perceptions of present-day christianity...

A couple of years ago, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons conducted research among North American non-churchgoers ages 16-29 to see what their perceptions were of Christianity.  They were asked this question: "Here are some words or phrases that people could use to describe a religious faith.  Please indicate if you think each of these phrases describes present-day Christianity."  Here are the words and percentages of those who agreed that these words describe today's Christianity:

antihomosexual....................... 91%

judgmental............................. 87%

hypocritical............................. 85%

old-fashioned.......................... 78%

too involved in politics............. 75%

out of touch with reality........... 72%

insensitive to others................ 70%

boring.................................... 68%

not accepting of other faiths..... 64%

confusing............................... 61%

Surprised?  I hope so!  Here is my question:  Is this what we should be known for?  Are you satisfied with these perceptions?  Now, here are the answers given by churchgoing North Americans ages 16-29:

antihomosexual....................... 80%

judgmental............................. 52%

hypocritical............................. 47%

old-fashioned.......................... 36%

too involved in politics............. 50%

out of touch with reality........... 32%

insensitive to others................ 29%

boring.................................... 27%

not accepting of other faiths..... 39%

confusing............................... 44%

The numbers are lower, but still indicate that there is a problem.  One more set of stats.  These are what would be considered "favorable image words."  Again, the survey was of North American non-churchgoers ages 16-29:

teaches same basic idea as other religions..... 28%

has good values and principles...................... 26%

a faith you respect...................................... 16%

consistently shows love for other people........ 16%

offers hope for the future............................. 19%

people you trust.......................................... 9%

seems genuine and real............................... 11%

something that makes sense......................... 9%

relevant to your life..................................... 10%

Are you disturbed by these numbers?  I know I am. Two numbers in particular trouble me greatly: "consistently shows love for others" (16%) and "offers hope for the future" (19%).  Those numbers trouble me because they are precisely what Christians are to be known for!  Yet, we are far more known for being insensitive, unaccepting, judgemental, hyper-political, anti-lots of things, irrelevant and boring.  Clearly, we are losing our ability to connect with young adults in this country... and it should break our hearts!

Yet, Jesus said that his followers will be known by what? Love.  It's Christmas time.  As Christians, we believe that Jesus came to bring God's love and hope to a broken world.  We need to show that.  Let's drop the unimportant stuff, stop being offended so much by what (and who) we don't like, and get back to the basics.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son-..."  That truth will change the world... if we let it!

the 'stew' on tattoos...

An increasing number of people, especially younger, have tattoos these days.  In fact, 36% of Americans 18-25 and 40% of those 26-40 have at least one tattoo.  Where at one time it was once considered a sign of rebellion to have a tattoo (something you did when you were intoxicated, for instance), it is now considered quite 'normal.'  Every once and awhile, someone will ask me if tattoos are...well... taboo for serious followers of Jesus.  Does the Bible have anything to say on this?

Yes, it does... but not much.  There is only one occurrence of the word "tattoo" in all of the Bible.  Leviticus 19.28 says this...“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."  At face value, that would seem to pretty much forbid the practice, and it precisely did for the Israelites.  However, as with any single verse of the Bible, it is very dangerous to take it out of context.  So, what's the context of Leviticus 19.28?

The larger context of the verse, 19.26-31, is dealing with pagan practices of the surrounding nations and warning the Israelites not to adopt them.  The tattoos mentioned there were part of a practice where pagans would mark themselves at funerals to appease their 'gods,' hoping to obtain favor from the 'gods' in the afterlife.  That was the sole purpose given for the prohibition of tattoos.  Move back to 2010 in America.  First, the context is no longer one of people tattooing themselves to placate deities.  Basically, people get a tattoo because they want one, not because they are engaging in a religious practice.  Secondly, and much more importantly, Jesus Christ fulfilled the entire Law (of which Leviticus 19.28 is but one aspect), freeing believers from its bondage.  Christ's law of love is the Law for followers of Jesus.

Other Biblical references, such as your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6.19), are in the context of promiscuous sexual activity, not tattoos.

So, from a Biblical standpoint, the choice of whether one gets a tattoo or not is a non-issue.  What is an issue, though, in my opinion, is the tattoo itself.  As followers of Jesus, we are to represent him in everything we do, including our choice of tattoos.  So my advice would be to never choose a design or wording that you will be sorry for later.  Since they are pretty much permanent, you cannot simply hit the "undo" button.

Okay, theology aside, what is my personal opinion on tattoos?  I think they're great.  I am captivated by them for one reason... there is always a story behind every one.  Tattoos have become conversation starters and connecting points between people.  Friendships have begun over comparing tattoos.  They are a way that people can express their identity, creativity and history.  They are symbols of personal expression, similar to clothing or hair styles, but much deeper and more personal.  I know of several people who have tattoos that tell the story of their life with Christ.  What a creative way to demonstrate that one is 'marked' by Jesus.  Because people are typically asked about the symbolism of their tattoos, they can be a great means of a conversation about Christ, should one choose to have one expressing their faith. 

Bottom line: As a Christian, if you want a tattoo, there's nothing prohibiting you from doing so.  It's no different than choosing to wear this shirt or that one, this hair style or that one.  But remember... you represent Jesus, so I think it's important what the meaning of the tattoo is.  And while you're at it, why not use it as a way to engage in a spiritual conversation?  As with anything in life, there will be those who will really like it and others who won't, but again, we all deal with the same thing when it comes to clothes and hair.  After all, people are entitled to having their own personal opinions.

Inevitably, as a result of my writing about tattoos, I will be asked: Do I have a tattoo?  The answer: No, not yet, anyway.  However, I am strongly considering it.  What I can guarantee is that if I get one, it will be an artful expression of my relationship with Jesus.  After all, if I am going to endure the pain of the procedure, I certainly want it to count for Jesus!  :)

"Sanctuary"...

 I haven't blogged in awhile, mainly because I don't do it because I have to, but because I want to.  I felt that I needed to put my focus in other areas, so I took a break.  What I am going to post here today, though, is not my own thoughts, just something that I agree with, something that we are striving to do and create at GFMC.  I have found it very profound and deep... and right on the mark.  I have included the link to the actual online magazine this comes from, if you'd simply rather read it there.  Well, here goes...

"Sanctuary", by Doug Newton

In America perhaps only 20-25 percent of the population goes to church regularly, even though surveys say it's in the 45-50 percent range.  Most social scientists don't believe the surveys  [I, personally, don't either! JG].  They argue that a so-called "social desirability bias skews the facts, because people tend to answer questions according to what they think they should be doing, rather than what they are doing.

So, it's only 20-25 percent.  But the picture is bleaker than that.  How many of that shrinking minority attend a real church--one that functions the way Jesus intends the church to function?  Not many.  Here's why.

One word that captures the heart of what Jesus wants the church to be is "sanctuary."  Unfortunately, most congregations focus on building spaces that have a sanctuary.  Jesus is more concerned that we build spaces that offer sanctuary.

When our daughters were for and six, we brought two African men into our home who had fled political persecution in their home countries.  When we met them at the airport, they couldn't speak a word of English.  It was hard for all of us, but they were safe.  They found sanctuary with us.

That's what churches are supposed to do--very similar to what God did through Noah and the ark.  People who had no hope outside the ark found life and a future by being in the ark.  Did you know the name "Noah" is thought to mean comfort?

That's what sanctuary is supposed to mean.  Threatened people are protected from harm.  Haggard people are comforted with hope.  Drifting people are promised a future.

Do our churches do that?  It's ironic that so many of our American churches are more intent on protecting furniture and carpets than people.  Yes, we should try to honor sacred space, like our physical sanctuaries.  But what makes a space sacred is the presence of God.  And what brings the presence of God is not clean carpets and open hymnals, but clean hands and open hearts.

According to 1 Peter 2.5, you and I are the raw material Jesus works with to build churches that offer true sanctuary.

We must be ready to bring comfort.  People need to hear comforting words in times of struggle and turmoil.  However, those words bring comfort only if they are coming from people who stop long enough to be present in the lives of those suffering.  This can't happen well on Sunday mornings.

Sunday-morning-only churches will never offer sanctuary.  Sanctuary happens only when a large portion of any congregation commits itself to caregiving relationships as much as to good worship experiences.

We must be ready to offer protection from the wrath of God.  People who have rejected God are living under the wrath of God.  When people come to church, they must be offered their only hope for salvation--forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

But churches where people sit and simply absorb a Sunday morning service will never offer sanctuary.  Sinful and broken people must be shown how to receive forgiveness.  That will not happen until a large portion of any congregation commits itself to honest confession, talking openly about their own sin and need of grace.

We must be ready to offer protection from the enemy of our souls.  As Luther wrote, "this world with devils filled" threatens to "undo us."  A church that does not deal directly with the Satanic realm and teach the ways of resistance and victory will never offer sanctuary.  That will not happen until a large portion of any congregation joins in the aggressive work of intercession.  Until then many people will continue to suffer, needlessly.

Finally, people won't find sanctuary until someone opens the door.  When those two young African men came into our home, everything changed.  For a while it seemed that our home was more about them and it was about even our own daughters.  But it had to be that way for a season.  If they were to find sanctuary, our home had to be about their needs first.  We change our family lifestyle--how, when and what we ate; what we watched on TV; how we spent our money and time; and where we went.

That's the transition many churches must make.  Sometimes it will feel like we are neglecting our own to pay more attention to "them"--the new folks.  But this is how we cooperate with Jesus' plan to build churches that offer sanctuary.

If we all went to churches like this, we'd probably force the social scientists back to their calculations.

"Sanctuary," by Doug Newton, Light & Life Magazine, (Sept/Oct 2010)

creating space...

Here's another straight-forward, possibly painful, thought from yours truly...

It's pretty simple: If you want space in your life, you have to create space in your life.  If you wait on that space to just show up some day, you will wait forever.

I know, a real downer, huh?  But it's true.  

Let me say it a little differently: You need space in your life--space to be the person God created you to be, space to connect with God one-on-one, space to thrive as the person you are.

I'm not trying to suggest that you immerse yourself in self-help, self-centered, self-stuff that will take you farther away from God's plan for your life.  No way!  We are, after all, called to be other-centered, other-help kind of people.  But you won't be able to be who God desires you to be unless you create the space for that to happen.

I'm a pastor.  That means a great deal of my life is spent 'on call.'  That's fine.  It's the nature of the task.  But if I don't create space in my life where I'm not 'on call,' then I eventually make myself unusable and useless, worn out and not able to be my best for God or anyone.  So, I have to build time into my life where I am not 'available,' such as a day off, or an extended vacation, even a cell-phone holiday.  Not only do I need that for my own personal well-being, God needs me to do that or I have no resources left at his disposal.  And as hard as it is, I can't feel guilty about that.  As Jethro reminded his son-in-law, Moses, I'm not God.  I will wear out; God will not.

You need this, too, or you will become worn out and useless.  It's not an excuse to not serve or to be a lazy believer; it's an opportunity for you to remember that you are human and not perfect, not all-sufficient, that life doesn't depend on you, and that you need a break from it all.  After all, if God decided that a good-ole day's rest was in order, I'm pretty sure that we need it to.

I don't know about you, but I want a lifetime of availability to serve God, not just a few months or years til I'm totally spent.  To make that happen, you have to create some space in your life.

So, what's your situation?  Are you exhausting yourself working, or caring for someone, or running yourself and/or your kids everywhere, watching your life slowly ebb away?  You have to build in space in your life.  You have to build it in... because no one is going to do it for you.

Are you going to make some people uphappy who think you are deserting them?  Probably.  That's ok.  They don't have to understand.  And you don't owe them an explanation.  But you need to build the space.

Do you need permission?  Here it is: BUILD SPACE IN YOUR LIFE for God to work.  Say no to what/who needs said no to.  Ask who you need to ask so you can get it done.  Do the hard work of building space so that you can continue to be your best for God.  You need it.  And he needs you to do it.  There is only one God who is able to do it all... and, I'm sorry to say, you ain't it honey!

God bless you as you create space in your life for God.

the grass could be greener on your side of the fence...

You've heard the saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."  I know you have... you can't deny it.  We see a nice car and think... if I can only have that car, then...  Or we see a really cool house and think... if I could just live there, then...  Or even something simple, like... if I could have a shirt like that, then... You get the picture.  The grass seems to be greener anywhere but where we are at the time.

We sometimes do it with people, too.  We think... if I could just be like him or her.  Some of that isn't bad at all.  It's good to have role models and people to look to as goals for our own lives.  The thing we have to realize, though, is that the grass isn't always greener there.  Everyone has struggles, and problems, and temptations.  I'm guessing that if we were able to live someone else's life, we'd probably decide that the grass wasn't necessarily greener on their side of the fence. I'm not trying to be a pessimist here... it's just the reality.

Ya know... it's possible that it could be greener on your side of the fence!  Consider Proverbs 3.4, which says... "Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people."  A couple of things to think about...

EARN... You have to earn a life that's greener.  That just means work.  It'll take time and effort... and focus and determination... and don't forget patience!

GOD'S EYES... Yep, he's watchin.'  You really can impress him, though.  He's attracted to greener living like bugs to a light!

EYES OF THE PEOPLE... Do you believe your life could be attractive to others?  That you could potentially be the envy of those around you?  Oh yea... it's possible!  

What if people looked at you and thought, "I wish I could be like [insert your name here].  It could happen.  Your life could be the greener side of the fence.  Why not work on making it that way?

As always, shoot me your thoughts!

DISCLAIMER: No cows were injured in the making of this blog.  Actually, I'm not really sure.  I think the cow in the picture is okay.  At least I hope so.  I'm not even sure where it is, but it looks like maybe it was Fall at the time.

adventures in hiking...

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am no athlete!  But I do love to go hiking, especially for some time alone.  There is no greater way (that I've discovered yet) for me to rejuvenate/be restored than to get in the great outdoors alone where I can simply focus on two things: making sure I don't trip... and talking with/listening for God.  I took advantage of a free Tuesday this week and went on my thought/prayer adventure.  I try not to go with an agenda so that I can simply allow God to bring to my mind the things I need to confess, request, drop, change or forget about.

My prayer life has changed so much over the last few years, especially the last two.  I find that I've moved from a more formal, structured prayer time to more of a conversation with God... sharing what it is that's on my heart, telling him what I'm thrilled about and thankful for, what I'm afraid of and dreading, what I want to see happen in the lives of others and myself.  And, although this is more difficult, I try to spend part of the time just shutting up, allowing God to put into my mind anything that he is interested in talking to me about.

Do I ever hear an audible voice?  No, I never had.  But I can say without a doubt that I do 'hear' from God through gentle confirmations and sometimes stern convictions.  But I don't say that to limit what God can do in my life.  If he wants me to hear an audible voice, I'm sure he will do just fine at getting the job done.

God doesn't speak to each person the same way.  So, I will resist telling you that you have to pray the way I do.  But I do think it is crucial that every believer find out how it is that God desires to speak to you and works in your life.  Don't know what that is?  Take the time to figure it out.  Try different approaches.  You know yourself fairly well and know what kinds of things distract you from him or draw you toward him.  For example, I can't pray that well when I am surrounding by whatever I am working on.  Why?  Because I can't help but keep thinking about those things.  Separation is key for me.  But it might not be for you.  Some find their best prayer time comes while exercising (and no, I am not talking about just praying, "God help me to get through this!").  Others find driving in the car is a good time.  The key is to discover your method and then do it.

Prayer is a gift.  It is not hard.  It is not something to be feared or dreaded.  It is the path to a deeper, more meaningful and real relationship with your Creator and Savior.  It is a channel to real power in your life.  If you are missing a prayer life, you are truly missing something BIG!

what VBS is all about...

Every year, the volunteers of GFMC stand up to be counted in creating a quality, energetic experience for kids.  It takes hours of planning and hours of labor to pull off an event like VBS.  So, why do we do it?  Well, here are just a few reasons I can think of...

KIDS LOVE IT!  They love being at the center of something, knowing that something was designed just for them.  We are passionate about meeting people at their level and VBS GFMC-style does just that!

WE LOVE KIDS!  Kids are fun, open to new things, and love the surprises and fun things that take place at VBS.

WE BELIEVE IN FAMILY MINISTRY!  We want to do whatever we can to let parents of these young kids know that we care not only about their kids, but about them, too!  Our weekly Kidventure ministry was created with the idea that families could worship together and build a relationship with Jesus as a family.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON!  This is what spurs us to do VBS and do it with focus, time and energy.  We want the world to know about this Jesus and VBS is one way we can do it!

IT'S FUN DOING SOMETHING BIG!  VBS is a great way to get folks serving together, getting out of our comfort zones in order to bless someone else.  In the case of VBS, it's kids who are blessed!  Big events are exciting in themselves, but when you know you're doing it for Jesus, it's even better!

Well, that's just a few off the top of my head.  What are some reasons you can think of?