NOTE: Continuing the dialogue between a pastor in Rochester, MI and two missionaries in Uganda, we are considering the important work of Eugene Peterson's Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. Right now, we're considering chapter two: Christ Plays in Creation.
I want to hone in on Peterson's description of "Gnosticism," (pg. 59ff). Peterson draws out these primary threads for understanding Gnosticism (which we'll generally define as the privatization/hiddenness of truth or the modern notion that belief and praxis are two separate things). The parallels to Western Christianity are apparent. I'm curious to hear how a westerner writing about western faith resonates with westerners living in Uganda.
*Metaphysical alienation: The material world is temporary, passing away. In fundy lingo, "It's all going to burn anyway, who cares?" Because God is spirit, we should not invest ourselves in the material ignoring the fact that Creation is good/very good and that we (material and spiritual beings) are created in the image of God.
*Secret lore: Hidden truth is the one path to salvation. Da Vinci Code smacks of this--which forces me to ask myself, why are people so attracted to this hidden salvation/revelation? Is it because it lets us off the hook from the radical demands of the gospel, or the sacrificial demands of local faith communities? Is it because Da Vinci code is inherently against metanarratives (Roman Catholics, Universal Church, Opus Dei, Patriarchy).
*Escapism: "We escape from everything except the self, we escape from the world into the self," (61). Peterson will later remind us that I am not myself, when I am by myself. I am made to live in community, relationship and dependency on others (wives, families, faith community, neighborhood's), etc.
*Few souls: This Gnosticism is only found and achieved by a few...good remnant theology. We see this in extreme fundamentalism and extreme liberalism, it's really good ol' fashion pride and arrogance. God is not interested in saving the world (cosmos) BUT in a few people. How depressing is that?
*Individualism: Private interpretation is encouraged (i.e. self taught is a virtue) and it seems that Gnosticism can be prone to a historical reflection.
Stanley Hauerwas said to a group of preachers and professors this week, quoting someone else I believe, "The hardest thing to do is to live where you are."
God places us in specific geographical locations, ethnicities, relationships, times and worldviews to ask the question C.S. Lewis asked when writing about Narnia. "Once I created Narnia, I asked myself, now how would God redeem that world?"
"Gnosticism offers us spirituality without the inconvenience of creation...spirituality without the inconvenience of sin and morality...spirituality without the inconvenience of people who don't like or who aren't 'our kind.' And maybe most attractive of all...a spirituality without God, at least any god other than the spark of divinity I sense within me," (62).
Peace.
Josh
27 May 2006
17 May 2006
Conversation #3
Clearing the Playing Field... revisited
In response to your thoughts on worship, it seems that Peterson could almost substitute the word "Life" where you have used "worship" in your article. I think that worship is a word that is almost dangerous to use now because the working definition for most people in our churches is so hardened. I think that it is a word that needs to be carefully redefined as we use it because it conjures up so many images throughout the conggregation, and so little imaginative freedom. It seems that we cannot break out of a constrictive box because we spend our time arguing, sometimes debating, and in better scenarios wrestling among different terms, most of which have been petrified and void of life for ages. I think that Rochester is a church that is really open to exploration and is taking some great strides that are the exception to our movement as a whole.
The talk about gnosticism made me think of the critique of the whole "historical Jesus" movement by Bultmann (I think?), where Jesus always ended up looking a lot like the person doing the research on the historicity of Christ. To the existentialist Jesus turned out to be, whoa!, and existentialist, to the monastic Jesus was monastic, and to the moralist, the center of the life of Christ was moralism. We seem to hold on to that tendency as many of us today in the Christian church, which overemphasizes (in my opinion) a confession of belief in doctrinal stance, thus underemphasizing a lived out gospel that may or may not make the verbal confession that the church is seeking. I think that Peteson's
discussion of the Word is brilliant in bringing these together. I think
it is scary, though, because it is so hard to define and impossible to confine.
I love this stuff. Mark and our other teammate, Ben are reading the Clearing the Playing Field section now. I think they are both excited about joining the discussion.
Feel free to use any of this on your blog.
Spencer OUT!
In response to your thoughts on worship, it seems that Peterson could almost substitute the word "Life" where you have used "worship" in your article. I think that worship is a word that is almost dangerous to use now because the working definition for most people in our churches is so hardened. I think that it is a word that needs to be carefully redefined as we use it because it conjures up so many images throughout the conggregation, and so little imaginative freedom. It seems that we cannot break out of a constrictive box because we spend our time arguing, sometimes debating, and in better scenarios wrestling among different terms, most of which have been petrified and void of life for ages. I think that Rochester is a church that is really open to exploration and is taking some great strides that are the exception to our movement as a whole.
The talk about gnosticism made me think of the critique of the whole "historical Jesus" movement by Bultmann (I think?), where Jesus always ended up looking a lot like the person doing the research on the historicity of Christ. To the existentialist Jesus turned out to be, whoa!, and existentialist, to the monastic Jesus was monastic, and to the moralist, the center of the life of Christ was moralism. We seem to hold on to that tendency as many of us today in the Christian church, which overemphasizes (in my opinion) a confession of belief in doctrinal stance, thus underemphasizing a lived out gospel that may or may not make the verbal confession that the church is seeking. I think that Peteson's
discussion of the Word is brilliant in bringing these together. I think
it is scary, though, because it is so hard to define and impossible to confine.
I love this stuff. Mark and our other teammate, Ben are reading the Clearing the Playing Field section now. I think they are both excited about joining the discussion.
Feel free to use any of this on your blog.
Spencer OUT!
Conversation #2
It is a bit arrogant to quote yourself, but this is from an article I wrote for Wineskins...I think it rings true in my reading of "Clearing the Playing Field":
The top question of the day for American churches is not whether we are right, rationale, or biblically accurate. Whether we have a progressive worship service on Sunday’s or whether we are on the cutting edge in our particular tribe. The top question for the Church is, “Do we understand who God is and the way he understands worship?” Our lives are worship more than the songs that flow from our lips. The Living God is calling the church to be a prophetic people. To be prophetic in the way Jesus taught and lived while he was among us, revealing the Kingdom of God.
I love what Peterson does with the phrase "spiritual theology." In fact, I'm going to unpack this for a moment.
First, I think we need to talk more about the gnostic tendencies in American Christianity or maybe it is just Christianity in general. I think the appeal to the DaVinci Code, for instance, is that it is simply a new (old really) set of beliefs. If I believe in the right to live, personal responsibility, my country--then I'm a faithful Christian. I can root, cheer, believe, admire, and even worship Jesus so long as I don't actually have to follow his way and teachings. Luke-Acts (in conjunction with a discussion about "belief" in the ancient world vs. modern constructs) would serve as a healthy remedy to the disease of gnosticism.
Second, a sound-byte may illuminate what I'm trying to say. Why are eastern religions so appealing to Westerners? In the West, Christianity presents itself as a philosophical system whereas Eastern religions present themselves as a way of life. What I'm saying, Christianity started out as an eastern religion! Rodney Clapp's phrase "Constantinian Gnosticism" seems appropriate here.
Now to theology. Coming from a religious movement (Restoration Movement) that almost devalues theological education (hence our pride in self-taught preachers) I find this to be an extremely important element. We need women and men who've wrestled with the great thinkers of the twentieth century, who've been challenged by James Cone, Guitterez (sp?) et al. We need folks who understand the complexity and mystery of trinity without offering a Kool-Aid "esque" explanation.
But we need theologians to also be practicioners. That's the genius of Peterson. Here's a first class theologian who's committed to the work of local pastorates.I don't know a whole lot of spiritual theologians. I know a lot of spiritual people who carry around some unhealthy theology (myself included) and I know some great theologians who've never actually embodied the Good Samaritan.
Confession: I would rather hide out in the office, writing this reflection than go and put my arm around the woman in the hallway who just found out her husband is leaving her. So, today, the word from God, is to be less "theological" and more "spiritual" (to use Peterson's language). To be more passionate about living according to the rythyms of the gospel than knowing the text.
P.S. I may put some of our discussion on my blog, if I have your permission to do so.
Peace.
Josh
The top question of the day for American churches is not whether we are right, rationale, or biblically accurate. Whether we have a progressive worship service on Sunday’s or whether we are on the cutting edge in our particular tribe. The top question for the Church is, “Do we understand who God is and the way he understands worship?” Our lives are worship more than the songs that flow from our lips. The Living God is calling the church to be a prophetic people. To be prophetic in the way Jesus taught and lived while he was among us, revealing the Kingdom of God.
I love what Peterson does with the phrase "spiritual theology." In fact, I'm going to unpack this for a moment.
First, I think we need to talk more about the gnostic tendencies in American Christianity or maybe it is just Christianity in general. I think the appeal to the DaVinci Code, for instance, is that it is simply a new (old really) set of beliefs. If I believe in the right to live, personal responsibility, my country--then I'm a faithful Christian. I can root, cheer, believe, admire, and even worship Jesus so long as I don't actually have to follow his way and teachings. Luke-Acts (in conjunction with a discussion about "belief" in the ancient world vs. modern constructs) would serve as a healthy remedy to the disease of gnosticism.
Second, a sound-byte may illuminate what I'm trying to say. Why are eastern religions so appealing to Westerners? In the West, Christianity presents itself as a philosophical system whereas Eastern religions present themselves as a way of life. What I'm saying, Christianity started out as an eastern religion! Rodney Clapp's phrase "Constantinian Gnosticism" seems appropriate here.
Now to theology. Coming from a religious movement (Restoration Movement) that almost devalues theological education (hence our pride in self-taught preachers) I find this to be an extremely important element. We need women and men who've wrestled with the great thinkers of the twentieth century, who've been challenged by James Cone, Guitterez (sp?) et al. We need folks who understand the complexity and mystery of trinity without offering a Kool-Aid "esque" explanation.
But we need theologians to also be practicioners. That's the genius of Peterson. Here's a first class theologian who's committed to the work of local pastorates.I don't know a whole lot of spiritual theologians. I know a lot of spiritual people who carry around some unhealthy theology (myself included) and I know some great theologians who've never actually embodied the Good Samaritan.
Confession: I would rather hide out in the office, writing this reflection than go and put my arm around the woman in the hallway who just found out her husband is leaving her. So, today, the word from God, is to be less "theological" and more "spiritual" (to use Peterson's language). To be more passionate about living according to the rythyms of the gospel than knowing the text.
P.S. I may put some of our discussion on my blog, if I have your permission to do so.
Peace.
Josh
Conversation #1
Warning: The following posts will be discussions between Josh Graves, Spencer Bogle, and Mark Manry. One lives in cozy Rochester Hills, MI and the others live in Jinja, Uganda. All three are dedicated to asking the question, "What does it mean to be an apprentice of Jesus?" The conversation is based upon Eugene Peterson's book "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology."
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
Conversation 1- Clearing the Playing Field
And so we begin our conversation on “a conversation in spiritual theology.” I will try to offer up ideas which will ignite some dialogue, though it may be tempting to merely converse on the subject of “Eugene Peterson as poet extraordinaire.” I am not sure what structure will work best for this dialogue, but I think that the form my initial entry will consist of my overall understanding of the main points (often times I find in discussion that what I perceive as the main point might not necessarily be so), maybe a quote or two that I see as representative of his argument (or perhaps quotes that just blew my comfortable framework of spirituality to pieces), and then some proposed questions concerning praxis. Let me know what you think if it is not what you expected or wanted.
This guy is a stud- to steal a Mark Manry word, an absolute wordsmith.
I felt that the Introduction and “Clearing the Playing Field”
prolegomena exposed the current (and historical) Gnostic tendencies that separate the spiritual life from the here and now and from the relationships that compose our nexus of existence. It draws back the theologian with head in the clouds as well as the elitist spiritualist who interprets holiness as isolation from the surrounding ‘sinful’world. I guess if I were to choose another sub-title for the book so far it might simply be, “a celebration of Life.” He has such a way of constructing ideas to open eyes to the possibility and the reality of life in everything that exists. All of this, encased in the Word. I love that he states that he will use 2 stories, 3 texts and 4 terms to begin, and the 2 stories and 3 texts are all scripture. I guess I was expecting a good “sermon illustration” story, but found that everything is scripture in here, and it challenges me to see all of life through the Word. His passion for the Word of God, living and played out in
every aspect of life, is apparent on every page. I thought I had a
fairly decent “theology of the Word,” but I was captured in his exegesis of John 3 and 4, as he exposed the creative nature of the word made flesh. He has a way of sharing thoughts that are so profound to me in a way that leaves me feeling like, “why in the world did I not see that? How have I missed it?” In both stories it is comforting to find Christ at the center, creating and recreating, covering a spectrum of influence of which is impossible for me (or the people with whom I
work) to be outside. It is so very freeing.
My thoughts through this section was that it seems that our interpretation of spirituality and tendency to separate it from its sibling translations of the more “here and now” wind and breath have such a profound impact on ecclesiology. It seems that it lends itself to a rather low ecclesiology where it is hard to see the church as the body of Christ in action in the world. It seems that this gnostic spirituality is always waiting for Christ to “use me” or Christ to do something while very rarely reaching the point of identity where we see ourselves as the body of Christ as well as ourselves in direct relation to the body of Christ incarnate in the world. His 4 terms all seem to resound with one theme- Relationship! With everything.
All of the time. How do we see it? How is Christ at the center? To often we have reduced this to a trite moralism that stifles our imagination. My struggle is to find the language that can re-define the terms that our congregations are so “used to” and comfortable with that are now a barrier to imagining the Christian Life in whatever context they find themselves. How do we talk about sin? Salvation?
Grace? How can we use a language that challenges our churches without
leaving them behind with a seminary jargon? How can we challenge
them to use the same imagination that they use with their jobs working on a computer, designing a car, exploring ways to teach a 7th grader, in their walk with Christ? Well, I guess I will spare the quotes this time because I have guests and need to cook something for dinner. I am anxious to hear what you think.
Spencer
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
Conversation 1- Clearing the Playing Field
And so we begin our conversation on “a conversation in spiritual theology.” I will try to offer up ideas which will ignite some dialogue, though it may be tempting to merely converse on the subject of “Eugene Peterson as poet extraordinaire.” I am not sure what structure will work best for this dialogue, but I think that the form my initial entry will consist of my overall understanding of the main points (often times I find in discussion that what I perceive as the main point might not necessarily be so), maybe a quote or two that I see as representative of his argument (or perhaps quotes that just blew my comfortable framework of spirituality to pieces), and then some proposed questions concerning praxis. Let me know what you think if it is not what you expected or wanted.
This guy is a stud- to steal a Mark Manry word, an absolute wordsmith.
I felt that the Introduction and “Clearing the Playing Field”
prolegomena exposed the current (and historical) Gnostic tendencies that separate the spiritual life from the here and now and from the relationships that compose our nexus of existence. It draws back the theologian with head in the clouds as well as the elitist spiritualist who interprets holiness as isolation from the surrounding ‘sinful’world. I guess if I were to choose another sub-title for the book so far it might simply be, “a celebration of Life.” He has such a way of constructing ideas to open eyes to the possibility and the reality of life in everything that exists. All of this, encased in the Word. I love that he states that he will use 2 stories, 3 texts and 4 terms to begin, and the 2 stories and 3 texts are all scripture. I guess I was expecting a good “sermon illustration” story, but found that everything is scripture in here, and it challenges me to see all of life through the Word. His passion for the Word of God, living and played out in
every aspect of life, is apparent on every page. I thought I had a
fairly decent “theology of the Word,” but I was captured in his exegesis of John 3 and 4, as he exposed the creative nature of the word made flesh. He has a way of sharing thoughts that are so profound to me in a way that leaves me feeling like, “why in the world did I not see that? How have I missed it?” In both stories it is comforting to find Christ at the center, creating and recreating, covering a spectrum of influence of which is impossible for me (or the people with whom I
work) to be outside. It is so very freeing.
My thoughts through this section was that it seems that our interpretation of spirituality and tendency to separate it from its sibling translations of the more “here and now” wind and breath have such a profound impact on ecclesiology. It seems that it lends itself to a rather low ecclesiology where it is hard to see the church as the body of Christ in action in the world. It seems that this gnostic spirituality is always waiting for Christ to “use me” or Christ to do something while very rarely reaching the point of identity where we see ourselves as the body of Christ as well as ourselves in direct relation to the body of Christ incarnate in the world. His 4 terms all seem to resound with one theme- Relationship! With everything.
All of the time. How do we see it? How is Christ at the center? To often we have reduced this to a trite moralism that stifles our imagination. My struggle is to find the language that can re-define the terms that our congregations are so “used to” and comfortable with that are now a barrier to imagining the Christian Life in whatever context they find themselves. How do we talk about sin? Salvation?
Grace? How can we use a language that challenges our churches without
leaving them behind with a seminary jargon? How can we challenge
them to use the same imagination that they use with their jobs working on a computer, designing a car, exploring ways to teach a 7th grader, in their walk with Christ? Well, I guess I will spare the quotes this time because I have guests and need to cook something for dinner. I am anxious to hear what you think.
Spencer
13 May 2006
Mom Instincts
I am convicted that I live my life according to the insticts that are embedded deep within. Some instincts are good, some are destructive. The spiritual life is figuring which is which.
I grew up in a nurturing, safe, and empowering home. Many of the insticts I live out come from my mother.
Instinct #1. The instinct to love. Here's the thing: to love someone is to risk everything. We run the risk of being rejected when we choose to love. Those who are willing to invest in others, pursuing them, face the reality that some will not love in return. Long story short--mom taught me to love without conditions, risking all one has for the sake of others. Mom does not exist for herself but for the sake of others. The instinct to love, to risk, is a great gift--full of terror, wonder, pain, and rejection.
Instinct #2. The instinct to work. My mother wove discipline into her children. Nothing comes easy, if it does, be suspicious. Little comes without hard work, if it does, it probably isn't worth having. Right in front of us, mom lived out discipline (going back to college when I was entering the teenage years) juggling a chaotic family, school, and deep fidelity to a local church community.
Instinct #3. The instinct to praise. To praise is to admit the incompleteness of our existence. Not just praise toward the Creator, but praise towards those around her. Constant affirmation, encouragement, and approval--no matter what adventure we invested ourselves in...and there were many.
To love like Jesus. To work for the way of God like Jesus. To praise the Father and those around you like Jesus...what better legacy can a mother leave for her family, those whose lives cross her annointed path?
I grew up in a nurturing, safe, and empowering home. Many of the insticts I live out come from my mother.
Instinct #1. The instinct to love. Here's the thing: to love someone is to risk everything. We run the risk of being rejected when we choose to love. Those who are willing to invest in others, pursuing them, face the reality that some will not love in return. Long story short--mom taught me to love without conditions, risking all one has for the sake of others. Mom does not exist for herself but for the sake of others. The instinct to love, to risk, is a great gift--full of terror, wonder, pain, and rejection.
Instinct #2. The instinct to work. My mother wove discipline into her children. Nothing comes easy, if it does, be suspicious. Little comes without hard work, if it does, it probably isn't worth having. Right in front of us, mom lived out discipline (going back to college when I was entering the teenage years) juggling a chaotic family, school, and deep fidelity to a local church community.
Instinct #3. The instinct to praise. To praise is to admit the incompleteness of our existence. Not just praise toward the Creator, but praise towards those around her. Constant affirmation, encouragement, and approval--no matter what adventure we invested ourselves in...and there were many.
To love like Jesus. To work for the way of God like Jesus. To praise the Father and those around you like Jesus...what better legacy can a mother leave for her family, those whose lives cross her annointed path?
25 April 2006
Global Night Commute for the Invisible Children
According to my good friend, philosopher, and former Ugandan Missionary, John Barton, Christians tend to fall into two camps when it comes to issues of social justice (to paraphrase). One, they are naive and believe that enough money, American ideals (capitalism, democracy), optimism and denial will assure success and triumph. Or, they are cynical, quick to judge, though they themselves are not personally invested in works of mercy with the poor and marginalized. This is especially dangerous in the world of professional ministers and academia.
***
This weekend, the Rochester Church and Rochester College are partnering to participate in the Global Night Commute (this Saturday from 5pm to 2am)--a follow up to the viewing we hosted for Invisible Children.
Americans are closing their eyes to open the worlds’ to an unseen war.
By lying down, we are joining the invisible children in northern Uganda, and demanding that our government put an end to the longest running war in africa, and one of the worst crises in the world today.
FACTS:
Northern Uganda called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today because of the lack of attention
1.7 million people forcibly displaced
AN estimated 20- 50,000 children abducted to fight as soldiers
tens of thousands of children commuting nightly
130 people die per day in Northern Uganda due to violence
On April 29th in over 130 cities across the country, thousands are lying down to demand that our government take a stand and put an end to child abduction, the need for night commuting, and war in northern Uganda.
We ask two things:
President George Bush and The United States Government should press the United Nations and Yoweri Museveni to do everything in their power to:
End the conflict and protect the civilians in Northern Uganda
Ensure adequate humanitarian assistance to the Invisible Children (in the internally Displaced camps and beyond)
This saturday, join us (rich, poor, college students, young, old) for time of reflection, peaceful protest, community, worship, and story-telling. We'll root for the Pistons and American Idol...will we root for the ones who have no voice?
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovement/globalNightCommute/
***
This weekend, the Rochester Church and Rochester College are partnering to participate in the Global Night Commute (this Saturday from 5pm to 2am)--a follow up to the viewing we hosted for Invisible Children.
Americans are closing their eyes to open the worlds’ to an unseen war.
By lying down, we are joining the invisible children in northern Uganda, and demanding that our government put an end to the longest running war in africa, and one of the worst crises in the world today.
FACTS:
Northern Uganda called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today because of the lack of attention
1.7 million people forcibly displaced
AN estimated 20- 50,000 children abducted to fight as soldiers
tens of thousands of children commuting nightly
130 people die per day in Northern Uganda due to violence
On April 29th in over 130 cities across the country, thousands are lying down to demand that our government take a stand and put an end to child abduction, the need for night commuting, and war in northern Uganda.
We ask two things:
President George Bush and The United States Government should press the United Nations and Yoweri Museveni to do everything in their power to:
End the conflict and protect the civilians in Northern Uganda
Ensure adequate humanitarian assistance to the Invisible Children (in the internally Displaced camps and beyond)
This saturday, join us (rich, poor, college students, young, old) for time of reflection, peaceful protest, community, worship, and story-telling. We'll root for the Pistons and American Idol...will we root for the ones who have no voice?
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovement/globalNightCommute/
17 April 2006
Death's Last Day
The week of March 25, 2001 is a week that forever haunts me around the time of Easter. Just a few Sundays before that Dan O’Donnell, a new student from Washington, asked me if I would take him to hear my coach preach at his little church a half hour away. I agreed and we talked about life, decisions, regrets, and hope the whole way their and back. Dan had made some huge mistakes in his life, but he was willing to admit is condition. His honesty was so thorough and threatening--you almost expected him to turn and say, "Now what about you, Josh?"
Thursday of that week (March 25th) I sat down to eat lunch around 11:30am. Normally, I sat with all the basketball players, but I was growing tired of that so I decided to sit next to Jamie. I knew Jamie only a little. She worked in the Day Care of the church where I was involved, so I’d see her every now and then. Jamie had one of those smiles that could light up a room-and fortunate for us, she chose to display as frequently as possible. We just made small talk. She told me she was going home to Toronto for the weekend.
Adam also connected with me the week of March 25. Adam and I had been friends for over a year and a half. He used to sit up in my room until all hours of the night goofing around, asking questions, and getting into trouble. I’ll never forget the Sunday afternoon that Matt walked into my room with a paintball gun and a sly grin. “Want to take some target practice?” I looked at one of my good friends who were in the room with me and we both nodded, “Ok-what did you have in mind?” “Well, see that building across the road?” He was pointing to one of the other dormitories that was visible from my dorm room. “Well, I figured that these orange paintballs would look nice considering they just put a fresh coat of paint on.” I’d like to say that I resisted this devious offer. I would love to be able to tell you this morning that I stood up and said, “I’m a follower of Jesus, I’m a Christian, I can’t do that.” But if I did, I’d be lying. I took that gun and lit up the dorm across the way. A dorm that had just been coated with fresh paint.
The week of March 25th is yet another reminder to me of death's elusiveness. That Friday night, Dan, Jamie, Adam and two of their friends climbed into an S.U.V and headed towards Toronto. They were just going home to visit mom and dad. (I just remembered this part: Adam crossed my path in the dorm on the Friday morning they left--"Josh, we haven't hung out in a while...when I get back..."). A few hours into the trip, everyone in the car became sleepy. The driver also fell asleep and swerved off the road when her sister in the back woke up just in time and yelled. The driver over compensated for her swerves and flipped the car several times. That night three people died. None of them had reached the age of 22. The other two in the car walked away with minor injuries.
For me and many others, the cross and easter is not simply about the forgiveness of sins and the liberation from the principalties and powers creation so desperately awaits--Friday and Sunday are also about those we long to see when King Jesus has promised to "make all things new."
Thursday of that week (March 25th) I sat down to eat lunch around 11:30am. Normally, I sat with all the basketball players, but I was growing tired of that so I decided to sit next to Jamie. I knew Jamie only a little. She worked in the Day Care of the church where I was involved, so I’d see her every now and then. Jamie had one of those smiles that could light up a room-and fortunate for us, she chose to display as frequently as possible. We just made small talk. She told me she was going home to Toronto for the weekend.
Adam also connected with me the week of March 25. Adam and I had been friends for over a year and a half. He used to sit up in my room until all hours of the night goofing around, asking questions, and getting into trouble. I’ll never forget the Sunday afternoon that Matt walked into my room with a paintball gun and a sly grin. “Want to take some target practice?” I looked at one of my good friends who were in the room with me and we both nodded, “Ok-what did you have in mind?” “Well, see that building across the road?” He was pointing to one of the other dormitories that was visible from my dorm room. “Well, I figured that these orange paintballs would look nice considering they just put a fresh coat of paint on.” I’d like to say that I resisted this devious offer. I would love to be able to tell you this morning that I stood up and said, “I’m a follower of Jesus, I’m a Christian, I can’t do that.” But if I did, I’d be lying. I took that gun and lit up the dorm across the way. A dorm that had just been coated with fresh paint.
The week of March 25th is yet another reminder to me of death's elusiveness. That Friday night, Dan, Jamie, Adam and two of their friends climbed into an S.U.V and headed towards Toronto. They were just going home to visit mom and dad. (I just remembered this part: Adam crossed my path in the dorm on the Friday morning they left--"Josh, we haven't hung out in a while...when I get back..."). A few hours into the trip, everyone in the car became sleepy. The driver also fell asleep and swerved off the road when her sister in the back woke up just in time and yelled. The driver over compensated for her swerves and flipped the car several times. That night three people died. None of them had reached the age of 22. The other two in the car walked away with minor injuries.
For me and many others, the cross and easter is not simply about the forgiveness of sins and the liberation from the principalties and powers creation so desperately awaits--Friday and Sunday are also about those we long to see when King Jesus has promised to "make all things new."
06 April 2006
Men of Grace
Last night, Men of Grace (http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/html/men_of_grace.shtml) spent the evening with our church. Herb Mullen, Keith Hayes, Derek Vulcano, Mark Gullery, Duren Gutierrez, et al interfused their amazing testimonies with songs of hope, power, and redemption.
Men of Grace is a group of men who've gone through at least one year of counseling, treatment at the Grace Centers of Hope (http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/html/grace_centers_of_hope.shtml), led by Pastor Kent Clark. I've been investigating communities in the Metro Detroit who are adamant about living the "radical call" of Jesus--naturally, Grace Centers of Hope is one of the first stops we made while filming for the documentary. I knew after ten minutes that God was present and active in this work. Our findings will be unveiled at the Rochester College Sermon Seminar in May (http://www.rc.edu/sermonseminar/).
Here's a description of Men of Grace:
We are Men of Grace, the men's musical group of Grace Centers of Hope. Our membership consists of men that are currently in, or have completed, the one year rehabilitation program at Grace Centers of Hope. Our style is gospel-blues with emphasis on vocal harmony. Our repertoire consists of original compositions and arrangements that draw on a great wealth of musical genres. These include spirituals, hymns, contemporary styles and original music. The Men of Grace have been honored to sing for President Bush, The Detroit Tigers, Sports Hall of Fame Awards Banquet, the Governor's Luncheon, The Michigan State Fair and many more elite events.
Our Purpose:
Cultivate a Standard of Excellence. We strive for excellence in both our music and our lives as we sing the praises of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Develop Responsibility, Dependability and Accountability. Members of Men of Grace gain these life skills through long term commitment to the group and to the standard of excellence that is cultivated in their personal lives.
Demonstrate Hope and Direction. As an outreach of Grace Centers of Hope, the members of Men of Grace are living examples of how a life can be transformed from one of addiction, abuse and violence to one filled with meaning and hope through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Men of Grace have four CD's available, Saved, I Believe, One Child and The Hymns Project, Volumen One. You can order all of them for $50. All proceeds benefit the fine programs of Grace Centers of Hope. Get all the details about Men of Grace...
The name "Men of Grace" is a registered trademark of Grace Publishing.
***
Mark shared his story: A good job and home was crushed by the power of darkness when his wife committed suicide. He locked his home up and decided to live on the streets of Detroit abusing all kinds of drugs. "I would wait for Pizza Hut to throw away their extra pizza. Then I would take the pizza to the dope dealers in exchange for more drugs." Today Mark is a follower of Jesus, completely transformed.
Keith shared his story: A successful chef who got caught up in drugs and alcohol--he too found himself at the end of his rope when Grace Centers of Hope found him. He could have been another statistic save the power of this redemptive community led by Pastor Clark. Today Keith is a follower of Jesus, completely transformed.
Men of Grace performed many songs (Blessed Assurance, Nothing But the Blood) in many different ways (acapella, jazz, sax solo, electrical guitar)-their message, however was uniform--if any woman or man be in Christ, she/he is a new creation.
I never thought I would cry to a sax solo of "What a Friend We Have In Jesus." But then again, I never thought God could become the central character in his own story.
Bono keeps reminding the world that "Grace has a nagging propensity of interrupting karma." I'm grateful for the divine interruptions in my all too often scattered life.
03 April 2006
Seven Ways to Die: Greed
(From a recent teaching time on "greed" at the Rochester Church)
Conservative Christians claim to be a people of the book, but are these folks a people of the whole book? That’s why we’re doing this study on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” It is too easy to reduce sin to legal and medicinal language, as we discussed last week, when Scripture describes sin in relational terms (sexual affairs break the relationship with the trinity, church, and family). It is too easy to reduce our sin list down to whatever I’m comfortable with, or I’ve been exposed to. Scripture has much to say to such reductionistic tendencies. We’re opening up the sin discussion by wrestling with the Hebrew Scriptures and pride, greed, lust, anger, envy, gluttony, sloth.
So turn your hearts and minds to a rather ignored story in Scripture: Ahab and Jezebel in I Kings.
I Kings 16 introduces to two important details pertaining to this new King of Israel: First, “Ahab did everything evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him,” (16:30). The writer also notes that Ahab does more to provoke “the anger of the LORD” than all kings put together. Second, a natural result of his marriage to Jezebel (a foreigner who does not regard the laws of YHWH) is the practice of Baal worship. “You shall have no other gods before me”—yeah, that whole notion is pushed the margins of the collective consciousness.
This section in First Kings is a profound depiction of God’s reign (as understood through the witness of Elijah) and the way of darkness (Ahab and his cohorts). Let’s turn our attention to the story in chapter 21: Naboth’s Vineyard.
***Reading from I Kings***
Greed: Obsessive desire to acquire wealth, notoriety, fame, or attention. From cover to cover, Scripture warns against greed. In fact, scripture warns that the pursuit of wealth over and above the pursuit of God’s reign in our lives will lead to death of the worst kind: spiritual death (Ecclesiastes 5:10-16; Amos 4:1-3; Mt. 19:23-24; Lk. 16:13;I Timothy 6:9-10).
The story from I Kings does not hide from the subject of money and material posession. There are strong implications for those of us under the spell of wealth, material comfort, and luxury (and I confess this was a lot easier to deal with when I was under the poverty line as a grad student). The reality is...most of us are affluent, blessed beyond what we need to sustain health, decent living.
1. Wealth produces a subliminal but strong slavery. Chasing financial security turns you into someone you never intended to be. This is thus the great paradox of the pursuit of wealth. Though one thinks it will provide security, contentment, it only leaves the pursuer in pursuit of more. The pursuit of money and wealth is spiritual quicksand leaving no survivors.
2. Greed reveals a self-mutilation of the soul. We become splintered people killing the whole child of God we were created to be. Our time, thoughts, motives are divided. We almost become two different people: the Christian and the one out to get “his or her’s.”
3. Wealth perverts humans into objects and friends into allies. Though we might be reluctant to participate in outright formal schemes, we’ll turn an eye or participate indirectly if we stand to gain financially (i.e. Ahab). The temptation is to manipulate our tax return. “Well I can qualify for this exemption, if I just fudge a few details here and there.” The temptation is to skim off the top of a budget, to give the waitress a dollar instead of the expected rate of 18 percent.
4. Greed, the greatest grievance, turns our hearts hard toward the poor and suffering. Elijah cannot stand for injustice, exploitation of the poor and innocent. The real terroists, to paraphrase one person, are the Christians who sat on the board of Enron.
The temptation for some is to spiritualize the challenging stories of scripture. “As long as you put God first.” I remind you that save “kingdom language” Jesus (whom the Christian faith believes to be God’s purest revelation) discusses money and material possession more than any other subject in the Gospels. Money, wealth, material possession might be the strongest indicator of one’s discipleship. Don’t believe me? Why are people so defensive in talking about the issue? “This isn’t a religious issue. Don’t bring stuff that has nothing to do with the bible into this discussion.”
Consumerism (to get verses to give away/empty) is the water we swim in, the air we breathe. It is asking someone to describe the color black, when everything is black, no light, only oppressive darkness exists. Consumerism is so much a part of our existence; we are often unable to see it. We accept this fallen attitude/power as normal when Scripture wants to combat such thinking.
Wall Street Movie Quotes (1987)
Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko): Lunch is for wimps.
Martin Sheen (Carl Fox): Stop going for the easy buck and start producing something with your life. Create, instead of living off the buying and selling of others.
Michael Douglas (Gekko): The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It's bull. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own.
Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox): How much is enough?
Michael Douglas (Gekko): It's not a question of enough, pal. It's a zero sum game, somebody wins, somebody loses. Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply transferred from one perception to another.
Michael Douglas (Gekko): The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of it's forms - greed for life, for money, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed - you mark my words - will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you.
The Bible collides with the message of greed. It calls us to choose simplicity over complex purchasing habits. It calls us to ask ourselves “do I really know what difference is between what I ‘want” versus what I ‘need?’” It calls us to change. It calls us to question. It calls us to repent. It calls us to remember the poor. It calls us to remember that we were blessed so that we might bless others.
Oh, Father—we are sometimes a selfish people.
We seek to gain at the expense of others.
We attempt to exploit when it will benefit us.
Teach us to give away, to empty ourselves
Just as Jesus gave away his power, control, and influence.
Amen.
Conservative Christians claim to be a people of the book, but are these folks a people of the whole book? That’s why we’re doing this study on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” It is too easy to reduce sin to legal and medicinal language, as we discussed last week, when Scripture describes sin in relational terms (sexual affairs break the relationship with the trinity, church, and family). It is too easy to reduce our sin list down to whatever I’m comfortable with, or I’ve been exposed to. Scripture has much to say to such reductionistic tendencies. We’re opening up the sin discussion by wrestling with the Hebrew Scriptures and pride, greed, lust, anger, envy, gluttony, sloth.
So turn your hearts and minds to a rather ignored story in Scripture: Ahab and Jezebel in I Kings.
I Kings 16 introduces to two important details pertaining to this new King of Israel: First, “Ahab did everything evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him,” (16:30). The writer also notes that Ahab does more to provoke “the anger of the LORD” than all kings put together. Second, a natural result of his marriage to Jezebel (a foreigner who does not regard the laws of YHWH) is the practice of Baal worship. “You shall have no other gods before me”—yeah, that whole notion is pushed the margins of the collective consciousness.
This section in First Kings is a profound depiction of God’s reign (as understood through the witness of Elijah) and the way of darkness (Ahab and his cohorts). Let’s turn our attention to the story in chapter 21: Naboth’s Vineyard.
***Reading from I Kings***
Greed: Obsessive desire to acquire wealth, notoriety, fame, or attention. From cover to cover, Scripture warns against greed. In fact, scripture warns that the pursuit of wealth over and above the pursuit of God’s reign in our lives will lead to death of the worst kind: spiritual death (Ecclesiastes 5:10-16; Amos 4:1-3; Mt. 19:23-24; Lk. 16:13;I Timothy 6:9-10).
The story from I Kings does not hide from the subject of money and material posession. There are strong implications for those of us under the spell of wealth, material comfort, and luxury (and I confess this was a lot easier to deal with when I was under the poverty line as a grad student). The reality is...most of us are affluent, blessed beyond what we need to sustain health, decent living.
1. Wealth produces a subliminal but strong slavery. Chasing financial security turns you into someone you never intended to be. This is thus the great paradox of the pursuit of wealth. Though one thinks it will provide security, contentment, it only leaves the pursuer in pursuit of more. The pursuit of money and wealth is spiritual quicksand leaving no survivors.
2. Greed reveals a self-mutilation of the soul. We become splintered people killing the whole child of God we were created to be. Our time, thoughts, motives are divided. We almost become two different people: the Christian and the one out to get “his or her’s.”
3. Wealth perverts humans into objects and friends into allies. Though we might be reluctant to participate in outright formal schemes, we’ll turn an eye or participate indirectly if we stand to gain financially (i.e. Ahab). The temptation is to manipulate our tax return. “Well I can qualify for this exemption, if I just fudge a few details here and there.” The temptation is to skim off the top of a budget, to give the waitress a dollar instead of the expected rate of 18 percent.
4. Greed, the greatest grievance, turns our hearts hard toward the poor and suffering. Elijah cannot stand for injustice, exploitation of the poor and innocent. The real terroists, to paraphrase one person, are the Christians who sat on the board of Enron.
The temptation for some is to spiritualize the challenging stories of scripture. “As long as you put God first.” I remind you that save “kingdom language” Jesus (whom the Christian faith believes to be God’s purest revelation) discusses money and material possession more than any other subject in the Gospels. Money, wealth, material possession might be the strongest indicator of one’s discipleship. Don’t believe me? Why are people so defensive in talking about the issue? “This isn’t a religious issue. Don’t bring stuff that has nothing to do with the bible into this discussion.”
Consumerism (to get verses to give away/empty) is the water we swim in, the air we breathe. It is asking someone to describe the color black, when everything is black, no light, only oppressive darkness exists. Consumerism is so much a part of our existence; we are often unable to see it. We accept this fallen attitude/power as normal when Scripture wants to combat such thinking.
Wall Street Movie Quotes (1987)
Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko): Lunch is for wimps.
Martin Sheen (Carl Fox): Stop going for the easy buck and start producing something with your life. Create, instead of living off the buying and selling of others.
Michael Douglas (Gekko): The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It's bull. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own.
Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox): How much is enough?
Michael Douglas (Gekko): It's not a question of enough, pal. It's a zero sum game, somebody wins, somebody loses. Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply transferred from one perception to another.
Michael Douglas (Gekko): The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of it's forms - greed for life, for money, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed - you mark my words - will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you.
The Bible collides with the message of greed. It calls us to choose simplicity over complex purchasing habits. It calls us to ask ourselves “do I really know what difference is between what I ‘want” versus what I ‘need?’” It calls us to change. It calls us to question. It calls us to repent. It calls us to remember the poor. It calls us to remember that we were blessed so that we might bless others.
Oh, Father—we are sometimes a selfish people.
We seek to gain at the expense of others.
We attempt to exploit when it will benefit us.
Teach us to give away, to empty ourselves
Just as Jesus gave away his power, control, and influence.
Amen.
22 March 2006
Pulitzer, Loneliness, Bono, and Basketball
Four books to read in 2006:
The Known World by Edward P. Jones (Amistad Publishers). Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book chronciles the life of Henry Townsend, " black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia." Robbins unexpectedly dies and his widow (Caldonia) takes control--chaos, uncertainty ensue. This books brings into the world of slavery, the incredible will of African-Americans, and the reality of hope in the midst of certain despair.
The Restless Heart: Finding Our Spiritual Home in Times of Loneliness by Ronald Rolheiser (Doubleday Publishers). Lonelinesss is part of the journey for those who know they will never reach their destination this side of the return of King Jesus. Loneliness is prevalent in many people: usually, the more sucessful someone is the more loneliness creeps in.
Bono by Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books). One of the more influential figures in the world, this book is a series of conversations--there is some explicit language but don't let that ruin the incredible story of this Irish boy turned prophet/rock star. When it comes to U2, I'm haunted by this question, "A band that is blatantly spiritual attracts more fans, sells more records than any band in the world. What is it about their understanding of faith that the church can learn?" Though Bono is controversial politically (Patrick and I have fun talking about this)--Bono will challenge stock answers to life's difficult questions.
And the Walls Came Tumbling Down by Frank Fitzpatrick (University of Nebraska Press). Contextualizes the story of the infamous Adolph Rupp and Kentucky (Rupp's Runts) facing off against Texas Western in the 1966 NCAA Championship Game for Men's Basketball. If you enjoyed the movie "Glory Road", you'll love this book. Texas Western changed American Sports and American culture in ways that are just now being understood.
The Known World by Edward P. Jones (Amistad Publishers). Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book chronciles the life of Henry Townsend, " black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia." Robbins unexpectedly dies and his widow (Caldonia) takes control--chaos, uncertainty ensue. This books brings into the world of slavery, the incredible will of African-Americans, and the reality of hope in the midst of certain despair.
The Restless Heart: Finding Our Spiritual Home in Times of Loneliness by Ronald Rolheiser (Doubleday Publishers). Lonelinesss is part of the journey for those who know they will never reach their destination this side of the return of King Jesus. Loneliness is prevalent in many people: usually, the more sucessful someone is the more loneliness creeps in.
Bono by Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books). One of the more influential figures in the world, this book is a series of conversations--there is some explicit language but don't let that ruin the incredible story of this Irish boy turned prophet/rock star. When it comes to U2, I'm haunted by this question, "A band that is blatantly spiritual attracts more fans, sells more records than any band in the world. What is it about their understanding of faith that the church can learn?" Though Bono is controversial politically (Patrick and I have fun talking about this)--Bono will challenge stock answers to life's difficult questions.
And the Walls Came Tumbling Down by Frank Fitzpatrick (University of Nebraska Press). Contextualizes the story of the infamous Adolph Rupp and Kentucky (Rupp's Runts) facing off against Texas Western in the 1966 NCAA Championship Game for Men's Basketball. If you enjoyed the movie "Glory Road", you'll love this book. Texas Western changed American Sports and American culture in ways that are just now being understood.
18 March 2006
The Bronx
I recently spent a week in the Bronx, NY; specifically--the Bronx Fellowship of Christ (www.bronxfellowship.org) led by Jared Looney, Malissa Endsley, Lindy Emerson (Rochester College Grad, partially supported by the Rochester Church)et al.
These ministers are committed to doing tough ministry in perhaps one of the most complex context's in the world. They are well-trained, skilled, bold, and posess the hearts of kingdom servants.
Their mission is to create house churches all throughout the Bronx (the largest of the five borough's with 1.5 million people). While several missional church outfits have been able to reach Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan--the Bronx remains the least "churched" section of New York City.
And so these women and men come from the Northeast, Texas, Missouri with one idea: to increase the kingdom of God in perhaps the most influential city in the western world.
Here's a description from their web page:
Bronx Fellowship of Christ is a community of people who are discovering how to fulfill their potential as their Creator intended. Through His power, we find meaning in life, we overcome struggles, we find comfort in trials, and we celebrate the joy of relationships with each other and with our Lord. We invite you to come & discover what this journey of faith is all about.
Why has this new church been forming in the Bronx? It takes many different churches working together to make a lasting difference in the city. Sometimes people find it difficult to find a place where they can fit in an existing church. No one single church, no matter how large and active, can all by itself meet every need that exists in the city, but we hope that God will use us to be a part of his work to transform life in New York.
We understand that some people have been offended and even hurt by religious experiences. Some have tried religion but feel that there is still something missing. Bronx Fellowship of Christ aims to be a safe opportunity where sincere seekers can grow stronger day-by-day. You are welcome to bring all of your life's experiences with you including your questions and frustrations. We are each challenged to learn and to grow, but we come as we are.
Bronx Fellowship of Christ meets altogether as a church on the first Sunday of each month in a rented space. During the rest of the month, we meet in homes. We see the house church as experiencing family, and the church-wide assembly as a type of family reunion. We have learned that there are many advantages that come from the informality, simplicity, and warmth that are discovered in many house churches. There are increased opportunities for people to encourage each other, pray for one another, and experience the blessing of hospitality in these small group settings.
---
I am struck by three things when I reflect upon BFC.
1. Committment to community. This church model is based on relationships, not charisma, programs, dollars, grants, etc.
2. Emphasis upon calling. In this approach, each disciple is equally vital to Jesus demand of being "salt and light," a "city on a hill." Because they all truly see themselves as ministers of redemption, they do not relegate the "real" work of the church to clergy.
3. Non-institutional hassles. They do not wrestle over large heating bills, mortgage payments, building campaigns, etc. While they're not exempt from some of the political games missionaries all over the world have to play, for the most part, they are free to be bold, innovative, and fresh.
The work is tough. One has to reorient the notion of "success" and "effectiveness." But it is one of the purest kingdom works I've ever been around.
Check out Lindy's blog at www.lindyerin.blogspot.com.
These ministers are committed to doing tough ministry in perhaps one of the most complex context's in the world. They are well-trained, skilled, bold, and posess the hearts of kingdom servants.
Their mission is to create house churches all throughout the Bronx (the largest of the five borough's with 1.5 million people). While several missional church outfits have been able to reach Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan--the Bronx remains the least "churched" section of New York City.
And so these women and men come from the Northeast, Texas, Missouri with one idea: to increase the kingdom of God in perhaps the most influential city in the western world.
Here's a description from their web page:
Bronx Fellowship of Christ is a community of people who are discovering how to fulfill their potential as their Creator intended. Through His power, we find meaning in life, we overcome struggles, we find comfort in trials, and we celebrate the joy of relationships with each other and with our Lord. We invite you to come & discover what this journey of faith is all about.
Why has this new church been forming in the Bronx? It takes many different churches working together to make a lasting difference in the city. Sometimes people find it difficult to find a place where they can fit in an existing church. No one single church, no matter how large and active, can all by itself meet every need that exists in the city, but we hope that God will use us to be a part of his work to transform life in New York.
We understand that some people have been offended and even hurt by religious experiences. Some have tried religion but feel that there is still something missing. Bronx Fellowship of Christ aims to be a safe opportunity where sincere seekers can grow stronger day-by-day. You are welcome to bring all of your life's experiences with you including your questions and frustrations. We are each challenged to learn and to grow, but we come as we are.
Bronx Fellowship of Christ meets altogether as a church on the first Sunday of each month in a rented space. During the rest of the month, we meet in homes. We see the house church as experiencing family, and the church-wide assembly as a type of family reunion. We have learned that there are many advantages that come from the informality, simplicity, and warmth that are discovered in many house churches. There are increased opportunities for people to encourage each other, pray for one another, and experience the blessing of hospitality in these small group settings.
---
I am struck by three things when I reflect upon BFC.
1. Committment to community. This church model is based on relationships, not charisma, programs, dollars, grants, etc.
2. Emphasis upon calling. In this approach, each disciple is equally vital to Jesus demand of being "salt and light," a "city on a hill." Because they all truly see themselves as ministers of redemption, they do not relegate the "real" work of the church to clergy.
3. Non-institutional hassles. They do not wrestle over large heating bills, mortgage payments, building campaigns, etc. While they're not exempt from some of the political games missionaries all over the world have to play, for the most part, they are free to be bold, innovative, and fresh.
The work is tough. One has to reorient the notion of "success" and "effectiveness." But it is one of the purest kingdom works I've ever been around.
Check out Lindy's blog at www.lindyerin.blogspot.com.
28 February 2006
3
In the spirit of my good friend Mark Manry (up and coming theologian and pastor to the people of Jinja, Uganda) I offer the following. See www.manryfamily.com.
*Three affirmations of the Churches of Christ:
Autonomous communties/leadership
Legacy of incredible ministry
Baptism and Eucharist (though we wouldn't dare call it that)
*Three (ok Five) professors and/or courses who have influenced your thinking:
John York/David Fleer: Finding my own voice in preaching and teaching
John Mark Hicks: Theology matters
Lee Camp: Pledging allegiance to the lamb
Rubel Shelly: Bridging the world of academics and pastoral care
*Three academic books which have shaped your thinking:
N.T. Wright "The Challenge of Jesus"
Gustavo Gutierrez "We Drink From Our Own Wells"
James H. Cone "Black Theolgy and Black Power"
*Three CoC/Stone-Campbell books which have shaped your thinking:
C. Leonard Allen "Things Unseen"
Lee Camp "Mere Discipleship"
Gary Holloway and Doug Foster "Renewing God's People"
*Three hopes you have for the future of Churches of Christ:
That we would become autonomous (as we advertise)
That we would be known for ministering the to the marginalized
That we would lead the way in racial reconciliation
*Three fears you have for Churches of Christ:
That we will become obsolete due to our "Christian ghetto" DNA
That we will continue to shoot members of our own army
That we will continue to be engaged in the worship wars; creating a new way of being legalistic.
*Three challenges we will face in Churches of Christ in our generation:
Understanding the post-modern or post-Christian context
Planting churches with healthy DNA
Welcoming the "other"
*Three affirmations of the Churches of Christ:
Autonomous communties/leadership
Legacy of incredible ministry
Baptism and Eucharist (though we wouldn't dare call it that)
*Three (ok Five) professors and/or courses who have influenced your thinking:
John York/David Fleer: Finding my own voice in preaching and teaching
John Mark Hicks: Theology matters
Lee Camp: Pledging allegiance to the lamb
Rubel Shelly: Bridging the world of academics and pastoral care
*Three academic books which have shaped your thinking:
N.T. Wright "The Challenge of Jesus"
Gustavo Gutierrez "We Drink From Our Own Wells"
James H. Cone "Black Theolgy and Black Power"
*Three CoC/Stone-Campbell books which have shaped your thinking:
C. Leonard Allen "Things Unseen"
Lee Camp "Mere Discipleship"
Gary Holloway and Doug Foster "Renewing God's People"
*Three hopes you have for the future of Churches of Christ:
That we would become autonomous (as we advertise)
That we would be known for ministering the to the marginalized
That we would lead the way in racial reconciliation
*Three fears you have for Churches of Christ:
That we will become obsolete due to our "Christian ghetto" DNA
That we will continue to shoot members of our own army
That we will continue to be engaged in the worship wars; creating a new way of being legalistic.
*Three challenges we will face in Churches of Christ in our generation:
Understanding the post-modern or post-Christian context
Planting churches with healthy DNA
Welcoming the "other"
24 January 2006
The Reasons I love Kara
I have been married for about a year and half now. I'm certainly no expert, in fact, some days I believe I'm getting worse :)
Here are some reasons I love my wife.
1. She's the most innocent person I've ever been around. She reminds me of how tainted I've become along the way and the need for purity and holiness in my life.
2. She is constantly aware of our relationship. While I tend to conquer other battles and come up with ideas for everything under the sun--Kara is thinking about me.
3. Kara is one of the funniest people I know. Whether it is her infamous attitude which reminds me "I might be the head, but she's the neck on which the head turns," or her constant one-liners that remind me I am not nearly as important to the affairs of the universe as I often convince myself I am. Kara is the missing charactrer in "Everybody Loves Raymond."
4. Kara loves to watch NFL games (and now Piston games) more than I do! She knows the schedule, time, etc. before I get home from work.
5. Kara lives and breathes relationships. While I like to lock myself away--Kara is talking, writing, thinking about people. She reminds me that we were created for community.
6. Kara has allowed me to be who I am without conforming to her desires from a husband. I have strange passions, probably not what she imagined her husband to be fixated with when she daydreamed as a little girl.
7. She's also put her foot down to let me know when my independent spirit violates our covenant--she gives me grace without letting me walk all over her.
More than the previous, I love Kara because she is a living reminder to me that I am a chid of a God who pursues me in my weakest moments; in my darkest hour. She is a living reminder of the grace that Jesus pours out without stipulation or reservation.
Thanks Kara for for eighteen months, seven days, one hour, 12 minutes of a glimpse of what God has in store for creation.
Here are some reasons I love my wife.
1. She's the most innocent person I've ever been around. She reminds me of how tainted I've become along the way and the need for purity and holiness in my life.
2. She is constantly aware of our relationship. While I tend to conquer other battles and come up with ideas for everything under the sun--Kara is thinking about me.
3. Kara is one of the funniest people I know. Whether it is her infamous attitude which reminds me "I might be the head, but she's the neck on which the head turns," or her constant one-liners that remind me I am not nearly as important to the affairs of the universe as I often convince myself I am. Kara is the missing charactrer in "Everybody Loves Raymond."
4. Kara loves to watch NFL games (and now Piston games) more than I do! She knows the schedule, time, etc. before I get home from work.
5. Kara lives and breathes relationships. While I like to lock myself away--Kara is talking, writing, thinking about people. She reminds me that we were created for community.
6. Kara has allowed me to be who I am without conforming to her desires from a husband. I have strange passions, probably not what she imagined her husband to be fixated with when she daydreamed as a little girl.
7. She's also put her foot down to let me know when my independent spirit violates our covenant--she gives me grace without letting me walk all over her.
More than the previous, I love Kara because she is a living reminder to me that I am a chid of a God who pursues me in my weakest moments; in my darkest hour. She is a living reminder of the grace that Jesus pours out without stipulation or reservation.
Thanks Kara for for eighteen months, seven days, one hour, 12 minutes of a glimpse of what God has in store for creation.
15 January 2006
Voices
Here are some prayer requests from the working poor and homeless of Metro Detroit ministered to by God's Helping Hands. These prayers are honest, raw, and telling. In some ways, the wealthy (myself included) pray the same--in many ways, my prayers are so different.
Jennifer Z. ~ That my soon to be ex-husband will start to support his children. He walked out on us when I was 3 1/2 months pregnant.
Arlyn W. ~ That we get our trailer back in shape from the fire on Thanksgiving Day 2005.
Monetta T. ~ Family needs residents, stability, and healing.
Cyntha T. ~ pray for me and my children.
Tanisha S. ~ Like to pray for my family and friends. A special prayer for Ms. Lavonnda who stays in Detroit that needs help with her utility bill, they have been cut off.
Dorothy R. ~ Prayers.
Shakera P. ~ To have a home of my own after the holidays.
Quanshay M. ~ I want me and everybody in my family to be blessed and I need a job.
Deborah M. ~ Just to find work, happiness, to settle down with someone special, and family.
Regina M. ~ Please pray for me financially. Pray that God will bless my family with a home.
Theresa K. ~ God please look out for me on Christmas day, for my son David and me will we not have the good Christmas we want. Thank you, God.
Pamela K. ~ That God would help us out and that I can find a job.
Darrell J. ~ For a job, health, and guidance.
Linda F. ~ For God to help us with financially and food.
Patricia D. ~ I have no way to buy gifts for my child so I pray that a miracle come before Christmas. So she does not wake up with nothing.
Twanna D. ~ I pray that me and my family turn our lives over to God 100 %. Pray that there will be peace with me and my children.
Tina C. ~ Please say a prayer for my family since we are homeless.
Jeniett B. ~ That me and my children continue to grow stronger. That I receive a job so that I can stop using unemployment. That me and my children continue to have good health.
Mark B. ~ Pray for all my family with the coping of the loss of my grandmother. She was a victim of the Lake George accident.
---
"Oh God: Help us to see those around us as you see them. Help us to weep over the things that cause you to weep. Break our hearts with the things that break your heart. Hear our prayer."
Jennifer Z. ~ That my soon to be ex-husband will start to support his children. He walked out on us when I was 3 1/2 months pregnant.
Arlyn W. ~ That we get our trailer back in shape from the fire on Thanksgiving Day 2005.
Monetta T. ~ Family needs residents, stability, and healing.
Cyntha T. ~ pray for me and my children.
Tanisha S. ~ Like to pray for my family and friends. A special prayer for Ms. Lavonnda who stays in Detroit that needs help with her utility bill, they have been cut off.
Dorothy R. ~ Prayers.
Shakera P. ~ To have a home of my own after the holidays.
Quanshay M. ~ I want me and everybody in my family to be blessed and I need a job.
Deborah M. ~ Just to find work, happiness, to settle down with someone special, and family.
Regina M. ~ Please pray for me financially. Pray that God will bless my family with a home.
Theresa K. ~ God please look out for me on Christmas day, for my son David and me will we not have the good Christmas we want. Thank you, God.
Pamela K. ~ That God would help us out and that I can find a job.
Darrell J. ~ For a job, health, and guidance.
Linda F. ~ For God to help us with financially and food.
Patricia D. ~ I have no way to buy gifts for my child so I pray that a miracle come before Christmas. So she does not wake up with nothing.
Twanna D. ~ I pray that me and my family turn our lives over to God 100 %. Pray that there will be peace with me and my children.
Tina C. ~ Please say a prayer for my family since we are homeless.
Jeniett B. ~ That me and my children continue to grow stronger. That I receive a job so that I can stop using unemployment. That me and my children continue to have good health.
Mark B. ~ Pray for all my family with the coping of the loss of my grandmother. She was a victim of the Lake George accident.
---
"Oh God: Help us to see those around us as you see them. Help us to weep over the things that cause you to weep. Break our hearts with the things that break your heart. Hear our prayer."
13 January 2006
In my freshmen Intro to the New Testament class this semester, I have students from across the religious spectrum. Here is how the class breaks down (I will have about 65 students total so the numbers might be off a bit):
1. Non-denominational (non Churches of Christ): 17
2. Churches of Christ (9)
3. Baptist (7)
4. Roman Catholic (6)
5. Lutheran (5)
6. Pentecostal (4)
7. Non-believer (1)
8. Methodist (2)
9. Christadelphia (1)
10. Unsure (5)
11. Didn't vote (5)
--
I am not interested in converting these students to the tenets of Churches of Christ. I am interested in engaging all of them in the person of Jesus.
This class will seek to allow the world of the New Testament to absorb the world we find ourselves in. The class will discuss the basic features of the Christian faith as presented in the New Testament. Special attention will be given to the Gospel in relation to mission, discipleship, poverty, salvation, trinity, and the church. The class will emphasize the uniqueness of the four Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John); and the various writings of St. Paul and St. John. On occasion, the class will attempt to discuss the Christian faith in light of postmodernity and major world religions. It is my desire to capture the students’ imagination and appreciation for the story of Jesus (the Gospels) and the story of the Jesus Movement (the Church).
I understand the level of exposure to Christianity will be of great diversity. I will do whatever I can to assist you in making this class a powerful experience. Not only am I committed to providing pertinent information, but it is my desire for each of you to experience transformation.
1. Non-denominational (non Churches of Christ): 17
2. Churches of Christ (9)
3. Baptist (7)
4. Roman Catholic (6)
5. Lutheran (5)
6. Pentecostal (4)
7. Non-believer (1)
8. Methodist (2)
9. Christadelphia (1)
10. Unsure (5)
11. Didn't vote (5)
--
I am not interested in converting these students to the tenets of Churches of Christ. I am interested in engaging all of them in the person of Jesus.
This class will seek to allow the world of the New Testament to absorb the world we find ourselves in. The class will discuss the basic features of the Christian faith as presented in the New Testament. Special attention will be given to the Gospel in relation to mission, discipleship, poverty, salvation, trinity, and the church. The class will emphasize the uniqueness of the four Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John); and the various writings of St. Paul and St. John. On occasion, the class will attempt to discuss the Christian faith in light of postmodernity and major world religions. It is my desire to capture the students’ imagination and appreciation for the story of Jesus (the Gospels) and the story of the Jesus Movement (the Church).
I understand the level of exposure to Christianity will be of great diversity. I will do whatever I can to assist you in making this class a powerful experience. Not only am I committed to providing pertinent information, but it is my desire for each of you to experience transformation.
06 January 2006
24 December 2005
Scandalous Night
The following is a dilogue sermon preached by Patrick Mead and Josh Graves. Italics are Patrick, normal font is Josh.
This is a hard day for me. People want me to be involved in a culture war and wear “Merry Christmas” on my sleeve. Christmas has become, in some ways, a political issue.
Others want me to preach against materialism; about how we have thrown away Jesus for a sale at the mall. Still others want me to throw the whole holiday away. It’s just a remnant of a pagan celebration, they say.
But I confess: I love the lights. I love the tinsel and the trees. I love the crowded stores and I love buying presents.
So what’s a Christmas loving, present buying, ornament hanging, eggnog drinking preacher to do?
How about: brace myself for reality. How about: approach the story of the birth of Christ the way it really was and see how that changes things.Strip away the tinsel and the wrapping presents. No more elves, reindeer, and, I’m sorry, but Santa will have to go as well. Shopping malls are demolished, eggnog poured out—we’re stripping Christmas of its pomp and flair. This means there will be no credit card statements in January to fret over (now there’s good news). This also implies the pressure is off to buy that perfect gift.
Yes, we’re stripping Christmas. Please turn in your lists of things you “need” and exchange it for something much more meaningful. Turn off the cheesy Christmas music (not “Silent Night”…no, no—I’m talking about the Christmas music that isn’t really about anything at all).
In fact, while we’re at it. We’re going to tear down this church building. Yep, I’m sorry but the building has to go. “Why?” you ask. Well, we’re stripping Christmas for everything it has morphed into over the last several decades: buildings, possessions, sales, institutions, commercialization, deals and…well, anything that clouds the real scandal of the night when God chose to enter into the human drama.
Like a playwright, I can see God going over the script in his mind. “Ok, we’ve got all the characters in place: Mary, the young maiden, will play the role of unassuming hero. She will bear God into the world. I will choose the least likely person for the most significant role: woman, youth, uneducated, lower class—that’s should remove any doubt about the kind of people I work with. Now, for my next character, I need Joseph. Joseph will have to make good out of a messy situation. His name will be slandered and his reputation put in jeopardy. His fiancé is pregnant and he’s not the father, at least he’s not the biological father. Ok this is shaping up to be a fine drama. Now, a couple of distant characters need to be brought into this action: Caesar and Herod. Caesar, the most powerful man in the entire world. Commander of a Nation that stretches from England to Africa, France to Arabia—the one whom all Roman citizens and subjects must confess, ‘Caesar is Lord.’ More dangerous than Caesar though will be Herod. Herod shall be an extension of Caesar. Yes, Jewish but much more concerned about his place in the Roman Empire than the covenant community that is Israel. Oh, these two political power players will have huge implications for the One who is about to enter into the world. And let’s throw in Zechariah and Elizabeth—yes they’ll experience a similar shock to Mary and Joseph only their gift will pave the way for the One. Add Simeon (the one person who will truly understand the scandal of divinity mixing with flesh) and the stage is set for the One to enter into to his own story.”
And they shall call him Yeshua, which means God will rescue and save you from the powers and principalities. And they shall call him Immanuel, which means God once roamed the earth in bodily form. And they shall call him son of David, demonstrating the faithfulness of God through many centuries. And they shall call him the Lion who rules over all things. And they shall call him the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. And they shall call him Messiah, which means he has been anointed to embody the Way of God in a broken world. And they shall call him Son of God because he is truly the one unique manifestation of God. And they shall call him Lord…because he is the author and perfector of our faith—in him all of creation is held together. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Those are impressive titles are the not? Unfortunately, these titles do not emerge, or at least they do not begin to impact the early followers of Jesus until a few generations after his death and resurrection. The easy thing to is to make Jesus so divine in his earthly life that we render him an ancient superman of sorts.
But, don’t do this.
Here’s where I think the pagan part comes in. I love nativity scenes, but let’s be real: the real barn would have been dark, full of dust, motes of straw, blood, the smell of sweat from Mary – and Joseph, the stink of animals… When we remove all that and put white faces on Mary, Joseph and Jesus, put adoring, sweet looking angels around them and maybe a few shepherds… we have turned the story of the birth of Christ into some Nordic myth. We have the birth of Thor the Sincrusher, not the lamb of God.
That is just the beginning of the problem. If we have a sterile birth scene we lose the power of God at work in the middle of pain, fear, darkness, confusion, and… well, a very bad place. (Norman Rockwell gifts) God works in lives that look not even a little like a Norman Rockwell painting.
We tend to want to “pretty up” the stories in the Bible. We want to wipe the sweat off of Mary, hide all the blood, make the swaddling clothes white and clean, but…
The stories in Matthew and Luke do not allow us to do this. Let him be as human as he was created to be by His father. Allow him to have a sense of humor, to be angry with the religious leaders, to show his emotion in all its different colors. Please, allow Jesus to be a man. Let him develop as a man of intense faith. Don’t make him out to be the 12-year-old genius and wizard (as some of the Apocryphal works do)—Jesus, like you and I, is in process. Remember he doesn’t officially hit the public scene until he is about the age of 30.
This concept of a developing Christ might be strange to you, but remember what you read when we went through the gospels. Jesus is surprised by some people’s faith, he is angered, he cries. He is, in a word, human. And he has human parents.
And please allow his parents to speak a fresh word of encouragement this morning. In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph is the focal point—the one on whom all the angels and creation lean in asking, “What will he say? Will he say yes to God?” Will he believe the angel or will he chalk it up to bad Chinese food or stress at the office? What will this Joseph think? Will he allow his wife-to-be to endure shame, and gossip. “There’s goes Jesus—who’s his father anyway?” It is scary to think, that had Jesus been born today, he might be a candidate for abortion.
"In our own age of people who raise children without benefit of marriage, the issue of legitimacy sounds a bit quaint, but the heart of the story is much bigger and more profound than that. The heart of the story is about a just man who wakes up one day to find his life wrecked: his wife pregnant, his trust betrayed, his name ruined, his future revoked. It is about a righteous man who surveys a mess he has had absolutely nothing to do with and decides to believe that God is present in it…He claims the scandal and it gives it a name. He owns the mess—he legitimates it—and the mess becomes the place where the Messiah is born," (Barbara Brown Taylor in Gospel Medicine).
I’m really glad that Joseph didn’t do what many conservative Christians say they would do in any given situation, “Well, I’ll just do what the Bible tells me to do,” as if the Bible can just be mined for any situation without thought or interpretations. As one man reminded me this week, do we know what the Bible Joseph read instructed him to do in this situation? It instructed him to take the woman out “and stone her death in front of the people,” what about that (Deut. 22)? Joseph understood that the Scriptures must always be read through the heart and character of God. I’m glad he didn’t just read the Bible and do what it says. Aren’t you?
Don’t run from this or do the standard cop-out of “well, they didn’t have the Bible, but we do.” It isn’t that simple. Every life is new; a new story and a new opportunity for God to work mighty things in frightening ways in that life. THIS IS NEW. And so is your life.
Just as Josh did for this story – in every story you need to establish and name the characters who will play a part in the plot. And you have to find a hero. So, in this story, who is the star? Matthew and Luke have different opinions about this.
And as insistent as Matthew is about the centrality of Joseph in the birth story, Luke is equally insistent that Mary is in fact the lynch pin to this whole divine scandal. For Luke, this makes sense. Remember he’s writing a gospel in which everything is turned upside down and inside out. Reversals of class, education gender, religion—these are all the results of the in-breaking work of God through the prophet from Nazareth. Naturally, Mary is chosen in the starring role.
But if she is a star, she is a young star. Probably no older than 13, Mary would not be able to vote, drink wine at dinner—she wouldn’t even be able to sit in a high school classroom or go to the prom. Yet, God reaches into Mary’s world and says, “I think you are exactly the kind of person I’m looking for. You might feel overwhelmed and under-equipped. But Mary, I don’t call the qualified, I qualify the called.” [Please repeat and emphasize this, Josh]
And if she is a star, she is a hesitant star. Mary remains humble throughout the entire affair. She waits on the movement of God. She’s obedient—going and speaking every place and word she’s been instructed.
But, as alone as Mary is, she isn’t totally alone. Her life serves as a reminder of what it means to let God write the story of your life. In every story – including yours – you have to decide who the players are going to be. What allegiances will you make? Which ones will you avoid? Mary could have chosen Herod’s path: compromise Jewish teaching for a higher place in the culture. Our kids are tempted to do that almost every day in school. All they have to do is go along a little more with the culture and they will be more accepted, loved, and less alone.
Mary's allegiance was to the one true God. She did not bow down to any other lord, any other state, nor did she go along to get along with anyone or anything. She chose to walk with God even when that path was dark, uncertain and frightening.
It isn’t just Mary and Joseph, though. What about Jesus? What kind of hero was he?
What does the birth say about Jesus?
1. Humble.
2. Approachable.
3. Underdog.
4. Warrior.
The Bible is essentially about the movement and activity of God. It isn’t so much about our accomplishments and failings as it is about the steadfast goodness of the one who started this whole story. The writer and creator of the play decided to become a character in his own creation. We do not choose him, he initially chooses us.
But unless we respond to the work of God, the Kingdom is thwarted. As with Joseph and Mary, all of heaven is waiting to hear our response. Will we cower away and hide behind family responsibilities and perceived “morality?” Will we hide behind our fears and insecurity? Will we hide because we are more passionate about Herod and his agenda or the rule of Caesar than we are risking everything for the sake of the Gospel?
Mary could have hidden behind the “but I’m a good person” wall and done nothing with her life. She chose to be the obedient handmaiden of God.
And now the story comes to us and invites us in. God is moving no less now than then. The star that shone over Bethlehem wants to shine again; this time in your life. God wants to break into your story. And when He does, it will not look like a scrubbed and backlight nativity scene. Are you ready to say ‘yes’ anyway?
This Christmas, God is inviting you and I to birth his good news into a dark world. The angels are waiting for our answer and they promise to go with us should we choose to say, “yes.”
This is a hard day for me. People want me to be involved in a culture war and wear “Merry Christmas” on my sleeve. Christmas has become, in some ways, a political issue.
Others want me to preach against materialism; about how we have thrown away Jesus for a sale at the mall. Still others want me to throw the whole holiday away. It’s just a remnant of a pagan celebration, they say.
But I confess: I love the lights. I love the tinsel and the trees. I love the crowded stores and I love buying presents.
So what’s a Christmas loving, present buying, ornament hanging, eggnog drinking preacher to do?
How about: brace myself for reality. How about: approach the story of the birth of Christ the way it really was and see how that changes things.Strip away the tinsel and the wrapping presents. No more elves, reindeer, and, I’m sorry, but Santa will have to go as well. Shopping malls are demolished, eggnog poured out—we’re stripping Christmas of its pomp and flair. This means there will be no credit card statements in January to fret over (now there’s good news). This also implies the pressure is off to buy that perfect gift.
Yes, we’re stripping Christmas. Please turn in your lists of things you “need” and exchange it for something much more meaningful. Turn off the cheesy Christmas music (not “Silent Night”…no, no—I’m talking about the Christmas music that isn’t really about anything at all).
In fact, while we’re at it. We’re going to tear down this church building. Yep, I’m sorry but the building has to go. “Why?” you ask. Well, we’re stripping Christmas for everything it has morphed into over the last several decades: buildings, possessions, sales, institutions, commercialization, deals and…well, anything that clouds the real scandal of the night when God chose to enter into the human drama.
Like a playwright, I can see God going over the script in his mind. “Ok, we’ve got all the characters in place: Mary, the young maiden, will play the role of unassuming hero. She will bear God into the world. I will choose the least likely person for the most significant role: woman, youth, uneducated, lower class—that’s should remove any doubt about the kind of people I work with. Now, for my next character, I need Joseph. Joseph will have to make good out of a messy situation. His name will be slandered and his reputation put in jeopardy. His fiancé is pregnant and he’s not the father, at least he’s not the biological father. Ok this is shaping up to be a fine drama. Now, a couple of distant characters need to be brought into this action: Caesar and Herod. Caesar, the most powerful man in the entire world. Commander of a Nation that stretches from England to Africa, France to Arabia—the one whom all Roman citizens and subjects must confess, ‘Caesar is Lord.’ More dangerous than Caesar though will be Herod. Herod shall be an extension of Caesar. Yes, Jewish but much more concerned about his place in the Roman Empire than the covenant community that is Israel. Oh, these two political power players will have huge implications for the One who is about to enter into the world. And let’s throw in Zechariah and Elizabeth—yes they’ll experience a similar shock to Mary and Joseph only their gift will pave the way for the One. Add Simeon (the one person who will truly understand the scandal of divinity mixing with flesh) and the stage is set for the One to enter into to his own story.”
And they shall call him Yeshua, which means God will rescue and save you from the powers and principalities. And they shall call him Immanuel, which means God once roamed the earth in bodily form. And they shall call him son of David, demonstrating the faithfulness of God through many centuries. And they shall call him the Lion who rules over all things. And they shall call him the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. And they shall call him Messiah, which means he has been anointed to embody the Way of God in a broken world. And they shall call him Son of God because he is truly the one unique manifestation of God. And they shall call him Lord…because he is the author and perfector of our faith—in him all of creation is held together. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Those are impressive titles are the not? Unfortunately, these titles do not emerge, or at least they do not begin to impact the early followers of Jesus until a few generations after his death and resurrection. The easy thing to is to make Jesus so divine in his earthly life that we render him an ancient superman of sorts.
But, don’t do this.
Here’s where I think the pagan part comes in. I love nativity scenes, but let’s be real: the real barn would have been dark, full of dust, motes of straw, blood, the smell of sweat from Mary – and Joseph, the stink of animals… When we remove all that and put white faces on Mary, Joseph and Jesus, put adoring, sweet looking angels around them and maybe a few shepherds… we have turned the story of the birth of Christ into some Nordic myth. We have the birth of Thor the Sincrusher, not the lamb of God.
That is just the beginning of the problem. If we have a sterile birth scene we lose the power of God at work in the middle of pain, fear, darkness, confusion, and… well, a very bad place. (Norman Rockwell gifts) God works in lives that look not even a little like a Norman Rockwell painting.
We tend to want to “pretty up” the stories in the Bible. We want to wipe the sweat off of Mary, hide all the blood, make the swaddling clothes white and clean, but…
The stories in Matthew and Luke do not allow us to do this. Let him be as human as he was created to be by His father. Allow him to have a sense of humor, to be angry with the religious leaders, to show his emotion in all its different colors. Please, allow Jesus to be a man. Let him develop as a man of intense faith. Don’t make him out to be the 12-year-old genius and wizard (as some of the Apocryphal works do)—Jesus, like you and I, is in process. Remember he doesn’t officially hit the public scene until he is about the age of 30.
This concept of a developing Christ might be strange to you, but remember what you read when we went through the gospels. Jesus is surprised by some people’s faith, he is angered, he cries. He is, in a word, human. And he has human parents.
And please allow his parents to speak a fresh word of encouragement this morning. In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph is the focal point—the one on whom all the angels and creation lean in asking, “What will he say? Will he say yes to God?” Will he believe the angel or will he chalk it up to bad Chinese food or stress at the office? What will this Joseph think? Will he allow his wife-to-be to endure shame, and gossip. “There’s goes Jesus—who’s his father anyway?” It is scary to think, that had Jesus been born today, he might be a candidate for abortion.
"In our own age of people who raise children without benefit of marriage, the issue of legitimacy sounds a bit quaint, but the heart of the story is much bigger and more profound than that. The heart of the story is about a just man who wakes up one day to find his life wrecked: his wife pregnant, his trust betrayed, his name ruined, his future revoked. It is about a righteous man who surveys a mess he has had absolutely nothing to do with and decides to believe that God is present in it…He claims the scandal and it gives it a name. He owns the mess—he legitimates it—and the mess becomes the place where the Messiah is born," (Barbara Brown Taylor in Gospel Medicine).
I’m really glad that Joseph didn’t do what many conservative Christians say they would do in any given situation, “Well, I’ll just do what the Bible tells me to do,” as if the Bible can just be mined for any situation without thought or interpretations. As one man reminded me this week, do we know what the Bible Joseph read instructed him to do in this situation? It instructed him to take the woman out “and stone her death in front of the people,” what about that (Deut. 22)? Joseph understood that the Scriptures must always be read through the heart and character of God. I’m glad he didn’t just read the Bible and do what it says. Aren’t you?
Don’t run from this or do the standard cop-out of “well, they didn’t have the Bible, but we do.” It isn’t that simple. Every life is new; a new story and a new opportunity for God to work mighty things in frightening ways in that life. THIS IS NEW. And so is your life.
Just as Josh did for this story – in every story you need to establish and name the characters who will play a part in the plot. And you have to find a hero. So, in this story, who is the star? Matthew and Luke have different opinions about this.
And as insistent as Matthew is about the centrality of Joseph in the birth story, Luke is equally insistent that Mary is in fact the lynch pin to this whole divine scandal. For Luke, this makes sense. Remember he’s writing a gospel in which everything is turned upside down and inside out. Reversals of class, education gender, religion—these are all the results of the in-breaking work of God through the prophet from Nazareth. Naturally, Mary is chosen in the starring role.
But if she is a star, she is a young star. Probably no older than 13, Mary would not be able to vote, drink wine at dinner—she wouldn’t even be able to sit in a high school classroom or go to the prom. Yet, God reaches into Mary’s world and says, “I think you are exactly the kind of person I’m looking for. You might feel overwhelmed and under-equipped. But Mary, I don’t call the qualified, I qualify the called.” [Please repeat and emphasize this, Josh]
And if she is a star, she is a hesitant star. Mary remains humble throughout the entire affair. She waits on the movement of God. She’s obedient—going and speaking every place and word she’s been instructed.
But, as alone as Mary is, she isn’t totally alone. Her life serves as a reminder of what it means to let God write the story of your life. In every story – including yours – you have to decide who the players are going to be. What allegiances will you make? Which ones will you avoid? Mary could have chosen Herod’s path: compromise Jewish teaching for a higher place in the culture. Our kids are tempted to do that almost every day in school. All they have to do is go along a little more with the culture and they will be more accepted, loved, and less alone.
Mary's allegiance was to the one true God. She did not bow down to any other lord, any other state, nor did she go along to get along with anyone or anything. She chose to walk with God even when that path was dark, uncertain and frightening.
It isn’t just Mary and Joseph, though. What about Jesus? What kind of hero was he?
What does the birth say about Jesus?
1. Humble.
2. Approachable.
3. Underdog.
4. Warrior.
The Bible is essentially about the movement and activity of God. It isn’t so much about our accomplishments and failings as it is about the steadfast goodness of the one who started this whole story. The writer and creator of the play decided to become a character in his own creation. We do not choose him, he initially chooses us.
But unless we respond to the work of God, the Kingdom is thwarted. As with Joseph and Mary, all of heaven is waiting to hear our response. Will we cower away and hide behind family responsibilities and perceived “morality?” Will we hide behind our fears and insecurity? Will we hide because we are more passionate about Herod and his agenda or the rule of Caesar than we are risking everything for the sake of the Gospel?
Mary could have hidden behind the “but I’m a good person” wall and done nothing with her life. She chose to be the obedient handmaiden of God.
And now the story comes to us and invites us in. God is moving no less now than then. The star that shone over Bethlehem wants to shine again; this time in your life. God wants to break into your story. And when He does, it will not look like a scrubbed and backlight nativity scene. Are you ready to say ‘yes’ anyway?
This Christmas, God is inviting you and I to birth his good news into a dark world. The angels are waiting for our answer and they promise to go with us should we choose to say, “yes.”
20 December 2005
When You Least Expect (part one)
This post (today's at www.mikecope.blogspot.com) reminded me of a story currently playing in my family.
---
George grew up in a difficult family. In fact, he rarely discusses his youth in any context. It's almost as if life begins at 17 in his mind.
George was a young boy when his father died in tragic accident; falling of the roof to his death in his early 30's. George spent time in the homes of many relatives until he was old enough to enlist in the Navy; to join the U.S. military efforts in Korea. George was only 17. He was so desperate to make a clean break, he forged his age (as did so many desperate and eager young men a half century ago).
It was in the Navy, that George's appetite for life came alive--alcohol, gambling and women--at least that's the way he describes it.
Once out of the Navy, George went to school to become an engineer. Highly intelligent and savvy, George was destined for a bright and secure future. One problem persisted--his love for alcohol grew to an "out of control" status. George would spend much time and money gambling and drinking. His late 20's and 30's were spent in the bars and casino's. His wife (Winnie) spent countless hours raising the children wondering if her husband could ever remove himself from the trappings of the bottle.
On one of Winnie's birthday's, 1978 to be exact, George came home wasted. The conversation went something like this.
"I can't take this anymore," Winnie pleaded. "I want you to leave this life you've carved out. Give me a wish George...just one wish, that's all I'm asking you. Can you at least do that?"
"Ok...I'm listening," stammered George.
"I want you to be sober for one day. Just one day, I want a husband who's not intoxicated."
Infuriated George left the room. Knowing the demand just placed on him, he retreated to the upstairs room. Looking himself in the bathrooom mirror he thought, "When's the last time I went a day without a drink? I don't know if I can do it?"
As George watched T.V. that night, he knew something had to change. "I was watching a movie about a woman who was an alcoholic...she couldn't see herself for who she really was."
It was in that moment that George saw himself for who he really was--a man broken with little direction and less light.
Since that day in the late 1970's George has not touched a bit of alcohol. In part two, I'll tell you the rest of the story; the story that is my grandpa George.
---
George grew up in a difficult family. In fact, he rarely discusses his youth in any context. It's almost as if life begins at 17 in his mind.
George was a young boy when his father died in tragic accident; falling of the roof to his death in his early 30's. George spent time in the homes of many relatives until he was old enough to enlist in the Navy; to join the U.S. military efforts in Korea. George was only 17. He was so desperate to make a clean break, he forged his age (as did so many desperate and eager young men a half century ago).
It was in the Navy, that George's appetite for life came alive--alcohol, gambling and women--at least that's the way he describes it.
Once out of the Navy, George went to school to become an engineer. Highly intelligent and savvy, George was destined for a bright and secure future. One problem persisted--his love for alcohol grew to an "out of control" status. George would spend much time and money gambling and drinking. His late 20's and 30's were spent in the bars and casino's. His wife (Winnie) spent countless hours raising the children wondering if her husband could ever remove himself from the trappings of the bottle.
On one of Winnie's birthday's, 1978 to be exact, George came home wasted. The conversation went something like this.
"I can't take this anymore," Winnie pleaded. "I want you to leave this life you've carved out. Give me a wish George...just one wish, that's all I'm asking you. Can you at least do that?"
"Ok...I'm listening," stammered George.
"I want you to be sober for one day. Just one day, I want a husband who's not intoxicated."
Infuriated George left the room. Knowing the demand just placed on him, he retreated to the upstairs room. Looking himself in the bathrooom mirror he thought, "When's the last time I went a day without a drink? I don't know if I can do it?"
As George watched T.V. that night, he knew something had to change. "I was watching a movie about a woman who was an alcoholic...she couldn't see herself for who she really was."
It was in that moment that George saw himself for who he really was--a man broken with little direction and less light.
Since that day in the late 1970's George has not touched a bit of alcohol. In part two, I'll tell you the rest of the story; the story that is my grandpa George.
15 December 2005
The Gospel Broke Out in NY City
I just returned from a brief road trip with my twin brother (Jason) and my father (Phil). Though we do not spend as much time together as we should, these are the two closest men in my life. When I have relationship dilemma's, I go to them. When I have financial questions, I call Jason (he's a VP for commercial loans for a bank at the age of 26...you could say, we're a bit different). When I have other concerns, ideas, I usually bounce them off my dad. When I wanted to move to Texas to try coaching at the college level, my dad was the first person I called. These two men have been with me for a long time. They've seen all my sides, good and not so good.
The last two days of our trip was spent in New York city. I was not prepared for the sheer size and popluation of this country within a state.
We went to Ground Zero. I imagined what it would have been like to hear the screams, and chaos of that awful day in 2001. Smoke, fire, death--the smell overwhelms my imagination. The horror of this day is easily accessible as I stood outside the perimeter of the property. God be merciful to us.
We also ventured to Times Square (spent too much money trying to beat my brother in games at the ESPN ZONE), Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. New York is truly a city with a thousand personalities, and a million different ethnicities.
Perhaps, my favorite leg of the New York tour, was Liberty Island--more famous for housing the Statue of Liberty than its name. As we approached the dock to board the ferry (you pay to get to the island, then you pay to actually tour the statue...gotta love NYC) an older man stood in my path singing an old hymn. "My father...in my father's house...won't that be the day? Won't that be the day?"
In a city with several million people, the world's finest restaurant's, fashion mecca, center for much intellectual progress--I was captivated by this old man and his song.
Think of the insanity of his claim...a day when buildings, material posession, degrees, titles, homes, vehicles, attire--none of these things will we be able to hide behind.
I'm not of the escapist persuasion when it comes to the end of the world. In fact, I hate that phrase "the end of the world." My faith says that God created everything good and humankind in his own image. My faith says that although God made the world "the world is not the way God made it." My faith says that despite the broken, chaotic, and violent world we live in...God is on the move. He's up to something so great, even our greatest minds cannot concieve what that will be.
In the meantime, like the man standing on the dock in New York city, we wait. And we sing. We sing about something we cannot prove. We sing a song of light in a dark world.
The last two days of our trip was spent in New York city. I was not prepared for the sheer size and popluation of this country within a state.
We went to Ground Zero. I imagined what it would have been like to hear the screams, and chaos of that awful day in 2001. Smoke, fire, death--the smell overwhelms my imagination. The horror of this day is easily accessible as I stood outside the perimeter of the property. God be merciful to us.
We also ventured to Times Square (spent too much money trying to beat my brother in games at the ESPN ZONE), Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. New York is truly a city with a thousand personalities, and a million different ethnicities.
Perhaps, my favorite leg of the New York tour, was Liberty Island--more famous for housing the Statue of Liberty than its name. As we approached the dock to board the ferry (you pay to get to the island, then you pay to actually tour the statue...gotta love NYC) an older man stood in my path singing an old hymn. "My father...in my father's house...won't that be the day? Won't that be the day?"
In a city with several million people, the world's finest restaurant's, fashion mecca, center for much intellectual progress--I was captivated by this old man and his song.
Think of the insanity of his claim...a day when buildings, material posession, degrees, titles, homes, vehicles, attire--none of these things will we be able to hide behind.
I'm not of the escapist persuasion when it comes to the end of the world. In fact, I hate that phrase "the end of the world." My faith says that God created everything good and humankind in his own image. My faith says that although God made the world "the world is not the way God made it." My faith says that despite the broken, chaotic, and violent world we live in...God is on the move. He's up to something so great, even our greatest minds cannot concieve what that will be.
In the meantime, like the man standing on the dock in New York city, we wait. And we sing. We sing about something we cannot prove. We sing a song of light in a dark world.
30 November 2005
C.S. Lewis: Alive and Well
As is most of the Western World--I've been going back and re-reading several works belonging to one of the great Christian minds: C.S. Lewis.
Remembering how he captured my imagination the first time I read about the mystical world of Narnia. Or how he absolutely nailed me in Screwtape Letters. His comments on sex, evil, suffering, and ethics surface in my life in some of the strangest moments. Or how in Until We Have Faces I began to understand (albeit for the first time) a true picture of transformation.
A recent experience as a pastor reminded me of these famous words, "There are two errors which are race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy and excessive interest in them." I know plenty of people in both ditches; some who have made an awful amount of money; some who look eerily similar to my own reflection.
In a recent article, the step-son of Jack (as his friends called him) Lewis recounted a story of C.S. and J.R.R. Tolkien. Apparently, Tolkien and Lewis were walking when approached by a man asking for money. Lewis obliged the man and gave him the requested funds. After the man walked away, Tolkien commented, "Jack, don't you know he'll spend that on liquor." To which Jack commented, "I'd probably do the same."
C.S. Lewis will continue to live in the words and teachings of Christians because he understood the essential paradox of faith. Though reason, proof, and intellect are crucial to the human experience, they cannot replace faith, imagination, and hope.
Remembering how he captured my imagination the first time I read about the mystical world of Narnia. Or how he absolutely nailed me in Screwtape Letters. His comments on sex, evil, suffering, and ethics surface in my life in some of the strangest moments. Or how in Until We Have Faces I began to understand (albeit for the first time) a true picture of transformation.
A recent experience as a pastor reminded me of these famous words, "There are two errors which are race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy and excessive interest in them." I know plenty of people in both ditches; some who have made an awful amount of money; some who look eerily similar to my own reflection.
In a recent article, the step-son of Jack (as his friends called him) Lewis recounted a story of C.S. and J.R.R. Tolkien. Apparently, Tolkien and Lewis were walking when approached by a man asking for money. Lewis obliged the man and gave him the requested funds. After the man walked away, Tolkien commented, "Jack, don't you know he'll spend that on liquor." To which Jack commented, "I'd probably do the same."
C.S. Lewis will continue to live in the words and teachings of Christians because he understood the essential paradox of faith. Though reason, proof, and intellect are crucial to the human experience, they cannot replace faith, imagination, and hope.
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