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17
Apr

The Way Church Will Be

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Family

book_zisite_lgSo I picked up this book a few weeks ago.  It was written by a pollster, John Zogby, the book is called “The Way We’ll Be: The Transformation of The American Dream.” Although it’s a tough read, not because he doesn’t have good thoughts, just a lot of polling numbers to support what he’s saying.  I guess it should be expected.

But I read it for the last chapter.  It’s here that he briefly predicts the future of religion in America.  I think he said it well and I feel everyone needs to hear it.  If you’ve follow anything religion you already know people are looking for something authentic, but it’s how he predicts this value will shape the future of what church looks like that I want to convey.  Because the book says it well, I will use a lot of quotes.

What he says is the future of Protestantism has mostly to been found in megachurches.  With over 1200 churches, defined as congregations of 2000 or more, megachurches average “20 full-time paid ministerial staff persons, 22 full paid program staff persons, and nearly 300 volunteer workers who give five or more hours a week to the church.”  That’s more people than the average Protestant church can get to come through their doors on Christmas and Easter combined.

He says he certainly doesn’t think “that megachurches are in any danger of disappearing in the immediate future.”  But he sees a “powerful countervailing trend in the authenticity movement and its emphasis on content over package.” He sees the small but fast-growing house-church movement as “compelling evidence that the push back against megachurches is already well under way.”

Much like the early “Christians did when the Church still had to operate underground, house-churchers meet for worship not in soaring glass cathedrals or on sprawling religious campuses but in worshipers’ homes.  Production values are nil.  Hierarchy is flattened of necessity:  These are not staff-rich environments.  As one leader said of the house-church movement, ‘It is about authenticity.  Church services have succeeded at being more characterized by excellence, but one of the consequences of that excellence is artificiality and the feeling that everything is produced and that it is a show.’  Or as another participant told the L.A. Daily News, ‘What is so exciting about doing small-group house church is just the chance to be real.’  In a culture filled with fake and overblown events, that’s a powerful force.  Estimates are that the house-church movement have grown tenfold over the last decade, to about 20 million participants attending either full-time or occasionally. ”

The Barna Group (another pollster) estimates more than 70 million adults have at least experimented with house church participation. In a typical week roughly 20 million adults attend a house church gathering. Over the course of a typical month, that number doubles to about 43 million adults.

They both project the number to grow even more dramatically in the years ahead.

15
Apr

A Biblical Approach to Weed

By Chris 2 Comments
Categories: Church Plant

What is more annoying than weeds?  Until last weekend I had a whole backyard full of them.  But there is something staggering about them – their everywhere! They grow where there is little water (or shallow amounts), where the sun is rigid, and often where grass won’t grow.  I’m using the word weed loosely as some are a nuisance, an unwanted plant in human-made settings or natural areas.  But the strength of weeds is they are native (sometimes nonnative) plants that grow and reproduce aggressively. 

weed2During this recession I’ve seen a few car dealerships close along our main interstate.  One in particular the entire lot is covered with hefty weeds.  At first I responded by think they don’t belong there!  A weed is a plant in an undesired place.  Except as of late I’ve began to compare weeds to the church.

The message of the Kingdom of God, one in the opinion of the leaders of Jesus’ day, took root in undesired places. In Luke 13:18-19 Jesus actually compared the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed. Some think he was talking about the Kingdom of God starting very small, but over time it would grow to grand proportions.  However, the parable, as Jesus told it, carried a different message.  The mustard was so aggressive, it was considered to be unclean. One mustard plant could corrupt an entire garden. There were many restrictions on when and where mustard could be planted, if at all. Simply put, there is a good chance that the man planting the seed was doing something illegal. The mustard plant, both now and then, was often considered to be nothing more than a pesky weed.

Jesus’ message actually got him killed because it showed up where people didn’t expect it, nor wished it.  Like weeds the message of Jesus’ was unwanted for a number of reasons: it’s unattractive to the self righteous, crowded out or restricted religion, and survived in inadequate conditions but with adequate resources (the Father helped).  Some weeds are hazardous, but so is the message of the Kingdom of God.  Weeds cause irritation as does the message of the Cross (1 Cor 1.18) and normally spreads naturally (2 Thess 3:1-3).

So before I share my theory I want you to know I realize that weeds are not favored in scripture (Genesis 3:17-19).  What I am convinced the phrase, Kingdom of God, conveys the center of Jesus’ life and message.  But just like gardening or lawn care, participation is voluntary; the Kingdom of God, like weeds, is present, whether or not people recognize and accept it.

The main thrust of the kingdom is the spiritual transformation of individuals who make up the body of Christ. This ministry of Jesus continues through the Church.  However, the Kingdom of God in not the Church, yet the two have an inseparable relationship. The true Kingdom of God includes all who have believed, or will believe, in Christ as Savior from the Church’s inception until the end.

But I digress, what I believe is the Church should be as simple as the common weed.  The “weed” is not a weed when growing where it belongs or is wanted.  Jesus said he came to the sick.  He said that sin begins death.  If you’re dead, you’re not reproducing. 

Professor Richard C. Lewontin of Harvard University defines weeds as plants that create environmental conditions in which it cannot reproduce.  He takes the example of pine trees that crowd out sunlight such that its own offspring cannot grow.  So imagine the church as the weed thriving in environments that normally suffocate itself to spiritual death. 

weedI believe the church shares similar adaptations as weeds, allowing them to proliferate in disturbed environments whose soil or natural vegetation has been damaged.  Weeds evolve, adapt, and grow in human-disturbed areas.  Should not the local church do the same in the areas of our city and community?  Going where sinful man have disturbed life, adapting and growing in order to bring true life? 

See the church, like a weed, have a nature that often give them an advantage of quickly growing and reproducing.  This is why I’m convinced of the house church method, because it allows the church to be sustainable for many years or have short lifespans with multiple generations in the same area; however, contently spreading to where life is absent.

 ”Weed seeds are often collected and transported with crops after harvesting of grains, and so many weed species have moved out of their natural geographic locations and have spread around the world with humans.”  Okay, Bible thumpers don’t remind me that Jesus often spoke of separating the weeds from the harvest, I get it.  What I’m getting at is that weeds, like the church, move out of their areas and spread around the world through humans.

 Weeds thrive where human conversion has occurred.  Church thrives where human conversion (change, transformation, movement, exchange) will occur.  Humans are the vector (force or influence) of transport and the producer of disturbed environments, so weeds have an ideal association with humans (so does the church).

07
Apr

Human Filters

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Ethics, Faith and Random

What’s your filter?  Everyone has a filter, it’s whatever worldview, orthodoxy, or understanding you use to strain, sort, and categorize what goes through your senses (hear, see, smell, touch, taste). These filters can be good and they can be harmful.  The definition of the verb filter is the act of slowly or partially obstructing the passage (you could insert message).  This isn’t all bad.  Our filters cause every message that we encounter to pass or slip through slowly, as through an obstruction. This allows us to decide if the information is worthy.

 Now you may be thinking, “This is not news!”  Except what if our filters are congested? 

 When we bought our house, we also bought a new refrigerator.  If worked wonderfully.  Except after two years, when friends came over, the water pressure slowly decreased in the door.  I would just tell them to push the button to reset the filter.  But they still complained.  Then two years ago my father was visiting and asked when the last time I change the filter?  I responded that I didn’t know we needed to change the filter.  After reading the owners manual we learned it should be changed every six months.  Our filter was two and half years old – gross.  I actually need to change our filter now.

 So how do we change our human filters?  That is much harder and there is no expiration date.  But it’s important to assess and sometimes reset our filters.  Here are some ways I continually assess and reset my filter to make sure I’m responding to my world candidly. 

  • Read books.  Find books about subjects your comfortable with and read a different point of view. A Christian should read a Atheist’s argument.
  • Listen to different people talk about their view of world issues and dialog.  The secret here is to listen, not convert them.  Listening is much more powerful.
  • Try new things.  I remember in middle school going to a Bat Mitzvah.  I’m not Jewish but the experience left a lasting impression of the origins of my own faith.
  • Visit other countries and get involved.  The world is much smaller due to the internet and you have no excuse for never leaving home.  I know a woman who was born, educated, and raised her children in Texas — until recently she had never left the state.  At age 50 she left Texas for the first time to visit her daughter in LA.
  • Open your life to people not like you.  I think about Jesus often when it comes to this action.  He was completely God and Man – no one was like him – but he opened himself to everyone who would have him.  It’s sort of living life on purpose. 

The real message here is be aware of your filters.  We need to reset these filters to allow us to interact with the world more truthfully.  The best way to do this is to leave your box, bubble, or whatever is keeping your from growing.

23
Mar

Book Recession

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Random

Let me be honest we’ve been blessed to not be directly impacted by the “recession” besides some close family salaries being decreased.  But Summer and I work in fields that are doing well during this time. 

But that doesn’t mean I haven’t felt the consequences.  I love reading.  I remember as a child my mom taking me to the local library to pick out a book for the week.  As we walked in the door she would walk me to the children’s section identified by the green and orange chairs chrematistic of the 70’s.  She would then go the section where her novels shelved. These trips produced a love for non-fiction.

So as an adult on a budget I often borrow my books from the library and save the money to purchase those hard to find books (i.e. church planting).  And until recently I’ve been very happy with my relationship with the local Pleasant Hills Public Library.  As of late the books have been hard to get.  I’m now always on the waiting list and not just for the popular books (Outliners by Gladwell) but the not so popular (Reimagining Church by Viola).  When I go into the library the place is full.  Part of this influx could be their newly reduced hours, but I think a lot of it has to do with the economy. 

People are borrowing more books, instead of buying.  They are visiting the library or sitting outside in their cars to access the WiFi because maybe they’ve canceled their internet, just another luxury expense.  People can relate at the library.

This is nothing new to some people.  When we moved to Austin five years ago, here to plant a church and still looking for jobs, I would go to the library with a friend to borrow CDs and movies because it was cheaper than a album purchase or the rental.  Although I don’t think either of us borrows music or movies from library anymore, it has become common during our “recession” to see people browsing the libraries media, like we once did.

Now let’s pray this remains my only product of the economy.

13
Mar

Video Confessional // March 13 2009

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Faith and Random


Video Confessional – March 13 from Chris McCool on Vimeo.

10
Mar

We Must Change

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant, Faith and Random

Did you know the phrase “under god” in the pledge of allegiance has not always been in the pledge.  It was put in during the Eisenhower administration (1953-61) to help distinguish the United States from the “godless” communists in the USSR.  Did you also know Christian churches have consistently decreased since the 1950s, but since 2001 there has been a significant fall in numbers?

America is drifting away from religion according to a recent study by Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.  According to the American Religious Self-Identification Survey (ARIS) Christianity’s hold on many Americans is slipping, losing out not to other faiths but to “no faith.”  “Americans are slowly becoming less Christian…The challenge to Christianity does not come from other world religions or new religious movements, but rather from a rejection of all organized religions,” said the ARIS.

Catholics remained the largest religious group nationwide, thanks largely to immigration from Latin America into Texas and California.  But mainline Protestants lost the most ground dropping from 18.7% in 1990 to 13% today. The “no religion” group gained 20 million adults since 1990 and is the only group to have grown in every state.  Only 10% of that group explicitly identifies as atheist or agnostic. 

The survey is clear that adults are leaving denominational religions and not returning to church and claiming no religion, or going to nondenominational or evangelical churches, although they too have seen a decline.

The Northeast now surpasses the Pacific Northwest as the least religious part of the country.  And that is not the end.  For the first time, the ARIS 2008 survey included a question on belief about God, and the findings suggest some Americans may not share fully the theology of the groups with which they identify.

A little less than 70% believe “definitely in a personal God,” with 12% believing “in a higher power but no personal God.”  Some 2.3% say there is no God, while 10% either don’t know or don’t think there is a way to know.  So 30% or more people wouldn’t fit the definition of a disciple of Jesus. 

These numbers bring up a good question.  People normally remain with the faith they grow up with.  And now that a good fraction of the population is being raised outside the religious influence, what does it mean for religious institutions?  Can Christianity change it’s methods enough to reach those leaving the church and/or be positioned to reach the growing future generations who will be “no religion,” agnostic or atheist.

24
Feb

I’m Not Catholic…

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant and Faith

But I observe Lent.  I keep Lent because I’m a follower of Jesus.  I respect the journey, not so much the ritual. If you keep a daily planner or schedule your weeks around a purchased calendar you can’t escape the influence of the seasons of the church.  These seasons revolve around the life of Jesus (birth and his death).  The purpose of these seasons is to infuse our lives with meaning that adds depth to our journey of faith. 

 The season of Lent involves Jesus’ death.  Beginning tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, we enter the Lent season.  Lent began as a time of preparation for baptismal candidates who would be baptized on Easter Sunday.  But since these baptismal candidates were part of a living community of faith (like Graceland), the entire community was called to preparation.  So, Lent, a season of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday, and culminates with Holy Week.

 Why would a Christ follower, who has no roots in Catholicism, practice Lent?  Because these season invite us to participate and move past the regular cycle of “day in and day out” and the week to week to engage a larger, historical and meaningful event.  Lent is a season of deep reflection that ends with a great celebration of Easter.  It incites in us the sacrifice Jesus made for us as we fast.  As we find quiet corners in our day to speak with God, we share the same silence as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Likewise, as Jesus stood between us and God we show justice toward others during Lent (as we should 365 days a year).

 Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them close to God, and often give time (or money) toward charitable purposes or organizations. Without doubt many misuse these seasons but even unbelievers sin of Fat Tuesday and make temporary sacrifice until Easter.  I believe God honors any desire, no matter the reason, that draws us toward Him rather than static or backward motion.

That is why I observe Lent.  I encourage you to do the same.

18
Feb

What is Love?

By Chris 2 Comments
Categories: Church Plant and Random

Okay, so I’m on some love kick!  But since I’m leading a missional community and many of the people involved are returning to Jesus or investigating faith the subject of love and relationships are all around us.  I find myself thinking about the difference between love, lust, infatuation, passion, desire, even obsession.

Here are some thoughts.  I’ll keep with Infatuation and Love to avoid confusion.  But I believe Love is clearly different once looked at from a distance (which is the hard part). So you could replace any word (lust, passion, desire, obsession) for Infatuation.

Infatuation is the instant desire that is in fact a primitive, biologically based drive, like hunger or sex. My wives favorite quote is “Love is friendship on fire.”  I like that.  Love is friendship that has caught fire.  It takes root and grows, one day at a time.

Infatuation presents feelings of insecurity.  You are excited and eager to see them, but not genuinely happy.  There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, parts of your beloved you would rather not examine too closely for fear of spoiling the dream.

Love is at home with imperfection with quiet understanding and mature acceptance.  Love is genuine and rejoices with the truth.  It is real.  Love grows and nurtures the object of that love.  You are warmed by their presence, even when they are away.  Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres even when miles separate you.  Near or far, you know they are yours and you can wait.

Infatuation says, “We must get married right away. I can’t risk losing you.”

Love says, “Be patient.  They are yours.  Plan your future with confidence.”

Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement. Whenever you are in one another’s company you are hoping it will end in intimacy.  It has a sense of self-seeking and you become easily angered when it doesn’t turn out as expected.  It can be rude.

Love is the maturation of friendship. You must be friends before you can be lovers.  You find kindness and selfless rewarding in love.

Infatuation lacks confidence. When he’s away, you wonder if he’s cheating.
Sometimes you check.  Infatuation records unprovoked wrongs.

Love means trust. You are calm, secure, and unthreatened. She feels your trust and it makes her even more trustworthy.

Infatuation might lead you to do things you’ll regret later, but love never will.

Love lifts you up. It makes you look up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better person than you were before. Love never fails.

 Reference cited: 1 Corinthians 13
17
Feb

Movie and a Show

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Family

This past Sunday our Simple Church talked about John 3.1-21.  If you’ve been a follower of Christ very long (or not so long) you know that these verses encompass the famous John 3.16.  You can find this verse at many sports games being waved somewhere close to the goal post or free throw line.  Any case the verse speaks of God’s love for us.  It actually reads that “God so loved the world that He gave…”  The scripture says a lot more but I want to stop here, because giving is the ultimate language of love.

I think this thought is appropriate for this previous weekend.  Valentine’s Day was this weekend and if you have a significant someone than you probably celebrated some act of love (1 Cor 13).  But I don’t believe there is any act of love greater than the act of giving.  And in a world that evolves around two economies: time and money.  It’s the giving of time that can have no equal.

confessions_of_a_shopaholic_ver2I bring these two economies up because this weekend I realized how much I truly love my girls (wife: Summer and daughter: Tatum).  They are the most important people in my life on earth and I can not conceive of loving anyone more.  So when I gave time to be with them in two venues of entertainment and found myself asking, “What I’m I doing?” I quickly recognize I’m loving my girls in the moment and showing them how much I love them by giving myself.  So what did I do with them?

Saturday night I watched “Confessions of a Shopaholic” with Summer.  If you know me that was torture!  The joy I found was hearing my wife laugh out loud and pull me close during the “mushy” parts.  I’m not a big teen movie buff (I can hear Summer now saying it wasn’t a teen movie, but if felt like one), I prefer action and story depth.

elmo08_300Sunday night we went downtown as a family to watch Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Green Thumb.  Now this was not actually bad.  It felt kinda cool with all the families and the joy of watching children light up with the characters walked on stage.  When I was a child you couldn’t tear a stuffed Grover doll from my little hands.  He was in every picture.  So there was a bit of joy when I saw him take the stage.  However, it took Tatum about five songs before she released the death hug on her mother’s neck and watch the show facing forward. By the end all we could hear Tatum saying was “Where Elmo?”

I actually loved my Valentine’s Day because of the joy my girls gave me.

13
Feb

Valentine’s Day Fuss

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Family

moment077I’ve been looking to write about fighting in marriage for awhile.  Since Valentine’s Day is this weekend – couldn’t think of a better time (my wife is now laughing or frowning). I think this subject is very serious.  Growing up I observed many different types of martial aggression, much of what was hostile. So before getting married, and since, I’ve tried to relearn what is constructive in an argument.

Let me give a disclaimer: My wife doesn’t fight; well, she doesn’t fight back.  She gives a little attitude when she feels it’s necessary (or not), but rarely doesn’t she actually argue. Nevertheless, it’s essential your argument ends well no matter if words or silence is exchanged. How you end an argument can determine the enduring success or failure of your relationship.

Control.  If anything I’ve learned it’s important to keep your cool and maintain control.  It’s never appropriate to be childish, abusive or immature in an argument.  You have every right to your feelings and communicating your feelings, but only when it’s helpful, not smug, and taking yourself lightly.

I’ve always told Summer that we are going to fight or disagree about something, it’s only natural.  But it’s how you fight and the desire outcome you have for the fight.  Do you want to resolve the issue or get even, revenge, or power?  If you have to win then that means your spouse has to lose. Everyone loses when we have those attitudes. This is no competition, it’s a partnership.  God said two became one.

Here are some rules to fight by.  I think every book, website, and marriage guru suggests some form of these so they all get create.  But here they are again.

Keep it private.  Fighting in front of your children, friends, or strangers is embarrassing. It scars children emotionally for life and because you couldn’t control yourself until you could speak privately.

Stay on Issue.  Don’t use this issue to air out or bring up old grudges.  Practice using boundaries around subject matters so that a fight doesn’t become a free-for-all.

Be Real.  Deal with the issue not the symptoms.  And be honest and truthful with each other – nothing false. Communicate what is really bothering you or you will end the fight feeling more frustrated.

No Name Calling. Stay focused on the issue, not on attacking them personally so you feel more powerful or proven.  Don’t let the fight degenerate into name-calling.

Remain Clear.  What do you want when the disagreement is over?  If you don’t know what you want when it’s all said and done — you won’t know if you achieved it.

Let Your Partner Save Face.  How you end is crucial.  Recognize when they are ready for the argument to be over – maybe in the form of an apology or a joke – and give them a way out of the disagreement that doesn’t require them to feel the loose. Also accept that some issues will not be resolved now and your partner has the right to space to think and reflect.

lioness-wiefKeep Balanced.  Remember that not every disagreement means putting on the gloves.  Not every issue demands intensity.  You do not have to get mad every time you have a right to be.  Your partner can sense your emotions without you screaming or shouting.

Over By Bedtime.  My wife and I have an unsaid rule that arguments should be temporary, so we don’t let them go beyond bedtime.  Sometimes we want to sleep on it (she is a processor), but we don’t allow the ugliness of an argument to stretch beyond going to sleep.  Somewhere I remember the saying “don’t let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4.25-27; Psalm 4.4).

I wish I could say I’m perfect in all things martial discord.  I don’t claim to be a good husband, but I’m learning to be better.  I love my spouse as I’m sure you love your own (or will someday) and believe the best fight is the one that ends with both satisfied and eclipsed by love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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