Wherever we find a government overstepping it’s bounds in addressing welfare, we find the Church not fulfilling it’s purpose.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Emergent Church and Social Gospel
I have had several people ask lately and have been confronted on my/our affiliation with the “Emergent Church Movement”. While my initial reaction is no, I took some time recently to find out exactly what I might be being compared to.
1. The emerging church is about as indefinable as trying to nail Jello to the wall. I have heard this frustration expressed in almost everything I have read or seen about the subject.
2. It is described largely as a post-modern movement. Indicating a departure from devotion to truth and embracing a form of universalism.
3. It seems, based on what is reported, that it embraces a gospel this is primarily, if not exclusively social.
4. It’s regular meetings manifest in very experiential or relevant environments.
5. It makes radical rethinking/departure from traditional doctrines and theologies. This is most regularly illustrated in the departure from the traditional doctrine of hell.
A few of my thoughts of these major points.
1. Indefinable
a. The Emergent Church has stated that it embraces and makes allowance for all traditional denominations and sects. On the surface at least, I think this is great! Based on what I have heard from the EC, and based on my own convictions, I think that is past the day that we should continue to engage in what I would call Christian/church racism.
b. The EC seems to have taken a unique route in not making a clearly defined doctrinal statement. Allowing instead to be flexible, and also being honest enough to say; please allow the scripture/spirit to guide you. The needs of X church in y city may be different than the needs of n church in z city. We can avoid pigeonholing the gospel by allowing it to be flexible for different people groups.
2. Post-Modern
a. Largely, I don’t see anyone establishing new ideas of challenging old ideas or truths simply for the sake of doing so. This is what I see as one of the most ironic parts of this us vs. them scenario. From what I can see the EC is asking to make the Gospel MORE important than simply a big-tent fire insurance message.
3. Social Gospel
a. Continued from 2a. - While this seems to upset people who have subscribed to the more traditional gospel, the thrust of the EC seems to be that what we do and how we act here and now is just as important as what happens to our souls when we die. Choosing to view the gospel as a trigger for worldwide reconciliation, and working towards it in every way possible.
4. Relevancy
a. This one bugs me, and is unique in that it is not limited to the EC. While I think the EC has attached to some pretty good ideas, I think this maybe where we may be having some trouble. It seems to me that while they are prepared to rethink the gospel, doctrines and theologies, we are not prepared to rethink how are churches manifest themselves corporately. I see a lot of churches, not just EC, choosing to go in routes that still resemble traditional 4 wallers, but are simply reformed in that they have couches instead of pews, light votive candles, and have trendy music. My questioning of this route is this; how can we expect to embody a radical Christ-like body of people if we simply reform what the world has created church to be?
5. Doctrines/Theologies
a. This goes back to 1b.
b. The t-ball the media is playing on what EC leaders are teaching about is hell is grossly skewed. The media seems to have discovered that this is an easy subject to bring up, as it is the least convicting thing they can discuss. Here is an example of one teaching I have heard on this subject.
i. The question of where we, as “physical beings”, go when we die is irrelevant. We must separate our thinking on physicality and spirituality so that we might see that our spirits will live on in the presence of G-d, but that His presence is not a clearly defined physical space. Conversely, the ideas that are held about things like “lake of fire” are purely physical representations of what our souls will go through.
To wrap this up. Am I emergent? No. While I am excited that conversations are happening around the world, I am not excited over talk. I think that the time for debating and discovering is over. We must break the binds of this world and allow ourselves to embrace the Gospel of Jesus and live it. As Rob Bell says in his latest book, Jesus came to usher in a new exodus, an exodus from the world in its fallen state. If we would only have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, we would see the Kingdom of G-d all around us.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Notes from "the forum" 02-20-2009
Friday, February 20th, 2009 - Discussion of “Framing Stories”
The idea that is being presented is that you can radically change the perception of a piece of art or photograph by the type of frame you choose to mount it in. Likewise the way that you react to the art/photograph may be different depending on the chosen frame.
These “Framing Stories” could also be described as cultural drives. At the core of a cultural movement there is a Framing Story being applied that turns the gears and creates the movement.
Six common stories that drive the systems of the world (empire):
Domination Story – Peace and Security through being in control
This is the most common
Likened to “If only we were in charge”
Revolution Story – Peace and Security through (violent) overthrow of oppressors.
Also could be called a “Revenge Story”
Likened to “If only they weren’t in control”
Purification Story – Peace and Security through shaming/blaming, scapegoating, and excluding a minority.
Purification often follows the Domination -> Revolution Stories after they don’t accomplish the goal of P&S
Likened to “If only those people would change or disappear”
Victimization Story – Peace and Security (and Identity) through preserving the memory of a past injustice.
Likened to “If only our oppressor were brought to justice”
Isolation Story – Peace and Security through withdrawing from the corrupt, doomed majority.
Likened to “If only we could be alone by ourselves to be ourselves”
Accumulation Story – Peace and Security through accumulating possessions in a competitive economy.
Likened to “If only we could buy, enjoy, and stockpile what we desire”
All of these stories are in conflict with each other and more importantly in conflict with the Kingdom of G-d. All of these stories exercise “Power Over” and “Us vs. Them” mentality.
The antithesis to these stories would have to be the “Kingdom of G-d” - The kingdom of G-d is brought about by exercising “Power Under” and “Some of Us for All of Us” mentality. Likened to “When we serve others without consideration for ourselves, then we will bring about the Kingdom of G-d”
Expanded illustration – Imagine how the world’s view of Christianity has changed through the centuries as the frame of the “Christian” religion has changed. Imagine how different Christianity looks in different countries depending on the localized framing story that the indigenous church finds itself in (think of China as an example).
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Christendom has shot itself in the foot.
Why do I have a problem with church, christians, etc.
This is very oversimplified, but is nonetheless an attempt to explain why I have such a problem with modern "christianity".
I have recently been exposed to what the definition of "christian" actually was created to be. What I discovered came to me at some surprise. The term christian was a term not created by the early church to define it's people, but it was a term coined by outsiders (non-believers) to describe those people that were acting in a manner that was similar or identical to Christ.
So one could say quite simply "that is a person acting like Christ did".
Hold that thought for a moment.
Now that is an impacting thought, but not as impacting as the following.
I could use the following to evaluate my own life or anything that claims to be "christian".
"Am I (or is that thing or person) acting like Christ did?"
And I believe that this is the kicker. How much death and destruction has been carried out in the name of Christ? How often in my own life have I done horrible things and still called myself by His name?
Christendom has shot itself in the foot. What does Christianity have to offer from any other global religion? Are there any among us who still act in a manner as Christ did?
So back to the point of this post. And just to simplify here, I am going to make this pointed.
Why do I have such a problem with "church"?
Because, I believe that on a basic level the "church" does not act as Christ did.
The examples for this argument are for another post, but I'm sure if you think hard enough, you can come up with a few.
(This section is theoretical)
But Michael, where is the grace in all this? I am by no means discounting the element of G-d's grace poured out on us. But, I also don't believe that grace can be received if the person or persons are not making every attempt possible to live in such a manner. That is to say that by simply slapping the "christian" bumper sticker on something and than allowing it to sit around and not make any attempt at being Christ-like it will receive no grace, for it's actions are nothing. For one to receive grace, I believe (personal conviction) that one must be actively engaged in Christ-like behavior.
Of course for any of this to really hit home, you would have needed to be exposed to the radically different life that Christ lived while he was on the earth. Unfortunately this is a subject this is often skipped over on Sunday morning in place of sermons on "Jesus and you", and how to get to heaven.
This post is not complete, I just don't feel like typing anymore right now.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama speaks out about religious transformation - from CNN
Obama speaks out about religious transformation
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama spoke out Thursday about his religious transformation. The President's comments came at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Here's what Obama said, according to the prepared remarks.
"I was not raised in a particularly religious household. I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I’ve ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done.
I didn’t become a Christian until many years later, when I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college. It happened not because of indoctrination or a sudden revelation, but because I spent month after month working with church folks who simply wanted to help neighbors who were down on their luck – no matter what they looked like, or where they came from, or who they prayed to. It was on those streets, in those neighborhoods, that I first heard God’s spirit beckon me. It was there that I felt called to a higher purpose – His purpose. "
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama spoke out Thursday about his religious transformation. The President's comments came at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Here's what Obama said, according to the prepared remarks.
"I was not raised in a particularly religious household. I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I’ve ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done.
I didn’t become a Christian until many years later, when I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college. It happened not because of indoctrination or a sudden revelation, but because I spent month after month working with church folks who simply wanted to help neighbors who were down on their luck – no matter what they looked like, or where they came from, or who they prayed to. It was on those streets, in those neighborhoods, that I first heard God’s spirit beckon me. It was there that I felt called to a higher purpose – His purpose. "
Monday, February 2, 2009
Noise
1. sound, esp. of a loud, harsh, or confused kind: deafening noises.
2. a sound of any kind: to hear a noise at the door.
3. loud shouting, outcry, or clamor.
4. a nonharmonious or discordant group of sounds.
5. an electric disturbance in a communications system that interferes with or prevents reception of a signal or of information, as the buzz on a telephone or snow on a television screen.
6. Informal. extraneous, irrelevant, or meaningless facts, information, statistics, etc.: The noise in the report obscured its useful information.
7. Obsolete. rumor or gossip, esp. slander.
Of all the things that I came to discover becoming a father, there one thing that has stuck out out to me more than others. It was the sense of peace on the inside I had from simply taking a break from life and living and loving what G-d has done. It was not during this time but after that I discovered this... living with/in the issues of the empire is a noisy existence.
After a time of peace, going back to deal with the life that I had always considered normal became very frustrating. I began to see quickly how some of the things that I had previously thought impossible, very much were. Whether it is something a simple as not giving your spouse a kiss on the cheek before leaving for work or something a devastating as not spending time with your child, our society's mo seems to create a perfect condition scenario for these things to happen.
We have a Kingdom issue on our hands here. I think we must consider here what it means to pursue the kingdom rather than the empire. Rob Bell uses the illustration of the Hebrews in captivity in Egypt, a literal slave to society's machine, G-d then swoops in to rescue his people to set them free from captivity, and then establishes His law to remind them that at their core they are no longer part of the machine.
G-d's intent for creation never included being so wrapped up in our worlds noise that we forget who He is and why we are.
It was also at this point I realized that a large part of how the christian religion suggests people live is to counteract this phenomenon. Whether it is something as rudimentary as morning devotions, community group, or Sunday service. We seem to be bent on simply staying in touch with our creator and never really coming under the radical transformation that it is to live kingdom minded.
So, what is my practical point? As always, be transformed by the gospel of Jesus life, and in doing so living kingdom minded. We will never accomplish the life or mission that G-d has set for us if we continue to treat our relation ship with Him as merely another ball we are juggling in the air along with work, kids, spouse, etc..
g&p
2. a sound of any kind: to hear a noise at the door.
3. loud shouting, outcry, or clamor.
4. a nonharmonious or discordant group of sounds.
5. an electric disturbance in a communications system that interferes with or prevents reception of a signal or of information, as the buzz on a telephone or snow on a television screen.
6. Informal. extraneous, irrelevant, or meaningless facts, information, statistics, etc.: The noise in the report obscured its useful information.
7. Obsolete. rumor or gossip, esp. slander.
Of all the things that I came to discover becoming a father, there one thing that has stuck out out to me more than others. It was the sense of peace on the inside I had from simply taking a break from life and living and loving what G-d has done. It was not during this time but after that I discovered this... living with/in the issues of the empire is a noisy existence.
After a time of peace, going back to deal with the life that I had always considered normal became very frustrating. I began to see quickly how some of the things that I had previously thought impossible, very much were. Whether it is something a simple as not giving your spouse a kiss on the cheek before leaving for work or something a devastating as not spending time with your child, our society's mo seems to create a perfect condition scenario for these things to happen.
We have a Kingdom issue on our hands here. I think we must consider here what it means to pursue the kingdom rather than the empire. Rob Bell uses the illustration of the Hebrews in captivity in Egypt, a literal slave to society's machine, G-d then swoops in to rescue his people to set them free from captivity, and then establishes His law to remind them that at their core they are no longer part of the machine.
G-d's intent for creation never included being so wrapped up in our worlds noise that we forget who He is and why we are.
It was also at this point I realized that a large part of how the christian religion suggests people live is to counteract this phenomenon. Whether it is something as rudimentary as morning devotions, community group, or Sunday service. We seem to be bent on simply staying in touch with our creator and never really coming under the radical transformation that it is to live kingdom minded.
So, what is my practical point? As always, be transformed by the gospel of Jesus life, and in doing so living kingdom minded. We will never accomplish the life or mission that G-d has set for us if we continue to treat our relation ship with Him as merely another ball we are juggling in the air along with work, kids, spouse, etc..
g&p
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