Tuesday, October 20, 2009

is God holding a white-y Bible? (chapter four)

This continues a review of Mark Brett’s Decolonizing God: The Bible in the Tides of Empire and the question of whether God’s book, the Bible, really is an instrument that increases the power of white-y/Western cultures. For me, such conversations are essential to whether an emerging church can get beyond a stylistic makeover, and actually be part of a post- world in which the Bible can have a liberating, rather than enslaving, place in the task of being Christian and being church.

Chapter four. Pigs, Pots and Cultural Hybrids.

There is a convergence between the biblical narrative and archaeological reconstructions, not in terms of an exodus of hundreds of thousands of people from Egypt that in one swoop defeated Canaan, but in terms of a developing unique identity among indigenous Canaanites, evolving over time, in negotiated contact with neighbours. This includes contact with refugees from Egypt, bringing the name Yahweh to Canaan.

Archaeological evidence suggests some hundreds of new settlements in the hill country around the 12th century BCE. (Of course, more evidence might be discovered in the future, but this is an argument from silence).

Biblical evidence includes the fact that Bible book of Joshua only mentions the burning of three Canaanite cities (Jericho, Ai and Hazor) and of these, only Jericho enacts the “holy Jihad” of Deuteronomy 20:16. It also includes the fact that Amos 9:7 describes multiple Exodus narratives. (This reminds Israel that their landrights are not exclusive. More, if they do not act justly, they will forfeit their land.)

“In the course of time, and especially with the rise of urban centres, one group within Israel developed an understanding of El-Yahweh that made the worship of other gods incompatible with Israelite identity, even though many aspects of culture continued to be shared with Indigenous neighbours. In principle, there is nothing problematic with this development, since no ethnic group is static.” (Brett, Decolonizing God, 77, 78)

For discussion: What are the implications of ethnic identity is framed as ‘part of a continuum of ethnic groups with overlapping borders … held together by a founding … set of … narratives about how this particular group came into being’ (70)? Is God any less powerful if he is part of such an evolving story?

Links:
For all the posts relating to this book/blog review go here.

Posted by steve at 09:30 PM

Monday, October 19, 2009

u2 concert’s and a world transformed by the gospel

This is part of Laidlaw College information night promotion, short video’s of people responding to the question: so what part of your world do you most want to see transformed by the gospel? Here’s my contribution, reflecting on my recent U2 concert experience

click here to watch 25sec video clip

Check out the rest – other religions, Japanese people, young people, community spirit – here. It’s an interesting initiative – using social networking – specifically Facebook, as a promotional strategy.

Posted by steve at 02:19 PM

Sunday, October 18, 2009

neat service: transfiguration of Jesus

Sunday morning’s service included a baptism. We’re seeing a steady stream of local, more working-class adults, who have not previously been in church, saying yes to Jesus. We put a lot of effort into our local community mission and baptisms are wonderful encouragements.

In addition, we had four people share short testimonies in the service. As the service was being shaped around the transfiguration in Mark 9:2-14, during the week I had emailed the church, asking if anyone had an experience of “awe” – whether silence or song, preaching, communion, or art, public or private, while loving a neighbour, or simply driving down the road – that had changed their walk with God and they might be willing to share. Four people said yes. Each was profoundly different, a reminder of God’s living and vital presence.

It seems to me that the stories of God’s activity, whether in baptism or in testimony, are just SO important in terms of change processes.

And for those interested, aware that I’ve been wrestling with the Transfiguration Bible text all week, here is the sermon. With a nod to David Letterman, U2, Transfiguration art, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Chalcedonian Creed (more…)

Posted by steve at 10:26 PM

Saturday, October 17, 2009

grieving loss as the reality of change is processed

I’ve struggled with depression all week. I know that for some, Christianity is a victory lap. That’s fine. It’s simply that for me, this week, Christianity has been the suffering Christ. Such has been the shape of my week, a week of grieving over the implications of the Taylor family decision to go on mission to Australia (see here and here). On Monday it was the realisation of so many dreams that are not yet reality: Stage 3 of the building project, the family hub, the future of Grow, developing leaders, culture-making days, making bible days digital and youth-engaged. While what God has done at Opawa in last 6 years (part-time, 0.6/week) has been beyond all that I could dream and imagine, there are still more dreams, unfulfilled and I grieve as I hear God’s call is for me to lay them down.

On Wednesday it was a Laidlaw student, who had been dreaming of doing a Masters with me on the topic of the emerging church.

On Friday, it was pulling up at Opawa and seeing the new building project and realising that what I have helped lead and fundraise for over the last 2 years, I am unlikely to enjoy. We were promised a build in 3 months. The project started in early July. It is now October, the hammering continues and the talk is currently early December for the offices, and late February for the foyer cafe. It feels nuts to be leaving a cafe I will never enjoy.

On Saturday (today), it was a planning meeting with regard to a administrative staff transition and realising that a future I had planned for, had worked toward, was suddenly taking shape exactly as I had envisaged. Again, I will not see the fruit of it.

It’s grief. I imagine this is what those who look at death face: a grandchild they will never see turn 21, a graduation they will miss, the realisation that life is moving on and I will not be part of it. As I began, for some, Christianity is a victory lap. It’s simply that for me, this week, Christianity is the suffering Christ.

Since I am on the topic of grieving loss, for those who are interested, here is how we processed the leaving with family and leadership.
(more…)

Posted by steve at 09:05 PM

Friday, October 16, 2009

wealthy emerging church authors? yeah right!

Every now and again, around the internet, I see people making blog comments about emerging church people with their book contracts and PhD’s. Often this is linked to snide implications about “gurus” making money from ministry.

Just this week I have been signing book contracts in regard to two chapters I have written for two books that will be published in 2010, through two different academic presses. One is on the Spirit in the world, the other on Bible in popular culture.

For the record, one contract gives me no money. Instead I get given one free book, plus a 50% discount if I buy any copies of the (my) book. The other contract also gives me no money. Instead, they simply give me one free book. So two free books is the sum total of “wealth” I am generating!

Both chapters have taken hours of work. In fact, in order for me to write them, in between pastoring and lecturing, I have paid people, to help me research and edit. It costs me personally, which I am very happy to do because it does ensure I actually produce something. (This is funded by any speaking fees I get paid.)

I’m not complaining. Not at all. When I write I feel God’s pleasure. It gains me “credibility”. Correction – if well-written (and well-edited:)) it might gain me credibility! It helps spread ideas. It is part of my role/charism.

But I thought I would make this post, just in case readers have come across those rumours regarding “wealthy emerging church authors”!

Posted by steve at 01:44 PM

Thursday, October 15, 2009

u2 conference in the rearview mirror

Having flown home with my U2 conference T-shirt,

and recovered from jetlag and further to my attendance at the U2 conference, I have written a report for my (partial) funders – Laidlaw College. Here is part of it, a rearview mirror reflection on the conference.

Some highlights
1 – Broad appeal: The theme of U2 ensured an incredibly wide range of people, in age, in interest. The fact the many presenters were academics by day, fans by night, ensured a passion and energy that ran throughout the conference.

2 – Being in a world-changing, rather than church-changing conversation: It was great to be in a conversation that began with and in contemporary culture and as a theologian to rub shoulders with Aids activists, writers for Rolling Stone and rock journalists. So much of my work ends up with people saying “What about the church?” In contrast, a dominant conference question was “What about the world?” in relation to social justice and Kingdom activism. That was refreshing.

3 – Networks: The conference allowed me a chance to meet face to face with a number of academic peers in the theology and popular culture field. (Shout out to Andy, Tim (who graciously showed me around Duke University, including a real local eatery!), Beth, Greg Clarke and Jeffrey Keuss.). Being isolated in New Zealand, this face to face contact is vital for developing relationships and networks.

4 – Future openings: Their are plans for a conference book and considerable energy for another conference. There is also a conversation happening with Laidlaw Christchurch and Opawa Baptist regarding me presenting an extended version of my paper in Christchurch (Reframing and sampling: the evolving live concert performance’s of Bullet the Blue Sky), as a sort of “alumni”/public interest gathering.

Posted by steve at 09:35 PM

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

So what does the transfiguration do to Jesus?: updated

Updated: For those interested, the eventual sermon, plus some of the worship, is here.

Classical Christianity affirms Jesus as fully human and fully divine. So what do we do with the Transfiguration – you know, the bit where Jesus clothes goes all dazzling white: “whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (according to Mark 9:3)? What’s that all about?

Is this the real Jesus? Or is this him pulling back his fully human flesh to let the real power show? Well if so, then isn’t he sort of faking it, being less than divine, the rest of the time?

One theory is to suggest that the disciples are hallucinating. But the fact that the story appears in three of the Gospels, and is so grounded in time and place “after six days” (Mark 9) suggests a historical reality.

Another theory is just to theologise it: Spirit here is same Spirit as at the angelic announcement of birth to Mary, as at baptism, and so we have theology of Spirit on bodies. But that still leaves the who is the real Jesus question open.

Updated: In the text, we see that (unlike the chorus) the flesh life of Jesus does not melt away. Jesus remains in bodily form, flesh, blood. Yet this bodily form is enlightened, enlivened, “whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”

Is this a window into what it means to be fully human: we remain in our bodies, yet our bodies are enlivened by God? If so, this says something vital about the importance of the human body in Christian spirituality. It is important, essential. Our senses remain, to be enlivened by God’s light. Bodies, ours and Jesus, are indeed a temple of the Spirit.

Posted by steve at 09:13 PM

making news: Director of Missiology appointed: updated with pic

The following is a write up from the Uniting Church of South Australia, in regard to my new role. It even includes a picture of me, taken a few weeks ago, of me beside a gum tree!

It was with great excitement that Uniting College for Leadership & Theology announced their latest appointment to staff – Rev Dr Steve Taylor as Director of Missiology. Many in South Australia will remember Steve from Presbytery and Synod meetings held in 2007 and 2008. Steve lives in New Zealand with his wife Lynne and two daughters. They will move to Adelaide in 2010 when he begins the position.

With 15 years of ministry experience (planting and leading congregations) under his belt along with a PhD and a passion for writing in the area of contemporary missiology, Steve brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to this role.

Steve took a few minutes out from his schedule to share a little of who he is with us: Could you give readers and idea of your ministry background? I first pastored at Graceway Baptist church and then became Senior Pastor at Opawa Baptist. I’ve always done this congregational ministry part-time, while lecturing, first at Carey Baptist College then Laidlaw College, in areas of being Christian at the interface of church and society.

What will you do as as the new Director of Missiology? The role will include lecturing, writing, building a team of lecturers, serving the wider church and formation of leaders, both ordained and lay. My wife and I see this as a missionary call, a season in which our talents might serve God’s mission work in Australia. We consider ourselves Baptists on loan!

Why did you accept the position of Director of Missiology? At Pentecost this year, I preached on the theme of being surprised by God. That week Andrew Dutney phoned, asking me to consider the role. As I talked with Andrew, I sensed that my gifts and life experience could fit what was needed. I sort of had to take my sermon personally!

So we talked about it with our children, asking them to pray with us over the week. Each of us built a list of positives (Cibo, Ikea) and negatives (leaving family, friends and a great church). When we met a week later, our youngest suggested we read the lectionary text for the day, which was John 1:43-50. Closing the Bible, our oldest announced, “To me it sounds like God is calling us to Adelaide.”

Over an hour, as we talked and prayed, there was an overwhelming sense that we needed to trust God into a new adventure. We’re scared and nervous, worried we won’t find any friends and that everyone will laugh at our accents. But as a family we sense we need to practice what we preach; to follow God’s voice – to risk, adventure and trust.

What do you look forward to most in your new position? Listening. I come as a stranger to a country in which God has been at work. So I want to listen, to indigenous peoples, to those outside the church, and finally to those inside the church.

When you’re not directing Missiology or writing on your blog site, where can you be found relaxing? In my vegetable garden. I make a great vegetarian lasagne, often with up to seven types of vegetables from my garden. So I am keen to see what will take shape in the gardens of Adelaide.

Rev Dr Steve Taylor, self-confessed enjoyer of coffee, art, ‘dub’ music and lover of vegetable gardens, will commence his role as the new Director of Missiology at Uniting College of Leadership & Theology in 2010.

Posted by steve at 05:43 PM

Monday, October 12, 2009

you can’t beat a long cut

I am a bit of a vegetable garden fan. In my garden I find God, I contemplate ethics (see here and here). Viewing gardens tends to inspire me about the shape of church and possibilities for worship. It has helped frame our mission, for example here.

After a 16 day absence, my vegetable garden got some well-deserved attention today. The winter compost got spread. The early potatoes got mounded up in case of early frosts. Vegetables got harvested: peas, brocolli, silver beet, spinach, broad beans, cauliflower. Summer vegetables got planted: lettuce, beans, quick growing cabbage, early tomatoes. As a family, we now very rarely buy vegetables, such is the extent of our home garden.

After, I finished, I sat in the late afternoon sun, enjoying a beer and some peas picked straight from the garden. It struck me that none of this comes quick. There are no shortcuts. Compost takes time. Peas and broccoli need to be planted in autumn. It is a few hours a week, and slow and steady, over the year the garden takes shape.

Which probably says something about the spiritual life and the shape of ministry. We live in an instant age and expect instant results. Yet compost now enhances a sermon in a year or two. Seeds take time to mature. Pausing for moments of reflection and prayer lend sustainability. Savouring, like freshly picked peas, the God-moments that are changed lives nourishes hope. Here’s to the long cuts of ministry!

Posted by steve at 08:53 PM

Sunday, October 11, 2009

my Out of Bounds Church? book on Jesus Creed

I’m stoked to have my The Out of Bounds Church?: Learning to Create a Community of Faith in a Culture of Change book described as “well-known” in a brief mention on Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog, in a discussion on church and culture, with specific reference to the emerging church.

For the sake of clarity, I have left the following comment:
Scot and Jim,
While I welcome the discussion, and was glad that Jim referenced my book in his (as it is a part of the book I was most pleased with), I don’t think my book, Out of Bounds Church? is quite being described fairly above. In the PDF mss, I felt Jim was fair in his treatment and it’s probably just the inevitable brevity of a blogpost, but for the record can I note that …

In OBC book I myself propose a “third way” that is beyond two poles of either accommodation or relevance. I suggest the metaphor of a DJ – who, within a community, samples from multiple places to create a new mix. I argue this because we are now called to be Incarnational in a culture that is well beyond unitary categories.

I suggest this is what the apostle Peter is doing, say in the household codes (1 Peter 3), where he is “sampling” from culture, yet in a way that expresses a new, and redemptive hermeneutic. With nods to Miroslav Volf and his impressive work around Christ and culture.

I stress that a DJ can only exist in relation to an audience, and thus the act of DJing is a deeply communitarian act. (cf the description above of “individual creation.”)

Can I also say how important context is in all of this. Jim finishes with a wonderful story of deep mission in his book. What struck me, reading it, was how the couple described had been IN church before. While I celebrated the redemptive life they have found, it reminded me again of how churched the US still is, and in that sense how it is such a unique context for doing and talking about mission.

For more on the DJ image, check out some visuals here; and some resources here;

For more reviews of Out of Bounds Church?, you could try Len Sweet here; Greg Hughson here; Tom Sine’s review here: Fuller Seminary review here; Scot’s original review here; Malcolm Chamberlain here and a fanhere.


Posted by steve at 03:52 PM

Saturday, October 10, 2009

twilight at 30,000 feet

A delightfully unexpected bonus of my recent travels was the Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyers. Looking for a light read, wondering what the teen fuss was all about, I picked up Twilight for the flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. Intrigued, I engaged New Moon over various cities in the United States and then Eclipse (The Twilight Saga) returning to Christchurch via Sydney. I then gave Twilight to my 12 year old, who finished it in about 24 hours.

They are a good read. Good dialogue, helpful characterisation. Pacing is good, with a nice gathering of mystery and suspense. The engagement with classic literature offers an intelligence. The three novels manage to be both stand alone, yet build on each other.

So is there any theological value? I’m still processing this. Yes, there is some exploration of themes of good and evil. A number of Bible passages are engaged. While the front cover is that of an apple, we all know that no apples actually appear in the Garden of Eden! There is some sense of what it means to be human, albiet limited by the teen lens. There is an ongoing processing of love, although the fact that this is grounded in loving a vampire made it hard for me to take it seriously.

But ultimately, I suspect that the books should be left simply as a good read, a window into some of the pressures of being adolescent.

Posted by steve at 09:24 PM

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

the moon came up, and not over one tree hill: “magical” u2 raleigh concert review

So here is an extended review that I submitted to Ticketmaster in regard to the U2 concert at Raleigh. Didn’t have much else to do on the 24 hour return flight!

The idea can only have come from outer space. Putting a short man (Bono) under a large stage, forlorn in a outdoor stadium. It demands a show as big, if not bigger, than the 164 foot high “Claw”. Which is certainly what U2 delivered at Raleigh on Saturday 3 October, 2009. (more…)

Posted by steve at 04:13 PM

Monday, October 05, 2009

u2 conference: keynote Neil McCormick

One of UK’s best known music critics and author of Killing Bono: I Was Bono’s Doppelganger and U2 by U2.

I went to school with Bono. It’s an accident but it brought me here. You chose U2. I did not choose U2. I love them like you love your family. So who were U2 growing up in the 70s? (more…)

Posted by steve at 10:05 AM

u2 conference: Rachel Seiler Impact of U2’s music on listener

Exploring the marriage of critical reflection and action for change. Uses qualitative study ie narrative methods and content analysis.

The story is a basic meaning-making device. Presents a composite story (a trailer for the film). Overwhelming “composite” evidence that U2’s music does change listener’s consciousness and activism. Eg: If you see the world, you then ask: Why? What am I doing?

For other posts on U2 conference go here.

Posted by steve at 08:57 AM