I have been back in the city I grew up in for 10 weeks now. I have spent most of that time getting “settled in” as they say and developing some local relationships. From the start of our move, it was important to us to not default back to our old relationships primarily, but to develop people that we could live life with near our new home and new life. After all, we live across town from our old “stompingh grounds” – a good 30 minute drive. This past week seemed to have a theme. I had more lunches and meetings with these old friends and spent more time in my old part of the city than all of the previous weeks combined. It was really good, but also very difficult.

If I am honest, I haven’t been all that excited about connected with many of these old friends. Don’t get me wrong, I care about them deeply and are indebted to them for their past invovlement, commitment, & investment in my life. But a lot has changed -mostly me. I see life through different eyes than I used to, I hurt in different ways than I used to, I am impassioned in new ways, and focused on new things. Mostly, my friends are too, it just feels as though I have gone further from my roots. I now question some beliefs about God that I once was so convinced I was right about. I question many things about the church and how it functions and am not afraid that my questions or critiques will hurt the churches efforts, in fact I believe the exact opposite, that in some small way, my existence at this time in this location might have some impact, some influence as to the future of the church in America. I believe different things about money and politics and morality. My priorities have changed. And my life choices hopefully reflecty that change.

The tension is that many of my long-time friendships jump to conclusions about my life that couldn’t be further from the truth. They question my questioning, my openess to rethink everything, to reevaluate what I live for the way I have. It will be a hard journey to see eye-to-eye with them again, to realize that we share more common ground than they realize and at the same time that commonality manifests itself in very different ways in each of our lives.

One thing I know, one thing that I am convinced of, is that reconciling with these people is not going to be done though intellectual argument. I am convinced that this is the way of old. Gone will soon be the days where we influence by prodding people with how much we know and how much better we can articulate it they can what they know. People, myself included, are much more influenced by how much you care, by the way you live out your convictions without contradiction.

I am tired from these discussions that I have with old friends – explaining myself, answering questions, and then defending my decisions. I want to share stories, life, pictures of our kids, beers, stories of how we more than ever find ourselves in awe of God, and things that really matter. I want to leave the time I spend with friends feeling as though in those moments, we deeply spoke into the hearts of each other, affirming difference, encouraging risky spirituality, and loving beyond measure.

I guess it starts with me.

– Z

I am a macintosh user. I only own and only use macintosh computers in fact. This is just how it is with me – I will save the “why” for another post. Yesterday I happened to be in my local CompUSA looking for a computer cable and I couldn’t find the designated macintosh area.

For years it has been a CompUSA ritual, regardless of what I am there to buy, to locate the large macintosh advertisements hanging from the ceiling and speedily make my way there. “There” is usually a spectacular experience for mac fans. All of the macintosh products out for customers to dabble with, macintosh software and accessories you didn’t even know existed (but soon become sure you need), all wrapped in the creative, clean, and intriguing design and marketing of Apple Computer Company. This area was always found in a corner of the store and a good deal of space was given to all things macintosh. It was very clear if you were a mac fan that CompUSA catered to your needs – just look for the special section.

Yesterday, I found CompUSA’s stock of macintosh equipment not in it’s usual, separate haven, but mixed in with all the other windows-based computers.

I quickly asked the nearest CompUSA to explain the change, assuming that CompUSA had given up on the Macintosh product line for some reason. His response was surprising and enlightening at the same time: The store had mixed the macintosh computers in with the windows computers in an attempt to increase macintosh sales! As I listened intently to his explanation I learned that CompUSA believed more than ever than the Macintosh platform was a quality platform and that customers will realize this more if they can compare the different computers side-by-side. It seems as though non-mac users never found the “mac section”. They weren’t mac users and so they would go to the non-mac section to look for new computers and accessories, never visiting the mac section therefore never being able to consider the macintosh as a platform that might best suit their needs.

My initial thought was that this is a risky move for CompUSA, afterall, I am a mac-fan and I was at first frustrated to find my beloved mac section no-more. But it makes so much sense to me now. Apple isn’t as interested in making it’s already happy customers happier as it is to reach a new customer base with what they seriously believe (I have to agree with them on this one) is a superior platform. And if Apple wants to reach non-mac users, it has to put its product where non-macs users exist. In CompUSA that is apparently everywhere BUT the mac section.

Ingenious!

I can’t help but see some amazing parallels with where the church finds itself in this country. The church too believes it offers something that the entire world needs and it too desires to reach new peoples that aren’t currently being reached. The problem is that the church finds itself trying to reach these people more from a designated “church section” than anywhere else in our culture. The church building/campus in America functions the same as the “mac section” at CompUSA – the church aims to draw people with better facilities, better programs, bigger membership, more relevant service styles, but are those outside of the faith drawn to Jesus by these things? I know that some are, but I also know many that are not. People I am conversing with about faith aren’t much interested in the marketing antics of the local church, but they are interested in Jesus.

And although they are very interested in the person of Jesus, most would not seriously consider stepping foot in His church. Why would they? They aren’t church people. So instead of creating spaces where we “set-up-the-spiritual-shop” and expect people who need Jesus to flock, we need to bring the reality of Jesus where they live. And where they live is within the confines of everyday, normal American living. It’s at the local coffeeshop you and I frequent. It’s while working out at the club we belong to. It’s next door to our homes and in the surrounding neighborhood. It’s in the nearby bars. It’s at the playground where your kids play. It is wherever you exist. That’s where the church needs to be.

Only there will the world around us truly be able to compare the offerings of Jesus with the reality of their Jesus-less existence and see what we know to be true – that the kingdom of God is at hand and that they are invited to be a part of it.

Thanks CompUSA for giving us an illustration and a challenge of where and how we should exist. And thankyou God for showing us a new way through a obscure and unusaly form.

Recently I have been studying the church culture here in Mesa. I am finding some interesting things. Here’s one element of our local church culture that keeps coming up: self-centeredness.

While it might be an overgeneralization, there seems to be too main modes of church here. First there are those of the traditional (what I would call attractional) church. And then there are those who out of frustration with the ways things are in those churches, have begun dreaming of church differently. This most frequently here has meant that “pissed-off-at-the-established-church” Christians are collecting for very informal bible studies or even simpler conversations about God. They label themselves house churches.

These two modes of church couldn’t be further apart in the way they function and yet I am finding a major similarity with both of them – an attitude that this whole thing should be a bout “me”.

Don’t get me wrong, by no means am I implying that all Mesa churches are guilty of this, but it does seem as though we are talking about the vast-majority. Here’s what I mean.

There is a new church in town – a major megachurch listed as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the nation (I am embarrassed to say that I interviewed seriously with them before I knew much about their approach.) This megachurch of some 13-15k people is a multi-site, video venue church that has opened two new campuses here in the East Valley. Today as Kelli and I were walking through the local mall with the kids I ran across a large promotional sign for this church. It read like this, “Would you rather sleep in on Sunday mornings than go to church? To be honest, so would we. such-and-such-church.tv” I foudn this half humorous and have disgusting. Is this really what it has come to? Do you really feel as though for people to embrace the person of Jesus we must play to the lowest common cultural denominator? All I heard was this, “Church to much committment, too much sacrifice for you to be interested? Let us dumb it down and make it easier for you” The biggest thing I fear with this approach os that is communicates the exact opposite of what Jesus said following him would be like. He made it clear to his followers that it would be hard and it would have a cost.

It seems as though most conversations I have with established church leaders focuses on keeping the people of their churches happy so that they will continue coming. It’s about them. We don’t want it to be that way, but we created our own reality in attempting to make it easier for people to attend church.

On the other side of things, in many house churches I am coming across, communities of disenchanted Christians gather informally (somtimes with no purpose or intent) and call this church. Now, I am a big believer in the house church movement if they are done right. But I fear that many of these are simply groups of people who don’t like the way things are in the established church and their solution is to gather like-minded Christians together for Bible Study and forms of creative worship. Here’s the problem as I see it: they aren’t all that concerned about their culture around them (and if they are concerned thay aren’t doing much about it). I would say that very few of these are missional communities – meaning that they exist to be a blessing to the world around them. It pains me to admit it, but I fear most of these house churches are nothing more than a blessing to themselves – to other Christians. Again, don’t get me wrong, this is a worthy endeaver, but it is not the worthiest endeavor. It is very far from living in such a way that focuses outward into the local culture of sojourners (non-Christians) and seeks to build bridges for them to come tot know Jesus.

This is the endeavor of the church – it is the mission that the church exists for. And this mission must be reclaimed by both of these modes of church – otherwise the church is doomed. In an American culture where the church is losing it’s lnfluence daily, we have to evolve into a movement that is motivated by everythign but ourselves. We have to get over ourselves. This is not about us! It never has been and it never will be. It is about the world around us learning about and coming to embrace the fact that the kingdom of God is accessible through Jesus Christ. It’s about God’s plan for redemption and for my neighbors’, co-workers’, and friends’ (and also my) need for that redemption.

We can no longer be the “me-church”.

(I’ve posted a video entitled “me-church” on the revolutionary life podcast – it’s very funny and not that far off, Check it out. You can subscribe at www.therevolutionarylife.com)

As we progress on this journey to something different – the journey toward a different kind of church community, we continue to run across opposition. We are viewed as radicals, as complainers – discontent with our past church experiences. Christians we share our “what if the church was…..” questions with, don’t get it. Good friends, even family seem to feel as though our personal struggles in this journey demand that they too struggle with these issues.. I think some people I talk to even think I have “crossed the line” as I am open to new an innovative ways of thinking of church.

I have to be honest with you – It’s discouraging. I feel alone more than I feel supported. I find myself depressed more than I am excited.

I wish that people could only see things as I now see them: a church in America that seems to be quickly losing it’s credibility with young generations alongside a culture that more than ever is spiritually cuirious and aware. The stakes are too high to miss this one. If we truly believe that the world needs what Jesus offers, both in this life and the next – that through Jesus alone God offers redemption and completion to our Genesis state, then we have to up the ante in our lives.

For us there is no longer any excuse worthy of sitting on our hands and waiting. Not economic concerns, not financial pressures, not public acceptance, not “what will my friends think of me” mentalities, not comfortable living, not the America Dream, not the fear of death or worse of failure, not lonliness, not lack of proper education, not lack of enough funds, or anything else can keep us from seeing ourselves as missioanl agents of God in whatever context he leads us to. We are no longer pastors – we are missional leaders. We are no longer Christians (in a Christendom sense) – we are followers of Jesus. We are no longer citizens of a faith-based sub-culture – we are citizens of heaven who excitedly live amongst people who aren’t (at least not yet). We are no longer comfortable people – but people learning to cope with the tension of living missional lives. We are no longer “come-and-see” church leaders – but “love-and live-with” neighbors and friends. We are people “sent to be a blessing” to the people in Mesa, AZ. No one and no thing can convince us otherwise.

While I hope that this challenges you to rethink the role the God has called you to play in the world, I don’t expect you to come to all of the same conclusions we have. Let it be said loud and clear: we are making some bold claims regarding our life choices, but please don’t feel as though with this comesa judgement of your life choices – that couldn’t be further from our hearts.

With that said, we do acknowledge that there is at times tension that arises from these life choices. For example, I am tremendously in support of a new church plant just started in the Phoenix-area. I am praying for their success and an interested in tracking with their progress. I have however, chosen a method a church planting that is fundamentally different from their chosen method and that causes a tension in my thinking at times and in discussions about this new church. I have learned that not only is this okay, but it should be expected as we dream of new and untested ways of thinking of faith and the church.

This is a discussion that continues to emerge from conversations with those I share life with. Here’s how it goes:

Zack – I’ve noticed you haven’t posted on your blog for a while.

Friend – I have a blog, but I can’t find the time in my life to actually use it consistently.

My response – Make the time.

Friend – Easy for you to say – you have no job right now and have plenty of free time.

My response (humbly) – That’s true, but I still think that no matter how busy we get, it’s imperative for the health of our souls to wrestle with the myriad of truth that we encounter each new day we walk in the way of Jesus. We have to carve out time to be alonewith our thoughts and our heartbeats and be reminded of what it beats for and what it hurts over. It’s just too important in my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s not about blogging. It’s about doing whatever you personally do to best connect with and process your innermost thoughts, creativity, passions, fears, doubts, and convictions. For me I do that best through blogging. For you it might be walking alone in the morning, strolling on the sidewalk, journaling, painting, praying, sipping a glass of red wine in the quiet of your house late at night or smoking a stogie on the back patio.

Whatever it is, don’t let busyness rob you of your soul. Realize that by nurturing the creative, contemplative, reflective, introspective, and innovative self you are more alive.

I recently purchased a very-cool leatherbound version of Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase translation of the Bible for both Kelli and I. Now this is my first purchase of a message translation and I will admit I was for many years a Message critic. “It’s not as accurate to the original texts as the NASB.” or “I won’t trade readability for accuracy!” are both statements that have come from my mouth on this subject.

But I am a changed man. Much to the chagrin of some of my more “theologically” cautious friends, I have adopted a new mentality towards the fleshing out of my faith.I will be open to practices, methods, traditions, and yes, even doctrines that I haven’t in the past identified with. By being “open” I don’t necessarily mean embrace, but I mean experience and consider.

This includes, charismatic practices/theology, more holistic/eastern expressions of Christianity (including Celtic faith practices), and even translations of the Bible that are outside of my CPC (Christian Politically Correct) bubble.

If you struggle with my decisions, let me share my thinking with you. It’s can be said with a simple statement:

“I don’t want to miss the complete expression of God in the universe because of my stubborn, pre-conceived, and biased opinions of how he should work and interact with me as his creation.”

My filter continues to be (and always will be) the Scriptures as I encounter new practices and beliefs, but I will be open to the fact that God is bigger than my systematic theology.

As for “The Message:Remix”, I read it often. #1)It reads more like the meta-narrative God’s story truly is and I am beginning to value that. As a culture, we have entered into a new era of language and tradition that staples like the NASB and NIV fail to effectively communicate in. and most importantly I would argue, #3) It uses language that revives the beauty of the narrative. It is inspiring language that begs you to read more and the mystery and beauty of God and his creation are revealed.

Check it out.

And for those of you still not convinced that it holds enough biblical accuracy to be valued: I recently met an irishman who is one the front lines pursuing peace in Ireland and is very much a follower of Jesus. He and I were talking of the beauty of the Message translation and and it’s critics. He told me that he was once at a conference where Eugene Peterson was speaking and someone in the crowd questioned him saying, “If you stand by your Message translation strongly, then tell us Dr. Peterson, what translation do you use in your regular devotion?” My new friend told me that Dr. Peterson hesitated as if almost embarrassed for the man, and calmy said, “Well I don’t use the Message if that’s what you’re getting at. I use the original greek and hebrews texts in my time alone with God.”

Crazy stuff and worth our consideration at least as the translation we read (rather than to study).

-Z