HARVEST CRUSADE

Edit: The following post reflects a continuing change in views. To hear my heart at the other end of the spectrum you may want to check out This Post first.

This article is a good chance to go back to some old debates. Sitting on the couch at the Goatshed the other night I got into an interesting discussion with some of my flatmates from The Street City Church. The Street are doing an amazing things to support the upcoming Greg Laurie Crusade coming to Wellington later this year. This, juxtaposed with my sometimes cynical view on these kinds of events, led to some really interesting discussions. After talking for a while we decided to watch the promo DVD sent out to local churches.

After seeing this I have no doubt God is moving in the Greg Laurie crusades. Since 1990 over 3 million people have attended his rallies and over 264,000 of those came to the front and made a commitment to following Christ. But as the DVD ended, I was almost reduced to tears. Looking at these figures I have to ask, How many of those 264,000 are still following? The testimonies shared show people who are blown away by their experience of the living God, but was this experience enough? Did this experience hold them through the dry times, through the wilderness, through the ups and downs of walking the narrow way?

As I look through the information pack I can't help but be concerned. Three testimonies are shared - all of them by 'successful' pastors from the States. Particularly troubling is the testimony of Laurie's 'rise' to faith.

"...Now, more than 30 years have passed. That little Bible study became a thriving church that eventually spawned a radio program, a crusade ministry, and a television and internet ministry. I never could have dreamed what God would do when I first took that small step of faith."

So what can someone who makes 'that small step of faith' expect? Can they expect a television and internet ministry? Can they expect the excitement of touring the world speaking to millions? Without a doubt this will be true for some, but for less than even 0.00001% of them. What if life turns to crap soon after the event? What if their calling is not one for superstardom, but instead one similar to Job? Can the dream of being 'someone great' hold them through the desert?

It is frighteningly dangerous how secular definitions of success have permeated into our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. The gospels stress the importance of abandoning self to serve others, yet the Harvest information pack reflects a larger problem accross Christendom where we elevate speakers, preachers and ministry leaders as super-heroes of the faith. The gospel is being distorted on the basis that the greatest expression of faith is faith displayed in public (see: Mr. Harvey's earlier post).

What happened to counting other more significant than yourself, to the first being last, and to the greatest among us being the servant of all? Quite simply, cleaning shit is not sexy, it's sure as hell not successful. On the same logic what are we to say for the person who comes to faith in the midst of terminal illness? Have they lived a sub-significant Christian life because their influence never went further than the end of a hospital bed?

I cannot stess enough that this is not angst with the crusade itself. I believe in what the Harvest Crusade do, and I believe it is changing lives. Given the opportunity, I will hopefully have some of my friends and family come along with me to the event. My issue is with what this medium of evangelism models. As the year goes on more and more brochures will slide accross our desks, and they'll nearly all look the same. A photo of a charismatic, good-looking pastor (one hand outstretched, microphone in the other). More and more these brochures arrive with almost no information about vision or biblical purpose, instead pastor 'track record' should be enough for us. Put simply, it's not enough.

While I respect them, the words of Rob Bell, Mike Pilavachi, Tony Campolo, Brian Houston, Paul De Jong, or Greg Laurie are not enough for me. And more importantly, neither is the dream I could one day become like them. I am sickened by a culture that elevates pastors and leaders above the rest, I'm sick of conferences which give them their own special seating area to bathe in the glamour and glory or their rise to fame. Most ministry workers I talk to are repulsed by this idea as well, and would happily trade their opportunity to dine with the guest speaker for the chance to see their youth know the true character of God just a little more.

What are we modelling? Does the discourse surrounding these conferences really reflect the character of God? And if we allow ourselves to be bought by the lie that a life with God is a life in the spotlight, how can we ever truly know what it means to walk in the steps of Jesus? My hope and prayer for the upcoming crusade is that many would come to know Jesus, that they would make a decision for the first time that they will continue to make every day for the rest of their lives. That this crusade would birth a new generation of Christians with a passion to humbly die for Christ, and not for a chance on the pulpit.

We can do better.

EASY TIGERS...

Hey Guys. Just had an article published as part of the 'Soul Purpose' E-Zine. Soul Purpose are a wicked organisation who are building a fantastic influence on New Zealand youth culture. Enter, article...


I have a confession. I, like many young Christians throughout New Zealand, am “on the prowl.” Over the last few months I've watched many of my friends get engaged and married. They all seem to be racing ahead in this game of life while I woefully lament my somewhat endless status as on the shelf.
After waiting six lonely years for little-miss-right to come along I must shamefully admit that I've only just begun to seek God on why things are the way they are.

And as always, whenever I go looking for a little of Jesus’ character, he often reveals a lot – and often a lot of things about myself I would've rather ignored. It's like attempting to empty half a can of spaghetti into a pot, the rest always seems to slide out anyway. A similar situation happened recently on my quest to find meaning within my prowl.

"..a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows that he loves himself." - Ephesians 5:28 (CEV)

Talk about a curve-ball. This sucker hit me straight between the eyes.
You see, the hardest part of this scripture for me wasn't regarding loving a girl the way she deserves, it was about learning to see myself the way God sees me. It was about learning to look past my faint lisp, my awkward running style and my complete lack of co-ordination. But beyond this, it was about learning to love the state of my heart. To see the beauty behind my cynicism, my judgmental mind, my uncontrollable tongue, and my very kiwi desire to cut down anyone who starts to invade my oh-so-precious limelight.

With the help of a friend, I came to the conclusion that it is impossible to love a quality in someone else you can't love in yourself. It is a matter of identity. It is crucial to our ability to love and reach those around us, and it is essential to accepting the grace Christ gave so freely on the cross.

I issue a challenge to myself and others like me. Take a break from your search for the girl/guy of your dreams, and be honest with yourself about your shortcomings and insecurities. God wants to minister to your brokenness and bring healing. As David writes in Psalm 147:3 (NIV), “He (God) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
The more I search for the future Mrs Scottie, the more I discover that my self-worth and security cannot lie in the arms of anyone but my Creator. So easy tigers! Relax, be patient, and allow God to repair and prepare you. Learn to love the person God has created you to be.

UNDER THE KNIFE

Yesterday I went into surgery for the repair of an 'inguinal hernia'.

A hernia essentially involves a gap in the gut lining. As this grows an intestinal loop (or a bit of your intestines) falls through the hole and begins to expand in part of your gut. In this case, my balls. This can get quite painful - luckily mine was not. The operation was very successful and I am presently reclining at the parentals in sunny Tawa.

More news to follow, as well as a 180 degree turn around on my earlier post on 'Cutting Down Other Ministries'.

Ciao!
Scottie

MY 21ST: THE RECAP

Time for the long overdue 21st recap. I have no photos to show you yet as my parents are stuck in the dark ages still using 8mm film or something archaic. Hopefully they'll get these onto discs soon or I can scan them and get them up here. Watch this space.

It's an odd time to reflect on my 21st. As I write this I'm in a pretty weird place. Never before have I found such a desire to know God and hand my life over to him, but much of what I'm handing to him is deeply entrenched in who I am. Everything is extremes. The most beautiful moments I've ever experienced scattered amongst this most bizarre and unbearable pain. Imagine your lover was taken away and the ransom for her/his life was your left hand. It's the pain of cutting off a limb with a rusty saw, but knowing it will be worth it to see them again. Like I'm loving every moment of seeing more of who Jesus is, but dreading the cost to continue that journey. Dramatic huh? probably too much so... but then I do spend my days working with emo kids.

BACK TO MY 21st: What an amazing night! It's an incredible feeling to look around a room and see so many people you LOVE. More amazing than that is the memories that all these faces bring. Every one of them a testament to the amazing things God has done in our lives and the grace he has shown us. For me there was a real sense that Jesus was just loving this. When I look through the bible there are so many times when Heaven is referred to as this big party with the finest wines and choicest of meats. For me this was exactly what my 21st party was like, a little bit of Heaven happening right in the heart of Tawa ;)

After a couple of hours of beers and nibbles it was onto the speeches. I was a little nervous about this one. The worst stories I could think of from my past would probably be grounds for being stood down from ministry. Luckily for me...none of these came out. Everything kept relatively tame, and many of the kind words people shared have really carried me through the last week or two. It's a weird thing to be at the centre of this huge occasion, but I really felt like God was glorified on the night. The light pouring out from everyone who came had a huge effect on some of my friends and family who don't know Jesus. Honestly, what more could you ask for?!

I'm not sure if there's much else to say but thanks to everyone who came. I'm pretty gushy at the moment so I apologise for the over-emotive cheese in the past four paragraphs. I think most of you will see where I'm coming from.

Pulling Apart Other Ministries...

For anyone expecting a round-up of my 21st birthday, that’s currently sitting in my drafts folder. My plans to post that puppy were put-aside by my fury after reading a post this afternoon.

In other words, time for a big old rant on this whole denominations/different communities thing that seems to be going round at the moment. As you may have seen from my earlier ‘pro-chute’ post, I’ve had a real change of heart on this whole matter of how we work with, and talk about, other ministries and ‘Christian’ organisations.

I find it hilarious when I read a post about a disagreement over the values of a Christian organisation, that then goes on to address the current buzz-topic of social justice. I sit here and wonder what God cares about more: The way Parachute conducts their worship time, or the fact that millions are working in sweat-shops in China right now. In general, I hear more complaints about our brethren than the astronomical injustices taking place around the world. Is this where God has called us to champion the cause of the poor and marginalised? In the comfort of our own church walls?!

Here’s what I’m asking myself: Does my attitude resemble a humble person desperate for God’s grace like the woman caught in adultery, or the squabbling and pointless bickering of the Pharisees in the gospels? When I look at the way Jesus reacts to these two different factions, it is easy to see what he requires of me.

In an earlier discussion on this topic, a friend reminded me that the majority of the epistles involve Paul criticising and evaluating the problems within the churches. I agree this is important, I would die without the opportunity to flesh out topics like these to others with mouths as big as my own. That being said, It pisses me off when I see influential leaders making comments on ministries behind closed-doors (maybe the internet?), when they lack the courage and integrity to take these issues to the leaders at the top of the organisation they are criticising. (I'm ashamed to admit I've been a big culprit on this one too) Remember, The Epistles were written about the churches they were sent to. I personally can’t remember an instance where Paul throws out a passing comment to the Corinthians about theological inconsistencies with the church in Phillipi.

In Matthew 18:15-22, we are instructed to take disagreements with our brethren firstly to the person who has hurt us, secondly to them and a leader, and thirdly to the church. Unfortunately most of Christian culture at the moment seems to involve taking it to the church first in order to rally a crew around us who will support our lynch mob. I know most people reading this will have seen this passage a hundred times, but perhaps a few need reminding. This is the word – no disagreement on this, it’s clear what it says, don’t try to justify gossip.

My final rant on this topic involves the danger of talking about these issues in the open where our Sinicism can rub-off on young people who go to events to genuinely find Jesus. There are few things I regret more than sharing my issues with Parachute with youth. Whether you agree with the way things are done or not, we are framing this incredible opportunity for them to meet God through a sinical and self-righteous perspective. Our attempts to right what we see wrong with other ministries often end up limiting their power for any good at all.

Rant end...

PASH 'N ROOT PT.II

The second night of Parachute. Rebecca St James currently playing on Mainstage. 26,000 odd in attendance. Very hot, good vibe about the place, the Soul Purpose promo I'm here for is going well.



So after this year of criticism and mud-slinging at Parachute it seems God has done everything in his power to show me the absolute opposite in all the people I meet here. This morning I got the opportunity to meet a fantastic band called 'Falling Up'. They've just been signed to Tooth & Nail Records in the States and have a small yet growing following around the world. The amazing thing, they're all aged 17-24! With worldwide exposure and a combined age of less than a hundred you'd expect these guys to be cocks. Quite the opposite is true. I got the chance to grill these boys a little about the state of the American Christian Music Industry and where they see their place in it. I was amazed to hear their response. The guys were very open about how hard it is, about how they're always in this constant battle between business and ministry. They went as far as to tell me that this is the hardest part of what they do, and that they're always keep themselves (and their attitudes) in check.



It got me thinking. The enemy always comes to pervert and distort our areas of strength. Where our giftings are is often a challenge to use them the right way, and to remain humble about having them. So what does this mean for my views on Parachute Festival?...



There is a lot of stuff I can pull apart in the philosophy and administration of Parachute Records. I can't stand the way artists are raised up here, I'm sickened by the way Parachute records switch between charity and business ethics depending on their needs, and I especially hate the fact that the Manna Store is currently selling a dance-mat game with Christian pop songs called 'Get Your Praise On!'



But today, as I watched over a thousand kids raise their hands in worship to Jesus - I start to wonder... Is their praise any less beautiful to God?

Is it tainted by the potentially incorrect doctrines at the centre of the organisation facilitating it?

Does Jesus turn away in disgust as his people come together to praise him?

Does God hate the fact that New Zealand is a place where 25,000 people can come together to fellowship?

Is he repulsed by the goal to see atleast 1,000 World Vision children sponsored in 4 days?



I'll probably get a lot of flack for this, but I can't see any reason to pull Parachute apart. Like Zeal (the youth ministry I work for), we do and say a lot of stupid things. If you only looked at our errors you'd probably say God has departed from us entirely. Amongst all our shit, beneath all the times we make the wrong move or say the wrong thing, God is moving. He is bigger than commercialism, bigger than a lighting show. If Jesus wants to meet with his people he sure as hell will, and bad business ethics wont hold back the heart of a young person who calls out to him desperately.



I'm gonna get a lot of shit for this. It seems it's not cool to support anything with over 500 in attendance these days. Screw it! I'm here to see what is beautiful, what is of God. If you're about writing things off based on their errors then you should probably write me off too.

PASH 'N ROOT '07

Well call me a hypocrite but here I am sitting in the Media lounge at Parachute Festival. This weekend 25,000 young people will come together to spend their money, their energy, and hopefully a little time with God too.

On arrival I was immediately convicted on my anti-chute rants from the past year. There's a whole lot I don't agree with about the way things happen here, but how awesome it is to see so many young people coming with an expectancy to meet Jesus. Even more awesome, there are a whole lotta kids here who don't know Jesus, and will come to meet him for the first time this weekend.

So for a glorious 4 days Parachute gets a break.

You wont hear any disgruntled rants, verbal abuse, or intolerant slaggings of shit bands. This weekend I'm praying for God to break my cynicism and show me how he's working in the hearts of people here.

Positive Positive!

Scottie

p.s. The P.A on mainstage is too quiet, hehehe

Packing Myself...

Giving the sermon tonight and I'm freaking out.
I always freak out but for some reason it doesn't seem to get any easier each time.
Unfortunate how the delivery of a message always seems to coincide with the unearthing of all my insecurities.
Right now pretty darn convinced I'm just not cut out for this.
Thinking I might have to call on Jesus to deliver this one for me. Probably not a bad idea...

Social Justice: Walks 'n Talks

I've come to a conclusion...I am spending far too much time in the company of Sam Harvey. This young rudugger (while older than me) has officially destroyed my enjoyment of scripture, and to a certain extent...life. Where I was once able to open my bible and read some nice passage that brought a tear to my eye, or gave me a warm Jesus moment, now instead all I see is issues relating to social justice.

How often do we talk about Social Justice? How often do we rant about a need for things to change? About how we are the generation to make it happen? The thing that seems to evade most conversation on this topic is the sacrifice required to make it happen.

In his musings on this notion of justic Richard Kauffman says that 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere'. For me, this is a hugely convicting statement. I start to wonder if the $40 that leaves my account each month for a kid in Kenya is actually for his benefit or for mine. The injustice here is that I use this to feel okay about myself while I'm only doing what God requires of me as a Christian anyway. There is a healthy distance in my donation, I can feel like I'm making a stand for world poverty while not having to face any reality but the smiling child in the photo on my mantlepiece.

I'm definitely not leading the charge to stop payments to aid organisations. This money is without a doubt changing lives. It is the motive that worries me. I feel sometimes like we talk about Social Justice till we're blue in the face, but we're only addressing the product and not the problem. Like sexual sin, Masturbation and pornography aren't the problem - the problem starts with insecurities in my heart. If I only address the outcome I simply hide and don't allow God to bring about REAL change.

If, like Kauffman says, 'that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere', then the injust heart at the core of us is surely the biggest hinderance to seeing justice brought about today. I cringe when I look at this verse in Isaiah 5:18-19 when God rebukes the leaders of Jerusalem.

"You are in for trouble! The lies you tell are like ropes by which you drag along sin and evil. And you say, "Let the holy God of Israel hurry up and do what he has promised, so we can see if for ourselves!"

This sounds a bit too much like me sometimes. I rant about a desire for 'the miraculous' or 'real change', but I haven't asked God to change the state of my heart. I lie in the way I walk and talk about these issues, in the hope of creating a smoke-screen over the apathy that's rife at the core of me.

I've heard it said that hope and frustration often go hand in hand. I think that's where this post is coming from. The small part of me that desires freedom and justice, and this other part of me that can't stand the fact I don't see it already. Back in Isaiah 5v16 it says that 'God shows who he is by bringing Justice.' In light of this verse, I am desperate to see God's people showing who he is in the same way.

A simple rant to kick things off...

1.14am on Christmas morning and I'm hunched over my parents PC in the suburban paradise of Tawa. Meanwhile, they sit downstairs engrossed in a broadcast of last year's Christmas pageant from the Crystal Cathedral's 'Hour of Power'. Opinions on this broadcast are most welcome.

This year Christmas has arrived as something of a non-event. There is not tree in my flat, no presents, no dash to get a few prayers in before the end of the year to raise my quota for 2006, no friends for that matter. I've been all by my lonesome round the flat for the last few days. Today, in an act of desperation, I even watched Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman star in the romantic comedy, 'While You Were Sleeping'.

However, while my opening paragraph suggests a very desperate and depressed emotional state, I must say God is doing some great stuff. Looking back over 2006 I can't believe how blessed I've been. Since becoming a Christian in 2000 (4th form), It has been on my heart to work in youth ministry. Amazingly at only 20 God has even found a way for me to be paid doing this! I'm seriously waiting for it all to fall apart. Fingers crossed it doesn't...

A particularly cool thing Jesus has been up to in my heart this year is growing a passion for a.) his people, and b.) his word. I've had a few amazing experiences this year where God has taken my mere opinion and shown me how his word backs it up. It's always exciting to find your discernment isn't as piss-poor as you thought it was. A passage I was particularly into recently comes from 1Corinthians 2.

This chapter essentially involves Paul telling the Corinthians how best to reach people with the gospel. Much of my experience with trying to reach people at Zeal this year has been feeling around in the dark hoping for Jesus to do something, so the title of this passage ('Telling about Christ and the Cross') screamed out to me from the page. As I read through the passage, hoping for some kind of check-list or golden-rule I came accross an amazing verse. In 1Cor2v3 Paul says (with reference to his first attempts to tell the Corinthians about Jesus), "At first, I was weak and trembling with fear".

I was blown away. Paul...The dude who gets his ass handed to him by God himself on the road to Damascus, The guy who starts church as we know it, The man who endured a bizarre number of lashing, shipwrecks and stonings - THIS DUDE!...was 'weak and trembling with fear' on account of having to simply share Jesus with some foreign dudes!

What an encouragment to me! I remember being at high-school and being too afraid to go to Zeal because I'd heard all the rumours about drugs, alcohol, and people having sex in the toilets (rough, i know). As irony would have it, this was to become my workplace for 2006. What can I say? I started 'weak and trembling with fear', but it's amazing how God has given me strength to share his love, mercy, and compassion with hundreds of young people during the course of this year.

There is so much more I could rant on from the chapter, but my eyelids are drifting into stand-by mode. To tell you the truth, I tremble with fear a little at the extremely intellectual company this blog falls among - please be gentle ;)

Scottie Reeve