Reflections on BBQ and Brimstone...

Yesterday, I was sitting under the tracks of the MindEraser at Elitch Gardens, and with the noise of joyfully screaming youngsters in the background - I posed a question to my friend Sean.

I asked what his thoughts on experiencing God in worship were recently.

Among his answers (very insightful and honest), he noted that part of his time in worship is spent simply asking the question: "am I living the way I should be?"

I made a mental note about how it struck me when Sean said this simple line. I began to realize that so often I over-think worship and how we are to encounter the living God. I often think of reflection of Sean's nature as regulatory, guilt-filled and legalistic. But really, is there anything that can lead more to freedom and peace than tossing all of ones life before God and letting him pick through it and gently let me know what is good for me and what is not?

I realize that this is much easier said than done. I feel that most folks don't need someone to tell them that they have done things that are wrong, but instead someone to create a space for them to process their life and decisions - good and bad. I also found something so simple, deep and beautiful about Sean's insight, and even with the antiquated, evangelical images that this notion conjured up in my mind.

I realize that there have been many wounds and misconceptions doled out by the traditional, "are you livin' right with God?," preacher. But, there is a beauty in simply reflecting on a daily basis on such questions:

Am I living/loving like Jesus?
Am I giving all I can to the poor and those in need?
Am I giving my heart to my wife, kids, or friends as much as I should?
Where do my daily priorities fall?

Quite often I feel I could be quite satisfied and fulfilled singing a few hymns and hearing a simple message at a quaint country church, shooting the breeze and asking the above questions with good friends over a beer and BBQ that afternoon.

In theory and practice, is post-post-modern synonymous with post simplicity?

Playing Duck, Duck, Damned...?

I had to chuckle when I heard an author speak of door to door type evangelism as a big game of "Duck, Duck, Damned." :)

There have been a ton of thoughts and ideas running through my mind as of late about how we do things like: evangelize, talk about Jesus, and "make disciples of all nations."' My gut instinct is usually to wince when someone is talking about "going out to evangelize." I begin to wonder who will be ducked and who might be intelligent enough to be "damned?"

I have been reading a book that is focusing on the "Reformission" of the church. How can we connect with people, our culture and share the shalom of Christ, in a way that makes sense to unchurched and de-churched immersed in today's culture. During my reading of this book and simply trying to live this way vocationally and personally - two ideas have really stood out thus far.

The first one I wrote about in a blog for Hope Community Church (hopesatellite.blogspot.com) on 6/9/09. Acts 17 finds Paul in the city of Athens - speaking with the philosophers and thinkers of the day. Sidenote: what a life to live in ancient Athens and just sit around and talk philosophy, religion and though - all day! Anyway, this is who Paul is summoned to talk with - and he just starts telling stories about Jesus. I can only imagine the freshness that the stories of Christ brought in comparison with the Grecco-Roman gods. The ideas of wholistic - life changing faith and practice. Good news for the poor, inclusion of the lame and feeble minded and a concept of caring, creator God who wants to interact with humanity. Thinking of the culture in that setting - these ideas where very unique. My argument is that Paul was sharing this in an obviously pre-Christian culture, and that our audience is very similar in out post-Christian culture. Even Athens seems to be so parallel to the worlds that many of us live in, with an interest in personal spirituality, the arts, expression, love and character.

It seems that so many folks in the church today see that type of culture as hostile to the Gospel, and yet I believe it is more primed than ever. When we, like Paul, simply talk about Jesus for what He is, with no connection to the convoluted Americanized, materialized, politicized marketing scheme of past decades, our culture is aching for something/someone like Jesus.

The second idea that stood out to me over the past week or reading on Reformission - is that we often see our progression of "evangelism" in a false light. Traditionally we (in all of our foresight and genius) essentially tell people: "believe in Jesus and then join a church." There are more holes in this approach then there is time here to discuss them. But, I think we have it flipped...

People should be able to relationally and experientially join a faith community and be loved for who they are (not for their "ministry potential") first - and that would be their starting point for a journey of conversion. But the question remains - are we the type of faith community in which this is our practice and all people feel welcomed and loved?

-Whether it is realized or not, all mankind bears the image of the creator God...

The Jesus Movement...

When I was growing up I could often hear my parents and other adults talk about their time as college and young people during the "Jesus Movement." I was never quite sure what that meant and wondered at times "isn't Jesus moving now?"

Looking back at what I associated with that "Jesus Movement" in my youth might be quite accurate to the times of said movement. I see long-haired folks wearing tye-dyed clothing spreading the word about this radical Jesus who loved EVERYONE and lived in poverty, stood up to the government and could be worshiped anywhere and at anytime. I envision groups of these young people driving cross country tossing LPs of "Godspell" out the window's like Frisbees :) They walked, drove, pedaled and hitchhiked all around the US. It seems like everyone who was part of that "movement" in those days was heading somewhere, and doing so with a purpose.

But back to the earlier question - isn't Jesus moving now? He is, but are his people?

A few days ago I asked a group of young teenagers a question: "So, you're a 'Christian'... now what?"

I was met with blank stares. So, I rephrased the question a few different ways in hopes of eliciting at least a throat clearing, or any possible sign that wheels were turning..... nothing.

I got to thinking later that night that we can spend so much time and energy thinking of "conversion" as an event rather than a process.

A process is something we walk through, it takes time,

movement,

action,

joining with others.

Considering that Christ is alive and moving, and our faith is a process of learning, changing, growing and joining in the work of Jesus in our context - have we any faith?
Or, do we have faith that - at one point - we met Jesus?

Could we have shown up to our wedding ceremony and not stepped into the marriage the next day?

Our conversion journey is indeed our personal "Jesus Movement", but the movement is also intrinsically communal. Moving with Jesus is a motion that naturally community oriented because one is not focused on self, but the love and restoration of others. And it is this devotion to those in need that defines the "Jesus Movement," it is loving those around us so much that the aura of Christ permeates our interactions and thus changes out action from selfish to self-sacrificing.

Our journey is one of motion and risk - one that leads us to move into the places of hurt and oppression in our world. The orphanage, the developing world, the shelter or our good friend's heart...

Personal or Global ??

The question is often posed most by young kids: "How can God love me and have the whole world in his hands?"

This question is not always asked by churches and people today, but it seems it had to have been asked because many people, preachers and congregations seem to have made up their minds on the issue and decided that God either loves them a lot, or His love has/is redeeming the world - rarely both.

If one but takes a survey of many different churches and preaching approaches in today's culture - I think two major trends emerge.

1: Jesus is my personal savior - he came to die for my sins and had I been the only sinner, he would have come anyway.

2: Our call as Christians is to save the world, plant and save trees, free slaves, fight the system and find "community."

Now, both of these approaches are right, biblical, and not mutually exclusive (I sure hope). But, I think it is rare to find a faith community that holds both common ways in a healthy tension. Often many older and established evangelical congregations seem to lean toward option 1 - personal savior and God, while many new "emergent" churches seem to lean toward approach number 2.

From discussions with folks who have been in ministry for much longer than I, it seems that the more "conservative" and personal savior approach seems to stem from a reaction by many churches (and denominations) in the 1950s/60s to the "Social Gospel" movement. They, in an attempt to hold dear and "conserve" the truth of their doctrine and the Gospel - swung the pendulum in one distinct direction...maybe further than they even wanted.

So, is the recent trend in churches toward social action just another sort of reaction to a reaction?

I don't necessarily think so.

One must take into account the woundedness of our current generation of young people and emerging leaders. Many of these wounds have been inflicted (intentionally or not) by "the church," or people connected with a Christian body. For some of us, one has only mention the words "Focus on the Family" to bring a twinge to many of our insides and almost a sick feeling. Had Dobson continued to focus only on the family and stayed out of the political realm and thus, a condemning realm - I think we could utter that organizations title with good conscience. But, that is not the case and for many people that approach faith a bit differently from the good doctor, it may seem a bit more difficult to associate with folks who call themselves 'Christians."

We also must take into account the fears and suspicions of the older generation of Christians and church leaders. The important questions need to change from things like "Is Rob Bell a heretic?" to how can I love and connect with this new generation of folks who also love Jesus. Is our faith in Christ so small that we don't believe the Truth will rise to the surface when Christ is studied and pursued in the given conversation?? Shall they seek and not find? Change is a hard thing, and in many contexts, takes time and understanding.

Regardless of where you are coming from on any of this - we must let Christ be the center and heart of what we do. Christ has a heart for the poor, marginalized and the oppressed. Yet, (though not trendy) also weeps for the wealthy to realize him as lord. Jesus came to pay for all of our sins and reconcile us all to him for eternity - He yearns for personal relationship. In the same way (Col. 1:15-19) He has, and is redeeming all things - and all creation is thus longing for his return! Our personal and abiding relationship with Christ is the context through which we see and know how we are to be carrying out the mission of Jesus in our world.

Our answers and future unity as a church are found in the words and life of Jesus. Understanding his culture, his traditions and heart we see that he is full of Grace and also Truth - limitless mercy and a persistent desire to be in relationship with everyone. He is about working within ones given context and culture and yet about standing up to and abolishing systems and ways of life that (although common, huge and culturally entrenched) keep his beloved people from him.

We don't have to choose pipe organs, tradition and "evangelism," over trees, free-trade coffee and Bono - but realize there is a more holistic approach to our faith journey. We're all on a journey of conversion, it doesn't have to be one way or the other!

For the fullness and image of God is in Christ and we are to let His joy be in us - for the God of the universe has called us to be a part of his pulling of heaven and earth back together, mending broken lives and walking daily with Christ - let this then be our focus no matter the age, worship approach or style of dress.