Posts by: Brian Dolleman

It’s sad but true.

Sometimes the Jesus crowd keeps people from Jesus.

Maybe it’s our baptized in lemon juice attitudes and bitter beer face looks.

Maybe it’s our constant “no” messages (no hats, not skateboards, no food or drink in the sanctuary, no music written after 1980, no fun, no joy…)

Maybe it’s because we look down on people who don’t live like us, think like us or vote like us.

Maybe it’s because we’re heartless and cold toward those who are outside our group.

Maybe it’s because we are fake and hypocritical.

Maybe it’s our “holier than thou” swagger.

Mark chapter 10 describes how the Jesus crowd tried to keep people from Him…

First—parents brought their children to Jesus, asking Him to bless them. His disciples scolded them for “bothering” Jesus. Was Jesus bothered? Yes—but not by the children or their parents… He was upset with his disciples for trying to keep them away. He said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!” (Mark 10.14)

Second—a blind man named Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby and he started shouting to get his attention. The Jesus crowd yelled at him, telling him to be quiet. Blind Bart just got louder. When Jesus heard him shouting, he stopped and told Bart to come. Bartimaeus came to Jesus and was healed.

This has been going on for a long time…

The Jesus crowd keeps blocking the path of those who want to come.

Here’s the deal: Jesus doesn’t want the path blocked.

He’s not bothered by them at all.

If anything, He’s bothered by the path-blockers.

Jesus is saying, “Let them come to me. Don’t stop them!”

In the final chapter of the Bible, we’re reminded of God’s desire for everyone to come…

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22.17 NLT)

Let’s be in step with the Spirt of God—rather than blocking the path, we say “Come!”

I love the chapter in Paul Scanlon’s book (The 15 Revolution) where he talks about barking dogs…

Quoting from the book:

I don’t want to ‘bark’ at my city or the people in it. I want to appreciate it, love it and learn to live amongst the people of my city as a revolutionary for positive change.

Jesus was not known for what he was against.

He was not known as the ‘Pharisee hater’ or the ‘Tax Collector’s worst nightmare!’

Instead, he was famous for the good he did for people.

He was called the healer, the one who spoke with authority and wisdom, the great teacher.

But most notably, he was called the ‘friend of sinners’.
?What a reputation to have!

And we, Christ’s Body in the world today, should have the same reputation.

The church is not a resistance movement; it is a replacement movement.

God so loved the world that he didn’t send us an ultimatum but an alternative.

When the prodigal hit rock bottom, he decided to go home.

He left the pig farm and took the long “walk of shame.”

Broke, dirty, hungry, hungover and suffering from a migraine headache, he trudged home—rehearsing what to say.

His father—full of love and grace—was the first to see him coming.

His father ran out to meet him on the road.

His father got there first.

Imagine if this story had played out differently…

Imagine if the prodigal’s older brother got there first.

Instead of being met by love and grace, the prodigal would have been met by anger, judgment and rejection.

Today, people all around us are taking the “walk of shame.”

We’re surrounded by the broken, dirty, hungry, hungover, suffering prodigals of our day.

Here’s the question: who will get to them first?

Will they be met by anger, judgment and rejection or will they be met by love and grace?

Maybe the answer to that question is up to us.

Maybe it’s our job to get there first with love and grace.

Quoting from Paul Scanlon’s book The 15 Revolution:

The 15 Revolution is a revolution of love, interest and compassion for people.

It is learning to live, as it were, with your head on “swivel” as you begin to notice the people who were always there…

Evangelism without compassion is a loveless duty and compassion is not fueled by duty, but God’s amazing grace.

The 15 Revolution is all about increasing our personal compassion quota.

Helping others in any sustained way has to be compassion-driven.

Duty, obligation and guilt can all motivate us, but they lack long-term sustainability.

Compassion keeps us going in the face of a poor response.

Being a Christian places us in the privileged category of those whom God has been compassionate—that reality should be all the motivation we ever need to help someone else.

Compassion is fueled by empathy, a sense of walking in another person’s shoes. That empathy-fueled compassion then thinks about how to make those shoes easier to walk in.

Increased compassion makes us better people.

Compassion notices things, spots opportunities to help and looks for ways to ease suffering.

Compassion increases by helping others and forgetting about ourselves.

The resulting condition is called Christianity.

It doesn’t matter if it’s dodgeball, basketball, football, paintball or steal the bacon…

Picking teams is all about selecting the right people—for your advantage.

We choose the biggest, fastest, strongest, most recognized, talented and experienced players to be on our teams.

But…

God’s kingdom doesn’t work this way.

He’s not interested in selecting people for His advantage.

He has selected us and welcomed us to His team—and this cost Him. It really cost Him.

It’s not as if we had something to offer Him—we don’t make Him victorious or more successful.

“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you were called into this life.

I don’t see many of the ‘brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.

Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that culture overlooks and exploits and abuses…

Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1.26-27, 30 MSG)

The 15 Revolution isn’t about selecting people for our advantage.

It’s not about surrounding ourselves with people who will help us “win”.

The 15 Revolution is about loving, welcoming, including, serving and blessing people—even when it costs a lot.

Neighbors are those nice people you trust and enjoy spending time with.

But what about all those people you don’t trust or enjoy spending time with?

They seem unfriendly.

They vote differently than you do.

They have loud parties when you’re trying to sleep.

Their dog thinks your yard is his bathroom.

Their lifestyle is… uh, “alternative.”

They don’t mow their lawn.

They are drunk. Often.

They don’t qualify as “neighbor” material, right?

The Bible says we must “Love God with everything you have, everything you are… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10.27)

A religion scholar in Jesus’ day felt trapped by this command to love God and his neighbors…

Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define neighbor?” (Luke 10.29 MSG)

In typical fashion, Jesus tells a story—this time about a “good Samaritan.”

In Jesus’ story, the guy who was robbed and beaten is Jewish.

The other guy—the only one who stopped and helped—is a Samaritan.

Jews and Samaritans were known for their unneighborly tendencies toward each other.

They generally hated each other.

They certainly didn’t hang out BBQing or celebrating the 4th of July together.

So, let’s get back to the question…

People we don’t trust or or enjoy spending time with don’t qualify as “neighbor” material, right?

Well, the question is wrong.

Because the onus (responsibility) of being neighborly isn’t on them.

It’s on us.

Yup.

It is our responsibility to love God and love people—regardless of their condition, behavior, lifestyle or attitude.

And we have lots of neighbors…

How we feel determines what we see.

Feeling fearful?
Suspicious movement in the shadows catch your attention.

Feeling hungry?
Everywhere you look, another fast food advertisement pops up.

Feeling confident?
Somehow, you catch all the admiring looks and smiles of approval.

Feeling arrogant?
You quickly notice how weak, inept and foolish these people are.

Feeling shy?
It’s obvious that everyone fits perfectly here—except you.

Feeling hopeful?
Opportunity is everywhere!

Feeling angry?
Each failure and act of incompetence plays out vividly before you.

Feeling happy?
You see beauty everywhere—the falling leaves, snow-capped mountains and fluffy clouds.

When Jesus saw crowds of people, he felt compassion for them.

How He felt determined what He saw.

He didn’t feel put-out, bothered, annoyed, superior, scared, disappointed, let-down…

He felt compassion.

He felt compassion and saw that people were hurting, confused, struggling, helpless—like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9.36)

Jesus, full of compassion for the crowds, turned to his disciples and said, “What a huge harvest! How few workers! On your knees and pray…” (Matthew 9.37, 38 MSG)

The harvest demands more workers who are motivated by compassion.

That’s right—we need more compassion workers!

The harvest is huge.

Hurting, confused, struggling, helpless people should never annoy us (not if we’re motivated by compassion).

How we feel determines what we see.

Let’s pray this simple prayer: God—help us to feel what you feel and see what you see!

#The15Revolution

http://www.15rev.com/

Sometimes, I think we approach things backwards.

Here’s what I mean…

We criticize loudly and publicly but admit our mistakes quietly (or silently—or not at all).

We want a say in how things go, but we want other people to cover the cost.

We’re obsessed with rules and regulations, but we’re not interested in grace.

We’re full of political opinions, but rarely have a kingdom perspective.

We’re aging on the inside, but fighting to stay young on the outside.

We want church to be comfortable and familiar for us, but we’re not concerned about those who are outside the church.

I’m sure there are plenty of other examples—here’s one I want to focus a little more attention on…

We’re incredibly sensitive—easily hurt, offended and wounded, but we’re insensitive—cold, indifferent and harsh with others (especially those outside our group).

That’s backwards.

And messed up.

Instead, we should be unoffendable—but incredibly sensitive toward others (especially those outside our group).

We need thick skin when things don’t go our way, we’re criticized, when we’re told no…

And we need soft hearts for others.

Essentials for the 15 Revolution: thick skin and soft hearts.

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” (1 Peter 3.8, 9 MSG)

http://www.15rev.com/

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Did He select the twelve from the best Ivy League schools?

Did He stage his audiences with gorgeous people for the press cameras?

Did He honor the sexist, racist and bigoted conventions of his time?

Did He surround himself with people from the right side of the tracks?

Oh no He didn’t.

He didn’t select disciples based on their academic qualifications.

His ragtag disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and common men—all chosen to be carriers and representatives of his Good News to the world.

Jesus’ words and relationships confirmed the value He gave to those on the fringes of society.

His daily acquaintances included such characters as beggars, prostitutes, wild-eyed demoniacs, lepers, half-breeds, tax collectors, widows, the poor, the blind, the deaf and the paralyzed.

The Pharisees rejected these troll-like people, except as needed for their own attention.

Jesus announced that the “least of these” —the hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, sick, stranger, and impoverished are His representatives; when we care for their needs, we care for God Himself (Matthew 25:34–40).

To reject the rejected is not OK in God’s kingdom.

No smells, appearance, moral depravity, or economic condition is worthy of turning someone away.

Part of what it means to be in the kingdom is to have genuine, compassion-fueled relationships with these “least ones” —the rejected, ragtag, troll-like fringes of society.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life… if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor…

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

(Philippians 2.1-4 MSG)

The following are quotes from Paul Scanlon’s book: The 15 Revolution…

The 15 Revolution is as simple – and as difficult – as being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be inconvenienced in order to help someone. It is being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be interrupted, distracted, diverted or delayed. 15 minutes to add value to someone else’s world.

It sounds simple, I know, but what makes it difficult is how ‘hard wired’ we are against being inconvenienced, interrupted or delayed.

I’m not trying to offer some complex new theology or evangelistic concept. This is more about mobilization than theology. Because we are all selfish by nature, we do not default to helping others. So, without a revolution of some kind, that innate selfishness always wins in the end.

To slow down is anti-cultural.

The 15 Revolution sets out to reverse this trend, to make us more aware of the people in our immediate space and to provoke us to be the bringers of God’s life to the hurting world on our doorstep.

God is always willing to be inconvenienced to reach someone and so must we.

We are going to have to step outside of our routines, plans and agendas if we want to join the 15 Revolution and embrace inconvenience as our friend.