david hopkins

dave is the editor of next-wave and a wonderful person with a great outlook for life

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Ginkworld's Famous 7 Questions. An honor I dream of... As answered by me, David Hopkins (http://monkhouse.org/david)

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: