church

24
Dec
2019

Why I go to church

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on July 23, 2015. Someone the author knew, who didn’t attend church, asked Rebecca Hinderman why she went to church. Rebecca wrote this wonderful letter in response to the question. 

Why I go to church

by Rebecca Hinderman

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When you asked me, “Why do you go to church?” so many thoughts were racing through my head.  I apologize for the short, incomplete answer I gave you.  I am writing this letter to share fully what it means to be a Christian and why I go to church.

Starting with the word “church.” It’s not just a building or a group; it’s a family of fellow believers in Jesus Christ. We gather to worship and praise our Savior for what he has done for us – not because we have to but because we want to. We learn about Jesus, our need for salvation, sin, the power of the devil, forgiveness, love, the grace of God, and so much more.  All this we find in the Bible, our instruction manual for life.  Christians believe the Bible is God’s word.  Even though there are many authors throughout the Bible, it is the true word of God;  God-breathed, so to speak.

God’s word shows us how we are all sinful from birth.  “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). We are all sinful not just by our actions, but also by our thoughts and words.

Our sinful nature was inherited from Adam and Eve who committed the first sin. Because of sin and our human inability to earn forgiveness, we are all condemned to death and hell.  I know this is a strong, powerful statement.  This truth should rattle us to the core.  But there is a way to be right and sinless before God.  God, through his love and grace, sent his Son Jesus to suffer and die the death we all deserve.  Jesus was our substitute and saved us from our sins. “Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  We now appear to God as perfect and sinless as Jesus was.

The gift of salvation through Jesus is the gift of God’s great love for us.  This great love–this grace– goes beyond our human understanding. The love and forgiveness God has given me is why I go to church.  I want to thank him and praise his name for the gift of salvation given through Jesus.  Knowing the truth of his love has moved me to share that truth with you and others.  Attending church services gives me strength and support, a time to rest my soul and focus on what is truly important.

Without this renewed strength and focus, I can become easy prey for the devil.  The Bible says, “Be self-controlled and alert for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We are all weak and vulnerable to the devil’s deceitful ways and can get sucked into situations and relationships that are harmful to our souls. Slowly, so subtly, we can be moved away from Christ and the saving gift of grace.  It can be a battle both external and internal.  What weapons do we have to ward off this attack? The answer again is God’s word – the Bible.  God’s Holy Spirit will work in our hearts and minds to strengthen us and create faith as we read the Bible.  Even a little each day, a short chapter, gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work its work in us.  Knowing this gives me such peace and comfort as well as the boldness to talk about the truths of God’s word.

The first disciples, by the power of the Holy Spirit, began preaching and teaching the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  What unshakable faith they had! They endured much suffering and persecution as well as being put to death for their beliefs.  Rejection of the salvation message was as commonplace then as it is today.

Still, I will speak up and risk your rejection of me and God’s word. Why would I still do this? You are too important.  You are God’s creation.  He desires you as his dear child. I pray through me you will feel his love for you, understand his word and believe in Jesus as your Savior from sin.

All I have said are God’s truths. I am not forcing any expectations on you nor am I putting myself above you. We have all messed up, sinned, knowingly or unknowingly. One person is no better than the next.

I invite you to join me anytime to attend church services and learn more for yourself. We also have a Bible study time. During this time we look at certain sections of Bible or specific topics and read what God says about such things. It’s a time to ask questions and learn in a non-judgmental small setting.

I will continue to pray for you and value your friendship. Thank you for your question and I hope my answers have aroused some curiosity and move you to come and learn about Jesus!

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Developing talent in the church

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on September 26, 2014

I had written the following article with with a church focus … and also wrote a non-religious, soccer-oriented version of the article that was published in the September 2012 Minnesota Soccer Times.  Church-oriented readers might appreciate the spiritually-focused version of the article.

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Player Development on God’s Team

by David Sellnow

“Everyone is important on this team,” the soccer coach said at the 13-and-under squad’s preseason meeting.  He sounded like he meant it … but as the summer wore on, Mindy wondered.  She and three other girls spent most moments of most games on the sidelines.  For five minutes of each 35-minute half, they’d give the starting midfielders a breather—time enough for those players to come off the field and get water. Then the starters resumed their roles, and the subs became spectators once again.  Mindy’s interest in soccer waned.  She lost hope in her own potential as an athlete.  A year later, when the high school held tryouts for the JV team, Mindy didn’t participate.

According to Fred Engh, founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports and author of Why Johnny Hates Sports, this sort of scenario plays out far too often in children’s sport programs.  Rather than encouraging confidence, strengthening skills, and building game readiness in all players on their teams, too many coaches are content to let weaker players be little more than benchwarmers so that the “better” kids can notch more victories.

I’ve been wondering—do we do something similar sometimes in our churches? Every individual in the church is an equally valuable member of God’s “team,” so to speak.  We know that there is no favoritism with God (Ephesians 6:9), and that the healthy involvement of every person in the church is God’s desire (1 Corinthians 12).  So we’ll want to engage in “player development” that not only helps each member of God’s team grow stronger in faith and faithfulness, but looks to get every teammate “into the game,” that is, actively serving in the mission of the church.

Sometimes we do that; sometimes we don’t.  A couple examples from actual congregations, in which “player development” was not pursued …

  • An accomplished violinist offered to play for church.  The pastor of her large congregation (not a fan of the violin) felt that pipe organ was the most effective instrument for corporate worship, and declined her offer.
  • At a tiny church, two members had some skill for keyboard playing—one quite more skilled than the other.  The less accomplished pianist was asked to discontinue playing for services, because the other volunteer was a stronger musician.

Now a couple instances of positive “player development” …

  • A small church didn’t have enough voices for a full choir, nor anyone with the qualifications to serve as choir director.  Undaunted, a small group of singers got together and practiced anthems they could sing in unison (sometimes accompanied by a member who played bluegrass guitar).  They also rehearsed new hymns so they could lead the congregation in learning them.
  • Before a church school’s Christmas services, students in the school’s band take turns playing solo, duet or quartet pieces as pre-service music while worshipers gather.

These few examples focus on involvement in church music—which is only one aspect of the church’s life.  Innumerable ways exist for involving God’s people in godly service, if we are willing to work with each person’s God-given gifts and acquired capacities.  For example, a college student didn’t think she could do evangelism, but her pastor asked her to come along.  Her bilingual fluency enabled her to serve as his translator when visiting nearby Hispanic neighborhoods.  (In the process, she became quite capable as an evangelist too.)   In the church that asked one of its two musicians to step down because her talents for playing and time for practicing were limited, could not a plan have been created to keep her involved—perhaps once a month, with simpler song selections and liturgy assigned for her days to play?

If our efforts to involve members consist of bulletin announcements saying, “Volunteers needed for this or that,” likely we’ll find the same group of “starters” stepping up to play all those roles.  If our concepts of Christian service tend to remain fixed, in the form of standing committees or particular duties that habitually have been in place, quite possibly we are overlooking unique aptitudes and varied talents that some of our members on the sidelines possess.

Just as every player on a sports team desires—and needs—to take part in each game the team plays, each member of “God’s team” needs nurturing and encouraging to use skills that God has given him, to employ abilities God has bestowed on her, to get into in the “game” which is far more vital than all mere earthly pursuits—the mission of Christ’s people to sing his praises and to “declare his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).

Rafe Esquith, an award-winning teacher in a central Los Angeles elementary school, laments how many kids’ sports programs just “keep feeding the ball to their best players.”  (The chapter, “Put Me In, Coach,” in his book, Teach Like YourHair’s On Fire, would make profitable reading for every physical education teacher and youth sports coach.  The whole book is worth reading by anybody involved in teaching, at any age level.)  Esquith consistently labors in his PE classes to teach all the kids an understanding of the games they play and patiently instructs them in the fundamentals of each sport.  Every child is seen as a player in progress, as someone with potential to be shaped and developed.

A similar attitude will be beneficial in our spiritual pursuits as “teams,” that is, congregations.  The tasks and undertakings of different individuals will be different, but all can become part of the teamwork of church work.   God calls on every Christian to pursue life as a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. …  In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:1,5-8).

If we consider the measure of faith and personal giftedness that God has granted to each individual in his church, how many other areas of service might we identify?

  • If a man has athleticism and the gift to teach patiently, let him coach at the church’s combination sports camp / vacation Bible school.
  • If a woman’s gift is a capacity for careful listening and godly advising, let her serve as a mentor for young mothers in the church.
  • If an older child’s gift is brotherliness—a kindness and gentleness in dealing with younger children—let him be a helper in the Sunday School preschoolers’ class.
  • If a teenager is gifted with artistic flair and a knack for expressing the gospel’s beauty in visual forms, let her create artwork for banners or for backgrounds on the church’s projection screen.

What opportunities for “player development” can you discover for the talented people God has put together as your “team”?

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Encouraging one another in worship

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on June 13, 2014.

In one of the religion classes I taught, I showed students a letter from a church that aimed at improving church attendance.  But that letter (used in an actual congregation) did so in an exceedingly harsh and judgmental way.  I asked students to critique that letter or write a replacement letter.  Candace Hoefert wrote a letter with a wonderfully gentle and encouraging spirit.  I urge you to read it … and to attend worship this weekend!  🙂

An invitation to church

by Candace Hoefert

Dear members of the church, called to be faithful to the Lord,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Isn’t that joyous news? God has forgiven us of our sins through his Son Jesus! This is something we want to share to one another and remind each other daily. Unfortunately we don’t have somewhere we can get together every single day to remind ourselves of this joyous news, but we do have somewhere we can gather at least once a week to praise our Lord for this gift he has given to all of us!

I know, you think that I’m here to preach to you about how you should attend church every Sunday and it is a sin to not be in church … but that’s not why I’m writing you this.  It is not for me to question someone’s faith based solely on their church attendance.  There are some circumstances that don’t allow for regular attendance and no one should automatically assume that because someone isn’t in church it’s because they don’t believe Christ’s word.  But the benefit of having a close community with your church is immeasurable – a family of believers who all look out for one another in love, strengthening and supporting each other in their faith and building each other up. These are things that are hard to find on your own outside the church. I encourage everyone to attend church because of that sense of family, the sense of belonging.  Christ promised us, “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them” (Matthew 18:20).  The opportunity to worship together with other believers surrounded by God is an incalculable sense of comfort.

You never know who in your congregation may need your faith and your smile to help them have a better day, to perhaps strengthen them in their own faith. The lives that I could change by sharing my faith among a community of believers is of great motivation to me. You don’t have to be a minister in order to be a worker of the gospel. Christ gave the command to all of us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).  This wasn’t just for your pastors or teachers, but the whole nation of believers, for me and for you.

Therefore I urge you in the brotherly love of our Savior to come and share your faith with one another in the Word. You have something to offer that no one else does, your own faith and your person and your unique experiences with God’s love in your life.  Rejoice with those who will joyfully say to you, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1).

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Witnesses of the Ascended Lord Jesus

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on June 1, 2014.

Forty days after his resurrection from death to life, Jesus ascended again from earth up to heaven.  The following message was written when I had opportunity to serve as guest preacher for an ascension-themed service.  

Don’t Stand Around Waiting for Heaven to Happen
— Jesus Left Us Here for a Purpose

by David Sellnow

On the day of his ascension, Jesus was on the Mount of Olives with his disciples, and “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).  His disciples “were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go’” (Acts 1:10-11).

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I wonder:  Like Jesus’ first group of disciples who stood staring into the sky after Jesus had ascended from their view, do we spend much of our time as Christians simply standing and staring up at heaven?  We have a tendency to see Christianity as a waiting process … waiting for the end of time, waiting for Jesus to return, waiting for heaven to become our home.  That is the end goal of our faith, but let’s not overlook what comes before that.  If Jesus had nothing else in his plans for us except heaven in the end, he could take us to heaven right now.  He could have taken his original disciples along with him up to heaven on the very day he ascended above the Mount of Olives.  But our Lord had something else in mind for them, and for us.  He wants us to be his witnesses in this world.  While we wait for the future glory of being with our Lord there, above, we have something important to do here, below.  We have a mission to our neighbor.  We have a mission to the world.

Let’s look at what was said and seen when Jesus ascended back to heaven and learn some lessons about our lives in the here and now.  First, Jesus said to his disciples, “Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 1:4-5).  Now, of course, the disciples already had the Holy Spirit – and indeed the Holy Spirit was very much involved in the baptizing that John the Baptist had done at the River Jordan.  But to these men, his apostles, Jesus had promised an additional, special outpouring of the Holy Spirit – giving them supernatural abilities.  They would speak in foreign languages (without needing language training) and would even perform miracles.  God’s purpose was to accentuate and punctuate the message they were speaking in his name, to call attention to their message with special demonstrations of his out-of-this-world power.  But the main aim of the Spirit was always in the message itself (not merely in the miracles).   Still today and every day we have the main power of the Holy Spirit with us – the power to change hearts when we share the word of Jesus.  When we go out in our day to day lives as witnesses for Jesus, we do so with confidence knowing we’re not on our own.  Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), and also that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16 CEV) – given to us by the Holy Spirit.  As we live our lives and speak about Jesus, we have the power of the Holy Spirit empowering us.  We can be bold and outgoing.  We need not be shy or afraid.

But even as Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the power they would have from the Holy Spirit to go out into the community, out into the world, they were thinking of something else.  They asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)  The disciples of Jesus were still somewhat stuck in a view that was common to their culture.  They thought that the Messiah would establish Israel as his nation on earth and the people of God would live in peace and power there in Israel, separate from the other nations of the world.  We can be like that too.  We like to cloister ourselves in our small circles with one another as a Christian citadel, somewhere where we can feel safe.  But is that what Jesus has in mind for us as his disciples?  No.   We will find safety in his eternal kingdom at the end of time, but in the meantime Jesus wants us living our lives in the world, acting as influences on our neighbors in the world, reaching out and speaking out in his name.

Jesus said to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  Notice the pattern which Jesus established.  First they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem – right where they were at that time.  Then their efforts would spread throughout their region – Judea.  Then to the next regional area – Samaria.  And eventually their message would be spread – not just by them but by word of mouth from person to person after starting with them – all the way to the ends of the earth.

So it is with us today too.   Jesus would say to us, “You will be my witnesses in your town or city, and in your state or region, and in the neighboring region, and to the ends of the earth.”  That doesn’t mean God expects each individual to become a world missionary and go to every place on the globe.  But he is commissioning each of us to be a witness to tell about Jesus’ love and forgiveness wherever we are living, all through our lives.  And through us one person after another will be influenced.  So every single Christian is a witness for Jesus in a constant, ongoing pattern of witness.

What will our lives look like if we are witnesses for Jesus?  I think sometimes we think about that in too complicated a way, as if you have to have a whole bunch of training or an official position as a pastor or teacher.  Certainly pastors and teachers do much outreach in the name of Jesus.  But when Jesus speaks of “witnesses” he means anyone who has seen, heard, experienced what the message of Jesus means and relates that meaning to someone else.  A good example would be a man whom Jesus had rescued from a plague of many demons.  He didn’t know much more about Jesus than that – that Jesus was the one who had saved his life. Jesus told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19 CEV).

Being a witness for Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated.  You need not be an expert on every biblical doctrine.  You need not be a champion at Bible Trivia or know all the who’s who and what’s what of Bible history.  Certainly it’s good for you to read your Bible and become more familiar with the people and events detailed in the Bible.  But as a witness for Jesus the main thing is simply that you know Jesus himself.  You know that you are a sinner who so very much needed Jesus and needs Jesus, and that Jesus is so very much the Savior who has done for you everything you need.  And you simply live your life in acknowledgement of him, in confession of him.

On another occasion, Jesus said to his disciples, “All people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35).   A compelling way we can give a witness to others about the kindness and love of Jesus is to be kind and loving toward the people around us.   People won’t want to know about our doctrine if it seems we care about doctrine more than we care about them.  People won’t inquire about our faith and religion if we don’t seem inquiring or interested in them as people.  But when faith in Jesus makes our lives come alive, when the hope of Jesus is evident in our lives, when the love of Jesus is overflowing from our hearts, we open paths to connect with others with the message of faith and hope and love.

Jesus’ apostle Peter urged us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).  If our lives express hope, others will have a reason to ask us why we are so hopeful, and we will have opportunity to speak about Jesus.  If our lives display peace and contentment, someone may ask us, “How do you stay so calm and positive?” and we will have opportunity to speak about Jesus.  If our lives show love—unfailing love, unflinching love, love that keeps loving even when people are unlovable—people will wonder, “Why?”  And we will credit Jesus, for only he can fill us with such love.

My friends, disciples of Jesus, you are witnesses of the life and love and power of Jesus.  His life is what gives your life meaning.  His love is what moves your heart to love.   And his mission – to bring people to know about love and forgiveness in his name – is your mission.   So as his disciples, let’s not just stand around waiting for heaven to happen.  Don’t think of your faith life as something that happens just in church when you’re saying prayers and singing hymns.  You are a witness for Jesus wherever you are, whomever you’re with.  Live your life as someone knows and trusts Jesus.   Simply let others see “how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).  And your Lord Jesus—who is in heaven but holds all power on earth and in heaven in his hands—will be with you always, in all you say and do.

Posted by Electric Gospel