I am absolutely horrified and saddened at the awful things people are writing in the comments section of this article about the Light of Love Mission Church bus accident (http://world-news.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/21/6101580-1-dead-in-southern-california-church-bus-crash?pc=25&sp=0#discussion_nav). One person actually posted an Asian driving joke. Are you kidding me?? Out of 60 comments, only one person called people out with this:

"First, My sympathy to all involved... for the horror of losing a loved one, The horror of either getting the visit or phone call that a loved one has been in a bad accident and possibly has died, the horror of not being able to hold your loved one when they are hurting.

Then I apologize to those same families for the posts of some of my fellow Americans. I see posts here that not only racist, indecent, unsympathic, and just plain mean. Worse than uncontrolable second graders on the playground. I will call those who have written such for what they are...""Jerks all"".. Your behavior should not be tolerated!"

I am saddened because I believe there is a side of me that still hopes for the best in people. That when tragedy strikes, there is a bond built that brings people together to help support. So the comments are disturbing, disheartening, saddening and infuriating all at the same time. And at the end of it, I know Jesus calls me to love and have compassion, but what I really want to say to my neighbor right now is, "Pass me a stone, will you?" >:(

Having grown up in the Pentecostal tradition, it was interesting to hear about it in class. Once again it was sad to hear how things that start with good intentions end up getting muddled. That TV evangelists have tainted the fact that God answers prayers and heals is just sad. That the idea that the Lord rescues us and provides for us in His faithfulness through our dire situation is used for personal financial gain just makes me irate to no degree. I know it's probably extremely naive of me to not know that these things have been happening from way back when. But it's kind of like racism - in today's day and age, how can such horribleness exist? It's just sad. 

Book Review 6 - Emerging Churches

Chapter 1: A Brief Look at Culture
The church needs to seriously examine the cultural context that exists today. The incarnation of Jesus sets the example of being relevant in the cultural that the gospel message is being presented in. We also need to understand the changing times and that Christendom and Modernity are rapidly declining and the church is losing members - and not because of Jesus but because of it irrelevance. The study of culture is vital in order to stay relevant.

Chapter 2: What is the Emerging Church?
Emerging churches are basically communities that focuses on practicing the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. There are 9 practices that help define what this encompasses: 1) Identifying with the life of Jesus 2) transform the secular realm 3) live highly communal lives 4) welcome the stranger 5) serve with generosity 6) participate as producers 7) create as created beings 8) lead as a body and 9) take part in spiritual activities. Although other churches may take on characteristics of an emerging church, it is not the same thing. An example of this could be incorporating creative ideas - but community life is a vital characteristic and most Gen-X/Seeker churches are still focused on the church meeting. They may also adapt some of these practices, but the main philosophy of ministry is still consistent with modernity in their dualistic/spiritualized/interiorized understanding of Jesus and embrace of the sacred/secular split. Many emerging leaders are in agreement that it is and should be difficult to label and define emerging churches since the whole idea is actually anti-labeling. It is also good to understand that to define some as un-something isn't accurate since it implies that it does not incorporate any of those practices. Rather, it is important to understand emerging as in an infant stage or a process (neither having arrived or left).

Chapter 3: Identifying with Jesus
The mission of emerging churches is about living out the gospel of the Kingdom. When identifying with Jesus, it is because Jesus preached the Kingdom gospel not the church gospel. It isn't merely about personal salvation but rather about the life one is living now. When identifying with Jesus' Kingdom gospel, then the mission becomes about going out into the community rather than the community coming to the church. However, this Jesus who identifies with the current and relevant culture does not mean a watered down gospel, as the seeker churches seem to preach. It is a challenging gospel and it is upfront about the challenges. Therefore it is not about removing symbols and appearing to be non-religious.

Chapter 4: Transforming Secular Space
The emerging church is all about dismantling the modernity's dualistic view of the world - it's about eliminating the notion that there is such a thing as secular anything. This pushed the church into the margins of society and was only allowed to be a "chaplain" to society.  Rather, it is the understanding that all things are the Lord's and all things can be made holy. There is also the belief that linear expressions of faith is but one of many narratives that tells about an event. Therefore, in an emerging church worship, there may be many forms of participating activities happening during the teaching. This non-linear postmodern mindset also means that "truth" isn't given by the one person with the power but rather a hearing of many stories and discerning accordingly within the context of that community.

Chapter 5: Living as Community
Community is about the practice of peoplehood. It is more than a place to meet - it is about the people meeting; a movement not an institution. Community is a vital part of the emerging church but it must be a Kingdom minded community. This means there must be an understanding that it exists in this world which always needs redemption. The church/community isn't priority but rather is a servant and a sign of the coming Kingdom. Therefore, it is the duty of the church/community to ask Kingdom questions above everything else. This abandons nationalism, individualism and consumerism. It is again, identifying with Jesus.

Chapter 6: Welcoming the Stranger
The emerging church and its postmodern mindset creates a community that believes in inclusion, versus modernity and it's exclusivity. It is the belief that ancient Israel was about clean and unclean but Jesus came to rip the temple curtain and to break all those barriers. Forgiveness and acceptance was not about the temple any longer but about Jesus - the Kingdom is for all. All are invited to the table to partake of the Lord's supper. All aspects of the church are about the community and welcoming the stranger into the community - therefore it about being transparent and letting such things as apologetics be known through action in their servant lifestyle.

Chapter 7: Serving with Generosity
The emerging church is not about building consumer driven congregations but rather active participants. It is no longer about satisfying the customer but reacting a community of activists. Service is therefore not limited to those who are paid staff but rather embodies the entire community. It's more than just social service, as it's more than just political viewpoints. It is also more than just church service. It is about serving Christ by serving the world through our vocations.

Chapter 8: Participating as Producers
This expands the distinction between developing a consumer driven modeled church (the seeker church) versus a participatory church (the emerging church). Modernity gave way to the idea that people coming to worship would sit and watch whereas the emerging church in its Kingdom question mindset are calling all people of the church community to be participants in the worship service. This is a holistic approach to worship and all believers are welcomed and given space to share their stories.

Chapter 9: Creating as Created Beings
As talked about in class, churches must be contextualized for the community their in. You cannot have a McDonaldized church that is not applicable or relevant to the community it is trying to serve. Rather, each church must allow their people express themselves creatively - not just be molded out of the same cookie-cutter style (can I just personally input how horrible Koreans are at this? We thrive on cookie-cutting principles!). Because we are all created beings, we must understand that we are creative in our nature. And expressing ourselves through our creativity is participating in God.

Chapter 10: Leading as a Body
Modern churches leadership that is based on power, control and submission to authority must be altered to resemble the Kingdom of God more. It should be about the priesthood of all believers. Therefore, the first to be release is control and power. Creative freedom of all believers must be allowed and it cannot be the vision of the leader but rather the vision of all. It's about groups that are not about dynamic leaders but about community. Very important is the idea that leadership is based on gifting - that is the authenticity of acknowledging limitations and empowering others. It is decentralizing power and authority.

Chapter 11: Merging Ancient and Contemporary Spirituality
Emerging churches aren't trying to connect with any ancient practice. Rather it is about selecting highly participative practices integrating body and spirit. One example of this is Celtic spirituality (more in the UK than the US). Although there is some adoption of charismatic practices, it is does not emphasize the hyperactivity of pentecostal churches. There is an emphasis on liturgy and monastic spirituality and the daily spiritual disciplines. There is also a restoration of the Eucharist being the center of worship.

Book Review 5 - Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity

Chapter 1: Whither Christianity?
Tertullian's account of how Christianity brought forth a new philosophy and community. It wasn't limited to just one certain culture or people group. It was not limited to any physical entity such as a building or place. It crossed all barriers and this is what gave it power and influence. It wasn't a secret society that met underground. It wasn't a faith that was forced upon anyone. All people volunteered to join and be persecuted and most importantly to serve one another and attend to the poor. It was truly something unlike any other faith before it.

Another significance of this, was the development of the idea of one's salvation. This becomes a fully Christian concept but derives from Sophoclean urge of teaching a "plan of salvation" and the whole premise of an possible loving relationship between the forgiving God and redeemable humanity. There was also the belief that this salvation was not based on material possession nor personal accomplishments and merit.

Chapter 2: The Christian Movement in Islamic Perspective
AS Christianity readily moved into influencing government leaders and Christendom grew, so did the opposition from the Muslim world, which reached its height with the Crusades. It is during the 7th century where Islam really begins to rise and expand and therefore is probably the greatest challenge that prevents the continual exponential growth of Christianity across the Northern Africa. The belief in the Muslim world was that Christianity in and of itself might be an authentic faith, but the influence of the Roman empire tainted its authenticity and made it corrupt and tainted unlike Islam and the Qur'an. The Enlightenment also shifted certain philosophies of Christianity in its treatment of the poor and other social progress.

Chapter 3: Old World Precedents and New World Directions
The fear of the spread of Islam was one of the reasons for the rush for imperialism around the world (especially for the new world). And as colonialism continued all throughout the world, the Christian message spread as a new world religion due to Europe's cultural influence. However, the message ironically also sowed seeds of social consciousness and the injustices of what happened especially in South America. Catholic missions began to decline because of its dependence on the slave trade for supplies. Protestant Christianity took hold of this call to justice movement to show that Catholicism didn't have the market on missions.

Chapter 4: The Yogi and the Commissar
As time progressed, scholars began focusing on the notion that missionaries were simply agents that were part of the imperialistic movement. Although this is true to some degree, to simplify missions with this kind of mentality is not correct. If anything, we need to look throughout history as a tug of war struggle of these two philosophies - political control and the pure spirit of missions.

Chapter 5: Pillar of Charismatic Renewal
The Pietist movement in Europe in the 18th Century shifted the Christian movement to reclaim religion's moral autonomy against those who would be seen as "compromisers." The joining of faith and politics was frowned upon in the view that the world was corrupt and therefore was a negative influence of the Christian faith/church. This anti-colonial Christian view was especially accepted in Africa. This led to churches to separate from their European churches to create a new faith community.

Chapter 6: Resurgence and the New Order in West Africa
The reconciliation of old and new influences is what Christian missionaries were able to use to maintain influence. Recounts the new movement within West Africa and the mixture of Muslim influence into Christian faith.

Chapter 7: Civilization and the Limits of Mission
Christian mission is weakened if Europe's influence is taken out of the mix. It is Europe's world power that allows Christianity to be a world religion. Take that away, then you take away its impact. But this also means that Europe and Western Christianity set itself up for a fall, as culture and its dependence on the material got in the way of the message. It is this Western cultural captivity of the gospel that needed to be released. Boundaries needed to be redrawn and Christian values and significance needed to be restated and re-understood. It had to be more than just civilization's culture. The push through nurses, preachers, teachers, etc was what brought back the advancement.

Chapter 8: Christian Awakening and the New China
China was an exceptionally difficult territory to break through. There was great opposition again Western control and Marxism was highly influential. The government wanted to gain control of the church, as to maintain full sovereignty which caused conflict with the Catholic church - loyalty to the church or government? Through the decades, it is most likely the underground charismatic/pentecostal movement that has brought the growth of Christianity in China, rather than the hierarchical public church.

Conclusion
There is a third wave of Christian influence happening that is not limited to Western Christianity. A new true world Christianity with inter-ethnic and interracial climates is on the move. It is now the time for the church to be an influence and build bridges of reconciliation between these cultures in order in order to maintain influence.

What can we learn from the Puritans' belief that they were the new chosen people? As I get older, I'm continuously realizing that when we face God, we're mostly going to realize that we were actually quite wrong about a lot of things. Having grown up in a really conservative Pentacostal church, attending Biola AND Talbot, I can't help but look back at my journey and see how far we've come. Many of my friends who still connect themselves to those traditions jokingly call me a liberal pagan who's lost her way from the straight and narrow path of Jesus. But can we really be so arrogant of a people group to think that God exclusively speaks to us and us alone? Isn't this the same belief that the Catholics had and still maintain? Listening to Dr. Bolger during lecture just makes me think bad just 4 years ago when most of the Christian population was crying foul play about global warming and that God has blessed us with this earth so why can't we milk it for all it's worth?! Those who are warning are delusional and Al Gore is the anti-Christ. But what do I see on the cover of one of the magazines about a year ago? Global warming and the need to preserve the beautiful earth that God's blessed us with. What the?! And if you've got about 3 hours, I can regale you with tails of what people thought at Biola - "wait, you're a Democrat? Wait what? But you're Christian! Democrats are evil!" Goodness. When we get caught up in being so dogmatic about these issues and not remember that we are actually finite beings, we will make horrible mistakes and viciously taint the name of Jesus. Why must we be so insistent that we're right and you're wrong when we really don't know. I'm not one to advocate that post-modern philosophy is right. I do believe in absolutes. I do believe that there is a black and white. I just keep thinking that maybe we won't really know what those black and whites are until after the fact. Or maybe we should just take a moment to think about such things before declaring anything. When the one person shared about how she'd been baptized 3 times, I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. I, too, have been baptized 3 times (twice as an infant and once more as a teenager). Again, I don't say all this to make a point that nothing is important or can be figured out. I just think that we need to pause before we let our spiritual pride take over and become the monster that we've seen it become in the past.

Calvin's whole idea of trying to create a Christendom world is... nice in theory? But it's also the same way that Big Brother is technically nice in theory. Or the whole Tom Cruise's whole Minority Report movie is nice in theory. Is our objective to create a world that is so segregated from what is considered "secular"? Is that what Christ's prayer was for us when he prayed that his disciples be in the world but not of the world? It does seem that in a perfect world, it would be beautiful to create a city or town in which people are nice and kind and things that are unethically are dealt with in a fair and just manner. But then again, it just kind of creeps me all over - kind of the same feeling I get when I drive into Irvine. Big brother is watching...

It's continually sad to reflect on how all throughout history our nature as people continually stifles what God is doing. I just wonder how we as the church can maintain the priesthood of all believers and not have it usurped with the need to establish hierarchy or systems. Does this mean to keep things on a grassroots level? I don't think that is the answer since we have many larger churches that are successful in maintain somewhat of this idea. I can't also help to think about the whole notion of fear that we have - fear of change, fear of losing control. Brafman and Beckstrom talk about this in their book, The Starfish and the Spider.  How much do we stifle the movement of the Spirit and the growth of the church because we need to maintain control. Even as I reflect back on the way that I had done ministry, I believe so much more ministry could have happened if I just trusted more in my leaders and feared less that something would go wrong or veer off in a different direction. So how much of this demand for hierarchy is actually because of the leadership involved and egos? I will be the first to step up and say many times in the earlier part of my ministry, I wanted to be sure that I was affirmed as the pastor. It's sad but true.

It's amazing to know that the medium of print played such an important role in getting the Protestant movement started. How much of what we do in ministry today, both overseas and domestically, is more effective because of the internet? We are a society that is more connected electronically and I think that's a powerful tool for us to have. My mother's always saying how she feels that the next generation just knows so much more than hers and feels that we're growing up so much faster because of this. I wonder though, how much are some ministries falling behind because they're unwilling to change with the times and how will this affect who is going to be the next influential mover/shaker of our generation. Or perhaps those who are moving more slowly and cautiously are keeping the checks and balance of things so that the head of the pack isn't running too far ahead and heading into dangerous territory.