Charting a course in a context of chaos, part 3

We've been riffing off a familar portion of Scripture, First Chronicles 12:32 - where David's generals and troops have been assembling in Hebron - within striking distance of Jerusalem. The charism, consistency and wisdom of the leader (all gifts from God, btw) is drawing in other leaders and drawing out the best in them. Among David's "dream team" are the chiefs from Issachar, "who know the times, and know what to do." In part one, we learned that these 200 generals were knowledgeable in astronomy, skilled in political affairs, and had ability to plot a course of action, based upon the wisdom gained from intimacy with the Holy One, resulting in knowledge, borne out of womb of understanding. In part two, we drilled down into the key words, learning that the men of Issachar had exegeted the culture, and devised God-sized plans, accurately discerning the strategy and timing - what to do, how to do it, and when to launch.

So, what are these times that we are in? Once upon a time, in the 1990's culture reinvented itself once every six months; with the exponential growth of technology, the interval between cultural shifts is reducing daily. Most people are simply swept up in these changes, like an undertow. Understanding of the times can help us keep afloat and chart a course to move the Church forward.

We live in a post-Christian, post-modern, post-denominational, post-Constantinian, post-Web society. Let's look at these funky phrases in more detail:

Post-Christian: The growth of Islam in the world, and the growing adaptation of sharia law in the United States are but two indicators that other worldviews are in competition with the Christian worldview.
1- Islamic worldview: although it embraces Gospel and Torah, rejects Jesus as Messiah, the atonement, and resurrection of Jesus. In its extreme view purports violence and domination.
2-Marxist worldview: Rejects capitalism, free markets, private property and embraces a government-controlled economy. This is a paternalistic, protective worlview that assumes that humans cannot act independently, responding instead as a herd.
3-New Age worldview: Religion of self; enlightenment can be achieved by placing self on the throne of knowledge. Includes occult practices, some Native American practice, Eastern religions and Wicca.
Christianity is no longer the default faith in America (see http://tinyurl.com/ybehdfp for details.)

Post-modern: Deconstructing of truth, ultimate or absolute truth does not exist - experience is all that counts, and truth is relativistic, personal, and confirmed by consensus.

Post-denominational: Mainline denominations become irrelevant as they move away from the urban centers, decline in 75-year pathway as they fail to serve and uplift the poor. Individuals don't make a big deal over doctrinal issues; the name of the church sign matters little - they focus on how ministries meet personal and family felt needs. According to George Barna, two out of every three believers in Jesus can be categorized as "casual Christians", espousing faith in moderation. People migrate between faith communities to meet felt needs.

Post-Constantinian: Government is no longer supportive of religion, sectarian beliefs are diluted with civic religion.

Post-Web: The traditional way of web-surfing is giving way to linking to social networking sites, like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. According to BizReport, Facebook is growing 125% year after year and has 300 million active users. SN sites are the new communities.

Society no longer considers the Church able to address ultimate need. News anchors are more trusted today than pastors. BUT the rogue waves of our current economic crisis will create doors of opportunity for the Church to rebound. We are positioned to find the "redemptive gifts" of the city and join in creative civic engagement. We are called to "seek the peace of the city where I caused you to be carried away captive. And pray to the Lord for it, for in its peace, you will find peace." (Jer. 29:7)

The beauty of the post-modern, post-Web society is that truth of agreed upon by group consensus:
1- Wikipedia: Whoever heard of a group encyclopedia? Well there always was, but not with 100+million potential contributors? I am old enough to remember the Encyclopedia Brittanica salesmen, carrying enormous cases of thick volumes, armed with shoe-in-door rapid-fire sales pitches. Now, point-and-click, and encyclopedic knowledge is before your eyes - and you can add to it instantly!

2-Change.org: You can set up a website for your non-profit cause, fully equipped with social networking, blogging, uploads to You Tube, all with a secure shopping cart.

3- Facebook: Mentioned earlier, you can post a Cause page to communicate your convictions, gather people into communities, and gain momentum for social change in moments. Social networking is not a passing fad or a bandwagon -

If we rely on the Lord's intelligence, He will give us creative strategies, and witty inventions to engage in mighty exploits to be true to the timeless truths of the Gospel while keeping fluid with respect to presentation and engagement. If what Marshall McLuhan said is still true, that "the medium is the message," then New Media opens new doors of opportunity.

We have been entrusted with great causes: salvation for lost people, and the healing of the world. We are a people crying out for passion to meet opportunity - with knowledge of culture, strategy and timing - we can lift Jesus higher, and draw all people to Him.

Charting a course in a context of chaos, part II

Hi there!

We're going to riff off of 1 Chronicles 12:32, with the chiefs of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what to do. When I think of the rogue waves of the times that we are in - with the foundations of culture, family, security, education - literally all of life is crumbling, what are the righteous to do? According to Ephesians 6 - we are to stand, gird up, pray and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can take the "Chicken Little" approach, and shriek or we can prepare the bring the harvest - the biggest harvest before the coming of our Lord.

People need answers, and they are tired of religion's woof ticket - they need to see Jesus, and experience the power of abiding in Him. They need to experience the power of community, standing in solidarity with other sojourners - good times and bad - and watch God work in the lives of those around them, as they cling to the ancient promises in the modern times.

As leaders, we need to discern, pray and plan to be part of bringing in this great harvest. Here's what we learn as men of Issachar- culture, timing and strategy - the three big words in the passage

Culture - Beginning with the cognitive dimension, we learn to exegete the people, institutions, and systems. Richard J. Foster speaks of reading out of three books - The Book of Scripture, The Book of Nature, and The Book of People. While Scripture sustains me, and Nature calms me, in this season of planting, People inform me - learning about their hopes and dreams, struggles and pains, helps me to plan the proper approach to introduce the Savior. In view of Proverbs 24:4f. wisdom becomes knowledge in the womb of understanding - getting downloads from God, wisdom becomes practical knowledge through understanding. This kind of understanding is neither innate nor infallible - but grows through intimate knowledge of the Holy One. Culture, the capacity of people to create social capital, is derived through such intimate knowledge.

Timing - 'yadah' - heart dimension, deep experience, intimacy with the Almighty. This takes time, 'yadah' time - Jesus shows us how this works: In the first chapter of Mark, after preaching, teaching and healing - goes to a solitary place to pray. Peter and the disciples catch up with Jesus to get him back on the healing course, but decides to go another way - this is because He got a fresh download from the Father. Getting heart-to-heart with God gets us the timing of what He wants to do - He does nothing except what He reveals to His servants - the prophets.

Strategy - Accomplishment, when harmonized with God's purpose in view of God's command is skillful. Action, flowing out of being a student in the school of Jesus Christ. God proceeds with provision; what to do when flowing out of God's purpose is not a mystery, but is a clear path. No longer spinning to and fro, but purposeful, disciplined and determined to win, because you have begun with the end in mind - total victory through the risen Christ.

Next we'll talk some about the times that we are in, so that we are not unaware of the schemes of the enemy.

Charting a course in a context of chaos, part one....

At the 2009 Leadership Summit (#TLS09) Bill Hybels opened up with an illustration about rogue waves. Ship captains can negotiate 7, 8, 9, or 10 foot waves, but when a wave of epic proportions comes up on a ship expectedly, there is no way to navigate. Capsizing is immanent. Just as we have seen most recently in Somalia, the Philippines, Tonga and Samoa, and closest to home with Hurricane Katrina, we have no way to navigate through a rogue wave.

Institutions such as the Church are reeling, facing one rogue wave after another. We have much to learn. Perhaps we can learn from David's men, as he transitioned from wilderness warrior to King over a united Israel. We can learn much one of the tribes who gathered in Hebron, one of smallest in number, but among the greatest in smarts, the men of Issachar....

First Chronicles 12:32, NASB says this about the men of Issachar:

"And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do."

Just 200 chiefs, brought in specialists to bring wisdom, guidance, reasoning, instruction, and disciplined action for the growing army. What a difference 200 SWAT troops can be!

Chiefs with David's troops, commanders and soldiers were no longer at the wilderness headquarters at Ziklag, but in Hebron, within stiking distance of the main objective - Jerusalem. Because of Samuel's word over Saul's disobediences, Saul was dismissed and David anointed as King.

We too are gathering people for sacred service, and we are also within striking distance of our main objective - to recapture the city. Although the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but might through God to the pulling down of strongholds. we are able to discern the redemptive gifts of the city and become a blessing to the city fathers. As the Lord revealed to me in the dust of Ground Zero, if the Church blesses the city, the prophet will have the ear of the king.

We are here, preparing to bring in the great harvest before the returning of our beloved Jesus. This is the time to discern, pray, plan and act according to God's timetable.

Next time, we'll drill down deeper into the words in order to get some insight into culture, timing and strategy.....

Shabbat Shalom!

pax Christi,

sp