Either We Have It Or We Don't

I've been preaching through the book of Acts at NHC, and last week we tackled Acts 3. This particular walk through of Acts is being done to focus on the evangelism of the early church. We are trying to learn, from the early church, the dynamics of impacting our world and winning souls to the Kingdom of God. I just wanted to share some thoughts from this passage.

As you are probably aware, Acts 3 starts off with the miracle of the lame man being healed at the Beautiful Gate. It's easy, especially when coming from a Pentecostal/Charismatic background, to focus on the supernatural aspect of this text. I can't tell you how many sermons I've heard, rallying the cry that we need to see signs and wonders again. The story becomes a soap-box argument for everything that is wrong with the church. The mantra: "Where are the signs and wonders?" is screamed from the pulpits. Yet, as I read this verse, it wasn't the miracle that stood out to me. Rather, it was the phrase Peter says right before he lifts the lame man to his feet. "I don't have silver or gold. But what I have, I am giving to you." Rewind... "what I have, I am giving to you." I was so convicted by the Holy Spirit when I read this statement. It was as if the Holy Spirit was asking me, "What do you have?" You see, either we have it, or we don't. In other words, we often sit around pouting because we get lost in the quest for signs and wonders, that we become ungrateful for what we do have.

Like selfish children, instead of being content with what we do have, we whine about what we don't have. Either we are completely saved, completely redeemed, completely filled; or we're not. By sitting around waiting on the "big bang", we deny the power of God that is already working in us. What was happening in this text was not a call to seek signs and wonders. Instead, it was showing a church that was using what it had to bring healing and restoration to the community around them. No longer am I going to short change the work of God in my life. No longer am I going to grieve the Holy Spirit by denying what he is doing in my life now. We have the power to transform communities through love and restoration. Either we have it, or we don't.

I will probably catch some flack about this, but here it is: I don't think the lack of miracles in the church is any indication of spiritual lack or commitment. I think our lack of community restoration is a lack of spirituality. I don't feel the call to rant and rave about how the world has crept in to the church and stolen our signs and wonders. I do feel the urge to talk about how the church has removed itself from the world, and left Jesus there. The mission of Jesus is not to bring revival to the church; but that his church would bring restoration to the world. To me, the mere preaching of anything otherwise is a perversion of scripture; and has resulted in a perversion of mission. I could say more, but I'll leave it at that.

I closed this week's sermon with this final thought:

"Either we have it or we don't. God is just asking to use what we have to bring healing and restoration to our community. Supernatural activity is the result of reckless abandon to the mission of Jesus. With or without it, there is an empowerment and a call to be the church, to fulfill the mission of Jesus. After all, that's where the true miracles take place. When our compassion touches others hearts, and restoration is brought to a community. There's little more supernatural or satisfying than that."

Wow! Wow! Wow!

It is hard to find words, or even space on this blog, to describe what went on today at the General Assembly. I will try. First of all, we finished electing the Council of Eighteen. We've been doing that since my last blog! We finally got to agenda item number 2, which some of you are familiar with: "Realignment of Resources". This has been a very touchy subject in the COG for years. Now, I won't get into all of it, so just know: IT IS VERY TOUCHY!

The motion, as presented, would have been deadly to the COG if it was passed. World Missions would suffer, and there would be no good plan of surviving the 2.5% cut that is currently sent in to the COG from our local churches. After some heavy debating from other members, Travis Johnson submitted a substitute motion that was immediately shot down by the chair (Presiding Bishop). Travis then appealed the decision of the chair. At this point, the bishops are allowed to vote whether to uphold the decision of the chair (to reject Travis' motion), or to overturn the decision of the chair (accept Travis' motion). Without delay the PB called for a vote over the appeal. This is where, for me, things got exciting. I stood and called for a "point of order". Now, this is my first time as a bishop, most less speaking at the General Assembly; in front of over 2,000 other bishops! I went to the mic and reminded the chair and the council that a vote on the appeal could not be taken until the appeal was first discussed on the floor by the bishops. The PB acknowledged that I was correct and the floor was opened! I then spoke in opposition to the decision of the PB. Following me, 2 others also rose and spoke against his decision, and 1 arose and spoke in support of the chair. At this point a vote was called for, and the chair was overturned by a good majority!! This is a significant moment.

We then dismissed for lunch, and would return to discuss the new motion. However, when we got back, the PB came to the podium and asked that we suspend the "Rules of Order" and "just talk". This is something that is unprecedented. The PB then went on to just share his heart. He was real, and transparent, and genuine. He was open about the finances. Then, he said that new motion (the one I helped fight to get heard) was actually better than the original!! Not only was the chair overturned, but he actually liked the motion he rejected better after he had a chance to really look at it.

After his pouring out and sharing of his heart, he begin to weep. I was already crying, the whole thing was so... GOD. The entire floor was swept by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Men filled the altars, and knelt at their chairs, and we wept and repented for being so stubborn. The PB called for unity and for us to stop tearing each other up, etc. I was very moved, and have never had so much hope in the COG in my life. And I know it sounds pretentious, but to know that I played a role, is just very overwhelming.

So much more happened, that I just don't have the time to share; but it was awesome. The motion was tweaked a little and passed. Our churches can look to see a cut in the 2.5% by 2010. Praise God for sending a renewal to the bishops of the COG.

History Made at the General Assembly

Day one of the business sessions started today. It was not business as usual. I must confess, there have been times over the years of ministry, that I have not been proud to have been associated with the Church of God (COG); today was not one of those days. I was very proud to be part of such a great movement. From the opening prayer, lead with such passion by Ray H. Hughes, a giant of the Christian faith, to the following elections, it was a great day.

First of all, Raymond Culpepper was elected (nominated) to the position of Presiding Bishop (PB). This is, of course, pending the approval by the General Assembly. Raymond promised to bring three things to the COG: prayer, mission, and trust. Following his election, Tim Hill was elected as the 1st Assistant to the PB.

However, I am most excited about the election of Mark Williams to the position of 2nd Assistant to the PB. Mark Williams is an outstanding leader, and is a missionally minded guy. He promised to bring transparency and to be missional. It the cards are played right, what you have is this: over the next 4 years, the opportunity for Raymond Culpepper to do some house cleaning and rebuild trust with the local churches, then for Mark Williams to step in and take a whole new COG into the next decade with a missional mindset. Very exciting! The spot of 3rd Assistant to the PB went to David Griffis.

The best news hasn't come yet. In a historical move, Wallace Sibley, a black minister, was elected the spot of General Secretary/Treasurer. This is the first time that any man of color has served on the Executive Committee. He received an amazing ovation, and the men of the COG have genuinely committed themselves to change. There has been a true changing of the guard. The men of the past generation have finally left their positions of leadership. They have lead well, and with much integrity; but change was inevitable, and it is finally coming.

To add to all this, Bishop Pagan was elected as the Assistant Director of World Missions. This too is a landmark moment, because he is a Hispanic missionary from the field, who has been elected to serve in a General capacity. He too received an ovation.

The night ended with the election of the Council of Eighteen. We have only elected 5 spots on this council, and so far, 4 of the 5 are pastors. This is good, because the council serves as a counsel to the administrators on the Executive Committee. The council needs to be pastors to offer a balanced view from both the administrators and the filed workers. It looks like a good balance of pastors is going to be on this council. There were a couple of motions concerning the election of the 18 that I thought were mishandled, but overall I think we are making great strides.

Hello From San Antonio

It is 1:40 AM here in San Antonio. I have just returned to my room after a long day of travel. After we arrived, Crystal and I went downtown to the River Walk and had dinner. Afterwards, we registered for the General Assembly, and then made our way to the Mission of Jesus Resurgence meeting at the USO. On a more comical note, I just paid way too much for a cab to take me to Wal-Mart to buy a hair dryer, after we discovered that our motel does not offer them in the room. Crystal was willing to go without the dryer; but not I. It did cost a small fortune to go buy one; but I look at it as investing in a week of having good hair.

So, for those who don't know, I am ordained as a Bishop in the Church of God, which is one of the largest Christian churches in the world. It has a long, and great history of winning souls and expanding the kingdom of God; but just as any movement, it has had its fair share of problems. Recently, in fact, some issues of great importance have arisen and need to be addressed. I have come here to serve in my role as a Bishop in this church and also to be a representative from the field of ministry to the general church.

The real business stuff doesn't start until tomorrow. Tonight, however, Travis Johnson and Tom Sterbens spearheaded a meeting downtown at the USO. The intent of the meeting was to get other Church of God ministers and laity to come together and address the issues that were on this year's agenda; specifically the election of the Council of Eighteen. This council acts in an administrative role by supporting and guiding the work of the Executive Committee (EC). Not that any of you care about any of this church polity stuff.

But the meeting was more than just get together about the agenda this week. Travis and Tom have a passionate heart for Jesus. They want to recapture the mission of Jesus, the mission of winning souls. The goal of this meeting was to get together and press toward bringing the Church of God into alignment with the heart of Christ; and amiss the moments of utter chaos, I think that heart came through tonight.

"The meeting tonight also asked the question: "Can we get together and dialog?" That answer, to me, seemed to be a resounding NO. It didn't take long for the "us vs. them" mentality to set in. And the hurling of strong words from the crowd ensued. Tom and Travis did a great job keeping the meeting focused, but at times it was just impossible. I am grateful for the other men in the Church of God (COG), but I am so glad that I don't minister in their bubble. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone around most of them. I mean, my world, my ministry, is soooooo out there compared to their's. Boy, am I glad!

Overall, though, I am confident it was a positive meeting. Tomorrow, I am praying, and believing, that the Spirit of Christ will overtake us, and that his agenda will ultimately be fulfilled. For now, I need to get some rest. Good night, and stay tuned.