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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Sam Smith - Fellowship of Ailbe

Sam Smith

Sam's Kingdom missional focus is to provide training to evangelical leaders to see relationships covenantally and live accordingly.

Specifically, the dilemma of being asked to participate in a so-called “same-sex” wedding is either running the risk of alienating those whom they must show God’s love or displeasing the Lord.

God has structured relational bonds after a pattern that reflects His relationship with His people.  It is called “covenant” that speaks of roles and duties, personally acknowledged.  Some bonds­­—the marriage of a man and woman, parents and the raising of their children, and believers and their relationship with their local church—have specific biblical responsibilities. Essential to this God-structured relationship is the solemn importance of affirming explicit promises to fulfill responsibilities. This arrangement is what the Bible calls a “covenant relationship”.

God created marriage for human flourishing according to this pattern and extends it to all humankind regardless of one’s orthodoxy. Covenant-making’s dual aim is one of experiencing the enjoyment of Divine blessing (arising out of faithfulness to the promises made) and one of strengthening relational bonds (that are meant to be life-long).

How does this understanding of marriage guide our choice to either accept or reject an invitation to attend a wedding? A traditional wedding ceremony is a covenant-making event. Each element of the ceremony—the giving away of the bride by the father, the vows, and ring exchanges, along with the officiant’s prayer of blessing and the post-vow celebration— serves to affirm the integrity and goodness of the new relational bond being established. It is also an assembly where family and friends gather to serve, by default, as witnesses, a role the Scripture has much to say.

A wedding—as a witnessed, covenant-making gathering—is built upon the recognition that we each share a sinful nature where keeping promises isn’t always easy. It is a fact that the resilience of relational bonds will be tested, often severely. In light of this expectation, God’s covenant-making design undergirds the importance of permanence and the seeking of Divine blessing by confronting in advance each one’s frail ability to keep their promises. Even some traditional wedding ceremonies include a hint by the officiant of consequences that could ensue if vows are broken. This weakness of our nature is why a couple that chooses to live together apart from a covenant established relationship is by default resting upon the whim of fleeting feelings.

As it pertains to so-called “same-sex” marriage ceremony, there is an additional dilemma of becoming an unintended participant in a counterfeit, covenant-making ceremony. If you are an invited guest, you will take on the covenant-making role as that of a community witness. By default, your presence is a form of participation where you affirm the integrity and goodness of the vows exchanged and add your voice to reinforcing and protecting the exclusivity of the man and the woman with one another.

Christians, who live under Jesus’ Lordship, cannot participate in that which harms the foundation of an institution that God Himself—not government—created, one that He warns of visiting with consequences. For you to act in this “witness” role would be fraudulent on your part for you cannot, in good conscience, do so. In essence, one’s participation would not be an act of friendship or even indifference, but that of hate as well as hurtful to the advancement of the Lord Jesus’ Kingdom.  Moreover, our Faith expects us to seek His Kingdom over and against the cultural expectations being forced upon us

 

The Fellowship of Ailbe, or simply the Fellowship, derives its name from an Island stop-over where Irish missionaries came to be refreshed. What makes this 6th century retreat a symbol our 21st century Fellowship is that its members—active pastors and chaplins—glean from patterns of spiritual formation and missional engagement that arose through Patrick’s (early 5th century) work among the Irish and extended by his followers throughout Europe into the 10th century.

Fellowship members are those of an evangelical persuasion, committed to the full trustworthiness of the Bible.  As a passage into long-term participation, each undertook a yearlong study of Biblical themes that were complemented by the literary legacy left by Patrick and his followers. Guided by the tutelage of the Fellowship’s Principal, T.M. Moore, they examined the Celtic distinctives through the lens of Scripture and not the other way around. In doing so, they deepened their understanding of the disciplines of grace including how mutual relationships were vital.

In studying Patrick’s legacy, they recognized that this era of Church history saw one of the greatest Kingdom expansions that transformed the decaying culture of post-Roman Empire Europe, so much so that one historical novelist describes their work as having “saved” civilization. In looking beyond the quirky ideals associated with the Celtic spiritual traditions, their study of the impact of these Irish missionaries did not uncover a mystical formula but rather one of practices that fostered transformation.  As Jesus modeled, the followers of Patrick valued not living for themselves but for proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom to every person and extending it into every sphere of culture. This year-long study reshaped Fellowship member’s convictions of what the Lord Jesus can do today through embracing similar practices.

Here are five distinctives that has helped recalibrate my own spiritual formation.

  1. Cultivating soul friends. As were the followers of Patrick, we pursue developing soul-friendships. Friendships vary as to the level of trust and transparency, and often relationships in our culture are passive, insisting nothing of one another. Rather, Fellowship members see themselves as brothers in the Lord who are there for one another.
  2. Peering through the thin veil. We would not describe ourselves as mystics but we do walk by faith that the unseen reality of Jesus Christ’s exalted rule is real and powerful. Often, evangelicals have a defeatist faith with little sense of God’s involvement in their sphere of life. We are not dualist but rather strive to live with the truth that only a thin veil exists between  the seen and unseen.
  3. Being self-governed by a personal rule. Habits are essential for cultivating the inner self and growth is a grace-enabled work.  Often, evangelicals are spiritually lazy in cultivating the inner life and are easily shaped by culture’s values. Instead, we aspire for “all of the blessings” we have in Christ Jesus, and we have entered into a covenant relationship to encourage one another in fulfilling our personal rule.
  4. Influencing others as servant shepherds. In our own local callings, we exercise our shepherding roles patterned after the Gospel accounts of the Lord Jesus’ ways.  Evangelicals today are talking more about the loving leadership of Jesus Christ, and we want to encourage a renewal of  sacrificially giving ourselves away with no expectation of what is in it for us.
  5. Working toward one’s own legacy. Though we vary in skill and productiveness, we are both students and teachers. As did the Irish missionaries, we share a love for ongoing learning as well as stewarding our gifts and opportunities. This means we strive to be in prayer for and actively seek to include others.  We know that when the Lord calls us into His presence, we will come as stewards.

The above may not be a great revelation to you, but we are a bit obsessed about the Celtic literary legacy given to us by those who lived passionately for the glory of the Lord. If you are interested in discussing with a Fellowship member more about his experience with the Fellowship or if we may encourage you in your own spiritual journey, I invite you to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This morning I prayed with two Fellowship of Ailbe (FoA) members, and our united hearts strengthened my soul during this season of change and testing. Every Christian needs others who both know one’s struggles and who will come alongside to intercede and offer encouragement.  Even more, so do spiritual shepherds of the Lord Jesus’ Church who often are reluctant to do so with others in their own congregation.  I am grateful to the Lord for these fellow pastors with whom we share a common, but relatively unknown, understanding of the spiritual legacy of fifth century Patrick.

In addition to other FoA gatherings, Jim (Maryland), John (Vermont), Jess (Washington State), and myself (Michigan) meet twice monthly by phone. I have known these brothers since our Principal, T.M. Moore, first brought us together for extended study.  Along with Chuck (Texas) who is settling into a new ministry, we five were the first class to study together Patrick’s spiritual legacy and then become covenanted members.  It was after the first year that we began meeting to pray, somewhat spontaneously.

As members of the FoA that now has added four new members, we have a covenant relationship with one another. By this I mean, we are bound by an explicit agreement, one that we individually crafted (personal rule) that is set inside a broader understanding of our Fellowship. It seems that a covenant relationship doesn’t really exist or have a real affect unless one is willing to engage another with trust and transparency. Though I believe in local church membership, this type of relationship makes a bigger difference in its affect.

Though we each have pledged to specific spiritual disciplines, as our familiarity and love has grown so now we are in early stages of becoming “soul friends.”  Soul friends develop in time as one commits to give time, even years, to cultivate.

Many pastors have close friendships that the Lord has led them into, and for myself, it wasn’t my denominational or seminary friendships alone where I found such relationships. It was in a shared vision, both for ourselves and for those whom we seek to include, tat is part of what binds us together.

These simple elements—one’s rule, gatherings, friendships, shared vision— may help you understand that the FoA isn’t mysterious, private or even ingrown. Rather, we are followers of the Lord Jesus Who has blessed His people both with a literary legacy from the ancient church giving us a pattern of community. We encourage you to talk with us if you are investigating what we are about.  My email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 989-705-1954.

How can we distinguish what are the “things that are above” as opposed to “things that are on the earth” that Colossians 3:2 draws a contrast? I am not a dualist and therefore know that everyday tasks can have a God-glorifying potential.

 

Guided by a Clear Focus

November 03, 2011

When we approach one of life’s cross-roads--be it accepting a call to a church, pursuing additional education or partnering in a ministry endeavor—pastors already understand that both faith and discernment are needed. However, rather than acquiesce to what seemingly is the providence of God, the Lord’s Spirit is coaching us to doggedly pursue a mission statement’s trajectory (Hebrews 11:8).

The thing about committing yourself to a plan is that a mission statement means nothing until it becomes a major part of your daily devotional life.  The Lord asks us to pray for His kingdom to come, that every sphere of life be increasingly under His rule. But, the questions of “in what way, with whom and where?” will arise. These questions naturally follow, as one’s mission statement becomes a decision-making tool.  Its clear focus provides direction in turning in one direction and avoiding another.

As you begin to affirm that your mission statement is a decision-making tool, you must concurrently request of the Lord for Him to set before you Kingdom building opportunities within your statement’s parameters. This sound basic to most everyone, however, until you go through the actual process that completely redirects you (and your wife and kids) lives, you may face the reality that a mission statement often isn’t asking for minor tweaks to your day-planner. Rather, it often calls for taking personal risk.

In 1999, I finished a year-long series of one day a month meetings with a dozen Puget Sound, Evangelical Free, pastors with a commitment to make a bold move toward concrete actions in alignment with my mission statement. Quickly, I recognized the requirement for exercising courage to overcome a rising fear of being unsure of what I was doing. For those of us who are reluctant to take a major risk, I will share in my next post how the Lord will even force you to make courageous decisions.

Pastor of the Lovell Community Chapel located in northern Michigan

In 1998, I began meeting one day each month with ten other Evangelical Free Church pastors in the Puget Sound region (Washington State) to forge my personal mission statement.  For the first four months a facilitator led us through Focusing Leaders Network, a guided assessment for discovering the best applications of each one’s giftedness.  We each mapped out our providential opportunities and whether each found a measure of God’s blessings and reflected on periods of “wilderness”  testing seasons where we were groping to understand what God was doing. For the following six months, we pondered new challenges by thinking in bigger terms in light of the Lord Jesus’ Kingdom.  Specifically, we spent extended time in prayer, Scripture reading and fasting to pen an individual strategic plan for the glory of God.  With a pastor/coach coming alongside for prayer support and counsel, I penned my mission statement and committed a detailed plan to the Lord.  In future posts, I will share more about this process in the hopes of connecting with a few who would desire to develop their own mission statement.  Would any of you be willing to offer how you came to understand what unique contribution the Lord would have you focus on? Please comment or email me.

Pastor of the Lovell Community Chapel located in northern Michigan

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32)

A few unwelcomed experiences, that seemingly contradict God’s character, will push you into liminality, a twilight zonish like perplexity where you ask, “if this isn’t a dream, then, God, why are You doing this?”  There you will grope to make sense of why the abundant life promised by the all-powerful God does not spare you from the short list of unbearable pains.

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