Archive for the 'Why?' Category

Bad boy of blogging…

Published
by
Todd
on Tuesday, October 30, 2007
in Blog stuff and Why?
. 12 Comments

BLOCKEDI’m a blogging bad boy.

I’ve been blocked by SmartFilter at Harding University for “pornography.” Now, I wouldn’t mind being blocked at HU for “instrumental worship support” or “men’s and women’s equality,” but “pornography?” Come on!

Let’s use our brains SmartFilter.

If you happen to attend HU and read this blog through Facebook or an RSS reader or at the Oil (what do the cool kids call Midnight Oil now, I wonder?), please click the link to have my site unblocked.
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(h/t: Jack Shock, Brooklynne and ME)

UPDATE: I’ve received an email saying that my site has be recategorized as Personal and Blogs/Wiki. Can any HU students and/or faculty confirm this?

“What are we doing?” — Obligation

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, October 17, 2007
in Why?
. 13 Comments

Question: Why do we come together every week, doing the same thing, with the same people?

Answer: Out of obligation.

Most people probably wouldn’t come out and say that’s their reason for getting up on Sunday, but I know for Hayley and me it’s often a reality.

I believe the obligation reaction comes from two sources (placed in their order of influence):

1. Our fellow church-goers.
I know that if I don’t go to worship on Sunday, someone will notice I’m not there. And, if this not-going trend continues, this noticing will become action and they will call to check up on me. I don’t mind receiving such a call, but it does seem tiresome to have to conjure up some reason or excuse for my attendance slip. It is easier to go to church than have to face the questions of why I didn’t.

2. A sense of our duty as Christians.
I was taught that a part of being a Christian was going to church. This was based on scripture (Acts 2:40-47; Heb. 10:25) and, largely, by tradition. One of the traits of being a Christian was that you were at the church every time the door was open.

So how does a sense of obligation drive our worship? Well, if that is the sole reason we’re coming, there will be little motivation to change anything about what we’re doing — our purpose is to meet, do our duty as Christians and get out. The songs that we sing, the bread that we break and the sermons we hear are all peripheral to the fact that we’re in the same place, at the same time, week in, week out.

Obviously the activities of a church – in worship or out – can’t thrive on obligation. Eventually, that obligation will wane as the grounds to feel obligated become dusty with age or clouded by traditions without reason.

Is your church meeting out of obligation? Are you attending out of obligation? What can we do to combat this mentality and facilitate an excitement and anticipation about coming to worship?

What do you think?

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“What are we doing?” recap…

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, September 24, 2007
in Why?
. 8 Comments

Thanks for your responses on the previous post. It has helped fuel this blog-series I’m attempting to tackle.

I’m going to be taking your responses, fleshing them out and exploring their implications on why we gather together as a church once a week for a time of worship. Here are the reasons that I’ll be investigating:

  • obligation
  • habit
  • social outlet
  • obedience
  • to worship
  • to give
  • to receive something
  • to learn
  • sense of community
  • to celebrate…

Have I left any out?

Have a good Monday.
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What are we doing?

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
in Why?
. 8 Comments

Why do we do this?Every Sunday morning, 300 well-dressed people get out of their cars, file through a lobby and sit in a pew for an hour and a half to sing and listen. At the conclusion of that time, about 100 to 150 of them leave and the remainder move from their pews to some plastic chairs for another hour of sitting and listening. After an hour, a bell rings, the people stand up and some head immediately to the door while others stand around and talk, hug and laugh. After 30 minutes or so, the building is empty, the lights off, ready for next week.

Why do we do it? Why do we come together every week, doing the same thing, with the same people?

Is it because we’re supposed to – either through a direct or inferred command? Is it because that’s the way we’ve always done it? Is it because we like doing it?

Why?

I’d like to explore this question over the next couple of days, examining the implications of possible answers to this question. I know my track record of carrying through with blog series, but I’ll work to make this time different.

In the meantime, why do you think your community of faith gathers?
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Just ask “Why?” - The new pornography

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, May 21, 2007
in Why?
. 0 Comments

There’s a new pornography and it’s not being released in seedy back-alley stores, through inappropriate chat rooms or in run-down theaters. It’s being advertised on TV and receiving blockbuster status when it reaches the theaters.“Torture pornography” is one of the hottest new trends in Hollywood. Movies like Cabin Fever, Hostel and the Saw series are redefining the horror genre and making millions of dollars in the process.

The horror genre was once considered worthless to major studios, but with the recent success of the previously mentioned films, the larger studios are starting to take notice. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Christians are.

As I shared in a previous post, seeing graphic violence isn’t something that I choose to do lightly. Though I’ve never seen any of the Saws or Hostel, I can guess that there’s no redeeming quality at the end that makes me feel like my hour and a half were well spent. But worse than wasting time, seeing torture in such a graphic way has to do something to your spirit and the way you view people.

So why is “torture pornography” more acceptable than its sexual cousin? Why do many Christians have little problem walking into Saw III, but wouldn’t be caught dead walking into Debbie Does Dallas (how lame a reference is that)?

What do you think?

Just ask “Why?”

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, April 17, 2006
in Why?
. 4 Comments

In marketing, it’s essential to ask, “Why are we doing what we’re about to do” before any campaign, project or promotion. That seems obvious and simple, but if you look at some billboards, television and radio ads, promotional giveaways and newspaper ads, it becomes obvious that many organizations fail to ask the question.

I believe that churches should take this same strategic approach to everything that they do. Church attendance is dwindling, emerging generations are not coming into contact with God and the post-Christian environment is hostile towards modern Christianity. Something’s got to change.

We need to step back, look at what we’re doing and ask “why?” Why do we preach 30-minute sermons? Why do we have sermons? Why do we do communion the way we do it? Why do we have small groups? Why do spend $X on X?

This process isn’t fun, easy or safe, but it is essential if we’re going to be relevant in this generation.

So, even though we all attend different churches in different states, (for the most part anyway) let’s get the conversation started.

Today’s topic:
Why sermons?