a new doxology

A co-worker sent me the link to an article today from the NY Times. It was an op-ed written by guest columnist Bono titled “It’s 2009. Do You Know Where Your Soul Is?” The title asks an interesting question; one that could take a conversation (or article in this case) in several different directions, depending on who was doing the talking or writing. (Note: Bono is a Christian–of the Catholic variety, I believe.) The column was published a few weeks ago, which doesn’t make it any less relevant today (or whenever you’re reading this…which I suppose will always be a “today”), but it’s worth noting when it was written because the article was written from the perspective of someone who just recently journeyed through Lent and celebrated Easter.

Here’s an excerpt from the column, but to read the entire thing you’ll have to jump over to the NY Times website.

Christianity, it turns out, has a rhythm — and it crescendos this time of year. The rumba of Carnival gives way to the slow march of Lent, then to the staccato hymnals of the Easter parade. From revelry to reverie. After 40 days in the desert, sort of …

Carnival — rock stars are good at that.

“Carne” is flesh; “Carne-val,” its goodbye party. I’ve been to many. Brazilians say they’ve done it longest; they certainly do it best. You can’t help but contract the fever. You’ve got no choice but to join the ravers as they swell up the streets bursting like the banks of a river in a flood of fun set to rhythm. This is a Joy that cannot be conjured. This is life force. This is the heart full and spilling over with gratitude. The choice is yours …

It’s Lent I’ve always had issues with. I gave it up … self-denial is where I come a cropper. My idea of discipline is simple — hard work — but of course that’s another indulgence.

Then comes the dying and the living that is Easter.

It’s a transcendent moment for me — a rebirth I always seem to need. Never more so than a few years ago, when my father died. I recall the embarrassment and relief of hot tears as I knelt in a chapel in a village in France and repented my prodigal nature — repented for fighting my father for so many years and wasting so many opportunities to know him better. I remember the feeling of “a peace that passes understanding” as a load lifted. Of all the Christian festivals, it is the Easter parade that demands the most faith — pushing you past reverence for creation, through bewilderment at the idea of a virgin birth, and into the far-fetched and far-reaching idea that death is not the end. The cross as crossroads. Whatever your religious or nonreligious views, the chance to begin again is a compelling idea.

Interestingly enough, I will be attending a forum at Luther Seminary this Thursday, May 7 titled “Pop Culture, Worship and the Work of Justice: why Bono keeps trying to save the world.” It’s part of a year-long series of forums on “Mission and Ministry” and the presenter this week will be Dr. Chris Scharen, assistant professor of worship at Luther Seminary. I believe the forums are open to the public, so if you don’t have lunch plans feel free to stop over to the Olson Campus Center, Thursday at noon.

About a year ago, Luther Seminary launched a new website called workingpreacher.org. Dubbed as a place “where interpretation meets imagination,” it’s been incredibly successful so far — as determined by things like web traffic, forwarded links and podcast subscriptions — but regardless of how much attention the site has received, it’s primarily been praised as a great resource for pastors and church leaders who are striving to faithfully engage Scripture in the life of their ministry; in particular, by helping them preach sermons that speak into the real lives of real people.

Although it was created by a Lutheran seminary, the site’s content comes from contributors representing several varieties of Christian faith…and they write, speak and offer commentary on things far beyond just the Bible. For instance, my advisor from when I was a seminary student (Andrew Root, who is Presbyterian) recently wrote an article titled “Gran Torino, Christology, and the American Sensibility for Sacrifice” in response to Clint Eastwood’s last movie. And from the video-interview section of workingpreacher (called “Preaching Moments”), here’s Dr. Root talking about how he views religion as an unconventional category.

Pay close attention to what he says starting around the 4:10 mark (follow along with my quote-notes below).

“I wonder if our preaching wouldn’t be more inclusive…if it had something at stake and asked existential questions like “What is a lifetime and why do we live it?” and “Where does God encounter us in the midst of these big questions?” I think part of it is making the pulpit a place where perplexity – where doubt – is spoken and shared in the community. Where we really face darkness together. Where we really stare down darkness, in the the thickness of life….and I think part of the reason younger populations of people don’t hear much in preaching is because they don’t hear anything that’s at stake, and there’s no one who seems to want to, in this moment, bear reality.”

I know many of you aren’t preachers and even fewer use terms like “existential questions” in your everyday life, but I’m confident that visiting a site like workingpreacher.org might be an interesting stop to occasionally throw in between your email, facebook and espn.com. Give it a try…it comes with a money back guarantee!