I work in a church, and live near several "seeker sensitive churches". I am always amazed at how quickly staff members of churches rise up to criticize and tear down their fellow brothers and sisters. While I think most church marketing sucks, there are a few notable exceptions in my area. Churches that seem to be on the cutting edge of marketing, constantly working on new and creative ideas for their church series. I love driving by Flamingo Road Church simply so I can see their enormous billboard out front announcing the next series.
I think the impetus for most of our criticism comes not from some divine mandate that we constantly be on the lookout for those who are "compromising the message", but rather from our own jealousy. I don't really hear much criticism about churches of 20 in the area, but rather only about churches with large membership roles.
Ministry envy seems to be at an all time high, and it's continually frustrating to me to hear people tear down other pastors. My feeling is this: Before you criticize another pastor, or ministry, you should be required to first visit that church, and have lunch with that pastor. You should visit his home, meet his family, and church staff. Find out what they are all about. Walk a mile in their shoes. Only then will you be qualified to criticize, or judge their ministry. Throwing stones from a distance is far too easy.
There are many reasons why I think church marketing sucks, and I'll probably delve into that topic later... I'm continually frustrated that the church is not the hub of creative activity...
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Obama and Warren
Barack Obama recently announced that Pastor Rick Warren from the Saddleback Church in California will give the invocation at his inauguration. This announcement has been met with much criticism from the left and right. I've heard Warren called a hate monger because of his views on homosexual marriage, and an inappropriate pick to give the invocation at one of the most historic moments in our history.
While I certainly don't agree with everything that Warren says or believes, I do agre with Obama on his statement that we need to have a variety of views present at the inauguration. He has defended his pick, saying that Warren represents views that differ from his own, but in those differences America's greatness is represented. We are a country of multiple belief strains, having Warren at his inauguration represents something that I love about Obama, his willingness to have a variety of views represented.
I'm hopeful that Obama will continue this practice throughout his presidency. I'm hopeful that he will lead from a centrist position in the White House. And I also think that many Christians could learn a thing or two from this encounter. Our differences, while they are important to us, are not what should divide us. Conversation amongst people of faith is a good thing. Not so that we may be swayed to another position, but rather so that we are able to hear the viewpoint of the other. So that we can understand the perspective of our brother next to us. And some times, it may be ok for us to be friends even if our belief systems don't match up like a connection on eharmony.
While I certainly don't agree with everything that Warren says or believes, I do agre with Obama on his statement that we need to have a variety of views present at the inauguration. He has defended his pick, saying that Warren represents views that differ from his own, but in those differences America's greatness is represented. We are a country of multiple belief strains, having Warren at his inauguration represents something that I love about Obama, his willingness to have a variety of views represented.
I'm hopeful that Obama will continue this practice throughout his presidency. I'm hopeful that he will lead from a centrist position in the White House. And I also think that many Christians could learn a thing or two from this encounter. Our differences, while they are important to us, are not what should divide us. Conversation amongst people of faith is a good thing. Not so that we may be swayed to another position, but rather so that we are able to hear the viewpoint of the other. So that we can understand the perspective of our brother next to us. And some times, it may be ok for us to be friends even if our belief systems don't match up like a connection on eharmony.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saddleback Civic Forum
I finished watching the civil forum from last week at Saddleback Church. A few thoughts on the entire event.
First, this is exactly the kind of event that we need in an election year. A clear discussion with Presidential candidates on issues that matter to people of faith. I concur with Rick Warren when he said that we believe in a separation of church and state, but not with the division between faith and politics. Faith must influence politics, and it is my hope that people of faith will look at the issues facing our country and make the best decision possible when they head into the voting booth in November.
I thought Barack Obama was engaging in his discussion with Rick Warren. It felt like two old friends having a conversation. I loved his comments on the direction of America and Matthew 25: What you have done to the least of these you have done to me. That is the direction that I want to see America head in.
John McCain was also insightful in his comments. He was direct and to the point on issues that matter to Republicans, and particularly the religious right. His direct answers will calm the fears of many on the right who assume that he is a moderate in Republican clothes [which I think he really secretly is].
The issue of abortion always plays an important role in Presidential Elections. The right wants a President who will be stridently pro-life. At times this is the deciding issue for voters. All they want to know is who will be pro-life, and who will stand against gay marriage. I wonder if this will finally be the year when people start to look beyond a couple of issues when voting for President. As time goes on I am not so sure that the abortion issue can or will be solved by a conservative in the White House for another four years. The past eight years have not seen a significant drop in the abortion rate.
While we are distracted by the abortion issue, other issues that should be primary for Christian voters go unnoticed. Let me be clear, I am pro-life. I find abortion to be immoral. But my pro-life stance also requires me to be consistently pro-life. From the cradle to the grave. More people will die today from preventable diseases than died in the 9/11 attacks. Where is the Christian outrage over such a calamity?
I hope this will be the year that Christians across our great country begin to look at all the issues that face our country. I believe that a Christian can be fervently pro-life, and at the same time care about the poor, and support initiatives that will stop the crisis currently decimating our world. I hope for a candidate that can make the bold move forward to being both pro-life, and pro-poor. And I hope that all Christian voters will remember all the issues when casting their vote this November.
First, this is exactly the kind of event that we need in an election year. A clear discussion with Presidential candidates on issues that matter to people of faith. I concur with Rick Warren when he said that we believe in a separation of church and state, but not with the division between faith and politics. Faith must influence politics, and it is my hope that people of faith will look at the issues facing our country and make the best decision possible when they head into the voting booth in November.
I thought Barack Obama was engaging in his discussion with Rick Warren. It felt like two old friends having a conversation. I loved his comments on the direction of America and Matthew 25: What you have done to the least of these you have done to me. That is the direction that I want to see America head in.
John McCain was also insightful in his comments. He was direct and to the point on issues that matter to Republicans, and particularly the religious right. His direct answers will calm the fears of many on the right who assume that he is a moderate in Republican clothes [which I think he really secretly is].
The issue of abortion always plays an important role in Presidential Elections. The right wants a President who will be stridently pro-life. At times this is the deciding issue for voters. All they want to know is who will be pro-life, and who will stand against gay marriage. I wonder if this will finally be the year when people start to look beyond a couple of issues when voting for President. As time goes on I am not so sure that the abortion issue can or will be solved by a conservative in the White House for another four years. The past eight years have not seen a significant drop in the abortion rate.
While we are distracted by the abortion issue, other issues that should be primary for Christian voters go unnoticed. Let me be clear, I am pro-life. I find abortion to be immoral. But my pro-life stance also requires me to be consistently pro-life. From the cradle to the grave. More people will die today from preventable diseases than died in the 9/11 attacks. Where is the Christian outrage over such a calamity?
I hope this will be the year that Christians across our great country begin to look at all the issues that face our country. I believe that a Christian can be fervently pro-life, and at the same time care about the poor, and support initiatives that will stop the crisis currently decimating our world. I hope for a candidate that can make the bold move forward to being both pro-life, and pro-poor. And I hope that all Christian voters will remember all the issues when casting their vote this November.
Monday, August 11, 2008
A New Option?
This morning I finished off God's Politics. In the last section of the book, Jim Wallis channels the spirit of Nostradomus to give some predictions for the new millennium. One in particular caught my eye:
15. A new option will emerge: conservative in personal values, radical for social justice. The number of spiritual progressives will grow.
This is what I have been looking for. A way forward between the bifurcation of values. The choice between abandoning either the poor, or abandoning the unborn. Can there not be a middle path in which those of us who bleed purple can navigate?
This sort of understanding is what draws me to the thoughts and writings of Emergent. Particularly the writings of Tony Jones, in his most recent book The New Christians. There is a groundswell of progressive Christians that are prophetically calling us out to care not only about the unborn, and family values, but to also spur us on to care for the environment, the poor, and peace in our fractured world.
I am looking forward to the political circus that will commence at the end of the month with both the Republican and Democratic Conventions. I anticipate spirited debate between the two worthy candidates. And I hope that Washington will soon learn that one can be conservative in personal values, and be stridently for social justice.
15. A new option will emerge: conservative in personal values, radical for social justice. The number of spiritual progressives will grow.
This is what I have been looking for. A way forward between the bifurcation of values. The choice between abandoning either the poor, or abandoning the unborn. Can there not be a middle path in which those of us who bleed purple can navigate?
This sort of understanding is what draws me to the thoughts and writings of Emergent. Particularly the writings of Tony Jones, in his most recent book The New Christians. There is a groundswell of progressive Christians that are prophetically calling us out to care not only about the unborn, and family values, but to also spur us on to care for the environment, the poor, and peace in our fractured world.
I am looking forward to the political circus that will commence at the end of the month with both the Republican and Democratic Conventions. I anticipate spirited debate between the two worthy candidates. And I hope that Washington will soon learn that one can be conservative in personal values, and be stridently for social justice.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
McLaren and Obama
Brian McLaren has recently offered his support of Senator Obama for President.
I'm not sure that I have decided on who my vote will go to, and I'm not sure that it even matters all that much. My position as a pastor influences my decision not to share who I am supporting for political office, or to share with others who I vote for. I keep this information close to the vest, because of my position that a church, nor it's representatives should be in the business of overtly promoting political candidates. Rather I would like to see the church seriously engage in the political issues of our day, beyond the issues of abortion and gay-marriage.
I must say that I am drawn to Obama for several reasons. First he offers a breath of fresh air into the political scene. He's not a Washington insider, having served in the Senate for only 2 years. This may be seen by some as a weakness, his lack of political acumen being a hindrance to his electability, but I see it as someone with fresh eyes coming on the scene.
As a Christian I feel I must be anti-war. I have trouble being a full fledged pacifist, but I'm not on the side that supports the United States being the unilateral keeper of peace and capitalism in the world. I have a hard time supporting a presidential candidate who wants to keep the country in war, especially a war in which the reasons for going into war are spotty at best.
As a Christian I am also pro-poor. I believe that budgets are moral statements. The tax cuts that benefit the rich, while hindering the poor from receiving tax breaks are simply Un-Christian. It's time that Christians in America recognize this fact, and stand up and make their voice heard. We will not continue to support policies that leave the poor without the means to support themselves. Those who work a full time job should be able to support themselves.
Does Obama really represent a more holistic Christian world-view on some of the key issues? That remains to be seen. I am looking for a President who is willing to challenge the current administrations failings, and one that has a clear vision of the future.
This presidential election will be an interesting one, and I'm not sure who I will vote for. Sometimes I think I should just put an "undecided" sign in my yard. But I know this, I am one Christian in America who is calling for a candidate that will hold to policies that are moral across the board. I'm looking for a candidate who will protect the sanctity of life, from the cradle to the grave. I'm looking for a president who will only use war as a last resort. I'm looking for a president who cares about the environment, and our role as the stewards of God's creation. I'm looking for a president who will help the poor, and recognize that it's a sin for Americans to have millions of children starving in their cities. I'm looking for a president who will create a fair tax code that will not benefit the rich, while the poor starve. Is Obama that man? I'm not quite sure yet, and I'm not sure that either candidate will have all the answers, but what I am sure of is that we need a new direction in this country.
I'm not sure that I have decided on who my vote will go to, and I'm not sure that it even matters all that much. My position as a pastor influences my decision not to share who I am supporting for political office, or to share with others who I vote for. I keep this information close to the vest, because of my position that a church, nor it's representatives should be in the business of overtly promoting political candidates. Rather I would like to see the church seriously engage in the political issues of our day, beyond the issues of abortion and gay-marriage.
I must say that I am drawn to Obama for several reasons. First he offers a breath of fresh air into the political scene. He's not a Washington insider, having served in the Senate for only 2 years. This may be seen by some as a weakness, his lack of political acumen being a hindrance to his electability, but I see it as someone with fresh eyes coming on the scene.
As a Christian I feel I must be anti-war. I have trouble being a full fledged pacifist, but I'm not on the side that supports the United States being the unilateral keeper of peace and capitalism in the world. I have a hard time supporting a presidential candidate who wants to keep the country in war, especially a war in which the reasons for going into war are spotty at best.
As a Christian I am also pro-poor. I believe that budgets are moral statements. The tax cuts that benefit the rich, while hindering the poor from receiving tax breaks are simply Un-Christian. It's time that Christians in America recognize this fact, and stand up and make their voice heard. We will not continue to support policies that leave the poor without the means to support themselves. Those who work a full time job should be able to support themselves.
Does Obama really represent a more holistic Christian world-view on some of the key issues? That remains to be seen. I am looking for a President who is willing to challenge the current administrations failings, and one that has a clear vision of the future.
This presidential election will be an interesting one, and I'm not sure who I will vote for. Sometimes I think I should just put an "undecided" sign in my yard. But I know this, I am one Christian in America who is calling for a candidate that will hold to policies that are moral across the board. I'm looking for a candidate who will protect the sanctity of life, from the cradle to the grave. I'm looking for a president who will only use war as a last resort. I'm looking for a president who cares about the environment, and our role as the stewards of God's creation. I'm looking for a president who will help the poor, and recognize that it's a sin for Americans to have millions of children starving in their cities. I'm looking for a president who will create a fair tax code that will not benefit the rich, while the poor starve. Is Obama that man? I'm not quite sure yet, and I'm not sure that either candidate will have all the answers, but what I am sure of is that we need a new direction in this country.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Beyond Foundationalism II
Theology after Modernity:
The Enlightenment influence on theology is far reaching. One cannot traverse far in the theological landscape without encountering the influences, and constructions of modernity along the way. Foundationalism [the belief that certain assertions receive their support from other beliefs that are more basic or foundational. The goal is to provide the foundation in order to evaluate and determine the veracity of all other beliefs], pervades throughout the belief systems of our churches and forms the very construction and praxis of theology.
How can we make our way forward in this twisting, winding, and sloping landscape that we now find ourselves submersed in? Postmodernity seeks to demolish the former high places that the Enlightenment epistemology erected for our worship and admiration. The era that traverses beyond foundationalism seeks to formulate theology in a non-foundational context. First we must recognize that reason, and objectivity are not only impossible on our part, but that the supposed universal reason we so want to appeal to is actually a construction of our personal and local contexts.
"Reason is not the supposedly neutral medium in which human relfection takes place. Nor is it a purely formal and autonomous given that precedes, and gives shape to, intellectual reflection. Instead, reason is person specific, and situation specific."
Beyond Foundationalism, 41
Our constructions of theology are not objective or neutral, but rather a reflection on the context and situation that we find ourselves in. The very questions we ask in theology are context driven. When we are able to give up our quest for an objective reality, we are then able to move forward in our search for the answers to the questions that our world is asking.
Theology must begin to be seen as a mosaic, comprising the past, present, and future of theology as a unified whole. Theology is the result of the many voices of Christians throughout the centuries. One must be careful to recognize these voices, and be aware of the influencing voices that drive a persons particular theology. Theology then is most properly done in the context of community. The Scriptures call us out as the people of God to speak into reality the kingdom of God. Jesus has established his rule and reign on this earth, and he calls us out to be the eschatological people of God. We are called to participate in the formation of the kingdom of God.
Our language, actions, and theology should reflect the hope of this future world. We make sense out of the world by speaking what shall be. We are an eschatological people not accepting the world as it is, but rather looking forward to the world as it will be.
The Enlightenment influence on theology is far reaching. One cannot traverse far in the theological landscape without encountering the influences, and constructions of modernity along the way. Foundationalism [the belief that certain assertions receive their support from other beliefs that are more basic or foundational. The goal is to provide the foundation in order to evaluate and determine the veracity of all other beliefs], pervades throughout the belief systems of our churches and forms the very construction and praxis of theology.
How can we make our way forward in this twisting, winding, and sloping landscape that we now find ourselves submersed in? Postmodernity seeks to demolish the former high places that the Enlightenment epistemology erected for our worship and admiration. The era that traverses beyond foundationalism seeks to formulate theology in a non-foundational context. First we must recognize that reason, and objectivity are not only impossible on our part, but that the supposed universal reason we so want to appeal to is actually a construction of our personal and local contexts.
"Reason is not the supposedly neutral medium in which human relfection takes place. Nor is it a purely formal and autonomous given that precedes, and gives shape to, intellectual reflection. Instead, reason is person specific, and situation specific."
Beyond Foundationalism, 41
Our constructions of theology are not objective or neutral, but rather a reflection on the context and situation that we find ourselves in. The very questions we ask in theology are context driven. When we are able to give up our quest for an objective reality, we are then able to move forward in our search for the answers to the questions that our world is asking.
Theology must begin to be seen as a mosaic, comprising the past, present, and future of theology as a unified whole. Theology is the result of the many voices of Christians throughout the centuries. One must be careful to recognize these voices, and be aware of the influencing voices that drive a persons particular theology. Theology then is most properly done in the context of community. The Scriptures call us out as the people of God to speak into reality the kingdom of God. Jesus has established his rule and reign on this earth, and he calls us out to be the eschatological people of God. We are called to participate in the formation of the kingdom of God.
Our language, actions, and theology should reflect the hope of this future world. We make sense out of the world by speaking what shall be. We are an eschatological people not accepting the world as it is, but rather looking forward to the world as it will be.
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