Compassion Wagon

In the 70's and early 80's, before the Japanese minibus/taxi phenomenon swarmed our roads, the VW Kombi reigned supreme. If you were a deliquent male and aquired the panel van, or (shock horror!) had curtains in your Kombi, your choice of bumper sticker would be "PASSION WAGON: DON'T LAUGH, YOUR DAUGHTER MAY BE INSIDE!"



I'm quite sure the bumper sticker acted as a guarantee that the "Luvmobile" was never used for it's desired purpose. Nevertheless, that didn't prevent Kombi owners jumping on the bumpersticker bandwagon in droves.

We all have a tendency to join in on trends. Hey, I'm blogging..... The problem with trends is that they rise and fade quickly due to the lack of core value. I get suspicious of church trends. Not style trends. Style trends are cool. They make a church's atmosphere fashionable and contemporary. I'm bugged by thoughtless ministry trends. Doing stuff for God because it feels good running with a crowd.

I'm speaking on the "Kingdom Culture of Compassion" on Sunday 17th August. It's best I blow some steam before I speak publicly. I believe God is compassionate but I struggle with those immersed in a current trend of South African social compassion. Here are my issues:

1. It's obvious that the huge gap between the rich and poor in South Africa makes uplifting the poor a prerequisite to a complete gospel. But are the wealthier citizens feeling guilt about their ill-gotton historical advantage and seeking to redeem their continued position of privilege?
2. Why do I get the feeling that social compassion trendsetters have lost their confidence in the message of forgiveness through faith in what Jesus did on the cross? They still believe in the message of the gospel, but they don't seem confident that it is what our world needs now. Their world needs food, clothes, education, medicine and employment. However, miraculous healing, relief from life-destroying myths about God, and the need for an inward transformation of the heart are all somehow redundant in the face of practically addressing the endless social need.
3. The social compassion trendsetters are sometimes the new Pharisees. Looking down their noses at those who haven't tangibly committed themselves to the plight of the poor. In yesteryear, a commanding knowledge of the bible and obvious devotional piety created a moral high ground for selected believers. Now, those who have exhausted themselves in service to the poor and have embarked on short-term mission to a neighbouring nation are at risk of the subtle claws of self-righteousness.
4. The church is metaphorically described as "a body" in Paul the Apostle's writings. Every member of the body is unique and there for a different function. In the same way, church members will be different in passion, gifting and style. Surely that encourages followers of Jesus towards diversity in their primary areas of service? Should we all be volunteering at homeless shelters or the like?
5. Is all the aid, relief and expression of compassion achieving anything of lasting benefit for the poor? Or is it still well disguised colonial meddling? First, they came to annex and exploit, now they try to mend and support. God expects us to be compassionate to people who are in a time of great need. But every nation on earth that has risen from the mire of poverty has developed a resolve to become productive to some end, whether they were given a compassionate headstart or not.

Having said all that (got it off my chest). I know that compassionless Christ-followers are dysfunctional. Many mercy-gifted believers are pouring their lives into the poor with as pure a motive as I teach. Lastly, I know that without the compassion of God and others, I would be in a terrible mess right now. In troubles times, I'm glad when the Compassion Wagon stops to help.

No longer Christian

I am seriously considering being no longer "Christian". The only concern I have is that I might never get out of the habit of calling myself that. I also think I'll struggle to describe who I am to others if time or vocabulary is limited.

Before you think I've hit a crisis of faith, let me remind you that the first use of the term "Christian" was apparently as a derogatory label by opponents of Jesus' Antiochan followers. At some point the term Christian became appropriate, just as the object of Jesus' execution became a fashionable trinket. However, since then "Christian" has collected centuries of bad associations, from savage crusades to political agendas, hypocrisy, hatred and intolerance.

I also think the problem comes from how people aquire the label:

1. Formulaic conversion experiences that require little more than a raised hand.


2. Generational inheritance of the family faith without heartfelt transformation.


3. Understanding Christianity as purely cultural, or what you are if you aren't Athiest, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or New Age. (my apologies to all the other faiths and isms that I don't have time to list)

If we read the account of how Jesus made disciples we don't see him handing out heavenly citizenship to anyone who simply said a sinners prayer. We don't see "Christians" around Christ trying to scare their neighbours with the prospect of hell in the hope that they will "hop into the boat" to heaven. Instead we see a group who had committed to follow Him, imitate Him, model their lives after His. In the process their stuggle with sin and guilt was addressed and their lives became as attractive as His was. Rob Bell describes the practice of New Testament discipleship in his book, "Velvet Elvis". Not his latest work but definitely one of the most significant books of recent years.

I wish I was no longer "Christian". It doesn't say enough, and other have made it what it shouldn't be. I am a learner and a follower of the way of Jesus.

The War on Confidence

I am amazed at the confidence we place in capitalist economies that can go sour so quickly. Look at us! With costs surging all around us we've made a bed of nails for ourselves! The big, petrol thirsty vehicles housewives used to choose over the nippy city car have now become huge liabilities. Totally unsellable on the market, panicky owners secretly hope that the theft of vehicle statistics will include their 4 X 4 next time. The insurance settlement will go a long way to cooling an overheated budget. "Where is the crime when you need it!"

Our confidence is harder hit than the stock market in times like this. Doom and gloom predictions of up to 70% repossession of houses by banks is positively chilling. It is also fear mongering propaganda. Designed to crush your confidence.

Speaking of propaganda, check my current favourite advert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A6YZc78NnE (By the way don't believe that message saying the video has been removed. Try again, Youtube are too embarrassed to admit their server is busy.)

I am speaking at Urban edge on the War on Confidence this weekend. The power of negative propaganda will defeat you before you offer a fight. Propaganda? you say. From who? Who would want me to fail like that? And how can I fight the rising price of oil and the credit crunch?

I don't have all the answers. I do know I cannot make sense of life without God, who can reach down into the swirling waters of an economic storm. I also cannot make sense of life without believing that my soul has an ultimate enemy. Even though I am my own worst enemy most of the time, it is the Enemy of my Soul's propaganda that is at war with my confidence.