READERS:Make sure to leave comments/questions in the dialogue box at the end of the interview…

Futurecast: What Today’s Trends Mean for Tomorrow’s World

George Barna – Bio excerpt below from The Barna Group

After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two Master’s degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife (Nancy) and their three daughters (Samantha, Corban, Christine) in southern California. He enjoys reading novels, watching movies, playing guitar, and relaxing on the beach.

Questions from Bill Dahl are in red. George’s responses are in this color.

Here we go:

1. How are you and your family? Any major strategic initiatives on the horizon for 2011 in your professional life?

A: Life is good, God is better. Like many families, we have our ups and downs. Our children all have health issues, so that produces various forms of stress and hardship but we do our best to work and pray through that. If nothing else, those challenges keep us looking to God for strength and wisdom – which is an under appreciated gift in itself! Generally, though, we’re fine. When you have the opportunity to travel to countries where people are challenged in so many ways, where they lack the opportunities and blessings we take for granted, it puts things into perspective. We can whine about the high cost of health care and other daily challenges, but we are blessed to live in a country where great medical care, among other things, is available.

As for strategic initiatives, this year we launched the Maximum Faith Project, which focuses on my research concerning how God transforms people’s lives. I think it’s perhaps the most significant research I’ve ever done. 2012 will entail more emphasis on getting that information in people’s hands to facilitate more people experiencing all that God has in mind for them.

2. “Changing one life at a time” is a theme of your book. Yet, mass-production of disciples seems to be the dominant model in North America. How do leaders facilitate this change in their respective community of believers?

A: In some ways the mass-production model is another reflection of the American Church accommodating the culture. Americans are fed – and blindly accept – the notion that success is based on bigger, better, faster. I think a more biblical understanding of success is about deeper, simpler, truer. So perhaps the shift in our disciple-making strategy needs to start with how we define success. In a church setting, success is not about higher attendance, bigger budgets, expanded programs, hiring additional staff, or building out more square footage. Jesus didn’t die for any of those things. He died for us to invite Him to completely transform our lives, moving from sinners infatuated with the ways of the world to forgiven followers of Christ who live only to honor and obey God and pursue His agenda.

Metrics are a critical part of this discussion. Most churches measure some outcomes, but often they are irrelevant outcomes. What we measure is important because you get what you measure. If you measure attendance you’re going to focus on becoming a megachurch. If you focus on budget, you’ll emphasize tithing and budgeting. If you measure program availability, you’ll be focused on the breadth of offerings, sufficient staffing, adequate attendance in each program, and the like. We won’t actually begin to approximate the biblical Church until we begin measuring indicators of transformation. The best way to do that is to evaluate the increase in the fruit emanating from people’s lives.

The central message from Maximum Faith addresses this challenge. That research shows that there is a ten-stop journey God moves through with us. The purpose of the journey is to enable us to become lovers of God and other people. Life, in that sense, is all about our relationships. So how do we change the current programmatic emphasis in churches? Redefine success and facilitate behavior and experiences around what’s important. We have to place less emphasis upon irrelevant measures and instead focus on the things that represent irrefutable evidence that God is at work in a person’s life. To get there we need to focus on coaching individuals in how to grow from one stop on the journey to the next, rather than simply winning the attendance award and graduating from another program. The bottom line is about who we are becoming rather than what we have achieved or what we know. The goal is holiness, Christ-likeness, wholeness – not churchliness or wall-to-wall religious activity.

3. In the early part of the book Futurecast, you speak about the new degree of uncertainty and the deterioration in hope and optimism (in the U.S.) – These conditions typically cause human beings to go into survival mode…the foxhole posture – vs. embracing new forms of behavior that focus on the needs of others (“your desire and ability to bless people”(p.25). “The inconsistency between how people see themselves and how they behave” (p.12) has become more pronounced. What can leaders do to make people aware of this “disconnect” and initiate change to bridge the gap?

A: Our behaviors reflect our beliefs. Four out of five adults call themselves as Christian, yet less than one out of five identify first and foremost as Christian in their mind and heart. Two out of three adults claim to be spiritual, yet barely one out of ten says their faith is the most important component in their life. For the millions of Americans for whom being a Christian is a statement of religious preference rather than the essence of their identity, despair and pessimism is a reasonable perspective. In that frame of mind, this world matters more than anything, and their own performance on this planet is of paramount importance to shaping their identity, their well-being, and their hope. A devoted follower of Jesus, however, lives for His purposes and sees this life within a bigger frame of reference. Such an individual understands the imperfections of this world and our lives, and instead places their hope in the eternal future with God.

Leaders have the opportunity to help people shift their life emphasis from accomplishments in this life to investments in the life that will occur after they die. This speaks to how individuals define purpose and success in life. Most Americans, including born again individuals, do not possess a biblical worldview so they behave in ways that suggest what we experience here on earth is the sum total of reality, with a helping of fire insurance thrown in for safety. Helping people to adjust their frame of reference is critical.

Developing a biblical worldview is more critical now than it has been at any time since we’ve been alive. With secular perspectives becoming more pervasive, even within the church body, making such a worldview practical and integrated into the fabric of their being is crucial. That requires a substantial change in how most families, schools, churches and Christian organizations teach people and help them remain accountable for the things they say they believe. It’s also vital that we do this more effectively among children, since that’s when our worldview forms and it’s difficult to change after it has been formed and embraced.

4. Much of the research you cite involves the issue of the “belief in opposites.” It appeared to me that this is the source of where the “hypocrisy” label hung on Christians comes from? Can you elaborate?

A: A lot of the confusion I describe in Futurecast is not so much new as it is now more widespread and touches a broader range of life dimensions. Examples of the confusion and resulting contradictions abound. For instance, people maintain that marriage is important yet they have become accepting of cohabitation and divorce. Most Americans claim they are deeply concerned about the moral decline in the US, yet their own moral values are slipping. People bemoan the loss of the common good yet they pursue personal advantage and benefit whenever possible. Born again Christians say that they have been saved by Jesus yet a large percentage also says there are ways to eternal salvation apart from Jesus. Tens of millions of adults still pursue knowledge but only trust experience. It is increasingly common for people to demand respect, yet they act with incivility toward others. People extol the virtues of tolerance, but harbor islands of intolerance in their life. Most adults emphasize the importance of good parenting but treat their opportunity to invest consistently in their children as a secondary responsibility. You get the drift.

So, yes, some of this may be the source of people calling Christians hypocrites, but really it’s a problem endemic to almost every segment of our population. I don’t think we can attribute this deficiency to any single factor. It occurs in response to a number of cultural and personal transitions, such as the dismissal of moral absolutes, the demise of trust in leaders, people’s unwillingness to live within moral and civil boundaries, and the acceptance of religious pluralism. People in America are distracted by countless options and overwhelmed by information, resulting in nonsensical, individualistic responses to the circumstances they face. Without the moral standards that have traditionally been in place, everything is up for grabs.

5. You have, for many years, used certain measurement devices to evaluate the degree, and typology of a “Christian” in North America/U.S. These measurements have been fully disclosed by you and typically are associated with the definition of what has been heretofore referred to a “biblical worldview.” I have a question related to this. On page 124 you write: “There must be a connection between claiming the name of Jesus Christ and one’s lifestyle and choices.” One thing I see missing in today’s social research measuring tools as applied to the area of Christian faith, are tools that measure one’s transformation – from the standpoint of the individual respondent – as well as – from someone else (a spouse, friend, co-worker, neighbor etc). The measurements would be unequivocally biblical…an increase in the last year in your ability to love, to forgive, to tolerate, to behave compassionately, to invest your time in the care of elders, the sick or the disadvantaged etc. Can you comment on your perception of the value of these types of measurements? Is it possible to measure a biblical worldview through new measurements of a biblical lifestyle?

A: I think what such measurements would reflect is more than possession of a biblical worldview, and more so one’s progress in the process of transformation. I agree that we need a completely different set of metrics. If you study what Jesus examined in His interactions with people, He showed less interest in their beliefs than their behavior. Why? Because behavior is the proof of what you believe. Satan may say one thing but his actions demonstrate what he really believes in right or significant. Satan knows the right answers but behaves in contrast to what he often leads people to believe. He may whisper particular lies to us but his actions give him away.

It’s the same with us. Your worldview is important because you do what you believe. Your behavior, not your statement of faith, is what gives you away. And that’s why Jesus said He wanted to see the fruit.

So as I look at how things are evaluated in churches and individual lives, I think the measures we tend to rely upon reflect what we think of as success or significance in this life. Churches emphasize attendance, money, programs, staffing, and square footage. Jesus didn’t die for any of those. As individuals we tend to measure physical comfort, interpersonal acceptance, financial security, happiness, stellar health, and image. Jesus didn’t die for any of that, either. The problem is that you get what you measure. That being the case, it’s no wonder America is infatuated with megachurches, big homes, popularity, and the like. Those kinds of outcomes simply reflect what we contend is important.

Through the Maximum Faith research I realized that at each stop of the transformational journey, you are a noticeably different person than you were at prior stops. The only way to know, though, is by the fruit you produce. I have been encouraging people to pay attention to what they produce because you cannot produce stop 7 fruit if you’re currently living at stop 3. You cannot produce stop 9 fruit if you’re still at stop 2. The fruit you produce relates closely to how much you have cooperated with God in allowing Him to transform you.

So I think the kinds of measures that examine beliefs and knowledge are helpful insofar as they help us understand what underlies behavior. Religious knowledge for the sake of knowledge is rather meaningless, perhaps even counterproductive.

6. You make the statement (p.183): “Loyalty as a cultural value has seen its best days come and go.” Wow! What are the implications of that observation as it relates to creating and maintaining a life dedicated to Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior?

A: In some ways, the product of that reality upon our spiritual condition is already visible. People no longer believe it is necessary to belong to a church or group of believers for an extended period of time. Denominationalism is dead. Families are being divided and reformed with regularity. People feel comfortable with the notion that there are multiple gods. A majority contends that all of the major faiths teach the same basic principles.

A true relationship with Jesus Christ demands that you make a permanent and singular commitment that will not waver or change based on circumstances or emotions. When people live in a culture that celebrates freedom, independence, change, experimentation, randomness, and emotions rather than commitment, responsibility, stability, consistency, and logic, it is almost inevitable that their inclination would be to view all relationships as utilitarian, maintaining them only as long as they feel they are getting sufficient benefit and having to expend minimal energy and resources to keep it going. That’s not how a relationship with the God of all creation works.

Having said all of that it’s important to recognize that there is a bit of a counterbalance that provides a ray of hope. America’s ongoing love affair with postmodern thought and behavior does place a greater emphasis upon experiences and relationships, so while people are less likely to buckle down and really study the scriptures or church history, they are at least more open to the notion of developing a relationship with the living God, and having an array of encounters and shared moments with God.

7. Can you elaborate on what your research shows about the rise in the American consumption of media (in ALL its forms) and the ability of one to “read” books or “study” material — or pray regularly/extensively – that is a critical component of “lifelong learning” — and a fundamental element of growing in Christ?

A: We are an entertainment-obsessed, distraction-loving, attention-challenged nation. We read an average of one-third of any book we start before discarding it in favor of some new option that has caught our ear or eye. The media have now trained us to “analyze” reality on the basis of sound bites and video clips. Instead of examining pages of newsprint or magazines, we now examine 140 characters on a mobile phone screen. USA Today was chastised as journalism lite when it began; today it is the norm. Newspapers are going under in favor of simpler, quicker, easier sources of information. News is what the Kardashians had for dinner. Amazingly, the content drawn from talk radio exchanges and from the late-night talk show monologues have become the primary news sources for millions of people.

All of this has resulted in a growing tendency for people to feel adequately versed in a topic once they grasp a few themes or dominant concepts. Memorization is looked down upon in society as a simplistic, empty-headed learning tool. Students often believe that the object of studying a subject is simply to pass a test or write a paper. The idea of “learning” is being redefined.

On the other hand, educational institutions that are tracking with these changes are discovering that it is possible for peoples’ interest to be sparked and maintained if the new learning tools can be properly used. I don’t think we’re entering an era in which people will be heavily inclined to use traditional study guides or attention traditional classroom-style learning options. However, Americans remain a somewhat inquisitive bunch, so if we can harness some of the new tools and use them responsibly, it is reasonable to expect that the current state of biblical illiteracy may not get worse. Will we rapidly transition to identifying and intelligently using the new tools of the trade? That remains a big “if.”

8. What are the two most troubling trends you are most concerned with, as identified in Futurecast?

People’s disinterest in and failure to diligently pursue transformation on God’s terms. The rejection and abandonment of absolute moral and spiritual truth.

9. It seemed to me that your two most recent books, Futurecast and Maximum Faith – play off of one another…that perhaps Maximum Faith is a response to the realities revealed in Futurecast. Can you comment on this?

I do think they help interpret each other. Futurecast provides the cultural context for why understanding God’s transformation process described in Maximum Faith is so critical – and why so few people are willing to go through the fullness of that process. On their face, the books seem very dissimilar, but there is a useful interplay between them.

In the past I’ve often heard people complain that my presentations about current trends caused them to feel discouraged – that the data presented were too pessimistic. My typical response is that accurate trend data is neither optimistic nor pessimistic; they are realistic, and it is your response to those realities that provides a sense or hope or despair. I think Futurecast fits snuggly within that framework. The book contains some harsh and startling views on the present and future. But what makes those views hopeful or hopeless is the nature of your trust in God, your commitment to changing those conditions, and the depth of your belief that God can do miraculous and mighty things through you and others.

At the same time, I think the portrait of society painted in Futurecast is made more bearable by the process of transformation described in Maximum Faith, which reminds us that we start changing the world by cooperating with God in His transformation of us, first. Knowing the nature of the journey, what the stops along the way require, and what to look for as evidence that God is at work in our lives and that we are working effectively with Him, provides enormous help and hope. It starts by understanding that you are not responsible for changing everything of dubious value or character that’s described in Futurecast; you only have to get your life right with God and give Him total access to your mind, heart, body, and spirit. When you do so, then He is able to affect the world through you, one life at a time, as He chooses, on His schedule and utilizing His resources. And suddenly things are no longer overwhelming, there is great hope for the future, and perhaps even a sense of excitement and anticipation.

Thank you George!!! Best wishes from our family to yours for 2012…and our deepest expression of gratitude for your ongoing, inspiring contributions in 2011.

Christialiens Imposters Inhabit the Body of Christ in the U.S.

Alien Abduction

They’re among us.

Have you ever seen one of those science fiction movies where aliens from another planet take over the physical bodies of unsuspecting earthlings? Somehow, the unsuspecting Christian is snatched up and beamed aboard some sort of spacecraft where the transformation takes place. (I’ve never been on one of these ships but I sure would like to get a look at the inside of one). When they’re returned to earth, they look exactly the same as before they were abducted. The abductees typically have no near-term recollection of what has happened to them. Yet, they behave quite differently. Let me explain.

Infectious Disease Alert #2005-654 B:

The Christian Center for Disease Control (‘CCDC’) has issued the following health alert for the Christian community in the U.S.: “It appears that the body of Christ in the U.S. has become infected with imposters. We are referring to the afflicted beings as Christialiens,” according to Dr. Larry Frank, Communications Director for the Institute. “We have several thousand suspected cases. Unfortunately, this outbreak has now officially been identified as possessing the clear and present danger of becoming an epidemic.”

The Apprehension:

Acting on anonymous tips, the CIA (Christian Intelligence Agency) launched a nationwide, multi-agency, covert sting operation. Agencies involved included the DEA (Disciples to End Apostasy), the ATF (Agency of True Faith) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Insurrection). Through the use of confidential informants and the successful infiltration by undercover agents, the task force apprehended several hundred Christialiens during the last week in the Washington, D.C. and Louisville, Kentucky areas.

In Washington D.C., San Diego radio-show host Roger Hedgecock of the “Hold Their Feet to the Fire” claim to fame was accompanied by 16 other radio hosts from California (John and Ken from KFI in Los Angeles were there), Texas, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio and Washington state. These folks aired their radio broadcasts live from a Holiday Inn meeting room near the U.S. Capitol. Joining these hosts were and an estimated 400 fans ( proudly referred to as the “Angry Mob.”). In Louisville, KY,   the Justice Sunday gathering was held at a megachurch with a highly anticipated, videotaped, keynote address entitled Stop The Filibuster Against People of Faith from Senate Majority leader Bill Frist. It was broadcast via satellite simulcast to hundreds of thousands of the Christalien brethren throughout the United States. According to Task Force spokesman R.E. Pentance, “These events were identified by agency informants as target rich environments infiltrated by hundreds of Christialien insurgents.”

The Interrogation

Detainees apprehended at these events for questioning were whisked away by Task Force personnel and are presently quarantined in a secure, underground bunker. The location has not been disclosed due to national security considerations. The Christian Center for Disease Control (‘CCDC’) disclosed today that they have completed in-depth interrogations of 304 suspected Christaliens infected with the disease. At a press conference today, Dr. Hans Lewis, Director of the National Academy of Christian Epidemiology, who led a team of theologians who conducted the interviews and have profiled the characteristics of the malady stated: “There appear to be no visible, external, physical symptoms of the disease. You cannot distinguish between a sufferer and a healthy disciple from their outward appearance. Each sufferer has a vague recollection of being transported to a place (the abduction) where they became inhabited with the malady. It may be infectious. It’s just too early to tell. Clearly, the heart and mind of the unsuspecting victim have been significantly altered. We have identified the source as the Devil himself.” (Gasps from the crowd were heard as a female reporter ran from the Media room screaming hysterically, “They’re here! They’re really here!”).

Christialien Diagnosis:

The following section will describe the symptoms of Christialiens, as outlined by Dr. Lewis and his team:

1.    Power focused faith – The patients have become spiritually overwhelmed with socio-political issues of secular life. Their focus on Christ has diminished markedly, in some cases, altogether. They are clearly overwhelmed with concerns about what is going on with the legislative, judicial and executive branches of the U.S. government. Winning, losing or spinning their personal interpretation on these issues has become their ultimate concern. They have distinctly lost their ability to sustain a focus on their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2.    Self-Righteousness – The need to have ‘right’ beliefs on particular social and political issues in our culture has become the overriding concern of the Christialien. They are obsessed with position that they have all the right answers. They contend that the only problem is that the rest of us aren’t listening. They are compulsive about characterizing the world as us vs. them. Rather than treating them as neighbors to be loved, them has morphed into opposition enemies to be trampled and eliminated. This obsessive-compulsive dimension of the Christialien disorder results in markedly reduced or complete abandonment of their individual devotion to, and worship time with Christ. Worship has become warship for these poor folks whereby assemblies of believers are focused on bartering with God to bless the days pressing political agenda rather than house the homeless, feed the hungry or love their undocumented immigrant neighbors as themselves. Every Sunday, the pulpit is used a gun turret to target the coming weeks focus of the congregation’s spiritual coordinates.

3.    Arteriosclerosis – According to Dr. Lewis and his team, “Without exception, each Christalien suffers from an advanced ‘hardness of heart’ condition. Commonly referred to as arteriosclerosis or a hardening of the arterial walls of the heart that leads to impaired circulation.  It is particularly acute in patients when confronted by others who hold views on issues that are different from theirs.”

4.    Arthrightus – Due to the circulatory impairment described above, Christialiens have become rigid, narrow-minded, mean-spirited and inflexible in their thinking and communication. This behavior has a tendency to be revolting to others and creates social distance between the Christialien and others in our nation. Rather than sincerely seeking to fulfill the Great Commission by attracting others to Christ, Christialiens repel others from seeking a relationship with their God. Christaliens feel distinctly superior to others. They think of those who hold views contrary to theirs as less than, evil and defective.

Treatment/Immunization:

According to the CCDC, “The health of the body of Christ in the U.S. is under siege. Don’t panic. Repent and pray! Fall to your knees and ask Jesus to intervene in all this madness. Confess that you too have experienced some of the symptoms described herein. Confess to Him that you have felt resentment, disdain or disgust toward those who have been abducted and inhabited by the disease of the suffering Christialien. Pray that each of us shall muster the supernatural strength to hear and heed the following: “Narrow all your interests until the attitude of mind and heart and body is concentration on Jesus Christ. “Look unto Me!”  How do we do this? “We shall not become like Christ until we give Him more time.”

We’ve been invaded Christendom!

Just Church:

I was driving down the freeway today when I was struck by six letters on the outside of a white warehouse shaped building on the south side of the freeway: C.H.U.R.C.H. That’s it! Nothing more. Nothing less. No neon. No pastor name. No denominational affiliation. No cross, religious symbol, slogan or logo of any kind. Just Church.

I can’t imagine how many thousands of times I have read, said or heard the word church. I’ve been in these places thousands of times as well. I began to realize that I had become so familiar with this word, God decided to get my attention to refresh me with a new perspective. (He has a tendency to do that with me when I become complacent or think I understand anything very well). Let me explain.

What’s in a word?

As I pondered the word, I realized there was only one vowel and it was ‘U.’ Hmm…you. I looked at the next letter, ‘R,’ or are. You are the church. It was like Jesus was speaking to me personally about this issue. I had become accustomed to using the word church to refer to a place, an institution, other people or something out there, external to myself.

You’re Surrounded!

When I looked at the word again, I realized that the same two bookends protect who U.R. There’s a C.H. on each side. When I got my hands on the nearest dictionary, I looked up the word church. Guess what? It’s the only word in Webster that begins with a C.H. and ends with a C.H. What are the odds that the Greek for the word church is translated into an English spelling that is so distinct and unique? As I thought about this, I heard a still small voice whisper: “You are protected and surrounded.”

By What?

As I contemplated this, it became clear that you are protected and surrounded by Christ’s hands, Christ’s heart. It’s not by what. It’s by Whom. It’s Christ Himself.

It will never be just church for me again.

20 Rieger, Joerg Opting For The Margins – Postmodernity and Liberation in Christian Theology, Oxford University Press, NY, NY © 2003 by The American Academy of Religion, p. 154.

or What’s Beneath the warm fuzzy appearances within the Christian community

Larry Crabb once wrote:

“We must learn to tell the story of our lives—how we impact others, how we’ve been damaged by others, how we feel about God—in order to disrupt the sinful attitudes and practices that still remain. Telling our stories requires us to face painful truths about ourselves. And once we’ve faced those truths, we will again feel the noble passion to love, to be and to worship, passions planted in our hearts by God’s Spirit.“1

I wish rabbits could talk.

When I was about 5 years old, I saw my first magician on television. He was dressed in a black tuxedo with tails, white shirt and a black bow tie. Those were the finest pair of black shiny shoes I had ever seen. He was sporting a black, handlebar mustache. He was so graceful it was as if he was floating across the stage. He looked magical to me. He explained that he was about to pull a rabbit out of a hat. He even showed the audience the white silk lining in the empty top hat. I was mesmerized by the thought of it. He motioned his magic wand over the empty hat two or three times and then, “Abracadabra!” He pulled a big white, floppy eared rabbit out of the hat. I went berserk!

I was laser focused on the television jumping up and down shouting “Mom! Mom!” I was screaming like an alien was abducting me. Mom dashed into the living room, as I pointed frantically to the television. The magician was parading around the stage proudly displaying the bunny for all to see. He was holding the rabbit by the scruff of its neck, which I thought was kind of cruel. Mom explained that this is the way rabbits prefer to be carried. I was relieved. The magician passed the rabbit to a scantily clad woman, took a bow and departed stage left. I stood there vibrating with awe.

Pulling rabbits out of hats is what this book is all about. We humans adore being entertained, even when we know that there’s more than meets the eye. My parents didn’t ruin the rabbit pulled out of the hat thing for me. Church did. Christianity and Christians did.

I’ll never forget that Easter morning Sunday when, after the service, I went out onto the church lawn for my first Easter egg hunt. After I found my first piece of candy, I looked up for my mom and there he was: Chet, our next-door neighbor, dressed up like an Easter bunny. Believe me, Chet was nowhere near anything remotely resembling the pictures of any Easter bunny I had ever seen. Chet was short, stocky and had a huge beer gut, like a woman about to give birth to twins or quadruplets. He always smelled like beer and chain-smoked Camel straights. When I saw Chet, with those phony bunny whiskers painted on his mug, my Easter bunny world began to crumble. Chet had a big black hat in one hand. I saw him put a bunny in it. He made a few awkward moves with one hand over the top of the hat and then pulled the bunny out. Some kids were amazed and squealed with delight. Me, I ran as fast as I could to my mom, screaming and crying my brains out. As we walked to the car, I threw my Easter candy toward Chet, sobbing, cradled in the arms of my mother.

I’ve had the same kinds of experiences with the Christian church, Christians, and those tilling the spiritual growth field…sometimes it seems as if rabbits are being pulled out of hats. Although I have been an intrigued spectator, and even a participant, I have concluded that there are some practices, rituals, popular thought processes and events that claim the name of Christ that have absolutely nothing to do with sewing good seed, raising high yield disciples of Jesus, and becoming the transformed harvest that God yearns for, capable of creating His kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Christianity in the western, developed world continues pulling rabbits out of hats slyly, yet deceptively, attempting to persuade those around us, and even ourselves, about the validity of our act. Yet, we’re the one’s on life’s stage each and every day, claiming we are Christians, performing this deception! What’s wrong with us? The rabbits aren’t the problem. It’s the people pulling them out of the hat! These are The 7 Rabbits of Slyly Defective People this issue will explore.

Imagine that you wake up, surrounded by 7 Rabbits. They have been living within the Christian community during the past several decades. These rabbits have heard every sermon, every song, every prayer and all the conversations that have taken place. They have been daily observers our behavior. These rabbits can talk. They became concerned and began to pray. God heard and answered their prayer. He sent them to the Christian community to deliver His message. What does God tell us through these rabbits about 7 characteristics we Christians presently possess that must be unlearned, discarded or grown out of?

First, I wrote a poem entitled “The 7 Rabbits of Slyly Defective People” that provides the context for this theme. You can find it here. I hope you enjoy it and it causes you to think about this question on a personal, missional and community level. It is designed to not only spur contemplation, but dialogue with others.

Next, I wrote seven poems that, for me, illustrate the heart of the 7 points I would like to share with you, pertinent to this theme. These 7 poems address the following question: What are the 7 things we Christians must unlearn, discard or repent of (according to the 7 Rabbits sent by God) – Here’s what I’ve come up with:

1. Selfishness – Enjoy my story entitled “Sell Fish.” Return here to contemplate the following from C.S. Lewis: “The natural life in each one of us is something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of other lives, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better or stronger or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and the air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets a hold of it, all its self-centeredness and self-will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that.”2

2. Survival – I hope you appreciate the poem, “The Sky is Falling.” When you’ve finished reading the poem, return here to contemplate the following: “We have learned that maintaining the status quo serves neither God nor the people He loves.”3  There are those who recognize that “Christianity cannot survive in anything like it’s present form.” 4

3. Promises – My prayer is that “Promise Says” provides you with food for thought. Upon completing the poem, return here to consider this from Charles Handy: “If the new way of doing things is going to be different from the old, not just an improvement on it, then we shall need to look at everything in a new way. The new words really will signal new ideas. Not unnaturally, discontinuous upside-down thinking has never been popular with upholders of continuity and the status quo.” 5

4. Cynicism and Doubt – I hope my poem entitled “Do You Believe This?” will provide you with some additional fodder to ponder. After you read the poem, return here to pray about this from author Lee Strobel: “It’s the decision to follow the best light you have about God and not quit. The idea of choice runs all through the Scripture. Look at Joshua. He says to choose this day whom you’re going to serve, but as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord. So faith, at it’s taproot is a decision of the will….Consequently, at it’s core, faith is a decision of the will that we keep on making, but we’re given an option by God’s grace. We’re empowered to keep making it by His Spirit. And, it’s a choice we must make without having all the complete information we’d like to have.” 6

5. Illusions – My poem entitled “Illusion” should get things started. After you read it, return here to consider the insights of Daniel J. Levinson: “As he attempts to reappraise his life, a man discovers how much it has been based on illusions, and he is faced with the task of de-illusionment. By this expression I mean a reduction of illusions; a recognition that long held assumptions and beliefs about self and world are not true. This process merits special attention because illusions play so vital a role in our lives throughout the life cycle.”7  Maybe the tendency to be perplexed is a gift, rather than something to be avoided. I hope you appreciate my poem entitled  “Illusion.”

6. Hypocrisy – The unveiled face of a current social issue in the U.S. provides the basis for illustrating this reality. The poem is entitled “Discrimmigration.” When you’re done, contemplate this: George Barna, pre-eminent scholar, author and social researcher on Christianity in the U.S. writes; “We witness a born-again population that is indistinguishable from the rest of the nation – and has very little credibility when it comes to promoting genuine Christianity.” 8

7. Counting the wrong stuff – We live in a world that counts. I wrote an article called “Counting Character” that I hope delivers the message. Return here to consider this: “What really counts (emphasis is mine) is whether we see the overlooked and forgotten in our midst.”9  Brian McLaren notes, “Faith that counts, (emphasis is mine) then, is not the absence of doubt, it’s the presence of action.”10  Furthermore, that we must embrace the risks that these opportunities present, whether we can see them at the outset or not. Faith without risks isn’t faith. Faith without works – well you know how this phrase ends.

Madeleine L’Engle once wrote:

“Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving. Why does anybody tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith, faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.”11

Write your story. Share your story. Tell your story in new and creative ways. We hope this template provides you with just one example of how we might begin to tell our stories in new and creative ways. We are always interested in your comments, feedback, poems, letters emails, songs, thoughts and articles. Tell us what you learned, what grabbed you…tell us the story of your Porpoise Diving Life.

Until then, our blessings to you and yours.

Bill Dahl

Notes:

1. 1. Crabb, Dr. Larry, INSIDE OUT, NAVPRESS, Colorado, Springs, CO. 1988, p.31
2. 2. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, HarperSanFrancisco – A Division of HarperCollinsPublishers, (c) 1952, p. 178.
3. 3. Caldwell, Kirbyjon & Kallenstad, Walt with Sorensen, Paul Entrepreneurial Faith – Launching Bold Initiatives to Expand God’s Kingdom, WaterBrook Press, A Division of Random House, Inc., Copyright © 2004 by Kirbyjon Caldwell, Walt Kallenstadt and Paul Sorensen, p. 1.
4. 4. Jenkins, Philip The Next Christendom, Oxford University Press, New York, New York  Copyright © 2002 by Philip Jenkins p. 9.
5. 5. Handy, Charles The Age of Unreason, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts Copyright (c) 1989 by Charles Handy p. 23
6. 6. Strobel, Lee The Case For Christ, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. Copyright (c) 2000, pp.236-7.
7. 7. Levinson, Daniel J., The Seasons Of A Man’s Life, New York: Ballantine Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, 1978, p.192
8. 8. Barna, George The State of the Church: 2002, Published by Issachar Resources, a division of Barna Research Group, Ltd., 5528 Everglades Street Ventura, CA 93003 Copyright © 2002 by George Barna p.128.
9. 9. Main, Bruce Spotting The Sacred – Noticing God in the Most Unlikely Places, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI Copyright © by Bruce Main, p. 223.
10. 10. McLaren, Brian The Secret Message of Jesus – Uncovering The Truth That Could Change Everything, W Publishing -A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI Copyright 2006 by Brian D. McLaren p. 109.
11. 11. L’Engle, Madeleine and Chase, Carol F. Reflections on a Writing Life, Shaw Publications, Copyright © 2001

Once upon a time,
There were 7 Rabbits.
They lived for decades among us,
Becoming wise about our habits.

They sat, watched, learned and listened,
To all our songs, praise, prayers, and conversations.
This poem is about what they learned,
Within the walls of Christianity’s congregations.

These 7 rabbits became so concerned,
They began to pray to God.
That He would intervene,
And correct what they deemed so odd.

God answered the prayer of these rabbits,
Then sent them on a mission.
To speak to those who claim His name,
To act upon this message of repentance and contrition.

I fell asleep in the park one afternoon.
When I was abruptly awakened from my slumber.
I was surrounded by rabbits!
Seven was their number.

I thought I was dreaming,
But as I rubbed my eyes,
I thought I heard one whisper:
“He will never believe this you guys!”

I took a drink of water,
Shook my head in disbelief.
The gray one said, “Listen Up!”
As the brown one munched a leaf.

“We know this is probably difficult.
It might be hard for you to swallow.
God sent us here to speak to you,
Before we return to our hollow.”

“You’ve wrung the mystery out of the Gospel.
Ready with specific answers, black and white.
What’s a person with questions and doubts to do?
Your approach, it’s just not right.”

“How can His children come to you?
Overwhelmed with fears and frustration.
When you’re not even listening!
You confound their consternation.”

“The way you live His Gospel,
Your approach to daily life you must reshape.
The ordinary in every day must be revalued,
It’s not something you attempt to escape.”

The large white one came to the forefront,
A few hops in front of the others.
“The message we have to deliver,
Is for your fathers, sister’s, moms and brothers.

“God, He’s quite concerned.
His Church was christened to be effective.
Man has slyly manipulated the intent,
Your efforts have become defective.”

“Don’t look so defensive.
That’s no way to start.
Digest what we have to share with you,
Not with your head, but with your heart.”

“The way you live your lives,
For all the world to see.
It’s a picture of the religion business.
It’s time to get back to reality.”

“You’ve come to idolize something strange,
prosperity, false promises, and the unique.
Perhaps it’s time to reconsider why,
Ordinary folks avoid you like a freak.”

The white rabbit hopped back among the group,
The black one began to wiggle his white nose.
“Let’s not focus on the past, he said.
That’s not why Jesus rose.”

“Ever since Acts chapter two;
The moment that began His disciples emergence.
His Spirit was outpoured as a gift to you,
Guiding you toward His kingdom’s new resurgence.”

“What man has done since that time,
You’ve become self-righteous and so proud!
The unspeakable things you’ve done in His name,
Cannot be spoken of aloud.”

“You Christians scurry here and there,
Like life’s meaning is to remain eternally busy.
You’re running round in circles.
Going nowhere, getting dizzy.”

“Some of you who claim His Name,
The millions who declare “I’m saved by grace.”
God has much more for you beyond this notion,
Draw near and seek His face.”

“Your world is filled with choices,
So many you feel you just may burst.
It’s caused you to become self-centered.
Displacing His example to put His others first.”

A planet filled with the poor and hungry,
You focus on getting your share of enough.
You’ve developed a ravenous appetite,
Feasting on all the world’s wrong stuff.

“Wipe that sneer off your face!”
Shouted the light tan bunny.
“Don’t get smug with us!
The truth is tough. It’s not remotely funny.”

“What you men can’t comprehend
Is the impact of your defective behavior.
On Earth as it is in heaven,
Is the intention of your Savior.”

“God sent us here to tell you,
He expects an immediate shift.
This existence you enjoy on this Earth,
Is to be lived as a supernatural gift.”

“Building businesses around His people,
You’re sly with your deceit.
You’ve created castles surrounded by moats,
Not Christ’s heart, hands, arms and feet!”

“Jesus was loved by sinners.
Have you considered why they don’t like you?
He only walked on water once.
Perhaps this might provide a clue.”

The green bunny on the right,
He hopped forward twice.
“I’m to remind you about another thing,
The importance of sacrifice.”

“He told you to choose the narrow gate.
Yet, you’ve changed the pathway and the door.
Numbed by all your creature comforts,
The hungry, homeless, and the sick, are the one’s you now ignore.

“You people have got it all wrong,
You think you’re really living.
Lives idolizing comfort and accumulation,
Immune from the blessedness of giving.

“Look around your life my friend.
Identify the nonsense you must discard.
There’s no room for the gift of sacrificial living
Amongst the essentials piled in your barnyard.”

The blue bunny leapt ahead of the green one,
Her eyes were red like fire.
“I’m here to speak toward authenticity.
Man has become a quintessential liar.”

“Drop your top hat, wand and magic tricks.
Stand silently, listening to the wind in the trees.
Listen for His still small voice,
In reverence, drop down on your knees.”

“As you walk daily through humanity,
Feeling self-righteous, smug and proud.
This mindset separates you from His children.
It’s time to become one of the crowd.”

“You say time is your most precious asset.
To love God with all your heart seems odd.
He desires more time alone with you.
He said, “Be still and know that I am God.”

The brown one stopped his munching and exclaimed:
“How’s it feel to be talked to by 7 rabbits?
God decided to get your attention today,
To examine your defective habits.”

“The way you speak about one another,
You sound like angry parrots.
Perhaps you might spend more time in prayer,
Or stuff your mouth with carrots.”

“God said to remind you,
About the dangers of your tongue;
Let your actions do your talking,
Caring for one another, the elderly and the young.”

“You’re too focused on being right,
Your words alienate, push and shove.
What does being right,
Have anything to do with His boundless love?”

The brown one hopped back among the six.
Their collective glare made me cower.
“Detach yourselves from partisan politics,
His Kingdom doesn’t need that kind of power.”

“You’ve become addicted to drama,
The extraordinary, and center-stage.
It’s time for a new script.
Something an ordinary audience can engage.”

With that he flicked his big brown left ear.
All 7 hopped out of sight across the lawn.
I suddenly became very drowsy
And fell asleep until the dawn.

What is one to do?
When visited by 7 rabbits?
How can you share this story,
That we Christians must change our habits?

As I contemplated this experience,
With the astonishment of a child.
I pondered the possibility,
We’ve domesticated what He intended to be wild.

Perhaps we must begin to pursue Him
With renewed passion and imagination.
Yearning for The One,
To restore our inspiration.

As I gazed above into the trees above,
I saw a little bird on a perch.
“If I was you I’d examine your ways.
God said you are His church.”