Sunday 13 March 2022

Everything that can be shaken, will be shaken



“Everything that can be shaken, will be shaken.” 


I heard those words from the lips of Danielle Strickland back in December after the news broke about Bruxy Cavey being placed on leave following accusations of sexual misconduct. Those words were so appropriate to describe that moment in time for The Meeting House. Those words are still so resonant today as The Meeting House grieves and laments the reality of sexual abuse by a trusted leader. I heard a brokenhearted member of the The Meeting House pastoral team share these words again today.


Everything… yes, everything that can be shaken, is being shaken. 


The reason those words caught my attention was not due to their powerful rhetorical effect. They caught my attention because I had heard these words uttered by another person. 


The person who shared these words with me has a bit of a prophetic gift— though they’d be reluctant to name it. When they uttered these words to me they were lamenting their personal experience as a pastor in the USA. They shared with me their pain at the hyper-polarization, racism, and nationalism they were experiencing in their American context. People were leaving churches on mass because of their political allegiances. Donkeys and elephants held more formational power than the lamb who was slain. If you dared to name racism, nationalism, or any other politically charged topic you could count on folks leaving your church. And if you failed to name it, a whole other group would leave as well. So my friend who was disillusioned with the state of the USA Church named to me the apocalyptic unveiling of times like these. He named the many ugly realities that were rearing their heads after years in the darkness. He named to me that everything that can be shaken, is being shaken. 

 

I offer the next few words to you with a bit of trepidation. 


I don’t claim to speak for the church in Canada. I don’t claim to be someone who has a handle on everything. I just have a hunch. I have a relentless whisper. I have this word from beyond that I want to submit to you. 


The church in Canada is in a critical moment. And how we choose to navigate the next season will shape us for good or for ill. 


We are slowly emerging from the cocoon of lockdown and live streams. It’s been two long and painful years of Covid-19. We’ve been tired, weary, afraid, angry, worried, lonely, frustrated, exhausted, and isolated. If you could name a hard emotion, we have probably felt it. 


Added to this emotional exhaustion is the discovery of our own skeletons in the closet of the church in Canada. Racism, political tensions, clergy sexual scandals, and cultural polarization are not just problems for our neighbours to the south. They are our problems too. The light has shone on some of our darkest areas. With many tears, we find that even here in Canada….Everything that can be shaken, is being shaken. 


Some Canadian church leaders are worried about if we will ever see our pre-covid attendance numbers. Some are concerned with the rising numbers of ex-vangelicals, nones, and done’s. Some are concerned that whole institutions are going to collapse in a post-covid world. Some have left ministry altogether. These are not easy times. 


I find myself more concerned about if we will actually take the hard-learned lessons of these times with us into the post-Covid world? I wonder if we are “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28) or if we are content to retreat to our dilapidated houses that will soon fall with a great crash? 


I don’t know about you, but I am convinced that these last two years are not wasted years. Or at least, they don’t have to be. 


I wonder if you feel the same?


I wonder if the last two years are not wasted time but a time where we need to learn and re-learn how to be the people of God. I wonder if this season of shaking just might be preparing us for something better? What if the trials of these last years are for our good?


Perhaps even in all this pressing and crushing, Jesus is making new wine? 




Monday 9 August 2021

Review: When Narcissism Comes To Church


When vacation comes around, I like to unwind by reading a book or two. This is especially true if I am laying on a beach and relaxing. This strikes some folks as odd, because most of my vocation as a pastor also involves reading. I have no defence. Yes, it is odd... but I've just accepted the oddity that I read for work and rest. ;) 

Anyway... I began my 2021 vacation time reading Chuck DeGroat's latest book When Narcissism Comes To Church. As is my practice, I let folks know what I am reading through the socials. This book was no different. I took a picture and shared it as "Vacation Book #1". 

Normally, I get a few likes and the odd comment when I share my latest book. This book was different. Several people reached out to me with public and private comments like: 

Please let me know what you think of this book. 

I've been hurt by BLANK person whom I suspect has NPD. Would this book be helpful for me? 

I am so glad you're taking time to read this book. I've feel like this topic is something church leaders need to pay attention too.

The reaction to sharing this book was fascinating to me. It made me dig into the material with a sense of purpose and responsibility. I was eager to answer the many private and public questions I had received. More than that, as a young church leader I really wanted to grow in my understanding and awareness of the church cultures that enable narcissistic behaviours. 

So... would I recommend this book? 

YES! 

Wholeheartedly, I believe this is an important read for the church in 2021. It expanded my understanding of what narcissism is and how it looks different across differing personality types. It expanded my understanding of the ways culture's can contribute and allow for the shadow self to grow in the darkness. And mostly importantly... this book challenged me to have empathy towards those who exhibit narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). 

Let me share with you some important insights I gleaned from the book. 


Narcissism is more than an inflated sense of self-importance. 

I had often understood a narcissist as a grandiose character who is obsessed with themselves. They spend their waking days working all things into the orbit of the gravity of their ego. To have a narcissist as a friend is to feel like a accessory to their life. Think of the Disney movie Hercules. The animators chose to represent Narcissus the Greek god as a fashionable man constantly staring into a mirror. 


Narcissus as depicted in Hercules (circa 1997)

The actual diagnosis of Narcissism is far more complex and nuanced. Throughout this book, Chuck DeGroat helps us see the complexity of narcissism as it relates different personality types. NPD is more than just a caricature of an inflated sense of ego. DeGroat quotes Terrance Real to help us understand the true definition of narcissism:

"People often think of Narcissus as the symbol the symbol of excessive self-regard, but in fact, he exemplifies the opposite. As the Renaissance philosopher Marssilio Ficino observed in the 1500, Narcissus did not suffer from an overabundance of self-love, but rather from its deficiency. The myth is a parable about paralysis. The youth, who first appears in restless motion, is suddenly rooted to one spot, unable to leave the elusive spirit. As Ficino remarked, if Narcissus had possessed real self-love, he would have been able to leave his fascination. The curse of Narcissus is immobilization, not of love for himself, but out of dependency on his image." [pg. 28]

"Narcissus" by Amerighi da Caravaggio 

What DeGroat wants us to understand is that the narcissist lacks the ability to receive love. They are numb to the ability to love themselves and thus are often stuck in a shame cycle feedback loop.They are chasing externally that which can only be healed internally. As DeGroat makes clear, "narcissism is born in the soil of shame and self-contempt, not healthy self-love." 

 DeGroat leans on the work of Christopher Lasch for a more holistic undertstanting of narcissism. "Lasch defines narcissism as the 'longing to be freed of longing'. In other words the narcissist cannot tolerate the limitations of his humanity. What Lasch seems to be saying is that narcissism is about control. It is the refusal to live within God-ordained limitations of creaturely existence. Paradoxically, our desire to be superhuman dehumanizes us, wreaking havoc on our relationships." [pg. 4] 


Narcissism is both a personal & cultural problem 

"It's not enough to look at narcissism through the lens of an egotistical political figure or an emotionally abusive spouse, and arrogant CEO, or a powerful religious figure. We swim in the cultural waters of narcissism, and churches are not immune. Western culture is a narcissistic culture, as Christopher Lasch declared decades ago in his famous book The Culture of Narcissism. The same vacuousness we see beneath an individual's narcissistic grandiosity can be found at a collective level in American culture, evidences most recently in the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements. While we tell ourselves stories of American exceptionalism, we hide what's beneath-- fragmentation, systemic racism, ethnocentrism, misogyny, addiction, shame and so much more. We've got a problem–– all of us. It's an us problem, not a them problem. " [pg. 4]


The Narcissistic Pastor Defined 

"A narcissistic pastor cannot step away. In fact, in his (or her) mind he is essential in every decision. While he may speak of a vision that empowers the laity and staff, his actions say otherwise... His hidden insecurity manifest in anxious, hyper vigilant leadership in which significant meetings or decisions cannot happen without his blessing or presence. Often he arranges leadership structures and polity in such a way as to protect his authority at every level of decision making" [pg. 71]

"Narcissistic pastors are often inpatient with process and thus impatient with people. With the sense that it should have happened yesterday, his leadership can be harsh and brutal... If a staff team is not quick to get on board with a new idea, or if a staff member doesn't get back to him right away after a text message is sent, he can be quick to the draw. In the end, his impatience reveals an absence of empathy, In his self-referential reality, others are a mere commodity." [pg. 72] 

"Because he ignores his own limitations, he is impatient with the limitations of others." [pg. 72] 

"The narcissistic pastor sees others as an extension of his own ego and is unable to respond with curiosity, empathy, or compassion, in part because he has none for himself." [pg. 72] 

"Many narcissistic pastors have little ability to empower others in meaningful ways. They keep staff in ambiguous roles, perhaps changing titles often or realigning structures. This is confusing and demoralizing for hardworking staff members... In the end, the narcissistic pastor may see empowerment as a threat to his control and authority." [pg. 74] 

"Narcissistic leaders are notoriously insecure. While they project confidence outwardly, they mask a fear that it could all come crashing down, that they might be exposed as incapable or unsuccessful, that they'd be revealed as deficient." [pg. 76] 

"Unlike other professions where narcissism is prevalent, narcissistic pastors walk the fine line of omnipotence and feigned humility." [pg. 77] 

"While narcissistic pastors love visibly successful projects and programs, they're often better at imagining and starting new projects rather than sustaining them.... One reason for this phenomenon is that the narcissistic pastor must live in a constant state of ego inflation. The long hard work of building one thing comes with many disappointments, and thus is inherently ego delating. Proposing and starting multiple things allows the narcissistic pastor to receive all the grace for the successes and blame 'incompetent staff' for any failures. " [pg. 78] 

"Those within the narcissistic debris field will experience a confusing vacillation between praise and withdrawal. The loyal soldier who hunkers down and does the bidding of the narcissistic pastor is sure to get praise. She is an extension of his ego, so the praise is mostly self-centred." [pg. 79] 

"Some narcissistic pastors are bullying intimidators who use their power to wield control... The narcissistic pastor can intimidate in direct ways with condescension, threats of termination, long stare downs in a staff meeting, cutting comments about someone's work ethic or appearance, or removing someone from a key position or visible leadership role." [pg. 81] 

"In more structured and accountable settings, a more subtle, yet toxic, form of intimidation is required. Indirect intimidation often occurs through isolation. If you cross this of leader, you'll find yourself on the outside, wondering about your future.... Sometimes intimidation happens through triangulation. Ignoring you, the leader will draw in your peers, ingratiating them through approval and attention, all while planting seeds of distrust about you." [pg. 82]


FAUXNERABILITY 

‘Fauxnerability’ – as in, faux (not genuine) vulnerability – is a word Chuck DeGroat coins to describe the sophisticated and socially aware narcissist. It speaks to a growing phenomenon seen among narcissistic pastors and leaders who may know some psychological language or talk about their personality type or even see a therapist – but who manifest a kind of false vulnerability." (Check out this article for an extended discussion on this term) 

The things to be aware of when encountering a fauxnerable person:

  • Contradictions
  • Disclosures that focus on the past
  • Staged fauxerabiltiy 
  • Victim mentality 
  • Lack of curiosity 
  • Oversharing 
  • Self-referencing. 

And So Much More... 

I could share so much more about this book, but probably not without incurring some sort of copy write infringement from IVP. ;) This is all to say, let me suggest that you move this book to the top of your reading list soon. I believe that in 2021, the evangelical church in North America is in a crisis of leadership. The past few years we have heard the reports of scandal after scandal. We have heard the testimonies of #churchtoo. In my mind, the evangelical church of North America needs to rebuild a vision of a more Christlike vision of leadership. This is one book that will help the North American church on its way. 





Saturday 13 July 2019

The Parables of the Bridegroom, Shrunk Cloth, and New Wine Skins



 “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
- Matthew 9:15-17


There was a problem in Jesus' day that everyone acknowledged. Israel was under occupation by Rome. Israel as a people were not yet free of the sort of behaviours that led to captivity to Babylon. Israel was not experiencing the blessing of the promised land. There was the problem of unfaithfulness among a people called to be faithful. 

Here in the context of Matthew 9, we are confronted by three different groups who take issue with Jesus. (Teachers of law -v3, the Pharisees v11, and John’s the baptists disciples v14). Each of these groups had a particular way of living out their righteousness and faithfulness to Torah. The teachers of the law practiced a righteousness that was deeply tied to the Temple’s sacrificial system. The Pharisees practiced a righteousness that excluded sinners. And John’s disciples practiced fasting as evidence that they were the sort of people whom were faithful. 

Jesus does not solve the problem of unfaithfulness with the same old dusty practices. Rather, he tells three parables with the central point: rethink everything. The question for us is this: Do we have the courage to trust that the Jesus way, is truly that way that brings life? Are we prepared to make new wine skins? Or are we—like the Pharisees, teachers of the law, and John’s disciples— content to look from the outside in?  




The Purpose of Parables


An Introduction to the video:

"The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." - Matthew 13:10-17

There is no shortage of information in our age. We are surrounded by hashtags, Wikipedia articles, breaking news, fake news, and trending topics. We do not lack the ability to discover what is going on throughout the world. But, do we always fully understand? Do we truly perceive? 

This is the challenge of understanding Jesus’ good news announcement about the Kingdom here in Matthew 13. It was trending news! Large crowds gathered (13:2) to hear what Jesus taught! Yet, not everyone who heard Jesus fully grasped what he was trying to say. We discover that Jesus purposely chose to not teach plainly, but to speak in parables. When asked why he did this, Jesus spoke of the crowd saying, 

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”-Matthew 13:13

This raises all sorts of questions for us today. Are we hearing at the surface, or do we hunger to understand? Are our hearts calloused or soft? Will we— like the disciples— long for deeper meaning? If we do, the promise is that “we will be given more”(v12), and “be healed” (v15)

For more on the purpose of parables, check out this sermon I preached on June 30, 2019 at The Meeting Place located in downtown Winnipeg. (139 Smith Street) 




Thursday 17 August 2017

Interview: Brian Zahnd, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God (Part 2)


Brian Zahnd joins me on the MennoNerds podcast to discuss his new book, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. This is Part 2 of our ongoing discussion on the book.


Video Breakdown 

The idea tracing back to Anselm that God is satisfying his wrath, punishing Jesus, in order to gain the capital that allows God to forgive. (0:16)
The kind of justice which takes place at the cross. (6:42)
The view of wrath striking Jesus on the cross, and how we should see wrath instead. (14:11)
Hell and its various meanings which are not from Scripture. (23:16)
The parables of the sheep and the goats and of Lazarus and the rich man. (32:52)
How Brian preaches Hell. (36:48)
Interpreting the book of Revelation. (41:04)
The centrality of love. (45:31)
Brian’s hope for the book. (49:46)
Closing prayer. (50:42)

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Interview: Brian Zahnd, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God (Part 1)



Brian Zahnd joins me the podcast to discuss his new book, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. In Part 1, we focus on Brian’s story and the nature of the Bible. 

Video Breakdown
  • Brian’s work with Word of Life Church in St. Joseph’s, Missouri. (1:09)
  • Writing theology at a pastoral level. (4:39)
  • The artwork on the cover of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. (9:21)
  • Brian’s fascination with the infamous sermon of Jonathan Edward, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, including how that sermon is not representative of Edward’s ministry. (12:59)
  • Why we should not see God as angry, spiteful and abhorring of sinners. (22:50)
  • How we got to this place where the Bible is understood the way it is. (29:26)
  • Interpreting the Transfiguration. (37:20)
  • What the Bible is, if it isn’t an end in itself. (44:44)