Lenten Readings

REMEMBER, IMAGINE, John Lennon’s 1971 idea of peace and harmony? Lennon’s lyrics are inviting but only a faint echo from eternity of something more. Jesus, too, has a dream of harmony. It’s that one day His disciples would live as one:  “My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one…and the world will believe you sent me” John 17:21 (NLT).  Instead of pairing off by mini distinctions and styles, by the kind of “Christian shoes” we wear, Jesus prays we would live more effectively for His purpose. John and Yoko sang for world peace. Jesus prays we live as one so the world will believe He is for real!  Jesus prays we kick off our separatist shoes so the world sees we are really His feet.

LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS: “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one. . . John 17:22.”  He says He has given us (disciples) “glory” so that we (disciples) may be one in the way He and the Father are one. They have the same purpose, they work together in mission and message to the world. That is the model for the church, working together in mission and message. Instead, we have argued, separated, majored on minors, and acted on our own.

JESUS GOES ON TO PRAY, “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me.” (v23) Jesus believes our unity is a revelation to the world of His nature and mission.  Yet this isn’t what we’ve shown the world for the most part. I suggest we are making a huge omission by not seriously considering Jesus’ vision and heartbeat for His church and world evangelism. Imagine His church, multiple congregations kicking off pride, not competing but living with a sense of unity.

IMAGINE what it would look like if the church in its many congregations around the world began to share Jesus’ heartbeat. Imagine if we prayed the prayer of Jesus and dreamed His dream?  Jesus’ prayer suggests the only way to fulfill His commission is to go together as His Church, not ours, as one church, not many. We have put enormous effort toward fulfilling the Great Commission but, I believe have made a great omission.

It’s All about Relationships

Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles…When they came down the slopes of the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over….Luke 6:12-18
JESUS LIVED A 3-DIMENSIONAL LIFE SIMPLY COMMUNICATED UP, IN AND OUT.

1) Jesus’ relationship with God, His Heavenly Father; “Jesus . . . prayed to God all night.” This is “UP.” UP is about abiding, spending time with God, prayer, worship, and going deeper. UP is our relationship with God.

2) Jesus’ relationship with the disciples: “…he called together all of his disciples…While they weren’t always faithful, “the disciples stood with Jesus.” This is “IN.” IN is about community, the people with whom you share your life, your community of faith, friends, family, people you love, people who “stand with you.” IN is our relationship with friends.

3) Jesus’ relationship in the world: “the crowds. There were people from all over . . . .” This is “OUT.” OUT is about our influence, contribution, mission, engagement with other people — people with whom we hang out, work, play and go to school. OUT is the dimension of relationships in the world.3D focus, the triangle of relationships.

The life of  Jesus is the life of a disciple. It’s a healthy, balanced life that will “bear fruit that will last (John 15:16).” 3D life is relationship with God, friends and others and is renewed again in time with God. This “triangle of relationship” is the premise and emphasis of our devotional trek together this year. The life of a follower of Jesus is all about these three relationships.

Friends, the “Dialog Quotes” are neither chosen by the respective pastor for the day, nor do they have anything to do with the preceding devotion.

Some have objected to their content. The quotes are intended to be part of our “OUT” experience, to engage Christians in thought and conversation with the diverse values of the people around us. Many outside the church have received the booklets and view the web site. They are opportunities for us to say, “Hey is this what you think? Let’s talk.” They are jumping off points for dialog. Many quotes are by Christians, some by persons who claim to be “New Christians,” and many by some who would never claim the name. Some quotes are from people like Taylor Mali, a public school teacher and poet, others simply reflect values this generation is exposed to as truth everyday.

They are not included to offend, though I trust some will indeed offend each of us. Likely we should be offended in a way that we object and consider how we can be, as Peter suggests “always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give and account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

I find a number of the quotes contrary to what I believe and some most objectionable. As a parent I find the quote on March 31 objectionable. It is the 2008 law in our California Education Code stating that gender is not associated with sex assigned at birth. “Hey is this what you think?” Not me, but it is both what many believe and CA law.

In Lent, when Jesus died for the sins of the world, as General Editor, I thought we should be more engaged in conversation with the “sins of the world” as well as engaged in self dialog about the “sins of the church.” It was I your pastor, not your neighbor’s pastor that is responsible for the dialog selections, the responsibility is mine. So be upset with me not them.
I solidly believe Jesus desires His disciples to be one. This will never be agreement or conformity in all areas, but a humble progressive journey where all else pales in light of who Jesus is.

Many will find no justification satisfactory, I understand. Where you feel I violated your trust, sensibilities, or included the too provocative, it is your forgiveness I sincerely beg. I understand the offense. Jesus is still praying “may they be one, so that the world will know.” So am I. I pray you too, will keep praying this prayer of heaven. Feel free comment to me personally at iLent4U@gmail.com

Having asked both your understanding and forgiveness I would leave us all with Paul’s exhortation “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 New American Standard Bible.

Humbly,

Art Barrett
General Editor iLent
New Life Fellowship