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david
hopkins
dave
is the editor of next-wave and a wonderful person
with a great outlook for life
Ginkworld's
Famous 7 Questions. An honor I dream of... As answered
by me, David Hopkins [http://antiherocomics.com]
1.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE
POSTMODERN MOVEMENT? Postmodern missionaries have
initiated a discussion on the authority of community. We
have begun a serious critique on the consumer-driven
church model, a.k.a. the supposedly purpose-driven
church. The consumer-driven church focuses its energy
into creating an experience that appeals to
"seekers." Offering programs (religious goods
and services) that a person would buy into, which
centers the church's efforts on the individual. However,
within a community, we say, "It's not about
you." We will not compromise WHO WE ARE in order to
appease your sinful consumerist desires. If you want to
know us, we must share life together. We begin to
understand the Gospel is not so much about yielding to
theological propositions-- than it is about exchanging
life with people who have experienced the Good News. We
begin a journey to glorify God within our community. The
postmodern church should not seek to destroy the
consumer-driven church. Instead, we will be there to
catch them when their weak model falls around their
heads. For the consumer church, the treatment is worse
than the disease. They create disciples who merely
celebrate their own ability to participate in the
Christian-culture-experience. The postmodern church will
provide a genuine answer for those who realize the
church is not a program or demographic.
2.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE "POSTMODERN
CHRISTIANITY?"
I think "postmodern
Christianity" localizes the Gospel experiences
within small communities of people who have a taste of
the Transcendent. These churches acknowledge that God
still dwells in mystery. We are too puny to see God. We
can know of God through His historic and sacred
scriptures, the tradition of the Church, and the
experience within the community-- but God is the
Mystery. Postmodern Christians do not fight God on this
issue. They find it comforting, which confuses the
modernist.
3.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE THE CHURCH PLAYING IN THE LIVES OF
A POSTMODERN PEOPLE? We will realize that the Gospel
message is not merely the difference between a
"good" life and a "better" life
(hence the American Dream), but that the Gospel is an
issue of LIFE and N0 LIFE. The Gospel will become the
lenses through which we see the world. The Church will
be the family we all need. Our chief witness will be
hospitality, generosity, honesty, and mercy towards a
hurting world.
4.
I BELIEVE LEADERS NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT - OPEN AND
HONEST, POSTMODERN PEOPLE REQUIRE IT - HAVE YOU
EXPERIENCED ANY NEGATIVE FEED BACK WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR
LIFE STORY? Many people want to know why I'm no
longer a Methodist. For the record: I have no serious
problem with the United Methodist Church that caused me
to leave! I love the Church. They raised me. But
ultimately, the UMC was not community God directed me
towards. I ended up at Axxess. That's it. No major
protest or rebellion. Besides that, some have questioned
whether or not I'm REALLY a "true pastor." I'm
24. I have one pitiful seminary class under my belt. The
theological training I'm receiving right now is from an
unaccredited institution (Ligonier School of Theology).
I have no pedigree papers. BUT, my congregation laid
hands and ordained me as their pastor. I lead a
community of people who look to me for spiritual
direction. I administer communion. I have baptized
people. Dedicated babies. Prayed over a dying man.
Visited a man convicted of murder. I've given counsel to
couples. I disciple people. I discipline people. I
preach the Gospel. In a sense, I'm a tent-maker. My
other profession is as a high school English teacher.
But many people don't regard me as a "true
pastor." It's kind of frustrating. I love my
congregation. But people on the outside don't get it.
5.
WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU SEE CHURCH TAKING AS THE YEARS
PROGRESS? Alas, I think the church will take two
directions-- one towards mediocrity, the other towards
truly shaping the culture we live in. MEDIOCRITY: The
church that caters to the individual will find that
self-help is not the answer. We must treat the entire
culture. These individuals will figure it out, before
the leaders do. When attendances does drop, these
churches will not be able to continue their massive
budget. They will be in trouble. SHAPING CULTURE:
Christians will participate in their surrounding
society. They will engage people on the presence of God
and the mystical world we live in. God will manifest
Himself in the artistic expressions of His people--
music, painting, drama, dance, poetry, writing,
sculpture, spoken word. This art will be a voice in the
dialogue we have with this world. Christianity may
become an American subculture. But, we will be heard.
6.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU BELIEVE "SECULAR" (I DO NOT
SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'SECULAR' AND 'SACRED' - IT'S
ALL GOD'S) MUSIC HAS IN THE CHURCH? Music is the
language of Heaven. The world struggles to reclaim its
original language. Music (especially stuff written by
people outside the Church) can be used to connect us
with each other and other people's experiences. Without
this language, we have lost our voice. At church, I've
been experimenting with the use of various ambient music
during my messages to a create space for worship while
preaching the Gospel. (I'm also really into the use of
random media images, but that's another topic
altogether.)
7.
WHAT THREE BANDS DO YOU FEEL ECHO THE VOICE OF A
POSTMODERN LIFE? MOBY- If you do not buy his album
"Play," I pity you. Moby is a genius and quite
possibly the most profound and innovative artist of our
generation. The dude loves Jesus, too. Instead of
posting his lyrics on the CD, he uses the space to write
essays about issues that concern him. To quote Moby:
"I love Christ, but I am utterly dismayed at the
teachings and actions of a lot of these supposed
'Christians.'" Moby's music is raw and beautiful.
It is sometimes playful and at other times dark and
mournful. His music articulates the complex and
enigmatic voice of a world seeking after God. Techno/electronica
music is inherently spiritual and will be growing in its
significance. The rave/club scene is a communal and
spiritual expression for people needing a transcendent
experience, or a least a reasonable facsimile. DEUS- You
will have to search to find their music. They're a band
from Belgium. The music is experimental, multi-layered,
and obscure. The emotions expressed in their songs are
paradoxical. (Joyful-mournful, childish-mature,
loving-hateful, rebellious-submissive, you name it) I'm
still processing what these guys are saying... and I've
been listening to them for years. DEUS has a definite
postmodern voice. You can hear the deconstruction.
(albums: "In A Bar, Under the Sea,"
"Worst Case Scenario," and "the Ideal
Crash") JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS- Here's a
postmodern mess. The motion picture soundtrack
"Josie and the Pussycats" has several songs by
the band. But this band does not exist. It is a
non-band. The movie itself is a postmodern attack on
consumerism and pop culture, all the while fully
embracing product placement and a consumer/pop society.
It's a teen flick that makes fun of its own audience.
Needless to say, the movie bombed-- but my girlfriend
and I both LOVED IT!
ANY
CLOSING THOUGHTS?
*Drink
more Coca-Cola.
*Basketball
is a great sport. (Go Mavericks!)
*The
Irish are beautiful people.
*Sesame
Street's "Bert and Ernie" are a closet gay
couple created by the liberal PBS media group.
*I
like playing video games.
*Douglas
Coupland is an incredible writer. Although,
"Generation X" is not nearly as good as his
most recent work.
*Insert
your own witty and profound thought here:
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