Sanctuary

The election is over. It’s the end of a turbulent experience we all longed for and looked forward too, but for half the country, it took a surprising turn. The results came in and the stress that was carried through the ruthless election quickly changed to feelings of helplessness and fear for tomorrow.

Donald Trump is now president-elect of the United States of America and unfortunately that America is very broken indeed.

The biggest question I have encountered from my Christian friends is, “How can the people who claim to follow Christ also vote to follow Trump?”

Trump has a checkered moral history. Even more so, his campaign included themes of racism, bigotry, and sexism. I’m not saying Hillary had any sort of perfect record. To be clear, I would be writing this same thing if she had been elected for the other side of the coin.

However, when we look at the cold hard truth, Trump looks absolutely nothing like the person, nor the values of Christ. Yet a large portion of Christ’s followers in the American evangelical church helped him get elected.

I can’t offer any advice on how to run a country, much less my own garage… but what I can do is offer some perspective on the person of Jesus and how he reacted to a government His people had no idea how to cope with.

Here’s exactly what he did: In the light of the Roman government, which was much more oppressive than our own, he offered a completely new way of life… and it didn't look like a run for public office.

Jesus offered a way of life so powerful, and subversive that it changed the entire world. Not just the Roman government in which His movement started.

It was a movement defined by love and more to the point, how we were to love each other in the same manner that we love ourselves.

I want to be fair here and to compare Jesus to any political candidate is grossly unfair. I’m not trying to bash our new president-elect, I’m trying to offer up peace for those of us who can’t help the comparison.

Here is the truth… We have to come to grips that it isn’t right to compare. So much of the hurt and fear we are experiencing can be healed by letting go of this comparison, and not just for Trump but for all candidates.

That being said, love, isn’t an easy trait to attribute to our new president-elect.

So what was so attractive to Evangelical Christians about this man?

I would argue from going up in the evangelical church and being trained in one of its seminaries that Trump looks a whole lot like leadership in the churches I grew up in. In fact, he acts in a similar manner to some of the most famous preachers in the evangelical sphere. Due to his success in business, he is also powerful like a lot of the evangelicals I grew up with.

Headstrong, full of fervor and vision but lacking in a couple of major areas.

I can’t speak to the country, but I will speak to the church. We have to stop, making strong personalities a priority in our pulpits. Because when people like Trump come on the political scene they look really familiar to mega-church Christians. It feels like we should be put them in power, so we forget to look at the deeper matters of the heart.

My dear fellow Christians and kind hearted people, who feel betrayed and hurt by this election-

Our main focus at this point should not be to dwell on the past. We must look to the future.

Don’t you see? This is a call to action as Christ followers. To love deeper and lean into the example of Jesus.

There has never been a better opportunity in American history to re-invent ourselves in the public eye.

Instead of being known by political affiliation we have the opportunity to declare our independence from a particular party, and nothing would be better news for the church than a move towards Jesus and away from the White House.

I know this time is full of fear, but what if we took that fear and turned into excitement. We can follow Jesus and live it out in a different way that operates so much closer to the original church. A way that looks to change the world, through the love of Jesus.

There is so much to be done. Our problems are racial, environmental, economic, and exclusive. There are immigration issues, a lack of human rights, and a lack of love for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.

This is all rooted in the lie of scarcity and the belief that there is never enough to go around.

The way of life Jesus offers up is an invitation to follow him. It is an invitation to participate in the kingdom that Jesus came to proclaim. The good news is that this invitation isn't for the day we die, it’s one that stands to be accepted in the here and now. It doesn’t look anything like scarcity, and that’s why He encouraged us to pray like this:

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

Amen

I'm not a political person. My sister helps run campaigns and is enormously involved in the political world. I’m a pastor, and for a while now I have believed the lie that somehow that made me anti-political.

Today, however, with the election nearly over, and campaign stress is at an all-time high, I have come to the conclusion that I do have something political to say.

Before you click away, it’s not what you would expect. I’m not going to try to persuade you who to vote for or to change your mind. I would rather offer you some peace.

The 2016 election has been one of the ugliest in American history, and let’s leave all the political jargon and info aside because I want to focus on what it is doing to the people.

An American Psychological Association 2016 Survey claims that regardless of which political party you affiliate with a staggering 52% of the general public is experiencing Election Stress - over half the country.

Another survey by the APA shows that about one in four American workers reported feeling more stressed and less productive at their jobs because of political discussions there. Again this was the case regardless of political affiliation.

If you go anywhere near a screen of any kind you are likely to be pummeled with information you’re not even sure you can trust anymore.

Our social media feeds have become echo chambers of often mindless political debate. What do we do?

This week, over half the country is going to be more disappointed than in any other election in history and it’s really easy to let this get the better of us.

Let me offer some peace in the most political statement I have written down:

God cares about the world more than God cares about America.  

As an American, it’s easy for me to think that this election is at the center of everything. In other words, we’re the center of the world.

The sobering thought, the one that gives me peace, however, is that God is not just the God of America, but the Creator of all.

We have this perspective of Jesus two thousand years after the fact, but I hope we can remember what the Jewish perspective of Jesus would have been in his day.

The Messiah was supposed overthrow the Roman government. Whoever this Messiah was, they were supposed to liberate the Jewish nation from the oppression of Rome and usher in a new kingdom, likely by force.

Seriously, how boring and near sited would the story be if Jesus only came to overthrow the Roman government?

What Jesus did, was liberate the Hebrew people from oppression because he ushered in not a new political agenda, but a brand new way of life.

One that was so different from the current Roman way of life that it eventually got him killed.

He came to proclaim the kingdom.

The kingdom was the good news, the kingdom was a space in which the sick could rejoice, the lame could rejoice, the poor could rejoice. They were blessed because in this kingdom they would be made a priority.  

I know you’re being bombarded with politics, but seriously how good does that sound?

The stress we’re experiencing in this political season can be overcome with a simple dose of trust.

We have to trust that no matter what happens on Tuesday, Wednesday is still going to be there. We have to trust that even though there’s Friday, Sunday is coming.

The church understands this, and for years, especially if your church was founded before 1985, they have used this funny word for it.

Fellowship

Fellowship is community but it beckons us a little deeper. It’s community that acknowledges it is a part of the larger story. Part of something bigger than ourselves.

Through fellowship we join in the cosmic, mysterious, and historical sort of relationship with each other that the church has been known to provide space for.

Unfortunately, the term fellowship also brings to mind images of musty fellowship halls, potlucks, and casseroles. Spaces and social situations in which you were meant to dress up and be the very best version of yourself.

For some of us who have been hurt by the church, the word fellowship is a cringeworthy reminder of a painful season of our lives. If you have no previous experience in the church it just sounds like a dated way to describe relationship.

One thing we can all agree on, fellowship sounds christian.

That’s because it is. However it’s an overused term that’s been highjacked by stuffy christians for too long. So this is my attempt to take it back.

To begin, let’s look at some of our needs:

We all crave meaning and community.

Like never before, people are interested in serving others. We seek out movements that evoke change in the world. We have discovered that the way we spend our time and resources can actually make a difference in the world and that there are changes worth investing in.

There are multiple social apps that connect people looking for others with the same interests, so that they can meet together and do what they. are passionate about. We are clicks away from community, through the internet that connects the majority of the world.

This is an abundant time to find your community/meaning and this is where the church seems to be missing the mark.

My friend Stephen said it best, “People didn’t stop going to church, they just started calling it brunch.”

Brilliant and true, lets unpack that a bit.

People are finding meaningful conversation around tables on topics they are passionate about. They are talking about real issues going on in the world and doing so without the fear that they don’t have all the answers.

Brunch or other communal gatherings offer the ability to catch up with friends, and meet new ones, it’s a table where all are welcome.

That sounds a lot like what a church should be, so why isn’t church like that?

The key to our brunch-church dilemma, can be found in our old friend fellowship.

Fellowship offers us a way to come together, surrounded by meaning. Through it, we gather under the assumption that God is at work amongst us and we’re invited to jump in. Even if we’re at brunch sipping on twelve dollar mimosas, through fellowship we can recognize that when brunch is over, we are still part of something greater than ourselves. We are still following Jesus, and we are still the church.

The conversations we have in fellowship carry with them the context of the meaningful work we are all a part of. All of the good we want to do in the world, all of the change, can happen in the midst of our gathering because in fellowship things like justice, love, and empathy are implied. Meaning and community, become intertwined another is no reason to think of them separately.

We need spaces for fellowship. We need churches in which we can explore our faith as safely and as openly as we can at a table over a meal. Where we don’t have to put on the best version of ourselves because we are already known and loved. In the spirit of this sort of authenticity, church can be a safer space. One that we can return to if it’s burned us, or maybe one we can walk into more confidently if we have no prior experience with it at all.

I have a few friends who are excellent surfers, and I’m crazy jealous of them. I have little to no athletic ability, and the added possibility of meeting a shark really seals the deal on my non-surfing identity. For my friends who do surf, it’s their passion. These guys get up at the crack of dawn, and head to the water so they can catch great waves, and find the best spots possible. That’s a lot of commitment compared to any of my hobbies, and I really admire their dedication. I don’t wake up at five in the morning for much of anything.

Faith and surfing have a lot in common. More specifically, I believe faith looks a lot like the most important part of surfing - a surfboard.

When we first embrace God, and faith. Our relationship with the divine looks a lot like what surfers call a long board. That is, a huge hunk of floating material, maybe even foam, that we can’t possibly sink. It’s designed like that on purpose. In fact, the only challenge for a surfer on a long board is to be able to stand up. The board is basically a small canoe, so you aren’t going to have too much trouble getting into a wave; it’s going to do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

The long board has a lot in common with the early stages of our faith development, and even the churches we attend. It could be likened to the classic, Five Steps to a Better Life variety of a sermon.

I’m not putting down this type of board. Some people really dig the long board, and stay on it forever. I have great affection for this point in my own faith journey as well. We all need a place to begin.

However, my surfer friends would tell you that the longer you surf; you start trading in your long board for shorter and shorter boards. The long board itself was never a bad thing, but when you progress, you tend to use a shorter board. Which is way more difficult to maneuver/catch waves on, but it becomes more challenging and thus, more rewarding.

The long board in all of its simple goodness simply can’t handle the surfer you have become.

I wonder why that isn’t the same when it comes to our faith?

The institution that helped shape our early faith, be it the church, or its leaders, have been doing most of the heavy lifting for us, and that isn’t their fault. They’re catering to us. I find it heartbreaking that when a leader encourages their congregation try a "shorter board" approach, they get in trouble, or their people leave and find another church.

There is this great story in the bible about the people of Israel.

God had just sent Moses to free His people from slavery in Egypt, and bring them across the Reed Sea. He parted the waters and walked his people through them, drowning Pharaoh’s army behind them. From that moment on, they weren’t slaves anymore.

At this point, the Israelites were a people that had not experienced freedom. Being free, was a foreign concept and as a result, some of them began to bicker and complain that they had it better back in Egypt.

Again, just for reference, they were slaves there.

Can you imagine a former slave, experiencing freedom for the first time, and actually requesting to go back into captivity?

It seems like a ludicrous response, but we do it all the time when it comes to our faith.

When God calls us into something new, to step out into the unknown. We don’t often answer the call, because we’re really comfortable in the “known". To take a step of faith into something new is risky. Even though its what God is calling us to, and we know it, we stick with the familiar. It’s safe.

If the Israelites had stuck with the familiar, they would have remained captives.

What is keeping us captive?

What is it that keeps people of faith coming back for more and more of those classic Five Steps to Change Your Life sermons?

There could, very well, be Five Steps to Change Your Life, and the practical reaction to such a sermon would be to embrace those steps and see all that sweet, sweet change.

Here’s the thing. That sort of change really is possible, and there are more people than I can count who have experienced the redemption and grace of God through this sort of teaching. My question is, when that change happens, what’s next? Once we encounter this living God, where do we go from there?

The reality that I’m praying for is that some of us, who have been on the long board for a healthy amount of time, recognize the hope that this isn’t the only sort of board out there. That there are deeper layers to this thing. Instead of staying static, let us embrace our relationship with God and perhaps move to a shorter board.

That’s a beautiful picture of the kingdom.

A bunch of human beings just floating in the water, all of us on different sized boards, surfing together. Beginners along with skilled pros, all experiencing the same thing, at different levels of relationship with the water. All waiting for the same wave.

Every one of them learning, progressing and moving forward.

Easter - What’s New?

Drinking Wine and Washing Feet

Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s the fifth day of holy week, where we reflect on the Last Supper. For me, this is the most emotional day of holy week. I have a great love for this thing we call the church. I grew up it in it, and it has shaped me in more ways than I count. Unfortunately if you have spent any good amount of time in the institution of the church you’re sure to see that we tend to mess it up a lot. In fact, so much so that when we read about the Last Supper in the holy scriptures we begin to look at the gathering with a degree of foreign, unfamiliarity.  However, the Last Supper is the most honest, authentic, gritty, inclusive, and gorgeous church service in all the bible.

Let's recap this Last Supper deal shall we? First off, we have a former prostitute busting in on the meal, dumping some VERY expensive perfume on Jesus head, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, casually drops that one of the people around the table is about to hand him over to the death penalty, and then demonstrates/creates what we call communion today.  

Sounds like a quiet night in.  

I want to press into the last supper because its church. It shows us who we are following, and cuts right to the heart of what we should be doing as we gather. 

Mary pouring precious perfume on Jesus sets the tone. It’s not only a symbol of Jesus being anointed, but it’s also a pretty radical statement all on its own. Mary is a former prostitute, broken, and healed by Jesus and his word. The scripture says that Jesus had previously freed her of seven demons. She is also (pretty obviously) a women, which unfortunately in this stage of human history was not exactly a celebrated position. Tragically, women held a very low place in society and I think it’s all too fitting that in this kingdom Jesus came to bring about he would be anointed by this person. An unlikely upside down twist, declaring that things are different now. The old ways of doing things, the status quo, is now irrelevant. It’s being replaced with this brand new economy of love, full acceptance and grace.  

Then we have Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Telling his closest group of friends and followers that this is the very reason he came. To serve, and not to be served. This is a picture of the God of the universe washing the lowest part of our body. Scrubbing the feet of his creation like a father caring for his children. That’s enough to make me well up with emotion.  

Up next there’s communion, the eucharist. At this point Jesus knows what’s coming, and he realizes that we need something centering, something we can use to get right back to this spot at the table. The Eucharist is tradition, and the beautiful thing about tradition is that it takes us out of the constructs of time. In it we aren’t here or there, we are in the act. Joining with those who came before us and those who will follow. We enter into the very same action Jesus and his disciples were in. The eucharist so beautifully sums up the fact Jesus is present in our gatherings. 

Now we get to the present part. In our churches are we seeing this kind of radical love? Whose feet are we washing? How are we remembering Christ, and entering into the reality that he is alive? 

Easter - What’s New?

Drinking Wine and Washing Feet

Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s the fifth day of holy week, where we reflect on the Last Supper. For me, this is the most emotional day of holy week. I have a great love for this thing we call the church. I grew up it in it, and it has shaped me in more ways than I count. Unfortunately if you have spent any good amount of time in the institution of the church you’re sure to see that we tend to mess it up a lot. In fact, so much so that when we read about the Last Supper in the holy scriptures we begin to look at the gathering with a degree of foreign, unfamiliarity.  However, the Last Supper is the most honest, authentic, gritty, inclusive, and gorgeous church service in all the bible.

Let's recap this Last Supper deal shall we? First off, we have a former prostitute busting in on the meal, dumping some VERY expensive perfume on Jesus head, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, casually drops that one of the people around the table is about to hand him over to the death penalty, and then demonstrates/creates what we call communion today.  

Sounds like a quiet night in.  

I want to press into the last supper because its church. It shows us who we are following, and cuts right to the heart of what we should be doing as we gather. 

Mary pouring precious perfume on Jesus sets the tone. It’s not only a symbol of Jesus being anointed, but it’s also a pretty radical statement all on its own. Mary is a former prostitute, broken, and healed by Jesus and his word. The scripture says that Jesus had previously freed her of seven demons. She is also (pretty obviously) a women, which unfortunately in this stage of human history was not exactly a celebrated position. Tragically, women held a very low place in society and I think it’s all too fitting that in this kingdom Jesus came to bring about he would be anointed by this person. An unlikely upside down twist, declaring that things are different now. The old ways of doing things, the status quo, is now irrelevant. It’s being replaced with this brand new economy of love, full acceptance and grace.  

Then we have Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Telling his closest group of friends and followers that this is the very reason he came. To serve, and not to be served. This is a picture of the God of the universe washing the lowest part of our body. Scrubbing the feet of his creation like a father caring for his children. That’s enough to make me well up with emotion.  

Up next there’s communion, the eucharist. At this point Jesus knows what’s coming, and he realizes that we need something centering, something we can use to get right back to this spot at the table. The Eucharist is tradition, and the beautiful thing about tradition is that it takes us out of the constructs of time. In it we aren’t here or there, we are in the act. Joining with those who came before us and those who will follow. We enter into the very same action Jesus and his disciples were in. The eucharist so beautifully sums up the fact Jesus is present in our gatherings. 

Now we get to the present part. In our churches are we seeing this kind of radical love? Whose feet are we washing? How are we remembering Christ, and entering into the reality that he is alive? 

WHAT THE EASTER STORY IS DOING TO ME…THIS YEAR.

Part 1 - Fear

There’s a huge amount of change in my life right now. Career moves are on the horizon, friends are getting older, moving into new stages of life, and kids are coming into the picture. Change is in the air.  

I'm also learning that change and opportunity seem to come hand in hand. When a new door is opened and we are brave enough to walk through it, we end up changing our lives.  

That’s a pretty beautiful picture.  

There’s just this one little thing that tends to get in the way, and thats fear. 

We’re all familiar with the feeling. It’s the moment something in the air shifts. All of a sudden panic hits the bloodstream. A rush of not-so-awesome adrenaline is revealing that something big is about to go down. That it might even be “dangerous”. 

This instinct used to be a whole lot more helpful a couple thousand years ago when that something big was a lion preparing to eat me, or perhaps it was a gut feeling that that snake didn't look too friendly...  

Humanity has since evolved. However, that same panic-filled rush that stopped us from death, hasn’t seemed to keep up with the pace. 

I still panic over a deadline the same as I would if a lion were about to eat me. This fear and anxiety can be crippling, and it can actually keep us hostage from what we're really supposed to be doing in the world.  

Jesus has this great moment with fear in the Easter story. 

One of his last nights is spent in the garden of Gethsemane praying. Jesus speaks passionately with the Father about the pain, suffering, and death he will soon be subject to. He even asks, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) and while his faithfulness remains, I think its important that we hang on to that humanity a little bit longer. To focus in on the fear that Jesus is experiencing is so helpful in understanding our own battle with it. 

He’s afraid.

Afraid of the pain, judgment, torture, and agony. Who wouldn’t be? Jesus knows that salvation hangs in the balance, and his fear is still there. His fear is important enough to be included in this passion story and that cannot be overlooked.  

When fear is present it should tell us that whatever happens next is going to matter. It’s going to change things and it could potentially change EVERYTHING. Guess what? It’s doing its job. However, fear’s job is not our job. It’s a voice to pay attention to, but just like any advice, we need to take it for what it’s worth, and make a choice.  

If the Jesus story ended in that garden, there would be no hope.  

If the fear had won we would have no Sunday.  

I’m learning that fear is something God gives us. It’s actually a stunning example of his love for us. The problem, is that I need to treat fear for what it is, a feeling. If I feel it, I know something beautiful may be on the other side. Something big might be happening and I need to pay attention. 

Every day this week, lets remember that this Easter story is the big one. It doesn’t just speak to salvation, it speaks into every aspect of our lives. 

Today, let it speak to our fears. May we not let fear have the last word. May we let it be a signal of meaning and progression, that it’s very presence means something big, and awesome is coming.

God has bigger things than fear. 

WHAT THE EASTER STORY IS DOING TO ME…THIS YEAR.

Part 1 - Fear

There’s a huge amount of change in my life right now. Career moves are on the horizon, friends are getting older, moving into new stages of life, and kids are coming into the picture. Change is in the air.  

I'm also learning that change and opportunity seem to come hand in hand. When a new door is opened and we are brave enough to walk through it, we end up changing our lives.  

That’s a pretty beautiful picture.  

There’s just this one little thing that tends to get in the way, and thats fear. 

We’re all familiar with the feeling. It’s the moment something in the air shifts. All of a sudden panic hits the bloodstream. A rush of not-so-awesome adrenaline is revealing that something big is about to go down. That it might even be “dangerous”. 

This instinct used to be a whole lot more helpful a couple thousand years ago when that something big was a lion preparing to eat me, or perhaps it was a gut feeling that that snake didn't look too friendly...  

Humanity has since evolved. However, that same panic-filled rush that stopped us from death, hasn’t seemed to keep up with the pace. 

I still panic over a deadline the same as I would if a lion were about to eat me. This fear and anxiety can be crippling, and it can actually keep us hostage from what we're really supposed to be doing in the world.  

Jesus has this great moment with fear in the Easter story. 

One of his last nights is spent in the garden of Gethsemane praying. Jesus speaks passionately with the Father about the pain, suffering, and death he will soon be subject to. He even asks, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) and while his faithfulness remains, I think its important that we hang on to that humanity a little bit longer. To focus in on the fear that Jesus is experiencing is so helpful in understanding our own battle with it. 

He’s afraid.

Afraid of the pain, judgment, torture, and agony. Who wouldn’t be? Jesus knows that salvation hangs in the balance, and his fear is still there. His fear is important enough to be included in this passion story and that cannot be overlooked.  

When fear is present it should tell us that whatever happens next is going to matter. It’s going to change things and it could potentially change EVERYTHING. Guess what? It’s doing its job. However, fear’s job is not our job. It’s a voice to pay attention to, but just like any advice, we need to take it for what it’s worth, and make a choice.  

If the Jesus story ended in that garden, there would be no hope.  

If the fear had won we would have no Sunday.  

I’m learning that fear is something God gives us. It’s actually a stunning example of his love for us. The problem, is that I need to treat fear for what it is, a feeling. If I feel it, I know something beautiful may be on the other side. Something big might be happening and I need to pay attention. 

Every day this week, lets remember that this Easter story is the big one. It doesn’t just speak to salvation, it speaks into every aspect of our lives. 

Today, let it speak to our fears. May we not let fear have the last word. May we let it be a signal of meaning and progression, that it’s very presence means something big, and awesome is coming.

God has bigger things than fear. 

What the Easter story is doing to me…this year.  

This week I’m embarking on a little journey, a journey centered all on this Sunday. I’ve grown up with the Easter story. For years I’ve heard it, read it, seen it (often rather painfully when a church puts on a play) and experienced it. The Easter story is the defining part of my story. It’s entwined in everything I do as a follower of Christ. 

Every year on Easter, people try their best to seek out the big parts of the story. The Last Supper, The Garden, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and of course the sweetest of them all - Easter Sunday.  

In reflecting on the big parts of the story, we Jesus followers are able to express what we’re all about. It’s a beautiful tradition, placing ourselves in the story.

However, the Easter story isn’t just about history. It’s about us. It’s about us right now. 

The danger then, is believing that Easter is something we simply remember, and not something we engage in every day. 

Imagine with me for just a moment, that we all go to the same work conference every year. This conference is enormously helpful in our careers. We learn awesome new things, that take us into next steps, and create action plans. It helps us dream big for the year to come, and we leave with stacks upon stacks of notes. 

Now, what if we went to this conference for ten years straight? Would we take the exact same notes, dream the same dreams, or leave with the same ideas?  

 No way! 

 We would find a new conference if this one didn’t offer anything we hadn’t already experienced.

That’s the beautiful thing about the Easter story - It remains the same, and yet, time after time, we return to the text and it gives us something new. 

What if we were open to how the Easter story is moving us this year? 

In other words - What is God doing in us through Easter, that God didn’t the year before? 

What’s new?  

I’m going to be posting this week about what God is teaching me this Easter in the hopes that you’ll join me on this journey. I’ll break it up into four themes/four unique posts this week.

The themes are:

Fear - Hope - Togetherness - Redemption 

I was raised in the church. Like many of you I have fond and early memories of things like Sunday school, church christmas productions, and youth groups. This was largely my framework for living in community. Yet as the years pass and I've gotten older I have seen hurt, that at times, outweighs those fond memories. I can count on one hand the number of my friends from those early memories who still believe the church is a valid and vital part of their faith. 

Data has been pouring out that suggests that people my age between (20-35) have little interest in church. It’s not that they have lost interest in faith or Jesus. It’s more that they have been hurt by the way the church has treated them, or friends of theirs. That everyone isn't equal in a place that truly should be the ground zero of equality. Or more simply, and perhaps the greatest thing to pay attention to… They just aren't interested.  

I’m a part of a church plant (a start up church) right now that’s struggling, and I think one of the for this is the model of church in which we have placed ourselves. This model functions like a twist on your standard evangelical church and as it turns out, it's not what my neighbors need. 

Is the Church Still a Relevant Place? 

For the better part of american evangelical history the church was a center point in the neighborhood. It was a social event, a spiritual space and it was indeed good news to that community. It offered a space that was useful to that people group in that time period. It was also the only place you could go to hear a sermon. For one hour a week you were able to enter in and learn something new. 

Now we have podcasts, Twitter, Facebook and the entire world at our fingertips. At any moment I can hop on my phone and hear some of the worlds greatest communicators speak on Jesus. So our actual needs have shifted when it comes to church. It cannot thrive in the same capacity and rather than rearrange chairs on the titanic, its time to hit the life boats and literally build a new ship. Maybe its time to start looking at a different approach. One that doesn't follow the rules of the recent past, but goes much further into the past to find truth. Where community centered on Jesus can extend its help and actually be good news to those in the neighborhood. 

What I’m saying is nothing new. However, I’m experiencing first hand that for church to become a compelling part of peoples faith in the next twenty years, it’s going to have to posture itself in a humbling way. 

Community is Key

Living in community is essential to helping the larger community around us.

I believe in a community where we don't just preach about the wonderful things that Jesus did but where we truly put those things into action. Do we actually do what He modeled? What does it look like in our context, to heal the sick? To teach? To serve the least of these? 

Maybe it looks like using the churches resources for medical needs in the neighborhood as well as overseas. Volunteering our time at blood blanks, homeless shelters, medical clinics, HIV walks, after school programs, childcare and the like. It might look like putting on festivals, or organizing spaces for people to grow and hang out with each other. Doing these things together would show that we aren't just a tired building, but that the church is a real community that cares for the types of things our God cares for. I would love it if the church was the first place our neighborhoods and cities thought of when thinking of volunteering and serving.

What I’m suggesting is less about sitting in a room with likeminded individuals and more like getting out into the world and having no agenda except to be “salt and light”. Not to increase our presence in the eyes of our neighbors or to add to our numbers. The church doesn't need to be known by trying to “convert” people with clever language that have no interest in what we believe. Conversion in this day and age is likely a slow burn. We will begin to change peoples mind about Christians when what we do on a regular basis, actually looks like Jesus.

Jesus talked a lot about the kingdom. A kingdom in which the weak were actually the strong ones, and those who were oppressed were the ones who were counted blessed. This is a kingdom of inside-out, backwards thinking grace and we all get to live within this kingdom because like Jesus said so many times, this kingdom is at hand. He talked about himself too, but a quick read of any gospel will show that he sure liked to speak of this kingdom more. Thats exciting, because it shows that he really cared for us. He was showing us a way to live where our potential for a meaningful life could be realized. He cared so much for the here and now that he stepped into our story to be a part of it. That looks like a God who acts, and listens to the world he loves. 

What I’m hoping to convey is that the church doesn't seem to be a relevant option for young people who value issues like social justice, equality, climate change, peace, and spiritual enlightenment. Even though the church offers this in abundance, that’s not the version of the story they grew up hearing, and that’s not what’s on the news. Our church gatherings need to reflect what our people care about, and even more they should be the first place to jump into action. 

At the very center of our gatherings should be the eucharist (communion). Jesus was brilliant to put this as the focal point of our times together. He said, “Do this in remembrance of me…” When we take part in the eucharist we are to remember what Jesus did for us, how he died on the cross and rose again. This should also cause us to remember the way he lived, the people he healed, and the parables he told. This is where we get to pause, reflect on God, and continue forward remembering that Jesus was one who loved to help, heal and love. We don’t go to the table alone, we do this in community that we might be reminded of our place in his kingdom together. It’s a holy call to action. 

That’s what I’m longing for. I’m longing for that table.

A church gathering doesn't have to resemble a rock concert for 20 minutes and then a TED talk for 30 (even though it can!). Maybe it should have space for more interaction and conversation with each other. Perhaps it should involve getting some dirt under our fingernails and sharing in the pain of those who suffer the most. Church has the potential to be a selfless, tiring, but rewarding experience. Best of all, if it’s done right it’s something that we get to share in together. 

It’s been a foggy, rainy June where I live in Santa Monica. We desperately need the rain in California, but June is the time of year most people come here to vacation. I walked down to my favorite coffee shop this morning and overheard a couple of disappointed tourists, lamenting their perfect sunny trip. 

When it rains here, it’s a pretty cleansing experience. It doesn't happen very often so in-between rains we get a massive amount of build up. Stuff like dirt, and grime build on our streets and sidewalks. This is especially true now, as we’re in the middle of one of the most intense droughts in California history. So when it does rain, all the build up, garbage, and dirt is washed off the streets and into the storm drains. The water is then treated and pumped to the ocean. My surfer buddies tell me this is not an ideal time to get in the water… and I'll take their word for it. 

What’s interesting, is that the city has a system in place so that when a storm comes, not only do we avoid getting flooded and our property isn't damaged, but we also benefit from its power. The storm leaves the city a little bit cleaner, and little bit more pleasant to live in. We harness it and use it to our benefit. 

Last week I posted my first blog entry. I had no idea what to expect, but I certainly didn't expect this. My blog made it to the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Christian Today, and many others. I did podcasts, radio shows, and even had an offer to go on national TV. It’s just today that my phone has calmed and things are winding down.

The thoughts I shared in the post were on God’s love for his people. They were thoughts I had been sitting on for a long time and I felt as though I couldn't stay silent any longer. When the storm hit and the post went viral, I think I experienced a similar cleanse to what my city experiences when it rains. 

I had been afraid to speak out, because I didn't know that the storm drains existed in my life. 

It just so happened that there was a drain for every hurtful reply, or mean spirited message I received as a result of the post. Trust me, there were a few of those. 

God used the storm to make me a better human being. In the scriptures, the same theme comes up in most major stories. We see God doing incredible things with a not so incredible situation. It usually looks something like this:

There’s a person

There’s a storm

There’s redemption 

We meet the person in the story, we see their trouble, and God uses it for amazing things. For instance:

There’s Moses, there’s murder, there’s freeing all his people.

There’s Joseph, there’s slavery/prison, there’s saving all of Egypt.

There’s David, There’s Goliath, there’s him becoming a king.

There’s Jesus, there’s the cross, there’s salvation.

Again… There’s a person, there’s a storm, there’s redemption. 

We’re all going to get caught in a storm at some point. It comes down to how we respond to God in the midst of it. We have to remember that just like those storm drains, God has a way of using the storm and leaving us just a little bit better.  Looking at these stories, I think he has a pretty good track record.

So now, whatever story you find your self in, whether its beautiful or heart breaking. 

I Went to Church with Bruce Jenner and Here’s what Caitlyn Taught Me About Jesus.

When I was a budding twenty-one year old I took a job at a church in Calabasas. It was a brand new church meeting in a movie theater, and as I relocated to Los Angeles for my first service I learned the Kardashian family were major supporters of the church from its infancy. At the time I had to Google their names to figure out who this celebrity family was. They had previously attended another church and met a very charismatic and prolific pastor there. He ended up leaving that church believing he wouldn’t go back to ministry.

It was Bruce Jenner that found this pastor three years later, was working at Starbucks.

Bruce searched this pastor out and told him that his wife, Kris, had been trying to find him and would love to talk with him. The Pastor kindly received the request, and upon meeting, Kris Jenner told the pastor that they wanted to start a new church in their hometown of Calabasas with him as the pastor.

If you’re surprised by this..so was I.

It’s a long story that doesn’t fully connect with the purpose of this post, and so I’ll keep it short. He accepted.

I was introduced to this pastor as a potential worship leader (music leader) for the new church. The pastor flew up from Southern California to the Bay Area where I was living, to come watch me lead worship at my Dad’s church (my father is a pastor). I had lunch with him afterwards and he told me about the vision of his new church. He explained that it was a church designed for everybody, all were welcome, and it was a "come as you are" atmosphere. I was thrilled with this idea, and I hoped and prayed that he would call me about a position. I wasn’t convinced that I nailed the interview, but I was convinced that this was where God wanted me.

Sure enough, the following week I was asked to come down and lead worship (music) in a preview service, and a week later I was offered the job. I had also let it slip that I had a youth leader background, and was great with students. The pastor asked me if I would take on that role at the church too, and I told him I would. I was thrilled to be able to work with kids close to my age and teach them about Jesus. It was only just before that preview service that I learned that the Kardashians/Jenners were an integral part of this church. I couldn't understand why a family like this would want to start a church... but honestly, I was even more intrigued.

As soon as I moved to Hollywood I was contacted by Kris Jenner and asked to meet her at her home. I drove up to their larger than life mansion in Calabasas in the busted-up Honda I still drive today. She shared that she hoped her young daughters, Kendall and Kylie, would find God and He would be a huge part of their lives. I had a blast going to the Kardashian home over several visits. It was a warm and inviting place. They loved me for who I was, and Kendall and Kylie were always fun to be around. They were so funny and beyond their years. I specifically remember their kitchen pantry - to a starving music student, that place was heaven and I was not too proud to eat as many Susie Cake cupcakes as could fill my 21 year old stomach.

As the church got its start, I quickly fell in love with it. The church was growing, I was growing, my faith was growing, and soon I was able to start the youth group. The youth group initially met on the steps inside the Edwards Calabasas movies theater, and in attendance were some of the craziest/most diverse students I have ever come into contact with. There were middle school computer prodigies, One Direction experts, and a troublemaker or two, along with Kylie and Kendall Jenner, in attendance every week. This was the beginning.

At a certain point I realized that just the Sunday morning experience wouldn’t be enough, and asked the group if there was a house that wouldn’t mind hosting a Wednesday night gathering where we could continue our conversations from Sunday morning. To my surprise it was Kendall Jenner that approached me, and told me that we could meet at her house. She had asked her parents and that was that…I was leading a youth group at the Kardashian home.

This is the same home you would recognize from the show. On my first visit I noticed stage lights in every corner as a producer that told me I couldn’t enter yet- they were in the middle of a scene. Here on the set of reality TV and a family home I began to have conversations with Caitlyn before youth group. We would make smalltalk as she microwaved a giant plate of spaghetti. Students dropped cupcakes in her pool and she was stellar enough to tell me not to worry about it. I would then later watch her scoop it out of the pool herself. It was a great experience and formative time for me, I even met my wife here as she volunteered for the youth group.

As the Jenner girls grew into careers of their own there wasn’t a lot of time for youth group. Kris and the girls stopped coming as regularly on Sunday mornings as well, although Kylie and I would still joke around when they were came for Easter and Christmas services. We moved the youth group from the Jenner’s home to my wife’s parent’s home and met weekly there. One thing remained, as odd as some of you may now find it...

Caitlyn stuck around.

She was there at church almost every Sunday, sitting in the front row and singing along to every song if she could. She would chat with me before services and make fun of how I wore sandals every day. I used to think that I was wasting her time before the service…why would this Olympian/reality TV super star want to talk with me? But the more I talked with her on Sundays the more I realized she actually cared about me. She wanted to know what was going on in my career and why I wasn't preaching yet. I knew her family, I knew her simply as a parent to two girls in my youth group, and she just wanted someone to talk to. We did just that.

Caitlyn listened with great intention to the sermons at my church. I could tell she just loved being there. Caitlyn was the one in this family who never went out claiming to be a Christian. Her statement was her attendance at church, week after week, Sunday after Sunday.

I eventually left that church under great terms to help start a brand new church in Santa Monica. Caitlyn was there my final Sunday and gave me a big hug wishing me well.

News came out shortly after that Caitlyn was transitioning.

My newsfeed is flooded by both enormous support and enormous disappointment. Most of my friends who don’t know Jesus were in support of Caitlyn, proclaiming their acceptance and love for her. Those who did know Jesus were mostly either silent or derogatory.

Today, I can’t help but think how backwards that is.

Caitlyn knows who Jesus is, and Jesus knows her by name. Whether that sits comfortably on a timeline or blog comment, I know firsthand that Caitlyn has heard the good news.

And, Caitlyn has taught me more about Jesus.

Caitlyn taught me to be bold. That’s why I’m posting this. I’ll gladly take the heat if it means standing for what is right. Jesus was bold enough to overturn tables at his father’s temple, he was bold enough to stand up to the religious leaders of his day and let them know they had it backwards. In the Bible we see the oppressed overcome the oppressor and the meek become strong. That is the core of the Jesus I know. Jesus came to eat with the people no one would be seen with, to turn the tax collector into an honest man. He came to transform the world.

Caitlyn showed me that life is a journey with many twists and turns. Look back at this person’s story- a major Olympic athlete on the cover of a Wheaties box and a reality TV star on one of the most bizarre shows about a family on the air. I will tell you that in my limited time in the Jenner/Kardashian home Caitlyn was the most grounded and sensible person there. Would she claim to know Christ now? I don't know the answer to that question, but I’m sure if I asked she would give me an answer more fully thought out than I could muster for myself.

What’s more pressing to me is how the church (my tribe) will respond to Caitlyn. The LGBTQ people I know are loving, accepting, beautiful people and many of them have been so hurt by their church communities that they have left the faith.

Jesus wasn't one to turn away from those the world had labeled broken. He was the one  who would walk towards them with open arms.  

As we continue this conversation (some would call it an argument) about the LGBTQ community and the church, I pray we can remember our God, read His word, and most of all, pray before we speak. I know plenty of other church leaders who don’t feel comfortable affirming the LGBTQ community. I also know their hearts.

May your heart break for those who are struggling or hurting. May you see what God is doing in the world he has promised to transform. May we live in hope and love.

Amen.