thought provoking article from a colleague

My Friends in Christ:

The current issue of our local edition of the United Methodist Reporter contained an article in the Faith Forum section from a colleague, Rev. Andrew Thompson. The article sturred my soul to evaluate our commitment to Christ and His Church, and I hope the Spirit challenges each of our souls. Rev. Thompson's article is included in its entirety by his permission and permission of UMR. Thank you, Andrew Thompson.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jack

GEN-X RISING: Growing out of a 'country-club commitment'

Andrew C. Thompson, Feb 20, 2007

Ever heard of a "country-club commitment"? It's the kind of commitment people make when they join a country club. First, they shop around looking for the club that has all the right amenities: a nice golf course, a fancy restaurant, indoor tennis courts and a swimming pool for the kids. When they find the country club that suits them best, they join. They show up to play golf and eat at the restaurant when it suits them. And they give money to keep themselves in good standing with the club. Of course, if anything ever happens that really irritates them -- say, a new manager in the Pro Shop that they don't like or another club member who makes a callous remark -- they just withdraw their membership and find another nice club down the road. That's the country-club commitment. But of course, the country-club commitment doesn't just apply to actual country clubs. You can substitute "country club" with the word "church." Change out all the images, too, so that "restaurant" becomes "worship service," "swimming pool" becomes "youth group," and so on. Sound familiar? It should. American Protestants treat their churches like they were made for their entertainment. We approach life in the church as if it existed solely to meet our "needs." We live in the world of the Almighty Individual, where personal prerogative is supreme. And so, we are willing to change churches the way we might decide one day to shop at Macy's instead of JCPenney. It is also an attitude that comes from an almost non-existent understanding of discipleship. For those of you who have joined a church before, do you remember what you pledged? If you joined a United Methodist Church, you made a vow to be loyal to the church and to support it with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service. It is a promise that should be considered as serious as our marriage vows. And once we have made it, the only proper reason for a transfer of membership is a permanent move to a city too far to commute on Sundays. In a way, the prevalence of the country-club commitment represents a supreme form of cynicism about the church-a cynicism that says that the church is not about Jesus Christ, rather, it's about me. As I was reminded by a fellow pastor recently, such cynicism is "both easy and empty." It's easy because it only requires a commitment that imitates the standards of the surrounding culture. The cynical Christian is the one whose discipleship hinges on the fragility of his ego. At the slightest instance of discomfort or unhappiness, he pulls up stakes and moves on. And it's empty because those who fall into such cynicism become spiritual nomads. They convince themselves they will be happy and fulfilled when they find the "right" congregation. So they wander from church to church, never realizing that the real problem is with themselves. Such carefully constructed consumer egos do not need to be stroked and coddled; they need to be obliterated. We should remember that the church is the same institution the New Testament calls the Bride of Christ (Rev 21:2). With such a high pedigree, it is unbecoming for us to treat her as a prostitute, to be used and discarded as we see fit. We should also remember that we are a fundamental part of that Bride. Our membership in her does not call for a country-club commitment. It calls for a covenantal commitment, where the pledge made is understood to be lifelong. Only with a covenantal commitment can we begin growing into real Christian maturity. Only then can we resist the temptation to act like petulant children, gathering up our paper dolls and going home when we grow tired or cranky. And only then can we enter into a relationship of true love, forgiveness and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith. Our reward for such maturity will be great indeed: a deeper relationship with the Bridegroom who beckons to us.

The Rev. Thompson is working on a doctoral program at Duke Divinity School. He blogs at www.genxrising.com.

Copyright 2007 UMR Communications. Reprinted with permission."

for me and for you

My fellow walk across the room journiers:

As I recall mentioning several weeks ago, I read one Proverb chapter per day for that associated day's date. Well, reading Chapters 15-17 challenged me. These chapters were a wonderful plumbline, measuring tool, and instrument of correction and encouragement. There was almost a sense of getting back to the basics of faith in action.

However, I confess, I fell into a trap while reading several of the verses. In my mind I began to comment or judge the verses. You may have done something similar as this: "This verse applies to me, but this next verse or phrase applies to (name or group)," and you fill in the blank.

For instance, look at Proverb 15:1-5 from Peterson's paraphrase The Message, and see if you don't have the propensity for the same:

1 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. 3 God doesn't miss a thing—he's alert to good and evil alike.
4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

Yes, this is terribly wrong. If scripture is for transformation of the reader, then scripture is to judge, challenge, convict, encourage, uplift, etc., the reader. When we read scripture it is not to build a case against another, but to primarily build a case of correction and encouragement for self.

Lord God, forgive us for those times when we read your transforming Word and see how it can transform others, rather than transform our own heart, mind, and soul. Fill us with your grace-filled Word today, being transformed as you deem necessary. In the transforming name of Christ. Amen.

Grace and peace in the journey,

Pastor Jack

investment

My "walking" brothers and sisters:

For the first time in about six to eight weeks, at least before Christmas, I attended True Grit Men's Bible Study at Starbucks Murphy this morning. It was hard to get up and go, but I was glad to be there with the other six brothers around the table. They asked me to introduce myself to them since they had forgotten my name and what I did for a living...this was all in jest of course (at least I hope). What a wonderful reunion, for sure.

During my absence, the group traveled through Luke to Chapter 19 and verse 13. We read through the rest of the chapter, taking turns reading, as usual. We returned for discussion to verses 13-27 pertaining Jesus sharing that the kingdom of heaven is like ten servants who were given a king's funds and charged by the king to be good stewards of the funds while he was gone. A lesson on responsibility was about to ensue.

The facilitator posed the first question, "In what areas of your life do you best exhibit responsibility?" We sat their in silence, each of us wondering in our minds (especially my own mind), "what areas of my life do I best exhibit irresponsibility?" It was funny how everyone readily identified with the negative side of the question rather than the positive. Several of us began to think how we are more responsible in some areas and less responsible in others. Jobs for which we are paid show more responsibility than tasks at home or with family.

But it was agreed that the scripture related to how we as disciples are stewards of the life-saving, transforming faith of Jesus Christ. We are given the Single Greatest Gift to share and invest in the lives of others. So then, are we investing the Gift or holding on to it for ourselves? Are we responsible in investing the Gift expecting a return on the investment, ten-fold, five-fold, etc? Or are we receiving the Gift and burying it, hiding it from others, or squandering it for self-preservation? Good questions that were answered at the table, making us think about our investment for the kingdom.

However, when I had my devotional/quiet time later that morning, I read Eugene Peterson's introduction to Proverbs and Proverb 1 in The Message. The investment theme continued. As Peterson pointed out, we are called not only for the saving faith of Christ, to give us heaven as our eternal home, but we are called to be obedient, seek wisdom, share that wisdom, have Christ become Lord. We are responsible to have our lives transformed and in turn fulfill Christ's call in the Lord's Prayer to bring God's "kingdom on earth as it is in heaven."

O God, may we not only receive your Single Greatest Gift of Jesus as Savior but also as Lord. May we not only receive your Single Greatest Gift, but share the same with others, investing it in the live of others, being obedient, seeking wisdom. In the name of the One who walked across the room to us. Amen.

Walking Across the Room together with the Spirit and each other,

Pastor Jack