Drew Boswell

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Gold, Frankincense, and Carbonite; Creativity and Teaching

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For the Christmas season this year Liquid Church[1] are doing things a little different. They have coupled the expectation of the release of the new Star Wars movie “The Force Awakens” with the biblical story and expectation of the Christ child at Christmas. The preaching series is entitled “Cosmic Christmas” and is complete with Star Wars themed role out videos, graphics, and a Han Solo draped pastor. He reviews his love for the Star Wars movies and how it impacted him as a child.

Pastor Tim Lucas (no relation to George Lucas) began the non-denominational church plant in 1999 that now has six locations (counting one online “location”) throughout New Jersey. This sermon series caught the eye of several news affiliates and their story has been broadcasted nationally.

This is a great example of where a church has tapped into a popular trend among people and blended their message into it.

The following show why this kind of thinking is so important in church life:

  1. cosmic-christmas-droid-to-the-world“Cosmic Christmas” and sermon series like it show the world that church can be fun. The pastor was dressed like Han Solo. Their nativity scene had Han Solo and Princess Leia instead of the shepherd dressed Mary and Joseph. When the world sees these things they stop and take notice. Humor and one’s ability to not take yourself too serious tears down walls of assumptions and false understandings.
  2. It lends itself to continuing the message. You could have photo opportunities with Storm Troopers in the lobby or the fellowship hall after or before the service where people will post them to their social media accounts thereby reaching thousands with the message “Our church is fun.” The theme also is easy to carry throughout the church (the children’s area for example).

The pastor could take pictures with people and use that time to engage in intentional evangelistic conversations. God gave us our imaginations and creativity to be used to bring Him glory – and what better way than being creative in how we share His eternal message. Jesus was known for stepping out and doing the unexpected – but as His disciples why do we feel that we shouldn’t?

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  1. If it is done well and with great care the message of the gospel becomes easier for the lost world to remember or even understand. You take that which is common and attach the message of Christ to it, so that when they see it they (consciously or subconsciously) begin to understand a biblical principle.
  1. Creativity and themes such as this forces the church to plan further in advance. If you watch the sermon on their website there are prerecorded videos that play at specific times during the message, you would have to order or make his costume, etc. And don’t forget those storm troopers in the lobby – they need to get leave from the Empire. Yoda’s schedule is crazy busy, especially with the release of the new film. All that takes time, galactic paperwork, and a great deal of planning by the church.

Truthfully, many churches just do what they have always done (candle light services, same old hymns, same rotating sermons, same ole decorations, etc.) and Christmas becomes a time to check out mentally instead of honestly engaging the culture.

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As you listen and go through the sermon it became obvious to me we would have a declination of biblical interpretation.[2] But don’t let the minutia of doctrine take away from the bigger overall principle that they are engaging the culture in a way that people “get it.” Don’t be too quick to dismiss what they are doing simply because they are denominationally different. Don’t be too quick to dismiss your idea because it is different than what your church culture is used to. It you are thinking, “they’ll never go for this,” you might just be on the right track.

.  .  .  and may the force be with you.

Star-Wars-the-Force-Awakens-Poster-Cropped

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[1] http://www.Liquidchurch.com

[2] he uses the phrase “binding Satan” for example.

Zombie Christmas, Undead Jesus; A Lively Response

The following is a quote from Fox 19 and the story of the zombie nativity in Sycamore Township in Ohio.

“SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) – Jasen Dixon’s nativity scene featuring zombies was ordered to be taken down Friday, however, it’s still standing in Sycamore Township.

[Related: Sycamore Township homeowner does unique and unusual nativity scene with zombies]
On Tuesday, Sycamore Township ordered the nativity scene to be taken down. Dixon had until Friday to take the scene down. If he did not take down the exhibit, legal action would have been taken and he would be fined $1,000.

According to documents obtained by FOX19 NOW, Sycamore Township does not allow structures to be located in the front or the side yard to occupy more than 35 percent of the area. Also, the primary structure must be three feet from the street, and six feet from the house.

a69ff0d4ebd563838b7a289d1ad162d5f02a4db0“They actually said that it is taking up about 35 percent of the yard, and it’s not. We did the calculations and it’s like 14, 17 percent,” said Dixon.

No officials from Sycamore Township came by the zombie nativity scene Friday.

FOX19 NOW’s Lindsey Wopschall reached out to Sycamore Township officials to ask if they plan to come by the home to serve Dixon the violation, but they did not wish to comment on the matter.

Dixon says this was his second violation since the exhibit was put up.

“I’ve lived here for 15 years and I’ve never had a violation of any kind,” Dixon said. “It’s a holiday decoration. I know if it was a real pretty nativity scene they wouldn’t be saying anything,” said Dixon.

Dixon has no plans on taking down the nativity scene. Instead he’s using a crowdfunding site with a $5,000 goal to make a better zombie nativity scene next year.”

So as Christians how should we respond to this?

Is it safe to assume that Mr. Dixon does not understand the true meaning of Christmas? I think so. But the sad truth is that most of America doesn’t understand the true meaning of Christmas either. One of the things that is constantly mentioned by those who do not follow Jesus is that the church is filled with hypocrites. Well, I must say, that this topic seems to smack of hypocrisy, but not from Mr. Dixon.

Hypocrite Alert

1) If he were my neighbor and put this up in his yard then it would indicate to me that I had not invested much in our friendship or in being “neighborly.” He may know that I am a Christian but does not have a deep enough friendship with me to respect my beliefs. You would not do this to a friend — but you would not hesitate if you see your neighbors with Bibles in hand going to church on Sunday, but not caring anything about you or your family during the rest of the week. You would not care if you were offending someone you see as a hypocrite.

Jesus died for our sins, rose again to secure a place for us in heaven, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. So, instead of focusing so much effort on trying to stop his zombie display why not win his heart through love and friendship? Christians have a long history of fighting the wrong battles. We fight for laws to be changed instead of fighting for hearts to be changed. We fight wars to show that we are right, instead of living out a life of gentleness and love.

Romans 12:17 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)”

2)  Christians are celebrating Halloween with Mr. Dixon when he puts up his decorations in October, but now they are offensive in December? Zombies are cool on Halloween but not in December? Yes, I know Jesus was not depicted as a zombie in October. But the argument about zoning and city restrictions is just a farce. Christians are offended and want it taken down.

But if we want to have the freedom to express our beliefs (i.e. nativity in my front yard), then Mr. Dixon should have the right to display his “interpretation” of the nativity as well. Otherwise, those in power begin to dictate religion and how it is to be expressed. I don’t want anyone telling me who to worship, when to worship, or how to express my beliefs in the life of my family. Mr. Dixon is ignorant in his understanding of who Jesus is, but am I going to change his heart by being hypocritical and dictating how he worships and expresses his beliefs according to my belief system? Just because you find it offensive doesn’t mean you should use the government to have it stopped.

In London, there is the (attempted) development of Sharia law “zones” where if you enter into them you have to follow extremist Islamic law. If you don’t then you will be attacked or taken to a kangaroo court for sentencing. What makes America different than these radical religious group’s efforts is that we value the freedom to express our religious beliefs and do not have to fear repercussions from other groups who do not agree with us. We can not hold to our freedom to put up a nativity while denying another person’s freedom do so as well just because we don’t like it.

3) Focusing on this makes Christians look foolish. Some guy put up a tacky display in his yard. Have you driven though the south on Christmas? Are you telling me all those displays accurately show the Christ Child’s heralding? Seriously? Let it go. Focus on what’s important.  Why don’t we make some cookies for our neighbors, you can even make them shaped like  zombies.

Do we love Mr. Dixon, or do we just want him to go away? Honestly, we just want him to stop interrupting our greatly delusional time of the year. However, Mr. Dixon is a wake up call to the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you Mr. Dixon for your undead display. It reminded me that I need to spend more time with my neighbors.

 

2011 Children’s Ministry Musical

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Drew Boswell Original Sermon

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"Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts." Rick Warren

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