Culture is not a discipline problem

Culture is not a discipline problem. The function of the church is not to form others into our image, but to journey with them as we discover together what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth. On that journey, all will be conformed into the image of Christ, as the Refiner’s fire brings to question the things we’ve added to the gospel. Church structure must make space for the redemption of culture.  The evaluation of what is good, what is redeemable, and what needs to be severed and thrown to the fire.  As we seek to minister in that way to those whose culture differs from our own we will find that our culture is continually forced through that same refining process as we prepare for that day when we will worship and rejoice with every nation, tribe and tongue.

Strictly enforced “church rules” can have the unfortunate effect of building religious walls to keep us safe from cultural challenges that would force us to consider what parts of what we believe are at best irrelevant and at worst un-biblical. Obviously there must be structure and discipline, but it’s sinfully inadequate to justify rules to promote sin management or morality with rigidly interpreted verses and ignore the heart of God as revealed by Scripture. That would be breathing life back into the law. The heart behind discipline must be to establish a culture of grace that creates a safe environment for newcomers to enter into an encounter with Christ. There must be a deep theology behind our disciplinary structures, one that we can explain and invite people into. One that points to the God who spared the first murderer. One that points to the Messiah who cast off his right to throw the first stone. A theology that takes into account that Jesus said “Go now and leave your life of sin” and celebrated Zacchaeus’ generous repentance, while at the same time realizes that not only did he associate with the “tax collectors and sinners” but they liked associating with him too.

Reflections on Rest and Trust

For the Christian, to rest is an act of trust.

The sabbath as an individual or community expression makes the bold statement to the world that God is in control.  It says that our efforts can be put on hold for a day because of the knowledge that it is, in fact, He who will bring everything to completion and fruition.

To take on a lifestyle of rest is to stand in stark opposition to the culture of business that consumes much of the world (secular and Christian).  The sovereignty of God allows for the freedom to leave anxiety behind and walk in peace at all times knowing that the rule and reign of God remains uninterrupted no matter what we do or don’t do.

If you think this is dangerous you are absolutely right.  It is dangerous to our pride.  Our pride that says if I don’t do something then nothing is going to happen.  It is dangerous to our imperfect motivations that lead to religiously acting out our devotion so fervently that we ignore the need to respond out of relationship to God.  This is not an excuse for inaction, but there is definitely a major shift when our motivation to act moves from fear to trust.  A movement from the fear of falling out of grace to trusting that the grace that saved us is strong enough to carry us to maturity as we learn to follow Christ. It is a movement towards relationship. Not in an abstract way, but a real relationship in which a mutual trust begins to grow between us and the Almighty.  As we invest in trusting Him, our actions will come out of the humbling reality that He has lovingly chosen us and trusts we who love Him to partner as co-labors to carry out His work in the world.

Entertainment industry and social activism: A rant

If you know me at all you know I’m a passionate person.  I give myself fully to whatever I’m involved in (or whatever God get’s me involved in).  You also know that Uganda is part of that passion – one that I’m constantly learning more about and praying for.  Yesterday three things popped up about the rebel group which has been abducting children, mutilating people, and causing terror in northern Uganda, South Sudan, and DRC.  One of these was a report from an organization that is reporting an increase in activity of the LRA rebel group, possible re-established ties with the Sudanese government in Khartoum, among other more factual reporting.  You can read the information here: http://www.resolveuganda.org/node/888

The other two, however, are people trying to walk the razors edge between entertainment and social activism.  You can read a little about them here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8226675.stm

I had been struggling with this sort of thing since the release of District 9. I’ve avoided it because I don’t think my heart could handle social commentary on refugee camps and racism that so closely resemble the ones that exist now but instead of people they are filled with aliens.  Just where I’m at.  But the article above pushed it from the background processing to the forefront.  The organization that I volunteered with in Uganda is involved with the film, and I believe and hope it will be well and responsibly done. But that hadn’t even been a concern until I read the line, “Earlier this week, a comic book about the LRA, featuring the WWII character Unknown Soldier, was launched by DC Comics.”

A comic book about the LRA?!  The first 29 pages are available on the internet and I recommend that you do not read them if you care about this situation or have been to Uganda or are generally sensitive to violence.  It graphically depicts, in comic book art, some of the horrors of the LRA.  It was hard to read, which is good because reality is harder, but at the same time I had to wonder if that is really the medium to bring those horrors to light?  Comic books and movies are a business, they are out to make money.  Do they really have the heart to do this responsibly or are they going to cut corners on truth to make it more sensational?  And the other side of things, will those who read or watch actually tie what they see into reality?  Will it grip them or be marginalized because we have generally been desensitized to what we read and see from entertainment media sources.  And if it does grip us, what will we do with it? Will the general comic book reader or movie goer dig deeper than the info they are presented with or will they feel informed about the situation because of how the media has filtered and presented it?  Will the general viewer of a gripping documentary dig any deeper?  The profits from the movie “Girl Soldier” will go towards organizations in northen Uganda – which is among the reasons I trust that film and those making it.  But what of the profits from the comic book, or from District 9?  I don’t know.

” ‘The film is incredibly fictionalized in certain areas,’ Mr Raee told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.” That’s my other concern for social activism coming out of the media industry and also from documentaries and social justice organizations.  Truth.  Do they actually present truth or do they adjust lighting and music to present a gripping yet accessible portion of reality in order to activate people towards their movement.  Is truth forfeited in substitution for action and mobilizing the masses?  It’s much easier to stir people up than to truly inform and educate them.  There is a growing generation primed to be passionately released to change the world.  Will they do it in ignorance or in truth?  Will they be motivated by a selfish compassion that wants the pain inside them to end or a Christ centered compassion that seeks to better things not only now but for all eternity.  One that can actually enter into the suffering and not be consumed by it.  One that is passionate to see things change but at peace in each moment knowing that it is God who is in control and He who is responsible for the transformation.  A compassion that is patient because it knows and trusts that it comes from the Father in heaven who cares more deeply than we could ever imagine over the distance between the way things are and the way things should be. And lastly a compassion that is filled with a near inappropriate joy knowing how good the Father is and how much it is in his heart for all to be under his care.

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.

The Future

For those of you who don’t know, I’m going on a bit of an adventure starting next month. I have resigned from my position at DPC and don’t have a clear vision for the future. I know that it will include another short trip to Uganda (at least 3 weeks in July), and some time in Washington DC (northern Uganda Lobby Days at the end of June), but other than that it’s up in the air. For the fun of it I decided to write a quick list of possibilities that have entered my mind:

1. Take off my shoes, empty my wallet, grab my Bible and just start walking.

2. Start a non-profit to promote radical unity within the body of Christ.

3. Wander around Africa as the Spirit leads.

4. Join forces with my brother to bring the gospel to unreached people groups.

5. Start a church in Selma.

6. Intern with Jesse and help him push the cart so he can retire.

7. Find a way to get paid for being Matt Naylor.

8. Live off of the generosity of my amazing friends and encourage them in their walks with God.

9. Offer to work for food and housing for any ministry who just needs a little extra help and encouragement.

10. Become an internet phenomenon (this may be closely related to #7).

11. Walk through whatever door God opens when I’m in Uganda.

12. Pray and wander until I have seen how God is at work in the following places: Guatemala, Thailand, India, Swaziland, Australia, and throughout East Africa.

13. Keep writing until I get something published.

14. See if I can get kicked out of a seminary. Preferably for loving Jesus and believing the Bible rather than for anything related to #10.

15. Find a wife who is willing to join me in any of the preceding ventures.

A quick rant on “divine appointments” and “life changing moments”

The phrases “divine appointment” and “life changing moment” annoy and entertain me at the same time.  They entertain me because people use them to signify moments where they see God’s sovereignty – and that makes my little predestinarian heart leap for joy.   They annoy me because people often use them to limit God’s sovereignty to those exact same moments.

Think about it.  If we label meeting someone a “divine appointment” then what does that mean for all the other times we’ve met people?  Those words seems to make some arbitrary distinction between encounters that God ordains and ones that are somehow ordinary, or un-divine.  Call me crazy (people often do) but I honestly believe that each and every encounter we have is divine.  Each time I interact with someone is an opportunity for Christ in me to call out something in the other person that only the image of God in me can.  It is also an opportunity for me to grow more like Christ by allowing the image of God in the other person to challenge and shape me.  Strangely enough, the more I approach life from that perspective the more “divine appointments” I have.

And then the whole concept of something being “life changing” just seems like an oxymoron to me.  It simultaneously affirms and denies predestination in two little words.  Track with me as I try to unpack that.  Generally what people mean when they say something changed their life is that they felt their life was heading in a specific direction and that an event caused that direction to shift.  In saying that the direction was already laid out they are affirming the idea that life is already planned.  But then it changed… I’m sorry but I just can’t reconcile those things.  If it was laid out in advance then how can it be changed?  Either it is being unfolded according to a plan or it is being developed with each descision that you make.  In either case life remains unchanged.  It is being revealed or formed – not changed.

Anyway, I hope this little rant has divine timing and changes your life

John 17 – Unity is Evangelism

I’m preaching on Sunday so please pray for me…right now…. Thanks.

Currently here are my sermon notes:

• Pray
• Read John 17
• Preach

1. Believe/Know – Shift in world view
2. Unity/One – Unpack being one as Jesus and the Father are one
3. Sent – Unpack being sent by Jesus as Jesus was sent by the Father

I’m still working on how I’ll expand that into a 30 minute sermon – but in rehearsing by myself I’ve managed to preach consistently 30 – 40 minutes. As practice I’m going to do a little unpacking here on my blog. If you have feedback please be specific and quick in case your comments might help to shape the sermon.

John 17 has been rocking my world for the last year and a half. The entire chapter is Jesus praying, and towards the end his words speak directly to the church throughout time. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,” (John 17:20). For a brief moment before Gethsemane, Christ focuses his prayer on the generations of followers to come, on “the sheep that are not from this fold”(John 10:16), on all of us who have believed and ever will believe. I find it compelling that to describe future generations of disciples Jesus labels the Church as “those who will believe in their word”. Believe is a major theme of John (e.g. John 3:16) and is very closely related to the theme of knowing (John 17:21, 23). So what does it mean to know and believe? It means knowing something in a way that it sinks into every part of your being, it means knowing in a way that changes the way that you think about things. At it’s core, truly knowing something changes your behavior as a result of having changed your world view. When you know and believe that Christ was sent by God all of life comes under the lens of scripture, Christianity, and ultimately Christ.

So Christ lays before the Father a petition for those who would believe in the apostles word, which was Christ’s word (John 17:14 – 17). There is three fold purpose for this petition.

1. That the believers would be one (17:21)
2. That the world would believe/know that Christ was sent by God(17:21, 23)
3. That the world would know that the Father loves the Church with the same love that He has for the Son (17:23)

Now here’s where things get really tricky for me. You see, these three purposes are so interwoven and the themes of Oneness, Christ’s Sent Nature, and The Father’s Love are inseparable. So pseudo linearly here’s my best attempt.

That we would be one/perfectly one so that the world might know/believe:

In his prayer, Jesus uses an equivalence statement to describe unity. “that they may all be one, just as you, Father are in me. and I in you, that they may also be in us,” (17:21). Somehow, as the Church binds together in the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) we are called to attain a unity that in someway resembles the interwoven nature of God. Look again at the tapestry that is woven just in these few verses: The Father in the Son (21,23); The Son in the Father (21); Believers in the Father and Son (21); and then the final stitch The Son in Believers (23). The relationship between the Father and Son is seen as key throughout John’s gospel. It is central to the attempts on Jesus’ life (yes, multiple attempts), because He made himself out to be one with God. Which was true – but it was “unbelievable” for many in Jesus’ day. It was Jesus’ connection to the Father that motivated his every action (John 5:36, 7:16, others). With Christ in us, we can strive for the intimacy that Christ and the Father had – and we can expect some strong resemblance of it. Why? Because Christ has already interceded that it would happen and Christ is fully inside of the Father’s will because he and the Father are one!

There is one more element of unity that is key, but we can’t get there until we look at one final theme. See, our unity isn’t the end of the petition Christ prayed for us. He continued praying “…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”(17:20) and later repeated “…so that the world may know that you sent me…”(17:23). Why is it so important that the world know/believe that Christ was sent by God? What shift in perspective and world view does that enable? The answer comes from asking the question: Why was Jesus sent? And the answer that most would give is very close to right: Jesus was sent to suffer, and die as the atoning sacrifice for my sins. Absolutely true. However, equally true, and more important to unity and evangelism: Jesus was sent to satisfy the Father’s need for justice. Jesus’ love for the Father put him on the road to Calvary, the Father’s love for the Son and for us sent Jesus there.

The standard for unity that Jesus set out points to a love entirely outside of ourselves (thank God!). That standard is that of the Father and Son’s love for each other. That love was passionate, it suffered gladly for the beloved. When we become incorporated into that love and incarnate carriers of the divine presence through the Holy Spirit we are invited to love bigger than ourselves. Christ enables us to suffer for God and for one another with zeal, joy, and patience. The reason that unity leads into evangelism – that the Son in us and us in the Father and Son provokes a knowledge and belief in the deity of Christ – is that when we begin to incarnationaly invest in each other it is so supernatural that the world will take notice. When we begin to walk out a true knowledge and belief that there is a transcendent love, a love that exists perfectly outside of ourselves, and that that love suffers passionately, that that love is unfailing.

This love will only fully be displayed in the church if we invest in one another dangerously. In my mind Christ’s prayer leaves no room for poverty in the church, it leaves no room for loneliness, hidden pains, closet depression, or any number of things we could “never talk about in church”. We cannot hide from each other in any way and expect the world to see Christ as truly sent by God. If there is lack or need, then brothers and sisters in Christ must give of themselves and their resources. The word compassion literally means “to suffer with”, and with Christ as our example for passion (suffering) so we cannot limit our giving to what is comfortable.

When we invest in the lives of our brothers and sisters sacrificially we are in a very small way sharing in Christ’s sufferings that we might share in his glory (Rom 8:17). It is not our prosperity that will attract the world to Christ – it is our lack of poverty. It is the way that we love each other, out of the eternal well of love that exists in the Trinity. In that perfected unity the world will know that Christ was sent by God and loves the church with the same love that sent Christ to the cross (John 17:23).

Praying or Jerking Off?

I’m incredibly frustrated with prayers that sound good on the surface, but have no meat to them. These types of prayers call on God for quick fixes, instead of listening to God for what His heart is for a circumstance or situation. What would it look like if we invested time in our prayers seeking after God’s heart instead of praying for instant gratification? I want to speak and receive powerful and effective prayers, ones that are spoken in deep relationship with the Father. Otherwise I think that we’re not really praying, but more or less just jerking off.

Then again (probably more lovingly), many people may have never been taught to consider the relational substance of their prayers. If you think you fall in that category consider taking time in private prayer to “feel” God. How does He seem (e.g. distant or so close that you could touch him)? How do you feel towards God (e.g. loving, hurt, angry, euphoric, vulnerable, ashamed)? Are the way He seems and the way you feel in line with where they should be as is revealed by Scripture? If there is a disconnect, ask God to help you come into alignment – and actually listen for him to give you guidance (if listening to God doesn’t make sense to you ask and I’ll gladly explain more). After doing that in private, the next time you pray over someone in public consider how God “feels” at that time and compare it to your private prayer time or another time in which you encountered God. After that reflection, listen to God and then pray.

If this seems a little over the top or like an unnecessary rant consider the following questions:

• Are you really listening and responding to God in prayer?

• Are you listening to the same god when you are praying out loud as you are when you pray in private?

• Is that god truly outside of yourself?

• Is that god actually God?