My charade is the event of the season
This post is part of the May Synchroblog on the topic of “Human Rights” and part of a global blogging event known as Bloggers Unite for Human Rights. While many bloggers will be writing about specific human rights abuses, my post will be a little different. I think it is important to point out human rights abuses, and I think it is important to think about solutions to those problems. But, that’s not the way that I’m going with this post.
“Carry On My Wayward Son” – one of the biggest hits for the band Kansas – includes the following lyrics:
Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
I recently heard this song while I was driving to work, and these two lines stuck in my head. I repeated them over and over again to myself over the next few days. In fact, it got to the point that I could remember those two lines, but I couldn’t remember exactly which song they were from. God used these words to point out something about my own life…
And, I have a confession – I don’t love people. Oh, I love some people – especially those people who love me back. But when it comes to people in general, I don’t love them. How do I know? Because I don’t demonstrate that love. The test of love is not what I say about people but what I do about people.
In the same way, the test of whether or not I care about human rights – the rights that all people have because they are children of God – is not in what I say or teach or write, but in what I do. And, I don’t do much. Even what I do something, I usually simply throw a little money at a problem, hoping that “human rights issues” and other problems will simply take the money and go away like a stray dog with a bit of food.
Yes, I’m sure I’m being tough on myself, and I should probably just forget about this for a while and hope the convictions go away. Or, I can accept these convictions of proof that I am part of the “human rights” problem. And, as I’ve written before, God is changing my heart in this area. At least now I recognize that the love that I have been demonstrating remains a selfish love. That old “love” was not based on a person’s worth as given by God, but it was instead based on my association with the person.
Recently, God has been teaching me to care about other people through many different means… even modern rock songs. For instance, God has pricked my heart with this lyric from “Hands Held High” by Linkin Park:
In my living room watching but I am not laughing
Cause when it gets tense I know what might happenThe world is cold the bold men take action
Have to react or get blown into fractionsTen years old is something to see
Another kid my age drug under the jeepTaken and bound and found later under the tree
I wonder if he thought the next one could be meDo you see the soldiers that are out today
To brush the dust from bullet proof vests awayIt’s ironic, at times like this you pray
But a bomb blew the mosque up yesterdayThere’s bombs in the buses, bikes, roads
Inside your market, your shops, your clothesMy dad he’s got a lot of fear I know
But enough pride inside not to let that showMy brother had a book he would hold with pride
A little red cover with a broken spineOn the back, he hand wrote a quote inside
“When the rich wage war it’s the poor who die”Meanwhile, the leader just talks away
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replayAnd the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
Both scared and angry like “what did he say?”
While the song may condemn leaders and talking heads who are more concerned with sound bites than dealing with problems, I have to include myself in the condemnation. Failure to take notice of “human rights issues” and failure to respond to “human rights issues” is just as bad, if not worse, than leaders who use “human rights issues” for sound bites and political gain.
People are important to God, and they should be important to me. If they’re not, then there is a problem between God and me, and I am somehow hindering his work in my life.
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Click the link below to read the posts by other synchrobloggers who are taking part in “Bloggers Unite for Human Rights“:
Sonja Andrews on Human Wrongs
Adam Gonnerman on Guantanamo Bay in the eyes of God
Julie Clawson on Human rights and Christian comfort
Steve Hayes on Human rights and Christian faith
Steve Hayes (again!) on Human Rights and Amnesty International
Sally Coleman on “If”
Alan Knox on My Charade is the event of the Season
Bryan Riley on Bloggers Unite for Human Rights
Janice Fowler on Voiceovers Needed (Or Wake-Up Speak-Up)
Cobus van Wyngaard on Christianization and Humanization and our task in Zimbabwe
Mike Bursell on Human rights (and Christian responsibilities)
Prof Carlos Z on A new examination of human rights
KW Leslie on For those who say Christians have no rights
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Here some other bloggers whose blogs I read who are not part of the synchroblog, but are taking part in “Bloggers Unite for Human Rights“:
Heather on What can we do?
Michael on Uniting for Human Rights: Blog!!!
Glenn on Confessions
You are here
This post is part of a synchroblog organized by Glenn from “re-dreaming the dream” (see his post called “Your Turn: May Synchroblog“). In this synchroblog, participants are supposed to tell “a little about the latest chapter of your story”. Specifically, he suggests thinking about the following questions:
- How are you doing?
- What are you doing?
- What are you learning?
- What are you dreaming about?
When I started to think about the “latest chapter in my story”, I thought about one of those maps which have an arrow point to your current location along with the words, “You are here”. Of course, when I look at one of those maps, “Here” is rarely where I want to be. I always want to be “There”, wherever “There” may be. But, the map is still useful, especially in determining how to get from “Here” to “There”.
But, where is “Here” for me? Where is “There”? And, how do I get “There” from “Here”? These are very important questions, and I hope to answer a few of them in this post and in some future posts.
I could focus on many different aspects of my spiritual journey of understanding God, trusting God, relating to people, and understanding the world. Since I write primarily about the church, I think I will focus on one aspect of my understanding of the church that has changed and how that change has affected my life.
When I came to Southeastern to begin seminary just over five years ago, I was very happy with the institutional church system. I had grown up in that system; I had learned how to operate within that system; I had been a lay leader in the system; and I planned to be a professional leader within the institutional church system. There are many good things that happen in and through institutional churches, and this post is not meant as a rant against church systems.
However, as I made my way through seminary, and as I studied the church from the perspective of Scripture, I learned something very interesting: Scripture does not focus on church as a system, but on church as a people. Slowly, my thinking, my studies, and my actions have shifted away from support and defense of an institutional system and toward the strengthening of God’s people – the church.
This change has affected every aspect of my understanding of the church – the clergy/laity distinction, education, discipleship, meetings, discipline, teaching, fellowship, and on and on. While structures and organizations can work to help people relate to one another, they always must be checked and re-checked to make sure they are not hindering God’s people from obeying him and serving one another.
That’s where God has me now… at the moment… that is my, “You are here”. But, where is “There”? Where is God leading me? As I continue to study and as I continue to attempt to follow God in every aspect of my life, I realize that my understanding of how God loves and cares about people is very shallow… very limited. Because of that, my love and concern and service towards people is shallow and limited.
In the last several months I’ve written about social justice, caring for the least, etc. The gospel – the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his completed work in healing the rift between us and God and other people caused by sin – calls us to both worship God and care for people. As our hearts are turned toward God, our hearts are also turned toward people.
My heart is turning, but its not there yet. I’m still very selfish and self-centered, though I see a direction in my life – a direction that I think God is moving me, because it parallels what we see about God in Scripture. Where and when I do find myself caring about other people, the scope of my concern is still limited primarily to those that I know personally. God cares for all people, especially those who are hurting, oppressed, needy, hungry, fatherless, widowed, and living in a foreign land. My heart is not there yet. But, again, I can sense that God is moving me in that direction.
Honestly, I don’t know exactly what “There” is going to look like. I don’t know exactly what God is going to use to move me from “Here” to “There”. But… I’m willing… honestly, my willingness is shaded with hesitancy because I realize that I will have to give up many things that are special to me – much like the institutional church was special to me. I’m willing… and I trust God to do this… but again, my trust is shaded with doubt – doubt that I will be obedient. All I can do is cry out with the father of the demon-possessed boy – “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief”.
I am “Here”… God wants me “There”… Lord, you will have to help me get from “Here” to “There”.
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Below is a list of other posts from bloggers who are participating in this synchroblog:
Glenn with “Feeling Free“
Mike with “Lost or Found (Depends on your view)“
Erin with “My Turn“
Lyn with “Your Turn“
Sarah with “Glenn’s May Synchroblog“
Jane with “Part 1“, “Part 2“, “Part 3“, & “Part 4“
Alan with “You Are Here“
Barb with “One Year Checkup“
Kathy with “It stinks down here, but I really love the smell“
Heidi with “May Synchroblog“
Jeff with “Mile Marker Reflections“
Jeromy with “Our Story – Chapter 10“
Sam with “Synchroblog Monday“
Aaron with “Life after the Gravitron“
Rachel with “Synchroblog“
7catz with “May Synchroblog“
Gary with “How am I doing?“
Happy with “Better late than never“
Bloggers Unite for Human Rights
I’ve decided to take part in “Bloggers Unite for Human Rights” on May 15. The monthly synchroblog that I participate in is making this the synchroblog topic for May, which I think is a great idea. While most bloggers will be writing about specific human rights issues, I think my post will go in a slightly different direction. I will write about how God is changing my views in the area of caring for people, especially the hungry, the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner. I hope you decide to take part in this blogging event as well. Many people around the world will notice this blogging event… shouldn’t God’s children have the loudest voice when it comes to caring for people?
Give a little bit?
The topic of April’s monthly synchroblog is “Social Activism and Christian Mission”. This topic is very similar to the topic of the “Missional Synchroblog” that I took part in on Monday in a post called “Living the Love of God“.
In 1977, Supertramp released the album (no, it wasn’t a CD) Even in the Quietest Moments. The first track of this album was caled Give a Little Bit, and it started with these words:
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
Ill give a little bit of my love to you
There’s so much that we need to share
So send a smile and show you care
At times, I think this could be the theme song for the majority of Christians. We are willing to give to others, as long as we only have to give a little bit. We are willing to do for others, as long as we only have to do a little bit.
We like to think that our giving attitude comes from God, but I think our current attitude of helping those who are in need comes more from society than from God. Last week, on Tuesday, April 8, on the insanely popular (even in our house) reality show American Idol, the top eight contestants sang for a chance to become the next American Idol. For two hours after the show aired, over thirty million votes were cast (that would be 30,000,000 votes).
The next night, Wednesday, April 9, American Idol presented a show called “Idol Gives Back” in which the contestants, the host, the judges, and many celebrities and near-celebrities encouraged Americans to give toward many great relief organizations. Several stories were shown to elicit donations – stories involving infants stricken with malaria and children dealing with Aids in Africa, and stories involving poverty and illiteracy in the United States. Just over 24 hours later, on the Thursday night results show, it was revealed that “Idol Gives Back” has raised sixty million dollars so far (that would $60,000,000).
Sixty million dollars is a huge sum of money. Unless, of course, you compare that financial total to the vote total of the night before. By comparison, American managed to raise two dollars per vote (that would be $2 per vote). As a nation, Americans value entertainment, but when it comes to giving, we only want to “give a little bit”.
For the most part, this is the state of the church and Christianity in America as well. Again, we will give, if we can only give a little bit. We will do, if we can only do a little bit.
It only takes a quick perusal of Scripture to see that God’s heart is toward the poor, the homeless, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan, the weak, the needy. As we learn especially in the New Testament, God’s heart is not moved to give a little bit, but to give the best and to give all.And, the Gospel teaches us that we, as God’s children, are given a new heart that is being changed toward God’s heart. Thus, our thoughts and our actions and our priorities should be changing toward God’s as well. And our desire to give and do should be changing from “a little bit” to “all”.
Don’t mistake this post for a rant. I am not ranting. I am simply observing that social activism is not a concern for our society, for much of the church, or in my own life. I admit that in this area my heart is more attuned to the attitudes of this culture than it is attuned to the attitudes and concerns of God. Perhaps we need a twelve step program for those who realize they should be socially active, but are not:
Hello. My name is Alan. It has been two months since I have given to or done something to help someone in need…
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Below you will find links to other bloggers who are taking part in the “Social Activism and Christian Mission” synchroblog:
Phil Wyman at Square No More
Mike Bursell at Mike’s Musings
Bryan Riley at Charis Shalom
Steve Hayes writes about Khanya: Christianity and social justice
Reba Baskett at In Reba’s World
Prof Carlos Z. with Ramblings from a Sociologist
Cobus van Wyngaard at My Contemplations: David Bosch, Public Theology, Social Justic
Cindy Harvey at Tracking the Edge
Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church
Matthew Stone at Matt Stone Journeys in Between
John Smulo at JohnSmulo.com
Sonja Andrews at Calacirian
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
KW Leslie: Shine: not let it shine
Stephanie Moulton at Faith and the Environment Collide
Julie Clawson at One Hand Clapping
Steve Hollinghurst at On Earth as in Heaven
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian: Tesco is a Big Red Herring
Living the Love of God
This post is part of a “Missional Synchroblog” organized by Jonathan from “Missio Dei“. Jonathan has proposed that we each publish one post per month over the next four month concerning four different topics: 1) What does missional living look like to me? 2) What attracts me to missional? 3) Where is God calling me into mission? and 4) My best missional story. Since this is the first month of the synchroblog, the topic is “What does missional living look like to me?”
A friend of mine moved into a new neighborhood almost two years ago. He bought a house that was in need of many repairs, and, in fact, he’s still working on the house now. In less than two years, he has met most of his neighbors, inviting them to dinner at his house. He has started friendships with several neighbors, some of whom are Christians and some of whom are atheists. Although he doesn’t necessarily enjoy fishing, he has been fishing with one neighbor a few times. He has also helped several of his neighbors work on their houses. Spending all of this time with his neighbors has meant that the work on his house has taken alot longer than expected. But, he thinks that spending time with his neighbors is important.
Another friend moved from the United States to another country a few years ago. She spends most of her time with local college students teaching them English. Some students come for one or two lessons, other students come back several times. One or two students have been attending her English classes for over a year. She is building relationships with these students as she is able, even inviting them into her home and spending time in their homes. It is very difficult for her to live in a strange culture, to learn a new language, to break old habits, to leave behind family and friends and comforts and familiar things. But, she thinks that it is important for her to travel around the world and spend time with these college students.
Another friend and his family spend their Saturday mornings at the community center of a local government housing project. For the most part, they spend hours playing with boys and girls. They play on the playground equipment, ride boys and girls on their shoulders, play football with the older children, and even provide lunch. They have spent so much time with the boys and girls that they have gotten to know many of them – and some of the stories will break your heart… stories of broken families, abuse, neglect, missing parents, drugs, alcohol, prostitution. But, they think it is important to insert their lives into the broken lives of these boys and girls.
Another friend spends much of her time helping people with nutritional, health, and lifestyle issues. She spends hours every week talking to people, praying with them, encouraging them, and helping them recognize the importance of living a healthy life. She shows them alternatives to over-medicating and teaches them how to thrive in spite of constant pain. Although it is stressful to deal with hurting people all of the time, and although she doesn’t get paid for these services, she feels that it is important for her help people live physically and spiritually healthy lives.
Another friend and his family have “adopted” a couple of people who are struggling both physically and financially. Several times this family has found money, or furniture, or food that someone needs. They have given people rides to the hospital or the doctor’s office, even if the trip lasts several hours. This family takes care of people together, with the entire family getting involved. Perhaps some would think that this type of service would take too much away from “family time”, but they think that it is important for them to care for those who need help.
There are many other friends that I could mention – brothers and sisters who consider it important to give up something of their own lives in order to serve others – both those who are part of God’s family and those who are not in God’s family. I could mention the brother and sister who moved their family to an urban area to demonstrate God’s love in a desparate situation. I could mention a brother who gives up nights and weekends to work on people’s cars without charge. I could mention many brothers and sisters who cook dinners for those who have been sick or need a break for other reasons.
Which of my friends are living missionally? I think all of them are. They are living the love of God as he has provided opportunity and means and passion. And, they are all inserting their lives into the lives of other people. Their lives have been changed by God through the good news of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and they desire to demonstrate God’s love and proclaim that same good news to others in tangible ways.
There are dangers in describing the lives of some of my friends in the way that I have above. First, I definitely left out some people and some examples. God has surrounded me with many, many friends who are attempting to live the love of God in their lives. I could not mention all of them. Second, it is possible that someone could read my description of their own life and become proud. Knowing the people that I described above, that will probably not happen. Most will be embarrassed that I mentioned them, saying that they are not doing anything special. Third, there is a danger that someone will read my descriptions above and assume that those are the only ways that God works through his people into the lives of others. I would like to finish this article on this point.
Missional living means living the love of God in a way that impacts other people. As Paul said, we have been reconciled to God, and we are now to serve others with the goal of seeing them reconciled as well. This reconciliation affects all aspects of our lives, beginning with our relationship with God, but also affecting our relationship with other people.
However, the common grace of God and our common reconciliation with God does not mean that we all serve others in the same way. God has gifted us differently. He has given us different talents. We all have different opportunities. God has given us different passions and interests. Thus, we will serve others in different ways. There is a danger, especially among leaders, in thinking that every Christian will serve in the same way that I (or the leader) serves. This is not the way that God works.
Thus, missional living will look different for different people. However, in all instances, a life that mirrors the mission of God will love the love of God in the lives of others in order to reconcile them to God and to one another. This is what missional living looks like to me.
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This blog post is part of the “Missional Synchroblog” dealing with the question, “What does missional living look like to me?” If you would like to read other posts about this same topic, click the links below:
Jonathan Brink – Meeting God Where He’s Already Working
Ben Wheatley – Are Things You Are Living For Worth It
Blake Huggins – What Does Missional Living Look Like
Alan Knox – Living the love of God
Dave DeVries – The Missional Challenge
Bryan Riley – What Does Missional Living Look Like To Me
Tim Jones – Living Like the Word Says
Jeromy Johnson – What is Missional Living to Me?
Dave Wierzbicki – We are Missioning
Nathan Gann – Inevitability?
Chain Blog – A Proposal
I enjoy participating in synchroblogs. I’ve learned alot by studying topics with which I’m unfamiliar and by reading about topics from other people’s perspectives.
I have an idea that is similar to synchroblogs, but hopefully will allow for even more discussion and interaction. I’m calling this idea a “chain blog”, although I don’t know if that term is already used for something else. Also, this idea may not be new. Perhaps someone else has already developed this, but I have not heard about it.
This is the idea: One person write a blog post on a certain, agreed upon topic. Only that one blogger posts about the topic. The idea would be for another blogger to pick up on the first blogger’s post, and post in response while interacting with the first post. The “response” post could either be a rebuttal, or further definition or explanation, or a different perspective, or even carrying the idea into a new topic by showing a connection. From there, a third blogger would write a post interacting with the first two posts, while adding their own perspective, etc. Of course, there would continue to be discussion in the comments of each of the blog posts.
The rules would be as follows: One blogger writes a post on a certain topic. If another blogger wants to “chain” off of that blog post, that blogger would leave a comment saying that they will publish the next blog post in the “chain”. The “chain” blogger would then have two to three days to post the next chain blog post. When the “chain” blogger publishes a post, he or she will leave a comment on the previous link letting everyone know that the next link is ready. Each post can be as long or as short as the author desires. From there, the chain continues with the first person who comments on each link saying that they want to post the next link in the chain. Each successively blog post will contain a list of the previous “links” at the end of the post. Hopefully, each successively blog post would also be able to quote from the previous “links” to show the connection in the chain. Similarly, it would be good if all previous “links” are updated with successive links, but that is not neccesary. Also, discussion on each blog post could continue within the comments of that post. Finally, if someone takes part in the chain blog, they should wait until at least three other people had posted “links” before jumping in to write another blog post in the same chain. However, given that stipulation, the “chain” could continue as long as there is interest.
Here’s an example:
Alan starts a “chain blog” with link 1
Bob comments saying that he would like to write the next link in the chain
Bob publishes link 2 on his blog, links back to link 1, and comments in link 1 that his is ready
Christy comments that she would like to write the next link
Christy publishes link 3 on her blog, etc.
If this sounds interesting, or if you think you would like to take part in something like this, or if you have a suggestion for a chain blog topic, please let me know. If I decide to start a chain blog, I probably would not start it until May. But, I would like to know that at least a few people would take part before I start it.
A Revolutionary? Who? Me?
This post is part of a synchroblog organized by Glenn from “re-dreaming the dream” called “Revolutionaries Synchroblog“. When I first read that topic, I thought, “A revolutionary? Who? Me? I’m not a revolutionary!”
According to Wikipedia (which is quickly becoming the Great Big Book of Everything), a revolutionary is “a person who advocates or actively engages in some kind of revolution.” (Don’t you just love circular definitions?) A revolution is “a significant change that usually takes place in a short period of time.” By these definitions, am I a revolutionary? Well, let’s see how Glenn describes “revolutionaries”:
Who have been wounded through serving and separating from “church as they have known it.”
Who are feeling alone, wondering if there is something wrong with their theology, if they suffer from some personality disorder, or if they are doomed to isolation.
Who are former church leaders or staff members trying to find a new sense of direction.
Who eventually want to return to community and fellowship, but not get mired down in the system they left behind.
Who long for a faith community that is vibrant, accepting, and real, that joins in God’s kingdom in practical ways where they live and beyond.
Well, I have not been wounded by the church, though, like all people, I have been hurt by the actions or attitudes of others. I do not feel alone, because God has surrounded me by a great family and wonderful friends. I am not attempting to find a new sense of direction. I do not feel mired down by a system – not usually.
However, the last definition definitely fits me: “I long for a faith community that is vibrant, accepting, real, that joins in God’s kingdom in practical ways where they live and beyond”. As I’m longing for this faith community, I also see God forming this faith community among those believers that he’s brought me into contact. In other words, I long for something that God is already doing in my life and the lives of the people around me.
In that sense, I am not “advocating or actively engaged in” a significant change. So, what am I involved in? I am not trying to change the church so that it looks more like my idea of the church. So, what am I involved it? I am involved in trying to follow Jesus Christ – to walk in the Spirit – to please God by my life. This life, by definition and by passion, causes me to interact with the people around me, and I do desire to see us grow together in maturity toward Jesus Christ. So, perhaps that is the “revolutionary” change.
Some have said that I’m a rebel… or radical… or even an idealist. Some have suggested that I’m simply experimenting with the church. I can understand how some people would see me in this way. I don’t blame them.
But, in reality, I’m not trying to rebel against anyone or anything. I’m simply trying to live in obedience to God. Similarly, I’m not attempting to be radical; I’m not trying to live my life in the various extremes. I’m simply trying to determine what pleases God, and then live that kind of life. Also, I’m not trying to start a “church experiment”. Instead, as I study what Scripture says about the church, I actually try to live that. Perhaps it appears to be an experiment because others are not treating the church in the same manner.
So, am I a revolutionary? Perhaps… it probably depends on your perspective. However, I’m not trying to change you or anyone else. Instead, I’m trying to live as a Christ follower – a disciple. If you are a child of God, then I would love to live this life in Christ along side you.
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Here is a list of other bloggers who are participating in the “Revolutionaries Synchroblog”:
Glenn with “Revolutionaries Synchroblog – Harvey“
Jeff G. with “So you want to change“
Erin with “Are we there yet, Papa Smurf?“
Alan with “A Revolutionary? Who? Me?“
Jane with “Onward Christian Soldier“
Jeromy with “A Safe Place to Experiment“
Barb with “Glenn’s Revolutionaries Synchroblog – My Response“
Jonathan with “Re-Emerging Church“
Jeff M. with “The Great Shift – and My Unwitting Part In It“
Kathy with “Surviving Spiritual Vertigo“
Aaron with “Why I Stayed“
Jim with “There is no spoon“
Sarah with “My story of following him out“
Synchroblog Season
Apparently, it is synchroblog season. It seems that synchroblogs are popping up everywhere, and they seem to be very interesting. I’m looking forward to taking part in these synchroblogs and in reading what other people write.
- Glenn from “re-dreaming the dream” is organizing a “Revolutionaries Synchroblog” for Monday, April 7. Visit Glenn’s post for more information about this synchroblog, and leave him a comment if you’d like to take part.
- Jonathan from “Missio Dei” is organizing a “Missional Synchroblog” which will cover four different topics over the next four months. Again, read Jonathan’s post for more information and leave a comment if you’d like to participate in this synchroblog.
- The monthly synchroblog that I participate in will focus on the topic of “Social Activism and Christian Mission” for April. The date for this synchroblog will be Wednesday, April 16. If you would like to be on the email distribution for this synchroblog, send me an email and I’ll submit your name to the list.
I’ve found that participating in synchroblogs is a great way to learn more about a certain topic, both by studying the topic for myself, and by reading what others have to say about the topic. I hope that more and more people will decide to take part in these synchroblogs. We need to listen to one another in order to help one another grow in maturity in Christ.
Investigating the New Monasticism
This post is part of the March synchroblog. The theme to this synchroblog is Monasticism. It seems that most bloggers are discussing “New Monasticism“.
At first, I had decided to not take part in this synchroblog for two reasons: 1) I know very little about monasticism or new monasticism, and 2) The synchroblog would fall right in the middle of my series on early church meetings. However, I decided to take part in the synchroblog on monasticism for two reasons: 1) This post gave me a chance to investigate new monasticism and to link to other bloggers who know much more about (and even practice) new monasticism, and 2) Monasticism started in the early church, so this post actually fits well with my series on early church meetings.
New monasticism, or neomonasticism, is usually associated with emerging or missional groups of followers of Jesus. New monasticism demonstrates itself in many different ways. According to the wikipedia article, the most common principles among new monastic communities are:
- Thoughtful, prayerful, and contemplative lives.
- Communal life (expressed in a variety of ways depending on the community).
- A focus on hospitality.
- Practical engagement with the poor.
These “common principles” are scriptural principles which are specifically demonstrated by the early church in the first few chapters of the book of Acts. The main concern of new monasticism (like “old” monasticism) is that a monastic community can become inclusive. Of course, this is a concern for any type of community, whether that community is monastic or not.
However, “new monasticism” is not the same as “monasticism”. There is a new book by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove called New Monasticism: What it has to say to today’s church. The publisher’s note for this book reads as follows:
New Monasticism is a growing movement of committed Christians who are recovering the radical discipleship of monasticism and unearthing a fresh expression of Christianity in America. However, the movement doesn’t mirror traditional monasteries – many members are married with children and have careers, yet they live differently, often in community in once-abandoned sections of society.
Even more interesting is the publisher’s note about the author:
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (MDiv, Duke University Divinity School) is a leader of the New Monastic movement and cofounded the Rutba House community in Durham, North Carolina. An associate minister at St. Johns Baptist Church in Durham, he is also the coordinator of the School for Conversion, a partnership among New Monastic communities for alternative theological education.
So, this book is not a theoretical work or an ideal description of what could be. Instead, it is written by someone with a theological education who is also living in a new monastic community.
A couple of years ago, when we were looking for a house, we started looking near some friends. With other friends were looking for a new house, they started looking near us and other friends. Why? Because we understand the importance of proximity in building community. Of course, proximity is not everything, but it does help. Currently, there are several friends with whom we share our lives very closely. We see each other several times a week, spend time in one another’s homes, take care of one another’s children, laugh with, cry with, learn with, and grow with one another. Whether this is on the fringes of new monasticism or not, I do not know. But I do know that it seems to be heading in the direction of biblical fellowship.
A brother of a friend is contemplating moving to California in order to live in a neighborhood with other believers. This new type of “neighborhood abbey” is very attractive to me. I think that living in close proximity to other believers who are trying to live in community in Jesus Christ would be very beneficial. As the wikipedia article states, living in close proximity would aid in living a contemplative life, sharing with others, practicing hospitality, and helping the poor close to the neighborhood.
In the same way, I would also have a concern about living in proximity with other believers and only sharing our lives with those close to us geographically. It would be easy to spend all of my time with those believing friends, which would tend to cut me off from other people – those who most need to see and experience the affect of the gospel on a family’s life. Thus, the community would have to be intentional at reaching out to those outside the community, and encouraging others in the community to reach out beyond the community.
Like I said, I know very little about new monasticism. But, I have enjoyed the research so far. I’m also looking forward to reading more posts about monasticism and new monasticism.
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The March Synchroblog is on the topic of Monasticism. Below are links to other bloggers who are discussing monoasticism and new monasticism:
Phil Wyman at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
Beth at Until Translucent
Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill
Steve Hayes at Notes from the Underground
Jonathan Brink at JonathanBrink.com
Sally Coleman at Eternal Echoes
Bryan Riley at Charis Shalom
Cobus van Wyngaard at My Contemplations
Mike Bursell at Mike’s Musings
David Fisher at Cosmic Collisions
Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Erin Word at Decompressing Faith
Sonja Andrews at Calacirian
Positively Positive
Sally Coleman from “Eternal Echoes” suggested “a day of being positive” about the church. While I primarily write about the church on this blog, but otherwise – unless I have a specific question that I want to discuss with someone – I rarely talk about church practices or leadership or meetings outside of this blog. Instead, I try to live out many of the things that I’m learning about the church, sharing life with other believers and helping them determine how God is working in their lives. So, when I think about “positive” things that are going on in the church, I do not think primarily about organizational changes, or movements, or conferences, etc. Instead, I think about the work that I see God doing in and through the lives of the people that he’s brought into my life.
For example, as I mentioned recently in my wedding anniversary post “19 Years“, my most important discipling relationship is with my wife Margaret. I think the discipleship is working both ways between us. In her life, I’ve seen God use her to serve and care for people time and time again. I’ve seen her listen attentively to people who simply needed a listening ear. I’ve heard her speak wisdom and encouragement into situations, some involving me and some involving other people. In other words, I see God maturing her as we – hopefully – grow together.
I also think about Maël, a good friend of mine and fellow elder. While some people talk about being open and honest to other brothers and sisters in Christ, I have personally witnessed this from Maël. Not only has he talked with me and others about very personal things, he shares his struggles openly when we meet with the church. When he and his wife were given the opportunity to move to another state to continue his education, he openly shared this opportunity with the church, asking for prayer and advice in making this decision. I don’t know many elders who would discuss the possibility of moving more than a year before the possible move. He has been a great encouragement and example to me in this area.
When I think about positive things happening in the church, I also think about Theron. He and his wife Cheryl are in the middle of making decisions about their life. And, as they think through these decisions, they are trying to discern God’s will and how he has created them to serve others. They are not looking for the most comfortable path, or the easiest way. They want to know where God wants them to serve and how he wants to use them. I appreciate their openness to share this with others, to ask for help, and to wait patiently for the Lord.
I also think about Lew. As life changes for him and his wife Kati, he is excited about the possibilities. Instead of dwelling on what might be lost or what he might miss out on, he is looking forward to new opportunities that God will present to them. He is focused on getting to know people and to see God work through him to impact their life. He is also thinking about his family – how to best take care of his wife and to help her succeed. This is a great balance that is very challenging to me and my family.
These are just a few of the positive things about the church. God continually introduces me to his children who are learning and struggling and growing and failing and teaching and hoping and trying and waiting. Through all of them God teaches me and challenges me and encourages me. These are all positive things. I find these things in the lives of my brothers and sisters. I find real life – with all of its aches and pains and successes and failures – and I find God working to create abundant life. I find fellowship – fellowship with one another which is really fellowship with God.