Random Thoughts and Ramblings

Tag: Ministry

  • Would Jesus Have Live Streamed the Sermon On The Mount? (Nurturing Faith in a Digital Age)

    book, bible, training

    In today’s digital age, the landscape of ministry is undergoing a profound transformation. The advent of digital technology has paved the way for churches to expand their reach and engage with their congregations in unprecedented ways. While some critics argue that digital ministry fosters consumerism and promotes spiritual laziness, a closer examination reveals that the advantages far outweigh the supposed drawbacks.

    Embracing the Digital Landscape

    Digital ministry is not a replacement for traditional worship but rather an expansion of it. One of its most significant advantages lies in its ability to break down physical barriers. Geographic distances and mobility limitations no longer stand in the way of individuals seeking spiritual guidance and community. This accessibility is especially crucial for those who cannot attend in-person services due to health concerns or other circumstances.

    A Welcoming Community

    Critics sometimes argue that digital ministry fosters consumerism, creating an environment where people consume religious content without actively participating. However, this perspective overlooks the vibrant communities that form online. Digital ministry platforms often provide spaces for people to connect, share experiences, and offer support. Online communities can be just as warm and welcoming as in-person ones, promoting a sense of belonging and shared faith.

    Empowering Outreach

    Another advantage of digital ministry is its capacity to reach a broader audience. Through social media, streaming services, and websites, churches can share their messages with a global audience, transcending borders and cultural differences. This outreach enables congregations to engage with individuals who may have never set foot in a physical church. In this way, digital ministry can be a powerful tool for spreading the message of love, hope, and faith. In other words: Digital ministry enables the church to be the church wherever people are, just as it always has. People were once found in the pastures and market crosses. Today’s market crosses are social media platforms and other digital spaces.

    Flexibility and Convenience

    Digital ministry provides flexibility and convenience for both congregations and pastors. It allows individuals to engage with spiritual content on their own schedules, removing the constraints of specific service times. For those with busy lives, this flexibility ensures that faith remains a vital part of their daily routine. Pastors, too, can use digital platforms to deliver sermons and messages to a broader audience, ensuring that their guidance reaches those who seek it.

    Spiritual Nourishment

    Now, let’s address the criticism mentioned at the beginning of this article: the idea that digital ministry is a “cheap substitute” for in-person worship. This perspective is, at its core, a misunderstanding of the nature of digital ministry. While it’s true that digital ministry cannot entirely replicate the tactile and sensory experience of physical worship, it offers something equally valuable: spiritual nourishment.

    Digital ministry provides a platform for worship, teaching, and connection, allowing individuals to explore and deepen their faith. Just as a printed Bible can be a valuable tool for spiritual growth, digital ministry offers accessible, condensed, and convenient avenues for encountering God’s word and the teachings of Jesus. It doesn’t cheapen the experience; rather, it enhances it.

    Digital ministry presents a wealth of advantages, from expanding access to welcoming communities, empowering outreach efforts, and offering flexibility and convenience. While it cannot replace the beauty of physical worship, it complements it, providing spiritual nourishment to those who seek it in a digital age. The statement that online church is a “cheap substitute” fails to recognize the genuine opportunities for faith, community, and growth that digital ministry offers to individuals around the world. Embracing digital ministry is not about diluting faith but rather about extending the invitation to experience the transformative power of God’s love to all, wherever they may be.

    To Wrap Up

    To be clear, digital ministry or “online church” does not replace the physically gathered community. I don’t believe that digital ministry is intended to do that. On the contrary, I believe digital ministry strengthens the ability of the established physical church to reach more people than it ever could before.

    Would Jesus have live-streamed the Sermon On the Mount? Yes. Yes, he would have.

  • Rural Broadband is Today’s Rural Electrification

    computer, pc, workplace

    We take electricity for granted today, but it wasn’t that long ago that rural areas were without this necessary utility. As cities became electrified, rural areas were left out because the power companies being formed believed that providing power to rural areas would not be cost-effective. I imagine there were arguments such as, “Farmers don’t need electricity.” It wasn’t until 1934 – less than 100 years ago – that the first electric cooperative was established in Alcorn County, Mississippi.[1] With help from The Tennessee Valley Authority, the Alcorn County Electric Power Association lit up Alcorn County’s unincorporated areas and was a tremendous success. With the success of the “Alcorn County Experiment,” as it came to be known, the Rural Electrification Administration was formed, and rural Americans were finally connected to the power grid. The first rural electric power association to take advantage of funds from the REA was the Monroe County Electric Cooperative in Amory, Mississippi.[2] The lives of rural residents became easier, and more opportunities than ever were available to people thanks to electricity finally being made available to them.

    Just as electricity changed the rural landscape with modern conveniences and more opportunities for schools to serve students, the same can be said about broadband internet access. In 2023, broadband internet is as essential as electricity was becoming in the 1930s before rural electrification took hold. Mississippi is one of the worst states in the country for broadband access[3], and the county I live in – Lincoln County – is vastly underserved. At my house, my choices are slow mobile hotspots or satellite. Thankfully (and I use that term loosely), I have Starlink, which is the better satellite service, but the service is still not great. I live in an area that has been ignored and abandoned by AT&T, the company that provides the POTS telephone service for the area and once supplied the residents with DSL service. AT&T is phasing out DSL service across its network, so soon, the residents of the Auburn community in Lincoln County won’t even have that option. As of today, AT&T has no plans to upgrade its system to fiber optic, nor do they have plans to offer fixed wireless service in the area.

    Here’s the reality that I’ve lived in other places and I’m living now: The major telecom companies don’t care about rural America. They claim to, but their actions do not support their assertion. I recently attended a meeting conducted by Jonathan Chambers, one of the partners of Connexon, a company he and Randy Klindt founded to help rural people connect to fiber optic broadband. During this meeting, Jonathan shared a quote from the CEO of AT&T that indicated that, while he understands that fiber optic is a game changer, the best AT&T will do for rural America is much slower and less reliable fixed wireless broadband because it’s cheaper.[4]

    Let me be clear: Corporate America does not care about rural communities, contrary to what they want you to believe.

    If we want rural communities to have the same opportunities for more education, better employment, and, yes, better entertainment as their urban and suburban counterparts, it will be up to the electric cooperatives to make this happen. Just as these member-owned brought electricity to the farm when the big power companies refused, it will be up to them to bring fiber optic broadband to the farm today. AT&T, Verizon, Sparklight, and whoever else will not make this happen. In response to this reality, in 2019, Mississippi enacted a law – with nearly unanimous bi-partisan support – that allows electric cooperatives to offer services other than electricity, specifically broadband internet access. Other states have passed similar laws because their legislators understand that no one else will serve rural customers.

    Sadly, not every electric co-op has gotten behind these efforts. In Mississippi, several co-ops, including Magnolia Electric Power, the electricity provider in my area, have resisted becoming involved in providing broadband to their customers. The reasons are varied, and I’m not trying to say the reasons are not all valid, but I also believe this resistance is myopic. At the meeting I mentioned above, the General Manager of Magnolia Electric Power, Darrell Smith, stated (essentially) that they support rural broadband but that MEP did not believe that their direct involvement was wise. [5]

    If not MEP (or other cooperatives), then who? Connexon, through a subsidiary, has already secured funding to wire several areas in the MEP grid – and will do so starting later this year per Mr. Chambers – but what about the rest of the areas? This is where MEP could help, as other cooperatives in Mississippi and elsewhere have done.

    From my perspective, better broadband would allow the church to fulfill the Great Commission better. I have written extensively on being where people are (all you have to do is browse my blog for a moment, and you’ll find several posts on this topic), and better internet access allows the church to do just that. As Jesus, John Wesley, and countless others went to minister to the people right where they were, today, the church must be able to minister online. This looks like more than live streaming a worship service, but giving robust opportunities for online engagement for discipleship, digital outreach, and even helping online. The reality is even older people are taking advantage of digital ministry (the number one demographic of online worshippers at Adams UMC is aged 65+), so the idea that it’s just “for the kids” or that it “keeps people away” is false. Any church that has engaged in robust online ministry is seeing fruit both on the socials and in the pews. More importantly, we see lives changed and souls saved.

    I would love to see more involvement from the electric power associations in bringing broadband, but I would also like to see other legal changes take place. For example, laws to make creating a telecommunication cooperative easier. Clearing red tape allows those who want to bring broadband to rural communities to do so easier. Further, allowing electric cooperatives not to have to bow to the likes of AT&T when it comes to negotiating pole rental fees would be a very positive change to allow rural cooperatives all rural broadband providers to hook up to their poles easier would go a long way in making fiber optic broadband a reality for rural communities. Currently, the laws of Mississippi prevent rural EPAs from charging pole rent to rural broadband providers at lower rates than they would for the likes of AT&T.

    Why should AT&T get favors in areas that they have abandoned?

    I hope you will join me in supporting increased opportunities for rural communities to become connected. Bridging the digital divide is a justice issue. Simply, it’s unjust for people not to have the same opportunities as others simply because they live in rural areas. Broadband internet is no longer optional. It’s essential not only for YouTube and Facebook but for work, education, and even paying bills. Simply, it’s good stewardship.

    Rural electric cooperatives were established because people realized that the major power companies would not serve rural communities. The same lesson applies to rural broadband.

    [1] https://www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/the-rural-electrification-of-northeast-mississippi#:~:text=Congressman%20Rankin%20had%20arranged%20for,cooperative%20in%20the%20United%20States.

    [2] Ibid.

    [3] https://broadbandnow.com/research/best-states-with-internet-coverage-and-speed

    [4] I don’t remember, nor can I find, the exact quote, but this was the gist of what was shared.

    [5] Ironically, MEP recently experienced an internet outage at their office that lasted about a week because of an issue with AT&T.

  • Embracing the Digital Age: The Importance of Digital Ministry for the Church

    Matrix movie still

    In an era where digital technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the church must adapt and embrace the opportunities presented by the digital age. Digital ministry, the use of technology to share the Gospel, build communities, and minister to people, has become increasingly crucial in fostering spiritual growth and connecting with the world. Let’s take a deep dive into the significance of digital ministry for the church, highlighting its potential to make new disciples, deepen relationships, and empower believers in their faith journey.

    To be clear: Digital ministry is not replacing (and should not replace) the physical/traditional church, but digital ministry should be taken seriously due to its ability to reach more people than the physical church ever could. In the 21st century, digital ministry is not optional but essential.

    Expanding the Reach of the Church

    Digital ministry transcends geographical barriers, enabling churches to extend their influence beyond physical locations. Through live streaming, podcasts, and online sermons, the church can reach a global audience, offering hope, inspiration, and guidance to those who may never step foot inside a traditional church building. It provides an opportunity to engage with individuals who are unable to attend in-person services due to factors such as illness and lack of transportation.

    Engaging the Unchurched and Dechurched

    The digital realm opens doors to connect with the unchurched and dechurched, allowing the church to meet people where they are—online. Social media platforms, websites, and online communities become platforms for sharing testimonies, addressing doubts, and fostering meaningful conversations and – hopefully – healing. By providing relevant, accessible, and relatable content, the church can attract individuals who are seeking answers, providing them with an opportunity to encounter God’s love and grace.

    Nurturing Authentic Relationships

    Digital ministry goes beyond broadcasting messages; it fosters genuine relationships. Through interactive platforms like video conferencing, chatrooms, and social media groups, the church can facilitate community building and offer pastoral care in virtual spaces. Digital small groups, discipleship programs, and mentoring relationships provide opportunities for believers to grow together, despite physical distances. Moreover, it allows the church to remain connected with members during challenging times, offering support, prayer, and encouragement.

    Leveraging Technology for Discipleship

    The digital age offers a myriad of tools and resources for discipleship. Churches can provide online Bible studies, devotionals, and digital libraries, making spiritual education easily accessible. Moreover, mobile applications, podcasts, and social media content can provide daily doses of inspiration, fostering spiritual growth and equipping believers to navigate their faith journey effectively. Digital platforms also enable the church to address current issues, provide apologetics resources, and engage in conversations that bridge the gap between faith and culture.

    Empowering Congregational Involvement

    Digital ministry provides opportunities for congregational involvement and participation. Virtual volunteering, online prayer groups, and collaborative projects engage believers in serving both their local community and the global church. Moreover, it allows members to utilize their talents and gifts for the advancement of God’s kingdom through digital platforms, such as website management, social media outreach, graphic design, and multimedia production. Embracing digital ministry encourages a sense of ownership and active participation within the church community.

    In Conclusion:

    In a fast-paced, digital-driven world, the church must adapt and embrace digital ministry to effectively reach, engage, and empower individuals for Christ. By expanding its reach, engaging the unchurched, nurturing authentic relationships, leveraging technology for discipleship, and empowering congregational involvement, the church can fulfill its mission in the 21st century. Digital ministry offers a unique opportunity to share the timeless message of the Gospel with a global audience, creating meaningful connections and transforming lives. Let us embrace the digital age, leveraging its power for the advancement of God’s kingdom, while remaining rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

    One More Thing…

    To further demonstrate the value and versatility of technology, this post was (mostly) written by ChatGPT. AI is a tool in the same vein as a hammer or chainsaw: It can be used to build or to tear down. Technology is not a threat to the church; technology is an essential tool for the church in the 21st century.

  • Hello, Adams UMC and Sweetwater UMC!

    A photo taken of us just after I was ordained. Credit: Greg Campbell.

    We live in a digital age, and it’s not lost on me that one of the first things people of the UM church do is google the person announced as their new pastor. So, to the folks of Adams UMC and Sweetwater UMC who have found my website: Hello!

    My name is Jonathan Tullos (Tull-is), and I’m excited to join you all soon. I’m originally from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and I’ve been a pastor since 2012. I have degrees from Meridian Community College (2001 – Broadcast Communications), East Central Community College (2012 – Paramedic Science), Liberty University (2015 – Religion) and Asbury Theological Seminary (2019 – Master of Divinity). I was ordained an Elder by Bishop James Swanson in 2022. I’ve enjoyed serving parishes in Meridian, Mississippi; Stanton, Kentucky; George County/Jackson County, Mississippi; and soon, Lincoln County!

    I’m married to Jessica (Crosby) Tullos, a Franklin County High School graduate. For her higher education, Jessica attended and earned degrees from Co-Lin, Southern Miss, and Mississippi State. Jessica is excited to be back in an area that she knows as home, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones. Jessica has already been offered a job and intends to teach within the Lincoln County School District when the new school year begins. Some of you may know Jessica’s father, Rev. Johnny Crosby, a former superintendent of the Brookhaven District and former pastor of Jackson Street UMC and Meadville UMC.

    We’re licensed foster parents through Mississippi Child Protection Services (CPS) and we currently have two foster children we intend to adopt as soon as they’re legally cleared. We have a seven year old girl who will be entering the second grade and a three year old boy. Please forgive me for not providing their names here. CPS does not allow foster parents to provide identifying information about children in foster care online. They’re both excited about moving to their “new rooms,” and are excited to meet you all. We hope they will be a source of much joy for y’all!

    I know you have many questions about me, and I will answer some of them here for you. Please remember, however, that this is a mere snapshot of who I am. You will learn much more about me and my family as we get to know one another and serve God together. The first question I always seem to be asked first is about my theology. If I had to label myself, I’d call myself an orthodox Christian Wesleyan Methodist. Putting our faith into action is vital in reaching people for Christ, especially in a world that trusts the church less and less each year. I believe that all people bear God’s image and need to know how much God and God’s people love them. At Christ’s table, the invitation and welcome are wide. As such, I believe the church should use all means (including digital platforms) for ministry. For a time, I worked for Hard Rock Café, and I like to add a bit to one of their slogans: “(Love God), Love all, serve all.”

    The next question I always seem to be asked is my feelings on the Book of Discipline. When I was ordained, I made a vow before God and our annual conference that I would submit to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church. I took that vow seriously and continue to do so. In short: I will uphold and obey the Book of Discipline.

    A final frequently asked question is what I like to be called. Well, you can call me whatever you want, just don’t call me late for supper! Seriously, Brother Jonathan, Pastor Jonathan, or whatever you typically call your pastor is perfectly fine. I rarely use the title “Reverend” in anything but formal settings or in letters.

    I hope this gives you a positive first glimpse into me and my family. We’re eager to meet you all and can’t wait to become part of your community and your lives. Once again, know that I’m praying for all of you and your pastors who are also transitioning. Your prayers for us and my current congregations are appreciated. Until moving day, God bless you all! We’ll see you soon.

    In Christ,

    Bro. Jonathan

  • The Impact of Disaffiliation on This Pastoral Family

    men's white dress shirt

    If you follow me on social media, you know that one of my churches has voted to leave the United Methodist Church. Their decision has a far-reaching effect on many fronts, including impacts on my family and me. As I am committed to remaining in the United Methodist Church, we will be uprooting ourselves and going to a new appointment that our bishop and cabinet discern best suited for my gifts and graces. Before I go further, let me be clear about a couple of things: 1: I’m not here to criticize my congregation’s decision, although I disagree with it for many reasons (I have shared these views with the leadership on multiple occasions). 2: I am not looking for sympathy or throwing a pity party. This post is me telling you how disaffiliation affects pastoral families because I have not seen a lot of discussion on this front. I believe people need to understand that disaffiliation has impacts beyond the congregation, the annual conference, and the general church.

    The most obvious impact for me is that I will have to move to a new appointment, thus (most likely – the cabinet is still discerning where to send other pastors and me) ending my ministry at both churches I serve. My other church cannot afford my salary on its own, and as I’m an Elder in Full Connection, I must serve full-time. I have loved serving my parish, and we have been through a lot together. When I first moved here, COVID-19 was beginning, so we navigated the tangled mess of two in-person shutdowns mandated by our bishop, social distancing, masking, and all the other things that came along during the pandemic. It was here that I grew in my skills related to social media and live streaming, was reminded of the importance of phone calls and text messages, and how to try and hold two new-to-me churches together while we had to be separate. Here is where I learned about being creative in bringing internet access and streaming capabilities to two churches in the middle of nowhere and where I could use those skills to help a nearly 200-year-old camp meeting revival join the digital age. We have mourned the loss of loved ones together, celebrated new people coming into the churches, and met many needs in the community. I don’t believe that God is finished with either of these congregations, and I hope they keep growing in Christ and making disciples.

    Not only have we weathered the ups and downs of the church, my family and I have had many events during our nearly three years here. When we moved here, we had a foster child that we hoped we would get to adopt. These churches walked along with us and cried with us when she left our home to return to her biological family (we’re thankful that this ended up being a positive thing for her, though we still miss her very much). They celebrated with us when the local CPS office was able to place two other children with us, who it looks like we will get to adopt by the time it’s all said and done (their cases are different, and both are on track to be legally available for adoption soon).

    The act of moving is not something I’m looking forward to. On top of the obvious tasks of packing up my office and boxing up our things in the parsonage, I have to say goodbye to these people I’ve grown to love. I have to depart a community that I have been able to be involved in through participating in events and being part of the volunteer fire department. My wife will have to (likely) find a new school to teach at, and my kids will have to adjust to a new house, school, and daycare.

    Many people take for granted the nature of itineracy. It’s naturally assumed that those of us who agreed to go and serve where we are sent would move silently and without emotion. For many of us, that does happen, at least it seems to. We – the clergy – don’t voice our lament very often. Yet, when a move is unexpected or due to sad circumstances, people should know that we go, but we don’t go without sorrow, grief, and sadness. Grief is especially the case for my family and me due to this move coming about because of disaffiliation. My father-in-law served this appointment when he returned from seminary, so Jessica remembers spending some of her growing up in the same parsonage that we now call home. She remembers people still here and those who have departed to the church triumphant as being like other grandparents, aunts, and uncles to her and her sister. For her, the grief is also raw and honest.

    I believe naming and expressing our grief is healthy. But, again, please don’t see this as me asking for pity or ranting against Pleasant Hill’s decision (even if I disagree, I will never fault a congregation for going in a direction they genuinely believe God is leading them). I hope that people understand that disaffiliation has far-reaching consequences beyond church doors. As I prepare for whatever is next, I thank God for our time here and mourn what feels like a profound personal loss.

  • Sermon: Revival!

    More or less, here is the sermon I preached today at Salem United Methodist Church and Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. Initially, the title was “I Say…” but I made a game-time decision (appropriate since it’s the day of that big football game that I don’t have permission to use the name of) to talk about a portion of the Sermon on the Mount with the revival at Asbury University as a backdrop. May you be blessed by my attempt to flesh out what the Savior has to say about how His people are to live.

    “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’[a] 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone,[b] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[c] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[d] you are in danger of the fires of hell.[e] 23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice[f] at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.[g] 27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[h] 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye[i]—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand[j]—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’[k] 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. 33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’[l] 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

    Matthew 5:21-27 (NLT)

    A big buzzworthy event that’s been hopping around in Christian circles over the last few days is of a revival that broke out on Thursday at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. A chapel service began that morning and has not stopped, with reports of various events being shared. This seems to be nothing short of the beginnings of a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit, one I hope continues to spread and take hold. The spread has already started with students from Asbury Seminary across the street going to AU to participate, students at the University of Kentucky reporting sparks of revival on their campus, Ohio Christian University, and others. It seems God is up to something, and this truly excites me.

    Perhaps you have labeled me a skeptic of the movement if you’ve seen my Facebook posts and a blog article about it. Yesterday alone, I was accused of hoping this revival is fake, even having multiple people question my faith and qualification to be a pastor. To try and make my position clear: I do not hope this is fake. I’m very confident this is a movement of the Holy Spirit. My misgivings are that I have seen countless times where God has moved, and the movement has caught on and taken on a life of its own, and people have traveled to the event to witness it and say they were there. I have witnessed “revivals” where the emotional aspect was shown, people got lost in it, and once the emotions were gone, they did nothing with what God was moving them to do.

    I want revival. We need revival. But we need more than a moment in time.  Holy Spirit brought revival is fully realized in the fruit it bears for the kingdom, not by a moment in time at one place or even a few places. That’s why my approach is “wait and see.” Nothing more.

    We pray for revival all the time. I hear from many of you about the need for revival in our world. When we have the camp meeting or attend a revival at another church, I often hear of how wonderful it feels to be in God’s presence. I agree that it’s incredible! But what do we do with that once we’ve left the tabernacle or the service? If we feel our souls awakened for the first time or reawaked for the first time in a while, we can’t sit on it and call it good. Remember, Jesus taught us last week that we are to be salt and light and that unless our flavor is active and our light fully visible, we are useless in the kingdom. Genuine revival leads us to show God’s love, not simply feel good for a few minutes and move on with our lives as if nothing happened.

    We’re still in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching his audience of Jewish disciples in ways that they would be able to understand. He is expanding on the teachings of the Torah and of the prophets and giving them new ideas of what it’s like to live as God’s people. A lot of what he’s going over here are the rules by which Jewish people lived. In looking over this set of rules, it seems that it keeps boiling down to that way we can sum up most of the other teachings of God: Love God above all else and treat others the way you want to be treated. Here, Jesus is expanding on what all of that even means. As Jesus is the Messiah, he’s laying out the case for what living under God’s new covenant kingdom will be like, and what the expectations of discipleship and living in the way are. Jesus is letting us know that our relationships with other people matter. Jesus is introducing what the Christian community – the church – should look and act like.

    As some of you probably want to say to me from time to time, Jesus has gone from preaching to meddling. No one enjoys their toes being stepped on, but Jesus was stepping and showing no mercy. And immediately, Jesus gives a teaching on a hot-button issue: Anger. We love to hold grudges and want to hurt people back even worse than they hurt us. Jesus says not only is this mindset sinful but goes to the extent that a sacrifice is not acceptable in the eyes of God unless and until the person making the sacrifice reconciles themselves to a person with whom they have had issues and makes amends. The idea that a sacrifice wouldn’t be accepted likely struck a major nerve with the audience and probably made them nervous. This lets them know that Jesus is serious about how we treat one another is vital to our discipleship.

    Of course, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He talks about lust, adultery, and even divorce, topics that would rile the dander of people today, perhaps even make some people blush. The way we view other people goes hand-in-hand with not holding grudges. When we lust, we’re making an object out of the other person, a means to some gratification for ourselves. You’re breaking a covenant between you, your spouse, and God when you commit adultery. I believe that’s why Jesus followed up his teaching on adultery with his teaching on vows or oaths. What he’s probably talking about is oaths made to the Roman emperor, but letting our yes be yes and our no be no has much power in other areas of our lives. It attests to our integrity and ethics, which we are called to hold in the highest standards.

    All of this translates to this: How you treat one another is vital, so vital that it’s the leading indicator of your spiritual condition. If you treat other people like garbage, the condition of your soul is no better than the pile at the George County Transfer Station on Beaver Dam Road.

    I believe that we are on the cusp of something extraordinary happening. I’ve felt this way for quite a while now, but we’re starting to see some of the first indications that God is actively pouring out a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit into the world. I believe people are being moved to confess, pray, sing, to testify in powerful ways. BUT. The thing about revival is that it’s only effective if we take the fire God has given us and take it out into the world. Jesus is teaching us here that how we treat other people is vital. I can tell you that actions speak much louder than words ever will. We can say we’re revived all day long, but if we don’t act like it, no, we’re not. If we don’t act as if God has moved in our lives, then all we did was go to a building somewhere, sing some songs, maybe say some prayers, or even testify, walk out and go about our business. That’s not revival. That’s self-gratification and self-justification. If God is truly moving in our midst, and we feel it, we must do something with it! Let us not hide our flavor or put our light under a sheet. Let us not continue to treat the people who are suffering as if they don’t matter. Let us not continue to claim to be Christians of any stripe and keep grudges, treat the people who ought to mean the most to us like trash, or show a lack of integrity, ethics, and morals. But, too often, we (the royal “we”) do exactly these things and dare to claim to be the people of God. Jesus says, “You can’t do that anymore if you’re one of my people.”

    Pray for revival. Long for revival. But when it comes, do something with it. Don’t let revival only be a moment in time that made you feel good; that was it. True revival only happens when we, the people of God, allow the fresh movement of the Holy Spirit to take hold, refine us, and use us to testify to the wonder of God’s grace, mercy, and love. Use words if you must, but actions speak much louder.

  • The Church’s Identity Crisis

    This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.[b] He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

    6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.

    May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

    Romans 1:1-7 (NLT)

    Several times, I’ve met people who seemed to be going through an identity crisis. This seems most common at milestone years in one’s life, where one may feel the need to “find themselves.” Often, the person will look for contentment in things like Corvettes, boats, or something else with wheels. Perhaps they hope that their identity can be found in a new large house. Or, maybe, a new career that is so far out of their typical wheelhouse that the change seems outright bizarre. Or, in some extreme cases, the person may feel the need to “find themselves” by having an affair or even abandoning their family to live on an island in the Pacific.

    I believe the church has been. in the midst of an identity crisis for many years. The church claims that God is the supreme focus but often acts in ways that make us go “hmm.” We forget that our identity has already been decided. We are the people of God, we are beloved, we are forgiven. We are children of God. I believe Paul’s greeting to the Romans is intended to remind the reader of who they are and of whose they are. Paul goes to great lengths to remind us that we belong to God and that God has already declared us His beloved. That’s who we are and that’s the message that God wants us. to pass along. Not only do we belong to God, others are claimed by God as well if they but believe. That’s our identity.

    In a time when the church often acts like it doesn’t know whether it belongs to Jesus or to the world, let us claim our identity in Christ and Christ alone. Especially at the dawn of the Christmas season, let us renew our commitment to Christ and Christ only.

  • A Sermon (more or less): “Keeping the Christ in Us”

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    This is, more or less, a sermon I preached on December 26th at my churches. This sermon is my ordination sermon, meaning this is the one I’m submitting to my annual conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry as part of my application to be ordained as an Elder. I wanted to share it here for any feedback anyone might want to share, but also because I want to share this message with as many people as possible. I hope you find inspiration and blessing in this attempt at articulating the gospel. – Jonathan

    The text: Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)

    For many years, I have been hearing, reading, and otherwise seeing encouragement from various people and groups to “keep Christ in Christmas.” There are parts of this notion that I believe are valid, as the Christmas celebration has become more and more secular even among professing Christians, with many people choosing observances of the holiday that have little or nothing to do with the reason Christmas exists in the first place (spoiler alert: It’s when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday). Even Christians seem to have forgotten what Christmas is all about.

    A heads up for next year: Next year, Christmas will fall on a Sunday, and I have no plans of calling off worship. I remember the last time Christmas was on Sunday, there were churches cancelling services because it was Christmas! Think of this for a moment: The very idea sounds obscene and silly, but it was happening. I was even berated in a Facebook group for pastors when I expressed that the pastors who cancelled their worship services because Christmas fell on a Sunday were misguided and missing the mark of what the day even means. I remember one of the members of the group referred to me as an “old fashioned and uncaring” person, followed by a… well, it was a name I won’t repeat here because he said I wasn’t being sensitive to the needs of families. But, you get the idea. To say that I was shocked would be an understatement.

    The world we live in has, indeed, become more secular. I see a lot of hand wringing among people who worry that we are losing sight of God and that we’re “trying to take God out of everything.” First, know that none of us are that powerful. Trying to take God out of anything is like trying to command the oxygen out of this room right now. We simply can’t do it. Not to mention, God is where God wants to be and there’s nothing we can do about that. What’s more: The reason God often seems absent from our celebrations and our world is because we seem to forget about God. God hasn’t left, we simply fail to acknowledge him. We want others to “Keep Christ in Christmas” but what have we done to bring that about in our own right? As disciples of Jesus, keeping Christ in anything ought to start with us.

    Here’s the thing: We can’t give the impression that we’re keeping Christ in Christmas unless we keep the teachings of Jesus and the ways of Jesus close to our hearts and act upon those teachings. If people can’t see Jesus in us, why should they be concerned with the true meaning of a holiday we care deeply about? If we want to truly keep Christ in Christmas, we must also keep Christ in ourselves, every single day. Keeping Christ in Christmas – and beyond – starts with us keeping the ways of Jesus on full display in our lives.

    Christmas is vital to the Christian faith because the birth of Jesus brought about what I daresay is the most important aspect of the entire story, but one that we often overlook: It’s the incarnation. Dr. Ken Collins was one of my professors at Asbury and he spent a lot of time – at least two full class days – lecturing on the importance of God becoming flesh for us. Let me save you a lot time and expensive of going to seminary and boil down what Dr. Collins told us: Had the birth of Jesus not happened – that is, if God had not been born fully divine and fully human – then anyone who claimed that Jesus truly was the Messiah would have been wrong. That would have included the angels who appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed explicitly that the Messiah had been born and told the shepherds where they could find him. This much trouble would not have been brought forth for a lie so we know that Messiah came that night.

    As Jesus was alive in the barn that night, and is still alive at the right hand of the Father today, so should Christ be alive in us today. Paul is writing his disciples in Colossae and saying just that. If you want to summarize his message, he’s telling the Colossian Christians that if they’re really saved by Jesus and have the Holy Spirit within them, this is how they act like it. I don’t believe that Paul is telling them – and us – to simply play nicely together, rather he’s saying that every single day we must choose to put Jesus fully on display in every aspect of our lives, from how we treat one another, how we talk, even how we think. We choose to show mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and to make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

    If Jesus is alive in you, then this is what it will look like to other people. This is how people will know that you have Jesus. Paul is listing these attributes and asking, “How well are you keeping the Christ in you?”

    Paul’s metaphor of putting on clothing as a way of displaying one’s devotion to Jesus is a frequent instruction and here’s one reason why I believe he states this: What we wear is a choice. It was your choice to wear what you have on today, just as it was my choice to have this robe on while I preach this morning. You or I could have chosen differently but this is the choice we made.  Our faith is the same way: Every single day, we choose to put on Christ by daily accepting His grace and mercy and choosing to live out that faith by taking the teachings of Jesus seriously enough to live them out. The way we treat each other and people in general is a choice that we make every single day. Everyday, we can choose to treat each other the way the world expects – with distrust, thinking the worst about the other, and general disdain – or we can choose to live “love your neighbor as yourself.” Being a disciple is more than saying we go to church or having a fish symbol somewhere on our car; being a disciple is an intentional way of life. It’s an ethical and moral responsibility.

    Conflict is going to arise, even within the church. I believe Paul is telling us to be on guard for that. In spite of any decision that we make to put on Jesus every morning, we are still going to have problems come up. Paul teaches us here that putting on Christ involves knowing that not all of us are on the same level and we are going to get plenty of things wrong. Lord knows I have my faults. Sometimes I can really put my foot in my mouth when I allow my fingers or my mouth to move faster than my brain and heart. We all have those times. We have a choice, however: When we are on the receiving end of offense, we can choose to hold that against the other person or we can choose to love, forgive, and understand that we all have faults. Paul tells us to choose love.

    I like verse 17 the best of all in this passage: “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus.” Every day, we are a representative of Jesus. People know us and know that we profess Jesus as our savior. The choice is ours as to how good of a representative we are of him. When we send representatives to Jackson or to Washington, we want them to remember where they come from and who they represent, not only to vote the way they believe is in our best interest, but also to represent us in the best way possible. As Christ’s representatives, we have somewhat of the same responsibility: Everyday we vote to uphold the gospel and follow it. Everyday, we represent Jesus and it’s up to us to give a good picture of Jesus to all people we meet. It may sound hyperbolic but one’s impression of Jesus could be based on you. What kind of impression do you want to make? Paul is letting us know that we have a responsibility to remember who we are, where we come from, and who we belong to. We belong to Jesus. Let’s represent him well.

    The choice is ours: We can take on this moral code that Paul is teaching about here or we can do our own thing and say it’s of Jesus when it really isn’t. There has been much damage done to the church throughout the ages by people – well-meaning for the most part – who have made majorly bad decisions in God’s name. From judgment on who’s worthy to come to the table, rants about coffee cups and “happy holidays” to the more heinous examples of genocide, these people do not represent Jesus well at all. I saw something recently that said, “People say they want to keep Christ in Christmas but I’d settle for keeping Christ in Christians,” Ouch. How well have we represented Jesus lately? Have we put on Jesus of the Bible of an idol of our own making and own moral judgments? Would Jesus approve of how we treat our neighbors?

    Let’s keep Christ in Christmas by putting on full display the Christ that’s within us. What’s more, let’s do it every single day. Let’s keep Christ all year ‘round.

  • Rescue the Lost Sheep

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    A few years ago, I attended a ministry conference where the featured speaker made a statement that I often recall: “God is in the rescue business.” One of the occasions where I found myself thinking of this statement was in a conversation this morning with one of my friends, who said, “I don’t like churches because of my issues and hang ups and what happened to me growing up there. I’d absolutely feel safe in your church. And that’s what’s important. Taking in the lost sheep and helping them feel like they have a sturdy shelter again.” Honestly, a statement like this is something every Christian ought to long to hear, that someone has even an ounce of faith because of their witness. Especially as a pastor, I like knowing that someone has rekindled their faith because I allowed them the space to explore and safely ask questions and express doubts. As a shepherd, my job is to seek the lost sheep and bring them safely into the care of Jesus, the great shepherd.

    Unfortunately, especially in the western world, Christians seem to have lost sight of the mission and of who God really is. Jesus didn’t come for the righteous, but for the sinner (Luke 5:32). Yet, this doesn’t stop many Christians from judging who is and is not worthy to attend their church. The idea often seems to be that people must all be alike and think alike in order to join a particular church. Here’s the thing, though: That’s entirely a modern construct. From its earliest days, the church – as in, the collection of people – was meant to be diverse in its make up and perspective. If you look at Acts 2 and other parts of the new testament that reveal the look of the early church, you’ll see that they were people from all sorts of places, walks of life, and outlooks. Some were totally convinced of Jesus being the Messiah while others had their doubts. Some were certain of how to express their faith from their Jewish background while others had never been Jewish and had no idea what was going on. Now, we want homogony in every facet and if a “sheep” wants to come to a particular pen who doesn’t fit with the other sheep, then that sheep is often ignored and sent back out into the world even more hurt and scarred than they were when they walked in.

    In such churches, any sheep who does not look and think the same as the current sheep aren’t welcome.

    The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7) is a perfect example of what evangelism is supposed to be. The Pharisees aren’t happy that Jesus has been associating with “tax collectors and other notorious sinners” because, as the Pharisees saw it, they were not worthy of being loved by God. They had decided that these “sinners” were not welcome. Jesus uses the example of a shepherd who tends a flock of 100 sheep leaving 99 to find the one who wandered away and brings the lost sheep back. There, the sheep who wandered off and was malnourished, dehydrated, and injured can be cared for and healed. Jesus closes out this lesson by saying, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7 NLT)

    This is the job that Jesus wants His people to carry out: Find the lost sheep and bring them home, even if the sheep don’t quite “fit.” Bishop James Swanson once said in a sermon, “Being together does not mean being and thinking alike.”

    Our job is to go out, find the lost sheep, and bring them to Jesus to be made whole and healed. It doesn’t matter what we believe is “wrong” with them or how different they are, it’s still our job to show them to the rescuer. We don’t get to pick and choose who comes to the table because it’s not ours; the table belongs to Jesus.

    Rescue the perishing,
    Care for the dying,
    Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
    Weep o’er the erring one,
    Lift up the fallen,
    Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

    Rescue the perishing,
    Care for the dying;
    Jesus is merciful,
    Jesus will save.

    “Rescue the Perishing,” a hymn by Fanny Crosby

  • The New Worship Wars

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    I remember several years ago that one of the big churchy buzzwords (or maybe “buzz term” would be more appropriate) was worship wars. Basically, this was a term used to describe the struggles many congregations faced about traditional versus contemporary music in their worship services. Many churches opted to have separate traditional and contemporary services and, often, the result was turf wars over which service was better or which service’s attenders mattered more. Some opted to have blended styles of worship with contemporary and traditional music, liturgy, and other elements mixed together. The result of the blended approach has often been the fans of contemporary and traditional approaches arguing amongst themselves over which style was proper and appropriate. Still other churches have opted for either traditional or contemporary only styles of worship which has often resulted in people opting not to attend a particular church due to their worship style. I want to note that, in my experiences, the arguments for or or against contemporary or traditional worship have been rooted in personal preference and not in anything related to biblical teaching or to church tradition (remember: There was a time when even the organ was considered “contemporary”) and the resulting strife was anything but glorifying to God.

    The church has always been involved in such debates since there has been a church. Ever since this thing called “the church” has been in existence, we have been arguing about everything from the proper way to baptize to the color of the carpet in the sanctuary. While many of these arguments don’t become major in the sense that it can impact the entire church, we see a new front in worship wars emerging: In-person versus digital/online and hybrid forms of worship. Almost daily, I’m seeing posts on social media decrying one continuing to engage with their church virtually. Such posts essentially have the same message: “You have to come back to church,” as in physically and in-person. The strong suggestion is also made that virtual forms of worship are fake and that one who engages digitally is not actually worshipping.

    Baloney.

    Now, I know not everyone will agree. People will quote scriptures like Hebrews 10:25 as proof that not going to a worship in a physical space is invalid. Participating in the life of the church is vital but there are many more ways to do this than simply occupying a seat on Sunday morning (and if that’s al one does, they’re not really engaged). We have many ways by which we can participate in the life of the church and engage in worship – attending in-person services and activities are just one of the ways we can connect with one another.

    First, let me present some anecdotal evidence: I and many of my brothers and sisters in ministry have been able to reach far more people by live streaming our services and using tools such as Zoom and Google Classroom than we have ever been able to reach from our pulpits and our buildings. While people are obsessed with things like views on Facebook, there are ways to estimate who’s truly engaged online and who simply spends a few seconds watching and scrolls away. On average, my two churches have an addition 10-30 people engaged online every Sunday morning, people who would not be with us in any way otherwise. These are people who may not be regularly connected to a church and, somehow, found the Facebook page. One of my churches has even seen someone with no apparent connection to the congregation begin giving occasionally through our online giving platform. For all we know, this would have never happened otherwise. Colleagues of mine have told of similar events within their contexts.

    I recently attended the Leadership Institute at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas (as in, Adam Hamilton’s church) and found some great insights about digital and hybrid worship. Barna Group has done extensive research on preferences of digital, physical and hybrid worship and discipleship activities. What was revealed to those who attended a break out about digital and hybrid worship was:

    • While 52% of all churched adults surveyed preferred primarily physical gatherings, 35% preferred a mix of both (hybrid).
    • 41% of Gen Z prefers physical while 37% prefer hybrid (only 13% wanted digital onl).
    • 42% of Millennials prefer physical while 40% want hybrid (again, 13% preferred digital).
    • For Gen X, 47% prefer physical while 39% want hybrid (wow!).
    • Baby boomers: 71% prefer physical gatherings, but 24% want a mixture.
    • The biggest take away: A total of 87% of churched digital discipleship participants feel that digital forums for discipleship provide a safe space to speak openly,
    • Source

    Here’s the bottom line: Most people still prefer to gather physically (yes, even younger people) but significant portions of each generation group want a hybrid approach. One reason is being able to still interact with worship even if they can not be present at the time of worship. There’s also more: People also feel more free in asking questions and having more open dialogue online rather than in person. As an introvert, I completely understand as sometimes asking the tough questions in physical groups can be very intimidating. Reality is, some physical spaces within the church are not safe for tough discussions. With the modern tools at our disposal, we have opportunities to be more real with one another. The people have spoken: The winner of this latest incarnation of the worship wars is “both,” not just physical or just digital.

    Sunday morning is never going to go away (nor should it) but the church will evolve into a mix of digital and physical, and not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week.

    In these discussions, one must also be careful not to discount those for whom digital is really their only option. We are still in a pandemic. Some people are simply not comfortable gathering in public spaces right now (this is a choice we ought to honor, not mock or try to persuade otherwise) and still others who have weakened immune systems who would surely die if they contracted Covid-19 or some other sickness. When we make statements that say “it’s time to come back to church,” we are not being sensitive to these groups (made up of people made in God’s image).

    We must be sensitive to the needs of our neighbors and respect their choices for their own health, regardless of our own preferences.

    The church has an opportunity: Resist the changes taking place and fight against it (which history should teach us does not work). Or, we can meet people where they are. Social media has a lot of bad stuff happening on it but, like anything else, it comes down to how we choose to use it. We can choose to use social media and other online platforms to meet people where they are, which is largely on social media. For a prime example of someone who excelled at meeting people where they are and communicating with them in ways that were accessible, see Jesus.

    Let’s put down our weapons of worship warfare and pick up our ability to love. As long as one is engaged with God – regardless of whether that takes places in a pew or on the couch – they are bringing him glory. Let’s do the same.