On Being Relevant

Recently a close friend asked me my thoughts on the idea of relevancy, particularly as it relates to the Church. Here's what I shared. Toward the end I quote someone directly and it contains a "saucy" word, so if that bothers you please don't read that part. 

When I hear of a group, particularly a church, seeking to be “relevant” I typically ask, “In whose eyes are you wishing to be relevant?” My gut inclination is that many groups do not have well-reasoned responses to this question. They desire some kind of general relevancy. In other words, these groups don’t want to be ignored or forgotten. Unfortunately, those who can articulate a sense of this relevancy they crave do so in a competitive sense. They wish to capture attention the way this or that other church does. It quickly becomes akin to keeping up with the Joneses and little more. 

The overarching concern I have is that relevance is rarely measured in God’s eyes. Of course, God does not call any person or group (that I have found) in Scripture to be relevant. Rather persons and groups are called to be holy and faithful. Relevancy doesn’t seem to be on the radar for God, probably because any kind of relevancy that matters to God is understood through God creating and calling God’s children. By creating humans, God is saying, “You matter to me always.” If we want to say this makes us relevant to God, then sure, I suppose that’s fair. But we must also follow this to say there is nothing we can do or not do to be more or less relevant to God. God created us and loves us, full stop.

However, it is clear that we have insecurity about God’s love. We often feel we have to earn God’s love, and that if we have done something wrong (which we most certainly have), then God must love us less. I think there is also an assumption that if a certain group or church seems to be displaying more fruit, then perhaps God loves them more or they are more relevant. This is incorrect, but it’s a pervasive belief. We measure ourselves against others. Israel did this regularly and found herself lacking. Despite being called by God to be a holy nation (set apart for God’s purposes) Israel constantly felt small, weak, and insecure when compared to other nations. Perhaps the clearest example of this is Israel’s desire for a king. Through this request Israel specifically says, “We want to be like the other nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). Essentially they are saying, “We want to be relevant.” Samuel delineates for the people what their request will bring, and it’s not particularly good news (1 Samuel 8:10-18). Nevertheless, the people will not relent and ask again for a king in other to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:19-20). Yahweh gives them what they request, and although there are some bright moments, Israel’s monarchy is mostly a disaster. In retrospect, kings are blamed for the nation’s journey into utter faithlessness, the nation’s fall to the other nations it desired to copy, and destruction/diaspora. 

One would hope that Israel had learned its lesson by the time Jesus appears. And yet, we see more of the same. Jesus is often asked by those who oppose him, “Why aren’t you like everyone else? Other teachers do this, why do you not?” In Mark 2, Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector. Others grumble and question why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Jesus chooses to spend the bulk of his time with those who are irrelevant, at least in the eyes of that culture. 

The pursuit of relevance is not the pursuit of discipleship. Emptying oneself and serving others is what God asks of us time and again. We are not to do this for any other reason beyond God’s call of love on our lives, because we ourselves are to point with our lives to God rather than using God to point out to others how important we are. One of my mentors in faith is theologian Stanley Hauerwas. A few years ago, as he was working on a theological memoir, he shared words very close to these: “Everyone wants to be relevant. Fuck being relevant. Your life just isn’t that interesting.” I am forced to agree. Of course I would love to think that I had new insight on God’s love. And I would quickly put myself in the place of God if I did not surround myself with a community to remind me time and again that I am created and loved by God - but I am most certainly not God. By creating, loving, and calling us, we are as relevant to God as we need to be. Anything else is seeking to make ourselves more interesting and captivating than God. And the word for this is “idolatry.”

Ben Folds

A couple weeks ago one of my students started talking with me about Ben Folds. I’m pretty sure we had discussed him before as our music leader last year was a big fan. At various times Ben’s music has held the top place in my listening catalog. When I first heard his songs, I knew something different was happening. I don’t use the word “raw” much because I sound so lame when I do, but that’s one of the best words I can use to describe his music for me. The raw feeling is especially present in concert. As he bashes the piano - bordering sometimes on abuse - and transforms the crowd into a horn section, you feel that he can evoke creativity on a level unlike what you normally experience. Even for a deeply cynical person like me, his music and shows are simply moving. 

It has also been interesting to observe his musical journey. I first knew of his music as “Ben Folds Five,” even though now I can’t actually remember if there were four other musicians accompanying him. Then he went solo in the way of Paul McCartney (as legend has it) playing all the instruments himself. Lately he has been exploring new dimensions of a capella music. Admittedly, I haven’t consumed as much of his new music, but that’s on me. I think now that I am feeling a kind of renaissance for his stuff, maybe I should check more out. Now for the separating of sheep and goats.

“Brick” - I can’t even come close to saying I hate this song, because that would be pretty absurd, even for me. I will say I’m not a huge fan. I appreciate it on lots of levels, especially the visceral story (which I believe is true). I’m sure there are not too many other songs about getting an abortion and the aftereffects. At the moment, I can’t think of any. As such “Brick” represents something rather groundbreaking. There are things we don’t talk about. It follows then that we would certainly not sing about such things. And yet I think that’s the heart of the song - the feeling someone has about something they don’t think they can talk about and must hide completely. And perhaps the most healing thing that can happen comes through art and music. So yes, on those levels, I actually love the song. But I think it was so overplayed (not Ben’s fault) I started changing the station. I will also admit the snobbery of feeling like it’s the only or favorite song for people who don’t know much of his music. And yes, I judge them - quite harshly - and the song takes some of that. Musically it is pretty basic, and that’s fine. I don’t have to have complex, but it almost feels like more of a formula to me, and once I heard more of what he can do, it started sinking on my list. 

“Still Fighting It” - Yeah, I absolutely love this song. I feel like it is drastically overlooked. I realize it is interesting that I am counterbalancing a song that shares about an abortion with a song about having a child. That could certainly be someone’s agenda, but it isn’t mine. I also don’t think I love this song anymore as someone on the way to being a dad - but it is possible that I love it more today. The truth is that as soon as I heard “I am a bird wearing a brown polyester shirt” I was hooked. Also I have had my share of roast beef combos in my life, so I felt the song was completely for me. The song feels like a journey, both the music and the lyrics. Again, it shares a kind of raw truth: It is hard and it does suck (in some ways) to grow up. And in some ways I think we are all always fighting it - certainly some more than others. But who among us wouldn’t want to return to a mandated nap time if we could?

Let's Twist!

It’s time for another installment of something no one asked for. 

So here goes the music review. 

“Twist and Shout” - Various Artists - I hate this song. Okay, so hate is probably way too strong in this case, but I really don’t like this song. And what’s maybe most perplexing is that it connects with lots of things I love. I love “The Beatles,” and while their version is a cover that more or less stole all the attention away from the song’s original artists, it’s still not for me. Even though I do like the fact that in one of most well-known live performances John has almost completely lost his voice and is just squawking the lyrics. I also love “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” It’s one of my favorite movies. It is set in my favorite American city of Chicago. And yet, I hate the scene where Ferris sings this song. It’s so ludicrous and over the top (the entire rest of the movie is completely plausible up to this point). To be fair, I also hate Ferris singing “Danke Shoen” (and perhaps at some point I will post my feelings about this song - but you can probably guess). I probably hate this song because it tends to necessitate a huge dancing crowd at wedding receptions, and this is more or less my hell. I hate dancing. I can’t dance. I don’t want to dance, really ever. I will do it because I love my wife, and we have worked out an agreement. But I legitimately learned how to play instruments so I could be in bands and never have to dance. So please, let me do that thing. 

“Twistin’ the Night Away” - Sam Cooke, et. al. - I love this song. This song, released just a year after “Twist and Shout” was written, eclipses its cousin in seemingly every category. It is not call and response (which simply dumbs down a song). Also, instead of telling (or screaming at me) to dance and instructing me how to dance, this song starts with “Let me tell you ‘bout a place.” It invites the listener into this reality instead of forcing it on her or him. I’m also going to show my cards and admit that I think Sam Cooke is a musical genius and one who is quite underrated. Of course The Beatles were also genius, and I have at least one friend who thinks they were underrated, but still. Perhaps the best accolade I can give this song is that it actually makes me want to think about possibly dancing…at some point. 

Hate This Song/Love This Song

So I have a new idea that might actually get me writing again (everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief). Music is one of the most important things in my life. I know lots of people say that, but they are all liars. I mean it for serious. Several years ago I realized that the way I feel about music is pretty akin to the way I feel about people. I like at least a few songs from all genres. Granted, I’m just not huge on reggae, but I can groove to a few of those tunes. So I don’t think you can just write off a genre completely. You really have to take things one song at a time and see if it’s a song for you or not. Maybe it’s not for you right now, but years later it’s magic. Could also be the other way around.

Thus begins a new experiment of sharing songs I love and hate. Here the metaphor needs to end because I don’t really think we should hate any people or person. Sure if someone kills everyone in your family you are going to hate that person. God, I think, knows this is the case. Look at the Psalms. But I’m not going to condone or encourage hate. I am going to say that I hate certain songs. And yeah, that’s pretty strong, and some people really hate the word hate. My apologies in advance. I’m going to try and balance things by also sharing a song I love. Sometimes genres might match up and stuff like that. We’ll just see where it all goes. I welcome thoughts and even requests to weigh in on songs. Let’s break the internet!

“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers - I hate this song. I’m not even really sure why. I just kind of always have. Musically I don’t think it’s much. And I must confess that my feelings for it have been vastly influenced by hearing it used at church camps or certain rallies. Things went to white-hot hate when people started doing the “five, short, elbow” thing. That’s truly horrible and makes no sense as he is not saying “knee” or “knead.” Come on people, you’re better than that. I think it was used once at the end of an episode of “The Simpsons,” and that’s the closest I’ve come to liking it. But no, it’s just not for me.

“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King - I love this song. See what I did there? In the same way that I’ve just never been a fan of “Lean on Me” I loved this song the first time I heard it. I am fairly certain I first heard it being played by my brother’s junior high band (Tigrett Junior High Thunderbolts). Like a marching band, but I don’t think they were marching. Probably it was at a football game or something? Anyway, it was amazing, and I didn’t even know the words which I think are deeply moving and somehow resist being cliche. The way the song builds is perfect. Everything fits, and nothing is wasted. To me, it is a perfect song.

My Greatest Temptation

My small group is focusing on call narratives in Matthew 4 and Mark 1. As the product of a great divinity school, I always like to read the portions of Scripture before and after a text to get a better sense of the context - especially as the stories were assembled.

Matthew 4 begins with Jesus' encounter with the tempter in the wilderness. I have heard many fascinating lectures and sermons on this passage and the idea of Jesus' temptation. It is interesting to note that the text says, "Jesus was led up by the Spirit..." and what implications this notion holds. I always enjoy hearing different preachers and scholars discuss the three temptations and what each one symbolizes. However, considering that this passage immediately precedes the start of Jesus' ministry in Matthew and the call of disciples, I noticed something I haven't heard discussed much. Perhaps the greatest temptation undergirding all the temptations mentioned in the passage is in fact my greatest temptation: flying solo.

By "flying solo" I mean trying to do everything by yourself - not seeking or asking for help - and believing that you are in fact meant to accomplish whatever it is you are to accomplish alone. This is in fact the temptation that I struggle with most. I am a perfectionist and a control freak. All throughout my time in school I loathed group work. My general response, either silently or aloud, was, "What do you mean I have to work with these morons who don't have any idea what they are doing?!" I was obviously extremely popular.

I am learning that much of my wailing and gnashing of teeth around working with others boils down to trust. I simply do not trust others enough. I do not trust myself enough to be okay with the results if they are less than stellar (and of course I have a ridiculously large ego to imagine that the results will be stellar if I control everything). And yet God trusts us. In the Old Testament, God worked in many ways through individuals, but those individuals who succeeded always had help both from God and others. And God primarily worked through Israel as a whole by choosing a people (not one person) to accomplish God's purposes for the world. This story is one of continued failure, forgiveness, and further extending of trust. In the incarnation, God trusts that the mission of love and restoration of all creation is worth the greatest risk of all - rejection by that which you love most. And we did reject God, and we do reject God, and we will reject God. Yet God continues to risk it all by not giving up on us, I believe, ever.

I think God in Jesus had endless options. Jesus did not need the tempter to give him power. Jesus had all power already. But instead of flying solo, Jesus called disciples. He assembled a team. They were lousy at most things, and yet, through them God changed the entire course of the world. Not bad if you ask me. Maybe I can learn something from this. Perhaps we all can.

Stream of Conscious Thoughts on Guns and Chattanooga

Really? Again? Another attack with guns? This time it is military personnel and looks like a police officer killed. In my home state. Maybe something will be done. But what should be done?

I have guns. I don't have assault rifles, and I can't imagine that they were ever imagined by those who came up with the second amendment. I don't know about handguns. I don't think anything semi-automatic or automatic (not that I really know the difference) is needed - and I'm not all that certain I can even justify having rifles or shotguns. I have used them before to shoot targets and clay pigeons (who are quite dangerous). I can't imagine killing an animal with a gun at this point in my life, but if I had to for food, I might. I might also go vegan - that would probably be easier for me currently.

I don't judge those who hunt. Some people I love a lot hunt. But do their rights to do that really have any bearing on the existence of the kinds of guns usually used in these kinds of crimes? Can't we all agree to outlaw some guns or make it next to impossible to get them? I know, I know - then only outlaws will have guns. But isn't it worth trying?

This person probably has some kind of mental illness also. I don't really think you can kill people and not have some kind of mental illness. Killing people isn't or sure shouldn't be a natural thing. It sure seems to be a common thing though.

If (God forbid) someone broke into my house and threatened my family, I would do anything to stop them including using a gun if I thought that would stop them. But I feel like I have a better chance swinging a bat at them. If they are out to harm me or if they are crazy, I feel like all bets are off, right? But again, does this justify our current situation? And I know of accidents involving weapons in people's homes where the innocents die.

Isn't one human life more than all guns and all gun rights?

I just wish there weren't those billboards for gun shows happening on weekends around me. I know doing away with those won't solve everything, but would it matter at all? Maybe just lose the billboards at least - that seems so brazen and terrible especially seeing one right after these things happen. But I guess the people running them will say, "It's our right." And how else will people find you? There's probably one happening around me pretty soon. Maybe even one happening soon in Chattanooga.

My Response To ISIS

I should begin by confessing that I am not an expert on most of what I am going to say. I don’t know much about foreign policy. I barely know geography. Even as a pastor and hack theologian, I don’t feel adequate to offer anything so sweeping as a "Christian response” or suggestion to billions of people on what they should believe or do. All I can offer is how I feel and what I plan to do. I hope you find this helpful, and I’m sorry if you don’t approve.

Job’s friends got it right, in the beginning at least. When disaster struck him they initially sat silent with him for seven days and seven nights, too stunned to utter a word. I believe this practice remains within some communities of Judaism and is called sitting shiva (sitting seven). Many of us could learn from this. In our world we are all too quick to talk, judge, and make plans. We seem particularly ready to do this when something awful happens. And yet, I am typically too stunned to move.

Such has been the case for me with ISIS. I simply can’t come to grips with what seems to be pure evil. And yes, the beheadings have done it for me. Maybe more than the beheadings, it’s the idea that there are videos of the beheadings on Facebook. All Facebook is right now is ice water bucket challenges and beheadings. The attempts by some to raise awareness about and funding to research and cure a horrific disease right next to a medieval form of murder. One group attempting to bring life while another spreads death. I must say that the idea of beheading has been too much for me. I never could have imagined that in the twenty-first century people would still consider cutting off someone’s head. Clearly I’ve given humans too much credit. I should also say, for the sake of transparency, that I recently uttered similar words about the fact that the governor of the state I’ve lived in almost all of my life has suggested the return of execution by the electric chair. I can’t believe that humans living now want to rush so quickly to barbarism, and that’s what I consider both forms of death to be.

I believe in the ethics of Christian nonviolence. First, let me say what this doesn’t mean to me. It doesn’t mean that I will not react in defense if someone starts attacking me or someone in front of me. Certainly I would do all I could to defend anyone from attack by using whatever means necessary. I would not seek to kill the attacker, but let the chips fall where they may. Obviously, this is a theoretical and theological position of mine, and I have no earthly idea how I would react in the moment. If you’re honest, you probably don’t either.

While considering what is happening with ISIS and other organized murders, I am deeply tempted to ditch the approach to nonviolence and pursue other avenues. Angry quotes and lines from movies come to mind. One that I rush to quickly I remember hearing for the first time from a character in the movie “Needful Things” - “Kill them all. Let God sort them out.” I later learned that the derivation of this quote likely came from a pope during the Crusades. Deep down I want someone to gather a posse and rush in like Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer at the end of “Tombstone.” Of course it was helpful that they were killing anyone who wore a red sash. It’s nice when “enemies” self-select and are easily identifiable. Hitler with a his famous mustache and swastika armband. Sadly evil is everywhere, particularly lurking within each one of us.

So here are my biggest problems with these approaches and all approaches that employ violence: I don’t think they ultimately solve anything. Violence tends to make things worse. Jesus rejected such methods.

I was speaking with a friend the other day about all this, and I confessed that if I thought it was possible to round up everyone who would do things like this and get rid of them, it’s hard for me to resist this option. But we both agreed this isn’t possible. Yes, killing someone assures that that person will not kill again. Yippee! What about the next killer and the next and the next. Don’t overlook the fact that in the process of killing these people you make more people killers, because the people who kill killers are themselves killers. There seem to be differences, but I have never taken a life. There is also little difference to those left behind, and this can lead to ideas of vengeance and blood feud which are just as real today as they were for the Hatfields and McCoys. One of the sayings I believe more than any other is that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.” I believe King would allow the substitution of the word “violence” for “hate” and agree that the same is true. And of course, let us not forget how he died - an hour away from my hometown I should confess.

My primary reason for clinging to a belief in nonviolence and all I believe is my understanding of Jesus. I cannot find Jesus suggesting or condoning the use of violence. I know there are a few passages that hint at his use of or openness to violence, but I am not convinced by them contextually, and I’m overwhelmingly convinced that he did not fight back when he was arrested and executed, in perhaps the most barbaric fashion, for crimes he did not commit.

What I see Jesus doing more than anything is going to places of deepest brokenness and offering healing. For those of us who believe in the incarnation, this is of course what God is doing in Jesus by coming into the world. And so, the only response I can imagine is to try my best to follow suit. I don’t believe that anyone is born wanting to decapitate someone else. I think violence and brutality and hate and abuse are taught. I simply cannot fathom wanting to kill someone, let alone purposefully and in such a horrific manner. And I think underneath my inability to fathom such things lies the best response I can find. I cannot imagine this and yet the man (I assume) in the black mask can. I believe that we both came into the world the same way, and yet we seem to have come into different worlds. He clearly came into a world where at some point something happened to cause everything within him to reject love, beauty, and hope. His very humanity seems, to me, gone. I can’t help but focus on what might have happened to cause him to wield a sword when I want to do anything but. And above all, I can only believe that if I were in his place and he in mine, things might be different. I think that context matters a great deal.

Yesterday I heard John Perkins speak. I had heard of him many times, but this was my first occasion to meet him. I encourage you to look him up and learn his story. Perkins is 84 years old, but when he was quite young his brother was killed by police officers in Mississippi, and John was beaten severely as well. I can imagine that this could have turned him into a murderer. In fact, he confessed that after this happened to him if he had possessed an atomic bomb, none of us would be here. And yet, he turned away from hate and toward forgiveness and love and has spent his life advocating for reconciliation, particularly among people of different races. I want to be a person who shares love and peace in the lives of those about to turn to violence.


Later today I am going to meet with someone who facilitates tutoring and mentoring programs through a church in the city where I live. I plan on volunteering in these programs and sharing this opportunity with the university students I work with and many others. I hope that by being involved in this program and others like it I can offer the love of Christ to those who might be on the brink of disaster. Regardless, I believe that the Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood. Of course, we didn’t know what to do with someone who was perfect love and the way, truth, and life. So, turning to the only solution we tend to understand, we killed God. I often wonder if God expected that or not. Ultimately, that’s not the final issue for me because it wasn’t the final act of the story. Look what happens next: resurrection. The final word is that love, joy, peace, and life win. Thanks be to God.