Tag Archives: spirituality

Birthright and Catholicism

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If you are not familiar with Birthright, you need to be. I have strong feelings about abortion. I think it is terribly destructive to kill unborn children, I think it destroys the people who do it and I think it is unhealthy for a culture to accept it. But I also have strong feelings about people who oppose abortion at every point but do very little to support women who are in the scary position of a unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. It’s that whole grace and mercy thing right?
So the great thing about Birthright is that they know what they are not. They are not a group that fights politically to stop abortion. They are not a group that pickets abortion clinics.They are not a group that scares women away from abortions. It’s just not what they do. They support women, they walk alongside women, and they work within the context of relationship.

So I’m on the board of Vancouvers Birthright chapter and last night we had a board training meeting. As expected it was enjoyable and fun. What was amusing to me, however, was that I was the loan protestant there. Every other board member is an active practising Catholic. It’s amusing to me because there were times in my life where I was being taught that Catholics were the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. I remember specific lessons from teachers showing how the false teaching from the Catholic church has brought condemnation to millions. Don’t get me wrong, I do not agree with much of their theology, nor do I try to defend some of the things they’ve done in the past. But here I was working beside all these “God forsaken” Catholics praying for the Spirit of God to send women into Birthright so that they can find love and support.

It was amusing to me at least.

The Difference Between Good and Best

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I won’t attempt to give a template for figuring out this blog titles dilemma, but I do have some reflections concerning that idea. I get so tired of how people have politicized some of the discussi0n between good and best. It’s not just relegated to politics though…well…let me just attempt to explain.

Conservatives say that global warming is a myth. Many conservatives (and I thought it pretty funny…but for reasons different than them) planned to “stick it to the liberals” by leaving all their lights on and racking up the electricity bills on earth days while many more liberal folks were shutting off their lights by 8:30 or so. I find this incredibly odd. I wish I was more up to date on some of the politics concerning endangered species, oil drilling, protecting old growth forests, etc. because my guess is that I’d have more to say concerning some of that, but as it is I’d come off most ignorant of the facts. Anyway, concerning conserving electricity, why has this become a political issue? Conservatives (and undoubtedly Christians) should be all for conserving energy, it’s just smart. It’s best. It’s not mandatory, it’s not obligatory, it’s best. It’s best not to waste. Duh. I know it’s blasphemy in our American culture, but it’s best not to be wasteful. Being wasteful is foolish. Do you have the freedom to be wasteful? Of course! But you’re choosing to settle for less than best. And it shouldn’t even matter if global warming is a hoax or not should it? Screw global warming! If there were no such thing as global warming, if Al had never made his smug video, shouldn’t we still be concerned with how we treat our environment? Isn’t our environment a gift from God? When I give my children a toy and I notice that they are not taking care of it, that they are destroying it, in my mind I have two options. Take away the toy before they ruin it or be very cautious about what toy I give them next (knowing that it will probably get destroyed). So lets depoliticize all of this and just start taking care of what God has given us. Let’s not disrespect the creator by destroying his creation. Anyway, I think or hope that this point was made without laboring too much. I don’t want to bore you because I really think that this next idea is where its at…

Many people worry when pastors or churches talk about green living, sustainability, simplicity, etc. And for good reason. They worry that pastors and churches are teaching something that is not gospel (that is, not the life saving, hope giving message that you’re loved by Jesus), that they are adding something into the simple message of Jesus that does not belong. This is a very valid point to make because I think that often Christians do get caught up in some of this stuff and forget that Jesus didn’t die so that we could recycle. But here is my strong belief, I think that there is and should be a place for churches, Christians, and ministers to talk about sustainable living, simplicity, and frugality within the context of following Jesus. As Christians we have the gift challenging each other and the world around us to always pursue what is best. To pursue that which embodies beauty. To pursue that which embraces truth, wholeness, and perfection. Jesus talked about some of this and tended to use the word Kingdom. The kingdom of God t is Christs transforming presence among us in real and tangible ways. His presence frees us to always choose what is best for our lives even when it isn’t easy or fun. But the most important distinction that must be made is that we are freed to make these choices not required. The danger comes when Christians, churches, or pastors teach that you must take care of the environment to be a Christ follower, or you must live sustainably, or you must cloth diaper, or you must…fill in the blank to really be the type of person that Jesus likes. This is called heresy. What if we viewed it like this: God has given us the gift of being able to make new choices, of being able to make better choices. And the blessing associate with that gift is not a better place in heaven, a better standing in his church, or more jewels on your ruby encrusted crown in heaven. The blessing is more similar to the “blessing” Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5 where he says

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The word “blessed” that Jesus uses isn’t someting that is bestowed on his audience, rather it is a state of blessedness. Catch the difference? The reward is found in the blessed state itself. It’s blessed to mourn because when you mourn you’re able to really experience comfort. It’s blessed to be a person who desires justice or rightness because if you’re someone who pursues it, you will find it.

Ok, wait, I’m cutting myself off right now ’cause I’ve already typed on way too long and I could go so much longer.

peace.

Jubilee

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I have not yet done the study I need to do concerning the Old Testament biblical concept of jubilee. But, if I’m getting this right, God told Israel that every7 years your land was supposed to rest. On that seventh year there was no planting, and the fields themselves enjoyed a season of sabbath. Additionally, every 49 years (on the 50th year) it was a a year of jubilee where the land was to rest, slaves were to be set free, and land was to be returned to its ancestral owner. In other words, everything started over.

While, as I understand it, we have no proof that Israel ever practiced this 50th year jubilee, it is nonetheless God’s idea. And a beautiful one at that!

One author while calling Christianity today to practice the spirit of jubilee says:

Those who have been trained to trust God for provision are the only people who will ever believe that Jubilee is a good idea. Otherwise, it looks like losing everything you have worked so hard to earn. But if we never earn anything-if everything is a gift-then it begins to make sense that God would want to redistribute gifts as a guard against injustice in a broken and sinful world.

That’s a powerful thought isn’t it? Don’t we so often fall into that trap of thinking that our stuff is actually ours? God had intended that for Israel everything would be leased. Nothing would be owned longer than 50 years unless it was given to your family by God. Well in reality, doesn’t everything that we own belong to God? So, in essence, everything we have is leased. It belongs to us only for a season (for this life) and will not stay with us forever. And yet we spend so much time worrying about what we have…oops, sorry, I’m starting to preach. That’s not what I intended. Let me share one more connected and quick thought.

I once commented to a wise older friend saying that I loved capitalism, but what it seemed to be lacking was a year of jubilee. Capitalism works really well until eventually the scales get so lopsided that it no longer becomes a free market system but instead becomes a free market to those who are privileged with opportunity. So what capitalism is lacking is a do-over. I commented that capitalism needs a point in time where we start things new, and create a clean slate. My friend smiled and said “that’s what a recession is.”

interesting.

Aint No Reason

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I love the lyrics to this Brett Dennen song “Aint No Reason”. He may be a pot smokin’ hippie, but he speaks a lot of truth in this song.

There ain’t no reason things are this way.
Its how they always been and they intend to stay.
I can’t explain why we live this way, we do it everyday. 
Preachers on the podium speakin’ of saints in seance,
Prophets on the sidewalk beggin’ for change,
Old ladies laughing from the fire escape, cursing my name.
I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same,
A window and a pigeon with a broken wing,
You can spend your whole life workin’ for something
Just to have it taken away.
People walk around pushing back their debts,
Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets,
Talking ‘bout nothing, not thinking ‘bout death,
Every little heartbeat, every little breath.
People walk a tight rope on a razors edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons.
It could be a bomb or a bullet or a pen
Or a thought or a word or a sentence.

There Ain’t no reason things are this way.
It’s how they always been and they intend to stay
I don’t know why I say the things I say, but I say them anyway.
But love will come set me free
Love will come set me free,I do believe 
Love will come set me free, I know it will
Love will come set me free, yes.

Prison walls still standing tall,
Some things never change at all.
Keep on buildin’ prisons, gonna fill them all,
Keep on buildin’ bombs, gonna drop them all.
Working your fingers bear to the bone,
Breaking your back, make you sell your soul.
Like a lung that’s filled with coal, suffocatin’ slow.
The wind blows wild and I may move,
The politicians lie and I am not fooled.
You don’t need no reason or a three piece suit to argue the truth.
The air on my skin and the world under my toes,
Slavery stitched into the fabric of my clothes,
Chaos and commotion wherever I go, love I try to follow.

Love will come set me free
Love will come set me free, I do believe
Love will come set me free, I know it will
Love will come set me free, yes.

There ain’t no reason things are this way
It’s how they always been and they intend to stay
I can’t explain why we live this way, we do it everyday

Rejecting Church

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I know quite a few people who love Jesus but hate the church. It’s a fairly common theme ’round here to be a Christian but to not “go” to any church. And I think that those people often have a valid point.

The way that we do church today is not what God intended.

The church is screwed up and has completely missed the point.

The church is filled with hypocrites and people who simply want to project a certain image but in reality make no effort to live and act like Jesus.

Why do we have to meet on Sundays? Why do we have to sing? Why do we have to sit and listen to one orator telling us what God says? Why does any of it have to be some big official corporate gathering?

Wouldn’t Jesus be more pleased if we stopped cloistering ourselves on Sunday mornings telling him how awesome he is and instead use that time and effort to show people with our actions how awesome he is?

I don’t need the church to practice my faith. My faith is between God and I.

While these are not direct quotes, they are summary statements from different conversations I’ve had with friends about the church. I don’t want to spend time trying to refute all of those statements, and in reality I think that some of those might be right on and accurate. We could spend some time in the Scripture reading about how the church was God’s idea not mans, about what some of the basic ideas God desired to be true of the church, and what the early church looked like (both good and bad), but I don’t think that would really answer the question that’s being asked and I’m not sure it’s my friends lack of Bible study that I’m questioning. Rather, I am growing quite dissatisfied with the alternative to the church that most of these people present. By rejecting the church “as it is”, my expectation would be to find an example of the church “as it should be”. Instead it seems like I find many people who have become somewhat stagnant in their faith or at the very least apathetic in their efforts to practice it. They don’t like what they see in church but they don’t seem to have found a healthy (spiritually enriching) replacement for it. Maybe they’ve found some outlets to serve people, but it has become quite unconnected with the message of Jesus.

I’m going to just stop right here because I don’t want to get too critical. That’s not my point.

My point is this: if you’re dissatisfied with the church as it is why don’t we work together to search the Scriptures, to look to Jesus, to listen to his Spirit and re imagine church as it should be. Why don’t we begin re imagining an alternative to the two extremes that we are tempted to polarize to of rejecting the church or trying to change the church. I would suggest that church planting is the answer. In church planting we are able to dream new dreams and receive new visions for a different kind of church without having to reject church as we currently experience it and without wasting away within a church system that may not be created for you. The challenge is that it must start with personal transformation before anything else. God is not fully honored when we dream new dreams out of anger and frustration, but what if that anger and frustration was transformed by the Spirit of God into purpose, intentionality, creativity, and adventure.

What if we partner with the church of today to create a new church expression for tomorrow. Maybe that church expression could borrow from some of those critical quotes previously mentioned. But instead of being critiques of the church as it is, it could be transformed into a vision for the church that could be. Here’s my positive spin of the above statements:

I see value things in the Bible that the previous generation did not. What would it look like to be a part of a church that carried some of those values?

The church is screwed up and has completely missed the point…thank you Jesus for grace! I would like to start a new church that invites people into a messy community of imperfection.

The church is filled with hypocrites and people who simply want to project a certain image but in reality make no effort to live and act like Jesus…you’re damn right we’re hypocrites and I’m proud to be honest about my hypocrisy as I invite others to find forgiveness for their screwups.

What would church look like if we did things differently? Can Bible study happen without a preacher? Then how? Can mobilization to change the world happen without a central gathering? Then how? What does church look like with new purposeful practices replacing some of the old?

How do we reinterpret the idea of worship to include more of life?

“I don’t need the church to practice my faith. My faith is between God and I.” I’m sorry, I’ve got no positive spin on this one. I consider this a straight up fallacy that destroys people…but that’s just my opinion.