Multi-isms

Inclusivity is in. Closemindedness is out. At all costs, we are to validate people as equal regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, socioeconomics, sexual orientation, personal interests - you name it. It is NOT popular to talk in language of absolutes today. Do that too many times in public and discover quickly who your real friends are.

The Pope yesterday declared again that Catholicism is the only true church. While I obviously don't agree with him, I admire the strength he has to say what isn't going to be worldly popular and actually stand up for something he believes in while in a very public office. It would have been easier to soften his language and throw a bone to the Protestants, Orthodoxes, and perhaps even the other major faiths in the world. That's what any good politician does. That's what anyone that wants to be accepted and liked does. But that is hardly Jesus. And NOT the God of the Old Testament.

Last week at coffee house, we talked briefly about multiculturalism, pluralism and just the general idea of Canada. Should we be melting everyone in Canada together or should we be celebrating our differences to the point of segregation?

It got me thinking about the Jews in exile during the OT. The military strategy of the day after defeating an enemy was assimilation. They would take the skilled people from the land and bring them back home. And they would take some of their people and put them into your country. Over time, you intermarry and forget about what it was like before. So instead of having a country always waiting to rebel, you simply enhance your territory by assimilating people.

For fear that it is sounding Borg-like, I'll stop. But consider this. Is the enemy destroying the church in Canada by our multi-isms?

I'm not sure why I can't leave titles anymore but truth be told, I hate coming up with titles to anything. The pressure to come up with something catchy and all...

So interest rates finally went up today to curb inflation. And the Canadian dollar is at a 30 year high. Our economy is booming and people are spending like there was no tomorrow. Jobs are relatively easy to come by these days and the appeal to education is half what it used to be because tuition prices are through the roof and there are many well paying jobs to be had with little to no post secondary education.

But more is better right? If we can get stuff cheaper, that's better because then we have money for other things. If we can make more money for the same amount of work, that's better as well. And if we have more, then we don't have to worry about money and that will make us happier right? And happiness is what we all strive for on Earth.

What does the Bible teach about global economy and capitalism? It seems to me that the Bible teaches a lot about having less and very little about having more other than to say to be careful of it. And happiness? The Bible is very clear where that comes from!

The new smoking in public rules. If you smoke, you hate it and feel picked on AGAIN. If you don't smoke, odds are, you love it and feel that finally you don't have to smoke second hand anymore. Personal freedom vs corporate freedom. What seems to always be at the forefront of our minds in North America is the concept of choice. The rule that governs us here seems to be "do whatever you want, believe whatever you want as long as it doesn't interfere with another person's ability to do the same." For example, people should have the freedom to choose to smoke - regardless the consequences - because what they do is their business. But since their smoking in public areas takes away my choice for clean air, you shouldn't be able to do it. As a society and culture, we've stopped asking if there is a right thing to do. It's personal choice at all cost. Where has the concept of TRUTH gone in our society?

Coffee House last night

Well, we did it. Our first meeting. Thanks to everyone that attended. It was a rich time for me personally to hear you all share as you did. Hopefully those that couldn't be there will consider coming next time or sometime in the summer.

Instead of the usual blog from the newspaper, I thought I'd share a thought that crossed my head last night about ONE of the many reasons that it was so good.

Paul warns Timothy in his charge in 2 Tim to be prepared to preach the Word because there will be a day when people won't listen to sound doctrine (or "TRUTH"!) but instead will gather around them people that will say what they want to hear. In other words, instead of pursuing what's right, we're just going to find people to justify what we already think or do. Instinctively, we are all like that. We don't tend to spend time with people vastly different than us. We tend to be with people that already think somewhat similarly to us.

But as I looked around the table (and as I think about the concept of church), we are all very different! I wasn't sure what others were thinking about what I was saying. Several times, I was aware of the fact that not everyone was agreeing with what was being said. Some of it was far from "what my itching ears WANTED to hear". But we were together searching for God - searching for sound doctrine - truth. And that is bigger than my opinion or anyone else's - except God's.

I've never seen iron sharpen iron before but I'm sure it's quite a sparkshow.

Our "generosity"

Christians are known for our giving. It's surprising that as much as society wants to separate "church from state", the society is quite happy when the church picks up where the state leaves off. Where would our world be without the church doing the social programs that we do? Where would our court system and political structure be without the church questioning the moral fabric of why we do what we do? Canada should be thanking the church because without us, our taxes would be double what they are in order to do half of what is available.

What's the rush

Before I start, I need to confess that I'm probably the last one that should be writing about this because, besides one other person I know here (who shall remain nameless), I have probably the heaviest foot in Duncan. It's getting better but it takes time to take Vancouver out of a man.
So now that that's out of the way...

One of the hallmarks of a Christian should be rest. That's what Sabbath, Sabbatical and Jubilee days are about (Lev 25). When we were created on the 6th day, guess what we did first? We rested. God's last day was our first. When Israel went to exile, how long did they go for? The number of years of missed Sabbaths. There are many many more verses and theological ideas to this but it's not by accident that its one of 10 commands that God includes in Ex 20.

Do people know us as a rested person? Or do we fly over the Hat as one of those "40 over" people? Do we know rest as a gift from God and not something we have to earn? Or are our identities tied to what we do?

watching sports

If you watch the news lately, it's hard not to know about the Under 20 World Cup being played in Canada right now. In case you don't know, the World Cup is the biggest sports event worldwide second only to the Summer Olympics. The Under 20 world cup basically showcases the talent of the up and coming soccer stars. In just about everywhere but North America, they would have no problem filling a stadium of 60000 for this event so perhaps rightly, this is a big deal.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the live fans on July 1st. After the frustration of standing in line and missing the first few minutes of the game, I was one of the people gripped by the level of play on the field. I'm not a soccer player and I don't think I've ever really watched a full game before but I must admit, this was pretty awesome. To be there watching it live with soccer fans all around is an experience I'll never forget. In my quest to see every sport played at its highest level, this is one I can cross off my list.

What I like about amateur sport - and this was no exception - is that it is so pure. Real genuine teamwork. A heart and passion to leave it all on the field each game. The line between success and failure is a matter of inches. Each goal that is scored is the best single moment in any athlete's life. Every defeat brings out a hunger to make it better next time (after the tears are wiped away). It's about as real human as we get.

In contrast, church can be so different. So phony. So individualistic. No one wanting to take a risk or a chance. No one talks about real life. No grace or forgiveness to help one another up to go make good next time. It can be so artificial, so routine, so sterile. When a goal is scored in any game I attend, I can't help but jump out of my seat screaming and looking for a high five. There's no worry about who's there and what I look like. So how come I don't do that during a baptism? This person has accepted Christ and crossed from death to life! The best I can do is a half hearted smile? What means more?

One of these days, if I get the guts, I might just have to preach with my face painted in God's colors.