So, I know I've posted a lot of videos lately but, really, does that surprise anybody that knows me. The one for today is fascinating conversation between three of the more well-known Christian leaders particularly on the west coast. The background is that Francis Chan left what, from all outside appearances, is a very successful ministry in order to play a big role in small, community needs based ministry. These three are friends and clearly have more insight into the situation than I do. So, I don't offer this as a way of saying I think I agree with on e guy more than another. But, it's a beautiful snapshot into the heart of a Christian who feels compelled to do something radical in order to follow Jesus, and the friends who lovingly challenge his decision. I hope you find it interesting as well.
Don't go to church, Be the Church
Bill
http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/09/ur_video_why_di.html
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
on Book Burning and Mosque building
So, I've been struggling over the issues that have made the news over the last few days, and whether or not it was at all relevant or necessary for me to add any comment on the happenings. The two biggest struggles for me have been the issues surrounding the potential construction of an Islamic Center (or mosque, I'll admit I'm not interested in debating the specifics of that point.) near Ground Zero, and the "Pastor" (and I do use the term loosely) who plans on burning Korans on the anniversary of 9/11. As I've heard, and seen, and read more about these two stories two old quotes keep coming to the fore for me.
The first is my favorite line from Jurassic Park: "You guys were so interested in whether or not you could, you never stopped to think about whether or not you should." That seems like a very relevant question in both instances for me. I'm no legal expert, but it would appear to me that both the building and the book-burning can be done. But the much bigger question is should they be done. That's a different conversation, and one I'm not hearing as much in the rhetoric.
The other quote is one I can't attribute, because I don't remember where I first heard it: Not every act of stupidity demands a response. I really like this quote. It's pretty loaded, aggressive even, and I'm not saying that either of these two acts are 'stupid'. It's just that it seems in our 24-hour news cycle world, stuff that probably wouldn't get any publicity 10 years ago becomes BIG NEWS, because a news vacuum abhors a void. But really, just because a guy wants publicity, does that mean we have to give it to him? There are a lot of idiots in the world. Do they all require our response?
Still, as evidence by this post, I came to the conclusion that I at least wanted to add something. It's not that I think my opinion will necessarily change the outcome of either event coming to be. But I thought it might be worth a challenge to those of you who read this to see if you've thought something similar, or are looking for a healthy venue to share your own thoughts and struggles.
My first thought, is that I have much more to say to the "Pastor" than I do to those considering building the Islamic Center/Mosque. I have an opinion on the Center/Mosque, I'm sure most of us do. But, and here's part of my struggle, it's something being done and planned by people outside of my influence and background. I'm not a Muslim, and I cannot imagine what the thinking is behind this proposed building. So, I don't know that my opinion is going to be a helpful addition to this conversation.
As to the "Pastor", I feel differently. Because this guy is claiming to be a Christian Pastor, that's something that hits very close to home for me. This is my area, and if someone in that zone is going off the rails, I feel much more of a duty to speak to it. As I see time and again in scripture, Jesus was always hardest on the "insiders." He really went after the flaws and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Why? Well, at least one reason is because He was one of them. He spoke their language, He lived in their world, and at some level they were a reflection of Him. This "Pastor" in Florida is a reflection of all Christian Pastors, and I find his actions unacceptable to stand without a reasonable challenge. And just to be clear, I can't imagine there being anything positive from this book-burning. On simply one point alone this is so frustrating: If you're a Christian, ask yourself how this guys actions make us look to the Non-Christians we're supposed to be evangelizing. Isn't he simply fulfilling every negative stereotype Non-Christians already have of us: Angry, Judgmental, Intolerant, etc. (By the way, that's exactly what I overheard at lunch the other day. It made me cringe.)
Does that mean I ignore the Center/Mosque and only speak to the Book-burning? I don't really know. Again, regardless I'm not sure my thoughts will change any outcome. But, just because it might not do much doesn't mean I should also say nothing.
Hmm, well I don't know that I solved anything, but I think I feel better for having written. If you've been looking for a healthy format to share some thoughts please do so here. Good, honest responses are always welcome. Even disagreeing opinions, as long we do so without being disagreeable to each other. In the end, I'm drawn to hope that all of us might take the words I use to end this blog as a response to all this as well:
Don't go to church, Be the Church
Bill
The first is my favorite line from Jurassic Park: "You guys were so interested in whether or not you could, you never stopped to think about whether or not you should." That seems like a very relevant question in both instances for me. I'm no legal expert, but it would appear to me that both the building and the book-burning can be done. But the much bigger question is should they be done. That's a different conversation, and one I'm not hearing as much in the rhetoric.
The other quote is one I can't attribute, because I don't remember where I first heard it: Not every act of stupidity demands a response. I really like this quote. It's pretty loaded, aggressive even, and I'm not saying that either of these two acts are 'stupid'. It's just that it seems in our 24-hour news cycle world, stuff that probably wouldn't get any publicity 10 years ago becomes BIG NEWS, because a news vacuum abhors a void. But really, just because a guy wants publicity, does that mean we have to give it to him? There are a lot of idiots in the world. Do they all require our response?
Still, as evidence by this post, I came to the conclusion that I at least wanted to add something. It's not that I think my opinion will necessarily change the outcome of either event coming to be. But I thought it might be worth a challenge to those of you who read this to see if you've thought something similar, or are looking for a healthy venue to share your own thoughts and struggles.
My first thought, is that I have much more to say to the "Pastor" than I do to those considering building the Islamic Center/Mosque. I have an opinion on the Center/Mosque, I'm sure most of us do. But, and here's part of my struggle, it's something being done and planned by people outside of my influence and background. I'm not a Muslim, and I cannot imagine what the thinking is behind this proposed building. So, I don't know that my opinion is going to be a helpful addition to this conversation.
As to the "Pastor", I feel differently. Because this guy is claiming to be a Christian Pastor, that's something that hits very close to home for me. This is my area, and if someone in that zone is going off the rails, I feel much more of a duty to speak to it. As I see time and again in scripture, Jesus was always hardest on the "insiders." He really went after the flaws and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Why? Well, at least one reason is because He was one of them. He spoke their language, He lived in their world, and at some level they were a reflection of Him. This "Pastor" in Florida is a reflection of all Christian Pastors, and I find his actions unacceptable to stand without a reasonable challenge. And just to be clear, I can't imagine there being anything positive from this book-burning. On simply one point alone this is so frustrating: If you're a Christian, ask yourself how this guys actions make us look to the Non-Christians we're supposed to be evangelizing. Isn't he simply fulfilling every negative stereotype Non-Christians already have of us: Angry, Judgmental, Intolerant, etc. (By the way, that's exactly what I overheard at lunch the other day. It made me cringe.)
Does that mean I ignore the Center/Mosque and only speak to the Book-burning? I don't really know. Again, regardless I'm not sure my thoughts will change any outcome. But, just because it might not do much doesn't mean I should also say nothing.
Hmm, well I don't know that I solved anything, but I think I feel better for having written. If you've been looking for a healthy format to share some thoughts please do so here. Good, honest responses are always welcome. Even disagreeing opinions, as long we do so without being disagreeable to each other. In the end, I'm drawn to hope that all of us might take the words I use to end this blog as a response to all this as well:
Don't go to church, Be the Church
Bill
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Mega Niche?
So, after a brief but necessary break to celebrate 9-02-10 day, I wanted to bring back the idea of Mega churches vs. Niche Church and what that means. Again, this comes from my latest look at the Emmys, which showed a whole lot of rewards for those programs that appeal to a very specific, and usually small audience, as opposed to the wide spread winners we've seen in years past (although, I will say, it's been a while.) Is it time for churches to do the same? Should the appeal to a broad "market" be abandoned as churches hone down to a narrow target?
To be fully honest, I think 10 years ago I would have had a definitive answer for you on this. Now that I'm older, and possibly wiser, I'm not really sure. I've seen both sides do it, and do it well. I've been fortunate to be around, and even work at, what would be described as a Mega-Church, able to reach a lot of different people across a lot of different ways. It was fun, and I think very effective at sharing Jesus to a variety of different people.
And, I've been around smaller churches that have intentionally chosen to narrow their focus in order to share Jesus effectively with a specific range of people. And, I would say objectively that seem to have been pretty effective as well.
I couple that with what I've seen a little too much of: Small to Mid-size churches who try to be all things to all people, and in so doing do a rather average job of that. Yes, we reach some people for Christ, but it always feels like we could be more effective if we were either larger, or more focused.
So, what to do? Help our churches grow bigger? I'd be okay with that. It would mean we're doing something right. I'm not one of those who thinks big churches are inherently bad (and believe me, there are plenty of people who think that.) If all the churches in one area grew bigger it would mean they're not stealing "sheep" but they're really reaching the unchurched which is our main purpose anyway. That's a pretty good outcome in my book.
But somehow, I don't know that we can pull that off. God could make it happen, sure, that's not the issue. It's just, we seem to get in the way. We're unable to do that when it all comes down to it. So, is the Niche way of thinking a better way? What would it look like if a community had 10 different churches all focused on different things? One church did Small groups really well, and another did Children's Programs really well. One church focused on International missions, and another Mission closer to home. As I write that, I'm not sure that works either. It seems like people with our varied passions and desires would get frustrated by having such narrowly defined churches. I think I might even get frustrated by that.
But again, I'm pretty quick to say that I really don't know. And, as so many churches continue to simply spin their wheels and not reach anybody new for Jesus, is it worth a big bold risk if there's a big, potential upside?
Lots of questions today, and not many answers. But I hope it gets you thinking. It's done that for me.
Don't go to church, Be the Church
Bill
To be fully honest, I think 10 years ago I would have had a definitive answer for you on this. Now that I'm older, and possibly wiser, I'm not really sure. I've seen both sides do it, and do it well. I've been fortunate to be around, and even work at, what would be described as a Mega-Church, able to reach a lot of different people across a lot of different ways. It was fun, and I think very effective at sharing Jesus to a variety of different people.
And, I've been around smaller churches that have intentionally chosen to narrow their focus in order to share Jesus effectively with a specific range of people. And, I would say objectively that seem to have been pretty effective as well.
I couple that with what I've seen a little too much of: Small to Mid-size churches who try to be all things to all people, and in so doing do a rather average job of that. Yes, we reach some people for Christ, but it always feels like we could be more effective if we were either larger, or more focused.
So, what to do? Help our churches grow bigger? I'd be okay with that. It would mean we're doing something right. I'm not one of those who thinks big churches are inherently bad (and believe me, there are plenty of people who think that.) If all the churches in one area grew bigger it would mean they're not stealing "sheep" but they're really reaching the unchurched which is our main purpose anyway. That's a pretty good outcome in my book.
But somehow, I don't know that we can pull that off. God could make it happen, sure, that's not the issue. It's just, we seem to get in the way. We're unable to do that when it all comes down to it. So, is the Niche way of thinking a better way? What would it look like if a community had 10 different churches all focused on different things? One church did Small groups really well, and another did Children's Programs really well. One church focused on International missions, and another Mission closer to home. As I write that, I'm not sure that works either. It seems like people with our varied passions and desires would get frustrated by having such narrowly defined churches. I think I might even get frustrated by that.
But again, I'm pretty quick to say that I really don't know. And, as so many churches continue to simply spin their wheels and not reach anybody new for Jesus, is it worth a big bold risk if there's a big, potential upside?
Lots of questions today, and not many answers. But I hope it gets you thinking. It's done that for me.
Don't go to church, Be the Church
Bill
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Happy 90210 Day
Well, as today is 9-02-10, it's a perfect time to take a break from my previous post and remember one of the "best" shows from 90's, Bevery Hills 90210. Seriously, I will freely admit that this show was one of my guilty pleasures. I took fashion cues from Brandon and Dylan. I had a crush on Kelly, and sometimes Brenda. The plots are ridiculous in retrospect, but at the time, I was drawn in. And, in my defense, I really think the acting level of Jason Priestly and Luke Perry is way better than people gave them credit for. The rest of the cast. . . well let's just remember them fondly. How about you? Got a favorite 90210 episode? Got a different guilty pleasure you'll fess up to?
My favorite ep. - The one where Brandon was elected to be the College President. Because I didn't see that ending coming.
My favorite season - The second College season, where Tiffani Thiesen was brought on to replace Shannen Doherty.
My favorite outfit - Dylan or Brandon wearing a suit jacket and plain white T underneath. I tried so hard to pull that off.
Now just try and get that theme song out of your head.
Bill
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)