A call for a Post-Protestant and Post-Evangelical Christian community

Before making my point, let me begin with the dream I had on Wednesday, November 12, 2014.

The dream

1. A PhD colleague and I were in what appeared to be St. Catherine, Jamaica (one of my home parishes), driving to Western Jamaica.
2. It was late evening, and we encountered traffic.  My friend decided to pull over into a church yard, to wait for the traffic diminish.
3. We happened to pull over into a Baptist church yard (could have been any church denomination however) and it was having a late evening service.
4. I pointed out to my colleague that this church was the denomination of my wife as a child, though not in this parish (she's from Western Jamaica).
5. I suggested that we could go inside and sit and take in some of the service.
6. So we went inside and sat in the pews at the back.
7. The people were in worship with a lead singer and a live band leading them in song.
8. After listening to the praise song for a few minutes, my colleague got up, and to my surprise (and everybody else to that matter), grabbed the cordless microphone from the female lead singer and said "Thank you, sister". (My colleague was not a Christian based on my knowledge).
9. He then brought and handed the microphone to me.
10. So I began to speak "Bless the Lord..."
11. Before I could finish my sentence, the lead, grabbed the microphone back and said "you have no right to speak!"
12. My colleague departed and I followed him.
13. For the rest of our journey in the car, I embarrassingly sought to explain to him the actions of the lead and about how different denominations regulate who can speak during worship services. 

End of dream.

I will not render an analysis of the dream, but on the other hand, I find it useful to  make a point. The point that I think it can make is that we need a new Christian community and way of being to meet the needs of a new generation of skeptics and Bible doubters.

The Christianity that I was raised in has served its time. While Christianity rightly assumes that God exists and that the Bible is his revelation to humanity, the way that we go about our worship services and our mission needs to be more oriented around the teaching aspect of the great commission, and less around music and songs. Our church experience can not just be oriented around sermonizing and acknowledging God through music and liturgical ceremony. The needs of my generation no longer fit with the model in which we conduct our services or ministry. No longer are people certain that God exists and that God is good. Further, they are not so sure about the Bible.

My generation wants a community that provides answers and respond to concerns that they have about the goodness of God and the difficult passages in the Bible. My generation wants to believe in a benevolent God and want to believe in the Bible, but there is no guide or shepherd to help them process doubts and questions. Our church services do not help. Structuring it around music and praise do not meet the needs of this new generation, who need teaching and a forum for questions and answers. We need more church services structured around teaching with live Q & A.


This model is not alien to Christianity. Jesus, our chief example, did "sermons" where unbelievers could ask questions and where he gave candid answers, questions or parables in response. The church in Acts, also provide evidence that the apostles spent more time teaching and expounding upon Scriptures and the life events of Jesus than in any scripted music, song and liturgical ceremony. The early dynamic community of Christians had lots of teaching and doctrine, and seemingly had less good singing and music.

Further, if we are going to speak to each other in song, as Apostle Paul admonishes us, shouldn't we sing songs that speak to the needs and themes that we have to deal with today? The hymns of yesteryear cannot be sufficient. And contemporary songs must address the skepticism and the spirit of the age.

This is why I argue that the Billy Graham generation is over. "Crusade" style worship and evangelism will not win the souls of my generation. Today we need new anointed teachers and singers that do things differently. Teachers and singers that shake up our deeply held traditions and formats for Christian service or ministry. Teachers and singers that will centre our services, ministry and worship around Bible reading, teaching and questioning. To centre our worship around discussing the Bible and God's goodness in a world where many have questions and doubt.

How I view Christian life?

I have learned so much from being Christian. However, I must admit that not every Christian that I have met has learned the same lessons that I have.

First of all, I have learned that Christianity is very diverse (theologically, doctrinally and even culturally). Being Christian is belonging to a globally diverse group of people who trace their traditions, practices and beliefs to the same source, but yet practice and implement their faith differently. In some instances, we believe different things and come to different conclusions about the same historical text, our same common heritage, history and traditions.

Seeing that we come from such diversity, as a Christian I have been forced to learn to cope with uncertainty and such diversity. This includes learning that it is wrong to force your convictions on others within the faith. You cannot believe that everyone must believe as you do and that everyone ought to see and know what you see and know. Even within the same denominations, I have observed and learned that there are differences of opinions on even the same denominational heritage. As such, in order to maintain unity, a Christian must operate within this diversity and learn to respect the convictions of others, even if one personally disagrees.

In essence, I have learned that I can't force anyone to believe what I do. I can only present my personal convictions to others and let the Holy Spirit do the rest of the work of either reproving me for error or correcting my brethren (or sistren).

Hence much of the work of evangelism is personal. We need to study, pray and meditate upon the scriptures, events and even nature to arrive at convictions about what is right and wrong. Then we need to share our convictions, revelations and justifications (or proofs) with others and let them personally decide for themselves whether or not they are also convicted and persuaded as we are.

Hence, I believe Christians must have the freedom to arrive at our own conclusions and share those conclusions with others. However, we must also give others the freedom to disagree without judging dissenters as being hell-bound.

Today, I find myself at the crossroad of being skeptic of dogma, traditions and doctrines, especially if I perceive these as being modern inventions with little historical roots in 1st century Christianity. I am further suspicious of denominational leaders as I know that many have received their theology degrees under the study and supervision of unbelieving Bible scholars. [This is one of the reasons why I do not want to be a pastor, though I feel the calling.]

I consider myself as an explorer within the Christian ideological landscape. I have a map, (a centuries old text written about historical events, peoples and lands). I also have tour guides (translators, pastors and spiritual leaders), who provide annotation and commentary to guide my understanding of the map (unto salvation). However, even with the map and the guides, one still has to uncover for oneself the meaning and understanding of the Christian frontier and find the way that leads to eternal life.

Today, more than ever, I find that Christianity is more about dialogue and conversation than it is about sermons (at least the non-interactive ones). I must have my own personal convictions about Bible "truths", but must also be willing to listen to others and understand how they may see those "truths" differently from me. I must have my own spiritual priorities, but still be willing to accept that other Christians order their spiritual priorities differently. At the end, it about our own convictions and on how God sees our work and faith that matters. Did he give you a particular light that you have refused or rejected? Did he give you a personal instruction or calling that you have not obeyed?

This reminds me of a sermon I once heard from a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist, Pastor Glen Samuels. According to Samuels, Terah, Abraham's father, got God's call to leave Ur for Canaan. On the way, Terah settled in Haran and apparently no longer obeyed the call of God. Eventually, Terah died in the land of Haran and never made it into Canaan. After his death, God then passed on the calling to his son, Abram (Abraham) (See the story in Genesis 11:31-2)

The big questions to ask are:

• Is there a call on your life that you are rejecting?
• Are you going to be like Terah and die before you fulfill what God has called you to do?

Commissioned to blog spiritual stories

If you have been following up on my blog posts for a while, you would realise that I have begun to incorporate fictional storytelling. In earlier posts (see http://mses-soul.blogspot.ca/2013/04/a-change-of-direction-on-my-spiritual.html and http://mses-soul.blogspot.ca/2012/09/the-parable-of-zoo.html), I have justified the approach. In this post, I would like to provide an update unto the direction to be taken with this blog as it relates to storytelling.

Just to report, that on May 18, 2013, I had a dream in which kind of reminded me of the Silver Surfer in the movie of Fantastic Four. In this dream, there was a man-like being literally running for world domination. He was running through the earth, and everywhere he ran, the path behind him experienced earthquakes, with bridges and buildings falling down and the work of human engineers being destroyed.

When I awoke, I pondered the meaning of the dream, and it was as if the L-RD subtly spoke to me that I have been commissioned to blog (or write) what I call "apocalyptic" stories that would warn readers about the coming destruction and destructive forces to be unleashed on earth. It further dropped into my spirit that in the times of censorship, the Christian prophet, John (attributed as the author of the book of Revelation), wrote his book in apocalyptic imagery.

This revelation has been the first one that I have received this year since my birthday, and also at the beginning of the season of Pentecost, which is the anniversary when the Holy Spirit was poured out to the apostles. Further this commission is in agreement with earlier revelation that my missionary purpose is to be a literature evangelist publishing tidings or news information in spiritual perspective. As such, I have no doubts about this new commission. There are however some questions remaining as to whether I need to establish a new blog to signify the change in direction or purpose and maintain this one to deal with sermons and conversations about spirituality and theological topics. I have however, started this other blog titled Apocalyptic Blogger to blog about those stories for which I have received the new commission for. Feel free to check out this other blog, for which I will go out of my comfort zone to work on images and graphics to help illustrate the stories.

Demise and Rebirth of the Caribbean Challenge and the need for Caribbean Christian magazines

Yesterday while waiting for my doctor's appointment, I foraged for a magazine in the basket provided for something to read during the wait. I saw the Caribbean Challenge a magazine that I remembered the title, for during high school as a member of the Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship (ISCF), I used to sell that magazine, promote it and even purchased and read it. I was about to bypass that magazine, for something "more educational" when I realised that that was 1) the unchristian thing to do and, 2) that the other magazines were not educational but more gossip, entertainment and lifestyle magazines such as Ebony etc.

I pulled up the Caribbean Challenge and began browsing. From the Editor's note, I realised the news that the the Caribbean Challenge went out of business. Further, I discovered that this magazine was now being published by the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST).

This morning I searched for the Caribbean Challenge online and found this:

Jamaica’s Christian magazine, Caribbean Challenge is going out of business, reported the Jamaica Gleaner. The magazine, published by Christian Literature Crusade in Jamaica for more than 50 years, once had a circulation of 30,000 in the region. Eaton Facey, who served as its editor, told the Gleaner that it was “a painful decision” to shutter the magazine (Tainsay).

I also checked the Gleaner's site for the original story which I found. If you have the time, check Dawes.

As I browsed through the new Caribbean Challenge under new management available online through the following link: http://cgstonline.org/images/chall.pdf I made several observations and notes that I want to share.

The new magazine is greatly needed, but unfortunately seems like a promotional magazine or brochure for CGST. Nevertheless, I observed that even in this regard the magazine has sought to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life.

My concerns though as a trained Librarian were:

1. the absence of a publication date on the cover or elsewhere in the magazine. 
2. the absence of publication information or even an editorial statement on how frequently it would be published and
3. opportunities for letters to the editors and for readers to write back

The points of concern are really technical in nature and based on best practice and knowledge in my field of study. My ability to see these issues really highlights my awareness of where G-d has led me. In my secular and vocational studies, G-d has given me the opportunity to know what makes a good publication for libraries and booksellers. In fact, my vocational and secular education pursuits are in line with my spiritually revealed purpose of literature evangelism (please pray into that purpose for me).

I do see a need for a Caribbean Christian magazine and specifically for the Caribbean Challenge:

• to answer questions for people who are searching and those who seeking answers to theological questions. Such a magazine should provide answers that help people  to end their search and find Christ, to better understand the Bible or be challenged to deepen their spirituality, spiritual knowledge, quality of life/living and walk with G-d.
• to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life
• to provide an opportunity to think about G-d and his will for humanity collectively and personally in a format that is graphic, modern and relevant to the information needs of the current generation

Works Cited:

Dawes, Mark (Religion Editor). "The demise of the 'Challenge'" Jamaica Gleaner Saturday | December 6, 2008 http://mobile.jamaicagleaner.com/20081206/news/news5.php


Tiansay, Eric. " CRI News Beat: Starfield; Soraya Moraes; Caribbean Challenge; Acoustic Gospel Vol. 2" Christian Retailing News Beat MONDAY, 09 FEBRUARY 2009 http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/news/industry-news/news-beat/18359-cri-news-beat-starfield-soraya-moraes-caribbean-challenge-acoustic-gospel-vol-2

Children Bible Story Books Part 2

I have always felt called into a publishing ministry. My spiritual vocation is to be a literature evangelist.

I am so glad that G-d has intersected this spiritual calling with my temporal calling. I am a Librarian and Information Specialist by training, and through this profession, I have learnt so much about publishing and the reading interests of people.

When I became a parent in 2008, a new world was open to me. Now I had to be responsible for my child's spiritual and cognitive development. Reading materials were crucial, but these materials would have to be accurate. I found all the available material both Christian and non-Christian inadequate. For non-Christian mateirals, references are made to fairies or witches. For Christian materials, pagan festivals or unscriptural practices or beliefs were present.

However, what has impressed me more than anything else is my experiences in a variety of Fellowships. None cater for my daughter's age range. The closest Fellowship that meet the needs of infants and toddlers is the Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church. So as much as I am more doctrinally diverse and liberal than the denomination, it is the one that has the best structured children programme for infants and toddlers. The details of its programme I will not go into.

However, the important issue here is their quarterly and the GraceLink Curriculum. The Beginner's quarterly for me is riddled with cultural issues of irrelevance to my child. Things that she does not see in her daily life experiences, as well as images that are not culturally relevant. Further, there are some issues of human viewpoints coming out. For instance, in the Beginner's 3rd Quarter for 2009, the celebration of birthdays is raised. Clearly the Bible has only one two indication of the celebration of birthdays - Herod and Jesus. With the Jewish calendar, I am not even sure that it was flexible to celebrate birthdays (See my blog post: Reasoning on JESUS's birthday).



This experience is now inspiring me to contemplate the writing of Christian reading material for toddlers and infants that will communicate the stories of the Bible in a form that is culturally relevant, that when chidlren interact with animals on a daily basis, they can remember G-d's word.

Pray for this ministry and initiative.

Works Cited:
Beginner Bible Study Guide: Third Quarter Vol. 33 No. 3 ,2009.

The dilemma of being unaffiliated

I read the following article, and it came at a time when I am spiritually hurting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/opinion/02blow.html?em

The need for truth in me and my need to be a part of a spiritual organization that has that same desire for truth and to be liberated from man's dogma and move into what G-d wants for them is unfulfilled.

All denominations that I know and have been in lack my specific beliefs. My wife has basically given up the search with me and has settled for what she is already used to. With that, she has thrown away all the truths that we have discovered. They are encumbering and prevents one from being at ease in contemporary Christian community.

Today I went to witness in Half-Way-Tree (HWT) and felt that my efforts were in vain. I was convicted that the person doing evangelism must be sent by an organization or a formal body, or G-d himself.

Secondly, I realise that one must be anointed to get people to follow what ever you teach, preach or say. All the truths known require a spirit behind you that will resonate well with your hearers.

On top of that, at Andrews SDA, G-d pointed out to me 1 Samuel 3:7. In essence, G-d showed me that many were like Samuel, ministering before the L-RD, doing ministry, yet failing to know him, for whom they ministered.