More on the unforced rhythms of grace...

I don't like gimmicks - in marketing, in stores or in church - perhaps especially in church.  I have come to see and accept that Christmas marketing in America, for example, is both a sign of spiritual emptiness (we ache to be filled with something greater than ourselves) as well as an upside down testimony to beauty.  I don't go in much for the glitter and glitz, but in a culture addicted to both utilitarian demands as well as fantasy of every stripe and hue, the Christmas decorations speak to a desire to also honor all things things beautiful and pure.  (It doesn't always turn out that way, I know, but I think in our inverted desire, we are shooting for the best.)


And I know that is what is going on when marketing invades either the evangelical or liberal church:  it points to our longings and emptiness. But here's the thing: unless the Spirit of Christ is present in the church, films about Narnia or the latest "out there" preacher won't matter or change anything. Praise bands, hip hop worship or jazz liturgies - to say nothing of hymns and beer or techno church - are tools not substance, yes?  So who gives a rip if you have the best power point in the country? Or sermons filled with street lingo? Or references to the most edgy songs happening?  The ONLY thing the church has that popular culture DOESN'T is Jesus.  Period.  End of conversation.

Disney does techno better than any of us; the so-called "hospitality" industry usually has better food and coffee; and don't even get me started on the realm of popular music recording.  Clearly, culture does entertainment, recorded tunes and so much more better than the church.  So why do we keep falling for gimmicks when our sole reason for being is knowing and sharing the love of God made real in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

When I first started in ministry, the gimmick was youth ministry: there was money out the yin-yang for innovative and full-time youth work. After all, they used to say, "children are the future of the church." Well, yes and no... Children might be the future of the church IF their parents are believers and reinforce the values and commitments of faith. But children - rich and poor and middle class - are also users who will take everything you have to give them for free and then move on to the next cool party.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen churches get grants for youth ministry - do things gang busters for 3 years - and then call it quits after they become exhausted and the money runs out.  And nothing has changed.

Except, of course, a bunch of money was thrown away on distractions and some church leaders became discouraged.  But very few lives were changed and precious few people - young or old - grew any closer to Jesus.  Same was true during the Narnia movie marketing crusade and the Mel Gibson Jesus movie thing: lots of money was spent, lots of people went to the cinema and... not much changed inside or outside the Body of Christ.  I suspect that will be true after the current liberal marketing gimmicks run their course, too.

Last night we held our first Jazz Vespers: for 40 minutes - in music, word and silence - we invited people to be open to Christ's presence in tender and beautiful ways.  There was time to think quietly.  There were provocative readings and the challenge to go deeper.  And there was the testimony that Jesus was waiting and willing to bring grace, love and refreshment to all who were tired and heavy-laden.  This wasn't a gimmick - it was a ministry - a living commitment to welcome people to the Lord's feast.  For that is ALL we really have to offer.  Yes, we have knock out musicians, yes we have made a commitment to use an excellent sound system, too.  

But our work rests on the premise that it is Christ who has invited us to the festival - and all we can do is share his invitation - and trust that the Spirit will do the rest.  It is liberating to trust that God is in charge, not our marketing.  Small wonder my operating quote from scripture continues to be Peterson's reworking of Matthew 11:  Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me and I will teach you the unforced rhythms of grace.