Jesus intentionally valued people
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how Jesus fought religiousness/rules, which we continue to fight today. I’ve thought about how Jesus really took the time to build relationships with unlikely people and people who were looked down upon. He really taught us about being intentional in that way, didn’t He?
Sometimes I find myself thinking something like, “I wouldn’t be friends with these people under normal circumstances.”
When would I have run into Andrew Thomas who serves as the Worship & Creative Arts Pastor at Living Water Community Church? Originally from Manchester, United Kingdom I’m not sure I would’ve found as great of an encourager as I have in him.
How about Jelani Greenidge? He’s the Founder of Motif Worship. We originally met in New Orleans for a conference and ended up as roommates. He’s my opposite in every way when it comes to our personality, yet we enjoy one another’s company a great deal.
And then there’s Mariah Hughes from North Carolina. She’s a missionary kid, who’s found a calling in multicultural worship and is constantly active in the mission field. She’s wonderfully intentional about relationships and has a growing gift in music. Not sure where I would’ve ran into her if it wasn’t for the Body of Christ.
And our worship team? I think about the long road I’ve journey on with Rita Salone who’s come from some very tough circumstances. We’ve had our ups and downs, but have found our common ground in the appreciation in the history of people’s personal history, culture, and music.
Finally, there’s my neighbor. He’s Somalian and we have some very different views on the Bible. However, we’ve managed to live in peace with one another, our kids play together, helped each other shovel snow from our driveways, and eaten together. Not sure I would’ve reached out first, but I have no doubt that God orchestrated that relationship for His glory.
The BIG question I’m left with is…
How can I be more intentionally, like Christ, in inviting people into the family of Christ while developing relationships with those who are different from me in obvious ways, but are passionate about the Lord?
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
How we do church
Recently as I’ve talked to other ministry leaders I’ve heard more than a few talk about, in respect to their own local church, “how we do church.” My friends here we also talking about, in that same conversation, about bringing in another group either as an evangelism effort or doing church together.
So, what were they really talking about?
I believe they are talking about their church culture in many respects. And every church has a culture. Every church has a set of values that are expressed in a unique way because each group has different people, traditions, backgrounds, etc.
That being the case…I began to think about how each local church’s culture either invites people in or pushes them out.
I certainly don’t expect every church to have the same culture. That’s unrealistic and I believe that would take away from the different gifts that each local church has to build up the Body of Christ as a whole.
But I do wonder how we can begin to find common ground with new visitors who walk through our church doors. How can we show hospitality, care, and appreciation? How do we answer the call on God’s people to find common ground?
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 says:
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.
21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
So, how do you find common ground?
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
Noel’s Lunch Story
This is a great video that comes from Nikki Lerner’s church, Bridgeway Community Church. Noel, one of the church’s interns, shares his heart about some of the ways that Korean people communicate.
What I found interesting is that in the video is that Noel explains that when you ask a Korean person, who’s English is limited, what they have for lunch you have to ask more questions to find out what they had. Noel points out that language is one of the reasons for this.
Now if you were to talk to me I’m pretty sure you’d had to ask a lot of fact finding questions to find out what I had for lunch or what I liked about it. I grew up here in America speaking English, so in general, my English is pretty good. Although, my grammar might not always be great when it comes to writing, but I try to write the way I talk.
I think what Noel is saying is generally true about Korean people, especially when you take in to account their age or even when they arrived in America.
But no matter what culture, ethnicity, or age someone is I want to encourage you to ALWAYS ask fact finding questions. It, in a lot of ways, shows that you care about someone and you want to hear their heart.
This is something I’m constantly working on, especially with my wife. It’s not easy for me, but I know that there is much fruit in that.
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.