jason evans

UPDATE: Jason Coker has pushed back on this post over on his blog here. While he ain't pithy, he's a smart one!

The Kominas, a Muslim punk band from NYC. Their MySpace tagline? "I fought Allah and Allah one." Nice. Controversial in the Muslim community it seems but interesting tunes to say the least. I'm intrigued. Check 'em out.

HT: 30Mosques

image from The SD Headliner
There's been a lot of talk about "faith" and "belief" in the Hawthorn House meetings lately. We decided to spend some time letting each of us share where we're coming from in regards to these issues. For me, I don't know how much I feel I have to say about what I believe. To say it briefly, if my lifestyle doesn't say it than I'm clearly not believing what I thought I was... So, I feel no need to say, "This is what I believe..." I also think we often treat faith and belief as concrete things. Which I just don't think is true. All of us know that our beliefs about truth and 'other worldly' things evolve and change over time. Which I think is quite fine and right. When any group– religious, political or whatever–inform us that these are concrete it never seems to be for the benefit of the people–or God–but for the empowerment of those who want control and authority. But I did post a few thoughts to our discussion group about the topic. Specifically, we were talking about passages where Jesus calls us to what seems like reckless abandon of possessions or to child-likeness. I thought I'd share them here to see what you think. I didn't really go through and edit it well so I hope it makes sense....

We live within an era in history in which everything is 'personalized'–part of the whole consumer-capitalism thing. So, we have to be aware of where our minds take us when we read this stuff... in other words, we are not processing this message the way someone living in first century Palestine would have. Because of the time and place we live in, we tend to read this and think, "This is talking to me, specifically." And this may get us into a pickle. For those of you that have been exposed to more indigenous peoples, you know that not everybody today thinks like we do. Many people, whether indigenous people of Latin America, Philippines, Asia or Africa often think more social than personal (ie, "This is talking to us."). I don't mean to romanticize these people or say they are less selfish than you or me, it just seems evident from my experience and reading. So, with that in mind it might be helpful to consider that Jesus' hearers heard him talking to them as a group and how they lived collectively. For me, this is helpful because it reminds me that issues of "faith" are never isolated to me. I may have a personal "experience" or not... ultimately the rubber hits the road when I put that "faith" to work among my people.

image by Shepard FaireyHinging on that kind of mindset is the fact that Jesus was saying this within a time and place where the political propoganda of the time told everyone that the leader (Caesar) of the world's super power (Rome) was God and all things came from him. So, while it may or may not be helpful (Naive? Maybe.) for any of us to say that I am going to trust that God fix the leak in my roof, I think that ultimately Jesus is talking about shifting our loyalties and allegiances. Who do we really trust? The passages referenced (Sermon on the Mount and Mark and Luke) embody an "upside down" idea of politics within the culture Jesus lived in. He keeps talking about this culture/society (ie, "kingdom of God") he is establishing. In the Sermon on the Mount, he talks about a ridiculous set of ethics that just "don't work". And then, he accepts children as first class citizens of this culture, yet he says it within a culture where woman and children are not citizens... they were possesions for production (a step above slaves) usually and second class citizens at best.

I say all this to say that when looking at the greater context of what Jesus was saying I wonder if within our hyper-personalized culture values, we have "missed the boat." And even if we said, "This is talking to us," we are in a time and place where we wrestle with what "us" means... afterall, today as a result of 'globalization,' "us" can very well mean a whole lot of people! I digress. Should we instead hear Jesus saying, "This system that you believe provides you safety and security, protection and provision is ultimately broken. You can not rest your faith in it. It isn't 'God'." And, "Men, you may be first in line for everything else. But not so in my society. Those you have ignored and under valued, they get it and they are mine."

For me, thinking about these passages in this manner has lead me to realizing that there is a much more creative way to think about how I am clothed, how I eat, how I handle my resources, etc. And who is valued in the whole chain of production of those things that provide me health, comfort and safety. We are told (in a variety of ways; marketing, etc.) to trust the market and the state. But whether it be for reasons of faith, health, ethical manufacturing, etc. many are/have been realizing that we can not often trust the market or the state. More and more are going around the market and the state to ensure their provisions are taken care of.

So, for example, maybe you buy some Acholi Beads for probably more than you would a necklace at Target. And when you buy some of those beads you are ackowledging that the little ones (those people in Africa that don't really matter but to produce for important people) are actually first in line. But in a weird, crazy way you are participating in "Kingdom" economics. Does this solve the whole ball of wax? Nope. And Jesus' revolution didn't topple Rome either, so don't beat yourself up over it. But we do this as an act of "faith"; that even these little things matter and help work with the Creator in shifting the tide. Is it economically sound? To some, maybe not even responsible (child like? naive?). Nonetheless, we do it.

What do you think?

Guy Kawasaki, Internet/Tech Guru, interviews Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, over at his blog. Great interview. Stearns makes a few good statements. Here's a clip:

Question:How can people who do not want to radically change their lives make a difference in the lives of the poor?

Answer:To really change the world, values must change. Consider the civil rights movement. Racial discrimination was once openly accepted in the United States. Today it is unacceptable to our mainstream culture. Very few of us are civil rights activists, but we let our values speak in our work places, our schools and to our elected officials.

Today, we live in a world that tolerates extreme poverty much like racism was tolerated fifty-plus years ago. We can all become people determined to do something to change the world. We can speak up, we can volunteer and we can give. Ending extreme poverty will take money, political and moral will, and a shift in our value system. When enough ordinary people embrace these issues, things will begin to change. Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

>>read more

Matt and Jim get a review in local press for their book.

From Christian Century:
The impact of Radical Reformation theology or, more broadly, postliberal theology (through the force of figures like Lindbeck, Milbank and Hauerwas) on mainline Protestants in recent decades has been impressive... Postliberalism’s positive impact on pastoral morale seems evident enough, given its emphasis on liturgy, Christian formation and the countercultural identity of congregations. But this stress on ecclesial life would seem to demand that congregations, not just pastors, be reshaped. After two decades, is there any evidence that is happening? Is anybody studying how ministers, energized by the postliberal agenda, actually fare in congregations, and how congregations respond?

Both liberals and conservatives claim to work toward just and peaceful societies, but both ideologies can be manipulated to endorse violence and victimization. Jesus encouraged followers to generate community through love rather than by scapegoating and exclusion, and the depth of our Christian faith dictates the degree to which we are willing to trust that this is God’s will.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D. of CVA from his series on violence

Jim and Matt are working on a video to supplement their book. They asked me to be a part of the conversation as well. Send Jim your feedback on the clips and questions. Here's a sneek peak at what they're working on.

As we have done for several years, Brooke and I woke up early this morning, got the kids up and headed to the beach to meet with several other people to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Even though it was overcast, it was a refreshing, long over-due moment. Reflecting on the morning, Brooke and I both agreed that a sense of peace came over both of us as we sat around the fire pit, listening to and watching the waves, sitting amongst friends and family.

Most of us there this morning are amidst great transitions in our lives, yet being together was like a warm blanket-a sense of safety and hope was present... Hope. It's a word commonly used around Christian holidays-although often without much sincerity. Honestly, hope has been a bit elusive to me recently. This morning, I craved hope. I longed for the return of hope to the center of my being.

It's funny, on Easter Sunday, we still talk about the cross a lot. Even though this day is to commemorate the resurrection of Christ-the defeat of death, churches all over retell a beleaguered crucifixion narrative. What does the cross signify? Death. In the cross, Christ related to that which we all experience daily: death. Death surrounds us, we age-growing closer to death, we watch the news and death abounds, we look to nature and we see death there too. Maybe this is why I treasure the resurrection so much. It signifies the defeat of Death. It reminds us that we too can participate in bringing about a reality that abounds in life rather than death. Abundant life: enough 'life' for everyone.

Yes, I know that for many the cross signifies redemption. But for me, right now, it is the moment where Christ reveals his humanity in its most raw form, he accepts death. This I can relate to. I have seen death much more than I thought I could handle in the last year. We all can relate to death and dying when we're honest with ourselves. But this is exactly why I need the resurrection. It offers me a glimpse of hope, a dream, an alternative idea. It proclaims that death can in fact be defeated, that there is just as much another way to die as there is another way to live. It cries out, 'I will not be defined by this empty, shallow idea of existence!'

More than anything, that is what I want deep within my bones today. To be honest, I am not quite there right now. I feels as though the giant called, Death is standing in front of me, pressing his chest up against me, attempting to intimidate me. I am not without fear, but I am not backing down and I've quite frankly just about had enough of his shit. But I'm waiting for the right moment to swing. Yes, tough talk. I admit I'm still shaking and a little weak in the limbs but I'm not backing down quite yet. Hope is worth fighting for.

I love and am loved by many who find no significance in Christianity. I've been thinking about many of those friends today. I think they too can celebrate the resurrection. Certainly, the resurrection isn't logical. It's ridiculous. But it is a narrative, a story to enter into, that is certainly more enticing than the story commonly told within the lives of most Western people. Many cannot stomach a place called "Church" or the title "Christian"... quite, frankly, I don't blame most people that feel this way and often I'm one of them. But even if this defines us, I grow more and more convinced that we can still can find hope in Jesus' teachings, life, death and resurrection. Is it just stories? I don't really care. For me, it doesn't really change that his is the pattern of life I choose to embrace and attempt to model in my own. Even for those of us who doubt, I think truth, life and a path can be found-sometimes in surprising ways-in living after his example.

And so, today I long for hope. I wish to find it and I wish the same for you. May we all be resurrected from death, from the mundane, from complicity, from woundedness, from indifference, from unhealthiness, from our brokenness. Amen.

Matt and Jim were on the air recently talking about their book. Go here to get the radio show info.

Download the show here (mp3).