Thinking about connecting...

“God did not intend for us to walk alone. The Church seems like it is going in this crazy direction of huge multimedia presentations ... but I really think that people want other real people."

Faith No More is a really interesting article that I just read on Relevant Magazine.com. I found it particularly engaging because it talks about an issue that I've been thinking a lot about lately... that people want, and need, other people who are willing to be there for them, love them, and walk together through the messy stuff of life. As a person who is involved in working with university students, aiming to see them encounter Jesus Christ as their answer to their questions of life, and working to help them grow in their life as followers of Jesus to serve and influence others, it's this tension that I struggle with... what is a relevant atmosphere and environment? How do we introduce young people to the reality and authenticity of Jesus - the man who was fully human, who ate, drank, partied, cried, loved, served, healed, related to others, taught, was tempted, was beaten up, who was perfect, who died and who came back to life... and who at the same time IS GOD!

I think that sometimes presentations, multimedia, events, concerts, music, cool lighting and things are cool. But sometimes I think we focus too much on having events that are "cool" and forget about those conversations in the street, or sitting around the kitchen table, or drinking coffee, or running together, or just being... together. I think that what Jesus came to do, and what we need to take note of, is to show people what God is like, and to save them from a life of ignoring God and rejecting the true Life that is God. He didn't run huge concerts, but he spoke to lots of people. He didn't just talk his message, he LIVED it. That's why he said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Man, that's what's really cool. That Jesus IS God, and that he SHOWS us what God is like by BEING God right here with us, as a human being. That for me is good news. That God himself was prepared to come and BE human to show us that he's not just some far off diety, but he is a God that is personal and relational. And then, this Jesus, who is God, was prepared to die in our place for our crimes and brokeness and shame and dishonesty, our rejection of the perfection and life of God... our sin... so that we could be restored, forgiven, made new... but more than all that... so that we could be connected in a relationship with this God, through Jesus.

So I'm interested in your thoughts... what are your deep questions, that may be uncomfortable or unanswered? Do you connect with God through Jesus or think it's just a fairytale? What does it mean to be relevant? Hmmm...

An evangelical manifesto

I have been doing a lot of reading lately and a recently published document came across my path today (thanks to Alan Hirsch of www.theforgottenways.org... see his post here). It is called the Evangelical Manifesto and you can read it here.
The writers describe it as follows:

An Evangelical Manifesto is an open declaration of who Evangelicals are and what they stand for. It has been drafted and published by a representative group of Evangelical leaders who do not claim to speak for all Evangelicals, but who invite all other Evangelicals to stand with them and help clarify what Evangelical means in light of “confusions within and the consternation without” the movement. As the Manifesto states, the signers are not out to attack or exclude anyone, but to rally and to call for reform.
As an open declaration, An Evangelical Manifesto addresses not only Evangelicals and other Christians but other American citizens and people of all other faiths in America, including those who say they have no faith. It therefore stands as an example of how different faith communities may address each other in public life, without any compromise of their own faith but with a clear commitment to the common good of the societies in which we all live together.

When I read through the document and found it to be extremely interesting and insightful and would invite you to have a read and let me know your thoughts. I would add that it could be addressed to other "world" citizens as well as American citizens, however, some topics covered are particularly relevant in the US context. I feel that it's not an attempt to promote another type of religion other than Christianity, but to clarify some core beliefs, attitudes and actions. As with anything of this nature there are strengths and weaknesses, but a couple of things I was really impressed by are the defining features and also the confession of our failures and weaknesses.
The link for the source is at http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com and there is also a study guide available.