There are many reasons I’m enjoying the 2012 Olympic Games. It’s so cool to see events taking place in the heart of historic downtown London and in the beautiful English countryside; I’ve been a fan of track and field ever since I realized I could run faster than anyone else in my school (then my town, and then southeast England); the performances this year have been spectacular and beyond; and the spirit of the athletes – especially the Americans – has been nothing short of inspirational.
FUN: I first noticed how much FUN the Americans were having during the early stages of the gymnastics, when it seemed so many of the teams were under such intense pressure that they were unable to enjoy the occasion. But the “Fab Five” (as they’ve been dubbed) smiled and laughed their way between routines.
Then the swim team, led by the effervescent Missy Franklin, have been nothing short of giddy. Obviously, there have been exceptions, but the general “Let’s have the time of our lives!” spirit is ubiquitous (Check out the team’s You-Tube video if you don’t believe me).
My point is that we always have this choice in front of us, each and every day. We can live as if joy and enthusiasm are a defining element in our lives, or we can allow the darker forces of the universe to creep in and take over our experience and our souls.
CHURCH: Rebekah and I were talking about this yesterday, when she pulled out a cartoon she’d cut from an edition of The Christian Century and stuck in her purse. She sees the issue as specifically faith related, and I couldn’t agree more.
Sadly, many of America’s (and Europe’s) so-called “established” churches come with what I call a “built-in joy filter.” The Presbyterian Church is certainly no exception. By “built-in joy filter” I mean a tendency to act as if joy and enthusiasm are fundamentally incompatible with the Christian experience.
But that is so anti-Gospel!
Where is “the life-charged life” when church is deadly boring? when church leaders fail to offer any believable evidence of Christ’s ongoing invitation to “more and better life?” and when we (church members) fail to “Shine like stars in the sky as we hold out the word of life?” (Philippians 2)
Why should my neighbor… or your friend… or anyone else remotely consider becoming part of a faith-based community where joy and enthusiasm are systematically repressed because they are not “what we’re used to around here.”
DEATH BY STRANGULATION: Well here’s something to get used to: That kind of church is going to grow smaller by the year, and then eventually disappear, because no-one believes it is even remotely connected to the Bright Light who ignited the Universe, who created this world, who offered redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and who sent the Holy Spirit to animate Christ’s followers with such passion that this message of love, redemption and New Life will heal a broken world.
That is the quality of message we have been entrusted with. So, how about a little joy and enthusiasm to along with it?
Sure we’re crazy (see cartoon, above). Crazy about Jesus; crazy about the re-invention that’s possible once we catch hold of everything Christ’s love makes possible; crazy enough to show the joy and the enthusiasm that MUST animate the God-soaked life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4)
In love, and because of love – DEREK
Hi, Derek,
Loved the cartoon from Christian Century. It speaks volumes about your posting. The cartoon emphasizes positive things (joy, enthusiasm). But haven’t many churches become polarizing, divisive entities which possess neither joy nor enthusiasm? Churches seem to be known by what they’re against (birth control, abortion, same-sex unions/marriages, homosexuality, women’s rights, ordination standards (sexuality issues), civil rights issues, immigration, the “true” constitution, etc. Wouldn’t it be far better for such churches to frame things in terms of what they’e for?Another problem is that a lot of fundamentalist churches cater to a lot of functionally illiterate congregations which lack discernment and intellectual discourse. Churches have become in some crucial ways miniature armies. And didn’t Matthew Arnold in his masterpiece poem Dover Beach warn us of “ignorant armies which clash by night”? and haven’t many churches become just that? Peace, Blessings, and Thoughtfulness, Henry
Henry – another thoughtful response from you. Thanks.
You’re right, it’s certainly hard to promote the Good News of the Gospel when all you’re known for is what you’re against. That’s where the church can be so much akin to politics. Sad indeed.
If you haven’t checked recently, a couple of Rebekah’s pod-cast sermons from the “names for God” summer series are well worth taking the time to listen to.
Peace and promise – DEREK
PS – how’s your mom?
Hi, again, Derek.
I’m delighted that you brought up “the Good News of the Gospel”. The word “gospel” comes from Old English: god–good, spel–tale, account, tidings. The problem is that so many churches stopped preaching the Gospel years ago. Many now preach the baddespel (bad news), or, even worse, the yfelspel (evil news). That way it’s far more convenient to have a whipping boy as a target for what these joyless churches preach against. It’s really disturbing that so many millions of our citizens have bought into that kind of mentality. Pax! Henry.