After my passionate tirade on "Closed for Christmas", I read Joe Carter's article on how many great men are kept out of the Great Battle because of their preoccupation over lesser squabbles. Sometimes I hate it when he's right.
Can we all just trust each other on this Christmas thing, proclaim the gospel, and get along? We are not the enemy, the enemy is the enemy. If we are truly to live an unfettered life, free from the chains that weigh us down we must seek to win the hearts and minds of the lost, not bicker within.
Merry Christmas, whenever you celebrate it.
The inn is empty, the manger is stinky, and the tomb is empty. A son is born.
Amen.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas. Yes, we're closed.
I'd like to start by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and direct your attention to the fact that God's response to a lost world that had turned its back on Him was to lean in and send His Son to be punished in its place. This is why we celebrate today.
Today is also Christian dirty laundry day, so excuse us while we air out a few things about what's being said about this "Closed for Christmas controversy", then, I'd like to ask a few questions that really demand an answer. (For those out of the loop, my home church is one of many that moved its Christmas services to a non Sunday day of the week.)
Read Adam Cleveland's blog entry. If you're serious about the debate and not just trying to vent, not just angry or disgusted, then I believe you really will wade through the facts and stories - I have. As an infant Christian attending a mega-church, I don't want to blindly follow the herd - you are wise to ask questions, but quit being so dogmatic. Read Scot McKnight's entry as well.
Ben is understandably up in arms over this, too. Question: If the reason for closing really was for fear that people would not attend, then yes, shame on us. But this is not the case - we are celebrating Christmas, just on a different day. He continues:
No, Ben. But we could celebrate with publicly on one day and have a more deeper, private celebration with our family on the actual birthday. How many kids would say "no" to two birthday parties? Neither would the Lord. Is God more pleased with what we do out of obligation or what we willingly give and with a cheerful heart? (Not rhetorical, just weigh the question for a moment).
"Kim" from one of the "offending" churches wrote on Adam Cleveland's blog:
While it's not about the numbers, they do tell a tale - her church is doing 17 services at 4 locations in 4 days for 50,000 people. What about that implies a lack of seriousness and dedication to glorifying the Lord's birthday?
My pastor, Andy, at NPCC, again shows why he's the senior pastor and I'm just sitting back, taking notes... [also at POMO - look for the whole response, I have no room to post it all and it deserves your attention]
For those of you steaming in anger or just scratching heads - how large an organization have you ever co-piloted before? How many people do your decisions directly effect? How many people have been baptized because of the organization God developed through your obedience and work effort? Is it possible that you are elevating the traditions of man over the commands of scripture? All respect is due to the offended because many of you have large, cogent, and wise responses,
Until you have lead thousands to Christ, employed hundreds of people and thousands of voluteers, and partnered with God to advance his kingdom beyond the four walls of the "little c" church, I ask you to hold your tongue and do any and all of these three things first.
Then cast your stones.
Amen.
P.S. Kudos to Christian Visioneer DJ Chuang for posting where we can go if our church is closed. I would add to that the following: bring gifts or a meal to a homeless shelter or shut-in. PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL! DJ, you rock!
Today is also Christian dirty laundry day, so excuse us while we air out a few things about what's being said about this "Closed for Christmas controversy", then, I'd like to ask a few questions that really demand an answer. (For those out of the loop, my home church is one of many that moved its Christmas services to a non Sunday day of the week.)
Read Adam Cleveland's blog entry. If you're serious about the debate and not just trying to vent, not just angry or disgusted, then I believe you really will wade through the facts and stories - I have. As an infant Christian attending a mega-church, I don't want to blindly follow the herd - you are wise to ask questions, but quit being so dogmatic. Read Scot McKnight's entry as well.
Ben is understandably up in arms over this, too. Question: If the reason for closing really was for fear that people would not attend, then yes, shame on us. But this is not the case - we are celebrating Christmas, just on a different day. He continues:
Here's another little thought. Would you willingly miss your own child's birthday? I don't think so if you really love your children. Why would you miss the birthday celebration of the birth of God' only begotten Son?
No, Ben. But we could celebrate with publicly on one day and have a more deeper, private celebration with our family on the actual birthday. How many kids would say "no" to two birthday parties? Neither would the Lord. Is God more pleased with what we do out of obligation or what we willingly give and with a cheerful heart? (Not rhetorical, just weigh the question for a moment).
"Kim" from one of the "offending" churches wrote on Adam Cleveland's blog:
At Willow we never have church on Christmas, preferring to celebrate the incarnation as a church family in the days leading up to Christmas instead. We don't have "holy days of obligation," nor do we need a priest present to worship God, so worshipping from our homes is not really a problem.
While it's not about the numbers, they do tell a tale - her church is doing 17 services at 4 locations in 4 days for 50,000 people. What about that implies a lack of seriousness and dedication to glorifying the Lord's birthday?
My pastor, Andy, at NPCC, again shows why he's the senior pastor and I'm just sitting back, taking notes... [also at POMO - look for the whole response, I have no room to post it all and it deserves your attention]
To begin with, we have called off church on the Sunday following Christmas since we started the church ten years ago[...] Every year I encourage our attenders to attend church somewhere else on that Sunday, or stay home and worship as a family , or gather with people from their small group.
The reason we shut everything down on the Sunday following Christmas is to honor our volunteers. [roughly 1800-2000 per Sunday...] The interesting thing is, we’ve never taken any heat for shutting down on a Sunday. I guess nobody was paying any attention.
[...] The way I read it, the spirituality of an individual or a group should be judged by their track record in two areas – love for one another and generosity with resources.
Bottom line, I may not be a very good Christian or pastor, but this Christmas season there are several hundred people who think I’m a good boss.
Merry Christmas
For those of you steaming in anger or just scratching heads - how large an organization have you ever co-piloted before? How many people do your decisions directly effect? How many people have been baptized because of the organization God developed through your obedience and work effort? Is it possible that you are elevating the traditions of man over the commands of scripture? All respect is due to the offended because many of you have large, cogent, and wise responses,
but most of you do not.
Until you have lead thousands to Christ, employed hundreds of people and thousands of voluteers, and partnered with God to advance his kingdom beyond the four walls of the "little c" church, I ask you to hold your tongue and do any and all of these three things first.
Then cast your stones.
Amen.
P.S. Kudos to Christian Visioneer DJ Chuang for posting where we can go if our church is closed. I would add to that the following: bring gifts or a meal to a homeless shelter or shut-in. PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL! DJ, you rock!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Reflections on The Chronicles of Narnia
I know what wrongs I will do and what rights I will fail to do when given the opportunity.
On our way back through the wintery woods, my brother, our friend Joey, and I ran into 5 or 6 kids about our age (about 13 at the time, for Joey and I, 10 for by brother). They were from the next town over, always picking fights for fights' sake, and today was no exception.
I wussed out and stood frozen, not by the snow, but my own fear of injury and greater numbers. One of the 12 year olds had started punching my young brother. Fortunately, Jay surprised us all with a few good blows that pursuaded our foes to seek fisticuffs elsewhere. While I forgot their faces decades ago, this cowardice haunted me for years as one of the most disturbing choices I made in my young life. It didn't do much to bolster my self-image or sibling relations.
John Maxwell wrote a book called "Failing Forward" that reminds us that we will fail, but we need not be weighed down nor stay down. "While you're down there, pick something up", he writes. Tonight, we saw C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", and I was reminded of these two truths again.
Growing up in what I thought to be a "traditional" Catholic environment, I learned that God was watching, waiting, and ready to punish me at every wrong turn. That pains many Catholics to hear, because some of the most devout of them know this was both poor delivery and application of their dogma. This theology, like that of the Evangelical community, is that left to ourselves, we will not only do wrong, but fail to do right, at many checkpoints in our lives. Like Edmund, the younger brother in the Narnia movie, I have felt hopeless to do right on my own and been wracked with guilt over my "sins of omission", as well. I have betrayed those closest to me, including my own self, and allowed my enemies to condemn me for this.
Are there parallels between Narnia and the Gospel? Many. The one that I find most liberating, most unfettering tonight, is that while I will often screw up, God will never beat me up, and He has promised to always lay Himself down. In Christianese, we would say He will not "forsake" (Aramaic: abandon) us. Aslan pardons Edmund and commands the three kids not to knock him for his betrayals. Jesus asks us to demonstrate our love for Him vis-a-vis our love and care for others. We need help to be saved from ourselves and the calamity that surrounds us as a result of the car crashes and IED's of everyone else's idiocy.
Now, that sounds cute and warm and fuzzy and thanks for beating your Bible for us, Mr. Ex-coward Who Can't Do Anything Right Even If He Wanted To. But, how is that relevant to me? Why does your 2000 year old book about shepherds and temples and deserts and morals matter to me today in 2005?
I'll take a stab at that: Lewis invites us to trust those who have failed us in the past, because as Lucy says in the movie "this isn't helping Edmond". He invites us to "become who we were meant to be". The God of the Bible invites us to practice His principles, which exclude beating one's self up over errors in the past. Rather, to grow stronger by learning from one's mistakes and seeking a truth larger than one's self, which leads to a transcendant understanding. In effect, not to be discouraged by what we see (our shrapnel-riddled choices) when we hold our lives up against a flawless hypothetical (God's perfect will for our lives), but to grow in spite of our misdeeds (or missed deeds).
So I ask my favorite question - "What if?" What if the Bible really is the inerrant word of God? What if there is knowledge therein that could help us to strip off the shackles of our own guilt and self ridicule? What if there are principles to be learned from a real, living God who has a plan to prosper us in spite of our own unwise choices? What if religion is a flagrantly abused institution based on a truly awesome relationship that went sour over time because of our own poor choices, which make us look back and say "how could I have been so foolish?" What if...
Was it a great movie? I don't know. I've never been smart enough to agree with the right critics until after the dust settles. I'm too ruled by my own emotions to give strong objective critique in well-argued statements.
And, think on these things. I could be an ideologue. I could be a weak minded fool. I could be looking for God where He isn't. If that's what you think, nothing I can say will sway you. But, experience this movie and shine its light on your failures, your strengths, your growth, your "a-ha" moments, and see what it tells you about yourself. Narnia is so accessible that a small, naive child can experience its full glory just because they give it a shot and as John Ortberg writes "God Is Closer Than You Think".
I didn't spell check or really sit down and edit, but feel free to critique those aspects of today's post anyway.
Relevant, timely truth from ancient teachings:
God is Closer Than You Think
The Barbarian Way (Erwin Raphael McManus)
Mosaic podcast (Erwin Raphael McManus)
Relevant Magazine
Catalyst Conference: Applying Biblical truth to your business, life, and relationships.
Inside Narnia
On our way back through the wintery woods, my brother, our friend Joey, and I ran into 5 or 6 kids about our age (about 13 at the time, for Joey and I, 10 for by brother). They were from the next town over, always picking fights for fights' sake, and today was no exception.
I wussed out and stood frozen, not by the snow, but my own fear of injury and greater numbers. One of the 12 year olds had started punching my young brother. Fortunately, Jay surprised us all with a few good blows that pursuaded our foes to seek fisticuffs elsewhere. While I forgot their faces decades ago, this cowardice haunted me for years as one of the most disturbing choices I made in my young life. It didn't do much to bolster my self-image or sibling relations.
John Maxwell wrote a book called "Failing Forward" that reminds us that we will fail, but we need not be weighed down nor stay down. "While you're down there, pick something up", he writes. Tonight, we saw C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", and I was reminded of these two truths again.
Growing up in what I thought to be a "traditional" Catholic environment, I learned that God was watching, waiting, and ready to punish me at every wrong turn. That pains many Catholics to hear, because some of the most devout of them know this was both poor delivery and application of their dogma. This theology, like that of the Evangelical community, is that left to ourselves, we will not only do wrong, but fail to do right, at many checkpoints in our lives. Like Edmund, the younger brother in the Narnia movie, I have felt hopeless to do right on my own and been wracked with guilt over my "sins of omission", as well. I have betrayed those closest to me, including my own self, and allowed my enemies to condemn me for this.
Are there parallels between Narnia and the Gospel? Many. The one that I find most liberating, most unfettering tonight, is that while I will often screw up, God will never beat me up, and He has promised to always lay Himself down. In Christianese, we would say He will not "forsake" (Aramaic: abandon) us. Aslan pardons Edmund and commands the three kids not to knock him for his betrayals. Jesus asks us to demonstrate our love for Him vis-a-vis our love and care for others. We need help to be saved from ourselves and the calamity that surrounds us as a result of the car crashes and IED's of everyone else's idiocy.
Now, that sounds cute and warm and fuzzy and thanks for beating your Bible for us, Mr. Ex-coward Who Can't Do Anything Right Even If He Wanted To. But, how is that relevant to me? Why does your 2000 year old book about shepherds and temples and deserts and morals matter to me today in 2005?
I'll take a stab at that: Lewis invites us to trust those who have failed us in the past, because as Lucy says in the movie "this isn't helping Edmond". He invites us to "become who we were meant to be". The God of the Bible invites us to practice His principles, which exclude beating one's self up over errors in the past. Rather, to grow stronger by learning from one's mistakes and seeking a truth larger than one's self, which leads to a transcendant understanding. In effect, not to be discouraged by what we see (our shrapnel-riddled choices) when we hold our lives up against a flawless hypothetical (God's perfect will for our lives), but to grow in spite of our misdeeds (or missed deeds).
So I ask my favorite question - "What if?" What if the Bible really is the inerrant word of God? What if there is knowledge therein that could help us to strip off the shackles of our own guilt and self ridicule? What if there are principles to be learned from a real, living God who has a plan to prosper us in spite of our own unwise choices? What if religion is a flagrantly abused institution based on a truly awesome relationship that went sour over time because of our own poor choices, which make us look back and say "how could I have been so foolish?" What if...
Was it a great movie? I don't know. I've never been smart enough to agree with the right critics until after the dust settles. I'm too ruled by my own emotions to give strong objective critique in well-argued statements.
If you've ever let yourself down, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
If you've ever been let down or betrayed by someone close to you, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
If you're tired of people who say all the right things but never do them, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
If you don't understand why Christians get all "ewy-gooey" at Christmas and Easter, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
If you're a Lord of the Rings, X-Men, Star Trek, Star Wars, special effects geek, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
If you don't fit into any of these categories, see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
And, think on these things. I could be an ideologue. I could be a weak minded fool. I could be looking for God where He isn't. If that's what you think, nothing I can say will sway you. But, experience this movie and shine its light on your failures, your strengths, your growth, your "a-ha" moments, and see what it tells you about yourself. Narnia is so accessible that a small, naive child can experience its full glory just because they give it a shot and as John Ortberg writes "God Is Closer Than You Think".
I didn't spell check or really sit down and edit, but feel free to critique those aspects of today's post anyway.
Relevant, timely truth from ancient teachings:
God is Closer Than You Think
The Barbarian Way (Erwin Raphael McManus)
Mosaic podcast (Erwin Raphael McManus)
Relevant Magazine
Catalyst Conference: Applying Biblical truth to your business, life, and relationships.
Inside Narnia
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Just in time for Christmas...
Part 3 of our 4 part series on pornography is partly written... (Posted by this Friday, scout's honor... CRAP, I'm not a scout!)
This is a great piece of news for all parties involved and poignant considering the "giving" nature of the story.
Over $14,000 was raised to make this all possible, now we put our faith in The Trinity to help Trinity make it all worthwhile. What a great time of year for thanks and giving!
Grace and peace. A.
This is a great piece of news for all parties involved and poignant considering the "giving" nature of the story.
Trinity Project milestone - Woman, thou art loosed!
Over $14,000 was raised to make this all possible, now we put our faith in The Trinity to help Trinity make it all worthwhile. What a great time of year for thanks and giving!
Grace and peace. A.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Salt and "lite"...
The Bible says that we are created in God's image and created to do the good things that He has planned for us. If we are truly a reflection of the God who created the universe, the Grand Canyon, Haagen-Dazs ice cream, sex, New Zealand, surfing,(alright, perhaps the ice cream was our creation, but God wired us to know it is nnnnnice), shouldn't there be excellence in all that we do?
No, we're not all made perfect, and I frequently fail to spellcheck (read: guilty like the rest), but shouldn't our signs and placards be proofread before we start waving them around in protest?!
Hukked on fonix werked fur me...
My bad, I should be more encouraging. Alright, let me put on my encouragement hat. I am a God loving, Bible believing, Jesus Freak, and I want to do the work we are commanded to do by the Father who loved us just as we were and has great, Jermiah 29:11 plans for us. But, folks, can we please remember that the brand we're representing here is His Kingdom? Spellcheck your signs, or my buddy Jeremy Thiessen won't have to publish a post like this I mean, come on, there are people watching!!! Let's get it together, team.
Couldn't have said it better myself..."
Here's a blank check for you to carry around: If I am ever guilty of misquoting, misspelling, will you puhleeeeze bring it to my attention? If that check ever bounces, I'll never ask you to read my blog again. Fair?
Thanks for your attention. I will now step down off of my soapbox.
Grace and peace.
No, we're not all made perfect, and I frequently fail to spellcheck (read: guilty like the rest), but shouldn't our signs and placards be proofread before we start waving them around in protest?!
Hukked on fonix werked fur me...
My bad, I should be more encouraging. Alright, let me put on my encouragement hat. I am a God loving, Bible believing, Jesus Freak, and I want to do the work we are commanded to do by the Father who loved us just as we were and has great, Jermiah 29:11 plans for us. But, folks, can we please remember that the brand we're representing here is His Kingdom? Spellcheck your signs, or my buddy Jeremy Thiessen won't have to publish a post like this I mean, come on, there are people watching!!! Let's get it together, team.
Couldn't have said it better myself..."
Here's a blank check for you to carry around: If I am ever guilty of misquoting, misspelling, will you puhleeeeze bring it to my attention? If that check ever bounces, I'll never ask you to read my blog again. Fair?
Thanks for your attention. I will now step down off of my soapbox.
Grace and peace.
Porn-Again Christians...
Later this week, part 3 of 4 on our series on pornography. Coming soon, a topic that gets everybody fired up - divorce and remarriage... Uh, oh. If you didn't have your eyes covered for the porn series, you might want to get prepared for this one.
In the meantime, I received a link to this page in my eMail today. Not laugh out loud funny, but at least clever.
(Click here to download Windows Media Player).
Enjoy.
In the meantime, I received a link to this page in my eMail today. Not laugh out loud funny, but at least clever.
Baby's Got Book
(Click here to download Windows Media Player).
Enjoy.
Monday, November 14, 2005
In the name of Allah...
I try to stay out of political discussions when I can, but my big mouth opens up and words spray out in a very Brian Regan kind of way (Oh, NO! The WORDSARECOMINGOUT!!!) I'm likely well known for my lack of understanding and perspective on world events, but today I had to side with a wise Jewish scholar, Dennis Prager, who poses five very poignant and interesting questions to the Muslim community. Dennis is a scholar well versed in the Middle East conflict and many other contemporary political issues. His show is on KRLA radio in Los Angeles and broadcast live on 920WGKA Atlanta from 12PM to 2PM EST on weekdays.
His questions are pointed, but not pointy, and could lead to a very important dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims who truly care to know the truth and build bridges between the two communities. (HT:Lores the Lovely and Godly.)
Please encourage this dialogue to move forward. Send your educated Muslim friends here and help us all to understand the answers to these questions, or if these questions are unfair, what questions we should be asking.
Grace and Peace,
Aarron
His questions are pointed, but not pointy, and could lead to a very important dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims who truly care to know the truth and build bridges between the two communities. (HT:Lores the Lovely and Godly.)
Please encourage this dialogue to move forward. Send your educated Muslim friends here and help us all to understand the answers to these questions, or if these questions are unfair, what questions we should be asking.
Grace and Peace,
Aarron
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Jewish folklore...
I was away last weekend, fulfulling the tail end of a long commitment to the hospitality industry. I had a cool opportunity to help Pappadeux's open their newest location in Cincinnati, Ohio. I got to meet a ton of great people, including about 50 of what will eventually be closer to 100 waitstaff, and hopefully made an impact on their technique, their personal customer service philosophy, sales skills, and God willing, their worldview.
In winding down from a 14 hour day of mental taxation without gratification, I decided to "zone out" with some tube and gave HBO a chance. Laden with cynicism, humor, and a sarcasm thicker than the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, Bill Maher hosts a panel show discussing the issues of the day (week) with a variety of celebrities, newsmakers, and dignitaries. In the course of the show, he made a comment that some of you will find interesting and funny, but I found to be slightly a bit sad. (Not judgemental sad, but "sorry to hear that" sad.)
Now, a few years ago, I might have been offended. But, in hearing it this time, I think I snickered a bit, then simply felt bad for Bill. Could the Bible be a grand anthology of "folktales" by 40 varied authors? Could it be merely a book-form conspiracy formulated over a 2000 year span to establish a power dynamic for those "in the know"? Could it be a bunch of cute stories and clever teachings that just help weak people get through the night?
Sure.
But, that would go against all the archaelogical evidence, historical evidence, extra-Biblical evidence, that "demands a verdict" of "not guilty" of any of the above claims. I admit, I'd find it a bit odd to hear someone say "I have a great relationship with Ann Rice through her book 'The Vampire Lestat'." So, I can see where someone might be a little wierded out by a statement like "I have a great relationship with God through the Bible."
However, this excludes the fact that my relationship with God is not some compartmentalized event that happens only on Sunday or when I open His Word. Further, it would ignore the fact that Ann Rice's books never make a claim for veracity. The Bible actually claims to be true. More on that later? Yes, just not today.
Here was the collision between an accusation that the Bible is nothing more than a collection of stories, and the four days I had spent unpacking much of its truth to the Pappadeaux's waitstaff. No, I wasn't proselytizing for Pappas, but I had just spent 4 days applying Biblical truth to real life situations - procedure, mindset, worldview, that I have learned from explicitly Christian sources from John Maxwell to Andy Stanley to Rob Bell and a variety of other lesser known trainers and people of faith who have often stressed "self over others" and "servant leadership" in no uncertain terms.
My application of these principles doesn't make the Bible any more or less true, but does cast Maher's comments into a slightly different light. If the Bible is more than just folklore, if the Bible is one of several keys to unlocking an abundant life, unfettered by the many things that can and often slow us in our progress, doesn't it suck that Bill just dismisses it into a bookshelf next to "Goldilocks" and "Hansel and Gretel"?
Sure, we learned lessons from the Three Bears and Cinderella, but again, neither of those books ever invite us into a deeper relationship with the Creator of the universe - a central tenet of Christianity and Biblical living. Furthermore, the Bible makes a fantastic claim that not only does there exist eternal life, but that it is a free and open option to those who will take it. The fact that a superfuluous number of idiots have taken Biblical principles and used them for their own gain and /or to harm others does not mean that the Bible is wrong or untrue. Conversely, when the actions of these individuals is held up against the backdrop of what the Bible expressly or implicitly states, their infidelity to the god they claim to represent becomes painfully apparent.
So what's the deal - no judgement or dart throwing from either side of the aisle -
1. What bothers you most about the statement "The Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God?"
2. What Biblical principles, if any, do you know of that when applied, paint a picture of "a god who loves us"?
I intend for this environment to be one where non-adversarial discussion can take place free from ad hominem attacks. Where I am guilty which I often am, vis-a-vis my waning sarcasm, point it out, but try to comment with this in mind.
3. Is the Bible merely folklore that promotes intolerance?
What if? What if the 66 books written over a 1600 year period by 40 different authors and preserved and perverted by better and wiser men than we, is really the inspired word of God, a god who seeks not a world of automatons praying, kneeling, standing, and hypocritizing in lock-step, rather a body of believers, each unique in their gifts and talents, approaching Him from their unique perspective and meant to manifest their love for him via their love for those around them? What would the world look like if the principles espoused by the Bible were taken to their logical ends?
Chocolate chip cookies for every referral. Pass this link on to your friends and let the fun roll on...
In winding down from a 14 hour day of mental taxation without gratification, I decided to "zone out" with some tube and gave HBO a chance. Laden with cynicism, humor, and a sarcasm thicker than the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, Bill Maher hosts a panel show discussing the issues of the day (week) with a variety of celebrities, newsmakers, and dignitaries. In the course of the show, he made a comment that some of you will find interesting and funny, but I found to be slightly a bit sad. (Not judgemental sad, but "sorry to hear that" sad.)
"...that good old book of Jewish folklore - the Bible."
Now, a few years ago, I might have been offended. But, in hearing it this time, I think I snickered a bit, then simply felt bad for Bill. Could the Bible be a grand anthology of "folktales" by 40 varied authors? Could it be merely a book-form conspiracy formulated over a 2000 year span to establish a power dynamic for those "in the know"? Could it be a bunch of cute stories and clever teachings that just help weak people get through the night?
Sure.
But, that would go against all the archaelogical evidence, historical evidence, extra-Biblical evidence, that "demands a verdict" of "not guilty" of any of the above claims. I admit, I'd find it a bit odd to hear someone say "I have a great relationship with Ann Rice through her book 'The Vampire Lestat'." So, I can see where someone might be a little wierded out by a statement like "I have a great relationship with God through the Bible."
However, this excludes the fact that my relationship with God is not some compartmentalized event that happens only on Sunday or when I open His Word. Further, it would ignore the fact that Ann Rice's books never make a claim for veracity. The Bible actually claims to be true. More on that later? Yes, just not today.
Here was the collision between an accusation that the Bible is nothing more than a collection of stories, and the four days I had spent unpacking much of its truth to the Pappadeaux's waitstaff. No, I wasn't proselytizing for Pappas, but I had just spent 4 days applying Biblical truth to real life situations - procedure, mindset, worldview, that I have learned from explicitly Christian sources from John Maxwell to Andy Stanley to Rob Bell and a variety of other lesser known trainers and people of faith who have often stressed "self over others" and "servant leadership" in no uncertain terms.
My application of these principles doesn't make the Bible any more or less true, but does cast Maher's comments into a slightly different light. If the Bible is more than just folklore, if the Bible is one of several keys to unlocking an abundant life, unfettered by the many things that can and often slow us in our progress, doesn't it suck that Bill just dismisses it into a bookshelf next to "Goldilocks" and "Hansel and Gretel"?
Sure, we learned lessons from the Three Bears and Cinderella, but again, neither of those books ever invite us into a deeper relationship with the Creator of the universe - a central tenet of Christianity and Biblical living. Furthermore, the Bible makes a fantastic claim that not only does there exist eternal life, but that it is a free and open option to those who will take it. The fact that a superfuluous number of idiots have taken Biblical principles and used them for their own gain and /or to harm others does not mean that the Bible is wrong or untrue. Conversely, when the actions of these individuals is held up against the backdrop of what the Bible expressly or implicitly states, their infidelity to the god they claim to represent becomes painfully apparent.
So what's the deal - no judgement or dart throwing from either side of the aisle -
1. What bothers you most about the statement "The Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God?"
2. What Biblical principles, if any, do you know of that when applied, paint a picture of "a god who loves us"?
I intend for this environment to be one where non-adversarial discussion can take place free from ad hominem attacks. Where I am guilty which I often am, vis-a-vis my waning sarcasm, point it out, but try to comment with this in mind.
3. Is the Bible merely folklore that promotes intolerance?
What if? What if the 66 books written over a 1600 year period by 40 different authors and preserved and perverted by better and wiser men than we, is really the inspired word of God, a god who seeks not a world of automatons praying, kneeling, standing, and hypocritizing in lock-step, rather a body of believers, each unique in their gifts and talents, approaching Him from their unique perspective and meant to manifest their love for him via their love for those around them? What would the world look like if the principles espoused by the Bible were taken to their logical ends?
Chocolate chip cookies for every referral. Pass this link on to your friends and let the fun roll on...
Monday, October 31, 2005
Shameless gloating!!!
Now, everyone who was at God Blog Con was pretty well set on either Matt Anderson or the dashing, young Joshua Claybourne, both may well be close to as good looking as I, just not close enough. When brought to a preliminary vote though, it came down to myself and David “Jollyblogger” Wayne. But, somehow, a surprise, grassroots fueled, 11th hour surge propelled a wily, shine-headed, upstart from Atlanta to the top of the pile (read: I got all my friends to vote for me)!
David, I may be all form, but your content kicks my blog anyday. Thanks for being a good sport.
Thanks to y'all who voted. Thanks to y'all who continue to support via readership and referral. Thanks, also to Stacy for the contest!
Grace and peace.
A
P.S. Claybourne, I'd have voted for you, bro. You're a sharp lookin' dude, and wicked smaaht. Matt, you're a newlywed, so you get to hear how handsome you are all the time...
P.P.S. “Sinful pride” is not a value we condone, here at ALU. The above gloating is actually a pride of the not-so-sinful “Shameless Advertising for Purposes of God’s Glory” variety.
Pornography- Hardcore facts? (2 of 4)
***Original post at 7:23 PM on 10/26/05*** Scroll to next "***" for updated post.
Come on, Christianboy. Pornography is a national past time! Take your "sin" talk and go back to church...
Fair enough. I will. By Friday evening, I will post the "secular" part of our interview. I'll do my very best to present "The Problem With Porn" without mentioning the "G" word. (God, silly.) Some of you out there are asking a really great question: "Why don't you mind your own business?" We'll even discuss that topic - it's a bit of a rager, and could get heated. Are you okay with that? Well, I had a great opportunity to talk with some people who have a clear and secular position on pornography that doesn't involve the "S" word (sin...). I promise I won't even use that word!
More of our interview with Michael Leahy from Bravehearts regarding the problems he faced when pornography's grip tightened. Possible details from a former "sex industry" worker or two who will discuss the "complications" porn brought into their lives. "Compli...?" Trust me, you'll have a chance to talk back - it's a blog, remember?
Thanks for your patience while we adjust to a new schedule.
Aarron
Pornography:
Michael Leahy wasn’t the most popular kid in school. But, when college came, he began to shine. A two year letterman on his football team, student body president, he was recruited by IBM to live the American Dream. Along the path to success, he married his wife, Patty, continued the corporate climb with Unysis and NEC, and started a family.
Michael’s secret affair with pornography led him to a very dark place. First of all, he had to keep the relationship secret, and second, he experienced a need for more graphic porn and eventually began seeking to act out his fantasies in real life, leading to an affair with a woman outside his marriage. The affair with both the woman and the images eventually cost him his marriage, but the trust and respect o his children, his brother (with whom he had a successful business partnership), and his business. Michael now spends his time lecturing to (this year) over 50,000 college students about how his relationship with porn led his life awry, nearly ending in suicide. Students get to hear about the dangers inherent in porn and the result of his battle with addiction over a two night lecture series.
While porn carries with it some intrinsic dangers, a prolonged relationship with it leads to a package of habits he calls “sex syndrome”. One of these dangers is “Objectification”. By definition, reducing a person, or even object, that is complex and multifaceted, to the status of a simple object, is objectifying. Please hear this, not as an indictment or condemnation: when all we see and are concerned with is the speed of the new, improved, Corvette, the sizzle of that Cajun marinated steak, or the “***”s on that girl, we are objectifying the car, the food, the human being. The consequences of doing this are what can be damaging to us as individuals and as a culture.
In Michael’s words, “I began to see everyone in my life as an object, not just women. Everyone I met, I looked at from a “what’s in it for me” point of view.” This simplification of a person down to the body part that you admire most or the sex act that you saw them perform is a natural result of porn. “I didn’t want any of those women, I just wanted the sex.” Anyone he met was now a product for his consumption. I’m not condemning consumption, but how would it make you feel to cross his path? Like an... object? Ladies, pick a sex part and raise your hand if that’s the first thing you want your Prince Charming to think of when he rides in on his white horse. (Yes, I know I’m making a big assumption about the prince, and the horse. Cut me some slack for purposes of this example, cool? Thanks.)
Are we really wiser for the wear? Do we really believe it is meant for “educating” us on how to resolve conflict in a relationship, how to manage expectations in marriage, how to experience non-physical intimacy that could carry us through difficult times, how to confront abusive behavior with our spouse, how to develop and maintain character and bolster our mate’s self esteem? And yet, the sex act is so titillating, so enticing, that watching it burns into our brains images that we can never remove on our own, building concurrently lopsided expectations and an unbalanced understanding of what sex “ought to be”.
Watching porn emphasizes and consequently overemphasizes the image and the act alone, separate from the relational acts of intimacy that we all so desperately desire and therein seek. Why watch hours or tens or hundreds of hours of bodybuilding films when you could spend that same time actually lifting weights? What if the same time spent watching porn was spent learning and improving relational and personal intimacy skills? Could one, then potentially learn to be a better husband, father, co-worker, customer service conflict guru, boss, Grand Pubah of Management and Sales?
Conversely, what long term, broad based consequences can, have, or will arise out of a society driven primarily by men who see people only as objects? What then when the women join in step? Is that the kind of society of which we'll be proud to raise the next generations? It is partly for this reason that Christians see pornography as "their business". It is also because so many Christians are victims and/or partners in pornography addiction. (Sidenote: We are not immune to these effects and must not shame, attack, or denegrate those that are struggling - it is simply anti-Christ to do so. Hello?)
If your certainty is less than 90%, how excited are you over the level of personal sexual intimacy you are currently experiencing? How can you possibly connect deeply, or how deeply can you possibly connect with one person while he is imagining your head on her neck with her(2) arms, her(3) body, and their legs? His head and consequently, your bed is full of other women, all vying for his affection!
Am I crazy? Is it possible that I’m right? If so, what’s the wise choice? Michael's simple advice regarding a split with porn: “What you feed, grows and what you starve, dies.” Do all you can to distance yourself from the imagery and you can then begin to reconstruct more balanced and deeper personal intimacy skills. My walk down that path ended at 31 and didn't cost me a marriage, a business, or more than $12 in late fees. Lucky? Perhaps. But, now that I have decided that I don’t want porn in my head, I’ll be lucky if I ever get what’s already in there out. Better not to have looked in the first place, or as Linkin Park chants “and the memory now/is like the picture was then/when the paper’s crumpled up/it can’t be perfect again.”
How badly “crumpled” is your memory? How deep the creases? What are you willing to do to iron them out and make it pure again? For me, it’s been three years porn free, intentionally, deliberately, and not without the support of my community group, and certainly not alone.
Decidedly Christian resources:
Every Man's Battle This book was very practical and a purposeful aid in helping me break the habit.
Not Even a Hint Great little book for Christians struggling with lust (that would be all of us...)
Any other good links, secular or not? Comment below...
Come on, Christianboy. Pornography is a national past time! Take your "sin" talk and go back to church...
Fair enough. I will. By Friday evening, I will post the "secular" part of our interview. I'll do my very best to present "The Problem With Porn" without mentioning the "G" word. (God, silly.) Some of you out there are asking a really great question: "Why don't you mind your own business?" We'll even discuss that topic - it's a bit of a rager, and could get heated. Are you okay with that? Well, I had a great opportunity to talk with some people who have a clear and secular position on pornography that doesn't involve the "S" word (sin...). I promise I won't even use that word!
More of our interview with Michael Leahy from Bravehearts regarding the problems he faced when pornography's grip tightened. Possible details from a former "sex industry" worker or two who will discuss the "complications" porn brought into their lives. "Compli...?" Trust me, you'll have a chance to talk back - it's a blog, remember?
Thanks for your patience while we adjust to a new schedule.
Aarron
***Update***
Pornography:
Stinkin’ Habits of Highly Defective Relationships
Michael Leahy wasn’t the most popular kid in school. But, when college came, he began to shine. A two year letterman on his football team, student body president, he was recruited by IBM to live the American Dream. Along the path to success, he married his wife, Patty, continued the corporate climb with Unysis and NEC, and started a family.
Michael’s secret affair with pornography led him to a very dark place. First of all, he had to keep the relationship secret, and second, he experienced a need for more graphic porn and eventually began seeking to act out his fantasies in real life, leading to an affair with a woman outside his marriage. The affair with both the woman and the images eventually cost him his marriage, but the trust and respect o his children, his brother (with whom he had a successful business partnership), and his business. Michael now spends his time lecturing to (this year) over 50,000 college students about how his relationship with porn led his life awry, nearly ending in suicide. Students get to hear about the dangers inherent in porn and the result of his battle with addiction over a two night lecture series.
While porn carries with it some intrinsic dangers, a prolonged relationship with it leads to a package of habits he calls “sex syndrome”. One of these dangers is “Objectification”. By definition, reducing a person, or even object, that is complex and multifaceted, to the status of a simple object, is objectifying. Please hear this, not as an indictment or condemnation: when all we see and are concerned with is the speed of the new, improved, Corvette, the sizzle of that Cajun marinated steak, or the “***”s on that girl, we are objectifying the car, the food, the human being. The consequences of doing this are what can be damaging to us as individuals and as a culture.
In Michael’s words, “I began to see everyone in my life as an object, not just women. Everyone I met, I looked at from a “what’s in it for me” point of view.” This simplification of a person down to the body part that you admire most or the sex act that you saw them perform is a natural result of porn. “I didn’t want any of those women, I just wanted the sex.” Anyone he met was now a product for his consumption. I’m not condemning consumption, but how would it make you feel to cross his path? Like an... object? Ladies, pick a sex part and raise your hand if that’s the first thing you want your Prince Charming to think of when he rides in on his white horse. (Yes, I know I’m making a big assumption about the prince, and the horse. Cut me some slack for purposes of this example, cool? Thanks.)
Unbalanced Education
Out of 14,000 hours of education from K-12 we are never required more than a superficial knowledge of, rarely ever accompanied by critiqued and strategic role playing, personal intimacy, much less the psychosocial ramifications of sexual relations that ought to go along with sex education if it is to be taught at all. Porn, even over the short term, gives us what we mistakenly believe to be a PhD in sex, but only the act itself instead of a "well rounded", Renaissance paradigm.Are we really wiser for the wear? Do we really believe it is meant for “educating” us on how to resolve conflict in a relationship, how to manage expectations in marriage, how to experience non-physical intimacy that could carry us through difficult times, how to confront abusive behavior with our spouse, how to develop and maintain character and bolster our mate’s self esteem? And yet, the sex act is so titillating, so enticing, that watching it burns into our brains images that we can never remove on our own, building concurrently lopsided expectations and an unbalanced understanding of what sex “ought to be”.
Watching porn emphasizes and consequently overemphasizes the image and the act alone, separate from the relational acts of intimacy that we all so desperately desire and therein seek. Why watch hours or tens or hundreds of hours of bodybuilding films when you could spend that same time actually lifting weights? What if the same time spent watching porn was spent learning and improving relational and personal intimacy skills? Could one, then potentially learn to be a better husband, father, co-worker, customer service conflict guru, boss, Grand Pubah of Management and Sales?
Conversely, what long term, broad based consequences can, have, or will arise out of a society driven primarily by men who see people only as objects? What then when the women join in step? Is that the kind of society of which we'll be proud to raise the next generations? It is partly for this reason that Christians see pornography as "their business". It is also because so many Christians are victims and/or partners in pornography addiction. (Sidenote: We are not immune to these effects and must not shame, attack, or denegrate those that are struggling - it is simply anti-Christ to do so. Hello?)
Decrease in Intimacy
If feeling less like an object than a person does not cause intimacy problems enough, let’s look at another facet of the interpersonal effects of porn. Ladies, how many of you really equate intimacy with sharing your boyfriend or husband with another woman? Michael’s ex-wife, Patty is like hundreds of thousands of women who share the sentiment of a 34-year-old woman married 14 years to a minister who she discovered was compulsively seeking sexual satisfaction by visiting pornographic sites on the Internet.“How can I compete with hundreds of anonymous others who are now in our bed, in his head?” the woman wrote. “Our bed is crowded with countless faceless strangers, where once we were intimate.” (HT: New York Times)The more sexual images we load into our brains, the harder it becomes to be truly intimate with the person we’re with at the time. Here’s a little litmus test for you, ladies:
While making love to your partner, how sure are you that they are thinking only of you?
If your certainty is less than 90%, how excited are you over the level of personal sexual intimacy you are currently experiencing? How can you possibly connect deeply, or how deeply can you possibly connect with one person while he is imagining your head on her neck with her(2) arms, her(3) body, and their legs? His head and consequently, your bed is full of other women, all vying for his affection!
Getting Off
Our pastor, Andy Stanley, interviewed Michael and his ex-wife in November of 2004, for a part two of a two part series called “Exposed”. His bottom line was simple “Pornography is a path, not a past time.” Looking at porn and what our mind does with it exists on a continuum from casual viewing to acting out in real time. We don’t get on 95N in Florida and get angry that we wound up in Maine two days later. That’s just where that road leads. The consequences Michael has experienced are the eventual destination of the Porn Parkway. Whether and where we get off that road before then is clearly up to us. But, isn’t it nice there are plenty of exits between Florida and Maine?Am I crazy? Is it possible that I’m right? If so, what’s the wise choice? Michael's simple advice regarding a split with porn: “What you feed, grows and what you starve, dies.” Do all you can to distance yourself from the imagery and you can then begin to reconstruct more balanced and deeper personal intimacy skills. My walk down that path ended at 31 and didn't cost me a marriage, a business, or more than $12 in late fees. Lucky? Perhaps. But, now that I have decided that I don’t want porn in my head, I’ll be lucky if I ever get what’s already in there out. Better not to have looked in the first place, or as Linkin Park chants “and the memory now/is like the picture was then/when the paper’s crumpled up/it can’t be perfect again.”
How badly “crumpled” is your memory? How deep the creases? What are you willing to do to iron them out and make it pure again? For me, it’s been three years porn free, intentionally, deliberately, and not without the support of my community group, and certainly not alone.
Decidedly Christian resources:
Every Man's Battle This book was very practical and a purposeful aid in helping me break the habit.
Not Even a Hint Great little book for Christians struggling with lust (that would be all of us...)
Any other good links, secular or not? Comment below...
Friday, October 28, 2005
The Naked Truth
I know, not a very original title. Neither is the story. It's about a guy who had everything and lost it pursuing something he could never get.
Unfortunately, you've had to wait. Now you have to wait until tomorrow...
Due to unforseen circumstances, my next article will not be up until Saturday. I promise I will get it done. Thank you for your readership. It means a lot.
Aarron
***Update
***As promised, I've got it done, just need to get it posted tonight, no service yesterday, but it'll be up. Thanks for the patience.
A
Unfortunately, you've had to wait. Now you have to wait until tomorrow...
Due to unforseen circumstances, my next article will not be up until Saturday. I promise I will get it done. Thank you for your readership. It means a lot.
Aarron
***Update
***As promised, I've got it done, just need to get it posted tonight, no service yesterday, but it'll be up. Thanks for the patience.
A
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Character.
Most of you know I started a new career last week. While on a job site yesterday, I saw a page prominently hung on the wall over a young lady's desk. It said:
Your gifts and talents can take you to great places in work and in life.
It is your character that will keep you there.
I met the most amazing woman when I went to Los Angeles this month. This is not a romantic reference. I am saying that I met someone of clear intellect who lives her life with character, by principle, not pretension. Are you encouraged by the fact that women exist who have not fallen for the lie that "image is everything", "it's not who you are, it's who you know". Let's just say this: Lores, has written an article that sets this type of woman apart - not because of her political affiliation, faith, or any other superficial title. This is the example we are trying to set here - that all are welcome, none are more or less important, but that God has a life for us to lead that is demanding, difficult, and disciplined, but rewarding, relationally rich, and 'rithmetic. (Couldn't find another "r" off the top of my head, and we were getting a bit too serious.)
For now, just check this out: and visit this blog and hers more often - we will talk more about character, responsibility, humility, integrity, purity, modesty - all in ways that I once thought were either weak or irrelevant, but now see as answers to many of the greatest problems our society suffers.
Thanks for reading. Pass this blog on, will ya?
Grace and peace,
Aarron
P.S. For those who do pray, please keep my family in your utterances - we just lost a very unique and warm aunt this week and discovered that there are many of us around the country unable to attend the funeral - comfort them while they handle the difficulties surrounding Aunt Betsy's passing.
Your gifts and talents can take you to great places in work and in life.
It is your character that will keep you there.
I met the most amazing woman when I went to Los Angeles this month. This is not a romantic reference. I am saying that I met someone of clear intellect who lives her life with character, by principle, not pretension. Are you encouraged by the fact that women exist who have not fallen for the lie that "image is everything", "it's not who you are, it's who you know". Let's just say this: Lores, has written an article that sets this type of woman apart - not because of her political affiliation, faith, or any other superficial title. This is the example we are trying to set here - that all are welcome, none are more or less important, but that God has a life for us to lead that is demanding, difficult, and disciplined, but rewarding, relationally rich, and 'rithmetic. (Couldn't find another "r" off the top of my head, and we were getting a bit too serious.)
For now, just check this out: and visit this blog and hers more often - we will talk more about character, responsibility, humility, integrity, purity, modesty - all in ways that I once thought were either weak or irrelevant, but now see as answers to many of the greatest problems our society suffers.
Thanks for reading. Pass this blog on, will ya?
Grace and peace,
Aarron
P.S. For those who do pray, please keep my family in your utterances - we just lost a very unique and warm aunt this week and discovered that there are many of us around the country unable to attend the funeral - comfort them while they handle the difficulties surrounding Aunt Betsy's passing.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
But, in the meantime...
While I'm busy working billion hour days, thinking about someday writing part 2 of the "Why Both Sides and I Think Pornography is a Bad Influence"...
Jan was taking a break from her knitting and made a rather nice comment about the preferred tone of our little blog. Periodically, I think it helps to repeat a point of focus, for reinforcement and to keep those who join in late up to speed. Christians, as a matter of history, have been well known for works, both good and bad. One of the confessions I will continue to make is that while we have often attracted great doers, some of our thinkers do in a rather unthinkful way. (My blog, my word... tough.)
An acquaintance of mine, Jeremy Thiessen, of the very cool band Downhere, has a similar gripe to mine. My contention is that if the claims of the Bible are true, and the worldwide conglomeration of professed Christians really are "the church", then we really do represent "the Brand" and ought to do so with excellence. After all, if God is so great and all that we do in response to His greatness is defined as worship , then shouldn't it be representative of an irresistable, perfect, and loving God?
A lot of us really need to find a nice, comfy chair and read a great book called "Following Jesus Without Embarrasing God". Now, before my brothers and sisters in Christ flip out, "Yes, God loves us even if we can't spell well or have lousy grammar." This is not an excuse for mediocrity. If we are commissioned with "drawing people near to God" and "winning souls to Christ", how appealing is a God whose people don't even tip 15%? [Yeah, I want to "join your club so I can be a cheapskate like you..."] How winsome are those who speak only in Christianese jargon, thinking that throwing "Bible darts" at people will magically show them a true and cogent understanding of mercy and grace (which I'll define later for those confused by this ironic use of jargon)?
Case in point: the aforementioned rockstar and I believe that those signs outside of churches are just flat-out suckin' the life outta' me!!!
Let me catch my breath.
Alright. Having struggled with a bad temper for nearly three decades, I understand how poor self control turns people off in any argument, discussion, or discourse. 7 years in the restaurant business taught me that "presentation and perception are everything", meaning all else being equal, if it don't look good, people aren't going to want to taste what's on their plate. Paul admonishes in his letter to the church at Colossus: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col. 4.6)NIV" Doesn't that mean we should respond to neoCons in neoConese, libDems in libDemese, hackers in code? Our continued resistance to engage the culture without embracing it (of but not in, in Christianese), speaking in code will rarely ever influence a "non-believer" the way our heart desires. (Jargon breakdown: "non-believers" are those who are not and have never been "professing Christians" - hopefully I didn't just define jargon with jargon).
Our goal, even if both sides disagree on theology is to at least help them get better at presenting their ideas - raise the bar on the quality of the ongoing dialogue.
• If you know a church that "just doesn't get it", find a polite and "seasoned with salt" way to bring up that (Col. 4.6) verse to them. Ask them how they feel it applies to the catchy signs and sayings that are associated with their church's marketing materials and signage. For added credibility, if you're not a professing Christian, let them know you're speaking as a representative of their "target market" and are turned off by their approach. (Again, try it with more season and less "salt"). Contact the guys over at Church Marketing Sucks and hook them up with your newly adopted friends at "First Jargon Episcopalebycomparison Church" to see if they're a match made in marketing heaven.
• If you're a "believer", check out some things at The Church Report's 50 Most Influential Churches". See what some of these churches are up to. Look at how they are "reaching" people for Christ (Jargon breakdown- reaching: explaining the gospel in a coherent manner that is relevant, convincing, and life changing). #3 on the list, Andy Stanley is well known for saying "your discipleship model is perfectly designed to give you the results you are currently getting." Thus, if you want different results, change what you're doing.
• Post a link to this blog, Jeremy's blog, or any on my blogroll, and encourage people to engage in the discussion. Listen, even those "actively apathetic toward religion (AARTs) [HT:WB" would agree that Christianity offers at least some good wisdom and valuable teaching. We may never all agree on my "narrow" Christian view of "approaching God through Christ alone", but what if we could get a massive majority of AARTs just living a life that reflects what the Bible teaches? Could we make an impact on poverty, disease, illiteracy, and war? Could we balance a budget and raise people who live on cash instead of debt? Could we create a society of people in control of their tempers and appetites? What couldn't we do?
Remember, I could be a complete idiot.
What's your opinion?
A
Jan was taking a break from her knitting and made a rather nice comment about the preferred tone of our little blog. Periodically, I think it helps to repeat a point of focus, for reinforcement and to keep those who join in late up to speed. Christians, as a matter of history, have been well known for works, both good and bad. One of the confessions I will continue to make is that while we have often attracted great doers, some of our thinkers do in a rather unthinkful way. (My blog, my word... tough.)
An acquaintance of mine, Jeremy Thiessen, of the very cool band Downhere, has a similar gripe to mine. My contention is that if the claims of the Bible are true, and the worldwide conglomeration of professed Christians really are "the church", then we really do represent "the Brand" and ought to do so with excellence. After all, if God is so great and all that we do in response to His greatness is defined as worship , then shouldn't it be representative of an irresistable, perfect, and loving God?
A lot of us really need to find a nice, comfy chair and read a great book called "Following Jesus Without Embarrasing God". Now, before my brothers and sisters in Christ flip out, "Yes, God loves us even if we can't spell well or have lousy grammar." This is not an excuse for mediocrity. If we are commissioned with "drawing people near to God" and "winning souls to Christ", how appealing is a God whose people don't even tip 15%? [Yeah, I want to "join your club so I can be a cheapskate like you..."] How winsome are those who speak only in Christianese jargon, thinking that throwing "Bible darts" at people will magically show them a true and cogent understanding of mercy and grace (which I'll define later for those confused by this ironic use of jargon)?
Case in point: the aforementioned rockstar and I believe that those signs outside of churches are just flat-out suckin' the life outta' me!!!
Let me catch my breath.
Alright. Having struggled with a bad temper for nearly three decades, I understand how poor self control turns people off in any argument, discussion, or discourse. 7 years in the restaurant business taught me that "presentation and perception are everything", meaning all else being equal, if it don't look good, people aren't going to want to taste what's on their plate. Paul admonishes in his letter to the church at Colossus: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col. 4.6)NIV" Doesn't that mean we should respond to neoCons in neoConese, libDems in libDemese, hackers in code? Our continued resistance to engage the culture without embracing it (of but not in, in Christianese), speaking in code will rarely ever influence a "non-believer" the way our heart desires. (Jargon breakdown: "non-believers" are those who are not and have never been "professing Christians" - hopefully I didn't just define jargon with jargon).
Our goal, even if both sides disagree on theology is to at least help them get better at presenting their ideas - raise the bar on the quality of the ongoing dialogue.
• If you know a church that "just doesn't get it", find a polite and "seasoned with salt" way to bring up that (Col. 4.6) verse to them. Ask them how they feel it applies to the catchy signs and sayings that are associated with their church's marketing materials and signage. For added credibility, if you're not a professing Christian, let them know you're speaking as a representative of their "target market" and are turned off by their approach. (Again, try it with more season and less "salt"). Contact the guys over at Church Marketing Sucks and hook them up with your newly adopted friends at "First Jargon Episcopalebycomparison Church" to see if they're a match made in marketing heaven.
• If you're a "believer", check out some things at The Church Report's 50 Most Influential Churches". See what some of these churches are up to. Look at how they are "reaching" people for Christ (Jargon breakdown- reaching: explaining the gospel in a coherent manner that is relevant, convincing, and life changing). #3 on the list, Andy Stanley is well known for saying "your discipleship model is perfectly designed to give you the results you are currently getting." Thus, if you want different results, change what you're doing.
• Post a link to this blog, Jeremy's blog, or any on my blogroll, and encourage people to engage in the discussion. Listen, even those "actively apathetic toward religion (AARTs) [HT:WB" would agree that Christianity offers at least some good wisdom and valuable teaching. We may never all agree on my "narrow" Christian view of "approaching God through Christ alone", but what if we could get a massive majority of AARTs just living a life that reflects what the Bible teaches? Could we make an impact on poverty, disease, illiteracy, and war? Could we balance a budget and raise people who live on cash instead of debt? Could we create a society of people in control of their tempers and appetites? What couldn't we do?
Remember, I could be a complete idiot.
What's your opinion?
A
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Pornography- It’s No Big Deal (1 of 4)
No, perhaps not. While we’re at it, perhaps Chris Farley is still alive, the world is flat, and Michael Jackson’s still legally black. These things are all true from some angle, since I was just watching “Tommy Boy” as Farley and Spade drove across the flatlands of the Midwest and I made an iPod playlist including “Billie Jean” and “Thriller”. But, if porn is not a big deal then tell me why internet pornography now does over $1B per year, why a study released over a year and a half ago stated that the porn industry did over $57B that year, $3B of which was child pornography, and why my friend, Michael Leahy, lost his marriage, his business partnership, and the trust of his friends, family, and peers.
Tonight, I had the privilege of interviewing Michael, as well as two very gifted and (to use the Christian buzzword) “relevant” pastors, Mike and Craig, who are taking action to make a difference in a way that sounds entirely “unChristian” given the track record of most believers that you and I have experienced.
Mike Foster and Craig Gross founded “The #1 Christian Porn Site: XXXChurch,” about three years ago in an attempt to address the myriad problems posed by the “crack cocaine of the internet”. Since then, they have preached the message that “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” all over the US, the TV, and even the AEE (yes, the Adult Entertainment Expo!).
Their ministry intends to not only to drag porn out of the closet (their Podcast is called “Dirty Little Secrets” from the song by the metal band “Pillar”), but also to minister to those within the industry itself. They have attended this adult industry trade show, and others, for three years now. While most protestors of virtually any cause typically stand outside waving signs and shouting useless, condemning slogans, these two take the “Jesus” approach. They actually mingle with and actively love the sinners within. (Note: Since Christianity states that we are all sinners (Rom. 3.23), I ask you remain assured this is not a fingerpointing session without the first finger back at the finger waver.)
This sounds preposterous to most and opposition, is loud, ever present, and even posted on their site. Unfortunately, it comes mostly from Christians. While the wisest man in the world once wrote “better is open rebuke than hidden love. (Prov. 27.5)” Christians are also told “Let your conversation be always full of grace...(Col. 4.6)” Is it possible some of these good hearted folks have missed the point? (Please paint question a non-sarcastic shade of red).
A majority of the rebuke comes from a serious concern over how exactly to address the issue of porn. In a conversation with one young man tonight after Mike and Craig spoke at 7:22, he admitted to me “I want to talk about this with people [to help them], but I don’t know what to say. It’s always avoided in sermons. No one’s ever said to me what these guys said tonight.” Bill Hybels, pastor at Willow Creek Church, concurs: “the reason why churches don’t talk about porn is because they are not equipped to do so.
Standing firmly divided on methodology, what do we do? What should we do? What can we do? Mike Foster fights the “you’re just in this for the money” objection and commands “go to our website. Download the free [accountability] software and start talking about this with the people who are close to you.” Drag the discussion out of the dark. Michael Leahy agrees: “what you feed grows. What you starve dies”, obviously referring to the addiction to pornography but pointing also to the fact that if the stigma attached to the “dirty little secret” stays both dirty and secret, it will eventually stop being small and derail relationships, careers, and lives.
The floor is open. What’s fair game theologically – do we rebuke these guys privately, or publicly, for taking an “unorthodox approach”? From a secular point of view, where do we go?
In part 2, we’ll talk directly with Michael Leahy, of Bravehearts, who speaks directly to tens of thousands of college students each year about the dangers of porn from both a Christian and secular worldview. In part 3 we’ll discuss more from pastors Mike and Craig, and in part 4 we’ll address much of the aggregated feedback.
Tonight, I had the privilege of interviewing Michael, as well as two very gifted and (to use the Christian buzzword) “relevant” pastors, Mike and Craig, who are taking action to make a difference in a way that sounds entirely “unChristian” given the track record of most believers that you and I have experienced.
Mike Foster and Craig Gross founded “The #1 Christian Porn Site: XXXChurch,” about three years ago in an attempt to address the myriad problems posed by the “crack cocaine of the internet”. Since then, they have preached the message that “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” all over the US, the TV, and even the AEE (yes, the Adult Entertainment Expo!).
Their ministry intends to not only to drag porn out of the closet (their Podcast is called “Dirty Little Secrets” from the song by the metal band “Pillar”), but also to minister to those within the industry itself. They have attended this adult industry trade show, and others, for three years now. While most protestors of virtually any cause typically stand outside waving signs and shouting useless, condemning slogans, these two take the “Jesus” approach. They actually mingle with and actively love the sinners within. (Note: Since Christianity states that we are all sinners (Rom. 3.23), I ask you remain assured this is not a fingerpointing session without the first finger back at the finger waver.)
This sounds preposterous to most and opposition, is loud, ever present, and even posted on their site. Unfortunately, it comes mostly from Christians. While the wisest man in the world once wrote “better is open rebuke than hidden love. (Prov. 27.5)” Christians are also told “Let your conversation be always full of grace...(Col. 4.6)” Is it possible some of these good hearted folks have missed the point? (Please paint question a non-sarcastic shade of red).
A majority of the rebuke comes from a serious concern over how exactly to address the issue of porn. In a conversation with one young man tonight after Mike and Craig spoke at 7:22, he admitted to me “I want to talk about this with people [to help them], but I don’t know what to say. It’s always avoided in sermons. No one’s ever said to me what these guys said tonight.” Bill Hybels, pastor at Willow Creek Church, concurs: “the reason why churches don’t talk about porn is because they are not equipped to do so.
Standing firmly divided on methodology, what do we do? What should we do? What can we do? Mike Foster fights the “you’re just in this for the money” objection and commands “go to our website. Download the free [accountability] software and start talking about this with the people who are close to you.” Drag the discussion out of the dark. Michael Leahy agrees: “what you feed grows. What you starve dies”, obviously referring to the addiction to pornography but pointing also to the fact that if the stigma attached to the “dirty little secret” stays both dirty and secret, it will eventually stop being small and derail relationships, careers, and lives.
The floor is open. What’s fair game theologically – do we rebuke these guys privately, or publicly, for taking an “unorthodox approach”? From a secular point of view, where do we go?
In part 2, we’ll talk directly with Michael Leahy, of Bravehearts, who speaks directly to tens of thousands of college students each year about the dangers of porn from both a Christian and secular worldview. In part 3 we’ll discuss more from pastors Mike and Craig, and in part 4 we’ll address much of the aggregated feedback.
Welcome
This is our inaugural post. Thank you for visiting. I started this blog because as a non-believer, I have been increasingly frustrated with the many wrongs that Chrsitians have done all in the name of "God". This is especially difficult to deal with now that I AM a believer. Imagine waking up one morning as the head of a PR firm that defends Dow Chemicals. How could you champion the cause of a corporation with a record for pollution a mile long? Sure they create solvents, paper, and even cleaners, but the byproducts have wreaked havoc with the environment!
It is challenging to know the message that God says "come as you are, I'll clean you up" is being twisted by people within His very church to make them feel guilty, dirty, and ashamed. I listened in awe today as I heard a pornographer state
"I think religion is the most destructive and hurtful industry in the world."
That's not the gospel.
That's because of people, just like you and I if you're a believer, that have misbehaved, misjudged, and mistreated others, thereby misrepresenting the Brand. Doesn't the Bible teach "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5.8)? Doesn't it teach "we were by nature objects of wrath. But... God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even while we were dead in transgressions.(Eph. 2.4-5)"? Isn't it written: "...in humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil. 2.3b)"?
I want to hear your take on this. What confusions do you have about Christianity? What concerns you about "Christians"? What is the worst treatment you've ever received from a "professed" Christian? What is the worst I've ever done to you? The way I read it, Christianity is more about the life change that happens when faith intersects with faithfulness. How can we spread that message if we can't connect person to person, honestly, transparently, and with true confession? I'll repent, will you be a partner in that process? Your comments are invited and welcome. Please, though, respect that I do intend to keep this website free of profanity. I do not edit posts, but I will delete them if we're using unnecessary language - this does not mean that truth needs be suppressed, but use sound judgement. We will tackle difficult subjects: homosexuality, divorce, hypocrisy, pornography, just try to keep the language appropriate.
Holy hollerback.
It is challenging to know the message that God says "come as you are, I'll clean you up" is being twisted by people within His very church to make them feel guilty, dirty, and ashamed. I listened in awe today as I heard a pornographer state
"I think religion is the most destructive and hurtful industry in the world."
That's not the gospel.
That's because of people, just like you and I if you're a believer, that have misbehaved, misjudged, and mistreated others, thereby misrepresenting the Brand. Doesn't the Bible teach "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5.8)? Doesn't it teach "we were by nature objects of wrath. But... God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even while we were dead in transgressions.(Eph. 2.4-5)"? Isn't it written: "...in humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil. 2.3b)"?
I want to hear your take on this. What confusions do you have about Christianity? What concerns you about "Christians"? What is the worst treatment you've ever received from a "professed" Christian? What is the worst I've ever done to you? The way I read it, Christianity is more about the life change that happens when faith intersects with faithfulness. How can we spread that message if we can't connect person to person, honestly, transparently, and with true confession? I'll repent, will you be a partner in that process? Your comments are invited and welcome. Please, though, respect that I do intend to keep this website free of profanity. I do not edit posts, but I will delete them if we're using unnecessary language - this does not mean that truth needs be suppressed, but use sound judgement. We will tackle difficult subjects: homosexuality, divorce, hypocrisy, pornography, just try to keep the language appropriate.
Holy hollerback.
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