Category: Hear From the President

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we begin a new year, I want to focus on the calling that is shared by pastors. As shown below, many people have no idea what pastors do. And it’s not unusual for pastors to feel inadequate in their role. I’ve felt that way too, as apparently did Paul in asking, “who is equal to such a task?” He then noted (speaking of himself as a vessel) that, “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 2:16, 4:7). Despite the times of doubt that pastors sometimes face, they find reassurance in remembering that God has called them and that they have his anointing to serve him in this way—an anointing confirmed by their ordination.

I am pleased that our elders approach their calling to pastoral ministry with humility and faith—an attitude refreshingly different than the one displayed by the guy in the cartoon at right. Sadly, some people become pastors to “do their own thing.” But Paul tells us that pastors, along with other ordained ministers are called “to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13, TNIV).

All Christians are called to share in the ministry of Jesus, through what Paul refers to here as “works of service.” Ordained ministers, including pastors, are called to serve by equipping and then leading God’s people in these works.

To be called by God to serve as a pastor is a privilege, blessing and responsibility. It’s a calling that comes to different people in different ways—sometimes quietly, over a long period of time; at other times dramatically and suddenly—like Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:12-14).

I have been asked, “How do I know ‘for sure’ that I am called to be a pastor?” The hard answer is that you will know “for sure” only in your spirit and through the confirmation of those you serve. We walk by faith, not by sight and the opportunity to serve God is unlike any other life endeavor. The center of that service involves feeding others through sharing with them the Living and Written Word of God. The aim of that service flows out of a desire that others come to know God through Jesus Christ and put their trust in him alone for life now and eternally.

Signs that point to such a calling are love for studying and communicating the Word of God, desire to pray with and for people, desire to enable people to come to God in worship, and desire to help people become a fellowship of those gathered in the Holy Spirit around the Word of God both Written and Living.

Pastoral service brings with it the power of God moving through us in humility. And though that brings us joy, it can also bring disappointment. None of us are perfect and neither are the ones we interact with in ministry. And sometimes God’s leading is simply mysterious, beyond our comprehension.

Whether we are rich or poor, learned or uneducated, or anywhere in between, God has a job for us and he calls us to it. We must not confuse the form of that call with the substance of it. Since God is invisible, it is his nature to call us by dropping hints. Many have told me that they eventually realized that God was dropping such hints in their life for years, though they did not notice them right away. We humans can be rather dense at times. But when we look back on our lives and pray about God’s will, the little hints he has placed in our lives are recognized as our call to pastoral ministry.

There are numerous ways we experience such affirmation. You might feel that you have fallen into this role because no one else was stepping up. But this may be a sign that God wants you to join others in his service. Some of us have been serving in pastoral ministry for a number of years without perhaps even recognizing it ourselves. But others have seen the fruits of your service, and this could be God’s affirmation. If you have been asked by others to serve in a pastoral leadership role then this leadership activity may also be a call on your heart to serve.

Pastoral ministry, regardless of the specific area of service, is extremely challenging. The stress level can be significant, rated by some to be second only to medical doctors. To function properly as a pastor requires that we resist the pull of our fallen human nature and maintain humility before God. We are all called to be his servant, using the gifts he has given us to direct others to him. As we let our Lord serve us, we must then grow in our ability to shepherd and serve others. For that reason, GCI in the United States requires that its senior pastors participate in the Pastoral Continuing Education Program.

Some pastors fulfill the continuing education requirement by pursuing a master’s degree at Grace Communion Seminary. Because it is accredited, not all pastors are eligible to enter GCS.

Accreditation is vital for the future of our denomination, as we seek to help more and more of our pastors meet high professional standards, including advanced education. Also, earning a GCS degree takes considerable time, finances and other resources. If you are able to pursue a degree at GCS, or simply want to take a few classes there, I urge you to do so. Registration for the upcoming spring semester is now open—see details in the “GCS registration now open” article linked at left.

Because many of our pastors cannot pursue a GCS degree, we offer other continuing education options, including classes at Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (http://www.ambascol.org/). Also, I’m pleased to announce that GCS now offers several non-credit classes that are available online to anyone at no cost. You’ll find them at http://www.gcs.edu/course/view.php?id=32.

Let me once again say thank you for the good work that you do. It is a wonderful encouragement to me to know you, fellowship with you, hear your stories and see what God is doing through us together.

Sincerely, in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. The first edition of the new online Christian Odyssey magazine in now posted at christianodyssey.org. Electronic publishing is the next step for magazines, as the cost of printing and mailing continues to increase. However, we understand that transitioning from a printed magazine to an online format presents challenges. Therefore, we would appreciate your feedback. For example:

• Is the new site easy to navigate?
• Is it clear how those who prefer a printed copy can obtain one?
• Has anyone from your congregation asked you to provide them a printed copy?

We continue to make updates and changes to the Christian Odyssey site on a regular basis and look forward to adding new features soon. Please email john.halford@gci.org with any ideas, thoughts or comments that will help us make this transition as positive and effective as possible.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Though we are in the Christmas season when we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth, we are in shock following two horrific events. In the Philippines, Typhoon Pablo killed over 1000 people with 900 more still missing and 80,000 left homeless. In Newtown, Connecticut, 20 children and six teachers and administrators were brutally murdered by a 20-year-old gunman who also murdered his own mother. We grieve these terrible losses and struggle to make sense of them.

For my thoughts about the Newtown shootings, click on the picture at left to watch the new Speaking of Life program. In this program, I point out that, while there are no easy answers, it helps to have an eternal perspective.

That perspective is offered by the Christmas story itself. It’s the story of the Son of God coming to be with us in the midst of our sin and sorrow, in order to bring us his salvation—the ultimate healing. As we thank God for sending his Son, born in a manger about 2,000 years ago, let us pray for those who are suffering and grieving in the wake of these tragedies and let us also pray for our Lord’s return in glory when all tears of sorrow will be wiped away and all this world’s wrongs will be made right.

The word Christmas

Our appreciation of the Christian meaning of Christmas is enhanced by understanding the origin of the word Christmas. It is the contraction of the words Christ’s mass, which is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and the Old English Cristes mæsse. The suffix –mas is from maesse, which means “festival,” “feast day” or “mass.” Maesse is derived from the common Latin word messa, which means “dismissal” and is taken from the formal Latin word missa, the feminine past participle of mittere, meaning “to let go” or “to send.”

Over time, missa came to signify the Eucharistic service—a practice that continues in Catholic churches, probably because the concluding words of the service are “ite, missa est” meaning, “go, the mass is over,” or “the prayer has been sent.” You will find this sort of information in an etymological dictionary, like the one online at www.etymonline.com/.

Celebrating and proclaiming the Messiah’s coming

As the etymology of the word Christmas indicates, the Christian celebration of this day has its roots in the idea that Jesus has been sent to us. The church gathers on Christmas to worship and take communion in recognition of his coming through his birth to Mary in Bethlehem. From this gathering, the church is sent out (dismissed) to proclaim this good news in all the world.

When Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist regained his voice, he proclaimed a rich prophecy concerning the coming Messiah (from the Hebrew word Māšîaḥ, meaning “anointed one,” which in Greek is Christós and in English is Christ). In Luke 1:78, Zechariah refers to the long-promised Messiah as “the dayspring” (KJV) or “the rising sun” (NIV), sent “to us from heaven.” The Greek word translated “dayspring” or “rising sun” is anatole—a word used by Greek speakers in two ways. First it is used to refer to the light of the sun and the stars rising—also meaning, “from the east,” since the sun rises in the east and sunrise is another way of saying daybreak or dawn. Second, anatole is used to refer to a “shoot” or “branch.” It was used this way in the Septuagint (the Old Testament in Greek) to convey the meaning “branch” found in Jeremiah 23:5 and Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12.

Thus, in Luke 1:78, anatole could be translated “the branch from on high,” a reference similar to Isaiah 4:2, “the Branch of the Lord.” However, the translators chose “dayspring” (KJV) and “rising sun” (NIV) because verse 79 contains the imagery of light coming into darkness, just as the dawn chases away the darkness of night. The translators were likely correct in this choice, though the idea of “the branch” is lurking in there too. It appears that Luke uses anatole as a play on both meanings of the word—celebrating the Messiah as both humankind’s new branch and new day.

Christmas proclaims that God is the light of his people from all eternity. And when, in the fullness of time, Jesus came, it was to fulfill all the ordinances and messianic prophecies concerning him. These were shadows, cast by the real light, for Jesus alone is “the dayspring” (Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78) and “the morning star” (2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 2:28 and 22:16) of the promised everlasting day in which the sun never sets. With Jesus’ first coming, the eternal morning dawned. In this we find great hope for it carries with it the promise that all wrongs will ultimately be righted and all tears wiped away. Thus Jesus’ first coming carries with it the promise of his second coming in glory, when the fullness of this hope will be realized in the new heavens and new earth, proclaimed in the book of Revelation.

Our celebration at Christmas of Jesus’ first Advent (coming) is a joyous celebration of his love, his faithfulness and the promise of the fullness of his kingdom at his second Advent. Because of his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, the love of God dwells not just among us but also, by his Spirit, in us so that we will love one another with his love in the same Spirit.

Christmas is about the light and the love of God being sent to us in a most personal way—in the incarnate person of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I pray that as you and yours celebrate Christmas with this fullness of meaning, you will find the joy, hope and comfort that come through our Lord’s presence.

Sincerely in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. Due to the upcoming holidays, the GCI home office in Glendora will close on December 22 and reopen on January 2. There will be no GCI Weekly Update next week—the next one will be published on January 2. And so I wish you and yours both Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus, I thought you might find it interesting to look again at the two different genealogies of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. Genealogies fulfilled several purposes in the ancient world. Rulers used such lists to justify their power and authority. They were also used when planning marriages to determine the compatibility of the intended couple. A family tree established the social pedigree of the family.

Two of the Gospel writers, Matthew and Luke, give genealogical lists for Jesus. When Matthew’s and Luke’s lists are compared we see several differences. Matthew’s genealogical list for Jesus is an ascending list that goes from Abraham to Jesus. Luke has a descending list that goes from Jesus back to Adam. The lists are almost identical from Abraham to David, yet they greatly diverge from David to Jesus. Luke’s list is complete in that it is from Jesus to Adam. In comparison, Matthew’s list is incomplete. Why is this?

Those who would like to discredit the Bible are quick to see this as further evidence that it is unreliable and filled with mythology. But this is a rush to judgment – false judgment in my opinion. There are other answers that are more accurate, although they too have an element of speculation about them.

For example, Martin Luther explained Matthew’s list to be giving us Joseph’s line, while Luke’s list is giving us Mary’s line. Many years before, Tertullian offered a similar explanation, only he reversed it as Matthew giving us Mary’s line and Luke giving us Joseph’s line. I find a serious problem with these two explanations. Matthew 1:16 tells us that he is giving us Joseph’s line and Luke 3:23 also says he is giving us Joseph’s line.

Another explanation was offered by Julius Africanus. He suggested that Matthew is giving us Jesus’ natural descent while Luke is giving us his legal descent. Even though neither of the Gospels makes this assertion, it is a possibility.

Grant Osborne, a New Testament professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, gives what I believe is a better and fuller explanation. He agrees with the ancients that a careful examination of the two genealogical lists reveals the authors’ differing purposes.

The list given by Matthew is presented in a style rulers used to justify their status and authority. The genealogy is arranged in three groups, with 14 names in each group. There is a Hebrew linguistic device known as gematria. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet was assigned a numerical value: aleph was 1, beth was 2, gimel was 3, daleth was 4, he was 5, vav was 6, and so forth. The three consonants for David (daleth – vav – daleth) add up to 14. Matthew is highlighting the kingly ancestry of Jesus by working in groups of 14. Matthew omits a few names in order to achieve this structure.

The major difference between the two lists is the names between David and Jesus. Matthew traces the line through Solomon; Luke through his brother Nathan. Matthew may be giving the “official” line of royal inheritance (which could include adoptions); whereas Luke may be presenting a biological line. We do not have enough information to be sure.

Luke does not work with groupings and numbers like Matthew. Luke has a different purpose. In his Gospel, Luke places his genealogy between Jesus’ baptism and the temptation of the devil. At his baptism God declares Jesus is his Son. Then Luke goes on and gives us a simple list of the succession of his human ancestors, using their common names. It begins by indicating that Jesus is “the son of Joseph” and concludes by tracing his ancestry all the way back to Adam, who is finally “of God.” This Jesus, who is the Son of God, is also joined to the very root of all humanity. After linking Jesus to Adam, Luke then proceeds to the story of Jesus triumphing over Satan’s temptation. Jesus rises above temptation where Adam failed. The message is clear that all humanity, from its very root, finds its sins and the power of evil overcome in Jesus.

While there may remain questions about why certain names are in the lists or whether names of uncles and brothers are used instead of literal fathers, the message of the two genealogies is similar. Jesus is both son of man and Son of God. As son of man, of Adam and Joseph, he represented all humanity. As God’s Messiah in the line of kings and as Son of God (which was also used as a royal title) Jesus is uniquely from God and set over all humanity as its divine ruler and deliverer. Matthew and Luke together proclaim that on the basis of the human and divine ancestry of Jesus, we are saved from sin and its power in, by and through him.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. For a special Christmas season treat, go to http://www.gci.org/_lib/snowglobe/snowglobe.html. There you can look up any address (including your own!) to see the location displayed in a snow globe.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I marvel at the way God created humanity in his own image, giving us rich and vivid imaginations and creativity. We can use this power of imagination and creativity to the praise and honor of God. Unfortunately, some use their God-given abilities to imagine God does not exist and they try to find ever more creative ways to prove it.

There have always been people who do not believe in God. However, in recent years, a small group who refer to themselves as the “New Atheists,” have been growing in influence. Writers like Daniel Dennet, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris have become household names. They are vociferous in insisting that God does not exist and they ridicule anyone who believes otherwise. Some of the New Atheists are highly educated and advance what seem to be persuasive arguments. This can be disconcerting to believers, but it should not be. In fact, there is nothing new about their “new” arguments.

I have read many of the New Atheists’ books. They are usually well written, and some are quite entertaining, although others cannot disguise their anger. However, they share a common fault.

These atheists attack theism (belief in God) on the grounds that you cannot prove scientifically, beyond any doubt, that God exists. While that may be true, it does not mean the atheists have won the argument. Their job is to prove that God does not exist. If they are to be successful, they must offer a convincing and scientifically viable alternative to “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

That does not give us an excuse to hide behind the simplistic arguments of Christian fundamentalism. Our astounding advances in understanding the natural world certainly take the question of where it all came from to new levels of sophistication. However, we still cannot explain how “something” came out of “nothing.” There have been some imaginative and creative ideas, but that is all they are. There is not a shred of genuine evidence to support them.

Richard Dawkins is perhaps the best known of the New Atheists. He is a distinguished professor and scientist at Oxford University and has written several books arguing for atheism. According to Dawkins, belief in God is silly. In interviews, he says on a scale of one to seven, with one being 100% certainty in the existence of God and seven being 100% certainty that he does not exist, he places himself at six. Hmm—that actually makes him an agnostic rather than an atheist.

Before we say, “I told you so!” Dawkins explains: “I am agnostic only to the extent that I am agnostic about fairies at the bottom of the garden.” However, that sidesteps the question. His task is not to prove there are no fairies at the bottom of his garden. It is to prove conclusively that God does not exist.

Dawkins does not even interact with the arguments for God’s existence. It appears that his most formidable retort is “if God designed the universe, then who designed God?” While that might be, for an agnostic, a reasonable question, it is not a knockout blow to belief in God. In fact, it’s the wrong question (a category mistake) because such a question assumes that God is a creation, a creature—and the Christian God is not. His question is like asking, “What color is the number five?” Dawkins’ anger against religion often seems to cloud his judgment and his work is faulted scientifically by his own peers—both Christian and non-Christian.

Another New Atheist, Daniel Dennett tries to explain religion in terms of evolutionary theory. He fits into the broad tradition of naturalist explanations of religion, a tradition that includes Ludwig Feuerbach, Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. Dennett believes that the benefits of religion originate entirely inside human minds. He asserts that there are no spiritual realities existing inside or outside of us. He advances naturalist explanations for the origins of the belief in God and gods. It is the same old circular argument, which presupposes its conclusions. Since only natural things exist then any explanation for a supposed supernatural God must be the product of purely natural causes. Dennett builds upon a suggestion of his angry fellow, Richard Dawkins, that something they call “memes” exist. These are ideas or concepts or beliefs that arise and then are passed on to others. Like genes, memes are assumed to act like a sort of cultural genetic replicator that keeps us believing in God.

Most scientists say that there is no evidence for these things. As pointed out by Simon Conway Morris, professor of evolutionary paleobiology at Cambridge, memes seem to have no place in serious scientific reflection. “Memes are trivial, to be banished by simple mental exercises. In any wider context, they are hopelessly, if not hilariously, simplistic.”

The New Atheists have convinced themselves that all Christians are trapped in false belief. They don’t like it when the flaws in their own reasoning are pointed out. They like it even less when that criticism comes from their own ranks. The late philosophy professor, Anthony Flew, had been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century. But in one of his last books, he came to a scientific conclusion that atheism is not logically sustainable. He held on to a kind of deism and did not go all the way and embrace the God of the Bible, but I imagine he does now.

The existence (or not) of the God of the Bible does not stand or fall on scientific proof that begins and ends with nature or creation. God is not interested in having his existence demonstrated as the result of a successful experiment. He wants a successful relationship with us as our Creator and Reconciler, and he proved himself to us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our eternal relationship is secure in him. And—however much the New Atheists might deny it—so is theirs.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You probably know about the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, in which the Americans resoundingly defeated the British. But do you know that this battle was fought two weeks after the signing of a peace treaty ending the War of 1812?

News traveled slowly 200 years ago—but not today! We are kept on constant alert about everything and anything. Competing news channels are desperate to attract and keep our attention. They try to convince us that we have a right—even a duty—to be informed, and they feed us a steady stream of “breaking news.”

In this hyped-up media environment, an international crisis or major natural disaster must compete for attention with “news” that Lady Gaga has gained 15 pounds. Accuracy and objectivity are often casualties. Reality TV confronts us with the bizarre and offbeat. Entire channels are devoted to fringe diets and fads. You don’t know what to believe!

This barrage of media keeps many in a state of tension and anxiety. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), anxiety disorders have increased 1,200 percent since 1980. That year it was estimated that 2 to 4% of Americans were suffering from an anxiety disorder. A 2009 study put the figure at 49.5% (about 117 million adults)!

I suspect that one reason for this increase is the increase in the number of 24/7 news programs on radio and TV. In the 40-minute drive from my home to the office, I can hear several news stories repeated, each time with slightly more “information” than before. It is as if I am being force fed the news, like a goose being prepared for pâté de foie gras. So I often find peace by turning off the news. It is not that I want to stick my head in the sand. On the contrary, I find I need to get my mind above all the trivia and conflicting details so that I can see the big picture.

And whenever we talk about the big picture, our focus returns to Jesus. Focusing on him isn’t religious escapism–he was and is a real person in time and space. Jesus pitched his tent with humanity when he became human. And now, following his death, resurrection and ascension, he lives in us. Unlike the shifting priorities of the media, Jesus is “the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

It is certainly appropriate to call Jesus the Lord of history. He is a source of information that we can rely on, as we struggle to make sense of our frustrating and uncertain times. He promised us peace, but not as the world gives it (John 14:27).

In view of Jesus’ Lordship, the apostle Paul confidently gave this advice: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Peter gave similar advice: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

My comfort and peace comes in knowing the good news, and by this, I mean the genuine, cosmic good news of what Jesus has already done. The Gospel confronts us with that reality—not the contrived hype of so-called Reality TV.

I pray daily for the peace that transcends understanding to be upon you all, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

In Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week, in the US, we will celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Though not a biblical holiday, Thanksgiving is most certainly a biblical idea. Most Christians, whether or not they live in the US, celebrate Thanksgiving more often than perhaps they realize.

A celebration common to Christians is the ceremony or sacrament we call Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Some churches call this the Eucharist, from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), which means—you guessed it—thanksgiving. So wherever we are, and whoever we are, when we take the symbols of the body and blood of Jesus, we are giving thanks and celebrating our life in Christ.

Here is something else you may find interesting. As you know, the simple ceremony we call the Lord’s Supper has its roots in the Jewish Passover. Part of the traditional Jewish Passover celebration is to sing a hymn titled Dayenu, (from a Hebrew word that means, essentially, “it would have been enough”). With fifteen stanzas, Dayenu recounts the saving acts of God in Israel’s history—parting the Red Sea, giving the Sabbath, completing the Temple, etc. The idea is that if God had given just one of these many blessings, “it would have been enough.”

God’s interventions in Israel’s history are powerful reminders of his saving actions on behalf of us all through Jesus Christ. Just as God saved Israel in parting the Red Sea, he saved us, through Christ, from drowning in our sin. Just as he gave Israel the Sabbath, he gave us rest in our new life in Christ. And just as he completed the Temple by taking up residence in it, Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit. This being so, we too can say, “if he had only given us one of these many blessings, it would have been enough.”

Our national Thanksgiving Day is a good time to stop and say our own version of Dayenu—acknowledging that God has done “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). God the Father gave his Son, the one of whom he said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). In obedience to the Father, Jesus went to the cross, was crucified, died and was buried. Then Jesus rose from the grave, defeated death and ascended to the Father, taking us with him!

I believe that God, who did all this, continues to move on our behalf, far beyond anything we can imagine. And while there is benefit in reading about God’s interventions in ancient Israel, we should often reflect on the mercies of Jesus Christ in our lives now. Just as Jews sing a rising crescendo of thanksgiving with Dayenu, may our gratitude as Christians be a crescendo of thanks to the one who is worthy of our praise.

As we contemplate our Thanksgiving meals, I am reminded of a poem, in the form of a prayer, attributed to Scotland’s favorite poet, Robert Burns:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be thankit.

I pray that you all have an enjoyable and inspiring Thanksgiving holiday,

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Gary Deddo, who recently joined us as a full-time employee, has been a speaker at more than a dozen of our regional conferences. Gary told me recently that when he and his wife Cathy go to one of these conferences they feel like they are attending a class reunion.

I have often had others tell me this. Perhaps we are used to it and thus take it for granted. So it is always good to hear it from someone who is new to our fellowship. It is a strong characteristic of our denomination—we like each other and enjoy being together. We take our work together seriously, but that does not mean we should not have fun.

God created us to be relational beings and relating to others has always been and still is at the heart of Grace Communion International. I notice this as I travel, both around the United States and internationally. After all, our vision statement is “all kinds of churches for all kinds of people in all kinds of places.” I pray that all our congregations reflect that vision.

Many studies have sought to pinpoint what leads visitors to return to a church. A key factor is the friendliness of the people. This is reflected in the experience of a man who visited eighteen churches on successive Sundays, seeking to learn what these churches were really like. Here is his report:

“I sat near the front. After the service, I walked slowly to the rear, then returned to the front and went back to the foyer using another aisle. I smiled and was neatly dressed. I asked one person to direct me to a specific place: a fellowship hall, pastor’s study, etc. I remained for coffee, if served. I used a scale to rate the reception I received. I awarded points on the following basis:

• 10 for a smile from a worshiper
• 10 for a greeting from someone sitting nearby
• 100 for an exchange of names
• 200 for an invitation to have coffee
• 200 for an invitation to return
• 1000 for an introduction to another worshiper
• 2000 for an invitation to meet the pastor

On this scale, eleven of the eighteen churches earned fewer than 100 points. Five actually received less than 20.”

Though all of these churches likely had uplifting music and biblically-sound, inspiring preaching, most lacked ways to show visitors that people cared that they were there. As a result, it is unlikely that visitors will return. In contrast, churches that openly reflect the relational aspect of God’s nature give visitors great encouragement to return. You could sum it up by saying that people are looking for a place to belong not just a group with shared beliefs.

Several years ago, I read a story told by a Baptist pastor whose name I cannot recall. But it was the story of a surgeon who specializes in reattaching fingers. When he entered the operating room, he knew he faced many hours of squinting into a microscope, sorting out and stitching together the snarl of nerves, tendons and blood vessels—many finer than a human hair. A single mistake and the patient could permanently lose movement or sensation.

On one occasion, the surgeon received an emergency call at three in the morning. He was not looking forward to undertaking an intricate procedure at that early hour. To help him focus, he decided to dedicate that surgery to his father who had recently died. For the next several hours, he imagined his father standing beside him, encouraging him with a hand on his shoulder.

This technique worked so well that he began dedicating all his surgeries to other people he knew. Then one day he realized that as a Christian, he should offer his life to God in the same way. All the little routine things of his day—answering phone calls, dealing with staff, seeing patients, scheduling surgeries—remained the same, but somehow they were different. The task of living a life for God now began to overshadow his days and he soon began to treat others with more respect and care.

We may not be surgeons, but God calls us to co-minister with Jesus who is the ultimate surgeon—repairing broken lives. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could dedicate each day to the Lord, imagining him standing beside us with a hand on our shoulders, watching us, guiding us, counseling us and walking with us? And the truth is that it is not just a product of one’s imagination. God is omnipresent and by his Spirit is personally with us. He has called us to co-minister with him in both simple and profound ways, from offering a smile to performing neurosurgery.

When we live with this perspective, we discover that even the ordinary and routine things in our lives will become saturated with a sense of his holy presence with us. I realize some of us are naturally more outgoing than others. But never underestimate the importance of showing yourself friendly. When new people visit our congregations they are probably more nervous about you than you are about them. They don’t know what to expect and when they find that they are welcome and accepted, it is a powerful incentive to return.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the millions of people still struggling in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy. Reports from GCI pastors in affected areas in the Eastern US and the Caribbean region indicate that our members were largely spared the worst (see the update linked at left). For that we are most grateful, though our hearts ache for the thousands who lost loved ones and property.

This week the US presidential election was held and President Barack Obama was re-elected in a bitterly-contested, often divisive election. Isn’t it ironic how elections can bring out the worst in people, while natural disasters like Sandy can bring out the best? It seems that when confronted with catastrophe, we set aside partisan politics to come to the aid of others. In the wake of Sandy, there were many heartwarming stories of selflessness, generosity and genuine heroism (though, sadly, there were also stories of looting and other selfish acts).

These positive reactions give us hope in the midst of appalling loss—pointing us to the time when loving one’s neighbor as oneself will not make news because it will be the way lived by all. Acts of selflessness and reconciliation are the heartbeat—the agenda—of Jesus’ Kingdom of love. And Jesus has commissioned us as his followers to share now, through the Spirit, in his Kingdom way of being and living. As we do, we give to the world powerful testimony to the way things can be.

I’m reminded of a letter written in the second century to a man named Diognetus. Though we don’t know who wrote it, or who Diognetus was, it is a powerful example of the testimony of the Christian life—in this case during a time when Christians were being terribly persecuted. Here is an excerpt:

Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives.

They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.

[From The Apostolic Fathers, ed. Michael Holmes, p. 541]

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. Last week, following the GCI conference in the UK, I visited our French church’s Festival of the Kingdom held in Evian on the shores of Lake Geneva. European mission director James Henderson and his wife, Shirley accompanied me. As usual it was an encouraging and uplifting experience. Just before the festival, Gerard Stevenin retired from his various official roles in the church. We thank Gerard and his wife, Francoise, for many years of selfless service. The members of the church met in a special assembly while in Evian and unanimously nominated Dominique Alcindor to serve as president of Eglise Universelle de Dieuthe, the GCI association in France; and Marie-Angelique Picard to serve as president of Prudentielle, the business arm of the association. Just before we left, James and I offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the new leadership and for GCI in the nation of France.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I write this letter from France (where I’m attending an annual GCI worship celebration), my thoughts and prayers are with the many people who have been devastated by what is being called “monster storm Sandy, which traveled through the Caribbean, then up the US East coast with landfall in New Jersey. Dozens of lives have been lost, millions are without power and the property damage is unimaginable.

Please pray for all those suffering in Sandy’s wake, likely including some GCI members and pastors. As reports come in, we’ll update you on their circumstances and any needs for help (watch the comments section).

Before traveling to France, I was with Gary Deddo in England. We attended a European ministry leaders’ meeting, an Elders’ conference and services in area GCI congregations (see pictures below). We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our brothers and sisters in jolly olde England!

Pastor appreciation

As you probably know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month in the US and Canada. I hope all of you reading this who are pastors know that you are deeply appreciated—every month of the year!

Peter Drucker, who spent much of his life studying leadership, once said that the four hardest jobs in America are the US President, a university president, a hospital CEO, and a church pastor. Though some might disagree with Drucker’s assessment, I doubt that many of our pastors would.

Being a pastor is a high calling. However, it is often a great challenge—one that is sometimes made even greater by unrealistic expectations placed upon them (as humorously illustrated in the cartoons at left and below).

According to the Barna organization, about 85% of the churches in the US have less than 200 people, 60% have less than 100 and the average size is 89. But even in small congregations, the demands placed on pastors are experienced 24/7.

It seems that pastors are expected to be theologians, Bible teachers, accountants, vision-setters, counselors, public speakers, worship directors, prayer warriors, leadership developers and fundraisers. Given these expectations, I’m sure that those serving as pastors closely identify with what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken…While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!… So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us (2 Corinthians 4:5-17, The Message Bible).

I don’t know whose idea it was to designate October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Some say in jest that it was the apostle Paul or Hallmark Cards! Maybe it was Focus on the Family. In any case, I think it’s a good idea, and before the month is over, I want to express to all our pastors my deep appreciation and thanks for all that they do in service to our Lord and his children. My feelings about our pastors are expressed eloquently by Paul in his letter to his coworkers in the church in Philippi:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now (Philippians 1:3-5, NLT).

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do you ever play Monopoly? This board game has two stacks of cards from which to draw when your token lands on the right space. One of the cards is the “get out of jail, free” card shown below. In Monopoly, an unlucky roll of the dice lands you in jail and this card is your pass to freedom.

I often think of this card when reading certain Bible verses, perhaps because I used to have a stack of similar size cards that helped me memorize scriptures. Looking back, this approach may have been less helpful than intended. Many of the scriptures that became embedded in my memory gave me a wrong understanding, because the scripture cards isolated these verses from their context. When we do this, we run the risk of proof-texting – using a particular verse to support a predetermined conclusion or belief.

Many of the verses that I committed to memory now make a much greater emotional impact on me. For example, today when I read 2 Corinthians 5:17 I feel both joy and sadness. It says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (ESV). In union with Jesus Christ as Lord, the Christian has been made into something new.

I feel joy reading this verse, reassured that before we have even tried to live well, before we became one of his disciples, Jesus extended his life and forgiveness to us. The author of life, who we killed, was resurrected and gave us new life. The Father handed us the masterpiece of his Son and told us that when he looks at us he sees perfection. By the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit we are given the gift of participating in the relationship between Father and the Son.

As the apostle Paul explained, all things have life, breath and movement in Jesus. He also explained that when Jesus died, all died. Now he is resurrected and we all have new life. He has reconciled us and we can now share actively in a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus has freed all humanity, even though not all know it or live it out yet. Knowing that anyone can walk out of that prison gives me great joy.

When Jesus redeemed us, he returned us to our original and rightful owner. Salvation is sharing in the life—the communion—that Jesus has with the Father. We miss out on the peace, joy, love and other benefits of our salvation if we resist or deny that reality. And a fact that should not be overlooked is that we cannot reflect the relationship with God that Jesus has with the Father if we don’t live in that relationship. Jesus’ whole saving ministry is to take us to the Father and send us the Holy Spirit so that we might live in the fullness of life and fellowship with God that he gives to us.

But my joy in this is mixed with sadness. I remember how I used to understand scriptures like 2 Corinthians 5:17, having learned them as proof-texts used to reinforce legalism. Sadly, many do this—teaching that our relationship with God is like a business transaction that must be negotiated and then constantly maintained by our good behavior. People who embrace this false idea are like the poor guy in the cartoon above—sitting in jail, not realizing that Jesus has given them a “get out of jail, free” card. As a result, they remain in a prison of ignorance, disbelief and, at times, rebellion against their own freedom.

As it says in the book of Revelation, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. But he is knocking at a door that he has already unlocked. Our mission is to join the Holy Spirit who is with people in prison and help them see that the door is open so that they might walk out into the light and life that is theirs in union and communion with our Triune God.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach