United In the Storm

Last night our nation elected another president and no matter if whether your candidate was chosen or not, we are facing many storms in our future. I personally believe the first one will be a storm of division which always strikes after an election. This year it will have a significant affect on the church in America because the polls within the church show the Body of Christ was divided along racial, political and social lines during this election.

Sometimes we were asked who we believed would win. As pastors and ministers, we’re not supposed to publicly endorse a political candidate, so we will continue to withhold our personal views on that subject. Also, since the church in America is so divided over the candidate choices, we have found it necessary to minister on a higher and more meaningful level than politics and race.

So you ask, what could possibly be more important than politics and race, especially since the issues that were raised were deeply spiritual and moral?

We choose to focus on the hearts of men, women, boys and girls, because the Bible declares that from the heart, springs the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 reads: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

So, before we start discussing the issues of life, we have to deal with the heart. Many hearts have not been kept (guarded and protected). They have been broken, wounded, damaged, crushed, twisted, perverted, distorted, etc. People are assuming their personal and political positions regarding the issues of life based upon what has happened in and to their hearts.

The Lord gave us a particular way to address the issues of today. The main objectives of Chris and Carol Green include being spiritual parents in this era. We believe God gave us this approach to ministry because HE knew the kind of hearts this generation would have. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, was giving a warning regarding some matters, but in the midst of his warning he makes a profound statement to explain his position. He tells them,

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. - 1 Corinthians 4:15-16

So, like Paul, we’re not making these statements as instructors, teachers, pastors, or clergy. We write this BLOG as spiritual parents because there really aren’t many fathers (and mothers) in the American Church. Before we were sent out in ministry, we were called primarily to be a father and mother to this generation.

Paul established solid relationships with the people reading his letters. He was basically telling them this: I've been more than a religious instructor. So don't just do what I'm telling you because I said so. Imitate me based upon what you've seen in me and what we have shared together.
  
So in your mental picture of Chris and Carol, please take away the podium, the clergy collar, the robes and sacred garments. We’re just a father and mother, a dad and a mom, that God has touched with His love and compassion. HE told us to go and reach our generation with that kind of love and ministry.

If we never own another church facility, it doesn't matter. Facilities and buildings can be a help or a hindrance, depending upon where people are in their own hearts. So this mom and dad are just saying, you have to learn how to live in the eye of the storm. You must learn to be thankful when there's a lot to complain about all around you. You have to learn how to move with the eye of the storm.

Like parents talking to their kids, we're saying: While you are following the peace of God for your life, let's stick together. There will always be a lot to complain about, but don’t give in to it. That's why Paul told everyone to be thankful. 

Last week we started talking about Living in the Eye of the Hurricane. We felt this was necessary to discuss because we believe some spiritual storms are on the way. However, if our lives are built on the rock solid foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word, we will withstand the winds, rain and floods that are coming. We will be required to learn what it means to stay in the eye of the storm.

After last night’s presidential election, we know that millions of people will come away from it with a lot of complaining. The election results have the potential to bring more division, than ever before, into the church in America. Somebody’s expectations were not met and the complaining has already begun.

But look at the first portion of this scripture in Colossians 3:15-16, which tells us …And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

If we’re going to get through the storm of division, we must let the peace of God rule, to which we are called in one body. That’s why we declare that no matter who has won the elections at state and federal levels, the Body of Christ must have a different agenda. Our goals and objectives go beyond politics and social reform. We are called in ONE BODY, not one political party.

We must let the peace of God rule in our hearts because we are called in one body. That’s why, especially after this election, we must be thankful. Give thanks to God, no matter who has won the election. Even if you feel the absolute wrong person was chosen, you and I must MOVE WITH the eye of the storm. Be thankful we're in a nation where we still have this kind of freedom. Be thankful that we can take the fight for righteousness to another level, over and above the political process. We can take it to the Lord, in prayer.

Look at Ephesians 4: 1-4. Paul writes: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

This passage opens up a whole new understanding for us in this season. Paul is saying clearly; even though I’m in a tough situation myself, I beg you to walk worthy of the calling. He even tells us how to do it. He tells us the real point of it all, which is endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There’s that word peace again. We have to MOVE TOGETHER in the eye of the storm. We won’t all approve of the direction that the eye is going, but since our calling is higher, our goal is higher. Our purpose is above the earthly agendas.

So this mom and dad are urging you to not get caught up in the swift moving storm of division that is coming against the church. Everyone is not pleased with the election, but if we turn from putting our hopes in an earthly leader, to placing our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and moving forth with our Kingdom of God mandate, we can truly keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. 

This will keep us united, in the eye of the hurricane.

In the Eye of the Hurricane

We're living in such critical time in the history of mankind that I've found myself in deep prayer and thought about what to share with you in this BLOG. The financial markets of the world are collapsing, crime and violence are soaring, persecution is increasing against the church around the world, and we're about to transition into new leadership in this country. 

As I have prayed and asked the Lord how to navigate the days ahead of us, I have heard this one word of instruction: We must learn to live in the eye of the hurricane.

The eye of the hurricane has to be one of the most phenomenal wonders of the world. God speaks a powerful revelation of life itself through this aspect of nature. The Bible says in Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God. One translation of the Hebrew text reads: The elements declare the glory of God. This is one element that truly expresses something special about God.

How is it possible that in the center of this horrible storm, where the wind can exceed 150 miles per hour, that the atmosphere can be peaceful, calm and even sunny? As the storm moves along the ocean surface, it is picking up energy and growing worse, but the center remains the same.

I find it interesting that the only way you can stay in the center of the storm (in the peace and presence of God), is to keep moving. You can’t just sit. You can’t be passive and comfortable. If you try to maintain your personal space of comfort, you will find yourself caught in the outer perimeter of the storm. The eye of the storm is moving because the storm is moving. So you have to keep moving with the peace of God (the eye of the storm).

Colossians 3:15-16 tells us how to keep moving with God in the midst of the storm.

…And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

This week, let’s talk about letting the peace of God rule. This phrase means, we must be governed and led by the assurance of God Himself. That means He will direct us to go places, meet people, and do things that we may not want to do. So we must learn the difference between the peace of God and the peace of our own hearts and minds. 

Sometimes there’s no peace in our mind about doing certain things or going certain places because of our bad memories and our negative experiences. Many people have to learn the difference between their own personal peace and the peace of God. 

Since we've been in this role of ministering in this community, we have seen scores of people who are led by their own personal peace. If they don’t feel right about something, they won’t do it, even when God is clearly leading them. 

Even after God has clearly proven that it was Him directing their steps, they still allow the past to rule their hearts. They allow previous church experiences to rule their hearts. They allow their personal preferences to rule their hearts. They allow their expectations to rule their hearts. They allow the way others treated them to rule their hearts.

I recently heard a well known television preacher declare that they don’t go places where they are merely TOLERATED, but they only go to places where they are CELEBRATED. That’s a very powerful, but un-scriptural approach to ministry. What happened to OBEDIENCE TO GOD? 

I don’t know of any of God’s prophets, apostles, preachers, or leaders who were living by that standard. Not only were most of them not celebrated, but they were hated. We don’t only go where we feel we will personally benefit from the experience. You and I must go wherever God says for us to go.

As the storm is moving, we have to move with the eye of the storm (The peace of God). What if the eye of the storm leads you to people you don’t usually hang out with? That’s what happened to Peter. What if the eye of the storms leads you to work for your enemies? That’s what happened to Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah. What if the eye of the storm leads you to a small group of people instead of mega-church or to some other new gathering of believers (meaning strangers and people you don't know) in your community? What if the peace of God leads you away from all that is familiar and comfortable? 

In our earliest days in Harrisburg, a woman joined with us, but she later disclosed that she told God she didn't want to be in a small group because there are too many problems in a small gathering of Christian Believers. Her concerns were not only legitimate, but her worst fears came to pass because most of us did not move with the eye of the storm, and we lost our ship, crew and cargo in our first hurricane. The ministry collapsed miserably. Thankfully, God spared our lives and we were able to regroup and start again.

Even today, as the current storm moves and the peace of God moves, we are facing major decisions on personal and ministry levels again. This time we must be faithful and obedient to move with God in the midst of the storm.

Five years ago, Carol and I left all that was familiar, prosperous and comfortable, to move to this region. Since we've been here, we've continually been required to move with the eye of the storm and remain in the peace and rest of God. 

God’s peace led us out of full-time ministry and into the marketplace. God’s peace led us from meeting in a church facilities and into a home group gathering. God’s peace led us onto the internet and into our current multi-media outreach. We recently discovered that God is directing many church-planters in the same strategies around the world because of the storms that are coming forth on this nation, the world and the church.

We have often asked God why we were moving in this direction, since hardly anyone knows about us and we haven’t grown in over three years. But He keeps assuring us that a day will come when people will look for ministries that are lifting up Jesus and not lifting up pastor personalities. They will look for people who are REAL, as they grow weary of their traditions, religion and politics. So we’ll just keep moving with the eye of the storm, in the peace of God.

Right now, many find their jobs threatened, their families in crisis and even some church communities are beginning to waiver in fear. As you could tell from our story, we haven’t escaped storms, either. 

So, I encourage you to abandon your fear and just flow with God. He is trustworthy. 

So this week, our first ONE CONCERNED FATHER BLOG, the Word for you and I is keep moving with the peace of God.