Presents are nearly synonymous with Christmas in our culture. It’s embarrassing to admit that last Christmas we had a total of three present exchanges in our family. On Christmas day we gathered with my mother and father in law to exchange presents. The next day we loaded up the car and drove to my parent’s house where my older sister joined us for exchange number two. Then two days after that, my younger sister and her husband joined us and we had exchange number three.
Sometimes I wonder if in the midst of so many presents, we miss the true present of Christmas.
After we returned home from my parent’s house following the New Year we put all our stuff away, plopped down on the couch and breathed a sigh. It was then that Carolyn noticed the small bag tucked behind one of the chairs in our living room. It must have gotten pushed back there by all the other presents and we missed it in our rush to leave for my parent’s house.
She pulled it out and said, “Oh! Look we missed a Christmas present!”
The holiday season isn’t exactly a good time to suggest people stop, slow down and spend a little more time on self-reflection. Perhaps this year’s economic slow-down will help create that space. In any event, if we don’t attempt to push back on the rush of this season we are likely to miss the most important present of all – God’s presence among us in Jesus Christ.
Over the next four weeks of Advent I’ll be sharing some thoughts to help us stop, put aside our lists, take a breath and pay attention to the gift of Jesus – the greatest present. I’ll be writing around the theme: “God’s Future in the Present.” I like the play on words in this theme. It is through Jesus (the greatest present) that we get a glimpse of God’s future right now (in the present). Think about that for a moment!
Jesus is God’s answer for a world that is broken, fearful, at war, in economic crisis, and desperately lonely. God has a vision for how to rescue this world from this brokenness. That vision is God’s future and God’s future is wrapped up in Jesus. As you pause to receive this greatest present, you will begin to glimpse God’s future in the present.
Among all the other gifts you receive this Christmas, don’t miss this one.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Practicing Faith and Civic Duty
“While our allegiance to God takes precedence over our allegiance to any state, we acknowledge the vital function of government as a principal vehicle for the ordering of society . . . . The strength of a political system depends upon the full and willing participation of its citizens.” (paragraph 164 The United Methodist Discipline).
I want to encourage you to participate and vote in the upcoming election. It is a way that we live out our faith, not just our civic duty.
At the church where my wife and I serve as co-pastors, I know that there are deeply committed Christians who will vote for the Republican, Democrat and Independent candidates. I realize it is important for us as pastors not to “tell people how or who to vote for.” Even as I review the scriptures and the narrative of God’s salvation history that Christians have surrendered their lives to, my opinion is that no candidate could fully share that narrative. (Nor would I expect them to given the assumptions that one has to make in order to be the president of the United States.)
Therefore, I find it impossible to say, “This is the Christian way to vote.”
However, I encourage people to participate in the election process by listening to debates, reading candidates’ websites and the plethora of news sources that report what the candidates are saying, rather than basing one’s vote entirely upon simplified “voter guides” produced for Christians. Those may be helpful in some sense, but they never give a very complete picture.
As you participate in this way, you may find it helpful to know what the United Methodist Church has said about various social issues that affect our world today. These stances are not considered church law, nor are they written to tell people how to vote. It is a statement that the General Conference of the United Methodist Church has produced as a prayerful and thoughtful effort to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. I think they are worthy of our reflection as we practice our faith and civic duty.
Here is an overview of the six sections of the "Social Principles" of the United Methodist Church. You can see the complete version of the Social Principles by following this link. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1686
The natural world
We affirm that we're responsible for the way we use the Lord's creation. We support social policies that promote the wise use of water, air, soil, minerals, and plants. We support the conservation of energy and oppose energy-using technologies that threaten human health. We're concerned for the humane treatment of animals and the respectful use of space.
The nurturing community
We affirm the family and work to strengthen its relationships. We affirm the sanctity of marriage and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We recognize divorce as regrettable and intend to minister to the members of divorced families. We affirm the integrity of single persons. We recognize that sexuality is a good gift of God and that sex between a man and woman is only to be clearly affirmed in the marriage bond. We recognize the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion and urge prayerful consideration by all parties involved. We assert the right of every person to die with dignity.
The social community
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God's sight. We reject racism and assert the rights of racial minorities to equal opportunities in employment, education, voting, housing, and leadership. We urge social practices that will uphold the rights of religious minorities, of children, youth, young adults, and the aging, of women, and of disabled persons. We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol and illegal drugs, and we support the rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons.
The economic community
All economic systems are under the judgment of God. We believe the private ownership of property is a trusteeship under God and must be responsibly managed. We support the right of employees and employers to organize for collective bargaining. We affirm the right of safe and meaningful work and creative leisure. We support efforts to ensure truth in pricing, packaging, lending, and advertising; and we urge people to evaluate their consumption of goods in the light of the quality of life. We call on Christians to abstain from gambling and to be in ministry with persons who are the victims of this societal menace.
The political community
We hold governments responsible for the protection of people's basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other. We call for freedom of information and quality education. We defend the right of individuals to practice conscientious, non-violent civil disobedience. We support government measures to reduce crimes consistent with the basic freedoms of persons; and we urge the creation of new systems of rehabilitation.
The world community
God's world is one world. We hold nations accountable for unjust treatment of their citizens. We affirm the right of people in developing nations to shape their own destiny; and we applaud efforts to establish a more just international economic order. We believe war is incompatible with the teachings of Christ, and we claim that it is the primary moral duty of every nation to resolve disputes peacefully. We endorse the United Nations and commend all who pursue world peace through law.
I want to encourage you to participate and vote in the upcoming election. It is a way that we live out our faith, not just our civic duty.
At the church where my wife and I serve as co-pastors, I know that there are deeply committed Christians who will vote for the Republican, Democrat and Independent candidates. I realize it is important for us as pastors not to “tell people how or who to vote for.” Even as I review the scriptures and the narrative of God’s salvation history that Christians have surrendered their lives to, my opinion is that no candidate could fully share that narrative. (Nor would I expect them to given the assumptions that one has to make in order to be the president of the United States.)
Therefore, I find it impossible to say, “This is the Christian way to vote.”
However, I encourage people to participate in the election process by listening to debates, reading candidates’ websites and the plethora of news sources that report what the candidates are saying, rather than basing one’s vote entirely upon simplified “voter guides” produced for Christians. Those may be helpful in some sense, but they never give a very complete picture.
As you participate in this way, you may find it helpful to know what the United Methodist Church has said about various social issues that affect our world today. These stances are not considered church law, nor are they written to tell people how to vote. It is a statement that the General Conference of the United Methodist Church has produced as a prayerful and thoughtful effort to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. I think they are worthy of our reflection as we practice our faith and civic duty.
Here is an overview of the six sections of the "Social Principles" of the United Methodist Church. You can see the complete version of the Social Principles by following this link. http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1686
The natural world
We affirm that we're responsible for the way we use the Lord's creation. We support social policies that promote the wise use of water, air, soil, minerals, and plants. We support the conservation of energy and oppose energy-using technologies that threaten human health. We're concerned for the humane treatment of animals and the respectful use of space.
The nurturing community
We affirm the family and work to strengthen its relationships. We affirm the sanctity of marriage and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We recognize divorce as regrettable and intend to minister to the members of divorced families. We affirm the integrity of single persons. We recognize that sexuality is a good gift of God and that sex between a man and woman is only to be clearly affirmed in the marriage bond. We recognize the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion and urge prayerful consideration by all parties involved. We assert the right of every person to die with dignity.
The social community
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God's sight. We reject racism and assert the rights of racial minorities to equal opportunities in employment, education, voting, housing, and leadership. We urge social practices that will uphold the rights of religious minorities, of children, youth, young adults, and the aging, of women, and of disabled persons. We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol and illegal drugs, and we support the rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons.
The economic community
All economic systems are under the judgment of God. We believe the private ownership of property is a trusteeship under God and must be responsibly managed. We support the right of employees and employers to organize for collective bargaining. We affirm the right of safe and meaningful work and creative leisure. We support efforts to ensure truth in pricing, packaging, lending, and advertising; and we urge people to evaluate their consumption of goods in the light of the quality of life. We call on Christians to abstain from gambling and to be in ministry with persons who are the victims of this societal menace.
The political community
We hold governments responsible for the protection of people's basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other. We call for freedom of information and quality education. We defend the right of individuals to practice conscientious, non-violent civil disobedience. We support government measures to reduce crimes consistent with the basic freedoms of persons; and we urge the creation of new systems of rehabilitation.
The world community
God's world is one world. We hold nations accountable for unjust treatment of their citizens. We affirm the right of people in developing nations to shape their own destiny; and we applaud efforts to establish a more just international economic order. We believe war is incompatible with the teachings of Christ, and we claim that it is the primary moral duty of every nation to resolve disputes peacefully. We endorse the United Nations and commend all who pursue world peace through law.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Fourth Century Hope for 21st Century Anxiety
The U.S. economy faced meltdown this week while government officials scrambled to put together a response plan. Most people I know have a friend who is looking for a job. And even if you have time, you dare not listen too long to any news broadcasts which are rift with anxiety.
What a horrible feeling to wake up and realize your job is now to look for a job. Among other things you think, “Where do I start? Who is hiring now? I wish we had saved more. How long is this going to last? What do I do about these bills? Is losing my home possible?!” It is a helpless feeling.
The church has abundant resources to help people in this kind of crisis. One resource is history. A look at history reveals that crises like this have been weathered before. This week I remembered a book I read in seminary by a late fourth century monk named John Cassian. I found the introductory paragraph in the book to be eerily familiar.
It reads: “To the inhabitants of the Mediterranean world during the later fourth century A.D., the world seemed to be in decline. The frontiers were under threat, the countryside insecure, the taxation system unjust, government not respected. The Roman Empire was falling to pieces and no one could conceive what other kind of world there could be. The circumstances of daily life forced men and women to ask where they could find not only physical safety but hope in circumstances that looked so menacing.”
One could say just about the same thing for the inhabitants of the Western world in the early 21st century! Out of this crisis in the fourth century rose a movement that continues to be a gift to the church. I’m talking about the monks, nuns and hermits! These are the folks who by their simple lives of prayer and work in community reminded the church that it is called to seek another kingdom more lasting than any in this world, the kingdom of God.
John Cassian happened to be both a monk and a “monk instructor.” He wrote a book called “Conferences” to train new monks in the monastic life. One of the things he shared with his "monks in training" was a way of praying that has been particularly helpful for me in times like these, and I thought you might appreciate knowing about it too. The good news is that you don’t have to be a monk or a nun to do this!
He suggests holding Psalm 69:2 in our thoughts in all circumstances. "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
“This short verse,” writes Cassian, “is an indomitable wall for all those struggling against the onslaught of demons. It is an impenetrable breastplate and the sturdiest of shields. Whatever the disgust, the anguish, or the gloom in our thoughts, this verse keeps us from despairing of our salvation since it reveals to us the One to whom we call, the One who sees our struggles and who is never far from those who pray to Him.... This little verse, I am saying, proves to be necessary and useful to each one of us and in all circumstances. For someone who needs help in all things is making clear that he requires the help of God not simply in hard and sad situations but equally amid fortunate and joyful conditions."
So, in the face of threats, insecurity, injustice and distrust we pray . . . "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
In the face of crumbling investments, job offers and job losses we pray . . . “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
In the face of new hope and dashed hope we pray . . . “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
In all things we pray “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
Come on . . . try this! "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
May this ancient prayer and fourth century advice give us new insight, imagination and hope in the face of our 21st century anxiety.
What a horrible feeling to wake up and realize your job is now to look for a job. Among other things you think, “Where do I start? Who is hiring now? I wish we had saved more. How long is this going to last? What do I do about these bills? Is losing my home possible?!” It is a helpless feeling.
The church has abundant resources to help people in this kind of crisis. One resource is history. A look at history reveals that crises like this have been weathered before. This week I remembered a book I read in seminary by a late fourth century monk named John Cassian. I found the introductory paragraph in the book to be eerily familiar.
It reads: “To the inhabitants of the Mediterranean world during the later fourth century A.D., the world seemed to be in decline. The frontiers were under threat, the countryside insecure, the taxation system unjust, government not respected. The Roman Empire was falling to pieces and no one could conceive what other kind of world there could be. The circumstances of daily life forced men and women to ask where they could find not only physical safety but hope in circumstances that looked so menacing.”
One could say just about the same thing for the inhabitants of the Western world in the early 21st century! Out of this crisis in the fourth century rose a movement that continues to be a gift to the church. I’m talking about the monks, nuns and hermits! These are the folks who by their simple lives of prayer and work in community reminded the church that it is called to seek another kingdom more lasting than any in this world, the kingdom of God.
John Cassian happened to be both a monk and a “monk instructor.” He wrote a book called “Conferences” to train new monks in the monastic life. One of the things he shared with his "monks in training" was a way of praying that has been particularly helpful for me in times like these, and I thought you might appreciate knowing about it too. The good news is that you don’t have to be a monk or a nun to do this!
He suggests holding Psalm 69:2 in our thoughts in all circumstances. "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
“This short verse,” writes Cassian, “is an indomitable wall for all those struggling against the onslaught of demons. It is an impenetrable breastplate and the sturdiest of shields. Whatever the disgust, the anguish, or the gloom in our thoughts, this verse keeps us from despairing of our salvation since it reveals to us the One to whom we call, the One who sees our struggles and who is never far from those who pray to Him.... This little verse, I am saying, proves to be necessary and useful to each one of us and in all circumstances. For someone who needs help in all things is making clear that he requires the help of God not simply in hard and sad situations but equally amid fortunate and joyful conditions."
So, in the face of threats, insecurity, injustice and distrust we pray . . . "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
In the face of crumbling investments, job offers and job losses we pray . . . “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
In the face of new hope and dashed hope we pray . . . “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
In all things we pray “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”
Come on . . . try this! "Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue."
May this ancient prayer and fourth century advice give us new insight, imagination and hope in the face of our 21st century anxiety.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Having the Time of My Life
When Carolyn and I first started being pastors in the United Methodist Church back in 1996 I remember sitting across the desk from our District Superintendent and hearing him ask, "Tell me what you see yourself in 10 years."
I thought it was an odd request. And I didn't know if he was fishing for something or not. But my answer was basically, "Leading a local church to be the church somewhere in Florida."
Some pastors may get juiced by getting "promoted" to a larger church where they can make more money and have more "status." But I get more satisfaction out of seeing the church be the church whatever its size. I don't know if there is a "perfect size" church. Sure there are different dynamics in a church of 75, a church of 250 and a church of 500 plus. At some point the role of pastors and staff as well as expectations of the congregation change as a church body grows numerically.
What I can tell you is that I am having the time of my life in ministry right now. Don't get me wrong, I see plenty of room for improvement and growth at Spring of Life. But I'm very excited to see the kind of community of faith we are becoming.
Here is an example. This week the church got an email from me about a family of 5 that had been kicked out of the home they were renting because the owner had his hours cut at work and the home was repossessed by the bank. Some people offered prayer. Some people offered work. And others offered housing possibilities. And because of a long-term commitment of the whole church to build a simple, multi-functional building, the church was able to offer a few hours during the day for this family to stay and play while dad looked for work and housing. Come to think of it, without the building, this family wouldn't have found Spring of Life to begin with.
This family is now on a waiting list to enter the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a ministry that helps homeless families with children get back on their feet. Also a ministry that this church is considering participating in.
Add to this a committed and talented Children's Ministry Director, Worship Music Leader, and Church Administrator along with a host of volunteer ministers you have a church that is developing the practices of passionate worship, radical hospitality, intentional faith development, risk taking mission and service and extravagant generosity.
Beginning this September we will begin a five week series in worship that focuses on each of those ministry practices of the church. Everyone will be invited to take a specially prepared devotional book called, "Cultivating Fruitfulness" to read and reflect on individually at home. There will be some small group gatherings on Tuesday evenings in September to process what we are reading and learning together as well.
As we pray and reflect together on these five essential practices of the church I'm convinced that many more people at Spring of Life will join me in having the time of their life in ministry. I'm so enthusiastic about how God's Spirit will lead us together this fall.
I thought it was an odd request. And I didn't know if he was fishing for something or not. But my answer was basically, "Leading a local church to be the church somewhere in Florida."
Some pastors may get juiced by getting "promoted" to a larger church where they can make more money and have more "status." But I get more satisfaction out of seeing the church be the church whatever its size. I don't know if there is a "perfect size" church. Sure there are different dynamics in a church of 75, a church of 250 and a church of 500 plus. At some point the role of pastors and staff as well as expectations of the congregation change as a church body grows numerically.
What I can tell you is that I am having the time of my life in ministry right now. Don't get me wrong, I see plenty of room for improvement and growth at Spring of Life. But I'm very excited to see the kind of community of faith we are becoming.
Here is an example. This week the church got an email from me about a family of 5 that had been kicked out of the home they were renting because the owner had his hours cut at work and the home was repossessed by the bank. Some people offered prayer. Some people offered work. And others offered housing possibilities. And because of a long-term commitment of the whole church to build a simple, multi-functional building, the church was able to offer a few hours during the day for this family to stay and play while dad looked for work and housing. Come to think of it, without the building, this family wouldn't have found Spring of Life to begin with.
This family is now on a waiting list to enter the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a ministry that helps homeless families with children get back on their feet. Also a ministry that this church is considering participating in.
Add to this a committed and talented Children's Ministry Director, Worship Music Leader, and Church Administrator along with a host of volunteer ministers you have a church that is developing the practices of passionate worship, radical hospitality, intentional faith development, risk taking mission and service and extravagant generosity.
Beginning this September we will begin a five week series in worship that focuses on each of those ministry practices of the church. Everyone will be invited to take a specially prepared devotional book called, "Cultivating Fruitfulness" to read and reflect on individually at home. There will be some small group gatherings on Tuesday evenings in September to process what we are reading and learning together as well.
As we pray and reflect together on these five essential practices of the church I'm convinced that many more people at Spring of Life will join me in having the time of their life in ministry. I'm so enthusiastic about how God's Spirit will lead us together this fall.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Playing Baptized Barbies
"Will you play Barbies with me daddy?"
Since I know that question definitely has a shelf life, I say yes to my five and a half year old daughter. I suppose it won't be long until I hear "Can I have $30 to go to the movies and borrow the car tonight daddy?"
I don't know how to play Barbies that well. Well, maybe I do. I just don't like it that well. What bugs me is that I know the stories of Barbie better than I know the stories of the Baptized.
I know how to be self-centered, obsessed with how I look and what other people think about me. I know how to put other people down and categorize people according to their socio-economic status. I know how to get a temporary high by buying more stuff that I will forget about in the next couple of days. And I know how to feign "niceness"in order to get what I want. See, I know how to play Barbies . . . and I don't like it so well.
Since last Sunday my daughter really got into helping set up and participate in a baptism renewal service with our church, I thought, "why not let's re-narrate Barbie?" What would a conversation among Baptized Barbies look like? I have to admit it felt awkward and weird as I began to speak as if Barbie were baptized.
When one Barbie asked the other, "Why aren't you wearing a dress?" (with the same tone of voice that you would ask someone, "Why are you such a loser?"). The Barbie replied with something lame sounding like, "I put on Christ and He is all I need to wear." (Told you I wasn't very good at this).
Then one of the Barbies died and that was interesting. Instead of pulling out prince charming to come give her a kiss in order to bring her back to life, one of the Barbies suggested we give thanks for her life and remember that she is with Jesus since she too had been baptized and belongs to Jesus. The Barbies then sat around a table of food and talked about how they missed their friend and told funny stories they remembered about her.
Maybe, with more practice, I'll get better at playing Baptized Barbies.
Since I know that question definitely has a shelf life, I say yes to my five and a half year old daughter. I suppose it won't be long until I hear "Can I have $30 to go to the movies and borrow the car tonight daddy?"
I don't know how to play Barbies that well. Well, maybe I do. I just don't like it that well. What bugs me is that I know the stories of Barbie better than I know the stories of the Baptized.
I know how to be self-centered, obsessed with how I look and what other people think about me. I know how to put other people down and categorize people according to their socio-economic status. I know how to get a temporary high by buying more stuff that I will forget about in the next couple of days. And I know how to feign "niceness"in order to get what I want. See, I know how to play Barbies . . . and I don't like it so well.
Since last Sunday my daughter really got into helping set up and participate in a baptism renewal service with our church, I thought, "why not let's re-narrate Barbie?" What would a conversation among Baptized Barbies look like? I have to admit it felt awkward and weird as I began to speak as if Barbie were baptized.
When one Barbie asked the other, "Why aren't you wearing a dress?" (with the same tone of voice that you would ask someone, "Why are you such a loser?"). The Barbie replied with something lame sounding like, "I put on Christ and He is all I need to wear." (Told you I wasn't very good at this).
Then one of the Barbies died and that was interesting. Instead of pulling out prince charming to come give her a kiss in order to bring her back to life, one of the Barbies suggested we give thanks for her life and remember that she is with Jesus since she too had been baptized and belongs to Jesus. The Barbies then sat around a table of food and talked about how they missed their friend and told funny stories they remembered about her.
Maybe, with more practice, I'll get better at playing Baptized Barbies.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Church We Are
I started reading a disturbing book this week. It's called "UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity." It's disturbing, but good. Sort of like going to counseling or listening to the Old Testament Prophets. It could be the kind of information that leads to a transformation within the church.
The authors researched the opinions of 16 to 29 year olds who are not Christians. What they found was that nearly two out of every five [people in this group] claim to have a bad impression of present-day Christianity. Beyond this, one-third of [this group] said that Christianity represents a negative image with which they would not want to be associated.
What surprised me was that the bad impressions and negative images that this group holds had come from personal experience with the church [Christians] rather than just outside observation. The vast majority of this group went to church in high school and have heard the message of Christ. The reason they hold negative, even hostile, impressions of the church [Christians] is not because of any specific theological perspective. Their negative reactions come from what they have received from Christians.
As one person put it: "Most people I meet assume that Christian means very conservative, entrenched in their thinking, antigay, antichoice, angry, violent, illogical, empire builders; they want to convert everyone, and they generally cannot live peacefully with anyone who doesn't believe what they believe."
The survey found that the majority of 16 to 29 year olds perceive the church to be:
Anti-homosexual (91 percent)
Judgmental (87 percent)
Hypocritical (85 percent)
Too involved in politics (75 percent)
Out of touch with reality (72 percent)
Old Fashioned (78 percent)
Insensitive to others (70 percent)
Boring (68 percent)
Not accepting of other faiths (64 percent)
Confusing (61 percent)
What challenges me is not a desire to be "hipper or cooler" church to turn around these negative impressions of 16 to 29 year olds. I see this as a challenge for the church to embody Jesus more faithfully.
Here is a story to illustrate. It is an adaptation of a story from Sam Wells book "God's Companions."
There was a rural community that for years housed more cows and acreage than people. About 6 years ago this community began to see new development. Since then 10,000 new homes have been built which include people who are diverse culturally, spiritually and economically. As with any change, this one brought some hostility and mistrust over numerous issues. Neighbors, children and adults, bullied one another. Those with administrative or political power used it in ways that spread mistrust.
A new church which began around the beginning of this development had recently completed its first building and invited the community (particularly a number of prominent local people) to join together in an act of worship to mark this significant moment in the church's life.
Adults and children sat together. The service began with an opportunity for people to acknowledge mistakes and frustrations, and ended with a washing of feet for renewed service. Before the Scripture reading a candle was passed around every member of the congregation and each had an opportunity to say a sentence on the theme "what I have discovered in the last six years."
One person on the fringe of the church who had experienced a good deal of conflict said, "I have discovered that the things we have in common are much greater than the things that divide us." Another person, one of the most controversial and outspoken leaders in the neighborhood, looked around a the way adults and children listened to one another and the space that was given to people's imaginations, and said to everyone's amazement, "I have discovered that this church is the soul of this community."
There are times when we must confess that we are who we are perceived to be. But we also must confess that there is a larger story which has a greater claim upon us than our own failures. It is to that larger story that we must look and seek to embody. It is the larger story of Jesus' death and resurrection - the soul of the church.
The authors researched the opinions of 16 to 29 year olds who are not Christians. What they found was that nearly two out of every five [people in this group] claim to have a bad impression of present-day Christianity. Beyond this, one-third of [this group] said that Christianity represents a negative image with which they would not want to be associated.
What surprised me was that the bad impressions and negative images that this group holds had come from personal experience with the church [Christians] rather than just outside observation. The vast majority of this group went to church in high school and have heard the message of Christ. The reason they hold negative, even hostile, impressions of the church [Christians] is not because of any specific theological perspective. Their negative reactions come from what they have received from Christians.
As one person put it: "Most people I meet assume that Christian means very conservative, entrenched in their thinking, antigay, antichoice, angry, violent, illogical, empire builders; they want to convert everyone, and they generally cannot live peacefully with anyone who doesn't believe what they believe."
The survey found that the majority of 16 to 29 year olds perceive the church to be:
Anti-homosexual (91 percent)
Judgmental (87 percent)
Hypocritical (85 percent)
Too involved in politics (75 percent)
Out of touch with reality (72 percent)
Old Fashioned (78 percent)
Insensitive to others (70 percent)
Boring (68 percent)
Not accepting of other faiths (64 percent)
Confusing (61 percent)
What challenges me is not a desire to be "hipper or cooler" church to turn around these negative impressions of 16 to 29 year olds. I see this as a challenge for the church to embody Jesus more faithfully.
Here is a story to illustrate. It is an adaptation of a story from Sam Wells book "God's Companions."
There was a rural community that for years housed more cows and acreage than people. About 6 years ago this community began to see new development. Since then 10,000 new homes have been built which include people who are diverse culturally, spiritually and economically. As with any change, this one brought some hostility and mistrust over numerous issues. Neighbors, children and adults, bullied one another. Those with administrative or political power used it in ways that spread mistrust.
A new church which began around the beginning of this development had recently completed its first building and invited the community (particularly a number of prominent local people) to join together in an act of worship to mark this significant moment in the church's life.
Adults and children sat together. The service began with an opportunity for people to acknowledge mistakes and frustrations, and ended with a washing of feet for renewed service. Before the Scripture reading a candle was passed around every member of the congregation and each had an opportunity to say a sentence on the theme "what I have discovered in the last six years."
One person on the fringe of the church who had experienced a good deal of conflict said, "I have discovered that the things we have in common are much greater than the things that divide us." Another person, one of the most controversial and outspoken leaders in the neighborhood, looked around a the way adults and children listened to one another and the space that was given to people's imaginations, and said to everyone's amazement, "I have discovered that this church is the soul of this community."
There are times when we must confess that we are who we are perceived to be. But we also must confess that there is a larger story which has a greater claim upon us than our own failures. It is to that larger story that we must look and seek to embody. It is the larger story of Jesus' death and resurrection - the soul of the church.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
What Kind of Church?
Over the last four weeks our church has been reading from the Gospel of John. The first week we read from John 10 which includes a strange mixture of metaphors in which Jesus says, "I am the gate" as well as "I am the shepherd." There are certainly many layers of meaning here, but we focused on the way in which these metaphors work together to point the church toward a very "relational God." Because I have a rather simple mind, I decided that the point our church needed to remember from these passages is this: "Stay close to Jesus." Follow him. Go through him. Stay close to him. That's the kind of church we are called to be.
The second week we read from John 14 - A favorite at funerals and arguments with non-Christians. Ironically, the context of the passage includes neither of those occasions. The context of this passage is a small band of Jesus followers who are out numbered by fellow Jews who think the Jesus followers are nuts, Romans who could care less and Jesus who had just announced he was leaving them soon. "What are we supposed to do now?" was the question on these disciples mind. Had they given themselves to the wrong Messiah? To which Jesus answers, "No you've followed the right Messiah." [my paraphrase]. "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." "You can trust me even when it appears that evil and death are having their way . . . they are not!" [my paraphrase again.] So, we too are called to place our trust in Jesus THE WAY, even when it looks as if evil and death are having their way. That's the kind of church we are called to be.
The third week we read more of John 14 when Jesus tells his followers that he would not leave them orphaned. Jesus promised that even though he wouldn't be with them physically, they would experience his presence and power through the Holy Spirit when they put "love in action." Further, they would be capable of this "love in action" because of the Holy Spirit as well. Jesus presence is both the foundation and the result of the church's obedience to put love in action. So, I suppose this passage is calling us to be the kind of church that "makes God's love real" - putting love in action. [By the way, much easier to write about than do because it requires such surrender and vulnerability to God's Spirit.] Nonetheless, it is the kind of church we are called to be.
And on the fourth week we read John 17. Here Jesus stops talking to his disciples and starts talking to God on their behalf. That's a good thing as the church needs all the prayer it can get! The neat thing about this passage is that it moves away from "stuff the church is supposed to do" and focuses on "stuff that Jesus does for the church." What does Jesus do? He prays a prayer entrusting the church to God. That's the kind of church we are called to be, "entrusted to God." Like a group of whitewater river rafters who entrust themselves to the River, the church has been entrusted to God by Jesus. While we don't always work together well, take the right fork, or even stay in the boat, we ought to acknowledge that this still doesn't change the fact that we are still in the River - entrusted to God. And it is God's "current" - the Holy Spirit, that leads us most powerfully toward God's [and our] destination - the redemption of the world.
To conclude this "Sermon series synopsis"I want to share a neat quote from a new book by Daniel de Roulet, "Finding Your Plot in a Plotless World." I found that the quote captures the essence of this series.
"What I would like church to be like is a meeting place of authenticity, in which everyone, believer and nonbeliever alike, is acknowledged to be human and flawed and in need of a God who can do something about it—and we love one another with no strings attached."
The second week we read from John 14 - A favorite at funerals and arguments with non-Christians. Ironically, the context of the passage includes neither of those occasions. The context of this passage is a small band of Jesus followers who are out numbered by fellow Jews who think the Jesus followers are nuts, Romans who could care less and Jesus who had just announced he was leaving them soon. "What are we supposed to do now?" was the question on these disciples mind. Had they given themselves to the wrong Messiah? To which Jesus answers, "No you've followed the right Messiah." [my paraphrase]. "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." "You can trust me even when it appears that evil and death are having their way . . . they are not!" [my paraphrase again.] So, we too are called to place our trust in Jesus THE WAY, even when it looks as if evil and death are having their way. That's the kind of church we are called to be.
The third week we read more of John 14 when Jesus tells his followers that he would not leave them orphaned. Jesus promised that even though he wouldn't be with them physically, they would experience his presence and power through the Holy Spirit when they put "love in action." Further, they would be capable of this "love in action" because of the Holy Spirit as well. Jesus presence is both the foundation and the result of the church's obedience to put love in action. So, I suppose this passage is calling us to be the kind of church that "makes God's love real" - putting love in action. [By the way, much easier to write about than do because it requires such surrender and vulnerability to God's Spirit.] Nonetheless, it is the kind of church we are called to be.
And on the fourth week we read John 17. Here Jesus stops talking to his disciples and starts talking to God on their behalf. That's a good thing as the church needs all the prayer it can get! The neat thing about this passage is that it moves away from "stuff the church is supposed to do" and focuses on "stuff that Jesus does for the church." What does Jesus do? He prays a prayer entrusting the church to God. That's the kind of church we are called to be, "entrusted to God." Like a group of whitewater river rafters who entrust themselves to the River, the church has been entrusted to God by Jesus. While we don't always work together well, take the right fork, or even stay in the boat, we ought to acknowledge that this still doesn't change the fact that we are still in the River - entrusted to God. And it is God's "current" - the Holy Spirit, that leads us most powerfully toward God's [and our] destination - the redemption of the world.
To conclude this "Sermon series synopsis"I want to share a neat quote from a new book by Daniel de Roulet, "Finding Your Plot in a Plotless World." I found that the quote captures the essence of this series.
"What I would like church to be like is a meeting place of authenticity, in which everyone, believer and nonbeliever alike, is acknowledged to be human and flawed and in need of a God who can do something about it—and we love one another with no strings attached."
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