Deathly Hallows

So 2 of my favorite people and I have named ourselves the Deathly Hallows.  I, being the loudest, am the elder wand.  That's right, I'm a destructive force that in the right hands can kill the greatest dark wizard to date.  AWESOME!
This all came about at breakfast yesterday.  We three were discussing the state of our world, and where the responsibility for fixing it lies.  The interesting thing is that we all have different starting points in this conversation.  I'm a recovering Southern Baptist, one is a lifelong Catholic, and one is agnostic (although I think she was Methodist growing up).  Strangely enough, we didn't really disagree on anything.  Each of us saw the massive problems of poverty, disease, war, and government corruption.  And all of us agreed on whose job it is to address those problems: us.  Of course we worded it differently, but we all agreed that we should being doing everything we can as individuals and groups to solve these problems.  We even all agreed that whatever created this world, whether it be a god, multiple gods, or a speck of dust, would be very very very very very angry at how we've treated this creation.
It seems that the conversation on Christians specific role in this is becoming more and more prevelant.  Even Steven Colbert addressed it recently.  (Which was done very well, look it up.)
We have to take to heart that the Kingdom of God is here and now.  We need to start treating the sweet by and by what it is: The future that we create and influence NOW.  I don't want to go into this too much today, as I'm preaching on it December 26.  Consider this an advertisement for that. 
Just know that if we really mean it when we pray "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven", that it will require work on the part of the kingdom's servants.

My Favorite Baptist

Andy Crockett is my favorite Baptist.  I should actually say  bassptist.  If you don't know what that means, shame on you.  I'm pretty sure they settled that term at the last convention.
Now that you know he's my favorite Baptist, let me tell you why.  Anytime I'm in a service with him that feels more Baptist than DOC, he gets me in trouble.  He laughs.  He giggles.  He mocks the people playing Bible Trivia on their iPads during the sermon.  He will argue with me about whether the wafer is the correct consistency to be the body of Christ.  I just enjoy being in worship with him.  I'm pretty sure this has been going on since middle school.  The only difference is his snarky comments have gotten wittier and more full of theology.
The really crazy part, is I've never felt like it was ever irreverent.  He genuinely loves God, and worships in truth.  I think Andy just gets that God rejoices in our joy, and laughs along with us when we are acting silly.  So, Andy is joyful and silly.
And gets me in trouble with all the other youth ministers.

Thoughts on a Recent Youth Meeting

Last night, we studied the Christmas Story.  As normal with youth, the subject changed.  Last night though, it changed for the better.  While discussing why Jesus came, an interesting question was brought up. Did Jesus come to make us behave ourselves, or did He come to know us, and help us know Him?  Now, 2 quick facts before moving forward: 1) We didn't, as a group, find a satisfactory answer; 2) This may be oversimplifying.

Now, let's break this down.  Why did Jesus come?  According to the KNERD Herd discussion last night, we have 2 basic options.

1. Jesus came so we could be forgiven, and learn how to stop sinning.  I don't know that this is a bad answer.  He did come to die, so we could be reconciled to the Father.  He did talk ALOT about how to treat our neighbor.  It just doesn't seem enough for me.  Being the sweaty heathen I am, this makes the deathbed confessional plan (live it up, sin as much as possible, seek God just before death) sound great.  If the only thing that is important is that I teleport to Heaven when I die, I'll talk to Jesus later.
2. Jesus came so that we could have a relationship with the Father now.  This complicates our plans.  There is no greater thing to strive for than to know the Creator, the Father, Jehovah Jirreh, Emmanuel, Adonai, the one true God.  That relationship would far outweigh any fleeting joy I have in other pursuits.  Now, I don't think this option replaces the first.  The youth disagreed somewhat.  I think this option is the blessed realization of the great love of God.  He didn't want to wait until Heaven.  The question becomes then, what was the focus of Christ's coming? 

Now, it is probably obvious which I think is more true.  I think number 2 is the better understanding.  That creates a new question though, what about our sinning?  Is the focus of Christ's coming is on relationships and reconciliation, does that mean we aren't focused dealing with sin?
I personally think that is exactly what means.  My best understanding of being in relationship with God and Jesus is that sin will be taken care of through the work of the Spirit, not my efforts anyway.  So, if I focus on loving God, and loving who He loves, the rest will work out.
Now, before I move on, let me clarify that I don't mean we never deal with sin.  Sin is destructive to us, everyone around us, and the world in which we live.  It is a huge problem that creates problems for those God loves.  I just don't think it is the #1 on the list of what we are supposed to be living about.  Again, I think if we focus our energy as individuals and as the group (church) on loving God and those He loves, sin will, most of time, lose it's place in our lives.
The problem with that understanding is that sin is easier to deal with, easier to take a stand on, and much easier to get really excited and passionate about.  It is a whole lot harder to take a stand on letting homeless people into your home.  It is really hard to be excited about going to a war torn country with people who don't like how you look to help with poverty.  There are very few political agendas addressing genocide in places we couldn't find on the map if our lives depended on it.  So in the goal of relationship with God and man, we must find our passion and identity in things that are not concrete.  That is hard, and I'm not even sure I know how to do that, especially in a group setting.

What are your thoughts?