Demographics & Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I was listening to an interview on my way to work this morning on a local rock station.  The interview was with Paul O’Neil; composer, lyricist, and producer for Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

During part of the interview he said, “One day my partner and I were looking at our average demographic and it was 12 year olds.  And I said, ‘Are you sure this is right?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, beause for every 85 year old lady listening to our stuff, we have a 5 year old kid who knows all of our music.’  And he was totally right on.  Because if you go to the shows, and that’s the great thing about our music; you’ll see some teenager with his nose and ears pierced sitting next to his grandma, both rocking at our show.”

And I thought, what a great picture of what The Church could be.

green is go(o)d

I was on my way home last week and I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Green is Good”.  I had to do a double take on it though, because at first glance, I thought it read, “Green is God”.  And I immediately laughed at my mistake; partly because it was a silly mistake to make, but partly because I wouldn’t have been surprised if the bumper sticker actually did read, “Green is God”.  

Last month Nickelodeon was running this environmental challenge for kids to recycle and save energy.  All month long they interviewed kids from ages 4 to 14 talking about what they do to save energy.  One girl talked about how her family recycles and composts.  Another child spoke about how he doesn’t run the water when he brushes his teeth and takes 3 minute showers.  All good things.

Then, to follow it up, they had the “tween” stars of Nickelodeon trying to get others involved by taking a pledge and get online and play a video game to kill gas-guzzling cars and “hazardous CO2 emitting” vehicles.  They also ran an entire day of programming devoted to helping planet earth.  So, instead of encouraging me to turn off my television and my computer — both energy saving actions — Nickelodeon encourages me to help the earth by using more electricity.  Interesting that they decided to run an entire day of programming instead of shutting down for the day.

I went to a small Christian Liberal Arts College in Southern California for my undergrad.  We would have regular chapels during the week, and one of the only ones I remember was the president of the college stating in a sermon how recycling is pointless because when Jesus returns, he’s going to destroy the world anyway.

I find both perspectives ridiculous.  God tells us that he created the world and everything in it, and when he was done, he looked at it and said it was very good.  He tells us that he loves the world.  He tells us that all creation; every rock, tree, flower, bird, everything–is longing to be repaired.  And he tells us that in Jesus, God is restoring everything.

The bible speaks of those who follow the way of Jesus as stewards of this world, and co-laborers with Christ in the restoration process.  Being sensitive to environmental issues is part of the story.  ”Being Green” is just jargon; it’s just a bandwagon statement.  Being a steward means taking responsibility.  It means taking responsibility for possibly one day having to answer for your choices.  It is a means of a bigger picture — peace on Earth.

jesus wants to save christians

 I recently finished the book Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell.  Thought it was a great read, and I wanted to share some quotes that hit me the most…

“Jesus is God’s good gift for the healing of the world.  The church is Jesus’ body, a good gift for the healing of the world.  It’s for the benefit of others.  For the good of those who look different from us.  A church is an organization that exists for the benefit of nonmembers.  This blessing extends even to our enemies…If our church was taken away – from our city, our neighborhood, our region – who would protest?”

“The church says no to the animating spirit of religious empire, the one which leads Christians to look no different than the world around them.  Churches can easily become centers for assimilation, where the seats in the sanctuary are eerily similar to the seats in a cinema, the website offers all of the programs to meet your specific religious needs, and the coffee in the hallway is just as good as in the shops across the street.”

“(The Church) is not a building because no building can ever be big enough for that kind of grace.”

“The measure of a sermon is not whether it affirms what you already believe.  A sermon is not a product to be consumed and then evaluated according to how good it was or whether it was pleasing or enjoyable…The sermon is about starting the discussion.  The sermon is about having the first word.  The sermon is the catalyst that inspires people into whole new ways of seeing their lives.”

“When the goal of a church is to get people into church services and then teach them how to invite people to come to church services, so that they in turn will bring others to more church services–that’s attendance at church services.  And church is not ultimately about attending large gatherings.  Church is people.  People who live a certain way in the world.”

“…it is very dangerous when a church becomes known for being hip, cool, and trendy.  The new humanity is not a trend…A church is where the two people groups with blue hair-young men and older women-sit together  and somehow it all fits together in a Eucharistic sort of way.  Try marketing that.  Try branding that.  The new humanity defies trends and demographics and the latest market research.  The Eucharist is not a product.  Glossy brochures have he potential to do great harm to the body and the blood.  Church is people.  The Eucharist is people.  To to brand that is to risk commodifying something intimate, sacred, and holy.”

“A church is not a center for religious goods and services, where people pay a fee and receive a product in return.  A church is not an organization that survey its demographic to find out what the market is demanding at this particular moment and the adjusts its strategy to meet that consumer niche.  The way of Jesus is the path of descent.  It’s about our death.  It’s our willingness to join the world in its suffering.  It’s our participation in the new humanity, it’s our weakness calling out to others in their weakness.”

all things new

 Since this is the season and all, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Ash Wednesday-Good Friday-Easter Sunday tradition a lot.  

 I have to admit that more often than not, it’s all about Good Friday and the Cross for me.  But one thing I’m really realizing this year is that Good Friday without Easter Sunday is like watching a great movie and then shutting it off right before the climax of it hits my eyes; putting the movie away, and saying, “now wasn’t that a great story?!”

 I know many people that give things up for Lent.  This is a good tradition, I think; giving something up to prepare your heart…to remember His sacrifice.  But that’s not the climax of the story.  At the height of the story we have Jesus who is alive, walking out of the tomb.  And in the end he says, “Look, I am making all things new!”  

If Lent and Good Friday are about giving up and sacrifice, being broken and poured out…Easter is about everything being made new and fixed and reconciled and repaired.  

Which got me thinking (with help from NT Wright on this one), if I’m giving something up for Lent, shouldn’t I do something new for Easter?  Something new that’s about the good and about healing?

Suggestions?

things i’m tired of

I’m really tired of 3-point sermons.

Why do they have to be 3 points?  Why not 1 or 5 or 9?  Is it because we believe in the Trinity, and so, our sermons should reflect that; as if to say having a three part sermon might make it more holy?

And why do they have to be points anyway?  Why can’t a pastor just talk to me like we’re having a conversation?

I think if I hear one more snappy, peppy point like, “If you don’t believe in Hell, you’d better be right,” or something to that nature,  I’m going to hurl.

church first, God second

A couple of months ago my wife and I were watching the movie The Good Shepherd starring a slew of talented actors.  There’s this one scene where Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie are at a ball with his former “fraternity” brothers, and before they ask God’s blessing, all the men honor their group, The Bonesmen.  Angelina Jolie the says a line that has stuck with me for a while.  She says, “Bonesmen first, God second.”

It made me wonder how often our church services are like that.  How often are they more about being a production than meeting with God in community?  

Do we pray to God during a service because we acknowledge that we are His children–together for our weekly family reunion; and we are intent in seeking Him in that moment?

When did prayer become the bookends of our “services”?  Why is it just something we do to kick off church, and bring it to an end?  Does that mean prayer is that nice rug that really ties the room together?

When did we start doing church; and stop being The Church?

a political omnibus

Omnibus: pertaining to, including, or dealing with numerous objects or items at once.

I’ve been thinking through many different issues and ideas this week.  So this isn’t going to be one well thought out idea — but an omnibus of thoughts.  Feel free to comment on one or all.  Or come up with something completely different.

**I have heard so many Christians praise others for sticking it out within their various denominations that have gone down a particular path that they can’t seem to get on board with in order to help that particular church, denomination, or tradition come back to where it was before — in order to reform it.  So, why then do so many Evangelicals think it’s okay to wash their hands of the Democratic Party?  Isn’t that worth reforming too?  That seems kind of ironic, don’t you think?**

**Speaking of Evangelicals and the Democratic Party, my kid came home from school a couple of weeks ago (before the election) trying to convince my wife and I how bad Obama is and how we shouldn’t vote for him.  I shouldn’t be surprised, as he goes to a local Christian school.  Gotta love how early that Republican indoctrination comes…**

**In fact, there was a Facebook thread going not long after the election with some people I know about how good and true Christians only vote Republican, and how it’s how Jesus would vote.  Can I again say please don’t lump me together with things like that???!!!  That’s not my faith.  PS–I’ve got dibs on that T-Shirt idea: HWJV?  (How Would Jesus Vote?)**

**My friend Tim posted this on his blog

I voted 3rd party and no, I don’t think I wasted my vote.  I think it is silly that I have a choice of 4 different Starbucks within two miles of my house but I only have two choices for President.  I think it is silly that “Politician” can be a life-long career, and that many people we call our “Representatives” know very little about our lives.

I think it is silly that candidates spend a year-plus leading up to the election running divisive campaigns talking about how unqualified the other guy is, and then in their concession speeches they talk about “coming together as a united country”.

I think it is silly that a country as diverse as America only has one “aisle” to “reach across”.

I think it is silly that we hold Presidential debates, but only invite those who have the bankroll and clout of the Donkey and the Elephant.

Nader ‘12 anyone?

While I’m not sure who I’ll be voting for in ’12, I can say that I agree with Tim on everything else, including the third party vote this round.  Maybe I’ll run in ’12.  I have some plans…**

**The electoral college sucks, and it’s outdated.  That’s not democracy.   Count my vote for crying out loud.**

paul the feminist

“The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God. I always distrust people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.” — Susan B. Anthony

Feminism.  Isn’t that a loaded word?  I’m sure just by reading that simple word, many ideas come to mind.

I find it interesting that Evangelicals, by and large, have historically been opposed to the feminist movement.  It doesn’t surprise me, though, because many of the values of 2nd and 3rd Wave Feminism (circa 1960′s-the present) do not line up with Evangelical ideas.  

I find it interesting how quick people can twist a piece of Scripture around (see Ephesians 5:22-24) to fit their own purposes…and even more interesting how long and widespread the affects of that can be felt.  If people might only take the time to get the full picture of what God is trying to say (see Ephesians 5:21, 25-31).

I read a great story in Acts 16 where Paul and Silas visit the city of Philippi for the first time.  They go outside of the city gates and strike up a conversation with the business women of the city–a group of women out there selling stuff.  Just so we’re clear.  Paul and Silas didn’t go to the Temple where the men would be.  They went outside of the city gates, and meet a group of business women and talk to them about Jesus.  And it’s these group of women who begin the the church at Philippi.  The first Christian in Philippi is a woman named Lydia.  

It’s amazing how this story doesn’t even make it to the table when we discuss feminism and the church.  And so, I wonder if all of the bra-burning and man-bashing was even necessary.  Perhaps if Christians had a more holistic view of grace–if they really believed that the image of God is in all people, male and female–maybe all of this conflict could have been avoided.  Maybe as Christians, it’s time to man up and say that we’ve been part of the problem, and start to see each other as God sees us.

the cost of a free meal

This past Sunday, my wife and I had the amazing opportunity to go into downtown Cincinnati and serve at a local mission with some people from our church. We got to serve them dinner and have some great conversation with people.

One of the men I got to speak with was the pastor who was invited to come and give the sermon to the people who had come to the mission to be fed. The way this mission worked, which is much like most missions/homeless ministries around the country was that in order for the needy to get a meal, they had to come to a church service prior to meal time.

I had never really given this idea a second thought before. I was active in the youth ministry at my church growing up, and that’s always how it was done. They’ve got to go to a church service and nourish their souls; then we’ll nourish their bodies.

So, while we’re serving the meal, my wife sits down at a table with a group of gentlemen and starts talking; asking them what they think about this. And a man says something to her I’ll never forget. He says, “Well, that’s just the cost of a free meal.”

Which raises the question, is the Gospel just about words, or is it more about actions?

To me, this feels a little like bribery. It feels like what I do with my kids when I say, “If you eat all your dinner, I’ll give you dessert.” Almost like we’re dangling the carrot in front of the donkey.

If the Gospel is about Jesus freeing the world from the bondage of sin, isn’t the act of feeding someone participating in the Gospel?

And maybe that’s the problem. Maybe to us, it’s less about participating in the Gospel and more about being a consumer of the Gospel.

The author of the book of James says it this way: “For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, ‘Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!’ and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup-where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:15-17, MSG)

Now, I’m not saying there isn’t a time and a place for a church service for the homeless. In fact, we should still offer it. But we should do just that; OFFER it. Don’t force it. The choice to attend a worship service doesn’t apply just to those who can afford to buy food. I don’t think it’s what Jesus had in mind.

I can’t think of a better way to change the world than, “Jesus lives, here’s some dinner.”

the sunday christian…in more ways than one

I was reading this week that students studying in Jewish school have to have the entire Old Testament of the Bible memorized by the time that they are 12–except for one book: The Song of Solomon. Apparently rabbis believed that if a good Jewish student were to memorize that book, it would cause him to stumble.

The Song of Solomon is about a couple who describe their love in great detail–it’s all about their relationship, and it speaks directly to relationships. There’s this great part in chapter 5 where the husband comes home from work, long into the night, and he essentially says baby let’s get to it, and the wife says, “I have taken off my robe–must I put it on again? I have washed my feet–must I soil them again?” (v3) Which is ancient Hebrew for, “Not tonight, I have a headache.”

I’ve often wondered why there would be a book like this in the Bible. Why would there be a book in the Bible that is so much about sex and relationships, and the rest of the Bible is so much about spirituality?

At the beginning of the Bible, we see the first two people are in a garden called Eden, and in it they live a perfect life. One that’s in tune with God, with nature, and with each other. Heaven on Earth.

At the very end of the Bible, we see the nations healed through Jesus Christ; people living in tune with God, with nature, and with each other–and they live in a city which God has brought to Earth. Heaven on Earth.

In the book of Genesis, the writer talks about how when a man and woman are united together, the two become one flesh–physically, spiritually, and emotionally. They are connected, are no longer two, but one. When a married couple has sex, they are essentially celebrating not only the oneness they have with each other, but they are celebrating the connection they have with God. For that moment, all is right with the world. They are in tune with each other, with God, and with the world. Through sex, we catch a glimpse of Heaven on Earth.

My wife told me about a study she read that the average married couple has sex once a week. Which got me thinking. Most Christians are okay with going to church once a week to get their “God-fix”. I wonder if there’s a connection there.

Maybe we’re Sunday Christians in the sack too.