Miguel Labrador's Blog, page 20

When you enter a house, say “SUP, YO?” And if they say “SUP” in return then… Luke 10

There are many who call on and try to emulate the method of what is commonly called the “person of peace” in Luke 10  I’ve often wondered if speaking peace over a house, into a house, or at a person was some mysterious key to initiating a secret evangelism process.  In fact, let’s take a look at the whole passage:

Jesus said, “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.  When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.  When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’”  Luke 10:3-8

Was there something magical in the phrase “peace to this house?”

Is it appropriate to use this phrase today?  Why or Why Not?

What words, if any, would you use instead? 

 

 

 
CommentsI take it as more an attitude that's expressed to the person ... by Dan B.Here's my personal answer to your questions. I give these as ... by Ross RohdeRelated StoriesHarvesting Harvesters, or Making Disciple Makers Of Those Without MeansPerhaps it’s time to put Romans 10:9 to bed. You know, the whole confess with your mouth thing.This is What Multi-Cultural Discipleship Looks Like to Us. How About You?

Discipleship – Teaching Then Doing, or Teaching While Doing?

Most modern-day discipleship follows the pattern of teaching then doing.  Jesus pattern seemed to be teaching while doing.  Does the difference between these two necessitate a change for the church?  There an old adage that goes like this:

 

1.  I teach, you watch.

2. I teach, you help.

3. You do, I help.

4. You do, I watch.

To those, and because we’re talking about discipleship (the making of disciples who make disciples) I’ll add a 5th

5.  You teach.

Across the world today Pastors will preach from pulpits and teach on many subjects with applications to be carried into “normal” life throughout the week until the next set of instructions may be given.  Again, does this pattern necessitate a change for the church if we’re going to take discipleship seriously?

Finally, and to complicate matters further, what if teaching was doing?  

 
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Tools For The Task Of Disciple Making, Does It Matter?

A Disciple Making Parable

&  A Couple of Questions:

 

A world renown older gourmet chef was looking for someone to carry on his legacy.  He decided to open his kitchen, receive candidates, and interview some for the role of an apprentice.  One by one they came and were dismissed for not being equal to the task.  The chef was a bit taken back by the next candidate as he was a man of small stature.  Curiously, this small man came with a machete strapped to his leg.  This candidate was certainly more interesting than any of his previous candidates, so the old chef decided to test him. 

The old chef asked the small man where his chef tools were.  Pointing to his machete, he said “this is all I need.”  ”Ridiculous!” Thought the old chef…  and took it as a challenge.   “We’ll start easy,” the chef said.  ”Slice these tomatoes.”  The small man took the machete out of its sheath and went to work.  Paper thin, chunks, decorative shapes, and even peeled, the small man worked those tomatoes in a blaze of metal and clanging.  The old chef was astonished, although he wouldn’t let on.  ”Ok, he’s got talent” the old chef thought, but I’ve got him now… “let’s slice some cheese,” he said.  Again the small man went to work slicing, cubing, and chopping.  ”Shredded!” said the old chef.  A few more swipes with the machete and some wisps of wind later, there was a pile of perfectly shredded cheese.  Egg Scrambling, dough making, can opening, meat carving, garlic smashing, sifting, beating, separating, whisking, and like tasks were all done with absolute precision and complete humility and all with the machete.    

The old chef looked at the small man and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t take you on as my apprentice.”  For only the second time, the small man spoke and asked “Why not?”  The old chef responded, “because you didn’t use the right tools for the job.”  The small man reached out to shake hands with the old chef and thanked him for the opportunity.  On his way out the door, the small man turned and asked, “what does it matter which tools I use, so long as the task was done?”  The old chef lowered his head and thought for a moment and when he lifted his head to speak, the small man was gone. 

 

As it relates to discipleship (The Making of Disciples), what’s the moral of this story?

Does it really matter which tools we use to make disciples, so long as the task is done? 

 

 
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4 Churches Built / None Planted

A recent conversation reminded me of a unique situation in the Jungle’s of Ecuador.  I went to work with the Shuar people in a very remote village.  Hours of driving and as much walking led us to a village of about 25 families.  ”Shuar,” in the Shuar language, means “people.”  They are fiercely tribal, humble, and simple people.  I was not their long enough to get a deep understanding of their culture and world-view, but I did discover something interesting.

 

Walking around the village with one of the elders, I noticed 4 small buildings at various stages of completion, but as yet, all still unfinished.  I ask him what they were.  He told me this story:

Many many years ago, I can not remember exactly, the Lutherans came and started that building.  They were here for a short time and had to leave for one reason or another, I can’t say…  After that came the Episcopalians.  They built the second building and again were with us here for a short time and had to leave.  I can’t recall the reason they left either.  Then came the Church of God.  They started the third building and were here with us for a bit longer than the other two, but again they had to leave.  

Looking at the fourth building my heart became heavy…  he continued:

Finally, came a group of non-denominational Christians.  They started the fourth building.  They claimed to be part of no specific group and were very interesting to us, but they, for some reason, had to leave as well.  

I had two questions in my head while contemplating this situation.  First, “Why didn’t any of the other organizations build on or finish the previous churches?”  And, “Why didn’t the Shuar people complete any of these 4 buildings and use them for other things?”  I decided to ask the elder only the latter.

Here’s what he told me:

“My friend, the Shuar people believe that until a building is finished, it belongs to the person or group that is building it.”  

I had asked a question which led me into a deeper understanding of their culture and made a friend.  I still think about this from time to time and wonder…

What are the implications for modern-day church planting efforts? 

 
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You Shall Know Those Missionaries by Their Forced Fruit.

A Facebook comment got me thinking this morning.  In response to a statement regarding the plurality of local churches within the singular universal church, one said:

“I wonder why there is such an obsession with structure and methods… The love and loyalty to these is what has kept the gospel from jumping into the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist worlds… Missionaries are “forced” to think church planting because those who support them judge their “success” on how many churches are started, not what God is doing through them amongst these people in an organic and thus “un-measurable” ways…”

In part, I agree with this assessment.  And, as a missionary, I too have been subjected to these kinds of metrics.  Being connected with hundreds of other missionaries all over the world via twitter, it’s a common theme.  But, shouldn’t there be some kind of metrics by which supporters of missionaries can measure their “success?”

To that end, I’ve often heard regarding Christian agencies, organizations, and groups, that “you shall know them by their fruit.”  I can’t help but think that it might be using those scriptures outside of their contexts.  Matthew 7:20 and related verses speak of the character or fruit of the individual.  Those verses speak to transformation of a person.  People can be fruitful, but I’m not so sure that the same can be said of an organization or structure.  Is there an a biblical warrant for corporate fruit inspection?  A few more questions:

1.  Can the number of churches planted or disciples made be considered “fruit?” 

2.  Shouldn’t supporters of missionaries expect an accounting of stewardship?

3.  What benchmarks should be used in determining a missionary’s “success?” 

 

 
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Perhaps it’s time to put Romans 10:9 to bed. You know, the whole confess with your mouth thing.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9


When folks quote this verse in defense of eking out a confession, or should I say manipulating someone into repeating a prayer, it makes me uncomfortable.  It always has.  I’ll admit, I use to practice this all too common method myself.  But, when I think that I might have played a role in a convincing someone of their salvation when in fact they very well might not have been saved, it pains me.  Yes, actual and heartfelt pain.  

You see, the passage doesn’t say that “once you have confessed Jesus is Lord with your mouth, you are saved.”  People only think and act that it says that.

It actually says something more akin to this:

If you continue confessing with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and continue believing in your hear that God raised him from the dead, then you will, in the future, be saved.

The point is this.  Had Paul wanted to say that a singular confession or utterance saved you in the moment you spoke it, he would have used different verb forms of the words “confess” and “believe.”  

What are the implications?  

 

 
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Concerning the Church – An Alternate Translation of 1 Corinthians 1:2

“To the Church of God which is in Qorinthus, called and holy, which is in Yeshua The Messiah, sanctified, and all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Yeshua The Messiah, theirs and ours.” (1 Corinthians 1:2)  Aramaic Bible in Plain English

Yes, that translation is distinctly different from most, but it’s not what I am talking about.  Instead, I’d like to offer another translation:

To the ones who have been CALLED OUT of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light in Corinth, CALLED TO BE HOLY in Jesus together with all those everywhere who are CALLING on the name of our Lord and theirs Jesus, the Christ. 

Think of that translation more in the vein of  the Amplified version than a direct word for word translation.  Greek scholars, feel free to correct that or any of the following conclusions:

Notice that the word “called” is used in three places in three different ways.

First, the word “Church” (Ekklesia) or “called out ones.”  Yes, it does also include the ideas of congregation, assembly, or gathering, but “The Church” (Singular) is made up of all those who have been called out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light.  The words “called out” are embedded in the word “church.”

Second, the Church is called (klētois) summoned, invited, etc “to” something, in this case, to be holy.  The church is not just called out to assemble, but called out for a purpose.  Called out to be sent out.  

Third, calling (epikaloumenois) or better yet, “those who are calling,” appealing to, or naming among them.  Those who together reach towards the One who called them.

In summary then, according to 1 Corinthians 1:2, the Church is those who are called out, called to, and calling upon.  Called out by Christ, Called to be holy in Christ, and always Calling on the name of Jesus.

A further consideration: The word “churches”  (ekklesias) in 1 Corinthians 7:17 and many other places, in the plural form establishes and justifies the existence of many local assemblies within the greater context of the universal Church. 1 Corinthians 1:2  These local groupings of the called out ones also have all three characteristics mentioned above.

Does anyone take issue with my translation of 1 Corinthians 1:2? 

 
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Christian, STAY WHERE YOU ARE and KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

Paul the Apostle told people in the Corinthian churches (yes, churches plural) that “Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.”  

In other words, if you’re an ice cream scooper or a hamburger flipper and you receive Christ as your Lord & Savior (become a Christian), then you should, from that point on, keep scooping and flipping because that’s where God wants you.

John Gill has said:  

People should stay in their proper sphere of usefulness, and the station in which he (God) would have him be, and the place he would have him fill up, and the business he must do in life; so let him act, and as the Lord hath called everyone; which is to be understood of that particular station of life, and those circumstances of it, in which men are providentially placed by God, or are found in when he calls them by his grace; as whether married or unmarried; whether joined to a believer or an unbeliever; whether circumcised or uncircumcised; whether bond or free; a servant or a master; and so may refer to what follows, as well as to what goes before…

Is the most common interpretation of this verse starting to make you angry?  It seems like this translation is a form of abusive control.  Beyond that, on the surface anyway, it seems  directly contrary to “ministry.”  What do I mean?  Well, no one is a pastor when they get saved, although I do know of one.  In fact, if this is true, then no one can be in a christian profession of any sort.  Unless, of course, they just happen to get saved while being the worship leader of a mega church or something similar.

To my missional friends, you should gladly accept this interpretation because it reaffirms the idea of “being a missionary right where you are.”  To my friends who translate the Great Commission as “as you go,” this will only strengthen your case because it affirms reaching others while going about your everyday God-given normal life.  To my Organic church friends, this supports gathering naturally “as life happens.” But, for my missionary friends, myself included, this means we’ll have to leave the field and go back to whatever situation we were in before.

Surely this verse can’t mean what most say it means.  Can it?  What do you think? 

 
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This is What Multi-Cultural Discipleship Looks Like to Us. How About You?

A couple of years ago I was invited to a 3 day International round table discussion on Discipleship.  During one of the discussions, I was able to share some thoughts about creating a disciple making culture.  About 20 minutes into the conversation a church leader from another country stood up and objected that I, as a “Gringo,” did not know or understand the context of the people here and that my advice wasn’t culturally applicable.  Almost immediately, several others around the table objected to his objection.  They were people who knew me.  They were people who have seen the work of the ministry up close.  They were the ones that have inspected the fruit of the ideas that I was espousing.  That wasn’t the first time an objection like that was directed towards me.  That kind of objection can take on many forms.  It’s both wonderful and bothersome when someone asks, “How can we take what you’re doing in your context and make it work in ours?”

It’s a difficult question to answer because “our context” is so very diverse.  In the region of Ecuador where we work, there are more micro-cultures than in many other parts of the world.  The reasons are extensive, but center on microclimates, micro-geographics, and micro-stories.  Initially when I was thinking through this, I was going to name some cities, towns, villages, and neighborhoods and describe the differences among them culturally.  Then I decided it wasn’t prudent.  Instead, here are some two-word descriptions of some of the communities we work in:

Transient Hosters

Intense Workers

Entitled Coveters

Agrarian Loners

Religious Protectors

Suffering Sinners

Isolationist Defenders

Curiosity Satiators

Tourist Pleasers

Inquisitive Seekers

Movement Joiners

Fearful Worriers

Prepared Listeners

Faithful Migrators

Tribal Warriors

Conquered Objectors

Hope Quitters

Forgotten Yearners

Tradition Maintainers

Disciple Makers

As I stated earlier, these are my “off the cuff” first thought, two-word descriptions of just some of the cultures we find ourselves working in.  I don’t mean any of them to be derogatory.  These are meant to be thought provoking, but represent my perspectival assessment.  Each of these would also have a distinct set of sub-cultures.  The above list only represents about half of the communities that we have worked in.  Discipleship in these contexts necessitates an adaptable manner of delivery, but a firm message.  So, in answering the question, ”How can we take what you’re doing in your context and make it work in ours?”, I would ask in return if any of these descriptions fit your context?  Surely there are some similarities.  Disciple Making is rooted in the Gospel.  The Gospel is neither pre-modern, modern, or post-modern.  The Gospel is trans-generational, trans-cultural, and trans-modern.  We likewise do ourselves a disservice when we get bogged down in arguments of Eastern vs. Western and Hebraic vs. Greek thought because we are a people who are being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  There is no magic decoder ring for discipleship.  It’s simply being in and amongst people in motion while gospelizing and loving them and God.

 

One question:

What two-word description would use you to describe the context(s) you’re working in?

 

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Tune My Heart To Sing Thy Grace

In 1757, at the age of 22, Robert Robinson penned the words “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.  They are as follows:

1. Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,


Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;


Streams of mercy, never ceasing,


Call for songs of loudest praise.


Teach me some melodious sonnet,


Sung by flaming tongues above.


Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,


Mount of Thy redeeming love.

2. Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,


Till released from flesh and sin,


Yet from what I do inherit,


Here Thy praises I’ll begin;


Here I raise my Ebenezer;


Here by Thy great help I’ve come;


And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,


Safely to arrive at home.

3. Jesus sought me when a stranger,


Wandering from the fold of God;


He, to rescue me from danger,


Interposed His precious blood;


How His kindness yet pursues me


Mortal tongue can never tell,


Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me


I cannot proclaim it well.

4. O to grace how great a debtor


Daily I’m constrained to be!


Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,


Bind my wandering heart to Thee.


Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,


Prone to leave the God I love;


Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,


Seal it for Thy courts above.

5. O that day when freed from sinning,


I shall see Thy lovely face;


Clothèd then in blood washed linen


How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;


Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,


Take my ransomed soul away;


Send thine angels now to carry


Me to realms of endless day.

It is the second line that has stuck in my mind as a self exhortation and prayer.  By the way, I can’t sing.  My words are almost always out of tune.  What strikes me though is when other people’s songs are in tune with their lives.  When someone loudly sings, “All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live,” and then demonstrates that in their lives it speaks to me.  When someone sings it just as beautifully and then leaves the worship center and practices those things directly contrary to what was sung, it’s as if nothing is in tune.  

I can remember in my early days of my interest in the things of God, that their were two men who were preaching the gospel to me.  Both used the same words and neither, on the surface anyway, seemed more sincere than the other.  I knew the lives of neither.  I had little opportunity to prove that either of them were in tune, whether they walked the talk.  The words, while the same from each of them were more impactful through one.  When he spoke the gospel to me, it had the effect of drawing me closer to God.  The other man, nothing…

It was only much later that I actually saw the why his words impacted and the other man’s did not.  He truly had a life that was ” in tune” with what he was saying.  I had already become a believer.  May the Lord tune my heart song (the gospel) to the fruit of my life.  

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