Existential Punk

Narrative theology and the missional church

ANOTHER GREAT POST from Ben:

"I am becoming more and more convinced that the missional/incarnational church will not gain any traction unless we learn to read the Bible and the Christian story in a new way. In short, narrative theology has to replace systematic theology as the primary mode of thinking about Christian faith.  As Ricky Ricardo used to say, "Lemme 'splain."

Christianity is first and foremost a story. It is a history. It is not a set of "timeless truths" or abstract doctrines that we tap into from week to week. It isn't a static system of truth, it's a dynamic story, an unfinished narrative that we live within, and a narrative that we have a part in working out, we help to move the story toward its conclusion.

When Christianity is conceived as merely "timeless truths", the goal becomes "getting to heaven when I die", and then we're left with not much to do until death. If we've already been "bar-coded" so we'll make the cut at the pearly gates, it doesn't make much sense for us to bother about seeing the kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven. Instead of living the words of the Lord's Prayer ("Thy kingdom come"), we live as if Jesus said, "Let us go to Thy kingdom".

But Christianity isn't primarily about going to Heaven, it's about seeing Heaven come to Earth. Unless Christianity is understood as an unfinished drama, there will be no inherent impetus for mission. But when Christianity is seen as a story, mission makes perfect sense; working out our salvation, learning to love more completely, stewarding the environment, and ridding ourselves of sin are natural out-workings of narrative theology. If we understand Christianity as a story, and read the Bible like the story it is, we realize that the story is going somewhere. And we are part of that story, we have a part to play in moving the story towards its conclusion. We have something to do, and it isn't just to "play nice until Jesus comes," it's to build for the kingdom (not to build the kingdom, but to build for the kingdom).

Jesus promised that when we "seek first the kingdom", we won't have to worry too much about anything else. Essentially he was saying that when we build for the kingdom, everything we do counts forever. It lasts. It will continue into the age to come. That's why what we do in this life is so important. Paul says it's either going to be brought to nothing, or it will last. That means what you build for the kingdom now has eternal consequences. That's why mission matters. That's the impetus for being involved in God's mission on Earth. It isn't to earn a free trip to heaven, it's to be involved in the greatest enterprise in the cosmos.

So understanding that Christianity is a story is essential if we're going to understand how to live as missional Christians. Narrative theology begets missional churches. And missional churches cannot be sustained apart from narrative theology. Missional Christianity will be just another trend unless this new understanding of Christian theology can be grasped by this generation.

I think this is one of the most important issues in theology and mission for the church today, so I'll probably be doing a lot more thinking and writing about it in the near future. What do you guys think? Does what I wrote make sense? Any additional thoughts?"

I just found Ben's blog over at Dream Awakener by JR Woodward, who lives in LA and helps me to stay connected to my old home that i LOVE and MISS dearly! I will DEFINITELY be checking out Ben's blog on a regular basis! Maybe you will too!

 

Christianity is first and foremost a story. It is a history. It is not a set of "timeless truths" or abstract doctrines that we tap into from week to week. It isn't a static system of truth, it's a dynamic story, an unfinished narrative that we live within, and a narrative that we have a part in working out, we help to move the story toward its conclusion.

When Christianity is conceived as merely "timeless truths", the goal becomes "getting to heaven when I die", and then we're left with not much to do until death. If we've already been "bar-coded" so we'll make the cut at the pearly gates, it doesn't make much sense for us to bother about seeing the kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven. Instead of living the words of the Lord's Prayer ("Thy kingdom come"), we live as if Jesus said, "Let us go to Thy kingdom".

But Christianity isn't primarily about going to Heaven, it's about seeing Heaven come to Earth. Unless Christianity is understood as an unfinished drama, there will be no inherent impetus for mission. But when Christianity is seen as a story, mission makes perfect sense; working out our salvation, learning to love more completely, stewarding the environment, and ridding ourselves of sin are natural out-workings of narrative theology. If we understand Christianity as a story, and read the Bible like the story it is, we realize that the story is going somewhere. And we are part of that story, we have a part to play in moving the story towards its conclusion. We have something to do, and it isn't just to "play nice until Jesus comes," it's to build for the kingdom (not to build the kingdom, but to build for the kingdom).

Jesus promised that when we "seek first the kingdom", we won't have to worry too much about anything else. Essentially he was saying that when we build for the kingdom, everything we do counts forever. It lasts. It will continue into the age to come. That's why what we do in this life is so important. Paul says it's either going to be brought to nothing, or it will last. That means what you build for the kingdom now has eternal consequences. That's why mission matters. That's the impetus for being involved in God's mission on Earth. It isn't to earn a free trip to heaven, it's to be involved in the greatest enterprise in the cosmos.

So understanding that Christianity is a story is essential if we're going to understand how to live as missional Christians. Narrative theology begets missional churches. And missional churches cannot be sustained apart from narrative theology. Missional Christianity will be just another trend unless this new understanding of Christian theology can be grasped by this generation.

I think this is one of the most important issues in theology and mission for the church today, so I'll probably be doing a lot more thinking and writing about it in the near future. What do you guys think? Does what I wrote make sense? Any additional thoughts?"

I just found Ben's blog over at Dream Awakener by JR Woodward, who lives in LA and helps me to stay connected to my old home that i LOVE and MISS dearly! I will DEFINITELY be checking out Ben's blog on a regular basis! Maybe you will too!

 

The right kind of worship

HT to Ben for this simple, succinct, yet very profound thought about worship:

"True worship will always lead naturally and organically to incarnational mission (i.e. mission that is done in the context of normal life as opposed to special "outreach" events). If the worship we engage in does not set our lives along that path, we are not worshiping in spirit and truth.

True worship is always kind of like a strong coffee or a robust red wine: the flavors are deep and complex, and often the taste shocks our senses when we first encounter it. Often we're not even sure we like it at first because we're so used to sugary colas and juices. True worship often shocks the senses and tends to offend, but it is well worth having, because of the phenomenal results."

So many churches are into programs and events. Why can't we just learn to be and live out our faith in  the context of our everyday lives, even though we will often fail miserably more often than we succeed? Oh, but by the grace of God i go!

True worship is always kind of like a strong coffee or a robust red wine: the flavors are deep and complex, and often the taste shocks our senses when we first encounter it. Often we're not even sure we like it at first because we're so used to sugary colas and juices. True worship often shocks the senses and tends to offend, but it is well worth having, because of the phenomenal results."

So many churches are into programs and events. Why can't we just learn to be and live out our faith in  the context of our everyday lives, even though we will often fail miserably more often than we succeed? Oh, but by the grace of God i go!

Jesus, the founder of Christianity?

HT to my friend, Mark Berry, at the blog, Way Out West:

Some words of Paul Tillich from "The Shaking of the Foundations "... not a challenge to agree or disagree... just a challenge to reflect...

Jesus is not the creator of another religion, but the victor over religion; He is not the maker of another law, but the conqueror of law. We, the ministers and teachers of Christianity, do not call you to Christianity but rather to the New Being to which Christianity should be a witness and nothing else, not confusing itself with that New Being. Forget all Christian doctrines; forget your own certainties and your own doubts, when you hear the call of Jesus. Forget all Christian morals, your achievements and your failures, when you come to Him. Nothing is demanded of you, no idea of God, and no goodness in yourselves, not your being religious, not your being Christian, not your being wise, and not your being moral. But what is demanded is only your being open and willing to accept what is given to you, the New Being, the being of love and justice and truth, as it is manifest in Him Whose yoke is easy and Whose burden is light...

...Do not ask in this moment what we shall do or how action shall follow from the New Being, from the rest m our souls. Do not ask; for you do not ask how the good fruits follow from the goodness of a tree. They follow; action follows being, and new action, better action, stronger action, follows new being, better being, stronger being. We and our world would be better, truer, and more just, if there were more rest for souls in our world. Our actions would be more creative, more conquering, conquering the tragedy of our time, if they grew out of a more profound level of our life. For our creative depth is the depth in which we are quiet.

Robert Altman Passes On.

GOODBYE, AND SWEET DREAMS, ROBERT ALTMAN! The director of MASH, Gosford Park, and The Player has passed away at the age of 81. May God assuage the pain of his family and friends and comfort them during this difficult time.

Third Millenium Christianity

I just spent 4 days with my friends, Pete Rollins and Jonny McEwen, at the Going Forwsrd Together conference on Third Millenium Christianity sponsored by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church here in Richmond, VA. The weekend was fantastic to say the least. The beautiful and wonderful Phyllis Tickle spoke on the need for ALL voices, especially the more conservative who do not feel the need to change with the emerging church. Their voices are necessary in order to keep the emerging voices from capsizing. We found ourselves to be kindred spirits and are going to stay in touch, which delights my soul. For being a woman of 73, she really has the pulse of my generation and is someone i look forward to getting to know more and learn much from!

Pete Rollins spoke on much from his new book, "How (Not) To Speak of God".  Here are some thoughts Pete threw out to us (Reflect, comment if you like, and enjoy):

"People are ordered into faith."

"Order speaks to the head but love and/or faith speaks to the heart."

"How do we live out our faith that's not violent, totalitarian fundamentalism but is not weak, anemic, and doesn't do anything?"

"Idolatry says 'I know how God works'. "

"The law is never just, but without it we would never know justice."

On Saturday we did an Ikon service called "The Second Coming" and its theme was on waiting. Some people got it right away, some were really agitated and then some got it after awhile. Jonny DJ'd and  mixed some wonderful music, as always, and the rest of us shared parables. It was FANTASTIC, so it was!

Words to chew on...

A HT goes out to my friend and fellow Richmonder, Alicia Farrell for this incredible quote that really resonates with me and i hope you will chew on it too:

"Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and dreams, try to love the questions themselves."

- Rainer Maria Rilke

Mark your calendars!

July 27, 2007 marks the premiere of The Simpsons Movie! i CAN'T WAIT!!!! Whew Hooooo!!!!!!!

Better watch out, Dick's at it again!

Vice President Dick Cheney is at it again! Everyone had better drop down and take cover because he is going hunting for the first time since his shooting "accident" last February when he accidentally shot attorney and friend, Harry Wittington. Hopefully, Harry will have the good sense to stay away, very far away! Remember Dick, just shoot the qual only, and i don't mean Dan Quale either! LOL!!!!!

Whether you agree or disagree...

Whether you agree or disagree that homosexuality is ok, it is VERY WRONG to kill a person, gay or straight! The story at BBC News tells the story about Jerusalem's gay marck ok'd to go ahead.

"Last year's march in Jerusalem was marred by a stabbing of three people by an ultra-Orthodox Jew"

This was ludicrous! Jews are to believe in NOT murdering and because one disagreed with homosexuality, took the LAW into his own hands and murdered an innocent person. It's not about the letter of the law but rather love and compassion. This act of murder was not, in any way, a compassionate act. This really saddens me. God, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus Christ, have mercy.