It seems I still haven’t been able to shake my love/hate relationship with speaking and preaching. I’m definitely my worst critic, but I feel bad when it leaks into the critique of others sometimes.
Some people speak just to say something (the blabbers),
And as the saying goes, some people speak because they have something to say (which is nice)
Some people have something to say, but it’s irrelevant to who they’re speaking to (the guy with the megaphone on the street)
Some people speak just to be heard (folks with passion and great stuff to say, but rush through it thinking that getting it off their chest will make a difference)
And then there’s people who speak to transform (and they leave a mark on your soul you can’t seem to get rid of)
I try to be the last. It doesn’t always work out, but I’m committed to the art.
If anyone’s up for film & coffee this friday, The Ordinary Radicals is screening at the Bloor Cinema at 7:00pm.
Let me know if you’re interested.
The film features interviews with: Becky Garrison, Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Rob Bell, John Perkins, Brooke Sexton, Michael Heneise, St. Margret Mckenna, Logan Laituri, Zack Exley, Aaron Weiss and our very own Brian Walsh.
Get tickets now by clicking here.
Here’s a quick synopsis of the film:
In the margins of the United States (and Canada), there lives a revolutionary Christianity. One with a quiet disposition that seeks to do “small things with great love,” and in so doing is breaking 21st Century stereotypes surrounding this 2000 year old faith. “The Ordinary Radicals” is set against the modern American political and social backdrop of the next Great Awakening. Traveling on a tour to promote the book “Jesus for President”, Shane Claiborne and a rag-tag group of “ordinary radicals” interpret Biblical history and its correlation with the current state of American politics. Sharing a relevant outlook for people with all faith perspectives, director Jamie Moffett examines this growing movement.
As Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw write in the book, “This is not a set of political suggestions for the world; this is about invoking and embodying the alternative. All of this is an invitation to join a peculiar people- those with no king but God, who practice jubilee economics and make the world new. This is not the old-time religion of going to heaven; this is about bringing heaven to the world.”
I’f you’ve been living solitude the last day, check out Barack Obama’s major speech on race recently delivered (2 million views on youtube in less than 2 days!). Much of it is in response to his former pastor Jeremiah Wright’s outright racist comments, but it’s so much more. I suspect it’s stuff Obama’s been thinking for quite a while now.
And if you haven’t seen the DNC2004 breakthrough speech. You must go back and watch it. Part 1 and 2.
The net’s been abuzz with the boldness and riskiness of the speech. Some say it’s the most important and historic speech since MLK’s. I expected about as much from Obama.
Obama’s not without his flaws, but here’s why the church needs to stop, listen, and understand the whole Obama-phenomenon
- Obama is the first truly postmodern presidential candidate. He publicly offers us insights into the state and trajectory of our culture. He also has the capacity to shape and influence it.
- Just as Christ believes in us more than we might believe in Him, so does Barack. A big part of the media critique to Barack’s speech is that it was brilliant, but too nuanced and sophisticated for the average ‘knucklehead’ in America. Obama actually dares to think better of American than that.
- Obama knows how to subtly subvert the establishment and the culture to ‘forgotten ways‘. As much as Barack declares it, I really don’t know how much “I am my brother’s keeper” was on the founding father’s minds, but it’s a truth embedded somewhere in our souls. Obama injects it into the conversation as if it always was. Just as emerging leaders today need to not reject the church, but embrace her, and gently call her back to Jesus, the one we’ve ignored but has always been there.
- In response of Jesus’ prayer of becoming ‘one, the church is desperately in need of unity. If you read “The audacity of hope”, you’ll he how he’s always had a politics of unity. He refuses to vilify people and find ways of honoring even those he strongly disagrees with. As the church we need to re-learn how to honor the image of God within every person, no matter how broken. If we really do believe in a sovereign God at work in all places, I’d go as far as saying we need to find ways to honor all that reflects God in every faith group and orientation, no matter how God’s fingerprints on them might seem.
- Barack has built his campaign on being better together; in policy, funding, speeches, etc. The future of the church will not be driven by lone-ranger super-star pastors. Hillary Clinton may be ready-on-day-one and fight like there’s no tomorrow, but does her extraordinary efforts come even close to an entire army of people willing to do the same inspired by Barack? The church needs to learn how to inspire the masses again. Just as God inspires (breathes into) humanity
- Transcendence and Imminence – When will.i.am was being interviewed about his “yes we can” song a reporter asked what many people of Obama’s critics are asking – What exactly is all this transcendent talk of ‘change’ that you’re so excited about specifically referring to? I love will.i.am’s answer – “Obama changes… me”. Does it get any more personal and transformational than that? We, the church, need to stop fighting over the peripherals and fight for the hearts of our people.
I heard this creative term a number of years ago and it’s never left me.
Similar to my post on tantric preaching, beincarnation co-opts another traditionally ‘Eastern’ term – Reincarnation. I’ll assume that’s okay since Jesus was an eastern teacher…
Reincarnation is driven by the cosmic judgment of your deeds in this life. Every person is in karmic bondage with a soul that longs for liberation from this world. It is cyclical in nature until you are disconnected from all desires and reach nirvana. In this heaven-like state you are finally transformed, at peace, and no longer subject to human suffering.
Be-incarnation is a response to the incarnation of Christ. Transformation begins in this life, not the next. Beincarnation is where followers of Jesus become the hands, and feet, and voice of Christ. Beincarnation is where our own unique identity and the character of Christ converge.
With Beincarnation the goal is not to leave this world, but to bind ourselves to it, as we take upon human suffering and become bringers of peace in this life. Beincarnation is not a suppression of desires, but an unleashing of passion, shaped by Jesus.
Be Incarnation. Be.incarnation. What are you waiting for?
