Envision: Question 1.

A couple weeks ago I posted a question about the church. Actually it was a phrase that read "When I hear the word church..." There were (7) options from which to choose:

I want to regurgitate.
I envision social justice.
I view people talking about God.
I crave community.
I picture people in pews.
I reflect on covenant.
I think of my family.

All of the choices may be individually or simultaneously plausible on some level depending on one's understanding and experience of church. Hoping to receive an "initial reaction" or to at least stimulate more thought I chose to disable the option allowing one to give multiple answers. Now I am much more curious about the thought process. You may offer an explanation of your survey answer or simply respond to the question:
What do you think when you hear the word "church?"

Envision.

I received an e-mail from Keelan Downton, Assistant Professor of Narrative Biblical Theology at Somerset Christian College about blogging for the upcoming Envision Conference held at Princeton Theological Seminary. Many of my upcoming posts will flow around the conference conversation theme of the gospel, politics, and the future. Your comments concerning the current situation of the church and an envisioned direction are highly valued. Please click and write in the "THOUGHTS" link at the bottom of each Envision post so that we may engage in dialogue together before, during, and after the conference. I also hope to begin some analysis of what Keelan called "a recent barrage of 'manifestos'" including The Emergent Manifesto of Hope, The Evangelical Manifesto, and The Holiness Manifesto.

I'll be flying out of Columbus, OH for my first trip to New Jersey where I'll be crashing at my aunt's home if I do not stay on campus at Princeton. I'm sure my mind will need some good rest from the interactions with the many speakers, authors, teachers, and missional practitioners including Miroslav Volf, Ron Sider, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Brenda Salter McNeil, Shane Claiborne, Jeremy Del Rio, Doug Pagitt, and Bart Campolo. I'm very excited about the diversity of the speakers and the Learning Tracks that are being offered.

There is also an online dialogue June 2-3 to help create a statement entitled, “Envision the Future: The Next Decade” using a collaboration software called Synanim. The forum may be especially interesting and useful for those who are unable to be present at the conference. Be sure to sign up to engage in the online discussion about the problems and/or issues that need addressed in/by the church. It is free to sign up for the online dialogue enabling you to offer your voice in the conversation.

What questions would you find interesting to be posed at the conference?

Facebook Flair.

DISCLAIMER:
This post is part I of II of possibly the 2 most shallow and unthoughtful posts I've ever written and may or may not include a certain amount of sarcasm.

If you have Facebook and you are reading this blog then I assuming that you are awesome enough to have the application "Pieces of Flair" included on your profile. Please add the subversiveREFORMATION flair button that I created. It may be found by searching the keywords "travis," "keller," "mvnu," "church," or "reformation." So far it is being used by 62 dedicated friends.

I don't like oil.

After hearing and reading about the 48 hour closure of the North Sea oil pipeline due to the 1,200 person union strike at the Grangemouth, Scotland refinery, I began to think about dependency. Motorists and consumers were urged by the government "not to hoard fuel, saying there would be enough to go around." In attempt to offset the 700,000 barrels of oil per day supplied by the pipeline and to ensure that there is "enough to go around" the Scottish government is importing 72,000 tons of fuel from Europe. Some fuel stations in Edinburgh are limiting purchases while others have already reported they have run out of gas.

What happens when there is "not enough to go around?"

People cannot travel (unless they walk or bike).
People cannot get to work (unless they work in their own community).
People cannot earn notes of exchage (see above).
People cannot buy food (unless they know local farmers and/or trade other possessions).
People cannot eat (unless they grow their own food or know local farmers).

We are obviously an oil dependent people. What all are we dependent upon that may need remedied where we would be deeply troubled if there was "not enough to go around?

On Community.

The following is a thought I posted for my Premodern, Modern, and Postmodern Philosophy course:

Our current "normal sense of community" is actually quite individualistic. Much "dialogue" is actually "monologue" when one person conversing merely desires his/her opinion to be heard and acted upon rather than both parties seeking mutual understanding to consider the validity of multiple persons' claims and thoughts within conversation. "Communitas" rests in thought that seeks to dissipate one's individualism for the sake of genuine dialogue. In order to engange in the exchange of thought each one involved in the conversation must view himself/herself not as an individual with rights and truth claims but rather as a member of a group who contributes and receives simultaneously resulting in community.

To seek one's own individual desires is contrary to the biblical concept of the Church. The self must be an element that is secondary to the well-being of the community. Seeking "communitas" is the process of enacting love for one's neighbor. Acting and conversing for the good of the neighbor and consequently the good of the community is the demonstration given by Jesus through his incarnation. When "communitas" is in process then love is being made complete.

Due to the potentially argumentative nature of speech, the concept of dialogue in "communitas" must exceed verbal expression. The sharing of life and ideas in a loving manner is more appropriately handled experientially.

In order to create a “commons” in my current context of community I would experiment with social engagement. I would approach dialogue with contemporaries in a manner that incorporates mutual questioning and service. Questioning would involve ministry partners seeking dialogue beyond ourselves and asking questions to others to sincerely receive and consider their perspective. By doing so the concept of “us/them” transforms to an understanding of “us.” The hope would be that conversation would promote and initiate mutual service of giving to and receiving from each other. Experimentation with active service that seeks social justice creates a common missional perspective that is the very essence of the Church.

Serving and Controlling.

"One who would be a leader, I am cautioned, has a greater weight of responsibility to honor the despised, share his earthly possessions, model interdependency, and encourage the use of gifts concealed in the unlikeliest among us. To the leader, then, the gift of humility is offered - the gift is the salvation of the proud, which comes from great difficulty from learning to receive from those who are least on Earth, yet greatest n the Kingdom.
:: Robert Lupton: "Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor."

Good People.

Today is good.
Today is good.

Kevin Peterson :: Lucy Peterson :: Simon Peterson
Kyle Meyers :: Kelsie Meyers :: Francis Xavier Myers
John Ballenger :: Adam Sylvia :: Heather Hofacre :: Anna Feeney
Andrew Hendrixson :: James Smith :: Steven :: Tom West
Tim Barenscheer :: Brittney Barenscheer :: Tony Stemen :: Caleb Epperson
Joe Hughes :: Katie Hughes :: Mandy Taylor
Steph Heayn :: Joe Farmer :: Tyler Delong :: Holly Delong
Sarah Keller :: Kyla Keller :: Travis Keller

Several friends and their friends came to Mount Vernon today to hear Shane Claiborne speak in chapel (Click here for the Podcast). We gathered in our apartment for a wonderful shared meal prepared by my wife. We had potato soup, sandwiches, Kyle and Kelsie's bread, spinach salad, crackers and cheese, and raw vegetables. Brittney brought some dessert and helped Sarah prepare. The conversation was casual but rich and whole.

Today is good.
Today is good.

Comments on The Church.

A friend and resident of Oakwood Hall who shall remain nameless (Ryan Walker) asked me visit a website that was just launched by a community of Jesus followers from his hometown. Please visit www.darnthechurch.com and add your perspective.
My comment is number 8 and reads as follows:
"The church is beautiful. It is just the institution that we have come to call the “church” that is disenchanting, imperialistic, distracting, and arrogant. We will only see the fullness of the beauty of the church upon deconstructing its current consciousness and embracing the radical call to be a compassionate, missional people, viewing ourselves as the covenant community of followers of Jesus."
I am still searching for other adjectives and descriptors of the carnality, beauty, and wholeness of the church. What would you include or disclude from my comment?

Deconstructing Orthodoxy?

A friend of mine recently created a blog that he entitled "Deconstructing Orthodoxy." The definitions provided for each term in the title are as follows:
Deconstruct (de·con·struct): 1. to take apart or examine in order to reveal the basis or composition, often with the intention of exposing biases, flaws, or inconsistencies.
Orthodoxy (or·tho·doxy): 1. a belief or orientation agreeing with conventional standards.
I have spent a fair amount of time with Derrida, Raschke, Brueggemann, and Ward "deconstructing." Not much time or energy is necessary to initially recoginize the biases, flaws, and inconsistencies of the systems and standard of church. Only in one's own recognition of the brokenness and messiness of church is the ideal community actually discovered. I don't agree with the "conventional standards" of American "church." However, I would propose that orthodoxy is not what needs deconstructed when considering that orthodoxy in its truest, most unadulterated state is the standard set by Jesus. Unfortunately, the way of Jesus is not the standard so to deconstruct orthodoxy may, in fact, be appropriate and necessary.
Visit www.deconstructingorthodoxy.blogspot.com. The author is constructing a life in the way of Jesus.

Political Involvement 1.0.2.

I am restating a question from a previous post:
It is the task of the follower of Jesus to attempt to understand the political climate of first century Israel while considering Jesus' involvement or lack thereof in said arena. Based on such study, if Jesus were to show up in America in 2008, would he involve himself in the American political system? If so, to what degree? If not, what we he do instead and why?

A Community Mind.

Last night I re-watched A Beautiful Mind, one of the films in my "Top 5 Films" list. John Nash is a student at Yale who reforms the dynamics of economic theory proposed by Adam Smith. His underlying principle is that one making a choice must not make a decision for his own benefit but rather make a decision for his own benefit and the benefit of the community. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross initially benefited/benefits the community but not himself. He suffers terribly for the sake of the community. Am I to suffer for the sake of my community or am I to make decisions in line with the Kingdom of God that benefit myself with the hope that a kingdom-approach will ultimately benefit the community (presuming that the community needs realigned with the Kingdom of God)?

ADVENT CONSPIRACY.

Please visit Advent Conspiracy then post your thoughts.

JUXTAPOSITION / TOUR / CONSUMPTION / SUBSEQUENT.

This post is to provide a perspective of the direction that my blog will progress for an undetermined amount of time. The next several posts will include thoughts and questions on:

• giving and the juxtaposed consumerism of the supposed celebration of Jesus entering earth in the form of man.
• the neo-lecture given by Rob Bell as introduced in the post below entitled "THE GODS ARE NOT ANGRY TOUR."
• philosophical wonderings that consume much of my mind.
• life experiences and the subsequent production of community, journey, and revelation of truth.

Please excuse the effect that modernism has had on me as revealed by my use of bullets in the above list.

Peace.

Last night I went to sleep at 1:00 a.m. which is about 2 hours earlier than my usual schedule the last few weeks. I'm not really sure how I've functioned on the little rest that I have had. After sleeping for about one hour I awoke fully alert and unable to fall back asleep. I had originally fallen asleep with feelings of tension, anger, anxiety, and fearfulness. Upon awaking everything... seemed... well.
I had the fullest sense of peace.
Peace is not something that may be constrained to that absence of violence or hatred.
Peace is the idea that everything is in it's right place.
Peace is a reflection of proper Christian community.
Peace is the fullness of the presence of God.
I laid awake in prayer, in the fullness of the presence of God, for one whole hour experiencing the dynamic interplay of the transcendent YHWH entering the realm of my broken humanity and displaying his immanence. For once my mind was kept still. The usual philosophical thoughts and theological reflections that keep me questioning through the late hours of the night were captured by the grandeur of God's presence. At one point I got out of bed and went into Kyla's room to pray for her. I COULD NOT PRAY. At least I could not pray certain things. As I tried to pray for her as opposed the blessing that I usually pray over her I realized that anything that I would ask would be only a worry rather than a prayer. I have taught against the very idea of "worrying our prayers" and realized that I had been practicing that myself. All that needed said to my daughter was "peace be with you."
When the clock turned to 3:00 a.m. I asked God for rest. As if someone were actually speaking into my mind, the only thought I could think was, "Why do you need rest when you have peace?"

IN RESPONSE: part 5 (v).

"1. People Watching. The thing is if you are a student of human nature and/or enjoy sociology at any level, then you would find this entire experience to be well worth it. For me, I’d probably go even if I didn’t buy a single thing. It’s that much fun."

I suggest that next year one goes and does not buy a single thing. There is an incredible sense of freedom to be experienced when one dismisses that commercial exploitation of Jesus and expresses the love of Jesus to others who are in genuine need of our monetary wealth and overall possession of resources. It is joyful. It is hopeful. It is peace. Not that I have already obtained this, but I press on against my desires for more that oppress my neighbors.

IN RESPONSE: part 4 (iv).

2. Hearing people waiting outside a Target store at 4:30am, in late November calling other shoppers crazy. (They were talking about folks that had been camping outside of a Best Buy since midnight.)

I would have liked to hear that as well so that I could blank stare at them for a solid 5 minutes creating an incredible sense of uncomfortability and/or awkwardness. Were you one of the people in line at 4:30 a.m. who is now talking about the crazy people?

A Gathering of Worship.

For the first Sunday of Advent, Sarah, Kyla, and I attended a service at The Church of the Holy Spirit on the campus of Kenyon College. The order of service was conducted as a drama described by the metaphor of "act" and "scene." It was a beautiful display to engage heart, mind, and body in the whole narrative of God with his people.
It has been some time since I have heard the amount of Scripture read during a religious service as was read today. I felt deeply and thoughtfully engaged even when providing intermittent attention and care for Kyla. Have other gatherings lost the appreciation and use of the holy Scripture?
During the recessional, a small child walked/climbed/crawled up in the front of the nave and into the arms of the rector. She held him in her arms with a smile as the music continued to finalize the service. Immediately following the service refreshments were served in the center of the cruciform nave. Again, children were everywhere. Ultimately the ended up crawling under the alter and the pulpit, two liturgical elements highly regarded for their symbolism. There is great beauty in the presence and activity of the children. They are allowed to be children and they are allowed to engage in worship. They are not frowned upon. They are accepted. They are loved. The community of Harcourt Parish is a wonderful place of intergenerational community. While there are children everywhere, there are those in their 20s, 30s, and on into 80s or 90s. Many worship gatherings that I have attended recenctly have been constrained to college students with 30-40 year old pastors. Have those gatherings lost the value of interacting with multiple generations and accepting all that each generation has to offer in service? The older their wisdom and experience? The younger their energy and untaintedness?
Many Catholic churches deny the service of the Eucharist to those who are not "catholic." Statements were clear in this Episcopal gathering that all who have been baptized are welcome to receive the elements of the bread and wine. Sarah and I (carrying Kyla) went forward to be offered the body and blood of Christ. As we knelt and prayed and partook of the bread and wine, the rector placed her hand on Kyla's head and gave her a blessing of grace and mercy and a filling with the presence of God. In addition to the blessing, during the time of Peace, as congregants specifically approached Sarah and I, they looked at Kyla and smiled and offered her peace as well.
It was beautiful.
I am extremely thankful for our experience today.

Lost.

Thanks to Mike Rodden for sharing the posted video.
John McArthur referrences Jesus coming to save the lost. I am not making a soteriological statement when I assert that McArthur is the one who is lost. He is lost in evangelical conservatism and is not even listening to other followers of Jesus. His agenda is to hear anything from an "Emergent" mind and decontextualize it in order to destroy any thoughtful contributions to theological thinking. The following video is problematic at many levels. Please share your thoughts and perspective.

Conversations.

Sarah, Kyla, and I were on the road for six hours traveling to visit family with the final 2.5 hour stretch remaining. Somewhat miraculously, Kyla has slept for more than 2/3 of the time and didn't even cry the other < 33.3%. Sarah and I had some very re-energizing and renewing conversation. We continued to reveal deep parts of ourselves and the things through which we have journeyed individually (or within other community relationships) and together. We realized how distracted we had become from one another. In a short period of time we reconnected.
Reconnection: to connect again.
Where might followers of Jesus need to "reconnect?" Where have we strayed from the way of Jesus communally and individually (which ultimately results in an affect on the community)?
I would suggest that consumption has distracted us from the way of Jesus. I will be entering a series of posts on consumerism and our observance of holidays along with two more posts about my interaction with N.T. Wright. You are invited to include your thoughts in response to the upcoming posts and include your perspective on the distractions of culture that produce a disconnect between God and his people.

Tony.

Please take the time to read a beautifully crafted blog by my friend, Tony Jones. The title of the particular post of which is speak is I Take my Coffee Black, Like my Coffee.