The Equation

So I'm talking with my friend Nick yesterday about lots of stuff. I hadn't seen Nick in a month. He just got married last month and had spent the last week at church camp. Church camp is a funny thing. I used to think it was so cheesy until I began working as a counselor and realized that many of the kids that go to camp live in some pretty messed up situations. So, really, it's a great opportunity to impact the lives of young people. And so when Nick told me about how impacting his week at church camp had been, I assumed he meant in the lives of the campers. But he was actually talking about himself. Ya see, church camp is also a place to hang out with friends and talk about life and love and eternity until 6:30 in the morning. And that's what Nick did. And as he talked with other counselors and with campers, he began to realize that the Christian "formula" under which he came to faith in Christ (and which I came to faith in Christ) just didn't make sense to these campers. And not just to the campers, but to this entire emerging generation. It doesn't ring true. Now, DON'T mishear what I'm saying (or writing) - I'm not saying the Gospel of Jesus doesn't ring true, I'm saying the way evangelical Christian churches have presented it for the last several decades doesn't ring true. We're products of the modern era, which was dominated by scientific fact. The equation 2+2=4 gives us great comfort. This is a known fact. We know it is certain and that's why we like it.

For a long time the Church has tried to present the Gospel of Jesus like a formula: Do x, then do y and poof - you're a Christian. We've reduced the gospel to formulas and steps and pithy sayings when all along our faith has been about one thing: Following Jesus. Our faith is about a Way - not about checking off items on a "to do" list. I am a follower in the Way of Jesus. That's it. That's what I've been called to. Jesus said, "Come, follow me". He didn't give us a to do list or a formula we had to follow. There is a mystery to our faith. There are things no formula can explain. Let's embrace the mystery. Let's leave room for the gray areas of life. Let's follow Jesus and pursue him instead of the laundry list of ideas, beliefs and values that we tell people they must assent to before they can be a Christian. Let's reclaim the mystery in our faith and die to the equation once and for all - for our own good and for the good of this world that Jesus died to save. If we do this, I think we'll be surprised at the people who start coming around when we are able to affirm their journey and affirm their search for truth. We might even start a revolution...

Simple

I had a conversation after worship yesterday with a guy we'll call Jim. Jim wanted a chance to respond to what I had said in my message during the service. Jim is a middle-aged, recovering addict. He has recently begun attending services with his family. Jim had been turned-off and burnt-out by the church and religion in general in the past. As an addict, and even as a recovering addict, he has never felt welcome in a faith community. So Jim has responded whole-heartedly to the message of love and grace and acceptance that we try to communicate at The Journey. I am currently teaching a message series on seven passions that help to define the lives of Christ followers (I do not claim this is an exhaustive list, but I believe that it is an important one). Yesterday I spoke about the practice of service and how that practice really communicates who we are and what we believe. Jim was very excited about the message and as we spoke after the service he said: "That's it - that's the Gospel of Christ. I know theology is important but I'm going to leave that to the theologians (paraphrase). People shouldn't have any problem knowing what I believe when they see how I live. I'm going to stand for Jesus. I'm going to stand for love" (paraphrase). Could it really be that simple? Can the gospel of Jesus Christ be communicated without words? Admittedly, as a preacher that makes me nervous. On the other hand, I was so excited because Jim gets it. He gets the gospel. Remember when Jesus said the message is so simple that children can understand? I'll tell you this - my kids don't understand a lick of theology - but they sure know love when they see it. And I think about how powerful the love of Jesus is and how much of an impact the church can have when our emphasis is on love - not on condemnation or judgment or who's right or who's wrong - but on love. I think it's easy to talk about love and to talk about doctrine and to talk about who's right and who's wrong. I like to talk because it's easy. What's not so easy is figuring out what my words look like when they are put to action. So, here's the question - what does the Gospel of Jesus look like? I know what it says...I know what the words are...but what does it look like? In a culture that is dominated by visual images we better figure that out. And in the meantime, maybe we should stop talking and start serving. There really is no better way to show the world that God loves them. More tomorrow...(That's right, I said tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!)

Peace and Towels,
Dan