Holy Spirit pt2: “the assembly, potlucks and sexuality”

I was not present at the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario this past July.  However, in hearing a report back I am beginning to wish that I had been. I understand that in the next coming years there will be significant discernment on the matter of sexuality as it relates to the church, the bible, and our world. The obvious ‘white elephant in the room’ when we talk about sexuality and the church at the moment the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Questioning community and it’s interaction and participation within the greater body of Mennonite Church Canada.

Good!  It’s about time we roll up our sleeves and talk about this… like really talk about this. Dare I say that I think it is coming about 20 years too late?

Jack Suderman wrote a brilliant paper called “Being a Faithful Church: Testing the Spirits in the Midst of Hermeneutical Ferment”which makes a strong case for the consistent necessity of good ol’ fashion communal believers church discernment on the places and spaces where the Holy Spirit is and moving toward.  The dream of believers church discernment would be a community interpreting scripture and it’s own immediate cultural context on a continual basis in an effort to, hopefully, incarnate the hope of the gospel as the Holy Spirit leads. This discussion my friends is one place in which we find the Holy Spirit in Anabaptist/Mennonite theology.  The thing is, it’s all grounded in a people gathered in faith.  I don’t know about you, but when I think of gathering and Mennonites I think of potlucks.

And I love potlucks.  I love going down into the church basement and finding tons of similar looking salads, cold farmer sausage, jello with the fruit in it, and chilli. The even better part about the whole thing is the opportunity to connect with other members of the community who, in an ideal Menno world, brought food too. It’s a beautiful picture seeing a bunch of people, sitting together, partaking in a common meal, who are wholly gathered in the name of the great “I AM.” It’s but one picture of a community incarnating unity. Its a unity grounded in the unifying grandness of a worthy to be worshipped God.

This doesn’t just happen at potlucks.

The beautiful part about this whole discussion is the assumption that the Holy Spirit is present where the few or many are gathered (Matthew 18:20 is an interesting text to take a look at, particularly in light of this discussion… read it here). This includes potlucks and nitty gritty discernment gatherings. It really is a back to the basics moment in Mennonite/Anabaptist praxis. Here is an opportunity before the Anabaptist/Mennonite community to participate with the Holy Spirit in the discernment of a fundamental issue as it relates to something that is incredibly human.  It presents an opportunity to strive to be in touch with the active God of the past, the future, and the here and now.

I have been part of discussions on the topic of human sexuality before. Some were positive and others were not. But, even though this communal discernment thing is daunting I take hope in the God of hope. I take hope that it will be done in respect and mutual understanding and being ok to disagree. I hope that a community of people who are united in faith can find room for all
people with various thoughts and wonderings and count them as valuable for the discernment of this topic.  But I would also like to see this conversation move into a more tangible reality, rather than the pure talk that can dominate and castrate issues like this.  Ultimately making it impossible to move into the practical.

The trick then will be to make this discernment full of respect and understanding.  Which means no ‘us’ vs ‘them language.’  If there is some of that language in this post, it is most certainly not intentional.  It is a tough road to navigate, however it is also a prime opportunity for a community to discern the Spirits moving.  What does the ideal discussion and discernment look like if we are to be in tune with the Holy Spirit?  How does the Spirit of God manifest itself in difficult times like this?  Other denominations have tackled this conversation and the implications have been mixed.  I hope that we can push forward on this without any division, which is a common hope of many.  But, before we think of that I can’t help but wonder if the most important elements moving forward with this discernment on human sexuality is connecting wholly and completely with a God who is bigger than that which could divide.  Let’s be getting our ‘discernment on’ over a good ol’ fashion Mennonite potluck and talk life and God which would be a back to the basics of Mennonite/Anabaptist praxis.  Can you imagine, different people with different points of view, coming from different places and different life experiences gathered together sharing a common meal?

(for other posts in this series)

Holy Spirit pt 1 “the crazy uncle nobody talks about”

Holy Spirit pt 3 “where you are present matters” 

The Winnipeg Jets and Franklin Graham

Franklin Graham’s “Rock the River” concert is coming to Winnipeg on September 17th.  For the Anabaptist Mennonite community who are grounded in peace, anything Franklin Graham is a polarizing issue.  There are many elements that facilitate the polarity, like the nature and relationship between evangelism and discipleship.  But a large part of the debate is centered around Franklin Graham’s public support for war.  There are some within the Anabaptist community who believe that the evangelistic tone of the events are worth overlooking the fact that Franklin Graham went on national television in the United States and blessed some bombs that were to be used as instruments of war.  Others say there is no way the Anabaptist community can support an evangelistic event that is headlined by an individual who supports war .

A very interesting discussion that flirts with some of the more fundamental issues within Anabaptism.  One of which, is the relationship with the military.

Interestingly, the Jets are back in Winnipeg.  Frankly it’s about time.  Winnipeg is a hockey hotbed with a rabid fan base who deserve an NHL team!   The Winnipeg Jets organization came out with a new logo on Friday that features a CF Hornet fighter jet with the Canadian Maple Leaf, which is featured on the Canadian Flag, as the backdrop.  The logo is overtly militaristic to the point that it is fundamental to the design and is ultimately a shout out to the long history Winnipeg has with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

For the Anabaptist community, where is the line?  Is it hypocritical to object the Franklin Graham crusades, and buy Jets merch plastered with overtly militaristic design?  It seems too easy to overlook the military element of the Jets new logo in the name of sports.  I offer this as a discussion piece for a community grounded in peace.

I must write a disclaimer however, (a lame cop out maybe?). I’m not sure where I am on this.  I merely think that it is something that deserves more thought and discussion from the hockey fans within the Anabaptist community.  I’m just so darn curious.

Holy Spirit Pt1: “the crazy uncle nobody talks about!”

I once overheard friends of mine refer to the Holy Spirit in Mennonite theology as the crazy uncle that nobody wants to talk about.  You invite him to family gatherings, acknowledge his presence, but hope he doesn’t cause too much trouble.  The last thing you want is for him to suddenly inspire someone to speak in tongues, speak prophetic words into someone’s life, or break people out into spontaneous energetic intercessory prayer.

I don’t think it was a piercing critique.  But it was a comment that certainly got my attention simply because at the time I couldn’t remember when I witnessed someone speaking in tongues, or speak prophetic words into someone’s life within the context of a Anabaptist church.  As I continued to ponder this comment, I did a quick scan of my 20 years spent in Anabaptist circles and I could certainly see how in some instances the Holy Spirit has been seen as the ‘crazy uncle’ nobody wants to talk about.  The ‘crazy uncle’ can be awkward.

There are stories about this awkward ‘crazy uncle.’

I heard a story about a guy who had prophetic words spoken into his life by someone with a microphone.  The microphoned prophet, inspired by the ‘spirit of God’ went on to tell this individual that he should choose a certain vocation in life because he was gifted in these areas.  A few arduous years later, he finally came to the conclusion that this prophet with a mic was a bit off and he was not gifted in these areas.  These were years that took a lot out of him, and ultimately years he would like to get back.  But because the words came from a prophet inspired by the spirit, he had to take them seriously.

The movie Borat is a mocumentary about a reporter from Kazakhstan coming to America.  Included in his journey is a pit stop at a church in the Mid-West United States.  During one part of the service many of the people were speaking in tongues.  He took the opportunity to do the same.  He proceeded to make a mockery of the church and those around him by babbling uselessly and having people intensely praying for him.  This is an example of a story caught on film.  But it is a story that is not uncommon and have heard similar first hand experiences.

There is a good chance those of you who read this are thinking of a story right now…  stories that are awkward or worse.  This is what crazy uncles that you don’t want to talk about do.  Make things awkward, so you just don’t invite him to the party anymore.  Ultimately, I believe these are not the actions of a worthy to be worshipped Trinitarian God who actively loves and seeks redemption and restoration for humanity and creation.  The Holy Spirit from that God is definitely invited to the party.

It becomes awkward when people take these supernatural elements of the Holy Spirit and turn it into a show for others.

Speaking in tongues and prophetic words are biblical expressions of the Holy Spirit.  A quick read of 1 Corinthian’s 12:4-10 will identify these ‘supernatural’ gifts of the Spirit as good and holy.  I think about what my friends said about the Holy Spirit in Mennonite circles being the crazy uncle, are they accurate?   Are these expressions vacant from the Anabaptist world because we treat the Holy Spirit like a crazy uncle?

The Holy Spirit is not limited to these supernatural forms mentioned above.  To say so would be to limit God’s interaction with the world.  This is why the critique was not so concerning to me.  God’s Spirit is active within Anabaptism.  There isn’t an overall disassociation with the Holy Spirit because it is the ‘crazy uncle.’  I just haven’t seen anyone speak in tongues or speak prophetic words into someone’s life.  The void of this in some Anabaptist circles is definitely worth exploring and will speak to some of the distinctives of the Anabaptism that we see today.

(for other posts in this series)

Holy Spirit pt 2 “the assembly, potlucks, and sexuality”

Holy Spirit pt 3 “where you are present matters”

Ramble Post: “Blessed?”

I am blessed.  Not because I have stuff.  Though I am thankful that I do.  And it’s not because I have health, though I am glad I and many of the closest people around me do.  I am blessed because I have begun to understand the deep value of the relationships in my life.  Relationships are life-giving, they give me a glimpse of the divine, not stuff.  This is where I am finding my blessing recently.  My wife, son, family, friends and Jesus are significantly life giving.  My Nintendo Wii and ipod, do not give me the same kind of life.  They take my time, but don’t give me life.  But I have wondered why I’ve been thinking this way lately. 

I have always had a hard time when people talk about being blessed with all the material wonderfulness of the North American life.  I still cringe remembering a prayer said by a guy who wanted to sell his perfectly working car for a better one.  Is that something that we pray about?  But heck, I’ve significantly participated in this consumerist reality and will be looking to sell my house at a good price.  Next on my list is an Amazon Kindle and that’s only because I can’t afford an ipad.  I feel like a hypocrite, this is the problem.   

Am I blessed because I have my basic material needs met?  That’s the other thing.  Food on the table, roof over my head, an education, and a Pontiac Vibe are not privileges people world wide are able to enjoy.  People are dying in Africa cause they don’t have access to clean drinking water.  People in my neighbourhood resort to petty crime in order to feed their families.  And there I sit in my house, playing my Nintendo Wii, while listening to my ipod, wishing for an ipad, with my son crawling all over me while I wait for the pizza guy to show up with my sustenance for the evening.  Am I blessed?  If the answer is yes, then why do other people not receive the same blessings?  Answering no to that question feels so much easier. 

When I feel my son’s tender cheek pressed up against mine because he missed me, that is when I feel blessed.  When I can hang out with dear friends who know me like no other, and accept me for who I am, I feel blessed.  When I lock eyes with my wife, whom I know will walk with me for the rest of my life.  I know I’m blessed.  When I think of Jesus and his presence in my life.  I am blessed because it gives me life.  The little boy in Africa who gets a clean glass of water for the first time in a long time is blessed because the water gives him life. 

Blessings are that which give us life, no matter how painful it may be.  If it gives us life, dare I say it is a blessing?   But I just don’t get why others are not “blessed” and refused life by not having their basic human rights met, or denied any hint of a healthy life giving relationship.   So, ultimately I wonder what blessings that come from a good and loving God look like.

Maybe the some of old school Anabaptists of the 16th century got it right when they shared everything.  They shared resources and relationships.  Man, that is what it means to be community.  Maybe that is how it works, though I don’t think that divine blessings are like a currency where some have it and some don’t.  I think the blessing is found in what gives us life.  Right now anyway, I think it is found in the relationships that we build and in sharing the resources God certainly intended for all humanity.  It seems like a way to acknowledge, identify and celebrate the common humanity in everyone.  The humanity that God loves equally.  I continue to wonder about this.  How does God bless you?

“Ramble Posts” are little emotional rants of mine that I feel inspired to write from time to time. They represent my incomplete thoughts and wonderings. They are not meant to offend, rather to start a conversation about things that I have been thinking about. This is the first official one.