Don’t Be Evil

Jesus said, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:35, Msg)

Why then, are Christians often known for the exact opposite? It seems that everyone and his dog are telling the world that we need more love (especially in the 70’s, but still today—just look at the movement for debt relief to Africa, for instance). Everyone, that is, but the Christians, who are often seen as being contrary to conventional wisdom and preoccupied with pointing fingers at each other and the sins of the world. In that order.

Take a look at Google. They’re a for-profit corporation, registered on Wall Street, which means that by law, they’re in it for the money. Even so, their now famous informal motto is “Don’t Be Evil”. This is the cornerstone of Google’s Code of Conduct, which highlights the value of treating colleagues, customers, and even competitors with respect.

But hey, you may argue, we shouldn’t be taking cues from the corporate world; we serve a greater master and cherish two thousand year old truths. Well, if Google is what it takes for us to realize those same truths, that says more about us than about Google. Suck it up and move on.

Brian McLaren touches on this in his brilliant book, The Church on the Other Side. One of his advices for engaging the postmodern world is: “We ought to be more fair.”

“We need to be more careful about applying a degree of scrutiny to others (other Christians, non-Christians, postmoderns, ‘the world,’ megachurches, or whomever) that we can not ourselves withstand. This is, of course, nothing more than Jesus’ splinter-and-beam principle coming up once again (Matthew 7:3-5).” (p. 176)

In other words, Don’t Be Evil.

Mountain Dew

I have waited for this for many years. Had almost given up hope, thinking it was never going to happen. And now, all of a sudden, it’s here. Coming all the way from the mountains of America to the flat plains of Denmark. Crystal clear, reminiscent of home, of happiness from an earlier life, lighting up my life in new ways.

The news is that finally, the soft drink Mountain Dew is available for purchase in Denmark, until now at every 7-Eleven. I got one today to go with my Whopper, and enjoyed both on the train to Hedensted (of all places), while listening to The Star-Spangled Banner on my iPod. Tacky, I know, but hey, you have to cherish the moment.

This is in every way a good development.

Good Riddance

I moved recently, and although my new flat is a little bit smaller than my old, I have been very happy with my decision. For several reasons: It’s cheaper. It’s a nicer neighbourhood (previously I lived next to Gellerup one of the few real ghettos in Denmark). It’s walking distance to several friends, to church, to the uni.

Add to that another reason: Apparently my old building is now in such a bad shape that they’re considering tearing it down. When it was built in the 60’s they used salt in the concrete, which is now tarred with rust. Experts assure us there’s no danger it will fall by itself, but fixing it would cost almost as much as razing it and building a new one.

I have many good memories from that place, but all things must come to an end. Time to look forward, not back.

All You Need Is Love?

The big talk of the day in Denmark is the news of Princess Alexandra’s upcoming marriage. She divorced Prince Joakim (brother of Crown Prince Frederik) two years ago, and will lose her title upon re-marriage, thus becoming Countess Alexandra.

The public reaction to the divorce was nothing like that of Britain’s when Charles and Diana broke up. Muted sympathy and understanding is the common feeling towards Danish royalty – even to-be ex-royalty. Such is the case today, as well.

Which is all fair and good, or what? In this case, it’s probably for the best. But I was struck by some of the quotes from random people in a newspaper vox-pop (my translations):

“Of course she gets a good apanage, but if he is the man she likes, she cannot act against that. Then you have to do what you have to do.”

“Yes, I understand her. If she loves him then of course they should have each other. … Love has to be the decisive factor in such situations.”

If this is the common perception of love, I’m not sure I agree. Even though I am very much influenced by my culture (i.e., Hollywood), a melancholic, and a true romantic at heart. But should “love” come before everything else? And, more specifically, should romantic love, eros, come at the expense of everything else?

Is finding the perfect partner the sole reason for living, the only goal in life? Should everything else be cast aside in the quest for that one special person (or that one special person for each decade, year, or month)? I used to think that was my goal, too. Perhaps I still do. But I do hope there’s something more to life – greater values, a greater calling.

Benefit of the Doubt

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark may be falling apart. Hopefully, this is an exaggeration, but these days the church is simmering with talk about a recent decision by the Union Board.

What is publicly known is this: Due to economic challenges, the church has been forced to lay off several of its employees. This is always a sad situation. What strikes many people is especially the decision to fire one particular pastor. He has been involved with two church plants in eastern Denmark, and is seen by some as one of the most visionary employees the church has.

On the other hand, church planting, and especially the Copenhagen Café Church, has become somewhat of a hot potato for our small, national church. There have been several controversies over the Café Church, of which some may have been justified, but nothing justifies the sometimes vehement opposition that this project has drawn amongst certain groups of church members. This sense of hate was obvious at the last church session, almost three years ago. Meanwhile, the Café Church is the one church that has – as no other in Denmark – produced remarkable growth, numerically and spiritually. Not a small feat in a Western European capital city.

The Union gives us no reasons for their priorities in choosing whom to lay off. And here lies the crux of the matter – as so many times before, communication from the church leadership is in no way sufficient. The current board, inefficient as they may have been at times, has on previous occasions supported church planting – in words, if not in finances. Is this a turnaround?

Is this decision a crusade against church planting? Or a blunder? A theological issue? A voluntary retirement? Or something else? I would like to give the church the benefit of the doubt. But we need answers. We need an explanation. We need facts on the table in order to make up our minds.

The church will meet for session again in about three months. It is obvious that the current leadership will not survive this election. But more is at stake here. If this decision turns out to be un-justified, it might well be the rock that sets the avalanche going, which may in the end break this church in half. That can’t be good.

Crisis management, please.

Links in Danish:
The Presidents’ message
Discussion on Young Adventist’s Forum
Dorland’s blog
Riedmann’s blog