My bishop sent out this e-mail missive today:
During my renewal leave I was introduced to the computer game called “Angry Birds” – a game in which the player launches various “birds” to attack and destroy the “pigs” who have stolen the eggs of the birds. The purpose of each level is to destroy the buildings and fortresses where the pigs are hiding by using a slingshot to launch birds, bombs, and exploding grenades against the pigs. Each level gets more complex, and many players find the game to be almost addictive. I now have the game loaded on my Droid phone as well as my laptop, and I admit that playing the game does provide a nice, rather mindless, break in which I am challenged to work my way through all of the levels (yes, I have done all of the levels). It is a fun game, but it causes me to reflect upon other “angry birds” that I am encountering.
As we approach General Conference of 2012, it seems that the “angry birds” who are upset about our UMC are flying high and fast. Some want the church to change its stance on homosexuality, others want to make sure that stance is not changed. Some want the general agencies of the denomination to be down-sized, eliminated, or combined; others are quick to defend those agencies. Some want the church to do more social action, others want the church to do more evangelism. Some want the US church to be more like the church overseas in terms of its growth and enthusiasm, others want the keep the resources of the US church home to do good work here. Lots of “angry birds” are flying around in the form of e-mails, letters, chain letters, press releases, and the like. Some of those can get rather nasty and threatening, especially the threat that “if the church does not take the action I propose, then I will leave the church.”
It happens every four years, and in the US it coincides with the Presidential elections when other angry birds are flying around, arguing about the future of the US, and spending millions of dollars on negative ads.
It makes for an interesting time for anyone who wants to be centered and focused upon our mission. That is how I would describe myself, and frankly I get a little irritated with all the angry birds who seem to want to attack, tear down, and demean either our UMC or the US. It is fine to debate our future, to propose changes, and to work for any particular political agenda. However, when those actions and ideas are turned into “angry birds” which fly around seeking to destroy, then it is no longer a game I want to play.
Here is my counter proposal to the “angry birds” game of complaining about the church or our country: Instead of playing, how about praying? How about praying for our leaders? How about praying for God to guide us? How about praying for peaceful solutions? How about praying that each of us might be agents of reconciliation rather being agents of destruction?
I note that one symbol for the Spirit of God is the dove of peace – not the angry bird of a computer game. May we all keep focused upon praying for the heavenly dove, rather than playing the political games of angry birds.
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the never-failing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue and happiness going hand in hand. There is humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering, the whole image of God; and at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Perfectly beautiful. And yet…
Personally, I’d say it’s cheating for someone who’s living off of the people’s tithes and offerings to suggest they should all stop complaining about what he, and others like himself, are choosing to do with those funds. Or, at the very least, convenient. And thus, not quite so beautiful as it sounds.
Right, of course, though he may truly be…
Bill I think there’s a difference between stewardship and brinkmanship (brinkmanship being the strategy of increasingly escalating threats to get one’s way, like a game of chicken). Questions about stewardship should be welcomed and prayerfully considered. But the current climate of brinkmanship in the church helps no one and certainly does not promote the Gospel.
Brinksmanship, as a trend, is probably a natural response to the stewardship culture which has grown up over several centuries. Dial it back a thosuand years, and the peons gave money to church authorities just because they all had to. Bring it up through today, and you’ve got a mixture of vestigal practices which don’t blend well anymore. In america, the mindset is you get what you pay for.
It’s one thing to say “be more christian”. But I’m suggesting that a systemic flaw exists in the whole “stewardship” culture. It’s not strictly biblical, of course. And that’s fine. But what it actually is must be recognized as partly, naturally, to blame. imho.
Bill,
forgive me if I’m reading to much into your response, but it appears to me to assume that:
- the tithe or an offering in general (because the average Christian gives about 2.5% rather than 10%),gives the giver, power to make decisions or influence rather than a calling on our lives from God through a spiritual practice that fosters: stewardship, humility, and gratitude? To recognize all of life as a gift, and God as the gift giver.
-”living off” seems to assert something underhanded, or undeserved (slacker, mooch, lazy, etc.) rather than a biblical instruction/guideline for a way of living from God.
-your response also appears to assume that the Bishops or any other leadership for that matter don’t tithe and give offerings themselves.
-and finally it assumes that the bishops are charged with enforcing the “will of the people” which doesn’t sound like Christianity, but more like American politics, and not at it’s best, when there is a social contract between the governed and those governing… but more like when people are dis-satisfied with the way things are and start saying things like “were taking OUR country back” forgetting all the other groups, families, and constituencies that call the nation home.
I think the Bishop is pretty close to the bulls-eye when it comes to the association of American Presidential election rancor carrying over into the life of the Church.
Not that the conversations/discourse have to be mutually exclusive…but it’s helpful to remember they aren’t the same. The U.S.A. is not the Church, they have different missions and different values.
respectfully,
Josh
Not that complicated, really. Quite a defense you just mounted, though.
I’m guessing the Bishop knows far better than I what those pressures are like. When your salary is supported by their money, it’s difficult to complain about their input.
But you thought I was advocating giving them power? Oh no. Not at all.
I just think the whole system of hierarchical church government has unfortunate side effects. Massively detrimental ones. Just observing…
BIll,
let me repeat the “forgive me” part then. I did not clearly get that from what you posted.
I’d like to hear more about the unfortunate side effects of “hierarchical church governance” AND “stewardship-culture” is not biblical and partially to blame reply that you shared with JB above.
sorry.
Peace,
Josh
Thanks for your graciousness, Josh. All I can say is that the historical roots of the clergy-laity system are worth investigating. God himself did not instigate what we’ve set up, and although I am firmly convinced God does require us to apply some type of organization to our corporate experience, the standard model we’ve inherited is *already* far more like earthly government than (ahem) one simple election cycle can influence.
It’s a tough thing to look into, and they have no easy answers. But, again, I think the problem your dear Bishop is going through has much deeper roots. That’s really all that I’m trying to say at the moment.
I uninstalled Angry Birds after defeating it rather easily. I have since installed “Dragon, Fly”. It is about a baby dragon who is learning to fly. She leaves the nest and collects speed potions and diamonds. She learns to “SkyFly” (jumping into the clouds and soaring for a while) and learns to breath fire. You go as far as you can until Mother Dragon catches up to you. Even then, Mother Dragon looks like she’s proud of you.
It’s a much better game and perhaps a more holy calling for the church.
I can’t help but wonder if the polarizing atmosphere of a presidential election year carries over to General Conference. Perhaps General Conference would be more congenial if it were held one year after the presidential election.
It seems odd that he notices a lot of angry people within his conference but seems not to care why they are angry. When does he take responsibility for his part of the angry bird problem?
I made our youth a real-life game of angry birds and then talked about how when we are hurt we put our hearts in stone houses rather than keep at the issues that bother us.
OK, so I waited all day before replying. I guess I’m sadden that the Bishop fails to mention that there are people who will speak up and are not angry. I know folks on both sides of the most prevalent issue that are not angry, just incredibly sad; sad that the Church doesn’t want to change and sad that there are those who are trying to bring about change. I can not speak for others but I will say this about myself. I am not angry. I will not leave if General Conference decides to ordain Gay folks or marry same gender folks. I will remain as a voice for Orthodoxy. No matter what the Church says I will not be an officiating minister at a same gender wedding. And I will continue to preach that God loves Gay folks but that Scriture identifies the behavior as sin. Here I stand!
Nicely said.
I am more saddened than angered by this. This bugs me because I am somebody who values doing the right thing in life. (I am not always successful, but I always try.) At my local church there are many like-minded folks.
There are several Masons at my church who volunteer their time for causes in the community. One guy married a woman who is confined to a wheelchair. It requires quite a bit of work for him to accommodate her special needs, which he does without ever a trace of complaint.
This is the way I have always thought of my church; as a group of people who love God and earnestly do their best to understand His Word and to do His will.
Scripture identifies homosexual behavior as sin. That much is not up for debate. If you ever need confirmation, go watch a gay pride parade sometime. This is a very different demographic.
I absolutely will leave the UMC if General Conference decides to ordain Gay folks or marry same gender folks. If that makes me an “angry bird” in the Bishop’s eyes, so be it. Any Church that isn’t faithful to God’s Word isn’t worth being a member of. Being faithful to God is the very point of church.
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