Medium is the message - Real life

She and I disagree on a number of theological ideas.  She might identify more Calvinist and Modern while I might identify with Arminius and Post-modern.  We differ on our atonement theories and our understandings of most things ranging from, I would suspect, sexual orientation to political engagement.

It is often the case that to encountered someone from the "other tribe" is to find in them an enemy, but the fact of the matter is I have nothing but respect for her.

She is devoted to her local church.  She volunteers when able.  She leads a weekly Bible study in which she is the lead teacher for hundreds of women.  She has devoted her life and time living into her understanding of the Christian life.  I wish that my local Church had more people like her.

Some of my fellow UMC clergy around the conference would find this next statement shocking, but while she and I disagree on a number of political, theological and social issues, I would allow her to teach in a Church I serve.

Why?

The medium, that is to say her life, is a message that is deeply loving and caring and hope-filled.  Her life is a message that is powerful and ought to be shared.

This is where the idea of the medium is the message matters in the Church.

You could have your "theological message" in line with me or even the UMC, but if your life, if you as a the medium for that message, is not Gospel, know that I would take someone who I disagree with in message content but agree with in medium any day.

Is thinking enough?

Most of the time when you teach or preach in a church there are those wonderful people who always complement you.  "Good sermon today." "I liked what you had to say." "Great job, I love the energy."  These are common and while more than likely truthful, they are also most of the time benign.

That is to say these comments, while encouraging, are also very safe complements and comments.  There is little risk on behalf of the complementer while the target of the complementer is sometimes left wondering, "what do they really feel/think?"  This is why groups who give feedback are always asked to be specific with feedback so that others can use the feedback to become better.

There is a common, regular and specific bit of feedback that I get when I teach or preach, which you can agree or disagree with but it sounds like this; "You make me think."

While everyone thinks as a result of a speech or a teaching session, I used to wonder what people are thinking about.  Did I say something offensive (sometimes)?  Was I misinformed in my thesis (sometimes)?  Did I cut someone off (sometimes)?  However, now I have moved beyond wondering what people are thinking and I want to know if thinking is enough?

Is it enough to get people to think about things?  Is it enough to invite people to call into question somethings they once thought were sacred?  Is it enough to engage people's brains and intellect?

Or is there more to being a Christian than getting people to think?

I cannot recall many people throughout time who were persuaded to change their life as a result of logical arguments.  Jesus engaged the powers that be with great logic only to see very few of them be persuaded.

Is it enough to get people to think?

Seth Godin has this little line which I think points to something of a response to the question:

"People are moved by stories and drama and hints and clues and discovery.  Logic is a battering ram, one that might work if your case is overwhelming. Wal-Mart won by logic (cheap!), but you probably won't."

It is good to get people to think about their spirituality, but that really is not enough.  It is good to get people to think about what they believe, but it is not enough.  The Church can be a place where we can get people thinking.  


It is good to get people to think, but getting them to act is a whole other skill set.

Prayer, Stewardship, Evangelism, Bible are not in the UMC?

October 15th edition of the United Methodist Reporter had two articles which I thought great for me to consider.  One has to do with the need for mentors written by Andrew Thompson. This article connects with the work that the Elisha Advocates (you can find the group page on Facebook. You can also find the evolving “Visioning Document” as well as the evolving “Theological Underpinning”) are attempting to do in the Central Texas Conference.   

However, this post is not about Thompson’s article, but about Dan Dick’s article entitled “Message from UM laity: teach Christian essentials”. Dick’s argues that what he has heard from laity over the past 20 years is that “Prayer, stewardship, evangelism and Bible are not being taught in our churches.” 

I am not sure what this really means. Does this mean churches are really not teaching these areas or is what is being taught not understood or is what is being taught not what we want to hear? 

I cannot image a UMC congregation not pray in worship or at meetings or gatherings of any sort. It is my assumption that prayers are heartfelt and meaningful. It is my assumption that prayers are rooted in our ground of being and that they attempt to express the deepest parts of the human soul, but maybe I am mistaken.

I cannot image a UMC congregation not talk about stewardship each year, at the very least a stewardship of finances. It is my assumption that the growing awareness of stewardship of our resources, time, energy, money and the like are addressed in the life of the congregation each week through the collection of tithes and offerings. It my assumption that we do not have committees of “Finance” or “trustees” but committees of “Stewardship of finances” or “Stewardship of space”, but maybe I am mistaken.

I cannot image a congregation not engaging in evangelism, sharing Good News, through the lives of the community members. I assume that we are as excited to be in conversation around the water cooler talking about how we are being transformed each day by Grace and Love as we are to talk about the Kardashians or the Dallas Cowboys. I assume we are inviting people to engage God with the same tenacity and excitement when we are throwing a Super Bowl Party or Bridal shower, but maybe I am mistaken.

I cannot imagine a UMC congregation not talking about the four areas at some point. Each Sunday Scripture is read and the Word proclaimed. It is my assumption that preachers are not giving three stories and a poem in the Proclamation. It is my assumption that preachers cannot help but be open to the Spirit working through Scripture, but maybe I am mistaken.

I am not perfect by any means and I am willing to take my share of the fault on the UMC’s lack of making these four areas less vague. I am even willing to say the lay knowledge and interaction with these four areas reflect, in part, clergy’s knowledge and interaction of these areas. It is my prayer that any community for which I am connected with will have these four bedrocks of the Faith. Additionally I will, with my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness, do my best to make sure these are present.

Will you join me?