bad theology

So....the thought's been running round my head lately. I'm going to swing about as far away from fashion and accessories as one possibly can in the next few minutes so bear with me.

Not that I am a theology snob, expert, or any such thing- I am not. What I've got under my belt are two seminary classes and a little less than 10 years as a Christian- so in other words- not much. And so with that disclaimer I feel compelled to say:

We CANNOT have bad theology. Not in our Sunday school classes, not from our pulpits, not in our bible studies.

Here's why: Because it's heresy.

Why does that matter? Heresy is more than just an offense that would get you burned at the stake -which is madness-- in the olden days. It's a disease that slowly kills all the delicate plants in your garden. It's a bad apple that rots the whole bunch.

What this means is that no matter how cool (or uncool) our worship, how relevant (or not) our bible study, how hip (or un-hip?) our church- if our theology is bad it will all come down like a house of cards. And worse, it will mislead people who need God (which is all of us.)

Now I know that many wonderful Christians have differing views on the more controversial points of "theology" - but it's the basic stuff I am talking about- the unchanging nature of God.

Here's what I heard- a young woman sharing that after a long time of running from God, and indulging in sin, she's never felt closer to Him than she does now. (Yes!) She went onto say that she doesn't want God to 'go away'- and that she knows that He will distance Himself from her to see if she will continue to follow Him. But she doesn't want that to happen yet because she is enjoying His nearness.

Whoever taught this precious girl that God "distances Himself" from us to "see if we'll continue to follow Him" is teaching heresy. God does no such thing. We distance ourselves. He is unchanging, his position is clear- He LOVES us. He pursues us. We are the ones who run.

That was a moment when I realized that not everyone should be a small group leader, bible study leader, etc. It's important that we know that whomever is teaching - that person must know what he or she is talking about. He or she should be accountable. Heart is not enough as far as credentials for a biblical teacher. Heart is great, but there's alot more needed.

All that to say- I feel so passionately that the church must hold our teachers to the highest standard. This is why I am not one. I don't know anything about how to teach scripture! But I think I know a "Good" teacher when I see him or her. And I definitely know a "bad" one.

I also can safely say this is one of the first times I've encountered this so I've been lucky to be around amazing pastors and teachers for the last ten years. I know that I've been in pretty unique environments too, so this kind of thing probably happens alot more than I realize.

If you happen to hear something like what that girl said, or overhear it, please do me a favor. Hug her, or him. Tell him, or her, that God is not playing cat and mouse with us. God's position on us is clear- He gave us Himself, his Son. He Loves her, or Him. Me and you.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this?

Diversifying

So...I was thinking about starting to post bloggity blog posts on subjects other than God, Life, Death (the big stuff) and wander over into the direction of fashion, accessories, art, expression, food, etc.

Will I lose my street (internet) cred?

I'm just really interested in those things and I wonder if you are too?

First off, let me say that I've become a blog stalker of Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno.

These girls make me want to go thrift store shopping (i hate dust, and usually i hate antiques) and do my hair. This is a big deal for me.

I was so enamored that I wound my way over to Buneo's shop page and bought this little trinket.

Here's why Bueno is better than good: these girls are Houstonians, they love Jesus and have great taste. See, like I said: Better than Bueno.

Enjoy!

Epiphany, Pt. 1 & 2

I am still warm and fuzzy from last week's benediction, turning the phrase over in my mind: Tomorrow the world returns to normal...but for us who gather this morning...the world never returns to normal."

Tomorrow being Monday- the end of the Christmas season, not just commercially but liturgically. We lit the advent candles for the last time this morning, the last morning of Christmas, Christmastide. I was relieved to see them still there. The rhythm of the Christian calendar takes it's cues from the rhythm of the Hebrew calendar: the key word being rhythm. It feels wrong to rush back into everyday life, to tear down the tree and pack away the lights before even the 2nd day of January.

Live, linger, breathe, he seems to say, the world will never return to normal.

For those of us believers with a sense of being an orphan, the liturgical calendar is key. Whether we were biologically, emotionally, or spiritually orphaned by our human parents- the nagging sense of being always a drift, a float, is calmed and soothed by the anchor of the calendar. It is tremendously comforting to know what to expect- a little gift for us who so crave control, yet promise to release it day in and day out.

We are all orphans, we who live in this world. We are longing for the kind of unconditional love humans are incapable of- no matter how great they are, how great of parents they are. That need in us makes true compassion possible.

Today, according to the calendar, is Epiphany, the day when the three kings realized that the squalling baby in the barn was indeed the King the stars foretold. It was there "Eureka" moment.

Don Pieper took us through a couple other Eureka moments in scripture this morning and one of them kinda toppled me.

Jesus comes to Peter, resting from a long, unsuccessful fishing expedition, and tells him to throw out his nets, again.

Peter assures Jesus that nothing will be caught, but Jesus insists, and Peter pulls in the equivalent of his retirement fund. The greatest catch ever. Financial security.

Then Jesus tells him - if you follow me, I will make you fishers of men.

Now here's where I heard this new: Jesus gave him that great catch, as if to say, I can provide all you need, or all you think you need and more. He used Peter's own language to communicate- fish- and gave him so much of it,yet Peter walked away from it altogether.

I had kind of a similar experience, but without the fish. And until now, the experience had not really made much sense to me.

Around the time of September 11,2001 I was a brand new Christian- living, working and dreaming in New York City. I was raised on dreams of Broadway, music, movies- everywhere I went and everyone I knew was pursuing some sort of stardom- and this is what I desperately wanted for myself. I was a singer songwriter- new to the songwriting part- traveling the east coast with my keyboard, drum machine and songs, hoping to catch the ear of a record label. For some reason I had this sense that it was only a matter of meeting the right people, and so I mixed, I mingled, I shmoozed- I was tireless, and my efforts were fruitless.

Then a day or so after labor day I got a phone call from my booking agent. She asked if I would like to sing at the US Open...

You know, that little tennis tournament going on at Arthur Ash stadium?

I was speechless.

She went on to say that she'd gotten a call from a promoter who was putting on a party for the celebrities that would be attending the matches, and he requested me to perform.

Again, speechless.

Before I knew it, there was a white stretch limo outside the window of my Brooklyn brownstone...

To make a long story short, I found myself performing my songs- on my keyboard, with my drum machine (and my Pastor/DJ Kenny Mitchell) for celebrities all right.

Paul McCartney was seated at the bar not twenty feet from where I was singing. Of course I didn't know this until later, he was completely obscured by the cameras that formed a solid wall around him.

But he heard me, he couldn't not have, and now I can say- I sang for Paul McCartney. A bucket list phenom that came from out of nowhere, that only God himself could orchestrate. He was speaking my language.

I began to dare to think that maybe the tide was turning for me, maybe I would finally get that security I was desperately searching for. Maybe it was really happening. A week and change later a friend invited me to a party that Sony records was throwing. I was thrilled of course, and surprised to find, when I arrived several people I'd met at the US Open. It seemed I was beginning to know some 'people in the know.' Again, I couldn't believe it, but God was speaking my language.

That night, after a midnight meal of french fries and champagne, my friend and I parted ways. I remember hugging him goodbye on the cobblestone street, Hudson street, with the moon glowing to my right, and the Twin Towers- just blocks away- glowing to my left.

That was September 10, 2001.

The next morning, as usual, I overslept. By the time I was power walking to my subway stop in Brooklyn, the second plane had already hit. But I had no idea. I was walking and thinking "Wow, God. I think I can trust you." Then in my mind and heart I took a leap I had never dared take before, and under my breath (as firetrucks, several screamed up the avenue, interrupting my reverie), I said "Lord, I give you my life."

And I said it, and I did it, because He showed me, that He could and would open doors for me, doors I thought I needed opened. He showed me he could provide what I needed, or what I thought I needed. My needs weren't valiant, or deep, or thoughtful, in fact they were quite shallow. But He knew what I needed to hear and see and feel, to know I could in fact trust him.

That was a hell of a day to begin trusting God with my life.

Alot happened that day, and in the days to come, but what began that week is what got me to Texas. September 11 unhinged me from my perception of where, what and who I was, and wanted to be. In a way I was freed. I knew God could open any door, after all, hadn't I sung for Paul McCartney?

So why couldn't I leave New York? Move to Texas? Get married? All these things that were impossible in my 'straight to the top' mentality became possibilities.

I doubt I would've ever become a worship leader if I'd stayed in New York. Who knew I would find the life and work and love that fits me just right- in Texas of all places?

This morning I realized that when God showed me all that I thought I wanted in New York that fateful week, he was showing me that I could also walk away from it.


Epiphany indeed. Amen.