Reboot!

I know that it is already January 10th, a little over a week into 2013, but I feel this post is still applicable.  This time of year brings about new beginnings.  Sure, some people have probably already broken their New Year's resolutions, but, that's part of the reason for writing this post.

Every year we get the chance to see a new start.  No matter how many times we decide to quit smoking, or start eating better, or exercise more, or read our Bible everyday, or ____________________, we have a chance to let something new happen in our lives.  This time of year reminds of a couple of things.

The first thing that comes to mind is a British television show called The IT Crowd (not the word "it" but I.T.).  The show revolves around the few people who work in the Information Technology department of a corporate business.  The guys in the show are the stereotypical computer geeks who love video games, play turn-based role-playing board games, are used to living/working in basements, etc.  Their female supervisor knows nothing of technology, but helps the other two guys relate to the rest of the company.  What does all that have to do with change?  In their office, the two guys have a standard way of answering the telephone, "I. T., have you tried turning it of and then back on again?"  Before even a hello is uttered, or pleasantries are exchanged, they bypass all of the chit-chat and troubleshoot one of the quickest fixes for many people.  "Have you tried turning it off and then back on again?"  A reboot!  The system needs a new start. Perhaps each of us need a fresh start sometimes too.

The next thing that comes to mind is how in the New Testament, Paul the apostle undergoes change. He was a pretty mean dude back when his name was Saul.  Not only did he disapprove of Jesus followers, he rounded them up so they could be tortured and killed. It comes as no surprise that many people inside the church and some outside the church have heard of all this and how Paul was pretty zealous for the Jewish faith.  He would do anything to make sure the name of God was kept pure, meaning the Jesus followers needed to be silenced just as Jesus was silenced.  If not, check it out in the book of Acts.

But, a new year usually means a new opportunity to start something new or restart something that did not work in the past.  Whatever the case may be, this reminds me of the kind of life change that Paul underwent. He went from being a persecuting zealot to a believing follower of Jesus, the very man/faith/idea that he wanted to squelch.  Not only has Paul gone through that change, anyone who is in Christ is changed like that.  In Paul's letter to the the people at Corinth he says that "if anyone is in Christ the old stuff is gone and the new is here."  Isn't that just like starting a new year sometimes?

Sometimes we might need a new year to forget the things of the past.  Let the internal computer start with new memory.  Reboot some things. Maybe some of us need a chance to simply have a new beginning like Paul.  Maybe we just need to take a fresh look at this year, realize that there might be some times where we will mess up.  That diet may not go exactly the way we plan, the habit we try to quit may rear it's ugly little head, but take head, this is a new year.  This is a time of new beginnings.

So, to keep from getting too much into a sermon, let me just throw a challenge out there.  In this time of New Year and new season, let us live as new beings, those who are in Christ.  Throw off the things that hinder us, and live, truly live a life others might envy. Not necessarily a life that amasses mounds of wealth or is full of success according to business standards.  But, live a life that people want to have--a life of being a great friend, being the best spouse, parent, child, student, teacher, employee, boss, sibling, roommate or ________________ that you can be.  Trust me, when people see that, they are envious, because those are the kinds of people that live as new creations.

To be honest though, even as new creations we mess up.  Good thing there's room in the kingdom for people who mess up (me).  To quote from one of the great masterpiece's of our time, Disney's the Lion King, "you gotta put the past behind you."  If 2012 was a struggle, we do not have to let that immobilize us, reboot. If 2012 was great, that's not a guarantee this year will be without challenges.  As you pack away your Christmas decorations (if you haven't do so, like us), also put away the futile things that lead to death. Now is a time for newness.  We can continue to live the way we have been or we can take an opportunity to take part in being someone new.
Next post will be about steps to becoming new.

Us vs. Them

It is 2012, another election year.  Time for all of the political discussion (arguments) and the not-so-sweet TV advertisements to come rolling across the screen with the little tagline at the end "this was a paid advertisement by the so-and-so campaign." In an election year, like one we have this year, it is easy to see how polarizing our nation can be.  Not only our nation, but our entire world community can take sides, perhaps not always politically, but we as a human race can become polarizing over certain issues nonetheless.  This is a very dangerous place to be.  We align ourselves with a certain group, or a certain party, or a certain person and before long we find ourselves in a me vs. you stance or us vs. them, red vs. blue, android vs. apple, republican vs. democrat, Marvel vs. DC, Christians vs. non-Christians.  The questions I ask myself are: how healthy is this?  Are we accomplishing anything? Can we accomplish more another way?

Oftentimes I think the Christian community, who has great intentions, gets wrapped up in this me vs. you way of life as well.  We are taught that this is the way we settle things verbally and peacefully (sometimes not so peacefully, like the Crusades--sorry).  I present my case, you present your case, we challenge one another's views, and walk away with nobody being swayed and everyone being angry.  Some people just love a good debate.  This week is the first presidential debate of the 2012 elections.  I will certainly be paying attention, not because I think either of the political leaders will dramatically sway my opinion with their carefully crafted debate skills, or their attacks and counter-attacks against the other party/leader.  But I will take note of the character presented by each of the candidates.

There will certainly be many things to discuss and there will be much politicking taking place, but let me get back to my original thought.  We, as Christians, often see ourselves in the arena of me vs. those who oppose me.  We take a stand on the words of Christ from Mark 9:40 "whoever is not against us is for us" and assume that the opposite is true: "whoever is not for us is against us."  Our Christian stances hold our line on several hot button issues and lump together those who deviate from our opinion.  I use the term "our" because I fall into this category often without meaning to.  But, what may be more beneficial is to remind ourselves that the other political party (whichever that may be for you), the opposing viewpoint, the anti-my-way-of-thinking, is not our enemy.  No matter how anti-Christian that person may seem.  They are not the enemy.  Unless they are the physical embodiment of evil they are not the enemy.

How can that be?  Am I just some passive Christian who has been brainwashed by the liberal media to affirm that there is no moral absolute or that all truth is relative? No.  I am trying to remind us as Christians that our battle is not against flesh and blood. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Eph 6:12.

Although I quiver at the thought of how downright evil some people's actions can be, and how much insanity there is in the world, we are all sinners and even the scariest human is only one step away from the grace of God (yes all, even the most extreme cases).  If we change our outlook, we should never see our struggle as a we vs. they mentality.  The ones we consider "they" in this sentence are people just like anyone included in the "we" category, and the act of the cross, Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is for every person.  We are on level ground with everyone.  People who are not yet believers don't need to hear our condemnation or theological reasons for how Christians perceive "them." What they need to hear is how a loving Christ came to establish a relationship with all of humanity and how "us" flawed humans who call ourselves the Church want to reach out to the hurting, poor, lonely, destitute, helpless, and hungry with that love.  Ivory tower arguments hardly convince anyone into the Kingdom of Heaven, but Love is different, Love is where it all began.

Let us reframe the us vs. them mentality to a we-all-together-need-Christ's-love mentality.  Let me show you by my actions, even if we never believe the same.  People get turned away from those who tend to say their view is wrong.  I know what many Christians will say next: "Christ is the only way, and yes to deny that is to be wrong."  I am not trying to refute what Christ says about himself, I am trying to encourage those who believe to embody Christ's attitude of humility and not to put ourselves in the place of the Holy Spirit.  God is big enough to convict others of their sin, He's big enough to convict us of our own.

If I muddied this up, please feel free to sit down at the table and have a cup of coffee with me, and we can talk.  If you want some more from this perspective try reading Finding Common Ground by Timothy Downs who does a much better job than I have about laying these kinds of foundations.

Another chicken opinion

Something has been weighing heavy on my heart recently.  I have heard many of my friends and associates praise Chick-Fil-A the past few days and seen many posts today about how people have participated in Chick-Fil-A appreciation day.  I'm the first to tell you that I do enjoy a good spicy chicken sandwich or nuggets dipped in Polynesian sauce.  What I don't understand though, is how we as Christians are ready to stand our ground, dig our trenches and stand firm to support a chicken restaurant whose COO and president openly voiced his opinion on a controversial topic, but at the same time we fail to show love and compassion to those who disagree with us.

Chick-fil-A at the Heartland Mall in Early, TX

There just seems to be a lot of people (on both sides) who make it an issue about homosexuality, when it was an issue about CFA president's freedom of speech.  Because he voiced his opinion, because the company doesn't hide the fact that they promote Christian causes, because the company leaders support a traditional marriage, is it any surprise why CFA president Dan Cathy said what he did?  No.  Is it any surprise that the media jumped all over it, labeling him awful things? No.  That's what the media does, they are in the business of controversy, be it NBC News, CNN,  FOX News, or whoever, controversy sells better than harmony.


The sentiments from many people in my circles then become "well, I believe similarly to Chick-Fil-A's values so I will stand up with them in this blatant attack on our Christian values" and we further polarize ourselves from those who disagree with us.

I don't think this is the approach to take.  I know that this post may be adding to the noise though.  I understand that my own words are scrutinized by people who agree and disagree with me and that's fine.  My heart is heavy because I feel like often those of us who call ourselves Christians are quick to jump in and join the fight when we feel we have an cause.  But, I don't think that this type of fighting is an effective way to minister to people.  We preach from our pulpits that there is a culture war going on, and I think it's true, but I suggest that maybe we shouldn't be so quick to reach for our cultural weapons cache, but quicker to sit at the table of peace and listen.

More and more people are leaving churches in the United States.  We are following a trend set by our European brothers and sisters.  It's not because we let the liberal media dictate our news, nor is it because fought for our family values.  It's because we are stopping the process of reaching people.  When we spend our time and efforts backing a cause to stamp out this thing, or reinforce that thing, doesn't it tell people that we care more about our cause than we care about them?

I know this is supposed to be Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.  Let it be that.  I'll eat a spicy chicken sandwich when the line dies down, and the hurtful words die down too.  I'll appreciate the restaurant. I don't know that I will wage war alongside them or any other company who chooses to take on a culture war with our world.  We will lose.  This is not our home.  Our Christian voice is often stronger when we are in the margins of society, not the center of it.  When we are in the center, it becomes a play to keep power and I don't think that's what Jesus' life was about. Nor his death and resurrection.  He often challenged those inside his religious circles to be more accepting of those outside.

So, if you want to join me at the table and have a cup of coffee, there's a chair that's always open and we can talk.