If you’re just joining us, we’re reading through a book together. It’s called The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. We’re on Part Two, Chapters 4-7, but you’re welcome to jump in and join us. Here are some questions for discussion this time. To those of you who have been with us, I apologize for the delay during my 3 straight weeks at camp. I didn’t have as much free time as I’d hoped. But let’s get to it.
1. In the seventh century B.C., God criticized the Israelites’ attempts to get back into His good graces through prayers and religious ceremonies (chapter 4, pgs. 54-55). Think about the priorities of your church and compare them with the focus of the Israelites. How would your church stand up to Isaiah’s criticisms?
2. Think about your experience of working with the poor and marginalized in your community — or anyone you have helped through a tough time. Have there been moments when you, like Mother Teresa,saw “Christ, in his most distressing disguise” (chapter 4, pg. 60)? Describe that situation and what it’s teaching you upon reflection. Pray that God will show you what He requires, and that you will have an open heart as He shows you His will throughout this book.
3. Is it possible to love God and not love your neighbor (chap. 5, pgs. 65-67)? Why are the two commandments so inextricably connected?
4. What are the ways in which you and your church have taken on the “mission of God” by showing your love to your neighbors (chap. 5, pg. 69)? Which is more important: telling people about Christ or demonstrating HIs love through acts of kindness, compassion, and justice? Why do you believe this? Are there times when we should do one but not the other?
5. Do you see a connection between Rich’s difficult childhood and his later resistance to believing in Christ (chap. 6, pg. 74-76)? What was it? In what ways do your childhood experiences and relationship with your parents affect your openness to or resistance to God?
6. People like Rich need intellectually rigorous books to help them move from agnosticism to faith (chap. 6, pgs. 80-82). Why might people like him be offended to be told that you — or others — were praying for them? What are better ways to share your faith?
7. Do you believe it’s true that every follower of Christ was made for a purpose (chap. 7, pg. 92)? Even you? Explain why or why not. What would you say God’s purpose for your life is? What are you currently doing to live out that purpose? What could you begin to do this week to move in that direction?
Looking forward to hearing what you think.
Todd
Question # 1: If Isaiah stood before my church and spoke these words in person (v. 1-3), I think most in my church would take pride in their attempts at holiness and “faithful teaching of the Word.” However, upon closer scrutiny (v. 6-7) I’m not sure we’d come out so well, depending on who you ask. I believe my pastor and church leaders, and maybe many of the church members, believe they show concern for the poor and offer help to those in need. But when you look at the facts–the church’s budget indicates the real truth–less than 1% of our budget is designated for those in need. The majority of money goes to pay salaries, fund programs, and build or maintain buildings. Within our congregation, there are two or three individuals who actually minister to those in prison or those who are homeless, poor, hungry, destitute, etc., and some of these individuals receive financial support from the church for those ministries. But it seems Isaiah’s criticism is toward the community as a whole instead of just individuals. I believe my church is characterized more by its stand for truth than showing the compassion of Christ, and that makes me very sad. Even if Isaiah were to come back from the dead to confront my church, I don’t think they would see themselves as deficient.
Question # 2: While serving as director of a women’s center, many people would stop by unexpectedly. One lady was struggling with a drug addiction and often asked for money. Wisdom told me not to give her money, but I felt badly each time she left because I wasn’t much help to her. I asked God to give me an opportunity to show His love to her beyond just words. The next time she came by she asked if I could take her to a restaurant to get a hamburger. The timing was terrible because I had other ministry work to get done that day and my funds were low. But God’s Spirit told me to drop everything else and go. I learned that relationship is more important than religious service and that if I’m willing to give God everything instead of hoarding things for myself, He will provide all I need. God has been challenging me to live out my faith rather than just talk about it, and teaching me how to love others up close and personal rather than at a safe distance. I’ve found that many times I’ve missed “Christ in His most distressing disguise” because I’ve been so busy doing things for God which turned out to be more for my benefit than His.
1- Rather than answer how my church stands up, I’ll look more at how I’d stand up. This is human nature isn’t it? We want the easy way, but it’s clear that God’s path is rarely easy. Not only do I want things easy, I want them comfortable. But God is probably less concerned with my comfort level than He is my obedience. He’s probably not impressed with how much I do for the poor either. He and I have been talking about this one since reading this book.
2- Yes, so often I’ve seen a distressed “Jesus” in the people at the homeless shelter. There seems to be so little that I could do for them. For most of them, there seem to be little anyone can do for them besides make sure they have something to eat and a roof over their heads, if they’ll stay clean/sober and non-violent. For some of them it seems the best thing to do is respond to them with respect and allow them some dignity. The real help they need can’t be given by man, it must be accepted by them and come from God. They’ve heard this, but like the rest of us, they resist surrender.
3- Nope, it’s not possible. If we don’t love our neighbor, we surely don’t love God either. Because if we do love God, His love will live in us and be extended to others as a natural response to His love. We shouldn’t have to try to love people, or be told that we’re supposed to love them, it should be a natural outpouring of our relationship with God. It should come from us abiding him Him and His words abiding in us. When our hearts are lined up with His heart, love will flow.
4- It’s important that we always demonstrate His love to others, but like the last question, it shouldn’t be something we have to work real hard at, it should be a natural expression of His Spirit in us. There is a time to tell people about Jesus, but it may not be the first thing. The verbal message of the gospel is better received if it comes through relationship built on trust. At least that’s my experience.
5- Rich’s childhood experience surely had something to do with how he responded to God, doesn’t it for all of us? I learned early on that people were not trustworthy, none of them really, not completely and most not at all. I’ve always kept a distance between myself and others, but not as much recently; it was “safer” that way. But that’s not God’s plan, and for some reason it’s never been really hard for me to let Him close. He’s always seemed more trustworthy than people. My resistance had more to do with my stubborn will. It’s still hard to trust Him with those things that are most important, and it’s hard to believe that His “dreams are so much better than mine.” But I know that His love is good and true, unconditional and unfailing. It wouldn’t be worth getting up in the morning if that weren’t true.
6- Why tell someone you’re praying for them if they don’t have a relationship with God, or if you think it’d offend them? That makes no sense. Pray for them, yes, but it may not be important to tell them right away. It seems that all people, no matter their level of faith or lack of faith, respond well to a mention of prayer when they’re going through something terribly difficult or painful. Something my Pastor says is that we should love people until they ask us why.
7- Absolutely! We’re all made for a purpose, because it’s highly unlikely that God’d waste His time creating things with no purpose. My purpose?? I’m really not sure, but it’s something I ask Him about on a fairly regular basis.
I’ll also add that the author seriously annoyed me near the end of the book. That happens more often than not when it comes to books on spiritual matters. Why can’t people just let the Bible speak and stop letting their own opinions or discomforts motivate them to either ignore things or misrepresent them?? Okay, rant concluded.
I saw something about that on TV last night 🙂