broken eikon

So I was reading the Presbyterian book of confessions today. I came across the confession of 1967, and I have to say… I was blown away. In 1967, the Presbos adopted this confession of faith as a response to “racial discrimination, nationalistic arrogance, and family and class conflict”.  It was very responsive to biblical scholarship and  asks the church to read scripture with literary and historical context in mind. There are many really really cool parts, but this really stuck out to me is line 9.45, containing the following words…, “this search (for reconciliation and peace) requires that the nations pursue fresh and responsible relations across every line of conflict, even at risk to national security, to reduce areas of strife and to broaden international understanding… Although nations may serve God’s purposes in history, the church which identifies the sovereignty of any one nation or any one way of life with the cause of God denies the lordship of Christ and betrays his calling”.

“Even at risk to national security”?

Can anyone find me another statement of faith that states that nations should pursue reconciliation even at their own risk? That sounds too much like Christ for me…

And that last part about identifying any one nation or way of life with God’s will means denying the Lordship of Christ. Dang.

love it…

Check out Brian Mclaren’s open letter to President Obama. He encapsulates both my frustration with Obama and my hope that he can make better choices. It is time for a third option to be tried in America.

This article by Micheal Moore is really good. Don’t get me wrong, I am not what you would consider a fan of his. Even when I want to like him, I struggle to find him compelling. But when someone, anyone, gets Jesus right, I am committed to being the trumpeter. So check it out.

I have found facebook fairly useful. However, there is one thing that is causing me some confusion. I have friends that I have had for a long time. People I love very very dearly, that are now on Facebook. What I notice is that many of these people post purposefully inflammatory stuff, via status updates, links, videos, polls, etc… I am wondering what people are asking for when they post these things. Do they want those who agree to say so? Do they want dissenters to bring it up? Perhaps this is overly generous, but perhaps they want to invite public discussion? Given that when I see people who dissagree post, it seems to always end poorly, I can’t see discussion really being wanted.

When I post, I desire people to think. I try to not say “believe this”, or “X person is stone cold stupid”. I would like for people to get their hands on dirty, subversive little things called facts, wrestle with them in public forums, and see how things end up for them.  My problem is also thus, however: When i see someone make a comment, or insinuate something I consider erroneous or misleading, I feel the need to correct it, since these people posting as my friends makes me feel like I give passive assent to their comments by my own inaction.

I just get tired of picking on the same friends for posting the same agendized, non-helpful pot-stirring stuff. And actually, I just don’t like it when Christians do it. My other friends I actually don’t care. But Christ followers should know better.

And before you ask, Scott, I am not talking about you. I think you are funny in your passion. Plus, I agree a lot. But not always. But you are still funny then.

I know, I know. I need to listen to more music. But to be honest, I haven’t exhausted the bands I like yet. So I suppose Fiver Iron Frenzy, Sixpence, Zeppelin, and BNL will continue to get lyric time on my blog.

I love this song.

Despite our selfish selves
Despite all loss of hope
Despite our lack of faith
Despite our stony hearts
Despite the waning moon
Despite the ebbing tide
Of how we think this world should be

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Please read this story, and then everyone who wants to road trip here, please indicate so below. This is my favorite quote from the article: “because any time you change things for the better, you’ve got to come from God.”

Been thinking about an Eikon Catechism. I know for a lot of folks that is intimidating, but I think it could be really cool, along with being highly beneficial. i was doing a bit of research and on the Vatican’s website, there is a table of contents here describing their catechism. That might be a little much for us. I am seriously thinking about something like a 12-week interactive deal, that would act as a form of pre-baptism initiation into the faith. Service projects? The story of God? Bible? Prayer? Spiritual practices? life? Which docterines, if any? God, naturally, Christology? Attitude? What would it look like to have an initiation about how to practically love your neighbor? worship? God and science? Church? Kingdom? Our purpose?

Also, what age would be most helpful? I think that around 16-17 would be the best time for children to make any commitments they might make. Any earlier than that, they are still at the whim of parents and don’t have the freedom afforded to them by cars. Getting your liscence is really the new American Bar Mitzveh. Not that I dissaprove of children making commitments earlier, I hope they do. However, I have been toying around with putting off any kind of confirmation until they have the most freedom with which to make that decision. Thoughts?

However, I would love to make a really fun meeting time for all ages of kids. Kids in ancient Hebrew schools learned appropriate parts of the Bible as they matured. Psalms and proverbs were very helpful for them as learners, age 5-8, getting their foundations formed.  The prophets didn’t come till later. Is there something to this?

I would love any input you have that might be helpful. Also any thoughts from parents who had/have kids having gone through a baptism/confirmation class, ritual, etc…. Thanks.

This will pick up steam in a few seasons, but for now, just some quotes for reflection:

“New opinions often appear first as jokes and fancies, then as blasphemies and treason, then as questions open to discussion, and finally as established truths.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason” – John Harington

“The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries” – Thomas Jefferson

“All men should have a drop of treason in their veins, if nations are not to go soft like so many sleepy pears.” – Rebecca West

“America’s state religion, [is] patriotism, a phenomenon which has convinced many of the citizenry that “treason” is morally worse than murder or rape.” – William Blum

“Treason is like diamonds; there is nothing to be made by the small trader” – Douglas Jerrold

“Treason is an excuse made by the winners to hang the losers” – unknown

“Please to remember the fifth of November gunpowder treason and plot
I see of no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow…” – Unknown folk lyric regarding Guy Fawkes

“I’m engaged in high-treason with all means available to me. Can I count you in?” – Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in “Valkyrie”

I do remember when I was younger, going to chapel midweek at private school. I was 5. I remember that being boring. What wasn’t boring was when I was caught climbing under the pews and dragged along the concrete all the way to the principle’s office where I was paddled for disrespect.

I can also remember attending a church when I was in 5th grade. I don’t recall much about it other than that it was boring. I sat in the service with my mother because the alternative was going to their Sunday school class for pre-teens. During one of such meetings I was asked which Bible story was my favorite. It seemed like an eternity that I sat in silence with everyone in the class staring at me, wondering what was wrong with the kid who had never heard of Adam or Noah.

Those were not regular experiences for me. The first time I attended church regularly was in college. I attended a community Christian church with my mom. The music was hauntingly familiar, sung by a guy who belonged in an opera house, backed up by mediocre singers and a staggeringly ok piano player. Downstairs was different though. The high school group played music that the kids listened to, or at least it sounded the same. Singing heartfelt songs to Jesus, and they even closed their eyes and raised their hands. I confess this last part made me cringe, and I felt embarrassed for them because they looked like cult members. Still, the music moved me, and I joined in.

Since, I have worshipped at black charismatic churches, Pentecostal healing services, with 10,000 other people at festivals, intimate times with 5 and a guitar, and everything in between. I enjoy Catholic services, and especially Episcopal ones. I currently worship at a Presbyterian church on Sunday mornings, while I secretly wish I could raise my hands and close my eyes.

There have been some amazing times where I have felt that the balance of people using their musical talents lines up with the heart of people desiring to be led in worship and it is magic. Joseph at his best is simply transcendent. At his worst he is like low quality pizza. Still pretty damn good. The times when our old Remnant community worshipped together, or now when Eikon does, the boundary between God’s kingdom and ours becomes incredibly thin for me.

Of course, worship is more than music and/or liturgy. And to that end, some of my deepest worship experiences have come from building homes, befriending homeless, teaching weekly classes at poor community centers, and having amazing Christ-centered conversations over Blue Moon and cheap cigars. I love to read and feel like God speaks to me very powerfully when a book and a highlighter is involved.

Please. Share with me some things that you have experienced in worship, for good or ill. Thanks.

Last night at eikon was cool. First off, it was really boss to worship with the Tedford’s, I dig those folks. Second, it was really cool to have Thomas there. He’s my boy (in the homeboy way, not the greek way). Third, Kris came. I love Kris. Of course, there is everyone else who makes eikon eikon, but the crowning moment of the night was not my preaching. It was not communion (although renewing my promise to Jesus and the church is always powerful). It was not even the Freebird’s afterward. No, what I will remember is when I actually got to sing the line, “I’m lost like Hurley” in a worship song.