Thinking in Progress is the online journal of Jason Salamun.
A guy who loves Jesus but hates religion. A man who loves his wife and married way out of his league. A dad who's got the coolest kids on the planet but is himself, a goofball. A church planter with a bit of a maverick streak but never without good reason.
Sincerely,
Jason Salamun
“Destiny’s powerful hand has made the bed of my future, and it’s up to me to lie in it...And you don’t fight destiny. No sir. And, you don’t eat crackers in the bed of your future, or you get all… scratchy.”
~ The Tick
Great reminder:
1. I am not invincible. I can get sick, sin, and weary.
2. I am not immortal. I am going to die.
3. I am not indispensable. The kingdom keeps going without me.
4. I am not an island. I need friends around me.
[HT: Bob Roberts Jr: The Multiplying Church]
This may come as a surprise to some- but I’m a skeptic. It must be the Simon Cowell in me.
The upside of this is I can typically spot when someone (or something) is genuine.
The flip side of this is I can also spot when someone (or something) isn’t.
It seems I’m constantly finding dishonesty, slants, biases, agendas, and exaggerations in various places. From the news I watch, the books I read, and the stories I hear. Even things in my own life.
I’m not sure if a follower of Christ, who is planting a church, is supposed to admit that- but it’s the truth. I have difficulty taking much of anything at face value.
Our beliefs or experiences may be genuine- but our beliefs or experiences may not be right. That’s why we need something to base it on beyond our own thoughts, opinions, passions, emotions, and experiences.
Thank God for the Bible.
When I hear about signs, wonders, healings, miracles, revivals, movements, teachings, and other spiritual matters- I don’t automatically bite. BUT- I don’t automatically discount it either. I do what we all should do- discern it.
Here is how I discern whether or not something is from God or not:
Check the Bible. (Does the Bible speak for or against this?)
If it’s not biblical, It’s not a God-thing.Examine the motivation. (Is this man-centered or Jesus-centered? Who gets the glory?)
If Jesus is central and glorified, this could be from God. If not, beware!Look for real change. (Is there evidence?)
If it’s biblical, Jesus is central and glorified, then it’s likely someone (or something) has changed. A heart, a mind, a body, a life, a family, a city, a country, a world.
I do believe that God still moves. I’ve seen lives changed- including my own. But it’s wise to be discerning about spiritual matters. It can be messy, confusing, weird, counterfeit, and deceptive.
God is a good God of order. Thankfully he’s given us some cautions, wisdom, and guidance in Scripture to help us navigate the waters of spirituality.
Mark 13:21-22
“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.”Matthew 7:15
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves”1 John 4:1
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”Romans 16:17-18
“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
2 Peter 2:1-3
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”
On CNN.com, Bishop T.D. Jakes gives his take on the issue of politics, church, and race.
This is a very timely piece considering the effect Barack Obama’s pastor has had on his campaign. In the midst of Jakes words, I thought there were some insightful takeaways related to church.
“It is a breathing, living testament to God’s love and grace. It serves its community where it is located and is aware of the needs and nuances of that community. However, its relevance and vision must go beyond its community and reach the world for which Christ died.”
“I personally wish the distinctions of the church by ethnicity would one day become an antiquated idea.”
“I am afraid that once again our churches will be victimized by stereotypical ideas and opinions that are based in whole or in part by the extreme and not the norm.”
“…the core message is not one that enrages, but one that encourages people to change and grow, and any other depiction is distorted and inaccurate.”
“Let’s get back to listening for leadership strategies from our best and brightest before there is no country left to lead. My hope is that the church remains a vibrant part of our process, sounding the alarm that warns: America, please wake up out of our sleep!“
As I’ve journeyed down this road to start a new church, I’m often asked, “Who are you targeting?”
My response: People.
People who want to discover the lives they were meant to live. People who have honest questions about God, Christianity, and life in general. People who are dealing with real life issues and need direction. People who are fed up with plastic religion. People who want to experience authentic community. People who may be stuck in a rut and tired of going through the motions. People who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. People who desire to be real with themselves, others, and God.
People just like you and me.
We’re not about religion. We’re not about picket signs. We’re not about political parties. We’re about Jesus and people. It really is that simple. We’re certainly not going to be the perfect church, but we will strive to do whatever it takes to connect the unchanging truth of Jesus to an ever-changing culture.
Starting right here in the Black Hills.
So I’ll let you in on the plan. Our goal is to launch Project Church publicly in the fall of 2008- right in the heart of Rapid City. In the meantime, we’re gathering people to help make this a reality- which we’re calling the launch team. Perhaps you’d like to join us from the beginning. If so, give us a shout at projectchurch@gmail.com
If you want to discover more, check out projectchurch.net
I read a story titled, “Jesus Made Me Puke” on RollingStone.com that disturbs me on so many levels.
The premise of the story is the reporter, Matt Taibbi, wanted to get an inside look at the “Christian right.” Rather than going to a mainline church, he decides to go to the fringe by attending a hyper-charismatic “weekend encounter” in Texas. This retreat was designed to “set people free” in some sort of tongues-a-thon where supposedly demons are cast out and people are healed from whatever is ailing them. The reporter masquerades as Matt Collins, a guy who’s dad was a drunken, abusive circus clown (chuckle) and plays the role all weekend. He then recounted his adventure in this Rolling Stone piece.
I will say that this “weekend encounter” sounds like a bunch of malarkey and it does not represent the majority of Christians. But to pass it off as representative is just cheap reporting. I’ve been known to poke fun at the yo-yo’s on TBN who slap foreheads, sit on thrones, and constantly ask for money. But Taiabbi clearly has an agenda and he found the right target to support it.
The story is not surprising. It is, however, embarrassing and reinforces the perceptions many people have about Christians. That we’re politically-driven, anti-everything, unintelligent nut jobs that barely resemble Christ. Regardless of whether it’s true for you and I- it’s a real perception that we need to acknowledge.
If we are truly following Jesus, then we should be known for love. And there are many great Christ Followers who bring a little bit of heaven on earth that never get reported in Rolling Stone. Which is too bad because that would be a great story and would, if nothing else, represent who we’re trying to be like- Jesus.
In the midst of this slanted piece, there was some humorous, outrageous, and some sad-but-true observations.
Here are a handful:
“The more you shout out praising the Lord, singing along to those awful acoustic tunes, telling people how blessed you feel and so on, the more a sort of mechanical Christian skin starts to grow all over your real self.”
“When most Americans think of the Christian right, they think of scenes from television — great halls full of perfectly groomed people in pale suits and light-colored dresses, smiling and happy and full of the Holy Spirit, robotically singing hymns at the behest of some squeaky-clean pastor with a baritone voice and impossible hair.”
“Fortenberry [the preacher] then started in on a rant against science and against scientific explanations for cycles of sin. ‘Take homosexuals,’ he said. ‘Every single homosexual is a sexual-abuse victim. They are not born. They are created — by pedophiles.’ The crowd swallowed that one whole. One thing about this world: Once a preacher says it, it’s true.”
“I told my nephew to look around the house,” Fortenberry continued. “I said, ‘Do you have a copy of Harry Potter?’ And he said yes. And I said, ‘That’s your problem.’ So I told him to go get that copy of that book, tear it in half and throw it out the window. So he does it, and guess what? Both of those kids stood up completely recovered, just like that.”
“In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, I cast out the demon of the intellect!” Fortenberry continued. “In the name of Jesus, I cast out the demon of anal fissures!”
“The whole thing — the demonic expulsions, the trading of miraculous wives’ tales, the crazy End Times theology based on dire predictions that come and go uneventfully once a year or so — it’s all a con that is done with the consent of the conned. Which is what gives it strength. If everybody agrees to believe, it is real.”
Read the story and let me know what you think.
I also recommend the book “unChristian” which deals with these perceptions and how we can go about changing them.
Planting a church is like a yo-yo. In the same day I can be greatly encouraged and terribly discouraged. In the same day I’m told, “You can” and later told by someone else, “You can’t.” Ups and downs abound.
But I’ll tell you what drives me: The call.
I don’t know why God called me to this. There are many people who are far more impressive than I am. But the call is what drives me. This is why we’re planting a church. Not because I woke up on morning with a great idea- but because God said so. And I know this- I can’t do this alone. It’s going to take people who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
If you pray, please pray for Project Church to become what God wants us to be. If you don’t pray, now is a good time to begin.
We’ve only just begun…
“We have to reattach the hands and feet to the body of Christ and start being the church. For too long, we’ve just been a big mouth.”
- Rick Warren
[HT: Jay Hardwick]
What do you think of this? It’s based on the book by Matt Smay and Hugh Halter. I haven’t read it yet but the video is thought-provoking.
Check it out and let me know what you think the message is.
I don’t believe in accidents.
On Thursday, I’m connecting with Shawn Michael Shoup, a local youth pastor here in Rapid City. We’ve never met in person. But what’s cool is that he and I both preached an eerily similar message this past Sunday in two different churches in Rapid City including the text we chose. Hmmm.
Read these quotes from his message and then click here and say hello:
I like the way Shawn thinks and the passion in his words.
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