Set Your mind on things above

Well Church, I am proud to report that we have made it through the most unbelievably snowy season Siloam Springs has seen in a while. I like to refer to the last few weeks as Snowpocalypse 2011 because it really wrecked our lives for a few weeks. Our routines were scattered, our jobs and schools were shut down, and we were forced to stay in our homes. The snow totally changed the way that we live. What I found to be even more amazing than the amount of snow is that when there is snow on the ground it seems like that is all people think about. No matter what you are doing on your snow day everything you think about or do centers around the snow, because it has changed the way you do everything. We almost become obsessed with this earthly phenomenon.

Obviously arranging your life around the snow is really not a terrible thing, it is a necessity, but it got me thinking about how much time we spend focused on things that are of this world and less time thinking about heavenly things. In Colossians 3: 2 it says this “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.“ The snow is a perfect example of this. Like when it snows we are often consumed by what is going on around us on earth that we forget that our true calling as Christians is to put these distractions behind us and focus on God. Maybe the snow (things of this world) in your life is your is your job, your pursuit of earthly comfort, your children’s sports teams, your status in the community, whatever it is if there is snow that is consuming your life it is keeping you from your only purpose in life, which is to keep you mind focused on heavenly things.

If we are not prepared to clear these things from our lives, like real snow they are just going to continue to build up until our lives are being crushed under their tremendous weight paralyzing us from truly living. Don’t become crushed under the weight of the snow in your life get out there and shovel your way back to God’s plan for your life. Set your heart on the things of God not on things of this world.

Those who do the greatest things in this life are most concerned with the next

-C.S. Lewis

Inside Looking Out

Growing up in Church I always noticed that everyone that went to my church was just like me. Of course they were not exactly like me. But to be honest most of them came from the same type of family, had the same type of social status and similar experiences, they were just older, younger or a different sex. Odds are that you too went to a church that was full of people that were just like you.

I really didn’t notice because that was just my life, that was just how my church was. It was later that I realized that almost every church is like that. So as I began to ponder this phenomenon, and I instantly jumped to making excuses, because God forbid that there is something wrong with my church. I once heard this excuse and ignorantly agreed, “Our Church will only reach a certain demographic, we can reach out but ultimately we will only reach middle class white America.” Looking back I cannot believe how closed-minded and non-Christian this thought is. Or an even worse mindset is “This is our church and those type of people will come in and mess up our building and steal things.” I know that this seems silly and you think that no one would say this but I have heard it.

The Church has sadly become one of the most exclusive clubs in America. We require membership to get special privileges, we are leery of outsiders, and we exclude people we are not comfortable having around. This type of thinking is missing the point of what churches are about. We should care more about the people that may mess things up, or cause discomfort than those people who have made the church their home. This was the example of Christ.

In his book Messy Spirituality Mike Yaconelli says this: “According to his critics Jesus “did God” all wrong. He went to the wrong places, said the wrong things, and worst of all just let anyone into the kingdom. Jesus scandalized an intimidating, elitist, country-club religion by opening membership in the spiritual life to those who had been denied it. What made people furious was Jesus “irresponsible” habit of throwing open the doors of his love to the whosoever’s, the just anyone’s and the not-a-chancers like you and me.”

Isn’t it time to start upsetting the right people by allowing those who are different and not the status quo into our churches? Isn’t it time to spend valuable time and resources reaching the people in our community that are poor, a different race, crazy, notorious sinners? Isn’t it time to invite these people into our churches instead of making our churches an elitist group that is untouchable? I write this not as abash of the church but as a plea for change in the way that we perceive our church bodies. In everything we should remember that we are the light to the whole world not just to a world full of people like us.

Getting the Door Slammed in my Face

I have come to a time in my life and ministry where I am itching to move on to a new era.  Finishing college and realizing that the extremely close bond that I have with my friends is quickly coming to a close.  I am looking for direction from God.  I am not only looking for direction from God, but wrestling with God.  If you are not currently there, you will at some point in your life.  So many times I, like the rest of humanity, feel like I have all of he answers and I know what is best for my life.  This could not be farther from the truth.  I recently read a scripture that hit me.  

Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with  thanksgiving let your request be know to God and the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus."  

When the door gets shut in your face praise God.  It may not be easy but, it is what is best for you.  Let God know what you want and then let him take over.  If you think you know what is best in your life and God does not allow it, be patient.  God may be protecting you from something, or preparing something far beyond what you could ever imagine.

In Christ, 

Nick