Yesterday I mentioned that I would give a brief report on the last two books I am reading this year.  Yesterday I spoke mostly about the book by Milan Ford.  Today I mention the other book Onward Christian Athletes:  Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preacher.  Ford’s book was a critical look at the church from the inside.  Krattenmaker’s book is a critical look from the outside.  In particular he looks at the influence and contradictions of evangelicalism with the ranks of professional sports (baseball, football, and basketball to be exact.

I first heard of this book as Krattenmaker was doing an interview on National Public Radio.  It sounded interesting because he was addressing what I believe is one of the most shallow expressions of Christianity in our culture, namely the public display of faith on the professional and collegiate athletic field of play.  Krattenmaker, a self-professed former evangelical, Young Life, and Campus Crusade convert, takes to task the confluence of evangelical Christianity and conservative politics within professional sports.  The book is well written and well researched.

Krattenmaker explains the origins of the kneel down prayer in the endzone and how the author of that gesture is now a prominent evangelical pastor and conservative political insider.  He explains the origins of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action and Baseball Chapels.  And while he readily admits to the advantages of having these organizations around, he decries their ongoing influence within the professional locker room.

Though Krattenmaker tries to be fair-handed, his biases are evident.  Nevertheless, I will admit that these athletes give him much ammunition.  For example, following his teams victory in the NFC Championship football game, Kurt Warner declared boldly his faith in Jesus Christ and how Jesus had made the victory possible.  Yet after losing the Superbowl a couple of weeks later, Warner was less vocal in his postgame remarks.  In fact, Krattenmaker makes the observation:

In his generally gracious post-game TV concession remarks, Warner had not a word to say about his Lord, suggesting that the religious obligation to proclaim Jesus belongs only to the victors.

While it is easy to see that Krattenmaker has an axe to grind, it is also unfortunate that these athletes give him much on which to grind it.  Too often public professions of faith are often followed by sexual promiscuity and lavish living.

Krattenmaker is liberal, but his writing and research are legit.  I could wish these athletes were better instructed in the ways of speaking and living out their faith.  I could wish also that Krattenmaker was better instructed in biblical, gospel-centered Christianity.   I am really enjoying the book and would recommend it to all who want to understand better how Christian expressions in sports are being encouraged.  I would also recommend it to those who minister to these athletes.   Krattenmaker concludes the book with these words:

A word to Christians in sports:  The vision sketched above is not intended to silence you.  If anything, your message will come through louder, and resonate more clearly and with far more listeners, when it is expressed through your ethical witness in addition to your get-Jesus evangelism.  The nonevangelical rest of us will be more likely to relax our defenses and engage with you in an open, hospitable manner if you consistently lead with your hearts rather than a rigid theological proposition about Jesus, heaven, and hell that will inevitably exclude and alienate large numbers of us.

Obviously, Krattenmaker has much he could learn from a better understanding of the gospel and Christianity.  Yet, the church could learn quite a bit from Krattenmaker as well.

On my holiday list of things to do while off from work was to finish a few of the books I have started over the past several months.  One of them, although not a new book, was Tim Keller’s Reason for God.  Among the many stirring illustrations and explanations of the Gospel in the second half of the book, I identified greatly with his description of his own transition towards a “Gospel” identity:

“When my own personal grasp of the gospel was very weak, my self-view swung wildly between two poles.  When I was performing up to my standards–in academic work, professional achievement, or relationships–I felt confident but not humble.  I was likely to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people.  When I was not living up to standards, I felt humble but not confident, a failure.  I discovered, however that the gospel contained the resources to build a unique identity.  In Christ I could know I was accepted by grace not only despite my flaws, but because I was willing to admit them.  The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued and that Jesus was glad to die for me.  This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time.  It undermines both swaggering and sniveling.  I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone.  I do not think more of myself nor less of myself.  Instead, I think of myself less.  I don’t need to notice myself–how I’m doing, how I’m being regarded–so often.”

It is good to be reminded that our identity is not in the music we have on our iPod, the car we drive, the part of the city where we live, the job we have, the books we have on the shelf, or even the spouse we married.  The Gospel forces us end our pursuit of own value and our own glory in our identity.  Our attempts to perfectly craft the person we want others to see leads only to disappointment and false hope.  In my own pride, I have discovered this pattern far too often:  the pride-filled success of attaining some personal goal, but then the shame at my inability to maintain that success.

May our identification be only with the cross of Jesus.  It is there that shameful failures become victories and what we called victories are revealed to be selfish failures.  May the brightness of His person draw our eyes away from ourselves and towards the Savior who gives salvation and secures our identity in Him.

Well we have come to the end of another year.  The blogs are full of the usual diet of top ten books of the year.  Don’t worry, I won’t add to the already over worked and over used listings.  What I will do is say a little something about the last two books I have read (or am reading) this year.  The first is 83 Things I Wish the Black Church Would Stop Doing by Milan Ford.  The second is Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers by Tom Krattenmaker.  Interestingly, both books take a critical look at the church and her practices.  One takes the look from the inside and the other from the outside.  I will briefly touch on Ford’s book today and look at Krattenmaker’s book tomorrow.

Ford’s book, 83 Things I wish the Black Church Would Stop Doing, is a book that was recommended by a friend.  As one who grew up in what is considered the predominantly black church, I was interested in Ford’s observations and critiques.  Reading the book was both entertaining and at some points insightful.  Ford does not shy away from any of the sacred cows and indicts just about everyone at some point or another.  Reading the book made we wonder what church he attends and how many of these practices is he witnessing every week.  Here are a few of the 83 things he suggests eliminating:

- The Contracted Musician: Better to hire a member who happens to be a musician, than to contract a musician who has yet to value becoming a member.

- Honorariums: If an artist or a speaker requests a church to pay them a specific amount of money to render a particular service, than that exchange should not be called an honorarium.  That’s called a bill.

- The Singing Preacher: The more the call to preach is merged with the gift to sing, the more the latter is often celebrated.

- Televised Worship Services: The people we want to watch our worship services are the same people who are not attending our worship services.

In reading these and others, it is clear that while Ford has the predominantly black church in mind, these are traditions and customs that are found up and down the church spectrum.  It is not just the black church, but the church in general that Ford could be and should be addressing.

Nevertheless, while the book offered a helpful critique, I found it lacking in giving a biblical solution.  The book is heavy on the pragmatic but light (too light) on the gospel.  It seems Ford would have the church trade in its traditionalism for a more culturally relevant pragmatism.  Unfortunately, the gospel is just as easily obscured by pragmatism as it is by traditionalism.  Remember, what is pragmatic and relevant today easily becomes tradition and traditionalism tomorrow.  The answer to the churches irrelevance is not better generated computer graphics, or more concise worship services, or more money for youth ministry.  The answer is the clear, clarion, proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I kept reading the book hoping that Ford would eventually make the point that what is lacking most is the emphasis upon the gospel for all of life.  Unfortunately, that message never came.  And while that lack of the gospel is reason enough to not recommend a book that seeks to reform the church, I would nevertheless recommend it as a book that gives a pretty good diagnoses of the ailments.  You will need, however, to go somewhere else for the cure – namely the gospel itself.

+ Christ comes into the world to make possible the impossible.

+ God’s grace is God doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

+ Faith should be our response to God’s power, not doubt.

+ Singing and seeing the gospel are most beautiful in community and communion.

+ Christ had the birthday.  We got the gift (can’t get over that .

Every year at this time I am delighted to be reminded that one of my favorite childhood memories is still as good as it gets.  As far back as I can remember, every Christmas I looked forward to watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Not only is it filled with a wonderful soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi, but the best minute and a half of television ever recorded is Linus as he recites Luke 2:8-14.

There have been countless Christmas specials since A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired over 40 years ago.  Yet, I am again reminded that this is still as good as television gets. Have a blessed Merry Christmas all!

Every year at the this time the conversations often turn to the pros and cons of getting and giving gifts. Some Christians look at the Magi in Matt 2 and suggests that gift giving was an integral part of the first Christmas and thus we continue the tradition of the Magi when we give and get gifts.  Others, however, suggest that the pre-occupation with gifts plays into our already overly massaged materialistic hearts.

Well, I am not going to debate whether or not gift giving should be a part of your Christmas celebration.  Such things must be left to the conscience of discerning Christians.  However, I for one would not trade gift giving at Christmas for anything.  Even with all the trappings and potential for abuse, there still is no joy like the joy of a child who with much anticipation rips open a present and finds that it was just what he wanted.

This is too real. I have seen it too many times in our home, and look forward to it every year.  The excitement and wonder of children at the gifts they receive, not only brings me delight but it challenges me in my expressions of joy as well.

As I watch my children in their excitement every year as they receive their gifts (they are still at the age where excitement is spontaneous and wonder is still possible), I am challenged to be equally excited about the gift I have received. The Bible says that in love and sacrifice God gave Christ to us (John 3:16).   Whether we knew it or not, it was the gift we wanted and needed more than anything.

Every year at Christmas, I am reminded that though Jesus had the birthday, I got the gift. It is worth unwrapping again and again. I just hope my excitement for Jesus can match my little daughter’s celebration of a new doll or my son’s enthusiasm for his new computer game.  Something tells me once again that they will put me to shame.  However, this will bring me joy, and cause me once again to give thanks to God for the most blessed gift of all.

When the angel came to Mary what was Mary doing?  This is the question asked by Martin Luther as he contemplated Luke 1:26-33.  Here is his answer for our contemplation this advent season:

Quite possibly Mary was doing the housework when the angel Gabriel came to her.  Angels prefer to come to people as they are fulfilling their calling and discharging their office.  The angel appeared to the shepherds as they were watching their flocks, to Gideon as he was threshing the grain, to Samson’s mother as she sat in the field.  Possibly, however, the Virgin Mary, who was very religious, was in a corner praying for the redemption of Israel.  During prayer, also, the angels are wont to appear. (from Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, ed., Nancy Guthrie)

What are you doing this year?  Should our Messiah delight to return and the angels announce his coming, will He find you at the task He has given you?  Will you be found faithful and usable by God at His glorious appearing?  Beloved, your calling need not be the grand pulpit of some great city cathedral, or even the head of some moral campaign.  Maybe it is the noble calling of a mother educating her children in the fear of God.  Perhaps it is the indispensable support of the saints through intercessory prayer.  Maybe it’s the mailman, police officer, nursing home attendant, drug store clerk, baggage handler, or any number of vocations the Lord is pleased to give our hands to do.  Whatever it is, might our Lord return today and find you and me faithful, doing whatever we do in the excellence of His name, giving thanks to God through Christ, our Savior (Col. 3:17).

It is easy to believe Mary was faithfully discharging her duties as a young, Jewish girl, and from there God chose to use her.  It is more difficult to believer that God would choose to use us in the seemingly mundane existence of our lives.  Yet, Mary’s testimony is in the power of God through Jesus Christ to give the seemingly mundane the most glorious meaning and purpose through the incarnation of Christ.

May Christ be incarnate in your labors this day.  Might this advent season be a glorious reminder that our Lord came to save your life and give it the purpose of glory and good.

When I was playing football (seems like a lifetime ago), we would often say, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”  Since I have been a Christian, especially since receiving the call to ministry, I have been frequently reminded that “Sin makes fools of us all.”

Much has been made of Tiger Woods and his admission of sins and our collective gasp at the seemingly frequent and foolish indiscretions.  I admit to not only being saddened but even shocked at these revelations.  Also, I am thoroughly disappointed.  My disappointment, however, is not only at Tiger, but even at myself.  The self-disappointment is the lack of time I really give to consider the nature of my own sin, and if given Tiger’s situation and opportunity, how might I fair.

The Bible reminds us, “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil (Psalm 36:1-4).

One popular comedian has said, “A man is only as faithful as his options.”  While I would take serious issue with this statement, I am nevertheless left to ponder what might my heart be without the grace of God, the restraining power of Holy Spirit, a praying wife, and an accountable Christian community of brothers and sisters.  Though I like to think otherwise, because of the nature of indwelling sin I am often more like Tiger than I care to admit.  To look at Tiger’s life and then to think of him risking all of it for a few (or however many) fleeting moments of pleasure is to think of only one word – foolish.  Yet, sin makes fools of us all.  And whether it is David, Nebuchadnezzar, Tiger, or me, folly is only a sinful thought or deed away.

The good news is that because we are fools, we are prime candidates for the redeeming grace of God.  The Bible reminds us that God redeems the foolish (1Cor. 1:26ff – at least those who are willing to admit to the folly of their sin).  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the everyday reminder that I have been graciously received into God’s Recovery Program for Fools.

And Tiger, while there are millions already enrolled, there is always room for one more.  However, you must be willing to say, “Hi.  My name is Tony.  I am a fool saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, my Lord.”

Baptism speaks a thousand words.  Words of grace and words of beauty.  The gospel seen just as it’s heard.  The Redeemed with Christ in glorious Unity.

What a joy and a privilege!

The Loving (and grateful) Mothers!

In the play A Raisin in the Sun, the character Joseph Asagai is a PhD student from Nigeria.  Ever the optimist, he goes over the Younger’s home and finds them in the midst of moving and states, “I love the look of packing crates.  The sight of a household in preparation.  Movement.  Progress.  That makes me think of Africa.”

A Raisin in the Sun being my favorite play, there are not too many days in which I don’t think of some quote or scene from it.  Today I am trying to remind myself that moving is good.  In the midst of boxes full of books and empty bookshelves that need filling, I am trying to be the optimist like Asagai and remember that moving to East Point is progress in the vision that is East Point Church.  It just seems that today, I am not making much progress.  Where is Mr. Asagai when you need him?