A Reply To Those People | Shaun Groves
A Reply To Those People | Shaun Groves
A Reply To Those People
I’ve always ignored those people: The ones who get very upset at Target this time of year and decide to e-mail me and the rest of their address book about it. This year, to those people, I would now like to preemptively say Simmer down. And also…
There was a time in American history when Christians could be counted on to get angry about the right stuff – the stuff that seems to have made Jesus angry. In the 1920s, for instance, when Saint Nick became the patron saint of American consumerism, most Christians in this country opposed the holiday because of its inextricable connection to materialism and self-indulgence.
In 1931, the New York Times surveyed Christmas sermons and found that they held to one main theme: “the suggestion that Christmas could not survive if Christ were thrust into the background by materialism.” One sermon called the days leading up to Christmas, commonly called “Advent” by Christians, nothing but a “profit-seeking period.”
Fast forward to 2005. The American Family Association spearheaded a boycott of Target because the retailer wished shoppers a “Happy Holiday” instead of a “Merry Christmas.” The AFA wanted to make sure all our self-indulgence and materialism was being carried out in Jesus’ name.
Bizarre.
Skye Jethani, in his book The Divine Commodity, points out the nuttiness and inconsistency of those people better than I can:
In less than a century, Christians have gone from opposing over-consumption at Christmas to demanding it be done in Christ’s name alone. The explanation may be in the numbers. Two thirds of the U.S. economy is based on consumer spending, and 50-75 percent of most retailers’ annual profits are generated during December. This makes the weeks before Christmas the high holy days of consumerism. If Christians engaged in the Advent season as they did in generations past, by modeling moderation and self-denial or by ignoring the holiday altogether, it would likely destroy the economy. To ensure economic survival, consumers are stirred into a buying frenzy every winter with the goal of making this year’s shopping season more prosperous than the last. Santa Claus has been the mascot of this manipulation since the early twentieth century, but if more Christians have their way the season of shopping will someday be inaugurated by the appearance of Jesus Christ at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Feel free to copy and paste this post as a reply to the angry e-mails you’re sure to receive this month. My gift to you. Merry Christmas.
I couldn’t agree more! You?
Spiritual formation or transformation – what are we doing?
Mark Waltz | …because People Matter: Spiritual Formation Isn’t a Department Ministry
Spiritual Formation Isn’t a Department Ministry
Life Formation
Last week Tim Stevens used a similar diagram to illustrate the importance of keeping the weekend service’s purpose clean and clear. In Steven’s words “We are at our best when we focus our weekend services squarely on those who are at the beginning of their spiritual journey…” (read his post here). Some would argue that discipleship happens in some component outside of the weekend. Perhaps in groups. Or maybe a class.
Really? Since when does discipleship happen in a department of ministry?
Dallas Willard points out in his book, Renovation of the Heart, that spiritual formation begins at birth. As in – human birth. Like as a baby. Through our parents, friends, coaches, pastors, culture, life events – good and bad we are daily being formed. Formation is happening. Hence, because all of life is spiritual, spiritual formation happens whether or not we ever make it to church. Our views of God, life, others and ourselves are being formed everyday in every way. That’s spiritual formation.
However, spiritual transformation – or rather – life transformation (it’s all spiritual) occurs through the power and work of the Holy Spirit. And He utilizes what He chooses to transform us. He uses relationships, the Scriptures, biblical teaching, spiritual practices, serving, giving, and life experiences to transform us.
Spiritual transformation has never been a department. Unless you consider the Holy Spirit to be a department.
Our role in the local church is to leverage every venue, every tool, with clear communication to help our people live integrated lives that are step by step surrendered to the work and cause of Christ through His Spirit. Our role is to be responsible to our people by being responsible for environments that help them take their next step in relationship. (For more on this thought, check this out)
What is your church-wide plan for making disciples?
A Review of Primal by Mark Batterson
I’m not real sure how I qualified for this, but Multnomah was looking for bloggers who would agree to read Mark’s latest book prior to it’s release and post a review on their blog. Let me also confirm that they sent me a free copy of his book if I agreed to do this and if my blog qualified. Somehow it qualified, so here goes the review.
Mark believes that it is time for another Reformation, and this book is a call to that Reformation. He believes that this new Reformation will be led by a generation instead of a Martin Luther. He believes that this Reformation will call us back to our roots as The Church, roots firmly planted in the Love of God. These roots will go deep into the catacombs of Rome where out of fear of death people gathered in order to worship together as the Body of Christ.
Mark believes that these roots will draw deeply from the command of Jesus to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and he explores what it means to do that through exploring with simple yet intricate details how our bodies work, how our planet works, and how our universe works. If you are not drawn to worship through the facts that Mark exposes about us, then I wonder if you’ve forgotten how to be in wonder. Hopefully, this book might call you back to childlike wonder, compassion, and curiosity.
If you think that you might be called to such a thing, then pick up a copy of this book.
Some favorite quotes:
“And when people think analytically, it can hinder their ability to act compassionately.”
“Sometimes our minds interfere with our hearts.”
“The bottom line is this: your focus determines your reality.”