The Ukranian Love Song

Talk about a blast from the past...  I was looking at my blog stats tonight, and I couldn't help but notice that someone from Ukraine has been reading my writings...  Ah, Ukraine...  that country brings back the memories.  You see, I went on a short term 2 week mission trip in the grand year of 2000 to a little town called Boradyanka, which is about 50 kilometers outside of the Ukranian capital of Kiev.  Kiev is really one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in my life; it's like the Seattle green on steroids.  Of course, it wasn't just the scenery that was so fascinating...  the people were extraordinarily nice; the history was exciting to learn about; and the food was excellent!!  They serve this dish over there, it is chicken fried in this batter...  not like anything I have had here.  I wish I could have that recipee.  It was simply the best chicken I have ever eaten!

I have so many thoughts about Ukraine.  I can honestly say that I often wish that I could visit there again.  I wish I could see the people I met again.  There was the old pastor of the church I worked out of...  Such a nice man, but it was comical in a sense to me how he never missed an after lunch nap.  There was the host family- we stayed in their son's house.  He was on the Ukranian soccer team, so he wasn't home much.  But they took good care of us.  They had this crazy dog that hated us though!  No kidding, it was like cujo on meth!  It wasn't very big, only about knee high- similar in looks to a heeler.  But you could not have paid me to go within 10 feet of that thing.  It became almost demonic when it would see us...  and you could hear the anger in it's voice, almost as if it were saying "come here so I can bite your face off!" in every bark.  When I say we, of course I am meaning me and my translator Bobby.  He was a great kid, and I loved getting to know him.

I think the thing that has always stuck out most in my mind from Boradyanka, though, was the question.  Everyone wanted to know why an American like me would come to po-dunk little tiny Boradyanka.  Why would I travel half way around the world to a place with maybe a couple thousand people in population.  Everywhere we went, that was the most asked question.  The answer, of course, was always the same- I came as a missionary, to tell them about Jesus Christ and what He had done in my life.  The good news of the Gospel!  They were people I had never met before, may never see again- but God had placed a love in me for them, a desire to take His Word to them, to tell them they could have freedom, love, victory, salvation- a life changing experience...

I remember one woman in particular.  I don't remember her name, but she was an older woman in her 60's.  The pastor took us to her house, and we sat and talked for a while about life- and about God.  It was truly a heartbreaking conversation as the discussion went on...  It came to a point where she finally broke down.  Through tears she confessed that she wanted to be a Christian but just couldn't be.  I asked her why, and her answer was- I don't know.  I just know I can't.  It took almost an hour of pouring over Scripture, reasoning with her, assuring her, teaching her about the love of Christ...  Finally before we left she made the step.  She put aside her fears and set down her confusion.  Her tears were turned from sadness to joy as she opened her heart to Christ.

There are many stories I could tell from this short time I was away from American soil...  And over time I will tell more.  But I have something on my mind tonight that needs to be said.

We need a missionary mind here in America.  Why is it that we have to travel across the oceans to hear stories like hers?  It shouldn't be that way at all...  I was reading with my son in the book of Acts recently when I came across this verse:  "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Acts 2:46  I think that this verse holds a key to something that so desperately needs to happen here in America.  What is it you ask?  "singleness of heart".  One heart.  Take a look at the churches in China, and ask yourself where is the division of calvanist and armenian.  Take a look at the believers in Indonesia and ask yourself where are the Nazarene verses the Baptists.  Take a look at the new testament church and ask yourself where were the people who refused to work with each other because they didn't always agree on every little detail.  Then compare these churches to the American body of believers, and ask yourself when was the last time we had one heart.

We have walled ourselves in to our buildings, walled ourselves up from each other, forcing the chambers of our heart to beat at differing rythyms, never in synch, risking the health of the Body.  All the while, outside our walls lay the broken, the lost, those in desperate need to hear the Gospel.  Who will go to them?  And when we go what will they see?  Will they know we are Christians by the love we have for each other?  When we tell them our testimony of how Christ has changed our life, will our words hold any integrity at all?

When I think back to Ukraine, I think of people like that lady, so convinced she could not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  I think of the boys on the street who had never heard the Gospel before.  And I think of all those in America in the same place as them.  They are people who will not set foot in a church.  They are the people whom we must leave our walls behind to find.  And they are the people who need to be reached by a Body of believers, the FAMILY of God, beating with one heart...

Yes, I said family.  There are so many broken families these days... don't we have anything better to offer them?  People, the time is NOW- we must put down our differences.  We must put aside the trivial.  No, I did not say put aside truth- for truly some would try and carry this same message but emphasize dropping truth and compromising the Word of God.  I am not talking about that.  I am talking about true believers, unwilling to replace the word of God, bold in their convictions, going from house to house- or wherever the Spirit leads- in singleness of heart.

Do you want to see revival in America?  Do you want to see a spiritual awakening to God's truth in the United States?  Do you want to see a Holy Spirit movement that makes this the land not just of the free, but the free from sin, death, shame, the free in Christ?  Then my brothers and sisters, it is time that we realize we will be in Heaven for a very long time together, so we better get used to each other now.  We are family.  We have a nation of lost souls that need us to act on love for each other.  Let's get together, one heart, no walls!!!

Jesus Skips America On His Way To Africa...

 I have a simple question: why it is that when missionaries go overseas they see a huge response to the Gospel while here at home the response to the Gospel is limited?  I have had this question on my mind a lot lately, as I hear missionaries report things such as the fact that there are more chinese people being born again than being born in China(despite the fact that Christianity is virtually banned by the government there); or that missionaries who find their feet on African soil are greeted with people almost begging to hear the Good News; or that in Islamic-controlled arabian nations not only is mission work winning people to Christ but even the dreams of the citizens of these countries have them seeking Jesus.  The only way I can comprehend it is like saying going to some of these foreign nations is like going to a bulk food store when it comes to people putting their faith in Jesus; yet here at home, if a church has 10 converts in a month it is said that "The Holy Spirit is at work in that church"...

And I am left to wonder, why the difference?  Why do people run to hear the Gospel in one place, and shy away from it in another?  Is it possible that it is all about the Holy Spirit moving?  What I mean is, is it that God is just choosing NOT to move here in America?  Or is there something more, some deeper reason for it?

I must admit, I am no theologian.  I have no degree in Bible scholarly-scholarship thinking.  But I have a theory.  I wonder if part of it is in how we evangelize.  Let me explain by first asking a question:  When we send missionaries to Africa, what is their strategy for reaching the lost?  Answer: They hand out personal testimonies of how Jesus radicaly changed their life.  When we send missionaries to Thailand, or South America- how do they treat each encounter with the people around them? Like potential divine appointments, a non-coincidental crossing of paths in which to share the Good News of Jesus.  When we send missionaries to China, how do they treat the Bible?  Like it is a treasure that is worth risking their life for!  I think I can sum it up this way: when missionaries trod on foreign soil, their lives are radicly changed into a resemblance more along the lines of what we would envision the apostles to have been like.

But...  what about here, in America?  How do we as Christians evangelize in our own country, the land that is supposed to be a shining city on a hill, a Christian nation?  Well?  How DO we evangelize here?

...

I know- we do good works.  we mow our neighbor's lawn.  We help that single mother to her car with her groceries.  We walk granny across the street.  We do many wonderful things of the like.  And on occasion, if we are feeling bold, we invite them in a hurried- almost hushed- breath, "Would you like to go to church with me?"  Of course, we are careful to whom we issue the invite, as they might be offended and then not want any more of our "good works", which in turn would deny them of the priveledge of seeing us live out the Gospel...

NOW BEFORE YOU GET MAD...  I am in no way saying that there is not a time or place for that type of evangelism.  I do believe that with some people, they will only be reached through relational evangelism.  I get that.  Jesus was the one, after all, who said that when we as believers do good works, they will glorify God in heaven.  But here is where I differ from much common thinking:  This has been the strategy for reaching America for a long time, and it isn't working.  As I said, I am not condemning the practice, but rather I am saying that all too often we allow that to replace ALL forms of evangelism here on the homefront.  I say this in all realization that way too often I am very guilty of this too.  But if this is the only evangelism that the Body of Christ, as a whole, practices- then it is no wonder there are so few people turning to Jesus.

But what is the importance of being so bold about the Gospel?  Let me pose to you a thought...  I saw a poll recently that suggested that 80% of Americans consider themselves Christians.  Why do you think this nation is as messed up as it is if so many Americans believe they are Christians?  The obvious answer is, because most Americans are not TRUE Christians.  If they were, then obviously they would be living radicly different than they are and it would reflect in our culture.  But you see, that poses a whole new question that must be answered:  WHY then do so many people claim to be something they are not?  Once again, I pose a theory:  I believe it is because most Americans don't have a clue what it means to be a Christian, because I believe that most Americans have never actually heard the Gospel in it's full, unadulterated content!  Oh sure, we have Christian bumper stickers and billboards and t-shirts and televangelists they might catch a bit of as they channel surf...  BUT have they actually HEARD the Gospel?  Have people actually sat down and explained to them WHY they need a Saviour?  Or has Christianity been reduced to just a tagline in our culture?

  Now perhaps you can see where I am going with this...  If we only rely on the "do good works" philosophy of evangelism, then who sits down to tell them WHY we do good works?  There is no one to explain WHY we are mowing their lawn or carrying their groceries!  (I say this in general; yes, I do know some people are doing this, but I mean the Body of Christ as a whole- and sadly must include myself in this!)  Look, the reality is that if we don't ever share the Gospel then we can't very much expect them to hear it.  If we never explain to them that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, then we can't very much expect them to repent of their sins.

Now I know what some of you may be thinking:  BUT we live in America, and everyone's heart is hardened here.  There is no hope.  The culture is getting worse and God is only working in other Countries.  O.K.  To that I will counter your point with this:  Has God said there is no hope for America?  have you had some divine revelation that you would like to share with the class about how God told you to just give up and go home?

I didn't think so...

There is an interesting account in Scripture found in Luke 5:1-9 in which Jesus happens across some fishermen.  They had just pulled in from an all-night fishing trip in which they caught nothing.  Jesus asked them to take Him out on their boat, and after some teaching he asked them to cast out their fishing nets. The men, who were professionals in their trade, offered to Jesus that they had already fished there all night with no results, so obviously nothing was there.  But they did it anyway, I would dare say possibly with some reluctance.  I know that I would be thinking- listen up, buddy, you are a good teacher and all but this is crazy!  But what happened?   Luke tells us that they caught 2 boatfuls of fish, so much so that the boats were sinking!

I share this Scripture for a reason.  I think too often we say, in a matter of terms, that there are no fish left in America.  We have been out all night casting our good works nets.  we have labored with our conservatism and social justice nets.  We have drug the depths with our Christian clothing lines.  All good things- but we keep coming up empty.  So when we feel that prodding of the Spirit our first response is, "I am the professional here, and I am telling you this is a waste of time".  But is it really a waste of time?  Is it true that we are left with only a few "fishes" here and there?

Or is it only a waste of time if we are not doing it with the power of the Holy Spirit, as He leads us to do it?

Well, my thoughts went on longer than I intended, so I am going to sum this up now with these closing thoughts...

We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't look for the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Paul writes that we are to walk in the Spirit- Galatians 5:16.  If we walk in the Spirit that does not mean take a few steps and then leave Him behind.  But rather walk in His guidance.  We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't actually take the gifts God has given and use them to reach the lost; to share with them our testimony, to sit with them and explain the Gospel instead of leaving them with crumbs of it and expect them to change.

My challenge to you- and me- is simply to ponder on this for a bit:  What would happen if we actually evangelized America the way we evangelize other nations, and in the SAME breath that we share the Gospel we proclaim in faith and actually believe that God will move in our land?