he stood up and read three chapters of Matthew...and then left

Didn't go to see Crowder. Gave the tickets to Shoup and Jen as I thought they would have fun going together. Now I'm really glad I didn't go because wow. Seriously, I just had to say wow at the end of the main session tonight (Shane Claiborne was the main session speaker). I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was interested because Shane has traveled and had some pretty amazing experiences. So he started off breathing fire and doing a back flip which seemed to set the tone...but then he did something unusual for a main session speaker, he read the Bible.

I don't mean that sarcastically, but really, most of these guys pay a passing glance at Scripture, some use stories, some don't, and it's not that one is better than the other, it's just that most of the messages are there to challenge or encourage us and it is usually their words. Shane, evidently, decided to do something different. So he picked up the Bible and told us he was going to share with us the greatest sermon ever spoken. He read Matthew 5-7, Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", perhaps my favorite passage of Scripture. I typically focus on chapter 5 because of how Jesus just completely redefines the nature of God and God's kingdom, but the whole thing is truly amazing, especially with the passion with which Shane read it. And then, when he finished, he said, "That's the greatest sermon ever written. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen." And then he left.

I have a tendency to overstate things and be a bit dramatic, but that may have been the most courageous and most meaningful message that I have seen in ten years of Youth Specialties Conferences. I've heard Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Duffy Robbins, Doug Fields, Andy Stanley, and a whole bunch of other inspirational, challenging, and powerful teachers. And it's sad that to just read Scripture is a "brave" move, but that's exactly what it was. We all have expectations when we walk into these sessions and we are all judging what we hear. No one has had the creativity or the guts perhaps to read us a wonderful, lengthy Jesus sermon and let us rest in the text.

I watched some people walk out of the room while he was reading this passage. Not to go to the bathroom, but because they couldn't believe that this was what he was doing (some I overheard, others I watched shake their heads). I know it is not my job to judge (especially after hearing this passage of Scripture) but seriously, shame on you. These were the words of Jesus, the words of our risen savior whom we claim to serve and love that you walked out on, not Shane. It was about 20 minutes long, sit back down and listen. We need to hear those words everyday, all of us, me included, you included. I wanted to shout and jump out of my seat when he finished because of his courage, his willingness to let Jesus speak for himself instead of mucking it up with all kinds of interpretations.

I love a good message. I love giving a good message. I love interpreting Scripture and teaching its truths. But this was such a good reminder that sometimes the words of Christ just get to speak for themselves and the Spirit can do what needs to be done to help us understand it. For me, Shane's courage (and I say courage because I know a lot of people are going to be critical of him for this, saying he didn't really do anything other than read and get paid, and I'm sure he anticipated that) reminded me that Jesus was even more courageous when he spoke these very words 2000 years ago. Jesus faced rejection, assumptions, and expectations when he said those same words.

So thanks Shane. That was fantastic. I had tears in my eyes when you finished and as soon as you were done I went out and called my wife to tell her how amazing this was and she agreed. Keep doing what you're doing.