Random Notes from Nashville

Internet access has been hard to come by, so here are some accumulated notes and observations from my time here so far.

Most pastors struggle with either “super-pastor” (I can do it all) syndrome or “struggling pastor despair” (Look at me, I?m broken). Both are masks we hide behind to conceal our true selves.

What expression do you imagine on God?s face when he looks at you?

God?s grace is mediated through the face of the “other.”

LeRon Shults is wicked smart. I want to read more of his stuff.

We should emphasize salvation in terms of relationship rather than substance.

Brian Walsh and Brian McLaren?s session on scripture was awesome. I want to get Walsh?s commentary on Colossians. Lots of talk about allowing the overall trajectory of the scriptural narrative to inform our reading of individual texts. I could listen to these guys talk about this all day long.

Todd Hunter and John Franke?s session on Truth started off slow but finished strong. The challenge of a non-foundationalist approach to truth is finding practical ways to demonstrate it and talk about it. Hunter was really good about showing how to do this in evangelistic conversations. He refused to let the discussion veer away from the practical.

In each session, there has been at least one person ask a question or make a comment that goes something like this: “I?m really appreciate what is going on in the emerging church discussion. I find myself wanting to embrace it. I would feel better about it if emerging leaders would affirm their belief in ?absolute truth? or their belief that Scripture is God?s Truth revealed to humanity, or that Jesus is the only way to the Father, etc.” In other words, if you?ll just say that you still believe in these things, then I can feel ok about you and what you’re doing. The presenters (especially McLaren) have been really gracious and very careful as they?ve answered these questions. McLaren usually answers by pointing out how much baggage the term “absolute truth” carries with it or by asking the questioner what he means by “salvation” or whatever. They?re not dodging complex questions, but they?re not giving simple answers in response to them either, even though it would get their critics off of their backs if they did. I really respect that.

Peter Scazzero?s session “The Emotionally Healthy Church” was excellent. His basic thesis: Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible for a Christian to be spiritually mature and emotionally immature.

The implications of this statement are huge. Most churches do not include emotional maturity in their discipleship strategy. Our churches are full of emotionally immature people, including leadership at all levels. He?s on to something here.

Yesterday, at the Bloggers forum, the American Bible Society treated us to a great lunch. Thanks guys.