Thoughts on "Transformational Architecture" by Ron Martoia; Conclusion

This is my attempt in concluding the series of posts on my thoughts of Ron Martoia's book Transformational Architecture. I am going to be hitting the remaining book (which is a lot of book to cover) in 4 very high level points. I will purposely leave out some of meat in the remaining, not because it is unimportant to the book and its direction.

1. Little Gods

This chapter presents the idea that God has entrusted us to carry out his image to the world around us. In essence, he wants our flesh , our actions , and our words to represent God to a world that is looking for him. An interaction between Martoia and a student of his brings a nice summary of what this chapter entails;

"If we are little gods, so to speak---if we are the ones called to carry the look and feel and flavor of God in this world----then that’s a pretty cool place for the story to begin. That means the point of the whole story is quite different. Now it isn't about fixing something that’s screwed up; it's about fulfilling God's original reason for creating us and the world in the first place." (Page 108)

This is truly a different take on our purpose. But I do believe that Martoia is getting to something here. This is a message that I believe people are willing to align with. Instead of just sharing a proposition with someone, you invite them to be an ambassador for God and his presence to all those around us.

2. The Infectious Judger Gene

This is an interesting chapter on how sin creeps into God's story and how we play a role in it. Martoia connects the Genesis narrative to our tendency to carry judgment to those around us.

"Enter Mr. Serpent into the story. Adam and Eve decided the temptation to become like God was too great. In eating the fruit from this tree, they would have the ability to know good from evil---and they just couldn't stop themselves....Were they tempted by eating from the forbidden tree so that in addition to naming and separating they would also have the ability to know whether something was good or evil? It appears from the text that they would acquire the ability to make pronouncements, that only God... would be able to make." (Page 122-123)

Again, Martoia presents something that I have never really thought before. It does seem that we can trace our tendency to judge back to the garden. Is God the only one that decides on who is “in” and who is “out”? Martoia's presentation on this is convincing, and it does make sense to me. It’s something to be chewed on, that is for sure.

3. Yearning for Wholeness

Martoia explains that within all of us, we have inner cravings for connection. Specifically we have a desire to believe, to belong, and to become. Martoia explains that you will find these inner desires in all humanity.

In my experience these 3 desires seem to be true. Everyone wants to believe in something bigger then themselves, belong in relationships with those around them, and to have a hope for the becoming of something better for tomorrow. I think that Martoa wants us to be able to see these 3 desires in people. Allow those three desires to shape conversations and guide them in God's narrative.

4. Spiritual Cartography

This chapter presents the concept of that (in part) our job as followers, is to function as a sign for others to follow as we reconnect with our story that God has graciously invited us to be a part of.

"We need a spiritual cartography for the conversations we are in engaging in. We need to be incremental and directional, as we engage people in the story of their lives and its intersection with God's big story." (Page 205)

This can be tough! Church has told me for years that there are steps to "conversion". This goes far beyond steps. Martoia is presenting a process, as someone aligns there lives with God's desire for them. This is less of a "click of a switch" and more of a "road trip". This is very important to understand as we invite people to hear the story. It will take time. Our patience will be necessary. Our relationships with that person need not to be the victim if no clear indications of "conversion" is seen.

My hope for this review is that you will pick this book up and give it a chance. This has personally shaped the way I have interacted with those around me. This brought a new appreciation for the journeys that people are on, and where they are going. Martoia has really shaped conversations that need to be shared. So if you have the chance, and you are willing to rethink, pick this book up and really challenge yourself.

-dj

Thoughts on "Transformational Architecture" by Ron Martoia; "Imago Dei"

As I have written before, this book by Ron Martoia sets to explain how we can share our faith in this new postmodern context that we fund ourselves in. One of the "texts" that we mentioned earlier was the "biblical text". Martoia explains that we often share God's story starting at the fall of man in Genesis. However, Martoia argues that we need to start at the creation, or at the beginning of the story. And if we do not do this, we will miss something crucial.

" As we learn about seeing our lives in narrative, it may be an obvious observation that God made us this way and that he made us unique and special in comparison to all other created things. We are made in imago dei. This truth, as it grips a human spirit, has the power to transform. We may conclude that from the very beginning we have been made to be a part of a grand story, to gravitate toward compelling stories, and to be mesmerized by great story telling." (Page 92)

Martoia wants us to start to go back to the beginning of the beginning. And on a nice little side note, Martoia explains that he believes that the author of Genesis did not provide this account in order for us to explain all the questions concerning dinosaurs, age of earth, and evolution. This is crucial because many of our teaching on Genesis gets to far wrapped up in this sort of thinking, and this may not allow us to see how the story truly begins. Now that being said, how should we treat the creation text, and how should we put that into context within the grand narrative? Martoia rightly points out that God is not only creating, he is also separating.

"We must not miss something that is often overlooked: God has the ability through his speaking to do this separating work, and it is called good. God's wholeness, his completeness, his integrity, in the truest sense of the word, isn't jeopardized as he splits things into groups. As he judges one thing from another and puts one thing in once category and another thing in another category, it is all good, according to the author." (Page 94)

The fact that God is able to judge something as being "good" means that it may have been possible for God to judge creation as being bad or evil, and Martoia rightly emphasizes this very point. Martoia then moves to show us one of the key pieces in the creation account;

"Something unique happens in this part of the story. God marks man and woman as different from all over the other living creatures... Man and woman are made imago dei, in the image of God, and they are giving the authority to rule over the rest of creation." (Page 95)

Martoia suggests this very point in the story is where we should start when sharing this story with others. Instead of presenting the typical propositional narrative, we present this story, created humans having the "image of God". But what exactly is Martoia suggesting when he says that this is the starting point? And what does it mean exactly to be created in God's image?

"But most compelling to the biblical and cultural context is the fact that Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to benevolently and creatively serve/ rule the world, the birds, in the sky, and the fish in the sea.... Is it possible that this transfer of royal rule is, at least in Part, what it means to be made in the image of God?" (Page 96)

Martoia suggests that this could be the inner transformational architecture that humanity has within us. Our job, in part, would be as followers of Jesus, to point and guide others to listen to this transformational architecture. Where would Jesus fit into this new frame of God's story? Perhaps Jesus came to show us in its perfection, what this would look like in humanity.

Something interesting to note, Martoia suggests that this concept maybe important to understand idolatry. God wants us to be co-creators, partners with him, as we represent him to his creation. The problem with idolatry is that we choose something that is physical for God's representation, rather then allowing this "image" that is stamped on humanity, to represent His presence on this earth. Idolatry by nature is going against what God has designed for us.

This framing opens up responsibility to humanity to carry out the work of God and to allow God's Spirit to beam His presence to everyone we encounter on a daily basis. This is why Jesus is so important and essential. He is the very nature of God, and his the very nature of humanity that is stamped with this "Transformational Architecture". Without Jesus, we would have no clear direction or hope. He has shown as a new kind of humanity that has allowed us to plug into what it really means to live as God has intended us to live. If I were to recommend only one chapter to read from this book, it would be this one. Martoia does a nice job of framing this story as I believe it was intended to be framed. Martoia's presentation of this has given me fresh ideas on what it means to follow Christ, and share that with others.

I will be concluding the book review with one more post. I will be hitting the remaining book on a very high level, not because I feel its not important, but I feel that I will conclude the very essence of what it so very important in this book, while not recreating the full text myself. (This porbaly good news to readers out there.)

-dj

Finding God in Unusual Places; James Bond Films

I can remember watching my first bond film at the age of 13. I watched Sean Connery's Dr. No. I was simply mesmerized by 007. The charm, action, and witty dialogue captured my attention. I remember purchasing more Bond films and watching many of them. I could not get enough of them. I found it very interesting that there were so many bond films and actors. You can google "James Bond" and find every opinion on the best Bond actors or films. Sometime in that era in my life, I lost interest in the Bond films, as other priorities came to surface. However, my interest in the Bond franchise was renewed.


I was shopping and saw Casino Royale, the newest stab at a postmodern Bond flick. Daniel Craig replaced Pierce Brosnan as the new James Bond. This movie was different then all the previous Bonds. It was much darker and more edgier. The film seemed to be more realistic then the Brosnan films. I personally loved Daniel Craig's interpretation of Ian Flemming's' character. This film actually renewed a tired franchise. It also renewed my love for the Bond films for the first time since my teen years. I believe that the different interpretations of the character James Bond by the different actors who have portrayed him has allowed for this franchise to be one of the best.

We have seen the Cristian heritage catch up with the times through out history. At one time, it was thought to be heresy to believe that the earth was not the center of all things. I wonder as this world adapts to changes, if the Christian faith needs to evaluate our message in the context of our times. Now, I know that many say that it is the method that needs to keep up with the times, and not the message. I will argue that as we experience life in different stages, we will see new messages from the scriptures. Isn't this fact true with our experiences? Do we see aspects of life differently when are in a stage of depression in comparison to a joyous time?

This is why we should embrace the scriptures as a long journey. As we grow and change as a person through out the years, the message reveals more and more to us because of these changes. We certainly need to tweak our methods, but we also always need to evaluate our message as well. The Bond actors revealed a change in character as our our world has changed dramatically since the conception of the films.

Daniel Craig represents a bold new take on James Bond that has resonated with many new viewers of this franchise. (It is worth mentioning that there has been many traditional Bond fans that has resisted this new take. There can be a lot said on this as well, concerning how we do church, and how that effects those involved, but I will leave this alone for now.) May this new take on a traditional character symbolize the changes that we may need to embrace as the world around us has already changed dramatically within the last 40 years.

-dj