Last week 8 local congregations gathered — in unity — to worship and pray together. It was good. Good as in Genesis-good, as in “and God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.” For a few days I want to talk about unity in the church.  Let’s start with the overflowing blessings that come through unity.

My grandma helped me to understand the concept of blessing. I remember when I was a kid and we would vacation in California. She would take us to Thrifty’s for an ice cream cone. She always got us the discount tickets to go to Disneyland and then would spend the day with us. I remember sitting at her counter as she would special-order cook my breakfast. At Little Grandma’s there was always a new toy, a special gift, during college it was rolls of quarters to do my laundry. She was full of love and life and joy.

It was always good to go to little grandma’s house because it was always good to be with her. I didn’t understand until later how much of the blessing was wrapped up in her presence…not her gifts, her presence.

But then she got Alzheimer’s…way to early. I was in college when it started. Grandpa wouldn’t put her in a nursing home. But she kept getting worse, mentally and physically.   Then they moved to a new home, right next to the house I grew up in. For the last few years five or six years of her life, she lived there…but not really. No more long talks. She couldn’t communicate, I’m not even sure if she was aware of the life around her. No more special order breakfast at the counter, she couldn’t even feed herself. No more special gifts, she was bed-bound.

It was always interesting to watch my kids when we would go to Grandma’s house to visit. They never really had the chance to know her, but they always wanted to see her. They would go into the bedroom, touch her hand, say hello, and then — after a few moments — they would go and play.  When they left the room, it was almost as though she was no longer in the house.

I would stay a little longer — we had history — talk to her a while longer, soon I would go. And the rest of the time…it was as though she wasn’t there. Present but not known. In the house, but no longer a force of blessing. Her house but nobody would ask her to be the host. Her kitchen but nobody would ask her to cook.  For the most part, once the ritual greetings had taken place she wasn’t present…until it was time for the ritual goodbyes.

And the house was different. It was her house and she was still there, but not present.  The blessing was gone, the house no longer overflowed with her blessing.

Sometimes we can get that way with God and his house… with Jesus and his church.  Once upon a time, we knew He was there. We consulted Him about decisions and asked for His help often…sometimes we would just sit and talk and it was good to be in His house, because it was good to be with Him. We would find our hands full of special gifts and cook-to-order blessings. But now we have our ritual hellos and our ritual goodbyes and the rest of the time?

Well it’s His house, but it would be easy to be there and be unaware of His presence. And it doesn’t seem like the house overflows with his blessing. Listen. There is nothing more important than the manifest presence of Jesus in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in the places where we work, and throughout the communities of our region.

The Key to extra-ordinary transformation… the source of overflowing blessing is…the presence of Jesus. We long for the Father’s blessing…we need the Father’s blessing. But his blessing is always wrapped up in his presence. That’s why I am so attracted to these words in Matthew 18:20

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

Fireworks, Patriotism, and the 4th.  Decades ago (1945) George Orwell made a distinction between Nationalism and Patriotism. According to Orwell, nationalism is the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or an idea, and “placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”

So what is a nationalist?

A nationalist is someone who cannot believe that his/her country could ever be wrong, evil, or even not best. A nationalist is someone who can listen to their favorite political commentator without ever thinking, “Really? I’m pretty sure I don’t believe that!” A nationalist is someone who would judge the ethics of a set of actions purely on the basis of “who did it.” In other words, if we do it, it’s all good.

You will probably guess that I believe — and most of you will agree — that Christians have no business being nationalists. There is a sense in which the nationalist must sacrifice the uniqueness of Christ for the uniqueness of country. Country becomes “the way, the truth, and the life.” Instead as we follow Christ, we become seekers of truth who are called to live by a standard of truth that transcends countries or boundaries. We believe in the reality of evil and acknowledge that there is a capacity for evil and deception in all cultures apart from Christ.

So what about patriotism?

Patriotism is far better than nationalism. Orwell defined patriotism as “devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force upon other people.” That’s better than nationalism. A patriot is someone who could never imagine living somewhere else, but doesn’t feel the need to force everyone to live like we do. A patriot in fact might be willing to give their live so that their friends and neighbors could continue to experience that way of life. A patriot believes that their way of life is best, but not perfect.

So what about patriotic Christians? Well here are some of my thoughts, questions and ponderings.

1) It may be difficult for patriotic Christians to stop short of nationalism. Christians are called to love their neighbors, in fact love the world. If we think our culture is “best” why wouldn’t we want everyone to have what is best?

2) When Christians are at their best, the word needs no modifier. I wish we didn’t have so many modifiers. Evangelical Christian, Mainline Christian, Patriotic Christian, Charismatic Christian, American Christian, Patriotic Christian. Does that word really need a modifier? Isn’t the bond of Christ-follower greater than every modifier?

3) I love the land in which I was born, just like I love the city to which God called me. I love State College not because I think it’s the best or the only, but because God called me here and I love the people.

4) I see the fingerprints of God in every culture and I see the presence of evil in every culture.

5) Christians are not citizens of the countries in which we live. Peter calls us foreigners and exiles (I Peter 2:11-12). Paul says that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and that we are Christ’s ambassadors to this world (2 Corinthians 5:20). Imagine an American — a patriotic American — living in Haiti. He grows to love the people, but it is so difficult to think about his country, his way of life, his culture. In fact he becomes an evangelist for the way of life that his country represents. We should be that citizen.

On July 4th, I will watch the fireworks in State College. I will celebrate the birth of my country — and more importantly the birth of my daughter — and I will ask God to bless America. I will also ask God to bless Myanmar, and Rwanda, and the Dominican Republic. And in the rockets red glare, I will also take a moment to ask God to forgive us, and give us a spirit of repentance and humility, so that many Americans would become citizens of God’s kingdom.

What is glory? I’m talking about biblical glory, glory of God, bright shining glory. I’m talking about what Isaiah saw in his vision when he said, “Woe is me for I am undone.” I’m talking about the kind of glory that undoes you. Not just the glory that speaks of reputation and fame, but the glory that caused Moses’ face to radiate having been in the presence of God. What is that glory? The kind of glory that shoots the fear of awe into our hearts while at the same time awakening a longing for something more; that’s what I’m talking about.

What is glory?

In Exodus 33:18-19 we see that glory is God’s overflowing goodness. When Moses asked God to show him His glory. God responded, (vs19) “Ok Moses I will make all my goodness pass before you.” The glory of God is the goodness of God. When we pray, “Lord show me your glory.” We are asking Him to show us the sum total; the weight and magnitude of His goodness.

What is glory?

In Romans 6:3-4 we see that glory restores life. According to Paul, it was the glory of God which raised Jesus from the dead. “Therefore,” Paul says, “we were buried with Jesus through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” It is the glory of God that leads to resurrection, new life, new hope from the darkest despair.

What is glory?

The prophet Isaiah believed that glory can be our protection, our defense. In Isaiah 58:8, he writes, ” Then your salvation will come like the dawn,and your wounds will quickly heal.Your godliness will lead you forward,and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.” Glory is the power and mercy of God that becomes our refuge, our defense, our greatest security.

What is glory?

It is all those things and more…it is the very revealed presence of God. It is the invasion of heaven on earth. It is the in-breaking of the very reality of God into our lives. In fact in many biblical narratives, the glory of God was such tangible spiritual reality that it was seen and touched, experienced by the senses. It is God’s and God’s alone.

And…

In John 17:22, as Jesus is talking to his Father about the future, our present; as he is reminiscing about the church as it will be; as Jesus is praying for us, just before he goes to the cross, he prays, “Father, I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one.”

In the last two decades I have heard more reasons than I can count for why the church in America is divided. Drums in worship. Different Bible translations. Different forms of baptism. Different views on spiritual gifts. Different views on the roles of men and women. Different views on the end-times. Different labels: Charismatic or Dispensational or Calvinistic or Reformed or Wesleyan or Mainline or Evangelical.

But in the midst of all the differences — most of which I celebrate, uniformity is boring — I still have to ask the question, “Isn’t His glory enough?” Do I have such a low view of the glory of Christ that I am afraid that drums in worship will lessen his glory? Do I have such a low view of his glory that I have no faith that his glory can bring unity to our labels and our views and our practices and our opinions?

I am beginning to believe that those who have a high view of the glory of Christ are those who will risk much — note that I did not say all, but still much — in the quest to be one as God is one.

I believe that his glory is enough.

Here are some blogs that I’ve been reading and some stuff I can’t wait to experience.

1) U-TAN’S STORY: I had the privilege of baptizing U-Tan this year in Myanmar.  He came from a strong Buddhist family and after he was baptized, his house was burned down.  People from our area heard his story and gave generously to rebuild his house.  He died last week.  Chris Heinz shares his story and some pictures on his blog.  Just click U-Tan.

2) MYANMAR EXPERIENCE:  I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the Myanmar Experience coming to Harvest Fields on Saturday July 23rd.  It will be a hands-on interactive look at life in Myanmar coupled with an opportunity to make a huge difference in a child’s life.  Click Myanmar Experience for more info.

3) ARTS FEST ALTAR:  Most of you have attended the State College Arts Fest at some point in the past.  It’s an artist mecca, but this year arts fest will celebrate someone special…the world’s greatest artist.  We are going to raise a 24/7 monument of worship for the great artist Christ.  You will hear more about this in the days to come, but for now just check out the website and start thinking… Arts Fest… Jesus… Prayer.  Click Arts Fest Altar.

4) THE DIVINE APPOINTMENTS OF THE GOSPEL:  Check out these blog posts from Cheryle Touchton, a Calvary Midtown regular with a heart for the gospel.  Very Encouraging!   The first is entitled Let Me Out.  This one is my personal favorite.  Calvary Leads to Calvary. Be encouraged.

At Calvary our desire is to build a church without walls.  If your first question is, “How can you do that in Pennsylvania, maybe San Diego, but Pennsylvania?” then welcome to the I’m-not-really-sure-what-church-is club.  We’ve really messed up that word — church.  We’ve made it an address, equated it with a facility and in some cases made it even more important than the people.  AND THEN, we thought we could build our reputation in the community upon the foundation of our facility.

But the problem is that everyone who doesn’t go to church understands — sometimes better than some of us who go to church — that a church isn’t an address.  It’s the people.  Good people = good reputation.  It’s almost like Jesus was prophetic when he said, “They will know that you are my disciples by your love…”  Which simply means that when we are known for our buildings… or our lack of love…we aren’t known as his disciples.

So what’s in a church?  It depends, are you talking about the address or the people?

Most of you are familiar with the Crystal Cathedral.  Home of the “Hour of Power.”  Home of Robert Schuler.  In the last few years, the Crystal Cathedral has been running out of time.  Declining audiences.  Declining dollars.  Family problems in the line of pastoral succession.  Last October the Crystal Cathedral declared bankruptcy.

But there’s good news.  It’s a new day.  According to an article in the LA Times, on any given Sunday, you will now find lines forming about 9 a.m. outside the Crystal Cathedral.  The lines are not forming for the 9:30 or the 11:00 “Hour of Power.”  During those two hours, the crowds are so sparse, that the tv crews have great difficulty finding enough people sitting together to create a faux crowd shot.

So what’s in the church (building)?  The line that starts at 9:00am the 1:00pm Spanish service.  The Cathedral is packed for that service.  In fact, the spanish service has grown from 300 to 3,000 people in 2 years.  The pastor would like to add another service to continue the growth.  In fact, the goal is to reach 10,000 people by January of next year.  (Yes, you read that right).

The Pastor of the Spanish service is Dante Gebel, from Argentina.  He is not on staff at the CC.  They just use the space.  The Crystal Cathedral is not the church.  It’s a tool.  The people are the church.   In fact the tool doesn’t even belong to the church (people) it belongs to Jesus.

Nothing wrong with tools.  God uses tools and sometimes being a good steward of God’s stuff means getting some new tools.  But think for just a moment how messed up we get when we forget some basic church principles.

1) The church is not an address.  It’s the people.

2) The church is not a store where we can buy spiritual stuff.  It’s a people who serve God, others and the world.

3) The tools don’t belong to us, they belong to Jesus.  We are his church.  Who has permission to use his tools however he wants.

4) Good tools in the hands of people who don’t care about the mission of God are a waste of good resources.

What’s in a church?  If it isn’t the Spirit of God working through his people to build up the body/bride of Christ for the glory of God… nothing.

I got a bit emotional in our staff meeting this week.  Perhaps more than a bit.  Almost every Calvary staff meeting involves God-stories.  This week a number of the God-stories gave a glimpse of people desperate for God.  People approaching followers of Jesus and asking them why they never invited them to church or talked about Jesus with them.  People grabbing followers of Jesus and asking them if it was okay if they came to church.  People asking for prayer that they would be able to believe in Jesus.

After four or five of these stories, I felt led to share.  What if Jesus really meant what he said, when he looked at his disciples and proclaimed, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, so pray to the Lord of the Harvest…” What if those words are just as true today as they were on the day they poured over Jesus lips?

I was sharing some of these thoughts and then some from Isaiah’s vision of transformed cities.  I’m not sure I can even explain it, but in the midst of sharing, I couldn’t.  Deep emotion welled up inside.  Tears.  Heart squeezing out my eyes.  At the moment I wasn’t even sure why.  In my mind I was thinking, “God where is this coming from?”

Frederick Buechner has written,

“Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears. It is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from…and where you need to go next…”

What were the tears telling me?  I’m still not sure.  Maybe some of it had to do with God’s heart for people.  Sometimes He gives us just a taste of his passion for lost and broken people.  Perhaps some of it had to do with my own desperation for God, his way of saying, “You miss me.”  Both of those have been causes for tears in the past.

But I think there was something more this time.  I think the emotion rose, as I sensed God’s reaffirmation of a promise, a promise of His work in our region.

I’m not sure, but I am paying attention.  Are you/

You have to know there’s a mold before you can break it.

Last week my son Jake graduated from high school which meant that he got Nana’s book.  Every time a grandchild graduates from high school Nana (mom to me) puts together a “this is your life in pictures” book.  Jake’s is about a foot thick and my pictures are on a few of those pages.

On Saturday night after everyone had gone to bed, and Jake was on his way to the Dominican Republic (senior class mission trip) Lynn and I were reminiscing our way through the book.  Every picture brought back a memory.  The pictures that contained me brought back — more than a memory — a thought.  “Wow, there was less of me back then.”  Now some of you are thinking, “What’s wrong with more Dan?”  Okay you’re not thinking that, but someone could think that.

Now it’s not that I don’t know that I’ve gained weight.  Every time I tie my shoes, I think, “this never used to be so difficult.”  But there is something about seeing the me-before that so clearly paints a picture of what is and reminds me that I want what could be.

Here’s the point — it’s not just about weight — negative changes often happen incrementally.  In the moment we don’t realize how much we have changed.  The accumulation of a thousand little steps in the wrong direction does not seem like much till you are given a glimpse of where 1000 steps in the right direction would have taken  you.

JB Phillips translation of Romans 12:2 reads “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into it’s mold.”  Paul is expressing the same thought about incremental negative changes.  The world around us squeezes us into it’s mold.  It happens over time, not all at once, a squeezing process, not a blasting process.  But then we catch a glimpse of what was, or what was meant to be, and suddenly the difference seems stark.  We’ve been squeezed into a mold.  It’s difficult to break a mold, if we don’t recognize the mold.

If we were to make a list of the molds of the world, we would quickly find some common things, consumerism, materialism, friends with benefits, and moral relativism would likely make the list.  But I wonder how many of us would list this mold — No Fear of God.  I wonder if one of the squeezing molds of the world is “no fear of God.”

This week I’ve been pondering Psalm 34.  Psalm 34 is one of those ancient psalms that say that the fear of God leads to all sorts of good stuff.  I feel like I’m looking at an old picture of what was…and perhaps what was meant to be.  I know we struggle a bit with the idea of fearing God…but perhaps we should not be so quick to put that picture away.  Perhaps there is a mold that needs to be broken.

Perhaps there is a fear that refreshes the soul.  That’s what we’re talking about this weekend for Father’s Day — the fear that refreshes.

I have a conviction about unity amongst the followers of Jesus. In fact, the conviction is a passion, a holy discontent. I do not believe that a single congregation can bring spiritual transformation (revival) to a region. On our own we can build a great congregation, but one congregation by itself cannot reach a city.

Over the years, one justification for dis-unity that frequently and easily comes to the lips of evangelicals is, “But you cannot sacrifice doctrine for unity.”

Lately I’ve been pondering Jesus’ words recorded in John 17:22-23,

²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

First of all, realize that the quality of unity that Jesus describes is trinitarian unity.  Jesus is not talking about a mere “we won’t talk bad about you” kind of unity.  Can you imagine the Father, Son and Holy Spirit making an agreement to merely talk nice about each other?  In fact this unity even goes beyond, “let’s be friends.”  It is indeed relational community, but it’s also missional community.  It’s community with a cause.   Make no mistake, it’s not uniformity, there is diversity between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the relational and missional community runs deep.

Dis-Unity and a divided church has become so normal to us that it’s hard to imagine a different way.  But in fact, it is the way Jesus intended for us to walk.  I’ll be the first to agree that it’s not an easy road to walk, but could we start by agreeing that it is the direction we must walk to follow Jesus?

But here is what I cannot get out of my head, “he gave us his glory so that we could be one…” What does that mean?  Doesn’t it mean that a low commitment to unity comes from a low regard for the glory of Christ?  In the last few years David Bryant has sounded a clarion call for the church to regain a theology of the ascension.  We have perfected our celebrations of incarnation (Christmas) and resurrection (Easter) but we rarely ponder the ascension.

It’s the ascension of Christ that reminds us of the glory of Christ.  Christ the King.  Christ the All-Powerful Sovereign Warrior-King.  Glorious Christ.  Would it be so far from the truth to say that Christians who are not passionate about unity — have a faulty Christology?

If so, then perhaps we have already been sacrificing doctrine for our LACK of unity.

He gave us his glory so that we could be one…

I know.  The title is a bit cheap, but hopefully it got your attention.  Now if it could only keep our attention for longer than a typical media-attention-span, because for all the cheap shots and jokes, there is an important conversation taking place in the public arena about ethics.

In most cases we practice circle-ethics, not circular ethics, circle-ethics.  Circle-ethics involves a more robust philosophy than line ethics.  Line ethics gives you a right and a wrong.  Circle-ethics determines who is in and who is out.  We draw a line to determine who is right and who is wrong.  We draw a circle to determine who is in and who is out.  Of course where we draw the lines and where we draw the circles will determine who is right and who is in, though it is not necessarily the case that right is always in.

In the most recent case in point, Mr. Weiner has confessed to multiple “on-line” sexting relationships, but he has so far remained resolute in saying that he has not cheated on his wife because his virtual liaisons included no physical contact.   It would seem at first glance that Weiner is simply trying to draw a line, different from what some of us would draw, but still a line.

I’m not so sure.  I mean Weiner has already said that he was wrong in what he did.  He has tearfully confessed and is taking a leave of absence.   Perhaps in the last few days Weiner has been more interested in drawing a circle than he is in drawing a line.  Circle ethics.  I know I was wrong, but I’m not so wrong that I’m out.  I’m still in the same circle as my constituents.

This is not just a politicians exercise.  It’s happens in religious “circles” all the time. James Dunn is a New Testament scholar who has written a great commentary on the book of Romans and in it, he makes the observation that Rabbis — Jewish religious leaders in Jesus day — gave a huge amount of attention to three areas of religious law: Dietary Rules, Sabbath-Keeping and Circumcision.

You know what? Not a single Pharisee or religious leader of Jesus day would have said, “What’s the point of Judaism? Here’s the point. God’s will for humanity is summed up in eating the right foods, doing nothing on the Sabbath, and being circumcised.” No. If you asked them to give you the point, they would have recited the Shema. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength.” That’s the point.

So why such a focus on those three categories? Because those categories — easily observed outward appearances — help us figure out who’s in and who’s out. Circle ethics. We do this in the church all the time today. We simply substitute favorite interpretation, doctrinal leaders, worship styles, and other not-the-point issues.

There will probably always be a place for lines and circles. But here is my suggestion, let’s not settle for lines and questions, let’s look at the point. The point is the center. The point has to do with the heart. The point keeps us facing toward what is important, not what is permissible.

If the point is to honor your wife and give her your heart, Mr. Weiner missed the point. If the point is important than what really matters is are we headed toward the point, or away from the point.

Which leaves the question, “What’s the point?” In your own life, in your community, in your church, in your politics, your marriage, in your family, what’s the point? And will your steps lead you there?

Last Sunday, we had the opportunity to join with some other Calvary families to celebrate and bless our sons and daughters graduating from high school.  High School graduation happens about once every three years in our family.  Jake is our 3rd of 4.

It has been an amazing joy to watch Jake grow.  (Actually I can say the same about all our kids.) Jake’s grown physically — he’s almost as tall as me now.  He’s grown in wisdom — though he’s made some decisions that I would not have made if he was asking me to make them, like the whole cigar thing…  :)  I think he’s grown intellectually, though you wouldn’t know it by how many times he’s asked, “Can I skip school today?”  He’s grown as a leader.  I challenged him a could of years ago, that God had given him leadership capacities and than he needed to find places to exercise that leadership.  He has and I’m excited to see how God might use that in the future.  He’s grown as a friend.  That’s one of the things that Lynn and I will miss next year, is having his friends hang out in our basement…though our grocery bill will undoubtedly decrease.

One of the most meaningful things we did at the Senior Celebration was to speak a blessing over our kids.  The speaking of a “blessing” is a biblical tradition with great meaning.  It has a backward and forward feel to it.  Looking back at what God has done, and looking forward to what He will do.  But it’s more than just compliments and dreams.  There is a spiritual, even supernatural component.  It’s a calling about God and a speaking with faith into the future.

Here is the one we spoke over Jacob.

Jake, in the name of Jesus, we bless you.  We bless you with all the promises and dreams that God has in his heart for you.  We bless your ears to hear words filled with truth and grace, the life-giving words of scripture, and the voice of Jesus calling you to follow him with all your heart.  We bless your heart to be huge, with room for all the people God puts in your path.  We bless your heart to be filled with courage and loyalty and faith, that because of God’s love flowing through you, no one will ever feel left out, when you are around.  We bless your mind to be filled with optimism, and a positive attitude.  We bless the ability that God has given you to see what is good in others and the desire to help them become all God wants them to be.  God has given you these abilities so that you can be a servant-leader.

Your positive spirit brings laughter and joy to our lives. Your courageous heart is loyal to your friends, but big enough to care for those who feel left out.  Your faith is strong, your commitment to do what’s right makes us proud.  You are loyal, courageous, and faithful.

We love these things about you and ask God to open the windows of heaven to bless you as you seek to become who He has crated you to be.  We love you.  We are glad that God gave us you.  We can’t wait to see all he does in you and through you.   Love Mom and Dad

Let me challenge you, if you haven’t spoken a blessing over your kids, it’s never too late and you don’t have to wait until graduation.  Yeah I pretty much love my family.