Imagio

Imagio Dei. If you have been around Christianity for any amount of time, then you should be familiar with this Greek phrase. Translated it reads 'Image of God' and is a foundational stone in Christian Theology. We understand this phrase to mean that we humans are created in the Imagio Dei ~ the Image of God. As such, our value is inherent. Simply because we exist (though there is no such thing as 'simple existence') we are declared valued, of worth, in His image . . . very good.

This truth is placed in stark contrast to our current ideologies to which we subscribe or the goals for which we strive. In both ideology and practice we are reminded of the subtle distortion of this truth which states, 'we are valued in accordance with function.' Or, 'we are valued in accordance with our utility or performance.' Or 'we are valued in accordance with our possession.' Each is a subtle distortion of truth. Yes, function, utility and possession have value. The question we must ask is 'how much and to what end?'

Perhaps this is the right focus for this year's Lenten season. Before you throw yourself into just 'giving something up' for Lent, consider first what you are pursuing. Consider what you love. Once you identify these things do you recognize their formative power in your life? In other words, in what ways (or toward what ends) have they shaped you? Have these loves and pursuits formed you toward Christ and His Kingdom? Or have they shaped you away from Christ and His Kingdom? Perhaps they have shaped you into a lover of self, possessions, pride, position, etc.?!

Thomas Merton, a 20th century Trappist Monk, has written, "Your life is shaped by what you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire." This would make us "Imagio Eros" ~ the Image of Desire. His words ring true in my ears. In fact, they fit well with some of Christ's most stirring words. He never pulled any punches when it came to the order of our loves. He was intent on communicating the truth that we must love God first, 'with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.' Christ sought to shape our desire toward Him and His Kingdom. Then and only then do we fully reflect Him and fully live into the hope we have in the "Imagio Dei".

Perhaps Lent might become an assessment of our desire. When a false desire is identified, replace it with a true desire. The desire that is truest of all of us ~ To Love God First.

what is the shape of your desire?

Biz

“Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

-St. Augustine

Why the 80s kid is still asking, 'Where's the Beef?'

I am an '80s' kid.  My wife, who is a '90s' kid, loves to remind me of this.  This simply means that I endured my high school years during the decade of the 1980s.  At the time I loved the culture in which I was raised.  Upon reflection, I now view much of it as somewhat sappy, syrupy and highly superficial.  In fact, here is a list of the top 10 songs of the 80s (according to VH1):

1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (1987)
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean" (1982)
5. Prince / "When Doves Cry" (1984)
6. Hall & Oates / "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (1981)
7. Guns N' Roses / Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin" (1984)
9. Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way" (1986)
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)

These song titles alone lend support to my theory.  If, however, you remain unconvinced simply listen to the lyrics.  You will find a mishmash of self absorbed and unintelligibly combined lyrics that defy most rational explanation or understanding (artistic license, I guess).

I must admit, however, that I still love the 80s.  Like it or not, I am  a product of that time and space.  One of my favorite commercials was the Wendy's commercial that popularized the tag line, 'Where's the Beef.'  To my pleasant surprise I recently saw a new version of this commercial.  My kids found it difficult to believe that this new commercial is not new (I contend with them on a regular basis that much of what they see and hear is not new, but a re-make of tired and well worn songs from previous generations).

The thrust behind the 'where's the beef' campaign is to identify the 'real' burger house (in this case Wendy's) and expose the rest as imposter's, majoring in bread and buns - not the beef.  If my memory serves the main character was an elderly woman.  She saunters into a local fast food chain and orders what she expects to be a burger.  Once receiving her 'burger' she notices some unexpected surprises.  Her facial expression captures her shock as she investigates by removing the top (enormous) bun.  In her shock she exclaims, 'Where's the Beef.'  She wanted beef - she received bun.  She desired to be filled, she left empty.  She longed for a restaurant that was 'beef heavy,' she found ones that were 'beef lite.'

Hmm . . .

Sounds somewhat like most modern day church experiences.  In fact, one might invent a campaign (they may already have) called, 'Where's the Gospel?'  It could feature any age person who is hungry for the depth of and trans formative power found in the Gospel of Christ.  The commercial might picture them entering a wonderful church full of energy and life and, of course excitement (a must for some reason).  With great expectation they sit through a whole service (condensed into 20 seconds to save on the advertising expense) hoping to encounter the power of the Gospel only to receive the musings of man.  In response they exclaim, 'Where's the Gospel?'  They leave empty.  They longed for a Gospel heavy experience and received, at best, a Gospel lite experience.

Statistics indicate that folks are leaving the church in record numbers (the numbers are staggering and will be noted in a future blog).  There is considerable debate around 'why' folks are leaving, but we can be certain of this: It's not that we are no longer hungry.  No, we still hunger.  We are a people who hunger and desire - we thirst for that which is true, powerful and life altering.  We take this hunger to the local church, expecting to be filled with the Gospel.  We receive instead, sugar water packaged in half backed, self-help messages.  We receive instead music that could be sung to a girl friend or boy friend as oppossed to the God of the universe (test this one the next time you sing a chorus in church).  We receive instead trendy applications somewhat disconnected from the real world in which we live.   Ultimately this will never satisfy.  This will, indeed, always leave us wanting and searching (at best), wondering and confused (at worst). 

Perhaps you have experienced this.  Perhaps you are one of those millions who have left the church; reluctantly so.  There is possibly a part of you that terribly misses the church experience, yet there is a bigger part of you - a louder part - that says, 'no, she can no longer be trusted ~ she indeed has become Gospel lite.'  You muse to yourself that you can get much of what the church now offers from the world in which you live.  Therefore it is simply easier to stay home and seek fulfillment elsewhere.

As Pillar Community Church approaches our first full year of ministry and stares headlong into year two and beyond, I am going to launch a series of blogs that explore how the Gospel is central to our local mission and crucial for the global mission of God's people.  I invite your responses and replies.  I encourage discussion and disagreement (just be nice).  My hope and belief is that Pillar Community Church will center ourselves on the full expression of the Gospel as fully recorded in God's Word, preached by Christ and handed down by the historic church. 

Join me on this journey toward the Gospel . . . for the good of the community and the glory of God!

Pursuing Gospel Shaped Desire

Biz!

two old guys in my balcony

American Idol launched its new season recently; its 11th.  Our family has grown accustomed to watching American Idol.  While we certainly do not enjoy, nor watch all of it, there is much of the show we find entertaining.  The portion of the show we find most entertaining is the early auditions.  Many of the auditions reveal unique and sometimes mind boggling talent.  There are quite a few auditions, however,  that reveal the exact opposite: an horrific and skin crawling lack of talent.

This is to be expected.  Certainly any 'talent' show will be exposed to its fair share of the less talented segment of society.  American Idol has made household names out of some of the most talentless people in their auditions.  After all who could forget, William Hung?  Most of those with no talent, however, do not go on to achieve their brief moment of stardom.  The 'William Hung' (thankfully) is a rare bird.

What we find stunning (my family and me) is the fact that these truly talentless people actually believe they are talented.  Not only to they possess such insane (and often sad) belief but they argue their case with the industry's most proficient and successful artists and producers.  Of course American Idol is all too ready to capture these 'melt down' moments for our somewhat depraved viewing pleasure!!  Indeed these moments have, in no small part, contributed to the huge success of the show.

While watching one of these infamous meltdowns I found myself thinking, 'these kids need two old guys in their balcony.'  Perhaps you don't know what I mean by that statement.  Yet if you grew up watching the Muppet's on T.V. (as did I), then you know exactly what I mean (yes, I also saw the movie earlier this year).  The two old guys are not only some of the classic comedic relief of the show, but they are the shows most vociferous critics.  If anybody can 'stick it' to the Muppet's, it is certainly the 'two old guys in the balcony'.

Yes.  Indeed.  What we need today - all of us - is 'two old guys in our balcony' reminding us of how silly and self absorbed we have become.  I'm not sure why the parents of these teenage prima donna's don't fulfill this role.  Oftentimes the parents are depicted as being even crazier than their certifiable children.

As I consider my own life and the current shape of my desires, I realize more and more how easily I can 'dupe' myself into believing I am better than I really am.  Jeremiah 17:9 reminds me that my heart is the seed bed of wickedness and thus would lead me astray at every turn.  One, though not the only, way to counter my heart's ability to mislead me is to develop a keen awareness of the 'two old guys in my balcony' and listen to them. 

The 'two old guys' need to be people who love me and care for my best (if not, then I will neither listen nor, more importantly, trust what they have to say).  They will need permission - permission from me - to speak into my life.  They need permission to speak the words no one else will - the words that I am often incapable of or unable to hear.  Then they need to laugh with me - to teach me how to laugh at myself.  The will need to tell me when they see evidence in my life of my 'mis-shapen' desires.

Who are the 'two old guys' in your balcony?  Do you give people you trust permission to speak into your life in meaningful ways?  Ways that will shape and form your desires toward others; toward bringing good into your world?  My hope is that my desires will be shaped toward Christ and His Kingdom more and more everyday.  For if they aren't shaped toward Him, they will ultimately and always be shaped toward me, myself and I. 

Funny.  I never knew I could learn so much about myself and my need for 'two old guys in my balcony' by watching American Idol.

the shape of desire

biz


By the way, check them (waldorf and statler) out - they are truly funny!
Two Old Guys in my Balcony