Category Archives: Church

Radical Christians

17 Thursday Aug 2017

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I saw several articles people posted on Facebook over the last couple of weeks that caught my attention – and not in a good way.  I made a note for myself to revisit the articles after I had a chance to let them settle in a bit.

One article I saw was from someone who was saying that radical Muslims get off the hook, but radical Christians are persecuted.  That we are more afraid to sit with a radical Christian than we are with a radical Muslim.  That’s a bit simplistic, but that was the essence of the argument from the person who posted it.  I’m guessing the author of these words thought he was a victim because of his beliefs.

He claimed that “a so-called radical Christian is likely to refuse to bake a dessert for a gay wedding. A radical Muslim is likely to shoot up a gay club or throw gays off of roofs.”

(This was commentary on social media so I can’t point you to a specific web address for this).

There is a problem in definitions though, among other things.  A Christian who refuses to bake a dessert for a gay wedding isn’t a radical.  They may fit into several other categories and labels, but radical isn’t one of them.  As far as I know, there hasn’t been a cake maker who has gone and killed people because they were so upset about backing a cake for someone they didn’t like.  There isn’t a comparison of this with someone who shoots people and destroys lives – regardless of their religion.

Secondly, this is dismissive of real radical Christians – the people who have no problem driving a car into a crown and killing a woman in Charlottesville, VA recently for example.  These groups exist and yes, they are just as bad as any radical Muslim, or radical Hindu, or radical anything.  (Check out a simple list of radical Christian groups here)  These groups are real and are dangerous and have nothing to do with what Christianity is about but still steal the label for themselves.  While that statement might not sound controversial – substitute Muslim for Christian and I wonder how it changes for some people.

Then again, I’m not sure what baking a cake has to do with Christianity either, but that’s besides the point.

I don’t understand this quest to become victims that has captured so many people’s attention and conduct.  Everyone wants to be a victim.  Especially from people who really aren’t victims at all.  “They’re tearing down my statue of Robert E Lee – we’re a victim of historical theft.”  BS.

A cake baker who doesn’t bake a cake isn’t a victim.  It’s just someone who makes a bad business decision based on a bad interpretation of Scripture.  In one sense, they are a victim I guess – A victim of bad scriptural interpretation.

But here’s the point.  What is a radical Christian?  Here’s a radical answer to the question – someone who actually lives out what Jesus taught.  No, not the Old Testament laws that can be taken out of context and used as a bludgeon.  How about this instead – A radical Christian is someone who lives out the Sermon on the Mount.  (Read it – it’s in Matthew 5-7).  A radical Christian is someone whose loyalty is to the kingdom of God first and foremost and in advancing God’s kingdom through radical inclusiveness and love.  A radical Christian is someone who seeks to be a peacemaker in the midst of violence.  A radical Christian is someone who practices forgiveness.  A radical Christian is someone who doesn’t wait for someone else to change and do the right thing, they start.  A radical Christian gives voice to the voiceless.  A radical Christian feeds the hungry, clothes those who need clothing, houses the homeless, visits prisoners and the sick, and cares for orphans and widows.

A radical Christian in this sense isn’t really radical at all.  They are just living out what they claim to believe.  Yet, this way of living and believing is radical – it is far different from the radicalness we see around us.  It is a radicalness that is polar opposite to the radicalness that believes in fighting and might makes right and control and separation and violence and fear and hatred.

That kind of radicalness is becoming more prevalent and easier.

It’s much more radical to pray for someone – even someone who is our enemy – than it is to shout that person down or cause harm to them.  Causing harm to someone else isn’t radical – it’s just plain evil.

Maybe we need a new name for these type of Christians – ones who aren’t really radical at all.

 

LWF banners

17 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Church, Theology, Travel

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In the main hall of the LWF assembly there were several banners showcasing the history of past LWF assemblies.

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The images were neat to see and to see how life has evolved within the LWF – moving from a German-centric focus to other places.

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I, of course, had to get a picture of the LWF banner depicting 1963 in Helsinki, Finland.  It was a great reminder for me of my time in Finland.  And to walk in the same footsteps of Lutherans in the past is a special memory for me.

Morning prayer at the LWF

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

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We made our way to the LWF conference setting and the first thing was morning worship.

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It was in a tent. The setting was nice, the air was flowing and it remained cool throughout.  It was wonderful to worship with people from all over the world (literally) and to worship in four + languages.

The official languages of the LWF are English, French, German, and Spanish.  The LWF has shifted over the years.  The primary language used to be German, with the other languages thrown in for good measure.  Now the primary language is English, with the other languages thrown in for good measure.  Most of the speakers spoke in English during the conference, but translation services were available.  We did have some French speakers, a couple of German speakers.  Regardless, knowing the primary language makes life a bit easier, if for nothing else, you don’t have to wear headphones all the time.  Even still, I enjoyed hearing the multiple languages.  It took me back to my time in Finland and visiting countries in Europe where hearing multiple languages is the norm.

Purpose and Meaning

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

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Have you ever driven through sections of town that raise questions?  When you look around, you can’t help but wonder what happened?  Have you driven through a city to a section where you can literally see a lack of hope and future in the faces of the people and the properties and the landscaping?  The entire area just looks and feels empty of life.  There is survival, but that’s about it.  And often it gets summed up as this – Why am I still here?

So often we look to government to provide for people who are poor – and government does to some degree.  But government is limited – it can only touch on people’s material needs.  It can’t touch the intangibles.

These are intangibles like community, spiritual needs, existential needs.  I don’t care who you are, we all have these needs and often these needs are going unmet.

This is an opportunity for the church.  This is one area that the church has a unique opportunity and role in the lives of people – to do something that no one else can do.  To help people answer the question of why they are still here.

There are many people who seek purpose and meaning.  It’s as if they are waiting for an answer to just show up.  They don’t know where to search for the answer to the age-old question – and so they just exist.  And after you have done that for a long time, you forget that you were searching.  And instead, you bide your time, you distract yourself, and you find ways to fill the void in life.  Too many turn to unhealthy distractions of drugs, alcohol, sex, and entertainment.  Others turn to work and materialism.

But none of these can offer the answer to these deep questions about life.  And this is where the church can step in and help people with these questions.  It’s what makes the church unique.  But it requires a long-term commitment.  It requires an outward focus.  It requires trust and a willingness to ask difficult questions and sit with uncomfortable questions.  It takes time.

Purpose and meaning – even people who we think don’t care about these things really do.  Purpose and meaning are the difference between existing today and having direction.

Jesus walks on water…you can too!!!

11 Friday Aug 2017

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This Sunday is the Gospel reading about Jesus walking on water and Peter giving it a try, only to realize he isn’t God and starts to sink.  I’ve always found the reading a bit odd to be perfectly honest. I never really liked the passage.

I don’t the words from Jesus – “Oh you of little faith.”  Often I don’t like it because what I hear in my head when I hear this is a voice that is condescending – As in “Oh Peter, you have got to be kidding me, try harder home boy. That was pathetic.”  Heard that way, this passage of Gospel is really disheartening and can just be a really killer for people.  That’s the danger of it anyway.  It’s a message of “try harder or else you’ll sink.”  That’s not gospel – that’s the message of the world.

Yet here we are – a statement by Jesus that sounds just like the world.

But wouldn’t you know it, Jesus doesn’t let Peter drown. He doesn’t give Peter what he deserves.  Instead, Jesus reaches out his hand and pulls Peter to safety.  Jesus embodies grace and does the exact opposite of this world and its gospel message.  How great is that.

But really, what’s the deal with Jesus walking on water?  Maybe it’s the message that Jesus can not be controlled by the chaos of the sea.

Imagine if this story were told today.  You’d see News Team 21 going to the scene to interview the guys on the ship and report what they experienced.  Then there would the viral selfies of James and John showing Jesus in the background, but it wouldn’t be too clear – it was stormy you know.  And finally, we can’t for get about the tweets.  Thomas: Jesus walks on water.  You’d think he was God or something. #doubting, #gottogetmeapairofthoseshoes

Then the 30 seconds of fame would die off because one of the Kardashians would have walked across something and tried to outdo Jesus.  And then Jesus walking on water would be so last week.

At any rate, what does this mean for us today?  Good question.  I don’t think it’s God’s call for us to try crazy things that might get us killed.  And I don’t think it’s God’s call to do publicity stunts either.  I think it’s about this.  We get sent out into a messy world that tosses us and turns us all over the place.  And it’s scary and messy and we feel like we’re going to get thrown out of the boat. And just when we think it can’t get any worse, Jesus shows up in unexpected ways – ways we have trouble believing.  And bam, grace happens.  And boy do we need that.  And when grace comes, all the chaos doesn’t matter any more.

Sound like modern life?  based on some recent conversations, it sounds exactly like what the passage about walking on water is all about.

Community defined

10 Thursday Aug 2017

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How do you define community?

I guess part of the way you answer the question has to do with the context.  How we define community in relation to a community park should be different to how we define community in relation to a church.

in relation to a church, how would you define community?

Here’s some things that I thing relate to what a community is in relation to church – trust, people, commonality, values, direction, respect, value, humanity.

Each of these, of course, has a definition too, but for the sake of not boring you all to death, I’ll stop with the downward spiral into definitions that only a true work nerd would care about.

Instead, here’s my stab at defining community.   A community is build on a foundation of trust.  Sitting on top of that foundation is a group of people who hold values, respect, and a vision in common.  Theses building blocks set guidelines for how the people in a community interact and recognize one another’s humanity.

A bit wordy, I know.

Maybe a simpler version would be – a community is a group of people who recognize others as having value because they care about similar things and also recognize that together, each person gains far more than going it alone.

So what is a church community?  A group of people who have a similar belief system, to band together to support one another in order to carry out the mission of the church – to make more disciples.

How would you define community in relation to church?

 

Headlines…or click bait?

02 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Don’t read this post if you like click bait headlines.  This isn’t one of those articles.

I read an article that talked about ways to catch people’s attention with a headline.  I hated the article.  You can read it yourself here:  https://medium.com/the-mission/this-new-data-will-make-you-rethink-how-you-write-headlines-751358f6639a.

I hated it because I can’t believe people click on headlines like this.  The “10 things that…”  Really?  That draws people’s attention.  I usually skip articles like that.  I have found that the 10 things are usually not that helpful.

“You’ll never guess what happened next…”  That’s a headline that screams click bait.  It usually causes me to scream also.  Sure I can guess what – not much, but you still got people to click on your article.

I guess that’s the whole point.  But what if there is more.  What if just getting people to pay attention is really just shallow?

Are people just looking for the shortest way to a specific answer without having to think about it?  Have we become lazy?  Why don’t we want to think?  Are we too busy?

Considering I am a pastor, I think about these things in relation to church.  Sure, I could use all sorts of click bait-like headlines and phrases to catch people’s attention.  But then what?  If there is no substance, people leave.  Easy come, easy go.  Easy in, easy out.

Church isn’t a business.  It’s more like a relationship.  Relationships aren’t built on quick catch phrases – one night stands are.

It’s my hope that churches don’t follow this trend of quick and easy solutions for life’s problems.  Mostly because most problems aren’t quick and easy – but long and difficult.  Most problems involve people and things that are intangible.  I have found that there aren’t 10 easy steps to salvation.  There aren’t 10 things that you need to do to get the most out of church.  There aren’t 10 things that churches can do to stop hunger in their community.  That’s because there are not simple steps when it comes to faith.

I’m not in a denomination that has the nice and neat sinners prayer that is supposed to change your life in a moment.  I’m not part of a denomination that believes that all the answers to life’s problems and questions are in the bible.  (Try asking the bible who won the 1942 World Series and see what you come up with.)

I am part of denomination that believes that life is messy, that mystery is normal, that we don’t have all the answers, and that questions are welcome.  I’m part of a denomination that doesn’t take the bible literally, but certainly tries to take it seriously.

We don’t have 10 easy things that you should do.  But we do have grace and forgiveness.  We don’t have all the answers, but we will listen to your story.  You don’t have to guess what will happen next, I can tell you – we’ll have a conversation, listen to each other, pray with each other, and then start to walk together on life’s journey.  It’s a long walk (I hope), but well worth it.

Leave the click bait behind – there’s just too many important things in life for that.

Where is our faith?

01 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Church, Humanity, Politics, Theology

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For regular readers of my blog, you know that I have a long history of political activity.  I learned a great deal from those experiences and am grateful for that.  I also learned some things that make me glad I’m no longer in politics professionally.

Now that I’m in ministry, all that politics is brushed away, right?  Not.  Not even close.  In fact, in many ways, it’s much more difficult.  I have a fine line to walk when I preach and when I wear a collar publicly representing the church.

I’m not a big fan of pastors taking up partisan arms for a political party.  I can understand why some do, but I think it blurs the line of what we are.  Are we proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus or partisan political party?  Are we claiming that our faith is in Jesus, or in some politician in Washington, DC or another capitol?

This of course doesn’t mean faith and politics never intersect. I think that’s a big naive and dangerous too.  We are called to be in the world and call out injustice.  And often that happens in political ways.

When I see pastors that make excuses for politicians or political parties – for what they stand for, or the policies they promote – I have to wonder.  Are they a partisan preacher preaching the good news of political party with its vision for how the nation will look when the party has power?  I recently saw a video of a conservative pastor who was praising the current administration in Washington and made comparisons of the president’s leadership style with Jesus.  I’m not sure what that had to do with the preaching of the Good News, but I do know that it advanced the Gospel of the administration.

Likewise, I remember pastors equating the previous administration with Jesus too – labeling the president as a messiah-like figure.  Again, I’m not sure why that was necessary or how that promoted the kingdom of God.  It sounded more like the advancement of the kingdom of partisan political party.

Where does our faith lie?  Where is our hope?  If it is in Jesus, then partisan politics can be seen for what it is – secondary.  It is certainly not to be ignored.  But neither should we put all of our attention and energy to it either.  When we do that – when we obsess about politics and give it all of our attention, then we have made it into a god.

When our politics becomes the basis for our decision-making, when we feel the need to pay attention to every tweet and press conference and announcement from a politician or political party, when we believe that we will have a brighter future (almost heavenly) if only we fund a specific candidate and work to get them in office – then I have to wonder where our faith lies?  Where does our hope lie?  When politicians supposedly have all the answers to all of life’s questions and problems, then where is there room for mystery and faith?  What is the point of faith at all then?

Too often I have seen Christians who are well-meaning turn to partisan politics.  I get it.  I’ve been there.  Religion and politics are not very different at all.  Both offer a vision for the future – of what is possible.  Both deal with immaterial things.  Both offer a gospel message.  Both claim to be able to save people.

By all means, participate in politics.  It’s how we advance policies.  But be careful.  When politics becomes the center and the foundation for making decisions, for the way we live our life, for how we spend our money and attention, then know that we have just exchanged our faith in God with a faith in a broken humanity.

The mission of the church

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

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I’ve read many thoughts and ideas about what the mission of the church is.  I’ve heard lots of debates about it to.  And for all the debates, there still seems to be a whole lot of uncertainty.

I saw this quote from Gary Vaynerchuk the other day talking about Apple and why Apple is so unique as a company –

“Apple focuses on building a relationship that will last by deploying all of their energy into branding and showcasing how your life will change once you switch to iphone.”

Read it again.  Let it sink in.

Now, substitute a few words.  Instead of Apple, insert your church’s name.  Instead of iPhone, insert Jesus.  Take out the word branding and slightly alter the ending.

Now read it.

Here’s a sample – I’ll throw in the name of the church I serve – St. Stephen Lutheran Church

St. Stephen Lutheran Church focuses on building a relationship that will last by deploying all of their energy in showcasing how your life is and will be changing once you have an encounter with Jesus.

This quote is about as good of a mission statement for a church as I have ever read.

And it is exactly what we as a church are called to be and do.

Are we showcasing how our lives are changed because of an encounter with Jesus?

If not, why not?  If not, what has to change?  Does Jesus change our life when Jesus encounters us, becomes incarnate and dwells among us?  If not, then are we really encountering Jesus?  And what’s the point of church anyway then?

If Jesus is changing our lives when we encounter him, yet we are afraid to share these stories, then I have to ask – why?  Why is it ok to talk openly about how the iPhone changed our life, but we become shy when it is Jesus?

What makes the church unique – different from any other social service, community group, club, or anything else is Jesus and how Jesus changes our lives when Jesus encounters us.

Tell that story – it’s our mission.

 

Generations and church

05 Wednesday Jul 2017

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One thing I don’t like to read is “analysis” about certain generations and what church must do in order to attract a specific generation.

It could be about the Millennials, or the Baby Boom generation, or the generation that comes after the Millennials (whatever they are calling that one).  No worries though, there won’t be articles about Gen X – the generation the experts would rather forget about.  No worries though, it frees up Gen X from ridiculous expectations and generalizations about us.

A friend posted an article about Millennials and church.  I forget if the author was saying very authoritatively that the way to attract Millennials is by having high church services. It’s a common refrain that has been repeated.  The problem with this specific author stating that “fact” is that they never pointed to any statistical information.  It was just stated as a fact without anything to back it up.  The “fact” has been repeated so many times now that it is assumed to be universally true.

This is similar to the “fact” that half of all marriages end in divorce.  That fact is pure BS.

The 50 percent statistic is very misleading, if not completely wrong. “The demographics of divorce are routinely reported wrong, calculated wrong or misinterpreted,” says Robert Hughes, a former professor in the Department of Human & Family Services, College of Human Environmental Science, University of Missouri-Columbia. Hughes says that for every two marriages that occurred in the 1990s there was one divorce. “This does not mean the divorce rate is 50 percent [because] the people getting married in a single year are not the same ones getting divorced,” he says.

No one is really certain about how the 50 percent number imbedded itself so deeply in popular imagination. “The assumption has been (by those who have not studied it carefully) is that the 50 percent number came from someone noticing that, in the U.S., we have about 2.4 million marriages a year and 1.2 million divorces a year. Hence, 50 percent of married couples divorce,” says Scott M. Stanley of the University of Denver.

Source – http://www.divorcesource.com/ds/main/u-s-divorce-rates-and-statistics-1037.shtml

If someone wants to make an argument for why they prefer high church or low church, great, be my guest.  You have all the right in the world to have a preference.  But don’t claim it as a fact for an entire generation.

How about this instead – regardless of high church or low church, how about church be an authentic expression of worship by the community gathered to God, regardless of the age/generation?

But that’s not nearly as sexy sounding is it?  That’s not nearly as controversial either.  Nor is it divisive, separating people into camps – high church vs. low church.

Do people have preferences when it comes to worship – you bet they do.  And you know what, that’s not a bad thing.  The “right” worship will be what fits the context of the community gathered.  Relying on oversimplifications to determine what kind of worship we should have is a bad idea.  It’s focused on the wrong thing.