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We have gotten a lot more rain than usual here at the children’s home in Oaxaca, Mexico. Everything is nice and green and mushrooms of different shapes, sizes and colors are popping up all over the place, some as big as a dinner plates. I find them fascinating and have been doing some research on them. I have come to the conclusion that Christians are a lot like mushrooms, at least in two respects.
One thing I learned is that mushrooms grow best in places that are wet or really damp. We have received more rain this last June and now into July than I can ever remember in my 16 years of living here. So that explains the surge in ‘shrooms. They grow especially good in dead, decaying and moldering matter, like old leaves and sticks, exactly the place I found Old Shaggy, pictured above.
Christians actually grow and even thrive in exactly the same kind of environment. The Bible describes this world and its systems as dead, decaying and moldering. Yet Christianity, as the proverbial mustard seed, has been growing like crazy, not just in spite of pain, suffering and persecution, but because of it. Throughout the centuries different cultures and regimes have been trying to systematically snuff Christianity out, and yet it has grown into the largest religion on the planet.
I read an article recently in Christianity Today about how, in the past, the missionaries were kicked out of China, and church leaders feared for the future of the church in that country. Not to worry. Christianity grew from a few thousand believers to millions of believers within the following generations. Now it seems the same thing is probably occurring in North Korea; an expanding underground church amidst the worlds worst persecution of the church.
But not only the Church Universal grows amongst the death and decay of the world, but so do individual Christians. We all experience times of trials and tribulation, sorrow and suffering, frustration and failure. These are times of rotting leaves, moldy twigs and decaying branches. Times where we not only grow, but flourish. With these kind of experiences I think of Joseph and all he had to endure during his life. Sold by jealous, spiteful brothers into slavery. Falsely accused of a capital crime and tossed into prison. Forgotten by a fellow inmate he had helped out, he languished in jail. And then what? Next thing you know, he is second in command in the most powerful empire in the world.
When those same brothers came to him begging for food, he could have extracted sweet revenge, but instead he told them, “you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” He was able to say that because over and over Genesis reminds us that God was with Joseph. God is still in the “making good out of evil” business as we can plainly see in Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to those who love God…” Even those decaying, moldering things.
The second way I see that Christians are like mushrooms is mycelia. I learned about mycelia from Emma Erler who is a landscape and greenhouse specialist at the University of New Hampshire. She writes, “Mushrooms will go away on their own once the weather dries out. Keep in mind that although these fruiting bodies have disappeared, the fungal mycelia is still growing in the soil. The fungus will continue to grow and persist as long as there is plenty of organic matter to feed upon.”
I found that to be very interesting. Mushrooms are only the fruit of a much vaster, invisible fungus network that lives underground. When the mushroom dies, the plant continues to live and grow and have its being. That makes me think of all the Christians who have died, yet a part of them continues to live and influence us who are living. I especially think of Christian writers from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Stott and C.S. Lewis, to name just a few. They are all dead, but their ideas, theology and insights continue to live and spread through the world with their words, just like mycelia.
So, if anyone should happen to tell you that you remind them of a mushroom, take it as a compliment. You are growing strong through the murky mire of decay; the stench and darkness of this present world, because God is with you, just as he was with Joseph. And, after you are gone to be with the Father, your mycelia, your love, grace, compassion and kindness will continue to live on in all those you cared about and helped.
Mushrooms and Christians. Who knew?
“They attacked civilians, and killed babies and women. They searched every single house for YPG
soldiers, and if they found anyone armed, they killed them or gave them to the Turkish government.” This quote is from the latest World Magazine about Turkish forces working with jihadists in Afrin, Syria. The story also reported that 200,000 mostly Kurdish residents were forced to flee the area, along with 3,000 Christians and 35,000 Yazidis. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
Compassion International reports that globally in 2014, 1 billion children aged 2-17 experienced physical, sexual, emotional or multiple types of violence. A quarter of all adults report having been physically abused as children. One in five women and one in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
In Bosnia, beginning in 1991, Yugoslavia began to break up along ethnic lines. When the republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) declared independence in 1992 the region quickly became the central theater of fighting. The Serbs targeted Bosniak and Croatian civilians in areas under their control in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. The war in Bosnia claimed the lives of an estimated 100,000 people. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
Over a decade ago the Government of Sudan carried out genocide against Darfuri civilians, murdering 300,000 & displacing over 2 million people. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
Every month, 255 Christians are killed, 104 are abducted, 180 Christian women are raped, sexually assaulted or forced into marriage, 66 churches are attacked, 160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
Yesterday I had an argument with my wife. I was helping her with her with her job as kitchen supervisor here at a home for needy children in Oaxaca, Mexico. I was feeling resentful because I had my own work to do in the garden. I had a bad attitude. This earth is not where righteousness dwells.
Righteousness means doing the right thing. God is righteous. He always does the right thing. Humans are not righteous. We rarely do the right thing. More often than not, we do the wrong thing, whether it is having a bad attitude and arguing with our spouse or orchestrating the torture and death of millions of people. God loves us and wants us to be happy, and gave us His Word telling us what is the right thing to do to be happy. We largely ignore His Word and end up living in an unhappy world.
In the second chapter of second Peter we can read about the wickedness and unrighteousness of the first century. Peter tells his readers about false prophets, false teachers, destructive heresies, depraved conduct, greed, exploitation, arrogance and adultery. About people who are boastful and full of lustful desires. Evil ones who scoff at God’s Word and blaspheme. What will happen to a world filled with people like this?
The third chapter of second Peter tells us about the day of the Lord. The day of judgment and condemnation. We read that that day will come like a thief and that the heavens will disappear with a roar. The elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Peter tells us we should look forward to the day of God, and hope it comes soon! He writes, “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements by heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:12-13
The old things will pass away, like doing the wrong things over and over and over again.
All things will be made new, like actually doing the right things, as in loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. As in loving our neighbor as ourselves. The new earth will be a place where righteousness dwells.
The issue of children being seperated from parents has been in the news a lot lately. At the Home For Needy Children, all the children here have been seperated from their parents. Their parents have abandoned them. Their parents are drug addicts or alcoholics. Their parents are in prison. Their parents have abused them. For a few, their parents have died. Those are the exceptions. I am definitely looking forward to that day when homes for needy children like this one don’t exist. When all parents love their children; provide for their children; take good care of their children. Where all parents always do the right thing for their children. Where righteousness dwells.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for that day. But until that day comes, with God’s help, we can all try to do the right thing. We can shine a little light in the darkness. We can give of our time, talents and treasures to those around us that are hurting physcially, economically and emotionally. We can love the least, the last and the lost. We can bring some righteousness to a terribly unrighteous world.
Groups and individuals from the United States and Canada regularly make their way down to Oaxaca, Mexico to help out at the childrens home. We have a group here right now from Trinity church in Cleveland, Ohio. Some men, some women. Some teens, some retired. All have one goal. To do the right thing. To help children in need. To help a ministry that is helping the poorest of the poor in Mexico. According to God, that is Righteous. We can’t make the whole world righteous, but by sharing the Good News of Jesus and His love, people become righteous, one soul at a time.
Three ladies from Trinity church in Cleveland, Ohio with three girls from the childrens home.
To Enjoy God 