In his challenging book, The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus (Harper San Francisco), Brennan Manning offers this provacative commentary:
" Why are so many Christians mummified by middle age? Why do we stop growing in the spiritual dimensions of our lives? Why do our liturgies become so stagnant...? Why have creativity and flexibility given way to repitition and rigidity? Where is the life lived as new creations?
We trot out once more what worked in the past. The breath of God is bottled and the gallivanting Spirit (my emphasis) is stymied. The new, the creative, the fresh is looked on with suspicion, not with fascination. 'To live is to change,' wrote John Henry Newman, 'and to have lived well is to have changed often.' ... In the lives of many Christians, apprehension about making mistakes stunts growth, stifles the Spirit, and ensures the progressive narrowing of their personalities.
The church of Jesus Christ is a place of promise and possibility, of adventure and discovery, a community of love on the move, ... But the security seekers are the enemies of openness. Their insistence on preserving the status quo thwarts innovation and spontaneity and discourages the exploration of new roads into the mind of Christ Jesus; wanting to keep things the way they are automatically introduces a new insecurity with more cautions, threats, and nervous tension" (pp. 67-68).
Manning has hit the nail on the head. Sizeable segments of established, insitutional Christianity are floundering because so much of their structure and policy is devoted to preservation not exploration--revival (of the past) not discovery. Hobbled by fear-based doctrines into which they have retreated to avoid tainting by this big bad world until their exegetically contrived escape from it takes place, many Christian groups now find themselves fighting with everything they have to preserve and justify their existence. The language of return--to the faith of our fathers, to "holiness", to the old time religion, to the Bible (as it was taught "back in the day")-- flavors the sermons and enclaves of such Christian entities. Some are making genuine efforts to regain effectiveness (usually defined by numerical and monetary growth), but usually only end up trying to do what they used to do only better. New marketing strategies and reconfigured flow charts will never accomplish what a ready to change pursuit of the "gallivanting Spirit" will. In my opinion, nothing short of a radical break from the past (see my blog on "Abraham Momemts") will result in the vital Christianity we long to see in the 21st Century.
Among the things of the past I think we should leave behind are clergy dominated churches, building centered entertainment oriented church services, fear-based doctrinal schemes that lead to isolation and exclusion, the cerebral-biblicism-supercedes-humble-spirituality approach to the faith, and all the pitfalls of routinization and institutionalization that have been characteristic of "mainstream" Chrisitianity. Unencumbered by all this baggage, who knows what Christ's church might look like? No one does and that's the point! It's time we go gallivanting into our future and find out.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
ABRAHAM MOMENTS
Abraham is revered by three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It would be difficult to name any other single individual who has had a more far reaching impact on the human race. Christians familiar with the writings of St. Paul think of Abraham as "the father of the faithful." Unfortunately, our familiarity with Abraham sometimes gets in the way of fully appreciating what exactly he did.
To review: "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you...' So Abram left as the Lord had told him... Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out..." (Genesis 12:1-4).
To those of us who are accustomed to having family scattered far and wide, or disconnected by the hectic pace of life today, it is easy to overlook the significance of what God was asking of Abram (later known as Abraham). He lived in a time of tribes and clans wherein one found identity, significance, security and inheritance. One rarely, if ever, ventured outside the confines of family and community. To be separated from one's heritage was a fate dreaded by all. So when the Lord asked Abram to leave it all-- the familiar faces, the local customs, the family religion, his inheritance, the familiar landmarks, his established identity, and his tribal traditions-- it was an unimaginably huge sacrifice Abram would have to make to obey the Lord's call. Especially when we realize that at first Abram had no clue where he was being asked to go. His departure had to preceed knowledge of his destination. That required audacious faith and thus the revered title "the father of the faithful."
Throughout history God has led people into what I call "Abraham moments"-- radical departures from the familiar in order to venture hopefully toward an uncertain future. Moses did it when he gave up the "treasures of Egypt" to 40 years later become the deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. Joshua and Caleb did it when they went against popular opinion and said Israel could possess the Promised Land. Jesus' Apostles did it when they abandoned their various vocations and followed him. Martin Luther did it when he defied Rome and started an history altering Reformation. The founding Fathers of the United States did it when they conceived the radical notion that government was to be in the hands of the people not a monarchy. Mohandas Ghandi did it when he non-violently confronted British imperialism. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu did it when they ceased to conform to Apartheid in South Africa. Martin Luther King did it when he prophetically called America to accounts for our racism and the ills of segregation.
As a churchman, I believe the Christian religion is right now facing an Abraham moment. Followers of Jesus Christ are being asked to leave behind a host of things that have been familiar to us. Many of our traditions, organizational structures, liturgies and defining and excluding doctrines will go by the wayside as the "faithful" venture forward. Since I, personally, set out on my own quest of obedience a year and a half ago, I have encountered numerous others who are similarly responding to a "call" toward a yet to be known destination. Like tributaries that converge to form a river, the many who are responding to the Voice that is demanding change are becoming a strong current that is carving out new channels and altering the spiritual landscape.
Every Abraham moment has its naysayers-- those fear ridden souls who instinctively see every change as a direct threat to all they hold dear and cling to the past with everything they have. The fact is it is a threat. Unless we are willing to walk away from our defining past as did Abraham, we can never get to our destiny of promise. As Robert Schuller said, "It takes guts to get out of the ruts." And, it takes nothing less than a complete disruption of the status quo prompted by radical faith and obedience to successfully navigate through Abraham moments.
In future blogs I intend to unpack this with specifics and practical applications. If you wish to get a head start, pick up the A New Kind of Christian Trilogy by Brian McLaren, or go to http://www.emergentvillage.org/ and take advantage of the many resources they offer, or check out http://www.theooze.com/blog/index.cfm. These resources will help you look beyond what is only familiar to you and get a taste of what can be. Must be. Will be.
To review: "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you...' So Abram left as the Lord had told him... Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out..." (Genesis 12:1-4).
To those of us who are accustomed to having family scattered far and wide, or disconnected by the hectic pace of life today, it is easy to overlook the significance of what God was asking of Abram (later known as Abraham). He lived in a time of tribes and clans wherein one found identity, significance, security and inheritance. One rarely, if ever, ventured outside the confines of family and community. To be separated from one's heritage was a fate dreaded by all. So when the Lord asked Abram to leave it all-- the familiar faces, the local customs, the family religion, his inheritance, the familiar landmarks, his established identity, and his tribal traditions-- it was an unimaginably huge sacrifice Abram would have to make to obey the Lord's call. Especially when we realize that at first Abram had no clue where he was being asked to go. His departure had to preceed knowledge of his destination. That required audacious faith and thus the revered title "the father of the faithful."
Throughout history God has led people into what I call "Abraham moments"-- radical departures from the familiar in order to venture hopefully toward an uncertain future. Moses did it when he gave up the "treasures of Egypt" to 40 years later become the deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. Joshua and Caleb did it when they went against popular opinion and said Israel could possess the Promised Land. Jesus' Apostles did it when they abandoned their various vocations and followed him. Martin Luther did it when he defied Rome and started an history altering Reformation. The founding Fathers of the United States did it when they conceived the radical notion that government was to be in the hands of the people not a monarchy. Mohandas Ghandi did it when he non-violently confronted British imperialism. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu did it when they ceased to conform to Apartheid in South Africa. Martin Luther King did it when he prophetically called America to accounts for our racism and the ills of segregation.
As a churchman, I believe the Christian religion is right now facing an Abraham moment. Followers of Jesus Christ are being asked to leave behind a host of things that have been familiar to us. Many of our traditions, organizational structures, liturgies and defining and excluding doctrines will go by the wayside as the "faithful" venture forward. Since I, personally, set out on my own quest of obedience a year and a half ago, I have encountered numerous others who are similarly responding to a "call" toward a yet to be known destination. Like tributaries that converge to form a river, the many who are responding to the Voice that is demanding change are becoming a strong current that is carving out new channels and altering the spiritual landscape.
Every Abraham moment has its naysayers-- those fear ridden souls who instinctively see every change as a direct threat to all they hold dear and cling to the past with everything they have. The fact is it is a threat. Unless we are willing to walk away from our defining past as did Abraham, we can never get to our destiny of promise. As Robert Schuller said, "It takes guts to get out of the ruts." And, it takes nothing less than a complete disruption of the status quo prompted by radical faith and obedience to successfully navigate through Abraham moments.
In future blogs I intend to unpack this with specifics and practical applications. If you wish to get a head start, pick up the A New Kind of Christian Trilogy by Brian McLaren, or go to http://www.emergentvillage.org/ and take advantage of the many resources they offer, or check out http://www.theooze.com/blog/index.cfm. These resources will help you look beyond what is only familiar to you and get a taste of what can be. Must be. Will be.
Friday, November 10, 2006
NON-VIOLENCE: THE GREATEST DISPLAY OF POWER
I, like you, was horrified by the recent news of the mentally disturbed man who targeted a humble and serene Amish country school in Pennsylvania to carry out his perverted and suicidal assault. To imagine the terror that must have gripped those children as the murderer carried out his diabolical plan exhausts the resources of my imagination.
The media descended upon the scene like jackals to a wounded gazelle, hoping to stimulate their ratings by reporting the prurient and bloody details to their voyeuristic audiences. In response, a facinating drama unfolded before our eyes as the Amish sidestepped the media and carried out their humble, non-violent ways. The viewing public were very much left out of the inside story as news helicopters could only hover overhead to capture footage of berieved family members and community elders hand digging graves for the deceased victims. It was from a distance that the horse drawn buggies were shown enroute to the funeral. Unpretentiously it became known that the Amish community prayed for the forgiveness of the depraved terrorist who had violated their peace and tranquility, and expressed compassionate and merciful concern to his family. Within days, the little country schoolhouse was torn down and the entire scene of that grizzly crime was returned to pastureland--never to be considered a tourist attraction or perpetual memorial--but rather, a setting for life and beauty.
While I am certain that the families who suffered such a tragic loss are grieving; it will not be a grieving process complicated by hatred and thoughts of retribution. With hope in the resurrection and the power of forgiveness released in their hearts, there can be no place for bitterness or vengence. They will press on and, I suspect, arrive much quicker at a place of comfort and strength from God than many of us would in similar circumstances.
Juxtaposed against this story on the nightly news was the news from Iraq where we are sacrificing daily the lives of young men and women who have bravely volunteered to serve in our military. Standing upon the rubble pile and eerie devastation of 9-11 our president vowed he would hunt down and "bring to justice" the people who knocked down those buildings. With a "bring it on" swagger and a "peace through strength" philosophy, the United States military went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. What has ensued has been 5 years of bombing and warfare that has devasted large portions of two countries, resulted in the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of non-combatants, 3000 of our own troops have been killed in defense of the cause, and many thousands more have suffered life altering injuries. The war zone today is a seething cauldron of hatred and destruction-- a literal hell on earth. While we as a nation have been so engaged, "rogue" states like Iran and North Korea have seen it as an opportunity to develop their own weapons of mass destruction making the world an even more dangerous place.
The contrast between the non-violent response of the Amish and its aftermath with the war-mongering, violent response of our nation and its aftermath ought to give us pause. The Amish have made great progress toward the restoration of their tranquil lives while, as a nation, we are torn by political bickering, divided over the war, and daily calling for body bags. The Amish earned universal respect in how they handled the terrorist that hit them. We, the United States, are despised across the globe for the manner we chose to respond to terrorism.
I can't help seeing this contrast as clear proof that Jesus knew what he was talking about. Consider his words in view of all this:
"Here's what I propose: Don't hit back at all. If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. ...You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out your true selves, your God-created selves." (Matthew 5:43-45, The Message).
The media descended upon the scene like jackals to a wounded gazelle, hoping to stimulate their ratings by reporting the prurient and bloody details to their voyeuristic audiences. In response, a facinating drama unfolded before our eyes as the Amish sidestepped the media and carried out their humble, non-violent ways. The viewing public were very much left out of the inside story as news helicopters could only hover overhead to capture footage of berieved family members and community elders hand digging graves for the deceased victims. It was from a distance that the horse drawn buggies were shown enroute to the funeral. Unpretentiously it became known that the Amish community prayed for the forgiveness of the depraved terrorist who had violated their peace and tranquility, and expressed compassionate and merciful concern to his family. Within days, the little country schoolhouse was torn down and the entire scene of that grizzly crime was returned to pastureland--never to be considered a tourist attraction or perpetual memorial--but rather, a setting for life and beauty.
While I am certain that the families who suffered such a tragic loss are grieving; it will not be a grieving process complicated by hatred and thoughts of retribution. With hope in the resurrection and the power of forgiveness released in their hearts, there can be no place for bitterness or vengence. They will press on and, I suspect, arrive much quicker at a place of comfort and strength from God than many of us would in similar circumstances.
Juxtaposed against this story on the nightly news was the news from Iraq where we are sacrificing daily the lives of young men and women who have bravely volunteered to serve in our military. Standing upon the rubble pile and eerie devastation of 9-11 our president vowed he would hunt down and "bring to justice" the people who knocked down those buildings. With a "bring it on" swagger and a "peace through strength" philosophy, the United States military went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. What has ensued has been 5 years of bombing and warfare that has devasted large portions of two countries, resulted in the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of non-combatants, 3000 of our own troops have been killed in defense of the cause, and many thousands more have suffered life altering injuries. The war zone today is a seething cauldron of hatred and destruction-- a literal hell on earth. While we as a nation have been so engaged, "rogue" states like Iran and North Korea have seen it as an opportunity to develop their own weapons of mass destruction making the world an even more dangerous place.
The contrast between the non-violent response of the Amish and its aftermath with the war-mongering, violent response of our nation and its aftermath ought to give us pause. The Amish have made great progress toward the restoration of their tranquil lives while, as a nation, we are torn by political bickering, divided over the war, and daily calling for body bags. The Amish earned universal respect in how they handled the terrorist that hit them. We, the United States, are despised across the globe for the manner we chose to respond to terrorism.
I can't help seeing this contrast as clear proof that Jesus knew what he was talking about. Consider his words in view of all this:
"Here's what I propose: Don't hit back at all. If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. ...You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out your true selves, your God-created selves." (Matthew 5:43-45, The Message).
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Lame Duck Breakfast
Today George W. Bush became an official lame duck. The power he had when his party controlled both houses of congress during the first 6 years of his administration has been dramatically curtailed. Meanwhile, the hot button morality issues such as stem cell research and abortion that the Republicans said they wanted to champion have received lip service in emotional campaign ads but remain unresolved. They said they were going to "fix" things like this that were wrong with America if they were in power, but they didn't.
From where I sit it looks like George W. Bush and his neo-con pals have squandered a golden opportunity. They wasted their political largesse on a dubious and probably immoral war in Iraq, ran up a huge deficit, presided over the deepening of the hostiltiy between already divided political camps, and, as the election results reveal, alienated many who had previously voted for them.
And so the political pendulum begins its inevitable swing in the other direction. God bless America.
From where I sit it looks like George W. Bush and his neo-con pals have squandered a golden opportunity. They wasted their political largesse on a dubious and probably immoral war in Iraq, ran up a huge deficit, presided over the deepening of the hostiltiy between already divided political camps, and, as the election results reveal, alienated many who had previously voted for them.
And so the political pendulum begins its inevitable swing in the other direction. God bless America.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Ted Haggard
I know Ted Haggard. I've known him since 1997--ten years. I've read three of his books, visited the church he founded, heard him speak to groups of thousands and groups less than 100, I have shaken his hand and had brief conversation with him.
I don't know Ted Haggard. I know nothing of his personal life. I've never been in his home, never met his family, never been in a car with him, never talked with him on the telephone, never socialized with him. I couldn't tell you what his favorite music is, what periodicals he reads, or how he feels about the war in Iraq. The Ted Haggard of current headlines who was just fired from his church, who admits to unspecified sexual misconduct and buying illegal drugs is someone I do not know.
So what am I to think about these revelations? First, I feel profound sadness for his family. How hurtful this must be for them. Next, I feel for his congregation in which I have relatives. The shock of realizing their pastor wasn't all he appeared to be will be a trying thing to work through. Nobody enjoys feeling like they have been had. It will take some time to recover from the sense of betrayal and violation of trust.
Strangely, I don't feel betrayed. I guess I've been around the block enough times that nothing surprises me anymore. I know what Jesus knew when he dealt with the woman caught in adultery. There ain't nobody without sin. We're all broken and struggling with some issue in our lives. I expect everyone to fail at some personal level sooner or later. The greater one's personal celebrity and sphere of influence, the more far reaching will be the consequences of one's failure. This understanding of our human condition makes forgiveness (and tolerance) easier for me. Not always easy, mind you, but easier than it would be otherwise.
Today I am happy for Ted Haggard. The crushing burden of a secret life he was trying to keep secret is being lifted off his shoulders. The healing grace that comes from confessing our faults to each other is within his grasp. He will soon discover who his true friends are--the ones who will stick close and help him in his time of need. These will be the people with whom he will be able to create authentic accountability. I wish Ted Haggard well and pray that he will find God to be an ever present help in time of trouble.
I also pray that more of us will learn what a disservice we do to each other when we create relational dynamics that encourage secret lives. People live secret lives out of shame and fear--fear of rejection, fear of judgement. When we do not have people close to us with whom we can safely share our struggles, weaknesses and dark times, we are much more susceptible to opt for hypocrisy and a double life. We will develop a public and private persona. As the former President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Ted Haggard knows that relational safety is a rare thing in those circles. Evangelicals, who have politically postured themselves as the cultural morality police, are, for many, the last group someone might look to for a forgiving, welcoming embrace. That's why we continue to watch the list grow of prominent evangelical "spokespersons" and political crusaders whose secret lives hit the headlines.
I don't know Ted Haggard. I know nothing of his personal life. I've never been in his home, never met his family, never been in a car with him, never talked with him on the telephone, never socialized with him. I couldn't tell you what his favorite music is, what periodicals he reads, or how he feels about the war in Iraq. The Ted Haggard of current headlines who was just fired from his church, who admits to unspecified sexual misconduct and buying illegal drugs is someone I do not know.
So what am I to think about these revelations? First, I feel profound sadness for his family. How hurtful this must be for them. Next, I feel for his congregation in which I have relatives. The shock of realizing their pastor wasn't all he appeared to be will be a trying thing to work through. Nobody enjoys feeling like they have been had. It will take some time to recover from the sense of betrayal and violation of trust.
Strangely, I don't feel betrayed. I guess I've been around the block enough times that nothing surprises me anymore. I know what Jesus knew when he dealt with the woman caught in adultery. There ain't nobody without sin. We're all broken and struggling with some issue in our lives. I expect everyone to fail at some personal level sooner or later. The greater one's personal celebrity and sphere of influence, the more far reaching will be the consequences of one's failure. This understanding of our human condition makes forgiveness (and tolerance) easier for me. Not always easy, mind you, but easier than it would be otherwise.
Today I am happy for Ted Haggard. The crushing burden of a secret life he was trying to keep secret is being lifted off his shoulders. The healing grace that comes from confessing our faults to each other is within his grasp. He will soon discover who his true friends are--the ones who will stick close and help him in his time of need. These will be the people with whom he will be able to create authentic accountability. I wish Ted Haggard well and pray that he will find God to be an ever present help in time of trouble.
I also pray that more of us will learn what a disservice we do to each other when we create relational dynamics that encourage secret lives. People live secret lives out of shame and fear--fear of rejection, fear of judgement. When we do not have people close to us with whom we can safely share our struggles, weaknesses and dark times, we are much more susceptible to opt for hypocrisy and a double life. We will develop a public and private persona. As the former President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Ted Haggard knows that relational safety is a rare thing in those circles. Evangelicals, who have politically postured themselves as the cultural morality police, are, for many, the last group someone might look to for a forgiving, welcoming embrace. That's why we continue to watch the list grow of prominent evangelical "spokespersons" and political crusaders whose secret lives hit the headlines.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Here's one of the strangest recorded conversations between Jesus and his disciples: "Then Jesus asked them, 'When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?' 'Nothing,' they answered. He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one...' The disciples said, 'See, Lord here are two swords.' 'That is enough,' he replied" (Luke 22:35-38). TWO SWORDS! ENOUGH! FOR WHAT? The context indicates Jesus said this shortly before what Matthew described as "a large crowd armed with swords and clubs" showed up in Gethsemene with Judas to arrest Jesus--an event that Jesus had clearly warned his followers was about to take place. Then, when one of his disciples drew one of those swords and took a swipe at one in the armed crowd cutting off an ear, Jesus sternly told the preemptive striker to put that sword away uttering those now famous words, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:32). Here's how I see all this. Jesus told his followers that they were about to have a confrontation with the Roman military and some really upset religious leaders who were bent on killing him. Tongue in cheek he said they should arm themselves. Yup. Two swords ought to do it, two swords against the super power of the day armed to the hilt with swords and clubs? What a joke! Considered in light of everything else Jesus had said about peacemaking and loving one's enemies, it should have been obvious to his disciples he had no intention that they resort to violence. Luke's account of these events quotes Jesus saying to the preemptive striker among his followers, "NO MORE OF THIS!" (Luke 21:51), clearly demonstrating Jesus' opposition to such preemptive violence. Will we ever learn the lesson? Preemptive armed aggression against one's foes only promotes more violence and is not to be the behavior of anyone identifying themselves as a follower of Jesus. I wish world leaders today would get this through their "stay the course" heads. NO MORE OF THIS!
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