The New Normal-Christians Responding to Ferguson

Part of what makes a good story is the ability to see ourselves in it.  We become involved when we can imagine ourselves in the position of the hero, facing the same obstacles, overcoming the same difficulties.  World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), at its best, excels at this type of story telling.  The success of Stone Cold Steve Austin, arguably the biggest star in the history of the company, has often been tied back to the ability of the audience in the late 1990s to relate to his struggles.  He feuded with his boss, Mr. McMahon, who demanded he compromise himself and his ways, and often set him up to fail.  But Stone Cold rose above every time.  It is a great story.  Who does not want to punch their boss every once in a while?  In a practical sense, I am somewhat my own boss now, and even I want to occasionally take a swing.

So what makes a great story is the ability to see ourselves in that place.  But that is also what makes terrible solutions to the problems of others.  We need to understand that our normative experience is not “the” normative experience.

Like many others, I find myself watching what is occurring in Ferguson, Missouri, and feeling confused, saddened, and frustrated.  Much of that stems from realizing that I do not understand their “normal.”  A friend recently posted an article in which the author described parts of the events, based on grand jury testimony, between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson as “unbelievable.”  Many of the events the author criticized were facts not in dispute.  What the author saw as unbelievable was accepted fact.  Yes, I do not understand how this confrontation occurred.  I do not understand why cooler heads did not prevail.  I cannot understand why Michael Brown was not polite and agreeable to an officer of the law.  But I also understand that my normal is not their normal.

I once had a bad experience with the police.  I was given a speeding ticket I did not think I deserved.  It was later dismissed.  I am a fool if I think I understand the tension between police and African-American residents of Ferguson.

At the same time, even if I can intellectually assent to their anger, I do not understand the rioting and looting.  After all, even if they are angry, the rioters and looters are just destroying their own neighborhood.  But again, I do not understand their anger.  I do not understand their normal.  I was angry with my community once; I voted against a school levy.  This is not the same thing.

When I was in seminary, we were required to travel and experience Christianity in a different culture.  I spent two weeks in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.  I began to realize their experience of faith was drastically different from ours.  In fact, the only times I remember being embarrassed to be a part of my group was when we tried to fit others into our “boxes.”  When we thought we had a solution to the centuries of conflict between Arabs, Jews, and Christians—become like us!  I still remember the look on a Palestinian Christian’s face when someone asked her when her heart was strangely warmed, and she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.  It was roughly similar to the look my wife gives me when I tell her we need to invest in bagpipes to improve my ability to offer a good funeral service.

I am a fool if I think my normative experience is the one and only normative experience, ordained by the Holy Spirit.  I am an even bigger fool, and perhaps dangerously more, when my solution to the problems of others is for them to become like me.

In my context, I find this is our go-to solution for many of the world’s problems.  War in Syria?  Make them be like us; we are not fighting here.  Conflict in Israel and Palestine?  They just need to be like our church.  Racial tension in Ferguson?  If they acted like us, they would have no problems at all.

The Apostle Paul often refers to a group that would come to his churches after him.  They were Jewish Christians who preached that in order for Gentiles to be saved, they first had to become Jewish.  The only normative experience for Christians was the path of Jewish-Christians.  We often vilify this group as we study the Bible.  But I find myself reflecting on this group, as the people in my context react to what is happening around the world.  Were these Jewish-Christians the evil, terrible people we make them out to be?  Were they really trying to undo Paul’s work?  Or were they good-meaning, ignorant people, who latched onto the idea that their normative experience was the only normative experience?  Perhaps they truly meant to help the Gentiles; unfortunately, their only solution began with “become just like us.”

I have not yet reached Christian perfection.  Neither has anyone in my context, as far as I am aware.  We may all be headed to the same goal, but to say my normative experience is the only one—well, that  just does not hold water.

I do not offer many solutions to the crisis in Ferguson.  But I do want us to look at the solutions we offer and suggest as Christians.  If they begin with, “they need to be just like us,” they are doomed to fail, and they do not come from the Spirit.  The Spirit’s solutions usually begin with, “We need to be more like Christ.”

My #ahamoment-Fueling Creativity

Dave Grohl’s documentary Sound City was originally intended to pay tribute to the unique sound board at one of his favorite studios.  Instead, the movie became about the process of making music.  It showcased how the creative process of making music has changed through available technology.  Although the movie shared a decidedly negative view of what technology has done to music, they interesting also showcased Trent Reznor, the musician behind Nine Inch Nails.  Reznor is known for his creative use of technology to create unique music.  Even beyond his work in Nine Inch Nails, Reznor’s recent work with Atticus Ross scoring films has won his an Oscar.  Reznor differentiated himself from others than use technology today.  As he sees it, many others use technology as a crutch to make up for a lack of skill or creativity.  Reznor, on the other hand, is a classically trained pianist.  That classical training feeds his creativity.  His use of technology is almost an afterthought; the creativity comes from the hours of practice learning musical theory.

The interview reminded me of a class I took as an undergrad at Ohio University.  In my Management and Strategic Leadership program (impressive sounding, right?), we were required to take a class on managing and leading creativity.  I do not recall thinking much about the class, but one item sticks out in my mind.  As part of a class assignment, I interviewed someone in the music industry.  She told me that most think that creativity is the result of a sudden intuitive moment, but that is foolish.  Creativity is the result of hours of hard work and preparation.  What might seem like a sudden intuition to the outside was actually the result of hours of learning new tools, practicing new techniques, and experimenting new combinations.  It may seem like creative people just invent ideas out of thin air, but those that are creative for a living realize that creativity is hard work.

This brings me to my #ahamoment.  A few months ago, there was some unexpected shifting in the schedule at the church.  A sermon and worship series we had planned for spring had to be moved to fall.  The fall series could not be moved to spring.  Given its location in the midst of other planning, this was really the perfect time for some creative and unique series—something catchy fun.  It was last minute, but certainly I could invent a fun, five-week series.  And I had…nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

You see, after seminary, no one forces you to constantly study.  What you read, how you grow, how you learn is completely up to you.  You are responsible for your own growth.  It’s not that I stopped reading after seminary; please do not misunderstand me.  In fact, I was learning and studying just as much after graduation.  But I came to a two month period when I focused solely on the things at hand.  I was reading for practical issues we had at the church.  I spent my time on projects that were urgent, if not necessarily important.  And then, when it came time for creativity, I had nothing.

Thankfully, I pulled something together; it all worked out.  But my #ahamoment, my moment of realization, centered around the way I learn and grow going forward.  I always have to be learning and growing more.  I always must be reaching out into something new and different, even if it does not seem relevant at the time.  Because that growth, that reaching out, that experiencing something new, is what fuels creativity.

There are a variety of ways to do this.  I occasionally help teach at my seminary; that forces me to be reading new books and consuming new resources.  I plan my preaching out months (if not a year)in advance, and use that opportunity to explore new books or concepts.  Occasionally, I will covenant with another friend or colleague to read a book or resource together, and then talk it through.  Find what works for you.

So, if my #ahamoment may be instructional for other young pastors, my advice is this:  protect a small part of your schedule for something new.  We all have churches that demand a great deal of our time.  We all have Conference and District obligations that demand a lot.  None of us has a lack for things to do.  But do not let the immediate clog your schedule entirely.  Take some time to constantly be exploring something new.  Because out of that newness, your creativity is born.