UPDATE: So, I get the “wink” now. Read Pagitt’s post. Yes, the whole thing. I’m down with it.
Despite what you might have read (all updated), I’m not winking. (See previous post)
Fig. 1 – Me Not Winking
Before adding my un-wink, I posted a comment on Adam and Josh’s blogs that seems to have gone unread by both before adding my name to their lists: (Both have updated their links. Thanks, guys)
Love the wink idea and was considering posting a copycat myself.
Mark’s ad hominem hermeneutic is better at drawing boundaries than it is conclusions. But isn’t there a better way?
Check my blog for a suggestion. Can we do it instead?
I’m not defending Mark by any means. A couple quotes that somehow emerged from the throat of our brother:
“I believe Emergent is, like Judas, in the process of hanging itself.”
“Brian McLaren also has a new organization called “Deep Shift” and I think somebody inadvertently put an “F” in there.”
“And all the nonsense of emerging, and Emergent, and new monastic communities, and, you know, all of these various kinds of ridiculous conversations — I’ll tell you as one on the inside, they don’t have converts.”
Say what you want about Emergent, Mark, but Judas? And what’s up with going all ad hominem on Brian - perhaps one of the most peaceful men I’ve met?
But attacking neomonastic communities? I spent the last four months living in something like one of these communities (embarrassingly named “The Manastery,” believe it or not). Our house was a safe place for women and men who had found themselves homeless for any number of reasons, a place of peace for a man with a developmental handicap, a place of hospitality for travelling friends and friends-of-friends, and (most importantly) a place where we did our best to worship God together in word and in deed. We went through a lot of shit together, but it was the Jesus Creed that pushed us forward.
Want to talk about converts? We could talk about “Tom” who, despite being a Christian, was suffering from a sort of marijuana-induced schizophrenia and living in his car. He’s now employed and in the process of transitioning into a stable home. We could talk about “John,” who was living with his father but frequently fought with him and called the police (things still aren’t great, but they’re better). We could talk about “Vicki” who is the legal guardian for a teenage girl and just needs some people to talk to sometimes. Or we could talk about “Tina,” who moved to Oregon from the midwest but didn’t know many people in Portland and needed a place to call “home” while she got a job and a permanent place to live.
We’ve prayed with and for these friends of ours, and we love them to death. It’s been an incredible pleasure to have the opportunity to journey with them in body, word, and spirit. Believe it or not, an off-hand comment from a guy from Seattle who got ahold of a microphone does not invalidate the stories of God’s work in their lives.
Here’s a little gem for everybody:
I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift.
A departure from experimental projects such as A Collision and Sunsets and Sushi, Remedy is Crowder’s “there-and-back-again” take on the clean but edgy style he’s developed in Can You Hear Us? and Illuminate.
