Barnabas File

I led a retreat over the weekend challenging lay leaders in a congregation to think about a shift to  new paradigms more appropriate in a post-modern context.  My commitment for the weekend concluded with preaching in the morning worship service on Stephen as a model for innovation in faith and ministry.  My colleague, Terry Rosell, was in the service and pointed out that it was a bit ironic that the postlude was an arrangement of “Give Me that Old Time Religion.” After we laughed about that interesting contrast, I began thinking that there really is a lot we can learn (or relearn) for the “old time religion” that could help us to be more effective in congregational ministry in the 21st century. For example, church congregations in the past, especially rural, small town, and parish-based examples, provided more of a sense of community that we find in many churches today.  For good or ill, people knew each other and tended to look out and care for each other. Th...

If I asked you to give me a word that describes your impression of the Apostle Paul, I doubt that “flexibility” would be one of those words.   We generally tend to see Paul as a driven, committed follower of Christ who overcame all obstacles to proclaim the Gospel.   Dedicated, yes. Willing to adapt his message to reach others, yes.   We might consider, however, this memorable passage that Paul writes to the church at Corinth: “ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.   To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all peo...

As I work through the Book of Acts for Sunday morning Bible study, I am becoming more aware of the similarities between the pre-modern world of the first century and the post-modern world of the 21 st century.   For example, we have assumed certain things about the Philippian jailer that may not be justified.   You know the story.   Paul and Silas have been thrown into prison because of an act of generosity.   This is what happened next:    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.   Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  ...