C-mail: Church

Howdy All,

As always, I hope you are doing well and good. It's been a full few months here in Caracas.  There's no way to give a complete update of all that's been going on, nor could I try.  But, here are some highlights.  Be sure to check out this first item as it has some important information for this summer!

1. I'll be back in the states in July.  CRM is holding a world wide conference which everyone in CRM will be attending.  Before the conference I'm going to be with my family for two weeks in Texas. Afterwards, I'll be in LA/SoCal from the 24th of July to the 29th of July.   From the 30th to the 4th of August, I'm going to be in Boise, ID.  If you live in any of those locations and would like to host a missionary in your house or pick one up/drop one off from the airport, please let me know.  Also, if you'll be around and would like to catch up, send me an email as I'll be without a cell phone during this trip.  I look forward to reconnecting with a number of you soon!

2. Drought and rain.  Venezuela went through, and is just now recovering from a severe drought.  Water and electricity were rationed for months and all the while it was hot, as in the hottest season that anyone could remember.  An idea fell into my head in January, and although it took until the end of March for all the bits to finally fall into place, the idea became concrete. I've put together a presentation presenting the topic of creation care for local churches and community groups.  And because no one learns by just sitting on their butt and listening, with the help of some neighbors, I've put together a bicycle generator so that during the presentation people can see how much effort it takes to light up a light bulb.   See the attached picture.  I've done three presentations thus far in different churches discussing the necessity of living out creation care and have a lot more interest in the presentation from other groups and churches. Venezuela consumes more energy per capita than any other South American country and has a long way to go in order to learn how to adequately take care of the environment. I'm hoping that these presentations help motivating God's people to take care of His creation.

3. A few months ago, a neighbor of ours came to us ready for a change.  He had been addicted to crack for 16 years, and he saw the damage he was causing to his mother, girlfriend, and himself.  Thankfully, a Venezuelan friend of ours has excellent contacts with a nearby rehab center (therapeutic community as they call it) and we were able to help our neighbor through all the necessary hoops and steps to get him enrolled.  He's been in for about three months now and is loving it, loving Jesus, and is super excited about the new life that awaits him after rehab.  Our team has been in contact with him for years and it's beautiful to see so much love finally take root and blossom.  Please pray for his time in rehab and that God would seal him with his protection and grace. 

4. Just before Holy Week, we hosted a passover celebration with our neighbors. Each InnerCHANGE team hosted passover services in their respective contexts.  Our small office was filled with neighbors and good friends to participate the celebration.  The time went beautifully and the ceremony serves as an excellent vehicle to teach and learn about God's saving power, past and present. 

5. During Holy Week, a neighbor's family decided to perform a "via crucis", or stations of the cross, live in their barrio. The neighbors turned amateur actors were gathered together, dressed and then paraded down the highway and up the hillside where Jesus and two others were crucified (really put up on crosses! (without the nails of course)) and then resurrected.  I was asked to play guitar during the procession.  The event itself was beautifully done, but I was impacted by the change that took place in the actors.  In particular, the young man that played Jesus began the day with jokes and comments on the wave length of "If Ricky Martin can do it, why can't I?" After the procession, he reflected with a number of comments like "Jesus suffered a lot for us."  There were a number of youngsters that gratuitously and informally played the rolls of the scoffers at the crucifixion.  The young man playing Jesus was visibly saddened by their lack of respect.  We had an excellent conversation about the forgiveness that Jesus offered to the same scoffers at His crucifixion and even unto the rest of the scoffers today.  The evening ended in a break out worship session solicited by the same actors.  It was so beautiful to see God show up even amongst these very "unchurched" people. 

6. Lots of ministry continues in the neigboring barrio of San Pablito.  The school we've been visiting this last year was shut down for two months for repairs, but it's finally been reopened and the kids are back in class.  The sixth grade teacher has been emphatic that we return. She told us that if these kids don't have God, they don't have anything,  and that the most important thing is that we continue to visit and teach the class about God and how to live out His commandments.  We've willingly obliged and continue to visit the classroom weekly. We have also been doing monthly "peace walks" in San Pablito.  Through collaboration between a local church and our team, we've given out balloons, planted trees, sang and prayed through the streets.  Please pray for a budding cell group in San Pablito and that through it, leaders would be raised up that would desire to work for a change in their community and believe that God wants the same.

Alright, that's plenty for now, but if you have questions, let's talk in person in July!  I hope you are all doing great and I can't wait to see a number of you very soon!  Please let me know what your prayer requests are and what is going on in your life.  Until then, stay strong, seek the Lord and

Press on for Joy!
Cameron




"And now I'd like to introduce you all to a young man from the United States who's serving in Caracas as a missionary.  He's going to be helping us all out with our youth group.  Kelvin, come up here!"  The announcement that I was going to be helping with the youth group came as unwelcome news to me.  I had randomly met the pastor of this church just a scant two weeks before.  This particular Sunday, I had to drop by the church to work out some details regarding the presentation about creation care.  It was my second time in the church and the fact that I showed up in the last five minutes of the service didn't impede the pastor from asking for another sermon from this newly proclaimed, and completely unwilling, youth volunteer: myself. 

Church is complicated.  Whether it be in Venezuela, the United States, or anywhere in the world, church is one of the most misunderstood, polarizing, and frustrating elements in Christianity.  I feel like I could sum up the general religious sentiment of a good majority of the world with "I like God, but save me from church". 

Before I can really begin to reflect on the topic of church, I need to define my words and terminology. First, when I say "church", I mean what everyone means when they say, "I'm going to church", ie. a building/organization where Christians gather to worship, pray, and learn the Bible.  When I say the "body", I mean, the body of Christ, aka believers, followers of Jesus, the saved, the elect, etc. 

Personally, I've been through quite the journey in the past few years regarding church and I finally feel like I'm at a mature place where I can reflect without my own wounding dominating the conversation.  In general, as I've seen in my own case and the cases of many North Americans who have grown up evangelical, at one point or another, many of us pass through a personal rebellion against church.  There is something about it that rubs us the wrong way.  Either it's not biblical enough or it's too traditional, or not traditional enough, or it's too this or not enough that.  And I haven't even mentioned the various cases of major conflicts or abuse where the blame lands squarely the church.  Whatever the reason, there is a movement away from church and towards.......well something else, and that something else is unique for every person.  Some walk away from the body completely while others find different expressions of the body, while others return to their church of origin with a greater appreciation.  And yet, in so many cases, wherever someone ends up, it is often defined in opposition to whatever it is that they are walking away from. If the particular church was too traditional, then the something else must be anti-traditional. If church wasn't traditional, then that something else must be traditional.  Of course, starting a new expression of the body based purely upon what some church is not, is no expression of freedom. Rather it's nothing more than reaction, a cruel master indeed.  But I need to get specific.  Let's look at church in Latin America first . . .

Five centuries ago, Latin America was conquered by the Spanish.  The rouge mix of conquistadors included soldiers, criminals and priests.  The priests carried images of their deity in the throws of death on a piece of wood and a baby in the arms of a young mother.  This deity was to be found in the dark stone and wood squarish structures built by the Spanish.  The ministers wore long robes and knew how to read from books (a new thing in the new world).  They also knew how to get conversions from the natives...death or else.  Obviously there were exceptions (Bartolome de las Casas for one), but in general the church was linked with the empire of Spain. The church had its own set of traditions, prayers, rites, and its own calendar dividing up the year, all of which were inevitably adopted by all the natives and the new mestizo race and it all became part of the fabric of the culture. 

Centuries later, Latin America was conquered by the North Americans.  Sure, the countries don't wave our flag, but empire can take a lot of different forms. Our movies, music, and TV play all over here and materialism reigns supreme.  Part of this newest conquest came by way of the pentecostal church.  The pentecostal movement was arguably sparked in the Azusa street revival a century ago in Pasadena, California.  The new believers now gifted with the the ability to speak in other tongues assumed the gifting meant that they were now empowered and called to go far and wide and preach the gospel to the peoples of the world in their respective language.  As they new missionaries arrived in Africa, Latin America, and other far flung locations, the Pentecostals soon realized that although they could speak new languages, no one anywhere in the world could understand them.  None the less, the Pentecostals began to evangelize (after learning the local languages) and spread the word of God far and wide.  The evangelical church (as the pentecostal church generally came to be known in Latin America) occupies a fringe yet reached status with about 2-5% of the population saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost in any given country.  Numbers aside, the evangelical church is a loud minority and is hence, albeit infamously, known by all. 

I actually I need to clarify that last statement. There are generally two types of church in the evangelical latin context: 1).The hard core pentecostal conservative churches that have a strong tendency to engage in spiritual warfare at full volume with bone shaking sound systems and 2). the more "liberal" (they'd feel conservative in the states) modern, North American style evangelical type churches.  Both emphatically state that they are NOT based on tradition or rite, unlike the Catholic church.  Still, especially for churches in category 1, the do's and do not's (aka traditions) rule the day: many believe it's a sin for women to wear make-up or pants, that it's a sin for men to have long hair, almost daily attendance/involvement in church activity is mandatory, and all members are predisposed to believe whatever the pastor says as the word of God.  While I could write a whole series of critiques of these churches, I have to applaud them in that they tend to be fearless and launch evangelistic campaigns in some of the most off the map, forgotten, and dangerous places out there. 

Churches in the type 2 category are more relaxed, enjoying new freedoms like letting women wear pants and make-up as they wish.  Sadly, this freedom leads to a different problem altogether.  During a recent house church gathering, a team member overheard two women talking about how difficult is to go to church (type 2) because of the necessity of wearing a different set of clothes every time in order to not feel embarrassed about a lack of wardrobe. Even though these churches are more open, at least in terms of dress, there is still a lot of religion at work.  A recent question by a local pant wearing female church goer is one that I had never been, nor doubt would ever be asked in the states: "Which do you like better: all night prayer and worship vigils, or fasting?"

Leaving Latin America, what is there to say about church at home? It took talking with a Brazilian recounting her trip to China for me to truly understand how we do church in North America (and other places).  She was with YWAM and had visited various cites and towns in China.  One of her most amazing experiences was visiting a church in Beijing.  It was a massive church that met in theater converted by the Chinese government with seating for 5000 people that would fill up every Sunday.  Since the church was state sponsored, they couldn't do alter calls, but people came all the same to worship and hear the Word preached from the Bible. 

In her description of this particular church,  it dawned on me that the Chinese government understood church much better than anyone else.  As they looked out at the world of church, observing its practices and functions from an outside perspective, they decided that the best building to house a church is that of the theater: a house of entertainment.  And of course, they're right.  From an outside perspective, church is just that: everyone walks into the building, they pick their seat, they face the stage, listen to the music, clap, maybe even witness a dance or a drama, listen to a monologue, then leave and go home. 

Now, the most interesting detail about this church in Beijing is that the church is only for foreigners.  Chinese nationals are prohibited from attending.  Essentially, this church was tailored to the West.  Of course in the west, this makes sense culturally.  We spend all of our spare time enjoying entertainment, it's only natural that our worship should follow suit, even if unconsciously.  

Ok, so big deal, you say.  You've criticized the church. Everyone does that.  It's so easy to criticize and so difficult to create, so why don't you just go ahead and make the perfect church. . .

Well, I can't actually.  In fact nobody can.  I once heard it best said that if you ever find the perfect church don't go there since it won't be perfect anymore.  But more importantly, and don't stone me just yet, but I'm convinced that there is not a "right way" to do church....

Perhaps instead, Jesus has given us some loose guidelines to follow along the way.  Because, if there is a "right way" to do church, once we've arrived, or along the journey, we end up making church lord instead of Jesus.  It's when we fool ourselves into thinking that our church, our group, our way is the best, the right one, that we fall into religiosity, or worse, heresy. 

So what are some of those guidelines?  I can't assume to know them all, but I'm going to offer three.  Mind you, I haven't gone around the world looking for what makes a church grow or be successful. Nor is this an attempt to suggest some methods to make a church successful. Rather these are some things that I've seen illuminated in scripture over the past few years that have stuck with me. 

First, the church has a much different role in society than what we generally think it to be. A pastor in the states once illuminated a key passage in the Bible during a discipleship session.  In Matthew 16, Jesus is affirming Peter as the rock upon which He will build his church.  Jesus then says something very curious.  He says that the gates of Hades (death) will not prevails against it. After reading the passage, the pastor asked me a very simple question: "What are gates for?"  Like all good simple questions, I wasn't going to get the answer without help.  "They are to keep people out," he explained matter of factly.  He continued explaining that hell and death, is actually on the defensive, it's trying to keep God out, but God wants to use his people to break down its doors and set the captives free. However, it seems that in most cases, the church goes on the defense, trying to guard whatever last bit of sanity that exists in this messed up world.  And even when I've seen churches trying to engage "the culture", well, the result isn't all that engaging.  Either it's a political diatribe or a misguided attempt at outreach.  Perhaps a well known parable can give us some direction.

A good while back, I heard a very interesting take on the parable of the good samaritan.  The well known parable actually has two heroes.  First, the well known samaritan who in his wanderings through dangerous places, finds a traveler in serious need.  The second hero of the story is the humble innkeeper, the one who watches over, heals, and restores the beaten down traveler.  Many times in church we are asked to be good samaritans, looking for the lost, but how many times are we encouraged to be good inn-keepers, communities that can take in the wounded, be a support and healing presence around them, and see them off once again full of life and ready to help those they come across, either as good samaritans or innkeepers. I feel like many people frustrated in the church are frustrated by this very element. Either they are samaritans told and trying to be innkeepers or innkeepers told and trying to be samaritans, or worse yet, they are implicitly told to be levites to walk on by and not get contaminated.  The most important thing about samaratins and innkeepers is that they minister to real needs.  That means they have to be aware of the real and felt needs of the world and people around them and that's not something they can do from inside a church world and even less inside a churched mindset.  A covered lamp doesn't illuminate, and eventually extinguishes.  Speaking of lamps...

I personally feel that the sermon on the mount gives the best clue as to the guidelines of the body.  The sermon comes of the heels of a whirlwind ministry of healing, liberation, and preaching.  Jesus is swamped by the crowds so He goes up the mountain where his disciples and crowd follow him.  He starts with the beatitudes, (which are based upon an understanding of the condition and needs of His listeners) and right afterwards, He has the audacity to say to those around him "You are the light of the world...."

This should raise a question if not four...how in the world were these people qualified to be the light of the world?  Jesus had just barely started his ministry, the twelve hadn't even been chosen yet.  Those that were differentiated as disciples were probably indistinguishable from the rest of the crowds. Except in one particular way: their location.

Imagine the scene.  Jesus stands on the mountain, the center of attention, and the literal center of the multitude.  Around Him are the baby disciples who are the light of the world. Beyond these disciples are the crowds and beyond them, the rest of the world (the parallel to the great co-mission in Matthew 27 is staggering).  I think Jesus could call these not-even-yet-Christians the light of the world solely because of their position.  Jesus was their center, individually and collectively.  They were listening to Him, He was their Rabbi and Master and they were learning exactly how to love and live. The rest of His words in the sermon on the mount are both incredibly practical and sadly incredibly forgotten.  Still, while Jesus was at their center, these little lights were sandwiched in by the rest of the crowds and "the world".  They were very much in complete contact with the world.  They were a light that touched the darkness, salt that salted because it was in contact with that which needed salt. 

As far as I'm concerned, that position is the Christian life; deepening the Lordship of Jesus over my and my communities life as well as being in full, light filled contact with the surrounding world.  I believe that a church is merely that which helps the Christian accomplish those two functions, and that can take a variety of forms.  At times I need godly entertainment, at times I need community to encourage me, at times I need a good samaritan to pick me up along with a good innkeeper to restore me, at times I need fellow soldiers of God to help break down the doors of death, at times I need to be reminded to fast, and I need to be those to everyone around me.

Most importantly, I need to remind myself that God's grace is the active agent in salvation and not church in any form what so ever. God's love and grace extends to all regardless of their relation to church. I need to see the body in light of their relationship with Jesus.  In Hebrews we are told that "both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: 'I will declare your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you'" (Heb 2:11-12).  When it mentions those who are being  sanctified, it means that we are in process.  God is at work on and in us, and we aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  And yet, He is not ashamed of us, even in our imperfection.  Nor does He leave us where we are at. He is sanctifying us to be more and more like Him of whom with which we are one.  May He be our center and guide in all that we are and do in church and out.  Until we see His face,

Press on for Joy!
Cameron