"Without the Holy Spirit God is far away.
Christ stays in the past,
the Gospel is simply an organization,
authority a matter of propaganda,
the liturgy is no more than an evolution,
Christian loving a slave morality.
But in the Holy Spirit,
the cosmos is resurrected and grows
with the birth pangs of the Kingdom,
the Risen Christ is there,
the Gospel is the power of life,
the Church shows forth the life of the Trinity,
authority is a liberating science,
mission is Pentecost,
the liturgy is both renewal and anticipation,
human action is deified. "
-The Metropolitan Ignatius of Latakia (1968)
I am currently reading a book titled,
Change Agents, by Steve Chalke in which he shares little nuggets of leadership gems. In the introduction he speaks of the church he is leading, which has a rich history. The church founded and ran schools in London before the government got involved with standardized education. His church was the church of William Wilberforce, who worked to eradicate slavery in England. In centuries past many political meetings took place in the church throughout the week. The church set up many of the soccer clubs that are huge in the UK today. George Williams, the founder of the YMCA, was a long-term member of the church. And even on top of all of this the church acted as a hospital and housing placement center for the poor of London.
This once beacon of light had dwindled down to less than 20 members before Steve took over in 2003. The impact it once had on London, only remained as a proud memory of years past. Steve has been working to change that, trying to find ways that the church can show Jesus’ love seven days a week to the people in the city who need it most.
I then heard at a separate event I was attending that some people here in America believe that churches are in danger of losing their tax exempt status. The reason for this being that the tax exempt status was given to churches due to the fact that they provided such great benefits to the communities they are in. The question then becomes, what benefits are churches providing to their communities?
I am sure there are some people in D.C. who would love to get taxes from churches, and truthfully maybe churches should have to pay like everyone else. If they aren’t improving their communities, if they aren’t ushering the Kingdom of Heaven in a tangible way, if they don’t feed the hungry, clothe the cold, love the broken, then maybe they are just a non-alcoholic Moose Lodge. And maybe they are nothing more than the neighborhood pub where you can hear a motivational life message.
I long for the churches of old, that grow a more loved community, not a bigger church. I yearn for churches that care more about the mission of God than the Sunday message of the Pastor. What if churches were once again more influential Monday through Saturday than they were on Sunday morning? What if the Kingdom of Heaven brought good news for all again, not just the 20 people who fill the wooden pews on Sunday Morning?
* This is a blanket statement of course, some churches are doing just what Jesus did, but I still like to rant and rave :)…thanks for listening to me.
*Oh and the book,
Change Agents is great, if you need a leadership pick me up, pick it up!
Brian McLaren’s new book, Everything Must Change, has really been challenging me. The concept of stopping the suicide machine is stuck in my head. Brian’s relentless pursuit of Jesus’ answers to the greatest crises of our day compels me also to look to Jesus. Some people spend too much time pointing out Brian’s flaws and spend too little time looking with him to the hope we have in Jesus. Each new book he writes continues to challenge and draw me closer to God and His Kingdom.
I thought it would be fun to make my dream soundtrack to the book, Everything Must Change (after all Brian McLaren is making his own : ) ). It would be fun to see what songs others would choose for their soundtrack too. Here is my mix:
1. Pig, by David Matthews Band (Live in Boston Soundtrack is my favorite)
2. What About Them, John Reuben (Boy Vs. the Cynic)*
3. Waiting On the World to Change, John Mayer (Continuum)
4. Nuisance, John Reuben (Boy Vs. the Cynic)
5. Boy Vs. the Cynic, John Reuben (Boy Vs. the Cynic)
6. Share in the Blame, Caedmon’s Call (Overdressed)
7. King and a Kingdom, Derek Webb (the album Zero version is my favorite)
8. Safe, Justin McRoberts (Grace Must Wound…)#
9. Surely We Can Change, David Crowder Band (Remedy)
10. I’ve Been Wrong, The Elms (The Chess Hotel)
11. This Too Shall Be Made Right, Derek Webb (The Ringing Bell)
12. Alrightokuhhuhamen, Rich Mullins (Songs)+
*Even if you are not a fan of hip hop…give this whole album a listen. It will make you think, it will make you hurt, then it will give you hope!
#If you haven’t picked up this album, give it a chance…it is a great album as well.
+Songs about hope always have to include Rich!
It is 11 something (in the PM) and everyone in the house is asleep and I am here playing on the new family toy. We purchased a new computer for the family, we mostly bought it because I bought into the hype of a computer that is good for graphics and also bucks "the man" who ever he is.
In my attempts to avoid deep night dreams where I chase bats from our peaceful village I have decided to write a blog centering around my desire for new. Mostly new stuff…
I loved it a few years ago when I got my new iPod, even though it did not give me any new music or even new places to play my music, it just gave me a new format to play the same music in the same place I have always played it. And the most newest gift that it keeps on giving is a reoccurring crashing hard drive. Needless to say this was one apple I should have left on the tree.
Fruit isn’t the only problem though. I also get sucked in about every year and a half into a new cell phone. I bet my great grandfather only ever had one phone his whole life. Not me, I go through them like they are phone books. Each year the new phone looks cheaper and smaller (Zoolander may become a bit of a prophet in this), and yet the bill gets larger and larger. But my phone can do a lot of cool things my grandfathers couldn’t (e.g. Tv, music, video, camera), but I will never experience that because I don’t want to pay the extra subscription fees. But hey I got the phone so I could if I want to buddy. Can you hear me now?
About a year ago it was start of the NBA Basketball season and my old hand me down TV I got from dad was sort of breaking (I think because of all of the marijuana residue in the wiring…another blog for another time, but ask me about it…kind of a weird story I guess) and it couldn’t get certain channels anymore. And I needed to see my beloved Pistons play. What is the answer to this dilemma one may ask? Go to a friend’s house to watch? The local watering hole? A fine chain restaurant? NO! I went to Sam’s and bought a big screen. I really don’t remember all the details, but trust me it seemed logical at the time. (Now I have to note here that the newness of this still hasn’t worn off…yet). Now I can watch every channel my heart desires and all of “life” that I missed before I had a proper TV can pass me by at a little larger than____. But if you could see the clarity! HA!
As I type on this new, most expensive piece of fruit I have ever purchased, I wonder at the newness of it all. It is similar to when I was a kid, needing that new pair of shoes to play basketball. And once I got the shoes I never wanted them to get dirty. I never wanted them for the purpose I begged my mom. I just wanted them to show the world I can acquire, I can conquer.
I do that with God too I guess. Checking off each layer I peel back. Proving I own a little more of Him and His message. Sadly, I always seem to break what he creates or never really fully utilize or understand it, but at least I can say I have it.
I don’t think I like the gospel of newness. It seems better for the first week, but once someone steps on my shoes the gospel has ended. Then I either have to start the pursuit over again or change my gospel. I think I want to change my gospel…
But not this time…I just got a MAC YA’LL!!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!
It was months ago that I sat with my friend
Byron and listened to him talk about the Bible verse John 3:16 and how “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son”. The word “world” in this phrase, Byron went on to explain, means “k(c)osmos”. Or put in other terms “earth” or even the “whole universe”.
In the months since that conversation, I can’t help but dwell on how in my life I have made that verse all about Damon. I have replaced the word “world” with the word “Damon”. In my defense, there are Bibles out there that you can order specially printed with your name inserted all throughout the Bible Text, including this verse. Nevertheless, I have taken an infinite God’s love and made it as finite as me (and that is pretty finite). What a scary thought!
Now I am definitely willing to admit the world (both the good and the less) has its influence on me. But I think I have been unwilling to admit my weight, or lack there of, on the world. In my over concern with God’s love for me, have I withdrawn myself from the cosmos? Thus creating a less desirable, more difficult to redeem planet?
In the light of recent cataclysmic and even human caused disasters I have heard many people question where God is. I agree this question must be explored by the thinking person. But I think too often we end our exploration here. God is blamed, because after all, if he loves “me” and all of the “me’s” of this earth how could this happen? Well I am finally figuring out how it is happening. It is happening due to poor theology…yep…poor theology (okay may not due to poor theology, but at least my view of theology shapes how I understand the world’s suffering and cry for redemption).
After the Tsunami, one radio emcee questioned how could a God allow this? He asked where God was. And I listened thinking, where was the disc jockey ? Where were all of the people who saw on the radar this was a possibility and yet did nothing? But the real question remains, where was I? Absent. Not to be seen. There were people helping and they are the only ones who really reserve the right to ask where God was. Surprisingly enough most of them felt God there. How many of them felt me? Once again, God’s love for His world was present and my love was not.
So if the cosmos, including all kinds of creation in all kinds of suffering, feels God and cries for God isn’t that a signpost that He is there (and here)? And if they don’t feel my impact and aren’t bettered by my presence then what does that mean of me?
I no longer question where God was or is. I believe he really does love the cosmos he created. I believe he was there with those people. The person who wasn’t there was me. The person that could have help was me. The person who claims to love what God loves is me. Where was I? Could it be that by my absence from this world I (and so many other “I's" out there) am the one who doesn’t exist? Not in a physical sense, but by lack of impact. So truly I am not an Atheist, but maybe an “aDamonist”. I doubt my own existence or presence in the world that God loves. I have been deficient because I have been lost in the only world I thought God loves; me. After all, I thought it meant only, “for God so loves Damon.” But maybe as a recently converted “aDamonist” I am being too harsh on myself. And maybe since God loves all of the cosmos, which to my enjoyment includes me, I better start gaining some faith here too. Hey Brian,
Everything Must Change! Hey
Byron, I think I am starting to love the cosmos too!
Labels: God and me
G. K. Chesterton once said something to the effect of the only way to be free of consumerism is to acquire more or desire less. I think it is easier to earn money than it is to desire less. And I am scared to rock the boat. So until I shut off my cable I will accumulate. Then when I finally stop living in iPod cities and waking up with the King I will decide that I don't need any of that. All I need is this chair...and that's all I need too...I don't even need my dog...that is unless you want him.
Buy one less thing this week. Hug one more German (they need it). Give $5 away at one time and give it to someone who needs it less than you (maybe they will buy something you wanted and then you can't have it). Swear one time when no one is around and make it a funny one (bonus points if it makes you laugh out loud). Let one person cut in line. And finally, pray a prayer that is so honest most religions wouldn't think it a prayer at all.
It's okay to buy. It's not okay to be bought...
