Brian McLaren speaks on Steve Irwin - an unlikely connection?

I received an email from a mate in the army who had received an email from an army 'Padre'. the aricle was written by Brian McLaren. Now this was an unlikely coincidence given that my mate wouldn't have realised my emergent connection with 'all things McLaren', so it was a bit of a buzz. You can read McLarens tribute to Steve Irwin here.

It's a good read and Brian picks up some interesting lessons from Steve's approach to fighting his good fight...

"He didn’t spend a lot of time attacking multinational corporations and the way they plunder the environment .....Instead of damning the sinful ugliness of humans who lack saving love, he chose a different strategy, a better one, I think: he simply, consistently, passionately, and naively demonstrated saving love by praising the beauty of God’s creatures – confident that he could inspire that saving love in others if they could just see the beauty too. "

It's too easy to get caught in the ruts of criticism...I know I can.... but it achieves little but make you look spiritually ugly. Just jumping in boots and all to the solutions, goes beyond talking the talk or wearing a bracelet with a "Make Poverty History" slogan etc. You know what I mean. To actually engage with your own message I think causes the transformation from complacent criticisms to becoming the energy in your mission. I think the book of James sums it up well when he speaks of faith without works being dead. In fact the "Message" bible translates it something like this...."Faith without works ends up as a corpse" (can't find my copy in at the moment...Mrs Blurb has probably knicked it again).

In going on Brian says "in Steve’s consuming passion, his heart was resonating with God’s own". My other thought here was a reminder that some corners of the church will react to that statement. They can't get past the fact that God works through anyone He chooses. The church does not have the monopoly on the work of God, nor are we the only people who can hear His voice. The apostle Paul was once name Saul and you might remember God spoke to him prior to any conversion experience. We should see this as normal! Only this week we sat through the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings (extended version) and its only given Mrs Blurb and I more spiritual discussion showing us how God continues to move speak through popular culture, for those who would listen.

Its a bit like the parables with some who will listen, but not hear. Steve's heart was resounding with God's.