Two of the four gospels, Matthew and Luke, tell the story of Jesus’ birth. And they don’t tell the same things or describe the same times. They speak of events, likely separated by as much as a year or two. Mark doesn’t tell the story of his birth at all. John does in a mystical way that lacks the sentimentality of what we see as the Christmas Story. But, ironically, his telling informs our view of “the Emmanuel” with an even greater weight than the others. 

It’s interesting to note that, in all probability, the disciples only knew Jesus as a man. His birth was just a story to them, as it is to us. Mark and Luke weren’t even part of the twelve. And any stories that Matthew and John knew would have been learned from Mary and her contemporaries as they all walked with Jesus and the group surrounding him. Other details may have only come directly by divine inspiration, never heard from human lips. We don't know, but the Christmas stories told in the gospels are not eye-witness stories. They heard about them just like we do. 

Later, others would write about Jesus too. Paul has powerful things to say of his nature. Any time we read of the nature of Jesus and the reason for his coming, it belongs as part of the Christmas story — even as an orienting part of it. 

The following is an attempt to combine the tellings into one account. And, as conditioned as we are to want to cite “chapter and verse” to make sure it’s not misquoted, this attempt just uses the words, mostly verbatim, from a couple different translations, to give us a seamless story.  My hope is that it would add focus to your celebration in this holy day season.

Merry Christmas,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness hasn't overcome that. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own didn't receive him. And yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Children born not out of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband's will, but born of God. 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We've seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father full of grace and truth.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about:

His mother, Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. God sent the angel Gabriel to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you.” 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary. You've found favor with God. You’re going to conceive and give birth to his son, and you're to call him Jesus. He'll be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. His kingdom will never end.” 

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I'm a virgin?” 

And the angel answered, “The Holy Spirit's going to come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God, for no word from God will ever fail.”

And she said, “I'm the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”  And then the angel left her. 

And then an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what's conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She'll give birth to a son and you're to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.” 

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, but he didn't consummate their marriage [at that time.]

In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, and everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to be registered with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child.

While they were there the time came for the baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.” 

And suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

So they hurried off and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and he praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel.” 

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 

There was also a prophet, Anna, who was very old. She had lived with her husband seven years after their marriage and then was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who are looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

[Later] during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and they asked, “Where's the one who's been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose, and we've come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. He called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

“In Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet Micah has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly, and he found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and he said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report back to me so that I too can go worship him." 

After they had heard the king, they went on their way and the star that they had seen when it rose, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed on coming to the house. They saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened up their treasures and presented him with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and he said, "Get up! Take the child and his mother, and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." And so he got up. He took the child and his mother during the night and they left for Egypt where they stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet Hosea: “Out of Egypt, I called my son.” 

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and his vicinity, who were two years old and under in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Rama, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.” 

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and the mother and go back to the land of Israel for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went back to the land of Israel. And there, having been warned in another dream, he withdrew to the District of Galilee and he went and lived in Nazareth. And so was fulfilled what was said through the prophets that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

And there the child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was on him. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. [He] is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being sustaining all things by his powerful word.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. For to us a child is born. To us a Son is given. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Amen.

In our house churches we encourage dialog and the exchange of ideas. This means we let people say things we disagree with. And we listen, not to argue, but to understand. And that means, we listen with the possibility of changing our minds about things. And when people change their minds about things, we're gracious with them. And if people with differing viewpoints remain unpersuaded, we give grace to that too. This is good.

But that doesn't mean we ignore false teaching. And to be sure, bad teaching abounds. Incorrect doctrine is all around and among us. The question is whether those teachings are wrong because of a faulty pursuit of truth, or because of a desire to deceive.

If it's the first, we gently assist. If it's the latter, we firmly resist.

Recently I recorded my thoughts on this, having researched a man who claims to be a prophet, who is influencing some people I care about. Transcript below the description.

DESCRIPTION
How can you tell the difference between a false teacher and a bad teacher? Or a false prophet and a mistaken prophet? Is there a difference between a teacher who deceives and one who is deceived? Today there's an abundance of people who call themselves prophets and some are teaching ludicrous things. While there should be red flags everywhere, Christians are waving the green flag because there are signs and wonders and charisma and eloquence. My concern here is not to "expose" deceivers but to warn the deceived. We must learn how to recognize and rebuke false teaching for ourselves.

00:00 Introduction
00:11 Warnings Against False Prophets
00:49 False Teachings v Different Opinions
02:28 A Popular Prophet Who Teaches Lies
04:01 But What If False Teaching Bears Good Fruit?
04:21 Unity & Discernment
05:15 Get Reacquainted With These Scriptures
05:34 2 Timothy 3 
6:59 Titus 1 & 3
9:00 Jude
12:30 Final Blessing and Doxology

TRANSCRIPT
How can you tell the difference between a false teacher and a bad teacher? Or a false prophet and a mistaken prophet? You may object to that distinction as unnecessary, but here's why I ask it. The scriptures warn that false teachers and false prophets will come, and we're to be on our guard against them and to rebuke them. They are a danger to the flock. They're reprobate. And yet, none of us comes into the faith with complete understanding. We continue to grow in our understanding till the day we die, which means we change our minds about stuff. Having incomplete understanding doesn't make us evil, does it? 

How do we know the difference between evil and ignorance. How do we respond to people who say things we think are incorrect or wrong? How wrong does it need to be for us to declare heresy or apostasy?  

I mean, some things are obvious, at least they should be. If someone preaches that Jesus is not Lord, that's easy to rebuke as false teaching. It's unchristian. That's a danger to the flock. Or if someone claims to be a prophet and declares that God is going to destroy the world again with Flood 2. 0, that's a false prophecy. God already said he wouldn't ever do that again. We can rebuke that quickly. Or if someone says God isn't going to judge the world, or that the earth and all its elements will not be destroyed, we can recognize that right away as false teaching, as false prophecy, because scripture explicitly tells us the opposite. 

If someone teaches that it doesn't matter what we do sexually as long as it's consensual and loving; or that Jesus is just one of many ways to God; or that God just wants you to do whatever makes you happy; or that it's okay to kill your baby in utero, or that it's wrong to have an abortion; or that Trump is God's anointed, or that Trump is the devil incarnate; or that Jewish people or white people or black people, or rich people or poor people, or American people or foreign people, or Catholics or Protestants or Anabaptists or Calvinists or Pentecostals, or Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses are good or bad; or that all people will eventually be saved because a loving God would never send people to hell; or that only those who choose Jesus and are baptized will be saved because a loving God would never force someone to do something they don't want... well, at some point we have to decide whether the person teaching and proclaiming those things is right or wrong, whether their teachings are true or false, and whether they're safe or dangerous. Is there a difference between being deceived and being deceiving?  

People I care about have begun to follow a man who claims to be a prophet. He says that the biggest lie we've been told is that if something doesn't align with scripture, it's not from God. Well, that's a big red flag for me. Not just a yellow flag, not just "go slow." It's a red flag, like "stop now." But Christian people are lured in because he has charisma and speaks eloquently and mystically and puts on displays of signs and wonders where he casts out demons. 

But when someone tells him, I called out to your spirit in prayer he smiles and he celebrates it. And Christians find ways to excuse it. But for me, it's a red flag.  

And he makes up stuff, like God didn't create the heavens and the earth, he just restored it from chaos. And that when he told Adam and Eve to replenish the earth, that meant it had already been full before, and now they need to re plenish it. He's just making stuff up, and Christians aren't concerned. Then he says that in the flood, God said he was going to kill every man, but then he didn't kill Noah, so that means Noah wasn't a man. And everyone oohs and ahs like he's just said something brilliant, but it's just dumb. He's just making stuff up. 

And then he says that the reason he got divorced to his first wife was because he was too close to God, and that God lusts for him, and didn't want to share him with his wife, and that God never tells us to go fix our marriage. I mean, it's so many red flags. Red flag. Red flag. Red flag. Red flag. And yet there are Christians waving the green flag and even promoting him to their friends.  

I know one young lady who came to faith through his ministry. I had counseled her, I had challenged her, I had prayed with her, and I kept praying for her. And she came to Jesus through his ministry. And now her family says she's a better person. She loves the Lord, she sings worship songs all the time. Does that mean that I should pull back the red flag and wave a yellow flag instead?  

I'm big on unity. I advocate for people of different doctrinal persuasions to be in fellowship together. I believe with all my heart that it grieves God's heart when we divide the church around which leader we think is better. I don't think we should demonize people for having different interpretations about peripheral matters.  

But it also grieves my heart that we are so easily deceived by men who have wormed their way into the homes of gullible people with doctrines of demons that give lip service to Jesus, but only so that we let them in. 

But how can you tell the difference between a false teacher and someone who's just not very smart? Or a false prophet and someone who's still learning to discern the Holy Spirit from their own thoughts and wishes? Is it just a matter of motives?  

Motive certainly has something to do with it. If someone's motive is to deceive, they are absolutely in the wrong. They are evil. But some people with good motives are just as deceiving because they are deceived. It might not feel nice, but anyone who preaches a gospel other than the kingdom of God that Jesus taught his disciples and passed down to us through the holy scriptures, that person should be rebuked. And anyone deceived by them should be warned. And the latter is my hope in saying all this.  

Please, let's renew our familiarity with three letters in particular: 2 Timothy, Titus, and Jude. I'm going to read them, and then I'll leave you to God's conviction about it with a prayer of blessing over you, a doxology that Jude concludes his concern with.  

2 Timothy 3. 
"Mark this. There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power, have nothing to do with such people. 

"They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth... These teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected." 

Titus 1.
"An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless, not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable. One who loves what is good, who is self controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message, as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 

"For there are many rebellious people full of meaningless talk and deception. They must be silenced because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to myths or the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. 

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupt. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone... Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful. They are self condemned."

And finally, Jude.
"Dear friends, Although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people. 

"For certain individuals, whose condemnation was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality, and they deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.  

"Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority, but abandoned their proper dwelling, these, he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the Great Day.  

"In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.  

"In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams, these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and heap abuse on celestial beings... These people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct as irrational animals do, will destroy them.  

"Woe to them. They have taken the way of Cain. They have rushed for profit into Balaam's error. They have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. 

"These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm, shepherds who only feed themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind, autumn trees without fruit, and uprooted twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame, wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 

"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them. He said, See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These people are grumblers and fault finders. They follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.  

"But dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, In the last times, there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires... These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts, and do not have the Spirit.  

"You, dear friends, by building yourself up in your most holy faith and praying to the Holy Spirit, keep yourself in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 

"Be merciful to those who doubt. Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others, show mercy mixed with fear, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." 

And here's the blessing:

"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. To the only God, our Savior, be glory and majesty and power and authority through Jesus Christ, our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen."

I am having such wonderful conversations here in Oregon! I wish I could just invite all of you into the conversations, or tell you everything we've talked about. But their stories are not mine to share. Just know that there is fruitful ministry here, and I believe your prayers are assisting in that! Thank you!

In this video, I explore the dynamics between charismatics and non-charismatics within the same church setting, especially focusing on small, intimate gatherings like house churches. Drawing from my own experiences and reflections, I discuss the differing beliefs about spiritual gifts, how these differences play out in larger versus smaller church settings, and the importance of fostering respectful, thoughtful conversations. I believe there is great potential for God-honoring unity and spiritual maturity when we choose relationship over doctrinal differences.

00:00 Introduction: Can Charismatics and Non-Charismatics Coexist?
00:22 Understanding Charismatics and Non-Charismatics
00:56 Beliefs and Practices: Gifts of the Holy Spirit
02:48 Interpretations and Divisions
04:16 Tolerance in Large Churches
06:29 Challenges in Tiny Church Settings
07:25 Creating a Safe Space for Dialogue
08:23 The Value of Diverse Conversations
09:29 Practical Examples and Encouragement
11:44 Conclusion: Pursue this!

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
What do you think? Can charismatics and non-charismatics exist as brothers and sisters in the same tiny church, the same micro church, the same house church? Will it be helpful or will it be hurtful?  

This is continuing my thoughts that I've been exploring in recent videos about conservatives and liberals. Now, whereas that deals with a sense of potential heresy and apostasy versus faithfulness and orthodoxy, when we talk about charismatics and non-charismatics, I want to pull that into the category of Bible believing, Orthodox, Protestant, even Evangelical leaning Christians. 

Within the church we have charismatics and non-charismatics. Charismatics would say that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in practice today, still being given by the Holy Spirit today. This would be everything from teaching and prophecy to tongues and healing. And if the charismatics would have this ongoing view, this open ended view, unending view of the gifts of Holy Spirit, then you would have the non-charismatics that would have a cessationist view. Not entirely all the time, but they would say gifts, the sign gifts, what some have called the sign gifts, like tongues and, and miraculous things like healing and all that, and prophecy that they were a part of the apostolic era. And they might see prophecy as something that still, uh, exists in a different form. Someone who communicates the truths of God by opening up scripture or whatever. But they wouldn't say that prophecy, the ability to see the future or to speak directly from God, to hear directly from God and to give voice to what you've heard, as a gift of the Holy Spirit that still is alive today. And the gift of tongues -- whether you call that the ability to speak the truths of God in a language you've never learned that other people can understand, or if you'd see it more as an ecstatic gift, an utterance that is meant as Paul talks in first Corinthians 14, that is meant to edify the spirit, so praying in a language of angels, first Corinthians 13, to pray in a language of angels that edifies my spirit, but others don't understand what is said. And then God gives interpretation, the gift of interpretation to others. -- Non-charismatics would say that that gift of tongues, in both senses disappeared with the apostolic age. And interestingly, when we talk about apostolic age, then there's another division there where the non-charismatics would talk about the apostolic age as what ended with the apostles, the 11 and then 12th apostle of Jesus, that apostolic age when the church was being born and the charismatics would say that apostling is still a gift given by God, an assignment, an anointing given by God.  

Within the non-charismatics, you have people who would just read the Bible literally, and some would read the Bible, uh, studiously, and they would approach it very scientifically by that. I mean, I don't mean science as in earth and nature and stuff, but scientifically as in applying their mind to understand the words in a literary sense, and understand what is being said from that perspective, applying their mind to it. And in the charismatic sense you would have people turning to the scriptures also -- Gordon Fee stands out as someone who was a Pentecostal thinker, a theologian. He stands out because it's a little bit of an oxymoron within Pentecostal circles. Uh, if that's offensive, just let it be. That's fine. Uh, but within the charismatic circles, you would have people who turn to scriptures to receive inspiration and to read them with special understanding provided by the Holy Spirit. 

When you have charismatics and non-charismatics in the same church --. Now think about big church. If you have them in the same big church, there's just plenty of opportunity to be quiet about the things that you don't agree with. And so there are non-charismatics who will go to a charismatic church because of relationship. People that they know and like are there. And so they sit there and, and if they're polite and if they're nice, they fold their arms or whatever and they, they smile when people are going through all their antics. I'm trying to voice that as they would experience it. Going through all the hoopla and the antics of, of worshiping God in this very charismatic, animated sense. And so they go, they tolerate it even if they aren't crazy about it, even if they don't agree with it. And on the other side you have charismatics I believe probably even more charismatics who go to non-charismatic churches because they have tasted a seriousness, a sobriety with which the scriptures are opened that was lacking for them -- I'm speaking anecdotally. Even my own experience as someone who had a charismatic experience, but ended up in a non-charismatic church. Anecdotally, they, they end up in a non-charismatic church because they appreciate the seriousness, the sobriety, the thoughtfulness with which scripture is approached and preached. And so there is a desire for that deeper theology.  

So you end up with a lot of charismatics in non-charismatic churches. And they can exist very, kindly there. And everyone sort of knows that they're the person who will sort of slip up a hand. They're "the charismatic" and stuff. Which can be a little bit silly, but it's just just how it is.  

Now in a big church the charismatics and non-charismatics can coexist. They can get along. And even if there's a sense that it's not forever. Like a charismatic might think one day I'll get back to church where they really know how to worship God. Or a non-charismatic in a charismatic church might think one day my Charismatic friends here will understand what I like about the non-charismatic church and they'll follow me to a more thoughtful deeper church. Again speaking colloquially there.  

In the larger church they get along. If you put that into a church of eight or six or twelve or fifteen, and put it in someone's living room, and open up the scriptures and start to read it, it can create some tension. Because in that setting, you know by the look in someone's eyes whether they're just tolerating. You know, by the little shake of the head, when they just disagree with what's being said. You can tell when they're being quiet out of agreement and being quiet out of disagreement. 

And so the leader's job in that is to pull out from the people. "Okay, so what's going on in your head? I see that you're thinking something." And to create safety for that person to actually say what they think, what they've learned. And again, once we pull that out, whether, whether it's pulling out of a charismatic or non-charismatic, once you pull that out, then the challenge is to make sure that it is safe to have the conversation. 

And so the way I talk about it in the microchurch setting, the tiny church setting, the house church setting, is we want it to be a safe place where you're allowed to say the things you're not allowed to say in church. Ask the questions you're not allowed to ask in church. "Safe," meaning, we're not going to just jump on people for saying something we feel is out of line, although we will require reverence in all things that we say. At least the pursuit, the desire of reverence. If something slips out that is irreverent, we just name it and go back to the pursuit of reverence in the things that we say and call out and question.  

Can charismatics and non-charismatics exist in a church that meets in someone's living room or around their dinner table? 

I think they can.  

I would even say that it's better that that church is better when it has those conversations and those influences within it. Because within the larger church, those are the conversations that are left unaddressed. We tend to identify by tribe. We tend to segregate. We tend to just congregate in areas where people see things like we see them. 

And they say the things we like and they let us say the things we like. And so we tend to congregate in that area and it leaves a lot of the conversations polarized. Just like in the world where we polarize over politics and things. I think it's better if we pull together and have the kind considerate conversations, not demonizing someone for thinking differently than us and not heralding someone just because they happen to think the same as us. But always coming together and saying, let's open up the scriptures and let's devote ourselves to the apostles teachings. Let's open up the scriptures and read them. Let them say everything they say and make sure we don't make them say anything that they don't say. Let's devote ourselves to that.  

Now, if you are in a group that has -- and we have them in our x242 network; We have churches that that have the full on Baptist that has everything memorized and we have the word of faith charismatic that really flows in the realm of the Spirit, and both of them do so in good character with kindness and consideration. I wish I could put all of you into a meeting where those people are present and listen to how they talk about it.  

What I've noticed part of the health of how they get along is when they have to say something that they understand does not reflect the view of the group, they'll say it like, "This is what I think. I think the Holy Spirit is saying such and such. Now this is just what I think, but I think the Holy Spirit is wanting to do this." And it gives everyone permission to listen without having to go, the Holy Spirit didn't say it. And they can say, "Okay, I hear that's what you think." And someone else can say, "Now this is, this is what I think. I think the scriptures are just saying, plainly, that this, this, this, and this. This is what I think."  

Now that is not -- now when I went to high school one of my teachers said, "Don't say 'I think.' When you're writing, don't say 'I think.' We know that's what you think because you're saying it." But I think it's best to say "I think."  

Now, if you're trying to win a debate just plow ahead. But if you're trying to earn someone's heart and trying to mutually discern something go ahead and say "I think." And then when you lean into things you can say, well, why do you think that? And someone can say, well, I think it because, uh, this is how I was raised. Or one day I had a powerful experience in the Holy Spirit and it just changed how I see things. Or I used to think I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and then I studied scriptures and I just saw it differently and I started to see some of the excesses in the charismatic church and I realized that that wasn't everything that represented the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Certainly not the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  

And so we can have those conversations in a way that is thoughtful. That's considerate. That's kind. I believe it's good for charismatics and non-charismatics to exist together, pursuing God, devoting themselves to the apostle's teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer in the same tiny church that meets around the dinner table and in the living room. 

Pursue it. Open your heart to it and see what God wants to do.
​Amen. 

We arrived in Canby, Oregon last week, and set aside several days to connect with family. It has been sweet. We are blessed.

I've been looking forward to my time here, as I get to spend three weeks connecting with church leaders and others. Please pray for Trevor, Chris, Josh, Adam, Daniel, and Tim, all currently serving the Lord in various church settings. Pray for fruitful conversations, for the Lord's clear leading, and for strength and wisdom as they serve.

​Also pray for my conversations with people not currently in fellowship with other believers. Some have left the faith. Others are new to the faith but not yet connected. For obvious reasons I don't want to name them here, but if you'll pray for them by their first initial, God will know! Pray for J., M., D., A., L., and B.

Thank you!

I wrote a few weeks ago about our experience at the Spring Valley Bruderhof Community. Don't worry, I'm not in the process of joining the Bruderhof. But the experience was so much better than I expected. And it continues to prompt a longing and imagination. Would you (re)watch or read the transcript of this video from a couple weeks ago?

I guess I just want to chum the waters, to see if it means anything for us in X242. ​Specifically, if Acts 2:42 (X242) inspires us with a vision of how the first believers "devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer," are we also moved by Acts 2:44 that "all the believers were together and had everything in common"? Or rather, are we moved to do anything different about that? 

I asked the question in my July 7 blog, but here's the question again. Are you drawn to it?

TRANSCRIPT
Last week we spent several days at a Bruderhof community (bruderhof.com). It's German ish, or German, I'm not sure, for place of brothers. It's what we might call a Christian commune, but I don't think they would refer to themselves as a commune. They're a community that lives in Christian brotherhood. 

They live having all things in common. They have a common purse, they have common work. Where we were, at the Spring Valley community it has 230 people there. Seventy or whatever would be kids. So it's people of all ages. The oldest person there is a 94 year old lady, I believe. And they all live in community. They each have their own little apartments, but they're connected. Different buildings and all that. They do their own vegetable gardening. And what they grow they eat. If they're not growing it, they're not eating it. Then they also go outside their community for things like chicken or whatever. 

They have a common work, they have two factories: one factory at the Spring Valley and then just across the way at another community, the New Meadow Run, is another factory. One is the Rifton factory. They make equipment for people who are disabled. Go to rifton.com. They have this state of the art factory where they do injection molds, they make their own molds, they have CNC equipment and all that, and that's downstairs, and then upstairs they have assembly things and everyone just works. And from this it generates an income and that provides for the community as well as for other communities.  

Across the road at the other one, they have a woodworking factory. Community Playthings is the name of it, and they make daycare equipment and stuff, which is really cool. Same sort of concept, everyone does something.  

Everyone works. As you get older, you don't retire, you just change the level and quantity and duration and stuff of the work that you do. And so they were saying, like, the 94 year old lady, she used to work all the time, just like everyone else. But at this stage in life, she shows up. I think they said [she] helps out in the kitchen for an hour a day, and that's her community. And they said that that's not even something that has to be [required]. No one has to work. Like, they don't police it. That's where you have community. And so the whole place values it. And if it's valued, people do it.  

Anyway, that's the setup of it. Bruderhof. It's Anabaptist.  

A friend of mine said, "Boy, it sounds like communism." Not at all. The difference would be that the Bruderhof is Jesus centered. It's voluntary. People opt in. It's a pledge. It's a lifelong pledge, but they opt in and they can get out. It's not a violence based political system like communism would be. And so it's totally different. Think more "monastic life," but in an Anabaptist sense, (more) Protestant and Anabaptist than Roman Catholic. Think more monastic than communist.  

Man, when we went to it, I had no idea what to expect. 

Someone within our network of micro churches that I connected with, he told me about the Bruderhof. And I like, I didn't even know what word he was saying. Bruderhof. And I looked it up and I found out that they are very open to visitors. And so ta da ta da ta da -- I saw that we were going to be going near one [in our travels] and I reached out by email. 

They're sophisticated... I always said I would love to be Amish as long as I could have electricity and my cell phone and my car and wouldn't have to dress funny and stuff like that. I mean, I always meant it as a joke, but there's something that I sort of romanticized about the Amish life, uh, except for the stuff that makes them different than us, that protects that life. 

So I've always said it as a joke, but the Bruderhof would be kind of along those lines. They're not Amish at all. But it's sort of like the best of both worlds maybe? I don't feel called to be Bruderhof, but I definitely am loving what I experienced there and am chewing on what that means for us. 

Acts 2:42 is our theme verse that organizes how we do it with X242, our network, where it says the early believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer." You read down the next verse 43 says that, that everyone was in awe about the wonders and the signs that the apostles performed. And then verse 44 says that everyone held everything in common. No one believed that their possessions were their own. They held everything in common. Jump over two chapters to Acts 4:32, and it says something real similar. This sense that no one claimed that they had any possessions of their own, but they held everything in common.  

Now -- and that's where the Bruderhof gets this. And I've been [asking], how do we live out that? Because I don't feel called to communal living at that same sense where no one has any possessions. But the Bruderhof, they are living a radical (not "radicalized" in the way that we might say it) application of Acts 2:44 and Acts 4"32. Radical application. And I believe it's good what they're doing.  

But, as you read down in Acts 4, it also says that there were no needy persons among them because from time to time, people who owned houses, sold the houses or property, and brought the proceeds to the apostles and laid it at their feet to be distributed however they wanted to, to those who had need. And so as I look at the scriptures, the early believers didn't live in this radical sense of community where they had no possessions. They still had possessions, but they gave it away freely to everyone who had need.  

Okay. So I've got some more to say about it, but my question: Are you drawn to it or not? Are you drawn to that kind of community where you live in close community?

They've got 200 acres or so, 300 acres, with a couple hundred people on it. Farm the land, do their work, live in close proximity. And yet [they] honor each other's need for alone time. They aren't up in each other's face all the time. They actually get plenty of alone time. But they also share lunch together every day, Monday through Friday. They worship together Sunday mornings. They have additional Bible studies on, like, Monday nights and Friday nights. And all that. They live close together.

Are you drawn to that? Because I'm drawn to it.  

I think I have romanticized the notion of small town, rural USA, and I think there's something to be said for it. Where we live has some feelings of small town. Sarasota has some feelings of small town, where, when I go places, I know people. And they know me. And...I love that. But, you know, amp that up. Boil it down. And it becomes the Bruderhof communal living.

Are you drawn to that? Cause I am drawn to that.  

I've been thinking about what would it look like for us to live in community. Is there something that could still be achieved like that doesn't require a "giveaway all your possessions" other than as you want?

So like my thinking would be, you still have possessions where if you see someone in need and you can sell something to help them out, you do it because your heart has already decided to. And so rather than a vow of poverty, it's a vow of humility and simplicity and generosity, which really should be a vow that every Christian takes, regardless of how they live it out. 

So I've been thinking about it. Would there be any interest...in living communally as an experiment, where you live communally to live out the love of Jesus. It's Jesus based. It's scripture based. You get together and you do the X242 devotion. We open scripture together...like we live as disciples together.  

Would there be interested in doing that? Not that it's the only way to do it, but would there be interest in doing it? Does that sound attractive or atrocious? 

What if, what if we were to...to live communally? Is it attractive to you?
What tensions does it create?
What enthusiasms does it create?
Is it a positive?
Or what fear do you have?
Is there something in between a vow of poverty type commune like no possessions, communal living, and living in a village that is mutually encouraging, mutually supporting, rises up to help each other, relies on each other, depends upon each other, lives out certain things, like, "if a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10) because we believe that, in that, is maturity.
Is there desire for something like that?
Or is that just way off the deep end?  

And that's what I'm thinking about. The conversations I've been having on this trip, the conversations I've been having are incredible. If you ever get a chance to visit a Bruderhof, do it. You can go for one or two weeks, I believe. You reach out to them. They'll put you up. You join in their work. You can ask them whatever questions you want. I asked them all kinds of questions. And they were forthcoming. There was no sense that there's this upper layer that you're not allowed to talk to. There was no sense that "Big Brothers' watching us" other than the government. 

If you ever get a chance to visit the Bruderhof, it is worth it. Just to learn something from them. One of the most friendly experiences I've had. Amen.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the Bruderhof Community
00:31 Daily Life and Work at Bruderhof
02:35 Misconceptions and Clarifications
03:09 Personal Reflections and Experiences
04:13 Biblical Foundations and Communal Living
06:09 Invitation to Reflect and Engage
09:25 Concluding Thoughts and Call to Action

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Tomorrow we leave Selah, Washington to spend four weeks in Oregon.

Here in Selah we were able to encourage people in the conventional church where my son, Josiah, is the worship pastor (walking in his proud father's footsteps). It reminds me what has been part of our conviction the whole time, that wherever believers gather, our heart says amen. Even if we choose a simpler church model, that is not meant to condemn more complex models. May God make every expression of his church fruitful. 

This being our third summer here, we actually have friendships developing, which is nice. Yesterday they baptized 14 people in the Yakima River. One profoundly beautiful moment for me was when a father was baptized, and then immediately turned around and baptized his teenaged son. Last year, my own son, Josiah, baptized that man's wife and other son, whom he's been discipling. I was gripped. What a wonderful thing for someone to enter the family of God by baptism and immediately turn and welcome his own son into the family by baptism. Amen. God is good.

I also connected with a man here last week who is in his late forties, was raised Christian, converted to Judaism, but has recently come back to a declared faith in Christ. He's not connected to any church. We started a friendship. He has a copy of my book, "Simpler Church." Please pray for Eric. 

In Oregon I have many meetings planned. Please pray for fruitful ministry there!

Does theology have gray areas? When we study the scriptures and have different opinions, is that a gray area? Is there a clear line between right and wrong? I recently talked with a friend about the importance of fostering dialogues between people with differing views. Instead of shutting down conversations, we need to deeply understand and engage with others, even if we disagree. Drawing from biblical examples, like Paul's approach in Acts 17, we need to start with where others are, rather than where we are. This is way more missionary-ish. Way more redemptive. It will lead to more meaningful and gracious interactions. This approach can transform not just personal relationships but also the broader cultural climate within our communities.

00:00 Introduction: A Conversation with a Friend
00:13 The Importance of Dialogue
00:28 Understanding Right and Wrong
01:31 Navigating the Gray Areas
01:47 Asking the Right Questions
03:14 Paul's Approach in Acts 17
05:27 Engaging Redemptively
06:12 Applying the Principles
06:42 A Vision for the Church
07:32 Conclusion and Encouragement
​

In my travels I've visited three small conventional churches, none of them related, that all meet in old buildings which influence how they meet. Two of their buildings are old churches listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The other is an old Salvation Army, I think. Very cool buildings, but they don't work well for modern church sensibilities. And it's wonderful.

In two of them, the only access to the bathroom from the sanctuary was a double door near the stage. In both of them, there was constant foot traffic in and out of those doors. Kids in and out. Parents in and out. Handicapped people in and out. Visitors like me in and out. At one church, I watched as the pastor, who was preaching from the floor, had to literally take a couple steps back to let a man get by on his way to the bathroom. Haha. 

And it was all very endearing.

The lack of a polished worship program is exactly what the American church needs. But even more important than what these little churches didn't have, is something they did have. 

Each church sang songs together, and had a sermon. But in the middle of the singing and preaching, they did something that's become a throw away time for a lot of churches. It's that time in the service that most larger churches try to program for efficiency, or eliminate altogether. And yet, each of these churches spent a good 30-40 minutes in it! And it was a strength for them!

In larger churches we think of it as "The Announcements." But for these churches it was the "Prayer Time."

Now, I say this as one who programmed larger churches for 22 years. And as tempting as it is to talk about it as a heart issue, I really think it's more logistical. Big crowds can't do what these churches did. In these churches, where the largest had probably 50 or 60 (maybe 80?), and the smallest had 20 (maybe 30?), they took time to talk through the needs and interests and events of the church, and then to spend time praying for them.

It really was the sweet spot of the service. 

And I say that as a worship leader and a preacher.

Don't get me wrong, the singing was engaged, and the preaching was on point. But I actually don't remember the songs we sang or the sermons I heard. They were good at the time. They served their purpose. But what I remember is stories people shared. And even more importantly, the patient care that was given, and the prayers that were prayed.

I was encouraged. And I want to pass it along to you.

In our microchurches, we have that same baked-in sweet spot! We share a meal together. We have intentionally not made it a sacramental type thing (although I believe it can serve that purpose). We just eat together. And we listen to each other's stories, without any other agenda than to be in fellowship with each other, sharing a meal together. It's our sweet spot where relationships are formed.

My hope is that our prayer time have that same conversational flow. I'm not saying they don't. I'm just saying, let's make sure they do. When you take time to pray, be patient in it. Don't rush it. Take time to talk conversationally, and listen slowly, and pray with your feeling as well as your thinking. Make sure prayer time is care time. 

Like I say, larger churches just can't do this. It is what it is. And yeah, perhaps if they started doing it they wouldn't be as large. But I don't think it's wrong to be large. I just think tiny churches have a sweet spot that we should hone in on -- the ability to be conversational, and patient, and prayerful in our fellowship.

Be encouraged. And don't feel rushed. Take time. It models the love of Christ.

Amen.

Thank you for your prayers and support. As I write this we are in Selah, Washington. Pray for a conversation I expect to have with someone this week who is intrigued by what we do. He said, like so many, "That sounds wonderful." And please continue to pray for wisdom and the Spirit's prompting in those with whom we've connected in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, and Idaho.

​Most people think of "sound doctrine" as synonymous with "good theology." And we talk about orthodoxy, which means "right knowledge." And that is good. By all means. It's a bad thing to have wrong knowledge. But did you know that when the scriptures talk about sound doctrine, they are referring more to orthopraxy than orthodoxy? Sound doctrine is about right practice, right actions, right behavior, right doing, right living. This becomes so obvious in Paul's instruction to pastor Titus. If you're in a position to teach or pastor, make sure you don't miss this! 

00:00 Introduction to Sound Doctrine
00:35 Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy
00:44 Paul's Instructions to Titus
01:50 Behavioral Teachings for Different Groups
03:25 Emphasis on Right Living
04:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In Shipshewana I was able to connect with a few more men. One works for a church network. Another had been developing a house church ministry, but now pastors a conventional church. And yet he continues to imagine a variety of radical,  unconventional ministry models. (I went home to Wendy, who lives with my constant imagineering about this and that, and I told her, "I just met my match!") The other meeting was with a new friend, a business man, who has a background in mission work.

The conversations were all warm and engaging. We all share the same concerns about the condition of the Western church. We're all intrigued by simpler church expressions. I'm reminded that one size does not fit all, and that our X242 way of being church is not the only way, but is one of the better ways.

We left Indiana toward Kansas We worked our way through Missouri over some of the worst roads we've ever encountered. It was exceptionally rough in general, with surprise bumps thrown in. (It's like your house suffering through an earthquake several times an hour.) One such bump exploded one of our trailer tires which also took out part of the trim and underbelly. It happened to be where there was no shoulder, so we limped a mile to the next exit where I changed it. The whole experience was a first for us. But we praise God that no one was hurt, and that we had everything we needed to get back on the road, losing just a couple hours over all.

We made it to the Kansas City area where we had reservations for a few nights. We were able to go into town and get the tire replaced, so we have a spare again. And we were able to meet with X242 friends who had a house church going in their home but through a series of events, have had to let it lie dormant for the time being. It's always good to see them. Please pray for encouragement in this season, and for clarity about what to do next.

They also introduced me to a KC area couple who lives on a farm out in the country. They have a vibrant faith and are trying to discern the specifics about using their property for ministry. They currently meet for church as just their little family of five. They also have had some other meetings with area friends for prayer and worship, tracking in the Encounter model of ministry which was formative for them not too long ago. They have recently poured a slab in preparation for a barndominium which they hope to fill with people regularly, not as a typical church, but more of an open-door type ministry place for people. A retreat of sorts. They are praying to be able to purchase the surrounding farm land to make it 100 acres. Please pray for God's leading and provision in this. 

We left Kansas and traveled to Woodland Park, Colorado for a couple nights. Yesterday we had an encouraging visit with friends just north of Denver, on our way to the Curt Gowdy State Park outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming where we're currently camped.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

• Pray specifically for travel safety. That's on my mind, and often in my stomach as I drive.
• Pray for the seed of encouragement to grow, in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, and Colorado.
• Pray for our time next weekend with friends who pastor a little church in Idaho. 

Last week I made some open statements about liberal and conservative Christians. I said we divide the church around things that we shouldn't. That doesn't mean we should never disassociate with rebellious people. But where there's a common heart, we can and should engage with people of different minds. This week I tell a couple stories that illustrate that. As long as we practice kindness over assertiveness, and invite the scriptures to judge us, rather than us sitting in judgment on them. If we will stop protecting ourselves and others from the discomfort of reading the scriptures for what they say, we will experience mutual redemption and restoration in our microchurches.

00:00 Introduction: Continuing the Thought
00:13 Microchurch and LGBTQ+ Compassion
00:53 Journey to Dover, Ohio
01:11 Inclusivity in Microchurches
01:59 Scriptural Integrity and Compassionate Conversations
04:06 Engaging Liberal and Conservative Views
05:04 Kindness in Confrontation
07:24 Scriptural Authority and Truth
08:53 Conviction and Unity in Faith
10:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

I wrote last week about a conversation I had in Berlin, Ohio about one man's dream of a place where foster parents and single moms could live in community with others -- and how my recent experience with the Bruderhof might give some guidance to the implementation of such a thing. Please help us by praying for clear leading. And feel free to speak into it if you have a similar interest.

After my lunch conversation with that friend last Friday, I met another local pastor for coffee. He pastors a megachurch that started out of a house church. He brought a friend who was visiting from Davis County, Indiana, who has been leading a house church for the past 18 years! It was such an encouragement to meet him. And he told me about another house church he had recently been introduced to in Bryan, Texas, about an hour from where we plan to stop on our way back in October. God is good. When I say the conversations are incredible, I mean not just the conversations themselves, but the connections God has been orchestrating.

From that meeting I had dinner with an elder of another church who remains interested in our X242 way of being church. It was good to mutually encourage each other.

Sunday, I went to LifeBridge, a conventional church in Dover, Ohio pastored by another friend of mine. I'm not sure how to say this, but it was delightfully messy. I mean, even though there was a program that followed the basic line up (welcome, worship set, announcements, sermon, closing song), it felt like a house church in someone's living room. They had a 14 year old read the scripture. They took time for prayer requests. Some people told stories. Everything felt conversational. Kids walked around. God was honored. And then we all shared a meal afterward. It was such a wonderful example of how God is calling people to something more personable and restful than the church machine that continues to exhaust so many. Praise God.

We left Berlin Friday and drove to St Marys where we connected with people who moved from Sarasota several years ago. It was good to catch up and share inspirations from our travels. Again, there's a stirring around the stories from our time with the Bruderhof.

Then we came to Shipshewana, Indiana. Sunday, I drove 45 minutes to That Church Downtown in South Bend. I first met the pastor nine or ten years ago, and reconnected with him and his wife early last year. He told me "services starts at 11-ish." I got there a little early and the room was dotted with people silently praying. By 11-ish, there were twenty or thirty people there, talking and getting things ready. Not long after that we were praying, then singing, then sharing. A man asked if he could give a little witness at the end because he didn't want to take time from the service. The pastor had a child pray before the kids went to their classes, then he had me bring a greeting from X242, and then he preached. It was nice. And I kept thinking some of our house churches are this big, if not bigger. 

After church they had me over to their house across the street for lunch. I learned that several years ago the church was running 135 people. But then, about the same time I was being challenged in my own church setting, they were also being challenged. They realized that they were good at having worship services, but bad at discipling people. And that was confirmed when they made changes. People left. And yet they still believe that was the right decision. 

I hear there's pastors in the area talking about starting a house church network. I'm trying to connect with them. I have other meetings as well. Please pray, remembering the above, and asking God to keep opening doors for ministry.

I continue to pray for all in our X242 network of tiny churches.

I recently had a personal experience that exposed my own tension about how to relate to conservative and progressive believers within the Christian faith. How much do we need to agree about in order to relate to each other as being in the faith? If someone comes to faith, but they go to a church that's more liberal or conservative than ours, do we genuinely celebrate that they've come to faith, or do we hold back. It’s important to lean into this tension prayerfully, especially in microchurch gatherings where it’s hard to hide our differences. Is it possible for conservative and liberal Christians to be in fellowship with each other? How much difference can you tolerate? How much difference should we tolerate? ​

00:00 An Interesting Experience
00:13 Family Reunion Reflections
01:44 Conservative vs. Progressive Faith
04:59 Personal Struggles with Faith
09:01 Defining the Faith
11:16 Unity in Faith
12:52 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

As Wendy and I travel the country to encourage people in our X242 network, and to pique the interest of others about the same, I am overjoyed at the quality and breadth of experiences.

The Bruderhof
Last week we left the Spring Valley Bruderhof in Farmington, PA, and drove a few hours to Berlin, Ohio, where I've had a number of meetings. And ​I continue to mull over my Bruderhof experience such that it keeps coloring all my conversations with people. ("Have you heard of the Bruderhof?")

Bruderhof is German for Place of Brothers. They are an Anabaptist community, with roots in the Radical Reformation in 1525, which branched out of the Protestant Reformation. Anabaptism is marked by a lived out faith, adult baptism, and rejection of violence. If you think of Amish, Hutterite, or Mennonite, you're in the ballpark, but at the same time, Bruderhof isn't any of those.

They were started in 1920 in Germany, in response to all the things that were going on there at the time. They were persecuted, and they responded by living communally, meaning they have all things in common. No one has any personal possessions. There are 3000 people, with a couple dozen large communities around the world with 200-300 people in each. But then they also have a number of small house church type communities where ten or twelve people might share a house. (Interestingly, for those of us in Sarasota, there's one at the St Pete Pier!)

The larger communities farm to supply the community with vegetables, etc., and they have their own businesses (Rifton and Community Playthings), which have onsite factories that most people work in, and which provides for the financial needs of the community. People in house churches work regular jobs if necessary, but still share all things in common.

At the Spring Valley community, they have lunch together every weekday. But they also give each other plenty of personal space at night. They have an onsite school. They have a Sunday worship gathering that is kept simple for children. They sing hymns and folk songs that they all enjoy. They also sing before meals. They have adult bible studies a couple nights a week, but it can be interrupted for other things. For the most part, it's all very fluid and peaceful, even though they work a lot.

It was a fascinating experience. I asked questions the whole time. Nothing was off limits.

I discovered no "wizard of Oz" behind the curtain pulling the levers, and no bishop telling everyone what they're allowed to do or how to dress. They have cell phones and electricity and all the modern conveniences. I asked Mathais, our 28 year old host, if they're allowed to watch YouTube and stuff, and he said, Of course. I said, but can a person just sit and watch YouTube on their phone all evening? And he said, "I mean you could, but why would you want to?" That was a pretty good answer for me. They like to hang out and talk at night, sitting outside on swings and things.

One of my favorite take aways was the value of living out their faith in community. I'm not sure if someone said it or I read it: "If you're not close to God, you'll know it, and we'll know it. If you're close to God, you'll know it and we'll know it." And by extension, "If you're caught up in a sin, you'll know it and we'll know it." I was encouraged by that, because in it is a hope that through the community just paying attention to each other, and caring for each other, there will be redemption and restoration. The care and concern is more than just physical and relational; it's spiritual. 

I can't stop mulling over all that. And it keeps finding its way into all my conversations, and my imaginations.

Can It Be Applied In Other Ways?
Here in Berlin, a friend and I picked up a conversation from last year, about his desire to establish something where foster families and single moms can live in community, supporting each other. I've explored similar conversations with a lady in Florida who refers to "orphans and "widows" as people of any age and stage that have no other family. In both conversations, the desire is the same: to create community where there is mutuality of care and concern, centered around and inspired by our love for Jesus which proves itself in love for each other. 

We would all do well to memorize James 1:27, "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world." If we expand that to include anyone who is disadvantaged by a lack of family, I would include some divorcees in that, as well as foster kids. In our X242 network we definitely have "orphans and widows." 

A few days ago I was talking with a man here who is widowed. I described the things I was thinking about and he asked if such a community would be healthy for someone like him. He was asking it from a weak position, not a challenging position. He was wondering if there would be a place for an older single person like him. My answer is Yes, it would be healthy. Wonderful even. You might even say vital. And not just vital for people like him, but for others who get to care for and be cared for by people like him. We all need community. We all need to love others, just as much as we need to be loved by others.

Where I Differ
But as much as I'm intrigued by it, I need to say where I differ. Not really to correct them, but just to keep my words from saying something I don't intend.

The Bruderhof believe that the early church lived communally with a common purse, and so they do the same. They point to Acts 2:44 and 4:32 as their inspiration: "All the believers were together and had everything in common," and "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."  And so the Bruderhof has chosen to live without any personal possessions, but rather, to have a common purse where all income goes into the pot, and all needs are paid for from the same pot. They do it willingly, with a voluntary lifelong pledge.

I'm just as inspired by those passages. In fact, that's why I wanted to experience their radical application of that. But when I read those passages I also see in Acts 2:45 and 4:34-35 that the believers "sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need," and "there were no needy persons among them, for from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." And so we still see ownership, but also a need-inspired generosity where those possessions are disposed of as necessary to meet the needs of the family.  The early church lived as family, giving very generously to meet people's needs, but retaining their personal property.

That said, I don't believe what the Bruderhof has chosen is bad. In fact, I think it's good. But it's not required. I don't personally feel called to it but I do respect it. And I am inspired by the radical nature of their commitment to each other.

What Might It Mean for X242?
In my conversations this week I've been listening to what God would say. Again, I am not feeling led to join the Bruderhof, but I do believe they have something to teach us. And so I can't help but imagine what God might call us to in our simpler way of being church. Is there an opportunity for some of us to live that out in more intentional community than just weekly meetings in people's homes? 

Is there such a place in our X242 way of thinking and living that would have room for such a community? Not Bruderhof, but Bruderhof-ish. And certainly not that it would be the only way to do X242, but just a way to do it.

​I'm curious if it inspires anyone else's imaginations like it does mine? Or perhaps it invokes fear or concern?

Anyone? 

Prayers
Thank you for your prayers. Tomorrow we leave Berlin, and go to St Marys, Ohio to connect with friends there for a few days. Then we spend a week in Shipshewana, Indiana, before making our way over to Easton, Kansas. Thank you everyone for you prayers! God is answering with inspired conversations every day, all along the way. Amen!

Thank you for your prayers! I have been so encouraged by the conversations I've been able to have!

Last weekend I spent a few days at a family reunion. I also have good conversations with cousins and uncles and aunts, many of whom are in the faith. But this time I was especially encouraged to find faith where I hadn't before. Two conversations stand out which I tell about in this week's YouTube teaching. I'll just let you watch that here.

Harrisonburg, VA
After the reunion, I had wonderful conversations in the Harrisonburg area, some of which were started last year, and others that were new this year.

I met with three couples who are interested in planting, and are discerning the next steps. One of the couples already has a weekly meeting in their home where university students (mostly foreign and Muslim) come to learn about the Christian faith. They don't see this gathering as a church, but maybe God wants to do something there. Or maybe he wants to start two or three microchurches. The interest is there. But there are also some barriers. So please pray for clear direction.

I had dinner last Tuesday with an adult Sunday School class that has been together for over thirty years. They have connected with some of my teachings, and our X242 way of doing things, so I wanted to learn more about them. It was a rich conversation. So much to celebrate there. The love each other. And they love the Lord. They also have some starkly different views about some of the things that split churches and nations. But they have remained loving in their dialog. We were able to discuss some of those topics directly, speaking the truth in love, and listening to each other with gentleness and patience that doesn't betray conviction. I was especially encouraged to hear how one of the men said that, when he has taught a book study, he has just wanted to throw the book out and open the bible. That's what we do at X242! So I'm encouraging them to try that. I think they will. And I feel like they'll probably continue to connect with us. 

I also had coffee with the pastor of an older conventional church who loves what we're doing. He also has great affection for this church. We simply encouraged each other.

Lancaster, PA
It was a quick stay in the Lancaster area. It was our first time visiting missionally. We will plan to spend more time there the next time we visit. I believe there is an open door for effective ministry. 

I met with a man who heads up a network of sixteen house churches, scattered through the U.S. and even a few international locations. Their network is part of a larger network of churches, including conventional and even mega churches. I asked him lots of questions about what they do, and how. And I was greatly encouraged by the conversation. 

Spring Valley Bruderhof // Farmington, PA 
I had never heard of the Bruderhof until last year when Jorge Enciso mentioned it to me on a leadership Zoom. The Bruderhof is a Christian fellowship that lives communally with a common purse, meaning no one has their own possessions. They share all things. And it's a lifetime membership, meaning you pledge yourself to the community for life. Like you, I have SO many questions, and I've been asking them. They are very, very hospitable. But we just pulled in last night (Saturday), and will be here till Tuesday morning, so I'm sure I'll have more to say later about my conversations.

Our mission is to plant and encourage microchurches wherever God opens a door, and to encourage and strengthen faith wherever we find it.  This means lots of conversations! And that takes lots of energy. 

Please pray for health and wellness for Wendy and me. It seems we keep getting hit with various health problems, from an injured back (which is better now! Praise God!) to recurring respiratory illnesses and the like. As you know, I'm not quick to claim "spiritual attack" over every hard thing in life, but I do believe the enemy would like to rob us of the energy and life needed to carry out this mission well. I know God is faithful, and I believe he will provide in accordance with your prayers.

Also, pray for the following:

• Pray for the establishment of a new microchurch in Harrisonburg, and that we can encourage the Sunday School class that connected with us.
• Pray blessing over the microchurch network based out of Lancaster, PA. 
• Pray for conversations here at the Bruderhof.
• Pray for upcoming conversations in Berlin and St Marys, OH, and then in the Goshen, IN area.

Thank you for your prayers. And thank you to those who support X242. My heart is to pay my own way in living out this mission, and God has given Wendy and me a business which helps with that, and allows us to do some work from the road. But being gone from the business is expensive, as is travel itself. Your support really does make up the difference for us, and we are humbled and filled with gratitude. God bless you, and this X242 ministry, that we would all be fruitful in life, and in helping others enter the Kingdom.

​I pray for you every day.  ​