Organizing the roaches

In the book "The Information Diet" there was a nice metaphor that struck me. The author was talking about while the idea of greater transparency in the world is good, it is not a solution to the problems in the world. Just because we can see where the money is being spent in our governments does not mean that governments will be good stewards of that money. Thus transparency is good but honesty and integrity are much better ideals.

Here is the metaphor he used: 

"If you turn the lights on in a roach-infested apartment, it doesn’t kill the roaches, it just makes them organize in the shadows. Sunlight only hides the infestation. To get rid of them, you should clean up the apartment and probably call an exterminator."

The church talks a lot about being a "city on a hill" a "reflection of the light of God" and whatnot. All good metaphors. But when we are content on being just a reflection of the Light do we really just allow the roaches in the world (aka: sin) just become better organized? 

Is the church intended to be that place where we help shine the light or is the Church that place that is called to help clean up the apartment?

If you don't play the game you will never be soccer player

The other day in a session I was able to teach, I sort of had a "going off the script" moment. These generally are the times where some of my better lines come from. While this line was not earth shattering, it was enough to stick in my mind and recall later. So I share it here.

My son is 4 and he is a horrible soccer player. He does not follow the rules. He likes to carry the ball. When I tell him to kick the ball into the goal, he sits on the ball. Needless to say, he is not on the fast track to be the next Messi (5 goals in one game! You have got to be kidding me!)

 

The thing about soccer, like all sports, is that there are rules that one must follow in order to play. If you do not follow the rules you will never be a soccer player. 

Likewise, there are rhythms and patterns and disciplines and even "rules" to the Way of Christ. If you do not follow these "rules" you will never be a Disciple.

Unless you play the game, you will never develop your game.

Let those with ears hear.

Make disciples of all nations

Matthew 28 contains what is often cited as the "great commission" of Jesus. I have no idea why this is 'greater' than other commissions of Jesus, such as to feed the hungry, wash the feet of others, or forgive etc. It just has gotten that name in the modern era.

Anyway, the other day I ran across the "great" commission again and I thought for a second what if we have misunderstood this? I am not saying we have, just go with this thought for a second.

Jesus says to the disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I noticed that Jesus does not say to go into the world and make disciples in all nations but make disciples of all nations. Put another way, Jesus does not say to make disciples of Jesus but of all nations.

What does it mean to be a disciple of all nations?

What does it mean to learn from all the nations? What does it mean to respect others in such a way that you feel that you have something to learn from them? What does it mean to be a disciple of the world?

What if Jesus was telling the disciples to no so much make more disciples of Jesus, but what if Jesus is calling the disciples to make disciples of the world.

Christian history can be seen as a religion that has forced others to be like us. Under the banner of "making disciples" we have justified our actions as a Church in the past to make others convert to our way of being. Out of love we try to convince others to abandon their way of life and become like us. It takes a posture of being one who has truth and the gatekeeper of truth and others who are not like us do not have truth.

If however, just for a moment, we entertain the idea that we are to make disciples of all nations, are we being called to make people who are learners of the world? Disciples of the world in such a way that the Christian is one who is not the keeper of truth, but a seeker of truth. A Christian is not one who tries to convert but one who tries to commune with their neighbor. A Christian is not one who tries to make clones of ourselves, but one who acknowledges the worth of others an even (gasp) learn from them?

What if making disciples of all nations was a call to humility and not conversion?