Why I (Briefly) Stopped Going to Church

For my 2009 New Year’s resolution, I set a goal to visit at least 20 different churches and reflect on them. I wrote this entry about midway through the year, at a point when I became frustrated with many of my church visits…

Why did I stop the Church Tour Project dead in its tracks? That’s a fair question, considering I had gone to different churches for twelve consecutive weeks…and probably would have made it 52 if it weren’t for something that bothered me deeply in a way I couldn’t take anymore.

Someone once challenged me to read Jesus’ teachings and take him at his word. What if when Jesus said things like “the kingdom of God has drawn near” (Mark 1:14, Matt 4:17) and “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21), and meant them? What if the kingdom of God were available to us today? Right here? Right now?

The kingdom of God can’t wait until we die.

I believe that salvation through Jesus Christ is a crucial part of having a relationship with God. But it’s not the end to a means. It’s a launching off point into God’s kingdom revolution that begins with salvation and continues in a life of selfless service to others.

You see, what I was experiencing in many of these worship services more resembled Heaven’s waiting room than a place that was bursting at the seams waiting to unleash the good news of God’s kingdom into the world. Allow me to explain: the programs and foci of many of the ministries at these churches focused inwardly, some sort of “holy huddle”. Many of the churches seemed aloof about the kingdom of God, sitting idly by while thousands die every day from causes that are within our means to end if we just rallied together to be the body of Christ. What is it going to take to un-paralyze the body of Christ?

Because of all this, I’m changing my approach to the church tour project. I’m carefully selecting churches where I’ve heard God is doing great things. This may take me out of the Indianapolis area. While at these churches I’m going to ask people what God has been doing lately through their local body of Christ. I’m going to try to take the kingdom pulse of each church. I realize that will be difficult in just one visit, but I’m still convinced that the local church is the hope for the world.

I desire to see the church live up to its full kingdom potential…we’ve got a lot of work to do.

In Case You Didn’t Read My Blog in 2009…

…here’s what you missed. Some of my favorites:

1. The Day I Walked Out of the Southern Baptist Convention [part 1] [part 2]

This is my story. I didn’t realize how well one day summed up my life so far…

2. Is Raising Awareness a Cop-Out?

I intentionally stirred the pot here and created some great discussion about the idea of “raising awareness”.

3. An Open Letter to Those Who Have Been Burned by Church

This note resonated with many readers. I couldn’t sleep one night until I wrote this.

4. Best Space-Themed Hymn Ever

I still stand by my words. “God of Earth and Outer Space” will be in the next Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern collection.

5. 4 Reasons to Stop Twittering in Church

I thought I was writing a funny post about Evangatweeters…little did I know, I struck a chord and polarized people into pro-church twitterers and anti-church twitterers. Holy tweet!

6. Driving Brian McLaren to the Airport [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5]

I had the privilege of driving Brian McLaren to the airport with my friend David. Here are five entries reflecting on my experience.

7. Prayer for Justice

This was cool. The Just Wallpaper community co-wrote this powerful prayer.

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In 2009 I’ve been blessed with the amazing opportunity to contribute to some great blogs such as:

Stuff Christians Like…

Creative Niche Ministry Groups, Wearing Matching T-Shirts at the Beach, Davey and Goliath, Leaving Bibles in Lost and Found, Trying to Be Humble (A Seven Step Guide)

Brad Ruggles

The Incredible Unipotamus, 7 Keys to Raising a Good Christian Family, You CAN Judge A Book By Its Holy Cover

World Next Door

Culture Guide: Blending In, Stuck in a Rut, Through a Kingdom Lens

…and in the near future some of my writing will be featured in publications like Burnside Writers Collective and Penwood Review.

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You may be wondering why I haven’t posted very much lately. Well, to be honest, I haven’t had much to say. I’m not sure what that means about me, but I’ve decided that I’m going to start posting only when I have something to say. In the past year I have dreamt about how cool it would be to be one of those people with the daily blogs, but I don’t think that’s for me. So, keep me in your Google reader, and you’ll be hearing from me when I have something interesting to say.

Is Raising Awareness a Cop-Out?

Riding the AutoTune Wave

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock all of 2009, you’re probably aware of the behemoth vocal effect that has swept the music industry by storm known as Auto-Tune. Pioneered by Cher’s 1998 breakout hit “Believe” and Eiffel 65’s “I’m Blue” (1999), the Auto-Tuner got thrown back in the box and collected dust in the closet for about ten years. One fateful day, the likes of Kanye, T-Pain, and Akon dusted off the voice-altering device and turned it up to eleven, recording entire albums under heavy influence of robotic vocals that critics argue cover up a lack of true vocal talent.

The Auto-Tuner certainly caught on and has permeated pop culture to the core this year…everything from Auto-Tune the News to remixes of viral classics like “Charlie Bit Me“. There’s even an app for that; it’s called “I Am T-Pain“, and it allows you to record yourself and turn your recording into an instant Kanye classic. My pastor has it for his iPhone and is a little bit addicted to it. The day he attempts to Auto-Tune his sermons, we’ll have to take it away from him.

The only cure for T-Pain is drinking some Ice-T with lemon.

The often out-of-touch Christian subculture has not been immune to the effects of Auto-Tune. Tripp and Tyler, the guys who make hilarious videos like The iBible, AutoTuned Andy Stanley at this year’s Catalyst conference. Fee’s latest album, Hope Rising, features a partially Auto-Tuned track called “Promised Land”, which puts a futuristic sound to a futuristic place known simply to many as Glory (a.k.a. Heaven). Hope Rising follows a year in Christian music featuring other futuristic and techno-inspired albums like David Crowder Band’s Church Music and Derek Webb’s controversial folktronica offering, Stockholm Syndrome. These big names in Christian music will hopefully continue to encourage Christians to be creative and innovative in their approaches to music and worldview.

I’m glad the Christian community has gotten in on the Auto-Tune fun. The Auto-Tune bandwagon will only go so far (it definitely won’t make to the end of the Oregon Trail), but I welcome Christians who are “with it”. I’m not arguing that Christians become just like everyone else, but using current technology and the latest innovations can do a lot to bust the stereotype that Christians are boring people who never have fun. I love when I can surprise people who are slightly hostile to Christianity with a fresh perspective on what Christians are like.

Auto-Tuning stuff makes me laugh and will be one of those funny memories of 2009 that we’ll look back on one day, sitting in our hoverpods, trading stories while watching a rosy Martian sunset.

Help-Portrait

Here’s a cool video of a project called Help-Portrait, which is adding value and worth to people who have fallen on hard times. Really inspiring stuff.

http://www.help-portrait.com/

Looking for a Summer Internship?

Are you looking for a summer internship? Do you know someone who has a heart for journalism and social justice? Do you enjoy world travel?

Well, if you (or someone you know) fits that general description, here is an opportunity…

Every summer, World Next Door takes several interns for a 2-3 month immersive cultural experience abroad.  Interns “embed” with local organizations and ministries in the country, live with host families, eat local foods and write as journalists for the World Next Door online magazine.

Jessica Shewan and Christine Sullivan, two of 2009’s summer interns.

Each intern’s experience is tailored to his/her own personal, spiritual and emotional development, as well as to the development of skills in writing, photography and cross-cultural interactions.

Interns are responsible for raising $4000-5000 to cover the costs of their trip (but will receive training in effective fund-raising techniques as part of the program).  This is not a paid internship. However, we would be happy to work with colleges and universities to fulfill internship requirements.

Ideal interns will be energetic, creative and good at communication (written and verbal).  Experience with photography is not a pre-requisite, but a willingness to learn definitely is!  Most importantly, our interns must be life-long learners, approaching the world with open eyes and open hearts in a spirit of humility.

Last summer we headed to Nairobi, Kenya to work with four different social justice ministries in that city.  In the summer of 2010, we will be heading to Zhytomyr, Ukraine!

Scott Quigley, a member of 2009’s internship team.

To apply, or for more info, head to World Next Door.

Haiti Articles Are Live

Over the next week, head to World Next Door to read about our journey to Haiti. What an amazing place. My prayer is that aid groups and missionary groups continue to flood this country with acts of justice. My first article will appear on WND on Sunday.

From Haiti

We’re in Haiti with World Next Door. What a place.

It’s heartbreaking to see poverty that toes the line of hopelessness. I’m thankful for Nehemiah Vision Ministries, that they are tackling this monster in the small town of Chambrun, offering hope to the hopeless. We’ll be posting articles, videos, and photos next week on World Next Door.

Until then, thank you for your prayers. God is definitely opening my eyes to seeing His kingdom on a level that I’ve never known. Visiting a young orphan boy the other night nearly broke me down. He is very ill after having hernia surgery. Please pray for him that he’ll recover.

Jesus is the only thing many have here in Haiti.

Album Review–Your Kingdom Come, by Matt Papa

My friend Matt Odegaard is king of album reviews. I was going to write one of Matt Papa’s album, but Matt O. beat me to the punch, so here’s his review re-posted from his blog. He says it better than I can, and I couldn’t think of anything to add. Seriously, if Just Wallpaper had a soundtrack, this album would be it. Check it out, and consider buying it…

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I randomly came across Matt Papa when he followed me on Twitter a week ago.  I thought, hey, a cool songwriter.  I clicked through his website and listened to the album preview and was BLOWN AWAY!!!

Not only are his lyrics straight out of scripture, his melodies are super creative and original.  It is also the most eclectic album I’ve ever heard.  It goes from driving rock, to what sounds like orthodox Russian, to  pseudo-punk, to instrumental hymn.

I am going out on a limb here to say this is my favorite album of the year so far!!!

Awesome Acapella Ghostbusters Theme

This is incredible. I thought it would be something good to post on a Sunday afternoon…makes me want to capture some ghosts or something.

Weekend of Service

Over the next few days, you can read stories from Grace’s recent Weekend of Service over at our friends at World Next Door. Today I share my story of my experience traveling to various project sites and what I sensed God doing in the midst of 3,000 people serving the least of these. Check it out by clicking here.