Update #173 - Apostle

“Indeed He gave some to be apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; with a view to the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-12

Cairo, Egypt - Reconciliation post Revolution?

Fear ripped through the crowd.  He had arrived; he flagrantly marched in front of them astride a steed covered in Roman trappings – his mount dripping with red and gold from every surface, breastplate, saddle, bridle, blanket, reigns.  Afore him men marched flint-faced carrying banners telling his position, behind brute force followed - encased in shields, swords and helmets.

The dreaded day had come – the Roman apostle had arrived. Their lives would never be the same again.

The horror felt upon initial invasion was nothing compared to this. Battle was a known entity – fight for your family, your home, your freedom.  This was unknown, only foretold by feebly verified rumor and story.  Romans conquered quickly; the air, even now, was still marked with the tinny smell of shed blood.  As eyes roamed the street valiant last stands marked walls, streets, doorposts. Death, dying, defeat was everywhere you sent a furtive glance.

Depressed and conquered in spirit the small village awaited their fate – questions rippled through, whispered, yet not quite audible “Where would he start? What would he do? How would he begin? How does one go about destroying us and building them?” A new government, new religion, new tax laws and rates, new curfew and travel stipulations awaited. All handed down by this man, this man astride the steed.

From now forward, this man dictated life, his decrees, his declarations, his laws – yes, they could fight it, but death would most certainly ensue.  They were captured, slaves with property, allowed to live, breath and function as long as they abided by Roman rule, way and law.  Their known culture submersed and drowned - no longer known; individualism and opposition stilled, they were now Roman by adoption… and force.

Roman apostles were governmental transition men sent in the wake of battle to convert conquered cultures to the Roman way of life and rule.  They are similar to modern day change consultants - aiding a President when seizing company control. Unlike today, with polite but pointed memos, process and procedures the Romans used force, any force necessary, to insure conformity.

I can only imagine the disciple’s horror when Jesus first told them they were to be “apostles” to the world (I am sure a few of them had lived through an apostlistic “change management program”).  They were to be the change agents, the societal transformers, the carriers of his way, his truth, his thinking to the world.  They were to convert culture, inoculate and spread a new way of living, new way of believing, new way of thinking, to the Earth. They were to use force, albeit a different one, to affect culture, society, and the countries around them.  Jesus’ method did not involve swords, shields, helmets, intimidation, fear of death, dismemberment, or of anything else.  Jesus uses relationship and love to transform society.

Some theologian’s say there were only 12 apostles, they were commissioned by Jesus and the mandate died with them.  I disagree.  I am called to use love and relationship to change the culture around me.  I believe I am tasked with spreading Jesus’ way of living, believing, thinking and ideas to the world.  I know I am his disciple. I know I am his prophet to spread his good news. I know I am his teacher and pastor tasked with nurturing those beside me along the way, and I know I am his evangelist, spreading his story wherever I can.

Apostle literally means “one who is sent out” (www.dictionary.com).  One of Jesus’ last requests of us was that we “go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever (he) commanded (us)”(Matthew 28:19-20).  Essentially our mandate is: “Go and change the world!”

How are you “apostling” the world around you? Are you Roman in manner and action (control, intimidation, fear inducing)? How are you affecting change in your culture, your society, your department, your team, your cubicle? How are you making things different through action and deed? How do you treat the grocery clerk, the pharmacy aide, the baggage handler, the gate clerk, how do you drive in traffic?  Are you spreading love, life and joy or are you cloaked with spears, shields, fear and intimidation?  What is your weapon of choice?

Updates:
Travel – Currently in Cairo, Egypt – Maadi neighborhood.  Jet lag isn’t too bad and the weather is nice.
Work – We are finished with training!  Next round starts in July so we are actively recruiting for that, as well as the executive intensive starting 6 May. Check it out: http://inst.net/events/rep-exec-intensive.html (there is still time to register!). Prep for Indonesia is still in progress (thanks mainly to Kim Wilson – THANK YOU Kim!), and we are scheduling/planning our next round of business ventures.

Requests:
Travel – Please pray for personal protection and for me and the team while in Cairo.  Brett is speaking at a business conference Thursday through Saturday on Transforming Society. Please pray God’s presence is palpable, the Egyptians are blessed, faith is lifted and hope is administered.
Work – continued prayer around logistical, spiritual and emotional prep for the upcoming Indonesia trip.  Also, prayer for my tight schedule would be appreciated – grace abounding for the return from Egypt, helping prep for the Executive Intensive, helping to execute the intensive, and then leave for Indonesia the following day!
Personal – What is on God’s heart? What are his priorities? Who does he want me to talk to, connect with, pray for? Please pray I will have the ears to hear, heart to feel, and obedience / wisdom to walk out his responses.