The "E" Word
I’ve never been much of an evangelist. Actually, I’m quite against most traditional forms of evangelism. So it’s been interesting for me to participate in the Thompson Scholar seminar at Columbia Seminary this week entitled, “Evangelism for the Rest of Us.” I’ve quite enjoyed the conversation thus far.
To guide our conversation, we were to read Martha Grace Reese’s book, “Unbinding the Gospel.” I also read Brian McLaren’s, “A New Kind of Christianity,” George Hunter III’s “A Celtic Way of Evangelism” and skimmed Bill Hybel’s “Just Walk Across the Room.” I may review some of these in the future — actually, I know I’ll review McLaren.
The evangelism discussion is still very much in-process for me at the moment, but I wanted to put out a few bullet points and see if the blogosphere had some comments:
- Christendom churches just expect people will come to their church if it is attractive enough, but this model just isn’t true anymore (if it ever was).
- Though Evangelism Committees keep coming up in discussion at the seminary — usually because they’re quite problematic, actually — this makes me consider the committee structure in our congregation. There is no committee that focuses on issues not directly related to those who attend worship often. This is a problem, but I also think we have too many committees!
- A primary question to answer for yourself is: what difference does it make if people are Christians?
- Prayer is a good way to start pretty much anything, especially evangelism or “sharing the good news.” I know I could totally work on my personal prayer life, and I bet I’m not the only one in our congregation.
- I wonder if the life cycle of some congregations, if a focus on evangelism could actually be a bad idea. If the body isn’t comfortable in its own skin, it might not be time to invite more folks in to rock the boat. Of course, this can be a catch 22.
- Also, I have a million questions on evangelism in rural communities. What of sheep stealing from other churches? How things are interpreted in the community is huge and would need to be an integral part of the conversation.
More later, for certain. But there’s a few bullets for thought for now.
2010 Worship Books and More
The blog has been a bit quite in recent days, and will remain so as — if the snow doesn’t foul things up too much — I will on taking vacation next week. I do wonder, though, what books you might recommend for the new year.
Specifically, I’m leading a workshop in February entitled, “Worship and Welcomes the Spiritually Hungry.” And the organizers of the event and looking for books that include good thoughts on welcoming worship, how to make your space and service hospitable, how to be open to those unchurched, that sort of thing. So, what books should we be sure to have available at the bookstore?
And, while we’re at it, what books would you recommend in general? What was your fav book of 2009?
Page 50, here I come
I have a long list of books I’d like to read. Unfortunately, the one I’m currently reading is proving less than impressive. Looking back, I should have known this before I bought it because it has three tell-tale signs of sketchy books.
1) Bullets. Flipping through I now see lists and lists of bullets; several per chapter. How did I miss this before?! Bullets work for political talking points, perhaps, or for giving quick and varied support for an issue that must be argued quickly, but bullets in a professional book are a bad sign. Bullets say, “I didn’t take the time to fully think this through, but here it is anyway.” Or, “I can’t really support my argument, but here it is one measly sentence.”
2) No footnotes. Sure, footnotes can be cumbersome (though always better than endnotes). But a professional book on religion, theology, and pastoral care should have footnotes. Where are your ideas coming from? Where can I go for more information? Lack of footnotes also signals lack of an editor. I don’t understand how the author of the book I’m currently reading gets away with quoting another author or work without giving a full citation. “John Doe says in her book, ________” without a footnotes, is neither scholarly nor acceptable.
3) Quote chunks. On every few pages of the book I find huge chunks, several paragraphs, taken from somebody else’s work. It feels like the author just googled then copy and pasted into his book and called it good–and didn’t even footnote! Writing a new book means presenting a new argument, supported by others’ work certainly, but not simply a bringing-together of strong paragraphs from better books. Ridiculous.
Why am I still reading the book, if it’s so bad? I’m not quite sure. I have a rule that if I don’t like a book after 50 pages I don’t have to finish it (books for class excepted, of course). There are too many good books in the world to waste one’s time with the bad. I’ve only gotten to page 41 of my current blunder. Page 50, here I come.
photo by hisks
Reading Lolita in Woolworths
Woolworths, a huge retail franchise in the UK recently pulled a product: the Lolita bed for young girls. Here’s the article: Staff at Woolworths baffled by fuss over the little girl’s bed called Lolita.
For those less book-inclined, Lolita is the eponymous title of Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel describing the sexual obsession of a step-father with his 12 year-old step-daughter. “Lolita” has since become a sort of code-name for a child who is attractive to pedophiles. So, it doesn’t take a marketing genius to deduce: Lolita is perhaps the world’s worst name for a child’s bed.
How about naming sleeping pills “Kevorkian,” ballot-counting machines “Florida specials,” or supposedly good computers “PCs.”
So now that the press is on the story, there’s TV specials on the surge of age-inappropriate products (I do think the kid pole dancing kit crossed the line) and opinion columnists are weighing in. Here’s my reflections of a different sort.
1) Can we expect business and marketing majors to know literature? I majored in English at a strong liberal arts college, but didn’t read Lolita until last year (admittedly, I knew of the novel for years). I’m going to make a guess here, but aren’t major retailers employing folks with marketing, business, or finance-related degrees who would have had few if any university English courses? If ever there was a day when businesswomen and men could be expected to have read all the classics, that day is past.
2) I have no idea how big companies work, but shouldn’t there be someone in an office somewhere making sure these things don’t happen? Call the position the Cultured Commonsense Coordinator. That person would compile lists of bad product names–like Lolita–and kill offensive products before they go to market and embarrass the company. With the internet, this would not be a difficult job.
3) The Times reported the good folks at Woolworths had to look “Lolita” up on Wikipedia before they understood the firestorm of protests and boycotts. Perhaps more interesting, however, is that the biggest organized protest began on a blog. The web has empowered the modern consumer in ways unthinkable twenty years ago. Consider this post by a theology post-grad. It’s a blog post, but it’s huge free advertising for the products he’s sharing–speaking of, I’d love his camera wrap. Companies who aren’t up to speed on the Web 2.0 world will be left behind.
Yep, Woolworths made a hugely embarrassing mistake. Perhaps they should next consider a new line of products supporting reading. Call them, maybe, books.
Book blogging fun
I was recently tagged in a book post–a sort of friendly blogging pyramid scheme. Since I was going to post on Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” soon anyways, and since it’s my day off, I’ll humor Adam and play his little game.
1. One book that changed your life
St. Olaf’s Professor Ann Groton, when announcing any upcoming event in my great books course always said at the end of each announcement, “And it will change your life.” Some books bring about unremarkable negative changes. Others, like McCarthy’s “The Road” stay with you for years after you finish, noticeably changing one’s life for the better.
This is not to say “The Road” is uplifting. It’s a haunting horrid tale of humanity in its primal state, but the writing is brilliant, the story-telling unmatched, the pure experience of reading is a sick joy.
2. One book you’ve read more than once
I rarely do so, but exceptions would be books read for class like Paul Tillich’s “Dynamics of Faith.” After the third time, I still didn’t understand the book, but still highly recommend it.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island
Adam says the cliche answers are the Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare. I agree. I’d definitely want something long. Say: “The Brother’s Karamozov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Connect Online
