On Act One

Friends,

I’m feeling pretty good. On Friday we started our writing program with a retreat I’ve just returned from. Well. A few hours ago. But when we got home our power hadn’t made it there yet. Gone out for a run or some business. So we just sat in this powerless and breezeless house. I couldn’t stay awake much longer from the weekend. So I napped.

I gotta tell you, I’m incredibly impressed with Act One. The program and the people. It’s going to be intense. I’m going to try to update this blog while I’m in the program, but it may be spread out. Full days of classrooms and homework for full weeks on into August. And if we make it into their television program (a concurrent writing program devoted to television writing) then those weeks may just overflow. The good news is I’m already meeting some pretty great people in the program. So, as this may be one of the few updates this month, pardon me, but I’d like to discuss some business at the table.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about Act One. It’s a screenwriting program specifically for Christians. My fears were that it’d either go soft on quality writing (as happens in Christian movies) or that it’d go soft on theology and Bible* (as happens in some Hollywood ministries). I don’t get the impression either is true of Act One. And the explicit policy of Act One opposes both tendencies of softness. If anything, they’re overcompensating with strong writing criticism and bold ministry claims. There’s going to be incredibly high standards on the quality of what we write. And one bold ministry claim was that if Christian screenwriters/writers are sufficiently similar to pastors (they both are given a unique authority to speak publicly about, say, God), then we ought to hold screenwriters to the standards of pastors. Therefore, a whole lot of Christian screenwriters should go to seminary. I thought, “Badass! I did that!” Then I thought, “Shit. I’m not quite sure I want to be a pastor, do I?”

I kind of want to talk about this for a minute.

I love my faith and I’m an advocate of seminaries and rigorous learning and theology and church history and proper methods of interpretation, etc. But I also have strong opinions about what it takes to be a pastor. I happen to think that being a pastor may be one of the most difficult jobs around. A pastor’s got more responsibility in his job description and thrust upon him/her than many jobs I can reckon. Problems with Christianity can almost always find their sources in the teachers and leaders of the church. And, I don’t think I’m alone in observing there’s plenty of bad examples to point to. In addition to the regular stuff a pastor needs to be (they need to be people of integrity, authenticity, strongly skilled at interpreting Scripture, uncommonly loving, people of faith, perseverance, gentleness, sound orthodox doctrine, sound logic, intelligence, humility, etc) I think pastors need to understand the basis of their faith (theology, etc) and the philosophy underlying it (what do you mean by “truth,” “belief,” “goodness,” “sin,” and “god”?). I think pastors need to understand science, scientific explanation, and the competing philosophies of science. I think pastors need to understand historical inquiry and be capable of conversing intelligently about how we know things about history–including, especially, how we know about the resurrection and the formation of the early church. I think pastors have to charge their congregations to care for injustice, the oppressed, and the environment in sermons and by example. Pastors should know why the search for truth does not entail the cravings of power, and they should reject power as much as they can. They should avoid bad rhetoric and propaganda. Pastors should have training in human psychology and counseling; public speaking and writing; business managing and budgeting; and excel at all of them. There’s other things pastors should be good at, things I just don’t know about. Things like missions and worship and pot lucks and caring about people who suck and I don’t know. Not being profane? There’s also things I would want in a pastor that I have to recognize aren’t that essential. I want pastors the world over to like really kick ass movies, music, and beer.

And while I meet some of the above criteria, I certainly fail at them too. I don’t even have that great of palate for good beer. I’ve resisted suggestions to preach and though I don’t really want that job, I do care a lot about the faith. I believe strongly in the truth claims of Christianity. And if true, then they can withstand strong criticism. If false, so much the worse for Christianity. But to adequately engage in those discussions, I need to understand philosophy, theology, science, history, etc. I also acknowledge that most people point to the douche bags of the faith instead of the good examples. I don’t know where I fall. I’m pretty sure I’m kind of an asshole sometimes and I’m not that great of a philosopher. I do like to write though. So if the analogy holds between screenwriters and pastors, may ‘hab I’m qualified–may ‘hab I’m not. Either way, I’m in for a ride.

And I’m not in it alone. There’s been too much of a dearth of that sentiment for far too long for me this year. That’s a good feeling to know I’m not in it alone. Even though my social life this next month will suffer. So, here’s to my social life. It was nice while it lasted.

Pratfalls

* I should note. There’s a certain tone that comes across when a lot of Christians say things like, “I thought they’d go soft on Bible/theology” which I kind of hate. If one says it with some swagger and arrogance, I want to punch the someone (and you know who you are) in the face. There’s also a flip side. Some people say things like, “I want to punch those arrogant Christians in the face” as an excuse to not take seriously the claims or rigor of theology. Those people, I also want to punch in the face. This is because there is never, of necessity, a choice between love and truth.