Digital Natives and Immigrants - request to stop ignoring the others

In many respects, I feel like I am a digital native; that is I grew up with computers and the digital age and feel very at home in the “digital” world. Others might identify themselves as digital immigrants, in which they had to move from one world into the digital world.

And like the stories I read of immigrants moving to the United States, there is a strong desire of the “old world” customs and language and traditions to be upheld, respected and practiced. Those who emigrate from, say Mexico, and do not speak English will often desire their children to practice the traditions and language of Mexico. And it is very admirable, but it is also very difficult to navigate.

Building on this example, it is often the case too that the children surpass their parents in the use of the English language. This quickly turns the tables in the relationship. It is now the parent who is dependent upon the child to communicate to the teacher or to the soccer coach. The child is forced to live in two worlds – one they are born into (America) and one that is expected of them to live into (Mexican).

In many ways the digital native/immigrant is much the same thing. Often children surpass their parents in knowledge of how the internet and technology work. Adults are dependent upon the child to set up Facebook accounts or explain Twitter or even run a DVD/TV.

I surely not the first to point this out by any stretch of the imagination, but it is becoming very real in the UMC that the younger clergy are being asked to live in two worlds. We are asked to live in the “old world” with the customs and expectations that are a part of that and then we are expected to also be fluent in the world were born into which sometimes does not even speak the same language of our parents (search “L337 speak” and you will get the picture).

And so to my “old world” friends, do not decry the lack of respect of the “new world” or hint at how technology, while okay, is really the root of so much evil.

And to my “new world” friends, do not admonish the tradition and wisdom of the “old world” or hint at how older people, while okay, really are an obstacle to “progress”.

We are all learning together.

Where do you start?

Much of Christianity is rooted in the idea that is traced back to the "fall". The problem with the world is that people are sinners and we all need to be forgiven. So much of the teaching and preaching is a out forgiveness and getting others to be saved and reconciled with god. This results in generally viewing people as a problem that needs to be healed or fixed. We use words like people are primarily sinner and fallen. This understanding of the christian faith is biblical, but it is not the beginning of our story. Is it ever fair to assess things when you see them in the middle of the story? What would it look like to only know the story of Peter Parker only as spiderman and not as the awkward teenager who is dealing with identity and maturation? Knowing Peter Parker only as spiderman is not fair to the character of Peter Parker because you are not getting the whole story or even the start of the story. Likewise, to call human beings as primarily fallen and broken creators who need to be forgiven and reconciled is to not take seriously the beginning of the human story. The human story, from the Christian narrative begins not at genesis 3 but at genesis 1. Before we are fallen, we are called very good. Before we are broken, we are completely whole. Before we are insecure, we are comfortable in our own skin. Before we need reconciliation, we are in relationship. Before we are sinner, we a blessed saints. When we start at the beginning of our human story our posture changes. We see people as blessed and very good. We are not trying to save people but call people to live into their creative nature. We are do not focus on people's failing but on their potential and greatness. We are creating saints and not redeeming sinners. Where you begin, shapes the story you tell. Where you being shapes what story you tell. Where do you start the biblial story?

Christians can never worship in isolation

Thinking a bit more about worship lately and came into a conversation with someone who shared that she disagreed with my definition of worship. For her, worship is not limited to a corporate experience and that she can worship by herself in the beauty of nature.

I stated that while that I beautiful I would not call that Christian worship. Devotion? Sure. Worship, no.

Worship is never done in isolation. It is not something that is a part of the Christian experience. Even Jesus worshiped in the community and never alone.

What became apparent to me in my conversation with this woman I respect was that for many people "corporate" or "community" means having people around. So when going into a closet and shutting the door means one is not in a corporate setting - that person is alone.

Here is the kicker, in Christian thought we trust we are not alone. We have the Advocate (Holy Spirit) we are surrounded by the "great cloud of witnesses" we are in communion with God in Christ.

Every time we are alone and we are in a worshipful spirit, we are never alone. Our worship is a constant celebration with a community that is fully present. Christian worship is never done in isolation.

With that in mind, there are times in our lives when we are truly alone. When we are abandoned by all, but these times are not worshipful. Abandonment is something that Peter Rollins takes on full force in his book Insurrection - which I hope to post about soon.