Bandits No More

Following Jesus

Posted on December 20, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

One of the books I’ve read recently (on the recommendation of Steve) is The Practicing Congregation by Diana Butler Bass. On p. 59 she says

Zygmunt Bauman, a British theorist of postmodernism, claims that “one can think of postmodern life as one lived in a ity in which traffic is daily re-rerouted and street names are liable to be changed without notice…. In such a city one is well advised not to plan long and time consuming journeys. The shorter the trip, the greater the chance of completing it.

She continues, drawing on the work of Nora Gallagher:

In an age of fragmentation, it may well be the case that the vocation of congregations is to turn tourists into pilgrims – those who no longer journey aimlessly, but, rather, those who journey in God and whose lives are mapped by the grace of Christian practices….. The “rational” postmodern choice may be, as Bauman asserts, spiritual tourism – life without a map, without destination. But Christian congregations do not exist to provide rational choices. They exist as an alternative sort of logic that offers hospitality to strangers and wayfarers and forms people in an ancient way of being in God. As a by-product, such congregations challenge the “rationalities” of post modern life by crafting distinctively Christian ways of life. congregations provide a way of exploring moral, religious, communal, and personal identity that moves with purpose and intention through the ever-shifting terrain of the postmodern city.

I think she’s on to something here.

My first thought when reading her Bauman quote is, “We’re not so much looking for a destination as we are following Jesus.” Though sometimes the object of the Christian life is taken to be “going to heaven when you die” (certainly better than some of the alternatives: “going to hell when you die,” or just “rotting in the grave”), my reading of the New Testament is that there is more involved than a single destination.

If Christians are going to make there way (and we do have a way to make), we’ll find ourselves crossing some difficult terrain that, as she suggests, is changing beneath or feet. The practices of which she speaks are those that are designed to help us keep our eyes on Jesus so we can follow him.

Posted in Spirituality | 1 Comment

A Rotten President

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

All the campaigning and punditry have led me to conclude that I’d make a rotten president.

First, I’d make a rotten president because I’m indecisive. I find it too easy to see multiple points of view (on the same matter) and to not come down solidly and entirely on any single position. While this is not to say I don’t come down solidly on anything – I am quite solid, stubborn and immovable on many things – America seems to want a president who can know just about everything for sure. I just don’t know enough for sure to do the job.

Second, I’ve been minimally following the role of religion in the campaigning. With Romney a Mormon, Huckabee a Preacher, and Obama cast as a Messiah, there’s plenty of religion to go around. Americans – the pundits and elite, at least – are good Lockeans in this area. They envision a magistrate (using Lockean terms – we’d just call it government) that deals solely with material and practical things, and a church (we might call it religion) that deals with the internal and eternal. The two are not supposed to mix. The magistrate attends to the pursuit and maintenance of life, liberty, property and the common good while the church sees to it that we go to heaven when we die.

I’m not a good Lockean. I’ve found that the substance of the Christian faith has something to say about the pursuit and maintenance of life, liberty, property and the common good. Because God is the creator, and has sent Jesus the Son to bring redemption and restoration to creation, the Christian faith is very particular about some things the Lockeans would rather we just ignore.

I’d make a rotten president. Unlike JFK & Romney (and probably loads of others), I have to say that my primary allegiance is to Jesus and his kingdom. Inasmuch as a secondary allegiance to the United States of America is compatible with that primary allegiance, I’m ok with that. But if an issue develops from allegiance to the USA that conflicts with my allegiance to Jesus, then Jesus ought to prevail.

Now if I were a “not quite as rotten” candidate, I’d be able to specify in advance where the differences and conflicts between these two allegiances lay. But in comes my first disqualification for the job. I just don’t know enough. I’ve not yet been entirely convinced by any of the theorists out there regarding how these competing allegiances ought to be balanced or construed – though I do know enough to know that they do compete.

So – if you ever see my name on the ballot, you now know that you shouldn’t vote for me.

Posted in Current events, Politics | Leave a comment

Christmas and Culture

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Over the past several years we’ve heard of numerous attempts to edge Christ out of Christmas. Some places simply shift to Santa and Snow. More recently the push has been to do away with the word altogether, settling for Winter Holidays.

While we may not be familiar with the secularization thesis from sociology, we see indications that it is at work. We even suspect that the secularization we see in our culture is not merely the inevitable consequences of urbanization, individualism and rationalism, but are the deliberate efforts of secularists – people who want to do away with God in public. (Christian Smith’s The Secular Revolution is a good place to start for more details.)

While “Happy Holidays” seems innocuous, we miss “Merry Christmas.” When we hear of retailers banning the “C-word,” we feel like we should throw it back at them. “Merry Christmas!” is what our mouths say (or growl), but sometimes our hearts are saying “Bah Humbug at your trying to dump Jesus.” If we’re going to say “Bah Humbug” about anything, it would seem that dumping Jesus would be an appropriate target.

But maybe we can look at little closer. Perhaps what we’re seeing in the retail sector is not the taking of Christ out of Christmas, but the removal of Christ from Consumerism. While the history of Christmas is rooted in Jesus – it’s his birthday, after all, the history of our celebration of Christmas is just as rooted in 19^th century American culture. Retailers need to sell things – that’s how they make their living. If they’re going to sell more things, they need to create more occasions for people to buy things, even, perhaps, things they don’t actually need. I don’t know if anyone actually reasoned it out: “Jesus is all about giving. You can’t give what you don’t have. So buying is the other side of giving.” In the last couple of decades the link between Christ and Consumerism has grown to the point that “Shopping Days Until Christmas” has replaced Advent as the time of preparation. Instead of beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, this season begins with Black Friday.

Recently, however, two forces – political correctness and the expansion of “Shopping Days Until Christmas” back to Halloween or before – have served to make Christ less useful as a marketing tool. Since Jesus isn’t about marketing – about selling and acquiring stuff – maybe we can look at taking Christ out of Consumerism as a good thing.

So what about “Merry Christmas?” Ought we to say it? If your desire is to spread merriment and cheer – and even a little bit of Jesus – then wherever you think it might be received, offer it. Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, when we were not at all inclined to find any joy in God, God was already taking joy in us and inviting us to turn to him. So try loving those Bah Humbuggers into Jesus style merriment this Christmas.

Posted in Christmas, Consumerism, Culture, Current events | 3 Comments

Golden Compass

Posted on December 5, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Many people are asking me about the new movie The Golden Compass. I haven’t seen the movie, only read the books. The main comments have been about the fact that the author of the books is an atheist determined to show the folly of religion, and that the end result of the books has the child heroes killing god. I’ve found that while Mr. Pullman may be trying to aim at God, his aim is actually merely at god – and even that misses in the end.

Now what’s that supposed to mean?

The description of the god at which Pullman aims does not fit the God of Christianity (though it does, unfortunately, fit the god some Christians have claimed over the centuries). The god of the books is closest to the god of medieval Christianity at its worst. The only attribute of Pullman’s god is omnipotence – and that omnipotence is pretty shoddy, reduced in reality to a mere exercise of authority. The real God is omnipotent – but that omnipotence is always expressed in, through and around other characteristics, including holy love. It’s for this reason that Pullman’s picture of god and ‘Christianity’ has no place for Jesus. Jesus is not only the opposite of Pullman’s atheism but also of Pullman’s god. It’s good to remember that one of the things for which the early Christians were persecuted was atheism – they didn’t believe in the right gods. (That’s why when you converse with someone who says, “I don’t believe in god,” it’s always a good idea to figure out which god they don’t believe in. There are more gods that I don’t believe in than that I do.)

So what are we to do?
1. One possibility is to say, “It’s only a movie. Pure entertainment.” Nothing is only a movie, only entertainment. Stories and images are very powerful – why do you think the bible deals in them? They’re way more powerful than mere assertions and commands. As people called to submit our entire being to God (Romans 12:1-2), we need to refrain from the passivity the entertainment industry pushes on us and instead critically engage with what we encounter. This is true for Pullman’s work – and other works. I hope it’s even true on Sunday morning.
2. Another possibility is to just skip it. If your children are too young or immature to handle these themes, then by all means skip it. While we’re called to engage with our culture for the glory of God and the winning of people, none of us can engage with everything. Based on our situation and family configuration and needs, we chose where and how we engage. Many of us just don’t have the time and money to go see every movie out there. Some even find movies boring. So find another area to engage the culture, one more suited to your personality and family.
3. Read the books, go see the movie – but argue with them. Ask them questions. Talk with your children and the people around you. Separate the wheat from the chaff. I’d advice this not only for anti-religious movies, but also for those that purport to be Christian. Approach all things in prayer and with a sense of offering yourself to God. Seek God’s wisdom. Some people are gifted in their interaction with these aspects of culture. If you are, go for it. (You can find one interaction with Pullman here – http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/fearnotthecompass.html).

UPDATE: Here are a couple more sources of insightful commentary: Steve Hayes and Alan Jacobs.

Posted in Culture, Current events, Golden Compass | 6 Comments

Easily Insulted?

Posted on November 28, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Have you heard that Madalyn Murray O’Hair has petitioned the FCC to remove all Christian broadcasting from the airwaves? That rumor has been going around for over twenty years. It still comes around from time to time – even though she died several years ago.

Well, maybe it’s not her – but we all know that others are out to get us Christians. They want to ban Christmas or at least “Christmas” (the word) from our winter celebrations.

Other folks think Christians are abysmally ignorant, easily led or manipulated, adherents of a worn out, dilapidated faith.

We respond to our enemies with law suits and attempts to get people fired.

Have you noticed we’re not the only ones who think that way? Check out this story from Sudan. I confess that I have the same thought some of the Sudanese officials had. How silly!

Being easily insulted is not a sign of strength. It’s a sign of fear and weakness, a sign of a lack of confidence. We sometimes mock the Muslims who get upset over cartoons or teddy bears. I think we need to consider our own propensity to handle insult poorly before we spend too much effort mocking others.

Posted in Clash of Civilizations, Humor, Islam | 3 Comments

When the wrong people do the right thing

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

I just finished reading Paul Johnson’s A History of Christianity. Though I read the old edition, you can find it currently in print. I’d count it as a popular supplement to more scholarly works.

In previous study I had seen that Hitler was specifically anti-Christian, but Johnson’s anecdotes and quotes show the depth of his contempt. He quotes Hitler as saying,

Do you really believe the masses will ever be Christian again? Nonsense. Never again. The tale is finished… but we can hasten matters. The parsons will be made to dig their own graves. They will betray their God to us. They will betray anything for the sake of their miserable little jobs and incomes. (p.485f)

In Johnson’s picture of German Christianity during the World War 2 years the only group that seems remotely able to stand against Hitler were the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Protestants and Catholics competed with each other to be more German than the other. Both feared that they would lose out to the other and lose their position in Germany forever. While Johnsons mentions exceptions in both segments of the state church, the overall picture was dismal.

But what about those Jehovah’s Witnesses? Most commonly we hear about their inadequate Christology and Soteriology and their wild notions about Jesus having returned already… but not exactly. From what I’ve seen their theology leaves much to be desired. But I can’t help but think that their suspicion of the State – whether of Nazi Germany or even of our own benevolent rulers – is more Christian than our meek subservience.

Posted in Books, Theology, War | 2 Comments

Back to the first millennium

Posted on November 24, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Is it possible that legitimate Christian creativity in the area of worship ended a millennium ago?

I don’t think so.

Posted in Worship | Leave a comment

AAR/SBL Travel

Posted on November 24, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Finally a moment to sit down. Last weekend my wife & I attended the annual AAR/SBL meeting in San Diego. I’ll make comments on the content of the sessions later. Now I want to make some comments on the travel experience. We spend so much time complaining about things, I thought I’d share our positive experiences.

First, we flew on US Airways. I hadn’t flown on that airline in at least ten years – back when it was known as America West. We flew from DFW to San Diego and back via their hub in Phoenix. Every flight was on time – both at departure and arrival. As far as We can tell, our baggage (checked both directions) was properly routed and handled each time. The only mistake was that on return to Dallas our flight’s luggage appeared on the carousel next to the one advertised. We didn’t buy any of the on board food, but the drink service went fine.

Second, we stayed at the Marriott Hotel & Marina next to the San Diego Convention Center. While it was way out of our normal price range, the hotel room itself was nice an perfectly serviceable. We’d like to have more low price eating options, but plenty were within walking distance. The Starbucks inthe hotel offered breakfast pastries for $3 each, a much better deal than the $18 breakfast buffet. Instead, we walked over to Ralphs and bought a coffee cake and ate on it.

The restaurants we ate at were good also. We ate at Fred’s Mexican Cafe the first night. It was pleasant seating outdoors on the patio, though I managed to sit under one of the heaters. If the restaurant employee hadn’t turned it off (at my request) I would have burned up. We also ate at the Athens Market Taverna. The waiter warned us against each ordering appetizers and entrees – a warning we didn’t need, having eaten at enough restaurants lately to know the normal portion size. We split one appetizer and one entree between us – still way more (tasty) food than we needed. Finally, we also had the lunch buffet at Royal India (another Gaslamp district restaurant). Dangerously tasty. I wish we had one here in our town.

Between the airport and the hotel we rode the Xpress Shuttle. Quick, friendly, efficient service. They also have coupons posted on their site.

Posted in Blog post, Travel | Leave a comment

Pictures AND Words

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

Francis of Assisi is frequently quoted approvingly, “Tell of Christ at all times. Use words if necessary.” The implication is that words are rarely needed. If we only act like kind, loving, nice people then others will see Jesus in us and come to faith in him. Acting in a loving way is definitely a sine qua non of evangelism. But it’s just not enough. We humans just aren’t smart enough to get it. A picture just isn’t worth a thousand words in all cases.

Consider the picture Glenn Reynolds posts from Michael Yon. What do you see when you look at the picture? Some guys putting a cross on top of a building. Big deal. But then you hear that it’s from Iraq. Huge deal. But what deal is it? Is it pictorial evidence that the complex event we call “The Iraq War” is just another crusade – that now we’re going so far as to put crosses on top of their buildings? The picture needs words to put it in context. Here are Yon’s contextualizing words (via Instapundit):

“I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome. A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from ‘Chosen’ Company 2-12 Cavalry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John’s, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope. The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ the people were saying. One man said, ‘Thank you for peace.’ Another man, a Muslim, said ‘All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.’ The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers.”

Very different than the story of Crusades, isn’t it? Instead of a picture that says, “The Christians are here to conquer us and force us to be Christians,” the picture with caption says, “At least this once we’re working across accustomed boundaries – Muslim and Christian, Iraq and American – to do something. We hope this is what happens in the future.”

So please, when you tell people of Jesus, don’t forget to provide a caption for your pictures.

Posted in Current events, Evangelism | 1 Comment

Before you do youth programming…

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

I’ve observed that when a youth ministry is starting – or at a certain kind of transition point – it is common to ask, “What do we do next?” It’s a great question. Unfortunately, one of the common ways to go about it is to ask the youth, “What do you want to do?” In my experience most youth either do not know what they want to do, or else do not have a vision for discipleship with which to align their wants.

Inasmuch as a youth ministry exists within the church, those who do youth ministry are partners with parents. So my suggestion is that we start with the parents. Talk to them.

A root question to ask: “What can we (the church) do to help you raise your kids as Christians?”

This question has some built in assumptions:

Parents have the primary responsibility for raising their kids in Christ. We who are church leaders are their partners and supporters, not their replacements.
The parents want to raise their kids as Christians. This question addresses their standing with Christ.
The parents think about raising their kids as Christians. This question addresses their level of intentionality.
However good our standing is with Christ, however great our intentionality in raising our kids for Christ, we all lack the knowledge and skills to do the job ourselves. This is not a knock on parents. Rather, I believe God plans for Christians – individually and as families – to be interdependent. There will never be a time when we are in line with God’s agenda and able to live and operate self-sufficiently.

After you ask this question, it is possible that parents will have been thinking about the subject and be able to give you a detailed and helpful answer. More likely, however, even dedicated parents will find themselves inexperienced answering such questions. This is partly because we’re trained to think that raising kids – whether in general, or specifically as Christians – is purely an inside job, partly because churches tend not to ask this kind of question of their people. Churches tend to be led by experts. Experts have all the answers. We design and offer programs that impart our answers.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that most of our answers – our fine honed expertise – doesn’t always work very well. It’s what we know, though, so we keep dispensing it.

So let’s suppose the parents offer some variant of “I don’t know” as an answer. This is a great starting point. They don’t know (and apparently know they don’t know). You don’t know either – and since you’re asking, are perhaps demonstrating to them that you don’t know either. This gives you a perfect opportunity to pray together. You know that God loves their kids (and them) enough to have given Jesus for them. You know that God has broken your heart for the kid(s) through your prayers for him/her. As you pray together – and in my opinion you have to do this out loud (the leader at least – if the parents do also, that’s great, but we don’t compel them) – you pour out your hearts together for the children. Pray expecting God to give you light. It might be that after the prayer you will discover that God has spoken to one of you. If so, share. If not, you might try some guiding questions. Here are some that might help:

“What has God been doing in your life lately?” It could be that what God wants to do in the life of the child will be an outgrowth of what’s happening in the life of the parent. It is very commonly the other way around also..
“What are you doing that builds your own relationship with God?” This assumes the parent is a Christian of some sort.
Following on number 2, “Are there some ways you can draw your child into what you’re doing?”

Even if the parents you speak with are entirely articulate and have specific ideas of what you can do to help them disciple their kids, don’t skip the prayer part. That’s the most important. Also, take what they say seriously. If what they tell you is something you can do, do it. If not (“My kid needs $10,000 so he can do the mission trip to Switzerland”), tell them.

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So – what do y’all think of this way of approaching parents?

Posted in Local church, Ministry, Youth Ministry | 2 Comments