Counter-cultural

Roses are red,
Violets are blue (actually, they're violet, hence the name),
I'm schizophrenic,
And so am I.

I'm wondering if I am:
--cultural
--countercultural
--counter-countercultural

In some ways I follow the norms of the culture around me. OK, in maybe a few ways. I have a computer, I'm on facebook, I like a nice latte.
In more ways I go against the cultural grain. I refuse to buy an ipod, I have a Sony walkman mp3 instead. I really REALLY don't like Starbucks--I go to Blenz (and a few other independents) for my regular caffeine fix. Most of my clothes are Value Village, and I couldn't tell you what brand my jeans are. My vehicle of choice is BC Transit.
There are lots of countercultural things that are so common they have become cultural. Clothing/hair/persona styles like gangster, emo, punk, prep, etc.; tattoos and piercings, and lots of other demonstrations of not being like everyone else. So far I don't have any tats or piercings, don't have enough hair to do a mohawk, and can't figure out how you can walk having pants hanging around your knees. But that doesn't mean I can't understand the mindset. In many ways my anti-ipod anti-Starbucks stance is almost intentional counterculture. There's a lot of this decadent consumer culture I don't like. If I was a few years younger and had more hair to work with, it just might be green and spiky. I'd probably be sporting a piercing or two.

I guess where my cultural schizophrenia really shows up is in my friendships. I actually do count some 'normal' people as friends: 9-5ers, university students, even preachers! Then there are the edgier guys like artists (like a couple of my favorite baristas), a developing writer, a couple anarchist punks, a bunch of anti-poverty activists, and a collection of street people.

Another area where my culture/counterculture shows up is in the arena of faith. No doubt about it, I am a Christian. I am a part of a local fellowship, a lot of my life involves ministry in some shape. However, I don't necessarily agree with everything that passes as 'church'. In fact, my heart really resonates with Casper when he asks "Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?"
I'm finding myself drawn to the basics of Jesus' love, and really trying to let it happen through me. As I look at some of the rhetoric coming from some of the church, I think being loving and accepting is kind of countercultural for some chunks of the church. What makes it even more meaningful is that people outside of the church have noticed it for years. They know we are supposed to be loving, but often are on the brunt of judgment.
I've got a terribly long way to go, but if loving like Jesus is countercultural, count me in.

Jim & Casper go to church

I'm reading this incredibly honest book about a former pastor who is trying to discover what 'non-christians' think about church. He hired an atheist to go to a dozen or so churches with him (various sizes, styles, etc.), and then to honestly critique his experience.
During and after the service they would make notes, and discuss the various aspects of the church service--music, offering, message, etc. Their experiences are the substance of the book.
It is incredibly revealing, and really puts one back on one's heels to make some pretty large changes.
For example, why don't people talk to other people in church? How could a visitor not be welcomed personally, by someone who isn't the official 'greeter'? Aren't we supposedly looking for new people to come to church?
And why do we think people who don't go to church are most interested in being debated and 'converted'? Perhaps they are actually more interested in conversation than conversion; looking for friendship and relationship more than being dragged to church.
The whole concept really rings true in my own heart, and affirms my own style.
Here is a brief interview between the 'Christian' (older guy) and the 'Atheist" (younger guy). The book title is Jim and Casper Go To Church. Enjoy, but prepare to be challenged.

Shootings in Colorado

Language warning (particularly some of the links)--but that isn't really the biggest issue here. A much more important concern is that:

• there are people who hurt so bad that a shooting spree seems to be the only solution,
  
• a person's mind and spirit can be so blinded that they truly believe the things they say and write, and
  
• far too many people hear the message coming from us as Christians as: ".........God hates...... ........do this, don't do that......." Instead of hearing: "I love you. God loves you. How can I help?"
  

As you read this, PLEASE don't let yourself get angry at Matthew. Somehow, we as (supposedly) the family of God didn't communicate God's love as strongly as we communicated His holiness. It looks like here was one young man in a lot of pain, and his response was similar to other similar tragedies. Somehow the enemy of truth, beauty, and love is able to make someone believe his lies, and the result is a lot more pain. Makes us realize how messed up the world is, and how much we need God's love and peace to deliver all of us.

Many of you know that I am on staff with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Victoria, BC. This is the same Christian missions organization that suffered the loss of two staff members in the Colorado shootings on Sunday, December 9th.

You can see some articles on the main YWAM website, linked from the main page. As well, here are a couple more links: Denver Post 1 and Denver Post 2. It appears that the gunman had been a student at a YWAM Discipleship Training School back in 2002 at the same YWAM location, but for some kind of health reasons was not allowed to complete the school.

If you have read any of my postings, you may realize that a big chunk of my heart is trying to demonstrate the love of God to those who need it. It seems that so many people are receiving a negative, condemning message from the church as a whole, and from us as Christians individually.

A few quotes from the Denver Post:

"A message posted between the Youth With a Mission shooting in Arvada on Sunday, Dec. 9 and the New Life Church shooting in Colorado Springs is believed to be Matthew Murray's last posting. It contains language which many may find objectionable.

"... (It) copies from a manifesto written by Columbine killer Eric Harris before the 1999 high school massacre. Matthew J. Murray, 24, who police say carried out attacks at the Youth With a Mission dormitory in Arvada and New Life Church in Colorado Springs, left behind final words that are rearranged but otherwise largely word-for-word the same as Harris' writings. Some expletives from the Harris version were replaced by Murray with symbols."

• "You christians brought this on yourselves
• "All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world.
• "From now on I don't give a @#%$ about what all you mutha fuckers have to say, unless I respect you which is highly unlikely, but for those of you who do happen to know me and know that I respect you, may peace be with you and don't be in my line of fire"

And a quote from: KMGH Denver

"DENVER -- Web site postings that authorities believe were the work of shooter Matthew Murray paint a picture of a young man angry at his religious home schooling and finding release in rock music.

"Nghtmrchld26 had been posting to the site for at least 11 months, ranting against conservative religious organizations."

• "I remember how it was like every day was Mission Impossible trying to keep the rules or not get caught.
  
• "The way I see it, why should we allow some Pentecostal charlatan "prophet," or church or group such as C. Peter Wagner or YWAM/King's Kids Denver or other self-appointed "source of Truth" like Bill Gothard to dictate who's going to hell and who's not and who's accepted and who's out casted?," he wrote Oct. 6. "I remember growing up in pentecostalism/evangelicalism, we were always told to support republicans/conservatives and to hate those evil satanic democrats. Jesus never said to put trust in any political leaders."

Let me repeat what I said earlier: As you read this, PLEASE don't let yourself get angry at Matthew. Somehow, we as (supposedly) the family of God didn't communicate God's love as strongly as we communicated His holiness.

I think the big issues now are:

• to pray for the gunman's family, the victim's families, the YWAM staff, the church family and anyone else connected with the tragedy.
• to decide again to live our lives towards everyone based on the love of God.
  
• to pray for and actually demonstrate God's love and acceptance towards those who are in such pain that they strike out in violence.
  

Is church a verb?

I heard something else in church this week. I was having a conversation with one of my buddies after church, just kind of chatting, goofing off, and chewing through some stuff we had been learning about our own church. (Within our church we have just been going through a period of self-analysis, with outside assistance—if that makes any sense!)

My buddy makes the comment: ”I didn't know 'church' was a verb.”

I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. Finally I told him: “That is such a deep thought, that it is going to somehow end up in my blog.”

He was quite thrilled that his comment was going to spawn a blog entry! (lol!)

Meanwhile, I'm thinking: Is church a verb? Should it be? Most importantly, what significance is there in the question?

Let's look at that.

Wikipedia says: “In syntax, a verb is a word belonging to the part of speech that usually denotes an action (bring, read), an occurrence (decompose, glitter), or a state of being (exist, stand). “

"Verb." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Nov 2007, 04:52 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 13 Nov 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Verb&oldid=169096834>.

Wow! It almost is as if the particular individual who wrote that definition was thinking about church as he or she wrote it!

Church:

• should denote an action (acting like a family):
  John 13:34, 35 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples--when they see the love you have for each other." The Message.

• is also an occurrence (the act of getting together:
  Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Good News Bible.

• is also a state of being (together we are the body of Christ):
  1 Corinthians 12:27-29 You are Christ's body--that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body": apostles prophets teachers miracle workers healers helpers organizers those who pray in tongues. But it's obvious by now, isn't it, that Christ's church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? The Message.

So, what is the question?

Are we content with just getting together, having warm fuzzy thoughts about God, and then going home, having done 'church' for the week?

Or do we realize that really, 'church' means 'family' means 'loving' and 'living' and even 'fighting' when necessary? 'Church' means 'Kingdom' means 'action' not just 'building' or even 'group of people'.

Yeah, I think church is a verb. 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It includes, but is not limited to, supporting your brothers and sisters, reaching out to your neighbours, loving people made in God's image.

I think if we get more into the 'state of being' the church, we won't be hung up on 'doing' church. It won't be a list of rules, but a way of life.

Sounds basic, impossible, and absolutely necessary.

John 13:34, 35 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples--when they see the love you have for each other." The Message

It fits in with the book I'm reading—Repenting of Religion by Gregory Boyd. (Don't you love how God says the same thing to you in 7 different ways?) I think it is something our particular group of Christians that meets together [church] is doing fairly well, but can always improve on. As Boyd puts it, we are loved by God, are to love God, and to love everyone, all with the same unsurpassing love that originates in the God who is love.

Salvation, worship, fellowship and evangelism are all results of beginning to understand this incomprehensible, unsurpassing, love. I accept God's love for me (salvation), I love Him (worship), I love the rest of His family (fellowship), and I love those who haven't yet accepted His love (evangelism). [As an aside, I believe evangelism is more about loving people than it is about preaching at them.]

So, I think church is a verb as much as it is a noun. I think it is most of all a state of being. It often involves action, and even an occurrence once in awhile!

Thanks for stirring my muse, Dono!

I Am the Church

Refrain:
I am the church, you are the church,
we are the church together!
All who follow Jesus, all around the world.
yes. we're the church together!

(1) The church is not a building,
the church is not a steeple,
the church is not a resting place,
the church is a people!

(2) We're many kinds of people,
with many kinds of faces,
all colors and all ages, too,
from all times and places.

(3) At Pentecost some people
received the Holy Spirit
and told the good news through the world
to all who would hear it.

(4) And when the people gather,
there's singing and there's praying,
there's laughing and there's crying sometimes,
all of it saying:

Text: Richard Avery and Donald Marsh. 1972; © 1973, Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream. IL 60188 (800-323-1049).

The power of light

I heard something in church today. “Good”, you might say. “That's what is supposed to happen.”

True, but this was one of those 'moments'. You know, a flash of inspiration that you can only credit to the Holy Spirit bringing something to life.

Here's what was happening. We were singing Graham Kendrick's 'Shine, Jesus Shine'.

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1987 Make Way Music,

Here's the flash of inspiration: We all have areas of darkness within us. Things that aren't what they are supposed to be. We know it will take God to change us, cause we aren't having a lot of luck on our own!

Here are the phrases that caught my heart--”consume all my darkness
Shine on me”.

The way that the darkness is dispelled is by shining the Light. Simple? Profound?

Sometimes I make it seem so complicated, like a 4 year university program. Really, darkness leaves when the light shines. It's elementary physics. You don't have to chase out the darkness—corner it, subdue it, tie it up. No, since darkness is merely the absence of light, when light arrives, darkness is gone. Presto chango.

I know there are powers of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness, and so on. I recognize that, and I'm not saying the enemy just disappears our of the universe when the light comes. But.... When God shines His light in, there it is. His light. In us. You aren't stumbling around, tripping over things you can't see, because now everything is visible. Light shows you where the furniture is, so you don't stub your toe on the corner of the coffee table. Light reveals where the top step is, so you don't fall down the stairs. Light shows you the garbage you chucked in the corner, so now you can actually throw it out. Light points out where the wall ends and the doorway begins, so you can leave.

Light is a wonderful thing. It's not even creating new things, just revealing what has been there all along.

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.

Thank you Lord for sending the Light into the world. To show us the way to You. To set us free from us.

Shine, Jesus Shine.

This says it so well...

Come and see

Exciting words, inviting words.

Have you ever been talking to someone about something new and exciting in your life? A new car, a new baby, a new anything?

'We just had an addition to our family. Come and see her.'

'I just bought a new ______. Come and take a look at it and we'll go for a drive.'

'We just renovated our kitchen. You've got to come over for coffee and see what we did.'

It's one thing to try to describe this new addition, but at some point words fail, and showing is much better than just telling.

It's more than just an invitation to talk about an idea, but to actually see proof of what you are talking about. It comes from a sense of joy and pride. 'I've got something I really want you to see.'

Don't just take my word for it, come and examine the evidence.

My description doesn't do it justice, come and see for yourself.

I know it seems too good to be true, so come and check it out.

Sometimes it's something that you want them to be able to participate in with you. You want to share your joy.

'I just joined this cool group (gym, quilting club, sports team, choir) and I think you would enjoy being a part of it too. Come and see what it is like.'

Sometimes it isn't quite so warm and fuzzy. You've just had a disaster, and rather than talk about it, you beg your friend to come and see for himself, so you don't need to go into all of the difficult details.

All of these scenarios have a 'God' connection. Sharing good news, showing proof of something wonderful, or inviting a friend to enter into your pain.

• Matthew 28:6 after Jesus' resurrection: 'He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.'

• John 1:39, 46 referring to Jesus calling His disciples: 'He replied, "Come along and see for yourself." They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.

  Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding." But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself.” '

• John 4:29 Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well: ' "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" '

• John 11:34 at the tomb of Lazarus: 'He said, "Where did you put him?" "Master, come and see," they said.'

In every situation, the invitation is there: 'Come and see.'

For us it can become the basis of sharing our faith with someone who doesn't yet know the love of God. In effect we are offering to help them see the goodness of God. He has done great things in us and for us, and we want them to see the results.

Sharing your faith isn't so much arguing or twisting someone's arm, as it is showing them what (Who) you have found.

Don't be scared to invite someone to 'Come and see'. God loves to show His love in tangible, visible ways.