When I was in high school and college, I was a big “censorship is un-American” kind of guy. And, to be honest, I’m still that kind of guy. I believe authors, artists, musicians, and the like should be able to express themselves as they see fit.

And, yet, I find my limits being pushed. “Freedom of speech” is generally a good thing…until we come across a message that we do not agree with. Then, we find ourselves up against a brick wall. Is it freedom for all or freedom only for those we like?

No, I’m not talking about the new Cee Lo tune…that thing is funky! Yes, I know it’s wrong for me to like it…but I just can’t help it!

I’m talking about the “Christian group” known as Westboro Baptist Church. They are in the news again. And, every time they receive press, I get angry. Every time I see one of their signs, I find myself becoming furious. I get so irritated because they do so much damage in the name of the Lord.

While many Christian groups are out their trying to love one another and bring about peace and unity, Phelps is creating a great divide between his church and those outside its walls. His message of hatred does damage to Christianity as a whole. It’s not often that one can “hate” someone into the Kingdom of Love.

Most sane people, inside and outside the Church, can see Westboro Baptist Church for what it is…a beyond fundamental institution that does not represent the whole. However, some may see the folks of Westboro and think that they represent the thoughts and beliefs of all who follow Christ. Obviously, this frustrates me.

And, yet, the same freedoms I would proclaim to protect art, literature, film, and music are the same freedoms that grant Fred Phelps and his insane clown posse the right to stand on street corners and preach their hatred. So, if Phelps doesn’t have the freedom to say the crazy things he says, that means you and I don’t have the freedom to say the crazy things we say!

The thing that really seems to be lacking in these United States of America is common sense. Yes, Phelps and his crew are entitled to their own opinions. But, common sense would indicate there is a proper time and place to promote their agenda. And, a soldiers funeral would not be the time and place.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if the Church received media attention because of the extravagant love it portrays in our world? Wouldn’t it be awesome if, instead of being known for its protests and scandals, the Church was known for being a place of grace, mercy, compassion, acceptance, tolerance, and peace?

So, today, I came across some images that demonstrate some creative protests of Phelps’ sign carriers. I think it’s great!

So, shortly after posting my blog “Burning the Quran while Protesting a Mosque and Loving My Neighbors”, I received an e-mail with a statement from Bishop Coyner. Here it is:

Religious freedom is our heritage
Both our United Methodist Church and our United States constitution guarantee and advocate for religious freedom. In recent weeks the news of growing religious intolerance in our country has been disheartening. We United Methodists, especially here in the United States, have always strongly affirmed religious freedom for all people – even for people who hold different religious beliefs than our own. In that spirit, I call upon United Methodists here in Indiana to be advocates for religious freedom for all persons, whether they are Muslims, Jews, Christians or persons of other faiths. We who follow Jesus the Christ must also follow his own example of tolerance, peace, and compassion. – Bishop Michael Coyner,
Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church

Lately, I’ve been wondering where the Christian message of “love” has been in our world…especially in the good old U.S.A.

When I turn on the news and hear reporters talking about groups gathering together to protest the building of a mosque due to its proximity to “Ground Zero”, my stomach turns. I’m pretty sure I learned something about “religious freedom” being some kind of “first liberty” in these United States? But, I suppose that’s only a liberty for Christians.

When I turn on the news and hear reporters talking about a pastor leading a Quran burning, my stomach turns even more. In fact, I even feel anger welling up so deep that I find myself on the verge of cursing (of course, no foul language would ever come from my mouth…right?) Yes, the pastor has now called off the burning, but the damage has already been done.

You see, I wonder what folks are trying to accomplish through these protests and book burnings. I know there are all kinds of reasons behind it all. I know that September 11th was a horrible tragedy in our nation. But, are protests and burn parties the appropriate response? What are these groups trying to communicate?

Are they trying to communicate God’s overwhelming love? Are they trying to show God’s grace, mercy, compassion, patience, and kindness?

What all of this communicates to me is a lack of love for one’s neighbor.

And, to those outside of the Christian faith, it most likely communicates that all Christians want to burn the Quran and keep people of other faiths from building places of worship.

In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Generally, we like to think of our neighbors as those who are most like us. We reduce the idea of our neighbors to the people who talk like us, look like us, dress like us, worship like us, and live like we do.

However, Jesus challenges these ideas early on in the book of Matthew. In chapter 5:43-48 he says, “You have heard that it was said love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Instead of protesting and burning stuff that we don’t necessarily agree with, how can we demonstrate our love for our neighbors…and our enemies?

As if the title of this entry isn’t obvious, I’m not much of a fan of trendy church slogans. Warning…this will be a long-winded rant. Disclaimer: I’m not attempting to slam any particular church. I’m just trying to point out how we need to focus more on Jesus and less on pointing out how much cooler one church is than another. Now, back to puking!

By that, I mean I grow weary every time I hear some lame attempt built into a church slogan trying to convince me that somehow your church is amazingly different from every other church I’ve set foot in.

“We’re not your grandma’s church!”

“We’re a church that breaks the mold!”

“Prepare to be surprised!”

“A different way to do church!”

The people who put these statements together have great intentions. They desperately desire that you and I will come to their church. They are truly excited about their church. And, usually, they are fully convinced that they have figured out “the perfect way” to “do church.”

You’ll hear a lot of buzz words like, “authentic”, “relevant”, and “organic” used to describe the nature of these churches. And, I’m all for these things…I believe they should be apparent in all churches (authenticity, relevance, and so on).

With a little investigation, one generally finds that there isn’t really much difference between churches with trendy, catchy slogans and churches without these slogans.

You see, slogans are generally used to communicate some kind of difference in worship style…rather than some kind of new mission for the church.

Sometimes, these slogans create an “us versus them” mentality. Our church is better than your church! Our church is awesome…and your church is old and crusty.

So, let’s break it down a bit…

These comments are based on actual conversations I’ve had with people in leadership at churches with these trendy slogans.

Question: So, what do you mean that you’re not my grandmother’s church? Of course you’re not my grandmother’s church…she lives in a different state than where you are located.

Answer: Well, it means that we just do things differently than what most people expect.

Response: Oh, that’s interesting. So, do you pray, and sing, and read Scriptures, and have a sermon?

Answer: Well, yeah, basically. But, we do it differently.

Response: Really? Can you explain that to me?

Answer: Well, the music is really loud. We read our Scripture from “The Message”. And the sermon is more like a talk. And we’re really passionate when we pray. And we wear blue jeans.

Response: Wow, that doesn’t sound like my grandma’s church at all. I mean, the pipe organ can get pretty loud when Bessie, the 89-year-old organist, forgets her hearing aid. (All said with a strong dose of sarcasm)

Onto the next:

Question: So, you’re a church that “breaks the mold”. What does that mean?

Answer: Well, it means that we do things differently than most people would expect.

Response: Hmm, did you learn that answer at your church planters training?

Answer: What?

Response: Nevermind. So, you do things differently. Can you give me some examples?

Answer: Well, our messages really apply to a person’s life. We give helpful hints on how to live well.

Response: Oh, so it’s like a Tony Robbins motivational seminar?

Answer: No.

Response: I see. Well, do you guys pray, read Scripture, sing, and have a sermon?

Answer: Yeah. But, we look at our sermons as being more of a conversation.

Response: So, you let people ask questions and add in their own two cents?

Answer: Well, not really.

Response: So, you pray, you read Scripture, you sing, and you have a sermon. Kind of sounds like every church I’ve ever been to. What really separates you?

Answer: Well, we’re really an authentic community. We’re relevant to people’s needs today. We sometimes sing secular songs, without changing the words! And, we usually wear blue jeans.

Response: Wow. That’s crazy. I don’t think that anyone has ever thought of church that way. (heavy dose of sarcasm).

And onto the next…

Question: So, I see that if I were to come to your church I would be surprised. Why is that?

Answer: Well, we just have a different approach to how to “do” church.

Response: “Do church’? I didn’t realize church was something you did. Anyway, a different approach…what’s that look like?

Answer: We just approach things in a more relevant manner than most churches. We use modern culture to help us communicate the message.

Response: Oh, so sort of like Jesus with the flowers and the birds?

Answer: Huh?

Response: Nevermind. So, for me to be surprised at a church it’d have to be really different. Do you sing, pray, read Scripture, and have a message?

Answer: Yes.

Response: So, then, I guess I wouldn’t be surprised?

Answer: I guess not. But, we do wear blue jeans.

Resposne: I almost could have guessed you would say that.

And the final one…

Question: So, what’s this different way to “do” church?

Answer: Well, we just have a really authentic gathering. We’re really passionate and relevant and emerging.

Question: Wow! What does that even mean?

Answer: Well, we just really mean what we’re doing…what we’re saying. We’re not going through any motions. We keep it real (seriously, that’s what the dude said).

Question: Interesting. Has keeping it real ever gone wrong?

Answer: What? (obviously, he wasn’t a fan of the Chappelle show)

Response: Nevermind. So, tell me more about being different. Like do you pray, and sing, and read Scripture, and have a sermon?

Answer: Well, sure. But we don’t sing those old songs. We sing new ones (then he named about 4 songs that were at least 15 years old). We use the TNIV translation. And, we don’t call it a sermon. We call it a teaching. And, we wear blue jeans. “No Dockers” allowed is our motto.

Response: Wow. That really is different. I’m not sure I’d really know what to do (heavy dose of sarcasm).

You see, the slogans promise these things that the church doesn’t actually deliver on. A difference of worship style doesn’t really make your church more relevant or ground-breaking or different. Let’s be honest…blue jeans won’t make me think you’re different from my grandma’s church, that you’ve broken any molds, that you’ve surprised me, or any of that stuff.

At the end of the day, the church with the trendy slogan worships in much the same manner as the church without the trendy slogan.

At the end of the day, the church with the trendy slogan has the same goal as the church without the trendy slogan…to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

I believe Jesus uses old and crusty churches to make disciples. I believe Jesus uses mold-breaking churches to make disciples.

I also believe that Jesus probably tires of our competition. We should focus less on pointing out our differences. We shouldn’t be coming up with slogans in an attempt to compete with my grandmother’s church (what did they ever do to you?).

Instead, churches should focus more on making disciples of Jesus Christ…and less on trendy slogans. Maybe our churches wouldn’t need trendy slogans if we were actually loving Jesus and loving others.