A few weeks ago, we held our annual Vacation Bible School. The program went pretty well with over 30 kids participating, which is pretty good for the size of our congregation.

We used the program Crocodile Dock from Group publishing. The things that attract our church to Group materials are programs that are relatively easy to use and resources (DVDs, Songs, etc.) that children generally seem to enjoy.

As attractive and easy to use as the resources are, I have to admit that I struggle with Group’s theological orientation. This particularly came to a head for me as I was getting ready to teach the Bible lesson for Thursday evening.

The theme for the evening was “God Gives us Life!” Now, while this is indeed good news, the stress of the evening’s lesson was focused almost exclusively on Jesus’ death (Does no one else see the irony in that?) At one point the curriculum suggested that you help the children feel the weight of their sin that killed Jesus.

Wow!

How is it ever appropriate to make a 1st or 2nd grader feel shame in such away? Like their sins in particular were the sole cause of Jesus’ death? How can a kid, and should a kid, be forced to bear the weight of such a heavy burden?

Of course, we think we make it all go away by saying, “Jesus bore the penalty you should have received.” But really isn’t that just more of the shame?

Needless to say, I felt the need to re-frame the evening’s lesson a bit:

Despite the evil intentions of those who put Jesus to death, God gave him new life, raising him from the dead. When we ask God for forgiveness for the ways we hurt others, God forgives us, raising us up to new life. God gives us life!

If you are interested, Jenell Paris, one of the most insightful bloggers out there, discusses a similar thought on her post How to Leave Fundamentalism (without even trying.)

1.) Mike Croghan provides a great list of the variety of ways the emerging church movement might be affecting those of us in denominational structures. I would peg myself as #3 or Struggler. What are you?

2.) At the urging of Neal Locke, a Princeton Seminary Student, I established a Second Life account (my name is Carl Crannock in case you want to friend me) and took part in the first ever (at least known) Presbyterian gathering last Saturday evening. At our gathering the question of what form the sacraments take in a virtual world was posed. This post reveals that some people are really thinking about this issue. (Read not only the post but the comments for alternate views.)

3.) Via Matt Stone, check out this really cool Bible Word Locator

He mentioned a very cool ministry project, called Laundry of Love, that his faith community has been a part of. A very cool and simple idea that I suggest you all should go and check out.

At some point in our conversation the question was asked, “Is God doing some cool stuff in your midst?”

My initial response, I’m afraid, was kind of flip; “Sometimes I think if God is, he’s not telling me!” I’m not sure what sort of place my response came from. But as I think more about that conversation, I’m thinking that is a really good question for me to continually keep in mind.

Perhaps the reason my answer was so flip, is that it’s far too easy to think of ministry as programs, session meetings, task forces, and making sure the day care is running well. So when the question is asked “Is God doing cool stuff in your midst?” an answer of “Well, we successfully pulled off VBS last week” or “we’re working on installing a video projection system in the sanctuary” sounds kind of lame.

It’s not that those things aren’t important, it’s just that there really is a whole lot more to ministry than keeping the church running smoothly, wanting to see the sanctuary full on Sunday AM, and making improvements to our facilities. It should be more about what is happening in people’s lives, about how the gospel is making inroads into people’s lives. and about the ways God is leading us in mission and ministry into the community.

So from now on I’m going to keep asking the question “Is God doing cool stuff in your midst?” until I can come up with a better answer.