Too Busy Making Monsters to See Children of God

One Sunday July 10, 2016 I invited members of the church to join in a one day fast to consider ways in which we individually and collectively create monsters of other people. Objectify people is never a right thing. Objects are often used, consumed and dismissed. We never should make a human being into an object.

But objects are not the only thing that turn people into, we also turn people into monsters. When we make another person or a certain part of our own selves into a monster, we feel like we have a righteous cause and the moral justification to kill that monster. Just like the mob in Beauty and the Beast wanted to gather together to "kill the beast!" We will become that mob when a monster is present. 

Saul was a person who made others into monsters. The followers of the Way were not doing right by the tradition Saul was brought up in. These people claimed to the eat flesh and drink the blood of their leader. These “cannibals” worshiped a man named Jesus who was an enemy of Rome and even the Jewish leadership. Jesus was so bad that when given the option, the people chose to release a religious zealot named Barabbas instead of Jesus. These Christians knew their actions were evil which explained why they met in secret and even had secret codes and symbols. These Christians were, in the eyes of Saul, monsters. 

Saul's conversion moved Saul away from making and slaying monsters. But this conversion was not on his own doing. He had an encounter with Christ. He was struck blind and needed the help of others. He fasted for three days. When his sight was restored, he was eyelash to eyelash with one of these Christian "monsters". 

I believe that Paul's life is the archetypal Christian life and as such, the Christian must go through a conversion. While we cannot control the Spirit of conversion, we can make space for the Spirit to move us. While not formulaic, I asked anyone who would like to join me in a one day fast to reflect on ways we make monsters. In response to this invitation, I share with you some of the things I saw shared on Facebook.

It is my prayer that we might have a conversion from identifying people as monsters to identifying people as beautiful, beloved children of God. If it can happen to Saul/Paul it must happen in us.

The Bible is Full of Failure on Purpose

Rev. Amy Lippoldt opened worship at the South Central Jurisdictional (SCJ) Conference with a story from Deuteronomy. The main idea she articulated was tat the early people of God was to admit that their father (Jacob) was a wondering Aramean. This is important to remember not only because it reminds us of our roots, but also because it articulates a unique aspect of the Bible. 

When we read the histories of different nations, states, empires, and cultures we will find how these entities succeeded. Military victories, building accomplishments and economic achievements litter the tombs of the great civilizations of the past and present. However, the Bible is one of the few people in time that chronicles their story with stories of failure.

What does it mean to have a sacred book that reminds people of the failures and mistakes? What does it mean to pull a people together not under the banner of might and power and success but under the banner of weakness, powerlessness and flops? 

Are we a people that are willing to integrate and even, dare I say, celebrate the failures of our lives?

In The #SCJ2016 Room When It Happens

I have not seen Hamilton the musical, perhaps you have and if so I would love to hear your thoughts about it. As I sit here at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Wichita, Kansas, I cannot help but think about the song "In the Room When it Happens" from this hit musical. For those who have not heard this song, here ya go:

Burr wants to be in the room when these decisions are happening, but he is not. Hamilton is in these rooms in part because he has a clear vision of what the country could be in the coming future. Hamilton has a vision and a voice, while Burr seems to have skills that are not valued in this new thing being created. Burr does not have that vision but wants to be in the room nonetheless. 

In the SCJ meetings so far, there seems to be two types of people in the room: Those that have a clear vision of what the UMC needs to do/be and those who want to be in the room when it happens. Those with a vision state it and are willing to work for it. Those who want to be in the room often use language that diminishes the work of those with a vision.

Perhaps the most common example of language used by those who want to be in the room when it happens is some version of this: "I am not into the politics."

The word politics is tarnished right now, but the reality is politics is just the name we use to talk about the work it takes to get things done. Wikipedia defines politics as: " is the process of making uniform decisions applying to all members of a group." Those who have a vision are willing to do the work of decision making (politics) and those who are not doing the work are just in the room when it happens.

Of course all those in the room when it happens get a share of the glory and prestige. Those who are working and deciding take on a disproportionate amount of risk and potential shame. Which may explain why we have more Burrs than Hamiltons in our time.

I desire to be a leader who is not afraid of the work of decision making (politics) because that is how the work of the Body of Christ accomplishes a good number of things.

I want to be more Hamilton and less Burr, but right now I am just in the room while it happens.

Referees and Preachers: It is all about location, location, location

A retired gentleman in a study I participated in the other day stated that he was a basketball referee as a younger man and as he grew older he would then train other referees. In his training he would tell new referees that when they are in a game they need to know that any call they make they will upset half of the people. Since that will be the case it is important to not try to please the crowd as you will fail in your task. As such there are a few rules that he would tell his referees:

1. Be where you need to be
2. Make the call
3. Trust that your location has given you the best location to make the call, even if people walk out of the game cursing your name

Not bad rules for a preacher in training as well. 

1. Be where you need to be - practice the disciplines, be in people's lives, read the news, repent and reflect
2. Make the call - preach the message that you have been given
3. Trust that your location has given you the best location to make the call - Trust that God is working in and through you such that even if people curse your name you can stand confident that you were as faithful as you could be to the message delivered

Referees don't always get the call right, they are human and they are subject to all human failings. Preachers are the same. We don't always make the right call. We are subject to all human failing. But it is often not for lack of trying but because we are not always in the best location. When preachers fail to practice the disciplines you can be sure preachers will no be in the right location to make the call.