Not doing so good on the mobile blogging thing

I spent most of the last three weeks in Washington DC and Alexandria.  It was a time of vacation, site seeing, encouraging friends, and a little bit of lobbying for northern Uganda.  I’m back in Dinuba for a week and then I’ll be off to Uganda on July 6th.  I’ll try to post a couple of stories from the East Coast adventure here in a bit but for now you can read some of it from my friend who I stayed with.

http://wanderingwhispers.blogspot.com/2009/06/treasure-hunt-not-what-you-might-think.html

http://wanderingwhispers.blogspot.com/2009/06/intuition-gut-feeling-or-god-talking-to.html

Playful

Music makes atmosphere

As playful vocals spin outward
Chasing ears and catching smiles

The soulful symphony of one
Extends to all who pass

(Written while listening to Kuku perform on the pier at Old Town Alexandria, VA)

Reflections on Christian Culture and Language

I noticed a disturbing trend recently.  Somehow being able to pick apart our brothers and sisters, our communities, and our practices of faith has become a badge of maturity in the church. Jokes about “Christianese” have become the new language of “mature” believers. Tearing down of the old structures (which were built by the tearing down of older structures) seems to feed some deep need to feel superior in faith. I feel like through sarcasm and satire people are communicating a message of, “Look at me, my relationship with God is deep enough I can see what’s wrong with the system and make fun of it.” The irony of it all is that by highlighting this I’m bordering on being guilty of the exact same thing. <sigh> Lord help us.

I value language and culture, and think that part of Christianity is to develop a Christ centered culture.  In that way it will be neccissary to develop a language of faith (yes Justin, you started me down this path of thinking).  It won’t be the same words we use in the rest of life just like mathmaticians, musicians, gang members, and politicians all have their own unique words and phrases that they use to communicate what is important to them.  What should set us apart is not that we dumb down our language or exclude ‘religious talk’ from our worship and community life – but that we do not speak with an expectation that everyone speaks our language.  Making space for dumb questions is key, and I believe that comes from leaders who are willing to ask themselves the dumb questions.  Like, what exactly is sanctification or propitiation?  Why do those words matter as they are found in scripture?  Is there a better word that still holds the weight but may be more appropriate for today?  When I was working with youth I often introduced and defined these words as part of the lessons.  Our faith should engage our whole person, and part of engaging our minds is learning and challenging the language of faith.  First learning the words, then asking the questions, and finally deciding if we should keep the old words or if there is need to move from “all who pissith against the wall” to “all the men”.

A deep conviction that also comes from my belief in the power of words and language is that of the necessity of words encouragement to be prominent in our churches (Church in the Basement sent me down this path).  Our culture is full of voices that tear us down by saying, “You’re not smart” or “You look funny.” Voices of sarcasm that leave us wondering how much of what was said is truth. Voices that are “only joking” but pierce our deepest insecurities and leave us unable to speak out our hurt because the voice that brought our fears to the light was not a healing voice but one that said our pain was a joke. Of all the people in the world, we must be those who have voices that pierce the darkness with care and calculated risk.  Words that come in with confident purpose to be a salve to the wounded or a sword to the proud.  Words that are love and truth, and are birthed out of a relationship with the Father.  Words that set out to edify, encourage, and lift up.

A chance to help send me out of the country

If you’re interested in praying for me or supporting me financially on my upcoming trip to Uganda feel free to download and print out my support letter. Stick it on your fridge as a reminder to keep myself and those traveling with me in prayer.

http://naylor121.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/support-letter.pdf