spectatorism

Last week I read that one of the former executive chairman of Google claimed that today more content is created in forty-eight hours than was produced from the beginning of history to 2003 (Len Sweet, Viral).

 

The web world has made it so anyone with a decent cell phone has volumes of information about Athanasius, Menno Simmons, and Karl Barth.  It's easy to find out about people who influenced Christianity.

 

We can read about some of the core theological doctrines that have sparked debate from the foundation of the church.  Today anyone with a connection to the web has more content about humanity, God, faith, and life than ever before.

 

Here's my concern for young and old in the age of limitless information at our fingertips- it's still human nature to not allow transformation.

 

Every generation has had a hard time with "spectatorism."  Insight without fruitful activity.  We learn to be active enough to have an opinion and… that's all. 

 

Now, imagine that infecting the church and followers of Christ.  I respond to the death of Christ the same way I do the death of Dick Clark - information and opinion.  I understand who God is the same way I understand who a presidential candidate is - information and opinion.  I surrender to the Holy Spirit the same way I surrender to my favorite social media - information and opinion.

 

I am not anti-technology; I believe it is a tool that could be used to touch the world with faith (as well as it being a trap that would drown a person in sewage).  

But, isn't habitual "spectatorism" in the church hypocrisy?  

 

Philippians 3.16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Paul's call to the church was to live what you know and keep learning more.  The problem has never been the information or the medium that information is transferred through - the problem has always been getting us to live it well. 

 

This morning my thoughts are questions - Am I overreacting?  Where does grace fit in this?  How do I know when I'm stuck in "spectatorism?"  What should be done?

 

Questioning,

 

Pastor Dave

A post-Easter blessing

"Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul gave that blessing to the church in Philippi in the beginning of his letter to them (1:2).

That's a good post-Easter blessing.

However, as a pastor that is ministering to a church 2000 years later, I feel I could give a better blessing.  We are a more advanced culture (we have twitter).  We are a better educated culture (we have a government regulated school system).  We are a more civilized culture (we have Levi's and Lexus).  We are a healthier culture (we have ingredient labels and pedometers).

Paul was trained by Gamaliel, but I have Master's degree and Google.  I feel qualified to proclaim a post-Easter blessing with more depth and bigger teeth.

Here we go -
"Success and happiness to you!"
"Ease and prosperity to you!''
"Fun and enjoyment to you!"

Wait, I'm not done.  I wear pants, not a robe.  I've read the Purpose Driven Life.  I own a Wii.  I can do this.

"Clarity and confidence to you."   (imagine cricket sounds here)

It's amazing to me how advanced I think I am and how shallow my misconception leaves me.

Can we do any better than living the grace shown to us and the peace given to us by God's plan of redemption?  If we truly received both grace and peace wouldn't that make a difference?  Have we fully learned that God is the only source both?

No matter what your week has held, I have a blessing to speak into your life.  Regardless of the unknown future you are facing, there is a blessing that could change your life and the lives of those you come in contact with throughout your post-Easter days.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (imagine trumpet sounds here)

Receiving it,

Pastor Dave

 

Good Friday

What's so "good" about it?  That was the question I saw online from someone who didn't understand the designation of Good Friday.

To be honest - it's a fair question.

There are many who feel this day used to be called "God's Friday."  What we say when we part ways with someone, "good-bye," is a shortening of what used to be "God be with you."  Maybe that happened over time with this day.

It could rightly be called God's Friday; it's the day that he offered his sacrifice for the sins of the world.  This was a day justice wasn't just and God's plan brought pain to the heavens and earth.

Some thoughts:

It was a good close.  The system of sacrificial offerings of animals for fellowship with God was ended.  The final offering was final because it was Perfect and fully accomplished what all others couldn't.

It was a good starting point.  From the cross, a new starting point of sacrifices was established.  Now human life is offered in a complete way through faith in the One who was the sacrifice for us.  We can identify and participate in the new way opened to us by the cross.

It was a good offering.  The sinless Lamb offered for us all was also the mighty Warrior that took the attacks of hell on himself. The Son of God became the deposit place for the sin of the world because he was the only One who was good enough to receive it.

It was a good foundation.  Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

This is a good Friday.  I've had good days.  I've eaten good meals.  I've enjoyed good laughs.  This "good" is deeper.  This is the kind of good that changes the world and those who inhabit it.  This is the kind of good that can't be replaced or improved on.  This is the kind of good that would divide eternity and transform humanity.  This is the kind of good that I can't live without.

Today is a serious look at the price of salvation and the call of Christ.  This Friday is Good.  Only God could take cruelty, blood, death, and mourning and use it for the good of us all.

Living Because of Good Friday,

Pastor Dave