Aaron Stern's Blog

What's Your Secret? book trailer

Does the thought of telling your secret make your heart race or your palms sweat?

Check out the book trailer for What's Your Secret?: freedom through confession.

   

 

'What's Your Secret?' is now available

Shhhh…. Is there something about you that you hope no one else ever finds out?

You’re not alone. Everyone has secrets—hurts, abuses, bad habits, fears. Big or small, secrets can destroy you from the inside out. The good news is that confession is more powerful than secrets—or the fear that keeps you from telling them.

My new book, What's Your Secret?: freedom through confession is now available...find it on Amazon, Barnes&Noble or at a bookstore near you.

What is Shaping Your Imagination? (part 2)

Last week I wrote a post encouraging us to be more aware of what is forming our imaginations and to be thoughtful about aligning our minds with the ways of the Kingdom of God. If our imaginations are left untended, they will be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people.” God’s thoughts and the thoughts of the world exist in radical opposition to one another – it’s self-giving vs. self-serving living. 

Take for example the subject of Church. When we think of what Church is, do we think about it as a place to get spiritual needs met or as a gathering of the interdependent people of God? I don’t think of Church as a grocery store that you go into with a checklist. I think of Church in terms of an old, solid, deeply rooted tree with lots of branches—branches that can’t live autonomously, that can’t live apart from the living organism. 

So this begs the question – what can we do to contribute toward a Spirit-shaped imagination? The quick answer is to immerse ourselves in the Bible and the body of literature that helps us enter into its world with a holy fascination. As we know it is not always that simple and our approach is as much a part of the discussion, so here are just a few practical things that I do to keep my mind pliable and leaning toward the ways of Jesus.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer – everything in the prayer given by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 is contrary to the ways and desires of our culture.  This prayer is only something a follower of Jesus would pray. The prayer of the world is “My kingdom come, my will be done” rather than submitting ourselves to the will of God, and “Make my persecutors suffer” rather than embracing forgiveness. This is not a rote, dry repetition of an old prayer but a humble desire to give ourselves to the leadership of a holy, loving Father.

Read authors not just books – I have picked not just a series of books to read but a few authors to read. My goal is to read everything they have written. The subjects about which they write and the way they write contributes to how I think. Considering who I have chosen, the depth with which they write and the number of books they have written, it will take me most of my lifetime to achieve this goal. I have picked both non-fiction and fiction authors along both theological and pastoral themes. Eugene Peterson and Frederick Buechner are just a couple of the authors on my list.

Be very aware of cultural intake – It would be easy in this conversation to get on the anti-media bandwagon. I don’t think avoidance is either practical or inherently wise. The issue is selectivity. We have to be discriminating in what we choose to watch and listen to. And no, this does not mean we are limited to Christian TV—in some cases, it would exclude it! The safe ground is usually found somewhere in the middle of the extremes. 

Get Outside – For me being outdoors on a hike, run or bike ride is a sort of detox. I am removed from the messages that continually bombard me, and I’m reminded of who is big and who is small.

Are there any other things that you find helpful to develop a Spirit-shaped imagination?

 

What is Shaping Your Imagination?

In 2009, the Harvard Business School did a study regarding the influence that exposure to luxury items has on decision-making. Useful items (watches, shoes, cars, clothing) were shown to two groups of people, at which point they were asked to make some large business decisions, as if they were the CEO. The first group was shown very functional and unspectacular versions of the items – watches you might find at Wal-Mart or shoes from Target. The second group was shown the same items, only on the very high end – a $5,000 watch, a Rolls Royce, etc. They found that those who had just seen the luxurious items were more likely to make self-serving choices, often at the expense of others. 

This got me thinking. If focusing on luxury items can impact the way we think about ourselves and others, then what am I doing to counteract this subtle influence? Wherever I go I see luxury items. Things I don’t need. Products to make my life easier, more comfortable, more self-serving. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating a poverty mentality or a run-away-from-everything-convenient-in-the-world posture, but instead asking, “What has my attention?” Do I go about my life like everyone else, living according to the standards set by the culture? Or does the Way of Jesus permeate what I am doing? If walking in the Way of Jesus is the goal, what am I doing to ensure that the Way of Jesus is the major influence on (and shaper of) my imagination? 

We all have an imagination. I’m not talking about the fantasy wonderlands that my kids dream up, but what we think about (imagine) when an idea is put before us.  Let me give you an example.  What do you think about when I say, “Church?” Or, what about “prayer?”

And what about…Holy Spirit?

Whatever came to your mind has to do with the data or stimuli that have shaped your imagination on that particular subject. I wonder if the responses are more shaped by our cultural surrounding than by the truth of God. Maybe it is because of this that Paul so frequently urges us to address what happens in our minds.

Take for instance Colossians 3:1-2: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

I love how the Message states this idea in Romans 12:2. “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

Left to ourselves we will lean toward our cultural norms, selfish desires and personal preferences. So let’s not allow our imagination to be formed by our self-serving culture since we follow a self-sacrificing God. Let’s allow the Spirit to awaken our minds and recast our imaginations in a biblical and prayerful way.

 

Rob Bell and Hell: is love winning?

One week ago, HarperOne released a book by Rob Bell called Love Wins: a Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. But before it ever hit shelves or came out of the Amazon warehouse things were buzzing in the blogosphere and Twitterverse about the message of his book.  Most of the activity was coming from the camp decrying Bell as a Universalist and thus a heretic – this based off a three minute Youtube teaser video and a book summary.  In the last seven days the cyber-jousting has continued, and after having been asked what I think of all this and some long discussions, I have compiled a few questions and thoughts that might be helpful in this conversation.

Why are we so quick to throw people under the bus? I have not read the book, so I can’t make a definitive statement on what I think of what Rob Bell is saying…but how could everyone else? It seems that instead of waiting to take the time to read the book, maybe even try to have an actual conversation with Rob Bell, statements like “farewell Rob Bell” and labels of “heretic” are very quickly handed out. Whatever happened to civil dialogue, believing the best in others and thinking that we might be able to learn something from others? We should all be glad that our judicial system is founded upon the basic assumption that someone is innocent until proven guilty. Could it be that we’ve made Bell out to be guilty until his book proves him innocent? 

Is there room for discussion on issues like this? On many issues there seems to be the belief that there are only two sides and one is orthodox and the other is heretical. Maybe it would serve the Body of Christ well to slow down and realize that there are some terms we should learn to create a more informed dialogue (for a good list and definition of terms valuable for this discussion, visit Glenn Packiam’s blog here), and to accept that there are multiple perspectives on the afterlife that are within the bounds of orthodoxy (for a few worthwhile and credible perspectives click here, here, here and here). We should remind ourselves that respectable God-fearing people have been debating (and disagreeing about) these issues for a couple millennia. 

When truth is in question what does our response look like? I believe that we can and should hold the line of orthodoxy. Period. But what happens when someone falls off the path (and I’m not implying that Bell has. Haven’t read the book yet.)? Do we all of a sudden stop acting like Jesus? Though Jesus disagreed with the Pharisees, he still extended a welcoming hand to them to identify themselves as lost and come home to the Father (Luke 15). If Rob is a misled brother we are called to restore him gently (Gal. 6:1-2). If he is in fact a heretic, it seems that we should and can defend truth but are then called to love him as a lost sheep…that wouldn’t seem to involve condemning him to hell! It doesn’t seem like love is winning in this one.

Why are we so scared? I have heard a lot of “having any ambiguity on this subject is dangerous,” or, “anyone who is wondering about Universalism will only be given permission by Bell to believe it is true and walk away” talk. So in an attempt to make everything safe we make a clean cut statement about something that is not so clear in Scripture. We know that there is an afterlife and eternal punishment, but there is also a considerable amount of mystery involved with them. Can we be ok with that?

In our desire to not allow for ambiguity for fear of people walking away, have we maybe made things so clean and unambiguous that people have been pushed away from the faith? Ambiguity within faith has its value. Maybe it causes us to lean in to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reveal truth. Isn’t that what the Christian life is about?

Are we missing the point? Is eternal punishment a biblical idea? Most definitely. Is it important? Absolutely. Is it possible that there is more to this discussion than “is hell about eternal conscious suffering”? I think so. What about a challenge to the hell, fire and brimstone style of preaching that scares people into praying a prayer? Are we approaching the Gospel from a “what we are saved from” angle or from a “what we are saved into” perspective? 

If there is any heresy here (and we shouldn’t be so quick to assume that there is), the Body of Christ should deal with it in a loving and gracious way. But let’s be people that are quick to promote the Kingdom rather than sitting around waiting for our chance to pick someone else apart.

Why Read Fiction?

When I tell people it is important to read fiction, I regularly get a reaction that sounds something like this - “I don’t have time to read stories. I need to gain something from what I read. I can’t even keep up with all the non-fiction I want to read so why waste time with fiction?” I understand this response as I once shared these sentiments, but I think this approach is shortsighted and misinformed. 

Here are just a few reasons why reading fiction is so important:

Fiction helps us see life through the lens of story.  Reading stories develops an ability to connect characters, timelines and themes. This is so important for believers because the Bible is a story. The Bible is the timeless, cosmic, redemption story of God.

When we only read non-fiction books our minds are trained to think in a linear, cause-and-effect way. The result is treating the Bible as an “if/then” book to be used, often with the intent of mining principles out of it, rather than seeing it as a story that includes us. As believers we are part of the story of God and it would serve us well to connect our story with the people, history and themes of the Bible. So when we read the story of David we see ourselves in his failures and triumphs; when we read the Gospels we remember the covenant to send a Messiah centuries earlier; and when we read Paul’s warnings to be on guard against deceptive philosophies we realize we are that community of faith, with the same tendencies to fall prey to selfish desires. 

The poet Denise Levertov says that poetic story language is not “an examination of what happens but an immersion in what happens.” The Bible is not a life-management book or a collection of moral lessons but rather a story to be entered.

Fiction helps us see the complexity of the world.  When we read fiction we experience the nuances of life and understand that the world is not black and white. Non-fiction books (especially pop-culture, self-help books) are often very black and white with little concern for the layers of complexity that is life. A wise old friend of mine once said “adolescents see the world in black and white…until they grow up and realize the world is a lot of gray.” This is not to say that the Gospel is relative, but that the world around us cannot be comprehended with simplistic naïveté. When reading The Great Gatsby you learn who Gatsby is and develop sympathy for him rather than making sweeping judgments as we can so easily do when we only see people one-dimensionally. Fiction reminds me to see people through the lens of grace.

 Fiction develops our imagination.  The language of non-fiction books is not the same as a well-written novel. Non-fiction language is primarily the language of information, but to only engage the world on the level of information is to miss the beauty and profundity of that which isn’t “useful.” The beauty of relationships, creation and many of the ordinary aspects of life can easily be overlooked unless our eyes are trained to see beneath the first layer.  The Bible has some facts and data but it is mostly jammed with poetry, song, prayer, narrative, metaphor and prophecy.  To only read the Bible for information is to miss out on a significant portion of what God is saying through His Word. In the words of Susan Sontag (Against Interpretation), “We must learn to see more, hear more, feel more.”

Time is valuable and we shouldn’t waste it reading meaningless drivel, but I implore you to have a steady dose of fiction in your reading diet. Regardless of whether you are an avid reader or a meanderer, pick up a piece of fiction and enjoy the story.

 

What the Bible is Not: lessons from a children's Bible

 I recently purchased and read through The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones with my four boys and loved it! Not only do I deem it required reading for parents with small children; I consider it a must read for all ages.  The message isn’t only for the 4-7 year old audience but one that needs to be grasped by young and old.

I think it is so valuable because it emphasizes the macro-story of the Bible over the details and micro-stories within.  Don’t get me wrong.  The micro-stories are important but I am thrilled that my boys will know that the Bible is one massive story of love, rescue and redemption as they learn the individual stories.

Reading this book reminded me of the beauty of the Bible and I thought about the different ways that the Bible is often approached.  The approach is key.  If we approach something from the wrong premise then everything that follows is going to be off.  For example, if I approach playing football like it is a basketball game then it will not matter how well I pay basketball; I am going to miss all that comes with playing football.

So if the right approach to the Bible is the macro-story of God, what are some of the other ways we approach the Bible? Or to ask the question another way - What is the Bible not?

The Bible is not a book of disconnected stories. All of the stories within Scripture point to God.  They reveal a God with a master plan and ultimately point to Jesus.  Take the stories of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22), Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 45), the healing of Naaman (II Kings 5), or Jonah at Nineveh (Jonah 4). They are great stories on their own but they all foreshadow the way in which Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, the rescuer of His people, requires a surrendered heart and the extravagance of His compassion.

The Bible is not a book of rules.  God is not primarily interested in rules.  There were some amazing rule keepers in the Gospels – they were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.  These were the guys with whom Jesus was most harsh.  He was pushing against the notion that rule keeping is the bottom line.  Life with God isn’t founded on rules but relationship.  Relationship is the basis of a life with God and out of that will come a desire to embrace and obey the ways of God (I John 5:2-3).

The Bible is not a book of heroes.  We sometimes think the Bible is a collection of stories laced with flawless Biblical superheroes.  Take a closer look though and you won’t find any.  You will find people like David the adulterer and murderer, Noah the drunkard, Jacob the liar and Rahab the prostitute.  Are these the people after whom we are to try to model our lives? Maybe we are actually supposed to see ourselves in them and again realize how much we need Jesus!

The Bible is not a book of principles. One of the statements that grates on me is, “I used [insert verse here] to get [insert desire, need or dream here]”.  Are there promises in the Bible? Yes.  Is the Bible a book of promises that amount to guarantees that we hold God to? No. To approach it as such is to say the Bible is a self-help manual with some cool stories wrapped around some sweet if/then principles. Our American culture loves to turn everything into a product.  The Bible isn’t a product to be “used” but an invitation into a cosmic redemption story.

The Bible is not about you.  The Bible is about God.  Obviously it has profound impact on us but it is not primarily about us. We are quick to make life all about us.  Isn’t that the American way? Actually it is the human nature way.  To center life around ourselves.  Actually all of life including the redemptive work of Christ begins with, is sustained by and ends with God. (Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:16-17).

Must Reads for Every Pastor

“What book do you recommend?”  That’s a pretty common question that gets floated around in meetings, conferences, and interviews.  It is always fascinating to hear what books have been impacting to different people.  When it comes to pastors who ask this question, titles like Good to Great by Jim Collins, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, or Purple Cow by Seth Godin are common favorites.  The recommendation list is long in reference to leadership and running an organization but what about being a pastor?  Books on leadership and the principles they teach are good but have we turned the pastor into a CEO rather than a shepherd?  Has the role of “spiritual director” been pushed to the periphery?  Has development in the pastoral vocation been traded for development in management savvy?

Our culture is driven by the free market which puts the consumer in the driver’s seat.  As a result, leaders of companies that provide goods and services to the consumer must learn to grow and excel in organizational leadership, management efficiency and marketing prowess in order to survive.  Though these skills top the priority list for business leaders, these are not the primary skills that must be developed in the life of a pastor.  The core question to be answered is “What is driving what?”  Meaning, is your pastoral work being driven by leadership and management principles or is your leadership being informed by pastoral values?  The difference is huge and I pray that we have not become so influenced by culture that we have replaced the primary for the ancillary.  So, what books do I recommend specifically for pastors?  Thanks for asking…

The Knowledge of the Holy

 by A.W. Tozer - Our view of God shapes everything.  Tozer will challenge your understanding of God by masterfully unpacking the attributes of God.  We are all in orbit around God, pastor included, so knowing who He is and what He does is vital.

I recommend any and all books by Eugene Peterson (he is most commonly known as the translator of The Message Bible) but specifically point to these four books.

Under the Unpredictable Plant – Using the story of Jonah as a metaphor, Peterson develops the idea of “vocational holiness” and calls pastors to their true purpose.

 

 

Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work – In an attempt to help pastors be more effective, Eugene points to the Old Testament for wisdom. His practical-theological insights include prayer-directing, story-making, pain-sharing, nay-saying and community-building.

 

Working the Angles – Just as the lines of the triangle don’t make a triangle without the proper angles, the actual tasks of the pastor are only as valuable as the substance of what supports them.

 

 

The Contemplative Pastor - Peterson describes the term "pastor" with the adjectives: un-busy, subversive, and apocalyptic – a great challenge to the many paradigms of our culture.

 

 

Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey – Life does not always work out the way we want it to and times of crisis and difficulty create disappointments that can be hard to navigate. Pastors have the task of walking with people through those times.  Yancey looks at suffering and the questions we are often scared to ask.

 

The Other Side of Pastoral Ministry by Daniel Brown – Written by a long time pastor, the effectiveness of ministry is not found in numbers but rather in fruit and involvement in the community of believers.

 

 

Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem – Big theology books are not reserved for seminarians and must get frequent use by pastors.  Our theology must inform our practices rather than experiences defining our theology.

In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen - this little book is packed with insight on the life of a Christian leader.  He  brings the reader back to the freshness of the basics by emphasizing identity in Christ and the vitality of authentic relationships.

10 Must Reads

I am frequently asked for the list of books I would consider "must reads".  So in my humble opinion, here is the list of books have been a significant part of shaping my heart and mind.  Feel free to comment and add your favorites as I am always up for a good book suggestion...though no telling how long it will take me to get to it as the stack on my bedside table already blocks the alarm clock.  This list is general in nature, changes periodically and is designed to cover a wide variety of topics.  In future posts I will give "must read" lists for more specific subjects i.e. leadership, missions, economics, etc.  Happy reading.

The Bible

Tells the story of God and His desire to have a personal relationship with His people, culminating at the cross of Christ as the ultimate expression of His love.  I recommend a good study Bible for hints on context and application.  Read the Message or New Living Translation for easy readability, the New American Standard for word-for-word study and the New International Version for a good balance.

 

The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

An incredible discourse on the attributes of God.  Each chapter is short but packed full of insights that will make your brain hurt and your heart gasp in awe of God.

 

 

Eyewitness to Power by David Gergen

As a speech writer for five U.S. presidents, Gergen shares his behind the scenes insights on leadership.  Learn what to do and what not to do from those who held the the most powerful position in the world.

 

 

Letters to a Young Conservative by Dinesh D'Souza

A concise articulation of well though out ideas ideas that are in play in our modern world.  Broaden your knowledge base on a wide variety of issues regardless of your political views.

 

 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

A timeless evaluation of apologetics. ethics and theology.  A great book that engages the mind in reference to Christian belief.  For a similar, more contemporary read addressing the subject pick up Tom Keller's The Reason for God.

 

 

Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey

Is God fair?  Is God Silent?  Is God hidden?  Yancey masterfully answers these questions and gives reason for faith as the trying times of life arise.

 

 

The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman

An important look at where our world has come from and where it is going economically, technologically and politically.  It is vital to have a working  understanding of globalization in any discussion about current affairs and the future landscape of the world.

 

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

A fascinating and ingenious look at what makes things go from small to big.  Not only a fun read but well worth it if you want to sell a product or disseminate an idea.

 

 

The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

What does rest look like in 21st Century America?  New life is breathed into this ancient command to develop a Sabbath lifestyle with immediate and eternal benefits.

 

 

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Written during WWII, this book describes what it means to follow Jesus with persistent obedience, a disdain for "cheap grace" and a willingness to sacrifice.