All three of my children, now fully grown, loved to hear stories surrounding their birth. They especially liked to hear about the excitement of getting to the hospital and about how special their birth was to their parents. For many years, when I was driving with the children, Jonathan, David, or Alex, each would point to the hospital where he was born and ask their mom or me to tell the story. Births are special, no question about it. In the sacred rhythms of the Church year, we recently had the opportunity to celebrate Pentecost – the birth date of the Church. Like the birth of our children, the Church also has a remarkable story that is often forgotten but needs to be shared.

What makes the birth of the Church such a remarkable story? I can think of many reasons, but let me share just three of them with you.

One, the birth of the Church is a remarkable story because we should have never been born, but we were! Like the birth of Jesus, the Church’s birth was miraculous! Like Jesus, she was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:15; Acts 2). As the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism (Luke 3:22); the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church at her baptism (Acts 1:5). As Jesus delivered his inaugural address that set the pattern for his entire earthly ministry in Nazareth (Luke 4:18); Peter’s seminal sermon set the pattern for the Church and her ministry (Acts 2:14-40).

Two, the birth of the Church is a remarkable story because we should have never lived through infancy, but we did! Read the book of Acts and you see first-hand the strategy of Satan to kill off the Church. Physical violence, moral corruption, and constant distraction created through political pressures, sustained hostility, defections, deceit, false teachings, legalism, and unresolved tensions were so much a part of the apostolic church as it is in the contemporary church. Yet the early Church not only survived her infancy, but also thrived. God kept adding to her numbers, and the people grew in their faith.

Third, the birth of the Church is a remarkable story because we should never have thrived in life, but we have! As many problems as people talk about in the worldwide church, it is still the most influential work this world has ever know. I believe it is because of the truth of the apostolic message that the Kingdom of God is now and will be fully consummated at the return of Christ. That the Holy Spirit is active today in the Church is a sign of Jesus Christ’s present power and glory and that Jesus has created a new community that is designed to model His kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” I also believe the Church has thrived because of the testimony of the apostolic messengers. Read Acts 2:42-47 and you see a group of people fully changed and fully engaged in this world. They were a learning, loving, worshipping, and missional community that centered their lives on their King, Jesus of Nazareth.

The Church over the centuries has received her share of critics – mostly justified. However, when we get back to our roots, we can truly value our beginnings and see our destiny. I urge you to live out that remarkable story today where ever you are.

A Church, for the sake of others,

Tony Baron+
Teaching Pastor

It is really amazing how the word “church,” can raise such emotional reactions in our society today. Some view “church” as a place of spiritual growth and mutual support in the context of genuine worship of the One true God. Others view the “church” as a place of political propaganda, narrow views, and hard hearts. Nearly all that I have talked to, both believers and non-believers, have described to me times they have been wounded by the church. Sometimes their wounds were self-inflicted, but other times, the wounds were caused by laity and/or clergy (acting somewhat self-righteously) speaking on behalf of God.

Over the years, I have tried to maintain a balanced perspective concerning the Church. I have seen her painful limitations when human agendas come to the forefront. I have also seen her miraculous power when the Holy Spirit is Lord of that community. I confess that I am intrigued to see people from all backgrounds pack in certain faith communities. Recently I was in a faith community where the clergy looked bored and tired, yet the place was filled to the brim. I have been in places where the clergy and their worship team have provided a first-rate show. It was fun and entertaining, but I was left spiritually dry. I have seen leaders who love to hear their own voices and attempt to manipulate their audience to some sort of action. I have also seen God at work in deep and profound ways within large and small faith communities. I have been blessed and burdened, inspired and exasperated, hopeful and cynical, in these communities who claim to follow Jesus. Although at times I have had mixed feelings about the Church, Christ never had such confusion. Jesus deeply loves His Church. After all, the Bible describes the Church as His bride. And Jesus wants His bride to be healthy “on earth as it is in heaven.”

I have seen four marks associated with a healthy faith community. In fact, these marks have nothing to do with the size of the congregation, certain programs, quality of preaching, worship style, or even some theological quirks. But every time I see it, I have witnessed a community growing closer to the LORD and each other while engaging in their world with God-like love.

1. Cooperation: If you want to use another term, try “collaboration.” Or, if you are into sports analogies, try the word “teamwork.” Cooperation does not mean compromise of wants, but rather a willingness to provide mutual aid and assistance to others.

2. Cohesiveness: The ability to stick together under difficult times. It is the idea of “oneness” and “unity.” There is an adhesive quality to the group. Healthy groups do not eat their young or distance themselves when things get difficult.

3. Consideration: There is a thoughtfulness of expression. It also means an unselfish
action, sometimes deeply sacrificial in nature, but always authentic as service to the Lord.

4. Christ focused: They are passionate about Jesus. They read His letters, spend enormous amounts of time in worship and in prayer. There is joy in their hearts, and a jump to their step. They are in love with their Savior.

The reason these four characteristics are so very important is that they increase our capacity to walk in the power of God as individuals and as a community. They increase our ability to hear clearly His voice and to limit our instinctual desire to live in the flesh. They help us to see our lives, and the lives of those who are around us, as sacred.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday celebration of the Church, based on Acts 2. Come join the party as Jesus honors His bride. It starts at 10:00 a.m. at the Baron home.

For His Kingdom, a church for the sake of others,

Tony+

Crime shows have always intrigued me.  It is not the blood and gore that intrigues me as much as it is the tools and techniques of solving the crime.  If they have good writers on the show, imparting wit and dimension to the television character, so much the better.  For a number of years now, one of my favorite criminal investigation shows is NCIS.  The fictional collection of special agents stationed at the Washington Naval Yard in Washington, D.C. are interesting because each one has at least one emotional wound from their past that needs healing.  Gibbs, victimized by the murder of his wife and daughter; Ziva, clashing with her authoritative father; and Tony, searching for a genuine relationship with the opposite sex, all provide as much interest as the murder investigations within the context of the United States Navy and Marines.  They have gadgets to help them in the search:  Abby Sciuto, a famed forensic specialist, uses so much technology in her lab to find the criminal that one just knows the murderer has no chance against this multi-tattooed scientist.  Even Timothy McGee, a computer geek that loves to write novels, uses a tool to immediately identify the victim by pressing his or her fingerprint onto an iPhone-sized gadget.

All this has made me think how different we are as human beings.  Like the characters on the show, each one of us is different in backgrounds, tastes, personalities, and skills.  It is not just the big stuff that makes us different; it is also the small stuff that makes us singularly unique.  For example, our DNA is unique.  Every cell in our body has been genetically and uniquely coded.

So when we read in the Scriptures about the necessity for unity among believers, I nod my head in agreement but wonder how it can be done.  The need to acquire or protect power is as much a problem within the Church as it is in the world -  for the Christian as much as it is for the non-believer.  So how can we be unified with so much diversity?

I get my clue from NCIS, but it was in the Bible the whole time!  This diverse group of special agents and forensic experts really care about each other.  Of course, they don’t always show it in their talk, but they always show it in their walk.  They protect one another, seek to understand each other, and forgive one another. 

Remember the prayer of Jesus the last night before his crucifixion, in John 17.  He first prays for himself, then his disciples, and then he prays for us.  Drink deeply his words to the Father about us:

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

How do we attain unity among so much diversity?  Take a hint from NCIS.  Unity can only come from love.  For the Christian, unity has deep implications. The love which united Father and Son is the same love that the Son passes on to every believer who in turn, demonstrates that kind of love to all they encounter.  Unfortunately, at times, our wounds can get in our way.  That is why I want you to read the last sentence again in the Scriptures:  God has loved us even as He has loved Jesus.

Wow! Most of our wounds can experience healing if we just stop trying to impress, deceive, or be in control.  The uniqueness of our unity comes only when we are in union with Jesus Christ.  And when we are in union with Jesus, we will know (and feel) his love for us.  After all, Jesus really is the best forensic expert!

Tony Baron+