Getting X’rs to the cross

May 25, 2010  David Murray   5 comments

David-and-samantha-camero-007

As my 44th birthday approaches I learn two new facts. First, that I was born in the same year (1966) as the new British Prime Minister, David Cameron (I wondered why he looked so young). Second, that makes Prime Minister Cameron and I members of Generation X (President Obama also qualifies).

I thought I should probably find out a bit about the generation I am a member of, partly to find out who I am, and partly to help me minister to my generation. I’m grateful to Tammy Erickson at the Harvard Business Review for helping me out. In her article on PM Cameron, she reflects on a New York Times piece about “Another X’r at the helm,” by describing the character traits of X’rs and the implications of each for leadership. Her full exposition is here, but the main points are:

1. Accelerated contact with the real world . . . inclined to meet commitments and take employability seriously.

2. Distrust of institutions and self-reliance . . . strong survival skills and the ability to handle change with resilience: a well-nurtured portfolio of options and networks.

3. A sense of alienation and a preference of “alternative” . . . an inclination to innovate, to look for a different way forward; outward-facing.

4. An awareness of global issues and multiculturalism . . . a more unconscious acceptance of diversity than any preceding generation and the ability to welcome the contributions of diverse individuals.

5. Skepticism and an ability to isolate practical truths . . . rich humor and incisive perspective.

6. Childhood experiences . . . fiercely dedicated to being good parents, raising important questions about balance beyond the corporation.

7. Pragmatism . . . a practical and value-oriented sensibilities, and the ability to serve as effective stewards of both today’s organizations and tomorrow’s world.

So, although it took me 44 years, at least I now know who I am.

But how do I now minister to my generation? How do I get X’rs to the cross?

Curator or creator?

May 24, 2010  David Murray   6 comments

Bloggers are usually either curators or creators. Curators act like hi-tech museum custodians, scanning the worldwide web for quality content to gather, organize, and link to. One of the best Christian curators is Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds. Curators like Justin save many of us lots of time as they search, filter, and organize the best Christian content on the Internet. Brief though helpful comments often accompany the links and steer discussion. In a world of information overload, this is an invaluable service.

Creators, on the other hand, create. They write articles, comment on trends, and pen reflections and meditations. Most of their posts originate in their own minds and hearts. There is often a freshness and originality about their work. A good example of this is Kevin DeYoung at DeYoung Restless and Reformed. 

Of course, there are many bloggers who are both creators and curators. The classic example is Tim Challies who writes tons of original content, but also posts his daily “A la Carte.” Trevin Wax does similarly at Kingdom People. But most bloggers tend to fall into one of these two categories.

I think this distinction also applies to preachers. Creators are preachers who pour over the Scriptures, and think deeply upon them, prayerfully meditating and reflecting upon God’s Word. When they begin sermon preparation, they begin with their Bibles, not commentaries. And they don’t open another book (or Logos!) until they feel they have really exhausted their own minds and hearts.

Curators, in contrast, are preachers who do very little of their own thinking and meditating on the Scriptures. They mainly read commentaries and theologies, and listen to others’ sermons. They then cut and paste it all together. Their sermons are usually sound and well organized, but often somewhat stale and predictable.

I’m afraid that there are many more curated than created sermons today. We have so many accessible resources that can save us so much time and effort. If I punch my verse into my Bible software, it opens 15 commentaries at the right page, links me to other sermons on the text, suggests quotations and illustrations, and even produces sermon outlines. That is very, very tempting! Why struggle with the text? Why pray for light? Why beg for the Holy Spirit?

Why? Because, eventually, God’s people can tell the difference between a “curated” sermon and a “created” sermon.

Of course, we have to be careful not to overdraw this distinction. To avoid heresy and dangerous innovation, the creator should check all his conclusions with other commentators. And, of course, the creator is not averse to using commentators. However, he does not simply parrot the commentator. He distills the commentaries through his own mind, “makes the material his own,” and tries to express it in his own words. Also, when not preparing sermons, the creator should be reading good Christian books to keep his heart safe, his mind stimulated, and his thinking fresh.

But, despite these qualifications, the general distinction still holds and produces a challenge. The next time you prepare a sermon, see how far you can get with just a Bible, prayer and the Holy Spirit. Keep resisting the temptation to open Logos, Accordance, Hendriksen or Henry. Keep searching the Scriptures, asking for light, meditating deeply, and writing out your thoughts on the text. And only when you are truly “dry,” open other resources to check, clarify, and contribute to your sermon. And see if your hearers detect a new life and freshness in your sermons.

Leading by silence

May 21, 2010  David Murray   1 comment

Many people think that leaders should be talkers and answerers. They hear someone who talks more than anyone else, and who seems to have all the answers, and they say, “Wow, he would be a great leader!”

Well, my experience has been the opposite. I find it difficult to respect people who talk all the time, and who seem to think they have all the answers.

And that jives with some recent articles that argue that the best leaders know how to lead by silence and by asking questions (also here). It was Voltaire who said, “Judge a man by his questions rather than answers.”

And isn’t that what we see in Jesus Christ? When I read the Gospels, I don’t find someone who dominated people by excessive talking or by a “know-it-all” attitude. Rather, I find someone who knew when to speak and when to be silent; who knew when to lead by speaking, and when to lead by silence. And I find someone who certainly knew how to ask questions.

Now that’s someone I can respect…and follow.

The ultimate anti-brand

May 19, 2010  David Murray   0 comments

Several weeks ago I linked to a couple of thought-provoking videos by Harvard’s Youngme Moon, and I provocatively asked, “How much of this is relevant to the church?” A friend of mine watched both videos and sent me this response. (She agreed to let me post it, but being the shy, retiring type ;-) didn’t want her name attached to it).

The ‘different’ video whetted my appetite to read her book, so I ordered it from the public library. It’s an easy-to-read book even though it’s all about marketing. But the farther I got into it the more excited I became. It’s all about what Youngme calls anti-brands or hostile brands. Brands that stick out because they don’t go along with trying to be bigger and better and more-inclusive, and just be more of the same, but actually play up their shortcomings and negatives, while offering something really special.

For instance Apple’s Mac has less ports and other extras, has a hefty price, but IS an outstanding computer. Or Birkenstock sandals, they are quite plain, ugly even, but give you comfort like no other sandal does.  Another one is IKEA, the Swedish furniture store that has you assemble all their furniture at home, and unashamedly admits that their stuff won’t last for decennia.

I found it so exciting to realize that the Gospel all along has been THE anti-brand! It is up front about the ‘negatives.’ We can’t serve both GOD and Mammon. The LORD JESUS didn’t come to bring peace but the sword. We shall have tribulations; sickness, poverty – no health and wealth. The Gospel means denying ourselves, becoming the least – meek and lowly in heart. And at the same time It shows riches above measure, strength in weakness, and joy unspeakable. It shows us the utter failures we are, but able to do all things in CHRIST.

To come back to David’s question, I think we need to become more aware of the uniqueness of the Gospel . Thank GOD the Gospel doesn’t need marketing gimmicks, ‘just’  faithful preachers who preach the Word of GOD – our LORD JESUS CHRIST. And build up and encourage the church to walk with their LORD and live the Gospel – isn’t that all the ‘different’ we need?

Now watch the video:
 

Connected Kingdom (6)

May 18, 2010  David Murray   0 comments



Download here.

Last Lord’s Day, Tim Challies was ordained as an elder in Grace Fellowship Church, Toronto. In this episode of the Connected Kingdom, we discuss Tim’s calling to the eldership, his preparation for that office, and his experience of ordination.

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