Some Canvas Clarity

A Recent Comment:

"Oh Ben, how sad that you would choose to follow the ways of the world and use base language,and even quotation marks, as if Jesus, God incarnate, would speak such words. What you've done here is to lower God, to the ways of man and the ways of the world. I'm sorry that this is such a sad commentary on the lack of reverance and respect that "contemporary" Christianity, and it's leaders are demonstrating towards God. It is my hope, my prayer for you and your church that you will come to see the error of using such base language and to even hint that God would be sitting around having a beer (earlier posting) with others, is indeed a far far cry from the HOLY and PERFECT GOD that Jesus is. Yes, He no doubt drank wine, as was the culture and custom of his day...but to suggest that beer drinking is something He would indulge in today just shows a lack of understanding of the Scriptures and of who God is. As a pastor with a platform, make no mistake, that you will be held accountable to God for everything that you think, say, do and teach. My prayer is that you will come to recognize your error and ask God to forgive you trying so hard to be "culture current" even to the point of destorting the truth of who He is."

Canvas Response:

Canvas apologizes for any potential misunderstandings (seen above). Let us clarify; and please see the “Won’t you be my neighbor” blog for further scriptures and comments. The sermon this week was on the parable of the good Samaritan. True, Jesus never said “Get off your ass and love your neighbor”. In the parable, however, the Samaritan (who is the hated outsider, the despised of Israel, the one judged by the religious establishment of the day) is actually closer to the heart of God. This is demonstrated when the Samaritan (rather than the Priest or Levite) gets off his “ass”, perfectly acceptable biblical language for “animal, mule, or donkey”, so that he can love his neighbor. The religious, devout, legalistic insider was invited to be like this outsider, who is actually doing the will of God and closer to the heart of God, incarnating the way of God for those most in need of Good News.

Admittedly, we at Canvas love language and the use of literary devices, in this case double entendre. And, we try to set up some sense of tension (as did Jesus), creating anticipation of how a message title like this may turn out to be biblically credible, and pleasing to God. Both of which were accomplished. (Message available in “Teachings”)

We fail to see the discrepancy between Jesus drinking wine, as was the “culture and custom of his day”, and his invitations, “follow me” and “as the Father has sent me, so I send you”. Jesus gave the authority he had to his disciples to do the things he had done, in the ways he had done them. Jesus was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton, indicating a close connection with the “Bar scene, the sinners, the unlovable, the marginalized and outsiders” of his day. He also was accused of being a Samaritan, and Demon possessed. How we demonize those we don’t understand- those with whom our interpretation of scripture disagrees. Canvas laments that there are so few churches accused of aligning with the people to whom Jesus’ good news was originally preached, and the context in which it was originally spoken, over a glass of wine.

Jesus claims that whoever has seen him has seen the Father (“HOLY and PERFECT GOD”). Though we don’t claim to be biblical scholars, we read scriptures that indicate that plenty of people saw Jesus frequenting establishments and homes where beverages were enjoyed socially, responsibly, and lovingly. I pray that we would see more of God in bars, clubs, restaurants, homes, and alike; places where the church seems to have no relevant voice in culture, or the public conversation.

Canvas thanks our critics for the stern challenge and public condemnation. We’ve seen through history that public persecution forces the church to examine itself and solidify its stances, why it believes and practices the way it does. We expect that this will do the same in affirming and encouraging that we’re indeed on to something, and God is indeed up to something.

Part of our vision is to foster a more public conversation about faith and spirituality, recognizing the presence of Jesus in the culture once again, and freeing him from the institutional church that would bind he and his message from reaching the people in need all around our steepled buildings. So, we lovingly point out that it is possible that there is a lack of understanding on the part of our critics. Can one truly know what our community of faith is about based on a few blog posts? Those who are a part of our family have found faith, hope, love, belonging, and a Jesus who we love to seek and follow, who shows us a mysterious God we long to know, and a Spirit who stirs us to reclaim the image of God in humanity.

It is our prayer that this response, as with everything else we hope to do, is the incarnation of grace, and is truth spoken in love. We love and will pray for our critics, as well as for all of those with whom our message and lifestyle may disagree. Our hope is, especially for those who have found life as followers of the Person and Way of Jesus, that we could find common ground on a Jesus who’s life, death, and resurrection connect us as a human community, and to the heart of God, in mysterious and powerful ways, for the healing of the world. And so, we move forward unashamed of the passion, reverence, and joy we have in following the God we’ve met in Jesus.

Grace and Peace