I don't know about you, but I'm glad the Olympics are over. It was fun and exciting to watch. But after a while you get tired of them. Luckily they only come around every two years.
In reflecting back on those two weeks, it appears that Andy Warhol's statement about fame has been proven. Michael Phelps was the big story with is eight gold medal performances. It's still a great accomplishment and will probably stand for quite a while, maybe forever. The media has moved on however and so has the water cooler conversation.
Despite being out of the limelight, Phelps' performance has much to teach us about living faithfully to God. Three of his eight gold medals were in team events. If not for the incredible swim of his teammate Jason Lezak in the 4X100M relay, Phelps' total would have been only seven.
I'm learning a lot about teamwork. As a middle school teacher, teaming among teachers is the norm. All the math teachers in our grade level plan together, schedule together, etc. We even have integration teams that link several disciplines as we work together to teach our non-academic core classes together. Ideas, suggestions, support and help freely flow from one person to another. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people in the world to be part of the school team known as Clayton Middle School.
The idea of teamwork is beginning to permeate most of my life. I have organized all my students into teams. I told them it was because in real life, you never work alone. They were to also use the teams for peer support. Some of the responsibility for each student's individual success will depend on the help of his or her team.
I coach the school's volleyball the team. Final cuts were Thursday. At the first practice on Friday I told them they were only a squad right now. Their goal was to learn to play as a team. We began making strides toward that goal by the end of practice yesterday.
In the religious world, we call teams "community". On this faith journey outside the walls of the brick and mortar church, the need for a team is ever apparent. Living faithfully cannot be done alone. Life has normalized for us after a difficult six months. I'm amazed at the people God has placed in my path. I haven't built a team yet, but I know one is coming. More than gold medals await as result.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
What do you do when . . .
An old seminary bud has posted some interesting thoughts on pursuing your passions, regardless of the results. Be sure to read my comment and follow-up question to his thoughts.
I'll repeat my question here with some elaboration. I believe God has given us all talents, gifts, and passions. The three are not the same,though overlap may exist. Talents are those things we do naturally well. Gifts are those things God gives us and enables us to do "divinely well" (as Zola Levitt described them) for the purposes of building up the body of Christ and the Church. Passions are those things we relentlessly pursue because of the fulfillment they bring.
Here's the question. What do you do when your talents, gifts, and passions lead you in three different directions? Do you devote more energy to one at the neglect of the other? I pose this question because of the personal dilemma I am currently experiencing. I believe that I have certain gifts that will not be used unless I am in a brick and mortar church. I have discovered and re-discovered some passions that I am now pursuing. I am finding great fulfillment in them, though, perhaps selfishly. My new job as 7th grade math teacher certainly utilizes what I consider some of my natural talents.
Granted, there is some considerable overlap among the three areas. However, in the case of the gifts not being utilized, what do you think? Personally, I believe that I am being led to find another medium whereby they can be employed, not restricting them to the rigid paradigm of the brick and mortar church as the only church. (Forgive my lapse into intellectual speak) Besides losing yourself in your own introspection about your personal situation, I'd like your thoughts. How do you divy up your energy between talents, passions, and gift when there are all different?
I'll repeat my question here with some elaboration. I believe God has given us all talents, gifts, and passions. The three are not the same,though overlap may exist. Talents are those things we do naturally well. Gifts are those things God gives us and enables us to do "divinely well" (as Zola Levitt described them) for the purposes of building up the body of Christ and the Church. Passions are those things we relentlessly pursue because of the fulfillment they bring.
Here's the question. What do you do when your talents, gifts, and passions lead you in three different directions? Do you devote more energy to one at the neglect of the other? I pose this question because of the personal dilemma I am currently experiencing. I believe that I have certain gifts that will not be used unless I am in a brick and mortar church. I have discovered and re-discovered some passions that I am now pursuing. I am finding great fulfillment in them, though, perhaps selfishly. My new job as 7th grade math teacher certainly utilizes what I consider some of my natural talents.
Granted, there is some considerable overlap among the three areas. However, in the case of the gifts not being utilized, what do you think? Personally, I believe that I am being led to find another medium whereby they can be employed, not restricting them to the rigid paradigm of the brick and mortar church as the only church. (Forgive my lapse into intellectual speak) Besides losing yourself in your own introspection about your personal situation, I'd like your thoughts. How do you divy up your energy between talents, passions, and gift when there are all different?
Friday, August 8, 2008
Yes, I'm still doing this
I haven't posted here in over a month. That's not at all what I had intended back in the spring when I created this blog. My intent had been to post the raw emotion and unedited thoughts that surged through my mind as I experienced life following God outside the brick and mortar church. But a couple of things happened along the way. I started filling in at a church that's in between pastors right now. Whenever I got some blistering thought or essay that I wanted to post, I did not have access to a computer. By the time I had the opportunity to post, the emotion had died down and I had decided that maybe my words were too strong or too easily misunderstood. So I decided against publishing them.
The thing that has hampered my posting the most has been my thoughts on being a revolutionary. Early in this journey, I will admit to dreams of being some type of revolutionary leader. This "home church" thing is not new, so I'm not talking revolutionary in that sense. I must admit however that I was looking at making a statement and bringing a change in the small part of the church universe of which I am part.
The glory of the revolution is really cool. The benefits AFTER the revolution certainly are tremondous. The reality of the revolution is not. Those of us in the Protestant universe look to Martin Luther and the revolution he began, breaking away from the Roman Catholic church. We Americans look to our Founding Fathers as heroes of our country. In modern history, we look to Ghandi as a great leader in the freeing of India. Closer to home, we honor the man who was greatly influenced by Ghandi and changed the face of race relations in our own country, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Not to be sexist, we have great revolutionaries like Susan B. Anthony who fought for a woman's right to vote.
Being a revolutionary sounds cool. You get to wear olive or black cargo pants, dark colored turtlenecks, and berets. You are surrounded by people who believe in your cause. You experience a continual adrenaline rush as you subvert the authority around you. And the reality of all the above heroes is that their lives were often in great peril. The larger part of society, or at least it's power structures, were not in favor of their revolution. I'm betting that many of them lost close and precious friends as they parted ways because of the revolution.
I like the costume part of the revolution, but I'm not real excited about potentially losing friends because I've been misunderstood. As our family navigates this new part of our journey, we're still struggling with making sure that everyone is adequately ministered to AND has an adequate opportunity to minister using his or her gifts. We are in a continual state of reflection, wondering if this really is the right thing for our family.
But, we trudge on. Being transparent, honest, and a little bit raw in my emotion, we have finally moved out of our survival stage. Since resigning from my last pastorate, we have been floundering. We have dealt with the pain and hurt we experienced that led to my resignation. We have struggled with trying to determine where God was leading us next. We held onto this vision of a church without the brick and mortar, but we have been disappointed because we have not been able to really go anywhere with it.
And certainly not least of all has been the ever constant question of how will I support my family now that I am out of job. In fact, it's probably been the greatest issue of all, despite our trust in God that he would take care of our needs. And boy did he ever. Sometime I'll have to tell you all the wonderful ways he provided for us during that time. Thankfully, that part has finally been answered. Now we feel like we can get out of survival mode and really begin pursuing this vision.
Yes, I'm still doing this. My family honestly believes we are on the course God has set before us. While it may not be revolutionary in a universal sense, it certainly is revolutionary for our family. It's not easy in a variety of ways. Even though revolutions are often dangerous, we faithfully trudge on, trusting that the benefits will far outweigh any perceived casualties along the way. The Beatles asked if we really wanted a revolution. I say yes.
The thing that has hampered my posting the most has been my thoughts on being a revolutionary. Early in this journey, I will admit to dreams of being some type of revolutionary leader. This "home church" thing is not new, so I'm not talking revolutionary in that sense. I must admit however that I was looking at making a statement and bringing a change in the small part of the church universe of which I am part.
The glory of the revolution is really cool. The benefits AFTER the revolution certainly are tremondous. The reality of the revolution is not. Those of us in the Protestant universe look to Martin Luther and the revolution he began, breaking away from the Roman Catholic church. We Americans look to our Founding Fathers as heroes of our country. In modern history, we look to Ghandi as a great leader in the freeing of India. Closer to home, we honor the man who was greatly influenced by Ghandi and changed the face of race relations in our own country, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Not to be sexist, we have great revolutionaries like Susan B. Anthony who fought for a woman's right to vote.
Being a revolutionary sounds cool. You get to wear olive or black cargo pants, dark colored turtlenecks, and berets. You are surrounded by people who believe in your cause. You experience a continual adrenaline rush as you subvert the authority around you. And the reality of all the above heroes is that their lives were often in great peril. The larger part of society, or at least it's power structures, were not in favor of their revolution. I'm betting that many of them lost close and precious friends as they parted ways because of the revolution.
I like the costume part of the revolution, but I'm not real excited about potentially losing friends because I've been misunderstood. As our family navigates this new part of our journey, we're still struggling with making sure that everyone is adequately ministered to AND has an adequate opportunity to minister using his or her gifts. We are in a continual state of reflection, wondering if this really is the right thing for our family.
But, we trudge on. Being transparent, honest, and a little bit raw in my emotion, we have finally moved out of our survival stage. Since resigning from my last pastorate, we have been floundering. We have dealt with the pain and hurt we experienced that led to my resignation. We have struggled with trying to determine where God was leading us next. We held onto this vision of a church without the brick and mortar, but we have been disappointed because we have not been able to really go anywhere with it.
And certainly not least of all has been the ever constant question of how will I support my family now that I am out of job. In fact, it's probably been the greatest issue of all, despite our trust in God that he would take care of our needs. And boy did he ever. Sometime I'll have to tell you all the wonderful ways he provided for us during that time. Thankfully, that part has finally been answered. Now we feel like we can get out of survival mode and really begin pursuing this vision.
Yes, I'm still doing this. My family honestly believes we are on the course God has set before us. While it may not be revolutionary in a universal sense, it certainly is revolutionary for our family. It's not easy in a variety of ways. Even though revolutions are often dangerous, we faithfully trudge on, trusting that the benefits will far outweigh any perceived casualties along the way. The Beatles asked if we really wanted a revolution. I say yes.
Monday, July 7, 2008
back in the saddle
Last week I agreed to help out a brick and mortar church. I said yes to the request to serve as their supply pastor. What this means is that I will fill the pulpit for them for a while until they can secure a permanent pastor. Hopefully this helps illustrate that I do not indeed have any disdain for the brick and mortar church. This church is full of wonderful people who are serving God and living in relationship with him the best they can in the best way they know how. I am more than happy to help for a while.
It certainly throws a small wrench into our current plans, especially as they concern our gathering with another family. It may turn out to be a constructive wrench as we are forced to abandon even the idea of a Sunday morning gathering. I don't know how long this arrangement will last. I'm just happy to help the folks of Bethel Wesleyan Church out and continue to move my own family forward.
It certainly throws a small wrench into our current plans, especially as they concern our gathering with another family. It may turn out to be a constructive wrench as we are forced to abandon even the idea of a Sunday morning gathering. I don't know how long this arrangement will last. I'm just happy to help the folks of Bethel Wesleyan Church out and continue to move my own family forward.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
To Build or Not To Build
Ben Witherington, NT scholar extradornaire, has posted an excellent review on George Barna's and Frank Viola's new book Pagan Christianity. Sorry for the multiple links in that last sentence - they're all worth following. I've not read the book yet myself, but I gather its gist is that the way we do church nowadays is more a result of institutional bureacracy trying to preserve itself more than fulfilling what Christianity is supposed to be about. It sounds like the perfect followup to Barna's previous book Revolution, where he makes a very strong argument against meeting in brick and mortar churches each week when the more effective manner in today's social climate would be house churches. Please note that I said "strong argument" not "effective" or "convincing".
(NOTE: Since my post this morning, BW3 has posted another entry on Ch 2. I have no idea if he will do this for every chapter in the book. My comments from here on only deal with his analysis of Ch 1)
If I had all day to write and you had all day to read, I would quote from Dr. Witherington's post extensively and add my hearty "Amen!" to his critique. I'll trust you will take the time to read his comments. I'll just say that I concur wholeheartedly with Dr. BW3's statements regarding ordained ministry, the necessity of sacred space and time, the mystery of the divine, and his criticisms of shoddy and insufficient scholarship used to bolster convenient claims.
My agreement with Dr. BW3 may seem baffling to friends and family who are closely watching my current endeavors with a worried eye or to those who are watching from a distance because this might turn out to be an interesting sideshow. At times, I can come off very anti-establishment or anti-institutional. I recently had a long discussion with someone about how frustrated I had become with my own denominational home, The Wesleyan Church, and its policies, bureacracy, and institution in general. I even hinted at leaving. I stand by all my criticisms and frustrations, but I ain't going nowhere yet.
So what's going on here? Why is someone who has pledged to leave the brick and mortar church behind, at least for a while, disagreeing with what should be such a welcome work like Pagan Christianity and the philosophy which undergirds much of the house church movement? Dr.BW3's post has created the perfect opportunity for me to clarify exactly what is going on the mind of Matt Guthrie and the path he's taking his family down.
Let me begin by affirming the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. For all her problems, she is an institution established by God himself. Though she has problems and insufficiencies now, one day Christ will return and present her to his father as the perfect bride. I am not about to go about bashing Christ's bride. I may not like the way she cooks and cleans, but I gotta love her.
Keeping in line with Dr.BW3's comments on church buildings, let me explain why no brick and mortar church for me at this time. A church building is a tool. It is very important tool because it provides a place to gather for worship. This hopefully allows for the building and strengthening of the bonds of community as well as providing a place for other acts of ministry. The problem with buildings is that sometimes instead of becoming a tool, it becomes the controlling factor in a church's life, the church's identity itself. "Community" does not seem to exist outside its four walls. Ministry is not taken into the world - the world must come to it. Maintenance of the building becomes a major budget item, taking away from other ministry funds.
Do not read anything I am not saying. I am by no means implying that ALL churches fall into this trap. What I am saying is that a church building is not the ONLY and best tool. Tapping into my idealistic, purist, and yes, even my anti-establishment tendencies, my desire is to broaden the collection in the church's tool box. I dream of a network of home churches that experience community in the sense of doing life together on a daily basis. I dream of a network that understands the need for sacred space and time, even in the home, and longs for the mystery of a divine encounter in its worship. I dream of a network that because of its unique place in the social fabric of today's society is able to reach people a brick and mortar church could never reach. I dream of a network where the people live out their faith in daily incarnational ministry to the world immediately around it and abroad.
Right now this is all a dream. It's a long way from being fulfilled. But it's worth pursuing. It's something I'm excited about building.
(NOTE: Since my post this morning, BW3 has posted another entry on Ch 2. I have no idea if he will do this for every chapter in the book. My comments from here on only deal with his analysis of Ch 1)
If I had all day to write and you had all day to read, I would quote from Dr. Witherington's post extensively and add my hearty "Amen!" to his critique. I'll trust you will take the time to read his comments. I'll just say that I concur wholeheartedly with Dr. BW3's statements regarding ordained ministry, the necessity of sacred space and time, the mystery of the divine, and his criticisms of shoddy and insufficient scholarship used to bolster convenient claims.
My agreement with Dr. BW3 may seem baffling to friends and family who are closely watching my current endeavors with a worried eye or to those who are watching from a distance because this might turn out to be an interesting sideshow. At times, I can come off very anti-establishment or anti-institutional. I recently had a long discussion with someone about how frustrated I had become with my own denominational home, The Wesleyan Church, and its policies, bureacracy, and institution in general. I even hinted at leaving. I stand by all my criticisms and frustrations, but I ain't going nowhere yet.
So what's going on here? Why is someone who has pledged to leave the brick and mortar church behind, at least for a while, disagreeing with what should be such a welcome work like Pagan Christianity and the philosophy which undergirds much of the house church movement? Dr.BW3's post has created the perfect opportunity for me to clarify exactly what is going on the mind of Matt Guthrie and the path he's taking his family down.
Let me begin by affirming the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. For all her problems, she is an institution established by God himself. Though she has problems and insufficiencies now, one day Christ will return and present her to his father as the perfect bride. I am not about to go about bashing Christ's bride. I may not like the way she cooks and cleans, but I gotta love her.
Keeping in line with Dr.BW3's comments on church buildings, let me explain why no brick and mortar church for me at this time. A church building is a tool. It is very important tool because it provides a place to gather for worship. This hopefully allows for the building and strengthening of the bonds of community as well as providing a place for other acts of ministry. The problem with buildings is that sometimes instead of becoming a tool, it becomes the controlling factor in a church's life, the church's identity itself. "Community" does not seem to exist outside its four walls. Ministry is not taken into the world - the world must come to it. Maintenance of the building becomes a major budget item, taking away from other ministry funds.
Do not read anything I am not saying. I am by no means implying that ALL churches fall into this trap. What I am saying is that a church building is not the ONLY and best tool. Tapping into my idealistic, purist, and yes, even my anti-establishment tendencies, my desire is to broaden the collection in the church's tool box. I dream of a network of home churches that experience community in the sense of doing life together on a daily basis. I dream of a network that understands the need for sacred space and time, even in the home, and longs for the mystery of a divine encounter in its worship. I dream of a network that because of its unique place in the social fabric of today's society is able to reach people a brick and mortar church could never reach. I dream of a network where the people live out their faith in daily incarnational ministry to the world immediately around it and abroad.
Right now this is all a dream. It's a long way from being fulfilled. But it's worth pursuing. It's something I'm excited about building.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
What do we call this thing anyway?
This is the question posed by a friend last Sunday when we met for our first time of worship together. He was of course meaning our "church service". Friends from all parts of our lives have asked us what we are doing about church. We call it "home church" because it has a familiar enough ring to it to make people feel comfortable that we have not abandoned our faith.
There is actually a large and growing home church movement in our country. Just google "home church" or "house church" and see how many hits you get. Many folks are looking to what is happening in Asia, South America, and parts of Africa as models for how to do it here. Books and articles are written, seminars delivered, workshops conducted, all on the premise that the "house church" model more closely resembles the early church (first and second centuries).
All this may be true, but that's not what we are doing it the way we are doing it. And that's not what I would call it. If pressed for a name, I would probably give something ordinary like "worship" or "real life faith" or perhaps some retro 70's Jesus freak hippy sounding utopian name. For our family, it's a quest to fulfill Romans 12:1-2. Another translation calls it our "spiritual act of worship." It's an attempt to actually make worship part of our daily lives, not something we only do on a particular day at a particular hour once a week. We see our current circumstances as an opportunity to practice what we've been preaching for so many years.
Tomorrow, just like last Sunday, we'll gather with our friends again to worship together. Even though we may be doing it on our own throughout the week, we enjoy the chance to do it with others too, whatever it's called. What I'd like to call it is just "life", plain and simple. Our prayer as we do this year (and many more to follow I hope) of living faithfully is that people will actually see our lives as living sacrifices in everything we do.
There is actually a large and growing home church movement in our country. Just google "home church" or "house church" and see how many hits you get. Many folks are looking to what is happening in Asia, South America, and parts of Africa as models for how to do it here. Books and articles are written, seminars delivered, workshops conducted, all on the premise that the "house church" model more closely resembles the early church (first and second centuries).
All this may be true, but that's not what we are doing it the way we are doing it. And that's not what I would call it. If pressed for a name, I would probably give something ordinary like "worship" or "real life faith" or perhaps some retro 70's Jesus freak hippy sounding utopian name. For our family, it's a quest to fulfill Romans 12:1-2. Another translation calls it our "spiritual act of worship." It's an attempt to actually make worship part of our daily lives, not something we only do on a particular day at a particular hour once a week. We see our current circumstances as an opportunity to practice what we've been preaching for so many years.
Tomorrow, just like last Sunday, we'll gather with our friends again to worship together. Even though we may be doing it on our own throughout the week, we enjoy the chance to do it with others too, whatever it's called. What I'd like to call it is just "life", plain and simple. Our prayer as we do this year (and many more to follow I hope) of living faithfully is that people will actually see our lives as living sacrifices in everything we do.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
I (almost) did it!
Today I did the hardest thing I've ever done since becoming a pencil pushing desk jockey after graduating from college. I took the Physical Agility Test as part of the application process to become a firefighter for the city of Raleigh. I've been kinda training for this test over the last couple of months. I went in today not really believing I would pass. But, I almost did it. The obstacle course did me in. After the second lap, I was spent and had nothing left to give. Insufficient upper body strength left my arms a pair of wet noodles after exiting the tunnel on the second lap.
But I am not ashamed. Despite being disappointed at not passing the test, I know I gave my best and tried my hardest. Even though I was intimidated by all the former football players, younger men and women, and others in much better shape than I, I was greatly encouraged by everyone there. Everyone cheered for everyone else. One guy in particular was going around congratulating everyone. When I came out the tunnel and had to stop, he even offered to go thru the course with me to get me through one last time.
Honestly, I do not think I would have done as well as I did on the rest of the test if not for the feeling of instant community that was present. I met guys who were taking this test for the fifth time! Being a firefighter was a dream they were not ready to give up. And they provided some of the best encouragement. Each one told me to give it another shot in January.
This is what it should be like on a faith journey. It is one of perseverance. It should be one of community. It should be one of a persevering, encouraging community. We need to realize that we succeed AND fail together. So many times the faith community is guilty of shooting the wounded in the name of discipleship. Consequences are necessary but so are restoring functions. After the community has handed down the consequences, it should whatever possible to help that person be restored to whatever level he has fallen from. As I left the training center today, the Chief only spoke words of encouragement.
Despite "failing" I feel good. Despite being unemployed STILL, I feel good. On second thought, maybe I did do it.
But I am not ashamed. Despite being disappointed at not passing the test, I know I gave my best and tried my hardest. Even though I was intimidated by all the former football players, younger men and women, and others in much better shape than I, I was greatly encouraged by everyone there. Everyone cheered for everyone else. One guy in particular was going around congratulating everyone. When I came out the tunnel and had to stop, he even offered to go thru the course with me to get me through one last time.
Honestly, I do not think I would have done as well as I did on the rest of the test if not for the feeling of instant community that was present. I met guys who were taking this test for the fifth time! Being a firefighter was a dream they were not ready to give up. And they provided some of the best encouragement. Each one told me to give it another shot in January.
This is what it should be like on a faith journey. It is one of perseverance. It should be one of community. It should be one of a persevering, encouraging community. We need to realize that we succeed AND fail together. So many times the faith community is guilty of shooting the wounded in the name of discipleship. Consequences are necessary but so are restoring functions. After the community has handed down the consequences, it should whatever possible to help that person be restored to whatever level he has fallen from. As I left the training center today, the Chief only spoke words of encouragement.
Despite "failing" I feel good. Despite being unemployed STILL, I feel good. On second thought, maybe I did do it.
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