Scott Freeman

…what would you ask?

Most of us who are involved in church work have some level of desire to reach out and share the gospel with others.

We might disagree as to what the true heart of the gospel is. We might not employ the same methods or techniques. But most of us are sincere in the desire.

Another area where we need to establish agreement is that a static methodology can not and will not work in this postmodern (for lack of a better term) society. If we are honest and our finger is anywhere near the erratic pulse of our culture then we have to feel slightly overwhelmed and not quite ready to be salt and light.

I read yesterday that 96% of teens use social networks at least once a week. The tenuous conclusion is that “(those) attempting to reach out to young people through social networks should meet them on their own terms.”

And the prospect of meeting those in this world on their terms, going to them with the good news of God’s infinite love and mercy is a daunting task. Where to go from here, how to anticipate the coming trends and the proper avenues to engage will consume us in the coming years.

Here is what we know:

–Centralized, attractional models are no longer working. They are not coming to us. It’s that simple. There might have been a slight uptick in the post 9/11 world but we weren’t prepared for that and the door is closed in that regard.

–Progress occurs at such a dizzying rate that anticipation of coming trends has become more difficult. Today’s Facebook is tomorrow’s Myspace. What replaces Twitter? What follows after the PowerPoint backlash?

–Truth is more complex and multi-faceted than we have traditionally understood. Those who cling solely to propositional truth might dismiss that as relativism but that is short-sighted.

–Truth means nothing without love. If we don’t care about them it doesn’t matter what we know. It is as simple as that.

So, what do we do? How do we proceed from here? Ultimately, if we are going to be anything more than a relic (talking about the institutional church, here) then we must ask some hard questions, grapple with some traditions and rethink the way we do things.

At the core we have to get up from here and go to there. I want us to begin to think, wrestle and dream in this space about what it means to be the church in the 21st century. What does it mean to be a Christ-Follower? And how does that relate to the world at large?

Let’s begin this discussion.

In September 2005 I began an ambitious teaching and preaching curriculum. My goal was to preach and teach through the entire bible taking one week for each individual book. The congregation would be encouraged to read a book each week beginning in Genesis and working all the way through to Revelation.

The weekly schedule looked like this:

Wednesday Night–A devotional thought borne out of that week’s book.
Sunday Morning Class–An overview of that particular text
Sunday Sermon–How Jesus figured into that text (Hebrew Scriptures focused on “The Scarlet Thread” or how the Messiah was prophesied in each book. The NT focused on what Jesus calls us to be in each book.)
Sunday Night Class–A discussion on issues pertaining to that week’s book and clarifying other issues.

Last night we finished with the Song of Solomon. (We took the wisdom section out of the study of Hebrew Scriptures and placed it at the end of the NT study. This gave us 34 and 32 books to study, respectively, each school year).

Without fail we have worked through each and every book of the Bible and I can now say I have preached through the entire canon. (Note: I was sick the week of Obadiah and had to summarize my planned sermon the following Wed night. In addition we combined 2 and 3 John).

I had no clue how difficult this process would be. I had no clue how much study would be involved in become semi-conversant with a new book each and every week.

But now, I feel that I can somewhat hold my own in a discussion on any book of the Bible.

I can argue how interpreting Song of Solomon as having anything to do with God, the church and/or Israel is faulty exegesis.

I can even make a fairly reasoned argument for who I think might possibly have written Hebrews.

I can line out the many variations in the differing accounts of each of the four gospels.

I can explain why I find Paul to be so incredibly frustrating in so many instances.

But, to me, the best part of this study was the directions that it took me that I did not fully expect. I have a greater appreciation of the entire canon of Scripture.

–However, my study has led me into a greater desire for a handle on textual criticism. This study led me into greater wrestling with issues of inspiration, inerrancy and canonicity. And, for better or worse, my position on those issues are much more tenuous than they once were.

–I’ve long believed that you cannot understand the NT without a proper understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. I was able to refine that into a position that you cannot understand the NT without a proper understanding of Second Temple Judaism AND the Hebrew Scriptures.

Ultimately, Biblical scholarship is not citing book, chapter and verse and constructing an argument. Nor is it simply arguing tradition, command, example or necessary inference.

It is understanding each and every book based upon genre, location, author, audience, time, date, place, situation and intent. To approach the Bible as a document written for the benefit of 21st century Westerners is to rob the Bible of its intent, purpose, meaning and mystery.

And that is what I have attempted to delineate over the last two years. Scripture is a powerful tool that illuminates and tells a rich narrative of flawed people seeking purpose, meaning and redemption. That story does not end there.

I understand Scripture better now but I have more questions.
I have greater faith after this study but more doubts.

But, ultimately, as I end this study and place all of the resources, materials, commentaries and word studies back on the shelf I come away with some strong, unshakable conclusions:

1. It’s all about Jesus
2. Jesus came to teach us about being in relationship
3. That relationship is bound up in loving God and loving God’s people
4. All else is commentary

Now, what am I going to preach on Sunday?

I read a lot about the “business” (for lack of a better word) of doing church. Books are churned out regularly, Barna does all his research and we talk a lot about how we do what we have been called to do. In just the last few weeks I have read:

–Simple Church
–Connecting Church
–Transforming Discipleship
–Planting Missional Churches
–Leaving Church
–Comeback Churches (I actually will start this one today or tomorrow)

To be honest, these books drive me nuts. There is a lot of talk about doing church and not enough talk about being the church. It’s easy to get wrapped up in a communal weekly assembly (or assemblies) rather than being the incarnation of Christ in our communities. Which seems to me to be a whole lot more important to Jesus than a corporate service. But I digress.

Rather than me just holding forth on the way things should be, in my mind, or the way things are let me ask you:

What kind of church do you want?

What is important to you? What are the things that you look for?

If you could start from scratch how would you construct church?

I’m looking for the insight of my “churched” readers–both lay and professional.

But I also want the insight of those who don’t attend regularly.

Give me feedback.

I preach. It’s what I do. I’m “gifted” at it, I believe.

It’s one of those jobs, however, where most people think they can do it a lot better than the person getting paid for it.
I’m doing a good job whenever I say something that people would agree with. But if not, katy bar the door. I imagine it is a lot like coaching in that regard.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the purpose behind going to church. What does it exist for? Part of this is the realization that Hebrews 10:25 has been woefully proof-texted through the years to mean something that it doesn’t say and that Acts 20:7 cannot be a normative example coming from a group of believers who met together daily.

The discussion is a good one. Many of the reasons for assembling together can be done in other settings.

But what really interests me is the slagging on preachers. I went to a renewal this past week with a number of other ministers–7 couples in all. It was a great time of actually being with people who “get me.”

But two important things I learned:

–Preachers should not be the ones to make the first contact with a visitor, sorry “guest.” In fact, if the preacher makes the first contact then the likelihood that they will return to a second worship service drops by more than half than if a lay member made the first contact.

–Preachers make crummy small group leaders as a rule. Of course there are exceptions but it is generally better that someone else facilitates the discussion.

Combine these thoughts with the discussion that seeks to move corporate worship assemblies, sorry “gatherings,” from pyramid shaped, top-down affairs to a more concentric egalitarian format and I’m beginning to feel fairly anachronistic.

Now, I don’t believe the need for and position of the preacher is any danger of going away any time soon. There will always be a need for proclamation.

But the devaluation is a healthy thing. To move away from the pyramidal concept of church participation is one that each of us need to consider and discuss. I have things to share and impart to a church because I spend all of my work week studying. But it cannot continue to be done at the expense of the corporate body being able to express themselves.

What is the purpose of assembling together? Where do you see our corporate worship service, sorry “gatherings” heading in the future?

Much has been said and discussed lately about the identity crisis that is taking place within my little section of Christianity, Churches of Christ.

In the light of the issues within our churches and my own shifting orthopraxy I often wonder how big the table of our fellowship might be. As I study, prepare sermons and classes, and write this blog I wonder how broad and diverse our opinions, views and interpretations can be. And I often wrestle if whether or not I can truly say what is on my mind and heart without repercussions. And whether or not my views and interpretations will continue to remain compatible as we move into the future.
But broader than just me is how we will be able to continue to forge unity in the midst of so many perspectives and positions:

–Is there room at the table for the pacifist who believes that all war is sinful with the military veteran who has served his country proudly?
–Is there room at the table for the one who believes that global warming is junk science with the environmentalist who believes that care of the earth is true Christian stewardship?
–Is there room at the table for the one who believes that hell is real but temporary with the one who holds a more punitive view of God’s judgment?
–Is there room at the table for the pro-life to sit with the pro-choice?
–Is there room at the table for the one who supports civil unions with the one who tolerance is akin to endorsement?
–Is there room at the table for the one who has a more “liberal” interpretation of scripture in regards to creation and evolution with the one who holds unswervingly to intelligent design?
–Is there room at the table for the trinitarian with the non-trinitarian?

These are just some of the questions that go through my mind as I consider the future of our churches. These questions seem a lot more intense, personal and potentially volatile than whether or not we use a harmonica.

What other table questions do you see emerging?

I ran across an article yesterday in my web-browsing that said that ministers who are doing an effective and meaningful work should experience bouts of depression.
Allusions were made to prophets of old who battled with periods of malaise. I am not a prophet in the sense that I can foresee the future. However, preaching is a prophetic work in that it depends on spiritual insight to spread a message.
I reflected on this quite a bit since I stumbled across the article: am I given to depression? Do I regularly experience occasions where I don’t want to get out of the bed?

Honestly? Yes. There are moments in each week where I think I can’t do this anymore. That the cost of ministry is just too high a cost.

–Every Monday I walk into my office with no idea what I am going to preach on Sunday. I wrestle and struggle all week long with what I am going to say and how it is going to come together. A deadline must be met and sometimes it’s hard. I either don’t know what to say or I don’t fully understand the text. Or maybe I understand it but the truth is too bold to speak.

–Every week I come face-to-face with this amazing disconnect between what I proclaim and what I am. The Christian life is such an high calling that at times it can feel oppressive. To preach holiness and godly living and to be, at times, so unholy and ungodly is sobering. I look at the Ted Haggards and how little grace is given to people in my position who fall and I tremble.

–In addition, the more honest I am with the text and the more I strive to understand what the core message is, the farther I depart from previously held notions. I walk a tightrope between what I now believe and what I am ready to say. I use this blog as an outlet for that and often worry if I say too much.

–There are days where I feel completely alone. There are days where I am tired of being the only minister on staff, the only one who is invested in day-to-day church work in a small congregation. I’ve spent 5 years now as the only minister on staff. It can be lonely.

–There are times where I feel that I can never do enough. I see marriages falling apart, children neglected. I see families striving to get ahead. I am surrounded by abject poverty and hopelessness. We are to be a light in our community and a lot of times I feel that light is hidden by an impenetrable fog. There are unlimited people to visit, pray for and help out financially.

–There are the times when I am misunderstood. Just this week I was told that one member has stopped attending because they were offended that I would say that only members of the Church of Christ are saved. I wasn’t told who it was so I can’t correct it by letting them know that I don’t believe that and I have never said that. Being clear is not always easy.

–There are the times when I feel that my sermon doesn’t penetrate past the edge of the pulpit. Where the truth is missed.

–And then there are Saturdays. I don’t like Saturday’s. All day long I feel a growing sense of dread, or weight, settling on me. The implications of all that I am asked to do on Sundays come crashing down on me. I am expected to proclaim the Good News in a jarring and vital way. And I feel so incapable and unworthy of such a burden.

So, yes, I get depressed. More often than I like to admit. Why don’t I go teach somewhere? I could go back to selling cars. Anything but this never-ending cycle that I encounter week after week.

But this I know: God is ever beside me. It is Him that I encounter as I study. He is the one who is beside me when I don’t know what to say drawing me deeper into His truth.
It is His divine mercy that shows me the message is never-ending love and grace.
He is the one who takes a so-so sermon finished on Thursday and always makes it better by Sunday morning.
He is the one who has led me to this. He is the one who walks with me through the valleys and the shadows.
And He is the One I must proclaim. For He has chosen this introverted, depressive, and unfinished man to share the Good News.

Colossians 1:28–29
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

I began work at my current congregation a little over 2 years ago. When I came the church was in a transitional period having undergone a split about 6 months previous. Three reasons spurred my decision to accept what many would believe to be an unattractive position:

1. It was closer to family and where Tracy received her undergrad.
2. I love a challenge
3. The church owned property in a more upscale, faster growing area with the dream of building on that land sometime in the near future.

Two years later that dream of moving to a new location seems further away than ever. We are a rapidly aging congregation with limited resources and few young couples..
We could not finance a new build no matter how much we wanted to.
And no longer do I think we should.

Our building is an older structure, sitting along I-35 in a very economically depressed, primarily Hispanic area of north Waco. Many of our neighbors either don’t speak English or struggle with communicating competently. The houses that surround our facility are run-down, ramshackle rental homes. Our neighbors clamor for our aid in clothing, food and other assistance.

Why would we want to move? There are too many churches that have fled to the suburbs. Not enough have elected to stay among the least of these. I hope that we will choose to.

Granted, we haven’t been a very good neighbor through the years. I think our long-standing members would agree to that.

But we are seeking to rectify that:

–This past Saturday about 25 of us showed up to go and knock doors in our immediate neighborhood. Our purpose was to invite them to our annual Friend Day this coming Sunday. After our worship time we will provide them with a catered barbecue dinner. (Note: we had 2 families show up yesterday, simply because we asked.)

–Each week we give away a lot of groceries in addition to operating a Clothes Closet for people who need adequate clothing. We are currently inviting all those who seek us out over the next 2 weeks to come to a free Valentine Dinner for them and their spouses/significant-other. The people in our neighborhood would never be able to take their loved one to a romantic dinner. We want to provide them the opportunity to do just that.

–I am currently searching for someone in the area to come and teach us Spanish. What better way to show that we love and care for our neighbors than to illustrate that by being willing to learn their language rather than simply expecting them to learn ours?

I know that if these and other efforts that I hope we undertake bear fruit that I will have to change my approach to things. My preaching will need to become more simplistic. I will need to network more among urban ministers.
But that is what I am willing and excited to do if we will commit to being more missional.

Here is my question for you: what suggestions for events/ministry offerings would you suggest we try? How can we better be a light where we are? How do we share Jesus here?
For this I know: we are in this neighborhood for a reason. To love the people God has surrounded us with. How can we love them better?

I wish that I had a better video of this song as the words are staggering. I’ve wrestled with whether or not to blog about 9/11 today. I know that where I am at regarding that day and the aftermath may not meet the most receptive of ears at this time.
But I weep for those lives lost, not just on this particular day but the lives of all those lost
fighting the wars of man.
And I applaud the heroes of that day, those who saved, rescued and sacrificed. Heroism was pervasive and apparent on that Tuesday.
Yet, evil is all too pervasive and entwined in the hearts of man. And we have danced with the devil for so long it seems that we don’t know how to stop. War has spawned more war and violence has beget more violence.
Come quickly, Lord. May your Kingdom be made manifest, either through your triumphant return or through the righteous living of Your church.
All I can do in the aftermath of that day is consider my own response. Mark Erelli’s words ring true here. This song, The Only Way, was written shortly after the attack. He left it alone for almost five years allowing other artist to record it.
But earlier this year he released an album, Hope & Other Casualties, that burns with lament, passion and ethos. It has quickly become my favorite release in a year of stellar albums. Here are the lyrics to this beautiful song:

I read the paper
I watch the news
It seems there’s only pain and sufferin’
And there ain’t nothing I can do
It’s so senseless
I feel defenseless
So small

I could shut my windows
Bolt my doors
But if I don’t feel safe enough
To speak my mind anymore
Then what’s the use
I’ve nothing left to lose
No further to fall

(Chorus)
So I’m gonna love
I’m gonna believe
I’m gonna dream
But I’m gonna roll up my sleeve
And give everything until there’s nothing left to give
That’s the only way that I know how to live

It was a nightmare
No tongue can tell
The streets of New York City
Looked just like the gates of Hell
In a flash
The smoke and the ash
Falling down like rain

But they circled wagons
They gathered round
As they bravely pulled our brothers
And our sisters from the ground
And I know
I owe them more
Than to be afraid

(Chorus)

Why seek vengeance?
What comes of war?
I know freedom has a price
But it doesn’t keep score
It’s too much to swallow
It’s left me hollow
After all this time
All this time

I won’t tell you
What to believe
But I’m too young to be so cynical
And too old to be naive
Every action
Breeds a reaction
So let this be mine

Let me close with these words from Stanley Hauerwas:

In the face of September 11, I distrust words. I fear no matter how hard we try to say what needs to be said, what we say may threaten to explain when no explanation is possible. For me, a person seldom at a loss for words, I find my continuing reaction to September 11, 200l, to be one of silence. I simply do not know what to say. At least one of the reasons I have nothing to say is because I am a pacifist. I am, whether I like it or not, committed to Christian nonviolence. The horror, the terror, the strange beauty of the violence on September ll, calls for a response, a violent response. Being a pacifist does nothing to free me from the desire to set things right by punishing those who perpetrated such an outrage. Conflicted I remain silent, fearing any words I may say would suggest a confidence I do not have…
…If we are to preach truthfully after September 11, 200l, we must not try to say too much. We must not pretend we have an answer to explain what happened or know what response we–and who is the we?–might make. I have no pacifist foreign policy. I believe the church is God’s foreign policy. Which makes it all the more important that we be able truthfully to preach God’s word.

In just a few short weeks (3 to be exact) we will resume our two year journey through the Bible.  The format will remain the same:

• Sunday Morning Class will consist of an overview of that week’s book.
• Our Sermon time will continue the “Scarlet Thread” series.  Throughout the NT we will move from the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures to the lessons that Jesus has to teach us.
• Sunday night will be spent dealing with special issues and controversial passages that arise in our weekly reading and study.
• Wednesday Night will be a devotional thought from the book of the Week.

Following is a TENTATIVE list of what the sermon schedul will be. As I began to plot out each book I settled on the theme of what Jesus calls us to be.  However, I began to have this gnawing feeling that there was something wrong.  Then I realized that the “Be…” idea had already been done by Warren Wiersbe.  In no way am I trying to replow his ground, so I did not look at the titles of his series until I was done.  Although there might be some overlap in title’s, I believe that my series will be quite different from his.

Also, notice that Romans is left up in the air.  I will be out of town for my 20th high school reunion that weekend.  Since I recently spent 9 months on Romans I feel like someone else should take a stab at it.

I covet your thoughts and feedback on this schedule.

September 10—A Voice in the Wilderness

September 17—Matthew (Be Holy)

September 24—Mark (Be Changed)

October 1—Luke (Be on the Margins)

October 8—John (The Power of “I Am”)

October 15—Acts (Be  Missional)

October 22—Romans (TBA)

October 29—1 Corinthians (Be Pure)

November 5—2 Corinthians (Be Reconciled)

November 12—Galatians (Be Free)

November 19—Ephesians (Be One)

November 26—Philippians (Be Humble)

December 3—Colossians (Be Complete)

December 10—1 Thessalonians (Be Ready)

December 17—2 Thessalonians (Be Healthy)

December 24—TBA

December 31–TBA

January 7–1 Timothy (Be Faithful)

January 14—2 Timothy (Be Diligent)

January 21—Titus (Be Encouraging)

January 28—Philemon (Be Merciful)

February 4—Hebrews (Be Bold)

February 11—James (Be Perseverant)

February 18—1 Peter (Be Overcomers)

February 25—2 Peter (Be Assured)

March 4—1 John (Be Alive)

March 11—2 John (Be Obedient)

March 18—3 John (Be There)

March 25—Jude (Be Secure)

April 1—Revelation (Be Assured)

April 8—Job (He Mediates)

April 15—Psalms (He is Praised)

April 22—Proverbs (He is Wise)

April 29—Ecclesiastes (He is the Source)

May 6—Song of Solomon (He is Lover)