Is there such a thing as a European?

In Britain we used to be scared Europe would take us over and make us all European. I'm not too sure exactly what we were scared of, beyond a lingering sense of the glory of being British- our national songs talk about it all the time- which would somehow be lost in the anonymity of Europe. Our glorious pound and exquisite ounces, driving on the left, playing cricket, eating fish and chips out of newspaper, all would disappear. I don't think it ever occurred to us that others in Europe might also have a culture of their own, and heaven forbid, even a better one! Across the channel everyone was the same: foreign!

I'd like to think we were better informed today. But having said that, we still have a habit of interpreting life from our own unique perspective. Therefore as an Anglo-Saxon I can say categorically we live in a post-modern post-Christian world, and draw a wide range of conclusions about what we, as a world, should do about it. And because us Anglo-Saxons have an influence way beyond our numbers if not our volume, particularly in the Christian world, our opinions tend to become a global consensus. When we recognise that the world is different, we nod knowingly and declare we're just that bit ahead of you, and with a pat on your back, tell you you'll catch up.

But will you catch up or drop down, depending upon your perspective? Despite all the talk of globalisation, is this generation really becoming mono-cultural? I'm not convinced the world is as post-modern as we're told. My experience across Europe is that a lot of older values and traditions are deeper entrenched than we might believe- for instance, here in Umbria, family ties are so much tighter and more influential than I've known in the UK. Now these may loosen, or just possibly there may be a backlash as young people look for identity and find it increasingly in their roots.

Its why forming a United States of Europe has proved so difficult. But it might also provide the hope for the gospel Europe needs. Many Europeans still stand for something, beyond merely tolerating everything. Jesus saw the heart of a man and spoke into it. To reach young Europeans we probably need to take a longer harder look at our different roots and culture and speak to the heart. Otherwise our gospel is likely to be as intelligible to Europe as cricket.

Cheese, chocolate and other prerequisites for revival

Just when you thought that globalisation had killed stereotypes........I recently spent the weekend eating cheese and chocolate with a bunch of watch makers in Switzerland. Yes honestly. I found the valley of watch makers which ironically time forgot. Here Swiss are still very Swiss for better and for worse. For better, because you can't get better than Swiss cheese, chocolate and if I could afford them watches. For worse, because speaking to a group of Swiss is scary. For instance a crack up for the Swiss is a slight quiver of the upper lip. If you don't understand that, preaching is a nightmare.

Over the weekend I shared a story to a packed united church meeting. It was a good story, or at least I thought so, but it was met with a stoney silence. It was the story of how my church in London had merged with another church because both of us wanted to be more effective for the Kingdom. Since then the two churches which had seen practically no fruit in years, have seen conversions most weeks as one church: United Life! To me it is an exciting example of how God blesses us when we're prepared to lay down our personal ambitions, identities and whatever for the sake of the Kingdom. But apparently it wasn't to the Swiss! Or so I thought!

Later one of the leaders came up to me over coffee to discuss what I had shared, and I prepared myself for the worst. He went on though to share how excited he had been by what I'd shared because two churches in the room that night were praying through merging just the way I had talked about. Looking back now I remember how earnest thee prayer time had been. In fact I can't recall such an honest cry to the Lord for revival anywhere else in Europe over the past few years. Being Swiss, it wasn't loud, but it was real. They meant business, were open to anything, and just maybe God was giving them the confirmation they sought.

On the plane back to England whose best known cheese may well be The Spice Girls and Mr Bean, but where laughter is thankfully permitted, I reflected more on what it would really mean if we across Europe were genuine about wanting the Kingdom to come. What would change about our churches, youth ministries and all the other things which supposedly serve the Kingdom but in fact end up as little empires in themselves? What levels of partnerships might develop? Not all would be mergers, some may be just be strong relationships where we seek to serve one another before ourselves. However I believe we would see more of God and less of man about all we do. We're just about to merge our European and African youth ministry: International Christian Youthworks, with an American one. All I ask is that what comes of it is not just a new ministry but the Kingdom, because the older I get, the more I realise that's all that matters.

Is big beautiful

One way or another size matters! Stereotypically Europeans like small and Americans like big, and both can be pretty scathing of the other. Americans call Europeans small minded and Europeans Americans big, brash and superficial. Both of us tend to patronise the other. And yet, normally neither of us have a monopoly of truth! Take mega-church for example. As a European my tendancy is to write it off as an American thing suited to a car culture which doesn't get or want community as much as showtime! It demands less of them. They can get lost in the crowd, just one of thousands of consumers who as long as they give enough to keep the pastors happy won't be overly challenged. And on the subject of money, I notice the expenditure on buildings, massive staff teams and the like, and wonder what Jesus would say.

Then again the more time I spend in the US the more I understand community does come in a variety of guises, and although big doesn't necessarily mean beautiful, small doesn't either! The church I spent most time in last week in Nashville probably cost about $50million to build. But then again it is home to about 8,000 people, which could well make it more cost effective than spending $500,000 on a church for 80! And there's the deal, you either duplicate expenses in a hundred churches or pool them to do a bigger and perhaps better job in one. I'm not sure which is best- probably both in different ways- but I was impressed with the bredth of ministries a large church can offer compared with the smaller ones which are struggling just to resource the basics. Even if big churches do have a lower percentage of contributors in their fellowships than small churches, perhaps that is as much to do with being better run than the smaller ones. Then again I'm not sure it's true anyway. Big churches can create a buzz, an excitement which draws you in and carries you along. Hillsong is a great example of that.

I've seen enough to know there are real positives in the big as well as the small. Our small churches need to learn how to work strategically together to utilise resources effectively and make an impact in community. Big churches obviously have the challenge of creating community. We can both do it, if we're open to learn from and serve one another.

American Youth Ministry: A European perspective

A few years back I wrote an article for an American magazine entitled “An Outsiders' View of American Youth Ministry”. Since then I've spent a lot more time in the US working a lot closer with guys who responded, one way or another, to that initial article. In fact I'm in the US right now, enjoying good ol' Southern hospitality. So what are my reflections now and how does youth ministry here compare to that in Europe and elsewhere.
1.My complaint a few years ago was American youth ministry was more program driven than people focused, and generally speaking I remain convinced that is the case. Having said that I'm not sure it is all bad. It is hugely “purpose driven”. Guys out here want to see the fruit, be that numerical or spiritual. As crass as that sounds, at least it produces fruit. In the UK where relational youth ministry is now king, relationship isn't just the means to an end, it has become the end itself. We don't see many young people coming to faith, because we rarely share the gospel, because that is no longer the point of what we do. Perhaps we no longer believe the gospel or the bits about hell anyway.
2.My second complaint was that there was little strategic partnership, and honestly that remains largely the case. There are wonderful notable exceptions including ministries like First Priority whose whole strategy is to unite churches to develop a shared vision to reach youth in their community. Sadly though they remain the exception. Youth ministry is big business out here. Some have got extremely rich out of it, and made a real name for themselves. The Jesus who turned over the money changers table would have a field day here. It would be hard for him to know where to begin, but fortunately I could provide him with a few addresses!
3.My third concern was that the American church was losing touch with the majority of young people. Well the jury is out on that one! Its hard to tell. So much youth ministry seems to be thriving, but then the youth population of the US is growing too. There are some amazing initiatives and some very very passionate young people. I've actually grown very fond of America and a lot of Americans who have a wonderful heart after God.
4.Finally I said the American church is God's gift to the global church but they just don't realise it. Well, as with all these thoughts, such generalisations in such a big country aren't terribly helpful. It is true a section of the American church remains totally self absorbed spending its money on its buildings as though nothing existed beyond the state lines let alone the oceans. However I think young people in particular are more globally aware. They are getting involved, often in small projects and ministries they've established through relationships formed on mission trips and the like. Some of these perhaps could be more effective if devised more culturally sensitively. But their naivety, which us Europeans sneer at, is often the motivation to act while we sit back and complain about the mega-church building projects and the imperialistic missions strategy. Americans are the most generous, passionate people I've met travelling the globe and for all their failings, I still believe they are God's gift to the global church.

English pub spirituality

After a year on the road it was good to celebrate a traditional English Christmas in a traditional English village down a traditional English pub. Living in London you forget places like this exist. On Christmas Eve kids played in the street as though no one had told them adults are evil, and about midnight the Landlord locked the till and went to bed leaving villagers to it. The following morning, when he opened up they were still there. In fact mid afternoon when I returned for Christmas lunch they were still there. Once more the till was locked, and the drinks flowed freely. Everyone brought something: a goose, turkey, dessert, something. And a great time was had by all.

As the drink flowed the tongues loosened and I had more opportunities to share the gospel than I had had any time this year in Europe. People want to know about Jesus. Time and again they said to me I'm spiritual, I'm just not religious, and when I said to them that Jesus was like that too- in fact it was the religious who fell out with him and eventually killed him- they really wanted to know about him.

We think not being religious means being secular. It doesn't. In fact my gut feeling was that if Jesus walked into the village that Christmas Day he would have felt more at home down the pub than in the church, with the sinners and tax collectors, (literally!). Our problem is our gospel is still very religious. Its about church not Kingdom, creeds not relationship. Perhaps if we were more more spiritual and less religious, we'd see more fruit. I was challenged to my core. My faith needs to be real, so my gospel will be real. My evangelism isn't about persuading people to believe, but helping believers understand the gospel and know the Father. In fact not much has changed in two thousand years.

Travelling with my dad

Last week coming back from Oslo, I ended up sleeping in not one but three airports. Such can be the glamour of travel. There are tricks though to pass the time. I do the bloke list thing and recall my top ten terrifying taxi drivers, power-crazed border guards or moody cabin crew. (Amazingly one nation figures high in all three categories, God bless them!) If travelling with someone else, over the pre-flight drink, we watch the crowd and play the travellers version of Where's Wally, except it's Where's Osama. Then on the plane you pick a number, any number, say 13C, and devise his or her life story- the crazier the better.

Often though my evangelical work ethic kicks in. A flight a day helps you work, read and pray. But then I remember my old mentor, specially chosen for his lack of protestant hang ups. Once in an unusual burst of honesty, when he asked me what I was going to do that evening, I told him I thought I should have a quiet time but really wanted to watch the football. I will never forget his reply: “Why not watch the football with the Father”. I queried whether the Father was more a rugby man than soccer, since rugby involves conversions and scores of 3 and 7, but no apparently He's so in to me, that He enjoys whatever I enjoy.

Since then I've learned to enjoy His company on a flight. Before the flight we still pick people out in the crowd, but now it's to pray for them- in awe of the fact that some would never have been prayed for in their lives. Likewise on the flight itself, I pick a number, say 13C, and ask the Father for His dreams for that person, and pray. Mostly though I just enjoy being. Being with Him and yes, just being. They say you'll never live this moment again, but actually when lived with the Father, this moment becomes part of eternity, and I never stop living it. It's called life in all it's fulness.

Raising a generation of confirmed atheists

Something has baffled me as a Brit for a long time. How is it that the Lutheran Church stuffs up its confirmation classes quite so badly. In the UK we have 7000 full time youth workers, most of whom are pretty good and would give their right arm to have the numbers of young people coming for confirmation that you guys get in Scandinavia or Germany. If each of us had ten teens to disciple each year, bluntly I'm not sure we'd want to do much else with our lives. If we can change 70,000 teens a year we can change Britain. Sadly though we don't get them for confirmation. But then again maybe that isn't quite such a bad thing. It seems that most of those going for confirmation are taught religion and end up rejecting Jesus.

Until the time in Europe when we can teach Jesus so that teens reject religion, I wonder whether we should give up confirmation altogether. It seems at present we're raising more of a generation of confirmed atheists than believers. One senior Lutheran youth leader told me it is easier to work with those teens who haven't been confirmed because they have less preconceived ideas about Jesus. Jim Raeburn who founded Young Life in the US used to say its a sin to bore young people with gospel. Well, here in Europe, we need to wake up to our responsibilities not to harden young people to the gospel.

Having said that, I'd love to hear of good practice in confirmation, the fruit, the positive stories. Come on you Lutherans show me I'm wrong! I've never been keener to be proved wrong, believe me.