What's Your Stance?

“Two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’
They stood still, their faces downcast.” (Luke 24:13-17)

At a recent International Bible Engagement Conference I attended in Malaysia, the Emmaus Road passage (Luke 24:13-35) was the focus of our attention for the whole week. The riches in this passage are untold and they can be very inspirational to us as we seek to engage people with the Bible.

Notice the stance that Jesus (the recently resurrected Son of God!!) takes with these travelers. He pulls in beside them and walks alongside. He asks a question. He listens. He meets them in their confusion, despondency and disappointment. He had a story to tell (and he eventually did) but he held it back in order to hear the story of the travelers.

What is our stance with the people we are seeking to engage?
Have we come alongside?
Are we meeting them in their pain, confusion and hopelessness?
Have we asked them about their life/circumstances?
Are we listening; really listening?

Or are we delivering our pre-packaged content?
Are we preaching at them?
Are we sprouting rehearsed lines?
Are we quick to get to our story first?
Are we corralling them into our nice neat programs?

Are they still beside us?
Or have they turned off down a side road?

Western Bible Crisis - Root Causes?

In just over a week I will be flying out to an international conference focusing on Bible Engagement issues. As part of the program I have elected to sit in on a Think Tank dedicated to investigating the question of why there is a crisis of Bible Engagement in 'Post-Christian Societies'. There is no simple answer/s to this dilemma and I have been attempting to martial my thoughts in preparation for this discussion. Without any real explanation, I am going to list some of the key contributing factors to Western Bible Dis-engagement as I see them. I would love to hear your feedback on this list - especially if you are planning to be at the conference. If you are not going to the conference, but would still like to share your thoughts, I'll attempt to take your ideas to the discussion table.

Here we go...

1. Misunderstanding amongst Christians in regard to the true nature of the Bible and the appropriate use of it.
2. Misunderstanding amongst Christians in regard to the true nature of the Gospel and discipleship.
3. Dualism in the Christian Church.
4. Postmodern philosophy (relativism, pluralism, deconstruction)
5. Individualism and the loss of community.
6. Affluence, materialism and consumerism.
7. The ongoing consequences of humanism, The Enlightenment and the 'death of God'.
8. The challenge of technology and New Media.

The Difference Between 'Studying' and 'Reading' the Bible

Some brief thoughts from author of "The Message" on how to approach the Bible.

Shuffling Deckchairs

There is a phrase used in popular English that describes any futile attempts to make changes to one's destiny in the face of impending and unavoidable doom. "Shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic" is how it goes. Of course it references the great ocean liner that sank on its maiden voyage. When the Titanic hit an iceberg all those years ago, it's demise was guaranteed, and any attempt to change the circumstances (like rearranging the deck chairs for instance) would not have altered its destiny.

I've been working in a role for the last 3 years that has involved working to engage young people effectively with the Bible. During that time I have been involved in numerous efforts, and spoken with many other people engaged in this pursuit to come up with strategies to achieve this goal. These strategies have included things like producing new products, marketing plans, adopting advances in technology, editing approaches to programming and launching competitions. I'm always checking new books/publications, websites, social networking forums, programme outlines, video clips, music recordings, concert events and other well intentioned efforts to find relevant points of connection between today's Australian teenagers and the ancient Scripture texts. Now while I still believe all these things may have their place in a holistic response to the challenge we have before us, I have this sinking (pun intended!) feeling that we are just 'shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic'.

I am currently re-reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic, "The Cost of Discipleship". Seventy years ago, he spoke out against what he believed was the death knell of his beloved Lutheran Church in Germany. It was what he called "cheap grace". By this he meant an understanding of grace that received the forgiveness of Christ through belief, but would not embrace the call of discipleship. He identified cheap grace as "an intellectual assent to the idea" of grace without the subsequent death of self that true grace requires. To accept Christ is to follow Christ! For the Christian who would live by the mantra of cheap grace, let them "rest content with worldliness and with the renunciation of any higher standard than the world". Cheap grace presents faith in Christ as an 'add-on' to a safe, affluent, bourgeois, middle-class lifestyle. This practise justifies the world rather than the sinner! Bonhoeffer predicted that cheap grace would be "utterly merciless to (the) Evangelical Church". It is the secularization of the Church.

I get the feeling we are tinkering with the tools and giving scant attention to the message. What are we actually inviting teenagers to come and join, and by what process are we bidding them come? What are we actually telling them a disciple of Jesus must become? As far as Bible engagement goes, I'm beginning to think our efforts are futile unless our message is cased in the basic notion of completely forsaking all worldly narratives for the one true narrative of the Word of God.

The Cost of Discipleship

I work for SU Queensland and our organization was treated to some inspiring Bible teaching at our recent Staff Conference held on the Sunshine Coast. Stephen Gaukroger (UK) was our guest speaker and he led us through a challenging series from the first 6 chapters of the book of Daniel. His talks were very much concerned with the question of how God's people can remain true to Him in a secular/pagan world.

During one of his talks, Stephen made the intriguing comment that in our current secular/neo-pagan world (in the West), evangelism of young people is relatively easy ('converts' readily available - especially when attained in the consumerist arena of emotive rock concert experiences) but discipleship of them is virtually impossible. He compared this to the pagan kings of Daniel's time who, when repeatedly confronted with the awesome reality of the living God, acknowledged Yahweh, but would not grant Him exclusivity in their pantheon of other gods.

In order to follow up on some of these thoughts, I have begun re-reading "The Cost of Discipleship" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic on Christ's Sermon on the Mount, written in 1937) as Gaukroger suggested. I have been deeply confronted about the exclusive nature of the calling of Christ. Bonhoeffer sums it up brilliantly when he exclaims, "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die". Are we calling young people to forsake all for the way of the Cross?

Obviously I have been thinking about the place of the Scriptures in all of this. Discipleship cannot be about getting young people to add on all the paraphernalia of Christianity (read your Bible, pray, go to church, wear WWJD braclet, buy Hillsong United CD). Discipleship must be about assisting young people to reject all narratives that the world offers (there are many!) for the one narrative of the Way of the Cross. If we try to get young people to add the Bible to their life as it stands, I think it will be powerless and disengaging. We must encourage young to make this story (Biblical revelation) their own story exclusively. They must be encouraged to listen to no other voice but the Word of God.

Big ask...but the stakes are high! Maybe I should begin by getting this right myself?!

Less Facebook; More Face-to-Face

Check out this article from a recent edition of The Australian newspaper.

This article argues that 16-30yr olds are becoming weary with online social networking and are exhibiting signs of a nostalgic longing for simpler times and real contact with their friends.

Personally, I believe that advances in information technology have opened up wonderful new ways for us to connect and relate as humans. As ministers of the Gospel of Christ, I also believe we need to embrace these new avenues of communication/community. However, it is my deep conviction that our humanity is reduced as we reduce the time that we connect with others 'in person'. True community development involves mind, body and spirit.

In terms of Youth Ministry, personal contact must never be superseded by online interactions. Sure, let's use online opportunities - but let's not forget to get out there, share our food, kick a ball, make some music, shake some hands and look some young person in the eye.

In terms of the Christian church - if the future of the church (as some are beginning to suggest) is Virtual - I for one don't want to be a part of it!

Biblical Illiteracy

Interesting thoughts on Biblical Illiteracy in Australia and the Western world by Cheryl Catford (director of EA) here.

The Devotional Bible Study Method

I came across this article which outlines a simple 11 question plan for studying any chapter of Scripture. It's pretty straightforward but comprehensive at the same time. The questions are:-

1. What is the principle subject or theme of the chapter?
2. What is the leading lesson of this chapter?
3. Which is the best verse in this chapter?
4. Who are the principle persons in this chapter?
5. What does the chapter teach concerning Christ?
6. Is there, in this chapter, any example for me to follow?
7. Is there any error for me to avoid?
8. Is there any duty (stated) for me to perform?
9. Is there any promise for me to claim? Also, are there any conditions to the
promise?
10. Is there any prayer for me to echo?
11. Are there verses in other Scripture passages (cross-reference) that will help me to understand this chapter better?