We have begun our Lenten Journey. We are marked by the Cross of Jesus. We are presented with the Lessons of Lent: Temptation or Obedience.
The Temptation Story in the Gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 presents us with two opposing choices: God in Christ (OBEDIENCE), or Evil (Satan, Leviathan) (TEMPTATION). Our response indicates how we will respond to today's challenges.
Obedience to the TEMPTATIONS of Evil-Satan-Leviathan are, according to Matthew: 1) Eating well, filling our bellies, enjoying a satisfying meal, becoming obese physically and personally; 2) Celebrity, doing magic to the applause of spectators, glorying in fame; 3) Power and wealth, political influence, villas by the sea, mansions beside the lake, private jets, and all the perks of position.
On the otherhand, OBEDIENCE to God and the Way of Christ are: 1) Food for the stomach, mind, and heart: FOOD OF THE WORD; 2) Refusal to focus life on fame and self-glory; 3) Choosing to worship God, to place God in Christ at the Center of life, trusting that God will guide and provide according to God's gracious will.
What follows this story is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The Way of OBEDIENCE is the Way of the Sermon on the Mount.
OBEDIENCE to the Word, to God, to Christ, to the Cross calls us to compassion, empathy, justice, mercy, peacemaking, nonviolence, suffering for others, love of enemies, honoring marriage and relationship, inclusion, celebration of diversity, seeking reconciliation, forgiveness, generosity, prayer, humility, creation care, concern for the common good, and discipleship.
Yielding to TEMPTATION brings greed, profit at the expense of people, war, violence, abuse of power, self expression for the sake of self, waste of resources, environmental scourging, arrogance, abuse of bodies, racial and gender prejudice, economic inequality, neglect of the least of these, pre-occupation with pleasure to the exclusion of concern for the common good, and purposeful infliction of pain for the sake of self protection and love of power.
Specifically, the TEMPTATION side is exemplified by the rush to institute VOTER ID laws in order to exclude the votes of the most powerless and vulnerable. RIGHT TO WORK laws will further depress the earning power and safety net of the middle class. Prevention of GAY MARRIAGE will deny the civil rights of gender choice. The TABOR amendment (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) will strangle budget and tax reform and funnel more money to the upper 1% to the detriment of support for education, infrastructure, and health care. Intrusion into WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES such as contraception and abortion rights, through invasive procedures is a violation of privacy and the dignity of choice. Further TAX-CUTTING for the upper 1% and failure to hold businesses financially accountable for OFF-SHORING their wealth, will lead to more education cuts, infrastructure neglect, more unemployment, continued erosion of the middle class, and continued rise in poverty. Chipping away at OBAMACARE will prevent more people from receiving necessary health care. Eliminating REGULATIONS and preventing the VOLCKER RULE from going into effect will further unplug the dam of careless speculation which led us into this economic hole.
TEMPTATION is about ABUSE OF POWER for the sake of the POWERFUL. Temptation scraps the Sermon on the Mount.
Yes, we all yield to temptation. Yes, we all have mixed records of obedience. Yet, God's grace calls us to yield to John the Baptist's call for repentance, and repentance opens us to obedience. Again and again and again. We can start over.
Lessons of Lent.
Peace!
Ron Letnes
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Bonhoeffer's Church of the Word
The focus of my last blog was Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. I described the church using three adjectives: performance, production, and personality. It was Christianity lite, a half-a-loaf blend of money, success, and material American culture, mixed with the spoken and musical Word. No doubt spiritual needs were addressed and Christ was presented and celebrated. But the depth of Christ and the Cross were shallow. Here is where I find Dietrich Bonhoeffer helpful.
In his sermon on 28 May, 1933, delivered at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Bonhoeffer focused on Exodus 32: 1-7, 9f, 15, 30-34. He contrasted the Church of Aaron with the Church of Moses.
He describes the Church of Aaron, the PRIESTLY church thusly: 1) It is IMPATIENT. We want visible results now because we are anxious, because we are fearful that God has forgotten us. We refuse to live by God's time because our lives are in peril and we need reassurance NOW; 2) It is about ME. Give me satisfaction. Prove to me that God is alive. Satisfy me. Bless me. Give me peace. 3) It demands SPLENDOR. We want pizzaz! We want lights and gold and sparkle and fashion and flowing robes and make-up and smoothness and comfort and ease and glory and positive feelings and cameras and.... Bonhoeffer writes: "Bring precious adornment, gold, jewellery, bring it as an offering. And they will come, without exception.... The human race is ready for any sacrifice in which it may celebrate itself and worship its own work.... The church of Aaron is lavish with its god.... Who would want to stand aside from this pious joy, this unparalleled exuberance, this achievement of human will and ability? The worldly church now has its god, come, celebrate him, enjoy yourselves, play, eat, drink, dance make merry, take yourselves out of yourselves! You have a god again.... The worldly church celebrates its triumph, the priest has shown his power.... then the orgy begins." This is the church of the world.
The church of Moses, on the other hand, is a distinct contrast according to Bonhoeffer. It is the PROPHETIC church: 1) The church TREMBLES for the people because it is disturbed at their godlessness; 2) The church of Moses is a PROPHETIC CRITIQUE, sounding a discord amidst the glory and partying. The church of Moses has notes of darkness, fear and threat at this idolatry of self glorification: "The living God has come among them, he rages against them." 3) Relief comes through the SUFFERING CHRIST who makes intercession for us, forgives us, in his Cross.
Bonhoeffer writes that the church is always the church of Aaron and the church of Moses "at the same time". There is a consistent tension between the "oughtness" of the church and its "isness", between its brokenness and its holiness, between its worldliness and its sanctification, between its PRIESTLY and PROPHETIC character, between its sinfulness and saintliness, between being guided by the Holy Spirit and by its own agenda, between success and obedience.
The Colorado Confession always poses the question: What does it mean to be the Church of Jesus Christ today? May I suggest lessons from Lakewood and Bonhoeffer. The Church of Jesus Christ: 1) Waits on God and refuses to yield to satisfying its own desires. Our immediate satisfaction takes second place to patient waiting; 2) Trusts that we are safely in the hands of Jesus at all times; 3) Places the Word in the center instead of pleasure; 4) Affirms faith before sight; 5) Replaces glitz with the Cross; 6) Focuses on the Lordship of Jesus rather than the personality of the priest; 7) Defines success as suffering for others; 8) Allows itself to be consistently critiqued by the prophetic Word, embracing discord; 9) Replaces blessing with freedom. Blessing is for me and freedom is for ALL; 10) Thee instead of me; 11) The Lord's Supper and Holy Baptism trump production, personality, and performance; 12) Commits itself to peace and justice for others through the Cross of Christ rather than worshipping at the altar of blessings for me; 13) Obedience before dancing; 14) Engages the world in the light of the cross rather the cross through the darkness of the world; 15) Affirms grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone, rather than glitz, success, and personality.
We of the Colorado Confession are presented with questions: What is the character of our congregations? What church do we create by our words and deeds? How do our congregations reflect Christ? How relevant are Bonhoeffer's distinctions for the church today?
The church, the congregation, is the Body of Christ in the world. This truth makes me shudder, but also gives me hope.
Peace!
Ron
In his sermon on 28 May, 1933, delivered at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Bonhoeffer focused on Exodus 32: 1-7, 9f, 15, 30-34. He contrasted the Church of Aaron with the Church of Moses.
He describes the Church of Aaron, the PRIESTLY church thusly: 1) It is IMPATIENT. We want visible results now because we are anxious, because we are fearful that God has forgotten us. We refuse to live by God's time because our lives are in peril and we need reassurance NOW; 2) It is about ME. Give me satisfaction. Prove to me that God is alive. Satisfy me. Bless me. Give me peace. 3) It demands SPLENDOR. We want pizzaz! We want lights and gold and sparkle and fashion and flowing robes and make-up and smoothness and comfort and ease and glory and positive feelings and cameras and.... Bonhoeffer writes: "Bring precious adornment, gold, jewellery, bring it as an offering. And they will come, without exception.... The human race is ready for any sacrifice in which it may celebrate itself and worship its own work.... The church of Aaron is lavish with its god.... Who would want to stand aside from this pious joy, this unparalleled exuberance, this achievement of human will and ability? The worldly church now has its god, come, celebrate him, enjoy yourselves, play, eat, drink, dance make merry, take yourselves out of yourselves! You have a god again.... The worldly church celebrates its triumph, the priest has shown his power.... then the orgy begins." This is the church of the world.
The church of Moses, on the other hand, is a distinct contrast according to Bonhoeffer. It is the PROPHETIC church: 1) The church TREMBLES for the people because it is disturbed at their godlessness; 2) The church of Moses is a PROPHETIC CRITIQUE, sounding a discord amidst the glory and partying. The church of Moses has notes of darkness, fear and threat at this idolatry of self glorification: "The living God has come among them, he rages against them." 3) Relief comes through the SUFFERING CHRIST who makes intercession for us, forgives us, in his Cross.
Bonhoeffer writes that the church is always the church of Aaron and the church of Moses "at the same time". There is a consistent tension between the "oughtness" of the church and its "isness", between its brokenness and its holiness, between its worldliness and its sanctification, between its PRIESTLY and PROPHETIC character, between its sinfulness and saintliness, between being guided by the Holy Spirit and by its own agenda, between success and obedience.
The Colorado Confession always poses the question: What does it mean to be the Church of Jesus Christ today? May I suggest lessons from Lakewood and Bonhoeffer. The Church of Jesus Christ: 1) Waits on God and refuses to yield to satisfying its own desires. Our immediate satisfaction takes second place to patient waiting; 2) Trusts that we are safely in the hands of Jesus at all times; 3) Places the Word in the center instead of pleasure; 4) Affirms faith before sight; 5) Replaces glitz with the Cross; 6) Focuses on the Lordship of Jesus rather than the personality of the priest; 7) Defines success as suffering for others; 8) Allows itself to be consistently critiqued by the prophetic Word, embracing discord; 9) Replaces blessing with freedom. Blessing is for me and freedom is for ALL; 10) Thee instead of me; 11) The Lord's Supper and Holy Baptism trump production, personality, and performance; 12) Commits itself to peace and justice for others through the Cross of Christ rather than worshipping at the altar of blessings for me; 13) Obedience before dancing; 14) Engages the world in the light of the cross rather the cross through the darkness of the world; 15) Affirms grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone, rather than glitz, success, and personality.
We of the Colorado Confession are presented with questions: What is the character of our congregations? What church do we create by our words and deeds? How do our congregations reflect Christ? How relevant are Bonhoeffer's distinctions for the church today?
The church, the congregation, is the Body of Christ in the world. This truth makes me shudder, but also gives me hope.
Peace!
Ron
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Lakewood Church: Performance - Production - Personality
On our recent trip south, I visited Lakewood Church in Houston. Joel Osteen is the minister and his wife Victoria also plays a prominent role. I had watched the services on television and was intrigued by the response and popularity of this ministry. Hence, being in Houston was an opportunity to seize the moment and experience this worship-ministry phenomenon. Also, I have always been interested in the question of what it means to be the Church? Lakewood is a "Church".
From the freeway, Lakewood Church looks like a modern business facility. Flat roof, rectangular shape, brownish facade with windows near the top. On one corner are the words LAKEWOOD CHURCH. 90 degrees away is the name: JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES with a logo that looks like a flame inside a circle.
Parking was an experience. Policemen and parking directors were everywhere. The church rents parking ramps from local businesses as well as having their own. After parking, people stream towards the church from blocks away, like blood through veins and arteries.
While walking towards the church, I was engaged by a young, single African-American woman who asked me if this was my first time at church? I said yes, that I had watched the service on television and my wife and I were traveling and happened to be in Houston, so I seized the opportunity to experience Lakewood. I asked her how long she had been attending and she said since 2006. I asked her why she kept coming back? She said she felt welcome, there was a feeling of family, and no expectations. You could find your own way. I asked her if the pastors talked about social issues, justice issues in worship. She said "No, they let you make your own decisions about that."
Entering the worship center was like entering an athletic fieldhouse which could easily be re-fitted for basketball, hockey, or football. Comfortable green theatre seating, but no cup holders made for a relaxing time. I asked the young woman if I could join her for worship. She smiled. By 8:30, the crowd filled about half of the center which holds about 18,000. The attendees were diverse, about 35% African-American, 45% White, and 20% Hispanic. Their service days are Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and one service in Spanish. After worship you can meet with Joel and Victoria for a meet and greet.
There was no cross. Anywhere! Only a flame and circle logo on the lecturn. Only a huge golden globe adorned the front. No altar. No mention of Holy Communion. Water baptism takes place every Saturday evening. Children must be at least five years old to participate.
Bible study is segmented according to age, situation, and gender, every Saturday and Sunday evenings. The theme is: "Get direction for your life".
Music and singing filled 70% of the 1:35 minute service. No organ. There was a worship choir numbering over 100 and a worship band consisting of piano, trumpets, trombone, drums and a few other instruments. Song leaders were multi-racial. All musicians were VERY TALENTED! Songs were primarily up-beat with some gentle songs mixed in to fit the flow of the service. Call it a revival! Come to Jesus! Praise and glory! People standing, raising their arms in praise, clapping, stomping their feet! There were no worship bulletins, only two huge screens filled with announcements, visuals, and words to songs.
Joel and Victoria each spoke. I would characterize Victoria's talk as "fluff and glory", and Joel's more thoughtful. Both used Biblical references. The focus was on personal empowerment, God will change your life, make you a new person, and fill your life with blessings. There was no talk about social concerns, racism, economic justice, environmental issues, other than references to being unemployed or divorced.
A portion of the service was called "Prayer Partners", when people could come forward and have a member of the congregation pray with you. Joel and Victoria were prayer partners. Many came forward to share their prayer concerns. The partners placed their hands on the people or hugged them during the prayers. Visitors were asked to raise their hands. Immediately, ushers came over to give you information on a post worship gathering and to give you business-like cards with the words "Be Our Guest" and a color picture of Joel and Victoria, which you were asked to hand out to other people you meet during the week. Joel said, if you are here seeking to change your life, give Lakewood a year of your life and you will be a new person and will be blessed.
I picked up a four-color bulletin filled with happenings: "Married Life Date Night", CPR Certification and Training, Kids Life Team Celebration, Big Game Party, Generation Hope Project-Washington D.C. (Meet special needs, clean-up parks, feed the homeless, promote literacy), Men's Outreach Encounter (Take a 24 hour time away to deepen your walk with Chrirst), An Evening with Lisa Comes when she will talk about her new book, YOU WERE MADE FOR MORE, Celebrate Recovery Inventory, Friendship "Red Hat" Fellowship, Women's Encounter Retreat, From Stressed to Blessed (Dealing with finances), Honduras Mission Trip, and Prayer Life.
My thoughts? I felt welcome. I was impressed by the inclusive diversity. The upbeat style and contemporary music leadership, along with vocal leadership was warmingly inspirational. It was performance worship at the highest level! The timing of the various elements, Joel and Victoria's entrances, musical and prayerful sections were impeccably timed. No times of silence. Keep it moving. The lighting effects were professionally arranged and timed. Joel and Victoria were well dressed for success and smooth in their delivery. Show time!
Was Jesus present? Apparently yes. Was there reference to the Bible? Yes. Were the songs gospel? Yes. Was there a feeling of family and community? Yes.
But it was all about ME. Lakewood is a "church" based upon "presentation, personality, and performance", focused on ME. I ask: Where is the cross? What kind of Christ is presented? Kiwanis and country club schmooze. This is consumer church. Performance but not prophetic. "Jack me up!" It was "half a loaf" Christianity, with focus on personal, feel good transformation and receiving personal blessings with zero call to discipleship, of entering the suffering of the world. There was not a hint of addressing anything structural or justice oriented. It was all "Jesus will bless you" with no call to lay down your life. No demands, just a comfortable seat, up beat revivalism, and banal enthusiasm. Jesus was dressed for success, complete with golf shirt, a deep tan, and martini in hand.
There are no risks being taken to address or stand against culture, economic greed, a bloated militarism, structural poverty, threats against our democracy, unjust division of wealth, or racism. Just come and receive a blessing so you can get your share of the American pie, or, figure out yourself what you can do to address societal issues. This is church without cross, without demand, without discipleship, without edge, without confession. Success, feel goodism, performance, personality, production, fluff, are its gods.
NEXT WEEK: Bonhoeffer and the meaning of church.
Peace!
Ron
From the freeway, Lakewood Church looks like a modern business facility. Flat roof, rectangular shape, brownish facade with windows near the top. On one corner are the words LAKEWOOD CHURCH. 90 degrees away is the name: JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES with a logo that looks like a flame inside a circle.
Parking was an experience. Policemen and parking directors were everywhere. The church rents parking ramps from local businesses as well as having their own. After parking, people stream towards the church from blocks away, like blood through veins and arteries.
While walking towards the church, I was engaged by a young, single African-American woman who asked me if this was my first time at church? I said yes, that I had watched the service on television and my wife and I were traveling and happened to be in Houston, so I seized the opportunity to experience Lakewood. I asked her how long she had been attending and she said since 2006. I asked her why she kept coming back? She said she felt welcome, there was a feeling of family, and no expectations. You could find your own way. I asked her if the pastors talked about social issues, justice issues in worship. She said "No, they let you make your own decisions about that."
Entering the worship center was like entering an athletic fieldhouse which could easily be re-fitted for basketball, hockey, or football. Comfortable green theatre seating, but no cup holders made for a relaxing time. I asked the young woman if I could join her for worship. She smiled. By 8:30, the crowd filled about half of the center which holds about 18,000. The attendees were diverse, about 35% African-American, 45% White, and 20% Hispanic. Their service days are Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and one service in Spanish. After worship you can meet with Joel and Victoria for a meet and greet.
There was no cross. Anywhere! Only a flame and circle logo on the lecturn. Only a huge golden globe adorned the front. No altar. No mention of Holy Communion. Water baptism takes place every Saturday evening. Children must be at least five years old to participate.
Bible study is segmented according to age, situation, and gender, every Saturday and Sunday evenings. The theme is: "Get direction for your life".
Music and singing filled 70% of the 1:35 minute service. No organ. There was a worship choir numbering over 100 and a worship band consisting of piano, trumpets, trombone, drums and a few other instruments. Song leaders were multi-racial. All musicians were VERY TALENTED! Songs were primarily up-beat with some gentle songs mixed in to fit the flow of the service. Call it a revival! Come to Jesus! Praise and glory! People standing, raising their arms in praise, clapping, stomping their feet! There were no worship bulletins, only two huge screens filled with announcements, visuals, and words to songs.
Joel and Victoria each spoke. I would characterize Victoria's talk as "fluff and glory", and Joel's more thoughtful. Both used Biblical references. The focus was on personal empowerment, God will change your life, make you a new person, and fill your life with blessings. There was no talk about social concerns, racism, economic justice, environmental issues, other than references to being unemployed or divorced.
A portion of the service was called "Prayer Partners", when people could come forward and have a member of the congregation pray with you. Joel and Victoria were prayer partners. Many came forward to share their prayer concerns. The partners placed their hands on the people or hugged them during the prayers. Visitors were asked to raise their hands. Immediately, ushers came over to give you information on a post worship gathering and to give you business-like cards with the words "Be Our Guest" and a color picture of Joel and Victoria, which you were asked to hand out to other people you meet during the week. Joel said, if you are here seeking to change your life, give Lakewood a year of your life and you will be a new person and will be blessed.
I picked up a four-color bulletin filled with happenings: "Married Life Date Night", CPR Certification and Training, Kids Life Team Celebration, Big Game Party, Generation Hope Project-Washington D.C. (Meet special needs, clean-up parks, feed the homeless, promote literacy), Men's Outreach Encounter (Take a 24 hour time away to deepen your walk with Chrirst), An Evening with Lisa Comes when she will talk about her new book, YOU WERE MADE FOR MORE, Celebrate Recovery Inventory, Friendship "Red Hat" Fellowship, Women's Encounter Retreat, From Stressed to Blessed (Dealing with finances), Honduras Mission Trip, and Prayer Life.
My thoughts? I felt welcome. I was impressed by the inclusive diversity. The upbeat style and contemporary music leadership, along with vocal leadership was warmingly inspirational. It was performance worship at the highest level! The timing of the various elements, Joel and Victoria's entrances, musical and prayerful sections were impeccably timed. No times of silence. Keep it moving. The lighting effects were professionally arranged and timed. Joel and Victoria were well dressed for success and smooth in their delivery. Show time!
Was Jesus present? Apparently yes. Was there reference to the Bible? Yes. Were the songs gospel? Yes. Was there a feeling of family and community? Yes.
But it was all about ME. Lakewood is a "church" based upon "presentation, personality, and performance", focused on ME. I ask: Where is the cross? What kind of Christ is presented? Kiwanis and country club schmooze. This is consumer church. Performance but not prophetic. "Jack me up!" It was "half a loaf" Christianity, with focus on personal, feel good transformation and receiving personal blessings with zero call to discipleship, of entering the suffering of the world. There was not a hint of addressing anything structural or justice oriented. It was all "Jesus will bless you" with no call to lay down your life. No demands, just a comfortable seat, up beat revivalism, and banal enthusiasm. Jesus was dressed for success, complete with golf shirt, a deep tan, and martini in hand.
There are no risks being taken to address or stand against culture, economic greed, a bloated militarism, structural poverty, threats against our democracy, unjust division of wealth, or racism. Just come and receive a blessing so you can get your share of the American pie, or, figure out yourself what you can do to address societal issues. This is church without cross, without demand, without discipleship, without edge, without confession. Success, feel goodism, performance, personality, production, fluff, are its gods.
NEXT WEEK: Bonhoeffer and the meaning of church.
Peace!
Ron
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