Slightly Irreverent: An Occasional Devotional for the Mission-Minded Maverick

By Joe Noland

Culture is a curious thing and extremely powerful, molding one's brain synapses from birth, and giving credence to the saying, "We've never done it this way before!" This work represents a slightly irreverent journey into present day religious culture, with satire sprinkled in liberally (no pun intended). The following appears within the opening pages of the book.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

SATIRE: A technique used by writers and others to make their point using humor, irony and exaggeration.

For this author, the mark of effective satire is found in its ability to touch on the prophetic. Jesus, the model maverick, used it so effectively in this way, especially when it came to religion and legalism. This opus, written in the form of a travelogue, represents my 21st Century 'touch on the prophetic.' In so doing, I have also been influenced by these words: 

"I think satire is most effective when you love the thing you're satirizing rather than... have a vendetta against it." (Mike Yaconelli)

Written and presented, cheekily, with great love and respect,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joe Noland
• Release date: Feb 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386720935

Joe Noland

Joe’s ministry can be summed up in three words: Chaos, Creativity and Controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.” Look for this creative opiate to make itself increasingly apparent in ongoing innovative endeavors.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

PREFACE

FLASHES!

Throughout the New Testament, there are flashes of mission-minded irreverence, Jesus himself getting a bit cheeky at times. Think of the religious culture then and his responses to it.

Plucking corn to eat (working) on the Sabbath: I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.

Healing on the Sabbath (illegal), in reference to pulling their sheep out of a ravine, saving them (legal): Surely kindness to people is as legal as kindness to animals! (Matt. 12 – all excerpts from The Message)

In response to the Pharisees asking, Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules? Jesus: Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? Continuing: It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up. (Matt. 15)

To the religious leaders, as to their fraudulence: Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons? (Matt. 23)

The religious scholars upon seeing Jesus dining with a tax collector: What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff? (Doesn’t he know this is a nice, respectable corps?) Jesus, overhearing, shot back, Who needs a doctor, the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit. (Mark 2)

Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function… The longer their prayers, the worse they get. (Mark 12)

To a Pharisee who asked if Jesus realized how insulting he was: Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help. (Luke 11)

Seeing some church leaders roll their eyes at his teaching, Jesus said to them: You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what’s behind the appearance. (Luke 16)

The church hierarchy brought the woman caught in adultery before him, saying, The Law gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say? Jesus: The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone. (John 8)

This is just a small sampling of the religious culture that Jesus inherited, and his slightly irreverent response to it. Culture is a curious thing and extremely powerful, molding one’s brain synapses from birth, and giving credence to the saying, We’ve never done it this way before!

Simplistically stated, it was a culture of law. Maverick Jesus came to model a culture of love, an almost impossible and dangerous expectation. No wonder Jesus became a bit cheeky and slightly irreverent at times in response to their holy hostility. Jesus is the quintessential mission-minded maverick, and a role model worthy of emulation.

To be like Jesus!

This hope possesses me,

In every thought and deed,

This is my aim, my creed;

Like him I’ll be.

And model him they did. Think about it—the original gang of twelve were also mavericks, by definition. They had to be! For three years, Jesus instilled within them an accompanying spirit of mission-mindedness.

In his travels following Christ’s death and resurrection, the Apostle Peter, not missing a beat, picks up the model mantle with this word of admonition to those struggling with their own preconditioned brain synapses…

"Get out while you can; get out of this

sick and stupid culture!"

(Acts 2:40)

The mantle has now been passed on to us, including the cheeky part. And Peter’s strong words of admonition will continue to echo, likewise, in our own writings as we continue to sashay down this well-traveled road.

Look Out World, Here We Come!

CHAPTER 2

TOO AMERICAN!

The road takes us first into the United Kingdom. Leaving Ireland, we detour through London to explore the possibilities of a social media Internet collaboration with our Salvation Army British counterparts. The presentation went swimmingly, accented by the showing of two creatively prepared Instructional videos.

Swimming-(ly) | swam [past tense] | swum [present participle] Middle English swime from Old English swima. (New World Dictionary)

The discussion following, shall we say, went ‘less swimmingly,’ summed up in these two words: ‘TOO AMERICAN’!

WAIT A MINUTE!

After the meeting, on our way back to the hotel, we passed Burger King, Domino’s and KFC, finally deciding upon McDonald’s for tea. Yes, I said ‘tea’. The place was packed, a multicultural phenomenon, all ‘speaking in other tongues,’ including British-accented English. As we placed the orders in our California accents, the room fell silent. Every head was turning and looking our way… Or was this just my imagination?

Down the street from our hotel is the Prince Edward Theatre (or is spelled theater?), where the American musical, Jersey Boys, is playing. We arrange for tickets and the place is packed, many of them Londoners out for an entertaining evening. The New Joisey accents only added to the humor and efficacy of the show, which concluded with a standing ovation. On Tripadvisor.co.uk, Jersey Boys is rated 4 1/2 out of 5 and ranked #7 of 889 attractions in London.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, in all our travels we can count on one mainstay: McDonald’s—familiar, never changing, a cultural pillar, steadfast in a multicultural world, Queen among all American fast-food restaurants. Yes, I said, Queen.

WAIT A MINUTE!

Upon returning to the USA, one particular headline grabs our attention: McDonald’s pushes to target the millennial generation (culturally, 78-million strong in America). They and their children today and tomorrow’s customers, the strategy fourfold:

1. Create Craveable Food: Beyond the Happy Meal. #McNuggets

2. Embrace Causes: They care about social responsibility. #RonaldMcDonaldHouse.

3. Compete with Fast-Casual: Make restaurants more comfortable. #casual

4. Reinvent Breakfast: Served #24/7. #eggmcmuffin

WAIT A MINUTE!

Create Craveable Food. Didn’t The Salvation Army do that with the donut (WW 1,2), a multicultural, gastronomical delight?

Embrace causes. Isn’t that part of its DNA, meeting need at the point of need?

Compete with Fast-Casual. Didn’t they go right into the trenches bringing comfort and joy?

Reinvent Breakfast. Coffee and donuts 24/7. Doesn’t get any more innovative than that.

WAIT A MINUTE!

I was there when McDonald’s started, one of its first customers. I was 11-years old when French fries replaced potato chips and Triple Thick Milkshakes made their debut. I was 17-years old when Ray Kroc took over the franchise. I was graduating college in 1960 when the 100 millionth hamburger was sold.

As I’m entering The Salvation Army School for Officer Training in 1963, Kroc simultaneously opens his 500th restaurant. In 1967, as we are appointed to plant an innovative, multifaceted Corps Community Center within the inner city, McDonalds goes international. In 1968, our son Rob and Big Mac plop onto this planet simultaneously.

In 1985, Ronald McDonald rides with us in a convertible to greet a crowd of over 1000 gathered for our Sunday School Visitors Day. In 2002, McDonald’s introduces McHappy Days, and I retire McHappily.

McDonald’s has been going along swimmingly, an American phenomenon, now operating in 119 countries, continuously reinventing itself for every generation.

WAIT A MINUTE!

Don’t mess with my brain synapses. Breakfast was meant to be served in the mornings—sans the fried tomatoes, marmite, kidneys and kippers. Don’t go getting radical or millennial on me! Leave it alone! Don’t mess with