Where Do Good Stories Start?

Good Stories Start Here. Those were the words spread across a billboard that got my attention the other day. I am always up for a good story, and I long for my story to be one of those good ones. So I was intrigued by that phrase Good Stories Start Here...perhaps if I know the beginning of a good story, where it starts, then I might have a clue as to the how and where it will end. Good stories are not always predictable. What makes them entertaining is the uncertainty of knowing what will happen next. If the main character's actions become too predictable, then the story is boring. If too unpredictable, the story becomes unbelievable. And of course a good story is about the development of the character of its characters. Sort of an action adventure motif of movement towards maturity, at least that's what you would like to see and hear in a good story. Where do good stories start? According to the billboard ad, good stories start in a bottle of liquor, the brand not necessary name. Personally I don't know too many good stories that start with a bottle of liquor. Usually tragic stories begin here. With movies such as The Hangover, a liquor start to a story can be entertaining, but laughing at the misfortune of others isn't necessarily commendable. There is a secret wish throughout the movie that things will turn out well in the end in spite of this comedy of errors. Realistically, we know things usually go from bad to worse with no guarantee of improvement. Where do good stories really start? In the Gospel of Luke a "young man comes up to Jesus and asks, Good Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life." And Jesus answered, Why do you call me Good, there is none good but God." It seems to me that good stories start with God and the tale God is trying to tell. That story begins well and ends well, but it is not too predictable nor always enjoyable in the middle. Our story connected with God's story, can be disappointing and painful. It can also be fruitful and positive. The one thing it doesn't have to be is boring. Hear any good stories lately?

Burning Bibles

Nothing incites masses more than burning sacred books. Burn some Bibles or even worse burn some copies of the Quran and you are likely to have a riot on your hands. As true believers we try to be mature and not make the Bible, God, or the Quran, God. Though the printed page reveals God to us we do not worship the book, but the one whom the book is about. To use the telescope analogy, the telescope helps us to see the stars, it is not a star. It is a means to an end. John Scotus Eriugena taught that God speaks to us through two books, one is the little book, the book of scripture, physically little. The other is the big book, the book of creation, vast as the universe. If God speaks to us through both texts, the words of scripture and the elements of creation, and we get upset when scripture is burned, then why do we not get upset when creation is destroyed? Think of the words of God that are lost when hazardous chemicals are poured into a river, or pollutants pumped into the sky? How many opportunities to hear God's voice are missed when a species disappears? I know Reformed Theology tends to dismiss general revelation in favor of special revelation. However, it is general revelation that is quoted first to prove the existence of God. Creation is the something that exists rather than nothing, and God we say, is the reason why. It is through creation that we get our first glimpse of wonder, and sense of awe and Majesty. What would happened if we venerated the book of creation as much as the the book of scripture?

Theology Matters?

I get a publication almost every month called Theology Matters. It is a well thought out and well written publication. But does Theology matter? Having two advanced degrees my knee jerk response is OF COURSE THEOLOGY MATTERS. How and what we think about God shapes our lives, or at least that's the dominant thinking. What often troubles me is the disconnect between right thinking about God and right living, coupled with the tendency to twist and turn what we think about God to justify what we are already doing. Then there's the whole disconnect between what we think about God and reality. Theodicy is just one of those issues. How many times have we writhed under the Good God, good people, bad stuff question? How many times have we thrown out words like permitted, allowed, but not first cause. We even had a book called The Shack that creatively wrestled with the question. I know it is a real question, because I have a person in a study group I lead that asks the question regarding God's goodness, and sovereignty in the accidental death of his daughter. Theology might matter if it were able to answer that question adequately, but alas it hasn't, at least adequately. Some of the answers it gives, reduces God into some uncaring cruel person, or a powerless deity. Neither one of those is a viable option to me or to most people. Would I deal better with those kinds of losses if I had a better answer- theologically speaking? The sad part is probably not. The pain would be just as real and deep. The why question if answered in those type of situations rarely gets heard. There is always an accusing finger pointed God's way regardless- either as the direct cause- "it must have been God's will," or indirectly by inaction- the old could have done something to stop it it, but didn't response. No matter how you roll it, it keeps coming up - at least emotionally as God's fault. This is a God sins by commission and omission argument... On a more positive note, it seems theology does not matter that much to God. We think right theology is necessary for a person to enter into a relationship with God, and for God to enter into a relationship with them. The truth is that a whole lot of people have entered into and enjoy a relationship with God regardless of how right or wrong their theology is. God seems to love people and God allows himself to be loved by people regardless of the correctness or incorrectness of their theology. If this is indeed true of God, it should if nothing else, get us to turn down the volume in theology discussions and enable us to live better together. Theology does matter, but not nearly as much as we may think it does.

In Favor of Big Tents

I heard someone say the other day that the Presbyterian Church, USA, the denomination in which I have hung my hat for close to thirty four years, has been a big tent for a long time. The statement was made in reference to a number of pastors and congregations who are leaving the denomination and finding another tent to be under. They are leaving because they are unhappy with some of the people and positions of those in the big tent. In their view, the tent is too big. It contains too many different views and perspectives and priorities. So they want a smaller tent with less belief options and a stronger gate to keep some uninvited and unwelcome guests away. Tucked underneath the departure to smaller tents is the subtext of church growth and success. Everyone wants to talk about how many members the denomination has lost over the years, and they point to the big tent as the reason, or at least some of the folks under the big tent as spurring the departure. The thinking is that if the big tent were smaller, congregations stand a better chance of growth as well a the denomination as a whole.I find it interesting that folks will point to diversity as the reason for the denomination's decline, but when asked if it is the denominations differing positions that have caused their congregation's decline, they remain silent. Perhaps changing theological positions within the denomination have caused some sheep to go to a different fold, but it does not account for the membership losses in most congregations. There are a lot of reasons people either move on or out of the church. The key to church growth is not found in becoming the bastion of conservative/fundamentalist/evangelical brand of Christianity. Not every nonchurched, unchurched or dechurched person is looking for a conservative/fundamentalist/evangelical congregation. They are however looking for an authentic one. It may have one label or another, but the key to growth is the authentic acceptance and expressed love of those not yet under the tent. This authentic love and acceptance allows for multiple entry points, from worship services to small groups to mission efforts. In the end, this authentic love and acceptance by its nature, creates bigger and bigger tents, not smaller ones. That's why I firmly believe the bigger the tent, the better.