As I watched the election last year I couldn't help but notice a huge disparity between the practices of the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign. I have read a book called Tribes by Seth Godin the influenced my observations. If you are leading a group of people (even if you do so without positional influence) it is a great read. I think churches have a lot to learn from observing these two campaigns.
Let's face it, Obama had a lot going for him in building his campaign. However, I am not sure he would have been successful if he hadn't done the following things (remember he was unknown before this past campaign). Those of us who are church leaders should be asking ourselves which campaign most reflects the way we are leading our movements. Look past the politics here. This post has nothing to do with that!
1. Message--The Obama campaign found a central message of hope and transformation that captured the hearts of its supporters. The McCain campaign never found a message.
This should be the easy part for churches, but for whatever reason it is not. We go off message way too often (ironically we often times we play politics instead of church). The church must keep the transformational message of hope that is the Biblical story as its central (if not only) message. And, we must preach as such! The Gospel message is not burdensome, it is freeing and hopeful. We must quit pointing out how hopeless the world is and individuals are if we are not going to point them to the power of Christ to transform.
2. Movement--Obama's campaign was built around the idea of a movement. McCain's campaign was built around the idea of a government. I think most people would recognize this. However, pinpointing the things that made the difference might be hard to do. Obama was certainly the leader of this movement, but the thing that made it a movement was that Obama invited others to participate and took the steps to communicate that those at the grassroots level were making a difference.
The church needs to re-energize our people in the movement that is the church. We have to break out of our institutionalism. (As one of our staff members said yesterday, "We got to get our people off their duffs"). We have to re-engage our people in the idea that it is their calling to make a difference in the world with the message of Jesus (spoken and lived).
3. Masses--Obama's campaign involved the masses. The McCain campaign involved the elites. Now, some may argue with this. I have a friend that worked for the McCain campaign in New Mexico and she was certainly not working with the elites. McCain's campaign (primarily the VP candidate) talked at length about the average Joe, but it seemed talk. On the other hand, the Obama campaign went to great lengths to communicate the importance of the masses (and by the masses I mean the regular guy) not just through word but in every form of presentation. Everytime Obama spoke there was a crowd of people standing behind him. McCain usually had a banner. Obama's crowd was always excited. When McCain did have people behind him it looked like death (seriously). No one was excited. The event that really motivated me to highlight these differences was the results night. McCain had an invite only results party (you may say he just knew he wasn't going to win, but this had been his MO the entire campaign). Obama did all he could to accomodate everyone who would show up on results night (this was his MO, remember the convention being held at Bronco stadium? brilliant!). McCain built his finances on large donors. Obama built his finances on many people giving little amounts. Now I don't have the numbers to prove this, but this is certainly the way these campaigns were presented and that is the perception that the public had of both campaigns.
Churches have to figure out how to break free from the 20-80 rule (20% of the people doing 80% of the work). Often times I think this has to do with the way we communicate and represent the things the church is doing. We have to get the cameras off the leadership and get it on the congregation. We also have to quit targeting the "elite" only because they have the most to offer individually and start targeting the crowd because they have too much to offer collectively.
4. Communication/Use of Technology--Obama's campaing successfully used the new forms of communication (and consequently the new forms of community). McCain's campaign stuck with the tried and true. The statistics on Obama's following on the web, social networking, text messaging, youtube etc. vs. that of McCain is mind boggling. Click here to see some of the data. Obama harnessed the power of peer to peer influence that occurs through these mediums. McCain relied on mediums of communication that are becoming increasingly antiquated. This use of mediums also contributed to the tribe mentality. This occured because Obama announced things (like his VP candidate) through text-messaging, etc. Those that subscribed were thus "in", concreting their place in the tribe.
Churches are so far behind this curve it is painful. We are still investing so much money in print-and-mail materials that people have been ignoring for years. We can do this so much cheaper through email, web, etc. People may still ignore it but at least were sinking WAY less money in it. Even better would be to communicate to our people through invitation/subscription means. The congregant subscribes to the updates/announcements/news they want to hear and aren't bothered with all the other noise. In terms of reaching out to others, we don't do this from a centralized voice. Instead we equip our people (the masses, the movement) with the tools to communicate to their friends. They know better than a central figure what their friends need and will respond to. E-cards, social networking, text messaging, etc are all tools that we should be building and equipping our people with.
5. Presentation--Obama's campaign did production extremely well. McCain's campaign production look amateurish. If you watched the McCain campaign at all, this was painfully obvious. The transitions of music, speakers, mic's being on/off, sound levels, etc were all awful. At the announcement of McCain's VP candidate (the climax of that campaign for most people) the timing was way off. They played the same video twice to try to fill time (making the video and announcement totally anticlimatic). The announcement was made and McCain and Palin were both late taking the stage (again, anticlimatic). Obama on the other hand not only knocked most of his speeches out of the park, but so did his production team. Like it or not production is part of the message (and not just the delivery of the message). Presentation matters.
Just like in communication, many churches are way behind the curve here. Many churches think this is superficial. You can debate that all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that it matters. The thing is, many of the churches that might claim this is superficial are doing it really well and that is the traditional churches. They know who they are and do traditional very well. This is good! I commend them for this (now there are many traditional churches that don't do this well). The thing is, when churches that are doing more progressive forms of church and worship and talk about the importance of presentation the traditionalists have to recognize that presentation has been important for them as well, it has just looked different.Presentation may be superficial (I don't agree with this, but this argument may not matter), but presentation still matters (and this is really the point).
So, I have been intending to write this post for four months now. In my tardiness there have been a couple of other people that have written on the subject. You can see them here and here. For some real research on this check out the link in item number 4.
What would you add to this list? What would you disagree with (remember, I don't want to discuss politics here, that is not the point)?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Church Relevance or Accessibility
Its no longer a fad to talk about the relevance of a particular church this has now become a mainline "sport". I have had these conversations and I am not ashamed of them to be honest. However, I wonder if our language isn't a bit misplaced here.
Usually when we are talking about the relevance of a church we are talking about music style, presentation in building, print and media. However, is this really what makes a church relevant? I don't think it is. What makes a church relevant is it's message and the way that message is lived out. Should a church's relevance be judged by anything other than the amount of transformation taking place (both within the church internally and through the church externally).
What we are really talking about when we have these conversations about style, presentation, etc. is the accessibility of a church. Granted, this may have an impact on the relevance of the church but these are not how we should judge the relevance of the church. There may be transformation taking place, it just may not be very accessible.
The bonus of making this distinction is that it may help us lead up to older generations. Our communication styles, print and media presentation are important not because it makes the message relevant (it is if it is the Gospel) but because it makes that message accessible. Language matters!
Usually when we are talking about the relevance of a church we are talking about music style, presentation in building, print and media. However, is this really what makes a church relevant? I don't think it is. What makes a church relevant is it's message and the way that message is lived out. Should a church's relevance be judged by anything other than the amount of transformation taking place (both within the church internally and through the church externally).
What we are really talking about when we have these conversations about style, presentation, etc. is the accessibility of a church. Granted, this may have an impact on the relevance of the church but these are not how we should judge the relevance of the church. There may be transformation taking place, it just may not be very accessible.
The bonus of making this distinction is that it may help us lead up to older generations. Our communication styles, print and media presentation are important not because it makes the message relevant (it is if it is the Gospel) but because it makes that message accessible. Language matters!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The What and The Why
So, this week we are reading through Ephesians 2:8-10 as a congregation. Many of you know Ephesians 2:8-9 which states,
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
This part of salvation is the part that we hear about all the time. For whatever reason when we talk about salvation it is always in terms of being saved from something. We have been saved from sin, saved from regret, saved from our past, etc. . . . All of this is of course important, but that is not all there is! If that was all there really was to salvation, then why doesn’t our life on earth end as soon as we confess faith in Jesus? If this life is all about “getting saved” then why on earth am I still here? Have you ever wondered that? Are we just biding our time waiting to die?
This past week has been interesting watching the transition of presidents. There are so many stories that have occurred over the past couple of weeks. Politics aside, I have found it interesting watching the excitement and passion of Obama and the plans and dreams he is pursuing. This is juxtaposed to Bush who I am guessing is very ready to be done with all of it! Eight years ago he approached his inauguration with the same passion and zeal that Obama is now. But, somewhere in the last couple of months that desire for action waned considerably and he seemed to just hit a point where he was just biding his time until the next person stepped in. Now, don’t get caught up in accusing me of claiming Bush is bad and Obama is good. My guess is Obama will find himself in the same place in either 4 or 8 years. My point is that there comes a time when a president is just biding his time.
I think many of us get stuck in this same place. The excitement and freshness of being a new Christian begins to wear off and we become overly familiar with our new faith and new life. And, before long we find ourselves just biding our time. We have accepted God’s grace, made sure our eternity is secured. We’re good.
Here is the thing. We have been saved for a reason. We have a tendency to focus on the what and forget about the why. What: you have been saved by grace through faith . . . . but Why? Well, verse 10 of Ephesians covers this and I think communicates the greatest treasure of our salvation!
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We were saved, because we were created to do good works!! There is a reason for the life we live! Are you bored in your faith? My guess is it is because you have not been living the abundant life you were saved to live! This part of salvation is often ignored and I think it is possibly the best part! In his book Wild Goose Chase (which was just given to me, and I have only started) Mark Batterson writes, “We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death”.
So, here is the thing. What is it that God is calling you to do? If you don’t know, maybe you should spend some time in quiet prayer. I am not talking about the “when I grow up I am going to. . . . “ things. I am talking about the daily things. Who in your life has a need that you can fill? What needs are in your dorm, house, class, etc? It may be very simple. I would encourage you to spend 5 or 10 minutes just contemplating some needs that you can respond to. Write them down, let them bother you and then do something about it. Don’t make excuses. Remember, this is what you were saved to do.
If you want to share your lists or stories I would love to hear them!
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
This part of salvation is the part that we hear about all the time. For whatever reason when we talk about salvation it is always in terms of being saved from something. We have been saved from sin, saved from regret, saved from our past, etc. . . . All of this is of course important, but that is not all there is! If that was all there really was to salvation, then why doesn’t our life on earth end as soon as we confess faith in Jesus? If this life is all about “getting saved” then why on earth am I still here? Have you ever wondered that? Are we just biding our time waiting to die?
This past week has been interesting watching the transition of presidents. There are so many stories that have occurred over the past couple of weeks. Politics aside, I have found it interesting watching the excitement and passion of Obama and the plans and dreams he is pursuing. This is juxtaposed to Bush who I am guessing is very ready to be done with all of it! Eight years ago he approached his inauguration with the same passion and zeal that Obama is now. But, somewhere in the last couple of months that desire for action waned considerably and he seemed to just hit a point where he was just biding his time until the next person stepped in. Now, don’t get caught up in accusing me of claiming Bush is bad and Obama is good. My guess is Obama will find himself in the same place in either 4 or 8 years. My point is that there comes a time when a president is just biding his time.
I think many of us get stuck in this same place. The excitement and freshness of being a new Christian begins to wear off and we become overly familiar with our new faith and new life. And, before long we find ourselves just biding our time. We have accepted God’s grace, made sure our eternity is secured. We’re good.
Here is the thing. We have been saved for a reason. We have a tendency to focus on the what and forget about the why. What: you have been saved by grace through faith . . . . but Why? Well, verse 10 of Ephesians covers this and I think communicates the greatest treasure of our salvation!
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We were saved, because we were created to do good works!! There is a reason for the life we live! Are you bored in your faith? My guess is it is because you have not been living the abundant life you were saved to live! This part of salvation is often ignored and I think it is possibly the best part! In his book Wild Goose Chase (which was just given to me, and I have only started) Mark Batterson writes, “We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death”.
So, here is the thing. What is it that God is calling you to do? If you don’t know, maybe you should spend some time in quiet prayer. I am not talking about the “when I grow up I am going to. . . . “ things. I am talking about the daily things. Who in your life has a need that you can fill? What needs are in your dorm, house, class, etc? It may be very simple. I would encourage you to spend 5 or 10 minutes just contemplating some needs that you can respond to. Write them down, let them bother you and then do something about it. Don’t make excuses. Remember, this is what you were saved to do.
If you want to share your lists or stories I would love to hear them!
Get on Your Boots-Review
So, U2 has a new single out. This is something that I have been looking forward to around that time the Vertigo tour ended. Anyone, who knows me knows I am a fan.
I divide U2's songs into two categories. Fun and meaningful. I prefer the meaningful. The music is always good. U2 is at their best when the lyrics are on par with the music. I happen to love the Zooropa and Pop albums for this reason. My least favorite songs are the ones that just aim for fun. Think Wild Honey.
The odd thing about U2's music is that there are many songs that I hear once or twice and think the band was just having fun. However, after hearing the songs multiple times and living with them I begin to recognize there is actually a lot of depth to the song. This was the case with Vertigo.
Get on Your Boots begins with a guitar riff that feels lifted straight from Vertigo. In fact the beginning of the song sounds like Vertigo on speed. The song then takes a couple of twists. Sometimes it sounds like The White Stripes (I recently heard that Edge had been playing with Jack), others it seems to have the flavor of a 60's go go song. The more I listen to this song the more I enjoy it musically.
On the other hand, I am not sure that Bono can keep up with the speed of the music lyrically. his writing seems to come together better with a slower pace. It seems that the song is made up of a string of disconnected thoughts; the beginning of good ideas that were never developed or leftover from other songs and then just strung together.
If this is just to be a fun song, then it is what it is. I can live with that and will look forward to the rest of the album. On the other hand, every first single from an album since Achtung Baby has proven to be better than I at first thought; The Fly, Dischoteque, Beautiful Day (OK, that is a classic) and Vertigo. Hearing these songsin the context of the rest of the album or, more importanly live, gives them a new life. It is very possible Get on Your Boots will follow in those footsteps. With Eno, Lanois and U2 working together, expectations are high.
I divide U2's songs into two categories. Fun and meaningful. I prefer the meaningful. The music is always good. U2 is at their best when the lyrics are on par with the music. I happen to love the Zooropa and Pop albums for this reason. My least favorite songs are the ones that just aim for fun. Think Wild Honey.
The odd thing about U2's music is that there are many songs that I hear once or twice and think the band was just having fun. However, after hearing the songs multiple times and living with them I begin to recognize there is actually a lot of depth to the song. This was the case with Vertigo.
Get on Your Boots begins with a guitar riff that feels lifted straight from Vertigo. In fact the beginning of the song sounds like Vertigo on speed. The song then takes a couple of twists. Sometimes it sounds like The White Stripes (I recently heard that Edge had been playing with Jack), others it seems to have the flavor of a 60's go go song. The more I listen to this song the more I enjoy it musically.
On the other hand, I am not sure that Bono can keep up with the speed of the music lyrically. his writing seems to come together better with a slower pace. It seems that the song is made up of a string of disconnected thoughts; the beginning of good ideas that were never developed or leftover from other songs and then just strung together.
If this is just to be a fun song, then it is what it is. I can live with that and will look forward to the rest of the album. On the other hand, every first single from an album since Achtung Baby has proven to be better than I at first thought; The Fly, Dischoteque, Beautiful Day (OK, that is a classic) and Vertigo. Hearing these songsin the context of the rest of the album or, more importanly live, gives them a new life. It is very possible Get on Your Boots will follow in those footsteps. With Eno, Lanois and U2 working together, expectations are high.
Monday, January 26, 2009
I'm Back Baby!!
Alright, after a long hiatus I will be back to blogging starting tomorrow! I am writing this so that I have no choice but to post.
I also note that my last post (nearly a year ago) left things on a bit of a downer so we need to fix that.
I also note that my last post (nearly a year ago) left things on a bit of a downer so we need to fix that.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Baby Steps
I woke up Monday morning asking, “Why? Why am I doing what I am doing? Is it making any difference? It’s all just getting monotonous and boring. And, I am really tired. And, again, is any of it really making a difference”. Now, I may have just had a really bad case of “The Mondays” (Office Space reference, anyone?). I may just be really tired. Or, I may just be going through “end of the semester stress/blues” (still happens for me even though I am not in school anymore. It may come from spending so much time with college students).
I just got an email from one of those college students expressing some of the same feelings. I think I am just going through a “season” of the year. I think she is going through a “season” of life (I have been there done that once or twice).
Anyway, my quiet time (and journaling time with the other pastors) was spent in I Kings 19. It’s amazing that this Scripture had been picked for that day over six months ago! This text is about Elijah and it basically starts with Elijah saying, “I have had enough Lord!” God had just done some amazing things through Elijah, a “mountaintop experience”, and now there are people that want to kill him. Elijah is overwhelmed. He is tired. Tired of being brave and courageous and tired of being cowardly and running for his life. I am not sure how seriously to take Elijah’s pleading with God to “take my life”. Is he really ready to die here or is he saying this as a figure of speech like we do sometimes. I am not really sure, all I know is he says this and then lays down for a nap.
Elijah wakes up to an angel “tapping” him and telling him to “get up and eat”. Now, this is kind of funny to me because Elijah wakes up to find a cake of bread sitting next to him. How appropriate that Elijah is depressed and God knows that when we are depressed the thing we need more than anything else is cake! I wonder if Elijah requested some Ben and Jerry’s as well?
Here is the cool thing about Elijah, he does what the angel tells him! He doesn’t complain to the angel (as tired and frustrated as he may be). Instead, he takes a small simple step of obedience. Is Elijah going to save the world with that step of obedience? No. Will that one step save all his problems? No. So, when Elijah is done eating he goes right back to sleep.
Then he is awakened again to an angel telling him, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” Again, Elijah takes that first easy step of obedience and is then strengthened to take the next step of travelling for forty days and forty nights (forty tells us God is probably preparing him for something pretty cool).
Elijah arrives at mount Horeb and there God meets him in a quiet whisper and tells Elijah that he is to begin passing on his ministry to Elisha.
I can’t say that reading this story has made me feel completely refreshed and refocused! In fact, I stared, tired, at my computer for a long time before writing. I have learned a couple of things. First, God is interested in us taking the next small step of obedience. Saving the world is ultimately up to him, I am just glad to play a part in it.
Second, if I don’t take that first small step I may not arrive at the place of refreshment. Nor will I find what God’s purpose or plan is. What if Elijah had just decided to sleep and “live” in his depression asking God “why?” or “what’s the point?” instead of being obedient? It is not always for us to know the big picture. This is why faith, hope and trust are so important.
Third, God’s faithfulness must be our constant (a bit of a Lost reference here). If we are our constant, we will find ourselves emptied and lost at times and have no where to turn. If our constant is our friends we will find them to be as imperfect as we are ourselves. And, if our constant is our circumstances we will find that we can go from those “mountaintop experiences” to the valleys in a matter of days. God’s faithfulness may look bleak at times, but that doesn’t mean it is bleak it just means that we aren’t able to see it as clearly.
I just got an email from one of those college students expressing some of the same feelings. I think I am just going through a “season” of the year. I think she is going through a “season” of life (I have been there done that once or twice).
Anyway, my quiet time (and journaling time with the other pastors) was spent in I Kings 19. It’s amazing that this Scripture had been picked for that day over six months ago! This text is about Elijah and it basically starts with Elijah saying, “I have had enough Lord!” God had just done some amazing things through Elijah, a “mountaintop experience”, and now there are people that want to kill him. Elijah is overwhelmed. He is tired. Tired of being brave and courageous and tired of being cowardly and running for his life. I am not sure how seriously to take Elijah’s pleading with God to “take my life”. Is he really ready to die here or is he saying this as a figure of speech like we do sometimes. I am not really sure, all I know is he says this and then lays down for a nap.
Elijah wakes up to an angel “tapping” him and telling him to “get up and eat”. Now, this is kind of funny to me because Elijah wakes up to find a cake of bread sitting next to him. How appropriate that Elijah is depressed and God knows that when we are depressed the thing we need more than anything else is cake! I wonder if Elijah requested some Ben and Jerry’s as well?
Here is the cool thing about Elijah, he does what the angel tells him! He doesn’t complain to the angel (as tired and frustrated as he may be). Instead, he takes a small simple step of obedience. Is Elijah going to save the world with that step of obedience? No. Will that one step save all his problems? No. So, when Elijah is done eating he goes right back to sleep.
Then he is awakened again to an angel telling him, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” Again, Elijah takes that first easy step of obedience and is then strengthened to take the next step of travelling for forty days and forty nights (forty tells us God is probably preparing him for something pretty cool).
Elijah arrives at mount Horeb and there God meets him in a quiet whisper and tells Elijah that he is to begin passing on his ministry to Elisha.
I can’t say that reading this story has made me feel completely refreshed and refocused! In fact, I stared, tired, at my computer for a long time before writing. I have learned a couple of things. First, God is interested in us taking the next small step of obedience. Saving the world is ultimately up to him, I am just glad to play a part in it.
Second, if I don’t take that first small step I may not arrive at the place of refreshment. Nor will I find what God’s purpose or plan is. What if Elijah had just decided to sleep and “live” in his depression asking God “why?” or “what’s the point?” instead of being obedient? It is not always for us to know the big picture. This is why faith, hope and trust are so important.
Third, God’s faithfulness must be our constant (a bit of a Lost reference here). If we are our constant, we will find ourselves emptied and lost at times and have no where to turn. If our constant is our friends we will find them to be as imperfect as we are ourselves. And, if our constant is our circumstances we will find that we can go from those “mountaintop experiences” to the valleys in a matter of days. God’s faithfulness may look bleak at times, but that doesn’t mean it is bleak it just means that we aren’t able to see it as clearly.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What does it mean to follow the LORD completely?
We have been working through the book of 1 Kings on Sunday mornings. I have enjoyed studying this book far more than I thought I would. To be honest, much of the book would make great material for a reality show on VH1. Not too far from Hogan Knows Best or Meet the Kardashians (I promise I have not seen either of those shows, but I don’t expect you to believe me).
Anyway, we started by studying David and his sexual struggles and then moved on to Solomon (the Message says “King Solomon was obsessed with women”) and then Rehoboam. I have really been challenged by a description of Solomon that is also repeated about Rehoboam. The Bible says, “Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.” This statement has caused some difficulty for me. You see, in my mind David could not have followed the Lord completely if he slept with Bathsheba (not his wife) and then had her husband killed to cover it up. How could someone screw up this badly and still be considered someone who followed the LORD completely?
What I am learning is that my understanding of grace and justice does not line up with the Biblical account. One way to reconcile this is to determine that the writer of the Biblical text has made a mistake or lapse of judgment (of course, I have to believe that this mistake happened twice). However, there is another way to address this problem and that is to consider that my understanding of grace is too small. The difference between Solomon and Rehoboam and David is that David is repentant of his actions (even if he is slow to get there). In Psalm 51 we learn of David’s brokenness and remorse. He confesses his sin to God and cries out to God asking that God would create in him a clean heart.
According to the description of David in the accounts of Solomon and Rehoboam God does just that! Now, I understand that God forgives us when we repent (I John 1:9). But, according to the accounts of David, God doesn’t just forgive us but sees us as righteous!! Of course, I have heard this but for some reason David’s story makes it so much more real to me. Somehow this understanding of grace leads me to believe that I am more than a sinner saved by grace! I might somehow be considered by God to be a person that “followed the LORD completely” despite my screw ups (of course this is because of God’s grace). How freeing that is for me!!!
Look, we all screw up. And most of us have some understanding of grace and what it means to be forgiven but, my guess is, that far too often our understanding of God’s grace falls way short. We are too often blinded by our own sense of justice. I wonder if David considered himself to be someone that followed the LORD completely?
Anyway, we started by studying David and his sexual struggles and then moved on to Solomon (the Message says “King Solomon was obsessed with women”) and then Rehoboam. I have really been challenged by a description of Solomon that is also repeated about Rehoboam. The Bible says, “Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.” This statement has caused some difficulty for me. You see, in my mind David could not have followed the Lord completely if he slept with Bathsheba (not his wife) and then had her husband killed to cover it up. How could someone screw up this badly and still be considered someone who followed the LORD completely?
What I am learning is that my understanding of grace and justice does not line up with the Biblical account. One way to reconcile this is to determine that the writer of the Biblical text has made a mistake or lapse of judgment (of course, I have to believe that this mistake happened twice). However, there is another way to address this problem and that is to consider that my understanding of grace is too small. The difference between Solomon and Rehoboam and David is that David is repentant of his actions (even if he is slow to get there). In Psalm 51 we learn of David’s brokenness and remorse. He confesses his sin to God and cries out to God asking that God would create in him a clean heart.
According to the description of David in the accounts of Solomon and Rehoboam God does just that! Now, I understand that God forgives us when we repent (I John 1:9). But, according to the accounts of David, God doesn’t just forgive us but sees us as righteous!! Of course, I have heard this but for some reason David’s story makes it so much more real to me. Somehow this understanding of grace leads me to believe that I am more than a sinner saved by grace! I might somehow be considered by God to be a person that “followed the LORD completely” despite my screw ups (of course this is because of God’s grace). How freeing that is for me!!!
Look, we all screw up. And most of us have some understanding of grace and what it means to be forgiven but, my guess is, that far too often our understanding of God’s grace falls way short. We are too often blinded by our own sense of justice. I wonder if David considered himself to be someone that followed the LORD completely?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Confessions of a Deacon
One of my clergy friends in Oklahoma posted on his blog in response to a blog posting of one of my seminary friends now living in Texas. I began to comment on his blog, but realized I had a post. Trying to follow blog manners I am posting my response here instead.
To start, read Matt's post here.
Here is my response.
Matt, have enjoyed your blog. I have wanted to comment many times, but have been afraid to come off as cynical or jaded. I hope I am neither of these, while still owning the fact that I am frustrated with much of the antiquated policy of the UM church.
Anyway, I know that my decision to go the deacon route had everything to do with my lack of faith in the appointment process. Now, some of this can be chalked up to call (I don't have a need to be the lead guy) but the appointment process was certainly a pivotal factor. I feel called to serve the younger generations that have been consistently overlooked by the church (and that trend seems to be growing rather than getting better if we believe the stats). I suspect that if I were part of the appointment process my call would be less important than serving the "greater good of the conference" (every time I hear this it makes me want to puke. I believe this "greater good" is one of the reasons local churches are dying).
Anyway, as I read your blog and others (including the writings of Bishop Willimon and Schnase) I can't help but think there is a growing movement to address these issues and questions. General Conference 2008, I think, will set the table (unless it is consumed by less important things) and 2012 General Conference will have to address the questions. At least the dialog is happening!
To start, read Matt's post here.
Here is my response.
Matt, have enjoyed your blog. I have wanted to comment many times, but have been afraid to come off as cynical or jaded. I hope I am neither of these, while still owning the fact that I am frustrated with much of the antiquated policy of the UM church.
Anyway, I know that my decision to go the deacon route had everything to do with my lack of faith in the appointment process. Now, some of this can be chalked up to call (I don't have a need to be the lead guy) but the appointment process was certainly a pivotal factor. I feel called to serve the younger generations that have been consistently overlooked by the church (and that trend seems to be growing rather than getting better if we believe the stats). I suspect that if I were part of the appointment process my call would be less important than serving the "greater good of the conference" (every time I hear this it makes me want to puke. I believe this "greater good" is one of the reasons local churches are dying).
Anyway, as I read your blog and others (including the writings of Bishop Willimon and Schnase) I can't help but think there is a growing movement to address these issues and questions. General Conference 2008, I think, will set the table (unless it is consumed by less important things) and 2012 General Conference will have to address the questions. At least the dialog is happening!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
It's Sunday, but Monday's Coming
This past Sunday (it was Easter for those of you not paying attention) I spent some time reflecting on how much I enjoy Easter celebrations. I enjoy worship more on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday. My perspective is different. I tend to live with the resurrection at the forefront of my mind. As I was reflecting on this, I thought about how sad it is that I don’t live with this perspective everyday. Immediately I remembered a powerful sermon called “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming” (check it out here if you have never seen it before).
Someone shared with me earlier in the week the difference between being affected by the resurrection and being infected by the resurrection. This is what was written, “To be affected, means that you have heard of the resurrection, and it has may have had an affect in your life, but it did not stick around long enough to make a real difference or a permanent impact. To be infected, is to have a permanent and constant change, one that many other, if not all other, decisions are affected by.”
As I reflected on these things I wrote the following:
It’s Easter Sunday and I am living in the grace offered by Jesus
But, Monday is coming and I will judge myself based on my ability to adhere to a list of rules
It’s Easter Sunday and I live with immense hope
But, Monday is coming and I will live a defeated life
It’s Easter Sunday I eat, drink and am merry because death has died
But, Monday is coming and I will eat, drink and be merry because tomorrow you die
It’s Easter Sunday and I share with other believers in the celebration of the defeat of sin and death
But, Monday is coming and I will point the finger at the sinful actions of other believers
It’s Easter Sunday and I recognize that Jesus died and was resurrected for the sins of all people
But Monday is coming and I will be a Romans chapter 2 person judging Romans chapter 1 people
It’s Easter Sunday and I boast only in the cross
But, Monday is coming and I willboast in the things I have done, or I live in condemnation of my failures
It’s Easter Sunday and my pursuit of Christ-likeness is a pursuit of righteousness that I can’t earn on my own
But, Monday is coming and my pursuit of Christ-likeness will merely be a pursuit of morality that I pursue on my own
It’s Easter Sunday and I groan as I watch the world news out of compassion
But, Monday is coming and I will groan and grumble at the world news with contempt and judgment
It’s Easter Sunday and I have a broad, open and far reaching view of life
But, Monday is coming and I will have a narrow-minded short sighted view of life
It’s Easter Sunday and I have an eternal perspective causing me to be gracious and generous
But, Monday is coming and I will have a temporal perspective, so I better get mine while I can
It’s Easter Sunday and I am humbled that Jesus finds me worthy
But Monday is coming and in my false sense of pride I judge myself and others based on my imperfect notions of worth and value
It’s Easter Sunday and I have compassion for non-believers because they don’t know
But, Monday is coming and I will condemn non-believers for what they don’t know, and how they live as a result of that
It’s Easter Sunday and I believe Jesus was divine and died because of his love
But, Monday is coming and will live like Jesus was a hero that died for those who deserve to live
It’s Easter Sunday and I own my mistakes because I am convinced God is good
But Monday is coming and I will try to cover up my mistakes and plead my case with others so they will be convinced I am good
It’s Easter Sunday and I rejoice in the wisdom of the cross and Christ’s obedience to it
But, Monday is coming and the cross will look foolish to me and I will have no desire to share in it’s sufferings
It’s Easter Sunday and I would die to save others
But, Monday is coming and I will live to condemn others
It’s Easter Sunday and I pursue Christ in downward mobility in order that God might raise me up
But, Monday is coming and I will pursue my own dreams of upward mobility only to fall in defeat
It’s Sunday and we celebrate the event of Jesus’ resurrection
And Monday’s coming when we get to live in the truth of Grace and new life of the resurrection!
Someone shared with me earlier in the week the difference between being affected by the resurrection and being infected by the resurrection. This is what was written, “To be affected, means that you have heard of the resurrection, and it has may have had an affect in your life, but it did not stick around long enough to make a real difference or a permanent impact. To be infected, is to have a permanent and constant change, one that many other, if not all other, decisions are affected by.”
As I reflected on these things I wrote the following:
It’s Easter Sunday and I am living in the grace offered by Jesus
But, Monday is coming and I will judge myself based on my ability to adhere to a list of rules
It’s Easter Sunday and I live with immense hope
But, Monday is coming and I will live a defeated life
It’s Easter Sunday I eat, drink and am merry because death has died
But, Monday is coming and I will eat, drink and be merry because tomorrow you die
It’s Easter Sunday and I share with other believers in the celebration of the defeat of sin and death
But, Monday is coming and I will point the finger at the sinful actions of other believers
It’s Easter Sunday and I recognize that Jesus died and was resurrected for the sins of all people
But Monday is coming and I will be a Romans chapter 2 person judging Romans chapter 1 people
It’s Easter Sunday and I boast only in the cross
But, Monday is coming and I willboast in the things I have done, or I live in condemnation of my failures
It’s Easter Sunday and my pursuit of Christ-likeness is a pursuit of righteousness that I can’t earn on my own
But, Monday is coming and my pursuit of Christ-likeness will merely be a pursuit of morality that I pursue on my own
It’s Easter Sunday and I groan as I watch the world news out of compassion
But, Monday is coming and I will groan and grumble at the world news with contempt and judgment
It’s Easter Sunday and I have a broad, open and far reaching view of life
But, Monday is coming and I will have a narrow-minded short sighted view of life
It’s Easter Sunday and I have an eternal perspective causing me to be gracious and generous
But, Monday is coming and I will have a temporal perspective, so I better get mine while I can
It’s Easter Sunday and I am humbled that Jesus finds me worthy
But Monday is coming and in my false sense of pride I judge myself and others based on my imperfect notions of worth and value
It’s Easter Sunday and I have compassion for non-believers because they don’t know
But, Monday is coming and I will condemn non-believers for what they don’t know, and how they live as a result of that
It’s Easter Sunday and I believe Jesus was divine and died because of his love
But, Monday is coming and will live like Jesus was a hero that died for those who deserve to live
It’s Easter Sunday and I own my mistakes because I am convinced God is good
But Monday is coming and I will try to cover up my mistakes and plead my case with others so they will be convinced I am good
It’s Easter Sunday and I rejoice in the wisdom of the cross and Christ’s obedience to it
But, Monday is coming and the cross will look foolish to me and I will have no desire to share in it’s sufferings
It’s Easter Sunday and I would die to save others
But, Monday is coming and I will live to condemn others
It’s Easter Sunday and I pursue Christ in downward mobility in order that God might raise me up
But, Monday is coming and I will pursue my own dreams of upward mobility only to fall in defeat
It’s Sunday and we celebrate the event of Jesus’ resurrection
And Monday’s coming when we get to live in the truth of Grace and new life of the resurrection!