Back in the saddle next week. VBS prep and production for this week's run has slayed me....whew.
Great affiliation and association time for kids though. An accommodation time for many adult and teen helpers and some assimilation into Christ's story as well. Grace upon grace.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Insufficiency of Christ -1
Just lost another friend to apathy about Christ and the church.
For all you theological types, take a breath. I am not saying that Jesus is insufficient. What this is about is, "Why do people today, even after finding Christ, look for more than Him, look elsewhere for hope and peace and ...something?" "What about Jesus is not enough?" "What does a relationship with Jesus not offer?" "Why is it so hard, even for me, to persevere in the long martyrdom of the Christian life?"
As with many of the answers the Holy Spirit has been pointing me to over the past few years, I believe this answer, too, is about the story. Our worldly formation ties us so well into the story of the world that our part in God's story quickly becomes muddled, unfocused, uncomfortable, unrecognizable. So much so that we easily lose sight of the story itself. A continuing counterformation to the world's story is crucial if we and our children are to not only find our way to Christ but to stay with Him. Even after all that the disciples went through with Jesus, even after the resurrection, as related in Matthew 28:18, "some doubted." What is it that they still needed?
First, it is identity. We must know who we are, whose we are. And that comes with the constant telling of the story of the community of followers both in the past and now. Fill your child's head, and yours, with the lives of the prophets and the disciples and the saints. The disciples knew a story, of a Messiah who would "restore the kingdom of Israel" and their identity was wrapped up in that story. See Acts 1:6. They were formed by that ancient but misinterpreted story. They had their identity in their present struggle. Jesus did not fit well in that. He will not fit well into our story. When Jesus died, they realized that He was insufficient to their struggle. Their twisted identity even persisted against the three year teaching and extraordinary events of Jesus. They had lost, were defeated...again. Misplaced hope. ----- Because their story was wrong and their identity, based on their story, was wrong.
For all you theological types, take a breath. I am not saying that Jesus is insufficient. What this is about is, "Why do people today, even after finding Christ, look for more than Him, look elsewhere for hope and peace and ...something?" "What about Jesus is not enough?" "What does a relationship with Jesus not offer?" "Why is it so hard, even for me, to persevere in the long martyrdom of the Christian life?"
As with many of the answers the Holy Spirit has been pointing me to over the past few years, I believe this answer, too, is about the story. Our worldly formation ties us so well into the story of the world that our part in God's story quickly becomes muddled, unfocused, uncomfortable, unrecognizable. So much so that we easily lose sight of the story itself. A continuing counterformation to the world's story is crucial if we and our children are to not only find our way to Christ but to stay with Him. Even after all that the disciples went through with Jesus, even after the resurrection, as related in Matthew 28:18, "some doubted." What is it that they still needed?
First, it is identity. We must know who we are, whose we are. And that comes with the constant telling of the story of the community of followers both in the past and now. Fill your child's head, and yours, with the lives of the prophets and the disciples and the saints. The disciples knew a story, of a Messiah who would "restore the kingdom of Israel" and their identity was wrapped up in that story. See Acts 1:6. They were formed by that ancient but misinterpreted story. They had their identity in their present struggle. Jesus did not fit well in that. He will not fit well into our story. When Jesus died, they realized that He was insufficient to their struggle. Their twisted identity even persisted against the three year teaching and extraordinary events of Jesus. They had lost, were defeated...again. Misplaced hope. ----- Because their story was wrong and their identity, based on their story, was wrong.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Liturgy as Formation - 3
The first formation through liturgical activity is learning - head knowledge and intellectual assent. The second liturgical formation activity is spending time with Christ and the community. The last formation "work of the people" is our call in II Corinthians 5:18 to ambassadorship. Our formation is like a light bulb in a series circuit which also has a motor in the circuit. If the motor isn't running the electricity can't move through the line and the light can't come on. In order for transformation to happen in you, you have to be involved in service/ministry. God's word will never come back ineffectual. If you sit back and wait to be transformed before you start working in God's story you will wait forever. To put formation in investment terms, 45% should be invested in time with Jesus and the fellowship, 35% in ministry and 20% in study. For most Christians today, our Christ-following activities are predominantly: 1) study, 2) a small amount of time spent in prayer and fellowship, and 3) rare ministry/service. What this does is create people who are philosophy "Christians" who know a lot about God and assent to most of his teachings and ethics and therefore think that they are Christians. These are those for whom I fear, Jesus will say, "I never knew you." You really must fall in love with Jesus. Not the book. Not the idea. Not theology. Not the traditions. Not the church. You must fall in love with Him. Learning is good but the bulk of any relationship is spending time doing stuff together and for others. Get to work. We are not saved by works but we will not be saved without them.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Liturgy as Formation - 2
So Liturgy of the Word is easy and the one we love to pursue. We go to Bible Studies and Sunday School classes but this is qualitatively different than sitting with Jesus. Now, there are Bible Studies that spend significant time in prayer and relationship with each other and with Christ. Kudos to them. The Word informing the relationship. Perfect. For most, however, the liturgy of "being with" Christ is so much harder, too hard in fact to press into. Unfamiliar territory for most of us and uncomfortable.
When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He taught them the whole way, and "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked..." BUT, when did they know Him? When did their relationship with their lost Savior and friend come alive? In the breaking of the bread. Our second work of liturgy is the breaking of bread. It is literally that in our sharing with each other in the Eucharist, and almost impossibly, it is more than that as the Bread of Life becomes part of us and we are part of Him. We end, no, shift, our intellectual relationship from that of figuring it out to engaging with Him. As I was graining with Mr. Philip under last night's moonless sky, I did learn some more about Mr. Philip, but what I learned was translated in the process of poling along and paying attention into respect and admiration. I grew to know him. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a model for the liturgy of all our engagement with Christ and others. It is the work of the people in doing stuff with each other in order to translate our learning about them and Christ into knowing them. "Depart from me you workers of iniquity. I never knew you." Harsh words. Jesus is not talking to the Pharisees here. Harsh words to people who were doing a lot and thinking a lot but never laughing a lot and crying a lot and eating a lot with Jesus. So this second part of the Liturgy of Formation, relationship building, is perhaps the most important leg of the three legged stool. You MUST do things with Christ and others. You must do things with the "least of your brethren." "Associate with the lowly." "Love your enemies." It is essential to your formation to run counter to the world and even in some regards to our churches by ensuring that the time spent learning about Jesus is in proportion to your spending time with Him and with others in non-learning activities, breaking bread (Eucharist and meals), going for a walk, fishing together, time alone talking to Jesus without your Bible, making sure that the lesson you learned in class is applied and changes who you are, building a boat together. "And this is how they will know you are my disciples, how you love each other."
When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He taught them the whole way, and "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked..." BUT, when did they know Him? When did their relationship with their lost Savior and friend come alive? In the breaking of the bread. Our second work of liturgy is the breaking of bread. It is literally that in our sharing with each other in the Eucharist, and almost impossibly, it is more than that as the Bread of Life becomes part of us and we are part of Him. We end, no, shift, our intellectual relationship from that of figuring it out to engaging with Him. As I was graining with Mr. Philip under last night's moonless sky, I did learn some more about Mr. Philip, but what I learned was translated in the process of poling along and paying attention into respect and admiration. I grew to know him. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a model for the liturgy of all our engagement with Christ and others. It is the work of the people in doing stuff with each other in order to translate our learning about them and Christ into knowing them. "Depart from me you workers of iniquity. I never knew you." Harsh words. Jesus is not talking to the Pharisees here. Harsh words to people who were doing a lot and thinking a lot but never laughing a lot and crying a lot and eating a lot with Jesus. So this second part of the Liturgy of Formation, relationship building, is perhaps the most important leg of the three legged stool. You MUST do things with Christ and others. You must do things with the "least of your brethren." "Associate with the lowly." "Love your enemies." It is essential to your formation to run counter to the world and even in some regards to our churches by ensuring that the time spent learning about Jesus is in proportion to your spending time with Him and with others in non-learning activities, breaking bread (Eucharist and meals), going for a walk, fishing together, time alone talking to Jesus without your Bible, making sure that the lesson you learned in class is applied and changes who you are, building a boat together. "And this is how they will know you are my disciples, how you love each other."
Monday, May 9, 2011
Liturgy as Formation - 1
Liturgy (literally the "work of the people") is formation. Most Americans believe that formation is simply the next fad word for religious education. However, Jesus in John 5:39 states, "You study the Scriptures diligently thinking that by having them you have me but you know me not." Being a Jesus follower is not a matter of the head except in that our knowledge orients our worship. Knowledge informs us about Who we are worshiping. Evangelicals often get lost in the pursuit of knowing about God and forget to say "Hello."
There are three parts to our historical liturgy: 1) learning about Whom we love (the liturgy of the Word); 2) spending time with Him (worship/Eucharist) and; 3) proclaiming reconciliation to Him (evangelism). The easiest is learning "about". It requires almost no commitment or sacrifice on our part. It requires little humility, submission or subjugation. It is also the source of the enormous problem today creating "pick and choose" Christians and the rampant "all roads lead to God" philosophy. We learn about poverty and about child soldiers and about alcoholic Smith in the last pew and we can simply lament and be filled with pity and sentimentalism. That is "about-ness". There are many thousands of people, you may know some, you may be one, who know about Christ but for whom, Jesus' Lordship is despised. The hallmark of salvation, as we all have heard again and again, is relationship and yet our congregations allow scant relationship building and love learning and teaching. If you would be formed, if you would form your child, into a persevering Jesus follower you must engage in the liturgy of formation. It is a dance. There are rules to be sure, but if you simply obey the rules you will never dance but die alone.
There are three parts to our historical liturgy: 1) learning about Whom we love (the liturgy of the Word); 2) spending time with Him (worship/Eucharist) and; 3) proclaiming reconciliation to Him (evangelism). The easiest is learning "about". It requires almost no commitment or sacrifice on our part. It requires little humility, submission or subjugation. It is also the source of the enormous problem today creating "pick and choose" Christians and the rampant "all roads lead to God" philosophy. We learn about poverty and about child soldiers and about alcoholic Smith in the last pew and we can simply lament and be filled with pity and sentimentalism. That is "about-ness". There are many thousands of people, you may know some, you may be one, who know about Christ but for whom, Jesus' Lordship is despised. The hallmark of salvation, as we all have heard again and again, is relationship and yet our congregations allow scant relationship building and love learning and teaching. If you would be formed, if you would form your child, into a persevering Jesus follower you must engage in the liturgy of formation. It is a dance. There are rules to be sure, but if you simply obey the rules you will never dance but die alone.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bringing Adult Children (back) to Faith 4c
People, your child included, rarely come to true faith, become assimilated into Christ's story, due to intellectual discussion or convincing argument. Most people come to Christ through a profound, ongoing relationship with a authentic Christian. This is why it is so important that you as a parent have an active faith and demonstrate to your child that you really do love them and you love, not the philosophy of but the person, Jesus Christ. Clarity in these two relationships overcomes almost all obstacles and shifts people to a position where they can accept that this God-story is true. "This is how they will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35. Grow yourself transparently towards God and towards them.
The last step in bringing your child to faith is helping them find their place in the story. Now Hear This....this does not mean telling them what they should be doing in the church or on Sunday. Helping them find their place means celebrating any activity that they do and orienting it to Christ. Instead of taking them with you as a part of your story like in section "B", now it is time to let them know that you think they are great and have wonderful things to offer in Christ's story. "You really are a good artist. That work would look great in the Parish Hall." "This is a great omelet! The Men's Hike guys would love this." Planting seeds. It will help your mission to talk to ministry leaders, explain your child's talents and ask them to ask your child for help.
A final word: you are long past telling them they need to change. Hasn't worked so far and won't work now. You are now adult acquaintances (not even friends yet) so treat them that way. You wouldn't tell an acquaintance to get their act together. You would ask, "How are things going? You look kind of down." And then you would simply listen. And pray.
The last step in bringing your child to faith is helping them find their place in the story. Now Hear This....this does not mean telling them what they should be doing in the church or on Sunday. Helping them find their place means celebrating any activity that they do and orienting it to Christ. Instead of taking them with you as a part of your story like in section "B", now it is time to let them know that you think they are great and have wonderful things to offer in Christ's story. "You really are a good artist. That work would look great in the Parish Hall." "This is a great omelet! The Men's Hike guys would love this." Planting seeds. It will help your mission to talk to ministry leaders, explain your child's talents and ask them to ask your child for help.
A final word: you are long past telling them they need to change. Hasn't worked so far and won't work now. You are now adult acquaintances (not even friends yet) so treat them that way. You wouldn't tell an acquaintance to get their act together. You would ask, "How are things going? You look kind of down." And then you would simply listen. And pray.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Bringing Adult Children (back) to Faith 4b
We are still moving your adult child from an Accommodation type of faith to their Assimilation into Christ's story - giving up their life and agenda and taking up a life for Christ.
The predominant activity on your part, setting the stage, turning on lights and music, remains your relationship with Christ. Give up your own life for Christ. Be engaged as fully as possible. This doesn't necessarily mean going to multiple Bible Studies and being in the church building whenever the doors are open. What it means is that your life is actually centered in Christ and it is part of your conversation - not bragging but matter-of-fact testimonies. You are proud of how careful the vestry is with your tithe. It is great that God invented golf. Your testimony on the golf course with _____ went so well. You hold hands with your spouse so your child can see a model of righteous intimacy. You retell the story from the guy you served at Crisis Ministry.
The predominant activity on your part, setting the stage, turning on lights and music, remains your relationship with Christ. Give up your own life for Christ. Be engaged as fully as possible. This doesn't necessarily mean going to multiple Bible Studies and being in the church building whenever the doors are open. What it means is that your life is actually centered in Christ and it is part of your conversation - not bragging but matter-of-fact testimonies. You are proud of how careful the vestry is with your tithe. It is great that God invented golf. Your testimony on the golf course with _____ went so well. You hold hands with your spouse so your child can see a model of righteous intimacy. You retell the story from the guy you served at Crisis Ministry.
The second thing to do to bring them into Christ's story is very hard. You need to confess your failings to your child. For you to assist your adult child in making this transition you have to be in the right position with your adult child. If your interactions with your child remain parent:child interactions, you will make little progress.
Confess that you are sorry for being a crummy parent (we all are). Next, confess that you are sorry for talking to your child through all the baggage of the last 25 years instead of having clean conversations. Confess that you are sorry for not listening well. Confess that you are sorry for not changing your role from teacher/parent to adult friend yet.
Now - position changed - you proceed as an equal friend. You are starting over with Saint-Exupery's thought,
“If you want to build a ship, ...don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Live a life that is full and undoubtedly a part of Jesus' story and invite your child into the story. Bring them into your adventure with Jesus. Bring them into your mission trip, into your Habitat work, into your SS teaching, into your hunting excursion fellowship times.As you do that, continue your praise of your child's efforts at accommodating the teachings of Christ. “I have been paying better attention to your life lately and you have been doing a good job of turning over areas in your life to God. I am proud of you for the job you are doing following God." Even adult children need praise and encouragement. We're not there yet so...more to come.
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