Archive for November, 2007

Tackling the Big Ones

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, November 21, 2007
in Church and Question
. 15 Comments

I’m a simple-minded chap. I like pretending like I’m a deep thinker when I’m in group discussion, but my day-to-day life hardly reflects that false reality. Most of the time I appreciate the simplest and quickest answer to questions that trouble me.

Unfortunately, a majority of the world isn’t like me. Most people are unsatisfied with the quick and easy answer—and rightly so. Knowing this, it amazes me how Christians can claim to have the truth to some of life’s biggest questions and then recite tired, old, shallow answers.

The big questions are quite legitimate. However, the answers I’ve received to some of those questions over the course of my life—while simple—don’t even satisfy me!

Here’s two examples and the problems I have with the rote answer:
Q: Why do bad things happen to good people?
A: Because it’s all a part of God’s plan.
Problem: What kind of god would allow his/her followers to suffer terrible calamities, particularly when you claim that your god is all-powerful? How could this “good” god have a plan that involves innocent children dying?

Q: How could a loving and all-powerful God create a place of eternal torment for those who choose not to commit their lives to him?
A: It’s not for us to know. Our job is to obey. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway, just follow God.
Problem: God created the system! He chose to create a place of fire and wailing and gnashing teeth. While he may not send people there (thanks to their free will), He didn’t have to make a place where people suffered for eternity.

So, what answer would you give to those (and other, if you’d like) big questions? How can we start equipping our churches to tackle these big questions in relevant and helpful ways?
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Five Seconds To Do Good

Published
by
Todd
on Tuesday, November 20, 2007
in Feeding and Link
. 0 Comments

I’m not sure how it works, but you can donate 10 pounds of food to a needy family in about five seconds. Just go here, fill out the form and you’re done.

If only making a difference was always this easy!
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(h/t: Erin)

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The Rabbit Room

Published
by
Todd
on Tuesday, November 20, 2007
in Link
. 0 Comments

Rabbit RoomIf you view the world through a creative lens (or if you enjoy living vicariously through those who do), you should check out RabbitRoom.com. Singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson is the “Proprietor” of the site and he’s gathered a gifted group of bloggers.

Check it out and let me know what you think!
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30-minute Worship

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, November 19, 2007
in Church and Seeking
. 3 Comments

Too busy for a whole hour and a half of worship? Here’s your solution.

Some things I don’t like about this site:

  1. They’re promoting 30-minute worship.
  2. They use “r” instead of “are.”
  3. They link to a f.a.q. page that doesn’t actually have any questions—frequently asked or otherwise.
  4. The sermon is longer than the worship!
  5. They left the hyphen out of “30-minute.”
  6. The circle-graphic thing at the top right of the page cuts off some of the copy.

Circle Graphic

Some things I do like about this site:

  1. The grungy look.
  2. The VW beetle at the bottom of the page.
Can you find it?

Am I turning into a watchdog site?
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(h/t: Larry)

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Thoughts on Seeking and Feeding

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, November 19, 2007
in Feeding and Seeking
. 7 Comments

Thanks everyone for your feedback on the previous posts. I wanted to share some thoughts I had about both subjects.

Seeker Sensitive Worship

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. — Hebrews 11:6

Do we believe this verse? Do we believe that God rewards those who seek Him? If so, there are some pretty profound implications.

If this verse is true, our role as evangelists becomes more of a “tour guide” than a preacher; our job is less about indoctrination and more about pointing out where God can be seen. In “Velvet Elvis,” Rob Bell talks about feeling a great burden to “bring God” to the godless and his realization that God was already there. I absolutely love that idea.

So, how does that change the way we reach out to atheists, Buddhists and the disenfranchised? Is it by playing “relevant” worship or popular music? Is it by dumbing down the gospel message so anybody can understand it? Is it by removing all symbols of the Christian faith so everybody feels comfortable?

No, I don’t think so. I don’t think any of those things are going to help people in their seeking. It might make them comfortable with exploring this Christian thing we’re doing here in America, but I’m not sure that’s the point.

Before I cross into blasphemy territory (which is very easy to do depending upon who reads your blog), I want to hear your thoughts. If we believe (do we?) that God rewards those who earnestly seek him, how does that change what our churches do?

Getting Fed

After reading Shaun’s account of going to Ethiopia and his interaction with the church there (which has doubled in the past 14 years), I can’t help but feel an unhealthy anger (which I’m aware of and will begin to work on upon the completion of this post) toward those who blame their lack of church commitment and/or involvement on this tired excuse. We are living in a sad time in the American church that is fostering—not fighting—a consumer-driven, me-centric mindset that is sickening.

I’m not suggesting that we adopt the ways of the 1950s-in-2007 church, but we certainly need to be calling followers of Christ to something significantly higher than “being fed” on Sundays during worship time.

So, question time again: How can we fight this “getting fed” mindset?

Thanks for your (forthcoming) thoughts.
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A View from Ethiopia

Published
by
Todd
on Friday, November 16, 2007
in Compassion
. 0 Comments

Shaun Groves is in Ethiopia learning more about Compassion. Check out his account of the visit.

I love what he says at the end of day three:

I told them [Compassion's Ethiopian staff, I believe] I wanted to change Compassion’s motto. The motto on everything Compassion prints is “Rescuing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” I told them I wanted to add a line. I think under the usual motto it should say “And saving the rest of us from wealth in Jesus name.” I thanked them for rescuing not only children but grown ups like me too. I explained that when someone at my concert is convinced to give $32 a month to save a child in Ethiopia that person is also being saved by that child. Saved from selfish ambition, consumerism, self-obsession, and the belief that what they have is theirs. I thanked them for teaching my children the difference between want and need, between hungry and starving.

Without Compassion's helpWith Compassion’s helpI don’t know the financial status of my blog-readers—your cookies don’t tell me that. I don’t know how many of you already sponsor a child. But I pray that some of you who stop by this blog will take the time to check out Compassion’s site and make the commitment—$32-$40 a month—to sponsor a child. Your small sacrifice is a huge blessing in the life of a very real child.

Do you already sponsor? Tell us how you’ve been blessed.
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