I'm a bit baffled—bewildered, even—about Black Friday. I guess my confusion lies most in how I should feel about Black Friday. I am confused because I know somewhere inside that American excess is an end in itself. I know that buying more and more stuff, or even giving more and more stuff—while fun—is not always the best way to spend one's money.
Bah humbug.
No, I will not be heading out at 5 or 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to begin my seasonal shopping. Nor will I rise from my slumber at 4 a.m. the next morning. I guess I just don't think the 'super' deals outweigh the chaos created by them.
Still, I do enjoy 'stuff.'
There, I've admitted it.
I admit that I'm attracted to all of those advertisements leading up to Black Friday. I'm attracted to buying DVDs for $2.00, or getting a great deal on an electronic gadget. I'm very visual, and all that stuff really fascinates me.
And it also baffles me.
It baffles me because I'm not sure how to feel about Black Friday. For small-business owners, this is a critical weekend for their livelihoods. For many others, this time of year provides needed seasonal employment. And for many, like myself, this weekend is a chance to buy some gifts for my family and friends.
I'm not sure what point I am making, except to say that I struggle with Black Friday and all that it reveals about our culture. Ultimately, I wish that I would be as willing to spend money on a World Vision catalog or a similar cause as I am on Amazon.com.
And that's where I'm at with this post-holiday holiday.
What are your feelings about Black Friday?
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thank God A Hospital Doesn't Run Like A Church
As a seminarian, I read a lot. But not only books. Also church websites. Comparing layout and branding stuff, mostly. And when I get to the differing theologies of these various churches, I'm a little disenchanted. One local church website had an information box that read, "Are you looking for a better life? Are you looking for love, help, vision, and purpose? Know Him." Really? Better life by knowing and following Jesus? Better life by following this man who called people to leave behind everything they hold dear, to pick up their cross, and to deny themselves daily? Better life?
And then there's the whole salvation piece. Some churches lay out a basic method for the salvation of one's soul. Here's one example I found: Salvation is the free gift of God's grace and cannot be earned in any way. We receive God's grace by putting faith in Christ — making Him Lord of our lives, repenting of our sin, confessing our faith in Jesus as God, and being baptized, immersed, into Christ (which is a rather long list immediately following the phrase "cannot be earned in any way"). Other church websites put a different twist on it: We believe that there is nothing any person can do or say to "earn" God's favor or their own salvation. Our theology of mission does NOT include "winning believers for Jesus Christ" because salvation, in the Lutheran tradition, comes from God by grace, not from making a decision to accept Jesus.
And while I'm not knocking any one particular theology, I must admit the incongruity between them is discouraging.
Good thing hospitals don't work this way.
Can you imagine a world where at a hospital in Atlanta you might get treated for a common virus with a certain antibiotic (pretty ineffective for 'viruses,' anyway)—and in Charlotte you might receive a completely different medication for the same virus. Or what if a pacemaker implantation involved very specific steps at one hospital, and a completely different method at another. Preposterous as this might sound, it's exactly what churches do (and have done for thousands of years). The heart of the problem is the holy Scriptures from which Christians draw their beliefs and theologies. There are so many varying ways to interpret these Scriptures that no one group can truly claim authority.
And though inconsistent on many matters of faith, perhaps this is how it's meant to be. As author Peter Rollins has put it,
I'm not sure we truly can.
And then there's the whole salvation piece. Some churches lay out a basic method for the salvation of one's soul. Here's one example I found: Salvation is the free gift of God's grace and cannot be earned in any way. We receive God's grace by putting faith in Christ — making Him Lord of our lives, repenting of our sin, confessing our faith in Jesus as God, and being baptized, immersed, into Christ (which is a rather long list immediately following the phrase "cannot be earned in any way"). Other church websites put a different twist on it: We believe that there is nothing any person can do or say to "earn" God's favor or their own salvation. Our theology of mission does NOT include "winning believers for Jesus Christ" because salvation, in the Lutheran tradition, comes from God by grace, not from making a decision to accept Jesus.
And while I'm not knocking any one particular theology, I must admit the incongruity between them is discouraging.
Good thing hospitals don't work this way.
Can you imagine a world where at a hospital in Atlanta you might get treated for a common virus with a certain antibiotic (pretty ineffective for 'viruses,' anyway)—and in Charlotte you might receive a completely different medication for the same virus. Or what if a pacemaker implantation involved very specific steps at one hospital, and a completely different method at another. Preposterous as this might sound, it's exactly what churches do (and have done for thousands of years). The heart of the problem is the holy Scriptures from which Christians draw their beliefs and theologies. There are so many varying ways to interpret these Scriptures that no one group can truly claim authority.
And though inconsistent on many matters of faith, perhaps this is how it's meant to be. As author Peter Rollins has put it,
"To take our ideas of the divine and hold them as if they correspond to the reality of God is thus to construct a conceptual idol built from the materials of our mind."So can we say anything 'true' about God?
I'm not sure we truly can.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Continuing A Conversation In Matthew 14
A friend recently gave me a fun challenge. He wanted me to take the text from Matthew 14:22—the story of Peter walking out on the water toward Jesus—and then create dialogue to follow the famous "You of little faith, why did you doubt" line.
Here's my take on it, starting with the biblical text:
Matthew 14:22-31 nrsv
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
----
Peter responded, "Lord, I doubted because I began to sink. I was sure you wouldn't let me sink." Jesus said to him, "Did you believe you would die?" He said, "Yes, Lord, I felt as if I might die." Jesus said, "I had told you to take heart, and to not be afraid. I was telling you to trust me." Peter replied, "How was I to avoid fear with the strong wind beating on me, and then sinking into the water?" Jesus said to Peter, "Trust is born out of uncertainty." Peter responded with great frustration, "But Lord, trust is born out of a person showing themselves to be trustworthy—to have only good intentions for another."
At this point Jesus walked Peter to the shore, and sat down with him by the tree line. "Peter, there will always be reason to doubt. A mother can prove her love for her child over and over again, but in extreme circumstances, the child will still fail to fully trust the mother. In the same way, life will throw challenges your way that will give you great anxiety. I am asking that you trust me most in those times of greatest challenge. That no matter what you may face, you will choose trust over fear, and hold fast to faith over worry." Peter then said, "Lord, how can I, as a mere man, do this?" Jesus replied, "Often, you will fail to trust me. However, the goal is to move toward trust. This will take your entire life's time. My Spirit is in you, even when you are unaware."
Here's my take on it, starting with the biblical text:
Matthew 14:22-31 nrsv
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
----
Peter responded, "Lord, I doubted because I began to sink. I was sure you wouldn't let me sink." Jesus said to him, "Did you believe you would die?" He said, "Yes, Lord, I felt as if I might die." Jesus said, "I had told you to take heart, and to not be afraid. I was telling you to trust me." Peter replied, "How was I to avoid fear with the strong wind beating on me, and then sinking into the water?" Jesus said to Peter, "Trust is born out of uncertainty." Peter responded with great frustration, "But Lord, trust is born out of a person showing themselves to be trustworthy—to have only good intentions for another."
At this point Jesus walked Peter to the shore, and sat down with him by the tree line. "Peter, there will always be reason to doubt. A mother can prove her love for her child over and over again, but in extreme circumstances, the child will still fail to fully trust the mother. In the same way, life will throw challenges your way that will give you great anxiety. I am asking that you trust me most in those times of greatest challenge. That no matter what you may face, you will choose trust over fear, and hold fast to faith over worry." Peter then said, "Lord, how can I, as a mere man, do this?" Jesus replied, "Often, you will fail to trust me. However, the goal is to move toward trust. This will take your entire life's time. My Spirit is in you, even when you are unaware."
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Why You Should Care About This
I recently read a poem on the cover of a church newsletter that kind of ruffled my theological feathers
....
And that the name of this church has 'Grace' in its title makes their cover selection all the more of a faux pas.
Here's the poem—you may have seen it online:
No Time To Pray
by Kathryn Neff Perry
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
---
This poem, though well intentioned, is simply bad theology. Maybe this poem makes me mad because I'm a pretty progressive seminary student. Maybe it's the ignorant assumptions about God's character that tick me off. Whatever the reason, there are so many problems with this poem that it became a topic for this blog.
I also believe that you should care about this poem. If you find this poem inspiring, or challenging, or even insightful, I want to tell you why you should find it offensive.
Yes. Offensive.
This poem assumes that God is as petty as people are. It implies that salvation is dependent on 'what a person does for God,' rather than on what God has done for all people. It even says that a short prayer isn't good enough for God's standards (so watch out the next time your morning prayer is quick-and-to-the-point). It tells us that God demands certain standards of us, and that God shows no leniency when it comes to humanity's salvation.
This poem gets it all wrong, and so did the church that chose to put it on the cover of their newsletter.
God's grace is bigger than humanity's best efforts ... and also bigger than humanity's worst offenses. Period.
You should care when you see bad theology like this. Because there's likely someone who read this poem and then felt a lot of unnecessary guilt, all because they realized they weren't 'good enough.'
And to this person I say, "It's okay. Christ died because none of us are good enough."
....
And that the name of this church has 'Grace' in its title makes their cover selection all the more of a faux pas.
Here's the poem—you may have seen it online:
No Time To Pray
by Kathryn Neff Perry
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
---
This poem, though well intentioned, is simply bad theology. Maybe this poem makes me mad because I'm a pretty progressive seminary student. Maybe it's the ignorant assumptions about God's character that tick me off. Whatever the reason, there are so many problems with this poem that it became a topic for this blog.
I also believe that you should care about this poem. If you find this poem inspiring, or challenging, or even insightful, I want to tell you why you should find it offensive.
Yes. Offensive.
This poem assumes that God is as petty as people are. It implies that salvation is dependent on 'what a person does for God,' rather than on what God has done for all people. It even says that a short prayer isn't good enough for God's standards (so watch out the next time your morning prayer is quick-and-to-the-point). It tells us that God demands certain standards of us, and that God shows no leniency when it comes to humanity's salvation.
This poem gets it all wrong, and so did the church that chose to put it on the cover of their newsletter.
God's grace is bigger than humanity's best efforts ... and also bigger than humanity's worst offenses. Period.
You should care when you see bad theology like this. Because there's likely someone who read this poem and then felt a lot of unnecessary guilt, all because they realized they weren't 'good enough.'
And to this person I say, "It's okay. Christ died because none of us are good enough."
Saturday, February 22, 2014
I Am A Christian And...
I am a Christian
and...
...I don't only listen to Christian music;
(in fact, my playlists include everyone from Johnny Cash to Slipknot)
...I don't watch only G- or PG-rated movies;
(in fact, most of my favorite movies are R-rated)
...I sometimes use 'colorful' language;
(Not often, but often to make a point)
...I don't like much of what is sold at the Christian bookstores;
(I don't like self-help Christianity or books about someone's experience of heaven)
...I lean pro-choice;
(In this world, not many issues are black-and-white)
...I'm not convinced that hell is what Christians often think it is;
(Do some biblical research and you'll see what I mean)
...I think Church should resemble something like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting;
(Accountability, honesty, love, and support)
...I don't believe homosexuality is a sin;
(I'm friends with too many devout gay men and women to think that)
...I don't believe everything in the Bible is to be taken literally
...or that the Scriptures have been 'handed down just as God wanted them to be';
(I've studied Greek and Hebrew, and almost every verse can be interpreted two or three ways)
...I am not very faithful when it comes to reading my Bible
(And I don't think God keeps a checklist on my faithfulness)
...In the end, I do believe love wins;
(Jesus's sacrifice was big enough for all)
I am a Christian
and...
...oddly enough
...My faith isn't something I 'am,'
as much as it's something that has been done for me
on a lonely cross two-thousand years ago.
End note: The point here is simply to challenge traditional notions of what being a Christian means. It can (and should) mean different things to different people. In the end, it is really all about being loved by God ... and not about anything that we 'do.'
and...
...I don't only listen to Christian music;
(in fact, my playlists include everyone from Johnny Cash to Slipknot)
...I don't watch only G- or PG-rated movies;
(in fact, most of my favorite movies are R-rated)
...I sometimes use 'colorful' language;
(Not often, but often to make a point)
...I don't like much of what is sold at the Christian bookstores;
(I don't like self-help Christianity or books about someone's experience of heaven)
...I lean pro-choice;
(In this world, not many issues are black-and-white)
...I'm not convinced that hell is what Christians often think it is;
(Do some biblical research and you'll see what I mean)
...I think Church should resemble something like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting;
(Accountability, honesty, love, and support)
...I don't believe homosexuality is a sin;
(I'm friends with too many devout gay men and women to think that)
...I don't believe everything in the Bible is to be taken literally
...or that the Scriptures have been 'handed down just as God wanted them to be';
(I've studied Greek and Hebrew, and almost every verse can be interpreted two or three ways)
...I am not very faithful when it comes to reading my Bible
(And I don't think God keeps a checklist on my faithfulness)
...In the end, I do believe love wins;
(Jesus's sacrifice was big enough for all)
I am a Christian
and...
...oddly enough
...My faith isn't something I 'am,'
as much as it's something that has been done for me
on a lonely cross two-thousand years ago.
End note: The point here is simply to challenge traditional notions of what being a Christian means. It can (and should) mean different things to different people. In the end, it is really all about being loved by God ... and not about anything that we 'do.'
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Ministry Lessons From An Old Lutheran Church In Iowa
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa.
It's an older Lutheran church, founded in 1882 as the first English-speaking Lutheran congregation in Davenport. Now worshiping about 3,500 persons each week, this church is not only vital to their community, but an example of what healthy and effective ministry looks like.
I am on a two-week immersion course held at St. Paul. My classmates are other Trinity Lutheran Seminary students, and we're taking this course to further our knowledge about church life and what things make for a healthy pastor.
St. Paul's senior pastor is a man named Peter Marty. A longtime ELCA pastor who has authored multiple books and articles, Marty is a strong example of a pastor who leads by being outward focused. He cares for his parishioners, and just genuinely loves people. But he's also authentic. Whether at a staff meeting or in the pulpit, you won't see a showman or entertainer. He's just a person who tries to love God and people well.
The learning style in this class reminds me of Jesus and his disciples. We're watching Peter Marty as he does ministry. We watch and observe. And we're seeing what makes for good ministry in a suburban congregation.
There are some specific things that I'm noticing that make St. Paul a healthy, successful congregation. Oddly enough, these specific things I have noticed don't include love of God or even prayer. You'll certainly find those things at St. Paul, but you can find many, many churches that are full of people that love God and practice prayer. St. Paul Lutheran embodies some simple qualities, and does them really well. These qualities include radical hospitality, intentionality, genuine love of people, complete inclusivity, extravagant generosity, creativity, and attention to detail.
None of these qualities are new or even unique. But at St. Paul, the staff and volunteers do these things very well. They take the extra time and effort required to provide excellent ministry. We observed a staff meeting that included a time dedicated to turning to a page in the photo directory, where then each person on that page was discussed and prayed for. And I believe—I truly believe—that this discussion of parishioners was just as important as the prayer said for them. What we observed was the care of the souls who belonged to that church. This type of care requires a lot of work, and a lot of attention to detail. If Ms. Daniels hasn’t been around lately, who is going to call her or make a visit to her house? If Mr. Matthews has lost his job, will a church leader put in the time to meet with him over lunch to see how he’s doing? It takes a lot of effort and attention to detail to make a successful church. It’s not easy, nor is it supposed to be. It’s a seed of love which a church plants and God then grows.
People need—and deserve—creative leaders who care about the details of their lives. Church leaders owe it to their parishioners, and themselves, to be their creative best. St. Paul lives out these qualities. There isn't any holy magic at St. Paul in Davenport, just hard work and dedication to the work of God that they do. And it's been beautiful to watch.
It's an older Lutheran church, founded in 1882 as the first English-speaking Lutheran congregation in Davenport. Now worshiping about 3,500 persons each week, this church is not only vital to their community, but an example of what healthy and effective ministry looks like.
I am on a two-week immersion course held at St. Paul. My classmates are other Trinity Lutheran Seminary students, and we're taking this course to further our knowledge about church life and what things make for a healthy pastor.
St. Paul's senior pastor is a man named Peter Marty. A longtime ELCA pastor who has authored multiple books and articles, Marty is a strong example of a pastor who leads by being outward focused. He cares for his parishioners, and just genuinely loves people. But he's also authentic. Whether at a staff meeting or in the pulpit, you won't see a showman or entertainer. He's just a person who tries to love God and people well.
The learning style in this class reminds me of Jesus and his disciples. We're watching Peter Marty as he does ministry. We watch and observe. And we're seeing what makes for good ministry in a suburban congregation.
There are some specific things that I'm noticing that make St. Paul a healthy, successful congregation. Oddly enough, these specific things I have noticed don't include love of God or even prayer. You'll certainly find those things at St. Paul, but you can find many, many churches that are full of people that love God and practice prayer. St. Paul Lutheran embodies some simple qualities, and does them really well. These qualities include radical hospitality, intentionality, genuine love of people, complete inclusivity, extravagant generosity, creativity, and attention to detail.
None of these qualities are new or even unique. But at St. Paul, the staff and volunteers do these things very well. They take the extra time and effort required to provide excellent ministry. We observed a staff meeting that included a time dedicated to turning to a page in the photo directory, where then each person on that page was discussed and prayed for. And I believe—I truly believe—that this discussion of parishioners was just as important as the prayer said for them. What we observed was the care of the souls who belonged to that church. This type of care requires a lot of work, and a lot of attention to detail. If Ms. Daniels hasn’t been around lately, who is going to call her or make a visit to her house? If Mr. Matthews has lost his job, will a church leader put in the time to meet with him over lunch to see how he’s doing? It takes a lot of effort and attention to detail to make a successful church. It’s not easy, nor is it supposed to be. It’s a seed of love which a church plants and God then grows.
People need—and deserve—creative leaders who care about the details of their lives. Church leaders owe it to their parishioners, and themselves, to be their creative best. St. Paul lives out these qualities. There isn't any holy magic at St. Paul in Davenport, just hard work and dedication to the work of God that they do. And it's been beautiful to watch.
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