OrganicJesus.org

Lament for the Reformation (or: Bring it, John Piper)

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:05:45 -0500

As Christianity became coopted by the Roman Empire, it got stuck in the tragically hegemonic ruts of institutionalization and establishment with imperial power, and so became more domesticated. The kind of Christianity that emerged has been called "Christendom." As it took the throne, it took many vital parts of the Way hostage. Among them: radical discipleship to Jesus Christ, nonviolence, wariness of worldly power, the doctrine of grace, and the church's sense of mission. Martin Luther, himself a part of Christendom, sought to free grace from its 1000+ captivity. In doing so, he nailed the need for true grace so firmly to the church doors that it nailed the door shut to the ability for his contemporaries or future Christians to free any of the above hostages of Christendom. Reformed theology's death grip on grace has been so exclusive that it has held back the way of any future reform. Mission, nonviolence, radical discipleship, the whole lot -- they're still held bound and gagged, and the freed hostage of grace seems to be guarding the door. Just as Luther was fed up with a millennium of a Christianity strangled by imperial Christendom, the time has come for another God-seeking revolt: this time, against Luther and the Reformers themselves.

Missional Ethics in dialogue with other ethical systems

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:37:17 -0500

[This is a continuation and conclusion to my last entry, "Toward Missional Ethics". You might want to breeze over that before going through this one. -- BDR] As stated in my last post, missional ethics is a hybrid of several competing systems of ethics, but which insists that each system is a mixed bag of good and bad, and each needs correction from the others. Missional ethics is therefore teleologically oriented, deontologically honed, narratively embodied, and birthed out of renewed hearts. More of this heady nonsense under the fold...

Toward Missional Ethics

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:20:01 -0500

[This is a minimally updated excerpt from an ethics paper I wrote last year. I'll follow up soon with a comparison to other ethical systems. I share it here because I think that the ethical framework with which I engage and anticipate the Age of Less is both illustrative for my other articles here, and could be an important contribution to the broader "missional" conversation. -- BDR] This article will attempt to charter a system of missional ethics by hybridizing several other ethical systems together with the emerging theological themes of the missio dei, narrative and narrative truth, and the centrality of the Kingdom or Reign of God. It is very similar in form to narrative ethics, affective faith ethics, and kingdom ethics, but differs by painting it with gentle hues of inaugurated eschatology, and by its central incorporation of the missio dei in its interpretive schema. Missional ethics is teleologically oriented toward the inbreaking eschatological Reign of God, deontologically honed by following the model and teachings of Jesus Christ, narratively lived out in a particularly faith community partaking in the broader missio dei, and birthed out an affective response to the delivering God of the biblical accounts.

Practicing Peace

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:59:53 -0500

For better or for worse, I've discovered that I tend to write far more boldly online than I will speak in person. Because of this, it's not uncommon for others to read my words and click away with an image of me as oppositional, unreasonable, and perhaps militant. In many ways, the form of my words has not fit its content.

So, my project: disarm.

One of the most productive avenues I've discovered is cooperative service. Several of my friends have strong roots in fundamentalist evangelical circles. We love each other and have largely reached an understanding. But when we find a space to publicly express our thoughts without reservation (think blogs), our words can breed division.

I spent six hours at a friend's house tonight eating, watching Monty Python, laughing, worshipping, and cooking for a group that serves lunch to homeless members of our community called Renovo. Some of us have had our differences in the past. But when you're standing together with rolling pins and covered in flour, it's infinitely easier to recognize each other's humanity and commitment to the mission of God. Our cooperation broke down any divisions caused by hasty words, leaving instead a beautiful understanding of each others' life, work, mission, and calling.

The moment we stop talking to one another is the moment we've given up on God's dream for us. Sometimes it just takes a little olive oil to get the productive words flowing. [*]

[*] Feel free to substitute a beverage of your choice.

Wright and Story

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 13:42:31 -0500

I've begun reading N.T. Wright's "Christian Origins and the Question of God" series, a three-volume behemoth weighing in at something like 1200 pages. I don't expect to finish any time soon, but my project of reading it is far less ambitious than his work in writing it!

The first 144 pages of "The New Testament and the People of God" is about how to study the New Testament, how to read it, authorial intent, and narrative. I considered skipping past it in order to get to the "real stuff," but my patience has been rewarded.

His treatment of story and narrative as a significant component of early/proto- Jewish -- and indeed human -- knowing is beautiful. Wright suggests that narrative has an inherent transformative (even subversive) quality in that by entering into a conversation with someone whose life is deeply embedded in a story, we tend to walk away transformed by the encounter. And what more true or more powerful story is there than that of the dynamic relationship between the Trinity, humanity, and creation? Our story is one of paradise lost, community, new creation, and perfection through resurrection.

Wright sums up his brief treatment of narrative with a simple cliché: "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." Perhaps this could be true of life among the people of God as well.

To flee, or not to flee? That is the question!

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:19:46 -0500

Hey everyone. We're back and blogging here at OJ. Sorry for our hiatus. I've been thinking a lot lately about the options before me as the consequences of peak oil approach my own life and community. As is evident in my previous posts, I have felt strongly about staying in the city as long as possible during petrocollapse. But since November I've been seeing a woman who has a considerably more nomadic heart than I do, and it's caused me to rethink what strategy I'd like to take for being part of God's counter-cultural insurgency amid so trying of times as peak oil seems to present. Should things go well between this gal and I, I'm wondering what path we should take. To be sure, there are a few options on the table. I'd categorize them as "the Shire," "Solidarity in the City", "National Flight", and "Nomadic Wandering". Could some of these be more biblical than others. Are some outright wrong? Are some more viable than others.More on these options under the fold.

Speaking truth to power

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:16:23 -0500

Last Thursday in Washington D.C., I had a chance to read the following letter to the press, addressed to America's political leaders.

President Bush, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Reid, Young Christians are concerned about climate change. We have seen pictures of its effects from all over the world: disappearing glaciers, deadly heat waves every summer, melting permafrost in Alaska and Siberia, warmer oceans, and storm-swept levies in New Orleans. All over the world, lives and livelihoods are destroyed daily by this escalating crisis. As the next generation of evangelical Christians, we are waking up to our kingdom responsibilities as members of a global community with regard to climate change. And the verdict is in: humans are responsible for most of it. Shamefully, we Christians have been slow to come around to this tragic reality. For this we are solemn, and we are sorry. We mourn for the global “last”, who will be the first to be devastated and displaced by climate change. If we don’t act, millions of the world’s poorest persons will be threatened by rising sea levels and more intense weather events. These are the folks Jesus had in mind when he said that as we do unto the world’s “least of these,” we do also unto Him (Matthew 25:40). We take those words pretty seriously. Hopefully, all of you do, too. We are saddened to hear that climate change will devastate God’s creation. In Genesis 1:26-28 God commanded humanity to tend His great garden, and in Romans we read that it’s now groaning under us in anticipation of a better future. God made a good Earth, and we want to do a good job of protecting it. To us young Christians, this means getting serious, and seriously active, about climate change. Therefore, our allegiance to Jesus Christ demands that the threat of climate change no longer be ignored. There’s plenty we can do to combat it. As ambassadors of the real King, we implore you to swift and compassionate action. But we’ll only get to meaningful climate solutions together. We implore you to collaboratively pass and sign strong laws to combat climate change – soon. We challenge Congress to draft such laws and President Bush to promise specific actions on climate change in the State of the Union Address. Resume America’s leadership on this. We confess that all of us, including our nation’s elected leaders, will be held accountable for what we did or did not do to combat climate change by the true President of Presidents, Speaker of Speakers, and Leader of Leaders: our King Jesus. We pray that you will act wisely in such light. Sincerely and respectfully, The leaders of the Evangelical Youth Climate Initiative

Age of Less IV -- The End of All Things

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:37:09 -0500

God, of course, has seen Peak Oil and all its consequents coming for a very long time. He has a plan for His children through all this, and has had plenty of time to begin preparing His church for it. There appears to have been a stirring of the Holy Spirit among those who listen, and it has sparked a couple trends in Christianity which seem to anticipate petrocollapse. God’s purposes are, as St. Paul wrote, being fulfilled “in the fullness of time.”

What's Next: Christianity Today & the Post-Carbon Church (2)

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 08:54:14 -0500

This is the second part of an earlier article responding to Christianity Today's "What's Next" series. Read it here.

Toward a Christian response to Peak Oil

Church history is a messy business, and generalizing statements inevitably oversimplify. There are many, many black spots which we must not deny. But at many points in history, God has moved individuals in His Church to cry out, "speaking truth to power."

OST on "Large-Scale Ecosystem Collapse"

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:16:25 -0500

If you enjoy discussions about the relationship of the church with creation, check out this article over at Open Source Theology: "How should the emerging church respond to the prospect of 'large-scale ecosystem collapse'?" Andrew's central idea: "The theological basis of a constructive response to the environmental crisis lies in the understanding of the ‘church’ as an expression of authentic humanity." The article asks a lot of good questions and offers a few thoughts. I've shared mine - feel free to do the same.

What's Next: Christianity Today and the Post-Carbon Church

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:59:11 -0500

Evangelicals Look Ahead Christianity Today is running a great series of articles called "What's Next," outlining key issues that the church must face over the next fifty years. Thus far, the magazine has explored a variety of topics - remaining "relevant," producing and engaging art and culture, defending the authority of scripture in a post-everything society, responding to feminism while also increasing male participation...and many more. Read them here: [1] [2] [3]. At the root of this project, however, lies an earnest desire seek answers to deep questions. Rather than focusing our energy on what it means to be a Christian at this particular moment, many evangelicals are looking forward to the Kingdom of God and asking, "Where is the narrow road, and what must we do along the way?"

Prayer - Final Thoughts (3)

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:49:47 -0500

Apologies for the delay in completing this series. If you're catching up, check out parts [1] and [2]. Here are a few concluding thoughts: 1) Prayer is effective. 2) Prayer is implicative. 3) Prayer tenderizes. 4) Prayer is transformative. Read on for a little explanation and a few stories.

Age of Less III -- The Post Carbon Church

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:52:08 -0500

As we've been talking about, the era of affordable automobile use and all its amenities is about to end – including the Commuter Church and Ringtone Christianity. The era of cheap oil, it seems, is rapidly coming to a close, and we're now entering an age of Less. Everything will relocalize as our easy-motoring way of life persistently constricts after Peak Oil, including how we do church. Just as motorization fundamentally altered how we get to work, get our food, and get our entertainment, it has also changed church. As outlined in my last post, I believe this has done more bad than good. Whether my criticisms are correct is of little importance, though. The bigger question for the faithful is, how will a church thus conformed respond to Peak Oil? What will the Post-Carbon Church look like?

Age of Less II -- Petro Christo

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:21:19 -0500

For my final summer living in Eugene, Oregon, I started bicycling to church. It is a great blue-collar faith community, but was seven miles away. I went to the 9am service, so it was never too hot by the time I got there. Still, my decision to do this got some attention from fellow churchgoers. Their responses were never mean or discouraging, but they were certainly varied. “Hard ride, huh?” “It isn’t that hot out there already is it? Oh, you biked, I see.” “Why in the world…” “Good for you!” “Sure you don’t want a ride next week? I have room in my truck.” “Sweating already? Worship hasn’t even started yet!” I didn’t mind it, and thankfully it wasn’t a continued point of discussion or anything. I don’t particularly hate living without a car, and this was no different. Still, it wasn’t too long before I decided I’d much prefer to attend a church closer to home. As much as I loved that church, if I had to bike that far year-round, I’d get pretty tired of it and want to attend somewhere closer. Especially as the Pacific Northwest’s de facto weather, rain, comes back into season this fall and winter. Unfortunately there aren’t many churches that are any closer that I like. They’re too big, or I don’t agree with their theology, or they’re not missional enough, or too Pentecostal, or not Pentecostal enough, or they’re too old, or they get really weird about certain parts of the Bible. Since I knew I’d be moving soon, I easily resolved to continue biking to that church. But all this got me thinking: the 20th-century American church has been radically changed by the tremendous convenience of the automobile.

What is "the age of Less"?

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:46:54 -0500

There has been some curiousity as to the meaning of this site's subtitle, "Imagining the Kingdom of God in an age of Less". The peculiar phrase is in reference to the kind of future that many prominent politicians, former presidents, world-class financial gurus, physicists, geologists, the Department of Energy, military analysts, intelligence officials, and prominent thinkers have been telling us to expect: one charactarized by less of everything -- beginning with less oil. It spirals out from there to meaning less food, less money, less driving, less cool stuff, less geopolitical strength, less security, less water, less growth, and (most germane for this blog) less of the kind of Christianity that contemporary Americans have been raised in. Indeed, the way we do church and kingdom business these days has been dramatically defined by the age of cheap and abundant fossil fuels. Confused? Think this is all just wishy-washy Chicken-Little fearmongering? Dare to take the red pill with us as we crawl deeper down the rabbit hole of Peak Oil and its consequents. Let's take a closer look at "the age of Less." (now may be a good time to grab a little extra, ehm, "communion wine": you'll need it!)