Looking for Utopia

Have you noticed that many of those pushing us toward socialism or collectivism are those who produce nothing of value for which they should be compensated? 

Instead of moving from their dream-world of intellectual or moral superiority... toward a life of genuine productivity... they seek to take the money that other earn, by political and social means, ... in effect to seize, at the point of the government gun, the money for which truly productive citizens work so hard. They call this a progressive movement... Hope and change... a better future.

Progress is NEVER forcefully taking the fruits of one mans labor and giving it to another who has not earned it... that's called robbery! 

Hope is at the core of any nation's productivity... what gets us up in the morning, and off to work in our chosen career, is the hope that, by working diligently, we can make our lives and our future better. 

As we do that we look around and see others struggling to do the same thing for their families and we're moved to hire them or recommend them to a friend who has a job opening. When the wages we earn are at OUR disposal, instead of being confiscated by our government, we give to the poor... we give to the sick... we support community hospitals and the needs of orphans abroad. The American public has a long and rich history of helping the world when it's in need.

When the government gets involved and places a burden of taxation to "redistribute the wealth..." we get the feeling that we "already gave at the office" because we did! Why do we begrudge the gifts when they are government mandated? I'd suggest it's because the "soul" is removed from the equation. We don't get to shake the hand of the people we help... or see the good our love and generosity have done. We don't get to use our ingenuity to help them make their life better. The "love" part of the equation is short-circuited and displaced onto the government.

We've seen it play out everywhere it's been tried... an elitist "governing class" emerges to "manage the affairs" of those who produce wealth and those who produce noting. The entitlement class emerges... populated by those who will not take responsibility for their own needs... whose votes increase the power of the governing class at the expense of the working class.

But what about the wealthy you ask... where do they fit in? They are all in the working class! 

I have never met a lazy rich person. They sometimes have lazy children, but anybody I've ever know who had wealth worked hard to get it, invest it, and keep it. The idea of an indolent wealthy class of robber-barons is a fallacy generated by socialist intellectuals, writers and the erstwhile governing class, to pit those who will work against those who won't work.

We're on the verge of a class war in the US that will fundamentally change our way of life forever. The saddest thing about that is the truth that we've been systematically duped into believing that our freedoms were being protected by our government.

All the while they have been selling our freedom for their own power grabbing ends... 

I'm not sure the iPod generation can produce another Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson or John Adams. But we can hope...

How does all this impact worship you might well ask... It has a parallel in the sense that there are two kinds of "worshippers" as well.

I've been leading worship for two classes of people for many years... those who enter in and share in the moments we're creating together... and those who critique and show distain for what others work so hard to produce. If you're involved in worship you've met these two classes and wondered how the same service can impact two people groups so differently. I'd suggest it comes down to the entitlement mentality again.

People who bring a heart of gratefulness to God can find joy in worship... regardless of the style or form it takes. Those who are putting in their time in hope of someone else providing their "blessing" will always come away wondering what was wrong... 

I've determined to be a worship producer as long as I'm breathing... The presence of God is too wonderful a thing to ignore... and an even more tragic thing to grieve away.

Where My Thoughts Are Trending...

I've spent a fair amount of time, over the past 6 months, trying to wrap my head and heart around the concept of what a "missional church" really looks like. I firmly believe that we're in a growing global crisis... and that Jesus is the answer to whatever questions we're wrestling with.

That being said, how do we "be Jesus" or even represent Him well to our post-modern, post-Christian culture? Do we continue to do our church life as usual... hoping that He'll bring people to our churches to learn of Christ from us? Do we focus our efforts on building a "better mousetrap" and hope that the mice will "beat a path to our door?"

I think we need to go undercover a bit... To be Christ-followers cleverly disguised as school-teachers, or airline pilots, sign-makers or computer programmers. What if we showed interest in the people of our community and what they're interested in...? Wouldn't that be acting as "salt and light..." agents of change that can infiltrate our communities and make redemptive relationships with the "not yet Followers of Jesus?"

The church I serve is located in the downtown  corridor of one of the most affluent suburban communities in our part of the state. The students from the local elementary and middle-schools literally walk across our parking lot after school, on their way to hang out at Panera Bread or Greater's Ice Cream Shop.

What if we could grab their attention by appealing to their interests and build relationships that would allow us the "relationship capital" to introduce them to Jesus? For some reason, God has brought our congregation a bunch of artists... We have musical, visual, technical, and electronic artists... many of them skilled in more than one discipline.

What if we used our facilities, and our people to reach out to the kids by developing a "School of Contemporary Arts" for K-12 age students. We could teach music lessons and mentor the kids to play in bands. We could have kids who are interested in electronic media... video, audio, the web, etc. build their skills under our mentorship and at the same time serve the church by envisioning and completing projects that could be used in worship and outreach. We could have kids help to design creative spaces and paint and decorate them... The ideas are as endless as the imagination can grasp.

We'd be building lasting quality relationships with kids in their areas of passion and watching for the opening to plant a "Christ seed" in their hearts.

It's a huge "Big Hairy Audacious Goal..." but what a blast it could be, and what a great way to connect with the kids from the community at an age when Christ-following role models can have such an impact.

For me it was the influence of mentors who challenged me to "Dream Big" that kept me focused on Christ and doing what he wired me up to do. I'd like to "pay that forward," if I can, and use that time-tested method to add freshly-saved kids to our congregation and mission.

Pray for me as I start to plant the seeds of vision for this mission. If you can support or contribute time and expertise, let me know. If you can contribute funds, let me know.

The mid-west suburban world is a "hard nut to crack"... the locals have pretty much everything they need, except Jesus... But the do have interest and passion for the arts. I think that's a hook that can help us be better "fishers of men."

Pick the idea apart and let me know what you see and how we can structure it most effectively... or if it's totally "off the wall," let me know that and why you think it is.

I'm excited about the concept but want the council of many to keep me wise!