Life Lessons Learned From TV

My wife loves “So You Think You Can Dance.”

I (by contrast) hate it.

Yet, while feeding the baby or folding laundry, I am subjected to an unconscionable amount of this show. I really don’t mind that much – sometimes I get into it. But the most interesting thing about the show is the critiquing of the judges. I know, I know. You were thinking it was the dancing that fascinates the nerd within. Sorry to disappoint… 

We were watching last week and the judges said some things that really interested me as someone who deals with people’s perception of right and wrong on a regular basis. Channing Cooke with Phillip Attmore had just finished a jive routine that seemed to be done well. It’s early in the program so the judging tends to be a little softer at this point. I perked up at Mary Murphy’s comments. She was impressed but pointed out that the couple’s leg movements were not up to par. Now, this is the part that caught my attention: she attributed their lack of sharpness to laziness. There’s something significant about that. Mary attributed their deficiencies to a personal lack of internal moral motivation. Nigel Lythgoe went next. He commented on the same lack of sharpness, but attributed it to the couple not quite being in shape for the dance style. In essence, he said their tiredness resulted in the lack of sharpness - a much softer critique attributed to external factors, not their personal integrity.

As a minister, I began to reflect on how such a simple change in perspective can make criticism harsh or constructive. The church walks a fine line in this regard. We deal with issues of the heart but have to be careful not to make a difficult situation look hopeless. If I was physically incapable of performing a task and was told that my failures were intrinsic/moral, I would feel crushed under that assumption. And that’s all it is – an assumption. We don’t have access to the motivations of others. We merely have the outward manifestation of those intentions. Often times, bad intentions are easy to spot based on the actions that follow. But there’s plenty of gray area where intentions are hidden. Some people automatically chalk up the suspect behavior of others to time-honored doctrinal catch phrases like “Original Sin” or assume that failure is always preventable. When tarred with the moral brush, that will always be assumed. But sometimes people are just weak and scatter-brained and frail. Grace gives the benefit of the doubt in those situations. “Bad” does not always equal “weak.” After all, Jesus gave rest for the “heavy laden,” not the morally corrupt.

That’s why I liked Nigel’s critique better. When you’re a world-class dancer (or anything else for that matter) it’s easy to moralize/spiritualize the amount of work required to be the best in a given field. It helps us tolerate the extreme conditions in which that expertise is developed to the detriment of other areas of our well-being. Mary, at least at this moment, seemed to be trapped inside that paradigm. Nigel transcended above it. He gave grace by attributing that weakness to joints, ligaments, and muscles – something to be strengthened – rather than to inherent laziness – something to be ashamed of. Preachers know that both of these can motivate. But which one preserves the dignity of others? As Christians continue to confront sin, we need to spend less time making sure we call “a spade a spade” and more time concerned with making sure we never call something a spade when it’s really just a heart or a club. Guilt can motivate – there’s no doubt about that. But grace preserves and strengthens. I’ll go with Nigel’s approach anytime.

Some Random Observations

1) The Muppets are awesome. I had the bright idea to You Tube “Mahna Mahna” from the Muppet Show last week and show it to the girls. Now, that’s comedy. the girls loved it and the more we viewed The Swedish Chef, Rowlf, Beaker, Gonzo, Fozzie (and don’t forget Dr. Teeth), the more I remembered why the Muppets are so stinkin’ cool. That should be required TV watching for all children. Educational programming overrated. Let your children watch the Muppets, for Pete’s sake.

2) Ren & Stimpy is disturbing. MTV2 started airing Ren & Stimpy a while back – I finally DVR’d some episodes. I watched Ren & Stimpy when I was in high school and thought it was hilarious. So, I sat down to watch, anticipating the return of laughter that accompanied my adolescent memories of the show. You know: stinky tooth holes, ”Happy Happy Joy Joy”, cousin Svën, the Canadian kilted yaksmen.  Now, as a grown man, that show is absolutely bizarre. No wonder my mom hated it. Ren & Stimpy is some sick junk. Bob Camp must have been smoking crack when he came up with that stuff. Of course, the shows I watched were from season 4…but still. Holy cow.

Boycotting U2…

I know this post is going to disappoint some of my more trendy readers out there. It’s certainly going to disappoint my wife.

I’m boycotting U2. I’m done with ‘em. As a postmodern Christian, I must confess (to my own shame) that I have not purchased their latest album. That may rend the hearts of some of my generation’s most “missional” leaders. I’m sorry. I just can’t listen to them anymore. Don’t despise me; just listen to my plea for reason.

U2 is great band. Their music is great and I own about seven albums myself. I remember at age thirteen, when some CCM music mag did an article on them. I was enchanted for years to come.  In U2, we find the subtle Christian overtones of “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the socially conscious lyrics of “Mothers of the Disappeared,” “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and “Love and Peace or Else.”  There’s the poetic beauty of “One” and the moral confidence of “Walk On.” And then, there’s “Grace.”

Ahhh….”Grace.” Rarely do you find such good theology in a song.

I started to get jaded about five years ago. Christian artists and worship leaders collectively released a “We Love U2″ tribute album. U2 became “trendy”…along with the other two members of the cultural Christian Trinity: coffee shops and drawing spiritual significance from The Matrix. Socially conscious and spiritually aware, Bono became Jesus. Or maybe Rauschenbusch came back as Bono…I can’t remember which…It could have been both. Besides, Bono is gonna single-handedly “make poverty history,” right? When not mingling with dignitaries, he evidently browses books on comparative religious studies and post-structuralist anthropology. All of this has allowed him to declare a new message to us (in 3-D, no less): we should  all “co-exist.” I know that’s been said before…but now Bono has said it. And we should do it.

I heard a lot of “timely messages from God” a decade ago about the coming wave of Christianity that would no longer cater to superstars of the church. You know…the megachurch leaders and the personalities of Christian TV. God was going to advance his kingdom with a “faceless” generation. That’s a great idea. But for many in the postmodern Christian milieu, it’s empty rhetoric. We’ve ridiculed the shallow Christians who give their money to televangelists. We’ve also laughed at those who followed the fashion trends of Sex and the City. We’ve dismissed the former generations who have declined to participate in the “emerging conversation.” We have even snickered behind the backs of ministers who still find solace in a lectionary. Some people think Paris Hilton has something important to say…

…and we’ve got U2.

Thornley Is Better Than You…

I’ve been listening to a great  album the last few days: Ian Thornley’s Tiny Pictures.  I “discovered” Ian Thornley while searching for bands who regularly used twelve-string bass guitars on their records. Thornley’s former band Big Wreck came up. Needless to say, I was in love – I still listen to The Pleasure and the Greed every couple of weeks. Big Wreck broke up after two albums (just to spite me, I suppose) and Thornley went into hiding until Thornley’s debut Come Again was released: a straight-ahead Canadian rock album with some of the most cutting guitar sounds I’d heard in a while.

In typical five-year fashion, Thornley disappeared again, making the wait for a new album a form of torture for fans. Tiny Pictures came out in February. As someone who loved the Big Wreck sound, I was pleasantly surprised to find him return to his folksy/bluegrass (not country) and eclectic use of dobros, mandolins, sweeping vocals, and “wall of sound” guitars that graced those albums. This album isn’t as dark and has the slight imprint of his record label’s influence (started by Nickleback’s Chad Kroeger). Kroeger’s willingness to keep Thornley on his label almost makes Nickleback’s existence something I’m willing to tolerate for the greater good.

Here’s the video single for “Make Believe.”

You can hear audio clips of most of the album here.

Be advised: Ian doesn’t exactly love Jesus, if you know what I mean.  Big Wreck and Thornley albums aren’t the cleanest in the world.

Reading and Listening…

Updating you on books I have read and music I’ve been listening to in the last few months.

Jersak and Hardin, Stricken by God: Nonviolent Indentification and the Victory of Christ. If you are struggling with the penal-substitution model of the atonement, this has a lot of articles from other perspectives. A few throw-away pieces, but good overall.

Daniel Levitin, This Is Your Brain on Music. About the neuroscience of music and why we enjoy music as much as we do.

Robert Farrar Capon, Between Noon and Three. I wrote about that book here.

Lawrence Cohen, Playful Parenting. Good book for any parent to read. Children learn through play much easier than instruction. The question is: will parents get down on the floor and join in?

Barry Webb, Five Festal Garments

I’m still only halfway through Robert Alter’s The Five Books of Moses.

Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Margaret Feinberg, The Organic God

 

I’ve been listening to other stuff as well but these are the albums that really stick out…

Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun. If you haven’t heard this or Smile, you’re missing out.

Ben Folds, Way to Normal. What would happen if Ben put out a “clean” album I could feel comfortable recommending? I think the earth might explode. Though “Cologne” and “Kylie from Connecticut” are gems. “Effington” may be one of the best musical pieces he’s ever written.

Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison, Greatest Hits. My girls are in love with Johnny Cash. Favorite Songs? Folsom Prison Blues, Jackson, Ring of Fire, Walk the Line, Orange Blossom Special, and Hey Porter. They know all the words and there’s nothing quite like hearing a four and three year old sing “I don’t care if I do-da-do-da-do-da-do-da-do-da-do-da-do.”

Panic at the Disco, Pretty.Odd. Incredible Album. Here’s the single.

Alex Gopher, Self-Titled. This French house DJ is incredible. Kinda of an 80s New Wave vibe cradled in dance music. Listen here and here.

Copeland’s new disc, You are my Sunshine, is a fun listen and I also finally got the chance to listen to Bernard’s debut album, A View Beyond the Cave - great piano oriented rock.

Sermon Snipets: Debt Free – Putting First Things First, Part 1

Preached January 4, 2009.

Today we are beginning a sermon series that “hits us where we live” in a lot of different ways. We’re going to talk about being “Debt Free.” Now, when I say that phrase, most people think of financial issues. But we incur “debt” in other ways, not just financial – we’re also going to talk about debt in relationships, the debt of sin, as well as finances.  So, as our first installment, this morning we’re going to talk about how to relieve our “debt to society” by putting first things first.

 ”Debt to society.” Strange phrase isn’t it? But it most accurately describes much of our lifestyle today. We make promises and commit to projects that ultimately rob us of our time with God and time with family. We become a slave to calendars, and deadlines, and the tyranny of the urgent. We are always paying the “debt” of time to our commitments, spending our time being busy but rarely being fruitful. There’s a big difference, you know. And being able to tell the difference between fruitfulness and busyness determines whether we live a peaceful or hectic life.

 There’s a humanities professor named Stephen Bertman who published an important book about ten years ago. It’s called Hyperculture: The Cost of Human Speed. Bertman believes that our fast-paced lifestyle is ultimately the cause of much of our stress and illness – it affects our bodies, our relationships, or emotions, and the like. Bertman says we are all “hard wired” to live a slower lifestyle…and our current pace causes more problems that it solves. Not sure if you suffer from “hyperculture?” Try these phrases on for size: “I’m totally lost without my calendar. If I get more productive, I’m gonna scream! Sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. My life is on fast forward. I don’t spend enough time with family and friends. I don’t feel like I accomplished anything today.” Listen to some of the symptoms of “hyperculture” Bertman describes.

 The technology explosion has changed our lives – over 25 million televisions are purchased a year – so many in fact that in America today, more people have television sets than indoor plumbing. With the rise of the internet and rapid access to information, Psychologists have noticed a trend they have dubbed “information anxiety” – a scenario where our mind literally cannot handle the deluge of information to which we expose it. In the process, the assimilation of knowledge among school age children is becoming thin and is producing an ever widening gap between what we think we know because we “googled it” and what we really know. We are becoming a mile wide and an inch deep. But an even more disturbing trend is occurring as well. Psychologists are beginning to see the emergence of a new type of personality among younger generations called the “saturated self,” where all stimuli are completely self-generated. In other words, a “self-saturated” person does not respond to anyone or anything outside of the world they create. They may be online, but they are personally isolated, remote, and detached. They alone create their own entertainment and they induce their own level of stress. What’s more, our stress levels are beginning to affect the national heart rate average. And it’s affecting our bodies as well. Recent studies estimate and average of 200 billion dollars is lost annually due to stress-related accidents, illnesses, and absenteeism. Over-stimulation and too many choices are making our nation physically sick. Houston, we have a problem! And a growing one at that. We’re so busy managing our time that we’ve forgotten to enjoy the time we’ve been given. The urgent has gotten in the way of the important. And church can be one of the greatest culprits in this struggle.

I remember the first time I really encountered this type of stress. Beth and I had been married for about two years. I worked for Flowers at the time and Beth worked for a health insurance company in Tallahassee. We were both actively involved in church…to the point where it took up most of our nights with meetings. We had also taken on several service projects and agreed to be the FCA leaders at Brookwood school. Though all were considered worthwhile Christian activities, we were totally covered in “busyness.” And something began to happen: whereas once we had a stable, though young, marriage, we became distanced and argumentative. We stopped connecting with each other because our “debts” to society took away our time to connect to each other. And that’s always the case: time spent doing one thing is time spent not doing something else. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak. So, Beth and I started saying no…to everything. We finished our commitments and declined offers left and right until we had most of our weeknights back. And things got better. But it’s still difficult for us to “just say no.”

 Out text for today, Matthew 6:33, is the first scripture I ever memorized: “Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well.” It’s one of the most important scriptures you can apply to your life. Now, most preachers I’ve heard over the years apply that scripture in the following way. They give you a list of priorities and the list usually goes something like this: 1) God 2) spouse 3) children 4) church 5) job – or something to that effect. And then they’ll tell you that what you spend your time on determines what your priorities really are. And that’s when everyone goes home feeling guilty for golfing or shopping or working long hours and promises to change for the better. They vow to spend more time with their children or their spouse. Or they vow to spend more time in daily devotions with God. But, to me, that’s as stressful a way of living as any. Those expectations are just as demanding. There’s got to be more than just learning to guard your time and say no to unnecessary commitments. And there is. Let me explain.

Part 2 tomorrow…

Why Oprah Just Might Be the Antichrist…

For all you wonderful people who think Barack Obama might be the Antichrist…

I taught a small group on end times beliefs about four years ago. During our examination of Revelation, we inevitably stumbled upon the passages believed to describe the Antichrist. Immediately questions arose: who is he? When will he come? Will he start the tribulation? Will Christians be raptured before then? Boy, could I feel a headache coming on! I’ve said in this post how much I hate popular forms of eschatology for this exact reason. So, this time around, I decided to have a little fun:

“Oh, the Antichrist is already here.”

“What!! Who is it?”

“It’s Oprah Winfrey.” 

“WHAT!!”

Then I took them to the only  place in the Bible where the term “antichrist” is mentioned: the epistles of John, specifically 1 John 2:18-19. What I love about these two verses is the fact that John says there were many antichrists who had come – most of them were part of the church at that time before they left it. So, if John is using the term correctly, we must assume that “antichrist” does not mean “Antichrist” in the popular sense of one rival messiah sent to deceive the world. So what does it mean?

Well, “Christ” means “Messiah” – that’s obvious enough. It’s the “anti-” part that we get wrong. We assume that “anti-” means “in opposition to” or “antagonistic” – like anti-abortion. But it doesn’t. In means “in place of,” “instead of,”or “substitutionary.” So, “antichrist” means “in place of Christ.” 1 John 2:22 goes even further by saying that anyone who denies not only the Son, but also the Father, is acting as an antichrist.

So, why Oprah? Well, it actually doesn’t have anything to do with Eckhart Tolle. It has to do with Oprah’s power and cultural influence. Like most media figures, Oprah often establishes her influence outside of Christianity and many people look to her for answers about life’s deeper issues. She’s one of the most popular and well-recognized individuals in our nation and often serves as a cultural substitute where spiritual issues are concerned.

In that sense anything can be antichrist – government officials, sports figures, musicians, teachers, world leaders, philosophers, and even preachers. Any person that others may substitute for Christ is, in some sense, antichrist. That list includes Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. And it could include John McCain just as much as Barack Obama. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong or unworthy of admiration. But I think it’s safe to say that they aren’t God. And to subsitute them for God inapproriate.

In most cases, the problem is not with the “Oprahs” of the world but with those who substitute their wisdom for a deep relationship with God. Notice that John didn’t write to the “antichrists” of his time, but rather to the people who gave them undue authority and influence. And that’s the key. Anyone can warn about the “Antichrist” of the Left Behind Series, but what are we doing about those who give to others the influence that only Christ should have? People succumb to “antichristism” when Jesus is their savior in doctrine but in matters of life, Oprah (or anyone else) is their lord. The only time people look for substitutes is when what they have isn’t satisfying their deeper needs. Don’t blame Oprah, people. We Christians alone share the burden for “wandering” spiritual seekers. It just so happens that Oprah has a some spiritual advice for people now. But, for her followers, her cultural influence eclipsed the practical aspects of Christianity long ago. Eckhart Tolle just made Christians stand up and take notice.

Steely Dan Is Better than You…

An album that I have been wearing out lately is Steely Dan’s Aja. Okay, okay – yes, there are some serious seventies vibes going on there. But when you get past that, you must agree that the musicianship on this album is stellar. There is not a misplaced note on the whole record. Steely Dan is known for that precision, but there’s something about this album. Unbelievably good.

Why Oprah Just Might Be the Antichrist…

I taught a small group on end times beliefs about four years ago. During our examination of Revelation, we inevitably stumbled upon the passages believed to describe the Antichrist. Immediately questions arose: who is he? When will he come? Will he start the tribulation? Will Christians be raptured before then? Boy, could I feel a headache coming on! I’ve said in this post how much I hate popular forms of eschatology for this exact reason. So, this time around, I decided to have a little fun:

“Oh, the Antichrist is already here.”

“What!! Who is it?”

“It’s Oprah Winfrey.” 

“WHAT!!”

Then I took them to the only  place in the Bible where the term “antichrist” is mentioned: the epistles of John, specifically 1 John 2:18-19. What I love about these two verses is the fact that John says there were many antichrists who had come – most of them were part of the church at that time before they left it. So, if John is using the term correctly, we must assume that “antichrist” does not mean “Antichrist” in the popular sense of one rival messiah sent to deceive the world. So what does it mean?

Well, “Christ” means “Messiah” – that’s obvious enough. It’s the “anti-” part that we get wrong. We assume that “anti-” means “in opposition to” or “antagonistic” – like anti-abortion. But it doesn’t. In means “in place of,” “instead of,”or “substitutionary.” So, “antichrist” means “in place of Christ.” 1 John 2:22 goes even further by saying that anyone who denies not only the Son, but also the Father, is acting as an antichrist.

So, why Oprah? Well, it actually doesn’t have anything to do with Eckhart Tolle. It has to do with Oprah’s power and cultural influence. Like most media figures, Oprah often establishes her influence outside of Christianity and many people look to her for answers about life’s deeper issues. She’s one of the most popular and well-recognized individuals in our nation and often serves as a cultural substitute where spiritual issues are concerned.

In that sense anything can be antichrist – government officials, sports figures, musicians, teachers, world leaders, philosophers, and even preachers. Any person that others may substitute for Christ is, in some sense, antichrist. That list includes Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong or unworthy of admiration. But I think it’s safe to say that they aren’t God. And to subsitute them for God inapproriate.

In most cases, the problem is not with the “Oprahs” of the world but with those who substitute their wisdom for a deep relationship with God. Notice that John didn’t write to the “antichrists” of his time, but rather to the people who gave them undue authority and influence. And that’s the key. Anyone can warn about the “Antichrist” of the Left Behind Series, but what are we doing about those who give to others the influence that only Christ should have? People succumb to “antichristism” when Jesus is their savior in doctrine but in matters of life, Oprah (or anyone else) is their lord. The only time people look for substitutes is when what they have isn’t satisfying their deeper needs. Don’t blame Oprah, people. We Christians alone share the burden for “wandering” spiritual seekers. It just so happens that Oprah has a some spiritual advice for people now. But, for her followers, her cultural influence eclipsed the practical aspects of Christianity long ago. Eckhart Tolle just made Christians stand up and take notice.

I Hate “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

When I tell people this, they looked shocked, “How could you hate a show that builds homes for deserving families and individuals?!” Well, there’s a method to my madness and, of course, it has to do with some theological hangup about the show.

See, God’s grace is given to all without reservation for the taking. He doesn’t qualify his grace based on performance. But, like the show, neither does he qualify it on basis of need. What I can’t stand about “Extreme Makeover” is that fact that those who are given homes are those that the producers believe deserve those homes. Not only does kindness or sacrifice merit a home in that show, hardship and tragedy also becomes some kind of sick qualifier for benevolence. So, part of the show is dedicated to explaining the producers’ reasons for choosing a particular group on which to bestow grace…in this case, a new home. They play God.

I’ve had people tell me, “I just ’see Jesus’ in that show” or “Isn’t that just how God is?” Luckily for me (and you), God is not like that. He extends grace to everyone regardless of economic status, race, gender, cultural relevance, or any other ridiculous qualifying criteria. He even extends grace to those who don’t think he exists or that his grace is in any way helpful to them. But that doesn’t matter – God extends it unconditionally. Without condition or reservation.

So what would “Extreme Makeover: God Edition” look like? Well, it would include a host of respectable and sordid characters. Philanthropists next to misers, Christians next to atheists, American soldiers next to radical jihadists, downtrodden tenants next to slum lords, and every other group of people you can think of. Yet, when the bus rolls back…they all receive houses beyond their wildest dreams. What’s more, they are all given the same blood red key. Each one, regardless of whether anyone else believes their lifestyle merits the gift. And you see the them all walking towards their houses, some cursing God and others thanking him, deciding whether or not to stick the key in the door. Repulsive idea, huh? Not to God.

Truthfully, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is not about the people receiving the homes. It’s not even about the viewing audience or how much tugging on heartstrings translates into ratings. That show is solely for the benefit of those who create it. Ultimately, those who determine who deserves a home and who doesn’t aren’t concerned about anyone but validating their own criteria of worth. They are more concerned about feeling good about themselves and how such qualified giving seems charitable. But it’s really self-love. A “wrap-around” form of self love, but self-love nonetheless. Most charity in our world is for the giver rather than the receiver.

God works the other way around. He gives to overflowing first, then out of that overabundance, we are to give to others. If we give out of our own limited love, we will always run dry or expect something in return. But if we let God love others through us, we will never exhaust his love for others, even those we think they don’t deserve it. But more importantly, we’ll share unqualified love with those we do think deserve it. And that place everyone in the same category: unconditionally loved by God.