Barnabas File

Humanity is in a constant struggle between good and evil. Perhaps this is why last week’s episode of Lost entitled “Ab Aeterno” (from the beginning of time) was so satisfying. The storyline was dominated by Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell), the ageless character who has popped up from time to time as a messenger, advisor, or observer in relation to the trials and tribulations of the Oceanic Air survivors. (By the way, Carbonell should get an Emmy nomination for this performance!) When the episode is over, we not only understand this mysterious figure, but we identify with him. Ricardo/Richard is a man who has sinned and seeks absolution for that sin. He commits murder, loses the love of his life, is sold into slavery, shipwrecked, tempted, and struggles to make the right moral choices. Although we might not have encountered all of these challenges, we certainly can identify with the last two! Although “gifted” with an ageless life, Richard is still very human. He questions his choic...

In Missional Renaissance , Reggie McNeal makes a strong appeal for the church to move from a program-driven focus to a people-centered focus. He suggests that the eff ectiveness of a missional church is based more on the quality of its people than the quality (and quantity) of its programs. The North American church has been very successful with program development. We have produced structured, goal-oriented, structured programs to involve the masses. This emphasis grew out of the industrialization and mass production model of early 20th century America and our enchantment with bureaucracy coming out of World War II. This approach worked well in the 1950’s and into the 1960s, but a new day is upon us. One size does not fit all (if it ever did). People development multiplies the ministry of the clergy and moves the church into the real world. A congregation that wishes to foster a people development culture will see members as missionaries who are called and sent out to the world. This ...

Jesus withdrew regularly for prayer, but he was found most often among the people. Several years ago as I was watching a film about Jesus, I was struck by how he mingled openly with people. He walked the dusty roads, entered into homes, crossed through Samaria, entered the Temple courts, and interacted with people everywhere. He appeared comfortable in every type of venue. As he spent time with people, he was exposed to every vice, need, and problem of humankind. The greatest challenge for the church today is to get out among people. You might respond, “What do you mean? Aren’t church folks people?” Yes, but they tend to prefer one another’s company and fail to see the needs of those outside their doors. They don’t fully engage with the world. I must admit that at this time of the year, many church members are venturing outside their doors. In some states, churches are doing door to door visitation and leaving packets inviting strangers to church. Spring is the time that many church gr...

In Reboot: Refreshing Your Faith in a High-Tech World , author Peggy Kendall addresses the challenge of community in the 21st century, both on online and in the church. Online technology provides us with instant connection with friends around the world but that connection is not complete. It is mediated through technology and allows us to control exactly what we share about ourselves and also the opportunity to be selective in our response to friends. This can be true in the church as well. Kendall is honest about her family’s preference for a megachurch that provides worship experiences that (partially through technology) leaves them personally refreshed and rejuvenated. At the same time, she realizes that this approach also leaves them less involved. As she writes, “I feel less restricted but less anchored, less encumbered but less connected, more personally moved but less engaged in the meaningful work of the community.” The corrective they have adopted is to become involved in a sm...

“What is the value that we are bringing to our local churches who primarily fund what we do? How relevant are we to the local church?” These are the words of Michaele Birdsall , treasurer and chief financial officer for National Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA., who recently called for the denomination to seek longer-term and tougher solutions to effectively serve churches in the 21st century. The denomination Birdsall serves has gone through major budget and personnel cuts and various attempts at reorganization, but she recognizes the need for a fundamental change in how the denomination will relate to and serve churches in the future. The same concern is being expressed by denominational entities across the nation. In order to become a 21st century denomination, several steps must be taken. First, denominational entities must become missional, acknowledging that the Christian mission is God’s mission—it originates with God and is empowered by God. The goal is not to build...

In one week recently, I did not leave the house for four days, but I was connected with people in multiple ways. I led a coaching group composed of people in three states. I taught an online class with students in Tennessee and Missouri. I participated in a seminary faculty meeting with colleagues in Shawnee, Kansas, by video link while wearing my sweats. I coached three individuals by telephone. I listened in on an online conference of church leaders from across the nation. I accessed any number of websites, downloaded music from the iTunes Store, and watched a couple of TV shows on Hulu.com. And, of course, I answered e-mail daily, checked in with friends on Facebook, and posted three blogs. Quite honestly, I am the target audience for Peggy Kendall’s new book, Reboot: Refreshing Your Faith in a High-Tech World. I can spend a busy and productive week without leaving the house and only spending face time with family members, but are there drawbacks to that kind of life? Kendall would ...

There have been a number of bloggers such as Chris Seay who have put a great deal of time into deciphering all the plot twists and turns in TV’s Lost . I am a regular viewer but only occasionally pick up something that seems to have a faith connotation. Of course, this season has been more messianic and apocalyptic in tone! I was hit in the face with one last night. Ben (Michael Emerson) has been delivered from certain death by John Locke/Man in Black (Terry O’Quinn). As he makes his escape, he is overtaken by Ilana (Zuleikha Robinson), his captor. When she asks him why he is going to join Locke, Ben replies, “He’s the only one who wants me!” Ilana’s replies, “I want you.” She turns and walks away and Ben follows her back to the beach with a look of uncertainty and incomprehension on his face. My first response was “This is church.” Ben Linus is certainly one of the more vicious characters on this program. He even stood by and watched his adopted daughter, Alex, be killed by assassins...

Someone once told me, “Tom Logue is too nice a guy to be a state director of student work.” Tom Logue passed away on Saturday in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a nice guy and a Christian gentleman. He was one of the most genuine people I have ever known. The phrase “what you see is what you get” applied to Tom. Tom was part of what we call “the greatest generation.” They were great not just because they won the Second World War but because they went on to rebuild the world and bring fresh vision to a denomination. For one example, Tom is representative of those Baptist men and women who took a stand on the side of human rights in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He was state director of Baptist student work (campus ministry) in Arkansas when Central High School in Little Rock was integrated. When the state student convention met in Jonesboro that year, the students passed (with only one dissenting vote) this resolution: “We believe that the Christian position in the matter of race relations inclu...

When we think about apostolic leadership, our attention usually goes immedi ately to the Apostle Paul—out there on the cutting edge, starting new faith communities, facing hardships, and winning Gentiles to the Way. In Missional Renaissance , Reggie McNeal reminds us that Paul was not the only apostle and there was m ore than one style of apostolic leadership. In comparing the Pauline and Petrine styles, for example, he notes: Some find that they can be missional only in new settings and are quite at home engaging cultures that are not culturally Christian. Other leaders are most comfortable and effective at home serving as missionaries to the church culture, challenging those in it to connect with the Spirit’s agenda in the world beyond them. While Paul was penetrating the Gentile world with the Gospel, Peter and James stayed in Jerusalem and shared the message of Christ in the center of Jewish influence. They were confronting an established system with a message of renewal, but their...

If you are in ministry, there are times in your life when you have to make a decision about moving from one place of ministry to another. We often use very spiritual and theological language to explain this. In a conversation this past weekend, someone asked me, “How did you know when it was time for you to leave a ministry position?” As I reflected on this, I had several thoughts. Each time our family has moved from one place of ministry to another (four times by my count including the move from seminary to first call), the circumstances were different. One theme that seemed to run throughout, however, was the phrase “holy discontent.” Something was just not right or was challenging me to deal with a specific need or issue. I have borrowed this term from Bill Hybels, and I recommend his book entitled Holy Discontent . In my usage of the term, the state of holy discontent is one where I know that there is something that needs to be addressed and it probably will not be unless I do som...