The Man Show does Revolution December 21, 2007
Posted by Zack in Nevada , trackback
Here’s a perfect example of how much Christian radicals have to teach their counterparts on the non-Christian left—and how cultural differences make cross-pollination difficult.
I saw signs for Deadly Viper Character Assassins project in the Central Christian Church book store in Las Vegas last week, and just remembered to look it up today. It’s a set of resources to help leaders stay grounded and humble, created by CCC senior paster Jud Wilhite and XXXChurch founder Mike Foster.
The spectacular implosion of countless televangelists have made Christians synonymous with bad leaders for a lot of people outside (and inside) the church. In reality, Christian churches are producing an incredible number of incredible leaders. In many churches, leadership training begins at a young age in youth groups and continues through an endless string of volunteer or staff positions of increasing responsibility. All along the way, leaders are nurtured with direct mentorship from more experienced leadership as well as copious books and materials, seminars and big conferences. One constant thread throughout is the struggle to stay humble and self-critical, even in the face of exceptional success.
Tell me you don’t know some leaders who could use some of this wisdom from the Deadly Vipers project:
Often a lifetime of work can be greatly impacted by a few quick, careless decisions. Leaders often engage in “character creep” as they subtly and slowly cross lines….
Subtly we can begin to shade the truth, refuse to face reality and deceive ourselves. A leader begins to live with lies and travels down a slippery slope… Effective leaders embrace transparency, honesty, and a willingness to admit mistakes….
Most people in leadership will get the opportunity to hop into the sack with someone inappropriately. You will have the opportunity to cross a line sexually. You will be faced with a situation that looks like you just can’t pass up. It’s not if, it’s when. …we need to be prepared to make good decisions in the area of sexuality and relationships.
Our culture teaches that we are what we have. Materialism can drive us for more and more money all the while our contentment and fulfillment level is dropping. …leaders have healthy views on generosity, giving, and how to make a living and not make a dying.
Often leaders do what they do in an unhealthy pursuit of proving one’s worth. Ego reveals itself in a devaluing of others to inflate oneself or in believing one’s own press reports. The long-term effect of this behavior is a life that comes up short and meaningless. Leaders must train and fight for a centered perspective while maintaining respect for others….
But chances are, if you came up in the same traditions I did, you’re going to be totally thrown off by the wrapper that wisdom has been placed in on the Deadly Viper site. One of the keys to the success of Christian radicals in reaching so many millions of Americans is that they operate in mainstream cultural vernacular. They’re radicals when it comes to material and emotional lifestyle and their relationships to those around them, but they’re regular people when it comes to surface cultural signifiers.
That’s why the idea for Deadly Viper was hatched in a place called “Da Man Cave,” probably during a Cowboys game (they came up three times in Jud’s sermon that I attended), and packaged in an unfortunate, Asian-stuff-is-so-funny Kung Fu theme.
It is The Man Show does revolution…but with a very strong line against the objectification of women.
Comments»
Zach, you’ve just uncovered another reason the popular media has never understood the Church. These kind of classes and books and training offerings have been a part of the mainstream church for decades, at least for the more than three decades I have been associated with the church.
But it is that proud, arrogant, gaudy self-promoters who the media loves to play up and paint as the the whole picture. It never was the whole picture. But scandal and arrogance, unfortunately sells. Good churches however, are always working against the baser instincts of our nature.
Of course I should add, that like any group, we have our share of pompous idiots as well.