A heavy gospel ...

Over the last few weeks, there have been many philosophical and theological conversations happening in our house. I am beginning to wonder if I have wandered into an episode of the Twilight Zone. 

As we dig deeper into the lives of the people around us, as we discover more and more about Guatemalan culture; we are learning, growing, questioning, and being challenged.  After a year and a half, we still get culture shock. Lately, we have been shocked by the “gospel”.

You see, the gospel has been here for over 500 years when the Spanish brought Catholicism to Central America. The Evangelical Protestants have been here for over 100 years. The legacy they have left is what I call a “Gospel Plus Theology.” In other words, the {gospel + ___________ = salvation.} You can fill in the blank with any number of legalistic rules, good works or false teachings. (i.e. no drinking, no smoking, no secular music, pray harder, go to church more often, have more faith, etc.)

The Joshua Project lists Guatemala as a reached nation. Yet, Guatemala is plagued with social, economic and spiritual problems. Poverty, crime, and broken families are pandemic across this nation. Where is the transformation and freedom that the gospel promises? 

The problem with a “Gospel Plus Theology” is that it makes me responsible in some way for saving, rescuing, healing or blessing my own life. If I do “X,” then God will do “Y.” For those already beaten down by poverty, hopelessness, and powerlessness, the burden of the {gospel + anything} is too much. 

It reminds me of a song by Casting Crowns - “What this World needs”

“We can’t strap ourselves to the gospel

because we’re slowing it down

Jesus is going to save the world

But maybe the best thing we can do

is just get out of the way.

What this world needs,

is a Savior who will rescue,

A Spirit who will lead

a Father who will love them 

in their time of need” 

This has brought us a season of reflection, introspection, prayer and study. We are challenged by the weight of responsibility to handle the gospel with great care. We desire for people to know and share the freedom of life in Christ. 

I don’t have many answers or solutions for the problem. Right now we are seeking to first understand culture of Christianity here in Guatemala. We ask questions, listen and learn. We wait for the Lord to reveal the next step in bringing his truth to his people.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 29-30

We are compelled to carefully consider how we handle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Are my words or actions adding to someone’s burden? Does it bring freedom and the abundant life? Does it bring rest to the soul? Or does it steal joy and peace? If it weighs us down, I’m not sure it’s from Christ.

What about you? Do you feel weighed down by the gospel or does your soul find rest in Christ alone?

Between the rains ...

to commune - 1. means to converse or talk together, 

usually with profound intensity or intimacy, 

an interchange of thoughts and feelings. 

2. to be in intimate communication or rapport.

God has created us to live in community. After he created Adam, he saw the need to create Eve because he intended for us to be relational beings. We are meant to converse and exchange thoughts and feelings. We are created with an innate need for intimacy and deep rapport with one another. We see evidence of this throughout the whole of Scripture.

We have been blessed in so many ways during our time in Guatemala. We love our home, our life and our ministry. Yet, if we had to name one thing we miss from our old life, it would be community. (and probably Chickfila, but definitely our spiritual answer would be relationships) Especially, where our children are concerned. We have friends and we have a church family here which we love very much. But we miss some of the intensely deep and intimate friendships we used to have in Atlanta. Following God’s call can be an isolating experience at times. The beauty of it is that I am forced to depend on Christ alone and not the comforts of earthly relationships.

As we serve others, we pour out ourselves. It is our joy and honor to be a blessing to God’s people. After a long season of being poured out, we can start to feel dry or even empty. We don’t even realize the tank is running on fumes. When we start to get cynical or caustic, we need to refill the tank. We need some rain.

Last week, we had the joy of a visit from some of our very dear friends, the Brown family. On the evening of their arrival, we went to a favorite restaurant in Antigua. Lee and I nearly burst into tears when we looked at the far end of the table and watched our children laughing, playing, and joking with their friends. (We also learned they were burning straw papers in the candles ... not sure about the influence of MKs.(missionary kids)) It had been so long since they were all together, but that rapport instantaneously returned and joy was overflowing. There’s nothing quite like knowing and being known by beloved friends.

We spent 10 days living in deep community, serving alongside one another, breaking bread together, worshipping the One True God together. (There may have been some knife throwing and blowing up of Coke bottles too.) Love was poured out on our family like the rains after a drought. It was precious for each of us. None of us realized how much we needed the rain on our dry and thirsty souls. Souls longing for connection in a deep and meaningful way. It is so kind of the Lord, to send exactly what we need, exactly when we need it - especially when we don’t even realize we have a need. (I know their family needed it too, as they are living and serving in a whole different kind of mission field - Washington, DC.)

More than a few tears were shed at the end of our time together. I take it as a sign of life well-loved. We feel loved and restored and refreshed - ready to face the season between the rains. 

How about you? Are you in a dry season? Do you need the rains that only deep and abiding community can bring?