Guest Blog: Mary Margaret Gibson – Back from Israel – Full of History

Every Christian should go to Israel, have a good guide, and be amazed! I just completed my first trip to Israel and I’ve got thoughts to process for many years to come. Someone asked me at lunch today what I have learned, and I know that I’ve learned more than I can explain, but I’ll try to give you a little overview.

Even tiny, tiny interventions of God go out into the centuries. I learned that the history that the archaeologists uncover under almost every foot of the ground relates to the truth of Scripture somehow, even if we don’t understand yet how God has planted each little thing for us to find. An example of this was the little plaque in a big Canaanite dig in Dan that said on it, “the House of David.” Buried for thousands of years, this little signpost was the first “find” that named the House of David and verified the existence of the King David of Scripture for those who had contended that he was a figment of the Biblical writers’ imaginations! It was a tiny love letter to the faithful who believe without seeing and confirmation for those who must see to believe.

I read the Bible with a different eye now because I’ve seen those places. Capernaum, excavated black basalt rock, was a little town back then, right up against the Sea of Galilee. It was so intimate that “finding” Jesus there was a matter of walking to the synagogue and opening one’s eyes!

Everyone was right there in the neighborhood, since the entire town was much smaller than a Walmart parking lot.

I see how a group of 5,000 men plus various family members gathered in one spot to hear the man from Galilee would be an immense crowd in that day. How alarming it must have been – Jesus was like a rock star! People tagged him, trying to get power from the decoration on his robe, and superstition became faith when his personality and power hurled sickness away and quietly revived someone’s little girl who had died. He was a walking miracle; a stunning invasion of the status quo; a marvel; a fearful threat to those who had invested their lives in claiming power over others.

I thought about the guys who had to take their blind friend, with Jesus-mud on his eyes, down to Siloam to wash. What happened to those guys? Imagine what they thought when their friend saw, really saw them! Did they just leave him there and run home – amazed and full of their story? How full of wonder Jesus was!

And when they killed him, they just did it the Roman way, by the road so people couldn’t miss the spectacle and get the message – if you want to fight the powers-that-be you’ll come to certain ruin, a wreck of a man, disfigured beyond recognition. Dead. They took his body to a place that might have been the place we saw, but then again, maybe not. Anyhow, he was truly dead. They put his body in a rock cave meant for someone else, and left him until the 3rd day when everyone was checked for dead-ness back then…no heart monitors…go put more spice on him, see if he’s dead. But he was gone – where? Where? What happened to all those soldiers? What? So, so, so the women said someone told them he was risen – not dead – alive. Has the Kingdom come?

You see what I mean? In the Garden of Gethsemane there are olive trees that are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the trees that lived when Jesus lived. They are old and gnarled and in the way of all creation they are witnesses. The Bible says it, and it can be easily seen…Jerusalem was, and will be, the City of God. Go and see.

Guest Blog by: Mary Margaret Gibson

The State of Israel – God’s 4,000 Year Old Successful Start-up!

My recent trip to Israel coincided with the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. In the scope of the number of years that God’s chosen have lived in the land, 60 years is a blip. But what a 60-year span it has been — a successful re-start that we can study to see God’s hand at work. Our Jewish cousins, upon whose Biblical foundation we stand, have succeeded in reclaiming a land, a people, and a dream.

It was great to celebrate the miraculous convergence of events and courage that resulted in the declaration of Israel’s statehood in 1948. The pioneers who came to the new state from the dispersion around the world even before statehood were persistent in the most difficult circumstances, buying land from Turkey that everyone thought was worthless and making it bloom. The hardy hopeful who were trying to create agriculture on top of limestone and desert had such physical and engineering challenges that we can hardly imagine them. The ink had not dried on their declaration of statehood before folk were taking up arms against them.

Over the last sixty years a testament to the sheer determination of free people has happened in the land of Israel. Only this country, in the history of all countries, has been able to successfully integrate millions of folk who did not know the language, arrived with nothing, and had limited future prospects because they had fled for their lives to reach their homeland. Many were highly educated, but poor. Some were secular, Jewish in heritage but not religion, some were tied to Jewish religious tradition through generations, some were Arabs who lived in the area declared to be Israel and who still live there – citizens in exactly the same way their Jewish neighbors are citizens. So many were coming, coming in waves, rescued, airlifted, willing to suffer passage in boats too small – it was an amazing migration. None of the effort really mattered to them – they were all coming home, going “up to Jerusalem.”

They had survived the worst that mankind could throw at other human beings. While almost the entire world sat in deadly silence they died in the Holocaust. When the world waked up and came to their assistance a generation of Europe’s fine Jewish heritage had perished. Every Christian owes every Jewish person an apology for the depth of suffering supported by our sins of omission. We all need to look at their subsequent “resurrection” as a nation and thank God for His mercy, His provision, and His grace. The Western world’s laws, religious heritage, culture, flowed out of their history into our daily lives.

Guest Blog by: Mary Margaret Gibson

Christianity Today Article on Christians Liturgy

In the latest issue of Christianity Today, there is a very interesting article I would recommend to anyone who is caught up in the debate over cultural relevance vs. church tradition. Some of you may be scratching your heads and asking “what debate”? Others may be ready to go up in arms over the issue. Either way, you’ll find this adapted excerpt from the book Beyond Bells and Smells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy by Mark Galli thought-provoking.

Now, I have not read the book so I can’t fully recommend it— although this article has intrigued me enough to add it to my reading list. Nevertheless, there are some great points to consider about liturgical worship. To avoid confusion over terminology, the author provides his definition for those not familiar with traditional orthodox liturgy:

“By “the liturgy,” I mean the prayers, responses, and shape of worship one finds in Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox services, and to a lesser degree, in Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, and other mainline churches.”

“It is precisely the point of the liturgy to take people out of their worlds and usher them into a strange, new world—to show them that, despite appearances, the last thing in the world they need is more of the world out of which they’ve come.”

In addition, there is a strong explanation for the role of cultural relevance and traditional liturgy in the church today. Mr. Galli does a good job of articulating the strength of liturgical worship without denigrating the importance of cultural relevance; particularly in the area of outreach.

“The liturgy does not target any age or cultural subgroup. It does not even target this century. ..Instead, the liturgy draws us into worship that transcends our time and place…
We are in the habit of thinking that our culture—the reality we strive to be relevant to—is the measure of meaning. …there is no question that we have to be culturally sensitive in our outreach. But the liturgy wants to show us a deeper logic and relevance…
The history of liturgy has been in part about finding words and ritual that help people in a given culture express their thoughts and feelings to God in ways that make cultural sense. ..Liturgical churches know that as profound a reality as is the surrounding culture, there is an even more profound reality waiting to be discovered.”

I think this emphasizes a point we often overlook—evangelism and outreach should not be limited by orthodox tradition and boundaries, and orthodox tradition in worship should not be limited by cultural sensitivities.

Check out the article at ChrtistianityToday.com—let me know what you thought…

“The liturgy, from beginning to end, is not about meeting our needs. The liturgy is about God.”

Spend Time with Unbelievers

Another way to regain concern for unbelievers is to examine our lives and make some necessary adjustments. Ask yourself this question: Am I living life in a bubble? A Christian bubble is any comfortable place that affords shelter from non-Christians.

“But I’m not really comfortable around non-Christians,” one might remark. But God never asks, “Are you comfortable around them?” God asks, “Do you pity them?” Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes that followed Him and longed to be their Shepherd and gather them into His fold (Matt. 9:36). If we share that compassion, we must spend time with lost people in hopes of leading them to the Savior. If we are living in a Christian bubble, we don’t have contact with unbelievers. Without contacts, personal evangelism becomes impossible. How do we speak to people we never see?

Once we come to know the Savior, our desires and interests have a way of changing. We find that it’s more enjoyable to be around believers and hear them speak of prayer, Bible study, or a bit of nourishment they have received through Christian radio. It’s fun knowing those who realize there is more to life than a new house and a new car. Even church becomes a place of fellowship with Christians of like mind instead of our spending time with those of a different mind.

List several non-Christians you know and ask yourself, “What can be done now to have the kind of meaningful contact with them that could result in conversations about Christ?” Remember to make the most of every opportunity (Col. 4:5).

How Do I Model Evangelism to my Children?

Ask any Christian parent if they want their children to be concerned about lost people, and most will answer, “Yes!” To encourage our children to grow in this area, what can we do as parents to influence them? How do we model evangelism to our children?

As a family, ask “How often do we pray for the salvation of a particular lost person?” Few things impact a child more than when the consistent prayers on behalf of others are answered. If you want your children to talk to the lost about God, as a family you need to talk to God about the lost; an unbelieving neighbor, a relative or even one of their own non-Christian classmates. As God answers those prayers, the impact is beyond measure.

We can also invite those we are praying for into our homes; share a meal together, or perhaps an evening around the table playing games. By having non-Christian’s in frequently, and you announce you are having guests, you are providing an opportunity for our kids to ask an important question, “Are they a believer or a non-believer?” By having non-Christians into our homes, we are increasing the likelihood they are going to be on our children’s hearts.

You can also do business with non-Christians. Select a hairdresser who is lost, a mechanic who doesn’t know the Lord or a plumber who needs Christ. Let your children know why – so there might be opportunity for the gospel. Let them see you be a “friend of sinners”.

Look at your family devotions and choose an evangelism topic. One family Bible study topic could be, “How does God feel about lost people?” Memorize verses together such as Matthew 4:19, “Then he said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men’.”

Another way to train in evangelism is to role play. Think about questions non-Christians might have and teach your children how they can respond. Most importantly teach them a method of sharing the gospel, something easy for them to recall. Remember, they are just like you – scared.

Now let them watch you in action as you witness to a lost neighbor, hand a tract to a department store employee, choose a non-Christian mechanic with the view of leading them to Christ, or turn the conversation to spiritual things as you visit with the home repairman. If the conversation about the lost does not result in conversation with the lost, few things will happen.

Implement these ideas and watch what occurs. You will know you have impacted your child forever whenever she runs into the house one day and says, “Mom, guess what I saw dad do at the store? He spoke to this man about Christ and he was really interested in what dad was telling him about Jesus. They are going to have coffee tomorrow.”

Equipping Indigenous Believers to Share the Gospel

One of most efficient ways to communicate the gospel in other countries is to encourage and equip indigenous believers to share the message. EvanTell offers clear and simple tools and training to these indigenous believers throughout the world who already know the language and culture of their regions.

One of the ways we do this is through our You Can Tell It! seminar. Through our network of certified YCTI! instructors, EvanTell equips believers around the world to reach the lost in their own countries and beyond. Because of their clarity and simplicity, our materials for outreach and training have proven effective throughout the world in a variety of languages and settings.

In a recent trip to Cambodia, one of our certified instructors brought back this testimony from a local minister who attended the training:
“After finishing the “You Can Tell It!” seminar on personal evangelism, I shared Christ with three non-believers the very same day. When I asked them if they wanted to trust Christ, all three said yes. With this best result, I became more bold and continued to share Christ with another man and his daughter and two sisters. All of them trusted Christ as their Savior. So with this simple material and the Lord’s power, I will continue sharing Christ to those who are lost in my village after I return. Praise God, Amen.”

Redeeming the Hip Hop Culture

In 1984, I discovered a whole new type of music that literally “rocked” my world (pardon the pun). A friend gave me the Stryper EP - Yellow and Black Attack, and it blew me away. Never before had I heard Christian music that was so culturally significant. I was, as many were in that day, a student of hard rock and heavy metal. As a guitarist, I played in several bands growing up that specialized in covering the genre of that day; Def Leppard, Ozzy Osborne, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc. Stryper was not only as good, but even better in many ways. Their musical talent was without question, and the lyrics had a sincere spiritual impact on me. Interestingly, they were somewhat ridiculed by the secular rock world, while vilified by conservative Christians. Of course Stryper is only one example of many, but the point is that here was an art form being used to glorify God rather than the world, and the artists performing it were being attacked on multiple fronts. Today, we have seen the same dynamic occur in the Hip-Hop subculture movement.

As a genre, Hip-Hop has been linked to the “gangsta” counter-culture movement, criticized for its denigration of women and any ethnic group, and in general loathed or feared by those who are outside of its’ influence. So, naturally, those within the walls of the church have had a tendency to close their ears and minds to this form of entertainment and the sub-culture it spawned. In a note of confession, I am including myself in that unfortunate assessment. However, for me that would certainly be hypocrisy. Just as bands like Stryper worked to redeem the art form (and sub-culture) of Heavy Metal and use its’ impact for God’s glory, there are talented Hip-Hop artists today making great art with the potential to impact many people with the gospel. They too are sometimes jeered by the secular Hip-Hop movement, while vilified by well-meaning Christians.

If we are truly seeking to redeem our culture, doesn’t that include sub-culture, and shouldn’t we learn to understand and relate to those sub-cultures? If you’re quick to answer no—consider what we do in foreign missions. Do we not seek to learn languages and societies that are completely different from our own for the purpose of sharing Christ? Have you ever studied the strategies of great missionaries like William Carey and Hudson Taylor? How about the volumes of work that have been written on understanding how to relate to other cultures? For centuries, there has been an emphasis on learning to function effectively within them, and ultimately relate on an intimate enough level for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This should not be limited to foreign soil.

We are in a time like no other in history, where information is exchanged instantly and geography is no longer the only barrier to interpreting cultural differences. Therefore, we must be diligent to communicate within sub-cultures and learn to influence the hearts and minds of young people through music and art. Although this issue has come a long way since 1984, we must continue to be diligent and do what we can to ensure the message of the gospel is clear and presented in a relevant context.

Some other resources on this topic:

http://blog.trailblazinministries.com

http://www.theambassadoronline.com/articles.asp?columnid=2146

Evangelism Out of Grace, Not Guilt

If there is one word in the Christian vocabulary that needs an extreme makeover it is the word “evangelism.” The attitude behind the word is one reason why only a small percentage of believers ever lead someone to Christ. The situation is compounded by the fact that even when Christians do evangelize, they often do it out of guilt – feeling that they have to, not that they want to. This begs the question: “Do you ever get to the point that you do evangelism out of grace, not out of guilt?”

The answer is found in a biblically sound perspective on evangelism. A careful study of scripture reveals that our God of grace wants us to witness out of grace. He wants us to approach taking Christ to the lost with excitement and anticipation. Evangelism can become an enjoyable experience, not an endurable episode. Join the conversation this week at Evangelism.net and offer your thoughts on the importance of doing evangelism out of grace and not guilt.

Evangelism is a Privilege, Not a Pain

The first thing that Christ taught His disciples was not how to manage money or raise a Christian family, as important as those are. It was something bigger. Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). A fisher of fish takes something alive and makes it dead. A fisher of men takes something dead and makes it alive. Jesus was in essence saying, “With Me, your life can have eternal perspective. It will count for something that will last forever.” Furthermore, “I will make you” implies, “I’ll teach you everything you need to know. Just follow. I’ll do the teaching if you’ll do the learning.”

“Wait a minute,” someone might say. “I grew up in a church where evangelism was a means of determining if you were a Christian. You had to evangelize or you weren’t saved.” Another might say, “I was made to feel that I had to present the Gospel to everyone I met. One man I knew pigeonholed people and immediately confronted them with the Gospel. I just can’t do that.” Remember that we do not have to live by the impression we receive from others, especially if those impressions are unbiblical. God tells us to follow Scripture as our guide and gives us freedom to be ourselves.

A biblical perspective on evangelism will help us develop healthier attitudes toward it. We can learn to profit from the good in our past experiences (such as recognizing a person’s concern for the lost), while freeing ourselves from mistaken assumptions. Too often people bring baggage into evangelism that isn’t biblical. Seeing evangelism from a biblical perspective can really set a person free.

God is in the business of populating heaven. If you’re interested, He will let you in on the privilege of assisting Him. The fruit of your life will last into eternity.

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