an evangelical seduction?

I found an article in USA TODAY that brought up some interesting questions with the fall out of the drama involving Jon & Kate. It's an interesting read. Click here for article

Now whether you want admit it or not, I am sure you have heard about Jon & Kate Plus 8. I am not here to judge or defend this couple. Actually, I am saddened over what the Gosselin family has gone through. But I think their lives beg a bigger question than the article linked above brings up. The question that we as the American church need to answer is, how do we pursue Christ-like character in a celebrity driven culture?

The article above used the word "seduced" in regards to the evangelical church claiming the Gosselin family for their own. It's a word laced with imagery, but it fits. However, I don't think it was their "piety" that drew in so many from the realm of the church-going. Actually, I think a legitimate malady of today's western Christian sub-culture reared it's head. Let me explain.

For some reason the Duggars - the massive family with a different reality show on TLC who profess faith in Christ - don't seem to get the media love that the Gosselins have. Let's face it, Jon & Kate were perceived as the "cool" couple with adorable kids that happened to wear the appropriate t-shirts flashing bible verses. They were also willing to show on TV they went to church. What's not to love!?!... So, my pragmatic side wonders, was it simply the fact that the American church was looking for celebrities of some sort that might validate the claim that faith in Christ is still "relevant" or "cool" in the here and now?

Now, just for kicks, compound the American church's perceived lack of relevancy with this next reality. Our culture is enamored with instant everything - from fast food to hi-speed internet. Shoot, even William Hung parlayed his short yet memorable audition on American Idol into an album. The fact is we love everything "on demand" at the touch of button - even our celebrities. Realistically Jon & Kate fall into this category of instant celebrity. They went from being a couple with just twins to adding sextuplets, then mix in a TLC one-hour special, and bang... stardom. Five years later they are household conversation nationwide.

It's clear our culture has cultivated an obsession with celebrities. But here's the irony, today's celebrities don't seem to have the wherewithal or the consistency of character to avoid the pitfalls that come their way. Instead, once these celebrities have the spotlight, they only intensify that spotlight by scandalizing their lives - DUI's, questionable internet pics/videos, etc... you know what I am talking about. Today, celebrities rise quickly and fall even faster.

So, where does that leave the church to stand? Well, after watching how many in the evangelical contingent ate up everything Jon & Kate I would say the American church followed the culture's lead. Don't misread this as a knock on the Gosselins (or even the Duggars for that matter), this is the furthest thing from the sort. More appropriately, I believe this evidences how far today's pop-culture has crept into the way the American church follows Jesus.

This enfatuation, even borderline obsession, with the instant even colors our perspective on our faith. The reality of our mindset is actually more similar to our modern day attitude toward a "dial-up" connection - it's nothing more than an inconvenient truth that can affect our lives in those unexpected moments in the middle of nowhere. It's apparent in our pulpits when preachers say you can "claim the blessings" that are our birthright NOW. Or in our bookstores when authors write about 5-step processes to experience the victorious Christian life today.

The mentality many of us have about our spirituality is not what author Eugene Peterson would call for; he asks us to view it as "a long obedience in the same direction." I would have to agree with Peterson's take. When I look at Biblical heroes very few were instant. Goliath was slain by a boy who cultivated a trust in the God who delivered him (and his sheep) from a lion and a bear. Israel walked across the Red Sea following the lead of a murderer - redeemed by God - who had fled from Egypt before. The man known as the "father of many nations" had to wait years past his prime for Yahweh to make good on the promise of a son. Unlike the Bible, it doesn't seem that we in today's church cherish the fellow saints in our faith communities who have walked with Christ well for years, for decades. We like our Christian role models like we like our celebrities - instant, successful, hip, relevant, and sexy (ok maybe that's too strong, in the least, "attractive").

Maybe it's just me, but this saga involving the Gosselin family serves a simple reminder. When Jesus called His disciples, He called them to follow. He called them to come along with Him and follow as individuals in community. He calls us to do the same today, as He leads. Learning to follow takes time, because we are submitting to another's design and direction. It can not and will not be quick. He called the disciples to follow Him as He moved toward the cross and the empty tomb. They grew by a strength not their own into following well enough to step where He stepped, to speak how He spoke, and to love as He loved.

So, as we move forward in this same strength, let us be wary of the spirit of this age that screams "instantly", "faster", and "now!" May we embrace a focus on the only celebrity with life in His hand, the One worthy of celebrating - Jesus, the Christ! And may God grant us the resolve to NOT succumb to the seduction of evangelicals today - the celebration of the instant.

when good things become god things...

I am not sure what you may think of Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill in Seattle. For those of you that know the name know that he can be a polarizing figure. Whatever you may think of him, the fact is he wants people to encounter Jesus as Lord.

This talk he gave to a group of ministry leaders forced me to do a "worship check". There are seasons of my soul where I need to periodically "check" my heart and ask God to weed out my crap. Hearing this talk led me to echo David's prayer in Psalm 139:23-24. ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It's entitled simply "Ministry Idolatry". Click here to link to the download page... May you be blessed by it as I have been.

the possibilities of provision

So, I’ve been reading through the Gospel of John lately, and as funny as it sounds it has been good for me to get reacquainted with the Jesus that John knew. Anyway, for the last couple of days one phrase in a very familiar passage has forced me toward much over-thinking. Shocking, I know.

The story is the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand in John 6. You know the story. The masses are following Jesus around, and He looks at Philip and says, “so, where we gonna get food for everybody!?!” Philip then plays the part of the realist letting Jesus know that eight months of wages couldn’t pay for this crowd’s meal. After that Andrew steps forward with a boy. The boy’s got five barley loaves and two fish. Then Jesus prayed, everyone ate, and abracadabra... leftovers. As awe-inspiring as the whole account is, it’s been one little verse that has captured me. Stuck in between Jesus’ query and Philip’s helpful insight (note the sarcasm) there stands verse 6. “He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.”

This little verse stirs wonder with in me. Jesus obviously had the whole storyline for that moment in mind, yet he thought it appropriate to “test” Philip. Jesus knew what He was going to do to work things out, but He still desired to engage Philip in the process. Part of me wonders what would have happened if Philip would have responded differently.

What would have happened if Philip didn’t respond with the skepticism and disbelief that the text portrays? Maybe Philip would have found the boy with the goods. Or Jesus could have had Philip touch a rock and make bread appear. Or Jesus could have had Philip physically regurgitate enough whole loaves of bread to feed the masses just for dramatic effect. The possibilities are endless.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter what the provision for the 5,000 was. What matters is that Jesus had a provision in mind. The reality of provision wasn’t contingent on Philip’s response, it was there already – Jesus knew the end of the story. The only thing contingent on Philip's response was Philip's experience of the story unfolding.

As I meditate more on this account I am struck by one thing. If Jesus is asking, the answer is in His hands. If He is asking me to go somewhere or do something, He’s already HAS the way in mind. It may not necessarily look like I picture or even want, but that’s for Jesus to work out, not me. So many times I forget this, and I respond as Philip. Instead of seeing Jesus as the Holder of all possibilities and responding with whatever I have, I doubt or delay in choosing obedience because I respond to what I don’t have or don’t see.

Oddly, it’s reminiscent of Isaiah 6. Do you remember that story? Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne. The angels were calling out, “holy, holy, holy.” The place was shaking and filling with smoke. Then Isaiah cried in verse 5, “Woe to me!... I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then the craziest thing happens, one of the angels does a fly by with a burning coal taken from the altar and touches Isaiah’s lips. If it's ok I would like to say something about this. I am not sure what things you have allowed to shape the constructs of your theology, but "suffering" has become one of mine. The moment with the coal is humbling and hopeful all once. As painful as that moment was, that act does what it was intended to do. Isaiah’s guilt is gone and his sin atoned for, so he is now able to respond rightly to God’s call issued later.

It's not too unlike my life, our lives. I, even as Christ-follower, have a tendency to do whatever it takes to avoid God's provision if it includes discomfort, suffering, or brokeness. And as I do what I can to protect myself from the pain, the fact is I am often saying "no" to the way God deemed necessary to bring about my wholeness. I'm just playing a hunch, but if Isaiah had a choice he probably would have preferred a different route other than having his lips burned with hot coals. The fact is it most likely hurt beyond comprehension. And it most likely left scars that would serve as an ever present reminder of how suffering (of all sorts) can give birth to a new intimacy with Christ and a new empowerment to press on as we follow Him.

To use this idea as a jumping off point, here’s the beautifully haunting similarity to John 6. Before Isaiah had even voiced his unworthiness God made a provision for him. The smoke filled the temple in verse 4, and then Isaiah publicly recognized his filthiness in verse 5. The coal used to cleanse this prophet had burned so long that its byproduct – the smoke – surrounded him as he spoke. God knew what was needed even before Isaiah understood how desperate his condition was. In that moment Isaiah knew no possible way to rightfully stand, all the while God had already provided the needed atonement.

Isn’t this amazing? With all the things God asks me to do or even reveals about my condition, I can find comfort in the reality that He is providing a way – His perfect means – for me to move forward with Him. It’s liberating. When God puts something before (or “tests”) me the onus is not on me to produce something I don’t have or even find the path myself. The onus is on Him. It’s on Him! When He asks or tests, He’s got the answer; He just wants me to engage with the possibilities of His provision.

don't waste your life...

found some video work on the Desiring God blog that challenged me to honestly evaluate. it is worth checking out.... click here.

woke up wanting...

Ever have mornings where you realize you are needy? You think about the day ahead with all that has to be done - work, caring for your kids, shopping for groceries, etc. - and you just exhale slowly as you try to clear your head. Then you realize how comfortable your bed is and all you want to do is curl up for another two hours. Well, that was me this morning. In that moment I didn't know what else to do but simply pray, "Jesus, help."

A moment later, I was forced out of bed by the wimpering pleas of my 1-year-old son. I say "forced" because he's one of those kids who gives you about 5 or 6 whimpers before he is all out "scrying" (for those that don't know that would be "screaming" + "crying"). Once the scries begin then big sister wakes up and the morning duties ensue before I have a chance to rub the crust out of my eyes. So, I got him up, went downstairs, got him some milk, changed his diaper, and laid him back down in his crib. He then went back to bed peacefully.

Now that I was up, I began my morning routine. After cleaning up and getting dressed for work I headed to the kitchen. As I began the ritual of getting the coffee brewed one thought kept running through my head, "Jesus, help." I emptied the filter, washed out the pot, filled the coffee maker with water, and then something abnormal happened. The Sacred crept in and overwhelmed the rote. As I scooped the grounds into the maker, words from an old worship song came forth from my mouth. And as I began to dwell on the words, my little prayer of "Jesus, help" had a melody.

It's a song called "I just want to be where You are" written a while back by Don Moen. Check out the lyrics below...

Verse 1
I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence
I don't want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are

Verse 2
I just want to be where You are in Your dwelling place forever
Take me to the place where You are, I just want to be with You

Chorus
I want to be where You are, dwelling in Your presence,
Feasting at Your table, surrounded by Your glory.
In Your presence, that's where I always want to be
I just want to be, I just want to be with You

There in the quiet of my kitchen I KNEW His presence - Immanuel, God with us - was enough to walk me through this day. I know this song may not express a perfect theology, but I can see past that because this song does express the frailty of a longing heart - my wanting heart. So, I am making it my prayer today before I feel any need to scry along with my son. (If you are where I have been this morning, I invite you to do the same.)

I am not sure why I felt so needy this morning. Maybe it's the sleep deprivation induced from living with a kid who is a lousy teether. Maybe it's because I realize I am not as capable as I thought I was to bear the burdens of my day. Or maybe it was simply to remind me that His mercies are new - today. All I know is that my morning coffee wouldn't have been as good if I hadn't woke up wanting...

the "gospel" in Galatians...

For those of you who are looking for a succinct and more holistic perspective on the term "gospel" in Galatians, the piece linked below by N.T. Wright is worth the read...

Click The Gospel in Galatians