The Kingdom of God is Like a Jazz Band

Last night, I went to hear Klüver’s Big Band and Cecilie Norby, performing as part of Aarhus International Jazz Festival. The concert was awesome, as I’m sure the live recording will be.

On my way back, I came to wonder if the image of jazz music could be applied to how church should be.

A feature that is more prominent in jazz than in most other genres is the celebration of the improvised solo. Isn’t this selfish, some might rightfully ask? No, I don’t believe it is. No jazz musician can do without a band, and however great the solo or the soloist, it is always best if backed by a strong band. Also, every soloist knows his place; in a jam-session it is perceived as rude if anybody abuses his position or not stands down in due time. When he does finish his solo, applause follows, and it’s time for the next solo, or back to full band.

With talented musicians, this amounts to great jazz in the art of improvisation. Knowing your place in the band, playing your solos, playing up to the other’s solos, and all the time being more interested in the end result than your own position. It’s all about making music and having a good time.

I love classical music, too, but I think I envision a church that is more like a jazz band than a choir. A church that allows for improvisation, for many different soloists, and for being happy about each others’ achievements. A church that comes together for jam session because they are passionate about the end result—living for God. And last, but not least, a church that has a good time doing it.

Talking about Emerging Church

Yesterday, I went with Niels to Odder to hear Scott McKnight talk about “Emerging Church”. A much hyped, criticised and controversial movement, or discussion, going on in Christianity. McKnight has written a good primer on the subject, but if you have read anything by people like Brian McLaren or Doug Pagitt, chances are you’ll find some of it familiar.

This is not a new truth, a new creed, or a new denomination. It may not even be one thing. But the talk covers many of the things going on in Christianity these years with people struggling to grasp what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a changing, post-modern world. There’s no simple answer. And the point is that discussion is a key element in forging the church of the future.

And as such, it was a good experience, talking to people I didn’t know but had a lot of things in common with. And meeting–for the first time in real life–Thomas Willer and Henrik Holmgaard was fun. Nice talking to you guys

Let the talk continue.

Fundamentalist Adventists Create Social Networking Website

I recently received an unsolicited email from somebody touting a new website, adventplanet.com. This is supposed to be a social networking site in the like of Facebook and MySpace, aimed at only Seventh-day Adventists. On the face of it a good idea, but the more I read about it, the worse the taste in my mouth got.

The footer of the website states: “Adventplanet.com is the only website exclusively for Seventh-day Adventists.” Ok—another attempt at isolating ourselves from the world. When is that strategy ever going to win people for Christ? Haven’t we learned anything yet?

The website goes on to shout (using CAPITALS) a midnight cry against other websites, promoting itself as the only safe and reliable site for Adventists. Playing on fear always works.

“THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD CHECK BEFORE JOINING A WEBSITE THAT SAYS ITS FOR ADVENTISTS!” Which roughly translates to: “These are our hobby-horses.” There are five points—I will comment on them individually.

1. Is The Website I Am Applying For Run Or Owned By Adventists?

Fair enough. A clear statement of ownership is good on any website.

2. Does The Site List The Site List The 28 Fundamentals Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Why on earth should it? They are listed on www.adventist.org, if anyone is interested, and already receive way more attention than what is healthy, and (I believe) was intended when they were introduced in 1980.

3. Does The Website Mention The Lords Tithe

Again: why exactly should one minor belief be singled out as important in this regard? Makes no sense.

4. Does The Website Check That It’s Members Are Really Adventist?
“Adventplanet.com asks you for a one off $50 US Dollar membership sign up fee. Part of the fee is used to contact your Adventist church to confirm not just your membership but that you are in good and regular standing.”

This is outrageous. The whole concept ‘good and regular standing’ is a thing that should be kept in the past. The church is a place for sinners, not perfect people. Oh, you disagree? I take it, then, that you’re perfect? Try reading John 8.

5. Does The Website Include Smoking And Drinking In Its Search?

Again a disproportionate focus on a single issue. It is well-established that a large proportion of Seventh-day Adventists have a more accepting view of alcohol than the official party line. But it is still, sadly, a taboo in most circles (read my earlier post on this).

As long as I can remember people I know have been fighting (successfully) to change the conception that the Seventh-day Adventist is exclusive and secterian. Which I still hope and believe it is not. But some of its members sadly often do demonstrate such traits. I believe that Christians are called to be a force of good in this world, building bridges, not walls.

Of course, people may build whatever websites they want, as long as it’s legal. But adventplanet.com also states that it is their aim to “be the first Seventh-Day Adventist community website to be endorsed by the General Conference.” I certainly hope it will not come to this.

I will stick with Facebook and MySpace, and urge you to do the same.

From Sea to Shining Sea

Happy 4^th of July to everyone!

A few years ago, Europe was saturated in anti-Americanism, due in large part to the War on Terror and liberation of Iraq. Perhaps many people in ‘old Europe’ still have mixed emotions about the U.S.

But it seems, fortunately, that since then sanity has gained momentum on both sides of the Atlantic. Gone are the days of Freedom Fries and large-scale demonstrations. Instead we have a Democratic-led Congress, a new Secretary of Defense; we have Merkel and Sarkozy working for no-nonsense trade agreements; we have a EU-US open-skies agreement, and we have greater faith in NATO.

The fact is, Europe and North America are tied together, for better and worse; politically, culturally, economically, and historically. The rise of China, India, Latin America, or the Middle East will not change that. Neither will Islamic terrorists or McCarthy-ish islamophobes.

The bond between our two continents is strong, and should stay that way. Having grown up in the U.S., it is a part of me personally, and my mind always wanders West on this day. But even without that connection, I believe we should be grateful together for the good that has come to both Europe and America from a long-standing friendship.