My New Kindle DX

Just got my new Kindle DX. I'm looking forward to filling it up with great books and to carrying a lighter suitcase on my travels ahead. I never thought I'd abandoned the idea of a hard copy in my hand. But... I like this thing. Teachings and messages can be filed away in the Kindle by putting them in a PDF format. The advantage over using a personal computer (when teaching), is the amazing battery life of the Kindle (lasts many days). I find that my computer brightness has to be set quite low to get through several hours of teaching when in Africa or India without power access. 

YOUR FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE

QUESTION: What's the deal with American church life these days? Sometimes it seems (AT LEAST TO ME) little more than an exercise in missing the point. Routinely hanging with God's people in nations far and wide, I can honestly say that things don't seem to be much different (i.e. healthier) 'over there' (though many missionaries talk as if they are- it is good for funding!). Why should things be much different? Hasn't the Western world has laid down the pattern through much of its mission work? 


ANOTHER QUESTION: Why does the American church function and 'think' (theologize) in a way that suggests that the living God stopped doing anything new or fresh after the Reformation? 


I agree with Brian McLaren and others: Faithfulness requires that 'everything must change'! The church is in real trouble if it does not change (*a change that starts with its self-serving leaders). I remember hearing a message by Tim Timmons years ago and I've never forgotten its title: "We're Only Talking to Ourselves."  I think that we preach to and serve ourselves- the way we do- because our faith is actually so weak and, we ourselves, though we will not readily admit it, feel so lost.


Recall the old ad campaign: "This is not your father's Oldsmobile." The campaign helped sell more cars for a season, however, the Oldsmobile eventually went along the wayside with other clunkers.  Some say that the problem was that the 'new' car truly was just like father's Oldsmobile.


For several decades now, my generation (the Baby Boomers- and after them, the Busters) have tried to convince our culture that everything 'has' changed with the church. Actually, all we did was dress up the same old Oldsmobile. We got rid of the big tail fins, added slick new wheels, leather interiors, and 'navigational systems'. BTW- What good is a navigational system if you don't know where you're going?


Over these decades while I've been in ministry, at least from my point of view, the American church (dare I say, 'we' go include 'me') has essentially been about promoting itself; letting the world know 'they' are 'lost' and 'we' are 'saved'; keeping the church coffers full so we can build bigger and more comfortable buildings (sometimes more attractive, funky, and high-tech, or 'buildings-that-don't-like-churches buildings'), bigger budgets and staff ('Staff'- the Professionals- e.g. media pastors (what the heck is that?); executive pastors (does that mean he/ she finally makes decisions?); Church CEOs (I cannot believe that some even dare use this title- though, at least they are more honest than others who act this way but never claim the title); more members and baptisms, and an array of other basically self-serving programs.  


It is curious that, under our last presidential administration, surveys showed that those who regularly attended church in America were more likely to support the idea of torturing our nation's enemies in order to get information what would keep us 'safe'. What's wrong with this picture?  I suspect that those who attend church regularly would also be more likely to say this about the present healthcare debate in our nation: "Why should we pay for them?"  Anything seem strange about this? Maybe Peter Rollins is correct when he suggests that there may be a certain 'fidelity in betrayal' (that is, betraying one's family to stand with those who believe something or live something closer to the truth). My wife just added: "You can dress up a corpse but it is still dead."




No. It is not about dressing up the old (or dead). It is about getting on to what Jesus wanted all along: a people he could call his own who are ruled by the inconvenient, messy, and 'selfless' rule of love.  "And love seeks not its own."


Well, enough. Gotta go. My Oldsmobile is idling out in the driveway.

A Disposable Planet? God Help Us!

A friend just directed me to a quote by a popular pastor and author- one of those "I-can't-believe-he-actually-said-that" quotes. The author's comment 'unearths' some unfortunate and persistent beliefs that reside deep in the hearts of many who align themselves with Jesus in our day. I hope we soon grow up and grow beyond this kind of thinking. Here's the quote:

"The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever. But we know that isn’t in God’s plan… The earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet. It is, frankly, a disposable planet—it is going to have a very short life. It’s been around about six thousand years or so—that’s all—and it may last a few thousand more. And then the Lord is going to destroy it…. I’ve told environmentalists that if they think humanity is wrecking the planet, wait until they see what Jesus does to it. Peter says God is going to literally turn it in on itself in an atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence (2 Peter 3:7-13)."

'A disposable planet'? You mean, like the paper cup I tossed after drinking Starbucks this morning? Is it that simple? Give me a break! Is there no awe and wonder for the majesty of creation? What about the first command- to care for the garden?

'An atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence'? Really. Is that what Peter is saying? Are you sure? This has huge consequences on how we treat our home (and, at this point, this is the only home we've got), so you'd better be sure in what you are saying, my friend.

'It's [i.e. planet Earth] been around about six thousand years or so'? Say what? Are you reading anything besides your Bible (guided by your rigid and arcane traditions)? How can any thinking lover of Jesus believe this earth has only been around for six thousand years? Do we just ignore all the data that is pressing in on us- pass it off as a big 'anti-God marketing campaign'? Is it all that simple? Are scientists that dishonest (and, quite frankly, are they that good at conjuring up false data)? If they are, what would be their motivation for doing so? Do scientists really spend all of their time just trying to prove that God has nothing to do with the natural world around us? I don't think so. [If we never listened to what the scientists had to say, we'd still believe the earth is flat and that the earth is the center of the universe].

I'm sure that there are a few extreme environmentalists who are 'consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever'. But, more of them (more of us) just want to able to hand their children a planet worth living on- a planet that doesn't look and smell like a global garbage dump; a planet that has a few trees and animals left on it; a planet that still has some potable water and soil that can grow good veggies; a planet that still has few places worth visiting just to enjoy the view they offer. 

[BTW- In climbing Kilimanjaro 18 months ago, I noticed that there wasn't much left of the mountain's famous glacier. 


-In traveling to the far eastern corner of India, I discovered that it is hard to find even one beautiful bird flying free in the Naga Hills where the hornbill once dominated the skies along with hundreds of other aviary delights. 

-In crisscrossing Africa over 16 years, I've found that there really are no animals left in the Dark Continent except for those that have been imported (especially dogs and donkeys) and those protected in the national preserves (and even these are slowly passing. Zambia has two white rhino left in the whole country. They are alive only because they are living under the watchful eye of armed guards in the Mosi National Park). 


Just wondering whether my grandkids will have the privilege of seeing the 'snows of Kilimanjaro', the 'Big Five' of Africa, or vista worth beholding.

For the rest of the comments made by the author quoted above, go to his blog: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A148_Evangelicalism-and-the-Environmental-Movement?q=I+ve+told+environmentalists

Trees Matter to God? Come on.

Twenty years ago, I pushed for the name "Oakbrook Church" for what was then our crippled, little Christ Baptist Church of Reston, Virginia. Isaiah 61:3 is the Biblical passage that inspired the new name: "And they shall be called 'Oaks of Righteousness', a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." 


I think Isaiah is saying something like this: "Just as God planted trees in order to display his glory, so he plants us for the same reason." As God's people, we seem to get the second part of this statement (i.e. that we are made for God's glory). However, most American Jesus-lovers miss the first part (that earthy things- like trees- are also made for his glory). 


I wonder: "Is this why so many feel free to exploit the natural world in any way that suits them or seems expedient? Is this why the customary message preached in the American pulpit makes much of heaven but little of earth? ("God I hope there's a heaven because there ain't much earth left that's livable!")


According to Isaiah 61:3, trees and earthly stuff matter to God just as we do! Maybe we need a new narrative that includes the redemption of trees, rocks, and creeping, crawling things too. 


Just maybe it is supposed to work this way: "God redeems us and then we redeem the earth."  Hmm. ("And all the trees shall clap their hands!")

Tied to the Mast

We all love a sense of certainty, don't we? Certainty can lead one to feeling secure (even if the certainty is only an illusion).


Here's a question: "Should we continue to tell the same old story of God, Jesus, salvation history, and our narrative concerning where this whole thing is all going... without rethinking whether we (or 'they'- i.e. those who passed it along to us) truly got things right in the first place?"


What if the larger story line (as told by family and friends throughout history) actually took a detour from the Biblical narrative years ago? What if we've now become defenders and promoters of a narrative that is no longer able to bring life to this world? 


In these days of life in my 50s, I am trying to re-read the Biblical narrative without giving in to the siren voices of Church history. I am trying to forget what my teachers taught me and to enter into a conversation with Scripture anew. This is not easily accomplished. Those sirens continue to sing from the shore begging me to join them (and thus to stay faithful to the same old company line. [But what if the company line is faithful to the sirens of Church history but not the Spirit of God?]). 

And so, with some measure of fear, I tie myself to the mast and keep looking straight ahead.

Travels: Zambia- Hope College

I’ve had a great time of teaching with the students at Hope College, Lusaka, Zambia: Twenty-one bright-eyed, passionate, and open hearts drinking in the fresh insights on the life, person and work of Jesus Christ.

I find some of these leaders are so hungry for deeper knowledge of God’s Word and for an increase of personal growth that it really feels like a teacher's paradise.

It is in times like these that I see clearly that God has shaped and designed me for this ministry of cross-cultural teaching. It is truly a deposit God has placed within me and the fruit bears witness that this is God’s call upon my life. I am truly in my element and feel great liberty when strengthening indigenous, international leaders and when taking them to the next level in their theological and spiritual development.

Thanks you so much for your ongoing prayers and support. Tomorrow I will be teaching in the church of a former student of mine from my very first visit here in Zambia back in 2004. Richard Banda’s ministry has been greatly expanded by his encounters with the many teachers who have invested into his life through Hope College. Blessings!

Cold to the Bone

No matter what I did, I just couldnot get rid of the strange chill had descended into my body. Nothing was working to draw the coldness out of my bones- not closing the windows; not cranking up the thermostat; not even crawling under blankets. That is, until drew a tub of piping hot water and sank my frozen carcus into its deep, overwhelming heat. 

The process is called "heat exchange." When there's cold conditions residing inside a thing, overwhelming heat applied from the outside is sometimes able to penetrate its exterior to exchange its heat for cold.

Sometimes a chill resides in our heart and nothing will draw it out except overwhelming heat. We need a "heat exchange."

It is actually a work of God's grace when I sense that a chill resides within me. This is God's way of telling me that something is wrong on the inside and that He wants me to move toward His source of heat.

What are the heat sources God most uses to thaw out a frozen heart?

In my thinking, this is essentially the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God's Heat Exchanger. In most cases, the Spirit's presence must be invited and then received. It's like actively drawing a piping hot tub of water and then sinking deep down into it. To get all the coldness out, one must linger in the Spirit's presence.

One of the first signs that I've become inhabited by a frozen heart is when I see a lack of love and grace flowing out of my life. Unfortunately, others may see this before I do. Love and grace working in us also works on us, and... soon begins to work out of us.

Another sign that my heart lacks heat is when I no longer cherish or take time to meditate on the Word of God. Little by little, God's Word is able to melt the icy human heart. Cold hearts tend to turn a cold shoulder to God's voice. Once again, we must actively draw a piping hot tub of water and linger in God's Word.

So how's your heart today? Need a heat exchange? Take action and move toward a source of overwhelming heat.

Falling Asleep

Sleep has always been an interest to me. As a child, I'd awaken in the morning and try to recall the last seconds before fading away. I could never bring back those last few moments to find the line between consciousness and slumber. What's so strange about sleep is that you don't really know when you're sleeping until you're finally awake.

This is also true about spiritual slumber. You know when you're spirit is sharply attuned, conscious of God's presence, and filled with the wonder of life and grace, but you can easily go on dreaming all the while thinking you're awake.

Sometimes we sleep so deeply that we need someone else's help to wake us up. My daughter often sleeps through her alarm until I finally shuffle down the hall and call her name. God's Spirit has lovingly done that for me many a time.

The Apostle Paul says, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you."

Parenting, Head Drilling, and Shame-less Lov

A mother spoke angrily to her adult child, "I thought your father and I drilled that into our children's heads just like our parents did to us. I am very disappointed in you!” Then, she hung up the phone. Over hearing this conversation, I thought: "’Drilling’ for is wood, for finding oil, and for military and marching band training. It’s not the way to practice good parenting."

Parents must touch a child's heart with shame-less love. A comment like the one above only serves to distance one's child and cause a fracture in the relationship by bringing deep hurt down upon the child’s heart. This is really more about parent's own needs than the child's needs. It is really saying, "If I'm going to feel good about you, if you’re going to get my love, I need you to be just like me."

Can you see how this parent was employing shame in an attempt to bring about the change she wanted to see in her child? I’ve noticed that parents who see their role as "drillers" eventually become "shamers." It's the only thing they can fall back on when they discover that all their drilling just didn't produce what they hoped it would produce. No, we don't drill things into our children's heads. We touch their hearts with genuine unconditional love- a consistent love that hangs in there, no ‘strings attached’, a ‘shame-less love’.

A good deal of shame-based parenting can be observed among well-meaning people who call themselves Christians. This is often what the world is reacting against when it considers the message of God’s people. 


The fact is, shame never really gets a healthy response from anyone, let alone our children. This is because it is not possible for shame to foster depth in relationships of any kind. Shaming erodes another's sense of being loved- and love with what children and the world around us need. Shame is an attack on another’s ‘person’ with hopes of altering their behavior. It says, “If you want a relationship with me, you must change to get my love.” The response- if there is one- is simply that of another person either hardening their heart toward the one doing the shaming, or acting in an effort to feel secure once again in the person’s approval they have “dis-graced”. (Just think about that word for a moment).  One thing is for sure: if the person's behavior is altered in any way, it does not flow from a changed heart but from a exploited heart.

By it's very nature, shame always withholds love and invites the other to act in a way that will earn the right to be loved again. But this is not genuine love because genuine godly love is not earned- it is freely given. There is nothing of God’s love in this kind of business transaction.

A parent must continually demonstrate to the child that there is nothing that child can ever do or say that will turn away the parent's freely given love. This will definitely require a parent’s full dependency on God’s grace.

This kind of parental love requires that we handle our children with deep respect- respect for their questions (even the questioning of their parent), respect for their feelings, respect for their ideas (even when they differ from the parent), respect  for their differences (with the parent him or herself). Of course, as our children grow older, the differences become more and more evident to the parent. Though this can be quite disconcerting at times, a parent must never forget to Whom their child ultimately belongs.

Good parenting is willing to make a deep investment 'of time- over time'- time spent showing an interest in the child; time encouraging the child; time invested in praying for God's best for the child. I've found that prayer not only helps me see my child (even my adult children) with new and tender eyes, but it also helps me see myself and my reactions to them in a clearer light.

For younger parents, it might help to know from an older parent that a healthy relationship with our adult children starts when our children are very small. It can get more difficult as they grow and mature, especially in the adolescent years, however, the ‘welcoming heart’ of a child first opens when they are very young. The secret is to keep that door open as they grow into adulthood and never use shame to motivate them. Surround them with unconditional love, always keeping an open and tender heart toward them.

Of course, no one can love unconditionally all the time. It is a fact of our nature that we all blow it. When we do, we need to humbly admit it and then do the right thing by confessing our wrong and asking for forgiveness. Since more is caught than taught, how we respond to our heavenly Father when we’ve blown it may be one of the healthiest practices we demonstrate to our children. As long as we are they parent, they need to witness how we running after the grace flowing from God's heart.

By the way, the parent is also a child. That means our children watch how we treat our parents (whether they are alive or passed on). You've it heard: "What goes around, comes around”? God says something very similar: "Watch out. Have you not heard: You reap what you sow?" How do I as a parent want my children to respond to me? Well, I must treat my own parents the same way.

No. You cannot just drill things into a child's head (sort of reminds me of the old psychiatric practice of performing a lobotomy to a person’s change behavior or drilling in the cranium to let out the bad spirits). A better approach: Touch and nurture the child's heart with shame-less, never-ending love.

No Mapquest For Life

It is in our nature to be dreamers and schemers. But it is quite a sobering thought if we believe Solomon's observation: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

We generally live as if we are in the driver's seat of Life. Dreaming our dreams and following our schemes, we are surprised when our life takes a sharp left turn or careenes out of control. Sometimes it  

doesn't seem to matter what we do with the steering wheel, we're just not going get this thing back under our control.

God reminds us that mysterious twists and turns are always waiting on the road up ahead. You can't just plug Life into Mapquest and get the most direct route. It is more complicated than that.

Perhaps it would help us to factor a few truths into our route planning. For example, none of us really understands all that God has in mind for us. Of course, He knows, but He's not telling.

Sometimes we're traveling to fast and we need to put on the brakes, turn off the engine, and just take time to listen for the voice of God. Often it cannot be heard over the roar of the racing engine.

At other times, maybe we may need to keep moving forward and simply trust God to guide us when it is time to alter the route. And what if we miss a turn? Like a good GPS, the Spirit of God has no problem getting us back on track again.

Surely it is good to plan, dream dreams, and live our lives as best we can. But we're not alone on this journey. God and many others around us want to participate in our travels as well. Certainly God won't make all of our daily decisions for us, but He does want to have His say. And let's not forget that there are good friends and kindred spirits who want to help us along the way.

Solomon saw that God has more to do with the outcomes, disappointments, and challenges of our lives than we readily accept. Factoring this truth into our plans and learning to relax into His loving grace allows us to live with less anxiety as well as less self-praise.

In the end, this is all a matter of trusting in God's good heart. He really does intend to do us good. God isn't like a man that He would make promises and then not keep them.

It was through sign language that the amazing Helen Keller once said, "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." Take a cue from Helen and dare to embrace the adventure of Life. Unlike Helen, you ARE fully able to see and hear. So be sure to check out the view around you and listen to the amazing sounds along the way, even when you're traveling down a side road feeling a bit lost. My friend, you may indeed be lost. Nevertheless, your God is never lost and He knows where He's taking you.

Welcoming Otherness

Something is being stirred. I am certain it is by God's grace. After nearly 30 years together, a fresh tenderness is coming through my heart toward the wife of my youth. It's as if I've been given new eyes to see her captivating beauty; new hands to gently hold her; new freedom to look straight into her soul beholding the wonder and mystery that resides there in her 'welcoming otherness'.

Once again, I realize that I can never fully know Rebecca. I can only love her, be received by her, and enjoy engaging all that remains concealed within her as someone distinct from me. This is the mystery of relationship- a dramatic parable for the 'welcoming otherness' of God- the God in whom we find a bottomless ocean of unending love, wonder, and mystery- both welcoming and residing.

It is easy to take for granted one's lover- whether wife or Savior. It is easy to live alongside of one who, in faithfulness, never goes away while missing the opportunity to look deep into the soul of the lover. It is easy to overlook Love's generous invitation; to merely glance in Love's direction never beholding its welcome to the deeper relationship of knowing yet never fully knowing.

Seasons like this remind me of how little I know about life and love.

Yet, this much I do know for certain: God's grace does not abandon me. The Chief Lover of my Soul is determined to give me new eyes... that I might once again turn and engage my Love. And when I do, He romances me and 'takes my breath away' with His 'welcoming otherness' that never forsakes me.*

* [the Biblical word 'holy' is rendered most simply 'other']

Soul Radiation

Light does not always produce heat, especially when you're in the shadows.

Under a brightly lit, cloudless, blue canopy, I peddled my way along the streets of the District to my favorite morning coffee shop. Uniformed city workers- shivering and clutching themselves- hurried along sidewalks to punch the clock and escape the frigid air. Cabbies outside Starbucks, paper coffee cups in hand, braved the chill, standing closer together than usual, in their ritual of friendship. Perhaps they were hoping to drink in warmth from bodies of buddies as well as coffee.

Dressed for the cool morning, I picked up my usual and headed to the quiet, urban garden where I often read, reflect, and pray. Even there, in this little city sanctuary, I thought I heard the clattering of teeth. Perhaps it was the trees neatly planted amidst cement pots shaking from the root.

Suddenly, everything changed. The maze of high rise buildings gave way to the Sun's warm rays- rays falling upon my welcoming skin and sinking deep into my limbs and bones. Ah, the welcome of warmth.

As I said, light does not always produce heat, especially when you're in the shadows. So, what are the things that turn up the heat in your life? What do you do to place your life in the direct rays of God? What are the things that keep you in the shadow -away from the warmth that melts your otherwise shivering soul?

Light is good and necessary, but it is not enough. One must step out of the shadows as well to welcome the heat. How else can we ever expect our lives to radiate God's love on the chilly sidewalks of God's world, as people around us hurry to punch the clock, or gather together hoping even the presence of friends might bring warmth to their clattering bones?

Betrayal or Fidelity

When does betrayal actually become fidelity? Is it possible that to be 'faithful', one must betray his own Christianity? This is the question posed by Peter Rollin's in his book The Fidelity of Betrayal (Paraclete Press 2008).  Amazon

Think about this: Is it an act of fidelity or betrayal to reject Christianity in it's present 'religious' entrenchment? When faith has become synonymous with religious rites and creeds, belonging to an institution (whether young or old), or objectively 'believing' a set of doctrines- rather than living a transformed life of love- doesn't fidelity to Jesus require betrayal of even what might be precious to us?

The 'Kingdom of God' (the Reign of God) confronts every power structure and authority, turning them completely on their heads. This is true even of our own personal kingdoms, the 'kingdom each of us carries around in our breast' (Jean Calvin). Humility demands that we question even the unquestionable- our most precious traditions and preferences. Anything less is idolatry. 

Good Reads

The Awakened Heart, Gerald May    Amazon

Hidden Wholeness, Parker Palmer    Amazon

Unfettered Hope, Marva Dawn        Amazon

How (Not) to Speak About God, Peter Rollins   Amazon

"And the Free Market Shall Set You Free"

Why do so many American Christians stand firmly on extreme free market, capitalistic ideals, and, do so with near religious fevor? Where, I wonder, is our spiritual discernment concerning the collective human heart? Where is our ready recogition that God sees injustices woven into the fabric of all collective human dealings?

I've noticed that it is many times the same person who rejects the Darwinian principal of 'the survival of the fittest' (with respect to Creation), who indirectly embraces and promotes this very principal by saying it is required that all markets 'remain unrestrained' in order to create a safer & more just society.

Many show equal passion for political ideals as they do for the rules of love & charity. Remember, we, too, share the temptation of others around us- to protect our own positions and privileges rather than standing with the poor and disenfranchised. We subtly allow nationalistic and personal sentiments to ride piggyback on Kingdom aims.

"Doesn't it water down our prophetic and priestly voice when with the same voice we promote political systems as if these can solve society's myriad of problems?" Concerning Jesus lovers and politics: I do not advocate political passivity, just humility & healthy perspective.

Broken Glass

It's embarrassing when you blow it & everyone else knows it. There's the many stares & those thoughts written on peoples' faces: "I'm sure glad that wasn't me!"

I recently dropped an empty glass off a table in a crowded local restaurant. Time stood still as all heads turned in my direction & then to neighbors followed by whispers. Oh, that moment of painful silence! A rescue crew finally came- not one, but four employees arrived with cheerful smiles, brooms, & dustpans. Of course, all the commotion only seemed to add to the drama for onlooking spectators.

Still, I later thought about the four who happily competed to clean up my mess. I recalled the gracious way they spoke to me, their eagerness to serve me, the things they said: "Don't worry, Sir, this happens all the time. It's really no big deal! Is there anything we can get for you?"

God's people might take a cue from these restaurant workers. What if we actually did something helpful for those who really blow it & know it? What if, rather than simply joining the staring crowd in a chorus of public pity & whispers, rather than adding to their sense of shame, we graciously came to their side eager to love & serve? "Love covers [& helps clean up] a multitude of sins."

Misrepresentation

Speaking on the subject of the 1991 abduction of Jaycee Lee Dugard, her alleged abductor, sexual offender Phillip Garrido, and sexual offenders in general, Sheriff Warren E. Rupf said:

"...If they are sophisticated in any regard, it is in misrepresenting who they are, what they're about, and what motivates them."

Take a moment to step back from this horrible crime committed by Garrido and consider Sheriff Rupf's statement with respect to your own life. Isn't this statement equally true of many who are not sexual predators? Isn't it true that many who claim to be following Jesus (even outwardly appear to be doing so), are equally as 'sophisticated' as Mr. Garrido in creating the appearance of integrity?

Love-Less Religion

There's so much shouting, bickering, & 'love-less' religion these days. Jesus showed the way of love. It's not doctrine, belief systems, or religious rituals that come to mind when we think of our Savior. It's love. He saves us through love, for love, & TO love. 'New Birth' is the birthing of a new lover. When it comes to doctrine, we ask the Lover of our soul, "What is the greatest command?" Sidestepping the question, he points us toward love.

People of God Connecting with Post-Modernity

In every corner of the Kingdom of God, especially in the West, people are talking about the need for followers of Jesus to do a 're-think' in the light of these 'postmodern' times. (In non-Western corners of the Kingdom, the phrase most used is 'post-colonialism'. In general, these terms refer to the same thing). How do we do ministry in changing times? This blog post does not aim to answer that question. My sense is that we have to engage in a good deal of dialogue before we can adequately answer that question. This post aims to move the conversation along by contrasting those characteristics most associated with 'modern' times and those we are seeing emerge in these 'postmodern' times.

Postmodernism is an academic term. John Franke, the Reformed theologian, writes that, “The term is best understood as referring primarily to the rejection of the central features of modernity. Broadly speaking, the term postmodern implies the rejection of certain central features of the modern project, such as its quest for certain, objective and universal knowledge, along with its dualism and its assumption of the inherent goodness of knowledge. It is this critical agenda, rather than any proposed constructive paradigm to replace the modern vision, that unites postmodern thinkers.” Amazon

Below you will find a chart contrasting modernity and postmodernity- the great paradigmatic shift that has taken place in the Western world:

Modernity
Facts, observation and logic
Trust absolute truth
Biblical Monotheism - One absolute truth
Relationship with reality by attempting to discern the absolutes
Faith doctrines of absolutism: base beliefs, values and hope on a revealed doctrine
Objective knowledge (religious, mathematical, historical record, etc.) that support absolutist doctrine
Follow Biblical or cultural standards which are considered inherently correct
Sexual guidelines and boundaries fixed by absolutist doctrine
Judge right and wrong by absolute standards
Hard scientific or religious perspective favored
Emphasize creed or logical proposition
Desires to see all embrace the absolutist doctrine
Biblical evangelism makes sense
Contact with "other gods" forbidden

Postmodernity

Facts and truth are created by assumptions

Reject absolute truth - point out assumptions

Spiritual pluralism - all religions require assumptive reasoning and are therefore equal

Relationship with the group that benefits you the most

Moral relativism: base beliefs, values and hope on agreed upon doctrine

Seeks objective knowledge and reworks doctrines to include or ignore said knowledge

Create your own standards and values: society should grant as much right to this as possible

Humans free to choose their own sexuality and identity

No right or wrong lifestyles except those agreed upon

Radical science (Chaos Theory, Shrodinger’s Cat) and transcendent, mysterious spirituality favored

Emphasize story, personal discovery, journey

Celebrates a diversity of post-modern spirituality

Biblical truth irrelevant (dismiss whatever doesn’t feel compatible with personal journey)

Other gods and culture produce ultimate peace and oneness to their believers

Before We React
Before Western Jesus followers react to the many challenging characteristics of postmodernity highlighted above (such as, moral relativism), we might do well to ask ourselves this question: "Are there any points of contact between Biblical Christianity and postmodernity?" I think there are- quite a number of them. Consider the following ten points of contact followers of Jesus we can begin building upon:

- postmodernity's recognition of the essentially spiritual nature of life
-postmodernity's openness and desire for community
-postmodernity's rejection of authority in position and acceptance of authority in relationship
-postmodernity's emphasis on participation over spectator mentality
-postmodernity's embrace of leadership by wisdom and example not knowledge or position
-postmodernity's emphasis on practical answers, “walk” over “talk”
-postmodernity's emphasis on journey and process over goal
-postmodernity's desire for experience over knowledge, the “subjective” and mystical dimension
-postmodernity's preference for spontaneous order over rational structure, webs of connection and meaning
-postmodernity's recognition of truth in paradox, images and story 

Interesting, huh? Many of these points of connection provide some very strategic opportunities for the church to touch postmoderns in our day. Let's keep the conversation going.

(Written 6/22/2006)

Is Old Wine Really Better?

People of refined taste often prefer aged wine. That’s why it costs so much more. But is aged wine really better? According to Jesus, new wine is always God’s best.

The wine of God has to do with the Holy Spirit coming with present Kingdom life and power. Jesus suggests that we are God’s wineskins and that it is God’s wish to fill each one of His chosen vessels with fresh, satisfying, powerful, supernatural Heavenly wine.

Do you believe God wants to fill you with Heavenly new wine right now? He really does. Ah, but there may be a slight problem: “New wine demands new wineskins.” Generally, God’s people cannot be likened to new wineskins. We are often much too content with the old wine. Some believe the old wine to be enough. We are made in Christ to be continually filled with a fresh Heavenly Cabernet. What wonderful things we must be missing by not seeking God’s Heavenly new wine.

So, what is the difference between old and new wine? New wine is still in the process of fermenting. It is alive with life and the potential for change. To receive such wine, the wineskin must be unusually pliable. Its elasticity allows the skin to move with the fermenting wine. An old wine skin is brittle, immovable, stiff. It refuses to surrender its present shape or condition to the dynamic of life fermenting inside. If new wine is poured into an old wineskin, the wine will be wasted as the old, rigid skin bursts.

God only gives new wine. Unless we become new wineskins- fresh, pliable, virginal (if you will), “child-like” (knowing nothing but wanting all God has to give of Himself)- we cannot experience or receive all that God has for us now. Interestingly, when the people of God built the second temple, the old wineskins said, “The glory of the former was better.” They could not receive the new because their hearts were still fixed upon the old. They refused to be like little children in their faith and see God’s new work with new eyes.

How can you and I become new wineskins? First, we must determine (with an absolute resolve) that the old wine no longer satisfies us- it has lost its appeal and power. We must no longer drink of it. Second, we must be utterly cleansed, renewed, and made virginal again. This is something God does in us when we press into God while holding on to absolutely nothing. Finally, we must desperately long to be filled and refuse to remain unfilled.

Jesus directs his disciples to a special God-given grace that is able to help us become freed of our “old wineskin-ness” and become God’s “new wineskins.” It is deep prayer and fasting. Look for yourself at Luke 5:33-39. It is not insignificant that the parable of the old wineskins follows Jesus’ teaching on prayer and fasting. He said, “One day, when the bridegroom has gone away, My disciples will fast.” Why pray and fast? That they (that we) might fully receive what He has promised of His Kingdom power and presence- embodied in the Spirit of Love, the Heavenly Dove.

Let us pray and fast that we might first be changed and then filled.
Scott V. Johnson, 11-2005