Living in Exile

I have a deep appreciation for the Old Testament stories.  Part of that passion comes from sitting at the feet of Dr. Harry Wendt as I went through the Crossways training program.  In my mind it is difficult to have an appreciation for the New Testament until you have journeyed through the story of God’s people prior to the birth of the Christ Child.  I still stand in awe of the fact that so many remained faithful to God when all they had was a promise.  The characters in Luke’s Gospel like, Zachariah and Elizabeth, along with Simeon and Anna come to mind. 

When it comes to a respect for an Old Testament patriarch, I have always been drawn to Daniel.  While the Book of Daniel falls into the section of the Bible called The Prophets, there was so much more to Daniel’s story.  During the difficult time when the most talented and gifted of the Israelites, including Daniel, were taken into exile by the Babylonians, he stood strong as a believer in The Living God.  He not only became a leader among his people but won the respect of the Babylonian authorities, including King Nebuchadnezzar.

I thought of Daniel and the rest of the exiles this morning as I read a chapter in the book Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today by Mark Labberton.  The chapter was titled Relocating.  The point being that because of the cultural shift those of us who cling to biblical standards and principles might feel like we are dwelling in a foreign land.  Mark Labberton writes;

“Living our call in exile involves adjusting to very different circumstances and reading the signals of our environment and culture differently.  It means choosing to give ourselves to those around us with fewer and different expectations, not as settlers but as guests and visitors.  We don’t whine about the world being the world.  Instead we are called to love out of the integrity of our lives, without making our love dependent on it changing.”  (Called, Mark Labberton, Intervarsity Press, page 55)

Being an exile requires that I spend less time being comfortable inside the Body of Christ, and more time getting to know my neighbor.  It means investing less money and energy on buildings and more on people outside the faith.  For those of us who have grown up in the church and who have become attached to that community it is tough pill to swallow.  Bitter as the taste is, the reality is that if we do not change our focus from being the people of God inside the church, to being the disciples to the world that Jesus called us to be the church will continue to be a non-factor.   Without a change in perspective many current worship communities will cease to exist in twenty years.  For me that is an even more difficult pill to swallow.  Pass the Torch.

Senior Coffee: A Blessing or a Curse

Being a senior citizen has its privileges.  I was recently in one of my favorite Mexican Restaurants, Rosa’s Café, and got an automatic senior 10% discount without even asking.  The chicken enchiladas tasted even better and in my mind they have the best tortillas.  Another benefit is senior coffee at McDonald’s.  The cost of a senior cup of joe at Mickey D’s is never more than 75 cents and usually around 59 cents.  What a deal!

But when I walked into almost any McDonald’s in the morning I realize the senior coffee can be both a blessing and a curse.  The blessing is cheap coffee that rivals Starbucks.  The curse is cheap coffee that attracts senior citizens who want to sit around and talk about how bad things are.  Now I am sure they do talk about other things, but based on a highly random survey I would say the currently favored topics are: that the country is going to hell and how a certain Republican presidential candidate could turn things around.  “Build the wall and let us live the rest of our lives in peace and quiet,” I recently heard one man state.

Unfortunately many churches have the same issue; free, or maybe freewill offering, coffee and the opportunity to stand around and talk about how nobody comes to visit us anymore.  Now I am not suggesting we do away with coffee on Sunday morning.  Honestly, I would be one of the first to complain, and I feel the same way about the donuts.  However, we do need to move beyond the coffee pot and extend our conversation to people who do not always share our perspective.  

I just finished a new book by Kara Powell, a professor at Fuller Seminary and author of Sticky Faith.  In this book, Growing Young, Kara Powel and some of her colleagues offer some very practical insights into how even established churches came become more open and friendly toward teens and young adults.  The solutions is simple, invest time getting to know them.  When we invest ourselves in the lives of others we open up the opportunity for there to be a long-term relationship.

For decades the church has had the reputation of not being a place where you can discuss issues.  Questions are met with the same responses; “the Bible says…” or “we don’t do those kinds of things around here.”  End of discussion!  If that is to change we must learn to move away from our coffee clusters and out into the world.  Spend time in the youth room or get to know some of the few young adults who might actually attend your church.  Listen and do not immediately give the pat answer.  

Remember, when Nicodemus approached Jesus our Lord did not respond, “I know what you stand for so we cannot even have this conversation.”  No, he engaged an inquisitive Nicodemus in a conversation that ultimately changed his life.  Why cannot we do the same?

A Just Say No Election

Among millennials, mainline churches are often known more for what they are against than what they are.  Evangelical Christians are viewed as being anti same sex marriage and against cohabitation before marriage.  While both of the might run counter to God's plan from our perspective, it is not helpful to have that reputation.  As a result, we are viewed as being intolerant and out of touch with reality. 

Now a new poll from Pew Research seems to indicate that the American electorate might be viewed in the same way.  In the upcoming election it appears that more people are voting against a candidate, than they are for one. Those polled were asked the question, “in your words, what is the main reason you support _____?”  In the case of both the Republican and Democratic candidate the top response was “He is not Clinton” (33%) and “She is not Trump” (32%). For Donald Trump supporters the other top responses were “He is an outsider/will bring change” (27%) and “His issues/policy positions (26%).   For Clinton supporters the next favored responses were “Experience/get things done (32%) and “Her issues/policy positions (22%).

In my mind, it is a sad commentary that the church is viewed in such a negative way.  Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet.  We are to offer his grace to a lost and broken world.  Jesus was passionate in his love for the lost and broken.  He orders us to do the same.  We will have an opportunity to teach, instruct and guide once we have established a relationship.

In the case of our country, I would hope as voters we would seek to examine the candidates and vote for the one who comes closest to our desires.  That is a matter of conscience.  Beyond that we need to stop thinking and speaking negatively.  Even now, we are commanded to pray for and support those who are in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).  Once the election is history, we are called to “pray for those in authority.”  In doing so we are to bear testimony to the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

Generations

Our sons are big Chicago Cub fans and in their minds this is “the next year” they have longed for.  So recently when the Cubs were playing the Houston Astros, it was a given that they would be there. They invited me to tag along, and Peter’s three boys rounded out the crew.  Being on the road with my grandsons in the back of the minivan made it a memorable trip  Along the way we enjoyed a day on the beach at Galveston Island and watched three ball games, including two Cub wins. 

We also had a unique encounter on Saturday morning.  I got down to breakfast ahead of the family.  Needing my quiet time, I had planned it that way.  It worked out well because there were few people in the dining area. I found a table and looked across to see two women, I would guessed them to have been in their sixties.  They were having breakfast and engaged in conversation. 

In almost perfect timing, Peter and our youngest grandson, Jonathan, joined me just as I wrapped up my devotional time.  After they had gotten their food, we engaged in a discussion regarding the game from the previous evening and other baseball news.  I was oblivious to the fact that we were being observed.  When the women concluded their meal one of them approached our table.  “Can I take your picture?” she asked.  Peter explained that some pieces of the puzzle were missing since his other sons, Andrew and Caleb, were not there.  “That’s okay,” she responded.  “We have three generation here and I enjoy taking pictures of that.” 

While I do not go around taking pictures of stangers, I do enjoy watching cross-generational family encounters.  Even more, I enjoy participating in them.  Any time I can spend with my grandsons is special.  From their reactions, I sense it is special for them as well.  It is during such times that stories are shared and memories are made.  It is also when we have the best opportunity to pass on our values and faith heritage.

I pray you will take the opportunities as well.  Pass the torch!

Encounter With the Cat Girl

I had an appointment yesterday with two of my friends to talk about their ministry to millennials.  Wil and Heather live in Austin Ranch, an apartment community north of Dallas that is known as a “millennial enclave.”  I am Starbucks regular but they suggested meeting at a local coffee shop adjacent to the development. To say that the crowd was eclectic might be the ultimate understatement.  I could have predicted that based on my initial encounter.  I got in line to order my coffee and found myself standing behind a young girl wearing cat ears.  Okay, I thought to myself, but then I noticed she had a tail.  Needless to say my curiosity was aroused .  You can add the fact that she was dressed in black with the exception of the white ears that protruded from the top of her head. 

After being served I took a seat at a table.  Soon I found the “Cat Girl” sitting adjacent to me.   I got out my computer to prepare for our meeting when I got a text from my friends saying they were running a little late.  “Opportunity,” I thought.  The girl had ordered food so I knew she was going to be there a while.  I got up to grab a napkin, and my way back I complemented he on her unique outfit.  She smiled and stated that she and a friend liked cats.  The the outfit was pretty much standard for them.  “I work as a waitress, but I don’t wear this when I am working,” she continued.  Assuming her to be in her early twenties, I inquired where she had gone to high school. “I am working to finish my GED,” she responded.  “Eventually I want to go to art school.”  By this time my friends had arrived, so I thank her for the conversation.  “It was nice talking to you,” she replied.

It was brief conversation, and it is doubtful we will ever cross paths again, but I hope I left an impression.  It would have been easy to label her as “weird” and stayed at a distance, but I was genuinely interested in her.  In the process I hope she began to realize that some older adults care about her and want to get to know her. That is the effort it is going to take to change the gap that has occurred between generations.   I would encourage you to do the same. 

It is easy to label someone who has body piercing, or covered with tattoos as being weird.  In God's eyes their is a uniqueness and brokenness in each of us.In this case it meant wearing a tail. How will they know they are loved and accepted without us acknowledging them?  Maybe in the process they will begin to see Jesus through us.

The Future of Youth Ministry

In my last blog I wrote about the cultural shift that has taken place in our country.  Some behaviors, cohabitation and homosexuality have become acceptable.  The millennial generation is leading the cultural revolution.  Over 60% of millennials not only view cohabitation as acceptable but advantageous. They have a similar perspective on the Gay-Lesbian issue.  As I noted, I still view such behavior as being contrary to God’s desire for his people.  I also believe a majority of my peers share that opinion.  As stated in the blog entry, I still maintain the local church needs to stand with parents in equipping young people to make choices that run according to God’s plan.  That begins by not only teaching young people God’s Word but applying it.  It also means standing with them as they grapple with the application of God’s Word in their life.

 

As I pointed out at the close of that article, I still view a strong youth, college and young adult ministry .  Trained youth and education professionals can play a vital role in that process.  I aone of the key components ism a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and within our denomination that role in many cases in filled by directors of Christian education (DCE).  DCE’s and others who fill such positions are not “Pied Pipers” but trained professionals who equip others to join them in their ministry. 

I am blessed to be member of the Texas District of the LCMS.  Texas has more trained DCE’s than any other district.  Our local DFW-DCE Cluster has over twenty active members.  A major factor in the strong DCE presence in Texas is that Concordia University of Texas trains more DCE’s than any other school in the Concordia University System.  We also are blessed to have a District President who is strongly supportive of Christian education and youth ministry. 

While I feel fortunate to be in such a fertile area when it comes to DCE and youth ministry, I have a concern for the church at large.  DCE’s are rostered by our church body as Commissioned Ministers but I fear an effort to downplay that office of the ministry.  I sense a desire to centralize training so that all workers are trained at the seminary.  Men are trained to be pastors and women are trained to be deaconess. 

I most certainly do not want to downplay the role of the parish pastor; lest I offend my two sons both of whom are ordained.  The reality is that most pastors are generalist.  Even those who have a passion for youth ministry usually have to shoulder other responsibilities.  While many DCE’s are generalist, a good number are children or youth ministry specialist.  In such cases, their focus is mentoring young people in the faith and equipping others to do the same. 

Equipping and supporting DCE’s and those who play similar roles is an important component in passing the torch to the next generation. 

Shacking Up or Cohabitation?

According to Webster, shacking up is to live together as spouses without being married.  The term carries a lot of negative connotation; “Did you hear who is shacking up?”  As Christians we take a negative view of such behavior because we view it as a violation of God’s desire for his people.  The marriage relationship is sacred, and a couple should be legally married prior to living together

In an attempt to soften the offense, the term now used to define living together outside of marriage is “cohabitation.”  If a recent study done by Pew Research is on target it is working.  Cohabitation has become politically correct while couching a behavior that is of itself morally wrong.  In our contemporary culture, cohabitation is not only seen as acceptable but viewed as a good idea, and it is not just a matter of convenience or saving money.  The top reason given for cohabitation was "testing compatibility." 

We can shake our heads and comment that it is just another sign that our moral fabric is gradually being torn to shreds.  In actually it does not change who we are, or even more important who God is.  As God’s people we respect the holy estate of marriage. But we recognize that even those who live in sin fall under God’s grace.  In my humble opinion the answer is found in God’s word.  We not only need to be into God’s word on a daily basis, but we need to encourage others to do so as well.  This is especially the case with teens and young adults.  It is not enough to expect the instruction that they received on the Sixth Commandment to have taken root.

That is why young and young adult ministry should be a vital component.  That is especially the case with college age young adults.  The typical campus environment is fertile ground for a young Christian to find their values called into question.  Another reality is that most traditional campus ministries do not appeal to millennials.  The link between God’s desire for them and the reality of their situation should be their support system back home.  That contact across the miles is vital, and in the world of social media and facetime it is a lot easier.  We just need to be intentional in our effort.