Iconoclast

Recently I completed reading Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist reveals how to think differently. While this book was rather redundant and perhaps would have been better as a pamphlet or a series of slides than a book, there is a rather simple message I gleaned from this book.

1. Those who do things that others say is impossible are iconoclasts.
2. Iconoclasts have brains that operate differently.
1. Their brains see things differently 
2. They mitigate fear that comes with change
3. They pitch ideas to others in convincing ways
3. We all think like iconoclasts even if we are not born with the brain of an iconoclast.
1. As our brains are plastic they are able to change and adapt to new norms.
2. If we expose ourselves to the novel then our brains will begin to adapt and see the novel as the new norm
3. If novel is the new norm then we no longer fear the novel/change and we can move forward.

This is a major thesis I gleaned from this book which gives me great hope.  You and I can become iconoclasts in the world if we are willing to expose ourselves to novelty often. If we are open to novelty then our brains will no longer be allowed to be lazy and must work at understanding the world around us. If our brains are working to understand the world around us then our brains will begin to make connections that others have overlooked. 

Of course I think Jesus was an iconoclast in this sense - he was able to see that which others could not or refused to see. 

How did Jesus expose himself to the novel? He befriended those who others deeded as "sinners".  He threw ideas and concepts alongside one another such as love and enemy. He engaged in the Roman world, the Jewish world, the Hellenistic world, the Zealot world, the Herodian world, the spiritual world, the poverty world, and the like.  He traveled all around his country and saw new things, new foods and new ideas. 

Perhaps you and I can become more Chirst-like if we begin to embody the simple act of encountering the novel in our lives. 

So drive to work a different way. Read a different book then you normally would. Buy different shampoo. Eat new foods. Attend to the Arts. Travel. Pray. Befriend new people. Change your patters and routines. Work outside. Listen more than talk. 

Who knows what iconoclastic actions God might be calling you into. 

Expectations

Reverend Nancy Allen delivered a sermon the other day about expectations.  The text that was used to root the sermon was Luke 3:15 vv.

After the sermon and while the communion liturgy was going on I could only think about my own expectations.

I am frustrated with my fellow clergy for generally one thing.  I perceive a lack of urgency in their ministries which leads to complacency with the status quo.  The status quo is not necessarily bad, but complacency is a dangerous position to be in as a leader of a local church.

Rev. Allen shared that our expectations of ourself are often very high, which on one level I agree with.  I have high expectations of myself when it comes to things in which people are dependent upon me in some way - parenting, sermon delivery, leading a Bible study, playing on a sporting team.  I expect that I will rise to a level of excellence that is impossible to reach and then critique myself afterwards when I did not meet that level.

However, I wonder if one of the reasons I am frustrated with my fellow clergy is not because there is no sense of urgency in their ministry but that expectations are too low.

We do not expect people to be generous unless we have a massive stewardship campaign.

We do not expect worship to change people's hearts.

We do not expect prayer to be any more or less effective than counting to ten when we are angry.

 We do not expect God is working toward a peaceful world.

We do not expect God to work.

We do not expect that violence will ever end.

We do not expect lions to lay down with lambs.

I wonder if the reason we do not have vibrant churches is because we do not have any expectations.  Who wants to be a part of a community with little to no expectations for hope, change, life and transformation?

So I extend the invitation to all Christians to raise our expectations.  We have lived with low expectations for far too long

Part of a progressive evangelical's Story

A few Sunday’s ago one of the reading was 1 Timothy 1:12-17.  For those of you who have not memorized the Bible, here is the text:

¹²I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, ¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The National Study of Youth and Religion discovered that Christianity is not the most dominate religion in America.  Rather, the most dominate “religion” in America is “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” guised as Christianity.  Specifically I hear people talk about Christianity not as a source of transformation in the world but as a supplemental ‘support’ for the argument or worldview already held.  

“The Bible that homosexuality is a sin.”

“Jesus said I am the Way and so that means Jesus is the ONLY way.”

“Jesus is talking about a metaphorical cross.  He is not asking us to literally die.”

“God said the Second coming will happen when Israel is restored.”

I rarely hear my fellow Christians say things like:

“Christ entered my heart and I can no longer see my neighbor as an enemy.”

“God transformed my life and I am now and advocate for peace at all times.”

“The Holy Spirit has convicted me to give up a worldview that I held dear.”

“God has radically changed the way I see the world and people around me.”

And yet, this Scripture explains the latter list is more like what Paul said.  He was a man of violence (he killed Christians).  He was a blasphemer (he thought that he spoke for God).  He was a persecutor (he sought out to eradicate groups he though of as ‘other’ or dangerous).  He was a gun toting, scripture quoting, condemning, violent man who thought that his ways were not only Good but justifiable in the sight of God and could support his views with Scripture.  

Then Saul/Paul encountered the Risen Christ and all of that changed. 

He stopped killing.  He intimidated Christ.  He advocated for brotherly love for all people.  His worldview changed and he could no longer think the way he once thought.  Christ changed him. 

I too was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.  After 9/11 my friends and I wanted to join the armed forces and “kill those bastards.”  Then I encountered the risen Christ and everything changed.  I can no longer ever remember what it was like to think the ways I did in 2001.  I cannot even image killing anyone.  Christ changed me 180 degrees. 

I do not think that I am the best Christian by any stretch.  I can only share my journey and I have changed because of Christ.  

The National Study of Youth and Religion expresses that American Christianity is most dominantly a religion which supports people’s current worldviews or arguments.  That Christianity has been domesticated and any transformational aspects of the religion have been removed. 

I pray this trend will reverse because Christ changed my life.   

Quotes from two meetings

I had the wonderful opportunity to be in two meetings with two amazing people; Rev. Eric McKinney on Wednesday and Rev. Mike McKee on Thursday.  They each had wonderful things to say in these respective meetings, but here is one line from each of them for you to ponder...

McKinney speaking about the clergy and leadership in the Central Texas Conference of the UMC:
"The Church is more open to change than we have the courage to lead."
I am beginning to truly believe this is the case.  More and more people in the church are open to change and the "New things of God" more than we, the clergy, are willing to allow.  Perhaps the greatest obstacle for the UMC clergy to help lead the UMC is the clergy of the UMC?


McKee speaking about what Christianity measures:
"We measure throughputs instead of measuring outcomes."
I believe his point is that the UMC spends a lot of time measuring throughputs - the amount of people that come though for worship, the amount of money that comes through the church office, etc.  However important these throughputs are, outcomes are even more important.  Outcomes being transformed lives.  We need to place greater emphasis on outcomes and remove the "importance" of throughputs.

If either of these ministers read this post then I would be honored in you clarified these comments if I have misunderstood them, but know, nonetheless, these were some of the powerful statements you made the other day that I connected with.