Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Naming the Mystery

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Naming the Mystery, Chapter 5

As alluded to in the Chapter heading this is about the naming of God. Its a big topic and I know that there are actual books on the subject. In reading the chapter it reminded me of how many metaphors we have for God trying to describe the indescribable. Words giving us just glimpses of our Maker.
Mclaren talks of a tenssion

...Between naming God and not reducing G-d to a name, this tension between addressing God through a name but never possessing G-d in a verbal or conceptual address, this electricity between what theologians call God's immanence or accessibility and G-d's transcendence or complete otherness.

It is this tension which Mclaren bases much of his practical spirituality. He then goes on to describe how he uses prayers, and liturgy about this tension to remind himself and assist the listener in remembering the tension.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Back on the horse

The other night at our local Church I lead a discussion on some of Rob Bell's Nooma. Interestingly I also got asked to do a Christening back in Melbourne. It is affirming that these things are popping up. It is also particularly good to feel that I'm in a system where a wide understanding of Christianity is acceptable.

Confession: I Manipulated and Controlled People

Great post by Scrap house pastor Confession: I manipulated and Controlled People. 
Having hung around Churches most of my life, on reflection you spot this frequently. In my own ministry I never really consciously resorted to this. Though I'm sure most pastors wouldn't consciously do it either. Maybe all pastors are guilty to differing degrees? I am sure though, it isn't right.

Here is a part of his post::

• We use ideas of unity and oneness to get everyone to conform. Unity brings God’s blessing. You wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that would you?
• We somehow hold up an ideal of the Christian life so that everyone knows what to aim for, but also so everyone can see if someone else is failing and “help” them
• We use “spiritual” religious language to describe what’s “in” and what’s “out”. The spiritual language makes it sound like God’s saying it.
• We talk about having a positive attitude versus a “negative spirit”. We prime people not to listen to anyone who is “negative” i.e. anyone who disagrees with leadership. Sprinkle a dose of stuff about a root of bitterness here too.
• We teach about the importance of leadership and following leadership and vision and following vision – incessantly
• We teach about rebellion, having “another kind” of spirit, about the perils of “division” and “divisive” people.
• We teach about servanthood (man I’ve seen some abuses of this one) and show people that Jesus was a servant, therefore they must serve….us… I mean the church
• We drop huge hints from the pulpit and get people to draw the conclusions they want us to draw and we might even use jokes or joke about real issues or problems in order to make the group laugh at them, so the people with the real problems or issues won’t be able to raise them for fear of not being taken seriously.
• We tend to isolate people who disagree. We talk about them in a negative light. We warn people not to listen to them. We take them off rosters and we make them unwelcome. We might even covertly preach AT them in sermons (they know who they are). Basically we want to freeze them out.
• We can make a big deal and reward people who are getting it right. We can applaud them and lionize them.
• The most extreme case of manipulation is reserved for the most insecure pastors and that is where they warn “Don’t touch the Lord’s anointed”

The missing torch bulb....

Image via Wikipedia

A while ago in Church a young teenager wanted to get up and encourage others in the congregation about a miracle which had occurred recently in his life. 
He got up and proceed to tell the congregation how his maglite torch bulb had stopped functioning during the night. The globe had blown. He went to sleep with the torch under his pillow and low and behold when he woke in the morning found another bulb next to his pillow. He immediately replaced the bulb with the blown bulb and the torch was restored. A miracle!
The unfortunate thing about the story is that the maglite he showed everyone has a spare bulb built in. What can you say when everyone is in awe and wonder and definitely encouraged by a young teenager sharing his faith.

I couldn't help thinking how many other stories of 'faith' are out there, which are really about applause and adulation, yet lack credibility and honesty. Maybe miracles should be a private thing and shared only in the most intimate of moments. Then people like myself can't judge.

goodbye

Goodbyes fascinate me.
I know of many a time especially in nursing when I've looked a person in the eye, shaken their hand and said goodbye, knowing they are dying and probably won't be alive the next shift I work.
It seems inappropriate.  It should be how I've enjoyed there company, learnt from the them, laughed with them. But nursing is fleeting, never is the relationship other than professional, sterile.

Friends and associates you often enjoy their company, laugh with them and learn, even fight and argue. The bonds are different. The goodbyes are always tinged with the idea you will meet again.
Yet there are times when you depart their company without knowing you will never meet again. Times when only on reflection that you know that the gulf of distance, time ways of looking at the world have separated you without both of you ever mutually acknowledging this.
Which ever way, I feel the gaps which these people left.

Thank God who puts people into these gaps; which otherwise would be gaping holes in our lives gaping wounds from a gun shot....

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now

At last the book gets into the meat of Mclaren's spiritual practices. As he writes in the book it can be summed up with one word 'Here'. Basically acknowledging that God is with us what ever the situation. Just stopping our mind and acknowledging God is with us.


Its a chapter which I can agree with, its one of my main Spiritual practices. Looking for the 'Here' For some, this is rather pantheistic, yet for me it is the most realistic experience which I can comprehend. Although remembering to look for the here, I'm  guilty of doing frequently.

The Chapter reminded me a lot of Rob Bell's 'Breath'






Previous summaries
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words 

Mclaren gets to the point of his introduction in this Chapter. Here we were introduced to the main content of what the rest of the book will be composed of all resolving around Spiritual practices which induce 'Naked Spirituality'. They are 'Simplicity, Complexity Perplexity and Harmony'.

I couldn't help thinking that three chapters for an introduction is a bit long. Admittely the first two chapters I enjoyed, though the last I could imagine been incorporated in the book as a whole. 



Previous summaries
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual

This second chapter is also part of the introduction. Interestingly I find that McLaren likes to draw out his introductions. I find they are often the best parts of his books!


This post is a continuation of my very rough summary of Brian Mclaren's book 'Naked Spirituality' previous chapters are ::

McLaren looks at the classic line 'I'm not religious but I'm spiritual' and has a few thoughts on it.
I really liked when he looked at the etymology of the word 'religion'. 'lig' meaning to connect or gion together like you see in the word ligament. Re as again and again. Religion is therefore joining us together again and again. Connecting us with God again and again. 'Good' religion helps us in this process.
McLaren uses the term 'de-religion' for practices which do the opposite to re-connecting us with God.




Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

The trouble with st Mary's : Compass

We watched the trouble with St Mary's on Compass. 
It is a story of a Catholic Church 'St Mary's in Brisbane which started practices which were outside of the doctrine of the Church. (blessing homosexual couples etc ), Eventually the Priest Father Peter Kennedy is asked to leave. He does so and the congregation follows. A first in the history of the Catholic Church in Australia.

A Few thoughts::

:: Interesting that this group of worshipers under Kennedy had something, it appears a move of God.
::There is a scene where Kenndy is at a loss. It appears he doesn't know what he believes any more and even doubts the existence of Jesus. (He points to the question of the 'Historical Jesus', A question that all must face I believe if they are serious about their faith)

• For his critics this most probably would say that this man has started a cult.
• For myself it is something that I can relate to. When you loose a lot, separated, bereaved this is a time when you question all that went before. For me it made the documentary even more compelling.
• I would rather follow a person who had doubts that had it all together.
• I think when Jesus talks about been 'born again' (I think this is in John). It is a word that is continuous. To be born again, and again, and again, and again. It is a continuous evolving of our relationship with God. It is where I see Kennedy to be. 

::Kennedy has spoken in 'progressive Christian' circles its a bit of a pity this wasn't mentioned.
::This is the first Catholic Church in Australia. It would be interesting if more follow. Certainly the 'Uniting Church' is over this hurdle, it will be interesting as the battle continues for main stream protestants and Catholics..

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience

As you may have guessed I'm reading Mclaren's latest  book 'Naked Spirituality' So I thought I'd just write up some very rough notes as I go....

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

The first Chapter is quite personal, Mclaren talks of some of his most precious Spiritual experiences. The crux of the introduction was an introduction to 'real' experience vs manufactured 'religious' equivalent. He calls these real 'naked' spiritual moments. The book is about 'strengthening a vital, vigorous, naked spirituality'.

Good chapter, I'm keen to read further. Liked the personal experiences to illustrate his points. Much I can relate to so far.

Related articles

• Naked Spirituality :: Brian McLaren...some thoughts (thewearypilgrim.typepad.com)
• Reading and Praying (sela12.wordpress.com)

Forge 's impulse into the mainstream

An interesting comment on Mark Connor's blog which referred to Deb Hirsch speaking at his church City Life, got me pondering. City Life is the largest Church in Melbourne.

What I found interesting is the direction which Forge has moved. From the fringes when 10-15 years ago the mainstream was to be avoided. I can remember hearing Alan saying with my own ears that the main stream institutionalized church was DEAD! Yet now it seems the main stream is where Forge happily sits.

Those who I would say are on the fringe don't speak of Forge much if at all anymore. Strangely the only formal aspect of forge which is in QLD dosn't even mention that the Hirsches are in Australia. Their front page is somthing about a blues music outfit!

In the USA it seems Forge is going from strength to strength. It seems very upside down to me.

It seems to me that often in my life I have a 'Spiritual awakenings', Forge was one, the Vineyard another, yet they move or you move. Either way you could never go back to how things were.