Archived Posts For Emerging Questions
Why I Like Brian McLaren
Posted on May 21, 2008 by Geoff Matheson
Filed Under Discipleship, Emerging Questions | Leave a Comment
Sure, it makes me an apostate, and a bad person. But I can’t find myself disagreeing with much that he says at all, and I think here we have a vital message for the church to hear. That’s all
Entitlement - the roots of our consumerism
Posted on May 19, 2008 by Geoff Matheson
Filed Under Crazy Idealism, Discipleship, Emerging Questions | Leave a Comment
Over at my personal blog (TheGeoffRe(y)port), I’ve taken on a bit of a theme around the misplaced feeling of entitlement that is so engrained as an enabler for our consumeristic mindset in the west (”The Ongoing Redefinition of Wealth“, “India to US - Shut up Fatty” and “Lobbyist, Possibly The Funniest Profession In The World” - if you’re interested). And the more I write about these ideas, the more obvious it becomes to me that if we are genuinely serious about this kingdom of God thing and finding out what that means in our culture, then it’s time we addressed this issue very, very seriously.
We have to recognise that we have this deeply misplaced feeling of entitlement to our lifestyle; and at times we in the church are perpetuating the dangerous myth that this is OK. When we expect that we have a right to drive as much as we like, in whatever car we like - we’re giving our devotion to that stuff. My problem is not so much that people have these things (necessarily), but that we feel “entitled” to that. We feel as though we “deserve” that.
When Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, they weren’t to have anything.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
Matthew 10:5-10 (NIV)
A Christianity that follows the man who said this, needs to be able to imagine this methodology as a possibility. I’m not suggesting that Jesus is telling you to get rid of all your possessions: but I am suggesting that the horror such a prospect invokes in you is part of the problem here. Because deep down, through the gradual indoctrination of our culture, we believe that we deserve to have the things we own.
I firmly believe that we are called to take the call of Jesus seriously, and to act counter-culturally in this area. What if our pre-requisites for working missionally in an area was to go with nothing in the bank, and nowhere to live? Now I’m going extreme, but the fact that I don’t know a culturally equivalent example to the passage quoted above seems to me to say something about the way we’re operating.
Now, I realise that I’m doing the thing that infuriates my good friend Paulie: asking questions but not really offering a solution. But I think we need to be getting this stuff out there, because I firmly believe that these feelings of entitlement and getting what you deserve are harmful to the gospel in Christians.
And I am the chief of these sinners.
God Songs
Posted on March 25, 2008 by Geoff Matheson
Filed Under Culture, Emerging Questions | 3 Comments
Fantastic article from Waleed Aly in “The Age” this week. Thought this quote deserved a mention, perhaps as an allegory for the institutional church:
“But religion struggled to be cool, much less inspiring in the popular space. Religious music persisted, but in subcultures. The American Christian country music industry is enormous, but not mainstream. Evangelical churches in particular have produced torrents of Christian music which, ironically, adopts almost every style of popular music. But it is simply incapable of capturing a popular audience because it is so unapologetically alienating to the unconverted. We are trained to think of religion and popular music as opposing universes. If popular music has a faith, it’s the satanism of heavy metal, we suppose.”
So I was struck by that, but there’s more in the article worth pulling out. The article goes on to talk about Nick Cave, Sinead O’Connor and U2 as artists that are striking at a chord that resonates with an “increasingly irreligious” generation.
“Are Cave and O’Connor today’s spiritual teachers, educating a secular generation? O’Connor would recoil at the suggestion. “I’m not calling for anything,” she says. “I just want to make music that I enjoy making.” But it is hard to believe the same could be said of U2, whose religious influences are only slightly less well known than their social activism. The liner notes on their 2000 album All That You Can’t Leave Behind openly call on fans to “remember (Burmese political prisoner) Aung San Suu Kyi” and “take action”. One track, Walk On, is dedicated to her. “
Make sure you have a read of the whole article: “Songs of Redemption - theage.com.au”
Is it the “take it or leave it” nature of this spirituality that appeals to the “now” generation, or is there something in the words and music being put out there by artists like Nick Cave (whose recent album “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” is a ripper) that the church is missing out on? Your learned and wise thoughts are sought, but any comment will do 
suburban christian
Posted on February 11, 2008 by Rebecca Matheson
Filed Under Church, Emerging Questions | 1 Comment
I was having a conversation with a friend recently about her mum’s thoughts on being a Christian in middle class suburbia and how both natural and difficult it is. (Some of these are my extended thoughts).
The Church and Christian events such as conferences are exceptional at preaching the ‘go get out there’. There is nothing acclaimed what-so-ever about living to your fullest from your house in the suburbs in your everyday job. We uphold these ‘Christian’ Heroes as those who have gone long and far and done big things.
I am not saying that there aren’t individuals that should wind up as overseas missionaries - because I grew up in a household where that was precisely the case and it’s something that has deeply influenced who I am now. There is a need for cross cultural mission. And it’s not as glamorous as it sounds.
Likewise, we shout the praise of working in a church, as a pastor, youth pastor, as someone who runs some enormous ministry. And we jump on the assumption that many church ‘attendees’ are just that. Attendees on Sunday. And many of them are.
I would like the encouragement put there for the majority of Christian suburbia. To actually be effective right where they are.
Yes I help lead a youth group. A very strangely small youth group for the size of our church, but it’s not the role that I love. Geoff tells me that I fluctuate a lot in how much I like leading youth. There is usually several times a year I swear not to be involved any more and hate rocking up on Friday nights. But I love, I love the kids I’ve gotten to know. I love seeing their growth and maturity. It’s so much more important.
Just be interested in people. Just love Jesus and what he’s on about. What more is there to being a Christian? The collective claim positives on fame, but individuals don’t give a rats at position really.
And position is so far from the point, church is sometimes a scary place.
Take risks at home.
(This post has is an edited extract from “Suburban Christian” at all said and done)
your ponderance for today…
Posted on December 12, 2007 by Geoff Matheson
Filed Under Emerging Questions, Links | Leave a Comment
…comes from “The Ongoing Adventures Of ASBO Jesus“, who is posting some very controversial, but very thought-provoking stuff. You don’t need to agree with Jonathon to be benefited by seeing his cartoons. Anyway, feel free to leave your opinion on this one here, or over at the original post.
