The New Pulpit
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
I learned awhile ago that power can be given in two ways (there are probably more) - it can be given through an institution through the process of receiving resumes, having interviews, and offering leadership positions and within the church, this often means the gift of a “pulpit,” or it can be received through the process of doing something, creating a door for new followers, and actually being empowered by the new community that is being built (and it can be a combination of both of these).
Since making this move, the pulpit has not been a part of my new package. And honestly, at times it has frustrated me, because I feel we are learning things that the population within walls really needs to hear. But I also understand, because three years ago I heard the voice of God intuitively tell me that there would be no more stage for us.
My frustration has been a two sided coin - the Luke 15 missional heart of God will reignite the legitimate life of the church, and the mission is needed for my friends on the West Side and on the streets. Let me illustrate it with stories from last night:
*A young 17 year old girl, living on the streets, running with friends who live in boats, does not have shoes for her feet
*I find out on the West Side, that a young girl who was abused by several young men a few months ago, is in the hospital now with alcohol poisoning
*A friend with no money, but within a home, tells me that his father abuses his mother
*A young boy, with a single mom, is acting out violently in the Village apt community
On Wednesdays from 5:30 - 10:00pm, I am in the culture of destruction in some ways - from Pershing Park, to the West Side, to Elsies Tavern downtown.
Yet, where destruction is, there is the answer. I believe it is found in redemptive long term relationship building, incarnational living within culture, and union with Christ.
While now I grieve the loss of the pulpit, where I might be able to explain the answer, in terms prophetic and maybe not so prophetic, I have found the “new pulpit.”
The New Pulpit, is Facebook, and things like it. I think I drive my friends crazy, but yesterday I created two new groups and an event online. We are finding one another, revolutionaries all across the spectrum, from a bit bitter to now empowered, hopeful, and missionally entrenched. Pershing Park, Holy Chaos, The West Side Movement are all fueled now by the new pulpit, a creation tool in Jesus cyspace, a place where God exists as well.
The New Pulpit will bring new friends for the stories I mentioned above, because the other pulpit may not invite us over for punch and cookies. I use it literally out of desperation for my friends.
I am hopeful that the New Pulpit will fuel the Summer of Love 2009. You can join today. 40 years ago the summer of love represented one idea of love, and in 2009 I hope we can create another view. The Summer of Love in 2009 will be about us, organized in twos, like St. Francis and St. Clare, who will hit the streets to bless, befriend, and enter into new stories and new cultures.
Sorry friends, but I will soon be bothering you with a new message and group from the new pulpit, inviting you into the new journey which is 7 months away, the summer of love in Santa Barbara.