Labels

Years ago I remember a story about a kid who wanted to do the grocery shopping,  It could have been in fact most likely was on one of those kids shows that used to be on the radio.  I remember Saturday's riding in the back seat of the car while we went grocery shopping or out to visit kids in my parents Sunday school class or whatever we would do. Anyway the kid in the story was supposed to do the grocery shopping and prepare a meal or something,  money in hand she (I remember it being a she) found a cart full of cans that had all the labels torn off.  She saved money and got stuff she wanted at the same time.  Of course when it came time to make the meal she had all sort of things from the cans that didn't go together.  There was some sort of moral involved, you can grab whatever that is on your own.  I'm using the memory more as a launching point for my thoughts.

You look at a label and it tells you what is inside...that's how it's supposed to work, except as I have been going over the labels I have lived under over the years I have come to a realization...

A few important definitions:

evangelical

adjective evan·gel·i·cal \ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-li-kəl, ˌe-vən-\

• 
  

  : of or relating to a Christian sect or group that stresses the authority of the Bible, the importance of believing that Jesus Christ saved you personally from sin or hell, and the preaching of these beliefs to other people

  
  


• 
  

  : having or showing very strong and enthusiastic feelings

  
  

conservative

adjective con·ser·va·tive \kən-ˈsər-və-tiv\

• 
  

  : believing in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society : relating to or supporting political conservatism

  
  


• 
  

  Conservative : of or relating to the conservative party in countries like the United Kingdom and Canada

  
  


• 
  

  : not liking or accepting changes or new ideas

  
  

republican

noun re·pub·li·can \ri-ˈpə-bli-kən\

• 
  

  Republican : a member of the Republican party of the U.S.

  
  


• 
  

  : a person who believes in or supports a republican form of government

  
  

liberal

adjective lib·er·al \ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\

• 
  

  : believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change : relating to or supporting political liberalism

  
  


• 
  

  Liberal : of or belonging to the liberal political party in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom

  
  


• 
  

  : not opposed to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted

  
  

progressive

adjective pro·gres·sive \prə-ˈgre-siv\

• 
  

  : moving forward

  
  


• 
  

  : happening or developing gradually over a period of time

  
  


• 
  

  : using or interested in new or modern ideas especially in politics and education

  
  

The list is actually longer, and includes different types of political leanings, different sects of Christianity, different ideologies that become subsets under these main headlines.  Taken in turn it's safe to say that I have lived under each of the labels at different times throughout my life.

Believe it or not, for a brief time at the end of college and for a couple years I would probably have identified as a Evangelical Republican...I would say a soft right winger, but things always bothered me on the right, still do.  The problem with these two labels well three actually is at some point they became interchangeable to many in each of those movements.  If you were an evangelical Christian you were a republican, only thing you could be.  You stood for all sorts of things that the Bible tells you to stand for, except that if you were to dig a bit deeper into the Bible you may find that things that people in power in the popular evangelical movement say are important or things we should be standing for may not necessarily be there.

Then there was that time when I decided I was going to be emergent, except you can't really decide to be emergent, because the moment you label yourself as emergent you are becoming part of what emergent people try to not become.

The whole progressive thing is still sort of around, as is the liberal label I guess, except when it's not.  I'm a bit conflicted there but that's okay.

I get frustrated with people who have messed up my labels as well.  Names like Dobson, and Franklin, and Jerry have destroyed the evangelical label for me in some ways, they aren't alone either but they seem to be the most vocal.  People who look at right wing evangelicals and get frustrated I'm okay with but when those same people begin to get antagonistic and start telling people that they have to be more progressive and ignore heart felt convictions and practice tolerance without being tolerant well that is equally annoying.

The thing that gets me is that on both sides of these issues regular every day people are not the ones that I have issues with.  I have found that on both sides regular every day people are very understanding, willing to listen, caring, and not militant in their interactions.  It is as always the vocal minority that makes the issues larger than life.

Case in point. I am for gun control.  I don't have a problem with the second amendment, I don't mind you owning a gun, however it shouldn't be as simple as strolling down to the nearest Walmart to buy one.  Or heading to a gun show to avoid a background check.  Now to hear people that make the most noise on both sides you would think that everyone that is for common sense gun control laws wants to march into peoples homes, grab up all the guns and leave, you would also think that anyone that is a member of the NRA and owns a gun wants to own an assault rifle or sub machine gun with armor piercing rounds.  Real conversations however yield different results.  With several gun owners not only willing to have background checks but for them, and gun control advocates not saying take them all away but use common sense.  These voices of reason are drowned out by the louder elements of each side who are alarmist and make their money and points by stoking the fire of partisanism.  (Yes I know that's not really a word.)

In issues of faith though, this trend really bothers me.  It bothers me that all the flavors of Christianity tend to look at each other with anything from misunderstanding to outright hostility.

Listening to people who claim to follow Christ "hold the line" on things as they watch a world full of individuals they claim to love and have answers for shake their heads and walk away from both sides of Christianity be it conservative or liberal has lead me to a discovery and a statement.

I am not an American Evangelical, Nor am I an American progressive.  I am determined though.



No matter where anyone in the Christian faith stands, this is the anchor point, at least it should be.  If we are all striving to make this the jumping off point for everything we do I believe that the differences that separate us don't have to alienate us.  There will be differences.  We will not agree on things,  we will see things differently, we will reach out to people differently.  That's okay, but if we make this the foundation that we base all our interactions with each other on, we will be able to disagree on things and still find common ground for a common mission, the only common mission we were given.  Preaching the gospel. That ultimate act of love, made by the God we serve.  The acceptance of which will, by necessity, dismantle the life we know and have so carefully built and guarded and championed, only to be put back together by the One who designed humanity in the first place.

So no I'm not Evangelical, I am trying to follow Christ.  No I'm not Progressive,  I am trying to follow Christ.

No I am not a Republican...but you already knew that.   No I'm not a Dem...wait yes, yes I am...

Thanks for reading.

 

Where it counts...

Parenting is a challenge.  I'm sure the people who have kids that read my blog are shaking their heads right now and saying with a copious amount of snark in their voice...No Really....Having an almost teen I would say that there are times when Mark 9:29 seems more apropos than the idea that children are jewels or arrows or anything resembling such.

There have been challenges lately, nothing that can't be worked through, nothing in the earth shattering, more small rumblings, in the middle of the rumblings I had a conversation with one of the kids... I took her to the sanctuary of the church that I pastor, mainly because doing so helped me get some perspective, kept me calm, for some reason being in the church makes my reactions more thought out, less frustrated, more calm, I don't know pick an adjective.  I react in a nicer way in front of the church than I would, say in our living room.  Don't get me wrong, I know that's not the way it should be.  We shouldn't act one way in public and another in private.  Our lives should be a constant striving to be more like Jesus, but lets face it, we are becoming more like, which is a process that, if I read it correctly, will last until we leave this earthly existence and make the transition.  So yea sometimes I don't react the way I should and being in front of the church keeps me calm...

I realized something though when the conversation was over and the kid went down the stairs, and I sat in the church...my church...without any noise, without any music playing either loudly or softly in the background, the smells of a hundred plus year old sacred space subtly working their magic, I saw something for the first time.  Don't get me wrong, I see this thing every week, several times a week, as I'm working around the church, getting things ready, planning, walking through the church praying.  I saw this..., and I realized something.  Something about myself and about the churches that I have been in and the churches that I have wanted to be in.  The ones with thousands, the ones with hundreds, or like ours the ones with a few.  We have forgotten this...in our desire to reach the world, which I have, to grab un-churched people, to appeal to a group that is increasingly finding other ways to connect with people and God.  I'll admit that in looking at the front of our church there are times I envision an uninterrupted space, but...

That Sunday, as I sat in the front pew, alone I came to a realization, and so I stood up, and instead of doing what I normally do when I pray, instead of walking back and forth I knelt, not on the steps, not by the pew, I knelt right here.  It was exactly what I needed.  It's what we all need, I think.  In our world full of anger, bitterness, fighting and prejudice there's a place for this.  I have it in my head and it's increasingly making it's way through the rest of my being, that if we were more concerned with what we do in this spot, personally one on one with God, the other spots would take care of themselves in ways that we could not imagine.  If pastors were more concerned with their own time in this spot, the worries about who is allowed in church and who isn't, who can be "saved" and who can't, who deserves a seat at the table and who needs to be prayed for in love would morph into a realization that whosoever is an all inclusive word.  If church council, church board, elder boards, decon's whatever your church calls them were more concerned with what happens in this spot on their own dealing with their own walk with God, there would be nothing a church couldn't do in outreach and service to the community, if members and attenders could see their way to spending even a few moments at this space, I believe that the church would look different because in the time, in that sacred space, in those moments of silence, reflection and prayer, at a place designed, built for kneeling, God would give those attenders, those members a glimpse of the whosoever s in their life.

I have to admit I've been wrestling with this post for a while.  I took the picture that day as a reminder to myself and knew that there was a blog post in it, mainly because writing is how I make things real.

So many churches look at the picture above and see an obstacle, an old fashioned throw back to a time that was quaint, and nice, but that really doesn't fit in with today's world.  That Sunday something clicked for me.  That Sunday I realized that there is a better way to see this old fashioned piece of church architecture. Instead of an obstacle, a bridge, a bridge that allows us to connect in a much needed way with the God who lived, loved and died for us.  A bridge that when used on a regular basis will begin to expand our understanding of who God is, what He desires for our lives, and how we can be instrumental in showing others what it means to fully live and move and have our being in Christ.

Moving on.

It's no real secret if you read with any regularity where I stand with regards to my faith.  Anyone that has been around the blog for a while can see a common thread.  If you go back a bit you may even be able to see where things started to change.  I have given disclaimers on several occasions so that everyone would understand that I am not running from God, or forgetting my faith.  I am sure there are some that would question my motives, my understanding of being a Christ follower, and even the depth of my faith and if I even have the same relationship with God that I had back when they knew me.  

Time to answer that one.   Nope I sure don't .  My faith has changed.  My understanding of scripture has been and continues to evolve, the deeper I dig, the more I study, the time spent doing word study and really thinking about and taking context and history into account the more my idea of being a Christ follower morphs.  My understanding of what matters to Christ, and what matters to denominations or movements has changed.  

In 1517 Luther published his 95 Theses challenging the then current religious absolutes.  Questioning  doctrines, calling to account abuse by those in power in the church.  Raising a voice against a form of Christianity that had strayed from the purpose of the Gospel.

I am convinced that the following statement could be applied to many leaders in the church today...

33. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope's (George Wood, The Counsel of Bishops of the Methodist Church, Rev. Ronnie Floyd,  Rev. Matthew Harrison, the list could go on and include any number of religious leaders who are in the public eye.) pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.  

I fear this is where may Christians are today.  They have forgotten that we are not supposed to look to a man or woman or denomination for absolution.  Humanity as a whole is flawed, we are broken and don't really have the answers that we like to claim we have.  On any given Sunday you can find a pastor in a church somewhere that will validate whatever world view you have.  It's easy to find a church that wants to play the martyr, claiming that they are persecuted that they alone stand in the gap and that they alone understand what it means to suffer for Christ.  It's equally easy to find a church that has given up on the idea of salvation through faith in Christ because it's not really popular to tell people that they are incomplete without a relationship with the one who created humanity in the first place.  These churches tend to soft peddle on the idea of the fall of man because it may offend some people.  

Paul talked about being all things to all people, a concept that is abused on a daily basis by some who use it as an excuse to indulge in things that they would normally question.  Still others talk about the importance of taking a hard stance on sin, of course the sins covered under that stance very depending on the person in charge, and I would argue the sins that they may or my not have to deal with in their own life.  It's easy to come out against murder when you don't deal with that particular issue, harder to take a stand against gluttony when the point of Sunday morning service is to  find out who you're going to over eat lunch with.  Apply this concept to any of the lists of iniquity found in scripture.  Laziness is intolerable, gossip is okay as long as it happens in the context of sharing for the purpose of helping or remembering the individual in prayer... You catch my drift. 

My faith is not the same, because if it were then I would not be working on my own salvation with awe and reverence.  I instead would be happy to revel in my own ideas of what Salvation, love and service to others and God meant.  The problem that I see with that is that I have done the same thing that the Pope did back in Luther's day.  I have become the one that dishes out forgiveness, or discipline both to myself and the people I pastor.  Sure I can couch it in the right rhetoric, I can talk about how important it is to not compromise my faith, but is attempting to be more like Christ, to walk  in his steps, to love the way he did, and even at times look at myself and other church leaders with the same eye he did and in loving anger call them and myself on it, because hopefully when that happens eyes are opened compromising the faith that God calls me to or is it compromising human expectations of what true faith is?  

Being a Christ follower is more important to me than being a Christian.  Becoming more like the man that died for me, that rose for me, and that has promised to return for me, is the goal, not fitting the picture of what a good christian is supposed to be.  

Safe to say I have moved on in my faith, and I hope and pray I keep moving on, going further up and further in to borrow a phrase from one of my favorite authors.  As far as I can figure that's what we are all supposed to be doing.  Luther called the leaders of his day to account, hundreds of years later the vast majority of Christian leaders look at this as a good thing, but at the time his actions touched off controversy, and some even say war.  I fear that we are at a crossroads, actually I fear that we have long passed the crossroads, I see the spirit of Luther in some today, be it Brian McLaren, Donald Miller, Jeff Hood, Andy Stanley, Carey Nieuwhof, or Perry Noble.  These men are pushing at the edges of what it means to be a Christ Follower, I find myself doing the same thing. I'm okay with that...I hope and pray that you my readers are as well.  It's time for all of us to move on when it comes to our faith.  And then when we learn what He is trying to teach us. move on again.  

 

The Evolution of Faith...

I think it's important that I put a disclaimer at the beginning of this particular post.  I know that the things I'm going to be adding to it in the coming days are going to make many people question my faith...here's the disclaimer...

1.  Humanity as a whole is broken, mainly because they have lost the thing they were created for, relationship with God.  This loss was a choice, and remains one.

2.  We don't know...I think this is one of the hardest things for us to realize and to accept I know it is hard for me to know and accept.  I don't know answers to some of the questions, the funny thing is I used to think I did, now not so much.

3.   Balance is not a bad word.

4.  History is written by the victors, distorted by future adherents, rewritten by the skeptics, and used to further personal agendas.

5.  Jesus was real, he really died, and I believe really rose from the dead.

6.  No one is always right, and no one is always wrong...

I'm sure there are other disclaimers I should make but that will get things rolling.

I think it's safe to say that I really never saw this coming.  Being the senior pastor of a church was such a stretch for my brain to reach too.  I'm excited about it, in fact really love what I am doing now.  I love the people that God has placed in our lives. As I have begun the process of leading a church I have also begun the process of a deeper examination of my faith, a deeper study of scripture, and a need to wrestle more with where I am as a Christ Follower and as a Church leader.

On balance I think the church as a whole is afraid. Afraid of a faith that must evolve, afraid of the changing culture, afraid to reach because in doing so it may mean a very real need to examine the things that they hold as true. When the church world realizes that what they are comfortable with no longer works, when they are faced with multiple generations who start almost all interactions with skepticism not just religious ones the tendency is to become defensive and angry. That is unfortunately what most people see when they look at the majority of christians today, an angry bunch of people who are more concerned with the rules of engagement given to every good Christian soldier than they are with the people who need someone to see them as more than their issue or struggle or sin.

When we become more concerned with the laws of the land, the leaders of our nation, our rights as citizens than we are with the person sitting in Starbucks full of questions and hurts and pain there's a problem. When it becomes more important to be right, both meanings of the word, than it does to be relational there's an issue. When we put our personal comfort ahead of the way Jesus sees people and would treat them we drive a wedge between ourselves and the world, all in the name of holiness.

Be holy as I am holy is frequently used as an excuse for elitist Christian behavior , yet I (Jesus) hung out with sinners in places the good religious people wouldn't set foot...

If we are to have the type of impact that we must have in the world, we can't make it so difficult for the world to interact with us. We can't sequester ourselves away as the chosen ones and hope to fulfill the mandate the commission we as Christ Followers were given. Christianity and church should be messy because people are messy.

Big Differences

Who's allowed in church, who's allowed to have an opinion? Why does it matter.

These questions have been knocking around in my head for a while now. In my estimation the church is supposed to be a place that anyone can come to and find rest, a listening ear, and tolerance. The town square has been a place where people are allowed to go with their viewpoints and are given the ability to express them how they want.

In our country we are given so many freedoms that we forget the responsibility that comes with those freedoms. People on either side of the political, religious, whatever it is spectrum forget that with freedom of anything comes, out of necessity tolerance. I find though that neither side in any of the most recent debates is willing to extend much in the way of tolerance.

I would love to be able to say I have friends, but that's really not the case. I have friends on all sides. I have liberal and conservative friends, I have friends who are different nationalities, friends who are gay, friends who are strait. I have Christian and non-christian friends. I have friends of different faiths. I wish it were possible to just say I have friends but it's not. I also wish it were possible to be allowed to have the friends I have, but it seems that all the different sides find it difficult to handle the fact that it's possible to have friends that you don't agree with all the time. It's hard to have friends that allow for different opinions, different interpretations, different readings of rules, and laws and religious texts.

Everyone wants to be right, everyone wants to be validated, everyone wants to be accepted but they don't call it that, we don't call it that, we call it tolerance. We all want to be tolerated.

It's sad really, in it's desire to hold a line on sin, the church has forgotten that all have sinned, all are sinners, all are lost. In it's need to be accepted humanity at large dares anyone that has a different opinion than their own to share it, and if for whatever reason, be it political, religious or just personal feeling that opinion differs, suddenly oppression is happening, or a denial of freedom. It becomes important to completely shred the person, their beliefs, their convictions, whatever it is. This is when things really heat up. People start to dig for historical evidence, they start to look at the way things always were, suddenly armchair theologians look for ammunition and start shooting at anyone and everyone in their line of site. Back yard scientists start looking for proofs of the oppositions idiocy. I am ashamed to say that there have been times I have done the same thing.

The last few weeks and on through Easter Sunday we are in the middle of a series at the Church I pastor, still something I am wrapping my brain around, called From Carpenter to Christ. We are looking a bit deeper at the life of Jesus. It goes without saying that I am doing some serious digging in for all of this and what I'm finding is a Jesus who was tolerant of a lot, who accepted people wherever they were, in whatever state with whatever issues they have. He tolerates them, he accepts them, the person. He doesn't condone sin, he doesn't say it's no big deal, but he doesn't make the person into their sin, that's a modern day evangelical thing. People say love the sinner hate the sin, but if people were honest, if they would sit down and really be honest, it's hard to separate the two in our minds. Christians as a whole forget this..

Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
  So God created human beings* in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

Being created in God's image is hard to believe and well, because of the fall of man, that did break the relationship with God there is that nasty little problem of sin that has to be dealt with, still if Jesus chose to not define people based on their sin, why do Christians? John 8:1-11 offers one of many pictures of Jesus refusing to define people by their issues. I love the last part of this set of verses. I don't condemn you, now go and stop doing the thing that brought you here in the first place. He didn't even focus on what the issue was, he just said stop. A far cry from what the church as a whole does.

But wait there's more...I also have an issue with my friends on the left,or with any group of people that is all about tolerance and acceptance as long as it's on their terms. Daring to have a different opinion than some people is grounds for being called a bigot, or intolerant. It's amazing how easy it is to label a person as intolerant or un-accepting, or bigoted if they don't agree with you a hundred percent.

Back around Christmas a Redneck Christian dared say that he believed a literal translation of scripture, now in a nod to all my liberal/left friends, I get it, I understand the argument that if people are going to espouse a literal interpretation of Scripture, that they can't pick and choose, but lets face it we all pick and choose what we want to accept or reject when it comes to any number of things. People on both sides of this whole thing do it all the time. As annoyed as I get at my fellow Christians who keep entire people groups out of church and away from God, I get equally annoyed at my fellow liberals for crying foul every time someone doesn't just agree with whatever they have chosen to believe. It's really not possible to tell an entire group of people that they have to accept you and all that you bring to the table but the minute they question some of those things they are unenlightened bigots who need to have their rights and freedoms guaranteed under the constitution stripped away.

What makes your pursuit of happiness more acceptable than theirs?

Years ago my great grandmother said something that has stuck with me, and I am coming to realize that it has a lot to do with more than just God stuff. We were sitting around the table one Sunday afternoon after a great dinner of pasta and her home made sauce. We were talking about church and preachers and how sometimes they say things that don't make sense or don't seem right. She looked at me and said. "Aaron no one is always right. When we listen to people who are teaching about God we have to be smart enough to chew up the meat and spit out the bones." This means more than what it first appears to mean, at least now it does. In my dealing with people I need to do the same things. There are things I will agree with and things I won't. I have a choice to make do I maintain relationship, agree that there are going to be areas we are not going to agree with and spots that we will. Is relationship with others worth looking past the parts that I don't like or understand?

As I move through life, as I get older, and as I pastor a church on the brink, I am realizing more and more that Jesus was more concerned with the person than he was with their mess. Mess can be cleaned up, mess can be changed, mess can be made into something new and beautiful. Lets face it as a whole humanity is a mess, and whatever side of the idiotic debates we fall on, we need each other.

Camping out at Grace

Philippians 2:12

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

Humanity on the whole is lazy, or at least has a proclivity toward laziness, even the most driven and ambitious person, given the right circumstances, and the opportunity will slip into the nice warm comfortable pool of laziness. The thing is there is a misconception among many people that being lazy means you sit around watching TV and eating junk food, all while the house crumbles to shambles around you, and while that's one way to define laziness, we can fill our lives with activity and be massively busy and still be lazy. In my mind laziness is not so much lack of activity as it is lack of impact. A lazy person is a person who has allowed themselves to have no impact on anyone or anything.

I'm the first to admit that there are times in our lives when we need to do things that in and of themselves have little intrinsic value to the wider world. We need to do things for pleasure, sometimes we need to do something that may be seemingly meaningless, mainly because we need to have a chance to recharge. The idea that we need rest is built into the fabric of our faith, in fact if you study other faiths they too have some impetus for taking a break. It's important for humans to rest once in a while.

When I think of camping out at Grace, I think of the height of laziness for the Christ Follower. This takes many forms. Some use grace as an excuse, others use grace as a brush to paint the world into heaven, others make grace such a cheap commodity that they forget what it really is.

Cheap grace, is sad to me, mainly because it denies the continuing work of God in our lives, and it makes our faith weak. Cheap grace is not really grace at all, cheap grace is a grace that tells takes for granted the work that Jesus did on the cross, it allows for the initial acceptance of our sins as more of a self enlightened acknowledgment. With cheap grace Jesus becomes little more than a picture in a children's Bible.

Grace used to make everyone okay is also dangerous. This type of grace takes for granted that while God is full of Grace, He is also Holy. Paint brush grace is a grace that is in practice in so many churches, mainly because churches have decided it's better to skip some of the harder parts of the Bible. Paint brush grace is sad because it makes true faith un-necessary.

The worst though is grace as an excuse. This one is where many people sit. They have had a very real encounter with God. They have realized that Jesus fills that space in their life that they can't seem to fill up, and can't seem to ignore. Excuse grace is the height of laziness. It's where we set up our tents, gather some firewood and look at the stars. Excuse grace is the grace that we give when we ignore people that are different than we are and decide that we aren't "called" to minister to that group of people. Excuse grace is what we use to allow four people in our churches to do all the work. Excuse grace is what we use when it's time for us to gather with fellow believers and we decide that we can just download the pod cast of the sermon, or find one from a different preacher that we like better. Excuse grace is the grace that we use when we don't want to grow, study or change. Excuse grace keeps churches focused inward, keeps Christians on the defensive, and keeps the people outside of our world view away. It is what happens every Sunday when we step into our churches that look, sound and act like we think they should. When people camp out at grace they aren't always using that tent as a way to "sin" the big sins that everyone knows are bad. Sure there are people who use grace as an excuse to continue living a life that was empty in the first place, the question for that person is one of real encounter with Christ as opposed to emotional response. The people that camp out at grace that bother me, and that I have been are the ones that have decided that they do church the right way, and that if anyone does it differently they are wrong. They put rules and regulations on everyone before they walk in the door, all the while resisting the change part of what it means to be a Christ Follower. Refusing to move, refusing to grow, refusing to go where God may be calling them. They are camped out in grace...

Itching Ears…

2 Timothy 4:3 (MSG)
³ You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.

I have always wondered at this verse, not that it’s that difficult to understand really.  Everyone needs a good yes man or woman in their life. You know what I mean the person that always agrees with you always tells you what you want to hear.

The thing about yes men and women is they aren’t really being honest.  For whatever reason they don’t want to offend, or hurt, or fill in the word that you need. 

Most Evangelicals use this verse to point fingers at people that don’t teach or believe the way they think they should.  They use it to prove their point, or to show how they are so much more spiritual than others, they use it to justify bigotry, and hatred, they use it to keep people that don’t fit their picture of a good christian away. 

Don’t get me wrong,  I believe what the Bible says,  I believe that there are standards, Godly standards, that Christ followers need to be working on.  It’s part of the idea of walking daily in our faith.  It’s part of the work that goes into our salvation.  As we spend time in God’s word, and as we talk to him regularly, as we shut up for a while and listen, actually listen to what he is trying to say to us.  We will make the changes that are ultimately for our good and his glory. 

What I’m trying to get at is this.  I have watched and listened and read many right wing evangelicals lately.  I find a disturbing trend.  Many of them, some of my friends even seem to be looking for other people who will tell them what they want to hear, the real bothersome thing though is pastors are willing to be the yes man or woman that they are looking for. 

The church today, especially the evangelical church, especially the conservative evangelical church, has taken up the cry of the oppressed, victimized, embattled oppressed standard bearer.  The disappointing thing is historically the church has been on the other side of things, and in many cases, not all but many they still practice the same thing toward the very people they are supposed to reach. 

At some point in the last 20 years the cannon of scripture in the evangelical church has been expanded to include select portions of the constitution, and the 1954 revision of the pledge of allegiance, and here is where the vast majority of today’s evangelical leaders start scratching at peoples ears. 

Be it the right to bare arms, homosexuality, universal health care, taxes, eschatology, social welfare, justice, grace, forgiveness, or the death penalty, name it they will tell the people looking for their side to be justified what they want to hear.

I have been running every other day, and on those runs I’ve been doing a lot of talking and a lot of listening,  I have come to a question.  On any given Sunday or Saturday or whatever day where would Jesus choose to worship, that is the church that I want to be part of, that is the church that I want to lead.  I don’t want to be a pastor that scratches peoples ears, I want to lead a church that reaches up to God in worship, reaches in to the body to train and equip, and reaches out to the community with love, compassion, and openness.  I have no clue where to begin, or even if this is a viable thing.  I just know that I need to know the next steps.

Doubt?

Looking toward the time when I’m doing ministry again, something that I know is coming even if I’m not totally sure what it looks like yet, (yes I know I can do ministry in the work place and have been attempting to share my faith.)  I have really been making a conscious effort in my quiet time to note thoughts and ideas for teachings or messages, I have also been working at taking meaningful notes during Sunday mornings.  It was so surreal to hear part of the discipleship course I wrote for one of my past churches being taught Sunday, especially when it’s been over 5 years since I last taught the course, I just kept nudging J and telling her can you believe I taught that, that’s one of mine…

Anyway, I have been thinking about the concept of doubt, especially when it comes to the calling I have and the person that is responsible for my personal reservation, when I eventually check out of this life and into the next.  I wonder at people who get upset, especially Christian people, when a person offers even an inkling of doubt about God.  It’s like once a person makes a commitment to Christ they are not allowed to ever have questions, or to wonder why or how, or even if.  I think if most of us were honest, we would have to admit that there are times when we look at the whole thing, and then come up with questions.  I know there are times that I question God, the Bible, the stories in the Bible.  I look at historical documents that pre-date accepted Christian texts and find such similarities that I have to wonder who stole from who back in the pre-enlightened age of mortals.

Why is it so unforgivable to have questions, furthermore does the occasional question of the facts mean that the relationship is worthless, or that it never existed.  Is questioning ones faith, salvation, God, and historical evidence for belief right up there with the unpardonable sin?  This question has been in my mind off and on for a while now.  When I look at the way Christians selectively follow the tenants of faith, be it in loving the person that they don’t like, praying for and respecting the authority in the land, treating people of different faiths as people, not as unspiritual rubbish, because I don’t find that to be the way that God wants things to work.

I think that doubt is a part of faith.  I would go so far as to say it is essential to faith.  Blind faith is at the least silly and at the most dangerous.  Doubt is the pushing off point for faith, at least that’s what I think.

I think it’s important to note that some very important very influential founders of our faith doubted.  Everyone has heard of Thomas, the disciple who had to touch Jesus had to feel the scars in his hands and feel the rip in his side from where the spear pierced the skin and drew blood and water.

What made me come to the concept of doubt being an integral part of faith didn’t come from Thomas though it came from someone else entirely.

When we read the story of Christ there are several key players.  Mary and Joseph, the disciples, the religious leaders of the day, and of course John the Baptist.

Jesus tells his disciples when they ask if Elijah had returned that he had.  John was that person that came to prepare the way.  John himself tells his disciples that he had to become less and Jesus had to become more.  John told Jesus he didn’t need to be baptizing him.  John had a clear picture of who Jesus was when he said that he wasn’t worthy to latch his sandals…and yet.

Luke 7:19-22 (MSG)
¹⁹ He sent two of them to the Master to ask the question, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?"
²⁰ The men showed up before Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, 'Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?' "
²¹ In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight.
²² Then he gave his answer: "Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God's salvation hospitality extended to them.

Even though John knew who Jesus was, he still had questions, he still wondered, there was a hint of doubt.  The difference between what John did and what many of us do is not that hard to find.  When John had doubts he didn’t let them fester, he didn’t go and ask people who he knew would tell him what he wanted to hear, or people that he knew had doubts.  He went strait to the source.  When John needed to have his doubts eased he asked The Master to ease them.

The best part is Jesus did that,  He didn’t get angry at John and say to the men John sent tell John he needs to have a little faith, He didn’t yell at John or send a message of condemnation.  Far from it.  He showed the men sent who he was and told them to report back to John all that they had seen. Jesus doesn’t stop there though.  He goes on in the text to talk about John in a positive light.  To lift John’s faith up as an example to the people around him.

Doubt is not the problem, it’s what we do with the doubt that’s the problem.  Let it seep deep into our bones, fail to ask the questions, or press into God and His word, look for other people who will validate our doubt, those are the times that we fall, those are the times that doubt becomes a problem because those are the times that we take our eyes off the one we say we have our faith in.  Those are the times that we stray.

See you around the blog...

I am Not a Christian!

Bet that title got your attention!

Each time a tragedy strikes our nation, the Christian leaders open their mouths and begin to say the stupidest, most insensitive and Un-Christ-like and Ungodly things I can think of.  Usually they have to do with the fact that God is punishing people, and bringing judgment upon them.

Now before you think I’m not going to jump on the other side of things I also take issue with all the people who want to use this as a jumping off point to debate gun control or their right to own and use guns.  This tragedy isn’t even a week old, there are still funerals for little children going on and already Facebook has been inundated with people from every side turning the tragedy into a way to debate everything from mental health care and gun control to prayer in schools.  It’s insensitive and rude.

Here’s the thing.  People who have no relationship with God watch those of us that claim that relationship, many times with great interest.  What makes it worse is the fact that many of them know the Bible better than some of us.  They also know what a “Christian” is supposed to be, they know what Jesus did and what Jesus said, mainly because they are waiting for someone that claims to be a Christian to step out of line.  It’s hard for people who’s idea of God is rooted in old testament stories told by Hollywood, or in the mythology of other cultures, or in the latest expose put on by any one of the science,technology, art and whatever else documentary channels are on TV.  I have found that the idea of grace is a foreign concept not just in the church where it is reserved solely for the sinner, but also to people outside of a relationship with God who really don’t understand that true Christianity is more than what they see on TV and what they hear on the radio.

All of this coupled with the senselessness of the past week, and an increasing realization that the name the label of Christian has become diluted, misunderstood, misinterpreted and misappropriated.  It’s easy to say I’m a Christian, ask any number of actors, singer, or sports figures and I would guess that a majority would identify themselves as Christian, some would say “well we pray before concerts”  It’s too easy to be a Christian when all you have to do is name the name and spout a few proverbs that sound Biblical even if they don’t really come from the book.  The best example I can see of this is a category from American Bible Challenge,  I find it refreshing that this is one of GSN’s top ranking shows, at the same time I find it disconcerting that a contestant who also happens to be a youth pastor doesn’t know the name of David’s first wife.  For the record it’s Michal, equally disconcerting is the inability of some to differentiate between a Quote from Lord of the Rings and a Quote from Scripture.  Christianity has become the religion of choice for so many mainly because it is arguably the easiest of all religions to espouse, especially looking at the example so many have before them today.

That is the reason for my title.  I’m not a Christian, I’m a Christ follower.  Some may say that I’m playing at a shell game, attempting to hide my beliefs from people, or being ashamed of the Gospel, perhaps some may even say that I’m denying the Father.  That’s just it though I’m not.  I am keenly aware of the work that Christ did on the cross for my sins.  I have recognized that on my own I can’t make it no matter how hard I try,  I have accepted the fact that only God can make a difference in my life and that he desired to do so through the sacrifice of his son.  I have made that acceptance part of my daily life,  I have asked for forgiveness for sin, I continue to do so.  I walk daily as best as I can with God.  I have had plenty of chances to mess up, and have done so.  I have tried to be the man, all of that is detailed in these pages just look back a ways.  You will find a angry, bitter, broken worried, caring, frightened, hurt, healthy, excited, confused, man, but you will also find a man who has been through much and will go through more.  Through it all I will cling tightly to the grace that has changed me, has allowed me to be broken, has put me back together, the grace that has saved me.

That’s another thing that I have come to realize as well.  Many people feel that salvation is God’s way of keeping His creation out of Hell, and while that is a part of it.  I have found that I don’t need to be saved from the world, or any myriad of issues there.  What I need saving from the most is from myself,  in fact it’s what we all need saved from.  Left to our own devices, no matter how much we want to disagree or argue at the end of the day we all are alone with our thoughts, feelings and desires.  Jesus wants to come in and be a part of that time in our day, the time when we are the most alone, the most vulnerable. That’s what being a Christ follower is all about,  letting him in, all the way in and then following wherever he takes you.

Looking at the reaction to last Friday’s tragedy I get frustrated and angry as I said before, because instead of reaching out to help a need everyone wants to talk about why it happened, and what could have been done or should have been done.  Here’s the problem, it’s too late to do those things, if we would recognize this, embrace that fact and then those that claim to be Christians would instead be Christ Followers, and ask him where he’s headed in the whole mess, I think we would be in a very different place.

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)
¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
¹⁶ But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Those verses say it all.  That’s what a Christ Follower does.  If we do that if we live like that people will see, and hear and listen and then maybe just maybe they will want to join us on the path as a Christ Follower.

My face is leaking…

So last night we watched The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  Years ago, and I do mean years ago I auditioned at The Youngstown Playhouse for this stellar production and was given the part of Claud Herdman.  I was in Seventh grade at the time.  It was fun being at the playhouse, learning the lines having rehearsals, hanging out with the friends that I made there.  I remember all of us lounging on these huge rolled up carpets that were stacked and leaning haphazardly in the corner.  You know how they bend and fold and offer the perfect place to just relax if you’re all of 12 or so.  I told Amberly about it and said that grandma has a picture from the paper with me in it and probably a video tape of the performance.  She is interested in seeing daddy from all those years ago.  It was such a different time.  The world in front of you, the chance to do something and be anything.  I maintain that growing up is highly over rated, things were so much easier as a kid, and even though I didn’t realize it then, I realize it now.  I think it’s the curse of humanity to never be content, to always want to look at what's coming and what will be instead of being where we are and soaking up all that we can from that moment in time. 

As we were watching I had to laugh at the TV special version of the play I was in, mainly because so many of the lines were the same, there were times when I would just sit there and say the lines of Claud, my character, under my breath of course. 

The story is a simple one, in fact it follows a blueprint, and I think it’s safe to say that it has been duplicate in one form or another over the years.  The down and out bullies, the middle and upper middle class spoiled kids, the church that is comfortable with things the way they are.  The bullied boy trying to get one over on his antagonist only to find that dangling sweets in front of him, will bring him to church instead of having the desired effect of making him feel bad… I’m sure you can figure out the rest of the story.  Bad kids take over Pageant, good kids and church members rude and indifferent to the reason they are even in church in the first place.  Bad kids have moment of clarity, evidenced by the girl bully crying as she is Mary and apparently realizes the significance of the whole thing, and one of the wise men bringing the baby Jesus the ham out of their food bank provided Christmas food basket.  It goes without saying that all the stuck up church members decide it was the best Christmas Pageant Ever, hence the name.  A neat and tidy happy 80’s optimistic story ending. 

That’s just it,  it’s a story ending.  My face was leaking several places.  When the girl seemingly realizes the importance and meaning of what was happening, when the boy runs down the isle with the ham, when the snobby girl in the choir who was supposed to be Mary and the little girl narrating the story are also tearing up because they too get it.  All these things appeal to the emotional side of a guy who is getting older and with that age comes this emotional state that was never there before. 

Is it realistic, no not at all, far from it actually, which is sad. As I watch the different Christmas specials with my family this year, I am struck by the difference in what was and what now is.  From Charlie brown and what I watched last night, to Olive the other Reindeer and Arthur Christmas things have changed. 

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with Santa,  I really enjoyed Rise of the Guardians with the Girls over Thanksgiving weekend, but Christmas has really lost a lot of what it was, and what it should be.  My eyes leaked for a couple of reasons, one remembering a time that was so much simpler in my own life, two thinking about the meaning of Christ coming to our world.  God really being with us, literally living and moving and having all the same issues that we have. Seeing the transformative power of Christ in lives, even if they were acting does it to me as well.  Watching someone realize that they have tried other things and they finally found something that would work for more than a few minutes hours or days.  All of those things can bring out the emotion in me. 

I think what would make Christmas better for most of us, especially those of us that claim to be a Christ follower would be to remember what I am increasingly coming to realize are some of the most important words in the story of the birth of Jesus;

 Luke 2:19 (NLT) but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

 I think  it would do us all good to substitute out one word in that short verse in Luke.  I’m sure you can guess which one.  If not I have given you a hint, just look back at the verse.  See that proper name that’s the one you and I need to replace, if you need further instruction on the matter…well that’s just sad…

Seriously though part of our world’s problem is that those who claim to be Christ followers don’t think about the things we claim to be in our hearts often enough. We get so busy with all the things we are supposed to do as Christian's and church goers and whatever else we are that we don’t take the time to really sit down and think about what we say is in our heart.  We don’t filter our decisions and our world view through that.  It’s easier to sit in a comfortable chair in a worship service we have chosen to attend in a church we have chosen to call our own and let someone else do our thinking for us, let someone else pour into us what we believe instead of really getting down to it with God and having a faith that is ours and ours alone, a faith that we think about that we work on, that we hold onto and that we go back to time and again because it has become an integral part of who we are. 

As a pastor I have enjoyed teaching and preaching, I have enjoyed working with large and small groups of youth and adults, but I fear, when I look at some of the people who I have had the opportunity to influence, and I see where they are now, and I read what they are doing, I wonder if I had been more intentional about getting the people God put into my care to think about these things for themselves, to really work out their own walk with God.  I wonder if they would be better off.  John the Baptist said the he had to become less and Jesus had to become more.  As Christians we would do well to remember those words when we are enjoying this holiday with family and friends.  Maybe we need to stop at Luke 2:19 when we read the Christmas story, Maybe we need to make the whole story about Luke 2:19.  People need to think about these things.  I need to think about the things that are in my heart, and I need to find out what other things He wants to put there.

Nostalgia

The kids are all off today, in fact they were all off yesterday as well, if I had realized that they were both off for 4 strait days, I would have taken them up to Ohio to see my mom and dad, it’s one of those things that you don’t think of kids being off two days in a row unless it’s for a holiday or in the wake of Frankenstorm. 

J’s school has half days as well, so the answer to keeping me fairly sane was simple, J would take one of the older daughters for the first half of the day and that leaves me with just two, one of which can help get things done in the house the other of which can eat, sleep, and generally be cute.

Waking up with a splitting headache didn’t really help the morning, it did however make Amberly want to be all helpful, at least to a point.  Nostalgia is all about remembering things in a happy way, or a fun way, at least to me that’s what it’s all about.  Amberly started her morning by working on a paper that had to do with her great great grandmother,  J and I have tried to help her flesh this paper out a bit, we didn’t write it for her at all but we did wright down some of our recollections at the bottom of the paper for her to use, stuff from when we would go to Grandma’s place after church on a Sunday to eat with her and spend time listening to stories about what it was like growing up all those years ago, about coming from Italy on a boat, about church and families in the neighborhood and all that fun stuff.  Watching Amberly work on this paper also brought back memories.

There is a picture in my parents house that they insist on leaving up.  It’s of me in a white t shirt, messed up hair fists pounding the table in frustration because of some homework issue, you can see the streaks from my tears.  This is what began to happen today, Amberly was very upset at both J and I for doing it wrong, for helping her wrong for not putting things in that she liked or wanted, this even after I had a lengthy conversation with her teacher the other day.  Remembering is so fun. 

As the morning has worn on, and I have gotten my coffee delivering the needed caffeine to my system, enabling the headache I woke up with to slide a bit further back in my head.  I started to drop some music on my tablet.  Some old school stuff as well as some worship music.  Petra, Stryper, some old POD etc.  as we traveled down to the kitchen for breakfast I put on Stryper, Honestly came on…Amberly said “dad this sounds like music that Grandma would listen too.  Telling her that Grandma HATED Stryper made her wonder.  Why would Grandma hate them this sounds like a song she would like.  Of course when Honestly came on my mind went strait to the Skate Zone in Boardman or the rink in Champion, the lights would dim and the dj would tell us all that it was couple skate.  That nerve-wracking time in a young adolescents life when they have to decide if they want to hold hands with a member of the opposite sex for a whole song, of course doing so would mean you were a couple.  What a way to declare your undying puppy love than to spend a whole song going round and round the rink. 

There are so many good things in my life to remember, there are bad things too, most of which resulted from bad choices on my part.  The important thing about nostalgia is that it’s there for a reason. 

The Bible is full of admonitions to remember things.  To recall the things God has done for us, to remember his love, his laws, his grace, his justice, his faithfulness.   It also calls for us to remember something else that I think many of us forget, Hebrews 10:32 says it like this; ^“Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember…”  The verse goes on to talk about not falling to persecution and such, not always something we have to worry about in our country, contrary to what many Evangelicals would have you and I believe, our faith is still allowed, we can still worship who we choose, our choices as to who we call God are still not only valid but protected.  We have unprecedented freedom of expression and belief.  I know it’s not the going thing to actually talk about how blessed Christians are to live in our country, especially on election day when so many prominent evangelicals want to talk about how there is a war on faith, how voting a certain way can “cause Christians to burn.” how important it is that we turn back the clock to a better time a more church friendly or whatever friendly time.   It amazes me as well how easy it is for Christians to talk about freedom of speech and expression and religion but to turn around and want to put a gag order on others who do not see eye to eye with them.  Are we as evangelicals that insecure?  Do we really have to be the moral bully that walks around the school yard telling people that unless they believe the way we do then they are wrong, that unless they don’t smoke, and they don’t chew and they don’t go with those who do, they don’t’ really have a place at our table?  I never really read this out of Jesus, even in his anger I don’t really read this.  He threw the sellers out of the Temple, not because of who they are but because of the fact that they were distracting people from the purpose of the Temple.  He didn’t throw them out of the market, or out of the sidewalk in front of the Temple, he said that these things can’t be in the place of worship.  This is different than what Christians today want to do, they want to say what can happen in their church, and then turn around and tell people what they can do in the marketplace, in their home or in a school. 

I am increasingly coming to believe that if Christians would worry more about Jesus final mandate, going into all the world and making disciples.  If they would remember that we are to love those who would be our enemies no matter who we think our enemies are, and do go to those that would abuse or use us in a spiteful way.  If they would be salt and light instead of rubbing salt into wounds.  If followers of Christ would truly work at being more like the person they claim to follow, and less like the person they see on TV that claims to have the inside track on Gods political affiliation, his views on sinners, and his desires to wreck old testament style vengeance on a sick and dying world.  If they would share their faith not by pounding the pulpit but by giving to those that are in need.  If those things would happen, then we would see attitudes toward Christ followers change.  Until then I fear that those of us who work out our salvation on a daily basis, that walk with God and recognize that we sin, and realize that we are not there yet will constantly find the need to put our head down and beg whatever “Christian” celebrity of the moment to please stop talking, we will no longer have to apologize for what they say and explain that not everyone that names Christ as their Lord and Savior thinks the best way to show his love is to condemn and judge people who don’t even claim a relationship with God. 

Hope that makes sense, hope it doesn’t hurt my chances at a church, and if it would, well I wouldn’t want to be a pastor at that church in the first place.

The Gunslinger

Recently I have begun reading the Gunslinger by Stephen King.  I have started this novel several times in the course of my 38 years and for whatever reason every time I get side tracked.  The thing is it's a great story, well written I like the characters, as usual King keeps me entertained and tapping, I no longer really turn pages, I just never have finished the story.  

The last time I started these books was three years ago about this time, actually I was listening to them as audio books.  The story had me riveted but things happened and I had to put a marker in the story for a while.  When I was able to get back to it I realized that I didn't really remember enough, nor did I want to start all over again.  Then I just lost interest for a while, or decided I didn't want to visit the events surrounding the beginning of that aural odyssey. 

Now I've come back to Gilead again and I'm realizing a few things.  Roland has such a dedication and purpose abut him in the first book.  He is constantly moving forward, chasing after the bad guy, not letting anything or anyone stand in the way of his purpose.  As I read this I realize that while there are times this can be desired and even commended, there are also times that this can be a bad thing.  

Dedication is important, especially when it comes to what we were made to be.  Calling is an integral part of not just contentment but happiness, and everyone is called to something.  I believe everyone is made for a purpose that is only their purpose and no one else's, or maybe I just want to believe that because it makes life so much more fulfilling and meaningful.  The point is that going after these things, realizing our calling, following our hearts and minds to the place that will make us content and happy is an important part of life.  I think we all need to have that sense of direction, without it we just wander aimlessly which can and will end badly.  Still there is a point that this has to be set aside, and it's more than a balance issue, or even a mandate for rest.  

I believe there are times we need to actively set aside what we are, who we are and even what we were called to.  I don't mean that we forget our calling, I don't mean that we run away from it.  What I do mean is that we count the cost and realize that stepping away from something and letting it rest for a while makes it all the better, all the sweeter and all the more important when we return to it.  

I like to make bread, and by all accounts I'm pretty good at it.  I have learned a few things about it though.  I can rush a loaf of bread and get okay results.  Less kneading, not as much raise time, or only let it raise once.  When I do this it's still okay, people still like it, but when I'm patient, when I set it aside, when I actively leave it alone for the time I should, the result is even better. 

I believe it's the same way with life.  When I leave something for a time, and evaluate, and pray, and live life with my family. When I step away for a bit the return many times leads to new ideas and insights into who I am and what I am and what God has designed for me.

I almost think it should be mandatory at some point in everyones life that they take a step back take a break from their vocation and find out what the next step truly is.

 

What's Next

Easter is over as is the Newell Family vacation, and I must say while there were things that were greatly enjoyed, I am glad it's over.  I always wondered why people would say that they needed a vacation from their vacation, but that is how it is.  I actually find being in my office a welcome break. 

A lot has happened in the past few weeks and months in the Newell house.  One of J's colleagues at work stated that our life should be a TV show with all the things that have happened, just in the past four years or so, and while I completely agree, I also have to say that those things  have made us different people, I hope and pray they have not just made us different, but also that they have made us better, or I should say they have made me better.  The person I have become is infinitely more suited to life and work and ministry than the person I was.  I often times wonder why it is that it takes years to learn things that would have helped out at the beginning of things. more than that I wonder why I learn the hard way, even when I tell others it is so much better to learn the easy way or the first time. 

It is very good to be home though, and even better to be sitting at my desk writing and working on plans for our Spring outreach.  Going Green is our theme, the plan is to find people in our congregation who would like to plant and weed and get their grounds in shape for the summer and fall season but are unable to.  If they will supply the material we will take our tweens in and do the work.  Which brings me to this other point or thing that is going on right now. 

I am in the middle of reading a book by an agnostic who decided he wanted to see what it would be like to take a year of his life and live Biblically, not just abide by the moral laws, not just pick and choose like so many of us do, but actually live an entire year following the Bible exactly, or as exactly as is humanly and legally possible in today's world, it may be hard to stone someone or cut off some ones hand in our country if they steal, and I'm fairly certain he didn't dig his eye out when he caught himself looking at that Victorias Secret model a bit longer than was necessary, anyway you get the idea, and while I don't think it's an experiment I'm going to sign up for any time soon, there is something to be said for living more of what I profess. 

For a long time now I have been more and more convinced that Evangelical Christianity has lost touch with the world, sometimes going so far as to condone such actions by using scripture out of context to assuage their guilt. I am increasingly convinced that Jesus was much more left leaning than Evangelicals care to admit.  Socially at least I'm sure this is the case.  Which brings us to what we are doing,  literal planting in the hopes that some figurative, spiritual planting can take place.  In addition to working with our church family, I am laying the ground work to partner with Habitat for Humanity they have a great Junior Build program. 

One of the most refreshing things about being in a Methodist Church is the ability and encouragement to get involved with already begun initiatives in the community, not having to recreate things that have the churches stamp of we made this on them.  We can reach into our community and help people, be salt and light through channels that are already set up.  I'm not saying that other churches we have been at would have not allowed this, but I do feel that this was not the most desired way to do things,  It seems to me that churches prefer to be more homogenous than they do collaborative, even after giving lip speak to the idea of helping. 

Anyway the next step would seem to be actually finding out what it would take to become full fledged Methodist.  I have put feelers out but I really feel that it's important to make the connection, and really identify with the body that I am now working in.  If I really am a Pastor, which it seems to be I am,  If I am called and if God has not let that calling go away even when asked for it to, which He hasn't well it may be time to take the proverbial plunge. 

Cross your fingers for me.  I know I am.

Powered by Qumana

Yesterday

Yesterday I wrote this really great post, it was all about my use of the cloud now instead of tethering myself to Word.  It was all about my embrace of Google, and all it's insidiousness, no worries though I stopped short of giving them my hand or forehead.  Something happened though and even after all the spell checking and such I didn't hit post, and lost the whole thing when Qumana decided to freeze on me, never really had that problem before.

So alas poor reader you will be left without knowing my reasoning behind all the cloud computing that I am attempting to do.  Just grab your favorite cup of coffee and hug yourself while rocking back and forth repeating "it'll be okay, it'll be okay, it'll be okay." 

Today being Tuesday I thought I would get some stuff done on here before staff meeting, I had all sorts of great plans to come to you with a poignant run up to Holy Week message. I thought about getting prepared, or about the beauty of Christ's Sacrifice, I thought about talking about what must have been going through Jesus head.  I thought about all of this and decided to scrap the whole idea. 

The thing is all of these things have been done.  Some of them by me, and while the sacrifice that Christ made never grows stale, and the grace that was given never gets old or boring,  I do, in fact if most people who have been in any form of ministry for any length of time would sit down and admit they do too, aye there's the  rub as good old Will wrote all those years ago.  Weather attempting Relevance for my generation, or properly utilizing technology and tapping into all that is tween and teens for the next generation, or Yo Gabba Gabba ing it for my kids generation, or even harkening back to deep seated tradition for my parents and before them, we can never hope to adequately describe or impart what really happened, because no matter how hard we try it, the whole thing, the whole Bible the whole story of Christ that is woven throughout the Bible is so utterly fantastic and unbelievable, and no I don't mean that in a wow that's unbelievable like some great come from behind victory, I mean really intellectually unbelievable.  Showing people the truth that is and leading them to the realization that they need a relationship with God, and getting them to understand that even though it's unbelievable, it is truth is a daunting task quite frankly I'm not up to it, neither are you, neither is your pastor, or priest or imam, or whatever it is that you have, and that my dear friends is the whole point, because after the processions to the front of the church, or the incense and chants, or the power point presentations with great media, or the passion plays or the sunrise service in the grave yard, or the wonderful communion service, or the choir's performance of whatever they are reforming, or the youth groups drama or human video.  After all of this stuff that we do to try and get people to accept what we believe it really doesn't matter. 

In the church world, a world that I would submit dear reader is totally out of touch with the world in general, we have at most three days to reach people with who Christ is and what being a Christ follower is all about.  one of them is already gone along with the trees and tinsel, one of them is almost here, and the third is right around the corner (for some reason mothers day seems to have a lot of people in church to please mom do we take advantage of it?) These days seem to be the ones that people most associate with a need for a connection to a church, notice I said a connection to church, not a connection to God, people seem to have a desire for something more than themselves on a daily basis, they just don't really think that church is important to making that connection, perhaps their right, especially when church has become a haven for ultra conservative, right wing political agendas that focus more on the current administration, or the need to protest on a sidewalk in front of a clinic, or to let people know how wicked they are, or to demonize an entire people group because of the beliefs of some of them, or the death knell of any chance to share Christ the Those People syndrome which is rampant in the church even as we in the church insist otherwise.  To be fair I also don't think that we should go the other rout and be totally liberal in everything we do, watering down the truth of the Gospel to appeal to the most people, telling people that a relationship with God is easy, or that everyone's okay, or the whole many paths thing.  I don't believe that either. 

What I do be live is this,  Jesus want's us to remember his sacrifice... but.  I always think that it's interesting that Jesus didn't celebrate the Passover with all of the people who followed him,  this was an intimate moment for those closest to him.  He told them to remember him through the sharing of the cup and breaking bread,  He wanted them to remember Him while he was alive, though.  I am becoming more and more convinced of this.  I know that he talks about the bread being his body and the cup his blood spilled but he didn't do this after the crucifixion and resurrection he did it before,  "do this to remember me."  more and more I am convinced that he wanted us to remember his life, and how he lived, where he walked, who he talked to, who he hung out with, and what he showed people as well as what he said to people, Jesus wanted his closest followers, to remember how he lived and moved and had his being with them, and the tax collectors, and the prostitutes, and the naked man running through the grave yard, and the untouchable lepers, and the wise old church leader who came to Jesus at night and admitted that they all knew he was something special.  How he lived in community with his community, how he reached the need before he made the pitch. 

I sometimes wonder if I had a church, if I were to do what I have thought of doing for so many years, if I were to start a church what would that churches Easter service look like.   More than ever I think the church that Aaron starts Easter service won't be in the sanctuary, but will be under the bridge, or out on the beach or in the park, the Sunrise service will take place at the Nursing home, the breakfast will be served at the mission, the communion will take place on the street corner. 

That my dear friends is what I would do.  Too bad no one will join.

Powered by Qumana

What if we acted like we say we believe

There is a phenomena in the church today that is quite disconcerting, has in fact been that way for many years.  I wish I could say that I was not part of the machine that is the church proper, but lets face it having been in ministry for 16 years prior means that I was part of the problem not the solution. 

Here's the thing.  Churches in general have things in their mission statments, here are some examples:

At Riverside Community Church we're not about "having it all together" or even pretending we do. We're just a family trying to grow together toward a God who knows us and can help us put all the pieces of this sometimes bizzare world into perspective. We may not have all the answers but we know someone who does. In fact He not only knows the answers...He made up the questions.

First Church especially focuses upon those who are seeking a "new beginning," and those who want to become more "Christlike," and want to learn more about living a "holy life," and for those who are yearning to grow in "love and compassion," and the building of "family relationships."

We exist to develop fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ by reaching seekers, building believers and equipping God's people to impact the world.

• Heal the Whole Person


• Offer to Serve


• Promote Reconciliation


• Empower Others

The list goes on, there are also buzz words in the church but they mainly consist of the following.

Grace, Mercy, Acceptance, Restoration, Reconcilliation, Forgiveness.  Many churches want people to know that they are open to all people who are sick and hurting.  They open the doors to the world and invite them in, which is great.  However they seem to forget that we are all human, they seem to forget that the people in their churches, the ones already there may need those very things on occasion. 

Having been around the church all my life I notice a few things.  One of them is that those words in the above paragraph sound good they sound like the things that God wants from us, and they are, and we will offer them to people out there in a heart beat.  The other thing that I noticed is that there are sins that are okay and forgivable and there are sins that can never be forgiven. 

I guess the real issue is that if you have baggage then you can't possibly be of use.  Forget the fact that everyone has baggage even the people that are leading.  Forget the fact that Jesus told his disciples that you are to forgive 490 times.  We even forget the fact that Jesus was in the business of giving people second and third chances.  Remember the woman at the well.  He knew all about her failures and sins and mistakes and still he forgave her and used her to spread the word that Messiah had come. 

The church is great at forgiving and forgetting for the people outside the walls, but for the people inside well not so much.

Powered by Qumana

The Spiritual Signifgance of Recycling

As I sat on the lovely capital beltway this morning waiting as I sometimes do for traffic to move past a crawl my mind began to go over the morning activities.  Wednesday is recycle and trash day for us. I usually try and put the stuff out the night before but sometimes I forget or just don't want to go back outside in the cold.  So I had to put the stuff out this morning.  I am constantly amazed at how much less trash we make now that we recycle.  On a regular basis there is a half full can for the garbage man if that.  I'm not totally sure why this was going through my head but then I started to think about life in general and the garbage that clutters our lives.  Many times we let the trash hold us back we let the mess and the ugly that is or was, depending on where you are in your journey at this particular moment,  be the thing we focus on.  We point to some past problem, or transgression, or relationship and say see that thing right there, that's why I can't get past where I am with my relationship with God, my family, my parents, my fill in the blank.  We let the trash pile up and then just give up.

Most people in religious authority will state that we have to get rid of the trash in our lives, "let it go, give it to God, leave it at the altar,"  Christians have all kinds of ways to sound spiritual about the muck that's in our lives, and while I totally agree that we do need to get rid of sin in our lives,  I think we are at times way to quick to try and get rid of the lessons learned.  We want to walk on in our lives forgetting the things that we learn from falling down and getting back up, worse yet there may be no sin involved in the trials that we have gone through or are going through,  it could just be that God is trying to show us some things about our self that keep us from being wholly his.  They are not necessarily sin just stuff that is allowed in our life for a reason.

Rom. 8:29  God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

If God is going to shape our lives around that of his son then we need to realize that some of the stuff we may be trying so desperately to forget needs to be recycled.  We need to recognize it for the tool that it is to bring us into a better relationship with God and to the place he ultimately wants us to be.

While God hates sin he can use the consequences of sin in our life to bring us to the place he wants us,  while he loves us he can allow the pain that comes at times from sickness, or loss or fill in the blank to work something in our lives that will make us more pliable and ultimately more human.

Humanity was designed for relationship,  specifically relationship with God, I know a lot of people want to point to what happens when the whole thing is over, some people think we are going to be some hyper X Mannish beings.  We'll be able to communicate without opening our mouths or be some self contained star trek transporter telling Scotty to beam us wherever we want to go.  I don't buy that.  I believe there will be no sickness no pain all that stuff but I think when the whole thing is over for us, when we shuffle off this mortal coil, we will be shuffling off the copy the thing that keeps us from being what God designed us to be,  when we stop existing in the corporeal we will begin to be what we were designed to be.

So instead of trying to forget all about it, instead of pushing it under the rug, it may be time to recycle what you were trying to learn, in doing so you will find that the things that got you here can be great to help you keep on moving.

Powered by Qumana

Political Christianity

Thought I would post some thoughts about a debate I wanted to start.  I miss some of that aspect of what I used to be.  What follows is my response to a query on my facebook page that I had as my status.   I post it here because I realize that some of the individuals that read here are no longer on Facebook,  they didn't make it through the great purge,  no offence meant just in a cleaning mood.  here is the thread so far with name change to protect the other party.

Pellula:   How ironic that in most countries where Christians want to build churches, they're either persecuted and/or killed for the very thought of being a Christian and we can do nothing. Yet, a radical Muslim can come in our country, kill thousands of people and be allowed to build a mosque where it happened. Where are our rights???

Aaron: The thing that bothers me Pellula is that when Christians in other countries are persecuted their faith gets stronger, and you are correct we can do nothing in a country that has outlawed any faith but the ones that the state deems acceptable, ...having said that, the first ammendment cuts both ways and Christians don't like that. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

We like to say that our country is a Christian country, people point to the pledge of Alegience as proof, I wonder if they realize that Under God was not in the origianl but that it was added in 1954 as were other words and phrases at different times.

Christianity has it's own radical fringe just as those of the Muslim faith do. Westboro Baptist church, The KKK, Various militias. Many of these organizations claim Christianity as a base.

Our rights are right here in our country that is made up of various peoples and religions. We can't pick and choose who gets freedom of religion and who doesn't, would people have the same issue with Westboro Baptist buiding a new sanctuary across the street from where Matthew Shepherd was Murderd.

Having said all of that I also feel that it is important for Religious groups, all religous groups to think before they do someting. If there is concern over this by victims familes, not by politicians, not by pastors, but by people who lost loved ones that day, they should be willing to listen and change their plans.

More

I know I know, before you all decide to ride me out of my blog on a rail kicking and screaming I am sorry for not posting in a while. When Old man winter, which I must say is a misnomer, I am not aware of many old men who can give as much energy as the snow that we have been a part of in the past three weeks finally let us go it was after a week of being stuck in Western MD with not a wifi signal in site.

Things in the Newell house are progressing quite well, J is back home as are both girls and while I did have that time where there was no one around and I was ready to burn my eyes out from the sheer boredom of being stuck in a house surrounded by snow I am pretty emotionally shot. The ups and downs of the past two years are huge and there are times when I want to crawl in a hole cover it up and wait for the world to stop spinning.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

As I read that passage I must admit I have to question God’s definition of my limit. I am faced with some decisions that are just not fun this coming off the absolute most horrid trying awful time of my life.

Tonight something happened though that made me look at this verse in a different light. I decided to make brownies after I made dinner, now I don’t know about you, but you but one of the best things about making brownies is eating the batter not the finished product. I will admit that there are times in our life when we have made brownies specifically for the batter not for the brownie. I gave Amberly the beater from the mixer, J had a bit off the spatula, and I gave Zoey a little spoon with some of it on there. Zoey went to the dining room ate her little bit of chocolate and then came back and said More. It was so cute and I gave her more. She came back again and I said oh do you want more? She said nope I’m done, and dropped the spoon in the sink.

What does that have to do with God knowing my limit? I think that God knows my limit but I also think that he wants me to recognize it as well. I think he wants to push me so I grow but I also think that He wants me to push back. He desires a relationship with me and I wonder sometimes if some of the pushing that God allows in our life is to make us push into him to talk to him to say Hey okay God I know you said you won’t give me more than I can handle but I wonder if you may have overlooked everything on my plate this week. Please help. Please stop, Please listen. See the pushing makes me realize enough is enough and drives me to a place of prayer and communication with him.

It is the curse of all mankind that the polar twins should be constantly struggling.

 

Several years ago J and I were able to go and see Jekyl and Hyde with the original cast.  It was great.  The title for this blog comes from there.  I love the story of Hyde.  A man who realizes the good and the bad that resides in all of us and takes steps to exorcise the evil from mankind.

Ultimately he fails because he relies too much on himself and his ingenuity.  Gee does that sound familiar.  This is the problem with most of us, me included.  Dr Jekyll fails, but at least he tried.  He left out a few important things.  He left out God, he left out a support system, he left out the woman that he loved.  He tried so hard and that trying was admirable but he failed. 

I do the same thing,  I think most do, especially when we are people who have been in some form of religious leadership.  We get it in our heads that the message that we preach is for others but we don’t get the same dispensation.  I am amazed at how this works.  We feel like we have to give and give and give and getting or accepting our faults and help is not something anyone wants us to do. I am making a concerted effort to accept mine, to accept help to offer help all those things.  Sometimes I fail still, but I am better for realizing that people don’t want unreachable saints that they have to try and be like,  they want touchable reachable, dare I say struggling leaders who recognize their own shortcomings and are willing to say “Hey I need help too.” 

I just wish I had realized this three years ago.  It’s amazing what it takes for some of us to learn.  Still if we learn it then apply it we may fall down but we can recognize the fall and ask for the help that we need.

Reasonable service and the extra mile?

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”
(Romans 12:1 MESSAGE)

Recently I have become more and more convinced that the church in general has decided to hunker down.  Not all churches but a good majority.  Don't get me wrong, there are all kinds of good things that the church needs to do to help and nurture it's constiutency, or customer, or member or consumer, depending on the current churcheese.  The problem that I have seen happening for years is that for some reason churches seem to be about members and not about meeting needs.  They want to help their members, empower members, grow members.  I think that they forget that they are not supposed to grow a church.  When we look at Jesus and where he ministered the most, who he touched what he wanted, what he owned.  He was always reaching, always touching need, always offering grace and mercy and forgiveness.  Even when confronting religious leaders he did it out of a desire for them to realize what the truth was.  His anger was not born out of hatered or bitterness for the person but out of a need for humanity to understand that it's not about an earthly kingdom, in fact I am beginning to belive that it's not even about a Heavenly kingdom.  Think about it, Jesus came to earth he left heaven to reconcile humanity back to God.  It wasn't so we could be in Heavan as much as it was so we could have the realationship that we were designed for. 

When he said he was coming back the disciples stood there.  Watching the sky, Jesus had to send some angels to tell them to stop staring at the sky and start doing what he told them to do.  So why is it that Christians in general seem to always struggle with staring at the sky. 

So much of the Bible is given to how to live a life that is pleasing to God here on earth.  One book in the new testament and one book in the old testament are given solely to talking about the end of it all,  there are mentions small ones in other books but I tend to think that those were not put in to make us preocupied with the end, they were put in to make us realize how much we need to work with God at helping his desire that none perish but all come to repentance.

Powered by Qumana