This past Sunday at the church Andrea and I have been attending for a few weeks there was a video to encourage the attendees to pray for and honor military veterans, afterall it was Veterans Day Weekend. This is a theme that I'm seeing more and more in churches here in Colorado Springs. Nationalism in the church is why I left two such congregations. While I don't want to get into that discussion, I want to talk about this Sunday's lesson in mixed messages...
So there's the video; then the pastor asks all military veterans and currently serving military members to stand up and be recognized. I stand up. After all I did serve. Internally I'm freaking out. I don't stand long because I knew that the pastor was going to launch into long winded praise for the "sacrifice" that we all made for "freedom" and the American lifestyle. Syrupy love for a kingdom we as Christians are no longer citizens of and shouldn't kill for. I'm getting feverish as I listen to his idolatry, spoken directly from the same stage he'll lead us toward deeper love of God (supposedly).
After his patriotic spiel he asks all of us former and present military members to stand again so the congregation can pray for us. I stand and as he "prays" about all the honor that we had for "writing a blank check to America"; I pray that the other vets and the congregation have a heart that begins to look more like Christ's - a heart that loves our enemies - people that would die for our enemies - a heart of peace.
During the out of context sermon on tithing the pastor talks about how the church in the middle ages had gasp, hired mercenaries. He made some comment about how awful that was. WTH? This comes mere minutes after praising and admonishing those who claim to be Christ-followers for dying and killing for America. I don't understand it... The United States has troops in dozens of countries around the world, many are there to violently create democracy and bring about westernization. Forced democracy isn't democracy, and when the Church condones it, it is nothing more than a crusade.
The church was collecting questions for an upcoming sermon series so I left this question, to include my email address (which I doubt I'll ever hear back):
"As a vet, and more importantly - a Christian, I wonder this:
Nationalism is anything but Christ-like. Why has military service been championed more than Christ's commands to love our enemies?
Why are we not reminded that we are no longer citizens of any earthly kingdom?
We don't fight flesh and blood because there is no violence in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Lyrics of the day...
"What's the point if you
hate, die and kill for love?
You've got a heart filled with passion.
Will you let it burn with hate or compassion?"
-Jose Gonzalez
Advent Conspiracy!
For a few years now I've encouraged people to check out Advent Conspiracy. An organization that encourages you to: Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All. Well, I'm promoting them again this year. I have personally found that when my attention and time isn't given over to consumerism, but instead dedicated to being relational - I enjoy Christmas so much more. We really don't need more stuff in our lives.
Consider cutting back this Christmas, give of yourself instead of giving cheap toys from China that secretly have lead based paints. Think back to when you were a kid - more likely than not you remember the time with family and friends over those Lincoln Logs or Barbie's you received. Here's my greater challenge, or lesser possibly, through the Advent Conspiracy website you can make a donation that helps clean drinking water projects around the world, via Living Water International.
Andrea and I will MATCH the first $2,000 that's donated! No joke! Just email me at tim.kippel@gmail.com to let me know how much you donated and I will immediately match it.
Please watch the short video and then see my challenge to you after that. Unless you just don't have the time, then just skip to my challenge.
Consider cutting back this Christmas, give of yourself instead of giving cheap toys from China that secretly have lead based paints. Think back to when you were a kid - more likely than not you remember the time with family and friends over those Lincoln Logs or Barbie's you received. Here's my greater challenge, or lesser possibly, through the Advent Conspiracy website you can make a donation that helps clean drinking water projects around the world, via Living Water International.
Andrea and I will MATCH the first $2,000 that's donated! No joke! Just email me at tim.kippel@gmail.com to let me know how much you donated and I will immediately match it.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Questions of the day...
What would move you enough to take to the streets in protest?
What are you willing to die for?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
On doldrums and heart matters...
As I write this I sit here in my 2000 sq. ft. 3 story townhouse, my MacBook, smartphone and Roth IRA statements at hand, being warmed by central heating. In a way these comforts are my discomfort; that annoying rock in my shoe.
Over the past handful of weeks the Lord has used several things to bring to light my complacency and inaction. There were the sermons at the church Andrea and I have hopped our way to that reminded us of God's extravagant grace. At one of these sermons there was two video stories of prisoners who had been changed by God's heart; at the midpoint in the sermon the pastor proclaimed that due in part to the church the two prisoners had been pardoned of their sentences (murder and attempted-murder) and these brothers were with us today.
Then there was the 58: film which hit me like the proverbial "ton of bricks" as it showed the plight of people caught in the cycle of extreme poverty. Also adding to all of the bricks was an AXIS presentation about the "Problem of Evil".
So.
I'm not quite sure where all this leaves me. Even my recent musings about the Occupy Movement make me feel jaded and not as loving as I could or should be. The charity art/ photo show that a friend and I are planning seems to have hit some roadblocks and that has me discouraged.
I know I'm called to love. That doesn't seem like a calling I'm succeeding at currently.
My "relational tithe" savings account grows and grows but I haven't blessed anyone in awhile. But more than that I realize throwing money at people doesn't fix anything. And I'm wrestling with the concept of: service from a position of affluence (a position I genuinely have).
This short video was just another brick hitting me with its message that applies to my current life in the doldrums and the topic of "social justice" (- beyond its original intent)...
Lord,
I feel lost. I don't know how to use my money, my influence and my time to serve others. Please help me see the need(s) and understand how my wife and I can address that in a way that honors you and is effective. I'm a prideful person, with many an opinion; please quiet my mouth so it doesn't interfere with the work you're trying to accomplish. Send me. Use me. Break me. Change me. -Amen
Over the past handful of weeks the Lord has used several things to bring to light my complacency and inaction. There were the sermons at the church Andrea and I have hopped our way to that reminded us of God's extravagant grace. At one of these sermons there was two video stories of prisoners who had been changed by God's heart; at the midpoint in the sermon the pastor proclaimed that due in part to the church the two prisoners had been pardoned of their sentences (murder and attempted-murder) and these brothers were with us today.
Then there was the 58: film which hit me like the proverbial "ton of bricks" as it showed the plight of people caught in the cycle of extreme poverty. Also adding to all of the bricks was an AXIS presentation about the "Problem of Evil".
So.
I'm not quite sure where all this leaves me. Even my recent musings about the Occupy Movement make me feel jaded and not as loving as I could or should be. The charity art/ photo show that a friend and I are planning seems to have hit some roadblocks and that has me discouraged.
I know I'm called to love. That doesn't seem like a calling I'm succeeding at currently.
My "relational tithe" savings account grows and grows but I haven't blessed anyone in awhile. But more than that I realize throwing money at people doesn't fix anything. And I'm wrestling with the concept of: service from a position of affluence (a position I genuinely have).
This short video was just another brick hitting me with its message that applies to my current life in the doldrums and the topic of "social justice" (- beyond its original intent)...
Lord,
I feel lost. I don't know how to use my money, my influence and my time to serve others. Please help me see the need(s) and understand how my wife and I can address that in a way that honors you and is effective. I'm a prideful person, with many an opinion; please quiet my mouth so it doesn't interfere with the work you're trying to accomplish. Send me. Use me. Break me. Change me. -Amen
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