60 Minutes did a piece recently interviewing Patriarch Bartholomew, the official leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, a body of about 300 Million people – the approximate population of the United States.

You’d think that with that kind of following they’d be in good company, but no – they are in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).  This city in Turkey has been the dividing line between East and West – Muslim and Christian.  Istanbul stands at 99% Muslim, with only about 4,000 Greek Orthodox dotting the city landscape.  While 60 Minutes was taping the interview, Bartholomew was informed another attempt had been made on his life.

How do you love your neighbor in such a circumstance?

In fact, this is one instance when we can literally ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” because there is a record of this exact situation.  Surrounded by people furious at his very existence, Jesus used the opportunity not to lay down and die, but to be crucified on a hill for all the world to see.  This wasn’t self-righteousness, it was displaying what love looks like in public.

Some might say that Christianity always has the most trouble truly communicating it’s raison d’être in an environment where it is generally accepted or revered as the cultural norm.  Christianity was born into a political and social circumstance where exile, humiliation and persecution where expected by all followers of Jesus.  That’s why in Matthew 5:11 when Jesus said “When (not IF) you are persecuted you are blessed by God.”  He supposes that each person who chooses to live the alternative lifestyle of Jesus Christ will by their very nature be targets of mockery and destruction by others.  And what do you do when (not ‘if’) it happens?  Two things: remember that prophets who came before you were also persecuted, and then turn the other cheek.

But what about in America?

Even in an age when statistically few people are actively engaging a Christian faith, most see America as a “Christian Nation” if only in name.  Even still, you can bet that Christians living out the Christ life will have it confirmed to them when they find themselves being persecuted.  Live different, and there will always be dissenters trying to rope you back into the mainstream.  Our political system might keep you from getting executed (by the Government anyway,) but keep showing your love – and you will be attacked.  It will take you to jail, make you misunderstood and maligned by friends, and harassed by cynics, hypocrites and nay-sayers. You will be given threats at every level to stop shaking up the status-quo.  You will be underfunded and overexposed.

And if you’re reading this today and can’t think of a time when you were brought down to your knees for your beliefs – maybe its because that’s all they were — beliefs.  Put some of your radical beliefs into action.  Loving your enemies, being a peace-maker, mourning with those who mourn…it will quickly make you see just how surrounded you are by people who don’t understand you – but nevertheless keep at it – they are desperately in need of Love.

Just read an article on the coming Evangelical collapse in America.  I am both relieved and filled with anxiety as I read Michael Spencer’s words.  He depicts with such clarity the “costly” mistake of evangelicals identifying with social and political conservatism: in the next ten years, thousands of ministry and churches closing, a society-wide embrace of Post-Christian secularism, and a major tide in cultural antagonism toward evangelical Christianity as America begins to view conservative Christians as enemies to social progress.

Will this happen?  Who knows for sure.  I do know that at some level, Evangelicals deserve it.  Though I don’t primarily identify myself as an Evangelical (especially in the popular sense of the word) there is a lot about the movement I agree with (the gospel is something to be shared, Bible is central to understanding our faith, etc).  And yet I can’t help but say this coming collapse is “deserved.”

Evangelicals have squandered their massive influence on America, with refusing to creatively engage the culture and instead creating a Christian sub-culture (with radio stations, bookstores and the like) and when Christians DO engage their surrounding world, its sort of reminds me of little the little kid that would throw a snowball at a passing car, only to return to his little group of cronies to talk about brave he was.

Pickets for “pro-life” and anti-gay marriage protests are not going to bring the Kingdom of God.  This sort of change in culture is not what Jesus wanted, or he would have been a politician.  Instead, he was a storyteller, an actor, a healer, a teacher, and a revolutionary.  I don’t think he’d join a cause, he WAS a cause, him and his followers.

In Acts 5:13, Luke says, “But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.” What’s up with that?  Almost like everyone appreciated the progress in society these early Christians were fighting/dying for, but few people had the guts to join ranks with them.  Isn’t this the opposite of today?

For those reading this and are not Christians, I’m sorry for the way we as Christians have misrepresented Christ.  I’m sorry for how I’ve misrepresented him. For those who are followers, let’s really get out there and FOLLOW!  I want to move beyond argumentative Christianity, and then I want to move past cynicism and despair, and live in the adventure of the Christ-movement in North America!

Sears Tower Renamed – When Katrina and I moved to Chicago, we drove up I-55 and were scrolling through the radio stations when we came across 93.9 WLIT.  For those unaware, my nickname through college was WLIT (pronounced will-it) so it was pretty sweet seeing that on the radio the day we moved to town playing some of my favorite songs.  Well, starting this summer the Sears Tower is being renamed the Willis Tower.  What ‘chou talkin’ bout WILLIS!?! Maybe they’ve saved the penthouse at the top for us.  Of course, we’ll need the help of our local Chicagoans to make sure the name sticks…(currently its not looking promising…)

Daley Laments – Mayor Daley, under investigation with unlawful fundraising connections to the Hispanic Democratic Organization, received word that the city of Chicago was to receive $1 BILLION dollars as a part of the stimulus plan.  He said the money was “better than nothing.”  BETTER THAN NOTHING!?!?  Somebody pay off my school loans with the scraps, please.  I’ll even take $10 for a dinner tonight with my goreous wife.

Good News for Dogs n’ Cats – Alderman decided to take their time listening to Bob Barker.  Time to get out of town you love animals!

And that’s it!  Have a great one everyone!