Authenticity

"Is that real?"

How many times have you asked that question about something? How many times have we heard that question asked? It's amazing really. Especially in today's world where computers can dupe even the most qualified experts, reality is tough to decipher.

It's kind of funny, really. What got me thinking about this is the whole scandal going on in Major League Baseball right now with Barry Bonds' record and steroids. I got to thinking about it and realized that's really the question everyone's asking about baseball right now, "Is that real?" I love baseball. I'm even one of those few Americans hanging on to the sport that lulls on and can stand to watch it live. We're making our second trip to Opening Day at Jacob's Field next Friday to root the Indians on to another season. Hopefully, it's a family tradition we can keep up. I love baseball, and I'm really pained to see all this stuff going on.

To think that all the baseball I watched when I was actually cognizant of what was going on might have all been a farce. A sham. A lie. It wasn't actually this great evolution of hitters and pitchers, but instead was a pharmacuetical advance coming to reality. It wasn't real.

Our culture is now caught up in false realities everywhere. Everyday people log onto this very Internet for a false sense of reality, often creating the lie themselves. People aren't whom they seem. Stories aren't real. Pictures aren't real. We can't trust anything. Not even baseball!

We are naive if we believe that this has no effect on our faith in God and our intention to reach those searching around us. They too are searching for something real. Isn't that essentially what our human search is all about? We want something real; something worthwhile. Too often the church settles for shallowness and emptiness, passing that onto onlookers.

Sadly, American Christianity has created a false sense of reality within the realm of faith. In our churches we ask the question, "Is this real?" Prayers and sermons are shallow, reflecting a superficiality created by mass-market Christianity. True faith has gone the way of The Prayer of Jabez and the Health and Wealth Gospel. Solutions are proposed through small groups, mission statements, vision statements, and catchy logos ultimately creating a facade of shallowness which so many American Christians never break through.

I am not immune. I constantly fight the challenge of being watered down and overcome in the shallow Christian sub-culture we've created. Christian music, books, and coffee shops create as much of a sidetrack as the other things we harp on: sex, druges, and MTV. We've simply embraced this popular culture, put a Christian spin on it, and assume that we've cleaned up our act.

The church needs a long seminar on spirituality. I need a long experience in spirituality. Corporately . . . personally . . . we must come alive to the depth of spirituality. Prayer, reflection, and mediatation remain absent in much of our teaching and preaching. We hooray, horray people into an excited frenzy on Sunday mornings through appealing worship styles, but leave their souls often untended and untouched.

Before anyone, "Amen!" too quickly, by reflection and meditation, I'm not joining the "more Bible" clan, because most people who whine about not enough Bible being taught/preached want a fundamentalism brought to the front which will only stagnate and harm. We need more biblical literacy to be sure, but we need to open our minds wider to what God may be trying to tell us, and through whom he may be sending the message.

I am as guilty as the next. I must pursue and find depth in the midst of a culture that settles for shallowness, band-aid fixes, and quick thrills instead of relying on the amazing grace and steadfastness that God has always offered us and continues to provide even today.

As Soren Kiekegaard has so brillantly written about, "God is the only whole, satisfying, unifying reality in the universe. Only God is one, and he alone encompasses the good. To desire anything outside of God is not to will one thing, but a multiple of things, a dispersion, the toy of changeableness, and the prey of corruption! No desire can be fully satisfied when it is outside of God, and the individual becomes not merely himself but thousand-minded, and at variance with himself." (as summarized by Richard Foster in Freedom of Simplicity - p. 71-72).

Review of: The Story We Find Ourselves in

I finished McLaren's second installment of his well-recieved trilogy this morning. He continues to challenge, and at the same time, shape my thinking, about my faith, and my calling to ministry.

As with A New Kind of Christian, I found The Story we Find Ourselves in quite enjoyable to read. McLaren has that way about his writing to invite you in, obliterate all that you believe, and yet not hate him. He didn't obliterate all that I believe as he came close to in the first installment, but continues to challenge the modern matrix that has so dominated theology for hundreds of years. A new era is definitely dawning.

The story, as the first, is told from the perspective of Dan Poole as he conintues his journey of faith through the influence of the Jamaican sage Neo. Neo has been away in the Galapogos Islands for some time and has befriended a woman named Kerry. Early in the story the reader learns that cancer has appeared in Kerry's body, and her battle brings her to the States and gives her the chance to befriend the Poole family. Kerry is a scientist working in the Galopagos Island who has lost the Christian faith of her parents long ago. Neo has helped that faith awaken in her. Her stay in the hospital and befriending of the Poole's furthers that awakening.

Kerry's journey of faith allows McLaren to address difficult topics such as evolution and the Bible, death and dying, eternal punishment and salvation. Each topic is addressed in a way that everyone who reads will disagree with someone at some point. Neo, with his scientific training, has found a way to embrace and even enjoy God more because of the evolutionary process. Dan is put off a bit by the ease at which he does, but leaves it at that.

The heart of the "story we find ourselves in" as told by Neo (and Dan) centers on the alliterated creation, crisis, calling, conversation, Christ, community, consumation. The telling of the story gets a little hokey at points, but for the most part, is helpful being relayed in the mist of dialogue since that is where all real theology happens anyway.

Creation - Told from the perspective of scientists, McLaren does a wonderful job of telling the story of creation (some wouldn't be able to stomach Neo's awe of evolution, but I found it compelling). Neo also has a very interesting take on the evolution of society described in the Genesis account - from gatherers to centralized city, the move from the fields and working directly with the land to the city where food can now be bought.

Crisis - In the midst of the creation and God's willingness for it to evolve on its own (Neo tells that God gave the world a Big Bang which physically got things moving and metaphysically began the evoluationary process of development), and man's evolution has always been evil. From the smallest microcasm of society to society at large, evil has always taken the head.

Calling - For reasons unbeknowst to us, God calls Abraham, and beginning with that calling, God works within his called people to bring the earth to himself. This is the series of events that have been recorded through the Old Testament journey of Israel.

Conversation - From the calling of Abraham, man's response was pretty varied. Some followed closely and listened well, others revolted and ignored. Back and forth they went. Neo calls this fourth episode conversation. It is God's way of working with his people to bring them back to the fold of perfection he embodies.

Christ - Of course, with Christ, everything changes. The conversation is accelerated. God himself comes and takes part in the creation. McLaren does a wonderful job of tying the incarnation to the creation - something we often overlook. Jesus could assume humanity because humanity was already created in his image.

Community - From Christ is the community of believers. McLaren's teaching on community may come about best indrectly through the great community created within his book: Neo, Kerry, the Poole's, Kerry's son, and on and on it goes.

Consumation - In what is probably the most difficult (and foreign) section of the book, Neo sets for the final episode - the consummation. It comes as Kerry nears death, so the setting is perfect for what must be discussed. McLaren presents the idea of God setting the world in motion, imaging him as it evolves and develops, though he is not pushing it along to the end. Instead, Neo's vision of the eschaton is of God in the future calling his people into the perfect image they will one day all attain. He does not push from the past, nor does he walk along side, as much as he awaits in his perfect state calling his wonderful creation to its inevitable perfect ending. I found this quote a compelling picture of heaven:

"When we get there, not only will we be what we are at that final moment, but also we will find all that we have ever been - all that God has remembered - and we will be reunited with all that we have ever been. We won't be only the little sliver of ourselves that we are at this instand we call the present. We will be the composite of ourselves through our whole lifetime, all gathered in God's presence, consummated, summed up, gathered in the mind and heart of God." (152-153)

A different idea than I've heard before, but an interesting one for sure.

Overall, I thought this book is another helpful contribution by McLaren to the growing emergent movement. The gentleness with which he writes can be appreciated by all. His mastery of language makes so much of what he says fascinating. I loved the fact that, in the end, Dan Poole is reigned in by his governing board of directors, so that they have a chance to evaluate his theological standpoint. He had evolved siace they hired him, they claimed, and now they questioned whether he had strayed. They came short of calling him heretical, but were not sure he believed what they did. Through this relationship McLaren is illustrating that he understands the radical teaching he is bringing and how far it stems from traditional ideas about "church."

I am excited to see how the trilogy ends, and I will be beginning the third installment The Last Word and the Word After that Tonight.

If anyone has read this book, I'd like to hear your comments about it. I found it provocative to say the least, and would love to see churches using these books in some small group Bible studies as discussion starters.

The Story We Find Ourselves in

I only have a minute to post, but I've been in the midst of this book and it's been spurring some good thoughts in my mind and needed a place to splurge them out. These have potential to spur some discussion,

The early chapters of Genesis are completely unique to the rest of Scripture. By "early chapters," I'm referring to the first eleven chapters. Beginning with chapter twelve, the narrative shifts to Abraham and from there on we are dealing history that can/has been verified historically. It is the early chapters that deal with pre-history. It is here where the rub often arises between science and Christianity. It is here that is the heart of the evolution vs. intelligent design issue. Here are some specific points/questions/ramblings from this early portion of Scripture: (I'm interested to see what they spur in others)

* Does a belief in evolution deem the creation accounts false? Must we choose one or the other? Could God have used evolution to accomplish the things listed in the Genesis account?

* We don't want to paint ourselves into a corner. Too many times Christians come out too strongly against things that aren't necessarily that important. We state our case too strongly, and later information comes out to prove our position wrong. Ie. What if they find a gay gene? What if they find the missing links of evolution? We need to make room to for God to fit into whatever science proves. Maybe this is a copout. I'm not intending that.

* We must stay true to the genre. The early stories are true to ancient near eastern poetic literature. We cannot take them from their context and allow them to come immediately into 2006 white, suburban America - or whatever context we might find ourselves in.

McLaren's book sets forth many interesting takes on evolution and the Bible. Too many times our rhetoric is lost in political debates regarding what's going to be taught in schools when it would be much more proffitable to spend time setting forth an image that portrays Christianity in a more favorable light in its relationship to science.

I don't have time to make this coherent . . . hopefully somewhere this makes sense to you.

Unveiling Glory Review

I finished up Childers' and Aquino's book a few weeks ago, but haven't had a chance to review it here. It is the third book to come from ACU Press' Heart of the Restoration Series, a series aimed at providing new conversation within churches of the Restoration Movement, most specifically acappellaChurches of Christ. The first book of the series, TheCrux of the Matter , presented an introduction into the current identity crisis facing Churches of Christ and explores potential directions for the future. The second book of the series, God's Holy Fire explores the role that the Bible has played in our tradition and encourages a recovery of passion for God's Word.

In this third release in the series, the authors explore an area that is relatively new for many in Churches of Christ. It seems ironic that a heritage with the name of "Churches of Christ" would not have a strong christology, but, as Childers and Aquino set forth, there has been a lost of Christocentricism in many of our churches. They claim, "More than techniques and strategies, the issues facing Churches of Christ today require leadership that is Christlike in character." Throughout the book, the authors do their best to shift the focus from "doctrine" and ecclesiology to a focus on the personhood, Deity, and miracle of Jesus Christ.

Coming from a background in Churches of Christ, I found reading this book a very unique experience. Most books coming from members of Churches of Christ focus on matters that are very specific to our heritage and tradition. Many of our authors and scholars have devoted their lives to the way we worship and have aimed their study toward those within Churches of Christ making little impact on the broader scope of Christianity. This work, however, is a little different. It is a welcome challenge for our churches to focus on Christ. Following the heart of the Restoration, their emphasis comes through loud and clear: Christ was from God and came to redeem the fallen creation. As Revelation5 proclaims, "He is worthy!"

There may be other works like this, and hopefully there are more on the horizon, but for the first time I have read a book that speaks with language that would be familiar to those in my heritage, but connects to the broader scope of theology. By stating this I'm not saying everything else I have read is "non-theological" or "non-academic" as we are raising some very capable scholars, but the nature of this book was just different.

Delving into historically significant issues like the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, and the temptation of Christ, Childers and Aquino travel down a path that hopefully will be followed by many in our heritage. They leave behind sectarian matters and divisive doctrine and focus on what really matters - Christ and him crucified.

While a book on Christ can never hope to be complete, one shortcoming I see in this book is the role that Christ plays in Revelation - a book many in our heritage our too unconcerned with. Revelation 4 and 5 are two of the most significant and loaded chapters in all of Scripture, most particularly in relation to the role of God and Christ. This work would have benefited greatly from a treatment of the Lamb through Revelation. However, it is still a great book and I am glad to see such thoughts coming from those within my tradition.

I have chosen to return to some of Brian McLaren's reading next. I am in the middle of The Story We Find Ourselves in currently, and am excited to blog about the thoughts sparked by McLaren's work. The stuff he says really makes sense to me; although it really challenges where I am, where I've been, and how I minister. Stay tuned for further comments - I'll get back in the swing of blogging here and get rolling.. Thanks for missing me!

Binding example

So continuing along in line with my previous post, I would like to continue to discuss the problem with the traditional hermenuetic used in Churches of Christ. When is an example binding? We have upheld traditions based on a "they did it so we'll do it logic" but have remained incredibly inconsistent. We sing a capella, but we meet in church buildings (which they clearly didn't do). We take communion every first day of the week but we've reduced the "meal" to a small piece of cracker and a quarter shot of Welches (by the way neither of which they took in the first century). We baptize through immersion taking confessions, but do not uphold the tradition of catechismal training that even as early as the third century was two or three years long.

The argument goes we want to "restore" the New Testament church, but is that even a legitimate cause? (Check out Adam Ellis' blog and his podcast regarding what he terms "post-Restorationism). Is that what God ever intended? What if God simply wants us to worship him however we can doing whatever we feel would best honor and glorify him? Is that not what worship is about? Is that not how God's people have always worshiped him? Noah comes out of the ark and doesn't know what else to do but build an alter. Why? It just seemed appropriate to him.

This would scare the pants off alot of Church of Christ folks, but why? What is there to be scared of?

"With what shall I come before the Lord?

Shall I come before him with my unacompanied singing?

With the obedience of weekly observing the Lord's Supper?

With the proper mode of baptism?

He has shown you man what is good! Over and over again in Scripture!

To love mercy, to act justly, and to walk humbly with your God!"

O how I long to do that! Let's get away from these tedious arguments of who's right, who's wrong, who's orthodox, who's heretic, and come together and worship the one Savior who's saved us all! Give me some Scripture that stands opposed that idea! Jesus' prayer is that we be one! Not divided into our many factions and idealogical polarized groups.

Our people ask, "Should we cast fire down on the Baptists, Lord, for their heretical view of baptism? Should we burn the Catholic churches because of their veneration of the Virgin Mary, Lord? Should we raid the Methodist churches because of the liberal ivew of Scripture? Should we throw rocks at the windows of the United Churches of Christ for stealing our name and ordaining homosexuals?"

Do the Lord's words come back harshly, "Patience my child they will get what they deserve in the end?" . . . quite the contrary, Jesus looks at the people doing his work and lovingly rebukes us, "Children, if they come in my name, they are on our side. If they're not against us, they're for us. Accept them as your brothers and sisters." and you'll know my people by their love . . . we must look around us for we are surrounded by love in all of these groups - a love that is a fruit of the Spirit - God's Holy Spirit. How dare we work against Him?

I stand in the tradition of the Apostle's Creed. If someone comes to challenge the values upheld there, then maybe we can engage discussion of heresy and orthodoxy, but until God is challenged in the longstanding tradition of the Church, or in the standing of the moral image of holiness presented in Scripture, you are my brother, you are my sister. Let's be busy in kingdom work!