Confession of Faith: Christian Spirituality

Happy Thanksgiving (a day late, but better than not at all!)!!

Christian Spirituality is about living in Jesus and Jesus living in us.  It's about a relationship with the Holy Spirit filled with love.  When we live with Holy Spirit, we find our source of power, our source of energy, our source of life.  We suddenly begin to see Jesus in other people, we find the source of peace in all circumstances, we discover that life is more than just what culture, our job, or our current state of being defines it to be.

 

Life...true life..stems from living with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Christian "spirituality" then has often taken the forms of spiritual disciplines...fasting, studying Scripture, silence, solitude, worship, celebration, and praying.  Among these, I find the two most important to be studying Scripture and praying, but the others should not be missed.  However, it's difficult to practice them all at once!  We can find deep joy in practicing each discipline in turn, or by utilizing certain disciplines in certain periods of our lives. 

For myself, my recent spiritual journey has been practicing and becoming better at fasting (partial fast, I still drink fluids, including a meal replacement health shake).  Multiple times over the past three to four years I swore that I would never give up eating food (I do P90X and currently another workout program and am incessantly hungry even when I eat large meals...yes this is gluttony, and yes God is working on me). About a year ago a friend asked me to fast for a certain cause and, deeply sighing, I agreed.

Since then, my life has radically changed in a multitude of ways...it is as if a barrier or heavy curtain blocking my path from moving in life was suddenly removed and lifted.  I am not even good at fasting - I sometimes forget to pray, I honestly am not sure what it does for God, and sometimes it leads to a binge of food the following day.  But fasting, because of God's love, mercy, and grace, has molded me to be less concerned about material things, has helped me greatly with self control, and has deepened my relationship with Jesus.  And for God?  Who knows what it does...maybe it's just the fact that we are willing to do something more to spend time with him and get to know him...or maybe it gives God a break from providing food for us for a day...or maybe God simply appreciates having love shown to him through these acts of discipline.  Fasting has become very important for my spiritual journey. 

Christian Spirituality is living life in the Holy Spirit...it's about a love relationship, not necessarily "discipline," but a shared life.  Will you commit to it?  God can work through it greatly in our lives, if we let him. 

Want to learn more? Here is Article 18 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-18-spirituality/

Confession of Faith: Discipleship and the Christian Life

Mennonites confess that when we are saved by Jesus Christ we begin a life long journey of following the one we now have claimed and received as our Lord and Savior.  This is a process of learning, of being empowered by the Holy Spirit, of experiencing God through church, Scripture, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines, and of diligently striving for God's kingdom while allowing grace to enter into our lives.

Discipleship is about a partnership between us and God - of allowing God to transform us and us learning to obey and walk with Jesus each and every day.  Part of this walk is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ, transformed into his image one step at a time.  This includes not going along with what the world says (carefully evaluating culture and traditional wisdom), loving everyone (yes even those we don't want to love or who are difficult to love), being honest in our words (who needs oaths when you actually say what you mean in the first place?), of living in peace (even unto our deaths, following the example of Jesus), and even not worrying about our reputations (Jesus was called a glutton and a drunkard who ate with sinners). 

Discipleship is a difficult process, one that requires a lot of God's work in us (which usually doesn't happen overnight, but it does from time to time), a lot of effort on our part, and a lot of perseverance.  Yet, this is not a journey walked alone - traveling together towards Christ is what church is all about.  Mistakes will be made - when they are, fall into God's grace.  Take care of yourself, by which I mean make sure to simply spend time with God - don't just do-do-do go-go-go.  Remember Jesus love for us, and allow him to transform...don't work in your own power, but work in God's.

Discipleship - the process of becoming like Jesus in community.  This is ever the goal of the church ...grow in size, grow in love, grow in Jesus.  Yet, discipleship is also something more.  Discipleship is growing in love for Jesus and others...it's about growing relationships with love, not just gaining a certain set of characteristics.

Want to learn more? Here is Article 17 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-17-discipleship/

Confession of Faith: Church Order and Unity

The image to the right seems to be what goes on in many churches and in fact in many people's lives..."My way or the Highway, I am right and only one of us can be."  Confessing church order and unity in the Mennonite church is to confess that we are fallen and broken human beings with a tendency to move in our own directions and sometimes even leave churches when we disagree with what is happening.  In order to help keep the love of one another before all else, we confess and abide by certain processes in order to maintain unity.

However, church order and unity is more than this: it is a belief that we are all members of one body to which Jesus Christ is the head and the foundational cornerstone.  Since we are all one body, even if we are many different parts who think and even act differently, we seek the best ways to work with each other in love and grace. 

In a world that quickly fractures, Mennonites speak a word of strength together, of holding onto a firm foundation (Jesus) and allowing other things to be decided in time.  One of the fastest ways communities fracture is when major shifts or changes take place.  To help combat this, Mennonites say, "Slow down!  It is better to wait on the Lord then to make hasty decisions."  This seems to me to be lost in much of U.S. America today - we want decisions made and they should be made now.  Instead...slow down...the Lord might have a word for us if we wait on the King to speak.

Want to learn more?  Here is Article 16 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-16-church-order-and-unity/

Image from: heargodspeak.blogspot.com

Confession of Faith: Ministry and Leadership

Mennonites believe that ministry and leadership is all about continuing the work of Christ through the gifts of the Holy spirit who empowers all believers for service in the church and in the world.  There are particular persons called to specific leadership ministries and offices, accountable to God and the community of faith, but all are called to serve in building up the body of Christ in love and witnessing about Jesus in the world.

One of the awesome things about Mennonite ministry and leadership is the emphasis on equality among sexes, ethnicities, and age groups.  Everyone is called to serve in some capacity while those called to specific offices and leadership ministries serve through those positions.

A second delightful aspect is the note that all people are called to serve outside the church.  Blessedly, this means for people in particular offices are called to equip people for better service, not to do everything on their own. 

This is important, especially in a society that is slowly and continually moving the impetus of action onto leaders, even if we distrust those leaders.  More and more government assistance is being given out, with folks hating the system but not really helping others to the extent we could either.  We dislike what is going on, but instead of modeling change in our own lives, we simply complain to the government or leaders to change it. 

Mennonites believe it takes both - leaders and congregants, working together to follow Christ in order to minister to the world.   

Want to learn more? Here is Article 15 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-15-ministry-and-leadership/

Confession of Faith: Discipline in the Church

Today I will begin with a quote from the Mennonite confession: "We believe that the practice of discipline in the church is a sign of God's offer of forgiveness and transforming grace to believers who are moving away from the faithful discipleship or who have been overtaken by sin."  While seemingly simple, this complex statement is powerful for us today because we are in a place where we do not like correction (what correction?  You are right and I am right, because what is right for you is not what is right for me!); we do not like to be called to obedience; we hate to be called sinful; we certainly don't appreciate some community not understanding my story and judging us - in fact they don't know us!

As a pastor, I have heard all of the above before from a multitude of different sources.  And in some cases, I do side with the person giving those excuses because in many ways, church has gotten church discipline wrong.  So let's unpack "church discipline."  First, church discipline is a corrective action meant to help a believer follow Jesus better.  Church discipline is a forgiving, redeeming, and renewing process meant to helpfully guide someone in the church back to following Christ.  For example, someone who is committing adultery would be disciplined by church leadership with some of the following: being removed from leadership for a time of seeking and focusing on God, being encouraged and helped in the process of reconciliation with their wife including ending the affair, having some spiritual disciplines suggested, and being mentored by an elder or pastor during this process.

However, the tricky part (and scary part for leadership!) is that if the discipline is approached in less than a loving manner (and even in a loving manner), the person being disciplined can easily and swiftly move on to the next church.  Therefore, church discipline is a two way street: both parties need to act upon and desire to be reconciled to Christ for it to work.  Both parties need to be committed to each other.

Second, church discipline as been abused.  The amount of stories I have heard about people being thrown out of church for having a child out of wedlock is absurd.  When sin happens (and it happens to all of us, public or private), reconciliation and help is required of the church, urging repentance on the part of the sinner, but walking alongside them as well.

Finally, church discipline is not to be given to those who don't know Christ, even if they know the church.  Pastor Perry Noble of NewSpring church puts it this way: "How can we expect non-believers to act any differently if they don't know Jesus?"  Many times people (perhaps intending good, but doing harm) want people to act like followers of Christ when they have no clue who Christ is; we want people to submit to church discipline and repent when they aren't a part of the church body. 

Ultimately, church discipline is the body of Christ helping a participant in church to repent and reconcile with God. 

Want to learn more?  Here is Article 14 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-14-discipline-in-the-church/

Image from http://www.swartzentruber.com/mennonite/pages-pop-mennonite-art-gallery/12-excommunication-church-discipline.htm

Confession of Faith: Footwashing

There are few things as humbling as having your feet washed by another person, especially in today's US America.  It is simply an awkward process...my feet are either dirty from going bare-foot in the spring, summer, and early fall, or they cold, splattered with sock-lint, and perhaps sweaty from being stuffed into a pair of boots during the fall and winter months.  And there are few acts of service more humbling than washing another person's feet, which generally have the same issues as my feet.

Footwashing, as modeled by Jesus in John 13, is an essential act of love and service for Mennonites.  Mennonites believe that when we wash each other's feet we share in the body of Christ, acknowledging our need to be cleansed, renewing our willingness to let go of pride and power, and offer our lives in humble service and sacrificial love.

The first time I became aware of this practice was at Messiah College.  During a chapel service, they placed chairs and full basins of water in front of the chairs with stacks of towels next to the chairs.  I remember a friend and I went up together to wash each other's feet .  I admit it was weird, uncomfortable, and humbling (an honestly who likes to be humbled?).  It was also one of the most valuable and meaningful practices I have been a part of. 

If you want to give it a try, traditionally footwashing services are held every Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday) at Anabaptist churches (Mennonite; Brethren; Brethren in Christ being three denominations considering themselves Anabaptists).  They can also be held quarterly, or whenever deemed appropriate by a congregation...make sure to check one out!

Want to learn more?  Here is Article 13 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-13-foot-washing/

Confession of Faith: The Lord's Supper

The Lord's supper, or communion, is a practice of actively remembering the work of Jesus Christ done on the cross, his resurrection, and his continued work in the church.  Mennonites believe that this is a renewal of our covenants with God, a time of remembrance, and a time of looking forward in joy and hope to the feast of Christ in the age to come.

Communion is a vital aspect of the life of the church and participation therein.  Wonderfully, Mennonites see a powerful theology in three interlocking aspects of communion.  First, communion is actively remembering the work of Jesus Christ - his body and blood given for us and the resurrection three days later.   Second, this remembering causes us to renew our covenants with God, refreshing and helping us to continue striving for the Kingdom of God here on earth in these present moments.  Third, as we are remembering and we are renewed, we are given a foretaste of the coming Kingdom, the total renewal of all things by Jesus at the end of days.

This speaks in a powerful way, invoking in us God's presence, locating God in the past, present, and future, allowing us to take part in the kingdom in a visible way.  In US America, we tend to allow other things to take over our understanding of ritual as they are co-opted by the world to make a dollar.  Easy examples of this are Easter and Christmas.  Yet, the world hasn't been able to reap riches off of communion quite yet...instead communion has simply become a "cracker and juice."  The repeated nature of the act has made it meaningless.

Into this, Mennonites proclaim communion is filled to bursting with meaning.  All we have to do is take part in it.

Want to learn more?  Here is Article 12 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/article-12-the-lords-supper/