(e)mergent Voyageurs

Hey, isn’t that Harry with some hookers? – August 1, 2004 – Winnipeg Sun
by Harry Lehotsky

What would you have thought if you walked into a hotel last week and noticed a preacher hanging around with some women you knew to be prostitutes?

That could spark a juicy rumour!

I remembered the comment of Mark Twain that “a lie gets halfway ’round the world before the truth puts on its boots.”

For a brief moment, I felt a bit self-conscious and vulnerable as I noticed a few people looking at our group.

The truth is I was quite pleased and proud to be there with these women.

Several days earlier, I received an invitation to a graduation luncheon at the hotel. It was for a program called TERF — short for “Transition, Education and Resources for Females.” The program aims to provide a safe, supportive learning environment for women who have been involved in prostitution.

Grads were allowed to invite a guest to the event, and one of the grads called to invite me. I told her I’d be honoured to attend.

She could have invited others, but she invited me. I took it as a sign of trust combined with an awareness that I would appreciate the significance of her accomplishment.

I met her about two years ago. Had I not known her, I would never have guessed that she was “well-known to police” as a sex trade worker. She attended a function at our church, as gracious and respectful as anyone else in the room. Her care for others, interest in learning, and love for a good book and a good laugh were immediately evident to those around her.

It was another great reminder that people are more than what they do.

Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t changed my mind about the harm or hazards of prostitution.

But some people assume that my opposition to the activity of prostitution translates into antagonism toward the women themselves.

Fortunately, my folks taught me that it was possible to “hate the sin without hating the sinner.” I know because they had to practise what they preached with me, their own son.

The changes in my life were, in large measure, due to their integrity in communicating both unflinching moral standards and unfailing parental love. I knew how they felt about my behaviour. But there was always hope for change, because I knew how they felt about me.

Maintaining that balance is essential to sustaining any real change in our neighbourhood.

It became even clearer as the afternoon progressed.

I arrived at the hotel and sat at the table with several of the participants and instructors from the TERF program. We shared a great buffet lunch and had some good conversation around the table.

Our conversation was about everyday stuff. We chatted about music, movies, friendships, learning, next steps, dreams, and frustrations.

There was pride in the women’s eyes and genuine joy in the table fellowship. It was evident that these emotions were heightened by their contrast to a long familiarity with shame and sadness.

The lunch was followed by a series of speeches and presentations.

Not one of the speeches made reference to the fact that the women had worked as prostitutes. Every speech referenced the perseverance, personality and passions of the women.

This graduation was focused on looking forward, not living backwards. The focus was not on past bad choices, but a celebration of current good choices.

As I sat there, I reflected sadly on something bad that’s been happening to these women in our neighbourhood.

People are rightfully upset about the criminal activity and immoral behaviour of prostitutes (and johns) when they’re working the streets. I’m a firm believer that the vigilance of residents and scrutiny of police is actually a help to the women as well as the community.

But what about when they’re not working? What about when they’re actually waiting for a bus, going for groceries, or going to a park or a store with a friend?

Many of these women receive dirty looks even when they’re not doing anything dirty. Some have been called names, mocked and ridiculed even when they’re doing the same things as everyone else in our neighbourhood.

Some people have stopped distinguishing between their attitude toward the behaviour and the attitude toward the people.

I wished I could have brought some of those folks to that luncheon at the hotel. Perhaps the best antidote to the shame on our streets is the pride and respect shared in that room last week.

I figure there’s little hope for change if we don’t offer some hope for a change.

Emerging Church, Missional

When the Ted Haggard controversy hit the blogosphere, some people asked me why I hadn’t posted on the topic. From my previous posts on homosexuality, it was clear I had thought about the topic and had some opinions (see those posts in three parts: 1, 2 and 3). Besides the fact that Haggard, his family and his church had been through enough public scrutiny, I had other reasons for holding back. When I read Brian McLaren’s posts on homosexuality over at Christianity Today’s “Out Of Ur” blog, I had a similar sense that I was not prepared to weigh in.

However, having begun to write my next book, I have spent some time working on a chapter on sexuality. As you might expect, given the topic and the culture we live in, the issue of homosexuality and the churches response to it jumped to the forefront. The book, intentionally drawing from my own spiritual journey, confronted me with a very difficult challenge: What should I share on such a controversial and sensitive topic?

Here’s the thing. During high school, I became aware that my sexual orientation was not the same as the other guys I knew. Where they would joke about being disgusted by the very idea of each other naked, I didn’t share that response (though I would pretend I did). When they would get distracted by the maturing figures of our female classmates, I would be drawn to the athlete forms of the guys. Before long I was confronted with the reality that I was different. While I had never acted on it, by my orientation, I realized, “I’m gay”.

That terrifying revelation came crashing down on me like the weight of the world. Here I was, a scrawny teenage boy who hated sports and loved poetry, part of a traditional Evangelical church in a rural community filled with farmers, hunters and hockey players. Needless to say, at the best of times, this is not an easy thing to come to terms with, let alone in such circumstances. It has been a tough journey since that day (one which you can read in more detail about when the book comes out), but as you can see, this by no means theoretical or abstractional.

As most of you know, I am happily married to a beautiful Aussie girl. So, was it a passing phase, common to adolescent sexual development? No. Did God heal me, freeing me forever of the homosexual attractions? No. The fact is that my sexual orientation, while obviously having a healthy attraction for women, is still also drawn to the same sex. It is a daily reality that I live and wrestle with.

Beyond the struggle with the attraction, I also wrestle with the theological realities of this issue. Don’t get me wrong, it is not that I am questioning the theology for personal reasons- I am very much in love with my wife, have a healthy sex life and have no desire to embrace a different sexuality. Rather, it is not an uncommon occurrence in Christian history that our moral and theological confidence is more a reflection of cultural prejudices than Biblical exegesis (i.e. slavery, women in ministry, etc.).

While he took a great deal of heat on the issue, I can understand and appreciate Brian McLaren’s hesitancy to make sweeping, public statements on homosexuality. His pastoral sensitivity, combined with his uncertainty on traditional interpretations of Scripture, cause him to pause in make a stand on the issue (this is my take on his position, so don’t quote me on this). In many ways, though I understand some of what the critics say, I appreciate McLaren’s stance.

Unfortunately, I do not have that freedom. To maintain an open mind and heart on the issue of homosexuality had (and has) deep rooted implications for me. In order to move forward with my life, I had to decide which course to take and, for me, that meant deciding what I believe about the issue. Does this mean I have no uncertainty or confusion about it? Of course not. I am not sure I will ever truly be sure this side of heaven. However, I believe that practicing homosexuality is inconsistent with Christianity.

Please understand that it pains me deeply to make such a bold, sweeping statement. After all, wouldn’t be easier and smarter of me to simply say that “for me its wrong”? Isn’t enough to say that while I believe it is a choice I cannot make, I will not state it as a universal? Sure, it is only my conviction of what is true, and yes, I can be, have been and will be wrong in many aspects of life and faith. Yet, by stating it in such relative terms, while attempting to reflect a chastened certainty, I leave myself and others in a torturous position. Besides, if I say it is only true for myself, am I not suggesting that it is a matter of personal choice, one I could have made as equally in the other direction?

Let me be clear here: I did not marry my wife because I had to come to terms with my beliefs about homosexuality. I married her because I love her, I am attracted to her and, should I decide today that I was wrong about this issue, it would not change for a minute my confidence that I am forever with the person I love more than anyone in the world.

That being said, I also believe,and with far more conviction, that the church has failed miserably in our treatment of this issue and more specifically (and tragically) our treatment of the people who are homosexual, by orientation and/or by practice. Not everyone knows this about me, but not because I am ashamed or afraid to tell people. Rather, it is far easier than dealing with the awkwardness, ignorance and judgment that is far too common when people learn about it. To even writing this is a major step out in vulnerability.

My hope in writing this is that in some small way, by sharing my story, Christians will begin to engage this issue with a sensitivity that this is a real issue that effects real people very personally. This is true for those who very publicly attack homosexuality as wrong, but lose sight of the fragile and precious people for whom this is a daily reality. It is equally true for those who seek to be cautious about making moralizing judgments or absolute statements, but can add terrible uncertainty for those who are desperate to understand what to believe and what to do.

The fact is that this is anything but an easy blog post to write. I can think of dozens of reasons not to post it, both because of the personal risk of being so vulnerable and for the potential hurt I could cause others by the stance I take. I decided to post it, in the end, because this is not an issue that will ever be engaged painlessly or comfortably, regardless of the belief(s) you embrace about it. That being said, as I post about last week, it is as much about how you believe than what you believe.

As always, I am not shy about questions, nor will you (likely) hurt my feelings, so weigh in and let me know what you think. Where do we go from here? What must the church do to begin to repair the damage we have done in the name of Christ while not compromising our convictions and beliefs? Have at it!

Emerging Church, Missional, Homosexuality

Just a quick note to let you know that my good friend and vanished blogger Grey Owl (aka Dan D.) has returned to the blogosphere over at This Great Argument. At this stage he plans on doing something weekly, so check him out. Welcome back, Dan!

Previous Post – Uncertainty & How We Believe

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What is beauty? Wikipedia defines it as “a quality of a person, object, place, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, affirmation, meaning, or goodness. It involves the cognition of a balanced form and structure that elicits attraction and appeal towards a person, animal, inanimate object, scene, music, idea, etc.”. while beauty can be used to describe someones character or personality (and other such examples), I want to focus on the physical manifestations.

Obviously, when considering human beauty, there are few universals. what is perceived to be beautiful to one culture, era, individual, etc. might not be agreed upon by another. In reality, there is no absolute standard by which we can objectively evaluate beauty that isn’t deeply influenced by biases. Some Christians try to circumvent this argument by quoting 1 Samuel 16:7, saying “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”, suggesting that it is somehow flawed or even sinful to appreciate beauty.

However, while this verse clearly demonstates that God does not evaluate a persons value or qualification to leadership through external appearance, but by the quality of their heart and character (and so should we), it does not suggest that the recognition and appreciation of beauty to be wrong. In fact, by even adding this warning to Samuel, God is suggesting that we are naturally drawn to beauty. When applied to art, the question is no less complex (especially as human beauty is a frequent theme). While art is not always about beauty, it is common enough of a theme to consider.

However, as God is the Creator of all things, beauty seems to play an important place in our spirituality. When instructing on the creation of the temple garments, God calls for beauty. God describes His chosen people, Israel, as beautiful. God’s own holiness is described as beautiful. Even here we realize that each of these are different Hebrew words (albeit with parallel themes). Then also, Jesus used external beauty to contrast the filth of the heart. Later the same word is used to describe the “feet of those who bring good news”.

Personally, I struggle with this issue. While in a era that has craeted a cult of beauty, where appearance and asthetics trump character, it is easy to strike against an emphasis on beauty, I cannot deny the power of beauty and it’s seeming reflection of the greater Beauty that is God and the beauty He has created and empowered us to co-create. At times I think we can become almost gnostic in our attempts to deny the physical beauty around us as we seek to honour the “higher, spiritual” good.

So what can we learn about or from beauty in respect to our faith? Have we fallen prey to the cultures obsession with beauty? Or have we abandon or neglected a true gift from God? If so, how can or should we restore it?

Emerging Church, Missional, Beauty

Recently, during one of our evening DTS times, all the guys from the school were sitting around and began to casually discuss theology. Before long, as is all too common, we were in the midst of a very intense, heated discussion. I won’t get into the topic, but an interesting pattern emerged. When I would challenge conventional interpretations of Scripture, I was met with the expected and heated defense of traditions views, followed by the assertion that the Bible is abundantly clear.

Baiting them (yes, I confess), I then began to ask very difficult questions challenging them to reconcile seemingly impossible beliefs about God’s characters with His actions in Scripture. Without fail, the response was a quick reply that God’s ways are not our ways; we are limited, finite beings; there are some things that we can’t possibly hope to fully understand.

The emerging church often gets slammed with the critique that we are relativists who deny absolute truth. We are said to recklessly embrace uncertainty when God and His (written) Word offers us clear, propositional truths. Besides the fact that very few emerging Christians or communities are such hard postmodernists (I have not connected with any personally), and besides the fact that a great majority of emerging Christians/communities (again, as far as I’ve explored) not only believe in absolute truth and even the use of propositional ideas of truth (albeit with a distinct and often over-stated “chastened certainty”, to borrow a term I learned from Scot McKnight)- besides these things, I am not convinced that the established Evangelical church does not share this value when confronted with paradox or (apparent) contradiction.

In fairness, there are many who have invested their time and energy in order to find a systematic, doctrinal defence of all such scenarios. However, for many Christians, there seems to be a double standard in their response and confidence in their beliefs while allowing for uncertainty (in the guise of human limitation and the infinite nature of God), especially concerning those areas that contradict and/or threaten those areas which are embraced with absolute confidence.

With the issues we were discussing the other evening, while I have an idea of where I stand, I recognize that I could very likely be way off. My greatest concern for the students who were defending their position was, not that they were necessarily believing the wrong thing, but that they were believing in a wrong way (Peter Rollins excellent book develops this better than I can, so go buy “How (Not) To Speak Of God”). Believing the right thing for the wrong reason or in the wrong way can seriously impact negatively the way we relate to God, each other, ourselves, Creation and the world.

For example, if we allow the fallen nature of sinful humanity to be the primary reference point for reflecting on our relationship to God, we frame faith in fear, condemnation and despair. Is the belief wrong? I don’t think so, but the extreme over-emphasis or making it be the first and foundational place to define God and faith, leads us away from God’s intention. We are created in the image of God, but that image has been broken, marred or scarred by sin. However, we are defined by that scar. In fact, the scar only has meaning as a negative because of the image it has impacted.

This conversation inspired me to examine my own beliefs and assumptions, and those held by the community which I am a part of, to consider if I am believing the right things for the wrong reasons. Perhaps I am believing the wrong things for the right reasons or the simply the wrong things altogether. In the end, it is most important that we have the humility to always be questioning ourselves and our ideas about God.

In an attempt to be faithful, we can end up making idols out of our beliefs. When we discover that God is not measuring our beliefs against His perfection, searching for errors, but rather looks to our hearts, correcting with grace and conviction, not fear and condemnation. How can we treat each other (or ourselves) any differently?

Emerging Church, Missional

I hope this does not come across as cryptic, but bear with me. Next week I will be posting something that is very personal. To do so will put me in a position of vulnerability, with the potential of having an impact in my life far beyond the blogosphere. However, that being said, I have been increasingly aware of God’s direction in this matter. I don’t want to blow this out of proportion, making it bigger than it is, but for me it is a very scary step.

What I would like to ask from you is some support. Over the next few days, as I try to compose the post and prepare myself for the interaction that will follow, I would deeply appreciate your prayer for me, specifically surround this post. Of course, I want everyone to pray, but more so, I would like to ask some of you who would dedicate to take some time out of each day over the next week to pray about it. Should you feel, through these times, that you have something to want to share with me, feel free to post it in the comment section or email me privately.

Thanks again to everyone who reads here and to those who I have no doubt will be praying. I will be continuing my regular blogging, so tune in tomorrow for a regular post, then again on Friday for our Art Reflection.

Peace,
Jamie

Emerging Church, Missional

A Community Responds To The Yellow Police Tape - September 14, 2003 – Winnipeg Sun
by Harry Lehotsky

Did you ever say, “I told you so,” but get no satisfaction from saying so?

Last Saturday, I was putting up some signs for a yard sale at our house. As I posted a few signs at Sargent and Maryland, I noticed that there were no cars coming down Maryland.

Looking north, I noticed flashing lights and police cruisers blocking traffic. As I got closer, I noticed the yellow police tape around several pools of blood on the street and boulevard. The tape extended across the street and around a small dumpy house on Maryland.

That particular shack was known to area residents as one of several trouble properties in the neighbourhood. Despite the blood, police tape and traffic disruption, the incident never made it into the newspapers – primarily because there was another more serious incident in which someone died of their stab wounds.

It wasn’t the first time we’ve seen the yellow police tape in our neighbourhood. And it unfortunately won’t be the last.

Reporters arrive and usually seem to find – and quote – at least one person who says, “I’ve had enough. This is the last straw. I’m moving as soon as I can find another place.” Months later, many of those same people are still at the same address in the same neighbourhood. It seems they weigh the costs of moving, the problems in other neighbourhoods, and realize that most of the bad stuff in any area happens to people involved in bad stuff. So they often decide to stay.

Back at the scene of the crime, what I find intriguing is the range of responses among observers. At almost every scene of violence, there are small clusters of people hypothesizing about the incident. The “word on the street” ranges from crazy rumours about causes of the conflict to wild speculation about the nature and severity of injuries.

Some people near the scene of the crime are amazingly callous. Some take opportunity to vent a pent-up racism, commenting, “See how those people live. They’re all like that!”

I remember talking to a callous old guy at the scene of a murder at a crack house several years ago. He commented, “That guy had it coming. That’s one less to keep the neighbours awake at night. One down, only 1,499 trouble-makers to go.” I’m not sure how he tallied the troublemakers for elimination. I agreed that the guy was a trouble-maker, but I was uncomfortable with this observer’s contempt for life – even the life of a thug.

At an equal but opposite extreme, are those for whom even straightforward drug violence becomes a very complex affair. It affords an opportunity to point blame at politicians, big business, media, and almost everyone other than the perpetrator himself. These are the class warfare conspiracy theorists. Their lazy logic usually subjugates personal responsibility to the controlling influence of poverty. It’s a philosophy perpetuated by poverty pimps and middle-class guilt, but I don’t buy it.

Most poor folk aren’t killing each other at boozecans, drug houses and crack dens. They are as respectful and diligent with their lives as most folks in wealthier suburban or rural communities. They sleep at night and make sure their kids go to school in the morning. You can’t blame all crime and trouble on poverty. You can’t even assume it will only happen in the inner-city!

It’s more about chemistry than geography or economics. You can’t pickle your brains and expect to act rationally. Crack and crime go together – no matter where you find one, you’ll find the other as well.

The trouble in our neighbourhood usually comes to troubled people who multiply their troubles with drunken parties, drugs and violence.

Other than developing a higher-than-normal tolerance to noise and sirens, most people in our community live quiet lives in nondescript homes, with never a hint of trouble with cops or neighbours.

Back at the crime scene, I’ve found that most people in our neighbourhood approach the yellow police tape with some grace for even the guiltiest of “victims.”

No matter how bad the victim was – you realize that everyone at that house is someone’s son or daughter, mom or dad, partner or friend. Every death leaves a void. Every injury has an impact on people who did nothing to deserve their particular grief.

It would be more pitiful if it weren’t so predictable, but we have pity nonetheless. We wish people would change before it’s too late. Not just so we can sleep better, but so they can live longer. That’s our hope for the neighbourhood.

Emerging Church, Missional

This weekend was one of our first in a while where we weren’t working, so we were really able to relax and hang out. As one of my greatest passions, it was most certainly time to see a few movies. I was able to see two in the theatres over the weekend, both which I greatly enjoyed. Here’s my take on them both:

“Shut Up & Sing” is the documentary following the Dixie Chicks over the three years following their fateful (if ill advised) statement that they were “ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas”. Regardless of your politics, I think this film is an important one to see as it documents not only the self-defeating intolerance of people who believe in freedom only under their terms, as well as a very challenging example of standing up for ones convictions in a way that can only be described as prophetic. I like this documentary NOT because I am some kind of Bush-bashing liberal peacenik, but because it really isn’t about Bush or the war, but about the cost and importance of true freedom.

The other movie I saw was the fantastical masterpiece “El Laberinto del Fauno” (or the English title “Pan’s Labyrinth”). The North American release of this film has been fairly limited because of its strange and dark content, as well as because it is a Spanish language film, subtitled into English. Set in post Spanish Civil War Spain, a young girl discovers an ancient, mythical world into which she enters amidst the brutality of life. Dark, violent and magical, this film will capture you from the very beginning and draw you into the poigniant depth of something of great beauty. This is a must see.

Emerging Church, Missional, Documentary, Pan’s Labyrinth, Dixie Chicks, Movies

I usually get too busy or distracted to remember that I have been tagged, but since I’ve had so many hits over the last few weeks, I thought it was only fair to respond.  Here goes!

Five Things You Don’t (Likely) Know About Me:

1. As a teenager, my pet cat shed so much, I started collecting her hair everytime I pet her.  I would then roll it into a ball.  By the time I was bored with the whole thing, it was closer to tennis ball size.  Yeah, yeah, I know it’s gross.  Want to hear something worse?  I still have it (the ball of hair, not the cat).  My wife will be mortified that I posted this.

2. I am fascinated with vampires.  I am not into bloody vampire movies, but rather find the allegorical nature of these undead creatures to have profound things to say about humanity.  In fact, I have been making notes for more than 12 years for a vampire novel I hope to some day write.

3. The first time a girl tried to kiss me we were sitting on the sea wall one night in Lisbon, Portugal.  I say tried, because I hardly knew the girl (an American girl on the same tour group) so dodged here kiss.  Unfortunately, she had her eyes closed and kept leaning towards where my face was no longer located.  She slipped and started to fall off the sea wall (which could very likely have killed her).  I saved her in the nick of time.  Unfortunately, I was then her hero and she began to want more than a kiss.  I had to pretend I was dating my friend (who was, in fact, a lesbian) just to get away!

4. Growing up on the shores of the beautiful Rainy River, I spent many of my days regularly collecting pieces of Ojibwe and Cree pottery shards.  I still have many of the pieces, items that give me a deep sense of respect for the history of this continent and the people who have tragically had to pay the price for the establishment of our so-called “Christian nations”.

5. I was born of a genetic immune deficiency resulting is frequent infections and illnesses.  When ever I have to provide this tidbit information for whatever reason, people would always stop, look at me awkwardly and ask something like, “You mean… ummm, ok, so you have… ?”  I would assure them that I only have the middle letters of AIDS, to which they reply, even more confused, “You have… ID?”, sounding like some Freudian disorder.  Alas, I don’t bother telling people anymore… until now.

Some More Random Questions:

1. What’s  the most fun work you’ve ever done, and why? (two sentences max)

Sitting with a group of Christians and leading them through the process of articulating and refining, then strategizing how to move forward.  If I could do this full-time, I’d probably thrive.

2. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max)

I am passionately in love with canoing, so that would certainly be top of the list.

3. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max)

Writing a novel (Well, I wrote one when I was 15, my age being quite evident in the content)

4. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)

I would very much like to improve my fiction writing skills, as I believe that stories are a far superior medium to engage ideas and truth.

5. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)

That is an impossible question to answer, but I’ll give you the person who came to mind first: M. Scott Peck.  I would love to explore how to be more authentically me, especially in respect to my vocation.

6. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

Strange, lovable nerd.

7. Now list two more words you wish described you…

Studly adonis (you did say WISH)

8. What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes– three sentences max)

My passions are reading, writing and arth- umm, I mean nature appreciation.

9. Write–and answer–one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

Are you satisfied with where your life is?  Why or why not?

I am satisfied in many respects, but feel constantly drawn to something deeper, truer and (vainly) bigger.  I’ll leave it at that.

As I am not fond of these things, I won’t tag anyone else.

I remember it like it was yesterday. We all stood in the doorway to large historic home surveying the decor that was (painfully) visible from every vantage covering every square inch. From the veltet hangings of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion to the plastic nightlight bust of Jesus that hummed Amazing Grace when activated, the bed and breakfast my fellow DTS students and I were to stay in was filled to bursting with cheap Christian “art”. I floundered for some way to sum it up- tacky, cheesy, gaudy- none doing it justice. Then the British leader of our outreach leaned in and whispered:

“Kitsch”

And so went my introduction to the world of overly sentimental, pretentious, mass-produced, replicated, knock-off, tacky, shallow, etc. so-called art. And now it had a name: Kitsch. Since that day more than ten years ago I have had much more exposure to this kind of work, some of which has come into popular retro status.

As I began to explore the history and ideas around kitsch, I came across the term “kitschmensch” or kitsch-man, referring to the person who, among other things, do not differentiate in response to a great work of art and a cheap, plastic, kitschy knock-off. I wonder how often we become kitsch-man with our faith- say, for example, by reducing very real, historical Biblical narratives morality tales. How often do we minimalize the person and teachings of Jesus to some caricature portrait out of convenience. But I am getting a little abstract.

Perhaps the best example of the kitschenization (to coin a term) of missional ideals would be the “WWJD?” marketing explosion. Inspired by the 111 year old book by Charles Sheldon, “In His Steps”, the phrase “What would Jesus do?” was genuinely missional. However, through mass marketing and our branding culture, people can identify with the ideal of the question by wearing on a bracelet. It is as though people believe that simply physically displaying the question on some product can be equated with engaging the deep implications of walking it out.

Have you found yourself mistaking shallow knock-off faith with the real thing, both in the abstract and the artistic sense?

Emerging Church, Missional, Kitsch