Last week on Church Marketing Sucks we interviewed Mark Van Steenwyk of Jesus Manifesto. He talked a lot about New Monasticism and justice, but the money quote for me is when he talked about how churches have turned Christianity into a Sunday morning activity of teaching and singing, and not the way of life it’s meant to be:
Here’s the thing. Christianity started as a movement. It was a way of life. An orthopraxy. Sure, there were beliefs and creeds and teaching and songs, but all of that happened in the context of communities that were following in the way of Jesus. The Gospel was not simply something to be proclaimed, but lived out. Then things began to change. Slowly, the Church got in bed with the Empire. And those parts of the Way of Jesus that conflicted with the Way of Caesar got sidelined. And then, over time, Europe became a place where it was assumed that everyone was a Christian and the Church became a chaplain to society. Then the Reformation and Enlightenment hit and the Church began to understand itself primarily as an educational institution.
Today, “church” is a place one goes to listen to a half hour message and sing. And if you’re really spiritual, you also go to church on Wednesday to get more information. Ours is a disembodied faith that is about teaching and singing. It isn’t a way of life. We treat things like care for the poor, living simply, practicing hospitality, etc. as optional. They are primarily understood as supplemental programs. Not things that are woven into the fabric of our lives. (emphasis mine)
My Great-Uncle Junior died this week. Harry O. Hendricks Jr. (1924-2008) was my late grandfather’s brother. He lived just down the street from my Grandpa in a town so small everyone is a neighbor (and related, as my wife often reminds me). While we sat around the kitchen table at my Grandpa’s house talking and letting breakfast stretch over a few hours, Junior (as most people knew him) would inevitably stop by to partake in the conversation, usually making a point to chide me or my brother.
The Hendricks family loves to laugh and loves to kid. Hence my Grandpa often called me a turd. One of my favorite memories is sitting around my grandfather’s kitchen after his death and joking and laughing with my cousins. While laughter and ribbing characterized my grandfather, it was even more true of my Uncle Junior. He’d laugh and poke fun and slap his knee.
I’m not sure I want to keep blogging about politics, but sometimes I’m dumb that way. Here I go again.
U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann from Minnesota was recently speaking in Monticello and had this to say about immigration:
“We’re losing our country,” she said. “People are not assimilating themselves to America. They’re not speaking English, and you must speak it if you want to succeed here in this country.”
American Idol had it’s big ‘give back’ special last night (or so I’m told—I don’t watch it) and it ended with a group sing of “Shout to the Lord,” a well known worship song written by Darlene Zschech. What? Christian worship music on American Idol? You can watch it here or buy the single from iTunes (Full disclosure: I get a cut of purchases made from that link, which adds an extra level of oddity to this post).
Some people think this is kind of cool. And I can see that. Our soulless American culture embracing a little bit of Christianity. Maybe something will rub off. It’s a good conversation starter.
Here’s a real life writing example from the ‘what does that even mean?’ file:
“Mike’s personal history and present ministry evidences in The Foursquare Church indicate his unique gifting and calling as regarding his new pursuits among us.”
It comes from a Foursquare news release from a few months ago about a staff change. The quote comes from the president, Jack Hayford. Unfortunately I didn’t have the power to rewrite that line and make it a little more sensible (I tried).
Pastor Jack (as the Foursquare insiders call him) is a well liked guy. But sometimes I have no idea what he’s talking about.
These two magazines showed up in the mail the other day and I can’t tell them apart. On the left is American Funds’ Investor magazine. On the right is the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Decision Magazine.
Wow, how weird is it that they’re so similar. And what does that say about their respective designs?
So Flickr, my favorite photo-sharing site (to the tune of 8,450+ photos), has added video.
My initial reaction: What are they thinking?!
Everyone knows that’s the slow, painful path to destruction. Adding extra features that are outside your expertise. Feature creep. And video? [Shakes head sadly and disapprovingly.]
Leave it to the Simpsons to poke fun at old media (though aren’t they getting kind of old?). Ha-ha, indeed. (link via Carl Bliss, and my apologies for the crappy video site—couldn’t find the clip on YouTube)
Last week we took a family trip to the Children’s Museum. Lexi had a blast and spent most of her nap telling her stuffed bear everything she did.
I think one of my highlights was riding the bus (it was also one of Lexi’s highlights). I used to ride the bus to work every day and loved it. I talk about this all the time, but I think public transportation is great. I like to drive, but it’s just as nice to sit back and let someone else do the driving. You get a chance to interact with people and see things you just can’t see when you’re concentrating on the road.
It sounds goofy, but I just feel more connected to humanity when I actually interact with them. Even if it’s just a quick nod and smile, it’s more than staring at someone’s bumper.
I think Lexi and I will be taking the bus more often.
A work-at-home dad wrestles with faith, social justice & story.
These two magazines showed up in the mail the other day and I can’t tell them apart. On the left is American Funds’ 