True Story Filled with Shameless Name-Dropping: Christianity21

At airport with Paul Raushenbush

I was driving down Interstate 70 with Paul Raushenbush, senior religion editor at the Huffington Post, and Romal Tune, social advocate for at-risk youth.  Helping with a national conference called Christianity21 over the last week, I had the privilege of spending many hours airport-shuttling authors and organizers whom I admire.



Romal Tune at restaurant



I asked Paul if he would be writing about the event at Huffington, and he replied, “I’m not sure.  Maybe.  I’d have to think about the angle to write from.”  This launched the Romal, Paul, and I into a conversation about the different lens Christianity21 could be viewed from.  Paul has many really important topics to write about—like the Pope—so I don’t know if something will show up at Huffington or not, but here’s my stab at a reflection on the event.

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At Christianity21, we didn’t agree.  Twenty-one authors, activists, and organizers from various faith traditions each used 21 minutes to toss out ideas for religion in the 21^st century.  The speakers not only ran the continuum of Christian traditions (from Pentecostal to progressiveness), they also represented various religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism).  Like splatter painting, each speaker had her or his own brush, flicking out ideas, questions, and answers onto the great tapestry of the experience.  While everything said was valued and some magical moments of connection bubbled to the surface, the event organizers resisted any attempt at creating consistency between the talks.  So, at Christianity21, we didn’t agree.

On Thursday evening, Kent Dobson from Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, (yes, that MarsHill) reminded the audience we don’t know much; we cannot fully know God.  When he sings, “I’ll never know the cost, to see my sin upon the cross,” he means it.  We will indeed “never know.”  Then, later in the evening, Romal Tune told us we need to speak the truth to youth at risk of being recruited into gangs—you are beloved, you are valued, Christ is the answer for your life, God has a plan for you. 

The two messages weren’t opposite but were strangely inconsistent.  And this is what Christianity21 was about: Context.

Phyllis Tickle in Green Room

The 21^st century is the context in which we live, and our religions exist within that context.  Phyllis Tickle reminded listeners that the questions and answers of this 21^st century context are different from the questions and answers of different times.  Enuma Okoro challenged listeners to recognize that even within this 21^st century context, we live in a diverse world. 

We, the people-of-now, exist in vastly different contexts from each other.  The gang youth for whom Romal Tune advocates need answers for life direction.  And maybe/possibly the folks to whom Kent Dobson speaks benefit from some instability and reminders that they don’t have all the answers.

I came away from the event giving myself permission to view religion differently from family members, neighbors, friends, and anybody I might come into contact with.  When religion becomes only about having answers—particularly the right answers—humans end up fighting . . . really fighting.  But when religion is about questions and ideas and healing, we engage in dialogue . . . real dialogue, dialogue that makes us better because we investigate “the other” and allow our assumptions to be challenged. 

Pick up a brush, dip it in some paint, flick it up onto a tapestry . . . a tapestry that has other colors, from other brushes, from other people who live in other contexts.  This feels like spreading goodness around, and mixing it up with the goodness of others.  

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Well, that’s my reflection on the event as a whole, now a list of the six most exciting moments for me, in no particular order.

chauffeuring
Josh Dubois around

1. Meeting Phyllis Tickle, listening to her last speaking gig, and hearing her call me “sweetie.” 

2. Getting to chaperone Josh Dubois, President Obama’s spiritual advisor, around for the afternoon.  I invited a fellow United student, Jen, with me.  We were giddy the whole time.  BTW, Josh was telling us to get in closer for this selfie so we fit in the frame.

3. Meeting Cameron Trimble, from the Center for Progressive Renewal, and Lisa Domke, church planter of Simple Path in Seattle.  Both were incredible listeners who seemed to know some of the challenges and worries I have about church planting.

Michael Toy, all around great guy
with a fascinating past

4. Listening to my new friend Michael Toy, from Los Altos, CA, read poetry at Wild Goose Meeting House in Colorado Springs. 

 5. Listening to Heatherlyn, an incredible songwriter from the Twin Cities and for Solomon’s Porch, wow the participants at the event.  She knows how to lead music and get people engaged in it. 

 
6. Hearing Tony Jones call Sarah Cunningham and I "new besties.”  (Wish I had a picture with her, but we'll get it another time.)  Honestly, it was a joy to assist Sarah as she produced the event with Tony and my internship supervisor, Doug Pagitt.  All three are geniuses: Tony = theological genius, Doug = social genius, Sarah = connectional genius.  Thanks, friends!