GIGO - What are we Producing?

You have probably heard of the principle GIGO - Garbage In - Garbage Out.

GIGO is used in the field of computer science or information and communications technology. GIGO refers to the fact that computers, since they operate by logical processes, will unquestioningly process unintended, even nonsensical, input data ("garbage in") and produce undesired, often nonsensical, output ("garbage out").

Basically, what we put into a process is what we get out of that process. 

There is another term used today - Garbage in, gospel out - as a more recent expansion of the acronym.What this GIGO definition is saying is that since the data goes through a computer, people tend to believe the data.

Because the data is taken at face value, actually digging into that output is out of the question, even if one has good cause to be suspicious. The "garbage out" becomes "gospel truth" and becomes widely and wrongly believed to be the right result, even though the product is false. One prime example today would be the data about Anthropogenic Global Warming.

GIGO is also commonly used to describe failures in human decision-making due to faulty, incomplete, or imprecise data.

GIGO requires we have a willingness to rethink what we are producing, to think about results we are getting. Unless we have such willingness to change input we will keep getting a less than desirable output. The question we want to ask is this: is what we're producing acceptable, reasonable, and up to the manufactures standard for the desired outcome?

Take for example the process of discipleship. Is what we are producing, in the Church today, up to the desired outcome standards set by the manufacturer, our Creator? Or, have we produced a result, that is less than gospel truth, even though it's thought to be, because we haven't put the right input into the process? According to the principle of GIGO, we get out what we put in.

That famous passage of Scripture called the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), has long been thought of as the call to "Missions." Most Christians know Jesus says, "Go" but only a few, very few actually, do so, entering the "Mission Field."

Jason Mandryk, editor of Operation World, informs our thinking that only 1 in 100 Christians have any meaningful involvement in the Great Commission. Is this the outcome we should accept as reasonable?

Based on the principle of GIGO we have produced what would be expected based on the input that the Great Commission is a call to missions for the few. It's not.

In fact, the Great Commission is not a call to missions (the whole Bible is actually a call to the mission of God) as much as it is a call to reproducing disciple-making. The imperative in Matthew 28:19 is not on the "go," which can be better translated as "as you continue on your way" or "as you continue to live your life." The imperative is on the "make disciples."

If what we are producing by our understanding of the Great Commission is not disciples, who make disciples, who continue the process (2 Timothy 2:2), we are producing less than what the process was designed for.

We need to rethink, retool and recalibrate our input so we get the desired output - disciples who live to make disciples and repeat the process.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus speaks to this GIGO principle this way: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." How does salt lose its saltiness?

Chemically, salt is a very stable substance. It can remain so for many years unless it is acted upon by some other agent or process. One of the ways salt loses its saltiness is when it gets diluted. Is our input diluting expected saltiness and therefore yielding a less than desirable output?

Did Jesus really intend that only 1 out of 100 of those who said they were following him to have any meaningful involvement in the Great Commission? Of course not. Then why do we see those the results? GIGO is a universal truth.

The Message renders Matthew 5:13 like this:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

If we are not being "salty" bringing out the "God-flavors of this earth," producing and reproducing disciples of who follow Jesus, we have lost our usefulness.

The problem that Jesus was addressing was that the religious process in place at the time was feeding a GIGO output of less that desirable results. Jesus came to bring new programming, to recalibrate the input to produce the desired output - Kingdom citizens who make disciples for the glory of God among "all nations." He in fact gave us everything we needed to do so, including the process to follow (see blog post: Rethinking Discipleship: 12 Disciple-Making Essentials from Luke 10)

Two thousands years later, it doesn't look like the desired output is up to our CEO's (Chief Eternal Officers) excellence standards (Matthew 5:48). When 99% of the resulting output is not performing up to design specifications and missional capacity, the problem is not with the output - it's with the input or the application thereof.

What we put into a process is what we get out of that process.

It's time to retool so we can get the job done properly and finish the assignment Jesus gave us to do. That begins by understanding better the process Jesus set up. We need to reclaim that process more widely, especially in the West, and where the system has gone off track.

Let's change GIGO to Gospel In - Gospel Out for the glory of God among "all nations,"

Coming Summer 2014!

God I.N.C. - Finding Your Place in the Family Business

Overcoming the Sin of Fear - Part I

Extremism is based in fear. Whether it be religious or political. Fear of loss of identity. Fear of loss of control. Fear of the future. Fear is a liar. 

Today, political ideology, Left and Right, is fear based on the premise that if we lose our identity or control, the future will not turn out the way we hope. Such as it is, it is a fear response.

But what hope are we holding on to? Who are we trusting for the future?

Fear starts all wars and is the cause of all human suffering. Fear is irrational, as is extremism, as is most ideology today. Fear makes decisions based on emotion instead of reasoned and rational thought. Fear causes us to react negatively to the little that we see and know.

What is fear?

False - untruth, lies, and distortions of fact

Expectations - what we believe will happen

Appearing - what we think we see and know

Real - actually existing

Humankind has been trapped by fear since the beginning.

In the very first recorded conversation between God and Adam, we see fear. Adam says, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3:10). Adam had believed a lie, his understanding was very limited, he was responding to what he saw - his nakedness - so he reacted irrationally - hiding himself.

What if Adam had said, "I know I messed up, please forgive me?" But Adam's fear of God drove him from the Garden, from intimate relationship with his Creator. Adam's fear kept him from trusting in the goodness of God, the forgiveness of God, the grace of God and the sovereignty of God.

Fear is a snare that traps us from experiencing God's best - true freedom.

But we are not to be trapped by fear. Rather we are to be compelled by love. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

God's commands are designed to overcome fear so that we can live in the light of his truth and love freely. In Christ, we are being made perfect in love. Anything other than a response of love is falling short of God's glorious standard. FEAR is sin, since we are to have the mind of Christ, who is without fear.

As we approach the day, we must embrace the fact that "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7).

What might we accomplish in his power, by his love, following Christ's example - today? We have the freedom in Christ to find out.

Rethinking “Things”: Dismantling our Compartments

How we think about things makes all the difference in the world.

Paul thought so when he wrote:

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

Because of our many “things,” we tend to compartmentalize our lives to cope. We have our family “things,” our business “things,” our job “things,” our school “things,” our sports “things,” our social “thing.” and our secret "things." We also have our religious “things,” including our “Christian” things. While there is some interaction between these things, typically one of these things will receive most of our attention. What we focus on says a lot about what we value.

Churches too have compartmentalized "things." We have our children's department, our adult department, our worship department, as well as our missions department, and perhaps a myriad of other departments into which we try to arrange and manage ministry. This leaves us with divisions in a body that is supposed to be one.

What compartmentalization does is systematize our lives, and our churches, allowing us to neatly order our lives, at least make that attempt, in such a way that we think we can better handle all the things” of our busy lives, or so we think.

You may be a fan of compartmentalization but the thing is that compartmentalization is not Biblical. It’s rather Greek actually. Ancient Greek philosophers spoke of compartmentalizing life into five realities: physical, mental, social, financial, and spiritual.  It's not Biblical because it's not Hebraic and the Bible must be read through a Hebrew worldview, or we lose sight of the “things” Paul is telling us here.

The idea of compartmentalization, while it may comfort us or trick us into thinking we have "things" under control, is antithetical to a Biblical worldview. While we may relentlessly attempt to organize everything into manageable intellectual blocks and structures we too often live lives of stress and anxiety, judgment and criticism, wondering why we lack peace.

The compartmentalized life is opposed to the very nature of how God has wired us to live, who we are in Christ, and how we can obtain peace, the shalom, of Christ we know is so missing from our lives and culture.

Paul tells us to set our hearts on "things above," not as an escape from this world but rather as a reality where Christ is ever present. But what has your hearts affections - earthly things or "things above?" When we compartmentalize our lives, the affections of our heart is divided, so we're without peace, the peace that Jesus promised he left for us (John 20:21).

Paul in addressing the Colossians, in the passage above, gives us three mission critical ways toward eliminating this compartmentalized thinking, toward achieving the shalom life, a peace that surpasses understanding, that is meant to be ours in Christ. 

1. Our mind is to be fixed on Jesus. Paul says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." This does not mean we're to develop systematized theologies and complex doctrines of heaven, who’s in and who’s out, or about how to get there. Rather simply our minds are to be renewed by the reality of the very present God. The "things above" should inform us that there is a better way to live today, a higher reality - a Kingdom life - not simply find some solace in getting to heaven one day. The question, we need to repeatedly ask ourselves, is what direction am I thinking my life toward this very moment? (Romans 12:1-3, 2 Corinthians 13:5)

2. Our life is to be concealed by Jesus. Paul says, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." We do not create a new religious compartment when we come to faith, adding Jesus as just another thing to our other "things." That is in fact polytheism. Rather we have a brand new life in Christ. The old has gone and the new has come. The continuous question we must ask is who do others see more of in me? (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24)

3. Our reality is to be found only in Jesus. Paul says, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Christ is our life right now, right here and always, if we are in Christ. The word ‘life’ here is the Greek "zoe" which means the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. This is to be our present reality. The very idea that Christ is our life should eliminate the compartmentalization that causes us to worry about tomorrow and lack the peace he promises.  The question we must ask is who's life am I now living? (Galatian 2:20, Galatians 5:24)

 In our culture, we have compartmentalized everything, including Christianity. But Jesus is not just an idea we add to our lives, but the "all" of everything who defines who we are and how we are to live - in Christ. The Gospel is that this life is now available for all, by faith. We are to repent from our own “things.” We are to put on Christ, as our “all.” This speaks to a Biblical worldview where everything in our lives is conformed or being conformed to Christ – his life, his mission, his purpose, and his peace – for “Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:11)

Paul goes on say, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature..." (Col 3:5). That includes the compartmentalization of our lives. In so doing we can, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." (Col 3:15).

Do we ever get this perfect? Well Jesus did say, "be perfect even as your heavenly father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48)), right? Does he ask us to do anything impossible – for him? Such is to be our pursuit for  Living Sent Today. 

Rethinking Discipleship: You’re Simply Qualified!

What qualifies a person to make disciples? 

 

Depending on who you ask, you’re sure to get different answers. I tell my Perspective students all the time that only two things qualify us to “make disciples” – obedience and the Holy Spirit. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it.

If, plausibly, that is all that qualifies a person to make disciples, why don’t we see more Christians making disciples? 

If it was that simple, you would think that many more us who call ourselves Christ followers would be following Jesus instruction to “make disciples,” right? That is after all what Jesus did do and instructed us to do. But only 1 in 100 Christians have any meaningful role in disciple-making (see Jason Mandryk - The State of the Gospel)

If we just doubled the number of disciples being made each year, we would quickly see the world transformed, the Great Commission completed and the “end” come (Matthew 24:14), just like he wanted – simple. 

The good news is that it is really is that simple. 

It was that simple for the woman at the well. Many Samaritans came to faith due to the simple testimony of a scorned woman who had an encounter with Jesus. Many more came to faith after meeting Jesus (John 4:39-41). 

It was that simple for the demoniac who had a transformational encounter with Jesus. After meeting Jesus, he simply went and told others about whom he had met and “all the people were amazed.” (Mark 5:20). While we don’t know how many came to faith, we do know this newly transformed man was widely admired (the Greek sense of the word amazed). 

It wasn’t who these people were that made the difference, which made them qualified. It was who Jesus is that makes all the difference in the world! 

Allow me to suggest some reasons why many Christians are not making disciples today. It’s really not very complicated. 

First, many Christians have not had a power encounter with the Living Lord, like the above two accounts. That’s not their fault. Millions are born into a “Christian” home and enculturated into a Christian faith, taught to follow a Christian ethic and perform Christian duties – daily Bible reading, a quiet time with the Lord, go to church on Sunday, pray and live a godly life. There is certainly nothing wrong with any of those things, in and of themselves - unless we're content with that.

Second, the ecclesiological model of the last 150 years short-circuited missional potential. Why do only 1 out of 100 Christians have meaningful role in making disciples? Could it be that the top down approach toward discipleship, the distinction between clergy and laity, the professionalization of the Gospel, placed limits, whether real or perceived, on what it meant to be a disciple and make disciples? The expectation for going and sharing became “bring a friend to church.” If and when that instruction was followed, the non-reproducing pattern would simply repeat itself. 

Third, systematic theology largely replaced a compelling love (2 Corinthians 5:14) and passion for Jesus. This effected how evangelism was done. Evangelism,which should be considered the first step in discipleship, became a 13 week study program, replete with illustrations and memorized scriptures, taking an “unsaved” person from a question to a rational decision. Evangelism became other than simply focused on who Jesus is always and what he has done eternally and became a road to lead people to a guilt decision, which later became ineffective as the American culture changed from Christian to post-Christian. 

Evangelism, while it was believed necessary became little practiced, in our culture of 'tolerance' and enlightenment. Many felt inadequate in their apologetic, so they remained silent. In his article entitled, Bad Reasons Not to Evangelize, Stephen Matteson points out that “Since spirituality is often considered private and personal, such discussions are avoided at all costs—especially with those who don’t share our beliefs and worldviews.” Many chose to listen to the culture rather than obey Jesus.

Then, it became more about service projects, with the unspoken idea that people will ask us why we are doing the things we are doing, which too often turned out to be short-sighted and not very helpful. This is not to devalue the important work of community development, there is much great work going on. But over this was laid the idea that we needed to earn the right to share a 'Gospel' message, which was then seldom done, instead of simply sharing Jesus naturally.

Somehow, over the past half century, discipleship then became an inwardly focused self-improvement program, for the best life now, instead of a joy-filled reality of living for a Person who defines everything and compels us to share his life with others. Is it any wonder than that so few, who said they were following Jesus, actually understood what it meant to “make disciples” – and even fewer actually obeyed? 

Matteson further suggests that, “In a society that revolves around logic, science and concrete data, and within a world that values wealth, power and fame, it’s often absurd to promote such a contradictory faith—it doesn’t make sense!” But that is the beauty and transforming power of simplicity – his ways are not our ways! 

Jesus’ final instruction was simple – “Listen guys, it’s really all dependent on me, so here is what I want you to do. As you continue to live your life tell others who I am, what I did for you, and teach them to do what I instructed you to do. And, not to worry, I got you covered and will take care of the rest, Okay? (Matthew 28:18-20 paraphrase mine). 

Jesus didn’t make his requirements complicated because he knew he was dealing with simple people – a scorned woman at a well, a very troubled soul, some fisherman, a tax collector and other “sinners.” 

What qualified any of these people to do what they did – lead a village to the Lord, go and share the Good News in 10 cities, become the leader of the first church of Jerusalem (Peter), write an account of all that Jesus started to do (Matthew)? One thing, one living person, the only one who can be trusted to get it right – Jesus! 

What qualifies anyone to make disciples today? Again, two things only: obedience to Jesus and the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus taught that making disciples was about simple everyday life, empowered by him! 

What is fascinating and hopeful today, is that Jesus seems to be returning his Church back to this simple model of simply following him. He did say that he was going to build his Church and nothing could stand in its way. He may be simply simplifying things to remove the many spots and blemishes from his “Bride” (Ephesians 5:27).  

We have the instruction manual, the Word of God, to follow and that it is all many need around the world to make disciples. That’s not to say we need to look to the Bible for a complex theology, created by 16th Century men, to guide us. We have the simple parables and stories Jesus taught his disciples. We need to understand the letters Paul wrote not as doctrinal constructs but as from a missionary who was simply pointing people to Jesus. 

What many have already discovered is that by keeping it simple movements to Jesus grow quickly. Because the barriers to making disciples have been removed, organic movements just like what Jesus started are taking shape in many places, just like he promised (Acts 1:8). 

David Garrison, who has mapped many Christward movements in the Muslim world, said in a recent interview that his “sincere desire is that the body of Christ in the West would learn from the body of Christ in other parts of the world that has been effective.” Movements are growing because they are simply following Jesus. 

If you are not familiar with these movements, read Movements that Change the World by Steve Addison and visit T4TOnline.com. 

It’s that simple! We are qualified to make disciples by our obedience and the Holy Spirit. It’s simply what living sent today is all about!

Why all the Fuss??? Heaven is For Real!!!

For heaven's sake, what do you know about heaven?

Well, the only thing I really know about heaven is that heaven is the abode of God and one day I want to get there. Sometimes, I think sooner rather than later.

Some are claiming to have had near death experiences where they have seen heaven.  Some of these accounts are making news today. Books are selling and movies are being made. Are these visions true?

There are a few ways to handle that question. One way would be to simply ignore these episodes as irrelevant. Humanists might do so.

Here another way, "Heaven Is For Real - David Platt - Secret Church" - a speech by David Platt at a recent conference called "Secret Church." I find the idea of "Secret Church" more disturbing than the idea that some are having visions that are being talked about at a "Secret Church" conference. There is nothing secret or to be secret about the Church (In our American context. That is not to discount the necessity of the "underground" church in some parts of the world)!

But perhaps asking if these visions of heaven are true really is not the right question. Perhaps the better question is what can we learn from these experiences and our response to them? 

As much as I appreciate the ministry of David Platt, I think he is missing the point and the opportunity here in his recent talk (see Youtube link above). The experience of a little boy named Colton is personal - for Colton. I don't think it is necessary to make truth claims about personal experiences. Personal experiences are not testable or proveable but rather subjective and, well, personal.

These visions of heaven seem very real to those who have had them. I am not saying they are accurate portrayals of heaven. But rather that they seem very real in the moment to those who report them. I find it somewhat audacious to declare they cannot be true and then try to argue from Scripture like John MacArthur did recently.

MacArhtur, also known for his cessationist views, in an upcoming book dealing with this subject of visions of heaven, says:

We know this with absolute certainty, because Scripture definitively says that people do not go to heaven and come back: "Who has ascended to heaven and come down?" (Proverbs 30:4). Answer: "No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man" (John 3:13, emphasis added). All the accounts of heaven in Scripture are visions, not journeys taken by dead people. And even visions of heaven are very, very rare in Scripture. You can count them all on one hand.

I have two problems with this line of reasoning. First, the first sentence in the quote is a red herring. The Colton ("Heaven is For Real") experience is not an in body experience, as we know that little Colton never left the planet to go to heaven and return, physically. Neither have any of the others who have reported their visions. Second, why is it necessary to discount the Scriptural evidence of visions of heaven we do have to make an argument against visions of heaven?

What can we understand about this place called heaven from the Scripture evidence that we do have?

Four authors in the Bible were blessed with visions of heaven and wrote about what they saw: the prophets Isaiah (Chapter 6) and Ezekiel (Chapter 1) gave us some amazing detail, along with the apostles John (Revelation 4). The apostle Paul also had a vision of heaven that he describes as indescribable and says, "I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 12:1-7). Two others, Micaiah and Stephen, got glimpses of heaven, but what they saw is only mentioned, not described (2 Chronicles 18:18; Acts 7:55). 

That makes six accounts, but I only have five fingers on one hand. Hopefully you do as well.  That's fairly weighty evidence if we believe that these authors are inspired and making truth claims.

Isn't it short-sighted to discount these Biblical witnesses because we doubt the accounts of a young boy? To MacArthur's first point above, Paul says he does not know whether his experience was in the body or in the spirit - but only God knows (1 Corinthian 12:3). That's how it should be.

Jesus also gives us an other-worldly view in the story of the the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Obviously, it was important to our Lord for him to tell us at least something about how heaven is for real. We may accept by faith that heaven is our final destination but as we see pictured in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus not everyone enters heaven. And, that should always be the point!

We can take at face value that those who report these visions of heavens are expressing a subjective personal experience. We can also accept that because it is a personal experience it may not be an accurate account of what heaven is like. Is the Holy Spirit "kind of blue?" To one little boy that is how it seemed.

What all these books sales should tell us is that there is spiritual hunger in the land. That people are looking for hope - even most Christians.

What we should be talking about with respect to these various visions by those who have had a near death experience, which science cannot explain, is the reality of heaven and the only way to get there (John 14:6). Visions should point us to the God who is there and to the only way to heaven. What we should be talking about is Jesus! 

Randy Alcorn, author of "Heaven," expresses it well in his review of the movie, "Heaven is For Real" when he writes:

"My prayer is that God will use the interest around the movie to open doors for believers to be bold in sharing what Scripture has to say about Heaven and the need for everyone to place their faith in Jesus Christ."

When we focus on attacking the veracity of personal experiences, however, we can miss the opportunity those accounts present to share the Gospel. Could God be using these accounts to get our attention today? Let us pray it is so. God uses that which he wills to accomplish that which he purposes, for heaven's sake!

Rethinking Discipleship: The Science of “Wine”

Let’s get scientific, shall we? 

Many secularists accuse Christians, especially Evangelicals, of being at best unfriendly to science. Some of our long held beliefs tend toward raising doubts, at least for some, about the lack of scientific integrity of our Christian faith. Dogmatism can be especially opposed to scientific inquiry. 

Of course, much of this is rooted in misunderstanding and can be challenged at the worldview level. Certainly, just because we can’t prove something doesn’t dismiss the possibility of it being true. Such an attitude would itself be unscientific. Science must maintain an openness toward the new and in the process of discovery.

Science (from Latin scientia), meaning "knowledge," is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about all things related to life in our universe. Not that all things can be explained and that’s not the role of science to do so, but all things can be examined and explored, which is the proper role of science. 

The problem is that the Church for too long has held to an “unscientific” posture, lacking knowledge, of how to best make disciples. We get stuck in an old paradigm that simply is not working to produce reproducing and multiplying disciples. 

Jesus addresses this “stuckness,” when he says in Matthew 9:17: 

 “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Jesus was explaining why the church leaders of his time got stuck and the need for a paradigm shift. 

According to Thomas Kuhn, in his influential book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” (1962), a paradigm shift is a change in the basic assumptions within the ruling theory of science or knowledge. 

What Jesus was telling the church leaders of his time in Matthew 9:17 was that long held assumptions needed changing. The knowledge system, regarding God’s will and his ways as they were being expressed for God’s purposes by God’s people, was in need of change. What Jesus was starting– a new wineskin for new wine - would be different than what came before. 

Jesus himself is the new wine (Mark 14:23-25). He came to bring new knowledge (Luke 1:77). He also came to replace a religious system that was ineffective, broken and stuck for hundreds of years not accomplishing God’s purposes. The knowledge was outdated and not working. It was time to explore something new and workable. 

To the church leaders of his time Jesus said: 

 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” (Luke 11:52).

How unscientific of them! But let’s fast forward now to the 21^st Century.  

Every indication is that the Church is failing at one key area that Jesus instructed his followers to do – “make disciples” – especially in the West. From only 1 in 10 U.S. Christians who have a Biblical worldview, to mega-studies of a mega-church that prove disciples are not being made, to studies that demonstrate just how “Unchristian” too many Christian are – our “science” should tell us that we are in need of a new paradigm – a new wineskin. 

In Steve Addison’s excellent book, “What Jesus Started –Joining the Movement Changing the World,” Steve shares a story about Julius Ebwongu, a Ugandan church planter, and about a paradigm shift that Ebwongu led. The case study Addison examines is of a disciple-making/church planting movement that is changing the Church of Uganda, at least for one denomination who embraced a new wine skin. The Ugandan Assembles of God grew from 240 churches in 2004 to over 5000 in just over five years. 

Why did this happen? God used Ebwongu to change the existing paradigm of church leadership. Ebwongu challenged the unspoken assumptions, the old wine skin, regarding the nature of the church and who was qualified to make disciples, plant and lead churches. They explored how Jesus made disciples. 

Perhaps we can learn a lot from Ebwongu’s example, as well as others God is using to change the paradigm and establish a new wine skin (see the most recent edition of Mission Frontiers). Is there any reason we should operate under old science when we have new knowledge of what is working?

The challenge of course, as Jesus points out in Luke 5:39 is that “no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’” But shouldn’t we be scientific about it, use good scientific method to examine the available data, and make some new discoveries about this ‘new wine’? My friend J.D. Payne also makes this missiological point in this recent post.

Addison offers us two grace points to consider when he reminds us: “First, we should not be surprised when we don’t 'get it.' Our training, knowledge and experience do not guarantee clarity and accuracy…We can assume there are huge gaps in our understanding that by ourselves we cannot bridge….” Such is the nature of science. 

And, “there is a second reality…God is in charge of his mission. We can expect God to intervene, even shake us to the core, to reveal his purposes.” 

Science needs to ask good questions. Jesus asked lots of questions including, “Have you understood all these things?” (Matthew 13:51). Below is a comparative chart of the old wine skin and the new wine skin adapted from “What Jesus Started.” Let me know what you think.

The knowledge of what is working today should challenge all church leaders to rethink discipleship, as God reveals his purposes, for Living Sent Today.

Personal Reflection: Remembering April 13th

April 13th is a very significant day, for me.

It was 35 years ago today that my darling Debbie and I had our very first date, pizza and Superman (circa 1979). I still remember the small little peck she gave me on my cheek as she bolted from my car.

It was 7 years ago on this date that I was lying on an operating table and a cancer battle would begin.

Both happened on Friday the 13th - 28 years apart.

I would definitely choose the first again, for my darling Debbie has blessed by life in countless ways, as a faithful wife, best friend, life partner, mother of my two children, a truly Proverbs 31 woman of God, beautiful inside and out. My darling Debbie has stood by my side through life, through "good times and bad, in sickness and in health." She has made me "rich" in ways I too often don't express. Honey, I love you - always and 4ever!

I think I would also choose the last seven years again, of battling a rare form of cancer. Why? Because it was obviously God's will for my life. That doesn't make it an easy choice but I know that through this journey he has revealed his faithfulness time and again, deepened my faith, and given me a perspective of who he is for me that I would not otherwise have. Sure, it would have been nice to have not had to deal with the suffering and pain, the life sentence of a drug that keeps me alive, but the loss would be the work God has done in my life, the understanding of who he is even through the trials and tribulations.

My life verse is James 1:2-4:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The "anything" cannot be purchased with money, it cannot be bartered for or acquired by any worldly means. The "anything" is not of this world but is rather an eternal reality, an abding faith, a deep assurance that can only be entered by a soveriegn work of God.

Have you considered that God loves you so much that he allows your suffering, your trials, your hardship? He does. When we submit to his will for our lives we gain a better understanding of our trials. God sets the standards for "testing" in our lives for one glorious purpose - so that we will be "mature and complete" - in Christ. He who has begun a good work will see it to completion, so that we are "not lacking anything." That is anything he wants for us. Can it get any better than that?

Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that you gave me my darling Debbie to take this life journey with. Thank you, that you loved me so much that you worked through this seven year cancer battle to "mature and complete" in me your purposes so that one day I would "not lack anything." Thank you, Lord, that you are not finished with me yet and that together with my darling Debbie. we can trust in your good, pleasing and perfect will as you work out your plan for our lives. We love you, Lord, because you first loved us.