Oasis Christian Fellowship : bethechurch

Living Life Forward, Understanding it Backward

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It was Soren Kierkegaard who coined the phrase, “We live life forward but understand it backward.” The principle is that we often do not know exactly why things are happening the way they are happening in our lives, but when we look back and reflect on the different events and the way things went down over time, we can better understand it. By looking back it also helps us to live forward.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

James 4:13-15 says, “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

In my youthful cockiness and blind arrogance I set out to plant Oasis Christian Fellowship with a pretty good idea in my mind about “tomorrow”. Like James warns us against, I said to my wife, “we shall go to (Athens) and plant a church and do this and do that, and it will look like this and that”—yet I did not know what “tomorrow” would bring. The following is a summary outline of what the coming days would eventually bring us, leading all the way up to where we are today. The latter portion of today’s notes will be more detailed since they are dealing with church structure and leadership, while the first portion of the talk will be a basic outline of my narrative.

Oasis Christian Fellowship by name is approximately four years old, but Oasis Christian Fellowship of Meigs County is officially less than a year old. I know some of you are thinking, “Wait a minute, I have been attending meetings with Oasis for at least a couple of years, what are you talking about Chris?” That’s exactly why I am doing this talk today, as it is important to look back and see the path God has provided for us, and to understand how we got to where we are today. I believe we are finally at a place in Meigs County where the church is primed to move forward with energy and momentum. So sit back and enjoy this talk. Those of you who have been with us since the beginning will be very familiar with the stories. And hopefully those of you who have recently joined the Oasis family will be interested to know where Oasis came from and why there is a new church in Meigs County.

December 22, 2000
Chris and April make their annual trip to southeastern Ohio to spend Christmas with family. On the four and half hour trip from Wauseon we were listening to church planting seminars on CDs while talking and praying about church planting.

As we drove through Athens we both got the sense that the Holy Spirit was speaking to our hearts and He was calling us to move and plant a church in Athens. The very words out of our mouths were, “If there is anyplace that could use an Oasis it’s down here,” as we were driving down route 33.

May 4, 2001
Chris and April put their house on the real estate market in Wauseon, OH and began gathering a team of people to move to Athens to join in the planting of Oasis Christian Fellowship of Athens.
During this same time Chris and April began contacting family and friends “back home” (in Meigs County) with the news that they were moving to Athens to start a new church. Already some of those people from Meigs County were getting excited about the possibility of a new church, and were even willing to drive to Athens to join it.

August 31, 2001
Chris and April finish packing up all of their belongings into a U-Haul and move from Wauseon to Middleport. Wait, Middleport? Why not Athens? Because between May 4 and August 31 we became convicted that we needed to vow to God that we would take the risk and move before September, even if our house had not sold by then. Until it sold we were obviously still paying the mortgage on it, and therefore could not afford rent in Athens, but we had made arrangements with my mother and father, Mike and Sharon Stewart, who graciously agreed to allow us to live in an extra bedroom in their house until our house in Wauseon was sold. We would then find a home to either rent or purchase in Athens and move there. We were anticipating that this would be a month or two, maybe three at the most.

In addition to April and I moving, fifteen people from Wauseon and one from St. Louis (Jared Stewart) moved to be part of the new church plant.

September 11, 2001
Eleven days after moving, Chris is leading worship at a retreat for Keith Wasserman and Good Works, when we hear the devastating news of terrorism in New York City. Two days later the real estate agent calls us to tell us that no one is sure what is going to happen to the market, but she will do the best she can and keep us posted. We heard nothing for 3 months. No one even came to look at the house for additional 3 months. Finally, in March of 2002, we had an offer on the house. It fell through. There would be no more activity on the house for another year and two months.

In the meantime we were trying to figure out what to do with our church plans. Looking back, here is a brief summary of the progression of Oasis:

• October of 2001 >> We began having gathered worship meetings at the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center in Athens, using nearly every dollar of our weekly offerings to pay the hotel conference room cost of $75 per week.
• June of 2002 >> We were not having enough people or money to justify continuing to meet in the OU Inn. It was at this time that Chris met with three different families to discuss having church meetings in their homes. Two of these were from Athens (neither still meeting), and one was in Middleport (Mike and Sharon Stewart’s house).
• Summer of 2002 >> On two or three different occasions we met in special larger gatherings on Sunday evening, in Mike and Sharon’s yard and at the old Meigs Middle School. In the Middleport house church we were having between 7 and 15 people on a regular basis.
• Fall of 2002 >> We made arrangements with the American Legion Post 128 in Middleport to use their annex building for weekly Sunday gatherings. These took place in the evening until October 13, which was our first ever Sunday morning meeting. On that first Sunday morning we had over 40 people come, and on a weekly basis we were having between 15 to 25 people at the Sunday morning gathering.
  During this time we were still determined to eventually move the gathering to Athens someday, as the church was still operating as Oasis Christian Fellowship of Athens, although it was meeting in Middleport on Sundays. There was no vision or plan for beginning a church in Meigs County at this time.
• Between October 2002 and August 2003 >> During this time period every individual except two (Amy Hoffman and Jared Stewart) who moved to participate in the church plant decided that they no longer wanted to be part of the ministry of Oasis in southeastern Ohio.
• August of 2003 >> Chris called together a team of people to meet with him on a monthly basis for prayer and accountability in ministry. This advisory team became a catalyst for Chris to bounce off vision and ideas and help in minor decisions.
• Between August 2003 and TODAY >> We continued meeting in homes throughout the week and in the American Legion Building on Sunday mornings, and have begun to recognize the “official” work God is doing in Meigs County through Oasis.

December of 2005
“Oasis Christian Fellowship of Meigs” receives incorporation status from the state of Ohio.

We had a plan… and God had a BIGGER plan
Looking backward at how things have unfolded, it has become obvious that God wanted to do much more with us than simply plant a church in Athens. Yes, we still believe He wants to plant a church in Athens. But one possibility I was not ready for was that he wanted to plant an Oasis in Meigs County first.

So what are the next steps in this peculiar journey?
For three years we lived as a fellowship of people without a clear definition of who we are or where we are going. I don’t believe this has been all bad. In fact, it has been very good. It has taught us that Christianity is a life to be LIVED, and church is not a country club or a place you go once a week or a program you attend. It is a family, and it is something we ARE. We have learned how to be the church.

Learning how to BE the church is a vitally important foundational principle that we must never forget as we continue to grow and develop in maturity. And as we grow and develop in our maturity we will obviously become more defined and recognizable in our culture. At the same time it is becoming very important to focus on leadership development. The Scripture has some very specific instruction and qualifications for church leadership and organization. And it is essential that we do not overlook this important aspect of our church’s health.

Last week I took three posts to discuss the important aspects of healthy church leadership development. You can find those under the title: "Qualifications of Church Planter" Part I, Part II, and Part III. As we build for the future we must fix our eyes on our mission. God has a plan and a purpose for each person who finds fellowship with Oasis in Meigs County. Now that we have looked backward in hope of better understanding what God has been doing among us, let us look forward and LIVE life to the fullest.

May 14, 2006 to five years from now...
Oasis in Meigs County is a growing, healthy church of people who have fervor for the work of Jesus Christ and are faithfully living out the mission of God (missio dei) throughout the various neighborhoods, communities, and towns in Meigs County. The church gets to participate and celebrate in seeing hundreds of people put faith in Christ and join the mission. We get to see God raise up people from our own number to become pastors/elders, deacons, and missionaries in their schools, in their homes, and in their workplaces. We get to train and help raise up people from our fellowship whom God is calling to begin an Oasis in another town, and perhaps another state, or even another country. We get to see God develop the people and the plans for the Oasis church plant in Athens.

Visualize yourself in five years. In relationship to the mission of Oasis, where will you be? Where do you want to be? What do you want God to do with you by then?

What do you need to do NOW to begin working toward that goal?

I believe that Oasis Christian Fellowship of Meigs is in existence today by the providence of God. Looking backward, it is easy to see the ways He has put this fellowship together like pieces of a puzzle. We are the pieces of the puzzle. And He is moving us to where we are supposed to be. We are not finished yet. I believe He’s just now getting all the end pieces put together. Now comes the meat of the puzzle. The middle. Take comfort in the knowledge that God can see the picture. He knows where we are going. We are in His hands. Let’s keep living life forward so we can understand it backward.

"BE the Church" (some "balancing" thoughts as summertime approaches)

A few months ago I was pondering these issues of "living life, being involved in the world, while also being part of a church community". I posted the following thoughts on a web site called Allelon.org. Hopefully they will be helpful to you as you plan for the summer and desire to be in fellowship with Oasis.

When I was a child growing up I saw kids on my ball teams whose parents did not allow them to participate with the team on Wednesday nights because that was "church night." I always felt bad for those kids, feeling that if you make a commitment to something you should be able to do it all the way, not just "when you can" or "when you want to." But then again, hadn't they made a commitment FIRST to their church? So then, perhaps they shouldn't play sports at all........ no that doesn't seem right... does it??? I guess it depends on how we view commitment to "church". Is it church meetings? Or is it something else?

See the struggle? In house church/simple church settings, during the summertime your meetings and gatherings can get pretty sparse for lack of people. And it's not because these people are "falling away" or any of that nonsense... it's just that they are choosing to participate in the community at large. And I WANT people to coach ball teams, and have their kids play on teams, and do gymnastics, and go to band camps, and help in community events, etc. But I also do not want our house church hosts and leaders to become discouraged because it appears their fellowship is dying.

This is the dilemma I have found myself in... even personally. I coach baseball. I have always coached baseball since the day I stopped playing. It is a needed recreational activity for my personal well-being, and a great opportunity for me to interact in a number of young people's lives and fellow coaches in very positive ways. The conversations I have had in dugouts between games or on the bus have often had the feel of a house church meeting in and of themselves. However, often coaching baseball takes me away from some of those summer meetings that I usually attend on a regular basis.

These "extra-curricular" things are important parts of our lives. But as we know, fellowship and regular edification of the body is vital to our lives as well. So the practical question is… how do we make both work? I have focused this writing as a discussion on “summertime church issues” because I have found this to be more prevalent in the summertime. How do we encourage and continue to participate in the communities in which we live while also keeping the fellowship and the encouragement we get from one another, for instance, in our house church meetings (most of our house churches meet on weeknights, which is typically when we find the most conflict with community events)?

Maybe it’s by focusing more on “doing the Word” during the summer months, and perhaps our "meetings" during those months should consist more of helping/serving in a variety of ways. Or perhaps a few planned fellowship parties, and some "intentionally spontaneous" weekly cook-outs?

I believe that perhaps the best, and most biblically accurate way to view the local church is as a "family"! In my experience most nuclear families have this SAME problem over the summer. The normal routine is tossed out the window because of all the activity of summer. How does a family respond to this? One example I can think of is they are open to seize an opportunity when everyone is together. They look around and see everyone home for an afternoon at the same time and say hey “let’s get together, eat, and catch up!” I also think you have to become deliberate about getting together. So there definitely must be balance, and flexibility alike.

Staying with the family metaphor... in a family, how is "commitment" defined? Is your commitment to your family dependant upon how many dinners you sit down and have with them? Are your priorities out of place because you are not making every effort to be at those "scheduled" times together? Of course not. Those are important times, and you should make every effort to have those as often as possible, but just because your schedule may not allow you to be at the dinner table every meal with them does not show you lack commitment or giving priority to your family.

Family is defined by flexibility... not rigidity. If I tell my son that he cannot play baseball this summer because he will have games scheduled on church meeting nights (which he most likely will), what am I telling my son? Is God, our church family, and our relationship with God and our church family a priority over baseball, or gymnastics, band, etc? Of course. But what does it mean that God is a priority over these things? Does it mean that we cannot be, or should not be involved in these "extra-curricular" things if the schedules will potentially conflict with our meetings? We have to remember, church is family... not meetings. My family is defined by who we are and what we do WHEN we are together. It is NOT defined by simply getting together or the number of times we get together. Does that make sense?

Some people are going to weigh in differently on this, and so I feel that part of my role is to help us all understand there is room for differences of opinion. For instance, there will always be people in the church who get involved in a lot of "extra-curricular" activities that may cause them to be away from church meetings now and then. To say they have not made their church involvement a priority would not be fair. Their commitment to Jesus and to the church should not be measured by whether or not they attend church meetings. But on the other side of that coin... those people will need to be deliberate about creating other opportunities in their schedules for fellowship.

There is a dangerous pattern that has the potential to rear it's ugly head if we are not careful. In many church institutions there is this concept that you are not a committed member unless you come to all the events and programs. But as you have heard me say before, my desire it to stop "going" to church, and instead BE the church. In the "simple" church model I found a "structure" that lent itself to that understanding of who we are as the church. However, even with the "simple" church or "house church" we can still be in danger of falling into those same old patterns.

Likewise, there will also always be people who DO define their commitment by being at all the meetings, etc. They do feel it necessary to make it top priority to not miss a single one, and will choose to get involved or not get involved in other, extra-curricular things based upon when the meetings are. And those people must also be encouraged in their zeal and passion for the church, while at the same time reminded that others are not "less committed" than they are.

Earlier I referred to family "routines"... and how at certain times, like summertime, the normal routine is usually set aside for a while. The church also has a set of routines, but it seems that the church tends to grab a hold of those routines with a much stronger grip than nuclear families do. I guess the key is to figure out how to set aside some of the normal routines without losing or backtracking in our relationships and fellowship life.

If each one of us can find that balance, then I believe we will find what truly is ABUNDANT LIFE. God has given us everything for our enjoyment. He wants us to constantly be about HIS mission in this world... while enjoying the life he has given us. My desire is to encourage you in this. To be an example of this very thing for you. I hope you see me as one who enjoys life, who has a passion for the Gospel, and for empowering people to serve in this great commission of Jesus. I may do this through preaching, teaching, serving my church family, serving my nuclear family, or serving in the community at large.

This has been a lengthy article. I hope you are challenged, stretched, and encouraged by it. Find freedom in it! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. Liberty to LIVE and LOVE your community. If nothing else, take it as an exhortation to do just that.

stewieBLOGS has given birth

Well, it's official. The "plans for the future" have been arranged and implemented in less than 24 hours. I had actually been thinking about doing this for a long time, but all it took was a weekend trip from a good friend and long-time ministry partner, Matt McNeil, to put the other puzzle piece together.

Obviously you will notice right away that stewieBLOGS has undertaken a complete overhaul. The new URL for the site is www.bethechurch.com. You will still be able to access the site at http://stewie.blogs.com, but from now on I will be publishing www.bethechurch.com as the official domain.

The greatest difference you will eventually begin to notice on the site is that I will no longer be the only person who posts on the main page of the site. I have invited a few friends to share their wisdom with us as well. For some time I have had a vision to create a "blogging community" consisting of Oasis people from all over the place... Athens, Meigs County, Northwest Ohio, Indiana, etc. My vision is that the site will continue to grow into a great community of bloggers who encourage one another through their insights of scripture, their songs, their poems, their practical wisdom, and theological understanding. These people all have some good stuff to share, and I am happy to provide bethechurch as venue for them to share their gifts.

You will still be able to download the weekly teaching MP3, and do all of the things you did before. But now this site will simply include a little more than what I have to offer.

The vision of BEING the church...
I think most Christians would agree that the church is what we ARE. It's not something we DO, or something we GO TO, or something we stand in or sit in or get married in. The concept of BEING the church is the underlying theme of this entire web site. We recognize that we are a community, not because of proximity... not because of style, or method, or race, or even doctrine. We are a community because of JESUS. We belong to the body of JESUS. He is the reason why you are my brother, or my sister. It's not because you worship in the same room I do, or use the same translation of the Bible I use. It's all JESUS.

He is what makes us the Church. We are called to live out the life of Jesus in our own little communities where we happen to live, work, and play. It's from those places we have experiences that create testimonies and stories. This blog is about BEING the church wherever you are. This blog recognizes that BEING the church is a HUGE thing. It encompasses so much more than just my little group of people in my town. I am connected with people in all parts of the world. The Kingdom of God is SO big... and I am part of it!

Maybe we will see some glimpses of that truth as we continue on this journey. I am looking forward to having a "blogging community" to walk beside me.

Hope and Presidents

It’s 10:00 AM, and I am sitting in my usual place of study, Donkey Coffee and Espresso. On a typical Wednesday morning I would have to hope I can find a seat with a table beside the wall so I can plug in my laptop, spread out my books and notebooks, put on my headphones to drown out the largely political conversation all around me so I can work, write, and pray without distraction.

Today, however, it feels very strange. I am sitting in this place with, literally, one other person. I wonder where everyone is?

As it appears to be more and more likely that any minute now Senator Kerry will concede the contest and thus, President Bush will declare victory of the 2004 election, I am stricken with a disturbing thought. With all of the animosity there has been against the President of the United States, and with the strong divisive stances supporters of both campaigns took, and with all the “hope” so many people put in getting President Bush out of office. I wonder if many Kerry supporters weren’t as much for Senator Kerry as they were against President Bush? And will they continue to fight against him? Or can we truly "Move On" as so many have adamantly proposed?

This is what concerns me. I have heard some extremely derogatory statements made toward President Bush. And one can argue that they may be justified. Likewise, I have heard just as many belittling comments toward Senator Kerry. Again, some may feel those are warranted. But now (or in just a little while) the election is over. What will we do? Will we be more divided than ever? Will my acquaintances at the coffee shop move to another country because they simply cannot stomach the thought of living under the leadership of this President for four more years? I have heard these kinds of statements. I have seen them written on the chalkboard in the men’s restroom (a place for ongoing political commentary). What will happen now?

You must understand I am neither a President Bush supporter nor a President Bush attacker. But it seemed like you either had to be one or the other. My sentiment during all of this campaigning has been melancholy. It has troubled me to see the hatred, rage, divisive, win at any cost attitudes of both political parties. To quote Wayne Jacobsen, “I am appalled by the dishonest, angry rhetoric of this campaign that has further divided our nation at a time when we need to humble ourselves. I am appalled that both political parties have been corrupted by special interest money that rewards political cronies rather than to champion justice in our society. I am appalled that both campaigns preferred to spread lies about the other than to inspire the citizenry to a higher common good worthy of the place we hold in the world.” I could not have expressed my sentiment any better.

It has troubled me so much that I simply could not support either party or either candidate. I could not bring myself to vote for either candidate, or even for any of those from the lesser parties. I wasn’t looking for a perfect person, but a man worthy of the office. I wasn’t even concerned whether or not the man held “traditional Christian values.” If a Christian candidate for President were not qualified and worthy of the office, but non-Christian candidate was, I would have no problem voting for the non-Christian one. So it wasn’t even that. I guess I just did not want to merely vote for the one who was least flawed (the lesser of two evils).

So, in not voting for either candidate, I voted in protest against an election process I found repugnant and against two candidates who “acted more like name-calling bullies on a kindergarten playground than statesmen who would put the common good above their own self-interest.” And instead of voting for a candidate I could not personally endorse with good conscience, I lamented for the state of our nation, and I prayed. I prayed that God would speak to our next President (whoever it is) and give him the grace to lead our nation with wisdom, with compassion for the powerless, with a voice for the fatherless and stricken, and with a humility and love that would conquer all fear, doubt, and apprehension. May he be more concerned with love than with power. May He see You, God, as the all-powerful, all-wise Creator of all things… and yet Your greatest strength is Your love. Love is not something you possess. Love is who you ARE. If we know You, then we know true love. May our President come to a knowledge of You, and have the grace and strength to lead accordingly.

Whether you were for President Bush or against him, in just a few minutes you will be under his leadership again. How will you invest your life in the next 4 years? Will you not work toward peace, unity, love, and justice in your immediate surroundings? Of course you will. Control what you have the ability to control. Make a difference in your world. That statement has SO much more to say than simply “get out and vote.” That part is over. Now we have 1,460 days to make a difference before the next Presidential election. Think of how much we can do in that time!

So my question and challenge for the people of America is this. Are we simply campaigners? Do we campaign for change? Or do we MAKE change? Will Kerry supporters hang their heads and say, “Well, we have to suffer through these next 4 years until we get another chance to do something about it?” Is campaigning and electing the only way we can cause change? You would think so… with the millions of dollars we have spent in advertising for “change.”

Body of Christ, lets lead by example. Show the political world that there is a much better way to create change. Participate in local activism. Love your neighbor (love is an action by the way, not just something you feel). Speak up for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Be their voice in local community decisions. Be an example for the power of humility and love in the world. Respect everyone… even if you disagree with them, especially those in office of leadership over you. Teach the world how to make real change take place. Be an example. Be completely humble and gentle at all costs.

I’m glad things are nearly over. I am glad because now we can get on with the living, instead of just portentously suggesting how we plan to live. The future is among us. It’s time to begin living once again. Where is our hope? Is our hope in whomever we elect as President?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:3-9

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” - 1 Timothy 4:9-10

I’m out.

Lets Talk Presidential Election 2004

The following post is a compilation of thoughts... some my own, but some from others as well (see the cited list for links to sources). This morning in our Oasis gathering we discussed most of this material as a means to open conversation about the upcoming presidential election. If you would like to listen to that mp3 and read as you listen, you can get it here.
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I recently had someone ask me, “What makes you most nervous about talking politics in church?” That’s a good question. I guess I would first have to admit that I am nervous, and then answer the question. Considering the amount of time I have invested over the past two or three months studying issues, researching candidates, and gathering as much information as I possibly can in order to be a “smart voter,” I would have to admit that it does make me a little nervous. As I have considered how to handle the “election season” with Oasis I recognize that I have a few different options.

1. I could ignore it completely.

2. I could remind you to vote as your “civic Christian duty,” and just leave it at that.

3. I could teach on the moral issues related to the election, things about which we are undoubtedly already in agreement.

Or, compelled by what’s going on in our country and world, I could try a fourth option.

4. Discuss all of the options available to you, and teach and educate ourselves on the things about which we may not already be in agreement.

Brian McLaren suggests that perhaps the most powerful and popular denomination in America is not the Baptists or the Catholics or the Methodists or the Assemblies of God. It’s what McLaren calls "radio-orthodoxy"—the set of beliefs promoted by religious broadcasting. If you doubt the power of radio-orthodoxy, just try contradicting it, especially in an election year.

The fact is, it’s hard to be a good pastor any time, but during an election year in a country blanketed by religious broadcasting, it gets even harder. How do we teach and lead our churches in a year like this—with an important and divisive election underway? As a result of radio-orthodoxy, it could be said that many if not most Christians in America are more or less unspoken members of the Religious Right. It doesn’t matter if pastors teach about social justice and care for the poor, the environment, the alien (stranger), or the enemy. Every day during drive time, well-intentioned people who tune into Christian radio hear radio-orthodox broadcasts from a different vantage point. Then, confused Christians have to decide with whom they agree. [1]

I will not go with option 1—ignore the election completely—although it is what some pastors choose to do. To ignore the election altogether is to ignore one of the most weighty issues every adult American citizen is pondering at this time in their lives. In my family we talk about things. We have discussions that are helpful to us in decision-making. The results of these discussions are hopefully wiser, more confident decisions. Oasis is a family. And hopefully we all desire to make wise decisions as we follow our Lord Jesus.

Neither will I go with option 2—to remind you that voting is your civic Christian duty, and leave it at that—although this is what many pastors choose to do. Yes, we have a civic Christian duty—to be a good citizen of the land in which you happen to live—but I do not believe our civic duty ends with voting. Christians are called to be good citizens, to engage their world and not to withdraw from government altogether. So, what does that mean? It means whether one decides to vote or not, one must find ways to contribute to our society/nation on Christ's terms. It has often been said that it is one's Christian duty to vote. But I am not convinced that such a statement is biblical. In fact, the biblical writers and audiences didn't have the right to vote in their land. However, it is certainly accurate to say that Christians must be good citizens and work for the betterment of their nation and communities. Many Christians exhaust their civic responsibilities by voting, believing that after they've voted they need do nothing else. [2] This is primarily why I will not go with option 2. We have a civic duty to do much more than vote.

Option 3—teaching on the moral issues surrounding the election—is not something I desire to do either simply because it would be “preaching to the choir” so to speak. This is the option most pastors choose during an election year. This is the option we are bombarded with through email, radio, and Christian advertising. Most of us already know and agree with the moral issues at hand. It’s easy to preach up a sweat when you know nearly everyone in the church is thinking, "Amen! Give ‘em hell… er… heaven!" But when your church feels threatened, intimidated, rebuked, insulted, discomforted, and otherwise unsettled, it’s another matter. We tend to shy away from tension. But it is the tension that makes us stronger. Invite it. Welcome it. Embrace it.

That is why I will go with option 4—discuss all of the options available to you, and teach and educate ourselves on the things about which we may not already be in agreement. Use your imagination for just a minute. Imagine we are living in Alabama or Mississippi, and it’s 1962. Oasis is an all-white church of Christians who share the views of our neighbors about integration, equality, and the like. As a pastor I would like to be truly prophetic in teaching the truths of God’s Word. One option would be for me to preach some rip-roaring sermons that would either get me fired fast or send most of you packing for a church more to your liking. I could then move to Massachusetts and get a job there, telling the story of my valiant stand for truth and consequent persecution among the Southern savages, and thereby become a certified hero, well-perched to preach similar fiery sermons against the bigotry of people in the South, to cries of "Amen! Give ’em hell… er… heaven!" from my New England parishioners. This would be very good for my career and very fulfilling. I could even write magazine articles about my exploits. But what good would it really do? Another option would be to avoid the subject of racism for 30 or 40 years, until other larger forces have already brought a change in the thinking of Oasis people. Then I could preach about it with enthusiasm, waiting just long enough to have all the excitement of taking risks, with none of the risk. What I am looking for, however, is a better option than either thundering self-righteousness or avoidance. It will involve risk. But it will also involve patience and gentleness and respect. Yes, I will need to be bold and courageous, but I will also need to be both clever as a serpent and harmless as a dove. [1]

Having said all of that as introduction, lets now get into the discussion.

The first thing we must recognize and admit is the fact that God is not aligned with any political party. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. Contrary to claims made by the Religious Right, God has not taken a side in the election of a President.

"It is the responsibility of every political conservative, every evangelical Christian, every pro-life Catholic, every traditional Jew, every Reagan Democrat, and everyone in between to get serious about re-electing President Bush." – Jerry Falwell, The New York Times, July 16, 2004

"I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I really believe I'm hearing from the Lord it's going to be like a blowout election in 2004. The Lord has just blessed him...It doesn't make any difference what he does, good or bad..." – Pat Robertson, AP/Fox News, January 2, 2004

Consider the following statements of belief as posted by Sojourners magazine, a Christian publication on faith, politics, and culture.

We believe that God is NOT a Republican or a Democrat.

We believe that claims of divine appointment for the President, uncritical affirmation of his policies, and assertions that all Christians must vote for his re-election constitute bad theology and dangerous religion.

We believe that sincere Christians and other people of faith can choose to vote for President Bush or Senator Kerry—for reasons deeply rooted in their faith.

We believe all candidates should be examined by measuring their policies against the complete range of Christian ethics and values.

We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests.

We believe that poverty—caring for the poor and vulnerable—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)

We believe that the environment—caring for God's earth—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)

We believe that war—and our call to be peacemakers—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)

We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)

We believe that human rights—respecting the image of God in every person—is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)

We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13)

We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue. Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS—and other pandemics—and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)

We also admonish both parties and candidates to avoid the exploitation of religion or our congregations for partisan political purposes. [3] (www.sojo.net)

As we contemplate our decisions regarding voting it is imperative that we consider the truths of God’s Word, as well as His character as expressed through Jesus Christ. Someone recently asked me the question, “Who do you think Jesus would vote for if he were living in the United States today?” Man, that is perhaps the toughest question I have had to face in a very long time. And I had a very profound answer. Are you ready? I answered… “I don’t know.” However, based on Jesus’ life and teachings, there are some things that we do know about him regarding how he might vote. I believe Jesus would vote for the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I believe he would vote for those who mourn, for they will be comforted. I believe he would vote for the meek, for they will inherit the earth. I believe he would vote for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. I believe he would vote for the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. I believe he would vote for the pure in heart, for they will see God. I believe he would vote for the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. I believe he would vote for those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)

Jesus’ mind always seemed to be on another Kingdom. Was he mindful of the earthly kingdom in which he lived? Sure he was. He paid his taxes when called upon to do so. He obeyed the governing authorities, and encouraged us to do likewise, as long as our obedience to the governing authorities does not compromise our obedience to God and His Kingdom. You see, we are members of two kingdoms, but when those two kingdoms come into opposition of one another, our allegiance falls to ONE. In the New Testament this came true for the early Christians. They belonged to God, and the conditions of His kingdom opposed what the governing authorities were teaching and admonishing them. The result was their persecution and ultimately for many of the early disciples, their death.

What does this mean for me as a voter in the United States of America? It means that when I consider how I should vote, I must consider what’s best for God’s Kingdom before I consider what’s best for the United States of America. God’s Kingdom is not the United States of America. This is a wonderful country, and I believe we should be very thankful and recognize the great privilege it is to live here. However, it is an abysmal mistake to think that we are a nation who has God’s blessing, His hand, and His protection. Those are things reserved for members of His Kingdom. And guess what. God’s Kingdom exists in many nations. We have fellow citizens in Mexico, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Honduras, Haiti, Russia, China, Korea, and even Iraq, as well as many others. So I am fraught with the understanding that as I vote for issues and politicians in my country those decisions are also going to affect my brothers and sisters throughout the world, who are citizens of their own country, but furthermore citizens of the Kingdom of God. My allegiance must be to His Kingdom first. I must seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

So, if you choose to vote, you have much more to consider than the average citizen of the United States who does not belong to God. They are only considering their own interests, their own protection, their own gain. We must “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others”—for this is the very attitude of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:4,5).

Before you simply submit to the teaching that comes from “radio-orthodoxy,” do some research of your own, have open discussions among groups of Christians and dig into the critical issues of both the election and the scriptures. Allow people to ask you critical questions like, “Why are you considering voting for your candidate of choice?” Ask yourself that question. In these discussions and in your contemplation of these matters there are some important guidelines to consider:

1. Show respect for all positions on an issue, and for those who hold opposing opinions. It’s tempting, especially when one is reacting against a polemical, biased, chest-thumping opposition, to respond likewise and opt out of the Lord’s command about doing unto others.

2. Understand the opposing side so well that you can present its arguments as clearly as its proponents do. Each position has its upside and downside, as do opposing views. We tend to know our upside and their downside, but fairness requires we face our downside and their upside as well.

3. To show that you understand the opposition and have been willing to listen, present the opposing case’s position. Present it so compellingly that people would believe it’s your position.

4. Then present your position, rooting your position in biblical soil, admitting your position’s downsides.

5. Confess your openness to changing your thinking—thus modeling the teachability you hope your people will demonstrate. [4]

If you take time to do all of these steps as you pray, research, and discuss the presidential election, you will be giving yourself the tools you need for wisdom when it comes time to vote. You will be utilizing the important, common-courtesy of active listening (a rule that neither party seems to understand these days). God’s Word reminds us in James 1:19 “to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger”… a bit of wisdom that is ever important during these times.

You may have noticed a few paragraphs ago that I made the statement, “So, if you choose to vote…” What do you mean IF? It’s the Christian’s civic duty to vote, right? Aren’t we called to be good citizens of our government, and since it is a democracy whose success depends on our voice (which in this argument is considered “our vote”), then it is our Christian duty to vote. Right? Well, some Christians do feel that way. And that’s okay. But take time to listen to another perspective.

There are Christians who have a difficult time endorsing what many would call “the lesser of two evils.” Most of us have heard the argument that when considering whom to vote for one must weigh the candidates, and since none of them are perfect we must choose the “lesser of two evils.” The abstentionist would argue that the “lesser of two evils” is still “evil.” Some people choose to abstain because they find it difficult to support either major candidate for President. For instance, a believer may be more inclined toward Candidate A, but his positions on abortion, human life, and foreign policy may make it difficult for said believer to vote for him. But what if Candidate B had a similar list of questionable convictions and actions, it would make it difficult for the believer to vote for him in good conscience as well. This is where the “lesser of two evils” argument comes into play. Some Christians, out of ethical duty, would choose the candidate who appears “closest” to what the believer considers a righteous choice. And, again, that’s okay. However, some Christians have come to the conclusion that they simply cannot vote in favor of either candidate. The argument for that believer is, “Do I vote for the lesser of two evils as an ethical act, or is it more Christian to show my disagreement by abstaining?” So you can see why some Christians may choose to abstain from voting for President.

This is an option that is not uncommon in the wider Christian world in this country (Anabaptists Brethren, Mennonites). There is also a legacy of nonparticipation in government within the earliest members of the Restoration Movement (where the Church of Christ/Christian Churches are rooted). So, this option is not new or totally foreign to the faith, even if it is to our more immediate contexts.

Many Christians would argue that voting is participation in the empire cult, it is playing Caesar's game, and as citizens of the Kingdom of God who have higher allegiances, they feel they cannot participate. This view would be based upon the position of nonparticipation in the ways of empire held by the earliest Christians, and it assumes that ours is not a "Christian" country, but really a godless empire that only uses "Christianity" when it is politically advantageous. This may be contrary to the popular conservative Christian view, but to many believers it makes a great deal of sense. [2]

In the grand scheme of things it seems that even if a Christian decides to vote, participating in the electoral process is actually a very minor way of exercising our civic duty. Perhaps a more effective “voice” would be local activism and involvement, in which we volunteer, work for peace and justice, and write letters to our representatives and work for specific issues. Should it be said of the Christian who chooses not to vote, yet is locally very socially active in working for the betterment of the community, that he/she is not performing his/her civic duty? I should think not.

In conclusion, consider the following words from Sister Joan Chittister, writer for the National Catholic Reporter:

We must recognize that most likely God is not keeping a denominational scorecard on either party's platforms and legislative proposals, as in "This one is Christian, this one is not Christian, not Christian, Christian, Christian, not Christian." And the winner is… !!”

But, if the psalmist is anywhere near correct, there is a criterion we can all use to make our personal political decisions with moral confidence. You can bet God's own criteria still holds. You can bet God is still listening, just as in His message to Moses at the burning bush: "I have heard the cry of the poor… and I mean to deliver them."

Is it possible that this election may be a reprise of that same message—this time, for us?

The truth is that there are more than enough poor that we as a country no longer count: The unemployed who drop off the welfare rolls, the underemployed who get no benefits, the children without health insurance, the fetuses being disposed of for the sake of convenience, the Iraqi civilians being killed for the sake of macho, the elderly who are facing even more poverty in years to come as Social Security fizzles in the wealthiest country in the world while we go on investing more money in death these days than we do in life?

God is our leader, and like our leader we’d be wise to listen, as well, to the cries of the poor of other countries who, because of our economic or foreign policy plans, get poorer every day, fear us more every day and hate us more every day.

The list goes on and on. Who is "pro-life"? Where is the morality of saving life at one end only to starve it in mid-flight or kill it off cavalierly at the other?

And why are we as a people so nonchalant about it, so apparently unconscious of it all, so committed to a single-issue focus in the midst of it? Is it perhaps that this time Christianity itself has gone astray, has narrowed the criteria so clearly given at the burning bush, has itself lost perspective in a world that has never needed perspective more?

It isn't that Christianity doesn't have a place in the public debate, on the contrary. It's that politics has no place in Christianity.

It is not the place of political parties to seek to enlist the Christian community as part of its campaign staff. That smells far too much like collusion. It smacks far too much of the kind of theocratic thinking that preceded both the French and the Russian revolutions. It sounds too much like the rise of a new Christian Taliban. It sounds too much like this year's election, in fact.

It is not the function of Christian figures to condemn specific politicians. That, whether we like it or not, is still God's role. It is the function of Christianity to teach Christian values and criteria that can then be applied by you and me to the political positions of our politicians. Christianity must form us "to hear the cries of the poor" and then to vote accordingly.

We must be called to conscience—not to the political campaign strategies of either party.

If you want to cast a moral vote, print out one of the many comparative lists of the issues espoused by each candidate. Ask yourself the question, "Will this proposal, this position, affect the poor of this country or the world positively, negatively or neither?” Ascribe to each of the items in the platform or on the proposed legislative agenda a plus, a minus or a zero. Now count up the pluses. The program that will bring the most aid to the poor is the most moral position. [5]

Cast your vote accordingly. Or don’t cast it all. Either way, live your civic duty in God’s Kingdom, and subsequently in the United States of America.

_______________________________________________________

Sources

1. Brian McLaren, “Scared to Talk Politics In Church?” Sojourners Magazine
2. George Pickens, email conversation
3. Sojourners Magazine, http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith
4. Adam Hamilton, Leadership Journal, Spring 2004
5. Joan Chittister, “An Election Guide For Honest-To-God Serious Voters,” National Catholic Reporter, September 2, 2004

For further research on the candidates and the issues, and perspectives regarding Christians and voting:
http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/oh/
http://www.vote-smart.org
http://www.politics1.com
http://www.sojo.net
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2004/300804godisnot.htm
http://www.raptureready.com/republican.html
http://www.ivotevalues.com
http://www.thegoodsteward.com/article.php3?articleID=2234

Live life forward, define it backwards.

In many ways today is a day that was called into being a long time ago… in my estimation, at least three years ago, but perhaps even longer in God’s mind. It was three years ago that April and I had begun seeking the Lord about where he was leading us. When we drove through southeastern Ohio it certainly seemed right to us and to the Holy Spirit that He would be sending us to Athens. When we drove uptown Athens it became even more apparent to us that our ministry would involve direct links to the campus of Ohio University.

If you were to ask me three years ago to define what that meant, I would have probably given you a much different explanation… if I gave any at all. Would it mean that we would start an Oasis in Athens that would meet on or near the campus and have a large college student constituency? Would it mean that one of us would work for Ohio University and therefore have direct links to the campus? Would it mean that we would be involved in starting a new campus fellowship at Ohio University? We just didn’t know.

During the last 3 years there have been many things that have not gone as anticipated. Some to our dismay, but some to our pleasant surprise and excitement. God has brought many people into our lives, and has allowed many to exit from our lives. What’s important is that HE has always remained. He is constant, and His plan is constant. He is persistent. He never fails. Even when we feel like we have failed Him, He keeps going, and for some reason He picks us up and brings us along. Sometimes we are dragging our feet in bewilderment, other times we are running along beside Him (or even out in front of Him at times… but that is another article), and sometimes He just needs to carry us for a while. But regardless, it is always good to be with Him. He never fails.

That is where we feel like we are today. We are with our God. Much has happened over the last three years, but another piece of His plan for our move to southeast Ohio is beginning to take action tonight! This is a significant time, and I am starting to feel it. My stomach is full of butterflies, wondering what will become of this campus fellowship. I don’t want to screw it up!

So many things have taken place that affirm to April and I that we are to be in Athens while continuing to encourage and lead the brothers and sisters in Meigs County. More than a year ago I received an email from a friend who had a word for me from someone in His fellowship (this person, by the way, knew very little of me, but God spoke to him concerning me). As he was painting his house he heard the Lord speak a word about Athens, and the ministry Oasis is doing “down there.” The word was “Go to the campus.” That has always been our desire, but receiving that word was a reminder that the desire did not begin with us, but God. It has always been difficult trying to find the niche for Oasis on the OU campus… but perhaps some of the puzzle pieces are finally starting to come together.

Yes, this vision is less about “Oasis” specifically and more about the kingdom of God in general in Athens… particularly on campus at Ohio University, and among all the churches of Jesus Christ in Athens. Maybe my representation for the Kingdom of God in Athens will not be as an Oasis Pastor, but as simply Chris Stewart… a guy who serves in a campus ministry, and loves Jesus, and loves the Church. I guess you just never know what’s in store for you. “Live life forward, define it backwards” (Soren Kierkegaard).

On the OU Campus

Keith W. and I spent some hours on the campus tonight, the night before classes begin at Ohio University. We walked all around the greens, putting up posters about the new campus ministry. If you'd like to see a copy of the poster, click here. We are anxious to get started, wondering what God might have in store for us.

Labor "Day"

Reflections...
This past week was a busy one. In the theme of the day, it was quite "labor-some." Aside from the normal weekly preparations, study, meetings, etc... we have been gearing up for the 3500+ new OU students who will be coming to Athens (along with the other 17,000 returning)... praying, making posters, flyers, planning, promoting the new campus ministry called a church within The Church.

Also this past week was the River City Players' performance of "Annie Get Your Gun" in Meigs County. They did a fantastic job. I especially thank Mike Kennedy for helping me all week with the sound system. He's the man!!! You would be hard-pressed to find a person with more heart of a humble servant than Mike. Also, there were several people from our Meigs county fellowship who were performers in the musical. Chad Dodson and Amy Perrin both had leading roles. Also, Jon, Emma, and Lara Perrin; Jesse and Jaxon Meadows all had performing roles. Behind the scenes were Jamitha Willford on the music ques, Lisa Meadows was an off-stage manager, and Pam Durst was a lights engineer.

Wow! When you stop to consider the number of people who were in this year's musical alone, and then add to that group the people who have been in past productions of the River City theater group, a great number of Oasis folks have been involved in this very cool expression of the community. That's pretty exciting. I look forward to continuing to work with them. I always have a lot of fun.

more reflections...

This past week we began our study of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I will make the MP3 available later this week (I have some catching up to do in editing the recordings). Ephesians is going to be a fun study for us as we begin a new season of worship and service together.

I want to lift up a brother who continually amazes me every time we are together. Chad Dodson is a wonderful gift to the fellowship of believers. The songs he is writing right now are incredible, and I cannot wait to get demo CDs into your hands so you can learn them with us (here's a raw copy of one he sang yesterday). God continues to stretch him and mold him into the person He has called Chad to be. God has given him gifts that will increasingly encourage the worship of the body of Oasis. It is a pleasure to serve alongside Chad.

Looking Ahead...
Tomorrow Brock starts Kindergarten, and Kaylee starts Pre-School. A mix of emotions for Mom and Dad. We are excited at how we see our kids growing and enjoying life, the Lord (lately Brock has had his MP3 player on repeat of ONE song, The Happy Song... I love it), and each other. Yet, at the same time it seems like every time we see their growth we are reminded that they are not getting any younger. Don't get me wrong here, I don't desire to keep my kids young. Our goal is to raise responsible adults, not merely to raise kids. But sometimes it's sad to see how fast that youth does fade away. You parents out there understand.

This Wednesday night will be the opening night of our study, A Better Way To Pray by Andrew Wommack at our house church meeting at Dan & Wendy's. I am very excited about the fruit that will come from this study.

This Thursday night will be our very first meeting in Athens on the OU campus for the ministry, a church within The Church... a campus Christian fellowship. Keith and I are very encouraged about the spirit the Lord has placed in our hearts as we have prepared for this ministry. Please be in prayer for us. If you would like to support this ministry in other ways, please contact me.

More to come this week.

Summertime!!! God's Garden

I love this time of year. Anticipation of summer has always given me an internal high of sorts. I love to wake up in the morning and see the bright sun making it's way up and through my window. I love all of the options for fun available for children on nice, summer days (I confess, I also like it for me, too...). I love baseball, and baseball is best played on beautiful summer days. I love grilling out with friends, and we usually go through 4 propane tanks a year (I just refilled one yesterday).

I look forward to gathering with all of you in a number of ways during the summer months. I hope you are already planning to get involved in the community in a variety of ways. Youth baseball and softball leagues, neighborhood block parties, pool parties, casual invites of friends to your home for a cookout, etc, and etc. Summer gives us an opportunity to meet new people and make new friendships, to rekindle old ones, and to draw near to family. As a church (as the collective group of people) it is often difficult to see what God is doing in the summer months because it is easy to get all scattered out in many different ways. Churches who measure their success by the numbers they have in attendance on Sundays or at group gatherings and services often become frustrated during the summer months. But what I love about the summer is the fact that we engage ourselves in about 10 times as many conversations than we do during the other months of the year. Summer lends itself to conversation. And conversation is foundation for relationship, and ultimately... evangelism.

Think of it like a garden. If you have a garden, and you want to see good fruit harvested from it there are some important things you must first do. You have to till, or plow the garden. You have to plant seeds, water the seeds, pluck out the weeds, make sure the seeds are in a place where they can receive sunlight, water some more, etc. You must pay careful attention to the garden, and then... after time... you will begin to see a stem pop through the soil, the beginning stages of good fruit and the results of your labor.

God has a garden... and summertime is a great time to plow it and plant new seeds. Every conversation you have with someone this summer where Jesus is present is like turning the plow in God's garden. If we are all out there working, plowing, throwing seeds, enjoying these summer months of preparation... sure the garden may not look like much during this stage... but eventually, after time and patience, we will begin to see the fruit of summertime.

My advice to you during these summer months... SLOW DOWN. Sure, we all love to plan vacations and get involved in lots of new things... and that's okay. In fact, I have planned a number of things for my family this summer, along with coaching baseball, etc. But in those things, take time to breathe. Pause and ask what God is doing. Smell the refreshing breeze He gives you. Thank Him for the beauty all around you. Thank Him for the opportunity you have to live in His kingdom, and work for Him. Recognize the truth of the matter... that God allows you to be involved in the things you love and enjoy, and IN THOSE THINGS He helps you work according to His purpose in this world. So, go to your kids' and grandkids' ballgames... take the entire house church with you. Bring a huge cheering section, and let them all have conversations with the parents from your team. Take the weekend off to get away with your family. Open up to each other, and allow God to take your relationship with one another to a deeper level. Spend and extra few dollars and buy enough hamburger and hot dogs for the whole neighborhood. Invite them over, and allow God to show you the great reward of your small sacrifice.

Dive into summer with joy and anticipation! Be faithful, with your hands on the plow... and when September comes we will see a tremendous harvest. But who's looking at September now? Let's enjoy today first.

Jesus at Donkey

My thoughts on our "Donkey Church" meeting...

Good conversation as always. Discussion on reason versus faith... 1 Corinthians 1 and the foolishness of the Gospel to those who see only through eyes of reason. Also the importance of finding balance in both, faith and reason... but knowing where reason ends and faith takes over. Discussion on the differences of perspectives from the gospel writers and the possible reasons for those. Why do people see them as contradictions? Further discussion on "doctrine," essentials versus differences of interpretation. Is it more important to uphold correct doctrine or to love and seek fellowship regardless of doctrine? Would we rather be guilty of too much grace or too much law? Good coffee (as always). Good questions. Good conversation. 5 people gathered. People of all walks of life... including age, belief, education, interests, etc. I was encouraged. We'll continue the conversation next week.