Fractured Saints - never beyond mending - a christian blog for the broken ones

Dr. Martin Luther King once said ,“the most segregated hour in America is 11:00 on Sunday morning.” While segregation has been long since abolished (thanks be to God), most evangelical churches I’ve attended don’t have a lot of people of color in their pews. That’s NOT to say that the modern evangelical church is racist. I just think that we, as human beings, tend to naturally gravitate what we are familiar with. The result is our communities, churches, and lives end up being homogeneous.

Last week, however, my church decided to try a little experiment.

We have a Hispanic church worship at our church every Sunday evening. Sometimes we pass each other and say, “Hola,” but for the most part the two congregations never really interacted. That is, until this past Sunday when we had a joint worship service for both the Hispanic congregation and the regular congregation. We would worship God together in both English and Spanish, and then share a meal together after the service.

The service began with the Hispanic praise band singing two worship songs in Spanish. Then the regular praise band led everyone to worship. Our sermon was in both English and Spanish; our pastor said a few sentences in English, then an interpreter would repeat it in Spanish. As the service ended, we said the Lord’s Prayer in both English and Spanish, and closed with a hymn sung in both languages.

After the worship service the two congregations shared a meal together. And boy was it a meal! We had Hispanic dishes like tamales and tacos mixed alongside macaroni and cheese and fried chicken. As we ate we all chatted with each other about our churches, our jobs, and our lives. Everyone went home that day with full bellies and a new appreciation for people.

Throughout the day, I kept thinking about in Revelation where John sees people of every tribe, tongue, and nation praising God. God is so much bigger than language barriers, cultural differences, and national boundaries, and I think we all need to remind ourselves this from time to time. Hopefully my church will do this again some day.

Is it just me, or can Christians be sort of cliquish sometimes? I’ve noticed that if you identify yourself as a particular kind of Christian, you can only surround yourself with people and things associated with that identity. It’s like high school all over again.

Take for example the Emergent Christians and the Reformed Christians. If you check the bookshelves of any of my Emergent Christian peers, chances are you will see the same authors: Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Tony Jones, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jim Wallis, N.T. Wright, John Howard Yoder, and Shane Claiborne. Chances are emergent Christians listen to podcasts like The Nick and Josh Podcast, Something Beautiful (at least I hope they do!), Losing My Religion, and Homebrewed Christianity. The Reformed crowd, on the other hand, usually has these authors on their bookshelves: John Calvin, John Piper, Jonathan Edwards, R.C. Sproul, and Charles Spurgeon. They tend to subscribe to Mark Driscoll’s sermon podcast, and listen to Derek Webb. You won’t catch an Emergent reading John Piper, or a Reformed Christian reading N.T. Wright. They do, however, agree on two things: the prosperity gospel sucks, and Derek Webb is awesome. Other than that, they tend to stay on their own respective pews, occasionally maybe smiling at each other for a brief second.

Well, I happen to like both John Howard Yoder and Jonathan Edwards. Both Brian McLaren and Mark Driscoll have influenced my faith.

A few months ago on my blog, I said that the Emerging Church should avoid echo chambers and include other points of view in the conversation. Likewise, I think the Reformed Christians can learn a lot from the Emerging Christians. If we don’t listen to other points of view, how can we grow?

I originally posted this on my own blog a few weeks ago.

As you know, I am not a big fan of fundamentalism. To me, it’s theological school yard bullying. However, sometimes my hatred of fundamentalism makes me do stupid things, like hurt people.

First, let me start with my definition of fundamentalism. To me, a fundamentalist is some one who thinks that their interpretation of the Bible is the infallible word of God. Folks who believe that they’re always right and if you don’t fit into their cookie-cutter image then you’re a bad person. Those judgmental, holier-than-thou, authoritative, pious, “I’m right, you’re wrong, get used to it” folks. In the words of Barney Frank, trying to have a conversation with them is like arguing with a dining room table. I’d much rather have a conversation, and rethink a lot of the things Christian culture usually takes for granted.

(Of course when I say “a lot of the things Christian culture usually takes for granted,” I am NOT referring to the three biggies that are, to me, the fundamentals and Christianity: the Divinity of Jesus, His atoning death on the Cross, and His resurrection.)

Maybe it’s just my rebellious punk rock nature, but I always like to question things. If I don’t ask questions, how will I know that what I believe is legit? How can I separate what’s really biblical and what’s just a man-made doctrine? With fundamentalism, however, there is no room for questions. Either you accept everything they believe and fit into their little mold, or you’re not a true Christian.

I’m the first to admit that I am not perfect. I know I’m messed up. I know I haven’t gotten it all figured out. I’m still learning, and I’ll always be learning until the day I die. Yeah, I make mistakes along the way, but I keep learning. Don’t make me feel like a piece of crap just because I haven’t gotten it all together.

Having said all that, though, sometimes I falsely accuse people of being fundamentalist nut jobs. Sometimes I get so angry that I say things that are mean, hurtful, and unfair. I’m so defensive that I refuse to let down my guard and really listen to what the other side has to say. Even though I’m always saying both sides should talk to each other, I secretly don’t believe it.

I’ve been hurt by Christians in the past, but that doesn’t make it right for me to attack people. It’s like the bullied becomes the bully, and then the cycle continues. I need to learn how to stop the cycle, listen to the other side, and make peace with others.

The digital realm has been a mainstay in my life for as long as I can remember. I have “friends” who I have never met in person, that I have known for 10 years. The internet, mainly social networking sites like facebook, have created a new classification of relationships that I sometimes confuse with actual relationships.

Facebook is to relationships as porn and phone-sex is to intimacy. It gives off the sensation that this is real and we really do have a good relationship, but its all fake. I’m not saying that you can’t keep up with old friends and family who you no longer live near on facebook and things like that. I’m just saying it can never replace real relationships and don’t decieve yourself into thinking it has.

While browsing my Google Reader’s recommendations page, I came across one Nadia Bolz-Weber, pastor and author of the blog Sarcastic Lutheran. At first I was like, “Okay, tattooed female Lutheran pastor . . . interesting.” But the more I read, the more I realized that she has some amazing insights into the Scriptures.

One blog entry that got my attention was about a certain Lutheran radio talk show host who would often rip her sermons to shreds on air (figuratively speaking, of course). Well, thanks to a strange twist of fate, the two ended up have a conversation.

Excerpt:

Yet God paid this very little attention yesterday when, despite us both, my LCMS detractor – slash – conservative Christian radio host and I had a 30 minute long conversation which was filled with grace and honesty and in which twice he shed tears. We spoke of how desperate we both are for the gospel. Desperate enough to hear it even from each other. It’s weird that beautiful conversation happened at all since it’s basically impossible.

And yet God went ahead and did this for me—Put me and my enemy face to face yesterday. And in the past 6 months God has sent me a bunch of Evangelicals to be my brothers and sisters, to have meals with, to love. This is what happens when God does the impossible and, like the disciples, we get swept up into it. Our Small Catechism says that I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort come to my Lord Jesus or believe in him but the Holy Spirit has called me though the Gospel and enlightened me with the spirit’s gifts.

Even though I’m always talking about how we need to talk to one another so we can learn and connect and all that jazz, I secretly don’t believe in what I say. Mostly it’s because I’m too egotistical to let go of my own pride and try to see another’s point of view. But as Bolz-Weber says, “by my own understanding or effort I cannot have beautiful collaborative collegial relationships with Evangelicals, or have grace-filled conversations with my enemies.” In other words, reconciliation can’t happen without the grace of God.

Yes, yes, I am infatuated with Derek Webb it seems. But when I get convicted every time I listen to something, I feel compelled to share it. This is from The House Show and it’s him explaining the basis behind the song Nobody Loves Me. And I am amazed every time I hear it how right he is and how I still refuse to apply it in my own life.

“Flattery at its very best will encourage really nothing more in you and your community, then behavior modification. Modifying your behavior to act the way you should, to hide the things you do that are wrong, and to try to amplify the things that you do that are right.
But see here is the truth, all the behavior modification in the world will never change your heart and it can never change our communities. Jesus however, He does change our hearts and He will change our communities.”

Enjoy.

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Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Proverbs 9:8

So parenting again has laid a golden egg. The most ironic thing that I have found in life is that while I am trying to teach my kids things, I am finding that I really need to learn them myself. There have been several really good personal things, but the biggest thing right now is getting him to listen to correction.

The hilarious thing about teaching my son this is that I need to learn this FAR more than he does. The typical reaction that I have to a well placed rebuke or correction whether it comes from my wife, a friend or a direct stranger is to be defensive and often point out the flaws in their character. Conversations like this, especially among Christian men, usually boils down to “You suck”, “No you suck.” Or put more Biblically, “You have a log in your eye.” “Oh yeah, well you have a speck”.

This keeps us from being wise. I was actually really humbled by how many times Proverbs harps on this and yet my willingness to listen to correction and rebuke humbly and earnestly is weak at best. How much stronger would the church be if we put this into action. How much more sin could we be made aware of if we would only listen.

My son needs to learn this, but good grief, we could all use a dose of it as well, I being the foremost.

I have had a somewhat ongoing dialogue with a friend about strong language, and I am not sure whether this is what we are talking about or not but I thought I would put it up. I also think that real love needs harsh language. The love that pats you on the head and tells you your ok and everything will be alright isn’t Christian love. And acceptance of your friends sin and letting them live in it isn’t loving them it’s condemning them.

So here is the video I came acrossin a post on this blog which I think covers it well. What are your thoughts on this some what touchy issue?

As a nation we have turned into little inwardly focused units that ignore the problems and turmoil of the “world outside”. We busy ourselves with our issues and our own interest so much that we “don’t have time for other people”. Is that what God calls us to? A life centered around a family unit or a small group of close friends?

Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying that there is something wrong with spending time with family. There isn’t, but there needs to be a balance and you need to use the gifts that God gives YOU to build his kingdom. And not hope that instilling this value in your kids will get them to do it for you.

It came to my attention recently that we as “self-proclaimed” Christians have a lot of power in how Christianity is viewed in our social circles. Everyone I know has had a negative experience associated with someone claiming to be a Christian, even I have.

Our actions even when we aren’t yelling, “I love Jesus” on the street corner are so important. Once we have established (or branded) ourselves as Christians our actions or mis-actions will be associated with anyone else calling themselves a Christian anytime later in the observers life, much like how the negative views of Christians are being placed on us now.