I'm not much of a coffee drinker...but I do love good conversation over a nice greasy hamburger or juicy steak.
As it happened, I was enjoying both during this weekend at Fuddruckers with three of my great friends from seminary. I know with these guys that the conversation is always going to be thought-provoking, and it's especially interesting because while we're all fairly open minded, two of us tend to be a little more conservative and two of us tend to be a little on the left...at least politically.
The issue of the economy came up, and that unleashed a whole discussion on Barack Obama and the job that our President is doing.
But after all the policy issues, after all the debates about taxes and after all was said and done regarding his foreign policy, came one of the more profound statements about the effect of Barack Obama on the American people.
My friend astutely pointed out, "What I love about Obama is that he makes it cool to be smart and educated. He doesn't try and dumb himself down, he gives you something to hope for and aspire to."
A lot of people reading this might think this is the sign of a pretentious person, or even that it's unChristian of us to think ourselves better suited to life than another...but I'd like to disagree and postulate that this image would be good for the church itself.
I have visited churches in many places and am an amateur academic studying church image and function, and have noticed by and large that successful churches typically have a senior pastor or lead pastor that either presents themselves or actually is extremely educated. It doesn't even matter what style of worship it is. Church of the Resurrection is vastly different from Solomon's Porch, but Adam Hamilton and Doug Padgitt both come off as very knowledgeable and educated people, they make you want to soak up their knowledge. The other thing I notice about the churches...not everyone in the congregation is ivy league, well educated or suburban.
Working with youth and children in various capacities, I'm well aware that I'm in the minority when I think that school and learning is extremely entertaining and find it rewarding right away. But I think we're doing our youth and children...not to mention ourselves...a disservice when we only aspire towards mediocrity.
Do you have to know the whole Torah by heart to follow Christ? No.
Do you have to know the Gospel word for word or be able to tell the historical signficance of the field called Armageddon that Jesus grew up by? No.
But we are going beyond this. We are printing out scripture verses on paper to make it easier, instead of youth having to learn where the scriptures are in The Bible. We are giving in to the CNN 2 minute story version of learning and forgetting the important details that stimulate faith. We are joking with kids about how awesome it is to go to school, in hopes of finding a way to relate to them.
I may be alone, but I love learning the meaning of Hebrew words and seeing how they influence the meaning of the story. I love following cross references and seeing how the Bible relates to itself, because it was written by and for people around the same geographical region. I love learning how things work, and the history of skateboarding, and on and on. I've found this has not only helped me understand scripture and grow in faith, but from learning as much as I've been able to soak up (which is way under others) it has helped me to have relationships with people who are nothing like me. And that sounds like the Gospel to me.
So I want to propose that instead of trying to offer "faith-lite" or "Diet Bible" to make it easier, that we instead push people harder towards education so that simple is not enough. So that our congregations emerse themselves in faith because they are so intrigued by what they might learn. And when someone challenges us about our faith...we can answer them.
I know Jesus picked the B team for his followers, but I'd like to think even the B team is capable of greatness.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Not-so Secret Love of God
My wife and I watched "The Secret Life of Bees" the other night...this is a powerful movie. If you can watch this movie without getting sucked into the story, I might accuse you of not having a soul. (Okay, not really, but I found it wrenching).
The story centers around a young girl played by Dakota Fanning who at the tender age of 3 or 4 kills her mother accidentally with a handgun her mom was planning on using on her father during a fight. The young girl then grows up with a strained relationship with a father who takes his anger from his wife out on her regularly...so she runs away with one of their peach field workers played by Jennifer Hudson, a black woman, during the days of the Civil Rights Act (appox. 1964).
They eventually find themselves at a honey farm run by three women who are also black, but live in a relatively safe confine of 165 acres, away from the sinful, racist world of the time.
What I couldn't get away from is that Dakota Fanning's character, although she lies a lot to survive, seems to genuinely be a nice, strong person...she seems to be polite and stand up for others, and she seems to be craving something. Even though she accidentally killed her mother, lies a lot, and find herself in all sorts of precarious situations...you can't help but like her character.
But the more interesting thing is that her character hates herself. She doesn't know the truth about her mother and father or her mother's death...or at least won't accept it...and she blames it all on herself. She blames her father's behavior on herself, she blames racist actions that happen to her friends on herself, and at one of the most gut-wrenching moments of the movie she shouts out "I'm unlovable!!!"
As a pastor, and someone who tends to have a perfection complex, I can't totally relate to this character, but no how it feels to let someone down. I have hurt people I love, I have upset people in my congregations, and have fallen short of the glory that God intended for us often. But many times I don't realize that the others don't see it this way. I can't count how many times I've preached a sermon, said something stupid, only to be greeted by people telling me how great of a sermon it was. I know that my wife doesn't care about half of the times I've offended her...but in my own heart I feel the guilt. But I keep on expecting perfection in the eyes of others.
John Wesley preached on human perfection, but not as we think about it. As I was watching "The Secret Life of Bees" I thought about his notions of perfection, that it is not in the eyes of others or ourself that we might attain perfection...but in the eyes of God.
What???!!!!
Most would say it's easier to impress your friends or family than God. God has all these rules, all these things you have to live up to...there's NO way to be perfect in the eyes of God...it's even in scripture.
But in Wesley's mindset it is not our actions that make us perfect, but the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus has died in our place, and because he has been resurrected to full and new life...so are we. God no longer sees us as the broken people that we are, but God sees us through a lens of love, forgiveness and longing.
It is when we recognize God's view of us as priceless parts of creation and allow God's influence in our lives that we begin to not live into expectations but live into God's grace, which if we're open enough...at certain moments....we can be perfect in.
After the heart-churning moment of a child yelling out "I'm unlovable" in the film, Queen Latifah's character, August, the wise, motherly woman of the group gives us the reassurance we need. "Child, no one is unlovable." And later on states how much love the child has in this safe house.
It's clear to me that our pasts will never leave us, and that the guilt we sometimes feel will be there lingering. But I believe that God, and by extension the Church, ought to be our safe place where we can know that against all our intuitions, that against all common logic, that God loves us as the people we are. That our sins are not held against us, and that God still wants you today and always.
This seems impossible...but in fact, it's perfect.
The story centers around a young girl played by Dakota Fanning who at the tender age of 3 or 4 kills her mother accidentally with a handgun her mom was planning on using on her father during a fight. The young girl then grows up with a strained relationship with a father who takes his anger from his wife out on her regularly...so she runs away with one of their peach field workers played by Jennifer Hudson, a black woman, during the days of the Civil Rights Act (appox. 1964).
They eventually find themselves at a honey farm run by three women who are also black, but live in a relatively safe confine of 165 acres, away from the sinful, racist world of the time.
What I couldn't get away from is that Dakota Fanning's character, although she lies a lot to survive, seems to genuinely be a nice, strong person...she seems to be polite and stand up for others, and she seems to be craving something. Even though she accidentally killed her mother, lies a lot, and find herself in all sorts of precarious situations...you can't help but like her character.
But the more interesting thing is that her character hates herself. She doesn't know the truth about her mother and father or her mother's death...or at least won't accept it...and she blames it all on herself. She blames her father's behavior on herself, she blames racist actions that happen to her friends on herself, and at one of the most gut-wrenching moments of the movie she shouts out "I'm unlovable!!!"
As a pastor, and someone who tends to have a perfection complex, I can't totally relate to this character, but no how it feels to let someone down. I have hurt people I love, I have upset people in my congregations, and have fallen short of the glory that God intended for us often. But many times I don't realize that the others don't see it this way. I can't count how many times I've preached a sermon, said something stupid, only to be greeted by people telling me how great of a sermon it was. I know that my wife doesn't care about half of the times I've offended her...but in my own heart I feel the guilt. But I keep on expecting perfection in the eyes of others.
John Wesley preached on human perfection, but not as we think about it. As I was watching "The Secret Life of Bees" I thought about his notions of perfection, that it is not in the eyes of others or ourself that we might attain perfection...but in the eyes of God.
What???!!!!
Most would say it's easier to impress your friends or family than God. God has all these rules, all these things you have to live up to...there's NO way to be perfect in the eyes of God...it's even in scripture.
But in Wesley's mindset it is not our actions that make us perfect, but the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus has died in our place, and because he has been resurrected to full and new life...so are we. God no longer sees us as the broken people that we are, but God sees us through a lens of love, forgiveness and longing.
It is when we recognize God's view of us as priceless parts of creation and allow God's influence in our lives that we begin to not live into expectations but live into God's grace, which if we're open enough...at certain moments....we can be perfect in.
After the heart-churning moment of a child yelling out "I'm unlovable" in the film, Queen Latifah's character, August, the wise, motherly woman of the group gives us the reassurance we need. "Child, no one is unlovable." And later on states how much love the child has in this safe house.
It's clear to me that our pasts will never leave us, and that the guilt we sometimes feel will be there lingering. But I believe that God, and by extension the Church, ought to be our safe place where we can know that against all our intuitions, that against all common logic, that God loves us as the people we are. That our sins are not held against us, and that God still wants you today and always.
This seems impossible...but in fact, it's perfect.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The three letter, four letter Word...Sex
So here's the big week....
We've got the Bible study printed, we're working on the stage set-up, and the sermon outline is done.
You'd think after Easter week we'd take it easy on ourselves, but The Bridge crew is putting ourselves on a limb by talking about one of the most controversial topics there is, "sex."
It's been interesting to see all of the reactions in the church, and I've loved the people who are uncomfortable with me doing this because they have really opened my eyes to an attitude that I need to consider and take seriously. I, too, will have a daughter soon...what would I want her to hear?
But I'd like to think that I wouldn't be afraid of sex like our culture has become. For such an openly sexual and sexually exploitative culture that we are, it's awful to talk about it as something serious, or something...holy? But it is created by God, for pro-creation, but also for spiritual and emotional and physical bonding between two people. So, in a culture in which we bond spiritually, emotionally and physically with anyone at any time...why are we afraid to say that it's designed to bond with one person for life?
I'm thinking this will be a pretty popular stance with all sides, but in the words of one of my colleagues..."who cares what people think, this is what God thinks."
Amen.
I hope you tune in to the Sexual Revolution series and create anew your own view on sex, or reaffirm how important it actually is in your life. We are going to try and stream the sermons online after the fact for those that miss it.
We've got the Bible study printed, we're working on the stage set-up, and the sermon outline is done.
You'd think after Easter week we'd take it easy on ourselves, but The Bridge crew is putting ourselves on a limb by talking about one of the most controversial topics there is, "sex."
It's been interesting to see all of the reactions in the church, and I've loved the people who are uncomfortable with me doing this because they have really opened my eyes to an attitude that I need to consider and take seriously. I, too, will have a daughter soon...what would I want her to hear?
But I'd like to think that I wouldn't be afraid of sex like our culture has become. For such an openly sexual and sexually exploitative culture that we are, it's awful to talk about it as something serious, or something...holy? But it is created by God, for pro-creation, but also for spiritual and emotional and physical bonding between two people. So, in a culture in which we bond spiritually, emotionally and physically with anyone at any time...why are we afraid to say that it's designed to bond with one person for life?
I'm thinking this will be a pretty popular stance with all sides, but in the words of one of my colleagues..."who cares what people think, this is what God thinks."
Amen.
I hope you tune in to the Sexual Revolution series and create anew your own view on sex, or reaffirm how important it actually is in your life. We are going to try and stream the sermons online after the fact for those that miss it.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Let's Talk about Sex (in the Bridge)
Check out our promo video for our new sermon series, "Sexual Revolution" in The Bridge, April 19-May 3rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRVu8fkMT60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRVu8fkMT60
Maundy Thursday
We did our first Maundy Thursday service in The Bridge style of worship last night, and I don't think I've ever been to a more meaningful Maundy Thursday service...or maybe another Bridge service.
Don't get me wrong, I love our upbeat tempo our unpredictability and the style that we choose, but last night the music was worshipful, yet soft. The sermon was interactive and hopefully powerful, yet solemn. It was just a powerful service for me as we slow down and think about holy week and the great gifts and sacrifices that God has given for us. It was a sacred moment.
Don't forget to check out Stations of the Cross at 3:30-7:30 in the quad room, and Good Friday service in Celebration Hall at 7:30pm.
Don't get me wrong, I love our upbeat tempo our unpredictability and the style that we choose, but last night the music was worshipful, yet soft. The sermon was interactive and hopefully powerful, yet solemn. It was just a powerful service for me as we slow down and think about holy week and the great gifts and sacrifices that God has given for us. It was a sacred moment.
Don't forget to check out Stations of the Cross at 3:30-7:30 in the quad room, and Good Friday service in Celebration Hall at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Justice of Resurrection
"If God has already forgiven us for any sin that we might commit...why should I stop?"
"Why can't the church kick people out when they are hurting others?"
"I know that I'm supposed to be forgiving and loving of my enemies....but I can't help but hate them and want them to be punished!"
...The preceding comments have all been a part of three different conversations I've had with church people from various states in the past 2 weeks. It's been convenient that as we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday that a lot of talk has centered around God's justice, mercy and just why this all went down.
First of all, the first comment came from a friend of a friend that I don't even know, who I'm guessing is a struggling Christian or a quesitoning non-believer...either way...way to go with the question!
I'm not going to answer these questions one by one, but all of them go back to our understanding of God's justice through Christ's death and resurrection (yes...you need them both). In God's willing sacrifice through Jesus Christ, all our sins were taken upon one person and the punishment was leveled. But what if we stopped there? What if Jesus never rose...then how could we ever know about new life? How could we ever realize that our sins were forgiven? It takes Jesus conquering death and rising physically for us to know that sin cannot stop us, it cannot keep God in the grave, and therefore with God on our side, it cannot keep us down in life and cannot keep us in the grave eternally. This brings about a question of God's justice though...is God really that mean and wrathful?
Old Testament writers certainly thought so...and even talked about the wrath of God. To tell you the truth, I'm not all that comfortable with this, because I like my fluffy God that loves me, loves you and loves the world.
But I've been confronted by some of the above questions, because it seems like we have a hard time believing that God isn't going to spank our enemies hard because of their sins. We have a hard time believing that God doesn't hate the same people we hate.
Well...first, we are not God and don't know how to think for God. Secondly, God's wrath and love seem to be intermingled in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We see a wrathful situation and wonder if this is the only way...but have you thought about the love for everyone else in this situation? Have you ever remembered that Jesus is God incarnated into human flesh, and God is really taking the punishment upon himself in order to love fully the whole world and all of creation?
So this awful situation that we feel bad for Jesus for, gives us new life because God loves us more than God. Wow...that's a powerful statement.
And so for us, who hate others, and can't figure out why God doesn't do something about mean people in the world....God has. God has loved them and forgiven them, just the same as you. And I wonder if we poured out the same kind of sacrificial love as God does to these other people if they would be capable of hurting us. Probably...but would we notice as much is the question. Would we notice their sharp actions if all we could see in them is how much God and we love them as creation?
God's justice doesn't seem fair for us right now...but I have a good idea that the justice of mercy and love in the resurrection will work out in the end.
"Why can't the church kick people out when they are hurting others?"
"I know that I'm supposed to be forgiving and loving of my enemies....but I can't help but hate them and want them to be punished!"
...The preceding comments have all been a part of three different conversations I've had with church people from various states in the past 2 weeks. It's been convenient that as we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday that a lot of talk has centered around God's justice, mercy and just why this all went down.
First of all, the first comment came from a friend of a friend that I don't even know, who I'm guessing is a struggling Christian or a quesitoning non-believer...either way...way to go with the question!
I'm not going to answer these questions one by one, but all of them go back to our understanding of God's justice through Christ's death and resurrection (yes...you need them both). In God's willing sacrifice through Jesus Christ, all our sins were taken upon one person and the punishment was leveled. But what if we stopped there? What if Jesus never rose...then how could we ever know about new life? How could we ever realize that our sins were forgiven? It takes Jesus conquering death and rising physically for us to know that sin cannot stop us, it cannot keep God in the grave, and therefore with God on our side, it cannot keep us down in life and cannot keep us in the grave eternally. This brings about a question of God's justice though...is God really that mean and wrathful?
Old Testament writers certainly thought so...and even talked about the wrath of God. To tell you the truth, I'm not all that comfortable with this, because I like my fluffy God that loves me, loves you and loves the world.
But I've been confronted by some of the above questions, because it seems like we have a hard time believing that God isn't going to spank our enemies hard because of their sins. We have a hard time believing that God doesn't hate the same people we hate.
Well...first, we are not God and don't know how to think for God. Secondly, God's wrath and love seem to be intermingled in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We see a wrathful situation and wonder if this is the only way...but have you thought about the love for everyone else in this situation? Have you ever remembered that Jesus is God incarnated into human flesh, and God is really taking the punishment upon himself in order to love fully the whole world and all of creation?
So this awful situation that we feel bad for Jesus for, gives us new life because God loves us more than God. Wow...that's a powerful statement.
And so for us, who hate others, and can't figure out why God doesn't do something about mean people in the world....God has. God has loved them and forgiven them, just the same as you. And I wonder if we poured out the same kind of sacrificial love as God does to these other people if they would be capable of hurting us. Probably...but would we notice as much is the question. Would we notice their sharp actions if all we could see in them is how much God and we love them as creation?
God's justice doesn't seem fair for us right now...but I have a good idea that the justice of mercy and love in the resurrection will work out in the end.
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