First Commandment

Thou Shall Chill: What's at Stake

Chill: cool, tight, wicked, sweet, nice, etc., to hang out

Have you ever been a part of a conversation or gathering where individuals seemed to be headed in very different directions? One group of people is busy planning and strategizing about what needs to take place. Another group is laidback and seems disconnected from the conversation. Those in the first group get frustrated with those who are seemingly disconnected because they just do not seem to care. This is how some older generations experience the post-civil rights generations, as disconnected and laid-back. It often frustrates older generations!

The frustration in part is that those in the post-civil rights generations do not seem to understand what is at stake. In the Numbers 13 text, the other spies are frustrated with Caleb because he does not seem to grasp what is at stake in giving a positive report about the land (Num 13:30). The other spies understand the "real" danger that Caleb does not. They do not understand why Caleb seems so nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

The issue is, "What really is at stake?" Do those in the post-civil rights generations really not get it? Or is it possible, many in the church misunderstand chillin'? We are suggesting, the challenge for many is how they understand chillin'. The negative side of chillin', for some, is a form of laziness. The positive side of chillin', for some, is a form of not taking one's self so seriously. The pendulum swinging between these two poles can cause tension and at times intense frustration by those locked into one side or the other. In this chapter, we explore the pendulum swinging back and forth and its implications for congregations.

What Is at Stake?

Many of us are familiar with the saying, "It takes two to fight!" The point being that it is hard to fight against yourself. Imagine two sides supposedly engaged in a tug-of-war and one side is entrenched, holding the rope tightly. The other side is relaxed and barely holding the rope. When the signal is given to start pulling, the side that is entrenched makes a huge pull and gets no resistance from the other side. Although the one side wins the tug-of-war, it is not a satisfying victory because the other team did not fight back.

Many churches feel like they are in a tug-of-war with the post-civil rights generations and unchurched individuals. Those in the church are entrenched and ready for battle, but their opponents are not engaged in the struggle. In part, this is because the struggle is about saving the church, which is not a fight many outside of the church are interested in participating in. What is at stake for those inside congregations is very different from those on the other end of the rope. It is only when congregations understand they are fighting against themselves that they can stop and rethink their actions. The New Testament story about the rich man helps congregations look in a mirror and let go of their entrenched position. It helps them chill!

In Mark 10:17-27, we find a story about a rich man (some translations say young man) who seeks eternal life. This man asks Jesus what is needed to achieve eternal life. Jesus responds by naming the Commandments and telling the rich man to hold fast to them. The rich man replies, "All these I have kept since I was a boy." This is where the story gets interesting: Jesus, in verse 21, says, "One thing you lack.... Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, Then come follow me." In verse 22, we are told the rich man is shocked by Jesus's words and leaves grieving.

The rich man initially goes to Jesus because he seeks salvation. Many of our congregations today are busy trying to save themselves. The challenge is they are trying to save themselves by staying in their comfort zone and never moving out. The rich man is seeking salvation, but doing so in a way that allows him to stay in his comfort zone. The idea of letting go of all of his possessions is too high a price to pay to follow Jesus. For the church, the idea of letting go of those things preventing us from following Jesus seems like a high price to pay.

I can imagine if Jesus had responded to continue to hold to the Commandments and give an offering to the poor, the rich man would have gladly done so. The fact that Jesus requires him to sell all of his possessions hits him like a ton of bricks. Many congregations are being asked to completely give up what they have known and follow Jesus. It is a high price. What is at stake is saving the congregation, but to give up everything seems unfair. Jesus is clear that this is the price, and the consequences for not paying are probably the eventual death of the congregation. The very thing that the congregation is trying to avoid may still become a reality because of an unwillingness to let go.

In Mark 10:23, Jesus confirms the challenge of letting go when he says how hard it is for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus could have as easily stated, "How hard it is for a congregation to let go of old ways and to follow me toward a new future." The challenge for congregations is letting go of the very thing that seems at stake for them—saving the church. It is only when congregations are willing to let go that new possibilities can occur.

What does this mean practically for a congregation? How can entrenched congregations let go? Imagine a congregation that has a worship team of seasoned members planning a new "contemporary" worship. The team knows it needs to do something new because they are losing individuals to the congregation down the street doing a contemporary worship experience. They are excited and start planning for the grand launch!

As the launch draws closer, the worship team is frustrated because those in the post-civil rights generations or newer members seem disconnected and not as excited. They do not seem interested in the new service. The seasoned members cannot figure out why. The seasoned members are trying to give the people what is needed and they do not seem to want it.

Notice the seasoned members never ask any questions or have a dialogue with those in the post-civil rights generations or newer members. They decide what it is the congregation needs to do and set off on their own path. The reality is the seasoned members are not able to let go of being in charge and making all of the decisions. They are...