Fewer Encounters With My Atheist & Agnostic Neighbors
I've been blogging less and less lately, and several of my regular visitors have e-mailed, asking "Where've you been? Why aren't you writing?"
I have the canned answer that lets me sleep at night: "Oh, well, work and seminary are really kicking my butt, so I'm spending every spare moment possible with my wife." Sounds good, right? Very noble... but not entirely true.
Yes, I'm busier these days than I've ever been. And work and seminary are most certainly taking a great deal of my time.
...but I'm starting to realize that a huge and underlying reason I haven't been blogging or writing (working on my book) lately is that I'm not spending much time with non-Christians. I haven't been getting out of my own bubble. Monday through Friday I'm working eleven hour days with online homework in the evenings. Weekends, I'm just trying to decompress... usually I go to church on Sunday mornings. Any social time my wife and I spend is with a few friends from church.
When I'm only around Christians, my life doesn't just feel out of balance, it is out of balance. In fact, I believe there are things God wants to say to me that will only be said through non-Christians. For whatever [numerous] reasons, I am not stretched fully without my atheist, agnostic and "other" friends. I need them.
On my friend Jim Henderson's website www.DoableEvangelism.com, we had a discussion about whether a Christian pastor could "pastor" (verb) non-Christians, or members of other religions. We were thinking about the concept of the Catholic and Anglican parishes, and how the priests assigned to these areas were responsible for serving the needs of everyone - even those who didn't attend the church. What a concept!
So in a pluralist, postmodern setting, can I be a pastor/disciple/brother/counselor/shoulder-to-cry-on for my atheist/agnostic/pagan/Buddhist/Islamic/Hindu/Wiccan/Star-Trek-fan brothers and sisters? I already believe the answer is most certainly "yes," (it MUST be!) but how does it look in practice? ...and how do I avoid being excommunicated from my Conservative Pentecostal church while practicing this scary pluralist pastoring.
I mean, didn't Jesus kind of model this?
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
Visit Me At...
Saturday
Tuesday
"Left Behind" Video Game
That's right! If there's fear-induced money to be made, you can be sure that Jenkins and LaHaye will go for it...
As Plain Truth Ministries writes...
Game description
Wage a war of apocalyptic proportions in LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces - a real-time strategy game based upon the best-selling LEFT BEHIND book series created by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.
Join the ultimate fight of Good against Evil, commanding Tribulation Forces or the Global Community Peacekeepers, and uncover the truth about the worldwide disappearances!
As Plain Truth Ministries writes...
Set in post-Rapture New York City, the "Tribulation Force" (now repentant left-behinders whose loved-ones have already been taken to heaven) battles the Antichrist's UN-based Global Community Peacekeepers. Multiple players can decide whether they want to play the role of Antichrist or Christian. When the good-guy soldiers blow away a bad guy, they say "Praise the Lord," yet they still lose some spirituality points, which must be replenished by prayer. Losing too many points may cause a player to go over to the dark side. Demons help the villains, while angels help the faithful. The game is replete with magical scripture passages and inspirational music.
Game description
Wage a war of apocalyptic proportions in LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces - a real-time strategy game based upon the best-selling LEFT BEHIND book series created by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.
Join the ultimate fight of Good against Evil, commanding Tribulation Forces or the Global Community Peacekeepers, and uncover the truth about the worldwide disappearances!
- Lead the Tribulation Force from the book series , including Rayford, Chloe, Buck and Bruce against Nicolae Carpathia – the AntiChrist
- Conduct physical & spiritual warfare : using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world.
- Recover ancient scriptures and witness spectacular Angelic and Demonic activity as a direct consequence of your choices.
- Command your forces through intense battles across a breathtaking, authentic depiction of New York City
- Control more than 30 units types - from Prayer Warrior and Hellraiser to Spies, Special Forces and Battle Tanks!
- Enjoy a robust single player experience across dozens of New York City maps in Story Mode – fighting in China Town , SoHo , Uptown and more!
- Play multiplayer games as Tribulation Force or the AntiChrist's Global Community Peacekeepers with up to eight players via LAN or over the internet!
Gives new meaning to the question: "Who Would Jesus Assassinate?"
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
What IS a "Human Video?"
Cheap Knockoffs & Artistic Lament
Several nights ago I watched a group of visiting high school students at our church's youth night lip sync and perform dance and drama to a dozen teen-oriented "contemporary" Christian songs.
Each time, song after song, cheesy reproductions of secular music were paired with ghastly, uncreative, untalented, shameless dance routines and pantomined scenarios.
The music was so trite, so shallow, and the messages so blatant, unsubtle and juvenile... my wife and I sat in our seats, uncomfortably waiting for the time to pass so we could leave and breathe some refreshing "secular" air.
The real tragedy of that evening was not the performances themselves - in fact, youth groups across America routinely perform these "Human Videos" at schools, churches, homeless shelters, senior centers... anywhere they're allowed. The REAL tragedy (and I say this emphatically) is that we have convinced these kids that this is EFFECTIVE ministry in our world. That this is reflective of the Kingdom of God...
...perhaps most detrimental: we've taught them that this is artistic expression. That corny lip sync has beauty.
Once again, the Church has made a pitiful carbon copy of the world, slapped a Christian label on it, and "called it good."
But it isn't good. It's lazy. In fact, MOST Christian-labeled arts and entertainment are just that: lazy.
Instead of making something new, something beautiful, transcendant, provocative and evocative and even (dare I say) sexy, we've sold ourselves short. We've sold our kids short. We've sold the Kingdom of God short.
There were a bunch of very chubby high schoolers up on stage, dancing around, trying to catch their breath between songs. I felt no sick humor in watching the spectacle. I only wanted to slap the parents and youth directors who allowed them to make fools of themselves on stage with reassurances and false encouragment.
Kingdom: can we get to a point in Christian art where realistic criticism and honest opinion can be tolerated and welcomed in love? We shouldn't have to humilate these kids and justify it by saying that love allows them to do what's in their hearts.
That's not art. That's enabling!
I really sound like an asshole in this post, I know... I feel really badly for the kids. I'm in no way trying to mock them or show distrespect toward them, but I hate this little microcosm they're growing up in. Youth ministry in America is in such dire need of radical change...
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
Several nights ago I watched a group of visiting high school students at our church's youth night lip sync and perform dance and drama to a dozen teen-oriented "contemporary" Christian songs.
Each time, song after song, cheesy reproductions of secular music were paired with ghastly, uncreative, untalented, shameless dance routines and pantomined scenarios.
The music was so trite, so shallow, and the messages so blatant, unsubtle and juvenile... my wife and I sat in our seats, uncomfortably waiting for the time to pass so we could leave and breathe some refreshing "secular" air.
The real tragedy of that evening was not the performances themselves - in fact, youth groups across America routinely perform these "Human Videos" at schools, churches, homeless shelters, senior centers... anywhere they're allowed. The REAL tragedy (and I say this emphatically) is that we have convinced these kids that this is EFFECTIVE ministry in our world. That this is reflective of the Kingdom of God...
...perhaps most detrimental: we've taught them that this is artistic expression. That corny lip sync has beauty.
Once again, the Church has made a pitiful carbon copy of the world, slapped a Christian label on it, and "called it good."
But it isn't good. It's lazy. In fact, MOST Christian-labeled arts and entertainment are just that: lazy.
Instead of making something new, something beautiful, transcendant, provocative and evocative and even (dare I say) sexy, we've sold ourselves short. We've sold our kids short. We've sold the Kingdom of God short.
There were a bunch of very chubby high schoolers up on stage, dancing around, trying to catch their breath between songs. I felt no sick humor in watching the spectacle. I only wanted to slap the parents and youth directors who allowed them to make fools of themselves on stage with reassurances and false encouragment.
Kingdom: can we get to a point in Christian art where realistic criticism and honest opinion can be tolerated and welcomed in love? We shouldn't have to humilate these kids and justify it by saying that love allows them to do what's in their hearts.
That's not art. That's enabling!
I really sound like an asshole in this post, I know... I feel really badly for the kids. I'm in no way trying to mock them or show distrespect toward them, but I hate this little microcosm they're growing up in. Youth ministry in America is in such dire need of radical change...
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
Friday
K-Love - Home of Paradigm Shifters?
I met Oregon's Regional Manager of K-Love Radio at lunch the other day. It was a weird, random occurrence. He happened to be an ex-member of our local chapter of Rotary, and sat right across from me.
When Ted Gillette introduced himself as a K-Love director, I told him I was a George Fox Seminary student. "That's my alma mater!" he exclaimed, and we began talking.
Many who know me are aware that I think fairly little of K-Love. To me, it's a shiny, happy ad campaign for white, middle class Christendom. It overpromises and under-delivers on a life without problems, full of happiness and blonde children with ponytails and tragically.
But as Ted and I talked, I started to hear some very shocking things. First he said, "I don't like to call myself a Christian... that word is defeating. It turns people off. I just follow Jesus." Keep talking like this in public, I thought, and you won't stay with K-Love very long. "Postmodernity is everywhere. Even in rural, smalltown Oregon." He was speaking my language. "I'm a paradigm shifter," he continued, "I used to think I'd go into the ministry as a Reformer, but I realized several years ago that real change came through healing ministries. That's what I do. That's how you change the church... through healing, on a local level. The foundation of the church needs healing - it's sick."
We went over to my office after Rotary and talked for another hour. Ted listed the approaches he's used in ministry (he particularly likes Len Sweet's SoulCafe concept), discussed some of the people he's met (Tony Campolo and Don Miller to name a few...) and talked lovingly about the young gay couple that visited his church several weeks ago.
This was not the human face of K-Love I expected. Watch a music video by ZoeGirl if you want a taste of my old impression. But now I wonder if, even within this Audio Empire of Christendom, this Tower of Babel of Christian Entertainment... God is still breaking hearts and healing minds and even... changing paradigms. I guess if Ted Gillette can read SoulTsunami and A Generous Orthodoxy and Blue Like Jazz and reach people who don't find Christ through 4Him or Michael W. Smith, then thank God that K-Love is paying Ted's salary!
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
Interviewing Len Sweet...
Questioning (E)mergent?
Little was happening in my relational/missional/spiritual life lately. For how much I pride myself in getting out of my comfort zone and getting into peoples lives... well, I've been enjoying the safe, comfortable, clean joys of marriage. And who could blame me?
But something in my spirit was churning... my desire for adventure juxtaposing my boredom with God.
I've gotten several e-bulletins from Emergent Village lately that sounded more like 700 Club pitches: personal testimonies about "why I gave money to Emergent!" This did nothing to improve my mood.
Then it occured to me! If you read some of my recent posts on www.EmergingChristianity.blogspot.com, you'll know that I am taking an online class taught by Len Sweet. I remembered that Len said a few things in class, when we met in Portland for a weekend, about the "selling out of Emergent," and the political hijacking that's taken place there. Feeling the urge to churn the waters a bit, I called up Len and asked if he'd be willing to do an interview on the subject. I e-mailed Relevant Magazine at the same time to see if they'd be interested in the story. Boy, were they! I got several responses from multiple editors there: "Yes yes yes, this is exactly what we've been talking about lately. But no one with Len's credibility is willing to discuss this."
And believe me, Len's scared too. At first he said, "No. Absolutely not. I'm not going to get into that mess..." but then he softened. "Over the weekend, the Lord really worked on me. I like the spirit in which you're doing this (in kindness, love, and relational conversation)." And if Emergent is a Conversation then someone better talk about where it's heading!
I still haven't sat down to do the formal interview with Len yet, but I'm really excited because I worry that the postmodern church won't know what it's missing if all it's offered is a 1960s-Style Social-Justice-Christianity ala Jim Wallace and Bryan McLaren. Forgive me both, Jim and Bryan, because I love you and I love your hearts. But we need more spirit. Spending our lives, identifying which political or governmental bill is "Godly" is, I think, an Adventure in Missing the Point.
More to come...
Forgive me for being so sporradic in writing lately. With my lovely wife, Seminary, and this project for Relevant, as well as a church Easter Drama to produce... I'm tired.
But thank the Lord, I'm getting my wind back!
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
Little was happening in my relational/missional/spiritual life lately. For how much I pride myself in getting out of my comfort zone and getting into peoples lives... well, I've been enjoying the safe, comfortable, clean joys of marriage. And who could blame me?
But something in my spirit was churning... my desire for adventure juxtaposing my boredom with God.
I've gotten several e-bulletins from Emergent Village lately that sounded more like 700 Club pitches: personal testimonies about "why I gave money to Emergent!" This did nothing to improve my mood.
Then it occured to me! If you read some of my recent posts on www.EmergingChristianity.blogspot.com, you'll know that I am taking an online class taught by Len Sweet. I remembered that Len said a few things in class, when we met in Portland for a weekend, about the "selling out of Emergent," and the political hijacking that's taken place there. Feeling the urge to churn the waters a bit, I called up Len and asked if he'd be willing to do an interview on the subject. I e-mailed Relevant Magazine at the same time to see if they'd be interested in the story. Boy, were they! I got several responses from multiple editors there: "Yes yes yes, this is exactly what we've been talking about lately. But no one with Len's credibility is willing to discuss this."
And believe me, Len's scared too. At first he said, "No. Absolutely not. I'm not going to get into that mess..." but then he softened. "Over the weekend, the Lord really worked on me. I like the spirit in which you're doing this (in kindness, love, and relational conversation)." And if Emergent is a Conversation then someone better talk about where it's heading!
I still haven't sat down to do the formal interview with Len yet, but I'm really excited because I worry that the postmodern church won't know what it's missing if all it's offered is a 1960s-Style Social-Justice-Christianity ala Jim Wallace and Bryan McLaren. Forgive me both, Jim and Bryan, because I love you and I love your hearts. But we need more spirit. Spending our lives, identifying which political or governmental bill is "Godly" is, I think, an Adventure in Missing the Point.
More to come...
Forgive me for being so sporradic in writing lately. With my lovely wife, Seminary, and this project for Relevant, as well as a church Easter Drama to produce... I'm tired.
But thank the Lord, I'm getting my wind back!
please read more about my thoughts on the evolution of Christianity at http://emergingchristianity.blogspot.com
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