Indonesia - A Pictorial Timeline, or The Many Faces of Jonathan Malone

I'm very, very, very excited to be here!

Tell me more about everything.

 (Sung to the Pointed Sister's song) I'm so excited to go to the governor's house. It makes me feel special.

How dare you cut me off!

Well, if I can't talk then I won't listen (aka "the mature response").

So sleepy and yet cannot sleep.

I don't even know what time it is any more - probably because I'm not wearing a watch.

My "meeting face."

Uh, maybe something I ate?

Definitely something I ate! 

Ever feel out of place?

Laughing with the Trinidadians (not shown).

And now, Trinidad the Musical!

Polite applause.

Who has two thumbs and is happy he went to Indonesia?

This guy!

Indonesia 9 - The Final Chapter!

Here it is, the final post. I’m stranded in Singapore for the night with no internet so I thought I should at least make good use of my time and give you that brilliant, amazing wrap-up I promised.

As my faithful readers know (all two of you) this has been an interesting and challenging trip (please, no Grateful Dead references). Here are a couple of lessons I have gleaned:

Lesson One – It is difficult for people let others in (metaphorically speaking).

In the beginning of the week I complained that it seemed people were not willing to share. A part of that was simple fear, shyness and my own neediness. What I have come to realize is that the majority of the participants were in the same boat as I was; they did not know anyone either. A common reaction to a new place is to err on the side of caution. Be carful who (or is it whom?) you trust. Trust is a commodity in small supply and is given out very carefully. Yet by the end of the week everyone seemed fairly chummy with everyone else; there was a very positive esprit de cours. I arrived with an assumption that we all were here as Christians and therefore were all ready to share yet I think I forgot that we are all human. Maybe I need to relax with my theological excitement and learn a little more patience.

Lesson Two – It is very difficult for Christians to trust other Christians.

When you are in a place of so many different traditions especially traditions that have not always gotten along, it will be very difficult to create a level of trust. Every conversation among participants started with a question of where the individual was from and then which church the individual was representing. The real question was behind these pleasantries was often, “can I trust you?” If the person was from the “right” group then trust could be found. This is a sad reality of Christianity, and perhaps one of the reasons that the Forum exists. People are slow to trust people, and Christians are even slower to trust other Christians.

Lesson Three – We have a lot of work to do.

While the leaders of the conference continued to celebrate unity, unity, and more unity, I left realizing that there are some very real places of serious difference and disagreement. There is a deep tension between Evangelicals and Orthodox, Pentecostals and Traditional churches, and elsewhere. It is very telling when we cannot end with a service of the Lord’s Supper – the very moment when unity is incarnate. I think the idea of the Forum is a good start and applaud it’s efforts, but I leave with a very real understanding of how much work we still have to do.

Lesson Four – The Global Christian Forum Is Necessary, Good, and Unrealistic

One the worst witness that Christianity has in the world (aside from all of the persecution of Jews, burning of witches, wars, etc.) is the many divisions within our house. It is necessary that we work to get along with others who claim the Lordship of Christ instead of looking the other way with our grievances. We are supposed to see Christ in others and if we can’t see Christ in our brothers and sisters who also profess to see Christ and yet disagree with us theologically, doctrinally, ecclesiology, or otherwise, then how will we see Christ in non-believers? The Forum is necessary.

The Forum is good because it is making that effort to bring people together to try to see Christ in each other and trying to do this in a positive way. This is a worthwhile cause.

The Forum is unrealistic because human brokenness will again and again get in the way, pride will rise, anger will bring others down, and fear will dictate our actions. I can say with certainty that we will mess it up. Yet this is the church on a local and global level. It is an institution or gathering that is broken. At the same time it is what God uses again and again to proclaim the gospel to the world. We can’t do it, especially on our own, but there can be moments of transcendent unity only through the action and the grace of God.

Now What?

So now I need to consider what I should report to the good ole’ American Baptists (if they haven’t already given up on me because they have been reading my posts). Despite my gripes and complaints I am glad and continued to be honored that I had the opportunity to go and represent the American Baptists in Indonesia. I learned a lot about myself, and about the difficulties before us as Christians. From what I have seen and experienced I would urge the American Baptists to continue to stay involved in the Global Christian Forum. Issues like the Prosperity Gospel (which is nothing less than a heresy of our time), proselyting (or sheep-stealing) from other churches, and a general feeling of mistrust of others are very real in the country and the world. These difficulties again and again get in the way of sharing the love of Christ and calling people to grow in their relationship with Christ. We need to be a part of the solution and I think the GCF is on the right track.

Beyond that, I think the denomination, regions, or individual churches should engage the challenge of unity every opportunity they can. We should deliberately engage Pentecostals and Orthodox and everyone in-between (including those crazy Independent churches and other Baptists). I strongly feel that we should especially continue to engage the overtly Evangelical churches because I believe are closer than many “classical” American Baptists would like to think and we can learn something about ourselves. We need to continue to work with established organizations like the National Council ofChurches, the World Council of Churches, and others. And finally we need to continue to reach out to other communities of faith (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) and find that place of commonality or connection where we can all work towards bettering the world.

I am glad I was able to go, and with all that I learned I would gladly and humbly go again. It was a time when God certainly pushed, challenged, and blessed me. I hope to take what the Holy Spirit has shown me and share it with my church, my denomination, and all others who will suffer me the audience (In other words, despite my earlier posts, I am very thankful that I was able to go – thank you Roy Medley!).

I hope you enjoyed the pictorial timeline of my experience and thanks to all for coming along on the ride.

Indonesia 8 - The End is Near!

A short post today, as I am packing and getting ready to leave.

The trip ended on a very good note:

• ·      The Mayor of Manado threw a party for us complete with tradition dance and a choir that was out of this world.
•         I got to go on a short field trip.
• ·      For breakfast I had wonderful conversation with a number of different people.

I am working on a brilliant summary that will nicely wrap the whole trip up and offer a sense of hope. It will be amazing. It will rock your world. It will be better than Cats (Its hard to not be better than Cats – Slam on you Andrew Lloyd Weber!). So to help you prepare mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and pneumatically I am offering you the below pictures:

Indonesia 7 - The Musical!

Today I’m going to write a happy blog post. No grumbling about weak pleasantries, false smiles, or a watered down theology. No, instead I will work on sharing some of the joys of this experience so people will not think that the Jonathan Malone experience was one of a gray rain cloud the entire time.

Personally I would say that this has been a good experience as well as challenging. I’ll address the challenging aspects in a different post because this is a happy, happy, joy, joy post (can anyone sing the song?).

As I expected would happen, the relationships have been the most wonderful. Despite my gripes about people being slow to share in the beginning of the week, I have had the opportunity get to know some wonderful people and in those relationships I have been blessed.

Here is my conclusion based on everyone I have met:

(queue the lights to a single spotlight on me sitting on a chair with an acoustic guitar)

When I’m down,

When I’m feeling blue

When it seems that everything is falling apart and life is getting me down (at this point a single tear falls down my face)

I needn’t fret

I needn’t frown

But just remember this one lesson I’ve learned

(pause for the curtains to open, I jump off my stool, throw the guitar into the seats, grab a top hat and cane and a full jazz swing band starts playing)

Go…          to…           Trinidad!

Go to Trinidad!

They love to laugh and smile and have a jolly time

Go to Trinidad!

Go to Trinidad!

Where they know that nothing should bring you down

Go to Trinidad!

Go to Trinidad!

It’s the place where your frown turns upside down

Because in Trinidad the Spirit is alive

And you’ll laugh and laugh and laugh until you cry.

Now, you need to imagine me repeating that song a second time with dancers, animals, and sparklers. There will be an abundance of jazz hands, fancy spins, and even a solo tap number.

Then one more time, with synchronized swimmers, a Trinidadian children’s choir, and leading to a big, final finish.

APPLAUSE – APPLAUSE –APPLAUSE; flowers fall on the stage, etc.

In case you didn’t pick up on it, I have meet some wonderful folks from Trinidad (and the surrounding area) with whom I have laughed and have had some very good and profound theological conversations. In this alone have I been blessed and it is not the only blessing of this trip.

I should also say that I met a Coptic Priest from Australia who could laugh and laugh and laugh. He was a joy.

Today we are going on a field trip to the actual city of Manado. I need to find a brown bag for my lunch and look forward to seeing this part of Indonesia.

Indonesia 6 - I Want a Piece of Pie!

Today we had a number of speakers – again. I’ll offer a bit of a reflection on their contributions further down. I am still very tired and not adjusted to the changes. I did manage to sleep during the afternoon presentation. Don’t freak out and think that I stayed in my hotel room and skipped part of the conference – I was there in the big room with everyone else, I was listening for about ten minutes, and then I was asleep. Probably writing a blog post at 3:45am does not help.

We took our group picture today. I hate group pictures. We had to get in a circle and smile. I hate smiling for group pictures. Here is the mental picture for you: almost 300 Christians trying to make a perfect circle, using protractors and a compass, smiling and laughing, and one grumpy Baptist shouting again and again, “just take the stikin’ picture!”

Well maybe is wasn’t exactly like that. I did crack a smile once, for Jesus’ sake.

Here are my reflections on the speakers this morning:

What is it that is keeping churches and denominations divided? Some say it is theology. Others say it is structure. After being here for four days, I think I would say that it is pride and hubris.

One of the ongoing themes that I have heard again and again is that the Pentecostal church is growing in leaps and bounds. This is shared in a way that suggests that they must be doing something right. Then we are told that churches in the West are not growing and therefore they must be doing something wrong.

But what is a Pentecostal church?

One speaker, Dr. Opoku Onyinah, said that a Pentecostal church is one that, “emphasize the working of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” I am pretty sure that I do not serve in a Pentecostal church, but at the same time I am pretty sure that I am part of a church that emphasizes the working of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (which are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, the discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues.)

I am told that a Pentecostal or charismatic is one who is “baptized by the Spirit.” I’m pretty sure I am not a Pentecostal or charismatic, but I know that when I accepted Christ as my savior I was baptized by the Spirit. I have seen others who would not be described as Pentecostal or charismatic baptized by the Spirit.

I am told that my church and I need to have a Pentecostal experience and a charismatic experience even though by their standards I already have had one. If I argue this I am told that I am wrong and they are right.

This is where unity breaks down and is lost. When a position and experience is shared as a superior to another’s position and experience people are put on the defensive and unity is lost. When someone claims, with an air of superiority, that they are right and that others are wrong unity is lost.

I think people should be steadfast in their tradition, experience, faith, and positions. I think that should express how their tradition offers such depth in faith and should freely share the gifts and wonders of those traditions. Yet when placed in a way of absolute truth and superiority unity is lost. So we all should go to the local diner and order up a big ole’ slice of humble pie.

While we’re there we should also get some strawberry-rhubarb pie, some key-lime pie, some apple pie, some blueberry pie, some pumpkin pie…

Indonesia 5 - The Code Word Will Be...

It’s 2:30 am, or 2:30 pm depending on what part of the world you are in. For all of my peeps back home in the States, it is in the pm. For me, it is 2:30 am, although my body seems resolute in denying this reality.

Yesterday, after my wonderful lesson in how to be an arrogant d**k (from a Canadian of all people!), we heard a number of presenters speaking about the many changes in global Christianity. Many of the changes described were ones that I (and many others) were already aware of. Christianity is growing in leaps and bounds in the South and East. Pentecostals and Evangelicals are leading the charge in with great growth. This is nothing new, but still significant and important to name and claim. However, the theme for the day seemed to be unity.

The first speaker was Dr. Dana Robert from Boston University. She suggested that church unity could be found within the four traditional “marks” of the church:

One

Holy

Catholic

Apostolic

She made some very interesting arguments about the basic platforms of each mark and how all Christians could find some common ground with each. Within all this she argued that mission is integral and perhaps the key and center to unity. Remember this for later.

The second speaker, Dr. Sang-Bok David Kim, spoke about changes and trends in world Christianity. Again, it was nothing new. He did speak about two things that caught my attention. First was all he almost bragged about all of the Muslims that were being converted and how great that was. Second, he did brag about the evangelical effort to reach out to “nominal” Christians. Nominal Christians are Christians in name only who really do not have a personal relationship with Christ and aren’t fully with the spirit. In other words, Americans and Europeans (although he didn’t say it that specifically – it was coded language). He also spoke about the importance of mission.

I found his presentation to have a level of surety and bravado in suggesting that part of our “mission” is to convert people from other religions (rather than just reaching out to those who are lost and not in any belief system), and that someone can name who and who is not a “nominal” Christian. I guess I would fall into that category of being a “nominal” Christian, and I can’t wait for someone to come and bring me to Christ.

The words being used in this conference are powerful. Yesterday someone asked me if my home church (an American Baptist congregation) is Evangelical (I assume he meant it with the upper case). I was caught off guard with this question. He was asking a loaded question and I did not know the shibboleth to answer that question. I did not know how to answer in the way he wanted to hear. Evangelical is a loaded term.

People speak of the importance of mission but are not clear if it is strictly converting people or strictly offering services and working for peace, etc. We speak of holiness but in what sense. Someone even said that all Christians might be moving towards a greater sense of Catholicity, but what does that mean?

To a degree I think such terms need to be vague in order for everyone to find a space. Yet if they can be used as a litmus test to discern if you are a true Christian or a nominal Christian, then these words need to be unpacked and maybe even deconstructed. This is not an easy thing for me to write because I have been running from Derrida and his gang of French Deconstructionists for a long time. They hurt. They hurt a lot. They hurt a lot and then leave you with nothing. That is deconstruction and in this instance I think my weak understanding of it (lacking of nuance) would be very helpful.

Perhaps today (when everyone else wakes up), I will work to deconstruct the terms with charity and gentleness. After all, how can I even begin to have a conversation with someone if I do not know what they mean?

Anyway, I have been more reluctant to share in groups and a little more withdrawn. I will own some of that as my own issue, but also wonder again how safe is the space and I am sure I am not the only one who questions the level of safety.

Now I will go into the hotel lobby at 2:45 in the morning so I can post this on my blog (there is no internet in the rooms). I’ll let you know how many drunk/wasted folks are milling about in the lobby trying to decide what to do next because the bar just closed. Maybe I can label them as “nominal” Christians and try to bring them to a “real” relationship with Christ.

Postscript - no one in the lobby. I guess this is a very holy group. Here is a picture for you:

Indonesia 4 - Silenced!

Today, this morning, I was told to stay silent during discussions. It was in the midst of a Bible study with 15 of us and we were looking at Peter’s decision to include the Gentiles via the movement of the Holy Spirit. I was trying to listen and made a comment trying to expand on a point that someone else made. It was right after I mentioned it that someone else quickly dismissed my comment in a fairly rude way. He described my example as an “extremist American situation.” I was more than a little pissed.

I did approach the gentleman after the Bible study to express my resentment at the way he dismissed my comments and he (a Canadian) said that in his experience Americans tend to dominate “these kind” of discussions leaving out those from other countries. He wanted to make sure that I, an American, did not dominate the conversation. I made it clear that I was offended by his method and that I would have appreciated him making that statement in a different way. We left sharing gentle pleasantries about the leaves in New England this time of year.

On the whole I vehemently disagree with his view. If this was a gathering organized by the World Council of Churches, or another Western leaning organization I could see some of his point. Yet this is supposed to be a safe space where everyone can share and the assumption is that everyone’s experience is valid and important. Yet I was told that an American’s experience is not as valid (I also think he was saying that a young person’s experience is not as valid because he played the “old, wise experience card”). Now, because of his actions, I do not feel safe or very welcomed. I understand that he is not speaking for everyone in my group, but the experience is still very real.

I’m holding back from drafting a list of expletives but won’t hold back from my newly embraced skepticism and cynicism.

What is the point and purpose of this gathering? So far it seems to be a space where we can say, “gee, isn’t it great that everyone from so many different places can get together? Aren’t we just awesome?” and then to go no farther. There still seems to be a very real reluctance to discuss major differences. Even now I am listening to one of the speakers saying with great passion that we are one in Christ. That is nice, but do we need to have a conference to make such statements. Theological pleasantries should not be that expensive that one would have to travel halfway across the world to hear.

As to my continued active participation in discussion groups, I’m not sure what I will do. I will go to the small and large group gatherings, but right now I do not want to share at all. Again, I do not feel as if it is a safe space. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead me otherwise.