And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:40

People are people

Unless we live as hermits in the woods of northern Maine, off the grid, we all have people in our lives. The Apostle Paul says (Acts 17) that God places each of us in specific generations and locations. Think about the people in your circles—extended family, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, people in your church, the nice folks who work at the local market or cafe, old friends from high school, the person you have a conversation with while walking the dog, and so on. These are the people God has placed in your life to bless.

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18

If we were planning to bring the gospel to a faraway village that never heard anything about Jesus, our first concern would be to learn their language, customs, and culture so we could translate the message of the Bible for them in a way that would be understandable. Everyone understands this principle. It’s common sense. But oftentimes we forget to apply this principle to our gospel efforts at home.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15

It’s Christmas week, and most of us will be around people more than usual. We will be in stores interacting with cashiers and customers. We will be amongst family or friends at various gatherings. We will be in markets getting holiday food. We may have interactions with neighbors. It’s the season to be around people.

There’s a sweet little cafe in Pawtuxet Village close to where we live. It’s a good place to go when I can’t concentrate at home. I spent some time there today thinking about what to write this week. A local free magazine called Motif caught my eye, so I decided to give it a flip-through. I noticed some familiar names of artists and musicians that I interacted with in the early days of planting Ren Church (2003-2007).

This past summer, my wife and I hosted a gathering in the backyard of our house for the members of our small church. I was setting up tables and chairs, tents and string lights, and lots of lawn games. Our neighbor behind us, a lovely woman in her sixties who has a clear view of our entire yard, saw me setting up and called me over. She asked me what I was preparing for. I told her that my church members were coming over to share a meal. We chatted for a little while, and then she surprised me by offering to lend us their cornhole lawn game—a gorgeous wooden handmade one. I don’t really know this neighbor at all. This gesture of kindness from her really blessed me. Up to that point, I didn’t have any impressions of her, either positive or negative. But after her simple act of kindness, she won me.

This is the power of blessing.

People who aren’t Christian often act very differently toward us in a group than they do when we are alone with them. It’s a strange social reality.

When I was a first-year college student at Syracuse University, the basketball team went to the Division 1 finals. After they lost, there was a huge crowd of disgruntled fans who took out their rage by vandalizing local businesses and smashing up cars—even police cars. Hundreds of students were throwing beer bottles at the police as they were caught up in the crowd dynamic. I’m certain that most of the angry vandals would never act in that way on their own. People behave differently in a crowd. Why?

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
Acts 9:36

All the widows stood beside him [Peter] weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
Acts 9:39

If I stood before a congregation of a thousand devoted believers and asked the question, “How many of you would say you are really good at evangelism?” I think almost no one would raise their hands.

I once heard a story about the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth. Two women who were working very hard in a particular mission field were not seeing anyone come to Christ. They tried everything they knew of to reach people, but their labors were seemingly fruitless. At a point of exhaustion, they reached out to Mr. Booth—famous for leading thousands to Christ—for wisdom. The great soul winner sent them these simple words: “Try tears.”

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

When I was a young man, just out of Bible college, my mentor, Nick, would frequently deposit these words into me: Dream big. We need to be reminded to dream big because we have a tendency to think way too small. We forget that God is willing to do things that are “exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or imagine.”

The ordinary Christian is extraordinary. The word “ordinary” essentially means normal. All normal Christians, even if they don’t have any dramatic distinctions that make them a Moses or David—are extraordinary. The word “extraordinary” means very unusual or remarkable. Every single Christian is powerful beyond comprehension. We scarcely realize who we are.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

If I was on an airplane that was going to crash in a few hours—what would I do?

And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. Acts 10:24

Cornelius was not only not a Christian, he wasn’t even a Jew. He was a gentile who God was clearly working in outside of all Jewish or Christian structures. The Bible describes him as someone who feared God. The Apostle Peter goes to the home of this gentile to share the gospel and guess what happens? The Lord pours out the Holy Spirit upon this gentile man and his family. The first time God pours out His grace upon the gentiles—it’s not in a Temple or church building. It’s not even at a worship service. Consider this statement:

Many people who are curious about Jesus have a strong aversion to stepping into a church space to explore the Christian faith.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Hebrews 1:19

In this verse, the writer of the Book of Hebrews (Paul?) tells us some things about God, the Son: He loves righteousness, hates wickedness, and is anointed with the oil of gladness. This is not the only thing the writer tells us about Jesus in Hebrews, but the phrase about joy is interesting to ponder. Jesus was so full of joy that the joy of anyone else paled in comparison. We could say He was intoxicated with joy.

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. Proverbs 24:24-26

What I’ve been musing on this week is how so many people around us are sold lies about what is right and what is wrong.

Hello missionaries! We are at week 25. Can you believe that? I hope these weekly letters have been stirring you to be salt and light where the Lord has planted you. Today, I want to encourage you in a very simple but powerful practice: prayer walking.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35

It’s the time of year to go apple picking in New England. It’s something our family looks forward to every year. Sometimes we go too early in the season, and many of the apples are not ripe. They aren’t ready to be harvested. What we look for is ripe fruit. We look for big, plump, delicious, colorful apples. The fruit that isn’t ripe, we pass by.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Imagine if you were posed a challenge that if you could gather a group of unchurched people in 365 days that you’d receive one million dollars for every person.

I cannot stop thinking lately about church models and how they relate to the great call of Jesus to go into the world and make disciples. It’s week 22 and I’ve been pretty soft up to this point. Please allow me to speak candidly today.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

After several years of being in the trendy Westside and Eastside neighborhoods, we moved the location of our church building into the Southside.