Good People + Jesus + 2009 = ???

"All is quiet...on New Year's Day"

For some reason, as the first hours of 2009 pass by, I'm thinking about what it means to share faith. I'm especially thinking of the things that either scare, offend, or simply "creep me out" about what it means to share faith. I was watching an interview with a Roman Catholic priest discussing the ministry of a very confrontational youth minister and he caught my attention when he said that the whole church should strive to be like this person...not necessarily to adopt his tactics, but to experience the sense of being "on fire" or truly inspired by the presence of God.

On this topic, here's an interesting video reflection from Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller fame). Jillette professes to be an atheist, but speaks of the power of "good people" who are motivated by faith/religion. He finds this particularly notable because of all the negative things that religion injects into the world.



I wonder if 2009 can be a year where good people can shed their religious skin and live in such a way that builds the kingdom that Jesus came into the world to show us. I wonder how "on earth as in heaven" will occur this year.

What do you love about Jesus (in 60 seconds or less)?

Kelly Fryer has started a new group on Facebook around her most recent book, Reclaiming The "E" Word.

Even as a church professional, I find myself wondering often if I'm actually living my faith in real life. I don't get hung up on doing good works or worrying if God loves me, but I do wonder about how being a follower of Jesus is making a difference in how I live.

Kelly just started this Facebook group (and if you're not on Facebook yet, how exactly are you wasting your time these days?) and she sent around a question in hopes that we would actually answer it:

"What is at the CORE of what you believe and why your faith matters to you and what difference you think Jesus makes in the world??? Can you say it in 60 seconds or less??"

Part of "reclaiming the E word", I think, is being able to EXPRESS it simply, passionately, in a way that makes sense to everyday people. As a Christian who happens to be a mainliner or progressive, what IS the core message of your faith. What, in a nutshell, is what you believe? It'll help me - and all of us, I think - to hear your answers to that question.

I really like that idea of not being afraid to share what I believe. Some may be surprised to hear that this is a struggle, even for a pastor. Deal with it. I'm trying to. So I offered the following reply on Facebook, trying to stick close to 60 second guideline:

I love Jesus because Jesus came into our world and announced that there was something better. A new kingdom. Not off in eternity somewhere, but here and now. On earth as in heaven.

I love Jesus because Jesus is totally fine with the fact that we can't accomplish this new reality on our own, but nonetheless calls us to put all that we are into making it happen.

I love Jesus because Jesus always seems to line up next to those on the outside. This gives me great comfort when I don't fit in and challenges me immensely when it's someone else on the margin.

I love Jesus because everything that seems messed up about the way Christianity is lived out today is ususally best exposed not by the critique of others, but by the life and teachings of Jesus himself.

So get over to Facebook and join the group. And then...answer the question. You can post your responses to the question here, too.