Aletheia Church Boston

Evangelism Ditches

// July 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Boston, Vision

Let’s face it, not many people get too excited about evangelism. Christians don’t like it because it makes them feel weird, and nonChristians don’t like because it, well, makes them feel weird.

But, the scriptures command us to do just that. So, what are we to do?

For the Christian, there are TWO BIG DITCHES that we can fall into when it comes to sharing our faith. First, is the DITCH OF COMPLETE REJECTION. This is the view that God hates, completely, the sinner. Think Pharisee. Think the guy on the corner, usually wearing a placard while shouting epithets at passers-by. Who wants to be that guy?

The second ditch is no better. It may, in fact, be worse. The second is the DITCH OF COMPLETE ACCEPTANCE. This is the view that God is primarily love, so he couldn’t possibly be mad or angry at sin. So, he loves people just as they are, without any thought about their sin. Think hippie-style, kumbaya-singing, unitarian-universalist, chocolate-covered-sunshine, sweater-wearing, guidance-counselor type Christians.

I say the second ditch may be worse because at least the first ditch contains the warning of judgment.

Real evangelism, is neither of these and it is both of these. Christ-like Gospel-ing (after all, the word “evangelism” simply is the verb form of “Gospel”) is the demonstration and proclamation of God’s infinite love for us in the midst of our self-inflicted darkness. Consider the words of Penn Jillette, comedian, noted atheist, and vegas headliner:

How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible, and not tell them? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it… there’s a certain point I tackle you, and this is more important than that.

If we can be a church that lovingly tells people that they are more loved than they hoped and more sinful than they imagined, and that in the cross of Christ, God’s love for us and hatred of sin meet in a beautiful, horrible, gracious, scandalous collision… if we could actually say that, what might God do?

Let us walk the narrow path of Christ-like Gospel-ing, avoiding the ditches. That kind of church would be worth belonging to.

When the Gospel is Useless…

// July 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Boston, Vision

Before you condemn me as a heretic, just keep reading.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.

So here’s the situation: Abraham was not the guy that God should’ve blessed. He came from a pagan family, in a pagan city. He committed adultery with his wife’s maid. His cousin decided that living in Sodom was a good move. He pimped his wife out… twice. Not a good resume for God’s blessing.

But he had one thing: he had a promise from God, the good news that God would save the world through him. Him! Abraham. This is the dude with the broken family, the moral failures, the weird cousin, and the broken marriage. Add to that the fact that he and his wife were OOOOOOLLLLLD. All that baggage, but he held on to the promise God had made. He believed the Gospel.

God’s made another promise, a greater promise. Namely, if we trust in God’s grace in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we’ll have abundant life now, eternal life forever, and be a part of a significance greater than we can imagine, in that we get to participate in the mission of God.

But this Gospel, this good news is, unfortunately, useless. That is, it’s useless unless we actually believe it. Abraham was justified by faith. That is, Abraham put his full trust not in his goodness or character, not in his pedigree, or is family greatness. He accounted those “as good as dead.” Rather, he believed God. He put his full trust in God’s ability to save.

As a church we’ve not got a lot to trust in. We don’t have millions in the bank. We don’t have a kickin’ location. We don’t have thousands of people, or even hundreds. What we do have is this: the Gospel. Now the question is, shall it be useless for us, or shall we. like Abraham, actually believe it?

God took this sinner named Abraham and brought about the coming of Christ. What might God do in Boston if Aletheia Church believed?

A Note to our Partners

// July 6th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Boston, Vision

Hey Partners and Friends,

I was reading the Scriptures this morning, and found something that made me think of you all.

He went on through the cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven domens had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. – Luke 8: 1-3

Normal people, giving their resources so that Jesus could bring the good news of the Kingdom. Amazing. These were the great, unsung heroes of the Gospel.

You partners and friends who give to support us and this church plant are doing just that. Just like Mary, Susanna, and Joanna, you all faithfully hold up this work so that others may know the good news of the Kingdom of God; the Gospel.

Thank you so much for what you do. You are heroes, and this church plant could do nothing without you.

Pouring Concrete

// July 1st, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Planting a church, it’s very easy to let my mind wander to all the fun wizz-bangery of churchdom.  Images and thoughts can flood my mind for hours about what our meetings will look like, what kind of sound system will work, what will band sound like, how should we design the bulletins, what about signage… etc.  After all, don’t we all love to talk about that cool Christian word “Ethos,” and “environment.”  Isn’t it exciting to dream about what the experience of church is going to be like!?

Hmm.  I wonder if in my own heart I don’t have meeting-idolatry.  The dream of a future meeting is a shoddy, poor foundation upon which to build anything, especially a new church.

My dad is a contractor/land developer.  If all he thought about in the building process was where the pictures in the new house would go, and what kind of fridge to buy for it, he’d be a pretty poor builder.  Similarly, if we church planters spend most our time dreaming of how cool we’re going to look with our new face mic, lit by our new lights, cheered for by our new people, and rocking to our new band, then we are bad church planters.

Paul said, By the grace of God given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder… But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus. (1 Cor 3:10-11)

The day to think of wizz-bangery will come. But today is a day to lay foundations. Today is a day to pour concrete. This part is dirty, gritty, and slow. No band to rock to.  No lights.  No face mic.  Just Jesus, and the people whose hearts he wants to change.

Yes, today is a day to pour concrete.

Baby Steps

// June 20th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

Today, Aletheia Church Boston took a baby step forward, and it was exhilarating.

After almost two years of praying, working, worrying, and dreaming, we had our first Core meeting for Aletheia Church Boston. It wasn’t amazing because we had 50 on our first night (because we didn’t), and it wasn’t amazing because someone came to faith in Christ (although that would’ve been awesome), and it wasn’t amazing because I preached an out-of-the-park message (although I’m working on it…).  It was amazing because a bunch of people who had never been in the same room together took a step toward radical, Gospel-unity.

That was amazing.

In some ways, it was like a first date… kinda awkward, some stretches of silence, but very exciting.  And, like a first date, once it got going, it was a lot of fun.

I feel completely honored to lead this church, and to begin to pastor such great people.  I firmly believe that as we experience the truth, grace, and changing power of the Gospel in our Core, then we will soon be empowered to bring the truth, grace, and changing power to the great city of Boston.

Looking forward to next week.

Memorial Stones

// May 19th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

In the book of Joshua, memorial stones were set up to commemorate a moment when God did something amazing. Then, by seeing the stones, the people of Israel were to remember what God had done.

Today, I SET DOWN SOME STONES.

In the last 36 hours I’ve walked over 14 miles, seen over a dozen properties, scoured the internet for hours, and made hundreds of phone calls. In all my work, God was working, and now WE HAVE A HOME IN BOSTON! In one of the most expensive and property-difficult cities in the USA, God gave us a bigger home than we expected in a better area than we expected for less money than we expected… reminds me of a bible verse about God blowing away our expectations.

My hope and prayer is that in this home God will work in and through us, our church plant team, volunteers, friends, and family to birth a great church in this great city. God has given us an amazing place, and we are so thankful.

To my awesome team: thank you for praying. Walking by this memorial stone, may your faith be strengthened.

Church is… on Mission

// April 20th, 2010 // 5 Comments » // Uncategorized

It has been said that church shouldn’t be a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners.  I think that is a false, unhelpful dichotomy.

Church shouldn’t be a country club, catering to the wishes of it’s members.  Neither should it be a hospital, simply concerned with healing hurting people. Church should be more like a triage unit on the field of battle. That is, the point of a triage unit is to get soldiers patched up and back out on mission.

Mission should mark every church that truly believes the gospel.  Why?  Because God is on a mission.

I can hear some objections.  ”But Adam, shouldn’t church be about helping hurting people?  Sometimes people need to take a break to be healed and helped.” And I would say, “Yes, yes, yes.”  Absolutely.  Church should be about helping hurting people, but helping them do what?  Feel better? Have a healthy self-image? Health for health’s sake isn’t health at all, it’s idolatry. Similarly, church for church’s sake isn’t church, it’s something else… something indeed worse.

If church is a mission-focused entity, then the logical next question is, “What is our mission.”  After all, soldiers don’t usually go out to fight without orders. Builders don’t start building without a reason. The mission of the church?  That’s a great topic for our next post.

My Message at Campus Harvest

// March 29th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

This past weekend, I had the high honor of getting to speak at Campus Harvest, a gathering of over 2000 college students in Durham, NC.  I was asked to speak on the mission of God.

I hope you enjoy my brief sermon, Missionary God.

Missionary God

(If you’d like to download it, just right-click the link and select “save”.)

Fighting in Faith for this Church Plant

// March 13th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Boston, Vision

I always knew that church planting was hard.

Leading up to our go-date in Boston, I have found myself in a new level of fight. Perhaps it’s because I’m the lead guy on this one. Perhaps it’s due to the hostile nature of our environment. Perhaps it’s the devil. Perhaps it’s what I ate for lunch…

In any case, I’m in a fight. I’m in a fight for God’s dream for Boston. I’m in a fight for people who don’t know Jesus. I’m in a fight for wandering, aimless Christians. I’m in a fight for the advance of God’s kingdom on the earth, even as it is in Heaven. I’m in a fight for the defense of the Gospel, once for all delivered to the saints.

So, just as Paul told Timothy, so the Scriptures tell me, Fight the good fight of faith. I will pray. I will fast. I will prepare. I will raise money. I will move. I will encourage myself in the words of Jesus, who went through a much tougher fight.

I will fight the good fight of faith for the future of that great city.

Who’s with me?

Are You Going to Campus Harvest?

// March 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Are YOU going to Campus Harvest? Aletheia Boston is, and we want to see you there. Stop by our table, give us a shout out. Heck, you may even get a T-shirt.

See you there.