Crying Out: Jesus is Lord!

Throughout my studies of the New Testament I have been consistently struck by the thought that this simple phrase, "Jesus is Lord!", was meant to be a radical political statement in the original context in which it was written. When the readers of Paul's epistles began to speak out these words, "Jesus is Lord!", they were specifically declaring that Caeser is not Lord. The Lord is the ruler, and the early Christians knew that their very lives were at stake when they declared the ruler's of this world illegitimate and "less than". Their bravery and boldness has been forefront in my mind this past political season.

You may remember that this past year was one where Americans were wrapped up in various political discussions. Here in Russia too this past year was full of political ads and slogans advertising all the various parties who want a stake in the Russian parliament. For many here in Russia this past year was a reminder that the system continues to be ruled by one party and one leader even after 16 years or more. In America, the election cycle was a stark reminder that politics is inherently dirty and can often bring out the worst in all of us.

All of us intersect with the policies of the governing institutions that surround us on an almost daily basis. There is no avoiding "politics" per se. However, most of us feel disappointed by what we see on the TV screens. I am writing this blog post specifically because I know how important government policies are for the way that churches are structured and governed and for the way in which our churches will reach out to the poor.

Having lived overseas and having experienced different cultures and different understandings of political life, I feel like I have learned quite a bit in terms of the way that a believer should feel and act when observing political realities. Here is what I have to say: Christian, you should be disappointed! We as believers in Christ should always understand that no human institution and no human ruler will ever be our Savior. Even, if you feel proud of a particular nation-state and it's traditions, please remember that empires and governments will come and go. In the end, only Christ will stand. If you feel convinced that your reading of scripture demands that your opinions lean left or lean right on some kind of political spectrum, then please remember that no one will ever fulfill your perfect vision of a governing body. The policies that humans dream up are always enacted by human systems and will therefore always be full of human sinfullness.

We will mess things up! But realizing this should not paralyze us, but rather, inspire us to action. Love your neighbor as yourself. Bless the poor. Serve the undeserving. Feed and house the refugee. Serve selflessly and cry out on behalf of truth. Jesus Christ is calling us to do these things. Perhaps your conscience allows you to vote or even advocate for some kind of political party. Please do these things cautiously and please remember our place in the church as prophets.

When you engage in political discussion and political thought, please remember that, by definition, the fight for political power and access is a fight for fame, fortune and control. Remember that the governing institutions of this world are directly tied in to the making of weapons. Remember that we should yearn for the day when these swords would become ploughshares.

I too have engaged in some political thinking over the last couple of years and I keep coming to the conclusion that Jesus is calling us to a radical third way. Too often we get caught up in the "for and against" arguments concerning some policy or candidate, when there is often a more extreme option for those follow Christ. I heard the speaker Shane Claiborne describe this process once when he saw that bombs were going to fall near and in Baghdad back in 2004. Many were engaged in the for and against arguments at the time, but few did what Shane felt led to do: fly to Baghdad and pray with the city's believers in the middle of the bombing campaign.

Pray that the governmental policies that surround the orphan crisis around the world would change in favor of family preservation and clean forms of adoption. Let us pray that God would lead and guide the leaders who rise up to rule over the institutions that shape and form our lives. Let us cry out prophetically for all of the leaders of this world to disarm and reallocate resources towards blessing others rather than preserving the violent status quo. Let us learn and grow. Let us seek out Godly civility and forgiveness.

Come Lord Jesus! May your kingdom come and your will be done!

(Some of my political thinking has been shaped by the following sermons. Let me know if you like these or if you have others that help you think through these issues! No Enemy,  One President, One Hope, One Weapon)

Love of Place and People

As I read through the article (See the AP Article "Ambassador" HERE) by Denis Gray, I couldn’t help but respect diplomat John Dean. A man who continues to feel so strongly for the country he left behind 40 years ago is a man who did not consider himself just an employee of the government, but considered himself attached to a particular place and a particular people. In other words there was, and still is, a sense of calling this man felt to Cambodia. I have heard arguments made that God does not place real callings on the hearts of his followers. Instead we are all called to “Go and do”, to make disciples, and to live a Christ-honoring life in a general sense. These things are all true. However, looking at my own life I realize how we all have to make particular choices about the “where” and the “how” of the life we lead for Christ. At the end of the day it takes a great deal of planning and effort to move to a location across the planet from one’s hometown. This type of planning requires a deep and long process of reflection and mutual discernment in the midst of a Christian community before plane tickets are purchased and a ministry plan is put in place. In other words, the cross-cultural worker has to ask himself/herself, “Is God leading me to do this? Is he calling me out from my home context into this other place?”. As you can see I do believe that God calls out the cross-cultural worker and that God lays cultures and peoples on a person’s heart.

Anya and I often feel burdened by the times when the culture around us seems to be going in a direction that is away from the truths and teachings of Jesus Christ. We cry tears when our host culture, Russia, cries tears and we rejoice when they rejoice. We understand diplomat Dean's feelings when he reflects on his inability to change the circumstances around him. Jesus Christ also wept on the hills overlooking Jerusalem. His concern and love for a nation is the type of commitment we hope God would place in our hearts.

Have you ever felt burdened for a people? Have you ever felt called to a particular place or time? May God help us all to take our eyes off of ourselves and to care deeply for those who are around us. Make it so Lord God and grant us the strength and wisdom to pray for those with whom we work.

I am not an economist. But from what we are seeing and from what we are reading a crisis is upon us. Russia was affected lightly from the global crisis of 2008. This time things appear to be a truly homebrewed stew of economic hardships. The value of the ruble has sunk down around 50% against the dollar. Just this week we read the news of a local GM plant that is closing its doors and laying off 1,000 people. Prices have begun to dramatically increase for the regular Russian for even the very basic goods and foodstuffs. The central bank has increased interest rates quite dramatically in order to incentivize Russians to hold on to their Rubles. The ultimate fear, which does not seem likely right now, would be hyperinflation and complete currency collapse. Some are predicting the economy to shrink by 5% in 2015.
CHOICES
These are gloomy realities that affect the whole of the Russian population. We are all faced with intense and sharp choices in the face of crisis. Americans have faced their own economic downturn and can certainly relate. The most obvious choice that folks have to make when prices rise and salaries shrink are simple budgeting choices. While these choices seem simple, we should all use these choice-moments as a chance to take a deeper look. The way that we budget is a great way to measure those things that we count most dear and what truly matters to us. When times are tough, what expenses are cut first? Do we drop our giving to charity and to church right away? I know that I am guilty on this point. I think that I have often times allowed worry and fear to keep me from being a generous person. I doubt too often the truism that "only an open hand is ready to receive." Christ commands us to stop our worries, but I am often plagued and burdened by doubt.

From a macro-perspective, we can see that an economic crisis challenges the myth that we are somehow "in control". Many a Russian will continue to work just as hard as before only to find that their salaries are shrinking in significance as a result of systems and powers beyond their control. We are ALL dependent and interdependent on the choices of others and on the generosity of others.

So, perhaps the most interesting choice we face in the midst of hard times is not only, "Will I continue to give?", but, will my giving come from a place of pride or from a humble realization that we can only give because we have been blessed by others. When I give, I am not really giving away my resources, but I am following Christ's commands using the resources that he himself has given me. His gifts, being given for his work through his most precious of gifts, faith. What is my role in the midst of this process? It is quite simply, to be thankful.

Let us all pray that even in the midst of a crisis, the Russian populace will continue to support the growing world of non-profits and charities in the post-Soviet world. Pray that the changing economic situation would be seen as an opportunity for societal change and reform. Pray that the curse of an orphan crisis would be erased from the Russian Federation forever. Pray that God's will would be done here.

Poverty

What should we be about when we help those who live in "poverty". I thank God for ministries that focus on asisting and ministering to those who live in poverty. Part of the reason we joined CRM was because of CRM's longstanding commitment to minister to, and in the midst of, the poor. Recently a teammate of ours posted a link to this article from Christianity Today and I have been reminded of what an incredibly complex issue lies in front of those who wish to bless "the poor". It is worth saying first that it can be difficult to even define what poverty is. For instance, many orphans in Russia are definitely poor, but they do remain blessed in comparison with the orphan population in some other places in the world (think of war orphans in Africa, or street children in India). There is one thing that we have learned though. We now understand that the worst manifestation of poverty, and the hardest aspect of poverty to address and unroot is the mindset of poverty. To illustrate this point, let's think of a person who has absolutely given up on hope. I have heard stories concerning drug addicts in Russia who leave suicide notes that state exactly this, "I have no hope". Hopeless people are crippled people; unable to move and unable to imagine change, much less initiate action, these are people who are truly poor. And they are likely to remain thus for a long time. In contrast, an orphan who wants to live life to the fullest and has hope in the future will hold his head up high and will seek out the help that is available to them. Regardless of the amount in this orphan's bank account, they can hardly be called "poor". Unfortunately, the Russian orphanage system seems to have an uncanny ability to institutionalize children and yank out the very basic hope and initiative that is required to push forward through the challenges of life. So, what is our goal? Are we seeking to instill in a "poor" person's heart a love of money or a desire for wealth and power? Far from it! Firstly, an intensely materialistic worldview is not actually the way out of poverty. I have heard the head of Innerchange, CRM's main initiative towards poor communities, say that our goal is always to pray for and administer acts of healing so that men and women in poverty can stand up and walk into the life that God has for them. The question can be asked then: Where is God leading us? Towards death, hopelessness, and despair?? No way! God is calling all of us to a place of inner peace and joy and life as true as life can be. When I work with an orphan, or anyone for that matter, I hope that they see me as a man willing to go through challenges and hardships for Christ and in Christ. My belief is that this lifestyle of dependence on Christ automatically moves us up and out of true poverty. Our bank accounts go up and down for sure, but in Christ we are rich beyond compare. Conveying this truth is the essence of ministry to the poor.

People with "Issues"

I have noticed one somewhat unexpected thing while working with children from the Russian orphanage system: these kids are really not as "messed up" as we sometimes make them out to be. I in no way want to diminish the severity of being abandoned. I certainly realize and understand the bad effects of having been institutionalized. AND, thatt is exactly my point. These children would have been able to deal with their stress better, would have been able to construct a better work ethic and would have been able to graduate from their schooling fully prepared to live independently HAD they been raised by someone who cared. None of the kids we work with are somehow "too far gone". And we must add that in the economics of the kingdom of God, there is no such thing as "too far gone". I would even venture to say that the kids we work with really aren't "all that bad". TO be honest, I often come home from the Vocational Center thinking, "Gosh, I want to adopt at least 5 or 6 of these kids..." ALL they need is a home! All they really need is some type of constant loving presence in their lives. Of course, The Harbor's programs try to fill the hole left from not having a stable adult in one's life.... And it is worth stating that, even just a little love and care goes a LONG way. Another thing I want to point out is that we are ALL people with issues. I know that I have behavior issues, psychological problems, and most of all there is sin in my life. I am a person who needs help. I depend on others, for advice, encouragement and a helping hand. At the end of the day; WE ALL have issues. This is not unique to orphans. So, I thank God that he gave me parents who cared. I thank God that I was accepted and encouraged in my growing-up years. I thank God that I was helped along in dealing with my issues and I especially thank God that I was pointed toward Christ as the one who is the Great Healer and Helper. It is more than frustrating to see so many children who have been deprived of a home and it is especially frustrating and heartbreaking to imagine "what could have been" the case for these children. However,we at The Harbor know that it can be truly life-altering for these kids to run into people who dare to "imagine what could be" for them and in them. Thank you for daring to imagine with us.

Monday Nights

On Monday nights I have been trying to spend time at The Harbor's Vocational Training Center. At the center we have a total of around 100 orphans visiting weekly to study and gain skills in the areas of cooking, ceramics, woodworking, hairdressing, photography and computers. I usually hang out with the kids in the computer class and help out as needed. The children who come on Mondays are from a type of "transition house". The state has decided that these children are not able to live with their birth families currently, but they may still have a chance to return home at a later point. On the flip side, some of these kids will be shifted to more permanent orphanages where they will be wards of the state until they are 23 years of age. Sometimes I don't know if my presence at the center does much at all to help these kids who have to deal with such serious issues and the inner turmoil that results from abandonment. I listen to their conversations and wish to God that these children did not have to wonder whether they will ever see their home again. One child will say to the other "Look, I think I have found a picture of the street where my house is online!". Another will reply, "Wow, you think you will live with your parents again!? I know I will end up in the orphanage." This is heavy stuff! I assist the kids with learning Microsoft Word or the basics of e-mail. I sit with the kids during dinner time, crack some jokes and make sure the young men aren't hitting each other at the table. But I wonder, "Is this helpful to them? Do they grow from their time at our center?". It is about that time that the kids have to pack up and go home (often an hour long journey on a bus through the snow!). We stand and say our goodbyes in the hallway and that is when I notice that little Igor, the kid who had needed a lot of help during computer class, is giving me a big hug on his way out the door. As they leave I, and my fellow workers at the center, realize that these kids need loving attention and presence first and foremost. I don't know the last time Igor got personalized attention or a hug from a male authority figure, but I know that these kids receive this and more during their time at The Harbor's Vocational Training Center. I am blessed to be able to participate and help.

A Dark Laugh

“Blessed is the one who does not… sit in the company of mockers” Psalm 1:1 All societies are broken and build up walls and divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. In Russia, the “have-nots” are very visible. In front of our home is a group of destitute homeless beggars who depend on the large foot-traffic at our intersection. The route I take to language school is the route frequented by disabled veterans of the Chechen wars begging to make ends meet. The most disturbing aspect of this public display of brokenness is found in the public apathy and disdain that is shown towards these realities in Russia. We recently read an article that declared a dead man laid across a busy public bus stop bench for hours before anyone took the time to call the authorities. I have recently seen several situations where drunken men, or homeless hobos, were publicly mocked and scorned. The stigma attached to the poor in Russia is perhaps most apparent in the stamps that are placed in an orphans passport and ID. Employers and all who need access to an orphans ID know up front that these individuals grew up in an orphanage and are therefore most likely “invalids” in society’s eyes. You can imagine then what shame an orphan feels and the tragedy that the poor find themselves in here in Russia. In my opinion our willingness to mock the poor and the downtrodden is a self-defense mechanism we display. All of us know that we are among the “haves” only because of a few small circumstances. Things could have been different, even for us. We want to forget this fact and pretend that we are somehow special and self-sufficient. The fact is we need someone outside of ourselves to support us and see us through. We are dependent on God, he is our only trustworthy source and foundation. In fact, in Christ we are called to be like him and actually identify with and minister among the down and out. So, let us not sit among the scoffers, but instead follow Christ into the trenches where his grace truly shines brightest.