Our own local partner, Paul Biswas, has written a book about his work. Congratulations, Paul!
“The primary goal of this book is to consider how flawed perceptions hinder the effective communication of the Christian gospel in efforts to witness to Muslims in America. This book further explores the sociocultural and ethnic differences among South Asian Muslims and the ways in which their perceptions of Christianity differ.”
Matthew tells us that Jesus sees the crowd sympathetically, as "harassed and helpless". But were these not the same people who had rebelled against God in ages past: wanting to return to Egypt, asking for a king, worshipping idols, and practicing child sacrifice? Moreover, is this not the same crowd who in a few short years would turn on Jesus and assent to his execution, declaring, “His blood is on us and on our children” (Matt. 27:25)?
Jesus knew the complexity of motives, longings, and desires in the human heart. He knew the selfishness and the hard-heartedness. He was tempted, and he sympathized with their weakness (Heb. 4:15). What we see in Jesus is not a superficial compassion, but one that sees and recognizes the complexities of human experience – nay, the depravity of it – and loves us the same. For we are in the crowd, that day in Galilee and on the day he was killed: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:7)
So when Jesus says that they are “harassed and helpless”, that is not all he sees; he sees each of us in our entirety, as whole beings, not reduced to a single element or experience. Moreover, Jesus’s compassion is not based on some balancing of good and evil actions or on proximity to or distance from power. It is not circumstantial or contingent. Rather, it is core to God’s very nature, as Isaiah (55:7-9) writes:
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
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This is a mercy— a compassion—that we can rely on, and that we see Jesus exemplifying when he looks at the crowd. He does not despise them or disdain their weakness. He is the shepherd that they need, though it costs him his life. Jesus later declares (John 10:10-11) that:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
How might we respond? First, to recognize and internalize the deep reality of God’s mercy and love for each of us, to see ourselves in the crowd in all our humanity. It is tempting to try to shortcut this step— to jump to emulating Jesus in showing compassion to others. This is the error of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8). When we commit Simon’s error we are tempted to treat people as abstractions and our actions and intentions as preeminent. Only when we know that God sees all of us and loves us the same are we able to look at others with his eyes, with his compassion. This is our charge, as Paul exhorts the Ephesian church in his vision of unity for the church, and, ultimately, humanity:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
(Submitted by Peter York)
Dear CBC community,
I pray you are all well, physically and spiritually, during this extended time of physical distancing due to Covid19. I so miss seeing each and every one of you but am heartened to see you faces on our Zoom meetings.
The elders and staff are monitoring the government regulations and, given the restrictions on meeting in our building (ex: only 25 people total in sanctuary), we are planning to continue our online services at least through August and likely beyond. We will update you regularly.
While we all lament the need to be physically apart, we thank God for technologies that allow us to continue meeting. Our Sunday services, discipleship groups, and prayer meetings have adapted well but we are finding youth and children's ministries much less suited to online efforts. Please keep all our ministries in your prayers.We also see in this moment new opportunities to disciple, care for others, and reach out beyond the "walls" of the church. The gifts, skills, and experiences of each member of the Body are needed more than ever!
While we may not be able to do hospitality or greeting in our building, we still need to reach out to one another in friendship, love, and practical help.
While we may not be able to gather in groups, we still need leaders to facilitate discipleship online.
While we may not have media and sound in the sanctuary, we still need techies to help with Zoom.
While we may not be able to befriend internationals in person, we still need helpers with English classes and Bible studies online.
And while we have been away from our building, God has exposed afresh the racial and social injustices that still plague our nation. More than ever we all need to consider the role(s) we have have individually and corporately to stand for social and racial justice.
What a time of opportunity! Let's not let the pandemic slow or stop us in our service to the Lord and his work in this world. Will you prayerfully consider your part in God's plans at such a time as this? As you read this email, was there a place of service that came to mind? If yes, please let me know!
And finally pray for the elders, staff, and congregation that we may be filled with the resurrection power of Jesus. For "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1).
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Dan
Dear CBC community,
I wanted to write to you because of the recent news allowing religious institutions to reopen. This allowance by the government seems to be more about avoiding lawsuits regarding religious freedom than about actually encouraging religious institutions to open for services. The city of Cambridge is advising a very slow and cautious opening of churches, recommending online ministry for as long as possible to keep Covid19 from spreading. Furthermore the guidelines to insure safety for churches that decide to meet include limiting capacity (40%) for social distancing, wearing masks, discouraging attendance by the elderly and infirm, and extra cleaning of the building.
In light of all of this, we have no plans at this time to reopen for services in our building. We will continue to meet online for worship, prayer, fellowship, and discipleship. These are unusual times and they require flexibility, creativity, and perseverance. I think Jesus might say to us: "Do not say 'four weeks more and then we can gather for ministry.' Instead open your eyes and look at your computers and phones; the opportunity for ministry is right before you."
In addition to our new robust prayer ministry, some of our discipleship groups have also found online ministry to work very well. And for all of us the opportunity to encourage, comfort, fellowship, and even instruct others is only a phone call or online meeting away. "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters...Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (Hebrews 13:1,3).
Finally, thank you for your continued financial support. You can send checks by mail or use online giving on our website. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for worship and throughout the week for prayer.
Blessings,
P Dan
Perhaps the best thing that has happened to our church during this season of social distancing is that we’ve discovered how possible it is to pray together more often! It would have been logistically difficult for people to trek to the church from all over town, but it’s not so difficult to log in to Zoom for 30 minutes and connect with each other and with God.
Join us—we’re praying every day of the week!
12:00-12:30pm, Monday to Saturday
8:30-9:00pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
10:00am on Sunday
From Psalm 82
Dear church,
If you know Pastor Dan, you know that his technology learning curve has picked up quickly in the last two years! Now that everyone is home to prevent spreading COVID-19, he’s learning even more!
Here we present Pastor Dan’s weekly devotional.
Dear CBC community,
On December 15th Elizabeth Shitemi did a wonderful job sharing her missionary calling, experiences overseas, and reflections on missions work. You can listen to her message if you like! She concluded with two examples of missions work that the Shitemis support financially and prayerfully.
I want to segue from those personal examples of missions support to explain CBC’s approach to missions giving. Historically, CBC committed 20% of our total budget to overseas and local missions. However, our budget was static for many years so we weren’t able to respond to new opportunities. We also found it difficult to maintain interest in our missions committee, church mission portfolio, and prayer for missions. Additionally this approach unintentionally diminished the missional character of the church itself, separating “church” funding from “mission” funding.
In light of these limitations we looked for new approach to encourage and develop mission involvement and support. We surveyed the congregation to find out how much mission work was supported directly by our community, apart from their offerings through CBC. What we discovered astounded us. The amount given to missions directly was 2.5 times as much as through the church!
So we transitioned away from supporting external mission work through our church budget to a decentralized, personal mission portfolio approach. We have only continued to support from the church budget our local partners, those who are members of CBC and also in full time vocational ministry. All other mission work is now funded individually according to personal convictions, interests and connections. Elizabeth shared an example of this model in the two mission works that the Shitemis support.
I want to encourage you to prayerfully develop your own mission portfolio. Much like a solid financial investment portfolio, your mission investment portfolio will reap a great dividend not only for you but also for many others! Keep in mind the words of the apostle Paul:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”
2 Corinthians 9:6,7
Where might you sow generously to advance the good news of Jesus? Has the Lord given you any particular interest(s) in either a type of work or a nation? Is it evangelization, Bible translation, development/relief work, education, campus ministry, etc.? Or is it Kenya or China or France? Or is it unreached peoples or women or children or refugees? Or has the Lord given you a personal connection to a missionary through school, church, family, or friends whom you could help to support?
The arrival of the Kingdom of God through Jesus the Messiah is good news for every nation and tribe and tongue. It is our incredible privilege and responsibility to take part in its proclamation around the world.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the fee of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Isaiah 52:7
Blessings,
Pastor Dan
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
459 Putnam Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-6779