3 Deadly Sins In The Church

One of my last classes at Southern is a class on Church Planting. I’ve been looking forward to this class for a long time.  It has some great projects we’re thinking and working through in order to come up with a workable plan for any church to be able to get involved with church planting. I have been reading about church planting and studying some of the newer movements (Redeemer City To City Network, Soma Communities, Acts 29 Network, Sojourn Network, Sovereign Grace Network, etc) for the last four or five years. 

The endeavor of church planting has much to do with the current health of the “mother” church (the one launching the new church). That “mother” church does not need to be perfect or running at full capacity in order to launch another church. In fact, that is one of the biggest misconceptions. Healthy churches reproduce healthy disciples who know how to make more disciples. Some of those disciples have giftings from God in preaching, teaching, administration, leadership, and other areas that fit well with ongoing movement and planting. 

For the existing mother church, when they begin to talk about “planting” or “launching” a new church into a new area, there is something that occurs that brings forth new life in that existing church. There is a fresh flourishing and vitality that springs up where there may have been lack of vision or even decline over several years (or even decades) for the existing church. Many people in the existing church are passionately recharged with the excitement and hope of their lives being connected in seeing several new churches launched to new areas that have little gospel engagement. 

Many church planting networks want to start in larger cities or cultural centers because that is where we find the highest volume of people. Cities, by God’s design, would be cultural influencers that trickle down to surrounding areas. At the same time, people in those cities (including disciples of Christ) may find themselves in a hurried pace of busyness. This pace has much to do with some of the obstacles to getting into relationships with people on a deeper level in order to share life and share Christ with them. 

There are three poisonous, deplorable, and incredibly deadly sins that both the existing churches and these new church plants may be walking in. These are three of the deadliest sins a church can engage in—sometimes unknowingly! 

1. Consumerism  (worst/deadliest)  2 Tim. 4:1-4

—Paul warns Timothy and the churches that a very dangerous time is coming when crowds of people will put before themselves leaders who deny the costly truth of gospel life, and offer words that “tickle the ears” of those listening. These false leaders will tell the people what their darkened hearts desire to hear—instead of what God wants them to hear from the mirror of His word. Think through these characteristics described in 2 Timothy along with this idea of “Consumerism.” 

—They do not like nor want to hear sound doctrine

—They multiply teachers who tell them what they want to hear

—These teachers accommodate their cultural and sinful preferences

—They no longer hear truth, but instead believe false versions on what life is about

• It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that most cities are fast-paced, consumer-minded, instantaneously-gratifying (or frustrating) centers of expectation. For example, most of us get really frustrated when a drive-thru lane at Starbucks or a fast-food chain takes too long. 
• Let’s be honest, when you have to start memorizing “Thou shalt not murder…Thou shalt not murder…Thou shalt not murder!!!” because the person in the car in front of you asks for a listing of all the new holiday flavors and then which ones come in non-fat—you may have a busy, consumeristic, instantaneously-gratifying expectation. The very idea of “drive-thru” is pretty convenient in itself, no matter how slow, if you really think about it. 
• God forbid we have to find a parking spot, park, do the treacherous labor of getting out and walking into a building, standing in line, ordering (BTW surrounded by other annoying people taking up my time), wait for the drink while safely fixated to a 4 inch screen in order to avoid personal human interaction, get the drink, walk back to said car, and then leave. But maybe that’s just me. I’m the only one experiencing this type of suffering for the gospel. 

The point is that we are a people with a consumer-pleasing mindset. We want it fast and furious. We want it with the most convenience and the littlest cost or sacrifice. We want “Easy-Button” everything. And that overflows into our spiritual lives as well. 

Truth be told--we want that for our church experience as well. 

Me: "Siri..."

Siri: "Yes"

Me: "Which church offers me the most convenient, fastest (nearly) drive-thru, low-commitment, self-indulgent, self-esteem-boosting experience?" 

Would your church be the answer she lovingly offers? 

Churches, both existing and new plants, must fight the temptation to allow “Consumerism” to dictate the message we preach and the methods of what we do. 

• True following of this man, Jesus, brought with it the very idea of cost, death to self, and sacrifice (see Luke 9:23-25). None of those things are quick or easy. 
• Following Christ means commitment and obedience to Jesus, His word, and His mission. Again, none of that is quick or easy. 

So, when we recognize that many churches are simply trying to accompany “busy consumers” we are in a very dangerous place. And remember, this is not trying to point out specific church names or pastors, but is an overall perspective on the American church and how she is handling these cultural shifts. Add to that the concerns of planting churches who set their vision according to some of these false measuring preferences. 

Do you see how dangerous a Consumeristic accommodation for churches can be?

• If a business owner realized his five employees were all stealing 80% of his cash profit out of the register each week—would he simply start providing them paper bags each shift in order to make it easier for them? 
• We do not just give up and not set any kind of expectation in fear that people will reject any kind of high expectation. We trust God. We set the standard God has given us. We allow Jesus to reclaim what has been stolen. This requires hope, trust, and diligence on our part.
• When we are consumers without noticing it—we begin to focus on ourselves instead of the mission of God. It leads to Isolationism. 

2. Isolationism     (hate/indifference to different peoples)  1 Cor. 12:11-27

• We don’t really do well with people who are different from us. That may be different races, different nationalities, different socio-economic levels, or differences of preference. 
• If we’re not careful, in pursuing our own preferred status or our own preferred ways—we never think of others. We don’t recognize we are trying to put distance/space between us and “people who are different” instead of MOVING TOWARDS those in need. 
• Our children are going to inherit our separating mindset. They are going to inherit and internalize our isolating patterns. 

Do your children learn to move towards people who are marginalized or are they learning to climb ladders of success in order to remove themselves from marginalized people? 

• Are we spending all our time moving forward—that we truly begin to look down on people who 1) don’t make as much  2) don’t dress like we do  3) aren’t in our circles? 
• How does that fit with Jesus who was always concerned about those who were marginalized?
• And this Isolation leads to the next step—Individualism. 

3. Individualism   (my/myself/I—bootstraps mentality)  James 2:1-9

• When we’ve unknowingly become extremely BUSY CONSUMERS focused on PREFERENCES IN ISOLATION—we move from God’s desire of us being committed to a family of faith or a community of faith. 
• Individualism, which is one of our highest virtues as Americans, is actually one of the most dangerous and deadly characteristics in killing Gospel-centered community. 
• I remember several years ago at a family camp as we were eating our evening meal, two guys who were members and highly involved in our church body who sat down across from each other, paused in awkwardness, and then said, “Hello, I’m so-and-so, I know we’ve been sitting fifteen feet from each other for the last sever or eight years—but we’ve never met.” And this was a church of around 150 people including children. That is a perfect picture of many individuals in churches across America. People who sit extremely close together and pass by each other several times each week—but who never take the initiative to actually meet each other. This is a glimpse of how our individualism affects our ability to build true community. 
• What allows us to think that we could be good at “loving our neighbor…loving one another…or loving others as Christ loved us” when we spend years 15 ft away from people in our own family—in our own congregation—in our own local assembly—and never move out of our individualistic freedom to meet them—much less care about them or serve them. 

**What are the implications of being consumeristic in our approach to church?

**What are the implications of having churches who begin to cater to consumeristic, individualistic, isolated cultures? 

Ask yourself:

**Am I a consumer in my relationship to church? 

**Am I becoming more isolated or growing in many diverse relationships? 

**Am I becoming more individualistic or am I growing in fellowship and community to the point of caring and serving others who are in my immediate space? 

Sankie P. Lynch

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

ESCAPING WEAKNESS VS. TRUSTING HOURLY IN JESUS

“My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect IN weakness.”

Life was never guaranteed to be paved with ease and comfort. Somehow, especially as Americans, this can become our default expectation. Sometimes it’s the unwritten promise on the walls of our schools—“If you succeed here you will move on to greater, more profitable, more comfortable, ease and comfort.” Again, it may not be explicitly screamed from week to week as we’re growing up, but it may be an ever-present, implicit expectation being communicated and received. 

Then life takes a turn. 

Unforeseen hurts. Difficulties. Pain. Suffering. Disease. All associated to the fall of Adam and Eve. 

We find ourselves possibly expecting/hoping for happy, joyous, fulfilling, rewarding, comfortable lives. Add to this the whole section of the western church that has bought into the demonic lies of the health/wealth/prosperity gospel.  It falsely confirms through horrible hermeneutical tactics the idea that if you’re following God—He is obligated to keep you from any form of harm or discomfort. 

So not only do our own hearts within us desire ease, comfort, and a Utopian life void of all pain—our culture implicitly directs us towards it—and then misguided, self-seeking teachers trying to gain mass approval put God’s stamp of approval on it. 

When all of those voices, including our own hearts, try to direct us away from any kind of weakness and suffering—it puts our world on its head when God BOTH “allows” and “purposefully causes” events and circumstances to humble us to that very weakened posture we have been trained to avoid. 

In the last few years, I’ve found myself trying to ESCAPE WEAKNESS at all costs. At times, not realizing it, I’ve probably even feared weakness. It is easy to allow all of your thoughts and ideas to be consumed on avoiding weakness. 

I know. The judges on American Idol and The Voice would be screaming at me that I DO NOT need to embrace weakness—that I need to see myself as strong—that I need more self-esteem and more pride—and I can overcome anything I put my mind to. But why do we fear weakness? 

What if God has brought you to weakened posture to show you His sufficiency? 

What if God is the One bringing you to weakened posture because only then do you see your own true state of dependency—and at the same time are reacquainted with His vast omnipotence? 

In all of our plans and purposes of pulling up our bootstraps and removing ourselves from this weakened state—What if it is God who is battling against us—trying to bring us to weakness—in order to show HIs power and glory? 

WHAT IF WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME TRYING TO ESCAPE WEAKNESS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HOURLY IN CRYING OUT TO JESUS? 

This is exactly what was happening with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. 

Paul’s heart might have been tempted to boast in other things. Jesus says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Not “Paul, you’re better than this. You can do this.”

Not “Paul, you got this! You’ve got strength down deep inside of you.” 

Not “Paul, you can overcome this with your own power.”

Not even close. In fact, just the opposite.

12: 9-11 Jesus words to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Jesus says, "MY grace...MY grace...not your strength Paul. MY power...MY power...not yours."  

Paul’s response to Jesus’ words:  “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Paul’s understanding of various weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties is changed completely. In direct correlation to the circumstances is Jesus aim to “perfect His power” in those weaknesses. 

Notice Paul’s desire: “so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Interesting that he uses those two words together, “power,” and “rest.” They are not close cousins. Christ is full of power we know nothing about—and it is available to rest on us—and specifically in these times. 

Notice Paul’s understanding is changed because of ONE SINGLE MOTIVATING PASSION—“FOR CHRIST’S SAKE…I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” It is not for the sake of Paul’s pride. It is not finding our true strength in ourselves when we reach “the end of our rope.” It is truly understanding the reality that it is Christ’s power that sustains us and changes things—and therefore it is “For Christ’s sake” that we persevere through these things. 

Paul has no shame in weaknesses. Paul even sees the weaknesses as an unwelcomed hurtful friends that are meant by God to perform good things. 

Paul now knows that Jesus’ grace is truly sufficient. Grace is needed at the start of the day. But sometimes only two hours into the day—more grace is needed. And then again at lunch—grace is needed. In the afternoon, when the trials and difficulties pop back up in our minds or in face-to-face opposition—Jesus’ grace is still the only thing sufficient. 

He is a living God/man. He is not as far removed as our thoughts would allow us to think. He is reigning and ruling. And sometimes that ruling specifically hits us in the face to bring us to His desired posture of weakness before Him. He even enjoys this process for us, because in the end, if we have submitted to what He brings us—we discover new depths of trust and enjoyment. 

WHAT IF WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME TRYING TO ESCAPE WEAKNESS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HOURLY IN CRYING OUT TO JESUS?

Stop trying at all costs to ESCAPE weakness.

Stop FEARING weakness. 

Stop spending all your thoughts and ideas focused on avoiding weakness. 

God may be battling against you—trying to bring you to weakness—in order to show His power to you and around you. 

Everyone wants escape from weakness.

Ask yourself why? 

Ask yourself how much time you spend working to ESCAPE weakness?

Ask yourself how much you FEAR being found weak? 

Ask yourself if God is leading you into a season and area of weakness? 

Sankie P. Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

Cancer, Weight, and Undeserved Glory

I used to always like Yale Avenue in Tulsa. 

About four months ago at 101st and Yale we found out we had lost our fourth baby. 

A little over a week ago at 61st and Yale we found out my mother has stage four lung cancer with metastatic lesions in the brain. 

We’ve spent this last week moving. My mother is moving in with us immediately so she can meet with Doctors and we can evaluate some of her options here in Tulsa and come up with a plan. We found another house that has quite a bit more room and a fourth bedroom that allows her to have her bedroom a little further from the boy’s room and a room that my sisters can stay in when they come to help care for her. 

I’ve noticed a weight in the last year. Jamie and I were talking a couple of nights ago about our boys and how we’ve seen some changes recently since all of this has hit in the last couple of weeks. When we informed the boy’s teachers about some of the transitions we’re going through they had noticed a difference as well. 

As I thought about all the changes the boys are experiencing and seeing how it plays out in their behaviors and emotions I paused to think about how stressors affect us adults as well. 

When you look at those scales that list out the top stressors in people’s lives here are some of the top ones:

Death of immediate family member

Terminal Illness

Loss of child

Resignation/Loss of long-held position/job

Transition or a move to a new city

Transition to new job

Children change of school

Loss of close family or personal relationships

As I paused to think about how the boys are handling some of our transitions and situations I wondered how it may be taking a toll on us. 

Over the past year we left a long-held position at another church where we were connected to many people, we transitioned to a new position at New Beginnings, we moved to a larger city, we moved to a different house, our children have transitioned to new schools and new friends, we lost a baby at fourth month of pregnancy, we’ve just found out that my mother has terminal cancer, and now we’ve moved to another new house. Add to that, like everyone else, there are always relational ups and downs with friends and family members. That’s why I said earlier that I feel some weight. 

I say those things not because we have “horrible” circumstances. We really don’t. In fact, we have probably better circumstances than 98% of the world with the availability/possibility of medical care, healthy children, clean water and food, an incredible house, vehicles instead of walking, and other simple creature comforts like air conditioning and ice—of which I am a big fan! 

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN

A few nights ago I received a message from a close friend working overseas who is trying to see Christ’s name treasured in a hostile, spiritually dark and desolate place, who told me some of their extremely difficult situations they are facing. They may not be able to stay in areas they have worked for years to be able to see churches planted for the worship and glory of Christ. They may have to shift plans and possibly even come back to America. Their hearts are held in Christ’s—and His heart has led them to a people who don’t even see what treasure they bring. As I got his message, I stopped and thought of what they are facing compared to us, as I sat in our nice comfortable bed in the new house. 

His last comments in the message were “We’re living by faith, not by sight. And it’s hard when all you see is dark!! That’s reality, but we’re hoping in the greater reality!” His next message told of some other missionaries who have had such difficulties with visas and the governments that they’ve almost had all they can take. My friends words lift my eyes and head up to that greater reality. Cancer for my mom and eventual death is not really the end. There is a greater reality ALL AND ONLY BECAUSE OF ONE MAN—JESUS CHRIST—AND WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION! There is a better day, no, infinite, eternal days, coming for my mom, for our family, for my friend, and for you. 

This morning I saw on the news where the US is firing missiles into Syria. Again, darkness and war are everywhere. 

Other stories focus on the death tolls in other countries with ongoing war and attack. 

The darkness could seem to be overwhelming on a grand scale. 

The next story was covering the girls who has been missing for the past few days. Her parents stood at a press conference bearing the pain and affliction their souls are feeling as their daughter has disappeared. 

As I met my sisters at the Tulsa Cancer Institute we sat in the waiting room watching person after person walk by with frail, broken, weakened bodies, slowly losing their hair and weight. Each body a reminder that this body is a vessel that is perishable and fragile. Each person’s eyes revealing the look of dreaded nausea that chemo and radiation deal the body. 

Cancer hospitals scream the truth from the Bible that “your life is a vapor.” The darkness of death seems to linger in places like this. 

As we sat in the waiting room I received another text from a close friend telling me the news of a friend in our former church who is probably barely 40 yrs old who is in his last few hours on this planet. They found out only three months ago of his cancer. He has three children the same age as my three boys. He’s truly one of the nicest and simplest men I’ve ever met—truly a great dad and husband. 

Again, there has to be something weighty and luminous behind the fog of darkness that our eyes so easily fix upon. 

So we, as a family, really have it great relatively speaking. God’s grace is overwhelming in our lives! And yet still, we could stop and stare at the situations around the world both near and far—and have a tendency to lose heart and lose hope.

In seeing these other hardships and much, much worse throughout our city and our world—all of a sudden stresses of kids practices or unloading moving boxes or issues to deal with at work or personal desires that don’t have time to be fulfilled all take a backseat. 

So I write this not to gain your sympathy—because Jamie and I feel so incredibly loved, encouraged, and supported by SO MANY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES! We feel like some of the most loved people on the planet. We are constantly amazed by so many people who pour out love and grace towards us—and in that we are truly amazed at God again!l

I write this because I need to daily remind myself of the important tangible things that life MUST be about and the grace-flowing intangibles that God offers to those who look to Him as we all face trials and difficulties. 

I write this because I truly believe that all situations in life are supposed to be pointing to a weighty glory—something we cannot fully grasp, especially in the moments when shock hits our life—but something of substance at the core of our heart and mind that secures us and still allows a small smile of hope to lift our hearts. 

Where do we find hope when this is a present reality? Is there somewhere other than within ourselves that can actually help us in our pain and afflictions? Is there someone there stronger than ourselves—stronger and more faithful than simple human endurance?

I’ve turned to the words from God in 2 Corinthians 4 many times. These words are powerful—not as merely inspirational words—but they have a filling of supernatural resources that are raw and straight from the Godhead. These words point to the Person, Christ, who allows the same words to change our hearts and perspectives. It is truth from God that overrides our feelings and thoughts. 

If you would pause here and take the time to read these words from Scripture and then take the few moments to listen to the words John Piper says towards the end of this song it may strengthen you and help you not to “lose heart” in a time when that’s what you would tend to do. (Go to the 3:20 point in the song to hear Piper's exhortation)

See 2 Cor. 4:5-18

[5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

—So when God decided to send hope and light into our hurting and difficult world—it came in the form of the living Person, Jesus Christ, and knowledge/truth about Him. 

—We don’t turn to ourselves or our own power within us—we turn and trust and look to Christ and cry out for His strength and grace to sustain us. 

[7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. [8] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So death is at work in us, but life in you.

—The power in persevering faith is God Himself. Our difficulties, trials, and suffering are a part of God’s sovereign purposes of letting us identify with Christ’s suffering (“always carrying in the body the death of Jesus”). 

—But all of “death” we carry around is not final—again because of what Christ also did in His resurrection. 

[13] Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, [14] knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. [15] For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

—And we must look beyond our present difficulties and sufferings to something much more beautiful and grand. Our faith and belief, in God’s design through difficulties, that His grace would extend to more and more people and result in worship and praise to God.

[16] So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. [17] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

—So, there is pain going on. There is difficulty being experienced. There is suffering throughout the world and personally in our lives. But God is not finished with His work. God is not finished with His beautiful plan of salvation extending to all peoples throughout the earth. 

—Though we see and experience “wasting away,” we remember that these elements of life are “light and momentary” and are “preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” That means there are things we cannot see going on NOW, and things that will happen LATER, because of what we’ve been through as we walk with this King in a foreign home. 

—So we look not to what is seen. We fix our eyes on Him. He is not unaware of our current situation. He is not busy. He is not indifferent. He is not overwhelmed like us. He was abandoned so we would never have to be abandoned by God. 

—We are “not crushed…not driven to despair…not forsaken…not destroyed.” 

—But for our sake, Jesus was crushed, was driven to despair, was forsaken, and was destroyed so that I would never have to be. So that my mom would never have to be. So that my friend in darkness across the world would never have to be. So that all those in the world who call on Him would never have to be separated from God eternally. 

—Therefore, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART! ——Only because of Jesus and what He has already accomplished.  

In the song, “Though You Slay Me,” by Shane and Shane, this line keeps flowing in my mind:

“My heart and flesh may fail…the earth below give way…and with my eyes…with my eyes…I’ll see the LORD!”

With the short list of afflictions and trials listed above from simply receiving two texts and watching the news it can cause the heart to fail and seem like the earth is giving way

Here is what John Piper says at the 3:20 point in the song (again I would suggest listening to it in the song):

“Not only is all your affliction ‘momentary,’ not only is all your affliction ‘light’ in comparison to eternity and the glory there, but all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain from the fallen nature or from fallen man, every millisecond of your misery, in the path of obedience, is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that. 

I don’t care if it was cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness. 

It wasn’t meaningless. It is doing something! It’s not meaningless! Of course you can't see what it’s doing—don’t look to what is seen. 

When your mom dies…when your kid dies…when you’ve got cancer at 40…when a car creams into the sidewalk and takes her out…don’t say it was ‘meaningless!’ 

It’s not. It is working for you an eternal weight of glory. 

Therefore…Therefore…DO NOT LOSE HEART. But take these truths and day by day, focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach His word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for.”

How do you not “lose heart?” How do you not lose heart when so many painful things surround us? It’s definitely not by pulling up your emotional bootstraps and just getting through. That isn’t the purpose. That isn’t the meaning. That leads us to greater ideas of self-sufficiency, self-pride, and self-trust. And at the end of the day—even those respected and honored people who pull themselves out of horrible circumstances—one day—death will come for them as well. You cannot escape it regardless of your personal mental toughness and self-sufficiency. Death wins in this lifetime—only because we were all created for an eternal life—not merely life on this earth. 

I’m writing today about weight. And I’m writing today about glory. I’m writing today about an eternal weight, an immeasurable, unknowable element, not even understood or comprehendible in this lifetime. There is this fluidity in God’s economy of substances that are intangible to the touch, but overwhelmingly profound in their feeling and presence. So, as it were, we’re describing an invisible, floating-like, quality that we breath and feel and experience and know as reality—even though it is trusted upon by faith. And these qualities, provided and flowing from the internal essence of God Himself, are what secure us and walk us through perseverance and into a land of hope when all seems dark and deadly and horrific. 

Cancer is no victor. War is no winner. There is a true Victor who will return to claim all His bride and completely and ultimately re-create her into an eternal vessel of praise for His glory. 

The death and resurrection of Jesus make weighty elements in everyday life become a reality of “light and momentary” glimpses in a broken world needing a Redeemer and Savior. 

Join me in exalting and clinging to Christ when life hits you with things that would tend to make you lose heart. 

Sankie P.  Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

Update: Lynch Family

Over the last few weeks and months, many people have asked how Jamie and I are doing coming off of our recent loss (miscarriage), the move to Tulsa (Bixby), and how the boys have handled all of it—so I wanted to give an update on these things. 

First, with the miscarriage in the spring. Many people may not know the history with Jamie and I and our three little boys. As we got married, I was a youth pastor in a church plant in NW Arkansas. This was an incredible group of people that surrounded our new lives together. There were four of us pastors who were all bi-vocational. Many of the families in this church plant had over four or five children. Maybe the Duggar water runs through the country over there? And these were great families. Jamie and I decided then that we wanted a “larger” family of at least four but probably around five or six with maybe some adoptions as well. 

After being there for the first three years and then moving on to be missions mobilizers for a couple of years, we landed back in Oklahoma to finish up our undergraduates with plans of pursuing seminary. We had often talked about being married for five or six years before starting a family, but had no idea what having children as you’re older in life can be like—the good and the bad! 

When we started trying to have children it began to be one of the most difficult things we had experienced. We ended up going for over thirty-three months without a pregnancy. And for those of you who may read this and are in those months of wondering if you’ll be able or if you’re a couple who have not been able to have children, we know of those pains and fears and hurts that go along with that. We have had several couples around us over the years who have not been able to have their own children but who have still opened their lives to many youth or college or young marrieds in serving Christ and HIs Kingdom. And for couples who never go through that they may never know what that is like. 

The first six to eight months passed by without me really thinking about it. Sure, I wanted Jamie to be pregnant, but I just figured it would happen eventually. But those first few months were hitting Jamie much harder than I initially realized. She was processing much more emotions than I was over the matter—which is completely normal. By the ninth and tenth months of no pregnancy we were both becoming more disheartened. There were many deeper frustrations that set in over those thirty-three months. There were the normal questions of “why us?” Why were we not able to have children? We would see some parents in Wal-mart who were so angry and abusive to their slew of kids that it seemed they didn’t need nor deserve to be parents. So our questions would turn towards God and His sovereignty. 

Needless to say, through all the emotional, spiritual, and physical issues that would come into question—it was a long thirty-three months. But then…a pregnancy!!

We announced it on a Sunday morning and the whole crowd rejoiced with us. They all knew how long we had waited and how long we had been trying to get pregnant. But then within a week there was a miscarriage. 

Then more fears and questions arose. You begin to wonder if you’re being punished for anything you’ve done in your past even though you’ve learned that God isn’t really dealing with us in those terms.

Those were some tough days to continue to walk through. But it wasn’t that much longer, only a two or three months before we were pregnant again. And that pregnancy brought us our first son, Sankie II. Two years later we had Owen and two more years later we had Jack. In all the pregnancies we had concerns, but by the third one we felt we were out of harms way. 

So we understand and empathize with those couples who have struggled with several miscarriages or the many months and years without being able to have children. 

When this last miscarriage happened so late (past 4th months) we were shocked again. You’re always thankful and grateful for what you have and treasure your family in so many ways. So this new addition would add an element of enjoyment for all of us. 

During those months of not being able to get pregnant, Jamie and I searched for names we would give if we were ever able to have a child. Since we were having such difficulty, we knew that if we had a son, we wanted to pass on the name Sankie. And especially since it seemed that we might not be able to have more than one. 

We also found a girl name that we felt was fitting in our three years of trying to get pregnant to no avail. The name is Ellyanna or Ellianna—which means “God has answered.” I have wanted a little girl all along and hope that one day that may come true. But our God has been bountifully graceful and good in what He has given us so far. 

So, as we have progressed past that dreadful day a short few months ago we have been doing well. We purposefully didn’t commit to very many things this summer so that we could truly spend a lot of time together as a family. We’ve been able to follow through with a much simpler season this summer. We're treasuring the hours and days with the boys as we see them growing so fast. We are trying to be careful to lead simpler lives without too many commitments because it is so easy to get to doing so much that you're not really connecting very deeply as a family. We want to guard against that constant pressure of busyness in this season of their lives. We’ve spent time enjoying the beautiful weather and the new circle of friends we’re surrounded by here in South Tulsa. 

Just this past weekend Jamie said this is probably the best summer we’ve ever had. That was encouraging to hear considering some of the disappointments and trials we’ve gone through recently. That is a clear picture of God’s grace and love. 

So we appreciate your kind words, encouragement, and prayers—as we’ve truly lived and experienced great times even through some very sobering and difficult experiences. 

Sankie P. Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

4th of July Freedoms & That Disturbing Cross of Christ

While most of us gathered with hundreds or thousands of people in our surrounding communities to watch firework shows, eat great meals, and celebrate the freedoms God has graced us with here in America through the blood, sweat, and tears of those long before us—there was a stark and shocking reminder that our freedom of religion and other freedoms are amazing gifts of God’s grace. The disturbing cross of Christ drew in more people as eight Christians were martyred for following Christ. 

Across the globe this weekend there was a small group of former Muslims who had converted to become followers of Isa (Jesus) who paid for their commitment to Christ with their lives. These converted followers of Christ were charged with “Apostasy.” This means that they turned from Islam to the living Christ. These followers had the chance to deny Christ and live, but they saw something more glorious and magnificent than their own lives. 

Here is the link to the story: (caution for graphic scenes)

http://shariaunveiled.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/isis-crucifies-8-christians-in-syria-for-apostasy-from-islam/

Upon facing His own cross 2,000 years ago, which bought these martyrs eternity, Jesus had a vision of joy unspeakable that was greater than the shame and suffering of the cross. His sacrifice was the worthy appeasement to God’s justice and wrath for all who would put their trust in Him. Here are the encouraging and shocking words from Hebrews concerning Jesus, His cross, His vision, and anyone who would follow Him who might face suffering:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”  (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Jesus looked beyond the cross to the greater glory of eternal worship of God and eternal security of salvation of those He would redeem through the cross. He “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,” because of His great love for us and His single pursuit of God’s glory. 

We are not to grow weary or fainthearted—most of us have not even been close to shedding blood in our faithfulness in following Christ. 

But these eight people on Saturday did. Yes, on the earthly side, our perspective sees the loss of life, the families missing loved ones, the children with a martyred mom or dad. But on the heavenly side, there were eight people who were so captivated by the cross of Christ that they had the extreme privilege of dying in same manner. They were not worthy of a death so similar to their Master’s, but He was worthy of their lives. 

John Piper and several other theologians have suggested, with harsh disagreement, that it will be upon the backs of bloody martyrs that the gospel will step across into the beachhead of Islamic extremists. He is saying that the spiritual oppression and fierceness of this false Satanic lie is so extreme and so difficult to see breakthrough that there will probably be many Christian missionaries who will have to give their lives in martyrdom in getting the gospel to Muslims. And like I said, he and others have faced opposition to that perspective. But what is shocking is the very fact that this seems out of sorts to us—that this seems weird or halting that this could be true! Jesus Himself said that this sort of persecution would be “the norm” in following Him. 

Jesus clearly told any would-be followers, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

From the very beginning of the church in Acts, to Stephen’s catalytic martyrdom, to the first few centuries of the church expansion—it was the norm to see martyrdom furthering the gospel. So why would we consider it shocking to propose that more martyrs will be killed in our own time? Refer back to my point—we have a version of Christianity that seems shocking to experience suffering, pain, and any kind of persecution, much less death. Add to this phenomenon the strikingly false “health, wealth, prosperity gospel,” that tries to equate following Christ with no chance of pain, suffering, illness, nor lack of extremely materialistic possessions. 

I don’t know what prosperity gospel adherents do with gruesome realities of martyrdom in our own time. I suppose they mark it up as those people having lacking faith and lacking financial “sowing” that led to their demise. 

Most of us will never have to endure anything of that nature in following Christ. In fact, God has poured out so much grace in America over the past three generations that our version of Christianity is actually dangerously referred to as comfortable. What I mean is that sometimes the very graces of God provide such safety, security, comfort, and blessing that we get to the point of removing any “cost” or “sacrifice” from following Christ. So, we’ve had at least two if not almost three generations of believers in America who have had religious freedoms, steady success, nice neighborhoods and schools, opportunity for further education and career advancement, and almost no fear at all of true persecution for their faith. Sure, a neighbor or family member or city council may do things that are hurtful for us in following Christ—but not true persecution. And that is a complete blessing and grace of God that we can thank Him for! But it is not the same version of Christianity that other brothers and sisters in Christ are facing throughout the world. 

When two to three generations are allowed to have a version of Christianity that is strangely low on “cost,” it can produce a mindset of entitlement. Think about some of the things that produce church splits or divisions in our local bodies of Christ. People argue and fight over paint colors in nurseries and small issues on budget items to the point of splitting a church. This is where entitlement and preference rule the day in an age of grace and true suffering and cost are far removed. 

Again, this is not to say that we don’t sacrifice for the sake of the gospel in many ways as believers here, but just not to the extent that others across the globe are experiencing. The point of this blog today is to simply remind us of the true reality of the spiritual war that is being played out here on this planet in our immediate times. This is a matter of life and death. Life is war. And we so easily turn our heads and forget what goes on for those without the freedoms we enjoy. 

We must remember we’re living as strangers in this fallen world.

Please don’t allow your heart and emotions to be turned off as if this was a “downer” of a blog. This is reality for literally millions of believers across the globe living in hostile Muslim-extremist areas. And please know that this is not an anti-Muslim campaign. The great majority of Muslim peoples who are not part of some extremist regime are people just like you and I. Our media has caused us to fear anyone wearing a turban in many cases. But the greatest majority of Muslims are trying to raise good families, be good moms and dads, provide for their families, work decent jobs, and live in and support their communities. Yet they are blind or ignorant of the salvation Christ has already purchased for them. 

The purpose was to make us pause and come to grips with the reality of God’s amazing grace on our lives as we’ve experienced great freedoms and at the same time to halt us to the reality that we cannot close our eyes to what is happening to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ on a daily basis in other regions across the globe. Let us not be so self-focused as to stick our heads in the sand to ignore the shrieks of horror coming from fellow believers in less comfortable places. Let us lift up holy prayers to a God who knows and understands faithfulness, death, and crucifixion. 

We celebrate freedom with fireworks because God has ordained that we live in this land at this specific time in history. God wisely placed us in this time period with His purposes and glory as the end-all goal. We do not have the right to turn our heads to whats going on across the globe. We see the theme throughout the Scriptures of "being sorrowful...yet always rejoicing." That is because God's beautiful goodness was corrupted with sin and now we live in a fallen world. And as Christ came and inaugurated His Kingdom, it is a Kingdom that is "already present...but not yet fully." So let us live and celebrate and enjoy and mourn and weep with the gaze of this amazing and disturbing and yet still captivating cross of Christ as supreme. 

Sankie P. Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

Rest

This week I’m trying to do something I battle with on a regular basis. 

“Hello. My name is Sankie. I struggle with true rest.” 

Sometimes we're so "squeezed" by other forces
 that we miss out on true rest. 

There. I’ve said it. I’ve come out publicly. It is a condition worthy of having a support group for. This group I’m in has reached epidemic proportions. 

But I’m trying to truly REST this week. Rest is a God-ordained part of our life experience. God made us to not only require, but enjoy true rest. 

After God made everything and declared it, “very good,” He then rested on the seventh day. That does not mean that God is like us requiring rest, because God tells us in several places that, in fact, He is not like us in this way, and does not require rest from being physically, emotionally, or mentally tired. Clearly, He is not like us in this way. He is transcendently above and different from us in that manner. He does not require the same type of rest. 

So why does God “rest” after creation? Rest is a beautiful thing that God ordained. God even joined us in His own form of rest after creation. The Sabbath day of rest was not supposed to be an adult “time out” for playing too hard. It was not to keep us from being so egotistically-pursuit-driven that God had to put a leash on us. That may be a ripple effect of God’s intention of rest, but God gave rest as a good thing to pause, slow down, contemplate the graces and gifts He’s given (no matter your current circumstances) to look back at what He has provided and to look forward in anticipation of what He is doing currently and in the future. Rest points us back to God’s goodness and faithfulness. 

Ultimately, our true “Rest” is found in the Person of Christ. We are to “rest” in the faithful provision of what Jesus did on the cross instead of striving to “do” or “be” good enough to make it to God. We could never have made it to God on our own effort. So God’s message to us is “cease striving in your own efforts towards me and instead rest in the work Christ did in His life, death, and resurrection.” Jesus Christ is our ultimate rest. 

So how faithful are we at rest? 

• When I say I struggle with true rest, I do not mean I don’t get plenty of rest at night. I sleep heavily through the night and feel rested every morning. I probably don’t worry about things enough! (just kidding-worry is not good for those who struggle with it)

• I don’t struggle with email controlling me. I probably don’t spend enough time checking email. 

• I don’t struggle with ignoring my wife or children for sports, television, internet, hobbies, or my schoolwork. 

• I don’t struggle with the calendar controlling me or having to fill it with events to make me feel like I’m being productive. 

I struggle with laying down things during scheduled “restful” times like vacation. As we were sitting at the lake this weekend, I found myself thinking about a list of “to-do” items for work that still need to get done. I was thinking about the many dads and families I could be getting to know better. I was thinking about the list of details for our upcoming summer events. I was thinking about the one last assignment for seminary with four large book reports due next week. I was thinking about gearing up for the fall. 

STOP! You’re supposed to be resting. Enjoying God’s beautiful creation of simple things surrounding me like trees, hills, cliffs, the lake. Most importantly enjoying God’s most gracious gifts of Jamie, the boys, and other family members. God has placed beautiful objects of grace around me that I am to enjoy during restful times and busy times. But especially when “work” is off schedule. 

• We have purposefully, as a family, not overloaded our summer schedule with too much of anything. We are not doing any sports or classes over the summer. Just family time. We are not trying to be at every event in the surrounding area. Just family time. 

And that is not to impress you. It is actually showing a fault that I believe many of us succumb to in “doing” so much. That is to show how intentional we have to be in our current culture to make sure we are breathing deeply the air God has given right now. Just like you, we feel the pressure of schedules and calendars. And for us at this time in life, with the boys at their current ages, it’s just going by so incredibly fast. So shifting down into first gear may bring us the type of rest God intended. I believe with rest we discover a type of appreciation, enjoyment, relaxation, thankfulness, and contemplation that we may easily miss if we keep running in busyness. 

• When was the last time your family slowed down and truly just enjoyed time together without “doing” anything? 
• Do you feel a constant pressure to be doing more stuff to keep up in life? 
• Do you feel like there is always a few more things you wish you could accomplish each week? 
• Do you see others and wonder how they get so much accomplished in the same 24 hours? 
• Do you feel like you’re spread so thin in a hundred ways that you’re at about 30% efficiency on all of them instead of 90% efficiency in just a few? 
• Does your times of rest (weekend, vacation) end up tiring you and wearing you out more than your work week? 

Sometimes we’re afraid that we won’t accomplish all we’re supposed to. Sometimes all the leadership books have us convinced that we’re going to miss out on our full potential for success. Sometimes we’re afraid others will see us resting and think that we’re just being lazy compared to them. All of those fall under the idol of “pleasing man.” The Bible is very clear about the issue of man-pleasing versus living to please God (which includes rest!). We are so concerned about what others (and ourselves) think of us that we keep up our busy fragmented shuffles each week. Those weeks turn into months. The months turn into years. And before long, we’ve  missed out on enjoying and contemplating deeply all God had intended around us. 

When all of those “must-do” tasks creep into my mind, I am trying to let go of them and the pressure they bring. I am asking God to give me greater enjoyment of each day and more specifically the people He has placed around me each day. 

How are you doing with God’s desire for you to experience true Biblical rest? 

If you’re like me, the answer is not in creating a new four step plan or strategy for implementing more rest (that’s less rest and more work doing that task), but instead, confess this type of striving to God. Ask Him to forgive you for not experiencing and enjoying His idea of rest. And ask Him for the grace to enjoy both hard work and blissful rest on a regular basis. Ask Him to give you wisdom to areas of your life where you are overextended and overcommitted. Ask Him to give you trust that your family and the your children will be just fine in life without having to compete with everyone else’s pace of life. Let the gospel bring restoration and rest back to your life!

Sankie P. Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info