A SATIRICAL LOOK AT HOW WE DO THIS THING CALLED "CHURCH"
On his Web site, BeyondRelevance.com, Richard Reising, a church marketing consultant, has posted a great video. It's had over 220,000 views on YouTube since November of 2008. The video is called "What If Starbucks Marketed Like A Church? A Parable." While it's satire at its best, it's also hard for Christians to watch because of its dead-on, albeit unappealing, representation of the church. Before you continue to read, take just a few minutes and watch.
DISSECTING THE VIDEO
For me, watching this video was like looking at myself in the mirror and hating how my hair looks. I know I can fix it, but it's going to take a lot of gel. One YouTube viewer even commented, "heres the reason why i HATE church lol." Hard words. Yet the church needs to hear them. The point of this video was to highlight the disconnect between how churches do things and the people they're trying to reach. I don't think this video is trying to purport that churches should be like a coffeehouse. It takes viewing the church in a different scenario to realize how unique our challenges are.
I have enjoyed breaking down this video and analyzing its purpose. In doing so, I have to admit that while many will watch it and agree that the church sometimes tries too hard in its efforts, many more will watch the video and call it foolish drivel. Therein lies the problem. Once again, we aren't all going to agree on the best ways to reach those outside the church. Though we're called not to conform to the patterns of this world*, we should attempt to "be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity*." (Rom. 12:4; Col. 4:5) Even this verse from Colossians could be interpreted several ways. Being "wise in the way you act toward outsiders" could mean that you Bible-thump them into a fearful acceptance of God's Word or it could also mean that you attempt to relate on their level, being aware of their church background (or lack of one). I'm gonna pick the latter.
Babies need milk, not food. This metaphor applies to young Christians and those outside the church, too. We cannot expect those without a thorough religious background to understand words and concepts like salvation, redemption, consecration, sanctification, and all the other "tions" that we like to use. My hope and prayer is that we all can keep this in mind as we move forward. Churches have much to offer the world. We have the love of God. We just need to move out of the way and let God show himself through us. Many times we think we have it all figured out. Well, the breaking news of the day is that we don't. Let's meet people where they are and just try to accept them there.
QUOTES TO CONSIDER
"No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument." Phillip Yancey
"You can tell you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott
"If we're delivering a message that the people of America don't want to hear, so be it. As long as we're not delivering it in a way that they won't listen in the first place." Sen. Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania 1994-2006
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it with religious conviction." Blaise Pascal
"As editor of the largest newspaper in West Virginia, I scan hundreds of reports daily and I am amazed by the frequency with which religion causes people to kill each other. It is a nearly universal pattern, undercutting the common assumption that religion makes people kind and tolerant." James Haught
"Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge." John Wesley
"If it weren't for Christians, I'd be a Christian." Mahatma Ghandi
"There's no greater role model in my view than Jesus Christ. It's just a shame that most of the people who follow him and call themselves Christians act nothing like him." Bill Maher
"Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side!" Leo Tolstoy
"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged." Jesus
FINAL THOUGHTS
We've been tossed by the waves and are (almost) hopelessly stuck at sea. It's time to turn our boat around. I tend to believe that most people accept God because of his promises of forgiveness and grace, and that's the message we most need to convey. But again, that's just my opinion.
"...love your enemies...If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that." Jesus, Matt. 5:44,47
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Missing Field Guide For Evangelism, Part 2
For the past 10 to 20 years, national church attendance has hovered around 40%. I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not. If Christians feel that what we do every Sunday is worth believing in, then it probably should be a big deal. What if a new poll reported that only 40% of Americans take baths? Pretty gross, right? We'd wince at that statistic because most people believe that bathing is necessary to good health. I guess with church-attendance statistics, we've grown a bit numb and many even take the 'to-each-his-own' perspective.
So church attendance isn't looking all that great. Now comes the obvious question: what can we do about it?
As a worker in the church, I have to consider statistics such as these. It makes my job hard, though. How am I supposed to help our local church grow when attendance is down all over the nation? As tempting as it might be, we can't simply stay with the attendance numbers that we're at. That's ignoring Jesus's mandate to "go and make disciples."
Are people not interested in spirituality anymore? No, people are still very interested in spirituality.
Are people distrusting of organized religion? Hmmm...
I believe that organized religion has a black cloud over its head. This cloud isn't going away anytime soon, either. Because of our disjointed methods of evangelism, we've represented our God in some negative ways over the years. There is no consistency. One church will say that homosexuals aren't welcome and another will allow homosexuals to preach from their pulpit. Who's right? Could they both be right somehow? One church allows women to preach, another doesn't. Again, who's right? The world watches us and shakes its head in confusion. Where did we go wrong?
There are plenty of books available that offer suggestions to break this negative evangelism cycle. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-As-You-Are Culture in the Church by John Burke, They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant and UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity ... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons are all great books addressing the negative stereotypes surrounding the church. But again, these books aren't 'Gospel.' They're just opinions and interpretations. Some will accept these evangelism methods, some won't. And we're back to square one.
Still, it's a topic important enough to discuss and seek out ways to break through the negative perceptions held against us by many outside the church.
I'll end this entry in the series with a quote from George Barna, whose company studies nationwide church participation. Mr. Barna addresses the challenges that Christians face in bringing the unchurched into our places of worship. He writes, "The numbers consistently point out that those who live without a regular face-to-face faith connection tend to be relatively isolated from the mainstream of society, tend to be non-committal in institutional and personal relationships, and typically revel in their independence. Attempting to get them involved in the life of a church is a real challenge. The best chance of getting them to a church is when someone they know and trust invites them, offers to accompany them, and there is reason to believe that the church event will address one of the issues or needs they are struggling with at that moment." As the church, we've got a challenge before us.
So church attendance isn't looking all that great. Now comes the obvious question: what can we do about it?
As a worker in the church, I have to consider statistics such as these. It makes my job hard, though. How am I supposed to help our local church grow when attendance is down all over the nation? As tempting as it might be, we can't simply stay with the attendance numbers that we're at. That's ignoring Jesus's mandate to "go and make disciples."
Are people not interested in spirituality anymore? No, people are still very interested in spirituality.
Are people distrusting of organized religion? Hmmm...
I believe that organized religion has a black cloud over its head. This cloud isn't going away anytime soon, either. Because of our disjointed methods of evangelism, we've represented our God in some negative ways over the years. There is no consistency. One church will say that homosexuals aren't welcome and another will allow homosexuals to preach from their pulpit. Who's right? Could they both be right somehow? One church allows women to preach, another doesn't. Again, who's right? The world watches us and shakes its head in confusion. Where did we go wrong?
There are plenty of books available that offer suggestions to break this negative evangelism cycle. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-As-You-Are Culture in the Church by John Burke, They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant and UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity ... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons are all great books addressing the negative stereotypes surrounding the church. But again, these books aren't 'Gospel.' They're just opinions and interpretations. Some will accept these evangelism methods, some won't. And we're back to square one.
Still, it's a topic important enough to discuss and seek out ways to break through the negative perceptions held against us by many outside the church.
I'll end this entry in the series with a quote from George Barna, whose company studies nationwide church participation. Mr. Barna addresses the challenges that Christians face in bringing the unchurched into our places of worship. He writes, "The numbers consistently point out that those who live without a regular face-to-face faith connection tend to be relatively isolated from the mainstream of society, tend to be non-committal in institutional and personal relationships, and typically revel in their independence. Attempting to get them involved in the life of a church is a real challenge. The best chance of getting them to a church is when someone they know and trust invites them, offers to accompany them, and there is reason to believe that the church event will address one of the issues or needs they are struggling with at that moment." As the church, we've got a challenge before us.
The Missing Field Guide For Evangelism, Part 1
As I finished the book, They Like Jesus But Not The Church, by a pretty hip pastor named Dan Kimball, I realized I might have found the cause of a problem that's been occurring in the church for years. Let me start with the problem: we live in a post-Christian culture where there is a substantial dropout rate of younger people in churches and also a lack of people from emerging generations coming in. So now that we've identified the problem, why does it occur?I believe this problem occurs because we have no field guide telling us how to share our beliefs. There's no bible instructing us how to teach the Bible. There's no official manual for evangelism. While there are plenty of books out there to help us with these things, who's methods are right? Everybody's got their own opinion and many have the validity of a chatroom posting. 'Just do what Jesus did' is a cop-out. We don't have the faith to move mountains or multiply bread and fish. Also, there are so many points in Scripture that 'good Christians' feel are necessary to bestow, finding an effective way to share one's faith has become much like a high-school science experiment.
Does it have to be this complicated?
Because most Christians have their own interpretation of what the Bible means when it says something controversial, we need to examine how to sludge past the divisive issues to show the heart of God. Dan Merchant is one guy who found a unique way to do this. In his book and documentary, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers -- Why Is The Gospel Of Love Dividing America?, the author and film-maker followed an idea birthed from Don Miller and Tony Kriz (of Blue Like Jazz fame). Dan set up a confessional booth at the Gay Pride Northwest festivities in Portland. Here's the catch – Dan was the one doing the confessing. After inviting a festival attendee to enter his booth, he would confess his mistakes as a Christian. Dan apologized for the way he and other Christians have treated homosexuals in the past. He tried to heal deep wounds between homosexuals and the church. Dan explained his motivation like this:I desperately wanted to undo the perception of Christians and of God that many of the people I was about to meet undoubtedly would hold. I wanted to beg people to listen to me: "We've been showing it wrong. Don't judge Jesus on my lame-o example. You've heard that part of the Bible where Jesus said, 'he who is without sin cast the first stone'? I think that part is important."Dan Merchant's words resonate deeply with me. My motivation for this blog series is summed up in the quote above. I desperately want people to know that Christians aren't all hypocrites who think they're better than everybody else. More importantly, I want people to know that Jesus wasn't like that, either.
This three-part blog series will attempt to further the ever-evolving discussion of evangelism in a post-Christian culture. This is not meant to simply be one man's opinion. It's meant to be a discussion. And like any good discussion, it will involve talking and listening.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Placebo Faith
In my job I get to see and hear many examples of faith displayed in various ways. It has helped me to realize what true faith is. True faith is the kind you have when that's all that's left. You can have a college education or no education; you can be snooty rich or dirt poor; drive a Lexus or walk barefoot — true faith is measured by desperation. How desperate for God are you?
This topic has been on my mind as I hear stories that reflect true, sincere faith. When a spouse is ill or has an ongoing disability, and doctors aren't able to provide the answers that you would like, faith might be all you have left. This could be described as placebo faith. Faith that's simply a crutch. While faith in a higher power can surely be viewed that way, maybe it shouldn't be. If you've never been desperate, it's easy to look at Christian believers as uneducated fools who trust their God because they don't understand science and medicine. That may be true, but when science, medicine, logic, friends, and family cannot provide the help you're needing, that's where faith thrives. Without a broken spirit, it's unlikely that you'll understand true faith, faith that's definitely not a placebo.
If you are in a dire, desperate situation, you really can do only one of two things. You can pray or you can do nothing. When you pray from a desperate heart, you've found true faith. When you feel as if you can't fix this problem by yourself, you've found it. When you are so exhausted from fears and worries and you decide to hand the situation over to God, you've found it. This kind of faith allows you to see your situation differently. It changes your perspective. It heals you in ways you wouldn't expect.
True faith can't be placebo faith. That's not really faith, now is it?
This topic has been on my mind as I hear stories that reflect true, sincere faith. When a spouse is ill or has an ongoing disability, and doctors aren't able to provide the answers that you would like, faith might be all you have left. This could be described as placebo faith. Faith that's simply a crutch. While faith in a higher power can surely be viewed that way, maybe it shouldn't be. If you've never been desperate, it's easy to look at Christian believers as uneducated fools who trust their God because they don't understand science and medicine. That may be true, but when science, medicine, logic, friends, and family cannot provide the help you're needing, that's where faith thrives. Without a broken spirit, it's unlikely that you'll understand true faith, faith that's definitely not a placebo.
If you are in a dire, desperate situation, you really can do only one of two things. You can pray or you can do nothing. When you pray from a desperate heart, you've found true faith. When you feel as if you can't fix this problem by yourself, you've found it. When you are so exhausted from fears and worries and you decide to hand the situation over to God, you've found it. This kind of faith allows you to see your situation differently. It changes your perspective. It heals you in ways you wouldn't expect.
True faith can't be placebo faith. That's not really faith, now is it?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Power Of Advertising Vs. The Standards Of Religion
Note: This blog was originally posted as Billboards Around Indy on May 29, 2007.
I've been doing a photo study on a series of new billboards around Indianapolis. A national church organization is advertising with messages such as, "Jesus said some are born gay," and, "Jesus affirmed a gay couple," all with Scripture to back up their claims.
Here are some of the billboard graphics:
The point of this blog is not to say whether I agree or disagree with their interpretation of Scripture. While admitting that this advertising campaign will offend many Christians, I want to make the point that, as a Christian, I'm not offended.
Thrown offguard? Sure.
Intrigued? Definitely.
Supportive? Yes.
I'm actually glad to see a billboard that challenges our common beliefs and engages our minds. Congratulations to this church. While most religious ads are predictable and sometimes cliché, this church causes drivers to do a doubletake and then want to grab their Bible to look up the advertised verses. Even their slogan, "Would Jesus Discriminate?," dares Christians to reexamine their perceptions of him.
The documentation on their Web site is very thought-provoking. They brought Bible verses that appear to support homosexuality to the front of my mind. Whether I agree or disagree, it certainly caused me to admit that there are differing viewpoints on the matter, and both sides can interpret Scripture to support their beliefs. One thing's for sure — Jesus would certainly welcome anyone with faith in him, regardless of their past or where they're coming from.
If anything, this campaign is advertising at its best. I work in advertising, so I pay attention to such things. The messages on these billboards (there's about 5 different ones), poke at the hearts of believers, intentionally or unintentionally. They anger some people and make some want to cheer. That's what advertising is supposed to do. It gets complex, though, when the topic advertised is a hot-button religious issue. Below is some evidence of the strong opposition generated from this campaign.
It's sad to see hate coming from people who are called to love their neighbors as themselves. The church's job is to extend open arms to everyone, regardless of their background. To this church, I again say congratulations. Though you may never read this blog, this believer has seen your message and applauds your efforts.
I've been doing a photo study on a series of new billboards around Indianapolis. A national church organization is advertising with messages such as, "Jesus said some are born gay," and, "Jesus affirmed a gay couple," all with Scripture to back up their claims.
Here are some of the billboard graphics:
The point of this blog is not to say whether I agree or disagree with their interpretation of Scripture. While admitting that this advertising campaign will offend many Christians, I want to make the point that, as a Christian, I'm not offended.
Thrown offguard? Sure.
Intrigued? Definitely.
Supportive? Yes.
I'm actually glad to see a billboard that challenges our common beliefs and engages our minds. Congratulations to this church. While most religious ads are predictable and sometimes cliché, this church causes drivers to do a doubletake and then want to grab their Bible to look up the advertised verses. Even their slogan, "Would Jesus Discriminate?," dares Christians to reexamine their perceptions of him.
The documentation on their Web site is very thought-provoking. They brought Bible verses that appear to support homosexuality to the front of my mind. Whether I agree or disagree, it certainly caused me to admit that there are differing viewpoints on the matter, and both sides can interpret Scripture to support their beliefs. One thing's for sure — Jesus would certainly welcome anyone with faith in him, regardless of their past or where they're coming from.
If anything, this campaign is advertising at its best. I work in advertising, so I pay attention to such things. The messages on these billboards (there's about 5 different ones), poke at the hearts of believers, intentionally or unintentionally. They anger some people and make some want to cheer. That's what advertising is supposed to do. It gets complex, though, when the topic advertised is a hot-button religious issue. Below is some evidence of the strong opposition generated from this campaign.
It's sad to see hate coming from people who are called to love their neighbors as themselves. The church's job is to extend open arms to everyone, regardless of their background. To this church, I again say congratulations. Though you may never read this blog, this believer has seen your message and applauds your efforts.
Thoughts On Free Will...
This blog was originally posted June 4, 2007.
In an interview a few years ago, actor/comedian Tim Allen discussed his thoughts on free will. He basically said that it's hard to understand why God gives us free will as a gift, then punishes us when we don't choose him. Is that really free will? I find this point-of-view very interesting. Allen has a good point. Why would God give us free will, and then have certain expectations of what decisions we choose.
Then today as I was on a plane ride home to Indianapolis, I was reading a book called Flashbang by Mark Steele. Steele made a comparison between humans and a pet bird that he had owned as a child. His pet bird longed for freedom from its cage. Then the one time it got loose and out of the house, it came back. It had experienced freedom, then realized the comfortable protection of the cage was more appealing. Interesting. Steele went on to write that human beings, though longing for true freedom, also need that "cage," that comfortable protection. In short, we need parameters.
While I agree with Tim Allen's point-of-view, I also whole-heartedly agree with Mark Steele's.
So where does this leave me and my opinion?
I believe we can't handle total freedom responsibly. I believe God didn't want to create mindless robots, so we have the freedom to choose him or not. I still get confused in the details of free will, but that's okay. I'll never have it all figured out.
I'll close with a quote by a rapper who goes by the moniker Sintax the Terrific.
"Savior set himself at a distance to tease our nature / Not to overcome our will or frustrate our labor / But instead to set us free to chase his heart or flee his favor"
In an interview a few years ago, actor/comedian Tim Allen discussed his thoughts on free will. He basically said that it's hard to understand why God gives us free will as a gift, then punishes us when we don't choose him. Is that really free will? I find this point-of-view very interesting. Allen has a good point. Why would God give us free will, and then have certain expectations of what decisions we choose.
Then today as I was on a plane ride home to Indianapolis, I was reading a book called Flashbang by Mark Steele. Steele made a comparison between humans and a pet bird that he had owned as a child. His pet bird longed for freedom from its cage. Then the one time it got loose and out of the house, it came back. It had experienced freedom, then realized the comfortable protection of the cage was more appealing. Interesting. Steele went on to write that human beings, though longing for true freedom, also need that "cage," that comfortable protection. In short, we need parameters.
While I agree with Tim Allen's point-of-view, I also whole-heartedly agree with Mark Steele's.
So where does this leave me and my opinion?
I believe we can't handle total freedom responsibly. I believe God didn't want to create mindless robots, so we have the freedom to choose him or not. I still get confused in the details of free will, but that's okay. I'll never have it all figured out.
I'll close with a quote by a rapper who goes by the moniker Sintax the Terrific.
"Savior set himself at a distance to tease our nature / Not to overcome our will or frustrate our labor / But instead to set us free to chase his heart or flee his favor"
Eats With Sinners
Note: This blog was originally posted July 21, 2007 on MySpace.
This is where I'd like to be in my faith walk. This is where I try to be.
But should I even try to walk this line?
This week, I'd like to use a made-up term called an Everlast Christian. I recently rediscovered the song "What It's Like" by Everlast, former frontman of hip-hop group House of Pain. The song is a bluesy rap about life's harsh situations and how people can so easily point the finger of condemnation against their fellow man. While I'm not attempting to analyze Everlast's beliefs, I do admire his overall message and the way he transmits it to the public. He uses profanity and poetry to get his point across:
----------
"We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He asks the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you f****n slob is all he replied
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues"
----------
The Everlast Christian knows that to relate to a person who isn't a Christian, he must speak to them where they are at. At times, he must break the stereotypes of what a Christian is in order to make a bold point. That may mean using profanity. That may mean taking a friend to a bar to talk over some beers. The Everlast Christian does what Jesus did — eats with sinners.
I find myself drawn to the characteristic of Jesus that ate with sinners. To me it says that I follow a Savior who met people where they were in their life and wasn't holier-than-thou when he was with them. He ate with them, spoke truth to them, and was a friend to them. While he did condemn people's actions at times, he loved more. It's funny; even in his condemnation of people's actions, he broke down Christian stereotypes. It's kind of weird to picture Jesus angrily flipping over tables at the temple, isn't it?
While I want to be totally committed to Christ, I don't want to ever think of myself as less of a sinner than anyone else. Sometimes my sins remind me that I'm human and need God just as much as the next guy. That doesn't justify sin, but I do like being reminded that I'm no better than anyone else.
So how do I place myself on the same level as everyone else, while continually trying to be a better person? How do I try to sin less, while still realizing that there's always sin in my life? These are my current thoughts and questions. I'm sure I don't have it figured out yet.
Committed to Christ, but walking the line
between the sacred and the secular.
This is where I'd like to be in my faith walk. This is where I try to be.
But should I even try to walk this line?
This week, I'd like to use a made-up term called an Everlast Christian. I recently rediscovered the song "What It's Like" by Everlast, former frontman of hip-hop group House of Pain. The song is a bluesy rap about life's harsh situations and how people can so easily point the finger of condemnation against their fellow man. While I'm not attempting to analyze Everlast's beliefs, I do admire his overall message and the way he transmits it to the public. He uses profanity and poetry to get his point across:
----------
"We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He asks the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you f****n slob is all he replied
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues"
----------
The Everlast Christian knows that to relate to a person who isn't a Christian, he must speak to them where they are at. At times, he must break the stereotypes of what a Christian is in order to make a bold point. That may mean using profanity. That may mean taking a friend to a bar to talk over some beers. The Everlast Christian does what Jesus did — eats with sinners.
I find myself drawn to the characteristic of Jesus that ate with sinners. To me it says that I follow a Savior who met people where they were in their life and wasn't holier-than-thou when he was with them. He ate with them, spoke truth to them, and was a friend to them. While he did condemn people's actions at times, he loved more. It's funny; even in his condemnation of people's actions, he broke down Christian stereotypes. It's kind of weird to picture Jesus angrily flipping over tables at the temple, isn't it?
While I want to be totally committed to Christ, I don't want to ever think of myself as less of a sinner than anyone else. Sometimes my sins remind me that I'm human and need God just as much as the next guy. That doesn't justify sin, but I do like being reminded that I'm no better than anyone else.
So how do I place myself on the same level as everyone else, while continually trying to be a better person? How do I try to sin less, while still realizing that there's always sin in my life? These are my current thoughts and questions. I'm sure I don't have it figured out yet.
A Porn Debate?
Note: This blog was originally posted August 11, 2007.
This past week I attended an unusual event. The title of this blog is probably the reason you're reading this, right? For a long time, I've been against pornography. It's not that I don't think a woman's body is beautiful. I'm just against objectifying women. With that said, there are 2 young pastors that share my feelings. They founded an anti-pornography Web site a couple of years ago, XXXchurch.com. These pastors aren't out to censor the porn industry. Nor are they against our freedom of speech. They just believe, as I do, that pornography is very addictive and can cause intimacy problems in relationships. Just as Alcoholics Anonymous is there for those struggling with alcohol abuse and nicotine patches are available for those attempting to quit smoking, XXXchurch.com is their ministry devoted to helping those who are wanting to give up pornography.
One of XXXchurch.com's founding partners is a pastor named Craig Gross. He is currently on the final leg of a 7-city tour with well-known porn star Ron Jeremy. The tour, called "The Great Porn Debate," is hitting some big cities in the mid-West and East coast. I went to their Indianapolis stop this past week and was extremely impressed with their debate. The concept was very intriguing to me: a pastor in a friendly debate with a porn star. What kind of crazy idea is that?! Let me ask a better question. What's the best approach to reaching your target audience: preaching against pornography in a church or hosting a debate with a porn star in big-city clubs and theatres? I think Craig's approach was a fantastic idea.
In this blog, I don't want to go into all the arguments made and statistics quoted. XXXchurch.com can do much of that. I would like to state some of my reactions and feelings about the event. First, I supported points made by both Ron Jeremy and Craig Gross. Ron Jeremy, a very well-educated man in his own right, defended the porn industry with many articles and well-documented statistics. Craig Gross defended his cause with many statistics and, maybe more importantly, testimonies from people negatively-affected by pornography. One great aspect to the debate was that Craig and Ron are friends. This wasn't an enraged, argumentative debate. This was 2 grown men having a grown-up, mild-tempered debate about the pornography industry and its effects on people. They are traveling on the same tour bus. They share some of the same ideas and beliefs. They just live different lifestyles.
In my opinion, this is the right way for Christians to make positive changes in the world. Show others love and try to understand others' viewpoints, even if you disagree with them. I wholeheartedly support what XXXchurch.com is doing. It is a light in a very, very dark part of our society. XXXchurch.com is addressing a very big problem for many—Christians, agnostics and atheists. It is an avenue of help and hope to those who feel trapped by an addiction to porn.
I'll close with a quote from the debate that has really stuck with me. Craig Gross said that Ron Jeremy and the porn industry welcomed him more than the church would probably welcome Ron Jeremy. I'd like to think that wasn't true, but in most cases, it probably is.
This past week I attended an unusual event. The title of this blog is probably the reason you're reading this, right? For a long time, I've been against pornography. It's not that I don't think a woman's body is beautiful. I'm just against objectifying women. With that said, there are 2 young pastors that share my feelings. They founded an anti-pornography Web site a couple of years ago, XXXchurch.com. These pastors aren't out to censor the porn industry. Nor are they against our freedom of speech. They just believe, as I do, that pornography is very addictive and can cause intimacy problems in relationships. Just as Alcoholics Anonymous is there for those struggling with alcohol abuse and nicotine patches are available for those attempting to quit smoking, XXXchurch.com is their ministry devoted to helping those who are wanting to give up pornography.
One of XXXchurch.com's founding partners is a pastor named Craig Gross. He is currently on the final leg of a 7-city tour with well-known porn star Ron Jeremy. The tour, called "The Great Porn Debate," is hitting some big cities in the mid-West and East coast. I went to their Indianapolis stop this past week and was extremely impressed with their debate. The concept was very intriguing to me: a pastor in a friendly debate with a porn star. What kind of crazy idea is that?! Let me ask a better question. What's the best approach to reaching your target audience: preaching against pornography in a church or hosting a debate with a porn star in big-city clubs and theatres? I think Craig's approach was a fantastic idea.
In this blog, I don't want to go into all the arguments made and statistics quoted. XXXchurch.com can do much of that. I would like to state some of my reactions and feelings about the event. First, I supported points made by both Ron Jeremy and Craig Gross. Ron Jeremy, a very well-educated man in his own right, defended the porn industry with many articles and well-documented statistics. Craig Gross defended his cause with many statistics and, maybe more importantly, testimonies from people negatively-affected by pornography. One great aspect to the debate was that Craig and Ron are friends. This wasn't an enraged, argumentative debate. This was 2 grown men having a grown-up, mild-tempered debate about the pornography industry and its effects on people. They are traveling on the same tour bus. They share some of the same ideas and beliefs. They just live different lifestyles.
In my opinion, this is the right way for Christians to make positive changes in the world. Show others love and try to understand others' viewpoints, even if you disagree with them. I wholeheartedly support what XXXchurch.com is doing. It is a light in a very, very dark part of our society. XXXchurch.com is addressing a very big problem for many—Christians, agnostics and atheists. It is an avenue of help and hope to those who feel trapped by an addiction to porn.
I'll close with a quote from the debate that has really stuck with me. Craig Gross said that Ron Jeremy and the porn industry welcomed him more than the church would probably welcome Ron Jeremy. I'd like to think that wasn't true, but in most cases, it probably is.
Hard Questions
Note: This blog was origninally posted November 20, 2007 on MySpace.
In this week's blog, I'd like to take you on a quick journey. It's a journey that goes from the wide, open fields of doubt and skepticism to the narrow path of belief and acceptance. To start this journey, I'd like to share a thought that occurred to me yesterday. Why do Christians tend to acknowledge God's presence when something good occurs, but blame outside circumstances when something bad occurs? An example might be helpful here. Let's say that we pray for God to keep us safe as we drive during the upcoming holiday. If we were then to hear about an accident that occurred over the holidays on the news, we might tend to not blame God, but the conditions that surround the accident. "The driver must have been driving too fast." Do we believe that God protects some and doesn't protect others? Don't accidents occur even to those who pray for safe travels? We all make driving mistakes; what role does God's grace play? Another example might be cancer. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, most Christians wouldn't blame God for that person's cancer. However, when that same person survives their bout with the disease, most Christians would praise God for his hand of healing in the person's life. Does God cause cancer, or does he only heal it?
So why throw out a prayer for protection? Why believe that God is really looking out for us? These are the type of hard questions that people often ask. I don't have the answers to these questions. In thinking about these queries, I quietly ask myself why I believe in God when things aren't fair or logical in the world. I then remember the story of the widow who gave a couple copper coins, almost worthless, to the temple treasury. Jesus was impressed with her giving, not because of the amount that she gave, but because she gave everything she had to live on. Do you hear truth in that? What about the verse that tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves? The golden rule? Loving those who hate you? Because of the truth I hear in these verses, I want to believe in God. The hard questions are always going to be there. Sometimes they trip me and I fall in the open field of doubt. Then I'm reminded of the truth I've read in the Bible, and I stand up again to continue my journey on the narrow path.
It's easy to choose disbelief. There's plenty of messed-up crap in the world to make us question the presence of God. Do you ask hard questions? Do you want to find some truth in this life? Do you care? I serve a God who can handle all the questions I could ever throw at him. I may not find all of my answers, but that's not surprising. In the shadow of God, I'm about as large and intelligent as a grain of sand.
In this week's blog, I'd like to take you on a quick journey. It's a journey that goes from the wide, open fields of doubt and skepticism to the narrow path of belief and acceptance. To start this journey, I'd like to share a thought that occurred to me yesterday. Why do Christians tend to acknowledge God's presence when something good occurs, but blame outside circumstances when something bad occurs? An example might be helpful here. Let's say that we pray for God to keep us safe as we drive during the upcoming holiday. If we were then to hear about an accident that occurred over the holidays on the news, we might tend to not blame God, but the conditions that surround the accident. "The driver must have been driving too fast." Do we believe that God protects some and doesn't protect others? Don't accidents occur even to those who pray for safe travels? We all make driving mistakes; what role does God's grace play? Another example might be cancer. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, most Christians wouldn't blame God for that person's cancer. However, when that same person survives their bout with the disease, most Christians would praise God for his hand of healing in the person's life. Does God cause cancer, or does he only heal it?
So why throw out a prayer for protection? Why believe that God is really looking out for us? These are the type of hard questions that people often ask. I don't have the answers to these questions. In thinking about these queries, I quietly ask myself why I believe in God when things aren't fair or logical in the world. I then remember the story of the widow who gave a couple copper coins, almost worthless, to the temple treasury. Jesus was impressed with her giving, not because of the amount that she gave, but because she gave everything she had to live on. Do you hear truth in that? What about the verse that tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves? The golden rule? Loving those who hate you? Because of the truth I hear in these verses, I want to believe in God. The hard questions are always going to be there. Sometimes they trip me and I fall in the open field of doubt. Then I'm reminded of the truth I've read in the Bible, and I stand up again to continue my journey on the narrow path.
It's easy to choose disbelief. There's plenty of messed-up crap in the world to make us question the presence of God. Do you ask hard questions? Do you want to find some truth in this life? Do you care? I serve a God who can handle all the questions I could ever throw at him. I may not find all of my answers, but that's not surprising. In the shadow of God, I'm about as large and intelligent as a grain of sand.
Thoughts On Urban Crime...
Note: This blog was originally posted January 4, 2008 on MySpace.
It seems at least two to three mornings a week, as I watch the morning news, I hear a report about a shooting or a robbery. Thankfully, not all of these shootings are fatal. As the city has just ushered in a new mayor whose top priority in his new position is to fight crime, I have been thinking about my city's crime problem. You see, every evening as I leave work, I drive through many neighborhoods that could be categorized as rough or bad parts of town. I know what a bad neighborhood looks like: side streets with a few too many potholes, houses in disrepair, young men and women walking the streets late at night. There are areas of the city that just seem to stay drug-infested and crime-ridden. My brother-in-law and I have wondered from time to time, "How do you clean-up a bad area of a city?" Police certainly cannot patrol the streets every hour on the hour. Jails are over-crowded as it is. Guns are easy to buy. Parents are not always home to enforce the discipline that could prevent criminal leanings. Clearly, the problems outweigh the solutions.
So what are some solutions? Are there any? Stricter law enforcement? Curfews? Neighborhood watches? These things exist, yet crime continues strong.
Suggestions, Not Solutions
I do not have a solution. What I have is a suggestion—a suggestion that I would like to send to the city's new mayor. It seems all of us have ideas and some of them just might help social systems that need improvement. In my neighborhood, we have a homeowner's association. Many modern neighborhoods require the establishment of them. A homeowner's association's purpose is to keep a neighborhood a safe and respectable place to live. The thought is that safer neighborhoods equal a place where people want to live.
Could this idea be applied to older neighborhoods, neighborhoods that have a reputation for crime?
My suggestion is that cities require mandatory homeowner's association meetings, facilitated every month by a police officer. It would be irrational to suggest that residents be forced to attend these meetings. I do believe, if offered, residents would choose to attend. These meetings would allow residents to discuss problems in their neighborhoods, from crime to upkeep of sidewalks to speeding issues in residential areas. In turn, more residents are watching for crime and alerting one another and the police about suspicious activity. I recently heard an ad council radio spot featuring McGruff the Crime Dog. He said one of the easiest ways to prevent neighborhood crime is to get to know your neighbors. These meetings might create a sense of community among residents. Community, that is, a feeling of belonging, might weaken crime in a neighborhood. Safer neighborhoods would raise property values and attract new tenants, further weakening crime's hold on an area. Mandatory homeowner's associations would be no small task. It would require zoning and funding. More police officers on the streets also require more funding. Research always requires much funding, but if it's important to a society, it happens, sometimes regardless of the cost.
Would this idea curb the problem of crime? No. Would it weaken crime? It's worth a fighting chance.
It seems at least two to three mornings a week, as I watch the morning news, I hear a report about a shooting or a robbery. Thankfully, not all of these shootings are fatal. As the city has just ushered in a new mayor whose top priority in his new position is to fight crime, I have been thinking about my city's crime problem. You see, every evening as I leave work, I drive through many neighborhoods that could be categorized as rough or bad parts of town. I know what a bad neighborhood looks like: side streets with a few too many potholes, houses in disrepair, young men and women walking the streets late at night. There are areas of the city that just seem to stay drug-infested and crime-ridden. My brother-in-law and I have wondered from time to time, "How do you clean-up a bad area of a city?" Police certainly cannot patrol the streets every hour on the hour. Jails are over-crowded as it is. Guns are easy to buy. Parents are not always home to enforce the discipline that could prevent criminal leanings. Clearly, the problems outweigh the solutions.
So what are some solutions? Are there any? Stricter law enforcement? Curfews? Neighborhood watches? These things exist, yet crime continues strong.
Suggestions, Not Solutions
I do not have a solution. What I have is a suggestion—a suggestion that I would like to send to the city's new mayor. It seems all of us have ideas and some of them just might help social systems that need improvement. In my neighborhood, we have a homeowner's association. Many modern neighborhoods require the establishment of them. A homeowner's association's purpose is to keep a neighborhood a safe and respectable place to live. The thought is that safer neighborhoods equal a place where people want to live.
Could this idea be applied to older neighborhoods, neighborhoods that have a reputation for crime?
My suggestion is that cities require mandatory homeowner's association meetings, facilitated every month by a police officer. It would be irrational to suggest that residents be forced to attend these meetings. I do believe, if offered, residents would choose to attend. These meetings would allow residents to discuss problems in their neighborhoods, from crime to upkeep of sidewalks to speeding issues in residential areas. In turn, more residents are watching for crime and alerting one another and the police about suspicious activity. I recently heard an ad council radio spot featuring McGruff the Crime Dog. He said one of the easiest ways to prevent neighborhood crime is to get to know your neighbors. These meetings might create a sense of community among residents. Community, that is, a feeling of belonging, might weaken crime in a neighborhood. Safer neighborhoods would raise property values and attract new tenants, further weakening crime's hold on an area. Mandatory homeowner's associations would be no small task. It would require zoning and funding. More police officers on the streets also require more funding. Research always requires much funding, but if it's important to a society, it happens, sometimes regardless of the cost.
Would this idea curb the problem of crime? No. Would it weaken crime? It's worth a fighting chance.
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