Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Change of Blogging Platform

Hi Everyone,

The Eudaimonia Blog has been switched over to WordPress at https://mikehsu.blog If you have "followed" my blog here at this site, please switch over to the new site as you will not be receiving any email notifications on new posts. In order to receive email notifications, you will need to "subscribe" at the new site with an email by scrolling down in the right column to where it says "newsletter" and sign up.

Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience. Any posts that I have begun here since the start of my sabbatical a little over a week ago have been moved over to the new WordPress site. Goodbye "Blogger" as I will miss you after a fifteen year partnership!

Thank you everyone!

Mike

Correction to Previous Post, 4.5% of Professing Christians in Metro Vancouver

I wanted to make a correction to the statistics on my previous post. My friend Pastor Ted Ng clarified a small misunderstanding I had in the statistics. 33% of people in metro Vancouver, population 2.6 million people, say they are a Christian of one stripe or another; that statistic I got right. 

15% of those 2.6 million people, the overall population of metro Vancouver [not 15% of the 33% (858,000 people) as stated in the post] put into practice some form of their faith. And 1.5% of the overall population, 2.6 million people in Metro Vancouver (again, not of the 33% of professing Christians), attend church weekly. 

Doing the math, what this means is that 4.5% of professing Christians in Metro Vancouver attend church services on a weekly basis, still a minuscule percentage, but all things being equal,... the Title of the post should have been "4.5% of professing Christians in Metro Vancouver." 

Sunday, May 7, 2023

1.5% of Professing Christians in Metro Vancouver



So it was the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, but also my first Sunday of sabbatical. Last night I had it all mapped out, in the morning I would go to one of the "larger" churches in Vancouver and in the afternoon I would attend my friend Pastor Ted Ng's church Faith Community Christian Church which is a small church (like Grace Van) that meets in the Granville Chapel building near 43rd and Granville at 3:30p. But also 48 hours ago, I had an idea that I thought could be cool to try out; in my now six years at my gym Collective Fitness Kitsilano, I have never once been in for a Sunday morning workout. I think the reasons are obvious given my line of work : ). I thought, maybe I could pop in for a 10a workout since there are different folks who go to the gym at that time, most notably our gym owner's fiancee Natalie who coaches classes on Sunday mornings but otherwise works out at another gym. In other words, I never get to see Natalie, though she is an absolute sweetheart and a great coach. So I booked my class on Friday which you can do 46 hours in advance, to reserve your spot; however, here's the thing... if you cancel within 3 hours of the class starting, you get charged a late cancellation fee since it reserves a spot someone else could have used. But then as the weekend carried along, I decided my Sunday morning thing is always being in a house of worship, plus, I'm a Presbyterian from the old Puritan tradition that was very particular about keeping Sabbath with particular rigour (remember Eric Little of Chariots of Fire fame? I guess if you are younger than 45-years old, you probably don't... but he was a devout Scottish Presbyterian Olympic runner from the 1920s who refused to run on the Lord's Day). How could I possibly consider doing anything Sunday morning other than being in a house of worship? Oh silly me. But then something happened at 7:30a this morning... I realized that I was 2.5 hours away from the class I had booked on Friday and forgotten to cancel;... and therefore should I cancel I would be subject to a $15 penalty. I thought, well, I did have what we Presbyterians call a "scruple" when I took my ordination vows back in 1999 in that while I do believe Sundays are the Christian sabbath, Jesus was also the fulfillment of the Sabbath law as He achieved for us an Eternal Sabbath in His death and resurrection (see Hebrews 4);... therefore there is a reason the New Testament writers no longer referred to the Christian day of worship as the Sabbath (not in any way disagreeing that the 4th commandment should be thought of as anything less than universally binding and still in effect today) but the NT writers referred to our day of worship as "the Lord's Day" (Rev. 1:10) instead, a reference to His day of resurrection! also that even every person who is a "strict sabbatarian" must understand that even he, short of being a 7th day worshipper of God,... does not fulfill the 4th commandment in the exact way it was prescribed. Why? Because in the advent of Jesus coming into the world, an epochal shift of momentous ramifications happened. Jesus' life, death and resurrection was so monumental so as to shift the Christian observance of a universal moral law given for human flourishing, i.e. the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments, from being fulfilled on the 7th day of the week to the 1st day. I guess we might say the Resurrection of Jesus was THAT cosmic and remarkable in scope! Therefore, the offer of "rest" in places like Matthew 11:28ff. must now be thought of in light of the Coming of Christ,... as "redemptive" in Jesus' fufillment of it,... and that there is now grace and joy in the accomplishment of Jesus at the Cross and in His resurrection. We "keep Sabbath" as a joy, rather than out of a slavish obedience (not that the Israelite of Old was to have done so any less so,... but WE have the gift of the Spirit given at Pentecost as well as well as the realized promise of the new covenant being now written on our hearts, i.e. Jeremiah 31). But here's the thing... there was also a cultural factor in play this morning... one might say an "Asian gene" in me that kicked in...so I admit it,... I'm "cheap" and did not want to be penalized $15 for a late cancellation. (Does anyone here see how exhausting it is to have the mind of a theologian?) So I decided to go to my first Sunday morning workout ever at my gym... and it was a delight seeing Natalie and a few new (and old faces) in the gym... I shared I was on a sabbatical and that I was able to enjoy my first Sunday morning class ever with all of them. It was a terrific morning.

But then... the true joy of my day came,... worshipping with the Faith Community Christian Church community that met at 3:30p. "F3C" (as they call themselves) does not own a church building so they meet in the afternoons in Granville Chapel. They were planted sixteen years ago with Pastor Ted as their Lead Pastor and have been a faithful presence of our Lord ever since. I love the power of small church communities in our city like F3C and like Grace Van. I saw a few folks that I knew, met Ted's wife Eudora and two of their adult kids, but really the highlight of the morning for me was Ted's message, ironically enough, on why it is important to gather together on the Lord's Day. The text of Scripture was from Hebrews 10:19-25:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

In the message, Ted shared some research he had discovered regarding the reasons people "skip" Sunday worship vs. "attend" Sunday worship in metro Vancouver. Ted shared this slide:


To summarize the slide, especially if you are getting "old eyes' like I am, Ted stated that of the 2.6 million people in Metro Vancouver, 33% state that they are "Christian." Of those who state that they are "Christian," 15% say that they "put into practice" in some shape or form their Christian faith, pray, meditate, do some sort of proactive engagement with their faith, etc. But then here was the riveting statistic, of those who say they are Christian, only 1.5% attend church weekly. Pause.... Inhale.... Exhale.... Pause again.... Inhale again.... Exhale again.... Slow your breathing now.... Namaste. 

What this means is that if you claim to be a Christian and live in Metro Vancouver and attend a church community weekly,... you are a rare bird. You are an outlier.... a weirdo (OK, I take that back,... that's just mean 😅). But forget about going to a 10a group class on Sunday morning at the gym, being an odd feeling,... something that 98.5% of "Christians" in our city know NOTHING about whatsoever,... the odd feeling is setting foot inside a church building on Sunday morning, for 98.5% of those who profess to be Christians in Metro Vancouver (who themselves are only 33% of the 2.6 million people in Metro Vancouver). By the way, did you know Grace Van people that city by-laws are set up so that there is NO religious zoning in False Creek South where our church is located? Can you think of ONE church community that owns property north of us between Burrard and Cambie? We might be the only one in False Creek South- I would be delighted if I was wrong here. But this is the shape of our city and in particular, our part of the city. We somehow hit the lottery when we were able to purchase our small property back in 1999 from an old Jehovah's Witness Hall (way to go John Smed!)  

So the part that got even more interesting was when Ted explained why those who claim to be Christian skip church vs. attend church. Let's start with SKIP

Greater Affluence

Kids' Activities

Blended Families

Individualism & Disengagement

Can't Find a Church that Fits

The affluence piece has to do with those who have more wealth and spend the weekend say "up in Whistler" enjoy the additional resources and benefits to be able to enjoy what those added resources bring. Wealth brings more opportunities for leisure and travel, but not necessarily deep meaningful connection (with God or with human community). Kids' activities such as youth sports is fairly obvious. Blended families has to do with parents who are no longer together and "share the kids," sometimes the believing parent not having the kids over certain weekends. The 4th category is the one I probably challenge Grace Van to the most often,... to recognize that the ways in which we isolate ourselves and keep ourselves from the weekly rhythms of community life,... something we need to recognize is deep within the cultural messages we are taught, to quote from Jamie Smith, "cultural liturgies" (think social media here) that keep us "pursuing our dreams" and not so much being our "brother's and sister's keepers." And then Ted challenged his congregation for those who fit the 5th category, have a hard time "Finding a Church that Fits." "What is our role?" Ted asked his congregation,... "if you see someone you don't know or is new, someone who might need a greeting or embrace,... do you walk up to them and engage them with the warmth of Christ?" Ted challenged his congregation that at the heart of the Gospel is "allowing strangers to become friends" (Hebrews 13:2)... do you do this every week if someone who is looking for "a church that fits" steps into the doors of this congregation?

As I want to challenge our Grace Van congregation with a phrase I've said many times over the last decade,... while I am away make sure you,... Put on Your People Eyes! 

Greet the newcomer in our midst, step away from your friends and your self-consciousness, give it to God and step out in faith and meet someone new,... if you are feeling awkward about the whole thing and you've at least been at Grace Van for a few weeks, months or years, how do you think they are feeling? Yet they are there, looking for something! A few weeks back, I saw a new face at Grace Van when I was giving a sermon, and I so badly wanted to meet this woman, but a few Grace Van regulars engaged me in conversation following the benediction (which you know I love, however...) by the time I was able to try and talk to this woman who I didn't get a sense was greeted by many of our folks (often we do a good job with greeting newcomers, but on this occasion, we might have dropped the ball), I reached her as she was walking out the front door,... and I shouted from about 10 feet away, "thank you for joining us in worship this morning" and then ran up to her to shake her hand... she turned around at the door, only for me to see that she had tears in her eyes, and then she walked out of the building. I didn't see her back to Grace Van the last 3 Sundays I was there since that moment. To be honest, I don't know what her tears were about,... whether they were happy tears, sad tears or angry tears? I don't really know. Maybe she was super-happy I went out of my way to "chase her down" and greet her? Maybe she was sad or angry that she hadn't been greeted by more people? I don't really know, but wouldn't it have been great for someone that morning to have gotten a bit of this woman's story? WHAT DID THOSE TEARS MEAN? The staff and even a few outgoing folks at Grace Van cannot greet everyone; my last Sunday April 30th before sabbatical, I felt we had a pretty packed out service, with many new faces. We need the WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST,... all hands on deck to do the outreach. "Put on Your People Eyes!" as I'm convinced there will be opportunities as Ted would say in his sermon, "to allow strangers to become our friends." But we have to put on our People Eyes and we have to engage in those sometimes awkward and uncomfortable spaces. Put on Your People Eyes!

Oh yeah, I said there were also reasons for why people ATTEND church. Here they are:

Personal Spirituality

Family Spiritual Development

Value Relationships

Desire to Share the Gospel

I loved those reasons that Ted discovered in his research for why the 1.5% among professing Christians come to worship weekly and how others might become a part of seeing that percentage grow in Metro Vancouver among those who profess to know Christ as well as bring those who have never known Christ into that blessed weekly rhythm of being with God's people every Lord's Day. Ephesians 2:12 says that we were all once "strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." But then in the verses that follow, we are told that we were brought near into the peace of Christ, by His blood. Will you be an active part of inviting others into this great promise of Divine inclusion, by "Putting on Your People Eyes" every Sunday at Grace Van and then every day of the rest of the week as well?

I had a beautiful day of worship from morning until evening today, even now as I conclude this post. I was able to spend an additional hour at Ted's beautiful small church following the service saying hello to his family as well as other members of his congregation- I loved every minute of it. I pray you were able to enjoy this day of worship as much as I did, even if I didn't get to see you and hope you were able as Hebrews 10:25 challenges us to do, "stir others up to love and good works, not neglecting the meeting together, i.e. 'the Assembly'... but to encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Blessings to you dear friends. I finish with a quotation Ted gave in his sermon today, from Mother Teresa:

"People who love each other fully are truly the happiest people in the world. They may have little, they may have nothing, but they are happy people. Everything depends on how we love one another." (see John 13:35)

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

On Sabbatical, Re-Awakening Mike's Blog

 


It's been over two years since I last posted on this blog. After my father passed away in June 2021, these last couple of years have represented for me a time of grieving the loss of two parents who set so much of the foundation for me regarding the man I am today (I lost mom in Sept. 2020). Truth of the matter is I haven't been very active on my blog for nearly a decade now; that's how long I've lived and served in Vancouver, BC. However, just recently I went on my first sabbatical in fifteen years (I know, long overdue and not a great example to younger pastors who should be seeking that their churches give them sabbaticals every 5-7 years). But alas, here I am on sabbatical again and what is more, this blog was started back in 2008 for the purpose of keeping my then church, Grace Chapel, up to speed on my sabbatical undertakings, while away.

So the blog has been awakened again as I go on my first sabbatical in my ten years at Grace Vancouver Church (GVC), for the same purpose to keep Grace Van up to speed on my sabbatical undertakings. I suppose I have much to say and reflect upon after ten years of ministry at GVC and in Canada, but begin with the four-chapter story of the Bible depicted in the image above, indeed a very simple explanation of the Good News of Jesus' Kingdom, and what it has come to accomplish in this world, that of redemption and restoration from a fallen creation, that came about as a result of the rebellion of our first parents long ago from that place of joyful communion with their Creator-King, instead insisting on their wish to be their own kings.

In my ten years doing ministry in one of the most secular cities on the planet, I have at times and through seasons grown greatly fatigued and yet, in what has been a difficult city to sow seeds of the Gospel, actually I've often found some of my greatest encouragements to come from outside the church, from among "nonbelievers." I remember in one of the most difficult seasons in church ministry I've had in nearly a quarter-century of serving as a pastor of Jesus' church, my atheist friend and gym owner posted on the gym's Facebook page, "This is our beloved Pastor Mike. There is not one bad bone in this guy's body." I saw that message in the midst of a number of people leaving the church, out of a belief that there were many bad bones in my body! As I was hurt deeply by Jesus' Church, at the same time, my atheist friend ministered greatly to me in a great time of need. Yet before we play any "gotcha" games with why the Church isn't worth serving, understand this is the reality of life in Jesus' Church, especially if one has an undying love for the Bride of Christ and would do anything to see Her brought to completion and perfection. Isn't this what the Apostle Paul says Jesus did for His Bride the Church? (Eph. 5:26ff.) What is more in the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, we are told that all of creation groans under the weight of the curse of Adam's sin. Plus, Jesus says that God's good gifts are everywhere, even among the "unjust" (Matt. 5:45). The prophet Jeremiah tells us to seek the welfare of the city into which we as God's people have been sent into "exile" and pray for it; insofar as the city flourishes, there also we will find our own welfare and blessing (Jer. 29:7). The Church is being perfected, but before her completion, there is much ministry to be done in a place like Vancouver. As we do so being committed to the Bride of Christ, we will find many graces along the way as we seek to bring others into the knowledge of our Saviour. We serve and are blessed- it is really that simple in many ways. And where we find Christians behaving badly and nonbelievers behaving honourably,... well, to be honest, there is nothing new under the sun and none of this should throw us off so as to question whether in fact the Gospel is true. The Good News of God's Kingdom has arrived into the world and we see God's mercy and grace to all humankind in all of it. As human history follows the lines of the Biblical story (see the image above), so we have the great hope that while things are not always as they once were and should be (Creation and Fall),... as we labour in faithfulness, such things will arrive at their intended places of destination (God's people in and outside the church will be Redeemed) and human history will move towards its consummation, to a place of full Restoration, when every tear will be wiped away. 

Funny thing is as I go onto sabbatical, I actually find myself in a time of refreshment and strength, which wasn't the case when I planned it with our Session, i.e. elders, over a year ago. There are many reasons for this, but the big ones are: 1) the kindness and mercy of God and 2) the power of remaining rooted in Jesus' Church, Grace Vancouver Church, through times of thick and thin. At GVC, there is a togetherness, unity of spirit and purpose that is much greater than what I experienced in my first 5-7 years here. It might have been that the pandemic was clarifying for us. I say that in humility, but also with knowledge and insight as I left a vibrant and a church powerful in unity ten years ago in Nebraska. Today I see Grace Chapel only growing deeper and stronger in that vibrancy and power. As I pray for my former church, so I pray in a similar way for the one I now serve. To me, it all comes down to God's people learning how to serve the Mission of God, rather than personal agendas. Now, that is easier said than done as we all have a sense of eternity set in our hearts and want for our lives to count for Jesus. We want to use our gifts to serve His Kingdom and to have an impact for what He is doing in the world. The trick becomes how we learn whether or not we are serving a Divine agenda or a human agenda, and that is no small task as, despite light coming into the world, the Apostle John said that "men loved darkness because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Therefore, I learned some years ago that, despite our greatest zeal for Jesus' Kingdom and to see His mission move forward in the world, unless we learn to do it in submission to His authority in the Word as well as to those He ordains to lead His Church, then our strivings as well-intended as they might be, turn out to be fruitless and vain.

At the heart of my thoughts now having served Jesus' Church for a number of years is this, and I've asked the question time and time again, "who loves the Church?" Now, I've heard Christians give lip service to this question time and time again, but when the pressures and trials come,... despite all the lip service, "we love the church, we really do!" the truth of the matter is more often than not, we do not,... at least not as much as we love ourselves. What does it mean to live by the power and authority of His Word and in submission to the covenant membership vows we take to support one another and to the "government and discipline" of the church, i.e. to church leadership? Until Christians learn to enjoy that secret sauce of mission, the Church will not move forward on its mission (John 13:35). We at Grace Van are more well-poised to do this than I believe we have been in our 23-year-history. Yes, I know I've only been here for 10 of those years. Either way, I am thrilled to be on that journey with Jesus' Beloved Grace Van.

Well, my sabbatical started off well Sunday evening enjoying a glass of Irish whiskey with Pastor Ted Ng of Faith Community Christian Church. The gathering is usually larger, but the two other pastors could not make it that evening. This "Kitsilano" pastors group is one of two that I participate in for mutual strengthening of the Body of Christ, the other being a "Fairview" pastors' group, both groups including a total of four pastoral colleagues. Monday evening I started my first Krav Maga class at Impact Fitness which is located near the church at Burrard and Broadway. Krav Maga is a form of Israeli martial arts built on teaching folks self-defence in real world situations. The first class was basically a great workout with a very friendly group of about twelve others as well as a kind and professional instructor named Bernie. In addition to doing my Crossfit 3xs per week, I'm now signed up for Monday nights to do Krav Maga. On Tuesday I signed up for electric guitar lessons at Rufus Guitar, not too far from my house. I'm signed up to do guitar lessons every Tuesday afternoon. I chose the long-haired rocker teacher who I'm told will teach me how to "shred." What can I say? I'm a product of the hard rock and metal bands of the 80s. Tonight (on Wednesday), I'm looking forward to meeting up with our Westside Community Group to study the Word and then on Saturday morning I have my first reading group for two hours with a handful of participants (likely seven or eight) going through a book study on Christopher Watkin's 600-page book called Biblical Critical Theory. I'm looking forward to Saturday morning, though our group has given itself the month of May to determine whether we are truly "in" or not; after all, the study is a large undertaking. 

I am still trying to figure out which church to visit for this first Sunday of sabbatical. I'm thinking one of the "bigger" ones to start my round of visitations to churches- I'm already jealous I won't be at Soup and Bread lunch at GVC on Sunday; where there is food and I am missing out, I tend to sniff out (I can smell the aromas of the soups now, haha).

Well, thank you for all your prayers and interest in this sabbatical journey. Blessings and I hope to see you soon.

Mike

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Tears, Eastertide and the Hope of a New Creation


Dear Grace Van Family,

I wanted to pass on an Eastertide reflection. On Monday I came down to Seattle to see my dad for the first time in over two months. Dad has been stable, but also on hospice care for the last three months. It was so good to see him Monday night. Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) as I spent time with dad, he began doing what I would call a "sewing motion" with his hands, something I had never seen him do before. Dad has battled the ravages of Lewy Body Dementia for over six years now and while he recognizes me, he also is not always particularly coherent and also hallucinates often. Yet as I sat with him in a quiet moment, he began doing what looked to me to be an extremely well-skilled and technical "sewing motion." I imagine Tony Lee playing in a beautiful full orchestra (pre-Covid of course) and the conductor moving his hands skillfully like art in motion. Well, the only thing that was missing with dad's motions in the air was the beautiful music! I thought for a moment, mostly fascinated by the world dad was in, . . . but then it dawned on me that dad was once upon a time an extremely skilled surgeon! I thought dad is probably moving his hands with the utmost skill, in a way that most of us who are not trained in this fashion and who had not been in surgical practice for over forty years would not know how to do! And then I thought about the New Heavens and New Earth where the music and clarity of mind and strength of body will be brought into the New World Christ has brought in His resurrection, of which dad as a child of God in Christ will be a part of! and I ached for that New World and its King to come quickly.

I left dad's care home and then decided to take a visit to mom's graveside. I knew the headstone was being constructed, but wasn't sure it had been installed. . . . It had. And I sat down on the grass and wept. I thought of last year purchasing the plot with mom's approval, taking a video of the pathway how visitors can get to it, . . . its proximity to her parents graves . . . bringing the video home and showing her. Later I would take mom to visit the purchased plot, and she would joke with me as I went on and on about how beautiful the view was from her spot, that she would only be able to appreciate the view if she sat up from her grave. I then helped her along to see her parents' gravesites, though very weakened at that point by her cancer, mom insisted on standing in honour of her Beloved parents' memory. She stood there, oxygen tank and all, and wept and wept, knowing that she would soon be joining her Beloved parents in death. I hurt so deeply and was so thankful for her memory, . . . at the same time. And I wept thinking of all those sacred moments I had with mom and one I was having without her. And then I wept some more.

Today, with some of you, I sat in Davi Rabelo's final Regent College presentation who shared parts of his paper looking at the woodcut art of J. Borges and showing us (over 100 people present on Zoom!) his own artwork, a series of linocuts, entitled "Under the Sun" and while it was such a beautiful presentation for all present, for me, it was an encounter with the Living God, . . . taking in themes of light and darkness and the hope of a New Creation through the restorative work of the Cross and Resurrection of Our Lord. I found myself for most of the presentation needing to turn off my camera, because I could barely fight back the tears knowing the hope of the resurrected Christ through Davi's visually-stunning art. My tears of deep sorrow were co-mingled with hopefulness, joy and wonder. I thought by Davi's gift, I was able to take up some of N.T. Wright's challenge in his book Surprised by Hope:

"But we should be taking steps to celebrate Easter (during the Eastertide season) in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to mind. This is our greatest festival. . . . Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity; as Paul says, you are still in your sins. . . . if you are to flourish as a Christian and as a truly human being, then Easter should mean planting, watering and training up things in your life (personal and corporate) that ought to be blossoming, filling the garden with color and perfume, and in due course bearing fruit. The Easter season ought to be a time to take up something new, some new task or venture, something wholesome and fruitful and outgoing and self-giving. . . . if you really make a start on it, it might give you a sniff of new possibilities, new hopes, new ventures you never dreamed of. It might help you wake up in a whole new way. And that’s what Easter is all about." 

So dear Church, lift up your hearts! [response: we lift them up to the Lord!] Christ is Risen! [response: He is Risen Indeed!]. As Christians, we often think of "heaven" as a reunion with our loved ones, but what if that reunion is even greater, one of Heaven and Earth, when the work of our hands, the strength of our bodies, the restoration of our hearts, minds and communities will see genuine wholeness and shalom once again? This is indeed the promise of Our Risen Lord to us, that He is coming to make all things new again! (Rev. 21:5). 

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
-Psalm 139:11,12

I pray the Risen Lord would meet you in marvelous ways this Eastertide season, even in the midst of so many deep and difficult heartaches and struggles. I've loved hearing "Kingdom Stories" from Grace Van folks throughout this season, and I also want to invite you this Sunday to stick around after our Zoom service, for our Zoom Randomizer Social. There is rain in the forecast this Sunday, so as promised, instead of outdoor communion, we will have a chance to get to know one another a bit following the service, being randomly "partnered" up in break-out rooms of 3-4 people/families, discussing this question, "What is something you have always wanted to learn how to do?" This idea of the Zoom Randomizer Social as well as the actual question is the genius of Reuben Moes who wants to get to know Grace Van folks just a little better, so thank you Reuben!

Blessings in Christ dear friends,
Pastor Mike

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Happy 50th Tanya!



When I think of my wife of over twenty-five years, this phrase comes to mind, Tanya is someone who is “full of life and love.” I still remember when we had made a decision to continue to see one another after the summer of ’89 the year of our high school graduation, despite the fact that we were going to separate universities, with a distance of one and a half hours between us, when I went to visit you for the first time in Goodnow dorm. We had decided to have an “open relationship” between us so we could go to Greek parties and explore dating options as we started college life on two separate campuses; we wanted to be “open-handed” with our relationship, not possessive. However, we were still so drawn to one another. I will never forget after driving to KSU, seeing you for the first time after having had a really fun summer together, being apart for a few weeks… the look in your eyes, the way you looked at me, so full of life and love. Of course, the “open relationship” thing wouldn’t last very long, because despite the initial thought we should keep one another “free,” we kept coming back to one another. I kept coming back to this warm, tender caring soul full of life and love. Through the years, we’ve had so many ups and downs, and yet, that moment at Goodnow, over thirty-two years ago now, has signified for me what marriage and family have been through the years, full of life and love. It’s the depth of Tanya’s compassion, ability to touch someone by her caring in small moments of life, meeting someone for the first time, taking care of someone’s kids, taking care of our kids, taking care of mom in her last days, being a friend to so many. Her laugh. Oh my goodness. Her laugh that makes her so Tanya. It’s a beautiful, festive and yes, even hilarious laugh that she not only enjoys while experiencing and expressing, but that everyone else who is with her is brought into like a beachfront vacation or mountaintop experience all right there in the simple moment of an ordinary day, which with her is rarely ordinary at all. It’s the color and beauty I’ve always been able to see through her eyes, a life enhanced by so many textures, layers and hues, by simply being with her. I will never forget the way she looked at me back in Goodnow dorm back in ’89, a look that grabbed the deepest part of my heart and began a friendship, life partnership and family, indeed a marriage, with which I have been immeasurably blessed for over thirty-two years now. Thank you my beautiful Tanya for being so full of life and love. You are my heart, my love, my Beloved. Here is a tribute to you through the years! God is so good.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

The Significance of January 6th


"And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations." -Rev. 21:22-26 


January 6th, 2021

Dear Grace Van Family,

The news of the US Capitol being overtaken today by insurrectionists has filled our hearts with grief and sorrow; Tanya and I have certainly been crying out to God on behalf of our home country. I'm reminded of a piece of writing from Pastor John Piper from back in October called, "Policies, Persons and Paths to Ruin; Pondering the Implications of the 2020 Election." In that article Piper writes, "I find it bewildering that Christians can be so sure that greater damage will be done by bad judges, bad laws, and bad policies than is being done by the culture-infecting spread of the gangrene of sinful self-exaltation, and boasting, and strife-stirring. How do they know this? Seriously! Where do they get the sure knowledge that judges, laws, and policies are less destructive than boastful factiousness in high places?" 

In Israel's own history, we saw this from having spent a lot of time in the prophetic book of Isaiah, but there were good kings and bad kings; the wickedness of the kings to the North meant a much faster demise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel than the Southern Kingdom; however, in the end even the Southern Kingdom of Israel would come under the judgement of God being unable to keep itself from the love of idolatry, of self-exaltation and the high places. Even the people of the South would be sent off to exile in Babylon as you know. In a word, ALL the kings of Israel taught us that the human condition was such that a True King from the line of David, a heavenly King called the Son of David would have to come to provide the people with an ultimate deliverance and salvation. 

And isn't the arrival of this Coming (Adventus) King the One Whom we just celebrated? How quickly we forget the larger story around our sin-sick world led by corrupt megalomaniac "kings" all around us as oppressed peoples suffer under their wicked and abhorrent thumbs. 

But January 6th has far more significance from a cosmic perspective than the date every four years when the US Congress comes together to count the electoral college votes according to the 12th Amendment of the US Constitution. January 6th is the 12th day of Christmas, one of "Epiphany" which celebrates the Gentile Magi bringing gifts to Christ the Child King, as a foretaste of the nations and their Kings coming to the Holy City of God to bow before Christ the King of kings. In other words, Epiphany signifies the reversal of this dark love of self and of sin and self-glorification; in their place the Good News of the Reign of God's Kingdom that has arrived in the world because of the gift of Christ, the One who is coming to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). January 6th has been honoured for far longer on the Church Calendar than in US Constitutional history.

Dear People of God, so let your hearts grieve, but do not let them be troubled, rather believe in God and in His Son (John 14:1). Limit your consumption of your social media feeds, step out of the dark rabbit holes of what I call the "I told you so's!" in chat rooms. We fight with a different set of weapons than the world (2 Cor. 10:4). Develop new weekly practices, rather than simply letting technology shape your story. Create spaces for holy rhythms, quiet, rest and mostly prayer in your lives. Why? So you can escape "the world"? NO! Rather so you can step most fully into the world that is eternal and that has come in Christ, the world that is currently overcoming the evil of this world (reflect on Revelation 11:15).... so that you can be most useful to this world rather than continue to conform to the vanity of how it pursues change through power, argumentativeness and coercion. Finally, make weekly worship on the Lord's Day with your church family the highest of all priorities. For this Sunday, we get to hear from our brother Rolland Li one last time before he moves to Singapore later in the month. Rolland will be talking about... you guessed it... the significance of Epiphany!!!

God's people must know that a new situation, a dramatically new state of affairs (from the one we see around us) has arrived in the gift of Christ,... not only so, but we must herald this Good News to the nations. We can only do that if we see it. I begin a series in the Gospel of Mark in a couple of weeks; Jesus said it there so plainly in Mark's opening chapter, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Grieve, but do not let your hearts be troubled. Rather, let your hearts be shaped by the story of Scripture; start a "read through the Bible program" this January; most are 1 or 2 year plans. Or begin with the practice of Daily Office, morning and evening prayers in your lives. Let me know if you would like some help getting started here. What is more, recognise that God moves mightily in the painful and dramatic moments of human history, whether Covid, cancer or (attempted) coups; do you not remember that spending two years in Isaiah or more recently in 1 Peter? As James Burns in his study of revivals through the history of the church has said, revivals and renewals come at low ebbs of church and culture. As Burns writes, "When the night is at its darkest, the dawn is on the way." Or as Mark Sayers says "crisis is the gateway to renewal."

Epiphany is our story dear Church and it is the story of the One who said that despite the fact that we would have trouble in the world, He has overcome it (John 16:33); that is the significance of January 6th.

In Christ,

Pastor Mike

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever." -Psalm 125:1

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Grateful for Mom. Aug. 17th, 1943 - Sept. 7th, 2020



Memorial service is tomorrow Thursday at 2:30p PST. I will be conducting the service and it will be available via lifestream here

Event ID: Sunsethills
Password ID: SZOSRU

Also, here was a wonderful article run in the Seattle times this last Sunday. The newspaper started work on the article back in July to document couples who had been unable to see one another through Covid. It is a sad article in many ways, but mostly beautiful to me as my parents were able to see one another and I was able to be there.



Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Stu Kerns Honouring J.I. Packer



Pastor Stu Kerns was my pastoral mentor in Nebraska where our three kids were born and where Tanya and I lived for fifteen remarkable years. This is a great tribute because Stu also gives some quick highlights of where to get started if you have never read Packer and his tremendous works.  

Friday, July 17, 2020

NT Wright on Coronavirus, Suffering & Early Church


I found this reflection by NT Wright to be so helpful regarding the role of lament and letting ourselves be filled with the joy of the Lord during these most difficult times. Wright also reflects on the kind of response God's people ought to have to the swirling questions around the "why's" of the pandemic.

Friday, July 10, 2020

Hope for US Evangelicals Still?


This is one of the best interviews of a Christian I've heard on mainstream media (maybe the best one), since Trump was voted into office nearly four years ago. Rev. Rob Schenck speaks with clarity regarding what is wrong with the "white evangelical" alliance with Trump's administration. 

Back in February of 2016, nine months before Trump would be elected to office, I wrote here as to why I was deflated, but not entirely surprised in light of the history of civic idolatry among US Christians, at the growing support among US Christians for Donald Trump.

In this very good interview by Michel Martin of NPR, Christiane Amanpour "sets the table," and Rob Schenck speaks with a kind of clarity that gives me hope that the evangelical church in the US can still rise from the ashes of its own ruins.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

SOP for Gathering Again

Dear GV Family,

Here are the "Standard Operating Procedures" that we will abide by for those who choose to return to public worship at 7th and Pine. Please read over very closely. As mentioned in our "Friday Notes," we have had some technological set-backs and are working on them so that we can continue to run online services concurrently with our re-gathered services. As of right now, our planned re-gathered date has been pushed back by a week to July 5th. Let's stay on our knees and keep in front of us Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." 

We ask each of you to pray intentionally, in light of the SOP, about whether you should return or continue to stay at home. Our leadership team has discussed that until a vaccine comes out for Covid-19, that it is not possible to eliminate risk of transmission of infection. What we have sought to do is mitigate risk, taking in the best available information we have, and having been cautious to "watch and wait" since BC's "phase 2 reopening" in May. Also, I want for us to have the long view in mind, and therefore expect that there could be starts and stops to our re-opening plans, especially if we see a "second wave" this fall when flu season arrives. It's possible that we re-open for a while and then need to close up public worship again; we truly are on a day-by-day faith journey together. We have determined the biggest "risk factor" for potential transmission is congregational singing, so, with the exception of the one giving the sermon and our Lead Musician(s), we will require all present for our one-hour service to wear masks. The preacher and the Lead Musician(s) will be kept at safe distances from the congregation, the greater concern being the Lead Musician(s) who sing; they will be kept at least 16 feet from the front row.

As for me, I travel to Seattle to help care for my mom about once per month for a week at a time. When I am back in Vancouver, I am on a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. I am allowed to "leave" quarantine for tasks specifically related to my work, since I am deemed to "be essential to business operations." I have great self-interest in avoiding infection as my mother's stage 4 cancer is a respiratory cancer, and so I take every precaution to keep my mother safe whenever I am in Seattle or Vancouver. Our leadership team of elders, staff and diaconate have communicated that they are comfortable with me coming to Grace Van on the Sundays of my self-quarantines, but I thought you should be aware. I plan to avoid the "after service" times at 6th and Fir to limit my contact for your sake as well as mom's. In addition, I will not handle any elements of communion (though I will give the words of administration).  

Though I had said you we would have a survey this week, with things being pushed back by at least a week, Dale and I plan to send you a survey this coming week of June 22nd, to get a sense of how many are planning on coming back July 5th. Please return those surveys to us in a timely manner when receiving them; this will help us with our planning.

If you have any further questions needing clarification regarding the SOP, please contact John Chan or Tanya Hsu of our Building and Hospitality Team. They have spent considerable time putting together this "simplified SOP," so we thank them for their service and work!

Blessings in Christ dear friends,

Mike



Standard Operating Procedures for opening up GVC
  • service length will be kept to one hour.
  • doors to the church building will open at 9:45a.
  • seating will be socially-distanced by household (initially we will limit our space capacity to under 40 people; ensuring social-distancing rules are kept and maintained). 3-4 spots will be reserved for any potential "walk-in" people.
  • keep social distance and have no physical contact with others. 
  • paper bulletins will not be provided (powerpoint will be functioning, also bring devices if you wish to have a virtual bulletin).
  • a box for the offering will be in the back of the worship hall for anyone wanting to give their tithes and offerings before or after the service.
  • masks are required throughout the service.
  • hand sanitizer will be available at the front door and also at various locations throughout the building.
  • the washrooms will be sprayed with disinfectant between each use (instructions to be followed will be taped to the inside of the washroom doors). Someone will be at the top of the stairs to ensure only 2 people or family units are down in the washroom area at a time; use washrooms only if absolutely necessary.
  • people are asked to sign up in advance using eventbrite ticketing.
  • children will need to stay at parents' side at all times.
  • people are asked to socialize outside, before or after the service (not inside the building).
  • the service will continue to be streamed online for those who choose to remain at home during this time.
  • communion will be served in a safe manner- the wine/juice will be in disposable cups and the bread will be given to congregants in a no-contact manner.
  • all are invited to meet at the park at 6th and Fir after the service for a time of socially-distanced fellowship [all who stay home, (especially those with young children), are invited to join us at this kid-friendly park] Folks coming to the park to join us, are permitted (not required) to "leave" the online service once communion begins, in order to meet us at the park by around 11:15a. This fellowship time will also be somewhat weather-dependent. 
  • the preacher and the lead musicians(s) who sing will not be wearing masks but the lead musician(s) will be 16 feet away from the front row and the preacher kept at a safe distance.
  • people will need to bring their own masks, but there will be some available if they forget or for visitors.
  • those who are at higher risk for infection (people who are 65 yrs and older; people with pre-existing medical conditions; or those with compromised immune systems) are encouraged (not required) to stay home.
  • do not attend worship if, in the last 14 days, you have:
returned from travel outside of Canada.
* been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
* lived/worked in a setting that is part of a COVID-19 outbreak.
* been advised to self-isolate or quarantine at home by public health.
  • do not attend worship if you have any of the following:
* fever
* cough: new or worse than usual
* shortness of breath
* diarrhea
* nausea and/or vomiting
* headache
* runny nose/nasal congestion
* sore throat or painful swallowing
* loss of sense of smell
* loss of appetite
* chills
* muscle aches
* fatigue

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

BLM. I Am A Man.


Dear GV Family,

In March of 1879 Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca tribe moved a band of his followers from Oklahoma back to Nebraska. The Poncas originally were forcibly removed from their homeland along the beautiful Niobrara river. Standing Bear and his followers decided they wanted to go back home and ended up being arrested. Standing Bear then stood trial for two days. The verdict came back two weeks later by federal Judge Elmer Dundy who ruled, "an Indian is a person within the meaning of the law, entitled to the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens." The entire trial consisted in Standing Bear making a case for the fact that he was a human being. His argumentation throughout the course of the trial was to establish that he was a person rather than a non-person; as Standing Bear argued, "That hand is not the colour of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will be the same colour as yours. I am a man. The same God made us both."

Forgive me as I get a little snippy and sarcastic here,... it only took two weeks to come back with a verdict from Judge Dundy, "Yes the native is a person within the meaning of the law." At least the judge got the ruling right!!! But, two stupid long weeks?! Are you kidding me?!

I envision some poor members from the Ponca tribe in 1879 holding up a placard saying, "Ponca Lives Matter." And those from outside the tribe pushing back, "All Lives Matter." The PLM people and supporters calling the ALM people tone deaf and racist and the ALM people wondering, why are we singling out the Poncas when it is an unassailable fact that all lives matter and that God loves all people of all nations and tribes? And the PLM people pushing back, "But Jesus would have left the 99 for the 1 and so we should be able to see the life of the Ponca in the value of the 1." 


Why Must We Even Have This Conversation At All?

You know what I would want to say knowing what I know, if I could get into a time capsule and travel back to Nebraska to the latter part of the 19th century? Here it is, "Oh, I wish it would all just stop; why must we even have this conversation at all?! And why is a debate raging regarding Standing Bear? and why is he being put on trial for being a man? and why is he needing to prove his case at all?"

The black people I've heard from wish the statement "BLM" was never necessary and the fact that we are having this conversation is an unspeakable sadness,... but it is a necessary conversation, because people of colour have so often felt marginalized, voiceless and not even considered to be persons. They have felt like Poncas in the late 19th century, on trial for needing to make a case for their humanity; that is indeed sad.

Black lives matter is a statement of fact. I do not believe it is helpful in this time to point out that there is a larger movement around the phrase BLM with its broader agenda that does not necessarily follow all the tenets of faithful Biblical Christianity. It's a worthy conversation; what should be the relationship of those who follow Jesus, to the broader movement of BLM? but is not currently a timely conversation at least for most of my audience here that is not Black. The Black Christ-followers I've heard from regarding standing by the statement BLM do not buy into the larger organizational movement, rather as already mentioned, grieve altogether that a statement like BLM ever had to be made in the first place. But for so long they have felt like Standing Bear, invisible, so feel it necessary to make a simple statement of fact, "I am a human being." 

Though I've said a lot already, nonetheless, I resist getting sucked into the dark rabbit hole of debate on this very point (I'm glad I'm not on social media with quick back and forth comments... I generally leave social media more disillusioned about humanity than ever). Shouldn't it be enough to affirm that our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much, do in fact matter? Rather than arguing the point further, what I prefer to get us to consider here, regarding this conversation, is that the source of our problem is not so much social, political, economic or even psychological (as much upheaval as we've seen in all these areas as of late),... but our deeper root problem is theological.


A Theological Problem; North American Christianity and "The Gospel"


The Social Gospel

Here it helps to know a little something about the shape of some of the significant cultural movements around Christianity here in North America. In the early part of the 20th century there was a movement here in North America that established the notion that the gospel most Christians proclaimed was an individualized one placing so much emphasis on personal sin and the need for regeneration in Christ, that institutionalized sinfulness was ignored. This movement became known as the Social Gospel movement. Other powerful movements were happening throughout the 20th century, with some churches that began to borrow from higher critical scholarship of theological institutions in Europe, embracing modernity, challenging notions of the believability of miracles in the Bible, including core doctrines such as the resurrection of Christ and the virgin birth of Jesus. Many of these churches that became defined as "mainline" churches (as opposed to the "fundamental" churches that split off from them), began to adopt the Social Gospel, as their key platform, working towards building a better world, pursuing a kind of utopia here on earth,... but many of these "Soc.G" (Social Gospel abbreviated) advocates also rejected historical teachings of the Christian faith, i.e. "fundamental" doctrines such as the historicity of the resurrection of Christ (as mentioned). 

When the Civil Rights movement came along in the US in the 1960s, many of its major movement leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr. while not repudiating the core of the historic Christian faith (as a number of churches and their leaders had been doing since the beginning of the 20th century), nonetheless, began to embrace and teach themes from the Soc.G movement. While evangelical scholars who were bore out of "fundamental" churches would in time become quite critical of MLK Jr. for having a theology more akin to the Soc.G, they would miss something significant regarding North American cultural history. This is what they would miss: many years ago, I learned from Civil Rights leader Dr. John Perkins of the Christian Community Development Association, that MLK Jr. actually desired to do his theological training at a more "evangelical" institution, but that such institutions were not open to black people in the 1940s and 50s. So the irony was that MLK Jr. was criticized for having a theology that didn't place a strong emphasis on themes around personal atonement and justification, what many evangelical Christians consider to be "fidelity to the heart of the true Christian faith." Yet the same critics did not recognize that the receiving of such a so-called "faithful" theological education was not open to the MLK Jrs. of the world at the time he was doing his theological training.

That might all take just a moment to sink in.


The Simple Gospel

So the reaction of many Christians to what we have been calling the "Soc.G." was that we needed a return to emphasize the "Simple Gospel" (we'll call this the "Sim.G." for reference) and preach repentance to souls, because it doesn't really matter if we try and make a better society (which history isn't very kind to such a reality being sustained over the longer term), if souls end up going to hell anyways. As the Sim.G. people would likely say, "what is the point of that?" Sim.G. people were likely to say the call is to preach the Gospel to "all nations" and not get too caught up in the social and political upheavals of the day,... this is where the impulse seems to come from among Christians who would push back, "All Lives Matter" because the mandate of the church is to "make disciples of all nations" as Jesus' Great Commission goes (Matthew 28:18-20). 

Yet people of colour especially south of the border and First Nations here north are hurting and have felt like "invisible" people for most of their history. We need not repeat here the terrible things that have been done to them creating a kind of corporate trauma that has impacted them for generations... and by the way, slavery was abolished, really, not that long ago. To give some perspective, my late grandfather who passed away in 2002 was born in 1917. Let's assume his parents were in their 30s when they had him; that means his parents would have been born roughly twenty years after slavery was abolished in the US. Let's say grandpa's grandma gave birth to grandpa's mom (did you catch that?) in her 30s; she would have been born approximately twenty years after slavery was abolished in Canada and approximately ten-years-old when it was abolished in the US. We're talking only 5, maybe 6 generations removed from legal institutionalized slavery here in the US and Canada! The trauma of racism and systemic oppression is very real and also fairly recent as far as human history goes. 

So how do we respond to the Soc.G. and the Sim.G. people who seem often to be in a kind of ongoing social media war between what faithfulness to Jesus is? Well, first of all, we should do our best to stand at the side of the oppressed, and have no problem saying "Black Lives Matter." We should stand against police brutality, though recognize that seeing and naming structural problems in a system in no way is a blanket judgement against the many hard-working, faithful and sincere servants in law enforcement who risk their lives every day for the welfare of our communities.

It's hard to "lean" towards one side of a polarized and heated argument, without seeming to diminish the other side,... but Jesus often seems to describe what Catholic theologians call a "preferential option for the poor." I can't always explain it well, I just know it when I see it, in places like Luke 4:18-19, when Jesus announces the fulfillment of His Kingdom, reading from the scroll of Isaiah:

"The Spirt of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."


The Whole Gospel

At the heart of the Gospel wasn't only the announcement of salvation to the world (though it was that!), but ultimately the heralding the "Good News of His Kingdom" that had come into the world in Jesus Christ (feel free to check me on that one Bible scholars... Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14; Luke 4:3, 8:1, 16:16; Acts 1:3, 8:12, 19:8, 28:23, 28:31). In a simple reflection, in Jesus' own ministry, He had authority over sins (to forgive them), but also over the created order (calming the storms) as well as the spiritual/demonic realm (casting out demons). The presence of the Kingdom of God was in Him, because of course He was the Eternal King and in His coming the Good News of the Kingdom of God was heralded to all the world!

So when I think of the Soc.G people, my main concern is that without the preaching of repentance and for hearts to be given to Jesus, for renovation to begin with the wickedness of the human heart, the cleansing and washing of Jesus's blood by rebirth,... the hope for any meaningful longterm change in society is severely limited. But I also have a concern for Sim.G people; my main concern with Sim.G people is that Christ's power over the whole of His created order is undersold and therefore our acknowledgment of the glory of God over all that is rightfully His is diminished (Psalm 24:1). And as His glory over all of creation is diminished, so is the cosmic scope of the accomplishment of Christ at the Cross. As a young believer, most of my Sim.G teachers could not give an adequate explanation of Paul's teachings in Col. 1:20 as well as Romans 8:21 that says the blood of Jesus and the restoring work of God in Christ is far more cosmic in scope than simply ensuring that as many people as possible get to heaven. As the wonderful Christmas hymn goes, "He comes to make His blessings flow,... far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as,... far as the curse is found! Joy to the World,... the Lord has come!!!"

We have to keep in front of us always what I would call the "third way of the Gospel" (thank you Tim Keller). The third way is neither the Soc.G. nor the Sim.G. but the "Whole Gospel" that applies God's sovereign reign over all; both the redemptive work of Christ over all of human life as well as every square inch of the whole of God's created universe. 

We should be politically engaged and care about "social justice" but as we stand, also we should be on our knees, recognizing that the power of God's Kingdom draws closest as we utilize "weapons" which are not of this world, weapons of peace... Ephesians. 2:17 says that our preaching is that of peace to those who are "near-by" as well as "far-off," the desire for shalom to come to all. Let me put it this way, being blind to systemic racism or being a willful participant in it, is a dehumanizing of self, because the animal-like instincts of fallen man are on full display in those moments of human darkness. While it is a different kind of pity and compassion we have towards oppressors, there are no ultimate winners in the carrying out of racism. Perhaps this is so much of what the Bible means when it says "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son" (consider John 3:16 against John 3:19 and exactly how radical the love of God is) and perhaps this is also what it means when Jesus asks the Father regarding those driving the nails into His hands, "forgive them for they do not know what they do." Somehow all cosmic powers of heaven and earth broke and bowed down to the true King of kings in that moment of "God's own kind of love" (Romans 5:8) being put on full display for the world to see, the hope of its renovation beginning in earnest.

We should never pit the wholesale depravity of the human heart (Jer. 17:9) against the depravity of man we find in institutions and human systems (Romans 8:22). We should see that just as humanity and all of God's created world fell in Adam,... so all will be redeemed and restored in Christ (Romans 8:21). So we must participate in efforts that would work for change and goodness to come to our world,... but we must work on our knees as a form of expectant prayer, trusting in the power of God in Jesus Christ to bring the wholesale change we truly desire to see in our world, "your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth it is in heaven" (I think someone taught us to pray in that way?) Wendell Berry once said, "for the ancients, to work was to pray." Imagine the farmer planting the seed, looking to the heavens for expectant rain, despite years of drought, never giving up on the prayer,... "give us this day our daily bread."  

Isn't that the Whole Gospel, to proclaim the reign of Christ the King over all things? To Sim.G people I say, please stand with the hurting and the marginalized especially in this time and hear their hearts, ask if Jesus wouldn't indeed have you listen more and to speak less, and to be OK with statements of BLM, for the reasons already mentioned? (I exhort you with the somber note in Matthew 25:31-40 regarding what truly is a "heaven or hell" issue... let the Scripture here challenge and reform you). To Soc.G. people I remind you that it is only the power of Jesus from above and preaching His reign over all things that an ultimate solution to our sad history will be found... as Alexander Schmemann wrote, "Adam still sits outside paradise weeping." 

Quoting from Mark Sayers in his helpful 2019 book, Reappearing Church, "Our culture lurches from attempts at renewal to reaction and back again in a feverish sickness. . . . the West continues to fail at its projects of renewal. In this exhaustion and disorder, we see the hand of God's merciful judgment, which allows us to rest on nothing but His presence." As Sayers observes, "God allows cultural crises to bring us back to Him."

Let's do what we can to educate ourselves on our part of the "sad history of humanity" nearby, so that we can love better, listen better and better participate in the work of the Whole Gospel over all of life. 

Why must we even have this conversation at all? Do I even need to say it? 

Unfortunately, I do.... 

Standing Bear is a man. And... 

Black lives matter. 

If you didn't know that before in the core part of your being, repent with tears of sorrow, and God in Christ will forgive you. If you already knew that, then repent (and lament) on behalf of people all of whom are "Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve" (C.S. Lewis) and of which you are a part. Then step into our sad, beautiful world by bearing fruit that keeps with repentance (Matthew 3:8).  

I leave you with words I left you with a couple of Sundays ago from Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow,

"Those who wish to see Him must see Him in the poor, the hungry, and the hurt, the wordless creatures, the groaning and travailing beautiful world.... We are too tightly tangled together to be able to separate ourselves from one another either by good or by evil. We all are involved in all and any good, and in all and any evil. For any sin, we all suffer. That is why our suffering is endless. It is why God grieves and Christ's wounds are still bleeding."

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Mike


Some Other Helpful Items:

* Please take time to read this simple, yet powerful poem Corey Porter wrote for the young people his P2C ministry seeks to equip: Lamenting the Killing of George Floyd

* Last Sunday, Karl Peterson forwarded this powerful video that gives us a deep window into the black experience in America. It is an educational tool that also helps us to feel the pain of our black brothers and sisters. Maybe the most powerful statement I found in it was "Jesus blessed as He bled." The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery 

* Finally, you are invited to join me this Thursday (tomorrow) at 11a for part 3 of 3 of Mission to North America's webinar series on "Racial Brokenness in America and Our Gospel Response." You will need to register in advance by clicking the link. MNA is our denomination's church-planting arm. Did you know Tanya and I are missionaries to Canada sponsored by MNA? While this series more directly addresses the situation in the US and the response of churches there, it gives you a window into the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) history being a denomination with deep roots in the "South," working through important issues of racial reconciliation.