Eric Wing

I am not for sale, you are not for sale, no one should be for sale - everyone is invited to help end slavery in our lifetime.  This Sunday Feb 26 is Freedom Sunday. 

Visit http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/ for information on how you can help end slavery.

Art by Kyle Reed

 

photo - Eric Wing

One term that holds as much tension as any other when we speak of holiness and sanctification is the term Wesley used, Christian perfection. Just the word perfection can cause reactionary definitions to flow freely. Wesley describes Christian Perfection this way, “The loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies, that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words and actions, are governed by pure love.”. Christian perfection is a descriptor of the possibility that our intention to love God and others could be made perfect by God's grace. Christian perfection is about our intent to love, it is not at all about being a superior Christian, or in claiming spiritual infallibility. “Christian perfection is not immunity from life's problems. . . Christian perfection is not a vaccination against reality.” (Dr. Steve Harper). Christian perfection speaks of a persons single intention and purpose in life being, to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbor as themselves. (Matthew 22).

How we come to define sin, purity, and every other term attached to holiness will be directly impacted with how we come to define the term Christian perfection. We need to teach and preach in this tension between the words that describe holiness so that others may know the fullness of a holy life beyond the cultural definition of a few words. This hard work in redefining our thoughts and expectations of what a holy life could and should be on both a personal and a corporate level are not only worth the effort and struggle, they are indeed the goal of God for all of His children. After the topic of salvation few others hold as much possibility for life altering transformation than the topic and teaching of holiness and sanctification. I used to think holiness was an unpopular subject due to the tension and conflict of the terminology, but as God has been growing me, I now believe it to be an unpopular subject because many do not know the astounding blessings that are made available in all of our lives if we would partner with the amazing work of God's grace in our personal sanctification.

Holiness and sanctification, strong and pure, enter the confines of our three pound thoughts and quickly bump into our misconceived presuppositions about God and about ourselves. At first, sanctification appears to stand out as a freak alien visitor when contrasted against our view of sin and God and life. But as we look at what has been set apart for God's purpose we, by God's grace, begin to experience an answer to a prayer that was prayed centuries ago, “. . . that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). The hope to which God has called us is a life that is not only redeemed, but a life that is cleansed and empowered to love God and others more and more. The riches of His glorious inheritance include God's sanctification of us that we may become His holy people. This new life, this holy sanctified life, as alien and unnatural as it may first appear, is not only possible, it is the life God had in mind for all of us even before the beginning.

There are, however, some significant issues related to our concept of, and participation, in the work of sanctification. One of the most problematic issues with our concept of holiness comes from our presuppositions and culturally filtered definitions of holiness terms. At times our preconceptions of these terms may even cause us to bristle at the very suggestion of applying them to ourselves. For example, on first encounter, the word perfection is draped in anything but humility. It is not a term that we find even remotely useful, for instance, on our resume. Perfection is not a term peppering the conversation of a first date, as we try to accurately describe ourselves. Yet perfection, in sanctification terms, is a useful and accurate descriptor of what God's grace is working toward in our lives.

This tension in definitions births opinions that, over time, become beloved filters that we sift our worldview through. The terms sin, perfection, love, truth, pride, humility, purity, and even holiness, among others, have all fallen into this tension of definitions and assumptions. We become quickly distracted by a cultural, man made, even doctrinal definition often causing us to miss the transformation that God longs to accomplish by His grace in our lives toward holiness. When we filter terms this way we risk diminishing the power of the cross of Christ and the power and purity of God in accomplishing a cleansing, healing work in us toward holiness.

art by Luis Toro

This is much more than prepositional word play, even memorizing the Word, without our being in the Word does not make me a worshiper, just as memorizing a recipe does not make me a Cook. We need “in”, we don't need more knowledge “about” we need more “in”. When Jesus spoke to the women at the well about worship He did not say that worship is about spirit and about truth – Jesus said “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father inthe Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship inthe Spirit and in truth.” (John 4)

mixed media image by Rose Beckman

Ask God this month to show you how to better engage with art, with creativity. At times our confining attitudes toward artistic expression in worship have also had an impact on our sacred spaces and on the focal points of our worship gatherings. For example, to make sure people did not confuse a sculpture for something to be worshiped, instead of its intended purpose as something to aid in our remembering the God we worship, the sculptures have been removed. The intent of the Reformers to refocus our worship on access to the Word for every worshiper was a needed and critical step forward in expanding the Kingdom, but the extreme shift threw sacred art out with the dirtied bathwater of idolatry. “The Bible and the pulpit were placed front and center in the church's life. The recovery of scripture was essential, to be sure, but the loss of art and the artist in worship was tragic.” - Throop

Our congregation is growing in its use and expectation of artistic expression. I am thankful for the openness to art in our church community I and look forward to seeing it grow. Though much has been lost in sacred artistic expression over time, I am thankful that much is being regained. I am encouraged, for example, by the rate at which Christian films have been improving in artistic quality, and in the continued improvement in the musicianship of Christian music. I believe God desires all that we are in our offerings of art in worship, and that He will accept the best of our heart when given to honor and glorify Him. Art that is honest about the struggles, trials and temptations we bear and about the freedom, peace and joy that God offers in Christ Jesus is art that our God deserves.

Our Great God deserves great art.

Friday Thoughts: Ordination: "Tonight Pastor Eric will receive ordination as an Elder in the Free Methodist Church. He will become Reverend Eric Wing. The halo is ge..."

I am reading the book "Exploring The Worship Spectrum" as part of a Wesley Seminary course on worship. This is only the second week of the course and I still have much to read but I couldn't wait to start sharing these ideas.

It is indeed a great blessing to freely gather together and worship God. To fully receive this blessing we must consider our own responsibility in the assembly of God's church. In the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old testament, we are reminded of the fact that throughout time God has never given less than His best for His children. From creation itself, all the way through time, to this next Sunday when His church gathers to worship, God has poured His best out upon the children He loves.

Malachi, the prophet, wrote that people had figured it cost them far less to put a lame lamb upon the altar rather than to offer the best of the flock. After everything that God has done, this was the best that people could bring, the sick and lame from among their flocks? Listen to God's heart break as He proclaims through the prophet: "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! - Malachi 1:10 - take some time and read for yourself this powerful account in Malachi 1. As we gather to worship God our responsibility is to kindle a useful fire on the altar of worship by bringing God our best - our heart, mind, soul and strength - all our best to kindle a useful flame of worship. This not a performance issue, this is an issue of motives.

After God spoke through the prophet Malachi He was silent for hundreds of years. No prophets proclaiming the Word, no signs or wonders, no manna from heaven, no water from rocks, God was silent. The people God loved had chosen to keep the best for themselves and to bring God the weakest and cheapest lambs they could - and then they waited for God's response - but God was silent - for hundreds of years they waited and God remained silent. Keep that in mind as you read the next thing they heard God proclaim to all people;

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:8-10

God brought His best lamb. May we do the same, may we give Him our best praise. May we bring all of out heart, soul, mind and strength to the altar of God. I can't wait to gather with the church next week and give God our best praise. May God be glorified in it.

I had the privilege of speaking in our series "A Big Step Of Growth" on Generosity.

"Generosity is releasing control of what I think I own" - Pastor Dave Kessler

During this Christmas season I was blessed to be able to take my oldest daughter out on a daddy daughter date night.  She selected the restaurant - Daddy O's where we dined on mac and cheese, hot dogs, french fries and chocolate malts.  We sat on the stools at the front counter as she leaned against me as we talked and laughed and ate.  She then led me down main street pointing out her favorite decorations of Christmas which led us to a large beautiful Christmas tree in the middle of town.  I took this picture on our walk, by the Christmas tree.  And on this night as she smiled at me in the light of the tree that she had "discovered" I fell deeper in love again with my little girl.  An unexpected blessing in a moment that seemed so simple but was so compelling, wonderful and pure.  I held her little hand as we walked back to the car breathing a prayer of gratitude to God for this tailor-made moment that He had blessed me with.  As I consider how much I love my children, I cannot begin to fathom the Love that God has lavished upon each of us.  I hope that this Christmas you are blessed with a moment of falling deeper in love with someone as I did - that unexpected moment that cannot be faked or worked up, that moment that takes you to a profound place of clarity with your priorities and your burdens, your reason and your truth.  In that moment may you evaluate  again the love God has for you.  God loved us enough to give His only Son, to save the world through Him.  On this Christmas may you celebrate God falling in love with you again.  Merry Christmas.

Psalm 145:4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (NIV)

In 2008 my wife Susie and I were blessed, by the church I was serving, to attend an Arts Conference where we heard worship leader Ross Parsley speak. Ross spoke about worship in a multi-generational church. One of the metaphors that Ross presented is one that has stuck with me and that has value for us to consider as a picture of the multi-generational church family. The metaphor that Ross used was “family happens at the dinner table”. Let's hang on to Ross's thought as we pursue what this metaphor can help us to understand in becoming a multi-generational family of God.
Imagine the atmosphere and the cadence of dinner when it is just you and your spouse on a date, sitting comfortably at a table for two. It's quiet, calm, the lighting is low, a good waiter serves the meal but is careful to not trespass in the moment shared between a husband and wife at a table for two. The meal that is received is presented in single portions on individual plates. The food is displayed in colorful, creative, and unique ways, adding additional elements of celebration to this moment with you and your spouse, at a table for two. As an assistant pastor, seminary student, husband, and father of two little girls, six and eight years old, “A table for two, please” sounds like the most wonderful phrase I can imagine coming out of my mouth right now. We unquestionably need table for two time, but a table for two is not the table where family happens. As a church, we cannot neglect the multi-generational table and still expect to grow and thrive as a church family.
In contrast, consider an all-family, multi-generational dinner. Forget the quiet table for a couple to share, this is a table for a couple dozen to share. The meal that is received at the family table is served in deep bowls and on large platters that can be passed and shared with everyone. The multi-generational family table is not the tranquil and composed table for two, the family table is filled with energy and excitement. This atmosphere, at the multi-generational family table, is at times lively and boisterous. The cadence and moments at the multi-generational family table are enthusiastic and unpredictable. “Family happens at the dinner table”.
For the church it is easy to feel the appealing and subtle draw of reaching out to only one generation. After all, it is straightforward and undemanding to have dinner with people who are just like us. The conversation flows in an informal and relaxed exchange, the jokes are funny and do not need to be explained. Dinner with people just like us, people of the same generation, people with shared life experience, brings a comforting “we just get each other” flavor to the gathering. There are moments when this type of gathering is completely appropriate, but as a church we must not mistake this one generation table for two as being the church family.
Dr. Bob Whitesel, professor at Wesley Seminary, and Dr. Kent Hunter present in their book “A House Divided: Bridging the Generation Gaps in Your Church” that their “observation is that the leading reason churches are declining is because most are staffed, programmed, and envisioned to reach one generation.” When a church is content reaching only one generation, the church is, in effect, offering only a table for two. This can seem like an effective model but the one generation church will risk what Whitesel and Hunter term as “geriatrophy”. Geriatrophy is a congregational illness that is the result of a church remaining a one generational church, a table for two church, instead of a table for the whole family. Whitesel and Hunter clearly state that “geriatrophy can be successfully treated if the community has retained a portion of its younger generations.” We need every generation at the table for family to happen. This may mean that the church needs to reconsider its current model of ministry. We, as a church, have to consider if we love our table for two more than we love the unchurched that, as of yet, do not have a place at the family table.
The multi-generational family table requires an extreme amount of preparation and investment before, during and after the meal, but this work is part of being a family. This multi-generational dinner metaphor helps us consider how the hard work and care we invest in these moments has a tremendous impact on the experience and the familial growth of each generation in our church family.
Family celebrations are an obvious example of multi-generational events. At multi-generational gatherings, thoughtfulness and care are invested into each offering of food, surroundings, special moments, and prayer. Some dishes are prepared not because everyone at the table enjoys them but because specific generations in the family enjoy them. Each offering of food is prepared specifically to bless and nourish individuals of each generation gathered at the table. The youngest generation may need help in understanding and risking participation in consuming the wide variety of distinct flavors, colors, textures and aromas. The oldest generation may need help just getting to the table and receiving what is offered during the meal.
Continuing with the metaphor, “Family happens at the table”, we can observe generational behaviors and reactions. Parents caring for and assisting grandparents models for the multi-generational church how we are to love one another. Children seeing how the entire family walks through times of transition and times of celebration, giving God praise throughout, helps them see God as the unshakable foundation of the family. Grandparents intentionally seeking out the time and attention of their grandchildren, helps to foster a mutual love and respect across generations. A multi-generational gathering is not about everyone getting their way, but rather it is about thoughtfully and compassionately preparing an atmosphere where each generation is loved, blessed and nourished.
As we follow this metaphor it, of course, is not perfect. If God is not the initiator of our response, if He is not the source of all that we are in awe of and grateful for, then we risk being motivated not by awe and gratitude but rather by the motivation of performance and of pleasing man alone.
In considering how this can work, let's take a look at the Thanksgiving table, for example. Often there is an opportunity, after each dish has been lovingly prepared, for the family to share with one another a testimony of gratitude before the prayer is offered. This moment at the table can be a wonderful example of generations learning from each other, similar to Paul's urging in Titus 2. As grandma speaks and testifies to what she is grateful for, her children and her grandchildren can learn from her example and grow in their respect of her wisdom, experience and resources. This time at the multi-generational gathering is Psalm 145:4 lived out as “one generation commends [God's] works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” This is a time when families and generations can sing, laugh and remember together, they can taste the tears of laughter in joyful nostalgia, and gently recall the bitter taste of heartache and family loss. Every family has gone through the moment of coming together for a multi-generational gathering with heavy hearts as the physical gathering of the generations around the table clearly reminds the family of who no longer sits at the table as they once did. When God is the head of the family, these moments point to the hope that the family knows will not disappoint.
As the children and grandchildren share in their testimony of thanksgiving, the older generations can participate in cheering the younger on, in encouraging them to fully consider all that the Lord has done. This encouragement and and sincere concern by the older generation is critical in helping younger generations learn what it looks like to live life letting “the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 (NIV). This requires respect among each generation and a greater desire to see others receive rather than making certain that you get what you want on your plate. The church must recapture the concept of a family, a family that offers gratitude and praise to “Our Father”. During these times at the table, at the multi-generational gatherings we begin to pick up our core values as a family, along with our unique family goals, expectations and burdens. The most significant core value that is assimilated at these multi-generational gatherings is that God is the undisputed head of this family.
Terry York, in the Journal Of Family Ministry writes, “Moving your congregation to cross-generational worship will take work, even if you now enjoy full-family attendance. But the work will be worth it if the result is a congregation that lives, celebrates, and mines life's journey and passages. Such a congregation will be able to address the needs presented by the whole of society, not just a selected generation.” Stepping forward into a multi-generational service is not a time to plan on our favorite table for two, this is a time of unity, of mutual respect, of creativity and of shared risk. It will, at times, be noisy, and it will most likely have moments that are messy. There will be times when generations have to be patient while other generations share. We will need to cooperate and not be selfish as we pass around the elements of the meal, all while becoming a family together at the table.



Eric H. Wing is a graduate student at Wesley Seminary at IWU and serves as an assistant pastor at the Midland Free Methodist Church in Midland, Michigan.

References
Whitesel, B. (2004). Growth by accident, death by planning : how not to kill a growing
congregation. Nashville, TN Abingdon Press.
Whitesel, Bob & Hunter, Kent R. (2000). A House Divided:Bridging The Generation Gaps In Your Church. Nashville, TN Abingdon Press
York, T. (2002). Cross-generational worship. Journal of Family Ministry, 16(4), 33-46. Retrieved from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

I had the privileged of teaching on humility and in this message I share what God has been teaching me about being humble. Humility is being honest about my current condition so that God can do miraculous things through me. You can listen to this message with the player below.

I feel myself leaning forward into the next season of my walk. Standing at the new beginnings of serving His call on my life in more vivid and pronounced ways. There is enough journey behind me to know there will be curves ahead of me, and still I lean into the next step. Putting weight and significance into my walk is bringing with it a distinct forward momentum - I want to get where He is calling me to. Some of the journey He is calling me too seems way to big for me to ever tackle. Some I am excited to get to, and some I'm excited to get out of. I sense God is going to move in strong ways this summer and I want to part of that moving.

Willow Creek has a Christmas program they have called "Imagine" and the promo line for the program keeps coming back to mind as I consider all that lay ahead. The promo line is "Think small, imagine Big". It has made me think of these verses in a different way.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil

Ephesians 3:17-21
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Think small, Imagine big.

I am excited about this season, I am going to give myself to listen and obey - I want to lean forward into the walk - with the advantadge of Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine - I want to think small and imagine big.

I have a wonderful friend, who happens to be a great artist, who drew me in a cartoon that was published in a magazine. Seriously - I had no idea how good it would be to be used, even slightly, as an image for a cartoon, but today I know this sweet rich chocolaty joy. And oh sweet potato-cakes do I look fine as a cartoon! As I drink in this tremendous moment, I also feel the burning unrestrained, unfettered, unsaturated jealousy of the rest of the , "un-drawn" as I now call them, pastoral staff. Oh yes, for the "un-drawn" it is indeed a dark, lonely, un-shadowed existence. Any reference to - standing in line, reading between the lines, drawing a conclusion, or simply asking them again and again "did you see my cartoon?", brings low mournful groans from deep inside their "un-drawn" bodies. Anyway, being a cartoon will definitely be included in my list of skills. I think this Sunday I'll sing the Chris Rice "Cartoon Song" to open service. That's all folks.