quintessential
Check out these blokes tellin stories, lovin life.
They were on a bench in the center of the city, but somewhat isolated from the sidewalk by about 20 feet, so they were such a spectical. Even scots would walk by and just die laughing at these old men looking as scottish as one would imagine, surrounded by their drink and telling stories.
I took a few pics of them, and then was approached by the man in the middle. He told me they were old war veterans telling old stories and catching up.
I couldn't help but sit and watch them for a while before kate showed up with a camera. It was a perfect shot of humanity in it's rawness: Just some guys completely oblivious to the spectators, just being themselves. They were just happy.
I interviewed a guy the other day who wore all black and a hot pink mohawk (probably in his 40s). I asked him what he thought about church and I appreciated his response: "Religion has done nothing for me, or to me, I've been happy without it and don't plan on needing it in the future."
I asked Tony the other day, "What do you say to people who are really happy in life without christianity or church, and don't feel empty or lost as we often assume?" Tony experienced similiar reactions during his time in Taiwan. They would often say, "I'm fine without this, so why do I need this?"
Though there is the wide spectrum of issues people face, we face more and more people with this attitude over here. There are many people who have seen it fail so many times either in their lives, or in someone else's over the years, they've just moved on.
I think that part of the paradigm shifting going on in church and evangelism is that way in which people often come to Christ is in reverse. Previously, people would come, here a message or be witnessed to, get saved and then become discipled. This certainly takes place even today, but I see it more often now as people hearing messages and having discussions and through this undefined process becoming discipled, then choosing to commit to Christ. Part of our goal at Eikon is to highly involve non-believers from the start, not limiting them or putting them on a program before they can be active partners.
Part of my passion is to be sensitive to this shift, recognizing the many ways in which people come to know Christ.
Cheers to these old men reflecting on the narratives of their life.
posted by dcschmiddy at 6:35 PM
3 Comments:
dave, that's what it's about - "the narratives" of our lives. couldn't agree more that there's a shifting paradigm, and I actually think it's pretty ancient. you get the sense that jesus was constantly surrounded by people in his ministry who hadn't "signed on" yet. Heck, Nicodemas needs a second experience with Jesus before he has some hint of loyalty. Bro, I think it's part of the economic shift that has swept the church off its feet and left it confused: in a market driven by finished, pre-packaged commoditties, we all the sudeen thought that's how salvation should happen. Now, following Marx, that that vision of economics is being challenged as exploitative, I think we've got a great opportunity for re-evaluating how the process of genuinely being born again actually happens in all of our experiences. Of course, I'm a sold-out follower of Christ, but I still very much consider myself to be in the process of being born again.
Anyways, it's interesting to map economic shifts onto what you're pointing out. Seems to explain some things. What if the Scriptures has an alternative vision of things and how they're circulated in human community, and what if this should give us a heads up about how salvation happens? Strikes me as how my narrative has unfolded.
Thanks for the reflection and insight. (I've actually been where those men are. I know exactly the spot you are talking about) Praying faithfully for you all and Eikon.
Love it
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