MOVING ON (Part 1)

There are so many things that come flooding into your mind when you start to think about the church and the ways it has failed to live up to the promise you think it has, the reasons for this, and what might be changed. As is always the case, the best ideas and the way to express them come to you at the most inconvenient times – in bed, in the bathroom, in the middle of some other activity, and when you sit down later to write, the idea and the eloquence has disappeared. Finally, I have no books in Bratislava to give some guidance and I wish I knew more about such things as “post-modernism”, and other contemporary thinking in order to talk intelligently about engaging our culture.

Initially I listed some ideas, tried to organize my thinking, and then finally gave up and just started to write. 2 installment so far. 3 or 4 in
all probably. This is not going to be a scholarly treatise. I wanted it to be heartfelt, honest and in the end to speak to people I have loved and a church (both local and generally) that I think needs to rethink its future.

Some 20 years ago my family began to attend our local conservative church. There were many good people we met along the way. My family and I were served and served in turn. The church started small, and grew to a morning service of about 600 people. We attended Sunday services faithfully, were involved with every outreach, event or program to which we might contribute. We led a care group which was a blessing for 3 years. We encouraged each other in spiritual things. In particular we many in the group had come to our church from a charismatic background, and I was inspired by this group who wanted all that the Bible seemed to promise about a relationship with God. I enjoyed a variety of music, but moreso contemporary music which seemed more relevant and which spoke to my restlessness and passion. I developed a burning desire for more, for an experience and adventure with God that few others seemed to understand, particularly a staunchly conservative group in the church who were firmly opposed to any tendency toward the gifts and charismatic practice. They seemed to have little to worry about. Only the most foolish in the congregation called out “Amen” at high points in the sermon, the youth were controlled, we sat while we sang unless told to stand, although one or two of my charismatic friends sang with an arm (or two) in the air. And I started to be more expressive as well.

I remember the first time I decided I would stand uninvited as we sang a worship song during an evening service. I was after every bit of blessing and connection to God that was possible. I wanted our congregation to be set on fire and hoped I might challenge them. I stood alone. No one joined me. I expect every one in the place wondered what the heck was going on with me. A couple weeks later one of the conservative group approached me. She wanted to talk with me about my action. She reminded me of the large charismatic group in our church. “And did I not realize”, she asked, “that these people were just waiting to emote?”

What do you do in the face of such a challenge? Why, you start to stand at every possible opportunity, and while it was often a lonely feeling, to do this by yourself (although my wife often accompanied me), in front of 600 people I was not to be deterred. Uninhibited worship was one way I thought we might feel more of God’s presence. As time went on, others did begin to join me, and sometimes initiate the activity, but it never became a phenomenon of the Spirit. And there was a resistance to this kind of spontaneity that is as strong 3 years later as it was then.

The church was in bondage to fear. It was in part, conservatism that gave rise to the fear. Pride also was at its root. “We don’t do that here. That’s for the charismatics who are unable to control their passions”. Control played a significant part. Expression must be controlled because it may offend. The lady who spoke to me did not speak for the leadership, but she said what they were afraid to say. Despite the occasional rhetoric as to why we get excited at hockey games, but not at church, never did a pastor or elected leader lead or join me that I recall.

But I think even more telling, is the fact that never did anyone in leadership ever think to talk with me and inquire about my spiritual journey, ask where I was going and offer to journey along, even just to observe. That is incomprehensible to me now. Perhaps none of them cared where this journey was taking me, maybe they were just embarrassed by it all. Comfortable pew sitting seems to be the extent of most people's expectation for this Christian life.

So what do I conclude from this story?

Churches such as this have lost their sense of wonder and curiosity. Apparently, there is nothing that goes on in people’s spiritual life (including apparently the lives of those who lead) that causes them on occasion to rise up and shout out, “You are an amazing God!”, or “I love You so much God that I just can’t hold back. Please give me more!” How can people who claim that God is their highest priority be so numb or so restrained emotionally? “The Christian is the one whose imagination should soar beyond the stars,” said Dr Schaeffer in “The Church at the End of the 20th Century. And to this I say, that if our imagination soars surely we will at times, in fact more often than not, emote.

How has this happened. Two things come to mind.

It has been said that the fundamentalists are people of the Book, and not of the Spirit. I think it’s true, and in the worst way. We are so committed to acquiring knowledge and a right theology that the Spirit no longer informs the way we do anything.

Secondly, the Sunday morning service has become so predictable and programmed that there is no wonder, no awe. We sing our songs, take our collection, make the announcements, send the children off to Sunday School and listen to the sermon. After years of the same old thing there is no mystery, there is no sense that anything different might take place from week to week. And of course nothing does, because we create the circumstances that ensure nothing extraordinary happens. And we apparently believe that God is pleased somehow with this boredom and sameness.

So how might we address this?

The Spirit must lead, and where He does he will not lead us to knowledge, but rather to understanding. He will show us that the New Testament account is not dry and unchanging, but dynamic, sometimes a little whacky and always unpredictable. It is God pursuing His mission, and it has little to do with rules and regulation. Recently I read an article in the Guardian, by a Bishop who noted how the Easter story in the Bible “tumbled out in bits and pieces, with breathless chasings to and fro – and then stories like nothing else before or since”. It defied all known categories of explanation. The writer went on: “It sometimes seems that the church can hardly cope with this any more than the world can. Perhaps that’s why (after a few hours of Easter celebration) many churches return to normality”. But nothing can be “normal” after Easter…And if Easter is all about the surprise of new creation, then there is every reason that it will ripple out into the world in ways we would never imagine… Extremism? What can be more extreme than God raising Jesus from the dead after the world has done its worst to Him. Supposing the power of that event were to be released into the world, into local communities, into ordinary lives here and now? What might that look like?”

I wonder as well and I'm not sure I have many answers. I expect that we would spend far less time dissecting passages of scripture in multiple point sermons and less time proclaiming "Thou shalt not...". There would be little "ain't it awful" talk. Instead we would rediscover the power of the gospel in stories, in considering the beauty and the grace of the Lord in the world that surrounds us, in accounts of God's love for people and how they then express that love to others. We would be challenged to think beyond our limits. We would see God at work.

We must recover our freedom to celebrate. Collective joy had always been a part of people's lives prior to Christianity. It was pleasurable and therapeutic. Not surprisingly singing, dancing and ecstatic expression was also thought by pagan religions to lead to individual experience with God. Naturally these celebratory practices were a part of the early Gentile church, and no doubt it is these that Paul addresses in 1st Corinthians. Later the organized church systematically restricted free expression during collective celebration, finally dissociating itself from its own former joyous demeanour, offering ritual, solemnity and high aesthetics in its place.* I expect that it was at this time, as individual expression was limited, and regulation was imposed that the clergy/ laity divide was formed and preaching right doctrine took precedence at church gatherings. I find no evidence in 1st Corinthians that Paul believed joyful celebration should be eliminated and replaced. We should reclaim this ground. Joy is the possession of the redeemed.

In line with this, I also believe that we must change our understanding of what Sunday morning is about. If it is simply to preach, sing as directed and to attend Sunday school, tally the numbers of those who attend and of what is given, then our churches will not change, and they will completely lose any claim to relevance. But if Sunday morning is seen as a time to prepare for and engage in mission through celebration, ministering to one another, the exercise of gifts, hearing from God and worshipping, then there is reason to hope.

If this is to happen however we must change the mindset that Sunday morning is always to be a big gathering where we come and bring people so that we can be preached at. This practice was the work of the “joy killers”, and presently I wonder if this form is really necessary. While there should always be times for large gatherings, and strong, sound teaching, I wonder if maybe most Sunday mornings are for small groups to gather where essential things can really happen; such as real community and concern. Where we might notice the one who is flying spiritually high and want to join him/her, or at least talk to him about where he is at or let him share; who knows, we might all be lifted up. Or where one who is down will be noticed and prayed with and loved to health. Where the gifts could be exercised as they were in the early church, and where a gift would truly be missed if it were absent as Paul suggests. Where meaningful conversation might take place as we really come to know one another. Where there is no pastor/ laity division and teaching can be an interactive event. Where various forms of intimate worship ( such as regular communion, responsive reading, testimonies, confession, to name a few) might occur, in addition to, or as alternatives to, singing.

This is an exciting time. We are being called to a different future.There’s still much more to talk about, but it's time for me to close for now. But how about you? What do you think? Why not add an idea.


* “Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Eirenreich

* I recently read a touching letter, (and an intelligent, sensitive response), entitled “When The Church Fails Us” *. There the letter writer notes her desire both for meaningful conversation, as well as participation (sorely lacking in our church today), see http://www.ransomfellowship.org , the website of Denis and Margie Haack who have a speaking, writing and mentoring ministry intended to help Christians respond appropriately to the challenges presented by this complex world. If you like intelligent writing about relevant issues I highly recommend it.

* There’s a lengthy, but interesting discussion on care groups/ house churches at http://www.jesuscreed.org Go to the Emerging church category, comment dated March 13, 2007 and particularly the comments thereunder.

Time to move on

Tony Campolo tells a story of Booker T. Washington, born a slave, but who became well known and loved as an educator and author. Booker T., said Campolo, once said that he prayed, “God, help me to know Your mind”. And God answered him. “Booker”, He said, “That’s a little too much for you to handle. Let’s try a peanut.”

That is a bit how I feel as I think about setting out some of my thoughts about this thing known as the “church”. The issues of what the church is, and what it should be are many, and they are complex. It's really too big a subject for me, and I wonder if I can write anything worthwhile. But, maybe I can, and perhaps it might contribute to positive change.

As I have said before, I was impacted by McLaren’s book, The Secret Message of Jesus. It has prompted me to follow some blogs which talk about the “emergent church”, a move of people from established church denominations who are unhappy with the mainstream, the traditional and the mega-church. While it’s hard to describe the movement in a few words, (and I am not well qualified in any event), I think it’s generally accurate to say that “emergent” people genuinely believe that there is much more to our relationship with God than they have experienced in their denominations, and that God is calling us to a greater work than attending church and being involved in its mainly self-serving programs. Their churches have failed to understand their concerns, or dismissed them, and they are moving to another place. I am interested in this movement and I share the feeling of discontent, even despair with church and some of its mission work, at least as I have experienced them in the past few years.

I decided to set out my thoughts, after reading a "series" of recent popular posts on the subject in Blogs I have followed for a few months. The ferocity of the language in some of these will give some sense of the disillusionment felt by many of with our traditional structures. They are:

1. The People Formerly Known as The Congregation @ http://www.kinnon.tv/html
2. The Underlying Issues @ http://emerginggrace.blogspot.com.html
3. The Community Coming to be Known as Missional @ http://emergentvoyageurs.blog.com/ and three subsequent more detailed post called Exploring the Community Coming to be Known as Missional – Parts 1, 2 and 3.

If you want to read more, these blogs will link you to others that discuss further aspects of the concerns that are held.


Those that know me, know that I have attended and served in most capacities in a single traditional Baptist church for probably 20 years. I have also longed for a greater work of the Holy Spirit in my life and the church, and have explored and agree with much of the thinking of the charismatic church. About 2 years ago I left my job as a lawyer to do volunteer mission (English teaching) work with AIM, working for some 8 months in Kenya. My daughter lives in South Africa and so my wife and I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of churches in a number of African countries. Presently we live in Slovakia (where I teach some English), and attend a small English speaking church. There have been exceptions (which I expect I’ll discuss at some time), but particularly in the last few years, my relationships with the institutions (but not necessarily the people they have tried to serve) have been extremely disappointing, so much so that I have at times considered that my faith in a God must be misplaced. I admit that maybe I am the problem, but I think not. I’m really pretty sane. The problem in my view is that in many cases the church and its mission groups, and many of those who belong to these, have been an extremely poor model of a powerful, dynamic, joyous, mission-oriented and people-loving God. And so I agree with the emergents that something is terrribly wrong and needs to change.

In spite of this background, I was mostly unhappy with the first two posts in this so-called series. I don’t agree with Bill Kinnon’s contention, (at least for most of the churches I attended) that money was a unhealthy concern, that building projects were more important than people, that the contemporary worship music I loved to sing was simply a bunch of “silly love songs”, or that a desire to grow fast was a result of greed or misplaced competitiveness. Nor do I agree with EmergingGrace that the traditional church did not seriously carry out its duty to go to the lost, or that that there was a lack of loving involvement by both the leadership and many individuals in the lives of others. To me the claims of a need to “detox”, and some of the criticism of church leadership is inflammatory, unnecessary, unloving and prideful.

You see, we, (that is, we who are now complaining), were the church when we attended our mainstream organizations. We gave gladly, we served willingly when called upon, led as best we knew how when asked, gave generously because we were often served by church programs and its leaders, and saw that others were also served in some way. We followed our leaders because we believed they were trying as best they could to lead wisely, and for the most part they were, although many were blind to their own inadequacy, strongholds and failings. What we got was what we wanted in large part. Much of it was good and valuable, even though we now can see the many faults of the organizations we supported. They helped us to where we are now.

As a result I think it would be better for those who are part of the emerging church to set out a positive vision of what their “church” or alternative will be in coming years, and stop looking over their shoulders, shouting negative comments to the institutions they have left. And I know there are those that are being positive and moving on with new ideas. I hope to find some of them. I’m looking forward to the future. Time will tell if I/we have anything better to offer.

Which brings me finally to the third post in the series . The Emergent Voyageur has a generous way of focusing on the positive in a situation and encouraging reconciliation. It’s a challenge to me to communicate in this way and I admire his ability to do this. In particular he zeroed in on the need for the emergent church to be missional, a matter which was sorely absent in the other posts. And finally, in the last two posts he offered some material with substance to assist in moving forward. At last someone is talking about a positive future instead of a negative past.

All of which has led me to wonder what I have to offer to the discussion, and so I thought I would “give it a go”; reflecting on what I think was wrong and should be changed in the church I loved and maybe offering some ideas as I look to the future. I’d like anyone who might read this to be involved in this discussion with me, and look forward to your comments. Remind me to be sensitive as I do this. I don’t want to simply criticize, but rather I want us to be Spirit-led to a different and better future.

Babel

To be honest I have never understood the story of the tower of Babel found in Genesis 11:1- 9. I have a lot of difficulty believing that whatever the people of the time made from their bricks and tar, it could be a thing that all-powerful God was concerned about. And in the big scheme of things it hardly slowed men down from attempting to be gods.

On the other hand, the movie “Babel” recently spoke powerfully to me about the consequences of our continuing inability or failure to speak and listen to others in our increasingly interconnected world. In some way the biblical story is given a prophetic face, and I wonder if the story is being realized in our time.

Babel (the movie) is in fact three 3 stories skillfully woven together. An American couple, whose marriage is unraveling, are traveling in Morocco when tragedy strikes. Their children have been left in America with their Mexican-American caregiver. Meanwhile, in Japan, a deaf Japanese girl longs to communicate with and be valued by her father and her peers. And in each situation, there is a lack of real communication, caused by all the usual culprits; marital woundings, cultural differences, language barriers, physical handicap, a sensationalist press, deafening noise. The result is a sense of foreboding throughout the movie as you realize that in a world without time, without compassion and without understanding, the inevitable result will be tragedy at some level.

Such is our world, and Babel is a warning to people everywhere. But frankly, no one is listening, and so individuals will suffer damage, and national and international catastrophes will not end.

Whatever the world's reaction, Babel should however speak forcefully to Christians who wish to impact our world for good. There is enough noise, conflict, mistrust, positioning, rallying, polarizing, vilifying , and all the rest. We should not be adding to that which is destroying lives and the world. While I have no problem with staking out our views on truth, and defending these, in a world where “human pain and suffering has a universal language”*, our rhetoric should not be one more damaging factor. We have a better role to play.

We who are Christians should begin to speak only our universal language, the language of grace. This is the language of the Kingdom of God. Those who speak grace talk softly, listen carefully and patiently, encourage, suggest alternatives, do not condemn but rather affirm the value and dignity of all people and speak God’s love, forgiveness and hope to a desperate and lonely world. This was the language of Jesus. It was the language of Mother Theresa. It is the language of Billy Graham. People listen to this language and are affected. This language is that which can change our world.

It will not be easy for us. It is hard not to respond aggressively to the world when you are demeaned, marginalized and ignored. It is hard to respond with grace to the institutional church when you believe it is missing the mark, and when it seems not to care. It is hard not to be critical of fellow Christians who do not seem to understand their responsibility to the world around them. But we must find a way to speak to these issues in a way that is loving and caring. This is a great challenge for me, but I am going to try and speak more of this language of grace.

If you think you might attend Babel, be aware that the movie has some brief nudity and brief, but occasional alarming sexually suggestive scenes. While these are relevant to the story, there is also a somewhat gratuitous, but not explicit scene of a boy masturbating. If this would offend you, please don’t go. As well be aware that we couldn’t understand the non-English parts of the stories where some of the speaking was in an Arabic language, Mexican and Japanese. In North America these will be subtitled in English, but here in Slovakia they were subtitled in Czech, and so we were not able to understand what was being said in some of the movie and could only guess at it from the images we saw. Ultimately this added to the sense of the movie for us, but I’m not able to vouch for this language in them.

If you do go however, I think you will be impacted by a thoughtful and relevant film. I look forward to what you think.











*Victoria Alexander, www.filmsinreview.com

Ascension!

“Up from the grave He arose,
with a mighty triumph oe’r His foes.”

It’s “V day” for Christians, and as is often the case for me, I wish I was able to feel the excitement more. I find it easier to believe much of the New Testament account of Jesus up to the news of the resurrection, but then the story is beyond what I can imagine. It is a comfort to me however, that the apostles and other disciples who were there at the time, apparently had the same problem as I do - incredulity. Which is, I suppose, why belief must be a matter of grace.

In early January of this year we received some very sad news. Joshua, the one year old son of friends in Kenya, had died. He was often sick during his short life and I think the medical people in Kenya were not much help. Joshua was the only son of Joel and Elizabeth, and of course boys are particularly important to Africans. I prayed for them, and as I prayed I thought for some reason of Isaiah. He also might have been praying about the death of King Uzziah. And as he did, he was given a wonderful revelation - "the Lord high and lifted up. And His robe filled the temple". It’s one of the great word pictures in the Bible. Can’t you just see it in your mind! Awesome!

Now I have read, that when an Old Testament king conquered an opponent, he cut off the end of the opponent’s robe and attached it to the end of his own. Which is why the Lord’s robe was so long. It was so long that it filled the temple! And as I prayed for Joel and Elizabeth, I was assured of this. A piece of death’s robe is attached to the train of the Lord! Death was conquered by Jesus on the cross, and He rose victorious! And so Joshua is with the Lord, as is my oldest daughter Tracy, my other loved ones, and yours. And soon we’ll be with Him too.
That's the meaning of V day. And, now I'm excited! And I hope you are too.