The Jesus Way - Part II

Here is the second section of my notes for our clergy reading group last week on Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way. Remember, this isn’t a post written for a blog audience but notes for that reading group. I’d be happy to discuss it with any who are interested in the comments section.

“Way” is a stock metaphor in both our Scriptures and the traditions that have developed from them. At the entrance to our prayer book, the Psalms, the opening meditation uses this metaphor to set two ways of life before us. Will you live a solid life of prayer, listening to and answering God, rooted in the soil of God’s revelation, your life growing like God’s Torah, a tree with fruit-laden branches? Or will you line an insubstantial life of chatter and gossip, using words without God-context, oblivious of God, your life reduced to a pile of incoherent syllables, leaves blown every which way by the wind? Choose your way. (23)

Being good Arminians, we know that choice plays a large role in the way of salvation and thus the way of Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 ) yet that faith is constantly being tested by the choices we make. As we live lives that reflect the character of Jesus we must pay attention to the choices that we make. Peterson developed this thought later on in the book when he notes,

Faith is a trusting, obedient life on the road, the way. Faith is a resolute “Yes” to the promises and commands of the living God, God as present. And faith is a firm “No” to an idol subject to manipulation and control, a god that we can see and touch and test. (46)

Are the choices we are making consistently “yes” to God and “no” to our proneness to manipulate and control the world around us? Are we listening to the witness of the Spirit in choosing to follow the difficult and often dangerous narrow road that Jesus carved out for us or are we saying yes to the ways and means of the world? These are questions that must be answered regularly if we are going to fulfill or ordination commitment of “going on to perfection”.

Technorati Tags: Arminius, books, Jesus, matthewjohnson, reflection, United Methodist Church

So True

My seminary buddy, Mofast, has written a great post about pastoral transitions especially within the UMC. Some are going read this and say, “Exactly.” The rest aren’t pastors
It’s as honest a portrayal as I’ve ever read.

Technorati Tags: United Methodist Church

The Jesus Way - Part I

I’m blogging a little bit at a time some notes I wrote for a clergy reading group that I’m in.  This month was my selection and my turn to lead so I broke a little bit from  the norm and chose The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson.  It, like other Peterson books, is going to require another read but the first one was a great joy.  We talked about it today and I hope everyone else who read it was encouraged and challenged.

Some of what I’ve written may not matter to blog readers but I wanted to invite you into the conversation.  When I arrived in this district four months ago, I noticed from the reading list that most of the readings were concerned primarily with pastoral leadership. “How do we lead the congregations we are called to serve?” is the question these books have been designed to answer. “How do we fulfill the mission of making disciples within our congregations?” We all want the same thing in our ministries – to develop God’s people into world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ. I thought it might be helpful, though, if we considered the way in which we not only make disciples but the concern for pastoral formation. The quality of our leadership will only be as strong as our own formation as disciples of Jesus Christ.

As people who have inherited a magnificent theology from John Wesley, I decided to lead our discussion from a thoroughly Wesleyan standpoint. At the heart of the way of salvation is the conviction that salvation doesn’t end the moment we repent and believe but that it is holistic – to quote a favorite hymn “My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious though! My sin, sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!” Our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is actively worked out in sanctification. It is the transformed life that bears less the self-centered likeness of our own way and more the other-focused, sacrificial, and holy way of Jesus. Peterson, although is a Presbyterian, makes a compelling case for the way of Jesus that we Wesleyan heirs can co-opt as we seek to be fully formed by the way of Jesus and teach others to follow a similar path.

With that in mind, I’d like for us to consider some passages from this book and evaluate them in the light of our Biblical and theological commitments as United Methodist clergy (the audience of the group) so that we might be formed in the Way of Jesus.

To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a way of life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us. To follow Jesus means picking up rhythms and ways of doing things that are often unsaid but always derivative from Jesus, formed by the influence of Jesus. To follow Jesus means that we can’t separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the way that he is doing it. To follow Jesus is as much, or maybe even more, about feet as it is about ears and eyes. (22)

Some questions that spring to mind are, “How do we pick up the ‘rhythms and ways of doing things’ the way Jesus does them?” The immediate response is in two parts one from me and one from the end of this book. Taking the book first, in the very last chapter Peterson sets up prayer as a primary means of connecting to the way of Jesus. “Prayer is basic. Prayer is basic because it provides the primary language for everything that takes place on the way of Jesus” (264). Looking back over the prayers of Jesus, are we emulating the prayer life of Jesus as we pray? Are we seeking for the will of the Father to be done, rather than our own (Matt. 6:10)? Are we praying for unity (John 17:11)? Are we praying for our persecutors (Matt. 5:44)? Consider this passage from the end of the book:

Following Jesus necessarily means getting his ways and means into our everyday lives. It is not enough simply to recognize and approve his ways and get started in the right direction. Jesus’ ways are meant to be embraced by our imaginations and assimilated into our habits. This takes place only as we pray our following of him. It cannot be imposed from without, cannot be copied. It must be shaped from within. This shaping takes place in prayer. The practice of prayer is the primary way that Jesus’ way comes to permeate our entire lives so that we walk spontaneously and speak rhythmically in the fluidity and fluency of holiness. (217)

This passage, a classic Peterson paragraph, highlights the reason why we have so many leadership books and church marketing books.  We market because “getting [Jesus'] ways and means into our everyday lives” is difficult.  Prayer is difficult.  It requires that we must die to ourselves and to the world.

The other manner in which we pick up the ways of Jesus is through reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. How familiar are we with the “feet” of Jesus, or rather the deeds of Jesus? How intimately aware are we of not what Jesus would do but that Jesus did do? Like Peterson notes, following Jesus is as much about doing the things Jesus did as it is telling what Jesus did.

Brief Annual Conference Reflection

Why it is so difficult to carve out one’s necessary time with God while at Annual Conference?

Wait, don’t answer that.

Technorati Tags: Annual Conference, disciplines, matthewjohnson, methodist, spiritual

Holiness Unto the Lord

The longer I occupy the office of pastor on my own without the benefit of a “senior pastor” the more aware I become that Jesus Christ is my Senior Pastor. Much of what I do as a pastor on a daily basis is an imitation of the two senior pastors under whom I served for the last five years. That is a good thing for I served under two great men who were also great pastors. They had great hearts for people - they loved folks and if I can do any more than that it will be by the grace of God.

I am now discovering that as I recognize the undeniable reality that Jesus is my Senior Pastor - and he’s been that all along whether I recognized it or not - I’m to imitate Jesus. Just like those two men under whom I served, I find that I want to imitate my current Senior Pastor and the terrifying reality of what that means has caused me to reevaluate how I live my life. The reason for this is because I now have a deep desire to live my life as an imitation of Christ’s life and in order to do that I have to become familiar with how Jesus lived.

Do you know what this means?

Phil 2:1-8 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Can you imagine a man like me, a man of unclean heart who dwells among a people of unclean hearts, praying these words about Christ? What does God do with a man whose kenotic prayer is actually serious, or with a man who strains to beat his breast and say “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”? I think I’m experiencing what God does and it is at the same time painful and euphoric. It’s a reshaping of the heart so that I can actually love people. Not to pretend to love people because that’s what I’m supposed to look like as a pastor, but actually and truthfully love people.

Of course, that’s not all it means but it’s a start for me. Join me, but be realistic and know that it means becoming empty no matter how much we fight it. I should know because my heart and mind are putting up the fight of their lives.

Technorati Tags: Jesus, Lord, matthewjohnson, ministry, holiness, reflection

A Wine Whine

Reason 4 Billion that the United Methodist Church ought to shake the dust of legalism from its feet and allow us to use wine: Grape juice does not keep very long. If your only option at the store is a quart of grape juice and you only need enough to serve yourself and an older couple, you wind up wasting a lot of juice.

I’m not even suggesting that we reject grape juice for our monthly communion services. What I would like is some leeway to use wine at my discretion. If I pop open a bottle of merlot, it’ll keep for quite some time and I can use it for a lot of different things: drinking and cooking jump into my head immediately.

I wonder if a deeper treatment is necessary in order to bring this discussion back to the table - one that seriously looks at the reasons for excluding wine?

Technorati Tags: Church, matthewjohnson, Eucharist, United Methodist Church

Reading the Bible

I’m certainly not the first to notice Scot McKnight’s new blog series on Pastor’s Wisdom - that much I can tell from Google Reader. I want to jump in and link his latest post because I want as wide a range of people to read this as possible. I don’t know Kent Anderson from Adam, but I know his heart because I desire to do what he has been doing as a pastor - soaking himself in Scripture.

I’ll be the first to admit that I know a lot more about the Bible than I know the Bible. I’m working hard to correct that, though. A couple of years ago I picked up a copy of the NIV Bible in 90 Days and thought it sounded like a great idea. It covers 12 pages a day and a person can read the Bible in, wait for it, 90 days. After I bought it I read for a day or two then put it aside and haven’t thought about it since. 15 days ago, however, I picked it up as a part of my miraculous* daily time with God and I finished Deuteronomy this morning. It’s been a joy to get that involved in Scripture and I plan on repeating it again once I finish - probably with a different translation like Rev. Anderson mentioned. I’m not an NIV fan but it’s palatable. I’m going to squeeze the KJV in that process because, as one with an undergraduate degree in English, I ought to have read one of the most majestic pieces of English literature ever produced. It may not make a whole lot of sense in public reading, but no one can deny that it is a beautiful translation.

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

*It’s miraculous because I’m about 40 days into an every morning devotional time and I haven’t missed a day. Those who know just how undisciplined I am probably think I’m lying, but it’s true.

Technorati Tags: bible, discipleship, goals, matthewjohnson, ministry, reading, reflection

Whoa!

My ordination certificate sits right above my computer. I confess that I don’t read it except to make sure my name is on there. I just looked up to read these words as a great reminder of my calling and vocation

Under the providence of Almighty God, I, a bishop of The United Methodist Church, have, by the imposition of my hands and by prayer, set this one apart for the work of an elder in the Church, to preach the Word of God and to administer the Holy Sacraments, so long as this person continues to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and adheres to and teaches the Gospel of our Lord and the doctrine of the Church.

It’s not even a reaction to what I was ordained to do, it’s the stipulation, as though this were a part of an ancient near eastern treaty. I’m ordained to do these things so long as. That’s a tall order, but I believe that I am pursuing as much as I am pursued by Jesus Christ. God has cornered me spiritually and I am grateful for his attention as he makes me into a disciple.

Technorati Tags: matthewjohnson, ministry, ordination, reflection, United Methodist Church

Saturday Stuff

I have to thank Michael for turning me on to Bishop Will Willimon’s podcast.  I had not listened to one in some time, but I drove around in my truck for a little while this afternoon and listened to a couple of the more recent ones.  He really takes the “5 Keys to a Better _________” sermon to the woodshed and compares modern evangelical preaching like Rick Warren’s to the 19th century liberal preaching.  “5 Keys to a Better__________” means you don’t have to deal with the peskiness of what Jesus is preaching and calling us to.  I reckon we’ll never hear a sermon on the 3 Best Ways to Take Up Your Cross and Die.  Listening to Willimon makes me happy to be a United Methodist pastor.

Speaking of ways to take up your cross and follow Jesus Justin suggested this week that if the United Methodist Church were really serious about advertising Jesus’ call to follow him in this world, our advertising campaign wouldn’t be the current “Open Hearts…” that is seen everywhere but maybe “Narrow is the Way that leads to everlasting life.”  Before noses get tweaked, I’m not talking about narrow-mindedness but the extremely narrow, difficult, precipice traversing, and perilous path that is following Jesus.  That’s just if we’re honest, though.

One final thought, and this might be a post for a later time, but there is quite a bit your average pew sitting evangelical could learn from the gay groups within the UMC.  They don’t get their way every four years yet they keep showing up with hope instead of leaving.  How many evangelicals, when they don’t get their way in church, take their bottoms to a pew in another church that will soothe their egos for a time before moving on to another one?  (I’m thinking about this a lot since our church is facing a decision that is going to run off a few people no matter which way we decide and that is really sad.)

Technorati Tags: church, matthewjohnson, methodist, preaching

Minority Report sans Tom Cruise

I don’t understand the whole majority and minority report thing yet but what I do know is that this might actually become the new language on Human Sexuality in the Social Principles. Someone smarter than me will have to explain it to me but there is a very good chance that before dinner the General Conference voted to make this the new ¶161G in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. If that’s the case, I’m honestly astonished that it passed given that it strengthens the language concerning homosexuality.

G) Human Sexuality-We affirm that sexuality is God’s good gift to all persons. We call everyone to responsible stewardship of this sacred gift.

Although all persons are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage. We deplore all forms of the commercialization, abuse, and exploitation of sex. We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting the sexual exploitation of children and for adequate protection, guidance, and counseling for abused children. All persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured and to be protected against violence. The Church should support the family in providing age-appropriate education regarding sexuality to children, youth and adults.

We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God. All need the ministry of the church in our struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons

Update: This guy says it’s going into the Discipline.  Here’s what the current Discipline says: