Chuck Warnock has a wonderful post about the time he made a pastoral call to a strip club because the owner’s wife and children went to his church, but Freddie never got closer than the parking lot in dropping them off and picking them up. The day I went to the stip club is an excellent post, and I encourage you to go read it. It made me think about a short essay I wrote about meeting people where they are at.
“The Power of Presence”
I had read yet another well-meaning, although very narrow-minded, diatribe of how Christians should only frequent and hang out in places that are Christian owned and/or operated, and whose clientele are other Christians.
When I read or hear this line of thought, I always think: didn’t Jesus say something about His followers being salt and light to a dark world that needs some seasoning? Didn’t Jesus say He would make us fishers of people? Wasn’t Jesus the one who commissioned us to go into the world and make disciples? So how are we supposed to make disciples if we spend all of our time in the great, almighty evangelical bubble? Just with each other for “edifying” company?
At the time I worked within the “evangelical bubble.” I spent my whole day with other Christians, so I made it a point, when I went out, to frequent places where I knew lost people were. It was the only way I ever met people I could be salt and light to. If I took this person’s advice I would have never seen a person who wasn’t a Christian. Not only then, but now, how in the world can I be like Christ if I’m never around the people he hung out with–the tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes–people who needed God?
But I don’t want to be like those people who only talk about being saved and shoving tracks down the poor, lost person’s throat either. This is where my thoughts on the power of presence come in. I wonder if Christians underestimate the power our presence simply has somewhere? As a Christian I represent Christ. That means where I am, so is Christ. I have noticed that when I hang out in a place for a long enough time the people who work there and other regulars start noticing that I’m different. If I hang around one place long enough the questions start coming. Then I have the opportunity to talk about God, and I am always ready to give “an accounting for the hope that is in in” me (1 Peter 3:15, NRSV). But I don’t necessarily go looking for opportunities to evangelize. I don’t want to be a person that the only time I ever talk to lost people is so I can “save” them. I have this belief that even if I never get an opportunity to talk to them, that my presence, Christ’s presence, still has an impact on them. So even if I don’t get a chance to give an accounting of my hope, I still believe that I have had a positive influence on the place I was in simply because I brought Jesus with me.
In The Message Eugene Peterson translates John 1:14 this way: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” If Christians aren’t willing to “move” into the neighborhoods and hang-outs of the lost, why should they take us seriously or listen to anything we have to say? (Personally, I don’t trust anyone who won’t hang out with me on “my turf,†and I am a Christian!) If Jesus was willing to meet and hang out with people right where they’re at, should we do any less?
So when I lived in Kansas City, I would still go to Westport and hang out in all of my favorite coffee shops where I was surrounded by people who were atheists, agnostics, New Age gurus, Gaia high priestesses, Buddhists, and a smorgasbord of other religions, spiritualities, and beliefs. No…wait….Jesus and I still hung out these places. One of the things I’ve noticed is that when you get to know people, then you can’t take a whole group of people (say the Wiccans) and demonize them as those evil, evil people. You find out they’re a lot like you. You find common ground. I think we need to be concerned with getting to know people and loving them and leave the convicting and saving to the Spirit (that’s the Spirit’s job anyway).
Now I live in Chicago things still haven’t changed; although, I don’t think I have met a Gaia high priestess yet…but I will.
Sphere: Related ContentMy assessment and interview with the University of Phoenix went very well last week. I felt I had a strong presentation and gave a strong case for why I would be a good teacher. I will hear back this week on whether or not they will hire me.
On the menu to the right I have added Recommended Reading. These books are great resources for those who are wanting to know more about women in equal leadership positions with men in the church. I have joined Amazon Associates, so if you click on the book you will go to Amazon’s detail page for that book. The books listed under What I’m Reading will also take you to Amazon’s page to learn more about the book. I decided to join Amazon Associates because I can recommend resources that I know are good, and I buy A LOT of books from Amazon. My big financial goal is to make enough money to pay for my domain name, so the blog breaks even. 
Thank you for your well wishes and comments. Normal blogging will now resume.
Sphere: Related ContentThis has been a busy week. Tomorrow night I will be at an assessment and interview with the University of Phoenix. I am preparing a 5-7 minute presentation, so they can have an idea of what my teaching style would be. If all goes well, I will be an adjunct professor in the humanities department in the downtown Chicago campus. I’m very excited.
I also received my first check for my writing! Dr. Dennis Bratcher is posting many of the articles from Career Women of the Bible on his site The Voice. You can see what up at Women and Theology.
Tonight is Ash Wednesday, so I will be heading to church for the service. I arranged a readers’ theater of the Gospel lesson, Matthew 6:1-1, 16-21. I am also one of the readers. Those of who are taking part in the service are meeting at 5:30 for dinner then to go over the service and rehearse. Which means I will be leaving here very soon.
Then tomorrow night one of my writers’ groups is meeting. It’s called FaithWriters and is at the 1st UMC church. So I have a full schedule this week.
Next week I should be back to regularly posting. If you have any ideas for post or would like to write a guest post, just let me know. You can leave a comment or email me.
Sphere: Related ContentIf you noticed that all of the links I had up for my blogrolls and websites are no longer there, we’re hoping it will be back up soon. My Hubby (who is my webmaster–the advantages to being married to a computer geek) upgraded me to WordPress 2.something, and he has not been able to get the links I’ve added to come up. Hopefully he will have it figured out soon. If you upgraded WordPress and had the same problem, please let us know. My email can be found in the Contact info.
Matthew, I intend to answer your last comment, but I have not had the time to give a proper response, and I refuse to be glib. I just wanted to let you know I had not forgotten about you.
RevGals Friday Five: Tourist Edition
reverendmother here… It seems like this topic has been done before, but I can’t find it in the archives, so……
I am downtown on retreat this week. Most of the retreatants are from out of town, so I get to experience this place through the eyes of visitors. So in the spirit of tourism:
1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit?
I don’t know. I just moved to Chicago last year. I think the three top places I would take someone to, depending on what they liked would be: 1) The Art Institute, 2) Shedds Aquarium, 3) Garfield Park Conservatory. Then depending on the time of the year, there is always heading to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game.
2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?
Normally I cram in as much as possible. I always want to see everything.
3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?
Strolling through a museum or looking for a great mom and pop place to eat the local food.
4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?
I like to strike out and see what happens.
5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?
My bed.
Sphere: Related ContentHappy Valentine’s Day! This is the first poem I wrote after My Hubby and I started talking about getting married, which was around Valentine’s Day last year.
“Yours and Mine, Oursâ€
Talking of space
Talking of time
Talking of melding
Your life and mine
Talking of chairs
Where to put a desk
A corner for the rocker
A place for my antique chest
Talking about the kitchen
Space for a coffeemaker
For without my morning ritual
I’m quite the bear
Talking of dreams
And I must confess
I dream of sharing a bed
And falling asleep on your chest
Talking of love
Talking of a lifetime
Talking of melding
Your heart with mine.
©2006 Shawna Renee Bound
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Jendi Reiter wanted to know what my answers to these questions are. So here we go.
1. State briefly what you believe about the Bible. I believe the Bible is the people of God’s theological confession of faith. This is how God came to us, started a relationship, and continues that relationship.
2. How is the Bible inspired? I believe in the plenary inspiration of Scripture, which means I believe the Bible contains all truth necessary for faith and Christian living.
3. So is the book of Judges inspired, or only the Gospels? Yes, I believe the book of Judges is inspired. Most of it is a manual on how not to live, and the danger of everyone doing what is right in their own eyes.
4. How is the Bible authoritative? The Bible is authoritative in all things pertaining to faith and salvation. I don’t believe the cultural institutions of the day are authoritative today (like patriarchy and stoning someone for working on the Sabbath). That was the culture God had to work with and should not be taken as authoritative or inspired.
5. Is the Bible a human book? It is both a human and divine book. I don’t believe God zapped people and dictated through them. I believe God revealed God’s self to the people, and inspired them to write what they experienced. I believe it’s the faith community’s confession of faith in this God, and how this God has a relationship with us throughout history. It is both divine and human.
6. Are there aspects of the Bible that are not divine? As I said in 4, there are cultural things that are not divine. That is what God had to work with.
7. Why do you call the Bible a conversation? Because both God and people talk and have a relationship throughout the Bible. It’s not a one-sided monologue, but a diverse conversation with many different points of view.
8. What do you believe about canonization? These are the writings that have led people to a better understanding of God through time and many different communities. The community said these are the writings that are sacred and show us God and the way to live.
9. Do you reject the inspiration of some books? I don’t believe the Apocrypha is inspired.
10. Anything else you want to say? Nope, I think this covers it.
The picture is from The Book of the Kells. I found this picture at the University of British Columbia Library.
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