Christopher Hitchens's Death And The Evangelical Fail

This past week renowned author and atheist Christopher Hitchens passed away of esophageal cancer. Hitchens is author of the bestselling book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Christians around the world have used his death as an opportunity to throw a final posthumous punch. Maybe you won't interpret it this way, but let's look at some quotes to be sure. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, tweeted, "My friend Christopher Hitchens has died. I loved & prayed for him constantly & grieve his loss. He knows the Truth now." Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, also went to Twitter to drive his point home. He said Hitchens's death "is an excruciating reminder of the consequences of unbelief. We can only pray others will believe."

Let's be honest. These are not evangelical Christians showing a deep, sincere love for the loss of one of the world's great minds. No, this is simply the abuse of an opportunity. This opportunity allowed them to make an arrogant show of themselves on the world's leading asinine-soapbox, Twitter. This is not love. I'll say it again...this is not love. We're called to love one another, regardless of beliefs. And our love is also to be sincere. So it really frustrates me that so many prominent evangelical leaders used Hitchens's death as an opportunity to score a point for the God team.

If you still don't think that these little tweets are unfair and unloving, consider again Warren's statement: "My friend Christopher Hitchens has died. I loved & prayed for him constantly & grieve his loss. He knows the Truth now." Don't you think he could have left off the "He knows the Truth now" part? Wouldn't that have sounded so much more gracious? When I read these online postings, what I see is this: "You didn't believe in God, you got cancer, and now you're dead. Well, that's what you get for not believing in God." So to all the arrogant evangelicals out there, remember this: The same grace that saves you, regardless of anything you've done (and all the stupid tweets you've posted), is the same grace that comes to Christopher Hitchens. Don't act like you know God's ways...and remember the humble prayer of the tax collector in Luke 18.

In God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens says that organized religion is "hostile to free inquiry." These evangelical 'tweeters' are doing an excellent job to affirm Hitchens's statement. We should embrace differing views, rather than argue against them. I think it's easy to read certain passages of the Bible and conclude that we need to oppose those who oppose God. This is one of the main irritants that fuels my love/hate relationship with the Bible. Still, the Bible should never be cherry-picked. Love for those with differing views is the main, undergirding theme of the book. We too often forget that.

Keeping My Mouth Shut On The Internet

Blame it on a Christian news Web site.

Every morning I open my Firefox browser to its homepage, The Christian Post, where I get a speckling of world and religious news. And every morning, I find myself disappointed in how divisive religion is. There's always a depressing mix of articles, from the typical stories about homosexuality in America, to Harold Camping's doomsday predictions, to billboard battles between atheists and Christians. It's just too much to start my day with. I guess I should just switch to CNN.com as my homepage, but, as a Christian, I really do want to know what religious issues are happening in the world. It's just sad that most of them reflect petty things such as Harold Camping end-of-the-world predictions—and just how many evangelicals actually disapprove of him—rather than highlighting major injustices like poverty and human trafficking.

For me, the issue shifts to, 'Should Christians just stay off the Internet altogether?' Should Christians really use the Internet as their online soapbox?

And to answer your presumed question, yes—I do realize the hypocrisy of using a blog to consider this subject.

On a serious note, I do question my own partiality to writing Web logs. I question my online musings mainly because of the crap I see on The Christian Post. It makes Christianity look like a damn high-school gossip show. "He said this...She believes in that..." I realize that when a person with 'authority' claims a certain idea or doctrine as the gospel truth, it can raise eyebrows and blood pressure. I get that. But that's exactly why I think more Christians should withhold their opinions from the Internet. Just stay off of it. And quit posting religious thoughts on Facebook, too. It's just going to make people write angry comments on your wall. If we're really witnesses to what we believe, then I would hope we'd realize how terrible we look. We will always have our opinions and beliefs, but online articles and status updates are really not the best places to share those thoughts. If you want to see things in this world get better, then write a letter to your senator. Go volunteer. Send some money to organizations that work to prevent whatever it is that's ticking you off. Philip Yancey once stated, "No one converted to Christianity because they lost the argument." A digital conversation will never be as gracious as one that's face-to-face. There may be a place for productive religious discourse on the Internet, but it's hard to find. And I find that I respect those who keep their divisive comments and opinions to a minimum, while I find it hard to respect those who are consistently posting negativity. It seems to me that, while Jesus had strong opinions at times, he mostly kept his mouth closed and showed compassion. There's an idea.

Forming Habits

As I was typing today I found myself pausing for a moment. I was typing so fast and realized that I don't give any thought to what my fingers are doing or what keys they're landing on. It's as if my fingers are on autopilot. I know my brain is directing them, but it's not until I slow down and give thought to every keystroke that I realize how habitual my typing has become. I really don't even think about it.

We usually think of habits as bad things. Though as I thought about my habitual typing, I wondered how many things in my life might become just as second-nature as typing. If I made exercise, prayer, patience, and similar things a daily habit, would they become automatic, just like typing? It seems that most days I have to muster the energy to cook, clean, exercise, read, balance the checkbook, etc. I guess I'm just wondering how my life might look it I were more dedicated to making certain things a daily habit. I guess I would lose some spontaneity, but I think I'll take good daily habits over spontaneity any day. I'll keep you posted.

Life In The Middle

I've decided to redesign my blog site a little. I want it to reflect who I am and where I'm at, spiritually speaking. My worldview has gone through some changes since I was in my early 20s, and I guess I'm still learning what I believe.

If one thing's for sure, it's that nothing's for sure.

Such is life when you're in the middle. Right between doubt and faith. Clinging to your beliefs, but some days...just barely.

The funny, ironic twist: I'm employed full time in ministry. Actually, that's probably not all that ironic at all. For me, I've found that the best developer of my own beliefs and worldview is to simply sit back and watch how other people act. Are they religious nutcases? Are they arrogant jerks? Are they narcissistic and self-centered? Are they political ranters who condemn everybody and everything that doesn't agree with them? All of these scenarios have influenced who I am today. I guess it's all made me question what I believe, and—maybe more importantly—how I share those beliefs.

In one of his many great blog entries, Gordon Atkinson wrote, "Understand that this preacher NEVER asks people to become Christians. If anything, I warn people. I consider following Jesus to be a pretty stiff commitment, and I don't ever sugar coat it. If someone is seeking a spiritual path and wants to journey with me, I'm fine with that. I'll shoulder my pack, help get his adjusted, and we'll move on down the road together. I don't really give a sh*t about making converts. That's not my business. I will walk with people though, if they want."1 And so it seems to be with me. I'm not into encouraging 'personal relationships' with Jesus or saving anyone's soul. That's God's work. I'm fine with just admitting I'm a broken mess and only God can fix me. I'll walk beside someone and listen to their doubts, but I probably won't offer any trite answers.

Part of my own doubt arises from the brokenness and the ashes of life. In his book, O Me Of Little Faith, Jason Boyett writes, "For all the happy talk about God's blessing and favor on Christian TV, you don't have to look very far to find a God who seems less available than we'd like. Where is God among the AIDS and war orphans of East Africa? Where is God among the victims of terrorism? Where is God in the early death of a young mom from cancer? Where is God among the glitter of Las Vegas and the frenzy of Times Square? Where is God among the piracy of Somalia or the breadlines of Zimbabwe?"2 Jason Boyett's questions resonate so deeply with me. I turn on the television and stop at a gospel channel. There's a choir, praising God with so much zeal and enthusiasm, and I think to myself, "Sure, it's easy to praise God there in that comfy building with your nice robes. But would you sing those songs in the middle of the rubble and tent towns of Haiti?" I'll admit I'm not quite the activist I should be. There are so many injustices I should stand up against, but prayer seems to be my only weapon of choice. I can say, though, that it truly pains my heart when a child is abused, or a young man or woman dies of cancer, or when someone has to sleep on the street. And I, like so many, quietly wonder where God is in the midst of these injustices.

Still, I hold on. I cling to my faith because I want to believe that good will win out someday and that there really is a God out there who holds every tear that we shed. Faith and doubt. I cannot fully live on either side of these extremes, at least not yet. For every prayer of thankfulness that goes up, another of confusion and bewilderment follows. Contentment can be found in the middle, where doubt and faith meet. A questioning soul is a soul who cares and who deeply feels pain, and a faithful soul can still struggle with doubt.


1  Gordon Atkinson, RealLivePreacher.com (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2004), 128.
2  Jason Boyett, O Me Of Little Faith: True Confessions Of A Spiritual Weakling (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2010), 209.

Justice And Mercy In "12 Angry Men"

And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God.
   Micah 6:8

A Simple Requirement?
During a recent mission trip, I was reminded of this short passage from the book of Micah. It's the famous pronouncement that summarizes God's will for everyone. At first glance, it seems like a pretty simple and clear command. What does God want from you? Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God.

Still, I found myself a bit stuck on this verse. Justice and mercy are two nouns that are pretty opposite of each other. Seeking justice invokes thoughts of punishment and accountability, of preventing evil. Mercy, on the other hand, invokes thoughts of compassion and forgiveness. How is someone supposed to balance these very different commands in their efforts to do God's will?

Justice And Mercy In 12 Angry Men

I was recently inspired as I watched one of my favorite movies, the classic 1957 film, 12 Angry Men. It's a phenomenal morality tale that pits twelve jurors in a room to decide a verdict in the case of an 18-year-old boy accused of killing his father. The story's protagonist is Juror #8, expertly portrayed by Henry Fonda. He is the lone dissenting voice who attempts to persuade the eleven other jurors to fully examine their evidence before sending the boy to the electric chair. Henry Fonda's Juror #8 is one of the best examples of simultaneously acting justly and loving mercy that I've ever seen. He wants to find out the truth, but realizes that none of the jurors will know for sure who the guilty party is. At the same time, he wants to show compassion to an accused boy who has had a very hard life. He says, "Well, there were eleven votes for guilty. It's not easy to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first." This is acting justly and loving mercy. It's seeking to prevent evil from happening again, but upholding mercy as something valuable in every situation.

At first the case seems to be very open and shut. The accused boy has a weak alibi and a knife he claimed to have lost is found at the scene of the murder. But as Juror #8 stands up for the boy, stating that, "I just think we owe him a few words, that's all," other jurors slowly begin to listen and think more deeply about the evidence presented. The idea of "justice" starts to become a serious and thoughtful endeavor, rather than a impulsive opinion.

While all the jurors at first seem to be reasonable men who are fully capable of deciding a verdict for a murder trial, personal prejudices are slowly revealed. While justice may have been the initial goal for each juror, eleven of them didn't bring any concern for mercy to that table. What they did bring to the table was a history. Some have a prejudice against the boy because he is a foreigner. Others simply want to wrap it up and get on to other stuff, outside of that courthouse. Some of them identify with the slum upbringing of the accused boy. Still others start to question the testimony of the two eyewitnesses. And so mercy and justice begin their delicate dance, each taking their proper steps. One by one, the jurors show signs of mercy as they seek a fair and just decision. And the ones who maintain that the boy is guilty—even after examining much questionable evidence—start to show an unmerciful side, one that has the façade of a concern for justice, but is really fueled by anger and hatred.

It's not easy to summarize how to act justly while also showing mercy, but 12 Angry Men is a profound example of how this biblical passage should be lived out. In the end, these men faced their personal prejudices and they sought the fair and just decision. For Juror #8, it was a concern for mercy that seemed to compel his actions in that deliberation room. The actions and words of the 'unmerciful' jurors shows us why mercy is equally as important as justice. Justice without a concern for mercy isn't truly just. When our attempts at ending injustice aren't balanced with mercy, emotions like anger and bitterness steer the wheel. And can any good come from that?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/plotsummary

Guilt Offerings

I browsed through my mail yesterday, as I do most days—sifting through the junk and hoping for some Amazon package that I might have forgot I ordered. Then I came upon a World Vision packet. This is nothing new, really. I've made donations to World Vision a number of times, even sponsoring a child for a period. However, this packet struck me a bit differently. I'm not quite sure why.

 

What struck me about this packet was the pronounced use of guilt being marketed. The Bible verse on the packet is Matthew 25:37, a teaching about sheep and goats. Jesus was teaching his disciples about the kingdom of heaven, and how people who think they're righteous might be in for a surprise when confronted with the fact that they neglected the poor and needy on earth. The most well-known verse from this passage is, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Without a doubt, these are powerful words. Jesus struck at the heart of 'lukewarm' faith, for sure. There are a number of organizations and statistics that can tell you if every Christian in the U.S. (around 138 million people) slightly increased their giving each year, then extreme poverty could be eradicated by the year 2035. And I applaud organizations such as World Vision for working to end extreme poverty.

Still, I'm not sure Jesus had a 'guilt marketing tactic' in mind when he spoke those words to his disciples. He was simply calling out hypocrisy. Is that what World Vision is doing? Maybe. 

The difference, in my estimation, is that World Vision is a company with employees...and payrolls. But it's hard to blame them for what they're doing. Tackling worldwide poverty and injustice is on a level that is unfathomable to me. Again, I truly commend their work.

But their marketing efforts also got me thinking about why people give, and why we should give. If using guilt is the only way to get a person to give, then so be it. Better to feed a starving child using a guilt marketing method than for that child not to be fed at all. But I wonder sometimes, if most donors give simply because they read a phrase such as, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?" Are they trying to please God by giving money away? Or are they truly concerned for the poor?

I ask this of myself, as well. My wife and I sponsor a child through Compassion International. We sponsor a child because we have the resources to do so, and because it's the right thing to do. Yet we don't take the time to pray enough for our child. We read updates and send a letter to him every now and then, but do we really try to have a bond with this child?

Maybe giving money is enough. Maybe that's all that people can find the time to do. Writing a letter is simply out of the question. Praying for a child in another country might be asking too much when it is more than difficult to even pray for our own family.

Wouldn't it be nice, though, if people could give out of a deep concern for the well-being of others, rather than giving out of guilt?

Scott Todd, a senior adviser at Compassion International, spoke recently about charitable giving by Christians: “It begins with a new hunger—a felt, compelling force within us that desires that kids will not die of preventable causes, that sees the pain and feels it and is almost angry about it and wants it to stop." Scott Todd is the leader of "58" (based on Isaiah 58), an organization backed by ten major non-profit groups to highlight the causes of poverty and to fight against those causes—mostly through the financial assistance of donors.

And so I read Mr. Todd's quote, and then I look at World Vision's packet, and I think...somewhere we're off a little bit. Yes, there will always be poverty. But there still are effective means to save lives and help stop the extreme poverty stuff—lack of education, lack of clean water, lack of food and shelter. My hope is that, someday, organizations like World Vision won't have to use the guilt marketing anymore. I hope that Christians—and everyone else—will give to charities that fight poverty because it's the right thing to do. Salvation isn't based on works or how you spend you're money. If that's the case, then we're all headed to hell. Guilt shouldn't motivate us to do good. God and justice should be our motivators.

Religious Conversations While Getting My Hair Cut

As I sat in the stylist's chair, the conversation gravitated to what part of town I lived in. From there, which neighborhood. I told her our house is for sale, as my family plans to move to Columbus, Ohio, in about a year. I told her I was going back to school. When asked what I was going to be studying, I said I was going to seminary. She seemed impressed. Then the conversation took the religious turn, which is okay by me... But then this conversation got on the whole "gay marriage – this country is losing its morals" train—then I wasn't so comfortable. I politely said that I think the real problem is that so many pastors and religious people expend so much energy denouncing gay marriage and similar issues, while staying silent on more-pressing ones. Like poverty. And homelessness. And the lack of education and clean water to around two billion people in the world.

And so this conversation was another needed step in my theological development.

I'm finding that I don't like drawing lines in the sand and picking sides. Or picking battles, for that matter. I'd rather rejoice that, through Jesus Christ, grace is given to all. I'd rather celebrate diversity and differing opinions. I'd rather work for justice with my hands, instead of my mouth.

The world is gray, my friends. It is not black and white. Everyone has scars and skeletons in their closet. Everybody is just trying to figure out life the best that they can. Yes, the world is falling apart...but this isn't a new thing. If you believe in good, then you probably believe in evil. Don't act surprised when man's corrupt ways pollute the world we live in. It'll be okay. Tomorrow's another day. And we all have the ability to do some good while we're here.

A Not-So-Simple Challenge

A challenge:

• Choose to put your cell phone away for a week...do not use it. After that week, find someone who is a drug addict. Then say to them, "I understand what you're going through."

Because if you think it's hard to live without a cell phone (or Facebook or e-mail or whatever), then imagine how hard it is for a heroine addict who has become physically dependent on the drug. Cause what I'm seeing in our culture is an addiction to handheld devices. When you see a parent at the playground or in a restaurant with their little child and they are constantly browsing their cell phone, that looks like addiction to me. And it occurred to me that we look down upon drug addicts in our society, while other addictions (texting while driving, for example) seem to be socially acceptable. Addiction is addiction, right? Is a drug addiction more detrimental to others than a texting driver?

Just something to think about. And I say this not as someone who claims exemption from this...I have plenty of addictions. And that's just the point.

Different

I have to be careful how I write this. I'm not sure I want to influence anyone reading this, because then I really wouldn't be different anymore.

My wife and I have found that we are different. The way we live, the things we embrace...are all pretty different from most of our friends and neighbors. I don't think this was even intentional, but somewhere along the way we decided to stop getting cable TV. Then we started living by a strict budget so that we could get out of debt. (We even go so far as to take a calculator to the grocery store, just to make sure we don't overspend.) Then we chose to cut up our credit cards. We have cell phones, but we don't have a monthly plan with Verizon or AT&T...we use Tracfone, and we only turn our phones on if we absolutely have to. We rent our videos from the local library. We don't take lavish vacations. A fun date night might simply be a quiet dinner and a nice walk around the neighborhood. We like shopping at Goodwill and Half-Priced Books. Then we decided to put our house up for sale, in order to move so that I can go to seminary full time. And I'm not saying any of this to brag. In fact, when you find you are living differently, you need to kind of need to be quiet, because you're going to sound like a jerk if you don't.

Really, I don't know why I'm writing this. Mainly just to ponder why we, as a society, choose to follow the crowd or to stand and be different. Everyone around us seems to be running a hundred miles an hour, and—though we're plenty busy, too—we seem to prefer a slower, less-chaotic pace of life. News and media carry a lot of influence. If you don't have the latest phone...or if you don't know who the final five American Idol contestants are...or if you don't know exactly what storm caused damage in the south...then you must be out-of-touch. Really?

I say all this very humbly, because it's hard to live differently. It's hard to turn off the TV and pick up a book. It's hard to pack your lunch everyday instead of eating out. It's hard to not follow, but to make small choices that seem to go against the grain of culture. Do you ever choose to "not follow"? If so, what everyday things do you do differently?

A Great Reminder For Us Narcissistic Bloggers

Collide Magazine | Be Careful, Little Blog, What You Flame

The Prayer List

God, here I am again, trying my best to pray. This list of prayer concerns seems to keep getting longer and longer.

I know. And it's really not a complete list. So many haven't shared their concerns publicly.

I never hear you like this. Why today?

This needs a bit more clarity. I will not often speak this way.

I guess I just feel so burdened when I see this list. So much sadness and sickness. It's so hard to understand.

I know.

I'm really aching for these people...people I know and care about deeply. The disease. The sickness. The fear. It's too much, God.

Why should I pray for this woman with stage-4 terminal cancer, God? I'm not stupid. I know the outcome of this one. What am I supposed to pray for? Her healing? Her peace and comfort through her last days?

Yes. You should pray for all of those things.

But she isn't going to be healed! This is so draining. What about the boy with leukemia? How can I believe in your 'goodness' in light on that situation?

You can't understand how I will work in his life.

Why?!

Just keep praying.

Why should I keep praying for others' healing when no obvious miracle ever happens?

You need to keep praying because it allows you to suffer, on some small level, along with them.

But God, it's so emotionally draining to read about all of this sickness and death. My heart feels heavy.

That's good. That's how I want your heart to feel.

Why do you let your children suffer, God? How can I believe in you, or your goodness, when so many good people suffer for no apparent reason?

You want reason and logic. I do not work in those ways. I work on the inside, where suffering meets joy.

But what kind of God lets his children suffer and die?!

I let my own son suffer and die...and that act may even be too difficult to understand.

You need to let go of your reasoning and simply pray for my will to be done. I give and I also take away. I love and I comfort. I provide. In these things, you need to find some solace.

What if I get cancer, God? What if I become a statistic, too?

There are no statistics in my kingdom. The world you live in is filled with many things...sorrow, evil, pain—and, yes—suffering. It is also filled with joy, hope, and kindness. If the burdens of "why" and "what if" become too heavy, let go and release it to me. I understand your worry...but it will not help you.

Amen, God.

Food Pantry Grace

A woman came to our church recently to see if we had a food pantry. I told her we did, and then gave her our standard form to fill out. When I returned with a few bags of food, this woman told me she didn't see a line on our form to write what her income was. I told her we don't need to know that particular information, and that we mainly want to keep track of who has used our food pantry and how often they are in need of the service.

This woman's comment about the missing "income" line got me thinking about God's grace.

A Great Story In An Unlikely Place: Steak N' Shake

My family and I were out shopping recently and decided to stop at Steak N' Shake for lunch. It was a Saturday, and the restaurant was crowded. We waited a few minutes, were politely seated, and then were looking over our menus. I noticed a young man walk in and could tell he was an employee. He clocked in and jumped right into work. His first table of the day turned out to be a very interesting sideshow for anyone within view. This waiter was unsteadily carrying his table's soda-and-milkshake order when...yep...the soda spilled all over the table. No big deal, right? These things happen. Well, these things do happen, but, unfortunately, some people are restaurant snobs and have come to think that "these things" shouldn't happen. Ever.

Smart Phones Don't Make Smart People

"In 2008 almost 6,000 people were killed and a half-million were injured in crashes related to driver distraction."

"Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road."

"A car driver dialing a cell phone is 2.8 times more likely to get into a crash than a non-distracted driver."

It's no surprise that cell phones and smart phones have caused a great sociological phenomenon. Mobile phone subscriptions worldwide hit 4.6 billion about a year ago, and that statistic is only gaining speed. And they can do everything. The world is at our fingertips. What's ironic, though, is that these "smart" phones are causing people everywhere to act, well, stupid.

Every time I am driving (with my little daughter in the car) and I see someone looking at their cell phone instead of looking at the road, it makes me want to scream. Are we so narcissistic that we think we have to talk to someone else all the time? I know the answer to that one.

Cell phones are great, but, unfortunately, we can't handle them. Like a drug, we just can't let go of our addiction to communication. We have to let people know exactly what we're doing all the time. You know the person, right? The guy who gets on his cell phone as the plane is pulling up to the terminal. He's telling the person on the other line every little detail...where the plane is right now...how fast the plane is going...how many minutes he estimates before he's off the plane. Everyone looks at this guy and thinks, "Gee, buddy. Get a life. Everybody on the plane doesn't need to hear your stupid conversation." Here's the kicker: We're that guy. We're all that guy and we don't even know it. We've become so self-absorbed that we can't go through a single stop light without looking at our messages. We know the risks. We've seen the statistics. We don't really care.

Okay, my rant's gone on long enough. My point? Put down your freakin' cell phone and look at the road. If you hit my car, I will grab your phone and stomp it into pieces.

Statistics from: http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html

I don't have cable and the antenna for my TV isn't working.

Such is the life of a frugal, challenge-the-status-quo hipster like me. And since my antenna isn't working, I've been doing more reading and have been pretty out-of-touch with any current event. I know there's flooding in my state. I know tensions and violence are still rising in the Middle East. I know Glee is still a hit show. Other than that, I'm useless when it comes to casual conversations about current news and pop culture. So when I turned on the TV today and actually got a few channels, I was surprised at my enlightened realization—that I really wasn't missing anything life-shattering and that my time had been better spent between the pages of my books.

What I also realized is how lazy we let ourselves become. With ever-increasing cable channels comes an ever-increasing temptation to surf the days away. It's so easy for me to think, "I just want to watch TV tonight." What if we weren't so connected to every little slice of news that was happening around the world? I'm not trying to bash TV or the news...I enjoy these things. But I simply realized how easy it has become to turn on the TV and check our brains at the door, rather than open a book and really engage our minds. (And yes, I do believe there are many shows that "engage" our minds, but I also think twenty minutes of channeling surfing to find that "show" does not.)

So the thought I'm really wrestling with here is this: What if we didn't have a TV...within a week we'd grab onto any book or magazine we could find...and that would become our new "TV." How might our lives be enriched by that? Just something to think about.

What about other technologies? What if a son and father actually talked while waiting to be seated, rather than the son, or the dad for that matter, playing with the latest app on their phone? What if we "unplugged" more often? Even while typing this blog, I know a better conversation or a better magazine article awaits in the other room. I'm not trying to ba-humbug TV, or smartphone apps, or Facebook, or Twitter, or NetFlix, or video games. I enjoy TV a lot. But again, it's kind of a revelation when you've been away from the tube for a while, only to come back and find how unfulfilling it can be.

So what are your thoughts in this ongoing dilemma? To stay plugged in, or to unplug? To set aside specific times for TV and Internet, or to live without those boundaries? To be ever connected, or to disconnect for a time?

Just so nobody thinks I'm a total TV snob, I'll admit that I'm a Gleek. I also really dig Modern Family.

New Old Hymns

Lately I've been inspired by some "new" old hymns sung by Sandra McCracken. I should say right now that I'm typically partial to newer, contemporary worship music. When we sing hymns at my church, I usually feel like I'm about to fall asleep. I love the words to most hymns, but don't always give them the praise they're due. Yes, most hymns are old and very traditional. But so are a lot of other traditions that we annually celebrate, like weddings or the lighting of a Christmas tree.

The churches that we label as "mega," like Rick Warren's Saddleback Valley Community Church or Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Community Church, tend to use contemporary, progressive music and media to draw thousands of worshipers each week. The older, traditional churches that paint our national landscape survive with a few handfuls of worshipers. One style isn't right and the other wrong. I'm simply writing to ponder the differences and beauties of both.

At our church, as with many others, we offer multiple styles of worship. Even within our "modern" service, we play newer, Chris-Tomlin-style songs along with newer versions of classic hymns. There's validity to both styles. Many young worshipers want to sing songs that reflect the style of music on their iPod. Many older worshipers want the familiarity and slower pace of religious hymns. Then there's older people that enjoy the progressive worship songs, and younger worshipers who want a return to the deeper theology present in many hymns.

As I've been listening to more hymns lately, I'm reminded again of the beauty of the language as well as the melody. There are distinct rhyming patterns and sentence structures that coordinate with the number of syllables...and though engaging, they can make you feel like you're singing in circles. There are also times that these phrases seem outdated. I think, "Balm in Gilead? What the heck are they talking about; is that even in the Bible?" Then at other times, the songs sound so much more beautiful because of those ancient words, as if we unlocked a capsule from another place and time. And I'll admit, sometimes it really takes singing a song—or hearing a song being sung—that makes the words come to life. Many of my favorite worship songs I love simply because I've sung them in the company of believers. I'm still learning to embrace music that at first seemed too ancient and foreign for my appeal. However, this journey is opening my eyes—and ears—to the many wonderful ways we've created to praise our Creator.

Below are the words to my favorite "new" hymn, "New Wonders." There is also a link if you'd like to listen to it...which I'd obviously recommend.


"New Wonders"
Sandra McCracken

 Link to listen to "New Wonders"

Look again

At the Cross

Where you are found and lost
Make a new song of praise


Fill your cup
At the mouth of the spring
New wonders will we sing
As the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts


Tell a story
Of Jesus Christ
And his promises we write
On the doorway of our house


Hold the mirror
And remember your own face
Brother, do not forfeit grace
As the Savior pleads your pardon with his blood


Look around
Every sparrow, every flower
All creation sings out loud
Of the grand design


You are small
But you are filled with breath and life
If you seek, then you will find
As the Father looks with favor on his child

For the Savior pleads your pardon with his blood

And the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts

RELEVANT and NEUE

I often find myself unintentionally 'endorsing' movies and music and other things on this blog. I guess it's this stuff of life that inspires me. There are two magazines that I've been reading, one for about six years and the other only very recently—Relevant and Neue. They're both published by the same media group, Relevant Media. Founded by editor Cameron Strang, Relevant Media Group takes a fresh, hip look at Christianity and how it's impacting modern culture.

What I find interesting enough to write about is that these magazines, specifically Relevant, are surviving, if not thriving, in an economy where many magazines, including the similar, very popular, Paste, have had to limit their product to the Internet alone. Maybe Christians have simply stepped up to support Relevant. Maybe Cameron Strang and company have been innovative enough to break economic trends. They started with a magazine and publishing company in 2003. They printed a number of great books and, after dropping the book line, have once again investigated its re-establishment. They launched Relevant.tv and a really popular podcast, free online avenues to further build interest and buzz. They keep their Web site current, with new stories posted daily, so that the print product isn't the only way to stay connected to their content.

Relevant keeps its focus on popular culture and how Christians are working in that culture. They highlight up-and-coming bands, new movies, not-for-profits that are having a real impact, and other bits of news that add to the faith discussion. Neue has its focus on the Church and ministry. It's not a magazine specifically for pastors, but anyone who works or actively volunteers in a church. These magazines are a leading torch for young, progressive Christians who want to know what ministries and what people are making headlines because of their faith and involvement. These magazines are also diamonds in the rough. As I mentioned before, this is a time where the Internet is killing off print products one by one. Every artist and musician also feels the wrath of the almighty Internet. For a publisher to succeed in this time and place is a remarkable feat. When it's a Christian publisher, it's even more impressive.

If you're a Christian who's active in your church, I recommend both of these great magazines. I continue to find the articles challenging and motivating, all at once. I've been reading Relevant for a long time, and the columnists, articles, and direction of the magazine are as good today as in 2003. An iPad app is in the works, and there are plenty more goodies on the assembly line at Relevant Media Group. And I can't wait.   
www.relevantmagazine.com

'Christian' Movies?

While reading a recent review of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I started thinking about what movies I highly value, and why I value them. The review wasn't scathing, but it certainly wasn't complimentary. The reviewer writes, "I can't get past the feeling, though, that what we're really watching is a child who desperately wants to steal attention away from his older, more impressive cousin, The Lord of the Rings." That one sentence seems to represent what all Christian movies seek—to be just as good a movie as all those popular, 'secular' ones. Some might argue that The Chronicles of Narnia series are simply fantasy movies, but I tend to lump them in with Christian films because they have over-arching themes that represent what Christians value: love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption. Voyage of the Dawn Treader masks its message in allegory and metaphor, but it still should be considered a Christian movie. Really good Christian films use every genre—fantasy, drama, comedy, romance, and even science-fiction—to present the message of the gospel in ways that have mass appeal.

The thought that I'm pondering is, "What makes a movie 'Christian'?" Does it need to be made by a church, such as Facing the Giants or Fireproof? Does it need to be biblical, like The Passion of the Christ or One Night With The King? Does it need to be specifically allegorical, like The Chronicles of Narnia? Or are we even asking the right question all together?

As Christians, why do we need to classify if a movie is 'Christian' or not? I think it comes from our desire to examine and censor all the negative stuff that might compromise our beliefs. But what kind of faith do we have if it can't be stretched and tested....

I always want to show my support for Christian movies, especially when I know a church or Christian organization made the film. For example, I saw the Christian teen-drama To Save a Life recently. Though I enjoyed it overall, I found the ending a bit anti-climatic and some scenes seemed especially forced, as if the producers were trying to prove how 'authentic' the movie was. I sense this with other Christian movies as well, which is part of why I'm writing this blog. Here I want to discuss three of my favorite movies, which all have Christian themes of hope and redemption. I also want to examine why I like these movies, whether or not they're a 'Christian' movie, and what that title really means, anyway.

Gran Torino (2008) starring Clint Eastwood

Gran Torino

The first film—and one of my all-time favorites—is Gran Torino. It's a film about an old man who's enervated by his surroundings. Walt Kolwalski is tired of his family's selfishness, tired of his neighborhood's encroaching multicultural diversity, and tired of the dilapidated and dying state of his once-great city. Despite the curmudgeon that he is, his new Asian neighbors befriend Walt, and he slowly withholds his prejudice. Walt becomes a father-figure to the family's son, and eventually stands up for the boy in inspiring—and unexpected—ways.

A very real and gritty depiction of our complex and diverse world, Gran Torino is rated R for violence and strong language. That can be the off-limits kiss-of-death for many Christian viewers...unless the movie is The Passion of the Christ. Many Christians are hesitant to engage a film that shows a realistic depiction of life...maybe because that reality is cruel and ugly. Gran Torino is one of the most redemptive stories I've seen on film in a long time. It's powerfully acted and by far one of Clint Eastwood's best.

28 Days (2000) starring Sandra Bullock

28 Days

The next film is 28 Days. No, not the zombie film...that's 28 Days Later. The 28 Days I'm referring to stars Sandra Bullock as Gwen Cummings, an alcoholic who can't quite come to grips with her addiction. She's sentenced to twenty-eight days in a rehab facility, where she's forced to confront her erratic lifestyle and what she must do about it. Will Gwen choose her also-alcoholic boyfriend and the life she's used to, or will she stand and fight against her own will?

Like Gran Torino, 28 Days is not a Christian film. Should that disqualify it from being considered by Christians? Movies that have redemptive and hopeful messages should be viewed by Christians, whether or not they've been "Dove-approved." The world we live in is a sinful place...shielding our eyes from films that portray our world realistically doesn't exactly set us up to be disciples to lost and hurting people.

The Second Chance (2006)
starring Michael W. Smith

 The Second Chance

Here I've picked a movie that can be considered 'Christian.' The Second Chance was directed by Steve Taylor, who was a successful Christian musician in the 1980s. It also stars popular Christian contemporary musician Michael W. Smith (in his first acting role). I've selected this movie not only because it is a favorite, but also because jaded believers like myself should realize that it's good to acknowledge a remarkable film, whether it's a Christian film or not.

The Second Chance takes a look at two pastors who, though they share a common faith, have to preach to very different sets of people. One is a black pastor who works in the inner city, the other a young, white pastor who works in the wealthy suburbs. When they are assigned to work together, tensions arise and they're forced to face their own prejudice and work through their differences. It's another great story that carries themes of redemption and forgiveness, all through the unique lens of inner-city ministry.

Some Christian movies, such as The Second Chance and To Save A Life, purposely sought a PG-13 rating, which allowed them more freedom to show realism throughout the film. Oddly enough, this sometimes alienates a movie from the Christian audience who should be the most supportive of the work. This blog is to point out that film is one of the best ways we have to depict stories. Christ used parables to illustrate messages of hope and reconciliation with God. We have this very same method, and while we must use it with care and responsibility, we must not forget that Christ came to save lost and broken people. When Christians "sanitize" that redemptive process on film, it's a disservice to the message being communicated. Blogger Mike Duran posed this same thought: 

" 'Knowing God' and descending into 'the dark places' of our hearts seems incongruous. As a result, many Christian artists, while touting God’s ability to save anyone, tend to sanitize depictions of the process. We say that God can save people from 'the dark places'—we just don’t want to show 'the dark places.' " 1

If we can choose to see a film's redemptive qualities, and not cast it aside because it portrays the ugliness and brokenness of the world, we might open ourselves up to a beautiful cinematic experience that tells the same story we continually see in the Bible...the story of love overcoming evil.

1  http://mikeduran.com/?p=5055

The Man With The Golden Voice

If you're a YouTube surfer, you've no doubt seen the popular video that's been posted about Ted Williams, a Columbus-Ohio-based homeless man who claims to have the "God-given gift of a great voice." When the videographer drives up to Ted and offers him a dollar to hear his "great radio voice," you don't expect to hear such a beautiful baritone come from such a disheveled-looking man.

Here's the video, followed by why I'm so touched by it.



Ted Williams and his "golden voice" stand out to me more than any other YouTube clip that's gone viral lately. There's something about his sincerity and admission of past mistakes that makes me want to root for him. I've done a little bit of work with the homeless, and I hurt for these people. We live in a world that doesn't quickly give second chances to strung-out drug addicts and alcoholics. That the Gospel is entirely opposite of how the world treats those 'who have messed up their life' is the reason that I'm drawn to it. The beauty of this story is that this man, Ted Williams, is getting a second chance, all thanks to this video interview. Ted Williams has become a mega-star overnight. And when you hear how the story has unfolded since it was first posted...about getting the chance to reunite with his 92-year-old mother, whom he hasn't seen in years...and about his two-plus years of sobriety...and about the many job offers he's now getting...you just want to stand up and cheer for him. It's not often that you seen a YouTube sensation giving thanks to God on CBS's Early Show for everything in his life, the good and the bad. Ted Williams, if you ever read this little piece of the Web, you've inspired me and I wish you the very best that life can offer.

Twenty-Eleven and Second Chances

There's something about the start of a new year.

We confess our holiday over-eating, over-spending, and over-indulging and ring in the new year with the promise of a new start at the stroke of midnight. We feel hopeful, as if what happened last year doesn't matter anymore—we can start over and try again. I love this. I love new beginnings. I somehow find new motivation...to exercise more, to live a healthier lifestyle, and to be a better person.

Twenty-eleven also makes me think about God's grace.

Christians know all about God's grace, yet usually have a hard time comprehending and accepting it. It's a topic that I'm definitely passionate about, because if we miss the point on this one, then nothing else about the Christian faith really matters. Why do people embrace a new year? Probably because of the hope and promise that lie within it. This is just what grace does for us. Grace is basically God's free gift of forgiveness to anyone who wants it. And grace, like a new year, is all about second chances.

Most of us continually let ourselves down. We gained too much weight last year. We didn't save enough money. We worked too much. We didn't spend enough time with our family. A new year offers us a chance to fix all the stuff we screwed up the year before. My question for everyone reading this, is simply: Why wait for a new year for a second chance?

God's grace comes to us immediately...in fact, it's as close as a whisper. Jesus came to offer mercy to sinners, not to people who thought they had it all together. Let's not live in our past mistakes. Let's not beat ourselves up over what we didn't accomplish last year. To this point, Martin Luther had a great saying: "Sin bravely." Sure, we all screw up. But you know what? There's forgiveness. And who doesn't long for a second chance? God's forgiveness is a reality that needs to be thought about...deeply. Many people feel a sense of hope on New Year's day. I hope these people can know that one day a year is too short a space for hope and forgiveness. We need to embrace it every second of every day. As often as we feel we need forgiveness, it's there. Embrace hope and forgiveness in the same way you embrace a new year, with a willingness to forget the past and a motivation to live today better.