We live in a culture absolutely obsessed with perception. Our lust for social media proves this, since much of social media is more about perception, and less about reality. Is your Facebook profile a complete picture of who you really are? Or is it how you want to be perceived?
Take my homemade Facebook diagnostic:
But there is a fine line between healthy self-disclosure and obsession with perception. Quite simply, obsession with perception is vanity. We all obsess over how we are perceived. “Do people like me?” “Respect me?” “Admire me?” Vanity obsessively desires attention and admiration from others through appearance, qualities, abilities, or achievements. I’m not suggesting you abstain from Facebook. Just consider, “Why am I posting this?” OK, I’m going to post some pictures of my kids to show everyone how cute they are and how awesome I am.
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I walked into my local coffee shop this morning. Cara was working. She my lesbian, roller-derby, barista friend. I was wearing my clerical collar, which I don't normally do. But Ash Wednesday made it appropriate attire for a few things on my schedule. I zipped my jacket up tight to conceal the collar. She doesn't know I'm a pastor. I'm afraid she'll freak when she finds out.
After a friendly exchange, she helped the gentleman behind me. She noted the ashes on his forehead. He proceeded to explain with pride that he did his Ash Wednesday duty by going to 6:30AM mass. "I got it out of the way early." This made me reflect on how Cara may have heard this: A useless religious ritual. An arduous duty. A cultural rite no different than fireworks on July 4th and roses on Valentines. I walked away praying to God that if anyone had a mindless inclination to go to church today, that he forbid them from entering the church door. "God, if anyone is going to church out of cultural obligation, spare them of the vain effort." I'm not sure how sanctified my prayer was, but I had to go somewhere with my frustration. If it doesn't matter, don't do it. Don't insult God and don't make Christians look so mindless. Ashes on Ash Wednesday find their origins back in Genesis 3:19. In light of the fall into sin: "for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Adam's basic ingredient was dirt. He would simply be an inanimate object, except that the living God blew life into him (Gen. 2:7). Unfortunately, Adam and Eve's violation in Genesis 3:6 had a damning consequence. From then on, when breath leaves a human, they go back to dust. Ash Wednesday reminds us of this universal consequence. Dust became life with a breath. But now our last breath means death and a return to dust. But that's not all. Resurrection means that the dust comes back to life again. Jesus is the breath of God to make lifeless dirt become truly human again - to put us back to God's original intention. Dust - Breath - Life - Death - Dust - Life again. Wear ashes mindful of your mortality. And hopeful that dust will breathe again. Maybe I should go back and see if Cara is still working. This time, I'll wear my ashes. My latest post on the Regeneration blog on celebrating the saints. "Show me what this looks like in real life."
Dear reader, please consider a transfer of membership to my congregation in St. Louis, MO if you are a current resident of one of the following countries: Iraq Sudan Afghanistan Saudi Arabia Nigeria Iran Pakistan Why relocate to St. Louis? Cardinals baseball (2011 World Champions). Four seasons. Budweiser. The Arch. Comparatively safe to your country. And our church needs members who have experienced outright persecution for their faith. In fact, I believe your presence in our church would be exponential in its impact. We need you to change us. Your American brothers and sisters are getting lazy on the couch of comfort and contentment. We in the American church frequently lament the fall of Christian influence in the United States. But such whining seems to be a shrill cry when you consider the worldwide body of Christ. In a rather surprising front page cover, Newsweek’s February 13th, 2012 feature article is titled “The Rise of Christophobia.” It chronicles the intense worldwide persecution of Christians, particularly in Muslim majority countries. Noting the case of Nigeria, author Ayann Hirsi Ali writes, “In the month of January 2012 alone, Boko Haram (a national religious organization) was responsible for 54 deaths. In 2011 its members killed at least 510 people and burned down or destroyed more than 350 churches.” We annually gather a reluctant batch of adolescent students in a rite called confirmation. In the Lutheran Service Book Agenda, a question is asked of all confirmands: “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?” They are to respond: “I do, by the grace of God.” We might get a different response if 14-year-old Billy was dropped in Pakistan where a “blasphemy law” can make a declaration of faith in the Triune God a criminal act. Each of us would give critical consideration to our confirmation vows if we lived under such a threat. I am humbled by the faith of minority Christians who stand as lone voices in their country and culture. I am always a bit uncomfortable with the monolithic nature of my denomination’s demographic. We are too safe and too comfortable. The issues we fight about are too parochial. "Worship wars" are inconsequential when you could lose your job or your life for speaking the Apostles Creed. So with seriousness, I am requesting the transfer of any Christian who comes from a context of persecution. We need you. We need to you to:
“The more often you mow us down the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.” - The ancient church father Tertullian I'm a proponent of strong male leadership in the church. I believe that our mission is desperate for manly, courageous, godly, muscular leadership. Lest you think this means chauvinistic locker-room leadership, let me tell you about our annual men's retreat this past weekend.
I've been leading this retreat for the last 5 years. Friday night always consists of rowdy forms of testosterone-induced competition. Sweaty guys playing bean bag toss and ping pong. Some guys extended the play until 4:00AM. There was also venison sausage and adult beverages (in moderation). But strong male leadership is not defined by games, chest-hair, or guy sweat. Something remarkable happened this year that took our annual retreat to another level. Our format included a panel of five men who were asked a variety of questions ranging from health to family to work. The panel was honest and forthright. This vulnerability immediately lowered the defenses of the larger group, opening up a whole new level of conversation. Suddenly we were having an hour-long conversation about pornography and sexual temptation. Men were making new connections, supporting one another, and praying. There was a sense of, "I'm not the only one. I'm not alone." And from such vulnerability comes strength. Jesus calls his disciples to a posture of servanthood, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant . . . even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:26-28). This is leadership on your knees. This type of leadership means you put yourself under others. And if you do that, you need some muscle to do the heavy lifting. Humility and vulnerability require strength. Men typically have a hard time being vulnerable in general, and in the church especially. We feel the need for pious facades. I am grateful that this weekend cracked the wall and allowed for a new level of strength among many of our men - a strength proven in its vulnerability. I have courage in the mission when I know these men are on it. |
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