Time for a New-Fashioned Book Burning

Last week I got a flyer from a local Christian bookstore (which I won't name since it wouldn't be "Christian" of me to do so). It seems it is time for Buzz Night, a time when youth are encouraged to bring in their "secular" CDs, posters, and movies and have them destroyed. In return, they get the priviledge of 20% off a Christian CD from the bookstore.

Reactions: anger, pity, "I'm cancelling the church's account," laughter, "Maybe this could be a teaching moment."

So let's learn:

1. Is everything that is not specifically labeled "Christian" an obstacle to an authentic spiritual life?
2. What is the difference between "secular" and "sacred"?
3. Does Christ destroy culture or transform it?
4. Is it ethical to profit from your faith? (Yes I know I am a pastor and receive a salary for my work. But is that different from offering my book for sale on the communion table before the service?)
5. Is it ethical to destroy somebody's art just because they don't call themselves Christian? (Many "secular" artists are in fact Christians - they just don't market their art that way)

Finally, what should I do in this situation? Write them a letter, boycott, picket, or just pray for their enlightenment?

"What is Religion?"

With Tom Cruise and Scientology all over the news recently, I have been focusing on the question, "What is religion?" Yesterday a local disc-jockey commented, "Doesn't a religion have to have some type of deity figure?" (Scientology does, I'm led to believe) The answer is "no," at least in the eyes of the U.S. government, Buddhists, and Unitarian Universalists. But what exactly does constitute a "religion," as compared to a club, cult, fraternity, or any other community of people united for a common purpose?

The answer, I imagine, is as multifarious as the various religions and the diverse people who practice them. What is religious for one is secular for another. The holy and the profane are in the beholder's eye.

Recently, a salesman was sitting in my office and I was telling him the story about how the church I serve used to own a liquor store and about how our church building was originally purchased by townsfolk to keep it from being turned into a juke joint. He said that if he ever started a church it would a combination blues bar and sanctuary. The language of the Blues was religious for him.

Why not? At least I could go to the same place on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Hell, I could just sleep at the church/bar, shower, and be ready to preach the Blues without an ounce of hypocrisy seeping through my beer-soaked forehead sweat.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I am back from a long absence due to serving as co-director for a church camp in Gordon, Georgia. For the 2-3 of you who read this blog, I apologize for my lack of writing.

The theme for the week was "God's Calling," which is (in my opinion) overused and poorly understood. As the Church (in all its manifestations) struggles to find clergy, I imagine it will continue to push the idea of "calling," especially to its young people.

What does it mean for God to "call" when you don't believe in "God" as as a personlike being, separated from you; when you believe in God as the Totality of All-That-Is, including but not limited to who-you-are.

What if you never find your call? Does your life have no purpose? Recently I heard about a woman who was devasted after reading The Purpose Driven Life because she didn't know what her purpose was.

If life has a "purpose," I think it is more general and universal. Wholeness, community, joy - these are the purposes of Life and its up to us to work out the specifics.

Glad to be back with you,
Brent