’t wait to start doing. Right? Right. So have fun. That’s why God invented smiles, belly laughs, and people who snort when they hear something funny. Life is meant to be fun. To be enjoyed. We become completely fulfilled and know who we are when we have Christ first in our life and foremost in our minds and hearts to share with others.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Planting Seeds - The Big Guns (7)
Okay, we couldn’t leave this section on seed planters of the Bible without talking about a few of the big guns. The guys you’ve grown up hearing Sunday School stories and reading all kinds of books about. But I hope you’ve seen, too, with just the few examples above, how God uses even the seemingly insignificant person or event to serve His will and also see how very important and impactful those “insignificant” people really are in God’s eyes. Take time to get to know more of those background players of the Bible and see what an impact their story can make in your life.
Joseph – Not the Musical (Genesis 37 – 50)
I enjoyed the musical, “Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which in itself is a great seed planting vehicle. I don’t know if Andrew Lloyd Webber was trying to share a bit of his faith in putting this musical together, but even so, I wonder about the number of people who may have gone back to the Old Testament to read about Joseph and his story of providence and started to grow that seed of faith. God uses all things, all people, to work His will and spread His message of love and salvation.
For now, I want to focus on part of the character of a seed planter. Sharing the message of Christ with others is a challenge to many. It doesn’t come easy. And even for those who have no problem in talking about their faith, there are times when challenges arise to test us all. Temptations to take us away. Distractions to loosen our focus. Times when the world is really against us and persecutions are strong. Through it all, we must stay firm in fulfilling our purpose - to share the message of Christ.
Joseph exemplifies the kind of strength, faith, and perseverance we need as seed planters to stay the course, not give up, and continue sharing.
Joseph was a guy who had it all. A favorite son of Jacob with a really groovy coat, or robe to be more exact. He might have been a bit cocky and a little too boastful at times, but not enough to have his brothers throw him into a pit and then sell him off as a slave. But that’s when Joseph’s true colors began to shine and his patient faith to wait on God’s time, not his, shone forth. For a while things looked good as he served in Potiphar’s house and was well taken care of. But then ol’ Potiphar’s wife made a move on Joseph and he remained a gentleman. All he got for his efforts was prison. But even in jail, God blessed him. All this time, though, I’m sure Joseph would have rather been back home with his father. He could have grumbled and complained to God asking why all this was happening to him and when would he be free? But instead, he waited on God, trusted in God, and made the best of every situation he was in. He never doubted, never gave up, never became distracted. Even after he helped out the chief cup-bearer by interpreting his dreams, the guy forgot to help him out in return for two more years! Finally, Joseph is called to interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams and then the rest is history.
But what an ordeal to get there. Years of waiting, of moving around, of good times and bad times, but hardly any time Joseph would have probably chosen on his own.
Trust in God. Wait on God. Have faith in God. Day after day after day. And when those times come when it seems impossible for you to share your faith or the situation just seems hopeless, remember Joseph and how God always turned the situation around no matter what the odds. Don’t think that you can’t share the love of Jesus in your own way. Don’t think you are too small or insignificant and don’t think that what you do doesn’t matter to God.
It does.
But skip the funky colored coats.
David – Renaissance Man (1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2)
What a story. What a guy, huh? Christ was called the “Son of David.” What an honor. But what a complex, flawed, yet faithful man. God’s soldier. One of the great’s if not the greatest man in the Old Testament. Moses might give him a run for the money, but I like David because he is about as human as they get. He was brave yet he had fears. He was noble yet he lusted. He sang and danced yet he had moments of great sadness. He was...human. He sinned yet repented. God forgave him and blessed him but also let him live with the consequences of his sinful acts. Go back and read his story in the Bible and learn from this dynamite man, whom God said is “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). Yes, a sinner like the rest of us but yet he never succumbed to sin so much that it took over his life.
The part I want to focus on here briefly is David the poet. David the dancer. David the music lover.
Let’s start with David the poet. If you don’t already know, David wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. Words full of emotion, energy, passion, pain, and sorrow. Words from God, written through David, to touch our souls. Do you write? Have you ever shared your feelings in poetry? Have you ever thought of sharing your faith that way? Sharing the love, excitement, the overwhelming joy and gratitude you have bursting inside your heart for what Jesus has done for you? But yet your tongue is tied and as much as you want to tell people about what Jesus’ love and sacrifice means to you, something holds you back from speaking.
But not from writing. Let those fingers do the walking.
More than 70 Psalms are attributed to David and many are connected to his life – when he was running from Saul; when people tried to betray him; after being confronted about his adultery with Bathsheba – and many just overflow with David’s love and joy in the Lord. So much that he had to – he HAD TO – write about it and share it with others.
Here are a few to explore that show just a part of the range of David’s expression – all poured out to God in word: Psalm 34 (Praise the Lord at all times); Psalm 142 (God is my refuge); Psalm 54 (God is my helper); Psalm 51 (God will not despise a broken and contrite heart); Psalm 8 (God cares for his most valuable creation—us); Psalm 30 (God is always faithful); Psalm 65 (God provides us with everything); Psalm 96 (Praise God – sing about him, tell others about him, worship him, and give him the glory); Psalm 145 (God is full of love); Psalm 144 (Happy are those whose God is the Lord).
David was a true Renaissance man (so he was born a bunch of years before the actual Renaissance. He was a man ahead of his time). But being the multi-talented guy he was, he also could rock the house with music from his harp. In 2 Samuel 22, David sang a song to the Lord after the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and Saul. He created a musical program for use in the Lord’s tabernacle.
Read 1 Chronicles 25:
“David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals...All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, lyres, and harps at the house of God. ...They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.”
Whew! Let the concert begin!
Do you play a musical instrument? Do you want to? Then do it for the Lord and let your notes soar to the heavens with praise to God. Let your message of music reach the ears of those who do not know Christ and allow the music to dwell deep within their souls where that musical seed planted will spring to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Can someone say, “Amen!”?
One more thing to say about David. Check out 1 Chronicles 15:25-29:
“Then David and the leaders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the home of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration. And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven lambs. David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were the Levites who carried the Ark, the singers, and Kenaniah the song leader. David was also wearing a priestly tunic. So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s covenant to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.
“But as the Ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David dancing and leaping for joy, she was filled with contempt for him.”
David was never afraid to let the love of God that was in his heart pour forth boldly and publicly. He didn’t care if people laughed at him or scorned him. He let his love shine and he used the talents God gave him in the arts (among many other talents) to share with the world the message of God: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises...” (1 Chronicles 16:8-36).
Rock on, David. Rock on.
Paul – The Ultimate Seed Planter (Most of the New Testament)
I think we could make a pretty good argument that Paul is the biggest seed planter of ‘em all (of all humans, that is). Not only what he did in his day with the numerous mission trips he made, but the fact that God chose to speak through his hand and voice to record some of the most stirring words of the Bible. Well, he’s number one on my list anyway.
Of course, there is a ton we could write about Paul and his seed planting ways, but I want to focus on one section of Acts in chapter 17 because it illustrates Paul’s ability to use the culture around him – the beliefs, attitudes, customs, and behavior of the “world”, so to speak – as a means of planting a seed and sharing the message of Christ. He just didn’t come walking out to the crowd and start bellowing out a hell and brimstone speech. Instead, he used a piece of culture that people were familiar with, could have a conversation about, and might be interested in discussing further so as not to scare them off or turn them off immediately. This is an important story because it is at the core of what being a seed planter is all about – going under the radar and using the culture of our world to point to the story of Christ.
Let’s see what Paul did in Acts 17:16-34a:
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to debate with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.
“He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, ‘This babbler has picked up some strange ideas.’ Other said, ‘He’s pushing some foreign religion.’
“Then they took him to the Council of Philosophers. ‘Come and tell us more about this new religion,’ they said. ‘You are saying some rather startling things, and we want to know what it’s all about.’ (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
“So Paul, standing before the Council, addressed them as follows: ‘Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious, for as I was walking along I saw your many altars. And one of them has this inscription on it—To An Unknown God. You have been worshipping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. {Clever guy, that Paul is} He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As one of your own poets says, ‘We are his offspring.” And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people’s former ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.’
“When they heard Paul speak of the resurrection of a person who had been dead, some laughed, but others said, ‘We want to hear more about this later.’ That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.”
Pretty good stuff, huh?
Now Paul could have come blasting out of the gates condemning all their idols and beliefs and, though technically right, probably wouldn’t have reached anyone that day. And he wasn’t trying to be sneaky or make it sound like he condoned their beliefs. Paul offered them respect as he spoke and didn’t sugar coat things either. He simply talked to the people of Athens on their terms, in their style of speaking and debating and he tied the message of God and the resurrection right into it. He came right out and said, “Hey, no idols, man, time to turn away from them and believe the real deal.” And he used elements of their culture to plant his message – their idol to “An Unknown God,” and the words of their own poet, “We are his offspring.” Paul planted some seeds that day. Not all the seeds sprouted – “some laughed” – but some “became believers.”
And that’s how it will be – some will tell you to take a hike, so be prepared for that. But if your approach is one where you can at least start the conversation, that is, have a point of entry, with something they already know or are comfortable talking about, then you can work in your message of Christ, too. And remember why you’re doing this, too – because you have something exciting and wonderful in your life and all you want to do is share with others – just like talking about the latest blockbuster movie you saw over the weekend and come Monday you can’t wait to tell your friends about it so they can go see for themselves. It’s that easy.
Checklist & Summary
1. Seed Planters from the Bible – they’re everywhere, check it out. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the smallest to the greatest – seed planters come in all shapes and sizes.
2. God has a purpose for everyone, including you. No one is insignificant in God’s eyes. Everyone can be a seed planter.
3. Like Paul, be alert to your surroundings – the people, their interests, the culture, etc. – and look for ways to introduce your message of salvation in Christ through your surroundings.
4. We’ve just read about many great people from the Bible who all planted seeds in their own way. But there are so many more to read about and learn from. Read your Bible daily. Seems obvious, right? But do you? Sorry, had to ask. And if not, “Just do it!” :-)
Joseph – Not the Musical (Genesis 37 – 50)
I enjoyed the musical, “Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which in itself is a great seed planting vehicle. I don’t know if Andrew Lloyd Webber was trying to share a bit of his faith in putting this musical together, but even so, I wonder about the number of people who may have gone back to the Old Testament to read about Joseph and his story of providence and started to grow that seed of faith. God uses all things, all people, to work His will and spread His message of love and salvation.
For now, I want to focus on part of the character of a seed planter. Sharing the message of Christ with others is a challenge to many. It doesn’t come easy. And even for those who have no problem in talking about their faith, there are times when challenges arise to test us all. Temptations to take us away. Distractions to loosen our focus. Times when the world is really against us and persecutions are strong. Through it all, we must stay firm in fulfilling our purpose - to share the message of Christ.
Joseph exemplifies the kind of strength, faith, and perseverance we need as seed planters to stay the course, not give up, and continue sharing.
Joseph was a guy who had it all. A favorite son of Jacob with a really groovy coat, or robe to be more exact. He might have been a bit cocky and a little too boastful at times, but not enough to have his brothers throw him into a pit and then sell him off as a slave. But that’s when Joseph’s true colors began to shine and his patient faith to wait on God’s time, not his, shone forth. For a while things looked good as he served in Potiphar’s house and was well taken care of. But then ol’ Potiphar’s wife made a move on Joseph and he remained a gentleman. All he got for his efforts was prison. But even in jail, God blessed him. All this time, though, I’m sure Joseph would have rather been back home with his father. He could have grumbled and complained to God asking why all this was happening to him and when would he be free? But instead, he waited on God, trusted in God, and made the best of every situation he was in. He never doubted, never gave up, never became distracted. Even after he helped out the chief cup-bearer by interpreting his dreams, the guy forgot to help him out in return for two more years! Finally, Joseph is called to interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams and then the rest is history.
But what an ordeal to get there. Years of waiting, of moving around, of good times and bad times, but hardly any time Joseph would have probably chosen on his own.
Trust in God. Wait on God. Have faith in God. Day after day after day. And when those times come when it seems impossible for you to share your faith or the situation just seems hopeless, remember Joseph and how God always turned the situation around no matter what the odds. Don’t think that you can’t share the love of Jesus in your own way. Don’t think you are too small or insignificant and don’t think that what you do doesn’t matter to God.
It does.
But skip the funky colored coats.
David – Renaissance Man (1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2)
What a story. What a guy, huh? Christ was called the “Son of David.” What an honor. But what a complex, flawed, yet faithful man. God’s soldier. One of the great’s if not the greatest man in the Old Testament. Moses might give him a run for the money, but I like David because he is about as human as they get. He was brave yet he had fears. He was noble yet he lusted. He sang and danced yet he had moments of great sadness. He was...human. He sinned yet repented. God forgave him and blessed him but also let him live with the consequences of his sinful acts. Go back and read his story in the Bible and learn from this dynamite man, whom God said is “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). Yes, a sinner like the rest of us but yet he never succumbed to sin so much that it took over his life.
The part I want to focus on here briefly is David the poet. David the dancer. David the music lover.
Let’s start with David the poet. If you don’t already know, David wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. Words full of emotion, energy, passion, pain, and sorrow. Words from God, written through David, to touch our souls. Do you write? Have you ever shared your feelings in poetry? Have you ever thought of sharing your faith that way? Sharing the love, excitement, the overwhelming joy and gratitude you have bursting inside your heart for what Jesus has done for you? But yet your tongue is tied and as much as you want to tell people about what Jesus’ love and sacrifice means to you, something holds you back from speaking.
But not from writing. Let those fingers do the walking.
More than 70 Psalms are attributed to David and many are connected to his life – when he was running from Saul; when people tried to betray him; after being confronted about his adultery with Bathsheba – and many just overflow with David’s love and joy in the Lord. So much that he had to – he HAD TO – write about it and share it with others.
Here are a few to explore that show just a part of the range of David’s expression – all poured out to God in word: Psalm 34 (Praise the Lord at all times); Psalm 142 (God is my refuge); Psalm 54 (God is my helper); Psalm 51 (God will not despise a broken and contrite heart); Psalm 8 (God cares for his most valuable creation—us); Psalm 30 (God is always faithful); Psalm 65 (God provides us with everything); Psalm 96 (Praise God – sing about him, tell others about him, worship him, and give him the glory); Psalm 145 (God is full of love); Psalm 144 (Happy are those whose God is the Lord).
David was a true Renaissance man (so he was born a bunch of years before the actual Renaissance. He was a man ahead of his time). But being the multi-talented guy he was, he also could rock the house with music from his harp. In 2 Samuel 22, David sang a song to the Lord after the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and Saul. He created a musical program for use in the Lord’s tabernacle.
Read 1 Chronicles 25:
“David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals...All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, lyres, and harps at the house of God. ...They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.”
Whew! Let the concert begin!
Do you play a musical instrument? Do you want to? Then do it for the Lord and let your notes soar to the heavens with praise to God. Let your message of music reach the ears of those who do not know Christ and allow the music to dwell deep within their souls where that musical seed planted will spring to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Can someone say, “Amen!”?
One more thing to say about David. Check out 1 Chronicles 15:25-29:
“Then David and the leaders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the home of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration. And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven lambs. David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were the Levites who carried the Ark, the singers, and Kenaniah the song leader. David was also wearing a priestly tunic. So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s covenant to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.
“But as the Ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David dancing and leaping for joy, she was filled with contempt for him.”
David was never afraid to let the love of God that was in his heart pour forth boldly and publicly. He didn’t care if people laughed at him or scorned him. He let his love shine and he used the talents God gave him in the arts (among many other talents) to share with the world the message of God: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises...” (1 Chronicles 16:8-36).
Rock on, David. Rock on.
Paul – The Ultimate Seed Planter (Most of the New Testament)
I think we could make a pretty good argument that Paul is the biggest seed planter of ‘em all (of all humans, that is). Not only what he did in his day with the numerous mission trips he made, but the fact that God chose to speak through his hand and voice to record some of the most stirring words of the Bible. Well, he’s number one on my list anyway.
Finding Common Ground With Those You Witness To
When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even thought I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy
its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:20-23
Of course, there is a ton we could write about Paul and his seed planting ways, but I want to focus on one section of Acts in chapter 17 because it illustrates Paul’s ability to use the culture around him – the beliefs, attitudes, customs, and behavior of the “world”, so to speak – as a means of planting a seed and sharing the message of Christ. He just didn’t come walking out to the crowd and start bellowing out a hell and brimstone speech. Instead, he used a piece of culture that people were familiar with, could have a conversation about, and might be interested in discussing further so as not to scare them off or turn them off immediately. This is an important story because it is at the core of what being a seed planter is all about – going under the radar and using the culture of our world to point to the story of Christ.
Let’s see what Paul did in Acts 17:16-34a:
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to debate with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.
“He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, ‘This babbler has picked up some strange ideas.’ Other said, ‘He’s pushing some foreign religion.’
“Then they took him to the Council of Philosophers. ‘Come and tell us more about this new religion,’ they said. ‘You are saying some rather startling things, and we want to know what it’s all about.’ (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
“So Paul, standing before the Council, addressed them as follows: ‘Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious, for as I was walking along I saw your many altars. And one of them has this inscription on it—To An Unknown God. You have been worshipping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. {Clever guy, that Paul is} He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As one of your own poets says, ‘We are his offspring.” And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people’s former ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.’
“When they heard Paul speak of the resurrection of a person who had been dead, some laughed, but others said, ‘We want to hear more about this later.’ That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.”
Pretty good stuff, huh?
Now Paul could have come blasting out of the gates condemning all their idols and beliefs and, though technically right, probably wouldn’t have reached anyone that day. And he wasn’t trying to be sneaky or make it sound like he condoned their beliefs. Paul offered them respect as he spoke and didn’t sugar coat things either. He simply talked to the people of Athens on their terms, in their style of speaking and debating and he tied the message of God and the resurrection right into it. He came right out and said, “Hey, no idols, man, time to turn away from them and believe the real deal.” And he used elements of their culture to plant his message – their idol to “An Unknown God,” and the words of their own poet, “We are his offspring.” Paul planted some seeds that day. Not all the seeds sprouted – “some laughed” – but some “became believers.”
And that’s how it will be – some will tell you to take a hike, so be prepared for that. But if your approach is one where you can at least start the conversation, that is, have a point of entry, with something they already know or are comfortable talking about, then you can work in your message of Christ, too. And remember why you’re doing this, too – because you have something exciting and wonderful in your life and all you want to do is share with others – just like talking about the latest blockbuster movie you saw over the weekend and come Monday you can’t wait to tell your friends about it so they can go see for themselves. It’s that easy.
Checklist & Summary
1. Seed Planters from the Bible – they’re everywhere, check it out. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the smallest to the greatest – seed planters come in all shapes and sizes.
2. God has a purpose for everyone, including you. No one is insignificant in God’s eyes. Everyone can be a seed planter.
3. Like Paul, be alert to your surroundings – the people, their interests, the culture, etc. – and look for ways to introduce your message of salvation in Christ through your surroundings.
4. We’ve just read about many great people from the Bible who all planted seeds in their own way. But there are so many more to read about and learn from. Read your Bible daily. Seems obvious, right? But do you? Sorry, had to ask. And if not, “Just do it!” :-)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Planting Seeds - All Things New (6)
Again, I encourage you to spend more time in the Old Testament exploring all the seed planters, small and great, who by their lives and obedience to God, served His will and planted their seeds for millions to read about and absorb in God’s Holy Word. Likewise, I encourage you to jump into the New Testament. Come on in the water is fine. Here are just a few examples from the New Testament of seed planters in their day.
Jesus’ Dad (Matthew 1)
No, not HIM, but him. And a very important him, too, not just because he was a descendent of David (as was Mary) but because of the kind of person he was.
Here's a guy who is engaged to be married and then finds out his wife-to-be is pregnant – and not by him. By today’s standards, that’s pretty bad. But back then, it was even more serious. By being engaged, Joseph was already basically married to Mary. The marriage part would allow for the sexual relations to begin. But other than that, they were married and the only way the engagement could be broken was by death or divorce. Joseph, by the rules of the land, had every right to divorce but not only that, the Jewish authorities could have her stoned to death.
But Joseph, being a just man thought about it and was planning to quietly break the engagement and not disgrace her publicly. Wow. Think you could do the same thing, guys, or would you make a big stink about it and go cry on Oprah's and Dr. Phil's shoulder? Or worse yet, Jerry Springer's? Anyway, then Joseph has a visit from an angel who tells him the whole scoop about what happened and that he should still take Mary on as his wife and raise Jesus.
Okay, an angel is a big deal but remember ornery ol’ Jonah said "No" to God right to His face. Joseph could have chalked the vision up to a little indigestion from an over-cooked leg of lamb and taken his carpenter's tools and hit the road.
But he didn't. Joseph was a just man and he obeyed God’s will. Imagine if he hadn't? I mean, Jesus was coming anyway, no doubt about that, but this was God's will and Joseph was a man of strong faith and strong conviction. He wanted to do what was right even though it would be difficult and odds were he would probably endure the humiliation from society for sticking with Mary. Talk about self-discipline. Again, guys, how many of you would endure the ridicule and mockery from society because we go against what the culture of the day dictates? Listen up because that's exactly what a seed planter needs to do. No matter what talent, skill, or ability you have that can serve the Lord in being His witness, you'll be going against the grain of society with your message of salvation in Christ. And like Joseph, stick with it. Remain righteous. Be kind and sensitive to the needs of others. Listen and obey God’s calling. And practice self-discipline.
Be like Joseph – Jesus' earth dad.
Women of the New Testament
Though there may not be a lot written on the women in the New Testament, there is a lot to be learned.
Phoebe is mentioned briefly in the last chapter of Paul's monumental book of Romans (Chapter 16:1-2): "Our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchrea, will be coming to see you soon. Receive her in the Lord, as one worthy of high honor. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me."
Helped many in their needs.
Remember, this is God talking to us through Paul and here is God telling us Phoebe is one worthy of high honor. Highly regarded in the church (a deacon) and apparently wealthy in her support of the church, Paul’s ministry, and of many others. She served, not only by giving of her treasure, but also with her time and talents. Phoebe planted seeds simply by helping those in need.
Everyone Has Been Called by God
Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:2b
Much has been written about Mary Magdalene. I'm not going to get all DaVinci Code on you here, so don't worry. Mary was one of many women who followed Jesus. And Mary was certainly honored by God - not only did Jesus drive seven demons out of her, but she was the first person Christ revealed Himself to after the resurrection (and not one of the eleven remaining apostles). Wow. Mary could certainly be considered a disciple of Christ, one who planted seeds, like Phoebe, by giving of her treasures, her time, and her talents.
Luke 8:1-3 reads:
"Not long afterward, Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages {the Jesus Tour, dig it}to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him, along with some women He had healed and from whom He had cast out evil spirits. Among them was Mary Magdalene, from who He had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples."
Quite the entourage, huh?
The point is that perhaps some of the followers weren’t speakers, or didn’t have specific talents to be a witness for Christ, but they were just as important, maybe even more so, for using what they did have to keep the Good News flowing. A trumpet player can make beautiful music but if he doesn't have a simple thing like air in his lungs to blow out those magical notes, it's just a shiny piece of metal in his hands.
In Jesus' day, women were generally treated as second-class citizens but Jesus wasn't part of society and its culture. Jesus treated all with equality and respect, especially women. All are important and all have a role to play.
You do, too.
Gospel Writers
Writing is a big part of what being a seed planter is to me. It's why I’m writing this blog. The written word is a wonderful tool to share the message of salvation in Christ, whether in fiction or non-fiction, novel or screenplay, poem or play.
The Gospel of Mark is considered to be the first gospel written of the four. It is the shortest of the gospels, one characterized by a fast-paced narrative emphasizing the miracles of Jesus.
But who is this Mark dude?
Known as John Mark, he wasn’t one of the twelve apostles, but he did accompany Paul on his first missionary journey as well as worked with Peter. He also probably knew Jesus personally. There is a verse or two in Mark 14 that talks about a young man who had been following Jesus and during the time of Jesus' betrayal, he ran away when the mob tried to grab him and only got his clothes as the young man ran away naked. Tradition says this young man was John Mark - maybe feeling a little guilty about running away so he did his penance by writing it down for all to see his shame. Too chicken to put his name there, though, huh? Hey, no one is perfect.
So why would this kid who ran away naked when the mob arrested Jesus be the first person for God to speak through to record the very words of Christ on paper for all to read? Even on one of the mission trips with Paul, John Mark had some kind of disagreement with Paul, so Paul basically told him to take a hike and took Silas instead (Acts 15:36-41). But they made up later, too. The point is, though, this John Mark guy has got some issues. So why him?
You know what? It doesn't matter. God uses every one of us, warts and all, frailties and all, dysfunctional issues and all, you get the picture. We are all sinners and fall short of God’s Kingdom but God still loves us, wants to help us, and seeks to build us up and use us in many ways (think the 3-Ts again). The main thing we have to be concerned about is not whether God will give up on us and turn away, but whether we will give up and turn away.
Don't let your fears, problems, and insecurities keep you from trusting God and jumping right into the water. God will always keep you afloat. Like He did John Mark. Probably even gave him a new swimsuit, too, since he’s not very good at keeping his clothes on.
In the Gospel of Luke, here we have another non-apostle writing a gospel that depicts the beauty of Christ’s birth more so than any other gospel. And Luke wasn't even a writer by trade. At least, it wasn't his main job. He was a doctor. Then he was an historian. The writer part came with the historian we can imagine, but here again is an example how God uses us in many different ways. Ways we might not even think. I'm sure Luke used his skills as a physician in God's service, but what Luke is known for of course, is the writing of one of the four gospels and the only historical record in the Bible showing the formation of God’s church in the book of Acts.
Another wow, please.
Wow.
Thank you.
Imagine if Luke just said, "No, I’m a doctor and will use my talents to serve God, thank you very much."
Nothing wrong with that of course but Luke is our example of why you should search deep within yourself for how God is calling you to serve. You may have a specific talent, but it just might be possible that God is calling you first to serve Him in a completely different way to plant new seeds.
Be open to God's voice, that gentle whisper on the wind and not the thundering clouds overhead. God is speaking to you. Practice listening.
Jesus’ Dad (Matthew 1)
No, not HIM, but him. And a very important him, too, not just because he was a descendent of David (as was Mary) but because of the kind of person he was.
Here's a guy who is engaged to be married and then finds out his wife-to-be is pregnant – and not by him. By today’s standards, that’s pretty bad. But back then, it was even more serious. By being engaged, Joseph was already basically married to Mary. The marriage part would allow for the sexual relations to begin. But other than that, they were married and the only way the engagement could be broken was by death or divorce. Joseph, by the rules of the land, had every right to divorce but not only that, the Jewish authorities could have her stoned to death.
But Joseph, being a just man thought about it and was planning to quietly break the engagement and not disgrace her publicly. Wow. Think you could do the same thing, guys, or would you make a big stink about it and go cry on Oprah's and Dr. Phil's shoulder? Or worse yet, Jerry Springer's? Anyway, then Joseph has a visit from an angel who tells him the whole scoop about what happened and that he should still take Mary on as his wife and raise Jesus.
Okay, an angel is a big deal but remember ornery ol’ Jonah said "No" to God right to His face. Joseph could have chalked the vision up to a little indigestion from an over-cooked leg of lamb and taken his carpenter's tools and hit the road.
But he didn't. Joseph was a just man and he obeyed God’s will. Imagine if he hadn't? I mean, Jesus was coming anyway, no doubt about that, but this was God's will and Joseph was a man of strong faith and strong conviction. He wanted to do what was right even though it would be difficult and odds were he would probably endure the humiliation from society for sticking with Mary. Talk about self-discipline. Again, guys, how many of you would endure the ridicule and mockery from society because we go against what the culture of the day dictates? Listen up because that's exactly what a seed planter needs to do. No matter what talent, skill, or ability you have that can serve the Lord in being His witness, you'll be going against the grain of society with your message of salvation in Christ. And like Joseph, stick with it. Remain righteous. Be kind and sensitive to the needs of others. Listen and obey God’s calling. And practice self-discipline.
Be like Joseph – Jesus' earth dad.
Women of the New Testament
Though there may not be a lot written on the women in the New Testament, there is a lot to be learned.
Phoebe is mentioned briefly in the last chapter of Paul's monumental book of Romans (Chapter 16:1-2): "Our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church in Cenchrea, will be coming to see you soon. Receive her in the Lord, as one worthy of high honor. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me."
Helped many in their needs.
Remember, this is God talking to us through Paul and here is God telling us Phoebe is one worthy of high honor. Highly regarded in the church (a deacon) and apparently wealthy in her support of the church, Paul’s ministry, and of many others. She served, not only by giving of her treasure, but also with her time and talents. Phoebe planted seeds simply by helping those in need.
Everyone Has Been Called by God
Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:2b
Much has been written about Mary Magdalene. I'm not going to get all DaVinci Code on you here, so don't worry. Mary was one of many women who followed Jesus. And Mary was certainly honored by God - not only did Jesus drive seven demons out of her, but she was the first person Christ revealed Himself to after the resurrection (and not one of the eleven remaining apostles). Wow. Mary could certainly be considered a disciple of Christ, one who planted seeds, like Phoebe, by giving of her treasures, her time, and her talents.
Luke 8:1-3 reads:
"Not long afterward, Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages {the Jesus Tour, dig it}to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him, along with some women He had healed and from whom He had cast out evil spirits. Among them was Mary Magdalene, from who He had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples."
Quite the entourage, huh?
The point is that perhaps some of the followers weren’t speakers, or didn’t have specific talents to be a witness for Christ, but they were just as important, maybe even more so, for using what they did have to keep the Good News flowing. A trumpet player can make beautiful music but if he doesn't have a simple thing like air in his lungs to blow out those magical notes, it's just a shiny piece of metal in his hands.
In Jesus' day, women were generally treated as second-class citizens but Jesus wasn't part of society and its culture. Jesus treated all with equality and respect, especially women. All are important and all have a role to play.
You do, too.
Gospel Writers
Writing is a big part of what being a seed planter is to me. It's why I’m writing this blog. The written word is a wonderful tool to share the message of salvation in Christ, whether in fiction or non-fiction, novel or screenplay, poem or play.
The Gospel of Mark is considered to be the first gospel written of the four. It is the shortest of the gospels, one characterized by a fast-paced narrative emphasizing the miracles of Jesus.
But who is this Mark dude?
Known as John Mark, he wasn’t one of the twelve apostles, but he did accompany Paul on his first missionary journey as well as worked with Peter. He also probably knew Jesus personally. There is a verse or two in Mark 14 that talks about a young man who had been following Jesus and during the time of Jesus' betrayal, he ran away when the mob tried to grab him and only got his clothes as the young man ran away naked. Tradition says this young man was John Mark - maybe feeling a little guilty about running away so he did his penance by writing it down for all to see his shame. Too chicken to put his name there, though, huh? Hey, no one is perfect.
So why would this kid who ran away naked when the mob arrested Jesus be the first person for God to speak through to record the very words of Christ on paper for all to read? Even on one of the mission trips with Paul, John Mark had some kind of disagreement with Paul, so Paul basically told him to take a hike and took Silas instead (Acts 15:36-41). But they made up later, too. The point is, though, this John Mark guy has got some issues. So why him?
You know what? It doesn't matter. God uses every one of us, warts and all, frailties and all, dysfunctional issues and all, you get the picture. We are all sinners and fall short of God’s Kingdom but God still loves us, wants to help us, and seeks to build us up and use us in many ways (think the 3-Ts again). The main thing we have to be concerned about is not whether God will give up on us and turn away, but whether we will give up and turn away.
Don't let your fears, problems, and insecurities keep you from trusting God and jumping right into the water. God will always keep you afloat. Like He did John Mark. Probably even gave him a new swimsuit, too, since he’s not very good at keeping his clothes on.
In the Gospel of Luke, here we have another non-apostle writing a gospel that depicts the beauty of Christ’s birth more so than any other gospel. And Luke wasn't even a writer by trade. At least, it wasn't his main job. He was a doctor. Then he was an historian. The writer part came with the historian we can imagine, but here again is an example how God uses us in many different ways. Ways we might not even think. I'm sure Luke used his skills as a physician in God's service, but what Luke is known for of course, is the writing of one of the four gospels and the only historical record in the Bible showing the formation of God’s church in the book of Acts.
Another wow, please.
Wow.
Thank you.
Imagine if Luke just said, "No, I’m a doctor and will use my talents to serve God, thank you very much."
Nothing wrong with that of course but Luke is our example of why you should search deep within yourself for how God is calling you to serve. You may have a specific talent, but it just might be possible that God is calling you first to serve Him in a completely different way to plant new seeds.
Be open to God's voice, that gentle whisper on the wind and not the thundering clouds overhead. God is speaking to you. Practice listening.
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