The story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well ends with the woman telling her neighbors about Jesus. Her story must have been compelling because the neighbors believed enough to seek out Jesus and to listen to him for themselves. After hearing Jesus, the neighbors say to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
For years I have advised congregations to expand their ministry profile to include the seven ways people learn: 1. math (logic), 2. verbal (spoken and written word), 3. spacial (relationship between objects), 4. interpersonal relationships (we learn from others), 5. introspection (paying attention to feelings), 6. music, and 7. physical activities. I advocated that all these learning styles be present in Sunday School classes, worship, and other ministry programs. In advocating for all these learning styles, I was like the neighbors who believed the Samaritan woman. From all my studies, I knew I was right.
Like the Samaritan woman’s neighbors, I have experienced first hand what I once believed because of others. My faith in using all seven learning styles is no longer because experts in parish administration, professional educators, or authors of church growth tell me to do so. This past year I have seen the power of all seven learning styles in a summer play, heard about a magnificent performance of the Gloria, and watched the joy on children’s faces as they told the Christmas story in a musical. I drove home last Sunday thinking about the diversity in which the faith is experienced at Epiphany. There is the spoken word for those who learn through sermons. There are the choirs that sing God’s praises for those who learn through music. There are theatrical productions for those who learn through physical action and feelings. There are liturgical enhancements such as Advent Wreaths, Christmas Trees, and different color paraments for those who learn by seeing.
The impetus for this Blog was the Children’s Musical last Saturday and Sunday. The actors were second through eighth graders who learned about the birth of Jesus through music and words. Preschoolers had their own song. Non-members of Epiphany heard the message and observed Christians having fun, laughing, and rejoicing in the gift God gives in Jesus. The director Kandis Wean, producer Amy Ulman, choreographer Erin Ulman, and music director Ian Benjamin did a marvelous job in guiding and inspiring our budding thespians and evangelists. Of course, I would be amiss if I did not mention the whole Drama Team which worked so hard behind the scenes.
Finally, my thanks to all the kids who participated in the Christmas Musical, to those who sang from their hearts in the Gloria, to those who prepared the church building with Christmas symbols, and to all who turned belief from someone said it is so to a life-changing experience in Jesus. In the words of Jesus, “Well done my good and faithful servants.”
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Theology of Competition
William Diehl was a top executive in a national steel company in the 1960s and 70s. He was a very well known and influential layman in the Lutheran Church In America. And, first and foremost, he was a Christian. Because of these credentials, Mr. Diehl was often invited to address synod conventions and clergy workshops. In one of his books he writes that he enjoyed baiting clergy with the question, “What is your theology of competition?” In these settings, most of the clergy did not answer Mr. Diehl’s question. I suspect there are several reason for the non-response. 1. The first time you are asked a question, the answer is not automatic. No matter what you answer the words feel awkward. 2. It is threatening to answer such a question in front of your colleagues who sometimes can be critical of theological answers.
While I don’t remember a great deal about Mr. Diehl; i.e., the name of his company or the exact year in which I read his book, I obviously remember his question. We live in a land and time that worships competition. We compete on every level of life. We competed, consciously or subconsciously, with our siblings when we were young. We competed in school for good grades or to make an athletic team. We compete at our work for a raise or promotion. We argue, rightly so, that competition pushes us to be the best that we can be. Competition forces creativity, hard work, and an excited feeling when we win. In our culture, competition is everywhere. Mr. Diehl’s question is very appropriate.
After asking his question, Mr. Diehl pointed out that the Bible does not have a theology of competition. In fact, Paul denounces competition. Instead, Paul offers a theology of cooperation and teamwork. Paul argues that we are at our very best when we work together to achieve a common goal. We are at our very best when we push each other so that we all might succeed. We are at our very best when we celebrate each other’s contributions to our combined effort. Perhaps the best text for this theology is in Paul’s metaphor of the human body, 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. Every part of the body needs every other part of the body.
I thought of Mr. Diehl’s baiting question and his answer about competition when I wished the staff a very merry Christmas on behalf of the Church Council and the disciples at Epiphany. I thought about how the staff works in cooperation with each other to make every ministry program the very best it can be. I thought of the way information is shared, of side meetings that help each of us work more efficiently. We end each staff meeting with prayer requests. We list names of those who need prayer from our personal lives. It is also common that staff members add ministry programs such as the Stewardship Committee and its annual campaign, the Drama Team as it prepares for the Children’s musical, the planning for an up-coming youth program, and the Adopt-a-Family Christmas program. I thought of the staff’s theology (spoken or unspoken) that when one “wins” we all win.
At times I have been accused of being extremely competitive. I do not like to lose or to do a sloppy job. But when all is said and done, a theology of cooperation beats a theology of competition every time. What do you think?
Pastor Pete
While I don’t remember a great deal about Mr. Diehl; i.e., the name of his company or the exact year in which I read his book, I obviously remember his question. We live in a land and time that worships competition. We compete on every level of life. We competed, consciously or subconsciously, with our siblings when we were young. We competed in school for good grades or to make an athletic team. We compete at our work for a raise or promotion. We argue, rightly so, that competition pushes us to be the best that we can be. Competition forces creativity, hard work, and an excited feeling when we win. In our culture, competition is everywhere. Mr. Diehl’s question is very appropriate.
After asking his question, Mr. Diehl pointed out that the Bible does not have a theology of competition. In fact, Paul denounces competition. Instead, Paul offers a theology of cooperation and teamwork. Paul argues that we are at our very best when we work together to achieve a common goal. We are at our very best when we push each other so that we all might succeed. We are at our very best when we celebrate each other’s contributions to our combined effort. Perhaps the best text for this theology is in Paul’s metaphor of the human body, 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. Every part of the body needs every other part of the body.
I thought of Mr. Diehl’s baiting question and his answer about competition when I wished the staff a very merry Christmas on behalf of the Church Council and the disciples at Epiphany. I thought about how the staff works in cooperation with each other to make every ministry program the very best it can be. I thought of the way information is shared, of side meetings that help each of us work more efficiently. We end each staff meeting with prayer requests. We list names of those who need prayer from our personal lives. It is also common that staff members add ministry programs such as the Stewardship Committee and its annual campaign, the Drama Team as it prepares for the Children’s musical, the planning for an up-coming youth program, and the Adopt-a-Family Christmas program. I thought of the staff’s theology (spoken or unspoken) that when one “wins” we all win.
At times I have been accused of being extremely competitive. I do not like to lose or to do a sloppy job. But when all is said and done, a theology of cooperation beats a theology of competition every time. What do you think?
Pastor Pete
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)