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jesus brand spirituality: they don’t like it?
Oh. I forgot about this part. You write a book and you’re holed away in your thoughts, and you show your drafts to your wife and your friends, and people rave. Or if they find something that needs tweaking, they offer warm hearted suggestions. But then the thing gets out there, and people tee off. At first you think, “that just goes with the territory.” Actually, first you think, “I hope the thing draws enough attention to get some criticism–good for sales!” But then, you’ve got the Internet and email which we all know promotes candor, speaking one’s mind, brutal honesty, minus relationship. So I got my first “what a load of crap” blog review. [Though check out the bloggers comment--thinks I misread it, and I think he's right. Sensitive writer syndrome strikes yours truly!]
A guy from the UK, I think. See, he didn’t know my mother. My mother one time said to me as I came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, “Ken, you missed your calling.” She was referring to my vocal skills exercised in the shower. My mother thought I had a great voice and could adeptly carry a tune. In fact, I can hardly remember my mother ever criticizing me. Can you believe that? My father on the other hand, had his moments with me. But later in life, I could hardly do any wrong even with him. He’d attend the church I pastor and call me up after the service and say what a bang up sermon it was. Almost completely erasing my memory of him threatening to rub my face in the dog poop if I continued to do a sloppy job cleaning it up in the back yard. (It was my job, and I wasn’t an overworked lad, and I was sloppy, and I can hardly blame him for the frustrated threat. )
But of course being in the pastor business, you get used to criticism, especially with the advent of email. People fire off an email with all that candor and brutal honestly and you realize what they think of you! Wow, they make assumptions about your motives that are truly–well, truly human. Like we all do, assume the worst about people’s motives from time to time. But thankfully, we don’t always shoot them off an email. We settle down. Then we see them in person and they don’t seem as nefarious as once thought.
But when you write a book and it gets any attention at all–man, do you hope it does!–you get people speaking their mind freely who haven’t met your mother.
I heard from a fellow pastor recently who had read some stuff online, maybe tuning in to the blog or something. He was pretty worried about some theological issues, a few of which I’d never studied, so I didn’t know whether I was guilty as charged or not.We had a nice email exchange. Except I think he thinks I’m a little dangerous, especially dangerous because I’ve swallowed the Kool Aid about climate change, and worse, don’t see evolutionary science as intrinsically hostile to biblical faith.But you see the problem with all this, don’t you? It’s a near occasion to sin as the Catholics say. The sin of taking yourself too seriously. I daresay the sin of Ira Glass–just kidding. My daughter loves him, but I find him, well…..I should keep quiet because I don’t know his mother.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I’ve sent a few emails in my day that I quickly wished I could un-send. Or made me want to call the person and say, “Can you delete that email I just sent you without reading it?” Or, “I forgot to add a smiley-face to the end of that email.”
Of course, being on the receiving end isn’t so fun either.
As a pastor I’ve learned that measured responses work well, like “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s just that yours is stupid.” OR “Jesus loves you. Everyone else thinks you’re an [expletive deleted]” Most people appreciate that kind of frankness, I’ve found.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Don, I deleted your expletive. Saving you from those who don’t know you and therefor don’t appreciate your droll humor. Your warmth and kindness. I also added a smiley face. People, don did not put that lame smiley face up there! ken
April 18th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
There are few people in the world who have your grace, your forgiveness, your understanding. Most of us would give our left arms for your tenderness, your care, your compassion.
The issues you are blogging about and that you write in your book about are real, and they are toxic. Most of those who would rather get into a roaring, name-calling, red-faced argument are people Jesus doesn’t know and doesn’t want to know.
Keep it up, Mister. You are absolutely speaking out of the heart and mind of God. Keep it going. There is an evil in us that we must own up to, recognize, and take action–effective action–against. And the evil will not be identified for what it is without a devilish great deal of noise.
April 19th, 2008 at 1:57 am
You know what the most annoying thing is for me right now? You have severly misquoted me! I HAVE not said the book is a “load of crap” and i did also state that i was “sure there are answers in the book somewhere, i just wasn’t seeing them” which kind of indicated that maybe i am part of the problem in the equation of whether your book is “good” or not!
“these thoughts are based on reading just over half the book”
“I don’t see this as a review of the above book, just an observation or first impression”
April 19th, 2008 at 4:56 am
ally, (supersimbo?)
You know, I think you’re right. I re-read your blog entry. I got the em-PHA-sis on the wrong syl-LA-ble. My bad. Sensitive writer syndrome strikes again.
ken
April 19th, 2008 at 10:35 am
HA, its cool, though i still was being critical on some level. Iv been thinking though, and as i had said in the post i will come back to your book. Could we maybe interact a little on this though, i mean i would love to ask you questions regarding some of the things i either didn’t like or didn’t read properly…………..i guess what i am saying is, i respect your position as a “senior pastor” despite my slightly sarcastic dig at that and if i have missed a point or need to be corrected by a much wiser and more learned believer then so be it!
So, if you are willing to listen to my questions then i would love to pick up the book again and see what bothers me…………and ahem, maybe blog about it?
April 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am
ally, I’m coming to England the end of next week to speak at the Refresh conference–St. Mary’s in Central London. I was curious how you got a copy of the galley? I didn’t know that my publisher sent galleys to the UK, though I think the book may already be available there. Anyway, by all means ask away, and I’ll do my best to ANSWER (not question!) right back atcha! ken
April 19th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
My boss picked up a copy of it and several other pre-release titles at CBC (Christian booksellers convention) in Feb. I manage one of 13 Christian Bookstores in a chain in Northern Ireland. It is in my releases for April but isn’t on my shelves yet & yes i will be stocking it
April 19th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Northern Ireland–land of my forefathers! My son spent a year at Queens College in Belfast. He was part of a catholic-protestant group there. A most beautiful place, Northern Ireland. He’s now pastor the vineyard church of milan, michigan.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:59 am
oh wow, thats interesting. we have a couple of vineyard’s here, belfast & causeway coast. i know some folks from causeway
April 20th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Giants causeway–one of the great wonders of the world, my wife and I were there….my great, great, great grandfather was in the Orange Constabuluary, I think it was called…in Belfast back in the day
March 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I dont usually comment, but after reading through so much info I had to say thanks