Creating Culture...
[posted August 24, 2007 • 11:53PM • Bill Gibson]

I've been in the midst of a lot of change and evaluation lately. All to come to the realization that as much as we talk about culture, we also have to fully realize that we create culture. Webster says that "culture" is "the act of developing by education and training; refinement of intellectual and artistic taste; the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group." So as much as we are a part of culture, we are directly a part of creating it — "It" being the environment we find ourselves living, interacting, and learning.

Have you ever found yourself in a strange place? Or a place that you are not sure you fit? Or even with people you are not sure about? We all have. What did you do in this situation? Most of the time, we simply remove ourselves from the environment.

I got to thinking about this. So many times we complain about our situation and our environment and circumstances. We point to all the things that are wrong with it and all the people we are unsure about. We do this and then we walk away.

Anyone can do that. That's pretty simple. And it's even enjoyable at times...

But what if we did something very radical? What if, that in your workplace, social group, learning environment, or home, instead of complaining you actually contributed to changing that environment? I know, I know... That's a radical concept, especially for us humans (remember we are creatures of habit). And I further realize that this strategy does not and can not apply to every situation!!!

I personally want to be more about "doing" than "talking about doing." Yet I find myself falling back into my humanness and sometimes complaining about the environment, people, circumstances, and events... Whether I realize it or not, this kind of behavior is actually contributing to the problem. It is contributing to the "culture" in which I find myself.

Can you relate?

Funny thing about God's grace. Just when I know I need it, I also realize I don't deserve it...

One of the coolest stories I love from the New Testament, where "taking action" (as opposed to complaining about it and being a part of the problem) reveals itself in graphic and passionate detail, is when Jesus clears the Temple. Jesus comes in yelling and screaming and chasing people out with a whip, saying, "My Temple will be a place of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" (Luke 19:46). In this event, Jesus did something radical to change the culture — the environment in which people found themselves learning, interacting, and socializing.

Now... just for clarification sake, if you go into your workplace tomorrow and start turning over desks, chasing people out with a stick, and say "this place shall be a place of good work, not of gossip, back-stabbing, and ill-behavior!" and you are fired, don't come crying to me. That is NOT what I am saying.

However, you can make a radical choice. You can choose to be an instrument of change in the environment in which you find yourself. You do this this by deciding how you are going to interact, what you will say, what you will do, and how you will encourage others to do the same. This is also applicable in your social circles, your learning environment, your home, and even in your community of faith.

It is a simple but radical choice... Contribute to changing the environment — create culture.

In the famous words of Yoda... "Try not. Do!"

In other words, stop "talking" and start "doing." Stop making excuses and take action. Be a part of the solution; not the problem.

I am personally trying to work toward this everyday, and I thank God for the grace given me, which I certainly do not deserve. But there in lies the essence of grace, right?

Post-Contemporary
[posted August 16, 2007 • 10:13AM • Bill Gibson]

Last week at the 2007 Leadership Summit of Willow Creek, I was having a deep discussion with a new friend, John Isley. We were talking about the continuous changing trends in worship and how we are "doing church" in a post-modern world. I jokingly told John that we were doing "post-contemporary" worship at FaithWalk because we have pushed passed the description of "contemporary." I was actually making fun of how those of us who strive to understand emerging culture and the emerging church continuously use the word "post." Then John said, "Man, you need to blog that!"

So here you go!

The truth is, when we talk about "contemporary" worship around the traditional church today, most folks think that you mean singing songs like "Pass It On" and "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "Peaceful, Easy Feeling," or "Shine Jesus Shine." I'm not knocking these songs. Not at all. When we play them they have a way of taking us back to a special time and place on our faith journey. But the description of "contemporary" music under its current use can span more than 30 years, consequently not having any connection or affinity to some people today — especially those who did not grow up in church. This is particularly true for youth and young adults represented in our emerging culture.

So... We find ourselves immersed in a new form of worship for postmodernity that is transforming each week. As for what we are doing at FaithWalk, there are certainly numerous communities of faith that are far more "edgy" than we are musically. But to some in the traditional mainstream church, we may be seen as doing "alternative" worship. I believe we have a good blend of music, and on occasion you will find us doing a traditional hymn in a modern arrangement.

FYI, here is our set list from last Sunday:

• Sweet Home Alabama (gathering music, no vocals)
• Home (Chris Daughtry)
• Every Move I Make (Out of Eden)
• Your Love Oh Lord (Third Day)
• Grace Like Rain (Todd Agnew)
• You Alone (The David Crowder Band)
• Draw Me Close (Kelly Carpenter)

The music we are doing is based on who we are ministering to, where we are ministering at, and an assortment of other indicators. But it is not just music that makes the worship experience. Don't misunderstand me. The music is one of the primary components to the foundation of communicating the Good News of Christ in a post-contemporary worship gathering. But there are other important elements that help prepare us to receive what God has in store.

At FaithWalk we use multimedia for transitions in worship, lighting, candles, video illustrations (movie clips and others), dance, drama, worship signing, words of praise, and other elements to prepare and open our hearts to receive God's word and the message for that Sunday. Everything is constructed prayerfully around the message for that week, and the series for that month. Even the order of the music is intentional.

As a church, I believe that if we are not learning how to engage and communicate with the greater community around us, then we will never be able to build true Christian community. Again, to some what we do in worship may be called "contemporary" and to others it may be "alternative." I'd like to think it is authentic worship, and that may be no different than any other church who is being sensitive to the forming community of faith in their midst.

As we move strong into the 21st century how we describe and communicate about the ongoing transformation of the church "emerging" is important. What means one thing to one group might mean something completely different to another.

So perhaps if we were to hone in on our current place on the scale, FaithWalk would fall into the category of "post-contemporary" with a lean toward alternative worship.

Thanks John!