Tuesdays with Morris

Recently, I heard a pastor talk about how many churches try to go all out during the Christmas season to communicate The Story in new, powerful, and meaningful ways. He went on to say that The Story is already powerful and meaningful and doesn’t need to be dressed up. In some ways I agree…and in some ways I disagree.

The birth of Jesus is an incredible story. Simply reading and reflecting on the story can be a moving, life-changing experience. The beauty of the story itself can fill us with joy, wonder, and awe. Standing alone, the story of His birth is rich with imagery and mystery.

However, I think the Church has a responsibility to effectively communicate the story. The reason why so many churches go out of their way to find new and creative ways to re-tell the story is so that we will find it fresh and exciting. Too often we hear that people have “heard it all before.” We all know the story so well…And so it’s tempting to simply go through the motions. But, if the Church is finding new and different methods to communicate this old message it might actually impact people in new and different ways. God is a creative being and He created us to be creative beings as well. So, when we don’t put much into the telling of the story…I feel we’re not really being who He created us to be.

At one time, the Church was the epicenter of creativity…amazing art, music, etc. The Church had a major influence on the culture. However, it seems that the Church has been stuck in a rut for many, many years and the influence has been replaced and the church is largely overlooked as a creative entity.

So, how do we re-capture our creative nature? How do we once again reclaim our position of influence over the culture at large?

It just might begin with pastors realizing their responsibility to effectively communicate the Message in fresh and creative ways. The message remains the same, but the methods should continually be adjusted to capture the power and beauty of the story…otherwise we’ll simply continue to go through the motions and fade away.

Anyone catch Joel Osteen on the Barbara Walters “Most Fascinating People of 2006″ special? I tivo’d it. Man, that guy has to prosperity gospel nailed down. I’d just like, for once, to see Osteen not smiling. He’s like a freaking Miss America contestant with a pasted on smile.

Anyway, that’s not what this is about. Sunday I’m preaching on Luke 3:7-18. It’s the passage where John calls the crowd a bunch of sneaky snakes. He urges us to produce fruit by actually living out our baptism…our repentance. John calls those who have come to be baptized to a changed life that results in doing good.

Many who were coming to be baptized were simply coming to avoid hell. I suppose that’s decent motivation. But, John knew that our baptism is supposed to lead to change. His baptism was a baptism of repentance. When we repent…we are confessing our sins and we experience the freedom of forgiveness. However, that’s not where it is supposed to end. We are called to live out of our repentance, our freedom. And, that should produce fruit.

I believe the hang up is in truly living out our repentance…in truly changing once we have experienced forgiveness. Too often, I find myself repenting…enjoying forgiveness…and then having to end up repenting for the same thing just days, hours, minutes after I last confessed. So, did I truly repent? Repenting should produce change, which in turn should produce fruit.

John tells us to repent…and then to share, give, and serve. He tells us to be honest in how we go about our daily lives. And, he tells us to be content with our status in life…not to try and cheat and steal to get ahead.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we should be preparing to celebrate His return as well. John calls us to repent and live as new creations so that we will be prepared when the King comes. A King is coming, will you be ready?

Yesterday, I made my way to the Muncie Mall. Walking through the Muncie Mall almost always makes me miss living close to the UP Mall in Mishawaka/South Bend. Not that the Muncie Mall is awful (it’s a lot better than the Anderson, IN and Piqua, OH malls), but the UP was a great mall. Most hardcore shoppers in the Muncie area probably head down to Indianapolis or up to Fort Wayne to do their shopping. However, the mall was pretty hopping as I did my shopping.

As I set out, I had a list of items I was shopping for…I had planned ahead, asking for a list from my wife of things she desires to receive. Since she sometimes reads this blog, I’m not going to mention what I did or did not purchase for her. But, my shopping for Emily was fairly painless because I had a list to serve as my guide.

But, then I tried to do some shopping for my parents and my sister. This is where the shopping started to get difficult. I don’t have lists from any of them…I have no guide to assist my shopping. If I were to ask, my dad’s list would have a bunch of techno-geek equipment that I couldn’t afford, my mom would probably refuse to give me a list, and my sister would probably say something like “oh, whatever is fine…just remember whatever I get I have to figure out how to get home.” So, I wandered through the mall like a chicken with his head cut off.

This made me think about how Christmas shopping can be similar to church planning. There are times when the church has it all together…we have our lists together…we have a game plan to guide us as we take this faith journey. Then, there are times when the church doesn’t have it all together…when we don’t have our lists…and we end up running around like chickens without heads.

The effects of not planning effectively as the church impacts the entire worshipping community. When I’m not prepared to shop, well, it really just frustrates me. When we’re not prepared as a church, it frustrates the masses. We have a responsibility as church leaders to put our best effort forward…to pray, plan, vision, dream, listen, and put together a guide. It begins to become apparent when we don’t have a clue as to what we’re doing. And, to me, that seems to communicate that we’re not doing the best we can with what God has given us. When the church just makes things up from day to day, it’s difficult to bring others along.

When we have it all together, things begin to run smoothly. People can see, feel, and sense a clear vision and direction of the ministry. More and more people get on the same page. We begin to see the unity of the believers actually become a reality. The needs of those in the church and the community begin to be met. People can get excited about what we’re doing and where we’re going because the will be able to see what lies ahead.

Now, can God work when we don’t have our lists together? Of course He can. But, I believe He desires for us to do our part…to be as prepared as we can be so that He can go to work.

When you have a list, you can either use it or rely on your intuition to pick out the right gifts. When the church has a list, we can either use it and rely on the Holy Spirit to work and move.

Last night, Emily had two Christmas programs at school. The children and Emily did an outstanding job! What really struck me was the behavior of the families that came to watch the program.

Parents were talking loudly to each other. I viewed one person talking on their cell phone. Some people got up and left after their childs part was finished. One father was yelling up to the stage at his son…not just saying hello, but actually trying to carry on a conversation. A mother was yelling at her daughter and her daughters teacher…wanting to know why her daughter wasn’t wearing her sweater. A grandmother was standing in front of the stage taking pictures as they were trying to get things started…when I say standing in front of the stage, I mean standing right in front of Emily.

I’m always shocked when I observe some of these actions.

But, it’s like Emily said, “At least they came to watch their kids.” She went on to say that it doesn’t bother her too much because at least they are excited about what their kids are doing.

The reality is that many of the students families just drop them off and go do something else for a while.

I was really troubled as we left. A couple of young girls had been waiting for their mother to come pick them up. Instead, their mothers friend (they only knew his first name) came to take the girls home. One of the staff members noticed the man had been drinking…it appeared he had been drinking heavily. So, they weren’t going to let him take the girls home. Another family volunteered to give the girls and this gentleman a ride home. It makes me wonder what kind of state the mother was in if she sent some drunk friend to pick up her girls. My heart just sort of sank for these girls.

And so, the reality is that I’d prefer the outrageous behavior…parents taking an interest in their children over parents not coming and sending their drunk boyfriends to bring the kids home.

But seriously, the programs were great!

One of my favorite programs on television is The Office. It’s absolutely hilarious. I enjoy the original British version, as well as the newer US version. Anyway, as I watched last nights new episode I began to realize how much Michael, the regional manager, reminds me of many pastors that I’ve met.

Michael is a bit out of touch with reality. He would believe that he’s a pretty cool guy…hip, with-it, and highly respected by his employees. He is always going out of his way to communicate how he’s “down” with each person. In fact, too often he goes overboard in trying to relate with his co-workers. Most of the employees make fun of him behind his back…except for Dwight. Dwight has this odd obsession with Michael…and as a result he definitely strokes Michael’s ego.

Do I really need to point out how Michael reminds me of many pastors (myself included)? It just seems so obvious!

We pastors often get a bit of Michael in us from time to time. We try to present this image that we’re hip. We tell stories and jokes hoping to win the approval of those in our congregations. Sometimes our efforts to be seen as “cool, funny, smart, etc” get in the way of communicating the message that God has given to us. I can tell you of many times that I’ve made fun of pastors trying too hard like Michael. And, I’m sure that I’m made fun of on a regular basis for the same thing. Of course, every pastor has their “Dwight”…that one person in the congregation that lets you know how great you are and helps us believe that we can do no wrong. But, we need to come back to an honest reality.

I think what I’ve learned from The Office is that Michael would be respected a great deal more if he would simply be himself. We pastors need to remember who we are and what we are called to do. We are called to lead…not to do whatever it takes to win people’s approval…but to be true to our calling. As pastors, we need to be honest about who we are. I think presenting these images of being “hip” get many of us in trouble. Pastors begin hiding behind these images we create and then it all hits the fan when the truth comes out.

So, I guess what I’m saying is that we all just need to be honest and simply be ourselves. We don’t need to put on a show. We simply need to do the work that God has called us to.