The End of Pastor Guru?

As a pastor, people ask me all kids of questions related to doctrine, theology, church history, details pertaining to Scripture, and a host of other 'spiritual' matters. I love it. It's one of the things I enjoy most about being a pastor, and it is one of the times I get to apply my seminary training. And it's not just answering the questions, but what's really exciting is these questions lead to discussions and raise more questions.

But I wonder if Google (and other technology) is changing this approach of the pastor as a guru.

The last few times I've been asked these types of questions, the person asking the question had already done their homework. They had researched the question on the web, consulted a book or two, and developed a very informed opinon. In some instances, I couldn't quite give an answer off the top of my head as I needed time to refresh my memory and do my own digging.

In the past, we simply didn't have access to the same tools the paid ministry leaders did, so we relied on their expertise and training. Google, wikipedia, biblegateway, and many other sites, however, level the playing field. While advanced training is still good for pastors and ministry leaders, really anyone can learn to work in the Greek or the Hebrew, research theologically difficult topics, and get answers on church history matters.

For those pastors who relish the role of being the only one with the answers, this is a bad development, and their response will be similar to those in the newspaper business (the sky is falling!). But other pastors will see this as a fantastic development as people do their own study gather their own information, and enter into conversations which leads to a closer following of Jesus.

Don't Judge a Good Decision

We judge a good decision when we tell the person (who desires to eat healthier) to stay away from bananas because they aren't as good for you as you would think (but isn't a banana better than Doritos?).

We judge a good decision when we tell a family (who wants to adopt a child) they should be open to a child from a foreign country or a child with special needs (but isn't a family wanting to adopt at all better than not wanting to adopt?).

We judge a good decision when we tell the person (who wants to become a foster parent) she should be open to situations she's not comfortable with (but isn't a foster home who only wants specific situations better than not being a foster home?).

We judge a good decision when we tell the person (who wants to serve his local neighborhood or school) he should consider going overseas to do 'real' mission work where there is a 'real' need.

The thing is when a person or a family decides to make a good decision- whether it be the ones mentioned above or a host of others that reorient their priorities around how God wants them to live life for him and others, let's celebrate the decision for what it is- an incredible moment of a person following through on what God is telling them to do, rather than insinuating they should be doing something different, or 'more', or 'greater' with their decision.

When Christians Fight

We had protesters at Hillcrest last Sunday holding up signs at both parking lot entrances claiming we use an incorrect version of Scripture. When first told about them 15 minutes for service, I didn't believe it. Then I peeked out and saw that indeed there were protesters. Wow! My first thoughts in situations such as this always go to, for lack of a better term, 'damage control'. What will new people to Hillcrest think? What wil we say to our people? Will we acknowledge it from the front or not? After a couple minutes, I walked out and met one of the protesters who was convinced we use the NIV (we don't; we actually use the NLT which would have been further proof for them, but I digress). He then ratteled off his list of trump card verses memorized to show his superirority and convince me that I was going to hell because we used a different biblical version.

I'll admit- I wanted to fight, I did. I wanted to get into a shouting match, point out some of the 'interesting' translation choices in the King James (for instance, the use of "unicorns" in Numbers 23, 24 and Job 39), and keep this going. Instead, I asked him if this was the best use of his time (he assured me it was). I asked him why he wasn't at his own church this morning (didn't start until 9:30). I asked him if he'd like to come into our church until his church started (he almost laughed at that suggestion!). As he continued to quote his scriptural cadence to me, I kept saying 'God bless you' (though I wasn't sure how sincere I was with that blessing). And as I walked away, he kept shouting his superior use and knowledge of Scripture.

The irony in all of this? We had the Gideons with us on Sunday- whose sole work is to give out more Scripture (albeit the incorrect versions(s)).

When Christians fight, it isn't good. I am all for standing for truth and defending doctrine. I don't think you should compromise your beliefs. And yet, you can still hold onto your beliefs without fighting. I am sure the protesters went back to their home church and were greeted with 'atta boys'. And I am sure that for the many who drove past Hillcrest last Sunday saw a scene only confirming what they already know about Christians.

There's two 'Christian' movies coming out in the next couple weeks. One is called October Baby and is a film about a failed abortion, adoption, and a powerful story. The second is called "Blue Like Jazz" and is loosley based on the best selling book of the same name which follows a college freshman from an evangelical background to the most liberal and godless college in America.

Both films are PG-13 and both will benefit from Christian audiences, but the similarities stop there. One claims to be a Christian film while the other doesn't want to be associated as a typical Christian film. One of the films doesn't want the trailer for the other film being shown before its fillm. One of the films is the latest in a long and recent list of Christian films, while the other film is much edgier then those films. And to be expected, there's been fighting and critcizing and judging from both sides. The two films show an increasing difference in perspectives when it comes to how Christianity ought to be lived out. And yet the bickering and infighting also show our struggle to love one another.

Book Report: You Lost Me

Recently read You Lost Me which details the 18-29 year old generation and their rather quick exit of church once they leave home. When I was a youth pastor, there were other books written about this trend and the truth is Christiantiy is always one generation away from extinction. The assumption within churches though was people who left the church during 18-29 year old time period came back in their 30s, presumably after marrying and having kids. The data though says that both events- marriage and kids are happening later in life, if at all. Couple this with some of the findings from an earlier book by the same author called unChristian which details the prevailing negative view that churches have in those who don't attend, and it sets up for a rather bleak picture.

Some takeaways (reading this on my Kindle prevents me from being able to cite a page number!):

• Most young Christians are struggling less with their faith in Christ than with their experience of church.





• Can the Christian community summon the courage to prepare a new generation of professionals to be excellent in their calling and craft, yet humble and faithful where God has asked them to serve?





• Your children are going to break your heart. Somehow. Somewhere. Maybe more than once. To become a parent is to promise you’ll love prodigals.





• A culture of skepticism is a culture of questions, and questions lead to conversations, relationships, and truth.





• Young Christians (and former Christians too) say the church is not a place that allows them to express doubts. They do not feel safe admitting that faith doesn’t always make sense. In addition, many feel that the church’s response to doubt is trivial and fact focused, as if people can be talked out of doubting. How can the Christian community help this generation face their doubts squarely and integrate their questions into a robust life of faith?





• I believe the Christian community has failed to disciple its science-inclined students to become responsible, intelligent, capable, resourceful, and faithful followers of Christ. We need to do a better job of stewarding the intellect of this generation.

There's much more that I found interesting, but that would mean a longer post! This book is great for parents, church leaders, youth workers, and really anyone who have a realtionship with this generation (and that ought to be all of us!). The book is hoping people who follow Christ will take the necessary risks and be able to artfully disciple and encourage this generation.

Forced to change

I am not a writer nor a filmmaker, but a theme I keep bumping into lately is this: the main character in any great story is forced to change. I've heard this guy say it and I recently ran into again while reading a book about making better Powerpoint presentations- no joke- you can make fun of me later!

Any movie you like will no doubt have this idea behind it. For instance, in Moneyball, Brad Pitt's character doesn't decide to toy with numbers and rosters for the heck of it- his team's small budget and increasing competition force him to do it.

When I've talked with people about spiritual growth, most will say they grew most during life's tougher moments (forced to change). You could physical fitness or any other pursuit in that previous sentence as well (I really got serious about my health after my doctor's appointment . . .).

We all probably have stories of an outside circumstance forcing us to change? But is that the only way change is possible? Is it possible to change without being forced into it?

Expect Resistance

As I make my way through the Old Testament, I read Nehemiah and what I took from it this time is that change encounters resistance. I was reminded of this when I opened our money series on the first Sunday in March and invited Hillcresters to consider ‘the tithing challenge’ where they would tithe for the next six weeks. In almost the same breath, though, I said that a tithe is one of the most difficult steps one takes in their faith journeys and that if we do take the step, we can sure bet that something will happen in our financial life to make us wish we hadn’t taken that step! Sure enough, the following Sunday after the challenge I heard a story from someone of a financial situation that happened literally two days after taking the challenge! Talk about resistance!

As Nehemiah sets out to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, he’s met with several challenges and people who flat out resist him and his efforts. The resistance is so strong in fact that he and his team have to divide their labor between the actual work of rebuilding the wall and taking turns on ‘night patrol’. Now that's resistance! I think anytime we deisre to make changes in our life, we ought to expect resistance. The cool thing, though, is that when push through the resistance, we've got experience, so that when we set out to make another change, we'll expect the resistance, and be able to use our previous experience to push us through.

Entertaining Learning

I have a gym membership and prefer to workout there. It's where I get most of my reading done while I'm on the ellipitcal. But we also have a treadmill in the laundry room, and if I miss a morning, I have no excuse not to get to some work in on it. It's tough to run and read at the same time, so I'll watch Law and Order reruns courtesy of Netflix or the recent Modern Family episodes. They help to pass the time by, until I remembered that I could do treadmill work and learn at the same time. As funny as the recent Modern Family episodes have been, there's the part of me that will feel some guilt if I don't at least counter the entertainment with some learning, which is where www.ted.com comes in. TED is a site of short and often entertaining lectures- most are 20 minutes- from really interesting people doing really interesting things. Not all are great, but some are, and really provoke some good thoughts. Some of the more interesting ones I've seen lately while on the laundry room treadmill:

• We need to talk about injustice - I know I'm guilty of thinking things are ok in terms of race and justice. This talk illustrates that we have miles to go.


• The power of introverts- I'm an introvert (yet not as much as I used to be) and this talk reminds us that there's a place for introverts in the world


• The happy secret to better work- tempting to dismiss this as more 'self-help psycho babble', but can you really dismiss the idea that if you're generous and thankful and helpful that you'll be happier and feel better about your work?

What TED talks would you suggest?

Made to Matter

I'm officially getting older, as I now spend 6:00 AM every Friday morning at Bagel Boy drinking coffee with other guys from Hillcrest. It's a great time and I really do look forward to it each week in spite of the time!

Each morning we discuss a short chapter from the book Made to Matter which serves as a weekly devotional for living out your faith in the workplace. Two points from a recent reading really stuck with me:

• You can't lead others farther then where you are at your self


• You haven't really learned something until you teach someone else

The first point has been a fundamental truth for me for years. It's a filter I use through my own leading and teaching- I can't ask or expect someone to do something that I am not willing to do in my own life.

But the second point really stopped me and it made sense- we've learned something when we can pass it onto others. It could be how to fish, how to play a sport, how to study, or it could be the gospel, what God is doing in your life, or why you tithe- whatever it is, you've really learned something when you can teach someone else.

Oh, and I'd also add this- you've really learned something when you do it in your own life. Guess that circles back to the first point . . .

Be Nice

Interesting story from 2 Chronicles 10, where Rehoboam is set to become king of Israel. Knowing this, the people ask if he would consider lightening their tax load. In exchange, they promise to be loyal subjects. The future kings mulls it over and asks the people to come back in a couple days. Rehoboam then seeks counsel from two sources. The first are his father Solomon's advisors, the old guys. They agree with the people and say it would be wise for Rehoboam to listen to them and lighten the load. Rehoboam then seeks advice from his peeps, who tell him the exact opposite- that he should be tougher then his father to show the people who's really in charge now.

And isn't this a temptation for most leaders? Rather then take the advice of older and wiser folks, lighten things up, and win the people over with niceness, the newer (younger) leader feels the need to do things on his own, establish control, and send messages to the people he leads.

Rehoboam's decision doesn't go too well for him. And while there's obviously much more to leaderership then being nice and listening to older folks, sometimes it is exacly what is called for.

New Seth Godin Book

Seth Godin has a new 'book' out, which you can access here.

I have the air quotes around book because you can't get a hard copy of it. It's free and it's electronic.

And from what I can tell so far, it's must reading for parents, taxpayers, educators, and anyone else who cares about children, their future, and how school fits in.

Busywork

Our family volunteered at the VOA Thrift Store last night as part of a Hillcrest group. The store is an impressive place with lots of items priced to move. The store accomplishes two things- it brings in some income to support its staff and programming while also providing the under-resourced in Sioux Falls some excellent deals on clothing, household items, furniture and much more.

When we serve at the store, the person in charge at the store is good about giving the adults something meaningful to do but it can be a bit of a challenge to find stuff for the kids to do. So T and I will take turns finding something helpful our kids can do- sweeping, vacuuming the kids' area, picking up teash, etc. Last night they took turn at those tasks while T hung jeans (a lot of jeans!) on clothing racks.

Some might say that what we did (especially what my kids did) was just busywork- tasks that need to be done, but by doing them doesn't mean you accomplished something, because those tasks will have to be done the next day, and the next day, and the next day. And there's some truth to this- sometimes tasks are repetitive like that.

But even though it's busywork, those tasks are important for my children as they learn about doing something for someone else. Those tasks are also important for the store, because even though it's a second hand store, it's still selling stuff and cleaner floors help sell more stuff than dirty floors do.

And hopefully one day, my kids won't just serve, but be able to walk into a place and not wait for someone to tell them what to do, but be able to start something on their own.