Blah Guy

Even going Kosher these days is tough.

The Jewish customs which delicately propose ethical forms of dietary living has even had its struggles in the current economic crisis. In an article in the BBC, it has become clear that eating ‘kosher’ in the US is getting more and more difficult due to the rising costs of ‘kosher’ meats in supermarkets. ‘Kosher’, meaning ‘okay’, is a set of dietary commitments rooted in the Torah (first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible) and make very clear ‘chomping’ guidelines. For instance, meat must always be separate from the milk of its mother, certain hooved animals are off-limits, and more.

I would imagine this will be just the beginning for such cost inflations as they relate to religious living. Not just religious, but cultural-religious. What will happen to the turkey market this year. Will we have to pay more? And what about the fourth of July, are we going to need to pay more for burgers and brats?

I guess living religiously these days costs more. I would assume it is the same with following Jesus.

There is a fascinating idea for church going on at a place called Lifechurch.tv. It is an interactive, 13 site, multi-racial and multi-ethnic, group of congregations that have created a network of community. Their current series is called ‘Practical Atheist’ and looks rather intriguing. As well, they offer a number of ways to connect virtually, with a blog, simulcasts, Second Life fellowship. Take a minute and check it out.

While I am always reminding those around me that that real community is determined by the possibility of being punched, I think this helps create community before it comes about.

Greetings friends…

My wife (Quinn) and I will be trekking across the country for the next two weeks in search of the ‘perfect church’. While we know it doesn’t exist, we’re looking anyways. Frankly, the realization that ‘perfect’ can never be a category for any ‘church-talk’, has been a long for-gone realization.

It will be fun. We are visiting 5 churches in particular:

-Mars Hill Bible Church (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
-Grace Street (Boston Mass.)
-Mosaic (Lost Angels)
-Mars Hill (Seattle)
-Imago Dei (Portland)

Now while this diverse group of congregations may seem odd, they all have one thing in common. All of them, regardless of theology or ideology, are doing something to reach 20-30’s. Some may consider these folk an ‘un-reached people group’, I consider them more a ‘unconsidered people group’. Most college campuses easily could be included in the 10/40 window. They are simply forgotten.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll keep you posted on what we are learning. Nevertheless, it will be an eye-opening experience and we hope to pull much a way.

Koinonia

Fellowship

‘Commoness’

These three words are synonymns.

Apply our little theological idea about the church (koinonia, our fellowship) to our current political culture.

I am convinced that until we can focus on what we ‘agree’ on in these debates, it all won’t matter. What if we had ‘agree-debates’ where the candidates were secretly only allowed to agree with one another. The debates would last for like 5 hours. With exception to a few issues, they all agree on so many things but find so many incredible ways to argue about it.

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Now, me! I believe the key to the church is the key to democracy. Having the wit and boldness to focus on all the crazy and beautiful things we rabidly agree on. Crazy thought. And yes, there will be heretics. But heretics are what make orthodoxy fun. They keep us on our toes. Instead of being afraid of the heretics, maybe we can love ‘em, and realize they make the game fun.

But as a general rule, finding what we agree on is the joy of fellowship. Yes, we believe Jesus is the Son of God (despite your interpretation of the word ’son’). Yes, we believe Jesus died and rose from the grave (despite your particular view of many issues). On and on…

And while politics may continue to focus on the foibles and factions, the church can rest assured. Rest that in Christ, there is no division whether we think so or not. We are one! The problem is that some of us think we aren’t.

Can we agree?

It seems many of us are caught up to some degree in the excitment of our next president. Listening once again to the debates of the recent weeks, I am reminded of my general discontent with the political spirit of our country: unwillingness to listen, attack after attack, too many promises.

What if some presidential candidate actually had a platform that, ‘Hey, I’ll tell you what I am going to do after I have won…when I do it’. A no promise platform. Even better, what if we had a candidate that told us what they actually thought. That change in our government won’t happen under his/her/its watch, I’ll try to get us out of Iraq (but don’t know if I can)…etc.

We set these people up (and ourselves) by requiring them to make promise after promise. And when they don’t make promises, we call them ‘flip-floppers’. Wouldn’t Jesus call them wise?

I recently read Barrack Obama’s text, The Audacity of Hope. While he is not (should not) be a professional writer, he impressed me with his candor and honesty. At one point he discussed even his own frustration with the American Christian attempt to ‘holify’ our early Fathers. While, yes, there was Christian influence, they weren’t exemplars of the faith. So we accept the idea that our country is holy with that of having ‘Christian’ country fathers, quid pro quo.

Obama writes, ‘The founders may have trusted in God but they also trusted in the hearts and minds of the people he gave them to.’ I appreciate that as an attempt of a man of faith who no doubt is supported by many overly-conservative folk who wish him to ‘holify’ our nation. But he makes it clear in his dialogue with faith. He believes in the power of faith in God, but he also has faith in the thinking of those who believe in God.

Unfortunately there are many who make faith the end-all in politics.

Dangerous!

He also wrote, ‘No one is exempt from the call to common ground’.

I agree. Very much. And at least some are trying to ‘live’ that way. God, help us to find some ‘common ground’ this year.

‘America bless God’

“The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great – and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Rev. 11:18

It abhors God how bad his people are at taking care of Earth. This little promise should ring in the hearts of all of them. He will destroy those who destroy his Earth.

Wow! Talk about ignorance.

We are so ignorant because we think that Jesus is coming back soon and we can screw the world up as much as we want with wonton abandon.

We are so ignorant because we think that environmentalism was created by activists in the 20th century when in reality God is the original environmentalist.

We are so ignorant to the fact that to most people who are actually trying to save the world, evangelicals and Christians are one of the main enemies.

We are so ignorant of the heart of God.

Why? God really hates it when people mess up the things he makes. Any good father would be the same. You come in and destroy his yard, kill the family dog, and pull down the tree house he made for the son, he will get his shot gun, come out, and take care of business.

Why would God be any different?

“Destroying those who destroy the earth” Christian or not?

There is considerable discussion today as to what “core beliefs” are necessary for being a Christian, a sort of “what makes you in/out” sort of discussion.

Two problems with this discussion are found in our assumptions. First, that our lists actually matter, as if God comes to me wondering, “What does AJ think the list should be today for everyone to be a good little Christian.”. Secondly, every-one’s list is different. I rarely to never find two lists the same, which from my perspective, appears to create somewhat of a theological “pickle” if you will.

At the same time, I think it is a cop-out to simply say “Jesus” like a 5 year old in Sunday School as an answer to that question.

I love the discussion, but it can only be done in the context of the understanding that this discussion will never end. At any point our little “list” is set, I am checking out of the talk. And at the same time, when the “list” never ends, I can never be in with God.

So, keep the discussion rolling.

Dan Kimball has an excellent discussion going on right now and I would highly encourage you to check it out. I love his style. So will you hopefully!