I started reading a new book this week, The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath by Senator Joe Lieberman. Picking up this book was probably the last thing I should have done. I’m currently reading several different books for the many different projects that I find myself leading or participating in. I just finished Eugene Peterson’s memoir entitled: The Pastor and found myself appreciating Peterson, his monumental work the Message and my own calling as pastor in deeper and more profound ways. Both Peterson and Lieberman are writing not really memoirs, though there is a LOT of personal and very touching narrative from both, but they’re actually writing invitations to a greater life experience.
I was talking to our High School Director, Marc Schwerin, this week and we were discussing sexual ethics both in and outside of the church. As we talked we realized that the sexual ethic of the Christian church and the outside world was not really that far off – at least in practice. Sure there’s a lot of hot air and dialogue about “what” christians should be doing that is coupled with a very high, almost puritanical, standard of what is a biblical ethic, but the actual living out of that demand is being followed by a very small amount (less than 20% of Christians based on a Relevant Magazine article). This wasn’t really breaking news to either of us. We grew up and have been leaders during the “true love waits” movement and we’ve both taught, what we feel, is a full biblical understanding of sexual identity and practice. We’ve seen the successes and the failures and the hope and the loss. The difference just isn’t there.
Of course, the “difference” conversation isn’t solely one about sexual ethics. Did you know that in parts of the United States, divorce rates are higher in christian communities than they are on national average? One of the larger culprits is the so called “Bible Belt” (Divorce rates in the south). The amount of Blue collar crimes are also a testament that the church isn’t really behaving any differently than world around. I’m writing this blog post from one of my favorite coffee shops in Lousiville and I’m routinely told that baristas don’t like working on Sunday’s because they have to “put up with rude church goers”. Isn’t that depressing?
Now, I’m not a guy who likes to share bad news and pile up on my few readers. Instead, what I’d like to do is ask a question: what difference are we making as followers of Jesus? My favorite passage in all of Scripture is John 10:10 – “the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy, but I (that’s Jesus) have come that you might have LIFE to it’s fullest.” If Christ’s offer of redemption and salvation includes an idea that LIFE is fuller and richer and deeper than it was before, then why aren’t we different then we were before?
There are a lot of folks outside the church circle that are asking questions like “what good has the church ever done?” It doesn’t take a lot of energy to answer that question: Medicine, sciences (yes, even with a checkered past), Education, Universities, Hospitals, and movements like: suffrage, the abolition of slavery, human rights standards and the pursuit of freedom have all been pursued by members of the church (and that’s without mentioning the amazing Arts that have been added to civilization as a result of the church’s impact). Folks in all of these areas have followed their savior and said, “Yes, Life to it’s fullest” and then they started making a difference.
That’s what I love about Joe Lieberman’s book – it’s an invitation for all of us, Jew-Christian-and everyone else as well – to take a break and relish in the Creators offering of shalom and wholeness. What would happen if we all turned off our cell phones and our tv’s and other gadgets on one day a week and spent time with our family enjoying each other’s company, laughing, sleeping, worshipping together? I gotta think that would make a pretty big difference! I even think it could effect those other areas of our witness that we’re not so different on.
As we enter this Labor day weekend, I invite us all to take some Sabbath Rest – read, rest, laugh, enjoy life to it’s fullest. Be different and enjoy it! I love that this is part of being a Jesus follower – we can be different and be completely okay with it. My prayer for us is that we will take time and enter into something that is truly God’s gift to creation. May we rest in Him – may we enjoy the company of His presence and may we be different in such a profound way that others will want to join us!
