Toe Jam Untouchables
A month ago I posted an entry about a controversial teenage night club that is run by a non-profit ministry. Well, actually, the post had less to do with the club per say and more to do with our personal reactions. However, the comments revealed that some did not see it that way: “Um, no . . . um, that’s not what I said . . . excuse me . . . that’s not my point at all . . . yes, yes, I’m sorry; that sounds like it was a horrible experience . . . yes . . . well, no, I have to confess I hesitate passing judgement on the man’s motivations as well, but I’m more hesitant to pass judgement on his eternal status . . .”
I soon realized that no amount of explaining was going to work, so I turned my attention to deconstructing and analyzing the blog conversation with a friend. In spite of my frustrations in trying to get a point across, the reaction was along the lines of what was expected. What is so fascinating is that so much of the ranting (as in distinction from another’s venting which, by his own implicit admission in his second comment, he knew was off topic) provides a sort of anatomy of the Pharisaical criticisms of Jesus: he was forever crossing the boundaries of social and religious propriety and shaking things up.
Think for a moment about the various reasons that the parable of the Good Samaritan would have been offensive: it was not merely, 1) that a dirty Samaritan helped a Jew and that, 2) those from whom we are given Scriptural warrant to expect aid (namely the Pharisee and Priest) pass their fellow Jew; but it is the swirl of rationalizations that would have immediately arisen due to what the people had been taught about safety and propriety.
When faced with a “Jew on the side of the road,” we might say:
- that the Pharisee and Priest had important work to do. In a simple cost/benefit analysis, more people would be inconvenienced if they stopped to help the man.
- it was a dangerous road. You never know, but he may be lying on the road as bait laid by nearby bandits. Stop to help and you yourself get mugged!
- that surely the man ought to have known better than to walk the Jericho road alone. You make your bed—now sleep in it.
Another fascinating thing about the comments is how they expose how astoundingly refined we have made the categories “clean” and “unclean,” so that now we have the stylishly untouchables (your run-of-the-mill street people) and the toe jam untouchables (the most disgusting yet blog-safe adverb as possible), those nasty ol’ teenage hoodlums who are up to no good. Interestingly, to be stylishly untouchable—to be the sort of untouchable that somehow bears sanctifying merit for those who dare touch them—you must be visibly poor, dirty, and malnourished. Anyone who is well-dressed, well-financed, well-nourished—such as the Lost Children of Rockdale County—is, well, of the toe jam variety of untouchables.
In other words, it seems that on one hand there is a sort of untouchable among whom if we can report we have been, then we gain a sanctification merit badge. On the other hand we have untouchable untouchables that, if we are not ashamed to be numbered with them (never mind actually be seen with them and to say nothing of talking with them—almost as bad as talking with a woman at the well), we actually receive demerits! The Pharisees of the day, the self-appointed protectors of all that is holy, cluck their tongues and wonder if we will ever be clean enough to dine with them again. It seems that Jesus spoke about this sort of criticism that we would receive “from the world.”
[quote] (as in distinction from another’s venting which, by his own implicit admission in his second comment, he knew was off topic) .[/quote]
Ohh yeah… did i backpeddel fast enough? heh. – What struck me later is that i seriously doubt that any of us have created or represented Christ in a perfect manner in our lives. But alas i am still off topic. Your point observed, my hands have never been what I would consider “dirty” in pursuing spreading God’s word. I have always stayed “in my box” … is our fear is the reason God’s word is not as prevelent?
Rob
[quote post="801"]my hands have never been what I would consider “dirty†in pursuing spreading God’s word. I have always stayed “in my box†… is our fear is the reason God’s word is not as prevelent?[/quote]
I think we are all afraid to get our hands dirty, because it means involving ourselves in people’s lives, loving them and serving them. My natural response is that of the Pharisee. Like one particular street preacher I run into downtown, it’s much easier to just point and accuse. He’s just a little louder about it than the rest of us.
Keeping in perspective that evangelism is not a sales pitch (God changes people’s hearts), which method of evangelism do you think is more effective? Or put another way, which is more part of God’s design?
Couple of thoughts (yes it is late and yes I need to be asleep)
1. I see that most of the anti-club comments where more akin to a ‘cleaning out the money changers’ critique. They did not seem to criticize ‘hanging out with bad folk’ but rather would-be apathetic or irresponsible behaviors of an individual – especially when the identified party claimed Christian motivations and intent.
2. [quote comment="9521"]
I think we are all afraid to get our hands dirty, because it means involving ourselves in people’s lives, loving them and serving them.[/quote]
While I can agree with aspects this, to me position in life causes more fear of action than “the fear of the dirty.” I used to live a life that had routines in which I hung out with street folk, frequented crack houses, held Bible studies in drug dealers’ homes, ate breakfast with strippers and had bible trivia games with dope smoking Rastafarians. This was easy to do because all intensive purposes I was poor. I was out of the Army, living from week to week on construction pay, in a city that was foreign to me, receiving healthcare at free clinics – resting in the hand of God all the while. This was all before marriage, kids, ‘career’ and it was beautiful.
My life today has little within it that resembles that past. Do I love those folks less or fear to relate with them? No, on the contrary I fear it would be easier to avoid certain commitments and pursue more chic ministry efforts – seeking out ‘others in need.’ Does marriage or fatherhood excuse me from demonstrating Christ to the lost? No, but it has changed the dynamic, and this new life is beautiful as well – still resting in the hand of God.
—
I recognize that we live in a fractured and isolated culture and the dissonance within this norm can be deafening – keeping us from acknowledging the subtle or not so subtle needs around us. Scott, I believe your intentions to urge us all toward a life less sterile and devoid of interaction with the ‘untouchables’ is noble, but it seems that you could use a better case example than the discussion surrounding “Fathoming My Disbelief†as a launching point. Unless you have some knowledge that I’m not aware of, it seems your attempts at explaining the purpose and motivations of Club Fathom are more academic than experiential – possibly defending an idea rather than the actual.
This is a good post Scott…I think we are all Pharisaical (sp?) and if we think we aren’t…we definitely are….It may be legitimate to question the methods of the pastor of the street church (or question whether it is even a church…or question what Jesus would have done…or question…you know..whatever)but given that there is such a great assortment of needy people in one place at one time with so many problems…what about just sucking it all up and going into the crowd to minister? Oh..yeah..it’s too late on a Saturday night and it would be tough to get up to go to church on Sunday and…then, you know…there’s the kids….and besides, it might be dangerous…and….ad infinitum……ad nauseum…..
@stelmodad: Wow, you must be tired staying up that late. I hope it wasn’t just because of me.
On your #1, I agree with you that Jesus and the money-changers is part of the criticism that came about in those comments. Some of the accusations may indeed be true. Even if they aren’t, the appearance is still there and significant changes need to take place with the way that ministry is run. I’ve not denied this in the posts or comments.
On your #2, I would see “fear of action” and “fear of the dirty” as being similar, if not for semantics one and the same. Picking up on your conclusion (after the break), urging folks to interact with the untouchables is not where I am going in either post. In this one I’m challenging whether or not there are subcategories of untouchables (the kind you can visit and feed like animals at a petting zoo, versus the kind you don’t want to be seen with in public). Who were the untouchables of Jesus time? What does it mean to be called an untouchable today? Beneath those questions is the underlying issue of whether or not there are even “untouchables” to begin with?
I agree with you that “Fathoming My Disbelief” may not be the best jumping off point, not because of lack of personal experience, but because the topic is so emotionally charged. However, “explaining the purpose and motivations of Club Fathom” has never been the attempt of either one of these posts. Tim Reid and Club Fathom are irrelevant to the point in question. It isn’t an academic exercise either, but rather a journal post in which I am trying to think reflectively and examine my own heart. As I read over the article in the Chattanoogan about Club Fathom it was the awareness of our Pharisaical response, that instinctive self-righteousness of my own heart, that I was trying to pick up on.
@Debbie: Thanks. Picking up on something stelmodad said . . . I don’t necessarily think it has to be rich kids downtown on a Saturday night. We do have seasons of life, so maybe getting our hands dirty involves our neighbor or coworker instead?
One thought that does come to mind relative to Club Fathom is the same one that is raised by the tele-evangelists. They may be distorting the truth for monetary gain, but are they not also attempting to do that to which we are called?
It was hard for me to catch [quote post="801"]the awareness of our Pharisaical response[/quote] in your message while in the midst of hacking my way throught the ‘Fathoming’ post and what seemed like a follow up post.
If that’s where you’re heading, than I’ll go with you. It just seemed like there were examples being used that didn’t seem to mesh with that overarching thought.
I was just saying that in our tendency to criticize another’s claim to ministry, we (almost always) overlook what good we can do in a situation. Seasons of life can also be an excuse…we’re too old, we’re too inexperienced..the kids demand too much attention…our elderly parents need our care….our marriage needs all our attention at the moment…again, whatever….if it’s just a rationalization to avoid something that makes us uncomfortable…then it’s just a rationalization ..no more and no less. If the Holy Spirit has placed a burden on our hearts to attend to His Work..nothing else will bring peace. If, on the other hand, it is not our calling to take part in a work, then we should just pray for G-d to enable those whom He has called and hold them up in intercessory prayer. Maybe that’s all that Club Fathom needs is intercessory prayer partners and things would then shape up…
@stelmodad: You could always blame it on reading past your bedtime?
@Debbie: Well said.
I personally invite anyone engaged in this conversation to come experience a worship service at Mosaic every Sunday @ 10:30AM or 6PM. You might then consider helping at the Creative & Performing Arts Center known as Fathom. You will have to agree to a background check and attending Mosaic for a least 3 monthes or a referal letter from your own local church’s pastor. Maybe with all your good ideals and insight – it could make Fathom a better place.
You could always talk to your own Pastor about having a outreach to the night life/club community, lost teenager, gang members, homeless/street youth, and other forgotten segments of our community.
God bless,
Tim
Tim, thanks for the invitation. I do plan to visit sometime.