Every church wants to express the truth and grace of Jesus as fully as possible. MOre and more we're running into "missional" churches and movements that are trying to point out the ways in which some of our ways of being Christian have reflected an incomplete understanding of the good news of Jesus. It's pretty fuzzy stuff mostly, which makes it easy to take slightly disguised shots at the well known Christian leader of choice for their limited gospel.
In the course of an ongoing series on their website about the "size" of the gospel; Christianity Today posted this article from a missional church pastor/theologian who opens up the question of what happens when we make the gospel so big that average people can't get their heads or hands around it.
From where I sit, this sounds like a part of what has happened in the more theologically liberal churches in my community. Starting with acknowledging something more, they ended up something so big it lost all meaning. I find myself struggling to maintain a grip on the safety rail of faith in the midst of the theological ride I've found myself on in the last year or so...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Open to Interpretation
I really enjoyed a poolside conversation yesterday with two younger guys who are thoughtful and deeply committed in their following Jesus. As is often the case lately, a lot of it was about how the truth and grace of Jesus can be expressed in ways that are meaningful to those who currently find no place in the church.
The image above is from this interesting post from Mark Petersen which raises a few thoughts:
-I like how he takes the challenge of the artist and sees the hope in it
-I can understand the controversy, and hope the local churches have embraced it and seen it as opportunity for dialogue and reflection
-I didn't know Mark jogs
Friday, August 15, 2008
Facebook for Jesus?
I have come to actually quite like facebook. I (like many other people) probably waste/spend more time on it than is really warranted, but it has allowed me to maintain and develop some good friendships.
At the same time it can be a little concerning in other ways.
As a former youth pastor and camp guy I see a lot of stuff on the profiles of some young people that I wish weren't there. Constant references to getting drunk, sex, drugs, and the like are discouraging. Sometimes I wonder if I should send a message asking about what's really going on with people who I still think could be involved in something much more meaningful and fulfilling. A couple times I have sent those messages and gotten no response, and wondered if I made a mistake...
Today I came across an article about the use of facebook as an evangelistic tool. I'm not sure what I think entirely. I agree with some of the points the author makes about it being a great way to connect with people who have become distant and I have also had experiences where I think those connections have led to some valuable spiritual interaction. There is an opportunity here to engage with people through another media that creates possibilities.
I guess my frustration is with the mindset that thinks we should be careful and selective about what we post so we can best interest people in getting to know Jesus. At one level that makes sense, but at another it suggests that our spirituality is somehow compartmentalised and we should omit those aspects of our lives that don't fit with it when we go public.
I'd much rather that our editorial efforts were made at the level of our real lives, rather than our cyber ones.
Making facebook so strategic and selective puts me in mind of people and organizations who approach evangelism as a program and tactic. We train in the right presentations and responses that will eradicate people's defences and allow us to convince them to accept our Jesus. I was deep in that subculture for many years and am glad to be outside of it now.
The Christian message is about so much more than a brief formulaic call to repentance. I would hope that my friends on facebook who identify themselves as Christians can be bold enough to be sincere in that forum, just as I hope for us all to be in every aspect of life. I suspect that will ultimately better reflect the variety and complexity of God's work among us as we try to respond faithfully to the ways Jesus is revealed.
At the same time it can be a little concerning in other ways.
As a former youth pastor and camp guy I see a lot of stuff on the profiles of some young people that I wish weren't there. Constant references to getting drunk, sex, drugs, and the like are discouraging. Sometimes I wonder if I should send a message asking about what's really going on with people who I still think could be involved in something much more meaningful and fulfilling. A couple times I have sent those messages and gotten no response, and wondered if I made a mistake...
Today I came across an article about the use of facebook as an evangelistic tool. I'm not sure what I think entirely. I agree with some of the points the author makes about it being a great way to connect with people who have become distant and I have also had experiences where I think those connections have led to some valuable spiritual interaction. There is an opportunity here to engage with people through another media that creates possibilities.
I guess my frustration is with the mindset that thinks we should be careful and selective about what we post so we can best interest people in getting to know Jesus. At one level that makes sense, but at another it suggests that our spirituality is somehow compartmentalised and we should omit those aspects of our lives that don't fit with it when we go public.
I'd much rather that our editorial efforts were made at the level of our real lives, rather than our cyber ones.
Making facebook so strategic and selective puts me in mind of people and organizations who approach evangelism as a program and tactic. We train in the right presentations and responses that will eradicate people's defences and allow us to convince them to accept our Jesus. I was deep in that subculture for many years and am glad to be outside of it now.
The Christian message is about so much more than a brief formulaic call to repentance. I would hope that my friends on facebook who identify themselves as Christians can be bold enough to be sincere in that forum, just as I hope for us all to be in every aspect of life. I suspect that will ultimately better reflect the variety and complexity of God's work among us as we try to respond faithfully to the ways Jesus is revealed.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Performance Anxiety
Another interesting post from Out of Ur, this time on how spiritual leaders struggle with the expectation to achieve success based on external, measurable criteria. I find myself torn.
On one hand I totally agree with this article: If Scripture shows that faithful and godly leaders can have shrinking ministries (Jesus in John 6), and sinful leaders can have successful ministries (Moses in Numbers 20), then why do we persist in measuring our success simply on the measurable outcomes of our work?
Brothers and sisters, you are more than the measurable outcomes of your work.
I spent several years working for a church in one of the most performance driven communities in Canada. At times I felt the sting of not standing up to the high expectations that always seemed beyond my reach (thankfully, those occasions were few and may ultimately have been more self-imposed than otherwise). I tried to speak out against what I found offensive in the perform or perish culture that I saw in the schools, sports, homes, and workplaces. Looking back I wish I'd done a better job of really understanding and articulating what is so damaging about that paradigm.
However; I also benefited from that culture. It often brought out the best in me. I became better as a leader and as a pastor because there were people around me who wanted to see me develop and didn't allow me to be lazy or hide behind any excuses.
In my role with the Catalyst Foundation I spend a lot of time essentially evaluating leaders and their organizations. I want to support those who are most effective at bringing about good in the lives of others. There was a time when I found discussion of numbers and clear outcomes to be contrary to my sense of ministry, but I don't anymore.
I agree that the measure of any person (the focus on pastors in the article reflects the primary audience of the writer, not a belief that pastors have a harder life than the rest of us I hope) should not be on what they are able to accomplish. We are more than our results. Ultimately we will not be judged based on our curriculum vitae, but on our faithful obedience to God as truly revealed to us.
I want to challenge those who read this article that we need to learn to distinguish between our core identity (i.e. adopted and beloved child of God), and our work (professional or otherwise). In our work we should seek to be productive, knowing that it is not all that we are.
If we don't learn to do that then whatever our work it will be "soul-killing" because no labour, no matter how sincere or serving, is the fulfilment of a human life. Confusing this leads us to either dependence on the opinions of others (which the article rightly critiques), or a rejection of all evaluation and an entirely individualistic standard of life which is so vulnerable to ego and laziness.
In summary, evaluate and improve what can be measured and ruthlessly remember that many things can't.
On one hand I totally agree with this article: If Scripture shows that faithful and godly leaders can have shrinking ministries (Jesus in John 6), and sinful leaders can have successful ministries (Moses in Numbers 20), then why do we persist in measuring our success simply on the measurable outcomes of our work?
Brothers and sisters, you are more than the measurable outcomes of your work.
I spent several years working for a church in one of the most performance driven communities in Canada. At times I felt the sting of not standing up to the high expectations that always seemed beyond my reach (thankfully, those occasions were few and may ultimately have been more self-imposed than otherwise). I tried to speak out against what I found offensive in the perform or perish culture that I saw in the schools, sports, homes, and workplaces. Looking back I wish I'd done a better job of really understanding and articulating what is so damaging about that paradigm.
However; I also benefited from that culture. It often brought out the best in me. I became better as a leader and as a pastor because there were people around me who wanted to see me develop and didn't allow me to be lazy or hide behind any excuses.
In my role with the Catalyst Foundation I spend a lot of time essentially evaluating leaders and their organizations. I want to support those who are most effective at bringing about good in the lives of others. There was a time when I found discussion of numbers and clear outcomes to be contrary to my sense of ministry, but I don't anymore.
I agree that the measure of any person (the focus on pastors in the article reflects the primary audience of the writer, not a belief that pastors have a harder life than the rest of us I hope) should not be on what they are able to accomplish. We are more than our results. Ultimately we will not be judged based on our curriculum vitae, but on our faithful obedience to God as truly revealed to us.
I want to challenge those who read this article that we need to learn to distinguish between our core identity (i.e. adopted and beloved child of God), and our work (professional or otherwise). In our work we should seek to be productive, knowing that it is not all that we are.
If we don't learn to do that then whatever our work it will be "soul-killing" because no labour, no matter how sincere or serving, is the fulfilment of a human life. Confusing this leads us to either dependence on the opinions of others (which the article rightly critiques), or a rejection of all evaluation and an entirely individualistic standard of life which is so vulnerable to ego and laziness.
In summary, evaluate and improve what can be measured and ruthlessly remember that many things can't.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Olympic Spiritual
Watching the opening day of the Beijing games. I love the variety and constant supply of sports, but I generally dislike the opening and closing ceremonies. I'm good with the parade of nations, athlete's oath, and torch lighting; it's all the weird artsy stuff I can't connect with. My favourite moment is often that moment in the closing ceremonies when the athletes all mingle and celebrate in the infield of the Olympic stadium. Seeing all these people, the stress of competition relieved, coming together in something that looks a lot like joy is kinda exhilarating, even from my couch. It gives me a little longing for heaven.
Today I found this article from a favourite blogger, Al Hsu. He shares my idea, but adds a lot to it as a Taiwanese American.
Maybe it's a little cheesy to try to take a universally powerfully tradition and claim it as some kind of Christian metaphor. But I'm not saying it's Christian, just that it puts me in mind of something sacred to me.
Today I found this article from a favourite blogger, Al Hsu. He shares my idea, but adds a lot to it as a Taiwanese American.
Maybe it's a little cheesy to try to take a universally powerfully tradition and claim it as some kind of Christian metaphor. But I'm not saying it's Christian, just that it puts me in mind of something sacred to me.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Ferrets and Cults
Last week I had a long overdue chance to spend a full evening with my oldest brother. Over 4 hours at his favourite pub we did a lot of catching up on life and exploring what it is that makes each of us who we are.
One of the themes of our conversation was the way each of us has been strongly drawn to certain subcultures over the last couple decades. I've invested a lot of myself in Evangelical Christianity, Pastoral work, and "Extreme" sports; and found a lot of my identity through those communities. My brother has been deeply committed to; well, those are his to share or secret, but let's say that there is not a lot of natural affinity between our peer groups.
Despite the strong differences, we've each found ourselves having significant roles and circles of influence, and been involved in welcoming and initiating many newcomers to our respective circles. In many ways we have taken similar steps on very different paths, and as a result we can relate quite closely to one another's experiences.
It may be age and stage of life or something, but I find myself concerned by how isolated some of my subcultures are from those not included. I appreciate that the very nature of a subculture is in the difference from the common, but it's so easy to completely lose touch with the outside world.
In some cases that might be a good thing, but it easily leads to loss of perspective and extremism as we continually subdivide within our tribes to find ever more specific identities and communities. In the end we lose the ability to relate in any meaningful way between our subculture and the parts of our life lived among the masses. The scariest thing about that, at least for me, is how not frightening some of my spiritual siblings find it.
One of the themes of our conversation was the way each of us has been strongly drawn to certain subcultures over the last couple decades. I've invested a lot of myself in Evangelical Christianity, Pastoral work, and "Extreme" sports; and found a lot of my identity through those communities. My brother has been deeply committed to; well, those are his to share or secret, but let's say that there is not a lot of natural affinity between our peer groups.
Despite the strong differences, we've each found ourselves having significant roles and circles of influence, and been involved in welcoming and initiating many newcomers to our respective circles. In many ways we have taken similar steps on very different paths, and as a result we can relate quite closely to one another's experiences.
It may be age and stage of life or something, but I find myself concerned by how isolated some of my subcultures are from those not included. I appreciate that the very nature of a subculture is in the difference from the common, but it's so easy to completely lose touch with the outside world.
In some cases that might be a good thing, but it easily leads to loss of perspective and extremism as we continually subdivide within our tribes to find ever more specific identities and communities. In the end we lose the ability to relate in any meaningful way between our subculture and the parts of our life lived among the masses. The scariest thing about that, at least for me, is how not frightening some of my spiritual siblings find it.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Aftermath
One of my favourite people in all the world to spend a long evening talking with is a self-professed skeptic. (Most of the time I share his temperament if not his paradigm). This post is not for him.
I read an article today that moved me surprisingly. It's about the infamous New Life church in Colorado (of the Ted Haggard scandal and last year's shootings) and how they are recovering from two tragedies. And, yes I do consider the Haggard matter to be tragic from several angles.
There are several ways I don't agree with the practices and teaching of New Life. It would be easy for me to poke holes in even this story and find fault with some of what it says. But I choose not to. Instead, I choose to believe that God is doing something meaningful among people who shared trauma.
Read right to the end of the article. The postscript demonstrates grace and courage beyond common human capacity. Well done folks. You've entered into the realm of the inexplicable. I hope you can hang out there for a while.
I read an article today that moved me surprisingly. It's about the infamous New Life church in Colorado (of the Ted Haggard scandal and last year's shootings) and how they are recovering from two tragedies. And, yes I do consider the Haggard matter to be tragic from several angles.
There are several ways I don't agree with the practices and teaching of New Life. It would be easy for me to poke holes in even this story and find fault with some of what it says. But I choose not to. Instead, I choose to believe that God is doing something meaningful among people who shared trauma.
Read right to the end of the article. The postscript demonstrates grace and courage beyond common human capacity. Well done folks. You've entered into the realm of the inexplicable. I hope you can hang out there for a while.
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