"With one exception, I would hire every member of this class to be part of my mission organization if I was on the board. Unless your paper said something to the effect of,'... [quotes one section of my most recent paper word for word]...' I wouldn't consider you a heretic." - One of my professors.
Yep. I'm officially a heretic. I think they will still let me graduate though.
I'm struggling more and more with identifying what I believe. I know what I believe ... but I don't know if it's good enough for those around (and above) me. I don't know if I care.
It's a weird spot to be.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Adam and I watched one of my favorite movies, Saved!, the other day. He had a difficult time with it because he felt it mocked Christianity.
I have two stories to illustrate something that has been on my heart. We as Christians need to examine our lives. If we as Christians do something that the world cannot handle, we must examine the issue and decide if the world has a problem with our actions because they go against its worldview and the peoples minds are not enlightened by Christ or if we are simply being idiots.
There are things the Christian world believes that the secular world find literally unbelievable. There are things we do that it cannot swallow because it lacks the light of Christ as its very core. Corrie Ten Boom is immortalized because she valued life (the life of others) over her own self.
There are things the Christian world does that are so shocking and so countercultural that the secular world has no response. We canonize Mother Teresa because we cannot fathom the faith that would lead so far away.
There are things the Christian world believes that the secular world finds crazy … because they are crazy. It’s inane to believe that Jesus would be so radically pro-life as to murder an abortion doctor or so worse yet, be so focused on saving fetuses and simultaneously so enamored with making sure every murderer is executed ... just … like … he … was?
There are things the Christian world does that are so shocking that the world stands back in disbelief because our actions are so horrendous. We live in McMansions while most of the world can’t find enough water to survive.
We must examine our actions and see if they shock the secular world because they exemplify Christ or if they do so because the hypocrisy is only hidden from our own eyes.
A friend apologized to me today, he recently decided that he could no longer identify himself as a Christian, but when asked to pray in class he did. He was concerned that I would feel his prayer was irreverent because he didn’t mean it.
Some of my most succinct prayers have been four letters long. Some people have their best prayer moments while having one night stands. I truly believe the most irreverent prayer is one offered by a Christian without any passion behind it. I’ve prayed a few of them. I’ve also prayed some passionate prayers that would make sailors blush. I don’t consider any of those prayer irreverent.
I have two stories to illustrate something that has been on my heart. We as Christians need to examine our lives. If we as Christians do something that the world cannot handle, we must examine the issue and decide if the world has a problem with our actions because they go against its worldview and the peoples minds are not enlightened by Christ or if we are simply being idiots.
There are things the Christian world believes that the secular world find literally unbelievable. There are things we do that it cannot swallow because it lacks the light of Christ as its very core. Corrie Ten Boom is immortalized because she valued life (the life of others) over her own self.
There are things the Christian world does that are so shocking and so countercultural that the secular world has no response. We canonize Mother Teresa because we cannot fathom the faith that would lead so far away.
There are things the Christian world believes that the secular world finds crazy … because they are crazy. It’s inane to believe that Jesus would be so radically pro-life as to murder an abortion doctor or so worse yet, be so focused on saving fetuses and simultaneously so enamored with making sure every murderer is executed ... just … like … he … was?
There are things the Christian world does that are so shocking that the world stands back in disbelief because our actions are so horrendous. We live in McMansions while most of the world can’t find enough water to survive.
We must examine our actions and see if they shock the secular world because they exemplify Christ or if they do so because the hypocrisy is only hidden from our own eyes.
A friend apologized to me today, he recently decided that he could no longer identify himself as a Christian, but when asked to pray in class he did. He was concerned that I would feel his prayer was irreverent because he didn’t mean it.
Some of my most succinct prayers have been four letters long. Some people have their best prayer moments while having one night stands. I truly believe the most irreverent prayer is one offered by a Christian without any passion behind it. I’ve prayed a few of them. I’ve also prayed some passionate prayers that would make sailors blush. I don’t consider any of those prayer irreverent.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
willimon.blogspot.com
Guest-Blogging: Michael Stewart
As part of our Conference-wide celebration of United Methodist believing, I've asked some of our pastors to contribute their thoughts on the joy of the Wesleyan way of Christianity. This week we begin with thoughts on United Methodist "specialness" by Dr. Michael Stewart. Michael is known as one of our outstanding preachers. He formerly directed our Connectional Ministries and is currently pastor of our Hazel Green United Methodist Church.
NOT ALL THAT SPECIAL
Perhaps what makes us Methodists special is that we do not believe we are all that special.
The Roman Catholic Church is older and bigger. Episcopalians and Eastern Orthodox do liturgy with more flair. Presbyterians are more focused on doctrine and scholarship. Quakers are the folks we go to for instruction in prayer. Disciples of Christ are more ecumenically minded. Pentecostals are more exuberant. Baptists are more democratic. The Salvation Army is better with the poor. The Amish are greener. Lutherans are better at pipe organs. The Assemblies of God are more adept at raising up large congregations. Mormons are uniquely American; holding that Jesus’ return will take place in Missouri.
We Methodists do not claim to have invented Christianity. With St. Paul, we simply pass along to others what we first received (I Cor.15: 3).
John Wesley said the Methodist way is nothing new. It is simply the old religion of the Bible: “the love of God and all mankind” and “loving God with all our heart, and soul and strength”.
While every third barbeque joint in the South claims to have “The World’s Best BBQ”, and every touchdown ignites the fans to chant, “We’re number one”; we Methodists are just happy to be here. We have neither an inferiority complex nor an exaggerated view of ourselves as the one true tribe of Christians. We are not offended by Jesus’ saying that he has other sheep not of our fold (John 10:16).
We do not believe for a minute God has to go through us to accomplish every godly thing done in the world. There is not a sectarian bone in our bodies. We are not offended that God’s love can be active in Syrian, Lebanese, or Samaritan pagans (Luke 4:25-27; 10:33). We believe that God can work through the Scouts, public schools, secular universities, politics, the United Way, the Red Cross, country music, and our enemies. Methodists do not retreat to a religious subculture; but take seriously the incarnation and immanence of God in the world, calling it prevenient grace.
At our best we are not anxious or fearful, but trust God. We believe as a denomination that we will be fine as long as we keep aiming to love God more, and extend concrete acts of mercy to more neighbors. John Wesley even gave us our own Serenity Prayer:
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
Eugene Peterson, translator of The Message and author of The Jesus Way notes that America is a nation of consumers. Consequently, the quickest way to get Americans into congregations is to identify what people want, and offer it to them. He writes that the winning strategy is to “satisfy their fancies, promise them the moon, recast the gospel in consumer terms: entertainment, satisfaction, excitement, adventure, problem-solving, whatever.” The only problem is that this is not the way of Jesus.” (The Jesus Way, pg.6.)
Is it a coincidence that Methodists stopped growing numerically in the 1960’s when our national church leaders went against the grain of America and challenged racism and war? Telling people what they do not want to hear is probably not a great strategy for church growth in a consumer culture.
The good news is that our decline may finally put us in a place God can do something with us. As long as we imagined we must have been serving God because we were so special (“More Methodists serving in Congress than any other denomination!”) or because our success could be measured in our membership numbers or the height of our steeples, God could not do much with us. But perhaps in our weakness, and in the need to depend on God’s grace rather than our own performance, God can work with us. As it becomes less about us, it can become more about Jesus.
Consider the African-American Church in the mid 1960’s. It was not wealthy. Most of it buildings were modest. Its membership contained few corporate CEO’s, bank presidents, mayors, governors, or captains of industry. Nonetheless, in spite of statistical weakness, the Black church was the most faithful part of Christ’s church in America in that day. The little cinderblock and wood-frame Black churches rose higher than the big steepled churches, and made an astonishing kingdom witness. God can do mighty things through what the world counts as weakness. After all, God did his best work with some slaves in Egypt led by a tongue-tied shepherd, and with some fishermen in Galilee led by a tortured and executed criminal.
Perhaps the best way to serve a crucified and risen leader in an America addicted to Super-sizing and Superpower-ing is not to bemoan or resist diminishment, or frantically embrace every technique that works in selling products, making money, managing people, winning wars, or manipulating emotions. (Peterson, p. 8.). Rather, in following the way of the cross - being generous and forgiving even in our weakness - we might hear the dying cross-bearer say, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And therefore, “we can boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on us.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Our neighbors across town and across the world are dying for a genuine, authentic, honest, humble, non-gimmicky, servant church that is in the process of giving itself away, just like its Lord. The world is dying for a church that knows it is not all that special, but that its Lord is the real deal.
And, who knows? God may then have in us something that is indeed special, and worth resurrecting.
Michael Stewart
michael.stewart@hazelgreen.org
January, 2008
As part of our Conference-wide celebration of United Methodist believing, I've asked some of our pastors to contribute their thoughts on the joy of the Wesleyan way of Christianity. This week we begin with thoughts on United Methodist "specialness" by Dr. Michael Stewart. Michael is known as one of our outstanding preachers. He formerly directed our Connectional Ministries and is currently pastor of our Hazel Green United Methodist Church.
NOT ALL THAT SPECIAL
Perhaps what makes us Methodists special is that we do not believe we are all that special.
The Roman Catholic Church is older and bigger. Episcopalians and Eastern Orthodox do liturgy with more flair. Presbyterians are more focused on doctrine and scholarship. Quakers are the folks we go to for instruction in prayer. Disciples of Christ are more ecumenically minded. Pentecostals are more exuberant. Baptists are more democratic. The Salvation Army is better with the poor. The Amish are greener. Lutherans are better at pipe organs. The Assemblies of God are more adept at raising up large congregations. Mormons are uniquely American; holding that Jesus’ return will take place in Missouri.
We Methodists do not claim to have invented Christianity. With St. Paul, we simply pass along to others what we first received (I Cor.15: 3).
John Wesley said the Methodist way is nothing new. It is simply the old religion of the Bible: “the love of God and all mankind” and “loving God with all our heart, and soul and strength”.
While every third barbeque joint in the South claims to have “The World’s Best BBQ”, and every touchdown ignites the fans to chant, “We’re number one”; we Methodists are just happy to be here. We have neither an inferiority complex nor an exaggerated view of ourselves as the one true tribe of Christians. We are not offended by Jesus’ saying that he has other sheep not of our fold (John 10:16).
We do not believe for a minute God has to go through us to accomplish every godly thing done in the world. There is not a sectarian bone in our bodies. We are not offended that God’s love can be active in Syrian, Lebanese, or Samaritan pagans (Luke 4:25-27; 10:33). We believe that God can work through the Scouts, public schools, secular universities, politics, the United Way, the Red Cross, country music, and our enemies. Methodists do not retreat to a religious subculture; but take seriously the incarnation and immanence of God in the world, calling it prevenient grace.
At our best we are not anxious or fearful, but trust God. We believe as a denomination that we will be fine as long as we keep aiming to love God more, and extend concrete acts of mercy to more neighbors. John Wesley even gave us our own Serenity Prayer:
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
Eugene Peterson, translator of The Message and author of The Jesus Way notes that America is a nation of consumers. Consequently, the quickest way to get Americans into congregations is to identify what people want, and offer it to them. He writes that the winning strategy is to “satisfy their fancies, promise them the moon, recast the gospel in consumer terms: entertainment, satisfaction, excitement, adventure, problem-solving, whatever.” The only problem is that this is not the way of Jesus.” (The Jesus Way, pg.6.)
Is it a coincidence that Methodists stopped growing numerically in the 1960’s when our national church leaders went against the grain of America and challenged racism and war? Telling people what they do not want to hear is probably not a great strategy for church growth in a consumer culture.
The good news is that our decline may finally put us in a place God can do something with us. As long as we imagined we must have been serving God because we were so special (“More Methodists serving in Congress than any other denomination!”) or because our success could be measured in our membership numbers or the height of our steeples, God could not do much with us. But perhaps in our weakness, and in the need to depend on God’s grace rather than our own performance, God can work with us. As it becomes less about us, it can become more about Jesus.
Consider the African-American Church in the mid 1960’s. It was not wealthy. Most of it buildings were modest. Its membership contained few corporate CEO’s, bank presidents, mayors, governors, or captains of industry. Nonetheless, in spite of statistical weakness, the Black church was the most faithful part of Christ’s church in America in that day. The little cinderblock and wood-frame Black churches rose higher than the big steepled churches, and made an astonishing kingdom witness. God can do mighty things through what the world counts as weakness. After all, God did his best work with some slaves in Egypt led by a tongue-tied shepherd, and with some fishermen in Galilee led by a tortured and executed criminal.
Perhaps the best way to serve a crucified and risen leader in an America addicted to Super-sizing and Superpower-ing is not to bemoan or resist diminishment, or frantically embrace every technique that works in selling products, making money, managing people, winning wars, or manipulating emotions. (Peterson, p. 8.). Rather, in following the way of the cross - being generous and forgiving even in our weakness - we might hear the dying cross-bearer say, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And therefore, “we can boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on us.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Our neighbors across town and across the world are dying for a genuine, authentic, honest, humble, non-gimmicky, servant church that is in the process of giving itself away, just like its Lord. The world is dying for a church that knows it is not all that special, but that its Lord is the real deal.
And, who knows? God may then have in us something that is indeed special, and worth resurrecting.
Michael Stewart
michael.stewart@hazelgreen.org
January, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
We forget that salvation is an act that moves far beyond our finite understanding. The truly salvivic nature of the creator God is seen in both the giving of His son and in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In our attempts to categorize this truly mystical experience we effectively reduce the mystery of God’s saving power to fit our feeble minds. We give hurting people the “sinners’ prayer” which I have derided often and openly. We set a date, a time, a moment – we reduce the workings of God in the fullness of our lives to the very second we finished the “amen” of the blessed words.
Sara went to a conservative Southern Baptist church today. She had lunch with the pastor, the father of a friend. When the news of her friend David’s new-found homosexuality came up the pastor told her that he just needs to get saved. Sara explained to the pastor that her friend is already saved and that he loves the Lord. This, obviously, flies in the face of the sacred truths held so firmly by that pastor.
The reductionist view of salvation ponders whether one can lose his or her salvation. It attempts to draw a line between “us” and “them”. It fears Hell and longs for the comfort of Heaven. It puts the good deeds on one side and the misdeeds on another and prays that good has won out. It believes that a sexually active pervert can’t be saved – if he can stay in his sin and still be saved why the hell are we still trying so hard to ward off sin.
If salvation is a moment in time, it is worthless. If salvation is a lifestyle, a holy mystery, a longing and desire it is worth eternity. When salvation becomes the completion of a prayer, a box checked on a card, or the formulaic finishing of a well rehearsed, ritualized system we have reduced God to something we can handle. God is not something we can handle.
Salvation isn’t about the afterlife. Salvation is about life; full and eternal. As a Christian I believe that the fullest way to experience God is through His son, Jesus the Christ. I have walked in a personal relationship with Christ for more than a decade. Most days I live with doubt and fear; all days I live with Christ. I prayed the sinners’ prayer, yes, but I can’t claim that as “the moment of my salvation.” I can’t claim any specific moment. There have been moments(, days, weeks, months) in which I have chosen my selfish, stupid desires over God. These are my moments of salvation.
I came to a realization this week. When we as Christians fall, we fall into the lap of God. I’ve always visualized my failures as a dramatic fall from the palm of God toward the nothingness of Hell. I’ve imagined wrong. When I have fallen, when my sin became so big that I wanted it more than God – I have fallen into His lap. This is part of the mystery; one that I can no longer deny.
Salvation is a journey and a mystery. Come, walk and question with me.
Sara went to a conservative Southern Baptist church today. She had lunch with the pastor, the father of a friend. When the news of her friend David’s new-found homosexuality came up the pastor told her that he just needs to get saved. Sara explained to the pastor that her friend is already saved and that he loves the Lord. This, obviously, flies in the face of the sacred truths held so firmly by that pastor.
The reductionist view of salvation ponders whether one can lose his or her salvation. It attempts to draw a line between “us” and “them”. It fears Hell and longs for the comfort of Heaven. It puts the good deeds on one side and the misdeeds on another and prays that good has won out. It believes that a sexually active pervert can’t be saved – if he can stay in his sin and still be saved why the hell are we still trying so hard to ward off sin.
If salvation is a moment in time, it is worthless. If salvation is a lifestyle, a holy mystery, a longing and desire it is worth eternity. When salvation becomes the completion of a prayer, a box checked on a card, or the formulaic finishing of a well rehearsed, ritualized system we have reduced God to something we can handle. God is not something we can handle.
Salvation isn’t about the afterlife. Salvation is about life; full and eternal. As a Christian I believe that the fullest way to experience God is through His son, Jesus the Christ. I have walked in a personal relationship with Christ for more than a decade. Most days I live with doubt and fear; all days I live with Christ. I prayed the sinners’ prayer, yes, but I can’t claim that as “the moment of my salvation.” I can’t claim any specific moment. There have been moments(, days, weeks, months) in which I have chosen my selfish, stupid desires over God. These are my moments of salvation.
I came to a realization this week. When we as Christians fall, we fall into the lap of God. I’ve always visualized my failures as a dramatic fall from the palm of God toward the nothingness of Hell. I’ve imagined wrong. When I have fallen, when my sin became so big that I wanted it more than God – I have fallen into His lap. This is part of the mystery; one that I can no longer deny.
Salvation is a journey and a mystery. Come, walk and question with me.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Do you ever have the sensation where you begin to think about something, but you realize that if your mind continues down that road for too long it will completely change your life ... so you stop thinking about it?
Yeah, I've been doing that a lot lately. It's always a weird feeling.
I'm in a bit of a slump right now - I don't want to do anything. I just don't have any will to accomplish anything. I'll probably schedule a time with the counselor before it's all said and done.
I think that my biggest problem is the wide disconnect between my dreams and the reality. I want to accomplish so much, but I feel like I accomplish so little most days.
I feel that this school is the most suffocating place in the world for my dreams.
Yeah, I've been doing that a lot lately. It's always a weird feeling.
I'm in a bit of a slump right now - I don't want to do anything. I just don't have any will to accomplish anything. I'll probably schedule a time with the counselor before it's all said and done.
I think that my biggest problem is the wide disconnect between my dreams and the reality. I want to accomplish so much, but I feel like I accomplish so little most days.
I feel that this school is the most suffocating place in the world for my dreams.
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