are you guilty of being the older brother?

Today I read a blog by Tony Campolo entitled “I’m the Older Brother.” (which can be found at http://blog.sojo.net/2009/03/24/im-the-older-brother/ if you would like to read more than the excerpts I address below.)
In his blog, Campolo admits that with regard to President Obama’s stimulus package and its provisions to help those Americans who are having great difficulty paying their home mortgages, he has come to realize that he is like the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son.
(in case you need reminding, younger brother takes his share of their father’s wealth, spends it all irresponsibly, then returns home to ask for a job on his father’s farm. But instead of giving him a job, his father runs out to meet him, welcomes him home and throws a party. Older brother is angry. He resents that he worked hard for his father for many years, and now the money he helped earn is being spent on the brother who was wasteful. Campolo points out that we can almost hear the older brother saying, “This brother of mine was irresponsible in the way he lived and spent his money, so why should he now get the benefits of money that I helped earn through my hard work, day in and day out?”
Then Campolo admits that this is much the same attitude that he and many conservative brothers and sisters, have had in reaction to President Obama’s announcement that taxpayers’ dollars, earned by hard-working, responsible citizens, would be given to help those irresponsible Americans who bought houses that they couldn't afford, while embracing a lifestyle that was beyond their means. This is a very good comparison. Campolo goes on to say that many people now sound like that older brother in Jesus’ story, and call for those irresponsible spenders to get what they deserve. With an air of self-righteous indignation, we declare, “They didn’t do what’s right and now we’re being asked to rescue them from the financial mess they’ve created for themselves!”
Campolo reminds us that the gospel is about grace and we all know that grace is about us receiving from God blessings that we don’t deserve. But many are reluctant to extend that grace to others.
In several incidents recently, I have noticed that people – especially Christians - have problems extending grace to others. Because of this, Christians often give Christianity a bad name. We preach about grace. We declare a God of second (and third and fourth, etc) chances. Yet we do not give people a second chance. We often fail to even give the first chance. Our mouths say we seek to reach the lost and bring them back to God. But our actions (or reactions) say that you shouldn’t have gotten lost in the first place and if you are not like us we will not be comfortable worshipping with you. We claim to share a message of “Hey, I am a sinner just like you because we have all fallen short of the glory of God. Evangelism is just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.” But the message others actually receive is “Yuck. Are you kidding? If you have made any error in judgment or fallen short it any way we want to see you punished. After you’ve jumped through our hoops, we might consider throwing you some crumbs.”
Maybe you’re outraged at a stimulus package or resentful of social services or irritated by the way someone dresses at church or disgusted that someone does not know a church ritual or reluctant to forgive someone, or all of the above and more. Ask yourself: Am I the older brother? Am I reluctant to extend the grace I have received to my brother (or sister)?

what I really think

this morning I wanted to do announcements and say something I had been thinking. all the way to church I thought about how I would say it. but when I arrived at church, a realization of the changing times welcomed me.

For a year and a half I have thought that I could afford to be the one who to challenge the church. after all, my livelihood does not depend on the church paycheck. if I was the one to honestly assess a situation and said assessment angered the congregation, I could afford to be run off. But today was the the beginning of a change. Well a change that will last for at least the next couple of months.

Tim offered to do announcements and address a situation. He reasoned that he would be leaving in a couple of months and he could afford to say the possibly unpopular things. What unwelcome announcement could we possibly need to make?

Well, last night was the youth fundraiser - a St. Paddy's Day Party/Dance. Money raised will be used for the youth mission project. Last week the church council included a long discussion on how we need to have programming for the youth. People commented on the importance of youth ministry. But last night the only people who showed up for the fundraiser were people associated with youth.

I was proud to have a good youth representation. (a concern since it was the beginning of Spring break) I was thankful for the parents and grandparents who helped prepare for the party. The new youth director and family worked hard on an event they kind of inherited because it was planned before they came on board. I appreciate the people who came on Friday to set up sound and decorate. The people who came out Friday for set up and those who attended the party on Saturday all seemed to have a good time.

Although there was certainly for which to be thankful, I couldn't help but wonder where all those people who just a few days earlier had talked about the importance of youth ministry. Where were the people whose presence could have sent a message to the youth that the congregation supported them? Where was the desire to fellowship with one another?

I really wanted to stand up and tell these people of my disappointment. I wanted to tell them that they needed to back up their words with their actions. I wanted to say this is the first church I had ever known where the people only supported a cause if they reaped some benefit. They only attend an event if they have some personal interest in the particular ministry. Can't they see that they should have a personal interest in every ministry of their church?

But Tim set out to protect me from my own mouth. Instead I stood in the back and kept Dustin from burning down the church while Tim told everyone what a good time they missed. Pictures of all the fun scrolled across the screen (eventually) while Tim described the excellent potato bar, lively music and fun missed by those who failed to come out to support the youth fundraiser. He reminded the congregation of how much youth would enjoy interaction with other generations. He reminded them of the importance of showing support.

And so once again only a few will know what I really think. Because I am learning that maybe I do not always have to be the one who says what I think.

the post that tells you nothing

This has been a crazy year. The more I resolve to post more regularly, the harder it seems to do so. I am having wireless issues and time issues and posting to the blog or even checking what my friends have blogged has been difficult. But here I am with another baby step making an effort.

Maybe all the hurdles have been God's way of making sure I have not been able to post something I would regret. You may find this hard to believe, gentle readers, but there are people who will criticize you speak your mind. Some are honest enough to comment and provide their names. and then there's always Anonymous. Or perhaps they will not even comment on your blog, but instead call someone who knows you and express their "concern" about what you have written.

You see, a lot has happened on which I have an opinion, but it is probably best not to share that opinion with everyone. That is very funny because I am so often accused of being brutally honest and too blunt. People assume I just say everything that jumps in my mind. (and often I do speak/write without thinking) If the things I say shock people, what would they do if they knew the things I think, but don't say?

First round of appointments were proposed this week. A lot of pastors moving around. I don't know all of them yet. Some may change after the second round. I do know that I will be working with someone new. Still waiting to learn about them. Appointment time. One of those times it might be best not to say everything that jumps in your head.

That may be one of the hardest parts about being clergy. You have to be careful how much information and opinion you share. Some clergy never even share what team they support. all you have to do is see my car and you know that I don't keep that a secret. Some advise you not to indicate which way you lean politically. I really try on that one because I can see where that would be divisive. but most people can figure that out about me also. You have to be really careful not to take sides when there is disagreement among church folk. Well that is a full time job because church people often disagree.

So here I am posting without really saying anything and thinking for all the times I hear "you would not believe what Donna said" I would like to say "No - you would not believe what I really wanted to say."