iPopCulture.NET

If you happen to be one of the brave who journeys out Thanksgiving night and into Friday morning to buy Gigli on Blu-Ray for $7.99 or a Coby DVD player for $39.99, chances are you will hear a store employee utter those two little infamous words: “Happy Holidays.”

Some see this as a polite greeting and meet it with a smile and return the gesture with a similar expression. However, when some hear those two little words their blood begins to boil and the evolution of Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk takes place right in the checkout line at Macy’s. Why do those words cause so much anger? Maybe because we think “Happy Holidays” has become a substitute for “Merry Christmas.”

While some may disagree with me entirely, the phrase “Happy Holidays” does not bother me. Here are 3 reasons why:

1. We’re in the middle of 3 “holidays”
The 5 weeks between November 24 and January 1 give us 3 different holidays. November 24 is Thanksgiving. December 25 is Christmas. And January 1 is New Year’s Day. When someone tells you “Happy Holidays” it doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is saying “I’m being politically correct and taking Christ out of Christmas.” Maybe he or she is just saying an abbreviated version of “I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, have a great Christmas, and have a great New Year.” After all, holidays is plural, so it’s inferring more than one. Think about the song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” We don’t cut off the last line and say, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and…yeah, that’s it.” So before you get too upset, consider that the phrase “Happy Holidays” may not be an attack on your spiritual beliefs; maybe it’s just a way to incorporate all 3 holidays into 1.

2. “Happy Holidays” is a friendly greeting
I doubt there are many people in this world who utter “Happy Holidays” just to stir up trouble. Sure, groups like the ACLU may try to do it, but for most people saying “Happy Holidays” is a friendly gesture. And let’s be honest, I’ve said it, you’ve said it, and many others have said it without even thinking. When I say it to a friend or a store employee I don’t think, “I don’t want to offend him so I’ll go neutral with my greeting.” No, my actual intent is to genuinely wish someone happiness. So whether you like the phrase or not, remember that the person saying it is likely doing it out of goodwill, not ill-intent.

3. The phrase may have been authorized by a “higher-up”
I hate political correctness as much as anyone, and I honestly don’t like it when I hear people say their managers have warned them against mentioning “Christmas” and have even threatened their jobs. Yes, that bugs me. But it’s important for us to remember that the “higher-ups” may be the ones making that call, not necessarily the employees. Believe it or not, there are retail employees who say “Happy Holidays” who also celebrate Christmas. Before you jump all over the high school kid who is working a seasonal job to pay for college, consider that he or she may only be doing what was asked. If you’re upset, your fight is with management, not the worker.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and my opinion is that “Happy Holidays” really doesn’t bother me. However, what does bother me is seeing people jump down the throats of the workers who utter that phrase. When you talk back to the 17 year old who works at Best Buy or go off on the 25 year old working at Walmart, you’re doing everything BUT showing the spirit of Christmas…and THAT bothers me!

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/sQNAkk]

If you want to cause trouble in the church, don’t worry about complaining about the worship style, the pastor’s preaching, or the color of the carpet. All you have to do is sing someone else’s song. No, not a song that someone in your church wrote, recorded, or produced. I’m talking about a song that someone in your church sang as a “special” just a few weeks or months prior.

For those that don’t know, there’s an unwritten rule in the church that says once you sing any song by Avalon, Point of Grace, Steve Green, etc. from the platform, that song solely belongs to you as long as you are in the confines of that church.

However, these unwritten rules also state that buying the accompaniment track to a song does not make it yours. Until the song is sung from the platform, it is fair game.

Now, depending on your average attendance, Wednesday nights may be an exception to this rule.

If by some chance you sing someone else’s song, not only will you be shunned, but you will be talked about by members of the church, specifically the “rightsholder.”

Does this sound familiar? I’m willing to bet one or two pastors have dealt with this in their time.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Is it OK to (intentionally) sing someone else’s song? Should there be a waiting period? Do you need to seek permission first? Let the fun begin!

[Photo source http://bit.ly/k7W16c]

The issue of pay for church workers has always been a sticky one. If you get paid a lot, people (who probably make more than you) may argue that people shouldn’t be getting “rich” from doing ministry. If you get paid too little, you may find it difficult for your family to survive.

I’ve never really known the appropriate time to discuss pay when dealing with a church ministry position. It’s very different from other job positions. With other job openings, the salary/hourly pay is usually listed on a web site, job description, or even a store window.

That’s usually not the case with ministry positions. In fact, in my experience, payment is usually not even discussed until at least the third conversation/interview with the pastor and other church leaders. In fact, I’ve heard of some who have been offered full time ministry positions without hearing a word about pay. They didn’t even know what they would be paid until they received their first paycheck.

What makes this such a sticky issue is the concept of money itself. As an interviewee, you don’t want to bring up money right away and appear as though you’re looking for the highest paying ministry job available. Churches also want to know you’re in it because you feel called into ministry, and you’re relying on God to take care of your needs.

However, some churches and pastors use that argument as justification to underpay their staff. Even though the church members and pastor may be making quite a bit of money, they will pay someone in a full time position no more than a handful of beans and tell that person and his/her family to be “humble and rely on God.”

So when someone is interviewing for a ministry position in the church, when should the issue of pay be brought to the table? Initial contact? First phone conversation? During a face to face interview? When meeting with the Board? Never?

I’m curious to hear your thoughts and experiences.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/kJzuaB]

As church people, we like to tell others that God doesn’t weigh sin and all sin is the same in His eyes. If we could actually translate the intentions behind those statements, I wonder if it would be translated as, “Your sins are WAY worse than mine! But…God can still save you. But seriously…they’re way worse than mine! But I’m not judging you…actually I am.”

Unfortunately, I think our church culture has taken that judgment one step further. Not only do we weigh and cast judgment on the sins of others, but I think we also weigh and cast judgment on the temptations of others.

In fact, I think we view some temptations as worse than some sins.

Sound crazy? Just consider it for a moment.

There are certain sins we’re semi-comfortable admitting. If I’m dealing with sinful pride, I can admit it to others. If I’m bitter and jealous, I may be able to let others know about that too. If I have battles with anger and rage, I may have no problem telling people.

But there are some temptations that we just shouldn’t talk about. At least, that’s what we’ve been told. They could almost be labeled as the “Forbidden Temptations.” They’re very real, and they’re very prevalent, but we’ve been conditioned not talk about them. Since they make others uncomfortable, we’ve been told not to mention them, admit the struggle, or even seek out help.

We are all tempted by things. I firmly believe that temptation in itself is not a sin. It is when we give in to that temptation that we sin.

However, many of us still view some temptations as worse than sins.

Until we get past that, we’ll continue to struggle with authenticity and transparency, and we’ll have no problem weighing and judging anything we see.

“Thank you for calling AT&T. My name is Chad. I’d first like to apologize about any problem you are having and let you know you are a valued customer.”

“I’m sorry sir. I am unable to handle that problem and I do apologize about that. However, I would like to remind you that you are a valued customer and so I will transfer you to someone who can handle your call. Once again, thank you for calling AT&T. I’m sorry you are experiencing a problem but I would like to let you know you are a valued customer. Please wait while I transfer you.”

“Thank you for calling AT&T. My name is Maria. I’d first like to apologize about any problem you are having and let you know you are a valued customer.”

“Well Mr. Jones, I apologize about the problems you are experiencing. I would like to let you know you are a valued customer and I will do everything I can to correct this problem.”

“Once again, I am sorry about the problem you were experiencing Mr. Jones. I am glad we were able to fix it. I want to let you know you are a valued customer. Would you be interested in adding home phone service today?”

What you just read is similar to the conversation I had with AT&T yesterday, or at least their part of the conversation. This was the 4th time I’ve had to call AT&T in the last 4 months because they’ve billed me the wrong amount 4 months in a row.

By now, I feel like I know almost every facet of AT&T’s Customer Service. I know what music will be playing when I call. I know when the generated voice messages will interrupt the music and tell me to keep holding. I know the exact words the voice messages will say. I know that they don’t actually take the calls in the order they are received. And…

I know the script of the workers who are working Customer Service.

While I appreciate their attempts to be polite and respectful, after I’ve been told I’m a “valued customer” 8 times in 1 phone call, added on to the 8 times I heard it during the previous 3 calls, it starts to lose its effect. At one point, I came close to saying, “Chad, please lose the script and just talk to me like a real person!”

The 40 minutes of Customer Annoyance did make me wonder if people ever look at me and ask the same thing. Are there things in life that I do or say that make people want to scream, “David, please lose the script and just talk to me like a real person?”

We’re all playing a role in life. Unfortunately, for many of us, the role we’re playing is dominated by a mask we’re wearing and a script we’re reading from.

It’s tough to be real with people. It’s difficult to be transparent. It’s not easy to talk about the real things in life like our struggles or the things that are bothering us.

So, we stick to the script. It’s easier to play a role that protects us from being real.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/jUA3AK]

No.

When discussing the controversial topics in the church today, it seems that “dress” is near the top of the list with worship style, Bible translation, and color of the carpet. Some churches feature people in suits and dresses, while others consist of people in jeans, pants, and even shorts. If you fly to the islands of Hawaii, you may even find people who have come straight from the beach, carrying sand and the smell of the ocean into their local meeting place. While many factors play into the decision of what to wear–such as age, location, average age of the congregation, church leadership, etc.–there is no doubt this is an issue that is often talked about, or at least thought about, among church people.

While I would love to say I’ve found a definitive answer on what every male and female should wear to church, the truth is the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what to wear. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a command to wear a suit, and nowhere in Scripture do we see that Crocs are forbidden in our local congregations (although we might want to give that some serious consideration).

While this issue may not be as black and white as some would want us to believe, I do believe there are 4 important factors to keep in mind when deciding how to dress for church:

1.) Mind your heart
The heart dictates our motivation for doing the things that we do. This even pervades into the area of what we wear to church. I’ve known far too many people who have taken the issue of dress in church and used it to facilitate a rebellious attitude. While it may not be a sin to wear jeans to church, some choose to do so only because they want to make a statement or know others may disapprove. It’s not about comfort; it’s about rebellion. On the flip side, if our heart is not in the right place, we may allow our suit and tie to create a sense of pride. While there is nothing wrong with looking nice, if our main intention is to dress to impress and look down on others, we’ve made things about much more than clothing. Pride can be a very dangerous and sinful thing. Whether it’s rooted in rebellion or elevation of self, if we don’t mind our heart, the issue is no longer about clothing, but more about our sinfulness.

2.) Mind your attitude
Sometimes our attitudes are very difficult to control, especially if we’re involved in something about which we’re very passionate. Walk into any Buffalo Wild Wings during the NCAA Tournament or a UFC PPV and you’ll see what I mean. Attitudes can also be difficult to control in the area of “church dress” because…well…some of us are very passionate about it. While a sense of passion can lead to many positive things, it can also turn our attitudes sour. It pains me to think of how many people I’ve seen come into the church dressed in something other than the norm and openly say, “I’m wearing this, and I don’t care what people think!” Sadly, no one had even said a thing. I’m not sure if anyone had noticed. Yet the “wearer” walked into the church building as though he/she were storming into a back alley looking for a fight. In the same respect, I’ve also heard people cast judgment on those that wear suits to church. Several years ago I heard someone in the church argue that our church would never be able to attract outsiders because too many people wore suits. This person then went on to criticize the character of those that wore suits to church. Here’s my inclination: the lack of growth in the church had nothing to do with people wearing suits; the lack of growth had to do with the attitudes of those doing the judgment.

3.) Mind your elders
Some may disagree with me on this point, and I’m okay with that. You’re allowed to be wrong (I probably need to read #2 again). I’m a firm believer in remembering where you came from and who helped you get there. I spent the first 23 years of my life at Calvary Fellowship Church in Fenton, Missouri. When I go home to visit, the first people to always greet me and hug me are the senior citizens in the church. During my 23 years at the church, they were always the first to pray for me, support me financially, and offer encouragement when I needed it most. They were and are the foundation and bedrock of the church. We may not always agree on everything, and we don’t have to. But I do love and respect them enough to listen to any concerns or hesitations they may have. They issue of church dress never came up with this group of people, but other things did, such as service style, music style, etc. At no point did they ever try to tell me my preferences were sinful; they simple told me that my preferences weren’t their preferences. I think there’s something very important in this when it comes to how we dress at church. I’m not saying that the elders in the church should dictate how we dress every Sunday. But I am saying that we should be mindful and respectful of their wishes and preferences. If I’m offending them in how I dress, maybe I need to step back and re-evaluate some things. It may not be an issue of sin, but it may be an issue of what is wise and beneficial. Let’s be honest…wearing khaki pants instead of jeans isn’t a very big deal to me. But it may be a big deal to someone else, and that simple change in clothing could be the difference in building a relationship.

4.) Mind your fellow churchgoers
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s still an issue in the church. As much as we talk about it and preach about it, the issue of modesty hasn’t hit home with everyone who steps into a church on Sunday mornings. The phrases “stumbling block” and “Sunday morning dress” don’t seem like they should go hand-in-hand, but sadly, sometimes they do. It’s important to put a high priority on modesty and purity when approaching what to wear to church. No one wants to be distracted by a low-cut blouse when trying to worship on a Sunday morning. What you’re wearing may be completely appropriate for your workplace or home, but it’s important to remember you can wear what’s appropriate by society’s standards and still not be appropriate.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/mLKOrS]

“I’ll pray for you” is my favorite Christian cliche. Studies that I made up show that people only follow through with the prayer 27% of the time. When people say it, they don’t always believe it. When we hear it, we often doubt it.

However, one time I turned the tables on this cliche. No, I didn’t actually pray for the person. I actually refused to pray for the person.

I don’t remember why I was mad, but I was furious, especially at a particular girl. Everything she did made me angry. When she wasn’t around, my blood continued to boil simply thinking about what she had done. Our feud came to a climax when she came to me of all people and asked me to pray for her. How did I respond?

“I’m sorry but I have I have a lot of others things to pray for right now, so I probably won’t have time.”

I actually told her I didn’t have time to pray for her!

What a jerk!

To top it off, I was actually proud of myself. I didn’t lie to her and tell her I would pray for her when I really had no intention. I was partially honest. I may have had the time, but there was no way I was praying for her problems and needs.

Any good Christian probably sees where this story is heading. You’re probably assuming I felt proud and puffed up until I read Matthew 5:44, which says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (ESV).” That’s how it always happens, right? Wrong.

To be honest, I didn’t see this girl as my enemy. Saddam Hussein was my enemy. Osama Bin Laden was my enemy. I had no problem praying for them. It was easy to say, “God, please let these terrorists turn to you and come to know you and start a Christian revolution in Iraq and Afghanistan”…or something like that.

Praying for my enemies was easy. Praying for someone I knew and didn’t like was much more difficult.

If I’m standing all alone on this one, then so be it. But I have a feeling the island I’m on is inhabited by many others who, like me, are wearing their Sunday best. Loving and praying for our enemies is easy when our “enemies” are thousands of miles away. Loving and praying for our enemies is a lot more difficult when our “enemies” are sitting in the pew behind us.

Sometimes it’s easier for me to pray for my enemies in Al-Qaeda than it is for me to pray for people in the church that I don’t like. It’s not right. It’s not good. But sadly, it’s often the truth.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/mJqG38]

This past weekend I had the opportunity to hear Francis Chan speak at the Youth Pastor’s Summit in Orlando, FL. For those who don’t know, Chan is the author of Crazy Love and Forgotten God and the former pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in California. I say “former” because recently Chan stepped down as pastor of the church. As he explained at YPS, he began to get concerned when he heard the name “Francis Chan” more than he heard the words “Holy Spirit.” So with only God to lead the way, Chan, one of the most known pastors in the country, stepped down.

What Chan explained next blew me away. He sold his house in California, and him and his pregnant wife and four kids journeyed to Asia to meet with believers. Chan mentioned that he wanted to meet with believers in the underground church who were experiencing persecution because of their faith in Christ. He also said that at each stop, they prayed and asked God if that’s where He wanted them to be long-term.

One of the stories that Chan shared hit me at the core. He had to the opportunity to visit with believers in China. While talking with these believers, he asked some of the teenagers to tell about some of the persecution they had faced. He said that as each teen shared their stories of physical violence and mockery, they laughed and smiled. These teens didn’t have a “woe as me” attitude. Instead, they were joyful. They rejoiced in the opportunity to endure persecution for the cause of Christ. They told stories of their friends being imprisoned. They told stories of being shot at by government officials. And they rejoiced together! In fact, they thought it was normal for Christians everywhere to experience this same level of persecution.

Chan explained to these believers that in America we have many churches in one city. If you don’t like the pastor, youth pastor, children’s ministry, or color of carpet, you just move to the church down the street. And no matter what happens, you don’t experience true religious persecution. Chan remarked that the China believers laughed at him. They thought he was joking. That did not make sense to them.

As he closed, Chan said that he asked one of these persecuted believers in Asia if there were any people among them who were only “Christian” in name and didn’t truly live out the faith. The Asian believer looked at him in disbelief and said, “No. Why would anyone do that?”

Ouch.

Conviction.

My faith is so weak. I’m an “American” believer, born in a free country, and born into a family that is richer than 95% of all the world. I can pray whenever I want, read my Bible in public, meet with other believers without secrecy, and I never have to worry about being beaten or imprisoned for my faith.

My “American” faith is so weak. If the Christians who endure persecution every single day looked at my faith, I wonder if they would look at me in disbelief and wonder, “Why would anyone do that?”

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/hj0MK9]

Recently I’ve had some interesting conversations with friends concerning a topic that is relatively fresh in the Christian community: posting prayers on Facebook and Twitter.

I do not mean prayer requests, but actual prayers. I’ve seen this done in two different ways:

1) The near-sarcastic prayer. i.e. “Lord, help my coworker keep her comments to herself today, because if she doesn’t I might hit her.”

2) The more traditional prayer. i.e. “Lord, help me grow in knowledge and wisdom and to treat others as you would treat them.”

From discussing this issue with friends, I’ve heard two schools of thought.

Some people approach this issue with great hesitation, citing Matthew 6:5-6 as a reason to avoid it: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (ESV).”

The argument is that prayer is private matter between you and God. Social media is unnecessary. Since we have direct communication with the Father, posting prayers on Twitter and Facebook has no point. If we’re not careful, we fall into the same trap as the hypocrites, hoping that people will hear us and think highly of us because of our prayers.

There’s also a second perspective that I’ve come across. When you look at the book of Psalms, the entire book seems to be a collection of prayers that have been written down. As part of the Holy Scriptures, they provide us with encouragement, edification, and an insight into the life of David and others. While the prayers of people today are not considered Scripture, they might offer us encouragement as well. Also, our written prayers could be a conversation starter with an unbeliever.

I’ve listened to both sides and have been wrestling with the issue in my head. What are your thoughts? Should we post our prayers on Facebook and Twitter?

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/fp6L3x]