About Me
- Joe Garrison
- Fishers, IN, United States
Director of Contemporary Worship and Assistant Director of Student Ministries at Castleton United Methodist Church in Indianapols, IN. Husband,Guitarist,and Drummer
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Why do Christians Insist on Using the Word "Radical"?
For a while now I have had an aversion to the word "radical" when used about the Christian faith. Yet, it seems to be the 'buzz word' for Christians these days when we talk about living out a faith that resembles Jesus and the Apostles.
A couple days ago a friend gave me a copy of the book "Radical" by David Platt. With having Friday off work and the next Ice Age obviously approaching outside, I went ahead and started reading the book. I'm currently a little over half way through it. I like it. Platt has a lot of good thoughts on what it means to honestly live out the faith that Christ calls us to live. The problem with this book is that he uses the word "radical" about a bazillion times.
I often sit and wonder what a non-Christian in our world thinks when they hear the words "Radical Christianity". If we turn on the news and listen for a while we hear the word radical used quite a bit...NEVER in a good way.
- Radical Left
- Radical Right
- Radical Islam (aka terrorists)
Each time "radical" is used to describe a group of people it's used to show how crazy these people are compared to the rest of the world. The radical left are often associated with communists, the radical right are often racist gun toting lunatics, and radical Islam is used to talk about terrorists that flew planes into American buildings killing thousands of innocent people.
So why is it that Christians feel so cool when we use the word "radical" to describe Christianity? Beats me!
Really all we are talking about is Biblical Christianity. A faith that lines up with what Jesus taught and the Scriptures teach us. Like I said, I like this book. I just wish Christians would quit trying to live "radical" Christianity and just try and live out a Biblical Christianity.
What do you think? Am I off base for thinking that this word is over used and/or poorly used?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Do "M" rated video games like Halo and Call of Duty have a place in a Youth Ministry?
Every Wednesday I have a group of students that come over to the church after school to hang out and play video games. Most of the time they play Madden 2010 or Halo.I am not your typical youth pastor. I almost never play video games. Seems that most youth ministries have a huge focus on video games; having multiple game consoles and TVs to play them on. I'm just not that interested.
Over the last four months or so I have been watching these students play Halo on Wednesday afternoons. At first it didn't bother me that much (I'm not sure it does even now), but as I watch them I wonder if M rated video games that rely heavily on violence as entertainment have a place in a youth ministry.
I can't really say I'm leaning one way or the other right now. It's just something that I have been thinking about and praying about lately as well as discussing with our other youth pastor. I'm sure I will get a few students pleading their case for why it is absolutely vital to our youth ministry to have these games once I post this...and who's to say they are wrong.
I have always been someone that holds the belief that we should use whatever we have to use to get people of all ages into the Church. Video games seem to be an easy way to get, specifically teen guys, into the Church.
What do you think? Should M rated video games like Halo and Black Ops have a place in a youth ministry? Why or why not? What positive and/or negative effects do you think they have on a youth ministry?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Do Christians Send Thoughts or Prayers?
I have noticed something over the last year or so. As I look through places like Facebook and Twitter I see a lot of people putting up posts about things going on in their life, some of them not so good things. Often they will get comments of encouragement from friends and family.
As I look through these comments I have noticed an overall trend of people saying something like "Sending good thoughts your way!" or "Sending positive energy." Now this typically wouldn't bother me and I wouldn't normally notice, but I have noticed that some of these people call themselves "Christians."
It seems wierd to me that a Christian wouldn't just say "I'm praying for you." Isn't that what we do as Christians...pray for each other? To me it just seems like these people are just afraid to just be transparently Christian and just straight up say they are praying for someone.
For some reason the phrase, "Sending positive energy" just sounds cultish to me. We're Christians, we pray.
Now, I'm not saying that telling someone that you are thinking about them is bad. That is a good thing, letting someone know you care. To me, if I am a Christian, I can be thinking about someone and praying for them. There is a difference to me, if only in how we are witnessing to the world (even if just the Social Media world), in saying "I am praying for you," vs. "I am sending positive energy/thoughts your way."
Non-Christians; continue sending "Positive energy/thoughts" to your friends and family in need. I think in some way you are praying at a basic level, whether you intend to or not.
Christians; let's be willing to let the world know that we are Christians and that we believe in the power of prayer. That's nothing to be ashamed of.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone" ~ 1 Timothy 2:1
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well: the Lord will raise him up." ~James 5:15
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" ~James 5:16b
As I look through these comments I have noticed an overall trend of people saying something like "Sending good thoughts your way!" or "Sending positive energy." Now this typically wouldn't bother me and I wouldn't normally notice, but I have noticed that some of these people call themselves "Christians."
It seems wierd to me that a Christian wouldn't just say "I'm praying for you." Isn't that what we do as Christians...pray for each other? To me it just seems like these people are just afraid to just be transparently Christian and just straight up say they are praying for someone.
For some reason the phrase, "Sending positive energy" just sounds cultish to me. We're Christians, we pray.
Now, I'm not saying that telling someone that you are thinking about them is bad. That is a good thing, letting someone know you care. To me, if I am a Christian, I can be thinking about someone and praying for them. There is a difference to me, if only in how we are witnessing to the world (even if just the Social Media world), in saying "I am praying for you," vs. "I am sending positive energy/thoughts your way."
Non-Christians; continue sending "Positive energy/thoughts" to your friends and family in need. I think in some way you are praying at a basic level, whether you intend to or not.
Christians; let's be willing to let the world know that we are Christians and that we believe in the power of prayer. That's nothing to be ashamed of.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone" ~ 1 Timothy 2:1
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well: the Lord will raise him up." ~James 5:15
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" ~James 5:16b
Thursday, May 20, 2010
New Saturday Night Contemporary Service
It is almost here. Any of you that follow me or @mattlipan on twitter know that we are starting a brand new contemporary worship service on Saturday nights at Castleton United Methodist Church. The service starts on Saturday May 29, 2010 at 6pm. This has been something that we have been working toward for a while now and I have to say I am very excited to finally launch it.
Monday was my first rehearsal with the worship team for the service. It went better than I even imagined it would. We have a great group of musicians and singers that have been willing to volunteer their time, talents and passion for worshipping Christ to this service. I have no doubt that God is going to do some amazing things through this worship team, Matt Lipan who will be preaching, and the service as a whole.
If you are looking for somewhere to worship or are interested in checking out something new, come see us on Saturday nights at 6pm starting May 29th. Castleton United Methodist Church is on the corner of 71st Street and Shadeland Avenue on Indianapolis' North East side.
Spread the word. We'd love to see you all there.
***Also, if anyone is interested in helping out at this service leave a message. We still need help with some tech stuff (sound booth, slides, lighting, video etc) as well as a few other things. Thanks!***
Monday was my first rehearsal with the worship team for the service. It went better than I even imagined it would. We have a great group of musicians and singers that have been willing to volunteer their time, talents and passion for worshipping Christ to this service. I have no doubt that God is going to do some amazing things through this worship team, Matt Lipan who will be preaching, and the service as a whole.
If you are looking for somewhere to worship or are interested in checking out something new, come see us on Saturday nights at 6pm starting May 29th. Castleton United Methodist Church is on the corner of 71st Street and Shadeland Avenue on Indianapolis' North East side.
Spread the word. We'd love to see you all there.
***Also, if anyone is interested in helping out at this service leave a message. We still need help with some tech stuff (sound booth, slides, lighting, video etc) as well as a few other things. Thanks!***
Monday, May 3, 2010
Throwing Man Under The Bus
I was reading Romans 3 this morning and came across this line in verse 4, "Let God be true, and every man a liar."
As I was thinking about that verse it made me think of the argument so many non-Christians have against Christians. We always here them say, "Well I've seen all of these 'Christians' doing this, that, or the other. Doesn't that contradict what your 'God' would say/do?"
What I want to say is, "What does that have to do with God?" We can't put mans' sins on God. We have nothing to do with God, God has everything to do with us. What we do, does not affect who God is in ANY way. We cannot change or manipulate God by our actions or words. I think a lot of non-Christians believe that God is just the sum of those who follow him. Sometimes maybe even Christians think the same thing.
On the contrary, God has everything to do with us. Who God is affects us on a daily basis. Now, that does not mean that we somehow become perfect. We are human beings, we are going to mess up. The fact that God doesn't change based on our actions or words means that we always have that rock solid example to come back to.
A lot of times our response to these questions is to defend Christians. In all honesty, it might work better to show that no matter how dumb, stupid or ridiculous Christians may act on this earth, God never changes. He remains the same God he was yesterday, last week, and a million years ago. Maybe we should start throwing ourselves "under the bus" for the sake of Christ. When someone asks us these questions maybe we should just say, "You know what, you are right, I/we do a lot of dumb stuff, but who I am doesn't change who God is and will be."
Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.
As I was thinking about that verse it made me think of the argument so many non-Christians have against Christians. We always here them say, "Well I've seen all of these 'Christians' doing this, that, or the other. Doesn't that contradict what your 'God' would say/do?"
What I want to say is, "What does that have to do with God?" We can't put mans' sins on God. We have nothing to do with God, God has everything to do with us. What we do, does not affect who God is in ANY way. We cannot change or manipulate God by our actions or words. I think a lot of non-Christians believe that God is just the sum of those who follow him. Sometimes maybe even Christians think the same thing.
On the contrary, God has everything to do with us. Who God is affects us on a daily basis. Now, that does not mean that we somehow become perfect. We are human beings, we are going to mess up. The fact that God doesn't change based on our actions or words means that we always have that rock solid example to come back to.
A lot of times our response to these questions is to defend Christians. In all honesty, it might work better to show that no matter how dumb, stupid or ridiculous Christians may act on this earth, God never changes. He remains the same God he was yesterday, last week, and a million years ago. Maybe we should start throwing ourselves "under the bus" for the sake of Christ. When someone asks us these questions maybe we should just say, "You know what, you are right, I/we do a lot of dumb stuff, but who I am doesn't change who God is and will be."
Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.
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