cold, historical insights, and the opposition

Today was once again another cold day - only real cold.  Did I mention I hate the cold?  Me and cold don't mix well - like oil and water.  In fact it has been freezing rain here today and a brick 34 degrees.  It could be that it is one of those times where the rain is actually giving us a message: it's a cold day.  Economic recession, war, not much is on the up and up - save lavitra commercials. In actuality though there are some important things going on in our world.  Why, centuries and centuries later, have we not learned something from Christ.  Martin Luther King Jr. once made a statement that a man has already died if he is not willing to give his life for something - but the statement is often taken out of context - it is prefaced with 'in our non-violent' ways.  Jesus says that he came to bring a sword, (look it up... Matthew 10) but everything in the passage is about a backwardness that is so obvious we mistake it for straight forward.  A deeper look would expose that this passage points toward being so on board with Jesus' message of hope and kingdom that one would need to take up sword to get there.  In effect, we should have the passion enough to die for this type of connection with the kingdom and hope through Christ.  Later on, Jesus says that those who live by the sword die also by the sword, another deeply mis-used phrase. So.  Jesus in effect did not come to lead a revolution by military force but a new type of force that would change our reality.   ... Later he makes his thoughts about physical force more clear: "am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?"  What makes sense of this?  There is a deep longing within the message of Christ that brings a revolution of love so powerful and transforming, that it actually calls us to have altered states in our minds.  Think about it, "non-violent ways?"  No one actually thinks that non-violence is a real form of love is it?  I simply have two things that need to be shared.

1. Why do we believe that it was great for one man to stand opposed to all that we see as wrong.  War, segregation, unfair laws, and more.  It was great for a man who is a follow of Christ to stand up and do that - then... but not now.  If I were to stand in front of my church and chastise them for believing in a war that should not be waged and call on them to bring back our troops - I would be ousted from the church.  Why?  Because I oppose them politically?  Spiritually?  Why is it no longer acceptable for a man in the church to call out what he sees as wrong? There is serious opposition to this?  Do we not want to hear good news? 

2. Good news.  If we were to so truly believe this state of mind to the point where we actually loved people, shared wealth, cared for each other - do you think it would be possible to overcome some of the challenges presented extreme fanaticism?  I do.  I believe that the kingdom that Jesus spoke about was truly revolutionary, and we have very few people that enter into it that don't get caught up in something. [myself included]  

My hope is that we overcome.  

Hospitality's relation to Community

We had our meeting this past Sunday night with our launch team. We talked about community and what it means. This week I've still been reflecting on it. I found myself thinking about hospitality in community. I kept coming back to certain questions. They weren't worded exactly like this but similar: Can you have community without hospitality at its core? If so, what would it look like? Can you have community without hospitality at all? I wonder if we were to "recover" a strong ethos or spirit of hospitality in our fellowships of Christ followers, how might that change the essence of each particular community of faith? A community could be hospitable and still closed off to those outside. But, I think that to do so would miss a major aspect of hospitality. What do you think?

A Pure Heart

It’s the whole speck and log thing. It’s the one finger pointing out and three pointing back at me. It’s a known issue in thousands, shoot—probably tens of thousands of churches, but for some reason no one does too much of anything about it. We talk about how much it causes problems and keeps the local expression of the body of Christ broken and fragmented. Slander and gossip in the various guises they take are passive killers, like carbon monoxide quietly leaking into a closed room.

I confess, I have actively participated in conversations about some one who has done something or hasn’t done something. When in a group with others having that conversation, the experience seems to unite us, to bring a sense of solidarity because we express our feelings and frustration about said person (or persons). When that particular group of persons get together, it isn’t long before the conversation turns to the Persons (that’s their name now), and the situation is relived, re-experienced. In some of those conversations we’ve talked about how Persons talks about other people and how it isn’t right. And there in lies the paradox (self-contradiction): participating in a practice that we ourselves condemn for others. Ahh, but we are justified in our actions, or so we easily convince ourselves.

I read the quotation below this morning and it’s what stemmed this email. It’s from a writing from the 1st or 2nd Century A.D. by the Shepherd of Hermas, who addresses situations like these with bold words, words that are like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Be humble and innocent, and you will be like the children who don’t know the wickedness that ruins men’s lives. First, then, speak evil of no one, nor listen with pleasure to anyone who speaks evil of another. But if you listen and believe the slander which you hear, you will participate in the sin of him who speaks evil. For believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother [or sister]. Therefore, you will be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. Slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace, but always remains in conflict. (italics mine) Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at peace with everyone. Put on a holiness that will not offend with wickedness, but whose actions are all steady and joyful. Practice goodness.

Most of the time I think the stuff we fill those conversations with are petty and small, or a misunderstanding of something said or done. It shows how shallow the friendships really are. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don’t. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link—If I’m really honest with myself, sometimes I’m the weakest link.

But “love covers a multitude of sins.” My prayer is that I willfully perceive those conversations for what they are—evil, and speak grace into them, instead of contributing to the fragmentation and downward spiral experienced in so many congregations. I want to be a part of a loving community that nurtures deep friendship, loyalty, respect, and Godly love. And the Holy Spirit will guide us if we open ourselves, soften our hearts to allow his corrective grace. And in that correction I am being reshaped in the image of Christ and he continues to make me holy. My light that shined dimly is rekindled, to the glory of God. Thanks be to God.

“But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased to dwell.” Heb 13.16

I am the Church

A new friend named Nathan who attends SNU emailed me this video. It has quite a few messages, but one that nearly comes out of the screen and slaps us around a bit. That sounds a little violent...what I mean is it brings our attention back to a fundamental reality: WE are the church--not a building, not a building with stained glass and a steeple. We--diverse in age, ethnicity, stories, walks of life, perspectives, and experiences--are the church.

An interest event

SNU is hosting a sermon planning workshop on Monday, 07 Jan 08 with Dr Steve Green as presenter. This should be good! If any are interested in attending, perhaps we could carpool. They also said that if five or more go there will be a group discount. So, if five people from a particular area go and go together, will that get the discount? It's only $29 (and that includes lunch) so it's not that much...but a discount is a discount!

Christ the King

Yesterday was Christ the King day, the festival celebrating the last week of the liturgical calendar. As I was getting ready for church I was listening to the classical radio station because they broadcast much better preachers than the Christian radio stations. I was excited to hear a broadcast on the lectionary readings for the day...and in it I heard one of the best thoughts on this great day, Christ the King--looking back at the whole year, but also looking at the Kingdom of God that Jesus was pointing to in his life and death. I don't know how long it'll be online, so I hope you get to hear it. I was blown away!

Peace,

Michael

Living in the Tension? or Jingle all the way?

We are approaching Advent...and sooner the encompassing cultural “Christmas” season. It seems that the Christmas season is now starting before Thanksgiving. I saw holiday commercials starting on All Saints Day, Walmart put up their Christmas decorations on that day. Christmas music has been playing and started two weeks ago. I know that the Christmas season has taken on a cultural identity outside of the faith (commercialism, etc) and I’m okay with some of that. But I find myself asking the same question I did last year around this time: How do we balance the tension of the already and the not yet of Advent? I find myself wanting to wait to sing and even hear the carols. I want the Advent hymns and content to be given space and place. But, it’s so hard to hear it in a culture that blares those sacred songs everywhere with no meaning. And, once the clock turns past Dec 25, the larger culture takes down the trees and lights and moves on...and a large chunk of the American church follows with it. How do you foster the Advent season in singing “O come o come Immanuel” when others are singing “Joy to the world the Lord is come?”

Could I be bifurcating something that doesn’t need to be separated? Does the liturgical season of Christmas encompass Advent? The Easter season doesn’t encompass Lent, right? But, I guess in a way Christmas would encompass Advent because of the focus of the first two weeks—the second advent. But, Advent has to do with anticipation, hope, waiting, longing...maybe even silence (ha! Try that one in the culture!) in expectation of redemption and the coming of a savior (Savior) to bring us back to where we belong. And it is journeying through this time of waiting and longing that we can sing boisterously Joy to the world the LORD is come! Let earth receive her King! And, I’ve come full circle because the King has come already.

I some how find myself wanting to call this time from Thanksgiving to Christmas the holiday season, because of the cultural content of Santa, reindeer, sugar plums, and candy canes, Frosty, and all the fun songs that go along with it. But I don't want to call it the Christmas season. And I don't want to sing the carols..."because it's not time for them yet."

I don't want to be legalistic about it--I just want Advent to be given space and place in a very crowded and loud season.

Peace,

Michael