Some Perspective...
I read an interesting article in the LifeStyles section of this morning's Modesto Bee newspaper. It's about religion and perception. If you are interested in some opinions that can be helpful in gaining an understanding of another perspective - here's the link:
Ye of Little Faith
If that doesn't work - try:
Modesto Bee
Then on the left hand side click on LIFE and then the link to the article should appear on the right - it's entitled "Ye of Little Faith"
Peace.
posted by Dean at 7:53 AM
5 Comments:
Hey,
If you've got a comment - please post it. This is about dialogue and discussion and interaction. Why delete a comment??!!
rob,
controversial...? I guess it depends on how the reader reads what you've written. I think you're just real to yourself and your journey - and to know you is to hear you say these words with a deep-felt passion for the true person of Christ and our human journey in the midst of the paradoxical truths of a post-Christian society... I do think you've changed a lot from those 8 years ago (yes, yes, for the better!) I also believe that as we (altogether now, because really, who of us is exempt...?) as we change and grow and learn and make mistakes and fall down and get up again (hmmm... starts to sound like paul writing to the corinthians as he talked about his battle for Christ and ultimately against religiosity and cold-faith...) we are learning together that Jesus is a person (as well as being God) and not a product...
[Forgive me, reader, I don't know how to write a linear sentence as my thoughts are often Eastern and circular...]
I like the bit you've written referencing what Jesus said; "Who do you say that I am?" I especially like that he allowed his followers, his disciples, to say whatever came to mind! - and he didn't condemn them for what they expressed! He always managed to accept their thoughts, guide and direct them through his friendship, care for them and allow them to take their own journey while he prayed for them and subsequently didn't 'beat the truth into their thick heads' whenever they frustrated him... It's about that, isn't it? Taking the journey together, having patience, praying for one another, me allowing for your mistakes, you allowing for mine (and OH the many...)
I appreciate your comments and honesty as you shared some of these questions, thoughts, interesting inquiries - after all, shouldn't the church be a body of people where we can ask our questions around the table and still love one another at the end of the day? I hope so (or maybe at this point I should say, "I wish"...) I have been fortunate to share good and bad times with people who are openly pursuing God - not just a false godliness - so this community does exist and I hope that you and I (and those others we continue to discuss and journey with) realise that in a special way, we have it...
Oh, one last thing - in reference to your Job and Noah comments (on an academic note) - I do believe that anthropological and archeaological history and evidence have proven in time that these literally did take place as scripture states. Can't hurt to ask, though, can it? And spending some time in true research from all angles of the study doesn't hurt anyone, either. Have fun with that - I'd be interested to know what you discover. Either way, it's nice to know that whatever is out there in the way of human efforts in research to deflate biblical literacy (or even overly promote it) can't change my faith in the true and real relationship I have with a living God (though sometimes stale to my own credit). So, I have to agree with you in your replay of that conversation with your friend - because at the end of seven years of intense Biblical Theological study I came to the same conclusion: If it all went up in smoke and all the evidence was against us, we still have that question, "Who do you say that Jesus is?" and that must remain OPEN for discussion with all who are in this journey called life...
your friend and sister, shannon
PS: Dean, thanks for the thoughts, this has been an awesome journey to follow and I can't wait to hear from you and Les in person when you get home...
oh, one more thing... I probably shouldn't confess to this, but when I read the part (in the Modesto Bee article) about the Ozzy tape, I pictured it and nearly died laughing - okay, it's not a very nice thing to do, but can you blame him? Talk about alienation!
A friend of mine (of a different religious background but ultimately on the same pusuit of God) thanked me last week for never judging her, for always being there to listen and for really loving her even if she didn't have the same religion as me (those were her words) - she said this because she works with several christians who are constantly condemning her with words and actions, leaving her feeling like she is not good enough for God and can never get to him, let alone ever 'fitting' into any Christian group. I hate having to answer for the mess my fellow Christians have created in their self-righteous religious behaviour, and the cool thing is - she never makes me answer for them. Here's what I have to say: if my friend never "converts" to christian religion the way I practice it - or if she never sets foot in an evangelical church - I don't stop being her friend. She's not my project - she's my friend - I don't care what her religious background or affiliation is, I care about her and her family. She's on a faith journey, I'm just glad to be invited to participate with her in it as she is in mine...
I think in many ways we (Western Evangelical Church) have created so many little "Amway" salespeople that many of them have forgotten how to be just who (character and personality) God made them to be...
Rob,
Thank you for your words and your courage to share them. I dream of church where we can share honestly as we ask, seek, knock and work out our faith in "fear and trembling" together. What a testimony to grace that will be as we journey with each other. That thought reminded me of a story I read in Mike Yaconelli's book - "Messy Spirituality" (Zondervan 2002, pages 94-95) and I wanted to share it here for other's who may read your thoughts and wonder so here's the story from the book...
"Faith creates it's own kind of stuckness. Fear, unbelief, doubts. Years ago I heard an extraordinary story. I hope it's true. The pastor of a church in England announced to his congregation one Sunday that he was resigning because he no longer believed in Christianity. Stunned at first, the congregation regained its composure, and the elders asked the pastor to meet with the congregation after the service. Everyone knew what was going to happen. His resignation would be accepted, financial arrangements would be made, and the search for a new pastor would begin.
But that's not what happened. The elders stood before the pastor and said, 'Sir, we understand you have come to the painful conclusion that Christianity is not true. We believe it is true. In fact, we are so convinced it is true, we want you to stay on as our pastor. We want you to stand up each Sunday and preach your doubts to us. It's okay. We want to hear them, not so we can argue with you but so this can be a place where you can honestly seek the truth.'
For three years, the pastor preached his doubts, and one morning he stood in the pulpit, looked out at the congregation with his eyes full of tears, and said, 'I have found my faith again. Thank you for trusting the gospel; thank you for waiting for me to find my faith again!'
The pastor was stuck, burned out, lost, sinking in the quicksand of doubt, and his church recognized his stuckness! His congregation realized that being stuck was a necessary stopping place where he could regroup, regain his strength, and move on. An extraordinary congregation of ordinary people understood their pastor's need to wrestle with the truth. Instead of talking about truth, the trusted the truth. They did not fear the waiting, nor did they fret the 'setbacks' they would have to endure when visitors game."
I read this story to Les again yesterday and I found myself choking up as I thought about what these people had done. What a beautiful picture of grace in all it's courage and risk and pure love. That my friend, is the gospel incarnate - the hope of the world. That is the hope for my neighbours and for me as well. It will be messier than I like to think and not quantified and easily referenced. But if we don't hold to a love and grace that is radical and dynamic and willing to give up everything ("even death on a cross") then I fear we will settle for something that is like charity and that, while pleasant, seems to be a human attempt at grace that only goes halfway.
Dean
wow. good thoughts.
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