Indifference

When it comes to passionately embracing our calling as Christians, indifference is the devil’s tool. Whether we call it apathy, lack of interest, or boredom, ‘indifference’ saps energy and sucks life out of the mission of the church. And yet, when asked to identify the root causes of a passionless spirituality, church members have given responses that point to indifference.

It is as if there is an ecclesiastical take on the popular book and movie, He’s just not that into you. In the case of the church, it would be, “We’re just not that into Him.” Why should we get excited about church when church is just one item clamoring for attention in our lives? There are a myriad of demands on our lives that at any given time trump church: the kids’ soccer game, for instance, or staying up the night before and just wanting to sleep in on a Sunday morning.

Something else more troubling gnaws at our insides: the dissonance between belief and action. I’m not talking about sin. I am readily aware that the community of faith called church has always been an amalgam of saints and sinners and whether inside or outside of its purview, sin abounds. I have been and continue to be one who falls short of the glory of God. I refer to a deeper discord where our everyday actions are indistinguishable from those who do not profess faith. We are not out there enough getting our hands and feet dirty dealing with the pain of our communities. We are not out there loving the marginalized or touching the lepers or dining with the ones least likely to get an invitation to our next party.

And what is particularly troublesome: the inability to be honest enough with ourselves and with our brothers and sisters in the faith to engage in serious conversation about it.

To not discuss matters of passion around the faith we profess is to fall into the devil’s hands, it is to allow indifference to win. And, it is killing the church as we know it. Younger people looking from the outside in at the inauthenticity of passionless spirituality move on to the other side of the street. We’re dismissed. No amount of programs or marketing will overcome the chasm we have built.

Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37b NRSV). Jesus will sustain us even in the moments when energies wane. All we need do is come to him in our brokenness and vulnerability. Can we begin such a conversation with him and with our brothers and sisters to address the issue of passionless spirituality?

Indifference

When it comes to passionately embracing our calling as Christians, indifference is the devil’s tool. Whether we call it apathy, lack of interest, or boredom, ‘indifference’ saps energy and sucks life out of the mission of the church. And yet, when asked to identify the root causes of a passionless spirituality, church members have given responses that point to indifference.

It is as if there is an ecclesiastical take on the popular book and movie, He’s just not that into you. In the case of the church, it would be, “We’re just not that into Him.” Why should we get excited about church when church is just one item clamoring for attention in our lives? There are a myriad of demands on our lives that at any given time trump church: the kids’ soccer game, for instance, or staying up the night before and just wanting to sleep in on a Sunday morning.

Something else more troubling gnaws at our insides: the dissonance between belief and action. I’m not talking about sin. I am readily aware that the community of faith called church has always been an amalgam of saints and sinners and whether inside or outside of its purview, sin abounds. I have been and continue to be one who falls short of the glory of God. I refer to a deeper discord where our everyday actions are indistinguishable from those who do not profess faith. We are not out there enough getting our hands and feet dirty dealing with the pain of our communities. We are not out there loving the marginalized or touching the lepers or dining with the ones least likely to get an invitation to our next party.

And what is particularly troublesome: the inability to be honest enough with ourselves and with our brothers and sisters in the faith to engage in serious conversation about it.

To not discuss matters of passion around the faith we profess is to fall into the devil’s hands, it is to allow indifference to win. And, it is killing the church as we know it. Younger people looking from the outside in at the inauthenticity of passionless spirituality move on to the other side of the street. We’re dismissed. No amount of programs or marketing will overcome the chasm we have built.

Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37b NRSV). Jesus will sustain us even in the moments when energies wane. All we need do is come to him in our brokenness and vulnerability. Can we begin such a conversation with him and with our brothers and sisters to address the issue of passionless spirituality?

Who are THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED today?

One of F. Scott Fitzgerald's enduring books is The Beautiful and the Damned. Anthony Patch and his wife Gloria play out the roles of spoiled, privileged New Yorkers in early 20th century America. Fitzgerald depicted an especially decadent side of americana--when wealth and privilege yield to sloth and the excesses that come when people have too much money for which they have not worked. How much of this novel is being played out today in what is fast becoming known as "The Great Recession?"

Who are THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED today?

One of F. Scott Fitzgerald's enduring books is The Beautiful and the Damned. Anthony Patch and his wife Gloria play out the roles of spoiled, privileged New Yorkers in early 20th century America. Fitzgerald depicted an especially decadent side of americana--when wealth and privilege yield to sloth and the excesses that come when people have too much money for which they have not worked. How much of this novel is being played out today in what is fast becoming known as "The Great Recession?"

A Great Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert takes us along her one year search for meaning and self in Italy, India and Indonesia.  Her honesty about the pain experienced in a drawn out divorce and a subsequent broken relationship leads us into an excursion of finding solace, a deeper sense of self, and spirituality.  Hers is a discovery of grace.  Her writing is exquisite.  Here is one excerpt that spoke to me:  "I think about the woman I have become lately, about the life that I am now living, and about how much I always wanted to be this person and live this life, liberated from the farce of pretending to be anyone other than myself."  (p. 329)  This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in years--a memoir filled with honest self assessment, wonderful characters, forgiveness, grace, spirituality and love.

A Great Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert takes us along her one year search for meaning and self in Italy, India and Indonesia.  Her honesty about the pain experienced in a drawn out divorce and a subsequent broken relationship leads us into an excursion of finding solace, a deeper sense of self, and spirituality.  Hers is a discovery of grace.  Her writing is exquisite.  Here is one excerpt that spoke to me:  "I think about the woman I have become lately, about the life that I am now living, and about how much I always wanted to be this person and live this life, liberated from the farce of pretending to be anyone other than myself."  (p. 329)  This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in years--a memoir filled with honest self assessment, wonderful characters, forgiveness, grace, spirituality and love.

The Trajedy of Capitalism gone wild

Last night a friend of mine shared a story having to do Bernie Madoff.  The infamous ponzi schemer went to his 50th High School reunion last year.  One of his classmates asked if he could invest with him.  He said, at the time of the reunion, that he had a 4-5 year waiting list.  Two months later Madoff called the guy back saying that he had relented and, after all, would allow him to invest but the minimum was two million dollars.  The classmate didn't have this much money himself so he enlisted his sister, brother-in-law and other family members who anted up the minimum.  They all lost everything.  It must be an illness to wreck havoc on friends this way.  It may also be the more depraved ugliness that comes with capitalism gone wild and that is driven by greed, selfishness and the insatiable appetite for bigger, better, more.  Madoff is emblematic of a larger scale captitalism run amok where Wall streeters and consumers left reason behind to grasp the holy grail of riches.  Let's hope that the upswing of all of this is a lessening of the gap between the rich and poor and more measured, reasonable economic aparatus that serves humanity.

The Trajedy of Capitalism gone wild

Last night a friend of mine shared a story having to do Bernie Madoff.  The infamous ponzi schemer went to his 50th High School reunion last year.  One of his classmates asked if he could invest with him.  He said, at the time of the reunion, that he had a 4-5 year waiting list.  Two months later Madoff called the guy back saying that he had relented and, after all, would allow him to invest but the minimum was two million dollars.  The classmate didn't have this much money himself so he enlisted his sister, brother-in-law and other family members who anted up the minimum.  They all lost everything.  It must be an illness to wreck havoc on friends this way.  It may also be the more depraved ugliness that comes with capitalism gone wild and that is driven by greed, selfishness and the insatiable appetite for bigger, better, more.  Madoff is emblematic of a larger scale captitalism run amok where Wall streeters and consumers left reason behind to grasp the holy grail of riches.  Let's hope that the upswing of all of this is a lessening of the gap between the rich and poor and more measured, reasonable economic aparatus that serves humanity.

Once again proud

My son Ben joined the millions who were present on the mall in Washington, D.C. to witness the inaugeration of Barack Obama.  I was one of the perhaps billions watching the transmission.  In my case, via a live feed on the internet.  But it is the first few decisions that President Obama has made that makes me proud once again to be an American:  the order to close down Guantanamo, the appearance on an Arab news service promising to listen, working towards the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and its only been a week.  So much promise, so much hope for a better tomorrow for all.

Once again proud

My son Ben joined the millions who were present on the mall in Washington, D.C. to witness the inaugeration of Barack Obama.  I was one of the perhaps billions watching the transmission.  In my case, via a live feed on the internet.  But it is the first few decisions that President Obama has made that makes me proud once again to be an American:  the order to close down Guantanamo, the appearance on an Arab news service promising to listen, working towards the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and its only been a week.  So much promise, so much hope for a better tomorrow for all.