wonders and reflections in God's presence

At a consultation with a church session (governing board) a couple of weeks ago, I was asked about the end times … what does the Bible say we should expect of the church during the end times?  Being a good Presbyterian, I evaded the question, thinking it came from a “Left Behind” mindset and not well grounded in Reformed Theology.  But, I have to admit, despite the fact that the whole end of the world thinking is not considered orthodox by most Presbyterians, I do sometimes wonder … the things going on in the world today make our time seem so … dangerously potent.  Change is occurring more rapidly than ever before, and there are now global implications for decisions we make … if not the “end times” we are definitely living through a time pregnant with possibility.

We’ve all heard that we’re in a time of “emerging”, both in the church and in the so many other aspects of our culture.  This week’s Futuring study brought about a huge “ah ha” for me … if it’s a time of something new emerging, then it’s also the time of something old dying.  I know … it takes me a while sometimes   One of our leaders presented some information from a book about the natural cycles of generations, with the opinion that we are currently in the “fourth turning”, a time of crisis.  But times of crisis are always followed by the birth of something new.

Everything has a season the verse says in Ecclesiastes.  Everything runs in cycles.  There is time of birth and a time of death, but the death always leads to a new birth.  There was a huge transition from the hunting/gathering/tribal times to the agricultural times which was the birth of “civilization” as we know it.  We are now in a similar shift from “civilization” to “globalization.”  If he’s right, then we are at the end of civilization.  The question I raise, though, is that so bad?  I think globalization is where we ought to be headed,  Knowing where we’re headed means we have the ability to not just forsee the future, but to shape the future … and how we shape it is so vitally important.

But … I am also very much aware that for some who don’t embrace change and who can’t see a glimpse of the global/Kingdom vision of the new millenium, the end of civilization as we know it, IS the end of the world.  It’s catastrophe; it’s the end times; it’s judgment day.  Perhaps that’s why fear and violence are so rampant.  Perhaps that’s why there are so many in our churches hoping to wake up tomorrow in 1959.  Because the future will be so different; the end of civilization means the end of christendom, the end of denominationalism, the end of the Christian Empire … but I’m wondering … even with that, could our future be just a little closer to the Kingdom?

So,  I’m wondering … what do the “end time” Bible readings have to say to us in this time of re-birth, transition, paradigm-shifting, a new millennium?  Maybe The Book of Revelation and other apocryphal passages are meant to be metaphorical and speak directly to all of us going through “the fourth turning.”  Or any “end time” such as the fall of Jerusalem, the fall of the Roman Empire, and, now, the fall of the American Empire.

It’s funny … when I read the first few “Left Behind” books, I thought it would be a huge responsibility as well as a great adventure to be left behind … to be the ones interpreting, discerning, and leading into a new future … but isn’t that what we’re doing now?  The emerging church movement and others … we are the shapers of the new age.  It’s time to pray.

In response to Randy’s post on the Harbour Blog regarding his reflections on the disaffiliation of Faith Harbour from the SBTC, I’ve been reflecting myself, too:

Two things, really, I’d like to share tonight. One from a thought shared this week at the Futuring seminar I’ve been attending, and the second stemming from a thought by Brian McLaren. These are two reasons, I think, why we attract such opposition, not only from the SBTC but from everyone who is more “connected” to the culture we’re coming from than the culture we are becoming.

1) We are living in a culture which measures people’s worth by what they have and by what they do. To live into the future, however, we will need to value people more by who they are and whose they are. Extrinsic worth, which is based on people’s productivity and possessions leads to inequality. Intrinsic worth, which is internal and unique, is based on who we are and who we are becoming as children of God; intrinsic worth leads to equality. As that was shared in our group today, I was thinking that Jesus values people according to their intrinsic value, not their extrinsic value. That was the huge political, sociological and theological shift Jesus made. Yet, here we are, 2000 or so years later, still valuing people by what they do or by what they have. I think Faith Harbour found opposition, in part, because we are building our ministry on the foundation the intrinsic value of all people. And that the intrinsic value is, ultimately, more important to the world and to the kingdom, than what one does. So, a ministry, such as Eklektos, which says we’re about accepting and affirming all people, a ministry based in intrinsic value, is counter-cultural. And it will continue to do so. Focusing on intrinsic value doesn’t mean that what we do isn’t important … of course it is … it’s just not the first thing we focus on. We, instead, meet people as God meets them … with full love and acceptance. This is so threatening to people who judge and value people based on their extrinsic worth.

2) McLaren has been writing lately about the difference between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Orthodoxy is about “right thinking” and has been very important in the history of Christianity. Most church splits have been over orthodoxy … a different set of beliefs. The Orthodoxy our churches profess is based on the decisions our predecessors have made regarding the right way to think about God over the centuries. But, according to McLaren, and others who are looking to the future … we are moving into an age where it’s not as important whether we think the right things about God or Jesus, what’s most important is the way we live. The question is no longer, do you believe the right things? The question is, are you living in the way of Christ? Orthopraxy is “right practice.” That is what unites us at Faith Harbour … we have differing thoughts about God, about sin, about Jesus, about the Bible … but we are united in a way of living that strives to be Christ-like. Churches and pastors who are defined by orthodoxy cannot understand or even condone a church that is founded on orthopraxy. But, in my opinion, that’s exactly what will make the Gospel real … to live valuing people based on who they are, not what they do … wow! That’s what I strive for.

Today marked the end of a two year commitment that 25 of our churches made to transformational ministry.  As I picked up our leader from the airport yesterday, he commented how nearly two and a half years ago, I was one of many pastors and their local teams sitting the the fellowship hall of Grace Presbyterian.  He remembered I and my team were sitting up front and to his right, and we were struggling over whether or not Westminster, Baytown, would participate in the two year initiative … not because we didn’t want transformation, but because in many ways we had been on that track for four years already.  We decided to join in the initiative.  And now, two and a half years later …. I found myself in a totally different position … instead of being one of the 25 pastors recieving the commemorative gift with my team, I was the one handing out the gifts and shaking their hands.  I led the churches and their teams through a communion service and stressed how this isn’t the end of transformation, but really the beginning … and I handed two uniquely crafted communion plates to the team from First-Westminster, Baytown, with tears in my eyes.  Then I explained … it was this initiative that spurred these two churches into conversation and a realization that they could be much more effective in the ministry God was laying out before them working together than they could as separate congregations.  It was a healing moment for me, over a year after leaving Westminster.  I am beginning to see how God was really in it all along.  God was not only calling me to a new career path, but calling the congregation I served to a new future, as well.  All is good.

When using a sharp knife to cut and core an apple, it’s best not to cut towards your thumb.  Owww.  Good thing I keep a mini first-aid kit in my suitcase!

I’ve been cast as Noleta in “Sordid Lives”, the next production at the Baytown Little Theater!  I am very excited.  Not only is the play hysterically funny, but it really has a message … one that I live for … that God’s grace reaches into our “sordid lives” and meets us with honesty, acceptance, and forgiveness.  Oh … and on top of all that … the rest of the cast is the best.  After auditions the other night I was saying to myself and Dwayne that I would love to be able to work with these people.  Take a look at the whole cast on Kyle’s blog.  Oh, and Dwayne was cast, too, as the Southern Baptist Preacher!  

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