Month: January 2009

Engaging the Other

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I recently was reading Peter Rollins blog where he posted the opening parts of a chapter based on his talks at the Calvin College conference. The chapter is titled “Beyond the Colour of Each Other’s Eyes: The Worldly Theology of Emerging Collectives.” The following section stood out to me –

This ritualistic enacting of the divine Kenosis, where we keep our shoes on but symbolically remove our ideological commitments, allows for those who have gathered to encounter each other in a different way than they normally would outside of the liturgical space. This encounter was beautifully summarised by Emmanuel Levinas in an interview when he commented that, if we see the colour of someone’s eyes, we are not relating to them. One way of interpreting this is by pointing out that, if we are not really listening to someone, we will be well aware of their external features, such as the colour of their eyes, the clothes they are wearing etc. However, once we get into a deep and intimate conversation will no longer notice these external features, we will no longer see the colour of the persons eyes. It is not that they have become invisible to us but rather that we have entered into what Martin Buber called an ‘I/Thou’ relation in which the objective nature of the other is encountered as emanating their subjectivity.

While I fully affirm the need to empty ourselves and get beyond labels and outward appearances in order to understand and love the Other, my gut reaction to his words is that he’s missing something. I think often in all of our ideological debating about how best to serve/love/know each other we get so wrapped up in ideology that we fail to even notice the color of each other’s eyes. Its not that we get consumed by appearances, but that we don’t even bother to care in the first place. Let me unpack where I am coming from here.

When I read Pete’s words, two other examples about eye color and the Other popped into mind. The first thing I thought of was something I read about the bestselling novel Twilight (and I bet Pete would love having his work compared to a teenage vampire romance…). The notion of eye color plays a significant role in the novel, in many ways it represents the person as a whole conveying their desires, their questions, and the nature of their soul. I read one woman’s response to the book where she mentioned the significance of eye color. As she was reading the books, her husband of 20 years was filling out passport applications for them and asked her from across the room what color her eyes were. Married for twenty years and he didn’t even know what color her eyes were. I have a suspicion that wasn’t because he simply looked past outward appearance and deeply engaged her soul either.

The other eye color reference that immediately came to mind was that old Revolutionary War command for the soldiers not to fire at the Redcoats until they can see the whites of their eyes. While that example promotes the otherizing of people, it reminded me that back then war was personal. Killing a person meant being right up there in their face – seeing the blood, gore, and agony your actions inflicted upon them. No matter what they were labeled, seeing the color of their eyes forced them to be a real human being. Today we can drop bombs on schools and hospitals with the pushing of a button. We don’t even bother to know who are are hurting – we don’t take the time to even acknowledge the physical existence of those we slaughter.

I think before we take the step to empty ourself for the Other, we have to first acknowledge the presence of the other. It can be easy to talk about them (like I am here) and contemplate moving beyond their otherness, but unless we first get close enough to see the color of their eyes all of that can never be real. So I’m all for going beyond eye color, but I think we need a healthy reminder get beyond ourselves long enough to actually see that color in the first place.

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Emerging into Leadership

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Over and over again in my conversations with women in the emerging church movement, I hear the story of women awakening to themselves.  They realize that as women they too are created in the image of God and so in theory can serve their creator faithfully in whatever way they are called.  Intellectually, they understand this.  They want to engage theology, attend conferences, interact online, and visit discussion groups.  They want to have a say in the direction of the emerging conversation and lend their particular understandings to shape the movement.  They see in this emerging moment in time an opportunity for them to be fully alive as women, to grow their faith in new ways, and to be truly respected in the church.  But at the same time they have difficulty actually doing those things.

 

The problem isn’t so much women being told that they can’t participate or lead, although there are churches in the emerging movement that still set limits on women, for the most part women are fully affirmed.  The men in the conversations wish there were more women contributing their voices and stepping up into leadership.  But while such stepping up might seem perfectly natural to these men, I’ve encountered numerous women who feel they just can’t do that.  Even if they believe they can be leaders, the message that the church and their culture has imparted to them over the years is that nice Christian women just don’t do things like that.  They don’t assert themselves.  They don’t impose themselves on others.  They don’t show up where they haven’t been invited.  They don’t make a scene.

 

So in the very open source emerging network this creates a problem.  Women are affirmed, but with no one to officially invite them into the conversation, many women just don’t join in.  This of course creates a cycle where, because women don’t see other women in the conversation, they assume that not only are they not invited they are not welcome in that world.  So some women reject the movement in anger and others resign themselves to remaining on the outside simply wishing things could be different.

 

As a woman engaged with the emerging conversation, it is my hope to hear more women’s voices represented there.  But I do understand the psychological constraints many women face.  I don’t believe that they simply need to get over who they are and step up anyway.  I think men and women need to work together, mutually making sacrifices, to ensure that the conversation is a welcoming place for all.  Men should take the time to extend invitations to women.  They shouldn’t just assume that if women aren’t showing up to the conversation that they don’t want to be there.  Taking the time to make room for women, going out of their way to extend invitations, and showing a willingness to learn from women are just the sorts of encouragements that many women need.  But women too need to stretch themselves – not to lose themselves, but to examine what baggage is weighing them down and holding them back.  Women can help each other leave behind such constraints and develop into the people we long to be.  We can encourage each other and affirm to those who need the reminder that Christian women can be strong, engaging, and dynamic while exploring theology and stepping into leadership.

 

As much as those of us in the emerging conversation value natural and organic development, I think we all need a reminder that some things, like having women’s voices heard, take deliberate planning.  We must be aware of the needs of women who are struggling to overcome years of messages that convinced them not to step up.  Including these women isn’t something that will just happen, it will take work.   Constant awareness, intentional invitations, repeated encouragement, and the courage to take risks.  But these women are worth it.  We will all benefit from adding their voice to the conversation.

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Reading with Discernment

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Apparently Lifeway Christian Stores has created a cute little (trademarked) label for certain books sold at their website. The “Read With Discernment” label applies to authors who “may have espoused thoughts, ideas, or concepts that could be considered inconsistent with historical evangelical theology.” Naturally, Brian McLaren and Rob Bell are on that list. Lifeway still chooses to sell these books “because we believe the books do present content that is relevant and of value to Christians and/or because pastors, seminary students, and other ministry leaders need access to this type of material, strictly for critical study or research to help them understand and develop responses to the diversity of religious thought in today’s postmodern world.”

While on one hand I find this amusing. Does Blue Like Jazz really need a warning label? You’ve got to be pretty sheltered if you find that book dangerous. But on the other hand I’m disturbed by the unspoken implication that the other books sold at their website don’t need as much discernment while reading. Apparently, if something agrees with historical evangelical theology then it gets a pass on reading with a critical eye. We only need to be discerning about those that are discerning about historical evangelical theology since such opinions are only valuable to those those who engage them “strictly for critical study and research.” So if an author encourages us to love others, portrays God in feminine form, or narrates a road trip with friends we need to be extra discerning. But if Beth Moore takes every other verse out of context then it’s all good because we don’t need to critically engage with someone safe.

I’d say either drop the label (or replace it with the “This Book is Dangerous” label they seem to be intending) or stick it on every book. I’d love to see extra discernment and critical thought applied to the typical devotional or Woman’s Bible Study. Discernment shouldn’t just apply to things we disagree with. We are instructed as Christians to be as wise as serpents at all times – not just when the authorities tell us to be.

(HT – Jeromy)

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International Women’s Day Synchroblog/Synchrosermon

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Each year on March 8 the world takes time to observe International Women’s Day. It is a day dedicated to the celebration of women’s social, economic and political achievements worldwide. In the United States, this official day of observance is rooted in women’s efforts to campaign for rights to work, vote and hold public office, culminating on March 8, 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights, and an end to sweatshop conditions and child labor. In the early 1910s, the concept gained recognition in the international community and grew momentum as women across Europe continued to fight for the right to work and protest against ensuing world conflict.

This year March 8 falls on a Sunday. I know Sundays aren’t typically big blogging days since they are days when we take time to focus on our faith. But for that reason, I think we should make an effort this year to bring our faith to the celebration of IWD. So I’d like to suggest a joint synchroblog/synchrosermon observance of the day for Christians. Too often in the church not only are the voices of women not heard, but the stories of biblical women remain untold. But the Bible is full of inspiring examples of women faithfully following God and making a tremendous difference for the Kingdom. So this year on International Women’s Day I invite men and women alike to take the time to explore the lives of these great women through a –

Synchroblog – on March 8 post something on your blog about biblical women. This could be your experience (or lack thereof) with learning about these women, a reflection on the life of a particular woman, an exploration of the ways women led in scripture, or a midrashic retelling of the life of one of these women. Have fun with it, push yourself to discover new things, and let’s tell these stories together.

Synchrosermon – these stories of women are rarely told from the pulpit, so I encourage those of you preaching or teaching on March 8 to include the stories of biblical women in whatever you do. The church often wont hear about these women or learn from their example, unless pastors and teachers make a deliberate effort to dwell on the mothers of our faith as much as they usually dwell on the fathers.

It’s not difficult. This isn’t like other negative or angry IWD blog endeavours I’ve seen (and participated in) in the past. It is simply a way to positively encourage women and let women’s voices be heard.

So if you are interested in participating, leave a comment here so I can post the list of participants.  Feel free to promote this among your networks as well. And thanks for helping women continue to have a voice.

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Remembering the Alamo

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So last week when Mike’s parents were here for a visit we took them down to San Antonio to do the tourist thing. Which of course included the obligatory Alamo visit. Mike apparently was obsessed with Davy Crockett as a kid and even insisted on wearing his coonskin cap to school. So imitating the so-called “king of the wild frontier,” we stuck the kids in some faux-coon caps for the whole photo-op thing. But as the other adults went to tour the “remove hats, remain silent” mission, I took my loud and boisterous kids out to play in the gardens. But as I did so, I had to explain to an inquiring Emma what exactly the Alamo was and why we were there.

I grew up in Texas and so had required Texas history classes in both 4th and 7th grades. The hero stories of David Crockett’s, Jim Bowie’s, and my ancestor James Bonham’s last stand fighting for Texas “freedom” fed my childhood conception of the world. I wasn’t quite as enamoured as Mike was, but this is Texas and constant repetition and countless field trips make an impact. I recall even getting a talking to from my grandparents for not showing proper reverence and gratitude on one family Alamo excursion. So as much as I grew up with those stories, they are in truth stories that are 1. only true from a certain point of view and 2. that I don’t want Emma to be brainwashed with. Hence my attempt to explain to Emma the story of the Alamo sans hagiography from my own biased perspective. What emerged was more of a story of greed, land grabs, racism, power, and machismo than heroic last stand. Call it revisionist, call it true, I want her to learn more of the story than I ever did.

The best part though was after I set the historical stage and told Emma that all those people came to the Alamo to kill each other, she thought for a minute and then told me “I don’t want to be like those people.” I loved that. The heroes we worship as children often shape what we value as adults. While there are historical figures that I would encourage my daughter to emulate and respect, I’d rather her not be encouraged to admire men who steal and kill for their own vainglory (no matter how history has re-interpreted their acts). I’d rather her know that all heroes are flawed and that every story has more than one side. I doubt she’ll hear that in school. So if I want to teach her to love others and to treat them with respect, I need to make sure the heroes she is given to admire model those characteristics. But unfortunately most of the heroes from America’s cultural mythology fall rather short on that account. I don’t want to avoid exposing her to history – we still visit the sites, tell the stories, and stick her in coonskin caps – but let’s just say that we will have our own way of remembering the Alamo.

 

 

Posted by Julie Clawson

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Stay-at-Home Moms, Identity, and Service

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In December an Australian cell phone company refused to sell a phone to a stay-at-home mom because she didn’t have a real job.  They told her it was company policy and that if she wanted a phone her husband would need to come in to buy it for her.   No credit check or inquiry into her actual ability to pay for the phone – just a blanket policy to not sell phones to stay-at-home moms.  The mother of three said she was shocked and felt like a second-class citizen.

 

When this story hit the news most women I know were similarly shocked.  We’d like to believe that this sort of dismissal of a woman’s identity is a thing of the past.  We are no longer simply Mrs. John Does, needing our husband’s permission and identity to make our way through the world.  We are full human beings who simply have chosen to commit ourselves to caring for others.  And we find the idea that caring for children isn’t a real job just because we aren’t stuck in a cubicle or get a paycheck for being on call 24/7 to be farcical in the extreme.  But apparently the myth continues.

 

Recently a (childless) friend expressed jealousy that I as a stay-at-home mom had so much free time to work on my writing whenever I pleased.  I just stared at him with incredulity and asked if he would enjoy writing articles or a book in 5 minute increments between changing diapers, playing dolls, wiping up spit-up, reading storybooks, and kissing boo-boos.  Not that I mind doing any of that, but let’s be realistic, free-time only occasionally occurs sometime after midnight – if I can manage to stay awake that long.  This work is real.

 

I find it interesting that in our culture another group of people who face a similar dismissal of their chosen profession are pastors.  They are constantly compared to their congregants who have “real jobs,” or asked repeatedly “so what do you do all week?”  Apparently those of us who choose to devote our lives to serving others for little to no pay somehow fail to be full human beings in society’s definition of the term.  Even within the church which values mothers and pastors in its own way, we still aren’t considered as worthwhile or important as others in more traditional buy/sell/trade/manufacture money-making professions.

 

Even though scripture encourages us to serve others and to place others’ needs ahead of our own, our culture often views those as optional endeavors – goals to pursue after the real work is done.  We don’t value service as a career choice.  I often wonder what would happen though if we chose to realign ourselves and our cultural values with the biblical call to service.  I’m not talking about mothers finally receiving the estimated $100,000 a year salary some say they deserve for all the occupational hats they wear, but simply starting to value people as people regardless of what they do and to see service as a whole life orientation instead of a free time option.  Perhaps not only would stay-at-home moms (and dads) garner greater respect, but the amount of service given for others would increase as well.  And there are plenty of areas in this world today that could use that service.

 

Or at the very least, it would be nice to have a world where a stay-at-home mom could buy a cell phone when she needs one.

 

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Hope

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Today was awesome. Watching the inauguration was moving – and doing so in virtual community was inspiring. And I’m loving the pervasive feeling of hope being celebrated literally around the world today.

But that hope received some push back today. From the cynics who disliked Obama from the get go to the anabaptists who reject all government involvement for good or for ill. While these critiques have some merit, I believe they often miss the point. Most of us have no delusions that Obama the man represents that hope. Our trust is not in him, he has no power to save us. Yes, we like him (with good reason), but what we are celebrating is much bigger than a man.

It is a hope inspired by the winds of change. Change like no longer having the rhetoric coming from our country’s leaders be that of power, oppression, and domination but instead that of mercy, love, and justice. Of course we don’t trust in rhetoric, but it is what forms the zeigeist of the nation. Language does shape us and leads us in paths of action. If we immerse ourselves in the language of hatred and fear then that will become who we are. So to find ourselves in the midst of language encouraging service, justice, peace, love, and mercy, then yes I think there is cause for celebration.  Cause for rejoicing in a vision of being that does represent the values of the Kingdom. It isn’t the kingdom itself nor is Obama in any sense a savior, but anything that encourages the values of the kingdom is yes, in fact, good.

And that inspires hope.

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Making Justice Sexy

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The new U2. Awesome timing. Great song. Thank you Bono for kicking the world in the butt and telling us to put on our boots and get to work. There are days when hope seems real.

Get On Your Boots

Future needs a big kiss
Winds blow with a twist
Never seen a move like this
Can you see it too
Night is falling everywhere
Rockets hit the funfair
Satan loves a bomb scare
But it won’t scare you

Hey…Sexy Boots
Get on your Boots
Yeah…

Free me from the dark dream
Candy bars, ice cream
All the kids are screaming but the ghosts arent real
Heres what you gotta be
Love & community
Laughter is eternity if the joy is real

You dont know how beautiful
You dont know how beautiful
You are…
You dont know
You get it do you
You dont know
How beautiful you are…

If someones into blowing up
Were into growing up
Women are the future
All the big revelations
Ive gotta submarine
Youve got gasoline
I dont wanna talk about wars between nations
Not right now

Sexy Boots
Get on your Boots
Yeah…
Foxy boots

You dont know how beautiful
You dont know how beautiful
You are…

Sexy Boots
I dont wanna talk about wars

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
My God Im going down
I dont wanna drown now
Let me in the sound

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound

Get on your Boots
Get on your Boots
Yeah…

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The Emerging Crossroads

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So if you haven’t read it yet check out Stephen Shields’ article in Next-Wave Ezine Ten Years Out: A Retrospective on the Emerging Church in North America. It’s a good overview of the state of the emerging movement these days from some of its major leaders. And while I am increasingly uncomfortable with the growing tendency for some of the leaders to toll the emerging death knell themselves, the movement is obviously at a crossroads. And personally I’m torn regarding that crossroads.

On one hand, I’ve always enjoyed the diversity of the emerging conversation. The ability for people of different denominational heritages or theological traditions to come together as part of a conversation. People came to the conversation for a variety of reasons, but as messy or awkward as it sometimes got, everyone had a voice. But then it got too messy for some and perhaps to passe for others.

So I’m torn. While I want to retain the diversity, its hard to do when you are repeatedly told that you’ve pushed the conversation too far – made it too messy. It’s hard to respect the needs of others to express who they are and what they are comfortable with when they don’t want to talk with you anymore. Should we just part ways – each respecting that the other is different and let that difference define us?  Or do we remain in community, agreeing to disagree and perhaps work through those differences?  No one is going to stop being who they are just so other people will like them, but there are other ways to be in community.  When God got ahold of us all and pushed us to grow and stretch the false boundaries of our faith, it wasn’t a one time event where we all ended up at the same place after asking a series of appropriate questions. It was a process that of course looks different for all of us. So I can’t be pissed off that others aren’t asking the same questions I am, but it would be really nice if they respected my need to do so as part of the ongoing conversation.

I liked what Tony Jones had to say about this in the article – “It concerns me when leaders who were formerly friends of mine back away from me and from emergent because they find my theology too risky. I think that’s sin, plain and simple. Friendship should trump doctrinal differences, and I’m quite sure that Jesus would agree with me on that”

I would love it if emergent could retain its diversity instead of splintering.  I want it to be like the coffee shop I often go to work at. On any given day I can hear at least 5 or 6 different languages being spoken there. I love that. Too often we can just stay with those who speak only our same language and not expose ourselves to the diversity of the world around us.  So even if we don’t always understand each other in the emerging conversation, I wish we could be willing to at least be part of the same conversation.

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