Enemy Mine

Posted: January 23, 2012 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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In 1992 Walter Wink wrote this about the United States: “It will be interesting, with the ending of the Cold War, to see what parade of scapegoats, enemies and barbarians are invented to carry out the national shadow.  Saddam Hussein has already performed that role splendidly.  Who will be next?”

Have you ever wondered why it is so important to have enemies?  I live in Denver; we hate the Oakland Raiders.  If the Broncos have a season record of 2-14 with both wins against Oakland, it would still be a good season.  I am also a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan.  After last year’s Stanly Cup playoffs I still find it hard to think good thoughts about Boston.

Our war on terror, at least the part that was directed against Saddam Hussein, has “officially” come to an end.  It almost seems that in preparation for an end to hostilities in Iraq we needed to find a new enemy and so the Axis of Evil was created.

Is it possible that we “need” enemies because friends tend to overlook weaknesses and give us a pass on our sinful nature?   Do enemies reveal parts of who we are, both individually and corporately, that friends would be too afraid or polite to uncover?  Is it possible that Jesus asks us to pray for our enemies because in praying for them a space is created to take a hard look are our own weaknesses and faults?

We need enemies, not because they are evil and we are good.  We need enemies because they are the only people (or nations) with the courage to ask us to look in a mirror and acknowledge who we really are.  When we own the totality of who we are conversion becomes a possibility and the kingdom of God becomes a reality, right here, right now.

Filter

Posted: January 16, 2012 by Glenn in Class, label, labels, ministry
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As a 2nd grader I remember being the last person picked for the spelling bee.  The teacher divided the class into two teams.  The best two spellers were named team captains.  They took turns picking who would be on each team.  I still remember sitting at my desk as everyone else was chosen. I was not going to be chosen; I was simply the last person left.  I had to be picked.

In many ways this was a good life lesson – sometimes you don’t get picked first.

A number of weeks ago someone sent me an article, I can’t remember who wrote it or who sent it, but the theme has stuck with me.  The article asks a question – does the church function like an institution or a city?  According to the author, institutions exist to screen people out – an individual must qualify for a job or a program.  Cities always expand to include everyone – there is space for the homeless, the renter, the homeowner, the uneducated, the educated, the poor, the rich.

It doesn’t take years of theological studies to figure out that Jesus was interested in making space for everyone.   That’s the essential message of John 3:16.  It also does not take many years of study to figure that the historical trajectory of the church has been one of finding ways to screen people out.

What would it mean for the church to renounce the path of exclusion and to become a place of inclusion?  How do we become less white and less male?  What does it mean to invite others into our community?  Inclusion also includes folks who don’t get it – the racist and sexist. What does this look like?

And just how far do we take this diversity thing?  It is one thing to talk about cultural and theological diversity, but quite another thing to talk about sexual orientation.

It is my hope that our future can be one of figuring out how to filter people in.  This will not be easy or without controversy, but it does seem to be the Jesus thing to do.

Becoming what we hate

Posted: January 9, 2012 by Glenn in Hitler, Martin Luther King
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An often used sermon illustration tells a story of famed interviewer Mike Wallace, one of the original correspondents for 60 Minutes.   Wallace was asked to interview Yehiel Dinur, a principal witness at the Nuremberg war crime trials.  Upon entering the courtroom and facing Adolph Eichmann, Dinur began to tremble, wept uncontrollably, and collapsed.

When Mike Wallace asked Dinur why he had collapsed, was it reliving the memories, the nightmares, and the grief?   The man answered:  “No I collapsed because I was afraid about myself.  I saw that I am exactly like him, capable of this.”

It is said that after pausing for a while Wallace turned to the camera and said, “That poses a question.  Was Eichmann a monster, a mad man, or something even more terrifying?  Was he normal?”

One of the ironies of life is the ability to become the very thing we oppose.   As a society we want to stop murder so we execute murders and become murders ourselves.  I remember a time when I became so frustrated when by boys beat on each other that I hit them and told them to stop.

“The ultimate weakness of violence,” observed Martin Luther King, Jr., “is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.”

Why do we so easily fall into the trap of thinking that the cure for violence is more violence?  In his book Engaging the Powers, Walter Wink states: “We want desperately to believe that our forcible retaliation to evil is like a projectile fired from a gun that will drop evil in its tracks.  In fact, it is more like a ball thrown by a pitcher that will, as likely as not, come back at us, or over the fence.”

As a country we have been engaged in the War on Terror for more than a decade now.  It is difficult to argue that confronting violence with violence has been successful.  I cannot help but wonder what would have happened if instead of declaring a war on terror, we had pursued a path towards reconciliation and understanding of our enemy.  Would it have been easy?  Probably not.  Would it have meant fewer casualties on both sides?  Probably.

Politics

Posted: January 3, 2012 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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2012 is going to be, if nothing else, an interesting year to follow politics.  There are lots of burning questions, will Obama get reelected or will the Republicans figure out how to win?  Who will emerge as the Republican nominee to challenge Obama?  If it isn’t Ron Paul, will he decide run as an independent?

Then there are all the political commentators and pundits.  I am not sure what exactly makes them experts in the first place, but they are kind of fun to watch.  I especially like the experts who talk first and think second.   Jon Stewart will keep most of the under 35 crowd laughing and cynical through this entire election cycle.

It is easy to become apathetic towards the democratic process and wish for something different or someone different to lead us.  Sir Winston Churchill famously said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

Looking to scripture for a preferred system of politics is not terribly helpful.   At best scripture warns against trusting the powers of this world, which would include democratically elected leaders.  That said, democracy, in its purest form, grounds itself in equality, preserving the rights of even the weakest members of society and the seeking the welfare of all.  These ideas seem Christian.

In addition democracies, at a philosophical level, are committed to non-violence.  Change occurs through voting, not military coups.  Influence finds its expression in the legislative debate process not in street brawls.  Differences can be openly expressed in the media, public debates and non-violent protest rather than through warfare.

Is our system perfect?  Is it God ordained?  The answer to both of these questions is a resounding no.  Our system is the best option in an imperfect world.

Don’t forget to vote and don’t forget to enjoy the process!

My Job

Posted: December 22, 2011 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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This is the time of year when we should set aside some time to count our blessings.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  25 years of marriage to a great lady, two teen boys who only occasionally stress me out and a great job.

This week I want to share a little about my work and offer an opportunity for you to share in this ministry.

On December 31 DOOR officially completes 25 years of urban ministry.  Back in 1986 we were using typewriters, rotary phones, and snail mail wasn’t a recognized term.  Today all our staff has laptop computers, cell phones that do everything and snail mail is mostly a quaint way to communicate.

In 1986, DOOR hosted 175 participants. In 2011 we hosted 2,713 participants.

In 1986, DOOR had one location, Denver.  Today we host programs in six locations – Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Hollywood, Miami and San Antonio.

In 1986, DOOR did one thing, host folks from Christian perspectives who were coming to urban Denver to serve for a week.  Today we continue to host short-term groups, but programming has expanded greatly.  This year we have 42 young adults in 9 houses spread across all of our cities living in intentional community exploring a call to ministry.  During the summer months, we hire 40 high school, college, and graduate students to help lead our Discover program.  Many of these people are emerging leaders from the urban communities in which we are located.

One of our core understandings is that heaven looks a lot more like the city than a garden.  The biblical story starts in a garden, but ends in a city.  Inviting people to the city is a little like inviting people to heaven.  It is in the city where our participants very often experience God’s call on their lives.

It has been a joy to be a part of this program for 20 years – 3 as a board member and 17 on staff.  Giving witness to our programmatic, location and theological growth has been an honor.

This level of programing doesn’t happen without your generous support.  As you contemplate your yearend giving, I challenge you to consider donating to DOOR.  Your investment will be multiplied many times over as you partner with us in raising the next generation of leaders for the church and the world.

Thank you in advance for your gift.

Merry Christmas!

Salvation

Posted: December 16, 2011 by Glenn in Christian, Christmas
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Salvation is a word with multiple meanings.  What does salvation mean in the Christian context?  For some it is about a ticket out of this world.  A number of years ago the Gaither Vocal Band captured this understanding of salvation in their song Build an Ark.  For them salvation was about gathering all their friends and family and escaping an increasingly evil world.

Lately I have begun to wonder if this is why Jesus came to earth.  Did Jesus die on the cross so that we could get a ticket off this planet?  For most of my life this has been my understanding of the purpose of Christmas and Easter, a way out and off.

When one takes a second and third look at the message of Jesus, I am not sure that the salvation as escape definition works.  Jesus calls us to be salt and light; that sounds a whole lot like a call to make the world a better place.  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray it included words about the kingdom coming, about God’s will being accomplished, on earth as it is in heaven.  Again this is not escape language.

Salvation is not always about escape, sometimes it’s about transformation, redemption and renewal.  The afterlife and the hope that it brings is an important part of the Christian faith, but it is not the only hope that we have.  We, who call ourselves Christians, are called to be agents of change, right here right now.

Salvation is about bringing peace where there is war.  Reconciliation where there is quarrelling.  Joy where there is sadness. Togetherness where there is separateness.

Salvation is about caring for creation.  It includes living in such a way that we reduce our consumption of the world’s resources, that we choose reusing instead of throwing away and recycling over wasting.

When salvation is only about escape form this world, we misunderstand why Jesus came as a baby in the manger.

The Poor

Posted: December 9, 2011 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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One doesn’t have to spend a whole lot of time reading the Bible to figure out that the poor have a special place in God’s heart.  It is relatively easy to make a case that if forced to choose, God chooses to side with the poor.

Later this week my home church will host a “Christmas Store.”  This year we will be providing gifts for 1,700 children representing over 400 families.  Every one of the families is poor and their need is real.

This year I began my 18th year working for DOOR.  Our primary hope is to show visitors the face of God in the city.  When participants encounter the poor, God’s face consistently shines through in powerful life transforming ways.

However, there is a downside to 18 years of working and living in economically depressed communities – cynicism.  When it comes to lies and deceit the poor are as capable as the rich.  The wealthy do not own majority shares in greediness; to be perfectly honest, some of the greediest people I have ever encountered are poor.

After spending much of my adult life among the urban poor one thing is clear.  God does not side with the poor because of their integrity.  I think that God sides with the poor because they experience suffering and injustice at a base level.  Poverty in and of itself isn’t holy, but the perspective that poverty creates helps the poor to better understand Jesus’ condemnations of wealth.  It is the poor who suffer when social programs are cut or health care costs continue to skyrocket.  The poor are not morally superior to the wealthy, but they are much more likely to be sinned against because of the attitudes and greed of the wealthy.

This Christmas as you look for ways to serve the poor, don’t miss the opportunity for the poor to serve and educate you.

It’s that time of year… again

Posted: November 30, 2011 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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That space between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  No longer is it about family, games around the table, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, or reading the Christmas story.  Don’t get me wrong, this stuff still happens, but there is a new priority and it can be best summed up in two words – Black Friday.

For the individual it’s about shopping, standing in line and getting a great deal.

For the corporation it’s about profit.

Taken together it seems to me that we are becoming a culture where consumerism is now the greatest social goal.  Sitting around the dinner table and visiting has been replaced by waiting for Target to open at midnight.  Church has been replaced by the mall.  The corporate executive has managed to replace Jesus as Savior.  Acquiring stuff is becoming more important than generosity.  The health of the economy has become more central to American culture than the health of our spirituality.

The hypocrisy of all of this is that believers would sooner argue about removing Christ from Christmas than refuse to participate in a system that is raping our very soul.

What would happen if the church, by this I mean all people who identify as “Christian,” chose to boycott Black Friday?  What would happen if we refused to go into financial debt during this season, even if it meant no iPad under the tree?

Please hear me correctly; I am not arguing that we shouldn’t give presents to each other.  I am not saying that shopping is inherently evil.  What I am suggesting is that we should prioritize people over shopping, service to others over indulgence to self, and worship to God over worship to stuff.

Salvation will not come from Wall Street, let’s choose to quit acting like it will, especially during this time of year.

Merry Christmas!

Objectification

Posted: November 23, 2011 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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I am a parent of teens and I have worked with teens for the better part of two and a half decades.  It should come as no surprise that porn has come up regularly in conversations.  As a youth pastor, I used to give an annual sex talk. As a pastor I have been part of many conversations where porn has been the primary discussion topic and lately internet porn has been a hot topic among youth workers and pastors.

Every discussion about porn seems the end with some form of condemnation.  I do not have a problem with the conclusion, but very few people dig deeper.  Why is porn bad?  Is it the naked people?  If so what do we do with Michelangelo the Renaissance artist and painter of the Sistine Chapel ceiling?  It seems a little extreme to label him a pornographer.

With 25 years of porn discussions, conversations and presentations under my belt I am coming to the conclusion that the problem with porn is not its “nakedness;” no, the problem with porn it that it objectifies the other.  Objectification is the process of turning a person into something less than human.  And that my friends is sin.

By making the problem with porn objectification, a whole new can of worms opens up.  Yes, porn is wrong and sinful when it objectifies the other (mostly women), but other acts also become wrong when we objectify.

In war the opponent becomes an insurgent, a term intended to de-humanize.  When talking about our southern border we use words like illegal or undocumented, both subtle attempts at de-humanizing.

Historically Africans brought to this country for the purposes of forced labor where saddled with all kinds of labels, all of which were intended to objectify and de-humanize.

I can’t help but wonder if talking exclusively about porn minimizes the real sin – objectification.

Finding Truth

Posted: November 17, 2011 by Glenn in Uncategorized
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Politics is always a dangerous subject and in an election cycle it is even more contentious.  After all, which side speaks the truth?  Is it the Tea Party or the Occupy Wall Street folks?  Both movements grow out of a frustration with the perceived lies and deceptions coming out of Washington.

The interesting question for me is how do we as people of faith discern what is truth?  The 24 hour news channels are increasingly partisan.  Finding a commentator who agrees with your positions is relatively easy to do, but this approach boarders on silliness.  TV and radio preachers seem more concerned about their agendas and financial well-being than struggling with the issues.  The politicians themselves are so rehearsed that asking them to move off their prescribed talking points is all but impossible.

Is it possible that speaking the truth is simply beyond the ability of the rich and powerful?  I cannot help but wonder if the cost of power and privilege is blindness and insensitivity.

2,000 years ago Jesus was constantly disagreeing with the rich and the educated. Jesus’ encounter with the rich ruler in Luke 18:18-30 is just one example of this.  In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus talks about the final judgment.  Authentic faith has something to do with connecting with the weak, the powerless and the disenfranchised.  It is in these moments where truth is discovered.

Could it be that truth, especially in this political season, is rooted not in the speeches of politicians or the ratings of news commentators but in the cries of the wounded?

I suspect that the change we seem to be so desperately looking for would come if we allowed the truth of the powerless to guide our decision making.

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