Monday, March 02, 2009
Perspective is Everything
“Man, he could sure use some spiritual or social sandpaper, varnish and polyurethane on his way of relating.” I’m sure this thought had crossed all your minds at one time or another as you have read my newsletters. Coupled with the fact that I do forestry and arboriculture very well on one hand, yet couldn’t build a birdhouse out of processed lumber if my life depended on it, attests to my lack of refinement in certain areas. Many of you, through my Gecko Tales and Musings have followed my journey and spiritual growth from 1992 to the present- many of you are pleased, curious, confused, disappointed and even ready to write me off. My NT Gospel’s Professor told me that the definition of snob is “someone who insists another person becomes like them, because they believe they think right and act right, over and above others.” I am not saying you are snobs but simply point out that my journey has been informed by fifteen years of serving in an impoverished country, an international community, and a fledgling Cambodian Church Community. Maybe I am a snob because I would like you become somewhat like me and have some of my perspective. After all, I am 100% American, 25% Cambodian, and 25% International. I am a 150% person. Does your perspective afford you the view of the world that I have? Jesus was a 200% person-100% Jewish and 100% God. His perspective was a Kingdom perspective, the big picture- Israel and the church for the world and the nations, not for themselves. Without a big picture perspective, we often get caught with tunnel vision. How does one gain the big picture perspective? I guess that is the point of most of my writings.
Over the years, generally seven types of people have responded to my newsletters and I wonder how some of these types of people can properly assess our ministry without having been in a war-torn, Southeast Asian developing country. Here are the types of people who typically responded:
§ The Doctrine Police
§ Homeland Security
§ The Offended
§ The Affirming
§ The Admonishing
§ The Generous Antagonists
§ The Challengers
The Doctrine Police always scan my Musings or newsletters for doctrinal deviation and can’t seem to wait to confront me and challenge me on the finer points of the law. Doctrine Police don’t offend me but sadden me. They usually rarely have anything constructive to say, and operate from a very legalistic view of the scriptures.
The Homeland Security folk operate in a similar way. They, like the Doctrine Police, miss all the great things God is doing through our family, and scan my writings for anything that may smack of unpatriotic sentiment. I have told people, I am NOT a patriot. I am a Kingdom citizen before I am an American citizen.
The Offended also scan newsletters for things to be offended about. They include the Doctrine Police the Homeland Security folk, but are also in class of their own. We have been dropped by two churches this year because people were offended over remarks that were ‘unpatriotic,’ or what they perceived as ‘liberal,’ or unhappy about my belief that social justice is an important part of God’s Kingdom agenda. Some of the ‘Offended’ are offended for justifiable reasons. I do, on occasions can be quite (unfortunately) insensitive, and often end up needing to apologize to those I offend unnecessarily. These people are gracious to forgive me and I appreciate their patience with me. It is a humble learning experience for me.
The Affirming are just that- affirming. The always look for and find the good things in my musings or our newsletters and are quite diligent and intentional to let me know. It usually takes about 10 affirming emails to counter the harm done from 1 email from the “Offended” or “Admonishers.” The affirming recipients don’t lack in confrontation skills, and have often confronted me in love, and helped me see myself when I have become proud or self-righteous. Those who are affirming know who you are and I applaud you.
The "Admonishers" are few but their comments have been so hurtful that they have often put me into a tail spin for days or even weeks. In my newsletter, I might be rejoicing how God is doing miraculous things but the "Admonishers" will search the Gecko Tales or my Musings to find something, no matter how minute, to correct. The Affirming confront with love, the Admonishers look to shoot the wounded, to be the experts, the ones who have all the answers, as if correct answers are more important than right praxis.
The Generous Antagonists are friends and colleagues who do not necessary share an evangelical Christian perspective or even a Christian perspective in general, but feel free to share their opinions with me. They don’t hold back and they are honest as to say what they think doesn’t jive with reality. They affirm what I do, but often question the motives or existence of the one I claim to have committed my life to and serve. I welcome their feedback, dialogue and even their passionate disagreements for they have known me at my worst and still accept me while many Christian Brethren only accept me if believe and act as they do.
The Challengers also include the Generous Antagonists and the Affirming. They challenge my assumptions about God, people, my methodology, my philosophy, my ideologies, theology, and character. They push me to rethink, and re-process many of the things I assume to be true, but have never stopped long enough to dig as deep as I should. They keep me sharp and help me to be more aware of my thoughts and actions.
Some of you might wonder, what is the purpose of this particular musing? Well, it might be good for people to know that God’s children in “full-time” ministry, especially ones that serve overseas, experience a myriad of stressful situations that you cannot possibly imagine (unless you been there and done that) as you try to see their situation through “contemporary American social lenses.” As someone has said, “perspective is everything.” Some of our strongest advocates, other than very close friends and family, are those who have had cross cultural experiences themselves. All in all, we want to hear from you, and although our view of this country might be difficult to hear at times, and our theology being informed by our experience may clash with yours, our perspectives, I believe are valuable for you, in order that you might expand your perspective on God’s agenda for the world. “The difference between leaders and followers is perspective. The difference between good leaders and great leaders is better perspective.” Most of you are leaders in some capacity and my hope is that your perspective becomes a glocal (global and local) perspective, a big perspective, and a Kingdom perspective.
Peace,
Brian
Over the years, generally seven types of people have responded to my newsletters and I wonder how some of these types of people can properly assess our ministry without having been in a war-torn, Southeast Asian developing country. Here are the types of people who typically responded:
§ The Doctrine Police
§ Homeland Security
§ The Offended
§ The Affirming
§ The Admonishing
§ The Generous Antagonists
§ The Challengers
The Doctrine Police always scan my Musings or newsletters for doctrinal deviation and can’t seem to wait to confront me and challenge me on the finer points of the law. Doctrine Police don’t offend me but sadden me. They usually rarely have anything constructive to say, and operate from a very legalistic view of the scriptures.
The Homeland Security folk operate in a similar way. They, like the Doctrine Police, miss all the great things God is doing through our family, and scan my writings for anything that may smack of unpatriotic sentiment. I have told people, I am NOT a patriot. I am a Kingdom citizen before I am an American citizen.
The Offended also scan newsletters for things to be offended about. They include the Doctrine Police the Homeland Security folk, but are also in class of their own. We have been dropped by two churches this year because people were offended over remarks that were ‘unpatriotic,’ or what they perceived as ‘liberal,’ or unhappy about my belief that social justice is an important part of God’s Kingdom agenda. Some of the ‘Offended’ are offended for justifiable reasons. I do, on occasions can be quite (unfortunately) insensitive, and often end up needing to apologize to those I offend unnecessarily. These people are gracious to forgive me and I appreciate their patience with me. It is a humble learning experience for me.
The Affirming are just that- affirming. The always look for and find the good things in my musings or our newsletters and are quite diligent and intentional to let me know. It usually takes about 10 affirming emails to counter the harm done from 1 email from the “Offended” or “Admonishers.” The affirming recipients don’t lack in confrontation skills, and have often confronted me in love, and helped me see myself when I have become proud or self-righteous. Those who are affirming know who you are and I applaud you.
The "Admonishers" are few but their comments have been so hurtful that they have often put me into a tail spin for days or even weeks. In my newsletter, I might be rejoicing how God is doing miraculous things but the "Admonishers" will search the Gecko Tales or my Musings to find something, no matter how minute, to correct. The Affirming confront with love, the Admonishers look to shoot the wounded, to be the experts, the ones who have all the answers, as if correct answers are more important than right praxis.
The Generous Antagonists are friends and colleagues who do not necessary share an evangelical Christian perspective or even a Christian perspective in general, but feel free to share their opinions with me. They don’t hold back and they are honest as to say what they think doesn’t jive with reality. They affirm what I do, but often question the motives or existence of the one I claim to have committed my life to and serve. I welcome their feedback, dialogue and even their passionate disagreements for they have known me at my worst and still accept me while many Christian Brethren only accept me if believe and act as they do.
The Challengers also include the Generous Antagonists and the Affirming. They challenge my assumptions about God, people, my methodology, my philosophy, my ideologies, theology, and character. They push me to rethink, and re-process many of the things I assume to be true, but have never stopped long enough to dig as deep as I should. They keep me sharp and help me to be more aware of my thoughts and actions.
Some of you might wonder, what is the purpose of this particular musing? Well, it might be good for people to know that God’s children in “full-time” ministry, especially ones that serve overseas, experience a myriad of stressful situations that you cannot possibly imagine (unless you been there and done that) as you try to see their situation through “contemporary American social lenses.” As someone has said, “perspective is everything.” Some of our strongest advocates, other than very close friends and family, are those who have had cross cultural experiences themselves. All in all, we want to hear from you, and although our view of this country might be difficult to hear at times, and our theology being informed by our experience may clash with yours, our perspectives, I believe are valuable for you, in order that you might expand your perspective on God’s agenda for the world. “The difference between leaders and followers is perspective. The difference between good leaders and great leaders is better perspective.” Most of you are leaders in some capacity and my hope is that your perspective becomes a glocal (global and local) perspective, a big perspective, and a Kingdom perspective.
Peace,
Brian
