The May/June issue of Faith & Fellowship Magazine is on it's way to the homes of subscribers and is ready to be viewed online! The theme is "Returning Soldiers: How can the Church help?"
Cover Story: "They're Coming Home...How Can We Help?" by Chaplain David Thompson
Having faced bravely the trauma of combat, returning wartime veterans now face the challenge of not allowing those experiences to scar them permanently. How can the Church help meet their needs? What are their needs?
Of the 1.5 million U.S. service personnel serving on active duty, about 260,000 are deployed in political hotspots or war zones around the world at any given time. Many of these soldiers find it hard to adjust to life, work and relationships on the home front after the combat has stopped. Many feel they have lost their place in civilian life, where jobs no longer fit them, family relationships feel strained and conflicted, and they sense only their fellow soldiers really understand them.
Youth are the future of our churches and youth are the present of our churches. I’m guessing your hope for your church is that you are as effective as possible in reaching out to teens. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren wants to come along side each of our churches youth ministries and youth ministers as best as you see the need.
As we transition into our regional model of ministry the regional pastors have asked me, Mark Johannesen, if I would contract with them for a few hours for this type of ministry each week and for the last few months I have been trying to do that. Previously this work was contracted by staff at Inspiration Point Bible Camp and I thank them for the running start they gave me as I assumed this roll.
I was in youth ministry full time for over ten years and am currently pastoring at Good News Lutheran Brethren Church in McAlisterville, PA. I’m no expert, but I love teens and everything that comes across my desk that I think is beneficial to our youth workers I hope to pass on. I hope also to pass on national youth ministry resources like the 2011 Youth Convention in Estes Park.
Every week I hope to call and talk to as many of our youth workers as possible, blogging on the CLB Youth workers web page, feel free to take a look at it. If you’re on Facebook, I invite you to look me up and to look up the CLB Youth Workers group. We’re trying to interact online as best as possible.
I also send out 2-3 emails a month. If you haven’t received one from me, please email me at mjohannesen@clba.org and ask to be added to the e-list. Please also know I’m hoping to ask each one of you how ministry is going and how we can pray for each other. On the Facebook page there is a place for you to share your requests with one another as well.
Blessings as you are used by Jesus to love teens for Him,
Last night I was paging through my journal and I came across notes from this year’s Western Region Pastor and Wife Retreat. The theme of the retreat was, “Suffering, the Cross and the Person of the Pastor and Wife.” The material that was presented and received at the retreat was such a blessing. The following content has been formatted from my personal notes and thoughts taken from the retreat.
Pastoral Burnout Happens When… …Pastors: I. Try to be someone that they are not…Such as:
Trying to fulfill the shoes of the church’s previous pastor.
Trying to fulfill unrealistic personal expectations.
Trying to fulfill and/or emulate popular pastoral personalities in evangelicalism.
II. Try to give something that they cannot give…Such as:
Giving of themselves in place of giving the gospel.
Becoming the savior rather than presenting the savior.
Trying to meet and serve in all the vast ministry needs of the church (i.e. effectively and simultaneously serving on: the hospitality committee, building committee, fellowship committee, preaching, teaching, counseling, etc…) The pastor is not ‘the church’ nor can the pastor effectively meet all the demands of the church, but he is merely one component of the body of Christ, one gift among many.
Pastoral Burnout Happens When… …The Congregation: I. Has unclear and unrealistic expectations II. Sends conflicting and double messages…Such as:
The pastor reports to the elders; the pastor reports to the congregation.
Calling the pastor to have an attitude of “it’s not about me” when the church uplifts and places the pastor into the role of “it’s about the pastor.”
The pastor is called to have preaching as his primary responsibility (i.e. which requires study); the pastor is called to have visitations as his primary responsibility (i.e. which require time away from study).
III. Makes the Pastor into the Church Idol…Such as:
Seeing the pastor in the role of celebrity rather than one spiritual gift among many in the church.
Overemphasis on the pastoral personality and a de-emphasis of the pastoral office.
Focusing on the messenger and not the message being proclaimed.
IV. Removes the Pastor’s Resources…Such as:
Giving the pastor the responsibility to pastor but not the authority to pastor.
Calls the pastor to focus on visitations without giving mileage and meal reimbursements.
V. Has an Un-holy Spirit…Such as:
A spirit of rebellion against spiritual authority.
A spirit of offensiveness and aggression.
A spirit of deconstructive criticalness.
A spirit of bitterness.
In Scripture we not only see evidences of pastoral burnout but also persecution and struggles.
This leads us to ask the question, “What did God give Paul for a ministry such as this?” God Gave Him:
gospel… the cross
In light of the cross, Paul saw ministry through this lens.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Source of Notes: Western Region Pastor and Wife Retreat Speaker: Dr. Gene Boe Theme: Suffering, the Cross and the Person of the Pastor and Wife
Jesus Christ died for us, so that we could be set free from the bonds of sin, because He loves us. I so often fail to remember this. It's the most important part of God, and still, I fail to consistently see it. Because I am not able to steadily keep my eyes fixed on love; I don't show love to others. When in reality, I am just really not living in God himself, because God is love.
"Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." -1 John 4:16b
Every year that I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Mexico, I always feel great love. Love for the people of Mexico, love for our group, love for myself, and love for God. We go down to Mexico to show God's love. But when we get there, we are the one's being shown love. We show love, the love of God, the love that is God, and it's reflected right back at us. It's truly a circle of love, always moving and never ending. God is love.
Andreas interacting with some children
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."-1 John 4:7-8
There's this thing that's called a "language barrier". It's not a barrier at all. Yeah, I guess it is in the sense that we can't have a real conversation with the people. But honestly, is it that hard to show love or feel loved? Would it be that much easier for you to show love if you could speak their language? For me, it wouldn't be. Of course it would be nice, but it's not a barrier, it's more like a pebble in the road. Love can be shown in music, games, object lessons, crafts, construction, and bible lessons. love is so broad, yet so simple.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."- 1 John 3:18
I want to love, because God is love. I want to show love because when we show love we are showing the face of God. I want to be used because He wants to use me. I want to go to Mexico to love and to be loved. That's why we go: to love. We go to be the face of God, the face of love.
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."- 1 John 4:12
I really think showing love is the simplest form of showing God. But it can be really tough to do, especially in this day and age. I want to be a light of God by showing love to others.
This weekend, my boys and I took a trip to Hollywood! Before I continue, let me make a few things clear about this place of glamour:
1. Contrary to what's shown on TV, 99.8% of Hollywood is not glamorous, star studded or beautiful at all.
2. Drugs, sex, prostitution and poverty are rampant in Hollywood. It is one of the most spiritually broken cities I've ever been in.
3. The Church has little to no presence there.
That being said, this weekend, I noticed the Church's presence there in a striking way. Driving down Hollywood Blvd., I stumbled upon a big black sign that said in white letters, 'Ecclesia.' Curious, I pulled over to see it closer. The church was meeting in an old, broken down theater (fitting, eh?). Literally, right next door to the theater was a sex shoppe (the little pink building to the left in the photo).
I did a bit of searching around online about their Church, and in general, they were Evangelical! Of course, they were super-hip, all with cool hair, cool clothes, and a love for Indy music. In short, the staff looked like they belonged in Hollywood. They were contextualizing their message ( like missionaries dressing in African garb, they too were dressed in Hollywood garb). An Evangelical presence on Hollywood Blvd.?! I loved the picture: A church proclaiming the Lordship of Christ, right next to a sex shoppe! Isn't this how Christ ministered when He was here in the flesh? Isn't this how He still ministers today: in the midst of tax collectors and sinners (even eating with them!)?
On the other hand, a couple blocks away, I saw a different kind of Church entirely. Oh, they claimed to be Christians, and their building (at first glance) certainly gave testimony to that effect. Towering over the other buildings around it, the old Methodist Church looked much more like a traditional church building then say a theater next to a sex shoppe. Yet, as I got closer to the building, it became very clear that they were anything but traditional. I saw three big banners hanging from their windows and doors. They read:
1. "Reclaiming the Bible for Progressive Christians"
2. "We are different. We believe in Equality."
3. Sermon this Sunday: 'Marriage Equality.'
What struck me was how both Churches were trying to reach their culture. The Evangelical Church changed their dress, music style, and overall aesthetics, yet maintained the central message of Christianity. The Methodist Church, on the other hand, in order to reach the culture, did not give up it's dress, music style, and overall aesthetics, but in order to "be relevant" seems to have given up it's message.
So here's the thoughts I came away with:
1. Contextualization has it's limits. The message cannot be changed. Ever. We cannot tamper with it. The Gospel must remain central. The Methodist Church looks the part, but like so many Church buildings, appears to be full of dead men's bones. Style changes, music changes, what's considered beautiful, or fashionable today, can very quickly look old and antiquated not too much further into the future.
2. Although, I can't be sure of this, I have a pretty strong sense that this particular Methodist church wasn't always the way it is today. I'm sure at one time, even if they were "more progressive," someone once preached the Gospel there. But over time, in a quest to "be relevant" to their culture, they just began to affirm the culture, rather than confront it with Christ's claims. Evangelicalism in some ways, is in danger of heading down this same road. Endless self-help sermons, five step programs, and hipper than thou Pastors all can make for a very shallow Church.
3. What then is the key to staying safe? Contextualizing your message, without losing your message? I think it's found in this tension: 1 Corinthians 9:22- "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." 1 Corinthians 4:6- "Do not go beyond what is written."
May God help us maintain this tension by the Holy Spirit's working in us and through us.
Gerhard O. Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross,(Erdmans Publishing, 1997), 94-96.
Note:
Theology of Glory = Man-centered Spirituality
Theology of the Cross = Christ-centered Spirituality
What is interesting here is that Luther likens the dilemma of the theologian of glory to that of an obsessive lover or a miser. In our day the drug addict or alcoholic would be the closest parallel. The desire, the thirst for glory or wisdom or power or money, is never satisfied by the acquisition of what is desired. The more we get, the more we want. There is never real satisfaction, never the confidence that we have or have done enough. ‘How much money does it take to make one happy?’ ‘Just a little more!’ As sinners we are like addicts—addicted to ourselves and our own projects. The theology of glory, simply seeks to give those projects eternal legitimacy. The remedy for the theology of glory, therefore, cannot be encouragement and positive thinking, but rather the end of the addictive desire. Luther says it directly, ‘The remedy for curing desire does not lie in satisfying it, but in extinguishing it.’ So we are back to the cross, the radical intervention, end of the life of the old and the beginning of the new.
Since the theology of glory is like addiction and not abstract doctrine, it is a temptation over which we have no control in and of ourselves, and from which we must be saved. As with the addict, mere exhortation and optimistic encouragement will do no good. It may be intended to build up character and self-esteem, but when the addict realizes the impossibility of quitting, self-esteem degenerates all the more. The alcoholic will only take to drinking in secret, trying to put on the façade of sobriety. As theologians of glory we do much the same. We put on a façade of religious propriety and piety and try to hide or explain away or coddle our sins. In our day we will even curry affirmation and acceptance. We may listen to the voices that please us most, those of optimists who peddle ‘The Power of Positive Thinking, Possibility Thinking’ and similar theological marshmallows. We may even be temporarily encouraged. But in more lucid moments, we, like the addict, suspect it won’t do, that we aren’t really up to it. Instead of building self-esteem the voices of optimism eventually undermine and weaken it. Ultimately they destroy.
As with the addict there has to be an intervention, an act from without. In treatment of alcoholics some would speak of the necessity of ‘bottoming out,’ reaching the absolute bottom where one can no longer escape the need for help. Then it is finally evident that the desire can never be satisfied, but must be extinguished. In matters of faith, the preaching of the cross is analogous to that intervention. It is an act of God, entirely without. It does not come to feed the religious desires of the Old Adam and Eve but to extinguish them. They are crucified with Christ to be made new.
Watching this video I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I firmly believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. So I sort of cringed at some of the implications of what Chan was saying. On the other hand, as I watched, I couldn't help but think about this word from Jesus:
Matthew 25:14 “For it (the Kingdom) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And then there's this: "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruits bad, for the tree is known by it's fruit."
What do you think? Is Chan right about the implications of 'living too safe a life?'
Here's how Luther explains the situation-
All who boast of works to justify themselves in the eyes of God show that they understand nothing about Christ or faith. We confess that good works must follow faith, yes, not only must, but follow voluntarily, just as a good tree not only must produce good fruits, but does so freely. Just as good fruits do not make the tree good, so good works do not justify the person. But good works come from a person who has already been justified beforehand by faith, just as good fruits come from a tree which is already good beforehand by nature.
When I was a teenager, one of my favorite bands in the known universe was "The Smoking Popes." They were not a Christian band, just a rock band that made great music (name not withstanding). Me and my friends Jeff, Ryan, and Jimmy would listen to them for hours, and then in our own band, would seek to write songs that were similar (OK,maybe "exactly alike" would be a better way of saying it).
Anyway, as we listened to this band, my friends and I would actually talk and pray about how cool it would be if the Popes became Christians. Lo and behold, not long after, Josh Caterer, their lead singer, did indeed receive Christ as Lord. Here below is a short clip in which he describes how his conversion took place:
What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over a half century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio. Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia, all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am,” and the churches would be full every Sunday . . . where Christ is not preached.
It is easy to become distracted from Christ as the only hope for sinners. Where everything is measured by our happiness rather than by God’s holiness, the sense of our being sinners becomes secondary, if not offensive. If we are good people who have lost our way but with the proper instructions and motivation can become a better person, we need only a life coach, not a redeemer. We can still give our assent to a high view of Christ and the centrality of his person and work, but in actual practice we are being distracted from “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). A lot of the things that distract us from Christ these days are even good things. In order to push us offpoint, all that Satan has to do is throw several spiritual fads, moral and political crusades, and other “relevance” operations into our field of vision. Focusing the conversation on us—our desires, needs, feelings, experience, activity, and aspirations—energizes us. At last, now we’re talking about something practical and relevant.
As provocative as Barnhouse’s illustration remains, it is simply an elaboration of a point made throughout the history of redemption. Wherever Christ is truly and clearly being proclaimed, Satan is most actively present in opposition.
1st Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Creation As viewed through Plan A: If I…
a) obey the teachings of a creation spirituality
b) prove to be worthy caretaker of creation through _______
c) honor the Creator by ________
Then I…
a) shall be blessed in innumerable creative ways
b) shall attain praiseworthy status as a faithful steward
c) shall receive both the temporal and eternal rewards from the Creator God
2nd Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Redemption
As viewed through Plan A: If I…
a) love Jesus devotedly…
b) serve Jesus exemplarily…
c) follow Jesus faithfully…
Then I…
a) shall live in the love of Jesus
b) shall serve my way into the control of God
c) shall end up where Jesus is
3rd Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Sanctification
As viewed through Plan A: If I…
a) open myself to receive God’s Spirit
b) strive mightily and persistently to grow in faith, hope and love
c) join regularly and helpfully with fellow Christians for piety, study and action
Then I…
a) shall receive abundant spiritual blessings
b) shall see my faith, hope and love blossom progressively
c) shall be more and more enriched through that Christian fellowship
1st Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Creation
As viewed through Plan B: Because…
a) our creator God has created me and all that exists
b) has given me and preserves to me all that I need for life and meaning
c) has blessed me with an abundance beyond my serving or needing
Therefore…
a) I shall thank God
b) I shall praise God
c) I shall serve and obey God
2nd Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Redemption
As viewed through Plan B: Because our redeeming God…
a) has sent Jesus Christ, true God begotten of the Father and true man, born of the Virgin Mary, to Lord
b) has purchased me out of death through the precious blood and innocent suffering and death of Jesus
c) has raised the crucified Messiah as resurrected Lord and honored Him as ascended Christ
Therefore I…
a) shall live under Christ’s lordship in the power of new life
b) shall serve my Savior in love through a life of gratitude shall partake of the new life that is no longer subject to death 3rd Article of the Apostle’s Creed: Sanctification
As viewed through Plan B: Because our life changing God…
a) has called me to faith through the Gospel
b) has gathered me into the arena of the redeemed
c) has opened my mind with all needed gifts
Therefore I…
a) shall hold to that Gospel that found and holds me
b) shall gather regularly with that family of God into which I was first gathered
c) shall share and show forth the information and message of the Gospel that blessed me
Source:Allen H Sager, Gospel-Centered Spirituality (pp. 67-69).
"The Law is to be preached to secure sinners and the Gospel to alarmed sinners" (Walther, 17). The secure sinner is the person who glories in his own self righteousness. In the words of Lutheran theologian Gerhard Forde, the secure sinner is 'addicted either to what is base or to what is high, either to lawlessness or to lawfulness. Theologically there is not any difference since both break the relationship to God, the giver.' "
"To those who have been crushed by the hammer blows of the Law, no longer secure in their lawlessness or self-righteousness, there is only one word that will do. That is the word of the Gospel....It is that word of God that declares sins to be forgiven for the sake of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. It is all about Christ and what He has done for us."
With only a week left in our fiscal year (ending April 30th), we are 80% to our goal. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to give to the ministry of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB).
as of April 16th, 2010
The incredible thing about our vision as a Church is that we get to build it together! The mission of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren lies in your congregation. The question for the Synododical ministries is, how can we assist you in your mission? What can we do to support your ministry in reaching your neighbors? How can we help your church educate your lay leaders theologically? How can we supply you with the tools that you need to teach your children and engage your teens? We want to know and we desire to be part of your ministry. The wonderful fact is that God is in control. And this is ultimately God's Mission! We are his family, a family of churches, and we desire to be faithful to his calling. We have been called. How is he calling you?
Thank you for the contributions that have come in so far. We appreciate your support and invite you to build our vision with us. We are on the "Same Mission. Together."
Last week in Louisville, KY, there was a large gathering of Reformed/Evangelicals called Together 4 the Gospel. Over 7,000 people (mostly Pastors) attended the event! From all reports, it sounds like there was some great teaching, preaching, worship and fellowship.
Where it seems some may have fallen short is in their witness to the host city, Louisville; in particular, with servers in the city's restaurants. Jared Wilson shares:
While I was in Louisville I kept hearing horror stories. One waitress told us that one party she waited on left her a $7 tip on an $80 bill but also left one of those fake million-dollar-bill gospel tracts. Another got "Way of the Master"ed while she served a table. She was in tears relating this to another pastor, who ministered to her more gently. I abominate whoever left the fake money tract. The lines for service were long last week, so there was a lot of sighing and eye rolling and short temperedness from Christians who forgot they were there to serve.
I have to say, the language of abomination might be a bit too harsh here (see Justin Taylor's blog), but Wilson is absolutely right. I have nothing against leaving tracts @ restaurants for servers, but if you claim to be a Christian (especially if you pray before you meal), then you need to tip well. End of story, no debate. You are not just another consumer, you are a witness of the Gospel. Therefore, bear bad service w/ joy for the sake of the gospel; do not give your server what they deserve, go above and beyond what they deserve! Be Generous, as Christ has been generous to you.
Reading the online magazine, Collide, I came across an article about using media in ministry. Our media-hungry culture causes us to feel like we need to compete with Avatar and U2 concerts in order to catch people's attention. One section of the article jumped out at me. The author quoted a staff writer's blog post titled "Should Sunday Morning Be 'Hot' or 'Cool'?"
(T)he difference between movies and comics is a classic illustration of what Marshall McLuhan called “hot”and “cool” mediums, a distinction which classifies how much participation is required from a person to engage the medium. A comic is “cool” because it requires a reader fill in the sounds, smells, and details of what happens between the panes. In contrast, a film is “hot” because it completely envelopes a moviegoer’s senses and requires almost no participation or thought to grasp what’s happening.
Similarly, a sketch is “cool” because the viewer needs to fill in the details, while a photograph is “hot” because it contains highly detailed information. An article in USA Today is “hot” because the information is predigested and requires little thought, while T.S. Elliot’s poem The Wasteland is “cool” because the reader has to work hard to fully understand it.
So what about Sunday morning? Should the things we do on Sunday morning – music, Communion, preaching – be “hot” like the Watchmen movie (highly defined, intense, requiring little participation) or “cool” like the Watchmen graphic novel (more muted, requiring the congregant to think and process)? Some of both? A continuum? What helps people grow more deeply in their faith?
I love the idea of giving the congregation room to think and process what they are hearing, learning and experiencing. Which is more influential in the way you live your life? A big budget, action movie like Transformers or a simple, yet intimate, evening with friends and family? I would assume that most of you would choose the latter. Why is that? Time with friends and family touches more than just our vision and hearing, but it moves us emotionally as we grow closer to a friend, feel loved by family and experience humorous moments with a group of people we care about. Which way should the Church lean when reaching out to our neighbors? A balance of both is appropriate, but it's so easy to get wrapped up in trying to entertain that we sometimes forget about the value and power of friendship and family. Are we depending on the two-minute flashy video and rock-infused worship music to reach the hearts of our congregation, or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work through God's Word within a loving and caring community of believers?
Let’s start off the week with a great laugh with the following video from Michael Jr:
What a great chuckle over the thought of James, Jesus LIL Brother, trying to be like Jesus. It is funny because we know that any of James’ attempts at being like Jesus would prove to be futile at best, especially trying to walk on water! The same can be true for us! Any of our attempts to be like Jesus result in the same comical storyline.
As we think about the advent of Jesus into human history, we can rejoice in thinking about 2 Corinthians 5:21 because the exact opposite happened. Jesus came to identify with us!“For our sake he made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” What a gift that we can receive and believe upon. Jesus identified with us so that we might become the righteousness of God and be identified (i.e. be reconciled) with the Father (Rom. 5:10-11).
I recently did a baptism for two infants and received a video as a gift from their parents titled, "On the Shoulders of Giants." While I haven't seen the full DVD and can't vouch for the whole video, I did appreciate the opening section on Justification. Enjoy the following segment as the commentator brings forth the history of our Lutheran Culture/Theology and our hope in "justification by grace through faith."
Anthony Bradley, writing for World Mag makes the claim that whatever was called "The Emerging Church" is now officially emerged (is that a word?). Here's his point:
Reading a new book or going to a conference about the emerging church is a waste of time and money unless it’s to understand the movement as a recent historical one. The emerging church movement has ended. Andrew Jones, a leader of the movement in the U.K., wrote about the demise at the end of 2009. Rob Bell, the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., delivered an April 4 sermon on the Resurrection that marks, in my opinion, the end of an era. Bell recounts how Mars Hill started out to be a different kind of church without the baggage of watered-down “seeker” churches and the religious legalism of “traditional” churches. In a moment of wonderful honesty Bell admitted that Mars Hill had become a big institution that wounded people in similar ways as the churches many Gen-Xers swore they would not mimic. Jones affirms much of Bell’s experience on his blog.
From Brian McLaren to Erwin McManus to Rob Bell to Tony Jones to Mark Driscoll and others, the theological lines have been drawn and are settled. We have all moved on. We know who fits into evangelicalism, post-liberalism, Anabaptism, Calvinism, and so on."
I'd have to say based on my limited experience, this commentary seems to be right on. I never saw any semblance of whatever was considered the "Emergent Church" really taking root anywhere (certainly not within the L.B., but also not in the broader Evangelical world).
So then, were there any Positives coming out of this movement? Negatives? Is Bradley right? Is the "Emergent Church" really over?
A few years ago Christian Smith, a researcher from the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found some disturbing trends among youth and their views of God.
It seems that their religion can be summed up with the words, "Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism." That is, there is a God who created the world and watches over it kind of (Deism); He wants us to be nice and fair and "good." (Moralistic) However, the only time that God seems to matter is when you're going through hard times (Therapeutic).
Of the three thousand teens interviewed in this study, most of them had no idea what the basic beliefs of their faith were. They seemed to talk about God as being good to talk to, but not as a Deity, as a Friend. Unfortunately, many of those questioned were Christian kids who had grown up in Church.
What should the Church do in order to counteract this thinking?
Perusing around the Resurgence a while back I found this little post about how the Church does it's mission. It's written by Tim Chester:
Ordinary Life
"Here’s another way of thinking about it. One of the catchphrases we use to capture our vision is “ordinary life with gospel intentionality” or “ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality.” In other words, what we do is ordinary life together: household chores, trips to the movies, meals, neighborhood volunteering. But running through all these activities is a commitment to speaking and living the gospel. We pastor one another at the kitchen sink. We evangelize by talking about Jesus over a meal."
Yes, yes, yes! I couldn't have said it better myself. This is the way the gospel primarily is spread. People living out their callings (vocations) with Jesus being in all of it. So often we want to do events, have revivals, "draw people in;" this view says, we don't try and draw people in, but we are drawn out, compelled to go out, to them. It is in the ordinary, the mundane, even the boring, that God most often does His work.
Why is it so much easier to tell people what they need to do or don't do?
1. Our natures are hardwired to believing that the way to get right with God is by obedience (witness every other religion in the known universe!)
2. We think if we just know what to do, we'll naturally do it (witness Greek philosophy)
3. We think if people are just made aware of the potential consequences of their actions, logic and reason will take over and they'll surely stop. Though this can happen outwardly, internally, their desires will remain the same. Usually, then they'll continue the behavior, believing that the consequences discussed won't really happen to them (witness Teenagers).
There are many other reasons I'm sure for preaching what Edmund Clowney called "Synagogue Sermons," but the only message that can truly change a person from the inside out (the only change that truly matters) comes from the preaching of the Gospel.
The good news is, though you are a sinner (Rebel by nature), have sinned, failed, will continue to fail and never fully in this life, "Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength" as you should, Jesus, God's own Son has done it for you. He has lived perfectly in our place, bore the penalty of our sin on the cross, and rose again for our justification. He became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).
As I thought about this, I couldn't help but remember a short snippet of a sermon I watched not long ago. In it, Chandler describes sitting through a very typical Synagogue sermon, with a very sinful friend next to him. Here after all is why this matters:
I absolutely love reading the parables of Jesus. They have such a gentle way of opening up discussion and teaching biblical truths! Following in the spirit of the New Testament I submit these parables to you. Have a great time working through these four parable and may they grant discussion, clarification and understanding of church history's different views of mankind.
There was a swimmer in a lake a mile from land. While treading water the swimmer noticed that the water posed a threat. The lake was deep and dark. As a result the swimmer thought of the Lifeguard, who sat a mile away on the beach of safety. The swimmer thought, “What would the Lifeguard do?” Being inspired by the great example of the Lifeguard; the swimmer began to replicate the swimming techniques that had been previously demonstrated. In the swimming journey back to the shore of safety, the swimmer felt appreciation towards the Lifeguard because He was a Great Example in a time of need. The swimmer continued to diligently mimic the Lifeguard’s swimming technique all the way to the shore where the swimmer would eventually be removed from the deep and dark waters of danger.
There was a swimmer in a lake a mile from land. While treading water the swimmer noticed that the water posed a great threat. The lake was deep, dark and full of weeds. In fact, the weeds were so thick that if trapped in the weeds they would most definitely pull the best of swimmers under. As a result the swimmer thought of the Lifeguard, who sat a mile away on the beach of safety. The swimmer thought, “I better take the initiative and call for help. The Lifeguard will be able to help me through this weed infested water!” With a great amount of force the swimmer yelled out to the Lifeguard for help. Within minutes the Lifeguard was there at the side of the swimmer. The Lifeguard looked at the swimmer and said, “Don’t worry my friend, just swim with me and I will help you maneuver around the weeds to safety!” In the swimming journey back to shore, the swimmer felt lucky and continually thanked the Lifeguard because He was a Helper in a time of need. Both the swimmer and Lifeguard continued to vigorously swim together all the way to the shore where the swimmer would eventually be removed from the deep, dark and weedy waters of danger.
There was a swimmer in a lake a mile from land. While treading water the swimmer began to have a leg cramp; a leg cramp that posed an incredible threat. In fact, the leg cramp became so bad that the swimmer started to drown. The swimmer started to gulp up water, splash violently and the weight of the water began to press in. As a result the Lifeguard, who sat a mile away on the beach of safety, saw the swimmer’s distress. The Lifeguard yelled out, “I will not abandon you… I am coming to rescue you!” Within minutes the Lifeguard was there and He cast out a life preserver to the swimmer. The Lifeguard looked at the swimmer and said, “Trust me my friend… reach out and grab a hold of the life preserver!” The sight of the Lifeguard and the sound of His voice granted the swimmer the confidence to reach out and grab a hold of the life preserver even though there was chaos, a leg cramp and a hopeless situation of drowning. While the swimmer held tightly to the life preserver and kicked from time to time towards land; the Lifeguard pulled the swimmer through the water. On the journey back towards the beach of safety the swimmer felt grateful, comforted and continually spoke forth praises because the Lifeguard was a Rescuer in a time of need. The Lifeguard continued to pull the swimmer, who was holding on to the life preserver, all the way to the shore where the swimmer would eventually be removed from the threat of a leg cramp, a hopeless drowning situation and the deep, dark and weedy waters of danger.
There was a swimmer in a lake a mile from land. The swimmer had drowned. A body laid motionless, dead and saturated with water at the bottom of the deep, dark and weedy water. The swimmer was devastated and hopeless to say the least. As a result the Lifeguard, who sat a mile away on the beach of safety, took notice that one of His swimmers was not in sight. The Lifeguard made His hand into a fist and said, “I am not willing for any of my swimmers to perish… I will go out and find my swimmer!” Within minutes the Lifeguard found the swimmer. The swimmer was at the bottom of the lake ensnared by the weeds; dead and motionless. The Lifeguard looked at the swimmer and said, “I must descend to the depths of this lake, grab a hold of this dead body and give CPR!” The Lifeguard then dove into the depths of the water, fought His way through the weeds, grabbed a hold of the dead body and brought the body out of the depths of the deep water to the surface. Once on the surface of the water, the Lifeguard performed CPR upon the swimmer. The breath of the Lifeguard drove out the water and filled the swimmer’s lungs with refreshing air. The pulsating pumping of the Lifeguard’s hands upon the swimmer’s heart, firmly but gently, revived the swimmer’s heart. All of a sudden life came out of this motionless, dead and water saturated body. While the swimmer was shocked, disoriented and powerless, the Lifeguard tightly placed His arm around the swimmer’s chest and pulled the swimmer through the water towards the shore of safety. While being pulled through the water by the Lifeguard, the swimmer felt secure, became overwhelmed with the gift of life and continually wept with praises because the Lifeguard was a Life-giver in a time of need. The Lifeguard continued to pull the powerless swimmer all the way to the shore where the swimmer would eventually be removed from the threat of death, drowning and the deep, dark and weedy waters of danger.
Questions on the Four
Parables:
1) What was the main threat in each of the parables? (i.e. water, seaweed, the
swimmer)
2) What were the response and role of the swimmer in each of parable?
3) What was the response and role of the Lifeguard in each parable?
4)
Who was the hero in each of the parables?
5)
Who did the majority of the work: in solving the threat?
6) After the threat settled, how did the swimmer view the Lifeguard
in the parables?
7) Expound on the meaning of each parable in relationship to us.
8) Expound on the meaning of each parable in relationship to our world.
9) Expound on the meaning
of each parable in relationship to our
sin.
10) Expound on the meaning
of each parable in relationship to Christ.
11) Who represents the swimmer, the Lifeguard?
12) What does the water and seaweed represent?
13) Compare and contrast each of the parables in connection to scripture.
Each parable scenario is explained below. The footnote explanations come from: Robert Walton Chronological and Background Charts of Church History (Zondervan, 1986)
[1] Pelagianism: Man is essentially good and capable of doing what is necessary for salvation (Pelagius ~ Late 4th & Early 5th Century)
[2]Semi-Pelagianism: The grace of God and the will of man work together in salvation, in which man must take the initiative. (John Cassian ~ Late 4th & Early 5th Century)
[3]Semi-Augustianism: The grace of God comes to all, enabling a person to choose and perform what is necessary for salvation. (Caesarius of Arles ~ Late 5th & Early 6th Century)
[4]Augustianism: Man is dead in sin; salvation is totally by the grace of God, which is given only to those in Christ (Augustine of Hippo ~ Late 4th & Early 5th Century)
