three-twenty

Yes, undocumented immigrants are violating the law, but, first of all, most of them are doing so in order to provide a future for their families in flight from awful situations back home.

When did this generation change from being the edgy generation of rock show-styled, hyper-emotional worship experiences to simple, quiet spaces full of God’s presence? I thought this generation was supposed to find silence boring. Perhaps that is still true—maybe silence alone is boring. But purposeful silence, it turns out, isn’t about the silence at all. Hearing from God is anything but boring.

Well, for one thing, when the Gospel story is accompanied by a fog machine and light show, I always get this creeped-out feeling like someone’s trying to sell me something. It’s as though we’re all compensating for the fact that Christianity’s not good enough to stand on its own so we’re adding snacks. 

Why is this man so easily cast aside and into the backdrop and ambiance of the night? He has the perfect platform—a lively sidewalk in one of the country’s most densely populated cities—and a soulful message: the good news of Christianity. What’s going wrong?

It’s simple. There’s no connection. No connection between speaker and audience, between audience and message. There are no emotional bonds being formed and it comes down to this: the man’s not telling a story. He’s lecturing. He’s moralizing and reprimanding. His sermon is devoid of any narrative or storytelling qualities. His words are brash, one-dimensional and inflexible, with no room for interaction or interpretation.

This is where his message has gone awry.

Click the link for a great article written on Relevant Mag’s website. 

“The greatest commandment, the most binding demand on our lives, is to love God with everything, including our minds. Most of us know about this highest of commandments. But we may be less familiar with its Old Testament context. The context of loving God with everything in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is the expectation that we will devote ourselves to the rigorous study and discussion of God’s words. Love God with everything …”