The Social Gospel

 This Sunday our church showed a video from the national headquarters kicking off a 20 million dollar ad campaign aimed at  "18- to 34-year-olds who are seeking spiritual fulfillment".  Like all the other campaigns the United Methodist hierarchy dreams up, this one also is devoid of the central message of the Gospel as found in scriptures but instead presents the old "Social gospel" i.e. "another gospel" that most of serious Christiandom has seen for what it is;  Christless and human centered.  Not once will you hear the name of Jesus in these campaigns, but rather how the 'church' will fulfill their 'wantings' for spiritual things.  I have news for the hierarchy, the world doesn't give a (fill in here) about the church, other than blaming it for all the ills of mankind.  You can solve all their scourges and sufferings but if you don't tell them about sin, repentance and Jesus using real, understandable words from the scriptures, they will think Allah or Buddha or whatever deity or 'force' helped them out using you as the facilitator. If the United Methodist Church is going to survive, we need to get back to promoting Jesus as savior not the UMC.

I went to the trouble to make a transcript of the video ad since the home web site umc.org didn't provide one for us that need to examine the content more closely.  I would provide a link to the video but I'm not sure about the copyright issues with it yet.  Transcript follows;
 
"What if we rethink church.
What if church was less about Sunday, and more about the other days of the week.
What if church wasn't just a place we go, but something we do.
A menu of adventure.  An active verb instead of a noun.
What if church wasn't just a building, but thousands of doors, each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church.
So that whoever knocks might find a journey of their own.
What if church was the way church was in the beginning.
Outbound.  Unbound.  Active. 
Human beings from completely different worlds united by common purpose, experience and belief.
Creating real solutions for their daily lives.
What if church looked at itself with seeker's eyes, recognizing that even the smallest step through one of our doors is an act of courage.
A moment of vulnerability. 
That solving a secular need can lead to spiritual interaction.
That social relationships can offer opportunities for discussions of faith.
And provide inspiration for discovery.
And that for a skeptical world actions often do often speak louder than words.
What if church was more of a out of church experience, an opportunity to prove what we say we believe with our lives.
Then,  perhaps someday could be a day of rest and reflection on all that we have accomplished Monday.  through Saturday.
What if, we rethink church.  Not in terms of what it is, or what it could be.

And what if we can convince the world to do the same.
Together we can open hearts, open minds and open doors.
The people of the United Methodist Church."

Sounds impressive and has a good ring to it, but if you look more closely, you'll see the glaring omission and the substitution "spiritual" for Christ.  Notice "we can open hearts" not the Holy Spirit.  "So that whoever knocks might find a journey of their own."?  I remember Jesus knocking in the scriptures but I don't remember everyone having their "own journey".   I do remember only One Gate, One Path, One Faith, One Baptism, One God, One Church.  What good are the works if the doctrine is all screwed up?  You tell me.  This is fill-in-the-blank theology and it stinks to high heaven.  Maybe we all should "rethink" our position in this organization, stand up and say what needs to be said.

Sportsianity II

I have slowed my posting schedule in order to devote more time in finishing Clifford Putney's work Muscular Christianity.  True to my past experiences with the providential hand of God on my life and interests, this source has proved invaluable.  Hopefully, I will be able to contribute to the understanding of the battle that exists between Christians of different cultural backgrounds and find the common ground in the scriptures.

Sports, as I have discovered once promoted as a means to invigorate the underused bodies of Christian men in the last century, has now become a secular religion in it's own rite.  Bearing all the trappings of ancient pagan religions who's view and use of the human body in worship of multiple deities resulted in the Games that destroyed the same for pleasure.

I will show some gross misinterpretation of scripture that opened the door to countless tragic social injustices within the church, elevating outward appearance over the inward man that we are still to this day paying the price for.  Shocking as it may be to some, there will be no competition in the Kingdom of God.

Sportsianity and the Church

Now this is going to be controversial to some, but I would like to examine the role of sports in our evangelical churches today.  We can all admit that the competitive mindset has overtaken our Christian culture for as long as anyone of us alive can remember and we've all had some negative or positive experiences with it in our lives so it is important to discuss.
I picked the title to pique interest and hopefully promote some dialog.  The term "Sportsianity" has been used before but doesn't seem very popular yet whereas "muscular Christianity" (Wiki) has historical roots from the 19th and 20th century..  It's a derogatory word describing the melding of competitive sports and Christian beliefs, hence 'Christian Athletes'.  Secular authors have had their say on the subject and it's time for us to examine ourselves in this matter.  Some viewpoints here and here.  The Fellowship of Christian Athletes webfca.com has its own creed and I'll reproduce it here for discussion.

I am a Christian first and last.
I am created in the likeness of 
God Almighty to bring Him glory.
I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.
I wear the colors of the cross.

I am a Competitor now and forever.
I am made to strive, to strain,
to stretch and to succeed
in the arena of competition.
I am a Christian Competitor
and as such, I face my challenger
with the face of Christ.

I do not trust in myself.
I do not boast in my abilities
or believe in my own strength.
I rely solely on the power of God.
I compete for the pleasure of
my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ
and the reputation of the Holy Spirit.

My attitude on and off
the field is above reproach -
my conduct beyond criticism.
Whether I am preparing,
practicing or playing;
I submit to God's authority
and those He has put over me.
I respect my coaches, officials,
teammates and competitors
out of respect for the Lord.

My body is the temple of Jesus Christ.
I protect it from within and without.
Nothing enters my body that
does not honor the Living God.
My sweat is an offering to my Master.
My soreness is a sacrifice to my Savior.

I give my all - all of the time.
I do not give up. I do not give in.
I do not give out. I am the Lord’s warrior -
a competitor by conviction
and a disciple of determination.
I am confident beyond reason
because my confidence lies in Christ.
The results of my efforts
must result in His glory.

Source: fca.com

 This creed is emblematic of the general viewpoint that sports are inherently Christian in nature and to be promoted at every level in the church and Christian societies.  But this wasn't always true.  The early Roman church for example was the victim of their society's lust for sports and entertainment.  There was also a period between the 1920s and 50s where the Protestant Evangelicals sought to distance themselves from the sports mindset.

It is apparent that this is a vast subject and is not easily treated in a short essay.  There is already some discussion at the academic level and there seems to be a growing awareness that 'something has gone awry' with our wholesale acceptance of the competitive spirit in our sanctuaries.  Methodism historically was against allowing sports into church activities when it was introducing the 'holiness movement'.  Now, we as a church and secular society meet in our living rooms on Super Sunday in similar fashion rooting for our team.  The refreshments may be different, but the spirit is the same.

The theology of 'Hyper muscular Christianity' found in some of Mark Driscoll's teaching including a statement "Jesus is a pride fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand, and the willingness to make someone bleed.  That is a guy I can worship...I cannot worship a guy I can beat up." is a natural progression to the philosophy of physical dominance found in most of our churches today that effectively teaches "Only those with strong bodies are good Christians."  or  "Only the strong will inherit the Kingdom of God."  Of course, anyone with a minimum of Biblical understanding knows the scripture teaches much the opposite.
Being 'strong in the Lord' may look like being a total loser to the world, and often does.

Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920

Moral Fortitude

Ever find your self waffling on a decision you made?  Don't feel alone, you're in good company.  We are often tempted to hold out for more information before making difficult decisions in life but that is a luxury we don't always have.  There are times when the long awaited decision has to come to culmination.  Providence often works this way, slowly painting us into that proverbial corner until we have "no choice" but to jump for the door.  To the observer, it may look like you may be overreacting or are even being foolish.  But only you are walking in your shoes, so you have to go by your own conscience or "heart" as some translations in the Bible put it.  But can we trust our conscience as a guide?
A popular Christian author and speaker was teaching on this subject this week and it was very well timed for me I must admit.  His text was from 1 John 3:19-22.  It has always been a difficult passage for me to fully understand.  'Our hearts can be assured knowing if our heart accuses us we can know God is greater than our heart.' (My paraphrase)  It always sounded like circular logic and commentaries rarely helped all that much.  So, here is the way I parsed this scripture after hearing his messages and some more thought on my own:

1.) 3:19 "..we shall know that we are of the truth.."  IF;
2.) 3:20 we believe that God is the creator of our conscience and knows all things in it and whether our guilt is based on truth or error.  If we in faith believe God will ultimately guide our heart through His truth... THEN;
3:) 3:21 having examined our conscience under the light of His Truth and finding no more reason for guilt then we'll have confidence again... WHEN;
4.) 3:22 we see our prayers answered and our faith is expressed by obedience to those things that we know pleases God, namely loving our brother.

Sounds more like a process then merely a statement doesn't it?  So the acid test is love.  That's where gross misinformation can happen though.  A lot of people think love is always warm and cozy, furry and soft, comfortable, non-invasive, uncontroversial, tolerant, convenient.  But Biblical love is at its most recognizable being sacrificial.  I was struck by the total absence of outside counsel to be sought as in Proverbs 11:14,15:22 and 24:6 in this passage.  In the end, the decision is ours. 

The Disclaimer

Ever wonder how a popular evangelist or other public figure can so passionately convince you of a particular point of view and then at the end of the show have a disclaimer that casts doubt on all of the preceding message?  I find it hilarious at times the lengths organizations will go through to limit their legal liabilities.  The message and messenger come off so strong and resilient but in the end, the disclaimer will put them both in their place.  "The preceding message is only the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of (fill in here)."  In other words, the organization sponsoring the event will hold you or anyone else at arms length like a dirty cleaning cloth when it comes to your reputation in their eyes. Here's one from a financial column recommended by non other than Bill Gates on his Twitter feed;
"Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed."  Well then, if it's not guaranteed, it could be spoiled!  I had better not feed it to even my pets let alone my loved ones!
I suppose there is some good to be found in all this ironic behavior in the corporate world.

Humility

Apart from God's Word, there are no guarantees.  God needs no disclaimers, ever.  Disclaimers, although only really used as a protective measure from lawsuits, point to man's fallibility.  Even the most highly respected, learned and reliable among us needs a disclaimer, we're only human.

A Personal Invitation

We see it everyday.  In line at the grocery store, in our email in-box or on our Facebook page.  It's all around us in this capitalistic society.  Advertisements.  You are invited to buy, join, try, attend, you name it, they have tried it, to get you to fork out your money or time for their product, services or causes.  We get commercial hellos at our Walmarts and McDonalds, plastic smiles from complete strangers wishing us a good day, thanking us, making us feel "special".   I often joke with my wife after receiving such a commercial well-wish; "they didn't really mean that".  It's tempting to take these shallow, common and inexpensive salutations to heart when one is lonely or recovering from some emotionally stressful event or vulnerable in some way.  But, in the end we realize, "they didn't really mean that".  Only coming from our loved ones do these social niceties take on any real meaning. 

The church, I believe, can become like a Walmart.  In order to increase our numbers, we fall prey to these secular marketing principles at times.  We could say, even with insincere motives, 'the Gospel is being preached so it doesn't really matter'.  But, we have to ask ourselves, did we come to belief and trust in Jesus through a public invitation tacked to a bulletin board?  Or did we reach out to a Person?  Did we receive a personal invitation?  Is the Gospel a personal invitation from God to join Him?  If it isn't, then it would be too easy to tell yourself- "He didn't really mean that for me".

Today, make sure you don't greet or wish someone well without sincerity.  Especially at church.  Be a real Christian from now on. 

Always learning but knowing nothing

These days we're surrounded by information due to our connectivity.  We have access to a world of information through the internet at our fingertips.  We can now carry around that power of connectivity with us wherever we go in our smart-phones and PDAs.  No longer do we need to make a trip to the local library if we wish to research an interest or assignment.  We can accomplish in a matter of minutes what used to take our parents days or even years to find.  Knowledge has become a commodity in our connected world.  People want to know, and want it now.  Knowledge is the fuel of a society bent on self identity and the power of humanistic philosophy.  Without it, they lose control.  And with the free flow of information comes misinformation.  Conspiracies abound on the internet that wouldn't survive the light of day anywhere else and root themselves firmly in the minds of the gullible before those of a nobler agenda have a chance to refute.  The world as a result is becoming more polarized.  Even within families and churches, politics is off limits because of the passions on each side.  Hatred rules the hearts of those that should know better.

Jesus saw this day 2000 years ago.  We're headed towards the time Jesus spoke of in Matthew 10:21
"And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. "  This polarizing effect of misinformation will eventually take it's toll on mankind culminating in these horrid pictures of treachery Jesus tells of. 

So how do we shunt the effects all this information we are exposed to on a daily basis has on us?  Is the answer simply unplugging our computers and HD televisions and checking out from modern society?  Disengaging from the political theater and just letting the whole mess collapse on itself?

None of the above.

Though tempting it might be, we need to be like a common mineral, salt.