Christianity as a Counter-Culture

Our Hearts Are Listening...

2006-05-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well- it certainly has been quite some time since I last posted in here. Much has happened since I last made an entry last December. The most amazing, miraculous and surreal of all developments since I last wrote was the birth of my first-born son, Ezra Garret King. What can I say about that event? This is one of those situations where words really cannot do the event justice. Let me just say that the love one feels for a child when God blesses you with such a gift is indescribable. Nothing in the world can prepare you for such a happening. It is otherworldly, supernatural, divine.

I remember a time when, as a know-it-all teenager, I quizzed a friend's mother about examples of the miraculous in this life. She responded by saying that the birth of a child- every child- is a miraculous event. I, again- being a semi-omniscient teen, mocked her response, saying sorry, but that just did not fit the philospophical criteria.

Now- after experiencing Ezra's birth, I'd have to say Mrs. Schurch was right. I was wrong. Period.

Anyway, besides that wonderful blessing, many other developments have happened and are yet in the works. Rather imminently my family and I will be moving from where we now reside in Vancouver, Washington, to our new location in Redmond, Oregon. Redmond is about 3 1/2 hours south and east of here. Most importantly, it is located on the other side, the rain shadow side, of the Cascade Mountains. And what that means is about 75% less rain than we currently receive here next door to Portland.

The last few years have seen quite a few moves. In early 2003 I lived in White Rock, BC, Canada, before moving to Kelowna, BC to be a part of a new Vineyard church plant. In latter 2004 I met my now-wife, Serena, and rather spontaneously moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. In August 2005 we packed up our belongings and drove here to the Pacific Northwest. We'll have been here for just under a year when we make the move to Redmond in about a month from now. We have purchased our first house and we're excited to move in and make a more permanent nest.

Before moving here to "Vanwa", or the 'Couve as locals call it, we really thought this might be the land of our future roots. But for a variety of reasons we feel called to move to Redmond. I really do think central Oregon is going to be our stomping grounds for sometime to come. Of course, buying a house has something to do with that!

Over the last year I have been publishing Precipice Magazine. That, in many ways, explains why I've had so little time and energy to blog in this dedicated Darren-space. I won't make the mistake of saying I plan to write a lot more from here on in. We'll just wait and see how things evolve- in life and in print.

One thing I will say is that after writing about Emerging Church issues over the last year or so, I feel ready to dig into something concrete- something communally, locally tangible. In other words, I'm anxious (in a good kind of way) to see what God has for Serena, the kids and I, in terms of community in Redmond. I feel half-prepared to start an Emerging Church group of my own in the Bend/Redmond area. But, I won't get ahead of myself. We'll wait and see what happens. Our hearts are listening...

A Dynamic December '05 Has Arrived

2005-12-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a long time since I last blogged away. There are several reasons for this turn of events. The simplest answer is that I lost my password and so I wasn't able to get into my blog to post any entries. The second reason is that I haven't really had the time or energy to write in here because I've been so busy with other writing projects.; most notably for Precipice Magazine, but also in my day job where I write content for the various travel/accommodations websites that my wife and I webmaster.

Much has transpired since I last wrote in here. I think when I last posted an entry I was just about to re-launch Precipice. Since then I've published 4 issues (one a month). The process of designing, writing, and editing for the magazine has been a real labor of love. It's been great to be able to connect with a community that exists almost entirely in cyberspace. Each and every month the readership of the magazine has been growing as well- so that's exciting too. I've very much enjoyed being part of "the conversation"- as the Emerging Church/postmodern shift is not so covertly referred to as.

Speaking of community, my wife, daughter, and I are very connected in with the Vineyard Church here in Vancouver, Washington. The last time I wrote I think we were just beginning to get settled. I never cease to be amazed by the degree to which God is constantly opening up new opportunities in the Kingdom. I honestly feel more aligned with some of the incredible "monk warriors" I've met at the Vancouver Vineyard than with any other group of people from my "ecclesial history". I'm really impressed with our pastor because his rich and diverse understanding of Christianity allows him to hold together a great diversity of people under one spiritual umbrella.

Anyway, December is a busy month for the Kings. First up is our daughter, Autumn's birthday on the 9th. She will be 4. She's now at a really fun age where she gets quite excited both about birthdays and about Christmas. After that comes Christmas of course- which we'll spend lying low here in Vancouver (the Couve to locals) because of the next expected big event- the birth of our son. His due date is January 9th, but the consensus seems to be that he'll be arriving early. Perhaps right around Christmas day! And right after that, Serena and I celebrate our anniversary on the 28th. So, as you can see- Christmas is a dynamic month for us; in more ways than one.

Anyway, I think I'll leave it at that for now. This was a good reintroduction to the life of DBK here at the tail-end of 2005. I plan to be posting more often now that Precipice seems to be cooking along with relative editorial ease, and now that I've retrieved my blogger info! Maximum shalom to all your souls from the bottom of my heart and from the southern tip of Washington state in the spectacular Pacific Northwest.

Carpe Dium: The Kingdom is Near/Here

2005-09-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

There are certain seasons in life when things seem to chug along at a steady pace- and one is content enough to keep growing in faith and maturity. There are other seasons where it feels like it is discipline alone that helps one day roll into the next. Then there are those seasons when one feels as if the hair on the back of one's neck is constantly standing on end- because life is so full of meaning and purpose. I feel I am in one of the latter seasons at present.

There are several factors that are contributing to this sense. First of all, I'm excited that my personal life is flourishing as it currently is. My wife and I continue to grow in our sense of oneness and mutual understanding. And that makes such a difference in all other areas of life. Peace in the home lays a foundation on which everything else can be built. And it goes without saying that peace with God is what brings about the peace in the home in the first place!

Recently both my wife and I have felt appreciative of the fact that our life affords us the opportunity to enjoy God, enjoy each other, enjoy our 3 year old daughter, and on top of all that- gives us the opportunity to pursue our sense of greater purpose. For my wife, art and specifically graphic design, is something she feels she was created to do. Thankfully, she’s getting a real opportunity to do that recently with the growth of our web design/development site (http://www.design-essentials.net).

And for me, the re-launch of Precipice Magazine has not only given me a creative outlet for what I feel God has been leading me towards (through writing- inspiring and influencing others), but it has also connected me with a worldwide community of Christians who are pursuing some of the very same things- in terms of helping to make the Church relevant to a postmodern society.

And what completes the picture is the fact that my wife, daughter, and I are now connecting in with a wonderful group of Christians here in Vancouver, Washington- who are of like mind, kindred heart, and united purpose. It is one thing to dream and even to write about a Church that is both truly communal as well truly "protestant" (i.e. pro- testifying for Jesus to a world full of people whom God loves), it is another thing entirely to actually be a part of such a church, both "in the flesh" and "in the Spirit". That's what we feel we are a part of now. And that's very exciting.

In my mind, there is absolutely nothing in the world that compares to the excitement that comes with Kingdom vision. And it’s that kind of sight I feel like I'm seeing with now. This kind of vision breathes vitality into one's bones. In such a season, yesterday and tomorrow matter much less so than today- when the Kingdom of God is both near and here- as Jesus said it was. So, in the midst of this electrifying season, I thought I'd take the time to drop a note, just so that when another season rolls along (as it will I'm sure) I'll be able to look back and reminisce. One thing I have learned is that when you're in a season such as this, it’s important to run with it, because just like Jesus- these can come and go like a thief in the night.

A Labor of Love Released

2005-09-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

It's official- Precipice Magazine is now live.

It has been labor of love. The relaunch of Precipice has involved quite a bit of time and effort. But now that it's done I feel like the ends very much justify the means. There is nothing quite like working towards something that you feel the Holy Spirit has inpired you to do. And that's exactly how I feel about this project. It is a God-thing. And I can put up with a lot of unpleasant things in life when I sense that I'm tuned into the divine current. Peace comes from walking the path God has put before you. And there's nothing in the world that can outlast, outgun, or outsmart an overwhelming sense of SHALOM.

Re-launch of Precipice Magazine

2005-09-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd drop a quick line to say that the re-launch of Precipice Magazine is now only a day or two away. The September 2005 issue is finished and now its just a matter of waiting for it to be published (i.e. propogated) online. This new issue of the magazine comes almost exactly 4 years after the original launch of Precipice- in October 2001. The magazine deals a lot with postmodern culture and the church, but will also address discipleship and a host of other age-old, and always relevant, Christian topics. Stay tuned...

Divine Intervention Over Coffee

2005-08-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

My family and I have been situated in our new location in Vancouver, WA for three weeks now. The area, as I've mentioned before- is stunning. We've already made trips out to the Oregon Coast and to one of three nearby volcanoes- Mt. Hood. Yes indeed, exploring our local geography has been a blessing. Being a long-time Northwest resident, it feels "like home" to be back here. This has felt even more like a homecoming than I was expecting.

Beyond the glory of the Creation all around us, what's been even more encouraging is our slow progression into community again. While we were in Tennessee we knew our days there were numbered- and so that prevented us from getting too involved with a local body. For both my wife and I, "doing Church" means being a part of a living, breathing, community of believers- who seek to live out the fullness of the gospel in everyday life. We've never been about showing up on a Sunday morning and nothing more. So we were more than ready to get plugged-in again by the time we arrived here.

Last week I rather spontaneously had coffee with a local pastor, who's in his early 30's like me, and part of a team planting a new Emergent-style church here in Vanwa. We immediately hit it off. So much so in fact that I had the feeling that God was moving supernaturally. My wife and I had been praying for months that God would knit us into the fabric of a community He had chosen for us. In this initial meeting with this new friend, I felt like our prayers were bearing fruit right before my eyes.

I love it when you feel God moving in your life in such ways. There really is nothing like it. You suddenly feel like the experience of those in the early Church isn't so distant from your own experience after all. And its great to be reminded of the ways that prayer pays dividends (I hope that didn't sound too consumerist!). Let me put it this way, via the inspired words of Lauryn Hill- "consequence is no coincidence". I think that about says it.

Anyway, so now we begin a new chapter in life with September just around the corner. For me, September has always been a harbinger of new things. Yes, the feeling goes back to the experience of primary school. I've never really shaken that feeling- and I'm glad I haven't. There's something pleasingly childlike about it. Anyway- I'm ready for this new chapter to begin. Bring it on, I say. After all, when one is fresh off the experience of God moving to intercept circumstances, one is fully ready to enter into an adventurous future. The radar is on. Stand by for more...

The Spirit of a Sojourner: God's Gifts on the Wind

2005-08-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I last wrote in here. Although I think I have a fairly good excuse. My family and I were busy moving some 3500 miles across the country from Knoxville, Tennessee to our new home in Vancouver, Washington. We've been here for almost a week now. We're very happy with our choice of "habitat". Vanwa seems like a great area to be in. There's nothing like the combination of the Ocean, volcanoes, and evergreen trees to stir the senses. Although, I'm sure I am biased- I was not born a Northwesterner- but I certainly have evolved into one.

Throughout the journey here- which was an adventure of the grandest kind, I was reminded of the wonder of new beginnings. I was thanking God that He is opening yet another chapter in my life of almost 34 years. Recently this experience has reminded me of my days studying Biblical Studies in University- when we learned about God not only as Creator, but also as Sustainer- and Re-creator. In the West we've kind of lost some of the latter two categories. And maybe that's why we as Christians are lagging behind others when it comes to environmental concerns. We forget that we're supposed to image God in this "sustaining nature" as well as in His creative nature.

But alas- I digress... The point I was getting at is that on an occasion such as this (moving almost from one coast to the other), one is reminded of how good it feels to live life like an adventure. My Dad was reminding me the other day that it was almost exactly 30 years ago that my parents, my brother, and I, made a similar trek from New York to Vancouver, B.C. after arriving from the UK with nothing more than a Volkswagon van to our name. I like that this sojourning spirit is "in the blood"- so to speak.

The great thing about living life like an adventure, where you practice letting go of the old and assuming a posture that lets you embrace the new, is that it keeps you centered around the knowledge that God is sovereign. As North Americans we can gain a valuable experience by letting go of the world we've built around ourselves- and letting God reform us and our environment. That's what I feel He is doing for my family now. I feel like a man with his face turned towards a gentle wind- hopeful for what new tidings it will bring.

But most of all, as I said in the opening of this entry, I'm thankful for new beginnings. I'm thankful that no matter how many times I make a mess of things, God is ready to pick me up, dust me off, and let me try again. Each time I grow a little wiser from the experience. But I'm happy to say that while I am the product of mutltiple new beginnings, I have yet to grow tired of the newness. I only hope I can keep this perspective as I move forward from here. Here's to new beginnings- where the sky is always clear and everyone is your friend.

On the Precipice of Something New: Culture, Faith and Fire

2005-07-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I last wrote in here. That being said, that's not because I haven't been writing. On the contrary, I've been writing and reading pretty feverishly lately. It seems that this blog, which I've only been working at for a few months now, has been a part of a resurgence in my desire to write about issues of faith and culture. Looking back on this blog, it was a couple months ago now that something seemed to “catch fire” in me. Let me explain.

Sometimes you get the feeling that God really is leading you towards something specific- and that He does so by confirming by multiple sources, the rightness of that direction. This blog has been just one of those sources. So it seems that this blog will serve as a jumping off point for me. I say that because I've decided to re-launch my old site- Precipice Magazine (pun kind of intended!).

This online magazine was publishing monthly issues a few years ago now- (Waybackmachine tells me it was during 2001 and 2002), discussing topics to do with Christian faith and post-modern culture, with a specific vision to see the Church (in all its fragmented forms around the World) move towards a convergence. In that sense the magazine was at heart- all about ecumenicalism.

Well it seems that Precipice this time around will be addressing not only "convergence" but also "emergence". It seems that the growing Christian "conversation" known as the Emergent movement makes the original Precipice mandate all the more relevant. And that's why I'm picking it back up. Because I want to be a faithful contributor to the conversation, and because, above all else, I feel called to it by the Holy Spirit.

So if you're reading this, maybe you'll tune in. The first issue is scheduled to be published in August- with monthly issues to follow after that. If you're a writer and you want to contribute to the magazine- then please feel free to write me at darren@design-essentials.net. Ideally I'd like to have multiple voices involved- after all, it is a "conversation". I really believe passionately in some of the causes people like Brian McLaren and the Emergent movement are championing. I have seen a vision of the future- and I want to be a part of bringing it into being. I believe that God is "in it" and is helping it to "emerge". I'm just hoping to be a messenger.

Let me just close with a reminder that the "cause" is as much about "dialogue" as anything else. Remember, "conversation" means its still unfolding. The journey has a joy all its own. Let's enjoy the process the same way that two friends sit down over coffee and enjoy the unfolding of an afternoon dialogue. Then we can gain, not only a sharper focus for vision/mission, but also a renewed commitment to relationship. If such were the case, then I believe this conversation will have the Kingdom written all over it. Shalom.

Moving Beyond Black and White with a Colorful Orthodoxy

2005-05-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I’ve been perusing through local bookstores trying to find Brian McLaren’s book, “A Generous Orthodoxy”. Fortunately for Brian and the Emergent cause, the book seems to be selling very well. Unfortunately for me, its selling so well that it seems to be sold out every where I go. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll find it soon enough. Speaking of Brian, recently while meandering through his website, I came across a comment someone had sent in questioning McLaren’s view on the inerrancy of Scripture. I felt for Brian because I know that is a difficult issue to tackle without offending someone. So I sent in a post of my own in Brian’s defense. It went something like this:

I must say Brian, that in reading one person's question on your website about your view on the inerrancy of scripture, I felt very sympathetic towards you and the dilemma of dealing with that issue. It seems there are many Christians in North America who have devoted their energy to this one hair-trigger issue. That's not to say that it's not an important issue. It certainly is. But so often people want to paint the picture in only two distinct colors- one representing those who see the Bible as inerrant, and the other representing those who make it out to be whatever suits them in the moment. I think this is a highly simplistic, unrealistic, and (dare I say) biblically unfaithful, way to deal with the issue.

If we're going to examine inerrancy, we should firstly be speaking about the original manuscripts, and secondly we should be defining the terms "inspired" and "authoritative" as they were defined at the time of canonization. When one studies what the early Church fathers meant by inerrancy, one finds the meaning to be more multi-dimensional than our contemporary Evangelical definition. Now I'm sure that the person who wrote the original post will find this comment "lacking in clarity, "vague" and "wide open to flagrant mis-interpretation". That may be so. However, the fear of the misuse of the truth should not make us shy away from declaring it. Personally, I subscribe to the Eastern Orthodox perspective which says that the TRUTH is an equation where things exist in tension with each other. Now I'm sure that this too will make some uncomfortable. But so be it. The issue is just not as simple as some would assume. Like you, the Word of God is absolutely central in my life. But it is central in a multi-dimensional kind of way. And I would suggest that perhaps this makes me more dependent on its teachings, not less so.

-Darren King (http://christiancounterculture.blogspot.com/)
En route from Knoxville, TN to Spokane, WA. (Born a Brit, raised a Canadian, currently incarnating as an American...)

Emergent Perspectives - Part 2: Beginning with Questions

2005-05-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

In my last entry I wrote about how the pragmatics of this so called "emerging church" movement are much more challenging in practice than they are in theory. However, just because something proves difficult, or problematic, doesn't mean it should be abandoned entirely. Heaven forbid! Literally. So let me move on to discuss something positive that I hope will come out, and is beginning to come out, of the Emergent Church. I have already seen glimpses of this positive shift in the actions and words of people like Brian McLaren. But before I discuss the positive shift, let me outline the original problem.

When I visit local churches near where I currently live in Knoxville, TN, or when I peruse the Sunday morning sermon broadcasts on TV, I still often find myself on the wrong side of a culture gap. I see pastors/ministers (whatever term you prefer) speaking and acting in ways that see highly peculiar. Of course I don't know most of these people personally, but I have to wonder if they act this same way (with so much hoopla and hallelujah assurance) on Tuesday at 8am when they've just burned their toast and spilled their coffee. Somehow, I doubt it. And to be honest- that still really aggravates me. It aggravates me not so much because I find it irritating personally, as much as because I know that someone who doesn't know Christ is not likely to be enticed by these "performances". If I were a non-believer I certainly wouldn't be.

But people in Evangelical circles have spent a decade or more talking about "acting naturally" and "coming as you are" to Church, so I won't belabor that point anymore. What I want to talk about is a deeper issue. I want to talk about humility. Now I know that we seem to talk a lot about the need for humility in our Christian circles. And we do- in terms of our position before God. However, I think we tend to use the word in a context that is entirely too narrow. Let me explain.

Any good social scientist will tell you that in order to understand a social phenomena you must study both sides. When I apply that to my walk as a Christian, I understand that to mean that its helpful to pay attention to what non-Christians are saying about their perception of "us". After all, if we are serious about spreading the gospel, then we should be willing to pay attention to what is apparently getting in the way. And what I hear non-Christians saying, on-mass, is that it is the flagrant lack of humility on the part of Christians today that they find the most "unbelievable". I think we should be concerned about this. After all we are here as ambassadors for the "Godman" who performed the most humble act in the history of history.

Now don't get me wrong, I get as frustrated as anyone else when people on the opposite side of the fence portray us as "extremists". I get frustrated when "the other side" oversimplifies our point of view so as to make us appear as intelligent and thoughtful as Neanderthals. I see, and am concerned and frustrated when others would like to see Truth itself banished from existence in our society. They seem to think that the belief in absolute Truth itself is the primamry problem with our world. However, all that being said, I still hear something in their complaints about us that rings true.

Let me put this in the form of a question: Why do we feel the need to have all the answers all the time? There's a big difference between believing some things absolutely, while holding other things much more lightly. Do we believe that God will love us a little less or that Jesus would deny us, or intercede a little less eagerly for us, if we went around expressing tension or confusion or even doubt about some issues? Do we think that somehow grinning and bearing it- while inwardly not feeling that way at all- is somehow more glorifying to God? I think that somewhere in the recesses of our "faith-thought"- we do. I think we equate having all the answers with having a faith that is strong and secure. I disagree with this assertion. And I think it is the wrong-headedness of this thinking that makes us look so "unbelievable" to much of the World.

So let me end by proposing an alternative approach. Rather than trying to pretend that we see the world in blacks and whites when we are fully aware of the grays, why not admit that its a bit of a paradox that we can see the gray "loud and clear", and yet still believe in an absolutely good and just and loving God? Why not talk about some of the tension we feel around that subject? My guess is that, in doing so, we will only gain credibility with the ones we're dialoging with. I think an admittance of "gray matter" makes a belief in God all the more compelling. If nothing else, they will know that we do not believe out of fear, lack of forethought, or from a delusional sense of reality.

Emergent Perspectives - Part 1: Counter-Cultural Passion is Essential

2005-05-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post I mentioned that I would get around to writing about the whole "emergent church" concept. Now, as I have pointed out previously, there is much I love about the concept (and I will write about that in a future entry); but for now let me touch on one of the major problems I see.

What I have found is that the "emergent church" concept works best- in that form, as a concept only; concieved of, but not yet acted upon. In other words, the proof in the pudding- in my experience anyway, has left much to be desired. I think this needn't be the case, but motives and our own frail humanity too often get in the way.

Now I am aware that others might have had different experiences, but let me describe my own. In my last round with church planting, I found that - in trying to do Church differently, what we ended up doing by default was attracting those who just didn't really want to do church at all. In other words, we attracted all who were burned out on Church. And I'm not talking about those who were burned out on a particular church, but rather those who have serious doubts about the Church in general- like whether or not its even supposed to exist in the 21st century.

Now everyone knows that there's nothing more frustrating and agrivating than sitting around in a room full of people who just want to go on and on questioning whether or not they should even be gathering as "the Church". I don't mind helpful dialogue, and I don't mind it when people disagree with me. What I don't find helpful is those who have caught on to the idea of chewing on something bitter- to the point where they begin to really enjoy the taste as a thing unto itself. I seriously question whether such people are even trying to find resolution to some of their questions.

So I'll leave this first post on the "Emergent Movement" at that. If we're going to try and "do" Church differently, then I think we at least need to believe in "IT". We need people more passionate about the role of the Church- not less so. If we want the World to take us seriously, then we need to pursue something more real and more counter-cultural than a group therapy meeting with coffee and scones thrown in to make it go down more smoothly.

A Walk in the Park and the Mathematics of Glory

2005-04-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am all of 33 years old. In my "time" thusfar I have run 2 marathons- one in Vancouver, B.C. and one in Kelowna, B.C. In recent years I have also been an avid cyclist. In my last year living in Kelowna I spent almost as much time cycling as I did driving my car. Really I drove only when necessary. So clearly you can see that I enjoy being outside- "in the elements" as they say.

However, while that is the case, I can't say I have ever been very much into walking. Certainly, being from the Northwest, I have spent my fair share of time hiking- but this is not really walking. The difference between walking and these other activities (cycling, running, and hiking)is- rigour. When I examine each of my former joys I see that each had in common the element of rigourous exercise. I ran two marathons not because I enjoyed running 26 miles, but rather because a part of me enjoyed the sheer absurdity of running such a distance. And when it came to cycling, I was only interested in the kind that produced a punishing ache in my quads.

Well, as you might have guessed by now, this is beginning to change. Recently I have taken up- walking. I know, that sounds rather counterintuitive- rather mediocre, rather (I can't help myself) "pedestrian". But please let me explain. And please here me out before you accuse me of mereluy giving in to "am aging vessel". After all, I am only 33!

I should point out that this all began because of Autumn. Believe me, when you have a 3 year old daughter with you it makes running a little more difficult (though I have attempted this on several occasions with her locked securely in her stroller!) And yes I know you can get those nifty, mega-aero-dynamic running strollers now- but I don't have one.

Now, while it may be true that I shifted to walking- for Autumn's sake, I have since found out that walking has a some real merrit of its own. Now I know you "EXTREME" sports enthusiasts out there are thinking "what can walking possibly do for me?" Well, primarily its not so much about walking in itself, as it is about what walking, as opposed to other forms of evercise, allows you to see and experience. I am happy to say that at the ripe age of 33 I am more amazed by the beauty of God's Creation than ever before. And that in itself is a peculiar and fascinating thing. And walking is the perfect way to enjoy it.

I am finding that as the years go by I am more and more in awe of the earth's natural beauty. And of course this is greatly contrasted by the fact that as I age, I am more and more sickened by the sheer lack of beauty in the barbaric acts of mankind- beginning with none other than myself. So while one is growing more grotesque, the other is growing undoubtedly more dazzling. Now, while some may fear that this kind of adoration of "Nature" could become a thing unto itself, let me assure you that for me all this does is point my eyes and heart straight to the throne of Heaven.

Now the great thing about walking is that, like golf, its the kind of thing that one can do, and more importantly perhaps- do well- as one grows older; even much older. And when I compute the math in my head- in this particular case "the mathmatics of glory", I suspect that the way things are going, I'm likely to be nealry bursting with utter joy by the time I reach 50. Remember, when it comes to my time in Creation, I am experiencing the law of increasing returns.

And come to think of it, this brings about a rather happy thought. Wouldn't it be a marvellous thing to- almost seamlessly pass from this world into the next- while strolling through Creation like Adam? Then, as Paul predicts, we certainly would be going "from glory to glory". Anyway, here's to walking- give it a try sometime. It may not be "extreme" but it certainly is "divine".

Postmodern Tension

2005-04-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

This evening I have been doing some research on Brian McLaren and the so-called "Emergent Church" movement. I must say that my feelings are decidedly mixed. Some of the things I read make me go - "Yes! That's what we need in the Church!" Other things make me go- "Ugh- tried that. It wasn't what it was cracked up to be." An expression from Ecclesiasties also comes to mind- "there is nothing new under the sun." Still, I am a die-hard- and as such, I'm still churning some of these questions through my heart and mind.

For those of you not too familiar with this material, the main goal of the Emergent movement, is to come up with an experience of Christianity (via a journey) that is vital, and engaging for the post-modern generation(s)- (aka Gen X and Gen Next). Now doesn't that sound great? In fact- doesn't it sound theologically "delicious?" It does to me. What I wrestle with however, after having pursued some of this stuff for several years now, is that it never ends up being quite what its seemed it promised it would be. Having "practiced" this pursuit, I, and others alongside me, have found that the thought and the goal is much more noble and engaging than the end product.

Human beings are human beings- and in that sense, there really is nothing new to be discovered. And even more importantly, the new or "newest" version of the church is just as susceptible, if not even more susceptible (by the very virtue of its "newness") to the brutal and base ugliness of pride. Being cutting edge, for the cutting edge's sake- is just not worth it. It's got to be about discipleship, or as an old pastor/mentor of mine used to say- "If it's not about changed lives, then let's turn off the lights and go home."

Now to flip the coin again, the part of me that resonates (even still) with the goals of the Emergent movement, finds it appealing because it hints at a change in attitude and approach. I still believe that for the most part, we (i.e. the Evangelical Church), approach "the World" with abstract doctrine moreso than with "incarnate love". And that's a big deal. There's a reason why Jesus came in the flesh rather than on a bunch of newly inspired slabs of stone. People need people to be examples of "the redefined life". It began with Him and is supposed to continue with us.

Anyway, I will write more on this in the near future but I thought I'd get out some raw thoughts while they were perculating- so to speak. I guess a good way to sum this all up would be to say that, after having been a part of a churchplant that was and is trying to walk out this postmodern journey, I have almost as many criticisms of it as I have of the "old regime" we came out of. But that's a discussion for another day. Stay tuned...

Living Under the Law of Love

2005-04-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

On the surface life would be much easier if more were decided for us. While we can rest assured that some things are always true, things such as the fact that God is God, an unchangeable and merciful deity who abounds in grace, it's amazing to me how much is not clear. I'm speaking of the day to day details- where so much in the manual of life doesn't easily fall into place. For all we do know, it's clear that we are frequently, almost daily called to wrestle with issues in order to decide what the best course of action is in any given situation.

However, I think that while things, may on the surface, appear easier if more were decided for us, in reality we would miss much of what the Christian message has for us as it's goal if we asumed it were only a system of easily ascertained "yays and neys". Yes, we are to lean not on our own understanding. Yes God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. However, this doesn't deny the fact that much of the Christian journey is about learning to think, and be, as God is- by his very nature. For him it's automatic, for us it's hard work and sacrifice. This means wrestling is part of the equation- there's no way around it. And that's why we must caution ourselves not to turn Christianity into a set of laws that easily fall into place in preexisting slots. It's just not as simple as square pegs and holes. And yet much of the time it seems that this is what we default towards as we seek to live life.

Paul himself says, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling". How often do we breeze past this passage without grappling with it's meaning? Surely an implication of what Paul is saying here is that if fear and trembling are necessarily involved, that our journeys will not be simple ones. But how often do we seek answers as if the wrestling, and the tension, were not involved. Take this following case as an example... Person A comes to Person B and reports a problem. Person B is a Christian and has therefore at his disposal the Truth Machine. So he merely smiles knowingly at his neighbor, pulls himself up to the keyboard in front of the machine and types in the query. He then looks over and smiles at his friend as he punches the enter button with fervour. With little delay, the machine churns for a moment and then spits out a response in the form of a little piece of paper. Person B, unfolds the paper and proudly reads the response to Person A, whom upon hearing the correct course, smiles broadly, claps his hands together above his head and offers his friend an enthusiastic holy hug.

Yes perhaps I am being more than a little facitious here. But, in reality, the approach we take sometimes doesn't seem to stray to much from this scenario. The only issues we don't approach in such a manner are those to which the Bible doesn't provide us a clear and unequivicable answer. I think we almost unconsciously assume that these questions can't be all that important if the Bible doesn't address them specifically. We never seem to consider, on the contrary, that if so many issues are not dealt with specifically, that perhaps clear-cut, black and white answers are not the goal of the enterprise at all. It doesn't take much thought to realize that this is perhaps a strange possibility to ignore.

But perhaps I am being too obtuse for you here. Let me address some specific examples where I see the Truth Machine used in such a manner. By now, I'm sure our human natures have convinced us that while we whole-heartedly agree with the argument I'm making here, that we ourselves are not guilty of this all too common Christian oversight. I am all too aware that I have frequently employed the T.M.method to people, and in turn done nothing to practically help them in their difficulty.

My first example came up in a conversation I was having with a friend on this very topic. The issue of fasting came up. We are all very aware of the gospel passage where Jesus warns us not to fast openly in front of others. In context, what Jesus is speaking of here is avoiding making a prideful spectacle of one's intimate relationship with God. Of course his admonition has everything to do with motivation. It is all about the heart. What he is not saying, on the other hand, is that fasting should be an entirely secret affair that is never to do be observable to others. And yet we often take the precept almost to this extreme. In short, we make a law of what was always meant to signify a "heartcheck"- if you will.

Perhaps another biblical example would be helpful. Consider for a moment another gospel passage which depicts Jesus intervening in the potential stoning of a woman caught in adultery. Those who were about to search the ground for large and jagged stones surely felt that they were completely within their right to follow "the law" and put to death a sinner who had clearly transgressed. From that perspective, judging only the facts of the matter, it would be hard to find fault in their 'legal" reasoning.

Interestingly, Jesus doesn't address the law at all in this instance. He doesn't try and apply a mitigating factor that is written somewhere in Rabbinic fine print in order to relieve this woman of her sure demise. Instead, he takes a different approach entirely. He turns the situation on it's head. He asks each of those present to consider themselves before considering the adulterous woman. He calmly responds "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". After moments of inner wrestling, surely for some it took longer than others, the woman suddenly finds herself alone with Jesus. Jesus' challenge had hit it's mark- the center of the hearts of those who were about to commit murder in the name of "the law".

I am not trying to suggest here that we should abandon absolute truth, or that we should at all costs seek to avoid confrontation over issues of right and wrong. On the contrary, I think we should apply all of our faculties to this task. But doing so, by definition, means wrestling through difficult issues. It means considering first and foremost, the nature of God's heart and his redemptive plan for all of us, then secondly humbly considering our own sinful brokenness, and then lastly considering the sins of another in light of God's intention for his shalom community.

If we were to merely settle, on the contrary, for a legislated system of moral law which provides everclear-cut, one-dimensional, abstractions of truth, I think we would leave more than much to be desired. I think such an approach amounts not only to poor exegesis, but even to a form of sin itself. Earlier I mentioned Paul's statement which calls us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling". Another of his comments comes to mind here, that being the admonition to move into a spiritual maturity that sees us no longer drinking the equivalent of baby's milk wisdom. Not only would we be a wiser church if we took this to heart, I think we would be a more compassionate one as well. And when all is said and done, wisdom and compassion should always appear as two sides of the same coin. May we heed this the next time a question arises and the Truth Machine threatens to raise it's ugly head.

Getting Rid of My To Do List

2005-04-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, while listening to a sermon series from the book of Romans, I have found myself frequently "pricked" by its teachings. To be honest, I've caught myself sitting on pins and needles, hoping that the next point won't be one to "nail me" for my behavior- either now or in the past. The truth is I have been frequently indicted throughout the sermon series. It almost makes one a little afraid to attend another Sunday service!

But of course, when I step back a little from myself, I see that this is the same root problem for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees. I am guilty myself. And I know I'm not alone. The truth is, even in Evangelical North America today, many of us are still trying to feel liberated and exempt because of the relative goodness of our actions. We know that it is grace through faith that saves us, but even so, we like to know that we're on God's "good list"- relatively speaking, now that this whole "salvation" issue has been taken care of. And that's just all wrong. Even on my absolutely best day, I am a cosmos or two away from the standard God has set.

But that's not the point I really want to deal with. Another thing that has come to light in this experience is my "felt need" to be able to neatly package a list of actions that are either right or wrong in God's eyes. And when I say "neatly package" I mean right down to the smallest detail. And that too is Pharisaical. I have to admit that it matters to me, not only that I am "innocent", but that pretty much everyone who calls themselves a Christian would agree that I'm innocent. I just don't like gray areas. I want to know, is what I'm doing right or wrong- period. But to quote C.S. Lewis here, doing this, reducing the teachings of Jesus to a mere list of do's and don'ts, is kind of like "trying to bottle a sunbeam".

While there are specific examples where Jesus said "do this" and "don't do this", there are many more examples where what he said seemed to depend on the context of what was happening, and even more importantly, on the context of the heart (i.e. motive) behind what was happening. Just when I think I've pinned him, I read a parable or something somewhere else and realize that my shiny, white platitude has a glitch of sorts.

Even if you examine the fruits of the Spirit, you realize this is the case. They are not merely a list of actions. They are specific enough for us to understand, but not quite specific enough for us to fully grasp or ever "nail down". That is to say, you never really arrive in pursuing the fruits of the Spirit; you just keep moving in closer and closer orbital approximations to a fuzzy-set center.

What Respect Will Earn You

2005-04-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

I've been really intruiged this week by the amount of attention paid to the passing of Pope John Paul the 2nd. Because the secular news media can tend to feast on stories which ridicule and "demonize" Christians, you know something really special has occured when the opposite is the case. And the opposite has very much been the case this past week. Everywhere you look, listen and read, tribute is being paid to this man whom Catholics are already hailing as a saint.

So what's the deal? How is it that a man who stood so unashamedly and aggresively against the liberaliztion of morals in the West, is being hailed, even by the most liberal minded as a "great man". Well, I think it all comes down to one word- respect. People might not necessarily have agreed with everything this Pope said and did, but they certainly respected him. They respected him because his views were consistent and because his views expressed an overwhelming appreciation of the dignity of every human being on the face of the earth. He might tell you that what you were doing was wrong, but he would also tell you that you were of infinite importance to God- and thus, to him.

And of course, there's one last thing that marked this Pope as perhaps the greatest in centuries- and that would be his compassion. In a media culture where image reigns supreme over substance, the vast majority of images of this man show him smiling, reaching out to hold people's hands, or bending down low to embrace children. As the saying goes, an image speaks a thousand words. That is so true. And since the Pope's death, a hundred thousand words have been written of his life and of his love.

More than Mimics: The Music of the Counter-Culture

2005-04-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

What has become a fairly major pet-peeve of mine is the tendency of the Christian music industry to try and match the sounds of "Christian artists" with those of the secular industry. These days you can go into your local Christian bookstore and see a list of artists who are compared and categorized by the nearness of their sound to a well-known secular artist.

While I can understand that Mom and Dad might find this useful in finding a less destructive, but similar sounding, version of Nine Inch Nails for their adolescent to listen to, I think what it does is play into the tendency of the Christian industry to do no better than mimic the secular industry. Its like we're surrendering ourselves to the fact that ground-breaking art will be made by secular artists. And that it's only our job to come along and "repackage it with a track"- and call it "ours". That's just sad in my mind.

We are the imagebearers of the creator of the Universe- the Ultimate Artist. We should be the ones defining the cutting edge of music and art. Not so much because we're trying to be "cutting edge" as that we're pursuing God with our whole hearts and writing music that is attempting to describe the undescribable. If we did that more often, we would, as a bi-product, be making the kind of music that would turn heads everywhere- both in "the World" and in the Kingdom.

All of Life is Sacred

2005-03-22T22:22:00.000-08:00

Prior to 2005, I spent much of my time in the work of church planting- in various forms and roles. Durig that season, which lasted 5 years or more, I never doubted that God was behind the work I was doing. I had no difficulty asking Him to bless the work that I had put my heart, mind and soul into.

Now I find myself in a very different season of life; being a husband, a father, and the owner (along with my wife) of a new and growing business. I have to say that in this new season, I have been surprised by the degree to which God is encouraging my efforts and blessing my endeavors. When I was a church planter I never questioned how much He was behind me. I can't say I felt exactly the same as I entered this new chapter.

And yet- now that I've walked this path for a little while- I am convinced that He is fully behind these new responsibilities- as much so as He was the old ones. That is to say, that any vestige of the old sacred/secular dichotomy has been completed obliterated in the experience of this new season. God is for me; that hasn't changed.

However, my point is not to say that He is completely for me regardless of what I do- although that's true (within certain parameters of course). My point is that He is the author of this new season. I feel as if I am very much in the center of His will. In terms of character formation- which is the real goal in this life, there's no doubt in my mind that I've already been forced to grow in ways, that church planting never demanded of me- though it too had its challenges to be sure.

"All of life is sacred and potentially Spirit-bearing" - so the ancient Orthodox saying goes. This new husband, new father, and new businessman is finding that to be very true here at the onset of the 21st century.

Mystery: A Lost Art Not a Lost Cause

2005-03-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

While there is no shortage of negative baggage related to the post-modernism that is prevalent in much of Wester society today, there are also some really positive shifts; I suppose that's true of any era and its philosophical leanings.

The aspect of postmodernism that I'm thinking of- is a belief in mystery; a belief in reality that supersedes pure logic and most certainly pure materialism. We as the Church could really seize this opportunity to talk about the mystery that surrounds our faith.

Unfortunately, in the West, the Church has lost much of that sense of the "unknowingness" of our Christian experience. I say its high time we got more in touch with that mystery again. In mystery there is mystical romance- and surely that's a journey we'd all love to be on- and a journey God would love to lead us on.

Christianity as a Counter-Culture

2005-03-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Recently I read a great interview with Eugene Peterson in which he detailed the fact that when we as Christians cater too much to the whims of our contemporary society, we fail on two accounts. 1.) We make the gospel less than the truly counter-cultural message that it is, and 2.)we offer an idealogy that blends in with a million other "isms" that are competing for the prize of reaping the masses. I totally agree with that sentiment.

Ironically, because I as a 30-something, am part of a generation that has been raised on "image advertising", I'm actually suspicious of anything that sounds too nice, too easy, too familiar. I think many non-Christians feel the same. They're actually looking for soemthing that stands out as completely counter-cultural. Something not easy- but perhaps hard- but most of all- REAL.