Wait... my degree is becoming USEFUL?!

Yes, yes it is.

I'm currently going back through my senior paper on "Authentic Biblical Worship" and my notes/the Scripture that comprised it. My goal is to put together a broad (yet comprehensively foundational) skeleton outline of why we do what we do at Newsong Coastal Church.

I'll post that later to get your thoughts/feedback on it, but for now I wanted to post this excerpt that I would really like to spark some discussion. Holla boutcha thoughts.

"Inevitably the issue of musical style arises in the discussion of worship forms and structures. The popular trend is to have a contemporary and a traditional worship service to suit the differing preferences within a single congregation. The biblical evidence would indicate that this practice is entirely inappropriate and conflict with scriptural mandates for worship. It creates an atmosphere that is centered on the likes and dislikes of a people rather than the nature and commandments of a holy God. There is scriptural mandate for both the old and the new when it comes to worship through music.

The Psalmist repeatedly and exuberantly implores his readers, “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts,” “Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth,” and “Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him!” There is a call to and need for the followers of Christ to continue writing songs to praise His name and His works, but there is also a high value placed on hymns of old written by ancestors of the faith to remember the work of the Lord in the past as an assurance of His faithfulness in the present and future. The Lord gives Moses a command to do just this before the people of Israel enter into the Promised Land.

In Deuteronomy God commands Moses to write a song and teach it to His people, that it “may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.” The song is comprised of reminders to the people of Israel as well as a testimony to foreigners of God’s provision for Israel’s physical needs during their desert wanderings despite their lack of faithfulness to God. Moses acts accordingly and teaches the song to the people of Israel that they would continue to sing it for many generations to come as a reminder of the faithfulness of God despite the whoredom of His people. The Psalmist also displays this need to utilize songs from the past in order to remember God’s work and attributes as they are revealed over time in Psalm 77.5-6: “I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’” The debate between old hymns and modern choruses, then, is no debate at all; the answer is both. Scripture calls for both the new and the old.

As far as explicit Scriptural mandates concerning dress, orders of service, and styles of music given are concerned, there are none. There is no fiat in Scripture on whether a pastor should wear coat and tie or blue jeans, whether the instrumentation should consist of organ only or electric guitars and a drum set, or whether the vestibule should contain a set of flowers dedicated to an anniversary or donuts and coffee for a time of fellowship. The driving motivation between any decision concerning these things or anything of a similar nature in corporate worship should be what leads the congregation to worship in spirit and in truth be it through music, teaching, fellowship, drama, or whatever else. The primary motivation cannot be what will cater to the most people’s preferences if a church desires to worship in spirit and truth because worship is about the glory of God and the proclamation of His name, not entertainment. There is no standard to judge the effectiveness of corporate worship besides that of the Word of God; not the music industry, popular culture, devoted traditionalism, nor church attendance."

Discuss/elaborate/criticize/justify/whateverthejankyouwannadowithit.

-Joshua

American Syncretism

In a few of my courses back at AU we discussed something called "syncretism," specifically in relation to Christianity. Here's the handy dandy mac dictionary definition:

Syncretism- the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

And for those of us who may not know what an "amalgamation" is...

Amalgamation- the action, process, or result of combining or uniting.

So for all the slow kids... syncretism is the combining/uniting of different religions, cultures, and/or schools of thought.

In class the context we discussed this in was what happened when believers would go as missionaries to foreign lands & cultures and, in an attempt to better communicate the Gospel to those people, begin combining terminologies and ideologies of Christianity with those of the already existing culture. If this is hurting your head, don't feel bad. It's really not as complicated as it sounds- let me give you an example.

If you go to a country where the national religion is Islam and your purpose is to be a Christian missionary, you may not refer to God as "God." Especially if you go through someone a missionary agency; they'll actually tell you to do otherwise. Instead you'll refer to God as "Allah." This doesn't mean you believe in the God of Islam; it's simply an attempt to establish common ground so that you can explain what YOU believe about Allah. Make sense?

{Editor's Note: This is a poor example. But you get what I'm saying- switching things around and mixing them up so that people know what the crap we're talking about. The above example is actually a GOOD use of syncretism... but many times it is taken way too far.}

If not, just look it up on wikipedia.

So anyway in classes we would talk about how missionaries to China would mix up Christianity with native Chinese religions and ultimately really mess stuff up, how American missionaries would go to other countries and attempt to not only convert others (such as third world tribesmen) to Christianity, but to capitalism as well.

This is an issue.

What is MORE of an issue to those of us still in America, however, is how blind we are to syncretism in our own culture. Don't believe me?

How many of us went to a church service the weekend of July 4th where we sang more to a flag and a piece of land than we did to an almighty God who revealed Himself fully in the person of Christ?

How many sermons in the past year did we hear where the pulpit became a political platform instead of the place where God's people are called to be the hands and feet of Christ?

How many times did you hear a politician pull the God card in the 2008 campaign?

How many of our weeks consisted of the daily grind and the weekend ritual without so much as a passing thought to the fact that Jesus Christ wasn't kidding when He commanded us to "take up [our] cross and follow [Him]"?

How many of us have reduced our faith to a subculture where even our baby's diapers can have a Jesus fish on them to demonstrate our love for Christ, yet we refuse to walk across the street, across the aisle, across the hall to speak love into the life of the person the Holy Spirit is putting in our path because we have X number of things to do and X amount of time to do it in and surely Jesus understands how busy we are?

And God forbid we ever have to interact with another human being ever again... by all means let us use the red box to get our movies, pay at the pump, self-check out, and online shopping so that we can have the least amount of civil contact possible. After all, the less we have to talk to someone the happier we all are right?

Not to mention the fact that when that one outsider comes (CLEARLY by the grace of God alone, for there is no other way they could pierce our bubble) into our circle we must cut their hair, re-dress them, and teach them to talk like us so that they can become good, saved people just like us.

I don't intend to come across as bitter or snide, though I know I inevitably have. Nor do I intend to suggest that I am exempt from any of these traps/convictions- if you read back you'll notice I tried to say "we" as much as possible.

We are ALL guilty of this, brothers and sisters.

There is an IMMENSE amount of sharp distinction between the life Christ called us to as His followers and the lives we are leading in pursuit of the pseudo-Christianized American dream.

I beg you (and charge myself) to take a long, HARD look at our lives and prayerfully consider what it is that glorifies the God of the cross and the resurrection and what it is that glorifies "Puff, The Magic Jesus."

May we become so enthralled with the beauty and the truth of the Gospel of Christ that all else is waste to us.

It is only then that we can love as we have been loved.

Brand New Day?

To those who may not know: I am a complete comic book nerd.

If you're already turned off because you think this post is about comics... then you don't know me. This post isn't about comics, just keep reading and trust me.

Spider-Man is my hero of choice, and I prefer Marvel to DC by far. Of the comic nerds I know, the only DC loyalists are really just Batman loyalists... which I completely respect.

But Marvel has the market on writers right now- ever since House of M in 2005 the universe-wide crossovers have been excellent (and surprisingly comprehensive). All the events of House of M, Civil War, and Secret Invasion are currently culminating in a series called "Dark Reign." You don't really care about any of this, though... so let's move on. (it's all rather brilliant though)

Ha. I sounded British just then.

I say all this to say that in May of 2008 Marvel made a BOLD move in launching a complete Spider-Man revamp they called "Brand New Day." Basically all the big events in Peter Parker's life over the past several years were reset: Peter and Mary Jane never got married, Aunt May and Harry Osborn (Peter's best friend) were alive again, and his identity was a secret again.

I absolutely hated this.

I mean think about it- these characters you had invested in and grown accustomed to for years just changed. The status quo was reset without your consent, and you didn't like the new rules.

So I dropped the title for almost a year. I finally began reading some really positive reviews of the story arcs in the Spider-Man title about March of 2009. I picked it back up, and I must say I haven't been disappointed yet. They're doing really good work and putting together some good stuff.

I still don't like the "Brand New Day" revamp just because I enjoy continuity in a story... but in hindsight, the stories that have been birthed out of the revamp have surpassed previous stories in quality by a long shot.

And here is where it becomes not about comics anymore.

Anderson wore me out. In so many ways... academically, spiritually, ministerially, relationally, etc.

Don't get me wrong- I loved my time there. I wouldn't trade my four years at AU for anything, and I definitely wouldn't trade the brothers and sisters I met there whom I love deeply and have shown me Christ when I was completely unlovable. But so much was not what I expected.

Through the CM program I allowed my faith to become little more than a petri dish.

Through various ministries on campus I allowed myself to become over-taxed, worn-out, and frustrated with everyone who wasn't doing what I thought they should be doing. Especially when it meant I had to pick up slack. (Note: I'm referring to believers here, not unbelievers)

Through a few different friendships and relationships I allowed myself to become consumed with acceptance by my peers.

Through talk of and work with churches during college I allowed myself to become bitter towards the bride of Christ and the very body I was called to be part of.

Don't get me wrong- I think some of these things are to be legitimately bothered by. The CM program is intensively academically oriented and as wonderful as theology is, it is like an uprooted tree without means of praxis. There is a desperate need for shared leadership among believers in campus ministries, though I believe people like Russ Bennett have made leaps and bounds in the right direction here. And of course there are problems with the modern church. Welcome to a place that isn't the Garden of Eden; we call it Earth.

But my point isn't how valid or how selfish any of these things may be/have been. My point is at the end of my college career I was ready to move on. Ready for a fresh start. Read for a "Brand New Day."

I believe my Brand New Day has come with drawbacks, just as Peter Parker's did.

I'm uprooted and in a place I know very little about. I don't have the support system I had at Anderson. The band (and closest friends) I had grown to love being part of and enjoyed ministering with is 4.5 hours away from me. And so is everyone else I have invested in and who has invested in me for what I believe has been the most profound season of my life thus far.

And as I have been detached from all I had grown weary of, I am without scapegoats. If I am spiritually lacking, apathetic, frustrated... the issue is within my own heart.

This "Brand New Day" I wanted for so long is here, and it is a breath of fresh air... but oh the challenges it brings with it!

I don't like all the challenges. I don't like being responsible for my spiritual maturity for the first time in my life. I don't like having to pay bills. I don't like not being able to afford a puppy right now...

But mostly I don't like not being able to blame my slackness on anyone or anything else.

I do know this; that like Spider-Man, I will one day look back and see how this "Brand New Day" brought about so much more good than I would have ever thought.

Because I know my God is a God of life.

And He is able to do exceedingly great things in incredibly unexpected places. Sanctification is a slow, often painful process... but man is it beautiful.

May God be glorified in my "Brand New Day."

It Is Well (This Way)

When peace like a river comes rushing on my way
When sorrows like tidal waves come flooding through my gates
I don’t know what to do
So I hang my head and lift my voice to You

And you take me this way
And you break me this way

When Satan comes to taunt me bout how I’m weak and gone astray
I cling to that old splintered cross where I heard You call my name
And I’m broken by this love
I’m healed by Your touch

That You’d take me this way
When You break me this way
And You shape me this way
And You’ve taught me how to say

“It is well.”

And Lord, make it soon when my faith becomes my eyes
Let the music of the angels dawn the commencement of new life
It is well with my soul!

i stole this from a british woman.

Jayne did this... and I like pictures and she's British. So I did it too.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Joshua
2. What is your favorite food? General Tso's Chicken
3. What is your favorite color? Green
4. Favorite drink? Cream Soda
5. Dream vacation? Australia
6. Favorite hobby? Music
7. What you want to be when you grow up? a child at heart
8. What do you love most in life? irony
9. One word to describe you? Witty (or at least I'd like to think so!)

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search (http://www.flickr.com/)
b. Using ONLY the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Mosaic Maker. Change rows to 3 and columns to 3 (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php).

Repenting.

I repent of holding grudges against my brothers and sisters.

I have a really difficult time with this... yet I think it's egocentric for me to state so because I believe it is a normal human issue. More often than not, most of us have a hard time with letting go of grudges, don't we?

I think so. A few years ago I was heavily convicted about how I am supposed to love, but like so many life lessons I believe I've forgotten that conviction somewhere along the way.

Or maybe I just realized how much I don't like it.

Seriously, think about it. Who of us has a desire to love others selflessly? Who of us has even the capability of loving one another with the Father's love we have come to know through Christ Jesus?

None. Time and again scriptures state that there is none righteous, not even one.

It so much easier to hold a grudge and be bitter. Beyond that, it's fun sometimes! I mean it provides you with common ground with others who are bitter and hold grudges and you can join together to bash whoever you want and it makes you feel better!

I mean what could make you feel any better than pointing out the flaws of the people who piss you off? After all, when you see how horrible they are it affirms how awesome you are!

mmmmm... praise God for grace, right?

How grateful we should be for a righteousness that is not our own! That our bitter tendencies, held grudges, and malicious natures have been neutralized and purified by the blood of Christ!

There are people I have held grudges against for years and even today I tend to develop bitterness in my heart towards brothers and sisters in Christ, and for this I repent.

I repent of my bitterness and my grudges. I repent of my unrighteousness and egocentric thoughts, actions, and words.

I repent of consciously refusing to share the love that was given to me freely.

And I praise God that His grace isn't contingent upon my worthiness to receive it. God is sooooo good.

Top 10 Disappointments of 2009 Thus Far

I think the title is self explanatory. These may or may not be in any particular order, and the picture corresponding to the number in the list will come before the actual listing... but I'm sure you would've figured that out (;


10. Realizing a B.A. isn't going to take me where I want to go in life and more schooling is inevitable.

9. The return of Heroes to prime time in January.. I haven't watched any since then so I can't comment on the whole season, but this episode was incredibly disappointing and uneventful.

8. Finding out that some Christian (term used loosely) organizations charge $600 for college students to put on a benefit concert for mission work.

7. The severe lack of sugar (or anything resembling sweetness) in Ocean Spray's Light Cran-Grape Juice.

6. The fact that I made it through 4 years of CP classes in high school and 3 1/2 (and counting) years of college without anyone teaching me about compiling a resume, job interview etiquette, or anything remotely useful in the real world.

5. Having to spend my last Spring Break writing a 25 page paper that would be 40% of my final grade in one class and a photo project that would be just under 20% of my final grade in another.

4. The fact that Anderson put a sticker on my light switch about saving energy but they continue to water the grass and plants religiously during a drought and running the fountains when it was below freezing outside.

3. Jimmy Fallon has his own night show now. Seriously- his stand-up isn't remotely funny and he has the people skills of a doorknob. Miss South Carolina of 2007 would have been a better choice...2. Learning that people actually abbreviate "Praise the Lord" via e-mails and text messages. Typing/texting "PTL" for any other reason than making fun of people who use it seriously should add at least a decade to purgatory.

1. Watchmen (The Movie). Hear me out, true believers; the cinematography was excellent. Rorshach was amazing. The use and placement of the Bob Dylan song for the opening credits was beautiful. That's it. The majority of the lead roles were quite honestly severely lackluster performances, the sex scenes were completely unnecessary and a cheap attempt at being edgy, and though the cinematography may have been good it was nearly identical stylistically to 300. Orginality recycled.

I guess that about wraps it up! If you're thinking to yourself, "Self, I think Josh could be more productive with his time," then you are right. But I've had trouble sleeping the past few nights and thought a good rant may put my soul a bit more at ease.

Or at least serve someone's need for entertainment later.

Either way, peace out.