Irrelevant Relevance or Relevant Irrelevance? (11/3/2010)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- November 3, 2010

There's a website called “Stuff Christians Like.” If you are a Christian who is easily offended by challenging questions or perspectives, you probably won't like it. But, if you are wired such that you want to really think about your faith, you may want to google it.

A March 2008 post, for example, starts like this: “If you ever want to really insult a Christian, say the following: 'I don’t think you’re relevant.' That is our kryptonite. The idea of irrelevance keeps us up at night. Seriously, if someone doesn’t find us to be relevant then we’re probably going to need to fire the worship leader or at the bare minimum get him a pair of white Pumas. Irrelevance is simply unacceptable.”

Blogger Jonathan Acuff goes on to point out that Jesus didn't seem too worried about being relevant. In fact, Jesus spent a lot of his time with the sorts of folks that society perceived as irrelevant. And much of what he taught was not only viewed as irrelevant by the most religious people around, but was quite contrary to what they believed and taught. Everything that Jesus said and did was relevant, but he said and did these things because they were true and right, not because they would get him a huge fan base on Facebook or Twitter.

I confess that as a pastor I desperately want to be relevant. I want my preaching and teaching to be relevant. I want my ministry in our community to be relevant. I want the church I pastor to be relevant. But what does it mean to be relevant? If it means being cool, I'm in trouble. If it means not clinging to certain beliefs, I'm really in trouble. And if it means never asking people to get out of their comfort zones, I'm doomed.

Often times what is meant by “relevant” in churchese (that strange language that some church-going folk seem to think everyone else speaks) has to do with the type of music used, the preaching style, how folks dress, and whether coffee can be drunk in the sanctuary or not. But such things probably have pretty little to do with relevance. I have encouraged our church to incorporate new music, I use PowerPoint and video when I preach, and I like to dress comfortably. But none of this on its own ensures relevance.

I'm convinced that even as fewer and fewer people in our country (and county) identify themselves as Christians, more and more people are seeking relevance. But when they look to our churches, and when they look to those of us who attend them (and pastor them), is what they see really relevant? Do they see people who's lives are different because of their faith? Do they see us making a meaningful difference in our community? Do they see what it means to tangibly live out the good news Jesus proclaimed and embodied? Do they see people whose lives demonstrate that they really believe that God's Word is still relevant today?

You see, how we live out our faith may seem irrelevant, but it may be the most relevant thing we can do. If you are interested in reading more about what a relevant Christian faith may look like, I suggest you pick up a copy of “The Next Christians,” a new book by Gabe Lyons.

Some Life Lessons from Ecclesiastes (8-25-2010)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- August 25, 2010

Today is my 20^th wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe that 20 years ago today, less than a month after I turned 20, my beautiful wife and I committed to spending the rest of our lives together. I have now spent just over half of my life married to her. Before I go on, dear reader, I'd like to state for the record that I love my wife even more today than I did on August 25, 1990!

It seems fitting, having just turned 40, to take a moment (in the space that remains) to reflect. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes basically begins with these words: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Not the sort of thing you'd read on a Hallmark card, right? Not very hopeful. Not very positive and encouraging.

I once had to read Ecclesiastes twice a week as part of a seminary course I was taking. I recall that after reading it the first time I was really depressed by it and thought there was no way I could do so another 19 times. But as I repeated the process, week in and week out, I began to discover that Ecclesiastes is actually an incredibly hope-filled book.

You see, the author of Ecclesiastes describes a life journey of seeking meaning and how meaning is not found, per se, in work, wisdom, pleasure, wealth, or even in the so called “golden years” of life. But when we come to Chapter 9:7-11, we are commended to “eat our food with gladness, and drink our wine with a joyful heart” and to “enjoy life with your wife, whom you love” and to “do whatever our hands find to do, with all our might.” Meaning is found … and maybe finds us … in the simple things of life.

Ecclesiastes also includes some of the best known Bible verses (thanks in part to Pete Seger's “Turn! Turn! Turn!”). Chapter 3:1-8 begins with these words, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ...” And I've heard 4:9-12 read at countless weddings (it includes phrases such as “Two are better than one ...” and “If two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?) Life has its ups and downs. I know mine certainly has. But having one I love to journey through life with has made it far more than bearable for me.

The first verse of chapter 12 may be one of the most challenging verses in the entire book. It reads, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'.”

Young people (I'm 40 now so some folks think I'm still a kid while others think I'm getting pretty old) tend to think that their relationship with their Creator can wait until much later in life. Many young people tend to think of church and matters of faith as something for the elderly among us. But the author of Ecclesiastes encourages us to remember our Creator while we are young because the golden years of life aren't necessarily all that golden. Nurture your faith now, we are told, as you are likely to need it even more later.

Life, I have found, is far from meaningless. And I thank God especially for my wife who has brought so much more meaning to the life God has given me.

And Social Justice For All (07-07-2010)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- July 7, 2010

Am I a Conservative or a Liberal? I suppose it depends on where you stand. Was Jesus a Conservative or a Liberal? Again, I suppose it depends on where you stand. A pastor friend of mine in exasperation once said to me something like, “Sometimes you sound like a Liberal and sometimes you sound like a Conservative! Which are you? I just can't figure you out.” When I read Scripture, I often feel the same way about Jesus.

A couple of months ago an influential television and radio personality urged his viewers and listeners to check out their church's websites to see if they contained any mention of “social justice.” He went on to urge folks to leave their churches if they found such “code words” and to report their pastors to their denominational authorities.

You don't have to check out our church's website (www.rockland.cc) to find out if I believe in social justice. Let me be clear: I believe in social justice. And I believe that the Bible says a lot about social justice. And I believe that Jesus himself taught and practiced social justice. Please note, that's just my personal view and it doesn't necessarily reflect the views of everyone I pastor – but I hope it does.

Jesus was all about justice. And the Bible is too. It is nearly impossible to read the Bible without recognizing God's special concern for the “least of these” – the poor, the oppressed, the widows, the orphans … And Jesus' earthly ministry tended to focus on the least of these as well.

Just this past Sunday I preached on two parables of Jesus (found in Luke 14). Right between these two parables, Jesus said, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

I can't read those words of Jesus (or many others like them) and come to the conclusion that Jesus didn't proclaim social justice. Maybe he didn't use the phrase “social justice,” but he definitely understood and promoted the concept. If you don't believe me, take a look at Jesus' words in Luke 4:18-21 and consider the Old Testament concept of the “Year of Jubilee.” While some might interpret Jesus' words to mean that he was only concerned with the spiritually poor, imprisoned, and blind, I believe that Jesus' actual ministry demonstrated a much more holistic concern.

That being said, we must also be careful to not assume that all social programs are socially just. Some present day social programs may do more harm than good and may lead to bondage and dependence rather than liberation and freedom. But followers of Jesus should be careful to not throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. In fact, the rise of the early Church may have had a lot to do with the willingness of early Christians to sell their possessions and to give to anyone who had need.

Change for Christ's Sake (05/20/2010)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- May 20, 2010

Every so often I'll hear someone mention the country of Peru as if it is the most distant and foreign place on the planet. I find this strange since that is where I grew up. My parents are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators and have spent much of the past forty years working there.

As a result, I grew up as a “multicultural kid.” I grew up knowing that different cultures do things and see things differently. And that what works well in one cultural setting may not work well in another. I had to learn to adapt how I carried myself, said things, and did things, depending on the particular cultural mix I found myself in. And I also learned to value different cultures and to be enriched by them – mine isn't better than theirs!

I learned even more about this while living in a dorm for international students while attending my first year at UCLA. There were literally students from all over the world. One day I took some dried laundry out of a dryer so that I could put my wet clothes in. A couple hours later I got a visit from the cousin of one of the female students that lived in the dorm. He was very upset that I had touched his cousin's clothes (which, unbeknownst to me, included some undergarments). Evidently this had caused her to feel tremendous shame and so I had to go and apologize to her for an offense I didn't even fully comprehend.

Why do I share all this? I share this because I believe it is relevant to the cultural shifts underway all around us. Not only are we becoming a much more multicultural nation, but the prevalent culture in which we live is also changing dramatically. I passionately believe that the ability of the Church to remain a relevant part of our society will depend in great part on its willingness to adapt to the changing cultural landscape.

Don't worry, I'm not suggesting that the Church change the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus is changeless! But how we relate to and communicate the Gospel – the tools we use, the way in which we communicate, and even the language that we use to communicate it – has to change in order for it to be heard, understood, and taken to heart.

A hymn written in the 1740's may be full of wonderful theological truths, but it may no longer touch someone's heart if it sounds even more foreign to them than Peruvian music. That is why I love hearing old hymns that have been updated with new music! And that is why I believe Churches should be increasingly open to music written today. And a sermon that is a lengthy monologue may have little or no impact on younger generations who are increasingly visually oriented and more accustomed to dialogue (just visit your local school or university if you don't believe me).

In our efforts to share the timeless truth of Jesus in a rapidly changing world, we should seek to incarnate (flesh out) the Good News of Jesus to everyone around us in whatever ways we can. Yes, change is hard, but it is not impossible. And change for Christ's sake is change followers of Jesus should believe in and be willing to make – whatever the cost. We should desire to be like the Apostle Paul, who wrote, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

The Provocative Power of the Parable (04/08/2010)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- April 8, 2010

Jesus frequently taught in parables. Parables, simply put, are stories that define or describe something that is unknown with something that is known.

One of the most familiar is often called the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” It tells of a man who was mugged and left for dead. Three people – a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan – came across the man, but only the Samaritan stopped to help.

Jesus told this story in response to the question, “And who is my neighbor?” You see, the man asking this question wanted to feel justified that he was already loving his neighbors. But Jesus used the story to create a “teachable moment,” to help him have an “AHA! moment.” Jesus wanted him to understand that all people – even those he loathed – were his neighbors.

To say that Jesus was prompting him to get out of his comfort zone is an understatement. But that is what Jesus often did. The Gospel isn't about comfort, and it certainly isn't about preserving our prejudices or preferences .

Over the next few months I am going to be preaching the parables of Jesus. It has been said that, “Preaching a parable is a novice preacher's dream but often an experienced preacher's nightmare.” I'm neither, but I know it is going to be tough to preach Jesus' parables in a way that people nearly 2000 years later, who speak a different language, and live in a different setting, will have their own “AHA! moments” without having the provocative power of the parable domesticated by over explanation.

The first parable we are going to look at is found in Luke 5. Jesus tells it in response to being questioned about why his disciples don't pray and fast like other disciples. It speaks of taking cloth from a new garment to patch an old garment and of putting new wine into old wineskins. I can't remember the last time I saw someone with a patch on their clothing. In fact, torn jeans may actually cost more than untorn ones! And I don't know that much about wineskins.

But I do know that Jesus was communicating a very important truth and I'm going to do my best to help those to whom I preach to hear that truth. I'll give you a hint, I think it has something to do with change.

This parable ends with the curious statement, “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' " I know enough about wine to know that old wine is usually more valued than new wine. But is it always better? Sometimes old wine goes bad. But I don't think Jesus is giving a Wineology lesson. Instead, I think Jesus is saying something about people who are unwilling to even give new wine a try! But I've given away too much already.

We at Rockland Community Church are trying something new. If you aren't part of a local church, I invite you to come worship with us. Beginning April 11, we will have a three-part worship service (see our ad or visit our website for more info). Come for the 30, 60, or 90 minutes that work best for you!

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Reflections From a Snow Covered Driveway (02/18/2010)

Warren Sentinel Weekly Pulpit

Snow. Snow. And MORE Snow. How many of you are with me in saying “Enough already!”? My back aches and my hands are blistered. I finally broke down and paid someone to plow out my driveway after the snow drifts had covered my previous day's work.

In the midst of all my shoveling I've had to pause to be thankful for how fortunate I have been over the last few weeks. Except for a few momentary outages our electricity stayed on. Many people around our area were without electricity for days on end. And when I got too tired or too cold I could go back inside to warm up.

And even though Walmart's stock of milk was all but depleted, I was still able to buy the expensive organic milk, and powdered milk was still an option. And we never lacked food. About the worst thing we experienced was a bout of cabin fever and the frustration of losing our satellite signal for a while.

So many times when I was starting to gripe about the snow, I found myself reflecting on the folks in Haiti who were buried, not by snow but by the debris of their own homes, workplaces, and churches. It struck me as I channel surfed that no one was talking about Haiti anymore. The media had moved on to “Snowmagedon” or whatever else they were dubbing it. Yet hundreds of thousands in Haiti (and millions, if not billions, of people around the world) are still far worse off than most of us.

Shortly after the Haitian earthquake, a well known televangelist declared that the earthquake was a punishment from God. I wonder if he'll make a similar declaration about this “Snowmagedon?” While I do believe that God can use natural disasters to punish people, I find such declarations to be unhelpful, at best, and downright unloving, at worst.

We live in an imperfect world where disasters and disease take their toll on both the “good and the bad.” In fact, Jesus said the following, “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

I don't believe that God punished us by covering us with snow. And I don't believe God used an earthquake to punish Haiti. But I do believe that in the midst of experiencing devastation and hardship that we can either curse God or we can turn to God and recognize our dependence on God and need for one another.

There was a beautiful piece on NPR a while back describing people gathering in the streets of Haiti to pray and sing to God. In the midst of what we are experiencing can we pause to pray and sing to God? Can we pause to be thankful for what we have, even in the midst of our frustration and snow shovel induced backaches and blisters? And can we, demonstrate our love for one another by helping each other shovel out and to get through these difficult days?

The Riddle of the Sphynx (01/07/2010)

Warren Sentinel Weekly Pulpit

This past week my mother-in-law was sitting at our kitchen table doing a crossword puzzle. For whatever reason, she thought I might be able to help her. She was looking for a three word answer that began with the letter “m.” The clue was something like, “The answer to the riddle of the sphynx.”

I'm really bad at crossword puzzles. And I know little or nothing about sphynxes (or is it sphynxae or sphynxum). Whatever the case, it would be a great word in a game of Scrabble. I had absolutely no idea what the answer was.

My wife, who was sitting nearby, didn't miss a beat and said, “The answer is man.” She didn't know how she knew the answer, she just did. I know I have a brilliant wife, but I still had to google this to be sure for myself.

According to Google, a mythological Greek sphynx (maybe I should have learned this in college or high school or by watching jeopardy) would ask each passerby, “Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?”

If the passerby didn't answer correctly by saying, “a man” (for some reason “a woman” wasn't an acceptable answer), she would strangle and devour the unclever person. Good thing it was my mother-in-law and not a sphynx who had asked me for help with her crossword puzzle!

You see, as children we crawl on all fours; as we grow older we walk on two feet; and as we age we may need the help of a cane and eventually a walker.

All this got me to thinking about the verse in first Corinthians 13 which read, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

The last decade was a difficult one for many of us and certainly for us as a nation. So much to learn. So many new challenges. So many mistakes. In many ways it felt like the toddler and childhood years of the new millennium. But since the new millennium is still so young, I wonder if the coming decade will be known as the “tween and teen” decade. And given that I'm the father of both a tween and a teen I wonder what this will look like!

My prayer is that as individuals, as a community, and as nation we will have learned from the challenges, and especially the mistakes, of the past decade and continue to mature in the coming years. Tween and teen years can be among the most challenging, but some of my favorite memories and certainly many of my greatest dreams come from those years.

May God bless you and keep you in 2010 and throughout the coming decade, whatever we call it!

Prepare the Way for the Lord (12/10/2009)

Warren Sentinel Weekly Pulpit

My daughter stated recently that I didn't like Christmas very much. I'm no Scrooge, but I do get a little grumpy as Christmas nears. I love Christmas! I just hate much of what Christmas has become.

I'm not really bothered when a checkout clerk says “Happy Holidays.” I usually respond “Merry Christmas” out of habit as much as out of hope. Sometimes they smile as if they wish they could say those words. Sometimes they stare at me blankly as if the words mean nothing. A few times they've responded, “Happy HOLIDAYS” as if I didn't hear the first time.

As a nation we are conflicted about Christmas. Almost everyone seems to celebrate it. I have friends of different faiths who have a Christmas tree and give their kids gifts from Santa. And it is relatively easy for them because Christ has become almost absent from our Christmas celebrations. Even many Christians celebrate Christmas with little or no recognition of the Christ's birth.

Sometimes it seems like Christmas is celebrated in name only. Traditions and decorations have papered over the sacred truths that are to be recalled, embraced, and celebrated. It's almost like Christmas has been hijacked.

Who is the central figure? Santa or Baby Jesus? What do we celebrate? Gifts to one another or God's gift to us? How much time do we spend decorating our Christmas tree; hanging lights and wreaths and stockings? Making our lists and checking them twice? How much do we have to spend before we feel “prepared” for Christmas?

The Christmas Season seems to begin with a day known as Black Friday. Think about it. The day after Thanksgiving – the very day, at least in theory, we pause to be thankful for God's blessings – we rush out to buy as much stuff as we can! Mobs of people will beat each other up just so they can get a “deal.”

Would you agree that Christmas has become one of the busiest, most hectic, even most stressful times of year? ... that Christmas doesn't feel quite as sacred any more? There's a problem when our shopping carts are fuller than our beating hearts.

Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. What do we anticipate? How do we prepare? Luke 3:4 recalls the words of Isaiah, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” And we read in the previous verse about John the Baptizer preaching and baptizing, calling people to repent of their sins.

In ancient times, when a king came to visit a place, the people of that place would prepare the path the king would take. This is why Isaiah goes on to say “make straight paths for him” … fill in every valley, level every mountain … “straighten the crooked roads and smooth the rough ways.”

Preparing for Christmas should be a time of readying our hearts; making our paths straight and our ways smooth. This is done, not by filling our carts, but by repenting of our sins and by allowing our hearts to be filled with the forgiveness Christ offers; celebrating Christ's birth and the re-birth he offers us.