Where do we Expect to Find Christ at Christmas?

In the first chapter of Luke we find two parallel stories: the story of the announcement of John’s birth and the story of the announcement of the birth of Christ. These two stories, so similar in structure and flow, create several compelling points of contrast. The very settings of the story provide material worthy of reflection.

Zechariah’s encounter with Gabriel takes place exactly where a first century Jew would have expected: In the Holy of Holies, the Temple. In first century Judaism, it was understood that God encounters people (sometimes through intermediary’s like angels) either in the Temple, or through the Torah. Both, in some sense, ‘housed’ the presence of God. At first thought, this may seem somewhat foreign, considering the emphasis we as Christians have often placed on the concept that God is accessible everywhere. And yet, do we not often think of coming into God’s presence in a special way at Church, or in the reading of scripture.

Mary’s encounter however takes place in a most unlikely location. Her encounter occurs in a quiet, poor home located in what was the peasant village Galilee. Galilee was the sort of place that might have caused a sigh in the mind of the elite… backward, poor, without proper religion. This would have been a lowly sort of place… the sort of place that would cause someone to ask, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

And yet, God’s messenger, and later Immanuel (‘God with us’), would break into our human existence within this very humble environment. In choosing to come to us, God seems to have chosen an unlikely spot… a peasant girl in a peasant village, with what would seem like little significance. God doesn’t present God's self as we would expect, but instead challenges us to think of God’s presence in new ways. God in Christ defies our expectations, and refuses to be limited by our ideas about divinity and presence. God goes where God will.

All of this begs the question, where do we expect to encounter Christ this Christmas? Will we find Christ in our beautiful church services, full of ritual and tradition? Surely the presence will be there. Will we find Christ in the familiar telling of the scriptural stories? Perhaps, if we are open to let them speak to us in fresh ways. But maybe we need to look for Christ in the unlikely places as well. Perhaps we will find Christ in the soup kitchens, or the homeless shelters. Maybe we will find Christ at a local community center, or the Salvation Army. Or maybe, just maybe, we will find Christ in the eyes of a helpless child, born into poverty, with the entire world stacked against her. What would it mean to find Christ there?

Most gracious and creative God… may we find you this season where you choose to dwell, and embrace the opportunities to seek your presence in those unexpected places.

The Myth of Redemptive Violence

Tuesday evening, Oct 30th, with only minutes to spare, the U S Supreme Court issued a Stay of Execution for Mississippi prisoner Earl W Berry. The Stay was issued pending a determination the high court will make on a related case from Kentucky involving a challenge to the constitutionality of lethal injection as a means of execution.
Mr. Berry was convicted some twenty years ago for the kidnapping and brutal beating of Mary Bounds, leading to her death. Ms. Bounds, fifty- six at the time, was on her way home from choir practice.
It is impossible for me to imagine the pain and suffering of the Bounds family. Perhaps the best I can do is to recognize the depth and reality of their pain, and acknowledge the depravity involved in such a crime. I can imagine no sufficient defense for such an act. I am sure that Mr. Berry has numerous mental and emotional issues in his past, but at the end of the day, he made the decision that night, and now he must live with the consequences.
But should death by the state be the consequences? Clearly killing Mr. Berry will not bring back Mary Bounds, nor will it prevent other similar and terrible crimes. Life imprisonment would protect the public from Mr. Berry, and while many still claim that the death penalty is a deterrent, studies show that simply is not the case. No, the death penalty will not make us safer… and yet we still hold on to what Walter Wink and many others have called the myth of redemptive violence.
This pervasive myth is taught to us from an extremely young age, through our cartoons, stories, and even sometimes through our misguided theology. The basic message is this: violence has the ability to bring salvation. When our favorite super hero finally wins the day by destroying the enemy, our culture breaths a collective Yes! It runs so deep that we don’t even see it. I recently watched a movie in a packed theatre, and at the point that the ‘hero’ (an FBI agent) was finally able to defeat the ‘villain,’ (a terrorist) in a terribly violent and graphic way, the crowd of movie goers cheered. As I thought about this response, someone behind me, in a sincere moment of mindfulness, whispered under his breath, “I can’t believe we just cheered that.” It literally made my skin crawl. The myth can bring us to cheer the brutal taking of a life, without any reflection upon the fact that God created that life. The myth tells us that our enemy is another person, and blinds us to the fact that our real enemy is the evil that distorts our humanity and the humanity of the other.
In reality, history and experience has shown us that violence never brings salvation. It might produce very temporary safety, but in the end violence only perpetuates violence. Is it possible for us to completely free ourselves from violence, from war making and the taking of lives? I don’t know. We live in a fallen world, and perhaps it is true that, on occasion, we have to do terrible things to provide for immediate safety of someone or something. But there is really no reason for the state to perpetuate this myth of redemptive violence through the killing of prisoners that can be separated from society. The only reason I know of to kill Mr. Berry is for retribution, and that is just a fancy way of saying vengeance. But according to scripture, vengeance should be left to God. As humans we simply are not equipped to make those decisions, and in truth cannot fully understand the consequences.
I hope we all continue to keep the Bounds family in our prayers, as well as the family of Earl Berry. The tragedy in these lives is too much to comprehend. But let us also continue to search for the right answer to matters of capital punishment… the Godly answer… and not continue on mindlessly believing the myth of redemptive violence.

Thoughts on Servant Ministry

This last Saturday my brother and I, along with six new friends from our church, had the opportunity to give of ourselves in servant ministry. For a few hours we used our God given abilities (meager in my case) to assist in the building of a new home for one of our sisters and her family. It was an incredible day, full of sunshine, warmth, and hard work.

I believe that servant ministry is really at the heart of the mission of the church- a mission to be salt and light, to live in the world as Jesus lived. Sometimes I lose sight of the importance of our mission, perhaps because, in the busyness and complexity of my life, I lose sight of Jesus, and all he came to teach.

Jean Vanier is, in my opinion, one of the most incredible persons of the 20th century. In his book Community and Growth he includes this short synopsis of what Jesus was doing in bringing together those who had ears to hear for a purpose.

Jesus first of all called men and women to him and told them: ‘Leave all: come and follow me.’ He chose them, loved them and invited them to become his friends. That is how it all began, in a personal relationship with Jesus, a communion with him.
Then he brought together the twelve he had called to become his friends; they started to live together in community. Obviously it was not always easy. They quickly began to quarrel, fighting over who should be first. Community life revealed all sorts of jealousies and fears in them.
Then Jesus sent them off to accomplish a mission: to announce good news to the poor, to heal the sick, and to liberate by casting out demons. He did not keep them with him for long, but sent them out so that they would have an experience of life flowing out of them: an experience of giving life to people and an experience of their own beauty and capacities if they followed him and let his power act in and through them.
The pains of community are situated between the joy of this communion and friendship with Jesus and the joy of giving life to others: the mission.

The mission for those of us who would try to follow Christ is to bring life to others, to carry the love and hope of Christ to those who struggle. Sometimes that life comes in the form of a warm smile, or a loving touch that validates the others worth as a child of God. Sometimes that life comes in the service of a teacher to a small child, a tutor at a local community center. And sometimes that life and hope comes in the form of a ‘greenhorn’ construction worker, helping to build a home for a new family. But as Vanier reminds me, the bringing of life always reveals “to others their fundamental beauty, value and importance in the universe, their capacity to love, to grow and to do beautiful things and to meet God.” May we all be salt and light, serving others and carrying to the world the life that is truly life!

Why be Part of a Church: The Necessity of Interdependence

“No one [person] however talented, or however completely inspired by God, can grasp all God’s truth by himself. The variety of human experience is almost infinite, and every human condition has its own lesson… Therefore the healthy spiritual life is communal, and the knowledge of how to think rightly about God, how best to worship God, and how effectually to obey Him is the slowly accumulating possession of the church.” John Lawson, p. 128, An Intro to Christian Doctrine

The fact that the church is a diverse community is no accident. If each of us, as individuals, were substantially alike, then we would be equal and therefore have little need for others. This living independently would naturally inflate our sense of self- sufficiency, feeding our pride and self- centeredness. But because we are each made differently, with different strengths and weaknesses, different perspectives and ideas, then we are drawn not toward independence, but rather interdependence. We are taught humility through the realization that we cannot do it alone, and are not sole possessors of all the answers. We are forced to learn how to do life together, how to enter into partnerships, how to negotiate and compromise, etc… all the for purpose of building up the community as a whole, understanding God rightly, and sustaining our life together. And as we develop an understanding of what it means to be interdependent, of the importance of being in relationship with each other, we come to better understand what it means to be dependent upon God. After all, people who realize that they need each other are much more likely to realize a need for God.
Let us be people who strive for community, even when the community is imperfect or falls short of our wish dreams, for it is only in our interdependence that we develop humility and love.

Gangs and Sanctification?

I participated in an interesting meeting yesterday. There is a group of ministers here in Hattiesburg that have been gathering every couple of weeks to talk about the growing violence in our town, particularly that related to gangs. At this point a lot of thought and dialogue has taken place in these meetings (good stuff for sure), along with several educational opportunities… but not much action yet. In any case, yesterdays’ meeting was good, and we began to talk about some more concrete ways to move forward.

One of the suggestions, and one I liked a lot, was that we get to know a gang member, or maybe several, in an attempt to better understand the life and issues we are thinking about. We talked about bringing someone to our meeting, but it is hard to ignore the fact that few if any gang members are going to be willing to go to a meeting with a bunch of straight- laced clergy types. Heck, I am not even sure I would want to go to that… especially if I knew I was the focus of their conversations.

So maybe we need to go to them. This is a frightening thought for some of us. There would certainly be some danger, and a lot of unknowns… But somehow this course really appeals to me, and so I spent most of yesterday thinking about that. Why in the world would I want to go hang out with gang members?

In my mind I clicked through the normal list of reasons. This would be a good opportunity for me to learn, so that I might be of more help. This would be a chance for me to get involved in these lives and maybe do something meaningful… really make a difference. This would be an opportunity for me to connect these guys to God in Christ perhaps. All of these seem like good reasons, but I kept coming back to another thought, one more selfish I guess. I kept coming back to the idea of sanctification.

As one in the Wesleyan tradition, I have a strong belief that once a person has acknowledged and accepted God’s grace in Jesus, she are regenerated, or made new, and sets out on a long path toward sanctification. Sanctification is just a big way of saying that we are on the path to being made perfect in Holy Love: the loving of God with our whole hearts and minds, just as we love our neighbors completely and without reservation. Understanding sanctification this way, I can not help but wonder if this call I am sensing on my life, this call to be with those who are hurting, to somehow immerse myself in ministry with the poor, even those caught up in the power of violence, is not a step in my pilgrimage toward sanctification. Is it possible that for me to move forward in my walk, to continue following Jesus, I need to intimately touch those he would touch? Or perhaps, as Jesus indicates in Matthew 25, this is where He actually is, in the suffering gang member, or the kid on the verge of falling into the gang life. Could it be that the my next step toward holy love, the kind of love that Jesus lived, is to go and be with these that are hurting and in desperate need?

Clearly getting involved with those trapped in violence and poverty is a risky step. But what if not taking this step is even more risky? What if refusing to take this step means not moving further along my path to Holy love? Jesus said that to have life, the sort of life he was offering… life of holy love… we must be willing to give up our lives. Could this be what he was talking about?

A Radical Meal?

Did you know that, up until just 200 years ago or so, Communion, or The Lord's Supper, was the central aspect of weekly worship? Today when we think of Sunday morning worship most of us, particularly if we are Protestant, think of the sermon as the central part of worship because that is what we know. But the truth is, making the sermon central is a late development, coming some 1700 years after the beginning of the community of followers of Christ. In fact, until relatively recently, you would never have found a pulpit in the center of the space from which the pastor or priest leads the congregation. The center spot was always reserved for the Altar where the sacrament of Communion was served. For centuries, Communion, also known by early followers as the Common Meal, was the primary way they worshipped the risen Christ.

It makes one wonder why the early followers, who worshipped under great risk to their lives, would place such as emphasis on the Common Meal. After all, today, if we are Protestant at least, we are fortunate if we attend a church that takes Communion once a month. The Common Meal has been relegated to a 'back seat' role, a relic or strange ritual from the past in which we occasionally partake, often not understanding exactly why. Can you imagine the early church risking their lives to participate in Communion as we now understand it? Would you or I risk our lives?

So why was this ritual so important? Why did people risk their lives to worship in this way? I think the answer, which we have lost in large part, is found in the radical nature of the Common Meal. Yes, I said radical. I know Communion today doesn't seem radical at all. In fact, most would label it ultra traditional I suppose. But think about it in the context of first century Judaism. This was a time and place when the meal, eating and fellowshipping together, had great significance. You might remember that it was Jesus' practice of dining with sinners and outcasts that often earned him the hatred of the leaders of the day. By dining with these people, the ones on the margins who society casts aside, Jesus was making a statement about solidarity. He was saying, hey, I am God's Son, and these are the people I chose to be with... these are the people that God loves... these are the people that will make up the kingdom.

The Common Meal, or Communion, is an extension of the table fellowship which Jesus practiced. In Communion, we dine at the table with all Christians everywhere. In Communion the community of faith, past, present and future, in every locale, of every race and background, joins as one community, and we announce our solidarity under the cross. It is in The Common Meal that we say that we are brothers and sisters, whether black, white, Asian, African, rich, poor, wise or foolish. It is in The Common Meal that we make clear our allegiance to and love for those brothers and sisters who live in Palestine, Africa, South America, Los Angeles, Iraq, New York, or Meridian Mississippi. It is the Communion table that draws us beyond national borders, and ties us to something larger and far more important... the kingdom.

Jesus prayed a lot while he walked the earth. Many of his prayers were kept between himself and God, but on one occasion the bible records a single prayer for us, those who would come after and follow Jesus' lead. And what did Jesus pray for us? Did he pray that we would be wealthy and prosperous? Did he pray that we would be wise? No, he prayed that we would be of one heart and one mind, a unified community, just as he was unified with the Father. (John 17: 6-12) This was Jesus' wish for his followers, and this is part of why we celebrate Communion together.

So perhaps, next time I take Communion, I will remind myself that I am intentionally joining in solidarity with not just those who sit on either side of me at church, but also those across town who suffer under hardships, and those across the world who suffer under all sorts of tyranny and oppression. Maybe, just maybe, remembering this as I remember Christ will draw me nearer to my brothers and sisters. In a time when politicians would seek to divide us by red and blue states, when leaders would seek to claim our highest allegiance to the national interest, perhaps claiming allegiance to people and places beyond my neighborhood, even beyond my country, will help me to think in new ways about how I live in the world. Surely this Common Meal is a radical thing after all.

A Response to a Reversal...

Hi Steven,

I think you have written an intriguing and challenging essay… one that requires some thought. I have read it a couple of times, and agree with much of what you have said. I also know how you feel about the book thing... I just don't think I have enough to say to fill up a whole book. I really admire people that take the time and effort to pull together something like that.

As for your esaay in particular, I do believe that we all have needs, and I also think that we should look to build relationships with those who are in need of material things, like food, shelter, education, healthcare, etc... not just because they have need, but because our relationships with them can meet many of our own deep needs... those less material needs for community, belonging, friendship, love, and the presence of God. Too often we tend to look down on people, even as we try to help them, which in the end hurts both us and the other.

In the 58th chapter of Isaiah the writer begins by speaking of how the Israelites try to connect with God (worship), expecting God to meet their needs. Unfortunately they are going about it all wrong. Isaiah tells them that the way to connect with God and have their own needs fulfilled (presumably spiritual needs more than material) is not to engage in certain rituals of worship (like fasting) but rather to serve the poor and oppressed. Through these acts of compassion, Isaiah says that the people will have their own spiritual gardens watered.

In Matthew, the 25th chapter, Jesus talks about being present in the poor. He literally indicates that when we help the poor, we are helping him. The early church took this very seriously, creating a great emphasis on hospitality to strangers, the poor, etc… By serving the poor the early church believed that they were coming into contact with Christ himself. This is really just another way of saying that they could feel the grace of God in their lives in a unique way when they served those who were in need. You still hear this all the time from people who work in homeless shelters, food kitchens, etc… Over the last couple of years I have heard from thousands of volunteers on the Mississippi coast who have said that their time serving was much more of a blessing to them than it was to the ones they helped. Of course, the ones being helped would say that they received the blessing.

I think that service to and relationships with the poor is one pathway through which God channels his grace and meets our spiritual and emotional needs. The good news in that we are not faced with an “either/or;” either focus on meeting my needs or focus on meeting someone else’s; but rather we have a “both/ and.” I believe Martin Luther King Jr. had it right when he wrote that "All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality." When I serve those in need, when I share my possessions, my time, and my life with them... we I fight for them, stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves... then both they and I experience God’s grace, meeting each of our needs at various levels. While I serve way too little, and give way to little, I do believe that the times when I am serving and giving are the times I feel closest to the mind of Christ and to God. Peace, Chris B

A Reversal of Thought

I have thought about writing a book. But I normally just end up with a bunch of short little essays.................. Anyway, I thought I would share one with you. So here it is:


Every man has needs. That is the poor man. The rich man. The married man. The single man. Their needs are different. But they all have needs. I know so many people who focus simply on those who don’t have what we think of as the essentials. But when did we make not having three meals more important than having joy and peace? I could eat all day and still be extremely unhappy.

So what are the needs that each of us should try and fulfill for others? I can buy a homeless man a meal, but tomorrow he will still be hungry. Buying that meal is easy. Its 5 bucks at Mcdonalds. But does that truly help him? And I’ve had people who come into my business and beg who obviously need help. But I have never known how to help them. I want to. I truly do. But how? Do I bring them into my office and talk with them? Most have drug problems and what do I know about drug problems? I have never had a drug problem. So how do I relate?

Maybe I don’t have to. Maybe I just have to Love them. Be willing to step past the idea that I can help them. I need to tell them that I have no knowledge of what they are going through. That I want to help, but I am as full of need as they are. Because I truly am.

Maybe what we should do is share our need with them. Have them help us. The time I feel best is when I am helping others. Maybe they have never felt that. Maybe they have always felt like they are the ones who need all the help. The ones who are so bad they could never help anyone. So lets break that cycle. Lets share our needs with those we feel are more needy. Let them help us. Give them a purpose.

The benefit is that we have our need filled. And we lift another. In a way they may have never thought possible. What better way to learn you can take care of yourself than to find out, you have taken care of another? The truth is, I have never tried this. Do I think it can work? I don’t know.

The purpose though, is a new idea. A way of thinking that opens other ways of thinking. And I’m pretty sure no one has ever thought of making those we consider most in need, in charge of our needs. In charge of fulfilling the wants of those of us who have. Those of us too good to let others in to fill our lives.

Because we do sometimes feel better than others. I do it. I have a nice house, a good job, and a wonderful woman. So how could I not be less needy than the man with a drug problem who stops by and lies about a false need to get money to fill his true want? Because quite simply. I’m not. I have my own set of needs. My own set of problems and lies. My own insecurities. Now if only I could really convince myself of that.

Ask Not What Your Neighborhood can do for You...

Well, after what seems like two very long weeks, we finally have everything moved into our new home in Hattiesburg and the largest part of the boxes have been emptied and the items put into the proper spaces... well... ok... at least the boxes are in the house. Moving to Hattiesburg has been a challenge not only due to the enormous amount of junk we seemed to have accumulated over the years, but also because I continue to work in Meridian... and on the coast... so I seem to be on the road all the time.

Moving into the downtown area of Hattiesburg has also created some challenges, liking figuring out where to put the children in school, how to pay for that, and not least of all which house to buy. We now own a fairly large 90 year old home with all the thrills that come with that. Can you say constant maintenance?

Someone might ask, "Why in the world would you go to so much trouble to live in the downtown area?" And this would be a fair question. To live downtown we have to pay more for auto insurance and home insurance, due to crime rates in our zip code. We felt we had to pay for the kids to go to a nearby Catholic school that was diverse racially and where they could get a good education. As mentioned already, we had to buy an old house (the house is awesome by the way... just more house than we have had before). And of course, our neighborhood has certain other interesting characteristics, like the neighbors who have already come in a little bit intoxicated at 2 am, making more than their fair share of noise. All of these things could have been avoided simply by choosing to live in a neighborhood away from downtown... perhaps in the suburbs, where public schools are good, insurance rates are low, crime is rare, and the homes are relatively new. So why go to the trouble and expense? Well, for me it is truly about ministry.

Eric Bryant discusses the idea of picking our neighborhoods for ministry in his book "Peppermint- Filled Piñatas." Eric writes that Christians too often pick where they will live just like everyone else, "choosing to live in places that provide the greatest safety and convenience or have the highest rated school districts. Then, as we have more income, we move out of our current locations so we can have even greater safety and convenience and even better school districts. This very natural way of living, sadly, has a way of circumventing the impact we can have in our neighborhoods. We end up looking at our neighborhoods for what we can get rather than seeing them as places where we can find opportunities to give and serve." Choosing our neighborhoods this way too often means that we stay in areas where everyone is like us, probably Christian, or at least in our same economic condition, and opportunities to be a witness to God's love are fewer. Eric writes, "We should think more like John F Kennedy thought: "Ask not what your neighborhood can do for you, but what you can do for your neighborhood."

Our new neighborhood has ample opportunity for service and simple Christian hospitality, and that is why we chose it. Now if we can just find a way to live into that choice...

Quote of the Day

Well... this is actually an oldie but a goodie. :-)

“A strange thing happens in church. We stumble into a party we weren’t invited to, and then we find the uninvited standing at the door making sure no other uninvited guests get in. Once we are included in the party, because of Jesus’ irresponsible love, we decide to make Grace more responsible, becoming self appointed Kingdom Monitors, guarding the Kingdom of God, keeping the riff raff out, which, as I understand it, is who the kingdom of God is actually supposed to include.”

Mike Yaconelli, Messy Spirituality

Tough Decisions

Over the next few weeks we will be packing for our move to Hattiesburg, where I will be appointed to the position of Associate Minister at Main Street UMC. We will be leaving Meridian, my hometown, along with many friends and family, which will be difficult and a little sad. But the new position and city promises to be full of challenges and we already have friends in Hattiesburg, so all in all we are quite excited about the possibilities.

We are encountering many challenges though… the sorts of challenges that force us to think and pray through difficult issues. I was reminded of one of those challenges last week by Simon, my soon to be 8 yr old son.

Up front I should say that Jenny and I have felt a very specific call to ministry. God has placed within our hearts the desire to work with those persons who are often abandoned by society, particularly in urban environments. That sense of call has led us to Main Street, and has led us to purchase a house in the downtown area, only a couple of blocks from the church and those communities where people struggle day to day with poverty and its effects. We love the environment, and feel more than comfortable there… but there is a catch. As with most ‘urban’ environments these days, the public schools have become less than great. This is of course part of the challenge facing poor families, whose only choice for their children is a school that is under- performing, or struggling at best. In addition, the public school where we will be living offers absolutely no racial diversity, something that is important to Jenny and I since one of our children is Caucasian and the other Asian. Hawkins Elementary, the public school where we will be living, has no Caucasian or Asian children. In fact, in 2006 it was 99% African American.

And this brings me to last week. Simon is a particularly gifted young boy who is extremely articulate for his age. He reads on a 5th grade level (even though he is going into 2nd grade) and is planning to be in the ‘Talented and Gifted’ program this year. In Meridian he has attended a wonderful public school, and even there he has been bored at times, forcing the teacher to find special work assignments. Placing him in a school that is struggling, where teachers do there best to get students up to minimum levels, will surely be a problem, since Simon will almost certainly be bored (never a good thing for a bright 8 yr old). In addition, as we began to speak with Simon about his new school possibilities, he said, “I don’t want to go to a school where there is no one like me… I want to at least be around some people that are white like me.” I think this is a natural impulse, the desire to be around others who look like us, think like us, see the world the way we do, and I cannot fault Simon for it. I suspect, even though she is too young to articulate it, Gracie, our daughter, would express the same sentiments.

At the same time, it is this very tendency to self- segregate that I often find myself arguing against. In fact, Jesus pressed others to fight this tendency, speaking of the kingdom of God as a place of all nations and ethnicities, pushing people to see their neighbors as not just those like themselves, but all people, regardless of background or nationality. It is too often the tendency of those who have more (intelligence, financial means, etc) to abandon those with less, and I believe it is this tendency that lies at the root of many of our injustices and inequalities in society. I believe this was part of the sinfulness of humanity that Jesus pressed others to ‘repent’ of.

So how do I teach Simon and Gracie what I value, what I believe, about the dangers of self- segregation, while at the same time making sure they get a good education and reach their potential, without enduring too much unnecessary stress? I have the financial means (barely) to put them in a private Catholic elementary in the neighborhood where they can receive a wonderful education. The school is mostly Caucasian though (85%), with a few children of Asian (2%), Hispanic (2%), and African American heritage (11%). As a supporter of public schools, putting them in this school would not only seem to violate some deeply held principles of mine, but might undermine my witness to my beliefs… after all, who would listen to someone advocating for public schools if that someone is not willing to send his children there? And yet, I find myself leaning toward doing just that… favoring the welfare of my children, perhaps to the detriment of others. I wish this were a simpler world, one where ethical decisions were obvious. But sometimes every decision seems to be located somewhere in the ‘gray’ area.

Busy Month...

Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Well, Summer is definitely here and June promises to be a very busy month. Beginning tomorrow I will be travelling to various spots around the country to bring word of our progress in the Katrina recovery, as well as a big "Thank You" to all those who have given so much to us. Here are a few numbers that are truly amazing.

- Since September of 2005, more than 40,000 United Methodists Volunteers on more than 3000 teams have been hosted in Ms local churches and Conference camps.

- Those volunteers have given over 1 million volunteer labor hours, totalling nearly $20,000,000.00 in savings for families and clients that could not otherwise recover.

- In addition to this, the Ms United Methodist Katrina Recovery spends approximately $300,000.00 per month on building materials, furniture, rental assistance, construction expertise, and case management. This is all money donated by United Methodists around the country through UMCOR.

All of that to say... the United Methodist Connectional system is strong, and I am looking forward to the next few weeks of travelling and passing on our gratitude!

Of course, with tens of thousands of Mississippians still living in FEMA trailers, hoping to return home one day, much remains to be done. For more info, check out the upcoming CBS special on the Faith Based response to Katrina, Sunday June 17th. You will need to check local listings for times.

Seeking Poverty?

Over the last few years I have felt the call to seek a simpler life, particularly in the area of material possessions (though admittedly I am moving very slowly). In a sense, I have felt called to a life of some sort of material poverty for the sake of the Gospel, my own well- being, and the well- being of my family. But this call on my life is so often misunderstood by those around me. That being said, I would like to take a personal moment (this is after all my own journal ) and clarify briefly what I think it means for someone like myself to be called to poverty for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.

Maybe I should start by noting what I DO NOT think it means to seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel.

First, I do not think that being poor materially means that one will be loved more by God. I don’t see anything in scripture to suggest that God loves anyone more than another, regardless of wealth, position in society, or otherwise. In my opinion, God loves all equally.

I also do not believe that giving up all possessions and seeking poverty is some sort of requirement for salvation. This sort of ascetic thinking leads, in my opinion, to a sort of works- righteousness and self- righteousness that is dangerous and difficult to avoid.

And finally, I do not believe that giving up all possessions and seeking poverty is the ‘next step’ for those who would want to be ‘super- Christians’ or ‘extra- Holy.’ Yes, for some this path to simplicity will lead to a deeper relationship with God and others, but I don’t think it is a sort of ‘step to Sainthood.’

So why seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel? How would a simple life relate to Jesus’ message and God’s life?

I think understanding this call depends greatly on recognizing first that scripture reveals to us a God that cares deeply and acts on behalf of the poor and oppressed. From the liberation of the Israelites in the Exodus, to the proclamations (and warnings) of the Prophets, to the sacrificial life and teachings of Jesus, scripture clearly points to this undeniable aspect of God’s nature. God cares for those who are hurting and on the margins of society, and acts on their behalf. If one misses this, then seeking poverty for the sake of the Gospel cannot make sense.

I also believe that to follow Christ and love God with all heart, soul, and mind, one must learn to care about what God cares about. The old prayer, “Dear God, make my heart break with the things that break your heart” is a good and sound request for one who seeks to follow. So if God cares and acts on behalf of the poor and oppressed, then I feel called to seek ways to do the same.

But it seems almost impossible to truly care for persons, and act on the behalf of persons, that I don’t know and understand. If I am to care for the poor, I need to connect with them… I need to know how they feel… what they are afraid of… what they worry about… I need to be as much ‘one’ with them as I can be, and I cannot do that if my life is separated from theirs. I can’t know what it means to be without things, if I have all I need and much more.

I think in a sense this is exactly what God was revealing to creation in the life of Jesus. God needed to show us what loves is… God needed to connect with us… become ‘one’ with us… in order to display the unfathomable love of God. God set the example in Jesus, and I think, in a very finite and inadequate sense, some are called to follow this way, in imitation of Christ. I think some are called to seek poverty, not for poverty’s sake, but rather to enter into solidarity with those who are hurting, and better come to know and understand them, and therefore become better able to care for and love them.

Paul wrote, “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care- then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death- and the worst kind of death at that- a crucifixion.” Philippians 2: 1-8

Most Gracious God, break my heart with the things that break your heart. Give me the strength and faith to seek poverty for the sake of the Gospel. Help me find ways to forget myself for those who are hurting. And help me to do this with humility and peace, avoiding the pitfalls of self- righteousness. In Christ Name… Amen

Downward Mobility

"It is difficult to learn to live the downward mobility of the gospel in this age of wealth. For the most part, those of us who are rich never meet those who are poor." - Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne has become a beautiful voice within a new movement some are calling the New Monasticism. Read what Claiborne has to say about the Simple Way and living the gospel at Speaking of Faith.

Bringing Hope to Urban Youth

While Mississippi may not seem like a place where one could engage in "urban Ministires," the truth is that our neighborhoods face the same sorts of problems faced by those of large cities like Chicago, or Newark NJ. The same sort of nihilism that tears down families and young people, resulting in part from decades of poverty and abandonment, plagues our under- resourced areas, creating a poverty trap that is incredibly difficult to escape. And yet, as Kingdom of God people, we are called to the 'desert' places that society abandons. If we cannot bring Hope to these places, who can... and who will?

I am always on the lookout for interesting ideas to help those who are being left behind, and I found what looks like a pretty cool program, in New Jersey of all places. Check out their BLOG and their webpage. I think this would be a great ministry for Mississippi.

The Jesus Way

Guess what... When you are thirty- six years old, and you fall in the street while trying to 'Heely' with your seven year old... it hurts! And you bleed. Yes, drawing on all my athletic prowess, I managed to bust my knee yesterday (not to mention rip my favorite pair of jeans) trying to keep up with my seven year old in a pair of sneakers that, of all things, have wheels built into them. When exactly does wisdom begin? :-)

Of course, it wasn't a complete loss. While I didn't win any 'cool' points with Simon (or the neighbors for that matter) I did learn something. As usual, what I learned came from my rather quick witted son, who upon seeing my knee bleeding laughed a bit then helped me up. In an off- handed way I said to him, "Now I don't want to hear you say I never do anything for you... check out my knee." To which he replied, "Hey, you are like Jesus... you are bleeding for me." Giggling he ran back to his room to set up a video game, since obviously dad could not handle the real thing.

Now let's don't get crazy and make too many comparisons between me and Jesus. But isn't it interesting that somehow Simon made that connection. In some sense, he realized that what Jesus had done for all of us, sacrificing himself for others, I had done (or at least my knee had done) for Simon. A lot of questions popped into my mind...

What if, instead of trying to tell non- christians what to do and how to live, we chose Jesus' way and simply loved and bled for them? What if we gave ourselves to others more fully? What if we followed the Calvary example, and gave all we had to lift others up, to help them realize their incredible worth? What if we followed Jesus' example and skipped the question of, "Do they deserve my love, my help?" Jesus didn't ask that... or at least did not base his life on that. Instead he loved prostitutes, and the worst of sinners. He gave his all, and literally bled out of love.

I think, when people live this way, when people immerse themselves into the lives of 'the other,' and give all they have to help lift the other up, to show them how much they are worth to God, then we find the kingdom. Anytime we follow the way of Christ, the path of self- sacrificial love for others, we participate in God's plan of redemption for the world. If even a seven year old naturally sees this (at least in some sense), then what impact could this sort of life have on our communties? Would people see Chrstians differently if they could say "Hey, you are like Jesus..." And why do we choose the safe and easy route of just talking about love and trying to be the 'guardians of morality?' (maybe I answered that one in the question itself) Tough questions...

Well Put!

OK. Sometimes you read something that is just so well written that you don't want to add anything. I read something like that today, so I am going to simply let you read it, and say that, in my opinion, this is an excellent explanation of how the Kingdom of God becomes a present reality, as it is meant to be.

When the kingdom is manifested, it's rather obvious. It doesn't look like a church building. It doesn't necessarily look like a group of religious people professing certain things- including the profession that they are Christian. It doesn't necessarily look like a gathering of people advocating the right political or ethical causes. It doesn't look like a group who are- or will at least believe themselves to be- morally superior to others, telling them how they should live. It doesn't look like a group using swords, however righteous they believe their sword yeilding to be. It rather looks like people individually and collectively mimicking God. It looks like Calvary. It looks Christian, whether it identifies itself as such or not. When people are 'coming under' others to love and serve them, without regard to how much or how little those others derserve it, and without regard for their own interests and reputation, the kingdom of God has come.- The Myth of a Christian Nation, by Gregory Boyd

Amen. That is where I want to be!!!!

The Kingdom Life- Getting the First Things First

Over the last couple of weeks I have written about the Kingdom of God, and even provided a link to a sermon from Rob Bell. There is tons more to say of course, but even this brief explanation of the kingdom life- what it means to be a follower of Jesus and live out God's kingdom on earth- can be very intimidating. In fact, some of Jesus' teachings about the kingdom life (particularly the Sermon on the Mount)are strong enough to cause one to throw up her hands saying, "that can't be right- it can't be that hard." After all, we live in a fallen world, and talk of living according to 'God's Rule' and following closely the teachings of Jesus in every part of our lives seems practically impossible, and maybe a little legalistic.

Well, in short, it is impossible, and impossibly legalistic- if we try to do it on our own. And of course, that is exactly what we often try to do. We grab hold of this 'kingdom idea' and try to run with it. We try to follow Jesus' teachings to the letter, and fall into failure and legalism in the process.

But if we follow the biblical pattern provided by Jesus, and we allow God's Spirit to transform us, then I believe that kingdom life is indeed possible. What is the pattern you ask? Put simply, love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. According to Jesus, this is the foundation for everything else. Or to put it another way, Connect to God, Connect to other Disciples, and Connect to the World!

Connect to God: This is the first step on the journey to kingdom life. Those who wish to head out on this adventure must first connect with the ulimate Guide. We must come to understand God as best we can, connecting with God on ever deepening levels, pursuing God with all we have. This takes time of course, and happens over a lifetime, even through the second and third steps. But it is essential to begin here.

Connect to other Disciples: The second step is to enter into covenant community with others on the same journey- your fellow disciples. In community we not only get strength and support, but we learn what it means to truly be human. We learn what is means to be One as the three persons of the Trinity are one.

Connect to the World: The third step is a continuation of the first two. Jesus made clear that our 'neighbors' are not just those who look and think like us, or those who live within our borders. Our neighbors are everyone, and disciples will learn to connect in life giving ways. Service to the world as a living expression of God's love is the disciple's ministry, and continues the transformation being accomplished by God's Spirit within the individual, the worshipping community, and the world.

The process is really quite simple. Connect to God, Connect to other Disciples, and Connect to the World. It is a journey toward kingdom life, and there are really no ways to abbreviate the trip. But in the end it will be well worth it, as we experience our own transformation, the transformation of those around us, and the transformation of God's creation.

Why the Bookshelf?

I was not always part of the United Methodist Church. As a child and young adult I attended a Southern Baptist church with my parents. There were many good things about this church, though honestly I wasn't very interested at the time. But there were some disturbing things as well.

One of the wonderful things about the Southern Baptist church is its insistence on the centrality of scripture. 'Sola Scriptura' was the battle cry. Only scripture. Everything taught or preached had to be grounded directly in scripture, or it held little weight for the community.

Unfortunately, this sort of emphasis on scripture was also one of the disturbing parts of the church as well. This position did not just elevate scripture, but denigrated all other writing and knowledge. In fact, other writings, like Philosphy, or History of Religions, or Science, or even Sociology, were to be avoided for fear that they were evil, the 'wisdom of man,' and would somehow lead faithful christians away from God. Scripture and scripture alone, read objectively (or at least as interpreted by the preacher) was the only safe route.

Of course, the simple fact is that none of us living in the 21st century can just 'read scripture' objectively. We all bring to scrpiture (as we do with all texts) something of ourselves. We have presuppositions, pre- understandings if you will. These presuppositions form something of a lens through which we read and interpret. So when I go to the bible, whether I realize it or not, I bring a 21st century, post enlightenment, postmodern, white, male, European lens that has been shaped by thinkers like Sigmond Freud, Immanual Kant, and Frederick Nitzsche, not to mention the more immediate influences on my life, like teachers, pastors, and parents. I may not realize it, but my entire worldview has been shaped by my experiences, and I bring this to the text everytime I pick it up, which more often than not creates distortion. How do I know this is the case? Well, here is a good test. If everytime I go to scripture, I find exactly what I expect to find... I might better worry.

And this is why it is important to read other books than scripture. Our holy texts were written over thousands of years, probably beginnig 3000- 4000 years ago. The people that wrote these texts understood the world very differently. If I only bring my unchallenged 21st century worldview, then it is very unlikely that I will fully grasp the meanng of the text. How am I to understand what a Jewish peasant living during the time of first century Judaism, under oppression of the Roman government, was trying to convey if I know nothing of first century Judaism? How am I to rightly understand scripture if I don't know what terms like 'Son of God' and 'Messiah' and 'Kingdom of God' (all concepts central to the Gospels) meant when they were written? It would be like expecting a first century Jew to understand my meaning if I said, "The Bulls really have the Market right now." I expect his expression would be confused at best.

I am not trying to reduce the significance of scripture. Far from it. In fact, I am suggesting that scripture is far more valuable and worthy of our attention than is often thought. It is worth it to read history, to try and understand the cultural situation in which the authors of scripture lived and breathed. It is worth it to read books on Philosophy, if for no reason other than discover who we are, and understand what we unconsciously bring to the scriptural texts. Read Nitzsche, or Heidegger and you may be surprised to discover where many of the ideas you take for granted originated. Read Sociology and Psychology to better understand humanity. Read Theology to understand how Christian leaders have understood God through the ages. Read all these things, not in place of scripture, but to better understand scripture, and to be more open to the work of God's Spirit.

John Wesley used to say that he was a man of one book, that book being the Bible of course. And yet, his library revealed the truth behind that phrase. Wesley read constantly, devouring books that he believed would help him in his understanding. He quoted books frequently in his journals and writings, and instisted that Methodist preachers read as he did. So read, and do not be afraid, for all truth is God's truth, and God honors those who seek Him. Be aware of your own preconceptions, the lens through which you interpret what you read. And let us all honor our sacred scriptures by struggling to hear what God wishes to speak through them.

More on the Kingdom of God

For a great sermon about the kingdom of God from Rob Bell, entitled Wine and Heaven, go to Rob Bell Sermons then follow the instructions to download.

Where is the Kingdom of God?

One of the most intriguing conversations I have encountered in recent years is the conversation internal to Christianity concerning the kingdom of God. Some claim that the kingdom of God is synonomous with 'heaven,' and that heaven is a place 'out there' somewhere. According to this line of thought, if you believe the right things about God and Jesus, then you get to escape eternal damnation (hell) and go to this wonderful place of eternal bliss- after you die of course. While this is a commonly held view, the biblical support for locating the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, out there, somewhere, is weak at best, and possibly non-existent. Unfortunately, this view often also results in a gospel message that has nothing to say about the current life we live, or our responsibility in the present world. If, after all, Jesus (and by extension God) is primarily concerned with individual salvation (life after death) then our current world is merely to be endured, as we await something better.

Another version, or theory, about the kingdom, is what might be called the "In Our Hearts" theory. According to this idea, the kingdom of God is located within the hearts of believers. Whenever and wherever you find a person with Jesus in her heart, or 'the mind of Christ' to use more biblical terminology, then God's kingdom resides in that person. This concept of kingdom seems much more in line with the biblical record, and certainly has some truth to it. And yet, considering the abundance of political language in scripture, and the fact that God seems to be interested in the complete redemption of God's good creation, this idea is at best incomplete.

The kingdom of God is much more than a disposition of the heart and mind in the individual. 'Kingdom' is communal language, not individual language. The whole idea of kingdom concerns the polis, or the political order of a particular community. The 'Kingdom of God,' also known as the 'Kingdom of Heaven,' (In Matthew especially) is a reference to a political reality. Christ came proclaiming (and embodying) the in- breaking of a new political reality upon the earth. Jesus announced that God's kingdom, a political reality under the rule of God- a nation of priests- was coming near. Christ walked the earth, pulling together the twelve tribes of Israel (note 12 disciples) into the community that would be the kingdom- the community living presently under the rule of God. The offer to join this kingdom, this new community that organized life around the will of God, was then expanded to all the peoples of the world. This is a much more accurate understanding of Kingdom, and makes much more since in light of scripture.

So next time you read the Gospels, read them with this idea of the kingdom as an earthly political reality in mind. Put away the notions of 'one day, after we die,' and begin to see what Jesus was saying about the here and now, the way we as children of God are expected to live within God's kingdom, which is both already here, and not quite yet. If you have not read scripture from this viewpoint before, beware, it may change your understandings of the faith.

Impact through Immersion

The Mission of the Church: Whatever the church is, whatever we are supposed to do and be, there is one thing for certain- the church is supposed to have an impact on the world. Christ did not say to his disciples, “Huddle up together and weather the storm.” Instead he expected his disciples to be a light unto the world. He expected his disciples to feed the hungry, heal the sick, fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, and above all, MAKE MORE DISCIPLES! He expected those that follow him to not only grow in their relationship to God and one another, but also to help others find God, and grow in their own relationships, embarking on their own journey with other disciples. This is the basic mission of the church. It is why the church exists.

But how is this best done? Obviously the church is struggling in this area. Fewer new people are becoming part of the church every year, and more and more Christians are only claiming their faith in a superficial way. Among those that do attend church, it seems like fewer and fewer are experiencing real life change.

In addition, American communities are decaying. In fact, the very idea of community seems to be fading from American life. Family structures are crumbling. Drug and alcohol abuse (especially among young people) is rampant. Neighborhoods are being abandoned, along with the children and youth that are stuck there. Violence is everywhere. And let’s not even talk about materialism. In America it seems that somehow individual freedom, choice, and financial success have become our only goals, replacing ideas like ‘the common good’ and ‘community’ and ‘faith.’ How is the church supposed to react? How are we to be a light and make disciples in all this mess? How do we participate in God’s redemption of creation?

Please don’t think I am picking on America. I speak of America not because it is worse than other places, but because this is my home. America is the place where I live, and if the church cannot be a light here, then what is the point?

I think, if we only look to our scriptures and our theology, we can find a simple answer. Note I say ‘simple’ rather than easy. I don’t think being a light in the darkness has ever been easy. Surely it wasn’t for Jesus. But it was fairly simple- immersion.

God, in love and grace, decided that redemption required immersion. In Jesus God entered our mess. He chose to immerse himself in the human condition, with all its pain and frailty. He chose to give up his status as God to become low, a servant to all. In order to communicate God’s love, Christ immersed himself in our lives, and God joined us in our struggle. And through this, redemption began.

Perhaps it is our role to live with the mind of Christ (I think that was written somewhere). Could it be that the best way to be a light in the darkness is to follow Jesus’ example, and become immersed in the places that need God’s love. Perhaps we need to live where the hurting live. Maybe we need to become part of those neighborhoods that the world abandons. I truly believe that to have an impact on the world, to be a light in the darkness, the church must begin to reclaim the desert places, whether inner city streets or corporate board rooms. God, in wisdom and grace, chose to immerse himself completely in the human condition, being in the world and not of it. This sacrificial act was and is the key to redemption. How might we (I) live in Christ’s image and follow that example in the world today? And how might this sort of ‘following’ help us mature in our own spiritual walks?

Substance Abuse and Spirituality

Here is an interesting study from Columbia on the connections between spirituality and substance abuse. Click Here

Redemption

This week I get the opportunity to teach Sunday School. I know, it sounds funny to say that I get the 'opportunity.' After all, as clergy, you would think this would be sort of 'routine' for me. Unfortunately, in my current job, I actually have very little opportunity to jump into scripture, and unfold it in conversation with others. I am really excited... plus... I have a great passage.

I am looking at Revelation, chapters 4 and 5. When taken as a unit (a piece of scripture meant to be read all at once) this passage unfolds as a powerful glimpse into the nature of redemption.

John has had a vision, one in which he is taken into the very throne room of God. And there is this scroll there, what sometimes is thought of as the Scroll of Destiny. This is God's scroll, and contains God's plan for the world! Unfortunately, as in all good stories, there is a problem. The scroll can't be opened by anyone on earth- no one is worthy. So it sits there, waiting.

Then a new character comes on the scene, one who CAN open the scroll. The angel announces the presence of the Lion of Judah, the Root of David!! Wow! Now, if I were a first century Jew, I would hear exactly what I wanted to hear. This is the Messiah, the all powerful one sent by God to set the world right, to return Israel to her place of glory, and vanquish the oppressors. Finally... vindication.

But like all great stories, there is a twist- the sort of 'plot turn' that captures the imagination, and forces the hearer into new ways of thinking.

As John turns to view this Lion of Judah, what he finds is actually one in the form of a slain lamb, with the bloody scars to prove it. It is not a regal king, or a powerful lion, but rather the humble, self- sacrificing, Son.

It seems the key to God's plan, the very revelation of God's nature, is not the sort of majesty and power we expect at all. Instead, the key to God's re- creation of everything, of God's redemption of the world, is a way of love, peace, humility, and sacrifice.

I don't know about you, but I like the idea of following a triumphant, world conquering messiah much more than the idea of following in the way of the real Jesus. But maybe that is because I still see through a clouded glass. I pray God will help me see more clearly.

Validation of the Life Lived

This Easter Sunday has me thinking about the significance of the resurrection, an event central to the Christian experience. Paul wrote that without the resurrection, our preaching is in vain. Even today we still think of ourselves as Easter People, people for whom the resurrection represents promise and grace.

For me personally, the significance of the resurrection is its validation of a life lived. Jesus came into the world announcing the coming of God’s kingdom. He embodied the kingdom, being led by the Spirit to teach, heal, love, and sacrifice. He entered into relationships with those on the margins of society, and challenged the religious beliefs of the day. In fact, his humility and grace challenged the very powers and principalities that govern our world. He rejected the violence, greed, and segregation of the world and lived a different way, a way of humble obedience, peace, and love. His power was one hidden in what the world calls weakness. He was poor in spirit, meek, and pure of heart. He was a peacemaker, and joined in relationship with those who mourn. He was merciful, and thirsted for righteousness. He was the very kingdom of God incarnate, and taught others that they could live the same way, in fellowship with the Father. In short, he was the light that came into the darkness. And the darkness tried to snuff it out.

In seminary I had a professor who was fond of saying that the inevitable conclusion of a life lived in complete abandonment to God is a cross! The world doesn’t understand God’s economy. The world doesn’t understand the life of grace and peace. And so, the world does what it knows how to do- it crucifies.

If the story had ended at the crucifixion, we might say that Jesus was foolish. We might claim that the world was right- that meekness and grace and peace making are no more than a false hope, a utopian dream. But the story did not end in a tomb. Instead, the Father made a grand statement, forever putting his stamp of approval on the life lived by Jesus. Once and for all, in resurrection the Father said, “Yes, this is my Son! Follow his way and my kingdom will come.”

On this Easter day, let us remember the validation and the promise of the resurrection. And with Jesus let us pray, “Father, your kingdom come, to earth as it is in heaven!”

Two Models of Church

In America today there is one dominant model for ‘doing church.’ Some call this the ‘Membership’ model, or the ‘homogeneous’ model. The idea goes something like this.

In order to create and sustain a ‘successful’ church, defined as a church that is growing in membership and financial stability, the church should ‘find its niche.’ The idea is based on the fact that clearly America is the land of choice. People have a variety of different tastes and preferences, whether we are talking about fast food or worship services. In order to grow a congregation, one needs to find out what people like, whether you are thinking of worship style, dress codes, or even theology, then provide that in a way that attracts. Of course, there are limits (at least in theory), but the bottom line is providing what people want in order to get them in and help them find what they need.

In a sense, this seems to be biblical. After all, Paul emphasized ‘meeting people where they are.’ In addition, it also seems effective. It has, at least in the short run, grown congregations, and provided a measure of stability. But there is a big downside to this approach as well. At its core, it is based on a consumer mentality. The end result is that people ‘shop for a church’ just as they would shop for a house, or shop for a coat. When they find one that fits, they put it on, and wear it until it doesn’t fit anymore, or goes out of style. This approach to churches feeds the rampant consumerism in America, not to mention that it divides us, one from another, each Sunday according to personal preference. This model of church unfortunately has the end result of promoting self segregation, which violates a core value of the church and sign of the kingdom, namely Unity of All Under the Cross.

There is a second, emerging model of church in America- one that I believe is more true to biblical theology and heritage. This is sometimes called the ‘Discipleship’ model, or the ‘Emerging Church,’ or even the ‘Acts 2’ church. This model begins with the assumption that each local congregation should be a reflection of the kingdom. It de-emphasizes numerical growth (though certainly expects it) and emphasizes life together, unity of all regardless of ethnicity and other differences, and maybe above all forming people into those who follow the way of Christ, wherever that way might lead. In short, it emphasizes true discipleship, which is more about growth in maturity of the community than growth in numbers.

Of course, the discipleship model can be a bit frightening, particularly in a country that is so caught up in consumerism. What happens when people who chose our church don’t like it anymore because it is changing? They may leave, reducing our numbers and leading to financial insecurity. Do we really want to risk all that we have built up to follow this sort of model?

I think that is a question that congregations will have to ask themselves. Obviously I have my opinion, and others will have theirs. But in the end, whatever congregations decide, one core value must remain- the church is not in the business of sustaining itself above all else. The church is first and foremost the community that lives in such a way that people see the love of God, and over time become disciples of Jesus Christ, living together and with neighbor out of love and grace.

John Wesley, On Social Action:

"The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social, no holiness but social holiness.

"You cannot be holy except as you are engaged in making the world a better place. You do not become holy by keeping yourself pure and clean from the world but by plunging into ministry on behalf of the world's hurting ones."

Camp Hope dedication is April 15

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Mississippi United Methodist Katrina Recovery will soon celebrate the completion of the first of three facilities meant to house volunteers and store building materials.
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Zimbabwe United Methodists turn to Social Principles

Facing desperate social conditions, United Methodists in Zimbabwe are looking at the church's Social Principles as an instrument for change in a nation burdened with systemic economic, medical, and political challenges.
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A Black Jesus?

I received an email last night from a student at St Paul Theological Seminary in Kansas City. This person is working on a thesis that asks the question, “How does the image of a white Jesus affect the Christology (understanding of Christ) held by members of the white church and how might an exploration of the Black Christ assist the white church in moving toward a more holistic image of Christ, so that worship in the white church offers a welcoming space to black brothers and sisters?” Wow- pretty heavy stuff. She wrote to me because she read my piece in the Lenten Devotional and wanted to ask me some questions.

First of all, I must have appeared much more knowledgeable in my article than I really am. I guess you don’t have to know all that much to talk about it, as long as you sound confident.

But seriously, why is it that when we see an image of Jesus in the skin of another ethnic group, we have this deep down reaction, as if an offense has taken place?

Some will say it is because the image misrepresents history. But I don’t know of anyone who actually thinks Jesus looked like a black guy from 1970’s Americana. To believe that is the issue is to argue against a claim that no one is really making.

So what is it? Well, it is probably a lot of things, but here some thoughts.

For the most part, I think at heart we feel that we are, whether white, black, Asian etc..., good. We are confident that God loves us. But we can't just think we are good and leave it at that. We actually think we (and by extension our culture) are good in contrast to something else- the other. On some deep level we believe that we are the 'civilized' culture, and that other cultures are the 'barbaric' cultures. We don't express it openly that way of course, but I believe it is there.

Add to that a subtle belief that God’s love is somehow limited, and suddenly we are in competition with the ‘other.’ If God, through some action, declares, “I love this one,” and that ‘one’ happens to be the other, then suddenly I feel threatened.

So how does this play into the color of Jesus skin? Well, if on a very deep level we believe 'our kind' is good and the 'other' is not as good, and if we feel like we are in competition for God’s love, then we have a real problem if God chose to come as the 'other' kind. If God chose to come in dark skin rather than light, it forces us, at some level, to re-evaluate what is good, and that may challenge much of what we base our life upon. It challenges our ideas that God’s love is limited, and challenges our ingrained views of the world, and justice. In some ways it is an attack on our very being.

Anyway, I was happy that this person wrote to me with her questions. I sure don’t have all the answers, but I think it is good to keep looking within, trying to clear away the crud and find my real, Christ centered self buried somewhere beneath the false self I create.

Funnel Cakes Rock!- photo by Simon Bowers

A litte explanation...

In case you are unfamiliar with blogs, let me offer a little explanation of this one. The biggest area, where you are reading now, is reserved for posts I will make. At the bottom of this area is the word "COMMENTS" where you, the reader, can click to see what other have said, or make a comment yourself. To the right, you will see 'The Bookshelf,' which is a listing of some of my favorite books. Below that, you will see a list of links to other websites. And from time to time I may post pictures or other images that I think interesting and related to our topic. Hopefully this will be simple and easy for you to navigate. Thanks, Chris

Kingdom, Church, and Who?

If you are reading this post then you have found your way to my new BLOG, Kingdom, Church, and World. As you may or may not know, I am on staff (sort of) at Central UMC as the Clergy for Church and Society. If you have been part of the United Methodist Church for a while, you may be familiar with the Social Principles, or with the General Board of Church and Society. If not, rest assured we will get to those things somewhere down the road. But for now, let me just say welcome, and explain very briefly what Church and Society is about.
At its core, Church and Society is about what I like to call Kingdom, Church, and World. I did not create this terminology of course. I am borrowing it from one of my first seminary classes. In any case, the point is this: throughout his ministry, the focus of Jesus’ teachings and life revolve around the concept of the Kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Mark, we see that following his baptism, Jesus’ very first words, the words that announce his mission and purpose, are these,

“The time is now, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Turn from your current paths to this one and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15)

For Jesus, the announcement of this ‘kingdom’ was obviously central, and for us as followers of Christ, understanding the nature of this kingdom should naturally be equally central to our lives together. What was Jesus talking about? Where is this kingdom? Is it on earth? How is it related to the church? How is it related to the rest of the world? And how should the church relate to the world? These are the questions that we will tackle as we walk together, trying to grapple with the implications of this “good news to the poor” (Lk. 4: 18), which in turn brings “release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind.” A better understanding of this kingdom that brings freedom for the oppressed, and the year of the Lord’s favor, will be our prime concern!
You have probably noticed that I say ‘our concern’ and not ‘my concern.’ While I will be administrating this BLOG space, I encourage all to interact with thoughts, ideas, etc… Feel free to reply to posts and one another often, and honestly. To comment, just click 'Comments' below and follow the instructions. That is the only way we will learn, or get anything out of this.
One last thing. This is not a ‘church program’ or bible study in the traditional sense. Yes, we will talk about the bible, since it is our sacred scripture. But there is no set format, or planned schedule. I will write about things that are impacting our church, our community, and our lives. I may ask questions without clear answers. Sometimes you may agree with what I am thinking and writing- other times not. But it is more about conversation than anything else. So I invite you to join me from time to time, and please share your thoughts and feelings.