Friend's,
My blog has moved! You can now find me at www.GlennBalzer.com. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Peace,
Glenn
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Control
One of my projects this year is to co-lead an Urban Ministry Tour for Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA). Our purpose and goal is to listen to urban church leaders and make recommendations that will help to shape the future of urban Mennonite Church.
As we go around to various locations we are asking a common set of questions:
· Who are you?
· How are you?
· What are the things that you do well?
· How can Mennonite Church USA be helpful?
· What is of spiritual importance to you in your community?
· What is important to know about ministry in the urban context?
These questions have sparked some vigorous discussions.
Last week in Minneapolis, in response to the question,”How can MCUSA be helpful?” Mark Van Steenwyk, a local church leader responded with his own question. “Is it possible for Mennonite Church USA to engage the space without trying to control the space?”
This question has been gnawing at me ever since. The need to control seems to be a universal desire.
I know that this craving impacts every area of my life. As a parent, I want to control my boys; who their friends are, what movies the watch, where they go to school and what they eat. As the National Director of DOOR, I want control over our image, the finances and the program.
Some control seems appropriate. Too often my (our) need to control becomes destructive and manipulative. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Philippians 2:7, “But (Jesus) emptied himself…”
If there ever was a person who had the right to control, it was Jesus. But Jesus, the son of God, emptied himself. Or to think of it another way, Jesus chose to engage humanity without trying to control humanity.
Why is it that we so willingly accept the freedom given to us while still hankering to control?
The temptation to control is something which must be resisted at every level, from the individual to the institution.
As we go around to various locations we are asking a common set of questions:
· Who are you?
· How are you?
· What are the things that you do well?
· How can Mennonite Church USA be helpful?
· What is of spiritual importance to you in your community?
· What is important to know about ministry in the urban context?
These questions have sparked some vigorous discussions.
Last week in Minneapolis, in response to the question,”How can MCUSA be helpful?” Mark Van Steenwyk, a local church leader responded with his own question. “Is it possible for Mennonite Church USA to engage the space without trying to control the space?”
This question has been gnawing at me ever since. The need to control seems to be a universal desire.
I know that this craving impacts every area of my life. As a parent, I want to control my boys; who their friends are, what movies the watch, where they go to school and what they eat. As the National Director of DOOR, I want control over our image, the finances and the program.
Some control seems appropriate. Too often my (our) need to control becomes destructive and manipulative. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Philippians 2:7, “But (Jesus) emptied himself…”
If there ever was a person who had the right to control, it was Jesus. But Jesus, the son of God, emptied himself. Or to think of it another way, Jesus chose to engage humanity without trying to control humanity.
Why is it that we so willingly accept the freedom given to us while still hankering to control?
The temptation to control is something which must be resisted at every level, from the individual to the institution.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Snow Day
I am writing this entry on March 24, 2010. It is 7 AM and the house is quiet. Denver Public Schools just announced that classes have been canceled because of snow. When I told my boys, they grunted in acknowledgment and rolled over in bed. I will not hear from them until noon. It still amazes me how they can sleep for 14 hours straight.
Days like today are a gift. A break from the routine.
It is nice to be reminded that our lives do not have to be defined by how busy we are. It is OK to take a day and just be. No agenda. No rush hour traffic to deal with. Today will be a day to just hang out and see what happens. Maybe watch a family movie and eat popcorn.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus reminded his followers that they did not have to be defined by their busyness either. He said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
If this is true, then why are our lives so defined by how busy we are?
It is not unusual for me to be in a conversation with a pastor or ministry leader and hear about his or her desperate need for a mental health break. Life has become so overwhelming that they just need to escape.
Did Jesus just get it wrong? Is the weariness and the burdens of life just too much for him to handle? Or maybe Jesus was talking about the rest we will get after this life is over. I personally do not think so.
Is it possible that we are too busy because we are unwilling to share the load with Jesus? Could it be our pride that prevents us from resting? I am not sure, but I am going to think about it today!
Days like today are a gift. A break from the routine.
It is nice to be reminded that our lives do not have to be defined by how busy we are. It is OK to take a day and just be. No agenda. No rush hour traffic to deal with. Today will be a day to just hang out and see what happens. Maybe watch a family movie and eat popcorn.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus reminded his followers that they did not have to be defined by their busyness either. He said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
If this is true, then why are our lives so defined by how busy we are?
It is not unusual for me to be in a conversation with a pastor or ministry leader and hear about his or her desperate need for a mental health break. Life has become so overwhelming that they just need to escape.
Did Jesus just get it wrong? Is the weariness and the burdens of life just too much for him to handle? Or maybe Jesus was talking about the rest we will get after this life is over. I personally do not think so.
Is it possible that we are too busy because we are unwilling to share the load with Jesus? Could it be our pride that prevents us from resting? I am not sure, but I am going to think about it today!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Rights and Responsibilities
In the early 1980’s, while I was attending college in Canada, a national debate was raging about the newly written constitution. The debate over the partially written Bill of Rights was intense. People were debating what should and should not be included. Some felt that the American Bill of Rights was the template to follow, while others strongly opposed this approach.
As this debate raged, one of my professors notably started his class with the following comment, “What this country needs is a contract of responsibility, not a bill of rights.”
Every once in a while, I wonder how different our world would be if personal responsibility took precedence over the need for personal rights. In a world filled with rights, we talk about freedom of speech. In a world of responsibility, what we might say would be tempered by a concern for how words would be received by others.
In a world of rights, we have the freedom to bear arms and defend ourselves. In a world of responsibility we would never consider defending ourselves first. The needs and security of the other would come first.
In a world of rights, the individual becomes a mini-god. Everything is about me first and my own personal rights. Responsibility moves beyond the individual, and it shifts the focus to the good of the community.
Is it possible that most of the issues that threaten to destroy our communities, churches and country could be solved with a shift from a focus on rights to a focus on responsibilities?
As this debate raged, one of my professors notably started his class with the following comment, “What this country needs is a contract of responsibility, not a bill of rights.”
Every once in a while, I wonder how different our world would be if personal responsibility took precedence over the need for personal rights. In a world filled with rights, we talk about freedom of speech. In a world of responsibility, what we might say would be tempered by a concern for how words would be received by others.
In a world of rights, we have the freedom to bear arms and defend ourselves. In a world of responsibility we would never consider defending ourselves first. The needs and security of the other would come first.
In a world of rights, the individual becomes a mini-god. Everything is about me first and my own personal rights. Responsibility moves beyond the individual, and it shifts the focus to the good of the community.
Is it possible that most of the issues that threaten to destroy our communities, churches and country could be solved with a shift from a focus on rights to a focus on responsibilities?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Obstacles
A few weeks ago, my pastor made an interesting statement, “An obstacle is what the eye sees when it is distracted from the goal.”
The more I have thought about this, the more I believe the statement to be true – especially for those of us who call ourselves Christians. But how can we know the difference between an obstacle and the goal?
According to my Reformed brothers and sisters, the highest end of man (humanity) is to glorify God and to fully enjoy him (God) forever. This sounds a whole lot like “the goal.”
Now, figuring out what the obstacles are is a tad more difficult.
For example, if Sunday worship helps us to glorify God, then it cannot be an obstacle, right? If this is the case, then why do we spend so much time arguing about worship? Some folks want their worship experience to be quiet and reflective; well others want their worship to be loud and expressive with a little dancing thrown in. Does this make worship a means to the goal or an obstacle?
Worship is simple compared with some of the other issues faced by the church. Is God a God of life or choice? Should we pray for victory in war or the courage to be a people of peace regardless of what others have done?
Keeping our eyes on the goal is important, but obstacles are a fact of life. Debating the merits of the obstacles is an inescapable reality. Is it possible that healthy discussions about obstacles help us to better see and understand the goal?
Maybe the problem isn’t the obstacle itself, but rather how we choose to engage the obstacle.
Can you imagine a church where people with different understandings and beliefs about the obstacles choose to worship together anyway?
The more I have thought about this, the more I believe the statement to be true – especially for those of us who call ourselves Christians. But how can we know the difference between an obstacle and the goal?
According to my Reformed brothers and sisters, the highest end of man (humanity) is to glorify God and to fully enjoy him (God) forever. This sounds a whole lot like “the goal.”
Now, figuring out what the obstacles are is a tad more difficult.
For example, if Sunday worship helps us to glorify God, then it cannot be an obstacle, right? If this is the case, then why do we spend so much time arguing about worship? Some folks want their worship experience to be quiet and reflective; well others want their worship to be loud and expressive with a little dancing thrown in. Does this make worship a means to the goal or an obstacle?
Worship is simple compared with some of the other issues faced by the church. Is God a God of life or choice? Should we pray for victory in war or the courage to be a people of peace regardless of what others have done?
Keeping our eyes on the goal is important, but obstacles are a fact of life. Debating the merits of the obstacles is an inescapable reality. Is it possible that healthy discussions about obstacles help us to better see and understand the goal?
Maybe the problem isn’t the obstacle itself, but rather how we choose to engage the obstacle.
Can you imagine a church where people with different understandings and beliefs about the obstacles choose to worship together anyway?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Jumping
This year, a colleague and I have been asked to lead an urban ministry study project for Mennonite Church USA. So far we have visited folks in Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. It has been a privilege to listen to these leaders share about the joys and frustrations of urban ministry.
Last week I was at another one of these gatherings. As we were going around the circle sharing, one of the African pastors made the following statement, “We jump into mission! You North Americans need to process everything before you decide to jump”
It took a minute for me to comprehend what he was saying.
We do like to process. I have always thought of processing as a way to include everyone in the conversation. I still believe this to be true.
As I have reflected on this statement, it is also true that we sometimes use process as a stall tactic. If we talk about it, then we don’t actually have to do anything. When we don’t do anything, then we cannot be blamed for making a bad decision.
Our politicians are famous for doing this. Should this be something that the church is known for as well?
Sometimes it is more important to jump in and start working than to hold a committee meeting to decide if we should vote on whether or not to take action.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything. In that same spirit I would like to suggest that there is a time to process and a time to jump in.
Last week I was at another one of these gatherings. As we were going around the circle sharing, one of the African pastors made the following statement, “We jump into mission! You North Americans need to process everything before you decide to jump”
It took a minute for me to comprehend what he was saying.
We do like to process. I have always thought of processing as a way to include everyone in the conversation. I still believe this to be true.
As I have reflected on this statement, it is also true that we sometimes use process as a stall tactic. If we talk about it, then we don’t actually have to do anything. When we don’t do anything, then we cannot be blamed for making a bad decision.
Our politicians are famous for doing this. Should this be something that the church is known for as well?
Sometimes it is more important to jump in and start working than to hold a committee meeting to decide if we should vote on whether or not to take action.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything. In that same spirit I would like to suggest that there is a time to process and a time to jump in.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Losing your faith
I was back at Gunther Toody’s again this week. One of the men in around the table is a former pastor who no longer believes in God. This week he began to share about his journey from faith to rejection of God.
It was not easy to listen to his story.
He was the senior pastor of a growing church. He was well respected and loved. He cared for people. He prayed with people. He preformed weddings and presided at funerals. Somewhere in the middle of it all, he lost his faith.
Someday, I hope to hear the whole story, but today I heard part of the story.
It began with a question directed to me, “What is the purpose of the church?” This is a dangerous question.
After all, what is the purpose of the church?
I have two teenage boys. They are starting to do all the things that teens do, but they love the youth program at our church. As a parent it is thrilling to know that my boys want to go to church. Attending a church that my boys want to go to is important.
For me one of the purposes of church is to provide quality programming for my boys.
As I answered his question, he began to smile.
“Really?” he said, “what about Jesus’ call to be salt and light? Isn’t the church supposed to serve its community? When did the church become a club just to look after our own?”
I am a parent; I believe that the church has a responsibility to care for its own. That said, when the church becomes a closed system, or, to put it another way, when the church becomes so inward-focused that it no longer has space for new people or time to get involved in neighborhood or money for needs and programs beyond the four walls of the church, we might as well own the fact that we are on the road to losing our faith.
The church was never intended to be a country club to serve my needs and the needs of my family. The church, the body of Christ, those of us who use the term “Christian” to define ourselves, are called to be salt and light. As one writer said, “Salt is only helpful if it gets out of the saltshaker and into the world.”
One more time, what is the purpose of church?
It was not easy to listen to his story.
He was the senior pastor of a growing church. He was well respected and loved. He cared for people. He prayed with people. He preformed weddings and presided at funerals. Somewhere in the middle of it all, he lost his faith.
Someday, I hope to hear the whole story, but today I heard part of the story.
It began with a question directed to me, “What is the purpose of the church?” This is a dangerous question.
After all, what is the purpose of the church?
I have two teenage boys. They are starting to do all the things that teens do, but they love the youth program at our church. As a parent it is thrilling to know that my boys want to go to church. Attending a church that my boys want to go to is important.
For me one of the purposes of church is to provide quality programming for my boys.
As I answered his question, he began to smile.
“Really?” he said, “what about Jesus’ call to be salt and light? Isn’t the church supposed to serve its community? When did the church become a club just to look after our own?”
I am a parent; I believe that the church has a responsibility to care for its own. That said, when the church becomes a closed system, or, to put it another way, when the church becomes so inward-focused that it no longer has space for new people or time to get involved in neighborhood or money for needs and programs beyond the four walls of the church, we might as well own the fact that we are on the road to losing our faith.
The church was never intended to be a country club to serve my needs and the needs of my family. The church, the body of Christ, those of us who use the term “Christian” to define ourselves, are called to be salt and light. As one writer said, “Salt is only helpful if it gets out of the saltshaker and into the world.”
One more time, what is the purpose of church?
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