We are coming out of a great conference weekend where we broached the topic of “Christ Centered Culture.”  The themes were consistent with what I believe we are going through as a community and the Lord certainly challenged us in what it means to be a community centered on Jesus.  The ability to love and care for one another comes not from human efforts and means but from a divine impartation and awareness of His love for us FIRST since “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  However, though our intimacy with Christ precedes intimacy with one another in community, our relationships with the people around us do reflect our relationship with the Lord (1 John 4:7-21).  I’m convinced that everyday of my life I have to surrender to the rule and reign of God in my life, confess His great love displayed on the Cross of Jesus, and receive this love that was given to me by the Holy Spirit (though in human fair-ness standards, it’s difficult to accept since we deserve death due to our sin).  Then and only then as recipients of His love can we extend love to the people around us and to the world that desperately needs to see it. 
Henry Nouwen writes this about community:
“To care means first of all to empty our own cup and to allow the other to come close to us. It means to take away the many barriers which prevent us from entering into communion with the other. When we dare to care, then we discover that nothing human is foreign to us, but that all the hatred and love, cruelty and compassion, fear and joy can be found in our own hearts. When we dare to care, we have to confess that when others kill, I could have killed too. When others torture, I could have done the same. When others heal, I could have healed too. And when others give life, I could have done the same. Then we experience that we can be present to the soldier who kills, to the guard who pesters, to the young man who plays as if life has no end, and to the old man who stopped playing out of fear for death.

By the honest recognition and confession of our human sameness, we can participate in the care of God who came, not to the powerful but powerless, not to be different but the same, not to take our pain away but to share it. Through this participation we can open our hearts to each other and form a new community.” 
When I as a person realize I am as sinful as the next, I start to see that the grace and love extended to me is not more special or powerful than others.  Christ died and rose for all and His grace and love is sufficient for all.  Remind yourself of this truth everyday and be transformed by it and see how you begin to view the people and world around you by the renewed mindset which is transformed in the likeness of Christ.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
February 16, 2014

The word, “accountability,” makes us feel quite uncomfortable and even scares many of us. We are afraid that if we become really honest with each other, there will be judgment and disapproval for our mistakes.  Especially if you are pastors or leaders in the church, your credibility and reputation is always on the line, and if any dishonesty or misdeed is exposed, you may be afraid that your future leadership ability may be questioned. But scripture teaches us to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. Scripture does not exempt anyone from having to be accountable. In fact, scripture emphasizes that leaders are to be the most accountable so that others may follow their example.
So we know for a fact that, as a believer, each of us is accountable for our actions. Then, the next question is do we have a proper understanding of God’s intention of accountability for believers? We must remember that God’s intention of accountability is to show love to one another. Jesus said he gives a new commandment that we love each other. As I have loved you, so you must love each other. The teaching of Jesus begins with love and ends with love.
Am I saying then that we shouldn’t care about how others are living and simply disregard them from facing the facts? Absolutely not! Sometimes we are afraid to hold people accountable because we don’t want to create unnecessary tension that we have simply decided to look away. But this is not how the church should function because God’s love requires a commitment to one another. We must learn to love each other enough not to ignore our sins.
Then, how do we go about being accountable for each other? Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus laid down his life first for everyone before he asked us to be accountable. It takes love and humility to be held accountable. Accountability is not about judgment. It is about love so that we may be what God has called us to be.
Also Paul says in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.  But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Yes, believers must be honest about our sin, but accountability must point back to the throne of grace and become accountable to the love of Jesus because the ultimate purpose of accountability is restoration. And it must be done with the intention of love, not judgment.
One of the biggest problems in the church is that we trample on the wounded. But this is not God’s intention for us being accountable each other. Are we as a church wiling to be accountable to each other? Then first we must show one another that we love them, and our goal has to be for restoring them.
As our church moves forward, we will continue to face many issues of accountability. And the course of action that we take will either make us or break us. We shouldn’t overlook the sin and refuse to face the facts, nor should we expose the sin openly and inflict wounds of hurt. As long as what we do points back to God’s grace and love, and our focus is on restoration, not only will God restore our mistakes or shortcomings but also we will grow stronger and tighter as a community of believers.

From Pastor Neil’s Heart
February 9, 2014