Bill Nieporte, Pastor

The Westboro Baptist Church came to Richmond, V A today.

Never heard of them?  Do a web search and you’ll be amazed, I (hopefully) saddened.  I don’t want to give them too much time because they don’t deserve too much attention.  When they act, however, they claim to represent Jesus and his church.

I am a follow of Jesus.  I am a part of Jesus’  family called church.  Westboro Baptist do NOT speak for me and do not reflect the teaching, actions, or attitudes of Jesus.

Based in Topeka, Kansas, the folks at WBC follow the teaching of their pastor Fred Phelps, who proudly affirms God’s hatred – toward Catholics, Muslims, Eastern Orthodox, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and even fellow Baptists.  Their “ministry” is to travel the country “protesting” whomever they are mad at the most on that particular day.

When they made their way to Richmond, two stops were fairly typical.  Early in the AM today (March 2) they arrived downtown to protest at the Holocaust Museum.  There they affirmed a basic tenet of their “church” that God Hates Jews.

Later they stopped at Hermitage High School (where my daughter is a recent graduate).  I drove by and saw them doing their work – surrounded my local media and what seemed like a small army Henrico County’s finest.  Why this school?  That’s simple.  The school sports a “gay student alliance.”  Of all the groups that WBC hates – they proudly use the word HATE – the group they hate the most are the gays.  They seem to spend more time thinking about dudes having sex with other dudes then do the gays themselves.

God Hates Gays was typical slogan on many of their posters.

They have taken their ministry of hate to several different venues.  They hate protest at the funerals of military killed in the line of duty in Iraq, saying that the death was God’s judgment on United States for permissiveness toward  homosexuality.  Thank God for Dead Soldiers and God Is Your Enemy their posters say.

When I drove by their display, today, my stomach began to twist and turn in every conceivable direction.

GOD HATES!  Really?

Let’s leave aside the entire “Isn’t homosexuality a sin?” debate.  That can be a discussion for another post on another day.  Instead, let’s think about that statement: “God Hates.”

WBC isn’t the only “church” or “Christian” group to say something stupid and wrong.

Jerry Falwell blamed 9-11 on Ellen Degeneres.

John Hagee blames Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans immorality.  He also said that Hitler was “doing God’s work.”

Pat Robertson said that that Haitian earthquake was a response to a suppose Haitian “pac with the devil” some two hundreds years ago.

But all this craziness is nothing compared to the ugliness I saw today.

WBC  declares that the holocaust is God’s judgment on the Jews for killing Jesus.

They say that our soldiers die because God Is Our Enemy because we don’t round up and get rid of the gays.  God Hates Your Dead Children they say.  Until we get rid of the gays, God will hate the USA because God Hates Gay Enablers.

Hurricanes – Fires – Flood – Earthquakes – Tsunamis — all God’s judgment because God HATES.

Today I read Luke 13:1-5.

Let’s look at the first five verses for a moment.

“ ¹ Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Jesus doesn’t blame anyone for these catastrophes.  But he does offer a warning.  The warning is this: stop pointing towards the behaviors others and offering condemnation.  Look inward – and get your heart right.

I am sure that WBC will never hear about little old me and my ramblings on this blog.  If they do, they’ll just include me in the vast majority of the Christian family who abhor their message.  They will simply say to my congregation, Your Pastor Is A Whore (another of their posters). Any Christian who does not join in their hate mongering will fall under their hatred.

Still, I will pry for them.  I will not hate them.  I will hope they see the verses above – and all the others that contradict their preaching.

Meanwhile, I intend to keep preaching grace – love.  God LOVES – Jews, Muslim, Catholics, and (yes) even Baptists.  God loves gays and lesbians.

God even loves the members of the Westboro Baptist Church and Jesus died for their redemption – and the redemption of us all.

Do you need a refreshing word of GRACE? Listen to GraceNotes!

There is about a 10 second delay before the recording begins.

Book Review: A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren

From time to time, I am provided books by “Viral Bloggers,” provided I am willing to write a brief review and post in on my blog.  I do this joyfully because I love to read and the books are free in exchange for a honest review.  There are many viral-bloggers, however, and only a few books.  Often I am unable to obtain a title that I want.

 When Brian McLaren’s new book, A New Kind of Christianity, was made available to the viral-blogging community, I quickly went to the site to claim a copy.  Unfortunately, I was too late.  All available books were snatched up in a matter of minutes.

 Still, as a big fan of McLaren’s books, I could not let this one pass me by.  So, I went to my nearby bookstore and paid out my own money for a chance to digest more of McLaren’s thoughtful prose.  Now that I have read the book, I consider it to have been a wise investment.

 The opening pages of the book were very amusing for me.  In them McLaren describes how he’d become known as a “dangerous” heretic.  That’s hardly anything that anyone might aspire to.  McLaren does, not to cause trouble, but rather to address the very real challenges that confront Christianity in this post modern era.  Like him or not, we ought to be grateful for voices like McLaren – people who are willing to ask hard questions and not accept the pabulum  of traditional orthodoxy.     

 McLaren’s desire is to see Christianity survive the political polarization that has come to exist between fundamentalism and liberalism.  The response for McLaren, however, is not to find some “middle ground,’ but rather to find a new way of being Christian in the emergent age.  Of course, this is fraught with danger.  Still, the church has experienced these types of reformation before.  The aim of this book is to provide a somewhat ordered and structured  guide through the rough waters that Christianity finds itself in.

 McLaren structures his book around “Ten Questions” which (as they are being answered) are “transforming the faith.”  These questions are as follows:

The Narrative Question: What Is the Overarching Story Line of the Bible?

The Authority Question: How Should the Bible Be Understood?

The God Question: Is God Violent?

The Jesus Question: Who Is Jesus and Why Is He Important?

The Gospel Question: What Is the Gospel?

The Church Question: What Do We Do About the Church?

The Sex Question: Can We Find a Way to Address Human Sexuality Without Fighting About It?

The Future Question: Can We Find a Better Way of Viewing the Future?

The Pluralism Question: How Should Followers of Jesus Relate to People of Other Religions?

The What-Do-We-Do-Now Question: How Can We Translate Our Quest into Action?

 While ordered and structured, McLaren’s book is hardly systematic.  The questions McLaren’s asks are more pastoral than theological.  They are the kinds of questions I hear asked, in one way or another, from a wide variety of people across the conservative/liberal perspective.  To this end, McLaren’s thoughtful and easy to read volume should lend itself to some wonderful coffee house discussions.

 A New Kind of Christianity is probably the best ordered presentation to date of emergent theology.  To this end, that it important, since the “emergent church” movement has typically been a bit lightweight when it comes to this kind of material.  If you are new to the movement and want to get a good idea of what it’s all about in the words of one of its greatest thinkers, then rush out and get your copy right now.

This blog also posted at http://viralbloggers.com/2010/01/a-new-kind-of-christianity-by-brian-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-568

In her book, The Book of the Shepherd, Joann Davis has given us a brief little fairytale in a land where many church folks live – a land of legalism where faith is expressed in fidelity to a list of rules and regulations, and failure results in harsh retribution. 

 Joshua, the protagonist in this little tale, is a kind young shepherd who believes there must be a better way, and so he embarks on a journey to find that better place.  He is joined by a young boy, David, renounced by his father for a minor failure, and Elizabeth, a slave girl who has been set at liberty.  As they travel, they met several guides (a storyteller, an apothecary, and a scribe) who all share wisdom for the journey.

 Those who have trouble with myth and allegory will probably not like this book.  If you are looking for a concise, reasoned, and well-ordered systematic theological treatise on law versus grace, you’ll not want to bother with this book.  Davis has given us a fable, a story.  It the best sense of the word, I see this book as a myth meant to draw people further down the road on their own journey out of legalism and into the grace life.  Read it with this mindset and you’ll find it an enjoyable and inspiration read.  Come at it with an overly critical mindset and you’ll find yourself very frustrated. 

 There might be another group who find this book a frustration.  They may well be comfortable with fable, but will be challenge by this stories obvious challenge to legalistic order of many ecclesiastical societies (i.e. established churches).   If order, structure, and control are the back story for your religious background, then this fables rejection of religious legalism in favor of a better way will certainly be a challenge.

 Personally, I encourage everyone to accept the challenge of reading this book.  It’s brief and easy to read and can be finished in one or two sittings.  Read it for the pleasure, engage in the reflections it brings to mind, and don’t take the format so seriously as to prevent it from allowing the fable to be a benefit.

See this and other blogs about this booh here  http://viralbloggers.com/2009/11/the-book-of-the-shepherd-by-joann-davis/

Patterson Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

Imagine…as the result of some sort of catastrophe, your church suddenly found itself without its building.    

Discuss how the ministry of your church might proceed under such circumstances. 

How would you be the church God has called you to be – the living presence of Christ to those he is calling and gifting your congregation to serve? 

Your discussions should not be about the “why” or the “how” of what happened.  Nor should you begin planning for buying or building new facilities.  Instead, focus all of your energies on how you congregation would still BE and DO church in these new circumstances.  (For this exercise, I am indebted to church consultant and ministry coach.) 

Questions to ponder as you talk: 

•   How might we be a different church? 
•  Would God’s calling and vision change?  If so, how? 
•  What might the congregation need to “do” differently to be church and do the work of the church? 
•  In what ways might be seek to connect to the people we are called to serve with God? 
•  What might our programs and ministries look like? 

 Before a congregation can be used effectively by God, it will need to come to the end of self-sufficiency and learn how to depend on God’s resources and direction.  Consider Moses.  The first 40 years of his life had been magnificent as he lives the life of an Egyptian Prince.  The last 40 years of his life were absolutely amazing as he served God by leading the people of Israel out of Egyptian captivity and toward the Promised Land.  The middle 40 years of his life, however, were totally miserable.  In his book Grace Rules, Steve McVey writes that during these middle four decades of his life, God was “…bringing Moses to the end of himself and his confidence in his abilities so that he might know and rest in the ability of God.” 

 (I highly recommend all of Steve McVey’s books and resources.  You can find them at www.gracewalk.com  Most of the content of this post is inspired by McVey’s book. ) 

 McVey continues: 

“In Exodus 3-4, the account is told of Moses’ encounter with God. God reveals to him that He plans to use him to deliver the Hebrews from bondage. Yet because of his circumstances, Moses had probably developed some serious doubts about his ability as a leader. He may have thought that because he was a shepherd tending to sheep, he had lost his people skills. He may have reasoned, “The only ability that I can count on any more is my skill as a shepherd.” 

 Then God spoke: 

 “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it (Exodus 4:2,3). 

Consider what the staff meant to Moses.  It was the symbol of his abilities as a shepherd.  It wasn’t much, but it was something.  With that staff he was surviving through his abilities to herd sheep. 

Consider the following statement:   

 “As Christians and as congregations, we sometimes find ourselves living dependent on our own resources, rather than really trusting and depending on God.” 

 In what ways is this statement true in your life? 

 In what ways is this statement true for the congregation where you worship? 

What resources do we find ourselves depending on rather than trusting in God? 

 Back to the text, what did God say to Moses about the staff?  God tells Moses: 

  “Throw it down.” 

 Here’s what God is saying to Moses (and to each of us).  Throw down your self-confidence.  Throw down your self-sufficiency.  Throw down your trust in your resources, gifts, and abilities.  Throw down everything that becomes an object of your reliance so that you might totally depend on ME! 

 Now read the following text from Acts 3:1-12 

 ”One day Peter and John were going up to the temple. It was three o’clock in the afternoon. It was the time for prayer. A man unable to walk was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful. He had been that way since he was born. Every day someone put him near the gate. There he would beg from people going into the temple courtyards. 

“He saw that Peter and John were about to enter. So he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, and so did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man watched them closely. He expected to get something from them. 

 ”Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.” Then Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyards. He walked and jumped and praised God. All the people saw him walking and praising God.  They recognized him as the same man who used to sit and beg at the temple gate called Beautiful. They were filled with wonder. They were amazed at what had happened to him. 

 ”The beggar was holding on to Peter and John. All the people were amazed. They came running to them at Solomon’s Porch. When Peter saw this, he said, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us? We haven’t made this man walk by our own power or godliness. 

 How was Peter able to make the lame man walk? 

 Describe the difference between living from natural ability and supernatural ability. 

 The Christian life and progress of the church is a constant journey of discovery.  We seek to discern and live into God’s dream for the future. 

 Based on what you learned about Moses and Peter, what is required for your life and your church to see God work in miraculous ways? 

 The story of Moses illustrate that we must throw down our own self-sufficiency so that we can fully experience the life of God in and through us.  

 What specific areas of self-sufficiency does you sense God is calling you to renounce (throw down, repent of) at this time so that you might move forward on this journey of discovery? 

 What about your church?  

 What do you sense God is calling your congregation to renounce (throw down, repent of) at this time so that we might move forward, discerning and living into God’s desired future for this congregation? 

 An important biblical word for us to remember on our journey of discovery is the Greek word metanoia which is usually translated repentance.  Typically, when we think of this word, we think of sins we need to stop committing.   To be more biblically accurate, however, the concept of repentance has to do with a change of course or direction.  It has to do with more about where we place our faith, trust, confidence and dependence.  Sinful actions will be less of a problem when our lives are focused and dependent on Jesus as Lord and Life. 

 In the days ahead, give special attention to those things in your life and our church that claim a place of importance above absolutely loyalty and love for Jesus Christ.  As those things come to mind, immediately renounce them as a false hope and reaffirm your love and loyalty for Jesus Christ.

Snow covers the ground in Richmond, VA.  The Patterson Avenue Baptist Church was unable to meet for worship this morning.  Thanks to internet, however, this mornings sermon and some of the planned music is still available.  Listen to Dr. Nieporte and the Nieporte family as they complete the Advent season of messages, titled: “Songs of the Season!”  Today’s sermon is titled: “Jingle Bells!”   

Click here to listen

If you are asked, please use the following code:  39949776

To hear other sermons in this series, please visit http://pattersonavenuebaptist.com

Michael Serving Food To The Homeless

“Dad, can you raise my allowance?” my son Michael asked.

“Why do you need an increase?  What are you planning to buy?” I replied.

“Well, I do need to buy you a Christmas gift!”

During Advent we think a great deal about giving gifts.  Sometimes we even talk about giving gifts to God.  There are special mission offerings, gifts for the poor, final acts of stewardship before year’s end.  We speak of doing for and giving to God a great deal during Advent.

In reality, though, it’s like my son asking me to increase his allowance so he can get me a gift.   Everything we do or give to God was already paid for by God’s grace.  Remember that when you see baby in the manger or a cross in front of a church.  The gift of God through Jesus makes all of our giving possible.  We don’t give or do to earn God’s favor, we give and do because (through Christ) we have been favored by grace.

Heard this recently:

 Two men who were next-door neighbors decided to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. While they were out in the boat, a terrible storm arose. The sea became very choppy and they had a difficult time keeping the boat under control. As they steered toward land, they hit a sandbar and the boat grounded. They both jumped out of the boat and began to push and shove with all their might to get the boat back into the water. As the waves bounced him against the side of the boat, and his hair was blowing wildly in the wind, one of the men said with a smile on his face, “It sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”

 The season of Advent can sometimes be very hectic.  There are gifts to buy, meals to prepare, parties to attend, greeting cards to address – it can often seem overwhelming.

The church too often travels down this path as well, only adding to the frustration.  There are Sunday School parties, children’s events, special music programs, etc. 

 Anyone want to go sailing?

 We are supposed to be waiting in anticipation for the Advent (coming) of Almighty God. 

 We are gathering to celebrate messiah’s birth.  Why do we have to make everything so hectic?

 During Lent, a common practice is to engage in a fast.  We engage in some sacrifice and take up some discipline in order to prepare ourselves to remember the events of Holy Week and the death of Jesus.  Maybe we need an Advent fast. 

 Maybe we should not try to go everywhere and do everything.

 Maybe we should give gift cards instead of actual gifts.  My kids love that because I always buy the wrong thing.

 Maybe we should eat more simple meals.  Why must we gorge ourselves as a celebration of the birth of Jesus in a manger?

 Let’s slow down and do less.  Maybe even our churches can say, “No additional programs on the agenda this Advent!” 

 What would be wrong with that?

All the talk among adults at Christmas is about gift-giving.  What will we buy/make/give to our friends, family, loved ones, and especially to our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

 I wonder if the kids might not have it right.  For them, Christmas is more about gift-getting than gift-giving. 

 Religion asks us to give to God (to work, serve, strive, and labor).

 The Christian message does not start with GIVING TO GOD, but RECEIVING FROM GOD.  In reality, God created us to be “receivers.” 

 Givers are always at the top in any relationship. 

 When we are receivers, we realize that the other something to offer that we need.

 What do you get for the God who has everything?  God needs nothing from me!

 Instead, I receive God’s mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace.  These are gifts I desperately need.  When I receive these, I become a conduit of his blessings to the world.  Then God is still blessing others – but God is doing that blessing through me.