Here we are again… I am going to my third camp of the summer but at this one I will not be speaking at it. I am looking forward to this particular camp because it will be held at the camp I grew up going to as a youth, Disciples Crossing in Athens, Texas.
This camp is the Leadership Seminar for youth servant leaders from around the states of Texas and New Mexico.
When I attended this seminary back in High School it was great to meet people from all over the state and hear how they were running their camps and how they were being a part of the body of Christ. I hope to have the same expereince as an adult leader.
Be sure to check out my twitter page (click here) for updates along the way!
Here is my latest article for the Orange County Record.
When I was in High School I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and New York City. This was no ordinary trip; it was not a family vacation or a school sponsored trip, rather it was a mission trip hosted by my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). High School students from Oklahoma and Texas met in Dallas to begin our adventure. The theme of the trip was “Poverty and Homelessness in the Big City.” During our trip we were going to meet with people and organizations that had devoted their lives to the cause of serving the poor and the homeless in DC and New York City. This was no ordinary mission trip; it was something that I still remember clearly to this day.
During our week long journey, we served meals to people from all walks of life; we talked with them about their life, listen to their stories of hurt, pain and even struggle with addictions. Coming from a medium sized town, I was not exposed to the homelessness on the scale that I witnessed in New York City. Sure I knew that they more than likely existed but it wasn’t something that I thought about. Because of this trip, I became more aware of the people in my city that needed assistance.
Now that it is the summer, churches are gearing up (or already have) for mission trips. Generally the appeal of mission trips to go different places to see a different part of the country or even the world. Mission trips, especially for youth and young adults, are essential when it comes to faith development. These experiences, memories, discussions and connections provide a foundation for what is means to be a follower of Christ in the 21st century. Seeds of faith are planted as a result of these trips.
In 2007, I was blessed to go to the continent of Africa, more specifically the country of Malawi. I was there for about two weeks, touring the country, visiting with local missionaries and church leaders. I saw people who lived in one of the poorest countries in the world cling to their faith in God. At one of the churches I visited, one of the leaders showed us an area in the back of the church. It was a small room but it was filled with bags of corn, wheat and flour. It was recently harvest time and the members of the church donated ten percent of their crops to the church so that the church could use it to serve other people. When the group I was traveling with return to the United States we had conversations about our experiences. Many of us agreed that we went to Malawi to find a way to help the people in that country with some need that had rather it was water or sanitation, but all returned changed. The people of Malawi through their generosity and bold faith in spite of what was going on in their life transformed us; we were not the same people when we returned. Our hearts were filled with the goodness of the people, our souls were renewed by the faith that was expressed and our eyes were opened to a culture and people full of life and devotion.
Mission trips in their inception were started by people who wanted to share the message of Christ to those who had not heard it before. Missionaries would risk their lives going into areas where the story of Christ had not been told before. But now, mission trips have evolved. There are not areas where the gospel has not been spread to, there not places were missionaries have not already been, so what are the point of mission trips now?
Mission trips have the power to impact those attending the trip just as much as those who are being served. These trips have a way of exposing us to things that we rather not see or talk about. If we are going to be followers of Christ in the 21st century then the idea of mission trips has to change. The idea of swooping into a place and announcing that you have all the answers is not what people are looking for. Anyone can build a house with Habitat for Humanity or even feed the homeless. The focus of the mission trip should be on what God is doing the world and how we as followers of God can join in. Missionaries of old believed they were bringing God to the people, but now the mind set should be finding God where we go, knowing that God as been there for a while now.
On most of the mission trips I have been on it wasn’t always the big service projects that made the most impact. It might have been a nightly devotion or story of why a homeless shelter was started. So as many churches send their members off to serve others, let us remember that God has been on this voyage long before we arrived, let us be open to the transformation that is possible when we open ourselves up to what God is doing and has already done.
It has been a while since I have had to write in this series… but alas, Christians are giving Christians a bad name… again.
I want to thank my friend Amy for sending me this story, you can read it here.
Today we venture to the state of Alabama, known for its tolerance and racial equality… right? Think again….
A Christian ministry based in Alabama held a ministry conference. There was however one stipulation, it was for white people only… that’s correct, a white only Christian conference.
After doing a bit more research and watching some news videos (one posted below) I was shocked (sarcasm) to find out that the conference had KKK ties.
I respect every human beings right to believe what they want but the KKK is one that I have problems wrapping my brain around. The notion that one particular race is the superior one and that it was ordained from God is logic that escapes me.
For starters, Jesus Christ himself wasn’t white. (I dont care what Hollywood or pop culture tells you… examples here, here and here and even the most popular one here). You would think that if God was going to make the white race the superior one, that God would indwell in a white man. Secondly, if God is pro-white as these people claim, then why did God create other races to the begin with? So they could be picked on, ostracized, killed, and tortured because they have pigment in this skin? Wouldn’t it have just been easier for God not to create the other races and have a pure, white race to inhabit the earth?
Also, where in scripture is this supported? I can not remember Jesus ever saying “and white people shall inherit the earth…” In the video below the news reporter tries to ask this question. The reporter brings up the fact that in Galatians 3 it states that there is “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” There are numerous passages in the Bible that speak of the reconciliation of Christ and the unity of all believers. Sure Christ was seen a counter cultural radical to some, but not a white supremacist. He didn’t even preach that God was 100% pro-Jewish people either; remember the woman at the well and the parable of the Good Samaritan? There are other instances where Christ was showing that the God of all the world is wanting to connect with all people of the earth.
The leader of the conference told the reporter that he was taking scripture out of context and was abusing the Bible… isnt that like the pot calling the kettle black? (no pun intended…) I mean come on… really? Is this even an argument? The Bible has been used for and against pretty much every issue under the sun. However, the notion that in the text there is a decree or teaching that to be a true faithful of God is to have a certain color skin, goes against the foundation of the gospel message itself. This distorts a text that people have turned to for centuries to connect with the faithful of old, to understand (or try) the movement of God in the world and learn what is means to be a follower of Christ in the world today.
At the conclusion of this event, the white members where going to hold a “sacred cross burning.” Umm…. OK….
Seriously? Do they think that if they put the word ‘sacred’ that everyone will be ok with this? Like sacred murder is ok because it is sacred? Sacred grilled cheeses taste better because they are sacred? This is a blatant attempt to justify a practice that has stood as the symbol of hate, racism and bigotry.
All of this is not what Christianity stands for. Yes, there was a time when the church was on the wrong side of history and supported segregation and even slavery. But as the church has grown and changed, so have our understandings of God and how God interacts in the world. For the mast majority of Christians, the idea of burning a cross or segregating people based on skin color is appalling. Some would argue that the church has not left its segregation roots; many churches today are still prodominately one race or another. While this is true, it is not mandated by law and there are plently of integrated churches holding worship services together. Because of this, it shows me that the church has a little more work to do in the area of race relations. (The Disciples of Christ in 2001 cast a vision of being a “Pro-Reconcillation/Anti-Racism Church, read more about it here.)
The cause of Christ is one that aims to restore all people to wholeness and completeness, to show them a way to connect to the Divine. Christ welcomed all and so should the church and all of those who claim to be Christ’s followers.
I dont care what color you skin, hair, nails, or clothes happens to be all should be welcomed to experience God.
This is the fourth installment of my “What Does Your Church Believe?” series. So far I have looked at the importance of open communion to DOC theology (post link), the notion of freedom of belief (post link) and the belief in the oneness of the church (post link). Today we will look at Disciples of Christ’s belief in baptism by immersion. This does not mean however that if someone has been baptized as a infant that their baptism is invalid. The Disciples of Christ recognized and affirm all baptisms.
Baptism for many is a seen as an act that symbolizes one’s commitment to the teachings of Christ and by making a physical, public act; they are stepping out in faith to make an outward sign of what a deep spiritual commitment. In the Disciples of Christ Church our practice is to do this when a person believes that she/he is ready to join God on the journey of faith– there is no specific age requirement.
The Disciples of Christ believe that “Baptism, as a gift of grace, received by faith, expresses its meaning in a variety of images: new birth; a washing with water; a cleansing from sin; a sign of God’s forgiving grace; the power of new life now and the pledge of life in the age to come. The meaning of baptism is grounded in God’s redemptive action in Christ, it incorporates the believer in the community in the body of Christ, and it anticipates life in the coming age when the powers of the old world will be overcome, and the purposes of God will triumph.” (via disciples.org)
The practice of immersion is one that is full of symbolism. The general belief is threefold. First, when one enters the waters of Baptism they are coming as they are, ready to receive the cleansing and grace found in God. Next, when they are immersed they are symbolically dying to their old ways and past sins and when they arise out of the water they are rising with Christ to be God’s servant in the world.
Baptism is a beautiful act that the church does. It is full of symbolism and faith. For centuries the faithful of God have traveled to churches, rivers and fonts to enter into the covenant with God and to start their life as a follower of Christ.
Some believe that one must be baptized to be “saved” or inherit the goodness of God. The Disciples of Christ do not believe that baptism is absolutely necessary, rather an outward sign of an inward reflection. Many theological and church debates have happened over the concept of baptism. Whether sprinkled as a child or immersed as an adult, all signify the faithfulness of followers of Christ throughout the centuries.
The Church for decades, maybe centuries, has been caught in a terrible lie. For some people it is a lie that is has been so engrained as truth, they believe it as such. This particular lie is one that when confronted or analyzed, many church goers would vehemently deny. So what is this lie? Answer- Children and Young People matter to the church.
I know that is a stout claim but is one that is not without merit. For too long the church has been a place where those in charge or those who assumed the power set the rules, set the order of worship and set the way that a particular congregation is supposed serve and worship God. Often this is done by people who have been in the church for sometime (generally all or most of their life) and they feel the need to continue on this tradition that they are used to.
Sadly in many congregations around the country the number of young adults and teenagers attending church services are dropping rapidly. Sure you can blame parents or video games or being over extended with extracurricular activities, but that is a cop-out. The real answer which may be hard to hear for some is that the church is unwelcoming to them.
If a child was raised in the church they know the stories of Jesus; they know how he touched people’s lives and how Christ came to show the love of God in the world. They were taught at young age that God had gifted them with special abilities and talents and passions to be used for the work of the Kingdom. And as children grow into teenagers, teenagers into young adults, the reality becomes more evident. To be a participating member of most congregations, you have to be at least 45 years old, have been a member most of your life and you have “waited your turn.” This is the perception of the church- people ‘punching’ their ticket and waiting until they have ‘paid their dues’ to be a full participating, active member of the church.
Young people are not leaving the church because they have objection with the teachings of Christ, rather they are leaving because they have no place in the church. Sure churches do a great job with their nursery program, Worship and Wonder program and even youth and college programs, but after that the church has not done too well. The church has bought into the lie that the late Whitney Houston promoted, that the “children are our future.” This, my friends, is a bold face lie.
Children, middle schoolers, high schoolers, young adults are not the future of the church, they are the “right now.”
This segment of the population needs to know that their ideas, theologies, concerns, worship styles and missional thoughts are valid. Too often churches try to squeeze all of this into one Sunday generally know as “Youth Sunday.” On this particular Sunday the youth are able to read scripture, sing praise songs and even preach. After that one particular Sunday service it is back to the same routine. Some churches have a “children’s moment” but even then that has turned into a Sunday morning version of ‘Kid’s Say The Darnest Things’ or a well intentioned person is trying to cram too much theology in a simple metaphor.
In some congregations the children are separated from the rest of the congregation to have their own service of worship. Many children enjoy and learn from this experience but once you hit age of 10 or so, it’s in the sanctuary with your parents.
There is a huge disconnect.
Matthew 19:14 reads, “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children. ” (Common English Bible)
For the church to be relevant in society it must meet the needs of those around them. Churches are losing the young adult population as well as the Baby Boomers, why? They are tired of waiting to make an impact on the church and the world today. But for this to happen, people in power and church structures are going to have to change. It will take time and effort and faith; for the church’s sake I hope we are able to answer that call.
Thank to you guys, my faithful readers, June was a busy month here at evandolive.com. In June alone, the site racked up 999 hits! (Sooooo close to 1000)
Once again I am overwhelmed by the number of people visiting. Thank you for sharing, commenting and reading!
The wonderful world of Facebook is at it again providing me with the resources I need to continue my writing to which you will read. 😀
This picture above was re-posted by a friend who said he got it from a friend who said he saw it on a Facebook group “Religion Poisons Everything.” Can’t say that I am fan of this group, but I thank them for this gem. It has to be one of the most awkward pictures regarding Jesus that I have ever seen. Time and time again people continue to surprise me with their rationalizations of one of the most basic human questions, “Why do bad things happen?”
Whomever created this picture believed that the bad things in our lives are the result of God removing God’s care and protection from us. This totally erases the notion of grace, forgiveness and love. God and/or Christ does not sit around waiting for someone to stumble so they can swoop down and inflict you with an illness.
One puzzling aspect of this pictures is Jesus punishing the child picture by spanking. I have trouble articulating in words why I this is so terrible.
Christians should be out raged that the Savior of the world how came to restore people has been reduced to someone who seeks out those who are subverting his will and authority and offering illness and spankings in the meantime.
(insert sarcasm) Yeah, that’s in the Bible alright… yep that’s the Christ I know….
So just to be clear that child that has terminal cancer and won’t make it to his 10th birthday, yeah totally his fault, God took away God’s protection because he told a lie or something. When someone has a recurrence of cancer or some other horrific disease, again, it is their fault for speeding or questioning authority. Every time you catch a cold you brought it on yourself, right?.
The pharmaceutical companies must love it when you sin…
Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 
