This morning, I was greeted by little encouragement from The Jazz Theologian (Robert Gelinas). I dropped by his site, wished I could go to Finding the Groove Live!, and settled for reading some excerpts from his new book.
The back of the book says, “A jazz-shaped faith … balances freedom with boundaries, the individual with the group, and traditions with the pursuit of what might be. I have discovered in jazz a way of thinking, living, communicating—a way of being … a groove.”
Man, I need that groove.
Community is hard. Worship communities are hard. Online communities can feel downright impossible sometimes. In The Different Drum, M. Scott Peck described four stages of authentic community way back in the 1980s before everyone was talking about authentic this and that.
- Pseudocommunity
- Chaos
- Emptiness
- Real community
Groups always begin in pseudo-community, when people “cover up their differences, by acting as if the differences do not exist.” This is what I’ve been doing at church for far too long. We drive up, take a deep breath, then I lock away all the parts of myself that will cause trouble so I can keep a smile on my face while I worship.
Only my heart was so guarded I didn’t have any room for worship at all. Like Pink Floyd, I was becoming “comfortably numb” and somehow thinking that was better for the community. Instead, I was being fundamentally dishonest with myself and my church. In trying to keep the peace, I locked them out, relegated them to a pseudo-community, and prevented real connection from forming.
Of course, I’m overstating things a bit. But it doesn’t feel like an overstatement to say we’ve moved into the next stage of community at our church, and it’s painful. Peck calls it chaos “when the people in the community realize that differences cannot simply be ignored.” It is characterized by conflict and power struggles and people “giving vent to their mutual disagreements and differences.” Individualism and disorder reign. To go back to Gelinas the Jazz Theologian, we’re asserting our individual freedoms, but we’re doing it way out of tune with the community. The result is a kind of blind and dischordant Bicycle Built for 2000.
And people start leaving, maybe because they prefer a more polished pseudo-community. Maybe they don’t have faith that this song can ever sound better. Maybe they’ve decided they want to sing a different song.
But I love singing with these people. And I’m tired of treating my church like a franchise. I’m not a baptist. I’m a Christian. I don’t go to a Baptist church because they make better hamburgers than the Presybertians or the Methodists or the Lutherans or McDonalds. I go there because they are my community.
Franchises and denominations can quickly descend into manufactured pseudo-communities. And I’m tired of it. I’m tired of chaos too. I’m ready for emptiness, I guess. I’m ready to come clean, even if I don’t always know how to do that. I’m ready for a groove.
In the beginning of Finding the Groove: Composing a Jazz Shaped Faith, Robert Gelinas writes,
A jazz-shaped faith is worth pursuing because it balances freedom with boundaries, the individual with the group, and traditions with the pursuit of what might be. I have discovered in jazz a way of thinking, living, communicating—a way of being… a groove. Not a rut, but rather a set of factors that converge, creating a place to settle in and space to be.
Jazz is not the solution to all of the flaws of our faith. Rather it is a way for you and me to experience the gospel—the coming of the kingdom of God—in spite of and because of our deficiencies. The revolutionary movement of Jesus crosses racial, cultural, socioeconomic, denominational, and generational divides, and in the midst of our “franchise” approach to life and faith there is a crying need for something old and new, fresh and yet not novel—something that allows for our weaknesses and strengths…
What if there was a way for Christians to live with the tensions of our faith and to embrace their beauty?
Now, watch Robert’s super cool video when you get a chance. Pure poetry.
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i understand that numb feeling that comes
like a gard against the anger that can consume when one is not able to be open and still accepted around people in our life.
yet, the anger always wins.
one must be able to express their thoughts without fear.
i can understand the jazz quality to interaction and communication.
nAncy, good to hear from you on a wet Texas Friday.
We have to express our thoughts without fear, yes. But we can’t be exhibitionist and unhealthy about expressing our thoughts. That’s the groove that Jazz manages. The balance of individuality and group, freedom and boundaries. If we’re in the same key, let it flow, know when to submit and when to lead.
Write your comment here…Way, way cool, Marcus!
Very interesting, Marcus! I've been thinking lots about how some communities work and others don't, and your post fits right into that realm. Love the Jazz analogy and look forward to reading more about jazz-shaped faith. Thanks for sharing.
This is what I’ve been doing at church for far too long. We drive up, take a deep breath, then I lock away all the parts of myself that will cause trouble so I can keep a smile on my face while I worship.
Oh, hon. I'm so sorry. I did this too, and it sucked, and was ultimately destructive to me. I will vigorously wish better for you and your family.
Marcus – you're the only guy I know who is able to piece together Pink Floyd references, M Scott Peck and jazz in a single blog post…and have it all make sense.
Take heart, my friend – community isn't easy but it''s worth it…the church isn't perfect but it's the bride of Christ…and even if this local community isn't what God has for you, I know that He has something good in store…church isn't our idea, it's His…we're just along for the glorious ride.
Grace to you
Marcus– I think you echo the sentiment of many, many people. As you say, community–authentic, loving community is so very hard. Yet, I have to believe it is worth the risk, effort, and at times the frustration.
Your observation about pseudo-community is so accurate. I have noticed that often groups within a church (I'm thinking right now of a group of leaders in a congregation) often come to a place where some are no longer willing to settle for this, will others feel very threatened by anything but this pseudo-community. Again–the pain of community.
Thanks Marcus.
People don't like it (in general) when you are real. They feel exposed.
Write your comment here…
the word franchise makes me think of frenchfries.
Thanks Marcus. This post means a lot right now.
Our church has been in that chaos state for going on five years now. First, the retirement of a beloved pastor. Then the "running out" of his predecessor by about half of the church. Now we have found out our current pastor is having an inappropriate relationship and she is leaving.
We are a mess.
We have considered leaving, but something interesting has happened as we wait: We have loved each other despite our differences.
It has been painful and difficult at times, but we are moving to a new level of authenticity that may not have been available to us through any other path.
Faith works and we will continue on this journey…waiting for His direction.
Satan loves to hop on the groove too. That's the rub.
Laura, I’m sorry that your church has been in chaos for so long! I’m curious what you mean by “Satan loves to hop on the groove too”?
I only mean that, if a well-lived out faith is this wonderful marriage that Mr. Gelinas describes as a jazz groove…this that "balances freedom with boundaries, the individual with the group, and traditions with the pursuit of what might be…" then–at least for us–it seems that the devil is as attracted to such a faith as we are! When things seem to be heading in the right direction we have been railroaded every time. It helps me to remember that there must be something good that he is trying to prevent. It helps me persevere.
Laura
Isn't that the truth! I think the most important thing we need to remember is that their is only one body of Christ, not many, Jesus came to speak the word of His father, not the Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterians, etc…
John 14:10 ESV Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
One gospel, and in that gospel – we are all one!
Galatians 3:28-29 ESV There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Thank you so much for sharing and I am really enjoying your blog…
JOV, thank you for your good words.
Still searching for community here.
Tired of feeling like I’m the only one wanting…more.
More of Him, less of programs.
More of ministering, less Ministers.
More of people who feel and think deeply,
not content to just skim the surface of life.
Still.
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