Sacramental Living

In just over a week, I’ll be joining with friends to celebrate the founding of my tribe.  I previously mentioned this.

I’m honing in more on the similarities between my plight and that of my spiritual grandfather, Phineas Bresee.

Bresee was rejected by the establishment of his tribe.  His rejection culminated in the formation of a new tribe about 10 years later.

He was rejected because he wanted a Christian life that was not just about words.  Bresee not only believed that ministry to the urban poor was important, he intentionally stood with the poor in ruined communities. He and those around him defended the poor, advocated against the injustices that fueled poverty, and developed spaces of belonging and access in which the poor were, not only welcome, but at home.

Bresee and the early Nazarenes challenged social injustices.  They urged their church familiy to move from merely preaching a holiness of heart to expressing holiness of life–in the physical, ordinary, and mundane–as solidarity with the disenfranchised. This is in the direct line of my spiritual great-grandfather, John Wesley.

Because of the poor, Bresee called for radical simplicity of church facilities, not only because ostentatious styles were off-putting for the poor, but the sheer cost of unnecessary embellishments were poor stewardship of resources of God’s people. Tithes and offerings should be used to serve the poor, not build impressive structures. Likewise, words, dress, and lifestyle were to be simple … because of the implications for the poor.

Bresee once wrote:

The first miracle after the baptism of the Holy (Spirit) was wrought upon a beggar. It means that the first service of a Holy (Spirit)-baptized church is to the poor; that its ministry is to those who are lowest down; that its gifts are for those who need them the most. As the Spirit was upon Jesus to preach the gospel to the poor, so His Spirit is upon His servants for the same purpose.

And so Bresee was rejected by his church establishment for challenging Christians to live like Jesus.  He was rejected for being Jesus to the disenfranchised and seeing Jesus in them.  He was rejected for not becoming like the ones who already called themselves Christians.  He was rejected for suggesting church resources should be used for something other than maintaining an institution, a building, an flawed paradigm.  He was rejected for moving beyond a stale, useless, faith.

Bresee was rejected, just as Jesus was.  His primary persecutors were the most “religious” people of his day … as were Bresee’s.

So when I celebrate a centennial marker next week, I’m not celebrating the dawn of yet another schism in the Church universal.  I’m not celebrating the founding of a particular tribe in which I happen to be an ordained elder.  I’m not celebrating the misguided and failed ways we have exercised the inheritance of our spiritual ancestors.

Instead, I’ll be celebrating a wonderful idea made tangible: preaching the gospel to the poor in word and deed.

SO TELL ME SOMETHING:
Can you identify with the plight of Bresee?

——

Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com
If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.

My friend, Chuck, died Thursday night.

Chuck was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just a few short weeks ago.  He went through a succesful surgery, which I sat through with him.  He had been released from the hospital just a few days ago.

Something happened with his heart and the blood thinners he was on.  He just couldn’t make it.

I’m surprised.

You see, Chuck was 71 years old, but as his surgeon told me upon the completion of his operation, “Chuck had the insides of a 30-year old.”  That means he was healthier and in better shape than me!

Chuck worked out a couple hours everyday and rode his bike about 20 miles.  Chuck was our primary drummer for worship gatherings.  I was the backup.  The only reason I was even playing drums at all was because Chuck inspired me to pick up my sticks again after 20 years of not playing.  And my 3-year old, Eliot, loves playing drums because of “Mr. Chuck.”

Chuck inspired me in a lot of ways.  Though on in years, he was open to anything.  Though used to a large-church setting, he loved our little community of faith.  Chuck’s wife has been battling terminal cancer (the “no use going through chemotherapy kind”) for several years.  We all thought Chuck would outlive her.  Chuck cared for her with the meticulous care of a bedside nurse.  He was a hero.  I realized that as I held his wife’s hands and prayed with her over Chuck’s lifeless body.  I heard her say, “You were my angel.”  And he was.

That’s probably why I spent a whole day driving him to Savannah for his operation and staying through it.  That’s probably why I visited him a few days after and stayed for several hours.  That’s probably why I shaved him and helped bathe him while he was in hospital.

He had done so much for his wife, and me, and others … how could I not be a servant for him?

I saw Jesus in Chuck.  And because Jesus is resurrected I not only know that Chuck and I will play drums together again, and Chuck will workout again, and Chuck will ride his bike again … I also know I must serve others the way Chuck served his wife, and me, and …

I must serve here and now, because God’s kingdom has been inaugurated.  I know that because I’ve known Chuck.

For me and my family, a little rhythm has gone away with Chuck’s passing.  It’s a rhythm that we will need to step into.  A rhythm that we should now pick up for Chuck, as we serve others in Jesus’ name … just like Chuck did.

SO TELL ME SOMETHING:
Who is a “Chuck” in your life?

——

Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com
If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS.