unChristian 1
Posted by Todd Engstrom in books, christianity, church, theology on December 27, 2008
Just started reading through the book unChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons in anticipation of the Q conference here in Austin in April. Here are my thoughts from Chapter 1:
- “We are not responsible for outsiders’ decisions, but we are accountable when our actions and attitudes–misrepresenting a holy, just and loving God–have pushed outsiders away.” ~Page 14
This book is a research-based analysis of the 16 to 29 year-old generation’s perception of Christianity, and how the church ought to respond. I agree with the quote above, but my suspicion is that this book will do little to point us to the heart of the Gospel of grace as the solution to our perception. Much of our “cultural exegesis” in pop-Christianity seems so narcissistic with respect to the church, devoid of any true interaction with a deep and rich Gospel of Christ. It will be interesting to see how this book compares with David Wells’ Above All Earthly Powr’s, which was one of my favorite books of the last year, and a fantastic study on the actual worldview of whom this book labels “outsiders”, and an appropriate Gospel response to that worldview.
- I often wonder about the usefulness of large scale research in American Evangelicalism, and if it isn’t really a cop-out to actually engaging the real people around you. Although these kinds of books are helpful at diagnosing broad, generational opinions, are they really that effective for shaping ministry? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to shape ministry around a more specific calling to minister to those whom God has placed you among?
- “Perhaps as you read this book, you will discover a more complete picture of Jesus, a transcendent, yet personal God who loves and accepts you perfectly, who wants to shape you and give your life deep meaning and purpose.” ~Page 20
This statement echoes the Purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive sentimentality and strategy of ministry, which would make sense considering the two authors’ roots. My initial impression of this book (which is based on no evidence whatsoever) is that it is simply the research methods of the seeker movement applied to a new generation. I’ll keep reading to see if my presupposition holds true.
Hopefully blogging through this book will help me to process what I am reading, and be useful to anyone who might be considering reading it.
Merry Texas Christmas Y'all
Posted by Todd Engstrom in personal on December 26, 2008
We’ve had a lot of fun this Christmas, in spite of me having an ear infection and our dog fighting a bout of kennel cough. We haven’t done much, but it has been great having chill time with the family to play, rest, and generally relax. GTB especially loved his new GeoTrax setup we got for him, and OTown and I have enjoyed it quite a bit as well.
I’m sure the rest of this season will include more pajama time, some fun potty training adventures (GTB has peed on the dining room chair three times already), and some good fun as a family. Christ’s peace is reigning in our home, and I am thankful for the light entering into a dark world, that we might have joy abundant. Praise the Son!
Parenting is a Leadership Incubator
Posted by Todd Engstrom in leadership on December 22, 2008
Tonight I was forced to make a decision with GTB:
- Teach him to obey his earthly father as he would his heavenly Father, and simply eat the food in front of him because he was asked to.
- Get creative and generate a desire to eat the food that is placed in front of him through making it generally entertaining, catering to his emotion.
Both options would achieve the desired result, and yet in somewhat different manners. Option 1 is good for a child’s discipline, but not very fun for either and seems somewhat coercive. This option, exercised too often, leads to exasperated and discouraged children. Option 2 tends to be more fun for both parties, and yet is really a form of manipulation, and exercised too often will neglect discipline.
This dilemma forced me to think about leadership as a whole, and how we have choices to use both positional influence and relational influence in leadership. One appeals to our inherent authority based on title or role, whereas the other depends on our relational capital with an individual. Both are necessary and useful in leadership, and both are equally difficult to discern proper use.
Positional influence, characterized by direction and command, is easily turned into egotism and elitism, shifting focus from humbly leading others to self-aggrandizement, as well as simple laziness. Positional influence when leveraged well, uses opportunities of delegation for development of those under the leader’s authority.
Relational influence, characterized by charisma and invitation, can just as easily be manipulative to achieve an end, ignoring the process of discipline and development in favor of simply accomplishing a task. It can be effectively used to empower an individual to discover desires they didn’t know they had, as well as accomplish a task on mutually agreeable terms (a “win, win, win” for Office fans).
In my limited experience, I have found both methods to be useful when my heart is humble, and both methods to be disastrous when my heart is anything other than humble. Effective leadership utilizes both kinds of influence out of humility, and does so to the maximization of a team’s effectiveness. Which takes us back to parenting, and the necessity of discernment in a particular situation.
For those of you that are still reading, I chose Option 2, and GTB ended up eating almost all of his tuna melt using the ol’ airplane in the hanger trick. He’ll learn discipline at other meals…
Relevant
Posted by Todd Engstrom in austin stone, college ministry on December 20, 2008
A student from The Austin Stone has a story featured on the front page of relevantmagazine.com with his article “Poetry That Slams Through Barriers“.
Clay Robison is a senior journalism student (by way of Chemical Engineering…he’s discovering some talents he never knew he had), and has been serving in The Austin Stone’s College Ministry for a few years.
christmas shopping
Posted by Todd Engstrom in personal on December 20, 2008
out shopping and running errands, and it is crazy. i guess there are more procrastinators like me in the world than i thought.
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