2005 Term 1 Week 5 - Disrupt and Entice

This week we will be re-examining the previous two topics, Disrupt and Entice. The plan is to go over them in more detail and with more examples.

The examples will be suggested by the guys. And the following question format will take place:
1. Describe the chaos. From this we will find out what this person is hoping for and what makes the hope seem ludicrous
2. Explore the hope. In this we will uncover how certain responses to the situation are reflective of God’s character. Also we will consider how such action will bless others and how it changes the guy who steps into the chaos on another’s behalf. This is the entice bit
3. Discuss why the guys wont step into the chaos. Even though there are many wonderful reasons why he might step into the chaos, there are some against that which seem to be bigger/more urgent/more important. This phase involves pursuing this negative reasons to their natural end. If that were true then this is where it takes you. Which has the follow up question, "Is this what you want? ‘Cos that’s where this path goes". The idea is to spit in their soup (note the soup is really battery acid, but telling a person that wont cut it. They have been eating it for years, surely if it were battery acid they would have noticed. Good luck convincing them of that. So instead we spit in it. Who wants to eat soup that someone has spat in?). Note that this phase cannot be done combatively. If an argument occurs you’ve buggered it. Either start over or wait for next time. Once someone is on the defensive you have no hope. The key is to work with them. You are working with them to make sense of the situation/chaos.
4. Discuss where things are at now. This is important because you want them to realise that a shift in the way they view life has occurred. That is all that has occurred. There is no guarantee that next time they met the chaos they will step into it. That may be a long way off. What might happen is that they feel slightly less comfortable about not entering the chaos. Or perhaps they catch themselves in the act of deliberately avoiding the chaos. It will be little things that over time add up.

Examples of disrupt and entice by Jesus:
Matthew 18:1-9 – Greatest in the Kingdom
Luke 15:11-32 – Parable of the lost son
Luke 18:9-14 – Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

2005 Term 1 Week 4 - Disruption

Firstly, disruption is disruption of sinful patterns. This is the technical term for "Spitting in his soup", which we used last year. Disruption is where you have found a way a person sins (avoids entering the chaos) and are proceeding to make the sin less appealing.
For example, Guy A says "I really like Mary. I'm thinking of asking her out". Guy B responds "Are you stupid? She'll never go out with you. Take a look at yourself". And if you knew Guy B you would realise that he often answers like this. Whenever someone takes a risk to voice their hope he jumps on it. Guy C is also standing there and he says to Guy B "Dude, if you say stuff like that people wont tell you stuff anymore". And Guy C has just disrupted Guy B. Guy B would mock another's hope as a way of making the situation more comfortable for himself. Guy C has just made that option less palatable. The next time Guy B jumps on someone's hope there is a chance he might remember what Guy C said and not enjoy his actions.

Having said that, disruption should not exist separately from enticement. In the above example Guy C invites Guy B to something more. He does not slam him for being nasty or sinful. Guy C does not say, "That was low man" or "Way harsh dude" or "You're always tearing into people". Guy C does more than tell Guy B off. He gives a reason why it was bad. Another way he could have been disrupted would be to ask him if that's who he wanted to be, "Dude, do you really want to be known as a lamer who puts people down?" This gives him a chance to see himself as others do, which might lead to a change of heart. Note that none of these approaches guarantee Guy B will change, rather they open up possibilities of change.

Disruption could also be positive reinforcement. For example, I have to do something good and I don't feel comfortable doing it (because it involves stepping into the chaos). When I do it and the other person is gleeful and celebrates what you did with you it works to disrupt the idea that stepping into the chaos is completely horrible.

Examples of disruption by Jesus include most of his parables, the sermon on the mount, and his death (who would willing die for something?!?). Eg Luke 15 (Lost sheep, coin, and son), Matthew 5:3-12 (Beatitudes), Hebrews 12:2&3 (endured the cross for something greater).

Disruption is used to break a sinful pattern of behaviour in order to give enticement a better chance. Reveal that the bad old paths are just that (bad) and it makes it harder for a person to go back to them. Perhaps they will try the new path that you have offered them.

Homework:
Make sure you have decided on a movie/song/poem/book/whatever that you would like us to find elements of the gospel in for next term.