I was asked this question recently...
...on the face of it, it is a good question.
The person who asked it was genuinely concerned with being obedient to Christ, and knowing God's commands.
So what's the problem?
A little context will help:
We were discussing racial politics in America, and the wisdom that scripture might offer to the church in such a muddy cultural milieu. Specifically, I was arguing that Christians ought to engage in cross-cultural relationships as a rule. This person was arguing that it is good for Christians to engage in cross-cultural relationships, but only when they are specifically called to do so; that it is also fine for Christians to only engage in relationships within homogenous peer groups.
I was arguing that it is a discipleship issue; to be mature in Christ, one must engage in relationships with other Christians who do not share your culture. I was arguing that it is an ethical issue: to be godly and good is to love our neighbors even though they are not like us.
At this point, the person asked, "Okay, that all sounds fine, but how do you justify that with scripture?"
There are two responses that I want to give to that question:
1) Why should I have to justify my position scripturally, but you don't? Why is it important for me to understand the biblical commands before engaging in cross-cultural community, but it is perfectly fine for you to maintain the status quo (ignoring people who aren't like you) without any need to know what scripture says about it?
2) Let's look at scripture! From Genesis to Revelation a major theme of the Kingdom of God is the bringing together of the nations under the rule and reign of our Lord and Messiah. The major ethical concern of the New Testament is precisely the creation of a new ethnos on the earth through the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus. Paul publicly rebukes Peter on exactly this point, to fail to eat with other Christians of different cultures is to fail to understand the Gospel. (Gal 2) Racism is the charge that must be dealt with by the Jerusalem church in Acts 6, and working out the sticky details of multi-cultural community is the primary focus of the first ecumenical council in Acts 15.
================
To come back to the point, it is right and good for scripture to be the proving grounds of new ideas. But scripture must also be applied to old ideas and patterns of life!
It is not enough to simply accept things as they are and move on. Jesus, our King, is redeeming all things to the Father, bringing all aspects of life under His dominion.
8.24.2016
What Are We Doing Here?
Taken as a whole, I love what I do. Some aspects of being a pastor come naturally to me, others have required work to learn but are enjoyable none-the-less, others are not-so-pleasant. Being an effective manager, however, is something that wasn't even on my radar screen as a leader. That has been the single largest growth area for me as a pastor...
I sure wish someone had sent me this article five years ago...
I sure wish someone had sent me this article five years ago...
8.22.2016
The Alternative to Charity
The alternative to this false charity is to love well.
In moving to a house that was inundated with homeless individuals where panhandling was almost an hourly occurrence in my life, I was quickly confronted with the need to discern some 'best practices.'
I will be the first to confess that I don't have it all figured out, but that time in my life helped me to figure a few things out. Its worth noting, that these are my rules, no one has to follow them but me:
In moving to a house that was inundated with homeless individuals where panhandling was almost an hourly occurrence in my life, I was quickly confronted with the need to discern some 'best practices.'
I will be the first to confess that I don't have it all figured out, but that time in my life helped me to figure a few things out. Its worth noting, that these are my rules, no one has to follow them but me:
- Don't do things because it makes me feel better. Do things that I think might genuinely help the human being stating in front of me asking for help.
- Don't ignore those feelings inside myself. Don't just walk by and ignore the situation. Don't ignore people.
- Engage. Make eye contact. Get their name, and use it.
- Find the real problem, and offer to help. Is it a ride? A meal? A job? Usually the situation is bigger than my ability to solve it. But usually there is something I can do to be a friend and encourage them to begin to solve it. The trick is, I usually have to dig a little to get to the real problem.
- Meet needs out of my own personal resources, never (or rarely) give money. Let someone borrow my phone. Give someone a ride in my car. Sit down and have lunch ...together. Introduce them to someone I know who might be able to help more.
- Offer to pray. Ask God to bless them. Listen to what God might have to say about this encounter.
- Where appropriate, and they seem open, invite them to church. Encourage them that God cares, and they are welcome in His house.
8.20.2016
Charity
The English word "charity" comes from the Latin word for "love."
Indeed, the word charity is an archaic word for love even in the English language. One can see the obvious connection between the older usage of the word and its present use. If we love people, we will help them when they need it.
So lets think a little about the word charity, and the practice of charity.
We usually offer to give charity to people because we can see an obvious problem, and we are moved to action by some internal motivation. That internal motivation could be compassion, it could be guilt, it could be duty, it could be shame, it could be any number of things...
...but we are motivated by something inside of us.
So far, so good.
It is at this point that the problem arises, we must chose what we are going to do to respond to this internal motivation. The common response is to simply give a few dollars to a person in need. This is the most basic form of charity. To give money.
Why do we give money?
We don't have time to ask about this person's situation, we don't really desire to get to know them, or let them get to know us. When confronted with a situation where someone is in obvious need of help, we give money, precisely so we don't have to get more involved! We don't have the interest in learning what this person really needs, discerning what would really help. In short, we don't care about helping them, we care about the way we feel...
Why do we give money?
Because it is the simplest way to address that feeling inside of us!
The irony is, we are giving money, precisely so that we don't have to love someone, and then we call it charity.
8.16.2016
A Necessary Crowd?
"If something is worth doing, then it is worth doing by yourself."
Pastor Kyle Stevens
A friend of mine said this once after he hosted an event at our church where no one showed up but him. Obviously there are times where going it alone is the wrong thing to do. Obviously there are times where we need to heed the voices of others. Obviously there are times where we need to acknowledge that we just need to quit because we have made a mistake, took a wrong turn, or we have failed.
And yet...
...we will never make our mark on the world if we only do what others are doing. If we are convinced of the rightness of our action, and the wisdom of our cause, then no amount of opposition or isolation should prevent us from moving forward. Even if we move forward alone.
Pastor Kyle Stevens
A friend of mine said this once after he hosted an event at our church where no one showed up but him. Obviously there are times where going it alone is the wrong thing to do. Obviously there are times where we need to heed the voices of others. Obviously there are times where we need to acknowledge that we just need to quit because we have made a mistake, took a wrong turn, or we have failed.
And yet...
...we will never make our mark on the world if we only do what others are doing. If we are convinced of the rightness of our action, and the wisdom of our cause, then no amount of opposition or isolation should prevent us from moving forward. Even if we move forward alone.
8.01.2016
Exorcising the Spirit of the Age
How do you wrestle to stay faithful to God, hospitable to the outsider; relevant to the culture, and yet true to the faith?
As Christians we must be wary of the world creeping into our church...
...as you read the words above, I wonder what you imagine?
--------------
What are the sins of our culture that are perverting the gospel? I would humbly suggest that this is the place to reflect: http://www.thewilsonsindublin.com/there-must-be-more/
As Christians we must be wary of the world creeping into our church...
...as you read the words above, I wonder what you imagine?
--------------
What are the sins of our culture that are perverting the gospel? I would humbly suggest that this is the place to reflect: http://www.thewilsonsindublin.com/there-must-be-more/
7.28.2016
Vision-Strategy-Story
A friend shared recently with me the importance of staying connected to vision (big picture) and story (little picture) whenever we are in a "management" role making decisions about strategy.
They specifically pointed at how easy strategic decisions can become ends to themselves, and our focus on budgets, teams, partnerships, events, and programs can become unhinged from the desire to see God's Kingdom unfold in the lives of our neighbors and friends.
It really clicked for me.
I have been learning more about leadership (and in particular, how important the strategic structures of our church actually are), and simultaneously I have been realizing just how critical vision is to our community. Vision is hard to communicate, but when people have been gripped by a compelling vision they will sell everything, and commit decades of their lives towards realizing that vision.
It is here that vision and strategy need to align. If that strategy is not meaningfully and effectively aligned with that vision, then the vision CANNOT be realized.
All of this had the effect of helping me see clearly how important it is that we connect all three dots as often as possible in our own minds, and in the minds of those we lead.
When people hear a story about someone who was led by the Spirit to spend an evening in conversation and prayer with a neighbor, they will be moved emotionally. But if we can also connect that story to our vision to be a neighborhood church and to see the Blessings of God's Kingdom transform our neighborhood, it will have power to invite others into similar actions. And if we can also connect that story and vision to our strategies around Missional Service, our summer BBQs, our service partnerships, and people's individual vocation, THEN we will have hit the sweet spot.
When we tie all three together, then the story becomes a way of making the Big Picture the defining reality for people, and the Strategy a compelling course of action.
They specifically pointed at how easy strategic decisions can become ends to themselves, and our focus on budgets, teams, partnerships, events, and programs can become unhinged from the desire to see God's Kingdom unfold in the lives of our neighbors and friends.
It really clicked for me.
I have been learning more about leadership (and in particular, how important the strategic structures of our church actually are), and simultaneously I have been realizing just how critical vision is to our community. Vision is hard to communicate, but when people have been gripped by a compelling vision they will sell everything, and commit decades of their lives towards realizing that vision.
It is here that vision and strategy need to align. If that strategy is not meaningfully and effectively aligned with that vision, then the vision CANNOT be realized.
All of this had the effect of helping me see clearly how important it is that we connect all three dots as often as possible in our own minds, and in the minds of those we lead.
- When we tell stories in our church, we must tie those stories directly to vision and strategy.
- When we share our strategies with our church, we must tie it to vision and story.
- When we cast vision, we must do so within the context of stories and communal strategies.
When people hear a story about someone who was led by the Spirit to spend an evening in conversation and prayer with a neighbor, they will be moved emotionally. But if we can also connect that story to our vision to be a neighborhood church and to see the Blessings of God's Kingdom transform our neighborhood, it will have power to invite others into similar actions. And if we can also connect that story and vision to our strategies around Missional Service, our summer BBQs, our service partnerships, and people's individual vocation, THEN we will have hit the sweet spot.
When we tie all three together, then the story becomes a way of making the Big Picture the defining reality for people, and the Strategy a compelling course of action.
7.24.2016
Celebration!
Here is how you celebrate victory!
Mickey's team won the championship game. He hit two home runs. They were the last place team during regular season, but they went undefeated in the playoffs. In case you don't know him, my son is the one in front with his arms in the air...
7.15.2016
6.27.2016
Bezalel: What is Ministry?
Interesting fact for the day:
Exodus 31:1-5 records the first place in scripture where someone is "filled with the Spirit." Can you guess what the Spirit empowered them to do? Not prophetic words, not healing, not angelic tongues, not preaching, nor worshipping, not even leading the people.
Bezalel was filled by God's spirit to be the artist and craftsman in charge of the artwork and finely crafted instruments for the Tabernacle.
It makes you think...
Ministry is often conceived of as "pastor-work." In most places the nurses, teachers, gardeners and neighbors are looking over the pastor's shoulder saying, "that looks fun, can I try?" But that isn't the way it is supposed to be!
Ministry is supposed to be the work of Christians in the world. The pastoral role ought to be guiding and equipping Christians in that fundamental ministry task of partnering with God in His work around us, in us, and through us. In short, the pastor should be looking over the shoulders of the nurses, teachers, gardeners, and neighbors and saying, "that looks fun, can I try?
Exodus 31:1-5 records the first place in scripture where someone is "filled with the Spirit." Can you guess what the Spirit empowered them to do? Not prophetic words, not healing, not angelic tongues, not preaching, nor worshipping, not even leading the people.
Bezalel was filled by God's spirit to be the artist and craftsman in charge of the artwork and finely crafted instruments for the Tabernacle.
It makes you think...
Ministry is often conceived of as "pastor-work." In most places the nurses, teachers, gardeners and neighbors are looking over the pastor's shoulder saying, "that looks fun, can I try?" But that isn't the way it is supposed to be!
Ministry is supposed to be the work of Christians in the world. The pastoral role ought to be guiding and equipping Christians in that fundamental ministry task of partnering with God in His work around us, in us, and through us. In short, the pastor should be looking over the shoulders of the nurses, teachers, gardeners, and neighbors and saying, "that looks fun, can I try?
6.24.2016
BUMP Life
Imagine walking out the front door of your house onto your porch, down the steps and onto the sidewalk. You turn down the block, and around the corner, on your way to work, and as you walk, you pass by parents walking their children to the school. These families are of all races and nationalities, they are from every corner of the earth: Nepalese, Congolese, Chin (Burmese), Somali, Sudanese, Karen (Burmese) and more. Not to mention the Puerto Rican, African American, and Italian American families that populated the neighborhood before the refugees began to flood into the city.
You live, work, worship, and play in one of the most diverse places in America; the West Side of Buffalo.
You live in a neighborhood whose recent history is pretty rough, but whose future is bright. The people still live in the grip of poverty; urban poverty that has oppressed generation after generation, and the poverty of the refugee community who escaped their homeland with nothing but their own lives and perhaps (if they were fortunate) some of their family. But development work has hit a tipping point. The neighborhood has seen a consistent effort towards the renovation of old housing stock, the kick starting of new business and economic ventures, the building of playgrounds and children's programs, the hiring of neighborhood youth, the organization of community groups, the development of urban agriculture, and more...
Ministry is often conceived of as something that pastors, worship leaders, small group leaders, and missionaries do. But scripture makes it clear that the leaders of the church are supposed to be equipping the people to do the ministry. That means that ministry is really something that is done by spirit-filled carpenters, teachers, gardeners, businesspeople, doctors, parents, neighbors, and artists.
You are one of those people.
What is more God is doing something strange and exciting here, something that believers have interceded about for centuries. He is bringing unity to His children. While divisions in the church are still real and painful, the Holy Spirit has woven together a network of churches, organizations, business ventures, and individual believers who are working together to glorify God and to bless the city. Your home is a nexus for this unity. You live with believers from many churches and church backgrounds, sharing meals together, praying together, sharing stories, and encouraging one another in ministry.
You live in the BUMP house.
The Buffalo Urban Mission Partnership (BUMP) is a collaborative network of church and parachurch partnerships. The Buffalo Vineyard Church is a founding member. For three years we have hosted dozens of young people in paid, year-long, ministry/service placements here in Buffalo. The BUMP program has three essential facets: paid ministry work 20-30 hours a week, christian community life in a house and in a local church, a weekly class discussing a missiology for the city.
For more information visit:
or email:
schenk.steven@gmail.com
Pastor Steven Schenk
Buffalo Vineyard Church
5.12.2016
By Gary Weins
- wispy fleeting phantom
- longing grazes the edges of my soul
- just out of sight
- A faint perfume
- it hangs midair
- a memory not quite complete
- touching feelings
- stirring something
- not quite there
- yet real
- sweet Jesus
- how long until once more your gaze arrests my heart
- you come and go
- now touching
- not keeping distant
- unpredictable like breath of wind
- when can I find you?
- will you be captured as you have captured me?
- sweet sadness overtakes me
- lending voice
- to the pensive song
- of a lovesick soul
- less wild lovers call
- sending forth their saccharine smells
- false appeals
- stemming not from love
- but raging hate
- they promise joy tonight
- cheaply
- if I but take and eat
- I glance
- but longing calls
- and sweater far its misty strains
- than any pledge of instant glee
- lovely Lord
- stretch forth your wounded hand
- and drip the precious
- fragrant flow of passioned love all over me again
- retake my battered heart
- steal me away to secret place where deep and deep engage
- I love you Lord
- I want your presence gorging me
- consuming me
- with fervent zeal
- to know you more
- living flame
- beset me now
- with love divine
- and say to me again
- beloved I am yours
- and you are mine
- but release does not yet come
- the veil is torn
- I've entered in
- yet still I see with eyes be dimmed as in a glass
- when shall I know as I am known?
- when shall the hope be realized?
- how long will mortal flesh impede desire?
- how long?
- wispy fleeting phantom
- longing grazes the edges of my soul
- just out of sight
- a faint perfume
- it hangs midair
- a memory not quite complete
- touching feelings
- stirring something
- not quite there
- yet near
- so very near
2.04.2016
1.21.2016
Ministry Pornography
Pornography is damaging to the soul for many reasons, one of them is the way in which it creates a false understanding of human sexual behavior and norms. When people feed their sexual imagination with pornography they begin to think that the behaviors they see in the porn actors/actresses are the behaviors that they should engage in when they are having sex.
The problem is that porn stars aren't normal. They aren't normal in many ways.
What is more, the camera doesn't capture everything.
=================================
There is a parallel to draw to ministry. (Actually there is a parallel to draw to any vocation. The real parallel here is about how comparing ourselves to unhealthy people actually causes us to become unhealthy ourselves. Or, how comparing ourselves to people that are in radically different situations than us can often lead to confusion and pain.)
In the church we love to hold up examples of church success that are the ministry equivalent of porn. Looking to the mega churches to teach us how to do ministry is like looking to the porn star to learn how to make love to your spouse. You are probably going to hurt yourself, hurt your spouse, and likely offend them in the process. The same is true in the church; we are likely to damage people, and damage ourselves.
Lets make this clear. The average church in America has 70 members. If my stats are correct, churches with over a 1000 members represent less than 1% of American churches. But we keep putting on ministry conferences, and teaching ministry classes, where the leaders are mega-church pastors, and the learners are normal church pastors. This means the people we are putting on a pedestal have almost no common ground with the people we are asking them to teach. They are engaged in radically different tasks.
At least as different as a married couple and a porn scene. ...maybe even more different!
The problem is that porn stars aren't normal. They aren't normal in many ways.
- Normal people don't have sex in front of a camera.
- Normal people's bodies don't look like that.
- Normal people don't enjoy those acts (indeed, most porn stars don't actually enjoy all of the things they are paid to do on camera, they do them because they get paid, not because they like it!)
What is more, the camera doesn't capture everything.
- It doesn't show you the toll pornography takes on the porn star's romantic life.
- It doesn't show you the toll pornography takes on the porn star's sobriety.
- It doesn't show you the toll pornography takes on the porn star's self worth.
=================================
There is a parallel to draw to ministry. (Actually there is a parallel to draw to any vocation. The real parallel here is about how comparing ourselves to unhealthy people actually causes us to become unhealthy ourselves. Or, how comparing ourselves to people that are in radically different situations than us can often lead to confusion and pain.)
In the church we love to hold up examples of church success that are the ministry equivalent of porn. Looking to the mega churches to teach us how to do ministry is like looking to the porn star to learn how to make love to your spouse. You are probably going to hurt yourself, hurt your spouse, and likely offend them in the process. The same is true in the church; we are likely to damage people, and damage ourselves.
Lets make this clear. The average church in America has 70 members. If my stats are correct, churches with over a 1000 members represent less than 1% of American churches. But we keep putting on ministry conferences, and teaching ministry classes, where the leaders are mega-church pastors, and the learners are normal church pastors. This means the people we are putting on a pedestal have almost no common ground with the people we are asking them to teach. They are engaged in radically different tasks.
At least as different as a married couple and a porn scene. ...maybe even more different!
1.08.2016
The Gospels and the Whole Story
“The gospels, the epistles, and Revelation itself “work” only when you see them as detailed elaborations of the large, complex, but utterly coherent story we sketched earlier: the call of Human to be God’s image-bearer into creation, the call of Israel to be the rescuer of Human, and the vocation of Jesus to be the one who, completing Israel’s task, rescues Human so that, through redeemed humankind, the whole creation can be liberated from its corruption and death and the project of new creation decisively launched.”
Excerpt From: N. T. Wright. “After You Believe.” HarperCollins, 2010.
Excerpt From: N. T. Wright. “After You Believe.” HarperCollins, 2010.
12.12.2015
Race at School
Within a few days of each other, all three of my children shared with me similar experiences at school.
My children go to a public charter school here in the City of Buffalo. Like most city schools its student population is a mixture of racial groups. Our kids classes are almost half black, and half white, with a smattering of other ethnic groups mixed in. Like most city schools, the staff population is almost completely white, and overwhelmingly female.
My kids came home talking about the way the black kids and the white kids act, and how they act different from each other. They came home talking about the way the teachers treat the black kids and the white kids, and how they don't get treated the same. They also came home talking about how some of the black kids accuse some of the teachers, and white classmates, of being "racist."
This is, of course, a wonderful opportunity for us to engage our kids, to talk with them, and to help them gain some tools to use when they are adults. In particular, we are trying to help them understand the following:
Culture Exists
Your culture is like the rules to a sport. Everyone on the team knows where to be and what to do to participate. Once you learn how to play the game, you never really have to discuss the rules anymore. You just play.
When people engage across cultures, however, its like a group of two dozen kids playing together; except the first dozen think everyone is playing soccer, and the second dozen are trying to play basketball. They have different expectations, and don't have a common language to use to explore those different expectations. There is pain, offense, and confusion, without any real understanding as to why the other kids won't just play by the rules.
But in spite of the oftentimes painful results nobody is actually doing anything immoral.
Bad Behavior Exists
Sometimes people break the rules, and they know full well that they are breaking them, they just don't care. This is true for white kids and black kids. Sometimes they just do bad things. This also applies to bigotry. Sometimes people just mistreat people because of their race.
Neither one of those things is okay, and no one should get a pass because of their skin color, no matter which color it is.
Institutional Racism Exists
The simple truth is that our school, and most schools, are run by white people. The power dynamics aren't just. Its hard to see if you are white, but painfully obvious if you are not. What is more, those power dynamics are the product of a really painful history. While the events that caused the pain might be generations in the past, the pain of those events, and the institutions created by those events, persist into today.
This means that no one is presently doing anything immoral, but the immoral actions of people from the past, are still doing damage today. It may not be our fault, but it is our responsibility to change it.
Discernment
Finally, its really important that we help our kids discern the difference between these three things. Cross cultural interaction can be beautiful, but often its like someone stepping on your toe and breaking it. Then the question becomes, did they do it on purpose? or on accident? Or maybe, just maybe, its my fault for putting my foot where it didn't belong!
My children go to a public charter school here in the City of Buffalo. Like most city schools its student population is a mixture of racial groups. Our kids classes are almost half black, and half white, with a smattering of other ethnic groups mixed in. Like most city schools, the staff population is almost completely white, and overwhelmingly female.
My kids came home talking about the way the black kids and the white kids act, and how they act different from each other. They came home talking about the way the teachers treat the black kids and the white kids, and how they don't get treated the same. They also came home talking about how some of the black kids accuse some of the teachers, and white classmates, of being "racist."
This is, of course, a wonderful opportunity for us to engage our kids, to talk with them, and to help them gain some tools to use when they are adults. In particular, we are trying to help them understand the following:
Culture Exists
Your culture is like the rules to a sport. Everyone on the team knows where to be and what to do to participate. Once you learn how to play the game, you never really have to discuss the rules anymore. You just play.
When people engage across cultures, however, its like a group of two dozen kids playing together; except the first dozen think everyone is playing soccer, and the second dozen are trying to play basketball. They have different expectations, and don't have a common language to use to explore those different expectations. There is pain, offense, and confusion, without any real understanding as to why the other kids won't just play by the rules.
But in spite of the oftentimes painful results nobody is actually doing anything immoral.
Bad Behavior Exists
Sometimes people break the rules, and they know full well that they are breaking them, they just don't care. This is true for white kids and black kids. Sometimes they just do bad things. This also applies to bigotry. Sometimes people just mistreat people because of their race.
Neither one of those things is okay, and no one should get a pass because of their skin color, no matter which color it is.
Institutional Racism Exists
The simple truth is that our school, and most schools, are run by white people. The power dynamics aren't just. Its hard to see if you are white, but painfully obvious if you are not. What is more, those power dynamics are the product of a really painful history. While the events that caused the pain might be generations in the past, the pain of those events, and the institutions created by those events, persist into today.
This means that no one is presently doing anything immoral, but the immoral actions of people from the past, are still doing damage today. It may not be our fault, but it is our responsibility to change it.
Discernment
Finally, its really important that we help our kids discern the difference between these three things. Cross cultural interaction can be beautiful, but often its like someone stepping on your toe and breaking it. Then the question becomes, did they do it on purpose? or on accident? Or maybe, just maybe, its my fault for putting my foot where it didn't belong!
Show up against TERROR!
What in the world is going on?
The same people who are horrified at the rhetoric surrounding Islamic terrorists, and Syrian refugees, are now bringing us... ?
...their own horrifying rhetoric that paints whole people groups as terrorists because of the actions of a few of its members!
I vote we "Show up Against People who can't Think for Themselves" and reject the rhetoric of fear, hate, and prejudice on all sides that the politicians are using to divide us.
I vote we begin to tone the rhetoric down on all fronts. If you are a liberal, it is your job to tell your fellow liberals to stop the craziness. If you are a conservative, it is your responsibility to tell your fellow conservatives to put an end to the divisiveness. Lets engage in thoughtful conversation and productive action. If you really can't resist the urge to be provocative try engaging in friendship with your enemies.
12.09.2015
Church Draft
Hanging out with football geeks means you talk about the best player in each position, drafting your best 'all-time' football team. Hanging out with church geeks means you get to do the same thing for a church leadership team. Who would be the best preacher ever? The greatest worship leader? Here is my list:
- Director of Church Discipline - John Calvin
- Military Advisor - Joan of Arc
- Science Advisor - Ken Hamm
- Dance Team Coordinator - Herodias' Daughter
- Women's Ministry Coordinator - Mark Driscoll
- Youth Pastor - the Prophet Elisha and his bear
- Biblical Scholar and General Cultural Advisor - President GW Bush
- Senior Pastor - Balaam's Ass
- Nursery Worker - Bob the Tomato
12.08.2015
Just Do SOMETHING!?!
I heard an interview on the radio recently.
The woman was a scriptwriter or a playwright (not sure which, maybe both) who had recently written a story about life in impoverished American ghettoes. She talked some about the genesis of her new work, and she talked some about the characters and the story itself. She talked even more about the realities of life in America's impoverished inner cities.
I was, of course, interested. She was talking about where I live, and what I care about. We live in a neighborhood where most kids grow up seeing violence, addiction, and illegal activity as normal parts of everyday life. Our neighborhood is improving, but you can still find needles on the ground in front of the school, you can still see the prostitutes walking the main thoroughfare, there are still young men standing at the corners making more money in an afternoon than a roofing job pays in a week, and you can still hear gunshots in the night.
Then she began to talk about why she wrote it and what she hoped it might accomplish.
"I hope it will motivate people to do something, give some money, change how you vote, just DO SOMETHING."
I was a little frustrated. In her defense, she is a playwright; an artist, not an activist, or an advocate, or even a scholar, but I would have hoped for a more educated response than this. Throwing money at our problems, and giving power to professional blowhards (regardless of their political stripes), will never serve to accomplish anything helpful. In point of fact, one of the largest contributing factors to the perpetuation of American poverty is precisely our unreflective need to just do something.
Helping the less fortunate by giving money and voting for certain politicians is actually an abdication of our personal responsibility to engage in helping our fellow man. Not to mention it's counter productive. Don't get me wrong, throwing money and votes around works well if our goal is to make ourselves feel better, it just doesn't change anything for those in need. Indeed free money is often the reason why better solutions fail.
What is needed is personal engagement. Instead of throwing money at the latest cause, while simultaneously climbing up the social ladder, try climbing down the ladder instead.
The woman was a scriptwriter or a playwright (not sure which, maybe both) who had recently written a story about life in impoverished American ghettoes. She talked some about the genesis of her new work, and she talked some about the characters and the story itself. She talked even more about the realities of life in America's impoverished inner cities.
I was, of course, interested. She was talking about where I live, and what I care about. We live in a neighborhood where most kids grow up seeing violence, addiction, and illegal activity as normal parts of everyday life. Our neighborhood is improving, but you can still find needles on the ground in front of the school, you can still see the prostitutes walking the main thoroughfare, there are still young men standing at the corners making more money in an afternoon than a roofing job pays in a week, and you can still hear gunshots in the night.
Then she began to talk about why she wrote it and what she hoped it might accomplish.
"I hope it will motivate people to do something, give some money, change how you vote, just DO SOMETHING."
I was a little frustrated. In her defense, she is a playwright; an artist, not an activist, or an advocate, or even a scholar, but I would have hoped for a more educated response than this. Throwing money at our problems, and giving power to professional blowhards (regardless of their political stripes), will never serve to accomplish anything helpful. In point of fact, one of the largest contributing factors to the perpetuation of American poverty is precisely our unreflective need to just do something.
Helping the less fortunate by giving money and voting for certain politicians is actually an abdication of our personal responsibility to engage in helping our fellow man. Not to mention it's counter productive. Don't get me wrong, throwing money and votes around works well if our goal is to make ourselves feel better, it just doesn't change anything for those in need. Indeed free money is often the reason why better solutions fail.
What is needed is personal engagement. Instead of throwing money at the latest cause, while simultaneously climbing up the social ladder, try climbing down the ladder instead.
12.03.2015
On Race
1) The politicians are hurting us:Our political process is such that we give power to those who can whip up social support. This is much easier and effectively done by exciting people's fear, anger, and pain. Thoughtfully engaging with complex problems to find comprehensive solutions doesn't get you votes. This drives the whole conversation in divisive and simplistic directions. Politics divides us along conservative/liberal lines, but it also divides us along racial lines, economic lines, etc. We need to stop taking our cues from the politicians, and start taking our cues from Scripture, and the wisdom of the church (the global-historical church, not the 21st century American church).
2) Everyone needs to stop talking and start listening:The single largest problem is not that we don't understand each other, its that we don't recognize that we don't understand each other! Just like in a marriage: its not the places where we recognize our misunderstandings, its the places where we think we understand each other (but we don't) that cause the most damage. It is a rare conservative that understands liberals, and vice versa. It is a rare white person that understand black culture, and vice versa. It is a rare rich person that understands poor people, and vice versa. But we all think we understand each other!
3) Demonizing your opponents will only make things worse for yourself:Our society will not be able to move beyond our current situation without active participation and engagement from everyone. Simply put, if we want to see an end to social unrest like what happened in Ferguson and Baltimore, the black community needs to feel included in the consciousness and concerns of white americans. If we want to see a change in the systemic racial disparities that plague our nation, the white community needs to have their fears and concerns addressed. Neither of those things will happen if conservative voices continue to paint the black community as criminal and lazy, and liberal voices continue to paint the white community as racist.
4) Liberals ought to stop calling everyone racist:While racism still exists in some individuals and communities, it is no longer acceptable, or prevalent. As a matter of moral integrity, most white americans are committed to the notions that black and white people are of equal value, that black and white people are deserving of equal opportunities, and that black and white people ought to live together as friends. Again, this is not universal, but it is the dominant paradigm within white communities, particularly conservative communities.
In recent decades, liberals have shifted the conversation towards issues of systemic racial injustice. This is proper and good. The problem however, is that the language of racism has continued to be used. White people are being accused of racism when they aren't racist. Again, systemic injustice is real, but it isn't being caused or perpetuated by the bigotry of white individuals. Its cause lies elsewhere.
This is where liberals need to listen to the voices coming from conservative communities. Listen and attempt to gain understanding.
5) Conservatives ought to stop denying and/or justifying racial disparities:White conservatives look into their own hearts and think, "I don't dislike or mistreat black people," and then stop thinking about what else might be going on. Their individualistic view of humanity and society blinds conservatives to the ways in which systems not only exist, but largely benefit white, middle-class, communities; indeed they often do so at the expense of impoverished minority communities.
Conservatives are conservative because they believe in the power of individuals to make their own destiny, as well as find solutions to larger community problems. Because of this they are reticent to look to government to solve social problems, and this drives them to treat all social problems as driven solely by individual action. This blinds them to the reality of social forces, both the social forces that marginalize impoverished communities and the social forces that empower middle-class communities.
Even more, this is where conservatives tend to ignore the anecdotes of black experiences of systemic injustice. Conservatives view them as unique instances divorced from a larger social fabric of attitudes and experiences. What needs to happen is a willingness to listen to the experiences and perceptions of the minority community.
6) We need to call people to personal engagement in cross-cultural relationships:The real path forward is the path laid out in Galatians 2; namely cross-cultural table fellowship in light of our common allegiance to Christ. I am convinced that this is the closest thing to a silver bullet. In many ways table fellowship is both the means and the end of the reconciliation process. A commitment to maintaining unity in spite of difference, or misunderstanding, is the bedrock upon which understanding and communion can be built.
7) Racism isn't the real issue:The real issues driving the problems surrounding race in America are not overtly racist individuals, subconscious bias, or overtly racist laws; the real issues driving these problems are #1 the social/political/economic systems and infrastructure that were built by racists of a bygone era that persist into today #2 the generational effects of historic racism on the Black communities of the present #3 the apathy of middle-class whites to confront the status-quo if any sacrifice on their part is required.
The reason I believe liberals need to stop crying 'racism' is that it is a misdiagnosis. If I am convinced the problem is that you are racist, then I will try to convince you to change your attitudes towards other people groups. If I am convinced that the problem is that you are lazy and unwilling to sacrifice to help your fellow man, then I will try to convince you to change your attitude about your own personal responsibility towards those in pain.
8) The playing field isn't level:The reality of life in America is such that white and black individuals do not have the same opportunities. The various statistical differences between white and black communities with regard to income, violent behavior, education, family commitments, incarceration rates, addiction, etc. are not to be ignored. This is, however, one of the places where conservatives and liberals talk past each other and to their own constituents.
I have found that conservatives are very uncomfortable talking about an un-level playing field, but they are susceptible to hearing about the plight of children in poverty, and are concerned about injustice. For many conservatives, so long as they are not considered the cause of the injustice, they are willing to consider taking responsibility for ending injustice.
2) Everyone needs to stop talking and start listening:The single largest problem is not that we don't understand each other, its that we don't recognize that we don't understand each other! Just like in a marriage: its not the places where we recognize our misunderstandings, its the places where we think we understand each other (but we don't) that cause the most damage. It is a rare conservative that understands liberals, and vice versa. It is a rare white person that understand black culture, and vice versa. It is a rare rich person that understands poor people, and vice versa. But we all think we understand each other!
3) Demonizing your opponents will only make things worse for yourself:Our society will not be able to move beyond our current situation without active participation and engagement from everyone. Simply put, if we want to see an end to social unrest like what happened in Ferguson and Baltimore, the black community needs to feel included in the consciousness and concerns of white americans. If we want to see a change in the systemic racial disparities that plague our nation, the white community needs to have their fears and concerns addressed. Neither of those things will happen if conservative voices continue to paint the black community as criminal and lazy, and liberal voices continue to paint the white community as racist.
4) Liberals ought to stop calling everyone racist:While racism still exists in some individuals and communities, it is no longer acceptable, or prevalent. As a matter of moral integrity, most white americans are committed to the notions that black and white people are of equal value, that black and white people are deserving of equal opportunities, and that black and white people ought to live together as friends. Again, this is not universal, but it is the dominant paradigm within white communities, particularly conservative communities.
In recent decades, liberals have shifted the conversation towards issues of systemic racial injustice. This is proper and good. The problem however, is that the language of racism has continued to be used. White people are being accused of racism when they aren't racist. Again, systemic injustice is real, but it isn't being caused or perpetuated by the bigotry of white individuals. Its cause lies elsewhere.
This is where liberals need to listen to the voices coming from conservative communities. Listen and attempt to gain understanding.
5) Conservatives ought to stop denying and/or justifying racial disparities:White conservatives look into their own hearts and think, "I don't dislike or mistreat black people," and then stop thinking about what else might be going on. Their individualistic view of humanity and society blinds conservatives to the ways in which systems not only exist, but largely benefit white, middle-class, communities; indeed they often do so at the expense of impoverished minority communities.
Conservatives are conservative because they believe in the power of individuals to make their own destiny, as well as find solutions to larger community problems. Because of this they are reticent to look to government to solve social problems, and this drives them to treat all social problems as driven solely by individual action. This blinds them to the reality of social forces, both the social forces that marginalize impoverished communities and the social forces that empower middle-class communities.
Even more, this is where conservatives tend to ignore the anecdotes of black experiences of systemic injustice. Conservatives view them as unique instances divorced from a larger social fabric of attitudes and experiences. What needs to happen is a willingness to listen to the experiences and perceptions of the minority community.
6) We need to call people to personal engagement in cross-cultural relationships:The real path forward is the path laid out in Galatians 2; namely cross-cultural table fellowship in light of our common allegiance to Christ. I am convinced that this is the closest thing to a silver bullet. In many ways table fellowship is both the means and the end of the reconciliation process. A commitment to maintaining unity in spite of difference, or misunderstanding, is the bedrock upon which understanding and communion can be built.
7) Racism isn't the real issue:The real issues driving the problems surrounding race in America are not overtly racist individuals, subconscious bias, or overtly racist laws; the real issues driving these problems are #1 the social/political/economic systems and infrastructure that were built by racists of a bygone era that persist into today #2 the generational effects of historic racism on the Black communities of the present #3 the apathy of middle-class whites to confront the status-quo if any sacrifice on their part is required.
The reason I believe liberals need to stop crying 'racism' is that it is a misdiagnosis. If I am convinced the problem is that you are racist, then I will try to convince you to change your attitudes towards other people groups. If I am convinced that the problem is that you are lazy and unwilling to sacrifice to help your fellow man, then I will try to convince you to change your attitude about your own personal responsibility towards those in pain.
8) The playing field isn't level:The reality of life in America is such that white and black individuals do not have the same opportunities. The various statistical differences between white and black communities with regard to income, violent behavior, education, family commitments, incarceration rates, addiction, etc. are not to be ignored. This is, however, one of the places where conservatives and liberals talk past each other and to their own constituents.
I have found that conservatives are very uncomfortable talking about an un-level playing field, but they are susceptible to hearing about the plight of children in poverty, and are concerned about injustice. For many conservatives, so long as they are not considered the cause of the injustice, they are willing to consider taking responsibility for ending injustice.
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