Winning the Culture War

While I was growing up in Oklahoma, I used to frequent Christian bookstores and if you ever go to them yourself, you know there is a kind of "underground" world that evangelicals move in. I was never made more aware of this fact than when I first moved to Texas and went to one of the largest Christian bookstores in the world, literally. Beside the little Testamints that I found at the check out counter, there was a little telephone directory of places owned and operated by evangelicals. It was touted as a wonderful tool for all believers to use in order to help fellow believers who were in business. I picked it up and took it home with me and never really used it. It struck me--When did it become necessary for Christians to completely shun going into the world? I remember asking an older colleague of mine who was reared in a very strict Pentecostal home why she never went to sporting events when I knew she kept up with all the local high school scores. She told me that, though she did not think it was wrong to attend, she did not because while she was growing up, Pentecostals just did not do anything that the world liked to do. I always wanted to say, "Well, the world eats chocolate. Did you refrain from eating chocolate because it was too worldly? I digress.

When did it become necessary for evangelicals to completely separate from the world? Jesus told us to be in the world, but not of it. I know this is a difficult balance, but we have to be in the world in order to minister to the world. I recall discussing this issue in a class I taught on worship in the church. The discussion would go something like: "We speak a language that the world does not understand. We expect that a sinner who comes to the Lord will automatically stop all their vices and wear the same clothes that we do, our we question the authenticity of their salvation experience. We only go to stores and restaurants that are owned or operated by Christians. And we spend a whole lot of time in our churches feeling very good about ourselves and talking about how we need to touch the world, but we never come into contact with any one who does not know the Lord. How can we reach the world if we are not ever in it?"

And, another thing, when did Jesus become a Republican? I grew up in the Reagan era and, as I recall, this was about the time that I started hearing stirrings from the "religious right" and this always meant conservative Republicans. I remember my grandfather was a staunch Democrat, but had been reared in a pastor's home and was a lay leader in his church for many years. I always wondered how he could justify being a Democrat when all Democrats stood for evil--like abortion, homosexuality, riotous living, etc. My mother once told him that he would vote for the Devil himself if he was a Democrat. I thought it was funny that he told her he would have to think about that.

Well, there was this interesting article in the New York Times yesterday called "Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock." The article was about an evangelical minister from Minnesota who became aggravated by certain members of his congregation who wanted him to announce a rally against gay marriage, or introduce a politician visiting the church, or to allow them to set up an anti-abortion table in the lobby, you get the idea. The minister concluded that when Christians win the culture war we inevitably lose because we, in fact, become the world. Jesus Christ, not America, is the light of the world and the hope for the world.

He discusses further significant concerns that the church in general really needs to come to terms with. How can we be salt and light if we are totally removed from the world? I think Boyd is correct in warning that when the church wins the culture war against the world it becomes the world. And, when our political agendas fall so heavily on one or two key issues (abortion or homosexual marriage) and forget other, sometimes greater issues, like hungry children, a better educational system, etc., who is to blame when these issues are not met? The early church filled a need in the society of its day by starting hospitals and caring for widow and orphans. One of the reasons that Christianity won out and became the official religion of the Roman Empire was that they were so heavily involved in the political system that the government and social services stopped whenever there was any kind of anti-Christian persecution. Now, history knows what happened when the early Christians won their culture war. It led to a period Protestants consider one of the darkest times in church history.

How far have we come from the lofty pursuit of "doing justice, and loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8 paraphrase) when we feel like we are serving God's purpose by sitting in our churches and proclaiming our love for the world from a safe distance. It is hard to love people when we are so angry with their state of life. It is impossible to win the world without bumping into it, making a mess of our easy answers. We are meant to be agents of change in our world, but can't we do this without giving up our compassion, our humanity? I want to be just, and love kindness, and walk humbly with God without being judgmental. I want to be less judgmental and more compassionate with every person I meet. I want to be Christ to the world, so I guess I'm going to have to embrace the world as Christ did. I guess I will be calling all my "sinner" friends to go out to dinner. It's what Jesus would do!

Wars and Rumors of Wars

I think I am tired of living in the "End Times." Granted, I think the end times began as soon as Jesus left this earth, so I guess I am going to have to get over it. When I was growing up as a fundy, we talked about the end times and the rapture and Jesus' return a lot. Well, mostly we talked about the great tribulation and how we definitely did not want to be here on earth when the tribulation began or we might get our heads cut off for our faith--if we found faith again during that time. I remember watching with horror those movies from the 70s about the rapture. It is ironic now that the type of church they portrayed in the first movie looks a whole lot like a Methodist church. Since I work in a Methodist church now, it is both offensive and exhilarating at the same time. I digress.

I guess what bothers me the most is that every time a war breaks out, any where, or at least any place that involves the United States, people immediately start saying that the end is near. Now, I can't refute that completely, because I do not know when He will return, but, then again, neither does anyone else. I will hear people quote the verse about wars and rumors of wars and suggest that this alone indicates the end is near. What bothers me about this is they forget the rest of the verse. In Matthew 24, the disciples ask Jesus about the signs of the end times. Now, I believe they thought it would happen in their own day, just like we do, so they were especially interested in when the kingdom would come. So, Jesus says: "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains." (Matthew 24:4-8 ESV) We like to major on the minor points of wars and earthquakes, but forget the more significant indicator which comes a few verses later: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (v. 14)


For those of you who have been watching the news lately, here are some pictures I took last year in a fairly peaceful Israel. The top picture is taken from Safed, one of the first Israeli cities to be targeted by Hezbollah. I did not realize at the time I was there that Safed was only 12 miles from the Lebanese border. Safed is a center for study of the Kabbalah. This picture is taken facing south towards Tiberias and shows the ruins of a synagogue. The next picture is a shot of the northern portion of the Sea of Galilee taken from the Golan Heights, the disputed area of land that used to belong to Syria.

The top picture is a shot of the Sea of Galilee from the northwestern side taken on the traditional mount of Beatitudes. Galilee was very lush when I visited in March of 2005. The last picture is for the End Times fans. This is the valley of Jezreel or the valley of Armageddon if you prefer. It was taken from Megiddo looking to the east. Of course, while I was there, I could hear the Israeli air force jets flying overhead.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think it is important that we are all ready for the end to come. But I think we sometimes put much more emphasis on the end of the world than we do on saving the world before that time comes. One great thing about the Methodist church is that they really do not take a strong stand on eschatological issues, rather, they spend most of their time trying to make a difference in this present age. Jesus taught His disciples: "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:4-5 ESV)

Let's get to work!

Musings on World Travel

While I was growing up in Oklahoma City, I always wanted to travel the world, but the furthest I got was Mexico City. In the last five years, I have set foot on four continents other than North America and I have seen many an interesting sight.

Here I am in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock (2005). That was an unbelievable trip. In a future post I will publish some of the photos I took while in Israel. I visited some of the places that have been in the news recently.

Here I am on the Giza plateau (2005). That was an experience that is
difficult to put into words. After seeing the pyramids and the sphinx,
monuments that are older than Abraham, you begin to reconsider the
significance of your own life issues. Time itself fears the pyramids.

Here I am in Saint Peter's square in 2001, just six weeks before 9/11. This
was my first trip to Europe and I went by myself. I got lost in Rome in the
middle of the night trying to find my hotel after visiting the Trevi fountain
and the Spanish steps. I was such a tourist. I would love to go back. I would
never wear a shirt with an American flag on it today.

I always liked this picture from my trip to Paris (2004). Misty and I spent a year celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary and this was our first overseas trip together. We went to the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay and Notre Dame. We stayed in a wonderful little nineteenth-century hotel a block from the Louvre. This picture of me was taken on a bridge over the Seine. The picture of Misty, which is one of my favorites of her, was taken on one of those double-decker tour buses. It was so cold (it snowed outside Notre Dame) and we had one of the best times we have ever had.

You can see the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil behind me. I am actually up by the huge statue of Christ that overlooks the city of Rio. That was a great trip as well (2002).

Some folks don't like to travel, but there came a point in my life when I decided I wanted to touch the earth and see things with my own eyes, not just read about them in National Geographic. Traveling the world has given me a wealth of perspective on my own life and life in America. I love America and I am fortunate to live here, but I need an international trip every so often to keep my sanity.

Napoleon Dynamite and Other Rantings

I came to a grand realization last week. I am old and only 34 years old. I had always felt like I was up on what was the "in" thing if, for no other reason than to make a mockery of it. And, having spent 10 years teaching in a college and developing a great rapport with late teens and twentysomethings, I really felt like there was at least a connection to "youth." Well, I broke down and watched Napoleon Dynamite finally. All of my college students told me last year that I should watch it, but I refused. And, now I know why . . . I just do not get it. Now, there were definitely some funny parts. I do wonder about my skill level and that bit with the glamour shots was hilarious, but I just don't get it. I am over it. I guess I really need to look into my retirement portfolio.

I guess part of my feeling "old" was that a friend of mine from high school decided to try to find all of our graduating class. This is not so difficult when you consider there were only 39 in the entire class. It was amazing that she was able to find most of us in a short time. This process brought back some great memories and some awful ones as well. I was reminded of one of my most embarrassing moments. No need to go into that now, but it was a learning experience that I took with me into my adulthood. Just did not need to be reminded of it.

I guess my high school experience was on the whole a good one, but I was done when it was over. I always felt like there was so much more to learn than I was afforded at my private evangelical Christian school (Did you see the movie Saved?). Honestly, I am pleased that I have such a fundy background. It has grounded me and helped me to ask the proper questions of life and faith. Just because I do not believe things in the exact way that I did when I was growing up is not an issue of giving up on faith, but an evolution of faith. This evolution has meant that I have come to know myself and my faith a whole lot better. It has meant that I no longer have answers to certain questions any more. But it also means that I can rely on the mystery of God a lot more. I can say, "I don't get it. It's a mystery, but that's the way God is" and actually mean it. Now I can honestly say I don't care if we ever find Noah's ark or whether the sons of God in Genesis 6 are actually angels or the descendants of Seth or aliens (I don't believe they were aliens by the way). It does not affect my relationship with God one iota. Faith is just that--faith, something you believe without seeing. If I need to find the ark of the covenant to believe that it existed, what kind of faith is that? If the shroud of Turin ends up being a fraud, so what? And all of these things really have nothing to do with who Jesus claimed to be, and that is the bottom line for me. I digress.

I may not get Napoleon Dynamite, but I should have seen it coming. I have to confess, my pop culture references in my classes were beginning to receive glazed over looks. Can you believe, students nowadays do not know who Ferris Bueller was? I'll take Ferris over Napoleon anyday! Anyone? Anyone?

A New Perspective on Life

Well, it has been almost six months since I left my life as a college music professor in Texas to serve as a music director in a United Methodist church in Florida. It has been a weird transition for me, since I was so used to my life in Texas. It has been a little identity crisis for me. I remember talking to this man about ministry a few years ago when the possibility of making a life change first came into my mind. He told me that it was always important to have a platform for your ministry and that if you give that up it can be difficult to regain it. I have come to believe he was right. Now, don't get me wrong, I am in the right place for me and for my family at this time in our lives. We really needed a life adventure and this has definitely been an adventure. Everyone at our church has been very warm and welcoming. I feel more at home in this church than I ever did in the churches I served in before.

A former colleague of mine recently said something like this: " I am a Pentecostal, but not really." When she said this, it resonated with me , though she was talking about herself. I felt this way for many years, and it has only been in stepping out of a Pentecostal church and college environment that I have realized my place was not there. Now, this does not mean that I would trade that life experience for anything. I think it has helped give me great insight. Though, at this point, I am not completely sure what that insight will lead to. I had another friend recently tell me that he never thought I was happy--that I had everything most people would want and was still miserable. He was right. I think it was mainly because I had gone as far as that life paradigm would allow me to go. It is hard to feel like you peaked at 24. I just could not bear to live that way.

For several years I knew that I would make this move, though I did not realize it would mean a move across the country. However, in a lot of ways, this big move has made it easier to transition to a "mainline" denomination. Mainline is such a dirty word in my former circle. It has meant that I do not have to look at my former life everyday. I think it would have been much harder making this transition in faith (and job and life) if we had stayed in the same house in the same town. I know there are some of my former colleagues and students who would think I have totally backslidden, gone the wicked way, however you want to put it, because I have become affiliated with the United Methodist Church. All I can say is that God was in this change and I am thankful for it. Now, I don't know if I will do this forever or if I will go back to teaching some years down the line. But one thing I have learned through this journey is that nothing in this life is forever. I had gotten to a point in Texas where I felt like there was nothing else I could do and that I would be there forever. Now, I believe I am ready for whatever God calls me to do, probably for the first time in my life. And, gasp, I am a liberal Protestant!