The Truth

Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" And that's the eternal question that has haunted us forever. How do we know the truth? How do we know what is true? Where do we turn for guidance?

Well, there's a pretty good answer to those questions. And it's an answer that the church has kept pretty well hidden. I, for example, never heard of the answer until long after I had graduated from seminary, served as a pastor, and came back to teach in seminary.

Have you ever heard of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral? THAT'S the answer!

It's a method of discovering theological truth, based on the writings of John Wesley (1703-1791). The term, "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" was coined by Albert C. Outler in the 20th century.

You will remember from your junior high geometry class that a quadrilateral is a four-sided figure. Any size or shape will do, as long as it has four sides.

Wesley ran every theological idea through four tests before coming to any conclusions, and 300 years later, Outler named this theological method the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

So what are those four tests?

1. Scripture

For the Christ follower, the Word of God is the longest edge of the quadrilateral. For anything to be trusted as true, it must be consistent with Scripture. Every quest for truth starts here. 

2. Tradition

Any new idea must also be consistent with 30 centuries of Judeo-Christian tradition (see my post about tradition). For me, our tradition starts with Abraham, who obeyed God when he was called to leave his home and go to a new place. Ever since then, the people of God have been building a legacy of truth. And all new truth claims must not only be consistent with the Bible, they must also be consistent with tradition.

3. Reason

We are made in the image and likeness of God. God is a reasonable God. God has the capacity to think and reason. Because we are made in His image, we too have the capacity to reason. In our quest to discover truth, a thing must be consistent with the Bible, with 3,000 years of theological tradition, and it must be reasonable.

4. Experience

Many Christian groups affirm the first three sides of this quadrilateral, but they stop short of experiential truth. The Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). If something is true, it will be true in the Bible, in tradition, in reason, and in our personal experience. "You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!"

So there you have it, my friend. Jesus' promise that we shall know the truth is fulfilled. We know what is true by putting it to these four tests. Praise God for simplicity, for clarity, for understanding, and for confidence in our beliefs.

As Shaky as a Fiddler on the Roof

What a crazy idea -- playing a fiddle on the roof of a house! You won’t ever see me on a roof, walking, standing, sitting, OR playing a musical instrument. I would be the shakiest of the shaky. I like to keep my feet planted on terra firma.

But it’s a metaphor. Even though I am not physically on a roof, navigating the bumps of life is pretty shaky – just about as shaky as a fiddler on a roof! And that is exactly the point Tevye makes in his opening monologue:

Life wasn’t easy in Anatevka in 1905. Neither is it easy in America in 2015. Metaphorically, every one of us is a fiddler on a roof, trying to serve God and live a good life without falling and breaking our necks. For sure: it is not easy. Sort of reminds me of Amy Grant’s song: 

“We believe in God, and we all need Jesus, 

‘cause life is hard and it might not get easier.”

Tevye anticipates our question, “So how do you keep your balance?” and his answer is one word: TRADITION! Note that he uses the singular, not the plural: Tradition, not traditions. To be sure, he illustrates with several of their local traditions: “How to sleep. How to eat. How to work. How to wear clothes.” But the power is not in the specific habits and practices, but in TRADITION itself.

TRADITION as understood by The Free Dictionary:

1. The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially
by oral communication: cultural practices that are preserved by tradition.

2.a. A mode of thought or behavior followed by a people continuously from generation to generation; a custom or usage: the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

b. A set of such customs and usages viewed as a coherent body of precedents
influencing the present: followed family tradition in dress and manners.

3. A precept or a body of precepts that are not written in the sacred book of a religion,
such as the Bible, but are considered holy or true.

4. A style or method of an activity or practice, especially of artistic expression, that is
recognized and sometimes imitated: satire in the tradition of Jonathan Swift.

TRADITION, you see, is a good thing, and certain specific traditions may or may not be good. While some people today are throwing off all sorts of traditions -- and tradition itself -- they are only hurting themselves, because their lives will be fuller and more meaningful if they were to understand value TRADITION.

And while I would quibble with Tevye over the following (I would change “traditions” to “tradition”), I wholeheartedly support the philosophy he expresses: “And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as…as...as a fiddler on the roof!”

From the perspective of a disciple, I would say, “Because of our Tradition, every one of us knows who he or she is, and what God expects us to do. Without the Christian Tradition, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!”

Uncle Tom Speaks

There has been a lot of controversy in recent days about religious rights:

1. A pizza shop had to close temporarily due to threats against them because they said that they would not cater a gay wedding.
2. The Indiana governor and legislature managed to mismanage themselves in a rather public and embarrassing manner.
3. A bakery was run out of business due to a heavy fine because it would not bake a cake for a gay wedding (click here for an interesting take on what this bakery might have done differently).
4. And so on.
5. And on. And on. And on. 

I've been thinking about these issues. I've been focusing on what a disciple of Christ should do when asked or compelled to do something that goes against their beliefs.

And I've decided that we should do as Jesus said in Matthew 5:41, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” The writer of the blog mentioned above applies this logic and concludes that a baker should bake two cakes for the gay wedding. Fair enough. 

But I'm drawn to the practice of a local dentist who belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He tells his patients about his faith and explains that if they ever have a dental emergency on a Saturday, that he will come in and treat them but that he will not, indeed cannot, accept any pay. Why? Because the patient has an emergency need and he can help, but accepting pay would be working on the Sabbath, which his faith forbids. I like it!

So I say to Christ followers near and far: 

If a gay person or gay couple wants to hire you to do something, accept it gladly as an opportunity to be a servant like Jesus. But don't accept any pay. Bake that cake for free! Do the wedding photographs for free! Do those floral arrangements for free! And do it in the name of Jesus!

But there IS one place where Christ followers must draw the line -- we can work and serve others, but we must never inflict pain or suffering. And here's where Uncle Tom speaks to us. Harriet Beecher Stowe published this powerful book in 1852, and it became the best-selling novel of 19th century. It fueled the growing abolitionist movement.

Many people misunderstand Tom. They see him as a submissive, cowardly black who bowed to the will of the white master. But that is so wrong! Tom's refusal to flog a woman is why Simon Legree ordered his death. Read this snippet:

• "And now," said Legree, "jest take this yer gal and flog her."
• "I beg Mas'r's pardon," said Tom; "hopes Mas'r won't set me at that. It's what I an't used to,—never did,—and can't do, no way possible. I'm willin' to work, night and day, and work while there's life and breath in me; but this yer thing I can't feel it right to do;—and, Mas'r, I never shall do it,—never! Mas'r, if you mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to my raising my hand agin any one here, I never shall,—I'll die first! Mas'r Legree, I can't do it. I never will do a cruel thing, come what may."

And Legree ordered two slaves to beat Uncle Tom to death. 

The lesson? 

Do what you are legally required to do (such as bake cakes for gay weddings), unless it requires you to raise a hand against another. And I'm thinking that you ought to do it gladly, without pay. For the sake of Christ.

Making Friends for Jesus

When I was 5 years old, our family was shaken to its core. It was a hot August day and I was playing outside. The windows were open – these were the days before air conditioning! – and I heard the phone ring, and then I heard my mother crying. I remember a newspaper man coming to the house for a picture of my father, who had been seriously injured in the factory where he was employed.

A machine had exploded and Dad was hit by flying metal. It sheared off about half the fingers on his left hand, which he had raised to shield his face, and opened a life-threatening gash into his forehead. His brain was exposed to the atmosphere and to infection. He was in a coma. We didn’t know if he would ever wake up. We didn’t even know if he would live. Picture my mom, 32 years old, with four boys between the ages of 2 and 14, her husband somewhere between life and death.

Across the street and down seven houses lived Ollie Ewell, a Christ follower. She heard about this tragedy and knew that a young wife and mother needed a friend. So Ollie, the hands and feet of Christ, took a risk. She walked down the street, knocked on our front door, and introduced herself to my mother. They became lifelong friends, coming to see each other as sisters. Ollie was a disciple of Jesus and faithfully did what her Lord wanted done. A simple act of love to a total stranger – a young mother who needed a friend.

Eventually my father recovered, returned home, and went back to work. Some years later, I started going to church with Ollie and her family. And on Tuesday of this week (March 24, 2015), Ollie went home to be with God at the age of 92. I firmly believe that my coming to faith in Christ is a direct result of Ollie’s act of friendship in 1955. I further believe that any good I might do for the Kingdom is now credited to Ollie, for none of that good would ever have been done without Ollie’s walk of friendship sixty years ago.

I write this today to encourage you to do what Ollie did for my mother when my father lay between life and death in the hospital. Be a friend to the friendless. Bring hope to the hopeless. Bring joy to the joyless. Take seriously Christ’s call on your life. Be Jesus to every person you meet. Treat everyone as a child of God. Give gifts of love, acceptance, and friendship to those in need. Make friends for Jesus. After all, it’s really what he wants you to do!

Biblical Reconciliation

My employer is Anderson University School of Theology, whose mission is to form women and men for the ministry of biblical reconciliation. Lately, we’ve been talking about the meaning of biblical reconciliation. Prospective students, and others, wonder what we mean by that. So let’s think about it for a few minutes.

“Reconciliation” implies that a relationship has been broken. Two parties need re-conciliation. So at its root, reconciliation denotes the healing of relationship.

It seems to me that the whole Bible is the story of God’s work to heal his relationship with humanity, which was broken in the garden when Adam and Eve chose disobedience. Their disobedience broke their relationship with God, and the whole rest of the Bible is the story of God’s initiative to heal that brokenness.

Building on the idea that Adam and Eve’s sin broke their relationship with God, my understanding of sin is any thought, attitude, word, or action that is harmful to relationships: our relationship with God, with creation, with other people, you name it. I can’t think of a sin that doesn’t fit that definition. Any thought, attitude, word, or action that is harmful to relationships.

So everyone needs reconciliation. Everyone needs healing of relationships. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And all have the pain of broken relationships with family, friends, neighbors, nature, and “others” (like ISIS, Al Qaeda, and so on). So everyone needs reconciliation. Everyone has relationships that need healed.

II Corinthians 5:18 says that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is to say, God has given us the ministry of healing broken relationships. Along two dimensions: vertical and horizontal. It is ours to help people reconcile with God and with others (and with creation).

And so the seminary’s mission might be understood as forming women and men for the healing of relationships. This is only accomplished with prayer, with humility, with dependence on the Holy Spirit (who is the Reconciler), with obedience to God (who commissions us to disciple others and who commands us to love God and neighbor), and with the full understanding that we ourselves also stand in need of some healing of relationships.

Shalom.

World Congress on How Not to Mess up the Great Commission Too Much

At the World Congress on How Not to Mess up the Great Commission too Much, the keynote speaker said, "Aim lower, Think smaller, Give up, and Go have a cup of coffee."

For the full recording of his 5 minute talk, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGECz1-CwS0 

and take his comments to heart!

Accountability

That’s not a very popular word these days. It goes against the grain. Especially in America, where two of our culture’s core values are freedom and autonomy. Accountability is surely no way to attract crowds and build a big church!

But accountability is an indispensable component in discipling. We must mutually submit to one another and hold each other accountable for the most important commitments in our lives.

John Wesley practiced accountability in his class meetings, which “encapsulated several of the key principles of New Testament Christianity: personal growth within the context of an intimate fellowship, accountability for spiritual stewardship, ‘bearing one another’s burdens,’ and ‘speaking the truth in love.’”[1] Perhaps you have heard of the famous question, “How is it with your soul?” In other Wesleyan venues, this general question was broken out into specifics such as, “What known sins have you committed since our last meeting? What temptations have you been met with?”[2] and so on.

 In my judgment, Wesley’s method was consistent with Ephesians 5:21, which reads, “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ” (NRSV) and James 5:16, “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective,” and many other scriptures.

The Bible is clear that we are to submit to one another out of respect for Christ, that we are to confess our sins to one another. So I don’t have an issue with accountability. But such is simply not fashionable these days. American values conspire against accountability, and it’s certainly no way to grow a church.

So I want to tell you about a church where the members are mutually accountable to one another. Last Sunday some of my students and I visited Onward Church in Fishers, Indiana. Onward was planted just over three years ago, by Pastor Gary Stump, who resigned as pastor of a mega church (which was based on the attractional model) that he had planted a decade earlier. He realized that while he had succeeded in making about 1,500 church members, he had utterly failed to make disciples. So he planted Onward Church on the discipling model.

Here is where accountability comes in. As my students and I entered the worship area, we each received this card:

Accountability!

Part way through the service, Pastor Gary asked everyone to complete the card. He allowed a few minutes for this to happen, then asked the people to drop the card in the offering basket. Accountability!

You see, it is simply not good enough to preach and teach biblical truth. We must take the next step and ask each other how we’re doing at living what we say we believe.

After worship, I asked about the results: What are the members of Onward Church reporting on these yellow cards? Ed Watson, director of small groups, told me that they surveyed the membership on each of the first three Sundays of this year, and that after eliminating duplicate responses, here is what they reported for all of 2014:

1. How many people would you estimate you have shared your faith with this year?
654

2.   How many people have expressed a decision to place their faith in Christ?    
101

3.   How many people have been baptized this year?   
16

4.   How many people/groups have you led through the T4T short-term discipleship lessons?  60 people/14 groups

5.   How many people/groups have you led through the “Thru the Bible” study material? 
76 people/ 15 groups

6.   How many groups are you currently leading? 
16

7.   How many of the people that you led have started their own group?
12

Accountability! Disciples holding each other accountable for what they believe! I don’t know about your church, but my church members surely would not have been able to report these kinds of numbers.

There are multiple factors that go into making Onward Church what it is, and accountability is only one of those factors. But I know that Pastor Gary would say that it is an indispensable factor! Without being accountable for sharing their faith and discipling others, they would not have been nearly as effective in their individual and corporate ministry as they were last year.

It is time for a fresh revival of accountability among the people of God.

---

[1] D. Michael Henderson, A Model for Making Disciples: John Wesley’s Class Meeting (Anderson, Ind.: Francis Asbury Press, 1997), 14.

[2] Ibid., 118.