Comments on: The Witness of Weirdness http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/ A First Things Blog Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: The Witness of Being Weird | Mere Orthodoxy http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-6136 The Witness of Being Weird | Mere Orthodoxy Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:59:30 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-6136 [...]  I cross-posted this over at Evangel.  I was going to offer new thoughts tonight, but am simply feeling too sad to write after the [...] [...]  I cross-posted this over at Evangel.  I was going to offer new thoughts tonight, but am simply feeling too sad to write after the [...]

]]> By: Matthew Anderson http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-6080 Matthew Anderson Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:00:26 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-6080 Alison, MANY thanks for sharing that. I really appreciate it. I couldn't agree more about both the difficulties with family, and with the importance of not coming across as a "stuffed shirt." If there's a value to being informed about pop-culture, that's it, I think. And David, thanks to you too for sharing. You sound like the sort of youth pastor I wish I had. But as someone who has taught highschool and taken a similar approach, I'm not all that surprised. I developed some of those thoughts in an old book review on The Case Against Adolescence. You might find it (the book, not the review) an interesting read: http://mereorthodoxy.com/?p=1087 Best, matt Alison,

MANY thanks for sharing that. I really appreciate it. I couldn’t agree more about both the difficulties with family, and with the importance of not coming across as a “stuffed shirt.” If there’s a value to being informed about pop-culture, that’s it, I think.

And David, thanks to you too for sharing. You sound like the sort of youth pastor I wish I had. But as someone who has taught highschool and taken a similar approach, I’m not all that surprised. I developed some of those thoughts in an old book review on The Case Against Adolescence. You might find it (the book, not the review) an interesting read: http://mereorthodoxy.com/?p=1087

Best,

matt

]]> By: davida http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5906 davida Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:09:34 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5906 Not long after becoming a believer I started working as a quasi-security guard at a local inner-city church youth group. My life before Christ mirrored the lives of many of the kids in the group. After a short time I began to be frustrated with the way the youth group was run. The leaders loved the kids but attempted to relate to them by playing lots of games, being like them in many ways (music, clothes, jargon, etc), and rarely discussing the Bible. I expressed my concerns to the pastor and he agreed. He asked me to lead a small group of guys during the middle of the week. I could do whatever I saw fit. I wore a shirt and tie and never once mentioned that my background was very similar to theirs (drugs, sex, jail, etc). I led them slowly through the Westminster Short Catechism. After a few months I was asked to take over the entire junior/senior high group. the group went from about 12-15 kids to about 60-70 within about 5 or 6 months. I worked as the youth director of that very rough church for nearly 2 years and the kids never knew my background. But they did learn of Christ's. Not long after becoming a believer I started working as a quasi-security guard at a local inner-city church youth group. My life before Christ mirrored the lives of many of the kids in the group. After a short time I began to be frustrated with the way the youth group was run. The leaders loved the kids but attempted to relate to them by playing lots of games, being like them in many ways (music, clothes, jargon, etc), and rarely discussing the Bible. I expressed my concerns to the pastor and he agreed. He asked me to lead a small group of guys during the middle of the week. I could do whatever I saw fit.

I wore a shirt and tie and never once mentioned that my background was very similar to theirs (drugs, sex, jail, etc). I led them slowly through the Westminster Short Catechism. After a few months I was asked to take over the entire junior/senior high group. the group went from about 12-15 kids to about 60-70 within about 5 or 6 months. I worked as the youth director of that very rough church for nearly 2 years and the kids never knew my background. But they did learn of Christ’s.

]]> By: Alison http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5901 Alison Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:17:34 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5901 I appreciate your honesty in this post. I work in a secular environment--a university environment--and I am very open about my faith. I celebrate Christmas and Pascha (and take several days off for Pascha). I do think some of my colleagues think I am "weird" for being so orthodox (small o) in my Christian beliefs. But I also am myself around them: I am an intelligent person who can be silly and fun with them--and I don't think they see me as a stuffed shirt so I think this helps in my witness to them. I also share with them my honest frustrations in life in general, and I am open with them about how my faith helps me deal with things. So work has not posed a serious obstacle for me in showing to others my faith in Christ. However, it is very hard to connect with my family. They are very involved with their secular concerns (money, golf, the country club, nice food, etc.), and certain members truly think I am weird even though these people are the ones with whom I should be able to be the most open. I know Christ warned this would be the case with family members, but it truly saddens me. I appreciate your honesty in this post. I work in a secular environment–a university environment–and I am very open about my faith. I celebrate Christmas and Pascha (and take several days off for Pascha). I do think some of my colleagues think I am “weird” for being so orthodox (small o) in my Christian beliefs. But I also am myself around them: I am an intelligent person who can be silly and fun with them–and I don’t think they see me as a stuffed shirt so I think this helps in my witness to them. I also share with them my honest frustrations in life in general, and I am open with them about how my faith helps me deal with things. So work has not posed a serious obstacle for me in showing to others my faith in Christ.

However, it is very hard to connect with my family. They are very involved with their secular concerns (money, golf, the country club, nice food, etc.), and certain members truly think I am weird even though these people are the ones with whom I should be able to be the most open. I know Christ warned this would be the case with family members, but it truly saddens me.

]]> By: Matthew Anderson http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5889 Matthew Anderson Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:45:05 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5889 TUAD, Thanks for the kind words. Glad to know you enjoyed it. Best, matt TUAD,

Thanks for the kind words. Glad to know you enjoyed it.

Best,

matt

]]> By: Truth Unites... and Divides http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5859 Truth Unites... and Divides Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:20:28 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5859 "<i>The most meaningful tools we have to ‘build bridges’ are not the shared experiences of, music, or the news, but rather questions about family, frustrations, and the various dynamic that make up those aspects of our lives that extend beyond our entertainment choices. They are a listening ear, and a keen attention to discern the deeper dynamics of the heart that are always bubbling to the surface. We build bridges by cultivating a heart that listens to the movements of the Spirit in our own lives, and the lives of others."</i> Beautifully stated. Heartily agree. <i>"He [Russell Moore] is in favor of evangelical ‘engagement’ with culture, but cognizant of its limitations."</i> Listening to the movement of the Spirit in his life lead to favoring evangelical 'engagement' with the culture on issues such as the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and religious liberty whilst remaining cognizant of its limitations. Yes. “The most meaningful tools we have to ‘build bridges’ are not the shared experiences of, music, or the news, but rather questions about family, frustrations, and the various dynamic that make up those aspects of our lives that extend beyond our entertainment choices. They are a listening ear, and a keen attention to discern the deeper dynamics of the heart that are always bubbling to the surface. We build bridges by cultivating a heart that listens to the movements of the Spirit in our own lives, and the lives of others.”

Beautifully stated. Heartily agree.

“He [Russell Moore] is in favor of evangelical ‘engagement’ with culture, but cognizant of its limitations.”

Listening to the movement of the Spirit in his life lead to favoring evangelical ‘engagement’ with the culture on issues such as the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and religious liberty whilst remaining cognizant of its limitations.

Yes.

]]> By: Stones Cry Out - If they keep silent… » Things Heard: e103v5 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5854 Stones Cry Out - If they keep silent… » Things Heard: e103v5 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:52:53 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5854 [...] Maybe this offers a hint as to why. [...] [...] Maybe this offers a hint as to why. [...]

]]> By: Friday Highlights | Pseudo-Polymath http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/02/the-witness-of-weirdness/#comment-5853 Friday Highlights | Pseudo-Polymath Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:52:36 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=3768#comment-5853 [...] Maybe this offers a hint as to why. [...] [...] Maybe this offers a hint as to why. [...]

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