REVEALING THE "UNKNOWN" GOD

      Life was a struggle in the ancient world, especially for those who were powerless and unwelcome. There were slaves who lived without freedom... and widows and orphans with no social or financial support at all.  People died young, from causes that no one understood, and human rights weren't even considered. Droughts, floods, pestilence, invading armies, and even the changing of the guard within a country... dramatically altered and shattered peoples' lives. Life was difficult and happiness was elusive. Thus, the people turned to a number of gods and philosophies to make sense of things and to bring order, perhaps even love and prosperity, to themselves and their families.
      In the apostle's day, Greece was the center of culture and enlightenment. It was the home of Plato,  Socrates and scores of other famous philosophers. It was a place of deep thought, where men actually tried to figure out how to be happy. The Epicureans held that, since life was fleeting, people ought to make...enjoying it... their number one goal. Eat, drink, and be merry, they said, but the Stoics maintained that life was more to be endured than enjoyed. The average person had to do some of both, of course. They had to find a little joy in a life that they mostly endured, but they could turn to their gods... and visit them in any number of shrines, statues., and altars. Zeus (the king god) was represented and so was Ares (aka Mars, the god of war)... and Hera (who specialized in women and marriage). Dionysos (who oversaw wine and festivity), Aphrodite, Poseidon and scores of others. In fact, someone noted that it was easier to find a god than a man in Athens... and it was in Athens where the prophet spoke to them of an "unknown god."
      According to Scripture, Paul first went to the synagogue in Athens with his message about Christ crucified and risen, but he soon found himself in conflict with certain Epicureans and Stoics, who accused him of being a "babbler," or of advocating "foreign gods." They considered him to be a fool, but given their commitment to ideas and dialogue, they brought him to Mars Hill... so that he could make his case. And he did... but instead of demeaning them, the apostle met them "where they were at," as we might say. "I can see that you're a very religious people," he noted in my words, "because I've read the monuments and statues that dot your community. I know of your commitment to explain the things you cannot understand, and I can see that you've made a effort to honor the gods whom you cannot see... in marble and gold. I see that you're a people given to worship, and with that in mind, I want to talk about the altar you have inscribed to an "unknown God"... because I know who this God is. In fact, I've experienced his grace and his power. Look," the apostle seemed to say, "there is a God who created us in His own image and who desires that we live joyful and obedient lives. There is a God who listens to us, intercedes for us, and loves us so much that he gave his life for us. What is more, this same God, who is Christ Jesus, rose from his grave and gave us victory over both death and sin.  This God- my God, your unknown God- lives today, and in him, we live... but he cannot be depicted in marble and stone! This unknown God, to whom you have built an altar, is the source of all good things and the author of all knowledge and all love. He is my Savior and he invites you to worship and trust in him today."
      It's a wonderful story. You can read it in the Bible, but I wonder what it means for us, as people of faith. What will I do with it? How will we respond when we find ourselves on Mars Hill? Will we be able to tell others that the unknown God whom they seek is Jesus Christ... in ways that don't demean them or turn them off? I'm no Paul, but if I should have the chance, I pray that I'll have the grace and the courage to say something like this: As I walk along the streets of my world, I know that life is difficult, fleeting, and unfair. I know that there are more things that happen that I can't explain than there are things that I can explain. I know that we're all insecure and frightened... and I see that you are a religious people. I see the altars that you have dedicated to money. I see that some of them are merely mirrors... and I see that many of them are dedicated to beauty and pleasure. I see monuments to wealth all around and altars dedicated to power too. I can see that the god of independence is worshiped, and I know that many people worship their church. I see the monuments you've built to your gods, but I also know that you are seeking a God who will know you, and love you anyway. I know that you're seeking a God who really has forgiven you... for being born into a world that is beyond your control... and I know that, at times when you are completely alone, that your hearts will be lifted by a God who has promised that he will never leave you orphaned. In short, in a world filled with statues to lesser gods, I know- because I've been there- that most of you really, really pray... that in the face of your doubts and your wanderings... there really is a God who can save you!
      Friends, if we're given a chance to speak on Mars Hill, will we be able to tell the people that Jesus Christ is Lord... in ways that neither diminish him or turn them away?  Since we can't give what we don't have, we have to get right with God ourselves... but if you've found peace and purpose in Christ, pray that you'll be able to let others know that Jesus is the God whom they have yet to know. Amen.

SEEING WITH COLOR-BLIND HEARTS

      Recently, as I was walking our white poodle (with a touch of apricot) down the street, I encountered a black couple who were waiting for their child's school bus to arrive. The father asked, "What kind of a dog is that?"... and I told him that it was a poodle. Since he appeared to be surprised by my answer, I went on to explain that she definitely is a poodle, but we don't get her trimmed "like a poodle." "Just wondering," the man noted, "because my sister has a terrier who looks something like your dog." Nice couple, I thought, as Buffy and I walked along.
      It's nice to live in a diverse neighborhood, I thought, and then for reasons that only God would know, I thought about the diversity of dogs I had owned. London was grey/blue and Rocky was brown and black. I loved them both, but not nearly as much as I loved Nikki. Nikki was a medium/large dog whom we rescued from a woman who kept her caged in her garage. She was strong, bold, energetic, and coal-black. Even her tongue was black. She had never been socialized to other dogs and she was suspicious of new people too... but she became my very best friend when we lived in Michigan. Day after day, we would walk in the woods that were everywhere around, and we formed a deep bond. Early on, she would run away...if she had a chance, and I would chase her for blocks, sometimes through knee-deep snow. Once, when I was walking her without a leash, she began to run in circles that seemed a half-mile wide, and she would not respond to my calls. So, I went home without her, exhausted... and hoped that she knew where she lived. Fortunately, she did and it wasn't long before we heard her scratching at our back door.
     Nikki went to Peoria with us... and then to Rock Island. Every day, we would walk through our neighborhoods and bond with each other... until the day came when she had trouble walking because her hips were giving out. In the end, they did give out... and the three of us- Nikki, Sherry, and me- gathered at the vet's office to "put her down." Oh, how I wanted to just go back home, but we didn't and when the vet gave her her last shot... I looked into her eyes... and cried like a baby (even as I am about to do now). I loved our black dog with a love that was deep and unconditional... and I never once thought of her as a BLACK dog. Now, I am giving my love to our white poodle... without ever thinking of her as a WHITE dog. My eyes see that one was black and the other was white. I was not color-blind in that sense... but my heart was color-blind... and it would've been absurd to think of color as anything more than part of the dog whom I loved.
      No one whom I know personally... gives the color of their dogs much thought and it would be absurd if they did. Why then is it so difficult to love other people with color-blind hearts? Why do we let something that is so unimportant keep us apart? Some people are black and some are white, some are tall and some are short, some are straight and some are gay. They come in many shapes and colors, but each one of them is a treasure... who should be loved for the joy that they give and seek. Why can't we see that?

(Church) Growth Is a Consequence Word

      Advertising is big in the world... and it's big in the church... because it's a growth strategy. If we tell our story in creative and entertaining ways, to our target audience, we will reach some of them, and they will try us out. They will visit us and buy what we're selling. If we can just get through their unawareness, or skepticism, people will give us a try, and when they do, we must be prepared to seize the moment... and make them ours. Entertainment is big in the world, and it's often big in the church too... because the church wants to compete and "be relevant." Thus, we invest in electronic signs that glow in the dark and giant screens that we erect in our sanctuaries... so that we can tell our stories and pitch our products to members and non-members alike. Social media has taken the world by storm and every savvy retailer offers apps... and specials to social media consumers only. Websites are a must in today's world and they are also a must in the church world, although most churches do a lesser job of designing them and keeping them updated. Things are changing. There's no doubt about it, and in an effort to be relevant, many churches are searching for ways in which they can tell their stories to a generation of people who are less patience and more skeptical than those who preceded them. I know this because growth has been a priority for me and every church I served. In Joliet, we transformed an established church by investing in families and their young children. We remodeled our gym, built a climbing wall, and swapped a tradition at a quiet retreat center for a weekend of family fun in a community noted for its shopping and water activities. In Peoria, we contracted with a nationally known consultant, who advised us to set up satellite locations... and we united with another established church, and built a beautiful, new sanctuary together. In Rock Island, we updated the interior of our building with contemporary colors, added an electronic sign, and established several new Bible study and fellowship opportunities... so that we would be bonded as one in God's word.
      I'm all for these things. Churches need to meet people where they're at, just as Christ did... BUT the church is NOT in the entertainment business. Indeed, throughout its first centuries, the church grew because it was blessed, and it was blessed because it was faithful. The members DEVOTED themselves (they were committed) to the apostles' teaching, to koinonia fellowship (where people know one another, spend time with one another, and meet one another's needs), to the breaking of the bread (which includes both communion and the more typical, but still sacred, meals that we share with one another), to prayers (they prayed for one another, for their church, for the leaders, for all leaders, and for peace), and to being present to one another. The early church took Christ's ministry and his teaching seriously... and they were serious about imitating his love and generosity in the world. Jesus told them that they should proclaim good news to those who were poor, blind, or imprisoned, and that they must love one another as he loved them... and his church worked to do these things. Jesus told them that they would be blessed... if they hungered for righteousness, showed mercy, and made peace. He called them to be the light of the world by serving and by forgiving others... and this is what they did. This is what they were told to do, this is what they believed, and this is what every church MUST do.
      In Christ's name, they responded to people and met their needs, just as he had done. This is also what we must do because people need love (in the form of prayer and bread), real community, sustainable hope, and new beginnings... much more than they need entertainment and committees to attend. In the apostolic age, the church was known for its love. One man, who despised the church, said that "the godless Galileans feed not only their own poor children, but ours as well," and a church leader added, "We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country, but now we live together with these people and pray for our enemies." Tertullian noted that, "We are knit together by a bond of common hope" (and) when we gather, we read our sacred writings, which nourish our faith and enhance our confidence. Another church leader said, "Every day our church here feeds 3000 people, besides providing for prisoners, hospitalized, crippled, and Christians imprisoned because of their faith. When epidemics broke out in Carthage and Alexandria, Christians rushed aid to all in need." Amen.
      They were loving one another as Christ loved them and they were serving all of God's children in His name. They embraced the good news and they lived it out in their own lives. They were, indeed, the light of the world, and no power on earth could ever put it out. Friends, may we never forget that we are in the ministry business. Christ crucified and risen- this is our message. And carrying our cross for him- this is our life. Growth is a consequence word. It will come to us... as we are faithful to our mission and our calling. It will come as a blessing. In fact, it must come as a blessing because it cannot be chased down, manipulated, or owned on our own terms. If you want to be a growing church, be a faithful church!