I just find this funny!

Thanks to http://earthonmyhead.blogspot.com/

 

On Cornerstone, Ed Dobson and Fuzzy Faces

Background Here

So Ed Dobson has been given the task of promoting the “Jesus Lifestyle” at Cornerstone. I think that is good. But this is my question: what does he mean by “Jesus lifestyle”? You see this is all the rage now days, with self identified “Red Letter” Christians and the like, and what they typically mean by “Jesus Lifestyle” is all the ethical concerns of Jesus without any of the theological concerns. They want a Jesus viewed only through the eyes of the four Gospels and then only in those words Jesus actually spoke (in the four gospels). The problem with all this is that Jesus did not cease to speak or act or be when he spoke his last words before the ascension. His words are found on every remaining page of the New Testament (and every page of the Old Testament for that matter).

This brings me back to Dr. Ed Dobson. Will he teach the way of Jesus found on every page or will he teach an only ethical Jesus (who by the way is a favorite of the Muslims and Buddhist). Knowing of Dr. Dobson throughout his years here in Grand Rapids my inclination would be to say he will teach Jesus in all his Glory from Genesis to Revelation, however the recent article in the Grand Rapids Press is giving me cause for concern, this is what he said:

“I have a deep interest in promoting the Jesus lifestyle,”

which is good, this however is how the Press explains what that is

“[Dobson] has devoted this year to emulating Jesus. He is growing his beard, eating kosher and avoiding work on the Sabbath, as Jesus did.”

Are these things what Dobson will be promoting at Cornerstone? If it is then we have a major issue. Because in fact, none of those things are the enduring Jesus lifestyle that every believer must emulate (and not just for a year)…Those things are the Jesus culture, we are called to live the Jesus lifestyle. We are not called to live the Jesus culture, just as we are not called to live the American West Culture, or the World War II era culture or any other culture. The only culture we are called to live is the one we are born into. To do anything less is not to live the Jesus lifestyle, it is to mock the incarnation. God has placed us at a time and a place in history for a reason, to be him in that time and place. The best way to do that is to live out both the ethical and theological concerns found on every page of scripture as interpreted through the lens of Christ himself. We are his incarnation (small i) in this time and place. Now I am not saying what Dobson is doing is wrong (it is weird, but not wrong). I just am afraid it is unhelpful, unnecessary and confusing at a time when many churches are abandoning the fullness of the whole Gospel for a piecemeal version. I really see no difference between this behavior and the behavior of the Amish, who while they are cute and make good pies, have a defective and moralistic view of grace. If there is one thing that is an enemy of the Jesus life style it is not Bacon (or as I call it, a secondary sign of the new covenant) it is moralism based upon the concept that what we do will equate to a Jesus lifestyle. The reality is that the only thing that will lead to any of us living a Jesus lifestyle is Jesus, his blood, his righteousness, his grace, his spirit. This is why Romans makes clear that it is God who is conforming us to the image of his Son. Kosher living besides being intrinsically illogical for Gentile believers, is just another form of moralism and another attempt to measure up, and a bad one at that. Am I the only one who finds it ironic that gentile Christians, of whom the unclean food was a symbol are now flocking back to Kosher living? This is a perfect picture of the state of Graceless moralistic faith in general, as moralism is our attempt to make clean what God has already declared to be. I understand the desire to be a subversive Jesus follower who does not let culture control or warp the authentic Jesus, I understand that we will have to be radical to be salt and light! I just believe that to live the “Jesus lifestyle” is a whole lot more radical than adopting his shaving habits.

 

The Church in America…

Here is an excerpt for a Lark News Article that i think illustrates well (and humorously) what I was trying to say about the church in the post below…

DENVER — Connection Metro Church, which used its foyer coffee bars to attract visitors to its eight satellite churches in the Denver area, has decided to abandon ministry altogether to focus on coffee.
“People liked the coffee a lot better than the ministry, according to congregational surveys, so we’re practicing what we preached and focusing on our strengths,” says former teaching pastor and now chief marketing officer, Peter Brown.
Many in the congregation seem downright relieved.
“The sermons were okay, but the vanilla frappes were dynamite,” says one woman who regularly attended the church for two years so she could enjoy the special brews. “I even brought my Jewish neighbors and they loved them.”

Read the whole hilariously thing here.  No it’s not true…but given our current ministry culture it could be.

 

The Tangible Kingdom

I am reading the Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay.  Like Hirsch’s “The Forgotten Ways” it is one of those books that totally blows you paradigm.  I am loving it.  I have this dream for American where the church abandons rote Americanism and truly begins to pursue Jesus again.  This book gives a glimpse of what it would look like for that to happen.  Beyond that if you want to know how unique this book is consider the fact that on the back it is endorsed by both Driscoll and McLaren.

 

Listening To Tim Keller

Just heard Tim Keller on the Gospel. It was mind blowing. His example on the incarnation was nothing short of beautiful. His emphasis on the Gospel over religious moralism stired the heart. Good stuff.

 

Charles Barkley Wisdom

“Poor people cannot rely on government to come to help you in times of need,”You have to get your education. Then nobody can control your destiny.”

I think I agree.  What do you think?

 

Come on Pagitt!

So I was doing a little historical reading on “Solomon’s Porch” for church on Sunday and I came across this description:

Attached to the original temple of Solomon was “the porch of judgement” where king Solomon had constructed a large hall 50 cubits long and 30 cubits wide because of the enormous porch in front. Originally there was cedar from floor to ceiling. This was the hall of judgement where the king would make judgements and exercise justice.

It just seems a little mean to name your church after a place of judgment…or is that just me,  although I will go ahead and assume that he has re-imagined it, perhaps as the Porch of Yoga or something…

(Side note:  This post is meant to be ironic and funny,  not serious,  I repeat not serious.  Doug is actually with Jesus on this one, as Solomon’s porch was important not only in his ministry but in the early church as well.)

 

How’s This For A Life Verse

When someone asks me what our church is about…this is how I want to reply.

“We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”-Romans 6:2

 

A New Collective Blog…

Not much there yet..but there will be: Garage Reformation

 

In a Suprising Turn of Events Hilary Clinton is Right About Something

Here

Though it should be noted if this somehow turns against her she will probably deny having said it…and who could blame her, if I landed in Bosnia to gun fire I would forget things too.