Connectional?

Some news popped regarding the future of the PCUSA's connectional system:

A Presbyterian Church (USA) commission has voted 15-5 to allow non-geographic presbyteries. The move, which would allow churches to choose their own groupings for "missional purposes," follows defections over the denomination's vote to ordain noncelibate gays and lesbians. The recommendation needs approval at the General Assembly this June.

The resulting question that was posed by Christianity Today was, "Should denominations be organized geographically." The most prominent published answers that CT showed was "no".  Most seemed OK with affinity based connectionalism.

As a Teaching Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church it makes me sad to think about a time when the geographic presbytery could be replaced by affinity. It is my belief that the geographic based presbytery system is best. I believe this for a few reasons:

1. Presbyteries at there best bring unity of the body, mission, and vision of the particular churches. 
2. Teaching Elders, who find their membership in the presbytery, are better served and cared for through geographic proximity.
3. The diversity of churches within a geographic reason is a good thing. It forces particular churches to wrestle with direction and theology. This results in an avoidance of group think. Doors are opened for conversation and debate that eventually should lead to unity and deeper relational connection. 
4. Cultural concerns are more unified geographically. While, a church from Ohio may be more similar in vision with a church in California, the concerns of culture are more aligned with a church in Michigan. Proximity is critical.

The move toward affinity presbyteries seems to be a "I'll take my ball and go home" response to difficult issues. It is my hope that the EPC will avoid taking this route at all costs. Although there has been some movement in this direction over the issue of the ordination of women. It saddens me that this would be the case. 

The Presbyterian connectional system, in my opinion, is the best there is. I pray it does not destroy itself because of an unwillingness to engage over difficult issues.  

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The Acts 2 Church...It Still Happens

If you're anything like me you read this passage and think, "hmm, OK...":

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.43 And awetcame upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

I don't know if I have ever really understood what was going on here. The surface details get in the way and for some reason muddy the waters for me. Maybe it is because I am an American that the whole, "sell everything and share" just doesn't resonate and makes me uncomfortable. Or maybe it's just that I am crazy selfish.

However, Saturday night and Sunday night I was engaged in group life at Grace Chapel. First in my own group and then I was sharing about the vision of The Antioch Movement in another group. After reflecting on these two gatherings I realized that Acts 2 is happening all around me, if I would just open my eyes to see it.

More and more I am convinced that the deeper issues of Acts are based in the fundamentals of "devotion", "together", "common" or "sharing". We live in a different culture than first century Rome. I am comfortable with the statement "that was then, this is now" as we try to apply the Scriptures to our lives. The Scriptures are "living and active" and so I think that Acts is much more descriptive than prescriptive in much of its content.

However, the principles of devotion, together, and sharing in Acts 2 (and the rest of Acts); I think point to the deeper issues at hand.

As my family prepares to follow God's call to Ypsilanti we must ready our house for sale. I don't know how to fix things. But, there are men in my life who do.

I just need to ask.

Saturday night, two men said they would help, without me really asking (I was whining more than anything, truth be told).  Sunday night, a small group, that I am not a part of, offered their help (without me really asking; in this gathering I spiritualized my whining).

These folks have skills that I do not have. They have abilities that I cannot comprehend. They are people who I know are devoting themselves to the Lord, they are committed to being together, and in this moment they are willing to share what they have that I do not possess.

Over the last 48 hours I saw the body of Christ incarnate Acts 2:42-47 in our day and age.

It still happens.

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Moves Like Abraham

On a warm summer day there is nothing better than being at a ball diamond watching my son play baseball. Our family enjoys the camaraderie and the fun of being at the park. We love being with the team and the families. My wife and I delight in watching our son play the game he loves. The life lessons for him are many.

I am beginning to learn that the life lessons for me are even more plentiful.

The thing that I am currently beginning to realize is that my son is an idol in my life. My desire for him to be a better man than I am, to be a better father, husband, and athlete (he's got the last one in the bag).

Yesterday during his baseball game he missed a grounder. My heart sank, I felt anger, frustration, and angst rising in me. It was a moment where the world then stopped and things began to crystallize and become clear.

Something was wrong, with me.


My son is ten.  He's an excellent baseball player. He loves to play. I love watching him play. But, if I can't learn to take joy in the gift of the game and his love of the game then it will be gone.

Last night as I was pondering some of this, the story of Abraham and Isaac popped in my mind.

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boyt will go over there and worship and come again to you."6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide";tas it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."t

What strikes me is the fact that God points out to Abraham the subtle idolatry he has in his heart in reference to his son. Last night, I realized that I have the same. My guess is that most dads do too. God tested Abraham by telling him to offer his son on the altar.

I don't want to experience that test.

It is in these moments that I am grateful for grace, mercy, and the indwelling of God the Spirit. I confess that my son is an idol. I am thankful for the forgiveness wrought for me at Calvary.

Now, it's time to move forward in that forgiveness as a Dad who will celebrate his son but not subtly worship him.

Another wing of the idol factory in my heart is hereby and officially closed.

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Why Are You Moving to Ypsilanti?

We are launching The Antioch Movement with purpose and clarity. The purpose is to launch a global movement of missionary communities that function as ambassadors of King Jesus. We are clear that this movement is to be built by multiplying missionary communities that begin in Ypsilanti, MI and spread to the very ends of the Earth.

As we are stepping out into this glorious adventure we often get a very simple question that has significant implications.

Why are you moving to Ypsilanti when you only live fifteen minutes away?

This question is powerful. It is based in what I call the "Dream of Detroit". Detroit is the center of the global automotive industry. Most people in the metroplex are employed either directly or indirectly by the very same industry. While this is changing slowly, it is still the fact of the matter. Not only is this true, but so is the "Dream", the dream of a city where everyone has a car and everyone drives. A city that is totally interconnected by the automobile.

The "Dream" has slowly decayed the foundations of neighborhoods and community. The "Dream" has drawn people further out from the center of their communities and relationships. The Church has followed suit.  Many churches in the Detroit area are "suburban" or "regional" type churches where people drive many miles and minutes to gather with the people of God. By necessity the Church's building becomes central and the Church runs programs to give people a "reason" to come to the building and drive "in" from wherever they are.

We want to flip this model and subvert the "Dream". We want to be a people totally immersed in our community. Where the Church and the town are intertwined. Our hope is that we will be able to model the incarnation of Jesus to people. To live out his call as ambassadors, as resident aliens, in Ypsilanti.

We simply cannot do this from fifteen minutes away.

No, we want to saturate Ypsilanti with the Gospel. To saturate a sponge you can do so by pouring water next to it.  That is not very effective. To be effective, you must pour water directly on it, into it, and the sponge soaks it up fast.

Derek Webb in the chorus of his song, Take to the World summarizes it this way,

And take to the world this love, hope and faith

Take to the world this rare, relentless grace
And like the three in one
Know you must become what you want to save
Cause that's still the way
He takes to the world

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