The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 13 (p 341-358)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 13 (p 341-358)
Crazy But Not Alone

(a) "In a world of smart bombs and military intelligence, we need more fools, holy fools who insist that the folly of the cross is wiser than any human power" (p 343).

That reminds me of Michael Card's old song, "God's Own Fool" (watch the simple revolutionary who goes before us + bonus).

Seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind.
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to men
He must have seemed out of His mind.
For even His family said He was mad
And the priests said a demon's to blame.
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane.

God, keep us a little crazy. Don't let us settle back into the normal that you are delivering us from.

(b) Community of Communities (p 348): www.communityofcommunities.us. Even if you're not in an intentional community housing situation, what is your community like? What kind of support group of fools have you put together?

(c) "Because it is small like the old mustard seed, it is possible to miss the little revolution spreading across our land, cross-pollinated by an ongoing web of relationships and a common vision--of alternatives to existing worldly structures, of bartering economies, of money collectives for emergencies (instead of insurance), of prophetic interruptions to war and theft, of sustainable urban gardening and eco-energy alternatives, of using trash and wreckage of the consumptive world to create things that bring life and beauty" (p 348-349).

That is one long and beautiful sentence. For those who want to pursue this in other venues, check these out: Papa Festival, A Sustainable Faith, School(s) for Conversion, CCDA Institute, Word and World, Geez Magazine, Sojourners, SC Faith in Action and Fight with Tools.

(d) "So to the young 'uns: we have to remind ourselves to stay anchored in the church, for we need roots and wisdom" (p 353).

Charissa reminds me of St. Augustine's quote from time to time: "The church is a whore, but she's my mother" (p 354). I found that quote again today in an article by Tony Campolo--Why the Church is Important (Christianity Today, 1 May '07). It's a good article to go along with this chapter.

Why is the church (i.e., the body of Christ, the community of disciples) still important to you, even if you have a bent away from institutional religion?

(e) "We believe poverty can end even though it is all around us. We believe in peace even though we hear only rumors of war. And since we are people of expectation, we are so convinced that another world is coming that we start living as if it were already here" (p 355).

Increase our faith! (Luke 17:5)

: : :

Thanks for sharing the adventure of processing this book together.

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 12 (p 317-340)

By Travis, O.R. Conspirator Extraordinaire

(a) "We can easily become so driven by our vision for church growth, community, or social justice that we forget the little things, like caring for those around us. An older charismatic woman told me, 'If the devil can't steal your soul, he'll just keep you busy doing meaningless church work.'"

This quote hit me like a ton of bricks. As did a few others that I'll share in a few minutes. This chapter was very hard for me to swallow. I think mostly because I am now employed by the church and it is a constant battle to try to figure out what thing is "more good" to do than the other. It reminds me of the new NOOMA DVD by Rob Bell called "Shells". You can drown in a sea of goodness. Sometimes we have to say no to a lot of good things in order to say yes to the ONE thing that God has called us too. The rub, however, is finding that ONE thing.

Or at least it is for me. I'm the music director at my church and I constantly see other areas where I could serve but I have to say no because I'm paid (and feel led for now) to lead my church in worship. But sometimes (and I've had to learn to sense this) I have to stop and help others in very special moments. Whenever they are in pain or lonely. And it gets hard sometimes. Especially when other people (other staff, my volunteers, etc.) are depending on me.

Is the devil keeping me busy with good things? What do I need to say "no" to so that I can say "yes" to the one or two things God has laid on my heart to do?

(b) "The early prophets would say that a church that spends millions of dollars on buildings while her children are starving is guilty of murder."

(c) "Giving to the poor should not make its way into the budget; it is the budget."

Whewww. Another hard one to swallow. Being on staff sometimes confuses things. Last week we were talking about hiring a new person to clean the church. An important thing to consider. However, after doing a little math, I wasn't as happy as everyone else around the table about the bid because we were getting ready to pay the janitor more than me. And more than the property manager (who was in charge of researching the bids and organizing the potential janitors!!!).

Money is a difficult thing to handle within the church. It is a blessing but it is also a burden to realize that my salary is paid for by church members. Some of them struggling to get by. Additionally, it is true that "giving to the poor" does get tossed in right beside the music ministry budget, the youth budget, the utilities budget and everything else. Or the congregation is asked to give to the church and then give additionally to the poor. Times are getting harder. We're entering a resession. Which is more important?

Am I really giving to the poor? Am I putting the needs of others before my own? Does a big building, big screen, drums, stained glass, pews, chairs, sound system, lights, make a church? Is there any hope to change the modern church? Is the modern church wrong? Or just misguided?

Side note: I thought it was really interesting to read about Shane's work and dealings with Willow Creek. That is were I first experienced worship, where I've learned about leadership, and bought into the idea that the local church is the hope of the world. I had a problem with the idea of them building a new building as well but couldn't put my finger on it. I guess I thought the first building was big enough. But, I had never thought about it from the perspective that many lives could have been blessed with those dollars. But who knows how many have been changed since the new building and growth that has happened at Willow since?

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 5b (p 126-136)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 5b (p 126-136)
Another Way of Doing Life

(1) "...the only way I know to invite people into Christian faith is to come and see. After all, I'm not just trying to get someone to sign a doctrinal statement, but to come to know love, grace, and peace in the incarnation of Jesus, and now in the incarnation of the body, Christ's church" (p 126).

If someone knew nothing about "Christianity," what would they think is important to God based on your local faith community? What does your part of "the incarnation of the body" show the world? Originally, I wrote these questions about the individual, but then I changed them to include the entire faith community. Which question is more useful or telling, the one focusing on the individual or on the community?

(2) "We are trying to shout the gospel with our lives" (p 127). --Sister Margaret

(3) "It is a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends and family with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle" (p 128).

I just deleted my thoughts on this section of the book. It was just too hypocritical. Shane's quote stands.

(4) "People do not get crucified for charity. People are crucified for living out a love that disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world" (p 129).

This reminds me of a t-shirt I saw today at Herbivore Clothing--"All My Heroes Have FBI Files." The shirt references a serious and thought provoking case.

(5) "Today the church is tempted by the spectacular, to do big, miraculous things so people might believe, but Jesus has called us to littleness and compares our revolution to the little mustard seed, to yeast making its way through dough, slowly infecting this dark world with love" (p 132).

We'll be getting back to this theme in a later chapter. This past weekend I read Jim and Casper Go to Church; my boss wanted me to read it. I was intrigued by Casper's reaction to the big shows, the "spectacular" shows, the churches put on--lights, fog machines, huge screens. He basically asked, "Is this how Jesus told you to do church?"

(6) "...wealthy countries like ours have the highest rates of depression, suicide, and loneliness. We are the richest and most miserable people in the world" (p 133).

It was hard for us moving back to the U.S. from South Korea because suddenly all our co-workers and church members lived so far away. We were used to having our community in one neighborhood, and suddenly, they were spread over three cities. We felt disconnected, disoriented. Eventually, we moved into a big home on a golf course (family friends let us stay there for next-to-nothing until they were ready to sell it), but it didn't compare to having friends close by, a community.

We just recently moved again, so we're working on building a new community. What can you do this week to welcome someone who's new to your neighborhood, business or church? What has someone done to make you a part of a group, to build you into their community? "Community is what we are created for" (p 134). "But that doesn't mean community is easy" (p 135).