The Edge of the Inside » Church

Fire the Pastor – Come to Revival

Todd Littleton — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:00:10 +0000

Celebrate the Liberating King. Come join us in firing our Pastor. Revival Coming.

I receive print and e-newsletters from various churches. Most often they come from friends and the churches they either attend or serve in some capacity. One of these recent print newsletters contained three stories all on the front page.

A group of people celebrated the liberating work of the Spirit of God as they worked through various addictions. Their group meets in a local church. An event was held to affirm, encourage, and cheer on those who experienced the freedom from their personal addictions.

Another group of people in this same local church called for the pastor’s resignation. Calling members to make the action a matter of prayer, the date was set for this impending vote and its consequent actions.

Beneath it all is the printed announcement of the upcoming revival dates for this local church.

I sincerely hope the local church that sent out this newsletter only made this one oversight – sending this newsletter to someone who is not a member of the local church – me. I fear they did not think that far.

If I ever had reservations about attending a local church, this kind of mixed message would give me pause to reconsider. What are we thinking when the outgoing Pastor celebrates the Liberating King, is under fire and threat of termination, and the church calls attention to an impending revival? I am guessing the Pastor will be liberated from such foolishness and in the oddest sort of way the church will hope for revival.

All of this and the Sunday that the Revival is planned to begin is none other than, “Back to Church Sunday.”

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Unity? What Will I Do? – Thoughts from the Edge

Todd Littleton — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:28:24 +0000

A certain perception of unity often leaves people critical of Christianity. The varieties of Christian denominations dwarf Basking Robins 31 flavors. In fact, just the varietals of Baptists leave people spinning as to why so many. Most people consider this an expression of the divisive nature of people. To be sure there is some truth to that. Just consider the wrangling in 1 Corinthians.

But, sometimes it is the result of finite expressions of an Infinite Triune God. Jesus prayed for unity among those who would follow him then and today (John 17). Certainly that did not necessarily mean uniformity. Read the differences between the players in Acts 16. One a slave girl and one a Philippian jailer. One used for the financial gain of others and one used in the oppression of others. Though both encountered the Liberating King. Both at the point of “What will I do?”

What we do will be born out in the end. Sometimes we do not like looking with the end in view. Especially if we have created a neat way to avoid responsibility. Not so fast reminds the Revelation (22). What will you do?

Conveyed Truth, Expressed Love – Thoughts from the Edge

Todd Littleton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:25:49 +0000

There is little doubt Peter’s experience with Cornelius brought the reality of reconciliation in Jesus to bear on his understanding of the way the world works. Old lines had been crossed. Former systems keeping people at bay had been formally challenged and practically outmoded. Surely this would be unsettling. Just how is this possible?

Restorative love. Peter may have recalled how Jesus reconstituted his own little world when on the beach he invited him to participate in the mission of God right where he was – not after he had matured. There was still much growing for Peter. Facing his own fears as he followed the lead of the Spirit to visit Cornelius he had to know that no one, even Gentiles, were outside of the love of God if he himself could be reconciled.

John receives in a final vision the collapsing of heaven and earth into the complete reign of God. Echoing the words on the cross, “It is finished,” the One on the throne declares, “It is done.” Reminiscent of Jesus offer to drink and never thirst, the One on the throne declares freedom to drink from the river of life. Love’s final move is the overtaking of all things in the fulfillment, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Here are some thoughts in response to a question I received last Sunday, “How do we participate in reconciliation?” My short answer – “Love.” Listen in. What are your thoughts?

Lent and Our Mind – Thoughts from the Edge

Todd Littleton — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:29:11 +0000

The coming week in the Christian calendar offers an illustration of dissonance. Hallelujahs ring for the One who altered the human experience of many maimed physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Jeers dominate the scene just days later. How people may hold competing beliefs about one subject, much less a person seems hard to fathom. Yet, we sometimes bear in our own bodies an illustration of that kind of dissonance. With our words we make certain claims. With our actions we evidence something opposite.

In Philippians 2, Paul offers a hymn we should not just sing but memorize. Our minds are a terrible thing to waste on inactivity in the body. So, to have the mind of Christ is not to hold one thing and do another – something of a dissonance of being. Instead, we are to hold on to our place in Christ in such a way we are willing to follow him all the way down, to the death of self and an allegiance to God expressed in trust and faithfulness.

Here are some thoughts as you anticipate Palm Sunday and Passion Week. What are your thoughts?

Narratives and Traditions – Brian McLaren on a New Christianity

Todd Littleton — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:03:58 +0000

Seems like every time Brian McLaren writes a new book it stirs the senses and sensibilities of many. Today marked the release of A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith. Another NKOC. I don’t have a copy though I tried to get a review copy a couple of ways. They got away too quickly.

Today I read a few pieces critiquing Brian’s work. For example, Daryl Dash notes an attempt to hedge the conversation before it gets off the ground. When does an author get to set the agenda for the response? This seems to be Dash’s initial criticism. Bill Kinnon presses the implication further by noting it really disingenuous to invite a conversation and accuse any critic of fundamentalism. Bill quotes Scot McKnight’s Beliefnet post on the subject. Jeremy Bouma writes as an insider turned engaging critic. Bouma argues for the Rule of Faith as the guiding agenda for any theological innovation.

I read these pieces before dialing in for a conference call with Brian on drop day for the new book. Here are a few things I came away with from that event. First, Brian contends some will receive what he writes as if he arrived from another planet. Their particular reading of the Scripture and the history of the Church will create a sense of vertigo. Spinning from his thoughts and contentions may not be experienced, Brian suggests, if you read from an Eastern Orthodox or Anabaptist Tradition; think Radical Reformers. When it comes to the atonement he may well be correct. My conversations with friends in the Eastern Orthodox Church certainly do not see the atonement in the same way those from a Reformed Tradition do. One must decide if the Eastern Orthodox church is illegitimate leading to a summary dismissal or, is there a place for a another theory of the atonement taking center stage. Caricatures serve no one hoping to facilitate conversation – Brian or any other author. And, I fear sometimes this unfortunate lapse comes to us all.

Second, McLaren suggests a narrative telling the way the world works should not be a “crushing narrative.” That is, if choosing one narrative above another is a violent move to the other/Other, then it really does not have a place. More and more I am inclined to think the way of love and grace would be the best corrective for the dehumanization prevalent in our culture – be it abortion or the death penalty. But, on some level all of us must succumb to love and in some sense that could be violent to our ego, or will. Brian mentioned Father Richard Rohr and his Daily Meditations. Today, Father Rohr noted suffering leads to transformation as it forces something on the will un-willingly. Since the ego often stands in the way of transformation, suffering becomes a violent event for the will. An aversion to violence and its accompanying metaphors and language does not in any way require the same image from helping us to see just how in need of transformation by the love of God we are. It can be a violent act whether or not we care for that picture or not. Certainly Brian would prefer a different picture, and maybe more of us would too. But, there is something helpful about the provocative reification of a word that grabs our attention.

Finally, I appreciate Brian inviting readers, and in this case listeners, to read the Scriptures from different perspectives. I could not help of thinking of the little book What Do They Hear?, as he noted the ways the Scripture is read in different cultural contexts. This is very difficult for we in the AmericaWest to figure out what to do about. We believe our vision to be univocal. Mark Allan Powell helps us understand how readers being trained to pastor in their context “hear,” say, the story of the Lost/Prodigal Son. Quite different in Siberia or sub-Saharan Africa than what we have accustomed ourselves to. I would contend this adds breadth. It is akin to reading commentary passages from the Early Church Fathers and gaining insight gleaned in a different day, in different settings. The great fear is to suggest the stories then become relative in the sense they lose any meaning. Could it be they gain a fuller meaning?

Several times over the past ten or so years, I have had a number of conversations with Brian. I recall him taking some time to chat with me during a conference he attended in Nashville. He has obliged me for an interview for a research project. So, while I may not always find myself driven to the same conclusions, I always appreciate the occasion to be stretched and learn from others – even if I do not end up a sycophantic ally.

Stetzer on The Exchange

Todd Littleton — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:28:33 +0000

How do you coach pastors who clamor for time you do not have? You create a webcast and exchange phone conversations for a webcam and a chat box and call it The Exchange with Ed Stetzer. I recall reading Ed‘s apologetic Tweet saying it is impossible to respond to all Tweets. Then he faced the dilemma of the maxed out Facebook Friend relationships. To Fan Page or not Fan Page that was the question. Technically the Ed Stetzer Fan Page was created by someone at Lifeway so Ed did not really have to say he created the alternative social media avenue to accommodate his rising cause celeb. After all, he has really chided “fan boys” who hoist their favored pastor celebrity while becoming quite the uber celebrity himself.

Many may not know what to do with such an ever increasing platform that transcends his denominational affiliation of choice. But, Ed does. And, while this is not the best medium for cultivating a personal coaching relationship, Ed will cover a broad sweep of topics. He likely will discover too many different subjects for a 30 minute spot attempting to integrate questions from the chat box. One thing is for sure, Ed loves the Church in all its forms. His interest in cultivating relationships across the denominational spectrum gets him in hot water with certain of his friends. I am sure he feels like he has been hit by friendly fire more than once. But, for the cause of the mission of God and the central plot of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus communicated through the Church Ed will take the hits.

Few of people employed by a denominational entity enjoy the deep connection with a local church. Often the job description prohibits long term Interims. Many eschew them anyway preferring to jet travel the country preaching at the larger churches. Ed finished a long-term Interim recently in the Nashville area and has now entered a relationship with Two Rivers. These occasions keep Ed grounded in and to the local church for which he is an advocate. In that way, Ed gets missional above all other nuances -- it is about the church.

Here is a video I believe Ed would resonate with.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68

Toxic Churches? Toxic People? Not All of Us

Todd Littleton — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:23:31 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks I have read or listened to paradoxical stories. On the one hand I have read how some have been treated in the Church. By “in the Church” I mean to say there are some who are “in the Church” who treat others “in the Church” poorly. Our way of using language tends to suggest “the Church” treated them poorly. Now I realize for some this will be a semantic game. To those I would simply appeal to wanting to invoke a different language for the narrative thereby placing the events squarely on fallible people who tend to inhabit the Church.

On the other hand I have listened as one young lady described how those in her Christian community of faith had opened up new vistas of opportunity allowing her to follow the call to action she hears from the Spirit. In this and other instances it appears those “in the Church” practice the grace and mercy we all hope would be “the Church’s” characteristic feature.

In both cases we must place the actions where they belong. Either people faithful to the way of Jesus offer mercy and grace or they do not. Rather than impugn “the Church” it would be far better to suggest those whose lives and actions do not comport with the mystery of grace and mercy found in Jesus bear the brunt of our indignities rather than summarily dismissing “the Church.”

In some parallel way we could conjure the conversations going on in American politics. We can say that America invaded a country in pre-emptive move of aggression or we can say there seemed, at the time, to be cause for concern over the tacit approval if not outright engagement with terrorist organizations. This seems to be the polarity of the left and the right in the matter. No one group would like to be singled out as though they were the other. So, we would say it was not America for many in America did not nor would want to have led such an action. Yes, we suffer the indignities from other countries but many resist wearing the blame.

If in politics some may say they showed a continued lack of support for such a move and do not want to be lumped in with “that” group who led the way, those of us in “the Church” should be allowed the same move. That is, to say we are as appalled at un-grace as the next person. But, we do not want our Christian community of faith impugned and maligned because some in another place could not, would not, bear witness to the grace and mercy of Jesus with those “in their” fellowship.

I have long followed Emily and Ronnie’s journey. I am saddened for them. I am hopeful that though shaken they see the witness of Jesus’ grace and mercy in others, though they could not see it in this instance. There are others stories to which I did not link. You know many more than that. The call for we who are hope-filled is to bear witness to the grace and mercy of Jesus and stand for such at every turn.

Another Way to Describe the Cultural Captivity of the Church

Todd Littleton — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:57:13 +0000

“You should get your Master’s degree outside the South.” I still hear Dr. Soden’s advice as though yesterday, though 24 years ago. These words remind me of how accommodating we are when it comes to our surroundings. I stayed in the “South” and earned two more degrees.

During a conference for post-graduates at SWBTS in the late 1990′s, I listened to Tom Long and Thomas Oden. Reading the Scripture had been a “flat” experience. That is, despite a recognition there were different genres in the Bible, I had been taught to apply a rigid hermeneutic across the various literary types. Such a practice made the Epistles more attractive to preach from. The Gospels would fall next in line. Long challenged preachers to take full account of the literary types and the impact the differing genres should have on the practice of preaching. I bought his little book, Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible. At once my mind raced to the course in Hebrew poetry in college and I realized the richness of the forms drew attention to the diversity of the one message of God’s Good News. My reading and my preaching would not be the same.

Thomas Oden represented something of a coup for the “right.” An admitted liberal scholar who had something of a “conversion” experience moved to the center. At the same time, Oden could help those myopically centered in one tradition hear the good in others. It was as if a new set of eyes could help some see where they had neglected important matters. I would begin to place less importance on books published by those who shared my “Southern Christian” experience and look for those eyes which would help me to see what we too often miss when our “version” dominates and we calcify it as “the” version for all time.

Today we still suffer from colloquial expressions of the faith. We fear anyone who draws attention to both the old ways and new ways. We are still captive to the cultural expression of our faith unless in some way jarred to look at it again.

I read Try your left hand by Keith Johnson and felt a kinship with his experience. I sensed clearly how the church in the South, and certainly in the West even AmericaWest, may have forgotten its left hand. While Johnson describes the richness of the Hebrew culture and the rituals and practices prior to the 2nd Century among Christians, we may easily draw comparisons the run much wider than the recovery of one segment of Christian history.

We have faced a similar captivity when we hear some suggest “real” church history began with the Reformation. There is little difference between being captive to a Southern Culture, a 16th Century movement, or the various Empires under which Christianity either thrived or struggled. We need to try our left hand, often.

Riddle Me An Experience In the Economy of the Church

Todd Littleton — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:02:39 +0000

I have been listening to Leonard Sweet’s So Beautiful. David Phillips does a good job reviewing the book here. I confess I prefer print and paper. The thought of a Kindle has intrigued me. But, I like paper and print. Bibliophiles love books in their hands, on their shelves, and in their homes. It is the experience. Reading at that level becomes tactile. I rarely read articles of any length on a screen. I prefer to print it. It is the one area where I scuttle concern for my inner carbon footprint.

We all like different experiences. Leaving the hospital last week after a visit I noticed a fellow with his Kindle in tow on his way to visit. He knew he might be there a while. A friend of mine gets so much “windshield time” he prefers audiobooks like the one I have been listening to.

Some feel life is better not reading. To each his own.

I read Mark Riddle’s post titled, “The Downfall of Creating Experiences.” (The link may be dead. I called and chided Mark to get to the heart of the blog problem so you may read the piece.) In the post Mark thinks through the words of something he read,

In the book [The Experience Economy], Pine and Gilmore lay out the four levels of economic value : commodities, goods, services, and experiences. Progression happens by moving from commodity to experience. Think about coffee. Coffee beans are a commodity, ground coffee is a good, a cup of coffee at dinner is a service, and a latte at a trendy cafe is an experience.

Or about birthday parties for kids- a cake is a commodity, a customized cake is a good, a birthday party with friends is a service, and a full fledged laser tag birthday celebration is an experience. Think about Apple stores. Disney World. You get the point.

The question is how are you creating an experience with the product or service that you offer? How are you allowing your customer to be so engaged with your product that they connect emotionally? Does your product or service create memories for your customer? Do they want to tell their friends?

There is also a fifth level of economic value, which is transformation. Incredibly hard to reach this level, but our goal should be to get there.[the context was the church]

When experience represents the move of a commodity towards transformation we must acknowledge that in a culture that amuses itself to death striving to create an experience actually works against transformation. If you follow the progression in the above illustrations – e.g. birthday cake to laser tag birthday party – what has been created is the necessity that the next birthday celebration be equal to if not “better” than the last or it becomes disappointing. What a let down when we trade the lasers for simply cake and ice cream the next year!

In So Beautiful Len describes the MRI church – missional, relational, incarnational. The thrust of his book is to get to the last but not before he says something about missional and relational. Sweet also makes the point that we are not after experiences but after relationships. Friendship transcends experiences. Relationships must endure experiences.

When a church considers the avenue to life transformation anything less than relationship it has shuttered Jesus for something less. For indeed we will offer transformation but it will not be in the trajectory of Jesus but in the direction toÂ satisfy the individual’s senses. We know in the end there is really no end to satisfying these needs once we head down that path. We also know that we end up creating spiritual addicts who need us to continue to create experiences for them. What an exhausting, fruitless practice.

Horne Notes a Take On Against Christianity

Todd Littleton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:32 +0000

Good conversation partners are hard to come by, especially when it comes to theology. Mark lived in Minco, just west of Tuttle. He pastored a small PCA church. Mark moved to St. Louis and we rarely connect. But, I do read his blog and keep track of his goings on. For some time he has touted Peter Leithart. He persuades me to buy another book. Here is a clip of a review he points to that is worth considering,

I just finished reading Against Christianity by Peter Leithart. In this book, Dr. Leithart contrasts compares and contrasts â??Christianityâ? and â??Christendom.â? Christianity is defined as â??a set of doctrines or a system of ideas.â? Unfortunately, as the good doctor points out, â??The Bible gives no hint that a Christian â??belief systemâ?? might be isolated from the life of the Church, subjected to a scientific or logical analysis, and have its truth compared with competing â??belief systems.â??â? Jesus didnâ??t come to propose a new philosophy, but rather to establish a new society, the Church. And the Church is not only a new society, but a new humanity, the beginning of the eschatological state of the human race. As Leithart writes, â??â?¦the Church presented herself not as another â??sectâ?? or cult that existed under the umbrella of the polis; she was an alternative governing body for the city and the beginning of a new city.â?

(Read the rest at: The Flying Inn: Against Christianity. via Mark)