Christian theology is one of the most fascinating subjects it is possible to study.
- Christian Theology, Alister McGrath
The last few days have been restful and busy. As I am continually exploring the postmodern mindset, a common theme in the pomo culture is to be inclusive... even of seemingly contrasting ideas. Much like our typical debate of church/CCF direction (ie. whether to be outward focus or inward focus), the emerging mindset is that this is not an either/or problem, but can rather be a and/with issue. So it IS possible for me to be rested and yet busy.
I've been pretty anxious about Campus Challenge (still am actually), and yet God provides in both big and small ways. More people are choosing to be small group leaders (which is a HUGE blessing), and I think most things are coming together. On my part, I'm still studying about certain biblical issues that will impact the experiential learning process at CC.
That being said, I started reading my Christian Theology book in preparation for my Systematic Theology course. I'm expected to read the first 130+ pgs of the book - which generally covers the historical development of theology. So far, I'm at the beginning of the Reformation (c. 1500s) and I must admit that Christian history is very interesting. I'll blog about specific issues when I'm in my class. For now, I'll include these few tidbits:
- as early as 100-200AD, people were debated about the relation of Christian theology and 'secular' culture.
- Scholasticism, a medieval movement that sparked the systemization of theology was heavily criticized by the theologians from the Renaissance - for its futile intellectual speculation over theological trivia (ie. how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, OR this one hits close to home - are you really saved?).
- Due to the split between the Western/Eastern church, mainstream evangelicals have lost some great wealth of spiritual knowledge/practice because we no longer associate with the eastern orthodox.
A wonderful event that happened on friday was the first ever RCCF banquet. It was great to see the fellowship honor one another - especially the graduating class and others who are leaving. They even made a ppt for me - HAHAHA (thx guys). Lots to think/pray about over the summer. I think the biggest challenge for us at Ryerson will be to take Philippians seriously and have 'the same attitude as Christ Jesus'.
A side note: I received a surprise phone call from the 3 stooges in HK (Andrew, Bonnie, Nate). It was good to chat again. Of course I'll go visit them whenever they can pay for my plane ticket.
tune in again as I re-read the entire Chronicles of Narnia. Good stuff.
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
- Montesquieu
Today, I had the pleasure of sharing about AFC/CCF at ETCBC. It was great seeing old friends and catching up with them. Also caught a glimpse of how they're developing their sunday school movement, and spoke to Sandra about the excitement/hardships of SS.
Later on, GG went to Sam/Alicia's for dinner. Always good times - esp. when you have games that asks questions to help induce random outbursts of laugher.
Well... summer's here, so it's time for the new TEN BOOK CHALLENGE! Here's my list:
Christian Theology - Alister McGrath (for class)
Christian Theology Reader - Alister McGrath (for class)
The Challenge of Jesus - N.T. Wright
The Book of God - Walter Wangerin
The Younger Evangelicals - Robert Webber
In God's Time - Craig Hill
Return of the Prodigal Son - Henri Nouwen
Searching for GOd knows What - Donald Miller
Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices - Dave Fleming
Good to Great - Jim Collins
I have included the links for the books on the side of my blog, and like always, will give a brief synopsis and write out my thots as I finish reading these books. A side note, I'm trying to finish reading the entire bible by the end of the year. For the OT, I am currently beginning to read 1 Kings and in the NT, I'm in the book of Colossians. It's been interesting to read the OT/NT concurrently, you see some patterns emerge, and you may get to appreciate/understand the relevance of the practices/traditions/festivals.
DO YOU DARE TO TAKE THE TEN BOOK CHALLENGE?
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
- Psalm 71:18
Today, the Grad Group was invited by the Adult Fellowship to participate in a 'intergenerational communication program'. I know in the future, as my age group gets older (and thus serving in key positions in the church), it is so strategic to communicate with the many existing fellowship/age groups within our church.
In preparing for this evening program, I had a mix of emotions: mainly excitement and cynicism. For one, I think we're beginning to try new things as the 'children' of the church - like communicating with our 'parents'. Yet, I had a nagging feeling that due to our culture/upbring/whatever, the difficulties of forever be viewed as children in their eyes may result in the incapability of shaping the vision of the church.
So while thinking through worst-case-scenarios in my head (ie. a yelling match between father/son, or adults shaking their head at everything I say), I think God gave me a back-hand to the head, woke me up, and I was thoroughly encouraged by what happened.
The parents had given us 5 questions ahead of time to think over/prepare for. Yet, as I counted the number of questions that they REALLY asked, it numbers 10+. Here are a few questions that the adults asked us:
1) What is our vision of how the adults can help us?
2) How was GG formed? What is its purpose/format?
3) What is your ideal church?
4) How do we view work/growth? How can we grow with one another?
5) How can we actively mentor younger people?
6) Can we acknowledge each other in the church?
7) How can we reconcile issues like language/cultural barriers?
I was pleasantly surprised that many parents were neither shocked/offended when I answered 3) by saying that I think TCBC will have to be more community oriented... which means having more diverse crowd of ethnicity, social status, etc. What was even better, many of them were very supportive of this idea (although one auntie pointed out that we should try to acheive this by reconciling the 3 chinese groups... a very chinese/traditional viewpoint in my opinion).
Overall, I think the night was very refreshing. Now that I'm involved with many leadership issues, I'm always hearing negative things (ok... constructive criticisms). And to be honest, I felt that the adults were 'constructively critical' of where EMC was heading. Yet, now I really believe the barrier just lies in communication. Even if during the night, we left with different opinions/visions, we were able to meet together and fellowship and pray and share openly with one another (with OUR PARENTS nonetheless!). Good times.
Tune in again while I go for the streak of updates.
From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command — they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
- 1 Chronicles 12:32
Yesterday was my last 'leadership in the POMO context' with Jeff Greenman. Prof Greenman will be teaching at Wheaton College starting this fall, so our last class was also his last class at Tyndale. It's sad to see him go but I wish him well with his ministry.
I am so thankful for this class. I found people who were willing to ask new questions about our faith, our gospel, our culture, and our ministries. In other circles, whenever I bring up my developing understanding of God and life, I'm met with a variety of reactions: confusion, condemnation, indifference... but very little acceptance.
It is in this class that I have been able to ask difficult questions and still be encouraged to keep on asking said questions. You would imagine that in a class where we have such a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, that we would end every conversation in disagreement. Well, many people do disagree, yet, it's the attitude - the willingness to listen and to ponder the other perspective that separates these classmates of mine from the typical church (even now, we can't REALLY define what postmodernism really is.. haha).
I am especially glad that I have been able to increase my understanding in the conversation surrounding muticultural ministries, appreciative inquiry, and the missional church. I think being a faithful steward is in understanding the times and conversing about what the church should do.
Now, I'm looking forward to my Systematic Theology class with Dennis Ngien. It's going to be an intensive 2 week course in the summer (from May 30 - June 10).
Oh yeah, just need to figure out if I'm applying to Tyndale full time and to what major - please pray for me.
Tune in again for my 3rd post in 3 days.
Our mission is to cultivate these characteristics and values in ourselves and in the hurting, alienated and marginalized people in the City of Toronto.
- Sanctuary Mission Statement
On sunday, I had the pleasure of being invited by Brian to attend the worship service at Sanctuary. This is the church with Greg Paul as the pastor (also the author of 'God in the alley' - look at this post for more musings).
After reading 'God in the alley', I was very interested to see how their church tried to live out its missional calling. I think TCBC is in comparable circumstances with Sanctuary - We're both inner-city churches, surrounded by a neighborhood that has different social classes - ranging from the very rich to the very poor. Yet, why is my church mainly a place where middle/upper class people gather together and cannot consistently 'do church' beyond it's four walls? Why have we stuck together in this church, downtown, while most of its members live all across GTA? These are tough questions... of which I can't answer. But instead, I'll share about my experience at Sanctuary.
As I walked along charles st. towards Sanctuary, I notice once again that Toronto has an eclectic downtown core. I see midscale restaurants such as 'spring rolls' side by side with a run down McDonalds. At the same time, there are phase 2/3 luxury condos being built just beside what can be best described as government housing. I'm realizing more and more that the way we do urban planning - in trying to beautify the city - really DOES marginalize the people on the fringe.
Sanctuary is an old building, and right at the front, there's a timetable that lists its various activities throughout the week. Most programs are definitely focused on the marginalized, by offering caring programs, providing food and walk-in health clinics... even a arts ministry (something that I think our chinese churches has been neglecting).
As I walked into the main meeting area, I notice that all the chairs are arranged in a circular formation with a small table in the middle. The table has a big loaf of bread and a large wine glass (filled with wine of course) and surrounded by little communion cups (filled with grape juice). It was a small set-up... less than 50 chairs, smaller than most CCF settings.
Brian introduced me to Greg and Dan who were at the side playing with the gear (Greg was standing next to a Yamaha P200... haha). They were both warm and friendly, and unlike other churches, they promoted an atmostphere of joy and laughter. After I spoke to them briefly, Brian and I sat down - me sitting in between Brian and this little girl. It was another wonderfully strange sight - to see babies and children in the service, anticipating the worship time alongside of everyone else. The fun was about to begin.
The worship experience was quite interesting. Greg and Dan alternatively led in singing, and they had 2 other worship team members - one person was playing pretty kewl rhythms on the congas, and another person playing this washtub bass (basically string attached to a stick, VERY interesting). The musical style was a blend of bluesy-country-rock and a few old maranatha songs of praise. The selection of songs was done in a most impromptu way, people just shouted out the number of the 'hymn' from this book called 'the happy bingers hymnal'. Brian pointed out that many of the songs were composed by Greg and his band 'red rain'. In spite of my tiredness, I was moved by the sheer happiness that people just seemed to exude out of their pores as they sang out to God.
I must sadly admit now, that at times throughout the service, I would unintenionally drift my gaze towards someone and begin to analyze whether this person was from the streets or not. It's awesome to read how someone in a book has great relations with said 'street people', but to be personally worshipping alongside of them, I was definitely feeling a mix of excitement, anxiety, and even possessing judgmental thots. Man, I will have to explore these thoughts/feelings in more detail.
As the service continued, we eventually got to the point of the communion. In a very brethren-like tradition, Greg asked someone from the congregation to give thanks for the bread - not necessarily a deacon or anyone of stature, but anyone could give thanks. Of course, someone gave thanks, and then all of us (including the kids) went to the middle and broke off a piece of bread and ate it. Next, someone else prayed for the cup and we all went up to the front to drink. This was the first time I had drank from one cup, and WINE, nonetheless. It was a great experience of community.
After the communion (around the 2 hour mark), there was a short break for some announcements and refreshments. Afterwards, Greg gave a message based on Acts 2. What a highlight for me - not only am I going through Acts again at TCBC worship service and sunday school, but I was anticipating what Greg had to share because of his experience through ministry.
Greg began to speak about the fellowship of believers from verse 42 onwards. It was a good sermon as Greg pointed out many historical relevances, sound exegesis, etc. But it was the 'application' part that really got to me. In most churches, we would typically 'apply' this passage by helping our fellow bros/sis who are in need. Yet, as I hear Greg try to make sense of this passage, he admitted that he had difficulty and asked the community to help make sense of the teaching and try to follow it. In a community where he calls many people 'friend', how can he reconcile the difference in amount of possessions (ie. having a house vs. homeless) between different people. Is he called to give up his house? Or invite as many homeless people into his house because he has to 'sell his property and possession and distribute the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need' (v. 45)? Again, these are very tough issues, and I appreciated his honesty in approaching the subject without glossing over these important questions.
Greg's last bit was very touching for me. In the end, he says that he experiences a tremendous amount of grace from his friends. He can walk out of Sanctuary with his friends - him to his house, and them going to sleep in a hostel, an alleyway, or a doorway. And these same friends would BLESS him as they depart. What a wonderful image of the grace/love of God - that a person in need would still call you 'friend' - when you are able to help his need, yet choose not to. How much more powerful is this notion of friendship with Christ, after visiting Sanctuary.
God bless their community.
Was the message of Jesus and the apostles, at the root, information on how to get your personal soul into heaven after you die?
- Dan Poole, The Last Word...
I recently finished reading The Last Word and the Word After That by Brian McLaren. As quickly as I have finished reading the book (while taking a tremendous amount of notes - a developing habit of mine), the questions in my head just kept on growing longer and longer.
Thank goodness there are christians like McLaren who are daring to ask mainstream christianity certain questions that most of us are afraid to ask. Of course, if you follow this development in McLaren's works, you know that I'm talking about 'HELL', the main topic to end the 'New Kind of Christian' trilogy.
I've always been uneasy when fellow bros/sis of mine would use a rhetoric (filled with passion of course) that focuses on the 'saving of souls'. When people started to use scripture to justify the means of this version of evangelism, I get red in the face. Maybe it's the fact that I have seen this attitude turn to exclusivism, or perhaps I'm just defending my lack of said evangelism... but in any case - the desire to save people from an eternal damnation was always something that I would rather not think about, because I couldn't wrap my head around it.
McLaren offers many daring questions through the conversation amongst the characters in the book. That's one of the great things that I like in this pomo style - it should be about conversation/dialogue, who's to really say that we can discover complete certainty (or worst yet, act like we possess it).
re: Hell, McLaren offers various viewpoints. He explores how the concept of Hell has developed in history (not just in the Judeo-christian worldview). He looks at the various approaches that christians have held until now. He even offers many different reactions to these things, including how the mainline christian understanding of Hell has resulted in many questionable things done around the world in the name of Jesus.
I'm still thinking through a lot of things that McLaren has written in this book. Although I can't say what my thoughts are re: heaven or hell or soul or eternity, I do know that this book has helped further the conversation about being followers of Jesus Christ. I'm hoping that in the future, I can have open dialogue about such taboo issues with many who call themselves Christians. I hope I won't be labelled a heretic because I find Universalism quite intriguing. As a 'spoiler', McLaren would dare to suggest that Universalism isn't good enough. If these ideas just bug you and you think it's just a fad in shock Christianity, just take a look at some other writers like NT Wright, Lesslie Newbigin, or even CS Lewis (esp. of interest is 'The Great Divorce'). Will update with some questions and thots in due time.
Tune in again for more obnoxious hooting and hollering.
I recognized that Neil was, at that moment, a physical representation to me of a vulnerable and dying Christ.
- Greg Paul, God in the Alley
I frequently use a book to give a framework for my blog entries because my readings can impact me in subversive ways.
I just finished reading a small book called 'God in the Alley' by Greg Paul. It's impacted me greatly by revealing some deep truths that I have always danced around... and especially through the sharing of stories.
For my last post, I wrote about being a missional church. The idea of recapturing the 'true essence' of the church as being a 'sent community' really appeals to me. This book, God in the Alley, has given life to idea as I see how a church down the road from TCBC is living out it's missional calling.
Greg Paul shares in his book about the various people that he calls friend. He has been influential in the heart of the downtown core, and many people - shopkeeper, drug addict, prostitute - will call him friend as well. He leads a life marked by great suffering and tragedy where countless friends are killed due to OD, shootings, AIDS, etc. Yet, there is great richness in his relationships with these same drug addicts and prostitutes that I long for with my own friends. I really do believe that God is calling my church to follow a similar path, one of suffering and yet, of glorious depth.
Through Greg's sharing, I can articulate a bit better the longing in my heart. As a person brought up in the christian faith, I have always been taught to follow Jesus' teachings. More recently, through the influence of CCF, I have been shaped more to be as Jesus. Yet, Greg's book has brought up a major point that I have been severely neglecting - that being and seeing Jesus are intrinsically connected. In fact, they're often happening at the same time. (p. 23)
Greg shares a powerful moment in his life where he is helping wash his friend Neil who was physically very weak. At that moment of washing his friend, he wasn't struck by the good that he was doing, he wasn't visualizing himself as Jesus ministering to the poor - rather, he recognized how his friend Neil was at that moment, a physical representation of a vulnerable and dying Christ.
I think back to my time 2 years ago at my own CCF leader's retreat where I was to wash a fellow leader's feet, and in turn, someone else will wash my own. I was speaking to a brother about my initial reaction and understanding of the experience. I remarked how I was severely humbled by the fact that someone else would wash my feet. For me, it was a moment where I saw Jesus in a friend - ministering to me, and humbly serving me. Yet I had no reaction towards the other end - of me washing my friend's feet. I guess if I remember my thoughts, I probably thought that I was being Jesus to my friend at that moment. But now after hearing how Greg can see the love and joy and happiness of God in the lives of street-hardened people, I can see Jesus in my friend while I wash his feet - that he would allow me to wash his feet even though I am the person that I am... this gives me a deeper sense of humbleness. To know that Jesus would make himself so vulnerable to let me do that... to wash a fellow brother's feet, and seeing Jesus in my act of service to Him... my understanding of his deep vulnerability/suffering only grows more and more each day.
It is my prayer that I can personally cultivate the ability to both be Jesus and see Jesus, if only by a dim flickering light (p. 20).
And this dream... not just for me, but I really hope it can permeate the rest of my church. God I hope that TCBC can be a place where our core community can directly minister to the people in our neighborhood - a community that openly welcomes people who are homeless and people who run their own businesses; people who have been faithfully attending the church for many long years; people who attend university or any others who I am forgetting that live close by. And if this is not where you are leading us, fill us with a new vision to minister and be amongst the people in ways that you want. Give us the boldness to go where you will take us and the wisdom/discernment to sense your promptings. Give us grace towards one another as we tend to argue over little things. Above all, I want you to be evident in my corner of my city through your son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The light of Jesus Christ in this corner of my city is my church.
- TCBC vision statement
Yesterday, for my 2nd last leadership class, I had to present a topic involving a ministry issue that I find interesting. With all the conversation surrounding leadership and pomo (esp. in my situation as a univ staff worker), I decided to explore the issue of belonging as an important piece to the pomo discussion. My working thesis title is "The emerging identity of Christian students: a conversation about Belonging (Focus: a Chinese Christian Conundrum)". If you think THAT title is long, you should check out the subtitle for Brian Mclaren's book: A Generous orthodoxy.
I'm finding that an important aspect of this sense of belonging for CCF is how to be missional, and yet consistently develop the sense of belonging that seems to permeate all of Jesus' teaching. How do you truly model it? What can belonging look like while you live out a life that is faithful to God? Thankfully, I have one last book to go through for my class, and it's been helping me articulate these common CCF problems (this doubly applies for the church as well). No more discussion about inward vs. outward - shouldn't be an either/or... let's talk about BEING MISSIONAL.
CURRENTLY READING
[x] Space for God[x] Spirit of the Disciplines
[x] Genesee Diary
[x] Prayer
[x]
[x]
[x]
[x]
[x]
[x]
[x] Colossians Remixed
[x] Soul Shaper
[x] Preaching Re-Imagined
[x] Experiential Storytelling
[x]
[x] READING WISHLIST
RECOMMENDED READINGS
|y| A Generous Orthodoxy|y| A New Kind of Christian
|y| Chronicles of Narnia
|y| Divine Conspiracy
|y| Emerging Church
|y| God in the Alley
|y| How to read the Bible
|y| In His Steps
|y| In the Name of Jesus
|y| Jesus I never knew
|y| Out of the Question
|y| Planet Simpson
|y| Renewing the City
|y| Stumbling towards Faith
|y| Theology as Big as City
|y| Velvet Elvis
LINKS
[x] TCBC Leadership Class
[x] atom.XML
[x] mattmark
[x] spumoni
[x] wongoz
[x] yomi
[x] ling ling #1
[x] smilz
[x] dragonX
[x] supa
[x] jedi master
[x] BUN in HK
[x] Arymis
[x] jon-c
[x] shubox
[x] TKo
[x] gee..why?
[x] jasy
[x] jCool
[x] ching
[x] ajma
[x] rani
[x] tux
[x] lon
[x] erics
[x] sillypearly
[x] kureyzi
[x] paistes
[x] the conversation
[x] tlims
[x] lil
[x] jt
[x] mike
[x] LCLO
[x] pam
[x] marianne
[x] raph
[x] Uncle Simon
[x] davin
[x] frank
[x] Alex 1.0
[x] Justin
[x] Princess #2
[x] Princess #3
[x] lil'O
[x] the FOOs
[x] Waiki
[x] Vaness
[x] theGenuineCandy
[x] godSIS
[x] jeffChan
[x] AFC-GChan
[x] Nate
[x] Jas
[x] ms.Deb.Lau
[x] mr.T
[x] joycie
[x] almond
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