Interesting comments on the blog yesterday. Thanks for contributing your remarks. I had an interesting email today. Someone wanting to know where scripture gives us permission to do some of the things we do at OC. It's always hard to answer questions like that because, coming from a communication background, I realize that we're talking on two different levels. Neither of them higher than the other necessarily, but still two different presuppositions. One sees scripture as a mandate or list of rules for church and the other sees scripture as the thing that breathes life into those institutions and allows us the freedom to truly become what Jesus wanted us to be. Religious people hated Jesus. He went against the norm. I'd love to hear what He'd have to say about some of our unspoken rules we've set up in the CofC. Not all unspoken. Ludicrous.
Why are we more concerned with proof texts than action? Why are some men spending their intellectual gifts on circulating papers about instrumental music? (See the recent Christian Chronical) Do we have nothing better to do? Are we more concerned that we'll lose our identity as acapella churches over whether we're reaching the lost? Is that what we think will save us or show our good works when we see Jesus? Jesus said, "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep." When will we in the church wake up to see that we are all OBESE and have spent this feeding on ourselves instead of those who don't know Him? "Bring them from highways and byways, from the streets--all who thirst, all who hunger. Invite them to the banquet!" (loose translation there) We worry about who his sheep are. We worry about what our sheep pins look like. We argue over building new sheep pins and how much to spend or not spend. We worry about how communion will go and whether we should sing or not sing during it. We worry about how we worship. Don't you just want to stand and scream sometimes and say HELP US, LORD!!!!! God save us from navel gazing.
Jesus talked to people he shouldn't have by the standards of his time. He ministered freely. He healed on the Sabbath. He challenged the law when it interfered with the glorification of His Father. Seems to me we spend too much time defending what's comfortable for us and not enough time getting out of our comfort zones in finding ways to spread His Kingdom.
That, my blog friends, is called a soap box. Sorry. Time with the girls was sweet last night. Watching them jump on the counch cushions all over the den floor and fall down laughing and not be able to stand back up--all so sweet! I am a blessed man. Sam was doing some serious gymnastics last night. Wow--it was wild! Sheryl's doing well.
I neglected to mention after returning from LA that I had an amazing night with my cousin Shannon and her family. They live in Tejunga (near Passadena). Shannon is the daughter of my mom's brother, Mike. I prayed for her for many, many years. It's so amazing to see the Lord work in her life. They are a powerful couple with 2 kids who are just beautiful. They are deeply commited to their church, but beyond that have a heart for those who don't know Jesus. It was so neat to be with them.
Also--John Chisum sent me his new CD yesterday. Some of the ZOE folks and a couple of other OC singers sang BGVs on it. It sounds great! It's called "A Table in the Wilderness". You'll be able to find it in stores, or you can go to John's web site and order. John continues to travel with Integrity Music doing conferences and things. I think he's going to join me for the Nashville ZOE conference this year. FINALLY!! I'm excited. Go order one of these CDs. I know you'll like it.
Have a great day, bloggers!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
We ARE obese!
My study for this week has been on the strength that we get from God. It's wonderful that we have a way to refuel in order to do His work. What your post has made me realize is that we aren't getting weak from all of our service. We're getting weak from the lack of it. We're weak from focusing our attention on worldly things, from letting our jobs and duties sap our strength, from worry and stress and unfulfilled desires. And when we get that way, we call on God for strength and, the amazing thing is, He continues to give it to us!
We also get weak from fighting with each other about the same...old...things. Oy! How I long for the day when we are one, united against a common enemy, strong in the strength which only God supplies through His beloved Son. And I don't care if you sing that with instruments or without.
But if I don't fight about instrumental worship and the role of women, how will some one know that I'm Church of Christ?
Don't take off your soap-boxing gloves any time soon, Brandon. That was a great post.
And thanks for the heads-up on the Chisum CD. I'll give it a look.
Yes brother yes!
All I have to say is...amen, brother!! AMEN!!
Keep it coming...
i wish we could do what Jesus asked us and be united, but i really liked what you had to say brandon.
I think if we are so obese, and we are, then we need to fast - from church.
That's right. Just quit for a while.
What if there were no Sunday large gathering, no place to go, no classes, no meetings, no sermons, no huge worship services, none of this stuff. How ever would we be church?
However did they do church before the buildings dictated our finances, our way to meet with each other, our way to learn, our way to commune, our way to share the good news etc?
Church today is huge buffet table full of crap - and we gorge ourselves relentlessly like the plant from Little Shop of Horrors, devouring... I probably ought to stop there as the metaphor is quite mixed already.
Anyway, I think we need to fast a little and come to our senses.
I guess I've got my own box of soap.
Rant, folks. Not soap box. It's called a rant. ;^)
Everyone needs one once in awhile. It helps you feel better. Then you realize that the same grace God extended to you in your misunderstandings (though all of us know we are certainly right), is the same grace he extends to them.
I'm not disagreeing at all with what you said. Knowing when to be prophetic and when not to be is the trick.
You are certainly dealing with two different wave lengths in communication. If it helps, Brandon, even Jesus got frustrated. He even called the disciples "little faiths". The word used in John as he dealt with the frustration of unbelief in the face of Lazarus' supposedly permanent death is the word associated with the frustrated snorting of a horse -- as in "Geez, guys! You just don't get it, do you?!?"
Anyway, hang in there. There's nothing you can say to make it any better for this person. Maybe just ask a question about the heart of Jesus as demonstrated by his life. What did he count as important? A new rule system or checklist? Or people? It won't make any sense to them. But what can you do? I guess if you're feeling especially prophetic, you could throw in a "So how are you doing with the 'doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly" list from Micah?" Who knows how they'll respond. Just remember. Even Jesus couldn't get through to some folks.
You are doing a good Spirit-filled work with an honest heart that is blessing many, many folks. Don't let the naysayers get you down. And after you snort like a horse in frustration, just love them some more (and ask good questions--it will frustrate them, but then they need some frustration evidently).
And, in the interests of full disclosure, I often want to scream.
Blessings!
Owen
I feel like Jesus came to enable us to do good/great things in his name, not to have to carry around our rulebook and be enforcers to make sure everyone was up to code.
There's a little Pharisee inside of me that wants to think that way...but I beat him up a lot.
Here's the other thing.
I think it's good to get on a soap box or have a rant. Jesus did. He got angry all the time.
BUT...
That anger has to spur us on to something. That anger has to spark positive action in us. If we're upset about injustice, let's get out there and do something about it. If we're upset about hypocrisy among Christians, let's strive for purity and honesty in our own lives. When Jesus got angry, he tried to channel his anger into some kind of positive action.
Anger is good, but it's futile if nothing positive comes out of it.
Rob Bell did a great sermon on this on May 1st.
Man... I miss reading your blog for a few days and look what I missed! Great post, Brandon.
As far as other churches wanting to know what you guys are doing, that only proves that we just give lipservice to autonomy.
Great thoughts.
Post a Comment