Revisiting "I See a Movement"
Sometimes, the Only Way Forward... Is Looking Backwards
I know, I know! “Hey, Fred! Where is that second part to the Becoming a Hospitable Parish post?” I get it! Totally. However, as I prayed with what to post this week, and as I was about to post the nuts and bolts of parish hospitality, I really sensed something different in my heart. I prayed with it. Couldn’t shake it. So, I will keep you in suspense on the “How To” list and blame the Lord. It will not be long! I promise. Nevertheless, this post is what I found myself coming back to again and again. “Revisiting I See A Movement.”
Sometimes, the Only Way Forward, is Looking Backward
If there is anything I have learned in my walk with the Lord over all these years, it is that He loves the review. He loves to circle back again, to say, “This is that!” And “This is what I meant here.” And “See the difference this made!” And “Remember this?” And, finally, “Hey, I was there. When you thought I wasn’t. I carried you.” Yeah, the modern translation… “I saw that!”
Review. Remembering. This has always been a key aspect of following the Lord. It is foundational, in fact! It is even one of the definitions of the word, “Abide.” Why? Because we forget. We get distracted. We lose our focus. The cares of this world can choke out those moments of consolation, of grace, of hearing the Lord’s voice. We need to remember! We get so busy doing that we forget to be.
We place all the pressures and expectations of the world upon ourselves. We must be perfect; look like we have it all together; prove something.
But that neglect leads to forgetfulness, mediocrity and lukewarmness, compromise and discouragement… or worse, apathy. We may even push the Lord away. I am so often guilty of this.
None of these things catch the Lord off guard. So, often he will invite us to review; to journey with him through the desert (sometimes again and again), until we learn; until we grow. I can testify to the truth of this. Sometimes, as our friend Sonja Corbitt reminds us, he will just take you to the desert rather than sending you the invitation.
I suppose part of the reason for this reflection is the song I have found myself listening to as I write this; in fact, I’ve been listening to it all morning. A morning in which I am preaching this message to myself as I write. Or… really, it’s the Lord showing me. Reviewing. What’s the song? Watching Over Me by Jason Upton. I find the following words most striking, but they illustrate the point:
When I'm scared about the future
When I'm running from the past
When I'm restless in the present
Trying to make each moment last
When the fear of having nothing
Steals all my hopes and dreams
Remind me of the promise
Lord help my heart believe
This is a pretty honest review. A reflection on where he has been with the Lord, and how he has worked in his life. But also, how he is feeling in the moment. It leads to the resolution:
"Jesus, you understand. You know right where I am. Because you are watching over me."
This is precisely the reason the “review” is important for us! We see this in Scripture. Pretty much right away. Again and again, in the accounts of Israel’s flee from Egypt and journey into the promised land we read of stones being piled up, or other ways of providing a memorial to serve as a reminder of how the Lord has worked in the lives of his people. Because the Lord knows there will be great trials that await those who love him. The fallen world in which we all live is a battlefield. There is opposition. We will be tried. Thanks be to God, Scripture reminds us that the Lord is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). We can look at past victories and moments of overcoming and find faith in our present and hope for our future! We can find the courage and strength to stand (or to get back up).
If even Moses had to give the Law a second time to review (and still made some mistakes along the way), is this a process that should allude us?
Ultimately, I am talking about review in order to maintain hope! Stoke the flames of fervor; stirring up the gift that is within you when everything else seems to be cold water.
Recently, I had coffee with a ministry leader that for many years I have looked up to and admired greatly. A long-distance mentor in a way, because he has shaped my thinking so much. I shared with him the words of I See A Movement from my prayer journal. He expressed encouragement and joy in the words, and in the experience. But then, offered a challenge; one I had never heard before! “Isn’t this kind of a bit romantic?” He was not saying that these words were in themselves, not the fruit of prayer. Neither was he saying that the words were not genuine or legitimate in some way (they are actually very much rooted in Scripture). What he meant was that it would be easy for someone to get excited about the good things, the zealous things in the words… but really miss the hard parts. I thought he had a valid point. Such that, I thought it may be good to reflect on this idea for all; to really look at the hard parts of this!
First, if you don’t know the full back story, you can find it here. We also dedicated an episode of the podcast to it, which you can find here!
Secondly, what are the words to “I See a Movement?” Well, here they are:
"I see a movement. I see a group of believers so passionate, so committed, seeking so fully Christ above all things; choosing death before sin no matter the cost, committed to radical holiness. Their very presence is a contradiction to the world. They bring the joy and the light of the Gospel to the world. And the darker the world gets, the brighter their light shines. Greater opposition only brings greater grace. Their devotion, their holiness, is so deep that it shows on their face. Others are drawn to them; drawn into the kingdom. They bring comfort to the hurting and healing to the sick of mind, body and spirit. Their very presence is filled with such grace that it feels like a safe haven for others. They live every moment of their lives mindful to offer up every suffering as a sacrifice for souls. They embrace every moment of the day as the prayer that it is. They offer up every work. They are filled with a joy that others long for, and the more the world opposes them, the more joyful, the more committed, the more aware of God’s grace they become. They live for one thing only: proclaiming his name in word, in thought, and in deed."
Now, I have added some emphasis to several phrases. Looking at it this way, it should be obvious… This is not so much romantic as it is hard!!! If this message and everything we are trying to do through this ministry resonates with you, if it inspires you to also work toward renewal, then you must understand right at the start, this will not be easy. If you want to play your part in rebuilding the Church, in transforming the world around you through the joy of the Gospel, it is going to be hard! It will take some sacrifices! Jesus himself promises this. The world will oppose you. There will be crosses.
So, what’s the point I am trying to make? What’s the “Now What”?
First, you have to pray! PRAY. PRAY! “Come, Holy Spirit! Enkindle in me the fire of your love so that you might renew the face of the earth through me!” Only the Holy Spirit can help you to love as big as you are going to need to love! You need his help!
If the Apostles needed the grace of Pentecost, how much more do we?
“Lord, we pray, pour the fires of a new Pentecost into our hearts!”
Love is the key here! The love-like-Jesus kind of love (John 13:34-35). The “love one another as I have loved you… by this all men will know that you are my disciples” kind of love. The “greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” kind of love (John 15:12-13). And, oh yes! The “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you…” kind of love.
Jesus tells us to abide in him and we will bear fruit (Jn 15:4-5). That fruit is ultimately love! (See Galatians 5:22-23 and all of 1 Corinthians 13).
Love transforms. Love renews. Love builds and rebuilds. Love restores. Love converts. Love creates. Love unites. Love animates. Love heals and makes whole. Love gives. Love builds the Church.
Now, that probably seems romantic I suppose… But, it’s true (1 John 4:7-21; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:5-8; Romans 8:37-39; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 2:4-5; Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 Peter 4:8) Scripture clearly affirms this!
The “reality on the ground” is, you need the Holy Spirit to not only love like that, but also to keep you rooted in love when you are not met with the same response. It’s an often-used quote, frequently attributed to (but unlikely written by) Mother Teresa (St Teresa of Calcutta), but I think it works here:
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
succeed anyway. (Maybe let’s change the word “successful” to “fruitful.”)
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.
Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2). That joy was you. There are some crosses we are going to have to endure for the joy of others. But if we abide in Him, we have the promise that we will bear fruit! He never promised that we would see it necessarily; but it is a promise, nonetheless.
So, when you are finding yourself losing confidence, with faith and hope waning, go back! Remember!
If you are in a season where you have heard nothing? The Lord has been silent? Look back! What is the last thing he said to you? What is the last thing he put on your heart? Do you keep a consolation journal? Or any journal whatsoever? You should! Like those remembrance stones I mentioned above…
You just may need to go back to the wells of past encounters for a drink to sustain you in the present.
Are you working toward renewal in your parish or just in your life in general but feel alone? You need some help! You cannot do this alone! The journey is too long, and the crosses will get too heavy. Jesus demonstrates this. He never sent the disciples out as lone rangers. We need one another. You very well may feel alone in this journey but pray!
Pray that God would send you a Simon of Cyrene to help you carry the cross. A Silas to help you sing praises to the Lord when hope seems lost, so that the captives might be set free (Acts 16:16-40). A Barnabas to accompany you on your very own missionary journeys in this life. A Paul to mentor you; and a Timothy for you to pour your life into.
I promise you: The Lord will honor that prayer! (See Sirach 6:14-17)
Do you wear your heart on your sleeve? Are you tired of being hurt and rejected? You are in good company. In a very real way, so did (and does) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For God so loved the world that he GAVE…” (John 3:16-17). He never stops giving. Even when it quite literally hurts. Jesus did not give up on people. He didn’t give up on you!
At no point in Scripture do we find Jesus saying, “Oh, these people are just way too much. I’m done!”
Nope. He pressed on. For the joy that was before him. So must you!
When others are building walls, build bridges. Sometimes that means you will have to be the bridge. You may get walked on. Build bridges anyway.
When you feel the pressure of having to prove yourself, flip the script. What do I mean by that? We often hear the phrase, “Work as if everything depends on you, pray as if everything depends on God.” Whether or not St Augustine actually said this, I am not sure. But it is often attributed to him. It’s not a bad statement in itself. But, I find even more helpful, if you will allow me to borrow from the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola:
“Work as if everything depends on God, pray as if everything depends on you.”
If we work with the attitude that only God can bring about the fruit that needs to be born, only he can provide the increase, we can more easily trust him with the results. Our apparent failures become the building blocks for something even greater that the Lord must have in mind. Praying as if it depended on the fervency of our prayers, well, Scripture demonstrates time and time again, that is a good thing! That’s faith. That’s trust. That’s hope. That’s confidence. That’s HUMILITY! “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
I would like to wrap up with an invitation to meditate upon a few prayerfully selected Scripture passages. I invite you to spend some time with each of these passages. You want to see a movement? You want renewal in the Church? You are going to need some food for the journey. And you can find it in these words:
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
John 15:4-17
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
Philippians 4:4-9;11-13
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you…
Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
1 Corinthians 3:7-9
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.