Mark Nyirenda on Discipleship

I took this video this August in the Congo. Missionary Mark Nyirenda does a fabulous job summing up the need for discipleship in the African church. Very well-put.

Relationship v. Institutionalitis

Both this picture and this video are from WDA’s work in Africa. Which impresses you more? Both of these things happen in our ministry, but which one is more encouraging, inspiring, motivating?

Jesus tried to escape the crowds to spend time with the 12. The only reason he chose to teach the 5,000 was because he loved them and saw they were like wandering sheep with anyone to shepherd them. It wasn’t because he “just couldn’t turn down such a great ministry opportunity.” He genuinely cared about people and relationships more than his teaching ministry.

I’m talking with 2 other guys about starting a WDA school of ministry here in Fayetteville, GA next year for the times when I’m NOT in Africa. Oh it would be awesome! We’d meet like outlaws in WDA’s grungy, cluttered basement, training small groups of Jesus follower to become radical disciple-builders. They’d go out with a mature zeal that would catch like a wildfire around the globe.

I think God must have a sense of humor because He laughs at me all the time.

I keep asking Him about this thing and he keeps putting it back on me.  He’s saying things like, “Don’t focus on what I might do in the future, but on what I’m doing right now. Right now, this is about you 3 growing together and becoming more like me. It’s about me training you in faith and love, showing you to say “no” to ungodliness. I’d rather have your heart than your talents.” He seems to be telling me to focus on building relationships more than on building ministries.

So I’m standing in the shower saying, “let me get this straight God. So you’re saying this project is about the relationships and you want me to focus my energy on the individuals as much as on the project?” And He replies, “Child, some day you’ll understand that everything you do is about the relationships you build and NOT about the structures or institutions you can create.”

So if we do this school of ministry… or if I just keep focusing on seminars in Africa… you might catch me trying to impress you from time to time with pictures of big gatherings and huge “successes”. But catch me at an honest moment and I’ll tell that all that stuff is really just a cover for the real important stuff: long afternoons drinking tea, prayers on the phone for old friends, deep rapport built with one individual at a time. It really is “all about the relationship.” Thankfully I work with people who share that value—we even have an acronym for it—though of course, we all seem prone to “institutionalitis” and lose our perspective pretty easily.

Who’s a sinner? Who’s blind?

Here’s an interesting theme I see running through ALL of John 9 where Jesus heals a man born blind. Throughout the chapter, a contrast is drawn between the followers of dead religion and the children of the Father.

Here’s the stuff the disciples and the Pharisees say:

“Who sinned so that this man was born blind? Him or his parents?”

“Give glory to God! We know [Jesus] is a sinner.”

“You were steeped in sin at birth! How dare you lecture us!”

Here’s what Jesus and the blind man said”

“This happened so the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.”

“Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.”

See a difference? The disciples (who still didn’t get it) and the Pharisees were just interested in finding out who sinned and who is to blame. Jesus and the blind man understood that despite who may be guilty of what, the important thing right now is the work of the Father. What then is the father’s business? Reversal and redemption. As Jesus said to the blind man: “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

How interesting that the one person in the story qualified to judge people rejects the “who sinned?” question and defers judgment on everybody except for those who falsely claim the right to judge. He seems to say to the blind man, “Don’t worry about the Pharisees with their clever theological theories and brow-beating accusations. You know that you’ve seen the Father at work. And truthfully, you’ve discerned more than them. That’s why I’m here. To make simple folks “get” the truth of God and the clever religious folks be totally confused.

Seems to me Jesus is still in the business of doing that. That’s why I try not to be overly enamored of “professional Christians” like myself. As often as not, we lose the forest for the trees and it takes a begging blind man to knock us off our feet.

I think one big disservice we do ourselves and our Father is to think that certain types of folks understand spiritual truths more clearly because “he’s the pastor” or “she’s been a Christian a really long time” or “they’re missionaries in Africa.” We give people credibility based on their resume rather than the evidence of the Father’s work in and through their lives. Jesus never said, “Hey, I’m a Rabbi! I’ve been to seminary. I work for a ministry. You should believe in me.” He let the Father’s work give him credibility and authority:

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

A house church nearly hits the mark

Our search for a church continues. As I sat with my coworker last week describing my ideal church, I realized just how, well... idealistic I sounded. My critique of established church was unusually cynical even for me. I wonder if part of this polarization is a culture whiplash from being in the south (where you can talk to the bank teller about what the Holy Spirit is telling you and she'll nod empathetically and "the Lord" makes frequent appearances in the most casual of conversations).

So we visited a house church yesterday. Potluck followed by informal worship and teaching "as the Spirit leads". The "house" was more of a multi-million dollar mansion but even the enormous vaulted living room struggled to accomodate the crowd approaching a hundred. There was a real sound system and a legit worship band that most smallish churches would drool over. The "offering" that night went entirely to 2 church members in need, since the church has no salaries and no overhead.

It embodied many of my ideals: relational, missional, spirit-led. But somehow it was slightly depressing to see my ideals lived out. Somehow it looked even sexier in my head.

We both really liked it... in spite of the sense that the whole community was comforting each other's sorrowing spirits since we now (apparently) live in a nation that has clearly rejected "Christian values"...

The main bummer is that they don't kick off until our kids' bed time and finding a way to put them to bed at the house feels like a lot of work. We'll keep checking out the scene.