52 for 52: Cornelius Platinga's "Engaging God's World"

Truth be told, I didn't already own this book before I jumped into this book-a-week marathon. But I also didn't purchase it - it was reading provided to assist our teaching team at Bethel for our Christmas services. We decided to share the Gospel story this past Christmas from the metanarrative of God's work in history. So each week, we laid out God's creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Reconstitution. 

From previous weeks, NT Wright's assertion in his book How God Became King would suggest that Plantinga misses the essential element of Israel's history. And truth be told, when I was preaching this series, I did have a moment's hesitation in moving so quickly from Genesis 3 to Luke 2. One of the complexities of three 35 minute messages to cover Creation, Fall, and Redemption. 

As to the work itself, Plantinga gives a succinct and understandable treatment of how God created the world and how things have gone awry. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for the primer or starting point on the Christian worldview, for sure.

52 for 52: Philip Ryken's "What is the Christian Worldview"

The second installment of books I read for Christmas services was this one, by Wheaton College President Philip Ryken. His Christian Worldview book, which is more of a long pamphlet, to be honest, was excellent. I breezed through it in no time, and found his explanations and illustrations to be informed, helpful, and to the point. I think if you boil down Plantinga, you get this. 

Ryken organizes this work into the four categories that we preached on, which also helped me digest this week-by-week. Anyone looking to make sense of the world could benefit from the two hours it takes to read this book. 

 

Up Next: Jesus Without Borders and Global Theology: An Evangelical Perspective
... you can see I'm not doing too well with "reading outside my tribe..." That's coming, though. I promise. 

52 for 52: CS Lewis's "Mere Christianity"

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It's a classic. And for good reason. Things that stood out to me on this run through of Mere Christianity...

How had I forgotten that these were a series of radio addresses post WWII in London? Seriously... you can't read this work without hearing Lewis reading this over the air and having the minds of the nation glued to his voice.

His chapters on Charity and Pride shine higher than the rest. While every word is worth its weight in gold, Lewis's breaking down of Pride is sheer brilliance, as well as convicting. One quote for the record...

“Chastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
— CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

All in all, this was a perfect read for me. Took three weeks to get through it, but I read two other books in between this, violating my "one book at a time" rule, but worth the slow drip for me to absorb more. 

Up Next: Plantinga's Christian Worldview
On Deck: Jesus Without Borders

Reflecting on Staff Transition

The only constant in church staffing seems to be the reality that "at some point, we all go." 

I remember sitting down over coffee a few years back with one of my mentors, a guy named Tom. I was considering next steps for myself and my family, knowing God had put a vision in our minds and hearts to lead a local church to see and experience the glory of God. It was in this meeting where I explained my super romanticized ideal for pastoral ministry. I said to him, "Tom, I want to retire at 65 from the church I plant at 29." And he quickly asked, "Why? That's not the call."

His point was simply that at some point, we all go. And that's ok.

Recently we've said goodbye to our own church and watched as God has taken us to a new community and given us a new mission field. And even more recently, some of our good friends have left this new church to do the same. And it's had me reflecting on the reality of God's calling and rearranging in the church he loves so much. 

Here are three thoughts I hope every church member can reflect on...

Leaving is not an indictment on the church. 

When we left our former church, we weren't asked why God had called us to another place. We were asked, "What's wrong here?" And that's a tough spot to be in as a pastor who loves the church. And that's an unfair question for anyone to have to answer, especially when there's nothing left to lose. The always correct answer to that question, regardless of the church, is "A lot... But that's not the point."

Sure, occasionally there is frustration or disappointment with how a staff member felt they should have been treated. But on the whole, I've noticed God planting visions and burdens within the hearts of the people who transition on to new ministries, and they do so with the heart to honor God and love the church. Even the slick and sexy North Point is not immune from God calling good people away from the team.

Transition is opportunity for God to stretch the staff and the congregation.

I was convinced that when I left the previous ministry we gave leadership to, God would fill our spot with someone even more passionate and gifted than us. And we were right. And in that way, our previous church was stretched and, I'm convinced, the ministry will thrive even more. And when we arrived at our new ministry, we found ourselves being grown and challenged in even greater ways. And I believe both us and the church are better off for it.

Creating space to say "Thank You" isn't easy, but it's necessary.

When we left our previous church, I took special care to say "thanks" to a few key people who had poured into me as a pastor, and I'm glad I did because I think it reinforced the reality that we felt God had this other thing in mind for us. My only regret is that I didn't fight harder to say thank you to the wider church for the decade of growth I experienced as a disciple, and for the 6 years I grew there as a pastor. 

Even more recently, our good friend Dustin Rouse transitioned off the team at Bethel to a church in Houston called The Church Project. Dustin transitioned incredibly well. He finished his responsibilities, showed up to work, transitioned the team, and even wrote a letter to Bethel Church saying "thanks." And if you missed it and attend Bethel, give it a read.

Transition isn't easy, but hopefully we can quit making it all about us and recognize that God is in the business of building his church. And sometimes it means rearranging the pieces. And it really has little to do with us, and a lot to do with Him.