Religion, Sex, and Politics

This is one of those things that will tick me off every time. When we see people in need, or we hear a call to provide essentials for people who need clothing, food, or other basics, there is a segment of the population - and, yes, even within the church - who gather up their dusty, stored garbage to donate to others.

The things they long ago decided were not worthy of their own use seem to them perfectly acceptable for others. Yesterday's scratchy polyester clothes with stained underarms, fabric patterns that scream "1980" or worse, broken appliances, old worn out shoes, an old work shirt that still bears the patch over the pocket reading "Smitty," and the cans and cans of food bearing long passed expiration dates. One fall, in a food drive, I actually received a box of candy canes from the previous Christmas. I've seen all of this and worse in the name of compassion.

Several years back, when Hillsboro sent a team down to help with Katrina clean-up in Louisiana, we announced clearly that we would not take clothes, but instead asked for food, paper products, cleaning products, etc. But guess what we found dumped on the Fellowship Hall floor prior to the trip... yes, a huge pile of old, worn clothes, which we disposed of rather than take with us.

And when we got to Louisiana, we passed parking lots where there were literally mountains of these old, worn, and worthless clothes being rained on where they had been pushed out of the back of a truck in the name of compassion. So in addition to cleaning up their damaged homes, they had to clean up the trash the rest of the country dumped into their communities.

And now we're seeing it again in the aftermath of recent floods. The news article chronicles donations of "broken toys and used underwear." Ah, just what I would hope for my family to receive if we were to lose everything. Not to mention the message of love and support it conveys. Here's the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110515/ap_on_re_us/us_southern_tornadoes_donations

What is wrong with us? (Sunday School answer = "sin") Such gifts show that we want to find ways to feel that we are taking care of others without having to make any real sacrifice. But it's worse than that. In the process, we are only giving to ourselves at others' expense. We are gaining for ourselves that formerly unusable closet space, that shelf in the garage where Billy's 30-year-old broken toys had been boxed up... because God knows we would never let our grandchildren play with those nasty, dangerous old things. This behavior says to me, "I have no real interest in helping you. My only interest is in gaining a feeling of charitable superiority without the bother of actual sacrifice."

If you want to know how God feels about that kind of attitude, read about Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts (Acts 5:1-11). And keep in mind that they did actually give some of the money from the sale of their property, just not all of it. In our case, we sacrifice nothing, but still want the accolades.

So, bottom line, neither God nor the latest natural disaster victims want your dirty, outdated, broken junk. Go to the store, and pick out something you would love to have for yourself. Leave it in the plastic wrapping, with the tags still in place. Or just write a check to a Christian relief organization that will be feeding and helping people face to face.

...because if you bring that old broken and dated junk to Hillsboro, I'll be tempted to put it on display with your name on it (which still beats being struck dead by God).

This entry is a guest blog by our own Rachel Murawski. Rachel's comments here, and other things she's shared with me, have helped to shape the direction and focus of this year's Hillsboro Christmas emphasis. (See our latest newsletter for more info on that.) Here's Rachel's blog entry:

I have been convicted lately about how I have been using the things that God has given to me. I live in a nice home, sleep in a comfortable bed with added cushioning to make it even more comfortable, have food available at any time that I need or want it, an abundance of things to entertain me if I get bored, little things all over to make my house look attractive… The list goes on and on.
But throughout the past couple of weeks, between conversations with a friend and a couple books (most recently “Radical” by David Platt), I have begun to take a step back and see if I am using the things God has given me the way God wants me to use them. And the more I look into Scripture and the more I am honest with myself, I have realized that I am not.

I read passages like 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 and see how the early Christians approached their possessions and their giving. To give just a sampling of that passage, Paul says that the Macedonians were “very poor, but they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity…they gave not only what they could afford, but far more…they did it out of their own free will…they begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.”

That is not even close to how I give. I am not poor. If you or I have food to eat, a bed to sleep in, clothing, running water, and a roof over my head, I am actually quite wealthy (top 15% of the world!). And when I look at how I give, I think Paul would have written something a little more along the lines of, “she is well off, but filled with a desire for more, which has overflowed into selfish consumption…she gives what she can easily afford, but not any more…she did it because she knew it was what she was suppose to do…she wondered what new things she could purchase with the money that she kept for herself.” Not a very appealing picture.

As I wrestle with this area in my own life, I can’t help but think about the holidays that are just around the corner. I think about how much we spend each year on piles of presents, an over-abundance of food, Black Friday shopping sprees, and I can’t help but think of how nearly half of the world is struggling each day to find food, water, and shelter with the same amount of money that we spend on our French fries at lunch. There are 26,000 children that die each day from starvation or preventable diseases. There are people without homes or food who sleep in the parks of Charlottesville. And God has given us an OVER-abundance of material things, not for our own comfort and enjoyment, but to share it with those in need.

Yet I notice throughout Scripture, God doesn’t desire us to just give our leftovers. It isn’t hard to give a little of the money you have left over after buying what you want. It isn’t hard to give away clothing that you no longer want because you have bought newer things. But this isn’t the kind of giving God desires. The Christians Paul talks about in Macedonia gave not only what they could afford, but FAR MORE. God didn’t give us something that was easy for Him to give. He gave His ONLY. He gave sacrificially. And because of His loving gift to us, we should be giving in that same way.

I hope you'll respond to Rachel's entry in the comments box below. And I also hope you'll think about how her ideas could shape the way you celebrate Christmas this year. Instead of buying more stuff for people who are already "over-stuffed," perhaps you'd like to focus some attention on the poorest of the poor, on those who are most in need of a demonstration of the love and concern of God for their lives. Does that sound exciting to you? If so, we plan on helping folks find some good options for actually making a life-changing difference this Christmas, as we celebrate "A World-Changing Christmas."

But Rachel's thoughts aren't just a holidays emphasis. She's calling for a year-round life change. So what do you think?

OK, I'll just be blunt and get to the point. I think most of the corporate praying we do in church falls far short of God's intention for our prayer life together. We squander the opportunity that prayer affords. Week after week, we remain "small minded" in our prayers, focusing on the "discomforts of the moment" in our lives or the lives of those we care about, while the great issues of God's saving work in the world go unaddressed. And, I believe, this habitual abuse of prayer trains our people to remain immature and small-minded in their own prayer lives.

On any given Sunday, what does most of our prayer time look like?
- Praying for people who are sick.
- Praying for people who are facing surgery.
- Praying for people who are injured (broken arm, bad knee).
- Praying for rain when it's too dry.
- Praying for people who are having a tough time (home fire, unemployed, etc.)

And what is the essence of our every prayer? "Lord, fix it. Make the discomfort go away. Make the illness go away. Remove the struggle from our existence. Give us what we think we need."

Shallow, selfish, short-sighted, small-minded... maybe you're catching on that I detest this abuse of congregational prayer.

In contrast, what did Jesus pray about?
- The choices that would shape his ministry (like choosing disciples).
- The spiritual strength of his followers.
- That others would see God's glory, hear God's truth.
- That we as God's people would be unified.
- The spiritual protection and growth of his followers.
- That the Father's will would be done.

Jesus clearly cared about sickness and suffering. Otherwise he would not have done so much healing. But shouldn't the salvation of the lost rank a little higher on our concern list? When I die, it's not going to be a tragedy but a victory. And when we pray for those who are suffering, do we ask God to mobilize US to help, or are we just trying to skirt any ministry and dump the responsibility on God?

And what did the Apostle Paul pray about?
- The spiritual insight and discernment of his Christian friends.
- The growth of God's people in love and ministry.
- Strength for his friends in times of trial.
- Praise for God's work in the lives of new believers.
- That God's will would be demonstrated in Christian's lives.
- That the gospel of Jesus Christ would spread.
- That God's people would bear spiritual fruit.

If I were an outsider, using the communication between God's people and their Heavenly Father to figure out what was most important to the church of Jesus Christ, what would I conclude? Wouldn't it seem that the mission Christ gave the church was to promote Christians living physically healthy and pain free for as long as possible? And wouldn't it seem that Christians don't think THEY bear responsibility for caring for the sick, but only for telling God what to do about it?

How long before I would hear a passionate prayer asking God to guide us in addressing...
- those who live without Christ and without hope,
- neglected children,
- sexual abuse,
- poverty,
- the exploitation of the weak,
- crumbling marriages,
- the needs that surround us in our community,
- our need to know God more deeply,
- our responsibility for the sick, imprisoned, hungry,
- our need to surrender ourselves to God's will...
...and in all of these, a clear emphasis on "God, what is it you want us to do - this group of people, in this place, on this day - to demonstrate your active love and concern for the needs around us" vs. a passive "God, you take care of it, because I'm too busy."

Let me invite you to respond by listing those things YOU see us neglecting that are most certainly on the heart of God. And, you Hillsboro folks, maybe you'd like to also write it down on that "prayer request" slip in the bulletin and drop it in the offering plate: "Please pray for Hillsboro to act against predatory lending."

I'll be checking the comments box and the notes in the offering!

A local Children's Ministry leader and friend shared with me a bit of personal writing that I want to pass on to you. This person has been observing all the things that parents are allowing to keep their children from being regularly active in church. So my friend composed this list of 9 reasons why these parents don't prioritize their children's church-based spiritual development.

Tell me what you think!

9 REASONS WHY I DON’T BRING MY CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR CHURCH

1. It won’t help my children get into college. College admission is competitive. So I need to make sure they play team sports, earn merit badges in scouts, take ballet lessons, learn to play the piano, etc. You can’t put Sunday School and church on a college application, so it just has to take a backseat to these college-oriented pursuits.

2. Our family life is already too scheduled and stressful. We don’t need another weekly obligation. Bible study and church are good, but who’s got time? We’ve got baseball, swim practice, competitions, homework, soccer, trips to see the family, sleepovers, the academic enrichment classes… How are we supposed to make time for Bible study and worship?

3. I talk to my kids about God. I tell a Bible story every night... OK, many nights. At least I did when they were preschoolers. And we say a blessing at every meal... when we’re home. Plus, I often mention how a Christian should act when they talk about problems at school or with their friends. I’m probably covering the main points. Before they go to college, that’s all they really need to know. They can figure out the rest on their own.

4. When they go to Sunday School or church, they start asking questions I can’t answer... at least not comfortably. Like, “will Uncle Phil go to hell if he says G-D it?” And, “why would Jesus say to turn the other cheek when you say ‘fight back’? Who’s right?” How can I be comfortably immature in my faith if my kids are growing spiritually?

5. We like to sleep late on Sundays. “God time” is good, but we need some “Me time.” It’s work getting everyone up, fed, dressed, and in the car. And I don’t want my commitment to God to be hard. I know we got up early when we took the kids to Kings Dominion or the beach for the day, but church isn’t exactly King’s Dominion, right?

6. Our kids don’t need a strong faith until they go to college. We’re Christian parents. They can lean on us, until then. We’ll protect them spiritually. And, c’mon, what kind of trials and temptations can there be in elementary and middle school? We’ll let the Youth Minister catch them up on the deep stuff just before they head off to the moral and ethical choices of college. That should be enough foundation to handle the frat parties, substance abuse, spiritual questions, and major life-choice of college.

7. Frankly, I’m not all that happy with God. I’m having a hard time. If God were doing more for me, I’d have the energy, the time, and the desire to make Bible study and worship a priority. But if God’s going to let me struggle, then I’ll keep sending him this message about being ticked off at him by skipping church. When God does more for me, I’ll do more for Him.

8. My kids don’t want to go. When they get started on their video games, it’s just hard to get them to stop. And I want my kids to like me. Why make them do something they don’t want to do? (…unless it’s homework, school, piano practice, going to the dentist, etc.)

9. God definitely comes first, but not right now. I appreciate all that Christ has done for me, but I’m just too stressed. I’m sure you’ll be able to count on me some day, just not now. I know my kids aren’t getting the God-comes-first message. But I can’t say “no” to these other things, right? Someday everything will calm down and we will definitely make God a priority then.

When I served at Camp Alkulana, one of the counselors brought several hundred dollars worth of puppets to camp for us to use with the campers. The puppets were stored in a black trash bag. And, you know what happened when we cleaned up camp at the end of the summer. Somebody grabbed that bag and threw it away without ever looking inside. Because what's in a trash bag? Trash! The wrapper sends a message about the contents that guides people's reaction.

On January 12, 2007, an experiment took place in a Washington, D.C. subway station. (True story) A reporter had Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world, give a free concert on his $3.5 million Stradivarius violin right there in the subway station beginning just before 8:00 a.m. - during one of the busiest times at the station.

Dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, he played beautiful classical music - the same kinds of music that people sit for hours to hear, paying $100 per seat at the concert hall. But here, at the subway station, though more than a thousand passed by, only a few people even paused to listen, and then for only a few seconds. The most attention came from a 3-year-old boy, whose mother finally had to drag him away. Some tossed money in his violin case, for a total of $32.17 for his 45 minute world-class performance.

The lessons and revelations from this experiment are many. For one, people clearly take a cue on the value of an experience or opportunity or message or product from the context and packaging through which it comes to them.

Imagine with me that what is being offered is not a free world-class violin concert, but a free opportunity to hear about God’s available blessings for your life - everything from wisdom to eternal life. It seems clear that, if we put it in the wrong packaging or context, people will discount its value before they ever hear it.

Do people flock to the famous TV preacher’s church because he’s just that good, or because they assume he must be good because there are TV cameras everywhere and it’s hard to find a place to park? Does the beautiful building convince people, “This is important stuff” in a way that they don’t get when they drive by some other smaller facility?

If we have the most amazing children’s Sunday School teachers you can imagine, and the most talented Student Pastor in the state of Virginia, but we ignore the context and “packaging” with which we present these assets to our community, will they just drive by assuming there is little of value there? The Joshua Bell experiment seems to say, “Yes, they will.”

So what do we need to do about the context and setting of the amazing, life-enriching message of God’s grace that is ours to share... so that people in our community will say to themselves, “This must be worth hearing”? How can we improve the wrapper to reflect the value of the contents?