We need to be considerate of other generations

There are things that happen in the life of a church in which the staff need to address.  Some of these things involve changes to the way things go or happen in the life of the church.  

Many times in these conversations I hear a voiced concern that we ought to be careful not to leave anyone out as we make changes.  If someone does not have a computer or email then we have to be careful to make sure that even those people keep getting notifications and publications by standard mail.  

I get it.  We do need to be considerate of generations. 

The problem I have with this "consideration" is that it is really care for one generation at the expense of others.

While we are slow to adopt new technologies and changes, for fear of leaving behind some in an older generation, we are also loosing the young generations who look at cumbersome changes as un-engaging and ill-relevant.  

It seems as though young generations are asked to tolerate the slow changes and status quo for the sake of others, but I do not see much reciprocation from other generations.  Not upsetting one generation becomes the expense of losing another generation.  

So yes, we do need to be considerate of ALL generations.  

Iconoclast

Recently I completed reading Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist reveals how to think differently. While this book was rather redundant and perhaps would have been better as a pamphlet or a series of slides than a book, there is a rather simple message I gleaned from this book.

1. Those who do things that others say is impossible are iconoclasts.
2. Iconoclasts have brains that operate differently.
1. Their brains see things differently 
2. They mitigate fear that comes with change
3. They pitch ideas to others in convincing ways
3. We all think like iconoclasts even if we are not born with the brain of an iconoclast.
1. As our brains are plastic they are able to change and adapt to new norms.
2. If we expose ourselves to the novel then our brains will begin to adapt and see the novel as the new norm
3. If novel is the new norm then we no longer fear the novel/change and we can move forward.

This is a major thesis I gleaned from this book which gives me great hope.  You and I can become iconoclasts in the world if we are willing to expose ourselves to novelty often. If we are open to novelty then our brains will no longer be allowed to be lazy and must work at understanding the world around us. If our brains are working to understand the world around us then our brains will begin to make connections that others have overlooked. 

Of course I think Jesus was an iconoclast in this sense - he was able to see that which others could not or refused to see. 

How did Jesus expose himself to the novel? He befriended those who others deeded as "sinners".  He threw ideas and concepts alongside one another such as love and enemy. He engaged in the Roman world, the Jewish world, the Hellenistic world, the Zealot world, the Herodian world, the spiritual world, the poverty world, and the like.  He traveled all around his country and saw new things, new foods and new ideas. 

Perhaps you and I can become more Chirst-like if we begin to embody the simple act of encountering the novel in our lives. 

So drive to work a different way. Read a different book then you normally would. Buy different shampoo. Eat new foods. Attend to the Arts. Travel. Pray. Befriend new people. Change your patters and routines. Work outside. Listen more than talk. 

Who knows what iconoclastic actions God might be calling you into. 

Expectations

Reverend Nancy Allen delivered a sermon the other day about expectations.  The text that was used to root the sermon was Luke 3:15 vv.

After the sermon and while the communion liturgy was going on I could only think about my own expectations.

I am frustrated with my fellow clergy for generally one thing.  I perceive a lack of urgency in their ministries which leads to complacency with the status quo.  The status quo is not necessarily bad, but complacency is a dangerous position to be in as a leader of a local church.

Rev. Allen shared that our expectations of ourself are often very high, which on one level I agree with.  I have high expectations of myself when it comes to things in which people are dependent upon me in some way - parenting, sermon delivery, leading a Bible study, playing on a sporting team.  I expect that I will rise to a level of excellence that is impossible to reach and then critique myself afterwards when I did not meet that level.

However, I wonder if one of the reasons I am frustrated with my fellow clergy is not because there is no sense of urgency in their ministry but that expectations are too low.

We do not expect people to be generous unless we have a massive stewardship campaign.

We do not expect worship to change people's hearts.

We do not expect prayer to be any more or less effective than counting to ten when we are angry.

 We do not expect God is working toward a peaceful world.

We do not expect God to work.

We do not expect that violence will ever end.

We do not expect lions to lay down with lambs.

I wonder if the reason we do not have vibrant churches is because we do not have any expectations.  Who wants to be a part of a community with little to no expectations for hope, change, life and transformation?

So I extend the invitation to all Christians to raise our expectations.  We have lived with low expectations for far too long