History Is Made (And I'm Speechless)

The story almost reads like a joke. “So an Anglican, a Pentecostal and the Pope walked into a bar. . .” But what happened today is not a joke. Matter of fact, what I experienced on this day, “which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes” (1 John 1:1), is nothing short of historic.

Three Christians, from three nations, from three cultures and three denominational traditions representing nearly three-quarters of the world’s Christians, came together as one. They loved each other. They blessed each other. They prayed for one another. They celebrated the Bible together. Heck, they sent personal videos to each other with iPhones! They praised one Lord together, Jesus Christ. And they called one another into complete unity so that the world would know the love of the Father.

I almost couldn’t believe my eyes, eyes that were wincing to try to understand what was going on and at the same time welling up with tears for what I was seeing. Let me introduce the characters:

Kenneth Copeland

 A charismatic, Pentecostal preacher, a televangelist whose ministry and media empire (Kenneth Copeland Ministries) reaches millions around the world but also invites the scorn and skepticism of many (particularly amongst Catholics and mainline Protestants) for what they consider a “prosperity gospel.”

Tony Palmer

An Anglican bishop and member of the Anglican Episcopal Church of the CEEC (Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches). Palmer experienced a radical conversion in his early twenties and was introduced to Kenneth Copeland through evangelistic videos which inspired Palmer to share the gospel, door to door, with every household in his English suburb (took him 8 months). Palmer would later be invited by the Vatican to serve on the Catholic Ecumenical Delegation for Christian Unity and Reconciliation.

Pope Francis

Certainly he needs no introduction. But before he was elected pope, Mario Jorge Bergoglio, then Archbishop of Buenos Ares, became a personal friend and spiritual mentor of Tony Palmer. Their friendship continued into his papacy, as you will see in the video.

You’ve just gotta see this for yourself (please, please, please trust me - it is WORTH the 45 minutes!).

If you’re a Catholic or mainline Protestant, bite your tongue and get through Copeland’s introduction (I'll admit, I almost stopped here). If you’re an academic, hold your judgment through Palmer’s beautiful, inspiring, yet at times academically imprecise message (I know, I know, doctrine does matter and Pelagianism was condemned in the 5th century). And if you’re an Evangelical, a Pentecostal or anybody skeptical of the Catholic Church, just wait for the incredible words, spoken in the “language of the heart,” of Pope Francis.

That they may be one. . .

What Kids Believe

“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. . .” Many of you recognize the words. If you were raised Catholic, I imagine you’re sitting there reciting the rest of this ancient statement of faith in your head (and perhaps feeling at least a little self-satisfied about it). This is the Nicene Creed, the standard profession of faith for the Church (both Protestant and Catholic), and the hallmark of Christian orthodoxy since the 4^th century. This is what we, as Christians, believe.

But what exactly do kids believe today? What do they believe about God, Jesus, the Church and heaven?  Many kids would acknowledge the existence of God and their belief in Jesus but listen closely and you’ll get the creeping notion that we’re on two very different pages here. So what do kids really believe? What’s the “creed” that most kids, even good Christian kids, subscribe to today?

It’s called Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism[1] and the following, written brilliantly by my dear friend and Catholic brother, Andre Lesperance, hits the nail right on the head:[2]

A Creed for Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism

I believe in one God, the real but distant maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible, and possibly some invisible things (though any talk of invisible things is futile because science can’t prove their existence).

I believe in the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth, one of many enlightened gurus of spirituality who basically taught what other great spiritual leaders throughout history have taught.

Through him all things are loved, liked, and accepted unconditionally.

For us and for our comfort, he came from Nazareth and lived well, but does not expect people after him to live quite as well; lowering the bar for the rest of humanity because he knows they’re obviously imperfect, he wants us to live comfortable and fun lives, not explicitly hurting other people we see on a daily basis, and avoiding big sins like murder and rape.

He was crucified under Pontius Pilate to inspire empathy for his ideals of niceness; he suffered death and was buried, but the ideas he stood for did not die with him. Those ideas “rose again” and reign now with Jesus' soul in heaven, which is a far-off Kingdom we enter only upon dying.

He will not come again and will not judge, because he told us that judging is bad, and he is not a hypocrite.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the vague sense that God unconditionally approves of everything I do and makes no demands on me (as long I’m usually nice and never a murderer), which makes me feel good about myself.

I believe in the existence of many, unholy churches. It would be arrogant to discuss whether any of them have more or less accurate pictures of the truth, since all this spiritual stuff is made up of unverifiable opinions anyway.

I confess one baptism for the cute baby ritual that it is, reminding us that “sin” is a pretty outdated concept.

And I look forward to being in my personal happy place for eternity. Amen.

*To compare this to the standard profession of faith honored by Protestants and Catholics throughout the centuries, the Nicene Creed, go to: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/index.cfm

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[1] The term “moralistic, therapeutic deism” was first introduced in 2005 by noted sociologist, Christian Smith, a practicing Catholic who currently teaches at the University of Notre Dame.

[2] Please note this is NOT what Andre believes but this is what he has come to understand, through his extensive experience with young people, as the standard set of beliefs held by adolescents today.

NFCYM: A Place at the Table

Would it make any difference to you if a young person came to believe in Jesus Christ because she witnessed Protestant and Catholic Christians working together? Would it get your attention if a hurting teenager came to know the healing power of God’s love because he experienced the genuine love expressed among the many parts of the body of Christ? Whether Christian brothers and sisters can “play nice” and grow in missional relationship with one another has, according to our Lord, consequences far greater than we might imagine. . . like whether we can provide a compelling witness to the love of God and inspire genuine trust in Jesus Christ in our broken world today.

On the night that he was betrayed by one of his own disciples, Jesus prayed that all of his followers might be one “so that the world may believe that [the Father] has sent me and has loved them”(Jn 17:21b, 23b). Jesus prayed for Christian unity, not as a matter of kumbaya sentimentalism, but because it impacts the single greatest challenge facing the Church today - evangelization.

Thus, my presence at the NFCYM (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry) Annual Membership Meeting in Seattle last week had a little riding on it. Would it be an occasion for good will and shared mission between Young Life and the Catholic Church or would it reinforce the divisions that have pained the relationship between the Church and mission movements like Young Life for decades?

The vision of the NFCYM is to “serve those who serve the young Catholic Church.” It seeks to invite to the table all people and organizations that significantly impact young Catholics so, like Jesus prayed, they may believe in the Word made flesh and know the love of the Father. It seems natural that Young Life, an interdenominational global Christian outreach to adolescents, an organization that by conservative estimates is reaching over a quarter of a million Catholic teens per year, would have a seat at that table.

I am indebted to the gracious invitation of Bob McCarty, executive director of NFCYM, who welcomed me as a personal guest. I was deeply blessed by the opportunity to observe the operations of the federation and engage in dialogue with federation members. Most embraced me (and the organization of Young Life) with open, if not cautious, arms. Some wondered why I was even there. After all, doesn’t Young Life “steal kids from the Catholic Church,” as the old caricature goes?

Putting things in a distinctly different light, Catholic mission leaders were surprised to learn that Young Life is genuinely interested in putting those 250,00 kids into Catholic pews around the country. Young Life is no more interested in making Catholic kids Protestant as it is in making Presbyterian kids Methodist. Young Life is not in competition with the Catholic Church. Young Life and the entire Church universal is competing with the aggressive encroachment of a worldview that strips young people of their inherent dignity and robs them of a vital connection with their only real source of life – Jesus Christ.

The question is. . .

Can we look beyond our fears and parochialism (both within Young Life and the Catholic Church) and claim the blessing of unity and mission for which Jesus prayed?

Can the conversations which started in Seattle, through real dialogue and authentic friendship, blossom into the kind of trust and missional collaboration that will be necessary to reach a world of kids with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Do we have the relational bridges in place that would ensure that those kids can find the same support and relational investment in the Catholic Church as they did in Young Life?

As Pope Francis has said, “The principal aim of these participatory processes should not be ecclesiastical organization but rather the missionary aspiration of reaching everyone. . . If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ.”[1]

We are driven by the same mission, bound in one body, and sent out by one Lord. I think God has prepared us “for such a time as this” – Young Life and the Catholic Church working together to reach every kid, everywhere, for eternity.[2]

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[1] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), 31, 49.

[2] Esther 4:14.

Desire is the Destination

Having a hard time getting where you want to go? Jesus’ first followers had the same problem.

Three or four miles out to sea, tossed and turned by gale-force winds and swelling waves, the disciples were having a very hard time getting to their destination. They were exhausted, having spent the day feeding thousands in the Galilean hill-country, and they wanted what we all want after a long and trying day - the comforts of home.[1] This is where the storm-battered disciples encountered the first miracle, one that is very familiar to us – Jesus walking on water.

But then we have the second miracle(s). In Matthew’s gospel, we have Peter walking out onto the water to meet Jesus. Mark’s gospel has Jesus climbing into the boat with them and the waters are calmed. Yet in John, perhaps my favorite ending, a most subtle and curious thing happens. After identifying himself and assuaging their fears, the Scriptures say:

Then they were willing to take him into the boat,

and immediately the boat arrived at their destination.[2]

It is easy to glance over this tiny verse. Reading it quickly, the passage seems to do little more than document two ordinary events – Jesus getting into the boat and the boat arriving at its destination. Nothing miraculous here. Upon closer examination, however, we find another beautiful miracle.

When the disciples were willing to invite Jesus in, they immediately arrived at their destination. We’re talking Star Trek, teleportation stuff here. They suddenly zipped across another four miles of tumultuous sea and arrived at the shore where they were heading because they received Jesus among them.

But the Scriptures go further. It wasn’t that the disciples did receive Jesus into the boat. The weary travellers didn’t reach out their hands and help their water-walking leader into the boat. Various translations put it this way:

“They were willing to take him” (NIV)

“They wanted to take him” (NRSV, NAB)

“They were glad to take him” (RSV)

“They were eager to let him in” (NLT)

The passage tells us that the disciples got to where they were going by the mere desire or willingness to receive Jesus. As Scripture scholar Brooke Westcott put it, “Opposing forces were removed. . . the desired end was gained. . . both from the presence of Christ welcomed.”[3] Pope Francis assures us, “Whenever we take a step toward Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.”[4] And he's right: our desire for Jesus, allowing that deep and holy longing come to the surface, is all it takes. 

Having a hard time getting where you want to go? Maybe the question should be, “Am I willing to let Jesus in?” It seems like the destination is in the desire.

It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness;

He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you;

He is the beauty to which you are so attracted;

It is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness

that will not let you settle for compromise;

It is He who urges you to shed the mask of a false life;

It is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices,

It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives.

~Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day, 2000

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[1] Five of the twelve disciples were from the seaside villa of Capernaum. Peter and Andrew were originally from Bethsaida but moved to Capernaum. The Zebedee brothers, James and John, were from Capernaum. Finally, Matthew, the former publican and tax collector, was from Capernaum.

[2] Jn 6:21.

[3] Brooke Foss Westcott, John, 1:219; taken from Frederick Dale Bruner’s The Gospel of John: A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2012), 372.

[4] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), 3.

"Why Am I So Afraid?"

What’s the most oft repeated commandment in the Bible?  If you were to search every word in every book, every chapter and every verse to find the one thing that God commands most often, what do you think it would be?  “Have no other gods before me”?  “Love one another”?  “Repent and believe”?  You may be surprised that none of those come even close.

365 times in Scripture God says, “Do not be afraid.”  To the trembling Virgin Mary the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”  To the disciples caught in a storm Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”  In a dream the Lord said to Joseph, “Do not be afraid.”  After His crucifixion as the disciples were locked behind closed doors the risen Christ said, “Do not be afraid.”  God’s propensity to repeat Himself here suggests that He understands something fundamental about the human condition.  We are intractably and indefatigably prone to fear.

But “Why?” is the question.  When the Lord is our rock and our salvation, why are we afraid?  When God has conquered sin and death, why are we afraid?  When we’ve been given the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and empower us, why are we afraid?  When the Lord has promised to be with us till the end of the age, why are we afraid? 

Nelson Mandela, whose 27 years in prison for his work to abolish apartheid taught him much about fear, said these words . . .

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

What fears are keeping you from shining as a child of God?  What fears are holding you back from trusting God fully? What fears do you need to hand over to God today?  Ask the Lord to uncover your fears and banish them forever.

Have no fear.  

Fear is evil and “perfect Love casts out fear.”  

There is no room for fear in the heart in which I dwell.  

Fear destroys Hope.  It cannot exist where Love is, or where Faith is.

Fear is the curse of the world.  

Humankind is afraid – afraid of poverty, afraid of loneliness, 

afraid of unemployment, afraid of sickness.

Many, many are your fears.  

Nation is afraid of nation.  

Fear, fear, fear, everywhere.  

Fight fear as you would a plague.  

Turn it out of your lives and home.  

Fight it singly.  Fight it together.  

Never inspire fear.  It is an evil ally.  

Fear of punishment, fear of blame.

No work that employs this enemy of Mine is work for me.  

Banish it.  

There must be another and better way.

Ask Me, and I will show it to you.[1]

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[1]           A.J. Russell (ed.), God Calling, Jove Publications, Inc.: Grand Rapids, MI, 1998.