What I’m Seeing (part 2)

The last blog was more of the negative, controversial part of what I have been seeing here during my short time here.  I feel like I have brought some interesting points to light, so if you haven’t checked that out, scroll down a bit and read.

This is about some good stuff that I’ve been able to see and it all stems off from one main thing: the power of the Gospel.

When we first started out we used English classes as a way in with people, but I got convicted about that.  I felt we were doubting the power of the Gospel by working around it to get an “in” with people.  When in reality we don’t need any “ins” because our only “in” that we will ever need are the Good News.  Who doesn’t want to hear the most life changing news ever?  Who doesn’t want to hear that there is a God who has plans, grandes planes, for you and your life and He loves you?  After that, who would be interested in English?  I don’t want to doubt God’s power with my actions and where I dedicate my time.

So far in our districts there have been a handful of converts, and what I’m seeing is two different levels of people.  People who want to advance, and people who want to stay where they’re at as far as their walk.  Our job as the pastor has told us is to “perfect people.  Perfecting things, perfecting objects is easy.  But perfecting people is much harder.”

Agreed.

I’m seeing people that need to be perfected, and my job is to get them from that one level, to a level recognizing that they need to advance.  And that is the hardest part of this job.  But with the hardest thing, when success comes, it is most rewarding. 

And I am definitely seeing people advancing and growing.  And it is causing me to advance and grow even more.  There are people who don’t even know what sin is, and after one lesson with them they realize what it is.  If they don’t decide to change then, or make a 180 degree turn like my partner says, then God will work and we have planted the seed.

Sometimes I think of the basics, like sin.  And realize that sin or salvation or repentance is news for people.  It’s almost like instinct to some of us, is like common knowledge we’re born with.  And it’s beautiful to see them when they are getting it.

For example, today I asked a kid, Joel, my age to read me a verse,  “Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4: 17).  He looked for James a bit, but then resorted to going to the Table of Contents to find the page number, which is completely fine (I still have to do that sometimes, shh.)  He read it to me, and instead of preaching to people I like to make them think.  I asked him, “What does that mean for you?”

He couldn’t tell me, even after thinking for a bit.  He didn’t get it.  So I explained to him, and he just puts on a face “I get it. It all is adding up.”

Now is that me? Nooo.  That is God speaking to his heart.  It’s a beautiful process and for those who have experienced that, I get that opportunity on a daily basis.

So what am I trying to say?  What am I seeing?

I’m seeing faces change because their hearts are changing.  And there doesn’t exist anything more beautiful in the world.

Be blessed with this song.

What I’m Seeing…(part 1)

After much time here, I’ve seen a lot here in the city of Puno.  The more and more I see here, the more and more I am changed.  But also, the more and more I am here, I start to question “the mission” versus “the Mission,” if that makes any sense.

In Utopia, those two words would be the same.  But, we’re not in Utopia, so let’s first start by defining the Mission: In chapter 16 of Mark (among other books) we find the Great Commission.  That’s the Mission. “And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.”  He did not say either, “make them believe.”  Because in the next verse it says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.”  It’s their choice to believe, God has the power and prevenient grace to work in their hearts (see the last blog for my point of view on that.)

To put that into laymen's terms, I believe we’ve watered it down a bit, to suit ourselves.  The mission while I’m here is: 3 churches with 12 members each in full participation.  Barrrrfff.

I would love to just end this blog right here.  But I should probably explain the barrrrfff part.

Being in the Nazarene church for 20 years, I’ve seen one consistency: numbers.  That’s all I’ve seen that the administration of the Nazarene church cares about.  Whether that’s true or not, I’m not here to judge, but it’s what I’ve seen.  Numbers, numbas, numbas, gimme some attendance!!  That’s what I’ve seen constantly, consistently.  A big church is a healthy church, right?  A big church is a successful church, eh? 

Wrong.

But now…to be a part of it, to be affected by it, to be ruled by it…causes me to become a little weary.  Jesus never said, “Go and make me some huge churches, because those are obviously better.”  “Go and make a large congregation, preaching in my name!” No, no, no he did not say that, and for a reason.  But the Nazarene church does (and I could go on forever about how.)  So why the contradiction?  I believe that people are either right or wrong, so who’s wrong?

Let me say something, a subject so strongly stressed here: I am a failure if I don’t plant 3 churches of 12 members each in the next 16 months.  I will be looked upon with great adoration if I succeed those goals.  But for those who don’t: “Ohh so sad, their must be some sin in their lives, they have failed.”  Forget that!!!

And that’s what I will be doing.  I’m forgetting that! I have a complete peace about it.  I will be forgetting the numbers.  My mission is the Mission.  Nothing watered down, but straight from the Bible.  I promise to you, all my readers, that I will be working harder than the rest to go and spread the Gospel.  But I will not conform to the corrupted goals of humans under any circumstances.  If I see 3 people grow in the Word, so be God’s will.  I have won, not failed.  If I see 300 people grow in a relationship with Him, so be God’s will.  I have won, not failed.  This is not a cop out, but rather a pledge to complete my original mission in coming down here. 

I am not here to push the culture of Northern Peru upon the people here (which is another story in itself), I am not here to give lectures of what position the church has in their doctrine.  Rather, to spread the Good News and to have God use me to save people from eternal damnation.  I am here to love people into His Kingdom.

That’s what I’m seeing, the negative, within everything I’ve been “taught” so far.  I’m planning another blog very soon to share with you guys the positive change I’m seeing in the people with whom I’ve been able to share the Good News.

Until then, do this.