A new start at Rosarito Beach

We’ve been very busy getting started here in México so the blog went on an unplanned hiatus; thank you for your patience! There will once again be a new post every Wednesday..

Karen and I are amazed at the turn our lives have taken lately. We expected to be living in Chapala, near Guadalajara, but we’ve been moved to Rosarito Beach in Baja California instead.

We are now leading a church here called Baja Christian Church. It is a very young church that meets at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, a historic hotel that was first opened in 1925. The hotel used to be a favorite hangout spot for Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, as well as many of the Hollywood favorites. Rita Hayworth and the Shah of Iran rented a whole floor of the hotel during their stay in 1954, and a sign over the entrance says, “Through this door pass the most beautiful women of the world.”

Now the hotel is the base of our operations as we reach out to this growing community. Since the room where we meet is right on the main street, new people come in every week and share their stories with us. The people who come have as rich and varied histories as the hotel itself does. We have people in our church from Australia, Jamaica, Alaska, the Deep South, various parts of México and, now, even Scotland. Some of our people are deportees who spent most of their lives in the US but are currently stuck south of the border against their will, and others are people from America and other countries who are here by choice.

There is a great liveliness amongst the people as this church is already growing and experiencing vibrant new beginnings. Not only have the Sunday services experienced significant growth in our first four months here, we’ve also started Tuesday Bible studies in Spanish, 12-step recovery groups for people dealing with addictions, a food-bank program to help provide food for people who are hungry, and exciting classes for new and growing believers on Sunday mornings and nights. The church’s Wednesday night Bible study has grown so much that it’s already outgrowing the smaller Activity Center where it has been meeting.

Of course, the most exciting thing is not simply the growth in numbers. The most exciting thing is that we are seeing dramatic changes already happening in people’s lives right before our eyes. People who had all but given up on life have found new hope, and we can hardly wait to see what happens next as more and more people are finding that hope in Christ! One woman’s father experienced a dramatic healing in response to the people’s prayers, and his doctors are baffled by his recovery; other people who had spent their lives bound by the mistakes of their pasts are finding new starts; and even the mayor, Hugo Torres, has taken notice and come to speak to the church and express his support and gratitude for what is happening through this group that meets at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

Karen and I will also still be involved in important work throughout México as we pursue various opportunities for evangelism, church planting, and the training of leaders and evangelists across the country. But, in addition to that, we’ve found a home in Rosarito where the potential for the miraculous is being converted into reality day after day before our eyes.

Thank you to all of you who are supporting this ministry both with your prayers and financial support! There is no doubt that God is blessing the part you are playing in the work here. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we continue serving the Lord here and across México!

---

If you are interested in visiting Baja Christian Church, our services are at the following times:

• In the Salon Las Americas at Rosarito Beach Hotel:
  Sunday Service in English — 11am
• In the Baja Christian Church Activity Center, Rosarito Beach Hotel:
  Christianity 201 — Sundays at 9:00am
• Christianity 101 (the basics of the Christian faith) — Sundays at 6:30pm
• 12 Steps Recovery Groups — Tuesdays at 2:00pm & Thursdays at 6:30pm
• Spanish Bible Study — Tuesdays at 6:30pm
• English Bible Study — Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Christians against social justice?

“I’m a Christian who is against social justice,” is what one Christian basically said in a recent discussion about Christians’ role in social justice. To be honest, the comment made me sad. It made me sad because I know that there are a number of church-people out there who would agree with this statement even though it is in direct opposition to the teachings of the Christ they seek to follow.

How could Christians be against social justice? Have they been so politicized that they have forgotten that caring for the orphans and widows, looking after the aliens among us, and standing against oppression are biblical ideals that are both encouraged and commanded in the Bible?

Jesus himself said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” — Luke 4:18-19

From a theological perspective, I think the big problem is something called dualism. Ancient Greek philosophers taught that there is a divide between the spiritual and the material. Plato, for example, taught that the soul is the real person and that true freedom means being released from the prison of the material body. Largely as a result of this kind of thinking, a lot of Christians have opted to focus on caring for the “soul” and decided that looking out for the needs of the body are irrelevant.

However, the Bible teaches the salvation of the whole person and the resurrection of the body. Ancient Hebrew thinking, which influenced biblical thought considerably more than Greek thought did, knew of no distinction between body and soul. And when Jesus ministered to people, he fed the hungry whilst also ministering to their eternal needs.

Jesus ministered to the whole person, and anybody who claims to follow Him is obligated to do the same.

Years ago, a number of Christians reacted against a dualistic faith that went to an extreme. Calling itself a “social gospel,” it sought only to minister to outward physical and social needs. Rightly recognizing that they were missing the heart of the Gospel, many Christians reacted by going to the opposite extreme and deciding that they would have nothing to do with social needs and simply minister to the “spiritual” needs of the people.

They were equally in the wrong, though. Either extreme misses the heart of Jesus, who was sent to bring good news to the poor and to release the oppressed — not just in a “spiritual” sense but in tangible, practical ways.

To stand against social justice is to deny the heart and mission of the God of justice, the same God who said these words in Holy Scripture so many years ago:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” — Isaiah 58:6-7

Many Christians in America have fallen into a unique problem with a political Christianity wherein they put the platforms of their political parties above their faith. As a result, depending on which political party they belong to, they tend to gravitate toward one heretical extreme or the other.

Some say that it’s all about personal morality, while others say it’s all about social justice. Both miss the heart of Jesus and condemn their expressions of Christianity to the realm of irrelevance. Those who say it’s all about personal morality present a Christianity that offers a “pie in the sky” but hardens its heart to the needs of hurting, hungry people all around the world. Those who say it’s all about social justice forget that true justice can’t happen in a world where sinful, selfish hearts are not changed.

May God bring Christ-followers together across America and around the world who are willing to let Jesus’ love shine through them in a holistic, realistic way. May we remember to tell people about the personal redemption and eternal life made available through the blood of Jesus Christ, while at the same time demonstrating the heart and compassion of Christ in the ways we respond to a broken world in need.

Sorry Pat Robertson, but that’s not a Christlike response

“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about. [Haitians] were under the heel of the French… and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, ‘we will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French.’ True story. And so the Devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’ But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other.” — Pat Robertson

A spokesman for Pat Robertson’s ministry has since issued a statement attempting to backpedal this shocking statement, but the reality is that the statement implied the Haitians went through the recent earthquake because they deserved it. The comment, unfortunately, displays the same spirit that the late Jerry Falwell exhibited in 2001 when he blamed 9/11 on “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way.”

Is there any merit in their statements? First of all, let me say that I understand where they are coming from. I wholeheartedly disagree with them, but I understand where they’re coming from. They’re coming from a particular theological view, based largely upon a specific interpretation of the Old Testament, that sees God as a God who avenges sinful nations. They expect judgment from Him whenever they see people living in ways that they believe to be against the morals of the Bible.

There are a few problems with their logic, however.

1. “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and “the wages of sin is death.” Those words are from the Bible (Romans 3:22-24 and 6:22-23) and what they tell us is that, from God’s perspective, we ALL deserve God’s judgment. Where we get off deciding for God that certain groups of people are more deserving of it than we are, I do not know, but such an attitude is definitely not biblical.



2. “It is not God’s will that any should perish.” This verse from the Bible shows God’s heart for people. In the Old Testament, we see His judgment exerted upon nations that have turned against Him. We can’t deny that. However, even in the Old Testament, we see that God was already working out a plan wherein people could be saved from the judgment they deserved. And that plan was made available to EVERYONE, regardless of what nation they were born in!
3. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Although, according to the Bible, we are ALL deserving of judgment, Jesus took the judgment for our sinfulness in our place. He paid the price for all the junk in our lives, and then He rose again. Now He’s alive, and He says to EVERYONE who will believe in Him that He will forgive them and give them the gift of eternal life. Those who focus more on blame and threats of judgment than upon grace seem to have forgotten that we now live in the age of the New Testament, on the other side of the cross!

Rather than trying to cast blame when bad things happen, we need to realize that we live in a broken world and that we need to demonstrate God’s LOVE in every situation. The best thing we can do as followers of Christ is to pray for Haiti and seek out ways we can demonstrate His love in practical ways by helping the people who are hurting. This is the best thing we can do for ANYONE who is suffering. That’s part of what following Christ is all about.

What makes Christmas “Christmas”?

It’s been hard to imagine this past week that Christmas is really near. Karen and I have been in Panama City for a week now, and the heat has been intense. Temperatures have only been about 90 degrees, but humidity has been so high that one feels constantly as if a sauna would be a good place to go to cool off. We’re enjoying it immensely, but it definitely doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Or, at least it doesn’t feel like what we think of as Christmas.

However, it has me thinking about the fact that what Americans and Europeans think of as Christmas is really just one of many expressions of the holiday. “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” is a funny concept in a country where snow is just an abstract concept and Christmas dinner can easily be enjoyed outside at midnight in the relief of a slight breeze. In some countries, “I’m dreaming of a slight breeze” would be more appropriate.

So what makes Christmas “Christmas”? It’s not snow because millions celebrate it without ever seeing a snowflake. It’s also not mince pies, though I enjoy sharing them with my Scottish family as much as anyone. It’s not even turkey and stuffing.

In fact, Jesus himself is not likely ever to have seen a snowflake in Judea or to have eaten a turkey to celebrate his birthday. And he definitely never met Santa Claus or Father Christmas…

In the “Christian” world, Christmas is a holiday we’ve adopted to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. But it’s not Jesus’ birthday. He was more likely born closer to the end of September, though some would argue for April or October (but that’s another discussion for another time).

What is Christmas then? It’s a holiday that has many faces but which has been adapted as a Christian holiday on the church calendar. A “church calendar” was adopted by many in the Church many years ago, with days throughout the year set apart to remember various aspects of the life of Christ and the Christians. Easter Sunday is one of the days on the church calendar, as are Pentecost Sunday, Trinity Sunday, and a number of others that people in some church traditions have forgotten about in more recent times. On the Church Calendar, the four weeks before Christmas are called Advent, the Christmas season begins on December 25th and it lasts for 12 days.

Of course, none of these things are designed to coincide with the actual dates these events happened, but are used to help Christ-followers remember significant moments in the history of the Christian Church and to take times throughout the year to focus on the different aspects of their faith. So Christ-followers need to remember that Christmas is not actually Jesus’ birthday, but it is a time set aside to remember Jesus’ birth.

Christ wasn’t always a part of this holiday. Christians actually adopted a holiday that already existed in their culture and made the time their own. That’s one reason it’s kind of funny to me when people get upset about non-Christians celebrating the holiday without reference to Christ.

The reality is that we have no reason to be offended when people who don’t believe in Jesus don’t include Jesus in their celebration of the holiday. If they don’t believe in Him, we don’t do ourselves any favors by trying to force Him upon them. When Christians boycott non-Christian businesses for saying “happy holidays,” they do themselves and the cause of Christ a great disservice. They make Christians look insecure and make Christianity out to be some kind of political cause motivated by force rather than a lifestyle motivated by love.

Christmas has many faces but, for those of us who follow Christ, it should be a time to stop and remember God’s love for us. He sent His only Son to the world because He loved us all and, as we celebrate Christmas, we have an opportunity to focus on the greatest gift that anyone has ever given… the gift of Jesus. Instead of condemning people for not recognizing Him, we could use our time and energy a lot better by recognizing Him ourselves and sharing His love with others. Rather than fighting AGAINST others, we should be doing things like giving the gift of love to the poor and needy, exercising grace toward those who don’t know Him yet, and expressing His love in every way we possibly can — in other words, acting the way we should all year long if we are truly followers of Christ.

For non-Christians, the holiday may be more about giving presents and Santa Claus but that’s okay. They don’t know Jesus yet, so it’s really kind of silly for us to demand that they give him lip-service before they know Him. At least they’re taking a moment in their year to think about such things as the giving of gifts and the value of family and love. Maybe if we will stop condemning non-Christians for not thinking like Christians and just love each and every one, some will come to see for themselves that such values have their basis in the One who gave the ultimate Gift… the One who invites us all into His family and loves us with the Ultimate Love.

So what’s Christmas really about? It may seem like I’m just muddying the waters by saying it has many faces but, for those of us who know Christ, it really IS all about Christ. It’s just that being all about Christ should NEVER be about forcing others to do it our way. Being all about Christ should ALWAYS be about loving Him ourselves and then displaying His love by living it out in our relationships with the world around us.

On Sunday afternoon, we sat in a restaurant in Panama where an electronic Santa Claus was dancing in the corner. He was dressed in a big red coat with his well-known white beard flowing down to his chest. In the extreme heat, some of us were wondering why he didn’t change to Bermuda shorts before coming to Panama. I guess it just goes to show that certain symbols have found their way around the world.

What I pray, however, is that God’s love would also find its way around the world through us. Unlike Santa Claus, who sometimes doesn’t think to change his clothes before he dives into the heat, this love may change its clothes and change its expression in different circumstances and cultures. Yet, it always displays the love of Jesus. He left his throne in the heavens to put on our clothes and to live as one of us, and he eventually gave His very life as the Ultimate Gift of love.

May we remember this Christmas season that we, too, are called to give of ourselves for others. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say Christmas is really about for the Christ-follower. It’s a time to to be reminded that Jesus gave himself for us and that we are called by Him to pass the gift on as we give of ourselves to others.