Messages

In hindsight, I probably should have posted this even up here before it happened, but did anyone have a chance to see him speak this morning? I went with some friends, and excellent discussion ensued.

Yeah man, how are we ever going to forgive you for this one? Shane was in town and you didn't let us know. Wow! What an unforgiveable sin! So glad you were able to go and would love to hear more about the ensuing discussion. I find it so interesting that the Methodists (of which tribe I used to be officially affiliated) are so on board with the emergent conversations. In fact, from my own personal experience, I'd say that denomination was "emergent" before "emergent" emerged within the broader Christian community. It just seems authors and activists such as Claiborne and McLaren, etc. have been able to communicate these ideas and approaches to a much broader and younger audience. I would love to probe the similarities and differences more in depth and see what we can learn from those who have gone before us. Why reinvent the wheel if others have already discovered it? I guess our calling might be to see if it really is a wheel and then do our best to improve on it (if that's even possible) and help others see the advantages of these "new" approaches to following Jesus and being the church and building the Kingdom, etc.

Yes, I am clearly a jerk. To be fair, I only found out a couple days in advance. I was up in Muncie for the weekend, so I slept in my truck in the church parking lot in order to hear Shane speak. So I didn't really have access to the message boards in time.

To be honest, Shane didn't really talk about much that wasn't in his book The Irresistible Revolution. He only had 30 to 40 minutes to speak, so he spent most of his time relating his experiences in India, Philadelphia, and Iraq. However, it was interesting to see Shane in person. He's an interesting fellow. I spoke with him briefly, and he introduced me to a gentleman from Englewood Church in Irvington that he is friends with. I have been there once, and they seem very interested creating community and sustainable living.

Though I've been inside Lockerbie United Methodist, I'd never attended a United Methodist service before. I have to admit, I was surprised at how button-downed it was. Suits and ties were definitely the order of the day. If I looked out of place in my jeans and sweater, nursing an Orange Crush, Shane definitely stood apart from the crowd in clothes that were probably homemade and looking a little threadbare. The church seemed genuinely concerned with reaching out to the poor in their community, though, so that was cool. On May 2 and 3, their youth group will be erecting and living in a "cardboard city" to raise money for a short term missions trip to Mexico.

Four of my friends met me for the third service, and most of them had never heard of Shane before. They were very intrigued by his message. We had good conversation about the relationship between the church and social justice over lunch. We also watched "Once," and then they decided to come to church at The Crossing with me that evening.

It was a good day.

I would love to probe the similarities and differences more in depth and see what we can learn from those who have gone before us. Why reinvent the wheel if others have already discovered it?

Shane mentioned--and I would agree--that the church most definitely runs in cycles of hot and cold. Some churches are catching fire, some are steadily burning, and others have grown obese with lack of exercise and are dying.

Though "the path is straight and narrow and there are few who find it," we are most definitely not the first to walk it. Shane mentioned, of course, the early apostles and also men like John Wesley, who said, "If I should die with more than ten pounds to my name, may every man call me a liar and thief, for I have betrayed the Gospel."

Personally, I have a high view of Scripture, specifically of the ministry of Jesus and of the early apostles. When I find myself wrestling with a question or issue, I find it helpful to ask myself, how would have they dealt with it. I believe the answers can still be found in the Bible.

Cool discussion - I'm totally in agreement with checking who you are against the Gospels (and Scripture overall). I also echo the sadness about not knowing about Shane's visit to the heartland. I've quoted Claiborne in so many sermons.... sad to not get to hear or speak to him.