CLIMB ON: MOVE OUT
CLIMB ON: Investigating Culture (excerpts)
What do we do with what we discover from our investigation?
If we take our cues from current culture…
First, we ignore and classify as false anything we disagree with.
Second, we reduce the issue to an either-or proposition with no nuance allowed.
Third, we choose a side and show what a catastrophe will occur if the other side.
Fourth, we do whatever it takes to win believing the end justifies the means.
Thankfully there is a better way referred to in theologian Karl Barth’s quote: “Take your Bible and take your newspaper and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.”
How do we do that? Basically we can take what we know of Christ as revealed in scripture and think about the culture issue that we're investigating.
What do we see in it that's consistent with Christ character?
What do we see in it that's consistent withChrist’s Dream for the world?
What is inconsistent with it?
We can expand that process by adding more lenses to gain a more wholistic view. Lenses based on the major parts of humanity's story with God: creation, separation, the prophets, incarnation (i.e. Jesus coming in the flesh his teaching and life), the cross, the resurrection, Pentecost (the giving of Holy Spirit), and Christ’s return.
(Creation) Take an issue and ask: what does creation say about this? The fact that the people involved are created in the image of God? That work it's foundational to being human? That God gave humans the responsibility of caring for and stewarding the earth? Or any of the many other observations we can make when looking at creation?
(Separation) How does the brokenness that entered the world through our rebellion against the Source of Life, the One who gives meaning and purpose affect our understanding of the situation? How does this make us more wary of policy and programs? How does it view others with more compassion or understanding?
(Prohets) How does what God reveals through the prophets --that God desires fair conditions so that all of humanity can thrive, so that people are not oppressed? That God does not want people to be taken advantage of or exploited by idols, in whatever form, because idols can not love them or deliver, shape my understanding?
(Incarnation) How does Jesus entering into the broken everyday world shape my approach to the issue? How does Jesus’ teaching and actions address the situation?
(Cross) How does Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross inform my response? How does it rule out cultural responses, (e.g. violence, threats and revenge)?
(Resurection) How does the power and the life perspective expanding resurrection effect our understanding of the matter at hand?
(Pentecost) Or Pentecost, the giving of Holy Spirit who strengthens, guides, teaches and comforts?
(Christ’s return) How does the fact that Jesus is returning and the world doesn't just meaninglessly spin but has and end where people will be held to account where every injustice will be righted and assures us of a hope of something far greater than today, effect how we process the issue?
Using these lenses, admittedly, can take some time. But don't just stop at one lens. There is important interplay between them. This is not the be all and end all of processing an issue, but it will provide insight and handles for coming up with a more thoughtful and developed interpretation.
Once we've investigated and we have a more holistic interpretation of the cultural issue, how do we live in our culture with a salt and light approach?
Top 7 LIst
Living as Salt & Light in the Culture
#7 Pray and Refrain from freaking—God is bigger than culture.
#6 Give grace to yourself and others --many issues are complex; otherwise, they wouldn't be a problem.
#5 Affirm what we can in the culture. There is much that is aligned with Christ’s Dream in the world: acts of compassion, kindness, justice, truth…Celebrate and support these things.
#4 Remember ends do not justify the means. That is a response rooted in fear. Means are always justified by consistency with the character of Christ and Christ’ Dream. We present truth in love to call out injustice.
#3 Make your response specific and not abstract. Generalizations rarely help. Culture is made-up of people and the actions of people. Keep it human.
#2 Provide a faithful presence. Most of us don't pull big levers to bring great change. But more change than we know can come from being with our family, friends, neighbors and our enemies with faith, hope grace, love and perseverance.
#1 In this world, that at times seems to be swirling all around us and pressing in hard, know your belovedness. Know you are loved by God far more than you think you are and remember, when you said yes to Jesus, Holy Spirit came to dwell in you.To do any of these other six without knowing your belovedness is basically impossible for the long run.
Live as beloved people.
The Examen +
A great way to pray is to look for God’s presence in your life. More than 400 years ago St. Ignatius Loyola encouraged prayer-filled mindfulness by proposing what has been called the Daily Examen. The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. Try this version of St. Ignatius’s prayer.
Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.
Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.
Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings? God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of this. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to them in some way.
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask for help and understanding and pray for hope.
St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. End the Daily Examen with a conversation with Jesus.
60 Days of Prayer
Essential to any gathering place are ways in and ways out.
In praying for Union’s next space how are we a space that is porous or permeable:
where it is natural to come and go in the space?
What is needed to equip us to go out?
How does the space communicate welcome?
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Thanks for praying!
From the 415 Redevelopment Studio for UNION’s 60 DAYS OF PRAYER
As construction cost estimates come in, we’re facing significant challenges with much higher prices for labor and materials in the current climate. Therefore, we are considering difficult trade-offs in reducing the size of UNION’s space in the new building in order to finalize a deal that we can afford. Please pray for:
Clarity and vision for UNION’s ministries in the midst of Smaller Size/ Lower Cost tradeoffs.
Wisdom for pushing back on those cost estimates that seem out-of-line and too high.
Creativity and flexibility as we consider efficient layouts and interior design options.
Discernment as to what “trade-offs/levers to pull” as we seek to build UNION’s new space and pay off our financial debts.
God’s help in trusting his work as we have only a glimpse of all the facets He has at play.
WEEK FOUR | WINDOWS
“You are the light of the world.” Windows provide opportunity for light to shine into unlit areas. Turning from foundations to windows, let’s pray for transparency this week.
Pray for helpful transparency throughout this redevelopment process between the 415 Implementation Studio, Studio 3 and the whole Union community. What would add to transparency for you?
Where in your life is there a need for greater transparency?
WEEK THREE | The Foundation (continued)
The right redeveloping 415 Westlake gives the opportunity to put Union on a solid financial foundation. Pray for the team examining the financial, legal and construction cost aspects of the proposal before us—for their insight, endurance and collegiality.
With inflation, layoffs in the tech sector we have neighbors and family at Union experiencing financial difficulties. Let’s pray for one another’s daily bread.Let’s launch this time together giving praise to God who loves us more than we let ourselves know and asking for good things to flow from this adventure in prayer.
We worship a God that continues to create and we are created in God’s image which means we have some facility with doing the new thing, too! Pray that, where needed, our team and the developer’s team can come up with creative solutions for any potential impasses.
Where is a place in your life you would like to participate in/see God’s creativity?
WEEK TWO | The Foundation (continued)
What might a creative hub that enabled us to be more Internally Alive as a church community be like? How might its size, location, design, spaces, partnerships, café or alternative uses help us be Internally Alive?
What is my role in Union growing as more internally alive community?
What might a creative hub that enabled us to be more eternally connected—more aware of God’s grace more trusting of Jesus’ Lordship as a church community be like? How might its size, location, spaces, design, partnerships, café or alternative spaces help us be Eternally Connected?
Reflect on and give thanks for how has God used people, events or experiences to deepen and expand your sense of belovedness and your faith.
WEEK ONE | The Foundation
Jesus is our foundation—for our lives and lives together as Union. Entering into this time of discernment, think with God about what it means for Union to have Jesus as our foundation—especially as we consider redeveloping 415 Westlake?
What does it mean for you to have Jesus as your foundation? Union is our vision statement developed from Jesus’ dinner conversations with friends the night before he went to the cross. To be a community that is: Externally Focused, Internally Alive, Eternally Connected.
Talk to God about providing a creative hub for us to live into our vision of being more Externally Focused.
How might a new hub enable us to be more Externally Focused—a means to seek the welfare of the community? How might its size, location, design, spaces, partnerships, café or alternative uses add to that?
Consider praying for a Fourth Sunday activity you participate in or another place /relationship where you are seeking the welfare of the community.T
Union Praxis
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion
to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children,
at-risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Check this page for practices and reflections to bolster your spiritual life and growth.
Apps for Reflection + Prayer
Ceaseless - joy of praying for others.
Pray as You Go - music, scripture and some questions for reflection. There is now, also Pray as You Stay .
Friday Posts
Every Friday, we will post a reflection to bridge Sunday's worship themes to the rest of your week.
