Perspectives: Sideways

 

This tree is on the lawn near the Washington Monument. I wonder why it is growing sideways.  

Defining Reality

Nehemiah’s simple statement, “You see the trouble we are in,” is a succinct reminder that one of a leader’s most critical roles is to define reality. What are the troubles plaguing your congregation or community? How might you learn more about your community’s needs?

At our Annual Conference last weekend, we heard a presentation from Michael Beck (https://michaeladambeck.com/).  A couple of things rang true for me regarding the issues in our churches and communities (and I think they apply to my church and community).  He said we are in an epidemic of loneliness; the people around us feel alone.  In addition, 1 in 3 Americans have faced religious trauma.  When people come to our churches (if they do), they are met with a lack of compassion.  He also said that we answer the questions they are not asking – the question they are asking is how to find wholeness.

I think these are all issues that are facing my own church community.  I believe they are often motivated by a self-preservation as a church. They find it hard (in some ways) to demonstrate to the unchurched that there is a reason that they could find what they are searching for at our church. Some of us are not very good at reaching out to people who do not attend church and inviting them to join us (followed through with “walking with them” when they accept the invitation.

In our community, issues that define reality are sometimes addiction, busyness, lack of community, and a lack of conviction that church could bring them what they are searching for.

I think ways to learn more about your community’s needs include training from experts who have intentional studies of your community to share.  Also, our conference offers access to Mission Insight, a demographics service that can describe your specific church community.  Prayer can help us to discern our community’s needs.  And the most direct method would be to ask them. 

The Author Issue

I mentioned earlier that I taught Annual Conference Sunday School.  The lesson was on various verses of Ecclesiastes. 

We talked in the class about who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes.  The text itself says, “The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”  Reading this, we might assume the author is Solomon, but he lived in 10^th Century BCE.  The earlest date of the book is probably 3rd century BCE.  Scholars can tell just by the Hebrew that was used that it doesn’t date any earlier than that.

There were a few people in the class who were very bothered by that.  They tried to find ways to confirm that Solomon wrote the book.  That led me to wonder why it mattered so much to them.  Is it Solomon's authority as a person of wisdom that he might lend to the book? Is it just that they can't get past the first verse where the author hints that he is Solomon?

And why does it matter so much to them?

Perspectives: Which Path?

 

Retribution Theory

In Sunday school a few weeks ago, our teacher last read some of the proverbs from the lesson:

• Proverbs 12:11, 14, 24: Those who work their land will have plenty to eat, but those who engage in empty pursuits have no sense. . . .From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied; their work results in reward. . . .A hard worker is in charge, while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.
• Proverbs 13:11: Riches gotten quickly will dwindle, but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.

 As she read them, I kept objecting. For example, “a hard worker is in charge, while a lazy one will be sentence to hard labor.”  Sometimes things sound like they should be right, but we can all think of instances when they are not reality.  Proverbs can be read as a list of advice from a father to a son, and when you realize this, the proverbs make the most sense, I think. 
When I was preparing for the Sunday school lesson I taught at Annual Conference, I read in the student book that scholars call this “Retribution Theology.”  It’s the belief that we get what we deserve.  If we are righteous and obey God, good things will happen to us, but if we’re evil, we’ll suffer.
 
Do you think we teach this to our children? We teach them to take turns, play fair, stand in line, obey the rules.  We reward “good” behavior with recognition. 
 
Is this how life always is? I know I can think of examples when life did not live up to retribution theology?
 
We know that what happens in life doesn't always correspond to what is fair.  We don't always get what we deserve - actually, sometimes that is good! 
 
This is where the writer of Ecclesiastes starts, I think.  He isn’t the father teaching the son the way Proverbs is.  He is the older teacher who has seen all of life, and is going to tell us about it.  To quote the teacher book again, “He begins his book with “Perfectly pointless…everything is pointless.”  He questioned the wisdom of hard work and prudent living because he had seen so many times when it hadn’t paid off.  Even if one’s hard work did result is wealth, he complained, everyone dies in the end anyway.  Why even try?

 

Factors Impacting a Vision

 Paying careful attention to Nehemiah 2:11-18, we learn that a variety of factors influenced the shaping of his vision. What were the important elements contributing to his vision? What can contemporary leaders learn from this?

 

A few thoughts:

• He spent some time in discerning, for himself, the current conditions in Jerusalem. He didn’t rely on what others were telling him. I think we fall into an uninformed trap when we only listen to what others are saying about a situation. We need to work to determine for ourselves what current conditions are – working with God to see where we are will help us to discern where God wants us to go.
• Once Nehemiah had done this, he was able to communicate clearly to those who would be involved in the reconstruction what the mission was – where they were starting and where they would be going. I’ve seen really good fundraisers do this. They will explain the current situation to a group of people, and then invite them to join in the ministry of meeting the needs that are before them.
• He explained to the group (I assume this is the nobles, the priest, the officials, and those who would do the work) that “the hand of God had been gracious” and the King was supporting him. I think we learn from this not only that we are following God in what we are doing, but that we need to communicate that to those who will be involved in the ministry. It is an act of faith to share a God given mission (and that it is a mission given by God). 

Perspectives: Where are you going?

 

Clear Vision

Effective leadership requires a clear vision. Can you think of times in the life of your church when you were guided by a clear, inspiring vision? What impact did it have?

Several years ago, our church did a “natural church development” evaluation (determining what parts of the “wall” were broken).  We decided we did not have a clear mission or vision. We worked with a facilitator to develop and discern those statements. At one point in the process, when we felt “stuck,” our pastor sent us out to different parts of the church to sit, meditate, and pray. We came back and finished the statements.  I’m not sure if they have always guided the work we do – I think in some ways they have – but these many years later, they are still our vision and mission.

 

This next example isn’t a church example, but instead about the Foundation where I work. We undertook a strategic planning process.  During a retreat with our board members, we heard each discussion table bring forth “culture of generosity.” We changed our mission statement and stook strategic steps to integrate that into our work. We now have programming each year to help individuals and churches to develop a culture where generosity is part of their “DNA.” That vision has made a large change in our work as a Foundation, and I hope in our annual conference.

Annual Conference Sunday School

Last Sunday, I taught Sunday school at Annual Conference.  I've taught it for several years now.  I've noticed a few things:

• It starts at 8:00 a.m., prior to the 9:30 start of the Commissioning/Ordination service.  After a long few days of Annual Conference, I think it takes a special person to come to Sunday school at 8:00.  I'm grateful that some people do, and that some of the class has been there every year I've taught.  It's a habit for them.
• We use the Adult Bible Study curriculum.  There are those who don't want to miss that - they do it every Sunday at their home church, and this keeps them connected when they are away.
• I'm excited by how active the discussions are.  I plan a full lesson, but it is made so much better by the discussion.
• I've noticed that the people who come to Sunday school at Annual Conference probably have a more traditional faith than I do.  They have a strong faith (I hope I do, too), but I doubt we agree on most things of faith.  That said, I love teaching this class because I make it a point to teach from my own faith in a way that honors theirs. It really keeps me on my toes, and is a wonderful challenge.
• In times of division, it would seem  that this class would demonstrate the evidence of this division.  It is a real example of how we can get along with each other, honor each other, and make space for God's grace among us.  For the past couple of years, it has been a real oasis of what the spirit can do among us.  

 

Perspectives: Excessive?

 Pillows on a hotel bed.  How many pillows do we need? Is this excessive?

Responding or Reacting

It’s easy to seize on the first idea that comes to us or set off half-cocked in pursuit of a problem or opportunity. But Nehemiah took great time and care to make sure he fully understood the situation and what God expected of him. What might you do to make sure you approach problems in a similarly deliberate manner?

Many years ago, a person told me to “respond and not react” to issues. It took several years for that advice to even make sense to me; I’m glad time and experience has filled in the meaning. Other than prayer, I think responding (and not reacting) to an issue starts with gathering the data about the situation and not just reacting to rumors. For me it is helpful to talk about the issue with a trusted person – sometimes voicing the issue and sharing potential solutions can be helpful – feedback can be Christian conferencing. It’s helpful to ask yourself if there is someone else who is more prepared to respond to the problem. That sounds like passing the buck, but there are times when collaborating with someone else or turning the issue over to them is the most effective answer. If you move forward with a response, then plan goals and strategies – lists are great for outlining the path to take.

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A Stress Management System

In order to write down thoughts I have for future blog posts, I keep a notebook in Evernote of Blog Ideas.  I can access it from my phone, so I can quickly jot down the germ of an idea for future nurturing into a post.  I was looking through that list today and found one from 2014.  Ten years ago I recorded a thought that says, "Philippians 4 as a way to handle stress."  I kind of remember someone saying that, so I wrote it down to explore later.  Today is later.

Here is Philippians 4:4-9, one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  How can this be a way to handle stress?

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.

• Rejoice in the Lord - Find joy in the Lord.  I can imagine that looking outside oneself in a time of stress and focusing on God with joy could be a way to manage stress.
• Let your gentleness be known to everyone - In my mind, I'm hearing "kindness" - Treat everyone with kindness.  Because I know from experience when I do the opposite, my stress levels do not go down, I think treating people with kindness could help with stress.
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God - Instead of worrying, place your anxiety in God's hands.  It's easy to say but hard to do.  Have you ever been successful at this? Sometimes I can be, and it does bring a peace that settles like a blanket around you.
• Focus on what is excellent - I've experienced this in my own life. When my younger son was born with a shoulder injury, we focused hard on helping his recovery. That's not a bad thing, but I forgot to remember all the other things about our child that were excellent. This verse changed my focus (although not my determination to help him).

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.