A Voice of Hope

For Whom Do We Build?

A recent Baptist Press article headline declares: "Unchurched Prefer Traditional Styling for Churches Outside, In"

The three-page article states,

When given an assortment of four photos of church exteriors and given 100 "preference points" to allocate between them, the unchurched [surveyed] used an average of 47.7 points on the most traditional and Gothic options. The three other options ranged from an average of 18.5 points to 15.9 points.

"We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer," [Jim] Couchenour concluded. "While multi-use space is the most efficient, we need to ask, 'Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?'"

It goes on to say that many prefer it because these churches seem to appeal to all the senses, both with the appealing architecture, and the appeal to the senses through sound, and smell (incense) as well provide a sense of connection to the past. The article continues:

[Ed] Stetzer noted that despite these survey results, most of the churches that look like a cathedral are in decline. Just because someone has a preference for the aesthetically pleasing Gothic churches doesn't mean they'll visit the church if that's the only connection point they have to the congregation.

This survey and the conclusions drawn by LifeWay Research intrigued me for a couple of reasons.

First, it intrigued me because I've recently written how I sometimes struggle with maintaining a sense of awe and wonder in a corporate worship experience in the movie theater in which we meet. As a highly aesthetic person I am deeply impacted by my surroundings, and even though I could not be counted among the "unchurched" surveyed, the results in this article speak what I have felt for some time. I long for the old, for the sense of being on sacred ground, for the combination of majesty and simplicity of the ancient cathedrals and chapels; and for the quiet reverence and sense of "transcendent intimacy" (as one respondent of the survey put it) that oldness represents.

But it also intrigued me because last year my church stepped into the whole building-a-building-and-envisioning-our-"wildest dreams"-for-that-space ordeal. Despite what I just said about my struggle with meeting in a theatre, the idea of building a building rather freaked me out. There is a laundry list of reasons for my freakout, and lessons I'm learning from this new experience, which I will not bore you with here. Rather, I'd like to speak about two opinions I've previously held that I seem no longer to have. I don't know when I changed my mind, exactly, but change it I have.

First, I no longer believe it is absurd for a 21st century church to build a building. I've held this opinion for a long time; nearly a decade. I started by thinking just that it was not wise in today's economy and environment; that there was no need to own when a church could rent existing facilities and spend the money saved on mortgage interest and upkeep on the more important ministry of people -- feeding the poor, housing AIDS hospice patients, building and supporting ministries overseas, among other ministries. This conviction came about, I believe now, as a response to all the times I got my hopes up and dreamed about what it would be like to be in whatever facility Mosaic was looking to buy, back in the day we were looking for property, only to be let down when negotiations fell through. When Erwin finally announced that we would shelve the property search indefinitely and just be a mobile church, I celebrated heartily. I was very tired of disappointment.

I realize now that I took what was good and right for one community and decided to apply it to all communities. That is not right. What is good for one, may not be good or right for another. Each community must follow where God leads them specifically, not follow others because a path has already been cleared. Whether building a building or owning a building is right and good for my church at this time is not clear to me. I honestly don't know. I only know that I was wrong to try to lay on the whole church the constraints of what worked for me in the past.

Second, Jim Couchenour's above comment really struck me: We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer.... we need to ask, 'Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?'"

I'm wondering, should we really be designing buildings based on what the unchurched would prefer (whether that is only just what we think or what we know they'd prefer)? Or should a building instead reflect the heart of the people who will inhabit it; that is, their heart toward God? Should it be their offering of worship to God, or an offering of invitation to the community around them? Or can it be both, should it be both, with perhaps one more dominant than the other?

I ask because I don't know, and I'd like to know what others think

I will say, however, that it seems to me, as I consider this issue, that we need to learn from Willow Creek's recent admission of wrong-focus. They realized, and admitted, recently that their seeker-focused services produced Christians who expected to be hand-fed and entertained, rather than true followers of Christ willing to surrender themselves fully and completely to the love, grace, and will of the Living God and ready to follow Jesus wherever He led no matter the cost no turning back. Isn't it possible that focusing more on what might bring in the unchurched rather than on expressing our own communal heart, love, adoration, praise, joy... whatever...toward God is also wrong-focused, and perhaps even denies the unchurched the opportunity to comprehend that it is not all about them; but rather all about God?

Covenant Presbyterian Church in Green Hills is building a beautiful cathedral on a hill just off Hillsboro Pike. I see it every day as I drive home. It juts up and stands tall, with its high stone walls, and towering spire boldly holding the cross high, declaring to all the world "He is Holy! See His majesty!" I love that. At first I was upset that someone was building another church building -- in a city with literally a church on every corner -- and messing up the beautiful landscape. But the thing about this place is that it doesn't mess up the landscape. It adds to it. It creates a sense of majesty, and of awe and wonder... one doesn't even have to walk in the doors of that building to be impacted by it. Every evening as I pass that hill I am reminded of the majesty and glory of God; of how much bigger and more powerful than I is He. I would very much like to attend church in a building like that, I think.

It is true that buildings do not make the church. And Ed Stetzer rightly speaks to this issue by pointing out that most of the cathedral-like churches are in decline. I think this is because their mind-set is as old as their building; with all the draftiness but none of the majesty or intimacy. They are able to attract those seeking God, but they cannot keep them because God seems to no longer reside there. Perhaps what is needed is to combine the old architecture with the "new" understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus so that God can be found both in the majesty and awe of the building and also in the humble, loving, gracious, accepting followers of Jesus who passionately worship God under its roof.

What do you think?

Because Sometimes We Forget To Remember

I was introduced to this amazing song tonight. And I wept. Deeply.

Sometimes we forget to acknowledge the unbelievable, powerful, passionate, unfailing love of God. In all our crazy worshiping and joy; in all our crying out in our pain and need; in all our silent contemplation, and all our noisy jubilation. I think sometimes we just plain forget how He loves us. We get lost in our own struggles, in the daily grind of every day life, in our plans and schemes for tomorrow, in all our hurts, needs, wants, passions.... we just... forget.

I hope this reminds you today how much He loves you. Let yourself be swept away by it today; let Him drench you with His love. Oh, how He loves us!

[note rss readers: embedded video]

So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And the heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us!
Oh how He loves us!
Oh how He loves us!
Oh how He loves!

Words and Music by John Mark McMillan

Thank you, Los. What an awesome song to introduce me to.

Katharine with an A Equals Lu with no O

Another silly quiz for you. I'm not a fan of OkCupid.com, but this one particular quiz (HT: SistaSmiff) looked so interesting on Sista's site that I had to put up with the crazy "sign in/sign up" crap (did not at all remember my password!) so I could see what the results of my own personal Classic Dames Quiz would look like. I gotta say, I'm very pleased. If I could pick one person from Hollywood's past to emulate, it'd be Katharine Hepburn. Not just her style and class (though for some reason this quiz said she nor I had any class at all. Bah. Ridiculous!), but also her wit, intelligence, and independence.

I'm amazed that she was able to live her life on her terms, never marrying (though privately -- or not so privately -- carrying on a long-term affair with the married but separated Spencer Tracy), and never -- as far as I know -- seen as a freak (or rumored to be lesbian, as is sadly the case today for any single woman over a certain age), nor ever even giving a damn whether she was seen as a freak by society. She was practical, witty, intelligent, classy, talented, independent, and beautiful. How can you beat that combination?

I wish that it were true that Katharine-with-an-a equals Lu-with-no-o, but I can only hope and pray that someday I on my best day will have even half of what Kate had on her worst.

Lord, be merciful and kind and let me be my own version of a Katharine Hepburn; leaving a spiritual legacy as powerful and dynamic as was Katherine's film and cultural one.

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 26% on grit

You scored higher than 94% on wit

You scored higher than 58% on flair

You scored higher than 0% on class

Check it out and see which Classic Dame you are. But  be warned, OkCupid.com insists you sign up before it will give you your results (it's free). Frustrating, but worth it if you're into this crazy stuff.

Trying Something New

I'm trying a different approach to my longer posts: I'm posting the introduction to these longer posts up front but then continuing the post "after the jump," as they say. All you  need to do to read the rest of the post is click on the "continue reading" link at the bottom of the introduction.

I thought I'd do this to save a little space on my pages, and to save you the pain of finding the end of my long posts so you can read the next one in line. Also, if the introduction doesn't pique your interest, you can just move on (but I hope you won't!) rather than read the rest of the post.

I'd really like know what you think; if you like it, or would rather have the whole post on the front page.

UPDATE: I'm working on getting my feedburner, and various feeds, to publish full posts rather than a quick summary -- huge apologies to all my subscribers out there [all 3 of you! ;) ]; I didn't realize I had Feedburner only posting 200 characters. What the...??? -- I've changed feedburner already (Typepad was already set to feed full posts), but I don't know how long it takes for it to cycle through all the feeds. I know Bloglines now gets full posts but so far I haven't been able to get GR to follow suit. So let me know if you use Google Reader and can read this entire post. Thanks! (and special thanks to Joe Kennedy for buying me a clue!)

Atmosphere, Ethos, and Communing with God

My friend Marti left a very thought-provoking comment on my previous post about Creative Chaos or Quiet Reverence that really sparked some memories. I started to share these with her in the comment section, but decided they deserve a post of their own.

First, let me share with you what Marti wrote:

My church meets in an old warehouse, or anyway, the anchor to a defunct shopping center. It was ugly. The old-timers kind of liked that, as it harkened back to the day when they moved from one school to another... they didn't want things too nice. Nobody EVER got married there. After we paid off the mortgage, fixed the leakin' roof, etc, God provided a major donor who gave a $1 million anonymous gift with no strings attached. The mission committee got a tithe of it, which was cool, and a lot of other good stuff happened too. Sadly, giving dropped; this was about five years ago and we've yet to recover. However, somewhere in there the elders decided to use part of 'the big taco' (as the $1 million was affectionately called) to build a new sanctuary inside out building. It feels like a living room. It has niches for prayer. It has pretty, ivory-colored walls. I was glad we didn't spend all our money on this, but it helps to have a comfortable, attractive environment. It makes a difference. So does our new worship leader, and particularly, his adorable wife with the great voice who leads our singing most Sunday mornings. We sound great with her leading us. And she can do new stuff, old stuff, in-between stuff just as well. I'm glad God gives us so many ways to worship.

As I read her comment, especially when she began describing her church's current set up,  I was reminded of the last six or so months of our old church plant here in Nashville (before it was decided the plant would merge with an already established Mosaic in town). We revamped it after a jolting shift in our leadership, and part of the revamp was to completely change our approach to our "service" time. Instead of coming at it from a typical worship service mind-set, formatting it with music and then teaching, we instead approached it as if it were a giant Life Group (small group, or cell group; some now call them Community Groups). This one change in focus changed the whole dynamic and feel of our times together, and opened the door for God to dwell among and within us at an ever deepening level. (please note this post continues after the jump -- see below)

The Writing on the Heart

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

I love listening to podcasts. I have several pastor/teachers that I love learning from through their sermon or talks; Rob Bell, Matt Chandler, Naeem Fazal, and of course, Erwin McManus. I used to take tapes and cds of Erwin's messages when I was going to be away from Mosaic for any length of time; I took some with me to India -- where I listened to them so often I nearly had them memorized -- and also to Cyprus, where I tried to "ration" them by listening to only one a week (over and over, of course). Even when I was at Mosaic I would get the sermon on cd and listen to it as I drove to work and back. I've found with Erwin -- with all these guys, actually -- that I learn even more on the third and fourth listening. I get so caught up in the initial things God speaks to me through their words that I miss other things. Repeated listening helps me catch what I missed earlier.

I've been going through Erwin's sermons on the billboards of LA, and today I listened to the latest (perhaps last?) in the series, entitled, "Don't Read Billboards." One thing he said that struck me hard was that we are always writing our stories on the hearts of those around us, those closest to us. How we live and who we are, and who we are becoming--who we are striving to become-- impacts those around us in such a way that it gets written on their hearts about us, and about the God we worship. Our lives are the best billboards there are; the human conversation, living and breathing and communicating messages, whether we know it or not. It really got me to thinking, what story of mine is being written on the hearts of those around me?

For some I think it's a positive one; one of striving for emotional and spiritual health, moving from unhealthy, even diseased, toward wholeness and recovery. But for others, I know I am writing a vastly different story. (please note this post continues after the jump -- see below)

Creative Chaos versus Quiet Reverence

Los has this series he does on Thursdays called Creative Chaos, where he talks a little about what his church (Buckhead, in the ATL; photo copyright Buckhead Church) does in their worship times, or planning times, etc. Then he invites others to post about what creative chaos is happening in their worlds and also provides a way they can link their posts to his on his blog. It's really cool to read because you get a feel for all the creative madness going on out there in Worship Leader Land. I highly recommend it, even if you're not a leader.

Today he posted a kickin' video that you just gotta watch. But do yourself a favor, put your headphones on and crank the sound. It. Is. Awesome!!

Aside from the sound, the visual overload of the video, both from the screens and the constantly shifting camera angles, took me on a little ride. It was good, but I realized something the first time I watched. While I'd love to participate in something like that for a worship concert -- where it's just singing and music and some prayer (accompanied by music); just worship -- I'm not sure I'd want to "do church" like that every week.

I'm realizing more and more that I long for some of the old -- dare I say it? -- traditions; the quiet reverence, the sacraments, the sort-of high church feel. I'd probably tire of it after a bit; I don't think I'm by nature a quiet, calm, traditional worshiper. But for some reason, right now my soul craves that. I crave a chance to sit silently in a sanctuary, get on my knees with others, and take communion in community in the midst of such a holy-feeling place. I will probably shock some with this statement, but sometimes meeting in a movie theatre does, for me, take some of the awe and reverence from the worship experience. If I weren't such an aesthetic person perhaps that wouldn't be so, but I am. So I struggle with the environments I find myself in during worship services, and sometimes they just don't fit with what my spirit is craving.

What about you? What kind of worship services do you like? Is aesthetics, your surroundings, important to you, or doe it not effect you?

It's Snowing!!

These are taken with my phone because the batteries in my camera suddenly decided to go kaput right after I turned it on tonight (and I don't have any freshly recharged batteries). The first (and probably only) major snow event of Winter 2008. We've even had thunder! Cuh-razee weather!

For those of you who live in snowy locations, you gotta understand a couple of things.

First, this the South. We don't get snow, as a general rule. Or at least not much more than the occasional flurry or light dusting, so anything more than 1/60th of an inch is waaaay too much for us to handle.

Second, I'm still a California girl at heart. I'm so very fascinated by weather of any kind that I'm as giddy as a kid at Christmas whenever it rains, thunders, or snows. To have all that in one evening, way too cool!! Way. To. Cool!!

So naturally I'm gonna take lots of pictures of this amazing and beautiful thing called snow. And, of course, I have to prove I was actually there and not just cribbing someone else's pics.

Happy Winter Snow Day, everyone!

Changing Worldviews

A few days ago someone connected to my blog through the "Religion" category; one that I seldom use because so few things in my life seems to fall under the idea of straight religion. Rather things fall, in my mind at least, more under issues of faith, or Faith.

I often am curious what impressions first-time visitors to my site have, so sometimes I follow the link they did to my site just to see what they saw. The last post I put under that category was from January 2006, about a little quiz on theological worldviews. At that time I scored 82% as an Emergent/Post Modern. But Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan, was a very close second. So I decided to retake the quiz and see if much had changed. It has, and you can see the results below.

There is still much in the first quiz results with which I agree. I still believe that the Gospel is spread "virally" through relationship more than through "evangelization" and revivals. And I still feel alienated from some older forms of church; chiefly the forms that conjure images of the 40s and 50s, where women have a limited role, men dominate, doctrine and tradition prevail over spirituality and Truth, and where the preaching is either overly dramatic (hellfire/damnation stuff) or overly monotone (and usually focused on exegesis alone) and always in that preacher cadence (you know the one I mean; I swear, they must have a class in seminary just for developing that). I have an allergy to such churches even today.

However, I now find myself with some different priorities. I still am convinced that we followers of Christ have the secret to Abundant Life, and that it is imperative that we share it with everyone who will listen to us. But I find that the essence of what I am compelled to share, and the thing that compels me, is the unbelievable, unfailing love and grace of God. That grace is, to me, preeminent in this thing called Life. It covers us long before we even recognize God's whispers of love or His constant activity in and around us. It is what covers our sin, drives us to our knees in sorrow and repentance, and breathes fresh Life in us to try again. God's Grace is what fuels and drives our personal holiness; without it I am convinced we could not be holy; without it we cannot give grace to others when they fail or hurt us.

I'm not theologically or doctrinally trained so I cannot speak much to those issues -- the extent of my knowledge comes a little from my dad's  old Barclay commentaries and my own Matthew Henry commentaries, and a lot from the various teachings of several pastors and teachers (such as Beth Moore, Erwin, Matt Chandler, and Rob Bell) who resonate with my spirit  and my own and others' experiences with God Himself. But what little I have read on John Wesley's teachings and focus resonate within my spirit. It is much of what I have come to believe myself. "Methodism" (ie the Methodist church) of today not so much (at least what I know of it), but what I've seen of what Wesley said back then I like.

I'm interested in reading more on Wesley's teachings but I don't know where to look. So if any of you seminary trained (or just knowledgeable) people out there can recommend books I could read on Wesley's teachings and writings, please let me know.

   

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan  You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavily by John Wesley and the Methodists.           Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan           82% Emergent/Postmodern           54% Reformed Evangelical           54% Neo orthodox           46% Roman Catholic           32% Classical Liberal           25% Charismatic/Pentecostal           25% Modern Liberal           21% Fundamentalist           21%

I am...

Take the Quiz here!

You Are...Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Yeah, I can see this (yes, I do realize it's just a silly Internet quiz that means nothing).

There was a time when I would have been horrified by such an estimation -- I'd rather be Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, or even Marian Dashwood; someone more passionate, full of life, vibrant. But upon deeper thought, no, I don't think I would like that (though I would love to have my own personal Mr. Knightly!). Marian is unrealistically romantic, Emma a little too impulsive, and Elizabeth a bit too prideful. If I had to pick an Austen hero that most reflects me, Elinor does come closest.

I'm not all head, but I do often lead with my sensible side rather than with my passionate side. I have realized this with clarity the last few weeks, as I watched a friend make choices with her heart that I worry are unwise; choices I would never touch with a ten-foot pole. Their wisdom will eventually reveal itself, and even if they are unwise, she will be fine and life will go on. But as I watched events unfold I saw all too clearly my strong leaning to be sensible, prudent, cautious.

Yet there are times when my passions and emotions rule. Usually they come spilling out of me, or exploding out as the case may be, in giant waves that overtake me and leave me breathless. Probably because I don't let them come out and play often enough -- though I am learning to change that, to feel my feelings as they come, even if I still do not let them lead me.

Perhaps that's why I see some truth in this silly little quiz. Because I think I am like Elinor. It's amazing how her sensible side protected her from so many things, including love, sadly; until she allowed herself to admit she felt it, and needed it. And she, too, eventually learned to let her feelings out, to feel them and acknowledge them even as she still refused to let them lead her choice.

Truth can be found in the oddest places.