Mechanically Separated Spirituality

I put a frozen pizza in the oven the other night and read the ingredients while I waited for the self-rising crust to do its thing. The pepperoni was advertised as being made with “real pork” and “real chicken”. As I read further I discovered that the pepperoni was made with “mechanically separated” chicken.

“Mechanically separated”?

What is our definition of “real”?

While the industrial age has produced cheap and quick “food” what have we lost in the process? Have we lost touch with the “real?”

I can’t help but wonder if we were to have an ingredients label on our churches what it might read.

“Made with REAL disciples”, “Ingredients: strategically formulated spirituality, business-model infused Holy Spirit, and enhanced ‘worship’ through relevant music and teaching.”

We are living in an age where many of us don’t know what our food is made of or where it comes from.

The same could be said of our spirituality.

Not So Different? (Church and Culture pt. 4)

In last two conversations of Church and Culture we took a look at the “Christ against Culture” model and the “Christ of Culture” model stating that they serve as the antithesis/opposite to one another. Yet despite their differences (of which there are many) the result of either posture is often the same: irrelevance to the world.

The irrelevance of the “against” posture is clear to see. Church communities that exist by praxis of escapism from the culture fail to find any common ground for conversation that can give birth to a mutually life-giving relationship between the Church and culture. The Church in this category is unable to speak any of the cultural language and finds its self unable to communicate effectively with the world around them. Further, the world sees the church in this posture as having nothing helpful (or even hopeful) to contribute; essentially the culture sees the Church as the “last” place to go for guidance and direction. The church in this posture becomes a holy huddle…wholly irrelevant.

By contrast of approach, yet with similar outcome, the “of” posture of the Church engages so deeply in the culture that the distinctives of the sacred community evaporate. Here the Church so immerses itself in the culture (by way of music, structure, ideology) that there is nothing “new” to be offered to the culture. As a result the culture doesn’t look to the Church for inspiration or direction because the Church looks just like the culture. The church looses its mission for sake of mimicking the world around them and fails to bring the type of fresh creativity that can inspire the culture towards the story of God.

How have you seen the irrelevance of the “against” posture in our culture?


How have you seen the irrelevance of the “of” posture in our culture?

OF Culture (Church and Culture pt. 3)

In our last conversation on this topic we discussed the “Christ against Culture” relationship. This conversation will focus on what could be seen as the antithesis to the “Christ Against” model:

Christ OF Culture

- states that God is transcendent and can be found in all human endeavors.
- the Church and culture are not it conflict.
- the Church embraces the world.
- uses cultural symbols and tools (rock music, theater seating, etc.) to communicate with the culture.
- mimics culture.

Examples: 20th century Protestant Liberalism and the Seeker Sensitive movement.

Where else do you see examples of this posturing? What healthy/unhealthy when the Church is postured this way?

Church and Culture (pt. 1)

Disagreements (even arguments and church splits) arise in church circles over what is “appropriate” by way of dress, worship music, and even social policy as they relate to culture. Is there a proper relationship between the Church and culture? Richard Niebuhr’s classic theological discourse “Christ & Culture” articulates 5 different relationships between Christ (or the Church) and Culture that we’ll take a look at over a series of blog posts.

Some questions to get us thinking: Where have you seen examples of a dysfunctional relationship between the Church and culture? Where have you seen examples of a functional (or healthy) relationship between the Church and culture?

When to Leave a Church

I came across this conversation on the Jesus Creed blog and felt like it was worth discussing. Here are the questions to consider:

When is it appropriate to leave a church? When is it harmful?

What influences our decisions to leave a church?

Does our consumer driven culture influence our decision to leave a church? How?

What are the wrong reasons to stay at church?

Do we (21st century Americans) view our relationship with our local church like a "family" or like a "club"...what's the difference?

Ice Cream Jesus

I'm pretty sure this church isn't trying to promote an upcoming ice cream social (who doesn't love a good 'ole ice cream social in a church fellowship hall?).

What message is conveyed when we communicate/promote our worship gatherings in this way?

How does this sign stand up next to Jesus' words, "If anyone would be my disciple they must pick up their cross and follow me"?

Why do we feel so compelled to make our worship gatherings/following Jesus look easy?

The Next Evangelicalism (pt.1)

Over the next few weeks I will be posting some of my thoughts from Soong-Chan Rah's book, The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. As one of my professors at North Park Theological Seminary, I have been challenged and also encouraged by Soong-Chan's thoughts and insight into how the church has formed (in healthy and unhealthy ways) in a Western context.

The Next Evangelicalism is in many ways a prophetic call for the Western church to face its rampant individualism, consumerism, racism, and move on a more holistic and life-giving trajectory. Soong-Chan points out some of the pit-falls of our (Western church culture's) affinity towards things like church growth and mega churches, the "Emergent Conversation", and an imbalance in our theology of celebration over suffering.

This is an important book for those who believe in the Church, and are committed to serving her well into the 21st Century.

Hurt, The Church, Being Restored

We as human beings misuse our power on a regular basis in our quest to acquire what we want in life. I hear stories over and again from people who have been hurt (and abused) by someone who they trusted. Whether the misuse of power was intentional or unintentional, the result those who have gotten in the way is the same: brokeness.

When you have been wounded you become less likely to trust, to open yourself to another, to be hopeful, to love.

Sadly this hurt comes from those who are supposed to care for one another; from parents, siblings, or another trusted relative. When hurt comes from within the family it is, perhaps, even more painful. In the same way I hear people's stories who have been wounded by the church (or a follower of Jesus) in such a way that it begins to malform their view of a loving God.

In his book Finding My Way Home, Henri Nouwen writes: "The number of people who 'have been wounded by religion' overwhelms me. An unfriendly or judgmental word by a minister or priest, a critical remark in church about a certain lifestyle, a refusal to welcome people at the table, an absence during an illness or death, and countless other hurts often remain longer in people's memories than other more world-like rejections. Thousands of separated and divorced men and women, numerous gay and lesbian people, and all of the homeless people who felt unwelcome in the houses of worship of their brothers and sisters in the human family have turned away from God because they experienced the use of power when they expected an expression of love."

While the Church is not perfect, it is my hope that the sacred community of God becomes known more and more as a place of healing and wholeness; a place where broken things go to be fixed, tired things restored. In order for this to happen, responsibility falls on each one of us to live in such a way that we sow peace and hope wherever we go. We as followers of Jesus need to be marked by his very atributes: humilty and servanthood. This also means that our reliance cannot be on ourselves but rather on the grace and work of the Spirit breathing new life and possibility into all of us.

peace.

Inflatable Gorillas

As consumers living in the 21st century we are bombarded with advertisements, jingles, and billboards all jockeying for our attention. Those peddling products use these tactics in the hopes that they will "hook" us and then "lure us in" until we purchase their product; one that most certainly will "revolutionize" our way of life.

Enter: The Gigantic Inflatable Gorilla.

Promising "Huge" savings at a "Monster" discount, the gigantic inflatable gorilla is one monkey that is tough to beat. You can find the gigantic inflatable gorilla perched atop most car dealerships hoping to create just enough of a spectacle and attraction that you are compelled to stop in. I'm not sure what gigantic inflatable gorillas have to do with automobiles, but some would say, "It doesn't matter, as long as it helps sell cars."


This is "attractional" marketing.

As church communities I think we should be attractional as well. Yet I think our attractional nature should not come from the gigantic inflatable gorillas of great music, quality programs, slick marketing campaigns, or caring for the poor (yup, even caring for the poor can be a "hook" to get people to buy our "Jesus product").

In his book, A New Vision For Israel: The Teachings of Jesus in National Context, Scot McKnight writes: "(Jesus) did not perform miracles to get attention or to coerce others to follow him, but to reveal a kingdom that would eventually embrace the world in a universal display of God's salvation."

I am all for inspiring musicianship and creative worship gatherings. I believe the church should do works of both compassion and justice. I think these elements (and other things like it) are good not because they can be useful "bait" for a "spiritual seeker", but because through those elements (and others) the living hope of the gospel can be realized and experienced. The Church should be attractional not because of what it does to grab people's attention for the kingdom, but because (through all of its expression) it embodies the very kingdom itself.

Have you ever felt like the church was trying to "sell" something? What are the true attractional elements of the Church?

Hearing The Music

The church has spent so much time inculcating in us the fear of making mistakes that she has made us like ill-taught piano students; we play our songs but we never really hear them because our main concern is not to make music, but to avoid some flub that will get us in dutch. - Philip Yancey

For many this has been their experience with church. A place of fear and condemnation. A place where we walk on egg shells, afraid to say the wrong things, do the wrong things, and think the wrong things. In this environment the rhythm and life of the gospel becomes tragically snuffed out. And sadly, the way of Jesus ends up becoming stale, mechanical, and forced.

Jesus lived a life and spoke in such a way that we might be freed from this kind of tyranny. That we might stop stressing over getting each "note" of religion perfect, and instead learn to feel the music of walking in a relationship with God.

Have you had experiences with church that felt more like grinding piano lessons? How can we foster creativity and movement so that people might feel the "rhythm" of the gospel?

Drive-In Church

Drive-In Christian Church is located in Daytona Beach, Florida. Each week it gathers around 700 people to this old drive-in theater turned sanctuary. Church goers sing along with the choir, listen to a sermon (thanks to 88.5 fm), and participate in communion all while remaining in their car. At the close of each service "ushers" walk from car to car collecting offerings.

Those that drive-up for God say they like it because it is easier and more comfortable for their lifestyle. Some of the "perks" mentioned: you can dress however you would like, your dog is free to come, and you receive your very own communion packet.

After the final "Amen", all are invited to stick around for coffee and refreshments in the concession stand turned fellowship hall while others attendees are free to drive off (and are personally greeted by the pastor). Drive-In Christian Church has been making Sunday worship convenient, comfortable, and auto-accessible since 1953 (be sure to check out their videos).

What do you think of this approach to church? What elements are helpful to a healthy spiritual formation? What elements may be harmful?

Toys "R" Us and Church Relevance

Just last week Toys "R" Us announced that they would be adding a new element to their stores by introducing "R" Market in 260 of the company's 585 stories. "R Market" brings in an assortment of household goods and consumables (snacks, mac 'n cheese, paper towels, windex, etc.).

Toys "R" Us execs see this as a necessary move to keep business afloat and profitable in an economy where "want items" (like toys) are scarcely being purchased. Others think that the toy company giant should stick to what they do best...selling toys (for more on this story see the recent article in TIME).

Regardless of what you think Toys "R" Us should do, Geoffery and his associates are feeling the economic pain and are looking for ways to stay relevant, causing them to venture out in areas that have nothing to do with toys.

Churches have done this too. Churches and worship services have curtailed their structure, style, even their theology to stay more accessible and marketable in an ever increasing "de-churched economy". While I am all for innovation and creativity when it comes to the people of God (it is important that we find ways to contextualize the Gospel) is there a point at which the pursuit of "relevance" leads us away from the pursuit of God?

In what ways have churches/worship services departed from their main focus in an effort to stay "competitive" in our world?

Is there a difference between ingenuity/creativity that honors God and gimmicks?

Has the pursuit of "relevance been helpful or harmful to the Church?

What Have We Got Here?

The other night at a meeting we spent some time brainstorming all of the various talents, passions, and giftedness of people who have connected to the Renovate community. I began to write on the whiteboard as people shouted out words:

artists (musicians, vocalists, graphic designers, theater, film makers), teachers (french, spanish, mathematics, english, film, business), financial planners, ceo's, truck drivers, sales people, tattoo artists, bakers, electricians, seamstresses, show producers, massage therapists, doctors, hair dressers, organizers, directors, leaders....

the list went on to include the various life experiences of our people: single, married, divorced, kids, no kids, single parent, employed, unemployed, churched, un-churched, de-churched, politically left, politically right, those living with illness, and those with deep emotional pain.

The whiteboard was full.

When I stood back and looked at the list I saw something more...I saw people. People with passions and stories to share. People who upon coming together, pooling their talent, life experience, and collectively offering it to God could change this world.