"Love is a harsh and dreadful thing to ask of us, but it is the only answer." - Dorothy Day.
I'm so damn tired of conservatives refering to my entire theology as "that love stuff" in that damn condescending tone they are want to use.
Love God, love people. It fits on a T-shirt, it consumes every life of devotion. It's quite possibly incomplete ... but honestly, friends, even the most complete theology has few informed believers and droves of un-educated, ignorant faithful.
In Russian Orthodox theology they describe God in apophatic terms. They describe what God is not. (God is not evil, etc.) It helps people to understand what God is without limiting Him. We evangelicals have our own apophatic theology. We do not have sex before marriage, we do not smoke cigarets, we do not drink alcohol, etc. The problem with apophatic teaching is that the specific attributes are lost. Russian people know what God is not, but often fail to understand who He is. Evangelical youth know not to fuck each other's brains out, but they fail to understand what it means to live out the teachings of Christ.
There are lots of ugly people who aren't having sex - it doesn't make them Christians. It just makes them ugly. There are a lot of uptight people who don't smoke, drink, or cuss because it isn't their lifestyle. We tell our children to be "good" but we forget that "only God is good."
If you're an alcoholic, the first step to beating it is to admit that you're an alcoholic. If you're a sinner - you had better be the first to announce it, loudly, in public. People get angry at me for "corrupting" people. I haven't corrupted anyone. I've made friends acknowledge that they were white washed tombs.
Most days I want to be so fucking selfish. I want the world to revolve around me. Some days I find God's love lived out in my life. Some days I love God and I love people.
I would rather my friends live sinful lifestyles -admitting to living in sin - than to have one friend living a "good Christian life" as a whitewashed tomb. I'm so damn tired of people being "good."
I'm glad you don't smoke, drink, cuss, or fornicate ... but I would much rather see you caring about the poor and living a generous life.
I hope that my friends will take the next step after admitting their sin, and turn from it - but I won't ask what I don't always model myself.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
From Bishop Bickerton's Blog about General Conference:
Yesterday I had an amazing opportunity to address the General Conference concerning the “Nothing but Nets” campaign. It was World Malaria Day. As a part of that address I walked into the aisle and invited the delegates to consider what it might look like if they bought bed nets during that session. In a spontaneous movement of the body, delegate after delegate came to the center table and placed their offerings in support of the campaign. Those gifts are now up to $14, 750 among the 1,000 delegates and hundreds of visitors!
Yet, shortly after that presentation, I was approached by someone in the office whose first words to me were, “You know, you just broke the rules of the General Conference and threw the financial people into a mad frenzy to collect and count the money.” He was serious. My reply was simple, “The affirmation of this body speaks for itself. In just a few moments we just saved 1,450 children’s lives in Africa. I’ll disrupt this General Conference every day if I can get that kind of response.”
We are a church that is often more concerned with rules and regulations that make us feel comfortable with predictability. We are a church that emotionally desires the leading of the spirit, but practically cannot find a way to just “let it happen.” - Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
Yesterday I had an amazing opportunity to address the General Conference concerning the “Nothing but Nets” campaign. It was World Malaria Day. As a part of that address I walked into the aisle and invited the delegates to consider what it might look like if they bought bed nets during that session. In a spontaneous movement of the body, delegate after delegate came to the center table and placed their offerings in support of the campaign. Those gifts are now up to $14, 750 among the 1,000 delegates and hundreds of visitors!
Yet, shortly after that presentation, I was approached by someone in the office whose first words to me were, “You know, you just broke the rules of the General Conference and threw the financial people into a mad frenzy to collect and count the money.” He was serious. My reply was simple, “The affirmation of this body speaks for itself. In just a few moments we just saved 1,450 children’s lives in Africa. I’ll disrupt this General Conference every day if I can get that kind of response.”
We are a church that is often more concerned with rules and regulations that make us feel comfortable with predictability. We are a church that emotionally desires the leading of the spirit, but practically cannot find a way to just “let it happen.” - Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Michael is ... ridiculous.
I love my generation. I love us. We're so thrilled just to get our name out there; that everyone could see our face is a thrill too high to hop.e
I realize that some days I wear my liberalism on my sleeve a little too much. I need to tone it down a bit, maybe.
My sunday school class voted to give me $1,000 for my mission trip this summer. It was one of those, ... "Uhmm ... thanks"... moments where, in all actuality, there are no words to convey the intended meaning. It's so encouraging to know that a group believes in you and supports you. Here's to the other 4 or so coming in quickly!
I've been working toward an emo haircut, just waiting for my hair to grow out. I have been thinking that I look more and more ridiculous every day, but I saw pictures from last night ... and my hair doesn't look awful.
I'm triple booked tonight ... which I like. I have a funny sense of abandonment when my friends do outdoorsy things and don't invite me. I feel like the slowest zebra who would slow down the pack ... but really; it's hiking not outrunning a lion. Just keep that in mind, lovers.
I have a math test in the morning. I'm way behind in my photography class, but it's all paperwork that seems unecessary ... busywork will always be my downfall.
I'm happy ... even though some days I feel like just sleeping in ... I'm still happier than I've been in a long time.
I realize that some days I wear my liberalism on my sleeve a little too much. I need to tone it down a bit, maybe.
My sunday school class voted to give me $1,000 for my mission trip this summer. It was one of those, ... "Uhmm ... thanks"... moments where, in all actuality, there are no words to convey the intended meaning. It's so encouraging to know that a group believes in you and supports you. Here's to the other 4 or so coming in quickly!
I've been working toward an emo haircut, just waiting for my hair to grow out. I have been thinking that I look more and more ridiculous every day, but I saw pictures from last night ... and my hair doesn't look awful.
I'm triple booked tonight ... which I like. I have a funny sense of abandonment when my friends do outdoorsy things and don't invite me. I feel like the slowest zebra who would slow down the pack ... but really; it's hiking not outrunning a lion. Just keep that in mind, lovers.
I have a math test in the morning. I'm way behind in my photography class, but it's all paperwork that seems unecessary ... busywork will always be my downfall.
I'm happy ... even though some days I feel like just sleeping in ... I'm still happier than I've been in a long time.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Dr. Dan Doriani brought us a lesson on Acts 8, the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunich. I don't know why, but this particular story in Acts has always jumped out at me. The story is one of redemption and reconciliation. Philip sees a man, obviously of great wealth and power, riding in a chariot - the equivalent of a private jet. He feels led to begin hoofing along beside the rich man and soon sees that he is reading the holy scriptures. Now, it just so happens that the man had traveled thousands of miles to go to the temple and had been rejected from all but the crowded, noisy outer courts. He was not allowed inside because he was a eunich. He was sexually disfigured and was not fit to enter the temple. It also just so happens, that he is reading the "suffering servant" passage of prophecy in Isaiah.
This man experienced money and power and found it wanting. He tried the route of showy, religious experiences and found that it wanted nothing to do with him. This man was seeking truth at any cost and had been rejected for a physical defect, sexual mutilation, that he probably had exercised no control over.
Money didn't give him joy.
Power didn't give him peace.
The institutional church didn't accept him.
Philip knew that this man needed Jesus.
I think this story speaks volumes into how the church should treat the LGB&T community. Churches all over America refuse to accept people into their fellowship based on their readings of obscure old testament references.
The scriptures were clear that the Eunich was not to enter the sanctuary, no matter how many hours he had traveled. Homosexuality is a sin. In both situations those in authority follow the law to the letter. And following the law would be good if it was all we have, but we have the completion of the law in Jesus Christ. Philip recognized that the law had its place, but that we are under a new law. That day the Eunich was told that in the Christian faith he would not only be allowed entrance to the sanctuary, but his body - broken and damaged may it be - would become the sanctuary that Christ Jesus will endwell.
We as a church need to extend the offering of Christ Jesus to the LGB&T community. When the institution says, "hold it, the law clearly states ..." we as Christians need to stand up and say, I know the law says that, but we live under a new law - "come and be the sanctuary to which you were refused entrance."
The eunich didn't re-gain his lost manhood. The eunich became whole because of a restoration of the heart. He was still a eunich, he would still be a eunich when he died; but Christ had entered his life and Christianity would spread throughout Northern Africa because of his witness. He was still a eunich, the old testament still forbid him entrance to the Jewish temple. But, Christ lived inside of him.
I think there is major application to the LGB&T community. I think that Christians need to openly admit that the sin that plagued them before salvation still sticks around after salvation. If we allow the gay community into our churches, giving them the same freedom offered to us - that our sins make Jesus sad, not mad; that he still loves us with his whole heart; and that he forgives graciously, repeatedly, and unfailingly - I believe that many of them would take their repentance to the next level and actively fight against their sin. ... I think if we tell them they need to drop their sins at the door before entrance they will never enter at all.
What would be the greater sin? That some would never be free of their sin or that none would even hear the good news of salvation for fear that they would fail as Christians?
This man experienced money and power and found it wanting. He tried the route of showy, religious experiences and found that it wanted nothing to do with him. This man was seeking truth at any cost and had been rejected for a physical defect, sexual mutilation, that he probably had exercised no control over.
Money didn't give him joy.
Power didn't give him peace.
The institutional church didn't accept him.
Philip knew that this man needed Jesus.
I think this story speaks volumes into how the church should treat the LGB&T community. Churches all over America refuse to accept people into their fellowship based on their readings of obscure old testament references.
The scriptures were clear that the Eunich was not to enter the sanctuary, no matter how many hours he had traveled. Homosexuality is a sin. In both situations those in authority follow the law to the letter. And following the law would be good if it was all we have, but we have the completion of the law in Jesus Christ. Philip recognized that the law had its place, but that we are under a new law. That day the Eunich was told that in the Christian faith he would not only be allowed entrance to the sanctuary, but his body - broken and damaged may it be - would become the sanctuary that Christ Jesus will endwell.
We as a church need to extend the offering of Christ Jesus to the LGB&T community. When the institution says, "hold it, the law clearly states ..." we as Christians need to stand up and say, I know the law says that, but we live under a new law - "come and be the sanctuary to which you were refused entrance."
The eunich didn't re-gain his lost manhood. The eunich became whole because of a restoration of the heart. He was still a eunich, he would still be a eunich when he died; but Christ had entered his life and Christianity would spread throughout Northern Africa because of his witness. He was still a eunich, the old testament still forbid him entrance to the Jewish temple. But, Christ lived inside of him.
I think there is major application to the LGB&T community. I think that Christians need to openly admit that the sin that plagued them before salvation still sticks around after salvation. If we allow the gay community into our churches, giving them the same freedom offered to us - that our sins make Jesus sad, not mad; that he still loves us with his whole heart; and that he forgives graciously, repeatedly, and unfailingly - I believe that many of them would take their repentance to the next level and actively fight against their sin. ... I think if we tell them they need to drop their sins at the door before entrance they will never enter at all.
What would be the greater sin? That some would never be free of their sin or that none would even hear the good news of salvation for fear that they would fail as Christians?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
It's 2 AM, I'm alone in the St. Louis Airport(literally - other than an occasional cleaning lady the airport is empty), I'm avoiding Bible Chapter Summaries (I am 50 tedius old testament chapters away from being done forever!, and I am going to review my weekend retreat from my scribbled notes of thoughts from the weekend.
This weekend was spent attending the Ethnic America Network's Ethnic Ministries Summit; a 3 day event designed to bring people who work in multi-ethnic ministries and slacker college students looking for some credit hours together for an enchanted time of learning. I, obviously, fall into the "slacker college student" category and not the ethnic minister grouping.
The first person who introduced himself to me was a Malaysasian man, TV Thomas, who happened to be a good friend of my mentor, Dr. Fred Smith. It was nice to find an immediate connection.
Our first speaker was Jerram Barrs. Jerram is a British Presbyterian, a self described - "frozen chosen." The focus of the conference is the ideal that every church should be multi-ethnic and that worship should reflect the rainbow of cultures present. We had a lot of black music.
I love the spirit of African American church music; but everything seemed so patronizing. We would listen to a great negro spiritual and then some cracker would mount the stage and say (with a pompous, pretentious, British accent) MMM, yes, that was spledid, now wasn't it?
Our speaker on Thurday was a powerful black man. His sermon addressed our selfish desire to believe that our worship is superior; that we have a grasp on God that "they" just don't get. He ended with a story of traveling to the African bush. As a city boy, his eyes revealed that he was more than a little frightened to get off the bus after several hours spent without passing a building. A bushman quickly rebuked him in the native tongue. A translator revealed that the man had said, "God is here!" Sometimes we think that our norms and values reflect God best, but we must see that God works when we move beyond our comfort zone.
I met some really fun kids from Lancaster Bible College. We had dinner together and hung out a good bit. I like them a lot, and honestly, they reminded me of Fallsies ... which I didnt' hate.
Our speaker tonight spoke about racial reconciliation. He spoke to the black audience while tolerating the white audience's presence. It was a magnificent sermon. He told them that welfare was destroying their society and that Payday Loans would take them under. He asked why black people are making more money than previous generations, but still experiencing the same quality of life. His message moved everyone beyond his or her comfort zone. It challenged the crackers to work to build up the black communities through education.
This weekend was spent attending the Ethnic America Network's Ethnic Ministries Summit; a 3 day event designed to bring people who work in multi-ethnic ministries and slacker college students looking for some credit hours together for an enchanted time of learning. I, obviously, fall into the "slacker college student" category and not the ethnic minister grouping.
The first person who introduced himself to me was a Malaysasian man, TV Thomas, who happened to be a good friend of my mentor, Dr. Fred Smith. It was nice to find an immediate connection.
Our first speaker was Jerram Barrs. Jerram is a British Presbyterian, a self described - "frozen chosen." The focus of the conference is the ideal that every church should be multi-ethnic and that worship should reflect the rainbow of cultures present. We had a lot of black music.
I love the spirit of African American church music; but everything seemed so patronizing. We would listen to a great negro spiritual and then some cracker would mount the stage and say (with a pompous, pretentious, British accent) MMM, yes, that was spledid, now wasn't it?
Our speaker on Thurday was a powerful black man. His sermon addressed our selfish desire to believe that our worship is superior; that we have a grasp on God that "they" just don't get. He ended with a story of traveling to the African bush. As a city boy, his eyes revealed that he was more than a little frightened to get off the bus after several hours spent without passing a building. A bushman quickly rebuked him in the native tongue. A translator revealed that the man had said, "God is here!" Sometimes we think that our norms and values reflect God best, but we must see that God works when we move beyond our comfort zone.
I met some really fun kids from Lancaster Bible College. We had dinner together and hung out a good bit. I like them a lot, and honestly, they reminded me of Fallsies ... which I didnt' hate.
Our speaker tonight spoke about racial reconciliation. He spoke to the black audience while tolerating the white audience's presence. It was a magnificent sermon. He told them that welfare was destroying their society and that Payday Loans would take them under. He asked why black people are making more money than previous generations, but still experiencing the same quality of life. His message moved everyone beyond his or her comfort zone. It challenged the crackers to work to build up the black communities through education.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
I have been re-reading "A Scandalous Freedom" by Steve Brown. It's in my top ten "must read" books right now. His premise is so radical, yet he is so conservative. The whole premise (summed up in one inadequate illustration) is
Dont' think about flying purple cows for the next five minutes.
...
....
.....
Did you think about flying purple cows? Probably.
But, now you are free to think about flying purple cows, or not. It doesn't matter.
...
....
.....
Well, you probably thought about them for a second or two and then the thought left your mind.
His premise is that we do the same thing with sin. We make such a big deal about the fact that we can't do it ... and we rob ourselves of the freedom Christ paid so dearly for.
We are free to sin ... and because of this, we are free to love and obediently follow God.
Brilliant.
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