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February 28, 2006
Being Authentic: Service
Last week, Chris briefly explored some issues regarding the authenticity of pastors, and how much vulnerability and transparency should a pastor, preacher, teacher employ....not only in the proclamation of the Word, but pastorally in the ministry.
This is a really good topic and I have been thinking about this issue a lot over the weekend. And one of the aspects that I think makes not only pastors, but Christians more authentic, and puts them in a place of vulnerability with one another, is in the area of service.
What do I mean by that? When we serve one another, and how we serve one another puts us in the ultimate place of authenticity, vulnerabilty and humility. We don't all serve with the right motives, but when we do serve we are deciding to put someone else's interests...the ministry, the community, the person...ahead of us. In the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:5-11, we are given a beautiful portrait of Christ, who serves us, by humbling Himself, not only in taking the form of a man, but of also suffering with us, and ultimately dying the death of crucifixion. That is authenticity....that is vulnerabillity...that is transparency....and those things come in the act of service...of humbling and submitting ourselves to one another and to Jesus Christ.
How does this play out in the role of ministry? I came across this quote today at my friend Don Coleman's site. On his post he quotes Lesslie Newbigin as saying:
A minister does not, cease to be a layman when he is ordained
I have been thinking about that statement. And it seems to me that pastors become aloof and inauthentic, most often when they remove themselves from serving others...whether it be individuals, congregations, etc. Sometimes I am given reasons for ordination that have nothing to do with serving Christ or others, but rather are about the perks of ordination, whether it be the healthcare, the salary increase, etc, etc. And I see in all of this a temptation for pastors to move beyond serving one another, and to serving over others, so that others will do the serving. Now understand me here. I'm not saying pastors don't oversee others, or help empower others to serve. But if pastors eventually remove themselves from serving alongside with laypeople, and doing the tasks of laypeople, then I think we become inauthentic. No longer vulnerable..no longer transparent. We separate ourselves from the congregation and those within it, putting up one wall after another they have to navigate around to have access to us. Or we put one layer after layer of communication in front of us, so that them to actually talk to me via phone, email, or face to face, is quite the task.
I picture it this way: When I was young, growing up in a small church we would have church potlucks. Someone had to put the tables and chairs out. Someone had to prepare the food. Someone had to clean up. And most often, I remember in this small church, and in other small churches seeing the pastors and leaders doing the work, or helping out with the work, alongside the laypeople. There was no distinction...clergy and lay, serving alongside one another. But somewhere along the way as we get more and more prestige or power or responsibility we pass "those tasks" on to lay people. This is not about handing over responsibilties to others who want to serve. But this about the unwillingess of pastors and clergy to pitch in and do the work that needs to be done, alongside those you preach to. Those you preach to, you should not only serve with your words, but with your actions.
If we see ourselves as pastors, directors, etc., unwilling to pitch in and do the work that others do, and to serve them. Metaphorically speaking and literally speaking....when we no longer help set up chairs and take them down, or stop and help fold a bulletin if needed...or run some copies for ourselves....then I think we lose our authenticity...our realness....our vulnerability...our transparency...our humility......pick a word.
If you want to be a pastor or director that is authentically real with those you speak to, then you don't need to manufacture that. That comes with serving those you preach to. Serving in and amongst them, rather than serving over them.
Technorati Tags: Christian leadership, authenticity, service
Posted by rhett at 06:49 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 24, 2006
There is some great weekend reading out there, so let me suggest some.
1. Tyler Williams has put together a couple of movie lists for theologians. The first is the Essential Films for Theologians: "The Director's Cut", followed by the Essential Films of 2005 for Theologians. He has putten together a really beautiful list of films, some of which I have, and haven't seen. I noticed several that I have waiting for me at Netflix.
2. Here is a great post about Donald Miller by Joe Thorn titled, Mark Coppenger and Blue Like Jazz. This post by Joe was in response to a lecture given by Mark Coppenger at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary about Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller. HT: Brent Thomas and Steve McKoy. I brought Donald Miller out to our college group in October of 2005, and it was one of the best things we have done. He thoughts really resonated with my students, and those who drove from all over CA to come see him speak. I love this quote from Thorn:
Mark did make a good point early on. He said that in the book Don was being "real" (little r) which is easier than being "Real" (big R) meaning pointing beyond human experience to The Truth. I think that can be a helpful thing to discuss, and of course I agree with the premise. But I think the reason so many were intrigued with Miller's realness (little r) is because the church has been very good at pumping out the Real while not being very real.
I think the church sometimes has not been very good at realness (little r), and my students appreciated Miller's realness with them. They didn't all agree with him, whether it was his views on politics, economics, Jesus Christ, Christianity, etc...but they at least felt he was being honest and real...and passionate.
3. Peter Leithart has strung some interesting and informative views on modernism, postmodernism, etc, etc. Check it out. HT: Smart Christian
4. Ben Myers has a post on a topic I have yet to see before, and that is Essential Building for Theologians
5. Chris Gonzalez has a great post on Confessions of a Pastor. This is a discussion II would like to pick up sometime next week with Chris and any others. I responded to Chris with some comments, but I want to explore this issue more. I think that we live in a different time, and preaching has changed. No longer do many pastors, at least of my generation, stand behind a pulpit. Maybe a music lectern. And if they aren't authentic and real with their congregation, then they've lost their congregation. Chris and I might be different on this issue since we work primarily as college pastors. College students require an authenticity that is nothing like I have seen before.
I don't think it is something that we can manufacture or teach. Maybe we can grow into it. And it is probably cyclical...sometimes we are authentic, other times we are not. I don't preach from behind a pulpit, and I don't stand on a stage in hopes of placing myself within my college students, and not above them. Though I am their leader, I believe in leading from within, than from above or from outside. This is a concept Henri Nouwen draws out in, In The Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, which is the best book on Christian leadership out there, and required reading for all of my leaders.
Also, there is a difference between being authentic and vulnerable with your congregation, and bleeding on them. We are required I believe to be authentic and real...struggles and all. But it is not to be a time where we put ourselves on the counseling couch for 50 minutes in front of everyone. Some things should be shared, and others should remain private.
Okay...we can pick up on this later. But I think this issue is huge, and one of the biggest factors in how people choose churches and it is growing to be a growing issue as the "younger" generation is thirsting for this.
Technorati Tags: theology, films, Blue Like Jazz, architecture, modernism, postmodernism, Christian leadership
Posted by rhett at 11:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The ongoing topic of cancer....
I never thought I would have seen this much debate on the topic of cancer as there has been this last week.
It began with John Piper's article, Don't Waste Your Cancer.
I took issue with Piper's comments as many of you read last week. And many of you took issue with my comments as well.
As I have read through various blogs as well as commenters it seems the issue is divided and people have set-up theological camp in one of two places:
1) On one hand some people see God as the author of cancer; and it is God who designs cancer for us; designed as a gift, and even designed for the purpose to "destory the appetite for sin." This seems to be the view that Piper espouses and that many follow.
2) On the other hand some people do not see God as either the author of cancer or its designer. Rather we live in a fallen world, and cancer is a part of that falleness; and it certainly has nothing to do with our sin. This is the view that others follow and to which I believe.
This issue is rooted in our understanding of several things: God's sovereignty; providence; theodicy; pre-ordination, etc.
The best post that I have seen on this issue this week is Cancer, John PIper and the Falleness of Creation by Tyler Williams. Tyler says:
Now, perhaps I am just coming from a different place theologically than Piper (actually, I know I am), but I find the notions that God "designs" people's cancer and that cancer is a "gift from God" to be offensive. What is more, I find that Piper's proof-texting of Scripture to be troubling. In the book of Job, God does allow "he adversary" (hasatan) to inflict Job, and his so-called friends did see his suffering as from the hands of God and due to his own sin. But, in the same way it is fallaciouss to see all suffering as the result of sin, so it is not the point of the book of Job to then attribute all suffering to the direct agency of God. Similarly, his series of proof-texts for his second point are perhaps relevant to part of his point that cancer is not a "curse." But saying that cancer is not a "curse" is not the same as saying it is a gift.
All good things are a gift from God (James 1:17) but in my books cancer is not a good thing. Cancer is an all too frequent reminder that this world is radically fallen, that things are manifestly not the way they are supposed to be--they are hebel. I do think there is a subtle, yet theologically important distinction to be made between talking about cancer (or any sickness or tragedy) as being used by God over against cancer being caused or designed by God.
Then there is Ben Myers who has a great post, Cancer and the will of God. Ben quotes Karl Barth in Church Dogmatics III/4 saying:
"[Sickness] is opposed to [God's]good will as the Creator and has existence and power only under his mighty No. To capitulate before it, to allow it to take its course, can never be obedience but only disobedience towards God. In harmony with the will of God, what man ought to will in face of this whole realm....and therefore in face of sickness, can only be final resistance"(CD III/4, pp. 367-68).
As I was thinking through this topic this week, I came across this sermon Prisoners of Hope: Living With Cancer from Dr. Scholer, professor of NT at Fuller Theological seminary. Dr. Scholer was diagnosed three and half years ago with incurable colorectal cancer. In the sermon he says this:
God is not the author or cause of evil; God never promised freedom from pain; God uses pain for God's purposes; We have God's promise of love and comfort; Evil and suffering are not experienced because of one's sin; God has provided a triumph.
But in the "interest of fairness (not agreement)", as my friend Brent Thomas stated last week when he posted my thoughts on PIper, I too, in the interest of fairness and (not agreement) want to leave you with Al Mohler's discussion on this issue, as well again, Piper's original post.
But whether we agree theologically or not on this issue, Tyler is right in that maybe we should support some of the agencies fighting cancer such as The American Cancer Society, The Canadian Cancer Society, or The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Technorati Tags: John Piper, cancer
Posted by rhett at 12:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 23, 2006
Help?
Does anyone know how to filter out Trackbacks, or are they just part of the deal if you blog. I've just been noticing all the ones on posts from casinos and porn sites, etc...since I said porn in this entry means I will probably have 100's of trackbacks on this site from porn companies.
Is it best to just shutdown all trackbacks, or just limit them to one's that come from certain blogs?
So any suggestions on how to cut that stuff out, or down...and how to even filter out spam commenters already more than I am...I am open to suggestions and thoughts.
Posted by rhett at 08:59 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 22, 2006
Christian marketing...Creativity...And how far is too far?
We are all guilty in the evangelical community of often "ripping off" or "emulating" logos or ideas that we see in the greater culture around us. I am the first to admit that we "emulate" MTV's Cribs for our college ministry as we go to different student's apartments and film an episode in an effort to have some fun and connect each other to our greater community.
Some churches do branding campaigns.....
others...
T-shirt designs rip off looks of main-stream brands...
I was guilty of wearing this shirt in high school to the gym,
We even had a friend design our college ministry logo,
Then I received this story from my brother-in-law this morning,
Church steals XBOX 360 trademark to lure new new members
I think we are all guilty of it at some level and to some degree....but does anyone have any thoughts on this topic of Christian marketing, and the use, or emulating of cultural logos or themes, in order to "sell" and "promote" the gospel.
Does the Christian community lack creativity and originality? I don't think so.
Maybe the very creative get forced outside of the Christian "bubble" because of their free thinking and expression.
Is the non-Christian market just much more creative?
I have a friend who at one point in his life was playing the Charlie Brown theme after church on the piano. And the pastor's wife came up to him and told him that he was not allowed to play such music in church. That that was not Christian, and was music from Satan. So this musically gifted little kid took his creativity outside of the church. He was not sure how to reconcile what he believed was a talent and gift from God, and the inability to express it in the church.
I'm sure this story is repeated lots of times. I wonder if this scenario forces many to take residence up outside of the often stifling structures of the church.
Posted by rhett at 02:42 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 21, 2006
Shifting from the West...Global Christianity
Evangelical Christianity Shifting Outside West
HT: Smart Christian
Interesting article about how Evangelicalism, which was "born in England and nurtured in the United States, is leaving home."
For a longer treatment of this issue, read the book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins.
Technorati Tags: christianity, global christianity
Posted by rhett at 09:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Some interesting posts....
Drew Sams has got a review and some thoughts on the book, A Churchless Faith by Alan Jamieson. The steps and turning points that Drew outlines are interesting and worth a read.
Steve McCoy at reformissionary has a very interesting story about a ministry that exists in a local church that you don't see too often.
Eric Jacobsen has an interesting piece on urbanism, and an interesting description of what is called the orange juice test.
Posted by rhett at 06:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2006
Concluding Poscript and Some Recommendations....
In regards to allowing God to be God, and how we speak of God and His actions, and how that impacts our thinking, teaching, preaching, conversations, etc...I defer to two of the greatest theologians of all time.
Karl Barth says this in Doctrine of the Word of God: Prolegomena to Church Dogmatics I/I:
Volume 1/1: The Word of God
A. On the relation of dogmatics to proclamation (pp, 85-87)
(underlinings are my emphasis)
3. The theme of Church proclamation or subject-matter of Christianity demands dogmatics to the extent that its proclamation is a responsible act and to the extent that dogmatics is the effort to meet this responsibility towards the theme of proclamation. Yet it is by no means the case that in dogmatics the Church becomes as it were the lord and judge of the subject-matter, so that the current results of dogmatics are to be accepted as law imposed as it were on God, revelation and faith. Dogmatics has to investigate and say at each given point how we may best speak of God, revelation and faith to the extent that human talk about these things is to count as Church proclamation. It should not think that it can lay down what God, revelation and faith are in themselves. In both its investigations and its conclusions it must keep in view that God is in heaven and it on earth, and that God, His revelation and faith always live their own free life over against all human talk, including that of the best dogmatics. Even if we have again weighed everything and corrected everything and formulated everything better, as is our duty to the subject-matter of Christianity in respect of human talk about it, and even if our findings have been given the status of Church confession and dogma, we have still to say: We are unprofitable servants, and in no sense are we to imagine that we have become in the very least masters of the subject.
Like the subject-matter of Christianity, Church proclamation must also remain free in the last resort, free to receive the command which it must always receive afresh from that free life of the subject-matter of Christianity. Church proclamation and not dogmatics is immediate to God in the Church. Proclamation is essential, dogmatics is needed only for the sake of it. Dogmatics lives by it to the extent that it lives only in the Church. In proclamation, and in God, revelation and faith only to the degree that these are its objects, dogmatics is to seek its material.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer says this in Spiritual Care:
The greatest difficulty for the pastor stems from his theology. He knows all there is to be known about sin and forgiveness....The peak of theological craftiness is to conceal necessary and wholesome unrest under such self-justification....The conscience has been put to sleep. Theology becomes a science by which one learns to excuse everything and justify everything....The theologian knows that he cannot be shot out of the saddle by other theologians. Everything his theology admits is justified. This is the curse of theology. (Spiritual Care pp.67-68)
As for some book recommendations that I think are absolutely brilliant regarding the issues of suffering, and even the issue of cancer are the following:
A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
This is Lewis's honest account of what he experienced at the loss of his wife to breast cancer. A beautiful look and insight in the journal writings of man who is devastated by the loss, and who moves from doubt to a more affirmed faith in God through the journey of grief.
A Letter of Consolation by Henri Nouwen
A beautiful letter that Henri Nouwen wrote to his father six months after the death of his mother. Beautiful exploration of grief and suffering and the beauty of resurrection out of death.
Maybe one of the most signficant theological works written that explores the suffering on the cross as the beginning point of our theology.
Posted by rhett at 12:20 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 19, 2006
The Piper finale...
Let's just say that I have posted on a lot of topics before, but I have never received as many comments, as many private emails, or as much traffic, than I have in the last couple of days, regarding John PIper's, Don't Waste Your Cancer, my first response, followed by my subsequent follow-up.
Most of the responses came from various bloggers and those who read blogs, with the overwhelming majority coming from Hugh Hewitt's post on Saturday night.
These posts of mine received far much more attention that I would have expected, but I think it touched a nerve off in many people, as well as touching my own nerves off after what I had read from Piper.
If anything, I realize that there is a theological divide between many of us, and I am okay with that. As a Christian I believe we can disagree on many things, and still hold to the main tenants of the Christian faith.
I have always been a fan of Augustine's dictum:
"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity." - Augustine
Let me close this topic with a couple of statements:
1. I still strongly disagree with Piper, but I do apologize if I in anyway personally attacked John Piper himself, or if I was less than charitable. I do not know him personally, so I wish I would have done a better job of separating the person (Piper), and my disagreements over this theological view. There are many blogs online that I believe are too vitriolic in their attacks on people, rather than on their theological views, etc. I do not want to fall into that category as I do not find it helpful.
2. I appreciate everyone's personal stories, self-disclosures, and revealing of their own hurts in the comments they posted. Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot.
3. I think underlying all of the discussions back and forth was the disagreement over "who" and "what" is the originator of not only sin, but pain and suffering. So this discussion on cancer goes much deeper than what is seen on the surface, but resonates to the depths of what we believe and hold to regarding issues over free-will, determinism, suffering, sovereignty, theodicy, etc, etc. Because of this, this issue is multi-facted, and too complex for any blogging debate.
4. Piper's comments were very personal to him as they were very relevant to his own current suffering and trial of prostrate cancer. I too, out of my own experience responded to what was very relevant to me in the midst of my own suffering. That makes me realize that we all have different stories and experiences related to our own suffering, and if we listened to every story we would have heard many different things. And I think based on those experiences we would have all found different parts of Scripture that we resonated with in the midst of that suffering. That doesn't make us any less Christian, but it does make us different in the way we experience and respond to different experiences.
5. As Christians I think we can do a better job of disagreeing with each other and not making that into a war. So I thank those of you who shared your own responses, whether they disagreed with mine or not, yet still were able to separate the theological disagreements from yours or mine personal faith in Jesus Christ.
I pray for speedy recovery and healing for John Piper in the midst of his own suffering.
And I pray for continued dialogue for those of us who don't agree theologically, because I believe that our theology can only be enriched from one another.
Posted by rhett at 10:23 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 18, 2006
A strange new world...
Posted by rhett at 11:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2006
Cool reads for the weekend....
Women's U.S. Snowboarder Kelly Clark on her Christian faith. And if you wonder what music is going through her headphones during her competition, it is David Crowder's "Oh Praise Him."
Wow! I am obsessed with LOST, but I am not ,this smart.
Posted by rhett at 05:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piper's Comments: Maybe they can open the door for better dialogue?
Yesterday, I posted this entry, John Piper is unreal...and not in a good way!. I posted it in response to an article by John Piper entitled, Don't Waste Your Cancer, which he wrote on the eve of his own prostate surgery.
Since I posted that in the evening I have received several posted comments, as well as some private ones.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments, as well as Chriz Gonzalez posting a new entry today, Apology, Clarifications, and Further Thoughts. Chris didn't need to do that, but I appreciate it, and it shows his heart on the matter.
Let me say some things on this topic:
1. Having a blog is a dangerous tool, or weapon, depending on how we view it, and sometimes we use it I believe in very beneficial ways, and in some harmful ways. The same is true of the Bible. The Bible is a book about redemption...so how do we use this story of redemption in the lives of those around us?
2. I think that those who commented on my blog as well as some others....I think we have a great opportunity to benefit from one another and dialogue from one another, though we may disagree with each other. I would prefer that method than some of the wars I see going online.
3. I think that each of us is important to the Body of Christ, even though we may have differing views. And I think we should use those differing views to inform one another and help build up the Body of Christ, rather than constantly tearing it down.
4. It is true. I did write out of some of my own hurt and frustration over Piper's thoughts, especially since I have lost so many family members to cancer. I wrote out of my own bias and belief, and am aware that others found his words life giving.
5. I do think and believe that some people come to have Piper's views, but I hold strongly that those our Piper's views, rather than prescriptive for the Christian life.
6. My theology is very different from John Piper's and it is not going to get any closer....but more than likely, it will get farther away.
7. I am learning a lot from my blogging friends that have different perspectives, and I hope that we can continue to use our energy to dialogue and learn from one another.
8. I know there are many in the Protestant-Evangelical camp who are appalled at the concept of the Pope speaking "ex cathedra." So why is is that we allow, or give freedom to a few in evangelical circles to speak the same way..."ex cathedra"...as if they are the only ones who speak, teach, write and preach with absolute clarity?
9. Do we each have perfect theology, or can we continue to grow and learn from one another?
10. It might just be me, but I tend to view my own theological understanding as one in constant growth and process, and any type of complete and full clarity on every theological topic in this universe, I will never have.
I am constantly reminded of Jacob wrestling with the angel in Genesis 32, or Moses being spoken to by a burning bush in Exodus 3. In each of those instances, man attempted to ask for the name of the un-nameable. Because once they were able to name God, they would then be able to exert a certain amount of control over Him, or have some better understanding of Him that would make them feel more comfortable with the mystery of Him. Naming gives control, it gives concreteness to what we don't understand. But some things in life we can not, and will not ever understand. God is God, and man is man.
Sickness, disease, famine, death...are all uncomprehensible. I believe that is why the prophets as well as the writer of Ecclesiastes spend so much time crying out to God about what they do not grasp. There is both a boldness in their crying out and a humility over what they don't understand...a humility when they come to their limits of knowledge and understanding.
Anytime we simply throw Bible verses at someone, and try to explain and rationlize their suffering, then I think we minimize what we are not supposed to minimize. Instead of bringing explanations into that suffering we need to bring the presence of Christ into it. And that more than often...involves saying absolutely nothing at all. In John 11:32-37 I am in awe of Jesus' own ability to be "greatly disturbed in spirit" and to weep with those who are weeping. He does not come in with some theological treatise to explain death so that they might feel better.
I think many Christians are uncomfortable with suffering and pain and injustices, and in their fear they want to explain God's actions to us, on His behalf. In doing this they hope that we don't lose faith, and that we don't forget for one moment that God is sovereign. But in doing this, I think the opposite happens. By trying to give explanations on God's behalf, we have made ourselves sovereign and not allowed God to be God.
Last....Full-Disclosure again. If you have not read Henri Nouwen, than you need to. And do not excuse him because he was a Catholic Priest. I know as Protestants and Evangelicals we can have a tendency to do that, and unfortuanely, we are missing out on a lot. One of his greatest books is the The Wounded Healer, which Christianity Today ranked as one of the top 100 books of the 20th Century. I am deeply influenced by him, and so I am going to leave you with a quote that will best say what I want to say on this topic:
"In practically all priestly functions, such as pastoral conversation, preaching, teaching and liturgy, the minister tries to help people to recognize the work of God in themselves. The Christian leader, minister or priest, is not one who reveals God to his people--who gives something he has to those who have nothing--but one who helps those who are searching to discover reality as the source of their existence. In this sense we can say that the Christian leader leads man to confession, in the classic sense of the word: to the basic affirmation that man is man and God is God, and that without God, man cannot be called man.
In this context pastoral conversation is not merely a skillful use of conversational techniques to manipulate people into the Kingdom of God, but a deep human encounter in which a man is willing to put his own faith and doubt, his own hope and despair, his own light and darkness at the disposal of others who want to find a way through their confusion and touch the solid core of life. In this context preaching means more than handing over a tradition; it is rather that careful and sensitive articulation of what is happening in the community so that those who listen can say: 'You say what I suspected, you express what I vaguely felt, you bring to the fore what I fearfully kept in the back of my mind. Yes, yes--you say who we are, you recognize our condition...'
When a listening man is able to say this, then the ground is broken for others to receive the Word of God. And no minister need doubt that the Word will be received! The young especially do not have to run away from their fears and hopes but can see themselves in the face of the man who leads them; he will make them understand the words of salvation which in the past often sounded to them like words from a strange and unfamiliar world......." (pp.39-40)
Posted by rhett at 10:29 AM | Comments (21) | TrackBack
February 16, 2006
John Piper is unreal...and not in a good way!
I have many issues with the writings and thoughts of John Piper, but this one is more personal to me. Full-disclosure. I have lost my grandmother, mother and aunt to breast cancer, so that is why I am really irritated at what John Piper writes in his article, which was written on the eve of his prostrate surgery, Don't Waste Your Cancer. I saw this article this morning when I was reading over at Chris's site.
In this article, Piper states ten principles so that you don't waste your cancer as he states it. They are as follows:
1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that "beating" cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.
I just hope he isn't sitting at anyone's bedside while they are sufferring with cancer. Talk about no concept of pastoral care.
The worst statement he makes is this:
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
Are your besetting sins as attractive as they were before you had cancer? If so you are wasting your cancer. Cancer is designed to destroy the appetite for sin. Pride, greed, lust, hatred, unforgiveness, impatience, laziness, procrastination--all these are the adversaries that cancer is meant to attack. Don't just think of battling against cancer. Also think of battling with cancer. All these things are worse enemies than cancer. Don't waste the power of cancer to crush these foes. Let the presence of eternity make the sins of time look as futile as they really are. "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:25).
If John Piper was sitting by your bedside and you had cancer I guess the conversation would go something like this:
Patient: "John, I'm so glad you are here. I'm just really scared and in a lot of pain."
John: "Don't worry my son. God not only struck you with this cancer, but He specifically designed it for you at the beginning of creation. It is going to be this cancer that drives the sin out of your life."
Patient: "Wow. I feel so much better now. Thanks for coming to see me and comfort me. I imagine that's just how Jesus would have done it."
Or at least that's sort of how I would have imagined it to go.
I remember a PCA Reformed pastor telling me that my mom and aunt got cancer and died because of the sin in their lives. I guess he was wrong.....because if Piper's logic is correct, than rather my mom and aunt didn't get cancer because of the sin in their lives, but rather, God sent the cancer into their lives to destroy their sin. Okay...I just wanted to make sure I was on track here.
I'm glad Piper cleared that up for me.
I know I will be getting a flood of emails from those who love Piper, and they will throw one Bible verse at me after another. But I just really think Piper does a really good job of hitting the "law" of the Christian life, and completely missing the "Spirit" of the Christian life.
I also think that many people are so afraid that those who are in the midst of suffering will forget about the sovereignty of God, so they want to make sure and remind them in case they forget. Suffering, disease, death are all terrible things, and I think many Christians are afraid of what may be said, or what may come out during those times. People's fears, doubts, confusions, etc...all about God. And we want to make sure that we play spiritual/doctrine police and make sure no one has any of those feelings or emotions.
Piper reminds me a lot more of Job's friends that sat around criticizing and questioning his faith, rather than sitting with him in his pain and suffering. Doesn't remind me much of Jesus and the ministry that he carried out in his interaction with people in the midst of their suffering. I think the purpose of many of the laments in the Bible, or the book of Lamentations is to reflect a concept of suffering, and that life and pain and death do not always make sense.
Now I will end by saying this. I may have missed Piper's overall message that he was trying to convey in this post. But the overall message was lost to me because of some of the comments that he does make, and the lack of true grace, love and humility that I think he reflects on true suffering.
And, I think there are many things that can be learned during cancer, pain, suffering, death. But I think that Piper has a very non-chalant attitude when talking about these things, that whatever he says comes across as so trite....as if he is the ultimate authority and voice of God. Many Evangelicals treat Piper as the Pope as if he is speaking "ex-cathedra." And I know people who love Piper would probably find that idea, so closely related to Catholicism...as appalling.
I will also close by saying, that if Piper wants this to reflect his own experience in light of the Biblical witness, then that is fine. But for him to suggest (and he doesn't state it that way; but we know he is strongly suggesting here) that these ten principles are prescriptive for cancer patients, and are principles to remember in their sufferring. Well, I think that's ludricous.
Last. As pastoral care goes, which I really believe is inseparable from being a pastor, preacher, etc....well, I'm just glad he won't be at my bedside.
Posted by rhett at 03:29 PM | Comments (25) | TrackBack
February 15, 2006
Reading my Bible...confession.
As you know, if you have been reading this blog as of late...I have been challenging my students, myself, and everyone to read through the Bible this year. And I have definitely experienced my ups and downs. Some weeks it's a no brainer and almost an unconscious habit, where my day just doesn't seem right if it isn't started in the Word. Other days, I am struggling to get out of bed, and then struggling to make reading the Word the first thing I do in the morning.
But that seems pretty typical of the spiritual life....Ups and Downs, Mountains and Valleys. Some weeks everything is going right, and other weeks, it feels like all the wheels are coming off the wagon.
One of the things that reading the Bible from front to cover does, is raise a lot of questions. Old questions are being renewed, and I now have some new ones. Over the next few months, and along the way I wan to address or at least bring up some of these question, whether I think there are answers for them or not.
But during our Mammoth ski retreat this weekend, I think I had more questions posed to me than ever before. And they all seemed to be a result of this journey of reading through the Bible in a year. Hence, all of their questions, or most of them, are based on their readings in the Torah (Gen, Ex., Lev., Numb., Deut.).
That's for sure. If you read through the Law/Torah, and you have no questions, thoughts, answers, etc...than I am wondering if you are even reading it.
So I will be posting some of these questions along the way, and I hope to get some feedback from some of you.
Posted by rhett at 11:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Veritas at USC
USC is hosting the Veritas Forum this year. So if you are around USC, check out the site for more information. Oh, and by the way, it began last night and ends tomorrow.
Posted by rhett at 11:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2006
Follow up.....
Several of you commented on my previous post regarding Zach Lind and his thoughts on Chuck Colson.
Zach Lind actually wrote a post of his own on this issue, so you can read that here.
Zach will be a conference speaker at Futuregen in Phoeniz, AZ.
I have joked with Zach a couple of times via email over television news preferences. As a Christian I appreciate his often differing political views...differing from mine that is. I have a tendency to find myself most of the time in the company of Republicans and conservatives. So I appreciate the perspective that people like Zach, and the perspective that my more liberal and democrat friends and students bring to the ministry I pastor, and to my own life.
Posted by rhett at 04:59 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
What do you think?
As part of my weekend round-up over this last weekend, one of the stories that I posted was the following:
Chuck Colson doesn't like the direction our worship is heading
HT: Ember Burning
Here's an excerpt:
When church music directors lead the congregation in singing some praise music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We had been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called, "Draw Me Close to You." The song has zero theological content and could be sung in a nightclub, for that matter. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed at us and said in a cheerful voice, "Let's sing that again, shall we?" "No!" I shouted loudly. Heads all around me spun while my wife cringed.
Zach Lind of Finding Rhythm posted this comment in regards to that story:
so getting caught while breaking and entering makes you a music wizard, huh? can we just start ignoring chuck colson and all of his religious right buddies? please?
I thought that was an interesting comment. For those of you who might be too young, and you don't know what we are talking about, read this.
What I am wondering is this. At what point after a transgression does a person's words or thoughts have validity? Or is there always some hesitancy because of a person's past. Colson obviously seems to have turned his life around, etc., etc. Is Colson's line of expertise not in the worship arena and he should stick to what he knows? Or does his past make his current words not valid in the eyes of others, or in your eyes?
As a Christian I believe that a person is a new creation in Christ, and that everything old has passed away (II Cor. 5:16-21). But maybe we aren't always in the position to judge the heart or validity of what is going on in worship at times. Maybe Colson just didn't like it. Or maybe Colson just doesn't know what he is talking about and is out of touch with worship. I mean, he did say that "Draw Me Close To You" could be sung in a nightclub. Ugh. No. That is a hardly a worship song that comes to mind when I think about worship in a nightclub. And who cares if worship is sung in a nightclub. I know many churches who have taken over nightclubs and who are holding services in them, and who are doing great ministry, such as Mosaic.
What do you think? Weigh in on this.
Posted by rhett at 06:13 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Daily Bible reading: Beginning our day with the inspiration and energy of God, rather than our own.
If you have been reading some of my more recent posts you have read that I have been trying really hard to impart this to my college students. I have been trying to encourage them to just read a little everyday. Not to analyze or study, but rather to read as a story and narrative. I believe that most of us stop short of reading the Bible in its entirety because we are overwhelmed with the prospect of it.
But I have realized just how much more I learn, and just how much more I am tranformed by the daily reading of God's word. There is something mysterious in the process of reading...something I cannot really explain. But what I do know is that it transforms lives.
As I have been preaching through the book of Colossians I have been thinking about this passage: "For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me." Colossians 1:29
This seems to be what happens when we spend time reading God's word daily. I have noticed that the times that I get up early in the morning and begin my day in God's Word...that it is those days that I feel God's peace and presence the most. I feel His energy within me, rather than my own. And on the days that I don't begin my day in God's Word...well, then I find myself grasping and clinging and trying to do things on my own power, only becoming more and more frustrated and exhausted.
Reading God's Word, especially at the start of one's day, is just one of the ways in which we place ourselves in a position to allow God to give us energy and to inspire us throughout the day. Jesus seemed to think it was important to begin his day early in the morning, in relationship with His Father (Mark 1:35).
So it seems fitting that it should be important to us.
Posted by rhett at 03:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2006
Emergent at Yale and Masters
Andrew Jones states:
Emergent Conversations have been going on at both Yale Divinity School and Masters Seminary. Never expected to see both institutions in the same sentence.
True. True.
Excerpt:
At Yale, students were interacting with teachings by Miroslav Wolf. Yale Daily News captured the moment and there was some negative Catholic response who someone who wasn't impressed. Bloggers Jason, and Cleave WERE impressed enough to write notes and there is more at Faithasawayoflife,
At the same time, Masters Seminary are doing a series on the Emergent Church. John MacArthur Jnr has been describing the emergent church as the 3rd wave of movements that threaten our clarity of the Scriptures. The first two waves, according to MacArthur were the charasmatic momement (which he tackled in "Charasmatic Chaos" [see also Vineyard Response to Charasmatic Chaos .pdf, and this letter] and the Seeker Movement (which he confronted in "Ashamed of the Gospel").
BTW - can't find any bloggers from Masters who have their own thoughts on this or their reaction to the professors at Masters. Anyone help? And not only this, but I have not been able to open all the audio files on my Mac. Must be a PC-Window's based audience.
The third wave, says MacArthur is the emergent church movement that he characterizes as believing the Bible is "hopelessly ambiguous" and avoiding debate with anyone except people like himself -who apparently - are the only people true to the Scriptures. [I feel a third book coming on] MacArthur believes the main threat comes from a lack of clarity regarding the Scriptures - that we cannot be clear (his take on MacLaren) or are only NOW clear (his take on N.T. Wright) rather than a MacArthurite Absolute Clarity, as expressed when in states in his presentation ....
"We have the mind of Christ, We know EXACTLY how he thinks!"
Posted by rhett at 04:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 09, 2006
An early weekend.....
I'm calling it an early weekend to blogging, as I will spend this weekend with some downtime. Hopefully I will be rested up after the weekend. But for now, here are some interesting articles and posts that I came across this week.
1) As a soon to be one day licensed marriage and family therapist, let me use what little knowledge I have at this point, two quarters into the program. When I read this about Kanye West I am pretty confident that this diagnosis is a good one.
2) In keeping with Kanye, but throwing in the Muhammad cartoon controversy, Brent Thomas writes a great piece.
3) I love this quote below, which comes from Tod Bolsinger's continuing post on Barna's book, Revolution:
According to historian Rodney Stark, Christianity's rapid growth in the earliest centuries was because the Church was lived out as the church. In his book, The Rise of Christianity, he writes,
Christianity did not grow because of miracle working in the marketplace (although there may have been much of that going on) or because Constantine said it should, or even because martyrs gave it such credibility. It grew because Christians constituted an intense communi...And the primary means of it's growth was through the unified and motivated efforts of the growing numbers of Christian believers, who invited their friends, relatives and neighbors to share the good news." p. 208
4) It's okay that my friend Cameron Jorgenson hasn't posted since Christmas. He's a Ph.D. student, and is probably one of the smartest guys I know. I'm sure we will be reading his books one day.
5) Great post about Bruce Wilkinson and how the Prayer of Jabez fell short in Africa Very good reflection.
HT: Mike DeVries
6) Chuck Colson doesn't like the direction our worship is heading
HT: Ember Burning
Here's an excerpt:
When church music directors lead the congregation in singing some praise music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We had been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called, "Draw Me Close to You." The song has zero theological content and could be sung in a nightclub, for that matter. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed at us and said in a cheerful voice, "Let's sing that again, shall we?" "No!" I shouted loudly. Heads all around me spun while my wife cringed.
Posted by rhett at 06:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 08, 2006
Camus...
Brent Thomas has got a great post on Rand, Manson, and the Horror of the Human Heart.
I have always liked The Stranger, but have always been a little "depressed" upon reading it.
So I appreciate Brent's post on this topic...
Posted by rhett at 11:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Some examples of blogging for academic use....
I would have loved to have a class blog when I was in college or seminary for that matter.
Posted by rhett at 09:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 07, 2006
This Thursday in class....
Christians Who Counsel: The Vocation of Wholistic Therapy
I'm really looking forward to my Clinical Foundations class this week, as Dr. Ray Anderson will be speaking to us and answering some questions.
Dr. Anderson has been one of the most influential people in my life, and he has influenced my theological outlook in many ways. If you haven't read any of his books, I recommend you beginning to do so.
He has many, but I especially like The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering MInistry With Theological Praxis.
Posted by rhett at 10:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 06, 2006
One of our college students goes pro....
One of the great joys of working with college students is their mindset coupled with the stage of life they are in. For the most part they are full of life and energy, and ready to go out and take on the world. In this process it is a great joy to watch they use the gifts God gave them, and to glorify God in different avenues of this world. One such college student is Patrick Ianni, who played soccer at UCLA, and left this last week, during his junior year to play pro soccer with Houston.
Pat is a gifted soccer player, winning the co-player of the year award in the Pac-10 last year.
Pat is not only a gifted soccer player, but is a wonderful Christian man who lives his life for Christ both on and off the field. About a year and half ago I received a call from the Daily Bruin to comment on Pat and his Christianity. They thought it was quite unusual, or different, that an athlete would put in his player bio that he wanted to one day become a pastor.
Check out this article if you want to get a sense of what kind of guy Pat is.
Pat, we were, and are, really blessed to have you as a part of our ministry. We are sad that you are no longer with us each week, but we are excited for Houston, and we will be praying for you.
Posted by rhett at 11:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 03, 2006
What they didn't formally teach me in seminary: Being Present With Someone
There were many things that I learned in seminary, very valuable things that will enrich my life forever. Then there are always those things that you felt like you didn't learn. Now if you have been to seminary you know what I mean. You get to your first church position and you realize I wasn't really taught anything about how to handle a church budget. And after all, maybe you didn't need to learn that. Or you realize, I was never taught how to handle a crisis phone call, and then again, maybe that's something you learn on the fly. The list goes on and one, but those are some of the things. Now if you haven't been to seminary, than maybe you have realized certain deficits in your pastor. We all have them, but you might be thinking, didn't he or she learn that in seminary. Maybe not.
My Master of Divinity program at Fuller Theological Seminary was 144 quarter credits. That's three years full-time, all year round. And they are packing a lot into those three years. Even though we wish we could have gotten more, there just wasn't enough time.
But recently I have learned that the biggest deficit in my seminary education was pastoral counseling. And maybe not even that since I could have taken the class. But the idea of being with someone and not having to spew out more religious talk, or theology, or talk about God, but rather just being with someone. Instead we are often taught that being busy, (Check out Chris's post) is what makes a good pastor and ministry.
But in this process of being busy, we fail to truly be present to most people that we come into contact with. We run around with our heads cut off making decisions, listening to concerns, counseling others, preaching, etc., and rarely do I get the sense that we are truly present with someone.
That is why it is odd to me that for an occupation/calling that puts us in direct situations with people who want someone to listen, that we never received lots of training in the field of pastoral counseling, or just listening. Pastors are really good at talking, but sometimes fail to listen. If I knew, and I really should have known that a majority of my ministry is spending one on one time with college students, or small group time with college students, I would like to have gone back and taken more classes on pastoral counseling. And not pastoral counseling that teaches the pastor that he or she has all the answers and his or her job is only to spew out advice, but pastoral counseling that teaches the pastor to really be present with someone. To really listen to someone. To really be able to sit in someone's pain with them, etc.
Maybe this is why I am back in grad school again at Fuller working on my Marriage and Family Therapy degree. I think that for the first time I am truly learning what it means to be totally present with someone. See, I always thought I was before, and I think most people would have thought I was being attentive and caring. But what I am realizing about myself is that the times when I thought I was being present, I still had thoughts about the next sermon going through my head; still had thoughts about what ministerial task needed to be completed as soon as I was done spending time with this person; still felt on edge a little bit knowing how much had to be done that day, and that I needed to get back in the office to get back in front of the computer to finish work.
I would much rather have a ministry that made people feel like they were most important to you. That when they were with you, they felt and knew that you were totally present.
This doesn't mean that I let everything else slide like administrative tasks, preaching, etc. But I think it does mean that you, or I re-prioritize our tasks. Because when people feel connected, and they feel that you truly treat them as humans and are present with them, that makes everything else in ministry better, such as the administration and the preaching.
So seminary can't teach you everything. Some things you have to learn in your internship and in your job. Sometimes you learn in a formal way, other times it is on the fly. And all of it is lifelong learning.
But I hope that I am learning, and am getting better at being truly present with someone.
Posted by rhett at 10:05 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
From the world of WOW!
If you want to know what the above image is about, read Andrew Jones' post
Posted by rhett at 09:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Some fascinating reading for the weekend.....
Drew Sams is one of my favorite new bloggers, and I'm not just saying that since we are going to become brother-in-laws in June. He continues in this post some interesting reflection after his lunch with the Barna Group.
Tod Bolsinger is continuing to put up good reflections on George Barna's new book Revolution
Read here for Ryan Bolger's thoughts on the two week long intensive class that he and Eddie Gibbs are teaching at Fuller on the "Emerging Church". My friends in the class tell me that it has been great, and that the class is quite diverse both in church tradition, ethnicity and thought. Should make for interesting conversation.
Mark D. Roberts has got a great four part series here dealing with truth and ethics, as he takes a look at the James Frey and Oprah Winfrey debacle.
Read here for a transcript of Bono's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Narnia's Prince Caspian is on its way
HT: Smart Christian
Posted by rhett at 09:28 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 01, 2006
3.57
"Although the typical believer contends that the Bible is accurate in what it teaches, he or she spends less time reading the Bible in a year than watching television, listening to music, reading other books and publications, or conversing about personal hobbies and leisure interests."
Revolution pp.33
Interesting quote from the book Revolution.
Tonight I challenged my college group to read the whole Bible, from cover to cover:
1189 chapters in the Bible
333 days left in the year
3.57 chapters a day to complete it
I have been really amazed over the last month of just how transformative the word of God is. Should seem obvious, right. But I think we rarely realize just how transformative it is from straight reading. We often feel like if we are not studying the passage, or exegeting it, or preaching it, etc, etc.....then we wonder if it really has any affect upon us.
But what I am finding these days is what happens when one just reads the word of God. I encouraged my students to take up this challenge for one main reason. Not so that they can check off one more spiritual task, or so they can add another accomplishment to their spiritual star chart.....but so they can have a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we read the word of God we are interacting in a very relational way with Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in this process.
I also encouraged them to not go about this in a legalistic way...if they miss a day here and there, well then, they miss a day. There will be ups and downs. I also reminded them that this will require a lot of discipline, but they will find within the first month or two that the discipline, though still there, will give way to joy and pleasure, and the anticipation of wanting to read God's word each day. They will soon find that their day does not begin on the right foot if it hasn't begun in God's word. They will soon find that they can't go to bed at night, and their day will seem incomplete, unless they have spent time in it.
3.57....that is all it takes.
I am finding now that 3.57 is not enough for me. I want to read and read, but then I realize I have to get to work and go about other things in my life as well.
And if you are having trouble getting started, well Bible in a Year will help you out, and will mail out your passages to you each day.
Posted by rhett at 11:51 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
