Culture: - Wrecked for the Ordinary

Book Review: Matthew Paul Turner's Hear No Evil

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hear No Evil's subtitle is "My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost". A lot of it is set in the Christian music world of the 80's and 90's. Matthew Paul Turner, the author, was raised Fundamentalist Baptist; he didn't go to a movie until he was 19 years old, and his mother thought Sandy Patty was the Devil. Very strict upbringing, to say the least.

  I really like to laugh and listen to music. They are both crucial to my mental, spiritual and physical health. That's why I especially loved this book; it made me laugh, and it was about how music affected the author.   I appreciated Turner's previous book Churched, as it had a lot to say about his upbringing and early childhood. However, I particularly enjoyed this Hear No Evil due to its richness in music references.

I have been a long time fan of Turner's blog; it's irreverent, edgy and his collection of Jesus pictures are book-worthy! His Twitter commentary on everything from American Idol to the Olympics is also hysterical.

Having been raised Baptist and then becoming a Christian at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, and being an extreme music lover freak, I related to so much of what Turner writes about in Hear No Evil. Swaggart's church and ministry was as legalistic as there ever was. We couldn't listen to any secular music, definitely not go to a R-rated movie, and a favorite phrase of the men at JSBC (Jimmy Swaggart Bible College) was, "Submit, woman." I was even accused of being a Jezebel and lusting after a guy friend for kissing him on the cheek after he fixed my car. There was talk of "Carole's lust problem," and it all came to a head with a huge meeting of friends concerned with my "lusting" after this friend. We eventually all recovered and lived to look back and laugh at our extreme fear, witch hunting and immaturity, but at the time it was very traumatizing to be told you had a "lust problem" just because you kissed a guy on the cheek.

I loved this book. I related to it. The legalism, the fundamentalism, the music. I laughed many times, said amen many times, and said ouch several times. I even cried twice. Now, that is the making of a great book, if you ask me. Some favorite quotes that I highlighted were:

 "[P]eople talking about how to create something 'real' and 'authentic' rather then just being real and authentic. "

  "After a good chiding, which included quoting Jesus, Mother Theresa, and Mr. Rogers, she eventually diagnosed me with faith-based narcissism..."

"The manner in which you integrate your model of Christianity into conversations and other people's realities reveal and unhealthy necessity for dominance and self-gratification. You become eccentric and often passively aggressive.."

"The odd thing about Christians pursuing fame is that they do it while pretending not to be interested in fame."  

Find out more about Hear No Evil on Matthew Paul Turner's blog.

You can also get an autographed copy of Hear No Evil at ChristianBook.com.

Carole is a writer, artist, singer and Orphan Care Advocate. She is married to Dean and mother of three children - one miracle of birth, one adopted from here in the States, and one just adopted from Ethiopia. She blogs at The Wardrobe and the White Tree.

Never Growing Up: Spiritual Lessons Learned from Peter Pan

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"All this has happened before, and it will all happen again. But this time it happened in London. It happened on a quiet street in Bloomsbury. That corner house over there is the home of the Darling family. And Peter Pan chose this particular house because there were people here who believed in him..."

It was 1904.

Scottish novelist James Barrie's character Peter Pan, a rebellious young boy who refused to grow up, had begin to attract major public attention. He was introduced in the book The Little White Bird in 1902. While this book was a novel meant for adults, it quickly caught on to a much greater audience. Peter Pan's fame exploded when portions of the novel were turned into a live action play, The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, in December of 1904.

Forty-nine years later, Walter Elias Disney cultivated the story into a feature-length animated movie.

In the Disney film, Peter's character is a fierce young boy who is adamantly sure that he never wants to become an adult. He is obsessed with adventure and stories. His imagination runs wild. He is careless, but courageous. He is relaxed, but resolute. He hasn't yet grown up.

In our culture's never ending quest to obtain material wealth and prosperity, is it wrong to say that perhaps, maybe, possibly, we left our imaginations behind?

Could it be that we are so busy creating profits that we have forgotten to create the future? Is it feasible to suggest that in a world dominated by stock market numbers, political wars, and corporate scandals, what's missing is storytelling?

Beyond storytelling, perhaps we don't even believe in stories anymore. Maybe our imaginations have eroded on a linear, or even worse, an exponential pace, with our age. Maybe our tolerance of pure "faith" has been destroyed by the scientific quest for hard knowledge that can be proved.

"Peter Pan chose this particular house because there were people here who believed in him."

Throughout history, God has used many people to accomplish His plans for humanity. I believe that He either works because of us, or in spite of us. Either way, we will be used. Which side are you on?

In our daily quest to pursue truth, maybe imagination is the missing ingredient.

Walt Disney once famously remarked, "I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment. I am never satisfied with my work. I resent the limitations of my own imagination."

When we began to believe, things start to happen-often far beyond our wildest dreams. Imagination is the first step in any journey. When we lose our imagination, we become domesticated, and domestication is a sworn enemy of any person of faith.

According to Jesus, "Children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."

If imagination is as essential to life as history shows, here's to never growing up.

Tim is a writer hoping that somehow, someway, his work will influence the world in a positive way. He is currently an undergraduate student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Hook Up or Get Out: God's Prescription for Holiness

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2).

"Hook up or get out." That's what my brother always says to me. What he really meant is... don't mess around.

Isn't that the typical day-in-the life of a 20-something?

We're not sure of what we want or even who we are, so why the heck would it matter if I'm ____? Fill in the blank. Making out with strangers? Sleeping in someone else's bed? Taking prescription medication? Drugs? Consuming large amounts of alcohol? Anything to numb the void or the pain of life.

This is why it is so important to be cut off! Jesus feels the same way about us how we feel about our relationships. Hook up or get out. If a relationship isn't going well - get out already. Geez!

The boys I've dated have all been nicknamed thanks to my small group at church. Let's see there's Pinky, Twitter Boy 1 & 2 and... I'm trying to remember what other nicknames. I'm not one of those Christian girls who's kissed dating goodbye. Trust me, been there done that.

By the time I reached the age of 25, and my roommates were married and moved out already I wondered what's wrong with me? So I drank. Everyone around me knew how grossly I underestimated my potential pursuing mini-relationships that had nothing to do with Jesus and His holiness.

I am worth pursuing. And so are you. Jesus thinks so too. That's why he cuts us up into tiny little pieces so we will bear even more fruit.

Being in a pseudo-relationship might feel good in the moment because it's better than being alone, but as long as we're refusing to grow--the longer and harder Jesus continues to cut. Sometimes it's by our own choices and sometimes it's Jesus growing us deeper in Him and His holiness. Sometimes both!

Dear Jesus,

Sometimes we underestimate our potential. We settle for less than your best. We bear little to no fruit-that is until you get a hold of us. Don't let us hook up with the world, but get us out of our own selfishness to bear much fruit for you. Prune us. Shape us. Mold us. You are the Vine and we are the branches!

Amen.

Renee is a spirited speaker and writer to the 20-somethings and her first book releases in March of 2010. To listen to a former podcast she did on this subject, click here. You can also follow here blog.

Faith, Hope, and Love in the 21st Century: A Manifesto?

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Let's face it: Christianity in the Western world is quickly changing. If you've had a conversation with an average person on the street about what she believes about God or religion, it shouldn't surprise you to hear that she probably doesn't have regard for those topics. More and more people don't know what they believe, or simply don't believe in much at all. Many Christians are even having crises of faith. The things our parents believed about politics, the world, and spirituality in many ways now seem rote, in dire need of being reinvented.

A variety of contributing factors can be credited for this changing cultural landscape: the end of the industrial age, the birth of free information, and technology that focuses on the life of the individual. One reason why so much social change seems to be happening is because people in the West are changing. We no longer blindly accept the propositional truths and traditions passed on to us by our predecessors. Many are questioning everything; they just can't seem to help it. Call it postmodernism or crazy teenage rebellion, but something about our culture is definitely changing.

And still, there is a group of us who think that this world can be redeemed, that God has a plan, and that the message of Jesus is somehow universally relevant, even to cynics like me. We believe that faith, hope, and love are still the greatest elements of the universe, and we want to see them, receive them, and share them.

Here's what I think that looks like in the 21st Century:

Faith as a conversation. You've probably heard this buzzword thrown around more than you have cared to hear. I know I have. Conversation. It's been overused by many progressive Christians (you may use or have heard the words "emergent" or "emerging") to the point that it now comes off as arrogant.

But what could be more beautiful than a conversation?

There's a story in the Christian Scriptures where Jesus reveals himself as the rightful king of Israel to a promiscuous woman at a well. How does he do it? With a church service? Big tent revival with flashing fanfare and confetti? Nope. With a conversation. There's something genuine, transcendent even, that is communicated in a conversation that can't be transferred any other way. Sharing one's faith through conversing is a must for the age in which we are now entering.

Hope as a tangible reality. We Americans abuse the word "hope." I hope I see you tomorrow. I hope to go to a movie tonight. I hope the Braves win the World Series this year. But "hope" means so much more than that, and as a friend of mine once said, "Everyone in the world needs hope." In this new age, Christ-followers need to begin expressing our hope in more tangible ways: an encouraging word to someone who's depressed, an act of generosity towards the impoverished, a grandiose gesture of dignity to someone struggling with self-worth.

This means that we need to do more than tell people about heaven. We must show it to them.

Love as an action. The same that was said about hope can be said for love. No three words in the English language have become quite as passe as "I love you." Yes, I've heard that before. But what does love look like?

Can I taste, smell, and even touch your love? More importantly, will it touch me?

Jesus showed love by dying for the ragamuffins. He loved before those whom he loved knew how to love him back. God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to die for it. The apostles loved Jesus so much that they rejoiced when they were beaten for him; they loved him back by giving their lives.

We need to relearn love -- messy, dirty love that costs us something. And when the world sees that kind of love, it will realize that something is missing. A ridiculous gesture of grace communicates so much more than a T-shirt or billboard that reads: "Love the sinner. Hate the sin."

I hope that this doesn't come off sounding pretentious or naive. I really do think that the world is changing, as are those of us inhabiting it. I believe in God and in his ability to redeem anything, but I think that it is essential for followers of Christ to grasp the reality of this shift and adapt to it. If faith, hope, and love are the essential elements of a meaningful Christian life, then we should consider what they mean to us and the world this day-in-age.

Above are just a few ways in which I think that faith, hope, and love need to be rehashed in the 21st Century. What about you?

Here are some other voices, participating in the conversation about faith, hope, and love (email us to be added to the list):

John Sylvest - I've Already Got Truth, Beauty, & Goodness! Why Bother with Faith, Hope & Love?

Matt Snyder - Faith, Hope, and Love: Expressed in Simplicity

Jesse Medina - Faith, Hope, and Love in the 21st Century

Kiel Spelts - Faith, Hope and Live in the 21st Century

Taylor Philips - These Three Remain

Jeff graduated from Illinois College, a small liberal arts school, with a degree in Spanish and Religion. He lives in Nashville, TN. He works for Adventures In Missions, edits this silly little magazine, and loves to do new things. He just got married in January. Check out his blog: Pilgrimage of the Heart.

The Myth of Education (How to Really Change the World)

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The end justifies the means. Or does it?

As people of faith, whether we identify ourselves with Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, even Atheism, this is a question we must continually wrestle with. It's easy to say the end justifies the means; it's easy to say the means justifies the end. It's hard to dig deep and humbly admit that maybe we really don't know. To believe is human; to doubt divine. (Peter Rollins)

It is with this mindset we must approach bureaucratic institutions of all shapes, sizes, colors, and forms. Again, it's easy to fire off mindless criticisms that emotionally attack the dignity of corporations and organizations. Similarly, it's easy to defend institutions by evaluating their teleological elements. Only the truly courageous willingly venture into the realm of social agnosticism, freely confessing that they see life in a diverse array of colors, while the rest of us ignorantly look on with black and white lenses.

Envision a political protest (pick your poison, whether it's abortion, homosexuality, foreign policy-they're all similar) with two warring sides in fierce opposition to each other. They form picket lines featuring offensive signage attacking the integrity of the other perspective. Angry shouts emerge from both camps criticizing the views of their political enemies. One begins to wonder whether they are against their opponents' policies or the opponents themselves. As is normal protocol, a narrow space of neutral ground is honored that separates the warring factions. Perhaps it prevents physical violence from breaking out.

Perhaps it is God's way of telling us that there is a third way. Maybe Jesus wasn't talking about material wealth when he spoke of the "narrow road" in the Gospels. Jewish culture prized philosophers and thinkers who could speak one message with multiple layers of meaning. This is why Jesus communicated in parables.

Life is about connecting the dots.

Imagine the following (cruel) experiment: Ten infants are selected. Five are labeled group "A," and the remaining five comprise group "B." Group "A" is raised in house "A," while group "B" experiences life in house "B." Both communities are raised by the same parents, who equally divide their time between the two houses.

Here's the fun part. Group "A" is positively encouraged to explore all of life's possibilities-speaking, crawling, walking-all of the things that fuel the holistic growth of infants. Group "B" is also encouraged to fulfill their natural curiosity, but they are punished with electric shocks whenever they do anything beyond what is necessary for immediate survival. The infants in group "B" live in a paradoxical world-they are encouraged to question and explore, but punished when they accept the challenge to do so.

It's common for the scenario imagined in this experiment to manifest itself in everyday life. The easiest way to control someone is by creating an unconscious dependency. Seligman's experiments on dogs in the late 1960's proves this theory with disturbing accuracy. When we become dependent on someone for our emotional, financial, or spiritual well-being, we gradually lose our freedom, moment by moment. Learned helplessness slowly creeps into our psyche until we are completely unaware of the liberty we have blindly forfeited.

Eventually, we just accept the way things are as the way things are. We accept how life is because that's how life is. This realization becomes especially dangerous when the complete censorship and control of ideas is assumed by someone we trust. America's defenders are sworn to protect her from "all enemies, foreign and domestic" for a reason.

Our gravest enemies are always those we willingly allow to lead us. When we give them total control, we forfeit the ability to control our own destiny. Who is the fool -- he who runs in the wrong direction, or he who follows?

One of the first rights guaranteed to US citizens is the privilege to bear arms. It is then no surprise that Hitler's first act as the elected leader of Germany was to ban all private weapons. The willingness to rise above oppression is a sacred human experience. Unfortunately, it is rather difficult to rise above oppression when one isn't even aware of its presence.

Vocational spiritual leaders have provided guidance, support, and moral instruction for thousands of years. Humanity has no doubt benefited from the idea of specific individuals specializing in matters of spiritual direction and leadership. It's important not to polarize the issue with black and white generalizations.

It's even more important to rise above our ignorance.

Society as a whole rejects those who are dissatisfied with their experiences. Social dissent is an activity commonly labeled as "childish and ungrateful." After one is labeled as such, punishment is inevitable. Ask Socrates, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nathan Hale-the list goes on. Preserving the status quo is profitable business. Exploring alternatives is dangerous business.

It's time to start questioning the leadership structures of religious institutions. Who decided that one man or woman should possess the final say on all matters? Who decided we should pay them a yearly salary to do so? Who decided spiritual leadership was a full time vocation?

If full-time ministry exists, that relegates the "rest of us" to part-time ministry. As far as Christianity is concerned, this idea is an oxymoron at best, theological heresy at worst.

Questions are at the root of all insurrections, rebellions, and revolutions. Those brave enough to venture into the "no man's land" between the trenches rarely make it out alive. Structures rely on dependency-fueled obedience. Innovation depends on questioning.

It's time to start questioning the ecclesiastical monopoly of pastoral ministry. It's time to embrace heresy as a necessary component to orthodoxy. It's time to explore the unknown. It's time to overcome learned helplessness. It's time to recover the "priesthood of all believers."

Fires are essential to the long term vitality of a forest. Progression depends on destruction.

Well-behaved people have rarely ever changed history.

Grab the torches.

Tim is a writer hoping that somehow, someway, his work will influence the world in a positive way. He is currently an undergraduate student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Book Review: Secular Sabotage

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Who is to blame?

That is the primary question that President of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, is seeking to answer in his new book Secular Sabotage. And the answer? Secular liberals. Even more, it is a calculated war they are waging in their effort to destroy religion and culture in America.

His first chapter, titled "Revenge of the Nihilists" begins by outlining scenarios ranging from a college student being threatened with expulsion because she prayed on campus for her ill professor to an artist being awarded a prize for drawing a picture of a priest performing oral sex on Jesus to a prominent minister imploring the faithful to reject Christianity.

These scenarios, claims Donohue, are not mere over-reactive possibilities, but realities that are quickly coming true due to the hell-bent secular liberals. Instead of seeking reasonable change and tolerance, they are out to destroy those who hold firm to convictions, namely Christian religion.

And who is Donohue calling on to stop these radicals? Conservative Christians. From here, he goes on to outline how exactly they are doing so.

They appeal to this idea called multiculturalism wherein the goal is to be sensitive to those of other cultures. Donohue takes issue with this saying that the world is becoming increasingly less diverse by noting the growth of the few religions Christianity, Islam and Hinduism - surely if only three major religions are growing, the world is becoming less diverse and thus requires less diversity. Looks like he forgot that one's culture is not necessarily defined or encompassed by their religion.

He further goes on to say that, at least in America, since the country was founded on Judeo-Christian values, we have no obligation to tolerate anyone but to those who subscribe to such a worldview. He then launches into how the secular liberals have tried to sabotage Easter, Christmas, the Pledge of Allegiance, Freedom of Speech, the historical accuracy of the resurrection, etc.

A major flaw of the book, or perhaps Donohue, is that he cannot seem to exit his victim mentality. Everything that happens, when it is not in favor of religion, is calculated, the attempt of someone with more than just bias seeking to undermine not just all religions, but Christianity -- and, when he gets real specific, Catholicism (Of course he thinks this... he is the president of the Catholic League, after all). He is also the king of double standards: At one point he is offended at the fact that someone would liken conservative efforts to Hitler when only 12 pages previous, he is content to liken his enemies with the same man.

Needless to say, the book quickly becomes redundant and boring. Who wants to read about how one guy is going to cast the first stone at everyone?

But, he is not altogether wrong. There are those people out there who are seeking to undermine Christianity and do so with calculated efforts. But the solution to this problem is not, as Donohue believes, a resolved effort on the part of conservative Christians to expose those people and their efforts, it is to make disciples.

And that's what Donohue completely misses. The issue, the problem with the state of faith in America, is not a problem "out there" as if the Church is not blame. It is "in here" the result of poor discipleship within the church. And that brings another miss of Donohue's out into the open: the Church's goal should not be to maintain a Christian or Moral America at all. Donohue writes warning of just how wrong America has gone and how we can get it back on track, but since when was the Church's mission "Go and make sure the land in which you live is thoroughly Christian and/or moral?"

In fact, it is that incorrect focus that has put us in this position today. Unfortunately, Donohue is so quick to point out the specks of sawdust in everyone else's eyes that he is unable to remove the log out of his (and the Church's) own.

Jesse is an old soul who loves to read, write, and talk theology and believes most things are better while smoking a cigar. You can read more of his thoughts at his blog, Now But Not Yet.

Book Review: The Love Revolution by Joyce Meyer

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The first time I saw the ministry of Joyce Meyer in action, I was in a small orphanage slum in the middle of Southern India. The kids were gearing up for Christmas and singing carols to usher in the winter solstice. I was with a team of people and we were there to sing with them and lead them in their holiday merriment. It really amazed me because up to that point, I thought Joyce Meyer was another conservative televangelist. That she is not!

In her new book The Love Revolution, Joyce Meyer candidly talks about her childhood, life and how the church needs to get their act together. How religion has become the new God we praise and worship. How some churches will be singing the same old hymns and exclusively hoarding their offerings to line their church pews with gold. It is a challenging book for those who want something more than the dilapidated worn out versions of faith we sometimes defend. Her heart for the poor and unloved shines through like a beacon in the cold dark night that most of them call home.

Take, for her instance, her views on the heartbeat of God in Scripture:

"...more than two thousand Scriptures in the Bible speak of our duty to the poor and needy. Since God inspired that many, there must be a message He is trying to make sure we understand. How important is it for each of us to be involved in some way in helping afflicted people? Probably more important than many of us realize." (p.99)

Her words pack a punch that I think the church needs to hear. It is not the most comfortable book to read. If you are fine where you are in your faith, then this book is surely not for you. If you want your Sunday morning cups of complacency and donuts then don't go out of your way to digest what Joyce is trying to say here.

In one of her chapters, Joyce spends a lot of energy proving that the message of Jesus is for everyone. That He was a rebel with an inclusive cause. That God doesn't play fast and loose with his emotions and flippantly has a list a favorites in His Facebook, that God loves all and wants all people to know Him. She rails against the exclusive mindset that seems to run rampant within our churches and community halls. She spends a lot of energy on how we should be treating one another and shares a list of scripture that demonstrates God's heartbeat for the "one anothers."

If there is one critique about this book, it would be that she seems to overlap a quite bit. She repeats herself in different ways, and tries to find ways to make the same point with alternative terminology. But, if you choose to see beyond this, then you will be a person challenged and changed by what you read. Maybe it is in her repeating that we can find the true point to her message, that the gospel isn't about having someone say a prayer, but it is about love and allowing that love to transform the lives of those we encounter.

She says "I believe telling people what to do and failing to give them any information on how to do it is a huge mistake. Many people talk about love, but just talking doesn't necessarily leave people with any concrete ideas of how to show love in practical ways." (p. 169) Her writing style invites you to be a part of the conversation by asking you questions and then slowly building her case for love, as if you were having a casual chat with some friends at a nearby Starbucks. It makes it easy to follow when you feel like you are part of the conversation, an important aspect I think some authors do not apply when writing. But Joyce does in this book.

Her book includes familiar quotes by familiar people or at least those she thinks we should get to know. For example, on her chapter entitled "Justice for the Oppressed" she quotes former president Theodore Roosevelt when he says "Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong." I think this is a great quote that we should all take on board, especially in light of the ongoing theological argument of focusing on sin rather than grace or vice versa. I think we would do wise to heed these words in light of the numerous events and accounts of injustice that occur globally, but for some, even down their own street where darkness has a found a place to call its own.

I would encourage anyone who is looking for strong sip of caffeinated truth to go out and get this book! It will challenge you. It will frustrate you. It will leave you with more questions along with the ones you already have. But, this is a good place to be. A place of discovery and awe. A place where action rather words rings true and transforms the way we think about life, love and God. Joyce does this. And she invites us to do the same.

George loves the outdoors, singing in the shower and doing underwater, synchronized Pilates. He is currently working on a book entitled "Jesus Bootlegged: Recapturing the Stolen Message of Jesus for The World". You can read more about him at his blog.

The T-Word: Tolerance and the Christian Faith

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Twenty-first century America is a society rich in diversity. However, that diversity proposes many challenges, not least of which is religious tolerance. The need for a plan of action in this area of society is clear when we see the FBI reporting religious bias as the second highest hate crime motivation. Notable religious leaders, such as Randall Terry, founder of the extreme anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, are also sounding off with such sentiments as, "I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good...Our goal is a Christian nation. We are called by God to conquer this country" (Newberg).

In response to the problems of violence and hatred, Americans today tend to believe in a tolerance that ascribes equal validity to many religions. A recent national poll showed 70% of Americans believe "many religions can lead to eternal life." This form of tolerance seeks pluralistic religious dialogue that appreciates all religions and what they can contribute to "enrich" an individual.

However, this stampede to promote tolerance and peace has excluded essential Christian beliefs from the landscape. Christianity proclaims Jesus Christ as the exclusive Savior of the world. The new tolerance denies the possibility of an exclusive religion. Christianity teaches that one must be converted to Christ to receive eternal life. The new tolerance rejects both the effort to proselytize, and the notion that conversion is necessary for eternal life. It believes that no religion should be held higher than another. In an effort to stop hatred, we have twisted the notion of tolerance to the point that it is no longer acceptable to proclaim Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life. The very life of our Christian faith is at stake.

How shall we, as American Christians, frame the relationship between Jesus Christ and religious tolerance? We should renounce all means of violence and forced coercion to spread our faith. We should promote equality among all religions, philosophies, or world views as they strive to influence our culture. And we should lovingly point out errors in other faiths that are accurate representations of what the sacred texts or spokesmen espouse to believe.

This brand of tolerance is essential to the Christian gospel. It promotes a God-centered tolerance that makes room for non-Christian faiths, including atheistic beliefs. This is not because a Christian form of tolerance proposes that all religions are equal. Instead, it accommodates the central Christian doctrine that conversion is a supernatural miracle of divinely given faith that can never be forcibly coerced. Since conversion is not a forcible event, all religions are accepted in a free democratic society and open religious dialogue ensues. Christianity openly proclaims to be an exclusive message but no forced coercion is utilized. Instead of force, the message is spread through individual lives of love and service, so every other religious faith may coexist (Piper).

Proponents of the new tolerance will probably argue it is not loving to tell anyone he must convert to a particular religion. However, if we really believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, then it would be an intense act of hatred to not tell others about Him. Furthermore, it is a misconception to blur the line between criticism of belief and personal mistreatment. The Christian message does not permit any form of mistreatment of individuals who do not accept Christ.

Many postmodernists will also object to the very nature of the idea of proclaiming an exclusive message. They will certainly see it as arrogance. In response, we must make clear that Christianity is not the triumph of the best argument among religions, but a trusting faith in the person of Jesus Christ. We must also demonstrate that we are not people possessing superior intellect to find the only way, but sinful people in desperate need of a crucified and resurrected Savior.

In sum, then, in order to respond to the problem of religious hate in our day, Christianity must assert itself firmly in favor of religious tolerance. Not a tolerance that ascribes equal validity to all beliefs, but one that is willing to die to spread our faith before we would ever kill.

If you liked this article, check out The End of Faith: Does Religious Tolerance Make Any Sense?

Ryan is a student at Illinois College and will graduate in 2011 with a degree in Mathematics. He is the President of the campus ministry Brothers and Sisters in Christ and plans to go to Seminary after he graduates.

The Health Care Question

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Health care: no other two words have stirred up so many emotions as these lately. Some say health care is a right; others say it's only a privilege. Some believe that there should be a government-run "public option"; others say it will only expand government control. But where should we, as Christians, stand on the issue? As people called to serve "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40), how should we approach the millions of people who are either uninsured or cannot receive proper medical care?

The Bible doesn't specifically say anything about health care. However, many Christians believe that proper health care is, as the Rev. Jim Wallis recently stated, "the will of God for each and every one of His children." Wallis' organization, Sojourners, recently produced an online guide to the current health care reform debate, which is available on www.sojo.net. The guide claims that, while the Bible does not have a detailed idea for health care, many verses suggest that it is important to preserve the health and well being of every person. According to the guide, "Jesus and His disciples demonstrate that sharing the good news and healing the sick are bound up together (Luke 9:6, Mark 7:32-35)." Sojourners proposes a "values based, common sense approach to health care reform," which includes affordable health care, coverage for all Americans, a cost that is "broadly shared and placed on a sustainable funding foundation," protection for poverty-stricken families, and religious liberty.

However, some fear that the government will only make things worse. Texas Representative Dr. Ron Paul is a vocal critic of Obama's health care proposal, claiming that the government "simply does not have the money for a new, expansive, public healthcare plan." A former OBGYN, Paul says that health care is between the patient and the doctor, and that health care reform will only increase the national deficit. "The leadership in Washington persists in a fantasy world of unlimited money to spend on unlimited programs . . . to garner unlimited control," he says. "But there is a fast-approaching limit to our ability to borrow, steal, and print. Acknowledging this reality is not mean-spirited or cruel. On the contrary, it could be the only thing that saves us from complete and total economic meltdown."

While both sides have valid points, tensions between the two are rising at a disturbing rate. Recent town hall meetings have escalated into shouting matches and sometimes violence. We see health care opponents carry signs comparing Obama to Adolf Hilter. In a Pennsylvania town hall meeting one audience member shouted at Senator Arlen Specter, "One day God's gonna stand before you. And He's gonna judge you, and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill, and then you can get your just desserts." In Dartmouth, Massachusetts an angry woman asked Rep. Barney Frank why he supported Obama's "Nazi policy" (to which Frank replied, "On what planet do you spend most of your time?"). In Tampa, Florida a crowd of angry protesters erupted into a fistfight outside a town hall meeting. And in Portsmouth, New Hampshire a man was spotted standing outside a town hall meeting with a gun strapped to his leg.

Fortunately, many are condemning the out-of-control protests, and are calling for a return to civil discussion. Evangelical leader Brian McLaren recently wrote an open letter on Sojourners' blog calling on conservative Christians to debate and discuss the health care issue in a peaceful and courteous manner. "People are free to disagree humbly and respectfully with their fellow Christians and their government," he writes. "But we Christians, it seems to me, have a high calling - to be radically committed to integrity and civility, even (especially) with those with whom we disagree. God, after all, is merciful, generous, and kind to the just and the unjust': How can we not have that same obligation regarding those with whom we disagree?"

Indeed the Bible tells us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (James 1:19) Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite; we're slow to listen, quick to speak, and very quick to become angry. We puff ourselves thinking that our way is the right way, and any one who disagrees is just plain evil. But while we trade insults back and forth at each other, nothing gets accomplished. Instead the vicious cycle of arguing and name calling continues.

The Bible says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) Name calling and Nazi comparisons will not solve the health care problem. While we don't have to agree, we need to at least listen to each other. We need to calmly talk about health care reform, and weigh both the pros and cons. The only way to solve any problem-whether it is health care, gay marriage, or any other issue-is through calm, respectful, civil discussion.

And we also need to pray. Pray for our leaders that they will make the right choices. Pray for those who are sick and cannot get the proper medical care. Pray for both health care supporters and opponents, that they may be able to discuss this issue with civility and respect.

And before we can take any kind of stand, let us first pray for God's wisdom.

This article was originally published on The Jesus Manifesto and was reprinted with the author's permission.

Travis has written for Relevant Magazine, Jesus Manifesto, and The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, among others. He currently lives in Easton, MD. Visit his blog.

Switzerland: New World Lady in an Old World Place

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I hadn't been in Switzerland long before my awareness of where I am in time shifted.

We went for a walk in Olten, where I was staying. Enjoying a latte mocha under an umbrella at a cafe, I saw the first of many clock towers. As near as I can tell, most towns have a clock tower. Often, they are part of a church, but this one stands alone in a little "open square" area.

My host explained to me that the tower was built early in Olten's history, in a time when the church did a lot to alienate the people. The clock tower was built inside the walls of the city, to be kept safe. The church, on the other hand, was outside the walls. Take our church if you must, but you can't have our city.

I wish I could say I have never understood that sentiment.

I was still considering this bit of local history as we walked along the river. Olten is the narrow place in the river, I was told... thus, it was where the Romans crossed.

The Romans? I majored in Latin in college; I spent many hours hearing about the Roman Empire. Ingesting the idea that Once Upon a Time, the Romans crossed where I was standing...well, it left me disoriented for a minute. I had never really felt my place in this world quite that way before.

My parents made sure our family went on vacation every year. We traveled all over the USA, touring beautiful places, visiting historical sites, and wandering through museums. My dad is a history buff, who intentionally sets today in the context of the ongoing story. I am not new to pondering the past and how today relates to it.

But: The Romans? That's a whole other level of long ago. I didn't really understand how young my country is until that moment along the river in Olten. It was head knowledge, but that day it became real to me in a whole new way.

Oh, I understand that there was Native American culture here long before Columbus came tripping along and claimed this space for western civilization (a truly uncivilized process, some would say.) But other than a few relics and colorful cliches, I don't know enough about Native American history to feel it resonating within me as I walk the same land they once did.

Knowing that the Romans crossed the river where I stood, on the other hand...knowing that Napoleon stopped by for a drink at the same building where I whispered in the night to the mountain...this, I could grasp. This goes way back, past the pioneer days I've so enjoyed studying.

Recently I heard a Bible teacher talking about the difference between Christians who have been to the Holy Land, and those who have not; he noticed this difference in the Sunday School teachers in his church. Those who have not been there tell Bible stories like they are fables: Now children, once upon a time... People who have been there, on the other hand, report the same stories as if they had read them in yesterday's newspaper. They understand in a deeper way that people in the Bible aren't "characters," they are as real as you and me.

I heard him then, and I understand now. This New World lady was changed by a short vacation in the Old World (and I can scarcely imagine how much more I'd be changed by standing at the Wailing Wall). History is no longer just interesting to hear. I feel my connectedness to it...the truth that what happened "back then" is part of who I am - even (and in my case, perhaps, especially, since my family's roots are primarily European) history from halfway around the world.

Karen is from Aledo, IL. She works in a domestic violence shelter by day, spends her off hours working in youth ministry, and dreams and prays great things while she follows the World Racers' blogs.

Rethinking Christian Politics

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Like so many people, I wrestle with questions about what to do and how to live. One of the areas that I struggle with is politics. Recently, I've earned some clarity on this matter. This clarity has resulted from two inter-related realizations.

Once, God was his people's king.

This is not hyperbole, nor is it symbolic. Once, God was his people's king. God lead his people in a real and political sense. But we, his people, derailed this plan. We demanded a human king. God warned us what would happen. He told us what would happen to our children. He spoke of wars, enslavement, and corruption. His warnings, of course, were accurate ones. The pain and misery that resulted from Israel's desire to be like other nations was enormous. And despite wisdom sent from God and a relationship with The Creator that is unique in world history, things fell apart.

We tend to think that this is irrelevant history or perhaps the history of some people far different from ourselves. But I think that we would do well to realize that it is a pressing and brutal element of the reality that we still live in: God planned on leading his people.

Adopting the world's political systems lead to despair and loss. Unfortunately, its too late to change this. Just as we cannot go back to Adam and Eve and beg them not to eat the fruit, so also we can not go back to Ancient Israel and say to the people "No, you really don't want to go down this path. Leave God in place as your king."

We find ourselves in a world where our only option is to live beneath political structures created by men. Some systems are going to be worse than others. Despite our situation, we are called on to be peace-makers. We are reminded that God is a God of justice and love. We don't have the luxury of dropping out and giving up. In order to do this, though, we need to give some beliefs up. We need to give up on the possibility of a political solution. The left won't lead us back to Eden, but neither will the right or the center. If they did, we would be faced with a flaming sword. It doesn't matter how many people positioned in all the right places with all the right beliefs we end up with. Things will still be a mess.

Jesus Didn't Care About the World's Politics

Jesus entered a world that had already shunned God's political plans for it. While his words and actions often had profoundly political ramifications, he didn't seem to care what the world said about politics. One of my favorite things about the Gospels is Jesus' way of becoming larger than the world's super power at the time.

He accomplished this largeness through many different method, but the biggest one was that He simply did His thing: for him, it didn't matter whether he was operating in the political sphere, the personal sphere, or anywhere between. You can almost imagine him smirking at a Roman Soldier: "Oh you? I'd almost forgotten about who you work for... You're the representative of those silly little men who think they run things around here."

What Now?

Living with the awareness that we turned our backs on God's planned political system is only the beginning. Perhaps recognizing that Jesus is bigger than our categories is our next goal. Most of all, we need to be asking the right questions. That may only be a step, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Jeff's life was Wrecked for the Ordinary when Christ entered his life about 6 years ago, through the unfailing witness of an amazing wife and a great church. He serves and learns from students with emotional disturbance as a Special Education Teacher and is involved with Small Groups Ministry. He also has deep thoughts.

Movie: To Save a Life

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a world where credit cards reign supreme and all kinds of other celluloid worlds emerge, here is a movie for teens that deals directly with with the issue of someone who is struggling to find themselves. Sometimes there are movies that try to do this and fail, but in the movie To Save A Life, this isn't the case.

The scene opens up in a cemetery, and from then on the story takes you through the life of Jake Taylor who has the life any teenager has ever wanted. He is popular, he is an all-star, he's got the girl and he's happy. He's got it all. But something in Him begins to change after his childhood best friend takes a gun to school with tragedy ensuing.

As a result, Jake begins to see that there are certain people who are in and others who are out. And this realization begins to have the main character ask a lot of tough questions that t send him down a lot of roads resulting in him struggling to decide whether to give up very important things.

In an age where there are more questions than answers, where there is an ambience of lethargy that secretly made its way into our churches, there is a movie that seeks to reverse the status quo. From their website:

To Save A Life is an indie movie about the real life challenges of teens and their choices, written by seasoned youth pastor Jim Britts and inspired by a passion to reach teenagers with a life-affirming entertainment.

Mark Ostreicher of Youth Specialties has this to say about the movie, "Teenagers are going to love the story and cast in To Save a Life. Super realistic portrayal of life on a high school campus - not all fake, like some movies, but the real stuff. This is a movie you'll want to see with friends." Alongside this review, youth leader veteran Josh McDowell states, "[To Save a Life is] an excellent film. This film is relevant and thought-provoking. It is effective at developing a contrast of ideas with today's culture."

The film is also accompanied by relevant resources that can be used by any youth worker to inspire change in the life of their teens and to empower them to go and change their worlds. There are many different choices and kits that can obtained on their website. But to be sure, this is a movie and a resource that you don't want to pass up on if you are a youth pastor looking for good quality resources to help develop your youth into relevant world-changers. Check out their leaders' website for more information.

Wrecked by Abortion: Bound4Life

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last weekend, my life was absolutely wrecked. Every month I go to the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Houston, Texas. Not to protest, to pray. I am part of the Houston chapter of Bound4Life. We stand on the opposite of the street from the clinic and pray. We don't carry signs, wear T-shirts, pass out fliers, or even talk with the people going inside. In fact, our mouths are covered with red tape that has the word "LIFE" written across it.

We stand in silence to identify with the silent cries of the unborn and for those who have no voice. We appeal to a Higher Authority, the Almighty Judge, to have mercy on our country and change the laws relating to abortion. Our prayer is simple: Jesus, I plead Your Blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America.

We believe that abortion is a giant in our land, and that God gives us the power to take down giants.

It is absolutely critical that the Body of Christ lift up the city of Houston, Texas. On the surface, the city looks like any other city. But, our proximity to Mexico makes us a major hub for the human trafficking. A majority of the women and children that are trafficked into the United States come through Houston. Many of them end up staying in this city. Planned Parenthood is in the process of building the largest abortion clinic in the western hemisphere in Houston, Texas. At six stories high this clinic will be a giant in the city. They will legally be allowed to perform late term abortions and are dedicating an entire floor to a trauma center because of the frequency of complications that occur during late term abortion procedures. If there was ever a time to pray for our country, the time is now!

Some months, it is awesome to stand outside of the clinic. We know that we are tearing down strongholds in the spirit. As we pray, we can literally see God moving. Other months, the walls seem impenetrable and all I can do is weep. This past weekend, I was crying out for mercy on behalf of our city. I was repenting and crying out for the love of Christ to be made evident to the women that walked through the doors. I was praying for an awakening to take place in the Body of Christ. Now is the time for His bride to rise up. We cannot remain silent and allow this giant abortion clinic to rise up in our backyard. Now is the time to cry out for a deliverer!

As I was standing there, I was praying for each person that entered that building. The Lord was telling me how much He loved them and how He was calling out to each one of them. I was praying for His love and mercy to rain down in each woman's life.

As I was praying, a car pulled up behind the gate. This was strange because cars don't normally park there. The parking lot is across the street. Very rarely do cars pull up there, and if they do, it is just for a moment to pick someone up who is leaving the clinic. A Muslim couple got out of the car. She pulled down the scarf from around her face and she was stunningly beautiful. From across the street, I could see this woman's fear and pain. She radiated grief. She absolutely broke my heart. I began praying and interceding on her behalf. She started to walk towards the door and then dropped to her knees near the bushes. In the Spirit, I dropped to my knees as well. As her knees hit the ground, she threw up in the bushes. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. Her husband grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. One of the Planned Parenthood volunteers grabbed her other hand and together they walked her into the clinic. All I could do was stand on the street and weep. I cried out for her to have a revelation of the love and mercy of the God of Isaac. I asked that He send his angels after that woman. I could not enter to building to go after her, but He could. I could not wrap my arms around her, but He could. God spoke to me and told me that He was showing me a very vivid and graphic picture of what goes on in the hearts of the women that walk through the doors of that clinic.

Everything in me broke for her. I may never know that woman's name, but she absolutely changed my life. We never spoke, but I will never be the same. Her face is forever burned onto my heart. I know that the heart of God is broken for the men and women in the Muslim culture. He desires to pour out his love and mercy into a culture that knows nothing of Him. This past weekend was absolutely a wake-up call to me. Now is the time to fall onto our knees and cry out on behalf of the people that He loves. They need Him so badly!

It is time to cry out on behalf of a city that is in desperate need of mercy.  

Rachel is currently working on her Ph.D in microbiology and immunology. In 2005, she traveled to Kenya on a mission trip and left her heart there. She absolutely feels that God is calling her to the mission field and can't wait to see what God has planned for her. She's learning to seek out the heart of God where ever He puts her. Right now, that is Bound4Life in Houston, Texas.

Jailed for Public Prayer (and Ensuing Protests)

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From the Washington Times:

Students, teachers and local pastors are protesting over a court case involving a northern Florida school principal and an athletic director who are facing criminal charges and up to six months in jail over their offer of a mealtime prayer.

There have been yard signs, T-shirts and a mass student protest during graduation ceremonies this spring on behalf of Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and school athletic director Robert Freeman, who will go on trial Sept. 17 at a federal district court in Pensacola for breaching the conditions of a lawsuit settlement reached last year with the American Civil Liberties Union.

"I have been defending religious freedom issues for 22 years, and I've never had to defend somebody who has been charged criminally for praying," said Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, the Orlando-based legal group that is defending the two school officials.

In response, many members of the 300-plus-member student body taped crosses to their mortarboards and stood for an impromptu recitation of the Lord's Prayer during the ceremony.

Read more...

What do you think? Is it all right to picket the prohibition of prayer? (Try saying that three times fast.)

Refrigerator People and the Unfair Grace of God

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair.
-Relient K, "Be My Escape"

I have my own little rogues' gallery on the side of my refrigerator - mugshots cut from the newspaper. It's kind of around the corner and out of the way, yet close enough I can see it daily.

The gallery includes a serial drunk driver who once killed a grandmother and her grandson, and continues to drive drunk again almost immediately every time he is released. There is the guy who poured gasoline on his wife in the middle of a fight (she later showed up in court to ask the judge to give him mercy.)

One is a lady who had multiple drinking-related arrests and lost her child several times. One morning, she woke up to find in her drunken stupor she had rolled onto the child and suffocated him to death. One clip is three faces together - some teens involved in the grisly murder of a classmate, complete with a gruesome attempt to cover it up.

People who notice the dingy, yellowing clips there on my fridge tend to be creeped out. I suppose it looks a little stalker-ish to have them there. After all, I don't know any of these people at all. And mug shots are not exactly cheery decor.

Actually, it's not about knowing them. Those little photos are simply prayer reminders for me. Years ago, as God delivered me through a shattering passage of my life, I started begging Him to send me where others will not tread and give me work that others refuse to touch. My reason: simply that I wanted to give a gift back to Him - an expression of my love and gratitude for all that He has done for me. No gift I can give will ever match what He's given me; still, I longed to "give big."

The people on the side of my fridge go along with a long list of names on my heart, all of whom have one thing in common: they've crossed so many lines in their lives, it looks likely that most everyone has given up on them...and unlikely that they have many praying for them. Maybe some of them have no one praying for them...except for this crazy little lady with pictures on her fridge and names on her heart. All of these are answers to my "send me" prayer - God has been unfailingly faithful in showing me some for whom I can pray, and giving me others that I can love in an up close and personal way.

I thought of my "refrigerator people" yesterday as I was telling some kids the parable of the prodigal son, and how beautifully unfair the grace of God really is (if you've never thought it unfair, put your life on hold for one hour and meditate on it from the big brother's perspective.) I thought of my friend the pastor, who had said to me just the day before that when Jesus said we will have the poor with us always, He wasn't only talking about money.

The One I serve is the Author of wildly beautiful, unfair grace. He permits me to pray for people the world dismisses with a few well-placed words. Dirtbags. Scum of the earth. Criminals. Crazy people. You know, the ones who "deserve it" when the going gets rough. He invites me to dare to believe He's big enough to redeem even these...and that He longs to do exactly that. As I join Him in the conversation about them, He shows me much about their brokenness and their beauty...and much about mine as well.

The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair. My prayer today is that every person on my fridge and on my heart will accept the unfair grace of God, and know freedom in this life. I long to meet them on the other side, and celebrate with them the magnitude of that grace.

Jesus will definitely be at that party, right?

Girls Watch Porn: An Interview with Crystal Renaud

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dirty Girls Ministries is a Christian anti-pornography ministry created to help women who struggle with pornography addiction.

Dirty Girls was founded by author and speaker Crystal Renaud in February of 2009, following a data-collecting web campaign for her book concept. Within just a matter of weeks, Crystal received over 300 surveys from women across the nation - proving not only can women be porn addicts, but that the number of women who are so, is staggering.

Wrecked recently had the opportunity to interview Crystal about her own struggle with pornography, how God used her experience to help others, and what she has learned as a result.

Wrecked: What is your book about and why did you decide to write it?

Renaud: My forthcoming book, Dirty Girls: The New Porn Addicts will discuss the widespread yet silent battle for women addicted to pornography. I'm using surveys from my website, interviews with people affected by pornography, my personal story of redemption along with Biblical and practical tools for recovery, to show women they are not alone. Freedom from a pornography addiction is possible. I decided that writing a book about women and pornography addiction after God spoke to me, while I was shopping at 3 different Christian bookstores. What He showed me was that there was nothing out there specifically discussing this problem among women, and how to help to women overcome this addiction in a biblical and practical way.

Wrecked: You personally struggled with an addiction to porn - where did that stem from?

Renaud: My addiction to pornography began by accident when I was 10 years old. I discovered a pornographic magazine in my brother's bathroom. I was so nave and sheltered that I didn't even know what sex was, let alone understand what this magazine was all about. Understandably, I instantly became intrigued by what I saw. It began to awaken things within me that I had never felt before; a false sense of intimacy and affection. It began to escalate when I began to give into the feelings that the pornography provided me and when the milder porn stopped working, that's when things spiraled out of control and my involvement with pornography became a lot darker.

Wrecked: How did others react when you first revealed your struggle?

Renaud: Until I was well into my recovery and sobriety, no one knew about my struggle accept one woman who first revealed her struggle with me. She became my accountability partner and I am indebted to her to this day. By the time I began revealing my struggling (post recovery), I was surprised by people's reactions to it. Almost all of the reactions were positive and encouraging. That was a huge relief and further confirmation from God that this was my ministry and where He was leading me.

Wrecked: The assumption is that porn is bad, but some of our readers, especially if they are non-Christians - may not think so. What would you say to convince them?

Renaud: If a skeptic were to read this article, I hope it wouldn't take long for them to realize porn is a problem. Even if the reason were purely statistical. But I would encourage someone who doesn't think porn is a problem to consider the women in the industry who are being exploited and abused. Is that okay? Consider the young children who are exposed to pornography simply by mis-typing a web address. Is that okay? Consider the marriages that are broken because a spouse can't perform without the use of pornography. Is that okay? Many people think porn is okay because they don't consider the damage that it can cause. I hope this sheds some light on that.

Wrecked: Does porn affect a lot of women?

Renaud: A couple of years ago the ministry XXXChurch.com came out with statistics stating that 1 in 3 visitors to all adult websites are women, 28% of visitors to adult websites are women and 9.4 million women access adult website each month. Considering those statistics, I'd say yes, porn does affect a lot of women. Not to mention the women who are affected by their husband's use of pornography. And I can only imagine that the statistics have only risen since those statistics were gathered.

Wrecked: How does porn addiction differ for women than it does for men? Or does it?

Renaud: In many ways no, I don't think there's a difference. Especially at a certain point in the addiction. But many count women out for being sexual addicts because they aren't known for being visually stimulated. But what women have that puts them into a whole different field are their emotions and they will feed an emotional need with any means necessary...including pornography.

Wrecked: What are some of the myths surrounding this issue?

Renaud: I think that ultimately women are convinced they are the only woman who has ever struggled with this issue. Porn and sexual addiction has always been referred to as, "a man's problem."

Wrecked: What makes porn addiction so difficult to overcome?

Renaud: When a woman stops getting a certain high from the pornography she is using... she will move on to the next thing... and the next. The deeper an individual gets in their addiction, the harder it becomes to get out. Not only do our hearts and minds become addicted to the pornography, but there are actual physical changes that take place as a result of pornography use. We become chemically addicted, just like we would with a drug or alcohol, and it takes the same steps to stop those things as it does to stop using pornography. It also comes down to the woman's emotional health and her willingness to change. If she confides in someone, it means she's asking for help and admitting she has a problem. Not all women do want to stop, as their addiction has been a gratifying companion for so long. For a lot of women, pornography has been their only source for intimacy and acceptance. Would that be easy to let go of? Absolutely not. That is why women need to be shown that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source for meeting their needs.

Wrecked: Why is the number of women viewing porn growing?

Renaud: Addiction among women and women viewing porn is on the rise because of how readily available pornography has become. Exposure to pornography is occuring earlier and earlier in life because of how easily accessable pornography is. It has changed the very nature of sexual addiction by allowing it to be brought right into our livingrooms. And in some secular circles the use pornography is even encouraged as a way to get familiar with ourselves sexually. But this is dangerous and as Christians is something we need to be addressing.

Wrecked: What resources have you personally found helpful in overcoming porn addiction?

Renaud: Definitely L.I.F.E Guide for Women by Marnie Ferree. This is the first resource I have found that directly and candidly discusses sexual addiction among women. While it does focus on more than just porn addiction, Marnie brings hope and tools for recovery to topics that the church and most ministry leaders have failed to address.

I use L.I.F.E. Guide for Women in every recovery group I lead and have witnessed firsthand the healing power of Christ through this material. Instead of glazing over the issues, Marnie gets to the root of where the sexual addiction comes from, which is the only way a woman can truly be freed. L.I.F.E. Guide for Women is a must read for every woman who struggles with sexual addiction or who is a counselor/teacher/group leader tackling these issues.

Wrecked: When does the book come out and how we can our readers connect with you further?

Renaud: I am still writing the book but I hope to have it released either through self-publishing or in electronic form by early 2010. In the meantime, people are encouraged to check out Dirty Girls Ministries (which is the ministry I recently launched to address the immediate need among women out there). There are many resources on the site including sign ups for our upcoming online recovery groups which are launching this fall.

If you liked this article, check out Pornography: An Interview With An Addict

Crystal Renaud's forthcoming book Dirty Girls: The New Porn Addicts discusses the widespread yet silent battle for women addicted to pornography. Crystal uses surveys, interviews with people affected by pornography, her personal story of redemption along with Biblical and practical tools for recovery, to show women they are not alone. Freedom from a pornography addiction is possible. She blogs at PinkHairedGirl.net.

Switzerland: Notes from the Mountains

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The first day we went driving in Switzerland, something was noticeably missing. I waited and watched awhile. Finally, feeling rather foolish, I asked my hosts, "Don't you have semi trucks here?" We were on the highway, and I had not seen a single big truck. Trucks, I learned, are banned from the roads on Sundays. They were surprised at my question, and we were each mutually amazed at this little difference in our laws.

We weren't on the highway long; soon enough we followed winding little roads through mountain communities. I watched out my window as architectural details changed from valley to valley. I caught my breath at my first glimpse of their lakes; here in Illinois, the water is muddy and dark everywhere. I've been to Minnesota, where the water is clean and glimmers silver in the light. In Switzerland, lakes and rivers seem to be as clear as the water in my glass. Near Interlaken, I saw the sky reflected brilliantly blue on the lake...it reminded me more of an ocean than any lake I have ever experienced.

We stopped at a little cafe and I gawked at the lake and the mountains, so distracted by their beauty that I unthinkingly poured half a glass of water right down the front of my shirt. It was, by Swiss standards, a rather muggy day. My shirt dried in about five minutes. We were definitely not in Illinois! That day, we had lunch in Grindewald, where the menus had no English at all. We were next to a mountain; I guessed it was nearly mile away, based on the size of the houses I could see, but it felt like we were right up against it. The scope of mountains really messes with my size-and-space perspective!

It's hard to pick a favorite thing about my trip, but high on my list was our two-day driving tour along the French and Italian borders, and in particular, the night we spent in a mountain pass in tiny town called Simplon Dorf. We had dinner in a tiny tavern there, where old men stood at the bar, drinking and swapping stories. I enjoyed a dish I can only call "cheese toast" there...homemade bread topped with a rich ham-and-cheese gravy, and topped with an egg (by the way, they don't call it "Swiss cheese" in Switzerland, and it is far better than any Swiss cheese I ever tried at home.) While we ate and talked, I watched and listened to the old men.

They looked like something out of Hemingway, and I definitely felt like I was living inside a novel. Later in the evening, they sat down and enjoyed fondue, still sharing stories. My host translated the funniest parts, and I realized I might be half a world away from home, but old men in taverns tend to tell the same stories.

We stayed that night in a hotel where Napoleon himself had stopped for a drink (a sign there even told how he paid for his drink). My room was very simple. The sheets were pink and the covers were peach, and the towels didn't match either. My shower was in my room, but the bathroom was at the end of the hall.

But everything was very clean, and the down comforter was thick, and the pillow was made of feathers. I opened my little window (they don't use screens there, you know...no bug problem), which offered a view of the mountain, and invited the crisp air inside.

Throughout the night, I woke repeatedly to gaze out that window from under the covers, and found myself telling the mountain how glad I was that just for this night we were together. I don't generally talk to things; suffice it to say the night felt magical.

Breakfast downstairs the next morning was coffee with milk, fresh croissants, and a plate of sliced cheese and meat that I can only describe as "ham, only better." Leaving that little village of stone buildings, stone roofs, stone walls, and melodic church bells ringing across the valley early in the morning, I knew for sure this was a place I would never forget.

The Sounds of Switzerland: A Symphony of Languages and Bells

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The first sounds I heard in Switzerland made me chuckle.

I had deplaned in Zurich and was riding an immaculate little train through a spotless tunnel to the main part of the airport. The sound track kicked on. It wasn't music. A cow mooing, her bell clanking....sheep bleating...and then there was the yodel. We were exhausted passengers, but who couldn't smile at those sounds?

The sound that most fascinated me in that country, though, was the constant variety of language. Where I live, everyone speaks English. They may have accents, but it's one language only...and God help the person who suggests we might add Spanish, in consideration for the growing population of Hispanic folks here.

The language in Switzerland is like music...like an elaborate symphony. Italian, German, and French are the three main languages I saw in print. In the "tourist" areas, there was some English, too. Unwritten but spoken widely are the dialects of Swiss German, which differ in each Kanton (if I understand correctly, a Kanton is a region basically marked off per valley). In restaurants, in cafes, and on the streets, all of these languages and more could be heard. Waiters and waitresses were quick to adapt their language to the customer, though I have to confess I enjoyed handing my English-less menus off to my hosts and asking for a recommendation.

Meals with my hosts were a constant flow of Swiss German, filled with all sorts of tones, inflections, and throaty noises we don't use. I never got tired of hearing it, despite the fact that I couldn't pick up enough to even have a clue of the subject at hand (and I always got a translation of the funniest parts.)

One day, I had lunch in a roomful of Italians. That language is close enough to English that I had a general notion of what was going on. The exuberant expression of Italian is a whole-body experience, not only words. I could have gladly sat at that table for days, just watching. French: who could ever grow tired of hearing it? I always want to close my eyes and ask for more.

I quickly noticed again what I had learned when Lino first came to us from Switzerland: my English tends to be lazy, sloppy, and mumbling. I naturally returned to thinking a bit more as I chose my words, and trying to, as my third grade teacher used to admonish us, "enunciate." And then there were the bells. Did you know that Switzerland is filled with the sounds of bells?

I don't wear a watch. On my trip, I didn't need one! The church bells toll the hour everywhere. Behind the home where I was staying was a school, with a bell that chimes every quarter hour (one, two, three, and then four chimes before the tolling count.) The room I slept in had a balcony, with tall doors. Most nights I slept with the door open, delighted to hear the bells (and breathe the cool, clean air) throughout the night. When it is church time, the bells ring on and on and on...I think for almost a full quarter hour.

The sounds of Switzerland still play in my head through my days and nights. Western Illinois feels a little flat, in comparison. I definitely left a sizable chunk of my heart back there.

Switzerland: A Shift in Perspective

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It was a question that first made me think I was getting a little further away from home.

I had finally boarded my plane in New York, having missed my original connection and survived a slightly infuriating re-booking process, about which I told myself that I was on vacation, so it didn't matter (staying angry has never improved any situation I've been in yet, after all).

This was the biggest airplane I have ever experienced by far, sufficiently enormous to comfort me a bit in my fears regarding my first-ever trans-Atlantic trip. The flight attendant came down in the aisle, passing out customs forms and asking each passenger in her chipper voice, "Are you American, or are you British?"

Can't say I've ever heard that question before!

The plane from London Heathrow to Zurich was smaller, and the pilot started his spiel in German, repeating it in French, and finishing in English.

Definitely not in Illinois anymore.

And then there were the moving walkways in the airports. I've used them at O'Hare and other places, and it's always the same. Two signs at each end, and a booming pre-recorded voice repeating over and over the same message: "You are nearing the end of the walkway." Heathrow was mellower: one sign and no voice at all. But Zurich....ahhh Zurich. Apparently the Swiss believe I have a brain and can figure out the end of the walkway without such warning. Clearly I was arriving in a land of fewer lawsuits.

Taking a trip halfway around the world was, for me, a shift in perspectives on every level. While I am not a frequent flier, I have experienced a few US airports; they always feel like maybe they were built in the last year or two. London Heathrow feels like it is older than me...something I struggle to explain, but was very real to me. Zurich announced Swiss priorities to me before I even hit the ground; I marveled at little patches of forest between the runways, and grass growing on the roof of the building I saw there.

Deplaning in Zurich, I stepped into a gleaming world. In Switzerland, everything is the kind of clean that speaks of focused intention. Everywhere feels well swept and recently scrubbed. True in the airport, in the train stations, on the streets, and even in the many tunnels. I think here in the US, we take our space for granted because there is so much of it. Switzerland is utterly populated, through and through, as far as I could tell. It's a whole lot of people, living in a very small space (quite a bit smaller than Illinois), and they seem to have figured out how to manage keeping it beautiful.

I never saw a single paper cup while I was in Switzerland. Not one. I am not making that up! I mean, they must surely use them somewhere. But everywhere I went (and I experienced A LOT of cafes and restaurants in my short time there), we used real dishes. We never ate or drank in the car (not that we used the car much; trains, bikes and walking are more the norm). One can be ticketed for the distraction of eating in a car there, believe it or not. Confession: I, who eat and drink in my car all the time, think that is a beautiful idea. We did a 2 day road tour along the French and Italian borders (more on that later), and every time we needed refreshment, we stopped the car, got out, and lounged comfortably outside a cafe under an umbrella.

One of the biggest differences I noticed between Switzerland and home was how much littler everything is there. The spoons are what I think of as baby-sized. The cars are tiny. I am a Sam's club shopper, buying my olive oil by the gallon. They buy their milk by the quart (or it was probably liters, I guess...I wasn't paying that much attention). The packages are small...but that makes sense in context. After all, the grocery stores don't have big sprawling parking lots at the front door; most don't drive there. No giant shopping carts, no wide aisles inside the store. If I were carrying stuff home on foot or by bus, of course I wouldn't want to buy a 48-pack of toilet paper. This makes sense!

On the front of little things that fascinate me were the bathroom signs (seriously). Here in the US, the pictures indicating "his and hers" are utterly generic and utilitarian. Ever thought the girl on the restroom door was cute? Me neither. In Switzerland, though, her dress is short and poofs way out. Along the French border, I saw her wearing a pink and black checked skirt. And I think it was in Bern that she had braids. And it's not only the bathroom signs; the guy on the crosswalk sign wears a spiffy jacket and hat. None of this is all that surprising, in context; the Swiss intentionally create art and beauty everywhere. I rarely saw anything designed with only purpose in mind.

Another theme shouting from every corner of Switzerland is "green." The airport wasn't the only place with grass on the roof...I saw this on flat roofs everywhere. Almost every window had a box of flowers, exploding with colors. Almost every balcony (and balconies are also very much the norm) was adorned with plants and flowers. Trees were abundant, even in densely populated areas.

More to come soon...

Author Interview: Serena Woods of Grace is for Sinners

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wrecked recently caught up with Serena Woods, author of Grace is for Sinners to ask some questions about her motivation for her book, how it has been received, and how grace changed her life.

Serena has graciously (pun intended) agreed to give away a free copy of her book to two lucky Wrecked readers. In order to win, you must first follow Wrecked on Twitter and re-tweet our post.

Also, be sure to check out our review of Grace is for Sinners.

Wrecked: What inspired Grace is for Sinners?

Woods: I had made a series of selfish and destructive decisions that hurt a lot of people. In the aftermath, I learned about 'the underbelly of religion' and the gut-level belief that 'Christians don't sin.' This belief has us ejecting our fallen brothers and sisters from the community. Our ignorance has cultivated a community of 'failures' that don't belong in a world that doesn't recognize Jesus and have lost their welcome in the world that does. I was on one side of the door and am now on the other. I know things that they, the church and the fallen, want and need to know. I wrote Grace Is For Sinners because when I needed a book like this, it wasn't there.

Wrecked: What is the book about?

Woods: I begin by telling you who I am and what I did because you need to know who's talking to you. Then, I sweep the stuff out from under the rugs of the Christian sub-culture exposing misconceptions and false beliefs. It's my belief that grace is the nectar of the Gospel. If we're getting grace wrong, then something on the foundation level of our faith system is jacked up. The customary religious brutality is like any primitive culture that operates on superstition and ignorance. Education is the key to civilized behavior. The last few chapters are all about rebuilding. It's like being deprogrammed, feeling lost and blind, then receiving a map and a pair of glasses to help you go on your own.

Wrecked: What kind of response (positive or negative) have you received for Grace is for Sinners?

Woods: The responses depend on where the reader has been. Those who have fallen are finally finding the hope of Jesus that the church was unable to give. The typical church attendee is finding a double-fisted challenge to their religion. It's emotional. They're seeing things from a different perspective. It's excruciating and medicinal at the same time. It's fun to see people emerge from Grace is For Sinners.

No one, who has finished, is unmoved. It's that book you want your friends to read because you want to talk about it. The only negative responses I've heard were from those who haven't read it or haven't finished it. I was very conscious of writing with scriptural integrity. If you're not changed after reading it, you're at least heavily messed with.

Wrecked: How do you see churches exhibiting (or not exhibiting) grace today?

Woods: The church so desperately wants to be this powerhouse of purpose and relevance. They want to make a dramatic stand for Jesus and save souls right and left. Yet, church members are dropping like flies. For every one person sitting in the pew, there are six at home who will never go back. The people are dying because the perspective is off. Christians, generally speaking, are vicious, especially to each other. If the world had to describe Christians in one word, that word would be 'judgmental.'

Wrecked: Do you think most Christians have trouble accepting grace? What about giving it to others?

Woods: Absolutely. Accepting means admitting moral failure. We fight to the death to justify our choices. The freedom is found when we dump our excuses. There is no self-justification and that's the point of grace. In giving grace, the parable of the prodigal son comes to mind. The prodigal's brother wouldn't attend the celebration when his brother came home.

Another story that comes to mind is Jonah sulking on the beach after God forgave a city that Jonah didn't think deserved it. It's hard for us to believe that God isn't keeping score. He can forget, but we can't. Christians have cultivated this sense of entitlement and are unable to see themselves for what they've become: spoiled and self-righteous. They can't stomach the audacity of grace much less offer it. Christians don't know how to offer grace without looking like they are condoning the sin. I believe they want to do the right thing, but just don't know how. When it comes down to it, it costs too much. What's scary is that denying Christ is not about sinning, it's about rejecting his work on the cross. Sinning is what he came here for. If there were some other way, God would have taken the cup from Jesus when he asked in the garden. But there was no other way. We need to know what we're saying when we have a problem with grace. We need to see that we're standing in between the sinner and the cross. We need to ask ourselves which side we're on.

Wrecked: How has the message of grace personally impacted your life?

Woods: It's the only reason I have legs to stand on. I was in a place where I could not undo what I did. There is no time machine. There is no price I could pay that would take away the damage I did. The crimes stacked upon crimes crushed me. The people who I hurt were lined up so far in the distance that eventually I didn't even know who they were. Hearts I had never met were bleeding because of my selfish behavior. The excessive load of debt and my inability to stop the bleeding was like a pack of wild dogs ripping me to pieces. When Jesus found me, I was inside-out with grief. I couldn't pay up. My value disappeared and my debt remained. Jesus pointed to the day on the calendar where his body opened up and spilled his life. The half dead lamb left a trail of blood on his way to slaughter. And Jesus said, What I did is bigger than this. Your sin is what that was for.'

Wrecked: How can people find out more about Grace is for Sinners, and what can we expect to hear from you in the future?

Woods: I have a website and you can always email me at hello@graceisforsinners.com. My next project tackles other faith questions and issues.

Win a free, signed copy of Grace Is For Sinners!

Don't forget: In order to be entered into the contest, you must first follow Wrecked on Twitter and re-tweet our post.

Excerpt from Don Miller's New Book

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Donald Miller, author of books such as Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, Through Painted Deserts and To Own a Dragon is a standout Christian author and speaker with a large following among evangelical Christians, particularly those who consider themselves emerging and/or emergent.

Miller recently made available a three chapter excerpt from his highly anticipated new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (release of Fall 2009) asking for feedback as he puts the finishing touches on it. If you are interested in checking it out, feel free to click here.

Interview with Tom Sine, Author of The New Conspirators

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wrecked recently interview Tom Sine, author of The New Conspirators, a book about the things God is doing through a new generation of innovators, risk takers and entrepreneurs. Be sure to visit the links at the end of the interview to read more about The New Conspirators and order a copy of the book for yourself!

Wrecked: What is a new conspirator?

Tom: The bad news is that we are losing 20 and 30 year olds from our churches at a rate we have we haven't seen before. The good news is that God is conspiring through a new generation of innovators and risk-takers to create new expressions of community, church, mission and celebration that all of us can join. These new conspirators are challenging us all to raise the bar and embrace a more authentic whole-life faith and create more missional churches to discover the creative ways God can use our mustard seeds to make a difference in these turbulent times.

Wrecked: How have you seen followers of Christ living creatively to engage their world?

Tom: I find there are at least four streams of these new conspirators: emerging, missional, mosaic or multicultural church planters, and the new monastics. I am impressed by their commitment and creativity. I saw 25 young men who were a part of an emerging church plant in the UK called Warehouse covenanted together to not work more than 30 hours a week for money to free-up 20 hours a week to work with at-risk kids on the streets of their community. Andrea moved into a new monastic community in Camden New Jersey and went to work in a Catholic school teaching kids to do urban agriculture in one of the poorest cities in America. There are a large number of young risk-takers in this generation who are no longer content to simply get a comfortable job and go to a church where it is all about the needs of people inside the building.

Wrecked: Can you give us an idea of a church that is seeking to embody this new conspiracy and how are they seeking to live more missionally?

Tom: Three years ago Tim Morey and his friends planted a new missional church in Torrance California called New Life Covenant Church. They have grown to about 200 people. What sets them apart from more conventional church plants is their focus is not on the needs of people in their congregation. They meet for weekly worship in a rented space and the only other time they meet is in small groups. The focus of the small groups is primarily to engage the needs of their neighbors...during this lingering recession. These small groups help people reach out to address needs in their community and the larger world. Virtually everyone is involved in both a small group and reaching out to neighbors on a regular basis. They have planted three other churches, they fund micro-enterprise projects in Africa, and 30% of their budget is invested in local and global mission. Clearly, given the growing needs in our communities and our world we will need many more new plants like New Life that put mission at the center of their common life.

Wrecked: The sub title of your book The New Conspirators is "Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time"- what do you mean by "mustard seed" in this context?

Tom: Jesus let us in on a secret: God is always at work in the world through the small, the insignificant and the ordinary. I suspect that few leaders in our established church ever expected God to start new initiatives through the young and untested. I find that it still hasn't occurred to most older leaders that they could actually learn something from these new conspirators.

When I speak to 40+ leaders in our churches I find it has never occurred to most of them to sit down with their teens, 20 and 30-somethings and invite them to re-imagine and re-invent our churches to become more outward-focused in mission. What would happen if we joined these young risk-takers and invited God to more fully use our mustard seeds to have reach out to those in need?

Wrecked: What are some examples of acts of faith making a large difference in the world?

Tom: A few years ago a missional church plant in the UK called Raynes Park started holding banquets for aids orphans in Africa where they didn't ask for money. Instead they gave those who came to these banquets $15 each from the personal savings of families in this church. They challenged people to invest this money and send the results of the way that God prospers them. They raised hundreds of thousands of pounds and started Hope HIV to train up AIDs Orphans to be a new generation of leaders in Africa. These young leaders were astonished at how God could use their mustard seed to impact the lives of kids half a world away.

Wrecked: How does one become a new conspirator?

Tom: To join these new conspirators is not terribly difficult. It simply means following Jesus by making God's mission purposes our purposes. It starts by inviting God stir your imagination and discovering creative, new ways God can use our mustard seeds to make a little difference in our troubled world.

Wrecked: How can we find out more about The New Conspirators?

Tom: You can read more about the book at www.thenewconspirators.com. You can read more about those joining the conspiracy or order the book at www.msainfo.org. We are interested in hearing the creative ways God is using your mustard seeds to be a difference and make a difference.

Jeff graduated from Illinois College, a small liberal arts school, with a degree in Spanish and Religion. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Ashley. He works for Adventures in Missions, edits this silly little magazine, and loves to do new things. Check out his blog: Pilgrimage of the Heart.

PBS Partially Bans Religious Programs

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From MSNBC -- "PBS to ban new religious shows":

The Public Broadcasting Service agreed yesterday to ban its member stations from airing new religious TV programs, but permitted the handful of stations that already carry "sectarian" shows to continue doing so.

The vote by PBS's board was a compromise from a proposed ban on all religious programming. Such a ban would have forced a few stations around the country to give up their PBS affiliation if they continued to broadcast local church services and religious lectures.

Until now, PBS stations have been required to present programming that is noncommercial, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. But the definition of "nonsectarian" programming was always loosely interpreted, and the rule had never been strictly enforced. PBS began reviewing the definition and application of those rules last year in light of the transition to digital TV and with many stations streaming programs over their Web sites. The definition doesn't cover journalistic programs about religion or discussion programs that don't favor a particular religious point of view.

Is this free speech or censorship?

Steel: An Overrated Commodity

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm sitting in front of the TV watching the ever-entertaining Smallville. Okay, okay, I know, get a life, right? I guess it just intrigues me. Superman. Lex Luthor. The storyline and all that stuff.

I remember as a child running around playing super man. Now, I am hoping I wasn't pretending to be him, because that would be weird for a little girl's role model to be a man of steel.

Or, maybe it's weird for any body's role model to be a man of steel. Why do human beings long to be so strong. So invincible? So hard? If any of you have seen the TV show Smallville you know what I'm talking about. Our young superhero Clark Kent is untouchable. There is no vulnerability. Some people say that's why superman is so great. Because, nobody can touch him. He will always win, well, unless a wigged Luther happens to chain kryptonite around his neck, but beyond that? Nothing.

Can you imagine being that armored?

I actually think I can. In fact, I think we all do.

While Clark Kent can fool everybody into believing he's an awkward poorly presented, normal reporter, we have everybody fooled into thinking we're ok. Sometimes I feel such a heavy burden to hold my facade up high. Oh, don't worry, I am strong. I am invincible and untouchable. I never struggle with wanting others to fail so it looks like I'm succeeding. I never struggle with sexual temptation. I'm immune to greed and the pursuit of material possessions. I don't need you. That being said I don't really think I need God either. I mean, I needed him to save my soul from eternal judgment, but I don't need him to save my soul from every minute that tries to steal it away from him.

I've been talking with a good friend about this lately. How I long to rip the armor off, I really do. But I'm scared, because I'm afraid I'll be the only one leaving the shield behind. I know we all have our kryptonite, and I'm not necessarily saying we should run around the streets yelling our deepest darkest secrets, but, what if we did? That would be terrifying because then everybody would know our weakness. Everybody would know how to hurt us the most and which words would cut the deepest. Maybe that's why we have our shining shields to protect us. Maybe that's why we all have an alter ego. There's us. And then there's the people we wish we were.

I was thinking about all this as I was watching Clark Kent save the day again, and I realized something. I don't need to be saved by a superhero. Yes, I might die and tragic things might happen, but I don't need to be protected from that. What I need is a real heart next to mine, bleeding the same way I do. There's the same amount of salt in all of our tears. Why are we ashamed to let others see the water damage we have? I guess that makes me think that we need to start ripping off our armor.

I mean, God can show us his real broken heart, when he sacrificed his son for us. If Jesus can walk our earth, the one he created, for 33 years, showing everybody who came into contact with him his heart, his broken loving, perfect heart, I think we can too.

Let's be real.
Steel? An overrated commodity.

Vanita has recently become a resident of Nashville, Tn. She loves being outside, hanging with friends and family, enjoying great food, and a good dose of sarcasm. She is constantly pursuing the close relationship between music and spirituality. You can listen to her music at www.myspace.com/vanitajoines.

Brushstrokes: Stop Judging Culture's Art by the Imperfections

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm not much of an artist. I've painted or drawn a couple of things here and there and I've acted some, but for the most part I'm not very...cultured...when it comes to these sorts of things.

One of the things that I love about paintings is the way the big picture is composed of a ton of very small, sometimes seemingly insignificant brush strokes. For example, I was interviewing for a job and while waiting for the interviewer I was examining a painting that hung on the wall nearby. The scene was of aspen trees in the fall, the leaves just changing color. By the way, if you're ever in Colorado during the first two weeks of October, take a drive through the mountains - it is beautiful.

What I noticed, though, was all the blue in the tree bark. Blue. And I thought "how peculiar!" And then I realized how dull the picture would have been without that blue, but more importantly, I realized how real the blue made it look. But if I were to take a photograph of the tree bark of an aspen tree, there wouldn't really be much blue.

I could have gotten hung up on the blue. In fact, many times I do. We all do.

I've noticed a propensity, particularly in Christians (since, well, those are circles I run in most) to place an unhealthy focus on the imperfect brushstrokes whether it be in a piece of art (like a movie, song, or play) or literature (book or online article) or even a public speech of sorts (political address or sermon). Often times, we get so caught up focusing all of our attention and energy on the imperfection of just a few brush strokes that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

Perhaps the most unfortunate part of all this, though, is that there is often truth and beauty to be found in the bigger picture - truth and beauty that cannot be found by breaking the puzzle into all of its miniature pieces. Sometimes, we need to let the story stay whole. We do a grave injustice to everything and everyone around us when we continually reduce them to their flaws.

Next time you're watching a movie - don't get caught up on the f-word or the number of times that "Jesus Christ" is blurted out by a character - focus on the story - is it telling the truth? Even if raw and vulgar, does it represent what is true about a person, circumstance or event? Next time you're listening to a song, rather than focus on whether it is labeled "explicit" on iTunes, listen to the message - is it true? Is it beautiful? Can you find the heart of God in it? Next time you read a book instead of asking whether it represents orthodox truth, ask whether it is challenging, ask where you can find God in it.

Because, after all, God sometimes hides in the imperfect brush strokes of our lives and communities. Why wouldn't he hide in the brush strokes of culture as well?

Jesse spends most of his time struggling with what he knows he should do and what he actually does. He is unendingly grateful for the grace of God for loving him and giving him as many chances as it takes. Hopefully, he'll manage to get it right at some point. You can learn more about him and read more of his thoughts at his blog, Balancing Tension.

Movie Review: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Tue, 5 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I just saw The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke, on DVD the other night. I had heard interesting things about it, so I thought that it'd be worth the rental. It was not what I expected; however, I still can't decide if it was worth watching or not. It brings to mind the question of whether or not Christians should engage their own culture and to what extent. Moreover, it raises the responsibility of the Church to redeem the world's message of despair, transforming it into one of hope.

The Wrestler is a story of a washed-up, professional wrestler (played by Mickey Rourke) who is still riding on the coattails of his cultish fame from the late 1980s as Randy the "Ram" Robinson (famous for his oft-chanted "ram jam" move).

The film ridicules professional wrestling, highlighting the wrestlers' vanity, pre-scripted moves in the ring, and obsession with their own physique and failing careers. It even reminds the viewer of Rourke's own life and profession as an amateur and professional boxer (and of course, his later profession as an actor). As one reviewer wrote, "Rourke is Randy," complete with tears shed over past failures and subtle smile during his moment of triumph in the final scene of The Wrestler (Wilkinson, Christianity Today).

With the majority of scenes set in the local strip club and bloody wrestling ring, there were plenty of reasons for one to turn his or her head in repulsion. My wife closed her eyes during a few grotesque wrestling stunts including barbed wire and glass, and we fast-forwarded through a fairly gratuitous sex/drug scene.

I'm not a prude, and I don't abstain from all R-rated movies, but this one was tough to watch. I expected something along the lines of a wrestling version of Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby or maybe even naively hoping for something resembling the family-friendly, comeback flick The Rookie (starring Dennis Quaid as a middle-aged, Major League rookie). While this movie had semi-redemptive elements, such as Randy's efforts to make amends with his estranged daughter Stephanie (played by Evan Rachel Wood), it was, overall, a depressing storyline. Any sort of hope for a normal life that was raised was ultimately crushed by the reality of Randy's circumstances and lifestyle, exposing the self-destructive subculture of semi-professional wrestling.

This low-budget film from the same makers of Requiem for a Dream (a pretty dark movie in itself) pushed the moral limits of an edgy film, but nonetheless left me pondering what it all means. While I can't recommend The Wrestler to other Christians, I can't deny its implicit lesson - that some stories simply cannot be redeemed... at least not in this life.

Towards the end of the film, Randy's daughter is screaming at him, telling him that he will never lead a productive, hope-filled life (actually, she calls him a "perpetual f*ck-up"), and I have to admit that she's right. Randy ends up disappointing us; he doesn't come through, not as a dad and not as a worthwhile contributor to society. Stories like this are hard, because we know they're true; we know that some tales don't seem to get resolved as we'd like. And that's where we who follow Jesus are compelled to find a message of hope in one that seems to be filled with hopelessness.

The truth of The Wrestler (and of life) is that all things don't end well, and this is the story we don't want to hear. We want to believe that if we try hard enough and believe strongly enough that good things do work out for us. While I personally prefer tales of messy redemption, this one still rings true. Sin has consequences, life is painful, and we can't always fix the messes we've wrought. After all, without sounding trite, that's why we need a Savior.

This is what Ram's character symbolizes - he is not the triumphant, resurrected Christ we read about in Revelation or in the final Gospel chapters of the Bible. He is, as another reviewer states, "the Ram, not Jesus, not Isaac" - the sacrifice that judgment of our unrighteousness demands. In the end, he is abandoned, with "no one to live for, so he can only die for the people," as the sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament rite was slaughtered (Plate, Religion Dispatches). In a time when deep theology is often overlooked, movies like The Wrestler remind us of the need for propitiation, that sin must be atoned for and justice must be satisfied.

So, what will it be - will the Church just disdain such despairing messages? Or, will we seek to redeem them for Christ and his kingdom, not necessarily embracing the world's message, but neither dismissing it?

Jeff graduated from Illinois College, a small liberal arts school, with a degree in Spanish and Religion. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Ashley. He works for Adventures in Missions, edits this silly little magazine, and loves to do new things. Check out his blog: Pilgrimage of the Heart.

The Vocabulary-Centric Gospel: Ashamed to Be a Christian?

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I've been bombarded by shifts in vocabulary lately. In an accelerating society, it seems like Christian jargon is the one thing evolving faster than technology.

Of course, some remain in the Dark Ages and still call themselves Christians, use war rhetoric, preach sermons, and sing hymns. Others, however, have adopted a new language that's more emergent, more seeker-friendly, or more radical. They are followers of Christ who speak love, give talks, and sing songs. I'm not condemning any of these terms; I even think they are fundamentally good, but as linguistically progressive Christians often shy away from words like Christian, spiritual gifts, or even Holy Spirit, there's a group left precariously in the middle.

Last night, I walked along Venice Beach, enjoying the sunset, talking with individuals experiencing homelessness, and learning from world travelers. The night was perfect -- the sun setting behind palms and the moon starting to shine as the sky darkened. The company was even better. Laughter and joy were all around as we all shared our food and talents together. I was with a few friends from church, and our company asked a couple of us if we were "Christians." Insert silence and awkward sounds. The next question was if we were part of a church. Remove silence, insert lots of "kind of" or "not really." Then my friends turned to me, "How would you answer that, Josh?"

I, too, scrambled in my brain for a moment. I became part of that group left precariously in the middle. You see, I've been in the process of struggling with this new vocabulary and feeling strange abandoning terms like Christian and church. Before I answered the question, I had the advantage of time to compose my thoughts and know my position, and I semi-reluctantly replied, "Yes." Time slowed as we waited to see how those around us would respond. The next comment was heartbreaking. Our new friend, Bubbles the ukulele player, between drags of his freshly rolled joint, told us, "You guys shouldn't be ashamed to be Christians."

In my mind, I was immediately taken to a meeting of Christians Anonymous, and I was standing. "Hi, my name is Josh, and I am ashamed of the gospel."

Walking away from the beach last night, I realized that my language is far less important than I imagined it to be. In that moment, I projected all my hurts and scars from the church onto Bubbles, Ky, and even Delilah the cat. I thought, "Christians have hurt me, so I don't want to be called by their same name." Interestingly, as we talked by the beach, my new friends didn't care what I said I was, they cared about who I really am and how I lived. It wasn't about my vocabulary, it was about my life.

I agree, it's foolishness to assume that our vocabulary today should match our vocabulary a hundred years ago. Language should be precise so we can effectively communicate the heart of God and the message of Christ. There are words that need to go, I wouldn't deny that. And perhaps I'm just a little behind the curve on what words have strong negative connotations. But I think there are problems in the complete vocabulary overhaul that we sometimes seek.

The vocabulary-centric gospel is one of public relations, not intimate relationships. If I only intend to spend a few minutes of my life with someone, every word's importance increases exponentially. If I intend to share my life with someone, however, my words diminish and my life speaks. Living your faith out in your community can never be replaced by speaking your faith with effective communication.

Language has the interesting property of being symbolic. If we ever say, "I am [blank]," then we constantly define what it means to be blank. If you say you are a Christian, then those around you reshape their idea of a Christian based on your life. If you say you are a believer, then again, those around you reshape their idea of a believer based on your life. As we walk into the world, we are the ideas that our symbolic language represents. Christianity is constantly defined and re-defined based on our lives.

Above all, "...and be always prepared to give an answer to everyone that asks you to give an account of the hope that is inside of you." Whether we call ourselves a Christian, a follower of Christ, or a nonreligious revolutionary of the true teacher is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the way we live our lives makes others ask, "Why?" and that we can then give an answer to them -- that Christ is the hope in us.

Joshua is a young, married twenty-something who believes the gospel should be communicated with clarity and passion, through actions before words. He writes at Church Marketing Sucks and on his Twitter page, and he currently resides in beautiful Athens, GA.

Author Interview: Kevin Beck

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wrecked was able to interview Kevin Beck, author of This Book Will Change Your World to probe his mind about the theory behind the book. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the book review.

About the Author: Kevin Beck is COO of Presence International. He enjoys living under the blue skies of Colorado Springs with his wife Alisa and their three electrifying children. You can find him online at www.presence.tv and www.transmillennial.blogspot.com.

Wrecked: What was your motivation for writing this book?

Beck: What I'm interested in is helping people re-frame the catastrophic, destructive theologies that a lot of people hold that says God is really upset with the world except for a certain group of people, which just happens to be us, and he hates everybody else. If I can help people move away from those sorts of destructive theologies I'd like to do that. Our inner landscapes get reflected in our outer landscapes. If we think God is at war and we have a God-at-war mentality, we're going to find ways to enact that in our lives and societies. If we can try to diffuse some of that, I think that's a good thing.

Wrecked: How did you come to believe in Transmillenialism?

Beck: I was in ministry right out of college, interning at a church, and the head pastor and a friend of mine who was pastoring another church started studying the book of Revelation and I said, "Can I get in on that?" I didn't know much about the book of Revelation. We got together and started studying and started coming across some connections in Scripture: Revelation and Matthew 24, the Olivet Discourse. We started looking into it and particularly key for me was [Luke 21] where Jesus says to his disciples, "When you take a look around and see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that all things written by the prophets are going to be fulfilled. This is the time of that fulfillment." And I'm like "Oh, Jesus is talking about the Fall of Jerusalem in relation to the fulfillment of prophecy." That's really what got the ball rolling for me.

Wrecked: What authors have been influential for you in that process?

Beck: Early on for me was Max King. I came across his book The Spirit of Prophecy. That was very key for me early on.

Wrecked: Given that Transmillenialism doesn't seem to be a very prominent theory, what sort of feedback have you received on the theory and on your book?

Beck: Over the years I get varied responses. This book has gotten a very positive response. I've been kicked out of some of the best churches, too! The church I grew up in, which is a church I ministered in for four years as I was starting to come to some of these conclusions, very politely asked me to leave. Across the board I get some very positive response and some very negative response. A lot of it depends on where people are, what they have invested, and how they've identified themselves with their theologies.

Wrecked: How do you deal with the negative feedback?

Beck: As graciously as possible. I try to understand where people are coming from. I don't have a corner, I haven't monopolized the market on theology, and I'm still open to learning and conversation and dialogue. And I realize that my experience isn't everybody's experience so I don't feel threatened by criticism. In some ways I welcome it. Take a look at what you read and identify the weaknesses - that's great! I feel like if I can critique N.T. Wright then I ought to be able to take critique myself.

Wrecked: In your book you have a chapter dedicated to the "What about..." questions that people have as objections to the theory. What objections are the most common?

Beck: Probably a couple of things. For people who are interested theologically and are theologically-savvy, its, "What about the Resurrection? Doesn't Paul talk about the Resurrection of the body?" Yeah, he does. But that often carries a lot of assumptions that might not necessarily - I don't necessarily think that being a physical entity is a bad thing. I'm not convinced that what happened in Genesis was a fall, it is often talked about as the "Fall of Man." As my friend Tim King talks about, it was a fall forward. But I don't see a need to get into a new physical body because I don't see this physical body as being a bad thing or physical death being a punishment.

Probably another critique that I hear a lot is, "There's bad stuff that goes on out in the world. The so-called problem of evil." Yeah, there is a lot of bad stuff that goes on in the world, if we view the world through the lens of good and evil. I think there are other ways to view the world besides through that lens. I think we can accept what is without condoning it. I think we can have the power to - I think we do have the power to transform the world. I think love is the single most transformative power.

What objection did you have the hardest time with as you came to embrace Transmillenialism?

Beck: For me, the real big theological hurdle to embracing this whole thing was Resurrection. The second thing was what does this do to my relationships? All of a sudden my church doesn't want me, my friends don't want me. That's very difficult.

Wrecked: What happens at death and where do people go, if they go anywhere?

Beck: I think there's got to be something after this. We have interior realms right now; we think, we love. We don't see any of that, we don't see those cognitive, spiritual, psychological, inner landscapes, but they're very real nonetheless. I see God as all in all and whatever it is to be made in God's image, that goes into the next dimension. I don't know what that looks like, I've never been there.

Wrecked: What is the most important thing for Christians to do, what is their purpose?

Beck: It is contributing to someone's life, contributing to the good of the world, contributing peace and love and justice and reconciliation. Rather than getting you to believe what I believe, if I can contribute to your life then that's a pretty good mission.

Wrecked: The cover of the book shows a clown fish jumping out of a fish bowl with an island in the background: what is the significance of that?

Beck: For me, the fish's world is about to change. He's going from a very small fish bowl to a very large ocean. We're all going through change and development and learning and if this book can be one step in helping someone broaden their world, even if they don't agree with the conclusions - in some ways the Trojan horse of the book is not the theology. The theology is a delivery system; if you agree with the theology, that's great, if you don't, that's cool too. But if I can help anyone see that they have the God-given power to read the story in a way that resonates with their inner-most being, they can do that. Sometimes people just need to the permission to say, "I can do this on my own. I don't have to take what my pastor says or my parents or tradition or St. Augustine or whoever. I can read this thing on my own."

Wrecked: You are the COO for an organization called Presence International - can you tell us a little bit about the organization - what's the mission?

Beck: We are a think-tank for a new earth. What we want to do is help people to actualize the presence of God, which I take to be the presence of love. We can help people make a more peaceful world, a world in which people can live with a sense of reconciliation. We have a responsibility to take care of our neighbors, to love God by loving our neighbors, and to take care of future generations.

Wrecked: What sorts of practical ways has all of this wrecked you for the ordinary?

Beck: I love that - wrecked for the ordinary - that's so creative! For me, it's a complex answer. In some ways, it totally wrecked everything: the way I see God, the way I see the world. Its taken this line of separation which is very ordinary in many ways: culturally, nationally, politically - I try not to see that divide anymore, God's with all of us. But on the other hand, its made the ordinary so much more special. It makes every moment a sacred moment.

Wrecked: For a reader who disagrees with you, what sort of insight might they be able to take from your book?

Beck: There's two things. The one thing...you have the power to read this story any way you want to. That's your power, exercise it. Don't let anybody exercise it for you. But even more than that...what I talk about in the book is Agapeology and Agapetheism: that God is love and we love God by loving one another. And love is obviously very complex, but at its heart love is connection. If we can awaken to and see and experience a connection with one another, we can experience a connection with God.

Wrecked: Any parting words for the Wrecked community?

Beck: Just love. Love each other. You have so few moments; and actually, you only have one moment and that moment is right now. This is the only reality there is, right now. What you do now will always continue to emerge into something new. Things become qualitatively new as we continue to foster this compassion and connection with one another and if the Wrecked audience could love one another in the moment - man, that would be awesome.

Jesse is currently on a journey of re-learning what it means to be a disciple and it is both invigorating and terrifying. He studied to be a pastor at Vanguard University of Southern Calfornia and hopes to be in full-time ministry soon. You can read more of his thoughts at his blog, Balancing Tension.

Book Review: Kevin Beck's This Book Will Change Your World

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This Book Will Change Your World: How All Things Become New
By Kevin Beck

A book promises a lot by promising to change your world. Needless to say, this book will do it - that is, if you believe what Beck says and let it affect your daily life.

The premise of the book is that modern Christianity has, by and large, misinterpreted the Bible and has thus come to a convoluted view not just of the text itself, but subsequently of our world and God as well. Beck even contends that it is not just North American Christians who suffer from misinterpreting the Bible, but everyone - even if they do not believe in the Bible or God at all.

The majority of Beck's treatise focuses on the ever-popular topic of end-times theology (eschatology). Citing examples like the Left Behind series, Beck notes that the picture being painted of God is one where He is getting angrier and angrier and one day He is going to snap and bring about the end of the world. The problem, says Beck, is that the end of the world turns out to be "good news" for but a small portion of the world's historical population leaving most to suffer under the wrath of an angry God. Further, given our most prevalent understandings, this all happens at some point in the indefinite future. This, he says, presents us with problems as we attempt to interpret Jesus and his earliest disciples who understood the end of "the present age" and the beginning of the "age to come" as being fulfilled in their lifetimes or shortly thereafter, but certainly no later than 70 A.D.

It is here that Beck takes the liberty, perhaps too much, to reinterpret The Greatest Story Ever Told. For Beck, understanding the Kingdom of God as being "already, but not yet" (as espoused by some of our most prominent theologians) is a misunderstanding of what Jesus said would happen: the Kingdom of God coming into fullness in the very near future. Instead, Beck embraces what is called Transmillenialism: the belief that the end-times prophecies of Jesus and his earliest followers have already occurred...almost 2000 years ago. The task for modern Christians, then, turns from introducing people into a discipleship relationship with Christ to doing good in the world, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to bring about the New Heavens and New Earth.

The style in which this book was written seems to conflict with the overall purpose of it. For a book like this, it would seem important to have clear structure, guiding the reader through commonly misinterpreted verses and shedding contextual light on them until the reader finally comes to that "Aha!" point where all the puzzle pieces come together. Instead, Beck utilizes a more conversational method splicing in stories, anecdotal evidence, and cynical quips leaving the reader to wonder whether Transmillenialism should be embraced on its own merit or because the more prominent theories are getting old and worn out having fallen short in various ways. Further, while Beck admits to his book serving as an introduction to Transmillenialism and is by no means a comprehensive guide, the book lacks the theological lifting required for a disagreeing reader to embrace it as truth. There are also many objections to the theory that Beck seems content to leave unaddressed in his "What about..." chapter which, while it may motivate the reader to dig deeper into the theory, could also convince the reader that the theory lacks the ability to account for all of the variables.

There are two primary strengths of the book. The first is that Beck encourages the reader, time and again, to read the story of the Bible in the way that seems most right, most true to them as they are led by the Spirit. Far from being an affirmation of the destructive individualism that has taken its toll on the Christian faith, it is a challenge to question what it is that we are taught in our churches and by our teachers - some of which, finds little to no basis in Scripture. Many of us grow up under denominations and church leaders that stifle honest questions and condemn those who stray from the common theology - Beck encourages the reader to see things afresh, to ask questions and, if necessary, change one's mind. Such encouragement is delightfully liberating. The second strength flows from the first: this book serves as a needed critique to those end-times theories that seem to find their place more in fanciful and epic adventure-judgment stories than Scripture. Beck identifies the flaws in these prominent theories, demonstrating how they run contradictory to Scripture and have even led to injustice, carelessness, and hate.

This book can and will change your world. Regardless of whether or not you become convinced that Transmillenialism is true, this book highlights the importance of love in all things and shedding the baggage that Christianity has piled on along the way. Give it a try, and see just how much your world can be changed.

Don't forget to check out the interview with author Kevin Beck!

Book Review: Grace is for Sinners by Serena Woods

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When we talk about grace on Sunday morning, we often couch it in sacrosanct sentiment. We gloss over our (or others') bevy of shortcomings with a wand of detachment, daring only to acquaint ourselves with some vague and perhaps grandiose notion of grace. When we depart into Sunday afternoon traffic, however, the thin vapor of grace as something lofty and intangible tends to evaporate.

Does grace really show up in the crevices of our lives? Grace looks pretty on paper, but is it just like the inflated legal tender of our collapsing economy - a currency that promises much but is backed with little value? Grace seems like something we should talk about only once we don't need it. Do our inadequacies punch holes in the righteousness that Christ champions?

Grace seems like something we talk about in the sanctuary, not the bars. We speak of it as though it is lightweight, floating around in the clouds as some ephemeral nicety. But grace is meant to go hand-in-hand with experience. It's meant to be the flower pushing up through mud and grit. Grace is the cupful of water running over the dusty lips of those who are facedown in the desert. Grace is for sinners.

Serena Woods' autobiographical account of her experience with grace minces no words. The opening chapter of Grace is for Sinners picks up her story with her on the bathroom floor, shutting her kids out from her so they won't see her crying about the affair she was having with her friend's husband.

She writes, "I was a Christian for nine years and never did anything like this before. I didn't think I ever would. I had strong feelings and biting words for people who do what I did and there I sat, being who I hate and still being me, whom I loved. Two separate identities in one small body... I wondered that night, if hell was just separation from God."

We have a difficult time extending grace to fellow believers. All manner of tangled questions arise as to how much God really forgives and what that means to those who sin and their community around them. Of course, we know in our heads that we are all sinners saved by grace - we can quote the verse - but sadly that often does little to prevent us from stratifying our degrees of righteousness for a handy reference point.

This was very much Serena's encounter with the church, and catching a glimpse of her heartbreaking experience of rejection shines a glaring Mag light on the high price of judgmental predispositions. Certainly, our failures bring enough devastation on themselves. But self-righteous judgment and moral stratification within the church can extenuate the damage beyond recovery.

Grace is for Sinners is the story of a woman who found grace where it was most needed and from the purest source-God Himself. But it came through the most painful of voyages across the wilderness of guilt, misguidance, and isolation. Christians who didn't know how to handle grace on an industrial level burned the bridge that Christ meant to bring Serena back into restoration. Serena freely admits her guilt, but so convictingly reminds us, "Jesus didn't hang on the cross in case you need him, he hung on the cross because you desperately need him."

This is, and has always been, the essence of the Gospel. Death to life. Brokenness to restoration. The very experience of the Resurrection represents the transformation that each of us who claim Christ has undergone. We don't get to hang on to just a little bit of our own moral status. He asks us to completely swap our attempts at holiness with his own.

If we are still sitting in judgment of one remorseful believer's failures over and against our own with no posture of restoration, it can only be because we ourselves have not found the profusion of healing that God aches for us to take from His scarred - over hands. Perhaps we are still cowering from our own guilt, covering it up by pointing at the decoy of others' guilt. Grace levels the playing field. Redemption is meant for all.

Grace, in short, is for sinners.

You can find out more about Serena Woods and Grace is for Sinners at http://www.graceisforsinners.com.

Mariah has currently landed herself in Tucson, Arizona, where she just finished a philosophy degree from the University of Arizona. She thought life was supposed to get easier after college, but she's keeping way too busy working as a musician, editor for this magazine, and occupying other sundry roles. She enjoys writing almost as much as she enjoys making music. Almost. You can hear her music on Myspace.