The Church & Immigration in Phoenix

Phoenix is a diverse and complex city. Hispanics make up more than 30% of the population. The media has been headlining the immigration laws and outcries of the Hispanic community.

Many people in the valley increasingly believe that Hispanics are taking jobs from Anglos according to the polls, yet Arizona's economy, is largely dependent on the Hispanics in construction and development. “They work harder, longer and for less” according to one contractor I talked to about this subject.

What’s sad is that every year in Phoenix thousands of these migrants are taken advantage of by other groups and gangs they are ill-treated, abducted or raped. Many are forced into a life of prostitution or drug dealing. Drug Dealers and Pimps know many of these illegal immigrants have nowhere to run! They can abuse, harass, taunt and torture all they want. Illegal immigrants are illegal and won’t turn to the authorities in fear of having to return to an even more hostile and unstable country- Mexico. Everyday innocent children are born into these circumstances they cannot control. So where is the church in all this? What is our responsibility as a Christian and citizen of this country? Do we have a role in all this? We do…

Recently I heard a sermon by Tim Kimmel president of Family Matters, author, speaker, writer and Elder at Scottsdale Bible Church preach a message to his more than 5,000 member congregation in Scottsdale about “Everyday Compassion.” It floored me and gave me great hope for the churches commitment to love our neighbor! His message personally challenged me as a church planter, citizen, community leader, pastor, husband, father and follower of Jesus.

Tim is far more articulate and credible than me in the city of Phoenix. I beg you to listen to his sermon for insight and understanding about where we the church fit in this issue of immigration.

Tim lays out 5 points from John chapter 9 and 5 Religious Actions that stand in the way of Everyday Compassion. Click here to watch his sermon and download his notes.

Helpful Resources & Organizations in Phoenix
Christian Family Care Clinic
Phoenix Rescue Mission
New York Times: For Migrants, New Law Is Just Another Challenge
New York Times: Welcome to Arizona, Outpost of Contradictions

For those of you wondering what kind of church we will be, you count on Imago Dei being a church that will engage these social and spiritual needs of our city. We are a church that seeks to serve our community and call the citizens of our city to do likewise. This is a reflection of our name. Imago Dei, latin for "In the Image of God" based on Genesis 1:26. Everybody matters and is deserving of dignity and worth.

Green Theology: A Mandate to Care for Creation

Many Christians today believe that there is no need to care for the earth. This conclusion is based on the idea that God is going to destroy and rebuild a new one. Although it is partly true it is misinterpreted and incorrectly applied.

The truth is that in very beginning of Bible in Genesis chapter 1 there is a mandate to care for creation by ruling over it. This is a command to preserve, protect not to dominant or destroy earth’s resources. With the understanding that we are to care for our creation yet not to worship it, we would do well to have a more eco-friendly worldview.

Dominant Western world-view
Dominance over Nature
Nature is simply a resource
Belief in unlimited resources
High technological progress
Consumerism

Eco friendly world view
Harmony with Nature
Nature has intrinsic value
Earth’s resources limited
Appropriate technology
Reduce consumption

The scriptures reveal that God uses the laws and nature of this physical universe to create or influence events to display God's existence, power, order, rightness, wisdom, knowledge, greatness, supremacy and goodness. Romans 1:20, Psalms 19:1-6, and Matthew 5:45. A correct theology should demonstrate a care for the God’s creation and responsible action to care for it. In short, our theology should be much greener than the church has historically held to. So I say, let Earth Day not be the one day you do something good for the earth but consider what you can do everyday to make your community and city and better place to live in for you and your neighbor.

Tips on Going Green from the White House

The Power of the Gospel: Hatred to Humilty

Not too long ago I was invited to preach at a church. My sermon talked about sin, and salvation. I spoke passionately about the need for repentance. I knew the message would be offensive, but I didn’t expect people to tell pastor they hated my message! Later that week I called the pastor to ask if there had been any visible sign or anyone that might have come forward to talk.

He mentioned that shortly after the Sunday service one person came forward and gripped and complained about how offensive the message was. The person had evidently told the pastor that they hated my message. The funny thing is, a few days later this angry person came back to the pastor to share how they had been convicted and found themselves confessing their sins, prayed for repentance and prayed to receive Christ. This person moved from a heart of hatred to a heart of complete humility!

I am amazed by the power of the gospel. Truth continues to set people free. There is no substitute for preaching the gospel. Preach the word my brothers, call sin, sin share with them the hope of salvation in Jesus alone. Oh what a powerful reality, Let all who are weary find rest and peace with God.

The Gospels: "This &%$# is Rocking my World."

Over the course of 4 years I have been prayerfully engaging in a conversation with my friend John (fictitious name) about Jesus. John is in his late 40’s and has spent most of his life out of the church. John embraced a theology that included all people into salvation as long as they were good loving people. Buddhist, Hindu’s, Mormons, New Agers and Christians all the like could find salvation. Jesus was NOT the only way. John believed like many, that all paths lead to salvation.

I listened to John’s compassion for people. He argued that the Bible actually supported his views and complained about Christians being hypocrites, lacking love and compassion for the needy.

I found common ground with John by agreeing that many of his heroes such as Gandhi and Buddha were men who did good things. After building a safe ground for honesty and openness about different religions and our disappointment with the church and the different leaders, we agreed to get back to the basics and read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) about Jesus.

I challenged him to study the Life of Christ. Thankfully, he is a veracious reader. He read day and night about the words and works of Jesus, by studying a Harmony of the Gospels. I will never forget the night he called me. “Man this shit is rocking my world, Jesus is a bad ass dude! I never knew this stuff existed!” I didn’t shake my finger and say, “I told you so.” I kept supplying resources, time and encouragement for self-guided discovery while God began cultivate His heart by His grace.

Today John is a different man, He has yielded his life to power of the gospel and it’s message. He is sinner saved by grace (Eph 2:8-9). He’s pursuing truth and recognizes that there is only one road to salvation (John 14:6). He talks about the peace he has in knowing Jesus He acts as if he was lost and know found. He isn’t in the church yet, but he loves Jesus and knows his word better than many of my Christian friends.

The gospel is an un-reckonable force that knows no bounds. Young and old, the gospel is the power of Salvation for those who believe. The truth of God’s word sets people free. Jesus is alive.

Easter Journal Reflection

Today is Good Friday. The day we remember Christ’s death on a cross. This morning as I was reflecting upon Christ work, I find it amazing that his death was prophesized nearly 750 years before Jesus was ever born! The 8th century Prophet Isaiah predicted exactly what would happen. The Christ would be crucified in 33 AD.

From the Prophet Isaiah chapter 53 verses 3-5, 11

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

They say that he was unrecognizable after the Romans finished scourging him, beating him with a club, and nailing him to a cross.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities (sins)
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

Jesus took up our sins so that we might be made right with God, and yet his relationship with God the father was strained due to the sin of the world he took upon himself.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus died so that we may be free from our sins. He was our substitute, he paid our debt, the penalty of sin in our place, he made a way for us to have free from sin and death.


11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

The joy of Easter is in his resurrection! Jesus is not dead rather he is alive! Not only does he live but he invites us to live as well. To join him in bringing life to all those we meet, life to all that we touch and do. He is asking us to join him in renewing, restoring and together redeeming all that is broken. One day he is coming back to make right, all that is wrong, listen to what is written of His return when he comes back again to create a new heaven and new earth: Rev 21:4-7

From The Apostle John in the book of Revelation chapter 21 verses 4-7

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Notice, his position and power, despite the rejection and ridicule he faced here on earth.

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The one that was crucified is king. The beginning and end, the one who holds all things together.

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

My prayer is today that many would trust in Christ for salvation. There is no other. There is none like him; he is unparalleled in his deity, and unstained in his humanity. He offers life and purpose to join his redemptive plan for all creation, restoring and renewing all that is broken in our world today. What hope, freedom and peace there is in fellowship with the father of creation. - Amen