Darryn's Blog

"This is bull****!" ???????

Over the weekend, my associate Gary Stump gave a rather compelling talk on a subject that he and I have been talking about for months. He challenged the listeners with the idea that each one of us has a personal responsibility to be good stewards of our environment.

How strange it was to see several frowns, crossed arms, rolling of eyes, and an occasional whisper of "global warming is "junk science."  One of the response cards that came in actually read, “This is bull****!” 

Out of all the controversial issues and life concerns we’ve spoken about at Heartland, why should this subject provoke such a strong response?

So enlighten me … why is caring for the environment such an offensive idea?

Please post your comments below. Let’s see where this goes.

Why you need to change your thinking about Muslims

Some will no doubt question my desire to build a deep friendship with a Muslim. Others may think I am not being sincere, suspecting an ulterior motive.

Let me make it clear. I intend to pursue and cultivate growing friendships with my Muslim neighbors. Why?

John Gilchrist writes,
    “The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the almost total colonization of the Muslim world in later centuries, have all left their mark on Muslim attitudes towards “Christianity.” Rightly or wrongly, the "Christian" West is perceived as bent on exploiting the "oppressed" Muslim countries of the world. Whatever the West does is automatically identified as the action of the Christian world. It does not occur to the Muslim to distinguish between the Christian Church and the Western world. Because the countries of North Africa, the Middle East and the western parts of Asia are almost exclusively Islamic, the Muslims view these regions as dar-al-Islam, the world of Islam. The European and American nations are, accordingly, in turn identified as the "Christian" world, simply because these regions have always been dominated by the Christian faith and represent the heritage of Christendom.” (Gilchrist, The Christian Witness to the Muslim)

This means the present American culture IS considered Christian culture in the Muslim world. Consider all the celebrities saying, “I just thank Jesus for this honor …” at the MTV music awards. Consider that as the Christian George W. Bush is the President of America, a “Christian” nation, therefore all Americans must be Christian and follow his ideologies.  Needless to say, gross misunderstandings arise in the minds of people the world over as a result of such a world view.

James Drete shares his reflections from years living in West Africa,
    “The simple fact is that a bitterness grew up between Christians and Muslims, which as we have seen, persists even to the present time in many quarters. It has nurtured hatred and strife. It has created mistrust and suspicion. It has built walls of misunderstanding. (Dretke, A Christian Approach to Muslims)

Let’s face it, Christ-followers. We’re prejudiced too.

Think about what pops into your minds when you hear words like Islam and Muslim. Again, most of what you know about Islam has been distilled to you through the media, and the media only talks about Islam when there is something explosive or disruptive to report.

It does not help to justify our view by pointing to the acts of terror and equally heineous acts committed by the Islamic world, both historical and present. It is not our duty to prove points, justify Christian history, or defend our heritage.

My real duty as one following after Jesus is to love people well without the conditions of intellectual agreement.

In other words, I will love my Muslim neighbor well, whether or not they ever accept Jesus Christ the way I do. My part is to obey the command of the One I am following who said,

"'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT) 

Obeying this command begins with the deliberate choice to remove the obstacles and barriers between us.  Obeying this command requires incredible patience as I trust God to do the work of transformation.

No Christian thought about Islam, then, can properly start with a querulous complaining over suspicion and ill-will. It must resolve to surmount prejudice wherever found and brace itself to correct error, restrain bitterness, and dissipate antagonism. (Cragg, The Call of the Minaret)

So we must begin with a desire to overcome the prejudices that are rooted in centuries of misunderstanding. History records the fact that the over the centuries the most likely place for “Christians” and Muslims to meet was on a battlefield. A more inappropriate setting can hardly be imagined.

By contrast the tale-tale sign or “the fruit” or the proving evidence of one filled with the Spirit of Jesus is, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. " Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 

What is needed, primarily, is a desire to win Muslim confidence - to build up a spirit of mutual trust and a bond of true friendship. This is why it is so important that we endeavor to build lasting relationships with Muslims, without the demand they convert to our way of thinking.

Will we simply want them to be a part of our lives. Will we choose to love well, giving proof that our real motive is to build others up, to encourage them, and benefit them, not to control, or exploit or to dominate?

There is no more appropriate background against which to declare the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ than genuine love and trust.

Q: What is going to have to change in me to love people unconditionally?

Including Muslims.

Even [name the kinds of people who are your enemy]

"It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." —1 Cor. 13:11 (NLT) 

"Christ would not be a Christian"

I just found this quote. Apparently I'm not the first to think this.

"If Christ were here, there is one thing he would not be ... a Christian." —Mark Twain

The Imam's Reply

Here is the reply to the email I mentioned in my last post:

Dear Pastor Scheske,

I would like to thank you for your letter. I appreciate your offer of friendship and would love to be your friend. Certainly dialogue will produce understanding between all servants of God.

As God says in the Quran Surat "Almaeda" named after the dinner that God has provided to Jesus and his followers; God says: "And you will find that the closest people in friendship to the believers (Muslims) are those who say, "We are Christian." This is because they have priests and monks among them, and they are not arrogant. When they hear what was revealed to the messenger, you see their eyes flooding with tears as they recognize the truth therein, and they say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so count us among the witnesses."Why should we not believe in GOD, and in the truth that has come to us, and hope that our Lord may admit us with the righteous people?"GOD has rewarded them for saying this; He will admit them into gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. Such is the reward for the righteous."

I have tried to call you today and will call try again tomorrow. GOD permitting.

Regards,

Shaker Rashid

My Letter to the Imam

Yesterday I opened a dialogue between myself and the leader of the Muslim community in Fishers, the community where I live.  Here is the text of my email:

November 1, 2006

Imam Shaker Rashid
Alhuda Foundation Mosque
Fishers, Indiana

My name is Darryn Scheske. I am the Pastor of Heartland Church on the corner of I-69 and 96th in Fishers.  I saw your name in the Indianapolis Star regarding the inter-faith panel on religious holidays.

I became a US citizen only 4 years ago, having grown up overseas in a multi-cultural society in the West Indies. Many of the friends of my childhood were Muslim and remain so to this day.

I am very concerned about the current wave of anti-Muslim prejudice I see and feel in America today. Most of what Americans believe about Islam has been distilled to them through the media, and the media only talks about Islam when there is something explosive or disruptive to report.

Currently I am teaching my congregation on events prophesied in the scriptures regarding the last days and the return of Jesus Christ (pbuh).* Of course that subject matter brings up events in the Middle East and gives me a perfect opportunity to enlighten people to their myopia about Islam and Muslims, and to change the minds of those who think all Muslims are the same.

Of course there is a significant difference between the teachings of Jesus (pbuh) and the prophet Mohammed (pbuh).  But what I believe we have in common is that in our history, recent and past, we both have periods of time where our faith have been leveraged or hijacked by evil people to accomplish something that neither of the founders of either religion had in mind.

I wish to have a discussion to be enlightened about your understanding of the first revelations to the Prophet (pbuh) beginning 622AD. 

I propose that the intent of the Prophet (pbuh) in those early days was not to establish a new religion, but to pass on these messages that he believed he was receiving from God; that he in fact was a mouth-piece for the one, true living God to the Arab people, just like Abraham (pbuh), Moses (pbuh) and Jesus (phuh) had been the mouth-piece of the same God to their particular people. 

I realize that I will be talking as a westerner about a religion that very few Americans understand.  Whenever you speak about somebody else’s religion you are always at a disadvantage. I’m sure you could do a better job at this than I’ll do, so I’ll pray for your grace, but even more, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you before the weekend.

You may contact me directly at any time on my cell phone. Thank you for your consideration. May this be the beginning of fruitful and surprising friendship as we serve our community.

Darryn Scheske
Pastor

*Note: (pbuh) = "peace be upon him," what muslims say after speaking or writing the name of anyone considered a prophet.

Don't Ever Call Me a Christian Again

Today I hate being called a Christian.  Try not to be too offended until you hear me out.

It hate it because of this guy and the people like him call themselves "Christian."  This is the face of the Angry Church Guy, the modern day Pharisee.

His name is the Rev. Fred Phelps, Sr.  The Chicago Tribune reports ... he is the pastor of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka, Kan., has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers." They contend that soldiers deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.

At the March 2006 funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq, church members waved fire-and-brimstone placards near the funeral motorcade. Snyder's father sued Westboro and three church leaders for emotional distress and won a nearly $11 million jury verdict Wednesday in Baltimore.

For years Westboro members have crisscrossed the country toting signs using "unvarnished words" such as "God hates fags" because they say the Bible teaches them to speak directly and simply. The church's 75-person congregation is comprised mainly of relatives of Rev. Fred Phelps, the founding pastor. (CNN interview with Phelps, truly the angry church guy.)

The group also blames disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and AIDS, on what it views as permissive morals in violation of biblical dictates. Members insist that their protests, no matter how insulting to some, are constitutionally protected."

Unbelievable. It makes me sick. It makes me righteously angry.

So much pure evil done "in the name of Jesus" has left it's mark on a watching world's attitudes towards Christianity.  What Mr. Phelps does, and the abortion clinic bomber does, and what the racist fundamentalist says becomes automatically identified as the action of the Christians. It does not occur to the skeptic to distinguish between genuine Christ-followers and evil people who have hijacked the religion. Gross misunderstandings arise in people's minds as a result of such an over-simplistic world view. But as they say, perception is reality.

So I am separating myself from this hypocrisy and evil. I'm never going to call myself a "Christian" again. Insead I choose to be a "Christ-Follower." 

Consider this striking contrast between the "Christians" above and what Jesus actually says ...
   "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
   "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
    "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:27-38 (NIV) 

I identify with those who have surrendered their rights and become a voluntary slave, willing to obey whatever Jesus says, do whatever he commands, and be willing to trust Jesus for everything.  I want to be like him in my everyday life. I am a Christ-follower.

Exposing The Enemy's Lies: "You'll look like a fool if you talk about Jesus."

Let me expose one of Satan's most powerful lies. He has cleverly convinced most Christ followers that the work of telling people about Jesus belongs to the "professional pastors." "The pastor can do a much better job.  After all, that's what he went to seminary for.”  I'm chuckling as I type.  What a smoke screen.

Let's be real.

1. It's not that the pastor can do a better job. It's your fear of being "weird."
2. A ton of pastors feel the same as you. They preach inside the church every week but have never actually led anyone to Christ personally outside the building.

I was one of them.

I used to be completely paralyzed when it came to talking to people about Jesus in everyday conversations.  One time in my early 20s, a lady giving me a haircut asked me what I did for a living. I was so afraid to tell her I was pastor, I lied my rear end off. I made up some story about "helping troubled teens." Of course when she asked questions I fabricated more detail.  Like Peter, I had just denied the Lord ... and I was a pastor and a hypocrite. I never felt more shame and guilt than I did that day.

What a powerful stronghold the enemy had built up in my life!  It was the fear of what others would think of me. Consequently, my subconsious definition of success was, "What do I have to do to get you guys to like me."  I couldn't even imagine myself ever talking to someone in the "real" world about Jesus, because if I did, "What if you don't like me? What if you think I'm weird? What if you laugh at me?" I feared withdrawal and rejection.

I literally got down on my knees that day and repenting for being ashamed of my Savior. I went back to the salon the next day, but the woman had quit that morning. I never saw her again. But that failure turned out to be a turning point in my life.

There was a particular verse of Scripture God used to renew my thinking.

" ... worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way."  1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)

I carried these words around with me on a 3x5 card every where I went for months. I thought deeply about each phrase. For example, I took the first little piece, " ... worship Christ as Lord of your life." I tried to  imagine what it meant to worship Christ as Lord of my whole life.  This can't be just a song I might sing at church. How does my everyday life worship Christ? 

One day as I thought about it, a revelation occurred: "Darryn, don't think so much about "what" to say. As you are going out into the world every day, your life should show people what following Me looks like. That's what really brings honor to Me."

I believe that was God's Spirit bringing understanding and illumination to my mind. I began to imagine all the stereotypes about Christians that would have to be torn down. You can only influence people to the degree that you have earned the right to be heard. It's all about credibility. Often simple kindness or thoughtfulness is the first step.  How will I earn the right to heard? What makes my life attractive? Would anyone want the life I have?

Notice the next part of the verse ... "And if someone asks about your Christian hope ..."

Darryn, earn that right and you won't have to go "evangelizing" anyone. If you're radiating hope, people will start asking you questions. Everywhere you go, people are going to be curious and wonder what's the secret of your love, joy, peace, patience ... and so on.  "Wow, opportunities for spiritual conversations are going to be all around me everyday. "

Next phrase ... "... always be ready to explain [the hope you have]. This required some thought. I had to imagine the perfect scenario. If someone sincerely asked me why I followed Christ, ... with no judgment, they didn't think I was a religious wacko, they were hungry for my honest answer ... what would I say.

I think the real reason why there is so much fear about this issue is that we've never taken the time to be able to articulate simply and clearly why we are a Christian.

I started thinking about my own journey. What's my story? What is Jesus changing in my life?

Final phrase ... "But do this in a gentle and respectful way."  I began to think about this phrase over and over again in my mind. I tried to imagine being genuinely gentle and respectful with anyone about anything. Would any reasonable person ever reject me for being gentle and respectful? In fact, if I was ever mocked for being respectful to someone ... well, that would be their problem, not mine. That might just produce more humility in me (THE most attractive human quality). That would be a good thing!

By meditating on this ONE verse, the Holy Spirit renewed my mind and set me free from the fear of telling people about Jesus.

Free from the prison of fear, my creativity was unleashed. There were things that fear prevented me from ever thinking about.

How can I earn the right to be heard?
What can I say and do to produce honest questions? 
What difference does Jesus really make? 
What do Christians do that makes them come off angry and superior?
What is the most respectful thing anyone has ever said to me?
Do I love them or do I just want a "sinner's prayer?"
Am I gentle person?   

The questions keep coming, and they shape my prayers. "Jesus, make me gentle. Apart from you I can't do it, because I can be so Type-A! ... I know you want to produce that fruit in me."

Heartland Church exists because of 1 Peter 3:15-16.  It changed my life. That's the power of meditating on the Word of God.

"... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:32 (NLT)

The rest of the story ...

I'm in the middle of a message series called "Winning Spiritual Battles." The premise of the series is that you and I are in a spiritual battle and our minds are the battleground. Usually we can’t see it, touch it and feel it.

Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear:
"Our fight is not against any physical opponent, but against the various powers of evil in the darkness around us, against spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil."

We're living in enemy territory. I can hardly believe that anyone has a hard time believing this considering what we consume for entertainment, what we're superstitious of, and in clear the very present evil in our world.

We believe … but we don't really believe in the supernatural.

I promised I'd write about the personal story I shared last week about the spiritual warfare we encountered living in the island of Dominica, West Indies, where my mom and dad were missionaries.

I was about 5 or 6 years old when these events took place. I remember them happening, but Mom and Dad clarified the details of the story.

Dad pastored People’s Church in the capital city, Roseau. It was a hot and humid Sunday evening and the church was packed with nearly 1000 people. It was a concrete block building with a galvanized metal roof. In the middle of worship, all hell broke loose. Loud banging noises and shouting came from above and outside. A gang of nationals who were upset by the growth of the church were throwing rocks onto the roof, shouting and threatening anyone who came near the entrance.

From the time the noise and confusion began, dad sensed in his spirit that this was a demonic attack on the church to frighten the many people who were new believers.   

Dad walked boldly out the door directly towards the leader of the group, brought him back into the church and sat down with him on a backless bench.  With all his followers looking on, Dad asked him, "What are you so upset about? Show me in this Bible what so offends you." 

As began to fumble in through Bible, dad began to pray for the Holy Spirit to confuse the man's mind, then commanded, "In the name of Jesus, I rebuke you, Satan, leave this place!" 

Immediately, the fell backward off the bench, rolled on his stomach and began to crawl out of the building. His followers ran forward, picked up their leader and dragged him off into the night.

The news of this incident swept through the community like a wildfire. Many people, including a number of from the sect, gave their lives to Christ because of what happened that night.

On another occasion, during a packed-out Sunday morning service at People’s Church, a rather unkempt man walked in the back of the church.  The ushers tried to seat him, but he refused and kept pacing back and forth.

Halfway through the service he made his move.  He bolted down the center aisle, fumbling in a back pack slung over his shoulder, as though he was feeling for a weapon. When got to the front of the church, he made a flying leap up onto the communion table.   

Dad told me that he was so shocked his knees started shaking.  Realizing this man was demonically controlled and his intentions were evil dad began to pray. He felt the peace of God fill his heart. In boldness that came from the Holy Spirit, he stepped forward, pointed his hand finger toward the man and said, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!"   

Instantly the man fell back off the communion table and onto the floor where he lay motionless. Several young men who were seated on the front row of the church jumped forward and carried him out!   

A holy hush filled the room as the people in that service and they began to praise God for seeing the power of the Holy Spirit at work.   

Several months later, this same man returned and gave his life to Christ, and is still following Jesus today.

There are more stories to tell, and I might share another one tomorrow. The lesson is the same. The power and presence of Jesus are with us to overcome every spiritual battle we face. "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
       Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Winning Spiritual Battles

I'm presenting a message series called "Winning Spiritual Battles." I just finished Part 3, "Whose Side Are You On?"

I'll edit this post tomorrow to add the true opening story of this message, but tonight you'll have to wait ... I don't want to spoil it for the AM crowd. The point ... we really don't believe in the supernatural. Americans have a hard time believing in spiritual warfare, in spite of what we consume for entertainment.

When you read it, you'll probably have a hard time believing it.

So after the service, it was time to go home, but we couldn't find the van keys. We hunted high and low, but with no success. An hour later, all five of us drove home in the cab of my little pickup truck.

When we arrived home, we discovered our refridgerator was dead as a doornail. For those of you not following the story, our home was struck by lightning a few months ago. The adjuster said other appliances might go. But tonight?

We smiled ... too coincidental we thought. Satan always overplays his hand. Not that he personally is after my keys or fridge. Some agent or minion of his wants my victory and peace.

We did what is normal for us ... we laid hands on the fridge and prayed, "Lord, you control all things. Everything we have comes from you, it belongs to you, and we're just your managers. So your fridge is down and your keys are lost. We're ok with that, we give you the praise anyway.

We're tired after serving you tonight. We know this could mean another trip out tonight, moving the perishables somewhere else. And your van is sitting at the church doing no one any good.

We smell a rat. Just in case this is a spiritual attack on us tonight, we ask you to rebuke the enemy. We resist him in Your name. And if he's responsibile for these lost keys and this dead fridge, we ask you to bring it to light. Direct us to those keys and resurrect this dead fridge! We chose an attitude of joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. Your will be done! In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen."

I plugged the fridge back in ... kissed my wife, and went to change my clothes.

30 seconds later, the phone rang. It was Jason Russo. He found the keys at the church and was driving the van home. While Loree was on the phone with him ... we had a Maytag resurrection!

Call it strange, call it weird. Call me crazy. Whatever.

We won a spiritual battle tonight.

Don't get caught up in the things. God doesn't care about that stuff any more than you. But He just loves it when his kids trust Him for everything.

Preparing for "Divine Appointments"

My friend and mentor, Gary Rohrmayer has been writing a lot about engaging  more intentionally in spiritual conversations. I thought I'd chime in.

In my experience, engaging in Spirit-led spiritual conversations with others always requires me to take a personal risk of some kind.

You see, nearly every opportunity to have a spiritual conversation will produce some kind of anxiety in me.

Usually I'm too tired. Or, I'm on my way somewhere else and I really don't have the time. Or, I might be intimidated by the person; their life circumstances or credentials. I might just be afraid of what they will think.

If you're going to seek out spiritual conversations, they won't come when you're ready or available. They happen in the middle of your everyday life. 

You may even plan to slot a certain time to make certain contacts, but at the last minute, there is a crisis or emergency or urgent matter that calls tempts you to change your plans. "Life happens," you'll say.

These kinds of feelings and thoughts are simply spiritual opposition.  Engaging in a truly spiritual conversation with someone will always requires a surrender of your agenda and anxieties.

You need to cultivate an adventurous spirit. God always enjoys a person like that. That's the kind of person he uses.  So start praying ...

"Dear Father, you have people all around me that you're drawing towards you. Give me the eyes to see, both the opportunity to dialogue, and the spiritual opposition that I know will come. Give me ears to hear the promptings of your Holy Spirit. I will obey You."

Then summon the courage to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

My next post will be about the nature of the conversations themselves.