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Archive for the ‘Christian Critique’ Category
another church ouch!
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008Mea Culpa – a reminder of what the church is called to be
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008Every now and then I’m given some very painful reminders of what the church is called to be about. This usually happens on a daily basis; however, some linger with me for days. {I could spend an infinite amount of time of defining and unpacking what the church is called to be about, but that would detract from the story and bore both you and me. For now, let’s simply say the Church is to be Jesus to the world.}
A few months ago we had a wonderful couple visit our church. Immediately leaders and pastors of the church recognized that we needed them there at the church. They were great models of what Christian faith and family looks like in word and action. They were also cool and stylish while maintaining a humble and comforting personality. In simple words, they came across as authentic Christians. After several months they decided to look elsewhere for a church home. The talk and tenure of conversation around the church was like Lebron James suddenly deciding Cleveland was no longer a fit. Angst was high over what we could do or should have done to keep them because like I said we all recognized they would be strong leaders and a great addition to the life of the church.
Over the past few months we’ve also had some adults, who have never been baptized or attended church more than a handful of times, join the church. The Lead Pastor at the church posed a question yesterday. “Would our church be as upset if these new Christians were to depart?” Ouch!
In the grand scheme of things I think the strong-faithed couple will be OK. They’ve most likely, according to someone in the church, found another church home and will continue in their pilgrimage of faith. Would the new Christians have fared as well? Probably not. The church [universal] is called to be the Body of Christ, or to say it even simpler it is to be Jesus. How many times have we gone after the mature Christian and not seen those that don’t even know who Jesus’ is. Maybe all they know about Jesus is a cuss word, crazed propaganda used as a means to control, or who knows. If the church is to be Jesus we’ve got to be seen eating and drinking with both the rich and poor, liberal and conservative, leaders and followers, gay and straight, cultured and uncultured, the famous and forgotten, and all ethnicities.
I’ve always been a fringe person. I’ve never fit into one group or another and because of that have felt at times ostracized by all groups. Because of this, I’ve felt I’ve had a better grasp on speaking to those in many categories and no categories, but feelings can easily suck us into fantasy. As soon as my Lead Pastor posed the question, I felt an immediate need to repent and ask for forgiveness – not just from Jesus but those that I’ve ignored, intentionally or not, all in the name of running after the popular. I thought I had a better grasp on reaching out to all, but my fantasy just allowed be to pick and choose instead of being open to whomever is in front of me.
Forgive me and help me be more accountable to being Jesus to all.
Peace,
Revslick
How should Christians debate public policy?
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008Nicholas Wolterstorff in an interview in the March 25, 2008 issue of Christian Century has the following question and response:
How would you evaluate the way that religious views and identities have entered into electoral politics in the US in recent years?
“I think the fundamental considerations that we ought to employ in debating political issues are justice and the common good: what does justice and the common good require? But I find, to my dismay, that when politicians do seem genuinely motivated by their religion, often their goal is not to secure justice and promote the common good but to secure power for their party. They try to use the levers of power for their own advantage. And in the process of doing so, they often heap abuse on those whose positions they disagree with, treating them with profound disrespect. That’s wrong.
So I defend the right of Christians and other believers to use religious reasons in deciding and debating political issues. But there are right ways and wrong ways, good ways and bad ways, of employing those reasons. And we have seen a lot of wrong and bad ways in recent years.”
Wow!! What a concept. Christians using the public sphere not as an arena from a position of destructive power (negative and atrocious power at that) but from a position of power for good. I think this is what makes the name Christian have such a bad taste in many people’s mouths. From televangelists to the so-called Religious Right they have used their Christianity as a weapon to freely condemn and judge while offering little to nothing wholesome to the agenda.
Here is a framework that not only contributes to the good, but also doesn’t hold non-Christians to a Christian standard that they haven’t even made their own. What are the things that lead to justice and does it contribute to the common good? At least this would give a surface boat to which we can then dive deeper and deeper into the complexities of the issues of justice and common good.
Are these adequate considerations to employ in debating public issues? If not, what should they employ? Are there others?
peace,
RevSlick