Bait-and-switch?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Bait-and-switch is a commonly used sales tactic. Typically, the customer is drawn to a store or website with promises of very low prices. Once inside, they find different items at higher prices. Sadly, some churches and ministries use bait-and-switch tactics in marketing a gospel that turns out to be no gospel at all.

A friend of mine shared a conversation he had on an airplane returning home from a trip to India. A young Indian woman sitting next to him asked what he had been doing in India. He explained he had been there for mission and ministry. She asked if he was Christian, and he said he was, so she asked, “Tell me about this Jesus!” He began by asking what she had heard. “Well, I’ve heard Christians and missionaries talk about a God who loves everyone and sent Jesus as a gift to save us. They then encourage people to become Christian so they can have a better life.” Then she paused—“But my friends who go to Christian churches say they find out it is not that easy. You have to give money to the church, work hard to keep the gift, and if you don’t do what the priest says, the God who is supposed to love you will send you to hell to burn forever!”

cartoon2 — (used with license from Cartoonstock)

Fortunately, it was a long flight and by the time it was over, the Indian woman had heard the gospel message that God, who uses no bait-and-switch tactics, sent his Son, in love, to save the world by grace.

Unfortunately, some churches proclaim a false gospel that God won’t save people until they overcome this or that. Or they proclaim that God saves us by grace but then it’s up to us to maintain our salvation by works (using, of course, their programs). These unfortunate messages present salvation as a transaction rather than the freely-given, enduring relationship with God that it is.

The gospel that uses bait-and-switch tactics is far different than the one presented in Scripture. There we find that Jesus, who is truth personified (John 14:6), presents the gospel truth that God, who always is for us, came to us and lives among us by his Spirit. Jesus doesn’t call us to himself, then say, “Now change or be damned!” He draws us to himself unconditionally, through love and for love. As we get to know him more and more, we respond to his love with all we are and in all we do. We want to change because we want to be like him and involved in what he is doing. We want to enjoy as close a relationship with him as we can—a relationship in which we become like the one we love.

Be Not Afraid by Greg Olsen (used with permission) — *Be Not Afraid* by Greg Olsen (used with permission)

Perhaps the biggest change that we encounter in this relationship with God is learning to love others the way God loves them. As our perfectly loving heavenly Father, God is for all people and against all that is against them. He is for all that brings his children true life in ever-deepening relationship with himself. He desires that his children live in a way that reflects the glory of who he is—the glory we see in God’s incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

The gospel tells us that God is a triune being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit existing eternally in a relationship of love. God created us to share in this tri-personal relationship, and since he is perfect and complete without us, he does not need bait-and-switch tactics to trick us into anything. Though he doesn’t need us, in love and for love he desires that we experience and enjoy the loving relationship he is and has for us.

One of the biggest changes we face is learning to embrace and live out of our relationship with God. This is tough because most of us have grown up loving the darkness of self-love rather than the light of God’s love. Many seem unaware that God created us for relationship with him and with others. These relationships are based on the new commandment given by Jesus to his disciples the evening before he died for us: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

When Jesus makes something new, he makes it better than the old. There is more to Jesus’ new command than many realize. It’s about loving God and others the way Jesus loves us and his Father. Jesus gave himself completely for the sake of his Father and all the world. Jesus was God’s plan to bring us into an eternal relationship of love with himself. God, who is an eternal, relational being, invites all to respond to his love. His intent is made clear in the passage that is often called “the Bible in a nutshell”: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

There is no bait-and-switch here. Jesus did not come to condemn and punish; he came to save. In the four Gospels we find Jesus telling people about his Father, about the Holy Spirit, about his Father’s kingdom, and about himself. Through acts of healing, helping, correcting and warning, we find him establishing the reality of who he is and why he came. All of this he did freely and even joyfully, out of the fullness of his relationship with the Father and in the Holy Spirit.

In Scripture we find Jesus serving, not asking to be served. He doesn’t draw people in, then drop the hammer. With Jesus there is no “gotcha,” bait-and-switch catch. Jesus is pure, consistent love. His love is based on who he is, not on what we do. The apostle Paul put it this way: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Notice, there are no conditions placed here on God’s love for us. God doesn’t say, “I’ll love you as soon as you clean up your act.” He doesn’t say, “I’ll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love me.” The Bible tells us that God’s love is always unconditional—there is no bait-and-switch here. God’s grace, by definition, is freely given—unearned and undeserved. There is nothing we must do or can do to cause or enable God to give it. Grace is truly the ultimate expression of love, which is the essence of God’s being.

God, who is love, never stops loving his creation. His anger (wrath) arises from seeing his beloved hurting themselves and others. When we embrace our relationship with God, his love works from inside our being by his Spirit to restore and transform us. Note Jesus’ prayer for his followers: “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:25-26). Rest assured, Jesus never uses bait-and-switch tactics with us, and such tactics are never part of co-ministering with him. We are called to know Jesus and his love, and to make him known by freely sharing his love with others.

Always thankful for the truth of God’s unconditional love,
Joseph Tkach

VBS outreach in Dallas

This update is from Christine Ojih whose husband Gabriel serves as lead pastor at Pathway of Grace Church (a GCI congregation in Dallas, Texas).

“I just hope it’s not boring!” lamented 3rd-grader Amya when asked about her hopes for the summer by her Pathway of Grace Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) small group leader. In all, 50 individuals from the church and surrounding community participated in the VBS at this GCI congregation, in Mesquite, Texas. Twenty adult volunteers, including a Spanish-speaking staff member from the elementary school across the street, came together with 30 children and teens for five evenings in June to study how putting on Jesus, the full armor of God, helps us “stand strong against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11).

outsideVBS

One parent from the community representing one of five new families who got involved at Pathway because of VBS said, “I don’t know what you guys are doing here, but the kids love it!” Another new child shared, “My uncle has a lot of things planned for us kids this week but I’m missing it. I want to be at Bible school!”

Pathway’s VBS was kicked off with a Saturday Community Family Fun Day where families were invited to bring their children to enjoy bounce houses, carnival games and face painting, along with slider burgers, popcorn and snow cones. At the Fun Day, children and teens were invited to register for the VBS.

Best of all, the fun didn’t stop when VBS week was over. Youth ministry team member, Teri Herrmann, who leads Pathway’s school-aged children’s ministry, took the lead to provide ongoing activities throughout the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kids have the opportunity to learn more about Jesus and how he is revealed to us through some well-known Bible stories while also enjoying crafts, games and meals together with the friends they made at VBS. Field trips to the skating rink, movie theater and Ranger’s Ballpark offered a special opportunity to get out on the town to many children who might otherwise sit home and play video games or watch TV all summer.

Judging from her enthusiasm—showing up an hour before events start and not missing a single summer activity so far—it seems Amya’s hope for a “non-boring” summer has been fulfilled. Likewise, Pathway of Grace’s hope of demonstrating God’s love that came near in Jesus to families in our community has also been fulfilled and a new hope has emerged—the hope that we can develop ways for even deeper, more meaningful and more consistent involvement with our young community members.

JULY JAM in Kentucky

For the past 13 years, Mike Stewart and Debby Bailey (members of the pastoral team at Grace Fellowship in Pikeville, KY), have been the driving force of an annual Christian music concert named JULY JAM (Jesus Unconditionally Loves You. Just Ask Me). Youth and young adults are the primary target audience for this free outdoor Christian music event held in one of Pikeville’s parks.

The purpose of JULY JAM is to share with area youth the love of Jesus through Christian music. A primary goal is to help them understand that there is an alternative to a life of drug use. Pike County has one of the highest per capita rates of death due to drug overdose. This year’s concert, headlined by national recording artist, Among the Thirsty, was held July 30. More than 350 people attended. The event received coverage in both local newspapers (pictured above).

Pastoral care

Pastoral-Care

In a recent post on his self-named blog, Chuck Lawless wrote this:

Let’s face it, church leaders. Some of us much prefer preaching over pastoral care. Others love pastoral care, but not all of us. Some do it because our role demands it, but that doesn’t mean we always enjoy it.

To read Chuck’s post, click here and feel free to add your comments in the box below. For a post on GCI’s Surprising God blog that addresses the theology of pastoral ministry, click here.

Members impacted by Louisiana floods

[Updated on August 19]

Several members of GCI congregations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA were severely impacted by the recent flooding in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi, which has displaced about 40,000 residents and has killed at least 13. Following is an update from Anthony Rice who pastors the two GCI congregations most heavily impacted (flooding has also been reported in the Hammond, LA church area where Mike Horchak is pastor, but apparently no members have sustained damage). Following Anthony’s report are videos of the devastation, and a note from GCI Treasurer Mat Morgan on how GCI congregations can assist. Here is Anthony’s report:

It’s hard to believe what has happened in Southern Louisiana! The area affected is about ten times the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina, though because the area impacted this time is largely rural, not as many people have been affected.

About 20 GCI families in Baton Rouge and Lafayette have been significantly impacted. As far as I know, there was no loss of life or serious injury among our members. However, there was significant property damage with several homes flooded (including the home of Leonard and Mattie Tillotson who pastor our church in Natchez, MS), some lost cars, and several had to be rescued by boat or National Guard.

The flood water is starting to recede on the northern end of the area, though the southern end is being impacted as the flood water heads south (see map below). The water was as much as 16′ above flood stage near where I live. My family is OK but still boxed in by the water.

Thanks for your prayers for us. I’ll keep in touch with the members here, then with our Home Office concerning needs for financial or other forms of assistance.

Here’s how you can help

This message is from Mat Morgan, GCI Treasurer.

From time to time we’re contacted about helping members impacted by major disasters like the recent flooding in Southern Louisiana. If your congregation has a heart to help members impacted by disasters, probably the best way to do so is to donate to our GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund was established to help provide members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repair, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed will remain in the Fund to be allocated in future disasters.

In previous years, the Fund has helped members recover from Hurricane Katrina, flooding in Bangladesh, a tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and an earthquake in Haiti. On behalf of those helped by the Fund, I express sincere appreciation to the congregations and individuals who have generously donated to the Fund.

If your congregation would like to donate to the Fund, your treasurer can set up a one-time or monthly donation through the GCI Online system (http://online.gci.org) by logging in and selecting Church Giving under the Treasurer tab. If your congregation prefers to send a check, make it out to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. Send donations to:

GCI Disaster Relief Fund
Grace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740

Taylors receive 25-year honors

At the recent US Regional Conference held in Orlando, Florida, GCI President Joseph Tkach honored Pastor Charles Taylor for 25 years of GCI employment. In recognition of their many years serving the church, Charles and his wife Keysha were given a plaque and watches.

GCI-Canada pastor retires

This update is from GCI-Canada Director Gary Moore.

Wendy and I recently had the opportunity to attend services in Castlegar, British Columbia where Dennis Thibault recently retired from service as lead pastor. We are thankful for the great job Dennis and his wife Norma did during the years they pastored the congregation (with part-time employment).

I’m delighted to report that Bob and Sandy Bell have agreed to fill the pastoral role in Castlegar, where they moved recently from Penticton. Please keep them in your prayers.