Preaching like a Pirate???

In honor of "Talk Like A Pirate Day" some suggested that I preach like a pirate with all the arghs and avast mateys.  Although I think the youth would like it, most of the church would probably want to make me walk the plank.  (Into the drink with yer...)  But it did make me think about how we communicate the gospel.

Many arguments have been made that we need to "dechurch" our language to attract Spiritual seekers who want to find God, but have been turned off by the church.  They have a point.  We use words in our worship that are not used in common culture.  That is why we keep re-translating the Bible.  It is only Good News if they can understand it.  The opposition's argument is that if they can learn to order a "grande, decaf, Carmel machiato cappuccino" at Starbucks (also words that are not in common use in regular society) then they should be able to learn terms like lectionary, intinction, and epistle.

For the most part I try to write my sermons and my prayers in the same way I talk.  I take to heart the advice of my preaching professor, "If you preach above the heads of your middle schoolers, then you have probably lost half the adults, too.  Now, I do not dumb down my sermons.  I believe that our youth are smarter than we give them credit for.  But I try to use everyday language.  If I want to talk about a Hebrew or Greek word, I define it first.  I have heard sermons that could have been used as doctoral thesis, and even though I could understand them, I want to know who they were trying to impress?

The core of the Gospel (Which means the Good News, by the way) can be summarized in the preschool song, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."  That is what we need to get across...  If we suddenly had an influx of Caribbean pirates, then I would not be adverse to  singing, "Jesus, loves ye, argh, ye kin..."  On World Communion Sunday I invite church members who speak another language to participate in their native tongue.  I am all for Christian music being written to Rap or Techno beats.  (I would prefer not to listen to Rap for long, but I understand that it reaches some people that I can't.)

So, the neighborhood around the church is changing.  We need to listen to and pay attention to their language if we want to reach out with the Good News.  Shiver me timbers, that can be a terrifying thought.  Some of ye would probably rather face the Kracken than change the decent and in order way that we have always done things. 

But here is one last parting thought to chew on.  Where are Presbyterian Churches the strongest?  In Korea, Several African Countries, and on Native American Reservations the Presbyterian church is thriving.  It is growing in Latin America.  Where our church is thriving is where we HAD to learn to speak their language and relate to people in their culture.  Our culture in the US is changing.  Our language in the US is changing.  Our church needs to learn to speak that language if we are to survive.  (On a lighter note:  The Spell check had as much trouble with our Presbyterian liturgical language as the pirate speak!)

Love an peace

Musings on 9-11

I think that most Americans get reflective on September 11th.  It was truly a day where the Holy Spirit had to intercede and pray for us for our cries were too deep for words.  It was a day of deep sorrow, but also a day of great compassion.  The firefighters and rescue workers risked their very lives to give compassion and comfort to the victims.  People all over the country gave of themselves to ease the suffering in New York and Washington.  I waited in a long line to give blood only to be turned away because they had run out of room to store it.

People made a point to check on friends and loved ones.  America crossed denominational and religious lines to all pray together.  In one of our darkest hours we all tried to be the people God created us to be.  People didn't identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans.  We didn't complain about partisan politics getting in the way of the relief effort, but we all asked, "What can I do?"

It's eleven years later and we are back to picking at each other and back biting.  Innocents are still dying in movie theater shootings and attacks on religious services.  Where is our unity?  Where is our compassion?  We sit here complaining about politics and what the politicians aren't doing, instead of asking, "What can I do?"

OK, I know, we are sinful, selfish human beings.  We get tired of being good all the time.  But today as we remember all who died on 9-11, let us also remember the glimpse of the kingdom that it gave us.  Remember the love and compassion that we had for our neighbors and even strangers.  Remember the sense of unity in the midst of our diversity.  Remember the desire to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

Pray today that we can be the compassionate, giving, accepting, and loving people that we were in September of 2001.  We reflected Jesus that day.  It is closer to the people we were created to be.  Take cookies to your local fire fighters.  Give blood.  I personally bought more peanut butter for the food pantry.  We honor the fallen better when we "Love our neighbors as ourselves."

Peace!

When It Is "One of Those Days"

I had a day yesterday that would have made old Murphy proud.  I don't think there was much more that could go wrong; dogs escaping, a sick child, bad news from family members.  It was one of those days where you didn't know whether to scream, pull your hair out, or (as it usually is in my case) sit down and cry.  How as Christians do we deal with "One of Those Days?"

As a Presbyterian, I believe in a Sovereign God, but that doesn't mean that God purposely orchestrates every car that cuts you off, every light that turns yellow, or any of the other bigger things that seem bent on ruining your day.  God loves us and has our best interests at heart.  That doesn't mean that God is going to make you remember to shut the fence gate, or keep some kid from sneezing his germs on yours, or keep us from destructive behavior.

So how does being a Christian help with days like this?  Does it help?  I believe that it does.  I believe that I make it through those days with God's strength.  I even slept last night (much to my surprise!)

Here are two things I cling to when I have a bad day.

1. Romans 8:26 says "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." 
When all you can do is cry, God understands what you mean and what you need.  You don't even need to voice it. 
2. I try to remember to pray "not my will, but Thy will be done."  When things are all going wrong I don't always know what is the right thing to do.  I don't always know what to pray for.  I trust that God does know what is best.  There have been many times when what seemed like a tragedy at the time, turned out to be the best thing in the world.  For example:  Because Baylor temporarily lost my application, I wound up going to Vandy where I met my husband. 


I trust that even if God did not cause my troubles, that God CAN make good come out of them if only I ask.  "Thy will be done Lord!"  Then, comes the hard part:  actually letting go and letting God.  May you have a blessed day, even if it is "One of Those Days."