Conversations of Faith at Common Ground

This is what happens when people try to perform miracles — Jesus uses spit and dirt to restore sight while doctors use a tooth.

In Ireland, a man regains eyesight with the help of his son’s tooth.

The difference between PC and Mac users is bigger than you’re probably aware of. Mindset Media says, according to their research, that people who buy Apple Macs tend to be “more liberal, less modest, and more assured of their own superiority than the population at large.“ Additionally, the online ad agency notes that Mac owners are image conscious.

The psychographics of Mac owners say something about these people as a group or subculture. In not so many words, they might come across as arrogant snobs.

So, here’s the $64,000 question — “What characteristics mark people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ? “

Let’s try an informal test — finish the sentence, “”People who are Christians are…”

(Bear in mind, there’s a difference between self-identification and what others see/think/believe — how I see myself versus how others see me.)

What do Barack Obama, Tim Tebow and Chuck Norris have in common?

Here’s a hint — these are “facts” given about these three people:

• Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.
• Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas.
• Barack Obama is so cool, he’ll single-handedly reverse global warming.

All three reveal something about people and how we’re wired. My observation is that we all have:

• An innate desire for people to have heroes — people who do great things and inspire others to do the same.
• We want to give ourselves to something. We want a leader who is worth following, and gives us a vision to live and die for.
• We want to be part of a community of people who live for the same thing — people who share our passions.

While Chuck Norris is somewhat a product of fiction and Tim Tebow has had a mantle of “greatness” thrust on him because of his athletic ability, Barack Obama is unique in that he intentionally rallies people around himself and his cause. He offers a “message of hope”. Some have described to Obama’s popularity as cultlike.

From a position of neutrality (I’ve got no skin in this game), I think Obama offers people what they long for. Whether you agree or disagree with his views, you can’t ignore the ability he has to rally people to something larger than themselves and toward a compelling vision.

What’s the lesson here?

What is the evangelical church in the U.S. failing to offer (to U.S. citizens) that makes Jesus Christ less compelling than Barack?

It’s easy to attribute a poor reception to the Gospel to people preferring what they want to hear and Jesus is unpopular because He doesn’t offer that. This misses a finer point — because Jesus is so profoundly attractive, what excuse is there for people not to like Him? One may not like what He said and what He stands for, but how does that translate into dislike or disdain?

We’ve been taught (perhaps an unmerited assumption) that we can like a person while disagreeing and disliking what they believe or stand for. Doesn’t it follow that people would at least like Jesus even if they don’t like what He says and stands for? Can the same be said of His People? How many people do we know dislike people who love and extend kindness to them?

What can the Church learn from this political phenomenon (“Obamania”) unfolding before us? Is it a lesson that will stick?

I look forward to going to church on Sundays. You might think that since I’m on staff, that would be an obvious and easy thing to say. Hold that thought…

a) Of the people you know, how many do NOT like their job? Money can’t buy affection.

b) If you could do anything you are thoroughly passionate about, would doing your present job be that ‘one thing’? If not, why would you stay at your job?  Maybe it’s because you need the work.  At best it would seem the job buys commitment, but not loyalty or, more importantly, passion.

What gets me amped up about church? Seeing God show up and work in ways far beyond what I would have imagined. I’m grateful to be at a place where this is happening.

I’m excited because I see change taking place in the lives of people — God is doing something in our midst.

What are some ways CG cultivates and celebrates transformation?

1) share our stories — reinforce and affirm that God is alive and active in our lives

2) expect God to show up and work in our lives — He wants to make Himself known to us

3) humility — we need God. If we think what we’ve accomplished in our lives and at our church is based on our wonderful skills, God just might let us believe that lie — that would be a bad thing.

4) express the transformation in tangible ways — other people see transformed lives by how we live in marriage, friendships, family, school, work and in the local community.

5) our transformation points to Jesus.  I think anyone can change, and there can be a variety of motives that prompt the change.  Bankruptcy can change one’s spending habits, dating can change a guy’s interests, education can drive out ignorance, etc…

Spiritual change in Christians is grounded in Christ, and to be “good” for the church, it points to Jesus.  In fact, if the church talks about, lauds and even celebrates change without mentioning the True Agent of Change, then we might as well pack it up.  The focus has shifted from the Creator to the created.  Change the setting and we’re stand-ins for a Oprah or Dr. Phil audience.

Looking forward to seeing more Change!

“Who’s lying?” and “Who’s telling the truth?” — these are two questions that could be applied to headlines across the nation.  The irony is that we probably have a few people we could choose from.  Are we talking about Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee; Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; or Congress and the President?

If public comments or outcry are any indication of people’s passion on these subjects, then truth and deceit figure prominently in the public conscience.

How do we decide who is being truthful?  On the public stage, what is the penalty for lying?  Is there lying that is acceptable?  Under what cases?

Bringing it down to where we all live, it shouldn’t be a surprise these questions apply to daily life as well — raising kids (ever deal with fighting siblings?), conversations with friends (is embellishment lying?), marriage (white lies protect the relationship, right?), reporting to one’s boss (self-preservation)…  Who hasn’t faced an occasion where shading the truth looked like a good option?

When it comes to finding truth or stretching, we’re probably not strangers to the process.  So, what makes us so hot when we see it unfolding before us over the air waves, on the internet or in the newspaper?

What’s the goal of parenting? Why people have children can be a different question, but what is the role of parents in the lives of children?

At the least, we, as parents, prepare their kids to live on their own when they leave the house — we teach and equip them for the future we anticipate for them. The lessons they learn from us are skills and values we think they’ll need to survive.

While we aren’t the only ones who will pass along this information (other “teachers” include school, peers, church and media), we are the primary people they look to until we abdicate that responsibility. So, what foundational lessons/info. are we passing along to them?

George Barna has put out a couple of books concerning parenting, and I recently read his first one, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. Yikes! A good book, but pretty convicting. I was challenged to ask myself, “what do I desire for my kids and how am I helping them attain what I want for them?”

More to the point, how am I growing my kids as spiritual people? Do I ask questions and expect answers about their spiritual education? Is this Q & A as rigorous as the one I apply to their academics? And, who is responsible for this education? Gulp…

One aspect of parenting involves the underrated dimension of spirituality. If I fail to feed and nourish this part of who my kids are, they’ll also ignore it (remaining undernourished and immature spiritually) or, being underfed and hungry, put in “food” that I don’t want them to have.

Parents inform their kids of the value/importance of spirituality. If God is comparmentalized or marginalized (or if He is pursued and exalted) in our lives, our kids will likely follow our lead and treat Him as we do.

At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves, “What trajectory am I on with God and is this where I want to be taking my kids?”